4 h. ago U.S. economy shrinks for first time in three years as Trump’s tariffs spark trade war fears

The American economy shrank by 0.3 percent during the first quarter of this year, marking the first drop in three years as President Donald Trump’s tariff policies disrupted businesses and their supply chains.

Politics

8 h. ago Vietnam celebrates 50th anniversary of end of war: ‘Now it’s time for peace’

About 13,000 people, including troops, militias, veterans, and local citizens take part in parade

Events

13 h. ago Celebrations in Ho Chi Minh City mark 50 years since end of Vietnam war

Thousands gather to see parade featuring marching troops and an air show of Russian-made fighter jets and helicoptersThousands of Vietnamese people have celebrated the 50th anniversary of the end of the Vietnam war, in what the country’s communist leader said was a “victory of justice over tyranny”.Celebrations culminated in a grand parade in Ho Chi Minh City with thousands of marching troops and an airshow featuring Russian-made fighter jets and helicopters, as Vietnamese waved red flags and sang patriotic songs. Continue reading...

Events

26 h. ago Freddy Brazier is seen for the first time since dad Jeff started a legal war with his grandmother Jackiey Budden

Freddy Brazier was seen the first time on Tuesday since his dad Jeff Brazier started legal proceedings against his grandmother - Jade Goody's mother - Jackiey Budden.

Events

28 h. ago Chief Scout, Dwayne Fields Congratulates Scouts from Edinburgh on achieving King’s Scout Award

On the 27th of April, Chief Scout Dwayne Fields had the honour of celebrating two from Edinburgh at a special event held at Windsor Castle. The Duke of Kent, Joint President of The Scouts, joined Dwayne in congratulating the young awardees for achieving the King’s Scout Award – the highest recognition in Scouting for adventure and skill development. This year marked Dwayne’s first time attending the annual event in his role as Chief Scout, and also commemorated The Duke of Kent’s 50th anniversary of involvement with the organisation.

Events

56 h. ago Monty Python and the Holy Grail at 50: a hilarious comic peak

The endlessly quoted 1975 comedy remains both a clear product of its era and a timelessly funny masterworkIt was with some surprise, as I gathered my recollections of Monty Python and the Holy Grail before its 50th anniversary this week, that I realised I had seen it in full only once, back when I and the film were both considerably younger. It felt like more. The first fully narrative feature by Britain’s best-loved TV sketch troupe is among the most fondly, frequently and recognisably referenced comedies in all cinema; the film’s best scenes are hard to separate from various everyday quotations or pub impressions thereof. Some comedy is made not so much to stand as individual art than to be absorbed into our collective comic language, and so it is with Monty Python, their best work a stew of endlessly imitable idioms and accents, to be relished with or without context.In all truth, I remembered laughing at Monty Python and the Holy Grail more vividly than I remembered exactly what...

Politics

66 h. ago North Korea confirms for first time it has sent troops to fight for Russia in Ukraine war

Battle in Kursk showed ‘highest strategic level of the firm militant friendship’ between North Korea and Russia, state news says, hailing ‘heroes’North Korea has confirmed for the first time that it has sent troops to fight for Russia in the war with Ukraine under the orders of leader Kim Jong-un.The end of the battle in Russia’s Kursk region showed the “highest strategic level of the firm militant friendship” between North Korea and Russia, the North’s KCNA state news agency cited the ruling party as saying. Continue reading...

Events

5 d. ago Why ‘pain and pressure’ are at the heart of Chris Eubank Jr and Conor Benn’s inherited rivalry

Eubank Jr and Benn engaged in a war of words for the final time before their hotly-anticipated clash on Saturday

Events

5 d. ago Why ‘pain and pressure’ is at the heart of Chris Eubank Jr and Conor Benn’s inherited rivalry

Eubank Jr and Benn engaged in a war of words for the final time before their hotly-anticipated clash on Saturday

Events

5 d. ago Chris Eubank Jr and Conor Benn get deep on ‘pain and pressure’ as rivalry grows again

Eubank Jr and Benn engaged in a war of words for the final time before their hotly-anticipated clash on Saturday

Economics

8 d. ago ‘He felt our pain’: Catholic church in Gaza grieves Pope Francis’s death

Pope made nightly phone calls to the Holy Family Catholic church from the start of the war in October 2023Latest updates after death of Pope FrancisThe first time he spoke to Pope Francis during the pontiff’s nightly calls to the Holy Family Catholic church in Gaza City, the congregant George Antone, 44, found himself at a loss for words.It was October 2023, a few weeks after Hamas ignited a devastating war in the Gaza Strip by attacking Israel. The Palestinian territory’s tiny Christian community had taken shelter in the strip’s three churches, but that didn’t mean they were safe. An Israeli airstrike had just hit the Greek Orthodox church, killing 18 people; soon, snipers and bombs would also kill civilians at the Holy Family. Continue reading...

Events

1 week ago Gerry Francis hopes Auld Enemy rivalry is resurrected on 50th anniversary of England landmark

In the days when Tartan Army hordes colonised Wembley and an age of Scottish goalkeeping misfortune, Francis enjoyed the best year of his career with QPR and England - before his career was blighted by injury

Politics

1 week ago Microsoft faces growing unrest over role in Israel’s war on Gaza: ‘Close to a tipping point’

Turmoil spreads at company over Israel’s extensive use of its AI and cloud computing services in Gaza warFor the second time in the last month, Microsoft employees disrupted high-level executives speaking at an event celebrating the company’s 50th anniversary on 4 April, in protest against the company’s role in Israel’s ongoing siege on Gaza.AI executive Mustafa Suleyman was interrupted by employees Ibtihal Aboussad and Vaniya Agrawal. The two were fired within days. The Microsoft president Brad Smith and the former CEO Steve Ballmer were shouted down at Seattle’s Great Hall on 20 March by a current and former employee. Continue reading...

Politics

1 week ago Inside nuclear UK 'war room' up for sale with apocalypse equipment frozen in time

Jaw-dropping pictures show what one of the UK's last remaining war rooms looks like - with certain items still intact. The property is on sale for a whopping £50,000 in Bristol

Events

1 week ago Fifty years on, New Zealand’s tribunal upholding Māori rights faces a turning point

The Waitangi Tribunal has had a significant impact on Indigenous rights and policy but as it marks its 50th anniversary its role is being questionedIn the 1980s, New Zealand’s department of Māori affairs set aside money for language groups to spend on projects as they saw fit. When Wellington teacher Huirangi Waikerepuru received his group’s share, he used it to challenge the government.He took his complaint to a relatively new body called the Waitangi Tribunal. Formed in 1975 amid a wave of protest, it was designed to address Māori grievances by determining whether the meaning of the country’s founding document, the Treaty of Waitangi, was being adhered to. Continue reading...

Politics

2 w. ago Drag queen who faced ‘a lot of rejection’ impresses BGT judges with opera song

Simon Cowell himself received the golden buzzer after being tricked by The Hacker.

Politics

2 w. ago House of Commons to be recalled for first time since Afghanistan war

The House of Commons is to be recalled tomorrow to discuss British Steel amid fears the company is due to run out of raw materials in a matter of weeks. We'll bring you updates on this Breaking story

Events

2 w. ago Live from London, it's Saturday night! SNL taking sketch comedy across the pond

Saturday Night Live says it plans to launch a British version of the sketch comedy show that is celebrating its 50th anniversary across the pond

Politics

3 w. ago King Charles urges close ties in a historic speech to Italy's parliament as war rages in Europe

King Charles III has stressed the need for close ties between Italy and the UK in a historic speech in the Italian parliament, calling for unity in defense of common values at a time of war in Europe

Politics

3 w. ago I’ve seen many phoney trade wars come and go. This is the real thing | Larry Elliott

This battle between the US and China goes far beyond market turmoil – it has killed off the liberal dream of a borderless world Donald Trump’s decision to impose a 104% tariff on Chinese imports into the US – and China blasting back with 84% – has spooked the financial markets. The response is entirely rational. Over the past few decades, phoney trade wars have been commonplace. Rival nations have squared off against each other, indulged in a bit of sabre-rattling, but eventually agreed on a deal. Headlines that screamed “trade war looms” were quickly replaced by those that read “trade war averted”. This time it’s different. The battle between the US and China prompted by Trump’s tariffs is no pretend trade war. It is the real deal – and it will have real consequences. Tariffs operate as a tax, adding to the costs of doing business and raising prices for consumers. Growth will slow and inflation rates will rise. The global economy was already growing only slowly. As things stand, it...

Events