Brazil’s congress approves bill reducing prison sentence of former president Jair Bolsonaro 30. April 2026 (23:18) President Lula’s veto of the bill was overturned by Brazil’s congress and senate, meaning it now awaits confirmation by supreme court Brazil’s largely conservative congress has approved a bill reducing the prison sentence of the far-right former president Jair Bolsonaro, who was convicted last year of attempting a coup.The bill had initially been passed by congress in December, but President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva vetoed it in January in a symbolic move marking three years since Bolsonaro supporters ransacked the capital, Brasília. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Oscar belonging to co-director of Putin film missing after TSA makes him ship it 30. April 2026 (23:04) Agents would not allow Pavel Talankin to carry statuette for Mr Nobody Against Putin onto flight from New YorkSign up for the Breaking News US email to get newsletter alerts in your inboxThe Oscar statuette belonging to Pavel Talankin, star and co-director of the Academy award-winning documentary Mr Nobody Against Putin, has disappeared after officials at New York’s John F Kennedy airport confiscated it before he boarded a flight, claiming it could be used as a weapon.Talankin, whose documentation of Russia’s propaganda machine in grade schools won international acclaim, told Deadline that he has brought the statuette on several flights without incident. But when he arrived at JFK’s terminal 1 on Wednesday morning, Transportation Security Administration (TSA) agents said he could not take the 8.5lb trophy on board because it posed a security risk. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Britney Spears charged with driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs 30. April 2026 (22:57) Pop star was arrested in March after she was pulled over for driving erratically on US 101 in CaliforniaSign up for the Breaking News US email to get newsletter alerts in your inboxBritney Spears was charged in California on Thursday with driving under the influence of drugs and alcohol, authorities said.The 44-year-old pop star was charged with a single misdemeanor count of driving under the combined influence of alcohol and at least one drug, the Ventura county district attorney’s office said. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
US Congress passes short-term renewal of Fisa warrantless spying powers 30. April 2026 (22:57) Lawmakers agree 45-day extension but Republican and Democratic critics urge reform of surveillance programThe US Congress has passed a 45-day extension of a law that grants US intelligence agencies warrantless spying powers.Bitter infighting over section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act in the Republican wing of Congress has repeatedly tanked conservative leaders’ plans to renew the controversial surveillance law for multiple years. The deadlock continued on Thursday, as the Republican House speaker Mike Johnson refused to include key reforms pushed by hardliners in his party and progressive Democrats. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Starmer’s sister-in-law feared what might have happened in arson attack, court hears 30. April 2026 (22:56) Judith Alexander tells of attack on Kentish Town house owned by the prime minister as three men deny chargesThe prime minister’s sister-in-law has said she feared what might have happened had she not woken up after her home was targeted in an arson attack, a court has heard.The incident is one of a series of arson attacks that took place in May last year on property linked to Keir Starmer, which three men with links to Ukraine are accused of targeting. They deny all the charges. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Zack Polanski’s criticism of Golders Green attack arrest will have ‘chilling effect’, says Met chief 30. April 2026 (22:26) Mark Rowley defends officers who arrested suspect in Wednesday’s incident and calls on Green party leader to show solidarity The Metropolitan police chief has said that Green party leader Zack Polanski sharing a post about the arrest of the Golders Green terror suspect will have a “chilling effect”.Met officers arrested a 45-year-old man after two Jewish people were stabbed in the suburb of north-west London on Wednesday. Police said the suspect was shot with a stun gun to subdue him. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Where does Starmer’s leadership stand – and who are his potential challengers? 30. April 2026 (22:25) With PM on shaky ground as May elections approach, we take a look at who could take a run at the Labour leadershipAs the May elections creep closer, the leadership speculation at Westminster grows more intense. Is Keir Starmer safe and, if so, for how long?When will Angela Rayner’s tax affairs be resolved, and will she return to the cabinet? Who has Andy Burnham done a deal with to get back to Westminster, and would MPs support him if he did? Why has Wes Streeting gone so quiet? Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Trump to lift tariffs on scotch whisky after king’s US visit 30. April 2026 (22:04) President says decision made ‘in honor of the king and queen’ as industry officials call deal ‘significant boost’In a gesture of diplomatic friendliness after King Charles’s visit to the White House, Donald Trump said the US would be removing all tariffs on whisky imports.“In Honor of the King and Queen of the United Kingdom, who have just left the White House, soon headed back to their wonderful Country, I will be removing the Tariffs and Restrictions on Whiskey having to do with Scotland’s ability to work with the Commonwealth of Kentucky on Whiskey and Bourbon,” Trump said in a post on social media. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Senate Republicans again block effort to halt Trump’s war in Iran 30. April 2026 (22:02) Vote comes as 60-day deadline looms, with two GOP backing limits and dispute over whether ceasefire pauses clockUS politics live – latest updatesThe Republican-led Senate on Thursday again blocked a Democratic attempt to stop Donald Trump’s war in Iran, rejecting a war powers resolution that would have limited the conflict until Congress authorizes further military action.The vote was 47-50, with two Republicans – Susan Collins, a senator of Maine, and Rand Paul, of Kentucky – voting in favor and one Democrat – John Fetterman, of Pennsylvania – opposing it. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
‘A new chapter’: first commercial fight from US since 2019 lands in Venezuela 30. April 2026 (21:12) Four months after US capture of Nicolás Maduro, officials hail repairing of ties as airliner touches down in CaracasUS and Venezuelan officials have hailed a new era in diplomatic relations as the first direct commercial flight between the two countries in more than seven years landed in Caracas.Nearly four months ago, US special forces attack helicopters and planes swept into the skies over Venezuela’s capital after Donald Trump ordered the capture of its president, Nicolás Maduro. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
