Need something brilliant to read this weekend? Here are six of our favourite pieces from the last seven days
Continue reading...NHS and MoD will be urged to buy British tech to drive growth amid Iran crisis
Treasury minister Spencer Livermore trails new strategy as chancellor pins hopes on benefits of AI amid global uncertainty
The NHS and Ministry of Defence will be urged to buy British tech, as the government pins its hopes on the benefits of artificial intelligence to kickstart growth in the face of the Iran crisis, Treasury minister Spencer Livermore has said.
The chancellor, Rachel Reeves, will restate her economic strategy in a high profile lecture on Tuesday, just as rocketing oil prices have raised fears of higher inflation and weaker growth.
Continue reading...‘Could be the making of him’: Starmer’s allies praise stance on Trump and Iran
Refusal to kowtow to US president has won public backing – and left Badenoch and Farage playing catch-up
It is not often that Keir Starmer’s allies believe he has Nigel Farage and Kemi Badenoch on the run – but on Iran, they think he is on the right side of history and public opinion.
“It could be the making of him,” said Emily Thornberry, the Labour chair of the foreign affairs committee, who was first out of the blocks to say she thought Donald Trump’s strikes on Iran were illegal. “You’ve not had a British prime minister say no to an American president since Vietnam. This is a big deal.”
Continue reading...Iran war: What is happening on day 15 of US-Israel attacks?
US hits Iran’s Kharg island as it warns oil sites may be next if Tehran disrupts shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.
The escalation trap: how the Iran war could become more costly and complex
Iran is trying to create wedges between Gulf states and the US, but Trump is very comfortable on the ‘escalatory ladder’
• Middle East crisis – live updates
In its current phase, the Israeli-US war against Iran and its proxies has become a proving ground for two competing concepts of military escalation, each of which threatens to become a trap.
On one side, Donald Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu have failed thus far in their ill-defined and shifting strategic aims. Despite killing Iran’s supreme leader, Ali Khamenei, and other key leaders in the opening salvo of the campaign, the clerical regime remains and Iran’s stockpile of highly enriched uranium is unsecured. Airstrikes are intensifying and hitting a greater number of targets.
Continue reading...Smoke seen rising from US embassy in Baghdad
Videos posted by social media users showed smoke rising from the US embassy in Baghdad after a reported attack.
Yemeni ports face shipping fee hike amid Iran conflict
Yemen’s government rejects new shipping surcharges, as fears grow of humanitarian crisis.
Hegseth claims Iran’s supreme leader is “wounded and likely disfigured” – Axios
- Hegseth claims Iran's supreme leader is "wounded and likely disfigured" Axios
- Iran’s new supreme leader has yet to appear, and the system may not need him to CNN
- Iran's new supreme leader wounded, likely disfigured, Hegseth says Reuters
- Iran’s new supreme leader vows continued retaliation across Gulf and oil routes PBS
- Politics The Economist
‘Hate-watch classic’ War of the Worlds sweeps Razzie Awards
Ice Cube's alien invasion adaptation receives five Razzies, which go to the year's worst movies.
Trump posts bombing video after saying US hit Kharg Island
Donald Trump shared footage of US air strikes on Iran's Kharg Island.
Italy ruling tells millions with Italian roots they have lost the right to citizenship – CNN
- Italy ruling tells millions with Italian roots they have lost the right to citizenship CNN
- Italy’s Constitutional Court rejects challenge to citizenship-by-descent reform Courthouse News
- In court, lawyer calls Tajani Decree 'a perfect Italian mess' Italianismo
- Constitutional Court Concludes Hearing on Controversial ‘Tajani’ Citizenship Law VisaHQ
- Italy's Constitutional Court hears challenge to citizenship crackdown The Local Italy
Trump claims US ‘way ahead of schedule’ in Iran war
US President Donald Trump said the United States is “way ahead of schedule” in its war with Iran.
Charges dropped against Georgia teens whose teacher died during toilet paper prank
The teacher's family had asked for charges, including one of homicide, to be dropped "to prevent a separate tragedy from occuring" over the prank turned fatal.
Projectile falls, explodes in Israel’s Negev
Video from the Negev in southern Israel captured the moment a projectile following an Iranian missile attack.
LA asks for investigation into 2028 Olympics chief over Epstein ties
The city council votes unanimously for an investigation into Casey Wasserman after he appeared in the Epstein files.
Los Angeles asks for investigation into LA28 Olympics chief over Epstein ties
The LA city council voted unanimously for an investigation into LA28 chief Casey Wasserman over his Epstein ties.
Experts doubt Hegseth claim no need to ‘worry about’ Hormuz
Experts doubt Pete Hegseth’s claims that the US is working effectively to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
Iran threatens to escalate war after Trump says ‘many countries’ will send warships to strait of Hormuz
US president calls on China, France, Japan and the UK to send vessels after US strikes Kharg Island oil facilities
Iran threatened on Saturday to further escalate the war raging in the Middle East by targeting any facility in the region with US ties, after Donald Trump predicted “many countries” would send warships to support a US bid to reopen by force the strait of Hormuz, a critical waterway closed to virtually all maritime traffic by Tehran since the beginning of the war.
Iran has responded to the joint US-Israeli offensive, which is entering its third week, with daily attacks on oil and other infrastructure around the Gulf region, as well as against Israel.
Continue reading...‘Cannot wait until December’: Dennis Richardson calls for urgency over Bondi attack failures after quitting inquiry
Former spy chief says recommendations regarding intelligence agencies shouldn’t wait for royal commission’s final report
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Improvements to public safety and intelligence in the wake of the Bondi terrorist attack “cannot wait until December”, former spy chief Dennis Richardson has said just days after he sensationally quit the antisemitism royal commission.
“You cannot leave matters that go to public safety till the end of the year, particularly when you have a small section of the community living in such fear,” Richardson told an ABC podcast.
Continue reading...Watch: Why Kharg Island is a lifeline for Iran
BBC Security Brief's Mikey Kay breaks down why Kharg Island is so strategically important for Tehran.