The Israeli military said it launched a “broad wave” of strikes in Tehran early on Wednesday, just hours after Iranian state media reported that the Revolutionary Guard had carried out a fresh barrage of missile and drone strikes on Israel.

IDF said the strikes targeted “the Iranian terror regime’s launch sites, aerial defence systems and additional infrastructure”.

The US Central Command said American and Israeli forces had struck over 1,700 targets in Iran since the start of the war and “severely degraded” Iranian air defences.

The Pentagon, meanwhile, named the first four American personnel killed in the widening conflict with Iran.

Capt Cody A Khork, 35, Sgt 1st Class Noah L Tietjens, 42, Sgt 1st Class Nicole M Amor, 39, and Sgt Declan J Coady, 20, were identified on Tuesday, two days after they were killed in Kuwait.

They were killed in a drone attack on a military facility at Port Shuaiba while “supporting Operation Epic Fury”.

The Donald Trump administration had yet to identify two other American service members killed in the conflict.

Israel issued evacuation warnings for multiple villages in southern Lebanon ahead of a likely offensive, while Saudi Arabia said it intercepted nine drones overnight.

Earthquake of 4.3 magnitude hits Iran, no casualties reported

An earthquake hit Iran’s southern city of Gerash in Iran’s Fars province on Tuesday, according to the US Geological Survey.

The quake was at a depth of 10 km (6.21 miles), USGS said.

No injuries or casualties have been reported.

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Maira Butt4 March 2026 07:49

Sri Lanka rescues 30 people on board distressed Iranian ship

The Sri Lankan navy has rescued at least 30 people on board a sinking Iranian ship on Wednesday.

A rescue mission was dispatched after a distress call from the Iranian ship, a defence ministry spokesperson said.

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Foreign minister Vijitha Herath did not give further details but said Sri Lanka would take appropriate action.

Local media reported the ship called for help off the coast of Galle in the southern part of the country, and that the injured had been admitted to a hospital in Galle.

Maira Butt4 March 2026 07:41

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In pictures: Israeli attacks on southern Beirut continue

A plume of smoke rises from the site of an Israeli airstrike in the southern suburbs of Beirut’s Haret Hreik neighborhood on Wednesday.

Israel launched fresh strikes on Iran and Lebanon, where state media reported a residential building was hit on 4 March, as Iran’s Guards said they had sealed off one of the world’s most vital shipping routes for energy.

Maira Butt4 March 2026 07:31

Iranians to bid farewell to supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei at Tehran ceremony

A three-day ceremony is to be held in Tehran for Iranians to mourn the death of their supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

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Hojjatoleslam Mahmoudi, head of Iran’s Islamic Propagation Council, said the event would continue for three days and the funeral procession would be announced later.

Mr Mahmoudi the public will be able to pay their respects to the body of the Ayatollah at Tehran’s Imam Khomeini Prayer Hall starting at 10 pm (6.30pm GMT).

“The Mosalla (prayer hall) will be receiving visitors and the dear people can attend and take part in the farewell ceremony and mark a strong presence once again,” he said in comments carried by Iranian media.

Maira Butt4 March 2026 07:17

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UK Maritime Trade Operations receives report of incident east of UAE’s Fujairah

The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations said it had received a report of an incident about seven nautical miles east of Fujairah in the United Arab Emirates.

According to UKMTO, the captain of a vessel reported it had been hit by an unidentified projectile, damaging its steel hull.

The crew were safe, and there were no reports of fire on board or water entering the ship.

Maroosha Muzaffar4 March 2026 07:00

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Iran’s Revolutionary Guard says it launched 40 missiles against US and Israeli targets

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps says it fired over 40 missiles in what it described as the 17th wave of aerial attacks against US and Israeli targets.

Maroosha Muzaffar4 March 2026 06:54

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Suspected CIA station inside US embassy in Saudi was struck by drone – report

A suspected Iranian drone struck the CIA station inside the US embassy in Riyadh on Monday, according to a source familiar with the matter.

Reuters reported that there is no indication the facility was the intended target, and the CIA has declined to comment.

The embassy, located in the Saudi capital, was hit by two drones, Saudi Arabia’s defence ministry said, causing a small fire and limited material damage.

Maroosha Muzaffar4 March 2026 06:53

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Limited commercial options available for Britons in UAE, UK embassy says

The British Embassy in UAE has warned that only limited commercial options remain for UK citizens trying to leave the UAE amid regional disruption.

In updated travel advice, the embassy said flights are operating from the UAE and Oman but cautioned: “Travel within or out of UAE is at your own risk.”

It urged Britons to check airline updates, follow local authority guidance and confirm bookings before heading to the airport.

Meanwhile, the UK government has announced that its first chartered commercial evacuation flight for British nationals in the Middle East will depart from Oman later today.

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Maroosha Muzaffar4 March 2026 06:34

Drone shot down near Baghdad international airport – report

A drone was reportedly shot down near Baghdad International Airport, the site of an earlier attempted strike on the US embassy’s logistical support camp, AFP, citing security sources, reported on Wednesday.

A security source said the incident caused no casualties or damage.

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The development comes a day after another drone attack was thwarted on the airport’s outskirts, according to Iraq’s security media cell.

Maroosha Muzaffar4 March 2026 06:00

US commander Cooper says Epic Fury ‘ahead of game plan’

Maroosha Muzaffar4 March 2026 05:50

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Licenced premises that show televised sport will, in some circumstances, be allowed to serve alcohol until 30 minutes after the end of the football games.

Pubs and bars across South Lanarkshire have the go-ahead to stay open later this summer as the World Cup kicks off.

Licenced premises that show televised sport will, in some circumstances, be allowed to serve alcohol until 30 minutes after the end of the football games.

In the Clydesdale and Hamilton areas, all matches will be covered by the extended hours.

However, in East Kilbride and Rutherglen/Cambuslang, the extension applies to Scotland games only, including the group stages and any further stages in the competition, as well as the final.

South Lanarkshire Council’s head of administration and legal services, Iain Strachan, said: “We wish the Scotland men’s team all the very best and no doubt the full country will be behind them.

“We have four licencing division boards in South Lanarkshire, and it is up to them to decide what the extended opening hours should be.

“There is no need for premises to apply for an extended hours licence on these dates as long as the premises adhere to these hours, although we would ask if they could let us know if they are planning to make use of the extension.

“There is no obligation for any premises to trade during the extended hours.”

READ MORE: Over 60s leisure membership in South Lanarkshire could rise by 25 per cent

Licence holders are reminded to ensure proper management and consider extra stewarding where needed. The boards will monitor operations throughout the World Cup and can make adjustments if necessary.

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READ MORE: Expansion plans for South Lanarkshire secondary schools

Following a Care Quality Commission (CQC) inspection in December, Karrthikeya Health Care Limited, a domiciliary care agency based in Newcastle, was found to have multiple failings in the care of people within their own homes.

The inspection was triggered by concerns about potentially unsafe staff recruitment.

Six breaches were identified, including failures around consent, safe care, safeguarding, staffing, fitness of employees and overall management.

All areas of the service were rated inadequate, including being safe, well-led, caring, responsive and effective.

Inspectors also found that the agency failed to properly investigate safeguarding concerns and other incidents.

Leadership at the service did not reflect an understanding of the diverse health needs of those in their care, leading to inflexible and unsupportive care delivery.

Staff were also criticised for failing to provide consistent care during transitions between services.

Decision-making involving service users was lacking, and staff did not address people’s needs in a timely or compassionate way.

The absence of a positive learning culture was highlighted, with inspectors noting a lack of staff training and regular appraisals, and insufficient understanding of people’s personal, cultural, social, and religious needs.

The CQC has placed Karrthikeya Health Care Limited in special measures and will continue to monitor the service closely.

China has responded to the joint US-Israeli attacks on Iran with strong diplomatic condemnation. In an article published on March 1, China’s state-run Xinhua news agency called the attacks a “flagrant violation” of the purposes and principles of the UN charter. The same article called the intervention a departure from “fundamental norms of international relations”.

This reaction resembled China’s response to the US capture of the former Venezuelan leader, Nicolás Maduro, in early January. At that time, Chinese officials condemned what they described as a violation of international law. The Chinese foreign minister, Wang Yi, warned that no country should act as a “world policeman” or “claim itself to be an international judge”.

Beyond diplomatic condemnation, China’s most significant contribution to the conflict in Iran so far has come through its satellite navigation system, BeiDou. In recent years, BeiDou has emerged as a possible alternative to the dominant Global Positioning System (GPS), which is owned and controlled by the US government.

During the 12-day war between Iran and Israel in 2025, widespread GPS jamming caused significant disruption to Iranian civilian and military systems. Deactivating GPS and switching to BeiDou has thus given Iran’s military more strategic depth. It has done so by, for example, enabling better monitoring of American military assets.

The conflict in Iran is likely to lead to several issues for China. Iran is a key source of oil for the Chinese government, exporting more than 520 million barrels of crude oil to China in 2025. Only Saudi Arabia supplied China with more oil than Iran that year.

What effect the conflict ultimately has on Iranian oil exports remains to be seen. But it is already causing significant disruption to the strait of Hormuz, the main route connecting Iranian ports in the Persian gulf and also some of the Gulf region’s other major oil suppliers to the open ocean.

The economic pain caused by this disruption is likely to be felt acutely by China, which imports more than half of its crude oil from countries in the Gulf.

At the same time, the perceived weakness of China in failing to respond to the conflict proactively may make some states cautious about pursuing a closer relationship with Beijing. Some countries, particularly in Latin America, have already looked to address their overreliance on China over the past year following pressure and threats from the US government.

In January, for example, Panama’s supreme court invalidated a contract that had allowed Panama Ports Company, a subsidiary of a Hong Kong-based firm, to operate two ports on the Panama canal. The ruling came one year after Trump threatened to take control of the canal to limit Chinese influence over the waterway.

However, it is equally possible that the war assists Beijing’s wider efforts to position itself as a global counterbalance to the US. Countries that had previously maintained frosty relations with Beijing such as Canada, Germany and the UK have already all looked to boost economic ties with China in recent months amid concerns about the reliability of the US as a partner.

And Wang Yi used his appearance at the Munich Security Conference in February to speak of the need for the UN and more global cooperation and collaboration. The unpredictability of the Trump administration, most recently displayed by its decision to attack Iran, may serve to strengthen China’s message of stability.

Meanwhile, Beijing may point to Iran’s retaliatory strikes against the Gulf states as a warning for countries of the consequences of aligning with Washington. This may raise questions among traditional US allies in Asia such as Japan and South Korea over whether the alliance system in the region that has long been maintained by Washington can truly guarantee the security of these states.

Pivot to Asia

While it is difficult to predict how the conflict in Iran will play out, some analysts view a drawn-out war as a possibility. This scenario also has implications for China, as it could distract the US away from its pivot to Asia. The US has long wanted to shift its foreign policy focus away from Europe and the Middle East towards the Indo-Pacific to counter the rise of China.

The US is no stranger to protracted wars in the Middle East, having become bogged down in conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan since the early 2000s. Both of these wars significantly hindered and delayed the pivot to Asia, leading to what some observers call a “lost decade” for the US that allowed China to expand its influence.

A long entanglement in Iran would drain resources that might otherwise reinforce US deterrence in the Indo-Pacific, creating an opportunity for China to further to cement its role as the dominant regional player in Asia. And it could also help Beijing with its preparations for future conflicts.

The war in Iran is fertile ground for China to study American and Israeli weaponry. This may inform its future military strategy. The demonstration of the military value of drones in Ukraine, for example, has been key in China’s decision to develop and test new types of drones and drone swarm technologies.

The Iran conflict may inflict short-term damage on China economically. But, as time goes on, we may look back on this moment as a key point in China shoring up its influence across Asia and the world.

Iran has made a “big mistake” by not just attacking US bases and assets in the Gulf states, but also targeting civilians in the region, the former director of the CIA has told Sky News.

General David Petraeus, the former director of the CIA, told lead world news presenter Yalda Hakim that Iran has widened the war by hitting airports, seaports, gas and oil loading stations in Gulf states.

Iran latest: Follow live updates

“It also went after a UK base. I think this was a drone launched by Hezbollah from southern Lebanon against the base in Cyprus,” he said.

“What this is doing is bringing those countries, which sought to be neutral in a way, to stay out of it, to not allow the US to use their bases, [to now] be part of it.”

As well as his role in running the US spy service between September 2011 and November 2012, General Petraeus was pivotal as a military commander in Iraq, where he led the 2007 “Surge” strategy that significantly reduced insurgent violence after the American invasion four years earlier.

US President Donald Trump has made it clear he wants regime change in Iran after launching a wave of strikes with Israel, which he warned is yet to reach its peak.

But General Petraeus said regime change won’t come by air.

“Air power alone is not going to bring down a regime. These are not the colour revolutions either, where just a popular sentiment can topple regimes in the wake of the collapse of the Soviet Union, as we saw in eastern Europe and former Soviet republics,” he said.

“There’s going to have to be some kind of ground force. The objective […] is to try to create conditions where the most important regime forces are dramatically degraded, the capabilities are reduced, and leadership is disrupted enormously.”

Read more from Sky News:
The dilemma Trump is facing as Iran war escalates
Mapped: What has been hit so far in Iran war

He questioned whether the salvo of airstrikes by US and Israeli forces could potentially create conditions in Iran where some element of the regime forces “could break off and galvanise the people to actually topple the regime”.

“I don’t think that’s the base case just yet,” General Petraeus added.

The former CIA chief said if there was such an emergency of force in Iran, it would need to be “guys with guns”, because “it is the guys with the most guns and the willingness to be the most ruthless that often prevail” in those situations.

When Saharan dust mixes with rain it creates what is commonly known as blood rain.

Tiny dust particles suspended in the atmosphere are captured by raindrops and deposited onto surfaces, leaving a thin, gritty, reddish-brown residue.

Cars, windows, garden furniture and other outdoor items can become noticeably coated, sometimes requiring a wash to remove the marks.

Parts of England and Wales are expected to experience the most pronounced effects, as dust concentrations are forecast to be highest there due to prevailing winds and the position of high pressure system.

Even areas with lighter dust may notice a faint film on surfaces after rainfall.

Despite its dramatic name and unusual appearance, this type of rain is entirely harmless.

The dust poses no health risk for most people, and any disruption is largely cosmetic.

It is a natural result of Saharan dust being carried long distances by the atmosphere, offering a rare, and sometimes messy, reminder of how far-reaching global weather systems can be.

For seven years now, Russell has been a driver just waiting for the right car, and this year he might have it. This year’s new rules have given Mercedes a chance for a reset, and the indication so far is that they have made a much better job of it than last time around.

The feeling in the paddock leaving testing last month is that Mercedes and Ferrari were the teams in the best shape, with Red Bull and McLaren perhaps a little behind in a relatively closely matched top four that is more than a second a lap clear of everyone else.

Russell is confident enough in Mercedes’ potential to say that he “thinks we’ve delivered a very strong car” but he’s wary of the performance of Red Bull’s new engine.

Even so, his sights are set high. “I do want to go head-to-head with Max,” he says. “and obviously Lando had a great season last year.”

As things stand, before Melbourne gives the first glimpse of a real competitive order, Russell’s obvious potential rivals this year are Verstappen, Norris, Piastri and the two Ferrari drivers, Charles Leclerc and Hamilton, if the seven-time champion can rediscover the mojo he appeared to have lost last year, and to some extent in 2024.

Of Russell’s 19-year-old team-mate Kimi Antonelli, who is going into his second season after an up-and-down debut in 2025, Wolff says: “I’m absolutely certain it will be a good year for him, but I don’t think we should expect him to be like George all the time.”

Russell is good friends with world champion Norris and Leclerc. The three came up through the junior ranks together and all believe that the intense competition they gave each other, along with Williams’ Alex Albon, was an important factor in them all reaching F1, as it forced each to keep raising their own standards to keep up with the others.

But it’s perhaps a fight with Verstappen that whets the appetite most.

A U.S. Justice Department lawyer told jurors at a civil antitrust trial Tuesday that the concert industry is broken because Ticketmaster and its parent Live Nation Entertainment have monopolized the market, driving up prices for consumers, but the companies say the government is wrong.

David Dahlquist, an attorney with the Justice Department‘s antitrust division, said in his opening statement that the United States and 39 states are counting on the Manhattan federal jury to end the monopoly and reward artists and consumers with a competitive marketplace that will leave them with more money.

“This case is about power, the power of a monopolist to control competition,” he said. “Today, the concert ticket industry is broken.”

David Marriott, arguing on behalf of the companies, disputed the government’s claims.

“We’ll let the numbers do the talking,” he said. “We do not have monopoly power.”

open image in gallery

Judge Arun Subramanian has told jurors that evidence will be presented over the next six weeks before they’ll be left to decide whether Live Nation and Ticketmaster broke antitrust laws.

The trial stems from a lawsuit filed in 2024 that alleged the companies have dominated the industry by suffocating competitors and controlling everything from concert promotion to ticketing.

Ticketmaster, which was established in 1976 and merged with Live Nation in 2010, is the world’s largest ticket seller across live music, sports, theater and more.

Dahlquist noted that the ticket seller sparked outrage in November 2022 when its site crashed during a presale event for a Taylor Swift stadium tour.

The company said the site was overwhelmed by both fans and attacks from bots, which were posing as consumers to scoop up tickets and sell them on secondary sites. The debacle prompted congressional hearings and bills in state legislatures aimed at better protecting consumers.

Dahlquist said Live Nation’s anti-competitive practices include using long-term contracts ranging from five to seven years to keep venues from choosing rivals and blocking venues from using multiple ticket sellers.

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Ticketmaster’s clashes with artists and fans date back three decades. Pearl Jam took aim at the company in 1994, years before the Live Nation merger, although the Justice Department ultimately declined to bring a case.

Live Nation has maintained that artists and teams set prices and decide how tickets are sold.

Marriott said Live Nation was the world’s biggest supporter of musical artists, enabling 159 million people in 2025 to see 11,000 artists at 55,000 concerts.

He said the government has exaggerated how much the companies make, including by saying Ticketmaster pockets $7 a ticket, when it actually gets $5 and clears less than $2 after expenses.

Live Nation and Ticketmaster, he said, “are all about bringing joy to people’s lives.”

It’s the latest twist in the planning saga in Manchester

Plans to demolish two Victorian ‘Italianate’ buildings next to a city centre park have hit a major snag.

The future of 1 Parsonage and 5 Parsonage, warehouses built in the 1860s and 1870s respectively, looks to be in doubt after developers Beaconsfield Commercial Ltd requested planning permission to build a new 14-storey block in their place. The duo are now offices which Beaconsfield says ‘are in a deteriorated condition and no longer meet office occupier standards’, prompting the bid for new offices with a restaurant and bar on the ground floor.

It’s not the first time redevelopment was eyed for the Victorian warehouses, with a previous plan to replace them with a glass tower abandoned following worries about its height, compatibility with the area, and the level of demand to fill proposed offices.

Click here to prioritise Manchester news in Google from the MEN

However, the 14-storey block’s future is now uncertain after heritage group Historic England formally objected to the move, saying demolition would cause significant and irreversible harm to the conservation area.

“At Historic England we’re always keen to work with developers to find solutions that deliver growth while respecting Manchester’s unique character,” said Catherine Dewar, its north west director.

“We’ve done this successfully on schemes like St Michael’s, where collaboration led to a better outcome for the city’s heritage. Sadly, the current proposals for Parsonage Gardens don’t strike that balance and we would lose some of Manchester’s heritage as a result.

“Demolishing these buildings would cause significant and irreversible harm to the conservation area and the new tower would dominate the setting of one of the city centre’s rare green open spaces.

“Manchester’s heritage is one of its greatest assets and a great source of pride for people who love this city. Research shows that properties in conservation areas see values rise by around 9pc so looking after historic places like Parsonage Gardens isn’t just the right thing to do – it makes good economic sense too.”

Opposition has also been expressed by neighbours, who also previously said demolition would ‘harm’ to the conservation area, and the influence on existing buildings.

You can view the plans here.

Greater Manchester Police authorised a section 60 authority for Bolton town centre today (Tuesday, March 3), which grants them extra powers to stop and search.

This follows reports of a large-scale disturbance between groups of 30 or more individuals at Bolton interchange yesterday.

Alyas Majid, 18, has since been arrested and charged with possession of a bladed article in public following the incident in which police believe a number of people were assaulted.

Majid, of Westleigh Lane in Leigh, is due to appear at Wigan and Leigh Magistrates Court on May 6, 2026.

Chief Inspector John Haywood from GMP’s Bolton district said: “Incidents such as this can be concerning for the local community, but I would like to reassure those who live and work in the area that we are fully committed to tackling violent crime and keeping our streets safe.

“The Section 60 authority has been put in place to give our officers enhanced powers to stop and search individuals in the area, helping us to prevent further violence and identify those responsible.

“We have already charged an 18-year-old man overnight and my officers have been working hard throughout the day to identify further suspects.

“Extra patrol officers have also been deployed around the local area both on foot and in patrol cars.”

The Section 60 will be effective in the following areas;

• Boundries
• Topp Way
• Bury New Road
• Bradford Street
• Manchester Road
• Lever Street
• Fletcher Street
• College Way
• Major Street
• Spa Road
• Marsden Road

Police will be given extra powers to stop and search within the highlighted area (Image: GMP)

The Section 60 powers come under the 1994 Criminal Justice and Public Order Act and will run for 24 hours.

Having been authorised at 4pm on Tuesday 3 March 2026, it is set to expire at 4pm on Wednesday 4 March 2026.

Anyone with information about this incident is urged to contact us on 101, quoting log number 1234 of 03/03/2026.

Information can also be reported online or by using the LiveChat function at www.gmp.police.uk.

If you can’t report online, or to 101, call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.