Missile attack against Kyiv after deadly strike on Sumy; Zelenskyy seeks ramp-up of drone interceptor development. What we know on day 1,169 The Pentagon under Pete Hegseth stopped arms shipments to Ukraine in February without being ordered to do so by Donald Trump, the newly inaugurated president, <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/may/06/canceled-ukraine-military-aid-shipments-trump-hegseth">Reuters reports</a>. The order – which the news agency said blindsided top US national security officials, and the Ukrainians – was reversed within a week, but it cost up to $US2.2m to cancel the 11 flights involved, according to records. Reuters said records showed Hegseth gave a verbal order for the stoppage after a 30 January Oval Office meeting where only the idea of stopping military assistance was discussed.Ukraine’s air defence units were trying repel a missile attack on Kyiv, the mayor said, after explosions shook the city just after 1am local time on Wednesday. A Russian ballistic missile attack killed three people including a child at Sumy in Ukraine and wounded 10 other people – most of them children, one of whom was in a severe condition, Ukrainian officials said.A <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/may/06/ukraine-drones-raid-moscow">Ukrainian drone barrage</a> forced Russia to close a dozen airports deep behind the frontline on Tuesday as foreign leaders began gathering in Moscow for a second world war “Victory Day” parade. Moscow said Ukraine had launched more than 100 drones targeting a dozen regions, including on the Russian capital. Kyiv, meanwhile, said Russia attacked with 136 drones.Volodymyr Zelenskyy has asked his government to seek help from Ukraine’s western allies to finance and develop interceptor drones to knock down attack drones such as Russia’s Iranian-designed Shaheds. “We will develop this direction as much as possible and each region will have its own responsibility specifically for this task,” said the Ukrainian president. Ukraine already has some capability, with videos regularly posted online showing Ukrainian UAVs pursuing and ramming Russian attack drones out of the air, while other interceptors can fire shotgun cartridges to shoot down enemy UAVs.Catholic cardinals gathered in Rome ahead of the conclave to elect a new pope called on Tuesday for a ceasefire and negotiations without preconditions. Their statement “noted with regret that there has not been progress in promoting peace in Ukraine, the Middle East and many other parts of the world”, while offering their “heartfelt appeal to all parties involved to reach as soon as possible a permanent ceasefire and to negotiate, without pre-conditions” a longer-term peace.Ukraine and Russia handed over 205 prisoners of war each in an exchange on Tuesday, both sides announced. <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/may/07/ukraine-war-briefing-hegseths-sudden-arms-halt-cost-us-up-to-22m-report">Continue reading...</a>

Missile attack against Kyiv after deadly strike on Sumy; Zelenskyy seeks ramp-up of drone interceptor development. What we know on day 1,169 
The Pentagon under Pete Hegseth stopped arms shipments to Ukraine in February without being ordered to do so by Donald Trump, the newly inaugurated president, Reuters reports. The order – which the news agency said blindsided top US national security officials, and the Ukrainians – was reversed within a week, but it cost up to $US2.2m to cancel the 11 flights involved, according to records. Reuters said records showed Hegseth gave a verbal order for the stoppage after a 30 January Oval Office meeting where only the idea of stopping military assistance was discussed.
Ukraine’s air defence units were trying repel a missile attack on Kyiv, the mayor said, after explosions shook the city just after 1am local time on Wednesday. A Russian ballistic missile attack killed three people including a child at Sumy in Ukraine and wounded 10 other people – most of them children, one of whom was in a severe condition, Ukrainian officials said.
A Ukrainian drone barrage forced Russia to close a dozen airports deep behind the frontline on Tuesday as foreign leaders began gathering in Moscow for a second world war “Victory Day” parade. Moscow said Ukraine had launched more than 100 drones targeting a dozen regions, including on the Russian capital. Kyiv, meanwhile, said Russia attacked with 136 drones.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy has asked his government to seek help from Ukraine’s western allies to finance and develop interceptor drones to knock down attack drones such as Russia’s Iranian-designed Shaheds. “We will develop this direction as much as possible and each region will have its own responsibility specifically for this task,” said the Ukrainian president. Ukraine already has some capability, with videos regularly posted online showing Ukrainian UAVs pursuing and ramming Russian attack drones out of the air, while other interceptors can fire shotgun cartridges to shoot down enemy UAVs.
Catholic cardinals gathered in Rome ahead of the conclave to elect a new pope called on Tuesday for a ceasefire and negotiations without preconditions. Their statement “noted with regret that there has not been progress in promoting peace in Ukraine, the Middle East and many other parts of the world”, while offering their “heartfelt appeal to all parties involved to reach as soon as possible a permanent ceasefire and to negotiate, without pre-conditions” a longer-term peace.
Ukraine and Russia handed over 205 prisoners of war each in an exchange on Tuesday, both sides announced.
 Continue reading...

A Reuters report reveals that the Pentagon, under Pete Hegseth, halted arms shipments to Ukraine in February without orders from then-President Donald Trump, causing confusion among US officials and Ukrainian leaders. The decision was reversed within a week but reportedly cost up to $2.2 million due to canceled flights. Meanwhile, Ukraine faces continued missile attacks, with President Zelenskyy pushing for enhanced drone interceptor development.  

Ukraine war briefing: Hegseth’s sudden arms halt ‘cost US up to $2.2m’ – report

<ul><li>Champions League news, 8pm BST kick-off (<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/football/2025/apr/29/champions-league-semi-final-arsenal-psg-match-report">first leg: 1-0</a>)</li><li><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/football/2025/may/07/acerbi-goal-crazy-inter-warriors-champions-league">Nicky Bandini on Inter</a> | And <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/football/2025/may/07/football-daily-inter-barcelona-champions-league">read today’s Football Daily</a></li></ul>A relaxed Mikel Arteta talks to TNT SportsIt’s our biggest night for a long time. But this isn’t where we want to be – we want to make the final. We are very close. We learned a few things from the first game, about the level of the two teams and the small margins. We have a big conviction that we’re gonna do it tonight.This is where this club deserves to be. We still have so much to do – so much to win, so much consistency to show – but hopefully we are on the right trajectory. <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/football/live/2025/may/07/paris-saint-germain-v-arsenal-champions-league-semi-final-second-leg-live">Continue reading...</a>

Champions League news, 8pm BST kick-off (first leg: 1-0)
Nicky Bandini on Inter | And read today’s Football Daily

A relaxed Mikel Arteta talks to TNT Sports
It’s our biggest night for a long time. But this isn’t where we want to be – we want to make the final. We are very close. We learned a few things from the first game, about the level of the two teams and the small margins. We have a big conviction that we’re gonna do it tonight.
This is where this club deserves to be. We still have so much to do – so much to win, so much consistency to show – but hopefully we are on the right trajectory.
 Continue reading...

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta expresses confidence ahead of the crucial Champions League semi-final second leg against Paris Saint-Germain, emphasizing the team's readiness and ambition to reach the final after a narrow first-leg victory.  

Paris Saint-Germain v Arsenal: Champions League semi-final, second leg – live

Shehbaz Sharif addresses nation as tensions escalate after 31 people killed and 57 injured in Indian air force attack<ul><li><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/may/07/pakistan-authorises-corresponding-retaliation-after-india-missile-strike-punjab-kashmir">Pakistan authorises ‘corresponding’ retaliation after deadly India missile strikes</a></li><li><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/may/07/india-and-pakistan-can-ill-afford-war-but-who-will-talk-them-down">Analysis – India and Pakistan can ill-afford war, but who will talk them down?</a></li></ul>US president Donald Trump has said he wants India and Pakistan to “stop now” and that “if I can do anything to help, I will.”“It’s so terrible,” Trump told reporters in the Oval Office on Wednesday. He said:My position is I get along with both. I know both very well, and I want to see them work it out. I want to see them stop, and hopefully they can stop now.What happens next is we are prepared for an all-out war. There is absolutely no doubt, because India is increasing the intensity, the stakes of this conflict. So… we can’t be caught with our guards down. <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2025/may/07/pakistan-india-attacks-kashmir-operation-sindoor-live-updates">Continue reading...</a>

Shehbaz Sharif addresses nation as tensions escalate after 31 people killed and 57 injured in Indian air force attack

Pakistan authorises ‘corresponding’ retaliation after deadly India missile strikes
Analysis – India and Pakistan can ill-afford war, but who will talk them down?

US president Donald Trump has said he wants India and Pakistan to “stop now” and that “if I can do anything to help, I will.”
“It’s so terrible,” Trump told reporters in the Oval Office on Wednesday. He said:
My position is I get along with both. I know both very well, and I want to see them work it out. I want to see them stop, and hopefully they can stop now.
What happens next is we are prepared for an all-out war. There is absolutely no doubt, because India is increasing the intensity, the stakes of this conflict. So… we can’t be caught with our guards down.
 Continue reading...

Tensions between India and Pakistan escalate after an Indian air force attack kills 31 and injures 57, prompting Pakistan's PM Shehbaz Sharif to vow retaliation. The US urges de-escalation, with President Trump offering mediation, as analysts warn both nations cannot afford war.  

Kashmir crisis live: India must ‘suffer the consequences’ for ‘cowardly’ attack says Pakistan PM

Men, who have been convicted of federal charges, found not guilty in death of Black man, 29, after he fled traffic stopThree former <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/memphis">Memphis</a> officers were acquitted on Wednesday of state charges, including second-degree murder, in the fatal beating of <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/tyre-nichols">Tyre Nichols</a> after he ran away from a traffic stop in 2023.A jury took about eight-and-a-half hours over two days to find Tadarrius Bean, Demetrius Haley and Justin Smith not guilty on all charges after a nine-day trial in state court in Memphis. After the jury’s verdict was read, the defendants hugged their lawyers as relatives of the former officers cried. One relative yelled: “Thank you, Jesus!” <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/may/07/tyre-nichols-officers-acquitted">Continue reading...</a>

Men, who have been convicted of federal charges, found not guilty in death of Black man, 29, after he fled traffic stop
Three former Memphis officers were acquitted on Wednesday of state charges, including second-degree murder, in the fatal beating of Tyre Nichols after he ran away from a traffic stop in 2023.
A jury took about eight-and-a-half hours over two days to find Tadarrius Bean, Demetrius Haley and Justin Smith not guilty on all charges after a nine-day trial in state court in Memphis. After the jury’s verdict was read, the defendants hugged their lawyers as relatives of the former officers cried. One relative yelled: “Thank you, Jesus!”
 Continue reading...

Three former Memphis police officers were acquitted of state charges, including second-degree murder, in the 2023 fatal beating of Tyre Nichols, a 29-year-old Black man, after he fled a traffic stop. The officers had already been convicted on federal charges.  

Three ex-Tennessee officers acquitted of state charges in fatal beating of Tyre Nichols

The UK Home Office was unable to process Julius Malema's application in time for his trip, the High Commission says.

South African opposition leader Julius Malema criticized the UK government after his visa application was not processed in time for his planned trip, with the UK High Commission citing processing delays.  

South African opposition politician hits out after failing to get UK visa

<ul><li>Itoje to be first English Lions captain in 24 years</li><li>40-strong squad to be announced at O2 on Thursday</li></ul>Maro Itoje will be named captain of the British &amp; Irish Lions squad to tour Australia on Thursday, the Guardian understands. Itoje is set to become the first Englishman to lead the Lions in 24 years when he is unveiled as part of Andy Farrell’s squad announcement at a live event at the O2.Itoje, the England captain, became the overwhelming favourite for the role when it emerged <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/may/05/lions-ireland-captain-caelan-doris-operation-shoulder-injury-rugby-union">Caelan Doris had suffered a shoulder injury</a> last weekend that required surgery. The Ireland captain is a doubt for the tour of Australia, clearing the way for Itoje to be selected as captain and lead what is understood to be a 40-strong squad. <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/may/07/maro-itoje-to-be-named-british-irish-lions-captain-for-australia-tour-rugby-union">Continue reading...</a>

Itoje to be first English Lions captain in 24 years
40-strong squad to be announced at O2 on Thursday

Maro Itoje will be named captain of the British & Irish Lions squad to tour Australia on Thursday, the Guardian understands. Itoje is set to become the first Englishman to lead the Lions in 24 years when he is unveiled as part of Andy Farrell’s squad announcement at a live event at the O2.
Itoje, the England captain, became the overwhelming favourite for the role when it emerged Caelan Doris had suffered a shoulder injury last weekend that required surgery. The Ireland captain is a doubt for the tour of Australia, clearing the way for Itoje to be selected as captain and lead what is understood to be a 40-strong squad.
 Continue reading...

Maro Itoje is set to be named captain of the British & Irish Lions for their upcoming tour of Australia, marking the first time an Englishman has led the team in 24 years. The official squad announcement will take place at a live event at the O2 on Thursday.  

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Ukraine war briefing: Hegseth’s sudden arms halt ‘cost US up to $2.2m’ – report

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