Trump Admin Divided, Iran Deal Near, Meningitis Outbreak

0:00On March 18, papers are reporting the first signs of division in the Trump administration over the war with Iran. Joe Kent, the director of the National Counterterrorism Center, has quit his post in protest. He says Tehran poses no imminent threat to the United States, and that the conflict is based on misleading information. Kent, a controversial figure in Washington, wrote an open letter claiming pressure from Israel deceived the president into military action. Meanwhile, President Trump lashed out at the BBC for opposing his efforts in the war. This highlights growing frustration with Britain's Prime Minister for refusing to send forces to the Gulf region. Sources close to the talks tell the Guardian that a nuclear deal with Iran was nearly in place just before the conflict started. Britain's national security adviser, Jonathan Powell, attended those late February meetings and believed Tehran's offer could have prevented war. According to Health Alerts, a severe meningitis outbreak in the Kent area has been declared a national incident.

1:01Experts call it the worst on record with officials fearing more deaths. They are warning people to avoid kissing and sharing drinks to curb the spread. Other headlines cover Scotland's parliament rejecting an assisted dying bill after emotional debates and the chancellor announcing 2.5 billion pounds for Britain to lead in artificial intelligence and quantum computing, will keep following these stories as they unfold.