Miriam Cosic

Former Middle East adviser at the US Department of Defense, Jasmine El-Gamal, has it exactly right.

The world wants to ban children from social media, but there will be grave consequences for us all | Taylor Lorenz Age-verification systems require collecting sensitive data to support the biometric information. In no time, the internet will become a fully surveilled digital panopticon, says technology journalist ...

'Age-verification systems require sensitive data to support the biometric information. In no time, the internet will become a fully surveilled digital panopticon'

Banning children from social media will have grave consequences
- by Taylor Lorenz

#surveillance
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

Iran War: U.S. Military Confirms 3 F-15 Jets Were Shot Down By ‘Friendly Fire’ (Live) The U.S.-Israel war against Iran escalated on Monday as Tehran expanded its retaliatory strikes targeting U.S.-allied countries in the Middle East, including Kuwait and Saudi Arabia.

www.forbes.com/sites/siladi...

US intel did not suggest a preemptive strike from Iran before US-Israeli attacks, AP sources say Trump administration officials told congressional staff in private briefings that U.S. intelligence did not suggest Iran was preparing to launch a preemptive strike against the U.S.

Looks like some very senior admin officials lied brazenly to journalists. "Trump administration officials told congressional staff in private briefings Sunday that U.S. intelligence did not suggest Iran was preparing to launch a preemptive strike"
apnews.com/article/iran...

Australia gets a guernsey:

'Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong told local media on Monday that Canberra does not plan to join the US-Israeli military campaign against Iran.'

Blasts shake Qatar, UAE, Kuwait as Iran’s retaliatory strikes continue

Blasts shake Qatar, UAE, Kuwait as Iran’s retaliatory strikes continue https://aje.news/al8vis

Trump vows to continue attacks on Iran, says more US troops ‘likely' to die US president says attacks will continue until 'all objectives' are met, despite earlier floating diplomatic off-ramps.

US president says attacks will continue until 'all objectives' are met, despite earlier floating diplomatic off-ramps.

What are Iran’s weapons as it fights the US and Israel?

What are Iran’s weapons as it fights the US and Israel? https://aje.news/dnmro4

Poll suggests only a quarter of Americans support attacks on Iran US lawmakers heap pressure on Trump following the first US soldier deaths after Khamenei's killing.

US lawmakers heap pressure on Trump following the first US soldier deaths after Khamenei's killing.

Oil prices rise sharply after US, Israeli attacks on Iran

Oil prices rise sharply after US, Israeli attacks on Iran https://aje.news/ngjsum

Pentagon tells Congress no sign that Iran was going to attack US first, sources say Trump administration officials acknowledged in closed-door briefings with congressional staff on Sunday that there was no intelligence suggesting Iran planned to attack U.S. forces first, two people familiar with the matter said.

Pentagon tells Congress no sign that Iran was going to attack US first, sources say reut.rs/4aYKAFU

UK sending rapid teams to help citizens leave Middle East British foreign minister Yvette Cooper said on Monday that Britain was setting up support systems to help evacuate its citizens from the Middle East with an estimated 300,000 people having registered their presence in the region.

UK sending rapid teams to help citizens leave Middle East reut.rs/4aWWakH

Ship insurers cancel war risk cover due to Iran conflict Several marine insurers said they are cancelling war risk cover for ships due to the conflict in Iran and the Gulf.

Ship insurers cancel war risk cover due to Iran conflict reut.rs/4bhRW8B

Iran live: Israel strikes at Hezbollah, UK base hit in Cyprus as conflict widens After the first US casualties, Trump warns there could be more.

Iran live: Israel strikes at Hezbollah, UK base hit in Cyprus as conflict widens reut.rs/4cFT8Eb

Israel strikes Lebanon following Hezbollah attacks, widening Iran conflict Israel launched new air strikes targeting Tehran and expanded its military campaign to include attacks on Iran-backed Hezbollah militants in Lebanon on Monday, as U.S. President Donald Trump signaled ...

Israel launched new air strikes targeting Tehran and expanded its military campaign to include attacks on Iran-backed Hezbollah militants in Lebanon, as President Trump signaled the US-Israeli military assault on Iranian targets could continue for weeks reut.rs/3OKfqKO

Hanson censured over no 'good' Muslims comment, Coalition votes against Two Liberal senators cross the floor to vote for Labor's motion that censured the One Nation leader for "inflammatory and divisive comments" that sought to vilify Muslim Australians.

: The Coalition has refused to support a motion censuring.. Pauline Hanson for suggesting there are no "good" Muslims, arguing such a sanction should not be routinely used for public commentary. Two Liberal senators crossed the floor & voted with Labor & the Greens

www.abc.net.au/news/2026-03...

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said that Iran “has always been open to diplomacy,” following U.S. and Israeli air strikes over the weekend that killed Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and several top military officials.

Asian airline shares fall as US-Iran conflict disrupts travel, raises oil prices Airline shares plunged on Monday, with Hong Kong's Cathay Pacific , Australia's Qantas Airways , Singapore Airlines and Japan Airlines down more than 5% after the U.S. and Israel launched weekend stri...

Airline shares plunged, with Hong Kong's Cathay Pacific, Australia's Qantas Airways, Singapore Airlines and Japan Airlines down more than 5% after the US and Israel launched weekend strikes on Iran, disrupting travel and sending oil prices surging reut.rs/3OKhu5w

Oil prices jump, stocks skid on Middle East turmoil Oil prices surged and shares slid as military conflict in the Middle East looked set to last weeks, sending investors flocking to the relative safety of the dollar and gold.

Oil prices surged and shares slid as military conflict in the Middle East looked set to last weeks, sending investors flocking to the relative safety of the dollar and gold reut.rs/46ycd7c

If only Britain hadn't been able to administer Mandatory Palestine after WWI. If only France hadn't been able to lead Vietnam into the hell of the "American War" after WWII ...

US intervention in Iran is not benevolent. But Iranians do not have the privilege of choice 'To the critics of the Iran intervention, I ask: the Iranian populace has been dying from cancer for 47 years — what treatment options do they have?'

Philosophy teaches how hold contradictory points of view. Reading Hessom, it's the gravity of international law vs Realpolitik:

US intervention in Iran is not benevolent. But Iranians do not have the privilege of choice
- by Iranian-Australian, Hessom Razavi
#Iran
www.crikey.com.au/2026/03/02/u...

Thinking how Trump loves war. And when kings weren't AI creations.

Richard III, the Lionheart: military command at 16, earned his sobriquet in the Third Crusade; died fighting in France.

Richard II, famous commander in the Hundred Years' War.

Richard III, died in the Battle of Bosworth Field.

Australia has had its wettest March on record - less than two days in ...
- ABC New Radio

‘Once in a generation’: Wild scenes as states smashed by heavy rain, thunderstorms, floods
- News . com

#rain #climatechange
www.news.com.au/technology/e...

Opinion | An Unwise and Unconstitutional Attack on Iran More war isn’t the answer. If it were, the past 70 years would have produced a better outcome than what we see today.

This is worth reading: "More war isn’t the answer. If it were, the past 70 years would have produced a better outcome than what we see today."

An Unwise and Unconstitutional Attack on Iran
- by Tim Kaine, US Senator from Virginia

@wsj.com #Iran Gift article
www.wsj.com/opinion/an-u...

More than 100,000 Australians have apparently signed a petition against plans for the $1.5 billion, 91-storey Trump Tower on the Gold Coast, expected to be the tallest building in Australia when it is built ... 🤢

Picture of Marjane Satrapi alongside a quote from her. The quote reads: The world is not divided into countries. The world is not divided between East and West. You are American, I am Iranian, we don't know each other, but we talk together and we understand each other perfectly. The difference between you and your government is much bigger than the difference between you and me. And the difference between me and my government is much bigger than the difference between me and you. And our governments are very much the same... - Marjane Satrapi, Iranian-French graphic novelist

Thinking about this quote from Persepolis creator Marjane Satrapi again.

John Roberts has created “immunity” as this thing that can be tossed around. If Iranian soldiers are defending themselves they commit no crime. If they have committed war crimes, Americans can’t “immunize” them.

When you’re incapable of empathy.

Trump launches war in Iran. This from the NYT:

#USPolitics