Olly Robbins refused to hand Mandelson vetting summary to Cabinet Office, says Cat Little 23. April 2026 (11:52) In evidence to MPs, Cabinet Office’s top civil servant disputes claim her department suggested vetting might not be neededUK politics live – latest updatesOlly Robbins refused to hand Peter Mandelson’s vetting summary to the Cabinet Office, the civil servant who leads the department has said.The summary – which would have revealed that Robbins, the now-sacked Foreign Office head, had granted Mandelson clearance against the advice of security officials – was instead provided to Cat Little by UK Security Vetting, she said. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
EU set to sign off €90bn loan for Ukraine and fresh Russia sanctions – Europe live 23. April 2026 (11:46) Move comes after Hungary and Slovakia dropped opposition following reopening of the Druzhba oil pipelineWe are getting a bit more detail from Slovakia on the oil deliveries it is getting via the now-restarted Druzhba pipeline.Slovakia is expected to get 13,500 tonnes of Russian crude daily, meaning it should receive 119,000 tonnes by the end of the month. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
EU risks fallout with US over Trump-linked Balkans pipeline plan 23. April 2026 (11:15) Exclusive: Brussels seeks to stall awarding of contract to firm fronted by US president’s lawyer in letter seen by GuardianThe EU risks a confrontation with Donald Trump after it sought to stall the awarding of a lucrative Balkans pipeline contract to a company fronted by his personal lawyer, documents seen by the Guardian show.Brussels has clashed with Trump over trade, Ukraine and military spending, but the intervention in the Southern Interconnection pipeline project appears to mark the first time it has challenged a commercial venture by those close to the president. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Criminal gangs profiting as child sexual abuse websites double, experts say 23. April 2026 (11:00) Analyst who worked on Internet Watch Foundation report says content exists ‘across all social media platforms’ and is ‘very easy’ to findThe number of commercial child sexual abuse websites has doubled in a year as experts say that criminal gangs are making “huge profits” from online sexual exploitation.According to data collected by the Internet Watch Foundation (IWF), 15,031 commercial child sexual abuse sites were found in 2025, compared with 7,028 found in 2024, a 114% increase. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
‘This is not the country I moved to’: the British Indians showing support for Nigel Farage 23. April 2026 (11:00) Savitha Prakash, a first-generation immigrant running in local elections in Harrow, says Reform UK aims to ‘put Britain first’Savitha Prakash, an NHS doctor living in the London borough of Harrow, believes there are similarities between the Reform UK leader, Nigel Farage, and India’s prime minister, Narendra Modi. “He’s [Modi] one of those people, like Nigel, he walks the talk. He made [a] difference to the country,” said Prakash, who chairs Reform UK’s branch in Harrow.In particular, the 47-year-old said Farage and Modi – who have each been accused by their critics of scapegoating marginalised communities – were focused on putting the needs of the majority first. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Iran behind low-level ‘hybrid warfare’ attacks in UK and Europe, analysts say 23. April 2026 (10:00) Iranian intelligence services apparently recruiting via intermediaries to mount attacks aimed at sowing chaosIranian intelligence services and Revolutionary Guards operatives are recruiting teenagers through criminal intermediaries to launch a wave of low-level “hybrid warfare” attacks in Europe and the UK, according to investigators, security officials, analysts and police documents.A first wave of attacks was launched in early March, 10 days after the US and Israel began strikes on Iran, and targeted Jewish community sites in Belgium, the Netherlands and US banks. A second wave has focused on the UK, with a series of arson and attempted arson attacks on synagogues, a Jewish charity and the offices of an Iranian opposition TV network in London. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Ben Roberts-Smith planned to leave Australia and researched buying wellness business in Spain, court documents show 23. April 2026 (09:55) Partner of soldier accused of war crimes says the couple discussed possibility of moving overseas to ‘create some normalcy in our lives’Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastBen Roberts-Smith was planning to leave Australia to live overseas and had a business class flight out of the country booked in four days’ time when he was arrested at Sydney airport this month, court documents allege, with investigators telling a court “his willingness to return to Australia to face prosecution cannot be judged”.Roberts-Smith was ultimately granted bail last week under strict conditions, a move opposed by prosecutors who said there was potential concern he was a flight risk and might try to avoid ever having to face trial for a series of alleged murders he committed in Afghanistan. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
David Malouf, Australian author of Remembering Babylon and Ransom, dies aged 92 23. April 2026 (09:19) Acclaimed Brisbane-born writer was known for his work exploring his own childhood, great myths and colonial AustraliaDavid Malouf, the acclaimed Australian author of books including Ransom, An Imaginary Life and the Booker prize-nominated Remembering Babylon, has died aged 92.Malouf died on Wednesday, his publisher, Penguin Random House Australia, said in a statement on Thursday. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Schools forced to cut back on support for Send pupils in England, poll finds 23. April 2026 (09:00) More than 70% have cut down in past year on teaching assistants, who play key role in helping children with SendTwo-fifths of school leaders in England have been forced to cut back on support for children with special educational needs due to a financial crisis “more than a decade in the making”, according to a poll.Seven out of 10 (71%) leaders say they have cut down on teaching assistants (TAs) in the past year, while 49% have reduced support staff. The crisis could escalate as 81% warn of further cuts in the year ahead. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Middle East crisis live: US and Iran in blockade stalemate as Washington’s navy secretary leaves office ‘immediately’ 23. April 2026 (08:53) Iran says two seized ships transferred to its coast; US navy secretary exiting post ‘effective immediately’, says Pentagon‘Impossible’ to reopen strait of Hormuz amid ‘flagrant’ ceasefire breaches, Iran saysThe Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said its troops have captured a member of Hezbollah’s Radwan force, the most elite unit of the pro-Iran armed group, in southern Lebanon.The IDF claimed the Hezbollah fighter was planning to carry out an attack on Israeli troops before he surrendered and was detained yesterday. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
