Good morning.
The vice-president, JD Vance, used false claims to blame Democrats for the government shutdown as the White House warned that worker layoffs were imminent.
A number of boats from a pro-Palestinian flotilla have been roughly 75 miles off the coast of Gaza, as the vessels attempted to breach the maritime blockade of the war-torn territory and bring aid.
The raid of 13 boats began with the flotilla’s leading vessel, Alma, whose crew – including Swedish climate campaigner Greta Thunberg – were arrested and detained by Israeli soldiers on Wednesday.
Israel’s naval blockade was imposed in 2009 by Israel, an intensification of its 2007 blockade of Gaza in response to Hamas seizing control of the territory. It has been condemned by the UN as “a direct contravention of international human rights and humanitarian law”.
In 2010, 10 Turkish activists were killed by Israeli commandos who leading an aid flotilla towards Gaza.
The Israeli military has issued what it said was its final warning for Gaza City residents to flee as it and offensive on Wednesday.
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Dozens of US flags used for Donald Trump’s unprecedented second state visit to the UK last month because the stripes were the wrong shade of red, a government supplier has claimed.
The switch of the 66 hand-sewn flags that had been due to be used along the Mall in London and at Windsor Castle cost an estimated 52,800 ($71,300) in public funds. The US embassy has not commented.
“The Americans decided that...
Since the start of Pope Leo XIV's papacy in May 2025, he has been the subject of numerous rumors about things he has said, his political opinions and more. As the first American pope in history, m...