The 2026 NFL Draft: Day 1 recap of first-round picks

The 2026 NFL Draft is underway from Pittsburgh. Here are the Round 1 picks.

NFL draft 2026: Mendoza goes No 1, Cardinals take RB Love at No 3 and Chiefs trade up for Delane – live

• Fernando Mendoza: LinkedIn Lunatic and endearing goofball

• Staff predictions: stars, needs and lower-round gems

• Mail [email protected] with your thoughts

Here comes the NFL Commish!

Roger Goodell walks on and eggs on the boos in Pittsburgh - what a good sport! He’s flanked by TJ Watt and Cam Heyward, just in case the crowd try anything.

Trump says Israel and Lebanon agree to extend ceasefire by three weeks – Middle East crisis live

US president says meeting between Israel’s and Lebanon’s ambassadors to the United States went ‘very well’

The Pentagon abruptly announced that the secretary of the US navy, John Phelan, would be leaving his job yesterday. No reason was given for the unexpected departure of the navy’s top civilian official, who had addressed a large crowd of sailors and industry professionals at the navy’s annual conference in Washington just a day before the announcement.

People familiar with the dynamics at the Pentagon told the Guardian Phelan was fired. Phelan had an increasingly rocky relationship with the US defence secretary, Pete Hegseth, and other senior staff.

4/23: The Takeout with Major Garrett

Trump gives shoot and kill order for boats putting mines in Strait of Hormuz; Chevron CEO expects air travel disruptions due to jet fuel shortage.

US special forces soldier who won $409K on Maduro bet is arrested

The soldier allegedly bet on Nicolás Maduro's removal as president of Venezuela before news of the raid was reported, sources told CBS News.

Planning a summer flight? Book now before prices surge, airline experts say.

"If you haven't booked for this summer, get busy," Atmosphere Research Group Airline industry analyst Henry Harteveldt told CBS News.

1 killed, 5 injured and 5 in custody in shooting at Mall of Louisiana, police say

Police said the shooting appeared to have happened after two groups of people got into an argument in the mall's food court.

Justice Department eases restrictions on some marijuana products

The order places FDA-approved products containing marijuana and state-regulated medical marijuana products at a lower drug classification.

India voices anger after Trump shares comments calling it a ‘hellhole’

Foreign ministry says remarks of conservative podcast host Michael Savage that were shared by US president were ‘obviously uninformed, inappropriate and in poor taste’

India on Thursday criticised as inappropriate a post by Donald Trump in which he shared comments that called the South Asian country a “hellhole”.

The inflammatory post on Truth Social comes ahead of a planned visit next month to India by the US secretary of state, Marco Rubio, who is seeking to ease recent tensions between the normally friendly powers.

The 2026 NFL Draft is happening now. Here's how to watch.

Here is what to know about where and when to watch the 2026 NFL Draft.

US soldier involved in Maduro raid charged over alleged bets on capture

Gannon Ken Van Dyke, who allegedly made more than $400,000 on Polymarket, could face up to 60 years in prison

A US soldier who played a role in the January capture of Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro is now in custody after allegedly cashing in over $400,000 on wagers about the politician’s removal from office, federal authorities announced on Thursday.

Prosecutors say beginning in early December the soldier, Gannon Ken Van Dyke, was involved in planning for the military operation to capture and depose Maduro.

Dallas Police Department throws retirement party for K-9 after he and his officer were shot

Dallas Police Corporal Scott Jay has been in some dangerous situations on the job, but nothing like when he and his K-9 were shot. Tony Dokoupil has the story.

Summer travel costs are rising, analyst says book now

The surging price of jet fuel has driven domestic airfare up about 18% compared to last year, meaning customers are paying about $55 more per trip. Kris Van Cleave reports ahead of summer travel.

2 missing USF doctoral students are now considered endangered, police 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.

Government recategorizes marijuana to a lower drug classification

For the first time since 1970, the federal government has reclassified marijuana from the most dangerous category downward into a less dangerous category. Dr. Jon LaPook breaks it down.

Ukraine war briefing: Trump bristles at Prince Harry’s passionate plea for Ukraine

Duke of Sussex says US must ‘honour obligations’ as it persuaded Ukraine to give up nuclear weapons; US president retorts that Harry doesn’t speak for Britain. What we know on day 1,521

Donald Trump has said the Duke of Sussex “is not speaking for the UK” after Prince Harry told the US to honour its obligations in the Ukrainian conflict. “I think I am speaking for the UK more than Prince Harry … But I appreciate his advice very much,” said Trump, responding to the duke’s lengthy, impassioned speech at the Kyiv Security Forum on Thursday. Harry, an ex-serviceman, did not claim to be speaking for the UK. He said he was “not here as a politician” but as “a soldier who understands service” and a “humanitarian”.

Harry said: “The United States has a singular role in this story. Not only because of its power, but because when Ukraine gave up nuclear weapons, America was part of the assurance that Ukraine’s sovereignty and borders would be respected. This is a moment for American leadership, a moment for America, to show that it can honour its international treaty obligations – not out of charity but out of its own enduring role in global security and strategic stability.”

A Ukrainian MP has told how he flew a drone intercepter from thousands of kilometres away, throwing a spotlight on the effectiveness of Ukraine’s technology. Marian Zablotskiy said that in a “historic experiment … I piloted an FPV interceptor drone first from my office, then from right in front of the state border, and then from somewhere about 2,000km away from the drone itself – from abroad. I consider this breakthrough a decisive factor in finally stopping the Russian offensive.”

Ukrainian drone manufacturer Wild Hornets confirmed Zablotskiy’s involvement to Agence France-Presse and said it wanted the remote control system to “become the primary method of drone control”. Mykhailo Fedorov, the defence minister in Kyiv, said: “Ukraine is the first in the world to systematically scale up remote control of interceptor drones. Today, we have confirmed results – the downing of targets at distances of hundreds and thousands of kilometres.”

NTSB releases preliminary report about deadly LaGuardia collision

The National Transportation Safety Board just released its preliminary findings about what happened to cause the deadly runway collision at LaGuardia between a firetruck and a plane last month. Kris Van Cleave reports on the details.

U.S. soldier charged with suspected Polymarket insider trading over Maduro raid

It's the first time suspected insider trading on Polymarket has led to criminal charges in the U.S.

U.S. soldier arrested after allegedly using Maduro capture knowledge to make big bets

A U.S. Army soldier is under arrest on Thursday after allegedly helping to plan and execute the capture of Nicolas Maduro and using that advanced knowledge to make a series of big bets on the prediction platform Polymarket.

Trump says "I want to take my time" on negotiations with Iran

President Trump announced progress in the conflict between Israel and Iran's proxies in Lebanon, extending the ceasefire by three weeks. Ed O'Keefe reports on the latest from the war with Iran.

Police stop man allegedly planning mass shooting at Jazz Fest

Florida police say they stopped a mass shooting by arresting a man who was on his way to Jazz Fest in New Orleans with a handgun and hundreds of rounds of ammunition. Cristian Benavides has details.

2 rival groups open fire in Louisiana mall food court

A shooting broke out at a major mall in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, where police said a feud in the food court ended with bullets flying and at least five people in the hospital. Matt Gutman reports.

Florida and Georgia wildfires scorch acres

Dozens of wildfires burned across Florida and Georgia on Thursday. Mark Strassmann reports from the wildfire zone in Waynesville, Georgia, and Rob Marciano has the forecast.

DOJ office aiding indigent immigrants stalls after lawyers were reassigned

Attorneys for a DOJ program that accredits nonprofits to help provide legal help to immigrants were transferred last month, creating setbacks for a number of legal aid groups.

Premier League and FA Cup semi-finals: 10 things to look out for this weekend

Spurs face must-win game at Wolves, Arsenal fight to keep title hopes alive and Chelsea step into a post-Rosenior world

Maybe it is a case of fourth time lucky for Nottingham Forest. Certainly Vítor Pereira – manager No 4 in the most chaotic of seasons – is doing something right. The Europa League semi-finalists are unbeaten in their last five Premier League games and will arrive at the Stadium of Light knowing victory would move them within touching distance of safety. Their visit should provide an interesting tactical challenge for Sunderland. Régis Le Bris’ side often excel on the counterattack but Forest are likely to sit deep and invite their hosts to unpick their packed defence while hoping to hurt them on the break. Le Bris will surely need Nordi Mukiele to advance with typical verve from right-back, while, in midfield, Noah Sadiki and Enzo Le Fée will be required to demonstrate precisely why they are being watched by several leading clubs. This Sunderland team often plays with real and refreshing personality. Can Forest subdue it? Louise Taylor

Sunderland v Nottingham Forest, Premier League, Friday 8pm (all times BST)

Fulham v Aston Villa, Premier League, Saturday 12.30pm

West Ham v Everton, Premier League, Saturday 3pm

Wolves v Tottenham, Premier League, Saturday 3pm

Spirit Airlines lawyer says cash 'not going to last for very much longer,' but government rescue on the table

Spirit Airlines confirmed it is in talks with the Trump administration for a rescue package.

Microsoft and Meta announce large staff reductions as they spend big on AI

Meta said it would cut 10% of it employees while Microsoft will offer voluntary retirement to about 7% of workers

Meta and Microsoft are trimming their workforces by thousands as they make heavy investments in AI and executives claim that the technology is meeting their companies’ productivity needs.

Meta told staff on Thursday that on 20 May it would cut some 10% of its personnel – just under 8,000 employees– to boost efficiency, part of a layoff plan made months ago. The company is also closing about 6,000 open roles. The same day, Microsoft announced to employees, for the first time, that it would offer voluntary retirement to about 7% of its American workforce of roughly 125,000.

The federal agents deployed in Trump’s immigration crackdown – visualized

These are the agencies detaining people across the US – mostly, but not all, under the umbrella of the Department of Homeland Security

When the Trump administration ordered a surge of armed federal immigration enforcement personnel on to the streets of Minneapolis, the Department of Homeland Security declared it the largest operation in its history and the liberal midwestern city became Donald Trump’s latest chosen hotspot.

Such escalations mark the US president’s agenda of mass arrests and deportations from the US interior. The highest-profile efforts involve officers from multiple agencies rushing to prominent Democratic-led US cities, against local leaders’ wishes. But coast to coast, federal officers have been raiding homes, businesses, commercial parking lots – even schools, hospitals and courthouses. The efforts have delighted the president’s hardcore Make America Great Again voter base, but are also tearing families apart and spreading fear and even death on the streets and in detention.

Trump says Americans should expect higher gas prices for 'a little while'

Trump's remarks came as most Americans say they have cut spending due to high gas prices, according to the latest CNBC All-America Economic survey.

4/23: CBS Evening News

Out-of-control wildfires burn thousands of acres; a deadly mass shooting at a Louisiana mall.

French police probe suspected weather device tampering after odd Polymarket bet

The incident is the latest eyebrow-raising bet on Polymarket, as allegations of rigging and manipulation continue to haunt the popular prediction market site.

Only one Trump "gold card" visa has been approved, Lutnick says

The Trump administration started accepting applications in December for foreigners willing to pay $1 million for the right to live in the U.S.

‘It has clearly exceeded expectations’: inside Red Bull’s F1 engine factory

As team look to salvage season, ‘crazy decision’ to take engine building in-house looks set to pay off and steer them back to the front of the grid

Driven hard, driven fast is very much the norm in Formula One, on and off track, but even by the sport’s own standards the development of Red Bull’s in-house engine project has been exceptional. As is what it has delivered.

Walking through the gleaming corridors of the team’s bespoke engine manufacturing department at their Milton Keynes headquarters, it is all but impossible to conceive that only four years ago the area where the buildings stand was just empty space peppered with rubble.

The FDA gives the green light to the first gene therapy for deafness

The treatment, developed by Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, is for a very rare form of deafness. But it represents a medical milestone.

Chevron CEO: Aviation sector to "probably get worse over the next few weeks"

"Flights may not be as abundant as they otherwise would have been," Chevron CEO Mike Wirth told Margaret Brennan. "I think planes will probably be more full than they would have been. And yes, fares, fares could be higher."

Former federal prosecutors see legal flaws in DOJ's SPLC indictment

Former federal prosecutors think the indictment struggles to articulate the elements of the alleged crimes in the case, a problem that could lead to its full or partial dismissal.

Meta will cut 10% of workforce as company pushes deeper into AI

Meta plans to lay off 10% of its workforce, about 8,000 employees, as the company continues to ramp up investments in artificial intelligence.

LaGuardia firefighter heard ‘stop’ before crash but didn’t know who it was for, report says

National Transportation Safety Board’s preliminary report further says crash prevention system didn’t generate alert

A firefighter whose truck collided with an Air Canada jet last month on a runway at New York’s LaGuardia airport, killing both pilots, heard an air traffic controller warn “stop, stop, stop” but didn’t know who it was for, federal investigators said Thursday.

The National Transportation Safety Board said in a preliminary report on the 22 March collision that a crash prevention system for air traffic controllers didn’t generate an audio or visual alert, and lights on the runway that act as a stop light for crossing traffic were on until about three seconds before the collision.

Meta will lay off 10% of its staff

The cuts follow losses in two pivotal court cases and the company's push to invest in artificial intelligence.

Meta to cut 8,000 jobs as it charges into AI

Meta plans to lay off roughly 10% of its workforce as the technology giant steps up its spending on artificial intelligence.

Regeneron inks drug pricing deal with Trump, will offer new hearing-loss therapy for free

Regeneron is the latest in a string of major drugmakers to make pricing concessions for new and existing medicines under agreements with Trump.

World Cup final tickets listed for more than $2m on Fifa’s resale site

• Four seats are put on sale for $2,299,998.85 each

• Fifa doesn’t set offerings, but some go above $100,000

• Governing body takes 15% from both buyer and seller

Fifa’s resale site has four tickets on sale for the World Cup final for just under $2.3m each.

The $2,299,998.85 seats for the 19 July match at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, are located behind a goal in the lower deck of the arena.

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.

Airlines in Europe slash thousands of flights as Iran war cuts jet fuel supplies

The soaring cost of jet fuel is forcing European airlines to cancel tens of thousands of flights, while energy authorities warned of a possible jet fuel shortage if supplies aren't replenished soon.

Nearly 208,000 heated socks sold at Costco recalled due to burn injuries

The 32 Degrees Heated Socks can pose a burn risk due to the combination of heat, friction, moisture and pressure created during athletic activities.

DOJ watchdog investigating handling of Jeffrey Epstein files

Congress passed the Jeffrey Epstein files law in November after then-Attorney General Pam Bondi reneged on a promise to release the DOJ's investigatory file.

DoJ inspector general to audit department’s compliance with Epstein Files Transparency Act

Mandated release of files was marred by missed deadlines, leaked victims’ information and excessive redactions

• US politics live – latest updates

The US Department of Justice’s office of the inspector general (OIG) announced on Thursday that it is launching an audit of the justice department’s compliance with the Epstein Files Transparency Act.

In a news release, the deputy inspector general William M Blier, who the statement said is performing the duties of the inspector general, said the “preliminary objective” of the internal inquiry “is to evaluate the [justice department’s] processes for identifying, redacting, and releasing records in its possession as required by the act”.

D4vd possessed child sexual abuse images, LA murder prosecutors say

Police allegedly found images on iCloud account of singer accused of killing 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez

A Los Angeles prosecutor said that the singer D4vd, who was charged this week in the killing of 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez, was in possession of a “significant amount of child pornography”.

Police allegedly found the images on the iCloud account of the 21-year-old singer, whose legal name is David Anthony Burke.

Slovenia to air films about Palestine instead of Eurovision song contest

Ireland and Spain will also not broadcast Eurovision after decision to boycott live event over Israel’s participation

National broadcasters in Ireland, Spain and Slovenia will not air the Eurovision song contest this year, after they decided to boycott the event over Israel’s participation.

Having announced it would not submit a national entry, the Slovenian broadcaster RTV confirmed on Thursday it would implement a broadcasting blackout of the world’s largest live music event and instead show a series of films about Palestine.

Foreign Office unit tracking Israel’s potential breaches of international law closes due to cuts

Exclusive: Officials warn department will also lose access to database of 26,000 verified incidents due to cuts

The Foreign Office unit tracking potential breaches of international law by Israel in Gaza and more recently Lebanon has been closed because of cuts within the department, the Guardian can reveal.

The decision to shut the international humanitarian law cell follows a review by Olly Robbins, the permanent secretary at the Foreign Office dismissed last week by the prime minister over the Peter Mandelson scandal.

Microsoft plans first-ever voluntary employee buyout for up to 7% of U.S. workforce

Microsoft's inaugural voluntary buyouts will be open to workers at the senior director level and below whose years of employment and age add up to 70 or more.

White House warns of 'industrial-scale' efforts in China to rip off U.S. AI tech

The U.S. government has previously accused China of targeting American AI technology and intellectual property.

‘Kraken-like’ giant octopuses 100m years ago crunched bones of prey

Study of fossilised beaks shows patterns of wear and suggests some ancient species were up to 19 metres long

Giant “kraken-like” octopuses that used powerful beaks to crunch through bones of prey were among the most formidable predators of the Cretaceous oceans, according to research.

Analysis of dozens of newly identified fossils reveals that some ancient octopus species reached up to 19 metres in length, meaning they would have rivalled – and possibly even preyed upon – apex predators such as mosasaurs and plesiosaurs.

Hawaii's Kilauea volcano erupts yet again

Hawaii's Kilauea volcano erupted again early Thursday, marking its 45th episode since December 2024.

Thousands call on UK ministers to cut ties with US tech giant Palantir

More than 200,000 have signed petitions urging the government to break contracts amid concerns about the company’s ‘supervillain’ manifesto

More than 200,000 people have called on ministers to break contracts with Palantir in an apparent groundswell of public concern about the US tech company’s role in the NHS, police, military and councils.

Two petitions have attracted 229,000 signatures, one calling for the government to end all public contracts with the company, the software of which is used by Donald Trump’s ICE immigration enforcement programme and the Israeli military, and another urging the health secretary, Wes Streeting, to cancel its £330m patient data contract with the NHS.

DOJ watchdog launches probe into compliance with Epstein files law

The Justice Department's internal watchdog said it will audit the department's compliance with the law that required the release of the Epstein files.

Swiatek leads players’ surprise as WTA head Portia Archer quits after two years

• WTA chief executive appointed only in June 2024

• Tour needs to find new venue for flagship event

A number of top players on the WTA tour have expressed their surprise at the abrupt decision by its chief executive, Portia Archer, to resign from her role this week after two years at the helm.

“I heard literally two minutes ago, so I really don’t know why now and everything,” said Iga Swiatek after winning her first-round match 6-1, 6-2 against Daria Snigur at the Madrid Open. “We always had a good relationship. I felt like she listened to what we had to say and was really open-minded.”

Private health records of half a million Britons offered for sale on Chinese website

Technology minister tells Commons ‘de-identified’ information from UK Biobank advertised for sale on Alibaba

The confidential health records of half a million British volunteers have been offered for sale on Chinese website Alibaba, the UK government has confirmed.

The “de-identified” data, belonging to participants in the UK Biobank project, was found for sale on three separate listings last week. Ian Murray, the technology minister, told the Commons on Thursday that, after working with the Chinese government and Alibaba, the records had now been removed. It is not believed any sales were made.

The Guardian view on Anthropic’s Claude Mythos: when AI finds every flaw, who controls the internet? | Editorial

Tech can scale cyber-attacks and defences alike, raising questions about private power, public risk and the future of a shared internet

Anthropic announced its latest AI model, Claude Mythos, this month but said it would not be released publicly, because it turns computers into crime scenes. The company claimed that it could find previously unknown “zero-day” flaws, exploit them and, in principle, link these weaknesses in order to take over major operating systems and web browsers. Mythos did so autonomously, writing code and obtaining privileges. The implications are significant. It’s like a burglar being able to target any building, get inside, unlock every door and empty every safe.

The Silicon Valley company has so far named 40 organisations as partners under Project Glasswing to help mount a defence – asking them to “patch” vulnerabilities before hackers get a chance to exploit them. All are American, sitting at the heart of the US-led digital system. Anthropic shared Mythos with only Britain outside the US, allowing the AI Security Institute to test frontier models. After seeing it up close, British ministers warned: AI is about to make cyber-attacks much easier and faster, and most businesses are not ready. Banks in Europe are likely to test it next.

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.

Starbucks' loyalty program changes are drawing value-conscious customers

Starbucks made some major changes to its long-standing loyalty program last month.

Author details the spy network that took on America's post-WWII Nazi groups

In The Secret War Against Hate, Steven J. Ross details the racist, anti-Semitic groups that sprang up in the latter half of the 20th century — and the spy network that worked to bring them to justice.

‘Extraordinary and original poet’ JH Prynne dies aged 89

The maverick writer and scholar was a pioneer in 60s avant garde circles, and emerged as a cult figure despite an aversion to publicity, and poetry that was hard to parse

Jeremy Halvard Prynne, known as JH Prynne, a maverick figure in British poetry, died on 22 April at the age of 89.

“Jeremy was an extraordinary and original human, which is no surprise because he was an extraordinary and original poet,” said Peter Gizzi, the American poet who introduced a reissue of Prynne’s 1969 collection The White Stones. “The word ‘genius’ gets tossed around, but if anyone was, he certainly was.”

Maresca is top candidate if Guardiola does quit Manchester City this year

• Positive talks at City over the former Chelsea manager

• Guardiola called him ‘one of the best in the world’

Enzo Maresca is the leading candidate to take over at Manchester City as they prepare for the growing possibility of Pep Guardiola leaving at the end of the season.

Maresca has been out of work since departing Chelsea in January and it is understood there have been positive talks over him replacing his old mentor this summer. Guardiola has a year on his deal but City know they must be ready for the 55-year-old deciding this is the time to leave.

Is the tide turning for Ukraine in war with Russia? - The Latest

With the EU approving a €90bn loan for Ukraine, a surprise visit from Prince Harry, and data suggesting Russian troops made almost no territorial gains in March - are there reasons for optimism in Kyiv?

Lucy Hough speaks to senior international correspondent Luke Harding

Israeli killing of Lebanese journalist draws international condemnation

Lebanese PM calls attack that killed Amal Khalil a ‘war crime’, with rescuers attempting to free her also targeted

• Middle East crisis – live updates

Israel’s killing of a prominent Lebanese journalist in a double-tap strike has been greeted with international outrage as Lebanon’s prime minister described the attack as a “war crime”.

Amal Khalil, 43, who worked for al-Akhbar newspaper, was buried on Thursday. She was killed in what colleagues described as a sustained attack by Israeli forces, with rescuers attempting to dig her out of the rubble of a building also targeted and prevented from providing life-saving assistance.

Can a mentalist trick Trump? Oz Pearlman will try in a room full of journalists

The White House Correspondents' Dinner will be headlined by a mentalist instead of a comedian. Oz Pearlman tells NPR he hopes to unify, delight and puzzle the crowd — but can't reveal how.

The race for Europe: which English clubs can qualify, how, and who needs what

The places up for grabs in Uefa’s competitions next season are a moveable feast, leaving plenty of intrigue right up to the final day

With the end of the season approaching, it’s time again to try to get your head around the ever more complex rules that determine whether your club may qualify for Europe. But there will definitely be eight English teams playing continental football next season, and maybe more. The bad news is that if you own a multi-club network you’re too late to place your shareholding in a blind trust. Sorry, but I don’t make the rules, just attempt to interpret them.

Lockheed Martin CEO sees Trump’s Pentagon as ‘golden opportunity’ for growth

Jim Taiclet spoke in earnings call as company expands contracts with the US government amid the Iran war

Lockheed Martin’s CEO has called the Trump administration a “golden opportunity” for the company as it expands its contracting work for the federal government amid the conflict in the Middle East.

In an earnings call on Thursday covering the first quarter of 2026, Lockheed Martin CEO Jim Taiclet told investors that the company is well positioned “based on more available resources for us”.

NYT alleges FBI investigated reporter over story on Kash Patel’s girlfriend

Inquiry began in March after report on security arrangements involving FBI director’s girlfriend, NYT says

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The FBI began investigating a New York Times reporter after the newspaper published a story raising concerns about the security arrangements surrounding the girlfriend of Kash Patel, the FBI director, the Times has reported.

According to reporting from the Times on Wednesday, the inquiry into Elizabeth Williamson, the reporter, began in March following an article she reported alleging that Patel used FBI resources to provide protection and transportation for his girlfriend, the country singer Alexis Wilkins.

Mandelson’s lobbying firm Global Counsel went bust owing £4.6m, report says

Consultancy that advised TikTok, Palantir and GSK collapsed amid fallout over former minister’s links to Jeffrey Epstein

Peter Mandelson’s former consultancy firm Global Counsel went bust owing £4.6m – including more than £600,000 to the taxman – a report by the group’s administrators has revealed.

The company, which provided advice to high-profile clients including Chinese-owned TikTok, US tech firm Palantir and UK pharmaceutical firm GSK, collapsed in February, after it lost a series of accounts over the peer’s relationship with the convicted child sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

Michael Tilson Thomas, award-winning conductor and composer, dies aged 81

Renowned artist, who won 12 Grammys, died at home after being diagnosed with an aggressive type of brain cancer

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Michael Tilson Thomas, a leading American conductor for a half-century who headed orchestras in Buffalo, Miami, London and San Francisco while also composing, died on Wednesday. He was 81.

Tilson Thomas had surgery for a brain tumor in 2021 and resumed his career, then said in February 2025 that the tumor had returned. He conducted his final concert with the San Francisco Symphony in April 2025 and died at his home in San Francisco, spokesperson Connie Shuman said.

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. 

‘I felt like I’d stumbled on a cheat code’: what is the burned haystack dating method?

Being on dating apps can feel like looking for a needle in a haystack – so Dr Jennie Young devised a technique to burn it down and find better matches

It was 2023, and Dr Jennie Young was sick of online dating. She was looking for a partner, and instead all she found in the apps were inappropriately sexual come-ons and conversations that went nowhere. It felt like looking for a needle in a big, rancid haystack. So one day, frustrated and totally out of ideas, she Googled “how do you actually find a needle in a haystack?”

The answer: burn it down.

Trump to nominate David Cummins as TSA administrator

President Trump intends to nominate David Cummins to lead the Transportation Security Administration, according to a person familiar with the decision.

How mosquitoes — and malaria — helped shape the whereabouts of early humankind

A new study looks at an unexpected force that played a critical role in shaping the lives of ancient humans.

JetBlue used customers' data to set ticket prices, lawsuit alleges

New lawsuit accuses JetBlue of using consumers' browser activity and other personal data to set airfares.

Olivia Dean review – soul-pop superstar shimmies into a classy and commanding first arena tour

OVO Hydro, Glasgow
The glam set design, gleaming brass and Motown moves are knowingly retro, but Dean’s performance is immediate, vulnerable and natural – the work of a singular artist

When the stage’s cream curtains pull back, Olivia Dean and band are already in full flow. Hands reaching out to the audience in welcome, she shimmies behind a silver mic stand in a floor-length candyfloss-pink dress, her band side-stepping on curved, softly carpeted risers. The swinging, sighing soul-pop single Nice to Each Other is bright with optimism for an on-off relationship, while soft-focus camera footage makes a collage out of gleaming trumpets, glamorous backing singers and Dean’s beaming face. With the air of old-fashioned music TV, it is knowingly retro and deeply romantic – everything you’d expect from the 27-year-old singer who is breathing fresh air into British soul.

On this opening night of two sold-out arena shows in Glasgow, ahead of six nights at London’s O2, Dean breezes through two more of her biggest songs as if it’s no big deal. Lady Lady, about moving out and growing up, is bassy and rich, while So Easy (To Fall in Love) is free, flirty and radiant: “This is a song to remind you that you’re fab,” she crows, now dancing at the stage’s footlights.

Europe's summer travel is on the line as airlines' jet fuel supply dwindles

Europe faces jet fuel shortages as the Middle East supply is cut off. Airlines may have to cut flights and raise fares ahead of peak summer travel.

In less than a year, I’ve watched all 15 seasons of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills. I am not alone in this obsession | Caitlin Cassidy

Cohabiting with my partner meant addressing my addiction to the lives of extremely rich women I have never met

When you move in with a partner, you can no longer hide the embarrassing or unattractive parts of yourself. Your dirty laundry is metaphorically and literally aired – and so are your bad habits.

Six months ago, cohabiting with my partner for the first time meant coming face to face with my addiction: I cannot stop watching The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills.

Cannes did camera: how the film festival loves to watch itself

From An Almost Perfect Affair to Mr Bean’s Holiday, there’s nothing the festival enjoys more than seeing itself on screen. The next season of The White Lotus is tapping into that rich tradition – can it capture the Côte d’Azur’s peculiar magic?

Some years ago, the Guardian decided to boost its Cannes coverage by having a video crew accompany its regular festival reporters. At the meeting prior to the festival, I explained why this bright idea wouldn’t work. Cannes was a fortress and it wasn’t going to let us shoot anywhere. The security was too tight, the bureaucracy too byzantine. It would be a colossal waste of time and money. You couldn’t just run around Cannes pointing a camera at people.

It turned out I was wrong. Cannes didn’t care. It let us shoot everywhere. We shot on the street, on the beach and on the roof of Le Palais des Festivals. We dragged a sand-smeared rubber dinghy into the five-star Carlton hotel and asked famous actors to sit in it for an interview. We filmed on the carousel in the park and in the pavilions by the sea. The only resistance we encountered came from the steward of a billionaire’s yacht. The steward was perfectly happy to allow us free run of the deck, but he wanted his palms greased with a few hundred euros.

The Foreign Office should have intervened to stop Mandelson’s deeply flawed appointment | Richard Dearlove

If Olly Robbins stood firm the government could have avoided this disastrous episode of bad political judgment that could cost the PM his job

• Richard Dearlove is the former head of the British Secret Intelligence Service

The restricted compartments of the UK’s national security infrastructure are clearly defined and closely controlled. To work across them requires “a developed vetting certificate”. The primary qualification for holding a “DV” is integrity, honesty and transparency in one’s personal and professional life. To lie about or hide potential vulnerabilities is an immediate disqualification. Staff who do not meet the DV requirements for whatever reason are barred from positions that demand DV clearance. There are no grey areas or soft edges.

The role of British ambassador in Washington is one of those posts. It sits across a number of highly classified compartments. It is no ordinary diplomatic job. The extensive security acreage of the special relationship includes, for example, the UK’s nuclear deterrent, the intelligence relationship, the UK-US alliance which ties together the National Security Agency and GCHQ by treaty, and other domains of great sensitivity. The ambassador has access to these even though their need to become involved in them in normal times is limited. The British staff that comes under the ambassador’s authority is extensive and stretches beyond those working in the embassy. The ambassador’s access to the US administration is also usually highly privileged, such is the nature of the special relationship.

Richard Dearlove is the former head of the British Secret Intelligence Service

Trump administration eases rules on some marijuana categories. Here's what to know

Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said he is immediately moving medical marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule III, which includes drugs like ketamine, Tylenol with codeine and anabolic steroids.

BP board suffers triple climate rebellion from shareholders

More than 50% of voters at first AGM under new leadership oppose plans to scrap climate reporting

BP’s board has suffered a triple climate rebellion in its first shareholder meeting since appointing new leadership to steer the embattled oil company.

More than 50% of shareholders voting at the company’s annual general meeting (AGM) came out against its plans to scrap its existing climate reporting, and its resolution to replace in-person annual shareholder meetings – a lightning rod for climate protest in recent years – with online-only events.

Warner Bros Discovery vote to approve $110bn merger with Paramount Skydance

The merger will still require governmental approval and could be delayed by a lawsuit seeking to block it

Shareholders of Warner Bros Discovery (WBD) voted “overwhelmingly” to approve the company’s $110bn merger with Paramount Skydance, the parent company of CBS News, on Thursday.

But shareholders voted against generous proposed compensation packages for WBD executives, including a $550m payout to the outgoing chief executive, David Zaslav.

Trump’s war has backfired spectacularly: Iran is now more influential than ever | Fawaz Gerges

Tehran has shown that its grip over the strait of Hormuz is its most potent deterrent – arguably more consequential than its now defunct nuclear programme

• Fawaz Gerges is professor of international relations at the London School of Economics

Donald Trump’s decision to go to war against Iran will be remembered as a grave strategic miscalculation – one that has reshaped the region in unintended and destabilising ways. With the ceasefire now extended indefinitely, we can see more clearly how the war has undermined the US’s standing in the world and failed to achieve its core objectives: it has neither brought about regime change in Tehran, nor forced Iran to submit to American demands. Far from it.

By inflicting economic pain far beyond the region and slowing the global economy, Iran has demonstrated that its grip over the strait of Hormuz constitutes its most potent deterrent – arguably more consequential than its now defunct nuclear programme. Control of the strait will be Tehran’s most powerful source of leverage in the years ahead.

Mysterious "golden orb" found in deep sea in 2023 is finally identified

Scientists spent over two years identifying a mysterious object found off the coast of Alaska in 2023.

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.

New documentary reveals ‘kill room’ rituals of Gilgo Beach serial killer

Episode four of Peacock’s Gilgo Beach Serial Killer: House of Secrets features interviews with Rex Heuermann’s family

The meticulous rituals of the Long Island serial killer, Rex Heuermann, have been revealed in a Peacock documentary released on Thursday.

The confessed killer of eight women relays via a therapist that he maintained a four-day ritual of preparation, building trust with his victims, murdering them in a basement “kill room”, a day of “playtime” with their bodies, and then using a stopwatch to perfect dumping them on a beach 20 miles from his home. He would use the fourth day to deal with any unforeseen complications.

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

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

American Airlines CEO says merger with United would be 'bad for customers'

United CEO Scott Kirby floated the idea of a merger with American to a Trump administration official earlier this year, according to sources.

‘A history of the Earth’: Twelve Apostles revealed to be as old as 14m years

Tectonic plate movements over millions of years have lifted and tilted the layers, with records of ancient earthquakes in the rocks

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Microscopic fossils embedded in limestone have helped reveal the true age of Victoria’s Twelve Apostles as 8.6m to 14m years old.

The conclave of giant golden pillars is visited by 2.8 million tourists each year, a highlight for those travelling along the Great Ocean Road south-west of Melbourne.

Timothy Ridout: Alto Appassionato album review – engaging and smartly curated viola and piano programme

Ridout/Ware
(Harmonia Mundi)
Accomplished violist Ridout and pianist Jonathan Ware add bristling imagination and rich emotional layers to music by Franck, Fauré and more

Friends and colleagues working side by side in the musical melting pot of fin-de-siecle Paris form the connective tissue in this attractive and smartly curated programme by violist Timothy Ridout and pianist Jonathan Ware.

They open with Léon Honnoré’s engaging Morceau de concert, premiered in 1904 by viola pupils at the Paris Conservatoire where, remarkably, the instrument had only been admitted to the curriculum 10 years earlier. Criticised at the time for requiring the violist to play harmonics – supposedly the exclusive purview of the violin – itemerges here as a zesty showpiece with a melodic heart and more than a hint of Beethoven. It pairs nicely with Henri Büsser’s moody C-sharp minor Appassionato, dispatched with a stormy flourish by Ridout whose playing throughout bristles with imagination.

A Family Matter by Claire Lynch audiobook review – an award-winning story of homophobia and divorce

Dual timelines reveal the real reason a mother was forced to leave her daughter in the 80s, in this Nero prize-winning novel inspired by real-life events

The debut novel by Claire Lynch, which won the Nero Gold prize for fiction last month, unfolds across two timelines as it tells of family secrets and a bitter divorce. The first is set in 2022, when Heron, an older man, gets a terminal cancer diagnosis. He seems to be coping well until he climbs into a freezer at his local supermarket and has to be coaxed out by staff. Heron likes his routine and prefers to keep to himself. But he is also a practical man and so he enlists his only daughter, Maggie, to help him go through his house and sort out any paperwork.

Maggie is close to her dad who raised her alone after her mother, Dawn, deserted the family – or so Maggie has been told. But while sifting through Heron’s papers, she learns the real reason for her mother’s estrangement. The second timeline unfolds in 1982, when young mum Dawn falls in love with a schoolteacher named Hazel. Family court judges took a dim view of homosexuality in the 1980s, working under the belief that children would be damaged by being raised by same-sex parents. And so a devastated Dawn is separated from three-year-old Maggie as Heron is given full custody after their divorce.

Severance star Adam Scott: ‘There’s nothing wrong with being told that you resemble Tom Cruise’

The Parks and Recreation actor on working with Martin Scorsese, chatting about cinema with the pope and delivering calzones to stoners

The way your face changes in the Severance elevator is incredible. Are you thinking about anything in particular when you do it? Lott49
We worked on that for a long time, trying to figure out what specifically happens in the elevator. We must have tried 100 times before we landed on it. Eventually, Ben [Stiller, the director] suggested a subtle fluttering of my eyelids as my character goes through the shift between his “innie” and “outie” personas.

How intimidating was it working on The Aviator? PatHobby
I was pretty freaked out at first. But once you’re there, you realise these are just regular people who happen to be actors figuring out a scene. Everyone was extremely kind and generous to me and made me feel comfortable straight away.

‘Worth a thousand words’: Trump photo obscuring women’s tennis team sparks backlash

• Georgia players celebrated championship at White House

• President shakes hands of men, not women in video

• Former tennis star Navratilova leads criticism

A White House photo celebrating a champion women’s sports team has drawn backlash due to the positioning of Donald Trump and a group of men, who overshadowed the female athletes by lining up in front of them.

The University of Georgia women’s tennis team was one of several collegiate teams to visit the White House on Tuesday to mark a recent NCAA championship win. In a photo shared by press aide Margo Martin, Donald Trump and five Georgia staffers and coaches took up the front row of a stage setup, with 11 women standing in the background on a riser.

A papal mass, wildfires and the last post: photos of the day – Thursday

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

American Airlines cuts 2026 earnings projections after surge in jet fuel

American Airlines cut its 2026 earnings forecast, becoming the latest airline to lower its outlook after a surge in fuel costs added billions to its expenses.

Italian sports minister dismisses plan for Azzurri to replace Iran at 2026 World Cup

• Special envoy to Donald Trump suggested the idea

• ‘Firstly not possible … secondly not appropriate’

The Italian sports minister, Andrea Abodi, has described a proposal for his country to replace Iran at the World Cup as “not appropriate”, rejecting any idea that the Azzurri will be granted a last-minute berth at this summer’s tournament.

On Wednesday it emerged that Paolo Zampolli, a special envoy to Donald Trump, had suggested Italy should be fast-tracked to the World Cup despite their shock defeat by Bosnia and Herzegovina in last month’s playoffs. Zampolli proposed the four-time winners Italy replace Iran and said they would “have the pedigree to justify their inclusion”. But Abodi said football’s showpiece tournament should remain meritocratic.

Eighteen wolves found dead in Italian national park in suspected poisoning

Criminal investigation under way after carcasses found across Abruzzo, Lazio and Molise national park within a week

The carcasses of 18 wolves have been found in an Italian national park within the space of a week in an apparent series of poisonings described by conservationists as the most serious crimes against wildlife in Italy in a decade.

Authorities of the national park of Abruzzo, Lazio and Molise said eight wolves were found dead in recent days in three different areas of the vast park, adding to the 10 carcasses discovered last week. Three dead foxes and a buzzard were also found.

Trump to host bash for crypto investors tied to his coin sales

Top buyers promised access at Mar-a-Lago event as Democrats and watchdogs warn of pay-to-play risks

Donald Trump is slated to star at a cryptocurrency bash on 25 April at his Mar-a-Lago club for scores of purchasers of his crypto memecoin $Trump that has enriched him while in office. The move is fueling renewed criticism from top Democrats and ethics watchdogs that he is using the presidency for financial gains in a break with ethical norms.

The Trump-linked Fight Fight Fight LLC has hyped the event as “THE MOST EXCLUSIVE CRYPTO & BUSINESS CONFERENCE IN THE WORLD”. It’s promising a luncheon with Trump as its keynote speaker, according to the memecoin’s official website and its social media account.