The News - Sunday, 17 May 2026

BBC News

Labour leadership jostling puts Brexit back under political spotlight

The UK's relationship with the EU is shaping up as a key issue for a possible Labour leadership contest and the coming by-election in the Makerfield.

Is it harder than ever to be prime minister?

Discontent with the political class is greater than ever - has the UK become ungovernable?

Bangaranga! Bulgaria wins Eurovision - but UK comes last

Bulgarian singer Dara is a surprise winner beating Israel in second place, while the UK's Look Mum No Computer gets just one point.

'Look Mum, one point': Why does the UK keep getting Eurovision wrong?

After four years of flops, the BBC has to think hard about how it approaches Eurovision in 2027.

WHO declares Ebola outbreak in DR Congo a global health emergency

The agency added that the outbreak, with around 246 cases and 80 deaths, does not meet the criteria of pandemic emergency.

Riot police deal with 'serious disorder' as Celtic fans celebrate Premiership title win

Hoops fans gathered in Glasgow's east end after a 3-1 win put paid to Hearts' dream of lifting the trophy.

Living with PMDD is like having the Grim Reaper visit every month

Women diagnosed with premenstrual dysphoric disorder discuss how it impacts their lives.

Robert paid £726 to skip the driving test waiting list. New laws mean others won't be able to

The government is cracking down on third parties who use bots to buy tests and resell them at inflated prices.

Tourists used to flock to India's party capital, Goa. Now many are heading elsewhere

Foreign visitors to Goa have nearly halved from their pre-Covid peak even as domestic tourism is booming.

The girl group who've sold out venues and toured the world - without releasing a record

The all-female supergroup has sold out venues across the UK and Ireland, toured stadiums with Ed Sheeran, and built a global following - all without releasing a debut record.

The British White Lotus? A group trip goes wrong in BBC drama Two Weeks in August

The cast of the new BBC drama say the series explores what happens when a ‘group holiday goes wrong’.

Hezbollah drone strike videos show evolving tactics against Israel

BBC Verify has examined dozens of videos of fibre-optic drone attacks carried out by the Lebanese armed group.

Secret police and propaganda: The Chinese agents spying on expats in US

Experts say two espionage cases in the US highlight China's attempts to peddle influence globally over the past decade.

How rival protesters were kept apart by £4.5m police operation

Serious clashes between Unite the Kingdom and pro-Palestinian protesters were avoided on Saturday.

The Papers: 'Labour rivals want to rejoin EU' and 'survival of the fittest'

Brexit looms as a key issue as Wes Streeting and Andy Burnham lay out their visions for the future of the Labour Party.

British jets to get new anti-drone missile systems

The new systems provide a cheaper way to intercept threats like Iran's Shahed drones used in the Middle East.

Soprano Dame Felicity Lott dies aged 79

The British operatic soprano recently told the BBC of her terminal cancer diagnosis.

Personal decision for Starmer on whether to fight leadership contest, minister says

Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy tells the BBC that the prime minister has "shown before that he's up for a fight" and she "wouldn't write [him] off".

How worrying is the Ebola outbreak in DR Congo?

An outbreak in DR Congo has been declared a health emergency, with almost 250 suspected cases reported.

Saturday Night Live UK has (mostly) won over a sceptical crowd

Many predicted a transatlantic SNL would crash and burn - but as its run comes to a close, the consensus from fans and critics has been mostly positive.

UAE reports strike near Abu Dhabi nuclear power plant

The country is investigating the source of the strike, which it calls a "dangerous escalation".

Swatch stores close for second day after crowds

The launch of a new £335 pocket watch has drawn criticism after queues of shoppers built up again.

Forty-three arrests after £4.5m police operation to keep rival London protests apart

Serious clashes between Unite the Kingdom and pro-Palestinian protesters were avoided on Saturday.

Secret police and propaganda: The Chinese agents spying on expats in US

Experts say two espionage cases in the US highlight China's attempts to peddle influence globally over the past decade.

The British White Lotus? A group trip goes wrong in BBC drama Two Weeks in August

The cast of the new BBC drama say the series explores what happens when a ‘group holiday goes wrong’.

Lights, camera, Bangaranga: Highlights from Eurovision

Bulgarian singer Dara stormed to victory in the contest, while Ukraine broke the record for the longest note ever sung at Eurovision.

Large-scale Ukrainian drone attack kills three in Moscow region, says Russia

Ukraine's president says the strikes are a "justified" response to deadly Russian attacks on Ukrainian cities.

Man drives car into pedestrians in Italy, injuring eight

Eight people were injured, four seriously, before passers-by gave chase and stopped the man.

Two police officers 'seriously injured' and 14 arrests during Celtic disorder

Riot police had to clear the streets after thousands of fans gathered in Glasgow to celebrate a fifth successive Scottish Premiership title.

Hezbollah drone strike videos show evolving tactics against Israel

BBC Verify has examined dozens of videos of fibre-optic drone attacks carried out by the Lebanese armed group.

Probe over claims royal police officers slept on duty

Officers protecting the Royal Family in Berkshire investigated over allegations of sleeping on duty.

British jets to get new anti-drone missile systems

The new systems provide a cheaper way to intercept threats like Iran's Shahed drones used in the Middle East.

Bournemouth Echo

Everything we know as Cherries' stadium plans to be determined by council committee

There was good news for the Cherries’ Vitality Stadium expansion plans this week as they were recommended for approval by a committee next week – here’s everything you need to know.

Remembering the last ever 'slam-door' train journey - end of an era

Slam-door trains — called for the noise made by the manually operated doors when pulled shut — were the stuff of the British rail system.

The edge of the New Forest pub with worldwide visitors and wartime history

The Fighting Cocks is the edge of the New Forest pub which attracts worldwide interest and where 'first-time visitors quickly become regulars'.

'Incredible' Bournemouth eatery named among UK's top 100 curry restaurants

Tiien Thai in Bournemouth has been named among the UK's top 100 curry restaurants according to the Asian Catering Federation

BCP retains Blue Flag status for six beaches

Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole has kept Blue Flag status for six beaches, showing the area’s status as a leading coastal destination.

'Much-loved' carnival to return with 'vibrant programme of events'

Music, food and family fun will take centre stage as a 'much-loved' annual community tradition returns.

'Teachers are not taking this action lightly', says union rep over redundancy strikes

Staff at a Broadstone school have criticised a parent after they made “damaging” and "disappointing" comments about teachers strikes.

'I’ve seen a lot of near-misses': Petition launched over Dorset junction safety fears

A resident is calling for urgent safety improvements at a busy crossroads.

Nail salon aims to provide 'self care escape' in heart of Westbourne

A nail salon in Westbourne, which aims to provide customers with a 'self care escape', is the Daily Echo's Trader of the Week.

Bournemouth pub to close temporarily for major works

A Bournemouth pub is set to temporarily close its doors for a major overhaul.

Thousands descend on Poole Quay for Distinguished Gentleman's Ride 2026

A fundraising motorbike ride is set to bring together more than 1,000 riders this weekend.

Bournemouth MP welcomes proposed Government crackdown on ticket touts

A new Government plan to tackle ticket touting and protect football fans has been welcomed by Tom Hayes, the Labour MP for Bournemouth East.

Five arrested as police target drug dealing in town centre

Five people have been arrested following a crackdown on suspected drug dealing in the town centre.

Police monitor town centre after groups of young people gather at empty site

Groups of young people have reportedly been gathering at an empty building in the town centre and police have confirmed they're actively monitoring the area.

PICTURES: More than 1,000 dapper bikers ride for men’s health charities

More than 1,000 motorcyclists donned their finest attire and took to the streets to raise funds and awareness for prostate cancer research and men’s mental health.

Mystery tour planned for local single parent families thanks to community fund

SMILE - a local charity supporting vulnerable single-parent women and their children - is the latest recipient of Morebus’ community fund.

PICTURES - Bournemouth's Commercial Road in the early 1970s

Time travel is real, and it lives in the Echo comment section on Facebook.

Large single-owner collection of military medals to go under the hammer

A major military medal collection from a former high-ranking officer goes to auction at Charterhouse, Sherborne on 28 May.

Local not-for-profit dementia service urges families to seek support sooner

The Filo Project, which operates across the BCP area and Dorset, is urging families to reach out for support sooner this Dementia Action Week.

Stars for Stars awards given to New Forest charity and its founder

Hammersley Homes, based in Lymington, and its founder, Louise Hallett, were honoured with the Stars for Stars awards by the Southampton Mental Health Network.

Dorset music festival named among UK’s best underrated music festivals

A new study ranked End of the Road Festival, located at Larmer Tree Gardens near Blandford Forum in Dorset, among the UK's best underrated music festivals..

Apprentice at Poole hair salon nominated at Dorset Apprenticeship Awards

Francesco Hair Salon Lilliput's Katie Hammond, is a finalist in the Intermediate Level 2 Apprentice of the Year category at the Dorset Apprenticeship Awards.

Poole MP criticises King's Speech over 'absent' animal welfare commitments

Poole's MP has written to a government minister after animal welfare was "entirely absent" from Wednesday's King’s Speech.

Teen who underwent open heart surgery bikes and hikes over 30 miles for charity

A Christchurch teenager who underwent open heart surgery as a baby has biked and hiked over 30 miles to raise over £5,000 for cardiac charity Heartbeat.

Public's help needed to identify those responsible for fly-tipping in Dorset

The public’s help is needed by Dorset Council's Environmental Enforcement Team to identify those responsible for fly‑tipping roofing waste in rural Dorset.

Armed Forces Day event in Dorset backed by Ministry of Defence funding

More than £430,000 has been awarded by the Ministry of Defence to support Armed Forces Day events, including one in Dorset.

Two puppies with spine defect defy odds at rescue centre

Two young rescue puppies are defying the odds in the face of a rare spinal condition. The puppies were born into care by Mary, a poodle-cross, who was heavily pregnant when she was rescued by Margaret Green Animal Rescue’s care in Dorset.

Met Office forecasting early UK summer sunshine for coming week into bank holiday

Parts of the country could reach highs of 26C by Friday, as warm, settled weather is expected to arrive just in time for the bank holiday weekend.

Full list of people who can get money off their Council Tax - with many cut to zero

Disabled people, carers, students and pensioners could qualify for major council tax discounts. Here’s the full list of who can get help.

Holidaymakers warned they could face £150,000 bills abroad over common mistake

New figures from Admiral reveal just how expensive this mistake can be on your travels

Garden expert's top three tips to help make your spring daffodils last longer

A gardener has shared three simple tricks to make fresh daffodils last longer in the vase.

How well do you know Eurovision? Take this quiz to see find out what you score

Think you know the Eurovision Song Contest? Take this quiz to test your knowledge.

Formula 1

Why F1 betting markets are preparing for fireworks

Starting in Canada next weekend, the next two months promise to be some of the most exciting on the Formula 1 calendar.

Massimo Bottura and Barilla bring ‘Domenica Italiana’ to F1

For one night in Miami, the classic Italian Sunday dinner – or 'Domenica Italiana' – was brought to F1, and F1.com's Amy Overy was lucky enough to snag an invite.

Doni Nahmias on the new NAHMIAS x Formula 1 collection

F1.com editor Greg Stuart sits down with Doni Nahmias, founder and Creative Director of NAHMIAS, to discuss the brand’s new collection for Formula 1.

How does a driver approach a track that doesn’t suit them?

George Russell made no secret of the fact he didn't gel with the Miami circuit. IndyCar winner and F1 TV analyst James Hinchcliffe explains exactly what that means, and how a driver can try to overcome that feeling.

MS Dynamics

The next frontier of workforce planning: from forecasting to AI usage and Credit Estimation

AI is transforming workforce planning in Dynamics 365, where intelligent agents now execute core service tasks and contribute directly to business outcomes. AI Credit Estimation bridges the gap between demand forecasting and cost visibility, enabling organizations to predict AI usage, model credit consumption, and plan human and AI resources together with confidence.

The post The next frontier of workforce planning: from forecasting to AI usage and Credit Estimation appeared first on Microsoft Dynamics 365 Blog.

Copilot Cowork: From conversation to action across skills, integrations, and devices

Today, we’re announcing additional capabilities in Cowork to expand on what it can make possible for you.

The post Copilot Cowork: From conversation to action across skills, integrations, and devices appeared first on Microsoft Dynamics 365 Blog.

Driving empathetic customer conversations with Email Sentiment

Email Sentiment in Dynamics 365 Customer Service brings emotional context into the email workflow, helping representatives understand customer tone, respond with empathy, and reduce escalations from the first reply.

The post Driving empathetic customer conversations with Email Sentiment appeared first on Microsoft Dynamics 365 Blog.

Windows Central

I reckon Asha Sharma wants to give Xbox its exclusive games back — but these PlayStation comments reveal why Microsoft probably won't let her

It's the year of GTA6. The game has an exclusive PlayStation marketing deal. Call of Duty is also not launching on PS4 this year, giving holdouts a reason to upgrade ... so why is Sony warning investors of decreased sales? And why is this relevant to Xbox exclusive games? Let's talk.

Microsoft is rebuilding XBOX and Windows 11 while Surface collects dust

Xbox and Windows 11 are being rebuilt with real fixes and leadership. Surface, meanwhile, feels stuck with years‑old hardware and no clear direction.

The Xbox Elite 3 controller has leaked, but I think it's missing one crucial feature Xbox cannot continue to ignore

The Xbox Elite 3 leaked via Anatel, but its generic design and lack of anti-drift stick tech leave a lot to be desired.

Winhanced 0.9.6.5 rolls out low‑power downloads and key Legion Go fixes, improving handheld gaming life

Winhanced’s latest 0.9.6.5 update introduces a new low power download mode for Windows handheld gaming devices, alongside refreshed launcher icons and fixes for devices like the Legion Go.

Beat productivity tasks in no time with this Intel Core processor with "Chart-topping application performance" that's now on sale for Memorial Day

Amazon's Memorial Day sale has begun, and it's brought forth a 22% discount for the Intel Core Ultra 7 Processor 270K Plus CPU for a limited time.

Lenovo's impossibly lightweight 'Aura Edition' Windows laptop offers huge battery life, but I have questions

"The lightest laptop I've ever used": Lenovo's Yoga Slim 7i Ultra Aura Edition (Gen 11) offers huge battery life, but there's a downside in its pricing.

Laffgaff

Which British boxer defeated Wladimir Klitschko at Wembley Stadium in 2017?

Anthony Joshua.

Smaller Folder

My friend wouldn't stop going on about how to make his folder smaller. I told him to zip it.