Independent News & People Network Desk of News

Howard Lutnick agrees to appear before US House panel on Epstein network

Source: The Guardian - World · Published: 2026-03-03T20:46:24+00:00

Donald Trump’s commerce secretary has acknowledged visiting convicted sex offender on private island in 2012Sign up for the Breaking News US email to get newsletter alerts in your inboxHoward Lutnick, Donald Trump’s commerce secretary, has agreed to appear voluntarily before the House committee on oversight and government reform as part of its investigation into Jeffrey Epstein’s criminal network, the committee’s chair announced Tuesday.James Comer, the Kentucky Republican who chairs the panel, said Lutnick had “proactively” agreed to the transcribed interview. Continue reading...

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Emirati Leaders, Seeking to Project Calm, Go to the Mall

Source: New York Times - World · Published: 2026-03-03T20:35:17+00:00

A video released by Dubai’s government of the Emirati president visiting a mall underscored the authoritarian country’s efforts to maintain its placid reputation amid spiraling violence.

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Politics live: Wong says Australia facing its biggest ‘consular crisis’; Dubai to Sydney flight awaits takeoff

Source: The Guardian - World · Published: 2026-03-03T20:33:10+00:00

The prime minister has discussed stranded Australians with the Emirati president. Follow today’s news liveGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastWong avoids questions on legality of strikes on IranThe Australian government has so far dodged any questions around the legality of the US and Israeli strikes on Iran, saying it’s a matter for the two nations.The legal basis of these strikes is ultimately a matter for the United States and Iran, sorry, and Israel, is ultimately a matter for the United States and Israel. We know Iran has failed to comply with UN security council re

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Officials say fire caused by drone strike on US consulate in Dubai has been extinguished

Source: The Guardian - World · Published: 2026-03-03T20:23:41+00:00

No injuries have been reported in the strike and fire, Dubai’s media office said on TuesdayAuthorities have ​put down ‌a limited fire near ⁠the ​US consulate ​in Dubai due to ​a ​drone strike, with no injuries reported, according to Dubai’s media office on Tuesday.In a statement posted online, the media office said that “Dubai authorities have confirmed that a fire resulting from a drone-related incident near the US Consulate has been successfully contained”. Continue reading...

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Fire caused by drone strike on US consulate in Dubai has been extinguished, officials say

Source: The Guardian - World · Published: 2026-03-03T20:23:41+00:00

No injuries have been reported in the strike and fire, Dubai’s media office said on TuesdayAuthorities have ​put down ‌a limited fire near ⁠the ​US consulate ​in Dubai due to ​a ​drone strike, with no injuries reported, according to Dubai’s media office on Tuesday.In a statement posted online, the media office said: “Dubai authorities have confirmed that a fire resulting from a drone-related incident near the US Consulate has been successfully contained.” Continue reading...

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Israeli Plans Include Option of Going Deeper Into Lebanon, Officials Say

Source: New York Times - World · Published: 2026-03-03T20:23:05+00:00

Israel said it deployed more forces in Lebanon to protect its people, but its military chief said the goal is more ambitious: to disarm Hezbollah. Israel made plans for the incursion well in advance.

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Trump rebukes Starmer again for not letting US attack Iran from UK bases

Source: The Guardian - World · Published: 2026-03-03T20:17:01+00:00

US president criticises prime minister for third time 24 hours, describing him as ‘not Churchill’ over initial refusalMiddle East crisis – live updatesDonald Trump has launched a deeply personal attack on Keir Starmer over his refusal to let the US launch initial strikes on Iran from British bases, telling reporters: “This is not Winston Churchill that we’re dealing with.”In his latest extraordinary salvo, the US president said he was not happy with the UK even though the prime minister eventually agreed the US could use Diego Garcia for strikes on Iranian missile facilities. Continue reading.

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Iran has largely halted oil and gas exports through strait of Hormuz

Source: The Guardian - World · Published: 2026-03-03T20:16:10+00:00

At least four tankers have been struck by drones and maritime traffic has dropped by 80%, reports sayIran has effectively closed the strait of Hormuz to oil and gas exports for the past four days with a mixture of drone strikes and fear that has halted commercial maritime traffic despite intense US attacks on Iran’s navy.At least four tankers have been struck and Lloyd’s List Intelligence reported that seaborne traffic had dropped by 80% on Sunday, with little sign of a return as key maritime insurers cancelled cover the next day. Continue reading...

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UK parliament to debate whether all suicides linked to domestic abuse to be investigated as homicide

Source: The Guardian - World · Published: 2026-03-03T20:15:54+00:00

Lib Dems table amendment to crime and policing bill, saying system ‘simply not doing enough to protect women’Parliament is to debate whether all suicides in cases involving victims of domestic abuse should be investigated as homicide.The Liberal Democrats have tabled an amendment to the crime and policing bill saying that if “there is reasonable suspicion that a death by suicide has been preceded by a history of domestic abuse committed against the person by another person, the relevant police force must investigate that suicide as if it were a potential homicide”. Continue reading...

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Third victim dies as Austin bar shooting investigated as potential terrorism act

Source: The Guardian - World · Published: 2026-03-03T20:13:33+00:00

Jorge Pederson, 30, had been on life support after weekend attack which left more than a dozen others woundedSign up for the Breaking News US email to get newsletter alerts in your inboxA Minnesota-based mixed martial arts (MMA) fighter has been named as the third victim to die in the recent mass shooting at an Austin bar being investigated as a potential act of terrorism in retaliation for US airstrikes in Iran.The death of 30-year-old Jorge Pederson was announced by the Austin police department on Monday evening. Police told NBC News that Pederson had been on life support after the attack, w

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Drone strike near US consulate in Dubai leads to limited fire, officials say

Source: The Guardian - World · Published: 2026-03-03T20:13:14+00:00

No injuries have been reported in the strike and fire, Dubai’s media office said on TuesdayAuthorities have ​put down ‌a limited fire ​in ​the vicinity of ⁠the ​US consulate ​in Dubai due to ​a ​drone strike and ‌no ⁠injuries were reported, Dubai’s ​media ​office ⁠said on ​Tuesday.More details soon … Continue reading...

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Western Governments Rush to Help Stranded Travelers in the Middle East

Source: New York Times - World · Published: 2026-03-03T20:10:31+00:00

Hundreds of thousands have been stranded since the conflict started. The United States urged Americans to leave and said on Tuesday it was “actively working on plans” to help them do so.

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Les Etats-Unis sanctionnent l’armée rwandaise

Source: Le Monde - International · Published: 2026-03-03T20:03:17+00:00

Trois mois après avoir foulé aux pieds un accord de paix qu’il venait à peine de signer avec la République démocratique du Congo, le Rwanda vient de se faire sévèrement rappeler à l’ordre.

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Ukraine offers defence swap help to Gulf states

Source: Al Jazeera - World · Published: 2026-03-03T20:03:16+00:00

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has offered Gulf states a ‘swap’ deal to enhance defence capabilities.

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Trump administration has still not settled on reasons for going to war with Iran

Source: The Guardian - World · Published: 2026-03-03T19:54:32+00:00

The rationale keeps changing – from Iran planning a preemptive strike to lobbying by IsraelUS-Israel war on Iran – live updatesIt took months for the Bush administration’s falsehoods about weapons of mass destruction in Iraq to come to light, after an invasion, regime change, an investigation, and then, finally, the truth. For the Trump administration’s warnings of an imminent threat from Iran, it took an afternoon.On Capitol Hill on Monday, the US secretary of state, Marco Rubio, swiftly undercut the Trump administration’s claims that Iran was planning a preemptive strike by adding a key piec

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Shadow of Iraq war lies over Westminster as MPs consider US-Israeli attack on Iran

Source: The Guardian - World · Published: 2026-03-03T19:38:03+00:00

Despite rebukes from Donald Trump, many MPs back Keir Starmer’s stance so far, and say lessons from conflict in Iraq must not be forgotten Calvin Bailey keeps his Iraq medal, issued to members of the British armed forces who served as part of Operation Telic, safe in a drawer in his home. It features a clasp, given to personnel who were part of the very first wave of flights to leave British bases to invade Iraq in March 2003.So when the Labour MP for Leyton and Wanstead spoke at a meeting between Labour MPs and the prime minister on Monday evening, people listened. “I was exposed to and aware

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Middle East attacks intensify as Trump says he has rejected Iran’s attempt to talk

Source: The Guardian - World · Published: 2026-03-03T19:34:07+00:00

US president claims ‘they want to talk. I said: Too Late!’, while Rubio threatens the ‘hardest hits are yet to come’US-Israel war on Iran – live updatesIsrael and the US intensified their attacks on Iran on Tuesday, launching waves of strikes targeting command and control facilities, strategic state offices and missile launch sites, as Donald Trump said he had rejected what he claimed was an attempt by Tehran to restart negotiations.Iran retaliated with hundreds of missile and drone attacks against Israel and across the Gulf region, targeting US military bases, embassies and civilian infrastru

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