Israeli leader was expected to advocate for more forceful US intervention during sixth visit to current White House

Donald Trump has said that he is still seeking a deal with Iran to prevent it from seeking a nuclear weapon following a three-hour meeting with Benjamin Netanyahu in which the Israeli leader was expected to advocate for a more forceful intervention by the US military.

Netanyahu’s sixth visit to the White House since Trump returned to office ended without any public remarks between the two leaders. The results of the hastily arranged meeting were announced by Trump in an online post.

US attorney general Pam Bondi and veteran affairs secretary Doug Collins clash with House Democrats; Trump hosts Netanyahu amid Iran tensions

Transportation secretary Sean Duffy said the El Paso airport closure was to “address a cartel drone incursion”.

“The threat has been neutralized, and there is no danger to commercial travel in the region,” Duffy said on social media. “The restrictions have been lifted and normal flights are resuming.”

Tiffany Smyth is married to Seamus Culleton, who despite having a valid work permit was detained in September

The wife of an Irish man who has been held by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for five months - despite having a valid work permit – is pleading for help in instigating his release from the “dire conditions” he is facing in detention.

“I just want him home where he belongs. I want us to be able to finish what we started,” Tiffany Smyth, wife of Seamus Culleton, said during a Wednesday press conference.

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The riders are having to squint into the sun to see their scores come up. There’s lots of USA support on the slopes, first for 19-year old Bea Kim, who looks happy to settle into fifth, then for the queen of half pipe, Chloe Kim, who is aiming for her third consecutive gold medal in this discipline. Oh and she’s also just finished a degree at Stamford. It’s a cracking start – a big backside 720, frontside 900, and something floaty and turny which the commentators describe as “the penny black” of halfpipe. She immediately settles into first.

Women’s halfpipe qualifying: Thinking about my attempts to stand on a skateboard as young women in baggy snow trousers zig-zag and float across the halfpipe.

US attorney general goes on attack during questioning by House judiciary committee over handling of files

The US attorney general Pam Bondi attacked and insulted Democrats during a House judiciary committee hearing on Wednesday as she defended the justice department’s handling of files related to Jeffrey Epstein.

Democrats pounded Bondi with questions about the way the department has complied with a law last year mandating the complete release of the files with specific and limited room for redactions. Since releasing the documents after the statutory deadline, the justice department has come under intense scrutiny both for releasing the names of survivors and redacting, without explanation, the names of people who may have committed crimes.

• US star forced to wait through rival Wennemars’s reskate

• Stolz delivers 1:06.28 finish in his signature event

Jordan Stolz had to wait a little longer than expected on Wednesday night. But when confirmation finally came, the 21-year-old American could celebrate his first Olympic gold medal – and the opening chapter of what could become one of the defining campaigns of the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics.

Skating in the second-to-last group, Stolz set an Olympic record time of 1min 6.28sec in the men’s 1000m on the strength of a stunning final lap, delivering in his signature event to launch his pursuit of a potential four-gold haul across these Games.

US attorney general goes on attack during questioning by House judiciary committee over handling of files

The US attorney general Pam Bondi attacked and insulted Democrats during a House judiciary committee hearing on Wednesday as she defended the justice department’s handling of files related to Jeffrey Epstein.

Democrats pounded Bondi with questions about the way the department has complied with a law last year mandating the complete release of the files with specific and limited room for redactions. After releasing the documents after the statutory deadline, the justice department has come under intense scrutiny both for releasing the names of survivors and redacting, without explanation, the names of people who may have committed crimes.

• US star forced to wait through rival Wennemars’s re-skate

• Stolz delivers 1:06.28 finish in his signature event

Jordan Stolz had to wait a little longer than expected on Wednesday night. But when confirmation finally came, the 21-year-old American could celebrate his first Olympic gold medal – and the opening chapter of what could become one of the defining campaigns of the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics.

Skating in the second-to-last group, Stolz set an Olympic record time of 1min 6.28sec in the men’s 1000m on the strength of a stunning final lap, delivering in his signature event to launch his pursuit of a potential four-gold haul across these Games.

His time ultimately stood after a brief period of uncertainty triggered by a late-race judging decision that allowed a re-skate to Dutch skater Joep Wennemars – who had beaten Stolz at the distance at last year’s world championships – after being ruled hindered earlier in the competition. The delay forced Stolz, Jenning de Boo and the rest of the field to wait while officials confirmed the final standings – an unusual Olympic wrinkle in what had otherwise looked like a decisive victory.

The crowd chanted “Joep! Joep! Joep!” as Wennemars returned to the ice, but skating alone he never threatened Stolz’s mark. When he crossed the line more than two seconds off the pace, Stolz could finally celebrate, gliding through a slow victory lap while holding the US flag aloft before posing for photos with longtime coach Bob Corby.

Skating head-to-head with Dutch contender De Boo in the penultimate heat, Stolz did not threaten his own world record of 1:05.37, but comfortably lowered the Olympic mark of 1:07.18, which had stood for 24 years.

At least 90% of the packed temporary arena in Milan’s western suburbs wore Dutch orange, turning the venue into a rolling wall of sound as the final heats unfolded. Stolz responded with the same controlled, clinical skating that has defined his rise over the past three seasons.

The win immediately established him as one of the central figures of these Games and kept alive the possibility of a medal run rarely seen in Winter Olympic history.

• Medal table | Live scores and schedule | Results | Briefing
• Follow us over on Bluesky | Get in touch! Mail Tanya

The riders are having to squint into the sun to see their scores come up. There’s lots of USA support on the slopes, first for 19-year old Bea Kim, who looks happy to settle into fifth, then for the queen of half pipe, Chloe Kim, who is aiming for her third consecutive gold medal in this discipline. Oh and she’s also just finished a degree at Stamford. It’s a cracking start – a big backside 720, frontside 900, and something floaty and turny which the commentators describe as “the penny black” of halfpipe. She immediately settles into first.

Women’s halfpipe qualifying: Thinking about my attempts to stand on a skateboard as young women in baggy snow trousers zig-zag and float across the halfpipe.