The News - Thursday, 24 September 2026

BBC News

Blood tests find high level of cancer-causing forever chemical in residents near factory

People living near a major chemical factory in Lancashire are told they could be at risk of serious health conditions.

What video footage tells us about RAF training jet crash

The RAF said training on their Hawk jets had been "temporarily" paused while an investigation is under way.

Trump offers warm welcome as China's Xi arrives for US visit

The US treasury secretary said that the US and China had reached an agreement to extend a trade truce as Xi began his visit.

A red carpet and military flyover - How Trump welcomed Xi

The two B-1 bombers that flew overhead are a key part of the US's combat arsenal, and produce a notoriously loud roar when they pass by.

Prison staff told not to use inadequate cells as overcrowding worsens

Workers tell BBC they are increasingly having to put two inmates in single occupancy cells because of overcrowding.

Mother of teen who died ‘deeply hurt’ that NHS staff may have accessed son’s records inappropriately

Oliver McGowan, who died in 2016, may have had his medical records accessed inappropriately after his death by NHS staff in Bristol.

They were labelled 'pervert glasses'. Will a camera-free version transform their image?

Meta has unveiled audio-only smart glasses, with some questioning whether it is a response to the backlash over privacy.

Eight US sailors assigned to USS Abraham Lincoln attempted suicide, Navy says

In a letter to Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao said the crew had adequate mental health support during the long deployment.

Burnham brands ban on football fans drinking alcohol in stands as 'discrimination'

The prime minister opposes the law - in place since 1985 - and believes there is a case to remove it.

UK survivor of Canadian poison seller says he exploited her despair

Elisabeth Belien tells Kenneth Law's sentencing hearing she took the poison when she was just 23 years old.

Teenagers to be offered new vocational GCSE subjects in school

New GCSE subjects could include child development and building and construction as vocational courses are being introduced.

Residents eating garden weeds in Russian-occupied city cut off from food and water

The BBC has spoken to residents in the Russian-occupied Ukrainian town of Oleshky who say they are being "constantly shelled".

'Make women feel seen': Why the Dutch have a new word for labia

Campaigners hope the new words will lead to less body shaming and more sex positivity.

'Proteinflation': Meet the people paying up to £100 for a bag of protein

Consumers are feeling the squeeze from the rising price of protein.

AI superpower ambitions take centre stage as Trump and Xi meet

The US and China are vying for AI supremacy while seeking to keep it under human control.

The Papers: 'RAF jet crash escape' and 'Tories to cut benefits'

The moment two RAF pilots ejected from a training jet is splashed across the front page of the Daily Mirror.

I couldn't live with the agony of migraines any more but my GP called me dramatic

Lauren had to abandon her career in the NHS after being left "in agony" due to her migraines.

Indians are discovering the thrill of shopping without paying

Dopamine sites mimic shopping’s thrill without the spending, turning the ritual of consumption into a digital game.

US rejects pleas from OpenAI, Anthropic for global AI standards

OpenAI's Sam Altman has called for risk evaluation standards, as have Anthropic's Dario Amodei and Hugging Face's Clement Delangue.

How the oil capital of the US welcomed a solar power boom

Texas is now the country's biggest producer of solar-farmed electricity.

Tories would prevent long-term jobless spending benefits on alcohol and cigarettes

The proposals would also see benefits cut for people who are able to work but have failed to hold down a job.

Home secretary says undetected migrant landings 'unacceptable'

The arrivals of two unescorted migrant boats mark the first uncontrolled landings recorded in the UK since 2025.

In Amish country, nurses go door to door to stop deadly spread of measles

With four measles-related deaths in Pennsylvania, health officials are hoping to get people on board with vaccines in private.

Trump's Board of Peace unveils $2.45bn plan to begin Gaza's reconstruction

The figure was announced during a meeting of the group's board at the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York.

FBI investigates apparent theft of its personnel data by hackers

The hackers claim they have every agent's name, role, badge number and personal details including home address, phone numbers and spouse information.

Burnham says ban on alcohol for football fans in stands is 'discrimination'

The prime minister opposes the law - in place since 1985 - and believes there is a case to remove it.

Watch: Why has Trump been so eager to welcome Xi?

President Donald Trump has been talking about Chinese President Xi Jinping's visit for months, the BBC's Sarah Smith looks at why.

White House restores access to media outlets banned by Trump after judge's order

Lawyers for CNN, Politico and MS Now are seeking an emergency court hearing, saying the White House "repeatedly violated" the order.

Crashed RAF jet steered to 'avoid built-up areas' before pilots ejected, commander says

Gp Capt Gez Currie said the pilots are in hospital, and their families are with them.

Poland says fire at Starlink station is sabotage as Denmark warns of rising Russian threat

The satellite station is used in part to provide internet coverage to neighbouring Ukraine, the government says.

Man jailed for two years over throwing bottle at Portsmouth migrant protest

Del Somerville, 42, pleaded guilty to violent disorder following an overnight protest at Eastney.

Greek PM urges Burnham to return Elgin Marbles permanently

Andy Burnham said in 2023 the sculptures should be returned to Greece with "no strings attached".

German prosecutors investigate 105-year-old for crimes at Nazi PoW camp

The suspect is alleged to have been an accessory to murder at the Stalag 326 camp, where tens of thousands of Soviet PoWs died.

Small boat migrant arrivals reach 781 in one day, breaking 2026 record

A total of 781 migrants arrive on Wednesday, but the yearly total is below the same point in 2025.

Why did an OpenAI system hack Australia's health system - and can it be stopped in the future?

News that an automated AI agent hacked a government IT system raises big questions about regulating the tech.

Elephants use medicinal plants to treat themselves, researchers find

African elephants use dozens of different medicinal plants to treat themselves and their families when they are sick, research reveals.

Spain's housing crisis in focus after eviction of 87-year-old woman

The tenant of the flat in the Retiro area of central Madrid, Maricarmen, was unable to pay her rent set after it was increased by an investment firm.

As AI hacks ramp up, are we back in big tech's 'move fast and break things' era?

Despite promises to make safe AI, examples of bots behaving badly are now coming at us thick and fast.

'I can't see it stopping' - Middlesbrough's young men discuss gangs after A66 crash

Last month's deadly A66 crash shone a light on organised crime and opportunities for young people in Middlesbrough.

They were labelled 'pervert glasses'. Will a camera-free version transform their image?

Meta has unveiled audio-only smart glasses, with some questioning whether it is a response to the backlash over privacy.

NHS trust to review 4,500 breast cancer cases after unnecessary surgeries found

The BBC has spoken to women who suffered unnecessary surgery, delayed diagnoses and a lack of care.

Anti-migrant activist arrested after dinghy slashed in Channel

Police had been looking into footage appearing to show the man, also known as Danny Tommo, slashing at a boat in the English Channel with a knife.

Firm fined £1m after man killed by falling window

Mick Ferris was crushed when the 130kg window fell from The Corniche building in Vauxhall.

Blood tests find high level of cancer-causing forever chemical in residents near factory

People living near a major chemical factory in Lancashire are told they could be at risk of serious health conditions.

Reported assaults on Britain's rail services rise by more than a third

Recorded incidents of violence and harassment against passengers and rail workers showed a sharp increase in the year to March.

Edinburgh Zoo's red panda goes to the vet for toothache

Red panda Bruce laid on his back under a general anaesthetic, as vets removed the problem tooth and checked him for other illnesses.

Bournemouth Echo

Home designer to open new store at the Old Corn Exchange

Schmidt has announced the opening of a new showroom in Ringwood, scheduled for October 2026.

Residents going to polls today to elect a new Poole town councillor in by election

Residents in Hamworthy will be going to the polls today to elect a new councillor to Poole Town Council.

'Angel will forever be missed' - Tributes paid to 'kind and caring' schoolgirl

Tributes have been paid to a 12-year-old schoolgirl who took her own life earlier this year.

Christchurch mum turns letters to her son into self-published children’s book

A Christchurch mum has turned letters to her son into a self-published children’s book.

Westbourne turns back the clock for Victorian and steampunk event

Westbourne turned back the clock for a day of Victorian flair and steampunk spectacle.

Woman brands £110 parking fine an 'unethical money grab'

A woman has branded a £110 parking fine an "unethical money grab" after being penalised for entering the wrong car park code despite paying for her parking.

Man jailed for carrying knives and shoplifting in Castlepoint - In the Dock

The following cases were heard at Poole Magistrates' Court:

Charity shop ransacked - 'The till had been completely mangled'

A charity shop in Poole was left in a “horrendous” state after a man allegedly broke in and ransacked it.

Manslaughter defendants worked at Bournemouth hospital before 'fatal' blow incident

Court hears manslaughter defendants worked at Bournemouth hospital before 'fatal' blow incident

Fire brings busy Bournemouth road to a standstill

A fire at a three-storey building brought a busy Bournemouth road to a standstill.

LIVE - Fire involving three-storey building in Holdenhurst Road

A fire has broken out at a three-storey building in Holdenhurst Road, Bournemouth. We will bring you live updates as we get them.

M27 drivers face weekend disruption as National Highways works continue

M27 drivers face a series of closures as National Highways carries out verge maintenance and other works.

Planning permission approved for first rural indoor padel club in Dorset

A farmer who won Britain's Got Talent this year has secured planning permission for Dorset's first rural indoor padel club.

New principal at Bournemouth secondary school sets out vision for the future

Oak Academy, Bournemouth, held its annual open evening, giving parents and prospective pupils the chance to hear from new Principal, Danielle Fisher.

Golf to continue at Solent Meads after BCP Council confirm long-term lease plans

Tom Hayes, the Labour MP for Bournemouth East, has welcomed new assurances from BCP Council that golf can continue at Solent Meads.

Long delays as road blocked due obstruction in the road

An obstruction on the A31 is causing delays for drivers this evening.

10-year-old boy flees after teenager allegedly threatens him in Blandford

A 10-year-old boy was approached by two teenagers in Blandford and fled the scene.

'Gallant' man unlawfully killed by terrorists after giving up evacuation seat

A coroner has ruled that a man from Dorset was unlawfully killed in an attack by terrorists as he attempted to flee from a Mozambiquan hotel besieged by the insurgents.

Man sustains broken rib and nose in 'distressing' car theft assault

A man has been jailed after assaulting a driver, leaving him with a broken rib, and stealing his vehicle.

Dorset Council rejects plans for 14-pitch traveller site in Lytchett Minster

Plans for 14 pitches for gypsy and traveller families off Dorchester Road, Lytchett Minster have been refused by planners.

Man had a fake UK driving licence - In the Dock

The following cases were heard at Weymouth Magistrates' Court:

Changes to new archive building at tank museum approved

CHANGES to a new archive building at the Bovington Tank Museum have been approved – a re-working of a previously agreed plan.

Boat skipper fined almost £1,000 for speeding in Weymouth harbour

A BOAT skipper has been fined more than £930 for speeding in Weymouth harbour and navigating without care.

New BCP Council sculpture costing £54,000 installed on Bournemouth cliffs

A new art sculpture has been revealed on the West Cliff in Bournemouth

Harbour's performance ‘mixed’ despite record-breaking summer

DESPITE a cracking summer Dorset’s harbours have seen mixed fortunes with some activities down as fuel prices and the cost of living take their toll.

Bournemouth Strictly pro dancer paired with Love Island winner on 2026 series

Maddie Ingoldsby is a Strictly Come Dancing professional from Bournemouth, but which celebrity has she been paired with for the 2026 series?

Princess Anne celebrates 40 years of junior sailing at Royal Lymington Yacht Club

The Princess Royal visited Royal Lymington Yacht Club to celebrate the Club’s much-loved Wednesday Junior Sailing programme and mark the Grand Finale of its 2026 season.

Railway carriage being used as holiday accommodation allowed to remain in place

A RAILWAY carriage being used as holiday accommodation is to be allowed to remain in place at a Marshwood holiday site.

CCTV image released after man left unconscious in 'serious' assault

A man in his 60s was left unconscious with a serious head injury after an assault in Poole.

3 Dorset place names ranked among the rudest you can find in Britain

A few place names in Dorset have been ranked among the rudest you can find in Britain.

Inquest after New Forest woman, 74, found dead on beach

An inquest has opened into the death of a New Forest woman whose body was found on a beach.

Appeal to convert barn in the New Forest dismissed

An appeal to convert a barn into a home has been dismissed.

LUSH co-founder among 130 people recognised in new national honours programme

A cosmetics pioneer and a global manufacturing leader from Dorset have been named among Make UK’s 130 Honours.

More than 30 affordable homes to be built in Poole to help meet housing demand

Housing provider Abri is set to deliver 37 high-quality affordable homes for the local community in Upton, following the exchange of contracts with Wyatt Homes.

Powerful production of best-selling Khaled Hosseini novel comes to Poole in 2027

Khaled Hosseini's A Thousand Splendid Suns will be performed at Lighthouse Poole from Tuesday, May 11 until Saturday, May 15, 2027.

Building society commits to keep its Bournemouth branch open until at least 2031

Leeds Building Society has confirmed that its Bournemouth office will remain open until at least September 2031.

£1 million investment to upgrade facilities at Bournemouth leisure centre

Charity and social enterprise BH Live has announced a £1 million investment in the gym and fitness facilities at Littledown Centre, Bournemouth.

Songwriter to present 'evening of stories and songs' at Dorset venue next year

Ian W Brown will be at Lighthouse Poole, on Thursday, April 22, 2027 at 8pm.

Jurassic Coast celebrates 25 years as England's only natural World Heritage Site

England’s only natural World Heritage Site, the Jurassic Coast, is celebrating 25 years since it received global recognition

Young people facing homelessness need more volunteer hosts in BCP and Dorset

Dorset Nightstop, run by Action for Children, is appealing for more volunteer hosts and drivers after a rise in referrals between April 2025 and March 2026.

Bournemouth University students shortlisted for national games design award

A team of Bournemouth University students and their game ‘Don’t Croak’ are nominated for the best student game category at the TIGA Games Education Awards.

Coach tourism event to attract more than 120 professionals to Bournemouth

More than 120 coach tourism professionals will gather in Bournemouth for the Coach Tourism Association’s (CTA) Winter Networking event in November.

Award-winning comedy club to launch at new venue in Dorset town next month

The award-winning Coastal Comedy Club will debut at Verwood Hub on Saturday, October 17, with a headline set from comedian Angela Barnes.

Dorset village prepares for its inaugural food festival next month

Kingston's inaugural food festival, planned for Saturday, October 3, from 1pm to 5pm, promises a celebration of local fare and talents.

Author set to launch new psychological thriller at Christchurch event

An author is inviting readers to a special book launch in Christchurch for her latest psychological thriller.

Former Royal Marine nears end of 17,500-mile solo ocean row after 300 days

Former Royal Marine Dave ‘Dinger’ Bell nears finish of 17,500-mile solo row from Peru to Kenya after 300 days, raising £50,000 for Rock2Recovery charity.

Lymington homeowners reduced asking prices by average of £17,361 over past year

Homeowners in Lymington have been cutting their asking prices by an average of £17,361

Music and Bavarian festivities to come to Dorset charity's Oktoberfest event

Diverse Abilities, a charity supporting children and adults with disabilities, will host its first-ever Oktoberfest event on October 24 at The Treehouse in Hurn

Food lovers treated to delicious day out as Wimborne Food Festival takes over

Wimborne Food Festival, sponsored by Ellis Jones Solicitors, filled the town with stalls, tastings, cookery demonstrations, talks, and competitions.

Anything but an Ordinary 100 Miles charity challenge raised more than £7,000

Bournemouth-based Holt Recruitment Group raised £7,044 for Home-Start Wessex through its annual fundraiser, Anything but an Ordinary 100 Miles.

Campaign launched to bring historic boundary markers back to Dorset roadsides

A man with a unique collection of road markers and country boundary posts from 1909 wants to reinstate them to 'preserve the UK's heritage'.

Dorset school named the UK’s top school for environmental achievement

Port Regis School, located near Shaftesbury, won the Environmental Achievement Award in the Talk Education Awards for Innovation in Education 2026

More than 38,000 butterflies spotted in Dorset this summer due to hot weather

Across Dorset, 2,672 people took part, spotting 38,438 butterflies and day-flying moths during the three weeks of the Big Butterfly Count

'Reform talk the talk, but can't offer alternatives on BCP's financial challenges'

“BCP should do it,” has become the oft repeated mantra from Reform.

Vail Williams secures three new occupiers to fill New Forest industrial estate

Property consultancy Vail Williams secured the tenants at Horatio Court, located on Hannah Way at Gordleton Industrial Estate in Lymington in the New Forest.

Formula 1

Is Russell out of reach after Thursday practice in Baku?

Mercedes appear to be the ones to beat in this weekend’s Azerbaijan Grand Prix, but it was George Russell rather than championship leader Kimi Antonelli who was the stronger of the Silver Arrows. Can he build on that strong start to outscore his team mate and drag himself back into title contention?

Lawson returns as Lindblad hits trouble in Baku

Liam Lawson enjoyed a solid first day back with Racing Bulls in Azerbaijan, but Arvid Lindblad's FP2 ended prematurely after contact with the barriers brought out the red flags.

Audi's upgrade package 'delivering as expected' – Binotto

Audi Team Principal Mattia Binotto believes the team's major upgrade package, which has been introduced ahead of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, is "delivering as expected".

'Others just took another step' in Baku practice – Hamilton

Lewis Hamilton believes "others just took another step" forward during Thursday practice ahead of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, with Ferrari needing to find more performance if it is to challenge.

Cadillac recruit technical leaders from Red Bull and Ferrari

Cadillac have appointed staff from Red Bull, Ferrari and Mercedes to further progress as the newest team on the grid.

Hadjar encouraged by first day back in his upgraded Red Bull

Isack Hadjar smiled that his Red Bull car felt “better than when I left it” at July’s Hungarian Grand Prix after returning to action during Thursday practice around the Baku City Circuit.

Practice running in Baku 'was a good recovery' – Antonelli

Kimi Antonelli believes that his performance in practice ahead of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix "was a good recovery", after the Mercedes driver suffered a mechanical issue which curtailed much of his running.

Vowles assesses impact of Williams' Baku upgrade

Williams have brought a major upgrade to Baku in the hopes it improves their position, after a painful 2026 season so far.

Norris left with ‘knife in the heart’ feeling after Baku practice

Lando Norris has described his and McLaren’s deficit to the front of the field during Thursday practice at the Baku City Circuit as “a little knife in the heart”, with the team “miles off” the pace as things stand.

Play Higher or Lower for your chance to win 2027 GP tickets

Play our new Higher or Lower game for your chance to win 2027 Grand Prix tickets

Windows Central

Surface feels more fragmented than ever after Microsoft's latest refresh

Microsoft just announced new Surface hardware weeks before a Surface event, leaving even less to discuss in October.

Microsoft unveils refreshed Surface Pro 12-inch and Surface Laptop 13-inch with Snapdragon X2 and brighter screens

The company is launching its new "entry premium" Surface Pro and Surface Laptop, both starting at over $1,000.

AI comes to Surface Ink: Microsoft’s new Canvas transforms handwriting into a smarter workflow

Microsoft's new Ink Canvas app brings AI-powered inking and brainstorming tools to Surface devices and other supported Windows PCs.

After 10 years, Microsoft revives the Surface Mouse with a fresh design and haptics

The redesigned Surface Mouse is launching later this month with a soft-touch finish, tactile-yet-quiet buttons, and more.

The Division 2: Echoes of Central Park is going to be dark, terrifying, and brilliant

The curtain has been pulled back on The Division 2 Echoes of Central Park and this latest expansion has a darker, more mysterious tone to previous content, and it's looking incredible.

uBlock Origin broke on Edge, so I finally quit the browser

An ad-filled Microsoft Edge broke my daily article proofing routine, turning a long-overdue browser switch into an immediate need.

INTERVIEW: Copilot+ PC branding is gone — and Microsoft isn’t saying much about why

In a new interview, Microsoft Surface CVP confirms that its new Surface PCs are no longer called Copilot+ PCs, but will still support all Copilot+ features.

Poll: What's your favorite Surface of 2026?

Twelve Surface devices, a new Surface Mouse, and the upcoming Laptop Ultra have made 2026 unexpectedly busy for Microsoft hardware.

GameSir's Tarantula 8K controller is up there with the best, without the high price

The GameSir Tarantula 8K is a mindblowing controller for PC players, boasting high-end tech and performance at a budget-friendly price.

Bethesda promises Obsidian will keep its identity under ZeniMax

Bethesda has reassured Obsidian fans that the studio will retain its creative identity and leadership following its move under ZeniMax, as work begins on a new Fallout project.

Laffgaff

Which country has a red dragon on its flag?

Wales.

Reporter Job

My friend quit his job as a reporter and left town by railway. It was an ex-press train.

Itsfoss

openKylin 3.0 Release Makes it a "AI first" Linux Desktop

The built-in skills allow you to control and change system settings via AI agent. Is this the beginning of AI assistant for desktop computers?

Ubuntu is Tightening its Kernel SRU Cycle to Two Weeks, and Clankers Are to Blame

Ubuntu users will get kernel security fixes faster thanks to this.

FOSS Weekly #26.39: Snapdragon X2, Ubuntu 26.10, Konsole, systemd Tricks and a New Project

Here are the latest happenings from the Linux and FOSS world.

Qualcomm Announces Snapdragon X2 Linux Developer Preview

They have put out an early developer preview for Snapdragon X2 laptops, with Debian 13 as the reference environment.