Indian film board blocks release of Oscar-nominated Gaza drama The Voice of Hind Rajab 19. March 2026 (18:24) Distributor says authorities warned screening Tunisian film-maker Kaouther Ben Hania’s docudrama could harm India–Israel relationsThe Indian release of The Voice of Hind Rajab, the Oscar-nominated Tunisian film about the death of a five-year-old girl during the Israel-Gaza war, has been blocked by the country’s ratings body, according to the film’s Indian distributor.In a report by Variety, Manoj Nandwana of Mumbai-based Jai Viratra Entertainment said that he was told that if the film was released, it would “break up” India-Israel relations. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Concerns raised over ex-Putin interpreter’s key role in monitoring Hungary vote 19. March 2026 (18:05) Daria Boyarskaya coordinating OSCE mission overseeing vote in which pro-Moscow Viktor Orbán could lose powerHungarian rights groups have raised concerns over the appointment of Vladimir Putin’s former interpreter to a key role in an international election monitoring mission, amid fears of Russian interference ahead of Hungary’s crucial vote next month.Daria Boyarskaya, who worked for many years for Russia’s foreign ministry and interpreted in numerous high-level meetings including one between Putin and Donald Trump, is now a senior adviser at the parliamentary assembly of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE-PA), based in Vienna. She is coordinating the body’s mission to monitor next month’s parliamentary election in Hungary. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
PEN America announce 2026 World Voices festival with Judith Butler and Bill McKibben 19. March 2026 (18:00) The 2024 festival was cancelled after multiple authors pulled out over the non-profit’s stance on the Israel-Gaza warThe literary free speech organization PEN America has announced plans for their 2026 World Voices festival. The four day event will take place in New York and Los Angeles from 29 April to 2 May and feature writers from over 140 countries, with in person appearances from authors including Judith Butler, Bill McKibben, Cory Doctorow, Megha Majumdar and Katie Kitamura.In a press release, the event is billed as a “testament to literature’s ability to unite us, and to counteract the closed mindedness that has resulted in a nationalist maelstrom. It continues to affirm PEN America’s commitment to championing writers and their work.” Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Historic March heatwave pushes south-west US toward triple digits 19. March 2026 (17:49) California, Nevada and Arizona face record highs, with heat alerts and park trail closures as temperatures spikeStates across the US south-west recorded blistering temperatures at the tail end of winter, with forecasts indicating hotter days are still to come.California, Nevada and Arizona were all under heat warnings on Thursday amid record-breaking temperatures. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Nigel Farage stops accepting Cameo requests after revelations about his use of platform 19. March 2026 (17:27) Reform leader ‘unavailable’ on service after Guardian investigation unearths clips of him repeating extremist slogansFarage videos reveal support for rioter, neo-Nazi event and far-right slogansNigel Farage has stopped using the personalised video platform Cameo after revelations that the Reform UK leader has filmed a string of highly questionable paid-for clips.On Thursday morning, Farage’s page on the website said he was “unavailable”, and a source said he had paused his use of the platform over security concerns. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
New bill would bar ICE raids near World Cup matches in US host cities 19. March 2026 (17:26) Nellie Pou’s bill follows refusal of ICE chief Todd Lyons to rule out enforcement near stadiums and fan festivalsA New Jersey congresswoman introduced legislation on Thursday to block immigration enforcement from conducting raids within a mile of a Fifa World Cup soccer match or fan festival in the US this summer.The Save the World Cup bill, introduced by Nellie Pou, a Democrat, is meant to assure visitors that they will not be detained and to remove the chilling effect of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations on the events, she said in a release. The World Cup’s first US match begins on 12 June. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
King opens world’s longest managed coastal walk – but much of it is still closed off 19. March 2026 (17:09) Landowner disputes, coastal erosion and disused ferry hindering completion of King Charles III England coast pathThe longest managed coastal walking route in the world has been opened by the king at the Seven Sisters cliff walk.However, large parts of the King Charles III England coast path are still closed to the public after objections from landowners, fears about coastal erosion and a disused ferry. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Denmark reportedly flew blood bags to Greenland in preparation for a US attack 19. March 2026 (17:00) Amid Trump threats, Copenhagen also sent over explosives intended to blow up runways, according to Danish mediaDenmark reportedly readied itself for potential attack from the US in January – flying bags of blood to Greenland and explosives to blow up runways in case of a battle with its former closest ally.During the tense days when Donald Trump threatened to take over Greenland – a largely autonomous territory that is part of the Danish commonwealth – “the hard way”, Copenhagen was so shaken that it started preparing for US invasion, according to Danish public broadcaster DR. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Oman claims Israel pushed US into Iran war when deal was possible 19. March 2026 (16:50) Foreign minister claims Israel convinced Donald Trump to make ‘grave miscalculation’ of waging war on IranMiddle East crisis – live updatesOman’s foreign minister has claimed the US has “lost control of its own foreign policy” and accused Israel of persuading Donald Trump’s administration to go to war with Iran – a conflict he described as a “catastrophe” and a “grave miscalculation”.Writing in the Economist, Badr Albusaidi, the Omani minister who mediated the latest nuclear talks between Iran and the US, offered an unusually damning assessment of events leading up to the US and Israel’s bombing of Iran and the war it has triggered across the Middle East. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
WA police investigate flyers targeting LGBTIQ+ community distributed to homes 19. March 2026 (15:00) The anonymous leaflets display pictures of LGBTIQ+ people along with accusations of crimes such as drug trafficking and paedophiliaFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastPolice in Western Australia are investigating flyers distributed to homes across Perth targeting members of the state’s LGBTIQ+ community.The flyers, which are anonymous, display photographs of LGBTIQ+ people and falsely accuse them of crimes such as paedophilia. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
