Click on topics and suscribe to 'Breaking News' and any other heading you'd like to appear in your sidebar. I have used the beta version all week and am already used to it. Just have a bit of patience, I think you'll like it. Good Luck!
It's much, much MUCH worse than combing through old neswpapers. This has now become about 98 % more bother , than it's worth.
If FR had looked and worked like this, 4 years ago, I wouldn't have bothered with it.