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The prime minister’s leadership is still in the spotlight after Mandelson was appointed US ambassador after he failed security vettingKeir Starmer faces yet another difficult day as prime minister as questions about his leadership swirl caused by the Peter Mandelson saga this morning, although his cabinet colleagues are rallying around him.Starmer’s science and technology secretary, Liz Kendall, will speak to the BBC this morning as the fallout from Mandelson’s appointment as ambassador to the US continues. Continue reading...

Iran’s top negotiator says both sides remain far apart after Tehran again closed strait of Hormuz after US said it would not end its blockadeFull report: Iran closes strait of Hormuz again ‘until US lifts blockade’Iranian president Masoud Pezeshkian was quoted in the Iranian Student News Agency on Sunday about Donald Trump and efforts to quash Iranian nuclear capabilities, Reuters reports.“Trump says Iran cannot make use of its nuclear rights but doesn’t say for what crime. Who is he to deprive a nation of its rights?” Pezeshkian was quoted as saying. Continue reading...

Filings suggest manufacturers’ lending arms have massively underestimated bill from FCA’s £9.1bn redress schemeCarmakers are under pressure to drum up £3bn to cover payouts for motor finance scandal victims after failing to adequately prepare for a UK-wide compensation scheme that is due to begin this summer.Company filings show the lending arms of big vehicle manufacturers including Ford, BMW, Stellantis and Volkswagen may have massively underestimated the final costs of the financial regulator’s £9.1bn redress scheme. Continue reading...

Exclusive: George Robertson calls on officials to identify the ‘fit and willing’ in UK’s 95,000-strong strategic reserveThe Ministry of Defence has lost track of military veterans they intend to recall at a time of national danger, according to a key government adviser.About 95,000 former soldiers and officers are in the strategic reserve but it is claimed that officials have failed to maintain a full record of their contact details. Continue reading...

Winning robot records faster time than Jacob Kiplimo’s world record More than 100 robots run in parallel tracks to avoid collisions with humansDozens of Chinese-made humanoid robots showed off their fast-improving athleticism as they whizzed past human runners in a half-marathon race in Beijing on Sunday, having lagged far behind a year earlier.The race’s inaugural edition last year was riddled with mishaps, as many robots struggled to get off the starting line, and most were unable to finish. Continue reading...

This blog is now closedGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastDefence Minister Richard Marles says the success of Australia’s alliance with the United States should not be measured against a single president or federal government in Canberra, insisting the longstanding ties will endure.US President Donald Trump has repeatedly criticised Australia for not assisting with the war in Iran, while federal Labor, including Marles and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, say the White House has not made any specific request for assistance. Continue reading...

IRGC reportedly fires on tanker as it tries to pass through strait during brief window when shipping lane had reopenedAnalysis: Trump and Tehran’s series of mismanaged posts stall progress towards peace Iranian officials say they have reversed the reopening of the strait of Hormuz and reimposed restrictions on the vital shipping lane after the US said it would not end its blockade of Iranian ports.A UK maritime agency reported that Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) ships had fired at a tanker as it attempted to pass through the strait on Saturday. Reuters reported an Indian-flagged vessel carrying crude oil had also been attacked while in the waterway. Continue reading...

This blog is now closed. Our latest main story on the Middle East crisis is here.Separate 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...

This week, NASA announced it had shut down one of that spacecraft's remaining science instruments — not because the mission has failed, but to keep it alive a little longer.

South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff says the launches happened on Sunday morning from the North's eastern Sinpo area.

Iran had warned the strait will not remain open if the US blockade continued and moved to restrict it

Ben Roberts-Smith, freed this week on bail, is charged with five counts of war crimes over the alleged murder of five unarmed Afghan civilians ⁠between 2009 and 2012

Nation's weather forecaster predicted more thunderstorms, accompanied by very heavy rain, for parts of North Island ‌including Wellington on Sunday

The president reportedly thought appearing off-kilter and dangerous would make Iranians hasten to end the war, a new report says

Police stormed store, killed suspect after 40 minutes of ​negotiations attempts

NPR also received an anonymous $33 million donation in April

An amateur diver located the family’s remains and wrecked car nearly seven decades after they vanished in Oregon

Buckley Carlson had worked as Vice President JD Vance’s deputy press secretary

A huge fire tore through the floating village of Kampung Bahagia in Sabah, Malaysia, destroying more than 200 homes.

Cash-strapped Yemenis face rising frustration as exchange firms limit currency conversion amid ongoing liquidity crisis.

Bulgaria votes to elect a new parliament after mass protests brought down the previous government in December.

Hundreds of far-right “Britain First” supporters marched in the streets of Manchester to celebrate Saint George.

Despite missing leading scorers Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves, the LA Lakers and LeBron James defeat Houston in opener.

Real win the final of Spain's premier annual knockout football competition with a dramatic penalty shootout in Seville.

The prime minister says he only learned of security concerns around the ex-US ambassador earlier this week.

Ben Roberts-Smith has given his first statement since he was charged with five counts of the war crime of murder last week.

Criticism of Downing Street's handling of Lord Peter Mandeslon's vetting scandal remains prominent on Sunday's front pages.

Iran reversed course on reopening the strategic waterway, warning it would continue to block transit as long as the U.S. blockade of ships from Iranian ports remained in effect.

The Black Sea country is holding its eighth election in five years, with Bulgarians yearning for the kind of prosperous life enjoyed by other Europeans.

Gaining a reputation as the brilliant, risk-taking “Indiana Jones” of his field, he encouraged investors to take chances on Asia, Africa, Latin America and Eastern Europe.

Few people experience lucid dreams, yet those who do are able to appreciate as much asleep as the rest of us do awake.

The Black Sea country is holding its eighth election in five years, with Bulgarians yearning for the kind of prosperous life enjoyed by other Europeans.

Former Vice President Kamala Harris, Senator Cory Booker of New Jersey and Gov. Andy Beshear of Kentucky spoke at a gathering of party insiders in Detroit, fueling presidential speculation.

The launch is the fourth such operation this month and the seventh of the year. Experts say it is meant to display North Korea's self-defense capabilities.

Reports: Bengals Transform Defense In Draft Deal For Dexter Lawrence  Cincinnati BengalsSources: Giants trade DT Lawrence to Bengals for No. 10 pick  ESPNHow Giants' huge trade could impact Commanders in 2026 NFL Draft  Yahoo SportsNFL Network: Giants trading DT Dexter Lawrence to Bengals in exchange for 2026 No. 10 overall pick  NFL.comGiants now have two picks in the top ten, again  NBC Sports

PinkPantheress Throws Star-Studded Birthday Bash During Coachella Set With Slew of Celeb Guests  The Hollywood ReporterPop star follows up Coachella with sold-out, first-ever show in Seattle  The Seattle TimesPinkPantheress Makes Her Coachella Debut in Ugg’s Quill Ballet Sneakers  WWDManon joins PinkPantheress on stage during Coachella weekend 2 set amid KATSEYE exit rumours  The Express TribunePink Pantheress wraps sold-out Seattle debut, Coachella performance goes viral  artthreat.net

3 takeaways from Lakers’ Game 1 win vs. Rockets  Silver Screen and RollLeBron plays 'triple threat' as Lakers upset Rockets in Game 1  ESPNLuke Kennard talks about his big performance in Game 1 vs Rockets  Yahoo SportsLakers vs. Rockets odds, prediction, time: 2026 NBA playoff picks, Game 1 best bets with Kevin Durant out  CBS SportsShorthanded Lakers knock off Durant-less Rockets in playoff opener  Los Angeles Times

North Korea launches multiple short-range ballistic missiles toward sea  AP NewsNorth Korea launches ballistic missiles towards sea off its east coast  Al JazeeraNorth Korea launches missiles into the sea in latest show of force  Sky NewsNorth Korea test-launches 'multiple' ballistic missiles, South Korea says  abcnews.comNorth Korean leader supervises missile tests from his naval destroyer  AP News

Gilbert Burns retires after suffering knockout loss to Mike Malott in UFC Winnipeg main event  mmafighting.comMain Card Results | UFC Winnipeg  UFC.comSooo ... About Last Night  Yahoo SportsUFC Fight Night odds, picks: Seasoned MMA analyst reveals selections for Burns vs. Malott and other matchups at Winnipeg on April 18  SportsLineUFC Fight Night odds, lines, predictions, time: Burns vs. Malott picks from elite MMA expert  CBS Sports

When an Iowa teen goes missing, a determined group of investigators make it their mission to find her  CBS News"48 Hours" Examines the Death of Jade Colvin, With Ties to Decorah, Iowa  KGANPhotos found on old cellphone help solve missing teen's disappearance  YahooJade Colvin has been missing since 2017. What we know about her murder  The Des Moines RegisterJade Colvin's disappearance featured on CBS's '48 Hours'  Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier

Atlanta Hawks vs. New York Knicks Live Score and Stats - April 18, 2026 Gametracker  CBS SportsJalen Brunson nets 28 points; Knicks outlast Hawks in Game 1  ESPNKnicks-Hawks Game 1: No letdown in New York as fresh playoff run begins  NBANBA playoffs 2026 takeaways: Knicks set the tone vs. Hawks; Nikola Jokić's mastery leads Nuggets by Timberwolves; Cavs bully Raptors  AOL.comHawks vs Knicks score, highlights: New York takes Game 1  USA Today

Trump news at a glance: president struggles to reopen strait as Iran rejects US blockade  The GuardianHormuz standoff: Trump misread his leverage and overplayed his hand  The Economic TimesConservatives Mock Trump’s Strait of Hormuz Announcement  NewsweekTrump Begs Everyone to Praise Him on Iran in Massive Crashout  The New RepublicClip: Iran war reality undercuts Trump's messaging  PBS

As e-bike crashes send an increasing number of people to the hospital, cities search for solutions  The GuardianE-Bike and Scooter Crashes Are Leading to More Brain Injuries  NYU Langone HealthVictor Dominocielo: ‘E-Bikes’ and the Only Collision That Counts  NoozhawkGrowing number of trauma, brain injuries linked to e-bikes and e-scooters at 1 hospital: Study  abcnews.comSouth Florida Experiencing Rise in Injuries with Continued E-bike Popularity Surge  floridainjurylawyer-blawg.com

Olivia Rodrigo Joins Addison Rae at Coachella for ‘Headphones On’ and Live Debut of New Single ‘Drop Dead’  VarietyOlivia Rodrigo’s ‘Drop Dead’ Is a Heavenly Fakeout  The New York TimesOlivia Rodrigo’s Babydoll Dress Is a Spring Wardrobe Savior  VogueOlivia Rodrigo’s New Music Video Is a Dizzying Romp Through Versailles  Artnet NewsOlivia Rodrigo Didn't Play 'Drop Dead' for Robert Smith: 'I Played Him a Bunch of Other Songs'  Rolling Stone

Bulgaria votes as pro-Russian former president leads the polls  ReutersWhat to Know About the Bulgarian Election  The New York TimesBulgarians head to polls for eighth time in five years  Al JazeeraBulgaria Votes With Russia Sympathizer in Lead: What to Watch  Bloomberg.comAfter Orban’s defeat in Hungary, Bulgaria offers Kremlin’s next best bet  The Washington Post

Trump, Iran cite progress in talks as uncertainty hangs over Strait  ReutersScoop: Trump convenes Iran situation room meeting amid renewed Hormuz crisis  AxiosUS-Iran talks make progress but no sign of deal yet as Strait of Hormuz remain closed  BBCIran war: Trump says Tehran cannot 'blackmail us'  DW.comThe extreme positions Trump proposes — and Republicans embrace  CNN

Lexi Wood Says 'Summer House' Stars Need to Stop Dating Each Other  TMZCiara Miller Will Let the Universe Handle It  glamour.comCiara Miller Says ‘Summer House’ Scandal Has Left Her “at a Loss for Words”  The Hollywood ReporterCiara Miller on The Pap Photo of Her Crying Outside Hermes  Hung Up | Hunter Harris'Summer House' star Ciara Miller addresses now-viral crying photo after West Wilson, Amanda Batula romance reveal  Page Six

Four Boston-area researchers honored with 2026 Breakthrough Prize, the ‘Oscars of Science’  The Boston Globe‘The Oscar of science’ awarded to scientists behind genetic treatment that restores lost vision win  The GuardianGene Therapy Pioneers Win 2026 Breakthrough Prize  the-scientist.com$3 million prize goes to duo whose research led to first sickle cell CRISPR therapy  Live SciencePhilly scientists win 2026 Breakthrough Prize for developing gene therapy for blindness  Inquirer.com

South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff says the launches happened on Sunday morning from the North's eastern Sinpo area.