4 d. ago EU accuses Putin of undermining peace talks after deadly strikes on Kyiv

All member states except Hungary back statement saying Russian ‘war crimes’ only increase EU support for UkraineEurope live – latest updatesEuropean leaders have accused Vladimir Putin of undermining peace talks, after Russian missile strikes on Kyiv this week killed at least 23 people and damaged diplomatic buildings, including EU and British Council offices.A day of mourning was observed in Kyiv on Friday, after the Russian air attack the day before that killed 23 people, including at least four children. Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, said eight people were still missing and 53 had been injured. “When instead of diplomacy, Russia chooses ballistics the world must respond accordingly,” he said, urging western allies to impose further sanctions. Continue reading...

Events

5 d. ago New footage reveals third Israeli strike on Gaza hospital that killed 22 and sparked global outrage

A new video shows the second strike on the Nasser hospital was in fact two near-simultaneous hits

Events

2 w. ago The Guardian view on the collapse of environmental talks: petrostates blocked a global plastics deal, but we must not despair | Editorial

The failure of UN talks in Geneva should anger us all. The increasing threat to our health, our environments and wildlife must be addressed. By ensuring the collapse of UN talks seeking the first legally binding agreement on tackling plastic pollution, blockers in Geneva have failed the next generation. Most states are willing, even determined, to act. But the US joined petrostates obstructing action. Their children too will live to regret that.To say that plastics are part of our lives from cradle to grave is an understatement: microplastics have been found in placentas, as well as blood and breast milk. While we can’t yet be certain of the full impact of the substances, we know that many have been linked to health effects and that foetuses, infants and young children are highly vulnerable. Microplastics have been shown to damage human cells in laboratory experiments, and a review published this month documented how exposure is associated with increased risks of miscarriage, stillb...

Economics

2 w. ago Ukraine believes Putin has just ‘one card left to play’ in ceasefire talks – and it gives Kyiv the upper hand

Exclusive: Ukraine and its allies believe European support and the threat of further sanctions give Kyiv the edge over Moscow – they just hope they have done enough to convince Donald Trump, writes world affairs editor Sam Kiley

Politics

3 w. ago UN holds crisis talks over Gaza occupation after Israel's plan for complete military takeover of Gaza sparks international backlash

The UN Security Council is to hold emergency talks today after Israel's plan for a complete military takeover of Gaza sparked international condemnation.

Events

3 w. ago Netanyahu’s plan to take over Gaza sparks anger and threat of sanctions from allies

Israeli political-security cabinet approved Benjamin Netanyahu's plan to take full military control of Gaza City, but the move was roundly condemned across Europe

Events

3 w. ago Israel’s Gaza City plan sparks global condemnation with warnings of more destruction and suffering – latest updates

Widespread calls for takeover plan to be stopped with UK’s Starmer saying escalation will ‘only bring more bloodshed’ and Germany halting arms exportsNetanyahu announces plan to take over Gaza CityThe UK’s ambassador to Israel has said extending the war in Gaza would only lead to more deaths and that occupying Gaza would be a “huge mistake”.Simon Walters was quoted by Israel’s Haaretz newspaper as saying on Thursday:The IDF has achieved all that it can achieve in Gaza, and extending the war any further will simply lead to more deaths. Deaths of soldiers, deaths of Palestinians, deaths of hostages.If you want to defeat Hamas, you cannot achieve that through military force. You need to use politics and diplomacy and you need to give the people of Gaza an alternative to Hamas.We are working with friends, allies in Europe and in the Middle East to generate a real plan for what happens after the fighting stops, after the war.It needs to be a description of what the governments will be fo...

Events

4 w. ago Gaza latest: ‘Appalling’ hostage videos spark outcry as UK to evacuate hundreds of ill Palestinian children

Some children have already been evacuated privately under Project Pure Hope, a group set up to bring ill and injured Gazan children for treatment

Events