White House fires USAid inspector general who issued damning report on Trump’s funding freeze – as it happened

12/02/2025 02:49 The Guardian

This live coverage has ended. You can find all of our live US politics coverage hereDonald Trump announced he is dispatching Treasury secretary Scott Bessent to Ukraine to meet with Volodymyr Zelenskyy, while also predicting the war in the country would end “soon”.The US president made the news on Truth Social:I am sending Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent to Ukraine to meet President Zelensky. This War MUST and WILL END SOON — Too much Death and Destruction. The U.S. has spent BILLIONS of Dollars Globally, with little to show. WHEN AMERICA IS STRONG, THE WORLD IS AT PEACE.“As you know we have been ordered to cease all work. I don’t believe in these conditions I can effectively serve in my role, which is protecting American consumers,” said Halperin wrote. “Today I made the difficult decision to resign effective today.”Salas said she believed the decision by Vought to halt all supervisory work was illegal. Continue reading...

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All six crew members confirmed dead after US plane crash in Iraq; Iran’s supreme leader ‘likely disfigured’, Hegseth claims – Middle East crisis live

Service personnel were aboard refuelling plane as US command says crash was not due to ‘hostile or friendly fire’Middle East war creating ‘largest supply disruption in history of oil markets’How have you been affected by the latest Middle East events?Saudi Arabia’s defence ministry is sayi...

13/03/2026 16:42 The Guardian

Trump calls Iran leaders ‘deranged scumbags’ as Middle East violence spirals

Tehran residents report relentless bombing with US and Israeli planes launching wave of attacks Middle East crisis – live updatesDonald Trump has said Iran will be hit “very hard” in the coming days, describing leaders of the regime as “deranged scumbags” who it was a “great honour” to...

13/03/2026 16:38 The Guardian

Pete Hegseth’s cheerleading of attacks on Iran tempered by his belligerence to the US press

US defense head is eager to frame operation as a success – and slam journalists for not portraying it in a positive lightSign up for the Breaking News US email to get newsletter alerts in your inboxPete Hegseth on Friday again claimed the US military campaign against Iran has been an unprecedented...

13/03/2026 16:36 The Guardian

Pete Hegseth downplays strait of Hormuz disruption, claiming ‘don’t need to worry about it’ – US politics live

Defense secretary’s comments come as Iran war chokes global oil supplies; military chief says US is targeting Iran’s mine-laying capabilities What is the strait of Hormuz and can the US stop Iran from blocking it?Sign up for the Breaking News US emailBoth Pete Hegseth and Dan Caine were asked to...

13/03/2026 16:35 The Guardian

Give mayors more powers to tackle youth unemployment crisis, says Alan Milburn

Exclusive: Government’s work tsar warns that having young people not in work will create ‘long-term scarring effect’Mayors across England should be given greater powers to tackle the youth unemployment crisis and avoid the “long-term scarring” of regions outside London, the government’s...

13/03/2026 15:45 The Guardian

Governors warn of increasing violence of ‘nothing-to-lose’ inmates attacking notorious prisoners

Longer sentences, overcrowding and inexperienced staff cited as factors in ‘rising tensions’ in prisonsNotorious prisoners such as the Soham killer Ian Huntley are facing increasingly violent attacks from inmates with “nothing to lose”, the head of the Prison Governors’ Association has sai...

13/03/2026 15:33 The Guardian

US Jewish communities warn increased security is needed after Michigan attack

Gretchen Whitmer says ‘community is on edge’ with fear of increased violence amid escalating US-Israeli war on IranSign up for the Breaking News US email to get newsletter alerts in your inboxGretchen Whitmer, Michigan’s governor, said Jewish Americans were “a community on edge” on Friday...

13/03/2026 15:15 The Guardian

All six crew members confirmed dead after US military plane crash in Iraq

Number of American troops killed in war on Iran after incident in western desert now stands at 13Middle East live blog – latest updatesUS politics – live updatesAll six crew members onboard a US military aircraft that crashed in western Iraq were killed, the US military has said.The KC-135 milit...

13/03/2026 15:04 The Guardian

Trump’s ‘racist hate speech’ sparking human rights violations, UN watchdog warns

UN experts disturbed by the president and US political leaders’ growing use of dehumanising language to target migrantsThe “racist hate speech” being used by Donald Trump and other US political leaders, along with the country’s intensified crackdowns on migration, has led to “grave human r...

13/03/2026 14:55 The Guardian

‘I don’t give a shit about Iran. I don’t want to pay higher gas’: Motor City motorists feel pinch as gas prices surge

Drivers in Detroit are unhappy with the spike in gas prices, even if reactions are mixed to the US-Israel war on IranOn a rainy Detroit afternoon at a gas station off Interstate 75, Victor Rodriguez watched the pump tally tick up as he filled up his F-250 diesel pickup truck for $4.19 per gallon. It...

13/03/2026 13:00 The Guardian

Four crew confirmed dead after US military plane crash in Iraq | First Thing

Rescue efforts continue for the remaining crew members, while the US has temporarily lifted sanctions on Russian oil at sea. Plus, how China and the US see each other onlineGood morning.Four of the six crew members onboard a US military refuelling plane that crashed in western Iraq on Thursday were...

13/03/2026 12:41 The Guardian

Reeves vows to ‘crack down’ on energy and fuel bosses exploiting Britons through ‘rip-off’ prices – UK politics live

The chancellor is set to meet with energy bosses over concerns that companies are profiteering from oil and gas pricesBritain and its partners should maintain collective pressure on Russia through sanctions as it is the best way to bring an end to the war in Ukraine, a Downing Street spokesperson sa...

13/03/2026 12:24 The Guardian

Trump policies set to increase rates of lung disease and death, study finds

Experts warn of ‘attack on Americans’ lungs’ from cuts to health programs, environmental rollbacks and other plansDonald Trump’s policies are likely to drive soaring rates of lung disease and premature death, according to a wide-ranging new study by pulmonary specialists and public health ex...

13/03/2026 12:00 The Guardian

Former second world war soldier, 100, becomes oldest-known US organ donor

Dale Steele, who died in February, ‘is a powerful reminder that generosity has no age limit’, says CEOAfter spending some of his prime years aiding German concentration camp survivors and guarding Nazi leaders tried for crimes against humanity at Nuremberg, a US second world war veteran is now b...

13/03/2026 11:00 The Guardian

Anthropic-Pentagon battle shows how big tech has reversed course on AI and war

Less than a decade ago, Google employees scuttled any military use of its AI. Now Anthropic is fighting Trump officials not over if, but howThe standoff between Anthropic and the Pentagon has forced the tech industry to once again grapple with the question of how its products are used for war – an...

13/03/2026 11:00 The Guardian

Friday briefing: The legacy of the Dunblane massacre, 30 years on

In today’s newsletter: The story of the Scottish town is not just one of Britain’s deadliest shooting, but the strength and determination that came nextGood morning. On 13 March 1996, a man walked into the gymnasium at Dunblane primary school and opened fire on a class of five- and six-year-olds...

13/03/2026 06:45 The Guardian

‘We’re living in an Orwellian nightmare’: Grace Tame calls Anthony Albanese a ‘coward’ in scathing critique

In an essay for Crikey, the former Australian of the Year says the PM is a ‘turncoat’ who is ‘capitulating to foreign powers’ amid the US-Israel war on IranGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastGrace Tame has said “we’re living in an Orwellian nightmare” in a scath...

13/03/2026 06:20 The Guardian

Everything is a political weapon since Trump’s re-election, says Germany’s ex-economy minister

Robert Habeck says world has moved on from weaponising energy to using tariffs, technology and more to inflict harmThe weaponisation of energy when Russia invaded Ukraine has given way to “weaponising everything” since Donald Trump returned to the White House, Germany’s former economy ministe...

13/03/2026 06:00 The Guardian

Australia news live: Bluesfest cancelled as liquidator appointed; more rain forecast for NT and flood warnings in northern Queensland

Follow updates liveAustralia to release nearly 20% of fuel stockpile as Bowen insists country ‘nowhere near’ running outGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastJoyce says surge in support for One Nation reflects will of the people, not political jostlingBarnaby Joyce spoke to...

13/03/2026 03:40 The Guardian

Middle East crisis live: rescue under way after US military refuelling plane crashes in Iraq; top Iranian nuclear scientists killed, Israel says

US central command says aircraft lost in ‘friendly airspace’ as report says six onboard; Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu issues veiled threat to kill new Iranian supreme leaderMiddle East war creating ‘largest supply disruption in history of oil markets’How have you been affected by the latest...

13/03/2026 02:20 The Guardian

Senate again fails to pass homeland security funding as department shutdown nears one month – as it happened

This blog is now closed. Read the latest hereUS defense officials told senators on the armed services committee that the cost of the war on Iran totaled more than $11.3bn in the first six days alone, according to multiple reports.The New York Times was first to break the news about the conflict’s...

13/03/2026 02:02 The Guardian

BBC World Service funding freeze risks ‘opening door to hostile states’, MPs say

Cross-party committee says service is ‘jewel in crown of UK’s soft power’ but is diminished by poor governanceMinisters risk “opening the door to propaganda from hostile states” and diminishing international trust in the BBC World Service by allowing its funding to be frozen at a crucial t...

13/03/2026 00:01 The Guardian

Pentagon tells lawmakers Iran war costs top $11.3bn – but true price unknown

US already spent more than $11.3bn in first six days of conflict, but price tag does not include all spendingMiddle East crisis – live updatesPentagon officials told top lawmakers in a closed-door briefing on Tuesday that the cost of the war against Iran has already exceeded $11.3bn in its first s...

12/03/2026 21:11 The Guardian

California officials say no imminent Iran threat found after FBI alert

Gavin Newsom says drone concerns always ‘top of mind’ and it’s about ‘preparedness for worst-case scenarios’Sign up for the Breaking News US email to get newsletter alerts in your inboxCalifornia leaders said on Wednesday there was no imminent threat to the state from Iran after the FBI se...

12/03/2026 19:31 The Guardian

One in five girls aged 16-19 in England and Wales ‘have experienced domestic abuse’

Teenagers are fastest-growing victim group, according to police estimates, with officers warning about ‘toxic’ online influencesCases of abuse are growing fastest among teenagers, police have said, with nearly a fifth of girls aged 16-19 estimated to have experienced domestic abuse.Louisa Rolfe,...

12/03/2026 19:26 The Guardian

In linking Iran to Russia, Healey could be laying ground for hard choices ahead

Defence secretary connects Middle East conflict to plight of Ukraine, sympathy for which remains relatively highAfter a week or so of wearing media coverage about the deterioration of the Anglo-American relationship and the belated decision to deploy Royal Navy destroyer HMS Dragon to Cyprus, it was...

12/03/2026 19:25 The Guardian

Blistering early-season heatwave threatens California and other western states

Records could be smashed in southern California as experts warn weather set to be ‘exceptional – and not in a good way’States across the US west are bracing for a brutal early-season heatwave threatening to cook several cities through the weekend and into next week. Forecasters warned temperat...

12/03/2026 18:53 The Guardian

Putin’s ‘hidden hand’ lies behind Iran’s drone tactics, UK defence secretary says

Pilots reportedly adopting Russian tactics as statement in name of new Iranian supreme leader vows continued attacks on US basesMiddle East crisis – live updatesVladimir Putin’s “hidden hand” lies behind Iran’s military methods, the UK defence secretary has said, after a night in which dro...

12/03/2026 18:10 The Guardian

Watchdog puts UK fuel retailers ‘on notice’ over profiteering from Iran war

Competition and Markets Authority will closely monitor pump prices to stop profits being ramped up amid crisisThe UK competition watchdog has warned fuel retailers it is stepping up its monitoring of pump prices amid concern over profiteering as the US war with Iran drives up wholesale costs.The Com...

12/03/2026 17:44 The Guardian

British tourist among 20 charged in Dubai over videos of Iranian missile strikes

UAE cybercrime law means sharing images or footage of war can bring jail, prison time and deportationA British man is among 20 people who have been charged in the United Arab Emirates under cybercrime laws in connection with filming and posting material related to Iranian attacks on the country.The...

12/03/2026 17:20 The Guardian

BREAKING NEWS

13/03 16:42 - All six crew members confirmed dead after US plane crash in Iraq; Iran’s supreme leader ‘likely disfigured’, Hegseth claims – Middle East crisis live 13/03 16:38 - Trump calls Iran leaders ‘deranged scumbags’ as Middle East violence spirals 13/03 16:36 - Pete Hegseth’s cheerleading of attacks on Iran tempered by his belligerence to the US press 13/03 16:35 - Pete Hegseth downplays strait of Hormuz disruption, claiming ‘don’t need to worry about it’ – US politics live 13/03 16:34 - Gaelic Warrior wins Cheltenham Gold Cup 13/03 16:33 - ‘We cut down the menu’: Cooking gas crisis hits restaurants in India amid war in Iran 13/03 16:24 - John F. Burns, Prize-winning Foreign Correspondent for The Times, Dies at 81 13/03 16:12 - Ukraine and allies fear easing Russian sanctions will prolong war 13/03 16:07 - Why has Trump eased sanctions on Russian oil - and will it help Putin? 13/03 16:06 - As 800,000 flee, half of Lebanon lives in war zones without markets, supplies or healthcare 13/03 16:00 - Latin American nation warns Trump against building empire 13/03 15:57 - Thousands displaced by clashes in South Sudan town 13/03 15:56 - Zelensky in Paris: Macron vows to keep support for Ukraine 13/03 15:45 - Give mayors more powers to tackle youth unemployment crisis, says Alan Milburn 13/03 15:43 - EU divided on Iran war: Energy fears and security risks escalate across Europe 13/03 15:34 - Iran-made drone killed French soldier in Iraqi Kurdistan 13/03 15:33 - Governors warn of increasing violence of ‘nothing-to-lose’ inmates attacking notorious prisoners 13/03 15:26 - Thousands march worldwide in solidarity with Palestine, Iran on al-Quds Day 13/03 15:26 - Thousands march worldwide in solidarity with Palestine, Iran on al-Quds Day 13/03 15:24 - Zelensky in Paris: Macron pledges no 'respite' for Russia despite Mideast war 13/03 15:23 - Global energy crisis: Asia feels the squeeze 13/03 15:17 - US media coverage of the war in Iran: Fact, fiction and propaganda 13/03 15:15 - US Jewish communities warn increased security is needed after Michigan attack 13/03 15:11 - Mideast war puts Lebanon's patients and hospitals at risk 13/03 15:04 - All six crew members confirmed dead after US military plane crash in Iraq 13/03 15:00 - U.S. Sanctions Pause Adds Political Win to Russia’s Economic Gain From Iran War 13/03 14:55 - Trump’s ‘racist hate speech’ sparking human rights violations, UN watchdog warns 13/03 14:52 - Made in UK: Ukrainian drone company to open first UK plant to boost production 13/03 14:50 - 6 dead after U.S. Air Force refueler crashes in Iraq while supporting Iran war 13/03 14:45 - Caught in conflict: Women and the US–Israeli war on Iran 13/03 14:42 - Russia summons UK, French envoys over Ukraine Storm Shadow missile strike 13/03 14:39 - UK urges allies to keep up pressure on Russia as US eases sanctions 13/03 14:36 - Trump administration allows for Russian oil sales as energy prices soar 13/03 14:31 - US burning through ‘years’ of munitions in Iran war – FT 13/03 14:28 - News24 | Sanctions relief against oil ‘increasingly inevitable’ to stabilise markets, says Russia 13/03 14:27 - Lebanon’s Mission Impossible: Could US and Israeli pressure to disarm Hezbollah lead to civil war? 13/03 14:24 - Middle East war having 'huge impact' on EU economy: Commissioner Christophe Hansen 13/03 14:18 - Consumer Prices Rose in January, Before Iran War Added Price Pressures 13/03 14:05 - How the Iran War Threatens the Global Food, Energy and Other Supplies 13/03 13:20 - REPLAY: Macron, Zelensky hold press conference in Paris 13/03 13:08 - IEA announces release of 400 million barrels of oil. But is it enough? 13/03 13:08 - IEA announces release of 400 million barrels of oil. But is it enough? 13/03 13:00 - ‘I don’t give a shit about Iran. I don’t want to pay higher gas’: Motor City motorists feel pinch as gas prices surge 13/03 12:50 - What’s happened in Gaza and the West Bank since the start of the Iran war? 13/03 12:50 - What’s happened in Gaza and the West Bank since the start of the Iran war? 13/03 12:43 - Strait of Hormuz: Iran leverages control of a critical chokepoint in the global oil trade 13/03 12:41 - Four crew confirmed dead after US military plane crash in Iraq | First Thing 13/03 12:41 - War in Ukraine: Zelensky meets Macron for talks on Russia 13/03 12:39 - REPLAY: US Defense Secretary holds press conference on Iran war 13/03 12:35 - 🔴 Watch live as Macron, Zelensky hold joint press conference in Paris 13/03 12:24 - Reeves vows to ‘crack down’ on energy and fuel bosses exploiting Britons through ‘rip-off’ prices – UK politics live 13/03 12:00 - Trump policies set to increase rates of lung disease and death, study finds 13/03 11:35 - The Week: Jeremy Bowen On The Iran War 13/03 11:30 - News24 | White House aides in tug-of-war battle for Trump ear over Iran war exit strategy debate 13/03 11:22 - Oil Prices Rise Despite Trump’s Decision to Lift Russia Sanctions 13/03 11:20 - French officer killed in drone attack in Iraq 13/03 11:17 - Britons should not take photos of strikes in UAE, embassy warns 13/03 11:05 - A Dangerous Bottleneck 13/03 11:00 - Phones ‘Ringing Off the Hook’ for Ukraine Defense Firms as Mideast Seeks Help 13/03 11:00 - Former second world war soldier, 100, becomes oldest-known US organ donor 13/03 11:00 - Anthropic-Pentagon battle shows how big tech has reversed course on AI and war 13/03 10:58 - Dharshini David: The UK's economy was on shaky ground even before Iran war 13/03 10:56 - 'My hotel bill is £12,000': British holidaymakers stranded by Iran war 13/03 10:48 - In Ukraine, war forces schools below ground to keep classes going 13/03 10:46 - War in the Middle East: New wave of attacks on Gulf states 13/03 10:45 - French soldier killed in attack in Iraqi Kurdistan 13/03 10:44 - In first public comments, Iran’s supreme leader pledges to keep fighting 13/03 10:43 - NOMA chef steps down after New York Times report of abuse 13/03 10:43 - Bodies of 84 Iranian sailors killed in US torpedo strike to be repatriated 13/03 10:42 - Middle East: Millions forced from their homes since the start of the war 13/03 10:41 - Zelensky arrives in Paris for talks on pressuring Russia 13/03 10:08 - South Korea: The forgotten Jeju uprising and massacre 13/03 09:59 - Trump Removes Sanctions on Russian Oil, and Chatbots Want Your Health Records 13/03 09:20 - News24 | Israel, Iran exchange fire in fresh attack waves, up to 3.2 million people displaced 13/03 09:19 - Trump's U-turn on Russian oil sanctions is a major coup for Putin 13/03 09:10 - AI toys for children misread emotions and respond inappropriately, researchers warn 13/03 09:02 - Where Israeli Strikes Are Hitting Beirut 13/03 08:37 - Unpopular war makes friendship with Trump a liability for European leaders 13/03 08:35 - UK economy saw zero growth in January ahead of Iran war 13/03 08:24 - US eases Russia oil sanctions as Iran war pushes up energy prices 13/03 07:46 - More than two dozen killed in Lebanon as Israel attacks Beirut, south, east 13/03 07:46 - More than two dozen killed in Lebanon as Israel attacks Beirut, south, east 13/03 07:37 - 🔴 Middle East war live: Israel launches fresh round of strikes on Tehran 13/03 06:52 - Force majeure: What is it and why have some Gulf countries invoked it? 13/03 06:52 - Force majeure: What is it and why have some Gulf countries invoked it? 13/03 06:47 - Late Night Unwraps ‘War’ vs. ‘Excursion’ vs. ‘Both’ 13/03 06:45 - Friday briefing: The legacy of the Dunblane massacre, 30 years on 13/03 06:20 - ‘We’re living in an Orwellian nightmare’: Grace Tame calls Anthony Albanese a ‘coward’ in scathing critique 13/03 06:13 - Iran war: What is happening on day 14 of US-Israel attacks? 13/03 06:13 - Iran war: What is happening on day 14 of US-Israel attacks? 13/03 06:06 - How Israel-US war on Iran puts $50bn in Indian remittances at risk 13/03 06:06 - How Israel-US war on Iran puts $50bn in Indian remittances at risk 13/03 06:00 - Everything is a political weapon since Trump’s re-election, says Germany’s ex-economy minister 13/03 05:08 - The Papers: 'Hidden hand of Putin' and 'This lying PM' 13/03 05:00 - News24 | Iran, US, Israel leaders defiant and vow to continue war as death toll hits 2 000 13/03 03:58 - Oil stays above $100 a barrel amid Iran’s stranglehold on Strait of Hormuz 13/03 03:58 - Oil stays above $100 a barrel amid Iran’s stranglehold on Strait of Hormuz 13/03 03:49 - News24 | Israel settlers use cover of Iran war restrictions to attack West Bank Palestinians 13/03 03:40 - Australia news live: Bluesfest cancelled as liquidator appointed; more rain forecast for NT and flood warnings in northern Queensland 13/03 02:29 - Macron says officer killed in Iraq as pro-Iran group vows to target French interests