A young girl is knocked over at Tokyo crossing – what’s behind Japan’s ‘bumping’ trend? 12. March 2026 (06:00) Viral video of girl being shoved by fellow pedestrian has reignited debate over butsukari – with experts blaming stress and gender dynamicsIt starts out as a heartwarming clip. A young girl, clearly delighted to be in Tokyo, beams as she makes a peace sign to the camera. Seconds later, she is shoved to the ground from behind by a woman wearing a surgical mask. The assailant doesn’t skip a beat, striding out of shot of the clip filmed by the girl’s mother.This was no accidental clash of shoulders in a crowded place, but one of the most visible examples of a spate of butsukari otoko – “bumping man” – shoving incidents in Japan that experts attribute to a combination of gender dynamics and the stresses of modern life. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
European drivers face €220 a year jump in fuel costs due to Iran conflict, say experts 12. March 2026 (06:00) Exclusive: Oil at $100 a barrel means higher prices in the EU and UK, making savings for those with electric vehicles even greater, analysts sayEuropean drivers face paying an extra €220 (£190) a year at the pumps because of the surge in oil prices caused by the war in Iran, analysts have warned. In the UK, a separate estimate puts the cost at an extra £140.A sustained oil price of $100 a barrel, the level seen on Monday, would mean motorists in the EU paying €55bn more over a year, researchers at the Transport & Environment (T&E) thinktank estimated. That is the equivalent of an average of €220 for each driver, with higher-mileage drivers facing even bigger hikes. The assessment was made by comparing data from 2022, when Russia’s invasion of Ukraine pushed the oil price to the $100 mark, with data from 2017-2019. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
MPs launch student loans inquiry amid ‘perfect storm’ for young people in UK 12. March 2026 (06:00) Influential Treasury committee chair Meg Hillier says review follows growing concern over graduate debtUK firms struggling to hire young people amid cost pressures, MPs toldYoung adults in the UK face a “perfect storm” of economic challenges, the head of the influential Treasury select committee has warned as it launches an inquiry into student loans.The cross-party committee’s investigation comes as the government considers ways to ease the burden on graduates, amid a growing backlash about high interest rates and hefty repayments, including among Labour MPs. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Asia scrambles to confront energy crisis unleashed by Iran war – with no end in sight 12. March 2026 (04:40) From fuel caps to four-day work weeks, the Middle East conflict has left the world’s top crude oil importing region desperate to shore up suppliesDonald Trump has scrambled in recent days to reassure the world that the economic impact of his war on Iran can be contained.Sure, one of the most important waterways in global trade has, in effect, been shut for almost two weeks – but it might reopen before long. In the meantime, US oil-related sanctions on “some countries” will be lifted. And besides, the entire conflict could be over soon. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Quit fossil fuels to stem deadly floods in Brazil’s coffee heartland, say scientists 12. March 2026 (04:01) Global heating linked to rising risk of extreme rain that causes devastating landslides and rising coffee pricesThe record floods that have brought death and destruction to the heartland of Brazil’s coffee industry are expected to intensify if people continue to burn fossil fuels, analysis has shown.Dozens of residents in the state of Minas Gerais have been buried alive in landslides or swept away as roads turned into rivers over the past month. Thousands more have been forced to evacuate their homes, while the wider, longer-term effects are likely to include higher prices for coffee across the world. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Noma chef resigns amid shocking allegations of physical abuse of staff 12. March 2026 (02:55) René Redzepi also steps down from non-profit board after accusations of both physical and psychological abuseRené Redzepi, the head chef and co-founder of Noma, announced Wednesday he was resigning from his internationally acclaimed Copenhagen restaurant following allegations that he had physically abused his staff.Redzepi had been facing protests in Los Angeles before a four-month pop-up that launched this week. His resignation comes after the New York Times detailed shocking allegations of physical and psychological abuse, including claims that he “punched employees in the face, jabbed them with kitchen implements and slammed them against walls”. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Queensland floods: police believe bodies found are those of missing backpackers 12. March 2026 (02:29) Two international tourists travelling to flood-ravaged North Burnett region from Brisbane thought to be first flood-related deathsFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastTwo bodies have been discovered in the search for backpackers missing in Queensland flood waters, marking the first flood-related fatalities in the region.Police on Thursday said they believed the bodies were of two international tourists who had been travelling to Queensland’s flood-ravaged North Burnett region from Brisbane but failed to arrive at their destination. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
The scale of northern Australia’s record-breaking floods revealed in data and maps 12. March 2026 (02:24) Some river levels are still increasing after parts of Queensland recorded their highest three-day rainfall totalsFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastDozens of sites across northern Australia have been subjected to major flooding over the past couple of days, with some river levels still increasing after parts of Queensland recorded their highest three-day rainfall totals between Sunday and Tuesday.The map below shows the status for the more than 90 monitoring stations (many of them at different points along the same rivers) across New South Wales, the Northern Territory and Queensland showing either a minor, moderate or major flood as of Thursday morning. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Trump-endorsed Republican in Louisiana accused of rape in 2007 12. March 2026 (01:26) Blake Miguez, 44, not criminally charged over allegation reported to local police but never disclosed to publicA Louisiana Republican congressional candidate endorsed by Donald Trump was the subject of a 2007 rape accusation that was reported to local law enforcement the same day of the alleged assault – but never disclosed to the public or, reportedly, the president’s team as he became one of the rising stars in the state’s Republican party.That has raised concerns within the White House that Blake Miguez “either wasn’t fully vetted or wasn’t forthcoming about discoverable documents from his past” before securing Trump’s backing, the Atlantic reported on Wednesday, citing two unnamed sources familiar with the endorsement process. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Israel bombards Beirut suburbs and southern Lebanon as conflict with Hezbollah escalates 12. March 2026 (01:10) Hezbollah and Iran had launched joint attack on more than 50 targets including Israeli military basesMiddle East live – latest updatesIsraeli warplanes bombarded Beirut’s southern suburbs and southern Lebanon after Hezbollah launched drones and rockets at northern Israel on Wednesday night in a sharp escalation of the 10-day conflict.Hezbollah let off successive volleys of rockets and drone swarms at Israel on Wednesday night, injuring two people, with most of the projectiles either being intercepted or falling into open areas. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
