US tech firm Oracle cuts thousands of jobs as it steps up AI spending 01. April 2026 (12:20) Company chaired by Trump ally Larry Ellison seeks to reassure investors that bet on AI infrastructure will pay offOracle is cutting thousands of jobs as the US technology company seeks to reassure investors that its bet on AI infrastructure will pay off.The $420bn firm, headquartered in Austin, Texas, started making employees redundant on Tuesday, with thousands of Oracle’s 160,000-strong workforce expected to leave. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Iran war shows UK needs ‘ambitious’ new EU ties, Starmer says, as Trump again criticises Nato 01. April 2026 (12:08) PM to focus on European defence and economic partnership for ‘dangerous world’ in pivot away from USUK politics live – latest updatesBritain’s long-term national interest requires closer partnership with the EU, Keir Starmer has said, citing war in the Middle East and the increasingly volatile international situation.The prime minister indicated that the conflict had refocused the government on “ambitious” new ties with Europe, economically and in defence, and said how Britain emerged from the crisis “would define us for a generation”. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Starmer says he will push for ‘closer partnership’ with EU after Iran war highlights global volatility – UK politics live 01. April 2026 (12:03) Prime minister says UK will host meeting later this week with other nations on the reopening of the strait of HormuzStarmer says he understands why people are concerned about the cost of living.He says he has already set out a five-point plan to deal with the crisis.Just look at what’s happening today. Today your energy bills will be cut because of the action that we took at the budget. And whatever happens in Iran, that price is now fixed until July.The most effective way we can support the cost of living in Britain is to push for de-escalation in the Middle East, and a reopening of the strait of Hormuz, which is such a vital route for energy.To that end, we’re exploring each and every diplomatic avenue that is available to us. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
US supreme court to weigh whether Trump can deny birthright citizenship 01. April 2026 (12:00) Trump issued executive order in January 2025 that seeks to undo birthright citizenship, overriding the constitutionSign up for the Breaking News US email to get newsletter alerts in your inboxThe US supreme court will hear arguments on Wednesday over whether Trump can reverse generations of precedent and deny birthright citizenship to babies born on US soil, which would impact hundreds of thousands of children annually.On his first day in office, Trump issued an executive order that sought to undo birthright citizenship, overriding the US constitution – or, as his administration has argued, interpret the constitution correctly, in defiance of supreme court precedent. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Man charged with 10 firearms offences after Dover counter-terror police arrest 01. April 2026 (11:52) Khalid Ahmed, 24, from Ealing in west London, also charged with one count of possession of prohibited ammunitionA 24-year-old man who was stopped at Dover has been charged with 10 counts of possession of a firearm.Khalid Ahmed, from Ealing in west London, who is a dual Dutch and Irish national, is to appear at Westminster magistrates court on Wednesday, where he will also face one charge of possession of prohibited ammunition. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Zelenskyy to talk with US negotiators about war with Russia after Easter ceasefire proposal – Europe live 01. April 2026 (11:46) Ukrainian president says he hopes for ‘results’ as he sits down with negotiators later todayMeanwhile, back on Russia and Ukraine, the Kremlin showed no appetite for making concessions in any potential peace talks as it said that the Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy should have taken the difficult decision to withdraw his forces from the Donbas area “yesterday” in order to end what it called the “hot phase” of the war.Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov made the comments in response to a question about remarks made a day earlier by Zelenskiy who reportedly said that Moscow had given Ukraine a two-month deadline to withdraw its troops from Donbas or face tougher terms in any potential peace agreement, Reuters reported.“I do think that we should strengthen our cooperation on defence, security, energy, emissions and the economy. …I’m ambitious that we can do more in relation to the single market, because I think that’s hugely in our economic interests. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
American journalist Shelly Kittleson kidnapped in Iraq, US officials say 01. April 2026 (11:03) State department says it is working to ensure release of freelancer ‘as soon as possible’ after abduction in BaghdadMiddle East crisis – live updatesAn American journalist, Shelly Kittleson, has been kidnapped in Baghdad by a suspected Iranian-backed Iraqi armed group, the US has said, as regional security deteriorates after the US-Israeli attack on Iran.Kittleson is a longtime freelancer in the region, reporting extensively from Syria, Iraq and Lebanon. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Ex-Alex Jones employee reflects on job at Infowars: ‘It was nonsense. It was lies’ 01. April 2026 (11:00) Former Infowars video editor and field producer spoke on his experience working on the show in an NPR interviewSign up for the Breaking News US email to get newsletter alerts in your inboxA former video editor and field producer for Alex Jones’s Infowars has said his work for the notorious conspiracy theorist was “nonsense” and “lies”, but he kept at it for four years in his 20s because the far-right media company’s founder was a magnetic presence and it earned him good money.Josh Owens made those revealing remarks in an NPR interview published on Tuesday promoting his new memoir about once having been an employee of Jones and Infowars – a conversation that also detailed the hand he said he had in fabricating a video of an operative of the Islamic State (IS) terror group sneaking into the US from Mexico immediately after a beheading. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Oil price falls and markets rally after Trump says Iran war over in ‘two to three weeks’ 01. April 2026 (10:32) US president’s claim that conflict is nearing end prompts 15% drop in Brent crude and stock market climb in AsiaBusiness live – latest updatesOil prices tumbled and stock markets rallied across the world on Wednesday after Donald Trump said the war in Iran would end in “two to three weeks”.Brent crude, the international benchmark for oil, dropped to $99.78 a barrel, down more than 15% compared with its price on Tuesday – its lowest level in a week. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
UK food inflation ‘could hit 9% this year’ as Iran war drives up energy prices 01. April 2026 (10:13) Food and Drink Federation almost triples forecast, even allowing for possibility of strait of Hormuz reopening soonBusiness live – latest updatesFood inflation could hit 9% in the UK this year, even if the strait of Hormuz opens within the next few weeks, figures suggest, as the war in Iran pushes up energy prices.The Food and Drink Federation, which represents 12,000 food and drink manufacturers, has predicted that prices will rise by “at least” 9% by the end of 2026, almost tripling a forecast made before the Middle East conflict of 3.2%. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
