He shakes out a small handwoven rug with a peacock design. "This one is $25,000," he says. A lot of his customers are Beverly Hills millionaires. The opulence seems far removed from the horrors of war, but for Eric, who left Iran aged 15, his homeland is never far from his mind. Follow the latest on the war in Iran Portraits of the shahs, the monarchs who ruled Iran until the 1979 revolution, are displayed on the wall. The tricolour flag is hanging in the doorway, and in Eric there is optimism that the war launched by the US will result in a freer Iran. "I was just watching the news in Iran. They're all joyous," he says. "They are being bombed. At the same time, they're okay with it. It's amazing. I mean, I'm sitting here, I'm cheering, but I'm not under the threat of bombs." I ask if Eric thinks Donald Trump did the right thing by launching strikes. "Donald Trump is doing a favour for the whole humanity," he says. "Keeping these people's hands off nuclear bombs. And some people, like Democrats, they're full of baloney. They created this monster." Eric's father is 91 and still lives in Tehran. They usually communicate via WhatsApp, but since the war broke out two weeks ago, communication channels have been shut down, and he's been relying on his father to contact him. "My dad says it is chaos there, but he's not afraid of the bombs; collateral damage is a part of war," he says. "God forbid, if my father gets killed, I would understand. I'm not going to be against it happening, there is a price to pay for freedom. Two months ago, 50,000 of our citizens got murdered - that bothers me. But we are trying to get free from this evil Nazi regime." The Westwood and Beverly Hills areas of Los Angeles are home to the biggest diaspora of Iranians anywhere in the world. It's known colloquially as Tehrangeles or Little Persia. Read more:All crew members killed in US refuelling plane crash in IraqOil tankers to be escorted through Strait of HormuzWhat we know about the deadly Iran school strike In Atari cafe, in so-called Persian Square, the birthplace of the Iranian business community here, waiters bring out platefuls of kebabs and rice. Serge Abdishoo, who left Iran with his family aged eight, is waiting to meet a friend. "It feels like we're on the cusp of finally being able to breathe again after 47 years, if it's actually successful," he says. "But I mean first and foremost, my concern is for America... this is the country that's been housing us, caring for us all these years. "What are the repercussions to Americans? Innocent lives can easily be lost here due to that. I hope Homeland Security has a plan in place and that things have been controlled, but I'm very concerned." Mohammad Ghafarian owns a bakery and fruit and vegetable shop selling lavash bread, dates and other fresh food to a mostly Persian customer base. Mohammad, who has been in America for 53 years, is desperately hoping for change in Iran. "I would love to go back to at least visit my brothers, my sisters," he says. "In the end, I think this war is not finished so soon. But we're going to have a hard time in America because of the prices going up, the price of oil going up, price of everything, grocery, everything goes up." The American intervention isn't universally popular here. Aida, who is of Armenian descent, is running errands in Tehrangeles. "I have many Iranian friends, and I understand they want a new regime, but this is not something so easy. It is a mess," she says. "This is not gonna end unless somebody throws a bomb, a nuclear bomb. Because right now, it will be one fighting with the other. How can this end so quickly? Donald Trump won't and Iran is [intent on] revenge. So when revenge is in the game, that game doesn't get over so quickly." Aida is one of the few dissenting voices in this area, though. Seven thousand miles from Iran, the overwhelming majority here support the war in their homeland and celebrate the US president who brought it about.

The big honours started with a Critics Choice award in January. A Golden Globe followed, then a BAFTA, and most recently, a statuette at the Actor Awards. Buckley is the only acting nominee to take home all four this year, and she has picked up other smaller awards, too. The Oscar, it seems, is hers to lose. Latest updates - The Oscars Gold Derby, the LA based authority when it comes to awards predictions, rates her chance of winning at an almost unbeatable 97%. "It's really been a crazy award season, it's been pretty unprecedented," says Debra Birnbaum, the site's editor-in-chief. But Buckley, she says, "is a sure thing... a pretty safe bet". If Buckley does win, she will make history - the first Irish actress ever to take home the award. The 36-year-old is being recognised for her portrayal of Agnes, the wife of Shakespeare in Chloe Zhao's Hamnet. The film chronicles the couple's grief following the death of their young son, and puts the bard, played by Paul Mescal, in the backseat as Agnes's story takes centre stage. Buckley's raw, emotive performance has moved audiences to tears. In a sea of A-list Oscar nominees, including two-time winner Emma Stone, critics have singled her out as "one of the finest actresses of her generation". "To be in a room with all those incredible artists, that, for me, is the greatest thing," Buckley told Sky News last month, speaking about her awards and nominations. "That and being a mom." The actress gave birth to her first child, a girl, last year, and she has paid tribute to her in her speeches so far. "I'd like to share this with my daughter," she said of her BAFTA. "I promise to continue to be disobedient so that you can belong to a world in all your mad, complex wildness as a young woman." This is Buckley's second Oscar nomination; her first was for best supporting actress, for her performance in The Lost Daughter, starring Olivia Colman, in 2022. She has also starred in other Oscar-nominated films, such as Women Talking, alongside Rooney Mara and Claire Foy, and Judy, opposite Renee Zellweger, and won several awards for her leading performance in the West End revival of Cabaret. But she has been quietly honing her talents since she was young, growing up in Killarney, Co Kerry. Her rise to fame came when she was a teenager, appearing on the BBC reality show I'd Do Anything, which sought to find an unknown lead to play Nancy in the West End revival of the musical Oliver!, in 2008. Buckley came second, but continued to pursue her love for the stage and screen. She went on to appear in series including Taboo and The Last Post, before breakout roles in British films Beast and Wild Rose, and the critically acclaimed HBO/ Sky series Chernobyl. Back in 2019, when Wild Rose was released, Buckley said she grew up without a TV at home until she was "about eight or nine", and that her first experience of wanting to act was watching a "Vincente Minnelli and Judy Garland film... it was like my mind had been exploded into kind of like magic". Now, not only has she reached the highest accolades for her achievements on screen, but she is also a Mercury Prize nominee, too - shortlisted in 2022 for her collaborative album For All Our Days That Tear The Heart, with former Suede guitarist Bernard Butler. 'You couldn't take your eyes off her' For those who knew her at the Ursuline Secondary School, in Co Tipperary, her success has come as no surprise. Music teacher Joan Butler, who joined the school in 2006, Buckley's final year, says it was clear she would go on to big things. "We're so proud of all our students here, but Jessie stood out… even as she began along her career path, as being somebody with a very special talent," she says. "She was in a production of West Side Story in my first year teaching… Spellbinding is the word we use here as we've been talking about her and remembering her time here. "You couldn't take your eyes off Jessie on the stage or when she was singing or even at the piano. It's a star quality that is very, very rare. I can still remember I was playing violin in the pit orchestra, looking up the stage... the whole room just stopped, mouths open, watching this rehearsal. And I remember turning to some of the students and going, watch her girls, she's going to win an Oscar one day." Now, Buckley could very well achieve that dream. After seeing the actress tackling such physically and emotionally demanding scenes during the filming of Hamnet, her cast and crewmates say it has been incredible to see her hard work and talent recognised. Hamnet set decorator Alice Felton, who is also up for an Oscar herself, nominated in the production design category, says they have "all been in tears" watching Buckley receive her awards. "Because we watched her throughout filming give her heart and soul to that," she says. "We'd be crying at the edge of set before the music was laid in, before everything was done. "She's a beautiful person. She gave everything to that role and she's part of the team. She used to sleep in the bed in the attic [in their house in the film]. So I'd go up to redress the set and she'd be tucked up having a little nap. She just lived in the spaces and we're all so happy for her." Irish stars show support in LA In Los Angeles in the days leading up to the Oscars ceremony each year, the US-Ireland Alliance hosts the Oscar Wilde Awards, celebrating Irish talent. They have had a lot to toast in recent years, including nine nominations for The Banshees Of Inisherin (starring another former Ursuline pupil, Kerry Condon) in 2023. And in 2024, Cillian Murphy became the first Irish star to win best actor, for his performance in Oppenheimer. Read more:Warner Bros looks set for Oscars success amid takeover plansOne Battle After Another is 'devastatingly timely'Oscars - iconic looks that broke the rules This year, Buckley is the person everyone is talking about. Gleeson, who starred alongside her in the animated Christmas special The Scarecrows' Wedding, told Sky News: "We're already celebrating Jessie Buckley. "She is an absolutely amazing actor. She's so incredible in the film and I'll be delighted, delighted if she wins. But we celebrate her all the time." Singer-songwriter Dermot Kennedy also highlighted Buckley's musical talents. "I think people are largely unaware of how great a singer she is," he said. "She's just an incredibly talented person, so we're very excited for her." And speaking at the premiere of the Peaky Blinders film earlier this month, Murphy himself showed his support. "She's incredible," he told Sky News. "I'm just so happy for her, she's unbelievable in that film." For the young students at Ursuline hoping to follow in Buckley's footsteps, the actress is an inspiration. "We are so excited to see everything that will come after this as well," Ms Butler says. "Thank you so much to her for everything that she has done in inspiring our students and showing them what can be possible."

In September, the Britain Owes Palestine campaign group submitted a 400-page legal petition to the government, but has yet to receive a response. Politics latest: Reeves rows with petrol retailers as oil prices spike Leading British KCs Ben Emmerson and Danny Friedman wrote the substantial document, which provides details of what they say are unlawful actions and war crimes committed during the British occupation of the region between 1917 and 1948. It says Britain unlawfully failed to recognise Arab self-determination, lacked proper legal authority for the Balfour Declaration and the subsequent mandate, and committed war crimes and crimes against humanity, including murder, torture, arbitrary detention and mass home demolitions. Alongside the petition, 45 MPs and peers from all parties signed an open letter calling on the British government to formally apologise, as they say the UK must confront its historical role and responsibility to support peace efforts today. Palestine 1917-1948 In 1917, the Balfour Declaration was signed as the British pledged support for a "national home for the Jewish people" in Palestine. From 1920, the League of Nations (the precursor to the UN) formally granted Britain a mandate (known as the British Mandate for Palestine), which required them to facilitate Jewish immigration and self-governance in the territory - resulting in conflicting promises for both the Jewish people and Palestinians. There were periodic violent uprisings, and in 1948, following the failure of the 1947 UN partition plan, Britain handed responsibility to the UN and withdrew, resulting in the State of Israel being established. MP: Britain violated international laws Lib Dem MP Layla Moran, who is the first British MP of Palestinian descent, said: "During its occupation of Palestine, Britain violated a series of international laws that were binding at the time. "The consequences of those actions have profoundly shaped the conflict we witness today, yet successive governments have refused to acknowledge this record or offer a formal apology. "If Britain is serious about promoting peace in Gaza today, it must begin by confronting its historical role, recognising the harm caused, and taking meaningful responsibility for it." Read more:More than 1,000 councillors sign Palestine solidarity pledgeUK, France and Canada recognising Palestine has serious implications Apology would be meaningful to Palestinians Legal expert Victor Kattan, who helped write the petition, told Sky News: "Our main ask is for an official public apology from the prime minister and a conversation about reparations. "This project long preceded the government last year recognising Palestine, and that is a good step, but without an apology, it doesn't address the past. "An apology would be very meaningful to the Palestinian people, it's a form of catharsis, recognising someone's pain and suffering, even if it's in the past." Professor Kattan, assistant professor in public international law at the University of Nottingham, said they are not asking for direct payments as part of reparations, but would appreciate that period being part of the national curriculum in schools, and for it to be detailed in museums. A memorial would also be something they would appreciate, he added. Palestinian philanthropist Munib Al-Masri, 91, is leading the petition after being shot by British soldiers as a boy, with shrapnel still in his body. He said: "What Britain did in Palestine did not end when it left in 1948. The policies and violence of that period helped create the conditions for the calamity we are living through today. An official apology is about recognising that history and the harm it continues to cause." The Foreign Office said it does not routinely comment on petitions.

Åberg equalled the lowest front-nine score in tournament history as he raced to the turn in 29, with the Swede continuing to push forward during a sensational second-round 63 on Friday afternoon. The two-time PGA Tour winner carded two eagles, six birdies and a lone bogey to post the lowest round of the day and move to 12 under, two clear of Xander Schauffele, with Cam Young a further shot back in third ahead of Corey Conners and Justin Thomas. The Players LIVE! Latest news, updates, highlightsWhen is The Players on Sky Sports? Key TV timesGot Sky? Watch the PGA Tour on the Sky Sports app 📱Not got Sky? Stream golf and more with no contract 📺 Tommy Fleetwood and Matt Fitzpatrick are seven off the pace as they both look to become the first Englishman to win The Players, while Scheffler and McIlroy both needed final-hole birdies to guarantee their weekend spots. Defending champion McIlroy - coming into the week without a practice round due to a back injury - needed the late birdie to salvage a one-under 71 and move to one over, with Scheffler on the same total after salvaging a one-over 73 and securing a 70th consecutive PGA Tour cut. How Åberg jumped into halfway lead Åberg posted a bogey-free 69 on the opening day before accelerating forward in benign conditions in his second round, following a close-range birdie at the first by rolling a 15-foot eagle at the par-five second and holing from 10-feet at the third. He converted from off the green to birdie the par-four fourth and move five under for his round, then ended a run of pars by chipping in from just off the ninth green to jump to 10 under. Åberg looked set to threaten Tom Hoge's course-record 62 when a two-putt birdie at the 11th put him eight under for the day, only for him to miss a seven-foot birdie chance at the next and take two shots of thick rough on his way to a bogey at the 15th. The world No 21 recovered from carding his first dropped shot of the week and dropping back alongside Schauffele by tapping in for birdie the par-five 16th, with a closing birdie securing the fifth 36-hole lead of his PGA Tour career. "I got off to a really nice start, and then was able to keep it going," Åberg told Sky Sports. "Off the tee I was struggling a little bit, mid-round - I got away with it a little bit - and then it was nice to finish the last three holes with a couple of birdies and play some good golf." Schauffele had set the initial clubhouse target after a birdie-birdie finish closed out a second-round 65, while Young made four birdies in a seven-hole stretch on his back nine to get within three off the lead. McIlroy and Scheffler limp through The world's top two were both in danger of making shock early exits from the PGA Tour's flagship event, with McIlroy birdieing the opening hole of his second round but outside the projected cut with five holes to play. McIlroy remained on two-over until the par-five ninth - his final hole of the day - where a sensational 284-yard three-wood saw him finish 30 feet from the flag and set up a two-putt birdie. "The game feels good - I just went five or six days without really touching a club or doing anything, so getting my feels back," McIlroy told Sky Sports. "I'm not sure I'm going to contend for the title but another couple of days to have a respectable finish hopefully." Scheffler was far from his brilliant best but looked safely through until he followed a bogey at the 14th with a missed par-save from inside three feet at the 16th, dropping him back to two over, but a 10-foot birdie at the last avoided a first missed cut since the 2022 FedEx St Jude Championship. Who will win The Players? Watch throughout the weekend live on Sky Sports. Live coverage continues Saturday from 1pm on Sky Sports Golf, with Featured Groups, Featured Holes and bonus feeds on the Sky Sports+. Get Sky Sports or stream with no contract.

The city's mayor Femke Halsema said she believed the blast was a "deliberate attack against the Jewish community". The incident happened early on Saturday, and police and fire services responded quickly. Damage to the school in a residential neighbourhood on the south side ​of Amsterdam was limited. And no injuries have been reported. Police are investigating camera footage appearing to show the person who detonated the explosive. "This ​is a cowardly act ​of aggression against the Jewish community," Ms ​Halsema said. "Jewish people in Amsterdam are ⁠increasingly confronted with antisemitism. This is unacceptable." Dutch Prime Minister Rob Jetten ​called the attack in Amsterdam "horrible" and said it understandably ⁠caused "fear andanger" in the Jewish community. "The safety of Jewish institutions has our full attention," he said in a ⁠post on X. Tight security at Jewish schools and institutions has been strengthened even more following attacks in recent days on synagogues in Rotterdam and in Liege, Belgium. There was also an attack on a synagogue in West Bloomfield, near Detroit in Michigan on Thursday, where a Lebanese-born US citizen allegedly rammed his car into the building. Authorities said the attacker, who was armed with a rifle, was fatally shot at Temple Israel. None of the synagogue's staff, teachers or the 140 children at its early childhood centre were injured. Federal investigators said the Michigan incident was an act of violence targeting the Jewish community. Fears about possible attacks against Jewish ⁠communities around the world have ​increased following US-Israeli ​airstrikes on Iran and a subsequent military response from Tehran.

It's about one thing only: Fashion. The world's most famous catwalk, it has the power to take a celebrity's style moment and elevate it into historical popular culture. So, as we get ready for the 2026 Academy Awards on Sunday, we're celebrating the red-carpet risk-takers and most memorable Oscar looks over the years.

The Petrol Retailers Association (PRA) had threatened to pull out of the Downing Street meeting with Ms Reeves and Energy Secretary Ed Miliband hours before, citing "inflammatory language". That language had led to an increase in abuse against forecourt workers, the PRA said. The meeting only went ahead after assurances from the Treasury that it would be held largely in private, with the PRA's Gordon Balmer saying the government did not apologise for its language. Mr Miliband warned executives from firms including Asda, BP, ExxonMobil and Shell that the government would not tolerate "unfair practices" in the industry. The RAC said the average price for a litre of unleaded had risen by 8p since the start of the crisis, with the cost now its highest for 18 months. The chancellor hosted the industry chiefs in 11 Downing Street on Friday in response to rising concern about the impact of the Middle East crisis on household finances. Ms Reeves thanked the petrol bosses for their cooperation but told them she wanted an "open and frank conversation" with them. She said: "We have concerns around the high prices, and we do have a shared obligation." Despite this, the chancellor has not announced any change in her decision to gradually phase out a 5p cut to fuel duty, starting with a 1p increase from September this year. The average litre of unleaded has already risen from 132.83p to 140.60p, according to the RAC. Following the talks, Mr Balmer said: "The meeting went very well. We engaged in constructive discussion with the government on this, and we are working collaboratively with them." Read more from Sky News:All crew members killed in US refuelling plane crash in IraqWhat can be done to protect shipping from Iran? An official summary of the meeting said the attendees "agreed to continue working in the shared interest of motorists on this really important issue". Ms Reeves has previously asked the competition watchdog to "crack down" on "rip-off" fuel prices to guard against profiteering over the high oil prices due to the Iran war. The government has already promised to intervene if companies engage in "unfair" practices that would hit customers facing a rise in the price of home heating oil, which is not covered by Ofgem's energy price cap. However, the AA warned motorists "will be stung" with inevitable rising costs because of a global hike in prices and called on Ms Reeves to delay a planned increase in fuel duty.

City visit the relegation-threatened Hammers a few hours after Arsenal's home game with Everton, live on Sky Sports. The Gunners can move 10 points clear for a few hours at least if they beat David Moyes' side and Guardiola said his team, who lost 3-0 to Real Madrid in the Champions League in midweek, have no room for error. Man City latest news & transfers 🔵 | Man City fixtures & resultsLive Premier League table | Watch FREE PL highlightsGot Sky? Watch Premier League games LIVE on your phone📱Not got Sky? Get Sky Sports or stream with no contract on NOW 📺 "Now it's West Ham that defines the Premier League," said Guardiola. "The league is the most difficult title. I believe it's the most difficult one. "Now we go there knowing that if we drop points, it will be over." City dropped points last time out in the Premier League courtesy of a 2-2 draw at home to Nottingham Forest, who are battling West Ham to avoid relegation this season. "I've always said when we arrive in the last 10 games every team plays for something," said Guardiola. "For relegation, for Europa League, for Conference League, for Champions League, to be champions. "It's a pleasure to be here. Last season we could not be here [fighting for the title]. "It's normal, every game. Now there are no second chances." On bouncing back from a disappointing defeat to Real in the first leg of their last-16 tie on Wednesday, Guardiola added: "Tomorrow night, we have a game, an important one for the Premier League position. "Then we have the second leg," Pep defends Real Madrid team selection The defeat to Real led to the City boss receiving criticism for the attacking line-up and tactics used at the Bernabeu, which have now given his side a mountain to climb when they meet at the Etihad on Tuesday. "How many times do I say Pep is a genius?" said Guardiola in his pre-match press conference when asked about team selection. "I said to you after the press conference in Madrid, there are logical reasons for that [team selection]. The momentum of the players and many things. "Listen, I played a final in the Champions League without Fernandinho as a holding midfielder against Chelsea. Do you think that's normal? No, honestly. I played (Ilkay) Gundogan at that moment. "I was destroyed. They were right, but in that moment, I knew how he's playing and Fernandinho was playing. "I can explain that to you, but is that going to convince you for the next time? If you win, you're a genius. How many times have I said 'Pep is a genius for the team selection?' I don't waste my time. "My players are extraordinary, and they were extraordinary in many things. You can say whatever you want. I will convince you, when the selection is made. I want to rotate the team; we want to be good. "After 10 years, I will not convince any one of you. Why? Because we lost. And that's all. I had to do my job the best I could, knowing that if we win, it's good. So, if we lose, it's bad."