Top World News

Apr 24, 2026 - World

This blog is now closed. For the latest Middle East news, see our full report hereThe Pentagon abruptly announced that the secretary of the US navy, John Phelan, would be leaving his job yesterday. No reason was given for the unexpected departure of the navy’s top civilian official, who had addressed a large crowd of sailors and industry professionals at the navy’s annual conference in Washington just a day before the announcement.People familiar with the dynamics at the Pentagon told the Guardian Phelan was fired. Phelan had an increasingly rocky relationship with the US defence secretary, Pete Hegseth, and other senior staff. Continue reading...

Apr 24, 2026 - World

US president says Tehran hobbled by infighting as Pentagon reportedly briefs mine clearance may take six monthsMiddle East crisis – live updatesDonald Trump has again said that the US has “total control over the strait of Hormuz”, adding that Iran’s leadership was so hobbled by infighting that it was unclear who was in charge.But the US president’s claim seemed questionable in the face of the seizure of two container ships by Iranian commandos and a US report warning it could take six months to clear the strait of mines. Continue reading...

Apr 24, 2026 - World

This live blog is now closed.DoJ inspector general to audit department’s compliance with Epstein Files Transparency ActSign up for the Breaking News US emailYou’ve likely seen that the Senate adopted the plan for the budget blueprint for ICE and border patrol after an all-night “vote-a-rama”.This is, in fact, not a congressional dance break. Continue reading...

Apr 24, 2026 - World

Radio presenter arrives by Rolls-Royce for case management hearing into allegations he breached his radio contractFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastKyle Sandilands’ conduct may not be “nice” but “if you buy Kyle, you get Kyle”, the federal court has heard in a high-profile legal fight the sacked shock jock describes as “pretty ugly”.Sandilands’ barrister, Scott Robertson SC, has told the court the allegations about Sandilands’ conduct may “be regarded as serious misconduct for the purposes of employment law”, but they are not “serious misconduct for the purposes of this particular contract”. Continue reading...

Apr 24, 2026 - World

US president accuses UK of thinking it can ‘make an easy buck’ from US tech companies, weeks after warning that UK–US trade deal can be changedDonald Trump has threatened to impose tariffs on the UK if it does not drop its digital services tax on US social media firms.The digital services tax, introduced in 2020, imposes a 2% levy on the revenues of several major US tech companies. Continue reading...