6 d. ago Jared Kushner is back – and so are big questions about his financial ties | Mohamad Bazzi

Kushner’s investment firm is backed by three Arab petrostates critical to the Gaza agreement. And the deals keep comingIn Donald Trump’s first term, his son-in-law and senior adviser Jared Kushner was omnipresent. He worked on criminal justice reform, Covid-19 vaccine development and modernizing technology across federal agencies. His portfolio extended to foreign policy, as he brokered a new North American trade agreement and negotiated peace deals in the Middle East. But when Trump returned to the White House in January, Kushner stayed out of the limelight and declined to take a formal role in the administration.A few weeks ago, Kushner re-emerged as a central player behind Trump’s peace plan for Gaza, which so far has achieved a ceasefire, an exchange of Israeli hostages for Palestinian prisoners and a partial withdrawal of Israeli forces from the territory. Kushner took a victory lap, as Trump and others in the US administration gave him significant credit for helping negotiate ...

Politics

7 d. ago Jordan’s Queen Rania praises Donald Trump for Gaza ceasefire plan

Jordan's Queen Rania has praised Donald Trump for his 20-point peace plan for Gaza.

Politics

3 w. ago The Latest: Gaza ceasefire holds as questions loom over next steps in US plan

The tenuous ceasefire in Gaza is holding after the release of the last living hostages and Palestinian prisoners

Events

3 w. ago Ukraine war briefing: Latest refinery strike shows ‘no safe places in Russia’s deep rear’

Bashneft oil refinery in Ufa is 1,400km from Ukrainian border; Zelenskyy says Trump can repeat Middle East peace success in Ukraine. What we know on day 1,327Ukrainian drones have struck Russia’s Bashneft oil refinery in Ufa, 1,400km from Ukraine, causing explosions and a fire, a source in Ukraine’s SBU security service told Reuters on Saturday. “This is the third SBU deep strike in Bashkortostan in the last month Such strikes demonstrate that there are no safe places in the deep rear of the Russian Federation.”Volodymyr Zelenskyy urged Donald Trump to broker peace in Ukraine “[like in] the Middle East” during a phone call on Saturday. “If a war can be stopped in one region, then surely other wars can be stopped as well, including the Russian war,” Zelenskyy said, hailing Trump’s “outstanding” Gaza ceasefire plan and calling for the US president to pressure the Kremlin into negotiations.Russian attacks on Ukraine killed at least five people on Saturday and cut power to parts of Ukra...

Events

3 w. ago Trump says ‘there is consensus’ on next stages of Gaza ceasefire plan ahead of hostage release: Latest

The US is sending around 200 troops to the region to monitor the Gaza truce, ahead of a major transfer of Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners and detainees

Events

3 w. ago Trump says ‘for the most part, there is consensus’ on next stages of Gaza ceasefire plan – live

US president adds Hamas were gathering the hostages now, as displaced Palestinians return to northern GazaAs Abdel Fattah al-Kurdi made the long journey back to Gaza City, he found himself getting lost. Though he left the city just a few weeks ago, he could no longer recognise its streets. The buildings he had grown up in between had collapsed, their contents carpeting the roads in a mixture of torn furniture and broken concrete.Al-Kurdi could only recognise the Netzarim checkpoint marking his entry into north Gaza by the bodies lying at its feet – those who had tried to return home too early, their faces obscured by dust after being cut down by Israeli fire. Continue reading...

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3 w. ago Palestinians begin journey to Gaza’s north as Israel says ceasefire now in effect – live

Thousands of Palestinians travel back to the north of the territory after IDF forces retreated to deployment linesIsraeli military has said that the ceasefire agreement has come into effect, as troops have now retreated to the deployment lines agreed upon.In a statement released on Telegram, the IDF says troops “began positioning themselves along the updated deployment lines” from midday local time. Continue reading...

Politics

3 w. ago Gaza ceasefire plan live: Israel’s government approves deal for hostages’ release as US troops to ‘oversee’ truce

Ceasefire supposed to begin immediately after early Friday’s cabinet approval under deal, says Israeli officialIsraeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu thanked US special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner after a government meeting to approve the US-brokered deal to release all hostages and implement a ceasefire in Gaza.The Times of Israel reports that Gaza’s civil defence service has issued a warning to Palestinians not to approach the areas where the Israeli forces are present, particularly towards the border, until the IDF has officially announced their withdrawal and officials confirm this. Continue reading...

Politics

3 w. ago Israel approves Trump's Gaza ceasefire and hostage release plan as Hamas says war 'over'

Israeli hostages expected to be released early next week and ceasefire begin on Saturday after Benjamin Netanyahu’s cabinet ratified the peace agreement

Events

3 w. ago Gaza latest: Israeli cabinet approves Trump’s peace plan for ceasefire and hostage release

Israel says its cabinet has approved the 'outline' of a deal to release the hostages

Politics

3 w. ago Israel approves Trump’s plan for Gaza ceasefire and hostage release

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s cabinet votes for the first phase of the US president’s peace deal

Politics

3 w. ago Israeli Cabinet approves 'outline' of deal to release hostages held by Hamas

Israel’s Cabinet has approved President Donald Trump’s plan for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and the release of all the remaining hostages held by Hamas, a key step toward ending a ruinous two-year war that has destabilized the Middle East

Economics

3 w. ago Gaza ceasefire plan live: Hamas chief negotiator says group received guarantees that war has ended

Khalil al-Hayya says US, Arab mediators and Turkey gave assurances that war ‘has ended permanently’; Israel’s security cabinet has yet to publicly approve the dealFull report: First phase of deal to end war in Gaza agreedWhat we know so far about the dealFamilies of Israelis held hostage in Gaza gathered in what has come to be known as Hostage Square in Tel Aviv after the announcement.“President Trump, thank you very much. We thank him, our children will not have returned home without him,” said Hatan Angrest, whose son Matan is among the hostages. Continue reading...

Events

3 w. ago Norway braces for Trump’s reaction if he does not win Nobel peace prize

US president may impose tariffs, demand higher Nato contributions or even declare Norway an enemy, analyst saysWith hours to go until the announcement of this year’s Nobel peace prize, Norwegian politicians were steeling themselves for potential repercussions to US-Norway relations if it is not awarded to Donald Trump.The Norwegian Nobel Committee pointedly said on Thursday that it had reached a decision about who will be named 2025 peace prize laureate on Monday, several days before Israel and Hamas agreed to a ceasefire under the US president’s Gaza plan. Continue reading...

Politics

3 w. ago Gaza ceasefire deal: what has been agreed for first phase and why now?

Donald Trump says Israel and Hamas have reached a deal to pause fighting and release some hostages and prisonersFull story: First phase of ceasefire deal to end war in Gaza agreedFollow the latest updates liveIsrael and Hamas have agreed to an initial phase of the Gaza plan proposed last week by the US president, Donald Trump. Much remains uncertain but this could be the biggest step yet towards a durable end to the two-year war. Continue reading...

Economics

3 w. ago Hamas accuses Netanyahu of trying to 'sabotage' Trump's Gaza ceasefire deal hours before Israel approves plan: Live updates

LIVE UPDATES: Follow the latest developments as Israel and Hamas agree to the first phase of Donald Trump's Middle East peace deal with a ceasefire in Gaza set to come into effect.

Politics

3 w. ago Gaza peace plan explained as Israel and Hamas agree ceasefire

Donald Trump has announced that Israel and Hamas have agreed to a ceasefire but what does it all mean?

Politics

3 w. ago Gaza ceasefire latest: Trump says ‘first steps’ of peace deal agreed with Israel preparing to receive hostages from Hamas

Trump says Israel and Hamas have agreed to first stage of ceasefire plan involving release of hostages and partial Israeli withdrawal from Gaza

Politics

3 w. ago Gaza latest: Trump says ‘first steps’ of ceasefire deal agreed with Israel preparing to receive hostages from Hamas

Trump says Israel and Hamas have agreed to first stage of ceasefire plan involving release of hostages and partial Israeli withdrawal from Gaza

Politics

3 w. ago Gaza ceasefire deal: What we know so far about the ‘first phase’ of the peace plan

US President Donald Trump announced that Israel and Hamas have agreed to the ‘first phase’ of his plan to pause fighting and release some hostages and prisonersFull story: ‘First phase’ of ceasefire deal to end war in Gaza agreed by Israel and HamasDonald Trump announced that Israel and Hamas have agreed to the “first phase” of a peace plan to pause fighting and release some hostages and prisoners held in Gaza.In a post on Truth Social, thanking mediators from Qatar, Egypt, and Turkey. He said: “This means that ALL of the Hostages will be released very soon, and Israel will withdraw their Troops to an agreed upon line as the first steps toward a Strong, Durable, and Everlasting Peace.”Hamas said it had reached the agreement, confirming the deal includes an Israeli withdrawal from the enclave and a hostage-prisoner exchange. The group said in a statement the deal came after “responsible and serious negotiations” over the Trump’s proposal.Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu than...

Economics