An “unsecured” penguin in a cardboard box was the cause of a helicopter crash in South Africa, a report into the incident has found. The penguin, which had been placed in the box and on the lap of a passenger, slid off and knocked the pilot’s controls just after take-off from Bird Island off the … Read more
Chris Page BBC News Ireland correspondent Brian Lawless/PA Wire The priest was stabbed multiple times at Renmore Barracks in Galway in August 2024 An Irish army chaplain has offered forgiveness to a 17-year-old boy who stabbed him at a barracks. At a court hearing, Father Paul Murphy also hugged the teenager who pleaded guilty to … Read more
Michelle Obama has spoken out against rumours that her marriage to Barack Obama might be in trouble. The former first lady has not accompanied her husband to several high-profile events – including Donald Trump’s inauguration and the funeral of former president Jimmy Carter – fuelling speculation that they might be separating. Without explicitly mentioning these … Read more
The US House of Representatives has passed a budget bill that includes massive cuts to taxes and government spending on Thursday despite opposition from Democrats and Republican hard-liners. The spending plan is a key plank in Donald Trump’s legislative agenda and he has called it a “big, beautiful bill”. After the 216-214 vote, Trump posted … Read more
Merlyn Thomas, Emma Pengelly & Matt Murphy BBC Verify BBC Israeli troops fired more than 100 times during an attack in which they killed 15 emergency workers in Gaza, with some shots from as close as 12m (39ft) away, a forensic audio analysis of mobile phone footage commissioned by BBC Verify has found. Two audio … Read more
PA Media King Charles and Queen Camilla have left Italy after a four-day state visit. They ended the trip with a celebration of the country’s food, trying their hand at making pasta at a festival in Ravenna. The visit had included a brief private meeting with Pope Francis in the Vatican, where the pontiff, who … Read more
US President Donald Trump’s political allies reacted with relief after Wednesday’s U-turn on tariffs, insisting it was part of a wider plan. Trump backed down from imposing worldwide higher-rate tariffs, or taxes on imports. But he ratcheted up his trade war with China and kept a lower 10% tariff rate in place globally. His team … Read more
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has rejected criticism of the Gaza war by some air force reservists, calling it “unforgivable”. The Israeli military said it would dismiss serving reservists who had signed a letter calling for the return of Israeli hostages to be prioritised over fighting Hamas. The letter also says the current fighting is … Read more
Kenya’s national high-school drama competition has been overshadowed by drama of its own after police fired tear gas to disperse a crowd that had gathered to watch a controversial play. The play, Echoes of War, highlights the role of digital spaces in governance and the power of youth in shaping societal change – with close … Read more
A woman in Australia has unknowingly given birth to a stranger’s baby, after her fertility clinic accidentally implanted another woman’s embryos into her. The mix-up at Monash IVF in Brisbane, Queensland has been blamed on human error, Australian media reports. “On behalf of Monash IVF, I want to say how truly sorry I am for … Read more