I’ll also be back as Conan: Arnold Schwarzenegger to make third Barbarian film 44 years after original 10. March 2026 (14:54) The 78-year-old has announced a return to the action hero role that made his name in 1982, promising ‘all kinds of madness’Arnold Schwarzenegger is to return to the role that launched him as a movie star in a belated third instalment of the Conan the Barbarian franchise. The original film, released in 1982 and adapted from pulpy novels by Robert E Howard, saw the then bodybuilder play the chivalric sword-wielder on a quest for revenge against James Earl Jones’ cult leader Thulsa Doom.Schwarzenegger, 78, whose acting work has slowed since he returned to the profession after his stint as the governor of California, announced at the Arnold sports festival in Columbus, Ohio over the weekend that director Christopher McQuarrie, best known for his work on the Mission: Impossible franchise, would take the reins on King Conan. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Spain to formally pardon 53 women incarcerated by Franco regime 10. March 2026 (14:46) Thousands of girls were locked up by Board for the Protection of Women for ‘rehabilitation’ Spain is to formally pardon a group of 53 women who are among thousands who were incarcerated by the Franco regime on the grounds that they were supposedly “fallen or in danger of falling”.The women were locked up as adolescents by the Board for the Protection of Women, a collection of institutions run by religious orders. The board, which had echoes of Ireland’s notorious Magdalene laundries, was overseen by Carmen Polo, the wife of the dictator Gen Francisco Franco. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Cathay Pacific offers £20,000 Sydney to London flight amid disruption in Gulf 10. March 2026 (14:39) Hong Kong-based airline has business-class return listed at A$39,577, as travellers seek routes avoiding Middle EastBusiness live – latest updatesThe Hong Kong-based airline Cathay Pacific is selling seats from Sydney to London for more than £20,000 in April, as passengers search for scarce long-haul flights without changing in the Middle East.The tickets, listed at A$39,577 in business class for returns departing in mid-April, far outstrip the usual fares charged even in the first class cabin. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Ex-Missouri house speaker sentenced 21 months for misusing Covid relief funds 10. March 2026 (14:22) John Diehl admitted using federal pandemic loans for country club dues, cars and other personal expensesSign up for the Breaking News US email to get newsletter alerts in your inboxA former Missouri state house speaker was sentenced Monday to 21 months in prison after pleading guilty to wire fraud for misusing federal Covid-19 relief funds for his personal benefit, including the payments of his country club dues and three cars.John Diehl, the former Republican house speaker, received about $380,000 in federal loans for his law firm between 2020 and 2022 through a program intended to help cover operating expenses for businesses affected by the coronavirus pandemic. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Families welcome appointment of Donna Ockenden to Leeds maternity inquiry 10. March 2026 (14:00) Campaigners say Wes Streeting’s decision to name senior midwife as chair will begin to restore trustFamilies who lost babies at two hospitals in Leeds have said they are slowly regaining trust in the health secretary after the midwife Donna Ockenden was appointed to lead a review into the failing service, where 56 babies and two mothers died in five years.Ockenden, who conducted a similar review into maternity services at Shrewsbury and Telford hospital NHS trust in 2020, was chosen to lead the investigation into Leeds teaching hospitals NHS trust after a campaign by the families. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Thousands of lawyers urge Keir Starmer to rethink plans to cut jury trials 10. March 2026 (13:52) Government facing prospect of most serious backbench revolt yet over proposals for England and Wales Plans to curtail the number of jury trials in England and Wales have been described as “unpopular, untested and poorly evidenced” by thousands of lawyers who have written to the prime minister.The letter to Keir Starmer, a former director of public prosecutions, from 3,200 lawyers, including 300 senior barristers, comes as his government faces the prospect of one of its most serious backbench revolts since coming to power. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Missouri drops murder charge against man who opened fire at Super Bowl rally 10. March 2026 (13:49) Man was among at least six people who started shooting outside Union Station in state, which has adopted stand your ground lawSign up for the Breaking News US email to get newsletter alerts in your inboxA man who initially faced a murder charge for opening fire following the Kansas City Chiefs’ 2024 Super Bowl win was sentenced Monday to two years in prison in a case prosecutors said was complicated by the state’s self-defense laws.Dominic Miller, who pleaded guilty to a weapons charge as part of a plea deal, was among at least six people to start shooting in the melee that sent players, city officials and hundreds of fans scrambling for cover, according to court records. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Shots fired at US consulate in Canada as police investigate incident 10. March 2026 (13:48) No injuries were reported after authorities found evidence of a discharged firearm near the consulate in TorontoSign up for the Breaking News US email to get newsletter alerts in your inboxPolice in Canada are investigating after shots were fired at the US consulate in Toronto. Officers said evidence was found of a discharged firearm and that no injuries were reported.Toronto police said in a social media post they responded to the reported shots at 5.29 a.m. (0929 GMT) on Tuesday. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
VW to cut 50,000 jobs amid Trump tariffs and falling Chinese sales 10. March 2026 (12:40) Car group reports 54% drop in pre-tax profits as it says Iran war could affect demand for Audi and Porsche brandsBusiness live – latest updatesEurope’s largest automaker, Volkswagen, is to shed 50,000 jobs by the end of the decade, as it faces falling sales in China and North America and punitive US tariffs imposed by Donald Trump.The 10-brand group, whose luxury subsidiaries Porsche and Audi are also under pressure, said the jobs would go in Germany, affecting the entire group, as part of a restructuring drive in light of the darkening global business climate. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
The HMS Dragon row: why has it taken so long to get a UK destroyer to Cyprus? 10. March 2026 (12:06) The government said a week ago the warship would be deployed but it is still at dock. What is happening?Middle East crisis – live updatesUK politics live – latest updatesThe pace at which HMS Dragon has been readied for deployment to defend a British military base in Cyprus from attacks by Iran has prompted claims that Britain’s proud naval history has been shamed.It has been a week since the government said the Portsmouth-based Type 45 destroyer would be deployed, but it is still at dock and the ship is likely to take another five days or more to reach its destination. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
