Morning everyone. The Middle East crisis is in danger of spreading yet further with Israel warning hundreds of thousands of civilians to flee Beirut, Azerbaijan placing its troops on high alert, and concerns about US plans to mobilise the Kurds.
The Albanese government is facing questions over the presence – or otherwise – of Australian service personnel on board the American sub that sank an Iranian warship, Donald Trump has ousted Kristi Noem as homeland security secretary and researchers have discovered two new species of mammals in West Papua.
Australia
Possum magic | Researchers led by the Australian scientist Tim Flannery have made a once-in-a-lifetime discovery: that two charismatic marsupial species – one a striped possum and the other a ring-tailed glider – that had been thought extinct for 6,000 years are alive in rainforest in remote West Papua.
Indian Ocean | The Australian government has refused to disclose whether Australian sailors or officers were onboard the US attack submarine which torpedoed and sank an Iranian warship, killing at least 87 people. Defence sources have told the Guardian they believe two Australians were on board the submarine.
Spending scrutiny | The Liberal senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price charged taxpayers $2,500 to fly her husband to the CPAC conservative conference in Brisbane last year, where she made a speech calling for government spending cuts.
‘Scale of war’ | Joy among Australia’s Iranian diaspora has turned to fear as they worry about the impact of a prolonged conflict on loved ones still their home country. “The problem is the scale of war is getting bigger and bigger,” one tells Adeshola Ore. “So we don’t know how many other innocent people will die.”
Petrol ‘gouging’ | Drivers in Sydney are paying up to 25c more for a litre of petrol now than they were before the start of the US-Israel war on Iran as motoring groups accuse retailers of using the conflict as an excuse to gouge their customers.
World
Israeli order | The Israeli military issued an evacuation order for all of Beirut’s southern suburbs – more than 500,000 people – before Israel launched airstrikes on what an IDF spokesperson described as Hezbollah targets. Azerbaijan has accused Iran of a “terrorist” drone attack that struck an airport and injured four civilians, raising concerns the conflict could spread beyond the Middle East. A second Iranian ship has been reported in waters close to Sri Lanka and has sought emergency permission to dock. Trump has said he must be involved in the selection of Iran’s next leader, and American readers have shared their thoughts on the “needless” war. We also have this excellent picture essay on Iran and an explainer on the country’s military capacity. Follow developments live.
Noem ousted | In the first major personnel shake-up of Trump’s second term, he has announced he is replacing Noem as DHS secretary, after the killing of two US citizens by immigration agents and mounting reports of her questionable personal conduct attracted bipartisan criticism. The president said Oklahoma senator Markwayne Mullin will take over from 31 March.
‘Racist’ policy | South Africa’s president, Cyril Ramaphosa, has called Trump’s policy of allowing white Afrikaners to apply for refugee status in the US “racist”, saying the US president was “truly uninformed” in a rare instance of direct criticism.
Climate hope | Vanuatu says a UN resolution demanding countries act on the climate crisis can still be salvaged despite the Trump administration’s attempt to kill it off.
Spears arrested | Britney Spears has been arrested near Los Angeles for driving under the influence. The singer was stopped and handcuffed by the California highway patrol at about 9.28pm, local time, on Wednesday.
Full Story
Newsroom edition: Australia and the ‘bomb first’ new world order
The Newsroom edition is back for 2026 and new host Josephine Tovey is joined by Gabrielle Jackson and Bonnie Malkin to discuss how Australia has responded to the war with Iran and the questions it raises for the media.
In-depth
Lynda Henderson was a member of the team that designed the aged care assessment system, but she tells Melissa Davey that she is now too scared to use it and says she had no idea it would be underpinned by “ridiculously simplistic” algorithm.
Not the news
Our editors and book reviewers have been hard at work reading this month’s new Australian books and their selection includes Bob Carr’s love letter to his late wife, eco-lit offerings from Johanna Bell and Eva Hornung, and a queer reworking of Beauty and the Beast.
Sport
Asian Cup | The Matildas dispatched Iran 4-0 in Robina last night thanks to a double from Alanna Kennedy and reached the quarter-finals. But they were frustrated not to add more goals and they’ll have to step it up against the better opponents to come.
Formula One | Oscar Piastri has told Jack Snape he is hungry for the Formula One title but will still be a team player as the season gets into gear in Melbourne on Sunday.
Cricket | India will play New Zealand in the final after they won an epic T20 World Cup semi-final against England by seven runs.
Media roundup
Tasmanian Labor has done a U-turn and backed new limits on firearms, the Mercury reports. City mayors including Sydney’s Clover Moore have called on Labor to ensure datacentres do not undermine energy and water security, according to the Australian. And the Port Macquarie News reports that a 51-year-old fisherman has drowned off Lord Howe Island, the remote outpost which has just under 400 inhabitants.
What’s happening today
Canberra | Public hearing for the inquiry into the 2025 federal election at Parliament House.
Business | Departing Asic chair Joe Longo and others will appear at a federal committee oversight hearing in Sydney at 9am.
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Brain teaser
And finally, here are the Guardian’s crosswords to keep you entertained throughout the day. Until tomorrow.
