Fire destroys 1,000 ‘stilt’ homes in Malaysia’s Sabah, displacing thousands 20. April 2026 (03:59) Blaze struck a ‘water village’ that is home to some of Malaysia’s poorest residentsA huge fire destroyed about 1,000 makeshift homes, many of them built on stilts over water, and displaced thousands of people in a coastal village in Malaysia’s Sabah state on Sunday, authorities said.The blaze broke out early on Sunday morning in a “water village” in Sandakan district in Sabah’s northeast, where some of Malaysia’s poorest residents, including indigenous and stateless communities, live in closely packed, wooden stilt houses. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Kanye West’s European tour in doubt as more concerts cancelled in Poland and Switzerland 20. April 2026 (03:46) FC Basel and Polish stadium stop US rapper’s upcoming shows, after similar cancellations in France and UK over antisemitic commentsKanye West’s upcoming concerts in Poland and Switzerland have been cancelled, as a growing number of European countries have stopped or postponed the US rapper’s performances amid a furore over his past antisemitic comments.Swiss football club FC Basel, which is responsible for concerts and events that take place at its St Jakob-Park ground, told Reuters on Saturday that after reviewing a request for West to perform there in June, it decided against it. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
States on edge about NDIS cuts as Chalmers flags they will be ‘easily the most important’ part of budget savings 20. April 2026 (03:06) Government sources in multiple states say they are worried about the breadth of the changes and possible costsFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastThe states are increasingly on edge about Labor’s efforts to cut NDIS spending in next month’s budget, with officials asking the health minister, Mark Butler, to explain planned savings before a major speech this week.It comes as the treasurer, Jim Chalmers, flagged on Monday morning that cuts to the NDIS will be “easily the most important part of the savings package that we will present on budget night”. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Australia news live: ‘weeks’ to restore Viva refinery after blaze; Chalmers says NDIS cuts ‘easily’ biggest part of budget savings package 20. April 2026 (03:00) Meanwhile ACT independent David Pocock is calling for a 25% tax on gas exports to fund welfare and housing. Follow today’s news liveGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastTreasurer says capital gains changes and other tax reform still under considerationSticking with the budget, Chalmers said the government hasn’t made any decisions on capital gains tax reform.We haven’t taken any decisions on those policies, whether the specific ones you mentioned [or others].There’s more work to do on our options for tax reform in this budget.The savings package won’t be exactly the same as what we would have been contemplating over the summer, but it will be a substantial savings package.When we came to office the NDIS was out of control and it had strayed a long way from its original intended purpose.It was growing around 22% when we got to office. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
‘We’re Catholic first’: Sunday mass attendees weigh in on Trump’s feud with Pope Leo 20. April 2026 (02:23) Catholics around Atlanta share mixed feelings on faith and politics as Trump engages in rhetorical war with popeAlex Sullivan tended to his five children on the lawn after a traditional Latin mass at the Catholic Church of Saint Monica in Duluth, Georgia, and contemplated his faith in the light of God and the shadow of Donald Trump.Sullivan, a self-described conservative who once staffed a libertarian state representative at the Georgia capitol, described his faith as almost medieval. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
ABF poised to reveal result of Primark and food business demerger plan 20. April 2026 (01:01) Retail analysts say breaking up food and fashion group would make sense in challenging business environmentPrimark may break free from Kingsmill, Twinings and the sugar business this week when Associated British Foods announces plans on a mooted demerger.The potential split comes at a tricky time for the group controlled by the billionaire Weston family, with its fashion and food arms facing tough competition and rising costs. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Iranian American woman arrested in Los Angeles for alleged arms trafficking 19. April 2026 (23:56) Federal prosecutor says woman is suspected of dealing weapons to Africa on behalf of Iranian governmentA California woman was arrested at Los Angeles international airport after allegedly trafficking weapons on behalf of the Iranian government to contacts in Africa, including Sudan.Shamim Mafi, 44, of Woodland Hills was detained on Saturday night by federal agents, according to the top federal prosecutor in Los Angeles. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
US military seized Iranian-flagged container ship, Trump says 19. April 2026 (23:05) Trump says cargo ship tried to get past US naval blockade near strait of Hormuz ‘and it did not go well for them’The US military took custody of an Iranian-flagged container ship that attempted to get past an American blockade near the strait of Hormuz, Donald Trump announced on Sunday.In a social media post, Trump said that an “Iranian-flagged cargo ship named TOUSKA” tried to get past the US naval blockade, “and it did not go well for them”. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Starmer will not be swayed by Trump’s ‘small and petty’ insults, says Lammy 19. April 2026 (22:00) Exclusive: deputy PM says UK will not join Iran conflict despite Trump’s sometimes ‘incomprehensible’ social-media barbsDonald Trump’s insults towards Keir Starmer are “small and petty” and designed to put pressure on the prime minister to change his position on Iran, David Lammy has said, as he insisted the UK would not get dragged into the conflict.The deputy prime minister argued the US president should be able to “disagree agreeably” with allies rather than publishing attacks on social media, and that US actions had “made things worse, not better” as far as global instability was concerned. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Judgment day as Starmer faces Commons showdown over Mandelson scandal 19. April 2026 (21:26) Prime minister to deliver high-stakes statement to MPs over vetting controversy that has put his position in perilKeir Starmer will deliver a high-stakes statement to MPs on Monday as he struggles to overcome fears inside his government that the Peter Mandelson vetting scandal could yet cost him his leadership.In what is set to be a dramatic showdown, the prime minister will set out how Mandelson was able to take up his role as UK ambassador without the Foreign Office revealing it had overruled the decision to fail his vetting. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
