Martin Belam

Good morning. At the height of the privatisation bonanza of the 1980s, Margaret Thatcher's government was spending vast sums on TV and billboard

Good morning. There is little doubt that when Vladimir Putin ordered his invasion of Ukraine in 2022, he did not expect his troops to still be embroiled there in 2026.

In today’s newsletter: Our Russian affairs reporter on Vladimir Putin’s slipping approval and singular goal – as discontent ripples from wider society to the reachers of the Kremlin

Test yourself on topical news trivia, pop culture and general knowledge every Thursday. How will you fare?

Good morning, and welcome to my last regular First Edition – for the time being. From Monday, I am moving to a stint writing our sister US

US says it struck Iranian military sites at the weekend, as Iran targets an airbase used by the US to attack southern Iran

Good morning, Martin Belam here. I will be popping into your inbox writing First Thing regularly for the next little while. Here are today's main stories …

After a very enjoyable six months as one of the main writers for First Edition at the Guardian, I am heading off to pastures new as Libby Brooks and Hettie O’Brien become the permanent dream team there.

Good morning. In another apparent affront to press freedom from the Trump administration, journalists may no longer enter the Pentagon's press office , which has been designated as a classified space.

Good morning. It has been an evening of drama as crucial election results have unfolded – or not – across the US.