Iran’s internet blackout is longest national shutdown since Arab spring 06. April 2026 (17:55) Iranian authorities cut access to internet on 28 February leaving many with limited information about warIran’s internet shutdown, which began shortly after the first US-Israel strikes in late February, is now the longest national-scale blackout since the Arab spring, monitors have said.Iranian authorities cut all access to the internet on 28 February, the day the war began, after an earlier shutdown in January during nationwide protests. This current blackout has lasted more than 38 days. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Artemis II crew enters moon’s gravitational grip ahead of historic flyby 06. April 2026 (17:38) Nasa’s Orion capsule will be just over 4,000 miles above lunar surface, allowing astronauts to see both polesThe four astronauts on Nasa’s Artemis II mission are poised to begin the first flyby of the far side of the moon in more than half a century, bringing them to the furthest point from Earth ever reached by humans.The crew of three Americans and one Canadian earlier entered the moon’s “sphere of influence”, where its gravity has a stronger pull on the spacecraft than Earth’s. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Waitrose under pressure to reinstate employee sacked after stopping shoplifter 06. April 2026 (17:23) The retailer has been criticised over treatment of Walker Smith, 54, who worked in London store for 17 yearsWaitrose is under growing pressure to reinstate an employee of 17 years who was sacked after tackling a shoplifter who was trying to steal Lindt Gold Bunny Easter eggs.The retailer has been criticised for its treatment of Walker Smith, who described his devastation after managers fired him two days after he stopped the shoplifter taking items from the display of Easter eggs. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Jamie Dimon says US should strengthen allies economically, in veiled criticism of Trump 06. April 2026 (17:17) JP Morgan boss warns of risks of higher inflation and interest rates due to Iran war in annual letter to shareholdersMiddle East crisis – live updatesThe head of the US’s largest bank has pressed the White House to strengthen Washington’s allies economically in order to “avoid truly adverse consequences”, in the latest intervention in an increasingly testy relationship with the Trump administration.As the Middle East conflict sparked by US and Israeli attacks on Iran enters its sixth week, Jamie Dimon, the chair and chief executive of JP Morgan Chase, said in his annual letter to shareholders that good US foreign policy should put America first “though not alone”. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Steve Bannon appears likely to have criminal conviction dismissed 06. April 2026 (17:11) US supreme court files brief order vacating lower court ruling that had upheld rightwing media host’s conviction Sign up for the Breaking News US email to get newsletter alerts in your inboxSteve Bannon, the rightwing media host and ally of Donald Trump, appears likely to have his criminal conviction dismissed.The US supreme court filed a brief order on Monday that vacated a lower court ruling that had upheld Bannon’s conviction and sent the case back to the US court of appeals for the DC circuit for “further consideration in light of the pending motion to dismiss the indictment”. The Trump administration had moved to dismiss Bannon’s conviction. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Key stroke treatment still not available around the clock across England 06. April 2026 (17:00) Exclusive: Seven of England’s 24 stroke centres still not providing mechanical thrombectomy 24/7 despite ministers’ pledgesThe NHS has not made a “life-changing” treatment for stroke available around the clock across England despite ministers repeatedly promising that it would.The health service was expected to improve stroke care by making a clot removal technique called mechanical thrombectomy available everywhere in the country 24/7 from 1 April. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Using AI to speed up Australia’s environmental approvals risks ‘robodebt-style’ failures, scientists say 06. April 2026 (17:00) Conservationists say move could push species closer to extinction and clearer environmental rules are needed insteadFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastConservationists and scientists have warned a mining lobby proposal to use artificial intelligence to speed up national environmental approvals could generate “robodebt-style” failures, putting threatened species at further risk.The Minerals Council of Australia has asked the government to spend $13m to trial the use of AI to help companies prepare applications and help the federal government make decisions. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
