Israel threatens national film awards after Palestinian story wins top prize

Israel's culture minister has threatened to axe funding for the country's national film awards after The Sea, a story about a 12-year-old Palestinian boy, won its top award, BBC reported.

The film, which follows a boy from the occupied West Bank who wants to travel to Tel Aviv to see the sea for the first time, won best film at the Ophir Awards - Israel's equivalent of the Oscars.

In a statement on X, Miki Zohar said: "There is no greater slap in the face of Israeli citizens than the embarrassing and detached annual Ophir Awards ceremony."

As winner of the best film category at the Ophir awards, The Sea now becomes Israel's entry to the international film category at next year's Oscars, according to BBC.

Three officers killed in Pennsylvania shooting, with two others critical

Three police officers were killed and two others critically injured in a shooting in the US state of Pennsylvania, while following-up on a "domestic-related" investigation, authorities have said, BBC reported.

Pennsylvania State Police Commissioner Colonel Christopher Paris said the gunman was fatally shot by the police.

The incident happened just after 14:00 local time (18:00 GMT). Images from the scene showed a police officer being airlifted in a medical helicopter.

The shooting forced a nearby school district in Spring Grove, Pennsylvania - a small town of about 2,500 people - to briefly shelter in place. The district later said the school had not been affected, according to BBC

King and Trump hail UK-US special relationship in state banquet speech

King Charles has commended President Trump's personal commitment to "finding solutions to some of the world's most intractable conflicts", as he called for US support for Ukraine against "tyranny", in a speech at the US state visit banquet, BBC reported.

In response, President Trump hailed the special relationship between the US and the UK, saying the word "special does not begin to do it justice".

The King's speech, at a lavish dinner for 160 guests in Windsor Castle, emphasised the deep connections between the two countries and the need to maintain cultural, trading and military links.

"Our people have fought and died together for the values we hold dear," said the King, according to BBC.

UK rolls out red carpet for Trump, and hopes to avoid red faces

US President Donald Trump formally begins his unprecedented second state visit to Britain on Wednesday (September 17, 2025) with the royal pomp a grand veneer to key diplomatic talks, and as difficult questions about Jeffrey Epstein linger, Reuters reported.

King Charles and the royal family will roll out the red carpet for the president when he arrives at Windsor Castle, the oldest and largest inhabited castle in the world and family home to British monarchs for almost 1,000 years, with a carriage procession, gun salutes, a military flypast and lavish banquet.

Britain says it will be the largest military ceremonial welcome for a state visit in living memory, according to Reuters.