Well, it's Easter weekend which can only mean one thing: That there will be salt beef served in several forms over a couple of days... until there's roast lamb. Bagel shots tonight.

Iran's Armed Forces spokesperson: “The Strait of Hormuz will remain closed to America and Israel for a long time.”

hmm

Breaking news: Global stocks fell sharply and oil rose 8% to above $109 a barrel after Donald Trump’s warnings to Iran raised the prospect of further escalation. ft.trib.al/WtkX9Vw

How To Write. www.ft.com/content/4819...

US military bases in the region have been hit hard. The Pentagon wasn’t prepared.

Trump speech update:

Marco Rubio in 2023

Made the mistake of a pre-done 'root vegetable tray bake' with sausages last night in an act of supreme laziness (as everything is bonkers atm), it was mostly carrots and parsnips, no-one was hugely a fan, the soup I have made with the leftovers today, with a chicken stock and cumin.. MUCH better.🌱

This is an extraordinary front page for a British newspaper to run. Donald Trump’s delinquency, derangement & imperilling of international security is somehow a stick with which to beat our own Prime Minister, who has negotiated the current horror show rather well. It is actually sickening.

And now the ballroom. This will enrage him more than anything.

🚨 BREAKING: The European Commission has urged people to work from home, drive and fly less, and for EU countries to urgently roll out renewables, as it warned of a prolonged energy crisis as a result of the conflict in the Gulf. Full story: www.politico.eu/article/euro...

"footage drawn from Russian military Telegram channels that appears to show Russian soldiers with Ubiquiti Wi-Fi bridges, appeals from Russian soldiers seeking funds to acquire the equipment, and step-by-step guides for Russian soldiers on how to install them..." kyivindependent.com/pussy-riot-o...

@chadbourn.bsky.social I always take this channel into account for these tooics: youtu.be/C8ljwigh9jA

lmfao blog.thereallo.dev/blog/decompi...

🌱

However, by analysing the shadows visible in a video showing the school after it was struck, Bellingcat was able to determine that the school and nearby IRGC building were struck before the second video was recorded.

Trump: “I am a big believer in genes, by the way.”

First time for everything I suppose.

The Economist is on a roll.

Today we launch JD Vance and Marco Rubio Watch. If you spot them anywhere near a microphone talking about their boss’ war, let me know.

And it’s a good one! Series 9 marked our return to BBC2 after the ‘wilderness years’ on a shoestring budget when we were relegated to bbc4 - wonderful discoveries, fascinating discoveries, time to really unpack the detail and the science - thanks to a brilliant series producer: Theo Williams.

That sound you hear is the furious howls of the Far Right.

We’re excited to announce that the winner of the Wildlife Photographer of the Year Nuveen People's Choice Award 2026 is 'Flying Rodent' by Josef Stefan. 👏📸 You can now find it in this year’s exhibition!

Brits - your cut out and keep guide to when to expect Reform Rage.

Here’s a wholesome reminder to kick-start your week: today is the first Monday of spring! Once the clocks go forward this weekend, the sun will set after 7pm in the UK. ☀️🐝🌸

This is perfect. Honest Bob too stupid to sustain his own insincerity

Good morning! 8C heading to 14C and the damson blossom is out. 🌱

The US State Department has issued a warning to Americans *anywhere in the world*. “Groups supportive of Iran may target other US interests overseas or locations associated with the United States and/or Americans throughout the world.”

Brent Crude now up to $114 a barrel.

The US President casually announcing his intention to commit war crimes on social media. That's where you're at, America.

Bloody hell. From secretly-funded lobby groups masquerading as ‘think tanks’ (who continue to dominate our discourse despite Liz Truss demonstrating the dangers) to a secretly-funded political party. Should have seen that coming.

@sgdesigns.bsky.social @snellis.bsky.social @nicmiller.bsky.social @nigelslater.bsky.social i feel like this week I need to create a watch party for gardeners world. Hope you’re all managing a .. deep breath out. ❤️

Merz on Trump: “He’s not exactly on very good terms with me at the moment.”

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz talking about…something: “In a dictatorship, everything happens quickly — most of it wrong. “In a democracy, things sometimes take longer. There has to be debate, there has to be struggle — and where the media are free, it will be reported.”

Merz: “The MAGA movement is not our movement. What they are doing with culture and media, how they deal with each other, is not our understanding of democracy. “We have a different understanding.”

He would and he will. Don't worry, we'll make sure to hold you accountable.

Wyden to Gabbard: "Last year, your agencies testified 'Iran's large conventional forces are capable of inflicting substantial damage to an attacker, executing regional strikes & disrupting shipping, particularly through Hormuz.' In other words, every problem were seeing now was predicted"

Alan Rusbridger will be talking us through this story on LBC at 12.30. www.thenewworld.co.uk/the-gb-news-...

Good morning! 7C heading to 17C, March 18th. The magnolia is out. 🌱

Magnificent! She foolishly accuses Starmer, who repeatedly refuses to insult Trump while walking a tightrope of powerful oblique criticism, of neglecting the ‘national interest’. And now she wades in with this. She’s the only Tory leader in 16 years not to be PM so I let myself enjoy her stupidity.

Video: xcancel.com/blueatlgeo.....

Laura Loomer gets read to filth in her visit to India. This made me want to stand and cheer! Hats off to India Today's Rajdeep Sardesai (not an “Indian uncle” as Brian Allen colorfully describes him, but a seasoned journalist) for calling Loomer out.

Reality check from Iran’s Foreign Minister:

The Censorship-Industrial Complex strikes again.

🇬🇧 @mrjamesob.bsky.social on Trump’s war: “keir starmer should do as little as possible. Trump is a dangerous, delinquent idiot who started a war in one of the world’s most historically volatile tinderboxes’ — with no legal rationale, no plan, and no end objective.”

* UK PM STARMER: WE WILL NOT BE DRAWN INTO THE WIDER IRAN WAR * UK PM STARMER ON STRAIT OF HORMUZ: OPENING IT IS NOT A SIMPLE TASK * UK PM STARMER: WHEN THE FIGHTING STOPS WE WILL NEED SOME SORT OF NEGOTIATED AGREEMENT WITH IRAN @reuters.com