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2 weeks ago | 
theguardian.com | Jennifer Rankin |Sam Jones
The EU has suspended its retaliatory 25% tariffs on US goods for 90 days after Donald Trump’s dramatic climbdown in his trade war. The president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, said the EU would put on hold for 90 days the countermeasures – 25% tariffs on €21bn (£18bn) of US goods – that it had agreed on Wednesday. “We want to give negotiations a chance,” she said.
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4 weeks ago | 
theguardian.com | Jakub Krupa |Sam Jones |Andrew Roth
'Unconditional withdrawal' of Russian troops one of main preconditions for lifting sanctions, EU saysEuropean Union flags flutter outside the EU Commission headquarters in Brussels, Belgium. Photograph: Yves Herman/ReutersThe European Commission responded to reports of Russia seeking sanctions relief as part of a maritime ceasefire in Ukraine, saying today that one of its main precondition would be to see “the unconditional withdrawal of all Russian military forces” from Ukraine.
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1 month ago | 
theguardian.com | Rebecca Ratcliffe |Sam Jones
Rodrigo Duterte is expected to make his first appearance at the international criminal court (ICC) on Friday, as the former Philippines president faces crimes against humanity charges over his deadly “war on drugs”. The court said in a statement late on Thursday that it “considers it appropriate” for Duterte to appear Friday at 2pm local time (1pm GMT). At the hearing, the 79-year-old will be informed of the crimes he is alleged to have committed, as well as his rights as a defendant.
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1 month ago | 
theguardian.com | Jakub Krupa |Tom Ambrose |Luke Harding |Jennifer Rankin |Helena Smith |Kate Connolly | +1 more
Trump envoy says he plans to meet with Ukraine over peace 'framework' in Saudi ArabiaDonald Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, said he is planning to travel to Saudi Arabia to speak to Ukrainian delegations about a ceasefire with Russia and a “framework” on a longer agreement.
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1 month ago | 
theguardian.com | Jakub Krupa |Helena Smith |Kate Connolly |Sam Jones |Jennifer Rankin
Key eventsShow key events onlyPlease turn on JavaScript to use this feature'It's great we are not alone,' Zelenskyy says as he arrives at EU summitOn his arrival, Zelenskyy thanks European leaders for their “strong support” which he says he has seen “from the very beginning of the war and … during all this period and last week, you stay[ed] with us.” We are very thankful that we are not alone. And these are not just words. We feel it.
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2 months ago | 
theguardian.com | Emma Graham-Harrison |Sam Jones
Israeli forces have withdrawn from the strategic corridor that divides northern and southern Gaza, as part of a ceasefire plan that has brought a fragile pause to the 16-month war. On Sunday, Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and Hamas officials confirmed that the Israeli military had withdrawn from the Netzarim corridor, the 4-mile (6km) strip of land that Israel set up within weeks of the war and used as a military zone during the fighting.
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2 months ago | 
theguardian.com | Catherine Shoard |Sam Jones
The dramatic cancellation of Karla Sofía Gascón, star of multi-Oscar-nominated Emilia Pérez, has left publicists frantically struggling to keep the film in contention with just a week left before final Academy Awards voting opens. It has also led many people in the industry to re-evaluate their strategies and priorities. Despite the indisputable offensiveness of unearthed social media posts by Gascón, some are questioning the wisdom of ostracising her so comprehensively.
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2 months ago | 
theguardian.com | Julian Borger |Sam Jones
European leaders had nearly got to the end of the first week of living with Donald Trump back in the White House, with the sole consoling thought that it might have been worse. But then the re-elected and reinvigorated president started talking about Greenland again.
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Jan 21, 2025 | 
theguardian.com | Kate Lamb |Martin Belam |Chris Stein |Joan E. Greve |Joseph Gedeon |Harry Davies | +7 more
Trump dismisses bishop’s call for mercy for immigrants and LGBTQ peopleAfter a prayer service this morning, in which the Episcopal bishop of Washington, Mariann Edgar Budde, urged the President Donald Trump to rethink some of his hardline policies, particularly towards immigrants and transgender people, Trump was asked by reporters what he made of the sermon. “Not too exciting, was it”, he said. “I didn’t think it was a good service. They could do much better”.
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Jan 20, 2025 | 
theguardian.com | Sam Jones |Stephen Burgen
Ciutat Vella, the old city of Barcelona, was once quirky and mysterious. Now it has become a parody of itself, a place from which the local population has been exiled in the interests of tourism and maturing investments. Doorways have sprouted combination key safes, a telltale sign of an apartment given over to tourist lets. A 100-year-old apothecary and shirtmaker that stood on La Rambla for two centuries have been replaced by shops selling flamenco dolls and ceramic bulls.
