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- Boy, 14, found dead in River Thames amid rise in water-related fatalities
- Russia permits banks to shoot down drones and arm employees amid attacks
- Portugal’s judicial police arrest five in socialist party corruption probe
- Eid celebrations in Gaza seen as a form of resistance after attacks
- Google engineer charged with insider trading after profiting $1.2 million on Polymarket
- Radley to close all stores, including flagship locations in London and Glasgow
- Fifteen students killed in fire at Utumishi Girls School in Kenya
- Beretta Defense Technologies to launch Livet automated weapon system
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Boy, 14, found dead in River Thames amid rise in water-related fatalities
2:00 pm
Get you up to speed: Boy, 14, found in River Thames in 11th water-related death of heatwave | News UK
The body of a 14-year-old boy was recovered from the River Thames near Donnington Bridge, Oxford, at around 5.30pm on Wednesday. Thames Valley Police confirmed the death is being treated as “unexplained but not suspicious,” marking the 11th water-related death during the recent heatwave in the UK.
Thames Valley Police have confirmed that the investigation into the boy’s death is ongoing, but it is currently classified as ‘unexplained but not suspicious’. The National Water Safety Forum indicated that the spike in water-related fatalities during the ongoing heatwave may reflect a broader trend, as hot weather typically correlates with increased drownings.
Thames Valley Police are treating the death of the 14-year-old boy found in the River Thames as “unexplained but not suspicious,” with his family informed of the situation. In response to the recent spate of water-related fatalities, the Royal Life Saving Society has issued a safety warning, advising swimmers to be cautious of cold water shock despite the warm weather.
What remains unclear — It is not clear how many additional incidents may occur as the heatwave continues.
Boy, 14, found dead in River Thames amid rise in water-related fatalities
The body of a 14-year-old boy has been found in the River Thames.
Emergency services were called to an area of the river near Donnington Bridge, Oxford, at around 5.30pm on Wednesday.
Thames Valley Police said the boy’s death was being treated as ‘unexplained but not suspicious’ and that his family had been informed.
This marks the 11th water-related death since the UK was plunged into a record-breaking heatwave late last week, nine of whom were young people.
Declan Sawyer, 15, was the first teenager to be found dead when his body was recovered from Swanholme Lakes in Lincoln on Sunday.
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That same day, a 72-year-old woman was pulled from the water at West Angle Bay beach in Pembrokeshire, Wales.
Abbie Carmody-Pepper, 15, was pulled from the water at Burrow Beach in County Dublin.
On Bank Holiday Monday, a boy, named locally as 13-year-old Reco Puttock, died after being pulled from the Leadbeater Dam in Halifax, West Yorkshire.
Lillianna Tomlinson, believed to be 16, was pulled from the water in Kingsbury Water Park, Warwickshire.
A teenage boy was also pulled from a lake in Rother Valley Country Park in Rotherham, South Yorkshire.
Phil Crow, 68, died trying to save his wife and granddaughter after they were swept out to sea in Cornwall.
The youngest victim was 12-year-old Junior Slater, whose body was pulled from the River Ribble on Tuesday after he ‘got into difficulty’ in the water.
On Wednesday, Cheshire Police found a body in Pickmere Lake while searching for a 17-year-old boy who went missing while swimming.
The body of another teenage boy was also recovered at Hawley Lake near Farnborough.
It comes as the UK continues to endure a record-breaking heatwave.
A spokesperson for the National Water Safety Forum (NWSF) said it is too early to say whether the number of water-related deaths during this heatwave is ‘unusual’.
But the NWSF said hot weather often correlates with an increase in accidental drownings.
The spate of deaths has prompted the Royal Life Saving Society (RLSS) to issue a water safety warning, urging swimmers to be aware that water temperatures remain cold even in extreme heat.
They said cold water shock can make swimming and exiting the water harder.
Russia permits banks to shoot down drones and arm employees amid attacks
1:00 pm
Get you up to speed: Russia tells its own banks they can shoot down drones and arm staff | News World
Russia has instructed its financial institutions to shoot down Ukrainian drones in response to airstrikes on Moscow, which included a recent attack that resulted in at least three fatalities. Lawmakers in Russia have approved a bill authorising bank employees to operate anti-drone systems on rooftops amid increasing drone strikes targeting the city.
The Russian government plans to implement electronic jamming systems atop bank buildings to aid in the protection against drone attacks. The initiative follows recent Ukrainian strikes in Moscow in mid-May, which resulted in casualties and highlighted vulnerabilities in Russia’s military defence.
Russia’s financial institutions have been instructed to potentially engage directly in defence against Ukrainian drone attacks, with lawmakers approving a bill that permits bank employees to shoot down drones threatening their locations. This measures will see the installation of electronic jamming systems on rooftops, reflecting the Kremlin’s growing concern over recent drone strikes in Moscow amid a struggling economy.
What remains unclear — It is uncertain how effective the proposed drone defence system will be and whether it will significantly reduce the risk of future attacks on Russian banks.
Russia permits banks to shoot down drones and arm employees amid attacks
Russia has urged its financial institutions to shoot down Ukrainian drones themselves after a spate of airstrikes in Moscow.
The bizarre instruction might be a sign that the Kremlin is beginning to tire of the costly war in Ukraine, which it started in February 2022.
Putin’s lawmakers have greenlit a bill that will allow bank workers to take matters into their own hands in the case of an attack and shoot down Ukrainian drones.
The proposed system would see electronic jamming systems set up on bank rooftops.
Russian banks could be kitted with anti-drone systems in a bid to fight of Ukrainian airstrikes (Picture: Anadolu/Getty Images)
Employees selected to operate the system would then shoot down attack drones.
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The Russian president has gone to great lengths to hide the reality of his flailing war in Ukraine from citizens at home, but the Kremlin now faces a slew of attacks reaching Moscow along with a slowing economy.
Part of the appeal of the plan is the wide network of banks dotted in nearly every town, and that financial institutions would pay for the installation, Al Jazeera reports.
A high-rise building in Moscow was left with a gaping hole after a Ukrainian drone strike on May 4 (Picture: Anadolu/Getty Images)
The Russian military has been struggling to defend every corner of the vast country, leaving some spots exposed.
Ukrainian long-range drone attacks targeted Moscow in mid-May, striking the Moscow Oil Refinery and damaging it.
At least three people were killed and others injured, according to Russian officials.
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky argued that the strikes were justified in response to earlier Russian attacks on Ukraine.
Earlier in May, the Russian army unleashed drones and missiles on Kyiv, killing 24 people.
Putin’s war of aggression in Ukraine has stalled while Russia faces an economic downturn, risking his popularity at home (Picture: EPA)
The Russia-Ukraine war is now on its 1,554th day, with no immediate end in sight after earlier peace negotiations stalled.
Donald Trump pushed for a deal to be reached last year, with a 20-point peace plan discussed by negotiators from Ukraine, Russia and the US.
However, the talks ended without a resolution, with key sticking points like the future of the invaded territory remaining unresolved.
Global attention shifted from Russia’s activities in Ukraine to Iran following the US-Israel attacks on Tehran in February.
Concern has been growing that the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, a key oil route, could end up playing in the Kremlin’s favour if fuel-desperate countries ease sanctions to buy Russian resources.
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Portugal’s judicial police arrest five in socialist party corruption probe
12:40 pm
Portugal’s judicial police arrest five in socialist party corruption probe
Police operation
Portugal’s Judicial Police executed 60 search warrants and made five arrests in connection with an alleged corruption network within the Socialist Party, investigating malfeasance in contract awards.
Portugal’s Judicial Police executed 60 search warrants and made five arrests in connection with an alleged corruption network within the Socialist Party, investigating malfeasance in contract awards.
Operational Scope
Portugal’s Judicial Police executed 60 search warrants and arrested five individuals, investigating alleged corruption involving over 800,000 euros in municipal contracts awarded through improper procedures.
Portugal’s Judicial Police executed 60 search warrants and arrested five individuals, investigating alleged corruption involving over 800,000 euros in municipal contracts awarded through improper procedures.
Police Statement
“The Judicial Police is conducting an extensive operation aimed at dismantling a corruption network linked to the Socialist Party and has made five arrests so far.”
“The Judicial Police is conducting an extensive operation aimed at dismantling a corruption network linked to the Socialist Party and has made five arrests so far.”
Five arrests as Portuguese police investigate alleged corruption within Socialist Party
Published on
Portugal’s Judicial Police (PJ) on Thursday carried out raids targeting an alleged corruption “network” working within the Socialist Party’s (PS) local government power base.
A source in the PJ confirmed the operation to EU News and later stated in a press release that five arrests had been made and 37 individuals named as suspects.
“The Judicial Police, through the National Anti-Corruption Unit, is conducting a police operation to execute 60 search warrants for residences and 32 search warrants for non-residential premises in the areas of Lisbon, Mafra, Oeiras, and Coimbra, investigating the crimes of malfeasance and economic participation in business, involving the awarding of various contracts by municipal councils and parish councils,” the PJ’s statement reads.
“At issue are direct award procedures or prior consultation processes, in clear violation of applicable legal norms and with evident harm to the public treasury,” it added.
Those taken into custody are due to appear before the Central Criminal Investigation Court in Lisbon for initial questioning.
The news was first reported by CNN Portugal, which noted that the searches will extend to the Socialist Party headquarters in Lisbon.
The report said the investigation is looking at “an alleged network built around the PS’s local government power” and the “hiring of party members and the awarding of contracts to companies owned by Socialists through direct negotiations, totaling more than 800,000 euros between 2016 and 2022 alone”.
At the center of the investigation is the Santa Maria Maior parish council, which was led by Miguel Coelho, one of the main targets of the operation, CNN Portugal reported.
Per the report, the former mayor allegedly recruited in Mafra “a network of nine former PS candidates for that municipality, led by Sérgio Santos,” with the network reportedly contracting 19 companies linked to socialist activists.
The wife of Duarte Moral, a former advisor to ex-Prime Minister António Costa is one of the beneficiaries of these direct contracts, the report said. Duarte Moral himself was one of the people arrested, it added.
Eid celebrations in Gaza seen as a form of resistance after attacks
12:00 pm
Get you up to speed: For Gaza, Eid joy is now a form of resistance
Six people were killed in Remal on Eid night. Minutes later, the stalls reopened.
Six individuals were reported killed in Remal on Eid night, although specific details regarding the circumstances of their deaths have not been disclosed. The reopening of stalls shortly after the incident indicates a resumption of normal activities in the area, despite the ongoing challenges faced by residents.
Following the fatalities during Eid celebrations, local leaders have expressed outrage and called for immediate investigations into the incident. In the aftermath, businesses reopened quickly, indicating a resilience among the population despite the violence.
What remains unclear — The circumstances surrounding the six fatalities in Remal on Eid night have not been detailed.
Eid celebrations in Gaza seen as a form of resistance after attacks
OPINIONOPINION, Opinion|GazaFor Gaza, Eid joy is now a form of resistance
Six were killed in Remal on Eid night. Minutes later, the stalls reopened.
Young Palestinians share a laugh as worshippers gather on a heavily damaged street to perform morning prayers marking the start of Eid al-Adha, the Feast of Sacrifice, in Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip on May 27, 2026 [AFP]
Google engineer charged with insider trading after profiting $1.2 million on Polymarket
11:00 am
Get you up to speed: Google employee accused of making over $1.2M on Polymarket through insider trading
Michele Spagnuolo, a software engineer at Google, faces federal charges for allegedly profiting over $1.2 million through insider trading on Polymarket by betting on confidential company information regarding Google’s searches for 2025. Arrested in New York, he was released on a $2.25 million bond following the unsealing of charges that include commodities fraud, wire fraud, and money laundering.
Michele Spagnuolo was arrested in New York on Wednesday and released on a $2.25 million bond, with the U.S. Attorney’s Office confirming the charges. The Commodity Futures Trading Commission has also filed a civil lawsuit against him based on similar allegations.
A Google spokesperson confirmed that Michele Spagnuolo has been placed on leave and that the company is cooperating with law enforcement, emphasising that his actions represent a serious breach of company policy. Polymarket stated it flagged the trader and is committed to maintaining fair markets while referring illegal acts to federal authorities for further action.
What remains unclear — It is not specified how much cryptocurrency was transferred from Spagnuolo’s Polymarket account to the crypto wallet.
Google engineer charged with insider trading after profiting $1.2 million on Polymarket
A software engineer at Google is facing federal charges after allegedly betting on confidential company information on Polymarket, netting more than $1.2 million in profits, the second insider trading prosecution against a user of the popular prediction market service in recent months.
In court papers released by the Justice Department, Michele Spagnuolo was accused of using an internal company tool late last year to look up data on Google’s top-trending searches of 2025. He then allegedly placed millions in bets on Polymarket on whether or not various celebrities would rank among the most searched people on Google that year, weeks before the company released that information publicly in its annual Year in Search report.
The most widely searched person of 2025 ended up being D4vd, a singer who drew nationwide attention last year after a 15-year-old’s dismembered body was found in the trunk of a car registered to him. Using the Polymarket username “AlphaRaccoon,” Spagnuolo was accused of correctly betting hundreds of dollars that D4vd would show up in the most widely searched people, at a time when the market assessed the odds of D4vd appearing as fairly slim.
Days after the Year in Search data was publicly announced, Spagnuolo’s Polymarket account allegedly transferred millions of dollars in cryptocurrency to a crypto wallet.
Spagnuolo was charged with commodities fraud, wire fraud and money laundering. The Commodity Futures Trading Commission also sued him in civil court on similar grounds.
The charges against Spagnuolo, an Italian citizen who lives in Switzerland, were unsealed on Wednesday. He was arrested in New York on Wednesday and appeared before a magistrate judge who released him on $2.25 million bond, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York confirmed to WTX US News.
WTX US News has reached out to Spagnuolo and his attorney for comment.
A Google spokesperson said Spagnuolo has been placed on leave, and the tech giant is working with law enforcement.
“The employee accessed our marketing material using a tool available to all employees, but using such confidential information to place bets is a serious breach of our policies,” the spokesperson said.
Polymarket said on X that it flagged the trader. A spokesperson said the company worked closely with federal authorities, calling Polymarket “the only prediction platform to date whose cooperation has led to insider trading charges in the United States.”
The charges against Spagnuolo came one month after a U.S. special forces soldier was arrested for allegedly winning over $400,000 by betting on the raid to capture former Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro before news of the raid was made public. The soldier pleaded not guilty.
The cases have highlighted concerns about the potential for insider trading on prediction markets, which have surged in popularity in recent years. Earlier this year, a data analyst told “60 Minutes” he has spotted other cases of Polymarket accounts raking in millions by correctly betting on U.S. military operations, sometimes achieving an unbelievably high win rate.
Polymarket has said insider trading is prohibited on its platform, and it polices misconduct and refers illegal acts to federal authorities.
“Blockchain trading is transparent, traceable, and bad actors leave footprints,” the company spokesperson said. “We are committed to maintaining accurate, fair, and transparent markets as well as enforcing our rules and working with our regulators and law enforcement.”
Radley to close all stores, including flagship locations in London and Glasgow
10:00 am
Get you up to speed: High street brand Radley to close all shops including London flagship | News UK
Radley, a UK accessories brand, is facing multiple store closures after being bought out of administration by Gordon Brothers. FTI Consulting has confirmed 42 job losses with immediate effect as all Radley branches, including flagship stores in Glasgow and Covent Garden, are expected to close by September.
Radley, now under the ownership of Gordon Brothers, is expected to cease operations at all 21 UK stores by September, with current stock being sold until then. The administration process, overseen by FTI Consulting, has already resulted in 42 immediate job losses, and further redundancies are anticipated as the closures proceed.
Radley, recently acquired by Gordon Brothers, is expected to close all 21 of its UK shops by September, leading to immediate job losses for 42 employees. FTI Consulting, appointed as administrator, stated it will assist affected team members with redundancy claims amidst a challenging retail environment marked by declining customer demand and rising operating costs.
What remains unclear — It is not known how many additional job losses will occur as a result of the store closures.
Radley to close all stores, including flagship locations in London and Glasgow
Major UK accessories brand Radley is facing multiple store closures after being bought out of administration by Poundland owner Gordon Brothers.
The handbag chain operates 21 shops across the UK and was founded by Australian designer Lowell Harder in London when it operated as a stall in Camden Market during the 1990s.
It was owned by private equity firm Freshstream after the company bought it in 2016, but was put up for sale earlier this year and snapped up by business management consultant Gordon Brothers this week.
The deal includes Radley’s brand and intellectual property assets, but it does not include the company’s retail operations.
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Radley and FTI Consulting, which was appointed as administrator on Tuesday, has confirmed 42 job losses with immediate effect, but more are expected as Radley’s shops face closure by September.
A spokesperson for FTI said: ‘The administration team will guide and support affected team members over the coming weeks through the redundancy claims process.
‘The administration appointments follow a sustained period of challenging economic conditions for the retail environment, including declining customer demand and increasing operating costs, all of which have had a negative impact on trading.’
Which Radley shops face closure?
All Radley branches, including its two flagship stores in Glasgow and London’s Covent Garden as well as its 19 outlet branches, are expected to close following the buyout agreement.
The full list:
- Covent Garden
- Glasgow
- Ashford (Outlet)
- Banbridge (Outlet)
- Braintree (Outlet)
- Bridgend (Outlet)
- Cannock (Outlet)
- Castleford (Outlet)
- Cheshire Oaks (Outlet)
- Cotswolds (Outlet)
- Dalton Park (Outlet)
- Doncaster (Outlet)
- Gretna (Outlet)
- Gunwharf Quays (Outlet)
- Livingston (Outlet)
- Mansfield (Outlet)
- O2 London (Outlet)
- Springfield (Outlet)
- Somerset (Outlet)
- Swindon (Outlet)
- York (Outlet)
According to Drapers, the stores are expected to continue trading until September to ‘shift stock’.
The news comes days after Quiz Clothing announced the closure of all its stores and Morrisons confirmed it would be closing around 100 of its Daily convenience stores.
It also comes after numerous other closures hit retail chains, restaurants, and banks earlier this month, including Franco Manca, Santander, The Real Greek, and more.
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