A federal judge ruled Friday that she has no authority to reinstate a Yosemite National Park ranger who was fired for unfurling a transgender pride flag at the El Capitan rock formation last year. The decision doesn’t address Shannon “SJ” Joslin’s allegation that the firing selectively targeted them for speech protected by the First Amendment.…

A federal judge ruled Friday that she has no authority to reinstate a Yosemite National Park ranger who was fired for unfurling a transgender pride flag at the El Capitan rock formation last year. The decision doesn’t address Shannon “SJ” Joslin’s allegation that the firing selectively targeted them for speech protected by the First Amendment.…

US president dismisses Iranian media reports agreement is close, despite earlier suggesting a deal could be signed this weekend

Prospects for an immediate end to the war between Iran and the US remained uncertain on Friday amid a chaotic series of conflicting claims and counter-claims by US and Iranian officials about ongoing negotiations.

Donald Trump seemed to distance himself from his earlier comments that suggested a preliminary agreement could be signed as soon as this weekend, with a series of angry social media posts describing the Iranians as “very dishonorable people to deal with”.

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© Photograph: Vahid Salemi/AP

© Photograph: Vahid Salemi/AP

© Photograph: Vahid Salemi/AP

The prime minister of Pakistan said Friday the U.S. and Iran reached an agreement on a peace framework to end the more than 100-day war. The country has been leading the mediation efforts between the two sides to bring the Middle East hostilities to an end and reopen the Strait of Hormuz. The effective closure…

The prime minister of Pakistan said Friday the U.S. and Iran reached an agreement on a peace framework to end the more than 100-day war. The country has been leading the mediation efforts between the two sides to bring the Middle East hostilities to an end and reopen the Strait of Hormuz. The effective closure…

Amid rhetoric, market uncertainty and tit-for-tat exchanges, the two sides are still trying to find a way out of the impasse

Great news! Donald Trump has said the US and Iran are on the verge of a peace agreement. Oil prices are down, and the stock market is up. This comes only hours after Trump warned Iran was about to be struck “VERY HARD”, a threat that had sent oil prices up and stocks down.

It has been another ride on the Trump rollercoaster, keeping traders on edge, most of the world poorer, and people of the Middle East constantly whiplashing between fear and hope. But whether the ride veers up or down, the management always makes money.

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© Photograph: Kent Nishimura/AFP/Getty Images

© Photograph: Kent Nishimura/AFP/Getty Images

© Photograph: Kent Nishimura/AFP/Getty Images

Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) is pressing the messaging platform Kik over its dangers to users, accusing the platform of “turning a blind eye” or “allowing” the exploitation and abuse of minors. The letter, sent Friday and first shared with The Hill, comes a week after the National Center on Sexual Exploitation (NCOSE) released a new…

Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) is pressing the messaging platform Kik over its dangers to users, accusing the platform of “turning a blind eye” or “allowing” the exploitation and abuse of minors. The letter, sent Friday and first shared with The Hill, comes a week after the National Center on Sexual Exploitation (NCOSE) released a new…

President Trump on Friday discredited details of a new U.S.-Iran peace deal that Tehran shared with various news organizations. “The terms that Iran leaked out to the Fake News have NOTHING to do with the terms that were agreed to, in writing,” Trump wrote in a Truth Social post.  “What they said, including their weak…

President Trump on Friday discredited details of a new U.S.-Iran peace deal that Tehran shared with various news organizations. “The terms that Iran leaked out to the Fake News have NOTHING to do with the terms that were agreed to, in writing,” Trump wrote in a Truth Social post.  “What they said, including their weak…

Prime minister promises to fight any leadership challenge as he faces escalating row over military spending

Keir Starmer has admitted that he has to “turn things around” after the resignation of the defence secretary, John Healey, in an escalating row over military spending that has prompted recriminations across Whitehall and concern from the US.

Downing Street and the Treasury traded blows with allies of Healey on Friday. No 10 expressed dismay that the Ministry of Defence (MoD) had wanted £18bn to plug funding gaps in major projects, while those close to the former defence secretary accused Starmer of failing to acknowledge the deterioration in global security.

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© Photograph: Simon Dawson/No 10 Downing Street

© Photograph: Simon Dawson/No 10 Downing Street

© Photograph: Simon Dawson/No 10 Downing Street

Sen. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) said Thursday evening that President Trump’s account of the state of negotiations to end the Iran war “lacks a lot of credibility.”  Trump earlier in the day threatened ramped-up strikes on Tehran but later canceled them with a promise that Iran’s supreme leader had approved a deal to reopen the Strait…

Sen. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) said Thursday evening that President Trump’s account of the state of negotiations to end the Iran war “lacks a lot of credibility.”  Trump earlier in the day threatened ramped-up strikes on Tehran but later canceled them with a promise that Iran’s supreme leader had approved a deal to reopen the Strait…

A federal judge chastised the Trump administration for ignoring a ruling last week ordering it to immediately resume processing of immigration applications paused in the wake of a deadly shooting of National Guard officers. U.S. District Judge John McConnell last week found the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) was unlawfully pausing immigration processing for nationals from a…

A federal judge chastised the Trump administration for ignoring a ruling last week ordering it to immediately resume processing of immigration applications paused in the wake of a deadly shooting of National Guard officers. U.S. District Judge John McConnell last week found the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) was unlawfully pausing immigration processing for nationals from a…

Starmer shows no will to pursue the main options for rising commitments: spending cuts, tax rises or borrowing

• UK politics live – latest updates

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When Keir Starmer wanted to promise Donald Trump that the UK would increase defence spending, he decided to fund it by slashing the UK’s aid budget – losing a cabinet minister, Anneliese Dodds, in the process.

This time around, with John Healey’s Ministry of Defence (MoD) demanding an additional £18.5bn over four years to fund the defence investment plan, there was no such lever to hand.

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© Photograph: Adrian Dennis/AFP Pool/AP

© Photograph: Adrian Dennis/AFP Pool/AP

© Photograph: Adrian Dennis/AFP Pool/AP

Conservative pundit Tucker Carlson took a swipe at President Trump over the way he is “selling” the ongoing military operation with Iran to the American people. “As of right now, Iran controls the Strait of Hormuz. It did not when this war began. Now it does,” Carlson said on a recent episode of his podcast…

Conservative pundit Tucker Carlson took a swipe at President Trump over the way he is “selling” the ongoing military operation with Iran to the American people. “As of right now, Iran controls the Strait of Hormuz. It did not when this war began. Now it does,” Carlson said on a recent episode of his podcast…

The Iranian regime on Thursday signaled the U.S. and Tehran “had not reached a final conclusion” on a deal to end hostilities in the region, despite President Trump’s claim of a breakthrough in negotiations. Foreign ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei said “most of the text of the agreement was finalized, but the problem began when the…

The Iranian regime on Thursday signaled the U.S. and Tehran “had not reached a final conclusion” on a deal to end hostilities in the region, despite President Trump’s claim of a breakthrough in negotiations. Foreign ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei said “most of the text of the agreement was finalized, but the problem began when the…