Pete Hegseth denies Iran war is a ‘quagmire’ as estimated US cost so far hits $25bn

Matthew Pennycook says ending system must be done slowly to avoid hitting housing supply and legal pitfallsA ban on new leasehold properties in England and Wales is unlikely to come into force until after the next election, the housing minister has said, as he defended the government’s piecemeal attempts to dismantle the system.The long-promised end would take years to “switch on”, Matthew Pennycook said, even though the ban of leaseholds on new houses was passed in 2024 and the government intends to pass one on new flats soon. Continue reading...

Terri Sewell and Shomari Figures are at risk of losing their seats in Alabama’s Black congressional districts after rulingThe lawmakers who represent Alabama’s two Black congressional districts, who are now at risk of losing their seats after the supreme court effectively decimated the Voting Rights Act, said the decision sends the US “backwards”.The 6-3 ruling in Louisiana v Callais on Wednesday weakens a key provision of the Voting Rights Act, opening the door for Republicans to eliminate majority-minority congressional districts across the south, and representatives Terri Sewell and Shomari Figures stand in the crosshairs. Continue reading...

Accusation vessel contains grain looted from Russian-occupied territories triggers diplomatic spat between both nations Ukraine has asked Israel to seize a vessel it claims is carrying grain looted from Russian-occupied territories, triggering a rare diplomatic spat between the two countries.The dispute spilt into public view this week when president Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that “another vessel” carrying grain “stolen by Russia” had arrived at a port in Israel and was preparing to unload. Continue reading...

Attorneys, citing new evidence including selfies, filed a motion to detain Cole Tomas Allen until his trial Sign up for the Breaking News US email to get newsletter alerts in your inboxFederal prosecutors provided in a filing Wednesday the most detailed account to date of Cole Tomas Allen’s alleged weeks-long plan to kill Donald Trump and several members of his cabinet who had joined more than 2,500 members of the Washington press corps for their annual White House correspondents’ dinner.The motion, aimed at keeping Allen detained and filed by the US attorney for DC, Jeanine Pirro, includes two selfies of the alleged shooter standing in front of a mirror in his hotel room in a black suit, a slight smirk crossing his face. He is kitted out with two firearms and multiple knives tucked into his belt. Prosecutors allege they are the same weapons that were confiscated from Allen after the attack. Continue reading...

Rival parties demand investigation as Tory party chair refers Reform UK leader to commissioner over gift from crypto tycoonExclusive: Farage given undisclosed £5m by crypto tyoonAnalysis: Farage’s attempt to get ahead of story raises more questionsNigel Farage has been referred to parliament’s standards watchdog after the Guardian revealed he received an undeclared £5m gift from a party donor.The referral was made by the Conservative party citing rules that require MPs to declare any “personal benefit” they have received in the 12 months before taking office, and to do so within a month of being elected. Continue reading...

Narges Mohammadi denied medical leave from prison in spite of sharp decline in health and drastic weight loss, say lawyersThe family of the jailed Iranian Nobel laureate Narges Mohammadi say they fear for her life after a sharp deterioration in her health, suspected heart attack and drop in body weight of almost 20kg (44lb).The 54-year-old human rights activist, who was awarded the 2023 Nobel peace prize while in prison, had been released for health reasons in 2024. She was re-arrested in December 2025 during the memorial service of a fellow human rights activist and is being held in Zanjan central prison, in north-west Iran. Continue reading...

Former FBI director indicted over social media post from last year of seashells arranged into ‘86 47’US politics live – latest updatesJames Comey surrendered to authorities on Wednesday at the eastern district of Virginia after the justice department indicted him this week for a second time.The former FBI director was indicted in North Carolina on Tuesday because of a post he made on social media last year of seashells arranged into the numbers “86 47” which the Department of Justice has called a threat against Donald Trump. The number 86 can be used as shorthand for getting rid of something, and Trump is the 47th president. Continue reading...

Justices in unanimous decision revive federal suit brought by anti-abortion ‘crisis pregnancy centers’ in the stateSign up for the Breaking News US email to get newsletter alerts in your inboxThe US supreme court sided on Wednesday with the operator of Christian faith-based anti-abortion “crisis pregnancy centers” in New Jersey that is trying to impede a state investigation into whether the facilities engage in deceptive practices.The justices, in a unanimous decision, revived a federal lawsuit brought by First Choice Women’s Resource Centers challenging a 2023 subpoena from the state attorney general seeking information on the organization’s donors and doctors. A lower court had thrown out the lawsuit. Continue reading...

Ángel Mateos González due to play for CD Colunga, making him oldest player to take part in official matchAt an age when many veteran footballers might prefer to be regaling grandchildren, friends and assorted barflies with slightly embroidered tales of their former sporting prowess, 70-year-old Ángel Mateos González is heading back on to the pitch.The Spaniard, who retired from competitive football 27 years ago, is due to play in goal for the Asturian team CD Colunga in a fifth-tier match this Sunday. If all goes to plan and he pulls on his gloves, he will reportedly become the oldest player to take part in an official match in Spain. Continue reading...

After an acclaimed, Olivier-winning run on the West End, Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s musical revival will transfer to New YorkAfter months of speculation, the award-winning Evita revival will officially transfer to Broadway in spring 2027.The West End run starred Rachel Zegler in the lead role, winning the actor an Olivier award, and she will follow the revival to New York. The triumphant new take on Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s musical tale of activist and actor Eva Perón is directed by Jamie Lloyd, who previously won a Tony for reviving Sunset Boulevard. Continue reading...

Residents call for stronger action after two men attacked on north London street in suspected antisemitic incident “People feel scared, people feel unsafe,” says Baruch Stern from Gross Butchers, behind the cordon raised after two men were stabbed in north London in an apparent antisemitic attack.“People think, is it really the place for me to be here? Is the UK safe for Jewish people, or is it something we need to think about, moving away?” Continue reading...