Spring flowers bloom in England after mix of hot and cold weather creates ideal conditions 13. April 2026 (16:47) Colourful tulips, hyacinths, wisteria and daffodils appear across country as gardeners prepare for showsColourful tulips, hyacinths, wisteria and daffodils have made a remarkable display across England after a short period of hot weather followed by a cold snap created excellent conditions for spring blooms.There were record temperatures last week in many parts of the UK as the country recorded one of the hottest April days in the last 80 years. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Anas Sarwar asks voters in Scotland to give Labour five years to ‘fix SNP’s mess’ 13. April 2026 (16:35) Scottish Labour leader pledges more homes and tax cuts as party tries to reverse slump in support before May electionsUK politics live – latest updatesAnas Sarwar has appealed to voters to give Labour five years “to fix the Scottish National party’s mess” as he pledged more homes, tax cuts and a smaller public sector.The Scottish Labour leader is fighting a last-ditch attempt to reverse a steep slump in support. Recent polls put Sarwar’s party third or even fourth behind the SNP, Reform and the Scottish Greens, dragged down by the UK government’s unpopularity. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Bosses of Santos, Woodside, Chevron and Shell asked to give evidence to Greens-led gas tax inquiry 13. April 2026 (16:01) Labor is under pressure to impose a new 25% export tax amid soaring prices from the global fuel shockGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastThe bosses of resources giants including Santos, Woodside, Chevron and Shell could be compelled to face an inquiry into export tax settings, as the Greens ramp up pressure on Labor ahead of the budget.The chief executives of the companies, along with the bosses of gas exporters Inpex and ConocoPhillips, have been requested to give evidence to a Greens-led inquiry sitting in Canberra and Perth later this month. Under Senate rules, they could be compelled to attend if they choose not to give evidence voluntarily. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Southport attack: report shows ‘systemic failure of the state’ to prevent atrocity, says home secretary – live updates 13. April 2026 (14:51) Shabana Mahmood calls Axel Rudakubana a ‘vile and sickening indiviudal’ and pays tribute to the ‘immense bravery’ of families of the three girls who died and the survivorsAttack blamed on agencies’ failures and killer’s ‘irresponsible’ parentsRudakubana was known to the state from October 2019, when the then 13-year-old made several calls to Childline admitting to having murderous thoughts about a bully. He said he had taken a kitchen knife to school on 10 occasions.Two months later, he returned to his high school armed with a hockey stick and attacked another pupil, breaking their wrist. Police later found a knife in his backpack and arrested him on suspicion of assault and carrying a bladed article. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
‘Lula’s a gym rat’: Brazil president livestreams workouts in campaign for historic fourth term 13. April 2026 (14:35) Octogenarian incumbent contrasts his health with challenger Flávio Bolsonaro, who fainted during a TV debate The Brazilian president, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, is seeking to lunge and leg press his way to a historic fourth term, as the octogenarian politician uses a flurry of workout videos to convince voters he is fighting fit ahead of October’s crunch election.Lula looks set to face off against a senator almost half his age in what will be the leftist’s seventh presidential campaign since he first sought Brazil’s top job in 1989, when he was 44. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
What is the new EU bill and could it give UK ministers Henry VIII-type powers? 13. April 2026 (14:35) Legislation would allow government to implement evolving single market rules without full parliamentary scrutiny UK politics live – latest updatesMinisters in Britain are planning a new bill, which would bring into force a food and drink trade deal with the EU but also contain powers enabling the government to “dynamically align” with Europe. That will allow the UK to quickly implement evolving single market rules if it determines it is in the national interest, without having to face full parliamentary scrutiny. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Tourists to Australia would have social media accounts vetted under Trumpian Coalition plan 13. April 2026 (14:30) In hardline rhetoric, leader Angus Taylor also says ‘many’ prospective migrants would be a ‘net drain’ on the countryGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastA Coalition government would end Australia’s non-discriminatory immigration program and introduce Trump-style social media vetting for visa applicants, as Angus Taylor accuses Labor of allowing migrants of “subversive intent” into the country.As the opposition loses support to Pauline Hanson’s One Nation, Taylor says too many people seek to use Australia’s generosity “for self-serving purposes”, promising to speed up rejections of asylum seekers from countries deemed safe to return to. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Sussex baby deaths inquiry will ‘fail to learn lessons’ after excluding families, Streeting warned 13. April 2026 (14:20) Bereaved parents say review of nine deaths is too narrow and will urge health secretary to add 60 more casesAn inquiry into the preventable deaths of babies in Sussex will fail to learn the lessons as it “systematically” excluded dozens of families, Wes Streeting has been warned ahead of a meeting with bereaved parents.The health secretary has ordered a review of nine infant deaths at the University Hospitals Sussex NHS foundation trust amid maternity scandals across England. However, families are calling on Streeting to expand the investigation to include more than 60 babies who died between 2019 and 2023 and might have survived with better care. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Ghanaian winger Dominic Frimpong killed at age of 20 in attack on team bus 13. April 2026 (14:17) Armed men fired at Berekum Chelsea bus on SundayFrimpong dies of wounds at hospitalBerekum Chelsea winger Dominic Frimpong has been killed in an armed robbery on his team’s bus as they returned from a match on Sunday, the Ghana Football Association said.Berekum Chelsea said six “masked men wielding guns and assault rifles” had blocked the road as the team returned from their Ghana Premier League match against Samartex. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Parents are helping their children bypass Roblox age checks and play as adults 13. April 2026 (14:15) Gaming company says it looks for signs a user may be younger than they appear in the age check process introduced in DecemberGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastParents have been caught helping their children bypass age checks and play as adults on Roblox, the gaming company has said, forcing rechecks on accounts deemed younger than they appeared.In December last year, Roblox rolled out new features to prevent children from chatting with adults they do not know, by making users who wish to use the chat function pass through facial age assurance that then groups them in similar age group cohorts until they turn 21. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
