Israeli embassy in London was reportedly the target of a suspected terror plot involving five Iranian men. Police arrested the suspects in different locations in the UK, but have not publicly confirmed the embassy as the target due to operational reasons.
Key Facts
Five Iranian men were arrested on suspicion of planning a terrorist act in London.
The arrests were carried out in Swindon, west London, Stockport, Rochdale, and Manchester.
Police have not officially confirmed the Israeli embassy as the target but believe the report to be true.
The investigation is led by the Metropolitan Police counter-terrorism team and is ongoing.
Four of the men are still being questioned under the Terrorism Act.
One man was released on bail under a different law known as the Police and Criminal Evidence Act.
Searches were conducted at various addresses in Greater Manchester, London, and Swindon.
Separate from this incident, three other Iranian men were arrested under a law targeting foreign power threats.
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Nine people were arrested in connection with a gathering at a pub in Oldham where they allegedly celebrated Adolf Hitler's birthday. The police seized weapons and Nazi memorabilia during raids in several locations across Greater Manchester.
Key Facts
Nine people were arrested for organizing a gathering celebrating Adolf Hitler's birthday.
The event took place at the Duke of Edinburgh pub in Royton, Oldham.
Pictures showed attendees displaying Nazi flags and a cake with a swastika.
Police raids occurred in Rochdale, Bolton, Trafford, Stockport, and Southport.
Authorities seized swords, a crossbow, imitation guns, and a suspected grenade.
The arrested individuals are suspected of offenses under the Public Order Act related to racial hatred.
The pub's owners claimed they were unaware of the group's intentions.
Bomb experts safely handled a suspected grenade found in Bolton.
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The BBC Sounds program "Americast" discusses the relationship between the US and Canada and questions if former President Trump plans to reopen the Alcatraz prison.
Key Facts
The program "Americast" is available on BBC Sounds.
The episode was released on May 7, 2025.
The episode examines the relationship between the US and Canada.
It also questions whether Trump will reopen Alcatraz prison.
The episode lasts 28 minutes.
Another segment involves Joe Biden's interview with the BBC.
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Indian missiles hit a complex in Muridke, Pakistan, near the India-Pakistan border, causing significant damage. The targeted site previously housed groups linked to militant activities but was being used for education and medical services at the time of the strike.
Key Facts
Indian missiles struck a complex in Muridke, Pakistan, causing visible damage.
The site is near the border with India, close to Lahore in Punjab, Pakistan.
The complex included a mosque, school, and hospital.
India claims it targeted sites linked to terrorist organizations.
The site was previously associated with Lashkar-e-Taiba, a banned militant group.
Pakistan's government has denied any involvement in recent attacks in Indian-administered Kashmir.
Security was tight, and access to the site was restricted after the strike.
Emergency workers were checking the rubble for injured or dead people.
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Villagers in Salamabad, a village in Indian-administered Kashmir, experienced shelling from Pakistan which caused many residents to flee. The area, close to the dividing line between Indian and Pakistan-administered Kashmir, has recently seen renewed cross-border tensions, despite a previous ceasefire agreement that had reduced such incidents.
Key Facts
Salamabad village is near the Line of Control, the border between Indian and Pakistan-administered Kashmir.
The area was hit by shelling from Pakistan, damaging homes and causing people to leave.
The shelling occurred around 2:00 AM local time, and more shells hit by 3:00 AM.
There was no government warning, and residents lack safety shelters.
Before this incident, a ceasefire agreement in 2021 had reduced cross-border shelling.
Bashir Ahmad, a local, reported only a few villagers stayed while most residents fled.
Badrudin, a resident, was injured in the shelling and lost his home, which he had built with a loan.
The situation reignites tensions between India and Pakistan, with both sides exchanging strikes.
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Former Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger questioned the rule allowing Europa League winners to qualify for the Champions League. Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou disagreed and said Spurs are often subjected to criticism. Tottenham leads 3-1 in their Europa League semi-final against Bodo/Glimt.
Key Facts
Arsenal's former manager Wenger is now Fifa's chief of global football development.
Wenger believes Europa League winners should not automatically qualify for the Champions League.
Tottenham is leading 3-1 against Bodo/Glimt in their Europa League semi-final.
Tottenham is 16th in the Premier League, and Manchester United is 15th.
The Europa League winners will play in Bilbao on May 21.
James Maddison from Tottenham is out for the season with a knee injury.
Dominic Solanke from Tottenham is expected to be fit after a recent injury.
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A militant leader in Pakistan reported that a missile strike by India killed 10 of his family members in Bahawalpur, Pakistan. India launched the attack in response to a previous militant attack in Indian-administered Kashmir, which India attributes to the militant group led by this leader. The international community is calling for both India and Pakistan to act carefully to prevent further conflict.
Key Facts
Masood Azhar, a militant leader, said a missile strike by India killed 10 of his relatives in Bahawalpur, Pakistan.
The Indian strike targeted sites in Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir on Tuesday night.
India claims it attacked areas used to plan attacks against its territory.
Pakistan labeled India's actions as aggressive and denies involvement in the attack India cited.
Indian authorities accused Pakistan of supporting militants, but Pakistan denied these charges.
The mosque hit in Bahawalpur showed severe damage, including collapsed structures.
This incident is part of rising tensions between nuclear-armed India and Pakistan.
Masood Azhar's group, Jaish-e-Mohammed, has been linked to other attacks and is recognized by the UN as a terrorist organization.
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More victims of the infected blood scandal in the UK may die before getting full compensation, according to a government minister. About 30,000 patients were infected with HIV or hepatitis from contaminated blood products in the 1970s and 80s. Although the government set aside funds for compensation, only a small amount has been paid out so far.
Key Facts
Around 30,000 people in the UK were infected with HIV or hepatitis B and C due to contaminated blood products in the 1970s and 80s.
The government plans to compensate victims, but only 106 full compensation awards have been given out nearly a year after a critical report was published.
The UK government allocated £11.8 billion for compensation, but only approximately £97 million has been paid so far.
Survivors and families have received smaller interim payments over the past three years.
A public inquiry revealed that the disaster might have been avoided if different decisions were made at the time.
People have criticized the process, saying it feels like waiting for a lottery ticket due to slow payments.
The Infected Blood Compensation Authority (IBCA) was established to pay victims, but progress is slow.
If victims die before getting compensation, their claims can pass to family, but if relatives die too, those claims cannot be passed on.
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Liam Payne, a former One Direction singer, died in Argentina at the age of 31 after falling from a hotel balcony. He left behind an estate worth over £24 million. Since he did not make a will, his son is expected to inherit his estate, managed by his former partner Cheryl and a lawyer.
Key Facts
Liam Payne died at age 31 in Argentina after a hotel balcony fall.
Payne did not have a will when he died.
His estate is valued at £24.3 million after debts and expenses.
Payne's son, Bear, is expected to inherit his estate.
Cheryl, Payne's former partner, and lawyer Richard Bray are administrators of the estate.
Charges against some individuals related to his death were dropped.
One Direction was a highly successful pop group in the 2010s.
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India launched missile strikes on what it calls "terrorist sites" in Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir. Pakistan reported that six locations were hit, resulting in deaths and injuries, and claimed it shot down Indian jets and a drone. India reported civilians killed by Pakistani shelling.
Key Facts
India launched missile strikes on locations in Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir.
Pakistan stated that six sites were hit, causing 26 deaths and 46 injuries.
Pakistan claimed it shot down five Indian jets and a drone.
India has not yet commented on the downing of jets and a drone.
India's army reported that 10 civilians died due to Pakistani shelling.
These events happened around the de facto border between the two countries.
The situation resulted in rising tensions between India and Pakistan.
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Two men are accused of cutting down the Sycamore Gap tree on Hadrian's Wall in Northumberland. They deny the charges, but prosecutors claim they filmed the act and took a piece of the tree as a trophy.
Key Facts
The Sycamore Gap tree stood on Hadrian's Wall for over 100 years before it was cut down.
Daniel Graham, 39, and Adam Carruthers, 32, are the two men accused of felling the tree.
They both deny charges of criminal damage related to the tree and the wall.
Prosecutors allege the men considered the act a joke but did not expect public anger.
A video allegedly of the tree being cut down was found on Mr. Graham's phone.
The prosecution claims a piece of the tree was found in Mr. Graham's car as a "trophy."
The tree was considered a landmark with global significance due to its location.
Both men claim they were not at the scene and blame each other for the incident.
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A man named Gurvinder Singh Johal was fatally stabbed inside a bank in Derby city center. Police arrested two men in connection with the incident, and a police barricade remains at the bank.
Key Facts
The victim, Gurvinder Singh Johal, was a father of three and owned a restaurant.
The stabbing occurred at Lloyds Bank on St Peter's Street in Derby.
Mr. Johal was at the bank with money from his restaurant.
Police arrested a man in his 40s on suspicion of murder.
Another man in his 30s was arrested on suspicion of helping the suspect.
The bank remains closed off by police, but the street is open to the public.
The victim's family has been informed, and support is being offered to those affected.
Lloyds Bank and local officials expressed sadness and concern over the incident.
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Rory McIlroy is preparing for the US PGA Championship at Quail Hollow, where he has won four times. Recently, he won the Masters, completing the career Grand Slam. McIlroy feels relaxed and confident about the upcoming tournament.
Key Facts
Rory McIlroy completed the career Grand Slam by winning last month's Masters.
The career Grand Slam is winning all four major golf tournaments.
McIlroy will play in the US PGA Championship at Quail Hollow, a course he has won at four times.
McIlroy recently skipped a tournament to visit family in Northern Ireland.
He played with Shane Lowry in the Zurich Classic, finishing tied for 12th.
McIlroy appeared on American TV shows for media engagements after the Masters.
Jordan Spieth, another golfer, is also trying to complete the career Grand Slam at the US PGA Championship.
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India's military actions in Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir have led to a surge of false information online. Many viral videos and images, claiming to depict these events, have been proven to be unrelated or outdated footage by BBC Verify.
Key Facts
Many videos falsely claiming to show India's strikes in Pakistan are circulating online.
BBC Verify confirmed that some videos were not from recent events but past incidents like the 2020 explosion in Beirut and Israeli strikes in Gaza.
Misinformation tends to increase during conflicts and tensions, often using unrelated footage.
Social media platform X (formerly known as Twitter) hosts much of this misleading content.
Some misleading images included video game footage from Battlefield 3.
Pakistan's military announcement about destroying jets led to shared videos unrelated to current events.
Experts say misinformation aims to generate support for military actions on both sides of the India-Pakistan conflict.
Historical disputes over Kashmir often see an increase in false information being spread.
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An NHS worker named Lorna Rooke received nearly £30,000 in compensation after a colleague likened her to Darth Vader during a Star Wars-themed personality test. An employment tribunal ruled that this caused harm to Ms. Rooke, affecting her mood and work environment negatively.
Key Facts
Lorna Rooke worked for the NHS Blood and Transplant service since 2003.
A colleague took a Star Wars-themed personality test for Rooke and categorized her as Darth Vader.
The tribunal in Croydon stated this comparison was a "detriment" to Rooke.
The incident contributed to Ms. Rooke feeling unpopular, impacting her mood and causing anxiety.
Rooke resigned from her position in 2021, partly due to this incident.
She won the tribunal case for detriment but lost other claims such as unfair dismissal and disability discrimination.
Ms. Rooke was awarded £28,989.61 as compensation.
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Rohit Sharma, India's cricket captain, has retired from Test matches but will continue playing one-day international (ODI) cricket. He announced this decision on Instagram and his service included 67 Test matches.
Key Facts
Rohit Sharma has retired from Test cricket but will still play ODIs.
He is 38 years old and has been India's Test captain since 2022.
Rohit shared his retirement news on Instagram, thanking fans for their support.
Rohit played 67 Test matches and scored 4,301 runs with an average of 40.57.
He hit 12 centuries in his Test career, with a top score of 212 runs.
He remains the captain for India's ODI team.
Rohit retired from T20 internationals after winning the 2024 T20 World Cup.
India experienced a series loss at home to New Zealand and a series defeat against Australia under his leadership.
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A court case revealed that a man found dismembered in a suitcase had previously blackmailed and raped a teenager. Yostin Mosquera is currently on trial for the alleged murder and dismemberment of two men, Albert Alfonso and Paul Longworth, whose bodies were found near a bridge in Bristol.
Key Facts
Albert Alfonso's remains were found in a suitcase, and Paul Longworth's remains were found in a trunk.
The bodies were discovered near the Clifton Suspension Bridge in Bristol in July 2024.
Yostin Mosquera, a 35-year-old from Colombia, is accused of murdering the two men.
Mosquera admits to causing the death of Albert Alfonso but denies murder charges.
A witness using the pseudonym James Smith testified that he was raped and blackmailed by Alfonso about 20 years ago.
The witness mentioned that he went to Alfonso's flat, was shown a video of himself, and was coerced into sexual acts to prevent the video from being shared.
James Smith stated he received money from Alfonso for sexual encounters and occasionally initiated contact for financial reasons.
The trial is taking place at the Old Bailey in London, and it is still ongoing.
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A major wind farm project called Hornsea 4, planned by Danish energy company Orsted off the coast of East Yorkshire, has been canceled. This decision is due to increasing costs, which also led another company, Vattenfall, to stop a similar project in Norfolk. The UK is facing challenges in meeting its 2030 clean energy goals due to these setbacks and rising costs in the offshore wind sector.
Key Facts
Orsted canceled the Hornsea 4 wind farm off East Yorkshire due to high costs.
The Hornsea 4 project was to have a capacity of 2.4GW, powering over a million homes.
Vattenfall also canceled a 1.4GW wind farm project in Norfolk for the same reason.
The UK aims for 95% of its power from clean sources by 2030, up from just over 50% now.
Meeting this target requires tripling offshore wind capacity and doubling solar and onshore wind power.
The UK will need 620 miles of new power lines and other infrastructure upgrades to meet energy goals.
Rising global inflation and supply chain issues are affecting offshore wind projects in Europe.
Some believe the 2030 clean energy target is unrealistic, but the UK government remains committed.
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The cost of housing asylum seekers in the UK is now expected to be £15.3 billion, three times the initial government estimate of £4.5 billion. The increase is mainly due to the rising number of asylum seekers and the use of hotels for accommodation. The National Audit Office reported these findings and noted that most of the spending comes from housing asylum seekers in hotels.
Key Facts
The cost of housing asylum seekers is expected to be £15.3 billion, up from an initial estimate of £4.5 billion.
Contracts signed in 2019 aimed to spend £4.5 billion over 10 years with three companies: Serco, Mears, and Clearsprings.
The number of asylum seekers in accommodation rose from 47,000 in December 2019 to 110,000 by December 2024.
About three-quarters of the accommodation spending is on hotels, which only house a third of asylum seekers.
The three companies made a combined profit of £383 million from these contracts between September 2019 and August 2024.
Clearsprings' specific contract costs increased from £0.7 billion to an expected £7 billion.
The Home Office has an option to break these contracts next year, but it seems unlikely they will do so.
The rise in accommodation costs is partly due to an increase in small boat crossings, according to a senior Home Office source.
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