Labor to boost defence spending by $53bn over next decade – but plan still short of Donald Trump’s demands 15. April 2026 (14:30) The new strategy to be unveiled by Richard Marles will see defence spending rise to about 2.4% of GDP – but US president has urged allies to spend 3.5%Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastLabor will spend an extra $53bn on defence over the next decade, using the nation’s latest military blueprint to create new special investment programs to fund increases in capability using private capital.The defence minister, Richard Marles, will unveil the new national defence strategy on Thursday, as well as detailing a new integrated investment program for military capability, boosting the current budget by $14bn over the next four years, forward estimates period. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Bridget Jones statue becomes permanent resident of Leicester Square: ‘She makes Londoners feel seen’ 15. April 2026 (14:20) Extension of three-year lifespan for bronze coincides with 25th anniversary rerelease of original romcomA record 149 days have now passed without alcohol, cigarettes or ice-cream for Bridget Jones’s statue in Leicester Square in London – and her fast is set to be extended indefinitely.Originally conceived to be in situ for three years, the bronze statue, which was unveiled in November, has now been granted permanent residence opposite the Empire Casino and adjacent to the toilets, where she joins the likes of Harry Potter, Mary Poppins and Batman as part of Westminster council’s Scenes in the Square initiative. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
New EU entry-exit system causing up to three-hour delays, say airports 15. April 2026 (14:20) Airport body has asked for power to suspend EES checks requiring personal information and biometrics, say reportsBusiness live – latest updatesTravellers going through some European airports are reportedly waiting up to three hours at border checks due to the EU’s new entry-exit system (EES).Passengers in airports in countries such as France, Germany, Belgium, Italy, Spain and Greece are waiting several hours at border checks, the Airports Council International (ACI) body has said. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Norwegian group in talks to buy former Liberty Steel works in South Yorkshire 15. April 2026 (13:42) UK official receiver understood to prefer Blastr as buyer for SSUK’s electric arc furnace in Rotherham and site in StocksbridgeBusiness live – latest updatesUK officials have entered exclusive talks with a Norwegian startup to buy the former Liberty Steel works in South Yorkshire, in a significant step towards its rescue.Norwegian-owned Blastr is understood to be the bidder preferred by the government’s official receiver to take on ownership of the UK’s largest existing electric arc furnace in Rotherham and other works in Stocksbridge, both in South Yorkshire. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Scottish Labour leader calls claim he tried to do Reform deal a ‘desperate lie’ 15. April 2026 (13:05) Anas Sarwar says there have been ‘no stitch-ups, no deals, no backroom chats, no back-channel contact with Reform’ UK politics live – latest updatesAnas Sarwar has dismissed as “a desperate lie from a desperate man” a claim by Reform UK’s Scotland leader, Malcolm Offord, that he offered to do a deal with the hard-right party to keep the Scottish National party out of power.Offord made the claim on Channel 4’s Scottish leaders’ debate on Tuesday evening, alleging the Scottish Labour leader came “bouncing up” to him at an event in December last year, suggesting they “work together to remove the SNP”. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
US-Iran peace talks could resume in next two days, Trump says | First Thing 15. April 2026 (13:01) A Pakistani official said he expected talks to restart soon, but it may take longer than Trump suggested. Plus: how to stop catastrophizing? Here’s what experts sayDon’t already get First Thing in your inbox? Sign up hereGood morning.Donald Trump has said that US-Iranian peace talks could resume in Islamabad over the next two days.Have Israel and Lebanon had talks yet? Yes. The two held negotiations about their conflict in Washington – their first direct talks in more than three decades. The US state department praised the two sides for having “productive discussions” but Hezbollah has said it will not abide by any agreements made by Israeli and Lebanese government negotiators in Washington.For the latest updates, follow our liveblog. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
‘Psychological torture’: outcry over conditions at ICE desert detention camp 15. April 2026 (13:00) Detainees tell of abuse at sprawling Texas facility whose giant generators gobble energy and fuel climate crisisDust was everywhere, covering people’s blankets and clogging their airways inside Camp East Montana, the huge tent facility for immigration detention in west Texas, said D, a young Venezuelan man who was held there.The air conditioning blasted constantly, keeping the living areas inside tents the length of two football fields at what felt like near-freezing temperatures despite the balmy weather outside, and rain leaked through the tarps, so people awoke on wet mattresses, he recalled. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Trump’s push to cut interest rates has echoes of ‘banana republic’, says Yellen 15. April 2026 (12:51) Former US Fed chair says lowering rates to reduce debt service cost can lead to inflation getting out of controlBusiness live – latest updatesThe former US Federal Reserve chair Janet Yellen has attacked Donald Trump’s push for lower interest rates, comparing it to the actions of a “banana republic”.The US president has repeatedly urged the central bank to slash interest rates, in the hope of cutting the government’s borrowing costs on its $39tn (£29tn) debt. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Short-term gains for China from US-Iran war may turn to longer-term pain 15. April 2026 (12:45) Beijing may be reaping some diplomatic benefit but Trump’s war holds risks for its energy security and economyTwo months ago, China’s foreign minister, Wang Yi, promised it would be a “big year” for China-US relations. He was right, but perhaps not in the way he expected.Wang was speaking before a planned visit by the US president to Beijing in March, which would have been Donald Trump’s first trip to China since 2017. But the trip, and a meeting with his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping, was kicked back by several weeks after Trump decided to launch strikes with Israel against Iran, starting a war in the Middle East that has caused a global energy crisis and roiled diplomatic relations across the board. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Man convicted in wife’s disappearance arrested over other woman’s unsolved 1990 murder 15. April 2026 (12:00) Bob McCaffrey, whose wife Gayle has never been found, to face murder charges over New Jersey killing of Lisa McBrideA man who was convicted in connection with his wife’s 2012 disappearance in South Carolina has been arrested over the murder of another woman in New Jersey 22 years earlier.Bob McCaffrey Jr, 54, was apprehended in North Carolina, where he had been residing, on suspicion of the 1990 killing of Lisa Marie McBride, 27, in New Jersey, authorities said in a statement. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
