Vice-chancellor calls for review into student loans for those without A-levels 06. March 2026 (07:00) Adam Tickell, of University of Birmingham, says money is loaned to people who ‘are not really capable of graduating’A leading vice-chancellor has questioned whether students without A-levels should be eligible for government-backed student loans, as part of an effort to solve England’s university funding crisis.Adam Tickell, vice-chancellor of the University of Birmingham, said universities face an “almost existential challenge” and falling public support that requires a radical review of higher education funding. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Mass stranding of whales on Scottish beach caused by loyalty to their pod, report finds 06. March 2026 (07:00) The 55 pilot whales, which had to be euthanised, had been following a female having a difficult birth, scientists believeThe mass stranding and death of 55 whales on the Isle of Lewis in 2023 was caused by the mammals’ loyalty to their pod, a report has concluded.It had been thought that the unusually large incident on Tràigh Mhòr beach, Tolsta, could have been caused by trauma, disease or acoustic disturbance from military or industrially generated noise. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
UK arts must not be sacrificed for speculative AI gains, peers say 06. March 2026 (07:00) Ministers urged to abandon plans to let tech firms use work of novelists, artists and writers without permissionThe UK’s creative industries must not be sacrificed in the pursuit of speculative gains in AI technology, a House of Lords committee has warned, as the government prepares to reveal the economic cost of proposals to change copyright rules.A report by peers has urged ministers to develop a licensing regime for the use of creative works in AI products and abandon proposals to let tech firms use the work of novelists, artists, writers and journalists without permission. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Louise Casey: England’s social care system faces ‘moment of reckoning’ 06. March 2026 (07:00) Head of government-commissioned review says adult social care is held together by ‘sticking plasters and glue’England’s “creaking” adult social care system is confusing and impenetrable to the people that rely on it and held together with “sticking plasters and glue”, the head of a government-commissioned review has said in a withering critique.Louise Casey said the country faced a “moment of reckoning” over its failure to effectively and fairly meet the needs of Britain’s ageing population and rising numbers of people with chronic conditions such as dementia and Alzheimer’s. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Water firms sent bailiffs to tens of thousands of homes for debts under £1,000 06. March 2026 (07:00) Most recorded visits are for smaller debts, data from England and Wales suggests, though method of recovery is a postcode lotteryTens of thousands of people a year have bailiffs sent to their homes by water companies in England and Wales, data shows.Many thousands of these visits by debt collectors were for sums worth under £1,000, according to the data released by the House of Commons environment, food and rural affairs (Efra) committee. Bailiffs are debt collectors instructed by a court, who can seize items from those in debt, including electrical items, jewellery or vehicles. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Iran-backed militias intensify attacks against US, Israel and allies 06. March 2026 (06:00) Iraq emerges as key front in new and often clandestine confrontation after launching dozens of attacksIran-backed militias around the Middle East are intensifying attacks against Israel, the US and their allies, in retaliation for the ongoing joint US-Israeli offensive against Tehran as the war draws in new armed actors, threatening wider chaos and violence.Israel and the US have targeted Iran’s network of militant groups, with Iraq emerging as a key front in this new and often clandestine confrontation. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
A lone battle: Why is Pedro Sánchez the only European leader to take on Trump? 06. March 2026 (06:00) As the Spanish PM decries the war in Iran, other politicians are unable – or unwilling – to speak against the US presidentOn Wednesday morning, Pedro Sánchez delivered a 10-minute televised address with the rather bland title: “An institutional declaration by the prime minister to assess recent international events.”The speech’s words, however, were anything but beige. Hours after Donald Trump had threatened to cut off trade with Spain over its government’s refusal to allow two jointly operated bases in Andalucía to be used to strike Iran, Sánchez set out his thinking. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
NSW’s top prosecutor scores legal win in bias claim against senior judge 06. March 2026 (06:00) Recusal application against district court judge Penelope Wass yet to be determined amid row with DPPFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastNew South Wales’ top prosecutor has been given the green light to continue her fight to get a senior judge removed from a historical sexual offences trial on the grounds of apprehended bias.The ruling from the NSW supreme court is the latest development in a long-running row between the director of public prosecutions, Sally Dowling SC, and district court judge Penelope Wass. The dispute went before the NSW court of appeal last week. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Jimmy Lai will not appeal conviction, paving way for political negotiations over release 06. March 2026 (05:09) Decision marks end of years-long legal saga for 78-year-old critic of Chinese Communist partyJimmy Lai, the prominent pro-democracy activist who was recently sentenced to 20 years in prison in Hong Kong, has said he will not appeal his conviction.The decision marks the end of a years-long legal saga for the 78-year-old critic of the Chinese Communist party (CCP), and opens the door for political negotiations to his release. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Porn websites begin blocking Australian users as deadline for age verification compliance looms 06. March 2026 (04:03) Several sites now state they are ‘not currently accepting new account registrations in your region’ when accessed from AustraliaFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastA number of adult websites have begun blocking users in Australia in preparation for new codes requiring age verification from Monday.Guardian Australia has confirmed RedTube, YouPorn, and Tube8 all had notices on their sites when visited from an Australian IP address on Friday stating they are “not currently accepting new account registrations in your region”. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
