‌Chillingly this assessment now means the US may have made a near-catastrophic miscalculation as Iran is opting for a bloody war of attrition, a near-forever war. US President Donald Trump, not known for his grasp of detail and geopolitics believes force, bribery and basic global bullying will get him his way. ‌View 4 Images War move: US President Donald Trump (Image: Anadolu via Getty Images)‌View 4 Images Israeli air-strikes leave devastation in Lebanon (Image: AFP via Getty Images)And this is why no president has dared to do what Donald Trump has done - because they knew all this and listened to their intelligence chiefs. ‌View 4 Images Beirut's south burns as Trump's war erupts (Image: AFP via Getty Images)“The US mission in Iran is to destroy Iran’s missiles, navy and deny Tehran nuclear weapons. But it will be damaging and it will reveal that US President Donald Trump’s decision to attack with such confused intention will be a huge blunder.

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Ben Earl is set to win his 50th England cap against Italy on Saturday (Adam Davy/PA)“These are the weeks where boys have a little glint in their eye. “You look at some of the big guys in our squad and go ‘something good is coming’. “There are people in the squad who don’t feel like they’ve pulled their weight or performed well enough. “I don’t want to say it’s a turning point and I don’t want to downplay it. Fly-half Fin Smith was unable to train on Monday because of illness and second row Ollie Chessum sat out the session for loading reasons.

Mr Salmond had the exercise set aside in a judicial review with the Court of Session ruling it was "unlawful" and “tainted by apparent bias”. The court awarded Mr Salmond £512,000 for his legal bill. Separately Mr Hamilton examined if Ms Sturgeon had breached the ministerial code. Mr Salmond died aged 69 in October 2024 while attending a conference in North Macedonia. Her response followed questions from Fergus Ewing, an ally of Mr Salmond, for the names to be released to give transparency.

In that debate, hurling’s rule book has been reduced to the role of interested observer. The rucks were heavily resourced – a phrase you often hear in the game that invented the practice – and the ball was slow to budge. In those situations, nobody is making a shoulder charge, hip to hip, which is the only physical tackle defined in the rule book. It is not accounted for in the rule book, even though it is one of the key sources of primary possession in the game now. In the history of the game, the ball has never spent more time in players’ hands.

Temperatures will peak on Thursday, with a high of 18C across the south east, Ms Chalk said. The sunshine will be focused across the south east of England, while the west of the UK could see outbreaks of rain in parts. Friday will be mostly dry with maximum temperatures of 14C, Ms Chalk added. Dorset and Warwickshire had their second wettest winter since comparable records began in 1836, while southern England experienced its fourth wettest. The rain persisted for much of February, although drier and sunnier conditions arrived towards the end of the month.

“What we’re trying to do in training is starting to come in, it’s just not there for the full 60 minutes. A lot of it is because we haven’t been on fields due to the weather in the winter, but that’ll take shape over the next three or four weeks. “We wouldn’t swap New York for anything, we enjoyed ourselves out there,” was his description of the upheaval. “Ten players that started today were U23 last year, we had only six that started last year’s All-Ireland final. Laura Freaney, Ava Crowe, Aoibhe Carr all made their league debut today,” he said.

Coleen Rooney was seen without her wedding ring as she broke cover for the first time on Monday since her 'worse for wear' husband Wayne was seen partying with two mystery women at a pre-BRITs bash over the weekend. The married former footballer, 40, was in Manchester ahead of the music event where he was out until the early hours. After his wild weekend Coleen emerged in Cheshire on Monday afternoon as she ran errands and did a Sainsbury's shop. Wayne and Coleen have been married since 2008 and together are parents to sons Kai, 16, Klay, 12, Kit 10, and eight-year-old Cass. One told the publication: 'People who noticed Wayne were saying: "What would Coleen think?"

Why have the US and Israel attacked Iran? Our Europe Correspondent, Naomi O'Leary, takes us through the latest. Video: Naomi O'Leary

Milestones galore at Mountlucas ParkrunMountlucas parkrun number 366, held at the weekend, saw a number of milestones celebrated. A huge well done to Kevin, Neil, Emily and Mila from all at Mountlucas parkrun. Mountlucas parkrun takes place at Bord na Móna Mountlucas windfarm every Saturday morning at 9.30am sharp. There's something for everyone at Mountlucas parkrun whether you want to walk, run, volunteer or just meet new people. Whether you’re walking your first 5 km or picking up your 50th, Mountlucas parkrun offers something for everyone.

The Roscommon Branch of MS Ireland will hold its AGM tomorrow evening. The local branch of the national organisation provides support and friendship to people with MS and their families living in the county. It will hold an information evening with MABS on Tuesday, March 3rd at 7 p.m. at Durkins, The Square, Ballaghaderreen. This will be followed by its annual general meeting. For more information call Teresa Cahill on 086 8256845.

Keir Starmer has clapped back at Donald Trump after being criticised over the strikes on Iran. Updating MPs on the unfolding crisis, the Prime Minister said: "President Trump has expressed his disagreement with our decision not to get involved in the initial strikes, but it is my duty to judge what is in Britain's national interest. But Donald Trump hit out at Mr Starmer for not immediately falling behind US-Israeli strikes on Iran. The US President said he was "very disappointed" the UK had initially blocked the US from using British military bases to target Iran. He went on to say the Prime Minister took far too long to change his mind.

Paul Rudd pictured at the World Premiere of the film Power Ballad at the Dublin International Film Festival at the Bord Gais Energy Theatre, Dublin. Photograph: Brian McEvoyPaul Rudd has described the process of making a movie in Ireland as “a real thrill” and “a dream come true”. Power Ballad, directed and co-written by Sing Street’s John Carney and starring Rudd and Nick Jonas, was the closing screening of the Dublin International Film Festival. Rudd, who has ties to Ireland on his father’s side, added: “It sounds like I am sucking up, but the people are awesome here. The star added that he knew Cork “fairly well”, but that he would like to explore elsewhere in the country.

Over the past two years, the Islamic Republic of Iran has sustained a series of major blows that may prove fatal to its survival over time. Despite all of this, there is little to indicate the likelihood of regime change in Iran in the immediate term. Undoubtedly, the Iranian regime is deeply unpopular, as January’s mass protests and footage of the celebrations that followed the killing of Khamenei make clear. But they are also reluctant to engage with other elements in the Iranian opposition, wary of further marginalisation in whatever Persian-dominated dispensation might follow from the fall of the Islamic Republic. In every case, the regime response was violent repression, leading to hundreds, and in some cases thousands, of deaths.

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