Messages

• President Trump stated US objectives in the Iran conflict are nearly achieved yet simultaneously threatened even more intense strikes in the weeks ahead, creating confusion about American strategy. • With no declared exit strategy and rising fears of Iranian retaliation, analysts question whether the military campaign is winding down or entering a more dangerous phase. • UK-led talks planned for next week in London will include plans for possible military actions to clear the Strait of Hormuz, with the US not involved in these negotiations.

Speaking in South Korea, the French president defended the transatlantic alliance and called for return to peaceMiddle East crisis – live updatesEmmanuel Macron has sharply criticised Donald Trump’s inconsistent and often contradictory pronouncements on the Iran war and Nato, saying if “you want to be serious” it was better not to come out with a something different every day.“There is too much talk … and it’s all over the place,” the French president said on Thursday during a state visit to South Korea. “We all need stability, calm, a return to peace – this isn’t a show!” Continue reading...

Exchanges about US ambassador appointment may be lost after McSweeney’s phone was stolenUK politics live – latest updatesPeter Mandelson will be asked to supply messages from his personal phone as part of the investigation into his appointment as Keir Starmer’s ambassador to the US.In February, MPs forced the government to commit to publishing tens of thousands of documents after a controversy erupted over the prime minister’s awareness of the former peer’s links to the convicted child sex offender Jeffrey Epstein before he was given the prestigious posting. Continue reading...

Senior public servant wrote ‘police will be dispersing them if numbers exceed capacity’ while premier says protesters confronted after attempting to marchGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastPolice planned to disperse the crowd at a Sydney protest against the visiting Israeli president, Isaac Herzog, if it exceeded 6,000 people, according to correspondence between senior New South Wales public servants.The messages released under freedom of information (FoI) laws contain information not referenced in public comments by the NSW premier, Chris Minns, and the police commissioner, Mal Lanyon. Continue reading...