The son of jailed Hong Kong media mogul Jimmy Lai has called for an urgent meeting with the UK prime minister, Keir Starmer, saying he was “desperate” as his father’s defence drew to a close in a high-profile trial. Sebastien Lai said a fresh diplomatic push was now needed to free the 77-year-old pro-democracy activist, … Read more
A group of eight criminals who dug up roads and diverted electricity to cannabis farms run by organised crime gangs have been jailed by a judge in Liverpool. The criminals used a legitimate company as cover and pretended to be workmen who were digging up the roads to repair utilities in a “sophisticated operation”, according … Read more
Two hundred pairs of shoes have been found at a clandestine crematorium on a ranch in the Mexican state of Jalisco, in a disturbing demonstration of the country’s crisis of forced disappearance related to organised crime. Warrior Searchers of Jalisco, a collective of relatives of the disappeared, found the crematorium following an anonymous tip-off, and … Read more
The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has issued new guidance directing that spending items greater than $50,000 now require approval from Elon Musk’s so-called “department of government efficiency” (Doge), even as Donald Trump began putting some distance between Musk’s reach and the power of government department heads – at least over job cuts. “Any assistance … Read more
The Donald Trump administration announced on Friday that it had canceled $400m in federal grants and contracts to Columbia University in New York because of what it alleges as the college’s repeated failure to protect students from antisemitic harassment. The announcement comes after Columbia set up a new disciplinary committee and initiated its own investigations … Read more
Tropical Cyclone Alfred has passed over Moreton Island and was forecast to hit the Australian mainland on Saturday morning, prompting warnings to millions in Brisbane and the Gold Coast to remain in their homes. More than 200,000 people in south-east Queensland lost power overnight – more than half of those on the Gold Coast – … Read more
Reform UK has erupted into open civil war after the party said its MP Rupert Lowe had received complaints about bullying and had made threats against the party chair, a day after Lowe criticised Nigel Farage for being “messianic”. Lowe responded with anger, saying there was no evidence to back up the bullying claims, and … Read more
The US president, Donald Trump, has said he finds it “easier” to work with Russia than Ukraine and that Vladimir Putin “wants to end the war” just days after his administration cut off military assistance and intelligence to Kyiv. “I’m finding it more difficult, frankly, to deal with Ukraine. And they don’t have the cards,” … Read more
Dozens of backbench Labour MPs are unhappy with plans to cut billions from the rising welfare bill, with ministers holding meetings to convince them that the changes to disability benefits are necessary. Labour MPs told the Guardian there were deep concerns within the parliamentary party that the changes would take money from the poorest, which … Read more
A robotic private spacecraft designed to provide crucial data for returning humans to the moon toppled over as it landed on the lunar surface, bringing an immediate and premature end to the mission, its operators said on Friday. Athena, a probe launched by the Texas-based company Intuitive Machines (IM) last month, touched down about 250 … Read more