US lawmakers condemn Trump over Iran strikes: ‘acts of war unauthorized by Congress’ 28. February 2026 (17:55) Members of Congress swiftly denounced the president’s military action against the Islamic Republic alongside IsraelUS-Israeli attack on Iran – live updatesUS and Israel strikes on Iran: what we know so farDonald Trump’s failure to build a case with the US public for striking Iran and then going ahead apparently without even alerting Congress’s key national security experts – the so-called “gang of eight” – has fuelled fierce domestic criticism of the military action against the Islamic Republic on Saturday.Belying the gravity of Saturday’s attacks, the president spent just three minutes of Tuesday’s State of the Union address trying to explain why the need to act against a regime that had been a strategic foe for decades had suddenly become so urgent and whose nuclear facilities he claimed to have “obliterated” in previous strikes last June. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Burnham would ‘probably’ have won byelection, says Labour deputy leader 28. February 2026 (17:42) Lucy Powell calls for party to make more use of Greater Manchester mayor after Gorton and Denton defeatAndy Burnham would have won the Gorton and Denton byelection, Labour’s deputy leader said as she called for the party to make more use of the Greater Manchester mayor.Labour fell to third in the previously rock-solid seat on Thursday, with the Greens winning a fifth seat in parliament and Reform UK coming second. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
A visual guide to US-Israeli strikes on Iran – and Tehran’s response 28. February 2026 (17:40) Missiles and bombs landed across Iran, hitting key security and political targets in Tehran including residence of supreme leaderUS-Israeli attack on Iran – live updatesUS and Israel strikes on Iran – what we know so farThe US and Israel have announced the beginning of an unprecedented joint operation against Iran, beginning with a wide-ranging bombing campaign aimed at regime change.Israeli jets and US missiles struck hundreds of targets across Iran, sending residents fleeing in panic from major urban centres. Among the targets were Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khameini, and Iran’s president, Masoud Pezeshkian, as well as weapons facilities across the country. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Rhun ap Iorwerth: Plaid Cymru is ready to ‘lead the charge’ in Wales 28. February 2026 (17:00) Leader launches ‘roadmap’ of first 100 days in power to show party is ready to govern if it wins Senedd electionsThe leader of Plaid Cymru has described the prospect of leading the next government in Wales as “a heck of a task” but that he senses voters are increasingly driven by their Welsh identity and may be ready for Britain to be “redesigned”.Speaking to the Guardian as he published a glossy 60-page “roadmap” for his party’s first 100 days in government, if it takes power in May, Rhun ap Iorwerth said he was ready to lead the devolved administration in Cardiff but would work with other parties if he did not win a majority. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
US man issues challenge to disprove his claim of having world’s smallest penis to raise micropenis awareness 28. February 2026 (16:45) North Carolina’s Michael Phillips revealed that he had a 0.38in member in bid to reduce stigma of the conditionA North Carolina man has challenged anyone on earth to disprove his claim of having the world’s smallest penis as he advocates against body shaming and aims to raise awareness about the medical condition known as micropenis.Michael Phillips, 38, threw down the gauntlet in an interview posted Friday on TMZ’s YouTube channel, in which he purported that his penis was 0.38in (0.97cm) when fully erect – and, holding up the fingernail on his right pinky to illustrate that length, added: “When it’s flaccid, it’s smaller than that.” Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Joe Biden warns that Donald Trump will try to ‘steal’ midterm elections 28. February 2026 (16:11) In a rare public address, former president said US is experiencing ‘dark days’ and urged Americans to voteSign up for This week in Trumpland, a free newsletter on the latest from the Trump administrationJoe Biden has warned that his presidential successor, Donald Trump, will attempt to “steal” the midterm elections, in a rare public address.Speaking in South Carolina, where he was being honored for his lifetime achievement in politics, Biden also asserted that the US is experiencing “dark days”, in a speech made hours before the Trump administration launched attacks on Iran. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
It’s been decreed: something must be done about student loans in England 28. February 2026 (16:00) The education secretary wants a fairer system and the Tories have leapt in with their own plan – but why now?For anyone who attended university in England in the last 15 or so years, the idea of student loans feeling like some sort of debt trap is hardly news. But three weeks ago, when the journalist Oli Dugmore discussed this on the BBC’s Question Time, it felt like a moment.It was less the size of the initial debt, he explained, than the way above-inflation interest rates meant the interest charged alone was now almost as much as the original sum. “So was it mis-sold to me?” he asked, rhetorically. “Yes, I’d say so.” Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Man charged with criminal damage after Churchill statue sprayed with graffiti 28. February 2026 (14:48) Caspar San Giorgio to appear in court after defacing London statue with slogans including ‘Zionist war criminal’A 38-year-old man has been charged with criminal damage after Winston Churchill’s statue outside the Houses of Parliament was sprayed with graffiti labelling the former prime minister a “Zionist war criminal”.The Metropolitan police arrested Caspar San Giorgio, of no fixed address, shortly after 4am on Friday. He was charged in the early hours of Saturday morning and is due to appear at Highbury Corner magistrates court in London. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Decision to allow UK exports to Armenian firm under review over Russian links 28. February 2026 (14:00) Cygnet Texkimp was approved to export machines to Rydena, but ministers examining deal after Guardian highlighted founders’ links to Kremlin military supply chainMinisters are reviewing a decision to allow a British company to export hi-tech equipment to Armenia after the Guardian uncovered links to the Russian military supply chain.Cygnet Texkimp, based in Cheshire, was weeks away from exporting two machines that produce carbon fibre “prepreg”, a lightweight material that can be used in a range of civil and military applications. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
‘Viruses don’t know borders’: US anti-vaccine rhetoric could impact global measles crisis 28. February 2026 (14:00) Experts say global measles vaccination rates are falling as Trump officials signal a deprioritization of the virusThe US government has amplified anti-vaccine rhetoric and signaled that it does not consider measles to be a priority, which could have global ramifications as countries around the world have lost or are on the brink of losing measles elimination status.The World Health Organization announced in late January that six European countries: the United Kingdom, Spain, Austria, Armenia, Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan had all officially lost their measles elimination status, which means the virus has been circulating continuously in those countries for more than 12 months. In order to contain measles, at least 95% of children should be fully vaccinated against it, according to health recommendations, but vaccination rates have been falling across Europe. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
