1 hour ago Why dreams of regime change in Iran will end in a rude awakening | Rajan Menon

It would be naive to believe that the US could take a wrecking ball to the Iranian state and walk away unaffectedDuring his three presidential campaigns, Donald Trump lambasted “forever wars” and “regime change” interventions. More than any candidate, he sensed the war-weariness of Americans after the fiascos in Iraq, Afghanistan and Libya, and especially the dismay of military veterans, 60% of whom voted for him over Hillary Clinton, Joe Biden and Kamala Harris. Trump’s maverick, anti-interventionist “America First” narrative also resonated strongly with those in the Maga movement who have never served in the military, particularly blue-collar workers.Now, Trump, once an unsparing critic of military misadventures, has bombed the nuclear enrichment installations of Iran, a country that hadn’t attacked the US, wasn’t preparing to and didn’t even threaten war. Since the bombing, Trump has gone further: he has ruminated about regime change in Iran. His transformation has startled many ...

Politics

1 hour ago Race is on for Boden shoppers to bag luxurious £140 coat reduced to £77 that’s perfect for country walks

It's ideal for outdoors days at any time of year - but it's selling out fast

Economics

3 h. ago GOP plan to sell more than 2 million acres of federal lands is found to violate Senate rules

A plan to sell more than 2 million acres of federal lands has been ruled out of Republicans’ big tax and spending cut bill after the Senate parliamentarian determined the proposal by Senate Energy Chairman Mike Lee would violate the chamber’s rules

Politics

5 h. ago Shoppers rave about Next's £50 suitcase that fits easyJet and Jet2's cabin bag dimensions

The Flight Knight Cabin Case is available to buy from Next, Amazon, and Debenhams and is a hit with holidaymakers

Economics

6 h. ago Trump ‘flying into big success’ at Nato summit, claims Rutte who praises his ‘decisive action’ in Iran – Europe live

US president shares screenshot of congratulatory text message from Nato chief as he travels to summit in The HagueAnalysis: Summit set to be triumphant for Trump but deflating for UkraineWhittaker also says that he is expecting US president Donald Trump “might deliver some remarks” on his views on the summit, as he stresses that “we need to make sure that everyone’s investing in the common defence of the Alliance.”“I don’t want to sort of steal what he might say, nor do I claim to be able to read his mind and know what he’s going to say. But I think he has demonstrated through, again, decisive action leading to peace.”“And again, that’s good for Europe, because there’s been a lot of irregular flows of migrants through Europe, from the Middle East because of the instability. And so hopefully, with Syria now appearing to be stable, with Iran, maybe in check a little more than they had been, I think we could really see a generational moment here where the Middle East is more stable tha...

Politics

6 h. ago Rich Kids of Instagram star who branded himself ‘Kardashian of Cheshire’ admits £195,000 luxury handbag fraud

Reality TV star Jack Watkin, 26, spent proceeds of fraud on £100,000 stay at The Dorchester and shopping in Harrods

Economics

6 h. ago Rita Ora's £50 Primark handbag 'looks like' £200 designer label

Shoppers looking for high-end style for less are likely to love Primark's 'perfect' new bag

Economics

7 h. ago Harrods shopper spends £8 on Too Good To Go bag and is startled by what's inside

A shopper was stunned recently after getting two Too Good To Go bags from the UK's most luxurious shop, with food items worth £51.75 - and they insist others should follow suit

Economics

7 h. ago Starmer: No tax rises on working people to reach 5% defence spending pledge

He said the current commitment to get defence spending up to 2.5% of GDP was coming from cuts to overseas development aid.

Economics

7 h. ago Kiefer/Van Gogh review – Anselm puts the nightmare into Vincent’s sunflower visions

Royal Academy, LondonThe Dutch artist looks like a prophet of the Holocaust when viewed through the 80-year-old German painter’s dark lens in this startling show, which makes you see how Van Gogh might have painted modern horrorsVincent van Gogh was born in 1853, in the middle of the comparatively peaceful 19th century. If he hadn’t shot himself in a cornfield at the age of 37, and had made it to his 60s, he could have witnessed all that end in the 1914-18 war. If he’d lived to 80, he would have read in his newspaper, at an Arles cafe table, of the election of Adolf Hitler as German chancellor, and in 1945, at 92, watched newsreel footage of the emaciated survivors of Belsen.Odd thoughts, but they are stoked by the Royal Academy’s strange and startling exhibition. This is an intimate encounter between the great living German history painter, to mark his 80th year, and his hero Van Gogh. It juxtaposes his responses to the latter, from teenage drawings to recent gold-spattered wheatfi...

Politics

7 h. ago Starmer leaves door open for tax rises to fund rise in defence spending

IFS director Paul Johnson warned that the £30bn increase in defence spending would need to be funded by tax rises

Economics

8 h. ago Poop Cruise review – a fascinating look at a toilet disaster that still haunts passengers 12 years later

In 2013, more than 4,000 people on a malfunctioning 13-storey holiday boat had to spend days defecating into bags. This catch-up with passengers makes for a fun hour of unintentional comedyWith the latest instalments of the series Trainwreck, Netflix appears to be trying to grant us some brief summer break from the worst kind of horrors the true crime genre can offer. In contrast to previous episodes, which looked at the Woodstock 99 riots and Astroworld tragedy that saw 10 people die in a crowd crush at a massive Live Nation-organised concert – including a nine-year-old child – it has suddenly pivoted in tone.Last week it gave us Mayor of Mayhem, the tale of Rob “I am not a crack addict” Ford, the crack-addicted mayor of Toronto and his very un-Canadian way of doing municipal business. In coming weeks, there will be accounts of the balloon boy’s story, a private investigation agency run by soccer moms, and “the greatest shitpost ever made”. Whether this tonal change comes as a reli...

Events

8 h. ago Brits embrace 'no spend days' and savvy banking hacks to boost savings

A new poll has revealed the money-saving tactics Brits have adopted - and how they are making their money go further

Economics

8 h. ago Keir Starmer won't say where £30BILLION A YEAR of extra defence cash will come from as he joins Nato summit vowing to hit target for spending 3.5% of GDP

Keir Starmer insisted the government will say 'precisely' how it will fund the goal of spending 3.5 per cent of GDP on defence at a later stage.

Economics

8 h. ago Cabin bag 'perfect for easyJet' flights sends Amazon shoppers wild and it's only £20

The Lossga bag is available to buy on Amazon in the UK for £20.30 and has received a number of positive reviews from shoppers who have used it as hand luggage for easyJet

Economics

8 h. ago Man spends £2 on board game from charity shop but strikes gold with true value

An excited charity shop customer couldn't believe his luck after learning the true value of a rare Monopoly board game he discovered by chance and paid just £2 for

Economics

8 h. ago Primark's £50 leather bag that 'elevates' any outfit 'so similar' to £275 brand

The store's new accessory looks similar to a luxury version for a fraction of the cost

Economics

8 h. ago Next £29 sandals available in four colours becomes shopper's 'go to' for summer

'I’ve been buying these for many years, always comfortable and good value. Would recommend.'

Economics

8 h. ago Unthinkable Russia should outproduce us, Nato’s Rutte says, as summit waits for arrival of Trump – Europe live

Nato secretary general urges alliance to push for military investment before arrival of US president this eveningAnalysis: Summit set to be triumphant for Trump but deflating for UkraineWhittaker also says that he is expecting US president Donald Trump “might deliver some remarks” on his views on the summit, as he stresses that “we need to make sure that everyone’s investing in the common defence of the Alliance.”“I don’t want to sort of steal what he might say, nor do I claim to be able to read his mind and know what he’s going to say. But I think he has demonstrated through, again, decisive action leading to peace.”“And again, that’s good for Europe, because there’s been a lot of irregular flows of migrants through Europe, from the Middle East because of the instability. And so hopefully, with Syria now appearing to be stable, with Iran, maybe in check a little more than they had been, I think we could really see a generational moment here where the Middle East is more stable than...

Politics

9 h. ago Film director, 69, discovered murdered in her Camden flat was stabbed eight times by her sister whose diamond Rolex watch was found in her bag when she was arrested, court hears

Jennifer Abbott, 69, was discovered in her flat stabbed eight times by her sister, Nancy Pexton, 69, who was later found with her diamond Rolex watch, a court heard today. 

Events