Middle East crisis live: US attacks Iran missile sites as Tehran negotiators hold talks in Qatar

US Central Command claims targets also included boats trying to lay mines, rattling ceasefire, while Iranians meet with Qatari prime minister in Doha

• Israel escalates strikes in Lebanon as Netanyahu vows to ‘crush’ Hezbollah

At the beginning of the war Israel’s security elite warned that Benjamin Netanyahu risked sacrificing the country’s most vital foreign policy asset, bi-partisan support in the United States, in pursuit of regime change in Iran and possibly a boost in an election due by October.

Almost three months on, US opinion polls indicate that a body blow to a decades-old legacy may be the conflict’s most enduring legacy for Israel.

Washington continues to signal optimism, while Tehran insists no agreement is imminent.”

Heatwaves are becoming the norm. This is what Britain will look like in the year 2052 | Bill McGuire

People sleep outside because their houses are too hot to inhabit, water is scarce and supermarkets are for the wealthy

If you think the temperature uncomfortable today, let me take you to the last day of July 2052, the rays of the climbing sun reveal a city still sweltering in the residual heat of the day before. From the air, London resembles a colossal refugee camp. Streets, gardens and parks are teeming with tents and cobbled-together shelters, within which the city’s residents have spent another uncomfortable night away from the heat traps that their houses and flats have become. After six days when the temperature peaked at about 40C, another scorcher is on the way.

Half-hearted attempts to upgrade insulation across the country’s housing stock ran out of steam and cash decades earlier, and most homes still have few barriers to the infiltrating heat. Almost all the country’s electricity is now from renewables, which has brought the cost down, but the relentless onslaught of extreme weather has driven an ever-deepening economic depression across the world. Many now have air conditioning, but can’t afford to run it.

UK security services helped devise act that gave amnesty over Troubles killings

Revelation that policing and state agency figures were in secret policymaking group angers victims’ groups

The British security services were involved in formulating the controversial Legacy Act, which offered an amnesty to soldiers and paramilitiaries despite MI5’s role in many killings during the Northern Ireland Troubles, it can be revealed.

The presence of policing and state agency figures among a secret policymaking group involved in devising the act – a fact established through an investigation by Belfast-based newsletter the Detail and shared with the Guardian – has angered victims’ groups already critical of the legislation.

Asparagus tart and fattoush: Sami Tamimi’s Palestinian recipes for spring

A fresh, fragrant tart and a vibrant, crunchy salad to accompany it – flavours of the season, and of home

The first taste of English asparagus always feels like a quiet celebration, and those fresh, green spears snap with promise after the long winter. That same thrill echoes in the hills of Palestine, where foraging for wild asparagus becomes a small adventure. Eyes scan the ground for slender shoots hiding among thorns, and each find is a victory. At home in the UK, however, I’m obsessed with encasing them in pastry and turning the season’s simplest treasure into a showstopper. I like to serve that with fattoush, and I can’t help but groan whenever I think of my mum’s one; nothing quite matches that comforting bowl with its tangy buttermilk dressing. It’s the version I grew up on, and it’s the one still made across our family. This take has its own charm, though: vibrant, crunchy, herby, and full of tomatoes, cucumbers and toasted pitta.

Two men arrested in connection to Dezi Freeman’s movements after Porepunkah shootings

A 48-year-old and 35-year-old will be interviewed by police after their arrests at two separate locations in north-east Victoria

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Two men have been arrested in connection to Porepunkah shooter Dezi Freeman’s months on the run after he killed two police officers.

Police on Tuesday said detectives had arrested the men – aged 48 and 35 – at two separate locations in north-east Victoria as part of Operation Summit, the investigation into Freeman’s movements after the shootings at Porepunkah.

Country diary: A jaw-dropping bounty of wildlife – and a reminder of what Britain has lost | Amy-Jane Beer

Biebrza marshes, Poland: It’s not just the abundance of elks, orchids and eagles that sets the mind racing, it’s the wild interactions between the ‘exotic’ and the familiar

Have I made a mistake in visiting Biebrza national park? Not that I mind encountering more bird species in a day than I do in a year at home. Nor do I regret meeting a young elk, all gangle and improbable proportions; or kneeling before a clump of lady’s slipper orchid in jaw-droppingly ostentatious bloom among Solomon’s seal and a carpet of lily of the valley. I definitely appreciate the homely clatter of the neighbourhood white storks, and the constant soundtrack of cuckoos and golden orioles. I certainly have no objection to watching the sunset from a wood-fired hot tub, listening to corncrakes as bats emerge and a beaver cruises past.

But something shifts in me when, in the space of a few minutes in an observation tower, we watch three species of marsh tern hanging like precision-engineered angels to tweezer insects from the water’s surface, and a white-tailed eagle hunting greylag geese then settling with its mate in a dead tree to watch a train of common cranes in the field below meeting a lone fox, all leaping as if in mock surprise, before going unconcernedly on their way.

I stopped checking the weather forecast – and got a series of wonderful surprises

Like so many Britons, I usually consult a weather app before venturing out of the house – and often cancel plans if I don’t like what I see. Here’s what happened when I went cold turkey for a week

When I heard on the radio that more than half of British people would consider cancelling an outing if they saw a 40% chance of rain all day on their weather app, I felt seen. I, too, am a slave to my app. Not that I would ever make a decision based on one whole-day percentage. I pore over three-hourly breakdowns for chances of rain versus minutes of sunshine. If rain is on the cards, I check the probable millimetres. Less than one? I may well throw caution to the wind. Speaking of which, wind speed and direction must also be considered, along with overall and “feels like” temperatures. For the cherry on top, I’ll compare notes with a loved one’s app if they use a different one, quietly mistrusting theirs, and simmering in silent rage if theirs wins.

I’ll admit, though, that my compulsion to check my app (I long ago chose WeatherPro, which I knew nothing about, but liked its layout and name) is borderline neurotic; I fret over probabilities and outfit appropriateness, when I could simply step outside for real-time hyper-local accuracy. I can lose procrastinatory hours consulting long-range forecasts, or checking the weather in Melbourne (where my sister lives) and holiday destinations I have no immediate plans to visit.

Trial of Jeffrey Donaldson for alleged sex offences to begin in Newry

Former DUP leader faces charges spanning 21 years in case that triggered political earthquake in Northern Ireland

The trial of former Democratic Unionist party (DUP) leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson for alleged sex offences is set to begin in a case that triggered a political earthquake in Northern Ireland.

Donaldson, 63, is charged with rape, gross indecency and other sexual offences spanning 21 years. His wife, Eleanor Donaldson, 60, is charged with aiding and abetting rape and indecent assault and will be subject to a trial of facts.

‘I’m an absolute gurner. I’m worried’: The Archers stars on their flower power stage show

The hallowed radio show is celebrating 75 glorious years – by stepping out of the studio and on to the stage. We sent the Guardian’s food writer (and Ambridge obsessive) along to meet her heroes and find out more

I’m very careful not to betray my true levels of excitement when I speak to The Archers actor Susie Riddell, before a nationwide theatre tour to mark the rural radio drama’s 75th anniversary. I may be an Ambridge superfan but I still don’t want to scare the horses (nor indeed the cows, pigs or sheep). Riddell’s character Tracy Horrobin (who will be appearing with husband, Jazzer, local lush Lilian and cravat-wearing criminal Brian) is not one to hold back however: “It’s like a dream come true for me too!” she confides, slipping easily into broad Borsetshire. “I never thought I’d see the day that I was interviewed by the Guardian. I’ve seen it in the Bull!”

The Bull, for the uninitiated, is a half-timbered pub on the village green offering ale, artisanal food and, it seems, copies of the Guardian. It’s a thrilling thought: I briefly entertain the idea of rock star turned vegan baker turned wedding caterer turned pub chef Fallon sitting in the snug, poring over my pie recipes in the Guardian. But it’s stretching credibility to believe an old-fashioned village boozer would find room for any reading material more substantial than Farmers Weekly. Riddell concedes the point. “Maybe Helen left it behind?”

Abortion regret is a myth. Irish women don’t need laws to make them ‘reflect’ on their choices | Roe McDermott

More people regret knee surgery than abortion. So why is the patriarchy still scaring us with lifelong torment?

Ireland’s parliament, the Dáil, voted down a reproductive rights amendment bill this month that would have abolished the country’s mandatory three-day waiting period for access to an abortion. Supporters of the unsuccessful reform bill, tabled by the Social Democrats, argued that the delay serves no medical purpose.

As the bill moved through political debate and media coverage, those defending the requirement to wait three days from the time of requesting an abortion before care can be accessed barely attempted to argue otherwise, instead structuring their opposition to reform around the idea that women cannot be trusted to know what they want. The waiting period, which is not required in most European countries, was repeatedly described as “a cooling off” period; time to “reflect”, “reconsider”, “rethink”. Supporters of the status quo spoke extensively of wanting to save women from feelings of regret.

Sonny Rollins, trailblazing jazz saxophonist, dies at age 95

Sonny Rollins, the legendary tenor saxophonist known for his bold tone and constant experimentation, has died at 95.

Relentless Knicks sweep Cavaliers and return to NBA finals for first time since 1999

• Knicks ease to victory in Game 4 of Eastern finals

• New York aiming for first championship since 1973

The New York Knicks are back in the NBA finals for the first time since 1999 after another overwhelming victory completed a 4-0 sweep of the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference finals.

The Knicks are in ruthless form as they attempt to win their first NBA championship since 1973. They also swept the Philadelphia 76ers in the Eastern Conference semi-finals and beat the Atlanta Hawks 4-2 in the first round of the playoffs. While their path to the finals in their Eastern Conference has been smooth they will face a stiff test to claim the NBA title. They will face either the reigning champion Oklahoma City Thunder, a team with very few flaws, or the San Antonio Spurs, led by 7ft 4in superstar Victor Wembanyama. The Spurs-Thunder series is tied at 2-2 with Game 5 on Tuesday night.

Sonny Rollins, colossus of jazz saxophone, dies aged 95

One of the last stars of the bebop generation, Rollins was an genius of melodic invention and improvisation, working with Davis, Monk, Coltrane and others

• Sonny Rollins interview from 2022: ‘I was so close to the sky. It was spiritual’

Sonny Rollins, one of the greatest jazz saxophonists of all time, has died aged 95.

His death was announced on his website on Monday, “with deep sorrow and profound love”. His publicist Terri Hinte also confirmed the news.

Ozzy Osbourne AI avatar will be ‘so tasteful’, Jack Osbourne says after fan backlash

Lifesize avatar of former Black Sabbath frontman will be created by tech companies Hyperreal and Proto Hologram

A year after his death, Ozzy Osbourne is set to be recreated as a lifesized AI-powered avatar, his family have announced – but fans aren’t entirely happy.

The late rocker’s son Jack and his wife, Sharon, announced on 20 May at Licensing Expo, an event for brands in Las Vegas, that the family had partnered with tech companies Hyperreal and Proto Hologram to create an Ozzy Osbourne avatar.

What to know about the chemical tank in California that forced evacuations

The tank at GKN Aerospace is estimated to contain 7,000 gallons of methyl methacrylate, a volatile chemical used to produce plastics.

Vivid Sydney cancels shows after 89 drones plunge into Darling Harbour

Event organisers blame ‘unforeseen technical difficulties’ for the drone malfunction, with four performances cancelled

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About 90 drones have plummeted from the sky and plunged into Sydney’s Darling Harbour during an aerial drone show, prompting a second event to be cancelled later in the evening.

Vivid Sydney said “unforeseen technical difficulties” occurred during Monday’s 7.30pm performance of the show, called Star-Bound, resulting in 89 drones falling into the water at Cockle Bay in Darling Harbour. No injuries have been reported.

Ukraine war briefing: Russia pressures US to clear way for attacks on Kyiv

Sergei Lavrov tells Marco Rubio that Washington should evacuate its embassy because Moscow is planning ‘systematic strikes’. What we know on day 1,553

Sergei Lavrov pressured the US to evacuate staff from its embassy in Kyiv during a phone call with the US secretary of state, Marco Rubio, on Monday. Russia has threatened “systematic strikes” on the capital and demanded that foreigners leave. The Ukrainian foreign minister, Andrii Sybiha, urged Kyiv’s allies not to give in to “Russian blackmail”. Katarina Mathernova, the head of the EU mission in Kyiv, said the 27-nation bloc was “not going anywhere”. Mathernova said: “Russia wants fear, panic, isolation of Ukraine. It will not work. The EU is not going anywhere. We are staying in Kyiv. We are staying with Ukraine.” On Tuesday, Rubio told reporters that Russia had “sent a notice to all the embassies”, not just the US one.

In Kyiv, rescuers tackled the aftermath of Sunday’s strikes, which authorities said killed at least four people and injured 91. More than 70 foreign diplomats paid their respects to the victims of the strikes, visiting the heavily damaged neighbourhood of Lukyanivka. Agence France-Presse reported that Kyiv residents returned to their normal routines on Monday – sunbathing on terraces, playing in the streets, sitting at cafes – with some saying they had become desensitised after more than four years of war.

“We’re used to it,” said Roman, a 36-year-old firefighter who helped clear the ruins from one of many destroyed buildings. “Emotions take a back seat,” he said as behind him a young man stepped over a heap of charred debris, taking care not to spill his latte macchiato. On one street, children played metres from the site of a Russian strike. “Watch out for glass!” one woman shouted at them.

After one coffee shop was damage by a strike, dozens of Kyiv residents flocked to support the business, queueing up to make orders despite the damage. The owner, Yevgen Prusak, became a minor social media celebrity after serving hot drinks to rescuers through the blown-out windows of his shop. “Yesterday I thought I was going to close for good,” said Prusak, the 35-year-old owner of Hogo cafe. But seeing customers come back, “I understood who I’m working for”.

Among the buildings damaged was the Kyiv-Mohyla Academy, a small college that specialises in liberal arts. Mykola, 17, and Maksym, 18, came to class despite the attack. “We don’t give this so much meaning. Life is not stopping,” said Mykola. “It affects sleep the most,” said Mykola. “I’ve gotten used to it, but before, at the beginning, it was downright stressful.”

‘My head spins with the heat’: India’s gig workers battle exhaustion amid soaring temperatures

Cities across south and south-east Asia are becoming places where informal workers can no longer recover from the heat

By the time Jalaj Jha begins getting ready for work each morning, he already feels drained. Awakening in a cramped room in Delhi, with no ventilation except a rattling fan pushing hot air around, the 24-year-old gig worker has ahead of him a 12-hour shift delivering groceries.

“I barely sleep three or four hours in this heat,” Jha said, wiping dust off his motorbike, which he uses for deliveries. “I wake up exhausted. It feels like my body is pulling me down.”

President Sheinbaum allows Iran team to stay in Mexico during World Cup after US refusal

Fifa approached Mexico after US declined to host Iran squad despite it playing group games in the United States

Mexico’s president, Claudia Sheinbaum, said on Monday her government agreed to allow the Iranian national football team to stay in Mexico during the World Cup, adding that the US did not want to host the team.

The team will still play its group stage matches in the US but its base has been moved to Tijuana, Mexico, just south of San Diego, California, a move that Iran’s football federation announced recently and that was formally confirmed by Fifa, the sport’s governing body, on Monday.

Honoring fallen U.S. service members on Memorial Day

In celebrations throughout the country, communities honored the lives of fallen U.S. service members. Jericka Duncan takes a look at the history of Memorial Day.

Remembering CBS News' Paul Douglas and James Brolan 20 years after their deaths

On this Memorial Day, we remember CBS News cameraman Paul Douglas and soundman James Brolan, who were killed 20 years ago by a car bomb in Iraq.

Here's what the draft memo for a proposed deal with Iran includes

A draft memorandum includes a 60-day ceasefire extension and the halt of fighting on all fronts, sources say.

High gas prices and storms hamper Memorial Day travel weekend

Millions of drivers hit the road for a record-breaking Memorial Day travel weekend despite high gas prices. Meanwhile, three days of relentless rain in the northeast U.S. hampered travel plans. Skyler Henry has more.

Shooting near White House raises security concerns ahead of America's 250th birthday celebrations

Saturday's shooting near the White House has raised security concerns ahead of summer celebrations to mark America's 250th birthday. The shooter, who was killed after opening fire on a Secret Service checkpoint, had previously blocked a White House entry lane last June, court records show. Nicole Sganga reports.

Residents near California chemical tank forced to flee: "You're freaking out"

Emergency crews raced overnight to prevent a tank holding a volatile industrial chemical from exploding at an aerospace facility in Southern California.

Risk of catastrophic blast from California chemical leak eliminated, but other concerns remain

The threat of a catastrophic explosion from a chemical vapor leak in Orange County, California, was ruled out Monday after officials discovered a crack in a failing tank at GKN Aerospace Saturday night. Concerns of a smaller explosion still remain. Jonathan Vigliotti reports.

Ahead of the World Cup, pressure to win and grow American soccer is on Tim Ream's mind

Hoping to make the roster for the U.S. Men's National team going to the World Cup, Tim Ream knows there's a lot riding on the tournament, from playing well to growing a new generation of fans at home.

‘A tsunami of harm’: views on tackling online safety for under-16s in the UK

Campaigners, teenagers, legislators and experts give their opinions on the government’s social media consultation

Change is coming for social media platforms. The UK government’s consultation on improving online safety for children will result in some form of action being taken against big tech. Even before the deadline for submissions has passed, ministers have pledged to introduce an Australia-style social media ban for under-16s or restrictions on “addictive” features such as infinite scrolling.

There is overwhelming pressure from safety campaigners and MPs for a further crackdown on social media platforms, despite the introduction of the Online Safety Act, which requires tech firms to shield children from harmful content. The deadline for contributions is Tuesday night and the government has promised to act swiftly.

Home favourite Monfils bows out of French Open for last time after 21 years of thrills

• 39-year-old beaten 6-2, 6-3, 3-6, 2-6, 6-0 by Hugo Gaston

• Stan Wawrinka also loses in first round to Jesper de Jong

Ninety minutes into Gaël Monfils’ dernière danse in the city of his birth, it seemed like nothing could stop the inevitable. Monfils looked every milli­second of his 39 years of age as he was thoroughly outplayed for two sets. A forgettable ending to his love story with Roland Garros.

Over the past 21 years, though, forgettable would be the very last way to describe his presence at this event. He has been the architect of so many delirious days and nights in Paris, a magnet for drama, spectacle and unfettered joy. It came as no surprise to see Monfils, an iconic showman, fight with everything he had, dragging himself back into a messy, turbulent contest before he was overcome physically by his own significant efforts.

Wander Franco found criminally responsible for abusing minor, avoids jail time

A Dominican judge has ruled that Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Wander Franco is criminally responsible for the sexual and psychological abuse of a minor but will not serve a sentence.

Explosion threat at southern California chemical tank eliminated, firefighters say

US officials credit overnight cooling and monitoring for stabilising tank after leak fears triggered mass evacuation

Firefighters contending with an overheating tank of hazardous chemicals in southern California said they had eliminated the threat of the tank exploding in an overnight operation, Orange county fire officials said on Monday.

The damaged chemical tank in southern California had cracked over the weekend, which authorities were hopeful would relieve pressure and reduce the risk of an explosion.

5/25: CBS Evening News

President Trump says Iran deal will be a "great and meaningful" pact or there will be no deal; Memorial Day honors fallen U.S. service members

Record May highs sweep across France as extreme heat hits western Europe

Mercury in Spain also climbs to well above normal with weather event set to continue for several more days

More than 350 French towns have recorded their highest-ever temperatures for May as France and the UK set national heat records amid an extreme early-summer heat event that could see the mercury rise to 40C in parts of Spain by the end of the week.

The UK’s Met Office said the country’s all-time record for May was broken when a temperature of 34.8C was recorded at London’s Kew Gardens.

Rays’ Franco criminally responsible for sexual abuse of minor but will not be jailed

• Girl’s mother sentenced to 10 years in prison

• Shortstop has yet to contact his team

Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Wander Franco was declared criminally responsible for the sexual and psychological abuse of a minor, but he will not serve a sentence, a Dominican judge ruled on Monday.

In his decision, Judge José Antonio Núñez considered that Franco had been the victim of extortion and blackmail by the minor’s mother, who was sentenced to 10 years in prison for sexually trafficking her daughter.

Guardiola’s farewell bash: old faces, rock stars and a surprise from Khadija Shaw

Former players and Noel Gallagher saluted the departing manager while Khadija Shaw revealed she is staying with Manchester City

How to top Pep Guardiola’s tearful farewell after Sunday’s final match leading Manchester City against Aston Villa at the Etihad Stadium?

Simple: 24 hours later sell out the Co-op Live next door, that can hold up to 23,500, and move the dial to jubilation and put on a ticker-tape showered show for the departing Catalan that followed the men’s, women’s and youth team’s bus parade in blazing sunshine from the Northern Quarter.

Enhanced Games rejects mistaken world record timing claims as ‘internet drivel’

• Gkolomeev’s time in men’s 50m freestyle disputed

• Organisers launch defence of timing apparatus

The Enhanced Games has dismissed suggestions by online sleuths that a world record set in Sunday’s event was mistakenly timed, calling them “completely unfounded internet drivel”.

Some accounts on Instagram had noted that the Greek swimmer Kristian Gkolomeev appeared to touch the wall after his time of 20.81 seconds in the men’s 50m freestyle flashed up on screen.

Oil prices fall 7% after Trump says Iran talks are 'proceeding nicely'

Trump had said an agreement with Iran to open the Strait of Hormuz, among other issues, was largely negotiated and would be announced soon.

After Stephen Colbert's viral talk show parody, CBS backs down from copyright action

CBS and Paramount backed away from copyright challenges to limit distribution of Stephen Colbert's appearance on a Michigan cable access show. He ended his run as host of "The Late Show" on Friday.

Trump to get 'routine annual' medical exam 7 months after last visit to Walter Reed

White House boasts Trump's "excellent health" as questions loom over the medical reality of the oldest inaugurated president.

1,500 strangers attend WWII veteran's funeral

Veterans service officer Terrance O'Keefe put out a call from Massachusetts for a World War II veteran who needed a proper hero's send-off. When he arrived at the funeral, a line was already out the church door.

Mature cheese-roller beaten by young, YouTubing upstart

Tom Kopke from Germany out-tumbles local hero Chris Anderson on a meltingly hot day in Gloucestershire

It was billed as the great cheese-off: a helter-skelter, bone-jarring downhill race between the all-time champ and a young upstart.

After the hype and hyperbole, youth won out as the 24-year-old German YouTuber Tom Kopke beat the 38-year-old local hero Chris Anderson at the annual cheese-rolling event in the English West Country.

The story of the Premier League 2025-26 season in 100 photos

A century of our favourite images from the season including wild celebrations, protesting fans and goalmouth scrambles

Reigning champions Liverpool left it late to beat Bournemouth 4-2 on the opening day of the season in their first league game back at Anfield following the death of Diogo Jota. The Reds also squeaked past Newcastle thanks to Rio Ngumoha and then Arsenal, after Dominik Szoboszlai’s stunning free-kick, which won goal of the month. Meanwhile, Manchester City lost 2-0 at home to Tottenham and 2-1 away at Brighton, Everton christened their new home, Hill Dickinson Stadium, with a win, and Sunderland made a strong start on their return to the top flight with two wins from three.

Move over, seltzer. Non-carbonated drinks are taking the spotlight

Non-carbonated alcoholic drinks like Surfside and BeatBox are stealing "share of throat" from hard seltzers, particularly among Gen Z.

‘If Iran gets a bomb it will be Bibi’s’: Trump’s deal outline sparks alarm in Israel

Netanyahu’s joint war with the US began with talk of regime change in Tehran but may leave him with few strategic gains

• Middle East live – latest updates

When Donald Trump launched a pre-emptive war on Iran with Israel in February, many in the country hailed the campaign as the crowning triumph of Benjamin Netanyahu’s political and diplomatic career.

Three months on the regime is still in power in Tehran, Trump is chasing a deal that will reopen the strait of Hormuz to oil tankers, and the reported terms have provoked alarm, dismay and anger in Israel.

Agony and ecstasy in La Liga after a survival battle for the ages | Sid Lowe

At the end of a ‘crazy, crazy day’, Elche were safe. But opponents, Girona, were down with Mallorca and Oviedo

Eder Sarabia wasn’t out there to see the tightest, tensest battle there has ever been end with liberation at last, but his mum and dad were and he wasn’t far away. Suspended for the final night of a season like no other, Elche’s coach was hidden down in the dressing room instead, watching the game that he knew was “us or them” on a TV set perched precariously upon a metal crate. There, as staff ran in and out delivering messages until it was his turn to set off on a sprint, he saw the match that defined five teams’ fate finish 1-1. Mobile in hand, alerts beeping, most of all he saw suffering. “Terrible, terrible, terrible,” he called it later, but by then at least it was done. Elche were safe. Their opponents, Girona, were down. Real Mallorca, like Real Oviedo, were going with them.

“Crazy, crazy day, crazy match, a lot of emotions: this league was really crazy,” Sarabia said. He had spent much of it surrounded by clothes on hooks and flags taped to walls; like everyone else, he had also spent it, he said, “on the edge of the precipice”. From the visitors’ dressing room at Montilivi, he had seen Álvaro Rodríguez score the kind of goal that wins cups in cartoons, tearfully dedicating it to his late dad, and Arnau Martínez equalise. He had seen cameras zoom in on his parents in the stands and wondered how Manu, a former footballer who doesn’t so much watch games as broadcast them, looked so calm when they were a goal from losing it all. He had seen Thomas Lemar hit Elche’s bar, “+7” appear on the screen, and his goalkeeper catch a cross on 95.55, Matías Dituro triumphantly holding the ball like Rafiki on Pride Rock, but it still wasn’t over.

Spread of Ebola in DRC ‘outpacing’ response efforts, warns WHO

Director general of World Health Organization urges neighbouring countries to take immediate action

The World Health Organization has warned that the Ebola outbreak is outpacing response efforts and countries neighbouring the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) are at high risk from the disease.

“We are urgently scaling up operations, but at the moment the epidemic is outpacing us,” said the WHO’s director-general, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, as he urged neighbouring countries to take immediate action.

George Russell up for the fight as he sets sights on reeling in Mercedes teammate | Giles Richards

Engine failure in Canada is latest setback for British driver, who is 43 points behind teenager Kimi Antonelli after five races

George Russell was left wondering quite which deity he had offended as he despairingly contemplated his retirement from the Canadian Grand Prix with a mechanical failure. Fortune, for good or ill, will always play a part but what also became clear in Montreal is that Russell’s teammate and championship leader, Kimi Antonelli, is going to be fearsomely hard to beat this season, whatever the circumstances.

Russell ground to a halt on the circuit Gilles Villeneuve on lap 30 after a thrilling battle with his Mercedes teammate that had ebbed and flowed. The British driver deserved better, the two had been exchanging the lead and going side by side repeatedly, inches apart and trading paint on one occasion, only for Russell’s efforts to count for naught as he went out not with a whimper when the systems on his car shut down due to battery failure.

Rebecca Hendin on Farage and the £5m – cartoon

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Memorial near West Point for fallen U.S. soldiers is about "doing hard things together"

Here's how cadets at West Point remember fallen soldiers with a unique memorial. This segment originally aired on "CBS Saturday Morning" on May 23.

Buying a car? Here are some tips to save money.

Here are the financial considerations to make when shopping for a new vehicle amid high car prices.

Zero Real Madrid players in Spain World Cup squad as injured Lamine Yamal makes cut

• Luis de la Fuente names 26-man squad for tournament

• Real Madrid players miss Spain squad for first time

Spain will go to the World Cup without a single Real Madrid player for the first time in their history as Luis de la Fuente named his 26-man squad for this summer’s tournament.

While Real stars such as Dean Huijsen, Dani Carvajal and Gonzalo García miss out, De la Fuente included Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal, who tore his left hamstring on 22 April and missed the rest of his club’s La Liga campaign.

Plus-ones: Taylor Swift’s decision to limit her wedding guest list could be a lesson to us all

Deciding who can come along to your big day is always a sensitive issue. But Tay-Tay may have known what she was doing when she banned a singleton from bringing a friend

Name: Plus-ones.

Age: Bringing a partner along has been going on a while, possibly since Noah invited a pair of every animal on board the ark …

Oppressing women is how authoritarianism begins. So listen to what Reform is saying | Zoe Williams

We saw it when Russia jailed members of Pussy Riot, and again when the US overturned Roe v Wade: misogyny is a powerful political weapon. Let’s focus on fighting it, not ‘understanding’ it

In preparation for interviewing Pussy Riot’s Maria “Masha” Alyokhina at the Charleston festival, I was reading her new memoir, Political Girl. I thought I remembered the group’s origin story pretty well – in 2012, they performed their anthem, Punk Prayer (Virgin Mary Banish Putin), and two band members were imprisoned for two years in a penal colony, then released slightly early in order to sanitise the country’s reputation before the Sochi Olympics in 2014. Upon release, they immediately went on to protest at those Olympics, the courage of which is jaw-dropping.

That was missing a few key details: Alyokhina had never even been detained for an act of protest when she was arrested, strip-searched and jailed for this. We weren’t looking at a thin-skinned but otherwise democratic government, overreacting in the way that young democracies sometimes do. The detention of Pussy Riot signalled a significant shift towards the aggressive authoritarianism that is now self-evident, and, in those early days, was expressed and mobilised through misogynistic, patriarchal values-setting built on Christian nationalist foundations. At their trial, one lawyer argued that “feminism is a mortal sin”. Alyokhina was pilloried for being a bad mother (her son was four when she was imprisoned). If Pussy Riot weren’t on trial for being women per se, certainly their cultural act of defiance was immeasurably worsened by the fact that they weren’t men.

Nigel Farage’s Russian hack claim ‘without any merit’, former NCSC chief says

Ciaran Martin says Reform UK leader’s allegation over Guardian report on £5m gift ‘entirely unsubstantiated’

Nigel Farage’s claim that a Russian hack was behind a Guardian report on the £5m gift he received from a crypto billionaire has been described as “without any merit” by a former head of the National Cyber Security Centre.

Ciaran Martin, founding chief executive of the agency, which is part of GCHQ, said Farage’s allegation, if true, would have major implications for UK policy towards Russia but that the Reform UK leader had yet to provide “a shred of evidence”.

Shock of Iran war unites Middle East rivals in pushing Trump towards peace

Region adapting to diminished US power after Washington fails to land knockout blow on Tehran or safeguard allies

• Middle East crisis – live updates

The shock of the Iran war and its fallout has driven rivals in the Middle East to get behind a peace deal, pushing the Trump administration to accept a tentative agreement in the face of furious opposition from Israel and its supporters in Washington.

The diplomatic efforts come as the region is reshaping to adapt to diminished US power after Washington’s inability to land a knockout blow on Iran, force the opening of the strait of Hormuz or safeguard its Gulf allies. Tehran has few friends in the region, but the regime’s survival has meant that its neighbours have had to find an accommodation.

On the world’s longest golf course, the fairways are rough and the dog-legs might be dingoes’

Stretching 1,365km across the remote Australian outback, the unique challenge of the Nullarbor Links takes a week to complete and inspires devotion among the players

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About 15,600km from St Andrews in Scotland and about 17,000km from Mar-a-Lago in Florida sits Eucla, Western Australia, where on a fine sunny day the players from an extraordinary golf tournament pose for a photo.

They’re playing the Nullarbor Links, the world’s longest golf course, which runs for 1,365km (850 miles) across ancient, arid desert in outback Australia. Other than the game itself, it has nothing whatever in common with its famous counterparts – or any other golf course in the world.

Tui faces scrutiny over E coli-linked death of baby after holiday in Egypt

Two other small British children who stayed at same hotel fell critically ill from same condition months earlier

The travel company Tui is under scrutiny over its safety protocols after a British baby girl died from a gastric illness following a stay at an Egyptian hotel – the same resort where two other children were left critically ill from the same condition months earlier.

Ariella Mann, one, died in January from a kidney condition linked to E coli after falling ill at the five‑star Jaz Makadi Aquaviva hotel in Hurghada on an all‑inclusive two‑week package holiday booked through Tui.

How Americans are handling a gas price spike

Gas prices are the highest since 2022, shifting how some Americans are choosing to spend their money. Kris Van Cleave reports.

Tributes pour out for Kyle Busch after sudden death as family makes appearance at Coca-Cola 600

Tributes have poured out since Kyle Busch's sudden death last Thursday. His wife and children were honored on Sunday at the Coca-Cola 600, which Busch was planning to compete in. Michael George reports.

White House shooting suspect had history of run-ins with Secret Service, court documents show

The suspect who allegedly opened fire at a Secret Service checkpoint outside the White House on Saturday had previous run-ins with law enforcement in the same area, court records show. Nicole Sganga has more.

Thai rescuers join effort to free seven people trapped in Laos cave

Group have been stuck in flooded cave in central Laos for five days after heavy rain caused landslides

Divers who helped in the dramatic rescue of a young Thai football team in 2018 have joined efforts to free seven people who have been trapped for five days inside a remote, flooded cave in central Laos.

The group entered the cave in Xaysomboun province on Wednesday to hunt for wildlife and search for gold, reports suggest. Heavy rain led to landslides, which blocked the cave entrance.

‘Bowie compared us to T Rex. Couldn’t get any better’: the Mekons on how they made Where Were You?

‘It’s about loneliness, really. It was the total opposite of that “It’s Friday night, let’s have sex” macho mentality that was in most rock music at the time’

Most of the people who started the Mekons and Gang of Four were on the same fine art course at Leeds University. In December 1976 we went to see the Anarchy tour at the nearby polytechnic. I liked the Sex Pistols but the Clash, in their paint-spattered clothes, sounded particularly great. It was the first time I saw a band and thought: “That could be me up there.”

Memorial Day travel hits snags as gas prices reach highest level since 2022

Gas prices in the U.S. are at their highest levels since 2022, prompting some Americans to rethink their Memorial Day travel. Olivia Rinaldi has the latest.

Chemical leak in California's Orange County forces 50,000 people to evacuate

A leaking chemical tank in Cypress, California, is at risk of exploding, officials say, and at least 50,000 people have been forced to evacuate. Lana Zak has the latest.

Each side spins a different story about the US-Iran peace talks – but Tehran may have the last word | Rajan Menon

The twists and turns in this saga are bewildering, but Donald Trump appears to have the cards stacked against him

For those following the crisis between the US and Iran, the past few days have been bewildering. On Friday, the six-week-old ceasefire seemed doomed. Donald Trump skipped his son’s wedding to remain in the White House and was reportedly contemplating renewed military strikes on Iran. On Saturday, apprehension was replaced by optimism. Trump announced that an agreement with Iran would be concluded “shortly”. On Sunday, the US secretary of state, Marco Rubio, added to the hope by saying that there would soon be “good news”.

Iran’s leaders soon dampened the optimism. The country’s media dismissed Trump’s social media post as propaganda, and Iranian officials highlighted several remaining points of dispute. As Tehran began revealing – in very general terms – its conception of a deal, the gap between it and Washington became even more evident.

Bows, bounce and rule breakers: week two on the red carpet at the Cannes film festival – in pictures

As La Croisette closes for another year, here are the most memorable looks from its final week

Delivery robots are spreading across LA. Residents ‘both pity and hate them’

A region known for its lack of walkability now has more obstacles for pedestrians to contend with

Robots have taken over Los Angeles.

It’s not just the AI-generated videos that have caused angst in Hollywood. Our streets are full of driverless Waymo vehicles, covered in more sensors and gadgets than the Batmobile. And our walkways are home to fleets of boxes on wheels, hurrying past pedestrians and navigating outdoor bar-hoppers as the robots deliver smoothies and keto-friendly salads.

Organ grinders, cheese rollers and lotus lanterns: photos of the day – Monday

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

Trump says U.S. and Iran nearing a peace deal. And, Pope Leo weighs in on AI's rise

President Trump says that a deal with Iran to end the war is largely negotiated. And, Pope Leo XIV weighed in today on the rise of AI during his first encyclical.

Pope Leo denounces ‘culture of power’ driving rise of AI

Pontiff calls for ‘disarming’ of artificial intelligence and apologises for church’s delay in condemning slavery

Pope Leo has denounced the “culture of power” driving the rapid rise of artificial intelligence while warning that the technology must be subject to the “most rigorous” ethical constraints as it infiltrates everything from work to war.

In his encyclical – the first major text on safeguarding humankind of his papacy – he also apologised for the Catholic church’s long delay in condemning slavery, describing it as “a wound in Christian memory”, and spoke of the “new forms of slavery” due to the digital economy.

Rukmini Iyer’s quick and easy recipe for kimchi tofu noodles with chilli peanuts | Quick and easy

Simple and spicy, this dish is adaptable enough to become a firm favourite with all the family – and it will fill lunchboxes the next day, too

This is one of those rare dishes that I can make both for us and for the children – reserving the kimchi topping and chilli peanuts for the adults, of course. I also like to add the kimchi just before serving for freshness (this helps to keep all the good stuff in it from deactivating, too). Leftovers are excellent in lunchboxes the next day, so it’s well worth making the full quantity and popping the excess in the fridge.

Trump Tower in Georgia to be built on land part-owned by son of US sanctions-hit leader

Links between Trump Organization and Ivanishvili family for Tbilisi skyscraper raise new conflict of interest concerns

A Trump Tower planned for the Georgian capital, Tbilisi, is to be built on land currently part-owned by the son of the US-sanctioned leader of the country, according to official records.

The proposed skyscraper, a joint venture between a local consortium and the Trump Organization, which is managed by the US president’s sons, Donald Trump Jr and Eric Trump, will be on a plot whose current registered owner is the International Charity Fund Cartu.

Tuner review – Leo Woodall and Dustin Hoffman in sweet harmony in safe-cracking thriller

Playing a piano tuner with super sensitive hearing, Woodall’s relationship with Hoffman is a tender highlight in this unforced crime drama

Leo Woodall’s breakout TV roles in The White Lotus and One Day offered a megawatt charisma, but for his biggest film role to date he dims it to a soft glow with gentle performance opposite Dustin Hoffman as one of a pair of New York piano tuners. And what a pair they are; they are a real pleasure to watch in an easy, unforced drama that mixes romcom moments with a relaxed crime thriller. It’s like the Safdie brothers in chill out mode.

Woodall plays Niki, a tuner with exceptionally sensitive hearing who constantly wears earplugs to block out the deafeningly loud world. Niki works for veteran tuner Harry Horowitz, played with irresistible warmth by Hoffman. It’s highly skilled work but a running joke in the film is that rich clients treat them like odd job men – would you mind just unblocking the loo while you’re here?

A Louisiana state senator helped secure Meta’s largest datacenter. Then he sold the land beside it

Jay Morris denies experts’ claims that he violated ethics rules over land deals near the site of Meta’s Hyperion datacenter

This story is from Floodlight, a non-profit newsroom that investigates the powers stalling climate action

For more than two years, John “Jay” Morris, a Louisiana state senator, helped pave the way for Meta to build one of the world’s largest datacenters, called Hyperion, in Richland Parish.

Vietnam vets say opposing Trump's arch is about being "loyal to the country"

"I think it's just disrespectful to those that I served with who didn't come back," a veteran suing to stop construction of the arch told CBS News.

The language of the American presidency doesn’t apply to Trump | Robert Reich

Trump and his allies have so undermined the US government that we need a new vocabulary to describe them

Words matter. When describing a government, they inevitably carry moral weight.

Over the past 16 months, Trump and his appointees have so profoundly undermined the United States government that different words should be used to describe them than have been used to describe all previous administrations.

Robert Reich, a former US secretary of labor, is a professor of public policy emeritus at the University of California, Berkeley. He is a Guardian US columnist and his newsletter is at robertreich.substack.com. His new book, Coming Up Short: A Memoir of My America, is out now in the US and in the UK

From racy riders to romantic rivals: Jilly Cooper’s best books – ranked!

The second series of Rivals has put the bestselling author’s brand of saucy jollity back on screen, but what is her bonkbuster nonpareil?

In the last of Jilly Cooper’s Rutshire Chronicles – her epic, engrossing sagas of bucolic life among horse-riding poshos – Rupert Campbell-Black, template-handsome cad turned loving husband, is now (I did the maths) 67. Taggie has cancer, which is bracing, since the Chronicles as a whole rarely brush with mortality. I was astonished to learn that Cooper did 15 months of rewrites, following interventions from a sensitivity reader; it is not that sensitive, certainly not on class. Bianca, Rupert and Taggie’s daughter, has fallen in love with a footballer (“from the gu’er” – the Ts are silent) and her father buys a local club to keep them both in the postcode. Cue improbable league successes that make your heart soar.

Why Michigan is emerging as one of America’s worst-hit climate states

The state saw 33 tornadoes last year and severe flooding as researchers say links to climate change are undeniable

The tornado hit west Ann Arbor at 1.45am on 15 April, passing through Veterans Memorial park, where it knocked several mature oak trees and ripped up baseball field fences before setting its sights on a local ice rink.

“It came up through the parking lot and, in that time, the pressure differential between the tornado and the air inside the rink collapsed the wall,” said Scott Spooner, a manager at Ann Arbor Parks and Recreation.

Revealed: the internal BHP memo that slammed the brakes on world’s biggest miner’s climate push

Exclusive: BHP once dubbed climate change an ‘existential’ threat. But leaked documents show it has backtracked on decarbonisation at a vast network of mines

• Read more from the BHP files investigation here

In the middle of 2019, London was sweltering through a heatwave.

Temperature records tumbled. Frail, ill and elderly people died in their hundreds.

Australian taxpayers subsidise Big Mining’s use of fossil fuel to the tune of $4bn a year. It’s a strange way to tackle emissions | Adam Morton

Given the scale of its contribution to global heating, the world’s biggest miner has a duty to invest heavily in solutions that could have a global impact

• Revealed: the internal BHP memo that slammed the brakes on world’s biggest miner’s climate push

• Read more from the BHP files investigation here

• Sign up for Adam Morton’s free Clear Air newsletter here

The revelation that BHP cancelled and delayed commitments to act on the climate crisis should be a wake-up call.

It matters in its own right: millions of tonnes of additional heat-trapping pollution will go into the atmosphere, adding to climate harm and making Australia’s climate targets that much harder to reach.

Sign up to get climate and environment editor Adam Morton’s Clear Air column as a free newsletter

U.S. military strikes Iran as Trump says negotiations move forward for deal to end war

The U.S. military announced strikes against Iranian positions just hours after President Trump says more countries should normalize ties with Israel in any Iran deal, tempering expectations of peace.

No Winter Holidays review – haunting portrait of female companionship in Nepal’s frozen highlands

Two widows of the same man remain behind in an abandoned mountain village in Rajan Kathet and Sunir Pandey’s visually arresting documentary

In the valley of Dhorpatan in western Nepal, winter arrives with unforgiving intensity. Clouds of freezing mist gradually descend, making the rocky terrain look starkly barren, a lonesome void amid vertiginous mountain ranges. At this time of the year, most of the inhabitants migrate south to warmer regions – except for two. Unfolding at a languid pace, Rajan Kathet and Sunir Pandey’s feature-length documentary debut casts its gaze on Ratima and Kalima, elderly caretakers tasked with watching over the abandoned village. Widows to the same man, they make for an unusual yet beguiling pair whose dynamic wavers between warmth and discord.

The two women’s different temperaments make for an engaging contrast. The older, jaded Ratima spends her days in a haze of alcohol and regrets. Meanwhile, younger Kalima has a sunnier attitude, which she extends to creatures big and small; she even has pet names for the livestock. Once the second wife and hence a romantic rival, Kalima now takes care of the ailing Ratima with sisterly tenderness. Their daily routines – simple meals by the fire, reminiscences about their departed husband – are juxtaposed with expansive wide shots of the desolate landscape.

The pet I’ll never forget: Tilly, the rabbit who taught us how to raise a family

This fluffy menace was harder work than either of our babies. But she did show us how to nurture a creature you can’t reason with

Tilly wasn’t our first choice: my wife and I had fallen for a grey lop-eared charmer in a local shop who was unexpectedly pulled from sale. But we were now determined to acquire a rabbit, so we traipsed from store to store around south-west London, until we saw this tiny ball of brown and white fluff. Suddenly we could imagine no other bunny.

Tilly was many things. When our landlord was around, she was at a friend’s. To the kale producers of Britain, she was a lifeline. To us, she was affectionate, but with a strong sense of personal space – you could tell when she wanted to be touched and when she did not.

American Music Awards air tonight with star-studded performances

The American Music Awards celebrate fan favorites in the music world and feature performances from multiple artists.

In Beirut, refugee girls and women learn more than self-defense in martial arts class

In the male-dominated world of Palestinian refugee camps in Lebanon, a martial arts teacher offers women a way to empowerment.

Pope Leo takes aim at big tech in sweeping encyclical on AI

"Magnifica Humanitas" tackles the social, economic and political challenges associated with artificial intelligence.

Parts of England expected to hit 35C in ‘unprecedented’ May heatwave

Monday predicted to be hottest May day on record by large margin, as climate crisis makes 30C days more common

Temperatures are expected to hit 35C in parts of England on Monday, in an “unprecedented” May heatwave.

The Met Office is already predicting that records will be broken. A spokesperson said: “Today will be the hottest day in May in the UK in our temperature records, with highs of 35C expected. The current May record is 32.8C. Records are usually only broken by tenths of a degree, making this heatwave unprecedented for the time of year.”

The one change that worked: I struggled to get any work done – until I bought a kitchen timer

After years of procrastination, even the most trivial task felt like climbing a mountain. Then I discovered the pomodoro technique – and how much I could achieve in just 25 minutes

Long before I knew what a 9 to 5 was, I struggled to get things done. When I was a child, I avoided showers for as long as possible and put off brushing my waist-length hair. My mum ended up cutting it into a bob to help me manage it.

During my degree, this tendency to procrastinate meant I was regularly pulling all-nighters in the library, writing 3,000-word essays in single evenings, fuelled by energy drinks and snacks. I told myself that I worked better under pressure – and in a way I did, since it always got done. But the relief of submitting work was always overshadowed by the same question – why had I put myself through that again?

‘A masterclass in lesbian eroticism’: why Bound is my feelgood movie

The latest in our ongoing series of writers celebrating their most rewatched comfort films is a pick for 1996’s revealing and relatable romantic thriller

I’m not necessarily inclined towards what might typically be dubbed “feelgood”. No, you won’t find me seduced by a happy ending, nor am I partial to the oeuvre of Disney (in fact, I find all the talking animals and poreless princesses a bit grotesque). The raw edges and friction of feelbad have tended to be much better suited to my tastes: the porno chic slasher Knife+Heart, the sartorial murder of In Fabric and the snuff film-obsessed Thesis. Sex and gore, basically. For a long time, my favourite film was Crimes of the Future: a stomach-churning body horror about sexual-surgical experiments.

However, there is one movie that reveals a slightly soft(er)core side to my viewing habits, which I frequently return to in order to feel the gushy feelings and butterflies of a school crush. That film is Bound. The 1996 directorial debut from the Wachowski sisters, the plot revolves around an opposites-attract scenario which is both familiar and high stakes: plumber Corky, and mafia moll Violet. When their eyes meet across an elevator, the tiny vestibule becomes thick with sexual tension: it is so on.

What's open and closed for Memorial Day 2026?

Most retail stores will be open for business on Memorial Day, while post offices will be closed. Here's what to know.

'My body carried me,' Elizabeth Smart says. Now she's celebrating it

Her abduction at age 14 drew international attention. After her rescue, Smart says she struggled with feeling shame around her body. Bodybuilding has helped her see herself differently.

COMIC: To raise a confident little talker, learn to speak 'parentese'

So you've got a baby in your life. How do you talk to them, exactly? In this comic, experts explain why conversing with your baby is important — and share ways to help them develop their language skills.

Weather tracker: flash floods in New York and a heat dome in Europe

Rain overwhelms sewer system in parts of US city, while temperatures in France break May record

New York City saw flash flooding on Wednesday, as large parts of Brooklyn and Queens received about 2in (50mm) of rainfall in as little as 20 minutes. Officials said the deluge caused water to flow into the sewer system at a rate of up to 6in an hour, quickly overwhelming an aged network that was designed to accommodate just 1.75in an hour.

Residents and commuters found themselves wading knee-deep through flood water that flowed with dangerous speed in places. One video showed a woman alighting from a bus losing her footing and being dragged along by the torrent of water. Several major roads were blocked, including the Long Island Expressway, and subway services were disrupted as water spilled into stations. Large amounts of mud and other debris was left behind; videos showed bags of rubbish being swept down streets along with loose litter.

A Billion Years of Sex Differences by Steve Stewart-Williams review – what we get wrong about men and women

A psychologist wades into controversial territory in this counterintuitive study of nature, nurture and gender

According to the evolutionary psychologist Steve Stewart-Williams, almost everyone gets sex wrong. Traditionalists tend to exaggerate the natural differences between men and women. Progressives tend to minimise them, and to assume that nurture and socialisation play a decisive role. He wants to promote a more nuanced, scientifically rigorous public conversation about why and how men and women differ to guide better policymaking.

Some sex differences are relatively pronounced, he claims, such as whether you’re primarily attracted to men or women, upper body strength, height, the likelihood you’ll murder someone and occupational interests. Many, such as ability in maths, or conscientiousness, are much more modest. Such differences are best visualised as two overlapping bell curves. To illustrate this, consider height: the shortest humans are almost all women, the tallest are men, the average man is taller than the average woman, but there is considerable common ground. Knowing that someone is 5ft 8in won’t enable you to guess with any confidence whether they are a man or a woman, for instance.

We’re Nothing at All review – bus explosion sets off Hong Kong drama of grief, prejudice and queer identity

A disaster on Valentine’s Day sets off a sprawling tale of hidden lives and social fault lines in director Herman Yau’s ambitious ensemble drama

Prolific Hong Kong film-maker Herman Yau is back with an ambitious, sprawling drama that is, at best, an awkward composite of his past works. We’re Nothing at All kicks off with a moment of rupture: on a seemingly ordinary Valentine’s Day in Hong Kong, a double-decker bus suddenly bursts into flames. The deadly explosion triggers a police inquiry led by Lung (Patrick Tam), a skilled forensics specialist whose investigation reveals a maze of intersecting lives. Much like the volatile opening, the rest of the film luxuriates in paradoxes, where the facade of normalcy is peeled back to reveal poverty, prejudice and despair.

From inspecting the charred bodies of the victims – rendered in lurid closeup – to retracing CCTV footage, Lung’s gathering of clues is crosscut with flashbacks concerning those involved in the explosion. Among the dead are lovers Fai and Ike (played by pop stars Anson Kong and Ansonbean), gay men who have endured economic hardship and family rejection. With its golden hues, the warmth of their intimacy starkly contrasts with Lung’s world of colourless offices and sterile meetings. The juxtaposition is visually fascinating, yet the twin narratives of a police procedural and queer romance are strained, resulting in tonal disorientation.

Is it true that … we should all be taking creatine?

The supplement is a proven sports performance enhancer, but research is ongoing and for most people it’s an optional extra, not an essential

Once the preserve of bodybuilders and sprinters, creatine is now being touted as everything from a brain booster to a healthy-ageing essential. But should we all be taking it? Not quite.

“There’s really substantial evidence of creatine being effective,” says Bethan Crouse, a sports nutritionist at Loughborough University. “From a sport perspective, it’s probably one of the more well-researched supplements in terms of actually having a performance impact.”

Sea-hugging railways and magical views: five of Europe’s best coastal train lines

Dramatic coastal scenery and train rides make a winning combination. Our rail expert picks journeys over and along the sea

Route Inverness to Kyle of Lochalsh
Which side should I sit? The right initially, then switch to left
Distance 83 miles (133km)
Time 2hrs 40mins
Frequency 4 trains a day (2 on Sundays)
Ticket £32 single
Operator ScotRail

Can you solve it? Are you on board with these quirky chess puzzles?

Check it out

UPDATE: Read the answers here

Today’s four puzzles are inspired by chess. (If you haven’t yet watched the recent documentaries on Judit Polgár and Hans Niemann, I recommend them.)

1. Oddities

Anita Rani celebrates awesome women: best podcasts of the week

The presenter meets remarkable public figures, starting with a lovely talk with writer-actor Meera Syal. Plus, a vital deep dive into US supreme court justice Neil Gorsuch

Whistler by Ann Patchett review – a saccharine story of reunion

A woman’s encounter with the stepfather she hasn’t seen for decades leads to a revived bond – but is it all too perfect?

I blame Meryl Streep. Once she’s in your head, it’s hard to kick her out. Streep narrated the audiobook of Tom Lake, Ann Patchett’s last novel, and I’ve played it so many times I listen for the rhythm now, not the story. Or perhaps the rhythm is the story. Nothing much happens in Tom Lake, which is to say that everything happens – life happens – but ever so gently. On a cherry farm in Michigan, a mother tells her restless, world-hungry daughters the tale of a long-ago summer romance, piece by piece, as they work the harvest together. It’s Scheherazade with pie.

Tom Lake is a lovely book, indulgently so. A pandemic novel that imagines the crisis as Edenic: a family thrown together with little to do but talk and remember and cherish one another. Sun-ripe fruit, rescue dogs, the future paused for one last impossible season. Some ingenue glitz; a whiff of tradwifery. A lesson – quite literally – in cherrypicking.