Politics

Tags: Politics, International Relations, Defence Why this matters: Differences between the US and UK over the Iran conflict highlight tensions between key allies during an escalating international crisis. Summary: Donald Trump criticised UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer over the UK’s response to the Iran conflict. Trump said the US no longer needed UK support after Britain considered sending aircraft carriers. The US president said earlier UK involvement would have been more us

Tags: Politics, World, Security Why this matters: The escalating confrontation between the US and Iran increases the risk of wider regional conflict and disruption to global energy supplies. Summary: Iran warned US President Donald Trump “to be careful not to be eliminated” amid escalating tensions. Iranian official Ali Larijani dismissed Trump’s threats as “empty” but issued a direct warning. The remarks followed Trump’s vow to unleash “death, fire and fury” against Iran. Th

Why this matters: Iran’s leadership transition could shape regional tensions and the country’s domestic political stability. Summary: Mojtaba Khamenei has been chosen as Iran’s new supreme leader after his father, Ali Khamenei, was killed in US-Israeli strikes. The 56-year-old cleric has rarely appeared publicly and has never held government office. He is the second of six children of the late supreme leader. Mojtaba was born in Mashhad in 1969 and studied at the Alavi religi

Why this matters: Rising oil prices can quickly increase transport costs, affecting household budgets and wider inflation. Summary: Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced measures aimed at reducing petrol and diesel costs for drivers. Fuel prices have risen amid global oil market instability linked to Middle East tensions. Brent crude oil prices recently reached about $120 per barrel. UK drivers currently pay about 137.51p per litre for petrol and nearly £1.51 for diesel. The gov

Why this matters: Rising oil prices linked to geopolitical conflict could increase household costs, affecting inflation, fuel prices, and borrowing rates. Summary: Chancellor Rachel Reeves warned the US-Iran conflict may increase inflation in the UK. Oil prices rose above $100 per barrel after Iran closed the Strait of Hormuz shipping route. Reeves told MPs economic impacts depend on the conflict’s severity and duration. She said rising energy costs are likely to put upward p

Why this matters: The exchange highlights tensions between the UK and US over strategy in the Iran conflict while maintaining ongoing military cooperation. Summary: UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer spoke with US President Donald Trump about the Middle East conflict. The call followed Trump’s public criticism of Starmer’s response to military action against Iran. Trump described the UK as a “once great ally” and criticised delays in supporting strikes. Starmer initially withheld

Why this matters:The debate highlights divisions over the UK’s military response to escalating tensions involving Iran and regional allies. Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch urged the UK government to authorise RAF strikes on Iranian missile launch sites. The UK currently allows US forces to use British bases for defensive strikes. Britain has not directly participated in strikes on Iranian facilities. RAF jets are intercepting missiles and drones launched by Iran toward regi

Why this matters :Authorities say hostile state activity linked to Iran poses a security risk to communities and dissidents in the UK Summary: Metropolitan Police arrests four men in counter-terrorism investigation linked to Iran. One Iranian national and three dual British-Iranian nationals detained on suspicion of assisting a foreign intelligence service. Investigation relates to suspected surveillance of Jewish community locations and individuals in London. Arrests took pl

Why this matters: The policy could improve wages for young workers but may also reduce employment opportunities if businesses cut hiring. UK proposal to equalise pay for 18–20-year-olds may increase employer costs by up to £6,800 per worker. Analysis by Institute for Fiscal Studies highlights potential 40% real-term rise in hiring costs. Policy aims to remove lower minimum wage bands for younger workers. Plan backed by Chancellor Rachel Reeves as part of Labour manifesto comm

Why this matters:The conflict is expanding beyond Iran, affecting multiple Gulf states and disrupting humanitarian logistics and regional security. US and Israeli strikes in Tehran damage infrastructure, including a sports stadium reportedly destroyed. UAE intercepts six Iranian missiles and 131 drones during heightened regional attacks. One missile and several drones land within UAE territory, prompting emergency alerts nationwide. Residents advised to seek shelter and avoid

Why this matters:Direct engagement between Iran and NATO raises risk of wider international escalation. Article 5 could draw all 32 NATO members into conflict. NATO intercepted an Iranian ballistic missile heading toward Turkish airspace. Turkish Defence Ministry said the missile was neutralised over the Eastern Mediterranean. Debris fell in Hatay province; no casualties were reported. Incident marks first direct military clash involving a NATO member in current conflict. Art

Why this matters:The suspension signals a tougher stance on migration and visa compliance. It may affect UK universities reliant on international students. UK suspended student visas for Afghanistan, Cameroon, Sudan, and Myanmar. Home Office cited widespread asylum claims after entry via legal visa routes. 39% of 100,000 asylum seekers in 2025 arrived through legal migration routes. Over 133,000 migrants claimed asylum after legal entry in past five years. 27% of Cameroonian

Summary: MPs warned Sir Keir Starmer’s UK-EU “reset” lacks clear strategic objectives. The Foreign Affairs Committee said the new relationship’s structure remains unclear. Work began in May on agreements including youth mobility and food trade barriers. Chancellor Rachel Reeves called closer EU trade ties key to economic growth. Reeves outlined plans to reduce trade barriers and deepen European alliances. A government spokesman said reforms would cut bureaucracy and support j

Why this matters:The Strait of Hormuz is a critical global oil shipping route. Further disruption could affect energy markets and regional stability. Shipping traffic has largely halted after Iran threatened to “set fire” to vessels. Trump claims US strikes have “knocked out” everything in Iran. He criticises UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s response to US-Israeli strikes. Israel says it struck Iran’s “leadership compound” and infrastructure in Tehran. US reports hitting more

Why this matters: The forecasts shape expectations for taxes, spending and interest rates. Global instability could alter the outlook significantly. Chancellor Rachel Reeves delivered her Spring Statement on the UK economy. She said the government has restored stability in an “uncertain” global environment. The Office for Budget Responsibility forecasts 1.1% growth in 2026. Growth is projected at 1.6% in 2027 and 2028, and 1.5% in 2029 and 2030. Unemployment is expected to pe

Why this matters: The conflict risks wider regional war and disrupts global energy supplies. Civilian casualties and infrastructure damage are mounting. US and Israel launched widespread strikes on Iran on 28 February. Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed in initial attacks. Senior Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps commanders were also reported killed. Iran says 787 people have died; HRANA reports 742 civilian deaths. US and Israel describe strikes as “pre-

China’s National People’s Congress  meets Thursday, likely setting slowest growth target and new industrial plan. UK House of Lords  debates UK-India trade pact, bills on crime, pensions and vapes. Bank of England  releases January money and credit data; Public Accounts Committee hearing on settlement systems. CSIS policy webcasts  on US-Israel-Iran conflict and tech competition (2 March). Ukraine macroeconomic report  scheduled 5 March (economic/political impact). Internatio

Bill Clinton told Congress he never saw or knew about Epstein’s crimes. • The testimony took place in a closed‑door, day‑long deposition in New York. • Clinton was questioned about files referencing him, including a hot tub photo. • The photo shows him with an unidentified person whose face is obscured. • Hillary Clinton testified the previous day, also denying any knowledge of wrongdoing. • Neither Bill nor Hillary Clinton has been accused of misconduct by Epstein survi

• Large plumes of black smoke were seen near the US Navy Fifth Fleet headquarters in Manama; damage is unclear and the US has not commented. • The UAE, Qatar, and Kuwait report intercepting missiles in their airspace; all host US military bases. • Qatar’s defence ministry says it intercepted several missiles apparently aimed at al‑Udeid Air Base, the largest US base in the region. • Iran’s IRGC says it is targeting US bases and assets under “Truthful Promise 4” in retaliation

• Trump stated that “major combat operations” are underway and called for regime change in Iran. • Reported targets in Iran include the supreme leader’s office, the presidential office in Tehran, and multiple military sites. • Ordinary Iranians are exhibiting mixed reactions, including panic and, for some, relief. • Iran has carried out retaliatory strikes on Israel, according to the Israeli military. • Explosions believed to be Iranian attacks have been reported in Qatar, th