4 h. ago Xi Jinping is preparing to go toe to toe with Donald Trump – and there will only be one winner | Simon Tisdall

Beijing has realised that reckless America First policies are alienating old and new friends alike, creating a vacuum it can fillHolding court for the cameras in Sharm el-Sheikh last week, a manically self-congratulatory Donald Trump, Gaza’s make-believe saviour, hailed his fellow “tough guys” – tame tyrants, such as Egypt’s Abdel Fatah al-Sisi, who helped fabricate his flimsy Israel-Hamas ceasefire deal.Yet later this month, the American pharaoh-president is due to face a far less biddable tough guy: China’s leader, Xi Jinping. Bookmakers may withhold odds on the outcome. In the US-China race for 21st-century primacy, Xi is sprinting ahead, assisted by spur-heeled Trump’s many missteps.Simon Tisdall is a Guardian foreign affairs commentator Continue reading...

Politics

5 h. ago The ‘enormous conflict of interest’ at centre of Jared Kushner’s Gaza ceasefire deal

US president’s son-in-law was instrumental in getting deal – which could bring him huge windfall if plan to redevelop Gaza ever comes to fruitionFor a man with no formal role in the White House, Jared Kushner last week literally took centre-stage as Donald Trump’s emissary to the Middle East.As the administration took a victory lap for hammering out a Gaza ceasefire last week, Kushner, Trump’s son-in-law, stood in Tel Aviv’s ‘hostages square’, addressing a feverish crowd that had booed the mention of Israel’s prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, and later broke into chants of: “Thank You Trump!” Continue reading...

Events

20 h. ago Israel identifies remains of 10th Gaza hostage as body search continues

Eliyahu Margalit, 76, has been identified as the 10th dead hostage returned to Israel by Hamas, as part of a fragile ceasefire deal

Politics

33 h. ago Hamas continues efforts to return bodies of hostages under ceasefire deal

Hamas has delivered the remains of nine individuals, plus a tenth body Israel claimed was not a hostage

Events

45 h. ago Giorgia Meloni condemns Italian union leader for ‘Trump courtesan’ remark

Prime minister says CGIL head is ‘clouded by resentment’ and accuses the left of hypocrisy towards womenGiorgia Meloni has condemned the boss of Italy’s biggest trade union after he referred to the prime minister as the “courtesan” of Donald Trump.Maurizio Landini, the leader of CGIL, which organised several pro-Palestinian protests before the Gaza ceasefire deal, made the remarks on TV on Tuesday, the day after world leaders, including Meloni, met in Egypt for a Middle East peace summit. Continue reading...

Politics

53 h. ago Gaza latest: Trump threatens to ‘go in and kill Hamas’ if violence continues amid delays over dead hostages

Families of Israeli hostages demand termination of ceasefire deal if Hamas fails to return the 19 bodies remaining in Gaza

Events

56 h. ago Mamdani and Cuomo spar in New York mayoral debate – US politics live

Candidates debate Trump, Gaza and New York-specific issues, while John Bolton indicted by federal grand juryFormer Trump adviser John Bolton indicted on 18 countsA reminder that my colleagues are covering the latest developments out of the Middle East, as Israel and Hamas continue to carry out various aspects of the US brokered ceasefire deal.This includes the news today that Israel returned the bodies of 30 Palestinians to Gaza, bringing the total number handed over to 120, according the Gaza health ministry and Nasser hospital in Khan Younis. Continue reading...

Politics

63 h. ago Israel and Hamas trade accusations as tensions rise over hostages’ remains

Militant group says it needs specialist equipment to recover bodies as Netanyahu says fight ‘is not over yet’Palestinian leader Marwan Barghouti assaulted by Israeli prison guards, son saysIsrael and Hamas have traded accusations of ceasefire violations amid tensions over the flow of aid into Gaza and warnings that the humanitarian crisis in the devastated territory risks deteriorating further.The ceasefire deal signed last week between Israel and Hamas raised hopes of a surge of humanitarian aid finally reaching the territory after two years of war, but most restrictions have remained in place, throttling the supply of desperately needed assistance. Continue reading...

Events

63 h. ago Trump says he will meet Putin in Hungary after ‘productive’ call – live

US president says he and Russian leader agreed to convene next week in an undetermined location in BudapestA reminder that my colleagues are covering the latest developments out of the Middle East, as Israel and Hamas continue to carry out various aspects of the US brokered ceasefire deal.This includes the news today that Israel returned the bodies of 30 Palestinians to Gaza, bringing the total number handed over to 120, according the Gaza health ministry and Nasser hospital in Khan Younis. Continue reading...

Politics

66 h. ago Johnson condemns leaked Young Republicans group chat messages as Senate fails to pass funding bill for tenth time – live

House speaker says he didn’t know the Young Republicans chat members as Senate rejects House-passed funding bill 51-45 as shutdown reaches 16th dayUS government shutdown stretches as progressives reject Republicans’ healthcare promisesVance brushes off racist texts by adults in Republican group chat as ‘what kids do’A reminder that my colleagues are covering the latest developments out of the Middle East, as Israel and Hamas continue to carry out various aspects of the US brokered ceasefire deal.This includes the news today that Israel returned the bodies of 30 Palestinians to Gaza, bringing the total number handed over to 120, according the Gaza health ministry and Nasser hospital in Khan Younis. Continue reading...

Politics

66 h. ago Fears for Gaza ceasefire grow after Israel and Hamas accuse each other of breaching Trump’s peace

Hamas has claimed Israel has killed 24 Palestinians since the ceasefire began, while Israeli hostage families call on the truce to be terminated if the remaining bodies in Gaza are not returned

Politics

69 h. ago Israel and Hamas trade blame over truce violations as tensions rise over return of hostage bodies

Militant group says it needs specialist equipment to recover remains as Netanyahu warns the fight ‘is not over’Gaza ceasefire – live updatesPalestinian leader Marwan Barghouti assaulted by Israeli prison guards, son saysIsrael and Hamas have traded accusations of violating the ceasefire in Gaza amid tensions over the flow of aid into the devastated territory, the return of the remains of deceased hostages by the militant group and new casualties from Israeli firing on Palestinians close to new military positions.Regional diplomats and US officials have sought to minimise the significance of the accusations, emphasising that Hamas or Israel still appeared committed to the ceasefire agreed last week. Continue reading...

Events

69 h. ago Israel and Hamas trade blame over truce violations as tensions rise over return of hostages’ bodies

Militant group says it needs specialist equipment to recover remains as Netanyahu warns the fight ‘is not over’Gaza ceasefire – live updatesPalestinian leader Marwan Barghouti assaulted by Israeli prison guards, son saysIsrael and Hamas have traded accusations of violating the ceasefire in Gaza amid tensions over the flow of aid into the devastated territory, the return of the remains of deceased hostages by the militant group and new casualties from Israeli firing on Palestinians close to new military positions.Regional diplomats and US officials have sought to minimise the significance of the accusations, emphasising that Hamas or Israel still appeared committed to the ceasefire agreed last week. Continue reading...

Events

3 d. ago Hamas says it has returned all dead hostages it can locate in threat to ceasefire deal

Israeli anger over failure to return bodies but US downplays risk to ceasefire agreement

Events

3 d. ago Palestinian bodies returned by Israel show signs of torture and execution, say doctors

Almost all had been blindfolded and had gunshot wounds between the eyes, says doctor at Nasser hospital in GazaGaza ceasefire – latest updatesMany of the 90 bodies of Palestinians returned to Gaza by Israeli authorities under the ceasefire deal showed signs of torture and execution, including blindfolds, cuffed hands and bullet wounds in the head, according to doctors’ accounts.As part of the US-brokered truce, Hamas has handed over the bodies of some of the hostages who died in the course of the war, and Israel has transferred two groups of 45 Palestinians killed during the fighting. The exchange was carried out through the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). Continue reading...

Events

3 d. ago Gaza ceasefire live: Israel says body handed over by Hamas is not one of the hostages

Four bodies were handed over by Hamas on Tuesday to ease pressure on the fragile ceasefire, after the first four on Monday Israel reportedly pulls back from threat to slash humanitarian aid entering GazaThe Israeli military said on Wednesday that one of the bodies handed over by Hamas the previous day as part of the ceasefire deal is not that of one of the hostages who was held in Gaza. Four bodies were handed over by Hamas on Tuesday to ease pressure on the fragile ceasefire, after the first four on Monday – when the last 20 living hostages were released. The military said that “following the completion of examinations at the National Institute of Forensic Medicine, the fourth body handed over to Israel by Hamas does not match any of the hostages”.In the north of the territory, as Israeli forces withdrew from Gaza City, the Hamas government’s black-masked armed police resumed street patrols, reports Agence France-Presse (AFP).Our message is clear: There will be no place for outlaws...

Events

3 d. ago Hostages reveal horror of life inside Hamas 'torture' tunnels for two years

Horrifying details of the conditions endured by hostages locked away in Hamas's tunnel networks have emerged since the ceasefire deal - with many tortured and starved by their captors

Events

4 d. ago Gaza ceasefire live: Israel says one of the bodies handed over by Hamas is not a hostage amid reports vital aid crossing to reopen

Israel previously said the flow of aid would be cut by half and Rafah crossing would not open as planned due to delay in returning bodies of hostagesIsrael limits aid into Gaza in dispute over hostages’ remainsThe Israeli military said on Wednesday that one of the bodies handed over by Hamas the previous day as part of the ceasefire deal is not that of one of the hostages who was held in Gaza. Four bodies were handed over by Hamas on Tuesday to ease pressure on the fragile ceasefire, after the first four on Monday – when the last 20 living hostages were released. The military said that “following the completion of examinations at the National Institute of Forensic Medicine, the fourth body handed over to Israel by Hamas does not match any of the hostages”.In the north of the territory, as Israeli forces withdrew from Gaza City, the Hamas government’s black-masked armed police resumed street patrols, reports Agence France-Presse (AFP).Our message is clear: There will be no place for ...

Events

4 d. ago Israel says one of four bodies returned by Hamas is not a hostage

Hamas has now handed over eight bodies after agreeing to return all of the dead hostages as part of Donald Trump's ceasefire deal

Events

4 d. ago Israel says body returned by Hamas is not a hostage as fears over fragile ceasefire grow

Identity of fourth body in hostage handover remains unknown as Netanyahu demands Hamas fulfills terms of ceasefire deal

Events