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The S&P 500 and the Nasdaq Composite climbed to new records as traders shook off worries about the Middle East conflict.

Two of the biggest chipmakers, TSMC and ASML, failed to catch major tailwinds from strong earnings. It could be a bellwether for the chip industry as a whole.

This surge of speculative buying reflects a broader return of animal spirits among small traders.

Maoz Inon's parents were killed by Hamas in the Oct. 7 attacks. Aziz Abu Sarah's brother died after being tortured in an Israeli military prison. Their new book is The Future Is Peace.

In Sri Lanka, Buddhists and Hindus marked their New Year on Tuesday while a war thousands of miles away is making itself felt.

Lebanon’s prime minister said he welcomed the pause in Israel’s hostilities against Hezbollah, expected to start at 5 p.m. Eastern time, though Israel and Hezbollah did not immediately respond.

For days, Pope Leo XIV has attracted criticism from President Trump and his allies for refusing to back the war in Iran. On Thursday, he reiterated his calls for peace.

The U.S. blockade of shipments through the Strait of Hormuz would last “for as long as it takes,” the defense secretary said.

Russell T. Vought, the White House budget director, said the fluctuating nature of the U.S.-Israeli war made it difficult to pinpoint expenses.

Bizarre rant comes at the halfway point in a 10-day ceasefire between Iran and the U.S.

The US president now believes he is ruling by divine right, putting America on course for catastrophe, writes world affairs editor Sam Kiley

’Where is it now?’ a reporter asked Kennedy as he walked the halls of Congress

A federal judge again rejected the Trump administration’s argument that the White House ballroom was necessary for security, accusing them of creating a ‘safety hazard’ on White House grounds

The sheriff urged locals to leave as the water is rising abnormally fast

First-of-its-kind case targets ICE agent who allegedly pointed a gun ‘at the heads of community members’ during Operation Metro Surge

One in five American adults say they have cut pills in half or skipped doses to save money

Pope Leo told reporters that he is not afraid of the Trump administration

Peter Magyar slammed the channels as bring part of outgoing prime minister Viktor Orban’s ’propaganda machine’

Weighing a mere 673 grams (1.4 pounds), Yuji represents the most recent case of assisted rearing

Mohammed Lubbad's wife Amal was pregnant when she died in Israeli air strikes. Then he was told she had given birth.

Israel and Lebanon have agreed to a 10-day ceasefire starting at 21:00 GMT on Thursday, said US President Donald Trump.

Pakistan's prime minister and army chief are both travelling to key players in the war, attempting to keep talks going.

A US general had to clarify that the US military is only blockading Iranian ports, not the entire Strait of Hormuz.

Israeli forces will not withdraw from the south of Lebanon during the ceasefire, according to reportsUS and Iran in indirect talks to extend two-week ceasefireIran has stopped all petrochemical exports to prioritise domestic supply and prevent shortages of raw materials, Reuters reported.The state-owned National Petrochemical Company ordered firms to suspend exports until further notice. Continue reading...

Capital’s schools hardest hit in England and Wales by rising housing costs and falling birthrate, with further falls predicted in coming yearsSchools in London continue to be hardest hit by housing costs and the falling birthrate. Further closures and mergers of primary schools are expected after a sharp fall in the number of children entering reception classes in the capital.London’s boroughs will have nearly 3,000 fewer infants aged four enrolling at the start of the next school year in September, according to school place offers announced by local authorities across England. Continue reading...

US calls free-market capitalism ‘surest path to prosperity’ and seeks to forgo direct aid to developing countriesMiddle East crisis – live updatesThe Trump administration has moved to formally enlist foreign governments in a sweeping reorientation of global development policy, directing American diplomats worldwide to seek official support for a “trade over aid” declaration before its introduction at the United Nations later this month. This would mean a move away from direct aid to poor nations in favor of increased trade, led by private companies.Principal deputy spokesperson at the state department Tommy Pigott confirmed the initiative on Wednesday, framing it as a rejection of what he called a failed aid model. “The idea that trade and free market capitalism is the surest path to prosperity has been proven by the facts and by history,” Pigott said, adding that those calling for “aid not trade” were “really arguing for lining the pockets of a corrupt NGO industrial complex”. Continue reading...

The prime minister was not aware that the former US ambassador had failed the vetting process, according to Downing StreetSwinney says this is a manifesto for the whole of Scotland.He confirms that the SNP would argue for the Scottish power to have more control over energy policy (still largely reserved to Westminter). He says:The problem is not that we do not have the energy. The problem is that Westminster has the power. This election is our opportunity to take those powers and put them into Scotland’s hands. Continue reading...

Exclusive: Opinions split on ‘unprecedented’ release of files, despite demand for ‘all papers’ related to ex-US ambassador’s appointmentRevealed: Mandelson failed vetting but Foreign Office overruled decisionFive key questions: who overruled decision to deny Mandelson security clearance?Senior government officials have been considering whether to withhold from parliament sensitive documents that show Peter Mandelson failed security vetting before he assumed the role of US ambassador, the Guardian can reveal.Any such decision could amount to an extraordinary breach of a parliamentary vote, known as a humble address, that ordered the release of “all papers” relevant to Mandelson’s appointment. Continue reading...

Data shows 85% of those infected in the state have been not vaccinated against measles as dozens are hospitalizedMeasles: how does it spread and how can I protect my child?Utah has emerged as a major center of measles infections in the US, as an outbreak that has been building for some time continues to expand.State officials reported a total of 602 measles cases on Wednesday tied to an outbreak that started last year and is still ongoing, including 19 newly identified infections, according to the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy (CIDRAP). Recent exposures have been reported at several preschools and elementary schools. Continue reading...

Resolution needed two more votes to pass, but Democrats now appear solidified in oppositionSign up for the Breaking News US email to get newsletter alerts in your inboxThe US House of Representatives on Thursday narrowly rejected a war powers resolution that would have prevented further military action against Iran, as Democrats united against continued US involvement in the conflict amid peace talks that have yet to make a breakthrough.The resolution introduced by Greg Meeks, the top Democrat on the House foreign affairs committee, failed by a vote of 213-214, with one Republican member voting present. It required at least two more votes to pass, as tied votes fail in the House. Continue reading...

E H Shepard drawings go on display for book’s centenary, showing how he brought AA Milne’s character to lifePreviously unseen drawings of Winnie-the-Pooh that show the honey-loving bear before he was introduced to generations of readers in the 1926 book have come to light.Two preliminary pencil sketches by E H Shepard have been shared for the first time by his family to mark the centenary of one of the most loved books in children’s literature. Continue reading...

Guardian investigation uncovers decision by UK security officials to deny clearance before Mandelson took up role as US ambassadorOfficials debate withholding Mandelson vetting documents from parliamentFive key questions: Who overruled the decision to deny Mandelson security clearance?Peter Mandelson failed his security vetting clearance but the decision was overruled by the Foreign Office to ensure he could take up his post as ambassador to the US, an investigation by the Guardian can reveal.According to multiple sources, Mandelson was initially denied clearance in late January 2025 after a developed vetting process, a highly confidential background check by security officials. Continue reading...

US Commission of Fine Arts reviews plan while judge lets below-ground work at White House ballroom site proceedPresident Donald Trump’s design for the triumphal arch he wants built at an entrance to the nation’s capital moved a step forward on Thursday after a key agency reviewed the proposal for the first time.One commissioner suggested changes, including losing the Lady Liberty-like statue and pair of eagles that would sit on top of the arch and add to its height. Continue reading...

The defense secretary said his prayer drew on Ezekiel, but wording closely matches Quentin Tarantino dialogueIt was perhaps inevitable that a braggadocious Christian nationalist defense secretary elevated from his role as a weekend Fox News television host would pluck a fake Bible verse from a violent Hollywood blockbuster and present it at a Pentagon prayer session to rally the troops for the “holy war” in Iran.Certainly among a glut of stories swirling around Pete Hegseth this week, including articles of impeachment brought against him by a group of ambitious Democratic lawmakers, the bizarre allegation that the Bible-thumping Hegseth was passing off a fire-and-brimstone script by Quentin Tarantino, an Oscar-winning director, as the word of the Lord was far too compelling to ignore. Continue reading...

A decision to go against the recommendation of the vetting agency was taken by officials in the Foreign Office, spokesperson says.

An Islamist group with links to Iran has claimed responsibility for three attacks in north London.

The chancellor was speaking at the end of the International Monetary Fund meeting in Washington.

The comments follow a high-profile spat with US President Donald Trump, who called the Pope weak on crime.

Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor received the historic honour in 2012 "by virtue of patrimony".

Argentina World Cup winner Lionel Messi becomes the new owner of Catalan club Cornella.

A Dudley nursery, its owner and nursery worker are being sentenced over baby Noah Sibanda's death.

Maoz Inon's parents were killed by Hamas in the Oct. 7 attacks. Aziz Abu Sarah's brother died after being tortured in an Israeli military prison. Their new book is The Future Is Peace.

Dr. Ezequiel Veliz, a family physician who worked in an area that has a doctor shortage, has been detained for 10 days.

The recall affects only a small number of pills, sold nationwide under the brand name Xanax XR.

A federal judge wrote that an exception he made for work on security features did not cover most of the construction on the larger ballroom project Trump has proposed.

What a shift in the dating preferences of younger men reveals about our changing norms.

After Marie-Thérèse Ross-Mahé’s husband died, an inheritance battle exploded. Her stepson then used his influence to have her arrested, an Alabama probate judge said.

Minnesota prosecutors have spent weeks investigating the conduct of immigration agents who took part in an immigration crackdown in the Twin Cities.

Judge again halts construction of Trump's White House ballroom, but allows work on underground bunker to proceed  NBC NewsJudge: Trump can’t claim that entire White House ballroom project is needed for national security  CNNFederal judge sets new limits on Trump ballroom construction  The Washington PostTrump’s Go-To Justification for Contentious Decisions: National Security  The New York TimesFederal judge blocks above-ground White House ballroom construction  CBS News