Good morning. Maddy Morwood here with Thursday's AM NewsMail. This morning we're joined again by ABC global affairs editor Laura Tingle from Dubai with a special briefing on the latest from the Middle East.

We're also looking at war in the age of AI as misinformation seen by millions spreads online, and we have some good news regarding the spread of moles in children.

AND REMEMBER: You can now see more ABC News stories in your Google search results.  

I'm ABC global affairs editor Laura Tingle coming to you from Dubai. I'm going to give you daily updates to help you quickly understand what's going on.

Here's what you need to know today:

• The bombardment of Gulf states seems to have subsided and details have emerged of a backchannel deal with Iran to open safe flight corridors
• Iran seems to be trying to drag even more countries into the conflict — sending a missile towards Türkiye, a move that could have dragged NATO into the fight (but hasn't).
• There are now "spot fire" conflicts breaking out across the region — from Syria, to the Kurds in Northern Iran, and Iranian allies in Iraq.

So, what's the fallout?

As always in a war, all sides in this conflict talk a big game. But the moves by Iran to try to drag more and more countries into the conflict are starting to look a little desperate: designed to maximise the pressure on Donald Trump to back off or risk massive economic fallout.

There are a few developments that suggest Tehran isn't really in control of events — including the need to delay the Ayatollah's funeral.

And, once again if you try to separate the bluster from the realities, the deal struck between Gulf states and Iran on opening safe flight routes suggests there is still some capacity for pragmatic horsetrading — and keeping links open with its neighbours — within the Iranian regime, despite directing hundreds of missiles and drones at them in an attempt to maximise the global economic damage being caused by disrupting oil and gas supplies and markets.

Stranded Australian travellers probably don't care about the motives. But they should be grateful that it has at least let some planes fly out of the region. You can keep track of the latest updates from Iran and around the world throughout the day via our live blog.

Thanks for joining me. I'll see you at the same time tomorrow.

• War in the age of AI: The footage is spectacular. The only problem? It’s not real. Misinformation seen by millions is spreading online in the wake of the war in the Middle East, writes the team at ABC News Verify.
• Analysis by David Speers: Just six months ago, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese was among the strongest defenders of the "rules-based global order". This week, however, the Australian government has chosen to be a bystander, Speers writes.
• Falling stars: Kylie and Jacki O's shock tactics weren't a match for rising commercial and community pressures, a complacent Sydney and the prominent activist group Mad F***ing Witches, writes ABC's Julia Baird.

• Canada in Canberra: In an interview with the ABC, Defence Minister David McGuinty says that Canada is prioritising building more extensive bilateral defence ties with "middle power" countries, including Australia, and it is "unlikely" the country will join AUKUS.
• Online car platform folds: Car buyers have been left without vehicles they paid for and up to tens of thousands of dollars out of pocket following the collapse of an online buying platform, Carconnect, which entered voluntary administration last week.
• Great news for moles: A study tracking mole development in children has found the number of moles developing on their skin has almost halved in the past 25 years, from an average of 87 in 1992 to 46 in 2016, with predictions of a significant reduction in their melanoma risk as they age.

- That's English artist Tracey Emin, discussing the importance of powerful, resonating art and the connective strength of creativity when the world feels unsteady.

From passionate arguments over the new film of a beloved Emily Bronte Victorian classic to a mind-blowing performance by singers Rosalia and Bjork, audiences are making it very clear they never want their artists to stop when leadership and trustworthy direction is lacking in so many institutions, governments, corporations and world powers, writes ABC's Virginia Trioli.

And the lessons artists offer us — in connection, fulfilment and deep, human understanding — will land right now like survival strategies for us all, Trioli says.

"Seasonality is the main factor" when it comes to grocery shopping, cook and food educator Karima Hazim says.

I don't know about you, but I've definitely purchased a mango well into autumn in a desperate bid to cling onto summer. So if you too are lacking a little bit of seasonal awareness, we're here to help. From apples to avocados, these are the early autumn fruit and veggies to look for in March.

PLUS: Can you name these 10 locations around the world based on a single photo? Check out our ABC Places quiz.

And that's it for today. Thanks for reading! We'll be back at the same time tomorrow with more.

Maddy and the ABC News Digital team.

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth confirmed American forces targeted the vessel near Sri Lanka, as Israel launched fresh strikes on Iran.