Uganda receives first US deportation flight under third-country agreement 02. April 2026 (18:37) Dozen people arrive under new deal but legal challenges expected with scheme criticised as ‘dehumanising process’A flight carrying people being deported from the US has landed in Uganda, as Donald Trump’s administration pushes on with its strategy of expelling migrants to countries they have no ties to.The deported people would stay in the east African country as “a transition phase for potential onward transmission to other countries”, an unnamed senior Ugandan government official told Reuters. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
HBO to air standalone special on the making of new Harry Potter series 02. April 2026 (18:16) Finding Harry: The Craft Behind the Magic features interviews with cast members and will air on 5 AprilHBO has more Harry Potter magic up its sleeve – today, the company announced a standalone, behind-the-scenes special to accompany its upcoming TV adaptation of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone.Finding Harry: The Craft Behind the Magic will offer “an in-depth look at the making of the first season”, including plenty of production footage and details on the lengthy, UK-wide casting process for Harry, Ron and Hermione, played by Dominic McLaughlin, Alastair Stout and Arabella Stanton. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
TikTok pulls Israeli ultranationalist’s account for breach of hate speech rules 02. April 2026 (18:08) Dozens of videos have gone viral on TikTok and Instagram showing harassment of Palestinians and activistsTikTok has removed an account belonging to an ultranationalist, pro-settlement Israeli influencer for breaching hate speech and bullying rules after the Guardian flagged videos showing him harassing activists in the occupied West Bank.The Guardian has reviewed dozens of videos posted by various social media figures that have gone viral on TikTok and Instagram documenting the harassment of Palestinians as well as physical attacks on Israeli and international activists. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Costa Rica strikes deal to accept third country deportees from US 02. April 2026 (18:00) Central American country to receive up to 25 migrants a day expelled as part of Trump’s immigration crackdownSign up for the Breaking News US email to get newsletter alerts in your inboxThe Costa Rican government has agreed to receive up to 25 deported migrants a week from the United States, the latest deal in the Trump administration’s unprecedented efforts to deport scores of people to “third countries”.With the new agreement, Costa Rica seeks a closer alliance with Donald Trump’s government, which has been securing cooperation from other Central American countries in accepting deportees from other nations who have been detained by US immigration agents. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Republican senators break with Trump on Nato withdrawal as tensions rise 02. April 2026 (17:37) Thom Tillis joins McConnell in warning withdrawal would aid rivals and threaten US securityUS politics live – latest updatesSign up for the Breaking News US newsletter emailA second Republican senator spoke out in defense of Nato on Thursday, joining Mitch McConnell and the Democrats, after Donald Trump said that he was “absolutely” considering withdrawing from the alliance after it refused to take part in the joint assault with Israel against Iran.“Nato stood by America when we were under attack and came to our aid after the September 11th attacks. Their soldiers fought and died alongside our troops in Afghanistan,” said Thom Tillis, a Republican, and Jeanne Shaheen, a Democrat, who co-chair the Senate Nato observer group. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Artemis II astronauts prepare to leave Earth’s orbit and head towards the moon 02. April 2026 (17:15) Nasa mission enters second day, with crew hoping to become first people to orbit moon in more than 50 yearsFour astronauts are preparing to leave Earth’s orbit and slingshot towards the moon as Nasa’s Artemis II mission enters its second day.The high-stakes 10-day voyage is expected to mark the first time in half a century that humans will return to the vicinity of the moon. It is a crucial test of Nasa’s ambition to land humans back on the lunar surface this decade, and stay there permanently. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
AOC vows to block future US military aid to Israel, its Iron Dome and defense 02. April 2026 (17:14) Ocasio-Cortez says Israel can fund its own defense and she will oppose any new US aid amid human rights concernsUS politics live – latest updatesSign up for the Breaking News US newsletter emailAlexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a US representative, said on Wednesday that she will oppose any future US military aid to Israel, including for defensive systems.In a statement on social media, Ocasio-Cortez said that Israel was fully capable of funding “Iron Dome and other defensive systems”, and that “consistent with my voting record to date, I will not support Congress sending more taxpayer dollars and military aid to a government that consistently ignores international law and US law”. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Coalition of countries to work on rescuing ships trapped in strait of Hormuz 02. April 2026 (16:59) Yvette Cooper hosted virtual summit of more than 40 countries aimed at reopening vital shipping laneMiddle East crisis live – latest updatesPlans to clear sea mines and rescue trapped ships in the strait of Hormuz will be discussed at a global military planning meeting next week, after a virtual summit of more than 40 countries convened on Thursday hosted by Yvette Cooper.Ahead of the summit, the British foreign secretary condemned “Iranian recklessness” for “hitting global economic security” as she led talks aimed at reopening the vital shipping lane. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Partial shutdown drags on as US House takes no action on compromise deal 02. April 2026 (16:43) Senate-passed funding plan for DHS languishes despite agreement between Republican congressional leadersSign up for the Breaking News US email to get newsletter alerts in your inboxThe US House of Representatives on Thursday took no action on a compromise measure that would end the partial shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), raising questions about how much longer the record-long funding lapse will persist.The department has been without funding since mid-February, after Democrats refused to vote for its appropriations unless Republicans agreed to new guardrails on federal agents involved in immigration enforcement operations. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
‘Curated chaos’: Danny Boyle on the ‘pop culture spectacular’ he is bringing to London’s Southbank Centre 02. April 2026 (16:39) Director and producer is co-creator of You Are Here, a one-day immersive theatrical event traversing 75 years of youth cultureOut of chaos come great cultural movements, according to the director and producer Danny Boyle, who will inflict a little curated chaos on London’s Southbank Centre with what has been described as an “epic, one-off pop culture spectacular”.Boyle, whose 2012 London Olympics opening ceremony drew on the rich thread of British culture, is the co-creator and director of You Are Here, a one-day immersive theatrical event traversing 75 years of youth culture and social movement: think teddy boys, Lovers’ Rock, punk, Ziggy Stardust, rave, acid house, the spoken word, Brit pop, ballroom to name a few. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
