New York councilmember and Hochul governor aide investigated for bribery

• The Pentagon is preparing plans for weeks of ground operations in Iran involving conventional infantry and special operations elements, with decisions now resting with President Trump, according to the Washington Post. • Trump raised the idea of U.S. forces seizing Iran's Kharg Island, the country's main oil terminal in the Persian Gulf, telling The Financial Times "Maybe we take Kharg Island, maybe we don't. We have a lot of options." • Trump also claimed Iran agreed to allow 20 ships carrying oil through the Strait of Hormuz starting Monday morning as a "sign of respect," while the White House emphasized no final decision has been made on military operations.

• President Trump is considering a military operation to extract nearly 1,000 pounds of uranium from Iran, described by U.S. officials as a complex and risky mission, according to the Wall Street Journal. • The extraction operation would likely require American forces to remain inside Iran for days or longer, adding substantial operational complexity and risk to personnel. • This mission represents one of several military options being weighed by the Trump administration as tensions escalate with Iran.

• Secretary of State Marco Rubio told G7 foreign ministers on Friday that the ongoing military conflict with Iran will continue for another two to four weeks, according to sources cited by Axios. • The timeline represents official U.S. government assessment of the expected duration of military operations in the region amid escalating tensions and ground operation preparations. • This projection comes as the U.S. expands military presence and considers multiple operational options in the Persian Gulf region.

President says he is open to scaling back strikes on oil and wider energy industry if Moscow reciprocates. What we know on day 1,496 Continue reading...

If approved, move is latest in series of buildings, warships, institutions, programs and currency named after presidentHe has buildings, institutions, government programs, warships, currency, and now Donald Trump is getting an airport that bears his name even as he looks forward to a towering Trump presidential library in Miami.Ron DeSantis, Florida’s governor, signed a bill on Monday saying the Palm Beach international airport was being renamed to the President Donald J Trump international airport. Continue reading...

Treasurer Jim Chalmers said the changes would help with the cost of living and that ‘Australians hate paying’ the surchargesDebit and credit card surcharges will be gone by October under Reserve Bank reforms, with big banks likely to foot the bill for the cost-of-living measures.The new rules, announced on Tuesday, will enable businesses to remove added fees on Mastercard, visa and eftpos card payments. Continue reading...

Exclusive: Environmental impact assessments are ‘incomplete’, say leaders, and private beach club could harm fragile ecosystemsIndigenous community leaders in Vanuatu have raised concerns over plans by the cruise operator Royal Caribbean to build a private beach club on the island of Lelepa, arguing environmental impact assessments by the company are “incomplete” and “misleading”.The community leaders outlined the issues in a letter sent to Royal Caribbean on 26 February, which has been seen by the Guardian. The leaders also said the development could harm fragile ecosystems and a nearby Unesco world heritage site. Continue reading...

Former co-host of Kyle Sandilands filed proceedings in the federal court against Kiis licence holderFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastJackie Henderson has filed a legal action in the federal court claiming compensation of “at least $82,250,000” for the wrongful termination of her 10-year contract to present the Kyle and Jackie O Show on radio station Kiis.The Fair Work claim says that the termination of Henderson’s contract earlier this month constituted adverse action, ARN Media said in a statement to the ASX on Tuesday. Continue reading...

Clowns in Bolivia have been upset by a new school mandate that cuts off the events from which they earn a livingDozens of clowns marched through the streets of Bolivia’s capital on Monday to protest against a government decree that limits extracurricular activities in schools, threatening their livelihoods.Wearing full face paint and their signature red noses, the clowns gathered in front of the ministry of education in La Paz to oppose a decree published in February. The new mandate says schools must comply with 200 days of lessons each year – in effect banning schools from hosting the special events where the entertainers are frequently employed. Continue reading...

Gavin Newsom signs order to prioritize public safety and rights as president seeks to prevent ‘cumbersome’ rulesCalifornia will impose new standards on artificial intelligence companies seeking to do business with the state, defying Donald Trump’s demands to keep the controversial industry as deregulated as possible.Democratic governor Gavin Newsom signed an executive order on Monday that gives the state four months to develop AI policies that prioritize public safety. Continue reading...

Congressman Joaquin Castro calls for release of boy, Kaleth, and mother from much-criticized detention Dilley facilityA two-year-old detained in a family detention center in Dilley, Texas, is sick and not getting adequate help, said Joaquin Castro, a Democratic congressman from San Antonio. The boy, Kaleth, has a fever and is not eating the food served at the Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention center, which Castro said detainees have complained of having mold and worms.“When his mother asked for help, the staff said it was all ‘mental’,” Castro wrote in a post on X. “A vulnerable child at the Dilley trailer prison was suffering and ICE denied their reality and their needs. It’s shameful and must stop.” Continue reading...