Global Briefing Archive

Former Cambridge Professor Jason Arday Found Dead at South London Home

Jason Arday, who became Cambridge's youngest Black professor at 37 in 2023 and resigned last week after denying plagiarism allegations, was found dead at his Battersea home on Friday. His family said a "campaign of misinformation" had become too much to bear, and a memorial fundraiser has raised more than £30,000.

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Former Cambridge Professor Jason Arday Found Dead at South London Home

Jason Arday, who at 37 became the University of Cambridge's youngest Black professor in 2023 and resigned last week after plagiarism allegations that he denied, was found dead at his home in south London on Friday.

Officers were called to the address in Battersea by the London Ambulance Service shortly after 3 p.m., and Arday was pronounced dead at the scene.

His family said they were "in shock" at losing him and that a "campaign of misinformation" had become too much to bear.

Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham called the death "a tragedy on so many levels", a sentiment echoed by London Mayor Sadiq Khan, while a fundraiser established in Arday's memory has raised more than £30,000.

Hurricane Lala Lashes Hawaii, Cutting Power to Tens of Thousands

Hurricane Lala is lashing Hawaii with strong winds and torrential rain, leaving more than 89,000 households without power across the state as the storm nears the Big Island.

Governor Josh Green has declared a state of emergency for the Category 1 storm, which is bringing life-threatening flooding and mudslides.

If Lala makes landfall on the Big Island, it would be the first hurricane to do so there since 1871, and the storm would be Hawaii's first direct hit by a hurricane in 34 years.

South Korean Pug Jinny Lu Crowned World's Ugliest Dog

Jinny Lu, a rescued pug from South Korea, has won the 2026 World's Ugliest Dog Contest, which marked its 50th anniversary at the Sonoma County Fair in Santa Rosa, California.

The competition promotes dog adoptions and celebrates what organisers describe as the imperfections that make all dogs special.

Five Wounded in Shooting at Virginia State University, Suspects at Large

Five people were injured, one critically, in a shooting outside dormitories at Virginia State University early on Saturday in an incident the university said involved multiple suspects.

The campus, about 20 miles south of Richmond, was placed on lockdown as police responded, and several suspects remained at large. Authorities have not reported any arrests, and the investigation is ongoing.

Kate Douglass Reclaims Women's 50m Freestyle World Record at Pan Pacs

American swimmer Kate Douglass reclaimed the women's 50m freestyle world record at the Pan Pacific Championships, clocking 23.49 seconds in the heats.

The 24-year-old five-time Olympic medalist improved on the 23.55-second mark set by her United States teammate Gretchen Walsh, whom Douglass is scheduled to face again in the final.

Novak Djokovic Stunned by Thiago Tirante in Cincinnati Open Heat

Novak Djokovic suffered a shock second-round defeat at the Cincinnati Open, losing 2-6, 6-4, 6-4 to Argentina's Thiago Agustín Tirante.

The 24-time Grand Slam champion struggled visibly with heat and humidity from the second set onward, frequently squatting and bending over between points.

Bonnie Tyler's Coffin Brought Home to Swansea Ahead of Funeral

Thousands of fans lined the streets of Swansea as the coffin of Welsh singer Bonnie Tyler was brought back to her former home in south Wales ahead of her funeral.

Tyler, whose real name was Gaynor Sullivan, died unexpectedly on 8 July in a Portuguese hospital at the age of 75.

Body Found in Romania Believed to Be Missing British Hiker

A body has been found in Romania during the search for George Smyth, an 18-year-old British geology student at the University of Bristol who went missing while hiking in November.

Avon and Somerset Police notified his family, who paid tribute to him.

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