Tributes paid to 'hero' Sarah Beckstrom, who died after shooting of guard members
President Trump said U.S. Army Specialist Sarah Beckstrom had passed away.
Time
She once loaned MacKenzie Scott $1K. Now the billionaire is paying it forward.
Associated Press Finance
- Business
Companies making small progress towards interim emission goals, says GlobalData poll
Approximately 45% of the survey's respondents indicated that there was little progress made towards achieving emission reduction.
4 min readOffshore Technology
- US
Cafe owner calls for parking charge changes
Joanne Upton took on the Westportlake cafe with two friends in March.
3 min readBBC
- US
What we know about shooting of National Guard in Washington DC
Sarah Beckstrom, 20, has died, while Andrew Wolfe, 24, remains in a critical condition.
5 min read - World
Spain reports first swine fever case in three decades, jeopardising exports to China
MADRID (Reuters) -African swine fever has returned to Spain for the first time in three decades after two wild boar found dead near Barcelona tested positive for the virus, the Agriculture Ministry said on Friday, putting growing pork exports to China at risk of a ban. The outbreak, the first since 1994, coincides with Spanish efforts to court Beijing and gain market share in the pork sector.
2 min readReuters
- World
Historic Castle of Old Wick opens again to public
The castle, one of the "most striking medieval sites" in Caithness, dates back to the 12th Century.
1 min read - World
'Predatory' head teacher struck off after exposing himself in school
James 'Jamie' Richards exposed himself to other staff and was described as "predatory" by a panel.
3 min read - Entertainment
Treasure hunt golden hare sold for £82k at auction
People from around the world tried to solve riddles to find the hare through the early 1980s.
2 min read - US
Police search for van driver after hit-and-run
A motorcyclist is believed to have suffered serious injuries in the crash on a dual carriageway.
1 min read - World
Hopes for gate at 'inaccessible' play park fence
Cargo Fleet Football Club says the fence at Thorntree Park in Middlesbrough keeps children safe.
2 min read - World
Hungary's Orban defies EU partners and meets Putin again in Moscow
Russia's leader praised what he called Orban's "balanced position on the situation in Ukraine".
3 min read - World
Police get Villa-Maccabi game intelligence deadline
West Midlands Police is asked to provide assurances about the accuracy of details from Dutch Police.
3 min read - US
National Guard shooting suspect to face first-degree murder charge, Jeanine Pirro says
US Attorney for DC says ‘many more charges to come’ following death of service member Sarah Beckstrom
2 min readThe Independent
- US
France catches one of two escapees in bed-sheet prison break
French police on Friday caught one of two detainees who used bed sheets to escape from prison a day earlier after sawing through their cell bars, with investigators suspecting a drone delivered them the jagged blades.It was very likely the saws were delivered by drones, Caracotch said, adding that the Dijon court had recently sentenced an individual over drone deliveries to the same jail, "including of saw blades".
3 min readAFP
- World
Hong Kong tower blocks fire death toll rises to 128
Authorities say 89 bodies are unidentified and 79 people remain injured after Wednesday's blaze.
4 min read - World
Worcester murder suspects bailed
Five are bailed while a sixth person is released with no further action to be taken.
1 min read - World
Researchers tone down polarization on X with tweaks to algorithm
Researchers at Stanford University say they have developed a tool that can noticeably reduce partisan hostility in X feeds by reordering posts rather than blocking them. The study, published in the journal Science, suggests it may one day be possible to let users control their own social media algorithms, not only on X, formerly Twitter, but on other platforms.
3 min readdpa international
- World
Dozens of Afghans approved to enter Germany amid US crackdown
Dozens of Afghan nationals have entered Germany under a federal admission programme, the Interior Ministry confirmed on Friday, after the United States announced it was pausing immigration requests. On Thursday evening, 71 Afghans arrived by plane in Hanover and Berlin from the Pakistani capital Islamabad, a ministry spokeswoman said.
1 min read - World
Belgian premier draws red line under Russian assets loan for Ukraine
Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever has set a final condition for making frozen Russian state assets available to Ukraine as a reparations loan, while warning of a hasty decision. Other EU countries would have to provide legally binding and unconditional guarantees covering the entire sum of the loan before he would be ready to agree to the measure, De Wever wrote to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in a letter seen by dpa on Friday.
2 min read - World
HIV after alleged rape 'felt like death sentence'
A man says he was 18 when Adam Hall, who denies multiple offences, raped and infected him with HIV.
3 min read - Business
New 2026 rates and dates revealed for universal credit, PIP and end of two-child benefit cap
Some benefits will increase next year while others have been frozen
6 min read - World
Man who stabbed sleeping woman to death jailed
Ernestas Juska, from Dartford, will serve a minimum of 26 years in jail after the "senseless" act.
3 min read - US
Some of Earth's most extreme cold may be headed to US. What we know for Ohio
Some forecasters say a complex dance involving the polar vortex could send some of Earth's most extreme cold toward the United States.
The Enquirer5 min read - World
UN fears mass-electronic surveillance during Myanmar vote
Elections scheduled in military-ruled Myanmar next month could never be free or fair, the United Nations insisted Friday, warning that the junta could unleash mass-electronic surveillance on polling stations.At the same time, "the military has stepped up mass electronic surveillance to identify dissidents, and there are fears this will be used at the polling stations", he warned.
2 min read - World
Pope, Orthodox leader celebrate early Christian milestone in Iznik
Pope Leo XIV called for unity among Christians on Friday at an ecumenical gathering on the shores of Lake Iznik to celebrate 1,700 years since one of the early Church's most important gatherings."It's a blessing for us, it's so important that the first visit of the pope is to our country," beamed a 35-year-old Turkish Catholic called Ali Gunuru who was waiting for him outside the church.
4 min read - World
'I don't want others to lose a loved one like Sam'
Low tyre tread was a factor in a crash which led to the death of Race Across the World contestant Sam Gardiner.
3 min read - World
Roundabout plan at crossroads plagued by crashes
The plan to install a roundabout was revealed by National Highways officials at a public meeting.
3 min read - US
Childhood Friend of Accused National Guard Shooter Says Suspect Suffered From Mental Health Issues After Work in Afghanistan
A childhood friend of Rahmanullah Lakanwal, the man suspected of shooting two National Guard troops — one fatally — in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday, said the Afghan national struggled with his mental health and was disturbed by his previous work in the military. Lankanawal, who was brought into the United States as part of President Joe […]
3 min readMediaite
- World
Oban recommended as venue to host Mòd in 2028
A report says it would attract the most visitors and guarantee the greatest economic impact.
1 min read - World
Two men jailed over machete attack
Faisal Hussain and Jassdeep Singh have been sentenced to 10 years in prison between them.
1 min read - World
Big dreams for Palestinian teens at Singapore robot fest
Palestinian student Razan Shawar has travelled for 24 hours to showcase her team's AI-powered invention at World Robot Olympiad in Singapore, telling AFP innovation -- not war -- should be why people hear about her country."We want to show the world that we are not just under war, that we can... stand here and show people and the world that we can do this, we can be in this competition," she said.
2 min read - World
South African ex-leader's daughter quits Parliament over Russian mercenary allegations
A daughter of former South African President Jacob Zuma has resigned as a lawmaker, her party said Friday, after coming under police investigation for allegedly tricking 17 men into joining a Russian mercenary group fighting in the Ukraine war. Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla had served as a lawmaker since June 2024 for the MK Party, an opposition party led by her father. Jacob Zuma created the party in 2023 following his expulsion from South Africa's then-ruling African National Congress.
2 min readAssociated Press
- World
Talks on UK access to an EU defense fund have broken down
Talks on the U.K. joining a major European Union defense fund have ended without agreement, the British government said Friday, in a blow to its post-Brexit reset with the 27-nation bloc. Prime Minister Keir Starmer, elected last year, pledged to repair ties with the EU strained by Britain’s acrimonious departure in 2020. In May, the U.K. and the EU announced new agreements on trade, travel and defense that Starmer hailed as a “win-win.”
2 min readAssociated Press Finance
- World
German lawmakers approve €525 billion budget for 2026
Germany's budget for 2026 was approved by lawmakers in the lower house of parliament on Friday, with expenditure of almost €525 billion ($608 billion). The proposals include more than €180 billion in borrowing, greater than at any time in German history other than during the coronavirus pandemic.
1 min read - World
Priceless letter describes 4-year-old Mozart composing concerto
A 4-year-old Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart sits at a table, clumsily dips his pen into an inkwell and composes a piano concerto. His father scrutinizes the composition - and bursts into tears at his son's skill.
2 min read - World
Israel investigating death of two Palestinians during arrest
Israeli authorities are investigating an incident in which Israeli security forces shot and killed two militant Palestinians in the West Bank who had apparently surrendered, Israeli media reported on Friday. A Justice Ministry unit that investigates misconduct by police officers has launched a probe against a border police officer, newspaper Haaretz said.
2 min read - Science
Scientists make incredible breakthrough that could transform energy sector: 'It could play a significant role'
This development amplifies the appeal of installing solar panels.
The Cool Down2 min read - World
Romanian teens accused of rape attempt that sparked riots have charges dropped
The boys, aged 14 and 15, have been in custody since the alleged assault on 7 June which led to race riots across NI.
2 min read - US
Trump says US will pause migration from 'third-world countries'
The president did not name which countries would be affected, but vowed to remove anyone "not a net asset" to the US.
706 min read - US
National Guard member dies after shooting in Washington DC
Sarah Beckstrom, 20, succumbed to her injuries, while a second guardsman remains in critical condition, Donald Trump says.
1884 min read - World
One of world's longest serving democratic leaders loses election in St. Vincent and the Grenadines
St. Vincent and the Grenadines is preparing to welcome a new prime minister for the first time in 24 years after preliminary election results show that Godwin Friday of the New Democratic Party beat Ralph Gonsalves of the Unity Labor Party. Gonsalves was first elected in March 2001, making him one of the world’s longest serving democratic leaders in recent history. Friday’s moderate conservative party won 14 of the 15 constituencies in the eastern Caribbean archipelago, according to preliminary results.
2 min read - World
Sri Lanka deploys troops as floodwaters rise, death toll hits 69
Sri Lankan troops were racing to rescue hundreds of people marooned by rising floodwaters on Friday as weather-related deaths rose to 69, with another 34 people declared missing.This week's weather-related toll is the highest since June last year, when 26 people were killed following heavy rains.
3 min read - World
Midwife who helped deliver 3,000 babies retires
Diane Hele helps bring generations of families into the world during decades of service.
2 min read - US
Tributes Pour In for Slain National Guard Sarah Beckstrom
The 20-year-old died on Thanksgiving after being shot alongside a colleague in a "targeted" attack in D.C.
705 min readTime
- World
Views sought over plans to build up to 700 houses
The homes will be built in Perton, south Staffordshire, and developers are seeking views.
1 min read - World
Uzbek Muslims pray for rain amid severe drought
Uzbek Muslims held mass prayers for rain Friday as the Central Asian country suffers severe droughts associated with climate change.The prayers were held in 2,000 mosques across the Muslim country of 35 million people.
1 min read - Politics
Maine lawmakers outline competing visions for energy policy, agree affordability is key
Energy affordability — under mounting stress chiefly from rising electricity prices — will be a litmus test for most any climate policy or spending decisions.
5 min readThe Maine Monitor
- Sports
Bradford City supporter banned over racist comment
The League One clubs says the fan will be unable to attend home or away matches for three years.
1 min read - World
'Dangerous manipulator' posed as woman's jailed ex
The woman and her children were forced to move house several times because of the stalking, police say.
2 min read - US
Orlando’s SeaWorld and other parks under federal investigation for ban on walking aids
The park recently changed its policy to ban rollator walkers
4 min read - World
Search for British man who fell from cruise ship off Tenerife coast
The Spanish coastguard has been coordinating search and rescue efforts since Thursday morning.
2 min read
The Yodel
Rise and shine with news updates, delightful stories and a hit of nostalgia.
