The Guardian

Millionaire funded operation called ‘pure animal cruelty’ after environment minister sent threats on social media Final preparations are reportedly under way for a millionaire fundedplan to tow a sickly humpback whale into the North Sea. The 12-tonne whale, nicknamed Timmy, has been stranded on the Baltic Sea coastline for almost a month. A barge resembling a giant steel aquarium will attempt to …

Incoming PM Péter Magyar accuses Fidesz-linked figures of trying to shield their wealth from accountability Along the banks of the Danube, news that the Viktor Orbán era had come to an end set off an hours-long party. The joy echoed across Hungary as people traded hugs and high-fives. For some, however, the landslide loss set off a frantic scramble. Private jets allegedly laden with the spoils of…

Staff are handing over sandwiches from behind a theft-proof counter as the high street fights back Greggs has axed self-service display cabinets in bakery stores that have been most severely hit by shoplifters. The move is the latest aimed at combating a problem plaguing the high street. Last year official figures revealed annual shoplifting offences in England and Wales had passed half a million…

Extreme weather likely to continue after devastating homes and endangering millions in US south and midwest At least one person was killed after a very powerful tornado struck northern Texas on Saturday night, as extreme weather continued to devastate homes and put millions across the south and midwestern US at risk, with wildfires also raging on in parts of Georgia . Officials from Wise county i…

President presses case for controversial $400m project following White House correspondents’ dinner shooting The shooting at the Washington Hilton hotel gives new urgency to the project to construct a 1,000-seat ballroom at the White House, Donald Trump claimed after the incident on Saturday night. The US president pressed the case for his controversial ballroom initiative at the press conference…

Alex Greenwich says inquest crucial to understand what failures led to Bikram Lama’s death and avoid similar deaths Get our breaking news email , free app or daily news podcast The New South Wales attorney-general, Michael Daley, has been urged to order an inquest into the death of Nepali rough sleeper Bikram Lama in Hyde Park. The death of Lama – who was also known as “the birdman” for his love …

Police say attack in Dunmurry in which no one was hurt shows ‘murderous intent still exists’ in paramilitaries “Murderous intent and capability” still exists within paramilitaries in Northern Ireland, officers have said after a car exploded outside a police station on the outskirts of Belfast. Detectives said they believed the New IRA was involved and are treating it as attempted murder. Continue…

Law enforcement agencies name Cole Tomas Allen as Trump posts video of man sprinting through checkpoint US politics live – latest updates The suspected gunman in the shooting at the White House correspondents’ dinner that has roiled Washington has been identified as Cole Tomas Allen, a 31-year-old man from southern California. Allen, of Torrance, a suburb of Los Angeles, has no record of criminal…

Trade union criticises airline’s plan to halve passenger numbers to the city as ‘purely profit-oriented’ Ryanair is to shut its Berlin operating base and cut its winter schedule to the German capital in half, blaming its decision on soaring aviation taxes in the country. The Irish budget carrier said its relocation of seven aircraft to other centres would reduce its Berlin passenger numbers from …

Prime minister has shed trusted staffers but can still turn to many genuine friends in and out of government UK politics live – latest updates Given that the signs of an embattled premiership are all around – defensive-sounding interviews insisting he will be in post at the next election; a rush of stories about supposed cabinet plotting – now, more than ever, Keir Starmer needs real allies. And …

Trump and first lady were safely evacuated and police arrested Cole Tomas Allen of southern California at event The gunman who tried to breach the ballroom at the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner in Washington DC on Saturday night is believed to have been targeting members of the Trump administration , the acting US attorney general, Todd Blanche, said on Sunday morning. Blanche als…

Prime minister says his job is not at risk over Mandelson vetting as allies back him against claims of wrongdoing Keir Starmer has said he will lead Labour into the next general election, as his Downing Street allies denied claims of any wrongdoing over the appointment and vetting of Peter Mandelson as US ambassador. Darren Jones, the chief secretary to the prime minister, told Sky News’s Trevor …

Exclusive: Investigation into campaigning materials for local polls in May challenges tactical voting claims Election leaflets are providing “grotesque” information about how to vote tactically in the May elections, using national polling data, “dodgy” bar charts and doorstep surveys to support claims about parties’ chances of winning. Leaflets distributed by local politicians across England are …

US president says venue was ‘not a particularly secure building’ as man is held after shots fired at annual press dinner Hello and welcome to our live updates on US politics. A suspect is in custody following a shooting incident at last night’s White House correspondents’ dinner. Continue reading...

The rival superpowers are ramping up preparations for a crewed lunar landing nearly six decades after the first moon walk The world watched earlier this month as Nasa sent four astronauts around the moon – but to actually land on the surface the US is once again in a space race, this time with China. And China may well win. Both countries plan to build inhabited lunar bases – the first settlement…