Michigan gas station clerk saves teen from alleged kidnapper after she whispers ‘help’ 19. April 2026 (11:00) In Hamtramck, Abdulrahman Abohatem placed himself between 16-year-old girl and man before police arrestA gasoline station clerk who came to a suburban Detroit girl’s defense when she entered his store and mouthed the word “help” ultimately had a hand in saving the teenager after a stranger had kidnapped her at gunpoint on her way to school, according to authorities.“I believe this could have [gone] a lot worse than it did,” said police chief Hussein Farhat of Hamtramck, Michigan, at a news conference addressing a rescue partially attributed to convenience store employee Abdulrahman Abohatem. “We have every belief that this could have ended really badly.” Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Reform UK’s Richard Tice allegedly failed to pay £100,000 in corporation tax 19. April 2026 (10:56) Deputy leader ran shell companies that reportedly did not pay tax on profits from 2020 to 2022, during which time his firm donated £1.1m to partyRichard Tice allegedly failed to pay almost £100,000 in corporation tax to the benefit of his investment company, which in turn made donations to Reform UK, it has been reported.In response to the report in the Sunday Times, the deputy leader of Reform UK posted a lengthy statement on X, in which he said: “A long career with multiple businesses is bound to feature some errors. Naturally I am always happy to put things right and if numbers need rechecking, of course I will pay what is owed – be that more or less.” Continue reading...(The Guardian)
More Britons opt to holiday in UK this summer amid uncertainty over flights 19. April 2026 (10:00) Holiday park firms say such bookings are on the rise because of impact of Iran war on aviationHoliday companies have predicted a surge in bookings for UK summer breaks after a jump in interest from Britons fearful of flight cancellations linked to the Iran war.Summer bookings are expected to rise in the coming weeks amid warnings of possible jet fuel shortages and resulting cancellations by airlines across Europe. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Carmakers scramble to plug £3bn shortfall for UK loan scandal payouts 19. April 2026 (09:00) Filings suggest manufacturers’ lending arms have massively underestimated bill from FCA’s £9.1bn redress schemeCarmakers are under pressure to drum up £3bn to cover payouts for motor finance scandal victims after failing to adequately prepare for a UK-wide compensation scheme that is due to begin this summer.Company filings show the lending arms of big vehicle manufacturers including Ford, BMW, Stellantis and Volkswagen may have massively underestimated the final costs of the financial regulator’s £9.1bn redress scheme. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
MoD has lost track of veterans on recall list, says defence adviser 19. April 2026 (09:00) Exclusive: George Robertson calls on officials to identify the ‘fit and willing’ in UK’s 95,000-strong strategic reserveThe Ministry of Defence has lost track of military veterans they intend to recall at a time of national danger, according to a key government adviser.About 95,000 former soldiers and officers are in the strategic reserve but it is claimed that officials have failed to maintain a full record of their contact details. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Middle East crisis live: Iran says ‘fundamental’ issues’ still to be resolved with US amid strait of Hormuz impasse 19. April 2026 (08:31) Iran’s top negotiator says both sides remain far apart after Tehran again closed strait of Hormuz after US said it would not end its blockadeFull report: Iran closes strait of Hormuz again ‘until US lifts blockade’The world has lost more than $50bn worth of crude oil that has not been produced since the Iran war began nearly 50 days ago, according to analysts and Reuters calculations. The aftershock of the crisis is expected to be felt for months and even years to come, they say. Since the crisis began at the end of February, more than 500m barrels of crude oil and condensate have been knocked out of the global market, according to Kpler data – the largest energy supply disruption in modern history.Those 500m barrels of oil lost to the market are equivalent to curtailing aviation demand globally for 10 weeks; no road travel by any vehicle globally for 11 days; or no oil for the global economy for five days, said Iain Mowat, principal analyst at Wood Mackenzie. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Humanoid robots show rapid advances as they race past humans in Beijing half-marathon 19. April 2026 (06:57) Winning robot records faster time than Jacob Kiplimo’s world record More than 100 robots run in parallel tracks to avoid collisions with humansDozens of Chinese-made humanoid robots showed off their fast-improving athleticism as they whizzed past human runners in a half-marathon race in Beijing on Sunday, having lagged far behind a year earlier.The race’s inaugural edition last year was riddled with mishaps, as many robots struggled to get off the starting line, and most were unable to finish. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Australia news live: free public transport in Victoria extended; search continues for missing cruise passenger 19. April 2026 (02:22) Follow today’s news liveGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastDefence Minister Richard Marles says the success of Australia’s alliance with the United States should not be measured against a single president or federal government in Canberra, insisting the longstanding ties will endure.US President Donald Trump has repeatedly criticised Australia for not assisting with the war in Iran, while federal Labor, including Marles and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, say the White House has not made any specific request for assistance. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Queen Elizabeth II’s official biographer named as historian Anna Keay 19. April 2026 (01:01) The author, who will interview members of royal family for book, says being chosen for role is a ‘profound honour’Anna Keay, a historian whose most celebrated book is about Britain’s republican period, has been confirmed as Queen Elizabeth II’s official biographer.Keay will interview members of the royal family and the late queen’s friends and servants. She will also have access to the monarch’s personal and official papers held in the royal archives. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
United plane makes emergency landing in Pittsburgh over ‘possible security issue’ 18. April 2026 (22:30) Passengers on flight from Chicago to New York exited via slides as FBI, bomb technicians and K-9 unit responded Sign up for the Breaking News US email to get newsletter alerts in your inboxA United Airlines flight bound for New York City was forced to land and evacuate in Pittsburgh on Saturday morning after crew members reported a “possible security issue”, a spokesperson for the Federal Aviation Administration said.United flight 2092 took off from Chicago O’Hare airport and had been en route to LaGuardia airport in New York. The plane diverted to Pittsburgh international airport as a result of the reported threat. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
