Australia to release nearly 20% of fuel stockpile as Bowen insists country ‘nowhere near’ running out

Energy minister cuts fuel companies’ minimum stock obligations to free up diesel and petrol which will be directed to regional Australia

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Australia will begin releasing its stockpile of fuel after the government directed fuel companies to release nearly a fifth of reserve petrol and diesel supplies.

The energy minister, Chris Bowen, acknowledged fuel supplies could face further pressure but ruled out a cut to the fuel excise or rationing fuel purchasing.

Fatal shooting at Virginia university investigated as act of terrorism, FBI says

Suspect who was convicted in 2016 for supporting Islamic State is dead after attack kills one and leaves two injured

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The suspect who killed one person and injured two others at Old Dominion University on Thursday was identified by authorities as Mohamed Jalloh, a former member of the army national guard who pleaded guilty in 2016 to attempting to provide material support to the Islamic State.

Dominique Evans, special agent in charge of the FBI’s Norfolk field office, told reporters the suspect had attempted to commit an “act of terrorism” and shouted “Allahu Akbar” before opening fire. He was subdued and killed by members of the university’s ROTC program in a university classroom, she said, praising them for demonstrating “extreme bravery and courage” and preventing further loss of life. (ROTC is a college-based program that allows students to train to become a US military officer while also earning a college degree.)

Middle East crisis live: rescue under way after US military refuelling plane crashes in Iraq; top Iranian nuclear scientists killed, Israel says

US central command says aircraft lost in ‘friendly airspace’ as report says six onboard; Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu issues veiled threat to kill new Iranian supreme leader

• Middle East war creating ‘largest supply disruption in history of oil markets’

• How have you been affected by the latest Middle East events?

An Iranian source is denying the country will allow India-flagged tankers to pass through the vital strait of Hormuz, Reuters is reporting.

The news agency a little earlier quoted an Indian source as saying Iran would in fact allow such tankers to pass through the strait, a key artery for global oil trade.

Suspect in synagogue attack lost family in recent airstrike in Lebanon, source says

The attacker rammed a vehicle into Temple Israel in West Bloomfield and was confronted and killed by security, Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard said.

Ukraine war briefing: Putin envoy says US better understands importance of Russian oil amid energy crisis

Russian negotiator Kirill Dmitriev describes negotiations with Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner as ‘productive’. What we know on day 1,479

Old Dominion shooting suspect was previously arrested for trying to support ISIS

The suspect, who was killed following the shooting, had previously been imprisoned for several years for trying to support ISIS, the FBI said.

‘IG is a drug’: jury to deliberate as US trial over social media addiction wraps up

Meta and YouTube accused of creating harmful products in trial seen as a bellwether for attitudes towards social media

The first-ever jury trial over the potential harms of social media wrapped up on Thursday. Lawyers for Meta and YouTube have argued their platforms are safe for the vast majority of young people, while lawyers for a young woman at the center of the case say the tech companies have designed their products to be addictive, leading to mental health issues in children and teens.

“How did they become such behemoths?” Mark Lanier, a lawyer for the plaintiffs, said during closing arguments in Los Angeles superior court on Thursday, according to NBC. “It’s the attention economy. They’re making money off capturing your attention.”

U.S. military plane crashes in Iraq as status of crew is unknown, officials said

An aerial refueling tanker crashed in Western Iraq, U.S. officials said.

Elderly couple in Indiana home among 3 killed as tornadoes tear through Midwest

A string of tornadoes touched down in multiple states as severe weather stretched from Texas to Michigan.

Suspect dead after ramming vehicle into Michigan synagogue, officials say

FBI treating incident as targeted act against Jewish community as temple says all students and staff safe

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A man who rammed his vehicle into a Michigan synagogue and drove through a hallway on Thursday died during the incident, officials said.

There were no other serious casualties at the Temple Israel in West Bloomfield township, a suburb in Oakland county, and the FBI said it was treating the matter as a “targeted act of violence against the Jewish community”. It was not immediately clear how the driver died, but officials said security staff engaged the suspect and at least one fired shots.

3/12: The Takeout with Major Garrett

Police investigating attacks at Old Dominion University and Michigan synagogue; Iran's new supreme leader releases first statement.

Premier League: 10 things to look out for this weekend

Bukayo Saka could switch to No 10, Brentford’s Igor Thiago sets sights on 20-goal mark and a key selection dilemma looms for Chelsea

• Premier League top scorers: latest top-flight standings

In the summer, Burnley signed two new goalkeepers. Martin Dubravka agreed a one-year deal after leaving Newcastle, and has been one of the successes from a questionable round of recruitment. At 37, however, and with a need to cut costs should relegation be confirmed, it feels unlikely the veteran would be kept on at Turf Moor in the Championship. On the bench throughout the Premier League season has been Max Weiss, 16 years Dubravka’s junior. The German has featured in cup competitions but is awaiting his league debut and it feels as if Scott Parker should give him one soon as part of planning for next season. The head coach needs to look beyond the next nine games and to the future, which is more likely to include Weiss, who has another three years remaining on his contract, than Dubravka. Will Unwin

Burnley v Bournemouth, Saturday 3pm (all times GMT)

Sunderland v Brighton, Saturday 3pm

Arsenal v Everton, Saturday 5.30pm

Chelsea v Newcastle, Saturday 5.30pm

West Ham v Manchester City, Saturday 8pm

Crystal Palace v Leeds, Sunday 2pm

Short tempers and legal threats: UK teachers report rise in problem parents

Rudeness, social media posts and AI-generated complaints among issues harming staff wellbeing, union survey finds

Teachers are used to outbreaks of rudeness and defiance from their pupils, but are now saying parents are some of the worst offenders and affecting staff mental health, according to a headteachers’ union.

More than 90% of headteachers and other senior leaders said they had been on the receiving end of “challenging behaviour” from parents including rude or disrespectful responses, while 60% have had verbal abuse and threats within the past 12 months, according to the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL).

Redress schemes for Post Office Horizon scandal have serious failings, MPs find

Committee says thousands of victims still waiting for compensation and ‘face unacceptable delays and inadequate offers’

The redress schemes for victims of the Post Office Horizon scandal have “serious structural failings”, a parliamentary committee has found.

Thousands of post office operators are still waiting for the compensation they are owed and face “unacceptable delays, inadequate offers, and administrative processes that ‘retraumatise’ those who have already been wronged”, a report by the business and trade committee said.

The logistics of a potential U.S. military plan to open the Strait of Hormuz

CBS News national security analyst Aaron MacLean walks through the potential options for a U.S. military mission to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

3 teens took part in a weeklong experiment to curb screen time. It worked.

For one week, three New Jersey high schoolers agreed not to take their phones to bed, and to try different tools to reduce screen time.

Can Pope's childhood church in Chicago be saved from demolition?

Thousands of churches have closed in recent decades, but one on Chicago's South Side is getting attention for its connection to the Pope. Tony Dokoupil has the story.

Teens agree to weeklong experiment to curb screen time

For a period of one week, three New Jersey teens agreed not to take their phones to bed, and to try different tools to reduce screen time during the day. Meg Oliver has the story.

How rising diesel price may affect inflation amid Iran war

For American drivers, the cost of the war with Iran is already showing up at the pump. But there's a bigger warning light flashing for the economy: diesel. Kelly O'Grady explains.

Virginia university gunman was previously convicted for ISIS ties

The gunman who killed one person and wounded two others at a Virginia university campus on Thursday had previously been imprisoned for trying to support ISIS. Nicole Sganga has more on the shooting and how the gunman was subdued.

What we know about U.S. military plane crash in western Iraq

A U.S. military aerial refueling tanker that was involved in the military operation in Iran crashed in western Iraq on Thursday, according to multiple U.S. officials who spoke to CBS News. Charlie D'Agata and Aaron MacLean have more.

Armed man plows truck packed with explosives into Michigan synagogue

A suspect is dead after ramming a truck into Temple Israel in West Bloomfield, Michigan, prompting a massive law enforcement response. No victims were killed inside the synagogue, officials said. Scott MacFarlane reports.

Rescue effort under way as US military refueling plane crashes in Iraq

US Central Command officials say ‘incident occurred in friendly airspace during Operation Epic Fury’

• Middle East live blog – latest updates

• Pentagon tells lawmakers Iran war costs top $11.3bn – but true price unknown

A US military refueling aircraft crashed in western Iraq on Thursday, in an incident US Central Command said involved another aircraft but was not the result of hostile or friendly fire.

It wasn’t immediately clear if there were casualties.

3/12: CBS Evening News

Suspect dead after attack on Michigan synagogue; U.S. military aircraft goes down in western Iraq.

White House mulls defunding civil rights election observer program

The federal observer program sends neutral observers to monitor election sites to ensure voters don't experience discrimination at the polls.

Trump weighs Jones Act waiver amid rising fuel prices, White House says

Easing the century-old shipping law could help lower fuel prices as the Iran war pushes crude oil near $100 a barrel, experts say.

Midtjylland weather the storm as Cho stuns wasteful Nottingham Forest

It never rains but it pours. Nottingham Forest, forced to cut their ticket prices twice this week to entice a capacity crowd back to the City Ground, can’t seem to buy a win at the moment. Twice now they have lost to FC Midtjylland in this competition this season after the substitute Cho Gue-sung further dampened their spirits with the only goal on a night when a second-half deluge was so severe the ball started getting stuck in puddles.

What a muddle Forest find themselves in: above the relegation zone only on goal difference, their fourth manager of the season, Vítor Pereira, is without a win in his five games since an opening triumph in Fenerbahce set up this last-16 window of opportunity. But as the Danish players celebrated with their hardy, bare-chested fans in a small, sodden but voluble corner of the Bridgford Stand, Pereira warned them they are far from home and dry.

Senate passes sweeping bipartisan housing bill, but House roadblocks remain

The Senate approved a package of bills aimed at lowering housing costs, the most sweeping housing legislation in decades and a rare point of bipartisan consensus in an election year, with the issue of affordability top of mind for many voters.

NASA targets Artemis II crewed moon mission for April 1 launch

A six-day launch window opens on April 1 from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The lunar orbital mission would be the first time humans have returned to the moon since Apollo 17 in 1972.

Warren calls on State Department to provide more aid to Americans stuck in Middle East

The State Department said this week that 36,000 Americans had returned to the U.S. after the start of the war with Iran.

Eswatini says it received more ‘third country’ deportees as part of deal with Trump administration

Two deportees sent to Eswatini were from Somalia, one was from Sudan and one was from Tanzania

The government of Eswatini announced on Thursday it received four more “third country” deportees from the United States, as part of the Trump administration’s multimillion-dollar deal with the small African nation.

Now, a total of 19 deportees from the US have been sent to Eswatini when they hail from other countries, amid the Trump administration’s continued anti-immigrant crackdown and changes to immigration policy.

Tommy Fleetwood relieved as family able to leave Dubai for UK amid conflict

• World No 3 talks about situation at Players Championship

• ‘When you know they’re fine, that’s kind of a relief’

Tommy Fleetwood has expressed relief after his family were able to return to England from Dubai despite the conflict in the Middle East. Fleetwood, the world No 3, has been competing in Florida as his wife, son and two stepsons sought to leave their home of four years. They landed back in the UK on Wednesday evening.

Fleetwood spoke about the situation after a fine 69 to open the Players Championship. While typically understanding of a bigger picture, it would only be natural for Fleetwood to have been distracted during recent tournaments. “Of course,” said Fleetwood when asked if he now felt reassured. “It is difficult not being able to travel. That has obviously been difficult. But when you know they’re fine, that’s kind of a relief.

Iran Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei has verified account on X, Elon Musk's platform

The newly created account was busy posting on Thursday, its first day being active on the X social media platform.

FBI closes 2020 election fraud inquiry demanded by NV's top federal prosecutor

The FBI found only 38 non-citizens may have voted in the 2020 presidential election in the inquiry ordered by Sigal Chattah, Nevada's top federal prosecutor.

Bosa/Wu: Private equity is about to eat its own software portfolio

Private equity built the SaaS installed base. It may also be the one that rips it out.

Markets' hopes for Fed interest rate cuts are rapidly fading away

As both energy prices and inflation fears pop higher, expectations for cuts are sliding lower.

Millions of Americans skip meals, stretch medication to afford health care

Even people with six-figure incomes are making financial sacrifices to pay for medical care, a new study finds.

Flights are already getting more expensive after a jet fuel spike. When should you book?

Some airlines are already raising fares after a historic surge in jet-fuel costs.

Iran War: U.S. Navy will escort oil tankers through Strait of Hormuz when 'militarily possible,' Bessent tells Sky News

The Strait of Hormuz has been effectively closed to shipping because of the war against Iran by the U.S. and Israel.

Fear of Iranian mines in the Strait of Hormuz could further slow the flow of oil

Attacks by Iran have already nearly halted the flow of oil through the vital waterway as commercial ship crews fear being hit by missiles, drones or mines.

Massive emergency oil release fails to stem investor fears

Attacks on shipping traffic and energy infrastructure in the Persian Gulf temporarily pushed oil back above $100 a barrel, stoking investor fears.

Trump administration launches Section 301 trade probes into Mexico, China, EU, others

The Supreme Court, in a 6-3 ruling, said President Trump was not authorized by the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, IEEPA, to impose tariffs.

EV maker Lucid reveals plans for robotaxi, positive free cash flow late this decade

The EV company is aiming to hit that target through market expansion into midsize vehicles, robotaxis and new counties, specifically in Europe.

What will it take for ships to brave the Strait of Hormuz again?

Energy prices won't ease up until the Strait of Hormuz is secure, experts say. Here's what it will take to get the oil flowing again.

English clubs have week to forget in Champions League – but is that a bad thing? | Barney Ronay

Of six teams in the last 16, only two – Arsenal and Liverpool – look more likely than not to get to the quarter-finals. But does it matter?

The coefficient is safe. The coefficient is yours. You’re going home with the coefficient. But perhaps not, on this evidence, with the microwave, the washing machine or the jet ski.

England’s soccer shame. Premier League in EURO MELTDOWN. Robot-ball crisis: how Arteta’s Arsenal destroyed all that is good and true, including the ploughman’s lunch and probably Woolworths. This kind of stuff has begun to do the rounds after this week’s Champions League last-16 matches.

Watkins keeps Aston Villa on Europa League trophy trail with first-leg winner at Lille

Given what had gone before, Unai Emery stressed afterwards, this was a significant victory and a deeply satisfying takeaway for Aston Villa.

In meetings with his squad, he referenced how none of the six Premier League teams in the Champions League last 16 had triumphed this week and as many as four of them may have suffered irrecoverable damage. Then there were the memories of Villa coming here two years ago, when they almost came unstuck in the Conference League quarter-finals, when Emiliano Martínez reannounced himself as public enemy No 1 and made two penalty shootout saves.

Israeli military drops charges against soldiers accused of Gaza detainee abuse

Five soldiers were indicted over alleged violent abuse and rape of Palestinian man at detention centre in 2024

Israel’s top military lawyer has dropped all charges against five soldiers accused of the violent abuse and rape of a Palestinian detainee from Gaza.

The military advocate general, Itay Offir, said prosecutors lacked key evidence after the victim was sent back to Gaza, and that the conduct of senior officials had affected the chance of holding a fair trial.

Fed chair pick Kevin Warsh meets with more senators as Thom Tillis blockade continues

Sen. Tillis vows to vote against sending Kevin Warsh's nomination as Federal Reserve chair to the full Senate as a criminal probe of Jerome Powell is pending.

Clyburn, 85-year-old South Carolina Democrat, running for reelection

Democratic Rep. Jim Clyburn of South Carolina announced Thursday he will seek an 18th term in Congress.

CBS News Things That Matter: A Town Hall with Governor Wes Moore

Maryland Governor Wes Moore, a rising star in the Democratic Party, sits down with CBS News senior correspondent Norah O'Donnell to discuss issues impacting the nation, including the critical 2026 midterm elections and his vision for the future of the Democratic Party.

Woman kept in ‘Dickensian’ servitude for 25 years speaks out as abuser jailed

Amanda Wixon, 56, sentenced to 13 years for keeping victim imprisoned at home in Gloucestershire since 1990s

• ‘She didn’t want me to hug her’: carer of enslaved woman describes her recovery

A woman imprisoned and forced to work for a mother of 10 for more than a quarter of a century in “Dickensian” conditions has said nothing can give her back her lost years as her abuser was sentenced to 13 years.

The woman, who was held by Amanda Wixon in Tewkesbury, said: “For 25 years I lived in fear, control and abuse. I was treated as though my life, my freedom and my voice did not matter. The trauma and the nightmares are something I still carry with me every day.”

Pakistan’s Abrar Ahmed defies talk of ‘shadow ban’ with Sunrisers deal in Hundred

• Leg-spinner signed by Indian-owned team for £190,000

• James Coles is most expensive player sold on the day

Abrar Ahmed has become the first Pakistani player to be signed by one of the four Indian-owned Hundred teams, after he was bought by Sunrisers Leeds for £190,000 in the inaugural men’s player auction.

The signing was a badly needed relief for the England and Wales Cricket Board, which was recently forced to deny publicly reports that the four sides would operate a “shadow ban” on picking players from Pakistan. The Sunrisers are owned by the Sun media group, which runs the Indian Premier League franchise in Hyderabad and South Africa’s Sunrisers Eastern Cape. They had to fight hard for him after being drawn into a bidding war with the Trent Rockets.

Blistering early-season heatwave threatens California and other western states

Records could be smashed in southern California as experts warn weather set to be ‘exceptional – and not in a good way’

States across the US west are bracing for a brutal early-season heatwave threatening to cook several cities through the weekend and into next week. Forecasters warned temperatures will spike 20-30F above normal for several days.

Daily records could be shattered in southern California this week, the National Weather Service said, with a possibility that all-time records for March will be broken as well. Following the warmest winter on record across most of the region, the intense conditions are expected to eat into low snowpack levels, deepening drought concerns.

Ben Jennings on the Oscars – cartoon

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The Guardian view on the cost of Trump’s war on Iran: the world’s poor will pay most dearly | Editorial

The economic fallout of the US-Israeli assault and Tehran’s retaliation is spreading fast, and pushing the most vulnerable towards disaster

Soaring prices at the pump, the scrapping of mortgage deals, and the prospect of higher prices for everything from food to smartphones. The US-Israeli attack on Iran, and Tehran’s retaliation, has rocked the global economy. Consumers are already feeling the pain of the biggest energy supply shock in history, and Iran’s new supreme leader, Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, vowed on Thursday that the strait of Hormuz will remain closed, according to a statement attributed to him by state media. The corridor is the biggest chokepoint for the global energy system. The relief to oil prices brought by the International Energy Agency’s largest ever release of reserves had already proved shortlived: as the US and Israel intensified attacks on Iran, it escalated attacks on transport infrastructure across the Gulf.

But the impact is not evenly felt. In Asia, heavily reliant on the Middle East for crude oil and liquefied natural gas, Bangladesh closed all its universities and Pakistan some of its schools due to fuel shortages. While US coverage is dominated by the impact at home, others are paying a higher price. And it is the world’s poorest and most vulnerable who will be worst hit.

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.

The Mandelson papers reveal a prime minister who would rather not hear from dissenting voices | Gaby Hinsliff

Warnings were ignored and processes rushed because No 10 had already made up its mind to let Peter Mandelson sail through

The arrogance takes your breath away, even to the end. Sacked in disgrace for bringing shame upon those who trusted him, Peter Mandelson’s response, we now know, was to unsuccessfully demand half a million pounds of public money to go quietly, all while haughtily insisting upon his dignity as a servant of the crown. In other words, this week’s disclosures suggest Mandelson behaves in a tight corner pretty much exactly as bitter experience suggests he might. What they still don’t explain satisfactorily is why Downing Street, seemingly alone, failed to anticipate that.

To understand what went wrong, imagine the three-step process by which he became ambassador to Washington as a sandwich: two bland slices of officialdom, representing the Cabinet Office’s initial efforts at due diligence and a deeper vetting process at the end, glued together with political filling. Take away the middle, which is the political operation around the prime minister himself, and what’s left is dry bread falling apart in your hands.

Gaby Hinsliff is a Guardian columinst

Guardian Newsroom: Can Labour come back from the brink?
On Thursday 30 April, ahead of the May elections, join Gaby Hinsliff, Zoe Williams, Polly Toynbee and Rafael Behr as they discuss how much of a threat Labour faces from the Green party and Reform UK, and whether Keir Starmer can survive as leader of the Labour party
Book tickets here or at guardian.live

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.

The Guardian view on a green wake-up call for Friedrich Merz: Europe’s political centre loses its way again | Editorial

The German chancellor and his Social Democrat coalition partners need to learn the right lessons, after an election reverse in Germany’s third-largest state

For most of the postwar period, the state of Baden-Württemberg was both a bastion of German conservatism and – as the home of Mercedes-Benz and Porsche – an economic powerhouse. But in volatile times, even regions that embodied political stability and industrial prowess now deliver the unexpected. A come-from-behind victory for the Greens last Sunday, in the first of a series of important regional elections this year, suggests that Friedrich Merz’s Christian Democrat-led national government is alienating voters in the same way as other centrist administrations in Europe. If Sir Keir Starmer has Gorton and Denton to anguish over, Mr Merz and his Social Democrat coalition partners now have Baden-Württemberg.

Caveats apply. The Greens already had an impressive power base in Germany’s third-largest state, where they have been the senior partner in coalition administrations for 15 years. In Cem Özdemir, their victorious candidate, they also fielded a charismatic and popular campaigner. Mr Özdemir’s personal achievement is in itself a cause for celebration. The son of immigrants who arrived in the country in the 1960s, he becomes Germany’s first state premier with Turkish roots.

KPop Demon Hunters sequel confirmed at Netflix: ‘This is only the beginning’

The streamer’s biggest film of all time, also nominated for two Oscars, is getting a follow-up

A sequel to record-breaking hit KPop Demon Hunters has been officially confirmed at Netflix.

The film will again be a collaboration between the streamer and Sony with Maggie Kang and Chris Appelhans, the writer-directors, returning.

Senate fails again to advance DHS funding as tempers flare over stalemate

The Senate failed for a fourth time to advance a funding bill for the Department of Homeland Security, with no deal in sight.

FBI says its taking over the Michigan synagogue attack investigation

Security officers at Temple Israel "engaged with the suspect" after a vehicle rammed into the building, according to Oakland County Sheriff Mike Bouchard.

‘Wherefore art thou?’: France look to restore identity with outing to Romeo and Juliet

Fabien Galthié hopes ballet excursion helps side put Scotland loss behind them for Saturday’s Six Nations finale

A night at the opera may not be to every Frenchman’s taste these days, but for Fabien Galthié the outing will have been an integral part of his team’s Six Nations finale preparations.

Two evenings out from their clash against England, Les Bleus were set to leave their training camp to watch rehearsals for a performance of the ballet Romeo and Juliet at the Opéra Garnier in central Paris. “It’s important for us to take a step back,” the head coach explained. “We’re going to be meeting the lead dancers, watching them at work, speaking to them, and experiencing that legendary venue.”

Parseword: Is Wordle creator’s new game too much of a ‘chin-scratcher’ to go viral?

Josh Wardle hopes his digital take on the cryptic crossword can be a gradual on-ramp crossing the cultural divide between Britain and the US

In 2021, Josh Wardle became a household name almost overnight. His digital game, Wordle, turned a simple guessing game into a global morning ritual: six guesses, one word, and a grid of coloured squares shared across social media feeds.

It became a cultural phenomenon; bought within months by the New York Times for a seven-figure sum.

Gerry Adams was leader of IRA, ex-police officers tell high court

Two former members of Royal Ulster Constabulary testify at civil trial that Adams led proscribed organisation

Gerry Adams was the leader of the Irish Republican Army, two former police officers have told the high court.

The former Sinn Féin leader is being sued for symbolic “vindicatory” damages of £1 each by John Clark, Jonathan Ganesh and Barry Laycock, who allege he was culpable for three separate IRA bombings in which they were injured.

Rivian's crucial R2 EV launch to begin with $58,000 model in spring

Rivian will launch sales of its crucial R2 all-electric vehicle this spring with a roughly $58,000 special edition model, the company announced Thursday.

Trump tariffs: Martin Heinrich bill would give families tax rebate for higher import costs

The Supreme Court in a 6-3 ruling Feb. 20 ruled that President Donald Trumps IEEPA tariffs were illegal.

This tale of a Chicago school book ban was inspired by true events

Librarian Jarrett Dapier's graphic novel tells a fictionalized account of real-life events in 2013 that restricted access to Marjane Satrapi's memoir Persepolis in Chicago Public Schools.

TSA workers set to miss first paycheck of shutdown as Senate bickers over DHS funding

Democrats and Republicans remain at loggerheads over reopening the Department of Homeland Security.

Cheltenham jockeys in alleged racism row bid to bury hatchet but inquiry continues

• Pair shake hands but BHA will continue inquiry

• Mullins strongly critical of ground at meeting

Declan Queally and Nico de Boinville appeared to resolve their differences on Thursday after an angry and controversial exchange of words before the start of the first race on Wednesday.

Queally lodged a complaint with the stewards that he had received verbal abuse from De Boinville, some of which was of a racial nature, when he lined up against the running rail shortly before the field was due to set off for the Grade One contest.

British tourist among 20 charged in Dubai over videos of Iranian missile strikes

UAE cybercrime law means sharing images or footage of war can bring jail, prison time and deportation

A British man is among 20 people who have been charged in the United Arab Emirates under cybercrime laws in connection with filming and posting material related to Iranian attacks on the country.

The 60-year-old man, understood to be a tourist who was visiting Dubai, was charged under a law that prohibits sharing material that could disturb public security.

Middle East war creating ‘largest supply disruption in the history of oil markets’

Vast release of emergency crude reserves fails to quell mounting fears about supply crunch, rattling markets

• Middle East crisis – live updates

Oil markets are facing the “largest supply disruption in history” as the war in Iran continues to block tankers from shipping millions of barrels of crude each day, the world energy watchdog has warned.

The International Energy Agency (IEA) said the supply shock ignited by Iran’s effective blockade of the strait of Hormuz meant the world faced a deeper crisis than after the Yom Kippur war of 1973 and the 2022 outbreak of war in Ukraine.

Microsoft top Office executive Rajesh Jha retiring after more than 35 years

Rajesh Jha helped Microsoft bring to market an artificial intelligence assistant containing OpenAI models for its Office productivity customers.

Misty Copeland fires back at Timothée Chalamet ballet, opera comments

Ballerina Misty Copeland responded to controversial comments made by actor Timothée Chalamet when he appeared to dismiss the significance of ballet and opera, saying, "No one cares."

Morrissey cancels Valencia concert after being left in ‘catatonic state’ by city noise

After latest concert cancellation, singer also describes Valencia hotel as ‘indescribable hell’ that will require ‘one year to recover’ from

British singer Morrissey has cancelled a concert in Valencia after being left sleep-deprived during the city’s notoriously noisy Las Fallas festival.

A statement on his website said: “Having travelled for two days by road, Morrissey reached the hotel in Valencia late on Wednesday. Any form of sleep or rest throughout the night was impossible due to festival noise/loud techno singing/megaphone announcements.”

Milano Cortina Winter Paralympics 2026: day six – in pictures

We take a look at the best images from the Games, including alpine skiing, slalom and ice hockey

Snow joke: Winter Paralympics athletes angry at scheduling as big thaw hits

• Ice melt causes dangerous conditions for para athletes

• IPC says changing winter calendar ‘easier said than done’

In Cortina d’Ampezzo, the thaw is on. With daytime temperatures reaching double figures in celsius, snow is disappearing from the hillsides and the “torrenti” of ice melt have started to flow once again.

Traditionally a time of year when snowfall can be at its heaviest, there has been none since the Winter Paralympics began. The Games have not been insulated from the consequences.

Medicare Advantage 'dark money' group tries to win higher payments for insurers

What appeared to be a surge of grassroots support for higher Medicare Advantage payments was actually driven by a pro-industry group.

Senate passes bipartisan housing bill targeting large investors and easing regulations

The 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act would ban large investors from buying up single-family homes.

Lawsuit alleges David Protein understates calories and fat of its bars

Plaintiffs claim that David Protein bars contain "way more" calories and fat than what's displayed on the label.

This reporter went bust while covering America's sports betting boom

Americans are betting on sports, elections, award shows and even military actions. The Atlantic writer McKay Coppins bet $10k from his employer in his investigation of this gambling world.

Try small steps and set the bar low: how to find the meaning of life

Don’t treat it as a lofty quest, experts say. You can make each day feel more meaningful with humbler methods

What makes your life meaningful?

If you don’t really know, you’re far from alone. “We’re in the middle of a meaning crisis,” says Bill Burnett, executive director of the Life Design Lab at Stanford University.

Trump-backed SAVE America Act will get a Senate vote next week, Thune says

Advocates of the voter-ID bill have pressed the Senate for months to call a vote on the controversial legislation.

‘On YouTube, we can reach 2.5bn people at once’: Oscars head Bill Kramer on TV, AI and 4am starts

The Academy CEO on his decidedly non-Hollywood beginnings, bonding with Robert Redford – and a formative watch of All That Jazz

It’s a boiling day in downtown Los Angeles; crowds are milling about outside the Dolby theatre where Sunday’s Academy Awards ceremony is to be held, selfie-ing the giant Oscar statuettes.

And this is where the man with whom the buck stops is looking at the set, going through the top-secret opening number and busy with a thousand admin details. Academy CEO, Bill Kramer, increasingly renowned as one of the most important people in Hollywood, meets me for a pre-ceremony chat in a suite in the next-door Hollywood Loews Hotel. “It’s so nice that we’re not on camera!” he says. “Yeah, so happy. Let myself relax!”

He is approachable and diplomatic, revered for his fundraising wizardry at the Academy museum, where he was managing director of external development in 2012 before ascending to his current job at the Academy 10 years later. Kramer has a business degree and came to Columbia after his first substantial job working for the Metropolitan Transit Authority in New York.

It was at a party in the 90s that this policy and financial strategist met the man who changed his life: Robert Redford. “He couldn’t believe how much I knew about movies!” says Kramer. “And he said he wanted to decrease reliance on corporate sponsorships and bring someone on board at Sundance to help generate philanthropic gifts from individuals. Would I be interested in doing that? I said: ‘Sign me up!’”

This can-do attitude is still evident in Kramer today. A few days out from showtime, he is, he says, “so incredibly excited. I’m an early riser, as my team will tell you, up at 4am. It’s a good moment to get my head together, to review our script. It’s a quiet moment where I can go through emails that have come in overnight.”

Seth Meyers on Pete Hegseth: ‘The face of a man war-fighting with his colon’

Late-night hosts discussed reports that Hegseth’s defense department spent $15m on steak as the Trump administration escalates their vague war in Iran

Late-night hosts dug into the Trump administration’s vague intentions for the war in Iran, the conflict’s oil-price effect and a Maga rally in Kentucky with Jake Paul.

Donald Trump says Iran should not play in World Cup for their ‘life and safety’

• Participation is in question amid ongoing war

• Fifa’s Infantino said Trump assured Iran are welcome

Donald Trump said Thursday that Iran should not participate in the upcoming World Cup in North America, just days after telling Fifa’s chief they would be welcome despite the Middle East war.

“The Iran national soccer team is welcome to the World Cup, but I really don’t believe it is appropriate that they be there, for their own life and safety,” the US president said on his Truth Social platform.

No 10 rejects claims it covered up Starmer’s role in Mandelson appointment

Downing Street also denies vetting and approval for US ambassador role was rushed through, after release of documents

• UK politics live – latest updates

Downing Street has rejected accusations it covered up Keir Starmer’s role in appointing Peter Mandelson as the UK ambassador to Washington, after documents detailing the process showed no formal input from the prime minister.

A day after 147 pages of documents were released by the government, No 10 also denied that the approval and vetting of Mandelson had been rushed through, saying normal procedures were followed.

Dismay as ancient heritage sites across Iran damaged in US-Israel bombing

Golestan Palace world heritage site in Tehran and palace in Isfahan harmed despite Unesco sending coordinates

• Middle East crisis – latest updates

The governor of the historic Iranian city of Isfahan has accused the US and Israel of a “declaration of war on a civilisation” as heritage sites across the country suffer damage in their bombing campaign.

The most serious confirmed damage to date has been to Tehran’s Golestan Palace, dating to the 14th century, and the 17th-century Chehel Sotoon Palace in Isfahan.

Strait of Hormuz must remain closed as 'tool to pressure enemy,' Iran's new supreme leader says

Iran's new Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei has said all U.S. military bases in the Middle East should close immediately as those bases will be attacked.

‘Casting is a very easy thing for others to take credit for’: Richard E Grant on cinema’s invisible moguls

This Sunday, casting directors will be honoured at the Oscars for the first time. Why has it taken so long?

‘It’s unbelievable how much information we hold about actors,” says Kelly Valentine Hendry. “We have our ears to the ground. We know about bad behaviour. We know about things that actors require in order to give a better performance …” Casting directors, she says, “monitor all that, all the time, from the shadows”.

Amid the A-list glitz of this weekend’s Oscars, casting directors will step from the shadows into the spotlight as the Academy Awards’ inaugural casting prize is presented. These quietly pivotal yet hitherto almost invisible figures are experts in spotting and allocating talent, and navigating actors’ and directors’ sometimes challenging temperaments.

Tentacles and a flying hat: photos of the day – Thursday

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

Two people die after donating plasma at Canadian clinics under federal investigation

Company that runs the sites says it has ‘no reason to believe there is a correlation between the donors’ passing and plasma donation’

Two people have died in Canada after donating plasma at a chain of clinics that has been under scrutiny by federal inspectors for failing to keep accurate records, screen donors or maintain its machines.

While experts say the deaths are exceedingly rare, critics say Canada’s embrace of private companies to handle blood products reflects a “slow collapse of a system that has been the envy of the world”.

Fears about nuclear war are reaching a fever pitch. Another grim sign of the times | Judith Levine

News stories are weighing nuclear risk as experts muse on the possibility of global warfare

Intimations of world war three – the big one, nuclear Armageddon – didn’t arise yesterday. But they got more urgent when Donald Trump was elected the second time. In December 2024, Newsweek published a map of the “safest US states to live during nuclear war”. The article was not reassuring. “Nowhere is truly ‘safe’” from such consequences as “contamination of food and water supplies and prolonged radiation exposure”, said the senior policy director of the Center for Arms Control and Non-Proliferation. Another expert noted that “even a ‘small’ nuclear war would ... kill at least a billion people”.

And since 28 February, when the US and Israel began their bombardment of Iran, chatter about a world war has spiked, with everyone from anonymous social media users to Harvard policy wonks weighing in.

Dad of 3 felt forced to quit TSA job amid shutdown: "Family has to come first"

More than 300 TSA officers have quit since the partial government shutdown began last month, according to agency statistics obtained by CBS News.

Bafta games awards 2026: Clair Obscur and Dispatch lead the nominations

Last year’s celebrated French hit Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is nominated in 12 categories this year, with Ghost of Yōtei, Dispatch, Death Stranding 2 and Indiana Jones also making strong showings

The 22nd Bafta games awards are coming up in April, and the 2026 nominations list is dominated by the impeccably stylish French breakout hit Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 which has 12 nominations, and has already won game of the year prizes at the UK’s Golden Joysticks last November, December’s Game awards in the US and February’s Dice awards in Las Vegas.

Dispatch, a game about a benched superhero roped into running a team of superpowered misfits at a call centre, has nine nominations. Among them is a best performer in a leading role nod for its star Aaron Paul, and one for Jeffrey Wright in a supporting role. Sony’s samurai epic Ghost of Yōtei came out with eight nominations, including best game and best performer in a leading role for Erika Ishii, who plays Atsu.

They were dating AI partners when they found real love – with each other

Ayrin and SJ met on a subreddit Ayrin created for people ‘dating’ AI companions. Over time, they started talking to AI less … and falling for each other

• Sign up for AI for the people, a six-week newsletter course, here

People are reporting “dating” artificially intelligent companions – but not every relationship lasts. What’s it like to fall in – and then out – of love with AI?

As part of our newsletter AI for the people, we spoke to Ayrin and SJ, who live thousands of miles apart and made the same decision: to leave their AI partners – for each other. Their names have been changed.

Nemanja Radulović: Prokofiev album review – thrills and spills from a fearless violin virtuoso

(Warner Classics)
Radulović/Philharmonia/Rouvali/Favre-Kahn/Dalene
Radulović brings irresistible swagger to selections from Romeo and Juliet and Cinderella, while a more restrained duet fosters a fine sense of dialogue

There’s a daredevil freshness about Nemanja Radulović’s playing that makes this generously filled disc of Prokofiev particularly rewarding. Over 86 minutes, he tackles the Second Violin Concerto with the Philharmonia under Santtu-Matias Rouvali, a pair of underperformed sonatas and a clutch of original works and transcriptions with pianist Laure Favre-Kahn.

The concerto receives a subtle, supportive reading from Rouvali, who is happy to play second fiddle to the star turn. Radulović plunges in, his audacious attack and intonational high-wire act almost upsetting the applecart in the oompah-pah finale. The same fearless commitment pays dividends elsewhere: in the jaunty Heifetz arrangement of the Gavotte from the Classical Symphony, for example, or in the spiky march from The Love for Three Oranges.

In Bloom by Liz Allan review – an electric debut of grunge and teen spirit

Four fatherless girls in a band set out to escape their deprived Australian coastal town, in a dark, raw tale of friendship and abuse

Liz Allan’s powerful debut novel smells unmistakably like teen spirit. Plunging the reader into the cauldron of suburban malaise that is an Australian seaside resort in 1994, it is narrated collectively by the Bastards, a band of 14-year-old riot grrrls bringing Kurt Cobain’s gospel to their dead-end backwater – in their own eyes, at least. To their schoolmates, they are three fatherless losers, tainted by poverty.

But the Bastards don’t care; they’ve got a ticket out of Vincent, “capital of teen pregnancies and absent fathers”. For nine months, their beloved music teacher, Mr P, has been rehearsing them for the Battle of the Bands, a long drive away in the city of Geelong. Admittedly, they suffered a body blow when their lead singer, Lily Lucid, quit a year ago. But Mr P still believes in them.

U.S. deficit tops $1 trillion through February but runs below year-ago pace

For the fiscal year to date, the deficit totaled $1.004 trillion, about 12% lower than the comparable period in 2025.

‘I said no, then I just gave up’: Brooke Nevils on her sexual assault claims about one of TV’s biggest stars

The former NBC producer says she was repeatedly assaulted by Matt Lauer, an anchor at the network – then spent years blaming herself in the aftermath. She talks about power, preconceptions and life after #MeToo

When Brooke Nevils’ allegations about the former NBC anchor Matt Lauer, one of the most powerful TV stars in the US, became public in 2019, she found herself reading comments about herself online.

Nevils, formerly a producer at NBC, had alleged in Ronan Farrow’s book Catch and Kill that Lauer had sexually assaulted her in his hotel room, after an evening drinking while covering the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia. Back in New York, there were other incidents – she went to his apartment, where she says it happened again. In his dressing room at the NBC studios, Nevils claims Lauer pushed her down and forced her to give him oral sex. Lauer has consistently denied Nevils’ allegations, in an open letter describing it as an “extramarital affair”. Lauer maintains that Nevils’ account is “filled with false details” creating the impression that the encounter was abusive. No charges were ever brought.

Iran war: Trump says he's not worried about domestic terror attack

President Donald Trump said oil companies should send tankers through the Strait of Hormuz, which has remained effectively closed due to the war on Iran.

‘I wish I had more fun’: Max Verstappen reiterates unhappiness at new F1 rules

• ‘I don’t enjoy the car but I do enjoy working with the team’

• Meeting with drivers brought forward amid disquiet

Max Verstappen has once more expressed his discontent with the new Formula One regulations. Amid a clamour of unhappiness from many drivers, the four-time champion also reiterated his warning that he would leave the sport if he ceased to enjoy it, which is clearly the case at the moment.

After the first round of the season in Melbourne last week, Verstappen showed disdain for how the new rules had affected driving, and speaking before this weekend’s Chinese Grand Prix, he belittled the new formula with another reference to the videogame Mario Kart, which has swiftly become a go-to reference across the grid. A drivers’ meeting to discuss the new regulations, originally planned for after the Japanese Grand Prix at the end of the month, has now been brought forward to take place after this weekend’s race, the Guardian understands.