The Guardian

Greens senator says appointment of Michael Ebeid ‘risks entrenching the very culture and leadership that need to change’ Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates Get our breaking news email , free app or daily news podcast KPMG has appointed a new chair who previously claimed leak allegations were “completely false” and described a senator’s actions in revealing the scandal as “very…

Between 1949 and 1976, an estimated 185,000 babies were taken from unmarried mothers and placed for adoption in England and Wales Two weeks ago, the Church of England apologised for its role in forced adoptions , telling survivors the “shame is ours”. Here is Chris Osuh ’s story. Good morning. Keir Starmer is clearing the decks in his last three weeks in office, and today he is going to settle on…

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…

Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that at least 20 sites were attacked overnight, with ‘most of them ordinary residential buildings’ EU’s foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas responded to the overnight attacks on Kyiv, saying she will propose further sanctions on Russia. “ Words of condemnation alone will not stop attacks on Kyiv. Only sustained military support for Ukraine and increased pressure on Moscow ca…

CEO Sam Altman argued move would share benefits of AI and it would involve other firms doing similar, report says Business live – latest updates OpenAI is reportedly in early stage talks to give a 5% stake in the ChatGPT developer to the US government as artificial intelligence companies attempt to smooth relations with Donald Trump’s administration. The OpenAI chief executive, Sam Altman, has ar…

Success of statins and blood-pressure drugs hailed as researchers find some people with obesity were ‘better off’ Many adults who are obese have “indistinguishable” cholesterol and blood pressure levels compared with those with a healthy weight, largely because of the use of statins, according to a study. In some cases, people with obesity were “better off” than those of a healthy weight, researc…

New study on fluazinam’s neurotoxicity comes up with different findings from earlier report based on manufacturer’s data Researchers who re-ran a crucial fungicide study on neurotoxicity have come up with significantly different findings, and campaigners argue that the substance should now be withdrawn from the market. In 2005, a study conducted by Huntingdon Life Sciences on behalf of ISK, the m…

Exclusive: Burnham-aligned thinktank calls for devolution of public services including social care, childcare and skills Mayors should be given power over a wide range of public services, including social care, childcare and skills, according to a paper written by one of the people helping shape Andy Burnham’s devolution plans. JP Spencer, the head of devolution policy at the thinktank ThinkLabou…

Reasons for increase not clear but experts say it could be welcome sign marine ecosystem is becoming healthier The Farne Islands off the Northumberland coast have long drawn fans of the natural world keen to catch sight of the resident guillemots and puffins. But as recently as last week, another much bigger black-and-white animal has been delighting wildlife spotters. Orcas have been appearing m…

‘Obviously disturbing’ if Catholic order’s historical sales of millions in property for $1 results in lack of money for victims, NSW supreme court hears Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates Get our breaking news email , free app or daily news podcast Lawyers for the federal government say they are concerned at the “disturbing” potential that the Christian Brothers Catholic order…

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…