Blind date: ‘We laughed so hard the man at the next table shushed us’

Rebecca (left), 26, a stage manager, meets Sophie, 28, a standup comedian

What were you hoping for?
Great conversation, since I’ve had way too many dates where I’ve borne the weight of the chat.

Two weeks that pushed Trump to the edge. Is his presidency unravelling?

The president has opened fissures in his base by starting a war he couldn’t finish with Iran, stoking inflation and offending Christians. Barred from running again, he may feel he has nothing to lose

Lance Johnson voted for Donald Trump three times. Now he is feeling buyer’s remorse. “I haven’t been too happy with the third time around,” said the 47-year-old contractor, sitting at a bar in Crescent Springs, Kentucky. “We’re supposed to not start any new wars. Prices were supposed to come down. We were promised a lot of things and we’re not getting them.”

Johnson is not the only Trump voter having doubts about a US president who, after defying political gravity for a decade, finally seems to be crashing back to earth. The past two weeks have arguably been the most bruising of Trump’s two terms in office, suggesting that his tried and trusted playbook could finally be falling apart.

‘I feel like I’m losing her’: the families torn apart by older relatives going far right

It starts with a ‘back in my day’ nostalgic meme – then suddenly your elders are sharing AI-generated ‘boomerslop’ and repeating conspiracy theories …

Graham doesn’t remember his mother ever sharing her political views. He’s not certain she even voted until she met his father, who was a big Labour supporter. She went along with that, only once voting Tory as an act of spite towards the end of their relationship. She later married a farmer who was more conservative, and leaned towards leave in the Brexit referendum. “But, honestly, beyond that, she would never even speak of politics. She just wasn’t interested.”

Graham, who works in the transport industry in the Midlands, noticed a big change in his mother during the Covid pandemic. “I remember walking home from work one day and I got this phone call and all of a sudden she was listing off these conspiracy theories at me.” He now realises how much time she was spending online, on her phone and iPad, cut off from friends, family and the church life that had always been so important to her.

Meera Sodha’s vegan recipe for sweetheart cabbage and caramelised onion spaghetti | The new veganMeera Sodha recipes

An intriguing, punchy fusion of Taiwanese and Italian noodle dishes

Last year, the comedian Nish Kumar accused me of being in the pocket of “big cabbage”, because I was waxing lyrical about it. But look here, Nish, everyone is cabbage obsessed. It’s not just the Guardian; the internet is awash with “best cabbage” recipes and there’s a lot to love: it’s cheap, generous and genuinely delicious cooked and wilted down with onions (or shallots), as in this spaghetti. The inspiration behind the dish was a jar of Taiwanese Bullshead shallot sauce, a sweet, smoky and savoury sauce that I love to dollop into and on to all things eggs, noodles, vegetables and rice, but that I ran out of recently, prompting me to make a simple, store-cupboard alternative.

The impossible promise: are we witnessing the return of fascism?

Some of today’s far right is openly violent and undemocratic – and even in its less extreme forms, far-right populism is a profound threat. But that doesn’t mean it is just a re-run of history

Politics, before it is about anything else, is about emotion. We all base our judgments about the world – the state of the country we live in, for instance, and what we’d like to do about it – on a mix of rational calculation and instinct. But for these judgments to be shaped into a political programme whose ideals are shared by millions of people, and for us to place our trust in leaders who promise to realise those goals, we really have to feel it. What, then, might be the particular set of feelings evoked by the following?

“The Britain that I love is being ripped apart by diversity, equality and inclusion.”
Suella Braverman, former home secretary, February 2026

Lost Federico García Lorca verse discovered 93 years after it was written

Eight-line poem found on the back of a manuscript sheds light on Spanish poet’s preoccupation with time

A previously unknown verse attributed to Federico García Lorca has been discovered 93 years after the celebrated Spanish poet and playwright is believed to have jotted it on the back of one of his manuscripts.

Lorca is thought to have written the eight-line poem in 1933 while working on the collection Diván del Tamarit, a homage to the Arab poets of his native Granada.

Estranged husband of Australian mushroom murderer Erin Patterson to pen memoir about case

Simon Patterson will tell his story outside a courtroom for first time, in agreed book deal with publication details yet to be released

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Simon Patterson, the estranged husband of Australian mushroom murderer Erin Patterson, will tell his story for the first time outside a courtroom, in a memoir with a publishing deal already agreed.

Patterson has so far remained publicly silent about last year’s trial, which captured global attention and spawned multiple documentaries and podcasts.

Iran says strait of Hormuz ‘completely open’ but sounds warning on US blockade

Iran’s parliamentary speaker says strait could close again if US blockade continues, but Trump says it will remain in place until ‘transaction’ with Tehran is complete

Iran’s foreign minister has said that the strait of Hormuz is now fully open to commercial vessels, reinforcing hopes for an eventual end to the war in the Middle East and sending oil prices tumbling despite analysts’ warnings that there will be no immediate widespread resumption of passage through the vital waterway.

In a barrage of social media posts, Donald Trump claimed on Friday that Iran had agreed never to close the strategic waterway again, hailing “A GREAT AND BRILLIANT DAY FOR THE WORLD!”

Reported tornado in Lena, Illinois, causes major damage; town is shut down

A reported tornado in Lena, Illinois, about 47 miles west of Rockford, has caused extensive storm damage, including possibly to schools that had students inside at the time.

Judge halts local TV giant Nexstar's takeover of rival Tegna until trial

U.S. Judge Trevor Nunley ruled that consumers could suffer irreparable harm if Nexstar integrated Tegna's stations into its own operations ahead of an antitrust trial.

Judge blocks Nexstar's acquisition of Tegna until antitrust suit resolved

The deal, approved by the FCC, would create a company that owns 265 television stations in 44 states and Washington, D.C.

Iron will: Australia’s richest person counts the cost as court orders she share mining millions with rival family

Gina Rinehart, who’s been called Australia’s ‘female Donald Trump’, has long fought claims from the family of her father’s business partner – as well as her own children

• Full Story podcast: How Gina Rinehart lost hundreds of millions of dollars in court

Australia’s richest person is reeling after a landmark court decision found her company must pay royalties worth hundreds of millions of dollars to a rival mining dynasty.

Gina Rinehart, a multibillionaire with political connections in both the White House and the Australian parliament, has been described by members of the US conservative movement as “a female Donald Trump”. The 72-year-old, who inherited her father’s iron ore empire in Australia’s Pilbara region, has fought multiple claims against the family company Hancock Prospecting that were first launched in 2010.

How the dispute between Trump and Pope Leo escalated

President Trump has lobbed insults at Pope Leo XIV in response to his criticisms of the war in Iran, marking an unusually pronounced rupture between the leaders of the world's most powerful country and the world's largest Christian denomination.

Maps show more severe storms forecast for Midwest after tornadoes, flooding

More than 51 million people are under the threat of severe weather Friday evening from Texas to Wisconsin, as some are still cleaning up from tornadoes earlier in the week.

Ukraine war briefing: Russia seeking to bring Belarus back into the war, says Zelenskyy

Building of artillery positions and roads suggest fresh military efforts likely from the north, says Ukrainian president. What we know on day 1,514

Infrastructure preparations suggest Russia is again trying to involve its ally Belarus in the war, Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Friday. The Ukrainian president made his remarks, posted on Telegram, in response to what he said was an intelligence report issued by Ukraine’s top commander, Oleksandr Syrskyi. “According to intelligence, road construction in areas leading to Ukraine and the establishment of artillery positions are going on in the Belarusian border area,” Zelenskyy wrote. “We believe that Russia will once again try to involve Belarus in its war.” He said Ukraine had issued instructions to warn the Belarusian leadership of “Ukraine’s readiness to defend its land and independence”. Zelenskyy also said intelligence showed that Russia was “attempting ... to carry out a regrouping of forces - most likely to compensate for a shortage of personnel”. “In this regard, it becomes more evident why the armed forces increased their activity on the territory of Belarus.” He did not provide further evidence. Belarusian president Alexander Lukashenko, one of Vladimir Putin’s closest allies, allowed his territory to be used for part of Russia’s February 2022 invasion.

Zelenskyy said Kyiv’s wartime experience in the Black Sea could help to ensure freedom of navigation in the strait of Hormuz. “Decisions made regarding Hormuz now will determine how other aggressive actors perceive the possibility of creating problems in other straits and on other fronts,” he said in remarks to a video conference attended by 50 countries and chaired by France and Britain. “We need to be as specific and clear as possible so that in six months we don’t find ourselves in the same situation as in Gaza, where much still needs to be done.” Zelenskyy, whose remarks appeared on the Telegram messaging app, said that in the course of four years of war with Russia, Ukraine had “already carried out a very similar mission in the Black Sea”. He said: “Russia also attempted to blockade our sea and we have experience in escorting merchant vessels, demining, defending against air attacks and the overall coordination of such operations.” Ukraine, he said, had sent specialists throughout the Middle East to help countries benefit from its experience in defending against Russian drones, many designed in Iran. “We can also contribute to maritime security,” Zelenskyy said. Ukraine has clinched security cooperation agreements with Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates and says it is in talks with Oman, Kuwait and Bahrain.

A fire broke out at an oil terminal in southern Russia’s Krasnodar region, prompting a large firefighting operation, the region’s emergency operational headquarters said early on Saturday. Officials said 224 firefighters and 56 vehicles were battling the blaze at the terminal in Tikhoretsk, north-east of the region’s main town, Krasnodar. No casualties were reported and there was no indication as to what may have caused the fire. Syskyi said this week that Ukrainian forces were seeking to reduce Russia’s offensive capabilities by keeping up a high pace of strikes on military, defence-industrial and other facilities. In March, Ukraine struck 76 such targets including 15 facilities in the oil-refining industry, the top commander said.

Serbia’s Russian-owned NIS oil company has secured a 60-day sanctions waiver from the US. The waiver will allow NIS, which operates Serbia’s only oil refinery, to continue importing crude oil until the sale of the Russian majority stake to Hungary’s MOL. The previous one-month waiver expired on Friday. The US imposed sanctions on NIS in October last year as part of wider measures targeting Russia’s energy sector over the war in Ukraine, and demanded divestment of Gazprom Neft and Gazprom, its Russian majority owners. Serbian energy minister Dubravka Djedovic Handanovic called the latest move a sign of progress in the negotiations on the change of ownership between the Hungarian MOL and the Russian Gazprom Neft.

Deaths of migrants in ICE custody hit record high under Trump

Twenty-nine people have died in ICE custody since October, the start of the federal government's fiscal year, already surpassing 2004's toll of 28, the previous record, according to government data.

Oil prices plummet after Iran says Strait of Hormuz is "completely open"

Prices dropped after Iran's foreign minister said the Strait of Hormuz is "completely open" for the remainder of the Israel-Lebanon ceasefire.

How a 10-year-old Idaho boy's birthday wish demonstrates acceptance and love

An Idaho boy volunteered with his dad at a recreation center for people with special needs. For his birthday party, he wanted all of them there. Steve Harman goes "On the Road" with the story about Grant Mullen's wish.

What we know about the arrest of singer d4vd in teen girl's death

David Burke, a singer who performs under the name d4vd, is behind bars on suspicion of murder. He was arrested after the body of a 14-year-old girl was found in the trunk of his Tesla in September 2025. Matt Gutman reports.

Summer travel overseas could hit turbulence amid soaring jet fuel prices

The International Energy Agency warned that Europe could be about six weeks from a major shortage of jet fuel due to supply chain disruptions stemming from the conflict in Iran. Kris Van Cleave reports.

Stocks soar and oil prices plunge as Iran says Strait of Hormuz is open

With word of the Strait of Hormuz reopening, the stock market soared on Friday. Oil prices dropped about 10%, and as a result, gas prices ticked downward. Kelly O'Grady breaks it all down.

CBS News gets exclusive look at the Strait of Hormuz

Imtiaz Tyab is the first American network news correspondent to get a look inside the Strait of Hormuz during the Iran war.

Trump speaks at Turning Point USA event after declaring Strait of Hormuz open

President Trump headlined a rally for Turning Point USA with Erika Kirk in Phoenix on Friday. His goal is to fire up Republican voters ahead of the midterm elections. Caitlin Huey-Burns has more details.

‘If not us, then what?’: fears grow for rugby talent lost to league amid Moana Pasifika demise

• Coach Umaga calls for more support for union in Samoa and Tonga

• Super Rugby club’s future in grave doubt beyond this season

All Blacks great and Moana Pasifika coach Tana Umaga fears the region’s talent will gravitate to league and derail the Tongan and Samoan Test sides without a Super Rugby presence.

The Super Rugby Pacific franchise is set to be disbanded after ownership on Wednesday confirmed it would not continue funding the “unviable” operation beyond this season.

Lead prosecutor on probe into John Brennan is removed from case, sources say

Maria Medetis Long, who was overseeing a criminal investigation into whether former CIA Director John Brennan lied to Congress is no longer assigned to the case.

AI chipmaker Cerebras files to go public after scrapping IPO plans last year

Cerebras said that it can expand its business with OpenAI over the coming years and that it gave OpenAI a warrant to purchase stock.

Inside smoky shelters, a fast-paced, illegal card game has taken off in Solomon Islands

Growing numbers in the capital Honiara are playing the street card game Pass for a chance of a big payout, while risking big losses

As the school day ends in Honiara, *Irene, a 43-year-old teacher in a floral dress with a yellow daisy in her bun, steps on to a minibus.

After 10 minutes, Irene gets off the bus, walks down an alley, and enters a damp, smoky shelter. Plastic tables fill the space and playing cards are scattered on the floor. Irene has stopped by a hidden gambling table in a western suburb of Honiara to play Pass, a street card game gaining popularity in the Solomon Islands capital.

4/17: CBS Evening News

More than 50 million people are in the path of dangerous weather; Trump speaks to young conservatives about the economy.

Violent storms erupt across multiple states with some tornadoes, flooding

The U.S. saw over 800 damaging storm reports this week, including at least 50 tornadoes. Residents across multiple states are bracing for what's next. Rob Marciano has the forecast.

Animal activists celebrate their first global 'Sanctuary Day'

It's been 40 years since animal advocates founded a sanctuary for farm animals in New York and California, and they say April 17 is their first global sanctuary day.

Spirit Airlines reached out to Trump administration for emergency bailout

Spirit executives and other low-cost carriers are expected to meet with Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy next week.

Clair Obscur and Dispatch share top honours at Bafta games awards

Role-playing adventure and superhero comedy among big winners on a varied night in London

With 12 nominations, acclaimed role-playing adventure Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 was expected to be the runaway success at the 2026 Bafta games awards, held in London on Friday evening.

And while it couldn’t quite match its nine wins at the Game Awards back in December, it was still the joint biggest winner on the night, taking best game and debut game as well as the performer in a leading role award for Jennifer English.

Airlines cut routes in response to rising jet fuel costs amid Iran war

Rising jet fuel prices are forcing airlines to cut routes and trim schedules.

Rashford faces summer in post-loan limbo but Carrick says door at United is not closed

• Barcelona increasingly unlikely to make loan permanent

• United keen to sell forward but few can afford wages

Marcus Rashford could have a summer of transfer limbo in store despite Michael Carrick admitting the door is not completely closed on the forward playing for Manchester United again. Rashford is currently on loan at Barcelona but it is becoming increasingly unlikely the move will be made permanent, which will obligate a return to Old Trafford where he would receive a wage rise if the club qualify for the Champions League.

The 28-year-old has not played for United since December 2024, spending the past 16 months out on loan at Aston Villa and Barcelona, who have the option to purchase Rashford for €30m (£26m). United sit comfortably in third, seven points above Saturday’s opponents, sixth-placed Chelsea, but will not want to see the gap close come full time at Stamford Bridge.

Arsenal will not play for a draw in Manchester City face-off, insists Arteta

• Arsenal coach sees trip to Etihad as ‘a big opportunity’

• Bukayo Saka still unavailable with an achilles problem

Mikel Arteta will go all out for victory in Sunday’s Premier League title showdown at Manchester City and has not thought for “one second” about setting up for a draw.

Arsenal are six points clear of City, albeit they have played an extra game, and a stalemate could move them decisively towards the trophy they crave. According to Opta’s projections, Arsenal would have an 89% probability of winning the title if it finished all square at the Etihad Stadium.

What we know about deaths, disappearances of staff at government labs

The disappearances and deaths of 10 government workers tied to nuclear or space technology have sparked speculation online. President Trump said the cases are "hopefully, coincidence."

Remains found in car ID'd as family who mysteriously vanished in 1958

The Ford station wagon thought to belong to the Martin family was found in 2024 by a diver who had been looking for it for several years.

Frank Lampard delight as nervy draw at Blackburn seals promotion for Coventry

An emotional Frank Lampard basked in the historic achievement of leading Coventry City back to the Premier League after an absence of a quarter of a century. The Sky Blues have returned to the big time for the first time in a generation, after a turbulent period in which they changed stadiums, hit financial rock bottom and plummeted to the depths of League Two as recently as 2017-18.

Lampard was front and centre of celebrations after a 1-1 draw at Blackburn that put the seal on a famous promotion. It has been a long time coming. The former England midfielder lauded Bobby Thomas’s equalising goal as an “incredible moment” in the champagne-soaked celebrations on the Ewood Park turf. “Because of how the game had gone, you were worried,” said Lampard. “We knew we were very nearly there, but to get it over the line like this for this club after 25 years, wow.”

Lead prosecutor on investigation into former CIA director no longer on case

Maria Medetis Long had expressed doubts over case of John Brennan, whose agency said Russia boosted Trump in 2016

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A federal prosecutor leading the investigation into former CIA director John Brennan is no longer working on the case after expressing reservations about it, according to a person familiar with the matter.

The prosecutor, Maria Medetis Long, informed attorneys involved in the case she was no longer handling it, according to CNN, which first reported she was leaving the case. Medetis Long is a career attorney serving as the chief of the national security division in the US attorney’s office for the southern district of Florida. The Department of Justice did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

4/17: The Takeout with Major Garrett

Iran reopens Strait of Hormuz with U.S. blockade still in effect; Congress passes temporary extension of surveillance law FISA.

Air Canada temporarily suspends some flights to New York and other locations

Spirit Airlines reportedly seeks emergency US government funding as war against Iran keeps aviation fuel costs high

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Air Canada has announced a temporary suspension of flights from Toronto and Montreal to New York’s John F Kennedy airport, citing rising fuel prices.

The move comes amid growing concerns that airlines worldwide may scale back services as aviation fuel costs climb in the wake of the US and Israel’s ongoing war with Iran, which entered a fragile ceasefire earlier in April. Although Iran announced on Friday that the strait of Hormuz had reopened, helping ease oil prices, fuel costs remain significantly elevated after weeks of disruption.

Hacks finale review – this venomous satire used to be the height of comedy. But now … it isn’t

The last season of this once hugely funny comedy absolutely tears out of the blocks in its best outing in years. But it’s still not the show it once was – despite the brilliant performances

For a while there, Hacks represented the height of comedy. Actual funny comedy, as opposed to trauma-ridden half-hour dramas like The Bear. When it won an Emmy for best comedy in 2024, it felt like Hacks and Hacks alone was at the vanguard of proper comedy.

That seems like a while ago now. Since then, The Studio came along: another entertainment business satire, only one with bigger stars, better production values and sharper barbs. At last year’s Emmys, The Studio won everything in sight, while all Hacks could muster were a pair of trophies for Jean Smart and Hannah Einbinder, playing a rich but disconnected comedian and her put-upon writer respectively. So the question is this: can Hacks rally in its final season?

Trump says Iranians have "agreed to everything," including removal of enriched uranium

President Trump spoke with CBS News Friday in a new telephone interview.

Civil lawsuit against Alec Baldwin over 2021 Rust film set shooting to go to trial

Actor accused of acting negligently after firing loaded gun at cinematographer Halyna Hutchins, who was killed

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A judge in Los Angeles has ruled that a civil lawsuit accusing Alec Baldwin of acting negligently in the deadly 2021 shooting on the set of his western film Rust can proceed to trial.

According to Variety, the superior court judge Maurice Leiter issued a summary judgment on Friday allowing the case to move forward. Leiter’s ruling – obtained by the outlet – said that “a reasonable jury could find that Mr Baldwin recklessly disregarded the probability that pointing a gun in the direction of someone, with the finger on the trigger, would cause emotional distress”.

Keir Starmer faces ‘judgment day’ as Mandelson vetting debacle grows

As revelations mount and accusations fly, prime minister prepares for MPs’ anger and Olly Robbins’ testimony early next week

Keir Starmer’s claim he was “staggered” not to have been told of Peter Mandelson’s vetting failure has provoked incredulity across Westminster and accusations that he sacked a senior civil servant to save his premiership.

Senior government figures said the prime minister faced “judgment day” next week when Olly Robbins, who is understood to be furious at being forced to quit the Foreign Office, is expected to appear before a powerful committee of MPs.

Three things to know about FISA Section 702: Congress passes short-term extension of controversial surveillance program

The law allows the U.S. government to surveil people outside the U.S., including when they're communicating with American citizens.

Judge rejects DOJ effort to get sensitive voter information from Rhode Island

The decision from U.S. District Judge Mary McElroy marks the Justice Department's fifth loss in its attempts to access states' voter registration lists.

Perspective: AI demand is inflated, and only Anthropic is being realistic

The main usage metric for artificial intelligence, called tokens, looks explosive on paper, but it may be significantly overstated.

Tanker diplomacy: Trump faces tests from Havana to Hormuz

From Cuba to the Persian Gulf, Trump is expected to face fresh challenges across a new arc of tanker diplomacy.

‘I’ve got no plans to move’: Cole Palmer on being happy at Chelsea and his World Cup ambitions

The Blues’ star talks candidly about treatment-room frustrations, transfer talk and how he’s learned to love living down south

There are two sides to Cole Palmer. There is the shy character who can fool you into thinking he has nothing much to say for himself. On the other hand there’s the artist with the ball at his feet. The player with the “Ice Cold” celebration copied by kids in playgrounds everywhere. The improviser who makes the price of a ticket worthwhile.

“I know what you’re saying,” Palmer replies as, on a sunny afternoon at Chelsea’s training ground, we talk about the contrast between his shy conversational style and his ability to make an impact on people when he steps on the pitch. “I don’t really say too much in general but when I’m on a pitch I try to. I feel like it’s two different personalities. Off the pitch it’s quiet. I find it hard to speak to new people. But when I’m on the pitch I feel it just comes freely.”

Fed Governor Waller says Iran war and labor market risks are keeping central bank on hold

Federal Reserve Governor Christopher Waller on Friday said current economic conditions are complicating the approach to interest rates.

Daniel Kinahan, alleged leader of Irish organised crime group, arrested in UAE

Arrest by Dubai police comes as Irish authorities issue warrant related to alleged organised crime offences

Daniel Kinahan, alleged to be the leader of the Kinahan organised crime group, has been arrested in the United Arab Emirates.

Irish police said they were aware of the arrest of a man in his late 40s, on foot of an arrest warrant issued by the Irish courts in relation to alleged serious organised crime offences.

Gasoline could drop below $4 in coming days

Gasoline costs should start to fall soon, although a full recovery to pre-war prices is expected to take months. That's assuming that peace holds and traffic flows resume through the Strait of Hormuz.

Roommates review – Netflix broken friendship comedy is a sweet and salty treat

The streamer has strangely kept this witty and detailed college comedy from critics but it’s far better than one has come to expect

The initial fruits borne from Adam Sandler’s early days deal with Netflix were largely rotten; empty-brained and dated comedies like The Ridiculous 6, The Do-Over and Sandy Wexler. But as Sandler matured, so did his decision-making and outside of his increasing attempts to work in smarter, more textured dramatic fare, his production company Happy Madison has found success by going sweet without risking a sugar crash.

His animated adventure Leo had real warmth and insight to it while his performance in the charmingly trad basketball drama Hustle was strong enough for many to see his lack of Oscar nomination as a cruel snub. But it was 2023’s coming-of-age comedy You Are So Not Invited to My Bat Mitzvah that showed where his company’s most fertile future might lie, as shepherd to a younger generation of film-makers who want to tell stories about teens that don’t patronise or undervalue. Filling the film with roles for his family – wife and two daughters all in – might have seemed like one of the more obviously bleak signs of how nepotism has corroded Hollywood but, against all odds, it worked and he’s found another role for eldest Sadie in another winner, the bizarrely buried college comedy Roommates.

The week around the world in 20 pictures

Crisis in the Middle East, Russian strikes in Kyiv, Orthodox Easter and Karol G at Coachella – the past seven days as captured by the world’s leading photojournalists

U.S. could send senior officials back to Pakistan for Iran talks within days, sources say

The Trump administration is considering a renewed diplomatic push that could send officials back to Pakistan within days, sources said.

O’Sullivan and Trump no-shows spoil mood before World Snooker Championship

Neither former world champion was at obligatory event as two British prospects look forward to moment in spotlight

If there were any doubt remaining that Ronnie O’Sullivan retains a gravitational pull on the world of snooker, few moments hammered home the point better than Friday’s launch of this year’s World Snooker Championship when the seven-time champion became the story without even being there.

The first ball will not be potted in Sheffield until Saturday morning and the first headline has been generated by a player not in action until Tuesday. When the traditional photo of the world’s top 16 took place as usual outside the Crucible on Friday afternoon it did so without two of the sport’s biggest names in O’Sullivan and Judd Trump.

White House eyes alleged Utah scandal as GOP frets about redistricting loss

White House officials are leaning on Utah Republicans to further examine ethics concerns regarding a relationship between two key players in a key gerrymandering case, sources told CBS News.

Europe could run out of jet fuel in 6 weeks, IEA warns

The International Energy Agency warned Thursday that Europe is going to run out of jet fuel in as soon as six weeks.

Digested week: Hungary’s election result is rare good news in a depressing and surreal world | John Crace

Not least because JD Vance’s show of support for Viktor Orbán appears to have had opposite of desired effect

So much of the news is depressing these days. The wars in Iran, Lebanon and Ukraine. The cost of living crisis. At times it feels as if the world has tipped into the surreal. Donald Trump posting photos of himself on his Truth Social account as the Risen Christ. A step too far even for Nigel Farage. And the US president picking a fight with the pope. Leo is a terrible man, apparently, for not endorsing war. Trump has yet to work out that on the whole popes are not in favour of illegal wars.

Is Mandelson vetting scandal the final straw for Starmer? – The Latest

Keir Starmer says it is ‘staggering’ and ‘unforgivable’ that he was not told Peter Mandelson had failed security vetting before taking up the role of US ambassador. The comments follow a Guardian investigation that exclusively revealed Mandelson had initially been denied clearance after a background check by security officials, but that the decision was overruled by the Foreign Office. Lucy Hough speaks to the Guardian’s head of investigations, Paul Lewis – watch on YouTube

India fails to pass bill to boost women’s representation after delimitation row

Opposition accuses Narendra Modi government of using quotas as cover for redrawing electoral map

The Indian government has failed to pass a bill to increase female representation in parliament after being accused of using the plan as a guise to redraw the country’s electoral map.

It was the first time in 12 years in power that a constitutional amendment proposed by Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata party (BJP) government was not passed by parliament.

UPS plane aborts landing as jet nears runway: "What are you doing?"

The incident occurred around 12:10 a.m. local time on Tuesday, according to the Federal Aviation Administration.

The Guardian view on Starmer and Mandelson: a story that doesn’t add up | Editorial

The prime minister’s explanation has shifted between being misled and admitting error, raising questions about vetting, accountability and what he knew

In February, the prime minister apologised to victims of the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, saying he had “believed (Peter) Mandelson’s lies” before making him Britain’s ambassador to the US. By March, that account had shifted. Faced with evidence that he was warned the appointment posed a “reputational risk”, but gave the peer the job anyway, Sir Keir Starmer accepted on a trip to Belfast that he “made a mistake”.

On Thursday responsibility appears to have moved again – this time on to officials. Sir Olly Robbins, the top civil servant in the Foreign Office, was forced out after the Guardian reported that Lord Mandelson had been denied security clearance for the role. No 10 said it was not told. These are not complementary explanations. They are competing ones. Either Sir Keir was misled, ignored warnings, or was failed by the system.

Do you have an opinion on the issues raised in this article? If you would like to submit a response of up to 300 words by email to be considered for publication in our letters section, please click here.

The Guardian view on a much-needed boost for the arts: rebuilding England’s cultural landscape

Dazzling new additions like V&A East are a source of national pride, but so are much-loved regional institutions

The V&A East Museum, which opens its doors for the first time in Stratford, London, on Saturday, is the latest addition to the buzzing East Bank cultural quarter on the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. This £135m architect-designed V&A outpost is a short walk from the V&A East Storehouse (on Time Magazine’s list of The World’s Greatest Places to Visit 2026) and Sadler’s Wells East, both of which arrived last year. The London College of Fashion has been there since 2024 and BBC Music Studios are due to open in 2027. Art, design, dance, fashion and music – welcome to London’s 21st-century culturopolis.

This once-neglected area of London – “a place where fridges went to die” as Gus Casely-Hayford, the director of V&A East, put it – has been transformed into a creative mecca. But in many parts of the UK the story is one of falling visitor numbers, job losses and the closure of much-loved music venues and art spaces. These architectural palaces are a far cry from many of the crumbling theatres and museums outside the capital (and their well-maintained European equivalents).

Do you have an opinion on the issues raised in this article? If you would like to submit a response of up to 300 words by email to be considered for publication in our letters section, please click here.

Kevin Warsh wants to lead a scandal-ridden Fed. His wealth is a complication

Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., is calling attention to potential issues in the Fed chair nominee's financial disclosures.

Kenyan firm sacks more than 1,000 workers after losing Meta contract

Meta paused work with Sama last month after allegations about staff viewing private scenes filmed by smart glasses

More than 1,000 low-paid workers in Kenya have been abruptly sacked by an outsourcing company contracted by Meta, in what activists said was a shocking move exposing the precariousness of tech jobs in the global south.

Sama, a company based in Nairobi to which Meta outsourced content moderation and AI training work, announced on Thursday that the workers were being laid off after Meta terminated a contract.

Screenmaxxing: why Hollywood is supersizing the big screen experience

With Imax more popular than ever, a new way to watch movies – HDR by Barco – has been quietly rolling out but what difference does it really make?

At this year’s CinemaCon, an annual gathering where film studios show off their upcoming wares to excite the exhibitors they hope to showcase them, Disney announced a new way to see a movie, sort of: InfinityVision. Despite the cutesy Marvelized name, it’s not a superhero-specific experience; it’s a certification for premium large-format (PLF) auditoriums. The idea is that any InfinityVision-certified screen will adhere to or exceed standards – vaguely described so far – in size, sound quality, and picture brightness/clarity. There are supposedly 300 such screens already certified around the globe, though there doesn’t seem to be an actual list explaining which ones they are yet.

The practical reason for this additional layer of branding is that Disney’s Avengers: Doomsday is premiering in December on the same weekend as the third Dune movie, which has a deal to occupy coveted (and limited) Imax screens for several weeks. This essentially locks Earth’s mightiest heroes out of one of the marquee names in exhibition; InfinityVision seems intended to reassure viewers that their other options, presumably the various Dolby, RPX, and other branded PLF auditoriums that already exist, are as impressive as possible. Call it screenmaxxing.

Senate passes short-term extension of surveillance law, following House

The House and Senate have now passed a 10-day extension for the controversial warrantless surveillance law.

Martin Rowson on the Mandelson vetting controversy – cartoon

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Oil tumbles 10% and stock markets rally as Iran declares strait of Hormuz ‘completely open’ – as it happened

Rolling coverage of the latest economic and financial news, as Brent crude tumbles below $90 a barrel

• Cuts to overseas aid will worsen shocks to global economy, David Miliband says

The conflict in Iran is already taking a toll on businesses and balance sheets across the UK, warns Matthew Richards, joint head of restructuring & insolvency at accountancy and business advisory group Azets:

Richards says an increasing number of directors are seeking advice about their finances as they fear they will not be able to survive the economic aftershocks of the war in Iran, adding:

Directors who were previously surviving have been concerned about the impact the war will have on their finances, and the increase in costs it caused has been the tipping point for many firms. The longer this carries on, the bigger impact it will have on margins, access to finance and affordability of funding, as well as consumer spending as households attempt to manage their own costs and cut back on anything that isn’t essential.

“With the war likely to continue, cost pressures continuing to be a problem and additional expenses like the new business rates and the changes to national minimum wage taking effect this month, it’s very likely demand for insolvency support will increase in the coming months.

The increase in March 2026 was mostly driven by more than 100 connected companies in the Real Estate sector entering administration.

“Ongoing tensions in the Middle East are driving up energy and fuel costs, disrupting supply chains, and keeping inflation stubbornly above the Bank of England’s 2% target. The UK economy is expected to be among the most exposed in the developed world - yet much of this impact has not yet filtered through to company balance sheets or the latest insolvency data.

“Compounding this, the new tax year has brought a fresh wave of cost pressures. While there have been no headline rate rises, frozen thresholds, reduced reliefs and tighter allowances are quietly intensifying ‘fiscal drag’ - steadily increasing the tax burden on both businesses and consumers. Together, these twin pressures are squeezing margins and suppressing demand which risks driving more businesses into the red.

Feeling off? Your secrets could be making you stressed

Researcher Valentina Bianchi says holding in information can take a mental toll. Here’s how to manage it

• Tell us: do you use AI for fitness?

Usually nothing makes me happier than receiving a message that starts with “don’t share this, but …”. Yet as I played the voice note on my phone, my gleeful anticipation turned to dismay.

It was a juicy bit of gossip, but one I ultimately would have preferred not to know. Now I also had to conceal it from others.

I’m an adult. Why do I regress under my parents’ roof?

I like my own company. But do I spend too much time alone?

People say you’ll know – but will I regret not having children?

Russell says he would understand if Verstappen quit but ‘F1 is bigger than any driver’

• Mercedes driver doesn’t want to lose four-time champion

• ‘Natural’ for lack of competitiveness to start taking its toll

George Russell has said he would understand if Max Verstappen chose to leave Formula One after the four-time champion recently cast doubt on his future in the sport because of his dissatisfaction with current regulations.

Russell, who is second behind his Mercedes teammate Kimi Antonelli in the world championship, insisted Verstappen had nothing left to prove.

Stephen Colbert on Trump’s Vatican feud: ‘Damn, the pope just read you for filth’

Late-night hosts reacted to Trump’s plans for a triumphal arch, high gas prices and RFK Jr’s odd interest in roadkill

On Thursday night, late-night hosts weighed in on Donald Trump’s tense back and forth with the pope over the war in Iran, high gas prices and outlandish details from a new biography of Robert F Kennedy Jr.

‘Packaging evil into something funny’: is making fun of Trump now just ‘clownwashing’?

As the president’s second term has wrought new horrors, comedians reflect on whether humor can still ‘deflate the strongman’s image’

During Donald Trump’s first term, as his lies distorted reality and gaslighted Americans, Stephen Colbert said his goal was to remind his audience: “Hey, you’re not crazy.”

But watching political comedy during Trump’s second term – be it a deranged Saturday Night Live impression of a cabinet member, or a rapid-fire late-night monologue full of ICE jokes – it’s hard not to wonder: are we placating ourselves from the enormity of Trump-induced horror?

Here's who is spending money on AI subscriptions, and how much they cost

Households are starting to make room in their budgets for spending on generative AI subscriptions, new data shows.

The rape case that became one of Britain’s greatest miscarriages of justice

Paul Quinn’s conviction, 23 years after the attack, exposes how a victim was repeatedly failed and an innocent man wrongly jailed

• Paul Quinn found guilty of rape

One of Britain’s most shocking miscarriages of justice began before dawn on a summer day in Salford more than 20 years ago.

A young woman had walked the darkened streets alone for about five miles when she was honked at, wolf-whistled and was so frightened she hid for a while in undergrowth.

Slowly does it: how to be patient in a world that wants everything right now

From next-day delivery to kids’ TV shows on demand, have we forgotten how to wait for … anything? The good news is that patience is a skill that can be cultivated – by parents and children alike. Here’s how

Your kids want to know why their new book (ordered 18 hours ago) is “taking so long” and need you “NOW” because Netflix “isn’t loading” (it “tu-dums” milliseconds later). For parents who had dial-up internet, endless TV adverts and long car journeys soundtracked by Dad’s AM Test cricket, modern kids’ inability to be patient can feel galling. Except, with our Deliveroo habit and boiling-water taps (who has time for a kettle?), we can be just as bad.

“Our environment and culture has trained our nervous systems to expect immediacy,” says Anna Mathur, psychotherapist and author of How to Stop Snapping at the People You Love (As Well As the Ones You Don’t). “The issue is our brains are plastic; they adapt to the level of easy dopamine we’ve got at our fingertips.” Our brains are changing, confirms child psychologist Dr Michele McDowell: “A recent study indicated the brain instantly responds to notifications and takes seven seconds to refocus. Consequently, the brain is becoming overstimulated and is increasingly more responsive. Over time, this erodes the brain’s capacity to tolerate waiting and to be patient. So each time your phone pings, it’s reshaping your mind’s ability to wait.”

As a Catholic, I’ve struggled with the church - but I applaud the pope’s call for peace | Margaret Sullivan

These days, I’m feeling more aligned with Catholicism than I have since my first communion. I’m not alone in that

I’ve had my ups and downs with the church of my childhood.

On the one hand, as a “cradle Catholic”, I’ve received the sacraments, often get to Sunday mass, and am the product of a Catholic education, right through Georgetown University, with its Jesuit history. My father was a “daily communicant” – he received the Eucharist every morning before heading to his law office; his sister, my aunt, was a nun, a Sister of Charity with a PhD in classic languages.

ICE’s hiring spree led to influx of recruits with questionable qualifications, investigation shows

Patchy employment records, bankruptcies and allegations of wrongdoing blemish the records of several new recruits

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Rapid recruitment and expansion by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has led to an influx of employees with questionable qualifications, an investigation has found.

The track records of some of the new recruits amid the Trump administration’s mass deportation agenda stand out – and not in a good way.

Lebanese return home and a robot sorts groceries in China: pictures of the day – Friday

The Guardian’s picture editors select photographs from around the world

Sean Shibe: Vesper album review – ever-imaginative guitar virtuoso brings mind-expanding flights of fancy

(Pentatone)
This thoughtfully curated programme of work by three British composers explores the guitar’s expressive potential, and new arrangements of Harrison Birtwistle’s piano originals are a revelation

On his new album, Sean Shibe surveys the guitar’s expressive potential through the lens of three British composers. There are interlocking themes here – Spain, 20th-century painters, antique musical forms – but this thoughtfully curated programme can be equally enjoyed piece by piece as a series of mind-expanding flights of fancy.

Thomas Adès’s Forgotten Dances pays homage to the baroque dance suite, the composer’s quirky titles imbuing traditional forms with an additional imaginative layer. Overture, Queen of the Spiders, for example, combines stately harmonics with sneaking slides and the occasional pounce (“fatal for the fly!” in the composer’s words). Barcarolle – The Maiden Voyage is a nostalgic lapping gymnopedie; Carillon de Ville a pealing tribute to the guitar-playing Hector Berlioz. In Vesper (for Henry Purcell), Adès reimagines the consolation of the older composer’s Evening Hymn. Shibe’s playing throughout is acutely articulate and technically impeccable.

House Dem Sam Liccardo probes suspicious oil trades during Iran war

A number of well-timed trades during the war have caught the attention of lawmakers and regulators.

More than half of Britons support rejoining EU 10 years on from Brexit vote

Experts say Labour’s ‘halfway house’ approach risks losing support from progressives and ‘red wall’ voters

Support for rejoining the EU rather than simply rejoining the single market is growing among British voters, with more than 80% of Labour, Liberal Democrat and Green party supporters favouring this option, according to research mapping voter attitudes 10 years after the Brexit referendum.

Labour’s “muted” approach to the issue means it risks losing support among progressive voters and in “red wall” constituencies, experts have said as part of research by Best for Britain.

Why scientists are nervous about fungi

They can pose a threat to human health — yeast infections are but one example. Scientists say not enough attention is paid to their ability to develop resistance to medications that treat them.

Ford recalls nearly 1.4 million pickup trucks due to gearshift issue

The recall affects F-150 vehicles quipped with a six-speed automatic transmission produced between March 12, 2014, and Aug. 18, 2017, according to NHTSA.

Is the pope Catholic? JD Vance thinks he has an answer | Marina Hyde

When it comes to theology, Donald Trump’s vice-president clearly knows best. Are we about to see an American break with Rome?

The battle to be the absolute worst Trump henchman can feel so closely fought. But in the end, it’s always JD Vance, isn’t it? You would say Stephen Miller, but Miller’s too hidden to qualify as a front-of-house henchman among the US president’s court of grotesques. Stephen’s clearly been judged so wantonly horrifying that the administration must keep him out of public view. If you enter the store, Miller is the only-for-the-initiated entity alluded to in a whisper by the oleaginous sales assistant. “We do have something in the back – off-the-books, as it were – if sir is after something a little more … specialist.”

But Vance? Vance besets us like the 11th plague – the plague of media appearances. For the next South Park season, I hope the creators give their brilliantly ghastly little vice-president avatar a papal mitre to wear. After all, here we have a man whose pick-me book on his journey to Catholicism has yet to even be published. That tome currently lies in the rectum of HarperCollins, ready to be excreted in June – yet inevitably, Vance is already giving menacing doctrinal advice to the pope as part of the multi-theatre fallout of Operation Epic Facepalm.

Marina Hyde is a Guardian columnist

The Strait of Hormuz opens for commercial ships but the U.S. blockade continues on Iran

Iran's foreign minister declared the Strait of Hormuz is open, following the start of an Israel-Lebanon ceasefire. President Trump swiftly responded that the U.S. naval blockade on Iran will continue.

Centrepoint to cut ties with Sharon Osbourne after she backs Tommy Robinson rally

Homelessness charity distances itself after Osbourne says she plans to attend far-right ‘unite the kingdom’ march

The homelessness charity Centrepoint has said it will cut ties with its celebrity ambassador Sharon Osbourne after she expressed support for a far-right rally being organised by Tommy Robinson.

The charity, of which the Prince of Wales is patron, has been moved to distance itself from comments made by Osbourne. The TV personality indicated this week that she would be attending an event organised in London by Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon.

Trump says war in Iran is going 'swimmingly' and 'should be ending pretty soon'

President Donald Trump's latest prediction on the end of the war against Iran came hours after Israel announced a ceasefire with Lebanon.

Police in protective clothing respond to incident near Israeli embassy in London

‘Discarded items’ assessed as officers investigate video in which group claimed to have targeted embassy

Police in protective clothing are responding to an incident near the Israeli embassy in central London as counter-terrorism officers investigate a video shared online overnight in which a group claimed to have targeted the embassy with drones carrying “dangerous substances”.

The Metropolitan police said there was an increased police presence in Kensington Gardens as officers investigated a number of “discarded items”, and they urged people to avoid the area while they carried out their work.

Coral reefs are nearing extinction. 2026 must mark a turning point | Jason Momoa

At 1.5C of global warming, up to 90% of coral reefs could be lost. The next few months could be a defining moment

Where I come from – Hawai’i – the reef isn’t just something you look at. It’s part of us. It feeds our families, protects our shores, and lives at the center of our culture. In our stories, coral is one of our oldest ancestors. It’s a reminder that everything in the ocean, and all of us, are connected.

Right now, that integral connection is under threat.

Jason Momoa is an actor, film-maker, and UNEP Advocate for Life Below Water, dedicated to protecting our oceans and advancing global awareness around coral reef conservation

Cocktail of the week: Homeboy’s fumbally – recipe | The good mixer

A knickerbocker-style punch with notes of berry compote and scones

Named after a community-focused cafe in Dublin, this drink has a flavour profile that brings to mind berry compote and scones. It’s delicious as a single serving, or make a big batch and serve as a punch to share with friends. At Homeboy, we garnish it with a little raspberry dust, but at home a little lime flag perched on the side of the glass also works well.

Lizzie Wharton, head bartender, Homeboy, London N1

Senate overturns Boundary Waters protections, a boon for Chilean mining company

The vote to allow mining near the protected wilderness area came over the objection of Democrats and two Republicans.

EU officials arrive in Hungary for high-stakes talks with Magyar’s government

Departing PM Viktor Orbán admits ‘political era has ended’ as EU says ‘clock is ticking’ to resolve important issues

EU officials have arrived in Budapest for high-stakes talks aimed at reshaping the bloc’s strained relationship with Hungary, weeks before the new government takes office, as the country’s departing prime minister, Viktor Orbán, admitted a “political era has ended” and suggested he would stay on as leader of his party in his first interview since the election.

Speaking to the pro-government outlet Patrióta, Orbán described Sunday’s election as an “emotional rollercoaster” after the opposition Tisza party won a landslide victory, bringing an end to his 16 years in power.

Israel starts a tense ceasefire in Lebanon. And, Trump nominates a new CDC director.

A 10-day ceasefire to pause fighting between Israel and Hezb

UK’s OnlyFans tops $3bn valuation amid talks to sell stake to US investor

Adult video platform to sell minority stake to increase stability after death of its owner Leonid Radvinsky

• Business live – latest updates

OnlyFans, the UK adult video platform, is in talks to sell a minority stake to a US investor that will value the business at more than $3bn (£2.2bn).

The London-based company is in advanced talks to sell a stake of less than 20% to the San Francisco-based investment firm Architect Capital, according to the Financial Times. Sources familiar with the process confirmed the talks to the Guardian.

The best recent crime and thrillers – review roundup

The Keeper by Tana French; The Kindness of Strangers by Emma Garman; Mrs Shim Is a Killer by Kang Jiyoung; A Killer in the Family by Amin Ahmad; The Drowning Place by Sarah Hilary

The Keeper by Tana French (Viking, £16.99)
The final book in French’s Cal Hooper trilogy sees the retired Chicago detective drawn into a power struggle for the future of the small Irish town he has made his home. Ardnakelty is a place where everyone is interconnected, with grudges and loyalties lasting for generations, and Hooper, now engaged to local widow Lena and mentor to 16-year-old Trey, is becoming a part of its fabric. When the body of Rachel Holohan, girlfriend of the son of local bigshot Tommy Moynihan, is recovered from the river, the consensus is suicide, but Trey convinces Hooper to investigate. Tommy doesn’t like people interfering in his business, especially when it emerges that Rachel was concerned about his plans for the town. An immersive, slow-burn of a book, as much about the march of time and the inevitably changing nature of Irish rural life as it is about solving a crime, The Keeper is dense, compelling and superbly atmospheric.

The Kindness of Strangers by Emma Garman (Virago, £20)
Set in a Chelsea boarding house in 1953, Garman’s debut novel opens with Jimmy Sullivan – who “wore spiv’s shoes and spoke in unmistakable Cockney tones” – bleeding to death under the dispassionate gaze of the landlady and her lodgers. The big Victorian house, presided over by bohemian literary widow Honor Wilson, is home to a debutante fallen on hard times, a wannabe writer, a young cinema usher with social aspirations, and a Jewish poet who managed to escape Hitler but lost his wife and child in the process. All have secrets, but none more than Honor herself, and the arrival of Jimmy, who claims to be the son of an old family retainer, threatens them all. This is not only an excellent mystery, but an evocative portrayal of a group of people displaced socially and geographically by war and its aftermath, with the moral and topographical landscape of 1950s London superbly rendered.

Add to playlist: the sweaty, unvarnished electropop of Punchbag and the week’s best new tracks

The sibling duo’s follow-up EP spikes their off-kilter pop with new darkness, adding atmospheric balladry to their glorious racket

From South London
Recommended if you like Charli xcx, Confidence Man, Klaxons
Up next UK tour starts 21 April

If this was April 2008, Punchbag, AKA south London siblings Clara and Anders Bach, would be headlining an NME tour alongside Alphabeat and Frankmusik, while the Popjustice forum would have hailed them as the new face of “wonky pop”. The sonic calling cards of that ramshackle iPod-era micro-genre – off-kilter, unvarnished electropop piled high with myriad other genres – were streaked across Punchbag’s debut single Fuck It. A sweaty riot of 90s rave, maximalist bass and Clara’s spit-soaked vocals, it felt tailor-made for soundtracking an awkward snog on Skins. Last May it was joined by three other frantic bangers on the duo’s debut EP, I’m Not Your Punchbag, the highlight of which, You Used to Be So Sexy, sounds like a GarageBand-produced the Veronicas had they grown up in east London as opposed to Brisbane.

Olivia Rodrigo: Drop Dead review – a maximalist rush of infatuation that’s just a bauble short of festive

(Geffen)
On this giddy first taste of the US pop star’s third album, she sets aside her rock bona fides to revel in the opulent flush of a crush-come-true. But why does it seem so doomed?

Is there anything better than an ink-fresh pop lyric so nailed-on that you can’t believe 60 years of songwriters didn’t get there first? Or like, at least 20, ever since Googling crushes became an entirely normal component of modern romance: “One night I was bored in bed / And stalked you on the internet,” Olivia Rodrigo sings on her comeback single, a casual admission with its own innate melody destined in turn to stalk listeners’ brains all summer. Her perfect couplet heralds an ecstatic chorus about the giddy terror of getting exactly what you wanted, exactly how you wanted it, and barely being able to breathe or stifle puking: “The most alive I’ve ever been / But kiss me and I might drop dead!”

Acute, obsessive, unsparing songs about romance, always with a self-aware handle on their intensity – or a wink at how lovestruck girls get labelled “crazy” – have become Rodrigo’s trademark. (She calls her benign form of online stalking “feminine intuition”.) Now 23, she broke out as a pop star in 2021, after a lifetime as a Disney Channel fixture, and pulled off one of the quickest, most effective and indelible acts of redefinition of any musician to emerge from that entertainment monolith. (Even her pop peer and fellow Disney alum Sabrina Carpenter took five albums to find success on her terms.) Rodrigo’s debut single proper, Drivers License, was an epic heartbreak ballad, though the sticking points of her debut album, Sour, were the pop-punk ragers. She convincingly translated that into her second album, 2023’s Guts, which drew on the influence of her mum’s riot grrrl records; she scored mentorship from St Vincent, brought the Breeders to support her on tour and got the Cure’s Robert Smith to duet with her when she headlined Glastonbury in 2025.