Premier League set for crunch weekend, European reaction, and more – football live

⚽ Fixtures | Latest tables | Premier League top scorers
⚽ Premier League: 10 things to look out for | Mail David

Arsenal are six points clear in the Premier League and into the semi-finals of the Champions League. And yet, in cricketing terms, they seem not to be going for their shots anymore, trying to get over the line by nudging singles. Has Geoff Boycott given his approval to such a method? Boycs, confusingly, supports Manchester United so probably isn’t the man to ask. Much of the negativity around the Gunners centres around style though and clamming up at this crucial stage of the season could backfire. Here’s Rob Draper with a look at how Mikel Arteta and Pep Guardiola are taking different paths despite both being disciples of Johan Cruyff.

No doubt which game takes top billing this weekend. Let’s start with some Manchester City v Arsenal build-up in our Premier League: 10 things to look out for column. Here’s how Jamie Jackson frames it:

Minister defends Starmer amid Mandelson revelations, saying vetting decision ‘utterly unacceptable’ – UK politics live

Darren Jones says he has ordered an urgent review into news that the Foreign Office ignored security vetting advice

• Olly Robbins forced out in Mandelson vetting row

Jones repeatedly denied that the prime minister had given a misleading impression about what has happened and had “lost grip” of the situation. He told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme:

I completely refute the suggestion the PM misled the public or the House of Commons. It’s very clear from his words he was reporting what he had been told and what had been followed.

I don’t think this is a question about the prime minister’s leadership.

The Foreign Office did not tell the prime minister that they granted developed vetting status to Peter Mandelson against the advice of the security and vetting process. The prime minister was only made aware of that on Tuesday evening this week when the documents became available to the Cabinet Office as part of the humble address process (a binding motion to request government papers – JG).

No minister is allowed to see these vetting documents as a matter of principle because we employ security professionals to conduct deeply invasive personal investigations into people’s backgrounds and for those officials to make a recommendation to civil servants on the appointment and employment of individuals.

Morning news brief

Israel and Lebanon agree to 10-day ceasefire, U.S. military officials say the blockade of Iranian ports and ceasefire is holding, Trump nominates former Coast Guard doctor as CDC chief.

Middle East crisis live: UN chief calls for Israel-Lebanon ceasefire to be ‘fully’ respected as it comes into effect

António Guterres welcomes truce and says he hopes halt in fighting will ‘pave the way for negotiations’

In case you’re just joining us, here are the latest developments in the Middle East to bring you up to speed. It’s 9am in Beirut and Jerusalem, 9.30am in Tehran and 2am in Washington DC.

A 10-day ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon has come into effect, pausing fighting between Israel and Hezbollah that has killed more than 2,100 Lebanese people and displaced more than 2.1 million. The agreement was announced earlier by Donald Trump, who said he had spoken with Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Lebanese president Joseph Aoun, and invited both leaders “for meaningful talks” at the White House. Both leaders welcomed the agreement.

Israel and Hezbollah both maintained their right to defend themselves if the truce is broken – here’s our full report.

Netanyahu called the ceasefire a “historic” opportunity for peace but refused to withdraw his troops from southern Lebanon during the pause in fighting. “We are remaining in Lebanon in an expanded security zone,” he said, due to the “danger of an invasion” and to prevent fire into Israel. “That is where we are, and we are not leaving.”

UN chief António Guterres welcomed the ceasefire, which took effect at midnight on Thursday (2100 GMT) in Lebanon, and urged “all actors” to fully respect it. He hoped the halt in fighting would “pave the way for negotiations”.

The Lebanese army warned people displaced from southern Lebanon about returning home because of intermittent shelling that was reported after the ceasefire came into effect.

The Israeli military warned residents of southern Lebanon not to return south of the Litani River despite the truce.

Iran’s foreign ministry spokesperson welcomed the ceasefire and stressed it was already part of the original Iran-US agreement brokered by Pakistan.

Israel and Hezbollah continued to exchange fire in the hours before the truce took effect.

Netflix co-founder Reed Hastings to leave streaming service

Chair’s decision to not seek re-election ‘not as a result of any disagreement’, company says in filing

Reed Hastings, the Netflix chair, is leaving the streaming service he co-founded almost 30 years ago as the company regains its footing after losing out on a $72bn (£53bn) deal for Warner Bros Discovery.

In a 14-page letter to investors released on Thursday, Netflix said Hastings would not stand for re-election at its annual meeting in June and planned to focus on philanthropy and other pursuits.

Trump rails against court decision that once again stalls his White House ballroom project

The federal judge's decision continues to block above-ground construction on the $400 million White House ballroom, allowing only below-ground work on a bunker and other "national security facilities" at the site.

Pop star boyfriend posting from Coachella, celebrity statesman, global brand: Justin Trudeau’s offbeat political afterlife

While Canadian prime ministers have taken staid routes after leaving office, Trudeau has tread a different path

The downfall of Hungary’s Viktor Orbán prompted a flurry of reaction from progressive leaders around the world celebrating the end to an authoritarian regime. One statement stood out – not so much for the sentiment it expressed, but the setting in which it was issued.

“Hungarians voted for change and a renewed commitment to democratic institutions after years of erosion under Viktor Orbán,” wrote Justin Trudeau, Canada’s former prime minister – posting from the Coachella music festival, where he and his girlfriend, the American pop star Katy Perry, were watching Justin Bieber.

Lucy Liyou: Mr Cobra review – an arresting trip through the volatile emotions of a predatory relationship

(Orange Milk)
The Korean American musician explores the unease and alarm of power imbalance using skittish melodies, nursery rhymes – and an unexpected Taylor Swift sample

Mr Cobra opens with Korean American experimental musician Lucy Liyou’s central character, Babygirl, eerily beckoning her lover while piano shrapnel assaults a barren canvas. Over the course of the record, Liyou’s textures swell and dissipate, swerving into disco cuts and a Taylor Swift skit, then collapsing into farmyard sounds and text-to-speech streams of consciousness. This adaptation of Liyou’s solo music-theatre piece, dissecting a lustful relationship with a predator, turned into what she calls a record “about shame”. Its clearest theme is of desire’s power to corrode and enthral, but through her semi-autobiographical characters Liyou covers volatile emotional terrain – somethingher music encompasses with a mix of pathos, alarm and distance, and little interest in comforting resolution.

Liyou’s commentary on agency in abusive relationships is particularly insightful in its unease as Babygirl undergoes rapid switches in motivation. Her submissive desires on Constrictor (Haha) are drenched in cold water when she suddenly becomes repulsed on Old MacDonald Had a Charm – yet, by the end of the track she’s back to flirting. Liyou has often toyed with celebrity culture (her name deliberately misspells that of the film star): on Romeopathy, Swift’s Love Story becomes a needy appeal for affection, asking Mr Cobra repeatedly to “just say yes” to her. Grabby moments like this, the nursery rhymes and the disco breaks can overshadow the allure of the album’s nuanced chaos, though they’re all part of the spirit of this smart, playful release from a musician of abundant talents.

Spain touts energy resilience to Iran war as Trump tensions cast shadow over trade

The southern European country has ramped up its investment in solar and wind technologies in recent years.

House extends surveillance powers for 10 days

Earlier in the morning GOP leaders had pushed for either a five-year renewal or the 18-month renewal President Trump had demanded, but both votes tanked.

Weather tracker: hail covers parts of Tunisia and Algeria like snow

Accumulations of up to 3cm deep reported as severe thunderstorms also bring heavy downpours to central Italy

Severe thunderstorms have affected the Mediterranean this week. On Monday, a surface low-pressure system in the Mediterranean in conjunction with an upper air cut-off low, led to thunderstorms over north Africa. Their intensity was aided by the hot precursor conditions.

Algeria and Tunisia were notably affected by the thunderstorms, with some hail accumulation layers as a result. When so much hail forms, it starts to lay down sheets of hail, covering the ground like snow. Hail accumulations of up to 3cm were reported in Oum Ladjoul and Hammam Sokhna in Algeria, and there were hailstones of up to 3cm in diameter in Makthar, Tunisia. Thunderstorms continued in the region through the following day, with further hail accumulations, notably in Ouled Bousmir, Tunisia, where there was a layer about 2cm deep.

Replaced review – nostalgic cyberpunk tribute has few ideas of its own

PC, Xbox; Sad Cat Studios
This pulpy sci-fi thriller is a beautiful, if deferential, homage to the genre greats, with a poignant real-world echo

For all of cyberpunk’s cautionary tales of shady corporations and transhumanist folly, it is the genre’s arresting imagery that looms largest in the pop culture imagination. Petroleum flares light up the perpetually rainy Los Angeles of Blade Runner; in the novel Neuromancer, the sky is the “colour of television, tuned to a dead channel”.

Replaced, a new 2D action-platformer from Belarus-based outfit Sad Cat Studios, leans into the steel and sprawl that the genre is famed for. The game also offers a wrinkle to cyberpunk’s longstanding, somewhat overfamiliar visual palette: it floods the screen with softly diffusing sepia and warm primary colours, particularly in the densely populated residential areas you’re able to explore. The mood is comforting rather than ominous, cosy rather than clinical, as if this dystopian sci-fi has been touched by an unlikely hand – that of cottagecore godfather Thomas Kinkade.

Replaced is out now; £16.99/$19.99

Various artists: Asili ya Mama review – Tanzanian field recordings tell women’s stories with an energetic trill

(Hukwe Zawose Foundation)
These stories of family bonds capture traditional music that’s equal parts rhythmic, melodic and harmonic, and rarely heard outside Indigenous communities

Folk song collecting by women has an illustrious history, but also an exciting present, as this set of 10 energetic Tanzanian field recordings demonstrates. Put together by documentarian Ruth Ndeto and musician Msafiri Zawose (brother of Pendo from the brilliant Zawose Queens, and son of the late folk pioneer Hukwe), Asili ya Mama (Origin of Mother) showcases the rhythmic, melodic and harmonic invention of Wagogo, Waluguru and Wasambaa women. Here are songs that have “carried culture and music in everyday life”, say the liner notes, while rarely being heard beyond their communities.

Almost in counterpoint to the croak of passing birds, a brisk female singer kicks off the album opener, Baba Mwenda, a storytelling song warning against greed. Other women join her in unison, as do traditional shakers and tin drums, with a bubbling, playful defiance. Wedding song Chamsola comes next, driven by the resonant ring of a mheme drum and harmonies full of shimmering opacity, like a midnight-blue sea, then Chamwiloa, a fast-paced song about the formal union of families after marriage, which races towards its conclusion with percussive intensity.

A Gorilla Story: Told By David Attenborough review – like one of our last meetings with an adored relative

The naturalist revisits the family of apes he had a goosebump-inducingly famous encounter with 50 years ago. You’ll find yourself overcome with awe

The most famous sequence in all of wildlife film-making happened 48 years ago. During the filming of Life on Earth – the groundbreaking BBC show that set the blueprint of nature programming as we know it today – David Attenborough crept through the forests of Rwanda, and unexpectedly found himself being playfully set upon by a family of gorillas. As they clambered over him, Attenborough turned to camera and said: “There is more meaning and mutual understanding in exchanging a glance with a gorilla than with any other animal I know.”

Almost half a century on, the sequence still has the power to give you goosebumps. This is possibly why it has formed the backbone of a new documentary. A Gorilla Story is a much starrier affair than its predecessor – it was directed by the Oscar-winning James Reed and boasts Leonardo DiCaprio as an executive producer – but its conceit is fascinating: after all this time, how are those same gorillas doing?

Guardiola ready to benefit as fellow Cruyff disciple Arteta strays from path

Manchester City and Arsenal managers were both schooled in the expansive Barça tradition but the latter opting for caution could be his team’s undoing

When Pep Guardiola was preparing for the challenge of taking on Jürgen Klopp’s peak Liverpool team at Anfield in February 2021, training that week at Manchester City was a little different, according to Oleksandr Zinchenko. Guardiola’s instructions seemed counterintuitive. “Guys, let’s start from the goal-kick, I want you to make at least three or four touches on the ball,” the manager told them. “Most of the teams come to Anfield and shit themselves. They want to play one touch, two touch. ‘Oh, don’t give me the ball! Oh you take it!’ But you have to play with big balls at Anfield! Big balls! ‘Give me the ball!’ Demand it! If you need to dribble past two or three players, do it. But play football. I want you to play football.”

Zinchenko recalls that Guardiola made the same speech before they walked out at Anfield. “Teams coming here are scared. They play one or two touches, and that’s what Liverpool like, because they get the ball back so quickly. I want you to be brave. Play your football!” as Zinchenko puts it in his autobiography, Believe. Admittedly that game came in the midst of City’s record-breaking 21-game winning run that season but was also Guardiola’s first win at Anfield, so not dissimilar to the title showdown at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday with Arsenal.

Sports quiz of the week: I Am Maximus, Marie-Louise Eta and Rory McIlroy

Did you follow the big stories in football, rugby, golf, baseball, basketball, boxing, snooker, cricket and racing?

I’ll make up a whopper you can’t refuse! Why do we love to believe cinema’s best lines were improvised?

From The Godfather to Saltburn, the internet is awash with claims that actors are ditching the script and making it up as they go along. What’s behind our desire to invest in these behind-the-scenes ‘secrets’?

Fun fact: in the history of cinema, there has never been a single script. It is a pervasive myth that film-making requires “screenplays” – in fact, most scenes are made up on the spot. Performers simply do whatever comes to mind and hope the camera is perfectly positioned to capture it; they slap their colleagues or start to break-dance on a whim. Did you know that many actors are not even acting? The shock on their faces is real, because usually they have no idea what’s going to happen next.

This is the world according to YouTube shorts, X posts and Instagram memes. Across the internet, content creators are falsely claiming that some of cinema’s most famous scenes were improvised. Al Pacino giving John Cazale the kiss of death in The Godfather II? Made up on the spot. Heath Ledger’s frustration at the delayed hospital explosion in The Dark Knight? His real reaction! And that mother-daughter fight in Mermaids? Winona Ryder “delivered a roast so lethal that Cher had to improvise the slap”.

The Plague review – water polo camp turns into tween hellscape with impressive stylistic bite

With Fincher-like intent, director Charlie Polinger scopes out concealed psychological depths in a debut that sees the laws of the jungle play out

Set at a boy’s water polo training camp in the summer of 2003, Charlie Polinger’s debut feature plunges beneath the waterline to scope out concealed psychological depths. It may not be news that these kids operate in a brutal, animal-like hierarchy driven by braggadocio, bullying, hazing and gaslighting – but from the stunning initial submerged shot of a pool glittering like a starfield, Polinger brings impressive stylistic bite to this tween hellscape: the kind of trenchant intent you might associate with David Fincher.

Latecomer Ben (Everett Blunck) is thrown in at the deep end when he arrives. Desperate to ingratiate himself with the cool crowd lorded over by the impish Jake (Kayo Martin), he aims to avoid the pariah status of house lummox Eli (Kenny Rasmussen), who is supposedly afflicted with a (made-up) disease the brats dub “the plague”. Anyone who touches Eli must immediately scrub themselves lest they start showing symptoms of diminished brain function and terminal dorkiness. Ben meekly falls in with Jake’s psyops, despite the insistence of coach Daddy Wags (Joel Edgerton) that he should just be himself.

‘The antidote to Brat’ – why pointelle is having a moment

Once the preserve of childhood underwear, the patterned knit is now bringing nostalgia and comfort to adults in a fast-changing, unpredictable world

In this very on-brand April, where sun and showers jostle for supremacy and a chill wind is making 16C feel like 9C, you might have spotted pointelle popping up everywhere. On her recent world tour, Rosalía appeared on stage in Paris wearing a pointelle bodysuit. Then Sabrina Carpenter appeared on the cover of Perfect magazine hanging backwards off a bed wearing cyan eyeshadow and a pointelle underwear set. It’s peeping out from underneath shirts and jumpers in air-conditioned offices and on buses. For spring, the heritage knitwear brand Herd is offering “featherlight yet warm” jumpers in its signature pointelle. John Lewis, which said yesterday that online searches for pointelle were up 60% week on week, is selling bandana-scarves and pyjamas made of the same material.

The fabric, more associated with girls’ vests, thermal-wear and underwear, is, according to Merriam-Webster, “an openwork design (as in knitted fabric) typically in the shape of chevrons”. Sometimes peppered with hearts, florals, diamonds or zigzags instead, you probably had a pair of pointelle ankle socks, possibly with a little cotton ruffle. Or maybe you remember that era in the 00s when Whistles churned out lacey pointelle camisoles that grazed bellybuttons inches above Juicy Couture track bottoms.

Media coverage of violence against women reaches ‘dismal’ low, report finds

Analysis finds stories citing terms of misogynistic abuse fell to 1.3% of global online news in 2025

Media coverage of violence against women and girls and misogynistic harassment is at a “pitiful” low, despite a proliferation of high-profile cases of men abusing women and children, and a rise in AI-assisted violence against women and girls, new research shows.

An analysis of 1.14bn online stories published worldwide between 2017 and 2025 found that the proportion of articles that include terms relating to misogynistic abuse dropped to a “dismal” 1.3% of all global online news in 2025, the lowest level in that period. Coverage peaked at 2.2% in 2018, the height of the #MeToo movement. In Africa, where multiple conflicts have involved extreme levels of sexual violence, coverage sank to a nine-year low of 1.18% in 2024.

Lochs, bothies and burial chambers: readers’ favourite trips in Scotland

From the epic landscapes of the Highlands and Islands to intimate local community events, our readers share their best finds in Scotland
• Tell us about a cool neighbourhood in a European city – the best tip wins a £200 holiday voucher

After trekking in from near Oykel Bridge, our group stayed the night at Choire Mhoir and Magoo’s bothies (conjoined Mountain Bothies Association and non-MBA bothies, both free) in the northern Highlands. Emerging from the bothies come morning, a fog hovered between the mountains leading up to the summit of Seana Bhràigh, peaking out above, and Loch a’ Choire Mhóir below. As the sun rose, the fog steadily lifted, but not before creating a magical fogbow above the loch and bothies.
Rory

ICE acting director Todd Lyons will resign at end of May, DHS says

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement acting director Todd Lyons, a key executor of President Donald Trump's mass deportations agenda, will resign at the end of May, federal officials announced.

Helen Goh’s recipe for Anzac sandwich biscuits with dark chocolate filling | The sweet spot

Chewy in the middle and crisp at the edges, as any self-respecting Anzac biscuit ought to be, but here they’re sandwiched together with a slightly luxurious, mildly salted, olive oil-enriched dark chocolate ganache

Anzac biscuits are closely associated with Anzac Day on 25 April, which commemorates the members of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps who served in the first world war. Made with oats, coconut and golden syrup, the biscuits are said to have been popular because they travelled well and kept for long periods, making them suitable for sending to forces overseas. My version here, a slightly less austere take on the classic, sandwiches two small biscuits with a lightly salted, olive oil-enriched dark chocolate ganache. The result is crisp at the edges, soft within and not too sweet.

True blue: what to wear with classic straight leg jeans

Got denim overwhelm? Go back to basics with a simple pair of straight leg jeans

Liz Kendall urges UK public to embrace AI as government makes first £500m fund investment

Technology secretary plays down fears over jobs and cyber security as stake taken in British startup

The UK technology secretary has urged the country to “make AI work for Britain”, brushing off fears about its impact on jobs and cybersecurity as the government announced its first investment under a £500m sovereign AI fund.

Liz Kendall said the UK had to “seize” the opportunity offered by AI despite concerns underlined this month when US startup Anthropic revealed it had developed an AI model that posed a potentially significant cyber threat.

Asked how the government makes the case for embracing a technology that could disrupt jobs and now cybersecurity, Kendall said: “We have to seize this to make it work, for Britain, for our jobs, for solving the biggest challenges we face as a world.”

Speaking on Thursday as the government unveiled its first investment in a UK company as part of a £500m sovereign AI fund, Kendall acknowledged “people are worried about the risks and what it means for their jobs”, but AI entrepreneurs also believed they can “make it work … they can create jobs”.

D4vd arrested on suspicion of killing teen girl whose body was found in his Tesla

Musician, born David Anthony Burke, arrested in Los Angeles over the death of Celeste Rivas Hernandez, who went missing in 2024

R&B singer D4vd has been arrested in connection with the killing of a teenage girl whose severely decomposed body was found in his Tesla, Los Angeles police said on Thursday.

The 21-year-old musician, who was born David Anthony Burke, is being held without bail, according to city authorities.

‘He’d gaze at the stars and go: I’m gonna be up there one day’: Prince by those who knew him best, 10 years after his death

From lurid pranks and late-night drives, to why playing in the Revolution was like joining the marines – Prince’s friends and collaborators recount their memories of one of the music world’s most majestic and mercurial performers

George Clinton, singer and leader of Parliament-Funkadelic

Experience: I won the world’s deepest underground marathon

I tried not to think about the 1,300 metres of solid rock over my head

Running has always been a passion of mine. I started as a child in the Yorkshire Dales, moving to cross-country at university, then graduating to marathons. I loved the challenge. After my wife, Stephanie, and I married in 2012, and went on to have two daughters, Grace and Rose, I still ran for pleasure, but competitive events took a back seat as I focused on my family and career.

Then one day I heard about a marathon my company had been invited to join. It had been over 10 years since my last big race, but I put my name forward. “I’m surprised,” a colleague said. “You do realise it’s totally underground?” It turned out the race was in a Swedish zinc mine, 1,120 metres below sea level. That made it the world’s deepest marathon, and everyone who completed it would be a Guinness World Record holder.

‘It feels like death is certain’: lives and limbs lost to crocodile attacks on the banks of Kenya’s rising Lake Turkana

Seven deaths and 15 injuries have been recorded in the past year as crocodiles move their habitats closer to human settlements

• Warning: contains graphic descriptions of crocodile attacks

Ng’ikalei Loito was walking out of the warm waters of Lake Turkana on a sunny afternoon, having just finished swimming with her two sisters-in-law, when she suddenly felt the crushing force of a crocodile’s bite on her legs.

In excruciating pain, she instinctively clung to a partially submerged tree that was within reach and screamed for help, as the crocodile tried to drag her under the water.

Ng’ikalei Loito sits on her tricycle outside her house in Kalokol town in Turkana

Border wars, rising costs or a marital reprieve: why are Thai men racing to enlist in the Army?

Nearly 50,000 men volunteered to enlist this year, according to the Royal Thai Army, a 22% increase compared with 2025

“Bored of your wife? This April, come and enlist in the military,” says a recent online post from the Thai military, ditching its traditional, stuffy tone for online memes ahead of the recent annual draft season.

It is not known how effective the campaign has been, but nearly 50,000 men volunteered to enlist this year, according to the Royal Thai Army, a 22% increase compared with 2025. This marks a continuation of a trend seen over the past five years in Thailand, and is a marked contrast to countries such as Japan, which are struggling to enlist military personnel.

U.S. intelligence detects signs China is weighing giving Iran advance radar systems

The technology would enhance Iran's ability to detect and track incoming threats, like low-flying drones and cruise missiles.

ICE agent charged with assault by Minnesota prosecutors, arrest warrant issued

Minnesota state prosecutors continue to investigation the killings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti by federal agents in Minneapolis.

Prince Harry and Meghan meet with survivors of Bondi terror attack

Duke and Duchess of Sussex also met with emergency workers and Sydney Jewish Museum representatives on final day of Australia trip

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Prince Harry and Meghan have met survivors of the Bondi beach terror attack as they wind up their Australian tour.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are wrapping up their trip on Friday, making the most of the autumn sun with a Sydney Harbour boat ride alongside Invictus Australia representatives, before attending a Super Rugby Pacific match.

Singer D4vd is arrested months after a teen's remains were found in his car

The 21-year-old Houston-born singer, whose real name is David Burke, had been under a secret investigation by an LA County grand jury after a 14-year-old girl's decomposed body was found in his car.

Acting ICE director Todd Lyons will step down at the end of May, says DHS

Lyons, who led agency since March 2025, to resign after turbulent year carrying out Trump’s immigration agenda

Todd Lyons, the acting director of US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), is stepping down after a turbulent year carrying out Donald Trump’s immigration agenda.

Lyons, who has been leading the agency since March 2025, will resign at the end of May and move to the private sector, Markwayne ​Mullin, the Department of Homeland Security secretary, said in a statement on Thursday.

Proof review – Ayo Edebiri struggles but Kara Young soars in Broadway revival

Booth Theatre, New York

The Bear star and Don Cheadle are lost in a new take on David Auburn’s family drama but a standout performance from the two-time Tony winner does some heavy lifting

If one was a theater student in the early 2000s, there is a good chance one encountered David Auburn’s Pulitzer-winning play, Proof, a work of tidy structure, elegant rhyme and, not for nothing, commercial appeal. (For theater, anyway.) Auburn carefully calibrates the funny with the sad, balances credible realism with fugues of understated poetry. It was once described to me as a perfect play, in the formal sense, a template from which any budding playwright could draw inspiration should they want to write something smart but accessible, and endlessly producible. There’s even a grabby cliffhanger at the end of act one.

The sturdiness of Auburn’s construction can, it turns out, stand up to a lot. Evidence of that comes in the form of the director Thomas Kail’s new Broadway production, the first such revival in the play’s history and one that seriously tries its integrity. That the house is still standing at the end is a mighty testament to Auburn’s ingenious (and ingeniously simple) design.

Will Trump regret taking on the Pope? – podcast

The president’s posting of an AI-generated image of himself as Jesus horrified many Christians. Sarah Posner tells Annie Kelly why evangelical voters still flock to him

Donald Trump’s late-night social media meltdowns are infamous. But even by his standards, last Sunday was particularly extreme. Throughout the night – up until 4am – the US president was busy on his Truth Social account.And squeezed in between posts on his new ballroom and Joe Biden was a bizarre attack on Pope Leo – God’s representative on Earth to 1.4 billion Catholics.

Clearly angry over the Pope’s criticism of his war in Iran, he called him weak on crime and terrible on foreign policy. Just 46 minutes later - the president posted an AI-generated picture of himself as Jesus basking in a holy glow.

ICE head Todd Lyons planning to leave agency this spring

Todd Lyons, the acting head of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, is planning to leave the federal government later this spring.

Iran footballers granted asylum in Australia vow to continue chasing sporting dream

• Former Iranian women’s team players ‘overwhelmed’ by support

• Ramezanisadeh and Pasandideh have trained with Brisbane Roar

The two members of the Iran football team who remained in Australia after the Women’s Asian Cup are beginning their new lives away from the spotlight, even if their dream is to return to elite football.

Fatemeh Pasandideh and Atefeh Ramezanisadeh issued a statement on Friday saying they “respectfully ask” for “privacy and space”.

Trump says war in Iran is going 'swimmingly' and 'should be ending pretty soon'

President Donald Trump's latest prediction on the end of the war against Iran came hours after Israel announced a ceasefire with Lebanon.

4/16: The Takeout with Major Garrett

Ceasefire begins between Israel and Lebanon; U.S. blockade of Iranian ports continues for a fourth day.

Artemis II crew on historic moon mission and what it means for Earth

"We are carrying back everything we learned, not only about where we went but ourselves," mission specialist Christina Koch told "CBS Evening News" anchor Tony Dokoupil.

Zohran Mamdani still making money from fleeting rap career, filings show

New York mayor, ‘C-list rapper’ who went by Mr Cardamon and Young Cardamon, collected $1,643 in royalties last year

The New York mayor Zohran Mamdani is still making money from his short-lived career as a multilingual rapper, tax filings show.

But the 34-year-old Democrat’s meteoric rise as a celebrity politician has brought only a modest increase in hip-hop profits: he took home $1,643 in music royalties last year, up only slightly from $1,267 in 2024, according to the filings.

Griefdogg by Michael Winkler review – a cryptic, beguiling tale about a man who turns into a dog

Winkler’s latest novel is ambitious, compelling and bleakly comic; it scratches a metaphysical itch you didn’t realise you had

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In 2016 Michael Winkler wrote an award-winning essay that mentions his “schisms” of self and experiences with depression, the pain of which “intermittently seemed unendurable”. Five years later, his surreal, “exploded non-fiction novel” Grimmish – the first self-published work shortlisted for the Miles Franklin prize – told the story of the “pain-eating” boxer Joe Grim. Now, in Griefdogg, another wry, existentially probing novel, Winkler is again plumbing psyches – his own, yours and mine.

Griefdogg begins with an unnamed narrator, an implied surrogate for Winkler, struggling to draft a speech for a funeral. The deceased, we learn, is Jeffrey Watson-Johnson, a middle-aged, climate-conscious, fitness-obsessed hydrologist (a studier of water flow) living in Mildura. He fancies himself a Don Juan, though he and his wife, Martine, haven’t had sex in three years and seven months. He’s a vegan, community-minded and a “straight arrow”. He’s disciplined and monotonous, an uninspiring yet effective presence on the tennis court. He restacks the dishwasher the way he likes it.

A bond between a grandmother and the dog next door

A 150-pound Newfoundland dog named Chewy helps his 96-year-old neighbor garden by digging where she points. Tony Dokoupil has the story.

AI version of Val Kilmer to star in new movie after his death

Actor Val Kilmer died last April, and yet he is starring in a new movie, made after his death. Jo Ling Kent reports on how filmmakers resurrected his voice and image by using artificial intelligence.

House passes bill extending protections for Haitian migrants in the U.S.

Ten Republicans voted alongside Democrats, in a rebuke to the Trump administration's immigration policies. Should it pass the Senate, the White House said President Trump would veto the measure.

Artemis II astronaut describes "the most unique thing" he saw on the far side of the moon

The Artemis II astronauts spoke with Tony Dokoupil in one of their first interviews since returning from the far side of the moon.

Former Virginia Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax kills wife, fatally shoots self, police say

Former Virginia Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax shot and killed his wife and then turned the gun on himself what police described as a murder-suicide in their home in Annandale, Virginia, police said Thursday.

Spirit Airlines may halt operations within days, sources say

Two years after a failed merger with JetBlue, there are public reports that Spirit Airlines could be going under within days. Kris Van Cleave has more details.

Trump nominates Dr. Erica Schwartz for new CDC director

President Trump nominated a new director for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Thursday. Dr. Erica Schwartz is a former deputy surgeon general and retired Coast Guard rear admiral.

Police say Virginia politician killed his wife and himself with teenagers home

Police in Virginia say the former Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax died after he shot and killed his wife and then turned the gun on himself. Nicole Sganga reports.

Israel-Lebanon ceasefire could impact U.S. deal with Iran

Israel has been fighting the Iranian regime and its proxy Hezbollah in Lebanon across the border. That local ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon could affect U.S. efforts to come to a broader regional agreement with Iran. Charlie D'Agata reports.

Trump tries to change conversation from war to the economy

President Trump went to Las Vegas on Thursday to try to change the subject from war to the economy, downplaying rising gas prices. Caitlin Huey-Burns reports.

Department of Justice investigating Eric Swalwell amid sexual assault allegations

Democratic representative from California has suspended gubernatorial campaign and resigned from Congress

The US Department of Justice (DoJ) has opened an investigation into Eric Swalwell following his resignation from Congress, according to a source familiar with the matter.

The news of a federal investigation comes days after the Democratic representative from California stepped down due to multiple allegations of sexual misconduct.

Judge blocks above-ground construction of Trump's White House ballroom, administration appeals

The White House's East Wing was demolished to build a 90,000-square-foot ballroom sought by President Donald Trump. That project is being challenged in court.

V&A faces calls to become living wage employer on eve of Stratford opening

Campaigners organise open letter to director demanding ‘fair day’s wage’ for all workers at V&A museums

A row over pay has broken out at the V&A before the opening of its newest site , with thousands of people calling for it to become a living wage employer.

On Saturday, V&A East will open its doors in Stratford, east London, showcasing stunning fabrics, photos and black British music. It joins a wider group of V&A museums including its original site in South Kensington, Young V&A in Bethnal Green and V&A Dundee. The V&A describes its latest opening as one of the most significant new museum projects in the UK.

Premier League: 10 things to look out for this weekend

A seismic clash between City and Arsenal, Tottenham need leadership, and could Eddie Howe recall Yoane Wissa?

Josh King learned of the difficulties that come with being a Premier League player at Liverpool on Sunday. The 19-year-old was withdrawn at the break after a tough first half at Anfield as Marco Silva wanted to change things when two goals down. It will be interesting to see how King reacts to the half-time hook when he is next called upon, whether he uses it as inspirational fuel or sees it as an undeserved irritation because he was not solely to blame for Fulham being behind. Silva will have a quandary over whether to start the youngster again or leave him stewing on the bench, offering a further reminder of what is required at the top level. King has impressed over the season and at this stage of a player’s development it is sometimes a good idea to see what lessons are learned from a challenging moment. Will Unwin

Brentford v Fulham, Saturday 12.30pm (all times BST)

Leeds v Wolves, Saturday 3pm

Newcastle v Bournemouth, Saturday 3pm

Tottenham v Brighton, Saturday 5.30pm

Chelsea v Manchester United, Saturday 8pm

RFK Jr. defends proposed 12% health budget cut, measles response in House testimony

Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.​ testified before the House Ways and Means Committee on Thursday, kicking off an expected sprint of seven budget hearings he'll attend over the next week.

Trump nominates Erica Schwartz as CDC director amid turmoil around leadership, vaccine policy

The CDC has been going through turmoil and several leadership shakeups under HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

4/16: CBS Evening News

Trump attempts to shift focus off of the war; Israel and Lebanon reach a ceasefire agreement.

Dozens of safety violations found at Tenn. munitions factory after deadly blast

A munitions company that handles explosives for the U.S. military is facing a fine of over $3 million after an explosion killed 16 people last year.

Top five takeaways from Homeland Security budget hearings

Lawmakers have been in a stalemate for over 60 days about funding the entire department, which includes agencies that oversee immigration enforcement, disaster relief, cybersecurity and the U.S. Coast Guard.

Newly unsealed records reveal Amazon’s price-fixing tactics, California attorney general claims

Exclusive: A trove of previously redacted documents was filed as part of the tech giant’s anti-trust battle with the state of California. Amazon denies it engages in price-fixing

Hundreds of previously redacted records reveal how Amazon has put pressure on independent sellers using its platform into raising their prices on the sites of competitors such as Walmart and Target, so that Amazon can appear to have lower prices, California authorities allege.

The global conglomerate became concerned even if a competitor was selling an item for as little as a penny less, according to one segment of the newly unredacted evidence.

This is the fastest-growing job for young workers, LinkedIn says

Hint: It involves AI, and a LinkedIn economist says employers are clamoring for people to fill these roles.

Artemis II astronauts still awed by moonshot experience: "It was otherworldly"

The four Artemis II astronauts struggled to describe the view and overall experience of flying around the moon's far side and witnessing a solar eclipse in deep space.

Parts of Camp Mystic must remain closed, judge rules after days of emotional testimony

A judge ruled that for now, her restraining order against altering Camp Mystic should remain in place while state investigations into last year's deadly flood continue. The ruling comes after days of emotional testimony. Carter Evans reports.

Big Mood season two review – Nicola Coughlan’s hugely ambitious comedy has become a farce

The first series’s insightful look at bipolar disorder is gone. For its second outing, it’s a knockabout tale of a relationship gone wrong – which isn’t always easy to buy into

The second part of the title of Camilla Whitehill’s Channel 4 comedy drama is a reference to mood disorders. Bipolar, to be exact – the condition her protagonist Maggie has been diagnosed with. The first part is a reference to pretty much everything else. Big Mood tackles big topics and chases big laughs. There are big adventures, big gestures and big cameos. It’s undeniably ambitious, but does all this add up to something truly meaningful? It can be difficult to tell.

Series one introduced Maggie in the midst of a manic episode: she had pestered her alma mater to let her deliver a speech in the hope of seducing her old history teacher. That quickly gave way to a depressive one, during which she attended her 30th birthday party unshowered and on the verge of tears. The reason for this rollercoaster was Maggie’s decision to stop taking her medication; she believed it was impeding her creative capabilities and her career as a playwright. Eventually, she agreed to go back on lithium, only to experience terrifying hallucinations and confusion – she’d been poisoned by an erroneous prescription filled out by an overwhelmed psychiatrist.

These musicians are providing the soundtrack for anti-ICE protests in LA

Los Jornaleros Del Norte play protest songs whose lyrics reflect the hopes and struggles of undocumented workers as they evade immigration agents patrolling the streets.

Watkins breaks record as Aston Villa cruise past Bologna into all-English semi-final

Ollie Watkins kickstarted Aston ­Villa’s perfect evening as his 100th goal for the club enabled Unai Emery’s side to cruise into an all-English Europa League semi-final against ­Nottingham Forest.

The England striker, seeking a late recall into Thomas Tuchel’s World Cup squad, tapped home in the 16th minute before goals from Emiliano Buendía and Morgan Rogers, making amends for a spurned penalty, put the tie to bed by half-time.

Trump nominates former Coast Guard doctor as CDC chief

The nomination comes after months of interim leadership at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Trump says gas prices 'not very high' as most U.S. voters blame him for price spike

Trump touted the rising stock market as he brushed off concerns that Americans are laboring under higher gas prices as a result of the Iran war.

Senate overturns Boundary Waters protections, a boon for Chilean mining company

The vote to allow mining near the protected wilderness area came over the objection of Democrats and two Republicans.

SantaCon promoter arrested for charity fraud, New York federal prosecutors say

More than 25,000 people dressed as Santa Claus and other Christmas characters pass through New York bars in an annual event meant to raise money for charity.

Federal judge blocks above-ground White House ballroom construction

But underground construction work on a presidential bunker underneath the ballroom can continue, the judge said.

Reeves looking to break link between gas cost and electricity prices

Chancellor wants to reduce impact of gas on market prices, as it almost always sets price of electricity in UK

The chancellor, Rachel Reeves, has said she and Ed Miliband, the energy secretary, are looking at ways to break the link between the cost of electricity and gas prices.

Gas almost always sets the price of electricity under the marginal cost pricing model the UK uses.

Minnesota has charged an ICE officer with assault for alleged actions during immigration surge

Hennepin County officials say these are the first charges filed against a federal immigration agent related to the crackdown that brought thousands of federal officers to the state. The widespread operation led to the shooting deaths of two American citizens.

Tiger Woods mentioned drones over home and car, ‘president’ in remarks after crash, filing shows

• Filing details remarks about drones over home

• Woods said he spoke to ‘the president’ after crash

• Prosecutors seek access to prescription records

Tiger Woods told police he had taken multiple prescription medications, including Vicodin, on the day of a crash that led to his arrest on suspicion of driving under the influence, according to court filings released on Wednesday.

The filing, submitted by prosecutors in Florida as part of routine pretrial discovery and obtained by the Guardian, also details a series of unusual remarks Woods made to officers at the scene of the 27 March crash in Hobe Sound, including references to drones flying over his home and a claim that he had spoken to “the president”.

Kevin Warsh wants to lead a scandal-ridden Fed. His wealth is a complication.

Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., is calling attention to potential issues in the Fed chair nominee's financial disclosures.

Trump announces he's nominating Dr. Erica Schwartz for CDC director

CBS News reported​ Wednesday that Dr. Erica Schwartz was emerging as the president's top pick for the role.

Vance's Iran and Orbán setbacks raise questions about his standing with Trump

Recent staffing moves among JD Vance's aides have fueled new speculation that the VP and his allies are preparing for a 2028 presidential bid.

Trump admin set to launch tariff refund portal. Here's what to know.

A federal agency will open a portal on April 20 that lets businesses apply for a refund for Trump tariffs struck down by the Supreme Court.

NPR gets $113 million in gifts, including $80 million from Connie Ballmer

NPR said the donation from Ballmer, the largest to the public radio network by a living donor, will help offset the loss of federal funding in 2025.

Man charged over 2002 Jam Master Jay killing to plead guilty, documents show

Jay Bryant negotiating plea deal in New York death of Run-DMC star, over which one conviction has been overturned

One of the three men charged in the killing of Jam Master Jay plans to plead guilty, court records show, in what would be the first admission anyone has made in court to any role in the Run-DMC star’s death in 2002.

Jay Bryant pleaded not guilty to murder after his 2023 indictment, but his lawyer and federal prosecutors told the court in recent letters that they were negotiating a plea agreement.

House breaks with Trump, votes against ending deportation protections for Haitians

All House Democrats and four Republicans forced a vote on a measure to stop the Trump administration from ending temporary deportation protections for more than 300,000 people from Haiti.

"Arc de Trump" receives preliminary design approval from arts commission

The plans call for the arch to be built on Columbia Island, a man-made strip of land in the Potomac River that is part of Washington, D.C.

Top Gun 3 officially confirmed with Tom Cruise returning

Paramount confirmed the actor will play flying ace Maverick again in one of first major films in new era

Tom Cruise is heading to the skies once again with the confirmation of Top Gun 3.

While a sequel had been reportedly in the works since 2024, this week saw an official announcement from Paramount during the annual CinemaCon presentation. The 63-year-old will headline the third film in the action drama series with no other returning cast members confirmed.

Damon Jones expected to plead guilty in pair of alleged gambling cases

Damon Jones was among dozens of people, including alleged mafia figures and athletes, charged last year in connection with a pair of gambling schemes.

Caine warns "we will use force" if Iran does not comply with blockade

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Thursday thatthe U.S. military can "make the transition" from the blockade to "major combat operations."

Armed robbers hold 25 people hostage at Naples bank before fleeing through hole in floor

Thieves believed to have escaped into sewers after holding staff and customers in Crédit Agricole branch for two hours

Armed robbers held 25 people hostage at a bank in Naples for two hours on Thursday, before fleeing through a tunnel.

The three thieves entered a branch of Crédit Agricole in the southern Italian city at about 11.30am, taking hostage staff and customers, who were freed by police a couple of hours later.

The Guardian view on a ceasefire for Lebanon: Trump has promised a pause. Civilians need real peace | Editorial

A deeply scarred country is caught in a war not of its making, seeking a solution which lies outside its hands

The 10-day ceasefire in Lebanon that Donald Trump announced on Thursday is desperately needed. It must also be regarded with immense caution. Iran and mediator Pakistan believed that Lebanon was covered by last week’s US-Israel-Iran ceasefire, before Israel unleashed 100 strikes in 10 minutes – killing hundreds and wounding many more on “Black Wednesday”. Lebanon was pulled into this crisis by Mr Trump’s illegal war on Tehran, and should not have been excluded from his truce. The US president, desperately seeking an exit to the broader conflict, is now reining in Mr Netanyahu. But only up to a point.

Israeli forces on Thursday destroyed the last bridge linking Lebanon’s south to the rest of the country and struck a school. The previous day they killed at least four paramedics – the latest of scores to have died. More than 2,100 people have reportedly been killed, including at least 172 children. Thousands have been injured. One in five of the population are displaced, some permanently: having occupied a vast swathe of land, Israel is wiping whole villages from the map. Its own defence minister described that as modelled on its actions in Gaza.

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.

LIV and let die: golf rebels count cost of Saudi cutbacks and other sports fear worst | Matt Hughes

Public Investment Fund withdraws support for rebel tour and other sports could be hit too with Newcastle United uncertain

The reverberations of an unscheduled meeting of LIV Golf executives in New York this week have been felt way beyond their swanky offices in Hudson Yards, on the west side of Manhattan.

A slowdown in Saudi Arabia’s lavish spending on sport, which is conservatively estimated to have cost the kingdom more than $10bn in the past five years, had been expected, but its Public Investment Fund’s withdrawal of financial support for the rebel tour – which was first mooted to LIV execs on Monday – has caused shockwaves throughout the wider industry.

Orbán’s defeat threatens to halt Hungarian support of populist right

Individuals such as Matt Goodwin and Lord Frost benefited from largesse of self-styled ‘illiberal democracy’

• UK politics live – latest updates

The last 16 years of Viktor Orbán’s rule have been kind to a number of British political figures – from the Tory peer David Frost to Reform UK’s Matt Goodwin and James Orr.

All benefited from largesse extended by the self-styled “illiberal democracy” established by the Hungarian leader’s ruling Fidesz party, which took a particular liking for those on the harder right of British conservatism.

Pooh in pencil: sketches for original Winnie-the-Pooh book shared for first time

E H Shepard drawings go on display for book’s centenary, showing how he brought AA Milne’s character to life

Previously unseen drawings of Winnie-the-Pooh that show the honey-loving bear before he was introduced to generations of readers in the 1926 book have come to light.

Two preliminary pencil sketches by E H Shepard have been shared for the first time by his family to mark the centenary of one of the most loved books in children’s literature.

Ben Jennings on the US-Iran war and AI slop – cartoon

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PepsiCo earnings beat estimates as Doritos, Lay's price cuts win back shoppers

PepsiCo's quarterly earnings and revenue topped Wall Street's expectations.

Tell us: do you use AI for fitness?

Is AI helping with your workouts? We want to hear about it

According to reports, people are incorporating AI into their fitness routines in a variety of ways; they have it write up training plans, design meal plans and workout playlists, and provide feedback on form.

We want to hear from you: how are you using AI in your workouts?

Trump to sign executive order on psychedelic drug used abroad to treat PTSD

Ibogaine is used in Mexico and the Caribbean to treat depression, anxiety, addiction and brain trauma.

Teleportation, aliens and cancer-busting soda - it’s not just Trump going cuckoo, his officials are too | Arwa Mahdawi

As the president’s men rave about paranormal events and Diet Coke, it seems the US’s only hope is extraterrestrial intervention

People often criticise the Democrats for being overly cautious and never getting anything done. But this week they’ve surprised us all by unveiling concepts of a plan for getting Donald Trump out of the White House.

On Tuesday House Democrats introduced legislation that would create a commission to assess whether Trump is unfit to serve and should be removed under the 25th amendment. I don’t need to tell you what precipitated this: Trump is growingly increasingly erratic, threatening genocide one minute and posting pictures of himself as Jesus Christ the next.

U.S. Navy stopped 13 ships from passing Iranian port blockade, Pentagon says

The U.S. has signaled optimism about the prospect of reaching a diplomatic end to the Iran war.