Overhaul of rape inquiries threatened by lack of courtroom awareness, says expert 09. March 2026 (23:30) Exclusive: Independent adviser says some judges in England and Wales have not heard of changes to way cases are investigatedAn overhaul of the way police investigate rape is being put at risk by a lack of awareness in courtrooms in England and Wales, the government’s independent adviser on rape has warned.Prof Katrin Hohl said legal experts were concerned progress would stall or reverse if the conviction rate for rape dropped significantly because a new approach for investigating the cases, known as Operation Soteria, was hitting outdated practices in the courts. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Beloved teacher and a father killed in shooting at bar in Oakland, California 09. March 2026 (23:06) Victims remembered as ‘cherished’ and ‘devoted’ after shooting at EZ’s Lounge that injured five others on SaturdaySign up for the Breaking News US email to get newsletter alerts in your inboxA 33-year-old teacher and a 25-year-old father were identified as the two people killed in a mass shooting at an Oakland, California, bar over the weekend.Seven people were shot in the incident at EZ’s Lounge on early Saturday morning. Police identified the two deadly victims on Monday as Latetia Bobo and Markise Martin. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Alexander brothers, high-profile US real estate brokers, guilty of sex trafficking 09. March 2026 (22:56) Oren, Alon and Tal Alexander convicted in New York after being accused of raping dozens of womenSign up for the Breaking News US email to get newsletter alerts in your inboxThree brothers, including two of the nation’s most successful luxury real estate brokers, were convicted of sex trafficking charges on Monday after a five-week trial over accusations that they used drugs and force to rape scores of women they had dazzled with their wealth and opulent lifestyle.The verdict came after 11 women testified they were sexually assaulted by one or more of the brothers: twins Oren and Alon Alexander, 38, and Tal Alexander, 39. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Police offer $250,000 reward for information on Lake Cargelligo triple-murder accused Julian Ingram 09. March 2026 (22:49) ‘Now is the time to speak up,’ NSW police minister says as manhunt continues after January killingsWarning: This article contains references to Indigenous Australians who have diedFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastNew South Wales police have offered a $250,000 reward for information that leads to the arrest of Julian Ingram, the suspected triple murderer accused of fatally shooting his pregnant former partner, her boyfriend and her aunt in Lake Cargelligo in January.Officials have searched for Ingram, also known as Julian Pierpoint, 37, since 22 January. He was last seen driving a Ford Ranger ute with council signage. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Democrats file new war powers resolutions and call for public hearings on Iran strikes 09. March 2026 (22:35) Senators say Trump allies such as Hegseth and Rubio should be forced to testify to Congress on ‘unnecessary war’Sign up for the Breaking News US email to get newsletter alerts in your inboxDemocratic senators have filed a wave of new war powers resolutions as they call on Republicans to convene public hearings into the US hostilities with Iran or be forced to vote on continuing a conflict that polls show majorities of Americans do not support.Late last week, Democrats Cory Booker of New Jersey, Tim Kaine of Virginia, Adam Schiff of California, Tammy Baldwin of Wisconsin and Chris Murphy of Connecticut filed resolutions under the War Powers Act that would force the US military to withdraw from the war with Iran unless Congress votes to authorize the engagement. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Definition of anti-Muslim hate will not harm free speech, says Steve Reed 09. March 2026 (21:26) Communities secretary tells MPs that government has to act against record levels of hate crimesA new definition of anti-Muslim hate will not restrict freedom of speech, the communities secretary has pledged, as he said that “clear expectations” will still be set for new arrivals and existing communities in Britain to learn English.MPs were told by Steve Reed that the government had a duty to act against record levels of hate crime against Muslims, but that “you can’t tackle a problem if you can’t describe it”. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Tennessee Republican draws criticism from Democrats for Islamophobic rant 09. March 2026 (21:08) Andy Ogles posted ‘Muslims don’t belong in American society,’ among other statements, prompting Cair to call him an ‘anti-Muslim extremist’Sign up for the Breaking News US email to get newsletter alerts in your inboxAndy Ogles, a Republican representative of Tennessee, spent Monday on an Islamophobic rant, writing on social media: “Muslims don’t belong in American society,” among other statements that drew heated criticism from Democrats.“None of them belong here,” Ogles wrote in one of several posts on X, next to the mugshots of people he identified as being from Somalia and Senegal, the latter of whom was killed by police after a mass shooting last week in Austin, Texas. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
So Badenoch, Farage and Blair think the Iran war is a great idea? Hmm … | John Crace 09. March 2026 (21:02) Kemi may be all in favour, but at least economic realpolitik is forcing her to take a slightly different tackThere have been any number of opportunities for people to decide they wanted no part of America’s war with Iran. The first was after the US had launched its first wave of strikes. To be fair, this was the moment Keir Starmer and most of the UK reckoned enough was enough and that our involvement would be limited to defensive strikes only.You couldn’t really fault the logic. Did the UK really want to be part of a war that was illegal in most versions of international law and for which the Americans had no clear vision of how it might end? Other than Donald Trump gets bored and lets everyone else clear up his mess. Like a baby. Nor was the UK’s track record of wars in the 21st century any source of pride. Iraq, Afghanistan and Libya had all been in chaos. Iran was shaping up the same way. So Starmer decided to sit this one out. Applying the doctor’s principle of ”first, do no harm”. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
HMS Dragon will head to Cyprus in next couple of days, says defence secretary 09. March 2026 (20:58) John Healey tells Commons crews working hard to prepare warship after criticism over slow response to drone attacksHMS Dragon will set sail in “the next couple of days”, the defence secretary has said, meaning the British destroyer may not arrive in the eastern Mediterranean until after the weekend.John Healey told the House of Commons that navy crews were working “tirelessly, 22 hours a day” to prepare the warship, as he faced accusations of not acting fast enough to protect British interests in the region. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Trump cheers FBI subpoena of Arizona 2020 election records 09. March 2026 (20:38) Request for records related to election audit appears latest part of Trump effort to spread false claims about votingA federal grand jury subpoenaed Arizona’s legislature for records related the state senate’s widely criticized review of the 2020 election, the state senate president said on Monday, in what appears to be the latest part of the Trump administration’s efforts to spread false claims about the 2020 election and voting in the United States.Warren Petersen, the president of the Arizona state senate, confirmed on X on Monday the legislature had received a subpoena related to records of its review of the election results in Maricopa county, the most populous in the state. He added that “the FBI has the records”. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
