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Zero GDP growth in January will not help Rachel Reeves claim her policies have put UK in a stronger position to weather oil price stormBusiness live – latest updatesUK economy unexpectedly flatlined in January, ONS data showsEven before Donald Trump’s Operation Epic Fury on Iran unleashed higher oil prices, threatening the outlook for growth and inflation, the UK economy was flatlining.That’s the bleak message in the latest data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS), which showed zero GDP growth in January. Continue reading...

IDF says it has carried out strikes in Tehran and other areas including on a command centre for the IRGCMiddle 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 saying that two drones have been intercepted and destroyed in the eastern region.More now after reports of explosions in Dubai on Friday morning: thick black smoke rose over the financial hub’s skyline after what authorities described as a fire in an industrial area of the city-state. Continue reading...

NSW premier says latest distribution calculation, with a reduction in the state’s share of revenue relative to its population, is unfair and ‘past its use-by date’Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastAustralia’s richest state will receive an extra $5.5bn in GST revenue thanks to a sweetheart deal struck with Western Australia in 2018, as the New South Wales premier attacked the latest distribution calculation as unfair and “past its use-by date”.The Commonwealth Grants Commission on Friday released its recommendations on how a projected $102.5bn in goods and services tax should be carved up between the states and territories in 2026-27. Continue reading...

US space agency says it is working towards new date after February launch delayed by technical difficultiesNasa said on Thursday that the long-delayed launch of Artemis II, the first crewed flyby mission to the moon in more than 50 years, could come as soon as 1 April.“We are on track for a launch as early as April 1, and we are working toward that date,” Lori Glaze, a senior Nasa official, told a press conference, after technical difficulties delayed a launch originally expected in February. Continue reading...

US Central Command officials say ‘incident occurred in friendly airspace during Operation Epic Fury’Middle East live blog – latest updatesPentagon tells lawmakers Iran war costs top $11.3bn – but true price unknownRescue efforts were underway on Friday as the US military sought to find and extract the crew of a US military refuelling aircraft that crashed in western Iraq on Thursday.It was unclear if the crew of the KC-135 aircraft had been harmed in the incident, which US Central Command said involved another aircraft but was not the result of hostile or friendly fire. At least five crew were reportedly onboard. Continue reading...

This blog is now closedAustralia 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 RN Breakfast this morning about One Nation’s targets in the next federal election.We want to win seats wherever they are. We have no real target against National seats or Liberal seats, but we want to give people the option to vote for us in Labor seats, in National seats, and Liberal seats, and in teal seats.If people choose to vote for One Nation, then you must respect that choice. You must understand. You do not own their vote. You earn their vote. Continue reading...

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. In the space of just a few minutes, 16 children – Abigail McLennan, Brett McKinnon, Charlotte Dunn, David Kerr, Emily Morton, Emma Crozier, Hannah Scott, Joanna Ross, John Petrie, Kevin Hasell, Megan Turner, Melissa Currie, Mhairi MacBeath, Ross Irvine, Sophie North and Victoria Clydesdale – alongside their teacher, Gwen Mayor, were murdered. The attacker then turned a gun on himself.Thirty years on, Dunblane remains the UK’s deadliest mass shooting. And the town itself remains a place shaped by that day – but also by what came after: the determination of families, the strength of a community and a legacy that still touches lives today. In the wake of the tragedy, parents and supporters launched the Snowdrop Campaign for tighter gun laws, which helped to bring about sweeping reforms that left the UK with some of the strictest restrictions on private handgun ownership in the world.Middle East crisis | Vladimir Putin’s “hidden hand” lies behind Iran’s military methods, the UK defence secretary has said, after a night in which drones struck a base used by western forces in Erbil, northern Iraq.Politics | Keir Starmer could suffer further resignations when ministerial WhatsApp messages are published in the next tranche of the Peter Mandelson files, senior government sources have told the Guardian.Immigration | The backlog of people awaiting asylum appeals after having their initial application turned down has nearly doubled in a year, threatening to undermine a key pledge of Keir Starmer’s government.US news | A man who rammed his vehicle into a Michigan synagogue and drove through a hallway died during the incident, officials have said, adding that there were no other serious casualties. The FBI said it was treating the matter as a “targeted act of violence against the Jewish community”.UK news | A woman imprisoned and forced to work for a mother of 10 for more than a quarter of a century in “Dickensian” conditions has said nothing can give her back her lost years as her abuser was sentenced to 13 years. Continue reading...

Israel launches strikes in Beirut, FBI investigating two unrelated attacks in Michigan and Virginia, Senate passes bipartisan housing bill to ban large investors from buying up single-family homes.

Manufactured homes have long faced stigma and been confined to trailer parks. But with updated designs – and zoning codes – more suburbs and cities are turning to them for affordable housing.

The announcement was made just hours before Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel is scheduled to speak early Friday "to address national and international issues."

The attacks heightened fears that the war was expanding beyond Hezbollah’s traditional strongholds into parts of Beirut once considered comparatively safe. New strikes were also reported in Iran, Iraq and Israel.

After surging about 10 percent on Thursday, oil prices had little reaction to the decision by President Trump to waive sanctions on the sale of some Russian crude.

Tehran said it will set region’s oil and gas “on fire” if there are attacks on its energy infrastructure

Live Nation and the U.S. government struck a deal this week that they say would give artists and venues more choice when it comes selling concert tickets to music fans

London property agents have told The Independent they are seeing a rise in demand for property in London from those who had moved to the United Arab Emirates and other Gulf nations

Discussion of the Antichrist by a tech billionaire in the Vatican’s backyard has proven divisive

Ukraine continues to ramp up attacks on Russian energy with diplomacy on ice

Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez met with Pope Leo in the Vatican

The suspected attacker, Ayman Mohamad Ghazali, was born in Lebanon and became a U.S. citizen in 2016, DHS said

The attack that occurred in Detroit is the latest in a series targeting religious buildings

The study is among the first to show the effects on youth online behaviour since Australia rolled out the ban

US military says crash not caused by ‘hostile fire’ even as Iran-backed group claims responsibility

China face Taiwan in a highly charged quarterfinal at the Women's Asian Cup, which already has a political focus.

Two drones target Oman's Sohar province, killing two foreign nationals and injuring others, state news agency reports.

US lawmakers introduce Justice for Hind Rajab Act

A drone attack on a joint French-Kurdish base in northern Iraq has killed one French soldier and wounded several others.

Israel's attacks in Lebanon are striking areas in Beirut not hit in this conflict, nor during the 2024 war.

In an oil-producing country where 60 percent of people are under 25, nearly half the population lives in poverty.

Carlos Alcaraz will meet Daniil Medvedev in the Indian Wells semifinals, while Jannik Sinner faces Alexander Zverev.

Several Gulf nations have declared force majeure on oil and gas shipment since the US-Israel’s war on Iran was launched.

Iranians who fled the country before the war with the U.S. and Israel are now watching it unfold, wondering what will happen when it ends.

Economists had been expecting gross domestic product to add 0.2%.

European stocks open lower as the conflict in the Middle East weighs over markets.

Iran's new Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei said in a late Thursday speech that the Strait of Hormuz, a vital artery for global oil trade, should remain shut.

Buyers show interest in released Russian oil after the U.S. temporarily lifts sanctions.

Sales of Tesla's China-made electric vehicles rose in the first two months of 2026, from the year before, regaining lost ground to China's BYD.

The war in Iran, which is deeply unpopular in Europe, has put Trump’s closest European allies, a constellation of right-wing and populist leaders, on the defensive.

Analysts had been expecting 0.2% growth for the UK economy at the beginning of the year.

George Russell leads team-mate Kimi Antonelli as Mercedes dominate qualifying for the sprint race at the Chinese Grand Prix.

Washington says a 30-day waiver is only for sanctioned Russian oil already loaded on vessels at sea.

The US Central Command says rescue efforts are under way after a refuelling aircraft went down over western Iraq.

Last year the consultancy cut its graduate intake, but UK boss Marco Amitrano says it is still worth getting a degree.

Armed police were sent to the scene and pictured as they entered classrooms.

Jack Draper is penalised with a controversial hindrance call as Daniil Medvedev ends the Briton's Indian Wells title defence in the quarter-finals.

Jack Draper is penalised with a controversial hindrance call as Daniil Medvedev ends the Briton's Indian Wells title defence in the quarter-finals.

BBC Sport examines what has gone wrong with England's Six Nations campaign with their final game against France approaching.

Nasa ‘on track’ for Artemis II moon mission launch as soon as 1 April  The GuardianArtemis II: Nasa targets early April for Moon mission  BBCNASA targeting no earlier than April 1 to send astronauts around the moon in Artemis II mission  CBCUnanimous vote in key risk assessment has moon mission crew barreling toward a new launch date  CNNNASA clears its Artemis moon rocket for an April launch with four astronauts following repairs  CityNews Vancouver

Matthews leaves Maple Leafs win with lower-body injury  NHL.comMaple Leafs’ Matthews exits after Gudas ejected for knee-on-knee hit  SportsnetMaple Leafs top Ducks to end winless streak; Matthews injured after knee-on-knee hit  TSNLeafs’ Rielly takes ‘full responsibility’ for not intervening after Gudas hit on Matthews  Daily FaceoffMaple Leafs’ Auston Matthews Leaves Game With Injury  Pro Hockey Rumors

The “Late Night” host Seth Meyers said President Trump is letting Americans “choose your own adventure” in the war with Iran.