UFO files reveal astronauts saw mysterious objects and lights in 1972

NASA's Apollo 17 crew reported seeing three mysterious dots and sparks that resembled fireworks, according to new files released by the Pentagon.

Virginia Supreme Court strikes down redistricting push in blow to Democrats

In the ongoing redistricting wars, Virginia was seen as an opportunity for Democrats to pick up as many as four U.S. House seats in the 2026 midterm elections.

Pentagon begins releasing UFO files: "It's time the American people see"

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said in a statement that the documents "have long fueled justified speculation — and it's time the American people see it for themselves."

Trump touts ‘huge win’ for Republicans in Virginia map ruling; Democratic lawmaker says legislature will ‘respect’ decision – live

High court strikes down a redistricting referendum that recently passed which would’ve given Democrats four more House seats

• Virginia supreme court strikes down new congressional maps in win for Republicans

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A reminder that my colleagues are covering the latest on the conflict in the Middle East. Including secretary of state Marco Rubio’s visit to Rome, to mend strained relations with Italian leaders and the Vatican after Donald Trump chided Pope Leo XIV for his stance on the war in Iran.

Rubio told reporters in Rome that the US should get a response on Friday from Iran to its proposal to end the war.

How Labour’s ‘terrible’ night unfolded as Reform surges and Greens and Lib Dems hail wins

Plaid Cymru set to take power in Wales and SNP to retain it in Scotland, but Reform made big gains in both nations

• Election 2026 live: latest news updates

• Full results from England, Scotland and Wales

The polls had been terrible, the predictions dire and even one of his predecessors as Labour leader, Ed Miliband, had reportedly told Keir Starmer he should set a timetable for his resignation if the results were as bad as they looked.

But for the prime minister, as polling stations closed in Wales, Scotland and many parts of England, there would be no consideration of such a course. “To all the Labour members and volunteers who have supported local campaigns across the country: thank you,” he posted on X late on Thursday. “Together we will build a stronger and fairer Britain.”

Elections 2026 live: ‘I’m not going to walk away,’ says Starmer; Reform makes gains and Labour faces defeat in Wales and Scotland

Welsh Labour leader and first minister Eluned Morgan loses seat; John Swinney declares victory for SNP

• 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.

Evacuation of hantavirus-stricken cruise ship could face delays due to bad weather

‘Unprecedented operation’ under way to receive MV Hondius off Tenerife to assess and repatriate those onboard

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

The evacuation of the hantavirus-stricken MV Hondius cruise ship must be completed within 24 hours of the vessel reaching Tenerife on Sunday or face days or even weeks of delay because of bad weather, authorities in the Canary islands warned on Friday.

The Dutch-flagged vessel, which was sailing from Argentina to Cape Verde, is due to arrive in the Spanish archipelago this weekend, triggering what Spain’s health minister has termed an “unprecedented operation” to receive, assess and repatriate the 149 passengers and crew members onboard.

Middle East crisis live: US fires on two Iranian-flagged oil tankers it claims were trying to violate blockade

Centcom says it has struck two tankers heading for Iran after Tehran warned Washington was violating fragile ceasefire

• Ceasefire under threat after strikes exchanged in strait

The ship monitor Tanker Trackers has posted the following on X about the Ocean Koi oil tanker:

Her new name is actually JIN LI (9255933), and has been so since 2025-11-30. Examining our data, we can see that she’s transported various Iranian hydrocarbons on at least 16 occasions since 2021; and with full knowledge of Iran because half of her loadings were conducted directly at port in Iran while the other half were conducted via Ship-to-Ship transfer further out.

JIN LI’s ownership is based in Shanghai, China. The vessel was slapped with sanctions by US OFAC on 2026-02-25.

Slot expects another Liverpool transition, Bournemouth drop Jiménez amid investigation – football live

⚽ All the latest news and previews going into a big weekend
⚽ Premier League preview | Fixtures | Tables | Mail Niall

Premier League: The press conferences from the Premier League managers are coming thick and fast. Before we get to those, here is what can be decided this weekend.

European qualification: With Manchester United joining Arsenal and Manchester City in securing Champions League football next season after beating Liverpool last weekend, there are just two guaranteed spots left in Europe’s top-tier club competition. Liverpool and Aston Villa currently sit fourth and fifth respectively, with the Arne Slot’s side hosting Chelsea on Saturday and Villa travelling to Burnley on Sunday. Both sides will confirm Champions League qualification if they win and sixth-placed Bournemouth drop points away to Fulham on Saturday. A draw will also be enough for Liverpool and Villa if Bournemouth lose. However, sixth place could yet earn Champions League qualification. That will be the case if Villa finish fifth in the Premier League and go on to win the Europa League.

Relegation: Leeds and Forest both moved a step closer to securing their Premier League status thanks to 3-1 wins last week, beating Burnley at home and Chelsea away respectively. Victory for Leeds at Tottenham on Monday will guarantee their top-flight status for next season regardless of results elsewhere – though they will be safe before a ball has been kicked in north London if West Ham lose at home to Arsenal on Sunday. If West Ham draw with Arsenal, Leeds will be safe with a draw against Spurs. Forest will also be safe if they win at home against Newcastle on Sunday and West Ham fail to do so later in the day against Arsenal. A draw will be enough for Forest if Arsenal go on to beat West Ham.

Formula One agrees to engine changes from next season after widespread criticism

• Fast-tracked redesign will reduce electrical energy use

• Max Verstappen has been a vocal critic of new engines

Formula One has agreed to make engine design changes for the 2027 season in response to the unhappiness of many leading drivers at the way this year’s new-generation engines have affected how they race.

At a meeting on Friday, the FIA, F1, teams and engine manufacturers reached an agreement, subject to formal approval, to fast-track changes to the regulations to allow fresh engines to be used next season.

Marco Rubio says U.S. expects Iran response on peace deal 'today'

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Friday that the U.S. is expecting a response from Iran on Washington's proposal to end the war.

Colombia's rogue hippos could find refuge in India

In Colombia, a plan to cull Pablo Escobar's invasive hippos is challenged by an Indian billionaire's offer to relocate dozens of the animals to India's wildlife reserve instead.

Pentagon releases first batch of previously secret files documenting reports of UFOs

Release follows Trump directive for agencies to declassify government files related to unidentified flying objects

The Pentagon on Friday released an initial group of previously secret files documenting reports of UFOs – a move sought for decades by some.

“These files, hidden behind classifications, have long fueled justified speculation – and it’s time the American people see it for themselves,” Pete Hegseth, the defense secretary, said in a statement posted on X.

ABC accuses the FCC of violating free speech rights over "The View"

ABC filed a petition with the FCC claiming that the agency's scrutiny of "The View" threatens to "chill critical protected speech."

Canvas back online after cyberattack hit learning platform for U.S. schools

A system that thousands of schools and universities use was offline due to a cyberattack.

Soft armour, pert nipples: how London design team made Kim Kardashian’s Met Gala breastplate

Whitaker Malem worked with pop art sculptor Allen Jones, visual artist Nadia Lee Cohen and a car bodyshop in Kent

At Monday’s Met Gala, it inevitably fell to Kim Kardashian to deliver the evening’s biggest jolt. One of the few celebrities to straightforwardly interpret the “fashion is art” dress code – which focused on how the dressed and undressed human body is the through-line in most works of art – she decided to forgo her usual role as a walking billboard for a major fashion house and instead arrived in an orange fibreglass breastplate created by a small east London art duo and a car bodyshop in Kent.

“Good art should start conversation, and Kim did exactly that,” says 61-year-old Patrick Whitaker, half of the design practice Whitaker Malem, who made the breastplate just weeks before the gala. “She was very clear on wanting a breastplate, very clear on the car body finish. And I think she was nervous really. She understands the competition.”

U.S. payrolls jump more than expected, but the report had several red flags for the economy

Nonfarm payrolls were expected to increase by 55,000 in April, according to the Dow Jones consensus.

I didn’t think I could get addicted to weed. I was wrong – and I’m not alone

There are misconceptions about the addictiveness of cannabis and many users are struggling with dependency

Amy knew it wasn’t great. But there she was, at the bottom of a dumpster, desperately searching for the THC vape cartridge she’d thrown away just hours earlier.

Amy, 18, had previously tossed that same cartridge, known colloquially as a cart, into a public trash can. Passersby stared as she later rooted around to recover it. So she lifted the entire garbage bag and brought it back to her apartment, where she dug through a bunch of sloppy, stinking detritus before finding it and taking a grateful toke. Later that same week, she threw it into the dumpster – surely that would prevent her from going back. But she did.

Qatari prime minister says there's "high probability" U.S., Iran will reach deal

Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the U.S. expects to receive Iran's response to the draft agreement for ending the war "today at some point."

This week on "Sunday Morning" (May 10)

A look at the features for this week's broadcast of the Emmy-winning program, hosted by Jane Pauley.

Several Venice Biennale pavilions shut in protest over inclusion of Israel

About a dozen pavilions affected, while some artists backed strike by adding Palestine references to their work

A strike called in protest over the inclusion of Israel at the 2026 Venice Biennale meant several pavilions closed on the last day of the preview, some for a few hours while others – including the standout work from Austria – remained closed all day.

The strike was organised by the Art Not Genocide Alliance (Anga), which at one point said that more than 20 pavilions would shutter in order to support their calls for Israel to be barred from the event because of its war in Gaza.

Contact tracing could be key in halting the spread of hantavirus. Here's how it works

More than two dozen passengers left the cruise ship before the outbreak was identified. The race is on to connect with them to monitor their health — and the health of those they've interacted with.

Employers added 115,000 jobs in April, blowing past forecasts

Hiring once again exceeded forecasts, with employers adding far more than the projected gains of 65,000.

Canadian high school where deadly mass shooting occurred to be torn down

Tumbler Ridge secondary school was site of February mass shooting in which nine were killed and dozens injured

The school that was the site of one of Canada’s deadliest mass shootings will be torn down, officials have announced.

The decision to demolish the Tumbler Ridge secondary school came after meetings between the school board and survivors, family and community members, said the British Columbia premier, David Eby.

Virginia Supreme Court tosses out congressional map that favored Democrats

The congressional redistricting referendum was passed by Virginia voters last month and would have given Democrats a more favorable map.

‘I should have kicked him even harder. He deserved it’: Eric Cantona comes out fighting

A new documentary at Cannes film festival looks at the French footballer’s five turbulent and triumphant seasons in Manchester – and the love story between him and manager Alex Ferguson

It was 30 years ago this weekend that Eric Cantona struck an audacious volley from the edge of the penalty area to win the 1996 FA Cup final. For his team, Manchester United, it meant triumph over their fiercest rivals Liverpool and an unprecedented second league and cup double. But for Cantona himself, it capped one of the most remarkable comeback stories in the history of the Premier League – one that has now been turned into a feature film set to take Cannes by storm.

Cantona is directed by duo David Tryhorn and Ben Nicholas, the only British directors to be part of the prestigious film festival’s official selection this year. With cinematic flair, it paints a portrait of one of football’s most singular personalities through the lens of his five turbulent and triumphant seasons in Manchester. We are treated to his sublime goals and trademark philosophical quotes, as well as flashbacks to his tempestuous early career in France, in which he berated the national team manager as “incompetent”, faced suspension from his club Marseille and even quit the sport altogether for a time.

British sprinter CJ Ujah among 10 suspects charged over alleged cryptocurrency fraud

• World relay gold medallist bailed until 28 May court hearing

• Police alleged suspects part of an organised crime group

The British sprinter CJ Ujah, who won 4x100m relay gold at the 2017 world championships, is one of 10 suspects charged with conspiracy to defraud as part of a police investigation into cryptocurrency fraud.

It is alleged that the suspects were part of an organised crime group linked to a scam involving phone calls to multiple victims, from people purporting to be police officers and cryptocurrency companies.

As federal government pulls back, Colorado charts independent course with vaccines

As state leaders change laws to make vaccines more accessible, a coalition of doctors, public health advocates and everyday Coloradans is trying to start a public conversation about their importance.

Akamai stock soars 20% on earnings, $1.8 billion AI infrastructure deal

Cybersecurity and cloud computing firm Akamai reported first-quarter earnings on Thursday and saw its cloud infrastructure business grow 40% year-on-year.

Are Katseye transforming K-pop or making ‘skibidi toilet music’? Either way, fans will tearfully wait hours for a glimpse

Katseye blends US sensibilities with the hard-hitting choreography, branding and relentless perfectionism of Korean pop music – and ‘Eyekons’ can’t get enough

Ten-year-old Luna and 12-year-old Asha were among the first Eyekons – the noun for Katseye fans, à la Swifties and Beliebers – to arrive at Sydney’s Luna Park on Wednesday after their parents drove two hours from Wollongong.

While they hadn’t won tickets to the girl group’s first Australian appearance – a Q&A for fans at the park’s Big Top on Wednesday night – they came anyway, hoping to catch a glimpse of their favourite artists.

Is ‘tax the rich’ really hate speech? Won’t someone think of the billionaires? | Fiona Katauskas

The top 1% have it hard, too

• See more of Fiona Katauskas’s cartoons here

AI-powered surveillance company Palantir created a chore coat. Great, now I have no choice but to burn mine | Van Badham

The gentle French garment is now as cursed as the infamous megacorp, which has accumulated $80m in government contracts in Australia alone

It’s taken me years to find a chore coat with a cut that flatters my big tits but, now that I finally own one, I want to incinerate it.

Such is the power of brand contamination; infamous data surveillance megacorp Palantir, has decided to bang a logo on a chore coat to sell as corporate merch.

What does a woman swimming in urine tell us about the state of the world? Lots! – Venice Biennale review

The theme of earth’s biggest art extravaganza – spiritual rest – felt wildly wrong for our crisis-hit planet. Thank goodness for the pavilions, from fake babies to hi-tech sperm banks to a chocolate Russell Crowe

It was almost over before it even started. This year’s Venice Biennale has been tearing itself apart for months: countries not showing up, artists getting fired, exhibitions being cancelled, funding getting pulled. There were petitions and protests months before a painting was on a wall. The jury quit in the days leading up to the opening, then Iran quit, then the European Commission quit. There were protests against Israel and Russia during the preview, artists went on strike and artworks were replaced with installations of Palestinian flags.

The whole thing was a massive mess of conflicting politics, personal tragedy and unresolvable ideological differences from the very beginning. And all this without even mentioning that the curator, Koyo Kouoh, died last year and wasn’t able to see her artistic vision through to completion. In a sense, the 2026 Venice Biennale never stood a chance.

Football Daily | Real Madrid and some truly toxic vibes. Next up … El Clásico

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This feels like a good day to distract ourselves from [gestures in general direction of outside world] … so let’s check in on the latest events at Real Madrid. Have they finally found dressing-room harmony? Ah. Eek. Oh boy. Two statements from the club on Thursday revealed an “incident in the first-team training session” involving midfielders Federico Valverde and Aurélien Tchouaméni, with the former suffering “head trauma”. It’s now emerged that Valverde needed stitches after a second altercation in as many days with his teammate. After a full and frank exchange of views in Wednesday’s training session at Valdebebas, Valverde then accused Tchouaméni of leaking news of that exchange, resulting in an unseemly tussle where the Uruguayan fell and hit his head on a table. We can only imagine that poor Álvaro Arbeloa, who had just popped out for morale-boosting bocadillos, walked back in to find everything on fire, like Donald Glover in that Community episode.

If Arsenal fans find that they are getting ripped off by hotels in Budapest for the Bigger Cup final, they might try booking hotels in Vienna near the main train station. Vienna-Budapest is less than three hours by train; a pleasant trip along the Danube. Trains run every hour, cost about €53 one way, and the fastest train makes the trip in 2hr 20min. The hotel prices in Vienna should be back down to normal … the Eurovision Song Contest will be over on 16 May. Bratislava might also be a better place to stay and the beer is cheaper” – Eric Ries (“not a travel agent, nor a worker for the Austrian National Railway”).

On a similar vein to Declan Rice’s misquote (yesterday’s Football Daily letters), I remember sometime ago when Manchester United were having problems, Rio Ferdinand was being interviewed about how the players should react. He replied that ‘someone had to assume the mantelpiece’” – Peter Arnold.

This is an extract from our daily football email … Football Daily. To get the full version, just visit this page and follow the instructions.

Greenlandic woman wins case against Danish authorities who removed her two-hour-old child

Keira Alexandra Kronvold’s daughter was taken from her after she was subjected to parental competence psychometric tests

A Greenlandic woman whose newborn baby was forcibly removed by Danish authorities as a result of controversial parenting competency tests has won a landmark case in the high court ruling that their actions were illegal.

Keira Alexandra Kronvold’s daughter Zammi was taken away from her when she was two hours old and placed in foster care in November 2024 after Kronvold was subjected to so-called FKU (parental competence) psychometric tests. At the time she was told that the test was to see if she was “civilised enough”.

Sexual harassment more than twice as prevalent at England’s top universities, analysis finds

Harassment reported by 35% of students at ‘high tariff’ institutions compared with 17% at those with lowest entry grades

Students at England’s leading universities were more than twice as likely to experience sexual harassment than those at “lower tariff” institutions, according to analysis.

Data from a national survey of undergraduates shows that 35% of students at “high tariff” universities – those requiring the highest A-level grades for entry – reported experiencing sexual harassment, compared with just over 17% of those at universities requiring the lowest grades for entry and 26% of those at “medium tariff” institutions.

Court rejects Virginia redistricting in a blow to Democrats' counter to Trump, GOP

Virginia voters approved redistricting that could help Democrats pick up four House seats. Democrats said it was to counter the gains that Trump and the GOP have picked up in Republican-led states.

Rooted in nature, 'Silent Friend' will change the way you see the trees

A new art-house drama tells three stories that span the century — and connect to one tree. Silent Friend will open your eyes to the beauty of the natural world.

Exclusive discounts from CBS Mornings Deals

On this edition of CBS Mornings Deals, we show you items that might just become essentials in your everyday life. Visit cbsdeals.com to take advantage of these exclusive deals today. CBS earns commissions on purchases made through cbsdeals.com.

Colbert on McDonald’s supply chain concerns: ‘Perhaps this will finally show Trump the true cost of war’

Late-night hosts discussed Marco Rubio’s meeting with the pope, Trump bragging about his mental acuity and the ongoing ‘skirmish’ in Iran

Late-night hosts covered the ongoing war in Iran and how the Trump administration is refusing to focus on rising gas prices back in the US.

IREN inks AI infrastructure deal with Nvidia

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

White House calls Mark Hamill ‘sick’ for posting AI image of Trump in a grave

Star Wars actor later deleted post and apologized, saying president should live ‘long enough to be held accountable’

• US politics live – latest updates

The White House has branded Star Wars actor Mark Hamill “a sick individual” after an AI-generated image showing Donald Trump in a shallow grave, with the words “If Only” as an overlay was posted to one of star’s social media accounts.

Hamill, who played the lead character of Luke Skywalker in six movies of the iconic science fiction franchise and is a longtime critic of the US president, apologized and removed the post from his Bluesky account on Thursday.

Product overload! Has your skincare routine gone too far?

Beauty products have never been more advanced. But as people layer them up, experts have seen a rise in perioral dermatitis. What is the too-much-skincare rash, and what can you do about it?

It often starts innocuously: a small cluster of spots around the mouth, easily dismissed as a hormonal breakout or a reaction to something you have eaten. But this is how perioral dermatitis shows up – quietly, persistently and seemingly more frequently.

“It’s quickly become one of the most common inflammatory conditions I treat,” says Dr Anjali Mahto, a consultant dermatologist and founder of the Self London clinic. Reddit threads on the subject run to thousands of posts, TikTok is awash with people documenting flare-ups, and actor Amanda Seyfried has spoken publicly about dealing with it. A recent report in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology confirmed the condition is on the rise. Meanwhile, the global market for perioral dermatitis treatments is growing.

MIA review – the creator of Ozark’s new drama is as subtle as being mauled by a 12ft alligator

This Florida-set revenge thriller swings between being boring and ludicrous. It’s riddled with awkward dialogue and convenient plotting

Miami, Florida is the US at its extreme. Ostentatious wealth is everywhere, some legal, some very illegal, most of it in a grey area between the two. All of it is propped up by the hard work and cherished dreams of immigrants, people whose fight for a better life is getting harder – those few who make it to the top having to decide if, now they are no longer being exploited, they are willing to exploit others.

All that provides the serious subtext for MIA, a new drama created by Bill Dubuque (Ozark). But any thoughtful treatment of the immigrant experience it might have to offer is overwhelmed by the sheer silliness of the main story, a revenge thriller starring Shannon Gisela as Etta Tiger Jonze, a woman in her early 20s whose entire family is slaughtered by a drug cartel. Raging with grief and with nothing to lose, Etta restarts from zero, lying low in Miami’s Haitian community while plotting to kill precisely 12 gangsters: the bad guys she witnessed murdering her loved ones.

Local leaders push to remove sheriff leading investigation into Nancy Guthrie disappearance

Officials say local leaders in Arizona are pushing to remove Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos, who is leading the investigation into the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie, after accusing him of lying about his past record. The mother of "Today" show co-host Savannah Guthrie has been missing for more than three months.

Turning the page on Orbán’s rule: Magyar to be sworn in as Hungary PM

New leader urges Hungarians to help him end illiberalism as he faces calls to investigate years of corruption

Inside Hungary’s dazzling neo-Gothic parliament, the scenes will be solemn on Saturday as the new leader, Péter Magyar, is sworn in. Outside is where the party is expected to unfold, as people pour in from across the country to mark a pivotal moment: the formal end of Viktor Orbán’s 16 years in power.

It comes weeks after Magyar and his opposition Tisza party won a landslide victory in a result that rattled the global far right, reset Hungary’s long-strained relationship with the EU and set off all-night celebrations along the banks of the Danube River.

Sports quiz of the week: Champions League, Wu Yize, Giro and F1 winners

Have you been following the big stories in football, snooker, cycling, tennis, rugby and Formula One?

Deputy who killed Black man at grandma's home convicted of homicide

Trial jurors said they couldn't agree on the more serious charge of murder, prompting the judge to declare a mistrial on that count.

Charli xcx: Rock Music review – is she really pivoting from pop? Don’t be so sure …

(Atlantic)
The lyrics may argue the dancefloor is dead, but this funny, wilfully plasticky new single isn’t the total about-turn from Brat that fans expected

Last month, Charli xcx began the media campaign for her seventh studio album by giving an interview to Vogue magazine. The ensuing feature caused an impressive degree of online consternation, not because the 33-year-old star had said anything particularly controversial, but because she had suggested that the follow-up to 2024’s Brat would sound markedly different to its predecessor. “If I’d made another album that felt more dance-leaning, it would have felt really hard, really sad,” she said, not unreasonably declining to chase Brat’s vast success by attempting to replicate it. (Although, in fairness, you could have probably worked that out from House, the noisy, experimental collaboration with John Cale she released at the end of last year as the first single from her soundtrack to Wuthering Heights.)

She also played the interviewer a track that contained both “heavily processed guitars” and the lyrics “I think the dancefloor is dead, so now we’re making rock music”: Vogue duly ran with the idea, trumpeting Charli xcx’s “rock reinvention” in both the headline and on its cover and other news outlets picked up on the story – “CHARLI XCX CONFIRMS ROCK ALBUM”. What one journalist tactfully called “heated discourse online from some fans and artists within the music industry” followed, eventually prompting the singer to respond, posting “a video of me making a song called Rock Music that is not actually rock music which is funny because I never said I was making a rock album”.

Steve Hilton: British strategist becomes unlikely frontrunner for California governor

Former David Cameron adviser says a vote for him will make California ‘Califordable’ – not everyone is convinced

He “knows how to wind people up like Trump”, according to friends, and made his name in the UK with zany policy ideas including making the country sunnier using state-owned cloud busters.

Now the controversial strategist Steve Hilton, named the “pint-sized Rasputin” of Conservative politics, has become an unlikely frontrunner in the primary race for California governor.

‘She made Mondays something to look forward to’: readers pay tribute to Carol Rumens, Guardian’s Poem of the week columnist

Rumens, whose column ran for nearly 20 years and developed a loyal readership, died this week aged 81

Carol was an excellent commentator on poetry, shrewd and deep-thinking but able to express her thoughts in plain English rather than academic jargon. Her taste in poems was eclectic and very original; one didn’t always share it, but it was never predictable or dull. Sheenagh Pugh, Shetland

Telling the truth about Iran is more dangerous than ever

After months of protest, crackdown and war, on-the-ground reporting is more impossible than it has ever been. These challenges shape every aspect of how we report on what is happening in the country

• Support independent journalism today

Iran is among the world’s most repressive countries for press freedom. But in recent months, I have seen first-hand how the work of telling the truth has grown more fragile, more improvised, and more dangerous than ever.

We have been cut off from our sources. After the authorities imposed a nationwide communications blackout, the already fragile infrastructure of reporting has all but collapsed. Even when we can make contact, we are careful; a phone search at a checkpoint could put them in danger. We cannot cross-check events through local coverage or rely on familiar verification channels. Instead, we wait for the rare, precious moments when a reliable contact inside Iran manages to get online, navigating VPNs or risking Starlink, which the authorities have criminalised.

The Guardian is committed to helping journalists inside repressive regimes across the world to share their stories. As part of our annual support campaign promoting the defence of the free press please consider backing our work today – or consider backing another independent outlet whose work you value. We’re hoping to get 60,000 new supporters, or acts of support by 21 May.

Nigel Farage dodges questions on £5m gift from crypto billionaire

Reform leader irritated when asked about money from Christopher Harborne on day of party’s election gains

• Election 2026 live: latest news updates

Nigel Farage has repeatedly refused to answer questions about a personal gift of £5m he received from the billionaire Christopher Harborne, as the Reform UK leader sought on Friday to focus attention on the party’s election gains.

Farage was clearly irritated when asked on a number of occasions on Friday about the money, which the Guardian revealed he had received shortly before announcing he would stand in the 2024 general election and which was not declared.

Here's how AI can help with retirement planning, and where it struggles

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.

Star Wars has to deliver a proper movie with The Mandalorian and Grogu – otherwise the franchise is dead

The long-suffering saga has been kept alive this decade by TV alone – but even that will perish if the new movie fails to extend its universe

Star Wars has always been big on prophecy. Yoda peers into the future like Nostradamus with messed-up syntax, the Emperor cackles that everything is proceeding exactly as he has foreseen, Darth Vader breathes doom through the front grille of his shiny death helmet. And yet not even the most omniscient of Jedi could have predicted that the franchise responsible for practically inventing the modern Hollywood blockbuster would end up as a TV-centric operation with only occasional forays on to the big screen. Which is why it comes as a genuine shock to realise that, ahead of the release of new movie The Mandalorian and Grogu later this month, it has been more than six years since Star Wars last hit the multiplex.

Then again, perhaps the real humdinger is that it hasn’t been longer. The most recent Disney Star Wars film, JJ Abrams’ The Rise of Skywalker, did not so much conclude the long-running space saga as destroy several decades of perfectly serviceable mythology and ruin all sense of congruence with previous films. It was frantic, weirdly apologetic (about previous instalment The Last Jedi) and overstuffed with dodgy fan service. It was essentially a $590m act of narrative panic.

Elections, a big diamond and BTS fans: photos of the day – Friday

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

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.

How dangerous is Anthropic’s Mythos AI? | Bruce Schneier

The system’s power is comparable to others – but it still has frightening implications for the future of hacking

Last month, Anthropic made a remarkable announcement about its new model, Claude Mythos Preview: it was so good at finding security vulnerabilities in software that the company would not release it to the general public. Instead, it would only be available to a select group of companies to scan and fix their own software.

The announcement requires context – but it contained an essential truth.

Americans hail Pope Leo XIV as ‘breath of fresh air’ one year in, as Trump clashes linger

One year on the job, the first US pope wins support for his progressive views and his defiance of Donald Trump

As Pope Leo XIV concludes his first year as the first American pope on Friday, Americans shared with the Guardian how they feel about the 70-year-old pontiff who has increasingly found himself at odds with Donald Trump.

Several described his papacy as a “breath of fresh air” compared with earlier, more conservative eras of church leadership.

Bournemouth drop Álex Jiménez amid investigation into alleged messages to 15-year-old

• Player stood down from Saturday’s game at Fulham

• Club ‘aware of posts circulating on social media’

Bournemouth have confirmed Álex Jiménez has been omitted from their squad for Saturday’s game at Fulham after they opened an investigation relating to social media posts.

It follows alleged exchanges on social media between Jiménez and an individual who appears to state that they are a 15-year-old girl.

It’s not just Big Oil. Wind giants welcome profit beats as Iran war spurs energy pivot

Norway's Equinor told CNBC that the company expects the Iran war to deliver a boost to its transition industries.

Principal who tackled gunman: "God's hand was on all of us"

Kirk Moore, the Oklahoma principal who tackled a gunman​, sits down with CBS News for a network exclusive interview airing Monday on "CBS Mornings."

Heroic principal says tackling gunman was "just instinct": "God's hand was on all of us"

Kirk Moore, the principal at Pauls Valley High School in Oklahoma, speaks to Matt Gutman about tackling a gunman who entered the school. Moore said his response was "just instinct."

Tell us: has your flight been cancelled?

How has this affected you? Have you been able to make alternative plans?

People could see their travel plans upended as airlines cancel or consolidate flights to conserve jet fuel as the war in the Middle East disrupts supplies.

Airlines are reviewing their timetables to see which flights can be cancelled in advance and cause the least delays.

Paul Simon review – at 84, back on stage after hearing loss, his resolute artistry is inspiring

M&S Bank Arena, Liverpool
What Simon has lost in vocal power he has added in intimacy and authority – and this hushed performance makes for an arena concert like no other

In 2018, Paul Simon’s triumphant Homeward Bound: The Farewell Tour was intended as his goodbye to decades of full-scale touring. However, even chronic hearing loss hasn’t dimmed his desire to perform again. Here, assisted by partial recovery, specialised sound monitoring and sheer power of will, A Quiet Celebration is different from anything he – or perhaps anybody – has done before, certainly in arenas. Requiring silence and understanding, it’s a hushed and introspective reinvention rather than a euphoric victory lap. Drums are mostly stroked with brushes. The 84-year-old singer-songwriting legend’s voice has lost power and range, but frailty and vulnerability have brought intimacy and authority. Smiling as he addresses a cheering Merseyside audience for likely the last time, he calls it a “humbling experience”.

The evening begins with a complete performance of Seven Psalms, the 2023 song cycle which came to him in dreams. It’s a series of quietly haunting musings on life, love, God and death, laden with calm insights and occasional truth bombs, such as Trail of Volcanoes’ comment on the refugee crisis: “It seems to me we’re all walking down the same road, to wherever it ends.”

U.S. intercepts Iranian attacks on 3 ships. And, what to know about hantavirus

The U.S. says it intercepted Iranian attacks yesterday targeting three Navy ships. And, what to know about the hantavirus outbreak that started on a cruise ship.

Apparent bear attack kills missing hiker in Montana's Glacier National Park

The body of a missing hiker killed in an apparent bear attack has been found in Glacier National Park in Montana, park officials say.

Digested week: It’s Met Gala in New York – and I’m thinking about who didn’t attend | Emma Brockes

Prominent holdouts of this year’s ball sponsored by Jeff Bezos included Zohran Mamdani, Zendaya and Taraji P Henson

It’s the Met Gala in New York on Monday and as photos stream out from the red carpet, the people I find myself thinking about most are three prominent holdouts. The annual ball, which raises money for the Costume Institute at the Metropolitan Museum, has always summoned a strong turnout from the have-your-cake-and-eat-it community, notably Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez a few years ago in her “tax-the-rich” dress. This year, that role was assumed by the actor Sarah Paulson, who wore a dollar bill covering her eyes in apparent reference to the “blindness” of the 1%, a protest she undertook while nobly taking one for the team by refusing to sit out the $100,000-a-head event.

Brentford’s Michael Kayode: ‘I don’t play just because I have a long throw – you have to watch me’

Right-back has unique skill but there is more to his game as he targets European football and an Italy call-up

There is only one place to start with Brentford’s Michael Kayode: his unique baby gender reveal at an empty Gtech Community Stadium in February. The 21-year-old walked towards the West Stand, the frame of the goal covered in balloons, and after wiping the ball with a towel, it was time for his trademark long throw, though on this occasion only from the edge of the D. After the ball rippled the net, pink smoke confirmed his partner, Eleonora, is expecting a girl.

Given Kayode launched the ball 65.4 metres last September – further than any other player in the Premier League since Opta began recording such data in 2019-20 – it is hard not to think he was underselling himself. “I didn’t want to miss,” he says, breaking into laughter, “so I just kept it easy.” Family, friends, a videographer and photographer, plus the couple’s pomeranian, Kiri, were the only ones present. “It was a really special moment and celebrating like this was unbelievable … I just have to say thanks to Brentford for giving me use of the stadium.”

The best recent science fiction, fantasy and horror – review roundup

The Republic of Memory by Mahmud El Sayed; The Rainshadow Orphans by Naomi Ishiguro; No Ghosts by Max Lury; Palaces of the Crow by Ray Nayler; Moon Over Brendle by Jeff Noon

The Republic of Memory by Mahmud El Sayed (Gollancz, £22)
On a gigantic spaceship halfway through its 400-year voyage to a new world, hundreds of Earth colonists are kept in frozen stasis by the ever-increasing maintenance crew. Not all the crew are happy with the way their lives are harshly controlled by the Administration, and peaceful protests have inspired whispers of revolution. The multicultural city-ship has two official languages: Inglez and Arabek. Iskander Ezz is a translator between Crew and Administration, aware that “when you speak a different language, you become another person”. Damietta, his younger cousin, finds the unofficial Nupol better for communicating with her fellow protesters. Nupol, an argot made up of many “dead Earth” languages, is used throughout the book by several viewpoint characters, adding a distinctive flavour to a speculative fiction its author calls Arabfuturism. Partly inspired by the historic Arab spring, this is a thoughtful, exciting space opera.

The Rainshadow Orphans by Naomi Ishiguro (Solstice, £20)
The first volume of a trilogy inspired by Japanese pop culture is set in bustling, crowded Rainshadow City, where hi-tech wealth and a corrupt emperor exist alongside magic, poverty and criminality. Toshiko, Jun and Mei are the Kawakamis, haphazardly seeking revenge on the Lucky Crow gang for the murder of their adoptive Aunt. When Toshiko almost accidentally steals a precious dragon pearl from a powerful gangster, they’re plunged into a fast-moving adventure involving a conspiracy to deport all the city’s illegal immigrants to certain death, and replace low-paid workers with attractive female robots. Various plot strands see characters discovering magical powers, a mother dragon desperate to save her baby’s life, and a strangely helpful cat. Trope-heavy, entertaining fun, with a cartoonish vibe.

‘This is not democracy’: voting rights activists shocked by speed of US states moving to stifle Black voters

Alabama, Mississippi, Tennessee and other southern states stun residents with all-out charge to redraw congressional maps to favor white voters after supreme court ruling

The reaction speed of southern states to the US supreme court’s decision last week in Louisiana v Callais has been breathtaking for voting rights activists.

One week after Callais, Louisiana’s governor has ordered the state’s ongoing congressional election to be set aside while state lawmakers redraw maps to eliminate a Democratic-majority – that is, a Black-majority – seat covering Baton Rouge.

Future of UK lies in the EU after Brexit ‘failure’, say European Greens

Exclusive: Co-chair Vula Tsetsi says it is time to trigger debate, as statement is agreed at annual leadership meeting in Brussels

The European Green party has urged the UK to consider rejoining the EU and draw a line under the “political and economic failure” of Brexit.

A text declaring that “the United Kingdom’s future lies in the European Union” was adopted by a large majority of European green parties at the movement’s annual leadership meeting on Friday, the day before Europe Day.

The U.S. fires on 2 Iranian tankers trying to evade its blockade in Gulf of Oman

The U.S. military said its forces had fired upon and disabled two more Iranian tankers that were trying to breach an American blockade of Iran's ports, in the latest blows to a shaky ceasefire.

From cramped coach house to family home – how clever design transformed this tiny space

Bold interior choices allowed these first-time buyers to utilise every square inch of this 19th-century building to create something special

Eleanor and Dominic Charles’s wishlist was typical of most city dwellers looking to get a foot on the property ladder: a bit of outdoor space, ideally a house rather than a flat, and somewhere with character. But they ended up being bolder than most first-timers, taking a punt on a run-down, pint-sized 19th-century coach house in Camberwell, south London.

“We’d viewed other properties, but often they’d been flipped and had uninspiring interiors we’d want to rip out, which just felt wasteful,” says Eleanor.

Military drills on the edge: U.S. and allies test capabilities near Asia's flash points

From drone boats to long-range missiles, the U.S. and its allies tested new military tactics in the Philippines, sharpening deterrence as tensions with China intensify.

Three hikers dead after Indonesia’s Mount Dukono volcano erupts

Two Singaporeans and a local person were in no-go zone when they were killed, say officials

Three hikers – two Singaporeans and an Indonesian – have died in an eruption of Indonesia’s Mount Dukono volcano, where they found themselves in a no-go zone, officials said.

The eruption, on Halmahera island, sent an ash cloud about 6 miles (10km) into the air, with no towns or villages near enough to face any immediate threat.

‘The worst time for wheat’: US farmers face losses to extreme heat and drought

Temperature swings have left crops across the Plains in terrible conditions, with some farmers opting not to harvest

Merrill Nielsen’s wheat crop looked healthy after he planted it in the fall on his 2,500-acre farm in north-central Kansas, about 50 miles west of Salina, the plants benefiting from higher-than-normal November rainfall.

But an abnormally warm and dry winter, followed by extreme temperature variability, stressed the developing wheat. In the winter-to-spring transition, temperatures fluctuated from 70 to 80F on some days and lows in the teens or low 20s on other days.

When women choose non-monogamy: ‘It’s an opportunity for more integration’

Though open marriage is often imagined as something men want, women also choose this relationship structure – with all its rewards and challenges

It’s late afternoon, and Lucy texts her husband’s girlfriend. The sound of cartoons plays somewhere in the living room, and she absentmindedly wipes a smear of jam off the countertop.

A few minutes earlier, Lucy’s phone buzzes with a school email: a parent-teacher event for Thursday evening. She’s been attending these events alone, but pauses this time. She wants her husband, Oliver, there.

Prices are up, but Mother's Day still means brunch

It's the biggest day for America's restaurants, and one of the biggest for flower sales. Despite anxieties over rising gas prices, people are ready to splurge to celebrate.

Spain readies for evacuations as a hantavirus-hit cruise ship heads for Canary Islands

Spanish authorities are preparing to receive more than 140 passengers and crew members on board a hantavirus-stricken cruise ship headed for the Canary Islands.

Inequality causing 100,000 extra deaths a year from heat and cold in Europe

Findings come after third-hottest April on record globally and amid fears of more brutal European summer weather

Economic inequality adds more than 100,000 deaths to the vast toll from heat and cold in Europe each year, research has found.

Cutting levels of inequality to match that of Europe’s most equal region, Slovenia, as measured by the Gini index, would reduce temperature-related mortality by as much as 30%, equating to 109,866 people, the study found.

The seven games that will decide whether Arsenal or City win the title

Arsenal have the advantage in the Premier League title race but will they hold off Manchester City’s challenge?

By WhoScored

Seven games remain: three for Arsenal, four for Manchester City. Seven opportunities for more twists and turns in the title race. Just as City appeared to be building their trademark relentless charge at the end of the season, they self-destructed in the space of 13 minutes at Everton. Jérémy Doku’s extraordinary late equaliser has given them a lifeline, but that 3-3 draw has handed the initiative back to Arsenal. Five points separate the sides and the equation is now brutally simple: if Arsenal win their last three games they will be crowned champions for the first time in 22 years, whereas City must be flawless and hope their rivals stumble.

Premier League titles turn on moments: Sergio Agüero’s 94th-minute winner in 2012, Steven Gerrard’s slip in 2014, Vincent Kompany’s thunderbolt in 2019, or City’s final-day comeback in 2022. The question now is whether the 2025-26 season has already had its defining moment in that Everton game or whether, with seven games to play, this campaign is yet to deliver the scene for which it will be remembered.

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.

‘I told his family he was HIV positive’: Keith Haring’s best friend on life with the artist as unseen works go on show

For nearly four decades, the artist Kermit Oswald lived with some of the most intimate works Haring ever made. Now the pieces are going up for auction

The story of how Keith Haring came to paint a crib began on a quiet, ordinary afternoon in 1986. His best friend’s wife was pregnant, and the couple didn’t have the money to buy a new crib for their home in New York City’s Greenpoint neighborhood. “I called my parents to ask if my old crib was still in the attic,” says artist Kermit Oswald, Haring’s friend since childhood. “I got it and I painted it yellow, then Keith came over, we had a few beers and he painted the rest of it.”

Haring is famed as an enduring, globally recognized celebrant of Aids activism, nightlife and the New York Bohemian scene of the 1980s. But he honored his connection with his straight best friend even as he rubbed shoulders with Andy Warhol, Robert Mapplethorpe and Jean-Michel Basquiat.

‘A share in the delight’: the people investing in the UK’s first community-owned solar battery

Oxfordshire’s Ray Valley Solar already generates clean energy for 7,000 homes, and is now crowdfunding storage to marry daylight with evening demand

Tucked away among hedgerows on a large field between a motorway and the River Ray, one of the UK’s largest community-owned solar parks is hard to spot from the surrounding country lanes.

But the nearly 36,000 solar panels installed on the site are literally a shining example of what can be achieved when a renewable energy project is co-owned by local people.

‘Nurse, the joypad!’: the eight greatest medical video games

For anyone needing a break from binging The Pitt, you can always put in your own shifts as a hospital manager, surgeon, paramedic and of course as a demonic morgue assistant

Like the rest of the western world, our household is currently binging medical drama The Pitt, revelling in its visceral depiction of life in a modern emergency department. So far the series has yet to inspire a video game tie-in (though there has been an amusing parody), but fans wishing to try their hand at tense medical (mal)practice, should not despair. Here are eight of the best hospital games spanning more than 40 years of gruesome interactive surgery. Squirt some hand sanitiser and come this way.

‘A true pinch-me moment’: memories of David Attenborough as he turns 100

Stories of chance encounters at home and abroad and the influence of his programmes around the world

With David Attenborough celebrating his 100th birthday on Friday, we asked people to share their memories of him. Some recalled chance encounters, while others spoke of the abiding influence his programmes have had on them. Here are some of the responses.

Weather tracker: Colorado experiences rare spring snowstorm

State experiences largest May snowstorm in 23 years, and extreme rainfall hits Eastern Cape of South Africa

Colorado has experienced a late bout of winter weather this week as residents of Denver and the surrounding areas experienced their largest May snowstorm in 23 years. An outbreak of Arctic air brought freezing cold temperatures that allowed for rainfall to turn widely to snow on Tuesday afternoon, continuing into Wednesday for much of the centre and north of the state.

Denver was the hardest-hit metropolitan area with snow depths of 10-15cm (4-6in) across the city, and 15-20cm in some southern and western suburbs. Denver international airport recorded 15cm, causing hundreds of flight delays, and 35 cancellations.

Billion-dollar bets: Global investors chase Indian Premier League to ride booming cricket economy

India is the world’s fastest-growing consumer market, and with cricket commanding near-religious devotion, investors are rushing to own IPL franchises.

Trump threatens EU with ‘much higher’ tariffs if no trade deal signed by new deadline

President Donald Trump said he will give the European Union until July 4 to ratify its trade agreement with the U.S.

Remarkably Bright Creatures review – Sally Field bonds with octopus in gentle Netflix charmer

Shelby Van Pelt’s best-selling book is adapted into an easily digestible, sweet-natured afternoon watch

Every now and then, a strange forgotten chapter of life during Covid will interrupt my thoughts. Remember when we used to fake happy hour merriment on the Houseparty app? Or when Anne Hathaway and Chiwetel Ejiofor made an unwatchably awful film about stealing diamonds from Harrods during lockdown? Or how about when people developed an unhealthy obsession with a Netflix documentary about a man with an unhealthy obsession with an octopus?

The unavoidability of My Octopus Teacher led to everything from a creepy spike in people googling “did octopus teacher sex with octopus” (time-saver: he didn’t) to an unforgivably undeserved Oscar win for best documentary (Collective, you were robbed) and then, while not a direct on-record inspiration, it at least paved the way for the success of Shelby Van Pelt’s best-selling novel Remarkably Bright Creatures in 2022. The book, which hinges on the bond between an elderly cleaner and a grumpy octopus, gave those still yearning for more octopus teaching a gentle summer read with no weird questions needing to be asked and now, inevitably, the adaptation lands on Netflix to be filed in the growing “inspiring octopus movie” section.

Meeting ‘Madyar’: the Ukrainian drones boss raining on Putin’s parade

After Zelenskyy, Robert Brovdi is Moscow’s top assassination target owing to his long-range attacks deep within Russia

Vladimir Putin has told Russians that victory against Ukraine is inevitable. But on Saturday no tanks or missiles will rumble over the cobbles of Moscow’s Red Square. For the first time in almost 20 years the annual celebration of the allies’ victory over Nazi Germany will take place without military hardware. The reason: the Kremlin is afraid of a Ukrainian attack.

The man who has arguably done more to spook the Putin regime this weekend than anyone else is Robert Brovdi, the head of a Ukrainian military drone unit, Madyar’s Birds, named after his call sign. In recent months it has carried out a series of long-range strikes against targets deep within Russia, including ports, oil refineries and missile factories.

I made my husband ill with a few words – nobody is immune to the power of the nocebo effect | Helen Pilcher

My prank demonstrated how our minds can adversely affect our health, and scientists are increasingly showing that negative thoughts can produce very real symptoms

For his last birthday, I gave my husband a monthly beer box subscription. While he saw it as a generous and delicious present, it spawned a mischievous idea on my part. One evening, as I watched him drain the last bottle, I opened my email. “We’ve just had a message from the beer people,” I said. “They’re issuing a recall on the last batch.”

“What’s the problem?” he answered. “Some sort of contamination issue,” I replied. My husband’s face fell. “Are you OK? You look a bit peaky,” I said.

Helen Pilcher is a science writer and the author of This Book May Cause Side Effects

Week in wildlife: a chonky sea lion, amorous toads and an adorable gosling

This week’s best wildlife photographs from around the world

This Book May Cause Side Effects by Helen Pilcher review – can you think yourself sick?

Fearing the worst can lead to physical changes, according to this fascinating study of a strange medical phenomenon

In Roald Dahl’s 1980 masterpiece The Twits, Quentin Blake’s illustrations demonstrate how Mrs Twit’s horrible attitudes eventually ended up deforming her looks. “If a person has ugly thoughts,” wrote Dahl, “it begins to show on the face.”

In her latest book, science writer Helen Pilcher explores this very idea: that negative beliefs “can be physically transformative”. The nocebo effect, as this is known, comes from the Latin for “I will harm”, and strikes when a person’s negative expectations, whether subconscious or conscious, lead to illness.

From Rivals to Good Omens: The seven best shows to stream this week

David Tennant does double duties as he returns in Jilly Cooper’s bonkbuster, and stars alongside Michael Sheen in a third series of Neil Gaiman’s comedy

Wrestling With Trump: a fascinating look at how Trump’s political style is inspired by WWE wrestling

Comedian Munya Chawawa’s documentary is a compelling dive into the world of wrestling and its many links with the 45th and 47th US president

A small handful of psychological concepts transformed our understanding of the world, and each other. Firstly, Sigmund Freud’s discovery of the unconscious. Alongside that, Carl Jung’s hypothesis of the collective unconscious. Comedian Munya Chawawa’s fantastic documentary Wrestling With Trump (Channel 4, Tuesday, 10pm) offers a startling new idea: that the American president’s bullish political style has been cribbed entirely from WWE SmackDown. Let’s call it the theory of knocking everyone unconscious.

We meet the aide who advised Trump on how a crowd-rousing pantomime of good v evil could be politicised. We cringe at WrestleMania 23 footage, in which Trump appears, pushing promoter Vince McMahon and punching him in the head, the so-called Battle of the Billionaires. We’re reminded how many wrestlers, including the Undertaker and Kane, now stump for Trump; that Hulk Hogan ripped his shirt open at the Republican National Convention in 2024, shouting “Let Trump-a-mania rule again!” It’s all very funny, though of course it isn’t. Former wrestling executive Linda McMahon is currently the US secretary of education. Is that a punchline?

‘No reservations, no waiter, just great sea views, food and drink’: readers’ favourite beach bars in Europe

You share your favourite spots for sand, seafood and sundowners from the Kent coast to the Greek islands
• Tell us about your favourite railway trip in Europe – the best tip wins a £200 holiday voucher

Dungeness is a place of wild beauty, a stretch of coast that knows fierce winds. Artist and gardener Derek Jarman’s cottage roof blew off at least once and the wind regularly wreaked havoc with his planting. Stubborn plants survive on this vast shingle beach and just as stubborn is the Snack Shack, with its opening times dependent on the weather, as its website says. On fair weather days it’s an ideal place to have lunch as you explore the peninsula. If you’re in luck they will not have run out of lobster rolls among other freshly caught seafood delights. Paying homage to Jarman and eating outdoors here replenishes the soul.
Charlotte

I, robe-ot: the android monk working to reboot the faith of South Korea’s Buddhists

Jogyesa temple in South Korea initiated Gabi, a humanoid robot into its order this week, as it combats falling participation and interest

Amid rows of colourful lanterns strung across the courtyard of Jogyesa temple in Seoul, an unusual ceremony unfolded this week: monks held a Buddhist initiation for a humanoid robot draped in saffron robe.

They placed a string of 108 prayer beads around the robot’s neck and affixed a lantern festival sticker to its mechanical arm in place of the traditional yeonbi ritual, in which burning incense is lightly pressed against the skin.

Benjamina Ebuehi’s recipe for Mexican-style vanilla bean flan | The sweet spot

An unadulterated, wobbly, joyous flan made the way it should be

I started the year in one of my favourite places: Mexico City. I’ve since become one of those annoying people who finds a way to bring it up in nearly every conversation, so please indulge me just this once! Each time I’ve been to Mexico, I develop a new fixation, and this year I ate a considerable amount of flan. It’s seen as a bit of a retro dish here in the UK, and perhaps a little divisive, but I love it.