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)
NSW promises more fast chargers and electric trucks in revamped EV policy 14. April 2026 (00:59) Premier Chris Minns says policy will give road users a ‘real alternative’ that’s cheaper than petrolFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastElectric truck development and building more stations to charge them will be core pillars of a state’s revamped electric vehicle strategy designed to ease the pressure of rising fuel costs.The New South Wales government unveiled its 2026 EV strategy on Tuesday in an effort to give confidence to motorists hesitant about switching from their increasingly pricey petrol cars. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Australia news live: Labor to boost spending on military drones; suspected crocodile remains found on Adelaide roadside 13. April 2026 (23:58) Richard Marles says between $2bn and $5bn will be spent on uncrewed and autonomous capabilitiesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastTaylor discusses new hardline immigration plansThe opposition leader, Angus Taylor, said his new proposal for immigration policy is needed to “put Australian value first” as he’s set to unveil the full details of the hardline plans, including a Trump-style social media vetting process.We know people have come to our country in recent times who don’t share our core values, our belief in democracy, our belief in the rule of law, our belief in basic freedoms.It’s bolstering it and giving it extra resources and putting this team together in a way where they can ensure that extremists, that radicals who do not believe in our way of life, don’t come into the country. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Democrat Eric Swalwell to resign from Congress over sexual assault allegations 13. April 2026 (23:52) Decision comes after House ethics committee announced it had opened an investigation into the congressmanRepresentative Eric Swalwell, a Democrat from California, said on Monday that he would resign from Congress following multiple allegations of sexual assault and misconduct that ended his bid for governor.Swalwell was a facing a growing chorus of bipartisan calls for him to step down, a day after he announced that he would suspend his campaign for governor of California. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Taking Tylenol during pregnancy has no link to autism, new study finds 13. April 2026 (22:42) Trump has pushed unfounded claims of Tylenol use in pregnancy being tied to ‘a very increased risk of autism’Taking acetaminophen – known in the US by the brand name Tylenol – during pregnancy has no effect on later autism diagnoses, according to a sweeping new study from Denmark published on Monday.The Trump administration has targeted Tylenol use in pregnancy as a major cause of autism in children, which appears to have led to a drop in pregnant people taking the pain reliever. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
