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Andes strain the cause of infection in two cases, says South Africa’s National Institute for Communicable DiseasesEurope live – latest updatesWhat is hantavirus?A luxury cruise ship hit by a deadly hantavirus outbreak and marooned for days off the coast of Cape Verde with close to 150 people onboard was due to head to Spain, while South Africa confirmed it had identified among the victims a strain of the virus that can – in rare cases – spread among humans.The Swiss government said a man who returned to Switzerland after being a passenger on the MV Hondius was infected with the hantavirus and was being treated in Zurich. It said there was no danger to the broader population. Continue reading...

This year’s winners also include Jill Lepore’s book on the constitution and Brian Goldstone’s on housing insecuritySign up for the Breaking News US newsletter email Pulitzer prize officials awarded the fiction award to an author with a long history in fantasy, horror and young adult novels: Daniel Kraus, cited for Angel Down, a first world war narrative that unfolds in one long sentence. Liberation, Bess Wohl’s look back at the feminist consciousness-raising groups of the 1970s, received the drama prize.Winners announced on Monday included two books rooted in the founding of the US. Jill Lepore’s We the People: A History of the US Constitution won for history, and Amanda Vaill’s Pride and Pleasure: The Schuyler Sisters in an Age of Revolution was the winner for biography. Continue reading...

MV Hondius remains off the coast of Cape Verde after a suspected respiratory virus outbreak killed three people and left three more seriously ill. Follow today’s news liveGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastGood morning and welcome to our live news blog. I’m Martin Farrer with the top overnight stories and then it will be Stephanie Convery with the main action.Mortgage holders are set to be hundreds of dollars worse off per month than they were at the start of the year as the Reserve Bank prepares to unload a third consecutive interest rate hike on borrowers. More coming up. Continue reading...

• Researchers analyzed invasive Escherichia coli samples from newborns at a US pediatric hospital, finding increasing resistance to first-line sepsis antibiotics. • Ampicillin nonsusceptibility rose from 46% in 2006-2013 to 61% in 2014-2021, with 54% overall; gentamicin nonsusceptibility affected 11% of isolates. • Cefazolin resistance as alternative therapy surged from 8% to 36%, reported today in Open Forum Infectious Diseases, signaling urgent treatment challenges.

• Singapore and Thailand topped rankings as the world's 'least miserable' economies in the 2026 HAMI index by Johns Hopkins economist Steve Hanke, due to low inflation, steady employment, manageable borrowing costs, and income growth.• Southeast Asia identified as one of the 'healthiest economic neighbourhoods' globally, with households experiencing minimal economic strain amid positive indicators.• The index highlights regional resilience, contrasting with higher misery levels elsewhere, boosting consumer confidence and investment appeal.• Future editions may track if these trends persist amid global uncertainties.

Local officials and witnesses say attackers shot at students first then those who arrived at the sceneTwo Palestinians, including a 14-year-old schoolboy, have been killed in the occupied West Bank after Israeli settlers opened fire near a school amid mounting assaults on education in the territory, witnesses and local officials have said.The Palestinian health ministry said Aws al-Naasan, 14, and Jihad Abu Naim, 32, were killed in the attack on the village of al-Mughayyir, which also left three others wounded. The head of the local council told Reuters that Israeli settlers had entered the village and opened fire near a school – first at students, and later at others who arrived at the scene. Witnesses said settlers were eventually followed by Israeli soldiers. Continue reading...

Stephen Heydt says he spoke in a custom-made T-shirt and was ‘charged with two offences: one for the shirt, one for the chanting’Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastStephen Heydt woke up on Saturday, put on a T-shirt, hobbled out the door with the aid of a walking stick and spoke at a rally in the middle of Brisbane – where he was promptly arrested by a large and heavily armed contingent of police.For his choice of words and wardrobe, the 73-year-old Jewish clinical psychologist became one of the first people in Queensland charged under new laws designed to crack down on antisemitic hate speech. Continue reading...

Reviews website features pages praising unlicensed sites’ supposed qualities as if they were legitimate businessesTrustpilot, the reviews website that offers to “find a company you can trust”, is hosting ratings of illegal casinos, raising concerns in Westminster about the potential risks posed to consumers.Unlicensed casino operators linked to financial harm, addiction and even suicide have flooded the UK market in recent years, often targeting people who are trying to limit their gambling by “self-excluding” from licensed operators. Continue reading...

National Gallery, the Box in Plymouth and the Fitzwilliam in Cambridge also shortlisted for £120,000 Art Fund prizeThe V&A East Storehouse, the National Gallery and an accessible castle in Norwich are among the contenders for this year’s Art Fund museum of the year award, the most prestigious UK prize in the sector.The annual prize offers the winner £120,000, with £20,000 going to each of the other finalists, who the Art Fund’s director, Jenny Waldman, said had all “innovated in different ways”. Continue reading...

Jubilation is turning to disenchantment as young activists arrested after protest calling for election date to be setThe arrest of several protesters in Madagascar has increased fears among young people that the military regime that took power last year after huge Gen Z demonstrations will be no better than the government it overthrew.Four Gen Z activists, Herizo Andriamanantena, Miora Rakotomalala, Dina Randrianarisoa and Nomena Ratsihorimanana, were arrested on 12 April, one of their lawyers said, two days after taking part in a protest calling for an election date to be set. Continue reading...

Iron Maiden, Billy Idol, Queen Latifah and Joy Division/New Order will also be inducted, along with the late Luther VandrossPhil Collins, Iron Maiden, Billy Idol, Queen Latifah, Oasis, Sade and Joy Division/New Order will be inducted into the Rock + Roll Hall of Fame, along with first-time nominees Wu-Tang Clan and the late Luther Vandross.The list was revealed on Monday night in the US, during an airing of American Idol. To be eligible, artists must have released their first commercial recording at least 25 years prior. Nominees were voted on by more than 1,200 artists, historians and music industry professionals. Continue reading...

Weakened economic activity, soaring fuel prices and rising inflation have created a horror scenario, RBA deputy governor saysFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastAndrew Hauser, the Reserve Bank of Australia’s deputy governor, says the “stagflationary shock” from the Iran war is a “central banker’s nightmare”, as confidence among Australian households crashed to its lowest level in years.Speaking at an event in New York on Tuesday morning AEST, Hauser said the RBA was “judging the balance” between the damage to the economy from “a big income shock” associated with soaring fuel prices, versus a sharp rise in inflation. Continue reading...

Merger will ‘prioritise the interests of a small group of powerful stakeholders over the broader public good’, letter statesJoaquin Phoenix, Ben Stiller, Mark Ruffalo, Yorgos Lanthimos and Kristen Stewart are among more than 1,000 film and TV industry professionals who have signed an open letter protesting against Paramount’s pending acquisition of Warner Bros Discovery, the parent group that owns HBO, HBO Max, CNN, TBS and Food Network, as well as the Warner Bros TV and film studios.“We are deeply concerned by indications of support for this merger that prioritise the interests of a small group of powerful stakeholders over the broader public good,” states the letter, which was published on Monday on BlocktheMerger.com. Continue reading...

Musician says he wanted to attend the protest despite the consequences a potential arrest could have on his music careerMassive Attack frontman Robert Del Naja has been arrested on suspicion of showing support for a proscribed organisation after attending a mass protest against the ban on Palestine Action in central London on Saturday.Del Naja, also known as 3D, was among hundreds of fellow demonstrators in Trafalgar Square on Saturday afternoon, holding a sign that read “I Oppose Genocide, I Support Palestine Action”. Continue reading...

The discovery of a medieval Scottish ferry with a roll-on, roll-off feature for carts also provided some much-needed levityThe media ecosystem may have changed since the BBC’s spaghetti harvest report in 1957 or the Guardian’s 1977 travel supplement about the island of San Serriffe, but April fool stories are still with us.Indeed, if you picked up Wednesday’s edition of the Guardian, you may have been taken in by our report that evidence had been found of coffee being consumed in England a couple of centuries before the first known examples, thanks in part to an expert called Macky Arto. Continue reading...

Three people arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to commit arson, say police investigating Golders Green incidentCounter-terrorism police have arrested two men and a boy in connection with a suspected arson attack last week on ambulances run by a Jewish charity in Golders Green, north London.The three people – a 19 year-old man, a 20-year-old man and a 17-year-old boy – were all arrested early on Wednesday, the Metropolitan police said. Continue reading...

Merlin could disappear in worst-case scenario, with British isles facing ecological ‘point of no return’The merlin, Britain’s smallest bird of prey, is one of more than 200 species that will become extinct in the UK if action is not taken to curb emissions and unsustainable land use, a study has claimed.According to the UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (UKCEH), there is a 20-year window in which decisions on climate and land use will determine the fate of dozens of Britain’s native species. Continue reading...

Five miles from their former city zoo, seven gorillas are exploring their new ‘African forest’ homeIt has been an eventful few months for Bristol’s gorillas. The troop made headlines across the world when an urban explorer snapped pictures of them looking downbeat in their old, almost deserted home near the city centre. Then they were moved – under armed police escort – to a new out-of-town base and promptly suffered a shock bereavement.On Monday, in warm spring sunshine, the western lowland gorillas were to be found exploring a new woodland habitat at Bristol Zoo Project, five miles from their former city home. Continue reading...

• A new analysis identifies Louisiana and Kentucky as among the most stressed US states in 2026, with stress levels significantly influenced by geographic factors. • Rising healthcare costs are forcing residents to skip medical care, contributing to elevated stress levels across affected regions. • The stress disparities highlight how healthcare affordability challenges vary by state, with geographic and economic factors playing key roles in residents' wellbeing and access to care.

• Lady Gaga celebrates her 40th birthday on March 28, 2026, marking a major milestone after performing with Bad Bunny at the 2026 Super Bowl halftime show. • Reba McEntire turns 71, hailed as an absolute legend in country music with a career spanning decades. • Vince Vaughn reaches 56, recently attending a movie premiere in March 2026, while Dianne Wiest turns 78 and Julia Stiles celebrates her birthday.

• Younger conservatives at the Conservative Political Action Conference in Dallas express betrayal over President Trump's Iran war, clashing with his America-first promises, while older attendees defend it as a pragmatic response to threats. • A Pew Research Center survey shows nearly 80% of Republicans approve of Trump's war handling overall, but support drops among younger Republicans and conservative-leaning independents who gained Trump support in 2024. • Critics like Tucker Carlson and Megyn Kelly oppose the conflict; attendee Joseph Bolick, a 30-year-old veteran, withdrew support citing economic suffering and focus on foreign wars.

Donald Trump says he was ‘a little surprised’ at Australia’s lack of support, echoing comments from a week beforeFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastDonald Trump has taken another swipe at Australia, alongside Nato, the UK and most of the rest of the world, for not getting more involved in the US-Israel war against Iran.At a press conference on Thursday at the White House, the US president was asked to reflect on phone calls with the UK prime minister Keir Starmer. He began by describing Starmer as a “lovely man”. Continue reading...

• Diana Ross celebrates her 82nd birthday on March 26, 2026, joined by Steven Tyler at 78, Martin Short at 76, Jennifer Grey at 66, and Kenny Chesney. • The Supremes icon, born Diane Earl but renamed Diana due to a birth certificate error, continues performing despite her age. • Martin Short recently attended the 2026 Santa Barbara International Film Festival screening of 'You Had to Be There.'

• A study analyzing electronic health records from nearly 4 million pediatric hospital admissions from 2016 to 2023 found that 18% of deaths among hospitalized children in the US were linked to sepsis. • Sepsis emerged as a leading cause of mortality in this large dataset, highlighting ongoing challenges in early detection and treatment in pediatric care. • The findings underscore the need for improved sepsis protocols in US hospitals to reduce preventable child deaths, as rates remain significant despite medical advances.

• Lumen Technologies was named to Fast Company's 2026 list of the World's Most Innovative Companies, announced on March 24, 2026. • The recognition highlights Lumen's advancements in networking and edge computing solutions amid U.S. tech infrastructure demands. • This accolade underscores Lumen's role in supporting AI and cloud growth through innovative fiber and digital services.

Police say two people tried to enter Faslane base in Scotland, home to core of UK’s submarine fleet and Trident nuclear weaponsTwo people have been charged, one of them Iranian, after they allegedly tried to enter HM Naval Base Clyde in Scotland, which houses the UK’s nuclear Trident submarines.A 34-year-old man and a 31-year-old woman were charged after the incident at the base, which is known as Faslane. Police Scotland said inquiries were continuing and that the pair were due to appear at Dumbarton sheriff court on Monday. Continue reading...

International Energy Agency recommends emergency measures, including working from home, as Iran war hits fuel supplyLowering speed limits to minimise fuel consumption is among potential contingency plans being drawn up by the UK government as the crisis in the Middle East threatens global oil supplies.Sources stressed that there is no shortage of fuel in the UK, but said that officials in the Department for Transport are working with the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) on an analysis of how what measures could be taken to curb oil demand. Continue reading...

Response to Donald Trump’s callout for military support in the waterway has so far been vague and reluctantMiddle East crisis – live updatesCountries including the UK, Japan, China and South Korea have said they are still considering their options after the US president, Donald Trump, urged them to send warships to the strait of Hormuz to secure the vital shipping route.In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump called on the UK, China, France, Japan, South Korea and other countries to send ships to the waterway, the world’s busiest shipping route which is being violently blockaded by Iran. Continue reading...