2 h. ago Indirect talks over Gaza ceasefire continue as Netanyahu arrives in Washington

Israeli minister says meeting with Trump will focus on ‘a new Middle East’ with 60-day pause discussed in DohaMiddle East crisis – live updatesIndirect talks between Israel and Hamas over a ceasefire and hostage deal in Gaza continued for a second day on Monday, hours before a meeting in Washington between Benjamin Netanyahu and Donald Trump.Avi Dichter, an Israeli minister and member of Netanyahu’s security cabinet, said he expected Trump’s meeting with the Israeli prime minister would go beyond Gaza to include the possibility of normalising ties with Lebanon, Syria and Saudi Arabia – an ambitious project that is central to the US president’s policy in the Middle East. Continue reading...

Events

5 h. ago Israel and Hamas are inching toward a new ceasefire deal for Gaza. This is how it might look

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu meets President Donald Trump in Washington to discuss a potential ceasefire in Gaza

Events

67 h. ago Hamas says it is ready to enter ceasefire negotiations in ‘positive spirit’

Group said to want stronger guarantees of permanent end to war as Netanyahu prepares to meet Trump in USHamas said it had responded on Friday in “a positive spirit” to a US-brokered Gaza ceasefire proposal and was prepared to enter into talks on implementing the deal which envisages a release of hostages and negotiations on ending the conflict.US President Donald Trump earlier announced a “final proposal” for a 60-day ceasefire in the nearly 21-month-old war between Israel and Hamas, stating he anticipated a reply from the parties in coming hours. Continue reading...

Events

3 d. ago Hamas close to accepting proposed Gaza ceasefire deal, say sources

Group said to want stronger guarantees of permanent end to war as Netanyahu prepares to meet Trump in USHamas leaders are close to accepting a proposed deal for a ceasefire in Gaza but want stronger guarantees that any pause in hostilities would lead to a permanent end to the 20-month war, sources close to the group have said.Hamas officials on Friday issued a statement confirming they were talking to other “Palestinian factions” before formally announcing a response to discuss new ceasefire proposals already accepted by Israel. Continue reading...

Economics

3 d. ago Hamas officials meet to discuss proposed Gaza ceasefire deal

Militant group said to want stronger guarantees of permanent end to war as Netanyahu prepares to meet Trump in USMiddle East crisis – live updatesHamas leaders are close to accepting a proposed deal for a ceasefire in Gaza but want stronger guarantees that any pause in hostilities would lead to a permanent end to the 20-month war, sources close to the group have said.Hamas officials met on Thursday in Istanbul to discuss the ceasefire proposals and later issued a statement confirming they were talking to other “Palestinian factions” before formally announcing a response. Continue reading...

Politics

4 d. ago Melania Trump meets with patients, visits garden at Washington children's hospital

First lady Melania Trump with visited sick patients at Children’s National hospital in Washington as the children made Fourth of July arts and crafts ahead of the holiday

Science

5 d. ago 'Maga Mark' Zuckerberg unceremoniously kicked out of Oval Office after White House tour

Mark Zuckerberg, who has seemingly aligned himself with Trump, was reportedly asked to leave an Oval Office meeting.

Society

5 d. ago MTG calls pressure to meet Trump’s July 4 megabill deadline ‘a s***show’

Georgia populist tells Steve Bannon rush to vote through tax and spending legislation after multiple changes made in Senate ‘not realistic’ and ‘a dire situation’

Events

6 d. ago Dutch king now accused of 'power move' in Trump meeting after Queen denies she mocked his voice

A viral moment between King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands and US President Donald Trump has sparked heated debate online.

Politics

6 d. ago John Swinney raised 'concerns' with Donald Trump's son over vandalism attack at Turnberry

Official correspondence reveals new details of the sit-down meeting between Eric Trump and the First Minister at Bute House earlier this year.

Politics

1 week ago Without dignity, leaders fell at Trump’s feet in The Hague – and for what? All Nato’s key problems remain | Martin Kettle

The relationship with him is still volatile, the Ukraine strategy still unclear and Europe needs to ensure its collective defenceNato’s Hague summit was an orchestrated grovel at the feet of Donald Trump. The originally planned two-day meeting was truncated into a single morning’s official business to flatter the president’s ego and accommodate his short attention span. The agenda was cynically narrowed to focus on the defence spending hikes he demands from US allies. Issues that may provoke or embarrass Trump – the Ukraine conflict, or whether the Iranian nuclear threat has actually been eliminated by US bombing – were relegated to the sidelines.Instead, the flattery throttle was opened up to maximum, with Nato’s secretary general Mark Rutte leading the assembled fawning. On Tuesday, Rutte hymned Trump’s brilliance over Iran; yesterday, he garlanded him as the vindicated visionary of Nato’s drive towards the 5% of GDP spending goal. No one spoiled the party. As the president’s own ...

Politics

1 week ago Trump will not meet King Charles ahead of UK visit as President plans to 'go home'

Buckingham Palace have finally confirmed the much-anticipated state visit by Donald Trump, with a potential date around September being widely touted for the MAGA man to arrive on these shores

Politics

1 week ago Eurostar services disrupted after ‘cable theft’ leads to delays and cancellations – business live

Six trains between London and Paris cancelled after theft of cables at Lille leave passengers strandedPeople in the UK: how is AI changing job-seeking for university graduates?The price of the world’s first malaria vaccine for children in endemic countries will be reduced by more than half, to less than $5, according to the drugmakers GSK and Bharat Biotech.The vaccine, called Mosquirix or RTS,S, was developed by GSK and the non-profit health organisation PATH, and was the first malaria vaccine to be recommended by the World Health Organization in October 2021. It is one of two malaria shots recommended by the WHO.“As an epidemiologist working in malaria vaccine development and delivery, I have seen the impact malaria vaccines are already having on children in high-burden regions of Africa. As a result of the collaboration between the research community in implementing endemic countries, industry, NGOs and multilateral organisations, the world’s first malaria vaccine is helping to r...

Politics

1 week ago UK to host Donald Trump for full state visit this year, says Buckingham Palace

Plans for official visit confirmed but diary issues appear to have scuppered initial informal meeting with kingUK politics live – latest updatesDonald Trump will make a second state visit to the UK this year but the diary complexities of King Charles and the US president mean the two are unable to meet informally over the summer, it is understood.The manu regia, a hand-signed formal invitation from the king, was hand-delivered to the White House last week by British representatives from the Washington embassy. Continue reading...

Politics

1 week ago Tesla’s EU sales slump continues; Eurostar services disrupted after ‘cable theft’ – business live

Six trains between London and Paris cancelled after theft of cables at Lille leave passengers strandedThe price of the world’s first malaria vaccine for children in endemic countries will be reduced by more than half, to less than $5, according to the drugmakers GSK and Bharat Biotech.The vaccine, called Mosquirix or RTS,S, was developed by GSK and the non-profit health organisation PATH, and was the first malaria vaccine to be recommended by the World Health Organization in October 2021. It is one of two malaria shots recommended by the WHO.“As an epidemiologist working in malaria vaccine development and delivery, I have seen the impact malaria vaccines are already having on children in high-burden regions of Africa. As a result of the collaboration between the research community in implementing endemic countries, industry, NGOs and multilateral organisations, the world’s first malaria vaccine is helping to reduce all-cause mortality and hospitalisations of severe malaria among chi...

Economics

1 week ago Furious Donald Trump blasts 'scum' in blistering remarks ahead of NATO meeting

Donald Trump has attacked the media in a characteristically rambling tirade after arriving at a pivotal NATO summit in the Hague to discuss international security

Politics

1 week ago Tesla’s EU sales slump continues; China’s premier warns global trade tensions ‘intensifying’ – business live

Rolling coverage of the latest economic and financial newsShares in UK defence Babcock have surged 13% at the start of trading, after it upgraded its medium-term forecasts and hailed a ‘new era’ for defence (see earlier post).After several turbulent sessions, the financial markets seem calm this morning, as the Israel-Iran ceasefire holds.‘’Optimism about the fragile ceasefire holding between Iran and Israel has bubbled through markets, lifting equities, but more doubts are now creeping in about the truce holding.Wall Street rose in a relief wave, pushing the S&P 500 close to record highs. Sentiment has held up in Asia and European indices largely look set for a positive start to trading. Nevertheless, a little more uncertainty is seeping in. A leaked report from US Intelligence casting doubt on the effectiveness of the US strikes in crippling Tehran’s nuclear capabilities, has led to some worries that military action could resume. Continue reading...

Events

1 week ago Zelensky blasts NATO members' 'slow' spending increase, warning Putin could attack within five years ahead of meeting with Trump at alliance summit

Volodymyr Zelensky warned that Vladimir Putin could attack a NATO country within the next five years, as he criticised the alliance for a slow spending ramp up. 

Events

1 week ago Armed by America: how Europe’s militaries depend on the US – a visual analysis

The EU wants independence on defence but it is buying thousands of weapons from the US each yearEuropean leaders will meet with Donald Trump at a Nato summit on Tuesday, as the alliance prepares to approve a significant boost to defence spending. A new target for every member to spend 5% of GDP – more than double Nato’s current benchmark – marks a major win for the US president, who has long railed against America footing the bill for Europe’s security.That concern is now increasingly mutual. European governments are pursuing an unprecedented push for military independence, amid fears the US is no longer a reliable ally. Continue reading...

Events

2 w. ago King Charles has surprise meeting with Zelensky who sends subtle Donald Trump dig

The King has met with the Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky ahead of his meeting with Prime Minister Keir Starmer about the ongoing war in Ukraine, while also sending a sneaky message to Donald Trump

Politics