Star of Daily Star’s web stunt given fake heritage mark after proving itself less perishable than Truss’s premiership

A fake blue plaque has been erected outside a Tesco in Walthamstow to commemorate the fact that the lettuce that famously outlasted Liz Truss’s premiership was bought there.

At the death of her 49 days as prime minister a wilting 60p iceberg lettuce from Tesco in a blond wig was declared the winner of a race to last longest as she lost her grip on power after her disastrous mini-budget, which led to her sacking the then chancellor, Kwasi Kwarteng.

PM says deal ensures continuation of UK-US military base on the islands and has been welcomed with ‘warm words’ by US

Jonathan Powell, who was leading negotiations for the new government with Mauritius over the Chagos Islands, offered a robust defence of the government’s agreement in media appearances this morning.

Saying it had been a long process, involving 13 rounds of negotiations, he pointed out that 11 of them had been under the previous Conservative government, and singled out Tory leadership hopeful James Cleverly for praise, saying “I think he deserves credit for starting those negotiations and leading them enthusiastically for quite a long time.”

The Americans have been intimately involved in the negotiations. Every single sentence and paragraph has been through an interagency process, all of the process, all of the agencies in Washington, we’ve agreed to all of it and secured all of their red lines in that negotiation.

I will be voting for the assisted dying Bill. Obviously it will be a free vote for Members of Parliament. These are very complex and difficult issues and there are very respectable views on both sides.

For my part, I know there are people who are in the late stages of terminal illnesses, and I think the current situation is rather cruel actually.

Questions on general knowledge and topical trivia, plus a few jokes, every Thursday. How will you fare?

Thursday trundles around reliably again like that one friend that you keep trying to ghost but who always somehow pops up, with its 15 questions on topical news, silly stories, general knowledge, and the seemingly constant presence of the former UK prime minister Liz Truss. There are no prizes because it is just for fun, but we do enjoy it when you share how you got on in the comments. Enjoy!

The Thursday quiz, No 180

Target in Lebanese capital thought to be Hashem Safieddine, say Israeli media reports; Palestinian media say death toll largest in single West Bank attack in 24 years

Lebanon’s ambassador to the UK, appearing on BBC radio, has said that Israel is “pushing the region towards abyss”.

PA Media reports Rami Mortada said:

On 7 October, there was a genocide that started in Gaza. Conflicts in the region are contagious because the social fabric shared by all the countries of the region. We need to stop this carnage in Gaza, stop this carnage in Lebanon and seek a diplomatic solution.

This expansion of the war theatre does not help. It’s pushing the region towards abyss. It’s time to reverse the trend and look for a diplomatic solution. That’s what we are saying.

Lebanese health ministry says another seven were injured in attack on district of Bachoura; Israeli military tells residents in some southern neighbourhoods to flee ahead of strikes

• Report: US would not support Israeli attack on Iran’s nuclear sites, says Biden

Danish police said on Wednesday morning that they were investigating two blasts in the vicinity of Israel’s embassy in Copenhagen.

“No one has been injured, and we are carrying out initial investigations at the scene,” Copenhagen police said in a statement. They said a “possible connection” to the Israeli embassy, which is located in the area, was being investigated.

Israeli prime minister says Iran ‘will pay’ for strikes; Israeli military issues new warning to residents in the southern suburbs of Beirut

• Israel vows to retaliate after Iran launches unprecedented missile attack

In the warning issued by Israel’s Arabic language military spokesperson, Lebanese residents have been cautioned against moving their vehicles while what Avichay Adraee described as “heavy fighting” was taking place.

It says:

Heavy fighting is taking place in southern Lebanon, with Hezbollah elements using the civilian environment and the population as human shields to launch attacks. For your personal safety, we ask you not to move vehicles from the northern region to the southern region of the Litani River. This warning is in effect until further notice.

Israel’s military says it has begun operation against Hezbollah in southern Lebanon; US secretary of defence warns of ‘serious consequences’ for Iran if it attacks Israel or exploits tensions

• See all our coverage from the Middle East
• Living in Lebanon: how have you been affected?

Here is the video clip of US president Joe Biden saying “a broader war in the Middle East had to be averted”. Despite diplomatic efforts the US, Egypt and Qatar have been unable to broker a deal between Israel and Hamas for a ceasefire in Gaza since the 2023 deal ended ten months ago on 30 November.

Itay Blumental, who is military correspondent at Israel’s Channel 11, reports on social media that the UAV intercepted earlier by Israel’s military was targeted at infrastructure in the Karish gas field out at sea. Israel’s military has also issued a video which it says shows the interception. The Karish gas field belongs to Israel as part of a deal brokered with Lebanon over disputed waters in 2022.