Pete Hegseth says US is ‘investigating’ deadly strike on girls’ school in Iran 04. March 2026 (16:41) US defense secretary was evasive when asked about the airstrike that Iranian officials say killed at least 165 studentsMinab school bombing: how the worst mass casualty event of the Iran war unfolded – a visual guidePete Hegseth, the US defense secretary, offered few details and was evasive when asked about the deadly strike on a girls’ school in Iran, saying only that the US was “investigating” the incident.Iranian officials say the attack, which happened on Saturday, killed at least 165 students. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Will Trump’s Middle East war also engulf Friedrich Merz? 04. March 2026 (16:40) The war will have incalculable implications for Europe – and yet, the chancellor has held back from publicly challenging an increasingly erratic Donald Trump• Don’t get This Is Europe delivered to your inbox? Sign up hereYou could be forgiven for thinking Friedrich Merz would rather be anywhere but Germany of late.But hopes that his stop in Washington this week would provide the chancellor even a brief respite from woes at home were dashed by Donald Trump’s risky Iran gamble. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Britain not ruling out future strikes on Iran missile sites, officials indicate 04. March 2026 (15:58) ‘We just don’t know what will happen,’ western officials say, as UK bases prepare for arrival of US heavy bombersUK politics live – latest updatesMiddle East crisis – live updatesBritain has not ruled out participating in future strikes against Iranian ballistic missile launch sites, officials have indicated.US heavy bombers are expected to reach UK bases at Diego Garcia in the Chagos Islands and Fairford in Gloucestershire in the next few days, from where they are expected to attack Iran’s underground “missile cities”. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Liberal senator breaks with party to urge ‘mercy for the children’ of IS-linked Australian women in Syria 04. March 2026 (15:00) Backbencher Andrew McLachlan describes the 23 children as ‘innocents’ victimised by their parents’ ‘tragic attraction to a horrible ideology’Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastA Liberal senator has called for “mercy” for the 23 Australian children detained in a Syrian camp, as he warned that leaving the group to languish in detention risked making the situation worse for them and the Australian community in the future.After the opposition leader, Angus Taylor, this week suggested the children held in al-Roj camp were “Isis sympathisers”, the backbencher Andrew McLachlan again broke from party lines to appeal for compassion and a resolution to their ongoing plight. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Pete Hegseth says US and Israel will have ‘complete control’ of Iran’s skies in under a week – US politics live 04. March 2026 (14:39) US defense secretary and Dan Caine, the chairman of the joint chiefs, hold briefing on day five of US-Israeli war on IranSign up for the Breaking News US email to get newsletter alerts in your inboxGen Caine said today that the US will “now begin to expand inland, striking progressively deeper into Iranian territory”, after forces were able to establish air superiority.“The throttle is coming up,” Caine said, “as opposed to ramping down”. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
60% of Welsh voters unaware of how new system will work in May elections 04. March 2026 (14:33) Voters remain unsure about which policy decisions sit with Cardiff Bay and which with WestminsterUK politics live – latest updatesAlmost 60% of Welsh voters are unaware of how the new system will work in May’s Senedd elections and there is confusion over devolution powers, a report has found.Polling research released on Wednesday by Cardiff University and YouGov suggested that 26 years since devolution began, many voters remain unsure about which policy decisions sit with Cardiff Bay, and which with Westminster. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
US submarine sank Iranian warship off Sri Lanka’s coast, Hegseth says 04. March 2026 (14:33) Defence secretary confirms strike on Iris Dena in first US attack on Iranian forces outside Middle East during conflictMiddle East crisis – live updatesThe US has carried out a submarine torpedo strike that sank an Iranian warship off the south coast of Sri Lanka, according to the US secretary of defence.Pete Hegseth confirmed that the US was behind the deadly strike on an Iranian frigate that was travelling close to the Sri Lankan coast. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
‘Apartheid newsroom’: minority ethnic journalists still locked out of top jobs, report finds 04. March 2026 (14:32) Exclusive: Survey suggests journalists from minority ethnic backgrounds feel excluded from influential posts and seen as ‘diversity hires’Broadcast journalists from ethnic minorities are still locked out of top jobs and face a backlash after being perceived as “diversity hires”, according to a survey of UK television newsrooms.While there has been a sustained focus on racial diversity among Britain’s biggest broadcasters in recent years, the study concluded it had been “performed rather than embedded”, leaving minority ethnic journalists feeling excluded from influential posts and resented by colleagues. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Man goes on trial over 2003 rape that led to notorious miscarriage of justice 04. March 2026 (14:28) Paul Quinn, 51, is accused of crime for which Andrew Malkinson wrongfully spent more than 17 years in prisonA man has gone on trial accused of the rape of a woman 23 years ago that led to one of the worst miscarriages of justice in Britain.Andrew Malkinson spent more than 17 years in prison after being mistakenly linked to the crime in Greater Manchester in 2003, a jury was told on Wednesday. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Partner of sitting Labour MP among three arrested on suspicion of spying for China 04. March 2026 (14:19) Exclusive: Trio arrested by counter-terrorism police understood to also include partner of a former Labour MPThe partner of a sitting Labour MP is among three men who have been arrested on suspicion of spying for China, the Guardian understands.The Met police took the men into custody on Wednesday morning on suspicion of assisting a foreign intelligence service, and as part of a wider investigation into national security offences related to China. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
