The Guardian

Law comes into effect that critics fear will further erode rights of Uyghurs and Tibetans, as well as allow Beijing to pursue dissidents abroad A new ethnic unity law has come into effect in China despite warnings from Taiwan, the United Nations and rights groups that it could threaten freedoms, especially for minorities. The Law on Promoting Ethnic Unity and Progress aims to forge a “shared” nat…

Fifteen-year-old unable to be saved after being left outside Craigieburn Community hospital Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates Get our breaking news email , free app or daily news podcast Two teenagers have been arrested after a 15-year-old boy was left for dead with suspected stab wounds outside a hospital in Melbourne. The boy was found critically injured outside Craigieburn…

Multiple explosions heard in Ukraine capital with a hotel and several residential buildings on fire Russian forces have attacked the Ukrainian capital ⁠Kyiv with drones and missiles, hitting residential ⁠buildings, ⁠triggering ​a fire in a hotel on a central boulevard and injuring at least five. Kyiv mayor Vitali Klitschko, ⁠writing on Telegram, said the hotel roof was on fire. Pictures posted on…

Statement comes a day after report that three messages received in case were determined to be fake The FBI is investigating extortion demands related to Nancy Guthrie’s disappearance that “may potentially be legitimate”, the agency said on Wednesday. The update comes a day after Reuters reported that kidnapping notes received in Guthrie’s case were fake. Continue reading...

Bizarre 250th spectacle in North Dakota sees Trump take ride on red, white and blue train – and speak with hologram of 26th president The sound of YMCA by the Village People booming through the badlands of North Dakota could only mean one thing: Donald Trump’s 250th anniversary travelling circus had reached a remote corner of America more familiar with bison, wild horses and bighorn sheep. The US…

Watchdog criticises ‘lack of proactive, effective casework quality assurance’ but says CCRC ultimately fit for purpose The Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC) must urgently improve its investigations to avoid a repeat of failings such as those in the Andrew Malkinson scandal, a watchdog has found. Anthony Rogers, the chief inspector of the Crown Prosecution Service, delivered the warning afte…

AI-generated overview found to gloss over allegations of sexual harassment and describes hotel being sued over hygiene as ‘spotless’ A hotel being sued for mass food poisonings was described as “spotless” and a resort where guests complained of sexual harassment by staff was praised for “friendly” service by an AI intended to summarise millions of Tripadvisor reviews. The overviews of customer fe…

Body of 18-year-old man located after search involving Mountain Rescue, police and the fire service A student has drowned while on a Duke of Edinburgh’s Award (DofE) trip in Wales, police have said. Emergency services were called to the River Wye in Glasbury, Powys on Tuesday evening after it was reported an 18-year-old male had entered the water and could not be found. Continue reading...

Analysis reveals extent of impact on NHS of placating Donald Trump over price of British medicine exports The NHS will have to divert £45bn from essential services to pay for new medicines under the terms of the UK-US trade deal agreed last December, leading to more than 200,000 avoidable deaths of patients, analysis has found. Ministers have defended the deal as a way of helping British drug exp…

Boy, 16, in hospital with gunshot wounds after incident in Alum Rock area A teenager has sustained “potentially life-threatening” gunshot wounds after a shooting near a mosque in Birmingham, police have said. Officers were called to reports of an incident on Bowyer Road, near St Saviours Road in the Alum Rock area, shortly before 5.30pm on Wednesday. Continue reading...

Prosecutors said members of the Hoovers gang targeted about 51 underage girls and women along Figueroa Corridor Ten people accused of facilitating a sex trafficking operation that targeted about 51 underage girls and women have been arrested as California authorities conducted their latest operation to curb trafficking along the Figueroa Corridor in Los Angeles, according to a Wednesday news rele…

The two people also unfurled a large black banner displaying a message of peace atop the New York landmark Two people have been arrested following an apparent marriage proposal atop the Empire State Building’s spire on Wednesday, after they climbed to the very pinnacle of the New York City landmark – well above the level open to the public. The two people, both wearing black clothing and who appe…

Pat Conroy to tell National Press Club that Labor is the true party of defence and national security. Follow today’s news live Get our breaking news email , free app or daily news podcast The minister for defence industry, Pat Conroy , says strong national defence and a strong industry to provide the equipment required for protecting Australia is part of the government’s “progressive patriotism”.…

Yorgen Fenech, heir to property empire, on trial for alleged involvement in murder of journalist in 2017 One of Malta’s wealthiest businessmen plotted to kill the investigative journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia, paying €150,000 (£130,000) for three hitmen to carry out the murder, a jury has heard. Yorgen Fenech, the 44-year-old heir to a property empire that includes the Hilton Malta hotel and ca…

Trump and US officials opted to keep USMCA alive on short leash of annual reviews rather than longer term renewal Donald Trump has refused to renew the North American trade pact he once championed as his signature deal, opting instead to keep it alive on a short leash of annual reviews rather than committing to another 16 years. Wednesday was the deadline built into the United States-Mexico-Canad…