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2026 FIFA World Cup के विस्तारित 48-टीम प्रारूप ने लियोनेल मेसी और क्रिस्टियानो रोनाल्डो के बीच एक ऐतिहासिक मुकाबले की संभावना को फिर से खोल दिया है, जो टूर्नामेंट के दौरान पहले कभी नहीं देखा गया। अर्जेंटीना और पुर्तगाल के अलग-अलग समूहों में होने के कारण, कोई भी मुकाबला पूरी तरह से नॉकआउट दौर में उनकी प्रगति पर निर्भर करता है। परिणामों के आधार पर, वे राउंड ऑफ 16, क्वार्टर-फाइनल या यहाँ तक कि फाइनल में भी आमने-सामने हो सकते हैं।

सोमवार (27 अप्रैल) को हुई ट्रेन टक्कर, जिसमें 15 लोगों की मौत हो गई और दर्जनों घायल हो गए, के मद्देनजर विशेषज्ञों ने लंबी दूरी की और कम्यूटर ट्रेनों के लिए अलग-अलग ट्रैक समेत अन्य उपायों की सिफारिश की है।

• तेहरान के UN दूत का कहना है कि क्षेत्रीय स्थिरता के लिए ईरान के अधिकारों का 'पूर्ण सम्मान' भी महत्वपूर्ण है • फ्रेडरिक मरज़ ने कहा कि ईरान के नेतृत्व द्वारा अमेरिका को 'अपमानित' किया जा रहा है • हम ईरान पर अमेरिका-इजरायल युद्ध के अपने लाइव कवरेज को फिर से शुरू कर रहे हैं।

After she had to travel out of state to access care, Rachel Fulton joined the Center for Reproductive Rights’ suit, which an appeal has now halted indefinitelyIt was the worst day of Rachel Fulton’s life. She stood outside her doctor’s office, reeling with the news that her dearly wanted pregnancy needed to end. But her day would, somehow, become even worse: Fulton lives in Tennessee, where abortion is banned except for very narrow threats to the patient’s life. She had to travel hours to another state to receive care from an unfamiliar doctor far from home.Fulton joined a lawsuit, along with five other patients, in 2023 against the state of Tennessee for violating their right to life. The American Medical Association and two doctors also joined the lawsuit because they say they have been prevented from providing the standard of care for their patients. Continue reading...

• The World Food Programme declared a humanitarian emergency in Ethiopia's Somali and Afar regions Friday, warning that sustained drought has destroyed crops and livestock herds, leaving 9.4 million people facing acute food insecurity. • Local authorities reported a 60% crop failure compared to last year; malnutrition rates among children under five have climbed to 18%, approaching famine thresholds, WFP spokesperson stated. • The organization called for immediate international funding to deliver emergency rations and establish feeding centers, noting that conflict in neighboring regions has already strained Ethiopia's humanitarian response capacity.

US president will need to show heavy costs of war were worthwhile while Iran must choose between instant and delayed gratification Middle East crisis – live updatesIf talks between Iran and the US reconvene within the next few days in Islamabad, Donald Trump will have two major political hurdles to overcome – first showing that any deal he secures is better than the one signed by Barack Obama in 2015 and from which he withdraw in 2018, and secondly proving the deal is more favourable than the one on offer in Geneva in February before he launched his war.Otherwise he will have inflicted massive damage on the world economy when alternatives were available that were less costly in blood and treasure. He will also have to show that Iran has made no permanent gain by taking control of shipping passing through the strait of Hormuz. These are the yardsticks, or tests, around which his negotiating team will be keeping an anxious eye. Continue reading...

In today’s newsletter: More than one-fifth of ‘austerity-generation’ British children live in poverty. Our social policy editor talks about the damage done and the way forwardThe austerity years cast a long shadow over Britain. In the wake of the 2008 financial crisis, a programme of cuts overseen by then-chancellor George Osborne and the work and pensions secretary Iain Duncan Smith gutted parts of the welfare state, limiting the generosity of what is now universal credit, introducing a bedroom tax and the two-child limit for child benefit. By 2021, an estimated £37bn had been cut from welfare spending each year alone, with further cuts made to other branches of government.The consequences of these decisions are all around us. Around four million children were classified as living in poverty in the UK, according to the most recent figures. This week, a University of Oxford study revealed that more than one-fifth of all “austerity generation” British children – that is, children born since 2013 – have been scarred by poverty for at least half their childhood.Southport attack | Axel Rudakubana was able to carry out the Southport atrocity because of “catastrophic” failures by multiple agencies and the “irresponsible and harmful” role of his parents, a damning inquiry has found.Middle East crisis | The US blockade of ships using Iranian ports in the Gulf began on Monday evening, turning the six-week-old conflict between the US-Israeli coalition and Iran into a test of economic endurance.Health | Metabolic liver disease (MASLD) will affect 1.8 billion people worldwide by 2050, driven by rising obesity and blood sugar levels, according to a new report. There are now 1.3 billion people worldwide living with MASLD, a 143% increase in just three decades.Scotland | A funding deal to raise £100m from private investors for urgently needed nature restoration in Scotland has fallen through without the Scottish parliament being told, the Guardian has learned.XL bully ban | Police spending on kennels and veterinary bills in England and Wales has more than tripled since the XL bully ban came into force, with some forces recording an almost 500% spending increase since 2024. Continue reading...

West End spectacular about Michael Bond’s beloved bear wins seven prizes, while Rachel Zegler, Rosamund Pike, Paapa Essiedu and James Graham are all recognisedIt was a night of sweet victory for Michael Bond’s marmalade-loving bear as Paddington: The Musical dominated the Olivier awards on Sunday. Amid the tuxes and gowns of a glittering ceremony at the Royal Albert Hall in London, the duffle coat-wearing bear got his sticky paws all over seven prizes including best new musical.The award for best actor in a musical went to the duo who play Paddington: James Hameed provides the lovable hero’s voice and is the remote puppeteer while Arti Shah performs in the furry costume. The show’s baddies, Tom Edden (as the busybody Mr Curry) and Victoria Hamilton-Barritt (as Millicent Clyde, who wants Paddington to literally get stuffed), won best supporting actor and best supporting actress in a musical respectively. Luke Sheppard was named best director for the production, which also picked up awards for costume design (Gabriella Slade and Tahra Zafar) and set design (Tom Pye and Ash J Woodward). Continue reading...