Watch Live: Artemis II launches, beginning NASA's historic moon mission

NASA's Artemis II astronauts launched on a nine-day mission around the moon and back.

Artemis II live updates: Nasa’s crewed rocket lifts off to begin 10-day lunar journey

Follow latest updates as four astronauts begin 685,000-mile trip with millions watching

• Crowds gather for glimpse of historic Nasa moon mission

There’s potentially alarming news from AccuWeather about a solar flare, which the forecasting service says could affect the Artemis mission.

While not an official Nasa source for weather and climate information or predictions, AccuWeather has been monitoring launch day conditions, and is reporting them on its own blog.

An X1.5 solar flare that occurred early on March 30 produced an Earth-directed coronal mass ejection that is now entering into the Earth’s atmosphere. As the day progresses, moderate to strong geomagnetic storm conditions are possible as a result of the coronal mass ejection impacting Earth’s atmosphere.

Communication between ground control and members aboard the rocket, and precise GPS tracking, can be at risk during strong geomagnetic storming.

Britain to host 35 countries for strait of Hormuz talks, says Starmer

US understood not to be invited directly to talks that will explore ways of reopening critical waterway

• Middle East crisis – live updates

The UK will convene 35 countries – excluding the US – to explore ways to reopen the strait of Hormuz, the vital shipping route for oil and gas that has been blocked by Iran.

Keir Starmer, the prime minister, said the next phase of discussions in the joint British and French efforts to secure the waterway would be held on Thursday, with Yvette Cooper, the foreign secretary, alongside international leaders.

Tiger Woods turns down Ryder Cup captaincy as he is granted permission to leave US

• Woods focusing on his health and wellbeing after crash

• Florida judge grants his request to leave the US

Tiger Woods has turned down the opportunity to captain the United States at the 2027 Ryder Cup, the PGA of America has announced.

The former world No 1’s decision comes after he announced he would step away from golf for a period to focus on his health and wellbeing. Woods was charged with driving under the influence after being involved in a car accident last week.

Manhattan judge delays Luigi Mangione state and federal trials

Mangione accused of killing UnitedHealthcare chief executive Brian Thompson in New York in 2024

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Luigi Mangione’s much anticipated state and federal trials stemming from the killing of a top healthcare executive on a Manhattan street were both postponed on Wednesday.

Mangione’s state trial was moved from 8 June to September, the judge in that case said in an order made public this afternoon.

This article was amended on 1 April 2026. Brian Thompson was killed in 2024, not 2025, as an earlier version said.

Iran's war propaganda homes in on Trump with Lego memes

Iranian propaganda is also homing in on the war's destabilizing impact on the global economy and energy prices, which have shot up in the U.S.

Analysis: Trump's Iran speech ignores the risks of a return to the 1970s

Oil shocks crippled past presidencies. The Iran war is putting Trump into the danger zone.

Americans say this is their "magic number" to retire comfortably

Most people fall far short of the savings they say they will need to maintain their standard of living in retirement, data shows.

Republicans in Congress say they have a deal to end the record-long shutdown at DHS

The plan would fund DHS, except for immigration enforcement, through September. Republicans would then try to fund the whole agency for three years using a tactic that would not need Democratic votes.

Ted Bundy's DNA linked to death of Utah teen in 1974, sheriff's office says

Bundy's full DNA profiled was entered into the FBI's national database, giving investigators a shot at solving potential cases linked to Bundy.

Oracle layoffs will help cost savings, analysts say

Oracle plans to cut thousands of jobs which will free up cash flow as the company aggressively invests in its AI data center buildout.

Arsenal keep title defence alive despite Nüsken’s late winner for Chelsea

Arsenal ended Chelsea’s perfect record in Champions League quarter-finals, their 3-1 lead from the first leg was enough to counter the 1-0 defeat in a frenetic end-to-end encounter at Stamford Bridge.

Sjoeke Nüsken’s injury-time strike gave Chelsea hope but it wasn’t enough. The manager, Sonia Bompastor, was sent off shortly before the whistle as emotions boiled over. The holders will play the winner of Thursday night’s quarter-final between Lyon and Wolfsburg, with the German side taking a 1-0 lead into the second leg.

TSA shutdown: GOP leaders Thune and Johnson boost two-track approach to funding DHS

Funding for the Department of Homeland Security — including the TSA — lapsed in February, over Democratic concerns about the agency's immigration enforcement.

New DNA testing links Ted Bundy to unsolved 1974 murder of Utah teenager

Laura Ann Aime, 17, went missing on Halloween night and was found on the side of a highway bound and beaten a month later

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New DNA testing has definitively linked the unsolved death of a Utah teenager in 1974 to the infamous serial killer Ted Bundy, the local sheriff’s office said Wednesday.

Laura Ann Aime, 17, went missing on Halloween night 51 years ago after she left a party alone to go to a convenience store. About a month later, her body was found on the side of a highway, bound, beaten and without clothing.

Guardian power rankings: France lead the way with Senegal and Japan in top 10

From Algeria to Uzbekistan, our writers and contributors from around the world assess the state of the 48 nations to qualify for the World Cup

“There’s more talent and potential than in 2022,” Kylian Mbappé said ominously this week after France had beaten Brazil 2-1 despite having Dayot Upamecano sent off after 55 minutes. He may well be right. For the second game of this window, against Colombia, Didier Deschamps changed the entire starting XI but was still able to field an attack of Marcus Thuram, Désiré Doué, Rayan Cherki and Maghnes Akliouche. Doué scored two in a comfortable 3-1 victory. “I’m well aware that there are some very good players that I won’t be bringing because, in my opinion, there are even better ones,” Deschamps said. Marcus Christenson

Trump is paying TSA agents — but where is the money coming from?

President Donald Trump has said he is drawing from unspent funds in last year's tax and spending bill to pay TSA agents.

Trump's address on Iran war tonight will lay out timeframe for ending conflict

President Trump is updating the nation on U.S. operations in Iran as he threatens to withdraw from NATO.

Trump, GOP leaders unveil plan to end DHS shutdown

GOP leaders unveiled a plan to end DHS shutdown, mirroring a framework that the Senate pursued last week before it was quickly batted down by House Republicans.

How high could oil and gas prices go if the Strait of Hormuz remains closed?

"The scary scenarios are, unfortunately, extremely plausible" if the critical Persian Gulf waterway stays effectively sealed, economist Paul Krugman said.

Republican leaders agree to advance funding deal to end DHS shutdown

Measure that would fund homeland security but exclude money for ICE could conclude lengthy funding lapse

An end to the partial shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) may be in sight, after Congress’s Republican leaders on Wednesday agreed to advance legislation that would fund most of the agency’s operations, with the exception of those involved in immigration enforcement.

The pact may conclude the longest such funding lapse in US history, which last month caused security lines to stretch for hours at some airports as employees of the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), a subagency of DHS, quit their jobs or called out of work after going weeks without pay.

The FDA approves a new obesity pill, giving patients another option

The daily pill called Foundayo got a fast track through the Food and Drug Administration. It will compete with the pill form of Wegovy as an alternative to obesity drugs given by injection.

A Turkish border town known for its cats - in times of peace

The border town of Van in Turkey is known for being a hub for Iranian travelers, its lavish breakfasts ... and its cats.

Is the U.S. Navy ready to clear sea mines in the Persian Gulf?

Despite the danger of sea mines, experts say that mine clearing has received minimal attention and funding from the U.S. Navy — and it's often overshadowed by more high-profile weapons systems.

Trump seeks to redefine who gets to be an American with birthright citizenship case

Most Americans support the rule that anyone born in the US is a US citizen, and a majority of supreme court justices are skeptical of Trump’s efforts to restrict it

It was a surreal morning at the US supreme court.

For more than two hours, the nation’s highest court considered arguments over whether Donald Trump – via an executive order – could tear down an idea that has been fundamental to the story and trajectory of the United States: that almost anyone born on US soil is an US citizen.

"Lives will be lost": How the U.K.'s aid cuts may affect parts of Africa

In March, the UK announced it would trim its global aid budget and set new priorities in 2027. This has some countries and organizations worried that on top of the US aid cuts, this could be unsurvivable.

Elon Musk's SpaceX files confidential initial public offering

The Texas-based company could go public with a valuation of more than $1.75 trillion, making it the largest IPO in history.

Trump says he may withdraw U.S. from NATO. The law says he can't without Congress.

President Trump says he's considering withdrawing the U.S. from NATO, following years of complaining about the alliance.

Supreme Court casts doubt on Trump's order to end birthright citizenship

The Supreme Court on Wednesday appeared open to invalidating President Trump's executive order that would end birthright citizenship.

Israel hits Iran with waves of attacks and says it killed top Hezbollah commander

War shows little sign of easing despite Donald Trump claiming Iranian leadership ‘just asked’ for ceasefire

• Middle East crisis – live updates

Israel unleashed two waves of attacks on Tehran and said it had killed a senior Hezbollah commander on Wednesday with little sign of the war easing up despite Donald Trump repeating a claim that Iran’s leadership was seeking a ceasefire.

The US president, writing on social media, said that Iran’s president had “just asked” for a ceasefire and that American troops would be “out of Iran pretty quickly” as he sought to extricate the US from the war. He indicated that he was not concerned about leaving Iran’s stockpile of highly enriched uranium (HEU) – often cited as a justification for the war - in its presumed underground hiding place, arguing it could be monitored by satellite.

DHS scraps Noem policy requiring secretary's review of all contracts above $100K

The Noem policy meant the secretary was required to personally sign off on thousands of DHS contracts.

US approves new oral weight-loss pill developed by Eli Lilly

Called Foundayo, the tablet becomes the second one to receive FDA’s green light after Novo Nordisk’s Wegovy

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) gave the green light on Wednesday to a new oral weight-loss medication developed by the Indianapolis-based pharmaceutical company Eli Lilly.

Known as orforglipron or brand name Foundayo, the once-daily tablet becomes the second GLP-1 drug in pill form to hit the market in a short span of time, arriving after Novo Nordisk’s Wegovy pill received approval in December.

Judge rules Trump cutting off funding for NPR and PBS is unconstitutional

U.S. District Judge Randolph Moss blocked the Trump administration from enforcing provisions of his executive order that directed federal agencies to cut off funding to NPR and PBS.

The Guardian view on Ukraine’s perilous spring: Europe’s steadfast support is more vital than ever | Editorial

As the world’s attention is drawn to the Middle East, Donald Trump’s assault on Iran has had damaging knock-on consequences for Kyiv

After meeting European Union foreign ministers this week, Volodymyr Zelenskyy voiced exasperation over the continued blocking of a €90bn EU loan to Kyiv by Hungary’s prime minister, Viktor Orbán. US financial support for Ukraine has dried up under Donald Trump, so the money is desperately required. But as Mr Zelenskyy bitterly observed, it is being delayed “because one person in Europe is standing against all of Europe simply to please Moscow”.

Trailing in the polls ahead of an election on 12 April, Mr Orbán is doubling down on attempts to mobilise his nationalist base by fuelling anti-Ukraine and anti-EU sentiment. Allegations also continue to emerge, dismissed by Hungary’s foreign minister, Péter Szijjártó, that he has in effect colluded with his Russian counterpart, Sergei Lavrov, to undermine European decision-making during the war.

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.

Swedish PM offers deal that could see far-right allowed into government

Party, which has neo-Nazi roots, will hold ‘important ministerial posts within immigration’ if four-party coalition wins in September

The Swedish prime minister, Ulf Kristersson, has said that he will allow the far-right Sweden Democrats (SD) into government for the first time – and give its members key ministerial posts – if his coalition wins the next general election.

Despite becoming Sweden’s second biggest political party after the Social Democrats in the last election, SD currently plays only a supporting role in the minority-run coalition.

President Trump's 2026 State of the Union Address and the Democratic response

President Trump delivers the longest State of the Union address in recent history, followed by the Democratic response from Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger.

SpaceX confidentially files for IPO, setting stage for record offering

Elon Musk's SpaceX is reportedly targeting a valuation of around $1.75 trillion in its forthcoming IPO.

This fringe actor finds the spotlight in Israel's most provocative film post-Oct. 7

Israeli fringe actor in the spotlight for anti-war film

Starmer calls for ‘ambitious’ new UK-EU ties as Trump threatens to quit Nato

PM to focus on European defence and economic partnership for ‘dangerous world’, in pivot away from US

• UK politics live – latest updates

The UK will seek an even deeper partnership with the EU because of the instability wreaked by Donald Trump’s war with Iran, Keir Starmer has said, adding that the moment called for a more ambitious deal with Brussels to strengthen trade and defence.

His comments came as the US president again said he was considering pulling the US out of Nato, which he described as a “paper tiger”. Trump has frequently lambasted the UK and European nations for failing to support the US-Israeli strikes on Iran, and criticised their militaries.

Phil Foden ‘not a guarantee’ to make England World Cup squad, says Tuchel

• Midfielder failed to impress against Uruguay and Japan

• ‘He was excellent in camp but struggles on the pitch’

Thomas Tuchel says Phil Foden is not assured of a place in his England squad for the World Cup finals in the summer after watching him struggle in the Wembley friendlies against Uruguay and Japan.

Tuchel has appeared unconvinced by Foden since taking charge at the beginning of last year but the head coach gave him a big opportunity in the starting lineup in each of the games during this past international window. Tuchel played him in the No 10 role in the 1-1 draw against Uruguay and as one of the No 10s alongside Cole Palmer in an experimental 4-2-4 in the 1-0 defeat by Japan. In both matches, Foden could get little going.

A third inflationary shock in less than a decade is coming: who will pay the price this time around? | Aditya Chakrabortty

Brutal past experience has taught us that a cost of living crisis doesn’t affect us all the same, because we don’t all go into it with the same income or wealth

Perhaps the most celebrated writer on oil markets is Daniel Yergin. His work has won a Pulitzer and his advice sought by every president from Bill Clinton to Donald Trump. Let’s start by looking at an example.

Fifteen years ago, before the US and Israel started their war on Iran, killing thousands of civilians in the process, before the strait of Hormuz became as infamous as the Bermuda Triangle, and before experts declared “the greatest global energy security threat in history”, Yergin published The Quest: Energy, Security and the Remaking of the Modern World. After hearing Trump announce a “very soon” end to the conflict for the second – or was it the third? – time, I dug out my copy. Just as I remembered, it devotes a chapter to the Persian Gulf.

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.

Megan Thee Stallion diagnosed with extreme exhaustion after hospitalization

The rapper was hospitalized in New York City after feeling unwell during her Moulin Rouge performance on Broadway

Megan Thee Stallion was taken to the hospital on Tuesday in New York City after feeling unwell during a performance of Moulin Rouge! The Musical on Broadway.

A representative for the rapper said in a statement to the Guardian on Wednesday that “on Tuesday evening, Megan was transported to a local hospital to undergo a medical evaluation after experiencing concerning symptoms.”

Trump to address nation at critical moment in his war with Iran

The address comes after weeks of uncertainty over when and how the U.S. could extricate itself from the conflict.

CPS advising UK police on investigation into Andrew and Mandelson links to Epstein

Crown Prosecution Service confirms support on inquiries after arrests on suspicion of misconduct in public office

Police are receiving advice from prosecutors as part of their inquiries into Peter Mandelson and Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s links to Jeffrey Epstein.

The former duke of York and the former UK ambassador to the US were both arrested in February on suspicion of misconduct in public office over their connections with the late financier. They have since been released under investigation.

BBC confirms it knew about Scott Mills sexual abuse allegations in 2017

Speaking publicly for first time, Radio 2 breakfast show host said he ‘fully cooperated’ with police at the time

Scott Mills was sacked after “new information” came to light relating to his conduct, the BBC said on Wednesday.

The corporation confirmed in a statement that it was first made aware of a police investigation into historical allegations of sexual abuse in 2017, but terminated the radio presenter’s contract on Friday in accordance with its “culture and values”.

Will the Iran war slow U.S. hiring? Economists say risks are rising.

With oil prices rising and hiring already slowing, economists warn the Iran war could further weigh on U.S. job growth.

‘System malfunction’ causes robotaxis to stall in the middle of the road in China

Distressed riders who were stranded for hours say Apollo Go customer service agents offered ‘useless platitudes’

A “system malfunction” has caused several self-driving robotaxis to stall in the middle of the road in China, police have confirmed, after distressed riders were stranded for hours.

Local authorities in the central Chinese city of Wuhan said they began receiving calls “one after another” on Tuesday night from riders reporting that autonomous vehicles operated by the Chinese internet company Baidu had frozen.

Supreme Court majority seems inclined to rule against Trump on birthright citizenship

The majority seemed skeptical of the Trump administration's argument on birthright citizenship, appearing ready to rule in favor of upholding automatic citizenship for babies born on U.S. soil.

High times or low blows? Experts fail to clear air over German drug legalisation

Cannabis policy still divisive two years in, with SPD hailing it while CDU minister says it is risk to young people’s health

It was a landmark piece of legislation passed by Germany’s previous, centre-left-led government: a measure that legalised the personal recreational use of cannabis for over-18s despite warnings from critics it would cause a steep rise in the drug’s use, including by teenagers, and boost criminal gangs.

Two years on, controversy over the move has still not been stubbed out, with critics and proponents at odds over its impact on consumption, youth welfare and organised crime.

Trump calls U.S. 'STUPID' for birthright citizenship after attending Supreme Court arguments

Trump's executive order says babies born in the U.S. are not entitled to citizenship if their parents are illegal immigrants or undocumented workers.

Supreme court justices appear skeptical of move to end birthright citizenship as Trump attends arguments

The US president issued an executive order in 2025 that seeks to undo constitutional right to birthright citizenship

• Supreme court arguments on birthright citizenship – live

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The US supreme court on Wednesday appeared poised to protect birthright citizenship, the longstanding policy that babies born in the US are American citizens, in what would be a blow to a key immigration policy for Donald Trump.

The court heard oral arguments with Trump himself in attendance inside the courtroom’s public gallery. A majority of justices asked questions indicating skepticism about the government’s attempt to overturn birthright citizenship. But while some expected the case to be a clear-cut win for those challenging the government, it is unclear how many justices might side with Trump. A decision is expected this summer.

Hershey says it will shift back to classic Reese's recipe after backlash

Hershey said Wednesday it will use classic recipes for all Reese's products starting next year, after getting criticism for changing the popular treats.

Italy’s latest World Cup failure no longer feels like ‘The End’ but the same sad song on repeat | Nicky Bandini

Roberto Baggio proposed an overhaul of talent pathway in 2011 but it was never acted on and the national team’s approach now is just not working

The decline of Italy’s footballing expectations can be read in the headlines that greeted their third consecutive failure to qualify for a men’s World Cup. When the Azzurri lost their playoff against Sweden in November 2017, La Gazzetta dello Sport defined it as “The End” and an “Apocalypse”. After defeat by North Macedonia in 2022, Il Corriere dello Sport saw a country sinking “Into Hell”.

On Wednesday both newspapers led coverage of elimination by Bosnia and Herzegovina with a simpler, perhaps sadder, “Tutti A Casa” – Everybody Go Home. What else is there left to say? Italians understood long ago that 2018 was not some aberration but the continuation of a trend, their team having failed to reach the tournament’s knockout stage in 2010 or 2014.

Trump lashes out at Nato: will Europe stand up to him? - The Latest

Donald Trump has said he is considering pulling the US out of Nato, likening the alliance to a ‘paper tiger’.

It comes after weeks of denouncements from the US president against allies for not helping to reopen the strait of Hormuz.

When asked about Trump’s comments, Keir Starmer said: ‘Nato is the single most effective military alliance the world has ever seen’ and ‘whatever the noise, I’m going to act in the British national interest in all the decisions that I make’.

Lucy Hough speaks to the Guardian’s Europe correspondent, Jon Henley

A propaganda war on the National Mall pits Trump against satirical statues and posters

The Trump administration and its critics are waging a war of images on the National Mall like none before. The president's face stares down from federal buildings while statues and posters mock him below.

Stella McCartney granted permission for £5m home in Scottish Highlands

McCartney and her husband faced objections including fears of threat to local otters and ‘hideous’ design

The fashion designer Stella McCartney has been granted permission to build a £5m home on a spectacular Highland peninsula after a three-year planning battle over the threat to local otters and the “hideous” modernist design.

McCartney and her husband, Alasdhair Willis, a creative director at Adidas, want to build the split-level property with a turf roof and natural stone walls on the rocky outcrop overlooking Loch Ailort, west of Fort William, 30 metres above sea level.

Federal judge rules DHS illegally stripped immigration status from thousands who entered through CBP One App

Tuesday's ruling reinstates the immigration status of those who came via CBP One and whose status was terminated.

A COVID variant called "Cicada" is spreading. Here's what to know.

The COVID-19 variant BA.3.2, nicknamed "Cicada," has been detected in at least 23 countries and half the states in the U.S.

Highland cows – how these unlikely social media stars were forced into hiding

After being pushed to ‘distress’ by people trying to film and take selfies with the cattle in Kent, the fold has had to be taken away from public view

Name: Highland cows.

Age: More than 1,000 years old.

Families condemn UK ‘impotence’ over UAE ‘social media misuse’ detentions

Ministers accused of being too fearful of offending Emirates to help Britons detained for sharing images of war

• Middle East crisis live – latest updates

The families of UK citizens held in the United Arab Emirates over allegations that they shared images of the conflict with Iran have voiced frustration at the British government’s failure to help.

Several British citizens are among more than 100 foreign nationals who have been detained under draconian Emirate rules that outlaw publishing or sharing material that could “disturb public security”.

‘He’s phenomenal’: American teen fast becoming athletics’ next big thing

At 17, Cooper Lutkenhaus is the youngest world champion in track and field history – and potentially USA’s poster boy for LA28

Fire on the boards. Slack jaws off it. Last week, I was fortunate enough to be yards away from the 17-year-old American high school student Cooper Lutkenhaus when he powered away from a strong 800m field in Torun to become the youngest world champion in track and field history. But no sooner had the applause died down than the search for superlatives began.

“He’s like David Rudisha,” said Eliott Crestan, the Belgian who took world indoor championship silver behind Lutkenhaus. “In 10 or 20 years’ time, I’ll be able to say that I ran against him.”

‘Vaginal estrogen as a face filler? I think not’: Experts critique the new skincare trend

Doctors warn viral off-label use lacks evidence, with unknown long-term risks and possible systemic absorption

Vaginal estrogen cream is prescribed to ease genital dryness, irritation and discomfort that results from the loss of estrogen during menopause.

The name tells you exactly where to put it. Yet a new trend has been making the rounds on social media. People are calling vaginal estrogen cream the new “filler” for the face and other body parts, claiming it can smooth wrinkles, reduce dryness and sagginess and plump up the skin.

‘The manosphere is dead and no one cares about Andrew Tate any more’: the poet taking on toxic masculinity

Sam Browne’s blend of brutal honesty and droll observation has made him a viral sensation. He talks about growing up in Southend, mental health and the healing power of poetry

On a cold night in east London, 21-year-old performance poet Sam Browne is telling a packed room of strangers about his second bout of psychosis. “I was in Morocco at 18, completely alone, and I started to feel that things weren’t real,” he says. “It got so bad that one day I turned to a random person and told him I was thinking of killing myself. He just said back to me: ‘Don’t do that – you’ll miss the sunset.’”

The room falls quiet and Browne breaks the tension by launching into a poem inspired by his Moroccan breakdown, You’ll Miss the Sunset. “The world is so beautiful, the least you could do is stick around to watch it,” he says with the hint of a smirk. “But it’s all shit, all of it, isn’t it?”

Private sector hiring totaled 62,000 in March, better than expected, ADP says

Private sector employment growth kept pace, but health care and construction continued to provide nearly all the momentum.

Joyce ‘shocked’ to receive Wales call-up for Women’s Six Nations only months after giving birth

• Joyce gave birth in November and returned to pitch in March

• Bristol flanker hopes to be role model for next generation

Alisha Joyce returned to the rugby pitch in March just 123 days after giving birth and a week later was named in Wales’s squad for the Women’s Six Nations. The 28‑year‑old says she was “shocked” to get the call-up after welcoming her son, Ralphie, in November but adds it’s “cool” to be a role model for the next generation of players.

Joyce was the first Wales player to use the governing body’s new performance maternity programme. The back-row, who shares Ralphie with her wife and teammate Jasmine Joyce, has played only 30 minutes of rugby since returning last month in a game for Brython Thunder where she came off the bench.

‘About bloody time’: Prince Harry welcomes lawsuits against tech firms

Prince tells privacy summit of ‘harrowing stories’ of how use of tech giants’ platforms led to ‘grave and irreversible harm’

The Duke of Sussex has welcomed two landmark lawsuits against major tech companies, declaring: “Finally, some truth and accountability has arrived.”

In a speech in Washington DC to the International Association of Privacy Professionals (IAPP) global summit on privacy, AI governance and cybersecurity law, Prince Harry said he had done a “deep dive into the tech-fuelled world in which my children – all our children – are growing up”.

What is birthright citizenship, and can Trump end the right in the U.S.?

President Trump is seeking to end birthright citizenship, after years of criticizing the constitutional right.

Colbert on Trump’s shifting tone on Iran: ‘It’s a military strategy known as starting a 1,000-piece jigsaw puzzle’

Late-night hosts discussed Trump’s refusal to clean up his mess in Iran and gas prices soaring to over $4 a gallon

Late-night hosts touched on soaring oil prices from Donald Trump’s war in Iran as he backs down from solving the crisis in the strait of Hormuz.

‘We got cancelled and we’re still here!’ Michael Patrick King on The Comeback – and why And Just Like That will age well

Could AI write an entire sitcom series? That’s the plot of the new season of comedy drama The Comeback. Its co-creator explains why it’s ‘very possible’ – and why the world needs to catch up with AJLT

TV veteran Michael Patrick King has had a long, lively career, writing, directing and producing on shows including Murphy Brown, Will & Grace and 2 Broke Girls. He’s best known, though, for his work on the Sex and the City franchise, serving as its showrunner for the bulk of its run, writing and directing its two films, and masterminding its controversial 2020s revival And Just Like That. But this month sees the return of one of his most loved, and perhaps most underwatched, shows: The Comeback.

Co-created and co-written with Lisa Kudrow, The Comeback first aired in 2005, telling the story of a gormless sitcom star named Valerie Cherish, played by Kudrow, trying to return to stardom through the then-new format of reality TV. The show had an awkward, blackly hilarious tone that was a hit with critics and the Emmys, but failed to find much of an audience. Nine years later, in 2014, it returned for a masterly second season in which Valerie – now playing herself in a gritty HBO dramatisation of the events of season one, and filming the whole thing as an audition tape for The Real Housewives – confronts her failing marriage and relationships.

Italian coastguard recovers 19 bodies from boat in sea near Lampedusa

Fifty-eight other people found alive during rescue involving inflatable craft in early hours of Wednesday

The bodies of 19 people have been recovered from an inflatable boat south of the island of Lampedusa by the Italian coastguard, a spokesperson told AFP.

Fifty-eight other people, including five children, were found alive during the rescue in the early hours of Wednesday and transported to Lampedusa by the coastguard, according to Roberto D’Arrigo.

Jamie Dimon says rejecting capitalism is "dead wrong" in CBS News interview

JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon shares his thinking on capitalism, AI, prediction markets and more in an interview with "CBS Evening News" anchor Tony Dokoupil.

Nicola Jennings on Trump and the strait of Hormuz – cartoon

Continue reading...

Apple at 50 quiz: top sellers, turkeys and turtlenecks

How much do you know about the history of one of the most powerful computing companies on the planet?

In the 50 years since it was founded, Apple has long been seen as one of the most significant technology companies globally. The design and manufacturing decisions taken in Cupertino, California have affected product design across the world, helping usher in an era of ubiquitous touchscreen computing while insisting on exacting user experience design principles. How much do you know about the history of one of the most powerful computing companies on the planet? Test yourself with these 12 questions.

The Guardian’s Apple at 50 quiz

King Charles III to address Congress on April 28

Congressional leaders announced that Britain's King Charles III will address a joint meeting of Congress as part of his visit to Washington later this month.

A truckload of F1 KitKats, a painting of fish: what is it that makes heists so delicious? | Imogen West-Knights

In a world of data theft and online scams, there is something thrillingly analogue about these audacious robberies

Now, let me begin by saying: stealing is bad. I don’t think you should steal things. It is a good way to get yourself sent to prison and it is morally wrong to take things that don’t belong to you. Cargo theft? Bad. Stealing priceless artworks from museums where they could be enjoyed by everyone? Bad.

And yet. And yet.

Iran threatens Nvidia, Apple and other tech giants with attacks

Iran's Revolutionary Guard has warned a number of tech companies with Middle East operations that they'll be considered "legitimate targets."

American journalist Shelly Kittleson kidnapped in Iraq

American journalist Shelly Kittleson was kidnapped in Baghdad on Tuesday, according to two sources familiar with the matter as well as an Iraqi official.

Germany stops gas stations from raising pump prices more than once a day

Germany is introducing a fuel package to prevent powerful gas companies from "abusive fuel price increases," as the Middle East conflict continues.

Gas prices hit $4.06 a gallon before Trump's prime-time address

U.S. gasoline prices continue to inch higher after crossing the $4 a gallon threshold on Tuesday for the first time since 2022.

Trump to address nation on Iran war Wednesday night, White House says

President Donald Trump said he expected that U.S. military forces will leave Iran in "two or three weeks."

Why is gaming becoming so expensive? The answer is found in AI

We are paying more for a PlayStation so that idiots can use ChatGPT to mislead people on dating apps – something is rotten in the state of gaming

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When the PlayStation 5 launched almost five and a half years ago, it was listed at £449 in the UK. If you were to buy one at the recommended retail price today, it would be £569.99, or £789.99 for the updated Pro model. Sony has just raised the price of its console by another £90, the latest in a series of hikes. This is unprecedented: consoles have always decreased in price over time (until they become retro collectibles – the other day, I saw someone asking £200 for a SNES on Vinted). So, what’s going on?

Unfortunately, this is another case of artificial intelligence ruining things for everyone. AI data centres need lots and lots and lots of computing power to be able to present you with lies whenever you Google anything, and this has pushed up demand and pricing for RAM and storage. This isn’t the only reason prices are rising – the wars in Ukraine and Iran have caused global economic disruption, and rampant inflation has eaten into many companies’ bottom line. But AI is the cause that’s easiest to get angry about, because it doesn’t need to be this way.

‘I can’t listen without feeling rattled’: how Fairuz’s anthem of resilience became a harbinger of strife for Lebanon

The Lebanese singer’s patriotic song has returned repeatedly since 1976 to inspire hope amid catastrophe. But as it resurges during the US-Israeli war, some Lebanese are chafing against its optimism and nostalgia

When Leila Milki first heard Fairuz’s Bahebak Ya Lebnan, she experienced it as the song of Lebanese unity and resilience. Milki, a Lebanese-American singer-songwriter and pianist based in Los Angeles, has partly built her career on covering the catalogue of Fairuz, the 91-year-old Lebanese singer who has become a rare generation-uniting public figure in the small Mediterranean country. “I knew that, in terms of my parents’ generation and even my grandparents’ generation, the song was sort of this really cathartic, hopeful message of unity,” says Milki.

The old adage is that Lebanon and its people remain resilient in the face of tragedy, able to rebuild and be born again into a stronger, more stable nation. That was the message Fairuz conveyed with Bahebak Ya Lebnan, a song released 50 years ago that has since become the country’s de facto national anthem. “I love you Lebanon, my homeland, I love you / Your north, your south, your plains / I absolutely adore,” Fairuz sings in Arabic in the opening lines. When she released the song in 1976, it came against the backdrop of the early stages of a 15-year civil war, which resulted in the deaths of roughly 150,000 people, the mass exodus of nearly 1 million people and foreign occupation by Syria and Israel.

‘Fossil-fuel imperialism’: Trump’s hankering for Iranian oil runs deep

Experts say the US believes it is entitled to resources it desires – a perspective president has supported for decades

Donald Trump said this past weekend he wants to “take the oil in Iran” by seizing control of a key export hub, echoing a refrain he has returned to for over a decade.

It’s a sign of his disregard for international law and belief in “fossil-fuel imperialism”, experts say.

‘Human tragedy’: Leqaa Kordia on how ICE jail echoes life in occupied Palestine

In her first print interview since release, the Palestinian immigrant says after year in custody, she sees it as her duty to denounce ICE detention in the US

A Palestinian woman who was released last month after spending a year in a Texas immigration detention center told the Guardian in an exclusive interview that she sees “a lot of similarities” between the treatment of people in Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody and that of Palestinians living under Israeli occupation.

Leqaa Kordia, who was detained by ICE following her arrest at a protest against Israel’s war in Gaza, says that she will continue to speak up about the rights of Palestinians, but that she now also sees it as her duty to denounce the “human tragedy” of immigration detention in the US.

Billboard trolls missing woman's husband suspected of her murder

Dee Warner's brother, Gregg Hardy, says he was being sarcastic when he wrote the billboard in Lenawee County, Michigan, that read "Help Dale Find Dee." Dale Warner denies he ever harmed his wife.

What we’re reading: writers and readers on the books they enjoyed in March

John Lanchester, Patmeena Sabit and Guardian readers discuss the titles they have read over the last month. Join the conversation in the comments

I find it hard to read contemporary fiction while I’m in the middle of writing a novel, so I use the time after finishing as an opportunity to catch up. I hugely enjoyed two British novels, Drayton and Mackenzie by Alexander Starritt, about friendship and business, and The New Life by Tom Crewe, about gay life in the 1890s. European fiction: Eurotrash by Christian Kracht is a funny novel about going on a road trip with a deranged parent; Perfection by Vincenzo Latronico is about the horrible life of digital nomads; Drive Your Plow Over the Bones of the Dead by Olga Tokarczuk is an unclassifiable, riveting sort-of mystery.

Pot Noodle pizza to Doctor Who Darlic bread: this year’s best April fools

Taken in by reports of Liz Truss joining Nasa or the launch of nappy ‘Twosies’? It’s that time of year again

The media ecosystem may have changed since the BBC’s spaghetti harvest report in 1957 or the Guardian’s 1977 travel supplement about the island of San Serriffe, but April fool stories are still with us.

Indeed, if you picked up Wednesday’s edition of the Guardian, you may have been taken in by our report that evidence has been found of coffee being consumed in England a couple of centuries before the first known examples, thanks in part to an expert called Macky Arto.

Geishas, explosions and a rocket launch: photos of the day – Wednesday

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

JD Vance announces a new memoir about his conversion to Catholicism

The vice-president’s follow-up to Hillbilly Elegy is announced as speculation builds over a 2028 run to succeed Trump

US vice-president JD Vance has announced a new memoir centred on his conversion to Catholicism, adding to mounting speculation about a potential 2028 presidential run.

The book, titled Communion: Finding My Way Back to Faith, will be published on 16 June by HarperCollins and is described as “a spiritual exploration of what it means to be a Christian across the seasons of Vance’s life”.

JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon weighs in on Iran war's economic impacts

JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon sat down with CBS News' Tony Dokoupil to weigh in on the economic impacts of the Iran war, the state of the global economy and the future of AI.

Why Bach’s music is indestructible, whether on the mandolin, modern piano – or soundtracking murder

The German composer, born 341 years ago, dominates the classical charts and concert platforms, especially at this time of year. Here’s to his life-giving zombie music!

The musical world’s present for Easter is Bach, Bach and more Bach. These next two days alone, there are performances of his St Matthew Passion in every musical city you care to name, from London to Leipzig, Rome to Rotterdam. In the classical charts, from the “official” one to the, er, other official one, and Apple Music’s, one composer dominates more than any other, from Yunchan Lim’s Goldberg Variations to Raphaël Pichon’s St John Passion. Why?

Two descriptions of his music have particularly struck me this past week. Bach the zombie and Bach the meat-grinder. The phrases belong to the violinist James Ehnes and the Guardian’s Clive Paget, reviewing Pichon’s new recording. Meat-grinding is how Paget describes the St John Passion’s opening chorus; a fantastic expression of the viscera of human feeling that Bach exposes especially in Pichon’s drama-filled recording. Bach’s composition in this chorus is made of obsessive repetitions in the churning figuration of the strings; there are the wailing agonies of the dissonances in the woodwind lines before the voices of the chorus make their first shocking appearance, not so much singing as screaming their demands to Christ to witness his passion in its “glory” and its “humiliation”. The opening chorus, all eight minutes of it, makes a gigantic cross shape in musical time: the surging, relentless rhythms are the horizontal planes, the harmonies that sear through them are implacable verticalities. And that’s just the opening chorus. This is the darkness of the Passion story.

Trump to attend Supreme Court arguments on birthright citizenship case

President Trump said he plans to attend Wednesday's Supreme Court arguments on birthright citizenship, which the Trump administration opposes. It would be the first time in modern history that a sitting president attends Supreme Court arguments. Jan Crawford has more on the high-stakes case.

Trump to give prime-time address on Iran war after saying U.S. will leave "very soon"

President Trump has announced a prime-time address set for Wednesday evening on the Iran war. The ongoing conflict is now in its fifth week and Mr. Trump says the U.S. continues to negotiate with Iran, but will be done with the war "very soon." Weijia Jiang reports.

‘On a whole other level’: rapid snow melt-off in American west stuns scientists

Experts say brutal March heat has left critical snowpack at record-low levels – and key basins in uncharted territory

Snow surveys taking place across the American west this week are offering a grim prognosis, after a historically warm winter and searing March temperatures left the critical snowpack at record-low levels across the region.

Experts warned that even as the heat begins to subside, the stunning pace of melt-off over the past month has left key basins in uncharted territory for the dry seasons ahead. Though there’s still potential for more snow in the forecast, experts said it will probably be too little too late.

Jess Cartner-Morley on fashion: spring has sprung, so put away your coat and banish the black tights

Nevermind the trends, want to know how to dress for actual spring weather? Then read on

It all came to a head, as matters of getting dressed so often do, over black tights. I had wanted to wear my silver skirt, you see. It was a rare blue-sky day and the sunshine was making me crave reflective surfaces to maximise the light. Anyway, you know how it is when you just get a yen to wear something. So I pulled out said silver skirt and then realised I didn’t want to wear the black opaque tights I wear with it in winter, but it wasn’t anywhere near warm enough to wear it with bare legs as I do in summer. I was completely stumped. And it made me realise: I need a refresher course in what to wear at this time of year. Spring has sprung, but I have forgotten how to hop to it.

So here we have it: your pocket primer on how to dress for spring. I’m talking about the spring that happens every year, an actual real-world meteorological phenomenon, not about the fashion trends of this particular moment. The lengthening days, daylight commuting, the juicy greens and yellows of the landscape, the maverick unpredictability of rain. Whether zebra stripes are the new leopard does not concern us today. We don’t need fashion to provide the newness when newness is in abundance in the world. So we can flick back through the pages to remind ourselves of spring’s fashion classics.

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

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

US jibes at Royal Navy are uncomfortable because they have substance | Jamie Grierson

While Pete Hegseth has mocked the ‘big, bad Royal Navy’, the First Sea Lord has sounded the alarm about its readiness

• Middle East crisis – live updates

The US defence secretary, Pete Hegseth, had his tongue firmly in his cheek when he singled out the “big, bad Royal Navy” in a recent press update on the US-Israeli war against Iran.

Hegseth’s sarcastic comment was the latest in a long line of jibes against the capabilities and readiness of the British Royal Navy.

King Charles set for state visit to U.S. in late April

The visit "will celebrate the historic connections and the modern bilateral relationship between the United Kingdom and the United States," Buckingham Palace says.

How to turn a leftover roast lamb bone into Wales’ national dish – recipe | Waste not

This hearty, slow-cooked soup is a celebration of all things Welsh, and its versatility makes it a year-round favourite

Cawl is Wales’ gift to the world of thrifty, slow-cooked broths and, like all great peasant dishes, it’s seasonal, versatile and immensely practical. A few years ago, Food & Drink Wales invited me to create two food sustainability toolkits, one for hospitality and one for the public, with both celebrating Welsh produce and recipes. This led me to explore Wales’ national dishes and discover cawl (or lobscows, the northern Welsh name for the dish) properly for the first time. Inspired by Welsh culinary legends Dudley Newbery and Tomos Parry’s recipes, it’s the perfect way to turn lamb leftovers, or even just a bone, into a hearty meal.

‘Guano is far more than just droppings’: scientists uncover the secrets of bat poo in Gorongosa park

The more than 100 bat species living in the Mozambican reserve’s labyrinth of caves play a key role in maintaining a fragile ecosysytem that benefits wildlife and people

• Words and photographs by Kang-Chun Cheng

After wriggling gingerly into a damp, cool cave, Raúl da Silva Armando Chomela waits for his eyes to adjust. Donning latex gloves, a helmet fitted with a headlamp, and a mask to protect his lungs from fine particles and bacteria, the molecular biologist from the Mozambican port city of Beira gazes into the shadowy recesses for signs of bats.

He has spent two years in these claustrophobic spaces studying the winged mammals and their excrement. “Guano is far more than just bat droppings,” he says. “If I had to describe it in one word, I’d say ‘ecosystem’.”

Bold concepts, loose ends in Ibram X Kendi’s Chain of Ideas

While informative, the book struggles to identify what strategies can change racist systems held hostage by the political right and centre

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It’s not straightforward, trying to assess a book written by someone whose stature and reputation loom large over the text. I have not read any books by the American academic and anti-racist writer Ibram X Kendi before, but I had absorbed his ideas and interventions into American racial discourse over the years, as well as the controversies. And so I was curious about his latest – and his first since the “anti-woke” backlash.

I tried reading it as a stand-alone text, rather than another chapter in Kendi’s history. Every book deserves to be judged on its own terms. And Chain of Ideas is a huge piece of research that clearly builds on the many years Kendi has spent writing on racism and his experience as a public figure. But does it rise to the occasion? I attempt to answer this below.