Top Democrats accuse Republicans of becoming ‘gelatinous blobs’ on Iran war | First Thing

• The United Nations has formally launched the global selection process to find a successor for the outgoing Secretary-General, António Guterres. • The search occurs against a backdrop of escalating geopolitical flashpoints and compounding global crises that are currently straining multilateral diplomacy.

• Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claimed responsibility on Thursday for an attack on a US military base located in Kuwait as part of "Operation Nasr-2." • In a retaliatory move, US air strikes targeting Iran's Zanjan province resulted in the deaths of at least three IRGC members.

• The provided text argues that peace diplomacy should not be measured by quantitative metrics or traditional weighing systems. • The core objective of these diplomatic efforts is to prevent the onset of conflicts and wars, reduce escalation during active hostilities, and facilitate post-war rebuilding.

• Iran utilized a three-day lull in bombings and Omani mediation as a tactical respite to replenish missile launchers and prepare a surprise attack. • The situation escalated rapidly within the last 24 hours, resulting in the largest wave of U.S. strikes against the Revolutionary Guard since the conflict began.

Kaohly Her is accused of inappropriate conduct and creating a ‘sexualized work environment’ by senior officialsUS politics live – latest updatesA second senior police official in St Paul has alleged sexual harassment and inappropriate conduct by the Minnesota city’s Democratic mayor, Kaohly Her, following confirmation that an inquiry into her behavior was launched earlier this year.The new claims were reported on Thursday by the Minnesota Star Tribune, which said it obtained further details of the mayor’s alleged actions that gave rise to the original complaint by Axel Henry, the police chief of St Paul. Continue reading...

Energy prices have soared again since fighting between US and Iran resumed two weeks ago as conflict spreads across Middle EastMiddle East crisis live – latest updatesIran said it struck two tankers trying to pass through the strait of Hormuz under the escort of the US military, as Donald Trump gathered his cabinet at to discuss the stalling war and rising prices as midterm election in the US loom.Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said they had hit two tankers trying to pass through the strait on Friday. Continue reading...

Celebrities including Charli xcx and Gabbriette and avant-garde brands honour tradition while also rejecting itIf a wedding day brings to mind a bride dressed in a big white dress, the styles coming down the aisle in the near future may strike you as a little different. Whether it is through celebrity references, or new brands, wedding gowns are entering a more experimental era.For Charli xcx’s marriage to the 1975 drummer George Daniel last year, the bride wore a minidress and sunglasses. Continue reading...

Move seeking $3.25m in damages six months after mother of Today show host Savannah Guthrie was last seen safeTwo men questioned early in the search for NBC’s Today Show host Savannah Guthrie’s missing mother said they will file a $3.25m wrongful arrest lawsuit against the sheriff who detained them, as the investigation passes the six-month mark this weekend.Nancy Guthrie, 84, was last seen safe while at her Tucson, Arizona, home on 1 February. Authorities, including the FBI, believe she was kidnapped. But despite a number of leads and blood spatters at the house, no further trace of her has been found, and no suspects have emerged. Continue reading...

Scientists and sky gazers will watch intently as rocket’s upper stage slams into lunar surface on WednesdayA drifting SpaceX rocket is on a collision course with the moon after launching a pair of lunar landers more than a year ago.The rocket’s upper stage will unintentionally slam into the moon on Wednesday, carving out a crater and sending up a plume of dust and rubble that scientists – and sky gazers – are eager to observe. Continue reading...

Exclusive: Danielle Kirton calls on Ed Miliband to help her get answers about why evacuation order came too lateThe bereaved daughter of a British couple who died in a Spanish wildfire is calling on Ed Miliband to get answers from Spain’s government about why her parents were not told to evacuate until it was too late.Severe wildfires have burned across Spain and France since early July, killing people, destroying thousands of homes and forcing more than 300,000 people to flee. Continue reading...

UK prime minister is the first head of a major nation to call on the under-pressure Fifa president to step downUK politics live – latest updatesAndy Burnham has called on the Fifa president, Gianni Infantino, to resign over his “outrageous” plans to sell a stake in the World Cup.Infantino faces growing pressure over his proposals, which triggered a backlash among major football bodies and prompted the resignation on Friday of a key advisor. Continue reading...

Prime minister says he has ‘concerns’ about one of most significant overhauls of Keir Starmer’s governmentUK politics live – latest updatesAndy Burnham has indicated he will scrap plans to curtail jury trials in England and Wales, abandoning one of the most significant overhauls of Keir Starmer’s government.The prime minister said he had “concerns” about the proposals and that his “instincts” were to keep juries at the heart of the justice system. Continue reading...