- Opening Hormuz is the easy part. Restoring oil flows isn’t Reuters
- April 19, 2026: Iran War Maritime Intelligence Daily Windward
- Reopening Strait of Hormuz Would Ease Oil Crisis but Only So Much The New York Times
- Iran's closure of the Strait of Hormuz sparks 'tremendous interest' in alternative routes CBC
- Strait of Hormuz: why even neutral and distant countries like Switzerland can’t escape the fallout The Conversation
NATO Moves from Single AWACS Platform to “System of Systems” After Lessons from Ukraine and Iran – Defense Express
- NATO Moves from Single AWACS Platform to "System of Systems" After Lessons from Ukraine and Iran Defense Express
- 10 Ukrainians Humbled Two NATO Battalions. When Will NATO Wake Up? War on the Rocks
- Ukrainian Military Offers Lessons Learned to NATO (Part Two) The Jamestown Foundation
- NATO revamps air surveillance approach for the ‘cost-war’ of low-flying drones, missiles Breaking Defense
- U.S. and NATO Need To Learn From Ukraine RealClearDefense
Australia news live: ‘weeks’ to restore production at Geelong refinery after blaze, Viva says; Chalmers warns of ‘big risks’ to inflation and growth
Meanwhile ACT independent David Pocock is calling for a 25% tax on gas exports to fund welfare and housing. Follow today’s news live
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Treasurer says capital gains changes and other tax reform still under consideration
Sticking with the budget, Chalmers said the government hasn’t made any decisions on capital gains tax reform.
We haven’t taken any decisions on those policies, whether the specific ones you mentioned [or others].
There’s more work to do on our options for tax reform in this budget.
The savings package won’t be exactly the same as what we would have been contemplating over the summer, but it will be a substantial savings package.
When we came to office the NDIS was out of control and it had strayed a long way from its original intended purpose.
It was growing around 22% when we got to office.
Continue reading...Ukraine strikes oil refinery in Russia’s Krasnodar Krai for 2nd time in a week, sparking major fire, General Staff confirms – The Kyiv Independent
- Ukraine strikes oil refinery in Russia's Krasnodar Krai for 2nd time in a week, sparking major fire, General Staff confirms The Kyiv Independent
- Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, April 18, 2026 Institute for the Study of War
- Ukraine strikes Russian oil refineries hours after US waives sanctions on Moscow’s oil CNN
- Ukrainian Drone Attack on Tuapse Port Kills 1 The Moscow Times
- Ukraine confirms repeat strike on Russia's Tuapse oil refinery – video Українська правда
Iran war live: Tehran slams US ‘piracy’ after ship seizure, vows response
Attack comes hours after US President Donald Trump announced he is sending his team to Islamabad for possible talks.
Outrage after photo shows Israeli soldier smashing Jesus statue in Lebanon
Social media users condemn Western silence on attacks on religious symbols and sites by Israeli soldiers and settlers.
Iran Update Special Report, April 19, 2026 – Institute for the Study of War
- Iran Update Special Report, April 19, 2026 Institute for the Study of War
- IDF map shows its advance into southern Lebanon – as it happened The Guardian
- Iran war: What is happening on day 51 of the US-Israeli conflict? Al Jazeera
- Politics The Economist
- Live Updates: Latest from Israel, Iran, and the Middle East The Jerusalem Post
Mass shooting rampage in Louisiana leaves eight children dead and others wounded
Shreveport police say suspect Shamar Elkins, who was fatally shot, killed seven of his children and injured their mother in a ‘domestic violence incident’
At least eight children were killed, and two adults were wounded in a mass shooting in the Louisiana city of Shreveport, in what police called a “domestic violence incident”.
Chris Bordelon, the Shreveport police department spokesperson, said on Sunday evening that the suspect, Shamar Elkins, killed seven of his own children and wounded their mother, as well as killing another child.
Continue reading...India has splurged billions on metro trains. But where are the commuters?
Without better last-mile connectivity and affordable fares, metro use is unlikely to improve quickly, say experts.
‘They told me he was dead’: Children born near army base learn truth about UK soldier dads
A DNA and legal project has identified the fathers of 20 children born near a military base in Kenya.
Why your recycled clothes could end up in this South American desert
Old garments from around the world are being discarded in the South American country.
The insider trading suspicions looming over Trump’s presidency
The BBC has found a pattern of spikes in trades ahead of public announcements by the US president.
ABF poised to reveal result of Primark and food business demerger plan
Retail analysts say breaking up food and fashion group would make sense in challenging business environment
Primark may break free from Kingsmill, Twinings and the sugar business this week when Associated British Foods announces plans on a mooted demerger.
The potential split comes at a tricky time for the group controlled by the billionaire Weston family, with its fashion and food arms facing tough competition and rising costs.
Continue reading...Rachel Goldberg-Polin, whose son Hersh was abducted October 7 and murdered by Hamas: Grief is a “badge of love” – CBS News
- Rachel Goldberg-Polin, whose son Hersh was abducted October 7 and murdered by Hamas: Grief is a "badge of love" CBS News
- An American hostage’s mother on her new memoir of ‘love and pain’ The Washington Post
- Her kidnapped son was killed in a Gaza tunnel. A new memoir gives a searing account of her grief AP News
- Book Review: ‘When We See You Again,’ by Rachel Goldberg-Polin The New York Times
- Exclusive | Mother of Oct. 7 captive executed by Hamas details agonizing moments of ‘son’s last day’: ‘Howled like a wounded animal’ New York Post
Art on trial – a sculptor’s arrest highlights new extremes for censorship in China
Gao Zhen is being retroactively punished for 15 year-old-works, in a case that has alarmed rights groups.
Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, April 19, 2026 – Institute for the Study of War
- Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, April 19, 2026 Institute for the Study of War
- The Russia-Ukraine War Report Card, April 15, 2026 Russia Matters
- The situation 1487 – April 17, 2026 SPARTANAT.com
- Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, April 17, 2026 Critical Threats
- ISW Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, April 19, 2026 Kyiv Post
Iranian American woman arrested in Los Angeles for alleged arms trafficking
Federal prosecutor says woman is suspected of dealing weapons to Africa on behalf of Iranian government
A California woman was arrested at Los Angeles international airport after allegedly trafficking weapons on behalf of the Iranian government to contacts in Africa, including Sudan.
Shamim Mafi, 44, of Woodland Hills was detained on Saturday night by federal agents, according to the top federal prosecutor in Los Angeles.
Continue reading...Hamas Officials Say Group Is Ready to Hand Over Some Weapons – The New York Times
- Hamas Officials Say Group Is Ready to Hand Over Some Weapons The New York Times
- Hamas rejects Gaza disarmament plan, Palestinian official says BBC
- Hamas only willing to give up internal security arms as part of disarmament — report The Times of Israel
- Hamas rebuffs ‘trap’ disarmament plan as Israeli violations stall ceasefire process Middle East Eye
- Hamas officials claim terror group ready to hand over small weapons, rifles to Gazan police - NYT The Jerusalem Post
US forces attack and seize Iranian ship Touska near Strait of Hormuz
US Central Command has published a video said to show a guided-missile destroyer firing at an Iranian-flagged ship.
Argentina’s Milei backs US-Israel war on Iran in Jerusalem visit
Argentina’s president reaffirmed alignment with the US and Israel during a visit to Jerusalem, backing their war on Iran