California’s leaders attack president after he suggests Iran could ‘take out’ Los Angeles or San Diego. Plus an auction of some of the most famous props in movie history
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Good morning. Donald Trump has suggested Iran could “take out” Los Angeles and San Diego, in comments described as “reckless” and “deranged” by California officials. At a rally in Nebraska on Monday, the crowd applauded when the US president said high prices owing to the war with Iran were a “small price to pay for keeping the world safe – keeping our country safe”. He added: “They can take out a city. Let them take out Los Angeles. Let them take out San Diego.”
Gavin Newsom, the governor of California and a Democrat who has repeatedly clashed with Trump during his two terms, said from his press office account: “Let’s be clear: the president is advocating for an attack on 10+ million US residents in two of America’s largest cities. This is not normal … He is deranged and dangerous.”
What is happening with Trump’s approval rating? A new Reuters/Ipsos poll shows Trump’s approval rating at a record low of 32% and the president losing support among independent voters and Latinos, who had backed him in 2024. The dip comes before the crucial midterm elections in November that will determine control of Congress.
What is the latest with taxpayer-funded Trump ads? After repeated criticism, Trump said on Monday he would pay for the hitherto taxpayer-funded ads from Maga Inc, his political war chest. He provided no details on reimbursing taxpayers for ads that had already aired, nor how he would go about having his political organization pay for such advertising.
Saudi-backed forces recapture key areas around strait from Houthis in Yemen
Forces of the Saudi-led coalition fighting in Yemen have recaptured several key areas around the Bab al-Mandab strait from Iran-backed Houthi rebels, Yemeni officials said. The push by Yemen’s internationally recognized government was part of a large offensive launched early Monday under an air cover by a Saudi military coalition, which aimed to retake all territory held by the Houthis.
Asked if the Saudi-led coalition coordinated the action with the United States, Marco Rubio, the US secretary of state, said Saudi Arabia and the US had a defense agreement but would not give more details.
Why has Iran’s oil minister resigned? Mohsen Paknejad has resigned days after allegations that an intermediary trust selling Iranian oil abroad owed millions of dollars-worth of export receipts to the state. Iran is grappling with a dire economic situation, including inflation running at 85%.
What is behind the latest disagreement between Israel and the UK? It stems from the UK’s decision to ban trade with illegal Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank – a move that Gideon Sa’ar, Israel’s foreign minister, labelled “morally distorted”. Israel has threatened to close the British consulate in East Jerusalem, prompting the UK to warn it will expel one Israeli diplomat for every British diplomat forced out.
Why has the Green party in England and Wales been condemned over its Zionism policy? The English and Welsh Greens are facing international ostracism after adopting a policy declaring Zionism as a form of racism, which has drawn dismay from the group representing European Greens. The co-leader of the German Greens separately said the policy was “intolerable and unacceptable”.
Student protests erupt at Cornell over mishandling of gang-rape allegations
Mass protests erupted at Cornell University on Monday, with students criticising officials’ handling of gang-rape allegations, demanding the president’s resignation and painting “SMASH THE PATRIARCHY” on an administration building.
Thousands of students and faculty gathered for a demonstration over the high-profile case of a former student known as Jane Doe, who said in a recent lawsuit that she was plied with drugs and raped at a fraternity house in 2024.
US supreme court hears big oil’s attempt to block climate damage lawsuits
The US supreme court began its new nine-month term hearing arguments on Monday in a major case in which big oil companies attempted to strike a fatal blow against lawsuits seeking to hold them accountable for the climate crisis.
In Suncor Energy Inc v County Commissioners of Boulder County, local officials in Boulder are suing Suncor Energy and ExxonMobil in state court to force the companies to share a portion of the costs that the climate crisis has imposed on local taxpayers. However, Exxon and Suncor, which is based in Canada, are arguing that federal law prevents state courts from hearing Boulder’s climate change lawsuit.
In other news …
Televangelist Jim Bakker has died aged 86. He built a multimillion-dollar empire and lived in opulence before being disgraced by a sex scandal and a conviction for defrauding followers.
The US is closely monitoring the case of a Russian laboratory worker who died last week after a reported accident at a plague research institute in Siberia, Marco Rubio, the secretary of state, has said.
Separatists Parti Québécois have won Quebec’s provincial election but fell short of enough seats to govern alone. They have promised to hold another referendum on independence from Canada.
Norway is planning a temporary ban on smart glasses in some public places amid rising global concern at the spread of the AI-enabled recording devices.
Daniil Medvedev was disqualified from his China Open semi-final after hitting a rebounding ball into the crowd that struck a spectator in the eye.
Stat of the day: US book bans in public schools reach record annual high of 12,000
Texas tops list with 8,100 bans and Stephen King is again the most-banned author, Pen America finds.
Culture pick: Jaclyn Smith on the fun, friendship and frustration of Charlie’s Angels
The only original Charlie’s Angel to make it to the end of the show’s five-year run, Jaclyn Smith talks to Emine Saner about the love she found on set, the harassment she endured off it and the drug-taking she did her best to ignore.
Vivian Ho speaks to Kristin Bride, who appears in a new documentary taking on Congress after the death of her 16-year-old son, who was cyberbullied.
… or this: ‘It could knock a whole street down’ – the art of defusing a second world war bomb
Incredibly, more than eight decades since the second world war began, unexploded bombs from the era can still be a problem. Samira Shackle has a gripping tale of how two were discovered close together in January in southern England.
Climate check: US households pay 62% more for water than they did a decade ago, study finds
For-profit water corporations, federal cuts and the climate crisis are “supercharging water rate hikes”, the study’s co-author says.
Last thing: personal props auction from ‘enigmatic, obsessive and dictatorial’ director Stanley Kubrick
Have you ever fancied owning the axe that Jack Nicholson menaced Shelley Duvall with in The Shining? Now is your chance. It is one of hundreds of items to be sold as part of an auction of the influential late director Stanley Kubrick’s personal archive.
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