'First cracks' in Trump camp over Iran war and UK tackles meningitis outbreak
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"Trump camp shows first cracks over Iran war" writes the Financial Times "as counterterror chief quits". Joe Kent left his role as national counterterrorism center director in protest at the Iran war, it writes, saying he posted on X that Tehran posed "no imminent threat to our nation". And in Belgium, the paper reports, a nonagenarian diplomat faces trial over Congo independence hero Patrice Lumumba.
"Your war on Iran is based on a lie" headlines the i paper on Kent's comments. In an "open letter to America", the former counterterror official said that pressure from Israel "deceived" the president into military action. The i describes him as a "highly divisive figure in Washington".
"Britain hit by Trumpflation" writes the Daily Mirror, saying "households now face a £1,300 bills rise shock". It says the problem follows attacks by Iran on the energy infrastructures of Gulf neighbours and moves to close the Strait of Hormuz - about 20% of the world's oil travels through the passage.
The Daily Telegraph headlines on US President Donald Trump saying that the "BBC is against me winning Iran war". It says the "row" between the president and the corporation "underlines a widening rift between Washington and London as the White House grows increasingly frustrated with the prime minister's refusal to commit British forces to the Gulf".
"Iran nuclear deal 'had been within reach' before conflict," writes the Guardian, citing sources that spoke to Britain's national security adviser Jonathan Powell, who attended the final talks between the US and Iran before war began. Its front page also features an investigation by the paper of paid-for videos made by Reform UK leader Nigel Farage. A spokesperson for him said the clips should not be treated as political statements.
The Daily Mail says experts have described the meningitis outbreak as the "worst we've ever seen" . In an exclusive for the paper, it also reports David Beckham and Brooklyn Beckham have been "spotted in same LA hotel" after the footballer's son said he did not want to reconcile with his family.
"I was blinded by the killer bug", one 21-year-old tells The Sun after contracting meningitis. She says her housemates saved her life after rushing her to hospital when she collapsed, it reports.
The Daily Star warns people to "avoid kissing and sharing drinks as killer bug contagion worsens", a reference to the meningitis cases detected in the Canterbury area of Kent.
The Times leads with the news that the meningitis outbreak has been declared a national incident and "health officials fear death toll will rise". The Princess of Wales wears green and a sprig of shamrock as she marks St Patrick's Day with the Irish Guards in a photograph that takes up much of the front page.
There is a hospice "funding emergency" writes the Daily Express, reporting that people are dying in hospital corridors without pain relief. This, as it says end-of-life care facilities have had to cut jobs and services.
"Reeves bets on quantum leap" headlines the Metro as it says the chancellor will spend £2.5bn to make Britain a leader in AI and quantum computing. She is pictured in the centre of a blue time-warp graphic, alongside Al Calavicci from 80s TV show Quantum Leap.
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