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Apr 29, 2026 - World

Accusation vessel contains grain looted from Russian-occupied territories triggers diplomatic spat between both nations Ukraine has asked Israel to seize a vessel it claims is carrying grain looted from Russian-occupied territories, triggering a rare diplomatic spat between the two countries.The dispute spilt into public view this week when president Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that “another vessel” carrying grain “stolen by Russia” had arrived at a port in Israel and was preparing to unload. Continue reading...

Apr 29, 2026 - World

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth got defensive when questioned by a Democratic lawmaker about his close adviser Timothy Parlatore.Rep. Jason Crow (D-CO) asked the Pentagon chief about Parlatore's role at the Department of Defense, and he expressed surprise multiple times when Hegseth was unable to answer some of his questions about President Donald Trump's one-time personal attorney. "I'm not privy to every professional position he has held," Hegseth said when asked about his time working on the president's legal team."I will help you out, he did," Crow said. "You appointed him as your senior advisor, correct?"Hegseth told the congressman that Parlatore served in the Navy Reserves but conceded he was an adviser to him, and Crow confronted him with evidence when the defense secretary evaded his question about whether they traveled together."He travels with you, doesn't he?" Crow said. "There is public Instagram that shows this, just say yes."Hegseth also evaded a question about whether Parlatore worked at the Pentagon."He sits in meetings with you and advises you, doesn't he?" Crow said, and Hegseth agreed that he sometimes did. "He maintains a desk and an office in the Pentagon, does he not? You don't know?""I'd have to check," Hegseth said. "It's a big Pentagon."Hegseth agreed that he had commissioned Parlatore as a commander in the Navy Reserve in March 2025 and was proud to do so, but he was less willing to say whether his adviser had gone through a Senate confirmation process."I will tell you what I'm getting to," Crow said. "He didn't maintain a security clearance when you appointed him as a special advisor, is that right? You don't know?"Hegseth said anyone with access to sensitive material would obtain appropriate clearance, but Crow pressed for more details."So when you appointed him as special advisor, he had security clearance?" Crow said. "I'm asking a simple question, did he have —"Hegseth interrupted Crow. "No, you are playing a 'gotcha; game like you do on TV and everywhere else," Hegseth said."Clearly you are concerned about my line of questioning," Crow fired back. "You know where it is going, don't you? I think you do. Does he represent foreign governments? He has a private law practice, does he not? You don't know? Someone who sits in meetings, you don't know? Does he currently represent any senior officers who are under consideration by promotion from you or your office?"Hegseth said only he made those decisions, and Crow again asked whether Parlatore represented any senior officers under consideration for promotion."No, I'm the one who makes decisions," Hegseth said. "He doesn't represent anyone. He's a legal advisor and always has been. He's a legal adviser to me on reserve duty and he always has been, and he does a fantastic job." - YouTube www.youtube.com

Apr 29, 2026 - World

A Democratic lawmaker accused Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth of lying to President Donald Trump during a heated congressional hearing on Wednesday. Rep. Jason Crow (D-CO), a former Army Ranger who served three tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, raised questions about attorney Tim Parlatore and a potential conflict of interest. He pressed Hegseth during a fiery exchange over whether Parlatore was appointed and asking if Parlatore was removed from a White House investigation in 2025. Hegseth denied the accusations, saying he wasn't aware of it, and claimed he was also not removed from the investigation. "You're not aware of it. That's interesting. Well, is it true that Mr. Parlatore disparaged President Trump?" Crow asked.Hegseth again said that he wasn't aware of the investigation, smiling and appearing to laugh. "Is it true that Mr. Parlatore was accused by President Trump and his lawyers of lying?" Crow asked. Hegseth appeared annoyed by the questions. "What you're accused of is a cute line of questioning that's going nowhere," Hegseth said, referring to Crow's questions as "a stunt."Crow pushed back on Hegseth's comments."Secretary Hegseth, what I'm really concerned about is you purport to have unfaltering loyalty to President Trump, and yet you are continuously going..." Crow said.Hegseth was angry with the comment and interjected Crow's questions. "Oh you care a lot about President Trump, don't you? This is a cute, huge waste of your five minutes," Hegseth said. Crow didn't stand down against the Pentagon chief. "You are repeatedly going behind President Trump's back, appointing people who he has accused of lying, who the White House has accused of lying. And you are not being honest with President Trump," Crow said.

Apr 29, 2026 - World

Matthew Pennycook says ending system must be done slowly to avoid hitting housing supply and legal pitfallsA ban on new leasehold properties in England and Wales is unlikely to come into force until after the next election, the housing minister has said, as he defended the government’s piecemeal attempts to dismantle the system.The long-promised end would take years to “switch on”, Matthew Pennycook said, even though the ban of leaseholds on new houses was passed in 2024 and the government intends to pass one on new flats soon. Continue reading...

Apr 29, 2026 - World

Narges Mohammadi denied medical leave from prison in spite of sharp decline in health and drastic weight loss, say lawyersThe family of the jailed Iranian Nobel laureate Narges Mohammadi say they fear for her life after a sharp deterioration in her health, suspected heart attack and drop in body weight of almost 20kg (44lb).The 54-year-old human rights activist, who was awarded the 2023 Nobel peace prize while in prison, had been released for health reasons in 2024. She was re-arrested in December 2025 during the memorial service of a fellow human rights activist and is being held in Zanjan central prison, in north-west Iran. Continue reading...