‘A new trajectory’: EVs now almost quarter of Australia’s new car sales as fuel crisis bites

• President Trump is struggling to find a strategic exit from the conflict with Iran, despite possessing significant military power. • The situation has revealed limits to the president's perceived power, leading to increased frustration and erratic behavior.

• On February 28, 2026, American and Israeli air forces conducted nearly 900 strikes against Iran, resulting in the death of the Iranian Supreme Leader. • In immediate retaliation for the strikes, Tehran closed the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global maritime chokepoint for oil transport.

• The United States has paused airstrikes on Iran following nearly two weeks of continuous bombardment. • Mediators are currently attempting to revive an interim ceasefire, with specific negotiations focusing on easing transit restrictions for vessels in the Strait of Hormuz.

Kumanjayi White died after being restrained by plain-clothes police in the lolly aisle of an Alice Springs supermarket•Warning: This article contains references to Indigenous Australians who have diedFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastThe family of a young Aboriginal man who died after being restrained by police in an Alice Springs supermarket has launched legal action after the officers involved were not prosecuted.Kumanjayi White, 24, died in the Coles supermarket in the Northern Territory city on 27 May, 2025 after two plainclothes police officers held him down in the confectionary aisle, sparking national outrage and rallies calling for an independent investigation. Continue reading...

Relaxed rules mean members only have to wear a top to meetings and activities after extensive feedbackGirlguiding has fully redesigned its uniform across all groups for the first time in more than 30 years, with a focus on “self-expression, belonging and confidence”.The new range, launched on Monday, has relaxed previous rules: Guides, Rainbows, Brownies and Rangers now only have to wear a top to meetings and activities to be considered “in uniform” after feedback from thousands of girls who said they felt “most comfortable” when allowed to wear what they wanted. Continue reading...

Exclusive: Judge intends to consider ‘terrorist connection’ after convicting five for damage to Barclays in BurnleyFive Palestine Action activists face being sentenced as terrorists for breaking windows and throwing red paint at a branch of Barclays Bank in Lancashire.Brendon O’Hagan, 28; Amanda Kelly, 31; Humeera Atiqnisar, 31; Mohammed Malik, 28; and Alma Yaniv, 70, were found guilty of causing £212,000 of damage during a direct action protest in Burnley in August 2024. They targeted the bank because it held shares in the Israeli weapons firm Elbit Systems. Continue reading...

Exclusive: Experts say policy could also cause shortages of school teachers and drive some universities to bankruptcyReform UK’s plan to make employers pay an annual levy for overseas staff would harm the NHS and social care, cause a shortage of schoolteachers, and could push some universities into bankruptcy, experts have warned.Nigel Farage’s party has pledged a “migrant worker surcharge”, which would involve a higher rate of employer national insurance as well as a separate annual charge. It would apply to any employees without a UK passport, including EU nationals with settled status, with the exception of Irish passport holders. Continue reading...

PM says that without rapid action the NHS could effectively collapse, in first full interview since entering No 10Andy Burnham has pledged to use “whatever political capital I have” to finally fix the crumbling social care system in England, saying that without rapid action the NHS could effectively collapse.In his first full interview since becoming prime minister last week, Burnham said he could not put a timetable on the arrival of a new system for social care but that its creation would take time. Continue reading...

Judges find in Faruqi’s favour after One Nation leader launched an appeal against judgement she had breached Racial Discrimination ActA court has upheld the finding that Pauline Hanson engaged in racial discrimination against Mehreen Faruqi when she tweeted the Greens senator should “pack your bags and piss off back to Pakistan”.The One Nation leader launched the appeal in November, almost a month after Justice Angus Stewart found Hanson engaged in “seriously offensive” and intimidating behaviour against Faruqi in the September 2022 social media post that breached the Racial Discrimination Act. Continue reading...

Airports in England and Wales are likely to lose millions of passengers if third runway goes ahead, DfT economic paper showsExpanding Heathrow airport will take thousands of jobs from other regions of the UK, including almost 10,000 from the West Midlands alone, according to an analysis of the government’s own forecasts.An economic paper published by the Department for Transport last month shows that airports in England and Wales are likely to lose millions of passengers if Heathrow builds a third runway, in a significant blow to regional jobs. Continue reading...

At least four people taken to hospital with one reported to be in a critical condition after gunfire at Seattle Center near Space NeedleAt least four people including a child were wounded in a shooting on Sunday night at an events complex close to the Space Needle in Seattle, a hospital spokesperson said.The Seattle Center was hosting the Bite of Seattle food festival over the weekend. After the shooting, police urged people to avoid the area. Continue reading...