Colorado funeral home owner given 18-year sentence in decaying bodies case 16. March 2026 (20:21) Carie Hallford, 48, whose ex-husband Jon received 40-year term, pleaded guilty to defrauding grieving familiesSign up for the Breaking News US email to get newsletter alerts in your inboxA former Colorado funeral home owner who helped her ex-husband hide nearly 200 decomposing bodies in a building was sentenced Monday to 18 years on a federal fraud charge, nearly the maximum allowed under the law.Carie Hallford, 48, faced up to 20 years in prison for taking over $130,000 from families for funeral services, including cremations, and often giving them urns full of concrete mix instead. In two cases, investigators found the wrong body was buried. In August, she pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and admitted that she and her ex-husband Jon Hallford cheated customers and also defrauded the federal government out of nearly $900,000 in pandemic small business aid. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
‘Dangerously hot conditions’: millions in US west prepare for extreme heatwave 16. March 2026 (20:20) Heat warnings are in effect across region as record-high temperatures are forecast in California, Nevada and ArizonaSign up for the Breaking News US email to get newsletter alerts in your inboxMillions of people in the western US are preparing for extreme heat as unprecedented temperatures are forecast across California, Nevada and Arizona.The National Weather Service (NWS) issued a heat advisory for California’s Bay Area and central coast regions as temperatures are expected to reach up to 90F (32C). Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Iran war cannot be ’windfall’ for Putin, says Starmer, as Zelenskyy arrives in UK 16. March 2026 (20:14) Ukrainian president’s visit coincides with deadline for Roman Abramovich over proceeds from £2.5bn Chelsea saleMiddle East crisis – live updatesKeir Starmer will host Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, on Tuesday as the prime minister warns US-Israeli strikes on Iran cannot be allowed to become a “windfall for Putin”.Zelenskyy’s visit will come on the day of the government deadline for the Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich to pay proceeds from his sale of Chelsea FC to victims of the Ukraine war. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Sri Lanka brings in four-day week to eke out stocks of oil and gas hit by Iran war 16. March 2026 (19:52) Effective closure of strait of Hormuz also affecting Bangladesh, India and Pakistan, which have brought in crisis measuresSri Lanka is introducing a shorter four-day working week to preserve its shrinking fuel and gas reserves, as the Middle East conflict continues to severely disrupt energy supplies in the region.Countries across south Asia are facing crippling shortages of fuel and LPG gas, which are used for everything from home cooking to cremating bodies, as most supplies have been held up in the Gulf since the US and Israel began bombing Iran. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Gulf states may be covertly encouraging attacks by US, Iran foreign minister says 16. March 2026 (19:38) Abbas Araghchi demands clarification on reports Saudi crown prince urged Donald Trump to ‘hit the Iranians hard’Middle East crisis – live updatesSome Gulf states hosting US forces may be covertly encouraging the slaughter of Iranians, Iran’s foreign minister has claimed in a thinly-veiled attack on Saudi Arabia.Abbas Araghchi demanded clarification on reports that Mohammed bin Salman was in regular private conversations with Donald Trump, urging the US president “to continue hitting the Iranians hard”. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Israel’s plan to expand Lebanon ground campaign fuels fears of prolonged occupation 16. March 2026 (19:31) Israeli defence minister says IDF instructed to destroy ‘terror infrastructure’ in southern villagesMiddle East crisis – live updatesIsrael’s announcement on Monday of a ground campaign in new areas of southern Lebanon is fuelling fears of a prolonged occupation among hundreds of thousands of displaced Lebanese.Concerns intensified after Israel’s defence minister, Israel Katz, drawing comparisons with Gaza, warned displaced Lebanese forced from their homes would not be allowed to return until the safety of Israelis near the border was guaranteed, remarks that appeared to suggest the presence of Israeli troops could become prolonged. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Car park firm NCP falls into administration, putting nearly 700 jobs at risk 16. March 2026 (19:01) PwC called in as administrators after company runs out of cash, leaving it unable to pay landlords and creditorsNational Car Parks, the UK’s biggest car park operator, has fallen into administration, putting nearly 700 jobs at risk.NCP’s board of directors called in PwC as administrators after it ran out of cash, leaving it unable to pay its landlords and creditors, with significant rent payments due at the end of March. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
French political parties seek alliances before final round of local elections 16. March 2026 (18:58) Candidates look for deals with rivals to boost chances as major seats including Paris, Marseille and Lyon appear tightPolitical parties in France are hastily attempting to negotiate strategic alliances before the final round of local elections this weekend, after a strong showing by the far right and the radical left.This Sunday’s final-round vote for mayors and local councillors in major cities including Marseille, Lyon and Paris is expected to be close. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Realtime pollution alerts needed on Windermere, campaigners say after boy nearly dies 16. March 2026 (17:00) Exclusive: Claire Earley’s son Rex spent six weeks in hospital after contracting E coli from contaminated lakeRealtime pollution alerts are needed across Windermere urgently, campaigners have said, as the mother of a seven-year-old boy who kayaked on the lake described how he nearly died after contracting a dangerous strain of E coli from contaminated water.Claire Earley’s son Rex spent six weeks in hospital, and underwent two emergency operations, after a family kayaking trip on Windermere last August. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Tate Modern Turbine Hall to showcase David Hockney opera sets 16. March 2026 (16:52) Immersive exhibition will form the centrepiece of the celebration of the artist’s 90th birthday next yearTate Modern’s Turbine Hall will be transformed into an immersive opera house as it plays host to an exhibition featuring the sets David Hockney designed for productions of works by Mozart, Wagner and Stravinsky dating back to the 1970s.The art form might be considered passé by Timothée Chalamet, but Tate is to use the sets as the centrepiece of its celebration of Hockney’s 90th birthday in 2027. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
