Uncertainty looms as last oil tanker from Middle East arrives in California | First Thing

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Gas prices have risen above $6 in California – but there is yet more uncertainty on the horizon after the last oil tanker from the Middle East arrived in the state this week.

The California Energy Commission vice-chair, Siva Gunda, told legislators on Tuesday that the state could meet fuel demand for the next six weeks with its current supply. The New Corolla is delivering about 2m barrels of crude oil, the Los Angeles Times reported on Sunday.

The arrival of the last tanker to the US state with the nation’s highest gas prices could have a significant impact on oil prices. While costs have risen in recent weeks, supply has not yet been severely affected as markets have continued to receive oil that was already in transit when the strait of Hormuz was closed.

Meanwhile, Donald Trump has given Tehran a new ultimatum, telling the Iranian leadership to accept a deal to end the war or face a fresh wave of US bombing “at a much higher level and intensity than it was before”. US Central Command said it fired on an Iranian-flagged oil tanker attempting to breach the US blockade.

People in Tehran drive past an anti-US billboard depicting Donald Trump and the strait of Hormuz. Photograph: Majid Asgaripour/Reuters

• What do we know about progress on a deal? Axios reported on Wednesday that Washington and Tehran were close to agreeing on a memorandum of understanding to end the war. Officials in Pakistan told the Guardian that an initial framework could possibly be agreed within 48 hours – but that nothing was certain and talks remained “difficult”.
• Head to our liveblog for the latest.

Alleged suicide note written by Jeffrey Epstein unsealed by federal judge

The alleged suicide note. Photograph: United States District Judge Southern District of New York

A federal judge unsealed an alleged suicide note written by Jeffrey Epstein on Wednesday, the first time the document has been made public.

Epstein’s cellmate at the Metropolitan Correctional Center in New York City, Nicholas Tartaglione, said he discovered the note after Epstein unsuccessfully attempted suicide in July 2019, weeks before he was eventually found dead in his cell.

“They investigated me for months – FOUND NOTHING!!!” reads the note. “It is a treat to be able to choose one’s time to say goodbye. Watcha want me to do – Bust out cryin!! NO FUN – NOT WORTH IT!!”

• Is the note definitely written by Epstein? The Guardian has not verified whether the letter was written by Epstein. It was not signed.

Argentina races to find origins of cruise ship hantavirus outbreak, amid reports some passengers have returned to US

Health workers in protective gear evacuate patients from the MV Hondius cruise ship. Photograph: Misper Apawu/AP

Investigators are racing to determine if the deadly hantavirus outbreak that has killed three onboard an Atlantic cruise ship originated in Argentina, amid reports that some passengers have already returned to their home countries.

Three passengers of the MV Hondius have died, one is in intensive care in a South African hospital, and three others were evacuated from the ship on Wednesday. Another man who left the ship earlier in the voyage tested positive in Switzerland. There are mounting concerns about 23 passengers who left the ship on the island of Saint Helena on 23 April, as reported by the Spanish newspaper El País.

• Where is this group now? The cohort reportedly returned to their respective countries, including the US. The New York Times reported that passengers were being monitored in Georgia, California and Arizona, but none had shown signs of illness**.**
• Where will the ship dock? It is headed to Tenerife, after Spanish authorities gave permission for the vessel to dock – though the president of the Canary Islands has expressed concern about this decision.

In other news …

Chedrick Greene, the Democratic candidate for Michigan’s 35th Senate district. Photograph: Paul Sancya/AP

• The Democratic candidate won a special election in Michigan by a large margin, with Chedrick Greene’s victory allowing the party to keep control of the state senate for the rest of the year.
• The US secretary of state, Marco Rubio, will meet Pope Leo at the Vatican on Thursday following Donald Trump’s repeated attacks on the first North American pontiff.
• A Moscow university is playing a key role in training operatives in Russian military intelligence, including election meddling and hacking, documents obtained by a consortium of journalists reveal.
• The federal government can keep the 2020 election ballots from Georgia’s Fulton county seized by the FBI from a warehouse near Atlanta, a judge has ruled.

Stat of the day: 60% of Americans say US is no longer welcoming to immigrants, survey finds

ICE agents detain a person on 3 July 2025 in Stamford, Connecticut. Photograph: John Moore/Getty Images

Six in 10 Americans believe the US is no longer a welcoming country for immigrants, a poll has found. These respondents to the Associated Press-NORC poll, conducted last month, say the country used to be a great place for immigrants, but no longer is, underscoring the impact of Donald Trump’s aggressive immigration crackdown.

The Filter recommends: The 17 best Mother’s Day deals

Photograph: Courtesy of Calpak Terra

If you’ve still got a Mother’s Day present to buy before this Sunday, take a look at the Filter US’s guide for a list of thoughtfully curated recommendations. From an adjustable sleep mask to a massage gun, it features some of the team’s favorite products now on sale.

Don’t miss this: Arthur Miller opens up about marriage to Marilyn Monroe in newly unearthed recordings

Miller and Monroe in 1957. The couple began an extramarital affair in 1955 and married in 1956. Photograph: New York Daily News Archive/Getty Images

Newly discovered recordings of Arthur Miller reveal his feelings about his short-lived marriage to Marilyn Monroe, with the playwright saying the actor wanted a husband who was a “father, lover, friend and agent”. In the taped conversations, Miller also said he had felt “death was always on her [Monroe’s] shoulder – always”.

Climate check: Climate campaigners attack Shell over ‘windfall’ profits from Iran war

Soaring oil prices have led to steep increases in fuel bills for motorists. Photograph: Maureen McLean/Shutterstock

Shell has reported profits of $6.9bn after soaring energy prices during the Iran war turbocharged gains for its oil traders, angering climate campaigners who criticized it for “raking in billions” while millions suffered hardship. The oil and gas firm posted a 115% jump in first-quarter profits from the $3.2bn reported in the last three months of 2025.

Last Thing: The best album cover fails – from the ELO to Melanie C

Mel C’s album Sweat. Photograph: Red Girl Records/PA

Melanie C (AKA Sporty Spice) has released a new solo album. Unfortunately for her (and whoever made the typo) the vinyl release of Sweat spells her name as “Melanine C”. The Guardian’s Pass Notes column looks at the best album cover fails, including the Electric Light Orchestra debut album being mistakenly released as “No Answer” in the US after the band’s contact failed to pick up the phone and confirm the record’s title.

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