European manufacturer reports 8% drop in income for 2024 but says there is solid demand' for its productsAirbus has said it aims to make 820 planes this year as the world's biggest aerospace manufacturer attempts to overcome problems in its supply chain.The European company said that deliveries would rise by 7% compared with the 766 planes made last year, as it reported an 8% drop in income for 2024 excluding various charges, to 5.4bn (4.7bn). Continue reading...
by Daniel Boffey and Chris Matthews and Ella Joyner on (#6VDBG)
Data shows aircraft parts from more than 100 western companies reached Russian aviation industry via IndiaBritish firms are among more than 100 western companies, including the aerospace giant Boeing, which have exported aircraft parts to India that reached Russia, according to customs data.Analysis suggests products worth more than $50m have passed through intermediaries in India to Russian airlines and other entities over a 21-month period up to September 2024. Continue reading...
People in village near the capital line up with their haul, where a mosquito zapper and some pesos awaitVillage officials in the Philippines are handing out cash rewards to residents who capture mosquitoes in a bid to combat an outbreak of dengue.At the Wednesday launch, residents from the village of Addition Hills in metropolitan Manila lined up with plastic cups and bags containing their captures as they waited to receive their bounty: one Philippine peso (1.7 US cents) for every five mosquitoes. Continue reading...
They say the support for British Steel's transition to electric replacement is needed to prevent immediate job lossesBritish Steel should get an extra 200m from the government to support it in keeping the UK's two remaining blast furnaces open until electric replacements are built, according to a proposal put forward by unions.Chinese-owned British Steel has said it will replace its polluting blast furnaces at Scunthorpe with electric arc furnaces, which can be used to make much cleaner, recycled steel. Continue reading...
In today's newsletter: Zelenskyy described Trump's claims as disinformation" - only for the US president to double down. But his claims have no plausible basis in factGood morning. Donald Trump's view of Vladimir Putin, Xi Jinping and Kim Jong-un: The smartest one gets to the top". Donald Trump's view of Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who won Ukraine's presidency in a landslide, enjoys continued popular support, and had to postpone new elections because his country was, as you will remember, invaded: he's a dictator.Zelenskyy earned that astonishing designation yesterday by rejecting Trump's claims that he is very unpopular, that Ukraine brought the invasion on itself, and that to be considered a legitimate leader he must hold new elections even under the threat of Russian attack. At a press conference in Kyiv, Zelenskyy said: Unfortunately, President Trump, with all due respect for him as the leader of a nation that we respect greatly ... is trapped in this disinformation bubble". And he added: I would like to have more truth with the Trump team."Bills | The companies behind Great Britain's gas pipes and power lines have pocketed a windfall of nearly 4bn from household bills during the energy and cost crisis, according to a report. The analysis, by Citizens Advice, argued that energy network owners were able to make the excess profits" over the past four years after the industry regulator misjudged their costs.Brazil | British journalist Charlotte Alice Peet, 32, has been missing in Brazil for 11 days, a foreign correspondents' association in the country has said, urging authorities to step up their search efforts. Peet has worked as a freelance journalist for outlets such as the Independent, Times, Telegraph and Al Jazeera.Immigration and asylum | Plans to prevent refugees who arrive in the UK on a small boat, lorry or via other irregular" means from becoming a British citizen are facing their first legal challenge. The case is being brought by a 21-year-old Afghan refugee who arrived in the UK aged 14, after fleeing the Taliban and being smuggled to Britain in the back of a lorry.Sellafield | The UK nuclear industry regulator has taken Sellafield, the world's largest store of plutonium, out of special measures for its physical security - but said concerns remained over its cybersecurity. In 2023, the Guardian revealed a string of safety concerns at the site - from issues with alarm systems to problems staffing safety roles at its toxic ponds - as well as cybersecurity failings.Politics | Boris Johnson is charging 121 for a handshake and a photograph before a live event in Edinburgh. The former Conservative prime minister will appear at the Usher Hall on 2 September for an event titled An Evening with Boris Johnson, which will also allow guests to take part in a question and answer session. Continue reading...
Extremists tipped for second place after shifting debate to immigration and crime and winning endorsements from Musk and VanceIn the tumultuous German election campaign, which has been rocked by jaw-dropping US interference, a spate of violent attacks and rare fears for the country's political stability, all eyes have been locked on the party most likely to finish second.When the dust settles after Sunday's vote and conservative opposition leader Friedrich Merz is - barring further surprises - elected chancellor, the 2025 race will be remembered as the moment the far-right Alternative fur Deutschland, consistently polling in second place, went from sideshow to centre stage. Continue reading...
by Warren Murray with Guardian writers and agencies on (#6VD5P)
Ukrainian drone strike 700km across border takes Russian refinery out of service; EU prepares to step up military aid. What we know on 1,093 Continue reading...
by Pjotr Sauer and Luke Harding in Kyiv on (#6VCN8)
Remark follows Ukrainian leader's claim US president living in a Russian disinformation bubble'The US and Ukraine appeared to be heading towards an irreconcilable rift after Donald Trump escalated his attacks on Volodymyr Zelenskyy, calling the Ukrainian president a dictator" and warning that he better move fast" or he won't have a country left".The US leader's comments on Wednesday, which were rife with falsehoods, came after Zelenskyy said Trump was trapped" in a Russian disinformation bubble," following Trump's claims that Ukraine was to blame for Russia's 2022 invasion, remarks that echoed the Kremlin's narrative. Continue reading...
by Helen Livingstone (now); Léonie Chao-Fong, Erum S on (#6VCG6)
This blog is closing now but you can find our latest full story on the falling out between the US and Ukraine here and all our Ukraine coverage here.Lavrov also speaks about Russia's alliances with Belarus, North Korea, China and Iran, and countries in Africa.He says the comprehensive partnership with China" was at an unprecedented level and exceeding any prior alliances of a classic type," with both leaders attending important anniversaries in each other's countries.I will tell you something that is a key issue for us at this stage of international development, and that is our move towards a multipolar world. It is a historic process, and it is to do with the subjective trend of new power centres appearing on the world map.Our partners in the Global South and in the east are unique civilisations and religions and are members of various integration associations, but all of them are united by a desire towards development, progressive development without external pressure...At the same time, we must state that the collective West, although verbally are in agreement and accepting the multipolar realities, in reality, they still want to preserve their former dominance in the West.... Continue reading...
The tomb of Thutmose II is the first pharaoh's tomb to be discovered since Tutankhamun in 1922It was when British archeologist Dr Piers Litherland saw that the ceiling of the burial chamber was painted blue with yellow stars that he realised he had just discovered the first tomb of an Egyptian pharaoh to be found in more than a century.Litherland had been exploring the Valley of the Kings in Egypt for more than a decade when he discovered a staircase which led to the tomb, now known to have belonged to Thutmose II, who reigned from 1493 to 1479BC. Continue reading...
After becoming embroiled in scandal, formerly hot startup and Wall Street star had said it would likely run out of cashTroubled electric vehicle maker Nikola has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection months after saying that it would likely run out of cash early this year.Nikola was a hot startup and rising star on Wall Street before becoming enmeshed in scandal and its founder was convicted in 2022 for misleading investors about the Arizona company's technology. Continue reading...
Education department meeting in wake of new Trump policies was incomplete and chaotic', staff sayWorkers inside the US Department of Education have described a horrible, intimidating and unnerving" atmosphere among the rank-and-file as Donald Trump vows to shut it down.Widespread panic and confusion over the department's future led to an incomplete and chaotic" staff meeting on Wednesday, according to sources, as managers tried to explain new policies. Continue reading...
Daily $9 fee designed to reduce traffic in heart of Manhattan and raise billions to upgrade subway train and bus systemsThe Trump administration announced on Wednesday it intends to rescind approval of New York City's congestion pricing program that is designed to reduce traffic in the heart of busy Manhattan and, in the process, raise billions to upgrade New York's subway train and bus systems.The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA), the public-private entity that provides public transportation services in the New York metro area, immediately sued the government in an effort to block its move. Continue reading...
Senate majority leader says he did not see that one coming' as GOP scrambles to save agenda before potential shutdownDonald Trump has derailed Senate Republicans' budget strategy by endorsing a competing House option, leaving GOP leaders scrambling to save their agenda just weeks before a potential government shutdown.The president's surprise intervention came just hours after Senate Republicans moved to advance their own two-track proposal, as he declared instead that he wants ONE BIG BEAUTIFUL BILL" through the House's reconciliation process. Continue reading...
I will never fully heal', says Krystena Murray, who is white and gave birth to a Black boy after an embryo error'A Georgia woman is suing a fertility clinic after she gave birth to a child that was not hers, only to eventually give the child up to his biological parents - in effect making the woman an unwitting surrogate.After undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatments, 38-year-old Krystena Murray gave birth to a beautiful" baby boy and immediately realized something was wrong. The child was African American. Murray is white and chose a sperm donor with an appearance similar to her own. Continue reading...
by Tom Phillips and Tiago Rogero in Rio de Janeiro on (#6VCYX)
In Brazil coup-mongers go to jail. In the US they get back into the White House,' says one leading politicianBrazilian democrats have celebrated the strength of their country's judiciary and institutions after the former president Jair Bolsonaro was left facing political oblivion and jail time for allegedly plotting a coup, in stark contrast to the US's failure to bring Donald Trump to justice for his anti-democratic acts.In Brazil coup-mongers go to jail. In the US they get back into the White House," said Marcelo Freixo, a leading leftwing politician on Wednesday after the attorney general formally accused Bolsonaro of engineering a sprawling conspiracy to cling to power following his defeat in the 2022 election. Continue reading...
Hundreds of shoppers complain that basics including bread and milk appear to be unavailable onlineHundreds of Tesco customers have reported problems with the retailer's app and website, saying they have been unable to place online orders.They took to social media to complain that a wide range of groceries were showing as unavailable when they tried to check out and complete their shop. Continue reading...
The ex-president faces charges of a murderous conspiracy while his US counterpart has surged back to powerAt the height of Jair Bolsonaro's haywire presidency, Brazilian activists projected their deepest desire on to the Tower of London, where Guy Fawkes once languished after plotting to blow up parliament and assassinate the king.Jail Bolsonaro," their wordplay read. Continue reading...
Benjamin Netanyahu signals readiness for talks on second phase by appointing adviser Ron Dermer to lead delegationHamas has said it is ready to release all its remaining hostages in a single exchange if the ceasefire agreement with Israel moves forward to a second phase next month.The offer came as the Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, signalled his readiness to talk about a second phase of the Gaza ceasefire after an extended delay, by appointing one of his closest advisers, Ron Dermer, a US-born cabinet minister and former ambassador to Washington, to lead the Israeli delegation to the talks. Continue reading...
Foreign correspondents' association urges authorities to step up search for Charlotte Alice Peet, 32A British journalist has been missing in Brazil for 11 days, a foreign correspondents' association in the country said on Tuesday, urging authorities to step up their search efforts.Charlotte Alice Peet, 32, last communicated with a friend on 8 February, according to a statement from the Rio de Janeiro-based Association of Foreign Press Correspondents (ACIE). Continue reading...
More than 400 artists sign letter urging organization to resist funding ban for projects focused on DEI and genderDonald Trump's efforts to influence US cultural institutions received more pushback on Tuesday, as a group of more than 400 artists sent a letter to the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) calling on the organization to resist the president's restrictions on funding for projects promoting diversity or gender ideology".The letter, first reported by the New York Times, comes after the NEA declared that federal grant applicants - which include colleges and universities, non-profit groups, individual artists and more - must comply with regulations stipulated by Trump's executive orders. The new measures bar federal funds from going toward programs focused on diversity, equity and inclusion" or used to promote gender ideology". Continue reading...
by Mark Brown North of England correspondent on (#6VCQY)
Michael Stewart abused his position to target women and subject them to traumatic ordeals', said policeA postal worker described as a calculating and dangerous predator" has been jailed for six and a half years for sexually assaulting women when he was making deliveries on his rounds.Police said that Michael Stewart abused his position to target his victims and subject them to traumatic ordeals". The family of one of his victims have blamed Stewart for her suicide. Continue reading...
by Martin Belam (now) and Yohannes Lowe (earlier) on (#6VCG8)
Diana Johnson defends Labour's knife crime plan amid crisis in prison capacity in England and WalesKiran Stacey is a political correspondent based in WestminsterLeftwing activists in Britain are less likely to work with their political opponents than other groups and more likely to think those holding different views have been misled, a study has found. Continue reading...
Tickets to hear former prime minister speak in Edinburgh's Usher Hall cost up to 160 on top of meet-and-greetBoris Johnson is charging 121 for a handshake and a photograph before a live event in Edinburgh.The former Conservative prime minister will appear at the Usher Hall on 2 September for an event titled An Evening with Boris Johnson, which will also allow guests to take part in a question and answer session. Continue reading...
Officials who served in 1980s say Trump is opposing friends and supporting enemies: It makes me sick what's going on'Republicans who served under President Ronald Reagan during the cold war have condemned Donald Trump's move to soften relations with Russia and undermine the 80-year-old transatlantic alliance.European leaders were left reeling last week when the US vice-president, JD Vance, told the Munich Security Conference that the greatest danger facing Europe was the threat from within" and the retreat from fundamental values". Continue reading...
Weapons maker's full-year pre-tax profits top 3bn and it expects sales of more than 30bn next yearBritain's biggest weapons manufacturer, BAE Systems, has reported record orders as the European defence industry gears up for increased spending sparked by the Ukraine war.The company, a member of the FTSE 100, said it expected sales next year to top 30bn, as it reported annual profits before interest and tax of more than 3bn for the first time in 2024. Continue reading...
Anne Marie Hochhalter, pillar of strength for ... so many' after being shot in back in 1999, dies from natural causesA former Columbine high school student who only narrowly survived the deadly 1999 mass shooting there - and subsequently spent nearly three decades grappling with complications from her wounds in the attack - has died.Anne Marie Hochhalter, 44, died on Sunday from what were described as natural causes, according to a statement from the principal at Columbine when the shooting at the Colorado school occurred. Continue reading...
Software goes on sale that replicates the distinctive analogue sounds of celebrated unit where Doctor Who theme was createdWith its banks of bafflingly complex equipment, and staff members that were among the most progressive musical minds in the UK, the BBC Radiophonic Workshop was a laboratory of 20th-century sound that produced endless futuristic effects for use in TV and radio - most memorably, the ghostly wail of the Doctor Who theme.Now, the Workshop's considerable archive of equipment is being recreated in new software, allowing anyone to evoke the same array of analogue sound that its pioneering engineers once did. Continue reading...
Australia's spy boss Mike Burgess highlights foreign intelligence operations, antisemitism and election disinformation in annual threat assessment speech
Hydrogen sulphide gives Takayu Onsen its unmistakable sulphurous smell but can be dangerous if inhaled in high enough concentrationsThree people have died in north-east Japan in an accident that authorities suspect is linked to the inhalation of deadly gas found in the country's famed hot spring resorts.Japanese media said the three men, who all worked at a nearby hotel, were found in a mountainous area near the city of Fukushima on Tuesday. They were discovered in an area of Takayu Onsen (hot spring) where high concentrations of hydrogen sulphide, a toxic byproduct of volcanic hot springs, have been recorded. Continue reading...
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