North Yorkshire Police have launched an appeal following a reported sexual assault of a woman in York city centre at about 19:00 BST on Wednesday. Officers are seeking a man wearing a pink T-shirt with a black circular logo who is believed to have information. A cordon was initially placed outside the Fenwick department store in St Mary's Square, though the victim stated she could not recall the exact location of the attack.
Summary headline: Police appeal for information after a woman is sexually assaulted in York city centre
Zacariah Boulares, a 19-year-old previously convicted of threatening TV presenter Aled Jones and targeting a Bridgerton star, has been sentenced to two years and 10 months in prison at Southwark Crown Court for two additional armed Rolex robberies committed in August 2023.
Summary headline: Teenager Zacariah Boulares jailed again for two further machete-point Rolex robberies
South Korean President Lee Jae Myung has demanded a public apology from Ukraine after Kyiv disclosed that two North Korean prisoners of war were sent to South Korea. President Lee threatened further action and accused Kyiv of attempting to provoke a war on the Korean Peninsula, rejecting Ukraine's characterisation of the dispute as a diplomatic misunderstanding.
Summary headline: Seoul warns Ukraine of further action over prisoner-of-war disclosure
Prof Deborah Prentice, the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cambridge, has called for greater openness to change and a stronger focus on learning from setbacks during a speech to university staff. Her address follows a challenging period and the death of former professor Jason Arday, prompting an independent review into the university's decision-making, support systems, and actions.
Summary headline: University of Cambridge Vice-Chancellor calls for greater openness to change following tragic events
A US judge in Washington DC has permanently dismissed criminal charges against Olympic canoeist David Hearn, who was previously accused by the Trump administration of vandalising the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool. Judge Todd Edelman ruled the case dismissed "with prejudice" to protect Hearn from potential political pressure by US President Donald Trump to revive the meritless prosecution. New evidence from the Department of the Interior revealed that damage to the pool was actually caused by flawed contractor installation rather than vandalism.
Summary headline: Judge permanently dismisses criminal case against Olympian David Hearn over Reflecting Pool vandalism
The longest HS2 viaduct structures in the Midlands, spanning 1,400 metres across the M42, have been completed in Water Orton, Warwickshire. Forming the upper section of the Delta Junction, the viaducts stand up to 20 metres tall and will carry trains over the motorway, the Birmingham to Peterborough rail line, and the River Tame.
Summary headline: Twin Water Orton viaducts completed after major HS2 works
The Conservative Party has promised to recruit an additional 275 police officers across Lincolnshire and East Yorkshire if returned to government, aiming to tackle antisocial behaviour, shoplifting and knife crime. Under the proposals, Lincolnshire Police would receive 124 new officers and Humberside Police would gain 151. The recruitment drive would be supported by increased stop and search powers, live facial recognition, tougher action on cannabis possession, and harsher penalties for dangerous e-bike and e-scooter use.
Summary headline: Conservatives pledge 275 more police officers for Lincolnshire and East Yorkshire
A Canterbury mother, Georgia Blinston Jones, has spoken out after losing her unborn son at 39 weeks, demanding an end to stillbirth failings at East Kent Hospitals NHS Trust. An independent review found that eight babies stillborn between June 2025 and March 2026 might have survived with better care, while subsequent full-term stillbirths have led to a further investigation. The trust has apologised for failing families and for not informing families about the reviews sooner, while the mother calls for practical changes rather than paperwork.
Summary headline: Canterbury mother calls for an end to stillbirth failings at East Kent Hospitals NHS Trust
A driver in his 20s has died following a collision between his Audi and a heavy goods vehicle (HGV) on the A66 near Warcop in Cumbria. Emergency services responded to the incident at 04:11 BST, and the driver was pronounced dead at the scene. The HGV driver sustained minor injuries, and Cumbria Police have appealed for witnesses.
Summary headline: Man in his 20s dies in A66 crash involving HGV near Warcop
Australia's eSafety Commissioner has published a report revealing significant gaps in how major gaming platforms—including Steam, Roblox, Fortnite, and Minecraft—protect children from online harms. The regulator highlighted inconsistent safety measures, weak age verification systems, and a lack of proactive detection tools for predatory behaviour, sexual exploitation, and violent extremism.
Summary headline: Australian report finds significant child safety gaps in Fortnite, Roblox, Minecraft, and Steam
New York Governor Kathy Hochul has removed Tompkins County District Attorney Matthew Van Houten from the Cornell University fraternity gang rape investigation and appointed the state attorney general as a special prosecutor. The move follows a civil lawsuit filed by the victim in September alleging she was drugged and raped by seven men at a fraternity house in 2024, which brought renewed national attention and raised questions about how the local authorities handled the case.
Summary headline: New York governor appoints state attorney general as special prosecutor in Cornell fraternity rape investigation
Prominent and wealthy Cuban-American entrepreneurs in Miami, organized under the Cuban-American National Chamber of Commerce (CANCC), are drafting extensive reconstruction and investment plans for Cuba in anticipation of the fall of the current regime. While exiles discuss restitution, property claims, and a new stock exchange, critics and analysts remain sceptical about the imminence of regime change, highlighting the stark contrast between Miami's affluent planning sessions and the severe economic hardships, blackouts, and shortages currently faced by ordinary people in Cuba.
Summary headline: Wealthy Cuban Americans prepare for post-communist future in Cuba
More than 100 residents attended a public consultation in High Legh regarding Innova's plans to build the 60-hectare Spodegreen Data Centre on green belt land in Little Bollington. While the developer highlighted potential benefits such as local jobs and community funding, residents voiced deep anxiety over the environmental impact, noise, loss of green belt land, and effects on local wildlife and homes.
Summary headline: Residents express concern over proposed 60-hectare data centre in Cheshire green belt
A long-running dispute between bereaved families and Broxtowe Borough Council regarding grave tributes and memorial rules has been successfully resolved after nearly two years. The council's cabinet approved new regulations that permit existing and new memorial gardens of specified sizes, following protests, petitions, and negotiations led by the campaign group Friends of Broxtowe Cemeteries.
Summary headline: Broxtowe cemetery memorial rules agreed after two years of disputes
Students across France have staged nationwide protests and blockades over school funding, staff shortages, and poor studying conditions, leading to fires at multiple educational institutions. The demonstrations have resulted in numerous arrests, injuries to police officers and staff, and heightened political debate regarding the unrest.
Summary headline: Fires break out at French schools as students protest nationwide over funding and conditions
Russian President Vladimir Putin has stated that Moscow will use all available weapons, including nuclear options, if the Baltic exclave of Kaliningrad faces a direct attack or blockade by the West. Speaking at the Valdai foreign policy forum, Putin denied threatening anyone but accused NATO of preparing for conflict and holding threatening naval manoeuvres in the Baltic Sea. NATO rejected the accusations as unhelpful, while Western nations expressed growing concern over rising hybrid warfare incidents, drone incursions, and ongoing Russian attacks on Ukrainian energy infrastructure.
Summary headline: Putin warns West that Russia is ready to use every weapon to protect Kaliningrad
Five men initially arrested on explosive and terrorism offences near RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire have been released on police bail under strict conditions. A major incident was declared after three suspicious vans were spotted near the airbase, leading to local village evacuations and a bomb disposal deployment. Counter Terrorism Policing is leading the investigation, and a sixth man—a dual UK-Iranian national—has also been arrested. UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham stated there are strong indications of Iranian involvement, which the Iranian embassy has strongly condemned.
OpenAI has terminated the employment of three researchers for allegedly mishandling sensitive company information outside established procedures, violating company policies. The firm stated the dismissals were not related to employees raising safety concerns, amid broader industry discussions regarding artificial intelligence safety and governance.
Summary headline: OpenAI dismisses three workers for mishandling sensitive information
Downing Street has clarified that Manchester City are not above the rules after Prime Minister Andy Burnham faced criticism for expressing concern that the club's owners might sell up following findings that the club breached Premier League financial rules. Burnham's remarks were branded out of touch by political opponents who urged that politics be kept out of football. No 10 emphasised that the independent process must run its course, that wrongdoing should face appropriate consequences, and that the outcome must be respected. Manchester City deny wrongdoing and have until Friday to submit an appeal against the independent commission's findings.
Summary headline: No 10 says Manchester City are not 'above the rules' following backlash to Andy Burnham's remarks
First Minister and Plaid Cymru leader Rhun ap Iorwerth has written to the prime minister requesting a 'new deal for Wales' ahead of his party conference speech in Llandudno. He is calling for more powers, funding, and financial flexibilities to be transferred to Cardiff, matching tools available in Scotland, including control over policing and justice, rail infrastructure, and the Crown Estate.
