Iran War Live Updates: Israel Expands Lebanon Offensive; Trump’s Oil-Route Demands Draw Cool Response

No H.I.V. Aid Without More Access to Minerals: U.S. Ponders ‘Sticks’ Against Zambia

A draft State Department memo outlines ways the Trump administration may ratchet up pressure on the African country by ending health support “on a massive scale.”

Middle East crisis live: European countries resist Trump’s demand for help to clear the strait of Hormuz

Italy, Germany, UK and Greece react cautiously after Trump threatens failure to do assist would be ‘very bad for the future of Nato’How have you been affected by the latest Middle East events?Continued from previous post:Japan’s prime minister, Sanae Takaichi, has said she has no immediate plans to send her country’s maritime self-defence forces to help protect tanker traffic in the strait of Homuz.We have not made any decisions whatsoever about dispatching escort ships. We are continuing to examine what Japan can do independently and what can be done ⁠within the legal framework.I would like to ⁠engage in solid discussions based on Japan’s views and position regarding the need for early de-escalation. Continue reading...

Here is the latest.

UK ‘will not be drawn into wider war’ over Iran, says Starmer as he announces £53m to help with heating oil costs – UK politics live

PM says he wants conflict to end as soon as possible due to the impact on the cost of livingKeir Starmer is speaking at his press conference.The war is entering its third week, he says.First, we will protect our people in the region.Second, while taking the necessary action to defend ourselves and our allies, we will not be drawn into the wider war.Moments like this also tell you about leadership … Now, there are others who would have made a different decision two weeks ago.They would have rushed the UK headlong into this war without the full picture of what they were sending our forces into and without a plan to get us out.It is no surprise that our closest and most important ally is so disappointed. The Labour government’s response to the crisis in Iran has been shameful.We should have been supporting our allies, not making it harder for them. Even now Starmer is still trying to sit on the fence, which is a complete failure of leadership. Continue reading...

Norway Celebrates Oscar Win for Joachim Trier’s ‘Sentimental Value’

“Sentimental Value,” set in Oslo, was named best international feature film. After a slew of negative news in Norway, it was a welcome victory.

Britons should strive to pay minimum tax legally possible, says Richard Tice

Reform UK’s deputy leader comments came as he was responding to questions raised about his own tax affairsAll Britons should do their best to pay the minimum tax possible, Reform UK’s deputy leader has argued as he dismissed a newspaper investigation over his own tax affairs as a smear.Richard Tice, who was presenting a press conference on Monday about Reform’s claims to have saved large sums of money in the English councils it runs, faced questions about a Sunday Times story which detailed a scheme the paper said had helped him avoid nearly £600,000 in corporation tax. Continue reading...

‘Evil’ paedophile jailed for 24 years after abuse of five children at Bristol nursery

Judge describes Nathan Bennett as ‘incorrigible and dangerous’ over string of offences including rapeA “dangerous paedophile” who sexually abused five children in his care at a nursery in Bristol has been jailed for 24 years.Judge William Hart described Nathan Bennett as “evil” and said that he had thought seriously about imposing a life sentence because it was difficult to assess whether he would ever not be a risk to children. Continue reading...

Qatar insists Iran is targeting civilian areas

Qatar’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Majed Al Ansari says Iranian attacks have targeted residential areas.

Donald Trump attacks supreme court over tariffs again in late-night social media post – US politics live

President accuses court of having ‘unnecessarily RANSACKED’ the US and claims he has ‘absolute right’ to impose new tariffsSign up for the Breaking News US email to get newsletter alerts in your inboxDonald Trump is in Washington today. We can expect to see the president alongside vice-president JD Vance later. This will be the first time we’ve heard from both of them, together, since the war on Iran began. Their Oval Office meeting at 3.30pm ET is open to the press, so we’ll bring you the latest lines as that gets under way.In between closed-door policy meetings and executive time, Trump will take part in a lunch with the Kennedy Center board members at 11.45am ET, and meet with the US ambassador to Japan, George Glass, at 4pm ET. Continue reading...