BBC News
'Even under missiles we carry on living' - how young Iranians are coping with war
Iranians say they are sheltering at home and rarely venturing out on near-empty streets as the US-Israeli bombing campaign continues.
Epstein used modelling agent to recruit girls, Brazilian women tell BBC
Modelling agent used businesses to recruit girls and arrange US visas to visit Jeffrey Epstein, Brazilian women tell BBC.
Hundreds of GPs tell BBC they have never refused a sick note over mental health concerns
The number of fit notes issued has been rising, with more than 11.2m approved in England last year.
Starmer was warned of 'reputational risk' over Mandelson's links with Epstein, files show
Documents also suggest the peer explored the possibility of a £500,000 severance payment after being sacked as US ambassador.
Chris Mason: Some nuggets but no huge revelations in first batch of Mandelson files
This first digital document drop about the prime minister's decision to appoint Lord Mandelson as US ambassador is interesting, but not explosive.
Liza Tarbuck leaves Radio 2 Saturday show after 14 years
Shaun Keaveny, host of The Rock Show, will stand in for her until the end of the end of the month.
Inquiry into student loans launched by MPs
The Treasury Committee will look at whether "the goalposts [have] been moved in a way which is unfair".
Noma head chef resigns from restaurant amid abuse allegations
René Redzepi had previously apologised after ex-employees of the Danish restaurant accused him of creating a toxic work environment.
Social media firms asked to toughen up age checks for under-13s
Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, YouTube and Roblox are among the platforms UK regulators say aren't putting children's safety at the heart of their products.
Jeremy Bowen: Trump has called for an Iran uprising but the lessons from Iraq in 1991 loom large
The US president might learn that starting wars is much easier than ending them, writes the BBC's international editor.
Oil price jumps despite deal to release record amount of reserves
It comes as Iranian attacks on ships intensify in the crucial Strait of Hormuz waterway.
Mortgage rates rise and deals pulled over Iran war turmoil
Average mortgage rates hit highest since last August in the biggest upheaval since the mini-Budget.
'Kill the regime but not people': BBC speaks to Iranians crossing into Turkey
Dan Johnson hears from Iranians at a crossing in north-west Iran about their thoughts on the war and regime.
My identity was stolen and someone is using it to catfish men - it's terrifying
For four years, Sasha-Jay’s photos have been stolen from social media to impersonate her online.
China's biggest political meeting is ending - what have we learned?
BBC correspondents give us their biggest takeaways from China's National People's Congress.
Why Namibia's green energy dream could be a red flag for penguins
A near pristine desert and coastal wilderness in Namibia could soon host a huge hydrogen production facility.
The Papers: 'Starmer did ignore Epstein warnings' and 'Record oil release'
Thursday's papers all lead with files released on Lord Mandelson's vetting for the US ambassador role.
A 'weirdly rushed' appointment - and other key takeaways from Mandelson files
A batch of documents has revealed new details about the appointment of Lord Mandelson as ambassador.
US launches probe into trading partners including the EU, China and India
The move comes weeks after the US Supreme Court struck down a key part of Trump's tariffs policies.
Missing Brazilian academic may have taken boat, UK police say
Police believe the last sighting of Vitoria Figueiredo Barreto was on CCTV just after midnight on 3 March in Brightlingsea.
Kanye West ordered to pay $140K in Malibu mansion renovation lawsuit
A handyman had sought $1.7m (£1.267m) from the rapper over claims of unpaid work, medical expenses and being unfairly fired.
Bodies of two Chinese backpackers found in Australian floodwaters
The pair had been reported missing on Tuesday after failing to reach their destination.
Volcanic fragments rain down as Hawaii's Kilauea volcano erupts
This eruption episode sent fragments made of ash, pumice, and pieces of volcanic glass into communities, forcing highway closures and the evacuation of tourists.
Fuel tax hike plan to be kept under review over Iran, says PM
Fuel duty on petrol and diesel is due to rise from September, when a 5p cut is phased out.
Polanski stood by breast enlargement hypnosis claim
A newly unearthed interview from 2013 casts doubt on the Green Party leader's claim to have apologised.
UK troops at Iraq base shot down Iranian drones, Healey says
British forces based in Iraq shot down two drones overnight, Defence Secretary John Healey has confirmed.
What on earth is going on with the oil price?
Oil price moves have made headlines since the Iran conflict started - but why have there been such sharp swings?
Woman who kept vulnerable victim as slave sentenced to 13 years
Mandy Wixon, 56, forced the victim to clean her squalid home and subjected her to a miserable life.
Lloyds, Bank of Scotland and Halifax apps showed customers other users' transactions
The Lloyds Banking Group customers reported being able to view payments and charges from other sources.
PM says Mandelson appointment was mistake as No 10 denies cover-up
Documents show Sir Keir Starmer was warned the peer's relationship with Jeffrey Epstein posed a "reputational risk".
Fire-ravaged remains of Glasgow building to be demolished
Glasgow City Council said the decision was made due to public safety concerns.
Jo Malone sued for using her own name in collaboration with Zara
The perfumier sold the rights to her name in 1999 but has previously said she regretted the move.
British man charged in Dubai for alleged filming of Iranian missiles
Foreign Office officials are understood to be supporting his family.
Rape accused's wife 'joked about his missing shirt'
The ex-wife of a man accused of rape tells a jury her husband came home with no shirt at the time.
Sly fox sneaks on to cargo ship in Southampton and arrives in New York
The animal that stowed away on the vessel is now in the care of the Bronx Zoo with veterinary staff.
'What if we're left with ruins?': Doubts creep in for Iranians who supported war
Teachers, engineers and shopkeepers tell the BBC they fear Iran falling into chaos.
Questions mount for Hegseth over possible US involvement in strike on Iranian school
Democrats have written to ask the defence secretary whether the US was responsible, but he says the issue is being investigated.
Iran steps up attacks on energy targets as tankers hit
Iranian attacks are reported in Bahrain and Oman as two foreign fuel tankers are hit near Iraq.
How Iran war laid bare the world's reliance on Gulf oil and gas
Countries around the world are feeling the impact of the conflict and the resulting energy price shock.
Israel pounds Beirut suburbs after Hezbollah launches rocket barrage
Some Israeli strikes also hit other parts of the Lebanese capital, with eight people reportedly killed along the seafront.
How a lost suitcase led to a two-year £4,500 legal wrangle with Ryanair
Rosie McGrane says her case never arrived when she travelled from Edinburgh to Copenhagen with Ryanair in September 2023.
Where did fridge-carrying fundraiser's donations go?
Teesside charity's ex-staff question where donations were spent but its founder denies wrongdoing.
The Christian-Muslim couple who are fasting for Lent and Ramadan at the same time
Ramadan and Lent haven't overlapped since 1993 and couples like Olanrewaju and Kaosara in Nigeria are observing them together.
Iconic and a huge challenge - Ruth Jones on her role in Austen-inspired comedy
Ruth Jones and Richard E Grant star in new BBC comedy drama The Other Bennet Sister
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 leads Bafta Games Awards nominations
The French-made role-playing game picks up 12 nominations at the ceremony celebrating video games.
Strictly star Amber Davies takes break from Legally Blonde musical
The actress says trying to recover from an illness while performing "is getting me and my health NOWHERE".
Grammarly pulls AI author-impersonation tool after backlash
Writers criticised the feature which used their names and styles as "AI personas" without consent.
Hozier, Jessie Buckley and Bruce Springsteen record Shane MacGowan tribute album
The album will also feature Primal Scream, David Gray, Jessie Buckley, Johnny Depp and Kate Moss.
Customer sues Costco for tariff refunds
The lawsuit is an indication of the complexities looming over a potential $166bn in tariff refunds.
Student loans inquiry to look at whether system is 'unfair to graduates'
The Treasury Committee will look at whether "the goalposts [have] been moved in a way which is unfair".
Jack Osbourne and wife name baby daughter after late dad Ozzy
Jack and wife Aree announce the birth of Ozzy Matilda Osbourne, eight months after his father's death.
Bournemouth Echo
Busy road to close for nearly a week for pothole repair work
Kinson Road is set to be closed for nearly a week for surfacing and pothole work.
Vintage motoring nostalgia set to grace Christchurch Quay this spring and summer
A line-up of vintage motoring nostalgia is set to grace Christchurch Quay throughout spring and summer as classic vehicles go on display next to a picturesque riverside.
Blue plaque unveiled on restaurant to honour history as haven for seafarers
A blue plaque was unveiled on the wall of a restaurant on Poole Quay to honour it's historic role in serving as a haven for seafarers visiting the area.
British Airways cancels all flights to popular destination until 'later this year'
British Airways has said it is axing all flights to Abu Dhabi until "later this year" in an update to customers, with more cancellations also announced.
Man arrested and another driver 'fled the scene' of crash
A man has been arrested and another driver reportedly 'fled the scene' of a crash at Cemetery Junction.
6 cats at Cats Protection Dorset who dream of finding a cosy home and new family
A number of cats in Dorset from the Cats Protection charity are looking to find new homes in the county
'Large quantity' of vapes and tobacco stolen in early hours burglary
A 'large quantity' of vapes and tobacco were stolen from a store in North Dorset following an early hours break-in.
‘Excited for what’s to come’ - Works to fire-damaged restaurant progressing well
Works are progressing well to a fire-damaged restaurant – with hopes that the building can re-opened by the end of the year
Man found after going missing for nearly a month
A man who has not been seen for nearly a month has been reported missing.
Dorset MP champions the work of young carers charity in Commons debate
MP Vikki Slade raises concerns in Parliament about young carers in Dorset, highlighting MYTIME Young Carers’ support and high NEET rates among young carers.
Bournemouth hotel applies for 24-hour alcohol licence
Halix Limited applies for a 24-hour alcohol licence at The Royal Exeter Hotel, Bournemouth. Public representations to BCP Council accepted until 23 March 2026.
Warnings issued after multiple cooking-related fires over weekend
Warnings have been issued following 'a number of' cooking related fires that took place over the weekend.
Primary school hosts reading festival for World Book Day celebrations
A primary school in Bournemouth celebrates World Book Day with a week long reading festival.
'I genuinely thought he was dead' - Pregnant mother hit by e-bike speaks out
A mother who was hit by an e-bike while pregnant thought her prematurely born baby would be “ripped away” from her after she was rushed to hospital.
Trio take on Jurassic coast walk dressed in inflatable costumes
Three men from Yeovil and Crewkeme are walking the trails from Durdle Door to Bournemouth for Comic Relief.
Man steals £500 from supermarket following distraction
AN IMAGE has been issued of a man who entered the Londis store in Christchurch and stole £500 after distracting shop assistant.
New community diagnostic centre plans
Poole Hospital plans to install a new community diagnostic centre by replacing under-utilised buildings on its Shaftsbury House site.
Politics debate cancelled with three major parties unable to secure representatives
BCP Green Party is asking students to send in questions after a university event was cancelled.
Fee for out-of-county users at Hampshire recycling centres to rise
Non-Hampshire residents wanting to dump waste at the county’s tips will face higher fees after a council review revealed the current charge leaves taxpayers footing the bill.
Police pursuit ends with arrest and items seized after driver flees car
An arrest was made and items were seized after a police pursuit ended with the driver and passengers fleeing from the vehicle.
Man 'made threats to kill to staff member' at phone shop
A man reportedly 'made threats to kill to the staff member' at a phone shop in Poole.
Crack and heroin dealers jailed for supply drugs across Dorset
Three men have been jailed after £7,000 worth of class A drugs were seized following an investigation into an organised crime group in Dorset.
Acclaimed musician and songwriter brings new album tour to Bournemouth
Midge Ure brings his A Man Of Two Worlds Tour to Bournemouth Pavilion Theatre in May 2026, featuring new album tracks, classics and cinematic instrumentals.
Grammy-nominated and Brit Award-winning artist to perform at Dorset venue
KT Tunstall performs at Lighthouse Poole, Dorset, on 19 June 2026, celebrating 20 years of Eye to the Telescope. Tickets on sale now. UK music news.
Long-overlooked chapter of Second World War history finally uncovered
New book reveals the true story of Tiger 131’s capture in Tunisia, 1943. Discover its link to the Sherwood Foresters and The Tank Museum, Dorset.
Pub unveils new hotel rooms as part of plans to get 'back to its former glory'
A Southbourne pub has unveiled a set of boutique hotel rooms as part of plans to bring the historic building “back to its former glory”.
New Forest District Council strengthens approach on environmental enforcement
New Forest District Council adopts tougher Environmental Enforcement Policy to tackle fly-tipping, littering and waste offences, using CCTV and new technology.
Dorset care home named among top 20 in region for fifth consecutive year
Upton Bay Care Home in Hamworthy, Poole, named among top 20 care homes in South West England by carehome.co.uk, based on independent resident reviews.
140 business leaders gather for International Women's Day event in New Forest
Female business leaders gathered at the New Forest Business Partnership’s International Women’s Day event, focusing on empowerment and local business impact.
Great Dorset Beach Clean returns to tackle litter this Easter
The Great Dorset Beach Clean returns to tackle litter this Easter.
'What options were considered before Civic Centre sale?'
I am writing to ask for clarification regarding the proposed sale of the Civic Centre building.
Stand-up comedian hits Bournemouth and Poole cinemas with debut cinema event
Paul Smith’s new stand-up show, Pablo Live, hits ODEON Bournemouth and Vue Poole cinemas from 17 April. Enjoy his viral comedy and crowd work on the big screen.
AFC Bournemouth community fund donates money to local charity
Hope HTS in Bournemouth receives £2,000 from AFC Bournemouth’s Cherries Community Fund to provide 50 starter packs for formerly homeless people.
Dorset repair groups take fight against waste to heart of Westminster
Dorset’s Repair Cafe Swanage & Purbeck joins UK repair groups at Westminster, urging MPs to back repair and reuse policies for a circular economy.
Family festival celebrating music, fun and adventure returns to Dorset this May
Family Fest 2026 returns to Wimborne, Dorset, 29–31 May with live music, food, family activities, camping, and entertainment for all ages. Book tickets now!
Dorset bus company offers gift of free travel for mums on Mother’s Day
Morebus offers free bus travel for mums on Mother’s Day, 15 March, when accompanied by a child with a dayrider ticket. Celebrate with free family travel.
Rising 'genre-blending' indie band to headline Bournemouth show next month
Emerging indie band Cowboyy to headline The Bear Cave, Bournemouth on 16 April for The SHiNDiG, supporting grassroots music with local bands and live acts.
Historic new 'remarkable' GWR locomotive to take centre stage at railway gala
Historic GWR steam locomotive No. 6880 Betton Grange to star at Swanage Railway’s 2026 Spring Steam Gala. Heritage railway event features seven engines.
Dorset charity calls on public to help choose Britain's most loved butterfly
Britain’s Favourite Butterfly vote launches ahead of the 2026 Big Butterfly Count by Butterfly Conservation. Vote for UK butterfly species and support nature.
Dorset Council helps unpaid carers access support through digital volunteers
Volunteer Digital Champions in Dorset are helping unpaid carers access digital support via Bridgit, improving carers’ confidence and access to vital resources.
RSV vaccine uptake among pregnant women in South West continues to increase
RSV vaccination rates soar among pregnant women in South West England, boosting newborn protection. Dorset leads uptake; RSV causes serious infant illness.
Family-owned holiday group announce two promotions within its Bournemouth office
Daish’s Holidays announces promotions at Bournemouth HQ: Maria Green appointed head of sales and marketing; Carla Manners named reservations manager.
Dorset primary school celebrates World Book Day with week long reading festival
Hill View Primary School celebrates World Book Day with a week of book-themed activities, supporting children’s reading, creativity and UK literacy campaigns.
Rare American bird spotted in Poole Park
A rare American bird has been spotted in Dorset and photographed by a wildlife enthusiast who described the sighting as an “interesting” experience.
Bournemouth minimarket applies for premises licence to sell alcohol until 3am
Seafront Minimarket on Westover Road, Bournemouth, applies for a licence to sell alcohol and late-night refreshments until 3am, BCP Council confirms.
Eight road closures planned in New Forest by Hampshire County Council
Hampshire County Council announces planned New Forest road closures from March 2026 for up to 18 months. See affected roads and updates at hants.gov.uk.
Road to shut next week for water works
Moortown Lane, Ringwood, will close 24/7 from 16 March for water works by Kier Ltd. Hampshire County Council advises alternative routes via Green Lane.
The simple mistake that is killing your phone battery and how to fix it
Warning signs include faster-than-normal battery drain, devices heating up during charging, sudden percentage drops, and unexpected shutdowns
'Devastating': Listeners heartbroken as Liza Tarbuck quits Radio 2 show
Radio 2 presenter Liza Tarbuck who has hosted the much-loved 6pm to 8pm slot since 2012, called her time on air “the stuff of dreams”
Government
Lord Advocate Bill
A Bill to make provision about the role and functions of the Lord Advocate; and for connected purposes.
Formula 1
LIVE COVERAGE: All the build-up to the Chinese GP
Live coverage of all the build-up ahead of the 2026 Chinese Grand Prix weekend.
Natalia Granada completes the 2026 F1 ACADEMY grid
Spanish driver Natalia Granada is joining the 2026 F1 ACADEMY grid for her rookie season and will compete in the ‘SEPHORA operated by PREMA’ car.
Why Ferrari's drivers remain optimistic about their chances
Having finished third and fourth in the Australian season opener, as well as challenged race winner George Russell, Ferrari drivers Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc have reason to be optimistic this weekend in China.
Russell taking 'nothing for granted' ahead of Chinese GP
George Russell expects Ferrari to be Mercedes' closest competitor this weekend in the Chinese Grand Prix, and admits he is taking "nothing for granted" despite a strong start to the 2026 campaign.
McLaren need to 'step it up as much as possible' – Norris
Reigning Formula 1 World Champion Lando Norris admits that McLaren need to "step it up as much as possible" ahead of this weekend's Chinese Grand Prix.
Piastri outlines how he bounced back from home race crash
Oscar Piastri was ruled out of his home event in Melbourne as he crashed into the wall on his way to the grid.
Watch Weekend Warm-Up ahead of the Chinese GP
After an eventful first round, there are plenty of talking points ahead of the Chinese Grand Prix, and the F1 TV crew are here to run through them all.
Facts, stats and trivia ahead of the 2026 Chinese GP
As F1 moves on to the Shanghai International Circuit for the Chinese Grand Prix, Need to Know is your all-in-one guide with statistics, driving pointers, strategy tips and more.
Ferrari hope to put Mercedes ‘under more pressure’ in China
Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton have both expressed optimism over Ferrari’s chances of taking the fight to Mercedes as the 2026 season develops, even if their rivals started with a “huge” advantage in Australia.
Chinese Grand Prix H2H match bet predictions
As the 2026 season continues in Shanghai this weekend, we look at the best head-to-head battles to watch out for.
All you need to know about the Shanghai International Circuit
Get up to speed with all the key Shanghai International Circuit statistics, driving pointers, facts and more.
Lindblad admits F1 debut hasn’t ‘fully sunk in yet’
Arvid Lindblad impressed in his first weekend as an F1 driver, making it through to Q3 and scoring points for Racing Bulls in Australia.
Windows Central
Steam's Valve responds to lawsuit from New York Attorney General against its loot boxes, says they're like baseball cards — it's ready to fight
Valve, maker of Steam and games like Counter-Strike 2, Dota 2, and TF2, has responded to a New York lawsuit filed against the loot boxes in its games.
Rejoice! Microsoft's Xbox Backwards Compatibility Program is coming back this year — "we’re committed to keeping games from four generations of Xbox playable"
During its GDC keynote, Microsoft and Xbox announced that the Xbox Backwards Compatibility Program is returning in some fashion later this year.
Microsoft just signed this Teams feature’s retirement papers before its replacement is ready
Microsoft is retiring Teams meeting recording expiration emails on June 1, but the promised setting to keep them active isn't ready yet.
The first Minecraft Live 2026 show just got its official trailer and date — will we see the Tiny Takeover update and a new game? Here's how you can watch
Minecraft developer Mojang has announced the date and time for the first Minecraft Live 2026 show in a new trailer. Here's everything you need to know.
Microsoft brings new "Xbox mode" to Windows 11 PCs next month — Prepares major gaming advancements that lay foundations for the next Xbox
At GDC 2026, Microsoft outlined the future of PC and Xbox game development, positioning Windows as the foundation for the next-generation of gaming via unified GDK.
Microsoft's Windows and Devices lead now reports directly to CEO Satya Nadella in important leadership shakeup
Microsoft's EVP of Experiences & Devices is retiring, and four new leads are taking his place who will now report directly to the CEO instead going forward.
The MacBook Neo isn’t innovation. It’s Apple finally owning up to the iPad myth and hoping no one notices.
After years of gaslighting the market, Apple is back to selling the thing it said you didn’t need.
MacBook Neo faces stiff competition this week — this Windows laptop with more RAM and storage is now $450 off if you're looking for better specs
We have just discovered a rare discount for the Acer Aspire 14 AI, providing workers and casual PC users a chance to own a dependable AI laptop that's roughly the same price as the new MacBook Neo while offering stronger hardware.
Windows users shouldn't be worried about the $599 MacBook Neo — especially when you can spend less on this Dell laptop with twice as much RAM and storage
Love the MacBook Neo's price but hate all of the compromises required? Let me introduce you to the Dell Inspiron 14 2-in-1, now down to just $549.
Ex-Windows chief calls MacBook Neo "a paradigm shifting computer" — reflects on Surface failure and Windows on Arm while lamenting "we were early, but not wrong"
The mastermind behind Windows 8 and Surface RT has thoughts on Apple's new MacBook Neo, and says it validates his efforts from 2012 that the market originally rejected.
"This is an Xbox" campaign vanishes overnight as Microsoft begins to "Build for What's Next"
Microsoft has scrubbed the "This is an Xbox" campaign from official sites, signaling a sharp pivot toward "Project Helix" and a return to console-first branding.
OpenAI must match Microsoft’s size in 4 years to hit a $1 trillion IPO valuation — but it's still losing ChatGPT users to "QuitGPT"
OpenAI’s trillion‑dollar dream is under pressure as Pentagon deals spark backlash and QuitGPT drains millions of users from ChatGPT.
Is Microsoft's recent return-to-office policy ruining Seattle's traffic? Highway travel speeds slow to a crawl during rush hour
Microsoft’s return-to-office policy aligns with Seattle's gridlocked traffic, with commute speeds dropping to just 5% during rush hour.
Microsoft's best Surface laptop is over £600 off in the UK — 1TB of storage and 16GB RAM are blessings in a pricing crisis
Amazon UK's Spring Sale is offering a 37% discount on the Snapdragon X Elite/16GB RAM configuration of the Microsoft Surface Laptop 7th Edition for a limited time.
Laffgaff
Which rock star released the 1975 classic album ‘Born to Run’?
Question: Which rock star released the 1975 classic album ‘Born to Run’?
Philosopher
A philosopher never sits down at work. Stands to reason.