33 m. ago Donald Trump praises Syrian leader as ‘attractive guy, tough guy’ as trip continues in Qatar – US politics live

US president met Ahmed al-Sharaa in Saudi Arabia before heading to Doha amid growing controversy over Qatar luxury plane gift The meeting between Donald Trump and Syria’s president, Ahmad al-Sharaa, in Saudi Arabia was the culmination of months of diplomacy by the Syrians, as well as their Turkish and Saudi allies, who believed face time with Trump would help end Syria’s international isolation, writes William Christou.Damascus had prepared a pitch to Trump that included access to Syrian oil, reassurances of Israel’s security and a proposal to build a Trump tower in Damascus. Continue reading...

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1 hour ago Trump arrives in Qatar after hailing meeting with Syria’s ‘young, attractive’ president in Middle East tour: Live

Donald Trump said ending sanctions on Syria would give the country a “chance for greatness” after meeting with Syrian leader Ahmad al-Sharaa

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1 hour ago Trump meets with new 'young, attractive' Syrian leader after pledging to drop sanctions on war

President Donald Trump met with Syria 's new leader, President Ahmed al-Sharaa, Wednesday morning during his trip to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia .

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2 h. ago Trump meets with new 'young, attractive' Syrian leader after pledging to drop sanctions on wartorn country

President Donald Trump met with Syria 's new leader, President Ahmed al-Sharaa, Wednesday morning during his trip to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia .

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3 h. ago Israeli bombing wave kills dozens in Gaza including at least 22 children, say reports

Bombardment signals new escalation after Netanyahu said Israel would ‘go in with full force to complete the operation’Middle East crisis – live updatesAn intense wave of Israeli bombing has reportedly killed dozens of people in Gaza, including many children, signalling a new escalation at a critical moment in regional politics.The exact number of deaths from the attacks was unclear, with estimates ranging from about 30 to more than 50, making it one of the highest tolls in a single morning for many weeks. Continue reading...

Events

3 h. ago Trump meets Syria’s president after lifting US sanctions on country

Meeting with Ahmed al-Sharaa in Saudi Arabia seen as key towards recognition of new Syrian authority’s legitimacyUS politics live – latest updatesDonald Trump has met Syria’s president, Ahmed al-Sharaa, in Saudi Arabia and said that Washington is exploring normalising ties with Syria, a day after an announcement that all US sanctions on Syria would be lifted.The US president and Sharaa met before a conference of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), part of Trump’s four-day visit to the Middle East, where he is expected to court Gulf allies for investments in the US. Trump is due to land in Doha next, where he will meet with Qatari leader, Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani. Continue reading...

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3 h. ago Trump claims ‘it was an honor’ to lift Syrian sanctions after meeting president in Middle East visit: Live

Donald Trump said ending sanctions on Syria would give the country a “chance for greatness” after meeting with Syrian leader Ahmad al-Sharaa

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4 h. ago Pope vows every effort to work for peace in regions where Christians persecuted, forced to flee

Pope Leo XIV is vowing to actively promote and protect the spirituality and traditions of the eastern rite churches, those Catholic communities with origins in the Middle East and North Africa that have been decimated by conflict and persecution

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4 h. ago Syria offered to build Trump Tower in Damascus before presidents’ meeting

Syria also offered the US president a Ukraine-style mineral deal

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4 h. ago Donald Trump says lifting sanctions on Syria ‘gives them a chance of greatness’ – US politics live

Donald Trump meets Syrian president Ahmed al-Sharaa in Saudi Arabia after agreeing to lift sanctions on SyriaThe meeting between Donald Trump and Syria’s president, Ahmad al-Sharaa, in Saudi Arabia was the culmination of months of diplomacy by the Syrians, as well as their Turkish and Saudi allies, who believed face time with Trump would help end Syria’s international isolation, writes William Christou.Damascus had prepared a pitch to Trump that included access to Syrian oil, reassurances of Israel’s security and a proposal to build a Trump tower in Damascus. Continue reading...

Politics

4 h. ago Middle East crisis live: More than 60 killed in Israeli strikes in Gaza

Dead include those killed in a strike on the European hospital complex near Khan YounisIsrael hits hospitals in deadly strikesAssociated Press, citing local hospitals, reports that at least 22 children were killed in Gaza overnight Tuesday and early Wednesday by Israeli airstrikes.Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdoğan met online with US president Donald Trump, Saudi crown prince Mohammed bin Salman and Syrian president Ahmed al-Sharaa, Reuters reports, citing Turkey’s state-owned Anadolu news agency. Continue reading...

Events

5 h. ago Donald Trump meets Syrian president in Saudi Arabia before Gulf tour resumes – US politics live

Donald Trump meets Syrian president Ahmed al-Sharaa in Saudi Arabia after agreeing to lift sanctions on SyriaDonald Trump has said he wants to make a deal with Iran, but it can only go ahead if the regime stops “supporting terror” and abandons its nuclear plans.In related news, Iran’s deputy foreign minister will meet with European diplomats for nuclear talks in Istanbul on Friday, Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said on Wednesday. Continue reading...

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5 h. ago Trump meets Syrian president after lifting sanctions during Middle East visit: Live

The meeting came after Trump announced plans to lift sanctions on Syria, offering the country a ‘chance at peace’

Politics

5 h. ago Trump meets with new Syrian leader after pledging to drop sanctions on wartorn country

President Donald Trump met with Syria 's new leader, President Ahmed al-Sharaa, Wednesday morning during his trip to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia .

Politics

6 h. ago Trump to meet Syrian president imminently after lifting sanctions during Middle East visit: Live

Trump announces plans to lift sanctions on Syria, offering the country a ‘chance at peace’

Politics

7 h. ago Israeli strike on hospital kills 28 in Gaza, civil defence says

Israel kills prominent Palestinian journalist Hassan Aslih in separate airstrike on Nasser hospital

Events

9 h. ago Trump to attend Saudi summit of Gulf leaders amid growing backlash at home over plane gift: Live

President Donald Trump and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman signed a defense sales deal worth nearly $142 billion, as the White House says it has secured $600 billion in Saudi investment

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10 h. ago Trump meets leaders in Qatar amid backlash at home over plane gift: Live

President Donald Trump and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman signed a defense sales deal worth nearly $142 billion, as the White House says it has secured $600 billion in Saudi investment

Politics

10 h. ago Donald Trump complains Air Force One 'much smaller and less impressive' than Middle East planes

President Donald Trump on Tuesday again defended his decision to accept the gift of a luxury jet from Qatar to serve as Air Force One during his remaining years as president.

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11 h. ago Trump's Middle East visit comes as his family deepens its business, crypto ties in the region

It’s not just the “gesture” of a $400 million luxury plane that President Donald Trump says he’s smart to accept from Qatar

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