The city completely rebuilt this sidewalk. So why did it leave this wire sticking out in such a ‘unusual and unexpected place'?
The middle of a sidewalk is no place for a guy wire. So why wasn't it moved when a new sidewalk was put in?
That's a question for which there is no good answer, in the latest instalment of 'What Were They Thinking?' an occasional series of deadly serious Fixer columns that casts a light on asinine ideas and dumb decisions.
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Sky News
6 minutes ago
- Sky News
Israel-Iran live: 'Incredible success' of US strikes on Iran hailed by Hegseth; Starmer warns conflict could escalate beyond region
US strikes on Iran 'not about regime change' - US defence secretary The two US military leaders are now taking questions from journalists, and the first is if regime change was or is the goal. US secretary of defence Pete Hegseth replies: "This mission was not and has not been about regime change. "The president authorised a precision operation to neutralise the threats to our national interests posed by the Iranian nuclear programme, and the collective self-defence of our troops and our ally, Israel." The second question is if the US military believes some of Iran's nuclear capability remains, despite the strikes, and the chairman of the joint chiefs of staff, Dan Caine, replies that it is "way too early" to assess. Iran nuclear sites suffered 'extremely severe damage and destruction' after US strikes More to bring you now from the Pentagon news conference. Dan Caine, chairman of the US joint chiefs of staff, the most senior US military official, went into details about the operation - which he revealed was called Midnight Hammer. The US Air Force general laid out timings, as well as the weapons and equipment used. He added initial battle damage assessments found all three sites suffered "extremely severe damage and destruction". 'Deception effort' Caine said that at midnight on Friday, a large B-2 strike package of bombers launched from the US. To maintain surprise, some bombers flew west into the Pacific, something described as a "deception effort". During the 18-hour flight to the target, the US bombers underwent multiple refuellings. "It was planned and executed across multiple domains and theatres with coordination that reflects our ability to project power globally with speed and precision at the time and place of our nation's choosing," Caine said. Tomahawk cruise missiles hit Isfahan As the Operation Midnight Hammer bombers entered Iran, the US deployed "several decoys" and just before it did so, at 5pm EST, a US submarine launched more than two dozen Tomahawk cruise missiles at Isfahan. 14 bunker buster bombs used in Midnight Hammer Caine went on: "At approximately 6.40pm EST, the lead B-2 dropped two GBU 57 Massive Ordnance Penetrator weapons on the first of several Aim points at Fordo. "As the president stated last night, the remaining bombers then hit their targets." More than 75 weapons were used in total, including 14 30,000lbs bunker buster bombs. This marked their first operational use. During questions, defence secretary Pete Hegseth said that he believed they had "achieved destruction of capabilities" at Fordow. He said: "The battle damage assessment is ongoing, but our initial assessment, as the chairman said, is that all of our precision munitions struck where we wanted them to strike and had the desired effect, which means especially in Fordow, which was the primary target here, we believe we achieved destruction of capabilities there." Strikes on Iran were 'an incredible and overwhelming success' - US defence secretary Secretary of defence Pete Hegseth opens the news briefing by saying US forces "conducted a precision strike in the middle of the night against three nuclear facilities in Iran". The aim was "to destroy or severely degrade Iran's nuclear programme". "It was an incredible and overwhelming success," he declares. "We devastated the Iranian nuclear programme." Hegseth goes on to say that President Trump has stated for over a decade that "Iran must not get a nuclear weapon", and thanks to last night's decision, "Iran's nuclear ambitions have been obliterated". This operation was the "final blow" to Tehran's nuclear programme, Hegseth claims, and describes President Trump's plan as "bold" and "brilliant". "When this president speaks, the world should listen. And the US military - we can back it up. The most powerful military the world has ever known - no other country on planet Earth could have conducted the operation that the chairman is going to outline this morning." Nonetheless, President Trump "seeks peace", Hegseth continues, adding that Iran "should choose that path". The defence secretary also reiterated that Iran should not retaliate, as the president emphasised last night. "Every American involved in this operation performed flawlessly, and I want to give recognition to our allies in Israel as well," he adds. "The United States does not seek war, but let me be clear - we will act swiftly and decisively when our people, our partners, or our interests are threatened." Watch live: Pentagon holds news briefing after strikes in Iran A news briefing at the Pentagon - the home of the US military - is under way. Secretary of defence Pete Hegseth and the chairman of the joint chiefs of staff, Dan Caine (the most senior US military official) are speaking in the wake of last night's strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities. Watch live on Sky News, and in the stream at the top of this page. Iran's response could make global economic shock of Ukraine war 'seem like small change' A former senior British military intelligence officer has told Sky News that the world could face huge economic turbulence, depending on how Iran chooses to respond to the US strikes. Phillip Ingram says what happens next - with the Iranian leadership likely to feel compelled to respond - could be "really, really worrying". He told Sky News presenter Matt Barbet earlier: "If Iran does shut the Straits of Hormuz, between 20 and 30% of all the world's oil and gas goes through that strait. "The economic shock that would cause across the world would make what happened when Russia invaded Ukraine just over three years ago seem like small change." Iran has other options, Ingram went on, with its proxies across the region. Some of these, Ingram said, "were scary". They range from terrorist activity to attacking US bases in the Middle East, he said. Watch the full interview below: UK steps up 'force protection measures' at military bases in Middle East The UK has further increased its "force protection" measures for its military bases and personnel in the Middle East to their highest level in the wake of the US strikes against Iran, Sky News understands. This will involve greater security and heightened vigilance to protect British troops, equipment and bases. EU Red Sea mission raises assessment to 'severe' for US and Israeli ships The EU's naval mission in the Red Sea has raised its assessment level to "severe". It applies to ships with US and Israeli interests heading through the Red Sea, Bab el Mandeb strait and the Gulf of Aden, according to a statement. Watch: On the ground in Tel Aviv - where apartments have been destroyed by Iranian strikes Our correspondent Cordelia Lynch is reporting from Tel Aviv, where more Iranian missiles hit overnight. The central Israeli city has been repeatedly struck since Israel initiated fighting last Friday. Lynch reports from a neighbourhood on the outskirts of the city, where the front facade of a building was ripped off. She describes how people's belongings were left exposed. Catch up on her full report here: Russia condemns US strikes on Iran Russia's foreign ministry has condemned the US strikes on Iran's nuclear sites. It added: "The irresponsible decision to subject the territory of a sovereign state to missile and bomb strikes, no matter what arguments are presented, grossly violates international law, the UN Charter, and UN Security Council resolutions, which previously unequivocally qualified such actions as unacceptable." Echoing many other countries, it called for a solution through diplomatic means. It also said damage to Iran's nuclear infrastructure was of "particular concern". The US-Russia relationship has thawed considerably under Donald Trump, but that hasn't stopped the Kremlin criticising him this time. 'Anything could be happening to my family right now,' British-Iranian tells Sky News By Emma Birchley, Sky News correspondent For over a week, Joe has been in "a constant state of anxiety". "I keep thinking, oh my god, anything could be happening to my family right now. "I have a sense of guilt." The British-Iranian lawyer in his 20s was born and bred in Wembley, but many members of his family are in Tehran: his grandparents on his mother's side, his father's father, his aunts, uncles, cousins. And while the public was told to evacuate before the first strikes by Israel on Friday 13 June, for many, that simply wasn't an option. "It was not feasible for elderly people," he said. "Vulnerable people like my grandparents were forced to stay. A three-hour journey was taking 20 hours." Watch: Israel begins a new wave of strikes in Iran And with only a fraction of the country able to access intermittent internet, it has been hard to confirm that they are safe. One of his cousins has been able to access social media and has posted updates to reassure relatives here in the UK. Now, Joe is hugely worried about what lies ahead. "The way people look at this conflict, it's like a Marvel film; looking for a good side and a bad side." But it's not that simple, he says. "If regime change is to come about, I wouldn't know how to feel. "Part of me would feel relieved and happy, but part of me would feel is it Israel and the US's job to topple this regime?"
South Wales Argus
7 minutes ago
- South Wales Argus
Citroen C3 drivers told ‘stop driving' due to airbag fault
The vehicles affected are second-generation Citroen C3s produced from 2009 to 2016 and first-generation DS3s manufactured from 2016 to 2019. The French firm has issued a 'Stop-Drive' order after a recent report stated that a woman sustained fatal injuries caused by an airbag in a 2014 Citroen C3 in Reims, France, last year. As a result, around 82,000 C3 and DS3 models have been removed from the road across France. What is the recall on the Citroen C3 2025? The vehicles use Takata airbag systems, which could be faulty. However, Stellantis UK said that there were no reported incidents of faults in the UK, but it has decided to take action regardless. The car manufacturer in a recent statement said: 'Stellantis UK is mobilising its full network of suppliers, retailers and manufacturing plant to support this action to ensure the fastest, safest and most convenient solution for each customer. 'Stellantis remains fully committed to acting swiftly, transparently, and responsibly in addressing this issue.' Citroen recall check UK Owners will be contacted by letter, or they can check whether their car is affected by using the VIN check tool on Citroen's website. You will need the vehicle identification number (VIN). You can find this: at point 1 on your MOT certificate in part 4 (vehicle details) at point E in the vehicle's log book (V5C) What to do if you have a driving test booked in a Citroen C3 The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) said on Friday (June 20) that learner drivers can 'claim a refund if they have to change or cancel their driving test at short notice' because of the recall of Citroën C3 and DS3 cars. If you intend to take the test in a Citroën C3 or DS3, check if it's affected on the Citroën website. Recommended reading: 'Do not drive your car until it has been repaired if it's affected,' the DVSA states. 'You will need to get your car repaired before you can drive it again. This includes using it for your driving test.' Those affected can apply for a refund for their driving test by 11.59pm on Sunday, July 20, 2025.
Leader Live
7 minutes ago
- Leader Live
Plaid to PM: 'Don't follow Trump into Middle East conflict'
Rhun ap Iorwerth, MS for Ynys Môn, and Liz Saville Roberts, MP for Dwyfor Meirionnydd, welcomed Prime Minister Keir Starmer's calls for diplomacy and de-escalation, but voiced concerns that he had fallen short of roundly condemning President Trump's authorisation of US strikes against Iran overnight. The Plaid Cymru politicians said that the pursuit of peace should take priority over any UK loyalty to the US and warned against repeating history where the UK entered a regional conflict in the Middle East as 'America's puppet.' In a joint statement, Mr ap Iorwerth and Ms Saville Roberts said: 'President Trump's decision to launch US strikes against Iran is potentially catastrophic for an already destabilised region. 'Whilst Prime Minister Keir Starmer's calls for diplomacy and de-escalation are to be welcomed, it is concerning that he has fallen short of roundly condemning President Trump's actions. 'The pursuit of peace should take priority over any UK loyalty to the US. We all remember the disastrous consequences of being dragged into a regional conflict in the Middle East as America's puppet. 'It is essential therefore that Parliament has the opportunity to veto any UK military involvement in the Israel-Iran conflict should Keir Starmer yield to any pressure from President Trump and propose some form of intervention. 'In the same way the US Democrats are divided on the issue, Keir Starmer may well face pressure from Labour hawks to follow President Trump's lead. 'Air strikes were launched against Syria in 2018 without granting Parliament an opportunity to vote on military action. At the time Plaid Cymru accused then-Prime Minister Theresa May of showing complete disregard towards democracy. 'We stand firmly by that view and reiterate our calls for restraint before more innocent civilian lives are lost.' The US strike on Iran has fuelled fears that Israel's war with Tehran could escalate to a wider regional conflict. World leaders have reacted with calls for diplomacy and words of caution. US President Donald Trump had said on Thursday that he would decide within two weeks whether to get involved. In the end, it took just days, and Washington inserted itself into Israel's campaign with its early attack early on Sunday, reports the Press Association (PA).
