More young people want to vote in New Zealand’s Māori electorates. What are they and how do they work? 25. March 2026 (01:56) Growing numbers of young voters are signing up to the Māori electoral roll as debate flares over the need for dedicated seats ahead of November’s electionMore young people have signed up to vote in Māori electorates, new figures from the electoral commission show, as New Zealand prepares for an election this year.The rise comes after years of tense relations between Indigenous New Zealanders and the centre-right coalition government. The latest figures show 58% of eligible 18- to 24-year-olds have registered for the Māori roll, up from 50% in 2023. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Philippines declares ‘national energy emergency’ and boosts coal power as Iran war grinds on 25. March 2026 (01:25) President’s declaration allows officials to tackle fuel hoarding or profiteering, while energy secretary says country will lean more heavily on coalMiddle East crisis – live updates Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos has declared a state of “national energy emergency” as a result of the Middle East war, which his administration said posed “an imminent danger of a critically low energy supply”.The state of emergency, which will initially last for a year, was declared just hours after the country’s energy secretary said the Philippines planned to boost the output of its coal-fired power plants to keep electricity costs down as the war wreaks havoc with gas shipments. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Reacher star Alan Ritchson acted in self-defense in neighbor fight, Tennessee police say 25. March 2026 (01:18) Investigation concludes actor will not face criminal charges, with Ritchson also declining to pursue a potential charge against his neighborThe Reacher star Alan Ritchson will not face criminal charges in relation to a widely publicised violent confrontation with a neighbor, after Tennessee police found he was acting in self-defense.In a video obtained by TMZ on Sunday, the 43-year-old actor appeared to strike Ronnie Taylor several times as Taylor kneeled on the ground in a suburban neighborhood in Tennessee. Ritchson’s two children could be seen nearby sitting on motorbikes and watching the incident unfold. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Public satisfaction with the NHS rises for first time since 2019 25. March 2026 (01:01) Wes Streeting set to hail result as proof of progress, but Britons remain frustrated with long waits for GP hospital carePublic satisfaction with the NHS has risen for the first time since 2019, but people remain deeply frustrated with stubbornly long waits to receive GP, A&E or hospital care.The proportion of voters in Britain satisfied with the way the NHS runs has increased from the record low of 21% seen last year to 26%. At the same time dissatisfaction with the health service fell 8% – the biggest drop since 1998 – although it remains high at 51%.Only 22% are satisfied with A&E and dentistry.GP services and hospital care score better, but only 36% and 37% are satisfied with them.Just 50% are satisfied with the quality of care the NHS provides and just 16% think it will improve over the next five years.Satisfaction with social care is just 14%. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Meta ordered to pay $375m after being found liable in child exploitation case 25. March 2026 (00:16) New Mexico hails ‘historic’ win after jury finds firm misled consumers over safety and enabled harm against usersA New Mexico jury on Tuesday ordered Meta to pay $375m in civil penalties after it found the company misled consumers about the safety of its platforms and enabled harm, including child sexual exploitation, against its users.This is the first bench trial to find Meta liable for acts committed on its platform. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Man who talked down hospital bomber says would-be attacker asked for a cuddle 25. March 2026 (00:13) Nathan Newby set to receive George Medal for stopping a potential atrocity with an act of kindnessA hospital patient who managed to talk a man out of detonating a bomb in a maternity wing said the would-be attacker “asked for a cuddle” before standing down.Nathan Newby, who stopped an atrocity through an act of kindness, spoke publicly for the first time about his encounter with Mohammad Farooq before receiving the George Medal for bravery. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Australia politics live: NSW to compel oil companies to explain where extra petrol being sent; Rio Tinto aluminium smelter gets $2bn bailout 24. March 2026 (23:54) Follow updates liveGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastThe government has announced the federal and Queensland governments will each chip in $1bn to Rio Tinto’s Boyne aluminium smelter in central Queensland, to keep it viable into the future.The government says the move, which will include Rio “underwriting significant investment in energy and transmission”, will unlock almost $7.5bn in investment in Queensland.With a considerable public investment, we are catalysing a fourfold private investment that will build out the renewable energy grid and keep thousands of good regional jobs in central Queensland. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Two more people arrested over alleged Sydney kidnapping and murder of Chris Baghsarian 24. March 2026 (23:24) Man and woman assisting with inquiries after search warrant executed in Seven Hills, NSW police sayFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastTwo more people have been arrested in relation to the alleged kidnapping and murder of Sydney grandfather Chris Baghsarian last month.Detectives and tactical operations officers executed a search warrant in the Sydney suburb of Seven Hills at about 6.30am on Wednesday morning, New South Wales police said in a statement. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
California governor poll raises prospect of two Republicans contesting runoff 24. March 2026 (22:07) Survey puts Steve Hilton and Chad Bianco ahead with Democratic vote split between large field of candidatesRepublicans continue to lead the California governor’s race amid a crowded field of Democrats, a new poll commissioned by the state’s Democratic party found, fueling concerns of a conservative win in the famously liberal state.The party on Tuesday published the results of a large-scale poll of 2,000 likely voters conducted by Evitarus Research that revealed that 16% of participants would back the conservative political commentator Steve Hilton in the upcoming primary, while 14% would support Chad Bianco, the Riverside county sheriff. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Sydney teenager charged with terror offences after allegedly posting threats of extremist violence 24. March 2026 (21:46) NSW police allege the boy ‘held a mixed ideology and outlined plans for acts of violence’Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastA 16-year-old boy has been charged with multiple terrorism offences after he allegedly posted threats of extremist violence online.Police initially arrested and charged the boy with weapons offences in December after the New South Wales Joint Counter Terrorism Team received reports of someone making violent threats online, the Australian federal police said in a statement on Wednesday. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
