What we know about the Michigan synagogue attack

The attacker rammed a vehicle into the synagogue and was confronted and killed by security, Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard said.

White House mulls defunding civil rights election observer program

The federal observer program sends neutral observers to monitor election sites to ensure voters don't experience discrimination at the polls.

NASA targets Artemis II crewed moon mission for April 1 launch

A six-day launch window opens on April 1 from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The lunar orbital mission would be the first time humans have returned to the moon since Apollo 17 in 1972.

Nottingham Forest v Midtjylland: Europa League last 16, first leg – live

⚽ Europa League updates from the 8pm GMT kick-off
⚽ Live scores | Read Football Daily | And email Billy

4 min: Off the line! Murillo has to come to Forest’s rescue after Billing gets to the byline and crosses for Brumado. His header is well placed and eludes Sels but not Murillo, who hooks it clear.

2 min: Forest have lined up with a back three with Callum Hudson-Odoi at left wing-back and Ola Aina on the right. Omari Hutchinson is in a more central role.

Senate again fails to pass homeland security funding as department shutdown nears one month – live

Democratic senator John Fetterman broke with his party in support of reopening the DHS; this is the fourth failed Senate

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US defense officials told senators on the armed services committee that the cost of the war on Iran totaled more than $11.3bn in the first six days alone, according to multiple reports.

The New York Times was first to break the news about the conflict’s price tag, citing three people familiar with the closed-door briefing on Tuesday.

Warren calls on State Department to provide more aid to Americans stuck in Middle East

The State Department said this week that 36,000 Americans had returned to the U.S. after the start of the war with Iran.

Eswatini says it received more ‘third country’ deportees as part of deal with Trump administration

Two deportees sent to Eswatini were from Somalia, one was from Sudan and one was from Tanzania

The government of Eswatini announced on Thursday it received four more “third country” deportees from the United States, as part of the Trump administration’s multimillion-dollar deal with the small African nation.

Now, a total of 19 deportees from the US have been sent to Eswatini when they hail from other countries, amid the Trump administration’s continued anti-immigrant crackdown and changes to immigration policy.

Old Dominion shooter was imprisoned for trying to support ISIS, sources say

One person was killed and two others were hurt in a shooting on the campus of Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia, police said.

Middle East crisis live: top Iranian nuclear scientists killed, Israel says, amid ‘extensive’ strikes on Tehran

Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu also calls new supreme leader a ‘puppet’ of Revolutionary Guards after Mojtaba Khamenei’s first remarks

• Middle East war creating ‘largest supply disruption in history of oil markets’

• How have you been affected by the latest Middle East events?

An Iranian source is denying the country will allow India-flagged tankers to pass through the vital strait of Hormuz, Reuters is reporting.

The news agency a little earlier quoted an Indian source as saying Iran would in fact allow such tankers to pass through the strait, a key artery for global oil trade.

Khadija Shaw close to extending Manchester City contract despite Chelsea interest

• Striker’s deal runs out in less than four months

• Reiten leaves Chelsea after six years to join Gotham FC

The Women’s Super League’s leading scorer, Khadija Shaw, is close to agreeing a new contract at Manchester City, despite interest from Chelsea, the Guardian understands.

Talks between City and the Jamaica striker are understood to have progressed positively in recent weeks and, although the fine details of an extension are being worked on and nothing has been signed, there is confidence that she will stay with the league leaders.

Tommy Fleetwood relieved as family able to leave Dubai for UK amid conflict

• World No 3 talks about situation at Players Championship

• ‘When you know they’re fine, that’s kind of a relief’

Tommy Fleetwood has expressed relief after his family were able to return to England from Dubai despite the conflict in the Middle East. Fleetwood, the world No 3, has been competing in Florida as his wife, son and two stepsons sought to leave their home of four years. They landed back in the UK on Wednesday evening.

Fleetwood spoke about the situation after a fine 69 to open the Players Championship. While typically understanding of a bigger picture, it would only be natural for Fleetwood to have been distracted during recent tournaments. “Of course,” said Fleetwood when asked if he now felt reassured. “It is difficult not being able to travel. That has obviously been difficult. But when you know they’re fine, that’s kind of a relief.

Iran Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei has verified account on X, Elon Musk's platform

The newly created account was busy posting on Thursday, its first day being active on the X social media platform.

FBI closes 2020 election fraud inquiry demanded by NV's top federal prosecutor

The FBI found only 38 non-citizens may have voted in the 2020 presidential election in the inquiry ordered by Sigal Chattah, Nevada's top federal prosecutor.

Bosa/Wu: Private equity is about to eat its own software portfolio

Private equity built the SaaS installed base. It may also be the one that rips it out.

Markets' hopes for Fed interest rate cuts are rapidly fading away

As both energy prices and inflation fears pop higher, expectations for cuts are sliding lower.

Millions of Americans skip meals, stretch medication to afford health care

Even people with six-figure incomes are making financial sacrifices to pay for medical care, a new study finds.

Flights are already getting more expensive after a jet fuel spike. When should you book?

Some airlines are already raising fares after a historic surge in jet-fuel costs.

Iran War: U.S. Navy will escort oil tankers through Strait of Hormuz when 'militarily possible,' Bessent tells Sky News

The Strait of Hormuz has been effectively closed to shipping because of the war against Iran by the U.S. and Israel.

Fear of Iranian mines in the Strait of Hormuz could further slow the flow of oil

Attacks by Iran have already nearly halted the flow of oil through the vital waterway as commercial ship crews fear being hit by missiles, drones or mines.

Massive emergency oil release fails to stem investor fears

Attacks on shipping traffic and energy infrastructure in the Persian Gulf temporarily pushed oil back above $100 a barrel, stoking investor fears.

Trump administration launches Section 301 trade probes into Mexico, China, EU, others

The Supreme Court, in a 6-3 ruling, said President Trump was not authorized by the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, IEEPA, to impose tariffs.

Suspect dead after ramming vehicle into Michigan synagogue, officials say

No serious casualties among those at Temple Israel, and explosives reportedly found in suspect’s vehicle

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A man who rammed his vehicle into a Michigan synagogue and drove through a hallway on Thursday is dead after he was confronted and shot at by security staff.

Multiple law enforcement sources responded to the incident at Temple Israel in West Bloomfield township, a prosperous suburb in Oakland county about 25 miles north-west of downtown Detroit.

EV maker Lucid reveals plans for robotaxi, positive free cash flow late this decade

The EV company is aiming to hit that target through market expansion into midsize vehicles, robotaxis and new counties, specifically in Europe.

What will it take for ships to brave the Strait of Hormuz again?

Energy prices won't ease up until the Strait of Hormuz is secure, experts say. Here's what it will take to get the oil flowing again.

English clubs have week to forget in Champions League – but is that a bad thing? | Barney Ronay

Of six teams in the last 16, only two – Arsenal and Liverpool – look more likely than not to get to the quarter-finals. But does it matter?

The coefficient is safe. The coefficient is yours. You’re going home with the coefficient. But perhaps not, on this evidence, with the microwave, the washing machine or the jet ski.

England’s soccer shame. Premier League in EURO MELTDOWN. Robot-ball crisis: how Arteta’s Arsenal destroyed all that is good and true, including the ploughman’s lunch and probably Woolworths. This kind of stuff has begun to do the rounds after this week’s Champions League last-16 matches.

Watkins keeps Aston Villa on Europa League trophy trail with first-leg winner at Lille

For an hour, it was threatening to be another of those fruitless days for Ollie Watkins. But then, Emi Buendía, of all people, soared high to win a header and Watkins then had the composure to send a header spinning beyond Berke Ozer, caught a few yards off his goal-line. Watkins’s dry spell was over, his first goal in eight matches and only second in 13 securing Aston Villa victory in Lille.

In the end, while his side are not yet anywhere near back to their convincing, conquering best, this was a thoroughly satisfying night for Unai Emery, a first win in five matches, a feeling reinforced by the second-half arrival of the Villa captain John McGinn after two months out injured.

Israeli military drops charges against soldiers accused of Gaza detainee abuse

Five soldiers were indicted over alleged violent abuse and rape of Palestinian man at detention centre in 2024

Israel’s top military lawyer has dropped all charges against five soldiers accused of the violent abuse and rape of a Palestinian detainee from Gaza.

The military advocate general, Itay Offir, said prosecutors lacked key evidence after the victim was sent back to Gaza, and that the conduct of senior officials had affected the chance of holding a fair trial.

Fed chair pick Kevin Warsh meets with more senators as Thom Tillis blockade continues

Sen. Tillis vows to vote against sending Kevin Warsh's nomination as Federal Reserve chair to the full Senate as a criminal probe of Jerome Powell is pending.

Clyburn, 85-year-old South Carolina Democrat, running for reelection

Democratic Rep. Jim Clyburn of South Carolina announced Thursday he will seek an 18th term in Congress.

CBS News Things That Matter: A Town Hall with Governor Wes Moore

Maryland Governor Wes Moore, a rising star in the Democratic Party, sits down with CBS News senior correspondent Norah O'Donnell to discuss issues impacting the nation, including the critical 2026 midterm elections and his vision for the future of the Democratic Party.

Woman kept in ‘Dickensian’ servitude for 25 years speaks out as abuser jailed

Amanda Wixon, 56, sentenced to 13 years for keeping victim imprisoned at home in Gloucestershire since 1990s

• ‘She didn’t want me to hug her’: carer of enslaved woman describes her recovery

A woman imprisoned and forced to work for a mother of 10 for more than a quarter of a century in “Dickensian” conditions has said nothing can give her back her lost years as her abuser was sentenced to 13 years.

The woman, who was held by Amanda Wixon in Tewkesbury, said: “For 25 years I lived in fear, control and abuse. I was treated as though my life, my freedom and my voice did not matter. The trauma and the nightmares are something I still carry with me every day.”

Pakistan’s Abrar Ahmed defies talk of ‘shadow ban’ with Sunrisers deal in Hundred

• Leg-spinner signed by Indian-owned team for £190,000

• James Coles is most expensive player sold on the day

Abrar Ahmed has become the first Pakistani player to be signed by one of the four Indian-owned Hundred teams, after he was bought by Sunrisers Leeds for £190,000 in the inaugural men’s player auction.

The signing was a badly needed relief for the England and Wales Cricket Board, which was recently forced to deny publicly reports that the four sides would operate a “shadow ban” on picking players from Pakistan. The Sunrisers are owned by the Sun media group, which runs the Indian Premier League franchise in Hyderabad and South Africa’s Sunrisers Eastern Cape. They had to fight hard for him after being drawn into a bidding war with the Trent Rockets.

Blistering early-season heatwave threatens California and other western states

Records could be smashed in southern California as experts warn weather set to be ‘exceptional – and not in a good way’

States across the US west are bracing for a brutal early-season heatwave threatening to cook several cities through the weekend and into next week. Forecasters warned temperatures will spike 20-30F above normal for several days.

Daily records could be shattered in southern California this week, the National Weather Service said, with a possibility that all-time records for March will be broken as well. Following the warmest winter on record across most of the region, the intense conditions are expected to eat into low snowpack levels, deepening drought concerns.

Ben Jennings on the Oscars – cartoon

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The Guardian view on the cost of Trump’s war on Iran: the world’s poor will pay most dearly | Editorial

The economic fallout of the US-Israeli assault and Tehran’s retaliation is spreading fast, and pushing the most vulnerable towards disaster

Soaring prices at the pump, the scrapping of mortgage deals, and the prospect of higher prices for everything from food to smartphones. The US-Israeli attack on Iran, and Tehran’s retaliation, has rocked the global economy. Consumers are already feeling the pain of the biggest energy supply shock in history, and Iran’s new supreme leader, Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, vowed on Thursday that the strait of Hormuz will remain closed, according to a statement attributed to him by state media. The corridor is the biggest chokepoint for the global energy system. The relief to oil prices brought by the International Energy Agency’s largest ever release of reserves had already proved shortlived: as the US and Israel intensified attacks on Iran, it escalated attacks on transport infrastructure across the Gulf.

But the impact is not evenly felt. In Asia, heavily reliant on the Middle East for crude oil and liquefied natural gas, Bangladesh closed all its universities and Pakistan some of its schools due to fuel shortages. While US coverage is dominated by the impact at home, others are paying a higher price. And it is the world’s poorest and most vulnerable who will be worst hit.

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 Mandelson papers reveal a prime minister who would rather not hear from dissenting voices | Gaby Hinsliff

Warnings were ignored and processes rushed because No 10 had already made up its mind to let Peter Mandelson sail through

The arrogance takes your breath away, even to the end. Sacked in disgrace for bringing shame upon those who trusted him, Peter Mandelson’s response, we now know, was to unsuccessfully demand half a million pounds of public money to go quietly, all while haughtily insisting upon his dignity as a servant of the crown. In other words, this week’s disclosures suggest Mandelson behaves in a tight corner pretty much exactly as bitter experience suggests he might. What they still don’t explain satisfactorily is why Downing Street, seemingly alone, failed to anticipate that.

To understand what went wrong, imagine the three-step process by which he became ambassador to Washington as a sandwich: two bland slices of officialdom, representing the Cabinet Office’s initial efforts at due diligence and a deeper vetting process at the end, glued together with political filling. Take away the middle, which is the political operation around the prime minister himself, and what’s left is dry bread falling apart in your hands.

Gaby Hinsliff is a Guardian columinst

Guardian Newsroom: Can Labour come back from the brink?
On Thursday 30 April, ahead of the May elections, join Gaby Hinsliff, Zoe Williams, Polly Toynbee and Rafael Behr as they discuss how much of a threat Labour faces from the Green party and Reform UK, and whether Keir Starmer can survive as leader of the Labour party
Book tickets here or at guardian.live

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

The Guardian view on a green wake-up call for Friedrich Merz: Europe’s political centre loses its way again | Editorial

The German chancellor and his Social Democrat coalition partners need to learn the right lessons, after an election reverse in Germany’s third-largest state

For most of the postwar period, the state of Baden-Württemberg was both a bastion of German conservatism and – as the home of Mercedes-Benz and Porsche – an economic powerhouse. But in volatile times, even regions that embodied political stability and industrial prowess now deliver the unexpected. A come-from-behind victory for the Greens last Sunday, in the first of a series of important regional elections this year, suggests that Friedrich Merz’s Christian Democrat-led national government is alienating voters in the same way as other centrist administrations in Europe. If Sir Keir Starmer has Gorton and Denton to anguish over, Mr Merz and his Social Democrat coalition partners now have Baden-Württemberg.

Caveats apply. The Greens already had an impressive power base in Germany’s third-largest state, where they have been the senior partner in coalition administrations for 15 years. In Cem Özdemir, their victorious candidate, they also fielded a charismatic and popular campaigner. Mr Özdemir’s personal achievement is in itself a cause for celebration. The son of immigrants who arrived in the country in the 1960s, he becomes Germany’s first state premier with Turkish roots.

KPop Demon Hunters sequel confirmed at Netflix: ‘This is only the beginning’

The streamer’s biggest film of all time, also nominated for two Oscars, is getting a follow-up

A sequel to record-breaking hit KPop Demon Hunters has been officially confirmed at Netflix.

The film will again be a collaboration between the streamer and Sony with Maggie Kang and Chris Appelhans, the writer-directors, returning.

Senate fails again to advance DHS funding as tempers flare over stalemate

The Senate failed for a fourth time to advance a funding bill for the Department of Homeland Security, with no deal in sight.

Suspect in attack at Michigan synagogue is dead, officials say

Security officers at Temple Israel had "engaged the threat" that apparently started with a vehicle ramming into the building, according to Oakland County Sheriff Mike Bouchard.

‘Wherefore art thou?’: France look to restore identity with outing to Romeo and Juliet

Fabien Galthié hopes ballet excursion helps side put Scotland loss behind them for Saturday’s Six Nations finale

A night at the opera may not be to every Frenchman’s taste these days, but for Fabien Galthié the outing will have been an integral part of his team’s Six Nations finale preparations.

Two evenings out from their clash against England, Les Bleus were set to leave their training camp to watch rehearsals for a performance of the ballet Romeo and Juliet at the Opéra Garnier in central Paris. “It’s important for us to take a step back,” the head coach explained. “We’re going to be meeting the lead dancers, watching them at work, speaking to them, and experiencing that legendary venue.”

Senate passes sweeping bipartisan housing bill, but House roadblocks remain

The Senate approved a package of bills aimed at lowering housing costs, the most sweeping housing legislation in decades and a rare point of bipartisan consensus in an election year, with the issue of affordability top of mind for many voters.

Putin’s ‘hidden hand’ lies behind Iran’s drone tactics, UK defence secretary says

Pilots reportedly adopting Russian tactics as statement in name of new Iranian supreme leader vows continued attacks on US bases

• Middle East crisis – live updates

Vladimir Putin’s “hidden hand” lies behind Iran’s military methods, the UK defence secretary has said, after a night in which drones struck a base used by western forces in Erbil, northern Iraq.

John Healey was speaking after British officers at the UK’s military headquarters in north-west London told him that drone pilots from Iran and Iranian proxies were increasingly adopting tactics “from the Russians”.

Parseword: Is Wordle creator’s new game too much of a ‘chin-scratcher’ to go viral?

Josh Wardle hopes his digital take on the cryptic crossword can be a gradual on-ramp crossing the cultural divide between Britain and the US

In 2021, Josh Wardle became a household name almost overnight. His digital game, Wordle, turned a simple guessing game into a global morning ritual: six guesses, one word, and a grid of coloured squares shared across social media feeds.

It became a cultural phenomenon; bought within months by the New York Times for a seven-figure sum.

Trump weighs Jones Act waiver amid rising fuel prices, White House says

Easing the century-old shipping law could help lower fuel prices as the Iran war pushes crude oil near $100 a barrel, experts say.

Gerry Adams was leader of IRA, ex-police officers tell high court

Two former members of Royal Ulster Constabulary testify at civil trial that Adams led proscribed organisation

Gerry Adams was the leader of the Irish Republican Army, two former police officers have told the high court.

The former Sinn Féin leader is being sued for symbolic “vindicatory” damages of £1 each by John Clark, Jonathan Ganesh and Barry Laycock, who allege he was culpable for three separate IRA bombings in which they were injured.

Rivian's crucial R2 EV launch to begin with $58,000 model in spring

Rivian will launch sales of its crucial R2 all-electric vehicle this spring with a roughly $58,000 special edition model, the company announced Thursday.

Trump tariffs: Martin Heinrich bill would give families tax rebate for higher import costs

The Supreme Court in a 6-3 ruling Feb. 20 ruled that President Donald Trumps IEEPA tariffs were illegal.

This tale of a Chicago school book ban was inspired by true events

Librarian Jarrett Dapier's graphic novel tells a fictionalized account of real-life events in 2013 that restricted access to Marjane Satrapi's memoir Persepolis in Chicago Public Schools.

TSA workers set to miss first paycheck of shutdown as Senate bickers over DHS funding

Democrats and Republicans remain at loggerheads over reopening the Department of Homeland Security.

Cheltenham jockeys in alleged racism row bid to bury hatchet but inquiry continues

• Pair shake hands but BHA will continue inquiry

• Mullins strongly critical of ground at meeting

Declan Queally and Nico de Boinville appeared to resolve their differences on Thursday after an angry and controversial exchange of words before the start of the first race on Wednesday.

Queally lodged a complaint with the stewards that he had received verbal abuse from De Boinville, some of which was of a racial nature, when he lined up against the running rail shortly before the field was due to set off for the Grade One contest.

British tourist among 20 charged in Dubai over videos of Iranian missile strikes

UAE cybercrime law means sharing images or footage of war can bring jail, prison time and deportation

A British man is among 20 people who have been charged in the United Arab Emirates under cybercrime laws in connection with filming and posting material related to Iranian attacks on the country.

The 60-year-old man, understood to be a tourist who was visiting Dubai, was charged under a law that prohibits sharing material that could disturb public security.

Middle East war creating ‘largest supply disruption in the history of oil markets’

Vast release of emergency crude reserves fails to quell mounting fears about supply crunch, rattling markets

• Middle East crisis – live updates

Oil markets are facing the “largest supply disruption in history” as the war in Iran continues to block tankers from shipping millions of barrels of crude each day, the world energy watchdog has warned.

The International Energy Agency (IEA) said the supply shock ignited by Iran’s effective blockade of the strait of Hormuz meant the world faced a deeper crisis than after the Yom Kippur war of 1973 and the 2022 outbreak of war in Ukraine.

Microsoft top Office executive Rajesh Jha retiring after more than 35 years

Rajesh Jha helped Microsoft bring to market an artificial intelligence assistant containing OpenAI models for its Office productivity customers.

Misty Copeland fires back at Timothée Chalamet ballet, opera comments

Ballerina Misty Copeland responded to controversial comments made by actor Timothée Chalamet when he appeared to dismiss the significance of ballet and opera, saying, "No one cares."

Morrissey cancels Valencia concert after being left in ‘catatonic state’ by city noise

After latest concert cancellation, singer also describes Valencia hotel as ‘indescribable hell’ that will require ‘one year to recover’ from

British singer Morrissey has cancelled a concert in Valencia after being left sleep-deprived during the city’s notoriously noisy Las Fallas festival.

A statement on his website said: “Having travelled for two days by road, Morrissey reached the hotel in Valencia late on Wednesday. Any form of sleep or rest throughout the night was impossible due to festival noise/loud techno singing/megaphone announcements.”

Milano Cortina Winter Paralympics 2026: day six – in pictures

We take a look at the best images from the Games, including alpine skiing, slalom and ice hockey

Snow joke: Winter Paralympics athletes angry at scheduling as big thaw hits

• Ice melt causes dangerous conditions for para athletes

• IPC says changing winter calendar ‘easier said than done’

In Cortina d’Ampezzo, the thaw is on. With daytime temperatures reaching double figures in celsius, snow is disappearing from the hillsides and the “torrenti” of ice melt have started to flow once again.

Traditionally a time of year when snowfall can be at its heaviest, there has been none since the Winter Paralympics began. The Games have not been insulated from the consequences.

Medicare Advantage 'dark money' group tries to win higher payments for insurers

What appeared to be a surge of grassroots support for higher Medicare Advantage payments was actually driven by a pro-industry group.

Senate passes bipartisan housing bill targeting large investors and easing regulations

The 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act would ban large investors from buying up single-family homes.

Lawsuit alleges David Protein understates calories and fat of its bars

Plaintiffs claim that David Protein bars contain "way more" calories and fat than what's displayed on the label.

This reporter went bust while covering America's sports betting boom

Americans are betting on sports, elections, award shows and even military actions. The Atlantic writer McKay Coppins bet $10k from his employer in his investigation of this gambling world.

Try small steps and set the bar low: how to find the meaning of life

Don’t treat it as a lofty quest, experts say. You can make each day feel more meaningful with humbler methods

What makes your life meaningful?

If you don’t really know, you’re far from alone. “We’re in the middle of a meaning crisis,” says Bill Burnett, executive director of the Life Design Lab at Stanford University.

Trump-backed SAVE America Act will get a Senate vote next week, Thune says

Advocates of the voter-ID bill have pressed the Senate for months to call a vote on the controversial legislation.

‘On YouTube, we can reach 2.5bn people at once’: Oscars head Bill Kramer on TV, AI and 4am starts

The Academy CEO on his decidedly non-Hollywood beginnings, bonding with Robert Redford – and a formative watch of All That Jazz

It’s a boiling day in downtown Los Angeles; crowds are milling about outside the Dolby theatre where Sunday’s Academy Awards ceremony is to be held, selfie-ing the giant Oscar statuettes.

And this is where the man with whom the buck stops is looking at the set, going through the top-secret opening number and busy with a thousand admin details. Academy CEO, Bill Kramer, increasingly renowned as one of the most important people in Hollywood, meets me for a pre-ceremony chat in a suite in the next-door Hollywood Loews Hotel. “It’s so nice that we’re not on camera!” he says. “Yeah, so happy. Let myself relax!”

He is approachable and diplomatic, revered for his fundraising wizardry at the Academy museum, where he was managing director of external development in 2012 before ascending to his current job at the Academy 10 years later. Kramer has a business degree and came to Columbia after his first substantial job working for the Metropolitan Transit Authority in New York.

It was at a party in the 90s that this policy and financial strategist met the man who changed his life: Robert Redford. “He couldn’t believe how much I knew about movies!” says Kramer. “And he said he wanted to decrease reliance on corporate sponsorships and bring someone on board at Sundance to help generate philanthropic gifts from individuals. Would I be interested in doing that? I said: ‘Sign me up!’”

This can-do attitude is still evident in Kramer today. A few days out from showtime, he is, he says, “so incredibly excited. I’m an early riser, as my team will tell you, up at 4am. It’s a good moment to get my head together, to review our script. It’s a quiet moment where I can go through emails that have come in overnight.”

Seth Meyers on Pete Hegseth: ‘The face of a man war-fighting with his colon’

Late-night hosts discussed reports that Hegseth’s defense department spent $15m on steak as the Trump administration escalates their vague war in Iran

Late-night hosts dug into the Trump administration’s vague intentions for the war in Iran, the conflict’s oil-price effect and a Maga rally in Kentucky with Jake Paul.

Donald Trump says Iran should not play in World Cup for their ‘life and safety’

• Participation is in question amid ongoing war

• Fifa’s Infantino said Trump assured Iran are welcome

Donald Trump said Thursday that Iran should not participate in the upcoming World Cup in North America, just days after telling Fifa’s chief they would be welcome despite the Middle East war.

“The Iran national soccer team is welcome to the World Cup, but I really don’t believe it is appropriate that they be there, for their own life and safety,” the US president said on his Truth Social platform.

No 10 rejects claims it covered up Starmer’s role in Mandelson appointment

Downing Street also denies vetting and approval for US ambassador role was rushed through, after release of documents

• UK politics live – latest updates

Downing Street has rejected accusations it covered up Keir Starmer’s role in appointing Peter Mandelson as the UK ambassador to Washington, after documents detailing the process showed no formal input from the prime minister.

A day after 147 pages of documents were released by the government, No 10 also denied that the approval and vetting of Mandelson had been rushed through, saying normal procedures were followed.

Several Labour MPs in talks with Greens about defecting to the party, sources say

Exclusive: none of the MPs are yet near point of crossing the floor and want guarantees they would be reselected for their seat at next election

• UK politics live – latest updates

Several Labour MPs are in talks about defecting to the Greens, but are seeking guarantees they would be backed electorally by their new party, the Guardian has been told.

Zack Polanski, the leader of the Greens in England and Wales, has said publicly that he has chatted to Labour MPs about the idea of switching sides, with the leftwing party enjoying a surge in membership and having overtaken Labour in some recent opinion polls.

Dismay as ancient heritage sites across Iran damaged in US-Israel bombing

Golestan Palace world heritage site in Tehran and palace in Isfahan harmed despite Unesco sending coordinates

• Middle East crisis – latest updates

The governor of the historic Iranian city of Isfahan has accused the US and Israel of a “declaration of war on a civilisation” as heritage sites across the country suffer damage in their bombing campaign.

The most serious confirmed damage to date has been to Tehran’s Golestan Palace, dating to the 14th century, and the 17th-century Chehel Sotoon Palace in Isfahan.

Strait of Hormuz must remain closed as 'tool to pressure enemy,' Iran's new supreme leader says

Iran's new Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei has said all U.S. military bases in the Middle East should close immediately as those bases will be attacked.

‘Casting is a very easy thing for others to take credit for’: Richard E Grant on cinema’s invisible moguls

This Sunday, casting directors will be honoured at the Oscars for the first time. Why has it taken so long?

‘It’s unbelievable how much information we hold about actors,” says Kelly Valentine Hendry. “We have our ears to the ground. We know about bad behaviour. We know about things that actors require in order to give a better performance …” Casting directors, she says, “monitor all that, all the time, from the shadows”.

Amid the A-list glitz of this weekend’s Oscars, casting directors will step from the shadows into the spotlight as the Academy Awards’ inaugural casting prize is presented. These quietly pivotal yet hitherto almost invisible figures are experts in spotting and allocating talent, and navigating actors’ and directors’ sometimes challenging temperaments.

Crufts winner’s animal cruelty conviction prompts complaints to Channel 4

Animal charities call for ‘extreme’ breeds to no longer be eligible for prizes and full vetting of competitors

Animal charities have complained to Channel 4 after the winner of Crufts best in show was found to have been convicted of animal cruelty, and said the winning dog is an “extreme” breed that has had a “lifetime of suffering”.

After Lee Cox and his four-year-old Clumber spaniel Bruin won best in show at the prestigious dog competition, it emerged that Cox had a previous conviction for animal cruelty.

Tentacles and a flying hat: photos of the day – Thursday

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

Two people die after donating plasma at Canadian clinics under federal investigation

Company that runs the sites says it has ‘no reason to believe there is a correlation between the donors’ passing and plasma donation’

Two people have died in Canada after donating plasma at a chain of clinics that has been under scrutiny by federal inspectors for failing to keep accurate records, screen donors or maintain its machines.

While experts say the deaths are exceedingly rare, critics say Canada’s embrace of private companies to handle blood products reflects a “slow collapse of a system that has been the envy of the world”.

Fears about nuclear war are reaching a fever pitch. Another grim sign of the times | Judith Levine

News stories are weighing nuclear risk as experts muse on the possibility of global warfare

Intimations of world war three – the big one, nuclear Armageddon – didn’t arise yesterday. But they got more urgent when Donald Trump was elected the second time. In December 2024, Newsweek published a map of the “safest US states to live during nuclear war”. The article was not reassuring. “Nowhere is truly ‘safe’” from such consequences as “contamination of food and water supplies and prolonged radiation exposure”, said the senior policy director of the Center for Arms Control and Non-Proliferation. Another expert noted that “even a ‘small’ nuclear war would ... kill at least a billion people”.

And since 28 February, when the US and Israel began their bombardment of Iran, chatter about a world war has spiked, with everyone from anonymous social media users to Harvard policy wonks weighing in.

Dad of 3 felt forced to quit TSA job amid shutdown: "Family has to come first"

More than 300 TSA officers have quit since the partial government shutdown began last month, according to agency statistics obtained by CBS News.

Teens test ways to cut down on screen time

Research shows teenagers spend about 8.5 hours per day staring at screens. Three high school students took on a challenge to test out different tools in an attempt to reduce their screen time. Meg Oliver reports.

Bafta games awards 2026: Clair Obscur and Dispatch lead the nominations

Last year’s celebrated French hit Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is nominated in 12 categories this year, with Ghost of Yōtei, Dispatch, Death Stranding 2 and Indiana Jones also making strong showings

The 22nd Bafta games awards are coming up in April, and the 2026 nominations list is dominated by the impeccably stylish French breakout hit Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 which has 12 nominations, and has already won game of the year prizes at the UK’s Golden Joysticks last November, December’s Game awards in the US and February’s Dice awards in Las Vegas.

Dispatch, a game about a benched superhero roped into running a team of superpowered misfits at a call centre, has nine nominations. Among them is a best performer in a leading role nod for its star Aaron Paul, and one for Jeffrey Wright in a supporting role. Sony’s samurai epic Ghost of Yōtei came out with eight nominations, including best game and best performer in a leading role for Erika Ishii, who plays Atsu.

They were dating AI partners when they found real love – with each other

Ayrin and SJ met on a subreddit Ayrin created for people ‘dating’ AI companions. Over time, they started talking to AI less … and falling for each other

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People are reporting “dating” artificially intelligent companions – but not every relationship lasts. What’s it like to fall in – and then out – of love with AI?

As part of our newsletter AI for the people, we spoke to Ayrin and SJ, who live thousands of miles apart and made the same decision: to leave their AI partners – for each other. Their names have been changed.

Nemanja Radulović: Prokofiev album review – thrills and spills from a fearless violin virtuoso

(Warner Classics)
Radulović/Philharmonia/Rouvali/Favre-Kahn/Dalene
Radulović brings irresistible swagger to selections from Romeo and Juliet and Cinderella, while a more restrained duet fosters a fine sense of dialogue

There’s a daredevil freshness about Nemanja Radulović’s playing that makes this generously filled disc of Prokofiev particularly rewarding. Over 86 minutes, he tackles the Second Violin Concerto with the Philharmonia under Santtu-Matias Rouvali, a pair of underperformed sonatas and a clutch of original works and transcriptions with pianist Laure Favre-Kahn.

The concerto receives a subtle, supportive reading from Rouvali, who is happy to play second fiddle to the star turn. Radulović plunges in, his audacious attack and intonational high-wire act almost upsetting the applecart in the oompah-pah finale. The same fearless commitment pays dividends elsewhere: in the jaunty Heifetz arrangement of the Gavotte from the Classical Symphony, for example, or in the spiky march from The Love for Three Oranges.

Microsoft backs AI firm Anthropic in legal battle against Pentagon

Tech company files amicus brief in support of Anthropic’s effort to overturn an aggressive Pentagon designation

Microsoft has thrown its weight behind Anthropic’s legal challenge against the Pentagon, filing a court brief in support of the AI company’s effort to overturn an aggressive designation that effectively bars it from government work.

In an amicus brief submitted to a federal court in San Francisco this week, Microsoft, which integrates Anthropic’s AI tools into systems it provides to the US military, argued that a temporary restraining order was necessary to prevent serious disruption to suppliers whose products rely on the AI company’s technology. Google, Amazon, Apple and OpenAI have also signed on to a brief in support of Anthropic.

Retired Air Force major general still missing after vanishing in New Mexico

William "Neil" McCasland was last seen at his home in Albuquerque on Feb. 27, investigators said. They have not found evidence of foul play.

In Bloom by Liz Allan review – an electric debut of grunge and teen spirit

Four fatherless girls in a band set out to escape their deprived Australian coastal town, in a dark, raw tale of friendship and abuse

Liz Allan’s powerful debut novel smells unmistakably like teen spirit. Plunging the reader into the cauldron of suburban malaise that is an Australian seaside resort in 1994, it is narrated collectively by the Bastards, a band of 14-year-old riot grrrls bringing Kurt Cobain’s gospel to their dead-end backwater – in their own eyes, at least. To their schoolmates, they are three fatherless losers, tainted by poverty.

But the Bastards don’t care; they’ve got a ticket out of Vincent, “capital of teen pregnancies and absent fathers”. For nine months, their beloved music teacher, Mr P, has been rehearsing them for the Battle of the Bands, a long drive away in the city of Geelong. Admittedly, they suffered a body blow when their lead singer, Lily Lucid, quit a year ago. But Mr P still believes in them.

U.S. deficit tops $1 trillion through February but runs below year-ago pace

For the fiscal year to date, the deficit totaled $1.004 trillion, about 12% lower than the comparable period in 2025.

‘I said no, then I just gave up’: Brooke Nevils on her sexual assault claims about one of TV’s biggest stars

The former NBC producer says she was repeatedly assaulted by Matt Lauer, an anchor at the network – then spent years blaming herself in the aftermath. She talks about power, preconceptions and life after #MeToo

When Brooke Nevils’ allegations about the former NBC anchor Matt Lauer, one of the most powerful TV stars in the US, became public in 2019, she found herself reading comments about herself online.

Nevils, formerly a producer at NBC, had alleged in Ronan Farrow’s book Catch and Kill that Lauer had sexually assaulted her in his hotel room, after an evening drinking while covering the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia. Back in New York, there were other incidents – she went to his apartment, where she says it happened again. In his dressing room at the NBC studios, Nevils claims Lauer pushed her down and forced her to give him oral sex. Lauer has consistently denied Nevils’ allegations, in an open letter describing it as an “extramarital affair”. Lauer maintains that Nevils’ account is “filled with false details” creating the impression that the encounter was abusive. No charges were ever brought.

Iran war: Trump says he's not worried about domestic terror attack

President Donald Trump said oil companies should send tankers through the Strait of Hormuz, which has remained effectively closed due to the war on Iran.

‘I wish I had more fun’: Max Verstappen reiterates unhappiness at new F1 rules

• ‘I don’t enjoy the car but I do enjoy working with the team’

• Meeting with drivers brought forward amid disquiet

Max Verstappen has once more expressed his discontent with the new Formula One regulations. Amid a clamour of unhappiness from many drivers, the four-time champion also reiterated his warning that he would leave the sport if he ceased to enjoy it, which is clearly the case at the moment.

After the first round of the season in Melbourne last week, Verstappen showed disdain for how the new rules had affected driving, and speaking before this weekend’s Chinese Grand Prix, he belittled the new formula with another reference to the videogame Mario Kart, which has swiftly become a go-to reference across the grid. A drivers’ meeting to discuss the new regulations, originally planned for after the Japanese Grand Prix at the end of the month, has now been brought forward to take place after this weekend’s race, the Guardian understands.

Three more ships struck in the Persian Gulf as Iran warns of oil prices hitting $200

The latest incidents in or near the Strait of Hormuz come shortly after Iran warned the world to prepare for $200 oil prices.

Russia earned €6bn from fossil fuel exports since start of Iran war, data suggests

Figures from thinktank show Russia received extra €672m in revenues from oil, gas and coal during March so far

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Russia has received €6bn (£5bn) from selling its fossil fuels in the fortnight since the start of the US-Israel war with Iran, data suggests.

The revenues imply Russia made an extra €672m in oil, gas and coal sales during March, as combined average daily prices have surged by 14% from February.

Hollywood’s idea of beauty once meant polished and slim, not altered and gaunt. This new look is unsettling | Brigid Delaney

When movie stars are no longer people we aspire to look like, does it spell the end of Hollywood’s cultural power?

Once upon a time in Hollywood, if you were an actor preparing to walk the red carpet at the Academy Awards, you might have been fasting to fit into your outfit. You definitely had access to the best hair and makeup artists, and designers and jewellers lent you thousands of dollars worth of incredible products. Maybe you even had a subtle bit of plastic surgery. You looked great!

For a long time Hollywood operated a fairly coherent beauty ideal that, however unattainable, was at least legible.

If oil price shocks weren’t bad enough, Trump’s war could have other unintended consequences | Adam Hanieh

China consumes around 90% of Iran’s oil exports, so could be forced to rely on alternative suppliers – particularly Russia

With the US-Israeli war against Iran in its second week, energy markets are in turmoil. On Thursday, the price of Brent Crude Oil topped $100, only slightly lower than the $119 peak per barrel on Monday.

These swings have focused attention on key energy choke points such as the strait of Hormuz, where about one-fifth of the world’s shipped oil and liquefied natural gas (LNG) passes each day. This shutdown of the strait will be felt in people’s everyday lives for months to come, particularly in the form of spiralling household bills. But oil prices alone do not capture the full economic significance of the conflict.

NYPD officer thought "catch the bad buy" when running toward suspect who threw homemade bomb

Two NYPD officers who jumped into action when they spotted a smoking improvised bomb at a protest outside the mayor's official residence are speaking about their response and the viral moment that followed. Jericka Duncan reports.

The two oil pipelines helping Saudi Arabia and UAE bypass the Strait of Hormuz

Saudi Arabia’s East-West pipeline and the UAE's Abu Dhabi Crude Oil Pipeline are thought to be able to help partially offset the Strait of Hormuz blockage.

Chilean Smiljan Radić Clarke wins architecture's highest honor

The Pritzker Prize was awarded Thursday. "In every work, he is able to answer with radical originality, making the unobvious obvious," said fellow Chilean architect and prize chair Alejandro Aravena.

Unexplained Moscow internet blackouts spark fears of web censorship plan

Kremlin appearing to ramp up control over internet, as it tests new ‘whitelist’ restrictions and pushes people to state-owned app

Muscovites have been turning to walkie-talkies and pagers amid unexplained disruptions to internet services in the capital, as the Kremlin appears to ramp up control over online activity in Russia.

Users in central Moscow, as well as in St Petersburg, first reported difficulties accessing mobile internet about a week ago. Many said they were unable to load websites or apps, while some lost service altogether, leaving them unable to make phone calls.

Dad of 3 decided to quit his TSA job amid partial shutdown: "My family has to come first"

Robert Echeverria, a father of three, says he felt he had no other choice but to take another job as the latest partial government shutdown leaves TSA officers without a paycheck again. Echeverria is among more than 300 TSA officers who have quit since the shutdown began last month, according to agency statistics. Kris Van Cleave has more.

Naples museum to allow visually impaired visitors to experience art through touch

Sansevero Chapel Museum will host day of guided tours where visitors will be able to feel marble sculptures

The Sansevero Chapel Museum in Naples will allow dozens of visually impaired visitors to take part in a rare tactile experience, letting them touch celebrated works of art including the Veiled Christ, which is widely regarded as one of the most striking masterpieces in the history of sculpture.

On 17 March, the museum will host an initiative called La meraviglia a portata di mano – Wonder within reach – organised in partnership with the Italian Union of the Blind and Visually Impaired of Naples, offering about 80 blind and partially sighted visitors a chance to encounter the marble masterpieces.

Trump touts economic agenda and Iran war as businesses express concern over oil prices

President Trump on Wednesday made stops in Ohio and Kentucky to promote his economic agenda ahead of this year's midterm elections. He also addressed the Iran war and rising gas prices. The cost of oil has already had an impact on some businesses. Weijia Jiang reports.

Noma chef resigns amid allegations of physical abuse of staff

René Redzepi also steps down from non-profit board after accusations of physical and psychological abuse

René Redzepi, the head chef and co-founder of Noma, has announced his resignation from his internationally acclaimed Copenhagen restaurant following allegations he physically abused his staff.

Redzepi had been facing protests in Los Angeles before a four-month pop-up that launched this week. His resignation on Wednesday comes after the New York Times detailed allegations of physical and psychological abuse, including claims that he “punched employees in the face, jabbed them with kitchen implements and slammed them against walls”.