Latest Stories
- Sky News
Scotland's First Minister Humza Yousaf cancels event as he fights for his political survival
Scotland's First Minister Humza Yousaf has cancelled a speech he was due to give in Glasgow this lunchtime as he fights for his political life. The event at Strathclyde University, where the SNP leader was also due to take part in a question and answer session and take questions from the press, was scratched with just a few hours notice. The move will fuel speculation over his future, particularly after sources said Mr Yousaf would "come out fighting" after his former allies in government, the Scottish Greens, said they would join the other opposition parties in a vote of no confidence next week.
- Reuters
China's Bank of Communications Q1 profit rises 1.44%
China's Bank of Communications Co Ltd (BoCom), reported a 1.44% rise in first-quarter net profit amid a slowing economy. BoCom, the first among five of the nation's biggest state banks reporting first-quarter results, booked a net profit of 24.99 billion yuan ($3.45 billion) in the three months ended March, up from 24.63 billion yuan in the same period last year, the bank said in a filing on Friday. China's lenders face shrinking profitability as they are urged to reduce interest rates on loans to help bolster flagging sectors as lending demand falls.
- Associated Press
Crusaders beat Rebels for second win in 2024; boost Super Rugby playoff hopes
The defending champion Crusaders fanned their faint playoff hopes in Super Rugby Pacific Friday with a six-try, 39-0 win over the fourth-placed Melbourne Rebels. The win was only the Crusaders’ second in nine games this season but temporarily bounced them off the bottom of the championship ladder and brightened their chances of reaching the quarterfinals with five matches remaining. The Christchurch-based Crusaders fielded the biggest pack they could find and crushed the Rebels’ scrum, winning penalties and territory through the first 30 minutes.
- Evening Standard
Is a mini-heatwave heading for the UK? Met Office issues verdict
Can we expect some decent weather early next month? Or will it be more wind and rain?
- Evening Standard
London travel news LIVE: Tube stations shut amid new strike as two lines delayed after 'casualty on tracks'
Several London Underground stations are closed due to workers striking while two Tube lines were halted because of a casualty on the track. Transport for London marked six stations on the network at 10am on Friday due to the Transport Salaried Staffs' Association action. The union said the action was likely to cause Tube stations to close at the last minute, including into Saturday morning, but Transport for London said there will not be significant disruption.
- The Telegraph
Sweden refuses to use VAR amid fan revolt
Sweden has become the first country to refuse to use Video Assistant Referees following a fan revolt against its introduction.
- The Telegraph
VAR is doomed because fans will never truly trust its technology
Now and again, too rarely, you get a sense of your life slipping away in real time. Usually this comes during hour two of a zonked-out doomscroll, realising you have consumed everything new across your preferred social networks with nothing to show for it beyond a jangly, hollowed-out feeling. You can achieve a similar effect with prolonged exposure to the VAR discourse.
- Reuters
UPDATE 1-European shares on track for weekly gains; Thyssenkrupp glows
European shares rose on Friday and looked set to end the week higher as investors cheered robust results from tech giants in the United States, while Thyssenkrupp was on course for its best day in 23 months on a divesture announcement. The pan-European STOXX 600 index started the session with a 0.6% increase by 0845 GMT. The technology sector drove most of the gains on the top index as investors took comfort from upbeat quarterly results from U.S. technology giants Microsoft and Alphabet.
- ITN
Reading terror attack families ‘trust’ judge to give answers
The father of one of the Reading terror attack victims said the families are trusting the judge to make recommendations at the inquest conclusion that will “prevent other families from facing the pain, heartbreak and loss that we must live with every day”. Speaking outside of the Old Bailey on Friday morning, Gary Furlong, the father of James, said: “It is now almost four years since our boys, James, Joseph and David were taken from us in the murderous terror attack by Khairi Saadallah in Forbury Gardens. We waited patiently while the criminal trial and appeal by Saadallah ran their course. We have listened to six weeks of evidence at the inquest into our boys’ death.".
- The Telegraph
US-China relations at risk of ‘downward spiral’, Blinken warned
US-China relations are at risk of taking a “downward spiral”, Antony Blinken was warned during his trip to Beijing on Friday.
- Evening Standard
Harlequins must hit right tempo at Twickenham to keep Premiership play-off bid alive
Alex Dombrandt is confident Quins can cause leader Northampton real problems on Saturday
- The Telegraph
US university cancels graduation ceremony over fear of pro-Palestine disruption
The University of Southern California (USC) in Los Angeles has cancelled its main graduation ceremony, citing new safety measures following student protests over the Israel-Gaza war.
- Thomson Reuters StreetEvents
Q3 2024 OSI Systems Inc Earnings Call
Q3 2024 OSI Systems Inc Earnings Call
- Reuters
Russia's Yandex reports Q1 revenue rise as market awaits spin-off news
Russian internet giant Yandex reported a 40% rise in first-quarter revenue to 228.3 billion roubles ($2.47 billion), driven by growth in e-commerce and ride-hailing, with the market awaiting news on a much anticipated corporate spin-off. Yandex's Nasdaq-listed and Dutch-registered parent, Yandex NV, in February struck a $5.2-billion deal after months of negotiations to sell its assets in Russia at a heavily discounted price due to Kremlin demands on foreign asset sales. Yandex's search and portal business and entertainment services were also among the business lines to contribute to the revenue rise, Yandex said.
- PA Media: UK News
Yousaf cancels planned speech as he battles for political survival
The Scottish First Minister faces a potential vote of no confidence in his leadership after he axed the powersharing deal with the Greens.
- USA TODAY
This type of vacation rental cancellation is on the rise. Are you next?
Selling a vacation rental out from under a guest is becoming a big problem. Insiders say it's causing a disruption for vacationers.
- PA Media: UK News
BBC Radio 2 listeners choose favourite Abba song
The top two songs in the poll reached number one in the UK charts, but the rest of the top five were minor hits.
- The Telegraph
Protests and pétanque: The wonderfully French row brewing in Paris
A wonderfully French row is underway in the leafy Parisian district of Montmartre, once famed for its bohemian artists but lately increasingly gentrified and commercialised by mass tourism. It involves angry protests, accusations of harassment, a bitter row between former friends, a luxury hotel – and pétanque.
- PA Media: UK News
Question Time: Policing minister Chris Philp appears to confuse Congo and Rwanda
Responding to an audience member on BBC One’s Question Time, Mr Philp appeared to ask whether the two African nations were separate countries.
- BBC
Question Time: Did Chris Philp confuse Rwanda and Congo?
The policing minister appeared to ask an audience member if Rwanda and Congo were different countries.