New York City hospitals drop Palantir as controversial AI firm expands in UK 27. March 2026 (00:48) The decision follows activist pressure as Palantir faces growing scrutiny over NHS and UK government dealsSign up for the Breaking News US email to get newsletter alerts in your inboxNew York City’s public hospital system announced that it would not be renewing its contract with Palantir as controversy mounts in the UK over the data analytics and AI firm’s government contract.The president of the US’ largest municipal public healthcare system, Dr Mitchell Katz, testified last week before the New York city council that the agreement with Palantir would expire in October. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Under fives should have at most hour a day of screen time, under new UK advice 27. March 2026 (00:29) Keir Starmer promises help for parents in limiting children’s online activity as government issues guidance to families Parents will be told to limit screen time for children under five to no more than an hour a day under new government advice, as the prime minister promises parents will not be left to battle screens alone.Screen time for children under two should be avoided other than for shared activities encouraging interaction, families will also be advised. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Wild autumn weather delivers snow, storms and power cuts to eastern Australia 27. March 2026 (00:19) East coast slammed on Thursday night with wind and rain, with more warnings in place for FridayCyclone Narelle to make landfall today and bring possible flash flooding to PerthFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastThousands of Australians woke without power on Friday after a series of wild autumn storms soaked communities in multiple states – and the high country recorded its first big snowfall of 2026.While many storm watchers kept their eyes on the west and the path of Tropical Cyclone Narelle, Australia’s east coast was slammed on Thursday night, with more warnings in place for Friday. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Federal judge sides with Anthropic in first round of standoff with Pentagon 27. March 2026 (00:17) Face-off is over company’s refusal to let defense department use its Claude AI model in autonomous weapons systemsA federal judge in California sided with Anthropic in its case against the Department of Defense on Thursday, ordering a temporary pause on the government’s punitive measures against the artificial intelligence firm.Judge Rita Lin granted Anthropic’s request for a temporary injunction while the northern district court of California hears the company’s case. Anthropic argued that the Department of Defense and Donald Trump violated its first amendment rights in declaring the company a supply chain risk and ordering government agencies to cease using its technology. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Trump to sign order for DHS to pay TSA agents ‘immediately’ amid funding standoff 27. March 2026 (00:01) President says order will ‘address this Emergency Situation’ as TSA employees have gone without pay during disputeDonald Trump announced Thursday he will sign an order instructing the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to pay Transportation Security Administration agents immediately.“I am going to sign an Order instructing the Secretary of Homeland Security, Markwayne Mullin, to immediately pay our TSA Agents in order to address this Emergency Situation, and to quickly stop the Democrat Chaos at the Airports,” Trump wrote on social media. “I want to thank our hardworking TSA Agents and also, ICE, for the incredible help they have given us at the Airports.” Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Dark Mofo: 2026 festival to show Willem Dafoe film that can only be watched by one person at a time 27. March 2026 (00:00) Regular events at the Tasmanian festival, including the Winter Solstice Nude Swim and the Night Mass party, joined by Australian and international musicians and artists in a program dominated by Latin American art Get our weekend culture and lifestyle emailA hallucinatory experimental film starring Willem Dafoe and Charlotte Rampling that can only be watched by one person at a time is heading to Australia as part of Tasmania’s 2026 Dark Mofo festival.It’s estimated that only 500 people in the world have seen French artist Loris Gréaud’s film Sculpt since its premiere at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art in 2016 – though the exact figure is hard to know, since he later supplied the files to hackers to distribute over the dark web.Sign up for the fun stuff with our rundown of must-reads, pop culture and tips for the weekend, every Saturday morning Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Venezuelans deported by US detail fresh claims of torture and abuse at El Salvador mega-prison 26. March 2026 (23:16) Petition seeks accountability from Salvadorian authorities over human rights violations at notorious Cecot facilityA group of 18 Venezuelan men whom the US expelled a notorious Salvadorian mega-prison are demanding that Salvadorian authorities be held internationally accountable for violation of human rights – detailing new allegations of torture, sexual assault and medical neglect.A new petition, filed on Thursday before the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, alleges that El Salvador violated the human rights of these men, who were expelled to El Salvador’s Terrorism Confinement Center (Cecot) last year without charge. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Trump takes swipe at ‘not great’ Australia among complaints about global lack of support for US in Iran conflict 26. March 2026 (22:36) Donald Trump says he was ‘a little surprised’ at Australia’s lack of support, echoing comments from a week beforeFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastDonald Trump has taken another swipe at Australia, alongside Nato, the UK and most of the rest of the world, for not getting more involved in the US-Israel war against Iran.At a press conference on Thursday at the White House, the US president was asked to reflect on phone calls with the UK prime minister, Keir Starmer. He began by describing Starmer as a “lovely man”. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
US markets see biggest slump since start of US-Israel war on Iran 26. March 2026 (22:01) Dow closed 450 points down and S&P dipped 1.7% while Nasdaq fell 2.3% into correction territorySign up for the Breaking News US email to get newsletter alerts in your inboxUS markets saw their biggest slump since the start of the US-Israel war with Iran on Thursday as Donald Trump said the conflict’s impact on oil prices had not been as bad as he expected.The Dow closed 450 points down, while the S&P 500 dipped 1.7%. The tech-heavy Nasdaq fell 2.3%, plunging into correction territory, which happens when an index falls at least 10% below its most recent peak. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
David Davis says Cheshire police made ‘egregious’ failures in Lucy Letby investigation 26. March 2026 (21:41) Conservative former cabinet minister says nurse convicted of murdering seven babies has suffered a miscarriage of justiceThe police force that conducted the investigation into the nurse Lucy Letby made “egregious” failures and did not follow official guidance or best professional practice, David Davis has said in parliament.Speaking in the final parliamentary debate before the Easter recess, the Conservative former cabinet minister made a series of criticisms of Cheshire police and said Letby has suffered a miscarriage of justice. Davis said Cheshire police failed to appoint appropriate medical and statistics experts, and pursue all possible lines of inquiry into why babies died and collapsed on the “failing” neonatal unit of the Countess of Chester hospital in 2015-16. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
