Trump tells BBC that King's visit could repair relations with UK
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Trump has also criticised the UK government and other allies over their response to the Iran war. He has said he is "not happy" with the level of support offered by the UK, while Sir Keir has repeatedly said the country will not be drawn into a wider conflict.
Police arrest two over alleged drug sales through shops in West Midlands
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"We've already changed some of the rules in relation to how we deal with incidents in shops, but we must do this, we're absolutely focused on it and I understand why people are concerned about it," he told reporters.
Masked Iranian forces appear to seize ships in staged video
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Iranian state media have shared footage appearing to show the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps boarding two cargo ships in the Strait of Hormuz.
The video shows small boats carrying masked and armed men approaching the MSC Francesca and the Epaminondas.
Analysis by BBC Verify indicates that parts of the video appear to have been filmed hours after the ships were reported as seized by Iranian forces.
Produced by Jemimah Herd. Graphics by Mesut Ersoz.
Washington rapist jailed for deliberate HIV infections
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In a statement read to the court, one of the men, who was 18 when he was raped and infected by Hall, said he had been "violated in the most horrific and dehumanising way" and been left with a trauma he carried every day.
Morgan McSweeney says he doesn't recognise claims about his behaviour
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Speaking at security conference in Ukraine, McSweeney said he found it "strange reading about a character with the same name as mine sometimes", as he spoke publicly for the first time about his departure from No 10 over Lord Mandelson's appointment as US ambassador.
No rape took place outside Epsom church, say Surrey Police
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It added that it was "imperative that the appropriate time be allowed" in order for that to happen, while "support is given to the complainant to progress inquiries at their own pace".
Which airlines are cancelling flights to UK over jet fuel shortages?
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Rory Boland, travel editor at consumer publication Which?, says overall cancellations will be a very small proportion of the millions of flights in and out of the UK, and the changes will be targeted on routes where there are multiple flights a day so that passengers can be rebooked on to an earlier or later flight.
Adam Hall HIV infection victim speaks out as rapist jailed
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"Being just young and vulnerable at the time and having that taken advantage of, just having my right to decide to consent taken away, it was a massive rollercoaster but it was just constantly downhill."
Premier League Darts 2026: Luke Littler beats Jonny Clayton to win in Liverpool
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Luke Littler overcame a chorus of boos in Liverpool to strengthen his grip on a Premier League play-off place with an impressive 6-1 win over Jonny Clayton.
Manchester United fan Littler, 19, was booed throughout the night on Merseyside, but he kept his cool to claim his fourth nightly win in week 12.
The world champion saw off Luke Humphries 6-2 in the quarter-finals, but was pushed to the limit by Michael van Gerwen in the last four.
With the top four in the Premier League table going through to the finals night, Clayton leads the way overall, three points clear of second-placed Littler, who is 15 ahead of Gian van Veen in fifth.
Clayton and Littler are clear of the rest with four league-phase nights to go before finals night at London's O2 Arena on 28 May.
When comparing his reception in Rotterdam last Thursday to the one he got in Liverpool, Littler said: "Rotterdam was way louder than this tonight.
"There was a little bit [of booing] but this week was nothing compared to last week.
"I've just got to forget about it. I was definitely focused and wanted to win tonight, and that's what I've done."
Littler has finished top of the table in the previous two years and is determined to do so again, saying: "I'm very close to Jonny now and I'm going to go chasing.
"I want to finish top once again and if it's not to be then it's not to be, but there are still four weeks left to play for."
Littler, who was booed in Rotterdam last week following his exchange with Dutch number one Gian van Veen in Manchester three weeks ago, showed his resilience to secure another five points.
He quickly raced into a 4-0 lead over Clayton in the final after capitalising on missed doubles from the 2021 Premier League champion.
While Clayton was only able to land one out of his six double attempts, Littler averaged more than 104 and had a 60% checkout rate to secure victory.
Watch: Girl describes finding rare Mexican axolotl in Wales
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A 10-year-old girl who found an endangered Mexican axolotl while on holiday in Wales has told the BBC about the moment she found and caught the amphibian.
It is the first documented discovery of an axolotl in the wild in the UK, with only 50 to 1,000 left globally, according to experts.
Evie was playing in the shallows of the River Ogmore in Bridgend when she spotted the axolotl nestled in the rocks.
The family decided to cut their trip short to take the animal back to their home in Leicester, naming it Dippy as a tribute to where Evie found it.
"I think it's a really nice change to the family," Evie said about having Dippy.
Chris Newman, the National Centre for Reptile Welfare (NCRW) director, said the manner in which Dippy was found suggested its previous owner had released it due to a "change in circumstances".
Anglesey's little church in the sea
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Meet the 19 metre octopus that may have prowled ancient seas
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"With their tentacles and their suckers they could perfectly hold on to such an animal and there is no escape," said Christian Klug, a palaeontologist at the University of Zurich, who reviewed the research.
Meta says it will cut 8,000 jobs as AI spending grows
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A key reason for the layoffs is Meta's increased spending in other areas of the company, including AI, for which it will this year spend $135bn (£100bn). This is roughly equal to the amount it has spent on AI in the previous three years combined, according to a person who viewed the memo.
PC Andrew Harper's widow unveils memorial to 'hero' in Reading
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He said he was "very, very much missed" and he hoped that when the public saw the memorial they appreciated "that we do our absolute best and there's some very hard working officers out there and a nod of respect as they walk past would go a long way".
Doctor warned Nottingham attacker he would end up killing, inquiry told
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In notes from a ward review on 16 July, it was recorded that "Dr Seedat observed that there seems to be no insight or remorse and that the danger is that this will happen again and perhaps Valdo will end up killing someone".
Woman killed by bear in Polish forest, son and local government say
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Wojciech Jankowski, a spokesman for the Lesko Forest District where the attack occurred, told Onet: "At this time of year, bears that have awakened from their winter sleep come to places like this, close to human homes, in search of food. This was an unexpected encounter for both the bear and the human."
Donald Trump gets on the phone... with Sarah
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Available for over a year
What happened when Americast’s Sarah Smith cold called the US president? In this episode, Sarah and Anthony thoroughly unpack her phone call with Donald Trump, how she planned the interview…and also, she tells us what happened when the US president unexpectedly called her back. Listen to what Donald Trump told Sarah about next week’s state visit from King Charles and Queen Camilla, and how he thinks it could help repair relations with the UK. He also has advice for how Keir Starmer can recover after the fallout from Peter Mandelson’s appointment as US ambassador. Plus, Sarah asks Trump about his earlier threat to “wipe out” an entire civilisation in Iran. HOSTS: • Sarah Smith, North America Editor • Anthony Zurcher, North America Correspondent GET IN TOUCH: • Join our online community: https://discord.gg/qSrxqNcmRB • Send us a message or voice note via WhatsApp to +44 330 123 9480 • Email [email protected] • Or use #Americast This episode was made by George Dabby. The technical producer was Ricardo McCarthy. The series producer is Purvee Pattni. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham. If you want to be notified every time we publish a new episode, please subscribe to us on BBC Sounds by hitting the subscribe button on the app. You can now listen to Americast on a smart speaker. If you want to listen, just say "Ask BBC Sounds to play Americast”. It works on most smart speakers. US Election Unspun: Sign up for Anthony’s BBC newsletter: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-68093155 Americast is part of the BBC News Podcasts family of podcasts. The team that makes Americast also makes lots of other podcasts, including Newscast. If you enjoy Americast (and if you're reading this then you hopefully do), then we think that you will enjoy some of our other pods too. See links below. Newscast: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/series/p05299nl Radical: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/brand/p0gg4k6r The Global Story: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/brand/w13xtvsd Top Comment BBC Sounds - Top Comment - Available Episodes
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The Week: How Much Danger Is Keir Starmer In?
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Available for over a year
Today, Adam and Chris look back and assess how much danger Keir Starmer is in after another week of the Peter Mandelson saga? They are joined by Lara Spirit, deputy political editor of The Sunday Times and former civil servant Helen MacNamara who served as the deputy cabinet secretary. You can now listen to Newscast on a smart speaker. If you want to listen, just say "Ask BBC Sounds to play Newscast”. It works on most smart speakers. You can join our Newscast online community here: https://bbc.in/newscastdiscord Get in touch with Newscast by emailing [email protected] or send us a WhatsApp on +44 0330 123 9480. New episodes released every day. If you're in the UK, for more News and Current Affairs podcasts from the BBC, listen on BBC Sounds: https://bbc.in/4guXgXd Newscast brings you daily analysis of the latest political news stories from the BBC. The presenter was Adam Fleming. It was made by Jack MacLaren. The social producer was Joe Wilkinson. The technical producer was . The assistant editor is Chris Gray. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham.
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Premier League managers: Man Utd, Chelsea, Newcastle, Fulham, Crystal Palace latest
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Let's start with those three clubs definitely needing a new manager - Chelsea, Crystal Palace and Manchester United.
Michael Carrick has done his chances of securing the United job on a full-time basis no harm at all while working on an interim basis since Ruben Amorim's dismissal.
And their expected Champions League qualification will only serve to strengthen his claims to become the club's next permanent boss.
Players are responding to the former United and England midfielder's methods and have recorded some impressive results during his reign.
The club want their next manager to be a good coach but also someone with character and charisma to cope with the scrutiny that comes with the job.
As impressive as Carrick has been, he does not have the sort of experience of managing a club the size of United some inside the club believe to be a necessary component of their next boss.
If the appointment of a proven, big-name manager becomes achievable, United could yet pivot but, as things stand, Carrick is a strong candidate.
Elsewhere, Rosenior's sacking means Chelsea's US owners need to appoint a fifth full-time manager since their arrival in 2022.
Chelsea insist they are not in active discussions with any candidates at this moment, though it is understood internal discussions over their priority targets are under way.
Landing their preferred candidates may be easier said than done, though, with a number of industry sources indicating the difficulties predecessors have run into over recruitment in recent years may mean top managers are reluctant.
Iraola is expected to be high on the club's final shortlist of candidates given his excellent work at Bournemouth while Fulham boss Silva is another who is likely to be discussed if he decides not to renew his contract.
Edin Terzic - a contender for the Athletic Bilbao vacancy, Alonso and Cesc Fabregas may also emerge as candidates, while the club are mindful of Howe's potential availability this summer.
Oliver Glasner has already confirmed he will be leaving Crystal Palace this summer, and the club are well down the line of completing checks on potential replacements.
BBC Sport revealed in January that Palace had an interest in Iraola, and that remains.
The Spaniard is viewed internally as one of their lead targets. He is aware of Palace's interest, and the Eagles are still of the belief they have a good chance of appointing the 43-year-old.
Should he agree to the move, Palace would be prepared to give Iraola heavy influence on the club's recruitment strategy.
Sources have indicated that Coventry boss Frank Lampard, former Brentford and Spurs manager Thomas Frank, Ipswich counterpart Kieran McKenna and Sean Dyche - most recently of Nottingham Forest - are also among the contenders.
It is understood Dyche would have been a serious contender to replace Glasner had the Austrian been dismissed earlier this year.
Football Focus to end after 52 years
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Football Focus is to end after 52 years, BBC Sport has announced.
Launched in 1974, the Saturday lunchtime television programme provided fans with interviews, analysis and stories from across the game before the weekend's fixtures.
Changing audience habits have meant a growth in the use of digital platforms and on-demand to get the same pre-match content.
As a result, linear television viewing figures have gradually declined since 2018.
Football Focus will run until the end of the season.
Alex Kay-Jelski - director of BBC Sport - said: "Football Focus has been a hugely important programme in the history of BBC Sport and has played a key role in telling the stories of the game for generations of viewers.
"This decision was made before last week's wider BBC savings announcement, reflecting the continued shift in how audiences engage with football and our commitment to evolving how we deliver content to reach fans wherever they are."
From next season, Kelly Somers' The Football Interview will move to Saturday at 12:45 BST on BBC One. Final Score with Jason Mohammad will start on BBC One earlier than it has this season - at 15:45 BST.
Arsenal winger Bukayo Saka, former Chelsea manager Emma Hayes, Manchester City midfielder Bernardo Silva, Liverpool striker Hugo Ekitike and Manchester United boss Michael Carrick are among the players and coaches to have featured on The Football Interview this season.
BBC Sport says it will expand its digital output across BBC platforms, including exclusive shows on YouTube. The intention is to deliver more high-quality, accessible and engaging football coverage at scale.
Football Focus started out as part of Grandstand, with Sam Leitch presenting a pre-cursor called Football Preview.
It was renamed Football Focus, with Bob Wilson becoming an iconic figure. After first taking on presenting duties in 1974, the former Arsenal goalkeeper stayed in the role for 20 years.
Steve Rider, Gary Lineker, Ray Stubbs, Manish Bhasin and Dan Walker - for 12 years - all had stints in the chair.
Its final host will be Alex Scott, who has presented Football Focus for the past five years and will continue to work for the BBC.
"Alex Scott is one of our finest presenters, is hugely popular across the men's and women's game and is a big part of our present and future," added Kay-Jelski.
"She will remain at the heart of our sports output across both the men's World Cup this year and the Women's World Cup in 2027, as well as continuing her lead role on the Women's Super League and BBC Sports Personality of the Year.
"We are also working on a very exciting new project with her - more to come on that soon."
Scott said being part of the programme had been "incredibly special" and it was an "honour" to have been presenter for five years.
"It has been such an important part of my life, working with some of the very best people in the business, both on screen and behind the scenes," she said on Instagram.
2026 World Snooker Championship: Neil Robertson victory equals Crucible seeds record
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Australian Neil Robertson defeated China's Pang Junxu 10-6 to ensure a Crucible record-equalling 15 seeded players won their first-round matches at the 2026 World Championship.
Fourth seed Robertson's four-frame victory meant, for only the third time, all but one of the seeds made it through their matches against the qualifiers.
The only player that came through qualifying to still be in the competition is world number 32 Hossein Vafaei of Iran, after he defeated China's Si Jiahui 10-3 earlier on Thursday.
The Crucible has staged snooker's biggest event since 1977 and never have all 16 seeds advanced, with 15 reaching round two in 1983 - when Jimmy White lost to Tony Meo - and again 10 years later when Doug Mountjoy defeated Alain Robidoux.
"Hossein did me a favour earlier on because all the seeds had won, so the pressure was building and building and who was going to be the one that let everyone down?" joked Robertson.
He said he "can't work out" why the qualifiers had found it so tough, adding: "There were a few debutants this year and some young players that had not had the experience of playing here. The bigger surprise has been there have not been many close matches.
"But there probably won't be that fairytale underdog story this year."
2026 World Snooker Championship: Zhao Xintong v Ding Junhui could break TV viewing records
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Over the next few days, a World Championship match might break the record for snooker's biggest-ever television audience.
But it is not the last-16 encounter between Ronnie O'Sullivan and John Higgins, nor does it feature world number one Judd Trump, or three-time winner Mark Williams.
Such has been the rapid growth of the game in China, the match between Ding Junhui and Zhao Xintong is the tie in question, as the country's first ranking event winner and trailblazer goes up against its first world champion - and the defending champion in Sheffield.
"It's a big clash and it could surpass all records, it could be hundreds of millions [watching] in China," said Jason Ferguson, the chairman of the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association (WPBSA), who has been a key figure in the growth of the sport there.
"It could be the highest [television audience], we just keep on breaking records with snooker, it just keeps growing. Since Zhao Xintong won [the world title], snooker has continued to grow and recently we went to the number one sport watched on state media, China Central TV.
"We have a really popular world champion. He is popular, cool and funny - and funny in both languages. Him winning has had a huge impact on the sport and it has gone from strength to strength."
Suzie Bates: New Zealand great to retire from internationals after 2026 Women's T20 World Cup
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New Zealand all-rounder Suzie Bates will retire from international cricket after this year's Women's T20 World Cup, ending an illustrious 20-year career on the world stage.
The 38-year-old will be part of the White Ferns' 15-member squad for the T20 World Cup taking place from 12 June to 5 July in England, where they will also play three ODIs and T20Is against the hosts next month.
A right-handed opening batter, Bates is the all-time leading run-scorer in women's Twenty20 internationals with 4,717 runs and fourth on the ODI charts, while she has also claimed 145 wickets and a record number of catches.
"When I look back on the past 20-plus years, I can't quite believe how quickly the time has gone," said Bates, who also won the 2024 T20 World Cup.
"I'm immensely proud to have worn the fern so many times, and I've been filled with enormous purpose and joy in striving each day to be a better person, team-mate, cricketer, and athlete for this team.
"I have one final mission: to head to the UK - a place that holds so many special memories for me - and win another World Cup."
Everest: Chunk of glacier blocks route in peak climbing season
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But Purnima Shrestha said that even if the route is opened soon, the climbing window could be reduced this season. She summitted Everest three times in a single season in 2024, having made the first push for the summit on 11 May that year.
Proxy attacks in UK a real and growing concern, says Starmer
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The chief rabbi, who said the Jewish community was filled with anxiety after the attacks, said he had asked Sir Keir to "guarantee the normalisation of antisemitism in the UK will stop, and that there will be zero tolerance".
US government watchdog to investigate Epstein files release
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Last month, the DOJ released summaries of interviews with a woman who made unsubstantiated claims of sexual assault against Trump. The agency said that the documents had been accidentally withheld. Trump, who is mentioned thousands of times in the files including in emails and correspondence sent by Epstein himself to others, has denied any wrongdoing.
Meta says it will cut 8,000 jobs as AI spending soars
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A key reason for the layoffs is Meta's increased spending in other areas of the company, including AI, for which it will this year spend $135bn (£100bn). This is roughly equal to the amount it has spent on AI in the previous three years combined, according to a person who viewed the memo.