Donald Trump ‘really does not care’ if Iran play at World Cup 2026 04. March 2026 (11:28) Iran the only nation missing from Fifa planning summitUS and Israel began attacking Iranian targets on SaturdayDonald Trump has said he does not care whether Iran participate in this summer’s World Cup, which is being jointly hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada. The US and Israel began attacking targets in the country on Saturday, with the conflict in the Middle East since spreading to the wider region.US president Trump told Politico: “I really don’t care. I think Iran is a very badly defeated country. They’re running on fumes.” Iran was the only nation missing from a Fifa planning summit for World Cup participants held this week in Atlanta, deepening questions over whether the country’s team will compete on US soil this summer amid an escalating regional war. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
War in Middle East ‘could wipe out growth in UK living standards’ 04. March 2026 (11:22) Rising oil and gas prices may hit increase of £300 a year for typical working-age households, says leading thinktankBusiness live – latest updatesConflict in the Middle East could trigger an energy price shock that wipes out anticipated growth in living standards in the UK worth £300 for a typical working-age household over the coming year, a leading thinktank has warned.The Resolution Foundation said a “decent” one-off increase in average living standards this year and a bumper rise for lower-income households could be reversed by rising oil and gas prices as the Iran conflict disrupts supplies. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
‘No to war’: Sánchez doubles down after Trump threat to cut off trade with Spain 04. March 2026 (11:14) PM says his country will not be complicit in growing conflict in Middle East ‘simply out of fear of reprisals from someone’Middle East crisis – live updatesEurope live – latest updatesThe Spanish prime minister, Pedro Sánchez, has responded to Donald Trump’s extraordinary threat to cut off all trade with Spain over his government’s refusal to facilitate the US’s ongoing attacks against Iran, comparing the growing conflict in the Middle East to playing “Russian roulette with the destiny of millions”.Sánchez, who has been one of the most vociferous European critics of Israel’s conduct in Gaza, said his government’s position on the widening instability could be summed up in three words: “No to war.” Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Ex-Nato commander defends Starmer after Trump’s ‘no Winston Churchill’ jibe 04. March 2026 (11:10) Gen Sir Richard Shirreff says US president has launched war of choice in Iran with no clear grasp of how it will endUK politics live – latest updatesMiddle East crisis – live updatesBritain cannot become embroiled in a war “without a clear end point”, a former senior Nato commander has said, as he defended Keir Starmer after Donald Trump’s jibes that he was “not Winston Churchill”.Trump was “another American president who had launched a war of choice,” said Gen Sir Richard Shirreff, as a minister insisted that the UK prime minister had acted “with a cool head” by not allowing British bases to be used for initial strikes. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
UK supermarket chain Iceland drops trademark dispute with Iceland 04. March 2026 (10:50) Company promises ‘rapprochement discount’ with shoppers from country after decade-long action in EU courtThe UK supermarket chain Iceland has abandoned its decade-long trademark battle with Iceland and instead promised a “rapprochement discount” for shoppers in the country.After the budget grocery chain suffered its third legal loss last year, its executive chair, Richard Walker, said on Wednesday that it would draw a line under the dispute. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Attempt to destroy Iran’s nuclear programme could backfire and drive regime towards a bomb, experts warn 04. March 2026 (10:30) US-Israeli onslaught may lead regime to push for bomb or embolden other groups to steal uranium stockpileMiddle East crisis – live updatesThe US-Israeli onslaught against Iran is intended to resolve a 24-year standoff over Tehran’s nuclear programme, but it runs the risk of backfiring and driving the regime towards making a secret bomb, proliferation experts have warned.The regime in Tehran has long insisted that the programme is for civilian purposes and it has no intention of making a nuclear weapon. However, since two undeclared sites, for uranium enrichment and heavy water plutonium production, were discovered in 2002, the programme has been treated with intense suspicion. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
YSL lights up Paris fashion week show with return of Le Smoking suit 04. March 2026 (10:23) Anthony Vaccarello marks decade at helm of fashion house with powered-up take on Yves Saint Laurent’s classicThe most famous suit in the world, Yves Saint Laurent’s Le Smoking, has returned to the Paris catwalk 60 years after its invention.Designed by the late couturier to be worn by men in smoking rooms to protect clothing from the smell of cigars, he adapted it for women, slimming the trousers and lapels. It wasn’t a runaway success – only one sold from his 1966 collection – but it became a global symbol of power dressing and gender dismantling, and would appear in every collection until Saint Laurent retired in 2002. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Louisiana mayor convicted of raping 16-year-old boy at her home while still in office 04. March 2026 (10:00) Misty Roberts, 43, faces sentences of up to 10 and seven years in prison after July 2024 sexual assault at pool partyThe former mayor of a Louisiana city has been convicted of raping a 16-year-old boy during a party at her house while she was still in office.Misty Roberts, 43, faces sentences of up to 10 and seven years in prison after a jury in the municipality of DeRidder on Tuesday found her guilty of two felonies: carnal knowledge – or statutory rape – of a juvenile as well as indecent behavior with a minor. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Tim Wilson claims he has sold out of his bet against the share market for ‘modest profit’ 04. March 2026 (09:48) Shadow treasurer tells MPs he has cashed in the investment and donated the gains to an advocacy group for gay rights in IranGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastTim Wilson has sold out of his “terrible” bet against the Australian share market, and claimed to have made a profit from the investment which the shadow treasurer said he would donated to an advocacy group for LGBT rights in Iran.Guardian Australia first reported on the investment, a leveraged product that profits when the benchmark ASX 200 falls, last year. It was viewed as an unusual investment for a politician given the product profits from market slumps, which is linked to the performance of the economy. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Adelaide University cancels literary festival event with UN Gaza investigator Francesca Albanese 04. March 2026 (08:37) Festival organisers criticise the university for last-minute booking cancellation of event headlined by special rapporteur for Palestinian territoriesFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastAnother free speech row at a literary festival has erupted, with Adelaide University abruptly cancelling a high-profile event featuring UN Special Rapporteur on the occupied Palestinian territories, Francesca Albanese.The move has prompted the festival’s organisers and speakers to accuse the 152 year-old institution of “crumbling in fear”. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
