News in Detail

Two Ukrainians arrested as authorities claim operation had one eye on a possible future military incursion Europe live – latest updatesUkrainian authorities claim to have busted a Hungarian spy ring operating on its territory, alleging that Budapest was collecting sensitive military data with one eye on a possible future incursion into the west of the country.Hungary’s foreign minister dismissed the accusations as “propaganda”, but the allegations will further test already fraught relations between the two neighbouring countries. While Hungary is a member of Nato and the EU, its prime minister, Viktor Orbán, has been an outlier among European leaders, strongly critical of Kyiv and neutral towards Russia. Continue reading...

Russia staging a lavish, ‘biggest ever’ parade in Moscow to mark the 80th anniversary of the end of the second world warLet’s bring you some more pictures from the Moscow parade earlier today, a not very subtle attempt as showing off the Russian military power.French president Emmanuel Macron posted a social media update on his last night’s phone call with US president Donald Trump.I spoke several times last night with @POTUS. I commend his strong call for an unconditional 30-day ceasefire, as did our British and Nordic partners earlier this morning. Continue reading...

Meeting aimed at de-escalating trade war after Chinese exports beat expectations despite slump in tradeDonald Trump has floated cutting tariffs on China from 145% to 80% before a weekend meeting as he looks to de-escalate the trade war.Top US officials are set to meet a high-level Chinese delegation this weekend in Switzerland in the first significant talks between the two nations since Trump sparked a trade war with stiff tariffs on imports. Continue reading...

First woman and first African American to hold post dismissed in terse email on Thursday nightUS politics live – latest updatesDonald Trump abruptly fired the librarian of Congress, Carla Hayden, on Thursday as the White House continues to purge the federal government of those perceived to oppose the Republican US president and his agenda.Hayden was notified in an email late on Thursday from the White House’s presidential personnel office, according to an email obtained by the Associated Press. Confirmed by the Senate to the job in 2016, Hayden was the first woman and the first African American to be librarian of Congress. Continue reading...

Dylan Tippetts of Plymouth resigns from party ‘that does not support my fundamental rights’UK politics live – latest updatesOne of Labour’s only transgender councillors has resigned from the party, accusing it of “throwing trans people under the bus”.In a post on X on Friday morning, Dylan Tippetts, who has represented Compton ward on Plymouth city council since 2022, wrote: “I cannot continue to represent a party that does not support my fundamental rights. I cannot as a trans person continue to support the Labour party.” Continue reading...