Investigators examine whether Ukraine terrorist attack was directed by Russia 18. April 2026 (22:19) The gunman, who killed six people in Kyiv before police shot him dead, was a Ukrainian citizen born in MoscowUkrainian investigators are examining whether a terrorist attack in Kyiv was directed by Moscow after a man shot dead six people on Saturday before he was killed by police.The gunman, 58, opened fire on passersby before barricading himself in a supermarket and taking hostages. Detectives sealed off the area in the Holosiivskyi district and tried to negotiate with him. He refused and was killed after a 40-minute standoff. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Australia’s coalmine emissions are increasing. Is this how a major policy to cut climate pollution is meant to work? 18. April 2026 (22:00) The Albanese government overhauled policy and promised significant pollution cuts – but carbon offsets are still being used as an excuseSign up for climate and environment editor Adam Morton’s free Clear Air newsletter hereIs this how a national scheme to cut climate pollution is supposed to work?Australian government data released this week shows emissions from Australian coalmines increased last financial year. About 80% of the coalmines pumped more into the atmosphere than their government-imposed limit.Sign up to get climate and environment editor Adam Morton’s Clear Air column as a free newsletter Continue reading...(The Guardian)
‘Independent’ group Energy for Australians that ran anti-Labor ads received more than $1m from coal lobby 18. April 2026 (22:00) Coal Australia denies its donations to the ‘community-driven association’ amount to astroturfing, but critics accuse the group of misleading the publicGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastAn “independent, community-driven association” that ran anti-Labor adverts during the last federal election was entirely funded by a coal industry lobby group, the Guardian can reveal.Energy for Australians accepted more than $1m from Coal Australia – a group advocating for coal whose members include major miners Yancoal, Peabody, New Hope and Whitehaven. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Kensington Gardens reopens after police deem suspicious items non-hazardous 18. April 2026 (21:33) Officers responded after group claimed to have targeted nearby Israeli embassy with ‘dangerous substances’Kensington Gardens in London has reopened after the discovery of several suspicious items including two jars containing a powdered substance that was deemed to be non-hazardous, police said.Officers in protective clothing responded to an incident near the Israeli embassy on Friday after counter-terrorism police investigated a video shared online in which a group claimed to have targeted the embassy with drones carrying “dangerous substances”. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Two US army soldiers injured by brown bear during training exercise in Alaska 18. April 2026 (20:44) Soldiers were participating in ‘land navigation training’ when bear injured them in a ‘defensive attack’Two US army soldiers have been injured after encountering a brown bear in a mountainous training area in Anchorage, Alaska, the military said on Friday.The incident happened on Thursday as the soldiers were participating in a “land navigation training event” in Arctic Valley, part of the Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson’s training area. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Starmer would have blocked Mandelson role over vetting failure, says Lammy 18. April 2026 (20:44) Exclusive: deputy prime minister says it is ‘inexplicable’ top civil servant kept Downing Street in darkKeir Starmer would have blocked Peter Mandelson from serving as the UK’s ambassador to Washington had he known he failed security vetting, David Lammy has said, as he attempted to shore up the prime minister amid damaging fallout from the row.In his first public comments on the vetting affair, Lammy said it was “inexplicable” that Oliver Robbins, the former top civil servant who was forced out of the Foreign Office this week, had opted to leave Downing Street in the dark over the outcome. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Two drivers killed in motorway crash in Perth and Kinross 18. April 2026 (18:32) Two men died at the scene after head-on motorway collision near Kincross, Police Scotland sayTwo drivers have died in a motorway crash in Scotland involving a car apparently travelling in the wrong direction on the carriageway, police have said.The two men died at the scene of the collision on the M90 near Kinross, a town in Perth and Kinross, at 10.30pm on Friday. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Three people sentenced to jail for bear-suit insurance scam in California 18. April 2026 (18:07) State investigated claims of bear attacks on cars, unconvincingly backed up by video of person in bear suitWhen it comes to the California department of insurance, don’t poke the bear.That is the lesson three individuals in Los Angeles learned recently when they were sentenced to jail time for an insurance fraud scheme in which they staged attacks on high-end vehicles by having a person dress up in a bear costume – then pretending that person was an actual bear. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Two more Reform local election candidates accused of offensive posts 18. April 2026 (18:00) Labour calls on Nigel Farage to sack candidates and says his party’s checks ‘clearly not fit for purpose’Reform UK’s checks on candidates are “clearly not fit for purpose”, Labour has said after two more candidates in May’s local elections were accused of making offensive or potentially racist social media posts.Meanwhile, it emerged that Restore Britain, the party set up by the MP Rupert Lowe after he left Reform, appeared to have accepted a donation from someone who has called publicly on social media for “another Hitler” to come to power. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Trump and Tehran’s series of mismanaged posts stall progress towards peace 18. April 2026 (17:04) US president’s desperation for war to end has seen him trying to speed through a process he does not fully controlMiddle East crisis – live updatesA set of mismanaged and premature media announcements by Donald Trump and Tehran has led to the collapse of progress towards a peace settlement between Iran and the US.The recent missteps ended with Iran saying it would reinstate a complete block on the movement of commercial shipping through the strait of Hormuz and that it would not allow any of its stockpile of highly enriched uranium to be exported out of the country. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
