Ruth Michaelson

@ruthmichaelson.com

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Observer Middle East correspondent based in Turkey. Bylines @theobserveruk.bsky.social & seen in @theguardian.com, sometimes others. ruth.michaelson@observer.co.uk ruth.michaelson@guardian.co.uk ruth@ruthmichaelson.com www.ruthmichaelson.com

“I’ve told my people a little while ago, they were getting ready to leave, and I said, ‘Nope, you’re not making an 18-hour flight to go there. We have all the cards,’” Mr. Trump said in a statement. “They can call us anytime they want, but you’re not going to be making any more 18-hour flights to sit around talking about nothing.”

Steve Witkoff, the special envoy, and Jared Kushner, the president’s son-in-law, had been scheduled to travel to Pakistan on Saturday, along with top aides to Vice President JD Vance. Officials in Pakistan have been mediating between the United States and Iran to try to end more than a month of war in the Middle East.

A very fluffy cat laying on the floor pretending his death is imminent, when in reality his life is perfect.

A picture of my cat, Catigula, inside a paper bag.

Pictured: A man walks next to a towering pile of rubble.