In a tale of two cities, Moscow keeps its distance while in Minsk, thousands turn out for the traditional military spectacular

• Coronavirus – latest updates
• See all our coronavirus coverage

In any other year, hundreds of thousands of Russians would have marched with portraits of relatives who fought in the second world war in a memorial called the Immortal Regiment.

But on Saturday, the images of Soviet veterans and their families floated past on Russian television, a public vigil adapted for the era of social isolation.

Russian President Vladimir Putin marked Victory Day, the anniversary of the defeat of Nazi Germany in World War II, in a ceremony shorn of its usual military parade and pomp by the coronavirus pandemic. In neighboring Belarus, however, the ceremonies went ahead in full, with tens of thousands of people in the sort of proximity that has been almost unseen in the world for months. Victory Day is Russia’s most important secular holiday and this year’s observance had been expected to be especially large because it is the 75th anniversary, but the Red Square military parade and a mass procession called The Immortal Regiment were postponed as part of measures to stifle the spread of the virus.

President Vladimir Putin told Russians they are "invincible" when they stand together as the country on Saturday marked the 75th anniversary of the end of World War II in lockdown from the coronavirus. With cases surging and authorities urging Russians to stay in their homes, celebrations of this year's Victory Day were muted after the Kremlin grudgingly postponed plans for a grand parade with world leaders. Instead of columns of military hardware and thousands of troops marching through Red Square as planned, Putin walked alone to lay flowers at the Eternal Flame outside the red brick walls of the Kremlin.

If Peter Turchin is right, we face the end of a 300-year cycle, as did previous far-flung empires. 

Related Stories

• Let’s Debunk the Myth Living More Densely Breeds Disease (in Analysis)
• Now Would Be a Good Time to Get to Know the Ancient Stoics (in Analysis)
• The Other Virus Test: Who’s a True Leader? (in Analysis)

Evidence points to London being a ceremonial site from the fourth millennium BC

Microsoft Xbox One X 1 TB Console - Black - $229.99 - Free shipping for Prime members https://electronics.woot.com/offers/microsoft-xbox-one-x-1-tb-console-black-1?utm_medium=share&utm_source=app

The Conservative MP Julian Knight chairs the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee and has heard from more than 70 charities about the impact of Covid-19.

Britons marked the 75th anniversary of WWII victory with a speech by Queen Elizabeth II, the only British leader left who was there on May 8, 1945.

By Rod Mickleburgh At long last, a formal apology has been delivered in the House of Commons for Canada’s racist behaviour in its shameful treatment of Sikh passengers aboard the Komagata Maru, who had the effrontery to seek immigration to the West Coast more than a hundred years ago. Not only were they denied entry, they [...]

U.S. employers shed a record number of jobs in April, as the unemployment rate climbed to the highest since the Great Depression. The coronavirus crisis has locked down much of the economy.

Publishers of several of Canada’s major newspapers signed a joint letter to the federal government this month, taking aim at the advertising revenue earned by Google and Facebook.

Pressure ramped up on ministers to explain how the lockdown will end today as senior Tory MPs warned that businesses around the country "fear for their future" and could pass the point of no recovery.

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has dismissed the pandemic as mass "psychosis" — a disease easily cured with a bit of vodka, a hot sauna or spending time playing hockey or doing farm work.

Russian President Vladimir Putin had celebrations to mark victory in WWII and a constitutional vote to keep him in power till 2036 planned for this spring. But the pandemic has canceled both events.

Modern dating techniques are providing new time frames for indigenous settlements in Northeast North America, free from the Eurocentric bias that previously led to incorrect assumptions.

To mark our 175th anniversary year, we feature a different front page each week from past editions of the Ottawa Citizen.

Archie celebrates his first birthday with story time with his mom

The Guardian’s data journalists in the UK, US and Australia explain how they have shone a light on the statistical narrative behind the pandemic, and what they have helped to reveal

He called Exotic 'unbelievably cruel'

As a new drama about the 'most British crime of all time' arrives on ITV, here's a reminder of Charles and Diana Ingram's notorious quiz show appearance and their trial for conspiring to cheat

'This wasn't the most joyous season for me,' actor admitted in candid new interview

'My blood could save a life, but instead it's over here boiling'

Daisy Edgar-Jones and Paul Mescal inhabit lovers Marianne and Connell so utterly that it is instantly impossible to imagine them being played by anyone else

It's unknown which of its many stars will play show's iconic figure

Presenter was accused of treating care minister Helen Whateley 'unfairly'

'Ladies and gentlemen, you have just witnessed something that never happens on our programme'

'We tried to tell that story, but it defeated us every time'

Actor alleged singer wanted to 'sexualise' him ahead of their scene

Murphy pitched the role to the 'Home Alone' star over the phone

As a pioneering female DJ duo, the two best friends were integral to the rise of the 90s dance scene, before a car accident changed everything. Storm talks about the soul sister she lost

Storm remembers the sound of glass shattering, but not how many seconds or minutes had passed before she realised something awful had happened. A 4.5kg metal cat’s eye had been dislodged from the road ahead by a passing van, and had smashed through their car windshield on the passenger side. It left Kemistry – her best friend and partner in one of the UK’s most pioneering drum’n’bass outfits – with devastating injuries. Minutes later, she died.

“I’ve had some really dark times and really dark thoughts,” says Storm, 20 years on from the accident. “Thoughts about me not being here, about going to join her.”

For the first time since 2011, NASA will launch astronauts into space from U.S. soil. It will also be the first time ever a private company will get them there.

First there was crowded Bondi, then the deserted beaches, cordoned off with police tape. If you look closely, a whole nation can be read on the sand

A country reveals itself in a crisis. Americans are buying a record number of guns, in the UK Boris Johnson was reluctant to implement a full lockdown because he baulked at the idea of closing the pubs. In Australia, it is our beaches that are the metaphorical hills that we are metaphorically dying on.

Yeah, we want to beat this virus, but we also want to get a swim in.

It's the BBC's 'biggest push on education in its history' and kicks off Monday, April 20

When truth is stranger than fiction

For the latest episode of At Home With...JP Saxe opens up about his song with girlfriend Julia Michaels and challenges Amira Hashish to sing her verse of If The World Was Ending

I love everything from developer Gionathan Pesaresi aka Neutronized, but I have an especially soft spot for the Super Cat …

Continue reading "Fantastic Platformer ‘Super Cat Tales 2’ Updated with Third and Final Story Chapter"

Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema has ruled out a return to former club Lyon in the near future and insists he wants to 'keep making history' with Los Blancos.

Crystal Palace have staked their claim to the title of the oldest professional football club in existence.

Former Tottenham striker Darren Bent has condemned the "disgusting" abuse aimed at Mesut Ozil after the German stalled over a pay-cut agreement.

Every club has one, and every fan thinks theirs is the best.

Crystal Palace chairman Steve Parish has described his reasons for backing the Premier League's 'Project Restart', including wanting to "crown Liverpool champions."

Football fans in need of a fix this weekend should look no further than the story of Corinthian FC of London and a match in Brazil delayed by 100 years.

Nida Dar has overcome more than her fair share of challenges during her career and she is now looking to leave her mark on the WBBL as the first Pakistani cricketer to play in the tournament.

The Wanderers earn a valuable three points their second win in as many matches with the highlight a Keanu Baccus stunner in the 54th minute at Docklands.

First Nations cabaret Natives Go Wild peels back the PT Barnum legend to reveal the Indigenous stories and talent behind the spectacle.

The Qantas flight, which landed in Sydney on Sunday morning, is the first in a series of trials of "ultra" long-haul trips which could become reality by 2022.