65 m. ago Lead ammunition to be banned for hunting and shooting in England, Scotland and Wales

Exclusive: Restrictions on shot and bullets containing toxic metal to be phased in over three years from 2026Shotgun pellets and bullets that contain lead are to be banned for almost all uses, ministers have said, in a long-awaited announcement welcomed by wildlife groups.The restrictions will be phased in over three years from 2026, rather than the five set out in an official report last year, prompting some shooting organisations to say replacement ammunition may not be fully available in time. Continue reading...

Events

69 m. ago Russian attack on Kyiv leaves two dead a day after largest assault of war

Another huge wave of Russian missiles and drones hit Ukraine’s capital as Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov due to meet with Marco RubioA huge wave of Russian strikes on Ukraine’s capital killed two people and left more wounded, Kyiv’s military administration said early on Thursday, with reports of loud blasts echoing over the city throughout the night.The administration warned of a threat from drones and ballistic weapons and told all residents to “immediately head to the nearest shelters”. Dozens of residents of the capital took shelter in a central metro station during the attack, an Agence France-Presse reporter said, sleeping on mats, calming pets or waiting out the attack on camping furniture. Continue reading...

Events

1 hour ago Russia hits Kyiv with more missiles and drones, causing fires and injuring at least 10

Ukrainian officials say that Russia pounded the capital with yet another mass missile and drone attack, causing fires across the city and injuring at least 10 people a day after the heaviest aerial attack of the war so far

Events

6 h. ago UK and France agree ‘Entente Technologique’ to help protect infrastructure

‘Today we build on the Entente Cordiale with an Entente Technologique,’ Science Secretary Peter Kyle said.

Politics

6 h. ago Landmark ruling finds Russia shot down MH17 with 38 Australians on board

Europe’s top human rights court finds Boeing 777 flying from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur was shot down by Russia in July 2014Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastEurope’s top human rights court delivered damning judgments Wednesday against Russia in four cases brought by Kyiv and the Netherlands, finding Moscow shot down flight MH17, killing all passengers, including 38 Australians.Judges at the European court of human rights ruled that Russia was responsible for widespread violations of international law, from shooting down Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 in 2014 to the murder, torture, rape, destruction of civilian infrastructure and kidnapping of Ukrainian children after Moscow’s full-scale invasion of 2022.Sign up for Guardian Australia’s breaking news email Continue reading...

Politics

6 h. ago Chile foreign minister says US would not be able to ‘replace’ Chilean copper

Alberto van Klaveren’s comments follow Trump’s announcement that he would impose 50 per cent tariffs on copper imports.

Politics

7 h. ago Steak will be juicier and taste better if olive oil and butter are swapped for one key ingredient

Steak will come out looking and tasting perfect when oil olive and butter are replaced with a different ingredient.

Events

7 h. ago UK and France order more Storm Shadow missiles and step up military co

Storm Shadow, or as the French call it SCALP, is a long-range missile which has been supplied to Ukraine.

Events

9 h. ago Trump denies he was unaware of Ukraine weapons pause day after admitting he didn’t know who ordered it

Donald Trump has said that he “would be the first to know” if a big decision such as the Ukraine weapons pause was authorised by the government, despite earlier saying he did not know who ordered it.

Events

9 h. ago Trump says he ‘hasn’t gone into’ who went behind his back to stop Ukraine weapons deliveries

The shipment freeze, which has been reversed, had been approved by Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth

Politics

9 h. ago Christian Horner's Red Bull replacement makes feelings clear after sacking

Christian Horner was sacked by Red Bull on Wednesday after 20 years as team principal, and his replacement has spoken out after immediately stepping into the role

Politics

10 h. ago Ukrainian robots capture surrendering Russian soldiers in 'first confirmed case' on battlefield

A Russian unit has surrendered to Ukrainian ground robots for the first time, a statement from the 3rd Assault Brigade claimed today. The Russian troops "surrendered to ground robots" in the Kharkiv region

Events

10 h. ago Syria’s government and Kurds still at odds over merging forces after latest talks, US envoy says

A U.S. envoy says that Syria’s central government and the Kurds remain at odds over plans on merging forces after the latest round of talks

Politics

10 h. ago Trump says he ‘hasn’t thought’ about who went behind his back to stop Ukraine weapons deliveries

The shipment freeze, which has been reversed, had been approved by Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth

Politics

11 h. ago Russia has committed flagrant human rights abuses in Ukraine since 2014, rules ECHR

Extrajudicial killings, sexual violence and forced labour among accusations upheld by court in judgmentRussia has committed flagrant and unprecedented abuses of human rights since it invaded Ukraine in 2014, including extrajudicial killings, sexual violence and forced labour, the European court of human rights has found.The court’s grand chamber unanimously held that between 11 May 2014 and 16 September 2022, when Russia ceased to be a party to the European convention on human rights it had committed “manifestly unlawful conduct on a massive scale”.Indiscriminate military attacks.Summary executions of civilians and Ukrainian military personnel.Torture, including the use of rape as a weapon of war.Unlawful and arbitrary detention of civilians.Unjustified displacement and transfer of civilians.Intimidation, harassment and persecution of all religious groups other than adherents of the historically Moscow-aligned Ukrainian Orthodox church.Intimidation and violence against journalists a...

Events

11 h. ago European court finds Russian responsible for international law violations. Here’s the key takeaways

The European Court of Human Rights has delivered damning judgments against Russia

Society

11 h. ago Another day, another US presidential fallout: Trump takes aim at Putin

This week Trump has set his sights on Putin after publicly knocking Iran and Israel’s heads together, but it remains to be seen if he loses patience with Netanyahu during his trip to the US, writes chief international correspondent Bel Trew

Politics

12 h. ago ‘He’s very determined’: England look to Archer before pivotal third Test

Seamer’s pace has potential to upend India’s dominance, but England’s batting needs urgent improvementNearly six years after Jofra Archer made his Test debut against Australia at Lord’s he will finally return after England confirmed that he will replace Josh Tongue as the only change to the team so comprehensively beaten by India at Edgbaston last week.Archer is a man of few words and, as he has battled through a string of injuries across those intervening years, also not a lot of action. So the conversation that confirmed his return to Test cricket was entirely typical, said England’s captain, Ben Stokes: “I went: ‘Are you ready this week?’ And he went: ‘Been ready.’ That was literally it.” Continue reading...

Politics

12 h. ago Zelenskyy to replace Ukraine’s envoy to US in diplomatic shuffle

Oksana Markarova will be recalled from Washington in move designed to strengthen ties with Trump teamVolodymyr Zelenskyy is replacing Ukraine’s ambassador to the US, who has been heavily criticised by leading Republicans, as part a diplomatic reshuffle designed to strengthen ties with the Trump administration.Ukraine’s foreign minister, Andrii Sybiha, confirmed on Wednesday that Oksana Markarova will be recalled from Washington after four years in the job. He described her as “extremely effective, charismatic and one of our most successful ambassadors”. Continue reading...

Politics

12 h. ago Trump seems unaware who ordered pause on Ukraine weapons shipments

Donald Trump said he “doesn’t know” who ordered the pause on weapons shipments to Ukraine last week.

Events