MPs launch student loans inquiry amid ‘perfect storm’ for young people in UK 12. March 2026 (06:00) Influential Treasury committee chair Meg Hillier says review follows growing concern over graduate debtUK firms struggling to hire young people amid cost pressures, MPs toldYoung adults in the UK face a “perfect storm” of economic challenges, the head of the influential Treasury select committee has warned as it launches an inquiry into student loans.The cross-party committee’s investigation comes as the government considers ways to ease the burden on graduates, amid a growing backlash about high interest rates and hefty repayments, including among Labour MPs. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Asia scrambles to confront energy crisis unleashed by Iran war – with no end in sight 12. March 2026 (04:40) From fuel caps to four-day work weeks, the Middle East conflict has left the world’s top crude oil importing region desperate to shore up suppliesDonald Trump has scrambled in recent days to reassure the world that the economic impact of his war on Iran can be contained.Sure, one of the most important waterways in global trade has, in effect, been shut for almost two weeks – but it might reopen before long. In the meantime, US oil-related sanctions on “some countries” will be lifted. And besides, the entire conflict could be over soon. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Quit fossil fuels to stem deadly floods in Brazil’s coffee heartland, say scientists 12. March 2026 (04:01) Global heating linked to rising risk of extreme rain that causes devastating landslides and rising coffee pricesThe record floods that have brought death and destruction to the heartland of Brazil’s coffee industry are expected to intensify if people continue to burn fossil fuels, analysis has shown.Dozens of residents in the state of Minas Gerais have been buried alive in landslides or swept away as roads turned into rivers over the past month. Thousands more have been forced to evacuate their homes, while the wider, longer-term effects are likely to include higher prices for coffee across the world. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Noma chef resigns amid shocking allegations of physical abuse of staff 12. March 2026 (02:55) René Redzepi also steps down from non-profit board after accusations of both physical and psychological abuseRené Redzepi, the head chef and co-founder of Noma, announced Wednesday he was resigning from his internationally acclaimed Copenhagen restaurant following allegations that he had physically abused his staff.Redzepi had been facing protests in Los Angeles before a four-month pop-up that launched this week. His resignation comes after the New York Times detailed shocking allegations of physical and psychological abuse, including claims that he “punched employees in the face, jabbed them with kitchen implements and slammed them against walls”. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Queensland floods: police believe bodies found are those of missing backpackers 12. March 2026 (02:29) Two international tourists travelling to flood-ravaged North Burnett region from Brisbane thought to be first flood-related deathsFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastTwo bodies have been discovered in the search for backpackers missing in Queensland flood waters, marking the first flood-related fatalities in the region.Police on Thursday said they believed the bodies were of two international tourists who had been travelling to Queensland’s flood-ravaged North Burnett region from Brisbane but failed to arrive at their destination. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
The scale of northern Australia’s record-breaking floods revealed in data and maps 12. March 2026 (02:24) Some river levels are still increasing after parts of Queensland recorded their highest three-day rainfall totalsFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastDozens of sites across northern Australia have been subjected to major flooding over the past couple of days, with some river levels still increasing after parts of Queensland recorded their highest three-day rainfall totals between Sunday and Tuesday.The map below shows the status for the more than 90 monitoring stations (many of them at different points along the same rivers) across New South Wales, the Northern Territory and Queensland showing either a minor, moderate or major flood as of Thursday morning. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Trump-endorsed Republican in Louisiana accused of rape in 2007 12. March 2026 (01:26) Blake Miguez, 44, not criminally charged over allegation reported to local police but never disclosed to publicA Louisiana Republican congressional candidate endorsed by Donald Trump was the subject of a 2007 rape accusation that was reported to local law enforcement the same day of the alleged assault – but never disclosed to the public or, reportedly, the president’s team as he became one of the rising stars in the state’s Republican party.That has raised concerns within the White House that Blake Miguez “either wasn’t fully vetted or wasn’t forthcoming about discoverable documents from his past” before securing Trump’s backing, the Atlantic reported on Wednesday, citing two unnamed sources familiar with the endorsement process. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Israel bombards Beirut suburbs and southern Lebanon as conflict with Hezbollah escalates 12. March 2026 (01:10) Hezbollah and Iran had launched joint attack on more than 50 targets including Israeli military basesMiddle East live – latest updatesIsraeli warplanes bombarded Beirut’s southern suburbs and southern Lebanon after Hezbollah launched drones and rockets at northern Israel on Wednesday night in a sharp escalation of the 10-day conflict.Hezbollah let off successive volleys of rockets and drone swarms at Israel on Wednesday night, injuring two people, with most of the projectiles either being intercepted or falling into open areas. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
‘Convincing’ AI scams drove UK fraud cases to record 444,000 last year 12. March 2026 (01:01) Criminals using artificial intelligence tools to take over mobile, bank and online shopping accounts, says CifasCriminals are increasingly exploiting AI technology to take over people’s mobile, banking and online shopping accounts, the UK’s leading anti-fraud body has warned.Last year, a record number of scams were reported to the national fraud database, fuelled by AI, which allows for large-scale deception on “industrialised” levels, according to Cifas, the fraud prevention organisation. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
China’s rubber-stamp parliament set to approve ‘ethnic unity’ law 12. March 2026 (01:00) New legislation will require schools to use Mandarin by default, taking priority over minority ethnic languages such as Tibetan, Uyghur and MongolianChina’s National People’s Congress (NPC), the state legislature, will vote on Thursday on a suite of new laws agreed at this year’s annual two sessions gathering, including a piece of legislation that will diminish the role of minority ethnic languages in the education system.NPC delegates are expected to approve a new ethnic unity law, along with a new environmental code and the 15th five-year plan, the economic planning document for 2026-2030. Delegates have spent the last week debating Beijing’s proposed bills, which they are all but certain to approve. The NPC, which is often described as a rubber-stamp parliament, has never rejected an item on its agenda. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
