by Kate Connolly, Caroline Davies and Maris Hellrand on (#6X4SA)
On the 80th anniversary of the end of the second world war in Europe, survivors, including veterans from both sides, remember what happenedEighty years ago today, on 8 May 1945, the second world war in Europe came to an end with the unconditional surrender of Germany's armed forces. The number of people who remember the war - and how it finished - decreases every year, even as European security feels ever more precarious.Here, seven people, aged between 85 and 100, from Estonia, Poland, Britain, Germany and Romania, talk to the Guardian about their memories.Dorothea is a passionate supporter of the Taxi Charity for Military Veterans and recently launched its Our Heroes Fund, to raise money for future trips for veterans to the continent and across the UK. Continue reading...
Events to take place against backdrop of Ukraine conflict, rises in defence spending and US foreign policy shiftSolemn ceremonies will be held at war memorials in towns and villages across France on Thursday as the country honours its dead and marks the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe (VE) Day, a public holiday this year, as it is every year.In Paris, the president, Emmanuel Macron, will lay a wreath at the foot of Charles de Gaulle's statue, walk up the Champs-Elysees to the Arc de Triomphe, rekindle the eternal flame at the tomb of the Unknown Warrior, and inspect the troops. Continue reading...
Home secretary says raids across UK last weekend reflected some of biggest terrorism threats in recent yearsIsrael's embassy in London was the target of an alleged terror plot involving a group of Iranian nationals who were detained by police after a series of dramatic raids across England on Saturday, sources have told the Guardian.Four men remain in custody and are being questioned by police on suspicion of preparation of a terrorist act targeting what police and politicians have so far only been willing to describe publicly as specific premises". Continue reading...
Security minister says US delegation wanted classification for PCC and Comando Vermelho to aid immigration policyThe Brazilian government has rejected a request by the US state department to designate two major criminal gangs as terrorist organizations, according to Mario Sarrubo, Brazil's national secretary of public security.Sarrubo said the request was made on Tuesday during a meeting between US and Brazilian officials in Brasilia. Continue reading...
Officials say the likelihood Lily and Jack Sullivan are still alive after disappearing in Nova Scotia on 2 May is very low'Nearly a week after two young children went missing in rural Nova Scotia, Canadian police say they are beginning to scale back search efforts given the low" odds the children are still alive - and that they are not ruling out the possibility of foul play.Since Friday, more than 160 searchers with drones and canine units have scoured the thickly forested region of Pictou county in search of Lily Sullivan, six, and Jack Sullivan, four. Continue reading...
Open roles include engineers and manufacturing operators as firm prepares to ramp up productionBritish Steel has said it will hire more than 180 new employees, as it prepares to ramp up iron and steel production for the first time since its government rescue.The company has started recruiting for 165 roles in Scunthorpe and a further 17 at its operations in Teesside and Skinningrove, to support production at its two blast furnaces. Continue reading...
Cynthia Diekema and husband were paddling in mouth of river when startled animal thrashed and capsized canoeAn alligator killed a Florida woman after tipping over a canoe she and her husband were paddling, in what investigators say appeared to be an accidental encounter.The attack happened on Tuesday afternoon near the mouth of Tiger Creek into Lake Kissimmee, south of Orlando, the Florida fish and wildlife conservation commission (FWC) said. It's near the same location as a March alligator attack in which a woman was bitten on the elbow while kayaking. Continue reading...
Central bank says uncertainty has increased' as it opts to maintain benchmark interest rate for third time in a rowThe Federal Reserve kept interest rates on hold and called out growing dangers in the US economy amid Donald Trump's erratic rollout of an aggressive trade strategy.Jerome Powell, the US central bank's chair, cautioned that the president's tariffs are likely to lift prices, weaken growth and increase unemployment if maintained. Continue reading...
Homeland security secretary says people without ID yet can take domestic flights after additional identity checksMost airports around the United States operated smoothly Wednesday as new Real ID requirements took effect because travelers without the updated document were still allowed to move through security easily.Those without the IDs were given flyers informing them that going forward they would need to present Real ID or other federally accepted ID for air travel within the US. Continue reading...
Liam LaFavers ordered $4,200 worth of Dum-Dums for friends, but his mother was eventually able to get a refundA Kentucky mom found herself in a sticky situation when her eight-year-old son ordered 70,000 Dum-Dum lollipops on her phone.On Sunday, Holly LaFavers noticed a $4,200 charge on her bank account, only to realize her son Liam had placed a bulk order for the candy via her Amazon account. Continue reading...
Jefferson Griffin had fought in courts to try and overturn 734-vote loss to Democrat Allison Riggs in NovemberThe Republican candidate for a state supreme court race in North Carolina has conceded the election after more than six months of contesting the results.For months, Jefferson Griffin, currently judge on the North Carolina court of appeals, had fought in courts to try and overturn his 734-vote loss to Allison Riggs in November. Last month, the North Carolina supreme court said that more than 1,300 voters who had successfully cast ballots had to prove their eligibility or else they would be thrown out. On Monday, a federal judge blocked that ruling and ordered state election officials to certify the election. Continue reading...
Chewy's owner was detained and a bulk amount of methamphetamine was discovered in vehicle, officials sayPolice in Ohio were surprised to discover a pet raccoon called Chewy with a meth pipe in its mouth during a traffic stop in the town of Springfield.In a statement, Springfield Township police department said that one of its officers, Austin Branham, made the stop after spotting a vehicle whose owner had an active warrant and a suspended driver's license. Continue reading...
by Haroon Siddique Legal affairs correspondent on (#6X4AT)
Complaints of people who were infected, and their relatives, include criticisms that scheme is slow, flawed and complexPeople infected as a result of the contaminated blood scandal, and their relatives, say they have been re-traumatised" by delays to - and flaws in - the compensation scheme.At a special hearing of the infected blood inquiry, which published its final report in May last year, victims and campaigners lined up to castigate the government's handling of compensation. Continue reading...
Cheryl Tweedy, who has son with late One Direction star, appointed administrator of fortune along with lawyerThe late One Direction star Liam Payne has left behind a 24.3m fortune after dying without a will.Cheryl Tweedy, his former partner and mother of his son, Bear, is legally responsible for Payne's money, property and possessions after being named an administrator for his estate. Continue reading...
Former chancellor says he does not expect the Conservatives to die out as a party but he says it is a possibilityKeir Starmer starts by saying rising tensions between India and Pakistan will be of serious concern for many across Britain. The government is enouraging de-escalation, he says.He says tomorrow the nation will fall silent to commemorate VE Day. The armed forces protect our freedom, he says. Continue reading...
Ministry of culture tells Sotheby's it would be participating in continued colonial exploitation' if sale of gems goes aheadThe Indian government is seeking to repatriate ancient gem relics linked to the Buddha's remains after halting their sale at an auction in Hong Kong.Sotheby's postponed the sale of the Piprahwa gems, due on Wednesday, after the ministry of culture threatened to take legal action against the auction house in Indian and Hong Kong courts and through international bodies for violations of cultural heritage laws". Continue reading...
Non-binary British actor tells podcast that recognition for women in the entertainment industry should be preserved - but doesn't know how to address gender non-conforming actorsThe Last of Us star Bella Ramsey has said awards shows should preserve separate prize categories for male and female entertainers.The British star, who identifies as non-binary, said it was important to distinguish performers, as a lot of women wouldn't get nominated" if there was one category for all actors. Continue reading...
Ticket website also faces uncertainty over hit to foreign travel and government plan for UK rail booking systemThe online rail ticket retailer Trainline has warned of headwinds", including the expansion of London's contactless travel zone and economic uncertainty denting foreign travel.Shares in the London-listed company tumbled by as much as 8% on Wednesday, before recovering slightly to a fall of 4%, despite reporting surging profits for the year to 28 February. Continue reading...
Podcasts and puzzles get a boost as part of mobile first' strategy with 1m daily active users of appThe Guardian has relaunched its mobile app to deliver more personalised, visual content and boost the prominence of podcasts, as part of a mobile first" strategy.A dedicated tab for podcasts has been introduced to help users discover and listen to new episodes via a new in-app player, while users can also listen to all articles using a text-to-speech feature. Continue reading...
Campaigners welcome church move making it first major denomination in UK to adopt neutral positionCampaigners in favour of assisted dying have welcomed moves by Scotland's largest church to take a neutral stance on a new bill to legalise the practice.Members of the Scottish parliament are to hold their first vote next Tuesday on a private member's bill to legalise assisted dying in Scotland, after months of assessment by a backbench committee. Continue reading...
by Lanre Bakare Arts and culture correspondent on (#6X42Y)
UK's largest ever collaborative touring project' will involve institutions pooling their resources and sharing expertiseA 5m project in which 20 museums will share their collections and expertise with each other could revolutionise the touring model in the UK.Going Places has been developed by Art Fund, the charity that secures art for public collections while providing financial support for museums, and will involve local people when the nationwide project launches in May 2026. Continue reading...
Research also finds many trapped in abusive relationships and unable to afford sanitary products and other basicsWomen who have fled war are being forced into sex work in the UK because of the extreme poverty of their living conditions here, while almost half cannot afford sanitary products, according to research.In a report looking at the impact of the Home Office's near-total ban on employment for people seeking asylum, the charity Women for Refugee Women has found that 10% of women interviewed have been forced into sex work in order to survive, in many cases to feed their children, while 38% were forced into abusive relationships or situations. Almost half could not afford basics like sanitary products and about 80% could not afford clothes, public transport or phone credit. Continue reading...
What you need to know about Indian strikes in response to terrorist attack in Kashmir last monthGood morning. Shortly after midnight local time, India said it had conducted strikes on nine sites in Pakistan, reportedly killing at least eight people, in response to a recent militant attack on tourists in Indian Kashmir. Delhi claimed that it had hit sites of terrorist infrastructure", and said that its action was focused, measured, and non-escalatory". But Islamabad's response suggests that its analysis is dangerously different.The strikes constituted the largest such Indian attack on Pakistan in more than half a century, and marked the worst confrontation between the two nuclear-armed powers since 2019. Pakistan responded with shelling of Indian Kashmir, and there were claims - not corroborated, and to be treated with caution - that it has shot down five Indian jets. Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said that his country has every right to give a befitting reply to this act of war".Middle East | An Israeli government minister has vowed that Gaza will be entirely destroyed" as a result of an Israeli military victory, and that its Palestinian population will leave in great numbers to third countries". The far-right Israeli finance minister Bezalel Smotrich's comments have raised fears of ethnic cleansing in the occupied territory.Trade | The UK and India have agreed a landmark' trade deal that ministers say could add 4.8bn to the economy by 2040. The deal follows three years of negotiations and could help mitigate the impact of Trump tariffs.Germany | Friedrich Merz has been confirmed as the new German chancellor after a second round of election votes in the German parliament. Merz suffered a humiliating loss in the initial voting round.Religion | Catholic cardinals from all over the world will begin casting their votes for a new pope in the Sistine Chapel on Wednesday afternoon. The conclave is the largest and possibly the most unpredictable to ever take place.UK politics | Downing Street has insisted it will not consider reversing cuts to winter fuel payments despite last week's poor results in England's local elections.The unpopular policy, which will see many elderly and disabled people lose out, was needed to repair public finances, it said. Continue reading...
Segregation in cells and less gym time among measures to be introducedCriminals who refuse to attend their sentencing face segregation in prison cells and longer time in jail under new powers handed to judges.Tougher sanctions across England and Wales will include confinement to cells and less time in the gym among measures to be introduced to parliament on Wednesday. Continue reading...
by Rob Evans, Henry Dyer and David Conn on (#6X3Z5)
Earl of Shrewsbury offers to reimburse taxpayer over use of first-class ticket and his erroneous' claimsA Conservative hereditary peer, who was previously punished for breaking the House of Lords rules, is facing fresh questions over whether he breached them again after he admitted he erroneously" made claims last year for travel expenses he did not incur.After inquiries by the Guardian, the Earl of Shrewsbury said he has offered to reimburse the taxpayer for the travel expenses he claimed, and any sums that could be due from part of a first-class ticket he used to attend a board meeting of a commercial company. Continue reading...
The deal, unveiled by Skipton building society, means buyers would not have to make any repayments for the first three monthsA one-of-a-kind mortgage offering a major financial perk - no repayments for the first three months - has been launched in the UK.The deal, unveiled by Skipton Building Society, is the latest innovation aimed at cash-strapped first-time buyers and is designed to provide them with a bit of breathing space as they settle into their new property. Continue reading...
Huge cuts by Trump administration to international aid budgets has left a vacuum and Britain is looking to lead efforts to find a path forwardThe huge US-led cuts to international aid programmes and to the UN budget has prompted the UK foreign secretary, David Lammy, to propose a global conference as part of what he described as a long overdue conversation about the future architecture of aid".UK Foreign Office officials said the conference was likely to be in the early autumn, and reflected a UK view that since aid cuts were not reversible in the foreseeable future, a discussion about priorities was required. Continue reading...
by Gwyn Topham Transport correspondent on (#6X3Y6)
Move prompted by looming retirement crisis would help ensure consistent, reliable services'If train drivers - like police officers - start looking younger, it may not just be you. Britain's trains could soon have 18-year-olds in the cab, with the government likely to cut the minimum age to plug a shortage of drivers.Currently train drivers can obtain a licence from the age of 20 - although the vast majority of drivers are much older. Continue reading...
by Dan Sabbagh in Chornobyl. Photography by Julia Koc on (#6X3Y8)
Exclusive: Attack damaged 1.5bn containment structure over nuclear reactor with repair costs likely to be borne by western governmentsA Russian Shahed drone costing up to 75,000 is estimated to have inflicted tens of millions worth of damage to the site of the Chornobyl nuclear power plant, according to initial assessments and engineering experts.The cost of a full fix is likely to be borne by western governments including the UK, because initial estimates are that a complete repair will cost more than the 25m available in a special international contingency fund. Continue reading...
by Jason Burke in Tel Aviv and Malak A Tantesh in Gaz on (#6X3YA)
Aid officials and residents report breakdown in law and order as food and supplies run out during Israeli blockadeGaza has been hit by a wave of looting and theft as increasingly desperate Palestinians struggle to get food while criminal gangs exploit a breakdown in law and order.Aid officials and witnesses in the devastated territory describe armed men attacking humanitarian warehouses, firefights over remaining food stores and a spate of stealing of supplies vital for survival, such as solar chargers, batteries, phones and cooking pots. Continue reading...
Secretary of state says opponents of Maduro have left diplomatic compound in Caracas and are safely on US soil'Five members of Venezuela's political opposition have left the Argentinian diplomatic compound in their country's capital, Caracas, where they had sheltered for more than a year to avoid arrest, and were in the United States on Tuesday, US secretary of state Marco Rubio said.Rubio did not provide details of the group's movements to reach the US, but he described the event as a rescue operation. Continue reading...
by Kiran Stacey Political correspondent on (#6X3TH)
Exclusive: Conservatives ask Keir Starmer to stand against indefinite occupation' and reinforce international law'More than a dozen senior Conservative MPs and peers have written to the prime minister calling for the UK to immediately recognise Palestine as a state, breaking ranks with their own party to do so.Seven MPs and six members of the House of Lords have signed the letter to Keir Starmer urging him to defy the Israeli government and give formal recognition to Palestine in advance of key UN talks next month. Continue reading...
Germany's new chancellor issued warning after far-right AfD received strong backing from Donald Trump alliesGermany's new chancellor Friedrich Merz has warned the US to stay out" of his country's politics after the far-right AfD received strong backing from allies of the US president, Donald Trump.Merz, 69, a conservative who was elected as chancellor of Europe's biggest economy earlier in the day, also said he planned to speak by phone with Trump on Thursday. Continue reading...
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