Jewish diaspora leaders urge Israeli president to stop West Bank settler violence 02. April 2026 (19:12) Former UK foreign secretary among 3,000 signatories of open letter to Isaac Herzog after spate of killingsThe former British foreign secretary Malcolm Rifkind is among leading members of the Jewish diaspora urging the Israeli president, Isaac Herzog, to intervene to stop “attacks by Jewish extremists” on Palestinians in the West Bank.An open letter to Herzog facilitated by the London Initiative – a liberal Zionist network of 360 people, including eminent Jewish, Israeli and Israeli Palestinian figures – has attracted more than 3,000 signatories, including diplomats, philanthropists, rabbis and academics from Australia, Canada, across Europe, South Africa the UK and US. It follows a spate of killings and arson attacks by settlers on Palestinian civilians in March. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
‘A litany of lies’: Trump’s rambling primetime Iran address sparks backlash 02. April 2026 (18:43) US president’s 19-minute Wednesday address at the White House was met with bewilderment from commentatorsDonald Trump’s primetime nationwide address on the war with Iran caused widespread bewilderment, with commentators voicing shock at his vow to continue bombing to “bring them back to the stone ages”.Speculation before Wednesday’s speech from the White House Blue Room suggested that the president might be about to signal a winding up of the US military effort, which began on 28 February. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Uganda receives first US deportation flight under third-country agreement 02. April 2026 (18:37) Dozen people arrive under new deal but legal challenges expected with scheme criticised as ‘dehumanising process’A flight carrying people being deported from the US has landed in Uganda, as Donald Trump’s administration pushes on with its strategy of expelling migrants to countries they have no ties to.The deported people would stay in the east African country as “a transition phase for potential onward transmission to other countries”, an unnamed senior Ugandan government official told Reuters. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
HBO to air standalone special on the making of new Harry Potter series 02. April 2026 (18:16) Finding Harry: The Craft Behind the Magic features interviews with cast members and will air on 5 AprilHBO has more Harry Potter magic up its sleeve – today, the company announced a standalone, behind-the-scenes special to accompany its upcoming TV adaptation of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone.Finding Harry: The Craft Behind the Magic will offer “an in-depth look at the making of the first season”, including plenty of production footage and details on the lengthy, UK-wide casting process for Harry, Ron and Hermione, played by Dominic McLaughlin, Alastair Stout and Arabella Stanton. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
TikTok pulls Israeli ultranationalist’s account for breach of hate speech rules 02. April 2026 (18:08) Dozens of videos have gone viral on TikTok and Instagram showing harassment of Palestinians and activistsTikTok has removed an account belonging to an ultranationalist, pro-settlement Israeli influencer for breaching hate speech and bullying rules after the Guardian flagged videos showing him harassing activists in the occupied West Bank.The Guardian has reviewed dozens of videos posted by various social media figures that have gone viral on TikTok and Instagram documenting the harassment of Palestinians as well as physical attacks on Israeli and international activists. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Costa Rica strikes deal to accept third country deportees from US 02. April 2026 (18:00) Central American country to receive up to 25 migrants a day expelled as part of Trump’s immigration crackdownSign up for the Breaking News US email to get newsletter alerts in your inboxThe Costa Rican government has agreed to receive up to 25 deported migrants a week from the United States, the latest deal in the Trump administration’s unprecedented efforts to deport scores of people to “third countries”.With the new agreement, Costa Rica seeks a closer alliance with Donald Trump’s government, which has been securing cooperation from other Central American countries in accepting deportees from other nations who have been detained by US immigration agents. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Republican senators break with Trump on Nato withdrawal as tensions rise 02. April 2026 (17:37) Thom Tillis joins McConnell in warning withdrawal would aid rivals and threaten US securityUS politics live – latest updatesSign up for the Breaking News US newsletter emailA second Republican senator spoke out in defense of Nato on Thursday, joining Mitch McConnell and the Democrats, after Donald Trump said that he was “absolutely” considering withdrawing from the alliance after it refused to take part in the joint assault with Israel against Iran.“Nato stood by America when we were under attack and came to our aid after the September 11th attacks. Their soldiers fought and died alongside our troops in Afghanistan,” said Thom Tillis, a Republican, and Jeanne Shaheen, a Democrat, who co-chair the Senate Nato observer group. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Artemis II astronauts prepare to leave Earth’s orbit and head towards the moon 02. April 2026 (17:15) Nasa mission enters second day, with crew hoping to become first people to orbit moon in more than 50 yearsFour astronauts are preparing to leave Earth’s orbit and slingshot towards the moon as Nasa’s Artemis II mission enters its second day.The high-stakes 10-day voyage is expected to mark the first time in half a century that humans will return to the vicinity of the moon. It is a crucial test of Nasa’s ambition to land humans back on the lunar surface this decade, and stay there permanently. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
AOC vows to block future US military aid to Israel, its Iron Dome and defense 02. April 2026 (17:14) Ocasio-Cortez says Israel can fund its own defense and she will oppose any new US aid amid human rights concernsUS politics live – latest updatesSign up for the Breaking News US newsletter emailAlexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a US representative, said on Wednesday that she will oppose any future US military aid to Israel, including for defensive systems.In a statement on social media, Ocasio-Cortez said that Israel was fully capable of funding “Iron Dome and other defensive systems”, and that “consistent with my voting record to date, I will not support Congress sending more taxpayer dollars and military aid to a government that consistently ignores international law and US law”. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Coalition of countries to work on rescuing ships trapped in strait of Hormuz 02. April 2026 (16:59) Yvette Cooper hosted virtual summit of more than 40 countries aimed at reopening vital shipping laneMiddle East crisis live – latest updatesPlans to clear sea mines and rescue trapped ships in the strait of Hormuz will be discussed at a global military planning meeting next week, after a virtual summit of more than 40 countries convened on Thursday hosted by Yvette Cooper.Ahead of the summit, the British foreign secretary condemned “Iranian recklessness” for “hitting global economic security” as she led talks aimed at reopening the vital shipping lane. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
