Brew York, in Walmgate, marked its tenth anniversary with its annual Birthday Bash – a now firm fixture on beer-lovers’ calendars.
Visitors – some of whom travelled from northern Scotland to attend the event – were treated to a selection of over 130 beers.
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Among the highlights were a series of special drinks created in collaboration with ten European breweries.
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More than 2,000 people attended the event (Image: Brew York)
These included Velvet Starfall, a Pastéis de Nata Imperial Stout brewed in collaboration with Frontaal Brewery from the Netherlands, and Tropic Touch, a guava, mango and apricot pastry sour produced alongside Prizm Brewing of France.
They were complimented by three additional exclusive beers – Rum & Bourbon BA Imperial Stout, Satuernes BA Golden Sour and Brandy & Bourbon Barley Wine.
Lee Grabham, Brew York’s co-founder and production director, said the weekend was a proud moment for the team.
A selection of more than 130 beers were on offer (Image: Brew York)
He added: “From the moment we welcomed our guests into this wonderful city we call home we’ve been non-stop.
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“Full credit goes to not only the Brew York team, but also the volunteers who really enable us to put the event on.
“A mammoth task by anyone’s standards – and we all did it! Thank you, thank you, thank you.”
The event is now an annual one, with plans already in place for the 11th birthday celebrations (Image: Brew York)
Brew York transformed its space in its Osbaldwick brewery site to accommodate the crowds at the event.
All available space was converted to make room for eight additional bars, a beer van, two marquees hosting special tastings and live music, and four food vendors.
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The company said: “Demand was high throughout the weekend, with visitors queuing hours before the doors opened at 5pm on Friday, and again ahead of both Saturday sessions.”
Organisers have already pencilled in a date for the 11th birthday celebrations, which will take place on Friday (April 16) and Saturday (April 17).
Brooke Wiggins, 12, died while playing on a rope swing in Banstead, Surrey, which an inquest has heard should have been removed by Surrey County Council
The devastated father of a 12-year-old girl who died while playing on a rope swing – which an inquest heard should have been removed by the council – has said his daughter would still be alive if “people had done their job properly”.
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Brooke Wiggins died on November 9, 2024, in Banstead, Surrey, just days before her 13th birthday. She suffered fatal injuries when a tree branch snapped and struck her as she played on a rope swing with friends, South London Coroner’s Court heard.
The inquest was told the tree, maintained by Surrey County Council, had been inspected in May 2022 and that a re-inspection had been due in May 2024, but did not take place as scheduled.
Acting on behalf of Mr Wiggins, Christian Weaver argued that, had the checks been carried out, the swing would have been removed by the council, “as per policy”. Gordon Carson of the Health and Safety Executive told the hearing the council’s policy is to remove rope swings from trees within seven days.
In a statement read by Assistant Coroner Ivor Collett, Brooke’s dad Lee Wiggins said: “Only 12 years old, and now she’s gone forever. When I think of her, I ask myself, ‘why my darling Brooke?’”
“If only people had done their job properly… the one thing they are paid to do, and did it properly, Brooke would still be here,” he said.
Mr Wiggins described Brooke as an “amazing young woman” who was “bright” and “very funny”, adding: “I am devastated that my baby girl has been taken from me. She packed so much into her short life.”
Representatives for Surrey County Council said expert evidence showed an inspection of the tree may not have achieved a “materially different outcome”.
In a statement read by Mr Collett, Brooke’s mum Claire Etherington described her as a “beautiful, fun, caring and loving girl” who had “the most incredible way of lighting up every room”.
“She was a smart girl with so much potential”, who loved dancing, art, singing, taking photographs and expressing herself, she said. “We will always wonder what she would have gone on to achieve in her life.” The inquest continues.
Additionally, the shop must maintain a written log of annual staff training on these compliance checks Finally, all alcohol must be sourced exclusively from legitimate, registered UK suppliers, with detailed invoices and delivery notes kept on-site for immediate inspection upon request.
Defenders of the BlueCo regime will say the hierarchy gave Rosenior the benefit of the doubt and could have sacked him sooner. Internationals left for the March break on the back of four consecutive defeats to PSG (twice), Newcastle and Everton. Even now, a month on, though, this is a very early termination, indeed, and a humiliation for all parties.
The drama charts the story of Rosie (portrayed by Molly Windsor) and her husband Adam (Asa Butterfield) as they exist within a repressive Christian cult. Rosie becomes caught between two worlds when she encounters escaped prisoner Sam (Fra Fee), who offers her the prospect of a better existence.
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Here’s everything you need to understand about the gripping conclusion to the miniseries.
The programme suggested Adam’s sexuality near the series’ conclusion after he seemed to harbour feelings for Sam, which Sam eventually exploited to his benefit.
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Aware that Adam’s brother Isaac (Aston McAuley) was on the verge of exposing the truth about his sinister history, Sam needed to eliminate him and orchestrated Isaac’s van crash, killing him.
As Rosie began piecing together Sam’s true malevolence, he confessed that aged 16 he had murdered his first girlfriend following her announcement that she was leaving him. He’d also killed his girlfriend’s cousin, who’d been imprisoned alongside him, leaving Rosie petrified. Sam had attempted to frame cult leader Mr Phillips (Christopher Eccleston) for Isaac’s death, staging the crash scene to implicate Mr Phillips in drink-driving.
However, Mr Phillips deduced that it was Sam who had killed Isaac, prompting Sam to make a desperate bid to silence the cult leader by throttling him. The entire incident was witnessed by Rosie’s daughter, Grace (Olivia Pickering), who subsequently revealed Sam’s true character to Rosie.
In the concluding episode, Sam bound Mr Phillips and released Grace unharmed, though she was visibly shaken by what she had seen.
The following day, Mr Phillips managed to break free and fled back to the church, where he kept a gun in his office. When Adam caught up with him, Mr Phillips disclosed that Sam had murdered his brother Isaac, though Adam refused to believe him.
Meanwhile, Sam attempted to convince Adam to abandon the fellowship, while also confessing to Rosie that he couldn’t bear to live without her.
Watch Unchosen on Sky for free
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Sky is giving away a free Netflix subscription with its new Sky Stream TV bundles, including the £15 Essential TV plan.
This lets members watch live and on-demand TV content without a satellite dish or aerial and includes hit shows.
This includes the brand new UK drama Unchosen, starring Asa Butterfield and Christopher Eccleston.
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Rosie came clean to Adam, admitting she had slept with Sam without any knowledge of his disturbed past. Having a change of heart, Adam proved surprisingly forgiving, urging his wife and daughter to leave and seek safety elsewhere.
Rosie then told Adam that she and Grace were departing the fellowship entirely, following his unwanted advances which had left her deeply unsettled.
Adam acknowledged that she deserved a far better husband and was consumed by guilt, and the pair ultimately parted on amicable terms as he drove her and Grace to the station. In an unexpected twist, Sam caught up with the pair as they attempted to flee. Adam was forced to fight Sam, ordering Rosie and Grace to take refuge in the woods.
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As Rosie dashed to Adam’s office to alert the police, Sam intercepted her and suffered a dramatic breakdown. In a frenzied state, he vented his rage by attempting to submerge her in a water trough.
Rosie fell motionless, but Sam was suddenly reminded of the lessons Rosie had taught him about repentance, prompting him to rescue her. She told him that if he truly loved her, he would allow them to leave, and Sam watched on with a heavy heart as she and Grace fled.
Adam eventually caught up with Sam and threatened him with a gun, but Sam knew he held power over Adam indefinitely. He possessed video footage of Adam performing a sexual act on him, which he could use to disgrace Adam should he ever attempt to expose Sam.
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While Mr Phillips remained in confinement, Rosie and Grace went to stay with Mrs Phillips, who had been reunited with her estranged son.
Following a year-long time jump, Sam had assumed leadership of the fellowship, with no indication of Adam’s whereabouts.
The unsettling question lingers – had Adam managed to break free from the cult, or had Sam been holding him captive all along, forcing him to repent?
The Met Office’s day-by-day forecast doesn’t stretch as far as the BBC’s, but its long range forecast also looks promising.
Meanwhile with drier and sunnier weather forecast over the coming days, a yellow warning for wildfires is in place in Northern Ireland.
The dry weather along with rising temperatures and stronger winds, means conditions are ideal for fires to start and spread quickly. In the Republic of Ireland an orange warning for wildfires has been issued.
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The Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service (NIFRS) is reminding the public to act responsibly when enjoying the outdoors to help protect our countryside from wildfires.
Last year, NIFRS attended 95 wildfire incidents in Northern Ireland, 83% of which were due to deliberate ignition, a stark reminder that most wildfires are human-caused and preventable.
The fire service says the majority of these incidents, 93 in total, occurred between March and May, highlighting the increased risk during the spring period when vegetation is dry and weather conditions are favourable for fire spread.
All parts will have a dry day with plenty of sunshine although some high cloud around. Feeling warm in the sunshine although cooler along the east coast. Maximum temperature 17°C.
Outlook for Friday to Sunday:
Remaining dry and settled into the weekend with some warm sunshine. Perhaps turning cloudier on Sunday.
UK long range weather forecast: Monday 27 April – Wednesday 6 May
High pressure is likely to remain centred close to or over the UK through the remainder of April and into early May. This means a continuation of the predominantly dry conditions, likely with a mixture of some cloudier spells and sunnier days.
For the most part, rain-bearing weather systems should be kept at bay, though the far west and northwest may see a little rain at times. Winds will be mostly light, but may be fresher around the coasts at times.
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For most, temperatures will continue above normal, though it will feel cooler along windward coasts in particular. Towards the end of the period, conditions may become more unsettled as low pressure becomes rather more dominant.
ITV’s The Assembly has returned for its second series and a big name is set to appear in an upcoming instalment
ITV has announced the sixth celebrity preparing to be interrogated in the second series of The Assembly.
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TV and radio personality Rylan Clark – known for shows including This Morning, Strictly Come Dancing spin-off It Takes Two and his travel programme with Rob Rinder – will be occupying the hot seat in an upcoming instalment of the ITV programme.
The BAFTA-nominated series features a panel of curious interviewers – who are autistic, neurodivergent and/or learning disabled – posing their distinctive questions to well-known personalities.
The second series started earlier this month and has already featured the likes of national treasure Sir Stephen Fry, former Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, comedy icon Sir Lenny Henry and Motherland actress Anna Maxwell Martin.
The fifth episode on April 22 will showcase BRIT award-winning rapper and I’m A Celebrity star Aitch facing questions, while Rylan’s episode is scheduled to broadcast in May, reports the Mirror.
He will be filmed responding to questions from the panel, where no question is forbidden and no subject is off-limits.
The identities of the remaining celebrities participating in this series were announced in March, though Rylan’s involvement has only just been disclosed.
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The Assembly, an adaptation of French format Les Rencontres du Papotin, premiered last year and proved enormously popular.
The inaugural series featured prominent personalities including EastEnders icon Danny Dyer, Rivals star David Tennant and Little Mix vocalist Jade Thirlwall facing questions from the panel of interviewers.
Following the announcement of the second series line-up, Katie Rawcliffe, director of entertainment, reality and daytime commissioning at ITV, commented: “This line-up really does offer something for everyone – The Assembly’s no-holds-barred questions throw up all kinds of surprising revelations.”
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David Smyth, entertainment commissioning editor at ITV, remarked: “The Assembly are raring to go and with such a unique mix of famous faces to interview, they will have a ball coming up with their next set of questions.
“These celebrities really do need to be ready for anything,” he continued.
Rylan’s episode of The Assembly will air next month across ITV1 and ITVX, STV and STV Player. Both the first series and opening five episodes of series two are available to stream now.
HMRC has refreshed its official guidance to help Brits spot genuine calls, and avoid fraudsters pretending to be tax officials.
This follows a spate of scams, preying on vulnerable people – particularly pensioners concerned about changes to the Winter Fuel Payments.
What real HMRC calls look – and sound – like
HMRC has confirmed it does contact some people by phone, but only in specific situations.
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For example, you may get an automated or recorded call if you’re behind on tax payments.
These calls will:
Explain what you need to do about your debt
Direct you to official payment options or helplines
Never ask for personal or financial details
If a caller asks for bank details, passwords or urgent payments – that’s a major red flag.
New HMRC calls happening right now
Between April 20 and May 18, some people may also receive calls from Verian, which is working with HMRC on research into tax fraud awareness.
These calls are legitimate – but optional – so if you aren’t sure, it’s fine to decline.
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You may be asked to take part in a survey, but:
Your answers will be anonymous
Participation is voluntary
You will not be asked for financial information
How to spot a scam call
Fraudsters often pretend to be HMRC – especially during busy tax periods.
Warning signs include:
Pressure to act immediately
Threats of arrest or legal action
Requests for payment via unusual methods (like gift cards or crypto)
Asking for sensitive personal or banking details
If a call feels suspicious, hang up and check independently in the new HMRC guidance .
Recommended reading:
How to check if a call is genuine
HMRC now publishes a list of recent phone contact campaigns so you can verify whether a call is real.
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If the call you received isn’t listed, you should treat it with caution and check official contact routes.
You can also report suspicious calls directly to HM Revenue & Customs to help tackle scams.
A quarter of adults targeted by scams
This comes as new research from Yorkshire Building Society reveals that more than one in four adults (27%) have been targeted by a financial scam in the past three years alone. The figure rises to over a third (35%) among 18–29-year-olds, highlighting the growing reach of fraud and scams across all age groups.
Among those who had been targeted, over half (56%) encountered an impersonation scam, where fraudsters posed as trusted organisations such as banks, HMRC, energy companies, delivery firms or even family members to request money, personal information or access to accounts.
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The findings are being highlighted to mark Take Five Week (27 April – 3 May), a national campaign from UK Finance, encouraging people to stop, challenge and protect themselves against fraud.
More information on how to protect yourself from fraud and scams is available at takefive-stopfraud.org.uk .
Hannah Bingle, Financial Crime Specialist at Yorkshire Building Society , said: “These scams are often designed to create a sense of urgency, pushing people to act quickly without verifying the source, but by stopping and taking a moment to ask yourself if a message, call or email is genuine, you could protect yourself.
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“If you receive a call out of the blue, be wary. Companies won’t request financial or password details, so never share them. If you suspect fraud or feel pressured, hang up and contact the company directly using their official phone number.
“If you receive a message, text or email that appears to be from a trusted source, take the time to ask – is it genuine?
“Be particularly wary of messages that request personal details, include a link to a form, or pose as someone you trust asking for money.”
Jo Bowen-Jones, from Anglesey, believes her dog Baxter died after a suspected adder bite – the only venomous snake native to the UK – at common land beside RAF Valley near Rhosneigr
21:04, 22 Apr 2026Updated 21:08, 22 Apr 2026
A dog owner believes her beloved pet died after being bitten by a snake near a Welsh beach.
Jo Bowen-Jones, from Anglesey, suspects her dog Baxter was bitten by an adder – the only venomous snake native to the UK – on common land beside RAF Valley near Rhosneigr.
Ms Bowen-Jones, a grandmother living in Rhosneigr, told North Wales Live how on the morning of Tuesday, 31 March, the pair had crossed a wooden bridge over Afon Crigyll when their walk came to an abrupt halt after Baxter, a Springer-Cocker spaniel, lifted his paw and started limping.
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“I was on a track heading back to the car, not too far from the bridge, when I saw Baxter suddenly stop and lift his front paw,” she said. “He didn’t yelp and after some coaxing he came to me. But he was struggling to walk. I had to half carry him over the bridge.”
Unable to get her dog home unaided, she asked a passing campervan owner to keep watch over him while she retrieved her car. “I was only gone five minutes,” she said. “But in the time I’d been away he’d vomited and pooed himself. There wasn’t any swelling but I felt his paw and there was a tiny mark.”
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Having rung ahead to Bodrwnsiwn Vets in Mona, Ms Bowen-Jones and the campervan owner lifted Baxter into her estate car. She arrived at the veterinary practice within 30 minutes of the suspected bite, reports Wales Online.
“They carried him in on a rug – there was no way he could walk,” she said. “His breathing was ragged, his tummy was taut and his eyes were not good.” Baxter was administered anti-histamines and paracetamol and placed on a hydration drip. Vets also suspected an adder bite, though anti-venom medication was not administered.
“It can cause anaphylactic shock and other side effects,” Ms Bowen-Jones said. “As Baxter’s breathing was so laboured, it was decided anti-venom was too risky.”
She made arrangements to collect Baxter at 6pm, planning to transport him to Colwyn Bay, Conwy, for overnight care, as no such provision has been available for pets on Anglesey since June 2024.
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“I got a phone call from the vets at 5pm to say Baxter had taken a turn for the worse,” she said. “His heart had stopped and, by the time I got there, he had died.
“I knew he was going downhill and I was losing him but it was still a shock. He was a fit and healthy five-year-old dog. As he had deteriorated so quickly it made me wonder if he’d had an underlying condition.
“I can’t fault the vets. They did their best and they were very clearly very upset. We’re 80%-plus sure it was an adder bite that killed him.
“He didn’t swell, as often happens, but every dog reacts differently. Soon after I read an adder had been seen in the same area around the same time.”
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Keen to alert other pet owners to the danger, she posted a cautionary message on Facebook. “Dog owners often associate adders with coastal dunes but this happened on grassland,” she said. “They can be found in any open, sunny habitat.
“This year they seem to have come out early. Usually they will do their best to avoid people and dogs. But early in the year, as they emerge from hibernation, they can be a little drowsy and might not be so quick to get away, so extra care is needed.”
Despite a considerable surge in the UK’s dog population, adder bites remain uncommon and fatalities are exceptionally rare. While nearly all dogs that are bitten display symptoms, 95.4% reportedly pull through with prompt veterinary treatment. Fatalities typically result when the bite goes untreated, and tend to be more common among smaller breeds.
Today, Keir Starmer has sent a “real chill throughout the civil service.” That’s according to a senior union official following his decision to sack the lead civil servant in the Foreign Office, Olly Robbins.
James and Chris are joined by Senior Fellow at the Institute for Government, Catherine Haddon, to discuss the recent turbulence in the relationship between the government and the Civil Service over the appointment of Peter Mandelson and whats next for the institution.
And, economics editor Faisal also joins us to discuss why the inflation rate has increased 3.3% in March.
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You can now listen to Newscast on a smart speaker. If you want to listen, just say “Ask BBC Sounds to play Newscast”. It works on most smart speakers.
You can join our Newscast online community here: https://tinyurl.com/newscastcommunityhere
Newscast brings you daily analysis of the latest political news stories from the BBC. It was presented by James Cook. It was made by Chris Gray with Jem Westgate. The social producer was Joe Wilkinson. The technical producer was Mike Regaard. The assistant editor is Chris Gray. The editor is Sam Bonham.
Just as Donald Trump was supposed to rain more fire and fury down on Iran by destroying its bridges and power plants, killing its civilians, and – though it seems immaterial to him – thus explicitly committing war crimes, the president has done another “Taco”. He has proved, once again, the value of the conventional wisdom that he always chickens out.
For an unpredictable man, the pattern of behaviour first identified by Wall Street investors has proved a reliable enough guide in the context of US foreign policy. This is a strategic weakness for the United States, because its enemies – in this case Iran – are able to exploit it.
On balance, and provided it’s not upset by some early-hours social media tantrum by the president, the announcement of an extension to the ceasefire in the Iran war is encouraging. This time, as they say, it’s different. Or at least, it should be.
The extension of the ceasefire is now indefinite, so the world, and especially the Iranian people, will be spared the regular trauma of seeing whether Mr Trump will or won’t change his mind – it is never completely a given. Had the US president ordered more bombing raids on Iran, then Iranian retaliation would inevitably have followed, centred on the Gulf states and, in particular, US bases and other assets in the region. The disruption to the world economy, now becoming severe, would have intensified even further.
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It is reassuring that the markets’ response to the news was mildly positive, with the assumption being – in financial circles at least – that the crisis may be stabilising, if not entering its endgame. The moments of maximum danger, in other words, may have passed.
Still, those risks remain. The US-Iran peace talks hosted in Islamabad by the Pakistani government have stalled once again. The Iranians now want the president to call off his blockade of maritime traffic going to and from their ports, while keeping their stranglehold on the Strait of Hormuz. By its actions so far in the region, the US has unilaterally ensured that this internationally crucial waterway will be controlled and taxed for ever.
For obvious reasons, Iran would like the “Tehran tollbooth” to be a permanent fixture. In recent days, its military has not hesitated to attack civilian shipping, with one Greek and three Panamanian-flagged vessels seized. On the American side, the US Navy is keeping up its own blockade in a different part of the Persian Gulf. The net effect is to prevent vital supplies of oil, natural gas, helium, fertiliser, aluminium and much else from flowing to and from global markets.
Unlike so many other regions afflicted by wars and disputes, where fighting winds down into an uneasy truce and long-term stagnation, the Persian Gulf – and the Red Sea and Suez Canal route, for that matter, menaced by the Houthi rebels – cannot be closed indefinitely. It has to be opened before the truly devastating effects on the world economy, concentrated on the poorer nations of Africa and Asia, become irreversible and a depression is triggered. That is the scale of pressure that should, and will, be brought to bear on the US to properly de-escalate its illegal and unnecessary war.
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Other pressure will be brought to bear by the major economy that stands to lose the most from a global downturn – China. The consequences of the US Navy being involved in a stand-off with its Chinese counterpart hardly bear thinking about. For all his bellicose instincts, President Trump knows, to borrow his argot, that he cannot mess with Xi Jinping, a man with whom he claims to have a very friendly and respectful relationship.
The industrial and financial realities that lie behind these nations’ respective approaches to foreign policy should prevent that fatal escalation from happening – but it will require the Americans to quietly soften their Iranian blockade. China’s influence on Iran – the former being America’s most important international partner – should also help soften their attitude. Hostile public opinion in the US and the looming midterm elections will also concentrate Maga Republican minds, and push Mr Trump towards jaw-jaw rather than war-war.
For his part, all Mr Trump is demanding from Tehran these days is that it submit a “peace plan”. There is no more talk of “regime change”, “unconditional surrender”, or even ending Iran’s support for terrorist proxies in the region. The president would still, and rightly, expect Iran to renounce its nuclear ambitions, which, ironically, were under some control before this calamitous war was launched at the request of the Israelis. Given that Tehran has in the recent past signalled some willingness to do so, that is not a totally fanciful request.
For their part, the Iranians should insist on Israel ending its invasion of Lebanon and supporting the peace talks to that end, which are proceeding slowly in Washington. The chances of that actually transpiring are probably slim, given that Hezbollah isn’t involved and cannot be relied on to obey Iran if asked to do so. Nonetheless, the outlines of some sort of tacit agreement to end the war and free up world trade again are gradually hoving into view.
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It’s rarely wise to be optimistic about the Middle East and US-Iran relations, and there’s no doubt that the world would be better off if the war had never started; but the fact is that the stage wherein Iran and America have more to lose by prolonging the conflict than by ending it is surely approaching. Meanwhile, Mr Trump should take a break from social media.
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