US warned to prepare as bird flu ‘absolutely could be the next pandemic’

A power outage affected a third of La Palma in the Canary Islands at 9:57 AM, leaving around 30,000 residents in 20 towns without electricity for nearly two hours, though hospitals and airports remained operational. The blackout's cause is still unclear, with e-distribución citing a 'fault,' and power companies Endesa and Red Eléctrica working to restore service, with over half of the power restored by midday. La Palma officials advised residents to remain calm, avoid...

Tim Thomas, reflecting on the 80th anniversary of VE Day, shares his childhood memory of receiving CARE packages during the poverty-stricken mid-1940s. These parcels, filled with food items like ham, tinned peaches, and chocolate, were a vital lifeline for his family, who lived on rationed meals while his father served in the Royal Air Force. The generosity of American donors through CARE, which sent 6.6 million packages to war-affected families, profoundly impacted their lives, instilling...

A third-year law student at Warsaw University in Poland fatally attacked an administrative staff member with an axe, reportedly dismembering her and consuming parts of her body. The assault also left a security guard critically injured, prompting a police response that resulted in the suspect's arrest. Following the brutal attack, the university declared a day of mourning, expressing deep condolences to the victim's family and labeling the incident as a significant tragedy. Full Article

Lorna Rooke, an NHS blood donation worker, received nearly £30,000 in compensation after a colleague compared her personality to Darth Vader's during a Star Wars-themed personality quiz at a team-building exercise in 2021. Rooke argued that this comparison made her feel unpopular and contributed to her resignation, prompting a tribunal to rule in her favor, stating that the reference was insulting. Although she lost claims for unfair dismissal and other discrimination, the tribunal awarded her...

Interest rates in the UK may decrease for the fourth consecutive time if the Bank of England's Monetary Policy Committee, led by Governor Andrew Bailey, announces a cut today, potentially lowering the rate to 4.25%. This follows a series of rate hikes aimed at controlling inflation after rates peaked at 5.25% in 2023, affecting mortgage repayments and possibly leading to lower savings rates. The next review is scheduled for June 19, though no changes are...

German detectives are urging British police to revive their investigation into Madeleine McCann's disappearance, as prime suspect Christian Brueckner nears release from prison after serving a sentence for sexual assault. The Metropolitan Police's Operation Grange may uncover critical evidence, especially with 20,000 pages of evidence ready for translation. Despite Brueckner's admission of abduction, a lack of forensic evidence links him to Maddie's case, prompting concerns from German authorities about him walking free without further action....