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The UK government has introduced new guidelines aimed at helping parents manage their children's screen time. Children under five should spend no more than an hour a day on screens, according to the advice developed by a panel led by the children's commissioner, Rachel de Souza, and children's health expert Prof Russell Viner.For children under two, screen time should be avoided except for shared activities that encourage interaction. The guidance also suggests that bedtimes and mealtimes should be screen-free, with families encouraged to opt for background music, table games, bedtime stories, and colouring instead.Prime Minister Keir Starmer emphasized that the guidance will help families keep children safe and build healthy habits with screens. He stated, “Parenting in a digital world can feel relentless. Screens are everywhere, and the advice is often conflicting. My government will not leave parents to face this battle alone.”The panel's review found that long periods of solo screen time can harm sleep, physical activity, creative play, and interaction with parents, which are crucial for good development. About 98% of children watch screens daily by the age of two, and high screen time has been linked to impacts on language development.Prof Russell Viner noted, “Too much solo screen time can crowd out the things that make the biggest difference – sleep, play, physical activity and talking with parents and carers.” The guidance also recommends that parents consider their own screen use in front of their children and explore screen-free periods for the whole family.

McLaren is looking to turn their disappointing start to the season around at the Japanese Grand Prix. The team, led by Lando Norris, has faced significant challenges with their new car, struggling to match the pace of Mercedes and Ferrari.After Mercedes dominated the opening two rounds, McLaren found themselves third fastest but a significant distance off the pace. The team acknowledged they had work to do on the aerodynamic side of the chassis and on understanding how best to exploit their new engines under the power management rules.Lando Norris remains optimistic about McLaren's chances, despite the difficult start. 'I believe we can get close but I also know how good Mercedes are,' he said. 'They've obviously got on the right track early and have understood the car better than we have been able to do.'Norris's teammate, Oscar Piastri, has shown promise in practice sessions, setting a strong pace in the afternoon session at Suzuka. The team is hopeful that they can capitalize on Ferrari's struggles with power deployment on the demanding figure-of-eight circuit.The Japanese Grand Prix represents another test for F1's new rules on energy recovery, which will play a key role in how the drivers approach a lap. Suzuka is a much-loved drivers' circuit that combines a requirement for inch-perfect judgment with a reward for pushing to the limit.

Legendary musician Paul McCartney has unveiled his 18th solo album, titled The Boys of Dungeon Lane. The album's title is a nod to the route from Liverpool to the Speke shoreline, an area where McCartney spent his early childhood. Described as McCartney's most introspective album to date, The Boys of Dungeon Lane offers 'a collection of rare and revealing glimpses into memories never-before shared, along with some newly inspired love songs'. The musical styles on the album span McCartney's entire career, including 'Wings-style rock, Beatles-style harmonies, McCartney-style grooves, understated intimacy, melody-driven storytelling, character songs'. The lead single, Days We Left Behind, references Dungeon Lane and was debuted on BBC Radio Merseyside. McCartney, 83, shared that the song is 'very much a memory song for me', reflecting on his days in Liverpool and his friendship with John Lennon. The album was produced by Andrew Watt and features 14 tracks, including As You Lie There, Lost Horizon, and Ripples in a Pond. McCartney and Watt worked on the album between dates on McCartney's five-year global tour, in studios in Los Angeles and Sussex. The Boys of Dungeon Lane is credited solely to McCartney, following the style of his 1970 solo debut McCartney and its 1980 counterpart McCartney II. The album promises to offer listeners a glimpse into a world that existed before the Beatles, 'offering memories never previously shared and revealing, with extraordinary honesty, the human story behind a global icon'.

US President Donald Trump has extended his deadline for Iran to open the Strait of Hormuz by 10 days to April 6, 2026. The decision comes as talks between the US and Iran are described as 'going very well'.In a social media post, Trump stated: 'As per Iranian Government request, please let this statement serve to represent that I am pausing the period of Energy Plant destruction by 10 Days to Monday, April 6, 2026, at 8 P.M., Eastern Time.'Trump also mentioned that despite 'erroneous statements to the contrary by the Fake News Media,' talks with Iran are ongoing and progressing well. He had previously urged Iranian leaders to negotiate an end to the near-month-long war or face further assassinations of senior officials.The conflict has resulted in significant escalation, with Israel conducting strikes on Iranian targets, including the killing of Alireza Tangsiri, the Revolutionary Guards' naval commander. Iran has retaliated with strikes across the Middle East, including in Tel Aviv, Modi'in, and Jerusalem.Trump has claimed victory in the war, stating, 'In a certain sense, we have already won.' He has also criticized NATO allies and described Iran as producing 'great negotiators' but 'lousy fighters.'The US and Israel have destroyed much of Iran's naval capabilities, but Tehran still possesses smaller boats capable of laying mines and launching anti-ship cruise missiles. These could render the Strait of Hormuz impassable to shipping.Iran's foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, accused the US of 'double standards,' citing the US support for Israel's actions in Gaza while condemning Iran's defense in the Strait of Hormuz.The conflict has resulted in a significant death toll, with over 1,900 people killed in Iran and nearly 1,100 in Lebanon. The situation remains volatile, with fears of further escalation and potential ground invasion.

The Netflix series Something Very Bad Is Going to Happen has been making waves with its chilling storyline and terrifying plot twists. The show follows Rachel, a young woman who embarks on a night drive to meet her fiancé's parents for the first time, only to find herself entangled in a web of horror and suspense.The series, created by Haley Z Boston and produced by the Duffer Brothers, masterfully crafts an atmosphere of tension and fear, leaving viewers on the edge of their seats. The reviewer praises Camila Morrone's performance as Rachel, describing her as having an 'irreducible strength and spirit' that adds credibility to the show.The show's exploration of themes such as marriage, family, and the blurring of reality and horror is both thought-provoking and unsettling. The reviewer notes that the series' underlying terror is rooted in the message: 'What does marriage really mean? Do we ever really know someone?' These questions are woven throughout the narrative, making the show a psychological thriller as much as a horror series.The cast, including Adam DiMarco and Jennifer Jason Leigh, delivers solid performances that add to the show's eerie atmosphere. The reviewer's verdict is that 'Something Very Bad Is Going to Happen' is a must-watch for horror fans, but be prepared to sleep with the lights on.

US markets witnessed a significant downturn on Thursday, marking their biggest slump since the onset of the US-Israel war with Iran. The Dow closed 450 points down, while the S&P 500 dipped 1.7%. The tech-heavy Nasdaq fell 2.3%, plunging into correction territory, which occurs when an index falls at least 10% below its most recent peak. The conflict has led to a surge in oil prices, reaching levels not seen since Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022. At the end of the day on Thursday, Brent crude oil, the global benchmark, was about $107 a barrel, while US crude hit $93 a barrel. Average US gas prices at the pump reached $3.98 a gallon, according to AAA. Despite the soaring prices, Donald Trump said that oil prices “have not gone up as much as I thought” during a cabinet meeting on Thursday. He predicted that prices would “come back down to where it was, and probably lower,” and that the impact on the stock market would reverse once the conflict ends. Markets have been growing weary of Trump's mixed signals on the US's stance in negotiations with Iran. Stocks dipped on Thursday morning after Trump posted a warning to Iranian negotiators that they “better get serious, before it’s too late.” However, later in the morning, Trump said that there were “very substantial talks” happening with Iran and that the country allowed 10 oil tankers to pass the blocked strait of Hormuz. The White House announced it will extend a pause on Iranian energy infrastructure strikes by 10 days, until 6 April. A new report estimates US inflation will average 4.2% this year, compared with an average of about 2.6% in 2025, according to the Organization for Economic and Cooperation and Development (OECD). The increase in inflation reverses what was expected to be strong growth for the global economy before the conflict began.

Castleford Tigers produced a stunning performance to defeat Bradford Bulls in a highly entertaining Super League match. The Tigers' attack clicked into gear, with Jason Qareqare scoring a hat-trick and leading his team's charge to a convincing victory.The match was a West Yorkshire derby that lived up to expectations, with both teams showing flashes of brilliance. However, it was Castleford who ultimately dominated the game, scoring 28 unanswered points in a 10-minute period either side of half-time to transform a nervy contest into a decisive win.Ryan Carr's Castleford side had been under pressure after a heavy defeat last week, but they responded with a confident display. Carr praised his team's performance, saying, “How we played tonight is how we want to play our rugby.”In contrast, Bradford Bulls' coach Kurt Haggerty was left to ponder what might have been, saying, “You shouldn’t score 28 points in a game and lose.” The Bulls' defensive frailties were exposed, and they will need to address these issues if they are to exceed expectations in 2026.The win for Castleford was a significant one, as it moved them up the table and gave them a much-needed boost in confidence. For Bradford, the loss was a disappointing one, but they will look to bounce back in their next match.

As its title suggests, this musical about Claude Monet is full of reflections – fittingly so given the artist's preoccupation with light. In 1916, while struggling to complete The Water Lilies with cataracts, the ageing painter (Jeff Shankley) retreats into memories of his early career. His single-minded younger self (Dean John-Wilson) may be about to change art forever, but looking back, all Monet sees is the personal cost of his drive, particularly his mistreatment of his first wife, muse and mother of his children, Camille (Brooke Bazarian).For a man usually defined by his success, this alternative reflection is refreshing. Also bouncing back at Monet are his peers' struggles, the artistic establishment's dismissal of impressionism, and art's relationship to war and women. So abundant are these reflections, in fact, that Carmel Owen's ambitious book at times becomes a house of mirrors – enticing but with a distractingly split focus.There are certainly strengths, though, not least Libby Todd's set: a floor-to-ceiling jumble of empty canvases, which fill with huge impressionist paintings, vivid washes of coloured light and animated backdrops rendered in flickering brushstrokes. It's an invitation to step inside the artistic movement that favoured feeling over realism.Director Christian Durham has an accomplished cast on his hands. Shankley brings moving introspection (and a brilliant turn as a sniffy Paris salon clerk), while Bazarian and John-Wilson deliver standout singing on a stage full of mighty voices. Their connection, however, is outshone by those between young Monet and his fellow impressionist upstarts Bazille (a lovable Ritesh Manugula) and Renoir (a breezy Sam Peggs), whose moments together are the show's strongest. They fizz with the impatience of young rebellion, and their bickering, which provides much-needed moments of gentle humour, gives way to genuine devotion.An excellent eight-piece orchestra takes on Owen's songs, which lead us aptly through the story's tonal beats – lush strings for young love; jaunty woodwind for bantering artists. But none are distinctive enough to reach the heights of "hum it all the way home".Like Monet's, this musical's ambition sometimes comes at a cost, but it still lands in a place of beauty and deep feeling.

Coco Gauff has reached the Miami Open final for the first time in her career with a convincing 6-1, 6-1 victory over Karolina Muchova. Despite Muchova's recent form, which included winning her first WTA 1000 title in Doha last month, Gauff's dominant performance was too much for her opponent.Gauff, only 22 years old, showcased her immense defensive skills, tracking down every ball and mixing up the pace and trajectory of her shots. This strategy left Muchova, known for her volleying skills, struggling to find her rhythm. Muchova's 0-5 record against Gauff continued, with Gauff taking full advantage of being on the winning side of this lopsided matchup.Earlier in the week, Gauff had expressed uncertainty about competing in Miami due to an arm injury. However, she opted to play and has since drawn on her mental strength to navigate through four three-set matches. Her recent wins against Belinda Bencic and Muchova have been particularly impressive, considering her remodelled serve and poor form this year.Gauff's next challenge will be to lift the trophy in the final on Saturday against the winner of the match between Aryna Sabalenka and Elena Rybakina, two of the best players in the world.