15 h. ago Ukraine war briefing: Period of Putin’s ‘ceasefire’ for Victory Day begins

Kremlin jams internet as it seeks to protect visiting foreign leaders; Ukraine’s SBU says drones hit Russian arms factories. What we know on day 1,170 The period of an unagreed ceasefire called for by Vladimir Putin began on Thursday morning as the Russian president seeks cover for Victory Day events. Ukraine has dismissed it as a “game” designed to protect Putin’s parade rather than a genuine step towards peace. Foreign leaders including China’s Xi Jinping are visiting the Russian capital for Victory Day celebrations. Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Ukraine’s president, has offered a 30-day ceasefire as suggested in US-brokered talks, but the Kremlin has refused.The Kremlin was forced on Wednesday to say it was taking “all necessary measures” to ensure the safety of foreign leaders due to attend its flagship 9 May parade after days of Ukrainian drone attacks closed airports across Russia, disrupting about 350 flights due to carry about 60,000 people. The Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov sai...

Events

50 h. ago Start of growth season sparks call for Scottish gardeners to act now on invasive plants

With spring in full swing, invasive plant species such as Japanese Knotweed and Himalayan balsam are beginning to grow – prompting a call for action to gardeners in Scotland.

Events

52 h. ago Campaigners call for work to begin on memorial for South Asian soldiers

Colourful Heritage is raising money to build a tribute in the grounds of Kelvingrove art gallery and museum in Glasgow.

Events

6 d. ago The Midnight Walk release date – when you can step into the stop motion dark fantasy adventure

Your journey as The Burnt One begins soon, guided by the lost lantern critter called Potboy, who you must protect at all costs.

Politics

7 d. ago Married marketing boss called Mr Christmas stalked colleague for three months after affair that began at festive work party

EXCLUSIVE: Married marketing executive Jonathan Christmas, 35, cheated on his wife Helen as he embarked on a brief affair with Charlotte Crute, who he met at the festive get together.

Economics

2 w. ago Haunting final words of ‘vampire’ who drank victims’ blood before killing them

A childhood of rampant and violent abuse eventually warped the mind of one young man, who began terrorising animals before brutalising women and callously murdering them

Events

2 w. ago Tesla earnings tank as Elon Musk makes ominous declaration about his days left in government

Elon Musk reassured investors on a call that he would spend 'significantly less time' at DOGE beginning in May after earnings tanked in the first quarter of the year.

Politics

2 w. ago Police chiefs granted powers to automatically sack officers who fail background checks

Calls to change police vetting procedures began after a report into the murder of Sarah Everard in 2021

Events

2 w. ago Birmingham's most in demand worker? Private waste collector says he's coining it in after being inundated with calls begging him to clear mountains of rubbish piled up across city

Matt Casey, 39, said he has received six times more call-outs over the last five weeks as frustrated residents in the city take matters into their own hands.

Economics

3 w. ago New poll shows how Brits feel about Birmingham's bin strike and piled up rubbish

Huge piles of uncollected rubbish continue to sit on the city’s streets and locals have reported seeing giant rats the size of cats in the waste as a pay dispute keeps workers on strike - here's how people in the West Midlands and around the country feel about it

Events

3 w. ago Inside Trump’s Oval Office as he called senators during Fox News breaks and world leaders begged to end his tariff plan

The president said he was acting ‘instinctively’ after announcing the surprise 180 on Wednesday. However multiple sources said that the build up to the decision was drawn out over a number of days

Politics

4 w. ago Man dressed as giant rat interrupts Birmingham City Council meeting to demand bin strike action

A protester dressed as a giant rat interrupted a Birmingham City Council meeting to demand action on the ongoing bin strike which has seen rubbish bags piled high on the city's streets.

Events