Starmer should face Commons inquiry over Mandelson vetting, says Ed Davey 17. April 2026 (09:17) Exclusive: Liberal Democrat leader calls for privileges committee to investigate whether PM misled parliamentUK politics live – latest updatesA powerful Commons committee should investigate whether Keir Starmer misled parliament over the appointment of Peter Mandelson as ambassador to Washington, Ed Davey has said.The Liberal Democrat leader called for the prime minister to be investigated by the privileges committee to determine whether he committed contempt of parliament, an offence that can lead to a ministerial resignation. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
‘No cheeseburgers … they would go bankrupt’: pupils reject plan to cut fatty foods from lunch menus 17. April 2026 (09:00) Though welcomed by chefs and campaigners, many schools say the government’s plan to remove ‘grab and go’ options from the menu is a step too farIt is lunchtime at Richard Challoner school, a Catholic comprehensive for boys in New Malden, south-west London. The familiar smell of school lunch is beginning to waft around the corridors.In the canteen, there is a moment of calm as the kitchen team make final preparations before year 7 descend – a mass of chatting, laughing boys, with backpacks swinging and empty tummies grumbling. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Christine Baranski to make West End debut alongside Richard E Grant in Hay Fever 17. April 2026 (09:00) Tony award-winning actor will play lead role of Judith Bliss in Noël Coward’s comedy at Wyndham’s theatre in LondonChristine Baranski is to make her West End debut alongside Richard E Grant in a revival of Noël Coward’s comedy Hay Fever. The US star, known for her TV roles in The Good Fight and The Gilded Age, says she is looking forward to “tearing a passion to tatters” in the 1925 play about a family toying with their guests at a country house party.She will star as the newly retired actor Judith Bliss, with Grant playing her novelist husband. Baranski has twice won the Tony award for best featured actress in a play – with New York productions of Tom Stoppard’s The Real Thing in 1984 and Neil Simon’s Rumors in 1989. She also appeared in the comedies Hurlyburly (in 1985) and Boeing-Boeing (in 2008) on Broadway. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
US tech firms successfully lobbied EU to keep datacentre emissions secret 17. April 2026 (08:00) Legally questionable confidentiality clause adopted almost word for word from demands of Microsoft and trade groupsMicrosoft and other US tech companies successfully lobbied the EU to hide the environmental toll of their datacentres, an investigation has found, with demands to block a database of green metrics from public view written almost word for word into EU rules.The secrecy provision, which the European Commission added to its proposal almost verbatim after industry lobbying in 2024, hinders scrutiny of the pollution that individual datacentres emit. It leaves researchers with just national-level summaries of their energy footprints. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
More than 15m oysters to be released in the North Sea for UK rewilding project 17. April 2026 (08:00) Exclusive: Experts say scheme will help repair damaged marine ecosystems while sequestering large amounts of carbonMore than 15m juvenile oysters are to be released into the North Sea in one of the biggest rewilding projects in UK waters.The scheme, which will use a unique rearing process, hopes to re-establish a huge oyster bed around Orkney that experts say will create a “trophic cascade” of climate and ecological benefits. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Woman stranded in Dusseldorf after return UK flight blocked over Home Office admin error 17. April 2026 (08:00) Liza Tobay, who lives in UK, was told her settled status had been ‘red flagged’ after trying to make a connecting flight from Munich to EdinburghA German woman has been separated from her two-year-old daughter in Edinburgh after a Home Office mistake left her stranded in Dusseldorf earlier this week.Liza Tobay, who has lived in the UK for 15 years, had taken her oldest child, a six-year-old boy, to visit his grandfather and some other relatives over Easter when confronted with what she said appeared to be “a serious administrative error”. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
‘How do I end a call?’: the elderly Japanese people determined to master smartphones 17. April 2026 (06:00) Elderly people take advantage of courses on how to navigate mobile devices and avoid ‘analogue isolation’It’s not only young people whose gaze is fixed on tiny screens. But for these users in Tokyo, clicking and scrolling is anything but second nature.“I can’t deal with all of the apps that jump out at me,” says one. “How do I know if I’ve definitely ended a call?” asks another. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Ben Roberts-Smith granted bail after being charged with five counts of war crime murder 17. April 2026 (05:43) Former SAS soldier to be released from Silverwater prison ahead of possible trial on charges relating to alleged killing of civilians in AfghanistanFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastBen Roberts-Smith has been granted bail under strict conditions while he awaits a potential trial on alleged war crimes.The Victoria Cross recipient, once Australia’s most lionised soldier, faces five charges of war crime murder over allegations he killed unarmed civilians during his service with the Australian SAS in Afghanistan. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
‘Parent’s worst nightmare’: Sydney childcare worker faces 137 child abuse charges relating to multiple centres 17. April 2026 (05:17) Man initially charged in July but Australian federal police uncovered dozens more alleged offences after reviewing files on his devicesFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastA former childcare employee accused of abusing children in his care has been hit with another 129 charges after investigators say they identified more victims.The man, aged in his 30s, was initially charged with eight counts of online child abuse material offences in July 2025 after years of alleged offending. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Albanese says no fuel restrictions in wake of massive Geelong refinery fire 17. April 2026 (04:50) Prime minister says Corio refinery fire will not push Australia into stage 3 restrictions, despite reduced production of petrol, diesel and aviation fuelFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesTrack Australia’s fuel prices, service station outages and shipments in chartsGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastAnthony Albanese says petrol production has fallen 40% at one of Australia’s two remaining oil refineries but the damage caused by the fire at the Geelong facility will not lead to fuel restrictions.The prime minister spoke on Friday morning outside the Viva Energy refinery – which had been supplying about half of Victoria’s fuel before a massive fire burned for 13 hours until noon Thursday – and said the facility was also producing less diesel and aviation fuel. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
