5/6: CBS Evening News

Health officials work to contain deadly hantavirus outbreak on cruise; President Trump threatens Iran with more attacks if it doesn't agree to a deal.

Argentina races to find origins of cruise ship hantavirus outbreak, amid reports some passengers have returned to US

Argentina, where the MV Hondius cruise departed, consistently ranked by WHO as having highest incidence of hantavirus in region

Officials and experts in Argentina are scrambling to determine if their country is the source of a deadly hantavirus outbreak that has gripped an Atlantic cruise ship, amid reports that a number of passengers have already returned to their home countries.

Argentina, where the cruise to Antarctica departed, is consistently ranked by the World Health Organization (WHO) as having the highest incidence of the rare, rodent-borne disease in Latin America. Investigators there are working to contact trace the source of contamination.

US says migration has made Europe an ‘incubator’ for terrorism in new counter-terrorism strategy

The 16-page report was led by Trump-ally Sebastian Gorka, and places drug cartels in the Americas at the centre of counter-terrorism efforts

The Trump administration has accused Europe of being an “incubator” for terrorism fuelled by mass migration, in a new counter-terrorism strategy unveiled on Wednesday.

The strategy also focuses on rooting out “violent left-wing extremists” including “radically pro-transgender” groups, as Trump’s conservative administration steps up its political attacks on opponents.

‘We just want our children to be safe’: two Australian states prepare to resettle children from Syrian detention camp

Four women and nine children expected to return to Australia on Thursday with all apart from a mother and her child expected to go to Victoria

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Authorities in two Australian states are preparing to resettle children returning from squalid detention camps and life under Islamic State rule, as at least some of their mothers face possible criminal charges.

Four women and nine children are expected to return to Australia on Thursday, with all of them apart from a mother and her child bound for Melbourne.

Jeffrey Epstein's possible suicide note released by judge

A former cellmate has previously claimed that the note was written by Epstein after a failed suicide attempt less than a month before his death.

Ted Turner, media tycoon who founded CNN, dies at age 87

Ted Turner built a media empire that included cable channels CNN, TBS and TNT, and he owned the Atlanta Braves for 20 years.

Pope Leo gets hung up on by customer service

Not even Pope Leo, living one of the most exceptional lives on the planet, can avoid the frustrating dealings with customer service. Tony Dokoupil has the story.

What's the hantavirus risk to the public?

A deadly strain of hantavirus broke out aboard a cruise ship for the first time, with more than 150 people on board. With three deaths among eight confirmed cases so far, Dr. Céline Gounder discusses the wider risks.

Looking back on CNN founder Ted Turner's life

Ted Turner died on Wednesday. He turned a single tiny television station in Atlanta into an empire on cable, founding CNN, TBS and TNT. He was also a celebrity in his own right, married to movie star Jane Fonda. Lee Cowan looks back on his life.

Judge releases possible Jeffrey Epstein suicide note

A judge has released what is said to be a suicide note written by the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

Justice Neil Gorsuch on whether the Supreme Court is more divided now

The U.S. Supreme Court is heading into its busiest time of the year with three dozen decisions expected by July. But with a new children's book out, Justice Neil Gorsuch made time for a rare interview with Jan Crawford.

Tame the water or let it flow? New Zealand grapples with how to protect its braided rivers

Intervention for farming and flood risk change the unique systems as communities grapple with how to live alongside the vital waterways

When British settlers started building Christchurch city 170 years ago, they largely ignored the nearby Waimakariri River, which twists from the South Island’s alps towards the eastern shore.

But rain and glacial shifts compelled the braided river – a globally rare form of river with many woven channels – to take on a new shape, occasionally flooding land and depositing tonnes of shingle in its wake.

FBI searches office of Virginia lawmaker who helped lead redistricting effort

An FBI spokesperson said in a statement that an investigation is ongoing and there is no threat to public safety.

Judge denies Fulton County's request to return 2020 ballots seized by FBI

A federal judge in Georgia denied a motion by officials in Fulton County, Georgia, to return ballots and other materials from the 2020 election that were taken by the FBI earlier this year.

Republicans seek $1 billion in taxpayer dollars for Trump's ballroom

After having the East Wing of the White House torn down, President Trump said a ballroom would be entirely funded by private donations. But Republicans are now requesting about $1 billion in taxpayer money for heightened ballroom security.

Trump threatens Iran with more attacks if it doesn't agree to a deal

President Trump said his administration has had productive talks with Iran over the last 48 hours and that a deal could be within reach. He also posted on social media, threatening Iran with more attacks if it doesn't agree to a deal. Holly Williams reports.

What's next for those aboard hantavirus cruise ship?

Investigators are racing to control a deadly outbreak of hantavirus, the first ever recorded on a cruise ship. More than 140 people are still on board, including 17 Americans. Tom Hanson reports.

Shivon Zilis, mother of four of Elon Musk’s children, testifies in OpenAI trial

Zilis, an executive at Musk’s brain implant startup Neuralink, served on OpenAI’s board from 2020 to 2023

Shivon Zilis, a Neuralink executive and the mother of four of Elon Musk’s children, took the stand on Wednesday as one of the most highly anticipated witnesses in Musk’s case against OpenAI. The ChatGPT maker has argued that, while Zilis worked with OpenAI from 2016 to 2023, she was also involved in a secret relationship with Musk, acting as an informant for him.

Musk’s case against OpenAI alleges that the company’s CEO, Sam Altman, and president, Greg Brockman, co-founders of the company with Musk, broke a founding agreement when they restructured it from a non-profit to a for-profit enterprise. The Tesla CEO accuses Altman and Brockman of unjustly enriching themselves and wants both removed from their positions at the startup, one of the most valuable in the world. He is also seeking the undoing of the for-profit restructuring and $134bn in damages to be redistributed to OpenAI’s non-profit arm.

Food manufacturer Cento is committing "tomato fraud," lawsuit alleges

In a new lawsuit, two California residents allege that Cento Fine Foods doesn't use real San Marzano tomatoes in one of its products.

Anthropic CEO says 80-fold growth in first quarter explains 'difficulties with compute'

At Anthropic's developer conference in San Francisco, CEO Dario Amodei said the company is 'working as quickly as possible' to provide additional compute.

Snap issues cautious guidance as Perplexity deal ends, Middle East 'geopolitical situation' causes uncertainty

Snap reported first-quarter earnings and provided cautious sales guidance while revealing it no longer has a deal with the generative AI startup Perplexity.

‘Now when I go to Bondi I think about dying’: words no Jewish mother should hear from her daughter | Alex Ryvchin

My friend Dina’s courageous testimony explains why this antisemitism royal commission is so deeply personal to Australian Jews

When my friend Dina gave evidence to the royal commission into antisemitism and social cohesion on Tuesday, she made a striking observation. A few weeks earlier, her youngest daughter burst into tears when the family were heading to Bondi Beach for dinner. When Dina asked her what was wrong, her daughter replied, “now when I go to Bondi I think about dying”. Dina realised, in that moment, that her daughter had every reason to think that. “They came to kill all of us, we just weren’t there,” Dina told commissioner Virginia Bell.

The only reason it wasn’t her daughter, or mine, on that day in December is because Dina and her family were with me at the bat mitzvah of a mutual family friend. When my friend and colleague rang me from the Bondi Beach Chanukah event to tell me he’d been shot in the back and thigh, Dina was standing with me. We had just spoken about how sad we were to be missing the Chanukah event, the first since the end of the Israel-Hamas war and the release of the Israeli hostages.

Manchester City win WSL title for second time after Arsenal fail to beat Brighton

• Arsenal’s 1-1 draw against Brighton hands City title

• Andrée Jeglertz revels in ‘amazing moment’

Manchester City are Women’s Super League champions for the first time in 10 years after Arsenal were held to a frustrating draw at Brighton.

It is not the nicest way to win a league title, but City will not care. Their only previous WSL title was won in 2016 and they have had six runners-up finishes since, including second place in the shortened Spring Series as the competition moved from its previous summer scheduling.

Uber pops 8% as company issues higher-than-expected bookings guidance

Uber said its net income took a $1.5 billion hit in the first quarter of 2026 due to the revaluation of the company's equity investments.

Suspect arrested in Oklahoma party shooting that killed 1, injured 22

Police said they have arrested an 18-year-old in connection with a shooting Sunday during a party that left one woman dead and 22 other people injured.

‘Half the peloton is ill’: cowpats blamed as cyclists fall sick after race in Belgium

• Riders taken to hospital after Famenne Ardenne Classic

• Dung may have sprayed on to riders in wet conditions

Several cyclists, including riders due to start the Giro d’Italia on Friday, fell ill after a Belgian one-day race, with cow manure on the roads suspected to be the cause.

Three Lotto-Intermarché riders suffered from abdominal pain, diarrhoea, fever and vomiting, and were briefly taken to hospital, the team said from Bulgaria, where the Giro begins on Friday.

Dembélé ends Bayern hopes to send PSG into final showdown with Arsenal

It cannot always be a laugh a minute. This rematch between elite football’s two genuinely enthralling propositions did not veer as wildly as the previous week’s rollercoaster and, in truth, was probably never going to. What it did provide was more proof of Paris Saint-Germain’s all-round brilliance, manifested in an ability to put business and pleasure on equal pegging.

They held a largely off-key Bayern Munich at arm’s length for most of the night, only allowing Harry Kane a few seconds to pursue his dream Champions League final when he hammered in near the end. PSG are the ones who will meet Arsenal and the task facing Mikel Arteta was laid bare here.

US fires on Iranian-flagged oil tanker as Trump gives Tehran fresh ultimatum

President tells Iran to accept deal to end war or face new wave of bombing at ‘much higher level and intensity’

The US military fired on an Iranian-flagged oil tanker on Wednesday, shortly after Donald Trump issued a fresh ultimatum to Tehran, telling it to accept a deal to end the war or face a new wave of US bombing “at a much higher level and intensity than it was before”.

The US fighter fired several rounds and “disabled the tanker’s rudder” as it attempted to breach the US’s blockade of Iranian ports, US Central Command said in a social media post.

5/6: The Takeout with Major Garrett

Trump says war with Iran has "a very good chance of ending"; Indiana GOP lawmakers who defied Trump on redistricting largely falter in primary races.

Kentucky Derby winner skipping Preakness Stakes, won't make Triple Crown run

The last time a horse won the Triple Crown was in 2018.

Antisemitism is a campaign issue in UK regional vote

After a spate of attacks on Jews in Britain, politicians there are accusing each other of antisemitism ahead of local elections.

Manhunt on for retired special forces soldier accused of shooting wife

Authorities say Craig Berry, a retired special forces soldier, shot his wife and then fled into the woods in northern Tennessee.

Retired special forces soldier accused of shooting wife in Tennessee found dead

Craig Berry, 53, was found dead on Wednesday of an apparent gunshot wound, the Stewart County Sheriff's Office said.

Marco Rubio heads to the Vatican as 2028 presidential buzz ramps up

Secretary of State Marco Rubio is a frontrunner to succeed President Donald Trump in 2028, and Trump is sending him to meet with Pope Leo XIV.

Lutnick's testimony in Epstein probe earns harsh criticism from Democrats

Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick is being questioned Wednesday before the House Oversight Committee as part of its investigation related to Jeffrey Epstein.

Ted Turner obituary

One of the great innovators of television who founded CNN, the first 24-hour cable news channel, and built a vast media empire

If Orson Welles’s 1941 film Citizen Kane had been made as a TV movie 60 years later, its Kane would have been Ted Turner. Thanks to Welles, the figure of William Randolph Hearst, who dominated the American media world in the early part of the 20th century, is now better remembered for the flamboyant personal life portrayed on film.

Turner, who has died aged 87, was luckier. Although his good looks were often compared to Clark Gable’s playing Rhett Butler and his personal life was equally interesting, he is likely to be remembered primarily as one of the great innovators of television.

Surging gas prices are hitting lower-income households harder, New York Fed study shows

Lower-income consumers are compensating for higher gas prices by buying less.

Epstein files: Commerce Sec. Howard Lutnick questioned by House Oversight panel

Howard Lutnick admitted to a Senate committee in February that he and his family visited Epstein's private island in the U.S. Virgin Islands in 2012.

Neymar apologises to Santos teammate Robinho Jr for slapping him in training

• ‘I crossed the line’ says 34-year-old Brazil forward

• Neymar hugs teenage teammate after Santos goal

Neymar has publicly apologised to his Santos teammate Robinho Júnior for slapping him during a training session, as the pair appeared to put the dispute behind them during a game on Tuesday.

Santos said they had opened an investigation this week after the altercation between Neymar and the 18-year-old son of Robinho, the former Real Madrid and Manchester City striker.

Cameo, speeches, pushing gold bullion: how Farage has made millions since becoming an MP

In less than two years in parliament, the Reform UK leader has brought in £2m on top of his Commons salary

• Nigel Farage’s income since being elected MP has hit £2m, analysis shows

“There’s no money in politics,” Nigel Farage complained almost a decade ago, describing himself as “53, separated and skint”.

He has since proved himself wrong. In less than two years in parliament, Farage has brought in £2m, including hospitality, through speeches, presenting, writing news articles, promoting gold bullion – and even recording modestly priced Cameo clips for his fans. It seems that every £70 video counts when it comes to making cash.

Keep quiet ‘so we don’t go to jail’: the Israelis charged with bribery after suspicious bets placed on Iran strikes

Authorities allege that Omer Ziv and an unnamed air force major used classified information to bet on the timing of military operations on Polymarket

Since users of the leading prediction market Polymarket have been able to wager on the outcomes of war, fears have been raised that those betting on bombs falling from the sky may be privy to non-public information about military strikes. There has been much reported about suspicions of insider trading on war, but who exactly is believed to be placing these bets has remained unclear.

In February, Israeli authorities charged two suspects with committing security offences, bribery and obstruction of justice, alleging they used classified information to bet on the timing of military operations on Polymarket.

Influencer Clavicular faces charges in Florida tied to alligator shooting video

Video shows ‘looksmaxxing’ influencer shooting an apparently already dead alligator in the Everglades

A controversial social media influencer known as Clavicular is facing charges in connection with a live stream showing him shooting an apparently already dead alligator in the Everglades, local Florida media has reported.

Clavicular, whose real name is Braden Eric Peters and is known for the practice of “looksmaxxing”, faces charges of unlawfully discharging a firearm in a public place or residential property, according to legal files obtained by television station ABC6 in South Florida. The charges stem from his alleged actions in a 26 March live stream.

These companies help parents try to pick their babies' traits. Experts are wary

Prospective parents can now pick embryos based on risk predictions for thousands of diseases and odds for specific traits. But should they?

Republicans want to add $1 billion for Trump's ballroom security to ICE funding plan

Republicans in Congress are proposing $1 billion in funding for security for President Trump's White House ballroom as part of their partisan plan to fund Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

iPhone owners could get up to $95 from a new Apple settlement

A proposed $250 million settlement would compensate millions of consumers who bought the iPhone 16, iPhone 15 Pro or iPhone 15 Pro Max.

Preserving pollinators is good for health -- and income

Pollinators have economic and health benefits, but those benefits have been difficult to quantify. A new study puts some numbers to how important pollinators are for both nutrition and income.

Arsenal no longer fear falling short and now have clear sight of immortality | David Hytner

In the space of a week the mood has changed, with positive energy replacing suffering, and two trophies are suddenly within reach

It was a soundbite designed to go viral, the kind the ex-pros in the TV studios are always looking to confect; snappy, heavy on hyperbole, bang in the moment. Thierry Henry made it pop on Tuesday night as he interviewed Bukayo Saka on CBS Sports after Arsenal had beaten Atlético Madrid to advance to the Champions League final. “We were the Invincibles. You will be the Unforgettables,” Henry said.

There it was, as laid out by one of the greats, the goalscoring hero of Arsenal’s unbeaten bolt to the 2004 Premier League title, the last one they won.

Bioluminescent algae’s blue light harnessed to make 3D-printed shapes

Scientists suggest algae could be embedded within biosensors that glow when toxins detected in the environment

The captivating blue glow emitted by a sea-dwelling species of algae has been harnessed by scientists in the US to make light-emitting structures.

Pyrocystis lunula is a bioluminescent single-celled organism that sometimes produces brief flashes of blue light. Large clumps of the algae are known to emit sparkling displays in waves breaking against beaches.

Gas prices top $4.50 a gallon, reaching highest level since July 2022

Gas prices are now 52% higher than prior to the Iran war, with drivers paying $1.56 more per gallon, data shows.

Epstein-linked billionaire accused of rape privately reached out to federal judge to defend his ‘good name’

Leon Black has denied he ever met or raped ‘Jane Doe’. In an exclusive statement, Doe tells the Guardian: ‘I am still here. And I am not done’

Lawyers for Leon Black, the billionaire investor who has been accused in a civil lawsuit of raping a teenage girl inside Jeffrey Epstein’s New York townhouse in 2002, reached out to a powerful federal judge in 2024 to raise doubts about the alleged victim’s claims, a Guardian investigation has found.

The move set off a months-long court proceeding, which was conducted outside public view and led the US district judge Jed Rakoff to reverse a $2.5m award that had been granted to the alleged victim in a separate Epstein-related class action lawsuit, according to court records. She was later given a much smaller settlement in the class action case.

New York real estate titan likens the phrase ‘tax the rich’ to racial slurs

Steve Roth was responding to the announcement by New York’s mayor of tax on second homes worth more than $5m

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The phrase “tax the rich” can be “just as hateful as some disgusting racial slurs”, according to the New York City billionaire Steve Roth, who said that the top 1% should be “praised and thanked”.

Speaking on his company’s quarterly earnings call on Tuesday, Roth, the CEO of Vornado Realty Trust, expressed his support for fellow billionaire and the CEO of Citadel, Ken Griffin, who was singled out in the 15 April announcement by New York’s mayor, Zohran Mamdani, of the state’s first “pied-à-terre” tax on second homes valued at more than $5m. In a video, Mamdani announced the policy in front of Griffin’s penthouse, which he said was purchased for $238m.

The Guardian view on Britain’s multiparty politics: the Westminster voting system needs to catch up | Editorial

Local and devolved elections will reveal fragmented party allegiances that cannot be fairly represented in parliament via first past the post

Some results in local council and devolved elections this week can be forecast with confidence, but none with precision. Labour will have a torrid time everywhere. Reform UK will probably do well, continuing the trend of recent years. The Greens will surge in parts of London. Plaid Cymru will enjoy a breakthrough in Wales. Those trends could produce a wide spectrum of outcomes in terms of seats on councils and in the Scottish and Welsh parliaments. Much depends on the way that tight races involving many parties are filtered through different electoral systems.

The first-past-the-post model used to elect local authorities in England is ill-suited to multiparty politics. It was already flawed in the era when political competition was defined by the rivalry between Labour and the Conservatives. Smaller parties were locked out. Too many voters felt their ballots counted for nothing in safe seats.

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.

As Labour heads for a wipeout, a lesson: never fall for the 'adults in the room’ line again | Aditya Chakrabortty

Presenting himself as a serious, sensible ‘grownup’ was essential to Starmer’s rise to power. His premiership has revealed how hollow that message is

Some big questions will be asked this weekend – about how Labour fell so far so fast, about when Keir Starmer goes and who takes his place – but at least one big thing will be clear: never entrust your country to people who keep insisting they’re grown up.

Think back to 2024 and the birth of Starmer’s government. “The adults are back in the room,” exulted Darren Jones as Labour went marching into Downing Street. Having chopped the party’s largest pledges into little pieces (Goodbye, Green New Deal! Farewell, securonomics!), the single greatest qualification Starmer, Jones and co had for office was not policy, but vibes. After a decade of blue-on-blue fighting and a string of gap-year prime ministers, all the reds had to be was serious, sensible, businesslike. Labour would own the mien of production.

Aditya Chakrabortty is a Guardian columnist

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.

Ben Jennings on Donald Trump and ‘Project Freedom’ – cartoon

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Billie Eilish says she does ‘everything I can’ to suppress Tourette syndrome tics

US singer-songwriter talks about huge effort of controlling her behaviour, in interview with Amy Poehler

Billie Eilish has said she is “doing everything I can” to suppress her Tourette syndrome.

The singer-songwriter, who was 11 when she was diagnosed with TS, told of how frustrating it can be when others do not understand the condition.

A UConn reunion and Caitlin Clark’s return: WNBA storylines to follow in season 30 | Jordan Robinson

From the Dallas Wings’ big moves to the most valuable team, here’s what we’ll be watching as the 2026 campaign begins on Friday

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I’ve been obsessed with basketball for as long as I can remember (and have played it since I was five). Now, I cover the sport full-time. I co-wrote a book on the history of women’s hoops, Court Queens, and host the Audacy podcast The Women’s Hoops Show. I grew up a Sacramento Monarchs fan, and proudly own the signature sneakers of Breanna Stewart, Sabrina Ionescu and A’ja Wilson. (Angel Reese, you’re next.) The WNBA is celebrating its historic 30th season this year, and I’ll be here every Tuesday covering the past, present and future of the game in this newsletter. Think of it as my exclusive WNBA diary, filling you in on the 4-1-1 of my favorite league. I can’t wait.

As someone who celebrated my 30th birthday ahead of the league (not telling how long ahead), I can confidently say it’s a big deal. I, too, aimed to make more money and prioritize stability over hustle; WNBA players have signed million-dollar contracts for the first time, thanks to a new collective bargaining agreement. Some players, such as Atlanta’s Rhyne Howard, saw a 1,389% pay increase ($75,556 to $1.1m in her new three-year deal). In your 30s, you truly know your worth and come into your own. It’s fun to see the league mirror that, too.

CVS blows past estimates, hikes outlook as insurance business outperforms 

All of the healthcare giant's business segments, including its insurer Aetna, its retail pharmacy and health services unit, surpassed expectations.

Yankees legend Mariano Rivera says he supports an MLB salary cap

Former New York Yankee Mariano Rivera says he supports MLB salary cap as long as small-market teams are also spending.

Feds charge man who allegedly shot at Secret Service agent on National Mall

The Justice Department charged a Texas man who allegedly fired his gun toward a Secret Service agent and wounded a bystander on the National Mall.

Indigenous actor sues James Cameron for ‘stealing’ her facial features for Avatar character

Suit says director used Q’orianka Kilcher’s features without permission after seeing her in advert for The New World

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James Cameron and the Walt Disney Company are facing a lawsuit that claims the director based a key character in the Avatar franchise on a teenage actor without her permission.

The suit, filed by actor Q’orianka Kilcher, alleges that Cameron “extracted her facial features” and “directed his design team” to base the key Avatar character Neytiri on her appearance after seeing her in an LA Times advert for Terrence Malick’s 2005 film The New World. In the film Kilcher, who is Native Peruvian, played Pocahontas among a cast that also included Colin Farrell and Christian Bale.

Scottish mum stuck abroad after baby falls foul of UK dual nationality rules

Sarah Schloegl was unable to board flight home from Spain as 11-month-old lacked documents needed under new rules

A British woman from Aberdeen has been stranded abroad after her 11-month-old baby was prevented from boarding a flight because of new rules regarding dual nationals.

Sarah Schloegl was unable to board a Ryanair flight from Alicante last week after she went to Spain for a short break with her Austrian husband, Philipp, their three-year-old daughter and 11-month-old baby.

Mortal Kombat II review – junky game-to-movie sequel offers more of the same

A follow-up to 2021’s gory big-screen adaptation of the much-played fighting game might finally show us the tournament but it’s all far too unexciting

A sequel to 2021’s gory, garish big-screen transfer of Mortal Kombat was an inevitability not just because of how the industry typically works and not just because video game IP is arguably hotter than ever right now but because of something far more crucial. While the film – the second attempt to bring the game to the big screen after a dodgy Christopher Lambert-led 1995 version - was a predictable string of fight scenes pieced together with what could generously be described as a plot, it pulled a major, and to some rather shocking, punch. For all of the fight scenes it did show, it stopped short of showing us those one would naturally expect, denying us an actual Mortal Kombat tournament.

It was all laboured scene-setting, one reason why it didn’t connect with many critics and fans, other than it also not being very good, another little problem. The film was part of Warner’s Christopher Nolan-alienating Covid year, when its slate was launched on both the big screen and HBO Max simultaneously, and while it did so-so theatrical numbers, it was the platform’s most-streamed movie of the year, beating out grander titles such as Dune. The sequel is receiving a splashier rollout but its predecessor’s outsized small-screen success wasn’t just a sign of that particular strange time but also where fans might best enjoy these films, on TV late at night, expectations that much lower. Treated like a premium format blockbuster does not do a film like Mortal Kombat II any favours, its junkiness less charming and more distracting, a street fighter suddenly forced to go pay-per-view. While this one might actually be true to its title – there is a Mortal Kombat in Mortal Kombat II - there’s still nowhere near enough here to warrant an Imax screen.

Pussy Riot protest at Venice Biennale forces Russian pavilion to briefly close

Demonstrators, angered by Russia’s inclusion at arts festival, shouted ‘Curated by Putin, dead bodies included’

The Russian pavilion at the Venice Biennale was forced temporarily to shut its doors on the second day of the preview after the activist group Pussy Riot staged a chaotic protest against the country’s inclusion in the art festival.

Wearing pink balaclavas, the protesters ran towards the Russian pavilion where they gathered outside and lit pink, blue and yellow flares while playing punk music and shouting slogans, including “Blood is Russia’s Art”.

Trainline says Middle East tensions hitting European rail bookings

Profits jump to £122m at ticketing retailer but it expects flat or declining revenues over the coming year

• Business live – latest updates

Trainline has said the US standoff with Iran is hitting its revenues, with rail ticket sales to foreign visitors to Europe affected.

The UK-based international ticketing agent said it expected revenues to stay flat or decline over the coming year, citing “the effects of geopolitical tensions in the Middle East on inbound air traffic into Europe”.

Pope Leo rejects claim he supports nuclear weapons after Trump tirade

Pontiff responds after US president accuses him of ‘endangering a lot of Catholics’ with stance on Iran war

• People in the US: what do you think of Chicago-born Pope Leo?

Pope Leo has said he has never supported nuclear weapons and that those who criticise him need to speak the truth, in response to Donald Trump’s latest tirade accusing him of “endangering a lot of Catholics” with his stance on the Iran war.

Speaking to journalists on Tuesday night after leaving the papal retreat in Castel Gandolfo, near Rome, the first US-born pontiff said: “The mission of the church is to preach the gospel, to preach peace.”

Raducanu’s road leads from Rome to a French Open fitness race and questions beyond

Late withdrawal from Italian Open casts significant doubt over player’s chances of competing at Roland Garros

In the end Emma Raducanu was one of the first in and out the grandiose gates of the Foro Italico this year. She had arrived in Rome early, eager to test her health and readiness for top-level competition through a series of training sessions on the heavy red clay courts of the Italian Open. As the hours on court piled up, and her planned opening match on Thursday drew closer, it seemed reasonable to conclude that she would make her first appearance in two months. Instead, her absence from the courts will extend to more than two months.

Things are rarely straightforward with Raducanu, demonstrated by the nature of her withdrawal in Rome, which occurred just 30 minutes after she gave little indication of her intention during a press conference. The past few months, as usual, have come with ample speculation about Raducanu’s health, meaning her appearance in Rome was at least an opportunity for her to provide clarity on her recent struggles. Somehow, the manner of her exit only generated further questions.

U.S. to press allies to bolster counterterrorism efforts under new strategy

A new counterterrorism strategy, signed by President Trump on Tuesday, seeks to crack down on Islamist terror groups, drug cartels and violent domestic political groups.

From ‘it helped me stick to a routine’ to ‘I despise it’: 11 people explain how they’re using AI for fitness

While some are using AI to tailor programs better suited to their needs, others warn ‘it can be wrong, confidently so’

People have mixed feelings about AI. While many people regularly use it – 62% in the US and 69% in the UK – trust in the technology is low. In the US, only 26% of people have a positive view of AI, according to one NBC poll, and in the UK, 78% say they worry about negative outcomes from AI.

So it is perhaps no surprise that readers’ responses to our callout about AI and fitness were varied. Some said they rely on AI to shape their workouts and diets while others said they refuse to use it at all because of its impact on the economy and the environment. And many were somewhere in between – they found it a useful tool, but were less than thrilled about the technology’s impact overall.

CNN legend Christiane Amanpour expresses concern about Ellison takeover

Ahead of Paramount Skydance merger with Warner Bros Discovery, Amanpour talks ‘ideological realignment of CBS’

One of CNN’s most recognizable and influential voices, chief international anchor Christiane Amanpour, has voiced concerns about CBS News parent company Paramount Skydance’s acquisition of CNN parent company Warner Bros Discovery and what it might mean for the cable news network.

Speaking at the Truth Tellers summit honoring the late English journalism pioneer, Sir Harry Evans, Amanpour said: “Clearly I’m concerned, and I’m not sure how much I’m allowed to say about a corporate thing that’s under way, but I am obviously, as a person, as a journalist with a record, concerned, and I’m concerned based on what’s happened to the other things that [Paramount Skydance chief executive, David Ellison, has] taken over already, like CBS News.” Amanpour noted how the network had done since it came under the control of Skydance last summer and nodded to reports about major changes coming to the Sunday show, 60 Minutes.

Patel criticizes local officials in handling of Nancy Guthrie case, but sheriff disputes claims

FBI Director Kash Patel is attempting to shift blame to local authorities in the handling of the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie. But the Pima County Sheriff's Office says some of Patel's comments are not accurate. Jericka Duncan reports.

Album cover fails! A misspelled Melanie C – and other mistakes that caused a stir

The former Spice Girl released new music this week, and fans were quick to point out an unfortunate typo. It’s certainly not the first time it’s happened

Name: Melanie C, christened Melanie Chisholm, who is also known as Mel C and Sporty Spice …

Age: She’s 52.

Restaurant Brands International earnings top estimates, fueled by Burger King turnaround

Restaurant Brands International reported quarterly earnings and revenue that topped Wall Street's estimates.

How Silicon Valley's new tech right has profited by aligning with MAGA

Atlantic writer George Packer discusses how tech venture capitalists, who are heavily invested in AI and cryptocurrency, aligned with Trump and influenced policies related to their own investments.

Norwegian government attacked over decision to reopen North Sea gasfields

Approval for exploration in 70 new areas prompts fierce backlash from fossil fuel opponents

The Norwegian government has been heavily criticised for approving plans to reopen three North Sea gasfields nearly three decades after they were closed to help fill the gap in energy supplies created by the Middle East war.

Amid sharp price rises in oil and gas since the US and Israel’s attack on Iran in February, Oslo has also given its approval for oil and gas companies to explore in 70 new locations in the North Sea, Barents Sea and Norwegian Sea.

Lacunar strokes caused by widening of arteries in brain, study suggests

Finding would explain why type of stroke affecting about 35,000 a year in UK is not as responsive to some medication

The cause of a type of stroke that affects about 35,000 people across the UK each year has been uncovered by researchers and may explain why some medications are ineffective as treatment.

Lacunar strokes, which account for a quarter of all strokes in the UK, had been linked to the blockage of arteries in the brain by fatty deposits.

TikTok’s algorithm favored Republican content in 2024 US elections, study finds

For You pages prioritized pro-Republican content in three states, researchers say, but TikTok says study does not reflect real user behavior

A study published Wednesday in the journal Nature finds that TikTok’s algorithm systematically prioritized pro-Republican content in three states leading up to the 2024 US elections.

Researchers created hundreds of dummy accounts and conditioned them to mimic real users’ behavior by watching a set of videos either aligned with the US Democratic or Republican parties. Then, they tracked the videos TikTok recommended on these accounts’ For You pages, TikTok’s main feed.

FDA withdrew studies finding Covid and shingles vaccines were safe 

The studies were "withdrawn because the authors drew broad conclusions that were not supported by the underlying data," the spokesperson told CNBC. 

The best filing system? The one where every piece of paper goes in the bin | Adrian Chiles

Over the years, I’ve tried many ways of keeping track of my paperwork – each one worse than the last. Drastic action is called for

How I hate paperwork. Forms to fill, bills to pay, statements to file, receipts to keep, documents documenting things, proving things, explaining things. Keep them all. Up the pile rises, higher and higher, until this tower of fear and confusion can no longer support itself. Down it comes, collapsing under the weight of all the misery, the wretched sheets fanning out across the floor like the most dispiriting hand of cards ever dealt.

It’s at this stage I wish I was more like a friend I had who ran a department in a private school. It was one of those crammer places, where you go to retake the exams your original private school couldn’t get you through. At the end of each term he’d cast a baleful eye over the calamity of his desk, find himself a bin bag, and sweep into it every last bit of paper. Nothing would be spared – every letter, opened or unopened, along with any sweet wrappers, fragments of rolling tobacco and heaven knows what else. Off to landfill it went while off on holiday this dissolute character would go. And back to a lovely clear desk he’d return next term.

Ken Griffin: Citadel expanding in Miami in response to NYC mayor Mamdani's 'poor taste' tax video

Mamdani's office said in response to Griffin, "our tax system is fundamentally broken. It rewards extreme wealth while working people are pushed to the brink."

Shostakovich’s First at 100 – how prodigious genius sounded before Stalin set about silencing it

The composer himself never matched the joy, optimism and boldness of his first teenage symphony, as the chill of Stalinism settled on his music

This week we mark two extraordinary centenaries. Sir David Attenborough’s, of course, but only four days after the birth of the bona fide national treasure, Dmitri Shostakovich’s First Symphony also first saw the light of day – premiered in Leningrad on 12 May 1926. The 19-year-old’s composition was played by the Leningrad Philharmonic, conducted by Nicolai Malko.

The symphony’s four-movement structure is just about the only conventional feature it has. The teenage Shostakovich had imbibed all the lessons he could about what orchestral music should sound like and how it should behave, and was bold enough to subvert all those ideas and send them up. There is no forelock-tugging to earlier generations of Russian symphonists and orchestral pioneers; instead, Shostakovich’s First resounds with a self-confidence that’s both optimistic and deliciously sardonic.

Ted Turner, CNN founder who reshaped global news, dies aged 87

The death of the media mogul who transformed TV news was confirmed by his family and reported by CNN

Ted Turner, the media mogul who founded CNN, has died aged 87, CNN reported on Wednesday, citing a news release from Turner Enterprises.

In a statement, Mark Thompson, the chair and CEO of CNN Worldwide, said that “Ted was an intensely involved and committed leader, intrepid, fearless, and always willing to back a hunch and trust his own judgment.”

Hegseth says 'the ceasefire is not over' after U.S., Iran exchange fire

DOD expected "some churn at the beginning" of "Project Freedom," Defense Sec. Hegseth said, referring to an effort to move ships through the Strait of Hormuz.

Greetings from a sea village in Indonesia, where Indigenous fishing gets help from mangroves

As a water taxi rounded a corner at sunset, the village of Torosiaje came into view, with its colorful stilted houses perched over the Molucca Sea.

EV maker Lucid suspends production guidance amid incoming CEO's business review

Lucid Group said it will make moves to better align its production with customer demand for its luxury all-electric vehicles.

'A trailblazer, a rabble-rouser, a do-gooder': CNN founder Ted Turner dies at 87

Turner had a larger-than-life personality, and used it to launch the country's first 24/7 all-news network.

‘Factory of lies’: what will Péter Magyar do about Hungary’s state media?

Journalists brace for sweeping reforms after years of pro-government control under Viktor Orbán

For years they operated as government mouthpieces, using their sprawling reach into homes across Hungary to bolster Viktor Orbán and vilify those he cast as enemies, from the philanthropist George Soros to Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

But on Saturday, as Péter Magyar’s swearing-in officially ends Orbán’s 16 years in power, the country’s once powerful state media are facing the prospect of going dark.

Licence to thrill: could 007 First Light be the best Bond game since GoldenEye?

James Bond games have always fallen short of capturing the precise feel of the classic movies. But Amazon’s first dip into the 007 mythology seems to have a character of its own

In the wake of the last James Bond movie, No Time to Die, there was a surge of articles asking whether it should spell the end for Ian Fleming’s secret agent. In that movie, Daniel Craig played the character as a fading force, mentally and physically exhausted, and out of touch. “The world has moved on,” Lashana Lynch’s younger agent told him at one point, and in a lot of ways she was right. A product of the cold war era, 007 was a sociopathic misogynist addicted to booze and amphetamines – Craig tried to play all that down, creating a more rounded character and, controversially, giving Bond the ultimate redemption arc at the end of his final outing.

But five years later, with the franchise’s new owner Amazon still trying to pull the next film together, we’re about to get what looks to be the best Bond game since GoldenEye. Created by the Danish developer IO Interactive, famed for its Hitman series of anarchic open-ended assassination sims, 007 First Light follows a fresh-faced Bond from his early career as an aircrewman to his first mission as a double-0 operative. The games press was recently given a three-hour hands-on demo to play, and reports suggest that it combines elements of the Hitman games (Bond navigating a gala event, either sleuthing or punching his way to the mission objective) with major set-piece shootouts, chase scenes and miraculous gadgets. (For more on its making, read this piece about how developer IO Interactive brought it together.)

Private payrolls rose by 109,000 in April, topping expectations, ADP says

The report provided more evidence of a stable labor market and less incentive for the Fed to lower interest rates.

A robot monk and a puffin island: photos of the day – Wednesday

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

Bryson DeChambeau to concentrate on his YouTube channel if LIV Golf collapses

• Circuit’s future is uncertain after Saudi withdrawal

• Two-time major champion also criticizes PGA Tour

Bryson DeChambeau insists he would focus on his YouTube channel should LIV Golf not survive.

The future of the Saudi-backed breakaway remains in doubt after the country’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) announced plans to withdraw financing at the end of the year, having spent more than $5.4bn on the venture since 2022.

The best show on TV again (for one glorious scene): The Bear’s surprise new prequel

The restaurant drama dropped a special episode yesterday, without any warning. And it shows brief flashes of the magic that once made it so brilliant

A couple of years ago, a surprise episode of The Bear would have been one of the highlights of the year. The stressful, tightly compressed comedy-drama about a restaurant in Chicago hit television like a juggernaut when it launched. It felt like nothing else and it was all anyone could talk about.

How things have changed. Two disappointing seasons have taken all of the wind out of The Bear, so when it was announced that a special episode had dropped (before what is expected to be the final season this summer), you would have been justified to feel trepidatious.

Have you lost or are worried about losing SNAP benefits? NPR wants to hear your story

NPR wants to hear from people impacted by changes to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.

Gianni Infantino says high World Cup ticket prices are justified in US market

• Fan groups have called prices a ‘monumental betrayal’

• Fifa collects 30% cut on resale market

Fifa’s president, Gianni Infantino, has defended World Cup ticket prices, insisting that football’s global governing body was obliged to take advantage of US laws that allow tickets to be resold for thousands of dollars above face value.

Fifa has faced searing criticism over the cost of World Cup tickets, with the fan organization Football Supporters Europe (FSE) calling the pricing structure “extortionate” and a “monumental betrayal”. FSE filed a lawsuit with the European Commission in March targeting Fifa over “excessive ticket prices” for the tournament.

Jess Cartner-Morley on fashion: missed Love Story? It’s not too late to embrace 90s minimalism

The key lesson from Carolyn Bessette Kennedy’s style is to keep the messaging simple

Carolyn Bessette Kennedy has been an insider style icon for ever, but this year she has flipped from under-the-radar reference to global phenomenon. Ryan Murphy’s Love Story, a glossy dramatisation of her doomed romance with JFK Jr, gave us nine delicious hours of lingering closeups of her white tank tops and jeans, her simple black dresses, perfect black oval sunglasses and tortoiseshell headbands. If you didn’t know you wanted to dress like CBK before you started watching, you did by the end.

Carole Radziwill, who was friends with Carolyn, has pointed out that copying CBK’s style is pretty much the least CBK thing you could do. Her friend, she told the Deuxmoi podcast, “pulled her hair back in a headband because she didn’t want to wash it every day. She did what felt natural to her and she dressed in things that made her feel comfortable and most like herself. Mostly jeans and button-downs and T-shirts. The takeaway is not to mimic her style, but to do and wear what feels most authentic to you. Be yourself. She was very much herself.”

From jewelers to health tech, CEOs want tariff refunds as earnings take a hit

Philips and Pandora on Wednesday announced their intentions to apply for tariff rebates in the aftermath of President Trump's "liberation day" blitz.

Iran is reviewing a U.S. proposal as Trump threatens renewed bombing if it doesn't agree

Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman said negotiators are assessing the Trump administration's latest proposal and will relate a response to mediating country Pakistan.

‘Educated under embargo’: How Cuban doctors vital to Latin America and the Caribbean became under threat by the US

The US is blocking the employment of Cuban doctors around the world – and the poorest will suffer the costs

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US pressure on Cuba is rising. A country that has already been under US-led and enforced embargos for almost 70 years, Cuba is now in the crosshairs of the Trump administration, with a new policy that is isolating it further and having a devastating effect on Latin America and the Caribbean. The US has blocked the employment of Cuban doctors, medical professionals who go where others fear to tread and who have propped up healthcare across the region for decades.

I spoke to the Guardian’s South America correspondent, Tiago Rogero, about the impact of Trump’s policy and what makes Cuban doctors special.

Mortgage rates hit the highest level in a month, causing first-time homebuyers to drop out

Mortgage rates rose last week, causing loan demand to drop back and causing the average loan size to rise — indicating that lower-income borrowers dropped out.

How to save asparagus trimmings from the food-waste bin – recipe | Waste not

Transform this tough offcut into an intensely delicious compound butter that’s perfect with eggs, bread, gnocchi or anything else you can think of

Asparagus butts are a particularly tricky byproduct to tame because they’re so fibrous. I usually cut them very finely (into 5mm-thick discs, or even thinner), then boil, puree and pass them through a sieve (as in my green goddess salad dressing and asparagus soup), but even then you’ll still end up with a fair bit of fibrous waste. Enter asparagus-butt butter: a recipe that defies all odds, making the impossible possible by transforming a tough offcut into an intense compound butter that’s perfect for grilling or frying asparagus spears themselves, or for eggs, bread, gnocchi or whatever you can think of. The short fibres brown and caramelise in the butter, and in the process become the highlight of the dish, rather than the problem.

Alaska’s 2025 mega tsunami highlights risk to cruise lines as glaciers retreat

Researchers say 481-metre wave in fjord was triggered by rockslide linked to climate crisis

A mega tsunami in Alaska last year in a fjord visited by cruise ships is a stark warning of the risks of coastal rockslides and glacier retreat fueled by the climate crisis, a new study warns.

Scientists recorded the world’s second-tallest tsunami after it struck the Tracy Arm fjord in south-east Alaska last August after a massive rockslide around the toe of a glacier. The tsunami reached 481 metres (1,578ft) in height; by comparison the Eiffel Tower is 330 metres (1082ft).