The Department for Work and Pensions is reviewing disability benefits, considering alternatives to direct financial payments. A minister indicated some claimants could be directed towards support services or vouchers rather than cash.
Lord Mandelson's appointment as British Ambassador to the United States proceeded despite a failed security vetting, prompting Prime Minister Keir Starmer to label the chain of events "staggering" and "unforgivable."
Senior Iranian lawmaker Ebrahim Azizi has declared that Iran will never relinquish control of the Strait of Hormuz, asserting it as an "inalienable right." A new bill is reportedly being introduced in parliament to formalise this control, citing national security, environmental concerns, and maritime safety. This development emerges following wide-ranging US and Israeli strikes on Iran in February, killing hundreds of civilians, including 110 children at a primary school.
