Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and members of his family were killed in a joint US-Israeli air strike in the capital Tehran.

Iran has issued a haunting three-word warning to lash out after Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed in an air strike. The country’s faltering regime released the chilling statement while mourning the death of the former ruler on Saturday.

Seismic shockwaves rippled across the Middle East after Iran’s Supreme Leader and top figures of his tyrannical regime was killed in the joint US-Israeli Operation Epic Fury. The aim of the military operation was the effective “decapitation” of Iran’s leadership apparatus and effective regime change.

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard, Iran’s armed forces, said a “regret-inducing punishment” was coming after the death of Khamenei who has ruled with an iron grip since 1989, reports the Mirror.

The revenge threat continued, adding the action would start in “just moments” and would target “occupied territories and American terrorist bases.” Iran launched numerous drones and missiles at neighbouring countries that either have American bases or have friendly ties with Washington DC.

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Hundreds of thousands of Brits who live in Dubai were warned to stay inside and take cover after Iran launched attacks. US Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth said any threats against Americans would trigger further attacks.

In a statement shared on X/Twitter, he said: “The Iranian regime had their chance, yet refused to make a deal — and now they are suffering the consequences.

“We will not tolerate powerful missiles targeting the American people. Those missiles will be destroyed, along with Iran’s missile production. The Iranian navy will be destroyed. And, as President Trump has said his entire life, Iran will never have a nuclear weapon.”

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Hegseth continued: “The United States did not start this conflict, but we will finish it. If you kill or threaten Americans anywhere in the world — as Iran has — then we will hunt you down, and we will kill you.”

There are fears Operation Epic Fury could destabilise the region further as the US has offered no clear strategy or vision for Iran’s future should regime change happen.

As Iranians took to the streets to celebrate the Ayatollah’s death in cities across the world, deaths were reported at a US Consulate in Pakistan. Gunfire was reportedly heard near the US Consulate General in Karachi after hundreds stormed the building in the southern port city, with six people, including three embassy staff, believed to be killed.

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As Ukrainian officials meet with US negotiators in Geneva with the possibility of full three-way talks involving Moscow, Kyiv and Washington in early March, there’s a glimmer of hope that an end to the conflict may be in sight. But the fact that after four years this remains a glimmer speaks volumes about the difficulties in ending the war.

Even Donald Trump, who promised to end the war in one day, has now stopped issuing ultimatums and deadlines to the warring parties.

In what has become a war of attrition, discussions about vulnerabilities and losses are only meaningful when compared with those of the opposing side. Reflecting on how each side’s theories of victory changed over the four years helps to grasp the war’s overall trajectory.

Russia’s initial plan for a swift knockout of Ukraine was foiled within the first few days of the invasion. Instead, it settled into a conflict of grinding the enemy down through slow advances on the battlefield and debilitating attacks on the energy infrastructure in the rear, with the expectation in Moscow that at some point Ukraine would throw in the towel.

But the question is whether Russia has enough manpower and economic resources for this strategy.

Russia is finally experiencing economic difficulties due to a combination of western sanctions and falling oil prices, which fell from over US$100 (£74) per barrel in 2022 to approximately $60 in 2025. In 2026, the Kremlin had to raise taxes and reduce its reliance on oil, whose share of Russia’s budget fell from 40% in 2019 to 25% in 2025. Perhaps the Kremlin is beginning to realise that this cannot continue forever.

But Russia’s weakness is relative to that of Ukraine. This applies to war losses: Putin believes that Ukraine’s manpower losses are higher than Russia’s (which flies in the face of what some western researchers estimate) and that Ukraine, with a much smaller population than Russia, has much less staying power.

Ukraine’s theory of victory, meanwhile, has evolved from a belief in an outright military victory in 2022–23, to just trying to exhaust Russia’s military in 2025 by using the “wall of drones”. But as the Russian army had captured some key strongholds, such as Siversk, Pokrovsk and Hulyaipole, Kyiv’s new defence minister, Mykhailo Fedorov (the fourth since the start of the war), declared that Ukraine’s path to victory now was to kill 50,000 Russian soldiers per month. That’s more than most estimates of Russia’s recruitment, which is believed to be around 30,000 per month.

Western politicians and analysts have embraced this theory, arguing that Russia’s unsustainable losses justify Ukraine continuing with the war with their support.

But after four years, Kyiv’s position is hampered by the loss of the full support of what was once its key ally: Washington. The Ukraine frontline is being slowly but steadily forced back and in 2025 for the first time in the war there was no major Ukrainian offensive.

Kyiv’s best hope is to freeze the conflict along the current line of contact, get security guarantees from the west, join the EU, and maintain pressure on Russia through western sanctions. Unfortunately for Ukraine, there are issues with every item on this list.

The situation at home is challenging and funding from the west is declining, thanks to the US. Meanwhile, its energy infrastructure has been severely damaged, there are ongoing issues with unpopular mobilisations, and the country’s president, Volodymyr Zelensky, has suffered a significant blow from a major corruption scandal involving his closest aides.

However, crucially, Ukraine is still fighting and its best hope now is an economic collapse in Russia. Attacks on Russia’s oil industry were intended to hasten that collapse, but Moscow’s destruction of Ukraine’s energy grid has demonstrated its greater capacity for escalation. This year will not be easy for Ukraine.

Europe’s position

Since the start of the invasion, Europe’s ideal plan for helping Ukraine win has not changed. It is believed that a combination of economic sanctions and military aid to Ukraine will eventually cause Russia’s economic collapse and military defeat.

Other than this there is no European plan to end the war, except to try to prevent Trump from striking a deal which would favour Russia and gut Ukraine. For the best part of a year, the so-called coalition of the willing (Kyiv’s European allies led by France, the UK and Germany) has been talking about post-war plans with itself.

But the irony is that – despite being Ukraine’s biggest donor – coalition countries have been excluded from negotiating with Russia, whose consent to any western military deployment as a security guarantee for Kyiv will be essential.

Whatever happens, the EU will have to pay Ukraine’s bills, either to continue the war or to cover its post-war reconstruction. The EU’s promise to accept Ukraine as a member would also require increased funding over an indefinite period.

Whose side is the US on?

Under the Biden presidency, the US and Europe had the same theory of victory. However, since returning to power in January 2025, Trump has forced Europe to finance the supply of US military equipment to Ukraine. Meanwhile, it has opened negotiations with Russia to end the war.

The US push for peace remains a mystery. After all, if the Ukrainians are willing to fight and the Europeans are willing to pay for it, it is unclear why the US is so eager to end a war that is exhausting one of its geopolitical rivals in Russia.

Perhaps Trump genuinely wants to stop the killing. Or perhaps he believes that if the war is not stopped now, the eventual peace deal will be much worse for Ukraine and the west. Or maybe it’s simply a matter of stopping “Biden’s war”. A war that Trump has no interest in and that he clearly feels is hampering his plans to do business with Putin.

As with Gaza, a deal can be reached only when the parties involved in the conflict are exhausted and ready to stop fighting. In these circumstances, Trump’s mediation could succeed. For now, however, each side is still clinging to its vision of victory.

On its fourth anniversary, there is hope that this may be the last year of the war. While all sides are growing increasingly exhausted, it will be the “last mile” that matters most — who can muster the willpower and resources in the final stretch to end the war on their terms.

The Warner after party was attended by the likes of AJ Odudu, Nick Grimshaw and Vogue Williams

Calling one of the lavish events held after the BRIT Awards in Manchester an afterparty would perhaps undersell it a fair bit as it started hours before the ceremony itself.

Music label Warner, who have artists like PinkPantheress, Ed Sheeran and Liam Gallagher on their roster, began their celebrations on Saturday (February 28) in true style, naturally, by hopping on board an 1940s upholstered train known as a favourite of the Queen Mother and Queen Elizabeth II.

The British Pullman Train, travelling from London Euston to Manchester Piccadilly, was boarded by the likes of Beth Ditto, Geri Halliwell’s daughter Bluebell Horner, Nick Grimshaw, Jaime Winston and Liam Gallagher’s eldest son Lennon Gallagher in time to make it to Co-op Live for the big ceremony.

Held in Manchester for the first time in its history, the awards featured performances from the likes of Harry Styles, Olivia Dean and Mark Ronson with Dua Lipa with big winners on the night including Sam Fender, Noel Gallagher and Rosalia. When it came to to the Warner afterparty, held with Hennessy, a lavish and extravagant event was held at Cut and Craft on Mosley Street in the city centre, which is based within a Grade II* listed former banking hall.

Tailored to a 24 Hour Poodles Party theme, aimed at bring British eccentricity together with Manchester’s clubbing legacy, featuring a five-metre-tall poodle installation at the entrance, the inside of the venue was turned into an extravagant poodle parlour with oversized poodle inflatables, marble finishes, glam bots, and a special poodle-motif carpet which had been put in specifically for the event. Topping off the dog theme, there were archival images of cultural icons with their dogs, including Davie Bowie and Winston Churchill.

The likes of Dua Lipa, Gene Gallagher, Vogue Williams, The Good Wife actress Cush Jumbo, Saltburn actor Archie Madekwe, comedian Munya Chawawa, and TV presenter AJ Odudu, who wowed in a bejewelled bodice were in attendance at the event. Throughout the night, Groove Armada, G2, Dua Lipa’s brother Gjin Lipa with Tommy Gold, and Romeo Beckham’s DJ girlfriend Kim Turnbull took turns on the decks for special sets at the lavish invite-only bash featuring immersive lighting and laser displays.

The bar also featured a hedonistic basement club from Manchester collective Suns of Acid, made up of Happy Mondays star Bez’s sons Arlo and Jack. Bez was also in attendance at the event, alongside other stars including Megan McKenna, Kojey Radical, Celeste, Jamie Laing, Beth Ditto, Ms. Banks, Talia Storm, Montana Brown, Sheila Atim and Amber-Rose Gill.

Barry Can’t Swim, Corinna Brown, Nick Grimshaw, Rachel Chinouriri, Daniel W. Fletcher, Tinea Taylor, James Blunt, Corbin Shaw and Elizabeth Hurley’s model son Damian Hurley were also spotted attending the luxurious party. Lennon Gallagher was also spotted at the event alongside girlfriend Isobel Richmond as they soaked up the atmosphere.

Alongside a drinks menu of Champagne and bespoke Hennessy cocktails, guests were treated to a selection of exclusively-created canapés, including a Lancashire hotpot croquette with lamb jus aioli, Bury black pudding mac n cheese with mustard aioli and shaved horseradish, a buttered brioche crab roll and parmesan and truffle polenta with fillet tartare topped with caviar. Following the event, the venue will reopen to the public on Monday (March 2).

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Darioush Shahidi, operations director at The Cut & Craft, said: “Hosting one of The Brits official after parties at The Cut & Craft is a dream come true for us all. We’re honoured to be hosting such an important event within our first year of opening. The city feels electric. It’s such an incredible accolade for Manchester to be the host city, and we feel so lucky to be part of the celebrations.”

In addition, other afterparties were held across the city to mark the first time the prestigious music ceremony was held in Manchester in its 46 year history. Hosted by Jack Whitehall, this year’s trophy, designed by Matthew Williamson, also featured a nod to Manchester with a design inspired by the city’s worker bee mascot.

Bills will fall for millions of households throughout the UK – with those affected by the current price cap seeing a drop of about £10 per month.

The rates of the cheapest bills will fall too, alongside the cap.

MP Phil Brickell said: “This is fantastic news for my constituents.

“During the election, I spoke to thousands of voters who told me energy bills were a huge pressure on their household budgets.

“As a direct result of the last Labour budget in November, energy bills are now coming down and are likely to stay down in the coming years.

“Lots has been done and I acknowledge there is a lot more to do, but there is even more to lose with other parties making false promises and opposing Labour’s practical measures to reduce energy bills.”

Which? have revealed a foolproof method to ensure your house remains warm. (Image: Getty Images/iStockphoto)

According to Rachel Reeve’s November budget, households should see annual savings of around £150 on energy bills.

But part of the Government’s planned average £150 cut has been offset by the rising cost of upgrading electricity and gas networks, dropping Ofgem’s overall cut to the price cap to £117.

A significant part of these savings comes from the scrapping of the Energy Company Obligation (Eco) scheme introduced by the previous Conservative government.

Under the Eco scheme, energy suppliers had to pay for insulation and heating upgrades in the homes of people in fuel poverty, leading to higher overall prices.

Money expert Martin Lewis said: “The Ofgem Price Cap for the three months starting 1 April is to fall by 6.7 per cent, with the biggest reduction on electricity unit rates.

“Yet unprecedentedly, the rates of the cheapest fixes will fall too.

“These changes are in effect now, so the impact of the reduction will last far beyond the April Cap.”

Ian Huntley, serving two life sentences for the murders of Soham schoolgirls Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman, both 10, was said to have been beaten from behind in HMP Frankland

Double child killer Ian Huntley was ‘bludgeoned from behind’ as he bent down in a prison attack that was described as “chaotic” by sources.

Huntley, 52, remains in a critical condition in an induced coma in hospital following the attack just after 9am on Thursday morning. The convicted killer was reportedly bent over tying up string on a recycling crate in a workshop at HMP Frankland in County Durham when his attacker hit him up to 15 times with a three-foot metal pole, according to sources.

Soham murderer Huntley was rushed to hospital, where his mother Lynda, who has visited, described him as “unrecognisable” to friends due to his injuries. He was given just a five per cent chance of survival after the attack which reportedly cut his head open.

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READ MORE: Ian Huntley’s chilling six-word prophesy before near-fatal jail attackREAD MORE: Ian Huntley’s attacker gets jail ‘bragging rights’ after attack on Soham killer

Huntley suffered a broken jaw, and brain and skull injuries in the attack at the recycling workshop, and is said to be hooked up to a ventilator. The main suspect in the attack has been identified as triple killer Anthony Russell, though police have not officially confirmed this.

A source described the attack as “unbelievably savage”, adding: “It is astonishing that Huntley is still alive. He was bending down tying some string onto a recycling crate when he was first hit – so was in a position like you’d be in when tying your shoelaces. And people who saw it say he was battered around 15 times.”

The source added that inmates were allegedly aware of an impending attack, saying “none of the prisoners there helped.” The source said: “They just watched it happen and it was staff who stepped in – but not before the attacker had inflicted some really severe damage. Everyone thought Huntley was dead and inmates and staff are absolutely stunned he is still alive.”

The source continued: “Afterwards, Russell was handcuffed and led away towards the chapel and was smirking. He has apparently admitted the attack in interviews and said he was proud of it. But he has also said he is ‘gutted’ that Huntley is still alive – because he was sure he’d killed him.”

A prison source told The Mirror the suspect in the attack is likely to be segregated from other inmates for several years. They added: “It’ll be business as usual [in the prison], it’ll be absolutely same as always, just there’ll be one less prisoner to worry about.

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“Because it’s a serious assault, he’ll be moved to the segregation unit. He’ll probably just be held there for the foreseeable, certainly, because you can’t go around either trying to kill another prisoner or killing other prisoners, so he’ll probably be in a segregation unit for the next five, 10 years, maybe.”

Durham Constabulary said Huntley continues to be treated in hospital. “He remains in hospital in a serious condition,” their spokesperson said.

Huntley has been serving a life sentence for the brutal killings of Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman, both 10, after they left a family barbecue to buy sweets in Soham, Cambridgeshire, in August, 2002. He later left their bodies in a ditch and attempted to evade suspicion by hiding in plain sight by giving media interviews about the police investigation.

Wales have called in reinforcements ahead of the final two Six Nations games against Ireland and Italy

Dragons youngster Ryan Woodman has been called into Wales’ Six Nations squad ahead of the final two matches of the tournament. The 22-year-old back rower is one of two new call-ups alongside Cardiff’s Keiron Assiratti, who is fit again after initially missing out on selection.

Former Wales under-20s captain Woodman has previously trained with the senior squad and has now earned a full call-up following the release of Taine Plumtree.

Plumtree’s Six Nations was finished just 10 minutes into the match against Scotland after he suffered a shoulder injury that is set to keep him out until the last couple of games of the season.

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Scarlets team-mate Sam Costelow remains with the squad despite suffering a nasty ankle injury that left him on crutches in the aftermath at the Principality Stadium. There is still some hope he could be available for the final match of the tournament against Italy on March 14.

Tighthead Assiratti will now challenge Tomas Francis and Archie Griffin for a place in the matchday squad.

Wales’ players and coaches met up in full today after nine players returned from regional duty following their temporary release last week.

Steve Tandy is due to name his side to face the Irish on Wednesday ahead of Friday night’s fixture. There are unlikely to be many changes, with James Botham currently in pole position to start in place of Plumtree after a generally impressive 70 minutes against the Scots.

Dan Edwards or Jarrod Evans will replace Costelow at outside-half.

The famous chocolate cake has depth and a ‘resonant, ferrous tang’ thanks to one strange yet popular addition.

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There’s no better way to spend a dreary afternoon than by whipping up a sweet treat. You can’t go wrong with a sumptuous chocolate cake, and there are so many fantastic recipes out there just waiting to be tried.

But sometimes, you just can’t beat the classics, and when it comes to those foolproof recipes, Nigella Lawson is hard to beat. She’s known for her indulgent, rich creations and boasts an impressive array of chocolate cake techniques.

However, perhaps her most famous recipe features an unexpected yet popular ingredient that lends an extra layer of depth and flavour to the mix.

Featured in Nigella’s book Feast, this luxurious chocolate cake calls for around half a can of Guinness in the batter. This much-loved beverage is smooth, dark and full-bodied, making it a natural fit for a chocolate cake recipe, reports the Express.

The recipe notes read: “This cake is magnificent in its damp blackness. I can’t say that you can absolutely taste the stout in it, but there is certainly a resonant, ferrous tang which I happen to love. The best way of describing it is to say that it’s like gingerbread without the spices.”

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To balance out the richness, the cake is crowned with a light yet luxe cream cheese frosting. That said, you can leave it bare if you prefer, and it’ll still taste ‘gorgeous’.

Here’s everything you need to recreate this recipe.

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Nigella Lawson’s Guinness cake

Ingredients – for the cake

• 250 millilitres Guinness
• 250 grams unsalted butter
• 75 grams cocoa powder
• 400 grams caster sugar
• 150 millilitres sour cream
• 2 large eggs
• 2½ teaspoons vanilla extract
• 275 grams plain flour
• 2½ teaspoons bicarbonate of soda

For the topping

• 300 grams cream cheese
• 150 grams icing sugar
• 2 teaspoons cornflour
• 125 millilitres double cream (or whipping cream)

Method

Heat your oven to gas mark 4/180°C/160°C Fan/350oF, and grease and line a 23cm springform tin.

Tip the Guinness into a large, wide saucepan, chuck in the butter and warm until it’s melted. Then, whisk in the cocoa and sugar. Beat the sour cream with the eggs and vanilla, then pour this into the pan, and finally whisk in the flour and bicarb.

Pour the cake batter into your prepared tin and bake for 45 minutes to an hour. Allow it to cool completely in the tin on a cooling rack.

Once the cake’s cooled down, place it on a flat platter or cake stand and prepare the icing. Gently whip the cream cheese until smooth, sieve over the icing sugar and cornflour and then beat to combine.

If you’re using double cream, add it and beat until you achieve a spreadable consistency. If using whipping cream, whisk first to soft peaks, add a couple of spoonfuls into the cream cheese mixture, and once this is combined, fold in the rest.

Ice the cake, and serve immediately.

The demonic animal has sometimes been reported to walk upright on its hind legs, while at other times it’s seen running on all fours

Cambridgeshire is well equipped with strange mythical creatures, interesting facts, and bizarre stories. You may have heard of some of them before, from the Fen Tiger, a mysterious big cat said to roam the Fenlands, or a lantern man described as an atmospheric ghost light.

One Cambridgeshire village is believed to be haunted by a demonic creature described as half dog, half monkey. Reported sightings, apparently dating back more than 100 years, have been spotted around one particular road near the village of West Wratting.

The creature is known as the ‘Shug Monkey’. It is said to have the body of a jet-black shaggy sheepdog and the face of a monkey with staring eyes.

The road reportedly once haunted by ‘Shug Monkey’ can be found on a street that leads from the village of West Wratting to nearby Balsham called Slough Hill Lane. Sometimes the demonic animal is reported to walk upright on its hind legs, while other times it’s seen running on all fours.

According to Mysterious Cambridgeshire, by Daniel Codd: “Children would avoid the place after dark in the 1900s, but quite what this shaggy-haired monstrosity’s exact status was is unclear; it does not appear to have been thought of as an animal such as a Yeti-type creature, or even an escaped primate.”

The Shug Monkey is thought to have origins in Norse or Viking mythology, like many other ghostly creatures from the region. The fascinating creature also shares characteristics with another folkloric creature of East Anglia called Black Shuck.

Tales of Black Shuck describe a ghostly black dog seen roaming coastlines and countryside in the region.

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was only the second leader of Iran’s Islamic Republic, established in April 1979.

He took over from the regime’s founding figurehead, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, when he died just over 10 years later, in June 1989.

Iran’s supreme leader has the final say in all matters of state.

Therefore Khamenei’s death, after almost 37 years in power, marks a major transition.

Iran latest: Ayatollah Khamenei killed

Which senior leaders have died?

In addition to Khamenei, several other senior officials were killed in US/Israeli airstrikes too.

They include Iran’s army chief of staff, General Abdol Rahim Mousavi, and defence minister General Aziz Nasirzadeh.

Also killed was Major General Mohammad Pakpour, who took over as the Revolutionary Guard’s top commander after Israel killed its last commander last June, and Ali Shamkhani, a top security adviser to Khamenei.

Iranian media said Khamenei’s daughter, grandchild, son-in-law and daughter-in-law were killed as well.

What happens now?

A three-person temporary leadership council has been formed to govern the country, in line with Islamic Republic law.

It includes Iran’s reformist president, Masoud Pezeshkian, and the hard-line head of the judiciary, Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei.

There will also be a jurist, Alireza Arafi, who is a member of Iran’s Guardian Council and head of the Basij, a volunteer paramilitary force.

Ali Larijani, Iran’s head of security, said the council would be set up on Sunday.

“We had prepared for such moments and have plans in place for all scenarios, even for the time after the martyrdom of revered Imam Khamenei,” said Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, Iran’s parliamentary speaker.

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Iran vows ‘terrifying blows’

He added: “You’ll see that after the leadership council is formed, the power and integrity of officials, defensive forces and the people will be beyond imagination.”

Who chooses the new leader?

While the leadership council will govern in the interim, an 88-member panel called the Assembly of Experts will pick a new leader. Under Iranian law, that must happen as soon as possible.

The panel is made up of Shiite clerics elected every eight years and whose candidacies are approved by the Guardian Council.

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US military releases videos of fresh strikes

The Guardian Council is known for disqualifying candidates. It barred former Iranian president Hassan Rouhani from election to the Assembly of Experts in March 2024.

A relative moderate, he struck the JCPOA nuclear deal with world powers in 2015, from which the US, under Donald Trump, later withdrew.

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Appointed for life, Khamenei led by divine right

Who could be the new supreme leader?

Under Iran’s system of vilayat-e faqih – guardianship of the Islamic jurist – the supreme leader must be a cleric.

Khamenei’s power was often wielded through close advisers. But it is unclear how many have survived, and he was never publicly recorded as naming a successor.

His son, Mojtaba ​Khamenei, a 56-year-old cleric, has been seen as a possible successor. He has never held government office, however.

That said, he has been described as a gatekeeper to his father.

He studied under religious conservatives in seminaries of the city of Qom, and is described as a hardliner with close ties to the Revolutionary Guard.

It had been thought that former president Ebrahim Raisi might seek the leadership, but he died in a helicopter crash in May 2024.

Regime change?

Donald Trump is urging Iranians to take the opportunity to overthrow the Islamic Republic, which has been accused of murdering tens of thousands of its own citizens in recent weeks.

The US president has described the death of Khamenei as the “single greatest chance for the Iranian people to take back their country”.

And he has claimed that many people in the Revolutionary Guard, military and other security and police forces “no longer want to fight”.

Read more:
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How have Iranians reacted to death of supreme leader?

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Before the Iranian revolution Iran was ruled by a monarchy, with the king called the “shah”.

Reza Pahlavi, the US-based son of the shah who was deposed in the 1979 revolution has said: “With (Khamenei’s) death, the Islamic Republic has in effect reached its end and will very soon be consigned to the dustbin of history.”

Any attempts to appoint a successor to Khamenei are “doomed to fail from the outset”, Pahlavi added, claiming they will have neither longevity nor legitimacy.

He has urged Iran’s military, law enforcement and security forces to take their “final opportunity to join the nation”.