Italian Christmas meal tragedy turns into murder inquiry 31. March 2026 (21:52) Tests results suggest the two women may have been killed with ricin, according to Italian media, but police still do not have a suspect.(BBC News)
Chatter and fear about US military draft emerge as Trump’s Iran war drags on 31. March 2026 (21:26) Though the US is almost certainly not going to have a draft, media commentary and online anxiety have surfacedThe United States is almost certainly not going to have a military draft to fight Iran. That hasn’t stopped the chatter, and anxiety, across the country.In recent weeks, Donald Trump has ordered a number of marines and army paratroopers to head to the Middle East, gesturing toward a possible ground war to reopen the strait of Hormuz or secure nuclear weapons material. The provocative military activity has led to speculative conversation about what it would take to invade a country twice the population and three times the territory of Iraq. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Tennessee library director fired after refusing to move LGBTQ+-themed kids’ books to adult section 31. March 2026 (21:15) Luanne James said as a librarian she had an obligation to protect the public’s right to access informationSign up for the Breaking News US email to get newsletter alerts in your inboxA Tennessee library director has been fired after she refused to relocate more than 100 LGBTQ+-themed children’s titles to the library system’s adult section.The Rutherford county library board on Monday voted to fire Luanne James following a heated emergency meeting that involved supporters of hers chanting “We stand with Luanne!” while wearing shirts that read “Protect the freedom to read.” Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Teenager died after asking ChatGPT for ‘most successful’ way to take his life, inquest told 31. March 2026 (21:01) Luca Cella Walker asked chatbot for best way for someone to kill themself on railway line before his deathA 16-year-old boy killed himself after asking ChatGPT for the “most successful” way to take your own life, an inquest has been told.Luca Cella Walker, a private school pupil from Yateley, Hampshire, died on 4 May last year. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
TMZ tracks US lawmakers vacationing amid the partial government shutdown 31. March 2026 (20:17) Tabloid outlet has covered Republicans and Democrats relaxing at places such as Disney World as shutdown drags onWhen US federal workers were missing paychecks and the partial government shutdown entered its seventh week, Lindsey Graham, a Republican senator from South Carolina, was doing what any responsible lawmaker would do: riding Space Mountain and carrying a bubble wand at Disney World in Florida.Naturally, TMZ had photos of the vacationing senator on its homepage a few days later. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
UK to pay France extra £16m in stopgap deal to patrol Channel beaches 31. March 2026 (20:01) Two-month arrangement aimed at preventing small-boat crossings comes as existing deal expiresThe UK will pay France an extra £16.2m to keep police patrolling Channel beaches and prevent a surge in small-boat crossings after negotiators failed to agree a permanent deal before a midnight deadline.The stopgap arrangement, which will last for two months, comes after French negotiators refused to agree to UK demands for further interventions and patrols to stop asylum seekers from reaching the UK via the Channel. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
