CoreWeave stock sinks 10% on weak revenue guidance, increased spending forecast

CoreWeave has been raising debt to finance its data center buildout, and S&P has boosted the company's credit rating.

Man who was mistakenly interviewed on TV shares lesson in staying calm

Guy Goma walked into a BBC interview for an IT job, but was mistaken for an expert and was rushed on air. Twenty years later, he reflects on how a screw-up can turn into a moment of grace.

Spencer Pratt compares his fledgling political career to Obama's national rise

Spencer Pratt has said he was compelled to launch his unlikely mayoral run after his home was destroyed in last year's devastating Los Angeles wildfires.

5 states monitoring passengers who departed ship stricken by hantavirus

American passengers who left the MV Hondius cruise ship in April are being monitored for hantavirus in at least five states, health officials said.

14 tornadoes reported in Mississippi as storms ravage homes, knock out power

The storms collapsed hundreds of homes, downed trees and knocked out power lines in multiple counties, officials said.

Elections 2026 live: counting under way after votes in England, Scotland and Wales

First results in England expected shortly, while Scottish and Welsh parliament results are due from midday

• 2026 election results: latest from local, Scottish and Welsh votes

We’re getting statements from some of the political parties now as we wait for results.

For the Conservatives, party chairman Kevin Hollinrake said:

We have run an energetic and positive campaign, showcasing that we have a clear plan to get Britain working again and that we have the team to deliver it... We know that so soon after a historic general election defeat and contesting wards won during the Party’s polling highs, that this will be a difficult set of elections for us. But we will continue to rebuild and to show the public that we have changed, to demonstrate that only this new Conservative party is a credible alternative.

People are deeply disappointed with a Labour government that has been too timid to fix the country, but they are also appalled by the rise of Reform and Nigel Farage’s Trump-style politics. While those on the extremes of the right and the left want to burn everything down, Liberal Democrats want to fix what’s broken. Every Liberal Democrat local champion elected today will fight tirelessly for the communities they serve.

I’ve travelled across England and Wales and I’m hearing the same everywhere I go – confidence that we will win more councillors than ever before. The news from the doorstep is that we will be taking seats from not just Labour but the Tories and Lib Dems too, from all across the country. Voters are responding to the fact that Greens are the only party taking the cost-of-living crisis seriously, with real plans to cut bills, reduce rents and provide genuinely affordable homes, as well as tackling the climate and nature crisis.

Throughout this election, we have heard a clear appetite for change. People want a government that will stand up for Wales and focus relentlessly on the key issues affecting their lives. People have told us they have been inspired by Rhun ap Iorwerth’s leadership and driven by a desire for a positive alternative to Reform UK’s chaos and division.

Tennessee approves new congressional map dissolving majority Black district

Tennessee Republicans earlier Thursday approved a measure to overturn the state's ban on mid-decade redistricting.

Middle East crisis live: US and Iran trade strikes in strait of Hormuz but Trump insists ceasefire remains ‘in effect’

Trump says truce ‘is going’ despite exchanges of fire but threatens to hit Iran ‘a lot more violently’ if it doesn’t quickly agree to deal; Iran accuses US of violating ceasefire

The European Union is set to tell airlines the impact from the Iran war on tourism is not yet severe enough to justify emergency measures for the sector, draft EU guidelines seen by Reuters showed.

“The current situation does not point to the need for dedicated measures for the tourism sector, unlike during the COVID-19 crisis,” said the draft EU guidelines, which the European Commission is due to publish on Friday.

IREN inks AI infrastructure deal with Nvidia

Data center operator IREN announced a partnership with semiconductor giant Nvidia.

Texas courtroom translator released from ICE speaks out: "Constantly watching over my shoulder"

After six weeks in custody, a Texas courtroom translator who had worked legally in the U.S. for decades was released. Meenu Batra spoke exclusively with Shanelle Kaul.

Mother of missing woman in Bahamas says husband has not contacted her

The search for Michigan mother Lynette Hooker headed into a fifth week as Coast Guard investigators seek to question the owners of a sailboat that was moored near the Hooker's vessel when she went missing. Cristian Benavides reports.

Protests in Tennessee after legislature breaks up majority-Black district

Tennessee became the latest state to redraw its congressional map, breaking up a majority-Black district and adding to a national controversy over mid-decade redistricting. The move came after last week's Supreme Court ruling, which limited lawmakers' ability to take race into account when drawing districts. Ed O'Keefe reports.

Mississippi tornadoes lift roofs, collapse walls, leave many without homes

Mississippi experienced one of the worst tornado outbreaks of the season on Wednesday. At least 17 people were hurt with widespread damage across several counties. Jason Allen reports from the hard-hit town of Purvis, Mississippi.

U.S. destroyers in Strait of Hormuz fight off Iranian attacks

Three U.S. destroyers in the Strait of Hormuz fought off a swarm of Iranian fast-attack boats, the U.S. military said. U.S. forces also hit back, striking launch sites for Iranian missiles and drones, according to U.S. Central Command. Nancy Cordes reports.

Man charged after allegedly threatening Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor

Norfolk police charge 39-year-old from Suffolk, who will appear in court later

A man has been charged after allegedly threatening Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor near his new home on the Sandringham Estate.

The former Duke of York was out walking his dogs when the incident occurred in Wolferton, close to his Marsh Farm property, shortly after 7.30pm on Wednesday, the Telegraph reported previously.

Premier League: 10 things to look out for this weekend

A game to suit departing Stones, West Ham’s Pablo under scrutiny against Arsenal and Maddison can rouse Spurs

Liverpool have eased one self-inflicted headache by listening to their fans and scrapping plans to raise some ticket prices for the next three seasons. Anfield’s attention can now focus squarely on eradicating another as Arne Slot’s side seek to salvage a desperately poor season with Champions League qualification. Liverpool will secure a top-five finish should they beat Chelsea and Bournemouth fail to win at Fulham. Slot could not have hand-picked a better opponent to potentially complete the job than the shambles that is this Chelsea team, even taking into account his frontline injury-list. The visitors are a collection of individual egos who turn up when they feel like it, which is Wembley and the FA Cup on current evidence. Chelsea have lost seven successive league games only once in their history – from November to December 1952 – but could equal that unwanted record with defeat at Anfield. They have lost their last two away matches by a three-goal margin, conceded at least three times in four of their last five league games, and it would surprise no one if they decide to save themselves for the FA Cup final. Andy Hunter

Liverpool v Chelsea, Saturday 12.30pm (all times BST)

Brighton v Wolves, Saturday 3pm

Fulham v Bournemouth, Saturday 3pm

Sunderland v Manchester United, Saturday 3pm

UK schools should remove pupils’ online photos as AI blackmail threat grows, say experts

Criminals are manipulating pictures found on school websites and social media to create sexually explicit images

UK schools should remove pictures of pupils’ faces from their websites and social media accounts because blackmailers are using them to create sexually explicit images, experts have said.

Child safety experts and the UK’s National Crime Agency (NCA) warn that criminals are using AI to manipulate photos of children and then demand cash not to publish them.

Real Madrid’s Valverde has stitches after bust-up with teammate Tchouaméni

• Valverde accused Frenchman of leaking earlier argument

• Real play Barcelona on Sunday with title on the line

Real Madrid’s Fede Valverde was taken to hospital to have stitches after a second confrontation with teammate Aurélien Tchouaméni in two days, as the club’s collapse into chaos continues.

Players held an emergency meeting and Real have opened disciplinary proceedings after a physical fight, with blood being spilled and Valverde being taken for treatment.

Woman charged with joining Islamic State after arriving back in Australia

Two more women arrested and expected to be charged after a group of 13 with family links to IS landed back from Syria on Thursday

• Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates

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A woman who arrived back in Australia after spending more than seven years in Syrian detention camps has been charged in Sydney with allegedly entering a declared conflict zone and joining Islamic State.

Janai Safar, 32, was a member of a group of 13 women and children who arrived back in separate flights – one into Sydney and one into Melbourne – on Thursday evening.

Federal judge finds DOGE's elimination of humanities grants "unlawful"

Three of the nation's major scholarly groups challenged the Trump administration's cuts to humanities grants.

Trade court strikes down a second round of Trump tariffs

The Court of International Trade has struck down a second round of global tariffs ordered by President Trump, after his earlier import taxes were outlawed by the U.S. Supreme Court.

U.S. military says it intercepted Iranian attacks on 3 Navy ships in Strait of Hormuz

The U.S. military also says that it "targeted Iranian military facilities responsible for attacking U.S. forces." The exchange occurred Thursday as U.S. Navy destroyers transited the Strait of Hormuz, U.S. Central Command said in a social media post.

U.S. trade court rules against Trump's 10% tariffs

The tariffs were put in place in February, days after the Supreme Court struck down President Trump's previous round of sweeping "Liberation Day" tariffs.

LIV Golf and Bryson DeChambeau tee off new era but cannot escape Saudi shadow

US star is still on rebel tour but the desired focus on teams is not something that is catching on with supporters

Moments before Bryson DeChambeau teed off to open LIV Golf’s first American tournament of the year, at Trump National Golf Club in Sterling, Virginia, the public address announcer bellowed “Long! LIV! Golf!” to try and electrify a modest crowd by the first tee.

The irony wasn’t lost on the devoted group who skirted work and school to enjoy a sunny afternoon just 40 miles outside Washington DC: this was the first tournament since the Saudi Arabia Public Investment Fund confirmed it would no longer fund the outfit that it once imagined as the world’s premier collection of professional golfers. Before that news was finalized, the league postponed a tournament scheduled to take place in New Orleans at the end of June.

US trade court rules against Trump’s 10% global tariffs

Trump also issues new deadline for EU to implement trade deal terms before raising tariffs to ‘much higher levels’

The US trade court on Thursday ruled against Donald Trump’s latest 10% global tariffs, finding across-the-board tariffs were not justified under a 1970s trade law.

The US Court of International Trade ruled in favor of small businesses that challenged the tariffs, which took effect on 24 February. The ruling was 2-1, with one judge saying it was premature to grant victory to the small business plaintiffs.

Redistricting race to the bottom ramps up, as GOP eyes more states to draw new House maps

An April Supreme Court ruling has caused a scrambled in some southern states to redistrict before November's midterm elections.

Can AI help you figure out how much money you need to retire?

As more people turn to chatbots for financial advice, experts say AI offers both pros and cons for retirement planning. Here's what to know.

iPhone owners could get up to $95 from a new Apple settlement

A proposed $250 million settlement would compensate millions of consumers who bought the iPhone 16, iPhone 15 Pro or iPhone 15 Pro Max.

Buendía and McGinn the heroes as Villa fire past Forest to reach Europa League final

In the end, it was a rout, Aston Villa sailing into their first European final since 1982. There were fist pumps from Prince William high in the Trinity Road Stand after Emiliano Buendía’s penalty approaching the hour put Villa in command of the tie and then pure delirium as John McGinn buried two near-identical first-time finishes inside three minutes to kill the game.

In between serenading Unai Emery, who is hunting a record fifth Europa League title, and drinking in the celebrations, Villa supporters could think about booking flights to Istanbul, where Villa will face Freiburg in search of their first trophy since lifting the League Cup in 1996.

Crystal Palace ease past Shakhtar to set up Conference League final against Rayo Vallecano

As the song that has accompanied them on their maiden European adventure promised all along, Crystal Palace are on their way to Leipzig. Sixteen years after rescuing the club he supported as a child from administration, Steve Parish watched on with immense pride as Oliver Glasner’s side held off a spirited challenge from Shakhtar Donetsk to book a showdown with Rayo Vallecano in eastern Germany later this month.

There were ecstatic celebrations as Palace’s players completed a lap of honour in front of their adoring supporters who are still having to pinch themselves over the events of the past 12 months. Glasner may be set to leave after what will be the 60th game of a marathon season but whatever happens after this, he will always have a special place in the club’s history. One of the loudest cheers of the night came when the stadium announcer confirmed that Nottingham Forest – who controversially replaced Palace in the Europa League – had been thrashed 4-0 by Aston Villa in their semi-final.

Iran still reviewing new U.S. peace proposal as Trump predicts war will 'be over quickly': Reports

Senior Iranian official Mohsen Rezaee reportedly said Tehran would not let the U.S. reopen the Strait of Hormuz with "an unrealistic plan."

French prosecutors escalate probe of Elon Musk and X to criminal investigation

France is investigating whether Elon Musk and his social media app X were complicit in spreading harmful AI deepfakes.

GameStop CEO opens eBay storefront to pay for potential eBay acquisition

Ryan Cohen selling tube socks and baseball cards after offering $55.5bn, although source of funds remains unclear

The CEO of GameStop, Ryan Cohen, said he was selling vintage video games, baseball cards, GameStop merchandise and a $14,000 pair of tube socks to help fund the company’s proposed $55.5bn acquisition of eBay.

His platform of choice? eBay, of course.

Trump-appointed council proposes major redesign of FEMA response role

A council appointed by President Trump has proposed major changes to FEMA's disaster relief response.

She helps families in need. As gas and grocery prices rise, she needs help, too

She has spent decades helping others struggling to make ends meet. Now the rising cost of gas and groceries has left Dalene Basden feeling the strain herself.

With legal briefs in, Supreme Court weighs telehealth access for the abortion pill

After an appeals court tried to end telemedicine access to mifepristone, one of the two pills used in a medication abortion, the Supreme Court stepped in. Here's what's happened and what's to come.

AI is as a top cause of layoffs, accounting for 26% of April's job cuts

New data shows artificial intelligence is the most cited reason for layoffs, even as economists debate whether it is truly displacing workers.

Can a sprawling city make public transit work? Sydney may be on the right track

With transport set to be Australia’s top-emitting sector by 2030, officials have recognised the need to invest

At Penrith, a suburb on Sydney’s rural fringe 50km (30 miles) west of the central business district, you can catch a train to the city every four to eight minutes during the morning peak, and roughly every 10 to 15 minutes during off-peak hours before midnight.

On an express service, it takes 52 minutes to Sydney’s Central station, comparable to the journey by car, without factoring in the morning traffic on a tolled motorway.

March Madness tournaments to expand to 76 teams from next season

• Both tournaments will have eight extra games

• Tournaments will expand for first time in 15 years

The NCAA announced on Thursday that it will expand its two March Madness tournaments by eight teams each next season, a long-expected move that will drop more games into the first week of the showcase without substantially changing its overall form.

The new, 76-team brackets will jam eight extra games – for a total of 12 involving 24 teams – into the front half of the first week of the men’s and the women’s tournaments. It will turn what’s now known as the First Four into a bigger affair that will now be called the “March Madness Opening Round”.

A Trump council recommends overhauling FEMA. Here are 3 key changes

A group of emergency experts wants the Trump administration to raise the bar for federal help after disasters, and also make it easier for survivors to get money quickly.

Bonnie Tyler in induced coma after emergency intestinal surgery

Spokesperson for Welsh singer shared further update on her health after she was rushed to hospital in Faro, Portugal

Bonnie Tyler has been placed into an induced coma to aid her recovery after emergency intestinal surgery, a spokesperson for the singer has said.

It was revealed on Wednesday that the 74-year-old had been rushed to a hospital near her home in Faro, Portugal, for the procedure, and was recuperating.

Here's what to expect from Friday's release of the April jobs report

The total picture is one of a labor market that, while undoubtedly cooling, is generally stable and resilient despite a number of challenges.

Jeffrey Epstein's possible suicide note released by judge

A former cellmate has previously claimed that the note was written by Epstein after a failed suicide attempt less than a month before his death.

DHS blames funding lapse for shutdown of internal detention oversight

The office investigates detainee deaths and access to medical care, among other issues. It's being wound down, even as the number of detention deaths and length of detention stays has grown.

A judge unsealed Epstein's purported 2019 suicide note. More documents could follow

At the request of the New York Times, a judge unsealed a goodbye note that Jeffrey Epstein's former cellmate says he found after the convicted sex offender's first suicide attempt in July 2019.

Tennessee Republicans pass a map to break up the state's lone Democratic House seat

Tennessee Republicans' map would crack Shelby County — home to majority-Black Memphis — into three different districts, in an effort to eliminate the state's lone remaining Democratic-held seat.

Tennessee Republicans redraw maps to erase last Democratic, Black-majority district

Move comes days after supreme court ruling weakened Voting Rights Act protections against racial gerrymandering

• US politics live – latest updates

Tennessee’s Republican-dominated legislature passed redistricting maps on Thursday, eliminating the state’s one Democratic, Black-majority congressional district a week after the US supreme court effectively gutted a major section of the Voting Rights Act.

The move cracks Tennessee’s ninth congressional district, which covers Memphis, into three pieces, each of which contains almost exactly a third of the city’s Black voters. The new maps mean that all nine of Tennessee’s congressional districts are Republican-leaning.

Russia’s sporting return on hold for inquiry into official’s alleged role in doping cover-up

• Wada looking into allegations relating to Rusada chief

• IOC recommends lifting of ban on Belarusians competing

Russia’s return to international sport has been delayed following allegations that its head of anti-doping was involved in covering up drug test results at the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics.

While the International Olympic Committee said on Thursday that athletes from Belarus should now be free to compete under their own flag and anthem, it admitted it still had “concern” over Russia.

FBI defends Kash Patel after report alleging he gifts custom whiskey bottles

Agency says FBI director ‘followed all applicable ethical guidelines’ in giving out personalized bourbon bottles

The FBI said that agency director Kash Patel “followed all applicable ethical guidelines” after a report in the Atlantic alleged that he distributed customized bourbon whiskey bottles as gifts.

In an article published on Wednesday, the Atlantic described Patel as travelling with a stock of “personalized branded bourbon” that he allegedly hands out frequently to people around him.

Prisoner accused of Lostprophets singer’s murder boasted to guards about fame, court told

Prosecution says Rico Gedel attacked Ian Watkins in HMP Wakefield then handed homemade knife to Samuel Dodsworth

A prisoner accused of murdering the disgraced former Lostprophets singer told guards they “could be talking to someone famous” after stabbing Ian Watkins in the head and neck with a homemade knife, a court has heard.

Rico Gedel carried out the attack on Watkins, who was serving a 29-year sentence for child sexual offences, in his cell at HMP Wakefield, a high-security prison, on 11 October, Leeds crown court heard.

Historic Oxford cinema under threat as Oriel College refuses to extend lease

The Ultimate Picture Palace opened in 1911 and is housed in a Grade II-listed building in need of renovation

The survival of one of the UK’s oldest independent cinemas is under threat while its landlord, the University of Oxford’s Oriel College, refuses to extend its lease to allow what its director says are vital renovations.

The Ultimate Picture Palace in east Oxford opened in 1911, and has entertained generations of students and residents, including the Oscar-winning director Sam Mendes. It sells tickets for its 106 seats through an old-fashioned box office window to patrons queueing on the street, and its screen is behind a manually opened curtain.

Shake Shack shares crater 30% after burger chain reports operating loss

Shake Shack CEO Rob Lynch said winter storms and an increase to its projections for store openings this year weighed on the company's results.

Employers are demanding AI skills. What's the best way to learn them?

Career experts say workers and job seekers should take charge of their own AI education. Here's how to get started.

The Guardian view on ceasefires that aren’t: Israel never stopped killing in Gaza – allies must reject any escalation | Editorial

The US is unlikely to pressure Benjamin Netanyahu to comply with truce terms. Europe must take action

The meaning of the term “ceasefire” should be self‑evident. Yet Israel’s strikes have killed scores of people in Lebanon since it agreed a truce with Hezbollah under pressure from the US, with the two sides trading fire. There was a strike on Beirut on Wednesday. Benjamin Netanyahu’s government would be delighted to resume war with Iran. But it is wary of Donald Trump’s wrath as he seeks an exit from the conflict.

In Gaza, the Israeli military has killed more than 800 people since the truce there was declared in October, striking almost every day. This, too, is not a true ceasefire but a de-escalation, however necessary. Lethal Israeli attacks on an engineer and drivers transporting water have intensified the water crisis that is fuelling the spread of infectious diseases; Médecins Sans Frontières has called the weaponisation of water supplies a campaign of collective punishment. Never mind the estimated $70bn cost of reconstruction; homes are still being flattened. Families in tents face a rat infestation. Essential medicines are unavailable. Hospitals and schools lie in ruins. An analysis of the war’s impact on education described children feeling “like the living dead”.

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 facial recognition technology: mistaken identities are a political issue | Editorial

Once again, digital tools are running ahead of regulators. Civil liberties must not be sacrificed to policing

It is a familiar story. Extravagant claims are made on behalf of novel computerised tools. The public are told that this or that digital application or system is going to change the world for the better. Efficiencies will be unlocked and problems solved as human limitations are overcome by networked devices plugged into vast stores of data. Anyone who questions the narrative is a pessimist or, perhaps, a criminal.

This appears to be the logic behind arguments put forward on behalf of one such tool – live facial recognition technology. Law-abiding citizens have “nothing to fear” from the police’s increased reliance on mounted cameras, said the Home Office minister, Sarah Jones, last month, after a high court challenge brought on human rights and privacy grounds failed. The use of AI-powered identification software, made by the Japanese company NEC, “only locates specifically wanted people”, she added. Last year, Ms Jones described the technology as “the biggest breakthrough for catching criminals since DNA”.

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.

If Labour now decides the PM is no longer up to the job, there’s just one problem: neither is anyone else | Gaby Hinsliff

Whoever leads Britain through the next three years may have to navigate a recession, even a war. The way we choose that person needs an urgent overhaul

This is going to be an ugly weekend for British politics. How ugly we won’t quite know until Saturday night, when enough votes will have been counted to judge whether Keir Starmer’s government has suffered merely a midterm kicking or a full-blown collapse, and what dark forces may have been unleashed in the process. For you needn’t be a Labour voter to worry about the implications of local elections in which so many candidates were caught expressing views so extreme they chill the blood.

It’s fear of what this means for Britain in the long term that explains, in part, why the prime minister’s enemies were gathering long before the polling stations closed.

Gaby Hinsliff is a Guardian columnist

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.

Texas mom says "no one is safe" after she spent 6 weeks in ICE custody

Meenu Batra exclusively spoke to CBS News about being detained by ICE, saying she was living and working legally in the U.S. when she was arrested.

Ben Jennings on David Attenborough’s 100th birthday – cartoon

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A blocked camera, a 13-minute gap: Details emerge on WHCD attack

A CBS News visual investigation is revealing new details of an alleged assassination attempt on President Trump at this year's White House Correspondents' Dinner.

CNN was Ted Turner’s brainchild. It faces a precarious future | Margaret Sullivan

Turner’s original vision is under serious threat these days

Ted Turner, who died on Wednesday aged 87, was many things – a philanthropist, a conservationist, the one-time husband of movie star Jane Fonda, a yachtsman, and the owner of the Atlanta Braves and the Atlanta Hawks.

He thought big and lived large.

Margaret Sullivan is a Guardian US columnist writing on media, politics and culture

Jannik Sinner not ruling out grand slam boycott in prize money dispute

• ‘I think we give much more than what we get back’

• Novak Djokovic lending his support to players

Jannik Sinner refused to rule out participating in a player boycott of the grand slam tournaments and accused the majors of disrespect for the top players due to their lack of response in the ongoing prize money dispute.

“It’s more about respect, you know?” said Sinner, the men’s No 1. “Because I think we give much more than what we are getting back. It’s not only for the top players; it’s for all of us players. Again, from men’s and women’s side, we are very, very equal. I think the top 10 men, top 10 women, we wrote a letter. It’s not nice that after one year we are not even close to the conclusion of what we would like to have.

Two men first in British history to be found guilty of spying for China

Chi Leung Wai and Chung Biu Yuen convicted over surveillance of dissidents in ‘shadow policing’ operation

A UK Border Force officer and Hong Kong trade official based in London have been found guilty of spying for China and surveilling dissidents through a “shadow policing” operation.

Chi Leung “Peter” Wai, 38, and Chung Biu Yuen, 65, also known as Bill, were found guilty at the Old Bailey of assisting a foreign intelligence service, making them the first people in British history to be convicted of spying for China.

Used car prices fall for the first time this year and EV interest rises as gas prices spike

Cox Automotive reports affordability remains a key concern for buyers and that's driving increased demand for older vehicles as well as all-electric vehicles.

Billie Eilish – Hit Me Hard and Soft: The Tour review – style trumps substance in James Cameron’s 3D oddity

Eilish and Cameron are mismatched in flashy pop documentary that misses the subtlety of her music

For a long time concert tour films were seen as a cash-in. Ask a music fan for their favorite, and they’ll probably answer with something that isn’t really a concert film at all, such as Madonna’s deliciously gloves-off documentary Truth or Dare or Stop Making Sense, Jonathan Demme’s high-concept performance art classic starring Talking Heads.

But in recent years the concert film has become a bona fide cinematic event for super-fans wishing to relive the experience as well as those who draw the line at paying a month’s rent to see their favorite musician. In 2023, Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour became the genre’s biggest-grossing film of all time, taking over $250m at the global box office. (Swift herself took home an estimated third of that figure thanks to an exclusive distribution deal with AMC Theaters). Beyoncé’s Renaissance film extended her album as a cultural moment, while this year Baz Luhrmann’s Epic: Elvis Presley in Concert has packed out multiplexes and a concert documentary from the K-pop boyband Stray Kids topped the global box office.

Trump pardon recipients face congressional probe over "pay-to-play" questions

Congressional Democrats are investigating clemency recipients who may have obtained favorable treatment from Trump or his advisers "through intermediaries, financial contributions, or other forms of influence."

Outrage as oil giants profit billions from Iran war - The Latest

Shell has made $6.9bn in profits since the Iran war began, cashing in on soaring energy prices. The enormous profits have reignited calls for higher taxes on fossil fuel companies to fund support for those hardest hit by rising costs.

Lucy Hough speaks to energy correspondent Jillian Ambrose.

Election monitors note instances of voters in England turned away over ID

European observers have seen incidents of confusion over ID requirements but problem is not regarded as widespread

• 2026 election results: latest from local, Scottish and Welsh votes

Instances of voters being turned away from polling stations owing to confusion over photo ID requirements have been recorded by European election observers watching voting in England on Thursday.

While the problem is not regarded as widespread, it has been noted by the delegation from the Council of Europe, which will issue a report on the local elections in England as well as the Scottish and Welsh government elections.

Rubio visits Vatican amid escalating tensions between Trump and Pope Leo

Secretary of State Marco Rubio traveled to Rome in an effort to preserve a crucial relationship between Washington and the Holy See.

‘Do you think I’m a cougar?’: five influencer couples on their age-gap relationships

From building an online community to losing long-term friendships, micro-influencer couples explain their experiences in age-gap relationships

When it comes to relationships with extreme power imbalances – say, professional hierarchies or underage participants – there is broad consensus on what’s acceptable. But a relationship between people whose ages differ by a decade or so confuses and intrigues people endlessly.

Generally, the wider the age gap and the younger one partner is, the greater the skepticism. Older men have long been side-eyed for dating substantially younger women. The reverse – older women with younger men – also remains somewhat subversive. But the latter dynamic is increasingly celebrated – last year, the Cut covered the trend of older women seeking younger partners, and last month, the New York Times released a podcast episode titled “Older Women Are in Demand by Younger Men”.

Vatican stresses need for peace as Rubio meets pope amid strained relations

US secretary of state speaks with Leo and officials after tensions following attacks by Trump over Iran war

The Vatican has said it raised the “need to work tirelessly in favour of peace” in talks with the US secretary of state, Marco Rubio, who is in Rome on a trip widely regarded as an effort to ease tensions after Donald Trump’s repeated criticisms of Pope Leo.

Amid unprecedented strain on relations between the Holy See and Washington, Rubio was received by the pope on Thursday at the Apostolic Palace, before holding a series of meetings with Vatican officials

BP plans to sell shares in flagship carbon projects as it pulls back from green agenda

Oil firm seeks to reduce stake in carbon capture and storage projects in north-east of England after schemes fail to win over shareholders

BP plans to sell stakes in two flagship carbon capture and storage projects in the north-east of England as the company continues to retreat from the green agenda.

The oil company hopes to reduce its share in the Net Zero Teesside (NZT) project, which aims to develop the UK’s first gas power plant to be fitted with a controversial carbon capture system to remove its emissions.

Karoline Leavitt announces birth of her baby girl

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt announced the birth of her baby girl, Viviana, or "Vivi" for short.

Jimmy Kimmel on Trump: ‘His list of threats is now longer than Kash Patel’s bar tab’

Late-night hosts discussed the situation in Iran and the Trump administration’s efforts to avoid using the word ‘war’

Late-night hosts discussed the Trump administration’s confusing messaging about the war in Iran and why fruit-flavoured vapes have suddenly become a Republican priority.

Anthropic CEO says 80-fold growth in first quarter explains 'difficulties with compute'

At Anthropic's developer conference in San Francisco, CEO Dario Amodei said the company is 'working as quickly as possible' to provide additional compute.

My son is moving out. I’m happy for him but I’m bereft. How can I stop feeling so terrible? | Leading questions

It’s OK to feel the loss, writes advice columnist Eleanor Gordon-Smith. The fact that you do shows the devotion and care you’re capable of

My son is moving out. I’m happy for him but I’m bereft. I know “empty nest” is a cliche but it’s out of control and it’s ruining my relationship with him. It feels like grief. I’m tearful all the time. I can’t bear to look at old photos of us. I feel awkward around him, like I’m looking for the old connection when he was little that he’s rightly moved on from.

I wasn’t a happy person before him and without him I’m afraid I’ll go back to how I was. My partner is supportive but I hide how much I’m obsessing about this because there’s only so many times she can sit through my sobbing. He’s still present and wonderful; he needs to go and live his life and I know he’ll come back. How can I stop feeling so terrible about a thing that I know is good and right and natural?

Superdry co-founder James Holder jailed for eight years for raping woman

Holder went back to woman’s Cheltenham flat after night out and refused to stop assault even when she began crying

A co-founder of the clothing company Superdry has been jailed for eight years for raping a woman after a night out in Cheltenham.

James Holder, 54, had been due to get a taxi back to his home in the Cotswolds with a male friend. Instead, the pair got into the victim’s taxi and went to her flat in the Gloucestershire town, where Holder raped her.

Information and support for anyone affected by rape or sexual abuse issues is available from the following organisations. In the UK, Rape Crisis offers support on 0808 500 2222 in England and Wales, 0808 801 0302 in Scotland, or 0800 0246 991 in Northern Ireland. In the US, Rainn offers support on 800-656-4673. In Australia, support is available at 1800Respect (1800 737 732). Other international helplines can be found at ibiblio.org/rcip/internl.html

Snack mixes recalled due to possible Salmonella contamination

Mexican street corn-inspired trail mix made by Illinois food company was sold at Target and other retailers, as well as online.

China gives suspended death sentences to 2 ex-defense ministers

Both were the latest to be sentenced in President Xi Jinping's ongoing anti-corruption campaign, which started more than a decade ago.

Global race under way to trace passengers who left hantavirus ship before outbreak confirmed

At least 29 passengers of 12 nationalities left the MV Hondius on 24 April after the first fatality

• Where did the cruise ship hantavirus come from and what happens next?

Authorities around the world are racing to trace dozens of passengers who disembarked from the cruise ship at the centre of a deadly hantavirus outbreak before isolation measures were implemented.

It emerged for the first time on Thursday that at least 29 passengers of 12 nationalities left the MV Hondius on 24 April after the first fatality, prompting a scramble to identify and track their movements since then.

France is fan favorite for the FIFA World Cup — but AI is backing another nation for glory, says BofA

The 2026 FIFA World Cup is expected to add over $40 billion to the global GDP with its most lucrative edition ever.

Hottest U.S. gas prices in years leave drivers feeling burned

Americans on tight budgets are getting hit especially hard by surging fuel costs, forcing some to make hard choices.

McDonald's CEO says consumer spending could be 'getting a little bit worse'

Shares of McDonald's have fallen 10% over the last year, hurt by concerns about the broader economy.

Israeli settler to go on trial over attack on French nun in Jerusalem

Yona Simcha Schreiber from settlement in West Bank faces charge of assault motivated by hostility towards religious group

An Israeli settler suspected of kicking and wounding a French Catholic nun in Jerusalem will go on trial for assault motivated by hostility towards a religious group, Israel’s justice ministry has said.

The attack on the nun, a 48-year-old researcher at Jerusalem’s French School of Biblical and Archaeological Research, occurred on Mount Zion, just outside the Old City.

Authorities search home linked to 1996 killing of college student Kristin Smart

Smart went missing in California after returning from a party, and was declared legally dead in 2002

Authorities plan on Thursday to enter the second day of their search of a home connected to the man convicted of killing 19-year-old college student Kristin Smart in 1996, according to law enforcement.

The San Luis Obispo county sheriff’s office served the warrant on Wednesday in the continuing investigation into Smart’s disappearance. Her remains were never found and she was declared legally dead in 2002. Paul Flores was convicted in October 2022 and ultimately sentenced to 25 years to life in prison.

Flutes, freestyles and infectious fun: Lizzo’s greatest songs – ranked!

Ahead of her new album, Bitch, we rate the best of a singer who expertly suffuses self-empowerment anthems with humour and party-starting energy

Lizzo’s contribution to the Barbie soundtrack fitted the film’s opening scene perfectly: fluffy, wilfully lightweight disco-pop, with lyrics that split the difference between being knowingly daft and offering a self-empowerment message. If you’re not in the market for high-camp positivity, try the Pink (Bad Day) version, which flips the track’s mood on its head.

The Amish who refused to use modern toilets – and the people who came after them

As Amish communities expand across the US, old practices are colliding with modern health codes and testing the limits of religious freedom

They went to the bathroom in buckets.

When the Delagrange family moved to Lenawee county, Michigan, in 2015, they refused to use modern toilets. For religious reasons, they used an outhouse.

The objects that escaped from the museum: magical spectacle Return to the Forest – in pictures

A trip to a museum becomes an unexpected adventure in a new immersive family show by Theatre-Rites and Factory International

Food manufacturer Cento is committing "tomato fraud," lawsuit alleges

In a new lawsuit, two California residents allege that Cento Fine Foods doesn't use real San Marzano tomatoes in one of its products.

‘The aim was to give Kevin Costner’s version a good kicking’: director John Irvin on his anti-Thatcher Robin Hood

Rush-released in the same year as Prince of Thieves blockbuster, this gritty British movie battled winter weather and chronic illness – and it still holds up

Thirty-five years ago, two films about the legend of Robin Hood – stealer from the rich, giver to the poor – met and duelled in cinemas; we all know who won, Kevin Costner’s big-budget blockbuster, Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves. But what about the other one? It was titled simply Robin Hood, directed by John Irvin and starring Patrick Bergin in the title role alongside a pre-Pulp Fiction Uma Thurman as Maid Marian.

“It was very much a stand-alone film with the aim of giving Kevin Costner’s version a good kicking if we could,” says Irvin, now 85. “The studio wanted to go immediately because they wanted to pre-empt the Costner.”

Dawn airport drinkers call out Ryanair boss on proposal to ban ‘holiday ritual’

Stansted passengers disagree that stopping airports serving alcohol before early flights will reduce bad behaviour

For most people, the idea of a pint with breakfast is pretty grim. But at the Wetherspoons in Stansted’s departure lounge on Thursday morning, it appeared to be the beverage of choice.

“It’s a holiday ritual,” said Dee Wood, 60, a waste policy officer, who was enjoying a pint while waiting to board her Alicante-bound morning flight. “It’s like the start of holiday,” said her friend Rachel Almond, 59, a community planner, who was treating herself to a lager. “We don’t get drunk, we just have a pint, say cheers and off we go.”

Arcadi Volodos: Schubert piano sonata D850, Schumann Kinderszenen op15 – playfulness, longing and elegance

(Sony)
The pianist binds Schubert’s D850 with Schumann’s Kinderszenen with playing of warmth and crystalline technique

Arcadi Volodos records infrequently, making each album something of an event. The two works here, both staples of the Romantic piano repertory, couldn’t be more different, and yet he manages to bind them together, bringing elasticity and a dash of fantasy to Schubert’s D major sonata, D850 while investing Schumann’s evergreen Kinderszenen with a dose of Schubertian longing.

In the sonata’s opening Allegro vivace, he’s far less headstrong than, for example, Alfred Brendel or Radu Lupu, but notably more flexible – daringly so at times. Measured phrases are shaded with supple rubato, the line enlivened with tiny dynamic emphases. The expressive slow movement, laced with musical question marks, exudes a calm benevolence. Volodos can be playful, too, with a mischievous take on the disorderly scherzo and a dainty finale that borders on the coquettish.

There's 'no chance' Warsh will be able to get the Fed to cut rates, Paul Tudor Jones says

"Do I think he'll cut rates? No chance," Jones said during a wide-ranging CNBC "Squawk Box" interview.

Iran conducting near-daily prisoner executions in secrecy, say rights groups

Families pressured to stay silent, with at least 24 executions reportedly taking place since March amid internet blackout

• Middle East crisis – live updates

Iran is carrying out near-daily executions of prisoners in secrecy and, in some cases, refusing to hand the bodies of the dead to their families, according to rights groups and sources close to the relatives of the dead.

Many families only learn of executions after they have been carried out, with some facing harassment and pressure not to speak publicly on the personal impact of the state killings, the sources say.

How to save a life: paramedics on emergency first aid – from cardiac arrest to burns to seizures

Would you know how to respond if someone was taken critically ill? Experts explain the basic skills we can all learn and how to perform them with confidence

“If you learn one thing, it should be how to resuscitate,” says Richard Webber, an associate clinical director of St John Ambulance and practising NHS paramedic in the south of England. “We know that for every one minute delay in restarting the heart, there is a 10% reduction in survivability.”

Mixtape review – tongues, trolleys and classic 90s tracks celebrate teenage misadventure

PS5, Xbox, PC, Switch 2; Annapurna Interactive
The nostalgic antics of a trio of tenacious teens make for silly yet undeniably enjoyable gameplay, framed by a playlist of bona fide bangers

The older we get, the more we tend to romanticise our teenage years. As bills pile up, we yearn for the simple days of drinking cider in parks. We often tend to forget the bad parts: the frustrating lack of autonomy, the unrequited crushes and the doofuses you’re forced to tolerate in the playground. But after four hours spent hanging out with the pretentious teens in Mixtape, I felt pretty relieved to be in my 30s.

Set in a nondescript town in northern California, Mixtape follows the exploits of tenacious trio Rockford, Slater and Cassandra as they head to a legendary party on their last day of high school. With Rockford about to leave her friends to move to the big city, she wants to immortalise the gang’s time together in musical form. Every song on a carefully curated mixtape triggers a totally tubular flashback to one of their shared memories.

From ‘whiff-whaff’ to the Table Tennis World Championships – photo essay

Global game celebrates centenary event in London as players of all ages showcase their skill, style and speed

“Table tennis is very good for the mind as well as the body, whatever age you are,” says 73-year-old Wang Qi, the oldest competitor at the Table Tennis Team World Championships in London.

Incredibly the Fiji player, who hails from China, is 61 years older than the youngest player, Enya Hu, from Switzerland. Age is evidently no barrier in this increasingly popular sport.

Dimitrije Levajac of Serbia plays a defensive shot in his victory over Luka Mladenovic of Luxembourg in the early round robin stages at the Copper Box Arena. All photographs by Tom Jenkins for The Guardian.

The Only Way Is Essex star Jake Hall found dead in Mallorca

Towie star Hall, 35, found unresponsive with head wounds reportedly caused by shards of glass at villa on Spanish island

The Only Way Is Essex star Jake Hall has been found dead in Mallorca.

The former reality TV show personality was found unresponsive with head wounds reportedly caused by shards of glass at a villa on the Spanish island.

Pussy Riot protest and an Attenborough portrait in sand: photos of the day – Thursday

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

Report shows banned non-fiction books doubled over last school year in US

New PEN America report analysed 3,743 unique titles removed from libraries and classrooms and found books about activism and social movements were targeted

A new report has found that the number of banned non-fiction books doubled during the 2024-2025 school year in the US.

PEN America analysed the 3,743 unique titles removed from school libraries and classrooms in the July to June period and found that over 1,100 or 29% were non-fiction, more than double the year prior.

German tourist awarded €1,000 after losing out on sunloungers at Greek hotel

Court in Hanover says man entitled to payout after he and his family had to lie on concrete

A German holidaymaker has won a payout of almost €1,000 after being unable to find a sunlounger for himself and his family because other guests had got there first.

The man, whose identity is not known, holidayed on the island of Kos, in Greece, with his family in 2024. He said that, despite waking up at the crack of dawn every morning to carry out a 20-minute search, he had not been able to lay claim to a lounger.