Iran War Live Updates: Israel Says It Killed Iranian Naval Commander as Trump Raises Pressure on Tehran

NS&I boss quits as bank faces record payout over missing savings

Pensions minister promises the ‘full truth’ as external advisers are hired to identify the scale of the errorsUK politics live – latest updatesBusiness live – latest updatesThe boss of National Savings and Investments has stepped down from his role after it emerged the bank will have to repay hundreds of millions of pounds to its customers over missing savings.The government-backed savings institution is in discussions with the Treasury to reunite about 37,500 people whose money has been misplaced because of historical failings, after a review identified about £470m in deposits affected. Continue reading...

Labour MP joins Tories in suggesting truth being hidden about Morgan McSweeney’s phone – UK politics live

A Labour MP joined the Conservatives in accusing McSweeney of a cover-upYesterday the Conservative party said that it wanted to ban political parties from distributing campaign literature in a foreign language. Announcing a plan to propose an amendement to the representation of the people bill to make this law, the shadow communities minister Paul Holmes said:Campaigning in a foreign language as the Greens did in Gorton and Denton only fosters greater division. A coherent national culture relies on shared values, and an inclusive electoral process relies on a common tongue.I think it’s for political parties to choose how they campaign and communicate with British voters. If they’re using British money that is funding their campaigns and they’re speaking to people who have the right to vote, then why would you not show those voters the respect of communication?What fuels division is Nick Timothy standing up and singling out Muslim forms of worship for a ban when he’s not applying that to forms of worship that other religions are talking about.It just doesn’t compute, does it? I worked in Number 10. Briefly, I had a Number 10 phone. There was a paranoia about devices like that falling into other people’s hands.And so whether it was the Met Police, whether it was Morgan McSweeney, and what sounds like pretty evasive set of reporting, even when you look at that transcript, or whether it was the Number 10 security team following up something that at the time they could not have been sure had not been taken by a state actor, a phone with all sorts of government secrets potentially in it, that’s precisely why people in government have two separate phones.I don’t believe McSwindle had his iPhone stolenHonest believe, Matt. It’s smacks of the liar Johnson defence of ‘lost all my WhatsApp messages’. We mustn’t take the public for fools. And I am afraid this smacks of too convenient by far. I won’t do it. I will say what I actually think. And I don’t believe it. End of!I believe the report was made. McSwindle didn’t mention that he was the chief of staff to the PM. A significant omission of he’d wanted the police to prioritise the offence. Continue reading...

Bill Maher to receive Kennedy Center’s Mark Twain prize after White House denial

Comedian who called Trump ‘gracious and measured’ will win humor award the White House dubbed ‘FAKE NEWS’Bill Maher will win the prestigious Mark Twain prize for American humor, the Kennedy Center said Thursday, less than a week after the White House forcefully denied that the comedian, who has had a hot-and-cold relationship with Donald Trump, would win it.“For nearly three decades, the Mark Twain prize has celebrated some of the greatest minds in comedy,” Roma Daravi, the Kennedy Center’s vice-president of public relations, said in a statement. “For even longer, Bill has been influencing American discourse — one politically incorrect joke at a time.” Continue reading...

Middle East crisis live: Israel says it has killed Iranian naval chief as Trump repeats claim Tehran ‘begging’ for deal

Israeli defence minister says Alireza Tangsiri was responsible for blocking the strait of HormuzAnalysis: Trump pitches peace plan but military buildups rarely veer to off-rampAn Iranian envoy has said South Korean ships can pass through the strait of Hormuz only after coordinating with Tehran, the Yonhap News Agency has reported.Such an agreement had to be reached in advance of the transit, said Saeed Khuzechi, the Iranian ambassador to South Korea, at a press conference in response to a question about guarantees for South Korean vessels to navigate the vital conduit for oil. Continue reading...

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Nearly 500 airport security staff quit as DHS shutdown drags on with no end in sight – US politics live

Negotiations to end funding standoff sparked by Trump administration’s immigration crackdown fail to find a breakthroughSign up for the Breaking News US emailThe Pentagon is preparing plans for a “final blow” in the war with Iran that could include deploying ground troops and a massive bombing campaign, Axios reports, citing four sources – including two US officials.The potential action is presented variously as a huge show of force that could allow the Trump administration extra leverage in peace negotiations with surviving regime officials in Tehran, or alternatively, could be presented as something that Trump could point to and declare victory. Continue reading...

Nato chief says Europe increased defence spending by 20% in 2025 - Europe live

Mark Rutte praised the US president, citing him as a key reason for why global leaders bolstered commitments to defence spendingMeanwhile, the US president, Donald Trump, has once again lashed out against Nato allies saying in a social media post that they have “done absolutely nothing to help” in Iran campaign.“The USA needs nothing from Nato, but ‘never forget’ this very important point in time,” he warned.“NATO NATIONS HAVE DONE ABSOLUTELY NOTHING TO HELP WITH THE LUNATIC NATION, NOW MILITARILY DECIMATED, OF IRAN. THE U.S.A. NEEDS NOTHING FROM NATO, BUT “NEVER FORGET” THIS VERY IMPORTANT POINT IN TIME! President DONALD J. TRUMP” Continue reading...

Starmer vows to tackle social media’s ‘addictive features’ to protect children

Prime minister says UK must do more to regulate against potential harms after landmark ruling in US courtKeir Starmer has said he will tackle “addictive features” in social media amid increasing signs the UK government is preparing to crack down on risks to children after a landmark US court verdict that held Meta and YouTube responsible for harms caused by designing addictive technology.The prime minister said the verdict in a California court signals a rising public expectation for more aggressive regulation and said: “I’m absolutely clear that we need to go further.” Continue reading...

Iranian naval chief killed in attack, Israel says

Israel says it has killed IRGC naval commander Alireza Tangsiri in a strike near Bandar Abbas by the Strait of Hormuz.