3 March 2026, in sixty words

China's annual Two Sessions parliamentary meetings open this week as Beijing prepares to unveil its 15th Five-Year Plan covering 2026 to 2030.

Iran's foreign minister said the election of a new supreme leader could happen as early as this week following the killing of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in the opening US-Israeli strikes.

The Dow Jones plunged over 1,200 points before partially recovering after Trump's tanker escort announcement, closing down 301 points.

Virgin Atlantic announced services between London Heathrow and Dubai and Riyadh would resume following partial reopening of Middle East airspace.

Israel launched a ground incursion deeper into southern Lebanon and intensified airstrikes on Beirut, targeting Hezbollah's television station and issuing evacuation warnings for over 100 towns.

The United States closed its embassies in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait and reported a drone strike at its Dubai consulate as Iran expanded retaliatory attacks across the Gulf.

Britain is sending Type 45 destroyer HMS Dragon and Wildcat helicopters armed with Martlet missiles to the Eastern Mediterranean after a drone struck RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus.

Sony is facing a £2 billion class action in the UK over claims it overcharged customers through the PlayStation Store.

US-based TikTok is facing fresh service disruptions after a second Oracle data-center outage in just over a month, causing delays and lag when users try to post content.

Passengers whose flights are cancelled or significantly delayed have several rights.

Iranian state broadcaster IRIB televised a mass funeral on 3 March 2026 for victims of a strike on the Shajarah Tayyebeh girls' elementary school in Minab, Hormozgan province, struck on 28 February, the first day of US-Israeli operations.

US special envoy Steve Witkoff revealed on 3 March 2026 that Iranian negotiators told him and Jared Kushner directly, and with what he described as no shame, that Iran controlled 460 kilograms of uranium enriched to 60%, which they said was enough to make 11 nuclear bombs.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves used her Spring Statement on 3 March 2026 to highlight what she described as the biggest uplift in defence spending since the Cold War.

Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper told MPs on 3 March 2026 that 130,000 British nationals had registered with the Foreign Office across the Gulf, with around 300,000 Britons in the region in total.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves delivered her Spring Statement on 3 March 2026 as the Iran conflict cast a long shadow over Britain's finances.

Pokopia, a fresh Pokémon spin-off, has arrived on Nintendo’s Switch 2 with Ditto leading the adventure in human form.

British Royal Air Force F-35B jets recently intercepted and downed drones above Jordan.

France will deploy anti-missile systems, anti-drone technology and a frigate to Cyprus, with a second frigate to follow, after an Iranian-made Shahed drone struck RAF Akrotiri's runway on 1 March 2026.

Conflicting reports emerged regarding Cristiano Ronaldo's location this week.

Last week, Jack Dorsey, CEO of the fintech company Block, revealed intentions to substantially decrease the number of employees.

Residents of Iran's capital are purchasing extra supplies amid ongoing explosions and growing anxiety regarding the war's length.

British citizens are seeking updates as flight cancellations continue in the Middle East.

President Trump informed Congress regarding the US operation in Iran.

The UK government will send HMS Dragon, a Royal Navy warship, to the Mediterranean.

Rachel Reeves delivered a spring statement updating on UK finances, which was devoid of tax or spending changes.

At least 42 civilians have been killed and 104 injured in Afghanistan as heavy fighting with Pakistan enters its sixth day, according to the United Nations.

A parked Iran Air passenger aircraft has been destroyed in a US-Israeli missile strike on Bushehr Airport in southern Iran, according to Iranian state media.

Mercedes HPP chief Hywel Thomas suggests the "works team" advantage remains a vital edge for the 2026 F1 season.

Entering his second season with Ferrari, Lewis Hamilton has reaffirmed that the team’s success remains his primary mission, even while navigating a high-stakes rivalry with the "phenomenal" Charles Leclerc.

Rapper Justin Clarke-Samuel, known as Ghetts, was jailed for 12 years for killing 20-year-old Nepalese student Yubin Tamang in a hit-and-run collision.

Donald Trump has slammed Sir Keir Starmer, claiming the "Special Relationship" is cooling after the Prime Minister refused to join offensive strikes against Iran.

Tehran was struck again on 3 March 2026 as Israel confirmed a new wave of air strikes targeting a senior regime commander.

Iran imposed a nationwide ban on the export of all food and agricultural products effective 3 March 2026, as the country faces ongoing US and Israeli military strikes.

Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper said the UK is exploring all options to bring home British nationals stranded across the Middle East.

US President Donald Trump posted on Truth Social on 3 March 2026 that it was too late for Iran to seek talks.

Emirates flight EK501 from Mumbai to Dubai performed a rare double reverse manoeuvre on March 3, 2026, due to a missile alert in UAE airspace.

The United States has sanctioned the Rwandan military and four senior officials for providing "direct operational support" to M23 rebels in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Fuel and oil prices dramatically increased, and stock markets declined, after an Iranian official issued a threat regarding shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.

Richard Osman is departing from his role as presenter of the BBC Two game show, *House of Games*.

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman stated the company's agreement with the Pentagon seemed "opportunistic and sloppy".

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy cautioned that a prolonged war in Iran could cause a deficit of air defense resources for Ukraine.

Defence Secretary John Healey is considering deploying the Royal Navy destroyer HMS Duncan to Cyprus.

Russia has dismissed claims of a clandestine Iranian nuclear weapons programme, with Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov asserting that Moscow possesses "zero evidence" of such activity.

Holi is an ancient Hindu festival celebrating the arrival of spring and the triumph of good over evil.

The initial group of European travellers, affected by the Middle East conflict, arrived back in their home countries overnight.

Rachel Reeves will respond to the Office for Budget Responsibility's Spring Forecast today, insisting the government has the right economic plan.

The Israeli Air Force confirmed striking Iran's leadership complex in the heart of Tehran, including the presidential bureau and the Supreme National Security Council building.

Families of children abused by nursery worker Vincent Chan met Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson on 3 March 2026 to demand safeguarding reforms.

The Met Office confirmed on 2 March 2026 that Cornwall, Leicestershire and the West Midlands each experienced their wettest winter since comparable records began in 1836.

A 10-year-old girl was attacked by a lioness at Shantou Zhongshan Park Zoo in Guangdong, China, on 26 February 2026 after a zookeeper took her into a restricted area to feed the animal, despite her being too young to take part.

A US Cybercommand Space Command hack against Iran preceded strikes that killed senior leaders.

A new war between the United States, Israel, and Iran is underway.

Cristiano Ronaldo’s private aircraft departed Riyadh for Madrid shortly after reports of drone strikes targeting the US embassy in the Saudi capital.

Donald Trump stated on Truth Social that the United States has ample weapons to sustain prolonged conflicts.

Iran's Revolutionary Guard announced the closure of the Strait of Hormuz on 3 March 2026, striking energy infrastructure across the Gulf as the combined death toll in Iran and Lebanon surpassed 600 people.

US President Donald Trump told The Sun newspaper on 3 March 2026 it was 'very sad' to see the relationship with Britain had weakened, his second interview criticising Prime Minister Keir Starmer in two days.

Hezbollah claimed attacks on three Israeli military sites on 3 March 2026: the Ramat David airbase in northern Israel, an air traffic control base on Mount Meron, and an IDF base in the Golan Heights.

Israel's Defence Minister Israel Katz authorised the IDF to advance and take control of additional strategic positions in southern Lebanon on 3 March 2026, following Hezbollah's first rocket fire at Israel since the November 2024 ceasefire.

Michael B Jordan secured the best actor prize at the Actor Awards for his role in the film Sinners.

Israel carried out simultaneous airstrikes on military targets in Tehran and Beirut on the fourth day of the US-Israeli war against Iran, with the IDF confirming "a wave of extensive airstrikes" in both capitals.

President Donald Trump spoke for nine minutes with CNN's Jake Tapper on Monday, March 2, about the war in the Middle East.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated on Monday, 2 March 2026, that the Trump administration initiated US strikes against Iran.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer told MPs the UK government does not believe in "regime change from the skies" concerning US-Israeli strikes on Iran.

Anthropic’s AI model Claude became very popular after a disagreement with the US military.

US ice hockey captain Hilary Knight revealed Monday she competed at the Olympics with a torn medial collateral ligament.

Russia's army recorded its slowest advance on the Ukrainian frontline during February, an analysis of data showed.

The use of AI tools in attacks on Iran signifies a new era of bombing where decisions are made quicker than thought, according to experts.

Cardiff-born billionaire Sir Michael Moritz is applying for a German passport.

Rolls-Royce head Tufan Erginbilgiç has endorsed Germany potentially joining the UK-led Global Combat Air Programme.

Iranian officials reported damage to Tehran’s historic Golestan Palace following airstrikes in central Tehran linked to the ongoing conflict.

Qatar temporarily halted production at key liquefied natural gas facilities following drone strikes tied to escalating Middle East tensions.

Two drones struck the US Embassy compound in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, sparking a limited fire and causing minor structural damage, according to Saudi authorities.

Amazon Web Services confirmed that drone strikes damaged multiple data centre facilities in the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain amid escalating regional tensions.

Emmanuel Macron has unveiled a strategic pivot in French defence, outlining plans to bolster the Republic’s atomic stockpile.

Reports indicate F1 is exploring alternative options for its Bahrain and Saudi Arabian events due to heightened tensions in the Middle East.