Partial shutdown drags on as US House takes no action on compromise deal 02. April 2026 (16:43) Senate-passed funding plan for DHS languishes despite agreement between Republican congressional leadersSign up for the Breaking News US email to get newsletter alerts in your inboxThe US House of Representatives on Thursday took no action on a compromise measure that would end the partial shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), raising questions about how much longer the record-long funding lapse will persist.The department has been without funding since mid-February, after Democrats refused to vote for its appropriations unless Republicans agreed to new guardrails on federal agents involved in immigration enforcement operations. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
‘Curated chaos’: Danny Boyle on the ‘pop culture spectacular’ he is bringing to London’s Southbank Centre 02. April 2026 (16:39) Director and producer is co-creator of You Are Here, a one-day immersive theatrical event traversing 75 years of youth cultureOut of chaos come great cultural movements, according to the director and producer Danny Boyle, who will inflict a little curated chaos on London’s Southbank Centre with what has been described as an “epic, one-off pop culture spectacular”.Boyle, whose 2012 London Olympics opening ceremony drew on the rich thread of British culture, is the co-creator and director of You Are Here, a one-day immersive theatrical event traversing 75 years of youth culture and social movement: think teddy boys, Lovers’ Rock, punk, Ziggy Stardust, rave, acid house, the spoken word, Brit pop, ballroom to name a few. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Artist files war crime case in Paris over Israeli strike that killed parents in Lebanon 02. April 2026 (16:27) Lebanese-French man Ali Cherri demands investigation into Beirut bombing as possible war crime against civiliansA Lebanese-French artist has filed a legal complaint in a Paris court about an Israeli bombing of his family home in Lebanon that killed his parents and a domestic worker, claiming the attack could constitute a war crime.The suit, filed with the French war crimes unit on Tuesday, is a rare instance of an individual pursuing war crimes charges for an Israeli bombing. It is also the first time a French court has taken a case over Israel’s bombing of Lebanon. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Labour is letting down Britain’s children, says National Education Union leader 02. April 2026 (16:19) Daniel Kebede condemns Bridget Phillipson’s policies, telling NEU conference schools are ‘running on empty’The leader of the UK’s biggest education union has torn into the government’s record on schools, accusing Labour of letting down the nation’s children and failing to deliver on its promises for education.Daniel Kebede, the general secretary of the National Education Union, was unsparing in his criticism of education secretary Bridget Phillipson’s policies in a speech to delegates at the NEU’s annual conference in Brighton on Thursday. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Iranian tourist ban doesn’t align with the ‘Australian values’ Hedieh signed up to as a citizen 02. April 2026 (16:00) Visa ban makes Iranian-Australian feel her adopted country is a ‘home that doesn’t support you’Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastHedieh Jamshidian feared the window to see her mother, living in Tehran under waves of airstrikes, was closing.The Australian government had just announced it could block some visa holders from entering the country. So, Jamshidian, a 32-year-old Iranian Australian, decided to act quickly. Within a week she bought her mother, who held a three-month tourist visa, a ticket to Sydney. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
‘Letting the algorithm rip’: no legal basis for lack of human override of aged care funding tool, inquiry hears 02. April 2026 (16:00) Department says it’s received 834 requests for a review of tool’s assessments since it launched in NovemberGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastThere appears to be no legal barrier for a human to override a controversial algorithm that determines financial support for elderly Australians, a Senate inquiry has heard, despite government assessors being banned from doing so.The Integrated Assessment Tool (IAT), introduced in November as part of aged care Support at Home reforms, is used to assess eligibility and assign funding levels for aged care services. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Stellantis recalls 44,000 UK vehicles over fault that could cause fires 02. April 2026 (15:47) Affected cars include models in Peugeot, Citroën, Vauxhall, Lancia, Alfa Romeo, Jeep and Fiat brands made since 2023The European carmaker Stellantis has issued a recall for 44,000 UK vehicles after discovering a fault that could result in its cars catching fire.The fault has been found in certain models across its Peugeot, Citroën, DS Automobiles, Vauxhall, Lancia, Alfa Romeo, Jeep and Fiat brands, produced between 2023 and 2026. Key vehicles affected by the recall include the Citroën C3, Peugeot 208 and Vauxhall Mokka. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
UK flag-raising group leader arrested on suspicion of causing ‘alarm and distress’ 02. April 2026 (15:18) Exclusive: Ryan Bridge is co-founder of Raise the Colours, which has been criticised for anti-immigrant rhetoricThe leader of a flag campaign group has been arrested on suspicion of causing religiously and racially aggravated harassment.Ryan Bridge is the co-founder of Raise the Colours, which has put up hundreds of union and Saint George flags across England and attracted criticism for spreading anti-immigrant rhetoric. He was arrested on Tuesday and released on police bail the following day. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
DC planning authorities to vote on Trump’s White House ballroom project 02. April 2026 (15:05) Ballroom is likely to get blessing from the National Capital Planning Commission, which is chaired by ex-Trump lawyerSign up for the Breaking News US email to get newsletter alerts in your inboxDonald Trump’s White House ballroom project is likely to get a blessing from Washington planning authorities on Thursday, two days after a judge ruled work cannot proceed without Congress’s approval.The National Capital Planning Commission, which is chaired by one of Trump’s former lawyers, will deliberate and then vote on the “East Wing Modernization Project” on Thursday, according to a meeting agenda. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
‘It’s amazing’: stolen 2,500-year-old Romanian gold helmet has been found 02. April 2026 (15:04) Prosecutors unveil priceless artefact in press conference after it was taken from Netherlands museum in January 2025A priceless ancient golden helmet from Romania that was stolen last year from a museum in the Netherlands has been recovered, Dutch authorities have said.Under the guard of balaclava-wearing police, prosecutors unveiled the 2,500-year-old Coțofenești helmet during a news conference on Thursday in the eastern Dutch city of Assen. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
