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Social services minister ‘concerned’ by some providers meant to help welfare recipients find workGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastGood morning and welcome to our live politics blog. I’m Martin Farrer with the top overnight stories and then it will be Krishani Dhanji with the main action.The social services minister, Amanda Rishworth, was on 7.30 last night defending her decision not to get rid of the controversial for-profit aspects of the jobseeker program. More coming up. Continue reading...

Labour MP writes to chair amid concerns building societies are overusing quick votes and failing to add members to boardsNationwide is under pressure to address “emerging governance issues” across the building society sector, amid concerns bosses are bundling voting options and failing to allocate board seats for members.The Stockport Labour MP Navendu Mishra has sent a formal letter to the chair of Nationwide, Kevin Parry, outlining growing unease over the way executives, including at Nationwide, have been engaging with members who ultimately own their building societies. A letter raising similar concerns was sent to the chancellor, Rachel Reeves, in recent weeks. Continue reading...

• President Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping held high-stakes talks in Beijing focusing on resolving escalating trade tensions, technology competition, and coordinating responses to Middle Eastern developments. • The two leaders discussed tariff rollbacks, semiconductor supply chain restrictions, and potential joint initiatives on artificial intelligence regulation, with both nations seeking to avoid further economic deterioration. • The summit marks a critical pivot point in US-China relations, with observers noting that agreements reached could reshape global trade dynamics and influence the trajectory of broader geopolitical competition.

Farrer win casts shadow over budget as government signals it’s alive to populist rightwing threat Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastOne Nation has cast a shadow over the federal budget and influenced decisions to reform negative gearing and taxes, with Jim Chalmers admitting many Australians are feeling economic anxieties that are “driving them to consider” rightwing populist parties.The treasurer and Anthony Albanese have conceded that many people are locked out of the housing market and that the problem is getting worse, not better, under Labor. With Pauline Hanson’s party winning a historic byelection in Farrer – its first lower house seat win in its 30-year history – the government was alive to the threat of a populist wave of grievance similar to those in the United States, Britain and Europe. Continue reading...

• California Governor Gavin Newsom is asking state legislators to pass ambitious climate and energy legislation with a week remaining before they return to Sacramento to begin formal sessions. • The governor's package reportedly includes provisions for accelerating renewable energy adoption, addressing power grid resilience, and meeting state climate commitments. • Newsom faces significant pressure to demonstrate climate leadership as California confronts energy challenges linked to conflict-related oil market disruptions.

• The Union Cabinet approved increasing the Supreme Court's sanctioned strength from 34 to 38 judges, adding four additional judicial positions. • This expansion aims to address growing judicial backlogs and improve the court's capacity to handle pending cases more efficiently. • The move is seen as a significant step toward reducing case disposal timelines and strengthening India's judicial system.

• Singapore's Monetary Authority (MAS) met with chief executives of major financial institutions to discuss AI-related cyber threats, prompted by Anthropic's limited release of its Mythos model. • The Cyber Security Agency of Singapore issued a letter urging critical information infrastructure owners to commission board-level reviews of their cyber-risk posture in response to emerging AI security concerns. • The coordinated regulatory response underscores Singapore's proactive stance on managing AI-driven cybersecurity risks in the financial sector and critical infrastructure.

• Mumbai Indians coach Mahela Jayawardene commented on Suryakumar Yadav's 183 runs in nine IPL 2026 innings amid team's struggles. • Jayawardene said Yadav is in a phase where things aren't working but must keep grinding hard. • MI's ninth-place standing with two wins threatens early exit from playoffs.

Cole Allen, the man who tried to storm the White House Correspondents' Dinner, is being charged with trying to assassinate President Trump. And, King Charles III is set to address Congress today.(Image credit: Heather Diehl)

• White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt took questions from reporters as Cole Allen, the suspect accused of opening fire at the White House Correspondents' Dinner, prepared for his first court appearance on Monday. • Allen is accused of opening fire at the annual dinner while politicians, journalists, and celebrities were in attendance, with Leavitt and other Trump Cabinet members present in the room. • The incident represents a serious security breach at a high-profile event attended by senior government officials and media figures.

• President Trump was evacuated from the White House Correspondents' Association Dinner due to a nearby shooting incident on April 25, 2026. • NBC News' Garrett Haake questioned Trump on the trend of political violence in the U.S., to which he replied, 'No country is immune'. • The event highlights ongoing concerns about security at political gatherings and increasing incidents of violence.

• The New York Giants selected edge rusher Arvell Reese with the 5th overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, addressing a key defensive need. • Reese represents the Giants' investment in strengthening their defensive line and pass rush capabilities. • The selection highlights New York's priorities heading into the new NFL season.

• A multiyear international campaign is underway to repair damage to childhood immunization efforts caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. • The initiative focuses on restoring vaccination rates that declined during the pandemic period across multiple countries. • Public health experts view this effort as critical to preventing resurgence of vaccine-preventable diseases in vulnerable pediatric populations.

• President Trump delivered an emergency announcement from the Oval Office, placing the US on high alert over unspecified national security threats. • The speech called for public vigilance and federal coordination based on credible intelligence, stunning observers. • Reactions poured in from Congress, the Pentagon, and global markets amid a developing situation.

• Industry reporting from April 20, 2026 highlights how artificial intelligence is simultaneously accelerating cyberattacks while becoming a core defensive tool in enterprise security strategies. • Key players including Microsoft, Stellantis, and Anthropic are addressing emerging threats as AI enables faster, more scalable attack vectors across the technology sector. • The cybersecurity landscape faces competing pressures: organizations must deploy AI defenses while managing risks from AI-powered threats targeting critical infrastructure and supply chains.

Secretary Kennedy Podcast so far seems designed to promote Trump administration talking points over any specific public health messageRobert F Kennedy Jr’s new Secretary Kennedy Podcast is a show that, so far, appears designed to promote Trump administration talking points over any specific public health message.Though, based on the trailer and episode one, which dropped last week, one might expect the Secretary Kennedy Podcast to be quite similar to the health secretary’s former show, The RFK Jr Podcast. In the trailer that dropped ahead of his new podcast’s release, Kennedy says: “Children are sicker, chronic disease is exploding and the answers we’ve been given aren’t working” – talking points that were common on his old series. He even adds: “Many of us have come to the conclusion that the government actually lies to us,” a statement that might have served his former podcast better, given that Kennedy is now a senior figure in the government. Continue reading...

• The African Union convened emergency sessions Friday in Addis Ababa to address military coup concerns in three Sahel nations and coordinate response to deteriorating security conditions affecting 180 million people across West Africa. • Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger have experienced military takeovers since 2020, with suspended AU memberships and international sanctions creating governance vacuums exploited by extremist groups and destabilizing the entire region. • The AU proposed conditional reinstatement frameworks for suspended nations contingent on democratic transition timelines, though France and Western partners expressed skepticism about implementation feasibility given entrenched military leadership.

• Rachel Recchia from The Bachelorette broke down emotionally while discussing the intense hate comments she has received online. • The reality star opened up about the toll of public scrutiny in a candid Us Weekly feature. • Her story highlights ongoing mental health struggles faced by reality TV personalities in the U.S.

• Jefferson Abington hospital closed its behavioral health unit to accommodate overflow from the emergency department, citing capacity pressures. • The facility will continue providing crisis services and outpatient behavioral health through alternative arrangements, ensuring continuity of care for patients. • The closure reflects broader challenges in the healthcare system regarding bed capacity, mental health service demand, and emergency department overcrowding.

• GloRilla publicly addressed swirling pregnancy rumors during her appearance at a recent basketball game in the US. • Fans spotted what appeared to be a baby bump, prompting viral speculation across social media platforms. • The rapper shut down the rumors in a video response, clarifying her outfit choice amid the online frenzy.

US president’s 19-minute Wednesday address at the White House was met with bewilderment from commentatorsDonald Trump’s primetime nationwide address on the war with Iran caused widespread bewilderment, with commentators voicing shock at his vow to continue bombing to “bring them back to the stone ages”.Speculation before Wednesday’s speech from the White House Blue Room suggested that the president might be about to signal a winding up of the US military effort, which began on 28 February. Continue reading...

• Brazil and Paraguay finalized a bilateral agreement on Thursday to jointly develop and operate expanded hydroelectric capacity along the Paraná River, addressing critical energy shortages affecting both nations and the broader South American grid. • The $8.7 billion infrastructure project aims to increase regional electricity output by 28% within five years and includes provisions for technology transfer and workforce development across both countries. • The agreement emerged from emergency regional meetings convened by the Union of South American Nations (UNASUR) following cascading power grid failures that left 85 million people without electricity across South America in early March.

Democrats criticize speech as doing little to answer ‘the most basic questions’ of the American people. Plus, how rap lyrics were used to help sentence a man to deathGood morning.Donald Trump declared the month-long US-Israeli war against Iran a success “nearing completion” in his prime time address to the nation on Wednesday evening – despite the conflict wreaking global economic chaos, damaging transatlantic alliances and hitting his approval ratings.What is the significance of Trump’s comments on HEU? The apparent decision to leave it appears to conflict with his assertions that a key war aim was to ensure Iran could never make a nuclear bomb.Follow our liveblog for the latest updates.What has Houston said about the rocket’s deployment? Flight controllers confirmed that all four solar arrays, which will provide the spacecraft with continuous electrical power throughout its lunar journey, were deployed successfully. Continue reading...

President is expected to offer a timeline for end of the war, and speak about his threat to withdraw the US from Nato as he faces falling poll numbers and global energy crisisTrump says he is ‘absolutely’ considering withdrawing US from Nato Israel hits Iran with waves of attacks and says it killed top Hezbollah commanderWelcome to our continuing coverage of the crisis in the Middle East, as Donald Trump prepares to address America for the first time since the US-Israel war on Iran was launched.The president will deliver the prime-time speech at 9pm ET from the White House.Iran has rejected Donald Trump’s claim that its leadership asked for a ceasefire, calling the US president’s statement “false” and “baseless”. Trump made the claim in a post on Truth Social, which said: “Iran’s New Regime President, much less Radicalized and far more intelligent than his predecessors, has just asked the United States of America for a CEASEFIRE! We will consider when Hormuz Strait is open, free, and clear. Until then, we are blasting Iran into oblivion or, as they say, back to the Stone Ages!!!”Trump also said he is “absolutely” considering withdrawing the US from Nato, warning that the matter was “beyond reconsideration” after the refusal of US allies to join the US-Israeli war against Iran. The president’s threats, his most determined to date, have left the alliance facing its worst crisis in its 77-year history, a former US ambassador has said. Here’s our story.Meanwhile, in an open letter to the American people, Iran’s president Masoud Pezeshkian said relations between Washington and Tehran were “misunderstood” and that Iran was not an aggressor. The Iranian “harbor no enmity toward other nations, including the people of America, Europe, or neighbouring countries,” he said, adding that portrayals of Iran as a security threat were inaccurate, and Tehran was acting in self-defence – not aggression.In Tehran, Kamal Kharazi, a top foreign policy official and former Iranian foreign minister, has been severely injured in an airstrike on his home in the Iranian capital. His wife was reportedly killed in the attack. Kharazi, considered a moderate politician and veteran policy expert, also served as an adviser to the assassinated former supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Reports suggest his targeting is being viewed as an attempt to derail diplomacy. Continue reading...

Prime minister urges Australians to consider using public transport and conserve fuel for ‘critical industry’ and othersFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastAustralian prime minister Anthony Albanese has used a rare address to the nation to attempt to allay public fears over dwindling fuel supplies, vowing to keep petrol prices down by shoring up international supplies and ramping up local production.But the opposition has been scathing of the address, describing it as “nothing but hot air” and urging more clarity over the fuel crisis. Continue reading...

Prime minister says months ahead ‘may not be easy’ and urges Australians to ‘think of others in your community, in the bush and in critical industries’Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastMy fellow Australians.By nature, we’re an optimistic country. But I understand that right now it’s hard to be positive. Continue reading...

• Senators introduced the Fiscal Commission Act mirroring House version to create commission recommending fiscal health policies. • Commission aims to tackle rising U.S. debt through targeted policy proposals amid ongoing budget concerns. • Bill provides structured approach for bipartisan fiscal reforms without specifying exact recommendations upfront.

• International medical graduates play a vital role in addressing the U.S. physician shortage projected at 86,000 by 2036, particularly for Medicare patients and underserved communities. • The American Medical Association's March 27, 2026 National Advocacy Update calls on representatives to co-sponsor H.R. legislation to support these essential workers. • This effort aims to ensure adequate healthcare workforce amid growing demands from aging populations and expanded coverage.