15 h. ago Israel launches waves of Gaza airstrikes after new displacement orders

Scores of Palestinians reported killed as senior Netanyahu adviser due to arrive in Washington for ceasefire talks Middle East crisis – live updatesIsrael ramped up its offensive in Gaza on Monday, with new displacement orders sending tens of thousands of people fleeing the north of the devastated territory and waves of airstrikes killing about 60 Palestinians, according to local officials and medical staff.The violence in Gaza came as a senior adviser to Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel’s prime minister, was due to arrive in Washington for talks on a new ceasefire, a day after Donald Trump called in a social media post for a deal to end the 20-month war and free 50 hostages held by Hamas. Continue reading...

Politics

24 h. ago Trump says he is ‘not offering Iran anything’ as country says US must rule out airstrikes before talks resume – Middle East crisis live

Iranian deputy foreign minister says it has been told US wants to talk but president says he is not speaking to them and repeats claim that its nuclear facilities have been ‘obliterated’France, Germany and the UK have condemned “threats” against the head of the UN nuclear watchdog, Rafael Grossi, after Iran rejected its request to visit nuclear facilities bombed by Israel and the US.Tehran has accused Grossi, head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), of “betrayal of his duties” for not condemning the attacks on Iran’s nuclear sites, and Iranian lawmakers this week voted to suspend cooperation with the agency.France, Germany and the United Kingdom condemn threats against the director general of the IAEA Rafael Grossi and reiterate our full support to the agency.We call on Iranian authorities to refrain from any steps to cease cooperation with the IAEA. Continue reading...

Events

40 h. ago Rod Stewart tells Glastonbury it is "rightly so" people are talking about Middle East but doesn't address Kneecap jibe

Rod Stewart, 80, performed the teatime slot on the Pyramid Stage on Sunday evening but did not address a jibe directed at him from Irish rappers Kneecap yesterday.

Events

69 h. ago Israeli strikes kill dozens in Gaza as Qatar calls for peace talks – Middle East crisis live

At least 49 people were killed across Gaza by Israeli strikes, health staff sayEmirates extended its cancellation of flights to and from Iran’s capital Tehran until July 5 due to the “regional situation“, it said in a statement on Saturday, Reuters reports.The Dubai-based airline said it will recommence operations to Baghdad on 1 July and Basra on 2 July. Continue reading...

Events

3 d. ago Rod Stewart tells people to ‘give Farage a chance’ ahead of Glastonbury Legends performance

British rocker claimed that the Reform UK leader is ‘coming across well’ when asked about the political future of the UK

Events

6 d. ago How to talk to your kids about Middle East wars in Gaza, Iran and Israel

Youngsters can grow fearful in times of conflict, even if they are not directly involved. Here's five top tips on how to discuss the difficult subject of war with them

Politics

7 d. ago UK oil and gas industry welcomes talk of ceasefire in Middle East

The chief executive of Offshore Energies UK said there has already been a drop in oil prices.

Events

8 d. ago Lammy says Middle East needs ‘diplomatic solution’ after US talks

The comments came in the hours after calls between UK and US leaders.

Politics

1 week ago Middle East situation ‘perilous’, says Lammy amid calls for more talks

David Lammy flew from Washington to Geneva on Friday to meet Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi.

Politics

1 week ago Lammy urges Iran and US to keep talking as Middle East conflict continues

The Foreign Secretary met his Iranian counterpart Abbas Araghchi in Geneva on Friday alongside foreign ministers from France and Germany.

Events

1 week ago Middle East crisis live: Ministers from Europe and Iran to hold talks; UN warns of ‘man

Ministers from UK, France and Germany will meet Abbas Araqchi after White House says Trump will ‘make a decision on whether to attack Iran within two weeks’Trump sets deadline of two weeks to decide if US will join Israel’s war on IranLiving in Iran: how have you been affected by the recent conflict?Living in Israel: how have you been affected by the recent conflict?The French foreign minister Jean-Noël Barrot has spoken to the US secretary of state Marco Rubio ahead of a meeting in Geneva between foreign ministers from the UK, France and Germany and their Iranian counterpart Abbas Araqchi.The Geneva meeting is aimed at creating a pathway back to diplomacy over Iran’s nuclear programme. Continue reading...

Events

1 week ago Easy regime change in Tehran is a nice idea. But look to history: it’s a near

No one doubts the malignity of the Iranian government, but if we forget the tragedies of interventions past, we’ll make the same mistakesOn the eve of the 1991 Gulf war, a TV reporter asked the US commander Norman Schwarzkopf if he would topple Iraq’s Saddam Hussein. Stormin’ Norman replied with a memorable succinctness: “Easy say. Hard do.”Schwarzkopf knew what he was talking about. The general was a lifelong student of the Middle East region – he spent some of his childhood years in Tehran – and of military history. Indeed his successful ground-war strategy for Saddam’s defeat in Kuwait was consciously modelled on the flanking tactics used to such devastating effect by the Carthaginian commander Hannibal to defeat the Romans at Cannae in 216BC.Martin Kettle is a Guardian columnist Continue reading...

Politics

1 week ago Glastonbury bosses tell Sir Rod Stewart to cut short his show as he reveals the staggering cost to perform at the festival

He has penned over 195 songs and sold 120million records worldwide throughout his 60-year career.

Economics

2 w. ago Iran will only agree to talks to end Middle East crisis if Israel stops bombing 

Tehran’s message to neighbours is that it will not negotiate over nuclear programme while under attack, diplomats say

Events

2 w. ago Keir Starmer to meet Donald Trump TODAY amid crisis talks over Middle East conflict

Keir Starmer also urged Brits in Israel to register their presence in the country as he issued a warning of the risks of the conflict between Iran and Israel escalating

Events

3 w. ago Germany on tenterhooks for Merz’s first official meeting with Trump

Two leaders are on first-name terms after phone chats but German chancellor knows he may have to tread fine lineGermany’s new conservative leader, Friedrich Merz, is due in Washington on Thursday for his first official meeting with Donald Trump, putting political Berlin on tenterhooks like no other transatlantic encounter in living memory.Discussions between the German chancellor and the US president will focus on Ukraine, the Middle East and trade policies. How well or badly the talks go – during a small group meeting, followed by a lunch and then, perhaps most nailbitingly, a press conference in the Oval Office – may shape relations for decades to come, analysts say. Continue reading...

Politics