World - Thursday, April 23, 2026

The president said the truce in Lebanon would last three more weeks. Halting the war between Israel and Iranian-backed Hezbollah in Lebanon has been considered critical to advancing any peace agreement to end the war in Iran.

US president says meeting between Israel’s and Lebanon’s ambassadors to the United States went ‘very well’ The 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...

Analysts say the IRGC seized two vessels in the Strait of Hormuz in a tit-for-tat move after a U.S. naval blockade and seizure of an Iranian ship.

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Mark Greenblatt, who was the inspector general for the US Interior Department before Donald Trump fired him in January, called it ‘critically important the audit is thorough and independent’ DoJ inspector general to audit department’s compliance with Epstein Files Transparency Act Sign up for the Breaking News US email You’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...

Central Command said it has intercepted 33 vessels since imposing a blockade on ships coming to and from Iran.

Follow today’s news live Get our breaking news email , free app or daily news podcast Allegra Spender says 25% gas export tax would help fix ‘faulty’ system Independent MP Allegra Spender said a 25% tax on gas exports would help rectify what she sees as “faulty” taxation arrangements that have seen an Australian resource sent overseas with minimal benefit to the country. The gas industry is a very profitable industry and pays income tax. And every company in Australia, frankly, should pay income tax on its profits and should pay the proper rate. But the gas companies are different because they also sell an Australian resource which they extract, which we can’t get back once it is sold. I think Australians rightly believe they should share more of that revenue. We’re back here again and they should fix it. We are lucky to be an energy exporter at a time where the world needs energy. We are a great partner in this. But it is a reasonable thing for Australians to get a fair return on that. And, at the moment, we just aren’t. We can’t and I think we need to be really honest about that. If there’s going to be changes to the NDIS – and I’m not a state leader who’s knocking the federal government’s right and probably responsibility to reform the NDIS, it’s cost too much money – but we have to be really frank with people. We can’t offer at the state level the kinds of services that are being rolled out at the NDIS. Continue reading...

Prime Minister Mark Carney shot back at Trump administration officials, saying Canada is not ‘taking instructions from the United States.’

Experts say the U.S. must permanently ban Iran's uranium enrichment program, warning Tehran could resume its nuclear weapons path if infrastructure stays.

Baton Rouge police chief says attack unfolded after argument inside food court at Mall of Louisiana Sign up for the Breaking News US newsletter email At least one person has been killed and five people were injured and transported to the hospital Thursday when two groups exchanged gunfire inside the food court at the Mall of Louisiana in Baton Rouge, according to police. Several of the people involved ran off as a large police presence responded. Continue reading...