Bradley John Murdoch, murderer of British tourist Peter Falconio, yelled at police to ‘get out’ before he died in hospital 19. March 2026 (22:49) NT coroner ends inquest into Murdoch’s death, which heard the outback killer refused to reveal where he hid Falconio’s body right up until his deathFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastNotorious outback killer Bradley John Murdoch yelled at police to “get out” as he lay dying in hospital, refusing to the last to reveal where he hid a backpacker he shot dead on a remote highway.The Northern Territory coroner Elisabeth Armitage on Thursday wrapped up an inquest into the 66-year-old’s death from throat cancer on 16 July 2025 at the palliative care unit of Alice Springs hospital. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Tropical Cyclone Narelle poised to hit far north Queensland as ‘high-end’ category four storm 19. March 2026 (22:21) Authorities warn of strong winds, heavy rain, flooding and coastal storm surgeLive updates: Severe Tropical Cyclone Narelle – latest newsCyclone Narelle path tracking mapHow did global heating fuel Tropical Cyclone Narelle?Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastSevere Tropical Cyclone Narelle had made landfall in far north Queensland as a “high-end” category four system, posing a severe threat to several remote communities.Speaking to reporters at 7.40am AEST (8.40am AEDT), Bureau of Meteorology senior forecaster Matthew Callopy said Narelle was crossing the Cape York coast “as we speak” and that sheltering residents could expect forecast winds of over 250km/h Continue reading...(The Guardian)
US states sue Trump EPA over decision to repeal bedrock climate finding 19. March 2026 (20:54) Lawsuit says rescission of endangerment finding – which ruled greenhouse gases threaten public health – was illegalSign up for the Breaking News US email to get newsletter alerts in your inboxA coalition of 24 states, alongside a dozen cities and counties, has sued the Trump administration over its decision to revoke the bedrock scientific determination underpinning virtually all US climate regulations.The new lawsuit, filed in the US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia on Thursday, is being led by the states of Massachusetts, California, New York and Connecticut. It argues that the Environmental Protection Agency’s February rescission of the 2009 endangerment finding – which the White House described as the “single largest deregulatory action in US history” – was illegal. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Nigel Farage condemned over call to ban public prayer for Muslims in the UK 19. March 2026 (20:28) Reform party leader criticised for making comments after event held in London’s Trafalgar Square this weekMuslim leaders have condemned Nigel Farage’s call to ban public prayer by Muslims in the UK as bigoted and warned of a “growing tide of hate” after the Conservative leader, Kemi Badenoch, questioned whether the events fitted “within the norms of British culture”.Farage was speaking at the launch of Reform UK’s manifesto for the forthcoming Scottish parliament elections when he made the remarks. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Strike on Iran gasfield exposes US-Israel rift as Trump claims he did not know 19. March 2026 (20:25) US president says he told Netanyahu ‘don’t do that’ as he distances himself from attack that has angered Gulf alliesThe US-Israeli war against Iran has exposed further divisions between the two countries after an Israeli strike on Iran’s largest gas field angered US allies in the Gulf and prompted Donald Trump to say he knew nothing in advance about the attack – a claim that Israeli officials disputed.Speaking in the Oval Office on Thursday, Trump said he had spoken to Israel’s Benjamin Netanyahu following the strikes on Iran’s South Pars gas field – part of a reserve shared with Qatar – and had told the Israeli prime minister to refrain from further attacks that could escalate a regional war on energy infrastructure. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Tens of thousands of prisoners in England and Wales at risk of cell fires 19. March 2026 (20:06) About a quarter of prison places are unsafe, Ministry of Justice admitsThe government has reneged on a pledge to make all prison cells fire-safe or take them out of use by the end of next year, meaning tens of thousands of prisoners in England and Wales will remain at risk.The Ministry of Justice has admitted it has known for almost two decades that about a quarter of prison places are unsafe, putting the people housed in affected cells at risk. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Trump mocks Japan about Pearl Harbor in response to question about Iran war 19. March 2026 (19:48) US president was meeting with Japanese PM when he said: ‘Who knows better about surprise than Japan?’Sign up for the Breaking News US email to get newsletter alerts in your inboxIt would be funny if it wasn’t so Trumpy.Hosting the Japanese prime minister, Sanae Takaichi, in the Oval Office on Thursday, Donald Trump could not resist mocking Japan about its 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor during the second world war. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Cryptocurrency firms suffer heavy losses in Illinois primaries after spending big 19. March 2026 (19:46) Cryptocurrency’s biggest Pac spent more than $10m for their candidates, only to be defeated by those who are anti-cryptoSign up for the Breaking News US email to get newsletter alerts in your inboxThe cryptocurrency industry spent big and lost often in this week’s Illinois primaries.As the industry prepares to make massive donations in the 2026 midterm elections to replicate its success in 2024, the Illinois losses mark an early setback for firms that are trying to establish themselves as power players in American politics. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Iran says it will show ‘zero restraint’ if energy infrastructure is targeted again 19. March 2026 (19:45) Foreign minister issues warning after Israeli attack on South Pars gasfield and as Qatar reels from retaliatory strike‘Doomsday scenario’: a visual guide to the oil and gas site attacks in the Middle EastMiddle East crisis – live updatesIran said on Thursday it would show “zero restraint” if its energy infrastructure was targeted again as Qatar revealed that almost a fifth of its liquefied natural gas export capacity had been knocked out in an Iranian strike in an attack likely to have a years-long impact.The warning, delivered by the Iranian foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, followed Israel’s attack on the Iran’s massive South Pars gasfield – which it shares with Qatar – which triggered Iranian retaliatory strikes on Qatar’s Ras Laffan gas complex and other Gulf neighbours, sending stock markets tumbling globally and triggering sharp increases in gas prices. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Peers vote to back clause pardoning women convicted over illegal abortions 19. March 2026 (19:01) House of Lords decision welcomed as ‘landmark moment’ after attempt to strike out amendment is defeatedUK politics live – latest updatesWomen who have been convicted, and in some cases jailed, over illegal abortions are set to be pardoned after a historic vote in the House of Lords.Last June, the House of Commons voted to end the criminalisation of women who terminate their pregnancies outside of the legal framework, while keeping the existing framework in place. Doctors and others who act outside of the law could still face the threat of prosecution. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
