The US is offering a $20m (£15m) reward for information leading to the arrest of an Iranian man accused of plotting to assassinate Donald Trump’s former National Security Advisor John Bolton.

Shahram Poursafi, a member of Iran’s Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC), is accused of trying to hire criminals in the US to kill Mr Bolton, a vocal Iran critic, in exchange for $300,000.

The reward announcement comes in the same week that Trump said he had been briefed by US intelligence about an alleged Iranian assassination plot against him.

Iran has previously denied orchestrating any plots to assassinate Trump officials or interfere in US affairs.

Officials say that from October 2021 to April 2022 Mr Poursafi attempted to hire “criminal elements within the United States” to murder Mr Bolton in Washington DC or Maryland.

One of the potential assassins he contacted was a confidential source for US investigators, according to the state department.

Mr Poursafi allegedly told that person that after completing the hit on Bolton, “he would have a second assassination job for him”.

His alleged motivation was retaliation against the US for its assassination of Iranian General Qasem Soleimani, which was ordered by Trump when he was in the White House, according to officials.

The US Department of Justice charged Mr Poursafi with the alleged murder plot in 2022 . He remains at large, and officials say he is not believed to be in the US.

Iranian Vice-President Mohammad Javad Zarif, in an interview with NBC News this week, denied accusations that his government has attempted to kill Iranian critics abroad.

“We do not assassinate people, but the fact of the matter is – they assassinated a revered Iranian general,” he said.

Mr Bolton, speaking to NBC on Thursday, said that the US should be “more proactive” about the Iranian threats.

“When they come after us, government officials, current and former, for doing their job, really, that’s an attack on the United States government itself,” said Mr Bolton.

“I don’t think staying in a passive mode about it is the best way to go. We know that this is more than idle speculation in Tehran.”

Earlier this week, the Trump campaign said that it had received a briefing from US intelligence about Iranian plots to kill Trump.

The Office of the Director of National Intelligence in the US acknowledged the briefing but declined to address any specifics.

Trump posted on the social media site X, formerly Twitter, that there are “big threats on my life by Iran.”

“Moves were already made by Iran that didn’t work out, but they will try again.”

There has been no suggestion by US investigators that Iran was involved in either of the two recent assassination attempts against Trump, at a rally in Pennsylvania and at his golf course in Florida.

Meanwhile, the FBI and US intelligence aggencies have alleged that Iranian hackers stole and attempted to distribute information about Donald Trump’s electoral campaign, hoping to “stoke discord” and undermine confidence in US institutions ahead of the November election.

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Japan’s ruling party wrapped up campaigning to choose the country’s next prime minister with three clear frontrunners in what was the Liberal Democratic party’s most open leadership contest for years.

The latest polling pointed to a wide-open contest between Sanae Takaichi, who could become Japan’s first female prime minister, Shinjirō Koizumi, who would be its youngest, and Shigeru Ishiba, a divisive LDP stalwart making his fifth bid to lead the party.

The winner from a record field of nine candidates will be picked on Friday to succeed Fumio Kishida, who announced his resignation in August, and is then expected to lead the ruling party into a general election that must be called by the end of October 2025.

The leadership contest came at a sensitive moment for the Japanese economy, which has re-emerged as a favoured destination for foreign investment while grappling with an ageing and shrinking population.

Traders said the candidates’ divergent positions on how to steer Japan’s economy could spark further volatility in financial markets.

In particular, the leading candidates differ over the Bank of Japan’s efforts to “normalise” monetary policy and raise rock-bottom rates after years of ultra-loose conditions.

On other critical policies, however, there is more alignment, such as the urgency of restarting Japan’s shuttered fleet of nuclear power plants and pressing ahead with expanded defence spending in the face of a more assertive China. 

Takaichi, a right-wing revisionist, who has pitched herself as the heir to the late former prime minister Shinzo Abe’s “Abenomics” programme of fiscal spending and low rates, has suggested that rate rises were “stupid”.

She is seen as a potential boost for Japanese stocks, though analysts suspect any bump would be short lived.

Takaichi also appears keen to visit the Yasukuni Shrine, where Japan’s war casualties, including war criminals, are honoured, as prime minister, despite the risk that such a move would enrage Beijing, as it has in the past, and potentially refreeze recently thawed relations with Seoul.

Ishiba, a former defence minister, has proposed an “Asian Nato”, which could force countries in the region to pick sides in a US-China rivalry.

Nomura Securities chief market strategist Naka Matsuzawa said markets tentatively expected a victory for Koizumi, the 43-year-old US-educated former environment minister, who in his campaign has advised cash-strapped households to give up drinking imported mineral water to free up disposable income.

Under a government led by Koizumi or Takaichi, there would probably be a positive tailwind for stocks as foreign investors took a fresh look at Japan, said Astris Advisory strategist Neil Newman.

“Under Ishiba, I think we could see the stock market stall, relations in Asia damaged and foreign investors ignoring the change in leadership,” Newman said, adding that it was unlikely that any of the candidates could influence the direction of the Bank of Japan on tightening monetary policy.

“We will see higher rates, a stronger yen and continuing outperformance of the banking sector regardless,” he said.

But it was nearly impossible to predict the poll’s result, political analysts and LDP parliamentarians said, after the ruling party’s old organisational system of factions was dismantled in the wake of a funding scandal.

The initial vote, which polls both LDP MPs and rank-and-file party members and is expected to yield a result at 2pm on Friday, is unlikely to produce a clear winner. A run-off between the two leading candidates, polling MPs and representatives of local party chapters, will be held immediately afterwards, meaning a winner should be declared later in the afternoon.

Media surveys of MPs’ voting intentions put Koizumi ahead of the others, while polls of the general party membership show Ishiba and Takaichi neck-and-neck, and both some way ahead of Koizumi.

But attempts to accurately poll rank-and-file members are complicated by the LDP’s refusal to share membership lists with media, analysts noted.

The LDP leadership race frontrunners

Sanae Takaichi, 63

Current economic security minister, former newsreader. Would be Japan’s first female prime minister

Seen as torchbearer for “Abenomics” policies of former PM Shinzo Abe

Favours fiscal spending and loose monetary policy, has suggested interest rate rises are ‘stupid’ at this point

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Proposed creating a cabinet-level intelligence bureau

Shinjirō Koizumi, 43

US-educated son of charismatic ex-PM Junichiro Koizumi. Former environment minister would be Japan’s youngest PM

Positioned as a change candidate, but likely closest to Kishida policy agenda

Broadly supports BoJ policy normalisation, neutral on fiscal policy

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Would favour close alignment with US foreign policy

Shigeru Ishiba, 67

Former banker, in politics since 1980s. Former defence minister.

Contesting LDP leadership for fifth time. Popular with voters but less so in his party

Proposes an ‘Asian Nato’ and favours more independence from US in foreign policy

Favours normalising monetary policy

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A MAJOR energy firm with more than five million customers is set to pay thousands of customers a £150 discount on their bills.

EDF Energy is giving eligible customers extra cash through the Warm Home Discount to help lower bills this winter.

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The eligibility requirements for the Warm Home Discount are the same as last year.

Between now and December, the government will issue letters to households that are eligible for the scheme.

EDF Energy has now said that it will aim to pay the discount by the end of February 28, 2025.

However, payments could begin being issued as early as next month.

To qualify for the Warm Home Discount, you need to claim either the guaranteed credit element of pension credit or a different qualifying benefit form the list below:

If you weren’t claiming any of the above benefits on August 11, 2024, you won’t be eligible for the payment.

Where someone claims a qualifying benefit, the government will assess their energy costs based on the type, age and size of property. 

This means that you may not be considered eligible for the Warm Home Discount if you live in a more energy-efficient property for instance, even if you receive a qualifying benefit.

However, this rule doesn’t apply to recipients of the guarantee credit portion of pension credit.

Around 800,000 pensioners are eligible for pension credit but not claiming it.

As well as missing out on a £300 winter fuel payments, they won’t get the £150 Warm Home Discount payment.

Even if you weren’t getting pension credit on August 11, thousands of pensioners who apply for the benefit now can still qualify for the £150 payment.

This is because pension credit rules allow first-time claimants to backdate their benefit entitlement by three months.

So you’ll need to launch your claim by Friday, October 11 and then successfully get it backdated to cover the August 11 Warm Home Discount qualifying date.

But if you fail to apply before this date you’ll miss out.

We’ve explained everything you need to know about EDF Energy‘s scheme below.

Do I need to apply for the discount?

Households in England and Wales don’t have to apply to get the cash and receive it automatically.

You should look out for a letter between October 2024 and early January 2025 telling you:

• You’re eligible and you’ll get the discount automatically; or
• You might be eligible, and you need to give more information.
• The letter will tell you to call the helpline by 29 February 2024 to confirm your details.

If you don’t get the letter by early January 2024 and you think you’re eligible, you need to call the helpline on 0800 030 9322.

If you’re eligible, your electricity supplier will apply the discount to your bill by 31 March 2025. 

Some Scottish households do have to apply for the discount.

In Scotland there’s a “core group” that’ll receive an automatic payment and a “broader group” which has to apply for the scheme with their energy provider.

You’ll need to check with your energy supplier directly to see the eligibility requirements and details on how to apply.

The scheme will have more applicants than places, so make sure you apply as soon as possible.

EDF Energy customers can apply by visiting edfenergy.com/help-support/whd-application-form.

How will I receive the discount from EDF Energy?

If you pay by direct debit or on receipt of your bill the £150 Warm Home Discount will be added to your electricity account as a credit.

Once it has been applied, it will show on your next bill.

If you have a traditional prepayment meter, EDF Energy will send you a letter explaining how you’ll get your discount.

You’ll receive a Post Office voucher in the post and instructions on redeeming it. 

If you have a smart prepayment meter, EDF Energy will automatically credit your meter with the discount.

WETHERSPOONS pubs are known for being inside some of the UK’s most beautiful buildings, from old cinemas to converted bingo halls.

And one of the most beautiful is in a trendy seaside town.

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The Samuel Peto in Folkestone is in a former church with many of the features still in place.

The Samuel Peto is one of my local Wetherspoons, having moved to the seaside town last year.

Funded by Sir Samuel Morto Peto, who was also an MP, he was known for being one of the major Victorian railway designers, connecting more than 750 miles of track across the UK.

As well as being part of the team behind Nelson’s Column, he also designed the Salem Chapel which opened in 1874.

It was Grade II listed in 1975 and has been serving booze as a Wetherspoons since 1998.

And if you want to see some of that history, a lot of it is intact inside the pub.

The painted cloud ceilings are a classy touch, with the huge organ still sitting at the back of the pub.

Ornate chandeliers and wooden balustrades line the interiors, with huge stained glass windows letting in most of the light.

It’s certainly one of my favourites I’ve ever been to.

While it isn’t quite on the seaside – that accolade is reserved for the biggest ever Wetherspoons in Ramsgate – it is just a short walk from the beach.

But going inside is a cosy affair, with many of the booths being perfect to settle in for the night thanks to the wooden privacy screens between each of them.

Expect a classic Wetherspoons walk to the toilets – if you’re at the top you have 94 steps to go.

The food is what you’d expect from a Wetherspoons. I often go for the pizza or chicken curry which are exactly what you’d expect for the pub grub – nothing special but certainly enough for an affordable dinner out.

And I’ll always return for the cheap booze – where else can I get a glass of wine for less than £2?

Sure, the bar is almost constantly sticky, and it’s definitely an older crowd that you will find in the day.

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But local couple Holly and Pete say they love the crowd it brings.

They told Sun Online Travel: “We love the crowd that the Wetherspoons brings.

“There’s always a bunch of eclectic characters in there, so there’s never a dull moment.

“And it’s beautiful when the sun comes in through the huge stain glass windows”.

And if you really want a different venue for the evening, you can head to the nearby Brewing Brothers on the harbour for some great beers, or Burrito Buoys for amazing frozen cocktails.

Why you should head to the seaside town of Folkestone

The Sun’s Deputy Travel Editor Kara Godfrey has revealed why its a great seaside break, being a local herself.

“Folkestone was named the Best Place to Live in the southeast in a 2024 study by the Times.

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“And having made the move myself, I can see why.

“There is the Harbour Arm, with trendy bars and eateries ranging from Japanese to Mexican, or the multicoloured high street with local cafes and shops.

“There are amazing local vineyards and breweries, although I can hope on the Channel Tunnel and be in France within 35 minutes if I fancied a cheap booze run.

“It even has F51, the worlds first multi storey skate park with climbing wall too.

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“I can see why it is called the new Brighton too – not only is it less than an hour by train from London, but house prices are a fraction of the cost compared to the other seaside destination.”

We’ve also rounded up some of the most beautiful Wetherspoons in the UK you can visit.

And the world’s most beautiful McDonald’s has reopened – here’s how to find it.

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Former Conservative Party chairwoman Baroness Warsi has resigned from the party in the House of Lords, claiming it has moved to the “far right”.

The peer, who was Britain’s first Muslim cabinet minister during David Cameron’s premiership, accused the party of “hypocrisy and double standards in its treatment of different communities”.

But the Conservatives say she was about to be investigated for allegedly using “divisive language”.

“Baroness Warsi was informed an investigation was about to begin earlier this week,” a party spokesperson said.

“We have a responsibility to ensure that all complaints are investigated without prejudice.”

The BBC has been told the complaints were in relation to a post about Marieha Hussain.

Ms Hussain was found not guilty of a racially aggravated public order offence after holding a placard at a pro-Palestine protest depicting Conservative leader Rishi Sunak and former Home Secretary Suella Braverman as coconuts.

In one post on X, Baroness Warsi congratulated Ms Hussain on her acquittal.

On Thursday, after announcing her resignation, Baroness Warsi wrote: “It was the right decision and I rightly congratulated Marieha on her acquittal.

“I was subsequently asked to delete my public support for Marieha – I refused to do so.

“That is the basis of the complaint. No other comments or language is the basis of the complaint.”

She said the case was “due to be conducted in private behind closed doors” and so she “felt it appropriate in the circumstances to resign my whip and look forward to dealing with these issues openly and transparently”.

Her resignation comes on the eve of the Conservative Party conference in Birmingham.

Baroness Warsi has previously criticised Tory leadership contenders Robert Jenrick and Kemi Badenoch.

She has also been a vocal critic of the party’s approach to allegations of Islamphobia and language used by Conservative politicians, including Ms Braverman.

She wrote on X: “It is with a heavy heart that I have today informed my whip and decided for now to no longer take the Conservative whip.

“This is a sad day for me. I am a Conservative and remain so but sadly the current party are far removed from the party I joined and served in cabinet.”

She added: “My decision is a reflection of how far right my party has moved and the hypocrisy and double standards in its treatment of different communities.”

Baroness Warsi suggested she would raise some of these issues in her new book, Muslims Don’t Matter.

After the 2010 general election, Baroness Warsi made history by becoming the first Muslim woman in the cabinet as co-chair of the Conservative Party.

A former solicitor with the Crown Prosecution Service, she then served as a minister in David Cameron’s government.

But she quit as the minister for faith and communities in 2014 over the government’s policy on the Israel-Gaza conflict.

She has since criticised the party’s inquiry into Islamophobia inquiry and called it “institutionally xenophobic and racist”.

Resigning the Conservative whip means she will no longer be affiliated with the party in the House of Lords, where she has sat as a peer since 2007.

The party is still choosing its next leader, with the final four candidates set to make speeches at the conference in Birmingham.

An intensive round of hustings and multiple votes will follow the conference from 8 October, lasting three days, until only two candidates are left.

Conservative Party members will then choose which of the final two candidates they want as the new leader, with the result announced on 2 November.

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Argentina’s poverty rate has surged to 52.9 per cent under its government’s austerity programme, in a warning sign for libertarian President Javier Milei as his popularity begins to falter.

The rate, published by the national statistics agency on Thursday, is the worst in two decades and 11.2 percentage points higher than in the second half of 2023, when it stood at 41.7 per cent, meaning 3.4mn Argentines have fallen into poverty this year.

Milei, who took office in December, has slashed public spending in an effort to bring down annual inflation that peaked at close to 300 per cent in April. The price increases have eroded the purchasing power of workers and pensioners.

Economists say the root cause of the high inflation is the money printed to fund spending by previous left-leaning Peronist governments, but the removal of price controls and a devaluation of the peso under Milei have also contributed.

Milei’s spokesperson, Manuel Adorni, on Thursday claimed Argentina would have tipped into hyperinflation without the austerity programme. “They had left us on the cusp of becoming a country where practically all the residents are poor,” he said ahead of the data’s publication.

The government has struggled to pull the country out of a deep recession during a collapse in consumer spending, and a drop in industrial activity and construction because of inflation and austerity.

Opposition politicians say the cost-cutting is making the economy worse. “The government’s relentless austerity is battering working families and the elderly, deepening the crisis instead of generating solutions,” Victoria Tolosa Paz, a lawmaker for the Peronist bloc in Congress, said on X after the data was published.

Polls in recent weeks have shown Milei’s popularity ratings, which have hovered reliably around 50 per cent since his victory in last November’s election, have dipped.

A closely watched index of confidence in the government compiled by Torcuato Di Tella university fell 14.7 per cent in September, by far the biggest fluctuation this year.

The share of Argentines with a positive view of Milei dropped 7 percentage points between August and September to 40 per cent, according to pollster Poliarquía, although overall approval of his government fell only two points, to 53 per cent.

Cristian Buttié, director of pollster CB Consultora, said his numbers showed Milei’s support falling 4.2 per cent in September from August, to 46.4 per cent.

He said there was “a particularly sharp drop” among retirees, following Milei’s veto of an increase in pension spending approved by Congress in August.

At least 136,000 jobs have been wiped out since Milei took office, and experts say the losses may be greater in the country’s massive informal sector.

But official data published on Wednesday showed economic activity had grown 1.7 per cent month on month in July, compared with a 0.6 per cent increase projected by a Bloomberg analysts’ poll. Activity was down 1.3 per cent year on year, much less than analysts expected.

But Buttié cautioned the news would “only help Milei if and when the improvement becomes palpable for the average citizen”.

“For now it seems we’ve entered a recession climate, a feeling that things are worse than before. [If it wants to succeed] the government has to regain the narrative that things are moving in the right direction,” he added.