Government-picked judges consider verdict in high-profile case against Hong Kong media mogul and activist

Final arguments have concluded in the national security trial of the pro-democracy media tycoon Jimmy Lai in Hong Kong.

Government-picked judges are retiring to consider their verdict in the case, seen internationally as a crucial test of the rule of law in the city.

Officials say critically injured people expected to survive after attack that killed two children during mass

Minneapolis woke on Thursday to the aftermath of the mass shooting at a Catholic school in which two children were killed and 17 people injured, stunning the close-knit community and prompting the FBI to investigate the act as domestic terrorism and a hate crime targeting Catholics.

A shooter at the Annunciation Catholic school in the south of the city killed two children, aged eight and 10, in church pews during morning mass. Fourteen other children, aged six to 15, were injured, two of them critically, though officials said they were expected to survive. The shooter killed themself.

• Move may clear Chelsea to pursue López or Simons

• Nicolas Jackson could go on loan with buy obligation

Milan are poised to sign the Chelsea forward Christopher Nkunku for a package worth €42m (£36.2m). The deal contains a sell-on clause for the France international, who has agreed personal terms with the Serie A club.

Chelsea have revamped their attack and decided Nkunku is not part of their plans. They are expected to add to Enzo Maresca’s options by signing the Manchester United winger Alejandro Garnacho for between £35m and £40m.

PM’s principal private secretary, Nin Pandit, to leave after less than 10 months in top civil service role

• UK politics live – latest updates

Keir Starmer has begun a shake-up of No 10, including replacing an aide whose appointment had been a key battleground amid the departure of Sue Gray last autumn.

Nin Pandit, the prime minister’s top civil service aide, is to leave her role after less than 10 months. Sources at No 10 denied she had quit and said she would step into a new policy delivery role and the prime minister would now take more direct control of delivery.

A whopping 64% of pet owners in the UK now celebrate their animal companions’ birthdays … even though it’s not entirely clear who the celebrations are for

I’ve been telling Mabel she’ll be four soon for about a month. I bought her present similarly early, though I am unsure whether to wrap it. When the Amazon guy delivers a gift from my sister on the day, he wishes Mabel “happy birthday” through the gate. As I sing the opening bars, the build-up has clearly worked: she jumps up with excitement and licks my knees. I should clarify at this point that Mabel is not my child – she’s a cocker spaniel.

If this sounds unhinged, I’d like to stress it’s statistically very normal, actually. “Pet birthdays” are a booming market, with the UK industry alone now worth an estimated £1.7bn. A recent survey by Moonpig found 64% of pet owners in the UK celebrate their pets’ birthdays, with as many as 83% of gen Z embracing gourmet treats or even themed parties.