Indian Villagers Compete to Raise Bamboo Poles at Centuries-Old Folk Festival
Members of the Agri-Koli community in the village of Rave near Mumbai, India, competed to erect large decorated bamboo poles as part of the annual tradition honouring the goddess Raiba Devi. The centuries-old folk festiv...
UK Petrol Prices Fall for First Time After 46 Days of Rises Driven by Iran War
UK fuel prices have dropped for the first time since the start of the Iran war, ending a run of 46 consecutive days of rising costs. The fall has been described as offering 'relief for drivers', though prices remain elev...
Campaigners Demand Legal Reform for Mothers Diagnosed With Cancer During Pregnancy
Mothers diagnosed with cancer during or around pregnancy are calling for legislative reform after finding themselves spending their maternity leave undergoing life-saving treatment rather than bonding with their newborns...
Russia Looted Thousands of Ukrainian Cultural Artefacts; Recovery Efforts Faltering
Ukraine is struggling to recover thousands of artworks and cultural objects seized by Russia during its full-scale invasion, with the scale of the looting making recovery efforts extremely challenging. The losses represe...
Plaza Prizes writing competition collapses, leaving winners and judges unpaid
The Plaza Prizes, a UK writing competition established in 2022 that offered a £20,000 prize fund across 10 awards in 2025, appears to have shut down. Judges — including a Booker prize-winning novelist — report not b...
Courier scam victim loses £11,000 despite being tech-savvy
Samantha Bradshaw fell victim to courier scammers who stole £11,000 from her, highlighting that such criminals can target anyone regardless of their digital literacy....
No data collected on Belfast taxi bus lane scheme despite Stormont plans
A government official has confirmed that no data has been gathered on taxis using bus lanes in Belfast, despite a Stormont plan to monitor such usage....
Swinney predicts SNP majority at next month's Holyrood election
Scottish First Minister John Swinney has told BBC News he expects the SNP to win at least 65 seats at the Holyrood election next month, which would give the party a majority....
FBI Director Kash Patel Threatens to Sue Over Report of 'Excessive Drinking' and Misconduct
FBI Director Kash Patel has threatened legal action against an Atlantic reporter over a published report detailing allegations of excessive drinking and other concerning conduct, calling the claims 'false reporting'. Pat...
Canadian Man to Plead Guilty to Aiding Suicide After Murder Charges Over Lethal Substances Sales
A Canadian man who had been facing 14 murder charges for allegedly selling lethal substances online to people at risk of self-harm will instead plead guilty to the lesser charge of counselling or aiding suicide, accordin...
Police Welfare Check on 91-Year-Old Ends With Discovery She Was Playing Video Games
Officers in Westlake, Ohio, responding to a welfare alert for a 91-year-old woman found her safe and well — playing video games in her bedroom. The encounter gave police a 'good laugh' and the story has been widely sha...
Overlooked Black and Indigenous Patriots Brought Into Focus as US Marks Revolutionary War Anniversary
As the United States commemorates the American Revolution, renewed attention is being paid to the contributions of Black and Indigenous men who fought in the conflict but have often been left out of mainstream historical...
Starmer Under Pressure Over Mandelson Appointment as Epstein Links Draw Renewed Scrutiny
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer is facing renewed political pressure over his decision to appoint Peter Mandelson as UK ambassador to the United States. Mandelson's known association with convicted sex offender Jeffr...
Carfentanil Surges Across US as Deadly Substitute for Fentanyl
Carfentanil, a weapons-grade chemical far more potent than fentanyl, has seen a dramatic resurgence across the United States, causing hundreds of unsuspecting drug users to overdose. Public health officials are warning t...
US Quietly Extends Russian Oil Sanctions Waiver to Offset Iran War Shortages
The US Treasury Department has extended its pause on Russian oil sanctions to help ease energy shortages caused by the Iran war, despite Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent having ruled out such a move just days earlier. Th...
Rapper Tory Lanez Sues California Prison System for $100 Million Over Stabbing
Rapper Tory Lanez has filed a $100 million lawsuit against the California prison system, alleging he was improperly housed with an inmate who stabbed him 16 times last year. The suit argues prison officials failed in the...
Spirit Airlines Seeks Emergency Trump Administration Bailout to Avoid Liquidation
Spirit Airlines has reportedly asked the Trump administration for an emergency bailout as the carrier faces liquidation due to surging fuel costs linked to the Iran war. The airline had been expected to emerge from bankr...
Los Angeles to Pay $11.8 Million to Man Blinded by Police Projectile at Dodgers Celebration
The city of Los Angeles has been ordered to pay $11.8 million to a 27-year-old man who was blinded when police fired a projectile at him during celebrations following the Dodgers' 2020 World Series victory....
Basketball Hall of Famer Oscar Schmidt of Brazil Dies at 68
Oscar Schmidt, the Brazilian basketball legend known as the 'Holy Hand' and a Basketball Hall of Famer, has died at the age of 68. Schmidt was widely regarded as one of the greatest scorers in the history of internationa...
Pope Leo XIV Plans Visit to Angola Church Linked to Slave Trade
Pope Leo XIV is planning a visit to a Catholic chapel in Angola historically connected to the slave trade, a moment seen as symbolically significant by many Africans. The visit is also viewed as a reflection on the pope'...