‘We need to think much bigger’: trade minister calls for greater ambition in UK-EU reset 20. March 2026 (16:00) Exclusive: Chris Bryant says policy agreements are being done in bits and pieces but a greater vision is needed by both sidesIt was all smiles and warm handshakes when the two men in charge of renegotiating the UK’s relationship with the EU met in Brussels this week.Maroš Šefčovič and the UK minister for EU relations, Nick Thomas-Symonds, sharing a stage on the third floor of the vast European parliament building, were at pains to show the cross-Channel relationship was in a good place after years of rancour. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Jimmy Kimmel on Trump Pearl Harbor joke: ‘Everything he knows about it begins and ends with the Ben Affleck movie’ 20. March 2026 (15:40) Late-night hosts panned Trump’s joke about the 1941 attack, addressed new unredacted Epstein emails and talked popular puppy namesWith The Late Show with Stephen Colbert on hiatus until at least 27 March, late-night hosts on Thursday discussed Donald Trump’s snafu while meeting Japan’s prime minister, his caginess over Iran, and new findings in the Epstein investigations. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Reform UK suspends Scottish candidate less than a day after announcing him 20. March 2026 (15:24) Stuart Niven found to have diverted Covid grants to personal account as party faces criticism for candidates’ Islamophobic remarksUK politics live – latest updatesReform UK has suspended one of its Scottish candidates after it emerged he had been struck off as a company director, and the party faces growing attacks for fielding candidates making Islamophobic remarks.Reform confirmed on Friday morning it had suspended Stuart Niven, its candidate for Dundee City West, after the Herald revealed he had been struck off after diverting tens of thousands of pounds of Covid grants into his personal account. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Chuck Norris, prolific action star and martial arts champion, dies aged 86 20. March 2026 (15:16) Actor who rose to fame after starring in Bruce Lee’s The Way of the Dragon also became a TV fixture with Walker, Texas RangerChuck Norris, the former world karate champion who used his fight prowess to become the star of a string of low-budget but financially successful action movies, has died aged 86.His family posted a message on social media saying Norris had died on Thursday, adding: “While we would like to keep the circumstances private, please know that he was surrounded by his family and was at peace.” Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Police planned to disperse Isaac Herzog protest in Sydney if crowd hit 6,000, encrypted messages suggest 20. March 2026 (15:00) Senior public servant wrote ‘police will be dispersing them if numbers exceed capacity’ while premier says protesters confronted after attempting to marchGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastPolice planned to disperse the crowd at a Sydney protest against the visiting Israeli president, Isaac Herzog, if it exceeded 6,000 people, according to correspondence between senior New South Wales public servants.The messages released under freedom of information (FoI) laws contain information not referenced in public comments by the NSW premier, Chris Minns, and the police commissioner, Mal Lanyon. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
‘Yes to fields of wheat, no to fields of iron’: how the world’s greenest country soured on solar 20. March 2026 (15:00) In Denmark, the spread of solar panels in rural areas could play a deciding factor in the national elections on TuesdayIn one telling of the story, the golden fields of a proud farming nation are under attack. Besieged by an industrial sprawl of solar panels, they are being smothered at the behest of an urban elite.That narrative has failed to thrive in conservative heartlands such as Texas and Hungary, which have embraced solar power while lambasting green rules. But it is taking root in Denmark, the most climate-ambitious nation on Earth. “We say yes to fields of wheat,” said Inger Støjberg, the leader of the rightwing populist Denmark Democrats in a speech in 2024. “And we say no to fields of iron!” Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Trump aides tried to block appointment of Peter Mandelson as UK ambassador to US, reports say – US politics live 20. March 2026 (14:54) Senior figures said to have been skeptical over Keir Starmer’s appointment of ‘arrogant’ veteran politician, later sacked over connections to Jeffrey EpsteinSign up for the Breaking US News US emailThe supreme court is likely to announce at least one opinion this morning at 10am ET. Some of the high-profile cases currently before the court include Trump v Cook, which centers on Trump’s attempt to remove Lisa Cook, the first Black woman to serve on the Federal Reserve board of governors; Trump v Slaughter, which, similar to the Cook case, involves the president’s firing of Federal Trade Commission (FTC) commissioner Rebecca Slaughter; and Louisiana v Callais, a landmark redistricting case that could determine the remaining strength of the Voting Rights Act.Though it’s unclear which decisions will be made this morning, we’ll bring them to you as they come. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Dog digs up possible link to notorious 19th-century Devon murder case 20. March 2026 (14:51) Owner of labrador says bottle find may be connected to poisoning that led to one of England’s last hangingsA man in Devon believes his beloved dog has dug up a key piece of evidence in his back garden connected to a notorious Victorian murder case.Paul Phillips, 49, told reporters that his labrador, Stanley, recovered a blue glass bottle with the words “Not to be taken” written on the side from their home in Clyst Honiton. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
CBS News begins new round of layoffs: ‘This is really hard and really tough’ 20. March 2026 (14:49) On a staff call, editor-in-chief Bari Weiss emphasized that the cuts do not stem from poor employee performanceSign up for the Breaking News US email to get newsletter alerts in your inboxCBS News is laying off employees on Friday as part of a strategic restructuring announced in a memo to staffers from its editor-in-chief, Bari Weiss, and president, Tom Cibrowski. Employees will be informed by the end of the day if their job has been affected, the two executives said in the memo.“We recognize that this is a difficult time for those who will be leaving CBS News,” they wrote. “Because these aren’t just names on a list. They are talented, committed colleagues who have been critical to our success. We’ll treat them all with care and respect.” Continue reading...(The Guardian)
US health department investigates 13 states that require insurance plans to cover abortion 20. March 2026 (14:40) HHS is looking into the states for ‘alleged disregard of, or confusion about’ the federal Weldon amendmentSign up for the Breaking News US email to get newsletter alerts in your inboxThe US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) said on Thursday that it is investigating 13 states that require state-regulated health insurance plans to cover abortion services.HHS officials said in a news release that the department’s office for civil rights (OCR) is looking into the states for allegedly violating the federal Weldon amendment, which prohibits federal funding for programs or state or local governments that “subjects any institutional or individual healthcare entity to discrimination on the basis that the healthcare entity does not provide, pay for, provide coverage of, or refer for abortions”. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
