‘People are so judgmental’: the growing cohort of over-55s facing homelessness 08. April 2026 (06:00) Richard Hewett, who was forced to sleep in his car when his relationship broke down, is one of many in the UK hit by rising costs and a lack of social housingWhen Richard Hewett’s relationship broke down, he was forced to leave his partner’s council house – but found his disability benefits didn’t stretch far enough to get him his own flat in his Essex home town. He resorted to the next best option: sleeping in his car.It wasn’t what he had expected, aged 59. At 6ft 2in, he squeezed into a Ford Focus and struggled to sleep. When he broke his ankle, he couldn’t look after it properly, contracted sepsis and had his leg amputated. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Explainer: What is in Iran’s 10-point ceasefire plan and will the US agree to it? 08. April 2026 (05:57) Two-week ceasefire comes after Trump spoke to Pakistan’s leaders, with China also believed to be exerting influence over TehranMiddle East crisis – live updatesUS and Iran agree to provisional ceasefire with Tehran saying it will reopen strait of HormuzThe US and Iran agreed to a two-week ceasefire on Tuesday barely an hour before Donald Trump’s deadline to obliterate Iran was set to expire, with Tehran agreeing to temporarily reopen the strait of Hormuz.Israel also agreed to the ceasefire, the White House said. As Trump announced he was suspending his plans to escalate attacks across Iran, the US president said he had received a “workable” ceasefire proposal from Iran. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Anthony Albanese brands Trump’s Iran threats ‘extraordinary’ in rare moment of criticism 08. April 2026 (05:07) Australian PM also welcomes a conditional two-week ceasefire deal that will reopen the strait of Hormuz to global shippingFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastAnthony Albanese has welcomed a two-week ceasefire deal between the US and Iran that is set to temporarily reopen the strait of Hormuz, as he issued a rare criticism of Donald Trump for threatening a “whole civilization will die”.The prime minister said news of the conditional ceasefire was “very positive” and was hopeful it would lead to the permanent end to a conflict that has sent global fuel prices soaring. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Billionaire Gina Rinehart says ‘I don’t understand’ arrest of Ben Robert-Smith over alleged war crimes 08. April 2026 (04:48) Australia’s richest person questions cost and time spent investigating former soldiers as pockets of support emerge for Victoria Cross recipientFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastAustralia’s richest person, Gina Rinehart, says “I don’t understand” the justification for prosecuting Ben Roberts-Smith for alleged war crimes, as pockets of high-profile support emerge for the Victoria Cross recipient.Roberts-Smith was arrested in Sydney on Tuesday and charged with five counts of “war crime – murder” in relation to alleged offences in Afghanistan between April 2009 and October 2012. He is yet to enter a plea but is expected to defend the charges. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Tropical Cyclone Vaianu may bring life-threatening winds to New Zealand, forecasters warn 08. April 2026 (04:32) Category 3 cyclone is moving south of Fiji towards New Zealand, with winds at centre in excess of 150km/hTropical Cyclone Vaianu forming in the Pacific could bring life-threatening winds and heavy rain to New Zealand later this week, forecasters have said, with strong wind watches issued for the entire North Island.The category 3 cyclone is moving south of Fiji towards New Zealand, with winds around the centre in excess of 150km/h, MetService said on Wednesday. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Chris Taylor wins Wisconsin state supreme court election giving liberal judges a 5-2 majority 08. April 2026 (04:04) Taylor defeated conservative rival Maria Lazar, providing another gauge of Democrats’ durability in midtermsWisconsin voters sent another liberal justice to the state supreme court, with Chris Taylor beating conservative Maria Lazar and giving liberals a 5-2 edge on the high court.The retirement of Justice Rebecca Bradley, a conservative, gave liberals a chance to further consolidate their hold on the high court ahead of the next presidential election, when the swing state is sure to see challenges to election results. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
ICE agents shoot man in car in northern California 08. April 2026 (03:16) Carlos Ivan Mendoza Hernandez hospitalized after shooting in rural Patterson as officials say investigation under wayImmigration and Customs Enforcement agents shot a man in a vehicle in northern California on Tuesday.ICE agents conducted a vehicle stop in Patterson, a rural agricultural town in California’s Central Valley about 80 miles east of San Jose, to arrest Carlos Ivan Mendoza Hernandez, ICE director Todd Lyons said in a statement. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
‘I’m glad he backed off’: US political leaders relieved as Trump announces ceasefire 08. April 2026 (02:43) Chuck Schumer attacks president’s ‘ridiculous bluster’ while Republicans cast decision as shrewd tactical moveMiddle East crisis – live updatesPolitical leaders and many Americans breathed a sigh of relief on Tuesday evening, after Donald Trump announced a provisional ceasefire deal following threats to destroy Iran’s “whole civilization” if Tehran failed to reopen the strait of Hormuz by a self-imposed deadline.The announcement of the agreement, mediated by Pakistan, came roughly 90 minutes before the 8pm ET deadline by which Trump pledged to bomb Iran’s power plants and bridges in a move legal and military scholars said would be considered a war crime. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Republican wins Georgia runoff election to replace Marjorie Taylor Greene 08. April 2026 (02:42) Voters pick Clay Fuller, deciding Iran war was not enough to propel a Democrat into a conservative-leaning House seatUS politics live – latest updatesSign up for the Breaking News US newsletter emailClay Fuller supports the war in Iran. Shawn Harris opposes it. Voters in Marjorie Taylor Greene’s former district in north-west Georgia decided that this distinction was not enough to propel a Democrat into a conservative-leaning House seat on Tuesday night.Associated Press called the election as results from the rural counties of north-western corner of the state rolled in. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
US and Iran agree to provisional ceasefire with Tehran saying it will reopen strait of Hormuz 08. April 2026 (02:10) Last-minute intervention led by Pakistan cancels Trump ultimatum for Iran to surrender or face annihilationMiddle East crisis – live updatesSign up for the Breaking News US newsletter emailThe US and Iran agreed to a two-week conditional ceasefire on Tuesday evening after a last-minute diplomatic intervention led by Pakistan, canceling an ultimatum from Donald Trump for Iran to surrender or face widespread destruction.Trump’s announcement of the ceasefire agreement came less than two hours before the US president’s self-imposed 8pm Eastern time deadline to bomb Iran’s power plants and bridges in a move that legal scholars, as well as officials from numerous countries and the Pope, had warned could constitute war crimes. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
