56 m. ago ‘Alarming’ rise in regional internet censorship in China, study finds

Tens of millions of internet users in China’s Henan denied access to five times more websites than usualChina’s authorities appear to have implemented an enhanced version of the country’s internet censorship regime in the central province of Henan, subjecting tens of millions of residents to even stricter controls on access to information than people in the rest of the country.A research paper published this month by Great Firewall Report, an internet censorship monitoring platform, found that internet users in Henan, one of China’s most populous provinces, were, on average, denied access to five times more websites than a typical Chinese internet user between November 2023 and March 2025. Continue reading...

Events

1 hour ago Gardeners issued with important advice over controlling crop

Blooms are under siege from sap-sucking aphids right now but encouraging their natural predators to move into your patch will keep them under control this year and next

Politics

2 h. ago Judge denies stay request, lets ruling stand blocking DOGE efforts to shut down peace institute

A federal judge has denied the Trump administration’s request that she stay her May 19 ruling that returned control of the U.S. Institute of Peace back to its acting president and board

Events

3 h. ago Trump wields the knife as he orders shock purge at crucial agency that's pivotal for Americans' safety

Donald Trump is ordering a major overhaul of the National Security Council that will shrink its size by over 100 staffers.

Politics

6 h. ago White House conducting massive overhaul of National Security Council, officials say

President Donald Trump is ordering a massive overhaul of the National Security Council that will shrink its size and return many career appointees back to their home agencies

Events

6 h. ago Council crews to search through Brits' bins in new scheme and hand out £70 fines

A county council's recycling advisory teams – or 'RATs' – could hand £70 fines to repeat offenders who throw recyclable materials into their general waste bins

Economics

6 h. ago Trump reportedly to make drastic cuts to US National Security Council

Staff to be cut to dozens, with more authority expected to be handed to state and defense departmentsA large restructuring of the US National Security Council got under way on Friday as Donald Trump moved to reduce the size and scope of the once-powerful agency, five sources briefed on the matter said.Staff dealing with a variety of major geopolitical issues were sent termination notices on Friday, said the sources, who requested anonymity as they were not permitted to speak to the media. Continue reading...

Politics

8 h. ago Pentagon lost contact with Army helicopter on flight that caused jets to nix landings at DC airport

The Army is telling The Associated Press that military air traffic controllers lost contact with an Army helicopter for about 20 seconds as it neared the Pentagon on the flight that caused two commercial jets to abort their landings this month at a Washington airport

Transport

9 h. ago Northampton’s Fin Smith: ‘We love being written off. We’d back ourselves against anybody’

England and Lions fly-half on run to Champions Cup final, controlling his inner demons and playing junior tennis alongside Jack Draper“I was always angry,” Fin Smith remembers as he explains his transition from a volatile young tennis player into the decisively calm fly-half for Northampton, England and the Lions who is as serene as he is interesting. Smith has had a remarkable year so far but there is an understated lightness about him as he recalls playing in tennis tournaments alongside Jack Draper, the current world No 5.“As an 11-year-old tennis player I was very angry,” he says at Franklin’s Gardens, having just completed Northampton Saints’ final training session before they face Bordeaux on Saturday in the Champions Cup final. “I used to blow up and smash rackets a lot. But getting that out of my system at a young age, while facing set points and match points, can only benefit me when I’m playing rugby under pressure and really taking on an internal battle.” Continue reading...

Politics

10 h. ago Ben Stokes underlines importance with vital spell as England turn the screw against Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe (265 & 30-2) trail England (565/6d) by 270 runs: Back from an injured hamstring, the England captain produced a key burst of fast bowling to help his side seize total control at Trent Bridge

Politics

10 h. ago Oldham council leader says borough faces 'serious challenge' following no

"We have a serious challenge in Oldham around identity politics."

Politics

11 h. ago Fresh legal challenge over Brockwell Park festivals as campaigners accuse council of 'silencing residents'

Lambeth Council approved a Certificate of Lawfulness less than 24 hours before Wide Awake opened its gates to revellers

Politics

11 h. ago The Guardian view on the BBC World Service: a boon to the UK, as well as audiences elsewhere | Editorial

Britain would benefit from pledging more sustained and committed support in this age of disinformation and global turmoilTwo years ago, BBC Arabic radio left the airwaves after decades. Soon afterwards, Russia’s Sputnik service began broadcasting on the frequency left vacant in Lebanon. That detail illuminates a larger picture. China, Russia and others see global-facing media as central to their global ambitions and are investing accordingly – pumping out propaganda to muddle or drown out objective, independently minded journalism. These outlets are state-controlled as well as state-owned.Meanwhile, conspiracy theories and disinformation proliferate online, attacks on press freedom intensify and the Trump administration is dismantling media organisations including Voice of America and Radio Free Asia (RFA), which have been essential sources of information for audiences under repressive regimes. Official Chinese media were gleeful at what RFA’s president, Bay Fang, cal...

Events

12 h. ago A biblical hatred is engulfing both sides in the Gaza conflict – and blinding them to reason | Jonathan Freedland

Israel starving Palestinians, two killings at a Jewish museum: both are atrocities. But vanishingly few can see itI sat this week with Hussein Agha, a man who has given his working life to seeking peace between Israelis and Palestinians, negotiating from the Palestinian side of the table. He was gloomier than I have ever seen him, adamant that peace between the two sides can never, ever come. Because, Agha explained, this conflict was not about mere lines on a map or forms of words, the goods in which diplomats trade. This was about emotions, and specifically hatreds. Hatreds that, he feared, are becoming too murderous to contain. “It’s biblical,” he said.What he had in mind was the fury that drove Hamas to slaughter around 1,200 Israelis on a sleepy Saturday morning nearly 20 months ago and the fury that has driven the government of Benjamin Netanyahu to bombard Gaza ever since, killing more than 50,000, according to the Hamas-controlled health ministry, and, over the last 80 days,...

Events

12 h. ago Stockport council's new leader gives update on £59 garden waste charge

The new fee has led to criticism from some residents

Politics

12 h. ago The 10 English councils left with no overall party control and who leads them

Gains for Reform and Liberal Democrats saw some councils left under no overall control

Politics

13 h. ago Police and councils join forces to call for Ayrshire beaches to be enjoyed safely and responsibly

Following the tragic death of 16-year-old Kayden Moy, authorities are backing calls for people to "be responsible".

Events

13 h. ago Major change to plans to completely halt free parking in Cardiff

Cardiff Council had initially proposed to scrap all free parking in the city

Politics

13 h. ago Anger over Falkirk Council ban stopping school rollerskating lessons

Falkirk Wheelers say there is no evidence that skating damages flooring but the council won't budge

Politics

14 h. ago Family farm inheritance tax changes slammed as "disastrous" by Perth and Kinross councillor

Bailie Claire McLaren said generational family farming businesses in Perth and Kinross - and across Scotland - were "reeling from this ill-informed tax"

Events