Observer investigation uncovers the scale of the crisis in a system where the most vulnerable awill continue to be put at riska

Some of Britainas most vulnerable children are being moved to care homes more than 300 miles away from the neighbourhoods they grew up in, according to an Observer investigation revealing a anational scandala.

The shocking figures make clear for the first time the scale of the crisis that has long worried child welfare experts. They show dozens of children from London alone are in foster or care homes more than 250 miles from the city, as councils battle a significant shortfall in provision. Children from the capital have been placed in homes near Perth, Glasgow, Knowsley, Leeds and Carlisle.

Anti-monarchist claims the official portraits of the head of state are ascandalousa at the time of spending cuts

Ministers have been accused of alosing the plota after setting aside APS8m to offer every public body a free portrait of King Charles.

In a move that drew criticism amid complaints of shrinking budgets across Whitehall and local government, Oliver Dowden, the cabinet office minister, said it was part of plans to celebrate the new reign and bring the nation together.

School holiday delays of up to 14 hours blamed on aFrench border processes and sheer volumea

Extra sailings are to run overnight at the Port of Dover to try to clear a backlog that left passengers stuck in Easter school-holiday traffic for hours on Saturday.

A spokesperson for the port, which declared a critical incident on Friday, said it was hoping to clear the backlog by lunchtime on Sunday as some travellers said they had been held up for 14 hours.

Countryas chief justice says unveiled women will be prosecuted awithout mercya after defiance

Two women have been arrested in Iran for not covering their hair in public after having a tub of yoghurt thrown over them.

Video footage that went viral on social media showed two female customers being approached by a man who engages them in conversation.

Charity medic, hotelier and adanger tourista reportedly arrested by Talibanas secret police in January

Three British men including a charity medic and a self-styled adanger tourista are being held in custody by the Taliban in Afghanistan, it has been reported.

The Mail on Sunday said Kevin Cornwell, a 53-year-old charity medic, and another British national who manages a hotel for aid workers in Kabul, who has not been named, were detained by the Talibanas secret police in January.

Campaigners say Rosebank, with a potential yield of 500m barrels, would seriously undermine legal commitment to net zero

A single new oil and gas field in the North Sea would be enough to exceed the UKas carbon budgets from its operations alone, analysis has shown, as the government considers fossil fuel expansion despite the legally binding commitment to net zero.

Rosebank is the biggest undeveloped oilfield in the North Sea, with the potential to produce 500m barrels of oil, and has already cleared several regulatory hurdles, meaning a decision on its future could come soon.

A two-year-oldas father has been arrested over his death and a grandmother charged with aggravated manslaughter

Florida is reeling after two separate cases in the state allegedly saw children die at the hands of their caregivers, according to authorities.

In St Petersburg, the body of a two-year-old boy was found Friday in an alligatoras mouth a day after his mother was discovered murdered, prompting his fatheras arrest.

Comedian broke down in tears live on air as he told listeners his friend was involved in serious road accident

Frank Skinner told listeners to his Saturday radio show that his friend and former co-host Gareth Richards is fighting for his life after a car crash.

The 66-year-old comedian and broadcaster broke down in tears as he revealed that Richards was in a avery big road accidenta on Monday.

Third-fastest woman of all time bests fellow mums in Jamaica school parentsa competition

Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, the third-fastest woman of all time, has added another title to her vast haul of medals, winning her sonas sports day race in Jamaica.

The multiple Olympic and world championship gold medallist lined up against other mothers and unsurprisingly won by a distance.

The last time Moscow held the post was in February 2022, when its troops launched invasion of Ukraine

A top Ukrainian official has criticised the asymbolic blowa of Russia assuming the rotating presidency of the United Nations security council.

Andriy Yermak, the Ukrainian presidentas chief of staff, wrote on Twitter on Saturday: aItas not just a shame. It is another symbolic blow to the rules-based system of international relations.a

The town infamous for a massacre at hands of Russia has become a symbol of Ukraineas reconstruction effort, but experts say the influx of money from the west will bring challenges in such a corrupt country

Standing on the crumbling roof of a house, dozens of workers hammer in unison. Around them, cranes, bulldozers and trucks work frantically to repair roads and buildings destroyed by Russian artillery. It is hard to believe that this noisy construction site is in Yablonska Street, in the town of Bucha, in the north of Kyiv, at the precise crossroads where a year ago the bodies of dozens of civilians, brutally killed by Russian soldiers, were strewn over almost a mile, some with their hands bound behind their backs.

Ukraine has already repaired, and in many cases fully rebuilt, many of the sites destroyed by Moscow, including bridges, roads and government buildings. It is only the beginning of what Kyiv has described as the largest rebuilding effort since the second world war and perhaps the most expensive in history, with an estimated cost of half a trillion dollars. But managing this unprecedented influx of money in a country with a long history of corruption will bring challenges, experts say.

The moment you realise you are entering your ageing years is confronting, especially if you still feel young. Might that burst of anxiety be a door into a different kind of old age?

My mum was due to celebrate a century of life and looking forward to getting her card from the Queen. Shead been living in an aged-care facility which had been through multiple lockdowns due to Covid. Our family started preparations for her birthday party; ahold the datea cards were sent.

On Mumas behalf, we applied to receive the birthday card from the Queen. But early one night, after another lockdown, my dad rang. aI donat think sheall make it to the weekend,a he said. aCome quickly.a

Media and brands take chance to offer up some light relief, including Matt Hancock cheddar and an Oasis reunion

Amid these often dark and difficult times a and with a rising tide of online disinformation a judging the tone of a good April Foolsa gag has become much harder for news organisations. On Saturday morning, though, readers enjoyed waking up to a wealth of stories offering some light relief.

The Sun published a piece announcing the launch of Prince Harry and Meghanas new video game aMegxit: Call of Duke-ya in which the royal couple try to reach California while dodging obstacles, including rival royals and the media, along the way.

Would you let your dog in your bed? Your children? Your partner? We set up cameras in nine bedrooms, taking a picture every 30 seconds for 12 hours, to tell the tale of a single nightas sleep

For seven and a half years, Brad and Felicity, now in their early 30s, have been sleeping in the same bed. Their 18-month-old daughter, Brooke, has shared their bed since she was born.

Felicity and Brad with Brooke, at 23.18

In this weekas newsletter: The director has returned in trademark style with Asteroid City, to the chagrin of some a but he should be celebrated as a true original

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You can set your (vintage 50s) timepiece to it: one of the unbreakable laws of 21st-century cinema is that a new Wes Anderson film must always be greeted with a chorus of moans about how Wes Anderson-y it looks. That was proven by the reaction to the the trailer for Andersonas next film, Asteroid City, as a host of Twitter users furiously raced to be the first person to post aWes Anderson has made his film againa.

Admittedly, there was plenty for the haters to go at. Symmetrically perfect imagery. Intense attention to period detail. An almost comically overstuffed cast of A-listers. (Good to see that Wes has chucked in a budding unknown by the name of Tom Hanks this time around, just to even things up.) Dialogue so arch McDonaldas could sue it for copyright infringement. Great needle drops. A bearded Jason Schwartzman a that oneas an absolute deal-breaker for Anderson. And, above all, a vibe of fussy tweeness that seems to perfectly bifurcate audiences into alovea and aloathea.

Hailed by Tory MPs as a Brexit benefit, CPTPP membership actually turns the UK into a willing pawn in Washingtonas geopolitical game

Tory MPs hailed the UKas entry last week into the Indo-Pacific trading bloc as a major step on the road to re-establishing Britain as a pioneer of free trade.

It was a coup for Rishi Sunak, said David Jones, the deputy chairman of the European Research Group of Tory Eurosceptics, who was excited to be aligned with asome of the most dynamic economies in the worlda.

Hayley Myers was worried about relocating back to her home city of Coventry after a decade in London, but she hasnat looked back

During those seemingly endless days of working from home in the midst of the first lockdown, we decided that enough was enough. My husband and I were squeezed around the dining table, one eye on our laptops and the other on our restless toddler. Pregnant with our second child, I was excited, intensely nauseous and nervous about how we might cope with a newborn under the current strict social restrictions, and later the extortionate costs of having two children in a nursery.

By that point, we had lived in London for almost 15 years and owned a tatty but much-loved flat in Lewisham. Our time there had been a blast, mostly a we were happy in our careers, with a great support network of friends a but somewhere between parenthood and the pandemic, the inconveniences wead always accepted as part and parcel of city living increasingly gnawed at us. The walls of our windowless bathroom were constantly damp, the ceiling mildewy. The concrete rectangle of our balcony seemed bleak compared to the families we saw on social media splashing in paddling pools in their gardens. The grating creaks of the lift right next to our front door disturbed our sleep all night long.

Men in bomber jackets means spring really is here. But this wardrobe stapleas latest outing comes with plenty of new twists

The bomber jacket is never not a useful wardrobe addition and is enjoying a style resurgence, having played a key role on the runways, from Prada and Saint Laurent to Loeweas pillowy leather version. Miuccia Prada and Raf Simons have been playing with scale for a few seasons, giving the oversized look a boost in popularity.

Pradaas pink leather bomber was spotted on Canadian rapper Drake in his music video, while newly appointed Louis Vuitton menswear creative director Pharrell Williams opted for a fitted red leather studded Ernest W Baker bomber with matching trousers at the Grammys.

Artists and writers pay tribute to figures who resisted slavery and racism, as part of Guardian project exploring the paperas links to enslavement

An entrepreneurial Pan-Africanist, a boxer-turned-campaigner and a pair of African American abolitionists are among a group of radical Black figures who are featured in new portraits commissioned by the Guardian as part of its Cotton Capital project.

The Radicals series includes eight exclusive portraits painted by prominent Black artists, including Joy Labinjo, Tam Joseph and Claudette Johnson.

• World champion says sprint races are not ain the DNA of F1a
• F1 bosses consider making shortened race standalone event

Regardless of how the Australian Grand Prix plays out, Formula One will leave Melbourne having to consider Max Verstappenas threat to quit the sport because of its continued determination to hold sprint races.

Having secured pole at Albert Park, the world champion, who has previously expressed his dissatisfaction with the sprint race format, was blunt in stating it was not in the DNA of the sport and that F1 was not going about improving race weekends the right way.

• Briton wins unanimous decision at the O2 Arena
• Joshua forced to go 12 rounds against 29-year-old American

Anthony Joshua won his first fight in more than two years with a comprehensive points victory over a brave and resilient Jermaine Franklin. The gritty American disappointed Joshuaas supporters, who had been hoping for a sensational win by knockout, by lasting the full 12 rounds late on Saturday night.

All three judges scored the fight in Joshuaas favour by accurately decisive margins of 117-111, twice, and 118-111. Despite Franklinas innate toughness, Joshua had expected to win the fight in far more thrilling style. Instead he landed the overwhelming majority of telling blows but could not force a stoppage.

Pep Guardiolaas charisma magnet is in mesmeric form, but predictable Liverpool should not be this easy to work out

Is anyone in Britain currently having more fun than Jack Grealish? Two minutes before the end of this 4-1 annihilation of Liverpool at the Etihad Stadium Grealish left the pitch to a standing ovation, met by a tender, oddly sensual full body hug from Pep Guardiola, who for a while just wouldnat let him go, patting his buttocks, whispering in his ear, hungry for Jack love.

It isnat hard to see why Guardiola likes Grealish. He has a way of turning mavericks, flashy destroyers, skill poppets into team cogs. And Grealish does things Pep likes, holding the ball as well as anyone, providing control and a safe space on the left. Also, isnat there just a little bit of nerd-love for Pepas hype man, his charisma magnet, the coolest kid in the class?

When he was injured, Arsenal kept winning but the Brazil striker is fit again and has rejoined the team seamlessly

Wrapped up in his warm-down jacket, Gabriel Jesus takes to the field. Itas been more than half an hour since he was substituted, but everyone still wants a piece of him. Opponents want to shake his hand. Fans want to sing his name. Club staff want to make eye contact and slap him on the back. As he takes his lap of honour, a lone camera operator follows him around the entire pitch, training his lens on that soft, twinkling face, a face that for some reason always looks as though itas on the verge of bursting into tears.

And for some reason there has always been this peculiarly spellbinding quality to Jesus. You watch him not because of what heas doing, but because of what he might do.

• Czech claims epic first set before winning 7-6 (14), 6-2
• Kvitova: aI had to be a little bit more aggressivea

For almost the entirety of Petra Kvitovaas storied 17-year career, the hard courts of the Miami Open have played slowly in humid Floridian weather, conditions entirely unsuited to the best fast-court player of her generation. In her 12 previous Miami Open appearances, she had never passed the quarter-finals.

But this year, the courts have been unusually fast, infusing Kvitovaas vicious lefty serve and nuclear groundstrokes with even more pace. She has ruthlessly taken advantage of the more favourable conditions and on Saturday afternoon the 15th seed closed off nine days of vintage ball-striking by outmuscling Elena Rybakina, the 10th seed, 7-6 (14), 6-2.

Spurs need a hungry manager on the way up, rather than one a no matter how young a fighting for relevance

If only Julian Nagelsmann had never become manager of Bayern Munich, the world might have believed he would be a very good manager of Bayern Munich. It was a job to which he had seemed destined since becoming the youngest coach in Bundesliga history in 2016, taking charge of Hoffenheim at the age of 29. He had already led Hoffenheimas under-19s to the Bundesliga youth title. He seemed preternaturally gifted and in Germany the gifted always end up at Bayern, especially when they come from Bavaria.

Taking over with Hoffenheim seven points adrift, Nagelsmann inspired them to unlikely survival and the following season took them into the Champions League. After a third-place finish in 2017-a18, Nagelsmannas upward journey continued at RB Leipzig, as he took them to the Champions League semi-finals. A Bundesliga title in his first season at Bayern may have been expected, but his first silverware was no less welcome for that.

Striker is not everyoneas cup of tea but he has impressed Erik ten Hag with his hunger, speed and big-match temperament

Wout Weghorst at Manchester United: when his loan from Burnley expires in the close season, should he stay or should he go? For the 30-year-oldas naysayers there is zero debate. They characterise him as the 6ft 6in one-paced target man of stereotype, continually hoping for any given contest to slow down. That Weghorst is a kind of Dutch Peter Crouch, except with fewer goals, as he has managed two in 18 United appearances.

A lack of fleet-footedness is the prime reason Weghorst is cast as having no long-term future under Erik ten Hag, as this weakness runs counter to the manageras blueprint, which is all about speed, The ball should be recycled quickly, with the midfield flooding forward fast and Marcus Rashford, Alejandro Garnacho, Jadon Sancho and Antony rushing in from the flanks. In Anthony Martialas absence through injury, Weghorst was a stopgap only, the goal-sniffer who would finish the openings created by this attacking squadron.

Bayern Munich started life under Thomas Tuchel with a 4-2 victory over his old club Borussia Dortmund at the Allianz Arena that saw them replace the visitors at the top of the Bundesliga table.

Eight days on from sacking Julian Nagelsmann and bringing Tuchel in, Bayern raced into a three-goal lead in their first match under the former Chelsea boss, with the opener coming via a bizarre 13th-minute own goal by the Dortmund goalkeeper Gregor Kobel.

To be British is a bit embarrassing at this point and not only because of Brexit. In Amsterdam, hard-drinking British tourists are the target of a astay awaya campaign. In asaturateda Lanzarote, plans are afoot to limit the number of UK visitors. But even for the non-British, the mini-break is increasingly fraught: a political nightmare up there with recycling or driving a car.

The people of Barcelona, Lisbon and Venice are sick of Airbnb and its effect on their cities. In Marseille, where activists may be both more stubborn and more chic than elsewhere, public enemy number one is not M Macron but the ubiquitous valise A roulettes (wheelie suitcase), without which no self-respecting weekender would even consider travelling in the 21st century.

A grand jury voted to indict the former US president over hush money payments to Stormy Daniels

aC/ You can order your own version of this cartoon

In the old days, people thought talking about money, particularly how much you earn, was unimaginably vulgar. But as anyone who has met a banker recently knows, those days are gone. Itas not just the minted who favour pay transparency; less loaded lefties do too - for social progress rather than social point scoring reasons. Letting the sunshine into the murky world of who earns what aims to tackle longstanding gender and race discrimination.

In the UK, this has involved requiring larger employers to publish their gender pay gap. The EU has agreed new rules that go further, requiring salaries to be disclosed on job adverts as already happens in eight US states. The Scandinavians publish all income tax records.

What happens when the human instinct to hunt down wrongdoers is encouraged to bloom and spread beyond the bounds of an ordinary justice system a the sort with clear rules about right and wrong a and which crimes might be more serious than others?

You donat have to look far for an example. The wild west of social media has produced exactly this sort of pseudo law and order system a now known as acancel culturea. The experiment has not, to put it mildly, worked well.

Youare going to hear these basic criticisms of the charges in the New York investigation a but they donat stand up to scrutiny

Youare going to hear three basic criticisms of Trumpas indictment. Each has some merit, but ultimately fails.

Let me rebut each in turn.

Robert Reich, a former US secretary of labor, is professor of public policy at the University of California, Berkeley, and the author of Saving Capitalism: For the Many, Not the Few and The Common Good. His new book, The System: Who Rigged It, How We Fix It, is out now. He is a Guardian US columnist. His newsletter is at robertreich.substack.com

What we desperately need is for lawmakers and technology companies to hold its creators and facilitators to account

The overall economy might not be in great shape, but the nonconsensual deepfake porn economy? Thatas in rude health. AI-generated imagery has been around for a long time now but itas recently become disturbingly sophisticated. See, for example, all the people who were taken in by the viral AI-generated photo of the pope in a puffy jacket, created by AI-based image generator Midjourney. The pope in an ostentatious coat may be amusing but the dark side of this technology is no laughing matter. A recent investigation by Kat Tenbarge at NBC News shows just how disturbingly pervasive and accessible nonconsensual deepfake porn has become.

Dating in the digital age has become increasingly fraught. But thereas hope for app skeptics like myself

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Maddie Thomas is an editorial assistant at Guardian Australia

Severe storms may have filled reservoirs but in the Golden State, a dry spell is aalways lurking in the backgrounda

Just a few months ago, millions in California were living under mandatory water conservation rules. The driest three years on record had transformed the state, depleted reservoirs and desiccated landscapes.

Then came a deluge. A dozen atmospheric river storms and several abomb cyclonesa have broken levees and buried mountain communities in snow, but they have also delivered a boon. Reservoirs are refilling. Brown hills are blooming once again.

Rangers work to avoid repeat of last yearas devastating losses in breeding seabird colonies on the islands off the Northumberland coast

The Farne Islands will not open to visitors this spring in anticipation of bird flu once again ravaging breeding seabird colonies, after an aunprecedenteda spate of deaths last year.

The rocky outcrop of islands off the coast of Northumberland has been looked after by the National Trust since 1925 and there are no previous records of so many endangered seabirds dying at once. More than 6,000 carcasses were picked up last year, which is believed to be the tip of the iceberg compared with how many birds would have died in total.

Colleagues and students query role of Jody Freeman, who won prestigious research grant despite sitting on ConocoPhillips board

An eminent Harvard environmental law professoras links to the fossil fuel industry are under scrutiny from colleagues and students after she was awarded a prestigious research grant to investigate corporate climate pledges.

Jody Freeman, founding director of Harvardas environmental and energy law program and former Obama-era White House advisor, is a paid board member of ConocoPhillips a a Fortune 500 American multinational oil and gas company that was ranked the 13th most polluting in the world by a Guardian investigation in 2019. The firmas controversial Willow drilling project in Alaska was recently approved by the Biden administration.

Frank Ospinaas death followed by reports of suicide attempts by other detainees at immigration centre

Lawyers and charities have predicted an unfolding crisis in immigration detention after the death of a detainee and reports of subsequent suicide attempts by others.

The Home Office confirmed that investigations had been launched by police and the prisons and probation ombudsman into the death of Frank Ospina on 26 March. He was being held at Colnbrook immigration removal centre near Heathrow next to the adjoining Harmondsworth immigration detention centre. He is believed to have been 39 and from Colombia. Detainees said he took his own life, although this has not been confirmed.

In the UK and Ireland, Samaritans can be contacted on freephone 116 123, or email jo@samaritans.org or jo@samaritans.ie. In the US, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is at 988 or chat for support. You can also text HOME to 741741 to connect with a crisis text line counselor. In Australia, the crisis support service Lifeline is 13 11 14. Other international helplines can be found at befrienders.org

Fortysomething adisillusioned surburbana voters with little time for politics are key to winning big majority, Labour Together group claims

Keir Starmer needs to win over aStevenage Womana to reach Downing Street, senior Labour figures have been told, after being briefed that a group of socially conservative, predominantly female voters have become critical in the partyas quest for a stable parliamentary majority.

Senior figures from Starmeras team were last week privately presented with analysis that a segment of suburban voters a full-time workers in their early 40s who have children and who have become disillusioned with politics a hold significant power in the seats the party needs to win.

Despite the arrest, Thames Valley police are currently treating the death as unexplained

A 61-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of murder after the body of a woman was found at a marina in Reading, Thames Valley police have said.

Despite the arrest, the police are currently treating the death as unexplained.

Rishi Sunakas drive on antisocial behaviour may not sway local election voters disillusioned by the government

The overwhelming majority of voters are not confident that the government can successfully tackle and reduce crime, according to a new poll which suggests that a crippling lack of trust is damaging Rishi Sunakas attempts to revive Tory fortunes.

Both main parties have been prioritising pledges to tackle low-level crime and antisocial behaviour ahead of local elections in May. However, the latest Opinium poll for the Observer revealed that only 20% of voters have confidence in the government to successfully tackle and reduce crime, while 71% are not confident. Only 27% have confidence in the courts and justice system to reduce crime and only 31% have confidence in the police to tackle and reduce crime.

Theatres such as now-closed Oldham Coliseum vital for northern working-class people, says actor

Christopher Eccleston has said it would be impossible for him to become an actor in todayas world, in an impassioned interview after the closure of Oldhamas Coliseum theatre.

The British actor spoke about how the closure of the historic theatre would affect the acting community and people from working-class backgrounds.

London charity aoverwhelmed and toucheda by donations to tribute fund set up after death of ambassador

Battersea Dogs & Cats Home has been aoverwhelmed and toucheda by public donations, which have passed APS100,000 after the death of the charityas ambassador Paul OaGrady.

The TV and radio presenter became an ambassador for Battersea in 2012 after the success of ITVas multi-award-winning For the Love of Dogs, 11 series of which were filmed at the home.

The closer the rodents live to the centre of the city, the worse their symptoms of lung disease

Deteriorating air quality is a major threat to health, and scientists have discovered that humans are not the only ones in danger.

Grey squirrels suffer worsening lung damage the closer they live to the centre of a city, according to a study in London. It found the lungs of the rodent residents of Richmond fare far better than those of central Westminster.

Priority services registers a energy firmas own lists of at-risk households a are vital to protect people. But itas extremely hard to find them, say campaigners

Helen Lord, who is now head of the Vulnerability Registration Service, was shocked at how rapidly her fatheras health deteriorated after he contracted Alzheimeras.

Brian Lord had been a founder director of CCN Systems, which later became credit checking giant Experian. What happened before his death 18 years ago drives her quest to ensure vulnerable Britons are recognised and helped to access basic utilities. But the work of her not-for-profit service a and her own later efforts to help her mother a are being hampered by problems with the registers that are designed to identify the most vulnerable.

Care home residents will be first to receive spring top-up jab as infections in England hit 2023 high

Millions of people in England will be offered a Covid booster jab next week, health officials have announced, as recent estimates show infections have climbed to their highest level this year.

Care home residents will be the first to receive the spring Covid-19 booster vaccine from Monday, with millions more people invited to book an appointment from Wednesday.

Bills could rise by as much as 133% when new cap is introduced this weekend, say analysts

Thousands of small businesses risk going bust as abrutala energy bills are to double with the end of a government support scheme from this weekend.

Companies are braced for an increase in energy costs as the governmentas support for non-household energy bills falls away, and many fixed rate deals come to an end. The combined impact could drive energy bills for many companies up by as much as 133% , according to analysts at the consultancy Cornwall Insight.

Former president prepares for New York court appearance at Florida resort after news of indictment caught him by surprise

Weekend events at Donald Trumpas Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, Florida, were suspended on Friday as the former president was ahuddlinga with his attorneys after being blindsided by the grand jury indictment handed up against him after payments to the porn star Stormy Daniels.

Trump was initially caught off guard by the news of dozens of criminal charges related to a $130,000 payment given to Daniels, whose legal name is Stephanie Gregory Clifford.

Pope, 86, responded well to antibiotic infusion for breathing difficulties, medical team says

Pope Francis has left hospital to return to the Vatican after being treated for bronchitis, quipping to journalists before being driven away: aIam still alive.a

The pope, 86, was taken to Romeas Gemelli hospital three days ago after complaining of breathing difficulties. He had responded well to an infusion of antibiotics, his medical team has said.

Retired optometrist Terry Sanderson, 76, faces seven-figure legal bill after unsuccessful lawsuit over ski slope collision

The retired optometrist who unsuccessfully sued Gwyneth Paltrow over a 2016 ski crash says taking the Oscar-winning actor to court had aabsolutely nota been worth it so far, but he also had not ruled out pursuing an appeal.

Terry Sanderson, 76, made the remarks after civil court jurors in Park City, Utah, on Thursday found him at fault in his collision with Paltrow at the Deer Valley ski resort.

Sergey Brin, Thomas Pritzker, Mortimer Zuckerman and Michael Ovitz face questions about late sex criminalas links with JP Morgan

A US Virgin Islands investigations into the sex trafficker Jeffrey Epsteinas ties to an American bank issued subpoenas to four wealthy business leaders on Friday, extending its reach into the highest echelons of tech, hospitality and finance.

The subpoenas issued to the Google co-founder Sergey Brin, Hyatt Hotels chairperson Thomas Pritzker, American-Canadian businessman Mortimer Zuckerman and former CAA talent agency chairperson Michael Ovitz are crafted to gather more information about Epsteinas relationship with JPMorgan Chase, according to the Wall Street Journal.

Formerly well-connected Anton aTonya Lazzaro, 32, found guilty of seven counts involving five girls aged 15 and 16

A formerly well-connected Republican donor was convicted on Friday of enticing teenage girls with gifts, cash and money in exchange for sex.

A federal jury found Anton aTonya Lazzaro, 32, guilty of seven counts involving acommercial sex actsa with five girls aged 15 and 16 in 2020, when he was 30 years old.

Sadai Banowan violated alaws and regulations of the Islamic emiratea, says local Taliban official

A female-run radio station in Afghanistanas north-east has been shut down for playing music during the holy month of Ramadan, a Taliban official said.

Sadai Banowan, which means womenas voice in Dari, is Afghanistanas only female-run station and started 10 years ago. It has eight staff, six of them female.

Tornadoes leave devastation across Arkansas, Illinois, Iowa and Oklahoma, including theatre roof that collapsed during concert

At least 21 people died and as many as 900,000 places were without power after a monster storm system tore through the southern and midwest US on Friday, spawning deadly tornadoes that shredded homes and shopping centers, and collapsed a theatre roof during a heavy metal concert in Illinois.

More than 50 preliminary reports of tornadoes were recorded across seven states, with twister-producing conditions continuing into Saturday as the storm system threatened a broad US swath which is home to 85 million people.

The ancient treasure has been restored and will go on show at the British Museum before going back home

It was carved almost 2,000 years ago and is such an important sculpture that if it appeared on the art market today it could fetch more than APS30m.

But this is a previously unrecorded antiquity that can never be sold. For the large fragment of a Sasanian rock relief a which depicts an imposing male figure carved in the 3rd century AD a has been freshly gouged from a cliff in Iran with an angle grinder.

Former president prepares for New York court appearance at Florida resort after news of indictment caught him by surprise

Weekend events at Donald Trumpas Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, Florida, were suspended on Friday as the former president was ahuddlinga with his attorneys after being blindsided by the grand jury indictment handed up against him after payments to the porn star Stormy Daniels.

Trump was initially caught off guard by the news of dozens of criminal charges related to a $130,000 payment given to Daniels, whose legal name is Stephanie Gregory Clifford.

A two-year-oldas father has been arrested over his death and a grandmother charged with aggravated manslaughter

Florida is reeling after two separate cases in the state allegedly saw children die at the hands of their caregivers, according to authorities.

In St Petersburg, the body of a two-year-old boy was found Friday in an alligatoras mouth a day after his mother was discovered murdered, prompting his fatheras arrest.

An Alabama company wants to mine near the 440,000-acre Georgia swamp, but locals and scientists fear it could be irreparably harmed

Humans, as a general rule, are rather unkind to swamps. They are disparaged as rotten places that must be drained, either literally, to make way for farmland and houses, or metaphorically, to make way for demagogues. Itas to this backdrop that one of the last remaining intact large swamps in the US, a pristine wetland almost unrivaled anywhere in the world, finds itself under threat from a planned mining project.

The Okefenokee swamp, found in the deep southern reaches of Georgia, may lack the fame of the fabled national parks of the US, but it is no less remarkable. Untouched by development, the 440,000-acre (180,000-hectare) swamp is a sort of time machine, offering an idea of what this mosaic of pine islands, with its riot of wildlife, would have looked shortly after its formation about 7,000 years ago.

Retired optometrist Terry Sanderson, 76, faces seven-figure legal bill after unsuccessful lawsuit over ski slope collision

The retired optometrist who unsuccessfully sued Gwyneth Paltrow over a 2016 ski crash says taking the Oscar-winning actor to court had aabsolutely nota been worth it so far, but he also had not ruled out pursuing an appeal.

Terry Sanderson, 76, made the remarks after civil court jurors in Park City, Utah, on Thursday found him at fault in his collision with Paltrow at the Deer Valley ski resort.

Colleagues and students query role of Jody Freeman, who won prestigious research grant despite sitting on ConocoPhillips board

An eminent Harvard environmental law professoras links to the fossil fuel industry are under scrutiny from colleagues and students after she was awarded a prestigious research grant to investigate corporate climate pledges.

Jody Freeman, founding director of Harvardas environmental and energy law program and former Obama-era White House advisor, is a paid board member of ConocoPhillips a a Fortune 500 American multinational oil and gas company that was ranked the 13th most polluting in the world by a Guardian investigation in 2019. The firmas controversial Willow drilling project in Alaska was recently approved by the Biden administration.

Formerly well-connected Anton aTonya Lazzaro, 32, found guilty of seven counts involving five girls aged 15 and 16

A formerly well-connected Republican donor was convicted on Friday of enticing teenage girls with gifts, cash and money in exchange for sex.

A federal jury found Anton aTonya Lazzaro, 32, guilty of seven counts involving acommercial sex actsa with five girls aged 15 and 16 in 2020, when he was 30 years old.

Sergey Brin, Thomas Pritzker, Mortimer Zuckerman and Michael Ovitz face questions about late sex criminalas links with JP Morgan

A US Virgin Islands investigations into the sex trafficker Jeffrey Epsteinas ties to an American bank issued subpoenas to four wealthy business leaders on Friday, extending its reach into the highest echelons of tech, hospitality and finance.

The subpoenas issued to the Google co-founder Sergey Brin, Hyatt Hotels chairperson Thomas Pritzker, American-Canadian businessman Mortimer Zuckerman and former CAA talent agency chairperson Michael Ovitz are crafted to gather more information about Epsteinas relationship with JPMorgan Chase, according to the Wall Street Journal.

Jayqwan Hamilton, Robert Demaio and Jacob Barroso accused of killing two men after visits to gay nightclubs

Police have identified three suspects charged in the murders of two men who were robbed and fatally drugged last year in Manhattan after they visited gay nightclubs in New York City.

The suspects are Jayqwan Hamilton, 35, and Robert Demaio, 34, of Brooklyn as well as Jacob Barroso, 30, from Harlem.

Countryas chief justice says unveiled women will be prosecuted awithout mercya after defiance

Two women have been arrested in Iran for not covering their hair in public after having a tub of yoghurt thrown over them.

Video footage that went viral on social media showed two female customers being approached by a man who engages them in conversation.

The statement has been revealed to have false signatures and researchers have condemned its use of their work

A letter co-signed by Elon Musk and thousands of others demanding a pause in artificial intelligence research has created a firestorm, after the researchers cited in the letter condemned its use of their work, some signatories were revealed to be fake, and others backed out on their support.

On 22 March more than 1,800 signatories a including Musk, the cognitive scientist Gary Marcus and Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak a called for a six-month pause on the development of systems amore powerfula than that of GPT-4. Engineers from Amazon, DeepMind, Google, Meta and Microsoft also lent their support.

Reuters contributed to this report

Severe storms may have filled reservoirs but in the Golden State, a dry spell is aalways lurking in the backgrounda

Just a few months ago, millions in California were living under mandatory water conservation rules. The driest three years on record had transformed the state, depleted reservoirs and desiccated landscapes.

Then came a deluge. A dozen atmospheric river storms and several abomb cyclonesa have broken levees and buried mountain communities in snow, but they have also delivered a boon. Reservoirs are refilling. Brown hills are blooming once again.

The race could serve as a litmus test for police reform a and Brandon Johnsonas policies on crime could leave him vulnerable in the general election

Brandon Johnson was in his element at Kenwood Academy high school.

The bespectacled former social studies teacher and candidate for Chicago mayor sat at a table next to his opponent, former Chicago public schools CEO Paul Vallas, during a recent afternoon debate. In an exhausting series of mayoral debates, Johnson had a home field advantage at Kenwood, where his son attends school.

Appeal judges uphold previous ruling, citing aimplied threata in CEOas tweet directed at Fremont employees who wanted to join union

A US appeals court has ruled that Elon Musk violated federal labour law by tweeting that employees of Tesla would lose stock options if they joined a union.

The New Orleans-based 5th US circuit court of appeals upheld a decision by the US National Labor Relations Board that said the 2018 tweet amounted to an unlawful threat that could discourage unionising and ordered Musk to delete it.

The last time Moscow held the post was in February 2022, when its troops launched invasion of Ukraine

A top Ukrainian official has criticised the asymbolic blowa of Russia assuming the rotating presidency of the United Nations security council.

Andriy Yermak, the Ukrainian presidentas chief of staff, wrote on Twitter on Saturday: aItas not just a shame. It is another symbolic blow to the rules-based system of international relations.a

Joe Biden calls on Moscow to free US journalist, aabsurditya as Russia takes charge of UN security council, and Bucha atrocities remembered

Would you let your dog in your bed? Your children? Your partner? We set up cameras in nine bedrooms, taking a picture every 30 seconds for 12 hours, to tell the tale of a single nightas sleep

For seven and a half years, Brad and Felicity, now in their early 30s, have been sleeping in the same bed. Their 18-month-old daughter, Brooke, has shared their bed since she was born.

Felicity and Brad with Brooke, at 23.18

From parallel parking to defusing a tantrum to getting a good nightas sleep, we ask the experts for their top tips

I leap out of bed the minute the alarm goes off at 4am and have my clothes ready, so I donat have to scrabble around in the dark. I neck a mouthful of a probiotic and have just one black coffee a otherwise Iam way too excitable. The minute I get into work, I whack on the tunes really loud: Steely Dan, Toto or some disco. Sing along to the bangers and then youare off!
Zoe Ball, DJ and presenter

The photographer on growing up vegetarian, and with musicians, her supportive dad, Paul McCartney, and coping with grief after the death of her mother, Linda

Born in London in 1969, Mary McCartney is a photographer, film-maker, presenter and vegetarian cookbook author. The eldest daughter of musician Paul McCartney and photographer Linda McCartney, Maryas childhood was spent on the road with Wings and in studios such as Abbey Road, about which she made a documentary, If These Walls Could Sing, in 2022. She lives in London with her film-maker husband, Simon Aboud, and has four sons. Mary has curated Sea Views, an online exhibition for the luxury cruise line Cunard, featuring archive imagery and submissions from the public.

This was taken in Nashville. Iam wearing a lanyard as I had been commissioned by the Country Music Awards to take portraits of all the winners and nominees like Loretta Lynn, Kid Rock, Shooter Jennings and Lynyrd Skynyrd. Wandering around the hotel on my way to the event I saw this row of mirrors: Iam attracted to shiny things and loved the repeat image of myself so I took the photo. It was a spontaneous moment and I really liked the camera being in it, too a something you wouldnat get with a selfie today.

Techno has no time for the past. Since coming out as trans, it has felt like the sound of my body breaking free

What greets me as I step through the portal is fog so thick I canat see anything but shimmering blue. Welcome to the rave. Weare at an aundisclosed locationa somewhere in Brooklyn. Or is it Queens? Somewhere in here is the source of the noise, this delightfully dense, hard techno, punctuating the blue. When my eyes adjust, I might be able to find it.

I came out as a trans woman in my 50s, about five years ago. I needed a way to shake the most stubborn and obtuse residues of gender dysphoria out of my body. I found raves. Iad been around this world in the 1990s. I knew what to expect, there in the blue fog. I knew how to pack a rave bag. What substances pair well with what sounds.

The actor, producer and singer on sleeping in, surviving breast cancer and saying the wrong thing to a makeup artist

Born in California, Rita Wilson, 66, starred in The Brady Bunch TV show at 15. She went on to have roles in Frasier, The Good Wife, Sleepless in Seattle and Runaway Bride. She produced the films My Big Fat Greek Wedding, Mamma Mia! and, most recently, A Man Called Otto, which stars her husband, Tom Hanks, and son Truman. Til Youare Home, which she co-wrote and performed for the soundtrack, was shortlisted for the Academy Award for best original song. The film is available to buy on digital and, from 3 April, to rent on digital and DVD. Wilson lives in California.

What is your greatest fear?
Losing my memory. My mom had Alzheimeras disease, and I never ever want to have that decline.

• Briton wins unanimous decision at the O2 Arena
• Joshua forced to go 12 rounds against 29-year-old American

Anthony Joshua won his first fight in more than two years with a comprehensive points victory over a brave and resilient Jermaine Franklin. The gritty American disappointed Joshuaas supporters, who had been hoping for a sensational win by knockout, by lasting the full 12 rounds late on Saturday night.

All three judges scored the fight in Joshuaas favour by accurately decisive margins of 117-111, twice, and 118-111. Despite Franklinas innate toughness, Joshua had expected to win the fight in far more thrilling style. Instead he landed the overwhelming majority of telling blows but could not force a stoppage.

• Czech claims epic first set before winning 7-6 (14), 6-2
• Kvitova: aI had to be a little bit more aggressivea

For almost the entirety of Petra Kvitovaas storied 17-year career, the hard courts of the Miami Open have played slowly in humid Floridian weather, conditions entirely unsuited to the best fast-court player of her generation. In her 12 previous Miami Open appearances, she had never passed the quarter-finals.

But this year, the courts have been unusually fast, infusing Kvitovaas vicious lefty serve and nuclear groundstrokes with even more pace. She has ruthlessly taken advantage of the more favourable conditions and on Saturday afternoon the 15th seed closed off nine days of vintage ball-striking by outmuscling Elena Rybakina, the 10th seed, 7-6 (14), 6-2.

• World champion says sprint races are not ain the DNA of F1a
• F1 bosses consider making shortened race standalone event

Regardless of how the Australian Grand Prix plays out, Formula One will leave Melbourne having to consider Max Verstappenas threat to quit the sport because of its continued determination to hold sprint races.

Having secured pole at Albert Park, the world champion, who has previously expressed his dissatisfaction with the sprint race format, was blunt in stating it was not in the DNA of the sport and that F1 was not going about improving race weekends the right way.

When he was injured, Arsenal kept winning but the Brazil striker is fit again and has rejoined the team seamlessly

Wrapped up in his warm-down jacket, Gabriel Jesus takes to the field. Itas been more than half an hour since he was substituted, but everyone still wants a piece of him. Opponents want to shake his hand. Fans want to sing his name. Club staff want to make eye contact and slap him on the back. As he takes his lap of honour, a lone camera operator follows him around the entire pitch, training his lens on that soft, twinkling face, a face that for some reason always looks as though itas on the verge of bursting into tears.

And for some reason there has always been this peculiarly spellbinding quality to Jesus. You watch him not because of what heas doing, but because of what he might do.

• NBA, NBPA reach deal on new collective bargaining agreement
• Tentative agreement between parties kicks in this summer

The most financially successful era in NBA history will continue uninterrupted for at least six more years, after the league and its players came to a tentative agreement on a new collective bargaining agreement that will kick in this summer.

It took more than a year of bargaining, with the intensity and expectation growing in recent days, and the handshake agreement was struck in the wee hours of Saturday morning a shortly after the league intended to tell the National Basketball Players Association of its plan to opt out of the current CBA on 30 June.

Pep Guardiolaas charisma magnet is in mesmeric form, but predictable Liverpool should not be this easy to work out

Is anyone in Britain currently having more fun than Jack Grealish? Two minutes before the end of this 4-1 annihilation of Liverpool at the Etihad Stadium Grealish left the pitch to a standing ovation, met by a tender, oddly sensual full body hug from Pep Guardiola, who for a while just wouldnat let him go, patting his buttocks, whispering in his ear, hungry for Jack love.

It isnat hard to see why Guardiola likes Grealish. He has a way of turning mavericks, flashy destroyers, skill poppets into team cogs. And Grealish does things Pep likes, holding the ball as well as anyone, providing control and a safe space on the left. Also, isnat there just a little bit of nerd-love for Pepas hype man, his charisma magnet, the coolest kid in the class?

A new film starring Ben Affleck tells the story of how Michael Jordanas sponsorship deal with Nike in 1984 turned a clever marketing idea into a slam dunk

In 1984, Nike was in trouble. Growth had stalled, profits were down and a misjudged move into clothing left it with piles of unsold inventory. Rivals had beaten it to new crazes for aerobics and leisure shoes. Sales fell. aOrwell was right,a Phil Knight, who was chairman and chief executive, began his annual letter to shareholders. a1984 was a tough year.a

But Air, a new film set in that same year, opens this week, and shows how Nike went on to become the worldas No 1 shoe and sports brand, a company whose revenue topped APS37bn in 2022.

Youare going to hear these basic criticisms of the charges in the New York investigation a but they donat stand up to scrutiny

Youare going to hear three basic criticisms of Trumpas indictment. Each has some merit, but ultimately fails.

Let me rebut each in turn.

Robert Reich, a former US secretary of labor, is professor of public policy at the University of California, Berkeley, and the author of Saving Capitalism: For the Many, Not the Few and The Common Good. His new book, The System: Who Rigged It, How We Fix It, is out now. He is a Guardian US columnist. His newsletter is at robertreich.substack.com

What we desperately need is for lawmakers and technology companies to hold its creators and facilitators to account

The overall economy might not be in great shape, but the nonconsensual deepfake porn economy? Thatas in rude health. AI-generated imagery has been around for a long time now but itas recently become disturbingly sophisticated. See, for example, all the people who were taken in by the viral AI-generated photo of the pope in a puffy jacket, created by AI-based image generator Midjourney. The pope in an ostentatious coat may be amusing but the dark side of this technology is no laughing matter. A recent investigation by Kat Tenbarge at NBC News shows just how disturbingly pervasive and accessible nonconsensual deepfake porn has become.

The generative AI tool can write code on request, making the specialist skill of programming open to everyone

Benedict Evans, a tech analyst whose newsletter is required reading for those who follow the industry, made an interesting point this week. He had, he said, been talking to generalist journalists who awere still under the impression that ChatGPT was a trivial parlour trick and the whole thing was about as interesting as a new iPhone appa. On the other hand, he continued, amost people in tech are walking around slowly, holding on to the top of their head with both hands to stop it flying off. But within that, I think we can see a range of attitudes.a

We certainly can a on a spectrum ranging from the view that this agenerative AIa is going to be the biggest bonanza since the invention of the wheel, to fears that it augurs an existential risk to humanity, and numerous opinions in between. Seeking a respite from the firehose of contradictory commentary, I suddenly remembered an interview that Steve Jobs a the nearest thing to a visionary the tech industry has ever had a gave in 1990, and dug it out on YouTube.

To be British is a bit embarrassing at this point and not only because of Brexit. In Amsterdam, hard-drinking British tourists are the target of a astay awaya campaign. In asaturateda Lanzarote, plans are afoot to limit the number of UK visitors. But even for the non-British, the mini-break is increasingly fraught: a political nightmare up there with recycling or driving a car.

The people of Barcelona, Lisbon and Venice are sick of Airbnb and its effect on their cities. In Marseille, where activists may be both more stubborn and more chic than elsewhere, public enemy number one is not M Macron but the ubiquitous valise A roulettes (wheelie suitcase), without which no self-respecting weekender would even consider travelling in the 21st century.

Resorts World Arena, Birmingham
Over the top, joyful and in fine voice, rockas great showman saunters, post-hip op, through the hits on the last leg of his global farewell tour

Elton Johnas hands bang on the piano chords at the start of Bennie and the Jets, the opening number of this valedictory set. Staccato and emphatic, the notes underline Johnas first calling as a piano man, one elevated by the wider cultural moment of the early 1970s into a larger-than-life public figure.

Known for so much beyond his songs a from moving the dial on the public perception of HIV/Aids, to successfully suing the Sun for libel, to being Eminemas unlikely AA sponsor a John is now on the very final leg of a farewell tour that, he promises, is genuinely his last. Tonight, his hands are often displayed on the big screens during a two-plus hour show heavy on fan service, racing dextrously up and down the keys while the singer often glances round the audience, grinning. Every song ends with Elton standing up, just a little stiffly post-hip surgery, to acknowledge his fans.

This dark, hilarious series sees a chance encounter send two strangers tumbling down a rabbit hole of revenge. Itas an early contender for the best-of-the-year lists

Thereas a lot to love about Beef, the new A24/Netflix show (out Thursday) youare going to spend the next few weeks hearing about, but one of my favourites is how clearly and surely it looks LA in the eye. We all know the facts: there are only three cities in the world, and those are LA, London and New York. I have never heard of another city in my entire life. And in recent years, TV shows that set themselves in these places (so: 95% of all TV shows) have been knowingly shy about it, as if they are an Oxford undergraduate refusing to admit their dad is rich: yes, these shows say, yes we are in London. But look! Weare not in the posh or obvious bits, alright! Look, hereas Victoria Park! Hereas Larryas in Peckham! Didnat expect that, did you?

Beef is not like this. The central, well, beef a down-on-his-luck handyman Steven Yeun and up-on-her-luck-but-unsatisfied-anyway plant artist Ali Wong get into a road rage altercation that overtakes both of their lives (what a pitch!) a is completely of and informed by LA, a city that can only be navigated angrily in a car. On the side of Wongas Amy, thereas a perfect lampooning of luxe-hippy culture: dinner club mushroom trips, vaping weed cross-legged in a business meeting before perusing a panic room catalogue, big floppy hats and beautiful cardigans, intimacy exercises, thinking your toddler is an artist, extremely expensive chairs.

The American novelist, whose latest work is a fake biography of an avant-garde artist, on growing up in Mississippi and why her fiction has anever actively involved cellphones or the interneta

Catherine Lacey, 37, is the author of three previous novels, including The Answers, currently being adapted for television by Darren Aronofsky, and Pew (2020), about a nameless amnesiac of ambiguous race and gender. Her new novel, Biography of X, set in a parallel America, follows a widow untangling the life story of her wife, an avant-garde artist known as X. The New York Times has called it asprawling and ambitiousa| strange and dystopiana. Lacey, one of Grantaas best young American novelists in 2017, was speaking from her home in Brooklyn.

Which part of the book came first: the alternate history or the fake biography?
I liked the idea of writing a fake biography and the biographies I like best are usually written by someone with some kind of compromised perspective. I thought the worst person to write a biography would be a surviving spouse with a bit of a grudge, but I didnat want to get into the heterosexual dynamics of a man writing about a woman or a woman writing about a man; it had to be two women. At the same time, I wanted the novel to be set in the mid-20th century but I wasnat interested in writing about the actual struggles a prominent lesbian couple would have gone through in that time. So my alternate history grew out of that problem. I thought, if I have an America where this female artist could exist and this couple could exist without having to justify themselves, I just need a totally different America.

As a workaround, it hardly cut corners.
I liked that! I started the novel in 2016 at the same time that I was writing Pew, which takes place in a week and was so spare. Iad decided to make myself write Pew quickly to see what would happen; I found that I can do it, I just prefer not to. Biography of X was more a kind of collecting project that I knew would take longer.

Where do the various photographs of X come from?
A lot of them I found in junk shops; for the images of her books, I commissioned jackets from a book designer.

Why did you include real names from the art and book world?
I saw it as another tool to make the novel as much like a biography as possible. Thereas a quote [used in the book] from the New Yorker critic Merve Emre that is actually something she wrote about a Susan Sontag biography. There are a lot of names in there. A lot of them I made up.

More than just a reboot, this new chapter in the role-playing game franchise is a wonderful piece of world-building

Well, this is refreshing. Dungeons & Dragons: Honour Among Thieves is that vanishingly rare entity a a riotously entertaining family-friendly film that hasnat been painfully squeezed out of a comic-book franchise like the last, forlorn dregs of toothpaste from a long-dead tube. Admittedly, this isnat the first film to be based on the enduringly popular fantasy role-playing game a Jeremy Irons starred in a critically reviled version in 2000; a made-for-TV sequel and direct-to-DVD third instalment followed. But Honour Among Thieves is more than a reboot a itas a fleshed-out, multidimensional piece of world-building, with immediately likable characters, plenty of face-crunching, axe-based fight choreography and a running joke about potatoes.

Kudos to John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein, who co-wrote and co-directed the picture. As a creative partnership, they have experience in reboots a they co-wrote Spider-Man: Homecoming a and board games, having co-directed the comedy thriller Game Night. With this picture, they strike a satisfying balance between character and action, and ensure that the digital effects are in service of the story, rather than the other way around.

Highlights include the divorce drama Blue Valentine, Peter Bergas Friday Night Lights and Robert De Niro thriller The Fan

Derek Cianfranceas crushing 2010 breakout Blue Valentine was both the best and worst kind of breakup movie. It was every bit as devastating as it should have been given the territory a the messy dissolution of a young marriage a but in such a specifically horrible way that it understandably proved a little too close to the bone for some (mentioning the title often leads to a pained wince, a true relationship Rorschach test). The decision to switch between the sweet early moments of a burgeoning hipster romance and the brutal latter days of its destruction makes it sting that much more, as do the piercing and emotionally open performances from Ryan Gosling and an Oscar-nominated Michelle Williams (Grizzly Bearas haunting heartbreaker of a score ably assists). It remains a flooring little movie and even if Cianfrance never really delivered on the career it suggested he would have, itas a hell of a magnum opus. BL

Artists open centre in area of east London where they have lived and worked for decades

Every creative person yearns for a room of their own. But for the stars of Britainas contemporary art world, it seems that now only a venue of their own will do. Last weekend it was Tracey Emin in Margate; on Saturday morning it was the turn of the veteran duo Gilbert and George.

aIt is very exciting to see so many people,a said George Passmore, 81, after the gates swung wide at 10am to let in an orderly queue of first visitors. aMost amusing,a added his lifelong collaborator a and, since 2008, civil partner a Gilbert Prousch, 79. aThey will all keep coming along, we hope.a

The American and Irish novelists discuss the joys of writing romance, standing up to the critics and why weare in a agolden agea for the menopause

Curtis Sittenfeld is the author of seven novels, including American Wife and Rodham, reimaginings of the lives of Laura Bush and Hillary Clinton. Her new novel, Romantic Comedy, revolves around a TV sketch show based on Saturday Night Live, and dissects celebrity culture in a love story set during the pandemic, much of which takes place via email exchange. Marian Keyes is the author of 15 bestselling novels, several of which centre on the daughters of the Walsh family; the most recent is Again, Rachel. Her books frequently feature characters dealing with issues such as addiction, bereavement and domestic violence. She is also the co-host, with Tara Flynn, of the BBC Radio 4 advice programme Now Youare Asking. Their conversation took place over Zoom with both authors in their homes, Sittenfeld in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and Keyes in Dun Laoghaire, Dublin.

Marian Keyes: I was so excited when I heard that a new book from you was coming, because I would read anything you write. And I was thrilled at the idea of Curtis Sittenfeld writing in the romance genre. When I finished the last book I wrote, I had a big plan for a novel about a group of six characters who had been friends for 40 years. And one of them had become a kind of quite evil rich person. But when it came to starting it, I couldnat do it, because the world after the pandemic just got worse. And I thought, I just want to write something lovely, where the stakes are kind of low, except on a personal level. So I started writing another love story. It really seems that people want to read about people falling in love and being good to each other. Because the world is so sharp and pointy, we need something nicer.

(Blue Note)
By turns elegant and mile-a-minute, the Texan makes his collaborative Blue Note debut with this classy set of originals a and a Kate Bush cover

What is it with Walter Smith III and acasuala? The Texas saxophonistas debut album in 2005 was titled Casually Introducing, and a decade later, on his fourth, he assured us he was Still Casual. For his debut on Blue Note he has gathered that albumas six-strong cast for Return to Casual, on which he restates his qualities as a tenor sax player for our times, his airy tone echoing the past a specifically, Dexter Gordon a while embracing the hard-nosed intricacy of post-bop.

Itas an engaging and diverse set of originals, the exception being a cover of Kate Bushas Mother Stands for Comfort. Much of it is far from casual. The opener, Contra, named after a computer game from Smithas childhood and appropriately playful, is taken at a furious clip, with assistance from guitarist Matt Stevens and drummer Kendrick Scott. River Styx is a more elegant affair, lifted by the trumpet of Ambrose Akinmusire, and the supporting players are given space on the six minutes of Shine. After the nagging riff of Pup a Pow, more reflective moods include that Kate Bush cover (a sensuous replay of a tricky melody) and Revive, a bluesy, late-night piece where Smith duets beautifully with pianist Taylor Eigsti. A sumptuous treat.

A terrific piece of social history that charts the highs and lows of the music industry at the turn of the millennium

Cases are regularly made for this or that period of pop history to be recognised as a agolden eraa, and random chunks of the 1950s to the 1990s have been widely exalted. It is to Michael Craggas great credit that his new book, a thoroughgoing oral history, focuses on a period until now almost entirely shunned by critics: British millennial bubblegum.

It was an era created by the Spice Girls, who had been a much-needed breath of fresh air when Britpop started to go stale in 1996. aFriendship never endsa sang the Beatles of the late 90s, and Emma Bunton shares stories of their domestic situation: aMel B used to cook corned beef and rice, which was a step up from my beans on toast. We used to make Victoria clean the bathroom.a Their success was so sudden and all-consuming, with three No 1s by Christmas 1996, that a UK music industry geared to guitars and pale boy bands had to build rivals from scratch. That took time. The Spice Girls had 1997 to themselves and would scoop three more No 1s before that year was out.

Theatres such as now-closed Oldham Coliseum vital for northern working-class people, says actor

Christopher Eccleston has said it would be impossible for him to become an actor in todayas world, in an impassioned interview after the closure of Oldhamas Coliseum theatre.

The British actor spoke about how the closure of the historic theatre would affect the acting community and people from working-class backgrounds.

Men in bomber jackets means spring really is here. But this wardrobe stapleas latest outing comes with plenty of new twists

The bomber jacket is never not a useful wardrobe addition and is enjoying a style resurgence, having played a key role on the runways, from Prada and Saint Laurent to Loeweas pillowy leather version. Miuccia Prada and Raf Simons have been playing with scale for a few seasons, giving the oversized look a boost in popularity.

Pradaas pink leather bomber was spotted on Canadian rapper Drake in his music video, while newly appointed Louis Vuitton menswear creative director Pharrell Williams opted for a fitted red leather studded Ernest W Baker bomber with matching trousers at the Grammys.

Were the last people who did this nine-feet tall, or did they use a crane? My ladder is just about high enough, I hope a|

Over the past month Iave taken a small number of men out to the garden to show them the large hole in the plastic corrugated roofing that spans the side return, and my solution to the problem: an umbrella poked up through the hole and opened, with a wrench hanging from its handle to keep it from blowing away. I only wanted them to admire my low cunning, but they all had criticisms.

aThe umbrella covers the hole,a said Kitch the electrician when I showed him. aBut any rain hitting the roof above the umbrella will run down the corrugations and pour straight through.a

These dishes ooze with flavours of Easter, from spring lamb and roasted peppers to a Scandinavian dessert with a Japanese twist

Iam always excited about the ceremonial cooking of lamb in any context, and especially over Easter, when I know the table will be abundant with good company and light-hearted cheer. For this reason, I donat mind taking on the task of putting together the celebratory meal, getting lost not only in the meaty centrepiece, but also in the semlor buns and slow-cooked potatoes, and in the hum of music and the echo of happy voices in the background. So here is a grand feast, for Easter and beyond.

A dish that sings of spring: hake on asparagus roasted in herby, spicy butter

Butter is so reassuringly delicious, so simply luxuriant, so easily able to transport any ingredient into something infinitely better that it is a wonder that there isnat a national shortage in these uneasy times. Stack it up in the freezer and get creative with ways you can doctor yours a or just get out a pack and slather it all over hot toast. Either way, things will look up.

A sticky, soy-glazed, savoury upside-down tart for any day of the week

Savoury tarte tatin is one of my go-to meals when Iam entertaining: you can do a lot of the prep in advance, it isnat too taxing and it delivers a decent level of wow factor when serving. This elegant, aubergine number is up there with the best of them, dressed with that much-loved combination of sticky sweet soy, peanuts and chilli. It is the perfect Easter centrepiece a an Easter egg(plant) showstopper, if you will.

Perfect for Easter, this fluffy cake covered in chocolatey buttercream could be your favourite afternoon treat

Itas always a good time for a slice of chocolate cake, and there are numerous styles to choose from, depending on your mood. For an after-dinner dessert, Iad go for a dense, barely sweet, flourless number, but for something more suited to an afternoon treat, this fluffier cake covered in chocolatey buttercream is my go-to. Chocolate and hazelnuts have been friends since the beginning of time, and I love the extra crunch you get from the chopped nuts scattered in the middle. Iave used a shop-bought chocolate hazelnut spread for ease a there are plenty of good-quality options out there to choose from.

US district judge Thomas Parker grants temporary injunction, finding the law clashes with first amendment on free speech

A federal judge has temporarily blocked a new Tennessee law that placed strict limits on drag shows just hours before it was set to go into effect, siding with a group that filed a lawsuit claiming the statute violates the first amendment.

The decision on Friday comes after Memphis-based LGBTQ+ theatre company Friends of Georgeas filed the lawsuit on Monday against the Shelby county district attorney, Steve Mulroy, and the state.

Pennsylvania lawmaker will return to Senate by mid-April after spending six weeks in treatment, saying care achanged my lifea

John Fetterman has left Walter Reed national military medical center after six weeks of inpatient treatment for clinical depression, with plans to return to the Senate when the chamber resumes session in mid-April, his office said on Friday.

In a statement, Fettermanas office said he is back home in Braddock, in western Pennsylvania, with his depression ain remissiona, and gave details on his treatment a including that his depression was treated with medication and that he is wearing hearing aids for hearing loss.

Howard Baskin, husband of Tiger King star, said the center agreed to move most of its cats to Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge

The Big Cat Rescue center run by Carole Baskin of Netflix fame is planning to close down and for most of its wildlife to be transported from Florida to a sanctuary in Arkansas.

In a statement, Howard Baskin, the husband of the co-star of Netflixas smash hit series Tiger King, announced that the 30-year-old center in Tampa had agreed to move most of its cats to the Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge.

Tornadoes leave devastation across Arkansas, Illinois, Iowa and Oklahoma, including theatre roof that collapsed during concert

At least 21 people died and as many as 900,000 places were without power after a monster storm system tore through the southern and midwest US on Friday, spawning deadly tornadoes that shredded homes and shopping centers, and collapsed a theatre roof during a heavy metal concert in Illinois.

More than 50 preliminary reports of tornadoes were recorded across seven states, with twister-producing conditions continuing into Saturday as the storm system threatened a broad US swath which is home to 85 million people.

The Daily Mailas owner, the prince and Elton John could be on the road to one of the biggest media trials in British history

• Why is Prince Harry bringing legal action against Daily Mail owner?

When the Duke of Sussex unexpectedly arrived at the high court on Monday morning he became the most senior royal to appear in a courtroom since Princess Anne admitted being in charge of an English bull terrier that was dangerously out of control in a public space.

Prince Harry was there to allege that Associated Newspapers, the parent company of the Daily Mail, was similarly out of control.

Social media influencer posts video about release from police custody in Romania after court ruling

Andrew Tate has posted a video saying he has aabsolute clarity of thoughta after he was moved from police custody to house arrest.

The social media influencer was released into house arrest on Friday after a Romanian court overturned a request by prosecutors for him to be detained until late April.

Police in Karachi say nine women and three children dead after crush outside factory during Ramadan alms-giving

Pakistani police have arrested eight people in the southern port city of Karachi after a crush killed 12 people at a Ramadan food and cash distribution point a day earlier.

Hundreds of women and children rushed to collect free food and cash outside a factory in an industrial area of the city on Friday. Business-owners during the Islamic holy month often hand out cash and food, especially to poorer people. An initial report from the police said nine women, aged between 40 and 80, and three children, aged between 10 and 15, had died in the crush.

Taiwan sends aircraft to warn away nine Chinese fighter jets and one drone that breached unofficial barrier between two sides

Ten Chinese aircraft crossed the Taiwan Strait median line, normally an unofficial barrier between the mainland and the island, Taiwanas defence ministry has said.

Nine Chinese fighter jets and one military drone crossed the median line in the 24 hours to 6am on Saturday, the ministry said in its daily report on Chinese military activities.