Vance And Lammy Talk Gaza, Fish As US VP Starts UK Holiday
Lammy hosted Vance at his country retreat in Chevening in Kent, southeast of London, where the pair went fishing in a carp pond before getting down to business.
Vance told reporters the United States had "no plans" to follow Britain by recognising a Palestinian state, as the meeting got under way at the 17th-century mansion.
"I don't know what it would mean to really recognise a Palestinian state, given the lack of functional government there," Vance said.
He added that he expected President Donald Trump to "talk at some point to the media about his response" to Israel's plan to "take military control" of the Palestinian territory of Gaza.
"Our goals are very clear. We want to make it so that Hamas can't attack innocent people. We want to solve humanitarian problems in Gaza," Vance said.
The two men also discussed the war in Ukraine ahead of a possible summit next week between Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin as the US president tries to end the more than three-year-long conflict.
Lammy, of the centre-left Labour party, and the Republican Vance have struck up a warm relationship despite their different political strands, bonding over their difficult childhoods and shared Christian faith.
Lammy reportedly attended mass at the vice president's residence in Washington in March.
Vance said Lammy had become a "good friend" but teased that his three young children were better at fishing than Britain's top diplomat.
"Unfortunately, the one strain on the special relationship is that all of my kids caught fish, but the foreign secretary did not," he joked.
Vance is due to stay at Chevening throughout the weekend, according to Britain's foreign ministry.
His family will then spend some time in the Cotswolds region in western England, UK media have reported.
Reports have also said Vance will visit Scotland, where Trump spent five days at his golf resorts last month.
While there, he signed a trade deal with European Union chief Ursula von der Leyen and met with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
Trump also played golf and opened a new 18-hole course. He is due back in the UK for a state visit in September.
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DW
9 minutes ago
- DW
In Ukraine's occupied Luhansk, many 'struggling to get by' – DW – 08/10/2025
Electricity and water are in short supply, and foods prices are rising. As Moscow pressures people in occupied eastern Ukraine to take on Russian citizenship, people in the Luhansk region spoke with DW about daily life. "They tell us Russia has done a lot for us. But all I notice is that I don't have enough money to live like I did before. Before, I didn't just have a good life, I had a wonderful life. Now I'm struggling to get by." Oksana* is from the settlement of Novoaidar, some 60 kilometers (37 miles) northwest of the regional capital, Luhansk, which has been occupied since 2014. Soon after Russia launched its full-scale invasion in the spring of 2022, the Russian army also captured Novoaidar, as well as the cities of Lysychansk, Sievierodonetsk and Rubizhne, and took control of almost all of the eastern Ukrainian region of Luhansk. Since then, the population of Novoaidar has shrunk by a third. "Only older people have stayed. The young ones have fled to other parts of Ukraine, or abroad. The only place you see young people these days is in Luhansk," said Oksana. She told DW that her village is suffering because of the war. Her house is one of many that have been damaged by shelling, but the occupying authorities haven't provided any help for reconstruction. Before the Russian invasion, Oksana, who cares for her elderly father, sold her own homegrown food. Now she no longer has livestock, and she's not permitted to sell vegetables, either. To do this, she would have to register a company according to Russian law. "We just grow vegetables for ourselves now, and barter with our neighbors," she said. Oksana estimates that you need to earn at least 40,000 rubles a month (around €440/$500) to lead a normal life here. Many of the villagers — the postmen, for example — earn less than €200. The jobs on offer in local social media groups are mostly in either the service industry or construction. In nearby Sievierodonetsk, jobs for "workers with plumbing skills" are advertised at a salary of 120,000 rubles (€1,320). The Alchevsk iron and steel works also pays well. There are also often posts on social media promoting contracts with the Russian army, for which the pay is 216,000 rubles (€2,376). Like many residents of the occupied territories, Oksana's father still draws a Ukrainian pension. To do so, he has to use a VPN (virtual private network) to access the web portal of the Ukrainian pensions office, which has been blocked by the occupying forces. "Without this pension, you can't survive," said Oksana. Her father receives the equivalent of €61 a month. "That's enough to buy cheap food for a week," said Oksana. She has to supplement her father's minimum basic pension by using her family's savings. She complained that food prices have risen, and that there are only two shops left in Novoaidar. "In Luhansk, you can buy a dozen eggs for less than half the price," she said. That's why she makes the trip there every two weeks to go shopping. She's also been to Sievierodonetsk and Starobilsk. "But those cities are completely destroyed," she said. "On TV, they say that almost everything there has been rebuilt, but you still see burnt-out houses with no windows, doors or roofs." People there are still waiting for new windows and doors. The Ukrainian regional administration for Luhansk, which was evacuated to territory controlled by Kyiv, relies mainly on social media for information about the problems faced by people in the occupied zones. People post online about power cuts, and water being cut off. "In summer, it regularly happens in Sievierodonetsk that there's neither electricity nor water, at the same time," Oleksii Kharchenko, the governor of the Luhansk region, told DW. "The water supply has supposedly been turned off for repairs to electrical equipment, and the electricity supposedly because of work on the pumping stations." When there's no electricity, there's no internet. And according to Oksana, the cellphone provider Lugacom, which covers the occupied region of Luhansk, offers very poor reception. It's hard even to open Instant Messenger, she said. A lot of websites are blocked, as well: "You even have to use a VPN to get onto [messaging app] Viber." In this regard, at least, Kharchenko is able to offer some hope. "Right now, Telegram is testing a chatbot that's been developed primarily for communication with people living in the occupied territories," he said. Kharchenko reported that people also complain on social media that there aren't enough doctors, even in the cities. Oksana told DW that a group of doctors from the Russian cities of Krasnodar, St. Petersburg and Moscow come to Novoaidar once a year. "They treat people in a particular district for one month, and after that you have to see local doctors again. But when you go to the outpatient department, they say there aren't any doctors there. Your only option is to borrow money and pay to see a doctor privately," Oksana said. She also said that hospitals won't treat patients without Russian passports. Since the start of 2025, people who live in the occupied territories and who haven't taken Russian citizenship are considered by Russia to be either foreigners or stateless, said Kharchenko. "This means they're denied all social security benefits and allowances, and also the right to medical treatment," he added. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video But acquiring Russian citizenship also makes them eligible for conscription. "When it became apparent that most people were trying to avoid getting a Russian passport, not least in order to escape mobilization, the occupiers started to introduce more and more restrictions. They're creating conditions that force people to get a Russian passport," explained Kharchenko. For example, he said that, in March, the occupying authorities started confiscating the houses and apartments of people who had left Luhansk. "According to Russian law, housing that has been inventoried and declared 'not belonging to anyone' is transferred by the courts to communal ownership," he said. To make sure this didn't happen to her, Oksana had to obtain Russian papers for her house. Kharchenko said the new rules are another means of putting pressure on people in the occupied territories who reject Russian citizenship. Some are even returning to the occupied territories just to hold on to their properties. Russian President Vladimir Putin has issued a decree stating that all those who do not have Russian citizenship must leave the occupied territories by September 10. In spite of this, Oksana intends to stay in Novoaidar and see what happens. "Why should I go begging somewhere else when I have everything here?" she said. "We're waiting for things to be like before. That's the attitude of most people here."
DW
31 minutes ago
- DW
Germany updates: Israel arms halt met with CDU/CSU backlash – DW – 08/10/2025
Some politicians from Chancellor Friedrich Merz's CDU/CSU alliance slammed the government's partial export ban on arms to Israel. Meanwhile, most Germans now back recognizing a Palestinian state. Follow DW for more. Some politicians from Chancellor Friedrich Merz's own Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and its Bavarian sister party, the Christian Social Union (CSU), have slammed his decision to limit arms exports to Israel. But Merz's move has also garnered some support from his conservative party, as well as Vice Chancellor Lars Klingbeil, leader of Merz's junior coalition partner, the center-left Social Democrats (SPD). Meanwhile, a new poll shows a majority of Germans are in favor of formally recognizing a Palestinian western German city of Solingen paused its three-day Festival of Diversity at midday on Sunday to remember the victims of last year's knife attack that left three people dead and one seriously injured. A commemorative speech will recall the August 23 attack, which forced the 2024 event to be canceled. Bands unable to perform last year will take the stage this time. Co-organizer Philipp Müller said the tragedy would not prevent this year's festival from going ahead. Up to 70,000 visitors are expected over the weekend. Security has been tightened, with vehicle barriers in place. The city will also hold a separate remembrance on the actual anniversary. A Syrian man, identified as Issa Al H., is on trial in Düsseldorf accused of killing three people and attempting to kill 10 others on behalf of the "Islamic State" militant group. The case has fueled Germany's political debate over migration, deportation, and security. As Chancellor Friedrich Merz nears 100 days in office, his conservative-led coalition has drawn criticism from top economic adviser Veronika Grimm, who says the government "has yet to deliver" on promises to revive Europe's largest economy. Grimm, a member of the Council of Economic Experts, told the Funke media group that while some economic sentiment indicators have improved, Berlin has focused on short-term handouts— such as pension hikes, diesel subsidies for farmers, and relief for the hospitality sector — without a clear long-term plan. She warned that these "electoral gifts" risk creating large budget deficits and urged the government to cut business taxes and reduce bureaucracy. "German business is being held back by a veritable thicket of regulation," she said, calling for reforms across labor, housing, climate, and data protection rules. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video More than half of Germans support formally recognizing a Palestinian state, according to a new poll, although the German government is still not in favor of such a move. Israel's war in Gaza and plans to continue its campaign have seen public opinion in Germany shift, with German voters increasingly in favor of their government putting more pressure on Israel. In the survey by the Forsa Institute for the foreign policy journal 1,001 respondents were asked: "Should Germany now recognize Palestine as its own state?" Fifty-four percent backed the recognition, with 31% opposed. Support was highest in eastern Germany (59%), among 18 to 29-year-olds (60%), and those aged 60 and above (58%). Voters for the socialist Left Party ('Die Linke') showed the strongest backing (85%), followed by Green (66%) and Social Democrat (52%) voters. Supporters of the Conservative CDU/CSU alliance and the far-right AfD (Alternative for Germany) party were less in favor, polling at 48% and 45% respectively. The German government says recognizing a Palestinian state should come only after a negotiated peace process as part of a two-state solution. Berlin on Friday imposed a partial ban on military equipment exports to Israel that "could be used in the Gaza Strip," an announcement that has divided the ruling CDU/CSU alliance. Nearly 150 United Nations members already recognize a Palestinian state, and France, Canada, and Britain have announced plans to follow suit. from Bonn. We are resuming our coverage of the latest developments from and about Germany. The war in Gaza, and Berlin's role as a staunch supporter of Israel, continues to make headlines and stir debate in Germany. Stay tuned for the latest on that and other major talking points in Germany on Sunday, August 10. The latest survey of satisfaction with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and his conservative-led government shows the majority of German citizens are dissatisfied with the new government, just ahead of it marking 100 days in office next week. The poll was conducted by opinion research institute INSA for the Sunday edition of the mass-market newspaper. Some 1,000 people were surveyed between August 7 and 8. According to the survey, 60% were dissatisfied with the performance of Merz's coalition government, with a 27% satisfaction level. This is a significant decline from an earlier poll conducted in June, where Merz's government, a coalition of conservative center-right CDU/CSUparties and the Social Democrats (SPD), secured higher satisfaction, at 37%. The chancellor's own approval ratings have similarly dipped to 30%. When asked if Merz was doing better than his predecessor, Olaf Scholz of the Social Democrats, 26% agreed while 27% said he was doing worse. The survey results suggest that, if elections were held now, Merz's coalition government would no longer secure a majority. At the "Free Swimming — Together" exhibition, visitors to Stuttgart's House of History museum will be asked to attend nude on at least two evenings. The museum in the southwestern state of Baden-Württemberg's capital wants to show the changing attitudes to swimming and the human body. "Society is reflected in the pool," the museum says on its website. It added that "During the Nazi era, the Jewish population and 'foreigners' were excluded. Even before that, war invalids had to stay outside." Today, freedom and freedom of movement are once again under heated debate. "Do women, queer or disabled people need a 'protected space'? Does topless bathing benefit or harm feminism? Is the acceptance of maximum concealment backward or progressive?" the museum asks. The opportunity to visit the "Free Swimming — Together" exhibition naked will be on August 30 and September 13. Germany's Get Naked association, which is co-organizing the unusual museum visit, says, "It is time that simple nakedness is seen as nothing special and is no longer intuitively associated with sexual acts in society." The idea is not entirely new. In the past, there have been similar events in Paris, Marseille, Brussels, and Hanover. In the summer months, Germany's heads of government are known to take a short vacation. Check out the places they went to for their summer breaks. Why are beer gardens so important in Bavaria, and what can you expect there — aside from beer? A closer look at a typical Bavarian institution. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Three tiger cubs have been euthanized after being rejected by their mother, the Leipzig Zoo in eastern Germany announced on Saturday. The three-day-old Amur tiger cubs were put down to prevent suffering, a statement said. It added that hand-rearing was out of the question, as that would not align with the principles of species-appropriate wildlife management. The cubs were born on Wednesday evening to Yushka, a first-time mother who rejected her babies a few hours after giving birth. Zoo director Jörg Junhold said that Yushka's behavior is "sad from a human perspective, but is part of the behavioral repertoire of inexperienced mothers in the animal kingdom." Without their mother's care, the three cubs became increasingly weak over the next two days, according to the statement. "At this point, when the young animals no longer show any active behaviour and thus no stimulus for feeding or milk production is triggered in the mother, we must fulfil our heavy responsibility and spare the young animals the suffering of starvation," said veterinarian Andreas Bernhard. But the zoo plans to continue its Amur tiger breeding program with Yushka. "She will be able to contribute to the survival of the species through natural rearing in the future," explained zoo director Junhold. Several German cities have offered to take in and provide medical treatment for seriously ill or traumatized children from the embattled and devastated Gaza Strip. However, the cities — Hannover, Dusseldorf, Bonn, Leipzig and Kiel — need the support of the federal government to do so. Federal authorities would have to take over entry procedures, the selection of the children and all coordination of the relief effort. Read more to find out why the federal government is putting the brakes on the plan, Chancellor Friedrich Merz's decision to halt German weapons exports to Israel for use in the Gaza Strip "until further notice" has been met with fierce opposition from some members of his own conservative Christian Democratic Party (CDU) and its Bavarian sister party, the Christian Social Union (CSU). The CSU parliamentary group leader in the Bundestag, Alexander Hoffmann, on Saturday told Germany's biggest tabloid newspaperthat his party "was not involved in this decision, and we consider it questionable." "This would be a departure from decades of foreign policy continuity toward Israel and, as such, requires at least some explanation. We will hold internal discussions on this within the coalition," Hoffmann added. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Some conservatives are criticizing Merz for going against Germany's "Staatsräson" (reason of state). Given the history of the Holocaust, the German state sees a special responsibility for Israel. CDU security policy expert Roderich Kiesewetter also sharply criticized the decision as a "serious political and strategic mistake by Germany." Foreign policy experts from the CDU/CSU parliamentary group are meeting via videoconference on Sunday to discuss the issue. But others from the CDU/CSU alliance have welcomed the decision, including CDU foreign policy expert Norbert Röttgen. "This reaction is correct and, unfortunately, has become inevitable due to the recent decisions of the Israeli government," Röttgen told the regional newspaper . Merz has also received support from his junior coalition partner. "We offer our full solidarity with the state of Israel, but the wrongs must be called out," said Vice Chancellor Lars Klingbeil, the co-leader of the center-left Social Democratic Party (SPD), on Friday. There's a heated debate within Friedrich Merz's own Christian Democratic Party (CDU) and its Bavarian sister party, the Christian Social Union (CSU), after the conservative chancellor announced on Friday that Berlin would not approve German weapons exports to Israel for use in the Gaza Strip "until further notice." The German Press Agency (DPA) has reported that foreign policy experts from the CDU/CSU parliamentary group are meeting via videoconference on Sunday, according to sources within the group. With Germany in summer recess, the spontaneous meeting shows how explosive the issue is. Stay tuned for more throughout the weekend from DW.
DW
2 hours ago
- DW
Middle East: UNSC to meet over Israel's Gaza plan – DW – 08/10/2025
Israel on Friday approved plans to expand its operations in Gaza City, a move that drew severe condemnation. DW has the latest. The UN Security Council will hold an emergency session on Sunday to discuss Israel's widely decried plans to reoccupy Gaza City. Egyptian soccer star Mohamed Salah has called out European soccer's governing body UEFA over a tribute for Palestinian footballer Suleiman Al-Obeid, who was killed last week in Gaza. Meanwhile, a majority of Germans back recognition of Palestinian state, according to a new survey. Here are the latest developments about Israel and the crisis in the Middle East on Sunday, August 10, 2025: A new poll released on Sunday shows that 54% of Germans support formally recognizing a Palestinian state, while 31% oppose it. In the July survey by the Forsa Institute for the foreign policy journal , 1,001 respondents were asked: "Should Germany now recognize Palestine as its own state?" The poll found higher approval in eastern Germany (59%) and among 18–29-year-olds (60%), and those aged above 60 (58%). Support varied by party, with 85% of Left Party voters favored recognition, followed by Greens (66%) and Social Democrats (52%). Backing was lower among CDU/CSU alliance (48%) and AfD (45%) supporters. While Germany advocates a two-state solution, it views recognition of a Palestinian state contingent on being as a final step after peace talks. Soccer star Mohamed Salah called out football body UEFA's tribute post for Palestinian footballer Suleiman Al-Obeid for not mentioning the circumstances of his death. The 41-year-old, nicknamed the "Palestinian Pele," was killed by Israeli gunfire while waiting for aid in Gaza, according to the Palestinian Football Association. UEFA in its post said: "Farewell to Suleiman al-Obeid, the 'Palestinian Pelé'. A talent who gave hope to countless children, even in the darkest of times." The Liverpool forward and captain of the Egypt national team replied, "Can you tell us how he died, where, and why?" Read more about how Salah criticized UEFA over its tribute to al-Obeida. The UN Security Council will hold an emergency session on Sunday to discuss Israel's plan to capture and occupy Gaza City. On Friday, Israel's Security Cabinet approved Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's plan to expand military operations in Gaza City, where half of the enclave's population lives. The move has drawn global condemnation, with UN chief Antonio Guterres calling it a "dangerous escalation." European Council members, France, the UK, Slovenia, Denmark and Greece, requested the urgent meeting in New York. Media reports said all members except the US backed the meeting. The session is set to begin at 10am ET (1400 GMT). Following Israel's decision, the United Kingdom, Germany, Italy, Australia and New Zealand issued a joint statement strongly rejecting the plan, saying it risks "violating international humanitarian law." They said that a two-state solution remains the only path to lasting peace between Israelis and Palestinians. Meanwhile, Germany's Chancellor Friedrich Merz halted military exports to Israel to be used in Gaza. We're tracking the latest developments in Israel's war in Gaza, as the UN Security Council is set to hold an emergency meeting on Israel's Gaza City plan. The Israeli government's announcement last week that it plans to expand its operations and take control of the enclave's largest city has caused a global outcry. In Germany, public opinion is also shifting, after a new poll showed that majority of Germans now support the formal recognition of a Palestinian state. Stay with us for news, analysis, and explainers on the situation in Gaza, Israel, and the wider Middle East.
