Grooming gangs inquiry to examine role of ethnicity, culture and religion 31. March 2026 (10:17) Inquiry will directly look at whether factors influenced offending and institutional response in England and WalesUK politics live – latest updatesThe grooming gangs inquiry will directly examine whether ethnicity, culture or religion influenced offending and whether they shaped the institutional response.The statutory independent inquiry has published its terms of reference, which will be laid before parliament when it returns from recess on 13 April. The inquiry will then begin its full investigation into the group-based sexual exploitation of children in England and Wales. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Meta, Tiktok and Google under investigation for allegedly disobeying Australia’s social media ban 31. March 2026 (09:10) Nearly 70% of under-16s with accounts on Instagram, Snapchat or TikTok had maintained access, survey findsThe Australian government has accused big tech firms like Meta, TikTok and Google of disobeying the landmark ban on under-16s using social media, after the country’s online safety office warned many children had accounts.A survey of 900 Australian parents found around a third (31%) said their children still had one or more social media accounts after the ban, compared to 49% before the laws. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Keir Starmer gives resident doctors 48 hours to call off strike or lose training offer 31. March 2026 (08:45) PM says decision by union to reject deal for thousands of extra training posts and 7.1% pay rise without putting it to members is ‘reckless’Keir Starmer has threatened to withdraw an offer of thousands of extra NHS training posts if resident doctors do not call off a six-day strike after Easter.The prime minister has given the doctors’ union, the British Medical Association, 48 hours to ditch its plans for industrial action or the government will pull the current offer from the table. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Melbourne girl, 13, allegedly shouted antisemitic remarks, threw eggs and swerved car towards Jewish families 31. March 2026 (08:40) Jewish families ‘narrowly escaped being struck by the car’ after girl swerved towards them in Ripponlea, police sayFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastA 13-year-old Melbourne girl has been charged with 52 offences including allegedly shouting antisemitic remarks, throwing eggs and swerving a stolen car towards members of the Jewish community.Victorian police said in a statement on Tuesday that the girl and two other girls were alleged to have been seen driving the stolen black Hyundai sedan in the south-eastern suburbs of Hampton, Ripponlea and Caulfield over multiple days last week. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
