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Visit with Camilla to take place in late April despite calls for it to be delayed because of US war against Iran

The secretary of war said the US is continuing its campaign against Iran and added that troops want to finish the mission'Saudi Arabia's defence ministry has said it has intercepted and destroyed ten drones over the past hours, and eight missiles launched towards the Riyadh area and the country's eastern region.Early this morning Kuwait said its air defences were responding to hostile missile and drone attacks. Neither Saudi Arabia nor Kuwait said where the drones or missiles came from.Iran attacked and set ablaze a fully loaded crude oil tanker off Dubai. Local authorities later said response teams contained the incident with no oil leakage and that no injuries had been reportedDonald Trump warned that the US would obliterate Iran's energy plants and oil wells if it did not open the strait of Hormuz.The Israeli military said four soldiers had been killed in combat in southern Lebanon, where its forces are clashing with Iran-backed Hezbollah.Two giant Chinese container ships have sailed through the strait of Hormuz on their second attempt to leave the Gulf after turning back on Friday, ship-tracking data shows. The transit signals a diplomatic breakthrough between Beijing and Tehran as Iran widens its list of approved nations for transiting the vital route, Lloyd's List reported.Indonesia's foreign minister called for an emergency UN security council meeting and a thorough investigation" into a heinous attack" after three UN peacekeepers from Indonesia were killed in southern Lebanon.Blasts were heard in Tehran and power cuts hit some areas of the capital, Iranian media reported on Tuesday. Israel earlier carried out missile strikes on what it called military infrastructure in Tehran and infrastructure used by Hezbollah in Beirut.Japan and Indonesia agreed to step up coordination on energy security, Japanese PM Sanae Takaichi said on Tuesday.Two Iranian missile launches targeted central Israel, Israeli media reported, with the emergency service saying it had not received reports of any injuries.Turkey reported a ballistic missile launched from Iran had entered Turkish airspace before being shot down by Nato air and missile defences.An earlier summary of key developments is here. Continue reading...

The US president made the remarks on social media in pointed remarks at allies who haven't militarily supported the war on IranQ: What do you make of the suggestion that Donald Trump could end the Iran war without securing the strait of Hormuz? Or do you think he should finish the job?Farage replies:I don't think we should take literally anything right now that Donald Trump says ... And then the last thing he's going to do, or the last thing his colleagues in the White House are going to do, is to give the Iranians any idea of what their true intentions are.Was it to remove nuclear capability? Was it aimed at regime change? I don't think any of us quite know the absolute truth about that.The problem is any third party inquiry is a waste of space unless you can subpoena police officers, social services, civil servants who were all part of turning the collective blind eye. And I think everything this government has done on this issue is an attempt to literally kick the can down the road, to not fully open this up. Continue reading...

Nicole Daedone, co-founder of OneTaste Inc, also ordered to forfeit $12m, and seven victims were awarded restitutionThe leader of a sex-focused women's wellness company that promoted orgasmic meditation" was sentenced to nine years in federal prison for a scheme that a judge said exploited vulnerable women and coerced them into performing sex acts with the company's clients and investors.Nicole Daedone, co-founder of OneTaste Inc, was also ordered to forfeit $12m, and seven victims were awarded roughly $890,000 in restitution, federal prosecutors said. Continue reading...

Jim Mackey tells LBC phone-in he is really worried' about supply issues amid US-Iran war

Union boss says workers have received some, but not all, of their paySign up for the Breaking News US email to get newsletter alerts in your inbox

Treaties dictate Sigonella airbase cannot be used for aircraft transporting weapons for war without parliamentary approvalBack to Iran and the perceived lack of support from European Nato allies, US president Donald Trump has now turned to criticising France in his latest outburst on social media.In a post on Truth Social, he said:The Country of France wouldn't let planes headed to Israel, loaded up with military supplies, fly over French territory. France has been VERY UNHELPFUL with respect to the Butcher of Iran," who has been successfully eliminated! The U.S.A. will REMEMBER!!! President DJT" Continue reading...

Critics say president is locking into 20th century energy systems even as his bet' on oil and gas isn't going so well'By attacking Iran and threatening to seize its oil while taking extraordinary measures to block clean energy back in the US, Donald Trump has inadvertently highlighted the dangerous volatility of the fossil fuel era, critics say.The US and Israel's bombardment of Iran and southern Lebanon has caused a humanitarian and environmental toll, with threats of further escalation set to add to these casualties as well as add more planet-heating emissions and destroy drinking water supplies. Continue reading...

Dubai officials said a fire on the Al Salmi tanker had been extinguished and all crew members were safe after strike

Homes evacuated in Lurgan as police carry out controlled explosion on device, which man was forced to carry in terrifying ordeal'Gunmen hijacked a car, placed a device inside and forced the occupant to drive the vehicle to a police station in Northern Ireland on Monday, prompting a security alert and the evacuation of about 100 homes.Some streets in Lurgan, County Armagh, remained shut on Tuesday morning as police investigated the scene. Continue reading...

The attack came hours after Donald Trump threatened to obliterate' Iran's energy plants and oil wells unless it opened the strait of Hormuz. Plus, Israel to give death penalty to Palestinians convicted of lethal attacksGood morning.Iran attacked and set alight a fully loaded crude oil tanker anchored at Dubai port, causing damage to the vessel's hull, in the latest strike on merchant vessels in the Gulf and the strait of Hormuz. The fire was extinguished within hours and no injuries were reported.What has Trump said about the war's end? He has continued to give mixed messages, threatening to destroy Iran's energy facilities unless it agrees to peace terms - while simultaneously claiming diplomatic progress in ending the war the US started together with Israel. Iran has accused the US of using diplomacy as a smokescreen to prepare for more attacks.Which countries are most vulnerable to economic shocks? The Philippines, which imports almost all of its crude oil from the Middle East, is particularly exposed to surging prices, which have triggered protests and widespread anger.Why now? The government of Iran, which the US has attacked, is a prolific and sophisticated disinformation actor, while Russian and Chinese influence operations continue to target US allies globally.How would the embassies do it? They have been told to use local influencers, academics and community leaders abroad to make US-funded narratives feel more organic. Continue reading...

Exclusive: Reform UK will be steering well clear' of CPAC event in July, says a source, as will senior ToriesNigel Farage will snub a major conference of US conservatives that is being brought to the UK by Liz Truss.The short-lived former prime minister, who was accused of crashing the economy, was chosen by the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) to lead a version of the event in the UK in July. Continue reading...

Louis Mosley says government should resist calls to trigger break clause in 330m deal with US analytics company

Bear slayer' Honey injured during confrontation to protect family and animals from ursine home invaderA half-blind, 12-year-old New Mexico dog is being called bear slayer" after she fended off an ursine intruder at her family's home, protecting dozens of chickens and other animals but only narrowly surviving the violent encounter.As told by her caretakers, the story of Honey demonstrates the extreme loyalty of dogs to their owners. Continue reading...

Heathrow wanted changes to fund multi-billion pound upgrade, but airlines had warned steep rises would be passed on to passengers

Ex-Radio 2 presenter reportedly investigated over claims relating to teenage boy but case closed through lack of evidenceScott Mills was questioned over allegations of serious sexual offences against a teenage boy in 2018 but the case was later closed due to lack of evidence, it has emerged after he was sacked with immediate effect.Mills, who hosted Britain's most popular radio breakfast show on BBC Radio 2, was taken off the air last week and on Monday the BBC announced his contract had been terminated. Continue reading...

Inquiry will directly look at whether factors influenced offending and institutional response in England and Wales

Simon Roberts says Easter shop will be unaffected by Middle East conflict, but industry warns prices may rise this yearShoppers will not see food prices rise until at least the summer and Easter will be unaffected by conflict in the Middle East, the boss of Sainsbury's has said, despite fears of an inflation spike.Simon Roberts said it was too early" to say whether and when food price inflation related to higher commodity costs would hit supermarket shelves and that the UK's second-largest supermarket had long-term agreements with suppliers to help protect shoppers. Continue reading...

Price of typical UK home increased by 0.9% in March, but surging mortgage rates amid conflict in Middle East is expected to put break on activity

PM says decision by union to reject deal for thousands of extra training posts and 7.1% pay rise without putting it to members is reckless'Keir Starmer has threatened to withdraw an offer of thousands of extra NHS training posts if resident doctors do not call off a six-day strike after Easter.The prime minister has given the doctors' union, the British Medical Association, 48 hours to ditch its plans for industrial action or the government will pull the current offer from the table. Continue reading...

Jewish families narrowly escaped being struck by the car' after girl swerved towards them in Ripponlea, police say

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Jess Wilson tried to create a united front - and it worked for a minute. But the Victorian Liberals just couldn't help themselves

In today's newsletter: From breakthroughs to breakdowns, what we can expect to see - and what the consequences of the vote could beGood morning. On 7 May, voters in England will go to the polls for a series of local elections, on the same day that Scotland and Wales vote for new governments. It promises to be a torrid time for Keir Starmer and his governing Labour party, with Nigel Farage's Reform UK, Zack Polanski's Green party and Rhun ap Iorwerth's Plaid Cymru expected to make breakthroughs.Recent polling, though, suggests that the overall balance between those on the right and those on the left has barely shifted - rather, previously loyal Conservative voters are moving towards Farage's party, while Labour voters are deserting to other progressive options.Middle East crisis | Donald Trump has threatened to obliterate" Iran's power stations and fresh water plants if Tehran does not agree to peace terms shortly".Israel | Israel's parliament has passed a law imposing the death penalty on Palestinians convicted of fatal attacks, a measure sharply criticised as discriminatory by European countries and rights groups.BBC | The BBC has sacked the Radio 2 presenter Scott Mills after allegations about his personal conduct. The corporation said that while we do not comment on matters relating to individuals, we can confirm Scott Mills is no longer contracted and has left the BBC".Politics | Zack Polanski has kicked off a charm offensive designed to convince trade unions to stop funding Labour and throw their weight behind the Green party, as he delivered the first in a series of speeches to union conferences.Travelodge | A woman who was sexually assaulted by an employee at a Travelodge has said she was shocked to learn the hotel chain's boss cancelled a meeting with a group of MPs seeking to discuss concerns about the case. Continue reading...

Government told to focus on transition to mix of wind, solar, tidal and nuclear energyMore drilling in the North Sea would do nothing to improve the UK's energy security, former military leaders have said, as a new analysis finds no fossil fuel importer is safe from chokepoints in the global supply chain.The government should focus on a rapid transition to a mix of wind, solar, tidal and nuclear energy to ensure the UK's future security, the former military leaders told the Guardian, as well as a programme of energy efficiency and a major renewal" of the electricity grid. Continue reading...

Practice of using apartments to store relatives' ashes has risen as rapid urbanisation and aging population increases competition for cemetery plotsChina is introducing a law to stop people storing the ashes of their dead relatives in empty high-rise flats rather than paying steep costs for increasingly scarce cemetery plots.China's new funeral management legislation will prohibit the use of residential housing specifically for the purpose of storing cremated remains" and the burial of corpses or construction of tombs in areas other than public cemeteries". Continue reading...

Greens amendments to force new watchdog to scrutinise uni fees and the Jobs-Ready Graduates scheme rejected by federal government

New York-based Gao Zhen was detained in 2024 during a family visit to China and then tried for defaming national heroes'The Chinese dissident artist Gao Zhen, known for making satirical sculptures of China's former leader Mao Zedong, has been tried over accusations of defaming national heroes and martyrs", his wife and a rights group have said.Gao, 69, who was detained in 2024 during a visit to China from the US, faces a maximum three-year prison sentence, his wife, Zhao Yaliang, and Shane Yi, a researcher at the Chinese human rights defenders group, said. Continue reading...

Lawyers for Liam Alexander Hall say the 32-year-old is undergoing treatment in custody

Union celebrates landmark decision' that will mean adults aged 20 or younger are no longer paid less

Kuwait says fire broke out after Iranian attack on giant tanker and warns of possible oil spill in surrounding waters

Chad Bianco, the Riverside county sheriff also running for governor, had seized 650,000 ballotsChad Bianco, the Riverside county sheriff, has halted a contentious investigation into a alleged voter fraud that has drawn opposition from the state's attorney general.The move marks a major reversal for Bianco, a prominent Donald Trump supporter who is one of the top two Republican candidates running for the governorship of California. Continue reading...

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President says he is open to scaling back strikes on oil and wider energy industry if Moscow reciprocates. What we know on day 1,496 Continue reading...

If approved, move is latest in series of buildings, warships, institutions, programs and currency named after presidentHe has buildings, institutions, government programs, warships, currency, and now Donald Trump is getting an airport that bears his name even as he looks forward to a towering Trump presidential library in Miami.Ron DeSantis, Florida's governor, signed a bill on Monday saying the Palm Beach international airport was being renamed to the President Donald J Trump international airport. Continue reading...

Treasurer Jim Chalmers says changes will help with cost of living and Australians hate paying' the surcharges

Clowns in Bolivia are upset by mandate that stops schools hosting events from which they earn a livingDozens of clowns have marched through the streets of Bolivia's capital to protest against a government decree that limits extracurricular activities in schools, threatening their livelihoods.Wearing full face paint and their signature red noses, the clowns gathered on Monday in front of the ministry of education in La Paz to oppose a decree published in February. The new mandate says schools must comply with 200 days of lessons each year - in effect banning them from hosting the special events where the entertainers are frequently employed. Continue reading...

Former co-host of Kyle Sandilands filed proceedings in the federal court against Kiis licence holder

Ayman Ghazali, naturalized US citizen from Lebanon, often consumed content linked to Lebanese group onlineThe assailant who attacked a synagogue in Michigan earlier this month was inspired by Hezbollah, the FBI said on Monday.Jennifer Runyan, head of the FBI's Detroit field office, announced during a press conference that Ayman Ghazali, 41, had frequently consumed Hezbollah-related content online before the attack. In a video recorded before he drove his truck into Temple Israel in West Bloomfield Township - a north-western suburb of Detroit - on 12 March, Ghazali said he wanted to kill as many of them as I possibly can". Continue reading...

Cable signed by Marco Rubio and seen by Guardian suggests staff work with Pentagon psychological operations unitThe United States has directed every American embassy and consulate across the world to launch coordinated campaigns against foreign propaganda and endorses Elon Musk's X as an innovative" tool to help do it.The cable, signed by the secretary of state, Marco Rubio, on Monday and obtained by the Guardian, also suggests embassies and consulates work alongside the US military's psychological operations unit to address the problem of rampant disinformation. It lays out a sweeping set of instructions for how embassy staff should push back against what it describes as coordinated foreign efforts to undermine American interests abroad. Continue reading...

Justice department claims state is violating Title IX - the federal law that prohibits sex-based discriminationThe US Department of Justice sued Minnesota's education department and the state's school athletics body on Monday for allowing transgender athletes to compete in girls' sports.In a lawsuit, the justice department claims that by making female student athletes compete against transgender girls, as well as share locker rooms and bathrooms with them, Minnesota is violating Title IX - the federal law that prohibits sex-based discrimination for any programs that receive federal funding. Continue reading...

City regulator reduces number of loan agreements in line for compensation from 14m to 12m

Rights group also reports at least 30 injured in Gran Grif raid on Artibonite farming region and almost 6,000 displacedAt least 70 people have been killed and 30 injured during an attack in Haiti's breadbasket Artibonite region, significantly more than official estimates, a human rights group has said.Police initially reported 16 dead and 10 injured, while a preliminary report from civil protection authorities suggested 17 had died and 19 were wounded. Continue reading...

Knesset approves measure that has been criticised by European countries and rights groupsIsrael's parliament has passed a law imposing the death penalty on Palestinians convicted of fatal attacks, a measure sharply criticised as discriminatory by European countries and rights groups.The legislation makes the death penalty the default punishment for Palestinians in the Israeli-occupied West Bank found guilty of intentionally carrying out deadly attacks deemed acts of terrorism by a military court. Continue reading...

Negotiations deadlocked as No 10 wants more action on beach patrols but France has concerns over safetyThe UK's agreement with France to pay for beach patrols is on the verge of collapse amid wrangling over the number of small boat interceptions and the safety of asylum seekers in French waters.Negotiations over plans to revamp the three-year, 480m deal remain deadlocked, despite the involvement of ministers including Shabana Mahmood, the home secretary. The deal expires at midnight on Tuesday. Continue reading...

Oil prices on course for record monthly rise amid risk of further escalation and mixed messaging from USDonald Trump has threatened to obliterate" Iran's power stations and fresh water plants if Tehran does not agree to peace terms shortly", even as he claimed diplomatic progress in ending the war that was instigated by the US and Israel.Tehran has remained defiant during the month-long conflict, describing US peace proposals as excessive, unrealistic and irrational" and firing waves of missiles at Israel. Continue reading...

Ex-TV host pledged to centre party around equity, with higher wealth taxes, green energy and tuition-free education

Scheme for accusers of store's former owner Mohamed Al Fayed to close before end of retailer's internal investigationHarrods has been accused of being neither fair nor just" over its decision to close a compensation scheme for survivors of alleged sexual abuse by the luxury department store's former owner Mohamed Al Fayed.Kingsley Hayes, partner at KP Law, which is representing nearly 280 survivors, questioned why the scheme was being closed on Tuesday 31 March, before Harrods had completed an internal investigation into what happened and who knew about it. Continue reading...

Radio 2 breakfast show presenter departs over claims said to relate to a historic relationship' in latest crisis for BBCThe BBC has been plunged into a new crisis after sacking the Radio 2 presenter Scott Mills over allegations about his personal conduct.Mills, who hosted Britain's most popular radio breakfast show, was blindsided by the decision to take him off the air last Tuesday. The corporation has opted to terminate his contact after claims made against him. Continue reading...

The Green party leader said Ofsted is a failed institution' and that teaching should move toward a genuinely collaborative model'Starmer complained about other parties whipping up division, and he specifically criticised Nick Timothy, the shadow justice secretary, for complaining about Muslims praying in public".Labour, by contrast, values bringing people together, he said. Continue reading...