"Trump is openly threatening collective punishment, targeting not the Iranian military but the Iranian people," Kenneth Roth former director of Human Rights Watch. "Attacking civilians is a war crime. So is making threats with the aim of terrorizing the civilian population."

Trump: "A whole civilization will die tonight."

It's worth pointing out that there were bridges in the stone age.

A lot to unpack overnight GMT. 1. On the current state of PIL mere possession of a weapon is not a war crime - see the ICJ Advisory Opinion 2. This threat in what is/was a war of aggression is probably a war crime. It is certainly incitement 3. Pace the Guardian, there is no dilemma for troops 1/3

Much to say about this, but given where we are the most important comment is a reminder that committing war crimes cannot be justified by war crimes committed by the other side

Stranger than fiction.

JD Vance is heading to Hungary to endorse Viktor Orban after Easter. Here is a description of the corrupt regime, and the post-reality campaign, that the US administration now supports: www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2026/0...

Remember, "everything is in 4/4 unless you count it like a nerd"

"The breakfast favourite will have to be sold as 'citrus marmalade' if the agreement goes ahead, when Britain will readopt new EU food regulations in a bid to boost trade and reduce red tape for British exporters."

NEW: Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has taken steps to block or delay promotions for more than a dozen Black and female senior officers across all four branches of the military, according to nine U.S. officials familiar with the process.

Bet on yourself www.bloomberg.com/news/article...

Happy Angine de Poitrine album day to all who celebrate.

Donald Trump lists how long other wars lasted for, but he does leave out one detail: only 20 days passed before the first night of Shock and Awe in Iraq in 2003 and the fall of Baghdad. Donald Trump's war against Iran started 31 days ago.

Direct empirical confirmation of my theory of the "immigration doom loop" in UK politics.... ☹️

A more recent-ish one, but an all time banger

Despite Trump's claims, there's no indication Iran's regime has lost power, Western officials and experts say www.nbcnews.com/world/iran/t...

What's interesting as a long-term Brexit-watcher is the distinct lack of outcry from Eurosceptic voices over Labour calling for "closer ties" to Europe. Essentially rowing back on the "hard" we-make-the-rules deal of Johnson and May and admitting we need economic integration.

My lunch plans just changed

Trump said last night the war in Iran would end in two to three weeks. As this CNN video shows, this is a timeframe he often gives when asked when something will happen. edition.cnn.com/2025/05/29/p...

WASHINGTON — George W. Bush gave up golf while he was president during the Iraq War. Donald Trump isn’t about to do the same amid the Iran war, describing his occasional golf outings as a brief reprieve from the pressures of being commander in chief. www.nbcnews.com/politics/con...

Trump says the UK and other countries that need oil but refused to back his war should “build up some delayed courage, go to the Strait, and just TAKE IT.” He also says "The hard part is done. Go get your own oil!" Is he suggesting each U.S. ally launch its own uncoordinated war against Iran?

"I would hope our presidents will be remembered for their labors in building better government rather than for their efforts in constructing public works projects to themselves."

I occasionally wade into Goodreads reviews out of curiosity. I'm reading the most beautiful, poetic and interesting thing and inevitably people say "overlong, not interesting, DNF" and suchlike. There is such a weird benchmark for a something to be popular.

❗❗ FT exclusive: A broker for Pete Hegseth, the US defence secretary, attempted to make a big investment in major defence companies in the weeks leading up to the US-Israeli attack on Iran, according to three people familiar with the matter www.ft.com/content/744e...

"Meanwhile, over the same period, Germany’s transmitting influence grew by nearly 50%, and Italy transformed from a shock absorber into the second most influential market in the system." Declining influence, declining financial power of post-Brexit Britain, according to these researchers

"And that was the new tune from Erotic Chatbot"

from Fraser Nelson:

"Trump has pointed to the success depicted in the daily videos to privately question why his administration can’t better influence the public narrative, asking aides why the news media doesn’t emphasize what he’s seeing."

Helluva 2026 pic by Megan Varner.

Superb stuff from the FT Unhedged newsletter www.ft.com/content/16c1...

Wondering what leverage in negotiations looks like? Australia's new FTA with the EU provides 16,830 tonnes of tariff free access for beef. Australia's FTA with the UK, completed with a desperate Johnson administration, provided 35,000 tonnes tariff free, rising to unlimited over 15 years.

Compare this with the "we hold all the cards" rhetoric of the pro-Brexit lobby in 2006.

I don't know if many fans of teams realise #SWFC could genuinely go out of business if this isn't resolved. And who knows which club is next after that? www.bbc.co.uk/sport/footba...

Pakistan acting as a diplomatic go-between for the U.S. and Iran, @nbcnews.com reports, citing four sources. Possible in-person meeting could take place in Islamabad. www.nbcnews.com/world/asia/p...

Harrowing accounts of a missile strike on a school in Iran www.nbcnews.com/world/iran/i...

7:45. Must see tv. www.ft.com/content/193b...

Trump's deadline for Iran to unblock the Strait of Hormuz expires about 7:45 p.m. ET tonight. This ultimatum came less than 24 hours after he said the war was "winding down." What are traders and energy market analysts supposed to make of all this? www.nbcnews.com/world/iran/i...

Live updates from @nbcnews.com on the collision between a passenger jet and a Port Authority fire truck at LaGuardia in NYC. Two people are confirmed dead, the pilot and co-pilot, and at least 12 were injured, sources have told us. www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news...

The Central England temperature record represents the longest series of monthly temperature observations in existence. Recent temperatures there are over 1.5 degrees Celsius above the 1961-1990 average, and over 2 degrees above preindustrial values. Chart: UK Met Office.

Quote is actually ‘why didn’t you tell me about Pearl Harbor’ which makes slightly less sense tbh

Trump: "Who knows better about surprise than Japan? Why didn't you tell me about Pearl Harbor?"

Takaichi's face the moment he says the words Pearl Harbor

Japanese reporter just asked Trump why he didn’t tell allies, including Japan, about the Iran strikes. “Who knows better about surprise than Japan. Why didn't you tell us about Pearl Harbor?," he replied.

I don't want to be too cynical, but is the advice "have rich parents who can give you a deposit of £150,000 and also earn a huge salary."

Brent Crude trading at $117 a barrel. This cannot continue, or at least not without very big consequences. We're covering this and more live at @nbcnews.com www.nbcnews.com/world/iran/l...

Think I'd bowl first on that

Truly a bizarre story that could only exist at this point in time www.nbcnews.com/tech/interne...

Debate on BBC Today just now on assisted dying featuring two opposed voices engaging with each other intelligently in civil discourse. There's a lot of cynicism about politics but (to some extent) we're lucky to have the political culture we have and a media that gives it space.

Good morning from this health hack