Middle East crisis live: Iran warns it will close strait of Hormuz if US blockade continues

18/04/2026 07:16 The Guardian

Iranian parliamentary speaker also says passage through waterway will depend on Iranian authorisation and accuses Donald Trump of multiple falsehoodsIran says strait of Hormuz ‘completely open’ to commercial vessels as oil prices fallSeparate to the Pakistani army chief’s trip to Iran (see post at 07:53), the Pakistani prime minister, Shehbaz Sharif, and foreign minister Ishaq Dar also concluded a trip to the Middle East after visiting Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Turkey for talks.“We have just concluded the last leg of our engagements following productive and fruitful visits … where we held meaningful bilateral discussions aimed at strengthening cooperation across key areas,” Dar said on X. Continue reading...

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Young Bulgarians hold out for change in eighth election in five years

Voters broadly split along generational lines as pro-Russian former president leads in pollsAnna Bodakova’s days tend to be rather hectic at the moment. Hopping between meeting voters on the street, political debates and recording videos for social media, the 23-year-old is standing to become an M...

18/04/2026 07:00 The Guardian

Two weeks that pushed Trump to the edge. Is his presidency unravelling?

The president has opened fissures in his base by starting a war he couldn’t finish with Iran, stoking inflation and offending Christians. Barred from running again, he may feel he has nothing to loseLance Johnson voted for Donald Trump three times. Now he is feeling buyer’s remorse. “I haven...

18/04/2026 05:00 The Guardian

‘A defeat for Putin’: Ukrainians hope Magyar’s victory will mark new era with Hungary

As Orbán is rejected, there is cautious optimism new leader can restore ties – but issues such as EU accession loom largeLike many Ukrainians, Oleh Kupchak was delighted when Péter Magyar won Hungary’s election last weekend, ending Viktor Orbán’s 16-year grip on power. “We were euphoric....

18/04/2026 04:00 The Guardian

Iran says strait of Hormuz ‘completely open’ but sounds warning on US blockade

Iran’s parliamentary speaker says strait could close again if US blockade continues, but Trump says it will remain in place until ‘transaction’ with Tehran is completeIran’s foreign minister has said that the strait of Hormuz is now fully open to commercial vessels, reinforcing hopes for an...

18/04/2026 03:52 The Guardian

US extends waiver allowing countries to buy Russian oil – as it happened

This blog is now closed – follow live coverage on our new blogIn case you’re just joining us, here are the latest developments in the Middle East to bring you up to speed. It’s 9am in Beirut and Jerusalem, 9.30am in Tehran and 2am in Washington DC.A 10-day ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon...

18/04/2026 03:52 The Guardian

US midwestern states at risk of severe thunderstorms, weather agency warns

About 26 million people are under tornado watches from Wisconsin to Oklahoma, according to one reportA stretch of the midwestern states is at risk of severe weather, forecasters warned on Friday, as tornadoes battered towns across the central US region, leaving behind debris and destroyed property.A...

18/04/2026 02:01 The Guardian

Lead prosecutor on investigation into former CIA director no longer on case

Maria Medetis Long had expressed doubts over case of John Brennan, whose agency said Russia boosted Trump in 2016Sign up for the Breaking News US email to get newsletter alerts in your inboxA federal prosecutor leading the investigation into former CIA director John Brennan is no longer working on t...

17/04/2026 21:01 The Guardian

Air Canada temporarily suspends some flights to New York and other locations

Spirit Airlines reportedly seeks emergency US government funding as war against Iran keeps aviation fuel costs highSign up for the Breaking News US email to get newsletter alerts in your inboxAir Canada has announced a temporary suspension of flights from Toronto and Montreal to New York’s John F...

17/04/2026 20:57 The Guardian

Trump’s Iran war victory boast has echoes of Bush’s ill-fated ‘mission accomplished’ claim

US president says all major sticking points have been ironed out ahead of peace talks, but some of his assertions seem dubiousIt lacked the triumphalist symbolism of George W Bush’s memorable – and subsequently ill-fated – appearance before the “mission accomplished” banner aboard the airc...

17/04/2026 19:56 The Guardian

Tufts University student targeted by Trump administration completes PhD

Rümeysa Öztürk, who faced deportation over pro-Palestinian op-ed, travels back to Turkey to begin careerSign up for the Breaking News US email to get newsletter alerts in your inboxRümeysa Öztürk, the Tufts University student who was targeted by the Trump administration last year in response t...

17/04/2026 19:44 The Guardian

Rachel Reeves to raise windfall tax on low-carbon electricity generators

Chancellor aims to curb rising household bills as she consults on reforms to weaken link between gas and electricity pricesRachel Reeves is poised to raise the government’s windfall tax on low-carbon electricity generators to help limit UK household energy bills, the Guardian understands.The chanc...

17/04/2026 17:48 The Guardian

US Congress passes 10-day extension of surveillance law amid Republican infighting

Trump repeatedly demanded that Republicans unify to pass a longer extension of the Fisa warrantless spying lawBoth chambers of Congress voted in quick succession on Friday to pass a brief 10-day extension of a controversial warrantless surveillance law after Republican infighting tanked plans for a...

17/04/2026 16:34 The Guardian

Donald Trump claims to have ended a 10th war – but will the Lebanon ceasefire hold?

Lasting peace depends on resolving a border dispute dating back to 2000 and dealing with Hezbollah’s weaponsMiddle East crisis – live updatesIsrael’s security cabinet first heard about the ceasefire with Lebanon from a social media post by Donald Trump. Hezbollah first heard about the ceasefir...

17/04/2026 15:34 The Guardian

House approves short-term extension of surveillance law in blow to Republicans’ long-term plan – US politics live

The decision to extend a warrantless security law until 30 April came after 20 Republicans worked with House Democrats to defeat attempts to pass five-year and 18-month renewalsSign up for the Breaking News US emailIn more CDC news, Donald Trump has selected Erica Schwartz to lead the troubled healt...

17/04/2026 15:00 The Guardian

Why did Michelin snub St Paul in its guide to the best restaurants in the Great Lakes region?

Critics warn smaller and immigrant-run restaurants risk being overlooked as city-funded deal shapes dining mapWhen Michelin announced that it was expanding its world-renowned restaurant guide into the Great Lakes region of the United States, including Minneapolis, one prominent city was left off the...

17/04/2026 12:00 The Guardian

First Thing: Trump announces 10-day ceasefire in Lebanon after ‘excellent conversations’

Halt to fighting will be followed by first Israeli-Lebanese summit in decades. Plus, why are there so many false claims that famous lines in cinema were improvised?Don’t already get First Thing in your inbox? Sign up hereGood morning.Donald Trump has announced a 10-day ceasefire in Lebanon, to be...

17/04/2026 10:50 The Guardian

Inside the CDC’s leadership vacuum: work at a ‘standstill’ and low morale as 80% of top posts remain vacant

Current and ex-officials at the CDC warn Americans’ health security in danger under RFK Jr’s directionFourteen months after Robert F Kennedy Jr was sworn in as US health secretary, the country’s prime public health agency over which he presides is in a state of disarray.Eighty per cent of the...

17/04/2026 10:00 The Guardian

Finance leaders warn over Mythos as UK banks prepare to use powerful Anthropic AI tool

Release of new Claude model, so far limited to US firms, will expand to British institutions in coming daysBritish banks will be given access in the next week to a powerful AI tool that was deemed too dangerous to be released to the public, as a series of senior finance figures warned over its impac...

17/04/2026 09:45 The Guardian

Ben Roberts-Smith’s comrades say he ordered them to execute unarmed civilians, court documents show

Former SAS corporal allegedly placed man on his knees and ordered fellow soldier to shoot him, according to statement of factsAustralian soldiers have told prosecutors they executed unarmed civilians at the orders of Ben Roberts-Smith or in complicity with him, according to a statement of facts tend...

17/04/2026 09:34 The Guardian

‘Popesplaining’ Vance out of depth in row over whether Iran is a just war

Trump administration has riled head of Catholic church over use of theology to justify conflict in IranThe contrast in experience between the two men disagreeing over war and theology was striking.On the one side was Pope Leo XIV, the first North American to head the Catholic church and the first cl...

17/04/2026 09:00 The Guardian

Netflix co-founder Reed Hastings to leave streaming service

Chair’s decision to not seek re-election ‘not as a result of any disagreement’, company says in filingReed Hastings, the Netflix chair, is leaving the streaming service he co-founded almost 30 years ago as the company regains its footing after losing out on a $72bn (£53bn) deal for Warner Bro...

17/04/2026 08:29 The Guardian

Ben Roberts-Smith released from prison on bail after being charged with five counts of war crime murder

Former SAS corporal granted bail ahead of potential trial on charges relating to alleged killing of civilians in AfghanistanFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastBen Roberts-Smith has been granted bail under strict conditions...

17/04/2026 08:11 The Guardian

Australia news live: bail hearing for accused war criminal Ben Roberts-Smith; refinery fire will not mean tougher fuel restrictions, PM says

Follow updates liveGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastAustralia secures extra fertilizer and 100m extra litres of fuel, PM saysAlbanese has also provided an update on Australia’s talks with its allies in Asia to shore up imports of fuel and other goods affected by the effec...

17/04/2026 01:12 The Guardian

Ukraine war briefing: €90bn EU loan for Ukraine to be released in second quarter

EU economy commissioner says Iran war is feeding Russia’s war machine; Trump condemns massive strikes on Ukraine. What we know on day 1,513The EU expects to start releasing a new €90bn loan to Ukraine in the second quarter, the bloc’s economy chief told AFP on Thursday. The EU’s economy comm...

17/04/2026 00:19 The Guardian

No ‘specific request’ to help US in strait of Hormuz, Marles says, as Trump repeats criticism of Australia

US president told reporters he was ‘not happy with Australia because they were not there when we asked them to be there’Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastDonald Trump has again accused Australia of not doing enough to...

16/04/2026 22:13 The Guardian

Senate Democrats move to stall Trump’s ‘absurd’ bid to install new Fed chair

Democratic lawmakers urged Republican leaders to postpone the confirmation hearing of Kevin WarshSign up for the Breaking News US email to get newsletter alerts in your inboxDemocrats have moved to stall Donald Trump’s effort to exert greater control over the US Federal Reserve, condemning the pre...

16/04/2026 21:12 The Guardian

Hegseth channels his inner Tarantino with fake Bible verse from Pulp Fiction

The defense secretary said his prayer drew on Ezekiel, but wording closely matches Quentin Tarantino dialogueIt was perhaps inevitable that a braggadocious Christian nationalist defense secretary elevated from his role as a weekend Fox News television host would pluck a fake Bible verse from a viole...

16/04/2026 18:25 The Guardian

US House narrowly rejects war powers resolution as dissent grows

Resolution needed two more votes to pass, but Democrats now appear solidified in oppositionSign up for the Breaking News US email to get newsletter alerts in your inboxThe US House of Representatives on Thursday narrowly rejected a war powers resolution that would have prevented further military act...

16/04/2026 17:33 The Guardian

Europe has only six weeks’ supply of jet fuel left owing to Iran war, says energy chief

There will be flight cancellations ‘soon’ if oil supplies are not restored in coming weeks, says head of IEABusiness live – latest updatesMiddle East crisis – live updatesEurope has only six weeks of jet fuel left before shortages will hit because of the Iran war, according to the head of a...

16/04/2026 16:59 The Guardian

Middle East crisis live: US to block Iranian ports for ‘as long as it takes’ and is ready to restart combat if talks fail, Hegseth warns

Pentagon chief said that the US is ‘reloading with more power than before’ and Iran has choice of ‘the easy way or the hard way’US and Iran in indirect talks to extend two-week ceasefireIran has stopped all petrochemical exports to prioritise domestic supply and prevent shortages of raw mate...

16/04/2026 15:18 The Guardian

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