6 h. ago The Guardian view on the children of Gaza: when 17,000 die, it’s more than a mistake | Editorial

Israel’s military blamed the deaths of six Palestinian children on Sunday on a technical error. But a staggering toll continues to mountOn Sunday, an Israeli strike killed six Palestinian children – and four adults – as they queued for water in a refugee camp. The deaths of children may be the most terrible part of any war. It is not only the suffering of the innocent and powerless, and the unimaginable pain of surviving parents – as dreadful as those are – but the knowledge of lives ended when they had barely begun, of futures that should have stretched long into the distance severed in an instant.As shocking as Sunday’s deaths were, they are commonplace in Gaza: a classroom-worth of children have been killed each day since the war began. What marked them out was that so many deaths happened at once and publicly; and that Israel’s military felt obliged to acknowledge its responsibility – though without any great contrition. It claimed that a “technical error with the munition” caus...

Events

8 h. ago Ukraine awaiting details on ‘billions of dollars’ worth of weapons promised by Trump

US president said to have discussed providing Patriot missiles and long-range Tomahawks but no agreement has been reachedUkraine is waiting for further details of the “billions of dollars” worth of US military equipment promised by Donald Trump on Monday, amid confusion as to how many Patriot air defence systems will be sent to Kyiv.At a meeting at the White House with the Nato secretary general, Mark Rutte, on Monday, Trump said an unnamed country was ready to immediately provide “17 Patriots” as he said a “very big deal” had been agreed for European allies to buy weapons from the United States and then ship them to Ukraine. Continue reading...

Politics

9 h. ago Slovakia blocks EU move to impose new sanctions package on Russia – Europe live

EU foreign policy chief says ‘ball is in Slovakia’s court’ after leader Robert Fico blocked ‘imbecile’ proposal to ban Russian gas imports from 2028 French foreign minister Jean-Noël Barrot told reporters that he hoped the new language from the US and more sanctions from the EU will force Russian president Vladimir Putin “to face the facts: he has gone too far and he is now at an impasse.”He said he was hoping for more alignment between the US and the EU on sanctions, as he met with American senators last week in Rome to discuss their proposed bipartisan bill on Russia.“So we have some progress. We have some positive developments. It’s true that we have trucks that are able to enter, but we don’t know exactly how many. And what is clear is that the agreement is not fully implemented. Continue reading...

Politics

9 h. ago In Trump’s game of chicken, the EU cannot afford to back down | Nathalie Tocci

When threatened with US tariffs, Europe was initially bullish. But the influence of nationalist leaders sympathetic to Trump has caused a splitDonald Trump’s trade policy has been labelled “Taco” – “Trump always chickens out” – by his critics. But when it comes to his latest trade war with the EU, it’s Brussels that risks chickening out. The US and the EU have been negotiating for months on an agreement. This week Trump made the shock announcement that the US would hit the EU with punitive tariffs on goods at a crippling 30% rate from 1 August. This was in addition to separate steel and aluminium tariffs, and cars at even more punitive rates.Blindsided Brussels negotiators calculated the economic damage, and ministers talked about retaliation. Ursula von der Leyen, the European Commission president, warned that “all necessary steps to safeguard EU interests” would be taken. But so far, despite the tough words, the EU is holding back.Nathalie Tocci is a Guardian Europe columnist Cont...

Politics

13 h. ago US tariff of 30% on EU could ‘stop trade as we know it’ – Irish foreign minister

Simon Harris said such a tariff would be ‘extraordinary’ and urged businesses to prepare for all scenarios.

Politics

13 h. ago Why Russian markets jumped after Trump’s tariff threat against Putin

Russian Stock Market jumped by 2.7 percent after Trump’s ultimatum

Politics

14 h. ago Trump ‘disappointed, but not done’ with Putin as he backs Nato on Ukraine – Europe live

Comments come after Oval Office meeting with Nato’s Mark Rutte signalled a shift in tone on conflictFrench foreign minister Jean-Noël Barrot told reporters that he hoped the new language from the US and more sanctions from the EU will force Russian president Vladimir Putin “to face the facts: he has gone too far and he is now at an impasse.”He said he was hoping for more alignment between the US and the EU on sanctions, as he met with American senators last week in Rome to discuss their proposed bipartisan bill on Russia.“So we have some progress. We have some positive developments. It’s true that we have trucks that are able to enter, but we don’t know exactly how many. And what is clear is that the agreement is not fully implemented. Continue reading...

Politics

29 h. ago Trump is looking at making money out of Nato – not saving Ukraine

Don’t be misled; Trump is peeved by Putin and will make money from his irritation out of Ukraine’s war but he has not shifted away from Russia completely, writes world affairs editor Sam Kiley

Politics

29 h. ago Trump does deal with Nato allies to arm Ukraine and warns Russia of severe sanctions

US president says he will supply billions of dollars of military equipment paid for by European allies Donald Trump has said he has sealed an agreement with Nato allies which will lead to large-scale arms deliveries to Ukraine, including Patriot missiles, and warned Russia that it will face severe sanctions if Moscow does not make peace within 50 days.After a meeting with the Nato secretary general, Mark Rutte, Trump said they had agreed “a very big deal”, in which “billions of dollars’ worth of military equipment is going to be purchased from the United States, going to Nato And that’s going to be quickly distributed to the battlefield.” Continue reading...

Events

30 h. ago The Guardian view on a climate reckoning: an annual address could set a new standard for political accountability | Editorial

The energy secretary framed environmental action as practical and patriotic, not in terms of wordy ideological pieties. But holding the line won’t be easyEd Miliband is a target for the political right; not because he’s irrelevant, but because he’s effective. The bacon sandwich gags and “Red Ed” jokes mask a deeper unease: that Mr Miliband, with his dogged insistence on science, public investment and long-term thinking, is right. Now, as energy secretary, he has delivered what he calls an exercise in “radical truth-telling” and a stark warning to MPs that rejecting climate action is a betrayal of future generations. The language, for once, isn’t overblown. It’s belated.By highlighting the Met Office’s annual State of the UK Climate report, Mr Miliband shows that the hotter, wetter and more arduous future we feared has already arrived. Extremes are becoming the norm: the number of very hot days has quadrupled; in the last 250 years, six of the 10 wettest winter half-years have o...

Politics

30 h. ago The Guardian view on Europe’s Trump challenge: Brussels must hold its nerve and think big | Editorial

A renewed threat of punitive tariffs from the White House is a reminder that the EU must invest in its own values in a volatile and transforming worldAs the world has grown used to Donald Trump delivering aggressive ultimatums that are then revised or watered down, the shock-and-awe effect of a presidential edict on Truth Social has somewhat diminished. On Saturday, Mr Trump unexpectedly announced that the United States would hit the European Union with swingeing tariffs on goods of 30% from 1 August. That certainly prompted urgent weekend discussions in Brussels, Paris and Berlin. But for now, the European Commission president, Ursula von der Leyen, is placing all countermeasures on hold, in the hope that what the German chancellor, Friedrich Merz, described as “reasonable solutions” can be found.Given the stakes, betting on the success of a softly, softly approach to trade negotiations remains sensible. Mr Trump’s previous imposition of 25% tariffs on European carmakers ...

Politics

32 h. ago Trump confirms new weapons deal for Ukraine and threatens ‘severe’ tariffs on Russia if war doesn’t end in 50 days – Europe live

President says US will make weapons, including Patriots, but Europe will fund them for Ukraine during meeting with Nato chief, Mark RutteUkrainian intelligence agents killed members of a Russian secret service cell wanted on suspicion of having shot dead a colonel last week, the SBU said.The SBU intelligence agency said in a statement that the operation had sought the arrest of the agents of Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB), who it believes were behind the killing of Col Ivan Voronych – also a member of the SBU security service – in Kyiv on Thursday. Continue reading...

Economics

32 h. ago Trump confirms deal for ‘greatest military equipment’ for Ukraine and threatens ‘severe’ tariffs on Russia if war doesn’t end – Europe live

President says US will make weapons but Europe will fund them for Ukraine during meeting with Nato chief, Mark RutteUkrainian intelligence agents killed members of a Russian secret service cell wanted on suspicion of having shot dead a colonel last week, the SBU said.The SBU intelligence agency said in a statement that the operation had sought the arrest of the agents of Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB), who it believes were behind the killing of Col Ivan Voronych – also a member of the SBU security service – in Kyiv on Thursday. Continue reading...

Events

34 h. ago Ceasefire prospects, joint drone production and strengthening air defences on table in US talks, Ukraine says – Europe live

Ukraine president says he had ‘productive’ meeting with US envoy with Trump announcement on Russia due to come later todayUkrainian intelligence agents killed members of a Russian secret service cell wanted on suspicion of having shot dead a colonel last week, the SBU said.The SBU intelligence agency said in a statement that the operation had sought the arrest of the agents of Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB), who it believes were behind the killing of Col Ivan Voronych – also a member of the SBU security service – in Kyiv on Thursday. Continue reading...

Events

36 h. ago Strengthening air defences, sanctions against Russia and procurement of weapons all on table in US talks, Zelenskyy says – Europe live

Ukraine president says he had ‘productive’ meeting with US envoy with Trump announcement on Russia due to come later todayUkrainian intelligence agents killed members of a Russian secret service cell wanted on suspicion of having shot dead a colonel last week, the SBU said.The SBU intelligence agency said in a statement that the operation had sought the arrest of the agents of Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB), who it believes were behind the killing of Col Ivan Voronych – also a member of the SBU security service – in Kyiv on Thursday. Continue reading...

Society

36 h. ago FTSE 100 LIVE: London up and European markets dip amid fresh Trump tariff threats

FTSE 100 LIVE: London up and European markets dip amid fresh Trump tariff threats  Yahoo

Politics

39 h. ago EU scrambles to respond to US tariff threat as Trump promises ‘major statement’ on Russia – Europe live

EU ministers meet for urgent talks after US president threatens 30% tariffs on blocA show of unity is expected publicly with German chancellor Friedrich Merz saying he will work “intensively” with Emmanuel Macron, Ursula von der Leyen and Trump to try and rescue the agreement in principle that was put on Trump’s desk last week involving tariffs of 10%. Over the past three months Germany has urged a quick UK style deal while Macron has favoured a tougher stance to face down Trump, given average tariffs before his presidency were 2.5% and they breach WTO rules.The EU’s continued and future reliance on the US for security and defence is influencing the position with member states accepting a trade off between business and arms and military intelligence Trump provides.If stock markets fall that puts at risk the pensions and the savings of the Americans. Continue reading...

Politics

40 h. ago Bank of England governor says jobs slowdown could prompt rate cut; European markets fall after Trump tariff threat – business live

Rolling coverage of the latest economic and financial news, as Andrew Bailey insists: “I think the path [for interest rates] is down”.Donald Trump’s threat to impose a 30% on European Union imports from next month is weighing on European stock markets this morning.Most of Europe’s markets have dropped at the start of trading, pulling the pan-European Stoxx 600 index down by 0.6%.Inadvertently or otherwise the President is testing the market’s patience. At a time when investors had seemingly brushed aside the likelihood of the base line of tariffs settling at 10%, the new pronouncements suggest a level of between 15% and 20% being the norm, with additionally punitive numbers on the likes of Canada at 35% adding to the uncertainty.The so-called “TACO” trade will therefore be tested again, with markets drifting in the US on Friday and futures currently suggesting a similar fall today. In addition, and as the new 1 August extension approaches, nerves are likely to jangle. Continue readi...

Economics

41 h. ago Asian shares are mixed after S&P 500 and Nasdaq composite pull back from their all

Shares are mixed in Asia after the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq composite edged away from the records they set last week

Politics

51 h. ago Sinner cried like a little boy who had reached for the sweets but came away with the whole jar | Jonathan Liew

The Italian was overcome with joy after learning harsh lesson from his French Open defeat at the hands of Carlos AlcarazAs a boy, Jannik Sinner was a champion skier. As he stood on Centre Court match point up against Carlos Alcaraz, perhaps some of the old skills kicked in. Skiing teaches balance, it teaches flexibility and endurance, but most of all it teaches faith. There is a moment in every slide, before friction kicks in, when the body is basically at the mercy of powder and physics. And the greatest skiers learn that this is the moment to hold your nerve. When it feels like you’re falling, keep falling. When it feels like the edge of disaster, keep going.Three match points against Alcaraz; take two. You’ve lost your last five matches against this guy. He’s the double defending champion. The last time you played, a few short weeks ago, he came back from two sets and three match points down to win. It was one of the most dramatic comebacks ever seen in a grand slam final, and he...

Politics