‘Stagflationary shock’ from Iran war a ‘nightmare’ as confidence crashes among Australian households 14. April 2026 (04:12) Weakened economic activity, soaring fuel prices and rising inflation have created a horror scenario, RBA deputy governor saysFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastAndrew Hauser, the Reserve Bank of Australia’s deputy governor, says the “stagflationary shock” from the Iran war is a “central banker’s nightmare”, as confidence among Australian households crashed to its lowest level in years.Speaking at an event in New York on Tuesday morning AEST, Hauser said the RBA was “judging the balance” between the damage to the economy from “a big income shock” associated with soaring fuel prices, versus a sharp rise in inflation. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
US military says it killed two people in another boat strike in eastern Pacific 14. April 2026 (03:44) Dispatch of vessel strike, like most of military’s statements on strikes conducted in area, did not provide evidenceThe US military said it killed two people in a strike on a vessel in the eastern Pacific Ocean on Monday, claiming the targets were involved in “narco-trafficking operations”.The announcement, like most of the military’s statements on the dozens of strikes it has conducted in the eastern Pacific and Caribbean Sea, did not provide evidence to support its claims that the targets were engaged in narco-trafficking. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Qantas raises fares and cuts domestic flights as travel patterns shift due to Middle East turmoil 14. April 2026 (03:36) As Persian Gulf carriers reduce routes, the Australian airline is also feeling the impact of rising fuel costsFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastQantas has lifted fares and cut domestic flights amid a surge in travel demand away from airlines that transit through the troubled Middle East.The Australian airline says it has redeployed capacity from its US and domestic network to take advantage of the strong interest in Europe-bound travel – in particular to Paris and Rome – according to a market update released on Tuesday. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Florida teenager charged with sexually assaulting and killing stepsister Anna Kepner on cruise ship 14. April 2026 (03:09) Kepner’s body was found concealed under bed in a room she shared with two teens, including 16-year-old stepbrotherSign up for the Breaking News US newsletter emailA 16-year-old boy has been charged with murder and aggravated sexual abuse in Florida in the 6 November death of his 18-year-old stepsister on a Carnival cruise ship, the US justice department said Monday.Timothy Hudson was initially charged in February and subsequently indicted on 10 March. But the breadth of the case was not known until a seal was lifted Friday, weeks after US district judge Beth Bloom in Miami said he would be prosecuted as an adult at the request of the government.Guardian staff contributed Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Republican Tony Gonzales to step down from Congress amid expulsion threat 14. April 2026 (01:41) Gonzales, who admitted affair with aide who later died by suicide, says he will file retirement from office on TuesdayUS politics live – latest updatesRepresentative Tony Gonzales, a Republican from Texas, announced on Monday he was stepping down from Congress after acknowledging an extramarital affair with a staffer.Gonzales, who was facing a growing threat of expulsion by his colleagues, admitted last month that he had an affair with an aide who later died by suicide. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Texas man accused of throwing molotov cocktail at Sam Altman home charged 14. April 2026 (01:25) FBI alleges Daniel Moreno-Gama, 20, was captured on video throwing explosive device outside home of OpenAI chiefA Texas man was charged with hurling a molotov cocktail at the home of OpenAI chief executive Sam Altman and attempting to set fire to the AI firm’s headquarters.Daniel Moreno-Gama, 20, was captured on surveillance video throwing an incendiary device outside Altman’s San Francisco residence, according to a FBI affidavit filed in federal court on Monday. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
‘Little progress’ in stopping drug drones at HMP Manchester, watchdog says 14. April 2026 (01:01) Chief inspector for England and Wales says prison remains in ‘precarious state’ more than year after urgent notificationThe Prison Service has made “very little progress” in enforcing a formal demand to stop drones from delivering drugs into one of its worst performing jails, a watchdog has concluded.Charlie Taylor, the chief inspector of prisons for England and Wales, said HMP Manchester remained in a “precarious state” after a failure to fix broken windows and install security to stop contraband being delivered to gangs. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Cultural venues in England to share £130m under Arts Everywhere scheme 14. April 2026 (01:01) Galleries, theatres, museums and libraries to benefit from largest cash injection into the arts for a decadeMore than 100 cultural venues, museums, and libraries will share £130m extra funding as part of the largest cash injection into the arts for a decade, ministers have announced.The investment forms part of the Arts Everywhere Fund, a £1.5bn package to support cultural infrastructure projects over the course of this parliament, which was announced by the culture secretary, Lisa Nandy, earlier this year. The fund aims to save more than 1,000 arts venues, museums, libraries and heritage buildings across England. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
UK households to be urged to use more power this summer as renewables soar 14. April 2026 (01:01) Incentives to absorb surplus wind and solar energy could help balance the grid and lower billsThe UK needs more North Sea gas, not greater reliance on US imports | Nils PratleyHouseholds will be called on to boost their consumption of Great Britain’s record renewable energy this summer to help balance the power grid and lower energy bills.Under the new plans, people could be encouraged to run dishwashers and washing machines or charge up their electric vehicles when there is more wind and solar power than the electricity grid needs. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Starmer’s ‘corrosive complacency’ on defence has put UK in peril, says ex-Nato chief 14. April 2026 (01:01) George Robertson says Iran war should be wake-up call to address military underfunding in scathing remarksThe British government has shown a “corrosive complacency towards defence” and put the UK “in peril”, according to a government adviser, in fierce criticisms of Keir Starmer’s military policy.The former Nato secretary general and author of the government’s strategic defence review, George Robertson, believes Starmer was “not willing to make the necessary investment”, the Financial Times has reported. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
