Private secretary of billionaire philanthropist Judith Neilson charged with fraud over $1m luxury purchases 23. April 2026 (05:33) Annalouise Spence allegedly used credit card to make ‘unauthorised purchases of luxury and personal items, including clothing, artwork and jewellery’Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastThe former private secretary of billionaire philanthropist Judith Neilson has been charged with dozens of counts of fraud after she allegedly used a business credit card to make more than $1m of purchases, including luxury clothing, artwork and jewellery.Annalouise Spence, 50, was due to appear at a bail court hearing on Thursday after being charged with 68 counts of dishonestly obtaining property by deception. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
University of Queensland Press cancels children’s book over illustrator’s post on ‘Zionist framing’ of Bondi attack 23. April 2026 (05:21) Authors including Evelyn Araluen and Melissa Lucashenko say they won’t work with publisher after it dumps Jazz Money’s book illustrated by Matt Chun, who called Bondi victims ‘affluent beneficiaries of imperialism’Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastAn Australian publishing house has cancelled the publication of a children’s book by an award-winning Indigenous poet over comments the book’s illustrator made about the victims of the Bondi beach terror attack, whom he called “affluent beneficiaries of imperialism”.University of Queensland said on Wednesday its publishing house would not proceed with the publication of Bila, A River Cycle, written by Jazz Money and illustrated by Matt Chun, and was considering “recycling options” for already printed copies. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Australians ‘uneasy’ about NDIS cuts amid $53bn in new defence spending, Mark Butler concedes 23. April 2026 (04:52) Minister tells Guardian Australia despite substantial changes to disability scheme, it will remain one of best support services ‘anywhere in the world’Listen to the podcast: Disability minister Mark Butler on the ‘necessary’ cuts to an NDIS ‘under pressure’Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastMark Butler has defended the government’s decision to trim the NDIS just days after announcing $53bn in new defence spending, with the health minister conceding Australians may be “uneasy” but insisting it would remain one of the best support services “anywhere in the world”.The Coalition looks likely to back the proposed changes, despite alarm from the Greens and some in the disability sector about the 160,000 participants expected to be removed by 2030 and changes to who can access the scheme. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Pentagon says navy secretary is leaving, marking another top leader’s departure 23. April 2026 (01:27) Exit of John Phelan, navy’s top civilian official, comes a week after Pete Hegseth fired army’s top officerThe Pentagon announced on Wednesday that the navy’s top civilian official, John Phelan, the secretary of the navy, is leaving his job.In a statement posted to social media, Sean Parnell, a Pentagon spokesperson, said Phelan was “departing the administration, effective immediately”. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Los Angeles school board votes to set limits on classroom screen time 23. April 2026 (01:17) Measure will also limit device use during passing periods, lunch and recess and block YouTube on district devicesSign up for the Breaking News US email to get newsletter alerts in your inboxThe Los Angeles unified school district’s board passed a resolution on Tuesday to curb students’ classroom screen time for the upcoming school year, in the latest effort nationwide to address adverse effects from excessive device use.The measure, which passed 6-0 at a Tuesday school board meeting, will set daily and weekly screen time limits for students based on grade level, prohibit elementary and middle school students from using devices during passing periods, lunch and recess, and block use of YouTube on district devices, among other provisions. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
James Valentine, much-loved ABC radio presenter, dies aged 64 23. April 2026 (01:16) Family reveal Valentine, who retired in February for treatment for a recurring cancer, used voluntary assisted dyingJames Valentine – obituaryFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastBroadcaster and saxophonist James Valentine has died three months after retiring from ABC radio, after 25 years of hosting Sydney’s Afternoons program.Valentine, 64, had been a fixture on the public broadcaster since he joined as host of the Afternoon Show for kids on ABC TV in 1987 after a decade of playing in bands including the Models. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
One person diagnosed with cancer every 80 seconds in UK, report reveals 23. April 2026 (01:01) NHS struggling to cope with record numbers, which Cancer Research UK says puts progress on survival rates at riskThe number of people in the UK being diagnosed with cancer has reached a record high, with one person diagnosed every 80 seconds, a report reveals.Cancer Research UK found that more than 403,000 people were being diagnosed with the disease each year, largely due to a growing and ageing population, as people are more likely to develop cancer as they get older. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
City firms bank on ‘savvy’ advertising campaign to push Brits towards investing 23. April 2026 (01:01) The campaign, fronted by a CGI squirrel, is part of government initiative to boost financial risk taking, amid fears UK growth is being stymiedNils Pratley: the ‘Savvy Squirrel looks a hit too tame’City firms are pinning their hopes on a government-endorsed advertising blitz fronted by a finance “savvy” CGI squirrel to encourage cautious British savers to shift out of cash and start investing.The long-awaited retail investment campaign, which will cost up to £50m, is part of the chancellor Rachel Reeves’ nationwide push to encourage more financial risk taking, amid fears risk-averse consumers are losing out and ultimately stymying UK growth. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Trump envoy seeks to replace Iran with Italy at World Cup, says report 23. April 2026 (00:37) US special envoy Zampolli hopes for Italy involvementDoubts remain over Iran’s participationAn envoy to the US President Donald Trump has asked Fifa to replace Iran with Italy in the upcoming World Cup, the Financial Times reported on Wednesday.The plan is an effort to repair ties between Trump and Italy’s prime minister Giorgia Meloni after the two fell out amid the American president’s attacks against Pope Leo XIV over the Iran war, the FT reported, citing people familiar with the matter. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Two more arrested on suspicion of plotting arson attack on Jewish venue 22. April 2026 (23:58) Nine people in total arrested over alleged conspiracy concerning unspecified site connected to Jewish communityTwo further arrests have been made in relation to an alleged conspiracy to commit arson at a site connected to the Jewish community, the Metropolitan police have said.The latest arrests, made by counter-terrorism police investigating the alleged arson conspiracy, were of a man aged 19 and another aged 26. They were detained in Watford on Tuesday and remain in custody. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
