Greens deputy leader calls for apology from Starmer over false claims that led to death threats 05. March 2026 (11:00) Mothin Ali fears for his life after anti-war protest was wrongly described as being in support of Iranian regimeThe deputy leader of the Green party has demanded an apology from Keir Starmer after the prime minister appeared to back false claims he protested in support of the Iranian regime, which led to him receiving death threats.Mothin Ali said he was “so scared” that the racist threats had increased to a point where “it feels like this time it might get me killed”. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Globalisation is under threat from Iran war – and Britain is uniquely vulnerable 05. March 2026 (09:34) Economic ripples from US-Israel attacks will soon become waves, engulfing everything from energy prices to foodIn retaliation for the US-Israeli missile attacks, Iran has launched what amounts to all-out economic warfare. Should the conflict continue even for another week, its impacts will start to be felt around the world as the third price surge since the pandemic washes through global markets.For Britain, a further turn of the screw on living standards arrives just as political instability mounts at home, with the Labour and Conservative parties facing existential challenges to their left and right. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
South East Water fined £22.5m for ‘repeated supply failures’ in Kent and Sussex 05. March 2026 (09:31) Regulator says failures that hit nearly 300,000 customers made worse by utility’s failure to maintain efficient supply systemBusiness live – latest updatesSouth East Water has been fined £22.5m by Ofwat for repeated supply failures in Kent and Sussex between 2020 and 2023 that affected more than 280,000 people.While the root cause of the water shortages was extreme weather, the water regulator for England and Wales found that they were “in part attributable to and/or exacerbated by failures by South East Water itself to develop and maintain an efficient water supply system”. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Defence minister flies to Cyprus to ease tension over drone strike on RAF base 05. March 2026 (08:51) John Healey meets Greek counterpart after Shahed-style drone evaded defences and hit RAF base on islandUS-Israel war on Iran – live updatesJohn Healey flew into Cyprus on Wednesday night to calm the diplomatic fallout over a drone that evaded detection and hit an RAF base, prompting fury from local ministers.UK officials believe a drone that hit an RAF base in Cyprus evaded detection by flying low and slow when it was launched by pro-Iranian militia in Lebanon or western Iraq. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Can you watch without wincing? Seven times Australian politicians burst into song 05. March 2026 (07:05) Tim Wilson’s take on a Billy Joel classic has triggered cheers and jeers in parliament. We look back at some unforgettable ‘performances’One hopes for a calm and dignified demeanour from our leaders but it seems Australia’s politicians just can’t resist the opportunity to break into song.The shadow treasurer, Tim Wilson, on Wednesday offered up his satirical version of Billy Joel’s 1989 classic We Didn’t Start the Fire, thus reminding us of some of Australian politicians’ greatest hits. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Social climber: Punch the monkey starts to outgrow his Ikea plushie 05. March 2026 (07:05) Japanese baby macaque, who appeared to find comfort in the djungelskog toy after being rejected by his mother, seems to be mixing more with his peersPunch, a baby macaque that stole the hearts of animal lovers around the world, is outgrowing his Ikea djungelskog plushie that comforted him after he was initially rejected by his mother and other monkeys at a zoo in Japan.Images of the seven-month-old dragging around a toy bigger than him drew attention to the residents of Ichikawa city zoo near Tokyo. When other monkeys shooed the baby away, Punch rushed back to the toy orangutan, hugging it for comfort. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
US did not share details with the UK before attacking Iran, sources say 05. March 2026 (07:00) Donald Trump has also criticised Keir Starmer’s initial decision not to allow the US to use UK military bases in the warThe US did not share exact operational details or timings with the UK before the joint strikes with Israel on Iran, sources have told the Guardian.The US decision to cut the UK out of the official loop on the airstrikes came alongside Keir Starmer’s decision to decline permission for the US to use British military bases for the operation. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Lobbyists send legal threats to councils over anti-wood burner campaigns 05. March 2026 (07:00) At least eight councils receive legal threats alleging flyers criticising wood burners are in breach of advertising codesLobbyists for the UK wood-burning stove industry have threatened councils with legal action over public information campaigns warning of the harms of air pollution.At least eight councils have received legal threats, according to research by the British Medical Journal (BMJ). The Stove Industry Association (SIA), which represents the UK’s expanding industry around the burning of wood in domestic settings, wrote to the councils, all London boroughs, in late 2023 complaining that flyers stating wood burners were “careless, not cosy” were in breach of UK advertising codes. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Pro-Palestine protest organisers ‘a pack of communists’ intent on confrontation with police, Minns tells budget estimates 05. March 2026 (06:48) New South Wales premier faces questions over what he told MPs who attended demonstration opposing Israeli president Isaac Herzog’s visitFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastThe New South Wales premier, Chris Minns, has labelled pro-Palestine protest organisers “a pack of communists” as he continues to blame them for violent clashes with police last month, amid ongoing dissent among Labor MPs about the government’s response.Minns faced questions at NSW budget estimates on Thursday about what he told members of the government about attending pro-Palestine rallies, after four Labor backbenchers attended a protest against the visit by the Israeli president, Isaac Herzog, at Sydney’s Town Hall on 9 February. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Iran war live updates: Mark Carney doesn’t rule out Canada joining war; Israel launches fresh strikes on Tehran 05. March 2026 (05:50) Canadian PM says the US-Israeli strikes on Iran were ‘inconsistent with international law’ but that his country ‘will stand by our allies’. Follow the latest news Airstrikes hit Iran-Iraq border as US and Israeli plan to mobilise Kurds gathers paceUS may not have capacity to take down full barrage of Iranian drones, officials warn A US government charter flight was bringing Americans to the US from the Middle East and additional flights were being arranged for locations across the region, the US State Department has said.The agency on Wednesday provided no details on the number of passengers aboard the flight, the countries they were leaving or the departure and arrival times of the flight, Reuters is reporting. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
