11 h. ago Dutch king calls for compromise as political turmoil leads to more elections

King Willem-Alexander has called for a return to a culture of compromise in the Netherlands as the country prepares for its fourth general election in less than nine years

Politics

68 h. ago Trump is no 'strongman' when it comes to Russia or Israel. If other democracies don’t step up, anarchy awaits | Simon Tisdall

Putin and Netanyahu are creating chaos in the vacuum left by a weak US president. But there are still ways to foil themIt is too easy to blame Donald Trump for everything that goes wrong in the world. The ability of any US president to fundamentally change or control the behaviour of other major powers is frequently overestimated. Yet by posing as a sort of uncrowned global monarch and grand arbiter of war and peace, Trump perpetuates fantasies of US hegemony, omnipotence and divine right. Intoxicated by such ego-inflating delusions, he pledged before taking office to swiftly end the Ukraine and Gaza conflicts. Perhaps, in his vanity and hubris, he truly believed he could.Eight months on, the exact opposite is happening. Both crises are expanding and escalating. The bubble has burst, his bluff has been called, the emperor has no clothes – and there is no denying that Trump, by alternately appeasing, excusing and encouraging the two foremost villains of these twin tragedies, is great...

Politics

4 d. ago Tosca at Royal Opera: the controversial return of Russian soprano Anna Netrebko

The new Tosca at Royal Opera marks the debut of Jakub Hrusa as music director but also the return of Anna Netrebko to the spotlight

Politics

4 d. ago Starmer fancies himself a leader among leaders – but his tough talk on defence is just expensive bluster | Simon Jenkins

With the world in crisis, the PM is spending billions to back his posturing. But he has no clout over Gaza or Ukraine, and it’s time he acted accordinglyEach night we wonder where we are. We sit in comfort watching death and destruction fall on thousands in Gaza and Ukraine. Each night we see buildings exploding, people screaming and children starving. Statesmen stand around and deplore. There is anxious talk of what next – another 9/11 perhaps, or a Cuba 1962? Or is it, as some say, a 1939 or 1914 moment? As for the one man with notional power over the world, Donald Trump, his pledge of an end to wars has proved futile – and a bonanza for defence industries everywhere.Whenever someone cries that something must be done, I always ask by whom? Day after day, Britain’s Keir Starmer – when he isn’t battling domestic crises and scandals – rises in the Commons to announce that he is working towards a ceasefire. But he is not. He is talking about working. If Trump cannot stop the killing –...

Politics

5 d. ago Anna Netrebko Returns to London, Sharing the Spotlight With Protests

Anna Netrebko Returns to London, Sharing the Spotlight With Protests  The New York Times

Events

5 d. ago Ukraine and Gaza Fallout Share the Spotlight With Anna Netrebko

Ukraine and Gaza Fallout Share the Spotlight With Anna Netrebko  The New York Times

Politics

6 d. ago Harry’s foundation makes donation to help children injured in Gaza and Ukraine

Archewell made the grant to coincide with Harry’s visit to the Centre for Blast Injury Studies in London.

Events

6 d. ago EU chief says it's time for Europe's 'independence moment' faced with war and major power tensions

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen says that Europe must stake claim to its independence in the face of challenges from Russia, new and hostile trade realities and other major powers

Events

1 week ago Yvette Cooper: the Labour stalwart tasked with boosting Britain’s global standing

New foreign secretary faces challenges from Ukraine to Gaza — and her unflattering comments on Donald Trump

Events

1 week ago Sanchez meets Starmer in London, to discuss Ukraine and Gaza

Sanchez meets Starmer in London, to discuss Ukraine and Gaza  DW

Politics

1 week ago Sánchez: Europe’s response to war in Gaza has been a ‘failure’

Spanish prime minister says double standards over Gaza and Ukraine threaten to undermine the west’s global standing‘You need solidarity and consistency’: Pedro Sánchez on the EU, Trump and fighting the far right Europe and the west’s double standards over the wars in Ukraine and Gaza threaten to undermine its global standing, the Spanish prime minister, Pedro Sánchez, has warned, describing the response to Israel’s assault on the Palestinian territory as one of the darkest episodes of international relations in the 21st century.In an interview with the Guardian before talks with UK prime minister, Keir Starmer, in London on Wednesday, the socialist leader also said the US under Donald Trump was trying to end the post-second world war, rules-based global order it had originally created. Continue reading...

Events

1 week ago Pedro Sánchez: Europe’s response to war in Gaza has been a failure

Spanish prime minister says double standards over Gaza and Ukraine threaten to undermine west’s global standing‘You need solidarity and consistency’: Pedro Sánchez on the EU, Trump and fighting the far right Europe and the west’s double standards over the wars in Ukraine and Gaza threaten to undermine its global standing, the Spanish prime minister, Pedro Sánchez, has warned, describing the response to Israel’s assault on the Palestinian territory as one of the darkest episodes of international relations in the 21st century.In an interview with the Guardian before talks with UK prime minister, Keir Starmer, in London on Wednesday, the socialist leader also said the US under Donald Trump was trying to end the post-second world war, rules-based global order it had originally created. Continue reading...

Events

2 w. ago The reclusive life of Anna Kournikova who withdrew from the spotlight after retiring age 21 to live a quiet life with Enrique Iglesias

The rarely-seen star lives in a Miami mansion which boasts a 16ft wall to keep out an unwanted eyes with her husband and their three children, twins Lucy and Nicholas, seven, and their daughter Mary, five.

Politics

3 w. ago Pope calls for fasting and prayer for peace in Middle East and Ukraine as he returns to Vatican

Pope Leo XIV has asked people to fast on Friday to pray for peace and justice in the Middle East and Ukraine

Politics