Allies

Exclusiva: Se dice que el alcalde de Greater Manchester ha identificado escaños donde los MPs se harían a un lado para permitir un leadership bid Andy Burnham tiene un plan creíble para regresar a Westminster “en cuestión de semanas”, han dicho sus aliados, y se espera que el alcalde de Greater Manchester use una lucha en las byelection para presentar una nueva agenda para el gobierno. Burnham, a quien el órgano rector de Labour le impidió postularse en las byelection de Gorton y Denton de febrero, ha identificado varios escaños donde los MPs están dispuestos a retirarse para permitir su leadership bid. Continue reading...

• La amenaza del presidente de EE. UU. se produce después de que Friedrich Merz de Alemania sugiriera que el equipo de Trump está siendo superado en sus negociaciones con Irán • EE. UU. podría reducir su número de tropas desplegadas en Alemania, anunció Donald Trump, días después de que el canciller del país dijera que Estados Unidos estaba siendo “humillado” por Irán. • En una publicación en su plataforma Truth Social, el presidente de EE. UU. dijo que su administración estaba “estudiando y revisando la posible reducción de tropas en Alemania, con una determinación que se tomará en el próximo periodo corto de tiempo”. Seguir leyendo...

• Los Aggies de Texas A&M No. 7 (34-8) anotaron nueve carreras con 11 hits para derrotar a Tarleton State 9-7 en un partido de mitad de semana en Olsen Field el martes por la noche. • Caden Sorrell lideró con dos jonrones, en su quinto partido con múltiples jonrones esta temporada. • La remontada tardía asegura el impulso antes de la serie de la SEC.

Prime minister has shed trusted staffers but can still turn to many genuine friends in and out of governmentGiven that the signs of an embattled premiership are all around – defensive-sounding interviews insisting he will be in post at the next election; a rush of stories about supposed cabinet plotting – now, more than ever, Keir Starmer needs real allies. And here, at least, there is something to feel positive about.If you talk to most Labour MPs, Starmer most likely will not lead Labour into the next election. He may even not remain in No 10 much beyond a set of Scottish, Welsh and local English elections on 7 May, which are expected to be disastrous for his party. Continue reading...

In today’s newsletter: As political tensions rise abroad and economic pressures mount at home, ​D​onald Trump faces a shifting landscape that is testing the loyalty of his ​M​aga supportersGood morning. Starting a war of choice that is rapidly spiralling out of control, poll ratings at a second-term low, and a cost of living crisis intensifying for millions.Any conventional US president would be in big trouble. But Donald Trump is not a conventional president, and normal rules do not seem to apply to him. More than a third of Americans continue to believe he is doing a good job despite the global chaos he has unleashed.UK politics | Keir Starmer was looking increasingly isolated over the Peter Mandelson scandal as the Guardian learned of concerns around the cabinet table, a senior minister refused to say the dismissal of Olly Robbins was fair and several mandarins called for Robbins to be reinstated. One Labour MP called on Starmer to quit.Middle East | Iranian forces seized two ships in the strait of Hormuz as the US and Iran doubled down on imposing separate blockades of the shipping waterway.West Bank | Two Palestinians, including a 14-year-old schoolboy, were killed in the occupied West Bank after Israeli settlers opened fire near a school, witnesses and local officials said. Israeli strikes in southern Lebanon killed a journalist after rescuers were blocked from accessing the building where she was buried under rubble because of further Israeli fire, according to several witnesses.UK news | Britain’s high military dependence on the US is “no longer tenable” and the UK has to become increasingly independent of the special relationship, a former Nato chief has said.Palantir | The Metropolitan police has held talks with Palantir that could lead to the London force buying the US spy-tech company’s AI technology to automate intelligence analysis for criminal investigations. Continue reading...

The prime minister has weathered the crises – for now – and there is a growing recognition that Australia is too vulnerable to world eventsFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastAnthony Albanese’s fuel diplomacy tour of Asia has already started paying dividends, but the real test could still be to come.After last week’s rush to Singapore and pulling forward a planned visit, the prime minister dashed back to Australia from Malaysia on Thursday, to survey the damage at one of the nation’s only remaining fuel refineries. The hastily arranged trips, were to show a leader on the job; to demonstrate Albanese’s attention to the fuel crisis. Continue reading...

• DC Mayor Muriel Bowser and her political allies have characterized Trump administration threats regarding the city's governance as a symbolic victory, suggesting they have successfully resisted federal pressure. • The dispute centers on federal efforts to exert control over District of Columbia government operations, marking one of the most serious federal threats to local autonomy in 30 years. • The 88-year-old congressional delegate has mounted a defensive response to defend the city's semi-autonomous status and self-governance rights.

• Crude oil futures surged above $85 per barrel Thursday, driven by ongoing supply constraints from geopolitical tensions and maintenance shutdowns at major U.S. refineries affecting production capacity. • Energy stocks in the S&P 500 gained 2.1% on the session, with exploration and production companies outperforming as rising commodity prices improve profit margins and cash flow forecasts. • Analysts noted that refinery capacity utilization fell to 87% this week, the lowest level since January, suggesting tighter margins ahead for integrated energy companies dependent on downstream operations.

Mark Rutte praises ‘very frank’ talks but declines to say if president discussed potential withdrawal from allianceMark Rutte, the secretary general of Nato, has said Donald Trump was “clearly disappointed” that the US’s allies had refused to join its war against Iran, following a closed-door meeting in Washington on Wednesday.Speaking to CNN after his private meeting with the US president, Rutte declined to say directly whether Trump raised his threat to withdraw from the military alliance over the Iran war, but described the exchange as a “very frank, very open” discussion between “two good friends”. Continue reading...

JP Morgan boss appears to condemn president’s tariff regime in annual letter to shareholdersMiddle East crisis – live updatesThe head of America’s largest bank has pressed the White House to strengthen America’s allies economically in order to “avoid truly adverse consequences”, in the latest instalment of an increasingly testy relationship with the Trump administration.As the Middle East conflict sparked by US and Israeli attacks on Iran enters its sixth week, Jamie Dimon, the chair and chief executive of JP Morgan Chase, said in his annual letter to shareholders that “good” US foreign policy should put America first “though not alone”. Continue reading...

• Treasury Department imposed sanctions on April 1 against firms linked to hacks on Australian and Japanese defense networks, stealing terabytes of data. • Targets include Huawei subsidiary and two state-backed hackers, freezing $1.2 billion in US assets. • Action escalates tech war, with FBI reporting 40% rise in state-sponsored attacks on US firms.

• The No. 4-ranked University of Georgia baseball team overcame a hitless start through four innings to beat Georgia State 14-9 at Foley Field on Tuesday. • Georgia exploded for eight runs in the bottom of the eighth inning, securing the comeback victory after trailing earlier in the game. • The Bulldogs, known for one of the nation's most potent offenses, demonstrated their resilience in the high-scoring contest.

• President Trump told allied nations to "go get your own oil" and stated it is not America's responsibility to keep the Strait of Hormuz open, shifting burden of regional security to countries dependent on the waterway. • Trump reiterated the US military could conclude its Iranian operations within two to three weeks and said America will have no further involvement in Middle East strait security following withdrawal. • The statements reflect Trump's isolationist stance on Middle East commitments, placing responsibility for maintaining critical shipping routes on regional allies rather than continuing US military presence and protection.

• Saudi Arabia, UAE, and other Gulf allies are privately urging President Trump to prosecute the U.S.-led war against Iran longer, arguing Tehran remains insufficiently weakened after a month of bombings. • Allies shifted from initial complaints over lack of notice to viewing the conflict as a historic chance to cripple Iran's clerical rule, per U.S., Gulf, and Israeli officials. • Secretary of State Marco Rubio affirmed alignment with Gulf partners, stating on 'Good Morning America' that Iran's 'religious zealots' must never possess nuclear weapons due to their apocalyptic vision.

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...

• UConn defeated top-seeded Duke 73-72 in the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament with Braylon Mullins' desperation 3-pointer at 0.4 seconds left, rallying from a 19-point first-half deficit to advance to the Final Four. • Silas Demary Jr. made one of two free throws with 10 seconds remaining to tie the game at three points down before Mullins' shot; Duke led by three entering the final moments. • This marks the second straight season Duke suffers a huge collapse in the tournament as the top overall seed, while UConn now boasts a 54-game winning streak heading into the Final Four.

• Innovation Council Action, a new pro-AI political organization championed by tech investor and White House AI advisor David Sacks, plans to spend over $100 million in the 2026 midterms to shape U.S. tech policy. • The group is closely aligned with President Donald Trump's agenda and will support candidates favoring deregulation while opposing those pushing for stricter AI rules. • The organization has developed a scorecard ranking lawmakers based on their alignment with Trump's AI agenda, which will guide political spending decisions in the coming months.

London mayor could however join the House of Lords while still remaining in his current roleAllies of Sadiq Khan have dismissed reports the London mayor could join Keir Starmer’s cabinet after being made a peer, although it remains possible he could join the Lords while keeping his current job.Downing Street said reports that Khan could become a peer after crucial elections in May across England, Scotland and Wales were “speculation”, while a Labour source also declined to comment. Continue reading...

• President Trump criticized NATO allies as "cowards" for declining to assist in reopening the Strait of Hormuz, which Iran continues to block, causing global oil prices to surge. • Trump argued that European nations complain about high oil prices resulting from the blockade but refuse to contribute militarily to resolving the crisis. • The diplomatic rift reflects tensions within the Western alliance over burden-sharing in the Middle East conflict and control of critical global energy infrastructure.

• The U.S. and allies intensified operations on March 20, 2026, deploying low-flying attack jets and Apache helicopters to target Iranian naval vessels and drones in the Strait of Hormuz. • Iran's IRGC released video of a U.S. F-35 struck over Iranian airspace, forcing an emergency landing at a U.S. base; Pentagon confirms the $100 million jet incident. • This battle threatens global energy supplies, with oil prices seesawing and predictions of $150-$200 per barrel if unresolved, exacerbating a crisis three weeks into the war.

• President Trump stated the US should rethink NATO membership after allies refused to send warships to secure the Strait of Hormuz amid the US-Israel-Iran war. • Multiple American partners balked at Trump's requests for naval assistance in protecting oil tanker traffic through the vital waterway. • A senior UAE official indicated openness to helping, contrasting with broader allied reluctance that risks one-fifth of global oil flows.

• As the Iran war enters its 17th day, President Trump is pressuring NATO allies and other nations to send warships to the Strait of Hormuz to secure the critical oil route, warning that the United States cannot do it alone. • Trump stated "We'll protect them and if ever needed help, they won't be there for us," signaling frustration with allied hesitancy while claiming numerous countries are on their way to assist despite limited public commitments. • Military analysts suggest a four-week campaign would be required to remove missiles, drones, fast attack craft, and mines from the strategic waterway, with Trump's administration reportedly reaching out to Australia, Japan, South Korea, the UK, France, and China with minimal success in securing open support.

US president says his country does not ‘need or desire’ the help of Nato, Japan, Australia or South Korea. Follow today’s news live Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastGood morning and welcome to our live news blog. I’m Martin Farrer with the top overnight stories and then Nick Visser will take the reins.After a day of grim headlines yesterday, with economists forecasting recession for Australia, Jim Chalmers has come out fighting, telling 7.30 last night “that’s not something that we’re anticipating or forecasting or expecting”. Read more in a moment. Continue reading...

Emily Thornberry is the latest figure to call on the king’s visit to the US to be delayed, citing the ongoing war against IranYesterday Donald Trump confirmed that he expects the king’s state visit to the US to go ahead at the end of April. As the Mail reports, speaking about his plan to build a new, mega ballroom on the east wing of the White House, Trump said he needed a facility like this because of the weather in Washington. He explained:And you know the land in Washington was built on a swampy wetland.And when it rains, and you have the King of Saudi Arabia ... the King of the UK, I would say King of England, a great guy, he’s coming in very soon. And when it rains, you know what happened? And the rain would go over their feet. Continue reading...

US president says it is ‘only appropriate’ for Europe to help, and warns failure to do so would be ‘very bad’ for Nato. Plus, meet the Americans withholding their federal income taxGood morning.Donald Trump has ratcheted up the pressure on European allies to help protect the strait of Hormuz, warning that Nato faces a “very bad” future if its members fail to come to Washington’s aid.What did Trump say? The US president told the Financial Times in an interview: “It’s only appropriate that people who are the beneficiaries of the strait will help to make sure that nothing bad happens there. If there’s no response or if it’s a negative response, I think it will be very bad for the future of Nato.”Who else won? Here’s all the winners at the 98th Academy Awards.Who was remembered this year? This year’s Academy Awards featured an extended in memoriam section to honour the considerable number of Hollywood legends who have died over the past year. Diane Keaton, Robert Redford and Rob Reiner were remembered in standalone speeches, while Claudia Cardinale and Catherine O’Hara also had extended moments. James Van Der Beek and Brigitte Bardot were among stars who were snubbed from the tribute. Continue reading...

US president says it is ‘only appropriate’ for Europe to help, and warns failure to do so would be ‘very bad’ for NatoMiddle East crisis – live updatesDonald Trump has ratcheted up the pressure on European allies to help protect the strait of Hormuz, warning that Nato faces a “very bad” future if its members fail to come to Washington’s aid.The effective closure of the vital waterway by Tehran in retaliation for airstrikes by the US and Israel has proved catastrophic for global energy and trade flows, causing the largest oil supply disruption in history and soaring global oil prices. Continue reading...

• President Trump demanded on March 15 that NATO and allied nations help secure the Strait of Hormuz with military vessels, warning that NATO could face a "very bad future" if allies refuse to assist in keeping the critical waterway open. • Trump warned that the US "will remember" countries that do not contribute to securing the strait, applying diplomatic pressure to allies amid escalating military tensions in the Middle East and warnings of potential sanctions waivers if the conflict prolongs. • The demand reflects Trump's strategy of leveraging the energy crisis and geopolitical instability created by the Iran conflict to mobilize international support for US-led efforts to maintain global shipping routes.

• President Trump issued a stark warning to NATO allies on March 16, stating they face a "very bad future" if they do not assist in reopening the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global shipping route. • The warning came as the US and Israel work to secure the strategic waterway, which has been disrupted by the ongoing conflict with Iran. • Trump's ultimatum reflects growing pressure on international allies to support US-led efforts to restore normal shipping operations and stabilize global energy markets.

Trump warns Nato faces ‘very bad’ future if US allies fail to assist in opening the vital oil route; Israel says thousands of targets in Iran remain – follow it liveHow have you been affected by the latest Middle East events?Donald Trump is said to be working to build a coalition of countries that will attempt to reopen the strait of Hormuz.The US president hopes to unveil the list later this week, Axios reported, citing four unnamed sources.Donald Trump has warned that Nato faces a “very bad” future if US allies fail to assist in opening up the strait of Hormuz, the Financial Times has reported. He also said on Sunday that he has demanded about seven countries send warships to keep the strait of Hormuz open, but his appeals have brought no commitments as oil prices soar during the Iran war. The president declined to name the countries heavily reliant on Middle East crude that the administration is negotiating with to join a coalition to police the waterway where about one-fifth the world’s traded oil normally flows. Australia and Japan have declined to send their navies to the strait.Flights were temporarily suspended at Dubai’s airport, previously one of the world’s busiest, after a “drone-related incident” sparked a fire nearby, city authorities said on Monday. The incident impacted a fuel tank, the Gulf financial hub’s media office said, later adding authorities had extinguished the blaze that broke out. The office said no injuries had been reported.Israel said that its military remains focused on thousands of potential targets within Iran, even as Tehran issued a stern warning to neighbouring nations against further involvement in the rapidly expanding regional war.Oil prices have climbed again amid mounting supply fears after the US struck Iran’s vital Kharg Island oil hub and Trump demanded allies help reopen the strait of Hormuz. Brent crude, the international benchmark, rose 1.8% to $104.98 per barrel during early trading on Monday. Another weekend of violence across the Middle East compounded concerns over the conflict, and its ramifications for global energy markets.British prime minister Keir Starmer discussed the need to reopen the strait of Hormuz to end disruption to global shipping with Trump, a Downing Street spokeswoman said on Sunday. Starmer also spoke with Canadian prime minister Mark Carney, with the leaders discussing the impact of the strait’s continued closure on international shipping, the spokeswoman told Reuters.Italy’s military said there had been a drone attack on the Ali Al Salem airbase in Kuwait hosting Italian and US forces, but said all its personnel were safe. “This morning, Ali Al Salem base in Kuwait was the target of a drone attack that hit a shelter housing a remotely piloted aircraft of the Italian Task Force Air (TFA), which was destroyed,” the chief of the defence general staff, Luciano Portolano, said in a statement.UN peacekeepers said they were fired upon “likely by non-state armed groups” in south Lebanon on Sunday, while a Hamas source said an Israeli strike killed an official from the Palestinian militant group.A rocket attack on Baghdad international airport in Iraq, which houses a US diplomatic facility, wounded five people, Iraqi authorities said. The Iraqi government’s security media cell said “five rockets targeted Baghdad International Airport and its surrounding area, injuring four airport employees and security personnel, and an engineer”.US energy secretary Chris Wright said that there was “a very good chance” gas prices could drop below $3 a gallon by summer, though that is contingent on the Iran conflict’s end. Wright told NBC’s Meet the Press that while US drivers “are feeling it right now” at the pump and “will feel it for a few more weeks”, once the Iran war is over “we’ll go to a world more abundant” and “more affordable” in energy.Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu released a brief video to mock viral social media rumours suggesting he had been killed. Taking a sip from a steaming cup at a cafe near Jerusalem, he jokingly posted to his official X account, “I’m dead for coffee,” utilizing a Hebrew slang term that equates being “dead” for something with loving it.The World Health Organisation said on Sunday it had released $2 m from its Contingency Fund for Emergencies (CFE) to support the health response in Lebanon, Iraq and Syria amid the Middle East crisis. Continue reading...