‘Everything was burning, people were burning’: witnesses describe strike on Kabul drug rehab centre 17. March 2026 (16:29) Pakistani strike on Afghan capital kills 400 people, who burned in their beds or were crushed by collapsing wallsWitnesses and survivors have described the horrific scenes of a Pakistani air raid that hit a drug rehabilitation centre in Kabul, killing more than 400 people, who burned in their beds or were crushed by the collapsing building.Afghan rescue crews were still digging bodies out of the rubble on Tuesday after the strike, the deadliest single attack so far in a three-week war between the two countries. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
US Senate prepares to take up debate on restrictive voting bill 17. March 2026 (16:15) Sweeping bill would require proof of US citizenship for new voters passed by House but faces steep odds in SenateUS politics live – latest updatesSign up for the Breaking News US newsletter emailA sweeping restrictive voting bill that would require proof of US citizenship for new voters, among other measures, could be debated in the Senate as early as Tuesday.The Save America Act is a rebranded version of the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility act, or the Save Act, a bill that has been circulating through Congress in some iteration for more than two years. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Death of influential Ali Larijani may be bigger loss to Iran than Khamenei 17. March 2026 (16:06) Security chief had IRGC’s trust despite his differences with hardliners and had huge sway with likes of China and RussiaMiddle East crisis – live updatesIf confirmed, Israel’s assassination of Ali Larijani, the secretary of Iran’s supreme national security council and one of the linchpins of Iranian politics, would be a devastating body blow to the country and probably a bigger reverse than the loss of the supreme leader Ali Khamenei at the outset of the war.In any attempt to decapitate the Iranian leadership, Larijani would always be the prime target, largely because of his ability to straddle so many levels of Iranian politics and his huge personal influence not just in Iran but with foreign states including China and Russia. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Bentley to cut hundreds of UK jobs amid ‘challenging global market environment’ 17. March 2026 (15:38) Carmaker reduces office-based roles and will not fill vacancies ‘to ensure long-term competitiveness of business’Bentley is to cut 275 jobs in the UK as the carmaker faces a “challenging global market environment”.The luxury brand, owned by Germany’s Volkswagen, is preparing to launch its first all-electric model but acknowledged it had some work to do to persuade consumers to switch away from internal combustion engine vehicles. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Police and media launch charter to ‘reset’ relations after Nicola Bulley case 17. March 2026 (15:07) Forces in England and Wales and journalists pledge to improve relations amid rising distrust Police and the media have backed a “reset” in relations between officers and journalists, after a prolonged period of distrust since the handling of the Nicola Bulley case in 2023.Bulley’s disappearance in Lancashire led to significant fallout between the police and the press, with media outlets saying a lack of access and information allowed incorrect assertions and conspiracy theories about the case to gain ground. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Two men appear in court over murder of Iranian activist in Canada 17. March 2026 (15:05) Charges follow discovery of body of Masood Masjoody, who was a critic of the Tehran regime and the exiled shahTwo people have been charged with the murder of an Iranian activist in Canada, in a case which has intensified fears over transnational repression of critics of the regime in Tehran.Masood Masjoody, a former university maths teacher, went missing in early February in the city of Burnaby, British Columbia. He had been critical of Iran’s theocratic regime and the exiled family of the former shah. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Australian households fear double whammy of rate hikes and higher petrol prices will lead to recession 17. March 2026 (15:04) Borrowers face losing hundreds of dollars a month in higher repayments and rising pump rices will add to the pain, economists warnFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastSurging interest rates and petrol prices have stripped more than $1bn a month from Australian household budgets as economists warn of recession risks.Consumers are preparing for rates to surpass their recent highs after the Reserve Bank delivered back-to-back hikes ahead of an inflation spike driven by the US war on Iran. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Pauline Hanson exploiting less well-educated Australians, Labor says 17. March 2026 (15:00) One Nation and Coalition adopting reactionary tactics to win over frustrated and fearful voters, frontbencher Andrew Giles saysFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastPauline Hanson and rightwing populists are cynically exploiting the frustrations of Australians who feel forgotten by government or left behind by poor education and job opportunities, Labor frontbencher Andrew Giles says.Accusing One Nation and the Coalition of adopting cynical and reactionary tactics to win over frustrated and fearful voters, Giles says better education is critical to stopping disenfranchisement with government and a weakening of democracy in Australia. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Australia’s environment minister wants to ban fishers and drillers from more ocean – and avoid a culture war 17. March 2026 (15:00) Conservationists hope Murray Watt’s review of national marine parks will ‘right the wrongs’ of previous downgrade of protectionSign up for climate and environment editor Adam Morton’s free Clear Air newsletter hereThe federal environment minister, Murray Watt, has pledged to put an extra half a million square kilometres of Australia’s ocean out of reach of fishers and drillers in a step conservationists hope will “right the wrongs” of an Abbott-era downgrade of marine protection.Watt confirmed last year Australia would put 30% of its ocean estate under a high level of protection that bans extractive industries as part of an international agreement to protect 30% of the planet’s oceans. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Trump threatens political retribution for lawmakers who vote against voter ID bill – US politics live 17. March 2026 (14:55) President says he will ‘never (ever) endorse anyone’ who votes against Save America act as Senate prepares to take up debate on controversial billSign up for the Breaking News US email to get newsletter alerts in your inboxThe Trump administration has agreed to take a financial loss in order to make it easier for Americans to walk away from their US citizenship.In April, the cost to formally renounce citizenship will plunge from $2,350 to just $450, below the actual cost to the government of processing the requests – but fulfilling a years-long promise to reverse an unpopular fee adopted in 2015. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
