4/22: CBS Evening News

Georgia streets reduced to ashes amid massive wildfires; Trump administration considers bailout for Spirit Airlines.

Kalshi suspends, fines 3 congressional candidates in 'insider trading' enforcement actions

The incidents involved a candidate from Virginia seeking a Senate seat and candidates running for House seats from Minnesota and Texas.

Two home explosions on same San Antonio block injure 5

Five people were injured when explosions occurred several hours apart at two homes on the same block of a north San Antonio neighborhood.

Tesla misses on revenue but beats on profit as auto margins jump

Tesla's stock has underperformed all of its megacap peers so far this year as global competition ramps up in the electric vehicle market.

Microsoft looked at buying Cursor before SpaceX deal, sources say

Prior to SpaceX's announcement that it's agreed to a potential purchase of Cursor, Microsoft looked at buying the AI coding startup.

All U.S. attorney's offices must assign a prosecutor to new fraud division: Memo

In the memo, Assistant Attorney General Colin McDonald​ said detailing a prosecutor from each U.S. attorney's office is aimed to help "execute a nationwide strategy to eliminate fraud in every district."

Ukraine war briefing: Kyiv hails frontline position as ‘strongest in a year’

Drones minimise Russian manpower advantage on battlefield, says foreign minister; Moscow shies from Turkey push for Zelenskyy-Putin talks. What we know on day 1,520

Ukraine’s frontline position is “the strongest” it has been in a year due to superiority in drones and enhanced air defence, said Andriy Sybiha, the foreign minister. Agence France-Presse said its analysis of data from the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) showed Russian troops made almost no territorial gains across the frontline in March – the first time this had occurred in two and a half years.

“We have minimised the Russians’ advantage in manpower through the use of drones,” Sybiha added. “For us, the situation on the battlefield is about strengthening our negotiating position. We can shoot down up to 90% of the targets that strike our cities … [Ukraine’s] position on the battlefield is indeed the strongest, or the most solid, it has been over the past year.”

Turkey is trying to revive negotiations between Russia and Ukraine and bring together their leaders at the request of Kyiv, the office of the Turkish president, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, said on Wednesday. Erdogan told the Nato head, Mark Rutte in a meeting in Ankara that “we are working to revive negotiations and start talks at leaders’ level”.

Sybiha, the Ukrainian foreign minister, confirmed Ukraine is pushing for the face-to-face talks between Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Vladimir Putin. While Turkey was asked to facilitate, Ukraine would consider any venue outside Russia and Belarus. “We are … advocating for a meeting now to bring new momentum to diplomacy,” Sybiha said.

Russian news agencies quoted Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov as saying that Putin would only meet Zelenskyy “for the purpose of finalising agreements”. The Kremlin instead appealed for the US to again send Donald Trump’s delegates Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner to Moscow. The pair have repeatedly listened to Putin’s maximalist demands, to which Witkoff has appeared pliant, and produced no outcomes while declining to visit Kyiv and hear Ukraine’s side. Peskov said Russia was ready for any new talks on a settlement to the war with US negotiators “even tomorrow”.

A woman and child were killed in the Russian oil refining city of Syzran, about 1,000km (621 miles) from the border with Ukraine, after a Ukrainian drone hit their apartment building, the regional governor said on Wednesday. Russian media reports said a Rosneft oil refinery is located on the same street as the damaged building.

Russian drones attacked infrastructure in the Black Sea port of Odesa damaging berths, warehouses, railway infrastructure, port operators’ facilities and a ship, Ukraine’s deputy PM Oleksiy Kuleba said on Wednesday. Preliminary reports said no one was hurt and the port was still operating.

Kuleba said a Russian drone attack at a sorting yard at the Zaporizhzhia-Live station in the southern Zaporizhzhia region killed an assistant train driver while the driver was hospitalised.

EU member states reached agreement on unblocking the urgently needed €90bn (£78bn) loan for Kyiv and a new package of sanctions against Moscow after Ukraine resumed pumping Russian oil to Hungary and Slovakia, prompting Budapest to lift its veto. Jon Henley writes that Cyprus, which holds the rotating EU presidency, said member states’ ambassadors had agreed to launch “written procedures” for the final approval of the loan and the sanctions package, with formal signoff on both due by Thursday afternoon.

Chemical leak at a W.Va. plant kills 2 people, sends 30 more to hospitals, officials say

The leak occurred at the Catalyst Refiners plant, a silver recovery business. An emergency management official says workers were preparing to shut down at least part of the facility when the leak occurred, causing a chemical gas reaction.

4/22: The Takeout with Major Garrett

Future of Iran war uncertain with no date set for peace talks; new poll shows Congress is historically unpopular.

Meta is tracking employee keystrokes on Google, LinkedIn, Wikipedia as part of AI training initiative

As part of an AI initiative that tracks employee keystrokes and mouse clicks, Meta is monitoring use of popular sites like Google, LinkedIn and Wikipedia.

DOJ charges Southern Poverty Law Center with fraud

A federal grand jury indicted the Southern Poverty Law Center on wire and bank fraud-related charges on Tuesday, the Justice Department says, accusing it of paying members of extremist groups as part of its efforts to investigate them.

Parents of slain Loyola freshman say they are not interested in politics, but accountability

The parents of Sheridan Gorman, the Loyola University student who police say was gunned down last month by an undocumented immigrant, spoke out for the first time with CBS News' Matt Gutman.

DOJ accuses Southern Poverty Law Center of fraud, law center calls it a political attack

The Southern Poverty Law Center has made its name battling extremist groups, including the Ku Klux Klan. It is now facing federal charges of fraud, accused of funneling millions into some of those very same hate groups. Jan Crawford has more.

Pirro says DOJ won't drop Fed probe, will appeal judge's order blocking Powell subpoenas

Powell has accused the DOJ of targeting him for refusing to obey Trump's demand that the Fed sharply lower interest rates.

The ‘big durian’: one day in Jakarta, the world’s largest city

The UN has officially designated Jakarta the world’s largest city, home to 42 million. We explore a day in the life of the ‘big durian’.

In December, the United Nations officially designated Jakarta the world’s largest city, hosting a staggering 42 million inhabitants. Michael Neilson speaks to several people who call the ‘big durian’ home – about the positives and the negatives – and how community and the city’s infamously dry humour get them through.

Boston woman and her dog set out to search for a 3-year-old's lost stuffy

Social media has the amazing ability to harness the power of a crowd, but that power still depends on individuals who decide to act. Tony Dokoupil has the story about the search for a lost stuffy in the Boston marathon.

IBM shares drop as company beats but opts to maintain guidance

Investors have been attuned to mainframe disruption threats from artificial intelligence, but IBM posted 51% growth in Z mainframe hardware revenue.

Trump administration, Spirit Airlines in advanced bailout talks, sources say

The negotiation comes after President Trump publicly said he wanted his administration to look at a rescue package for the budget carrier.

Pentagon says Navy secretary is leaving, the latest departure of a top defense leader

Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said John Phelan, the Navy's top civilian official, was "departing the administration, effective immediately." Navy Undersecretary Hung Cao will become acting secretary of the Navy.

Latest details as Iran hits ships in Strait of Hormuz

U.S. Navy Secretary John Phelan is out, effective immediately, the Pentagon said. It's the latest departure of a top defense leader as the U.S. and Iran fight for control of the Strait of Hormuz. Charlie D'Agata reports.

Why is the Trump administration considering bailing out Spirit Airlines?

The fate of Spirit Airlines could affect ticket prices across the industry, which is why the Trump administration is considering a bailout, sources confirm. Kris Van Cleave has more details.

Georgia streets reduced to ashes amid massive wildfires

In Southeast Georgia, massive wildfires have transformed the sky into a fiery orange, burning homes and neighborhoods. Skyler Henry reports and Rob Marciano has the forecast.

Tesla's making money. But it's planning to spend an awful lot more

Tesla's profits were up from this time last year. But the company warned investors to prepare for expensive investments in next-generation technology like humanoid robots and AI.

Tesla reports mixed financial results as Musk pivots automaker to AI and robots

Figures fail to significantly buoy stock as firm admits ‘significant effort and hard work’ needed to achieve goals

Tesla reported its first-quarter earnings on Wednesday, disclosing some better-than-expected results but faltering in some key areas. The report failed to significantly buoy Tesla’s stock, which has limped along this year while its CEO, Elon Musk, has tried to sell the company’s new vision of humanoid robots and self-driving robotaxis. Its core car business has struggled in the face of competition from Chinese counterparts and backlash against his close involvement with the Trump administration.

“There remains significant effort and hard work to realize our mission of Amazing Abundance,” Tesla said in its report, while claiming that demand for its vehicles was rebounding.

One person diagnosed with cancer every 80 seconds in UK, report reveals

NHS struggling to cope with record numbers, which Cancer Research UK says puts progress on survival rates at risk

The number of people in the UK being diagnosed with cancer has reached a record high, with one person diagnosed every 80 seconds, a report reveals.

Cancer Research UK found that more than 403,000 people were being diagnosed with the disease each year, largely due to a growing and ageing population, as people are more likely to develop cancer as they get older.

European football: Lamine Yamal injury overshadows Barcelona moving nine points clear

• Forward subbed after scoring winner against Celta Vigo

• PSG stay in Ligue 1 title hunt with victory over Nantes

Barcelona moved closer to retaining their La Liga title with a 1-0 victory over Celta Vigo on Wednesday, but the win was overshadowed by an injury to Lamine Yamal, who scored the first-half spot kick that settled the match.

With six games remaining, Barcelona lead the standings on 82 points, nine clear of Real Madrid on 73. The result keeps the champions firmly in control of the title race, though concern now surrounds Lamine Yamal with a Clasico looming in two weeks and the World Cup less than 50 days away.

Trump envoy seeks to replace Iran with Italy at World Cup, says report

• US special envoy Zampolli hopes for Italy involvement

• Doubts remain over Iran’s participation

An envoy to the US President Donald Trump has asked Fifa to replace Iran with Italy in the upcoming World Cup, the Financial Times reported on Wednesday.

The plan is an effort to repair ties between Trump and Italy’s prime minister Giorgia Meloni after the two fell out amid the American president’s attacks against Pope Leo XIV over the Iran war, the FT reported, citing people familiar with the matter.

"A breaking point": Inside the 68-day DHS shutdown

In a department built to respond to catastrophic threats, employees have been reduced to bartering for office supplies.

Virginia judge blocks redistricting referendum result that boosted Democrats' election hopes

Virginia voted by a slim margin on Tuesday to approve U.S. House district maps that could allow Democrats to flip four seats in the state this November.

Trump administration reaches $1.25 million settlement with Carter Page

The FBI obtained four warrants under FISA to monitor Carter Page, who served as an informal adviser to President Trump during his 2016 campaign.

Southwest Airlines forecasts quarterly earnings below estimates on higher fuel

The airline reported that revenue in its first-quarter period rose nearly 13% to $7.25 billion.

Israeli strike kills journalist after ongoing attacks blocked rescuers, Lebanon says

Amal Khalil had been buried in rubble after an Israeli strike that also injured another journalist, Zeinab Faraj

Israeli strikes in southern Lebanon killed a journalist on Wednesday after rescuers were blocked from accessing the building where she was buried under rubble because of further Israeli fire, according to several witnesses.

Amal Khalil was covering developments near the town of al-Tayri with the photographer Zeinab Faraj when an Israeli strike hit the vehicle in front of them.

Trump administration in advanced talks for Spirit Airlines rescue package, sources say

The Trump administration is preparing to rescue ailing budget carrier Spirit Airlines.

Senate defeats Democrats' 5th attempt to limit Trump's war powers in Iran

The Senate rejected another attempt to rein in President Trump's ability to use further military force against Iran, marking Democrats' fifth effort to do so since the war began eight weeks ago.

2 University of South Florida doctoral students have gone missing, authorities say

Zamil Limon and Nahida Bristy, both 27, were last seen in the Tampa area on April 16, the University of South Florida Police Department said​. Loved ones say their disappearances are out of character and they're concerned.

Convenience store owner Yesway is stealing customers from fast-food chains, CEO says

Yesway made its public market debut on Wednesday, trading on the Nasdaq Stock Exchange under "YSWY."

‘Impossible’ to reopen strait of Hormuz amid ‘flagrant’ ceasefire breaches, Iran says

Iranian forces seize two ships in critical waterway as Washington and Tehran maintain separate blockades

• Middle East crisis – live updates

Iranian forces have seized two ships in the strait of Hormuz as the US and Iran doubled down on imposing separate blockades of the shipping waterway.

The standoff over the strait – through which about 20% of the world’s oil and liquefied fossil gas passed through during peacetime – has raised doubts about whether stalled peace negotiations will resume.

Prediction site Kalshi fines three US candidates who bet on own elections

Disclosures come after firm tightened rules on insider trading, including candidates betting on own campaigns

Before he announced his Senate candidacy, a political hopeful in Virginia did something not so unusual in this day and age: he logged on to a prediction market exchange and wagered money that he would run. Then he ran. Then he bet on that too.

The candidate and trader was Mark Moran, a former FBoy Island contestant who went viral recently for his campaign launch video. Investigators with Kalshi, the federally regulated prediction market exchange, found he placed two trades on their platform, the first in a market asking which individuals would seek public office in 2026, the second after he formally entered the race.

Rep. David Scott becomes 5th member of 119th Congress to die in office

Democratic Rep. David Scott, who represented Georgia in the House for more than two decades, has become the fifth member of the 119th Congress to die in office.

Haaland steers Manchester City to top of table and condemns Burnley to drop

Manchester City lead the Premier League for the first time since the opening week so the title is now a riveting five-game shootout with Arsenal.

The Gunners were top for 200 consecutive days until Erling Haaland’s first-half goal ended the run and proved the difference against Burnley, who have gone straight back to the Championship.

Jaden Philogene’s spot of luck gives Ipswich comeback win at Charlton

After a sticky patch, the Tractor Boys are back on the right track again. Kieran McKenna’s side have shown a propensity to make things difficult for themselves as they chase the second automatic promotion spot and so it proved again after they found themselves trailing after just 42 seconds to Greg Docherty’s strike.

Charlton looked like they might do their south London rivals Millwall a favour until Darnell Furlong scored his first goal since joining last summer with a brilliant strike before Jaden Philogene sealed the points rather fortunately from the spot. With two more away games to come in the next five days that will define their season, this was the perfect response from an Ipswich team that has found things difficult on the road since being relegated last year. While defeat here means Nathan Jones’s side still need a point from their final two matches to guarantee they and not Oxford will play Championship football next year, a third promotion in four seasons is in touching distance for McKenna.

Rents around the U.S. are growing more slowly than they have in years

The cost of renting a home, which surged during the pandemic, is showing signs of returning to earth, new data shows.

Judge dismisses Kash Patel's defamation lawsuit over claim he frequented 'nightclubs'

The lawsuit against Frank Figliuzzi was dismissed a day after FBI Director Kash Patel sued The Atlantic magazine over claims he abused alcohol.

Liam Rosenior chewed up by BlueCo’s bizarre ChatGPT version of Chelsea

While the novice coach was clearly not a good fit, the lesson here is that billionaire owners are not always right after all

Run Liam, run. Don’t look back. Wrench off the hazmat suit. Scoot past the security gates where the guards are already writhing and frothing at the mouth. And exit the compound for good, ice-white trainers pounding the dirt track, designer hoodie flapping.

For Liam Rosenior the urge now must be to put as much distance as possible between himself and what is, if not the strangest and most illiterate footballing project of all time, then surely the strangest and most illiterate yet. Welcome to BlueCo Chelsea, a place where blaming the manager for the on-field spectacle feels a bit like complaining that the scientists inside the Chernobyl nuclear plant still haven’t washed up the canteen coffee cups.

Warren presses Trump administration for answers on evacuation of Americans amid Iran war

Thousands of Americans were stuck in the Middle East at the start of the Iran war; some said they did not receive support they needed from the U.S. government.

RFK Jr. says he would support a potential ban on junk food TV ads

A ban on TV junk food ads would likely draw fierce backlash from major food manufacturers. 

Crypto mogul sues Trump family's World Liberty Financial, alleging fraud

Sun alleges that World Liberty Financial froze the digital tokens he had purchased, locking him out of assets worth as much as $1 billion.

Lando Norris backs Max Verstappen to stay in F1 after drivers win rule changes

• World champion expects Dutch rival to fight for fifth crown

• ‘It would be a miss for the sport’ if he acts on dissatisfaction

Lando Norris has said he believes Max Verstappen will continue to race in Formula One but that it would be “a miss” for the sport if the four-time world champion did decide to leave owing to his dissatisfaction with the way this season’s new regulations have affected how drivers race.

Verstappen has been outspoken in his dislike of the new regulations and their focus on electrical energy management that now makes up almost 50% of the car’s power output. He has intimated he might leave the sport but, with the rules having been adjusted by the FIA in an effort to address concerns of all drivers this week, Norris felt the Dutchman would remain in F1.

Super foamy sneakers are everywhere. How do they stack up?

Light as a feather and bouncy as a marshmallow, cushioned shoes have gone from marathons to daily commutes

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Floaty foam-based footwear has been spotted on celebrities for years, from Aubrey Plaza in Hokas and Harry Styles in New Balance to Zendaya’s ongoing deal with On running shoes.

A desire for “practical functionality” has driven technical sportswear to street pavements, says streetwear reporter Lei Takanashi from the Business of Fashion in New York.

US saw record high of 5,668 books banned in libraries in 2025, says agency

Most-banned book was Sold, a 2006 novel by Patricia McCormick about sex trafficking in India

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The American Library Association (ALA) has reported a record high in the number of books banned in US libraries.

In 2025, 5,668 books were banned – representing 66% of the total number challenged – with an additional 920 censored through access restriction, such as relocation on the library shelves.

Lewis Moody ‘picking up baton’ left by Doddie Weir with MND fundraising cycle ride

• Former England captain plans to ride 500 miles in seven days

• 2003 World Cup winners among the fundraisers

The former England captain Lewis Moody has said he is “picking up the baton” left by Doddie Weir after announcing plans to lead a 500-mile, seven-day cycling challenge this summer to raise funds for the fight against motor neurone disease.

Moody will be joined by many of his fellow 2003 World Cup winners, including Jonny Wilkinson, Mike Tindall and Ben Kay, as well as his teenage sons on a journey from Newcastle to the Allianz Stadium in Twickenham, with all proceeds going to the My Name’5 Doddie Foundation.

Bessent says 'many' U.S. allies have asked for currency swaps amid Iran war turbulence

The White House on Tuesday said the UAE had not requested a currency swap line.

Rivian hits production milestone for R2 EV ahead of customer deliveries

Rivian Automotive on Wednesday said it has started production of its new R2 all-electric vehicle for customers at its plant in Normal, Illinois.

South Africa struggling to secure UK TV deal to screen England Test series

• Sky Sports declines offer to renew long-term contract

• Value of bilateral international cricket in decline

Cricket South Africa has yet to secure a UK television rights deal for England’s marquee Test series next winter with Sky Sports declining an offer to renew a long-term contract that expired last year.

Sky’s apparent reluctance to extend a relationship that began more than 30 years ago has left CSA searching for alternative broadcast partners so that the three Tests over Christmas and three one-day internationals in January are televised in the UK.

New report ranks the cleanest and most polluted U.S. cities

The new report evaluated air quality in different parts of the country by measuring the presence of ozone and particle pollution in the atmosphere.

Court blocks California law requiring federal agents to wear some form of ID

Trump administration had filed suit against the 2025 law, arguing it would threaten officers’ safety

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An appeals court has blocked a California law passed in 2025 requiring federal immigration agents to wear a badge or some form of identification.

The Trump administration filed a lawsuit in November challenging the law, arguing it would threaten the safety of officers who are facing harassment, doxing and violence, and that it violated the constitution because the state is directly regulating the federal government.

Divisions emerge in Keir Starmer’s cabinet over his sacking of Olly Robbins

PM under increasing pressure over Mandelson vetting scandal as sources say ministers spoke up at tense meeting

Keir Starmer is looking increasingly isolated over his handling of the Peter Mandelson scandal with divisions emerging in cabinet over his decision to sack the Foreign Office civil servant Olly Robbins.

On another difficult day for the prime minister, the Guardian learned of concerns around the cabinet table, a senior minister refused to say the dismissal was fair and several mandarins called for him to be reinstated. One Labour MP called on Starmer to quit.

What Trump’s Bible stunt says about his complicated history with Christianity

On Tuesday, the president read from the Bible in a taped message. Religious scholars were not impressed

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Donald Trump, who recently posted an image on social media which portrayed him as Jesus Christ (or, rather, “a doctor”), and who seems unable to stop attacking the pope, read the Bible to America on Tuesday night.

Sitting behind his desk in the Oval Office, hands resting on a book that looked like a Bible, Trump stared straight into the camera (presumably there was a teleprompter) as he recited from the book 2 Chronicles. It’s a passage which has become fashionable among the right wing, and which quotes God as saying:

The Guardian view on the Vatican v the White House: Pope Leo is carrying on Francis’s good work | Editorial

The pontiff’s criticisms of Donald Trump’s illegal war in Iran indicate a welcome resolve to follow in his predecessor’s footseps

One year after the death of Pope Francis, the Vatican this week hosted the premiere of a documentary tribute by Martin Scorsese. For a pontiff whose charisma and crowd-pleasing style helped cut through to a secular audience, marking the anniversary with the help of one of the world’s most famous film directors was a nice touch.

Francis’s successor, Leo XIV, is a far less flamboyant personality. In his inaugural year in St Peter’s chair, the first pope to come from the United States has generally taken a cautious, circumspect approach to his role. But it turns out that an aura of mildness and restraint makes him no less effective when criticising the posturing that passes for Christian piety in Donald Trump’s Washington.

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.

Microsoft's LinkedIn names longtime exec Dan Shapero its new CEO

Microsoft said Daniel Shapero will be the new CEO of LinkedIn, reporting to Ryan Roslansky, who held the job since 2020 and now has added responsibility.

Tourist charged with damaging historic Florentine fountain in pre-wedding prank

Police catch woman, 28, climbing colossal 16th-century statue of Neptune to touch its genitals as a dare

A tourist has been charged after allegedly climbing a colossal marble statue in Florence to touch its genitals for a pre-wedding prank.

Experts said the woman caused thousands of euros of damage to the Neptune fountain in Piazza della Signoria.

Thief who swiped purse of ex-DHS chief Kristi Noem gets 3 years in prison

The man, Chilean national Mario Bustamante Leiva, "came to Washington illegally to prey on citizens of the District," said U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro said.

The tariff refund process has begun for businesses. What about customers?

While shipping companies are pledging refunds for customers who directly paid tariff fees, the situation is much trickier for retailers.

Pentagon asks for $54bn in pivot towards AI-powered war

Budget outlines funding for autonomous drone warfare program as experts say military unprepared for risks

The Pentagon is aiming to increase funding more than a hundredfold for an autonomous drone warfare program, according to budget documents released this week, signalling a major pivot towards AI-powered war.

In its 2027 budget, the Pentagon has asked for over $54bn to fund the Defense Autonomous Warfare Group, a 24,000% increase on last year.

‘Tennis is about being fluid’: How Iga Swiatek is drawing on her time with Rafael Nadal to regain No 1 spot

Winner of six grand slams is changing her strategy after a run of poor results, helped by time in Spain with 39-year-old legend

Iga Swiatek had little interest in tennis as a teenager, but the one exception was Rafael Nadal. She spent her formative years idolising the Spaniard, who won 22 majors and, from afar, soon became one of his most avid students.

His influence is evident in the heavy topspin the Pole generates with her forehand, still a singular weapon on the women’s tour, proof of the intensity she demands of herself on every point and her four French Open titles earned by the time she was barely 23.

Roman Abramovich takes Jersey to European human rights court over criminal investigation

Lawyers for oligarch claim freezing of £5.3bn of assets ‘unfair and abusive’ amid row over use of funds for Ukraine

Roman Abramovich has gone to the European court of human rights (ECHR), claiming that a criminal investigation into his financial affairs by the Jersey authorities has breached his human rights, according to reports.

The former owner of Chelsea FC, who is under UK sanctions over his links to Vladimir Putin, is being investigated in Jersey over allegations of corruption and money laundering.

The psychic generation: why do a third of gen Z believe they have extrasensory perception?

A survey of US adults reveals many of them think they have extraordinary powers of intuition – especially those in younger age groups

Name: The psychic generation.

Age: You tell me.

Iran says it has seized two ships in Strait of Hormuz after U.S. extends ceasefire

The attacks come shortly after President Donald Trump said the U.S. would extend the ceasefire with Iran to allow peace talks to continue.

Nvidia backs AI company Vast Data at $30 billion valuation

The chip giant has increasingly become an investor of companies involved in the AI boom.

Google unveils chips for AI training and inference in latest shot at Nvidia

Google is packing ample amounts of static random access memory into a dedicated chip for running artificial intelligence models, following Nvidia's plans.

Federal judge blocks Trump administration restrictions on wind and solar projects

The injunction pauses policy giving senior Trump official direct sign-off on federal clean energy projects

A federal judge in Massachusetts on Tuesday struck down several Trump administration actions slowing down development of clean energy, including a requirement that all solar and wind energy projects on federal lands and waters be personally approved by the interior secretary, Doug Burgum.

Denise J Casper, chief judge of the US district court for Massachusetts, ruled that a coalition of plaintiffs representing wind and solar developers were likely to succeed on the merits of their claims that the administration’s actions violate federal statute and would cause irreparable harm if the court did not intervene.

Towering tulips and contemplative cows – readers’ best photographs

Click here to submit a picture for publication in these online galleries and/or on the Guardian letters page

I tried to do a press-up – and had an existential crisis | Adrian Chiles

There’s nothing to make you feel old like finding out that something you used to do all the time is now completely beyond you

I decided to do some press-ups. They’re good for you, apparently. A calisthenic classic. This much I picked up in a doomscrolling session. Some algorithm somewhere must have decided I’d be open to the idea and, not for the first time, the algorithm was right.

I used to do lots of press-ups, perhaps 20 or 30, most days. I can recall how this started. It was 1985 and I was spending a gap year working for my dad’s scaffolding company. That I was the boss’s son didn’t stop my workmates from sharing with me their thoughts on my shortcomings. One such shortcoming was identified by a muscly scaffolder called Andy. “Your arms are puny,” he told me. “Do some press-ups,” Andy advised. So that’s what I did, and my arms bulked up a bit. Thank you, Andy.

Iran's military more capable than Trump admin. is acknowledging, sources say

About half of Iran's stockpile of ballistic missiles and its associated launch systems were still intact as of the start of the ceasefire in early April, officials said.

Anthropic investigating possible breach of its Mythos AI model

The AI company behind the chatbot Claude is looking into a report of unauthorized access to Mythos from one of its third-party vendor environments.

Weekly bread rolls and an Irish bender: six readers on gestures that made them feel less lonely

We know what can cause loneliness, from online habits to other cultural shifts – but what makes us feel connected and cared for?

The rise of social media, disappearing third spaces, displeasure with dating apps: in 2026, there are plenty of possible culprits when it comes to loneliness.

But what makes people feel connected and cared for? Below are six stories about the gestures that made Guardian readers feel less lonely.

House Republican proposes small-business tax cut to pair with GOP federal budget package

Some congressional Republicans are hoping to tack on tax and other spending proposals to an effort to fully fund the Department of Homeland Security.

Police search for man who allegedly abandoned baby in New York’s Times Square

A six-month-old girl was found alone in a stroller at a busy intersection in the famed Manhattan sightseeing area

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Police are searching for the father of a baby left in a stroller in Times Square on Tuesday night.

The New York police department said they received an emergency call at about 11pm concerning the six-month-old girl, who was found at West 44th Street and Seventh Avenue. Police reported that she was unharmed, conscious and alert inside a stroller. The infant was transported to an area hospital.

United Airlines slashes 2026 forecast as fuel costs surge, but demand remains strong

The carrier's first-quarter earnings topped Wall Street's expectations.

DOJ readies up to $3.5 billion in law enforcement grants, 1 year after steep cuts

The focus on immigration and law enforcement comes one year after the department terminated or delayed funding for victims services, criminal justice researchers and more.

Britain’s military dependence on US ‘no longer tenable’, says former Nato chief

George Robertson says diplomatic tone from White House is at ‘historic low’ and two allies are likely to keep diverging

Britain’s high military dependence on the US is “no longer tenable” and the UK has to become increasingly independent of the special relationship with Washington, a former Nato chief has said.

George Robertson, who last week accused British leaders of a “corrosive complacency” towards defence, said on Wednesday that the traditional allies were diverging over values – and that even after Donald Trump leaves the White House, the separation was likely to continue.

CBS News gas and oil price tracker shows how much energy costs are rising

As the war with Iran continues, CBS News is tracking gas and oil prices. Find out how much more it costs to fill up your tank or heat your house.

Inside Linda McMahon's effort to dismantle the Department of Education

A former pro-wrestling executive, McMahon is now the education secretary Trump tasked with abolishing the agency. New Yorker writer Zach Helfand explains how her WWE experience led her to this role.

EU agrees to unblock €90bn loan for Ukraine after Hungary lifts veto

Agreement for urgently needed loan reached after Ukraine resumed pumping Russian oil to Hungary and Slovakia

EU member states have reached agreement on unblocking an urgently needed €90bn (£78bn) loan for Kyiv and a new package of sanctions against Moscow after Ukraine resumed pumping Russian oil to Hungary and Slovakia, prompting Budapest to lift its veto.

Cyprus, which holds the bloc’s rotating presidency, said member states’ ambassadors had agreed to launch “written procedures” for the final approval of the loan and the sanctions package, with formal signoff on both due by Thursday afternoon.

I was wrong about the danger of smartphones in schools. It’s far, far worse than I thought | Lola Okolosie

The new ban in England should be welcomed. But teachers like me know that enforcement is time-consuming – and even, sometimes, dangerous

It seems unbelievable now, but a decade ago we were debating the potential positive merits of mobile phones in schools. Back then, some private school headteachers insisted these mini-computers were a “powerful resource” teachers should “harness” rather than fear. To counter what I can now only call a fantasy, in these pages I argued the opposite case. To introduce them into classrooms would widen the attainment gap between rich and poor students. It would also heap more pressure, I wrote, on children whose parents could not afford the eye-watering costs of the latest smartphone. Looking back, both the defence of phones in schools and my rebuttal of it appear painfully naive.

Phones have proved far worse than either side of the debate could have conceived. Schools know all too well the threat phones pose to pupils’ attention. But it’s more serious than just classroom disruption. Smartphones, and their symbiotic relationship with social media apps, have proved themselves the tobacco of our age. The government’s announcement on Monday that it would turn its existing guidance in England on phones in schools into a statutory ban sounds less like a bold intervention and more like a simple recognition of reality.

Iranians are leaving the country just to access the internet

Iran has cut off its access to the global internet. To find an internet connection, some Iranians are traveling across the border with Turkey — even just to make video calls and then go back home.

People once cited romcoms to describe the love they hoped for. Now the doomscroll has replaced the meet-cute | Lisa Portolan

The search for connection persists but it’s seen as a task to be completed rather than a story waiting to unfold

When I first researched dating apps and intimacy almost a decade ago, participants would regularly reach for romantic comedies to describe the kind of love they were hoping for. Eyes meeting across a crowded room, accidental encounters in parks, coffee spilled on strangers who would later become soulmates … the standard tropes. The references were remarkably consistent; Meet Joe Black, 10 Things I Hate About You, Bridget Jones’s Diary. Participants would even name actors as shorthand for the kind of luminous, serendipitous romance they imagined for themselves – and Jennifer Lopez was somehow always in the mix.

Then came the reality check; these encounters only happen if you look like Lopez. For everyone else, romance took place somewhere far less cinematic: the dating app. By comparison it’s a sterile interface, a place framed as the domain of the romantically ordinary. One participant summed it up bluntly: “Romcom love is for hot people. The dating apps are for the rest of us.”

AI-powered robot beats elite table tennis players

In feat hailed as milestone in robotics, Sony AI’s Ace wins three out of five matches played under official rules

An AI-powered robot has beaten elite players at table tennis in a significant achievement for a machine faced with human athletes in a real-world competitive sport.

Named Ace, the robotic system developed by Sony AI, won three out of five matches against elite players, but lost the two it played against professionals, clawing back only one game in the seven contests.

Gene therapy for a rare type of deafness shows lasting results

Researchers say a gene therapy allowed deaf children and adults as old as 32 to hear for the first time. The benefits have persisted for more than two years for some patients.

Family influencers make the lifestyle look good. But kids pay the price, new book says

What does it mean to monetize your offspring? To turn their childhood into content? In Like, Follow, Subscribe Fortesa Latifi explores what drives parents to become family influencers.

Trump recounts Tim Cook call to 'kiss my ass,' in stark look at White House dealmaking

Tech executives from Amazon, Apple, Google and Meta have dined with Trump and donated millions to his inauguration fund and the White House ballroom.

Trump Media replaces CEO Devin Nunes as its losses top $1 billion

The company behind Truth Social has lost more than $1 billion since going public two years ago, while its shares have tumbled 58% during the past 12 months.

Trump extends ceasefire in Iran, citing 'seriously fractured' Iranian government

Trump's announcement came after an expected trip by Vice President JD Vance to Pakistan for a peace talks with Iranian officials was put on hold.

Trump approval slips as polls show warning signs for Republicans ahead of midterms

Reuters-Ipsos, AP-NORC and NBC polls show approval in mid-30s, with economy, Iran and immigration concerns

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A trio of political polls indicate public approval of Donald Trump’s management of the US economy, immigration and the Iran conflict is slipping, flashing warning lights for Trump-aligned Republican candidates with six months to go until the US midterm elections.

Polls by Reuters-Ipsos poll, Strength in Numbers-Verasight and AP-NORC had the president’s approval rating hovering in the mid-30s, at 36%, 35% and 33% respectively, which are near his lowest numbers.

Condom maker warns prices may rise due to Iran war supply disruptions

Karex, which calls itself the "world's largest condom maker," could hike the company's prices by 20% to 30%, its CEO told Reuters.

Will gas dip below $3 a gallon this year? Here's what experts think.

It could take months for U.S. gas prices to recede to their level before the outbreak of war in Iran, economists and energy experts say.

Boeing CEO says 'all systems are go' to increase 737 production as company narrows loss

Boeing expects certification of new Max 7 and 10 models later this year, with deliveries starting in 2027.

The Bafta games awards showed me again that honouring art over commerce is a win for all

From mega hit Clair Obscur to the genius Blue Prince, the winners at this year’s event help me refocus on why games really matter

The 22nd Bafta game awards were on Friday, and Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 took the biggest game prize. This makes it only the second game ever (after Baldur’s Gate 3) to win top prize at all five of the main awards shows: the Dice awards in Vegas; the Game awards in LA; the public-voted Golden Joysticks in the UK; the Game Developers Choice awards in San Francisco; and now London’s Baftas, the final event to celebrate the gaming output of 2025.

I’ll be honest: I was hoping for a different winner. Blue Prince, an eight-year project by the visual artist and former film-maker Tonda Ros, is the most extraordinary thing I played last year. It’s the game where you inherit a sprawling mansion that changes shape every day, and you must navigate its ever-shifting blueprint to find its secret room. I went so deep on this game that I was still playing it and thinking about it weeks after solving its initial mystery, piecing together bits of opaque lore from Reddit threads. I think it deserved at least one best game award (apart from ours).

Going bald? There’s a subreddit for that – and it’s weirdly wonderful

Being hairless on top has never been in style, but r/bald members encourage one another in the face of insecurity

I was sitting in a cafe a few weeks ago when I overheard a rare bit of sunny talk about advances in medicine and technology when a woman said: “Nobody will be bald in the future.” The way she said it made me think of people in the 1950s imagining the 21st century as a world with flying cars, sassy robot maids and no wars; a world where everybody has hair on their heads is possible.

Bald has never exactly been in style, but these days, it feels like going bald is tougher than ever. It can feel lonely watching all those clumps fall out when you’re in the shower. Yes, there have been plenty of advances in hair restoration, and treatments have been proven to help some people avoid getting to the point where they need a doctor to surgically redistribute the follicles from the back to the front of their heads. But it won’t work for everybody, and people will still lose their hair as long as genetics and hormones have a say.

Emma the joke-telling robot cracks up the care home: Paula Hornickel’s best photograph

‘The first resident that Emma – a social robot – was introduced to was called Peter. After that, Emma assumed they were all called Peter, which everyone found hilarious. Then she broke down’

One morning in July 2025, I arrived in the small, quiet town of Albershausen in south-west Germany. It has only around 4,000 inhabitants. I went to visit a care home where they were piloting a social robot named Emma. A group of residents sat in a circle while Emma stood in the middle. She’s the height of a toddler, with big googly eyes, and was wearing a red hat knitted for her by one of the careworkers. The first resident she was introduced to was called Peter and, after he introduced himself, Emma assumed they were all called Peter, which everyone found hilarious. Then Emma broke down suddenly and the illusion was shattered.

Later on, Emma was working again, and I found her in the dining room with Waltraud, the resident in this photo. It was a calmer, more focused moment. I decided to sit them across from one another at eye level, Waltraud facing Emma. There was a soft light in the room and they both seemed very present with one another. There are also paradoxes in the picture: the large windows showing the landscape outside, contrasting with the inside, which is ordered and clinical. In the middle you have an encounter between an elderly woman and a machine designed for companionship. They began speaking about picking flowers, about their favourite flowers – Waltraud is passionate about them, and Emma has an endless amount of knowledge due to her artificial intelligence. She can remember past conversations and recognise faces, too.