A US fighter jet was shot down over Iran, triggering search and rescue operations and claims of a second downed plane, while reports surfaced of Iran repairing missile bunkers and international legal experts expressed concerns over alleged war crimes in the escalating conflict that has seen strikes on infrastructure in Iran and attacks on power plants in Kuwait.

• Middle East crisis live: one crew member rescued from US fighter jet shot down by Iran as its army claims it downed second US plane — The Guardian -
• Iran Is Quickly Repairing Missile Bunkers, U.S. Intelligence Says — New York Times World -
• Here’s the latest. — New York Times World -

• What We Know About the F-15E Strike Eagle Shot Down by Iran — New York Times World -
• US military archbishop says Iran conflict does not meet ‘just war’ standard — The Guardian -
• Ex-US Army Pilot Recalls Battle for Survival When Shot Down in Iraq — New York Times World -
• Iran Shoots Down U.S. Fighter Jet, Setting Off American Search and Rescue — New York Times World -
• The F-15E Strike Eagle: What to Know — New York Times World -
• Iran’s Defenses Have Been Struck, but They Can Still Fire Missiles and Drones — New York Times World -
• One of two US crew members rescued after F-15E jet shot down over Iran — The Guardian -
• French-owned ship passes through Strait of Hormuz — BBC World -
• Hegseth Says U.S. Troops Are Fighting for Jesus. The Pope Disagrees. — New York Times World -
• What U.S. military Pilots Are Trained to Do if Shot Down — New York Times World -
• Iranian media outlets say helicopters are searching for the crew of the downed jet. — New York Times World -
• Experts dispute US account of deadly Iran sports hall strike in Lamerd — BBC World -
• Experts dispute US account of deadly Iran sports hall strike in Lamerd — BBC World -
• Is the US committing war crimes by targeting Iran’s civilian infrastructure? — The Guardian -
• Israel plans to seize control of parts of southern Lebanon. — New York Times World -
• Kuwait Blames Iran for Attack on Power and Desalination Plants — New York Times World -
• International law experts allege violations in Iran war — BBC World -
• International law experts allege violations in Iran war — BBC World -
• When will the Iran war end? Tracing the Trump administration's timelines — BBC World -
• Iraqi leaders face balancing act as Iran conflict exposes deep rifts — The Guardian -
• 'This has got me worried': Iranians fear what comes next after US strike on Karaj bridge — BBC World -
• U.K. to Host Talks on Securing Strait of Hormuz — New York Times World -
• Legal experts express concerns over ‘violations of international law’ in the war. — New York Times World -
• At War With Iran Again, Some Israelis Fear Conflict Is Becoming Routine — New York Times World -
• ‘Every night they are bombarding’: at border crossing, some Iranians are fleeing war and some are heading home — The Guardian -
• Strikes Hit Infrastructure Sites in Iran After Trump’s Threat — New York Times World -
• In Syria, Kidnappings of Women and Girls Fuel a Minority Group’s Fears — New York Times World -
• A Bid to Use Force to Open Strait of Hormuz Hits Roadblocks at U.N. Security Council — New York Times World -
• Trump’s Strait of Hormuz Problem — New York Times World -
• Kuwait’s military says its air defences working to intercept missiles – as it happened — The Guardian -
• Trump Hails Strike on Iranian Bridge, Warning ‘More to Follow’ — New York Times World -
• Here’s the latest. — New York Times World -

**Democrats vow to resist President Trump’s defense spending requests amidst a partial government shutdown and a controversial ‘fraud’ crackdown in Democratic states, with legal challenges against new mail-in voting restrictions and speculation surrounding a potential Supreme Court vacancy**.

• Democrats vow to fight Trump’s ‘morally bankrupt’ request for billions in additional defense and DHS spending– live — The Guardian -
• Trump issues order declaring all DHS staff get paid amid partial shutdown — The Guardian -
• Trump announces ‘fraud’ crackdown in Democratic states as arrests begin in California — The Guardian -

• Democratic attorneys general sue Trump over order to restrict mail voting — The Guardian -
• Senator decries new shoes-on security policy at US airports as ‘reckless’ — The Guardian -
• Hospital visit fuels speculation about Samuel Alito’s future on supreme court — The Guardian -
• US defense spending would rise $445bn under Trump budget plan, with steep cuts elsewhere — The Guardian -
• Trump seeks $1.5tn for defence alongside domestic spending cuts — BBC World -
• Pete Hegseth asks US Army's top general to step down — BBC World -
• Trump accused of running ‘misogynistic administration’ after Bondi dismissal | First Thing — The Guardian -
• Who is Christopher LaNeve, set to lead the US Army? — BBC World -
• Trump removes US Attorney General Pam Bondi — BBC World -
• Trump removes US Attorney General Pam Bondi — BBC World -
• Top US army officer steps down after Hegseth reportedly demanded removal — The Guardian -
• Trump accused of running ‘misogynistic administration’ after Bondi dismissal — The Guardian -
• Trump claims Starmer is weak as he mocks PM and UK aircraft carriers — The Guardian -
• Trump reportedly mulling more firings after removing Pam Bondi as attorney general - as it happened — The Guardian -
• Firm backed by Trump sons tries to sell drone interceptors to Gulf states being attacked by Iran — The Guardian -
• Pete Hegseth allows troops to carry personal firearms on military bases — The Guardian -

Rising fuel prices driven by the Middle East conflict are causing widespread issues from travel disruptions in the Philippines and food crises in India due to fertilizer shortages to Europe considering a nuclear revival for energy independence and surging gas prices impacting drivers in Los Angeles.

• In the Philippines, Rising Fuel Prices Force Travelers to Stay Home During Holy Week — New York Times World -
• Faced with new energy shock, Europe asks if reviving nuclear is the answer — BBC World -
• ‘India is going to face a food crisis’: Farmers panic over fertiliser shortages amid Iran war — The Guardian -

• Northern Ireland leads surge in fuel prices since start of Iran war — The Guardian -
• LA drivers get creative as surging gas prices threatens love affair with the car — The Guardian -
• Food prices spiked in March as Middle East conflict drove up energy costs, UN says — The Guardian -
• How sheltered really is the US from the Gulf oil supply crisis? — The Guardian -
• A day in the life of Asia’s fuel crisis — The Guardian -

Cuba is releasing over 2,000 prisoners amidst US pressure and an eased fuel blockade, while **Myanmar’s coup leader has been appointed president after sham elections and Burkina Faso’s military ruler dismisses democracy** as not suitable for his country.

• After 16 years in power, can Viktor Orban finally be unseated? — BBC World -
• Cuba begins releasing more than 2,000 prisoners as US pressure mounts — BBC World -
• Democrats pay visit to ICE detention facility where abuse claims are rife — The Guardian -

• Rima Hassan Is Charged With Glorifying Terrorism Online in Social Media Post — New York Times World -
• Cosmopolitan Shanghai Is an Uneasy Fit in China’s Narrative of Western Sins — New York Times World -
• Could There Be a Popular Uprising in Cuba? — New York Times World -
• Relationship with Trump may be beyond repair, Keir Starmer told — The Guardian -
• US deports eight people 'of African origin' to Uganda — BBC World -
• Cuba begins to free more than 2,000 prisoners as US eases fuel blockade — The Guardian -
• Cuba Says It Is Pardoning More Than 2,000 Prisoners — New York Times World -
• France's Muslim gathering ban overturned by courts — BBC World -
• Burkina Faso must 'forget' about democracy, military leader says — BBC World -
• Burkina Faso must 'forget' about democracy, military leader says — BBC World -
• Myanmar junta chief Min Aung Hlaing appointed president after ‘sham’ election — The Guardian -
• People of Burkina Faso should forget about democracy, says military ruler — The Guardian -
• As H-1B Visa Program Changes, Skilled Foreign Workers Consider Leaving U.S. — New York Times World -
• Cuba to release more than 2,000 prisoners as US pressure mounts — BBC World -
• Labour challenges Farage over cost of private jet trip to Maldives — The Guardian -
• Myanmar's coup leader who set off a brutal civil war becomes president — BBC World -
• Myanmar's coup leader who set off a brutal civil war becomes president — BBC World -
• Myanmar Junta Chief Ascends to President, Five Years After Coup — New York Times World -
• Canadian woman held with daughter by ICE is released after nearly three weeks of detention — The Guardian -
• Australia says it won’t raise drug prices after Trump’s 100% tariff on pharmaceuticals imported into US — The Guardian -
• Ukraine war briefing: Zelenskyy offers expertise on keeping waterways open amid Middle East conflict — The Guardian -

The Artemis II mission continues its journey to the moon, capturing a spectacular image of Earth and leaving Earth's orbit for the first time since 1972, while the EPA proposes designating microplastics and pharmaceuticals as drinking water contaminants.

• Artemis II crew take 'spectacular' image of Earth — BBC World -
• Artemis II astronauts pass 100,000 miles from Earth on voyage to the moon — The Guardian -
• EPA moves to designate microplastics and pharmaceuticals as contaminants in drinking water — The Guardian -

• Watch: Artemis II's journey so far as it leaves Earth orbit... in 85 seconds — BBC World -
• UK’s leading AI research institute told to make ‘significant’ changes — The Guardian -
• Artemis II leaves Earth's orbit on track for far side of the Moon — BBC World -
• Storm Erminio lashes much of Greece as Saharan dust blankets Crete — The Guardian -
• Watch: Artemis II astronauts speak from space — BBC World -
• Watch: Artemis II astronauts speak from space — BBC World -
• Contractor that cut back ancient oak in London park identified — The Guardian -
• The Race for the Future of the Moon — New York Times World -

**A ‘masculinity crisis’ is reportedly brewing in UK schools, alongside serious concerns about police conduct after Sadiq Khan's protection officers left guns and a Taser on a street, and calls for extended maternity leave for teachers to address an exodus from classrooms**.

• A ‘masculinity crisis’ is brewing in UK schools, union says — The Guardian -
• Sadiq Khan protection officers ‘leave bag with guns and Taser on south London street’ — The Guardian -
• ‘Young people want to come together’: experts respond to mass teen meet-ups in Clapham — The Guardian -

• Three teenagers arrested after 14-year-old boy shot dead in south-east London — The Guardian -
• Extend fully paid maternity leave for UK teachers to stem exodus, union says — The Guardian -
• Young people ‘more likely to leave for health reasons when in low-paid, insecure jobs’ — The Guardian -
• It can’t be them: London national lottery jackpot winner misses out on £10.6m — The Guardian -
• Keir Starmer urged to ban ‘cruel’ greyhound racing in England — The Guardian -
• M&S calls for crackdown on ‘brazen, organised, aggressive’ retail crime — The Guardian -
• Birmingham city council doubles agency spending during bin strikes — The Guardian -
• NHS rehabilitation care staff shortage fails stroke patients, say health leaders — The Guardian -

The heir of Reese's chocolate accuses Hershey of altering recipes and Telstra faces backlash for "unreasonable" price hikes, while US senators are rebuking Ticketmaster for increasing fees after a crackdown on hidden charges.

• Reese’s chocolate heir accuses Hershey of altering recipes: ‘It wasn’t real peanut butter’ — The Guardian -
• Wake-up call: how Telstra’s ‘unreasonable’ price rises may cause customers to hang up — The Guardian -
• US senators rebuke Ticketmaster for raising fees after hidden charge crackdown: ‘bait and switch’ — The Guardian -

News ranges from a quadruple amputee cornhole pro claiming self-defense in a fatal shooting and rapper Gucci Mane allegedly robbed and kidnapped, to Harvard faculty considering a cap on A grades and the recovery of ancient artifacts stolen from a Dutch museum.

• Quadruple amputee cornhole pro says he fatally shot person in self-defense — The Guardian -
• Gucci Mane apparently robbed at gunpoint by rapper and seven others — The Guardian -
• Comedian Eugene Mirman thanks rescuers who pulled him from fiery car crash in New Hampshire — The Guardian -

• Rapper Gucci Mane kidnapped and robbed by fellow artist, prosecutors say — BBC World -
• Judge dismisses most of Blake Lively's claims in Justin Baldoni harassment suit — BBC World -
• Harvard faculty to vote on proposal to limit number of A grades in each course — The Guardian -
• Italy's famed Uffizi admits cyber-attack but denies security breach — BBC World -
• Italy's famed Uffizi admits cyber-attack but denies security breach — BBC World -
• Ancient Artifacts Stolen in Dutch Museum Heist Are Recovered — New York Times World -
• How Do You Count 1.4 Billion People? India Is Trying. — New York Times World -
• US jobs surge unexpectedly in March despite Iran war — BBC World -
• Danish Warship Sunk by Britain’s Lord Nelson 225 Years Ago Is Found — New York Times World -
• Italy part company with manager after failing to qualify for World Cup — BBC World -
• US jobs market surpassed expectations in March but February losses were worse than first reported — The Guardian -
• ‘This is what you don’t see in F1’: the university where future race engineers are made — The Guardian -
• ‘It has been traumatic’: the Cornwall landmark left battered by Storm Goretti — The Guardian -
• Ex-Turnstile guitarist charged with attempted second-degree murder of frontman’s father — The Guardian -
• Put away the Aperol and raise a glass to Hugo spritz, the drink of the summer — The Guardian -
• Researchers spent years interviewing 160 Bigfoot hunters - this is what they learnt — BBC World -
• Two lost 1965 Doctor Who episodes released after being found in private collection — The Guardian -
• Baby shot dead in pram in New York City, police say — BBC World -
• Calm weather forecast for most of Australia over Easter weekend while BoM watches for possible cyclone — The Guardian -
• Two NSW teenagers charged over violent extremist material allegedly linked to terror — The Guardian -