7 d. ago Germany on tenterhooks for Merz’s first official meeting with Trump

Two leaders are on first-name terms after phone chats but German chancellor knows he may have to tread fine lineGermany’s new conservative leader, Friedrich Merz, is due in Washington on Thursday for his first official meeting with Donald Trump, putting political Berlin on tenterhooks like no other transatlantic encounter in living memory.Discussions between the German chancellor and the US president will focus on Ukraine, the Middle East and trade policies. How well or badly the talks go – during a small group meeting, followed by a lunch and then, perhaps most nailbitingly, a press conference in the Oval Office – may shape relations for decades to come, analysts say. Continue reading...

Politics

1 week ago Hamas pledges to free Israeli hostages in prisoner exchange as it seeks amendments to US ceasefire proposal

In a dramatic development, the terror group submitted its counterproposal to a framework drawn up by Steve Witkoff, President Donald Trump's special envoy to the Middle East.

Events

1 week ago Hamas says US ceasefire plan accepted by Israel does not meet demands to end war in Gaza

Draft reportedly includes release of 28 hostages in first week, a 60-day ceasefire and aid for Gaza as soon as deal signed offIsrael has agreed to a US ceasefire proposal for Gaza, the White House has said, and Hamas said it was reviewing the plan although its terms did not meet the group’s demands.As a US-backed system for distributing food in the shattered territory expanded, Israeli media reported that prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu had told the families of hostages held in Gaza that Israel had accepted a deal presented by US President Donald Trump’s Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff. Continue reading...

Events

3 w. ago How Trump stunned the world as he flipped America's Middle East policy on its head

President Donald Trump's trip to the Middle East provided the president with the kind of made-for-TV moments the president adores.

Politics

3 w. ago What Donald Trump did this week should terrify Benjamin Netanyahu. This is why | Jonathan Freedland

The president’s Middle East tour made one thing clear – he will betray his one-time ally in a heartbeat. He is already doing it It’s come to something when the Palestinians’ best hope for relief rests on a man who dreams of emptying Gaza of its people and turning the place into a beach resort. And yet the clearest, and perhaps only, way out of the current agony lies with Donald Trump – and his growing impatience with an ever-more isolated Israel.If this were any of Trump’s predecessors, you would be hailing the past week as confirmation of a radical, even epochal shift in US foreign policy. But because it’s Trump, you can’t be sure it’s not a passing whim that will be undone in another equally drastic shift a matter of weeks, or even hours, from now.Jonathan Freedland is a Guardian columnist Continue reading...

Politics

3 w. ago Israeli strikes kill at least 20 people in Gaza as Trump wraps up his Middle East visit

Israeli strikes killed at least 20 people in the northern Gaza Strip, as U.S. President Donald Trump wraps up his Middle East visit

Events

3 w. ago Uefa accuses Gianni Infantino of putting ‘private political interests’ before game after Saudi trip with Donald Trump

Fifa president Gianni Infantino was delayed arriving at the body’s annual Congress after joining US President Trump on his tour of the Middle East

Politics

3 w. ago FA chair joins protest against Gianni Infantino’s late arrival to Fifa Congress after Saudi trip with Donald Trump

Fifa president Gianni Infantino was delayed arriving at the annual meeting after joining US President Trump on his tour of the Middle East

Politics

3 w. ago Israeli airstrikes kill at least 80 as Trump talks of turning Gaza into ‘freedom zone’

Violence over last 48 hours diminishes hope that US president’s visit to Middle East would pause hostilitiesAt least 80 people have been killed by Israeli airstrikes and artillery shelling on targets across Gaza as faltering talks on a new ceasefire continued and Donald Trump said he wanted the US to “make” the devastated territory “into a freedom zone”.Trump’s statement recalled the plan he put forward in February for the US to take control of Gaza to reconstruct it as a luxury leisure and business hub. The scheme implied the possible permanent displacement of much or all of the territory’s 2.3 million people and triggered global outrage. Continue reading...

Events

3 w. ago Israeli airstrikes kill at least 80 as Trump says he wants to turn Gaza into a ‘freedom zone’

Violence over last 48 hours diminishes hopes that US president’s visit to Middle East would lead to pause in hostilitiesIsrael launched a new and intense wave of airstrikes and artillery shelling on targets across Gaza on Thursday morning, killing at least 80 people, as faltering talks on a new ceasefire continued in Qatar and Donald Trump said he wanted to see the US “make” the devastated territory “into a freedom zone”.Trump’s statement recalled the plan he put forward in February for the US to take control of Gaza to allow for its reconstruction as a luxury leisure and business hub. The scheme implied the possible permanent displacement of much or all of its population of 2.3 million and triggered global outrage. Continue reading...

Events

3 w. ago Donald Trump visits Qatar without Melania and people have same theory

President Donald Trump arrived in the Middle East this week, but people have been quick to notice one key thing. It appears his wife, First Lady Melania Trump, is "missing"

Politics

3 w. ago Trump signs $200bn Qatar deal after hailing meeting with Syria’s ‘young, attractive’ president: Live updates

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

Politics

4 w. ago Trump signs $200bn Qatar deal after hailing meeting with Syria’s ‘young, attractive’ president in Middle East tour

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

Politics

4 w. ago New Pope puzzles with possible olive branch to Trump as he boldly pitches himself as the world's greatest 'peacemaker'

Pope Leo XIV emphasized the importance of global peace on Wednesday, as President Donald Trump is pitching himself as a president devoted to peace in the Middle East.

Politics

4 w. ago Trump meets Syria’s ‘attractive, tough’ president after lifting US sanctions

US president meets Ahmed al-Sharaa in Saudi Arabia as lifting of sanctions is met with jubilation in DamascusUS politics live – latest updatesDonald Trump has met Syria’s president, Ahmed al-Sharaa, in Saudi Arabia, telling the former jihadist he had an “extraordinary opportunity”, and said Washington is exploring normalising ties with Damascus, a day after an announcement that all US sanctions on Syria would be lifted.The US president met Sharaa, a former militant who fought against US forces in Iraq and had a $10m US bounty on his head until December 2024, alongside the Saudi crown prince, Mohammed bin Salman, for about half an hour before a conference of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) as part of his four-day visit to the Middle East. Continue reading...

Politics

4 w. ago Trump signs $200bn Qatar deal 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

Politics

4 w. 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

Politics

4 w. 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 .

Politics

4 w. 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 .

Politics

4 w. 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

Politics