Montana Republican Steve Daines drops Senate re-election bid minutes before deadline 05. March 2026 (02:10) Trump ally Daines confirms resignation and withdraws bid for a third term, saying: ‘It is time for new leaders’Republican US senator Steve Daines of Montana dropped his bid for re-election to a third term Wednesday.Daines withdrew his name just minutes before the deadline for candidates to file for the November election with the Montana secretary of state’s office. Daines confirmed his resignation in a statement. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
‘A win for democracy’: Labor abandons freedom of information law changes that would have reduced transparency 05. March 2026 (01:48) Katy Gallagher says Albanese government still committed to reform and flags new fixes to system ‘stuck in the 1980s’ Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastThe Labor government has dumped its controversial changes to the freedom of information request system, which would have imposed new fees and further reduced transparency, after admitting it had no pathway to passing the parliament.But despite the major backdown, finance minister Katy Gallagher says the Albanese government is still committed to reforming the FoI system and is critical of public servants having to spend too much time responding to requests for government information and decision-making. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Papua New Guinea offers cash for guns as amnesty opens to combat escalating tribal violence 05. March 2026 (01:35) Weapons amnesty and buyback scheme will run until August as PM James Marape says illegal guns ‘destroying families and villages’ Papua New Guinea has asked residents to surrender illegal firearms in a bid to remove tens of thousands of weapons from the country, as it grapples with escalating violence and tribal fighting in the Highlands region.The police minister, Sir John Pundari, said the national gun amnesty and buyback scheme started on 27 February and it would run until late August. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Binge drinking rises sharply among gen Z in their early 20s 05. March 2026 (01:01) Research challenges idea of ‘generation sensible’ as alcohol and drug use increase after teenage yearsBinge drinking rates among gen Z have risen sharply since their teenage years, according to research that challenges their reputation as “generation sensible”.Almost seven in 10 (68%) 23-year-olds reported binge drinking in the past year, while nearly a third (29%) said they did so at least monthly, up from 10% at age 17. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
BBC to call for permanent charter and end of political appointments to board 05. March 2026 (01:01) Corporation proposes sweeping changes intended to protect its independence and shore up its futureThe BBC is to call for an end to political appointments to its board as part of sweeping changes designed to protect its independence.The corporation will also demand that its royal charter be put on a permanent footing in an attempt to end the existential threat posed by having to negotiate with ministers over its future every 10 years. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Economic abuse by a partner contributes to one death every 19 days, report finds 05. March 2026 (01:01) Financial abuse is a factor in more than half of deaths related to domestic abuse but is often misunderstoodEconomic abuse from a partner contributes to one death from homicide or suicide every 19 days, a charity has found.Surviving Economic Abuse (Sea) said economic abuse from an intimate partner was a factor in more than half of deaths related to domestic abuse but was often misunderstood or overlooked.In the UK and Ireland, Samaritans can be contacted on freephone 116 123, or email jo@samaritans.org or jo@samaritans.ie. In the US, you can call or text the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline on 988, chat on 988lifeline.org, or text HOME to 741741 to connect with a crisis counselor. In Australia, the crisis support service Lifeline is 13 11 14. Other international helplines can be found at befrienders.org Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Famous Brady Bunch house awarded Los Angeles landmark status 05. March 2026 (01:00) Modest mid-century home in Studio City, used for sitcom’s exterior shots, designated a historic-cultural monumentHere’s the story … of how a modest mid-century home became a Los Angeles landmark.The Los Angeles city council voted unanimously on Wednesday to designate the Brady Bunch house in the San Fernando Valley as a historic-cultural monument. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
US tech firms pledge at White House to bear costs of energy for datacenters 05. March 2026 (00:40) Companies will pay for upgrades and new electricity generation in agreement to mitigate concerns of rising billsGoogle, Microsoft, Meta, Amazon and several artificial intelligence companies signed a pledge at the White House on Wednesday to bear the cost of new electricity generation to power their datacenters.The agreement is meant to help mitigate concerns that big tech’s datacenters are driving up US electricity costs for homes and small businesses at a time the administration of Donald Trump is seeking to curb inflation. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Canadian PM Mark Carney offers to team up with Australia as ‘strategic cousins’ to push back against dominant superpowers 05. March 2026 (00:30) Visiting PM tells Australia’s parliament ‘middle power’ countries must work together on defence, trade and AICanada and Australia will be stronger negotiating together with superpowers including Donald Trump’s America, acting as “strategic cousins” rather than competitors, Mark Carney has told the Australian federal parliament.In a major address in Canberra on the last full day of his visit to Australia, the Canadian prime minister called for enhanced cooperation on critical minerals, defence and trade and announced Australia would join the G7 critical minerals alliance, the largest grouping of democratic countries with major reserves in the world. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Asylum seekers waiting over a year for claim in UK may be allowed to work under new measures 04. March 2026 (23:30) Shabana Mahmood hopes to reduce number of claimants in hotels by enabling them to support themselvesUp to 21,000 asylum seekers who have waited for a year for their claims to be processed could be allowed to enter the jobs market so they can support themselves, the Home Office has said, as part of a package of measures to be announced on Thursday.As the government seeks to empty asylum hotels, claimants who break the law, work illegally or are found to have enough assets to live without support will from June be ejected and lose their support payments. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
