Introduction The last 24 hours have seen a wide range of significant events across the globe, from politics and sports to science and entertainment. This briefing aims to provide an overview of the most important stories, highlighting key developments and trends.

Politics In the UK, Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey has called for an immediate 10p cut to fuel duty, blaming Donald Trump's conflict with Iran for damaging the UK economy and pushing fuel prices up. Meanwhile, the German elections are underway, which could decide the fate of Chancellor Merz. The chancellor is facing intense political pressure, which will increase if his party struggles in Sunday's polls. In other news, Ed Davey claimed the Liberal Democrats are a 'firewall against Farage' as the party's conference begins, aiming to beat its 2024 record of 72 MPs in any snap election. Reform, another party, has had a 'challenging' week with an arrest, a defection, and a new leader.

Sports In sports, former England winger Andros Townsend was run over by a pitch roller in Thailand, joking that playing Stoke away 'wasn't so bad after all'. Luke Littler has threatened to boycott playing in the Netherlands after being booed and whistled at the World Series of Darts Finals in Amsterdam. In the US, Ole Miss got the best of Lane Kiffin and LSU in a highly anticipated game, marking a cathartic win 293 days in the making.

Science and Environment A new £1m grant has been announced to help groups protect green spaces, which can be used by local communities to protect threatened green spaces and wildlife sites. In other environmental news, a group has been marking a decade of fishing unusual items out of a harbour, including an inflatable doll and a Nintendo. Meanwhile, tens of thousands of fridge freezers have been left at docks as household collections were suspended due to a recycling firm's collapse in 2025.

Entertainment and Technology In entertainment, Strictly has returned with a new hosting trio, and Matthew Rhys' sister has expressed pride in him after his historic Emmy wins. Ed Sheeran addressed the Macklemore controversy at his Philadelphia show, his first concert since the rapper was removed from his tour. In technology, not all AI workers believe the tech could kill everyone, with some expressing skepticism about the warnings. Trump has suggested rebranding AI with a new name and claimed he is creating an AI Force, while Flock is reportedly trying to shrink its workforce with employee buyouts.

Social Issues A report has highlighted the social isolation experienced by older LGBTQ+ people, who fear losing their identity. Sharon Horgan has discussed her latest comedy, Youth, which explores sex and dating for the sandwich generation.