Uyghurs facing deportation by Thailand say they will be ‘like slaves’ in China

Activists fear Bangkok will give in to pressure from Beijing despite reports of torture and human rights abuses against the mostly muslim ethnic minority

The deportation of two more Uyghurs to China from Thailand would put their lives in grave danger, activists have said, with one of the men saying he would be “like a slave” if he was sent back.

Last year, Thai authorities forcibly deported 40 Uyghur men to China despite pleas from the men themselves and the UN.

The US and Canada had reportedly offered to resettle them, but Bangkok appeared to want to avoid upsetting Beijing. The UN has said the returnees’ whereabouts remain unknown.

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Cold blast brings springtime snow to alpine regions as temperatures plummet across Australia’s south-east

Thredbo, Perisher and Mount Hotham all recorded falls, along with Kunanyi/Mount Wellington in Tasmania

Snow has fallen across parts of NSW, Victoria and Tasmania as an unseasonal cold blast whips through Australia’s south-east.

Thredbo, Perisher and Mount Hotham all recorded falls, while snow also fell on Kunanyi/Mount Wellington in Hobart.

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Victoria Barracks in Sydney and Melbourne to remain in public hands after partial backtrack on defence property selloff

Four heritage-listed defence properties to be preserved for community use after backlash from veterans and former PMs

Four heritage-listed defence sites, including Sydney’s Victoria Barracks, will remain in public hands after the Albanese government yielded to public backlash against their sale.

The sites, along with 63 others around the country, were identified in an independent audit as being underutilised by defence, not fit for purpose and costly to maintain, and were earmarked for sale to recoup $3bn in the federal budget.

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Six dead after gunman opens fire in Kraków market square, with three more victims found at suspect’s home

Suspect was influenced by far-right ideology and held ‘ultra-nationalistic’ views, says Polish interior minister

Six people have been killed and 16 wounded after a gunman opened fire in a busy market square in Kraków, authorities said, in what Poland’s defence minister called an “act of terror” on the people of the city.

The suspect, a 25-year-old Polish citizen, opened fire with an automatic weapon in the city’s main square at about 3pm on Saturday.

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Richard Lloyd, founding member and guitarist of punk band Television, dies aged 75

Known for sophisticated musical style in band that played significant role in emerging 1970s punk rock movement

Richard Lloyd, known for his sophisticated musical style as a founding member and guitarist for the influential punk band Television, has died at the age of 75.

His family confirmed that Lloyd died Saturday morning at his home in Chattanooga, Tennessee. “His loving wife Sheila and his dog Willie Mays were with him at the end,” his family said in a statement to Rolling Stone.

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FAA announces first US digital air traffic control towers in Florida and Alaska

Systems provide 360-degree view of airport operations, but concerns have been raised about the technology

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has announced that the first digital air traffic control towers in the US are officially operational, bringing new technology first to smaller airports in Florida and Alaska as the Trump administration presses ahead with updating the country’s ageing aviation infrastructure.

The systems are now online at the Bartow executive airport (KBOW) in Florida and the Kenai municipal airport (PAEN) in Alaska, with five additional regional airports slated to receive the technology next.

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Israel’s president picks Yashar leader Gadi Eisenkot to form government

Knesset has been deadlocked since the election last month when Benjamin Netanyahu’s coalition lost its majority

Israel’s president has ⁠chosen Gadi Eisenkot, prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s ⁠strongest rival, to ⁠try to ​form a new government, after a deadlocked election that left neither man ⁠with a clear path to power.

Isaac Herzog’s office said he had informed Eisenkot, the leader of the Yashar party, on Saturday night “of his intention to task him with forming a government”.

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A Big Build royal commission helped Ben Carroll become premier. Will it be his downfall?

Two weeks of public hearings will begin on Monday morning, right in the middle of the state election campaign

The commitment that made Ben Carroll premier may ultimately cost him the election.

On Monday morning, right in the middle of a state election campaign, the royal commission into Victoria’s Big Build will begin two weeks of public hearings.

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Rise in NHS birth centre closures ‘shocking’ denial of women’s rights, experts say

Twelve midwife-led maternity units have closed in England since 2019 with six closing since Labour came to power in 2024

NHS officials are shutting growing numbers of birth centres in a “shocking” denial of a woman’s right to have a midwife rather than a doctor oversee their baby’s birth, say campaigners.

Twelve birth centres – midwife-led maternity units – have closed in England since 2019. Birth centres play a key role in ensuring that women can choose whether to have their baby at a unit in a hospital run by doctors, at one where midwives are in charge, or at home.

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