Experts say paid participants are using automated tools to generate unreliable survey responses at scaleIf you had been keeping tabs on the news about church attendance in Britain lately, you would be forgiven for thinking the country was in the midst of a Christian revival.Stories of swelling congregations, filled with young people returning to the flock, spurred on by everything from social media to a rise in bible sales appeared to be confirmed by a 2024 report from the Bible Society. Continue reading...
ā¢ U.S. lawmakers and Silicon Valley leaders are converging on policies to counter China's rapid AI advances, viewing it as a strategic economic battle.
ā¢ House Speaker Mike Johnson urged tech firms to keep chips, data centers, and AI systems domestic and away from geopolitical rivals.
ā¢ Proposed GAIN AI Act would mandate prioritizing U.S. access to advanced AI chips and require export licenses to countries of concern.
Fears grow that Tehran may start activating sleeper cells across Middle East as part of war with US and IsraelMiddle East crisis ā live updatesGulf countries have raised concerns over the prospect of attacks by Iran-backed militias and proxy armed groups in the region, which they fear could destabilise their regimes and escalate the war in the Middle East.In a joint statement this week, Qatar, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and Jordan condemned Iranian attacks on their soil, both as strikes carried out directly from Iran and āthrough their proxies and armed factions they support in the regionā. Continue reading...
Presidentās move, dubbed Trump Always Chickens Out, appears to have soured as he loses hold on situation in IranFrom Wall Street to the White House, the dish everyoneās talking about this week is the Persian Taco. Itās whatās served when Trump chickens out in Iran.In the early hours of Monday morning, witnessing oil prices surge, stock futures plummet and bond yields climb due to his threat to pummel Iranās civilian power infrastructure, the president hurriedly walked it back, announcing he would put off the bombing because talks with Iran were actually going great. After the bombast and bloodshed, it was time for Taco (Trump Always Chickens Out), a move he first put on display during the tariffs crisis last year. Continue reading...
ā¢ The Trump administration is pressuring hospitals nationwide to shut down gender-affirming care programs for minors by threatening to withhold federal funding, described as 'unprecedented' by GLAD Law's Jennifer Levi.
ā¢ Providers like Boston Medical Center, Boston Children's Hospital, and Mass General Brigham face a stark choice: discontinue medications for transgender youth or risk losing critical federal support that could shut them down.
ā¢ In Massachusetts, state health leaders and smaller providers like Transhealth, serving 600-700 patients under 18, vow to continue care despite risks, with CEO Jo Erwin hiring more staff in anticipation of increased demand.
ā¢ USPS implemented a rule on December 24, 2025, potentially disrupting vote-by-mail processes critical for elections.
ā¢ Department of Justice sued 24 states over sensitive voter data access, sparking privacy debates and participation concerns.
ā¢ U.S. Commission on Civil Rights approved report on language access for limited English proficient voters, highlighting gaps in election equity.
Industry fears strait of Hormuz closure could disrupt shipping of crucial parts for UK and German North Sea projectsā¢ Business live ā latest updatesA string of large offshore wind projects in Europe are facing potential delays as the Iran war threatens to disrupt shipping of crucial parts manufactured in the Gulf.Industry sources are concerned that components ordered from suppliers in the United Arab Emirates could become trapped if shipping remains effectively blocked through the strait of Hormuz. Continue reading...
NSW police allege the boy āheld a mixed ideology and outlined plans for acts of violenceāA 16-year-old boy has been charged with multiple terrorism offences after he allegedly posted threats of extremist violence online.Police initially arrested and charged the boy with weapons offences in December after the NSW Joint Counter Terrorism Team received reports of someone making violent threats online, the Australian Federal Police said in a statement on Wednesday morning. Continue reading...
Experts say brutal temperatures in west threaten to melt sparse snowpack ā and warn hot, dry conditions here to stayA stunning heatwave that shattered records in the US west is threatening to rapidly melt the sparse snowpack and ramp up wildfire risks in the seasons ahead.March has already been historically hot, but the early onset of summer weather across the region may be here to stay. Thereās little reprieve in forecasts, which show more heat records may fall this spring. Continue reading...
Incumbent Mette Frederiksen widely predicted to continue as PM but neither bloc expected to be able to form majorityDenmark election: far right has slowed under Frederiksen ā but at what cost?After votes in France, Germany, Italy, Slovenia over the weekend, itās now time for Denmark, as Danes go to the polls today amid the backdrop of (waves arms) everything, everywhere, all at once.As our Nordic correspondent Miranda Bryant explains, the incumbent, Mette Frederiksen, has been widely predicted to continue as prime minister after the election. Continue reading...
Federal Coalition tells Pauline Hansonās party to expect more policy scrutiny after historic result in South Australia electionThe Albanese government has sharpened its attacks on One Nation as a party of āstunts and the vibeā after the South Australian premier warned Pauline Hanson is a threat to Labor following its historic state election result.The federal Coalition is also dialling up the pressure, warning One Nation to expect more scrutiny of its policy positions as it attempts to avert a SA-style collapse in other parts of the country. Continue reading...
Labor under pressure over fuel crisis as federal parliament returns. Follow updates liveGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastGovernments around the world are unprepared for the growing threat of drones being used to carry out terror attacks, a report warns.Advances in drone technology, 3D printing and AI-assisted navigation should prompt leaders, including those in Australia, to rethink anti-extremism strategies, the paper from the Lowy Institute says.The combination of easy accessibility and payload potential, and the limitations of domestic counter-drone systems, presents a growing challenge. Continue reading...
ā¢ President Trump demands passage of the SAVE Act, which requires passport or birth certificate for voter registration, photo ID at polls, and in-person citizenship proof for mail-in ballots, refusing to sign other legislation until it passes.
ā¢ The bill would compel states to share voter rolls with the federal government; Senate Majority Leader John Thune refuses to eliminate the filibuster, dimming prospects.
ā¢ Political history professor Nolan Higdon warns it could disrupt midterms by forcing separate state and federal elections if rules can't be implemented in time.
Unpaid carers say they remain āin limboā as DWP continues to pursue discredited repayment billsMPs have threatened to launch a fresh inquiry into the handling of the carers allowance scandal after unpaid carers spoke of being āstuck in limboā by the governmentās response.The warning came amid concerns over delays in Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) plans to offer redress to tens of thousands of carers who were unfairly issued with overpayment bills based on discredited official guidance. Continue reading...
ā¢ On March 21, 2026, Subcommittee Chairman August Pfluger (R-TX) requested a GAO review of threats from violent extremists using AI technologies against the US.
ā¢ The letter warns that malicious actors, including cyber threats and insiders, exploit generative AI for terrorist tactics like recruitment and attacks.
ā¢ Pfluger emphasizes the challenges in detecting and deterring these evolving national security risks, citing prior hearings on foreign terrorist use of emerging tech.
President attacks āRadical Left Democratsā after homeland security funding bill again sinks in SenateDonald Trump threatened on Saturday to deploy federal immigration agents to US airports if Democrats do not agree to measures aimed at strengthening security and immigration enforcement.āIf the Radical Left Democrats donāt immediately sign an agreement to let our Country, in particular, our Airports, be FREE and SAFE again, I will move our brilliant and patriotic ICE Agents to the Airports,ā Trump said in a Truth Social post. Continue reading...
Man wielding knife also tried to slash tires and taken into custody, with two transit officers and police officer injuredSix people were brought to the hospital after a man wielding a butcher knife threatened to stab a bus driver, tried to slash tires at a Boston transit station Friday before being taken into custody, authorities said.Among those injured were two transit officers, a Boston police officer and the suspect in the case, said Richard Sullivan, superintendent of police for the Massachusetts Bay transportation authority. Sullivan, who briefed reporters at a news conference, said he wasnāt aware of the other two reported as injured by Bostonās emergency medical services agency. Continue reading...
Record 171 million passengers are expected to fly this spring, even as TSA funding lapse risks longer airport linesSpring breakers in the US could see their long-awaited trips to party destinations disrupted by a trifecta of issues: airport security delays, high gas prices, and chaotic weather.The potential for flight delays comes as US airlines expect that they will see a record-shattering spring travel season. Airlines for America, an aviation industry group, said that 171 million passengers are expected to fly ā a 4% increase from the 2025 spring travel period. Continue reading...
ā¢ The American Library Association condemned H.R. 7661's passage by the House Education and Workforce Committee on March 17, 2026, calling it a 'dangerous' censorship bill.
ā¢ The vague language risks defunding schools for materials deemed 'sexually oriented,' including art, history, and Virginia's state flag, treating 17-year-olds like kindergartners.
ā¢ ALA urges opposition, highlighting threats to LGBTQIA+ stories and civil rights, and supports the Right to Read Act for library funding.
Copenhagen was so shaken that it sent blood supplies in readiness for battle, according to Danish mediaDenmark reportedly readied itself for potential attack from the US in January ā flying bags of blood to Greenland and explosives to blow up runways in case of 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, āthe hard wayā, Copenhagen was so shaken that it started preparing for US invasion, according to Danish public broadcaster DR. Continue reading...
The move would be a major escalation in the US-Israel war against Iran. Plus, FBI director admits to buying data tracking Americansā locationsGood morning.Donald Trump threatened to āmassively blow upā the worldās largest gasfield after Israeli strikes on Iranās South Pars field led Tehran to take revenge on energy facilities across the Middle East.Whatās happening to oil and gas prices? Brent crude rose by 8% to $116 a barrel. European gas prices jumped, with the Dutch wholesale gas price up 24%.What do we know about the warās economic cost? The war cost the US $12.7bn by day six ā the total is likely to have now exceeded $18bn. Hereās a visualization of how that has been spent.Could US-Israeli attempts to take out Iranian leaders backfire? Some analysts think so. āIt is not an approach that produces Jeffersonian democrats but hardened resistance fighters. It breeds more resistance,ā said Sanam Vakil, an Iran expert at Chatham House.Follow our live coverage here.Who has spoken out? Labor rights activist and co-founder of the UFW Dolores Huerta, 95, released a statement on Wednesday saying: āI have kept this secret long enough. My silence ends here.ā The report also includes the stories of two women, who were daughters of organizers in the movement, who said they were children when the grooming and abuse began. Continue reading...
US president claims Israel will not attack South Pars again ā but threatens to destroy āextremely important and valuableā site if Iran continues to attack gas facilities in QatarMiddle East crisis ā live updatesDonald Trump threatened to āmassively blow upā the worldās largest gasfield after Israeli strikes on the Iranian site prompted Tehran to step up attacks on energy facilities across the Middle East.Israelās decision to target the South Pars gasfield on Wednesday marked a major escalation of the war, heightening fears of significant disruption to international energy supplies. Continue reading...
More than a dozen Victorian Labor sources, including minsters and factional powerbrokers, confirm move for leadership changeFor weeks, Labor MPs have been quietly weighing the future of Jacinta Allan.In hushed conversations in the corridors of parliament, MPs have cited her baggage ā her time as Daniel Andrewsā deputy, her role in the cancelled Commonwealth Games and as the minister overseeing the Big Build at a time corruption allegedly was allowed to grow unfettered in the construction union. Even more damaging, some argue, has been her hesitation to act once the corruption was made public.Benita Kolovos is Guardian Australiaās Victorian state correspondent Continue reading...
US president says Israel will not launch another attack on the giant gasfield shared by Iran and Qatar, but promises to destroy it if Tehran retaliatesIsrael strikes Iranās South Pars gasfield hours after forces kill intelligence minister Fighting intensifies between Israel and Hezbollah in southern LebanonWelcome to our continuing live coverage of the US-Israel war on Iran and the broader crisis in the region, and global economy.Donald Trump has threatened to āmassively blow upā the entire South Pars gas field if Iran carries out any more retaliatory attacks on Qatarās LNG gas facilities.The Pentagon āhas asked the White House to approve a more than $200bn request to Congress to fund the war in Iran, according to a senior administration officialā, the Washington Post reports.The oil price climbed towards $110 a barrel on Wednesday as the mounting threat to the Gulfās oil and gas infrastructure fuelled concerns of more disruption to global supplies, amid the continuing blockade of the strait of Hormuz.QatarEnergy said āsizeable firesā caused extensive damage at its LNG facilities after Iranian missile attacks in the early hours of Thursday.An attack set a ship ablaze early on Thursday off the UAE coast, authorities said. The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations centre said āa vessel has been hit by an unknown projectile, which has resulted in a fire onboardā.French president Emmanuel Macron called for an immediate moratorium on striking civilian infrastructure, and said civilian populations and their needs must be āprotected from military escalationā.Three Palestinian women were killed in an Iranian missile attack in the occupied West Bank late on Wednesday, the Palestinian Red Crescent said, in the first deadly Iranian strike there.A man was killed in central Israel in the latest round of Iranian missile fire, medics say. It brings the death roll in Israel from the war to 15.Republicans in the US Senate blocked a measure that aimed to reign in Donald Trumpās power to wage war against Iran without congressional authorisation, winning a 53-47 vote. Continue reading...
ā¢ Intelligence officials testified before Congress on March 18 regarding Iran war threats and national security, with National Intelligence Director Tulsi Gabbard deflecting questions about pre-war intelligence she offered Trump, while facing Democratic accusations of misusing national security powers for domestic political interference.
ā¢ FBI Director Kash Patel made his first Capitol Hill appearance since a viral video showed him celebrating with the U.S. men's hockey team at the Winter Olympics; Patel has fired dozens of FBI agents in his first year, raising concerns about loss of national security expertise during elevated terrorism threats.
ā¢ Multiple terrorism-related incidents occurred this month, including a gunman inspired by Iranian ideology killing two at a Texas bar, suspects arrested for explosives near New York City, a shooting at Old Dominion University in Virginia, and a car attack on a Michigan synagogue.
ā¢ The House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence convenes an open hearing on the 2026 Annual Worldwide Threats Assessment on March 19 at 8:30 AM.
ā¢ Session addresses global risks including ongoing Middle East conflicts and other geopolitical challenges.
ā¢ Timing aligns with US-Iran war escalations and fresh intelligence on threats like China-Taiwan dynamics.
Treasurer plans āambitiousā changes to target intergenerational inequity. Follow todayās news liveGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastGood morning and welcome to our live news blog. Iām Martin Farrer with the top overnight stories and then it will be Nick Visser with the main action.Jim Chalmers will today promise to deliver a trio of āambitious reform packagesā in the May budget that will rebuild fiscal buffers, make the tax system fairer and lift the nationās lagging productivity performance. The treasurer will be speaking at an event in Melbourne at 12.30pm. More coming up. Continue reading...
Revolutionary Guards say they will strike infrastructure in Saudi Arabia, UAE and Qatar after South Pars field hitMiddle East crisis ā live updatesBusiness live ā latest updatesIran has threatened to attack energy infrastructure across the Gulf region in retaliation for Israeli strikes on its largest gasfield, the first targeted attacks on its fossil fuel production since the war began.Iranās Revolutionary Guards have threatened counterstrikes on several energy facilities across Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Qatar āin the coming hoursā after state media reports that missiles had targeted its gas facilities at the giant South Pars field, the largest gas reserves in the world. Continue reading...
Emanuel Fabian says his routine report became focus of wager with $23m at stake on online prediction platformAn Israeli journalist received threatening messages from users of the online prediction platform Polymarket after one of his reports, on a minor missile strike near Jerusalem, suddenly became the focus of an unresolved bet about the Israel-Iran conflict.āAfter you make us lose $900,000 we will invest no less than that to finish you,ā said one message to the journalist, Emanuel Fabian. Continue reading...
More than 200 Americans at Balad site say they have no evacuation plan as fears grow of a post-Ramadan assaultSign up for the Breaking News US email to get newsletter alerts in your inboxHundreds of US contractors are stranded on a major military base near Baghdad, Iraq, with no evacuation plan, while local Iran-backed militants are possibly making plans to attack the base, three sources said.The contractors are employed on the Martyr Brigadier General Ali Flaih Air Base, formerly Balad Air Base, to support the Iraqi governmentās F-16 fighter jet program. Continue reading...
