15 h. ago From New York to Sierra Leone: a sister’s search for ‘just another missing black woman’

Oluwaseun Babalola’s film Fighting Giants is an exploration of the misogyny and racism encountered by her family as they attempted to uncover the truth behind her sibling’s disappearance seven years agoOluwaseun Babalola remembers the exact moment she started to worry about her sister. It was 14 August 2018 and she was sitting on a sofa in a friend’s flat in Queens, New York. She had spent 10 days trying to get hold of Massah KaiKai, who had been due to travel from Sierra Leone, where she lived, to visit her in the US.The sisters messaged or called each other every day, often multiple times. “We talked about everything and nothing. I would come home to a bunch of voice notes. She would vent or have something very funny to say – she was a very funny person,” says Babalola. Continue reading...

Events

15 h. ago From New York to Sierra Leone: misogyny, racism and the search for a missing sister

Oluwaseun Babalola’s film Fighting Giants is an exploration of the barriers encountered by her family as they attempted to uncover the truth behind her sibling’s disappearance seven years agoOluwaseun Babalola remembers the exact moment she started to worry about her sister. It was 14 August 2018 and she was sitting on a sofa in a friend’s flat in Queens, New York. She had spent 10 days trying to get hold of Massah KaiKai, who had been due to travel from Sierra Leone, where she lived, to visit her in the US.The sisters messaged or called each other every day, often multiple times. “We talked about everything and nothing. I would come home to a bunch of voice notes. She would vent or have something very funny to say – she was a very funny person,” says Babalola. Continue reading...

Events

15 h. ago From New York to Sierra Leone: the search for a missing sister

Oluwaseun Babalola’s film Fighting Giants is an exploration of the misogyny and racism encountered by her family as they attempted to uncover the truth behind her sibling’s disappearance seven years agoOluwaseun Babalola remembers the exact moment she started to worry about her sister. It was 14 August 2018 and she was sitting on a sofa in a friend’s flat in Queens, New York. She had spent 10 days trying to get hold of Massah KaiKai, who had been due to travel from Sierra Leone, where she lived, to visit her in the US.The sisters messaged or called each other every day, often multiple times. “We talked about everything and nothing. I would come home to a bunch of voice notes. She would vent or have something very funny to say – she was a very funny person,” says Babalola. Continue reading...

Events

15 h. ago Tesla shares rebound on news of Musk and Trump talks after explosive feud cost firm $99bn in a day

Elon Musk and Donald Trump’s squabble over social media sent the EV maker’s stock into freefall

Economics

5 d. ago Liverpool target Milos Kerkez discusses transfer and admits Reds star talks 'every other day'

Milos Kerkez has become a target for Liverpool after his solid displays for Bournemouth this season and the Hungary international has spoken out about speculation surrounding his future

Events

1 week ago Bestselling Chocolat author JOANNE HARRIS on the disgusting quip Harvey Weinstein made to her at the Oscars

Author of multimillion-selling novel Chocolat JOANNE HARRIS talks the day Juliette Binoche turned up at her door and why it's taken two decades to write its prequel

Culture

2 w. ago Israeli army begins ‘extensive’ new ground operations in Gaza

Netanyahu signals openness to deal with Hamas and says Israel will allow some aid into GazaThe Israeli army has announced the start of a large-scale offensive in Gaza, describing “extensive ground operations” to seize “operational control” of swaths of the devastated Palestinian territory as a second day of indirect ceasefire talks in Qatar ended without any breakthrough.Israeli military officials said its forces had “eliminated dozens of terrorists, dismantled terrorist infrastructure sites and [were] currently being deployed in key positions”. Continue reading...

Politics

2 w. ago Russia fires 273 drones at Ukraine in largest attack since start of war

One killed in Kyiv region in air offensive that follows first direct peace talks between the two sidesThe largest known Russian drone attack since full-scale war began in 2022 killed a woman in the Kyiv region and wounded at least three people, Ukrainian authorities said early on Sunday.The attack comes two days after Ukraine and Russia held their first direct talks since 2022 and a day ahead of a planned phone call between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin. Continue reading...

Events

2 w. ago James Forrest pens Celtic fairytale with historic sweet 16 to spark 4 in a row trophy day bedlam – 5 talking points

It was all about one man and after a season of waiting he left it late to secure a draw against St Mirren

Politics

3 w. ago Russia and Ukraine agree prisoner swap but peace talks fail to make progress

Apart from agreeing to swap 1,000 prisoners each, Moscow sticks to maximalist demands in IstanbulRussia and Ukraine have agreed to a large-scale prisoner exchange but failed to reach a breakthrough during their first direct peace talks since 2022, held in Istanbul without either Vladimir Putin or Volodymyr Zelenskyy.Sitting down under pressure from the US president, Donald Trump, Ukraine had pushed for a 30-day ceasefire before the talks. Moscow rejected this, appearing to stick to its maximalist demands, including sweeping restrictions on Ukrainian sovereignty. Continue reading...

Events

3 w. ago Inside Winston Churchill’s wartime carriage restored after 50 years

Passengers will be able to ride inside the newly restored carriage where Churchill held D-Day talks

Events

3 w. ago Putin savages Ukraine with drone attack hours after announcing Istanbul 'peace talks' that Trump called a 'potentially great day'

The Kremlin dictator appeared to seek to set a trap for Volodymyr Zelensky as he unleashed Shahed kamikaze planes at Ukraine's capital city and other regions.

Politics

3 w. ago Ukraine war live: Zelenskyy welcomes Putin calls for talks but says Russia must agree to ‘full, lasting, reliable’ ceasefire

In late-night address in Moscow, Russian president dismissed calls by European leaders for 30-day ceasefire to start on MondayVladimir Putin’s proposal for “direct talks” with Kyiv came hours after leaders from the UK, France, Germany and Poland travelled to Kyiv to meet Volodymyr Zelenskyy.As my colleague Shaun Walker notes in this story, the European leaders told the Russian president to sign up to an unconditional ceasefire by Monday or face increased sanctions and weapons transfers to Ukraine.It is a positive sign that the Russians have finally begun to consider ending the war.The entire world has been waiting for this for a very long time. And the very first step in truly ending any war is a ceasefire. There is no point in continuing the killing even for a single day. Continue reading...

Events

3 w. ago Trump hails a 'potentially great day for Russia and Ukraine' after Putin proposed peace talks following ceasefire ultimatum

Last night the Russian President called for direct talks with Ukraine in Istanbul on May 15, saying the two countries should aim to achieve 'peace'.

Politics

3 w. ago Ukraine war live: European leaders tell Putin to agree to unconditional ceasefire by Monday or face ‘massive’ sanctions

European leaders, in coordination with Donald Trump, are proposing a 30-day unconditional ceasefire starting 12 MayIt is the first time the leaders of the four European nations (France, the UK, Germany and Poland) have made a joint visit to Ukraine, reports Agence France-Presse (AFP).“We are clear the bloodshed must end. Russia must stop its illegal invasion,” the leaders said in a joint statement, adding:Alongside the US, we call on Russia to agree a full and unconditional 30-day ceasefire to create the space for talks on a just and lasting peace.We will continue to increase our support for Ukraine. Until Russia agrees to an enduring ceasefire, we will ratchet up pressure on Russia’s war machine. Continue reading...

Politics

3 w. ago Ukraine war live: Zelenskyy and European leaders hold ‘fruitful’ phone call with Trump

Keir Starmer, Emmanuel Macron, Friedrich Merz and Donald Tusk are in Ukraine for talks with ZelenskyyIt is the first time the leaders of the four European nations (France, the UK, Germany and Poland) have made a joint visit to Ukraine, reports Agence France-Presse (AFP).“We are clear the bloodshed must end. Russia must stop its illegal invasion,” the leaders said in a joint statement, adding:Alongside the US, we call on Russia to agree a full and unconditional 30-day ceasefire to create the space for talks on a just and lasting peace.We will continue to increase our support for Ukraine. Until Russia agrees to an enduring ceasefire, we will ratchet up pressure on Russia’s war machine. Continue reading...

Politics

3 w. ago Ukraine war live: Zelenskyy and European leaders hold ‘fruitful’ phone talk with Trump

Keir Starmer, Emmanuel Macron, Friedrich Merz and Donald Tusk are in Ukraine for talks with ZelenskyyIt is the first time the leaders of the four European nations (France, the UK, Germany and Poland) have made a joint visit to Ukraine, reports Agence France-Presse (AFP).“We are clear the bloodshed must end. Russia must stop its illegal invasion,” the leaders said in a joint statement, adding:Alongside the US, we call on Russia to agree a full and unconditional 30-day ceasefire to create the space for talks on a just and lasting peace.We will continue to increase our support for Ukraine. Until Russia agrees to an enduring ceasefire, we will ratchet up pressure on Russia’s war machine. Continue reading...

Politics

3 w. ago Ukraine war live: Macron calls for ‘direct talks’ between Russia and Ukraine as European leaders arrive in Kyiv

Keir Starmer, Emmanuel Macron, Friedrich Merz and Donald Tusk are in Ukraine for talks with ZelenskyyIt is the first time the leaders of the four European nations (France, the UK, Germany and Poland) have made a joint visit to Ukraine, reports Agence France-Presse (AFP).“We are clear the bloodshed must end. Russia must stop its illegal invasion,” the leaders said in a joint statement, adding:Alongside the US, we call on Russia to agree a full and unconditional 30-day ceasefire to create the space for talks on a just and lasting peace.We will continue to increase our support for Ukraine. Until Russia agrees to an enduring ceasefire, we will ratchet up pressure on Russia’s war machine. Continue reading...

Politics

4 w. 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