The general election will be on 6 May, the prime minister confirmed yesterday. In Downing Street, flanked by his cabinet, Gordon Brown promised that Labour would safeguard the economic recovery. David Cameron promised the Conservatives would fight for what he termed "the great ignored". And Nick Clegg said the Liberal Democrats offered a real alternative to Labour and the Tories. Today's the first full day of campaigning, and the Guardian's leader writer Tom Clark says it's going to be a hard-fought contest.
First-time-voters could decide this election - so courting the youth vote is vitally important to all parties. But the Guardian's Libby Brooks says none of Britain's political parties has so far managed to inspire young people.
Barack Obama has spelled out the circumstances under which the United States would be prepared to use nuclear weapons. Our diplomatic editor, Julian Borger, says it's part of a wider strategy to move towards a world free of nukes.
The Guardian's health editor Sarah Boseley explains why Britain has cancelled part of its order of swine flu vaccine.
The Libertines, Pearl Jam, Guns N' Roses, Blink 182 - the Guardian's Alexandra Topping says this year's music festivals are dominated by band reunions.
