5 h. ago Planetary Alignment 2025: How to see rare alignment of 7 planets in Scotland for the last time until 2040

UK skywatchers will have one last chance to view a rare alignment of seven planets in 2025.

Politics

6 h. ago Best 40” TVs to shop in 2025 for a great home viewing experience

Smaller TVs that can fit anywhere in your home

Politics

47 h. ago The Guardian view on Germany’s election result: Merz’s task is formidable | Editorial

The victorious CDU leader is likely to be more proactive on the European stage. He will also need to forge broad alliances at home to see off the far rightFriedrich Merz, the leader of Germany’s centre-right Christian Democratic Union party (CDU), has a reputation for being blunt. On Sunday evening, as it became clear that the CDU had won the snap election triggered by the outgoing Social Democrat chancellor, Olaf Scholz, he did not disappoint. “For me,” said Mr Merz in a post-election television debate, “the absolute priority will be to strengthen Europe as quickly as possible so that, step by step, we can really achieve independence from the USA.”As recently as a fortnight ago, such a statement from a German chancellor-elect would have been inconceivable. But these are new and extraordinary times. A convinced transatlanticist, Mr Merz has previously played down the dangers to western unity posed by Donald Trump. But crude electioneering on behalf of the extreme right Alternat...

Politics

47 h. ago The Guardian view on AI and copyright: creativity should be cherished, not given away | Editorial

The government’s consultation was weighted towards big tech. Now is the time for a rethinkIt’s a seductive promise: let our computers scrape the internet for ideas, images, forms of words, stories, music, jokes and our industry will make your country rich. For a UK government desperate for economic growth, the demands of tech companies for copyright laws to be relaxed – in order that their artificial intelligence (AI) systems can access as much online content as possible without having to pay or seek permission – have been hard to resist. The US and China are the global leaders of this new tech race. But the UK has a chance to compete that ministers are desperate not to miss.To AI businesses, copyright is an irritant. Three years ago, it appeared that their lobbyists were on the verge of getting their way when a government agency, the Intellectual Property Office, recommended an exemption for data mining. This would grant bots free rein and – so the argument...

Politics

64 h. ago 2025 SAG Awards viewers wince over Lilly Singh’s ‘horrific’ red carpet interview with Jane Fonda

Singh partnered with Netflix to interview nominees ahead of the Sunday ceremony

Events

2 d. ago The Guardian view on Haiti’s deepening crisis: abandoning people when they most need support | Editorial

As security and humanitarian conditions deteriorate even further, the community needs helpA year ago, it seemed that Haiti had hit rock bottom. Violence had exploded and conditions had deteriorated following President Jovenel Moïse’s assassination in 2021. Then, last February, gangs banded together to free thousands of prisoners, besiege airports and police stations, and demand that Haiti’s unpopular replacement leader departed.Ariel Henry was ousted, but the nation has only spiralled further into crisis. Violence intensified again towards the end of last year. Armed criminals control 85% of the capital, Port-au-Prince. Already desperate circumstances have become much more so: more than a million people – around one in 10 of the population – have now been displaced, triple the level a year ago. Half are experiencing acute food insecurity. Continue reading...

Events

5 d. ago The Guardian view on Gaza’s future: the ceasefire and hostage deal must not fizzle out | Editorial

As Donald Trump persists with a monstrous proposal to remove Palestinians, the immediate need is to prevent fresh conflictThe pain and damage wreaked in the last 16 months will reverberate through families, communities and the Middle East for decades to come. On Thursday, the bodies of two young children and their mother, and that of an 83-year-old peace activist, were returned to Israel by Hamas. They were kidnapped in the 7 October 2023 raid in which the militants killed around 1,200 Israelis and others. Around 48,000 Palestinians, most of them civilians, have been killed in Gaza since Israel launched its war in response.It was always feared that the ceasefire deal, which has brought desperately needed respite for Palestinians in Gaza and the return of Israeli and foreign hostages, would be fleeting. The six-week opening stage is due to expire on 1 March. The talks on the more complicated second stage have yet to begin, more than a fortnight after the...

Events

6 d. ago People in the US: share your views on President Trump’s approach towards Russia and Ukraine

We’d like to hear from people in the US about how they view Trump’s approach to Russia and Ukraine – as well as his stance towards EuropeWe would like to hear from US voters across the political spectrum about how you view president Donald Trump’s foreign policy approach to Russia and Ukraine.This week has brought an unprecedented escalation of tensions between Kyiv and Washington after senior US and Russian officials met in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday to discuss the war in Ukraine, as well as economic and political cooperation. Continue reading...

Politics

7 d. ago My dad died a year ago – and a photo of him on Google Street View brought me up short | Adrian Chiles

A friend sent me the image by surprise and I felt a lot of things very strongly: love, upset, amusement, pleasure and angerAn old friend sent me a photo that caused me to stop whatever I was doing. I stared at it for a long time, possibly without drawing breath. Martin and I grew up living next door to each other. He now lives in Australia. It was from there that he sent me a screenshot of Google Maps’ Street View, showing what had been our homes. Side by side, just bricks and mortar obviously, but teeming with meaning for both of us. That wasn’t the thing though. The thing was that in a corner of the photo stood a familiar figure in a red jumper. My dad.He died this time last year. And yet here he was, standing under the tree next to his car. I felt a lot of things very strongly all at the same time: love, surprise, upset, amusement, anger, pleasure and other things. This was a month ago, but it’s on my mind again this week as it would have been his 87th birthday. And I’m still no ...

Events

7 d. ago MOBO Awards 2025 viewers confused as start time delayed for online broadcast

The 2025 MOBO Awards hosed all the big stars at Newcastle's Utilita Arena on Tuesday night, with Indiyah Polack and Eddie Kadi on hosting duties

Events

7 d. ago The Guardian view on Trump’s diplomacy: when the US knows the price and ignores values | Editorial

US talks with Russia over Ukraine’s future, like the president’s prescription for Gaza, highlights how business and foreign policy mergeThe Trump administration did not take red lines on Ukraine to its talks with Russia in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday: it cares about the bottom line. The secretary of state, Marco Rubio, underscored that when he said the two sides would create a team, not only to support Ukraine peace talks but also to explore the “incredible opportunities” to partner with Moscow geopolitically “and, frankly, economically” that might result.Kyiv and other European capitals are still reeling at the full extent of Donald Trump’s cynicism when it comes to world affairs, and callous disregard for the people caught up in them. But it should be no surprise that business dealings were high on the agenda. Vladimir Putin would dearly love to end his country’s economic isolation. Russia is making the case that American energy firms and others could profit handsomely by doing busine...

Politics

8 d. ago Love Island All Stars viewers left shocked after 2025 winners crowned

Fans accused the show of being ‘rigged’

Events

8 d. ago Love Island All Stars viewers divided as show announces 2025 winners

The winners of Love Island All Stars 2025 have been revealed - though viewers at home have been left divided following the result, with one saying they were "officially done"

Politics

8 d. ago The Guardian view on the US, China and the rest: Trump is opening doors for Xi | Editorial

The US president’s bullying of allies and partners is short-termist and will boost Beijing’s power, not Washington’sDonald Trump’s return to the White House is so far proving more nightmarish for US allies and friends than adversaries. China certainly doesn’t relish a trade war with the US, but it was better prepared than others for Mr Trump’s tariffs, and both sides appear to be leaving room for a potential deal. And, though China’s leader, Xi Jinping, is poised for worse to come, the second Trump term is bringing Beijing opportunities as well as problems.International respect for the US plummeted under his last administration. As the US president turns the screws on long-term partners, China is looking to take advantage. Colombia quickly caved to Mr Trump on the matter of migrant returns, but China’s ambassador has been celebrating the “best moment” in relations between Bogotá and Beijing. Under pressure from the Trump administration, Panama announced that it w...

Politics

9 d. ago 12 best hotels in Cornwall for 2025 beach breaks, walking retreats and sea views

Where to stay for the best hotels in Cornwall for a countryside spa experience, hiking opportunities, peaceful coastal breaks and more in England’s southwestern tip

Society