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Nicola Jennings, a renowned cartoonist for The Guardian, has created a thought-provoking cartoon titled 'Nicola Jennings on Trump and the strait of Hormuz – cartoon'. The cartoon, published on April 1, 2026, offers a visual commentary on US President Donald Trump's stance on the Strait of Hormuz, a strategically vital waterway in the Middle East. The cartoon, illustrated by Jennings, is part of The Guardian's series of opinion cartoons. It reflects on the geopolitical tensions in the region, particularly focusing on the US-Israel relations and the potential conflict with Iran. The Strait of Hormuz is a critical passage for global oil shipments, and any disruption in this area can have significant impacts on the world economy. Jennings' work often provides insightful and satirical views on current affairs. In this cartoon, she uses her signature style to convey the complexities and risks associated with Trump's policies in the Middle East. The cartoon serves as a reflection of the broader tensions between the US, Israel, and Iran, highlighting the delicate balance of power in the region.

Palantir’s claim that opposition to its NHS contract is driven by ideology was rebuked by Chi Onwurah, the Labour MP who chairs Parliament’s science, innovation and technology select committee. Onwurah said it is appropriate for ministers to explore a break‑clause option in the deal, underscoring the seriousness of the concerns raised. Louis Mosley, Palantir’s UK executive vice‑chair, had urged the government not to succumb to “ideologically motivated campaigners” as officials weighed a way out of a £330 million contract to deliver the Federated Data Platform (FDP) for NHS England. Ministers have now asked for advice on triggering the contract’s break clause amid growing scrutiny of Palantir’s expanding role in the public sector. The FDP is an AI‑enabled platform designed to integrate disparate health information across the NHS. Palantir already holds contracts with the Ministry of Defence, several police forces and the UK’s financial watchdog, the FCA. Onwurah’s cross‑party committee is set to publish its report in the coming weeks, covering the digital reorganisation of government services and the role of AI after a series of hearings that included experts, NHS leaders and representatives from companies such as Palantir. She identified three core issues: the manner in which the contract was awarded, the handling of patient data and the resulting trust deficit within the NHS, and the involvement of Peter Mandelson through his firm Global Counsel. “These are not fringe ideological concerns,” Onwurah told the Guardian. “They relate to contract transparency, vendor lock‑in, value for money and data security – matters that should concern everyone pushing the NHS towards digital transformation.” She added that the NHS’s post‑COVID fatigue and austerity‑driven burnout make any additional trust‑related resentment a significant barrier to progress. Onwurah noted that Palantir secured the contract after providing services to the NHS at a nominal cost – a tactic often used by large tech firms to position themselves as the most attractive government supplier. “It is right for the government to explore all options, including breaking the contract, given ongoing concerns about FDP uptake while Palantir remains at the helm,” she said. Liberal Democrat MP Martin Wrigley, also on the committee, urged the government to commission a new consortium of UK‑based tech experts to build a home‑grown NHS platform. During a previous committee appearance, Mosley accused British doctors of placing “ideology over patient interest” after they challenged the data‑processing contract. Speaking to the Times, Mosley warned that removing Palantir could jeopardise patient care and stall solutions to the NHS’s biggest challenges, arguing that the campaign against the firm would do more harm than good.

America faces an unprecedented concentration of wealth: the richest 1% now control more assets than the bottom 93% of households, and a single individual, Elon Musk, with a net worth of $805 billion, holds more wealth than the lower‑half of the population combined.Recent tax policies have amplified this gap. In the year following the largest tax cut in U.S. history, 938 billionaires added $1.5 trillion to their fortunes, while President Trump and his family saw a modest increase of $4 billion. Four Wall Street giants—BlackRock, Vanguard, Fidelity and State Street—own stakes in more than 95 % of publicly traded companies, cementing corporate dominance across the economy.Political influence mirrors financial power: by the 2026 midterms, just 50 billionaires had poured over $433 million into campaign activities, shaping policy to protect their interests.Meanwhile, the average American worker is earning roughly $20 per week less than in 1973 after inflation adjustment, despite decades of productivity gains. The Rand Corporation estimates that $79 trillion has shifted from the bottom 90 % to the top 1 % over the past half‑century.Economic hardship is widespread: 60 % of households live paycheck to paycheck, nearly half of older workers lack retirement savings, and over 20 % of seniors survive on less than $15,000 annually. Health‑care insecurity affects 85 million Americans, with more than 500,000 filing for bankruptcy each year due to medical debt.At the heart of the problem is a tax code engineered by the affluent. Billionaires now pay lower effective rates than typical workers. For example, Musk’s tax rate sits below 3.3 % compared with an 8.4 % rate for a truck driver; Jeff Bezos paid under 1 % versus 8.7 % for a firefighter; Michael Bloomberg’s rate was 1.3 % against 13.3 % for a registered nurse; and Warren Buffett’s rate was a mere 0.1 % while a schoolteacher paid nearly 10 %.Corporate tax avoidance compounds the issue. After a $900 billion corporate tax break, major firms such as Tesla, SpaceX, Palantir, Ticketmaster and the parent of Taco Bell, Pizza Hut and KFC reported zero federal income tax despite generating over $17 billion in profit.Public sentiment is shifting. In California, voters favor a billionaire tax by a two‑to‑one margin, and in New York City, 62 % back a 2 % surtax on the ultra‑wealthy. Nationwide, more than six in ten Americans believe the wealthy and large corporations pay too little.In response, Senator Sanders introduced legislation to impose a 5 % wealth tax on the 938 billionaires whose combined net worth exceeds $8.2 trillion. Over a decade, the measure would generate roughly $4.4 trillion.The first‑year rollout would deliver a $3,000 direct payment to every household earning $150,000 or less—equating to $12,000 for a typical family of four. Additional provisions include constructing 7 million affordable housing units, expanding Medicare to cover dental, vision and hearing, providing universal childcare, raising the minimum teacher salary to $60,000, and guaranteeing Medicaid‑funded home health care for seniors and people with disabilities.Crucially, the plan would reverse recent health‑care cuts that stripped coverage from 15 million Americans, ensuring no additional loss of insurance.Even if the tax were applied retroactively, the impact on the ultra‑rich would be modest relative to their fortunes: Elon Musk would owe an extra $42 billion, Mark Zuckerberg an additional $11 billion, and Jeff Bezos another $11 billion—figures that would barely dent their net worths.As Justice Louis Brandeis warned in 1933, “We must make our choice. We may have democracy, or we may have wealth concentrated in the hands of a few, but we cannot have both.” Senator Sanders argues the choice is clear: a democratic economy that serves the many, not a plutocratic system that serves the 1 %.The wealthiest Americans must begin contributing their fair share.

The Guardian’s newest photo feature puts the spotlight on Finnish photographer Claire Aho, whose recent work erupts in vivid hues, heralding what many describe as a colour revolution in the nation’s visual culture.Through a series of carefully composed shots, Aho captures everyday Finnish scenes transformed by bold palettes, inviting viewers to reconsider familiar landscapes through a more expressive lens.Critics note that the images not only celebrate aesthetic innovation but also reflect a broader cultural momentum toward brighter, more optimistic artistic expressions across Finland.

The struggle to unwind at the end of the day is a familiar one for many of us. Insomnia is a common problem, and music is often recommended as a way to relax. Max Richter's Sleep, an eight-hour long piece designed to mirror the phases of sleep, has become a popular choice, currently ranking No 2 in the official classical artist albums chart.But where did this genre of instrumental sleep music begin? The term "nocturne" was first used by John Field to describe his short, standalone piano pieces. These pieces were designed to evoke a tranquil evening mood, often featuring a slow and lyrical melody in the right hand with a rippling accompaniment in the bass. Field's Nocturnes were born out of his time in Russia, where he was inspired by the pearly light of the long summer nights.Chopin later expanded the form to include a range of moods and themes, from stormy and passionate to meltingly beautiful. The piano remained the pre-eminent instrument for nocturnes, with composers like Gabriel Fauré and Erik Satie making significant contributions to the genre.Nocturnes have had a lasting impact beyond music, influencing art, literature, and even perfumes. The word "nocturne" has come to symbolize a dreamlike, peaceful night, and the concept has been used in various forms of creative expression. As Susan Tomes notes, nocturnes are "tiny three-minute narratives" that ask us to follow as the story unfolds, standing on the threshold between "day mind" and "night mind".

The US Department of Education has been notifying approximately 164,000 federal student loan borrowers about their eligibility for automatic student loan forgiveness. This move comes after allegations of misconduct against more than 150 colleges, including misrepresentation of graduation rates, post-graduation employment, and the cost of degrees.Borrowers whose colleges engaged in such misconduct can apply for loan discharge. The Guardian is seeking to hear from individuals who have successfully had their student loans forgiven. We are interested in understanding how this development will impact their lives, what new plans they will make, and what advice they have for other borrowers.Share your experience with The Guardian using their online form. The form allows for anonymous submissions and includes fields for name, location, background information, and details on how the loan forgiveness affects their life and future plans.If you’re having trouble using the form, click here. Read terms of service here and privacy policy here.

Households in Great Britain are bracing for a substantial hike in energy bills, with a typical gas and electricity bill forecast to reach £1,929 a year from July. This represents an increase of about £290 a year under the industry regulator Ofgem's quarterly price cap. The forecast hike is £288 a year higher than the £1,641 cap on energy bills set for April to June. Although the April price cap will be £117 a year, or 7%, lower than the January to March rate of £1,758, the short-lived reprieve from rising gas and electricity costs is expected to be more than offset by a string of rises facing households in the spring. The annual cost of essentials, including council tax and water, will increase by more than £200 from April even before the economic impact of the Iran war is felt by UK consumers. Most households in England and Wales will see an increase of about 5% in their council tax, while in Scotland bills will go up by between 4% and 10%. In Northern Ireland, rates are due to increase between 1.96% and 4.5%. Water bills in England and Wales are also due to rise, by an average of £33 a household from April, up 5.4% to £639. The cost of phones and broadband are expected to rise by an average of £39.60 for an annual bill and £27.60 for a typical mobile contract, according to Uswitch. Senior government ministers are expected to discuss the economic turmoil caused by the war at a Cobra meeting on Tuesday, after meeting with business leaders to discuss how the government and private sector can work together to respond to the crisis caused by surging oil market prices. The international oil benchmark rose 4% to more than $118 a barrel on Tuesday as Donald Trump said countries such as the UK should build up the “courage” to go to the strait of Hormuz and “just take” fuel. Experts fear that Brent crude could reach all-time highs of $150 a barrel if the conflict continues. “Bills going up again because of war thousands of miles away will be a tough pill to swallow for households still saddled with debt from last time,” said Jess Ralston, the head of energy at the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit. “Unless we continue [to] shift away from gas, whether it comes from the North Sea or not, the risk remains that bills will continue to spike,” Ralston added.

In a recent editorial, the Guardian highlighted the danger of Israel applying the same brutal tactics used in Gaza to Lebanon, and Medical Aid for Palestinians echoes that warning.Field reports from Lebanon describe a climate of terror fueled by mass forced‑displacement orders and relentless military strikes, including assaults on healthcare workers. Aid groups are scrambling to assist Palestinian refugees who have fled their homes, while many others remain trapped, deepening panic in already overcrowded camps plagued by poverty and scarce services.The Israeli military appears to be mirroring Gaza’s playbook: terrorising civilians, imposing forced displacement, and targeting humanitarian and medical infrastructure. Despite a declared cease‑fire in Gaza, Israeli attacks have killed more than 690 Palestinians since October, and restrictions on aid are creating lethal shortages of medicines and equipment.Meanwhile, the West Bank endures escalating settler violence and an Israeli annexation agenda that now threatens to extend into Lebanon, further destabilising the region.Medical Aid for Palestinians stresses that impunity for attacks on civilians and health services endangers both the populations they serve and the organisation’s staff across Gaza, the occupied West Bank and Lebanon.According to the statement, the UK government must not cherry‑pick when to uphold international law. It calls for decisive action to hold all perpetrators accountable, warning that inaction will lead to catastrophic human costs. The world, it asserts, cannot allow the horrors witnessed in Gaza to be replayed in Lebanon, and governments should not become complicit allies of such atrocities.

A large explosion was reported in Isfahan, Iran, with video footage capturing the dramatic moment. The incident occurred on March 31, 2026, at 00:00:00+00:00. Details about the cause and aftermath of the explosion are still emerging.The explosion in Isfahan, a city known for its historical significance and industrial activities, has raised concerns about regional stability and security. Isfahan is a key location in Iran, hosting various military and industrial facilities.The Guardian reported on the incident, highlighting the visual impact of the explosion through video evidence. As more information becomes available, the situation will continue to be monitored for developments and implications on a global scale.