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Member states meet this morning, as Ukraine starts pumping oil through Druzhba with Slovakia deliveries to resume ThursdayThe EU is to waive its state aid rules to allow member states to step in and help consumers weather the current cost of living crisis caused by the Iran war.It will allow governments to issue energy vouchers, temporarily allow the reduction of excise duties for vulnerable households. Continue reading...

Pat McFadden repeatedly declined to say that he thought the sacking of Foreign Office’s top official over Mandelson vetting was fairEmily Thornberry, the Labour MP who chairs the Commons foreign affairs committee, told Sky News this morning that she thought Keir Starmer was right to sack Olly Robbins as head of the Foreign Office. She said:I’m not saying I’m not sympathetic. I’m not saying that he hasn’t been through a very difficult time. But if you were to ask me, do I think that, in all the circumstances, it was right for him to lose his job? I think actually it was.Yes, I think it was. It was a difficult decision as well, and you have to make judgments on these things.But what we heard from Olly Robbins confirmed what the prime minister set out [on Monday], which was that there were lots of opportunities to tell the prime minister, and the foreign secretary, and the cabinet secretary, that Peter Mandelson had failed the vetting process, and on none of those occasions – either ahead of Peter Mandelson taking the role, or when Peter Mandelson was sacked, or when the foreign secretary was asked by the foreign affairs select committee about the vetting process – on none of those occasions was that information provided. Continue reading...

Cargo ship reportedly attacked northwest of Iran after earlier reports that the IRGC had fired at a gunboat off the coast of OmanTrump announces ceasefire extensionWhy Trump’s erratic commentary is the real block to an Iran dealIf you’re just joining us, here’s the main news of the day. It is 9.30am in Tehran, 9am in Jerusalem and Beirut, and 2am in Washington DC.Donald Trump unilaterally said he is extending the ceasefire with Iran at Pakistan’s request while awaiting a “unified proposal” from Tehran, even as the US military maintains its blockade of Iranian ports.Trump made the announcement as ceasefire talks looked increasingly uncertain with a two-week truce set to expire on Wednesday. Both countries had said they were prepared to resume fighting if no deal is reached.Trump said he would “extend the ceasefire until such time as [Iran’s] proposal is submitted, and discussions are concluded, one way or the other”.Trump later claimed in a Truth Social post that Iran is “collapsing financially” and was losing $500m every day that the strait of Hormuz is effectively closed.Iran has yet to decide whether to join the negotiations in Pakistan, a foreign ministry spokesman said earlier on Tuesday, and will only take part if Tehran believes the discussions would yield results.A container ship has reported being fired at by an IRGC gunboat, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations said. The incident occurred 15 nautical miles north-east of Oman. The vessel sustained “heavy damage” to its bridge, the master of the ship said. All crew members were reported as safe.Shares were mixed in Asia as markets waited to see if the US and Iran may resume talks. Brent crude edged higher to $98.51 a barrel, while US benchmark crude fell 0.4% to $89.29 a barrel.One person was killed and two others wounded in an Israeli drone strike overnight on the outskirts of al-Jbour in Lebanon’s western Bekaa Valley, Lebanese state media reported. Israel and Lebanon agreed to a 10-day ceasefire on Friday.Since the war started, fighting has killed at least 3,375 people in Iran and more than 2,290 in Lebanon, the Associated Press reported. Additionally, 23 people have died in Israel and more than a dozen in Gulf Arab states. Fifteen Israeli soldiers in Lebanon and 13 US service members throughout the region have been killed.Iran’s Revolutionary Guards threatened to prevent oil production in the Middle East if the Islamic republic faced attacks launched from its Gulf neighbours’ territory. Continue reading...

House Democratic leader says result should serve as a warning to Ron DeSantis after latest blow to Donald Trump’s redistricting battleHello and welcome to the US politics live blog.The vote to approve new congressional maps in Virgina could embolden Florida’s Republican-controlled state assembly to consider tit-for-tat changes to its own map, the House Democratic leader has said.If Florida Republicans proceed with this illegal scheme, they will only create more prime-pick up opportunities for Democrats.We are prepared to take them all on, and we are prepared to win. Continue reading...

Annual March rate shows impact of Iran war, which also pushed up cost of food and air faresBusiness live – latest updatesUK inflation accelerated to 3.3% in March after the Iran war triggered the biggest jump in fuel prices for more than three years.In the first official snapshot of the damage to living standards in Britain from the US-Israeli war on Iran, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) said the consumer prices index increased last month from a rate of 3% in February. The rise matched the forecasts by City economists. Continue reading...

Announcing a major overhaul of the scheme, health minister Mark Butler said it was costing ‘too much and is growing too fast’Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastAt least 160,000 people are expected to be removed from the national disability insurance scheme by 2030, as the Albanese government looks to claw back savings by changing who can access the scheme.The health minister, Mark Butler, unveiled a massive overhaul of the $50bn scheme on Wednesday, announcing the growth rate will be brought down to just 2% every year until 2030 in an effort to curb annual plan inflation and produce billions in savings. Continue reading...

Macaques have learned to eat soil to avert gut irritation caused by salty and sugary snacks, researchers believeTroops of monkeys living on the Rock of Gibraltar have learned to eat soil in what scientists believe is an effort to settle their stomachs after all the junk food they receive – and sometimes steal – from crowds of tourists.Researchers spotted the intentional mud eating, known as geophagy, while observing groups of Barbary macaques in the territory. Monkeys that had the most contact with tourists ate the most soil and consumption peaked in the holiday season, they found. Continue reading...

News follows Guardian report on licence given to British firm exporting machinery to Armenian firm linked to Russian war effortBritish firms will face “much tougher” controls to prevent their goods from reaching Russia via other countries, undermining sanctions and aiding Vladimir Putin’s assault on Ukraine.Under plans to be unveiled on Wednesday, the government will be able to require UK manufacturers to obtain a licence if they want to export to a country suspected of acting as a staging post for exports ultimately destined for Russia. Continue reading...

Council proposal to use glyphosate to tidy up pavements criticised over potential harm to humans and wildlifeCornwall is famed for its glorious gardens and verdant landscapes but a bitter row has broken out over a plan to tackle a less glamorous type of vegetation – roadside weeds.The unitary authority has announced plans to use the controversial herbicide glyphosate to tidy up pavements and kerbsides, after largely phasing out its use over the last decade amid concerns about potential harm to humans and the peninsula’s rich ecosystems. Continue reading...

Kevin Warsh, Trump’s ‘central casting’, has a long road ahead of convincing board members to lower interest ratesDonald Trump’s fate is to be frustrated by monetary policy.Even assuming he gets his way and Kevin Warsh succeeds Jerome Powell as chair of the Federal Reserve next month, it is unlikely that the president will finally gain control of the Fed. Continue reading...

Conservative host says he’s ‘tormented’ by previous support for Trump – could this presage his own run for president?He can’t live with him and can’t live without him. But, finally, the conservative podcaster Tucker Carlson seems to have made up his mind about Donald Trump. Their up-and-down marriage of political convenience is heading for the divorce court.On Tuesday Carlson admitted that he will be “tormented” for a long time by his support for Trump in the 2024 US presidential election “and I want to say I’m sorry for misleading people”. What he did not say is whether this presages his own run for president in 2028. Continue reading...

Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. caps off seven budget hearings in as many days, the first time he has testified before Congress since September.

Schools, colleges and other public institutions originally had until this week to make online content accessible to people with disabilities. Now, the Justice Department has delayed that deadline.

Spirit has not confirmed a liquidation, though it has filed for bankruptcy protection twice. Experts predict rising fuel costs could push the company to close its doors for good.

Iran’s state media said the military had carried out “enforcement actions” near the contested Strait of Hormuz. The United States and Iran were locked in a stalemate after President Trump extended a cease-fire but Tehran declined to join peace talks.

As wealthy nations scramble to secure stocks of oil, the result is higher prices for all and shortages in vulnerable countries.

For many people in Japan, the country’s regular tremors are not a big deal. Officials are urging them to prepare for the next catastrophic quake.

Iran’s retaliatory attacks on the United Arab Emirates have put the U.A.E.’s large Iranian expatriate community in an uncomfortable position.

A new law forces Ukrainians in the captured regions to get Russian title deeds or risk losing their homes.

The budding field is turning dreams into reality for older adults who are eager to age in place, filling caregiving gaps and easing minds as America ages rapidly.

Captain James Tavernier announces he will leave Rangers at the end of the season, after 11 years at Ibrox.

The move could further delay payouts to millions of drivers who were mis-sold motor finance.

Two runners go viral for helping carry exhausted man over the finish line.

The 'chill' follows the sacking of lead civil servant at the Foreign Office Sir Olly Robbins by the prime minister.

A BBC investigation in 2023 heard from more than 100 McDonald's workers in the UK claiming they faced sexual assault, harassment, racism, and bullying

Spain defender Ona Batlle is close to agreeing a move to Arsenal as a free agent in the summer.

The soap star revealed her diagnosis in February, several months after the reality show was filmed.

Stephen Doughty assaulted Wendy Williams after struggling to use a pay-and-display machine.

The attacks come after the US seized an Iranian container ship at the weekend

‘Donnyland’ appears to be a nod to the president’s fondness for putting his name on everything from federal buildings and skyscrapers to bank accounts and commemorative coins

US President was accused of ‘blinking’ in conflict by ordering ceasefire extension

With little progress on talks to resolve the complex issues at the heart of the war – this is the ‘most likely’ outcome

Former President George W. Bush joked that he did not even know what ‘trending meant’ when the clip went viral

Six other soldiers could be punished for failing to stop the incident or report it

Ukraine has struck Russia's Black Sea port of Tuapse multiple times within the past week, sparking a huge fire

Millions of people around the globe have some form of dementia

Audio from air traffic control has revealed two planes had a near miss as they approached New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport on Monday (20 April).

US president vows to continue blockading Iranian ports as Tehran refuses to send negotiators to Pakistan talks

The IRGC says the aggression came in response to what it described as the US seizure of an Iranian commercial vessel.

This vote is part of a wider national fight between Democrats and Republicans over gerrymandering.

Ukraine's deputy prime minister says the attacks on the country's civilian infrastructure are 'another proof of terrorism'.

Israel attacks mosque in Lebanon in another ceasefire violation

Gaza sees a 140% rise in stillbirths and a doubling of congenital anomalies as the devastating impacts of war linger.

Iran War Live Updates: Trump Extends Iran Cease-Fire With Peace Talks in Limbo  WSJTwo ships attacked in Strait of Hormuz, UK says, after U.S. extends Iran ceasefire  CNBCIran’s gunboat fires on container ship off Oman coast  Al JazeeraThree vessels hit by gunfire in Strait of Hormuz, crews safe  ReutersTwo cargo ships attacked in Strait of Hormuz after Trump extends ceasefire  BBC

Renewed Iranian attacks on cargo vessels and U.S. seizures of ships linked to Iran threaten to scuttle diplomatic efforts even as President Trump extended a ceasefire.

The attacks come shortly after President Donald Trump said the U.S. would extend the ceasefire with Iran to allow peace talks to continue.

Oil prices were volatile on Wednesday as uncertainty lingered over the trajectory of the U.S.-Iran conflict.

At campaign stops, he talks about high gas prices and Trump’s incompetence. But the core of his message is an unflinching disgust for forever war.

Jason Furman, Neera Tanden and Elizabeth Wilkins discuss.