The UK government has issued a travel warning for Israel and Palestine and withdrawn its diplomatic staff from Iran, as the US advises embassy officials in Jerusalem they can leave.

The Foreign Office warned Britons against “all but essential” travel to Israel and Palestine on Friday due to the deteriorating security situation in the Middle East.

It also moved some staff from Tel Aviv to “another location within Israel”, amid concerns the security situation “could escalate quickly” and international borders might close with little notice.

The alert was issued shortly after Britain pulled its staff out of it embassy in Iran as a “temporary” precautionary measure.

“We have temporarily closed the British Embassy in Tehran, this will now operate remotely,” a government spokesperson said.

Meanwhile, US ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee told embassy employees in an email that a decision had been made to authorise departures for non-essential personnel and their families who wished to leave.

Mr Huckabee said in the email that staff who wish to leave should do so that day, adding “there may be outbound flights over the coming days, there may not be”.

“Persons may wish to consider leaving Israel while commercial flights are available,” the US embassy said.

The travel warnings are one of the strongest indications yet that a regional conflict could be imminent, as the threat of US military strikes on Iran looms.

They come just a day after talks between the US and Iran over its nuclear programme ended without an agreement.

The US State Department revealed on Friday that Secretary of State Marco Rubio will travel to Israel early next week to “discuss a range of regional priorities including Iran, Lebanon, and ongoing efforts to implement President Trump’s 20-Point Peace Plan for Gaza”.

The announcement suggested a longer timeframe for US any military action.

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Donald Trump set ​out his case for a possible attack on ​Iran in ⁠his State ⁠of the Union speech on Tuesday.

Read more:
‘Significant progress’ in US-Iran talks – but no deal
‘It’s tense here’: Jerusalem braces for prospect of war

The US president said while he preferred a diplomatic ‌solution, he would not allow Tehran to obtain a nuclear weapon.

Mr Trump has previously threatened to take military action against Iran if a deal is not reached.

The US has spent the last month amassing a fleet of aircraft and warships in the region.

Iran has in turn threatened to attack Israel, raising the risk that military action could trigger another regional war.

A confidential report from the UN nuclear watchdog confirmed that Iran has not offered inspectors access to sensitive nuclear sites since they were bombed during the 12-day war launched by Israel last June.

Iran insists it has the right to enrich uranium for peaceful purposes and denies pursuing a nuclear weapon.

​Almost a dozen objections have been made against a proposal by ​National Car Parks Ltd to turn former hotel parking into a public car park for up to three years in Scarborough’s North Bay.

​The site, at 143 – 147, North Marine Road, would have capacity for 21 cars.

​One neighbour, Wayne Thompson, said: “As the owner of one of the adjoining properties, I must object to the proposal on multiple grounds.

​“It does not bring any opportunities or support to the local area or economy. It also seems to actively avoid mentioning the building associated with the site, which has been derelict for a very long time, with no plans being submitted by the current owner regarding any short-term or long-term plans for the site.”

​The planning application states the car park would be temporary while the landowners consider the building’s future.

​The applicant said that vehicles would enter and leave the site over the course of a day “as they would do currently, and as there are no material changes to the site, there is no visual impact on the street scene”.

​​“The site has always been considered acceptable for the parking of cars,” the applicant added.

​However, resident Roger Jones said that “consenting to this application is incompatible with the area’s conservation status and the planning conditions which the council rightly imposes on property owners to maintain the integrity of the conservation area.”

​The applicant said the change of use of the site would be “less harmful” than if it were used for development.

​​“Operating as a public car park will provide opportunities to help support the local economy,” the application concludes,” they added.

​Kenneth Fixter also submitted an objection “on behalf of all the residents and property owners in the apartment block 149, North Marine Road and 149, Queens Parade”.

​Mr Fixter said: “There is no need for another commercially operated public car park in this area. All the buildings in Queens Parade have their own car parking in keeping with their intended purpose.”

​He added: “The massive, brightly coloured advertising and charges information signs erected in May 2025 are totally inappropriate for the site.

“They are incompatible with the nature of the conservation area and significantly detract from the ambience of the area for its residents.”

​However, the Highway Authority has not objected, stating that “no changes are proposed to the junction with the highway”.

​It has recommended conditions if the scheme is approved and noted that “there are no dedicated disabled bays. Inclusive mobility states car parks should be 2 per cent of the total car park capacity, with a minimum of one space”.

​North Yorkshire Council has not set a date for deciding on the proposal which is currently open to representations.

Stone Roses Mani, who died last November, to be honoured by Charlatans frontman Tim Burgess , who was a close friend of the star

BRIT Awards bosses are set to honour Stone Roses bassist Mani at Saturday night’s show – led by Charlatans legend Tim Burgess. Gary ‘Mani’ Mounfield died suddenly aged 63 last November, and close pal Tim will be on hand to deliver an emotional speech.

A source said: “Tim is set to present the In Memoriam section, but before he does so, he is primed to talk about Mani who was both a dear friend and mentor. The fact that Mani was from Manchester too – and the awards is being held there for the first time – means it will be a really special moment. Mani will then feature heavily in the section, as will other greats we have lost including Ozzy Osbourne.”

Tim has previously spoken of his love for the Stones Roses legend. He said: “I looked up to him so much. He was a pathfinder for so many of us, like an older brother who had blazed a trail.” The Stone Roses broke up in 1996 citing musical differences and Mani joined rock band Primal Scream, who he stayed with for 15 years.

He would go on to record four more albums with the band before leaving in 2011 to reform The Stone Roses. The ceremony will also see Happy Mondays duo Bez and Shaun Ryder reunite as guest presenters to present an award, at Manchester’s Co-op Live arena.

The pair, who previously performed at the Brits in 1991, were top of the wish-list for organisers. A source says: “They will hopefully bring some old-school Madchester energy to proceedings…..organisers can’t wait to see them in action. They want the show to be a love letter to Manchester as it’s being held in the city for the first time, and want to channel the city’s brilliant energy.”

As well as featuring in the In Memoriam section, Osbourne will be honoured with a posthumous Brit Awards lifetime achievement award. The singer, known as the Prince of Darkness, died aged 76 in July last year just over two weeks after his Back To The Beginning farewell concert where he was reunited with his bandmates.

There will be a tribute performance, fronted by pop star Robbie Williams, in celebration of his “inimitable impact and influence on music worldwide”. The tribute performance, curated by Ozzy’s wife Sharon Osbourne, will consist of a special arrangement of Black Sabbath’s 1991 song No More Tears, with Williams joined on stage by musicians who have previously played as part of Ozzy’s band, including keyboardist Adam Wakeman, Metallica’s Robert Trujillo, drummer Tommy Clufetos and guitarist Zakk Wylde.

Stacey Tang, chairwoman of the 2026 Brit Awards committee, said: “Ozzy Osbourne has been a mighty force in modern music. “Possessing an unmistakable voice and unique presence, he reshaped the sound and spirit of rock, inspiring generations of artists who followed. This lifetime achievement award recognises a remarkable legacy built on originality and enduring influence that continues to connect with fans worldwide.”

The music star died of a reported heart attack on July 22 after suffering a string of health issues over the years, including multiple surgeries following a fall in February 2019 and being diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. The show, which is presented by Jack Whitehall, will see former One Direction star Harry Styles will return to the Brits stage, where he is expected to open the show with his new song Aperture. Olivia Dean and Lola Young are topping the nominations this year with five nods apiece, whilst Sam Fender trails closely behind with four. Continuing the Manchester theme, Noel Gallagher is the recipient of this year’s Songwriter of the Year award.

Organisers say that his “songwriting has permeated the fabric of British culture for over 30 years, from his seminal work with Oasis to his ambitious and acclaimed solo albums with Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds..” They added: “His songs span generations and have continued to resonate with audiences around the world like no other.”

The sentencing of Hong Kong media mogul Jimmy Lai to 20 years in prison on February 8 on charges of sedition and collusion with foreign forces prompted international outrage.

Lai founded the now shuttered pro-democracy Apple Daily newspaper – and supporters of press freedom around the world pointed to the chilling effect the sentence would have on the media, in a city once vaunted as a beacon for press freedom in Asia.

The reaction was more muted in Hong Kong, where dissent has been stifled since Beijing imposed the draconian National Security Law in 2020, following months of protests in 2019. A local security law enacted in 2024 further expanded the scope of the city’s national security legislation.

Privately, some local journalists say Lai’s conviction will have limited impact on their work. They have already felt heavily constrained by the security laws and what they’re calling the “new normal” – an overarching national security apparatus and culture. Although saddened, they were not altogether surprised at the severity of Lai’s sentence.

One journalist told me they were more shaken by the sentences of up to ten years that were meted out to six senior Apple Daily editors and writers for “just doing their jobs”.

Since the national security law, Hong Kong journalists’ jobs have involved a great deal of dancing around shifting boundaries as to what can and can’t be reported. Inevitably, this has meant exercising greater self-censorship.

In an editorial on the sentencing, the Ming Pao newspaper, which has long positioned itself as a neutral paper of record, suggested the Lai ruling has brought these boundaries into sharper focus, concluding: “Collusion with foreign forces cannot readily be dressed up as journalism.”

The newspaper said that as Hong Kong now operates within the framework of the national security legislation: “The media must operate within this legal framework while continuing to report facts and hold power to account, a balance essential to preserving the city’s pluralism and openness.”

But it hoped “the Lai case will prove a watershed, allowing space for press freedom to widen step by step, so the media can fulfil its responsibilities more effectively”.

However, local journalists I spoke to described this position as naïve and wishful thinking, and said the red lines are no clearer now than before. Selina Cheng, chair of the Hong Kong Journalists Association (HKJA), believes the constraints on free expression in Hong Kong go far beyond a legal framework.

“If we call it a legal framework, it’s giving the system some kind of legitimacy,” Cheng told me. “In reality, the way it operates is there is a lot of destruction of due process, creating an atmosphere of fear and anxiety in those working in industries of expression.”

Apart from being arrested and jailed, Cheng says journalists and their family members have been doxed, with their personal details posted online, and harassed. Both individual journalists and news outlets have been targeted by unusual tax audits.

Tai Po tragedy

Cheng was one of several journalists I spoke to who pointed to the November 2025 fire which killed 168 people in Tai Po’s Wang Fuk Court Estate as a potent symbol of the current state of press freedom and freedom of speech in Hong Kong.

In the immediate aftermath, local and international journalists interviewed victims and reported extensively on suspected corruption and lack of oversight of building works on the site. But residents and other potential interviewees soon became reluctant to speak to reporters following the arrests of people who had posted comments online.

A student who started a petition for an independent inquiry was arrested – and then recently expelled from his university just weeks from graduation, even though he hasn’t been charged.

For one veteran journalist, who asked to remain anonymous for fear of bringing trouble to their organisation, what led to the Tai Po tragedy highlights a “media failure”. The news outlets which had most doggedly pursued stories about building maintenance, bid-rigging and corruption were the investigative site Factwire and Apple Daily, so “when these outlets disappeared, a lot of the reports also petered out”.

“In the past, you’d have lots of commentary in the media after an incident like this,” they explained. “There’d be legal scholars, experts, people from all different sectors. But now, the universities don’t allow people to comment and articles are spiked or censored, so it’s hard to raise and maintain public concern.”

Snitch culture

The journalist spoke of a system that extends beyond the legal framework of the national security law that restricts speech, through the control of public opinion and a “snitch culture” that weaponises complaints.

A Hong Kong police national security hotline was launched in November 2020; by June 2025, the city’s security chief said it had received more than 920,000 reports. Public bodies and funding organisations also regularly receive complaints about platforming of funding groups or individuals perceived to be pro-democracy or supportive of the 2019 protests.

Last October, a public venue cancelled a play written by Candace Chong, a leading playwright who was been vocal about censorship. The body that manages the Xiqu Centre, part of the West Kowloon Cultural District, said it had received complaints that the show – which depicts a love triangle between three men – defamed Hong Kong.

There are signs the “media failure” is already affecting governance. In January, the government introduced a controversial seat belt law requiring all bus passengers to buckle up while seated, only to shelve it five days later. The bill had received little scrutiny in Hong Kong’s now opposition-free legislature.

“It’s really unthinkable for a government to push out a bill, get it rubber-stamped by the legislature, and then withdraw it because they suddenly realise people are unhappy or the legislative details haven’t been thought through,” the HKJA’s Cheng told me. “It shows how the government misjudged public sentiment. This can be attributed to how the media isn’t free any more.”

Previous changes to the rulebook surrounding contestable high balls now mean the player collecting is less protected as teammates are now unable to escort opponents, being penalised if they do so.

World Rugby has confirmed no new law changes will occur following the conclusion of the annual Shape of the Game summit.

Previous changes to the rulebook surrounding contestable high balls now mean the player collecting is less protected as teammates are now unable to escort opponents, being penalised if they do so.

Irish wing James Lowe said the move has “brought a bit of a different dynamic to the game”, while on a separate note, the French Rugby Federation have expressed their worries over the depowering of scrums.

But World Rugby chair Dr Brett Robinson and World Rugby CEO Alan Gilpin both said neither issue had been discussed during the week and that there were no plans to alter how both elements of the game are currently officiated.

On the issue of the high ball, Gilpin said: “Those changes have obviously made more of a contest for the ball in the air. Player safety is still vital in that space so we’re going to remain vigilant around the safety aspect and what that contest in the air looks like. But there’s been a broad appreciation for the changes, the players have adapted brilliantly, and it’s opened up space in the game, so there’s no desire to change anything.”

It had been reported in France that Australia and New Zealand were in favour of minimising the influence of scrums in matches but Robinson allayed fears of any imminent alterations at the set piece.

He added: “There’s be in no way any discussions about depowering the scrum. The principles of contest, and the primacy of contest is everything; the principles of all body shapes and sizes being able to take part. We had John Eales in the room this week towering over people, and we need a game that enables us all to be able to participate. That contest is at the heart of things.”

Gilpin and Robinson were speaking during a wide-ranging press conference during the Shape of the Game week, where an agreement has been made to focus more on the fan experience and a greater alignment in the application of law by officials at every level of the game.

Other topics of discussion looked at how better to celebrate the sport and how to continue the growth of the women’s game.

Robinson said: “The feedback from around the world is that the game on the field is broadly in a positive place. We’ve been guilty in the past of being too keen to play and tinker with laws. The message this week is to focus on better explaining, selling and celebrating our sport in what is an ever more competitive environment.

“Our heritage and our values are strengths, and so too is our capacity to innovate. By continuing to enhance the rugby experience – how we present the game, how we tell our stories, how we connect with fans and how we protect our players – we will futureproof the sport and unlock even greater global relevance and value.”

Peel Land has extended the public consultation period on its proposed development masterplan for land at Gibfield Park, between Daisy Hill and the Wigan Road area of Atherton, for a further two weeks and announced plans for an online webinar.

The non-statutory pre-planning application consultation being held by Peel Land will now run for a further two weeks until Monday, March 9.

The emerging plans have seen many nearby residents voice opposition.

Peel said that they had already received ‘more than 500 representations’.

Amanda Coleman

A campaign group ‘Say No To Gibfield Park Development Plans’ are strongly opposed to the plans.

Last week group member Amanda Coleman, said: “For decades, it has been a place residents find solace amidst the rush of daily life and wildlife flourishes.

“But now, we are at risk of losing this precious space to the relentless march of development.

“Concrete jungles are spreading like wildfire across Greater Manchester and Atherton is no exception. “The planned development on Gibfield Park not only threatens our community’s health and well-being but also obliterates one of the few remaining areas where nature is allowed to flourish. This is unacceptable.”

An online webinar will be held on Tuesday, March 3 with interested parties able sign up to attend via the website. Attendees will be able to hear more about the proposals and direct questions to the project team.

Land west of Gibfield is included in the Places for Everyone Plan, adopted by Wigan Council in 2024.

Within the plan, the land is allocated for the development of 500 homes and up to 45,500sqm of employment space, proposals that would support the

development of part of a new link road to Junction 5 of the M61.

The developer said the masterplan also includes the creation of a new country park with wildlife habitat enhancements on an area of land between Atherton and Westhoughton, which will remain within the green belt.

A Peel Land spokesman, said: “We’ve already had more than 500 representations via the different communication channels, and would like to thank those who have engaged with the consultation process so far.

“We have been asked if the consultation period can be extended and are keen to capture as many views as possible on our proposals, so we have therefore decided to extend the consultation period by a further fortnight to four weeks.”

Following the masterplan consultation, feedback will be reviewed and the masterplan will be finalised taking account of issues raised and then submitted to the council for approval.

Once approved, it will then be a material consideration in future planning applications, which will also be subject to further public consultation on the details.

More information can be found at https://gibfieldpark.consultationonline.co.uk/.

Residents will find a link to register for the webinar on the website.

After the standard vows to stand up for her community, the plumber-turned-parliamentarian apologised to her customers who may need drains clearing or leaks fixing.

“Now, to my customers, I’m sorry, but I think I might have to cancel the work that you have booked in, because I’m heading to Parliament,” joked Ms Spencer, who becomes the Green Party’s fifth MP.

“And when I get there, I will make space for everyone doing jobs like mine.

“We will finally get a seat at the table.”

Born in Bolton, the lifelong Greater Manchester resident joined the Green Party in 2022, and became a councillor the following year.

She left school at 16 and studied a technical certificate at Bolton College before training for a national vocational qualification (NVQ) in plumbing with a housing trust.

While serving on Trafford Council, Ms Spencer ran as the Green Party candidate in the 2024 mayoral election in Greater Manchester.

The Gorton and Denton by-election was her second bid to become an MP after she finished fifth in Warrington North in the 2024 general election.

At 34, she is the Green Party’s youngest MP.

Ms Spencer now lives in Trafford and in her work as a plumber retrofitted houses to make them more energy efficient.

During her by-election campaign she was also training to be a plasterer.

“I didn’t grow up wanting to be a politician,” she said in her victory speech on Friday.

“I’m a plumber, and two weeks ago, during all this, I also qualified as a plasterer, because even in chaos, even under pressure, I get things done.”

Ms Spencer supported Zack Polanski in his bid to become the Green Party leader last year, and in September was appointed the party’s migration and refugee support spokeswoman.

She has campaigned against greyhound racing and has four rescue greyhounds, which she took with her on parts of the campaign trail.

Celebrating her 4,402 majority after she secured 14,980 votes, Ms Spencer said: “We have shown that we don’t have to accept being turned against each other at all, and we did this with the people who live here, side by side, shoulder to shoulder, just as we have always done in this constituency and in the whole of Greater Manchester, because this is Manchester, and we do things differently here.”

In her emotional victory speech, she said people were being “bled dry” and were “sick of our hard work making other people rich”.

A free playtest for Bungie’s Marathon has launched to strong numbers across Steam and Twitch, as the developer vows to fix ‘loose ends’ before launch.

The development of Bungie’s Marathon has been tumultuous to say the least, between delays, stolen art controversies, and studio layoffs, but that hasn’t deterred people from giving it a shot.

The extraction shooter, from the studio behind Destiny and Halo, launched a Server Slam playtest on Thursday (February 26) across PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC. While the game will cost £34.99 when it launches on March 5, this test is free for everyone until Monday March 2 at 6pm GMT.

The success of any live service title is dependent on its ability to retain players beyond its early honeymoon period, but the early signs for Marathon are positive, based on interest in the Server Slam.

The most positive indicator is the position of Marathon on Steam’s top sellers list in the US. As of February 27, the shooter is the third highest selling game on Valve’s storefront, behind only Resident Evil Requiem and Counter-Strike 2 (and so ahead of Arc Raiders).

Most notably, it’s jumped up 58 places over the past week, so clearly people are putting in pre-orders amid the Server Slam. It’s a slightly different picture if you switch to the UK top sellers on Steam, with Marathon in seventh, but it’s still a decent position.

Over on Twitch, it’s positive too. At the time of writing, Marathon has over 33K viewers, which is higher than Arc Raiders (26.4K), Fortnite (19.7K), and Minecraft (24.4K). So, it’s only below Overwatch, League Of Legends, Counter-Strike, and Valorant.

As they are both extraction shooters, Marathon’s success is inevitably going to be measured against Arc Raiders. As per SteamDB, Marathon’s concurrent peak player count is 143,621, which is quite far below Arc Raiders’ peak at 481,966 players.

Even if you compare them on their 24-hour peak numbers, Arc Raiders is still higher at 183,197, while Marathon sits at 143,621. It’s important to reaffirm, Marathon’s Server Slam is free right now, whereas Arc Raiders, which costs £32.99, achieved its highest player peak in January this year, several months after it launched in October.

There’s every chance Marathon could soar in popularity when it fully launches and beyond, just like Arc Raiders, but it’s not a common trajectory for most live service games, so we’ll have to see if it can maintain momentum.

At the very least, Bungie has been responding to complaints in quick fashion. Just a few hours after the Server Slam launched, the developer posted a list of issues which it is looking to address, including a confusing user interface, laggy mouse input, and performance woes.

‘Thanks to all of your feedback, we’ve got crucial intel that will help us make updates during the Slam and tie up any loose ends as we continue towards March 5,’ Bungie wrote on X.

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