- China warns EU over proposed ‘Made in Europe’ law Financial Times
- China warns EU over ‘Made in Europe’ plan, vows countermeasures France 24
- EU Act poses serious investment barriers: Chinese commerce ministry news.cgtn.com
- China vows countermeasures if EU enacts 'Made in Europe' plan CNA
- China slams ‘Made in Europe’ push, mulls retaliation Yahoo
Australia’s south-east set for drier and hotter winter as BoM forecasts potential El Niño
Queensland and NSW set for lower than usual rainfall in May, June and July, while temperatures in most of the country likely to be higher than normal
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Large parts of south-east Australia look set for drier and hotter conditions over the next three months as a potential El Niño weather phenomenon takes shape in the Pacific Ocean.
Much of Queensland and New South Wales are forecast to have lower than usual rainfall in May, June and July, with almost the entire country likely to experience hotter than average maximum temperatures.
Continue reading...Nationwide could have first customer on board for nearly 25 years
James Sherwin-Smith will be up for election after securing more than 250 nominations to run alongside existing directors
Nationwide building society could have a customer on its board for the first time in nearly a quarter of a century after one of its longtime members secured enough support for a spot on the lender’s annual ballot.
James Sherwin-Smith will be up for board elections at Nationwide’s annual general meeting (AGM) in July, having gathered more than the 250 peer nominations necessary to run alongside existing directors.
Continue reading...Monday briefing: Everything we know about the White House correspondents’ dinner shooting
In today’s newsletter: After the dramatic events of Saturday night, White House security arrangements are under scrutiny and political violence is once again in the spotlight
Good morning. On Saturday night the annual Washington ritual of the White House correspondents’ dinner descended into chaos as the US president and first lady were evacuated after the event was interrupted by gunfire.
Journalists ducked under tables as authorities rushed Donald Trump and members of his cabinet out of the room. The president and his wife were unharmed, and a suspect is in custody – identified as Cole Tomas Allen, a 31-year-old man from southern California. In today’s newsletter, I will bring you the latest updates on what we know about the incident. First, the headlines.
UK politics | Labour figures from across rival factions have begun circulating informal proposals for an “orderly transition” of power away from Keir Starmer, the Guardian understands, shifting their discussions from whether the prime minister could be removed to how.
Europe news | Private jets laden with the spoils of those whose wealth swelled during Viktor Orbán’s years in power have been taking off from Vienna, while other individuals are racing to invest their assets abroad.
Trade | UK business leaders have called on the government to build an EU-style “trade bazooka” to protect Britain’s economic interests in response to the latest tariff threats from Donald Trump.
Middle East | Hopes of a breakthrough in negotiations between Iran and the US faded further on Sunday, amid a deepening sense of a deadlock in the nearly two-month-long conflict.
Science | Simultaneous exposure to toxic chemicals and climate change’s impacts likely contributes to the broad global drop in fertility.
Continue reading...Record bear sightings in Japan cause alarm as hibernation ends
Woman’s body found in Iwate prefecture last week, soon after a police officer was injured in bear attack nearby
Rested but famished bears emerging from hibernation in Japan are already coming into contact with humans, with the pace of sightings outstripping that seen in 2025, a record year for bear attacks.
According to media reports, the animals have been spotted with surprising frequency in urban areas in the country’s north-east, with authorities urging caution among people planning to spend the coming Golden Week public holidays in the countryside.
Continue reading...Iran reportedly proposes Hormuz Strait deal to U.S. Here’s where things stand — and what’s next for markets – CNBC
- Iran reportedly proposes Hormuz Strait deal to U.S. Here’s where things stand — and what’s next for markets CNBC
- Iran offers to end chokehold on Strait of Hormuz and asks US to end blockade, officials say WESH
- Iran offers U.S. deal to reopen strait but postpone nuclear talks Axios
- Iran gave US a proposal for reopening the Strait Of Hormuz and ending the war, Axios reports Reuters
- The Latest: Iran proposes to reopen Strait of Hormuz without nuclear agreement The Independent
Gina Rinehart calls for immigrants’ social media to be screened in Anzac memorial speech
Mining magnate also claims children are being taught to be ashamed of the Australian flag in a speech to 4,000 people on the Sydney Opera House steps
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Australia’s richest person, Gina Rinehart, called for immigrants’ social media to be screened and said children are being taught to be ashamed of the Australian flag in untelevised remarks before an Anzac memorial service on the steps of Sydney Opera House on Friday.
Rinehart’s public appearance was attended by about 4,000 people and sponsored by her company, Hancock Prospecting, and RSL New South Wales.
Continue reading...Four-fifths of UK mental health nurses say their workload is unmanageable
Half of respondents to RCN poll said patients ‘frequently come to harm’ because caseloads are too high
Mental health patients in the UK are routinely coming to harm because of high caseloads, understaffing and overwhelming administrative work, according to a poll that found only a fifth of specialist nurses felt their workload was manageable.
Prof Nicola Ranger, the general secretary of the Royal College of Nursing, said mental health nurses were caught in a “perfect storm” and unable to keep up with rising demand, with patients paying the price by missing out on crucial care.
Continue reading...Dozens of toys recalled in the UK after asbestos found in play sand
Candle-making kits and rubber toys among products recalled after revelation about play sand sold by Hobbycraft
More than 30 children’s toys have been recalled in the UK after the Guardian revealed that play sand sold by Hobbycraft was contaminated with asbestos.
Over the past three months, other children’s products ranging from candle-making kits to stretchy rubber toys have been recalled by retailers including Tesco, Primark, Matalan and M&S after being found to contain the substance.
Continue reading...Pro-Palestine activists face trial for attack on Israeli arms factory in Germany
Families say ‘Ulm 5’ have been detained under extreme prison conditions since arrest last September
Five pro-Palestinian activists are due to appear in court over an attack on an Israeli arms company in Germany, in proceedings their families say could become a “show trial”.
The Berlin-based activists, who are British, Irish, German and Spanish citizens, have been held in pre-trial detention in separate prisons since 8 September. They are alleged to have broken into Elbit Systems, in the city of Ulm in Baden-Württemberg, in the early hours of 8 September, causing hundreds of thousands of euros of damage before calling the police to arrest them.
Continue reading...King Charles visits Trump: what are the potential pitfalls for the monarch?
The king faces possibly his most important ever speech and a thin-skinned president, in the shadow of the Sussexes and the Epstein scandal. What could go wrong?
On his high-stakes four-day state visit to the US, King Charles will have to walk a diplomatic tightrope as the guest of an erratic Donald Trump against the backdrop of Iran and security concerns after Saturday night’s shooting at the White House correspondents’ dinner.
Many challenges lie ahead as he takes up his UK government-decreed task to “reaffirm and renew” bilateral ties amid a worsening “special relationship” on the 250th anniversary of American independence.
Continue reading...People in UK spend fewer years in good health than a decade ago, study finds
Exclusive: Health Foundation says Britain is ‘going backwards’ compared with most other rich countries
People in the UK are spending fewer years in good health than a decade ago, prompting concern that the population’s health is “going backwards”.
The sharp decline in Britain’s healthy life expectancy, the amount of time someone spends free of illness or disability, is in sharp contrast to its recent rise in most other rich countries globally.
Continue reading...Men accused of raping cellmates mistakenly allowed to stay in shared cells by Queensland prison staff
Strict protocols violated by corrections staff who wrongly believed sexual assault cases were ‘closed’, ombudsman finds
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Men charged with alleged prison rapes were allowed to stay in shared cells – against strict protocols – by Queensland corrections staff who mistakenly believed their cases were “closed” and that they posed no risk, a report by the state’s ombudsman has found.
The ombudsman’s inspection report of the Brisbane correctional centre raises a number of concerns about the facility, including extensive overcrowding, health facilities that are not fit for purpose and complaints that chicken served to detainees and staff is often undercooked.
Continue reading...US strike kills three on alleged narco boat as campaign death toll hits 185
Military video shows boat moving swiftly in water before explosion leaves it in flames
The US military said on Sunday three men were killed when it struck a boat it claimed was “engaged in narco-trafficking operations” in the Eastern Pacific Ocean.
This latest strike – which follows dozens of similar attacks on alleged drug boats in recent months – brings the US campaign’s death toll to at least 185, according to a tally compiled by Agence France-Presse.
Continue reading...Magnitude 6.2 earthquake shakes part of northern Japan – AP News
- Magnitude 6.2 earthquake shakes part of northern Japan AP News
- Map: 6.1-Magnitude Earthquake Shakes Northern Japan The New York Times
- M6.2 quake hits Japan's Hokkaido, no tsunami warning issued Japan Wire by Kyodo News
- M6.1 quake strikes in northern Japan Japan Today
- Tsunami Warning Alert – April 20, 2026 U.S. Embassy & Consulates in Japan (.gov)
Russia, North Korea agree ‘long-term’ military cooperation – DW.com
- Russia, North Korea agree 'long-term' military cooperation DW.com
- Ukraine war: North Korea's Kim Jong Un reaffirms support for Russia BBC
- North Korea Opens Memorial Museum for Troops Killed in Russia-Ukraine War Military.com
- Ukraine war briefing: Kim Jong-un strengthens military ties with Russia and hails soldiers who fought in Kursk The Guardian
- North Korea opens museum commemorating troops killed fighting for Russia Al Jazeera
Michael moonwalks to $217m opening weekend, shattering box office records for a biopic
Michael Jackson biopic has shrugged off controversy, bad reviews and a troubled production to take $217m worldwide, including $97m in North America
Michael, the big-budget Michael Jackson biopic, has shrugged off bad reviews and a troubled production to launch with a $97m opening in North American theaters, contributing to its enormous $217m (£160m, A$303m) worldwide box office and shattering the record for the biggest biopic opening of all time.
The film, a highly authorised portrayal of the “king of pop” that was co-produced by the Jackson estate and stars Jackson’s nephew Jaafar Jackson, took $120.4m internationally and $97m domestic – combining to surpass Oppenheimer’s $180.4m worldwide opening weekend in 2023 and Bohemian Rhapsody’s $124m in 2018.
Continue reading...Lebanon health ministry says Israeli strikes kill 14 in deadliest day since ceasefire began
The Israeli government and Hezbollah have traded blame over breaches to the truce, which is set to run for several more weeks
Lebanon’s health ministry said Israeli strikes on the country’s south killed 14 people on Sunday, the deadliest day since a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah came into force over a week ago.
The health ministry said the dead on Sunday included two women and two children, adding that 37 other people were wounded. Israel said one of its soldiers was also killed.
Continue reading...Trump and officials ‘likely’ targets of press dinner shooting suspect, authorities believe
The suspect is expected to be charged with assault of a federal officer and using a firearm during a crime of violence, officials have said.
Renewable energy will boost national security and protect UK from sabotage, minister says
Widely dispersed wind farms and solar panels are harder to target than fossil fuel power stations, Michael Shanks says
Renewable energy will boost the UK’s national security and make the country more resilient against potential aggression or sabotage, the government’s energy minister has said.
Michael Shanks said widely dispersed wind farms and solar panels were much harder to target than large-scale fossil fuel power stations. They are also not vulnerable to supply shocks, such as the current oil crisis caused by the US-Israel war on Iran and the soaring gas prices that followed Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
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