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)
Anthony Albanese addresses the nation on the Middle East crisis – read the speech in full 01. April 2026 (10:00) Prime minister says months ahead ‘may not be easy’ and urges Australians to ‘think of others in your community, in the bush and in critical industries’Australian PMs have addressed the nation only a handful of times. Anthony Albanese will join their ranksFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastMy fellow Australians.By nature, we’re an optimistic country. But I understand that right now it’s hard to be positive. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Artemis II launch: crowds gather for glimpse of historic Nasa moon mission 01. April 2026 (09:00) Fully crewed rocket will head to moon from Florida – first time since 1972 that humans will have left lower Earth orbitA little more than an hour before sunset on Florida’s space coast, up to 400,000 people packed on beaches and causeways will look to the heavens on Wednesday to witness a fiery spectacle not seen in almost 54 years: a fully crewed Nasa rocket heading back to the moon.The launch of Artemis II, scheduled for 6.24pm ET if weather and any late technical gremlins grant their consent, marks the first time since the Apollo 17 mission of December 1972 that humans will have left lower Earth orbit. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Middle East crisis live: Trump claims war will end in ‘two or three weeks’; Houthis claim responsibility for missile attack on Israel 01. April 2026 (08:59) US president to address the nation later today; Houthis say attack was a joint operation with Iran and Hezbollah‘Get your own oil’: Trump launches tirade against Europe for not joining Iran warHouthi forces in Yemen have claimed responsibility for a missile attack on southern Israel this morning, saying it was a joint operation with Iran and Hezbollah.In a statement, the Houthi movement said it carried out its third missile attack in the conflict “in conjunction with Iran and Hezbollah in Lebanon”. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Australia wants to sell its social media ban to the world – but are the measures even working? 01. April 2026 (08:52) Two-thirds of teenagers are still on social media platforms included in the ban, according to the eSafety commissionerFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastWhen the age assurance technology trial released its final report before Australia’s under-16s social media ban came into effect last year, its first finding was: age assurance can be done privately, efficiently and effectively.Four months since the ban came into effect, we can say that was – to paraphrase Yes Minister – a courageous statement. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Moira Deeming could stay on Liberal ticket after preselection bungle as members make ‘stitch up’ claim 01. April 2026 (08:09) Potential challengers given only 36 hours to prepare for a rerun after the winner was deemed ineligibleFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastMoira Deeming could secure the top spot on a Victorian Liberal ticket – if she still wants it – after potential challengers were given only 36 hours to prepare nominations for a rerun preselection ballot, in what some insiders call a “stitch up”.It came after Deeming was on Sunday ousted from the number one spot for the western metropolitan region by Dinesh Gourisetty. But by Monday night, the Victorian Liberal party executive resolved to hold a fresh preselection, after Gourisetty was deemed ineligible to stand as a candidate at the November state election due to a character reference he provided for a friend convicted of sexually assaulting a child. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Empty petrol stations and volatile prices: Australia’s fuel crisis in charts 01. April 2026 (08:03) Track the latest data on fuel prices, outages and oil tanker deliveriesFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastHundreds of service stations across Australia have run empty, fuel prices are elevated and oil shipments have been cancelled.Australia is battling a fuel crises as Iran’s closure of the strait of Hormuz continues to bite. The federal government has released fuel reserves, cut fuel excise taxes and rolled out a national fuel security plan. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
