U.S. President Donald Trump said in an 8-minute video posted on his Truth Social that the U.S. has begun “major combat operations in Iran.” He claimed Iran has continued to develop its nuclear program and plans to develop missiles to reach U.S. and appealed to the Iranian people to “take over your government.”

Here’s Trump’s address in full:

A short time ago, the United States military began major combat operations in Iran. Our objective is to defend the American people by eliminating imminent threats from the Iranian regime. A vicious group of very hard, terrible people. Its menacing activities directly endanger the United States, our troops, our bases overseas, and our allies throughout the world.

For 47 years, the Iranian regime has chanted Death to America and waged an unending campaign of bloodshed and mass murder, targeting the United States, our troops and the innocent people in many, many countries. Among the regime’s very first acts was to back a violent takeover of the U.S. Embassy in Tehran, holding dozens of American hostages for 444 days. In 1983, Iran’s proxies carried out the marine barracks bombing in Beirut that killed 241 American military personnel.

In 2000, they knew and were probably involved with the attack on the USS Cole. Many died. Iranian forces killed and maimed hundreds of American service members in Iraq. The regime’s proxies have continued to launch countless attacks against American forces stationed in the Middle East in recent years, as well as U.S. naval and commercial vessels and international shipping lines. It’s been mass terror, and we’re not going to put up with it any longer.

From Lebanon to Yemen and Syria to Iraq, the regime has armed, trained and funded terrorist militias that have soaked the earth with blood and guts. And it was Iran’s proxy, Hamas, that launched the monstrous Oct. 7 attacks on Israel, slaughtering more than 1,000 innocent people, including 46 Americans, while taking 12 of our citizens hostage. It was brutal, something like the world has never seen before.

Iran is the world’s number one state sponsor of terror, and just recently killed tens of thousands of its own citizens on the street as they protested. It has always been the policy of the United States, in particular my administration, that this terrorist regime can never have a nuclear weapon. I’ll say it again, they can never have a nuclear weapon. That is why in Operation Midnight Hammer last June, we obliterated the regime’s nuclear program at Fordo, Natanz and Isfahan. After that attack, we warned them never to resume their malicious pursuit of nuclear weapons, and we sought repeatedly to make a deal. We tried. They wanted to do it. They didn’t want to do it. Again they wanted to do it. They didn’t want to do it. They didn’t know what was happening. They just wanted to practice evil. But Iran refused, just as it has for decades and decades.

They’ve rejected every opportunity to renounce their nuclear ambitions, and we can’t take it anymore. Instead, they attempted to rebuild their nuclear program and to continue developing the long range missiles that can now threaten our very good friends and allies in Europe, our troops stationed overseas, and could soon reach the American homeland. Just imagine how emboldened this regime would be if they ever had, and actually were armed with nuclear weapons as a means to deliver their message.

For these reasons, the United States military is undertaking a massive and ongoing operation to prevent this very wicked, radical dictatorship from threatening America and our core national security interests. We’re going to destroy their missiles and raze their missile industry to the ground. It will be totally again obliterated. We’re going to annihilate their navy. We’re going to ensure that the region’s terrorist proxies can no longer destabilize the region or the world and attack our forces, and no longer use their IEDs, or roadside bombs as they are sometimes called, to so gravely wound and kill thousands and thousands of people, including many Americans. And we will ensure that Iran does not obtain a nuclear weapon. It’s a very simple message. They will never have a nuclear weapon.

This regime will soon learn that no one should challenge the strength and might of the United States Armed Forces. I built and rebuilt our military in my first administration and there is no military on earth even close to its power, strength or sophistication. My administration is taking every possible step to minimize the risk to U.S. personnel in the region. Even so, and I do not make this statement lightly, the Iranian regime seeks to kill. The lives of courageous American heroes may be lost, and we may have casualties. That often happens in war. But we’re doing this not for now. We’re doing this for the future. And it is a noble mission. We pray for every service member as they selflessly risk their lives to ensure that Americans and our children will never be threatened by a nuclear-armed Iran. We ask God to protect all of our heroes in harm’s way. And we trust that with his help, the men and women of the armed forces will prevail. We have the greatest in the world, and they will prevail.

To the members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard, the armed forces and all of the police, I say tonight that you must lay down your weapons and have complete immunity. Or in the alternative, face certain death. So, lay down your arms. You will be treated fairly with total immunity, or you will face certain death. Finally, to the great proud people of Iran, I say tonight that the hour of your freedom is at hand. Stay sheltered. Don’t leave your home. It’s very dangerous outside. Bombs will be dropping everywhere. When we are finished, take over your government. It will be yours to take. This will be probably your only chance for generations.

For many years, you have asked for America’s help. But you never got it. No president was willing to do what I am willing to do tonight. Now you have a president who is giving you what you want. So let’s see how you respond. America is backing you with overwhelming strength and devastating force. Now is the time to seize control of your destiny, and to unleash the prosperous and glorious future that is close within your reach. This is the moment for action. Do not let it pass.

May God bless the brave men and women of America’s armed forces. May God bless the United States of America. May God bless you all. Thank you.

___

This story has been updated to correct “Fort Doe” to “Fordo.”

The awards show recognises the best in British and international music, with there being a huge number of trophies up for grabs.

Olivia Dean and Lola Young lead the field with five nominations in five separate categories, with Sam Fender just behind with four.

Manchester’s Co-op Live Arena will be hosting the awards for the first time tonight (Saturday, February 28), with the past 15 ceremonies having taken place at London’s O2 Arena.

How to watch the BRIT Awards 2026

Coverage from the BRIT Awards will be available to watch on ITV1 and ITVX from 8.15pm.

Additionally, you can watch along on ITV’s YouTube channel from 8.45pm.

If you’re from outside the UK, you can watch coverage on the BRIT Awards YouTube channel from 8.45pm.

The show will go out live and is expected to conclude at around 10.30pm.

However, if you wanted to get a taste of the action a bit earlier, then The Red Carpet, hosted by Charley Marlowe and Tyler West, will be live on The BRITs Instagram from 5.30pm.

Across their social accounts over the night, Sarah Story will be chatting to winners and performers backstage.

Who will be hosting the BRIT Awards 2026?

Comedian Jack Whitehall will be taking on presenting duties again, having also done so for the 2025 ceremony.

Who will be performing at the BRIT Awards 2026?

A major part of the BRIT Awards is live performances from several major artists.

In 2026, Harry Styles, Olivia Dean, Mark Ronson, sombr and RAYE will be among the acts showcasing some recent work.

It is theorised that Harry Styles will perform the lead single, Aperture, from his upcoming album, Kiss All The Time, Disco Occasionally.

Recommended reading:

His performance comes just weeks before he plays at the same arena for his ‘One Night Only’ show.

Alongside that, EJAE, Audrey Nuna and REI AMI – who are the singing voices for the fictional girl group HUNTR/X in KPop Demon Hunters – will take to the stage.

Will you be watching The BRIT Awards 2026? Let us know in the comments.

Britain’s Katie Boulter was unable to build on a superb start as she lost to Italian top seed Jasmine Paolini in the last eight of the Merida Open.

Against the world number seven in Mexico, Boulter won the first set in 28 minutes without dropping a game.

But errors started to creep in as Paolini went on to win 0-6 6-3 6-3.

Having won only three points on her serve in the opening set, Paolini started the second set strongly, holding for the first time and then breaking to go 3-1 up.

Boulter, who came into the contest on the back of a seven-match winning run, including claiming the Ostrava Open title, broke straight back to love but neither player could hold serve in the next three games.

It was Paolini who held her nerve to take the second set and level the contest.

The 2024 Wimbledon and French Open finalist raced into a 2-0 lead in the decider and, although Boulter broke back and held serve to lead 3-2, the Italian’s confidence grew as she won four games in a row to claim a semi-final spot.

“It was a really tough one – Katie, the first set she was smashing every ball and hitting a winner everywhere,” Paolini told Sky Sports.

“I was telling myself to play more deep in the court and hit the ball harder because I had to raise the level to try and win the match and in the end it worked out.

“I was trying to be calm, to think what I had to do. I think when you’re nervous you can’t find the solutions.”

All flights to and from Israel, Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Amman for the next week have been suspended by the airline following ‘recent escalation of the security situation’ in Iran after US and Israeli military operations overnight

A leading airline has cancelled all services to and from four major destinations in response to ‘a recent escalation of the security situation’ in Iran. The dramatic decision follows today’s US and Israeli attack on Iran, with initial reports suggesting strikes occurred close to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s offices.

Reports from Iranian media indicated strikes across the country, with smoke visible above the capital city. In a social media video, President Donald Trump announced the US had commenced “major combat operations in Iran.”, reports the Mirror.

He alleged Iran has persisted in advancing its nuclear programme and intends to develop missiles capable of reaching the US. For the biggest stories in Wales first sign up to our daily newsletter here

Bahrain’s state news agency says that several facilities were hit inside the kingdom as a result of “an aggression” from outside the country.

The agency called the attack “a flagrant violation of the kingdom’s sovereignty and security,” and said authorities in Bahrain are implementing “emergency measures.”

“The kingdom of Bahrain strongly condemns this treacherous aggression that forms a direct threat to the kingdom and its citizens,” it said.

This morning, Wizz Air released a statement through a spokesperson saying: “Following the recent escalation of the security situation in Iran, Wizz Air confirms it is suspending all flights to and from Israel, Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Amman with immediate effect, up until and including 7th March.”

The airline is closely monitoring developments and remains in ongoing contact with local and international authorities, aviation safety agencies, security authorities, and relevant governmental bodies. Operational decisions will continue to be reviewed, and the flight schedule may be adjusted as the situation evolves.

They said: “The safety and security of our passengers, crew and aircraft remain Wizz Air’s highest priority. We acknowledge the disruption this may cause and appreciate the understanding of our customers.”

Passengers with affected bookings will be contacted directly with information regarding their options.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated the coordinated military action with the United States aimed to “remove an existential threat posed” by Iran.”

“Our joint operation will create the conditions for the brave Iranian people to take their fate into their own hands,” he said.

Prior to the military strikes, Trump had assembled the most substantial American military deployment in the Middle East seen in decades.

The aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln, accompanied by three guided-missile destroyers, arrived at the conclusion of January, reinforcing the naval presence across the region.

U.S. embassies or consulates in Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and Israel posted on social media that they told staffers to shelter in place and recommended all Americans “do the same until further notice.”

Iranian state television aired footage of heavily damaged buildings in Tehran, with rescuers digging through the rubble, looking for survivors.

Ensure our latest news and sport headlines always appear at the top of your Google Search by making us a Preferred Source. Click here to activate or add us as Preferred Source in your Google search settings

Cedarbarn Farm Shop and Café in Pickering won the title at the Northern Farmer Awards.

The awards dinner was held in Harrogate.

Mandy Avison, co-founder of Cedarbarn, said: “We were delighted to be shortlisted for this prestigious farming award, but to win it is amazing.

“We’re over the moon.”

Cedarbarn beat finalists Hutchinson Hobbs and Knitsley Farm Shop to take the title.

Organised by the Northern Farmer magazine and featuring charity partner, The Farming Community Network, the Northern Farmer awards are designed to reward and celebrate the farmers who keep the nation fed.

Cedarbarn Farm Shop and Café began in 1995 as a pick-your-own strawberry business operating out of a caravan.

It has since grown into a destination offering a farm shop, café, miniature railway and various events.

A mum was approached by an older man as she was feeding her toddler and twins in the boot of her car in a car park – she said the interaction completely changed her day

Advertisement

A mum said her day “completely changed’ when a man approached her while she was feeding her children in a car park.

Going out with a baby can be stressful for parents, especially if it’s their first child and they’re still getting used to being new parents..

There are lots of things that will be running through their minds, such as how do I keep them occupied? Are they hungry? When is their next nap?

The experience can be quite overwhelming, and the same was true for Romes, a toddler and twin mum from Devon.

The mum-of-three out and about with her infant twins and her toddler when she was approached by a man.

At the time she was sat in the boot of her car in a car park feeding her three children.

She said: “If you see a twin mum, please don’t say you’ve got your hands full, please say this or just be kind. An old gentleman today said the most beautiful thing to me and it has improved my mood to no end.

“I was in the back of the car and the kids were having their lunch, and this old chap comes up to me and he goes, please can you give me your phone so I can take a photo so that when you’re old like me you can look back and actually be in the photo.

“Honestly, it was just so wonderful. So if you see a twin mum, she’s probably having a really overwhelming day and having ‘double trouble’ or ‘you’ve got your hands full’ really makes that worse.

“So say something really lovely. What she’s doing is beautiful and her kids are beautiful because it will just lift her mood to no end.”

Other parents shared their own experience of people approaching them while they’re out with their children.

One person said: “I was in Tesco recently (with the twins but without the toddler) and an old man said to me you are doing a great job, I almost cried.”

A second said: “How lovely!! I had a gentleman come over to me and my twins once with the kindest smile and said ‘wow what a blessing’ and it really stuck with me.

“Wish it happened more often as we normally can’t even get into the shop before someone has told me I’ve got my hands full.”

A third said: “An older lady did this when me and my partner were feeding our tiny newborn twins on a bench and she said we’d want to remember this moment.

“At the time we were a bit like ‘sure’ because we spent half our days feeding but now I treasure the photo. Partly because of the positive interaction.”

“Both our boys have additional needs and we believe there is not enough in Northern Ireland to help families feel supported, especially during school closures.”

A Co Antrim dad is preparing for his toughest challenge yet this weekend after being inspired by his two sons.

Dad-of-two Daz Tweed, 36, from Ballymena is attempting to run 100km on Sunday, March 1 for an organisation close to his heart: a new community-led initiative, WAVES, that puts children with additional needs at the heart of everything they do.

WAVES (Welcome. Accept. Value. Enjoy. Shine.) was set up to help kids with additional needs feel accepted and included while also providing support to their parents.

READ MORE: ‘Our community paediatric care team has been a lifeline for our family’READ MORE: Co Down family rallies around ‘precious’ Paige battling one of the world’s rarest illnesses

Formed by a group of passionate parents and professionals in partnership with Ballykeel 2 & District Community Association, it was born out of a shared concern: children with additional needs were being left behind, especially during school holidays and weekends. With no inclusive local activities or safe spaces, families felt isolated and unsupported.

Determined to change that, the group began small—introducing quiet hours at community events and launching “Lads, Dads and Dames,” a monthly stay-and-play evening designed to support fathers and their children in a relaxed, welcoming environment.

The response was overwhelmingly positive; today, the initiative is much more than just a summer scheme, offering vital respite for families and a chance for children to thrive, connect, and shine.

This isn’t Daz’s first big challenge; on World Down’s Syndrome Day, March 21, last year he started to run 21km for three days in a row to raise funds for the Causeway Down’s Syndrome Support Group.

The 21km distance represented the third copy of Trisomy 21, the genetic condition known as Down’s Syndrome. This cause was also deeply personal to Daz, as his 14-year-old stepson, Jack, has Down’s Syndrome and benefits greatly from the group’s services. Daz and his wife, Amber, also have a six-year-old son, Mikey, and both boys attend Castle Tower School in Ballymena.

Daz told Belfast Live: “Both our boys have additional needs and we believe there is not enough in Northern Ireland to help families feel supported, especially during school closures. WAVES started with a summer scheme last year and it helped us massively as well as other families in Ballymena and surrounding areas. With a little bit of fundraising hopefully they can offer more in 2026 at Easter, Halloween and Christmas etc so I’m trying to raise money for them.

“I started training for this in December with something called the Advent Calendar Challenge where you run a kilometre for every day of the month so December 1st was one kilometre and 2nd was 2 right up to 24 kilometres on Christmas Eve. Then I had a week off over Christmas and in January I started an eight-week block which is finishing this week.

“The plan for Sunday is to start at 6am from the Ecos car park and do a 20 kilometre lap of Ballymena, and then I do 24 kilometre loops of the Ecos. It’s more for convenience for supplies and so that people can join in. I will be hoping to complete the 100km in 12 hours so it’s by far my biggest challenge yet to support an organisation that has helped our family and many others who have kids with additional needs.”

Daz has launched a GoFundMe page as part of his campaign, which has already raised over £500 towards the £2,000 target and you can donate here.

Want to see more of the stories you love from Belfast Live? Making us your preferred source on Google means you’ll get more of our exclusives, top stories and must-read content straight away. To add Belfast Live as a preferred source, simply click here.

Private schools in England are facing new financial realities. Following the UK general election in July 2024, the new government introduced VAT on school fees and removed charitable business rates relief for independent schools. At the same time, staffing costs have continued to rise. Employer national insurance contributions have increased, and the national minimum wage has risen.

For some schools – particularly smaller institutions with limited endowments or declining enrolments – this has raised questions about their sustainability.

Although the full impact of these funding changes remains to be seen, they have intensified concerns about sustainability within parts of the independent sector and raised broader questions about reform.

One viable yet underexplored option is the conversion of private schools to the state sector.

Although still relatively rare, a small number of independent schools have taken this route over the past two decades. In a new report, commissioned by thinktank the Private Education Policy Forum, my colleague Tom Richmond and I have carried out the first comprehensive analysis of what happens when independent schools become state schools in England.

Between 2007 and 2017, 27 independent schools converted into state-funded academies or free schools. Twenty-four are still operating today. While the legal route from independent to state provision technically still exists, it has largely fallen out of use, with no conversions taking place since 2017. Independent to state conversion is therefore often overlooked in debates about the future of private education.

Conversion is often viewed as a last resort taken only by schools in serious financial trouble. However, while financial pressures were relevant to many of the schools that converted between 2007 and 2017, they were not the whole story. Schools have also framed conversion as a way to return to their founding missions, which were often explicitly about inclusion and serving local communities rather than educating a fee-paying intake.

The transition itself was not straightforward. Schools reported significant challenges in adapting to the expectations of the state sector. These included the loss of academic selection, the requirement to deliver the national curriculum, and regular inspections by Ofsted, England’s school inspectorate. Many also highlighted the absence of clear guidance from government on key aspects of the conversion process.

In practical terms, this meant that schools which had previously operated with considerable autonomy had to adjust to a far more regulated environment. In some cases, early Ofsted inspections highlighted weaknesses in data use, governance and oversight as schools adjusted to the demands of state accountability.

However, these difficulties were not permanent. Over time, outcomes improved markedly. All but one of the schools that converted and remained open are now rated “good” or “outstanding” by Ofsted.

Former independent primary schools perform at broadly similar levels than other schools in their local authorities. Former independent secondary schools generally achieve stronger attainment and progress outcomes than nearby state schools, though performance varies. Initial adjustment challenges, in other words, did not prevent long-term success.

The consequences – and the future

One of the most significant changes following conversion is in pupil intake.

Removing academic selection and fees transformed who these schools serve. Since conversion, the proportion of pupils with special educational needs has more than doubled. The share eligible for free school meals has risen sharply.

Research has shown that while these schools do not perfectly mirror the national state school population, the gap between them and their local communities has narrowed dramatically.

In many cases, they are far more representative of their surrounding areas than they were as independent institutions. Conversion does not simply change how a school is funded. It can reshape who benefits from its facilities and educational offer.

A common concern is that families will withdraw their children once fees are removed. In practice, this rarely appears to have happened at scale.

Consultation evidence and enrolment patterns show that large majorities of parents supported the move, particularly because it eliminated fees and provided financial certainty. Where schools were required to demonstrate parental demand, applications frequently exceeded available places. Widespread collapse in enrolment – a frequently voiced fear – did not materialise.

Conversion to the state sector is not a solution for every school. Local context matters. The availability of places, building condition and leadership capacity all shape whether conversion is viable. But, the experience of the past two decades suggests that, where carefully managed, conversion can preserve provision, widen access and deliver strong outcomes.

As debates about school funding and the future of private education continue, independent to state conversion is likely to resurface.

If the route is to become viable again, greater clarity is necessary. A clear and permanent pathway – assessed case by case and aligned with local need – would reduce uncertainty. Drawing on the more flexible elements of earlier academy reforms and providing practical support during transition could make the process more workable.

Wales U20s went up against their senior counterparts in a full-contact training session on Friday

Wales U20s centre Steffan Emanuel caught the eye of the senior squad as the two teams faced each other in a full-contact session on Friday morning.

This week has seen a host of Wales squad members released back to their clubs for this weekend’s URC action, in a far cry from previous regimes – meaning Steve Tandy is significantly lighter on numbers in the only fallow week of the tournament.

Richard Whiffin’s U20s squad have also seen some players go back to clubs – with Carwyn Leggatt-Jones and Tom Bowen on domestic duty on Friday.

As such, the U20s offered up some stern opposition in training to end the week in a full contact session.

Ensure our latest sport headlines always appear at the top of your Google Search by making us a Preferred Source. Click here to activate or add us as Preferred Source in your Google search settings

“They have got a very good team,” said Wales full-back Blair Murray. “They showed their class against Scotland with the win that they had.

“They’ve been playing really well.

“Steffan Emanuel is a class player isn’t he? He’s probably the standout for me.”

The teenage centre has already impressed for Cardiff’s senior side this season, while he’s made an impression as Wales U20s’ co-captain in this year’s Six Nations.

He’s not the only young Wales player catching the eye, either, with fellow U20s international Bowen earning rave reviews from Irish pundit Ian Madigan on Friday night.

Speaking ahead of Cardiff’s win over Leinster, Madigan said of the 19-year-old on Premier Sports: “He is the real deal.

“I actually watched him in the warm-up game at Cardiff when they played Leinster in Dublin earlier in the season.

“I hadn’t heard of him before then, but he is Shane Williams 2.0. He is nippy, has great footwork and great top-end speed.

“He skinned a couple of the Leinster players in that warm-up game. He offers something different.

“He is a guy you want to get in possession at the line, using his footwork. When you get front-foot ball and you get Tom Bowen on the ball, he is lethal.”

JOIN OUR WALES RUGBY FACEBOOK PAGE! Latest news, analysis and much more

Whiffin’s U20s side beat Scotland last week, having pushed England and France close in their previous two games.

As for Tandy’s men, they’re still looking for their first victory after the narrow defeat to Scotland in Cardiff last Saturday.