Trump’s Iran strike tests the Maga vow of ‘no more wars’ 01. March 2026 (13:00) News of Ali Khamenei’s killing sparks backlash from Marjorie Taylor Greene and other America First loyalistsDonald Trump had come to Fayetteville, near Fort Bragg military base in North Carolina, with a promise. “We will stop racing to topple foreign regimes that we know nothing about, that we shouldn’t be involved with,” the then US president-elect said in December 2016.Trump has pushed his isolationist message in the decade since, repeatedly assuring his “America first” base that there would be no repeat of the forever wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Hundreds of thousands of travellers stranded or diverted by airspace closures in Middle East 01. March 2026 (12:45) Chaos as key transit hubs in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Doha close, and more than 1,000 flights by major Middle Eastern airlines cancelledIran confirms killing of Ayatollah KhameneiUS-Israel war on Iran: latest updatesA visual guide to the US-Israeli strikesHow the US-Israeli bid for regime change unfoldedAmerica and Israel’s attack on Iran continued to cause severe disruption to flights across the Middle East and beyond on Sunday. Countries across the region closed their airspace and three of the key airports that connect Europe, Africa and the west to Asia halted operations.Hundreds of thousands of travellers were either stranded or diverted to other airports after Israel, Qatar, Syria, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait and Bahrain closed their airspace. There were also no flights over the United Arab Emirates, the flight tracking website FlightRadar24 said, after the government announced a “temporary and partial closure” of its airspace. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
US and Israel launch new wave of attacks on Iran amid threat of escalation 01. March 2026 (12:36) Trump threatens Tehran with force ‘never seen before’ if it pursues retaliation after Khamenei’s deathUS-Israel war on Iran – latest updatesIsrael and the US have launched fresh waves of intensive attacks across Iran on the second day of their military campaign to overthrow the country’s government, which has plunged the Middle East into a new regional conflict with no certain timeline or outcome.The renewed violence on Sunday comes amid heated rhetoric from Washington and Tehran that suggests further escalation in the coming hours and days. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Outcry grows over ‘clown car’ cabinet but no sign Trump ready for shakeup 01. March 2026 (12:00) Antics of RFK Jr, Kristi Noem and others prompt derision – could their erratic behaviour prove president’s undoing?Heads bowed, linked by arms across their backs, they gathered in a solemn prayer circle. “The quiet moments are often the most important,” Tulsi Gabbard, the director of national intelligence, reflected later on social media. Then Team Trump entered the chamber to cheers and applause for Tuesday’s State of the Union address.Democrats gathered on Capitol Hill, however, regarded the people appointed by Donald Trump to his cabinet and other senior positions rather differently. In the past two weeks alone, they saw a health secretary who boasted about snorting cocaine off toilet seats; a homeland security secretary who allegedly fired a pilot for leaving her blanket on a plane; and an FBI director who chugged beer with Olympic hockey players in Italy at taxpayers’ expense. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Few will mourn Ali Khamenei and his evil legacy, says UK defence secretary 01. March 2026 (11:35) John Healey warns of ‘very real and rising threat’ from Iran as US and Israeli military action divides political opinionUS-Israel war on Iran – latest updatesThe UK defence secretary has said few will mourn Iran’s supreme leader, Ali Khamenei, whose death was announced after US and Israeli airstrikes.John Healey, a senior cabinet minister, described the Iranian regime as “evil” and said it had menaced the west by sponsoring at least 20 terrorist plots to attack the UK as well as involvement in proxy wars. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Trump’s current war on Iran picks up where a longstanding enmity left off 01. March 2026 (11:00) The mutual resentments that have fueled tensions between the US and Iran have simmered for nearly half a centuryFor millions of younger Americans, the sudden explosion of Iran onto the national political stage and consciousness may seem like a bolt from the blue.Yet for older generations and those with deeper historical awareness, Donald Trump’s announcement on Saturday of strikes against a distant foe is more like the outcome of a collision long foretold. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Young fashion fans help UK charity shops thrive on struggling UK high streets 01. March 2026 (11:00) Sales beat wider retail sector last year thanks to customers inspired by websites such as Vinted, industry body saysYoung people inspired by secondhand fashion websites such as Vinted and Depop are helping charity shops thrive despite rising energy and employment costs.Save the Children’s retail sales rose 3% last year, helped by a surge in December when the charity rang up 11% more than the same month a year before, raising more than £1m for its causes. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Ex-minister adds to UK calls for ban on political donations in cryptocurrency 01. March 2026 (11:00) Exclusive: Labour’s Rushanara Ali plans to intervene in elections bill amid warnings of foreign interferenceA former Labour minister has added her voice to those of a growing list of experts and senior MPs calling for a ban on political donations in cryptocurrency as concerns grow over foreign interference in British elections.Rushanara Ali, the Labour MP who helped draft the elections bill when she was a minister in the communities department, called for the government to strengthen the legislation with an outright ban on donations in digital currencies. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Undercover officer allegedly used public money for romantic break in Venice 01. March 2026 (09:00) Woman deceived into relationship tells spycops inquiry the trip was not to meet Italian socialists, as Carlo Soracchi claimsAn undercover police officer is facing allegations that he used taxpayers’ money to pay for a romantic break in Venice with a woman he was deceiving into a long-term relationship, the spycops public inquiry has heard.Carlo Soracchi pretended to be an activist for six years while he infiltrated socialist and anti-fascist campaign groups. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Supporting ‘illegal aggression’ against Iran ‘the worst thing’ Australia could do, international law experts say 01. March 2026 (08:26) Ben Saul says ‘rolling over’ after Israel and US attack is counterproductive for middle powers because it undermines rules-based orderGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastInternational law experts have criticised Australia for “rolling over” and backing what they say is an illegal attack by Israel and the US on Iran.The foreign minister, Penny Wong, endorsed the fresh war by stating that “Australia supports action to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon and to prevent Iran from continuing to threaten international peace and security”. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
