Washington and Tehran have begun direct, high-level talks for the first time since 1979, aiming to restore diplomatic ties, ease sanctions and safeguard Gulf shipping. The US says mine clearance is under way in a key strait. Envoys plan confidence‑building steps as groundwork for a broader accord.
Bridget Phillipson faces claims she blocked proposed changes to equality law aimed at strengthening single‑sex spaces, allegedly prioritising ambition over safeguarding. Her allies say current rules suffice. The dispute intensifies scrutiny of how sex should be defined in legislation.
Defence sources say the Navy may ask France to help patrol UK waters as the fleet is overstretched amid increased activity by a hostile state’s vessels. Ministers are urged to strengthen capability and deepen cooperation with allies to safeguard home waters and maintain deterrence.
Wes Streeting says corridor treatment leaves him “ashamed” and vows swift action to end it. After a hospital visit, he pledged reforms to expand capacity, cut waits and support staff so patients are treated in proper wards, calling current practice undignified and unsafe.
An innocent man has been freed after 38 years in prison, with no official apology. His case, marked by flawed evidence and disclosure failures, has become a test of the justice system, prompting calls for an inquiry, formal exoneration and fair compensation.
The PM has shelved plans to hand sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius while leasing back the Diego Garcia base. Kemi Badenoch hailed the climbdown and urged the deal’s scrapping. The bill won’t feature in the King’s Speech, and senior figures call for an inquiry to put British interests first.
A veteran TV presenter is receiving hospital care after a suspected stroke. Admitted on Tuesday, he remains on a ward under observation as doctors monitor his condition. Colleagues have offered support while he continues treatment.
Artemis II’s crew returned safely after a 10‑day lunar mission, achieving a precise splashdown hailed as a bullseye. The flight validated life‑support and navigation systems and set a new human‑distance record.
Half-term getaways face disruption as a jet‑fuel shortage threatens UK airports. Airlines warn cancellations could begin within weeks, with insurers unlikely to cover trips if flights are axed. Supply pressures from refinery issues and shipping delays are blamed; ministers are in talks with industry.
Downing Street has shelved plans to transfer sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius after pushback from Washington. The US President called the proposal an “act of stupidity”, and security concerns over Diego Garcia led the PM to drop the enabling legislation.
A superfan has spent £5,000 creating a home shrine to her favourite radio DJ, filling a room with photos and memorabilia. She says her support remains undimmed even after he was dropped from his show.
US inflation rose to a two-year high in March, driven by higher fuel and sticky services costs. Traders cut expectations of early Fed rate cuts, pushing up US Treasury yields and the dollar. The figures point to tighter policy for longer and continued pressure on household budgets.
North Sea oil hit a record, with immediate-delivery barrels near $141. Tensions in the Gulf and risks to the Strait of Hormuz lifted prices, inflating the value of UK reserves, estimated up to £385bn. Pressure grows on ministers to allow more North Sea drilling to bolster energy security and revenues.
A senior royal faces a defamation claim from a health charity he co‑founded in memory of his mother. He resigned as patron last year after a dispute with the chair. The charity alleges damaging online statements and is pursuing legal action; he is expected to contest it.
D-Day veteran Mervyn Kersh, 101, urges Britain and its allies to preserve peace through strength. He argues credible deterrence stops aggression, echoing lessons from the 1930s, and calls for investment, resolve and unity as global insecurity rises.
Insiders warn delays to a £300bn Defence Investment Plan risk leaving the UK short of vital equipment and personnel. A former senior commander and industry chiefs cite a procurement vacuum after a Whitehall funding dispute. Pressure mounts on the PM to sign off spending and bolster deterrence with allies.
JD Vance warned against brinkmanship ahead of talks with Iran, setting firm preconditions and insisting key issues are settled before negotiations begin. Washington signalled readiness to take further action if needed, while a fragile ceasefire remains in place.
The PM urged European allies to boost funding for Nato and stand firm despite Trump’s threat to leave the alliance. He said Nato strengthens UK security and is in America’s interests, linking higher living costs to overseas turmoil and calling for a stronger, better-resourced alliance.