- House Republicans are publicly cheering Trump’s Iran war. Privately, many are worried. Politico
- Trump officials' briefing to Congress on Iran derided as "bullsh*t" by Democrats Axios
- Questions mount in Congress over Iran war’s costs, risks and exit plan AP News
- Lawmakers splinter on Trump administration’s case for war on Iran Politico
- Republican Lawmakers Express Support for Iran Campaign After Private Briefing WSJ
CIA station in Saudi Arabia struck by suspected Iranian drone, source says – Reuters
- CIA station in Saudi Arabia struck by suspected Iranian drone, source says Reuters
- U.S. ID’s 4 Army reservists killed in Kuwait; Israel stages incursion into Lebanon NBC News
- CIA station in Saudi capital hit in drone attack The Washington Post
- Iranian drones strike U.S. Embassy in Saudi Arabia as war widens PBS
- As Iran Retaliates, U.S. Closes Embassies in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait The New York Times
China is about to show the world its plan to win the future – CNN
- China is about to show the world its plan to win the future CNN
- National People's Congress: What is China's Two Sessions and why does it matter? BBC
- What China's next five-year plan may hold in store for commodity markets Reuters
- China’s Two Sessions: what are the meetings and why do they matter? The Guardian
- China is set to kick off its big policy meeting. What will be the key announcements? CNBC
‘I feel just like a sitting duck’: Americans stranded by war in Middle East express frustration – CNN
Middle East crisis live: US military says it has hit more than 1,700 targets since it began war on Iran – The Guardian
- Middle East crisis live: US military says it has hit more than 1,700 targets since it began war on Iran The Guardian
- Everything we know on day 4 of the US and Israel’s war with Iran CNN
- US embassy in Dubai hit; Israel pounds Iran, Lebanon as death toll rises Al Jazeera
- Middle East conflict widens as Israeli, US strikes again hit Iran; oil soars, shares slide Reuters
- Dispatch from Tehran: Nowhere feels safe from attack NBC News
New Zealand coalition votes to make English an official language as critics slam ‘cynical’ bill
Push to give English same status as Māori and NZ sign languages sparks backlash from opposition parties and linguistic experts
A bill to recognise English as an official language of New Zealand has cleared its first hurdle in parliament amid ridicule from opposition parties and linguists who say it is “unnecessary” and “cynical”.
The bill seeks to give English, which is spoken by 95% of the country, the same official status as te reo Māori (Māori language) and New Zealand sign language. The bill said the status and use of the existing official languages would not be affected.
Continue reading...European allies rush to bolster Cyprus defences after drones target British base
The Cypriot government suspects the Iran-backed group Hezbollah in Lebanon targeted the UK's RAF Akrotiri base in Cyprus.
Trump is running out of time to sell his rationale for Iran war – Politico
- Trump is running out of time to sell his rationale for Iran war Politico
- Live updates: Israel hits Beirut and Tehran as Trump warns Iran of escalated strikes CNN
- Trump Tries to Quiet Claims Among Supporters That Israel Dragged Him Into War - The New York Times The New York Times
- Live Updates: Trump defends war with Iran as conflict widens, military names first service members who were killed CBS News
- Trump to POLITICO: Iran is ’running out of launchers’ Politico
Syngenta says it will stop making pesticide linked to Parkinson’s disease
Company will halt production of controversial paraquat weed killer by end of June as it faces thousands of lawsuits
Syngenta, maker of a controversial pesticide linked to Parkinson’s disease, said on Tuesday that it will stop making its paraquat weed killer by the end of June.
The announcement comes as the company is facing several thousand lawsuits brought by people in the US who allege they developed Parkinson’s disease due to their exposure to Syngenta’s paraquat products.
Continue reading...Most Reform members believe non-white UK citizens born abroad should be forced or encouraged to leave, poll finds
Nigel Farage’s recent efforts to woo centre-ground voters may cause tension in party’s right flank, says Hope Not Hate
More than half of Reform UK members believe non-white British citizens born abroad should be deported or encouraged to leave, according to the first publicly available poll of those in Nigel Farage’s party.
The findings come as the Reform leader attempts to court centre-ground voters while facing pressure from his right flank, including a hardline new party launched by Rupert Lowe, who left Reform after falling out with Farage.
Continue reading...Gas and oil prices soar and shares tumble on fears conflict could escalate
Markets react as the conflict in the Middle East intensifies and concerns grow over how long it will last.
Trump threatens to halt trade with Spain over military base access
Trump lashed out after Spain barred the US from using its military bases to carry out strikes on Iran.
UAE considers striking Iranian missile sites as regional war spreads – Axios
- UAE considers striking Iranian missile sites as regional war spreads Axios
- Iran Is Shooting at Some of the World’s Busiest Airports WSJ
- UAE says it was exposed to over 1,000 attacks from Iran The Times of Israel
- Travelers Stuck in Dubai Face ‘Chaos and Confusion’ Amid Flight Cancellations - The New York Times The New York Times
- Fire at US embassy in Riyadh after drone strike – as it happened The Guardian
US strikes on Iran ‘outside international law,’ says Macron – politico.eu
- US strikes on Iran ‘outside international law,’ says Macron politico.eu
- France, Germany and U.K. Open Door to Striking Iranian Launchers WSJ
- Macron orders France's nuclear-powered aircraft carrier to move from Baltic Sea to Mediterranean PBS
- France deploys fighter jets over UAE to protect its military bases France 24
- France says it will work with China on de-esclatating Iran war Reuters
UK parliament to debate whether all suicides linked to domestic abuse to be investigated as homicide
Lib Dems table amendment to crime and policing bill, saying system ‘simply not doing enough to protect women’
Parliament is to debate whether all suicides in cases involving victims of domestic abuse should be investigated as homicide.
The Liberal Democrats have tabled an amendment to the crime and policing bill saying that if “there is reasonable suspicion that a death by suicide has been preceded by a history of domestic abuse committed against the person by another person, the relevant police force must investigate that suicide as if it were a potential homicide”.
Continue reading...U.S. and Allies Encounter Iran’s Arsenal of Drones – The New York Times
- U.S. and Allies Encounter Iran’s Arsenal of Drones The New York Times
- Iran’s Shahed drones have brought terror to Ukrainian skies – now they are being deployed in the Middle East The Guardian
- Iran's missile math: $20,000 drones take on $4 million Patriots The Japan Times
- Cheap, effective and battle-tested by Russia: Iran leans on Shahed drones to penetrate U.S. defenses NBC News
- Iranian missiles and drones fired at Gulf countries Reuters
US nationals urged to leave Middle East as conflict spreads – BBC
- US nationals urged to leave Middle East as conflict spreads BBC
- State Dept. scrambles to aid stranded Americans amid attacks, airport closures The Washington Post
- State Department urges U.S. citizens to leave more than a dozen Middle Eastern countries PBS
- Trump Reveals Why There’s No Evacuation Plan for Trapped Americans The New Republic
- US says it is facilitating Mideast charter flights for Americans amid criticism over Iran Reuters
Fire caused by drone strike on US consulate in Dubai has been extinguished, officials say
No injuries have been reported in the strike and fire, Dubai’s media office said on Tuesday
Authorities have put down a limited fire near the US consulate in Dubai due to a drone strike, with no injuries reported, according to Dubai’s media office on Tuesday.
In a statement posted online, the media office said: “Dubai authorities have confirmed that a fire resulting from a drone-related incident near the US Consulate has been successfully contained.”
Continue reading...Trump rebukes Starmer again for not letting US attack Iran from UK bases
US president criticises prime minister for third time 24 hours, describing him as ‘not Churchill’ over initial refusal
Donald Trump has launched a deeply personal attack on Keir Starmer over his refusal to let the US launch initial strikes on Iran from British bases, telling reporters: “This is not Winston Churchill that we’re dealing with.”
In his latest extraordinary salvo, the US president said he was not happy with the UK even though the prime minister eventually agreed the US could use Diego Garcia for strikes on Iranian missile facilities.
Continue reading...Iran has largely halted oil and gas exports through strait of Hormuz
At least four tankers have been struck by drones and maritime traffic has dropped by 80%, reports say
Iran has in effect closed the strait of Hormuz to oil and gas exports for the past four days with a mixture of drone strikes and fear that has halted commercial maritime traffic despite intense US attacks on Iran’s navy.
At least four tankers have been struck and Lloyd’s List Intelligence reported that seaborne traffic had dropped by 80% on Sunday, with little sign of a return as key maritime insurers cancelled cover the next day.
Continue reading...