Meridian

Australia news live: Wong flags military assistance in Middle East but no ‘offensive action’ against Iran; three teenagers charged with murder over alleged Melbourne stabbing

Australia may provide defensive military assistance to countries attacked by Iran but will not engage in offensive actions or deploy ground troops to Iran, according to Foreign Minister Penny Wong. Meanwhile, three teenagers have been charged with murder following a fatal stabbing of a good Samaritan in Melbourne, and two men died after being pulled from water on the NSW Central Coast. Additionally, 1,549 Australians have been repatriated from the Middle East amid ongoing regional tensions.

Does England's Six Nations humbling in Rome signal the end of an era?

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BBC News·3 hours ago

Does England's Six Nations humbling in Rome signal the end of an era?

England's rugby team suffered a historic Six Nations defeat to Italy, marking a deeper crisis with disciplinary issues and tactical shortcomings under coach Steve Borthwick. The loss raises questions about leadership, strategy, and Borthwick's future as England faces tough upcoming matches and potential coaching changes.

King reflects on 'pressures of conflict' in Commonwealth message

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BBC News·3 hours ago

King reflects on 'pressures of conflict' in Commonwealth message

King Charles III emphasized the unifying power of the Commonwealth amid global conflicts and climate challenges in his Commonwealth Day message, delivered during a major royal gathering at Westminster Abbey. The event also highlighted ongoing controversies surrounding Prince Andrew's position in the line of succession following his recent arrest.

'Risk you take' - Rosenior explains Chelsea rotation

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BBC News·3 hours ago

'Risk you take' - Rosenior explains Chelsea rotation

Chelsea head coach Liam Rosenior defended his extensive squad rotation after a narrow FA Cup win over 10-man Wrexham, emphasizing the need to manage player fitness and integrate returning players like Romeo Lavia ahead of upcoming fixtures including a Champions League match against Paris Saint-Germain.

Trump joins families of six slain US service members at Dover air force base

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The Guardian·3 hours ago

Trump joins families of six slain US service members at Dover air force base

Donald Trump attended a dignified transfer ceremony at Dover Air Force Base for six US soldiers killed in a drone strike in Kuwait amid ongoing US and Israeli military actions in the Middle East. The fallen soldiers, all from the 103rd Sustainment Command, were honored alongside their families, with Trump pledging to minimize American war deaths.

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BBC News·4 hours ago

Chelsea overcome Wrexham in extra-time FA Cup thriller

Chelsea defeated 10-man Wrexham in extra time during a thrilling FA Cup fifth-round match, overcoming two comebacks to secure the win.

Pigeon stops play - unflappable Gimenez removes intruder

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BBC News·4 hours ago

Pigeon stops play - unflappable Gimenez removes intruder

During Atletico Madrid's 3-2 win over Real Sociedad, defender Jose Gimenez stopped play to safely remove an injured pigeon from the pitch, demonstrating quick thinking amid the match. Gimenez also contributed offensively with an assist, helping Atletico maintain their third-place league position.

Thousands march on US embassy in London calling for end of strikes in Iran

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The Guardian·4 hours ago

Thousands march on US embassy in London calling for end of strikes in Iran

Thousands of protesters marched to the US embassy in London demanding an end to US and Israeli strikes on Iran, with groups like CND and Stop The War leading the rally. The protest included speeches condemning past and potential future wars, arrests related to public order offenses, and highlighted opposition to UK involvement in the conflict.

'Fantastic French made to look ordinary as Scotland come of age'

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BBC News·4 hours ago

'Fantastic French made to look ordinary as Scotland come of age'

Scotland delivered a stunning and dominant victory over France at Murrayfield, ending France's Grand Slam hopes and marking Scotland's best performance in decades under Gregor Townsend. This win sets up a crucial upcoming match against Ireland with the Triple Crown and potentially the Six Nations title at stake.

UK counter-terrorism agents granted more time to question men suspected of spying for Iran

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The Guardian·5 hours ago

UK counter-terrorism agents granted more time to question men suspected of spying for Iran

UK counter-terrorism police have extended the detention of four men suspected of spying for Iran on Jewish community locations and individuals, investigating potential links to planned attacks on British soil. The arrests follow a months-long operation by MI5 and police, with government officials emphasizing the importance of the investigation in protecting national security.

Dozens killed as Israeli special forces raid Lebanese village in search of 40-year-old remains

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BBC News·6 hours ago

Dozens killed as Israeli special forces raid Lebanese village in search of 40-year-old remains

Israeli special forces conducted a raid in the Lebanese village of Nabi Chit to recover the remains of a missing Israeli airman, resulting in at least 41 deaths and 40 injuries amid escalating conflict with Hezbollah. The operation caused significant destruction and civilian casualties, intensifying the ongoing war between Israel and the Iran-backed group Hezbollah.

Bombing at nightclub in Peru injures 33 people, including minors

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The Guardian·6 hours ago

Bombing at nightclub in Peru injures 33 people, including minors

A bombing at the Dalí nightclub in Trujillo, Peru, injured 33 people including minors, with several in serious condition and some undergoing surgery. The incident highlights ongoing violence and crime in the La Libertad region, which has seen numerous explosions linked to organized criminal activity.

Police given more time to question Iran spying suspects

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BBC News·6 hours ago

Police given more time to question Iran spying suspects

Four men, including one Iranian and three dual British-Iranian nationals, have been detained under the National Security Act in a counter-terror investigation related to suspected Iranian spying targeting London's Jewish community, with police granted extended time to question them until 13 March. Additionally, six other men have been bailed pending further investigation, with one also arrested for assaulting a police officer.

Iran’s president apologises to Gulf nations; Trump threatens further strikes – Middle East crisis live

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The Guardian·6 hours ago

Iran’s president apologises to Gulf nations; Trump threatens further strikes – Middle East crisis live

Iran's president Masoud Pezeshkian apologized to Gulf nations and promised to cease attacks on them unless they attack Iran first, while Iran's foreign minister criticized US President Trump for misinterpreting this as a surrender. Meanwhile, Trump threatened further strikes on Iran, escalating tensions amid ongoing US-Israeli military actions and retaliatory Iranian strikes in the region.

Revealed: the Ukrainian facility where UK engineers help fix vital weapons

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The Guardian·6 hours ago

Revealed: the Ukrainian facility where UK engineers help fix vital weapons

British and Ukrainian engineers are collaboratively repairing damaged military equipment, including British-donated AS-90 howitzers, at a secret facility in western Ukraine to support Kyiv's defense efforts. The UK Ministry of Defence contracts British engineers to work alongside Ukrainians, aiming to maintain and regenerate Ukrainian armed forces both during and after the conflict.

UK to charter flight for British nationals out of Dubai

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BBC News·6 hours ago

UK to charter flight for British nationals out of Dubai

The UK government will charter a flight from Dubai early next week to evacuate British nationals amid ongoing regional conflict and recent missile and drone attacks, supplementing existing commercial routes. This follows two previous government-chartered flights from Muscat, Oman, with priority given to vulnerable passengers.

Offer from Iran’s president to not attack neighbours provokes internal backlash

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The Guardian·6 hours ago

Offer from Iran’s president to not attack neighbours provokes internal backlash

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian's offer to refrain from attacking neighboring countries if their airspace and US bases are not used against Iran has sparked internal backlash, with the military and hardliners contradicting him and calling for a new Supreme Leader. The dispute highlights power struggles within Iran amid ongoing regional attacks and rising tensions with Gulf states and the US.

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BBC News·6 hours ago

Smith fires Wrexham in front against Chelsea

Wrexham's Sam Smith scored to give his team the lead against Chelsea in their FA Cup fifth-round match.

Trump convenes ‘Shield of Americas’ summit with 12 Latin American leaders

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The Guardian·7 hours ago

Trump convenes ‘Shield of Americas’ summit with 12 Latin American leaders

Donald Trump convened the 'Shield of the Americas' summit with 12 Latin American leaders in Miami to form a coalition against drug cartels, emphasizing Mexico as the epicenter of cartel violence and addressing regional security and foreign influence concerns. The summit also highlighted US efforts to counter Chinese influence and strengthen ties with regional allies.

Iran rejects Trump’s demand for unconditional surrender as a ‘dream’

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The Guardian·7 hours ago

Iran rejects Trump’s demand for unconditional surrender as a ‘dream’

Iran's president Masoud Pezeshkian rejected Donald Trump's demand for Iran's unconditional surrender, calling it a 'dream,' while apologizing to neighboring states for recent Iranian attacks amid ongoing missile and drone strikes in the Gulf. The conflict, triggered by the killing of Iran's supreme leader Ali Khamenei, has escalated with Israeli and US strikes on Iran and Iran's retaliation targeting US bases and Gulf states, causing significant regional instability and civilian casualties.

Shrinking weapon stockpiles and regime-change uncertainty: doubts shadow US-Israel war on Iran

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The Guardian·8 hours ago

Shrinking weapon stockpiles and regime-change uncertainty: doubts shadow US-Israel war on Iran

The US and Israel have been conducting a week-long bombing campaign against Iran, including strikes on civilian targets, following the assassination of Iran's supreme leader. Despite aggressive attacks, a classified US intelligence report suggests the Iranian regime is unlikely to be overthrown, while concerns grow over diminishing US weapon stockpiles affecting support for allies like Ukraine.

Rapper-politician Balendra Shah set to be Nepal's next prime minister

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BBC News·8 hours ago

Rapper-politician Balendra Shah set to be Nepal's next prime minister

Rapper and former Kathmandu mayor Balendra Shah defeated former Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli in Nepal's general election, signaling a shift towards a younger generation of leaders. Shah's RSP party won the election, promising significant economic reforms and social safety nets, reflecting the demands of Nepal's large youth voter base.

Four US bombers land at RAF base in UK after warning of surge in strikes on Iran

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The Guardian·8 hours ago

Four US bombers land at RAF base in UK after warning of surge in strikes on Iran

Four US B-1 bombers have landed at RAF Fairford in the UK to conduct defensive operations aimed at preventing Iranian missile attacks in the Middle East, following UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer's approval for such actions. The deployment occurs amid escalating tensions and warnings of increased strikes on Iran, with political debate in the UK over the extent of involvement and support for regional allies.

Descendants of Zimbabwe resistance heroes urge UK to locate looted skulls

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The Guardian·8 hours ago

Descendants of Zimbabwe resistance heroes urge UK to locate looted skulls

Descendants of Zimbabwean resistance heroes have urged the Natural History Museum in London and the University of Cambridge to help locate and repatriate the looted skulls of their ancestors, believed to be held in these institutions. Despite formal requests and DNA offers, both institutions have stated they found no evidence linking their collections to the chimurenga heroes, prompting calls for a joint taskforce to resolve the issue.

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World

World

Australia news live: Wong flags military assistance in Middle East but no ‘offensive action’ against Iran; three teenagers charged with murder over alleged Melbourne stabbing

Does England's Six Nations humbling in Rome signal the end of an era?

King reflects on 'pressures of conflict' in Commonwealth message

'Risk you take' - Rosenior explains Chelsea rotation

Trump joins families of six slain US service members at Dover air force base

Chelsea overcome Wrexham in extra-time FA Cup thriller

Pigeon stops play - unflappable Gimenez removes intruder

Thousands march on US embassy in London calling for end of strikes in Iran

'Fantastic French made to look ordinary as Scotland come of age'

UK counter-terrorism agents granted more time to question men suspected of spying for Iran

Dozens killed as Israeli special forces raid Lebanese village in search of 40-year-old remains

Bombing at nightclub in Peru injures 33 people, including minors

Police given more time to question Iran spying suspects

Iran’s president apologises to Gulf nations; Trump threatens further strikes – Middle East crisis live

Revealed: the Ukrainian facility where UK engineers help fix vital weapons

UK to charter flight for British nationals out of Dubai

Offer from Iran’s president to not attack neighbours provokes internal backlash

Smith fires Wrexham in front against Chelsea

Trump convenes ‘Shield of Americas’ summit with 12 Latin American leaders

Iran rejects Trump’s demand for unconditional surrender as a ‘dream’

Shrinking weapon stockpiles and regime-change uncertainty: doubts shadow US-Israel war on Iran

Rapper-politician Balendra Shah set to be Nepal's next prime minister

Four US bombers land at RAF base in UK after warning of surge in strikes on Iran

Descendants of Zimbabwe resistance heroes urge UK to locate looted skulls