World News

Middle East crisis live: Trump says US considering ‘winding down’ war; Iran fired missiles at UK-US base on Diego Garcia

March 21, 2026 · 7:19 PM Marina Dunbar (now); Harry Taylor, Hamish Mackay and Adam Fulton (earlier)

President says US ‘getting very close to meeting our objectives’; missiles fired at joint US-UK military base in...

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Commentisfree

The Iran crisis is hurting Australians’ hip pockets and driving inflation. It’s time for a windfall fossil fuel tax | Zoe Daniel

March 21, 2026 · 7:01 PM Zoe Daniel

The political and economic fallout provides an opportunity for the Albanese government to finally get with the program

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Business & Finance

Trump’s economic shocks are derailing Britain’s building plans

March 21, 2026 · 4:00 PM Phillip Inman

With major developments collapsing, pressure is growing on councils to concede on affordable housing and public...

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Politics

Anger grows among UK ministers amid fears Iran war could jeopardise Britain’s fragile finances

March 21, 2026 · 12:54 PM Rowena Mason, Heather Stewart, Gwyn Topham and Jessica Elgot

Some in cabinet in despair over possible impact of war begun by Donald Trump, who branded Nato allies ‘cowards’

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World News

5m tonnes of CO2 emitted in just 14 days of US war on Iran, analysis finds

March 21, 2026 · 12:00 PM Damien Gayle

Exclusive: War in the Middle East is draining the global carbon budget faster than 84 countries combined

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Politics

UK government yet to trial OpenAI tech months after signing partnership

March 21, 2026 · 12:00 PM Aisha Down

FoI request reveals no evidence of testing despite ministers hailing agreement as key to delivering AI-led public...

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World News

Israel launches fresh strikes on Tehran and Beirut - as it happened

March 21, 2026 · 3:40 AM Adam Fulton (now); Kyriakos Petrakos, Lucy Campbell, Tom Ambrose, Yohannes Lowe, Kate Lamb and Callum Jones (earlier)

This blog is closed

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World News

Ukraine war briefing: Children ordered to leave key Ukrainian stronghold as Russians advance

March 21, 2026 · 1:34 AM Guardian staff and agencies

Compulsory evacuation of children begins in Sloviansk. Kyiv still expects first tranche of 90bn euro loan despite...

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Business & Finance

FTSE 100 loses all its 2026 gains as Middle East conflict hits shares, and UK borrowing costs reach highest since 2008 – as it happened

March 20, 2026 · 5:26 PM Graeme Wearden

Money markets predict three quarter-point rises in UK interest rates this year, due to inflation shock from higher oil...

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Politics

Labour dismisses Reform UK MSP candidates as ‘hopeless Tory rejects and oddballs’ as one is suspended – as it happened

March 20, 2026 · 4:50 PM Andrew Sparrow

Stuart Niven suspended after revelations he was struck off as company director, while other candidates have been...

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World News

Nato relocates personnel from Iraq mission to Europe amid conflict in Middle East – as it happened

March 20, 2026 · 4:12 PM Jakub Krupa (now) and Tom Ambrose (earlier)

Announcement follows Poland’s confirmation of troop withdrawal because of ‘worsening security situation’

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Business & Finance

UK borrowing costs hit highest since 2008 as markets expect up to three interest rate rises

March 20, 2026 · 3:58 PM Heather Stewart Economics editor

Deficit rises unexpectedly to £14.3bn in February as stock markets slide amid fears that Iran war will escalate

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