Residents clear debris at residential building struck by a drone in Kyiv, Ukraine, on Saturday morning. Photo by Sergey Dolzhenko/EPA-EFE
May 24 (UPI) — Russia, using missiles and drones, launched one of the biggest assaults on the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv, since the beginning of the war more than three years ago and hours after a prisoner exchange began.
Russia was retaliating after several days of Ukrainian drone attacks inside its territory, including in Moscow.
The first explosions in Kyiv were reported at 10 p.m. Friday, according to the Kviv Independent. Another wave was heard at around 1 a.m. and then, hours later, more missile debris was reported in the Obolonskyi district
CNN reported that 13 people died in the drone and missile attacks — at least four in the eastern Donetsk region, five in the southern Kherson and Odesa regions, and four in the northern Kharkiv region in the past 24 hours.
At least 15 people needed medical attention in Kyiv, including two children, the network reported.
Russia launched 14 ballistic missiles and 250 drones, with Ukrainian forces shooting down six missiles and stopping 245 drones before they reached Kyiv. Projectiles also hit the Dnipro, Odesa, Kharkiv, Donetsk and Zaporizhzhia regions.
“It was a difficult night for all of Ukraine — 250 strike drones, the absolute majority of them Iranian ‘Shaheds,’ and 14 ballistic missiles,” Zelenskyy wrote. “The Odesa, Vinnytsia, Sumy, Kharkiv, Donetsk, Kyiv, Dnipro regions suffered damages. All strikes targeted civilians. There are fatalities. My condolences to the families and loved ones.”
Zelensky called for more sanctions on Russia to achieve a cease-fire, including one lasting 30 days.
“With each such attack, the world becomes more certain that the cause of prolonging the war lies in Moscow,” Zelensky wrote.
“Ukraine has proposed a ceasefire many times — both a full one and one in the skies. It all has been ignored. It is clear that far stronger pressure must be imposed on Russia to get results and launch real diplomacy.
“We are awaiting sanctions steps from the United States, Europe, and all our partners. Only additional sanctions targeting key sectors of the Russian economy will force Moscow to cease fire.”
Amid explosions and loud sirens throughout Kyiv, people took shelter in the city’s subway stations as the air raid alert in lasted more than seven hours
A five-story building in the Solomianskyi district caught fire, and seven people needed medical attention, said Tymur Tkachenko, head of the Kyiv city military administration.
“It’s terrorism,” said Mykyta Kruchan, a 22-year-old business development manager whose parents live in an apartment building in the Obolonskyi district hit by a Russian Shahed-type drone. Their apartment was not damaged, he told the Independent.
“What Ukraine does we shoot their military buildings, military stuff, centers. … But here, it’s not an adequate reply to me. All they do is on purpose.”
Kruchan, who described himself as once a supporter of President Donald Trump, said the president wants to “team up with terrorists rather than stop them.”
Olha Chyrukha, a 64-year-old resident of Kyiv, standing outside a damaged apartment building, said: “I wish they’d agree to a cease-fire. To bomb people like this …”
Ukrainian parliament member Kira Rudik told CNN hiding “under the stairs” overnight in Kyiv.
“It was terrifying, it felt honestly like armageddon, the explosions were everywhere,” she said.
Russia’s defense ministry claimed 94 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles over Russian territory were destroyed, mostly over the Belgorod and Bryansk regions. Also, some UAVs were shot down over the Kursk, Lipetsk, Voronezh and Tula regions.
Prisoner swap, cease-fire talks
Russia and Ukraine began a one-for-one 1,000 prisoner exchange of soldiers and civilians in the first phase of a deal agreed to in Istanbul, Turkey, this week.
In the first swap on Friday, 390 Ukrainians were back home, and on Saturday the Russian defense ministry said 307 prisoners from each country were exchanged.
The two sides, with help from the United States, have been working toward a permanent cease-fire.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said “one week has passed since the Istanbul meeting, and Russia has yet to send its ‘peace memorandum.’ Instead, Russia sends deadly drones and missiles at civilians.”
Ukraine and its allies want an immediate and unconditional cease-fire.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said his nation would give Ukraine a draft text stating its conditions for a truce after the prisoner swap is completed.
Last week, Russian President Vladimir Putin didn’t show up for a meeting with Zelensky in Turkey. Instead, lower-level officials negotiated.
Process launched after visit by Palestinian President Abbas, who said weapons ‘hurt’ Lebanon and Palestine cause.
A joint Lebanese-Palestinian committee tasked with the removal of weapons held by Palestinian factions in Lebanon’s refugee camps has met for the first time to begin hashing out a timetable for disarming the groups.
The Lebanese-Palestinian Dialogue Committee, a government body serving as interlocutor between Palestinian refugees and officials, met on Friday with Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam in attendance.
The group said that “participants agreed to launch a process for the disarmament of weapons according to a specific timetable”.
It added that it also aimed to take steps to “enhance the economic and social rights of Palestinian refugees”.
A Lebanese government source told the news agency AFP that disarmament in the country’s 12 official camps for Palestinian refugees, which host multiple Palestinian factions, including Fatah, its rivals Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad, and a range of other groups, could begin in mid-June.
Under a decades-old agreement, Lebanese authorities do not control the camps, where security is managed by Palestinian factions.
The meeting comes as the Lebanese government faces increasing international pressure to remove weapons from the Iran-aligned Lebanese armed group Hezbollah, which fought a war with Israel last year.
“The message is clear. There is a new era, a new balance of power, and a new leadership in Lebanon, which is pushing ahead with monopolising arms in the hands of the state,” said Al Jazeera’s Zeina Khodr, reporting from Beirut.
“It has already begun to dismantle Hezbollah’s military infrastructure in southern Lebanon, and the next phase appears to be the disarmament of Palestinian groups in camps before it addresses the issue of Hezbollah’s weapons in the rest of the country,” she said.
Earlier this week, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas – leader of the Palestine Liberation Organization, dominated by his Fatah party, visited Lebanon and said in a speech that the weapons in the camps “hurt Lebanon and the Palestinian cause”.
During Abbas’s visit, he and Lebanese President Joseph Aoun announced an agreement that Palestinian factions would not use Lebanon as a launchpad for any attacks against Israel, and that weapons would be consolidated under the authority of the Lebanese government.
Al Jazeera’s Khodr signalled that several factions appeared to be against disarmement.
“While Abbas’s Palestinian Authority may be recognised internationally as the representative body of the Palestinian people, there are many armed groups, among them, Hamas and [Palestinian] Islamic Jihad, who … believe in armed struggle against Israel,” she said.
“Without consensus among the factions, stability could remain elusive.”
SEOUL, May 23 (UPI) —North Korea began a full-scale investigation into an accident that damaged a new warship at its launch ceremony this week, state-run media reported Friday, with investigators vowing that those culpable “can never evade their responsibility for the crime.”
The accident occurred on Wednesday at the Chongjin Shipyard during the launch ceremony for the 5,000-ton destroyer. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, who was in attendance, called the incident a “criminal act” and said it “could not be tolerated.”
South Korea’s military assessed afterward that the North had attempted to “side-launch” the vessel by sliding it into the water sideways rather than launching it from a drydock, a technique analysts believe Pyongyang had never used before.
Satellite imagery captured by Airbus Space and shared on X on Thursday by British research organization Open Source Centre showed the warship listing on its side, draped by blue tarpaulins. OSC called the coverings “a visible attempt to contain the disaster.”
While the North’s initial media account on Thursday claimed that sections of the ship’s hull were crushed during the launch mishap, Friday’s report in state-run Korean Central News Agency downplayed the damage.
“Detailed underwater and internal inspection of the warship confirmed that, unlike the initial announcement, there were no holes made at the warship’s bottom,” the KCNA report said.
The hull starboard was scratched and seawater flowed into the stern section, KCNA said, calling the extent of the damage “not serious.”
It would take around 10 days to restore the warship’s damaged side, the report added.
Kim Jong Un blamed government officials, engineers and shipyard workers for the incident, KCNA reported on Thursday. He warned that their “irresponsible errors” would be dealt with at a plenary meeting of the ruling Workers’ Party central committee next month.
The accident “brought the dignity and self-respect of our state to a collapse,” Kim said, and ordered the ship to be restored before the June meeting.
Hong Kil Ho, manager of the Chongjin Shipyard, was summoned by authorities, the KCNA report said Friday.
The ruling party’s Central Military Commission instructed investigators to determine the cause of the accident and find those responsible for it, KCNA said.
“No matter how good the state of the warship is, the fact that the accident is an unpardonable criminal act remains unchanged, and those responsible for it can never evade their responsibility for the crime,” the military commission said.
The destroyer was the second warship introduced by North Korea in recent weeks, following the launch of its 5,000-ton Choe Hyon destroyer at the Nampo Shipyard on April 25. That vessel is armed with a wide range of weapons, including supersonic cruise missiles and strategic cruise missiles, according to North Korean reports.
Photos released by the North showed that the Choe Hyon’s missile and radar systems resemble those found on Russian vessels, prompting speculation that Pyongyang received technical assistance from Moscow in its development.
North Korea has deployed troops, artillery and weapons to Russia to aid in Moscow’s war against Ukraine, and is believed to be receiving much-needed financial support and advanced military technology for its own weapons programs.
The warship damaged during the launch accident appears to be similarly equipped to the Choe Hyon, South Korea’s military said Thursday.
The crypto market is bursting with opportunities this month. Bitcoin is approaching its all-time high (ATH), and altcoin prices are soaring.
Ethereum leads the altcoin market with a 55% monthly gain, while smaller altcoins have given far bigger gains. Launch Coin on Believe is one of the best performers, providing approximately a 700x gain this month. If you invested $1.5K one month ago, you’d be a millionaire now.
But for investors seeking such high gains, it’s best to identify projects earlier in their lifecycle. One way to do this is through crypto presales. These are tokens that are currently fundraising and have yet to launch on the open market, allowing traders to buy in at rock-bottom prices.
With that in mind, here are the best presales to buy now:
MIND of Pepe
When it comes to investing in emerging crypto projects, it’s important to look ahead and forecast which trends could dominate the market in the months ahead. Based on current market conditions, MIND of Pepe appears well-positioned to thrive.
It’s a Pepe-themed AI agent. The agent can identify trends and launch its own crypto projects – and $MIND holders get insider access to all its exclusive features. The project also launched a public X account that analyzes the market and aims to build a following, which could help bolster the $MIND price.
As mentioned, Ethereum is showing strength with a 55% gain this month, and that has provided a tailwind for Pepe to rally 73%.
But as a Pepe-themed project on Ethereum, MIND of Pepe is in an advantageous position to rise alongside these projects, except with potentially stronger upswings due to its lower market cap.
The presale has raised $9.7 million so far, but it will end in ten days.
BTC Bull Token is a Bitcoin-themed meme coin on Ethereum. But it’s no ordinary meme coin, it’s the first-ever cryptocurrency to pay its holder real Bitcoin rewards.
It’ll run $BTC and $BTCBULL airdrops at key Bitcoin price milestones, allowing meme coin fans to directly benefit from Bitcoin’s growth.
What’s interesting about this project is that its Bitcoin rewards clearly separate it from other meme coins. As word spreads, this could draw massive interest and cause its price to rocket.
Dogecoin hit a market cap beyond $70 billion last cycle without offering any community rewards. BTC Bull Token has raised just $6 million in its presale so far, while promising exposure to the world’s best-performing asset since 2009.
Moving away from the meme coin meta, Subdd Token is another project at the intersection of multiple trending sectors. It aims to revolutionize the $85 billion subscription-based creator economy with blockchain payments and AI tooling.
It’s a new subscription app that uses AI to automate account management, allowing content creators to focus on what truly matters: content production and fan engagement.
The idea is that this will cultivate unparalleled creator-fan relationships, attracting both users and creators away from other subscription apps and onto Subdd.
She’s got brains, beauty, and better onboarding than half of Web3.
UX is clean, fast, and yes… I helped design it.
Creator dashboards. AI chat. Fan experiences with actual taste.
If successful, this will bolster the $SUBDD price. $SUBDD is the platform’s native utility and rewards token. Hold it, and you’ll enjoy the maximum ecosystem benefits, including subscription discounts, beta platform access, VIP staking benefits, and more.
Another promising aspect is that the presale remains in its earliest stages, having raised $460K so far. This early stage means $SUBDD investors get the best possible price, maximizing their opportunity for gains.
Solaxy is building the world’s first Solana layer 2 blockchain to resolve the network’s long-standing congestion issue.
Unless you’re deeply in sync with Solana’s inner workings, you may be surprised that Solana grapples with congestion. After all, it’s the go-to chain for meme coin traders due to its high speeds and low fees.
Yet, these characteristics also cause its demise. During peak network activity periods, Solana cannot handle the excessive amounts of transaction requests that flood the network, leading to longer wait times and increased rates of transaction failures. Solaxy will fix this.
It’ll use off-chain computation and transaction bundling technology to offer cheaper, faster, and more reliable throughput. The goal is for Solaxy to achieve 10,000 transactions per second (TPS), making it almost 50% more scalable than Solana.
The project is undergoing a presale and has raised $38 million so far. This makes it the biggest Solana presale in history and suggests $SOLX could see huge demand once it hits the open market.
Smart investors know that investing in infrastructure projects is one of the best ways to capitalize in bull markets. These projects offer diversified bets, sometimes called the “pick and shovel” approach.
Regarding infrastructure projects currently available at presale, Best Wallet Token may be among the most promising on the market.
The token powers Best Wallet, an innovative crypto wallet that supports over 60 blockchains, including Bitcoin, Ethereum, Solana, XRP, and Cardano.
Best Wallet offers a cross-chain DEX, a token launchpad, and even a crypto debit card. They’re not features you’d typically expect to see in a crypto wallet, but they’re what you might envision in a crypto wallet of the future.
The $BEST token unlocks ecosystem advantages, including trading fee discounts, higher staking yields, governance rights, and access to promotions on partner projects.
Best Wallet might be the only wallet with such a comprehensive feature list and also support for so many blockchains. So factoring in its token utility, it’s easy to see why $BEST could surge this year.
This article is for informational purposes only and does not provide financial advice. Cryptocurrencies are highly volatile, and the market can be unpredictable. Always perform thorough research before making any cryptocurrency-related decisions.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu promises more strikes if the group continues to launch attacks on Israel.
Israel says it has launched strikes on the Yemeni ports of Hodeidah and as-Salif in response to the Houthi rebels firing missiles towards Israel, days after the Yemeni group agreed a truce with the United States.
The Israeli military said it carried out strikes on “terrorist infrastructure” on Friday, saying on X that the two ports had been used by the Houthi rebel group to “transfer weapons”.
Al Masirah TV, a Houthi-affiliated outlet, also reported Israeli strikes on the two ports. The extent of any damage was not clear, and there no immediate reports of casualties.
The Houthis have carried out a campaign of attacks against Israel in self-proclaimed solidarity with Palestinians after Israel launched its assault on Gaza in October 2023.
Israel has carried out strikes in response, including one on May 6 that damaged Yemen’s main airport in Sanaa and killed several people.
Friday’s attacks were the first since US President Donald Trump agreed to a ceasefire deal with the Houthis earlier this month, with the US halting its attacks on Yemen and the group agreeing to end its attacks on shipping lanes in the Red Sea.
Israel was not included in that agreement, and its military said it intercepted several missiles fired from Yemen towards Israeli airspace this week.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Friday that the attacks are “just the beginning”, describing the Houthis as “just a tool”, alleging that Iran was “behind them”.
“We will not stand idly by and allow the Houthis to harm us. We will strike them with greater force, including at their leadership and all the infrastructure that enables them to attack us,” he said in a statement posted on the government’s social media account.
Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz pledged to “hunt down and eliminate” Houthi leader Abdel-Malik al-Houthi if the rebel group continued “to fire missiles at the State of Israel”.
Alluding to recent Houthi attacks on Israel, Katz indicated leader al-Houthi would meet the same fate as Hamas commanders Mohammed Deif and Yahya Sinwar in Gaza, Hamas political chief Ismail Haniyeh in Iran, and Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah in Lebanon – all killed in Israeli attacks over the last year.
Al Jazeera’s Hamdah Salhut, reporting from Jordan’s capital Amman, said that since Israel broke a ceasefire agreement with Hamas back in March – killing almost 3,000 since then, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry – the Houthis had launched “at least 34 different projectiles” towards Israel.
She said that Israel’s policy “moving forward” would be to strike back. “For every missile that’s fired, they’re going to be conducting these types of air strikes,” she said.
SpaceX Friday launched another routine Starlink satellite launch from California, the 20th this year.
Liftoff for Starlink mission 15-5 was 9:43 a.m. EDT from Vandenburg Space Force base, lofting 26 more Starlink satellites into low-Earth orbit. Depicted is a Starlink launch from the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida on Wednesday. Photo by Joe Marino/UPI | License Photo
May 16 (UPI) —SpaceX Friday launched another routine Starlink satellite launch from California, the 20th this year.
Liftoff for Starlink mission 15-5 was 9:43 a.m. EDT from Vandenburg Space Force base, lofting 26 more Starlink satellites into low-Earth orbit.
The Falcon 9 first stage booster B1093 launched the satellites and then touched down in the Pacific Ocean a little more than eight minutes later on the droneship ‘Of Course I Still Love You.’
The launch was live streamed.
Friday’s launch brought the number of Starlink satellites in orbit to over 1,000.
It was the second flight for booster B1093. It was used 39 days ago in the Starlink 11-11 mission launched from Vandenburg.
SpaceX advised that residents of Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, and Ventura counties could possibly hear sonic booms from the launch.
A BELOVED clothing store that has been in business for nearly 50 years has launched a massive sale ahead of its closure.
Ginger, in Norwich, will shut for good on June 7 after the owners were forced to make an “incredibly difficult decision”.
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The family-owned business is one of Norwich’s oldestCredit: Facebook
The shop was founded by David and Rodger Kingsley in 1978 following the success of their sister company Jonathan Trumbull in 1971.
Beckie Kingsley broke the sad news on social media that her family’s shop was soon to be no more.
The store manager blamed the current economic climate and the aftermath of Covid-19 for the business’s hardship.
She said: “It’s with truly heavy hearts that, after 46 unforgettable years, we have made the incredibly difficult decision to close the doors at our beautiful, beloved and historic Timber Hill home.
“We’ve weathered many storms over the decades, but there’s been ongoing challenges of today’s financial climate – coupled with the lasting impact and huge shifts within the retail landscape since Covid.
“This led us to ask – does it still work for us? After deep reflection, the answer, sadly, is no.
“We’ve had the privilege of watching generations grow, celebrating precious life milestones, sharing joys and deepest sorrows.
“Being part of people’s stories has been beyond a privilege – more than some may ever know.
“They’ve always been more than just customers – they’ve become wonderful friends.”
Ginger is one of the city’s oldest businesses and loyal customers rushed to share their praise.
The British Retail Consortium has predicted that the Treasury’s hike to employer NICs will cost the retail sector £2.3billion.
Research by the British Chambers of Commerce shows that more than half of companies plan to raise prices by early April.
A survey of more than 4,800 firms found that 55% expect prices to increase in the next three months, up from 39% in a similar poll conducted in the latter half of 2024.
Three-quarters of companies cited the cost of employing people as their primary financial pressure.
The Centre for Retail Research (CRR) has also warned that around 17,350 retail sites are expected to shut down this year.
It comes on the back of a tough 2024 when 13,000 shops closed their doors for good, already a 28% increase on the previous year.
Professor Joshua Bamfield, director of the CRR said: “The results for 2024 show that although the outcomes for store closures overall were not as poor as in either 2020 or 2022, they are still disconcerting, with worse set to come in 2025.”
Professor Bamfield has also warned of a bleak outlook for 2025, predicting that as many as 202,000 jobs could be lost in the sector.
“By increasing both the costs of running stores and the costs on each consumer’s household it is highly likely that we will see retail job losses eclipse the height of the pandemic in 2020.”
GREGGS has launched its summer menu for 2025 and it includes a new bake and biscuit-inspired iced latte that fans will go crazy for.
The high street favourite has added a wave of new options to its shelves, with new spicy chicken sandwiches, summer drinks and sweet treats joining the line-up.
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The new menu includes a biscuit-inspired iced-latteCredit: Greggs
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A Red Pepper, Feta and Spinach Bake is also joining the menuCredit: Greggs
Available in shops nationwide from tomorrow, May 15, the new menu includes a Red Pepper, Feta & Spinach Bake, which has already been dubbed “lush” by excited followers on Instagram.
The Mediterranean-style pastry will cost £2.10.
For coffee lovers, the new Caramelised Biscuit Latte is proving to be the star of the show.
Available hot from £2.75 or iced from £3.10, it’s inspired by the popular Lotus Biscoff biscuit.
Greggs has also upped its hot sandwich offering, introducing a new Korean Chicken range.
It features a Korean Crispy Chicken Burger from £4, a BBQ Chicken Wrap from £3.80, and a Spicy Korean BBQ Chicken Baguette from £3.60 – all part of its Hot Sandwich, Wedges & Drink Deal.
A new Chicken, Sweetcorn and Red Onion Pizza slice is also joining the menu, priced from £2.40, available as part of Greggs’ after-4pm Pizza Deal.
On the sweeter side, there’s a Lemon Meringue Muffin from £1.55, which can be paired with a hot drink in a meal deal.
Customers can also pick up Plenish wellness shots, with Ginger Immunity and Turmeric Recovery options both priced at £1.55 and a fat-free Greek Style Yogurt with Strawberry Compote, priced from £1.55.
The new menu is available for in-store purchase, click and collect via the Greggs app, and delivery through Just Eat and Uber Eats.
Greggs posted the announcement online with the caption: “Babe wake up, Greggs summer menu just dropped!!”
Fans shared their excitement for the new menu.
One customer wrote: “That biscuit latte looks so good”, others agreed saying: “the latte looks amazing”.
A third said: “could really go for that lemon muffin”.
Whilst another added: “need that chicken sandwich, yum”.
But not everyone is thrilled by the new launch.
Comments were quickly flooded with complaints from fans asking where the vegan options were.
“This is so disappointing, where’s the vegan stuff?” one user asked.
Another added: “Give the vegans what they want for gods sake.”
Customers were hoping the veganuary menu signalled a long-term commitment to expanding Greggs’ vegan offering, but many have been left disappointed by its absence from the summer launch.
Greggs new summer menu items and prices
All items will be available in shops nationwide from Thursday May 15
Drinks Caramelised Biscuit Latte (hot) – from £2.75 Iced Caramelised Biscuit Latte – from £3.10
Sweet Treats Fat Free Greek Style Yogurt with Strawberry Compote – from £1.55 Lemon Meringue Muffin – from £1.55 (Part of Sweet Treat & Hot Drink Deal)
Wellness Shots Plenish Ginger Immunity Shot 60ml – from £1.55 Plenish Turmeric Recovery Shot 60ml – from £1.55
Hot Food (Part of Hot Sandwich, Wedges & Drink Deal) Korean Crispy Chicken Burger – from £4.00 Korean BBQ Chicken Wrap – from £3.80 Spicy Korean BBQ Chicken Baguette – from £3.60 Red Pepper, Feta & Spinach Bake – from £2.10
Cold Sandwiches (Part of Cold Sandwich & Drink Deal) Korean BBQ Chicken Flatbread – from £3.50 Roast Chicken Salad Sandwich – from £2.75 Roast Chicken Salad Roll – from £3.30 Roast Chicken with Honey Mustard Mayonnaise Oval Bite – from £3.50 Cheese & Onion Roll – from £3.30
Pizza (Available after 4pm – Part of Pizza & Drink Deal) Chicken, Sweetcorn and Red Onion Pizza – from £2.40
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Fans have shared their excitement over the new Korean Chicken BurgerCredit: Greggs
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The Greggs Chicken Salad Roll will be a cold meal deal optionCredit: Greggs
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The Chicken Mayo Salad Sandwich will retail for £2.75Credit: Greggs
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The Cheese and Onion Roll will also be a cold meal deal optionCredit: Greggs
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The new menu includes a Korean Chicken BaguetteCredit: Greggs
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It will also offer a Korean Chicken Wrap alternativeCredit: Greggs
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The Korean BBQ Chicken Flatbread will retail for £3.50Credit: Greggs
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The new Caramelised Biscuit Latte is also available as a hot drinkCredit: Greggs
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Customers can also purchase a Yogurts with Strawberry CompoteCredit: Greggs
A BELOVED department chain is preparing to shut its final store this month as it launches a “Rachel Reeves closing down sale.”
The famous shop will be shuttering forever after serving customers on the high street for 140 years.
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The iconic department store Beales will be shutting is last storeCredit: Getty
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Beales in Poole’s Dolphin Centre is offering 80 per cent off its stockCredit: BNPS
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The site has named the offer a ‘Rachel Reeves’ closing down sale’Credit: FACEBOOK – BEALES POOLE
Beales in the Dolphin Centre in Poole will close on May 31 and is slashing the price of stock by 80 per cent in the meantime.
The historic chain was founded in Bournemouth in 1881 and offers a range of iconic products, including clothing, home goods, and more.
This particular Poole Beales branch was the last one standing when the company collapsed into administration in January 2020, leading to the closure of its 22 other stores.
Despite the stores resilience, the brutal budget introduced last year saw the hike of National Insurance which has forced countless shops to close.
To mark the occasions, the store’s Facebook page is advertising a “Rachel Reeves‘ Closing Down Sale,” featuring discounts of up to 80% and a caption cheekily thanking the Chancellor for “the help.”
It wrote in the caption: “Our closing sale is almost over (cheers for the help, Chancellor) – and we’ve just dropped hundreds of lines to 80% OFF or more!
“Grab a bargain before we vanish into the budget black hole. #FinalSale #80Off #LastChance #WhenItsGoneItsGone.”
Despite weathering the storm for the past five years, it seems the Chancellor’s latest Budget changes have delivered the final blow to the struggling chain.
Beales chief executive Tony Brown previously told The Telegraph the business had become “unviable” following the Chancellor’s announcement of increases to the minimum wage and national insurance contributions in the October Budget.
Announcing the closure, Mr Brown said: “This, combined with the risks and uncertainty of further tax increases in the coming years, has left us with no alternative.
Beloved pizza chain to close down for good in just weeks after 54 years
“We have been working with the Dolphin Centre, who have been supportive, along with our investors to ensure an orderly exit.
“Our team has been informed, as have our suppliers.
“We will ensure the exit is managed and no one will be left with a financial loss.”
Shoppers were left heartbroken by the news of the store’s impending closure, with one commenting on the latest post: “I’ve loved shopping here over the years.”
Another wrote: “Sadly this is happening to many shops.”
Like many businesses, Beales now faces higher employer national insurance contributions, which have risen from 13.8% to 15%.
Additionally, the threshold at which these contributions must be paid has been lowered from £9,100 to £5,000.
At the same time, the national minimum wage saw a notable increase, rising to £12.21 per hour. For workers aged 18-20, the minimum wage increased by £1.40 to £10 per hour.
Founded in 1881, Beales once boasted a proud portfolio of 41 department stores in market towns across the UK, offering everything from furniture and fashion to toys and cosmetics.
The retailer’s decline has been gradual but unrelenting.
With the closure of the Poole branch, the last remaining link to the Beales name, a once-iconic fixture of the British high street, will vanish forever.
DEATH OF THE HIGH STREET
Retailers have been feeling the squeeze since the pandemic, while shoppers are cutting back on spending due to the soaring cost of living crisis.
High energy costs and a move to shopping online after the pandemic are also taking a toll, and many high street shops have struggled to keep going.
However, additional costs have added further pain to an already struggling sector.
The British Retail Consortium has predicted that the Treasury’s hike to employer NICs from April will cost the retail sector £2.3billion.
At the same time, the minimum wage will rise to £12.21 an hour from April, and the minimum wage for people aged 18-20 will rise to £10 an hour, an increase of £1.40.
Experts have said small high street shops could face a particularly challenging 2025 because of Budget tax and wage changes.
Professor Bamfield has warned of a bleak outlook for 2025, predicting that as many as 202,000 jobs could be lost in the sector.
“By increasing both the costs of running stores and the costs on each consumer’s household it is highly likely that we will see retail job losses eclipse the height of the pandemic in 2020.”
Why are retailers closing shops?
EMPTY shops have become an eyesore on many British high streets and are often symbolic of a town centre’s decline.
The Sun’s business editor Ashley Armstrong explains why so many retailers are shutting their doors.
In many cases, retailers are shutting stores because they are no longer the money-makers they once were because of the rise of online shopping.
Falling store sales and rising staff costs have made it even more expensive for shops to stay open.
The British Retail Consortium has predicted that the Treasury’s hike to employer NICs from April 2025, will cost the retail sector £2.3billion.
At the same time, the minimum wage will rise to £12.21 an hour from April, and the minimum wage for people aged 18-20 will rise to £10 an hour, an increase of £1.40.
In some cases, retailers are shutting a store and reopening a new shop at the other end of a high street to reflect how a town has changed.
The problem is that when a big shop closes, footfall falls across the local high street, which puts more shops at risk of closing.
Retail parks are increasingly popular with shoppers, who want to be able to get easy, free parking at a time when local councils have hiked parking charges in towns.
Many retailers including Next and Marks & Spencer have been shutting stores on the high street and taking bigger stores in better-performing retail parks instead.
In some cases, stores have been shut when a retailer goes bust, as in the case of Carpetright, Debenhams, Dorothy Perkins, Paperchase, Ted Baker, The Body Shop, Topshop and Wilko to name a few.
What’s increasingly common is when a chain goes bust a rival retailer or private equity firm snaps up the intellectual property rights so they can own the brand and sell it online.
They may go on to open a handful of stores if there is customer demand, but there are rarely ever as many stores or in the same places.
The Centre for Retail Research (CRR) has warned that around 17,350 retail sites are expected to shut down this year.
May 13 (UPI) — The Trump administration has launched an investigation into a California state-level program that provides aged, blind and disabled non-citizens with monthly cash benefits on accusations it was illegally distributing federal funding to those ineligible for Social Security.
The Department of Homeland Security announced the probe Monday in a statement saying it was requesting all records from the Los Angeles County Department of Public Social Services, which administers California’s Cash Assistance Program for Immigrants, to determine whether federal funds were given to ineligible undocumented immigrants.
The probe will examine the program’s records going back to January 2021, the month the previous president, Joe Biden, took office.
“Radical left politicians in California prioritize illegal aliens over our own citizens, including by giving illegal aliens access to cash benefits,” DHS Secretary Kristi Noem said in the statement.
“The Trump administration is working together to identify abuse and exploitation of public benefits and make sure those in this country illegally are not receiving federal benefits or other financial incentives to stay illegally.”
The DHS said it is specifically looking to see if undocumented immigrants were receiving Supplemental Security Income from the Social Security Administration.
California’s Cash Assistance Program for Immigrants dates back to the 1990s and was established to provide monthly cash benefits to specific immigrants ineligible for SSI due to their immigration status.
According to its website, the program is entirely state funded. To be eligible, applicants must be California residents ineligible for SSI and either be 65 years old or older, blind or disabled.
The investigation was met with swift condemnation from SEIU California union that accused the Trump administration of using “bullying” tactics to attack the state’s safety net.
“Donald Trump‘s campaign to instill fear in immigrant communities will meet resolute opposition here in California,” the union’s president, David Huerta, said in a statement.
Huerta said the federal government has no basis for its “legal bullying” and no right to tell California how to use its state funds to fight poverty.
“The sole purpose of this sham ‘investigation’ is clear: intimidation of people seeking safety and of all those who provide them with needed support,” Huerta said.
“We will not be intimidated, and we will not back down.”
SEIU California is a non-partisan union representing some 750,000 nurses, healthcare workers, janitors, social workers and security officers as well as city, county and state employees.
President Donald Trump ran on a platform to crack down on migration and to undertake the largest deportation in American history, while using controversial and derogatory rhetoric to spread misinformation and false claims about migrants and crime.
Since his January inauguration, he has used his executive powers to focus the federal government on targeting immigration.
A month ago, he signed an executive order directing Noem and other cabinet officials to ensure undocumented immigration do not receive funds from Social Security programs and to take civil and criminal action against governments that fail to prevent non-citizens from receiving the benefits.
ALDI IS launching a new range of cake pops costing just 50p each, undercutting Starbucks by more than £2.80 per item.
The budget supermarket will be selling its Village Bakery Cake Pops in a pack of four for £1.99, starting Sunday, 12th May.
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The sweet treats come in two flavours, Birthday Cake and Cookies & Cream
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Starbucks currently sells similar items at £3.35 each, meaning Aldi’s version comes in at around 85 per cent cheaper
The sweet treats come in two flavours, Birthday Cake and Cookies & Cream.
Starbucks currently sells similar items at £3.35 each, meaning Aldi’s version comes in at around 85 per cent cheaper.
The Birthday Cake flavour features a strawberry and vanilla mix, while the Cookies & Cream option includes cookie crumbs and vanilla flavouring.
Both are designed as bite-sized snacks aimed at those after an affordable sweet treat.
Aldi said the items will be available in all UK stores while stocks last.
Separately, Aldi is selling a Pistachio Spread as part of its Specially Selected range for £1.79, which is significantly cheaper than M&S’s Pistachio Crème, priced at £4.75 for 220g.
Aldi’s version works out at 89p per 100g, while M&S charges £2.16 per 100g. The retailer recommends using the spread on toast, pastries or desserts.
The item has gained attention online after being posted on Facebook.
One user wrote: “This would be so delicious on pancakes or waffles in the morning.”
Another added: “Can’t wait to try this! It looks so yummy!”
‘Absolutely delicious’ shopper exclaims at new Aldi summer bargain essential that’s perfect for BBQs
This follows several other comparisons where Aldi has undercut major brands.
Earlier this year, Aldi released a £4.99 dupe of the popular Stanley Cup flask, which typically sells for £44.99.
During Easter, it offered a £3 chocolate bunny that shoppers compared to Lindt’s £6.99 version.
In household products, Aldi’s own-brand laundry powder priced at £1.99 has been praised by customers online, with some saying it outperforms well-known brands like Bold.
Best value picks compared:
Energy Drinks:
Red Bull, Asda, 355ml can – £2 (56p per 100ml)
Red Thunder, Aldi, 250ml can – 42p (17p per 100ml)
Ketchup:
Heinz, Asda, 425g bottle – £3 (71p per 100g)
Bramwells, Aldi, 530g bottle – 89p (17p per 100g)
Cookies:
Oreo, Morrisons, 154g pack – £1.50 (97p per 100g)
Cookies & Cream, Aldi, 154g pack – 45p (29p per 100g)
Chocolate Spread:
Nutella, Morrisons, 350g jar – £3.59 (£1.03 per 100g)
Nutoka, Aldi, 400g tub – £1.69 (42p per 100g)
Cheese Snacks:
Mini Cheddars, Sainsbury’s, 6x23g bags – £1.75 (£1.27 per 100g)
Mini Cheese Bakes, Aldi, 7x24g bags – 89p (53p per 100g)
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Earlier this year, Aldi released a £4.99 dupe of the popular Stanley Cup flask, which typically sells for £44.99Credit: Getty
Islamabad, Pakistan – India and Pakistan fired missiles at each other’s military bases on Saturday morning, the latest escalation in their rapid drift towards an all-out war.
Pakistan accused India of carrying out attacks inside its territory for the fourth consecutive night, launching ballistic missile strikes on at least three air bases. Islamabad said that in response, it launched a major military campaign, “Operation Bunyan Marsoos” (Arabic for “a structure made of lead”) targeting at least six Indian military bases.
India, in turn, accused Pakistan of being the aggressor. Indian military officials claimed Pakistan had targeted several Indian military bases and that its missiles into Pakistani territory were in response.
Yet, regardless of who hit the other first on May 10, the very fact that India and Pakistan had struck each other’s military bases over such a wide swath of territory, well beyond Kashmir – the disputed region that they each partly control – means that the conflict has now veered into almost unknown territory.
Never have the South Asian rivals attacked each other on this scale outside the four wars they have fought.
Here is what we know so far about India’s attacks, Pakistan’s response, what both countries and global powers like the United States are saying, and the background to this intensifying conflict.
(Al Jazeera)
What happened on the morning of May 10, according to Pakistan?
Pakistan said that India launched a salvo of drones into Pakistan, followed by ballistic missile strikes on at least three major airbases.
The Pakistani bases India targeted are:
Nur Khan airbase: Located near Chaklala, Rawalpindi, it serves as a key operational and training hub. It houses important Pakistan Air Force commands, and supports transport, logistics and VIP flight operations.
Murid airbase: Located in Chakwal, roughly 120km (75 miles) from Islamabad. It is a vital forward-operating base for the Pakistan Air Force. It plays a crucial role in air defence and combat readiness.
Rafiqui airbase: Located in Shorkot, Punjab, the base hosts fighter squadrons.
Pakistan said that in response, it launched aerial attacks against multiple Indian military bases. The bases known to have been targeted are:
Udhampur airbase: Located in Indian-administered Kashmir, Udhampur is also the headquarters of the Indian Army’s Northern Command.
Pathankot airbase: The base in Indian Punjab is a central part of India’s frontline air force operations and was targeted by armed fighters in a 2016 attack in which six Indian soldiers were killed. India blamed that attack on the Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammad.
Drangyari artillery gun position: Drangyari is in Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir.
Uri field support depot: Uri, in Indian-administered Kashmir, is also home to a major Indian Army base that was attacked in 2016 by armed fighters who killed 19 Indian soldiers. India, which blamed Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammad for the attack, launched what it described as “surgical strikes” in Pakistan-administered Kashmir.
Nagrota: The town in Indian-administered Kashmir is home to a storage site for the Brahmos missiles jointly designed and made by India and Russia.
Beas: Located in Indian Punjab, the site is a storage facility for the Brahmos missile.
Adampur air base: Located in Indian Punjab, the base is home to an S-400 missile defence system that India bought from Russia.
Bhuj air base: The base is located in Gujarat, the home state of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
What has India said?
At a media briefing, Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri accused Pakistan of provocations and escalations, claiming that New Delhi was only responding to its neighbour’s actions.
He was joined by Colonel Sofia Qureshi of the Indian Army and Wing Commander Vyomika Singh of the Indian Air Force, who shared New Delhi’s version of events.
Pakistan, Qureshi said, used “drones, long-range weapons, loitering munitions and fighter aircrafts to target civilian areas and military infrastructure”.
“Pakistan military also resorted to air intrusions using drones and firing of heavy calibre weapons along the Line of Control,” she said. Loitering munitions, also known as suicide drones, are remote-controlled and designed to crash into their targets. The Line of Control is the de facto border between Indian and Pakistani-administered Kashmir.
While India said it had shot down most incoming missiles and drones, Qureshi and Singh conceded that the air force bases in Udhampur, Pathankot, Adampur and Bhuj did suffer “limited damage”.
India, however, rejected suggestions that any bases had suffered any significant damage, with the military releasing time-stamped photos of the facilities in support of its assertion. Pakistan’s military had on Thursday claimed that the Udhampur and Pathankot bases had been “destroyed.”
Indian officials said at least five people had been killed by Pakistani missile fire on Saturday.
What else happened on May 10?
As the neighbours traded missile fire and allegations, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke with General Syed Asim Munir, Pakistan’s army chief and widely regarded as the country’s most powerful figure, as well as with the Indian foreign minister, S Jaishankar.
According to the US State Department, Rubio urged both parties to seek ways to “deescalate” and offered American assistance in launching constructive dialogue to avoid further conflict.
How did India and Pakistan get to the brink of war?
Pakistan’s military response on Thursday followed four days of consecutive Indian attacks inside its territory and came two weeks after a deadly assault on tourists in the scenic town of Pahalgam in Indian-administered Kashmir on April 22.
The attack killed 26 men, all civilians. India blamed armed groups it alleges are backed by Pakistan, a charge Islamabad has denied, calling instead for an “impartial, transparent” investigation that New Delhi has rejected.
Multiple witness accounts suggest the gunmen segregated the men from the women, then selected and killed non-Muslims.
India initiated strikes on May 7, targeting areas inside Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir. It claimed to have destroyed “terrorist infrastructure” and eliminated at least “100 terrorists”.
It called its attacks Operation Sindoor, a reference to the vermilion – sindoor in Hindi – the red pigment many married Hindu women apply to their foreheads. The mission’s name was an allusion to the manner in which gunmen killed tourists in Pahalgam.
Pakistan reported that the Indian strikes killed 33 people, including several children, and injured more than 50. It denied that any of the dead were fighters, as India claimed.
As the attacks unfolded, Pakistan deployed its air force in response, engaging in a battle with the Indian Air Force (IAF). Pakistan’s military claimed it downed five Indian jets, including three Rafales, the French-made aircraft considered the IAF’s most advanced assets. India has neither confirmed nor denied the losses.
Drone warfare intensifies
India responded by deploying drones and loitering munitions on May 9 and 10, hitting at least a dozen targets across Pakistan, including major urban centres such as Karachi, Lahore and Rawalpindi.
India said the drone strikes were in response to Pakistan’s use of drones, a claim Islamabad continues to reject.
“There is no credence to their claims. They continue to lie. Their allegation is false. Otherwise, where is their evidence?” Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, Pakistan’s military spokesperson, told Al Jazeera during a news briefing in Rawalpindi on Friday.
He added that Pakistan’s response to “Indian aggression” would come at a “time, method, and place of our choosing”.
That time came on the morning of May 10.
What does Operation Bunyan Marsoos mean?
Pakistan’s operation is titled Bunyan Marsoos, an Arabic phrase that translates as “a structure made of lead”.
The phrase originates from the Quran: “Truly God loves those who fight in His cause in battle array, as if they were a solid cemented structure.”
In its Quranic context, the phrase symbolises unity and strength among believers fighting for a righteous cause.
What comes next?
Experts have repeatedly warned of the need for immediate de-escalation between the nuclear-armed neighbours before the situation becomes “irreversible”.
India said on May 10 that it was willing to stop the cycle of escalation if Pakistan reciprocated.
But Kamran Bokhari, senior director at the New Lines Institute for Strategy and Policy, said Indian strikes on Pakistani airbases had dramatically escalated the conflict.
“With Pindi being hit and other airbases such as the one in Sargodha, the war has taken a turn for the worse,” he told Al Jazeera. “We are now looking at a much bigger-scale war.”
Muhammad Faisal, a South Asia security analyst at the University of Technology Sydney, said Pakistan was left with little choice but to respond forcefully.
“Pakistan can employ its latest jets in standoff mode or launch long-range missile strikes on Indian airbases that bypass air defences. During the last three days, both sides have significantly mapped each other’s air defences, and now the next round of escalation is here,” he told Al Jazeera.
The former Sky News presenter, 67, said he wouldn’t name names but it was clear which famous newsmen he was referring to – while he didn’t spare John Sergeant for his dodgy dance moves either
14:00, 10 May 2025Updated 14:03, 10 May 2025
Dermot Murnaghan has launched an acerbic attack on his former newsreader colleagues who have taken money for appearing in adverts he says are ripping off customers.
The veteran broadcaster, who left Sky News in 2023 after 15 years at the helm, refused to name names when he slammed “former news people” who are flogging overpriced gold sovereigns. But he was clearly referring to former fellow colleagues Michael Buerk and Nicholas Owen, who have both appeared in commercials selling gold coins for Hattons of London.
Speaking to the Mirror, Dermot, 67, said: “When you’re a live newsreader you’re banned by Ofcom from advertising anything, because you have a degree of credibility. But once you stop, you can, and some of my former colleagues do. Some of the things they advertise, well, I’m going to leave it there, I wouldn’t”.
Dermot Murnaghan left Sky News in 2023 after 15 years
But went on: “I may be cutting off a lucrative revenue stream for myself, but gold sovereigns at four times the price that they actually do cost, yeah, I wouldn’t do that.
“Let me say to anyone who sees this, you can get gold sovereigns, if you want them – I don’t have any, but just look up the price – cheaper than those being pumped towards you by some former news people.”
Hattons of London, a website which sells commemorative gold coins and sovereigns, proudly claims Michael Buerk is their “most recurring presenter” who has helped them sell products since 2020, including the 2020 VE Day 75th Anniversary Gold Sovereign Range and the 2022 Queen Elizabeth II Tribute Gold One Eighth Sovereign.
Nicholas Owen advertised a commemorative coin for Hattons in 2022
Buerk, whose reporting of the Ethiopian famine in in 1984 inspired Band Aid, was anchor of the BBC News at Ten until his retirement in 2024.
Nicholas Owen, who worked for ITV Evening News and BBC news role before retiring in 2019 after a career spanning over 50 years, has also worked for Hattons, advertising their St George and the Dragon Bi-Metallic Gold Sovereign Range in 2022.
Michael Buerk is Hattons of London’s most recurring presenter
Since his own retirement, Dermot has carved a different career path as the presenter of several popular true crime series on Crime+Investigation. He’s back on screens next week with the fifth run of Killer Britain with Dermot Murnaghan, which delves into some of Britain’s most chilling murder cases.
But the veteran newsman admitted it’s still “incredibly frustrating” to just be a normal TV viewer and not in the interviewer’s seat. I’m throwing soft shoes at the television screen and knocking the radio over when I hear it, because that’s my obsession, I can’t give it up.
“If I hear another politician say ‘nothing’s off the table’ or ‘we’re doing this for the national interest”, I’m just screaming, ‘Of course you are, but what are you doing?! What the heckity-heck does that mean?’”
And he didn’t spare another fellow newsreader, John Sergeant, famous after his retirement for his cringy dance moves on Strictly – something else Dermot said he won’t do.
John Sargeant dances with Kristine Rihanoff on Strictly(Image: BBC)
Dermot revealed he once had secret tests for the BBC show. He said: “I had some meetings with the producers and I did one of the secret squirrel test dances, where you get to dance with one of the wonderful dancers in a blacked out rehearsal room in central London, four or five months before the production
“I did mine and I turned to the producers sitting at the edge of the floor and said to them, ‘You can see I have no rhythm, I can’t hold the tune, and I certainly can’t dance. And they chucked and went, ‘Exactly.’ They obviously want someone just like that.”
But he said he couldn’t bring himself to embarrass himself on live TV. He said: “I don’t think I could do it. Every season has an old guy, you know. Although no-one goes as far as John Sergeant. Who could ever forget that? Dragging his poor dancer around the room like a coat at a party.”
The new series of Killer Britain, presented by Dermot Murnaghan starts Monday 12th May on the Crime + Investigation channel
PAKISTAN says it has launched a military operation against India with 25 missiles strikes.
It is the latest esclation in tensions between the two nuclear-armed rivals after a week of clashes on the border and in Kashmir.
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Indian paramilitary soldier patrols along the banks of Dal Lake in Srinagar
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Pakistan’s Army Chief Asim Munir, third standing on tank, delivers his speechCredit: AP
Pakistan’s military said it used medium-range Fateh missiles to strike more than 25 military sites.
They claimed to have attacked airbasess and weapons depots in the Indian states of Gujarat, Punjab and Rajasthan, as well as locations in India-administered Kashmir.
Pakistan dubbed the attack “Operation Bunyan ul Marsoos”.
India military officials called Pakistani’s strikes a “blatant escalation” and said they had come under attack by drones and “other munitions”.
Islamabad blamed New Dehli for “continuous provocation” – with the attack coming after Indian missiles hit targets in late on Tuesday.
India claimed it had been hitting back over the deaths of 26 tourists in a terror attack in Kashmir.
New Dehli blames Islamabad for the attack – and has repeatedly accused Pakistan of being a haven for terrorists.
The US has already called on both sides to step back from the edge of a potentially devastating war.
Trump’s secretary of state Marco Rubio said Washington would help starting “constructive talks in order to avoid future conflicts” .
India strikes Pakistan airbase with ‘ballistic missile’ as nations on brink of war
More to follow… For the latest news on this story keep checking back at The Sun Online
Thesun.co.uk is your go-to destination for the best celebrity news, real-life stories, jaw-dropping pictures and must-see video.
Summer just got a little sweeter for custard fans with Angel’s Delight serving up their beloved flavours in “mallowy” ice cream form.
The nostalgia craze in the run up to VE day, shows no sign of slowing down.
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Grab yours in Morrisons for £2.50 a popCredit: Snacks To Try/Facebook
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The sticks are the product of popular demand after fans demanded that the ‘light, airy’ tubs be available in physical supermarketsCredit: Asda
Fans are going wild for the Ice Cream Twists, inspired by the fluffy, mallowy flavours of the nostalgic pud but in a refreshing soft serve form.
Landing in two “dreamy” duos – Butterscotch & Chocolate and Strawberry & Vanilla – these soft-serve-style snacks are made for BBQS, park picnics, or just scoffing straight from the freezer on a sunny bank holiday.
The icy treats are on shelves now at Morrisons – £2.50 a pop or 2 for £4 in selected stores.
Just the announcement of the retro scoops had ice cream fans taking a trip down memory lane.
Kira Slaughter wrote: “Love Angel Delight as a kid. Still do now. Gonna have to get these.”
Sophie Carver agreed: “Omg I’m defo gonna need banana ones.”
Dedicated dessert fans have been calling for the soft serve ice cream tubs, which were already available on Trolley.co.uk, to be available in actual stores.
Angel Delight reckon they’re the ultimate blast-from-the-past snack, perfect for grown-ups chasing that retro sugar fix or kids discovering the magic for the first time.
Premier Food Brand Director, Dan Jalalpour, said: “These new soft-serve twists give fans an easy, delicious way to enjoy their favourite flavours on the go.
“So, whether it’s a garden party, a BBQ with friends, or just a sweet summer pick-me-up, these tasty Twists can become the go-to grab.”
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The new ice cool version of the nostalgic desert honours the pud that has been a staple on British shelves since 1967Credit: Sainsburys
Pakistan has promised to retaliate after India launched military strikes on Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir, fuelling fears of a broader confrontation between the nuclear-armed neighbours.
Pakistan’s government on Wednesday pledged to respond “at a time, place and manner of its choosing to avenge the loss of innocent Pakistani lives and blatant violation of its sovereignty”.
Pakistan’s military said at least 31 civilians were killed and 46 others injured in the Indian attacks and ensuing cross-border shelling, describing the strikes as having “ignited an inferno in the region”.
In New Delhi, Indian officials briefed more than a dozen foreign envoys, telling them: “If Pakistan responds, India will respond”.
It comes amid spiralling tensions following a deadly attack last month on Hindu tourists in Indian-administered Kashmir, which India blamed on Pakistan-based fighters. Islamabad has denied any involvement.
Cross-border shelling
India’s government said its forces targeted nine sites it described as “terrorist infrastructure”, including facilities allegedly linked to the fighters who killed 25 tourists and one local in last month’s Kashmir attack.
However, in Muzaffarabad, the capital of Pakistan-administered Kashmir, residents said Indian missiles struck a mosque-seminary in the city centre.
Indian security force personnel stand guard near the site of a fighter jet crash in Wuyan in Indian-administered Kashmir’s Pulwama district, May 7, 2025 [Sharafat Ali/Reuters]
The building, which included residential quarters, was left in ruins, with five missiles reportedly killing three people inside the two-storey structure.
Meanwhile, heavy cross-border shelling and gunfire continued along the Line of Control (LoC), the de facto border dividing Kashmir. Officials said 13 civilians were killed and 43 wounded on the Indian side, while at least six civilians were killed on the Pakistani side.
Pakistan’s Prime Minister’s Office claimed that five Indian fighter jets and drones were shot down during the escalation. The Indian embassy in Beijing dismissed reports of downed aircraft as “disinformation”.
Sharif promises response
Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar told TRT World that there had been communication between the national security advisers of the two countries, while Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif pledged that Pakistan would respond decisively.
“For the blatant mistake that India made last night, it will now have to pay the price,” Sharif said on state broadcaster PTV. “Perhaps they thought that we would retreat, but they forgot that … this is a nation of brave people.”
Al Jazeera’s Osama Bin Javaid, reporting from Islamabad, said that retaliation from Pakistan was widely anticipated.
“Pakistan is expected to retaliate within the next 24 to 48 hours, and that’s something we’ve been hearing from politicians across the board,” he said.
“They’re citing Article 51 of the United Nations Charter, which says that a country has the right to respond to an unprovoked act of aggression.”
India defended its actions, with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh claiming its “targets we had set were destroyed with exactness according to a well-planned strategy”.
“We have shown sensitivity by ensuring that no civilian population was affected in the slightest,” he added.
Islamabad claims six sites targeted by India were not linked to armed groups.
A paramilitary soldier stands guard outside the Government Health and Educational complex after Indian strikes in Muridke, about 30 kilometres, or 20 miles, from Lahore, on May 7, 2025 [Arif Ali/AFP]
‘I want to see it stop’
The Pakistani military said 57 commercial aircraft from multiple countries, including Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the UAE, Thailand, South Korea and China, were in Pakistan’s airspace at the time of India’s attack, putting thousands of passengers at risk.
India has since ordered the closure of at least 21 civilian airports in the northern and western parts of the country for passenger flights until May 10, The Hindu reported.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan spoke with Prime Minister Sharif and expressed Ankara’s support. According to the Turkish presidency, Erdogan praised Pakistan’s “calm and restrained policies” during the crisis.
In Washington, United States President Donald Trump said he hoped to help de-escalate the situation. “I want to see it stop. And if I can do anything to help, I will be there,” he told reporters at the White House. “We want to see them work it out.”
Uday Chandra, assistant professor of government at Georgetown University in Qatar, said while retaliation from Pakistan was expected, it appeared that neither country was seeking “an all-out war”.
May 7 (UPI) — The Trump administration launched a review into recently alleged anti-Semitic activity at the University of Washington and its affiliated campuses.
The U.S. Departments of Education, Health and Human Services and the General Services Administration announced the probe a day after roughly 30 pro-Palestinian protesters were arrested at UW’s campus in Seattle after they occupied an engineering building and demanded the university sever its ties with Boeing, which donated $10 million for the building in 2022.
“The Task Force will not allow these so-called ‘protesters’ to disrupt campus life and deprive students, especially Jewish students who live in fear on campus, of their equal opportunity protections and civil rights,” said U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon.
“This isn’t about politics,” HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. said in a statement. “It’s about whether a federally funded university is upholding the law, protecting civil rights and fostering a safe environment for all students.”
UW officials estimated more than $1 million in damages so far from Tuesday’s clash, UW’s student-run paper The Daily reported Wednesday.
It was led by the so-called Students United for Palestinian Equality and Return who clashed for several hours with campus, Seattle and state police that caused extensive building damage with added dumpster fires. Arrested protesters now face charges of destruction of property, trespassing and disorderly conduct.
The University of Washington encompasses some 20 schools and its three campuses in Seattle, Bothell and Tacoma.
“This was no peaceful protest in support of Palestinian rights or against the war in Gaza,” UW President Ana Mari Cauce wrote Tuesday in a statement condemning the violence, saying it will “not be intimidated by this sort of horrific and destructive behavior and will not engage in dialogue with any group using or condoning such destructive tactics.”
The university said it is working with King County jail staff to identify any arrested students.
The White House, meanwhile, praised the school’s expression of condemnation but stated UW administrators “must do more to deter future violence and guarantee that Jewish students have a safe and productive learning environment.”
“We will continue our actions to oppose anti-Semitism, racism and all forms of biases so that ALL our students, faculty, staff and visitors can feel safe and welcome on our campuses,” Cauce, the university’s president, added.
UW was one of 60 college and university campuses targeted by the Trump administration that threatened to cut federal funding if they did not do more to protect Jewish students from perceived discrimination.
The president warned in March of funding cuts over “illegal” protests.
“Agitators will be imprisoned/permanently sent back to the country from which they came,” he wrote on his conservative social media platform. “American students will be permanently expelled or, depending on the crime, arrested. NO MASKS! Thank you for your attention to this matter.”
It follows similar moves by the administration against Columbia where $400 million in federal grants were cut, and at Harvard University.
India fired missiles into Pakistani-controlled territory in several locations, killing at least 26 people, including a child, in what Pakistan’s leader called an act of war.
Retaliatory Pakistani shelling has killed at least 10 in Indian-administered Kashmir, officials said.
India said the attacks on Wednesday targeted infrastructure used by fighters linked to last month’s attack on tourists in the Indian-controlled portion of Kashmir.
Pakistan said it had shot down several Indian fighter jets in retaliation as three planes fell onto villages in India-controlled Kashmir.
Tensions have soared between the nuclear-armed neighbours since an attack in which gunmen killed 26 people, mostly Indian Hindu tourists, at a popular meadow in the disputed territory of Kashmir, in some cases killing men before their wives’ eyes.
India has blamed Pakistan for backing the attack, something Islamabad has denied.
Kashmir, which is divided between the two countries but claimed in its entirety by each, has been at the centre of tensions for decades with two wars fought over it.
Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned Wednesday’s air attacks and said his country would retaliate.
“Pakistan has every right to give a robust response to this act of war imposed by India, and a strong response is indeed being given,” Sharif said.
The country’s National Security Committee met Wednesday morning, and Pakistan summoned India’s charge d’affaires to lodge a protest.
In India, Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a special meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security.
India has launched missiles at several locations in Pakistan and Pakistan-administred Kashmir, the government said, and Pakistan promised to respond to the attacks.
Several explosions were heard in the city of Muzaffarabad, the capital of Pakistan-administered Kashmir, the Reuters news agency reported on Tuesday.
“A little while ago, the Indian armed forces launched ‘OPERATION SINDOOR’, hitting terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir from where terrorist attacks against India have been planned and directed,” the Indian government said in a statement.
“Our actions have been focused, measured and non-escalatory in nature. No Pakistani military facilities have been targeted. India has demonstrated considerable restraint in selection of targets and method of execution,” it said.
A Pakistani military spokesman told broadcaster Geo that Pakistan’s response was under way, without providing details. The spokesman said five places were hit including two mosques.
Meanwhile, Pakistan’s military said two people have been killed and 12 others injured.
Al Jazeera’s Kamal Hyder, reporting from Islamabad, said among the targets that were hit were the cities of Muzaffarabad and Kotli.
Pakistan has said that if it is attacked, that it will “respond in force”, Hyder said, adding that the situation remains “quite fluid”.
The development comes amid heightened tensions between the nuclear-armed neighbours in the aftermath of an attack on Hindu tourists in Pahalgam in Indian-administered Kashmir last month.
India blamed Pakistan for the violence in which 26 men were killed and vowed to respond. Pakistan denied that it had anything to do with the killings.
After India’s strikes, the Indian army said in a post on X early on Wednesday: “Justice is served.”
Nitasha Kaul, the director of the Centre for the Study of Democracy, said the strikes are “very concerning”.
“Once again, the worst affected are going to be the people in the region, the Kashmiris, who are caught between the competing and proprietorial and rival postures and attitudes of India and Pakistan,” Kaul told Al Jazeera.
Still, she said, the escalation is “not that surprising, because within India … there has been a domestic pressure building up for a more militarist response, given the fact that there is a particularly hyper-nationalist government in power.
“In that sense, sadly, this was a countdown to a greater escalation, and hopefully it won’t proceed much further beyond what has already happened with these strikes,” Kaul added.
