A man has been charged with threatening President Barack Obama and others after he was arrested yesterday accused of sending letters to the President and a senator that tested positive for deadly ricin and set the US capital on edge a day after the Boston Marathon bombings.

His accidental death by drowning robbed music of its brightest new star. But the cult of Jeff Buckley will go mainstream this year with three biopics competing to tell the story of the singer who released just one tantalising album during his lifetime.

Sun, Studio B and Graceland give an insight into America, not just Elvis, says Matthew Longhurst

For the right price, you or a loved one can rest in peace in the tomb of The King.

Powerful storms stretching from the US Gulf Coast to the Great Lakes in the north wrecked two small towns and killed at least 28 people as the system tore roofs off schools and homes and damaged a maximum-security prison. It was the second deadly tornado outbreak this week.

Next month, the visionary poet, rap/hip-hop pioneer, and author Gil Scott-Heron will be honoured with a Special Merit Award at the Grammys. Here is an exclusive extract from his forthcoming memoir, The Last Holiday

There's something immensely gratifying about rockin' country music like this: the songs, the wit, the playing, the production values, the crackle of atmospheric enjoyment which accompanies such certainty of purpose.

A race that could scarcely accommodate any fresh intrigue obtained a mildly sensational new dimension yesterday when the final declarations were made for the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes. As expected, the big prize at Ascot tomorrow is all about quality, not quantity. Only five runners stood their ground, including the Godolphin pacemaker. Few, however, had envisaged the possibility that one of the key protagonists might be partnered by a teenage apprentice who will not, in contesting so prestigious a prize, be permitted to use his claim.

So no change there, then. The dominance by Aidan O'Brien and the Coolmore Stud owner partnerships of the elite Irish racing scene, and of their country's premier Classic in particular, continued yesterday when Treasure Beach became the sixth successive Irish Derby winner, and the ninth in all, to emerge from Ballydoyle.

The Queen's colt out to avenge Epsom defeat but soft ground puts Irish Derby challenge in doubt

The alleged plot against Devon's soul superstar is just the latest chapter in the singer's increasingly uneasy relationship with her home country

There will still be four runners from Ballydoyle in Sunday's Irish Derby, but not the four originally envisaged. Treasure Beach, Memphis Tennessee and Seville are still on course for the Classic that has become a benefit for their trainer Aidan O'Brien, but Recital was not on top form yesterday morning and his place in the squad will be taken by Roderic O'Connor.

Penn Badgley is to portray Jeff Buckley in a new movie, it has been confirmed.