Diplomacy

Why Britain will suffer without a coherent attitude towards Beijing

Fear of angering an economic superpower and major trading partner has led to dithering and short-term thinking over security by the UK government

The burden of hope

The hostages are coming home, the bombardment of Gaza has stopped and Palestinian prisoners will be released. But so many questions still remain. Chief among them: Will there, one day, be a reckoning?

The Observer view: Alaska debacle was the art of no deal

Vladimir Putin’s trip gave him everything he wanted and demanded nothing of him in return

The diplomatic scales are tilting towards recognition for Palestine

Even the moderate career diplomat Malloch Brown says Israeli war crimes are condemning the country to pariah status