BBC News
US and Iran talks to begin as fears of direct conflict continue
The US has built up its military presence in the Middle East in response to Iran's violent crackdown on protests.
Top government figures to hand over private messages with Mandelson
The government collects communications over Mandelson's ambassador appointment as some of Sir Keir Starmer's own MPs call on him to stand down.
We had sex in a Chinese hotel, then found we had been broadcast to thousands
A couple who stayed in Shenzhen discovered their intimate moments were filmed as spy-cam porn.
US healthcare needs fixing, but there's no agreement on how to do it
Is there the political will to fix it the US' health horror stories?
Trump backs Chagos handover deal, says No 10
It comes after the US president suggested last month he could withdraw his support for the deal.
Number of homeless refugees in England soars, BBC finds
Analysis of government data shows numbers increased from 3,560 in 2021/22 to 19,310 in 2024/25.
Statin pills much safer than advertised, major review finds
The results, in The Lancet journal, come from trials involving more than 120,000 people comparing statins with a dummy drug or placebo.
Three African countries agree to UK migrant returns after visa penalty threat
The Democratic Republic of Congo, Namibia and Angola have said they will cooperate on migrant returns.
Louvre Museum crown left crushed but 'intact' after raid
The Paris museum issues the first pictures of the crown since the theft, saying it was left "badly deformed".
Jacob Elordi: I practised my Northern accent in the bath
The Australian actor is starring opposite Margot Robbie in new film, Wuthering Heights, set in Yorkshire.
Could this be the beginning of the end for Starmer?
Few Labour MPs are publicly calling for Sir Keir Starmer to go but this is very serious moment for the PM.
Norway investigates former PM Jagland over alleged Epstein links
Police say Thorbjørn Jagland is suspected of "aggravated corruption", requesting for his immunity to be revoked.
I can't sell Mum's retirement flat - and it's costing me thousands
Relatives face "never-ending nightmare" of service charge debts as thousands of retirement flats stand empty across England and Wales.
Weekly quiz: How did this boxer lose his hair during a fight?
How much attention did you pay to what happened in the world over the past seven days?
The hotel ice rink producing some of the world's finest curlers
Three members of Team Mouat are from Stranraer - home to an ice rink built in a hotel.
The Papers: 'PM battles for survival' and Rayner 'ready to go'
The political fallout from the Epstein files continues to dominate the papers.
Can chia seeds and bone broth really 'heal' your gut?
Many trending foods contain a "small seed of truth" but are often oversold as miracle products.
Increase school funding to meet need for special education, MPs urge
A cross-party group calls on the government to "align funding to need", as ministers consider SEND reforms.
For Thailand's popular progressives, winning the vote is only the first hurdle
The country votes again this weekend after three years of political turmoil.
Man guilty of murdering girl, 9, playing in street
Lilia Valutyte was playing outside a shop in Boston, Lincolnshire, when she was stabbed to death.
Molly-Mae Hague announces second pregnancy
"Soon to be four," is the caption on a video showing off the TV star's baby bump.
David Furnish and Sir Elton John 'profoundly affected' by Mail targeting, court told
The couple are among seven people suing the publisher of The Daily Mail and The Mail on Sunday for breaches of privacy.
Bad Bunny says he's losing sleep over the Super Bowl
The star talked about what to expect at his Super Bowl half time show this weekend.
Alton Towers to remove disability pass for people with ADHD and anxiety
Operator Merlin Entertainments said the pass was no longer working as intended because of increasing demand.
Epstein emails: So-called 'shady financier' was Andrew's 'trusted money man'
Andrew seemed keen for Epstein to do business with David Rowland, but Epstein was wary, emails suggest.
Trump shares video with racist clip depicting Obamas as apes
As a black Republican senator calls it "the most racist thing I've seen out of this White House", the administration says "stop the fake outrage".
Summer camp sex offender jailed for 23 years
Jon Ruben admitted 18 charges including the sexual abuse of young boys, and drugging his wife.
BBC at scene where Russian general was shot in Moscow
Russia editor Steve Rosenberg reports from the outskirts of the Russian capital, where Lt Gen Vladimir Alexeyev was shot and wounded.
Steve Wright given 40 years for Victoria Hall murder
Wright, who also murdered five women in Ipswich in 2006, is sentenced for killing the teenager.
Coin portrait of late Queen draws criticism in Australia
The Royal Australian Mint has defended the design of the coins, which mark 100 years since Queen Elizabeth II's birth.
Graham Norton joins star cast of Taylor Swift's new video
The video for Opalite was inspired by Norton's chat show, after Swift appeared on the sofa last year.
Three things that could bring Starmer down - and what might save him
Sir Keir's survival as Labour leader and prime minister hangs in the balance, writes Nick Eardley.
Watch: Julia Donaldson reveals new character and title for third Gruffalo book
The upcoming edition of the popular children's picture book sees the introduction of Gruffalo Granny.
Masculinity and vulnerability aren't exclusive, says Bafta-nominated director
Film-maker Akinola Davies Jr says he wanted to explore the depiction of father-son relationships.
Gen Z aren't lazy - I commute four hours a day to work in the office
Lily-May Edwards travels two hours each way from north Wales to Liverpool to work in the office.
Millions of documents - but Epstein's victims say they are no closer to justice
One campaigner says the files are "symptomatic of a broken system of how we treat women - how we view survivors".
Head of firm founded by Mandelson to quit
Benjamin Wegg-Prosser concluded his association with Lord Mandelson - and references to them both in the Epstein files - was doing the business Global Counsel harm.
The household names that appear in the files
Millions of Epstein-related documents released by the US justice department include the names of the world's rich and powerful.
Baldur's Gate to be turned into TV series - without the game's developers
The show will be made by Craig Mazin, who co-created the acclaimed game adaptation The Last Of Us.
Watch: Ukrainian soldier thought to be dead calls his family
Nazar Daletskyi's relatives were told he had been killed in 2022, the first year of Russia’s full-scale invasion.
TV licence fee to rise by £5.50 to £180 from April
The cost of a TV licence currently increases in line with inflation each year until 2027.
Sir Elton calls press intrusion into his baby son 'truly sickening'
The musician says his privacy was breached in relation to health issues and the birth of his son.
More than 30 killed in blast at Pakistan mosque, officials say
Almost 170 were injured in the explosion, which took place during Friday prayers in the capital Islamabad.
We had sex in a Chinese hotel, then found we had been broadcast to thousands
A couple who stayed in Shenzhen discovered their intimate moments were filmed as spy-cam porn.
More baby formula products recalled over toxin fears
Danone has recalled 15 more batches of Aptamil and Cow&Gate first infant milk because a toxin called cereulide may be present.
Bournemouth Echo
Inside the New Forest village that is centre of UK witch community
Burley is best known for its 20th-century connections with witchcraft:.
County council sells assets worth £30 million
More than £30.5 million has been generated through the sale of Hampshire County Council-owned buildings, information obtained by the LDRS shows.
Council can now charge for invalid planning applications
BCP Council is now able to charge for invalid planning applications after Cabinet vote to adopt new planning checklist.
'It's worrying what the future holds': Boy, 2, diagnosed with rare genetic condition
The parents of a two-year-old boy are fundraising after he was diagnosed with a rare genetic condition that only 72 other people have.
'Prolific' shoplifter jailed after stealing thousands from supermarkets
A PROLIFIC THIEF from Ringwood has been jailed for 12 months after pleading guilty to five shopliftings from shops in the town.
New discounted supermarket confirms opening date
Lidl has confirmed that its new Sandford supermarket will open on Thursday, February 12.
Plans for £23.9million housing project in a Bournemouth car park can go ahead
Plans for a £23.9million housing project in Bournemouth to go ahead, without a formal agreement with the NHS for a clinic, has been approved.
Charminster library closed for three months
A library will remain closed for three months after a partial ceiling revealed asbestos in part of the building.
MP starts petition to reinstate funding to Pokesdown train station after planned cuts
An MP has said BCP Council has "broken it's word" after a £2.6 million railway station improvement project was withdrawn earlier this week.
Council budget 'hugely disappointing’ and 'concerning'
Councillors say the proposed budget for 2026/27 is ‘hugely disappointing’, ‘concerning’ and ‘a failure of basic financial management’.
'So sad' - Charity announces closure of Bournemouth charity shop
A BOURNEMOUTH charity shop has thanked their customers and supporters for their “kindness, support and generosity” after announcing closure.
First wild white-tailed eagle to fledge in Dorset for nearly 240 years
A group of 30 young conservationists recently had an 'unforgettable' experience when they got to study the first wild fledged white-tailed eagle to be born in Dorset in nearly 240 years.
“Appalling neglect”: Farmer banned from keeping sheep after dozens found dead
A FARMER from Dorset has been banned from keeping sheep for two years after more than 100 animals were found living in what investigators described as "awful conditions."
'Loss of trust and confidence in the No 10 operation', says Poole MP
Neil Duncan-Jordan has said there was a “loss of trust and confidence in the No 10 operation” after Peter Mandelson's ties to convicted paedophile were revealed in greater detail earlier this week.
Dangerous driver admits killing dog in hit-and-run after taking car
A Hampshire man has admitted killing a dog in a hit-and-run after taking a car
Petition to save Post Office reaches nearly 1,000 signatures
Lyndhurst residents and council staff have launched a petition with almost 1000 signatures after the closure of the Post Office closure has left the village without a vital service.
Girl, 17, taken to hospital after collision with car
A 17-year-old girl was taken to hospital after a collision with a silver car in Bournemouth.
Redevelopment of a six-bedroom home in Poole has been approved
The redevelopment of a six-bedroom home in Poole has been approved.
Council leader reassures Dorset residents after latest flooding update
Dorset Council urges residents hit by historic flooding to seek support as groundwater levels reach record high, with help available for flood-affected areas.
Arsonist caused £53k of damage to BIC because 'voices told him to'
A MAN who caused £53,000 of damage to the Bournemouth International Centre after setting it on fire said the voices told him to do it, a court has heard.
£68million council housing improvements planned
£68million improvements to council housing across Bournemouth and Poole are needed to continue providing ‘safe, warm, good quality homes’.
MP presses Home Secretary on Dorset’s chronic police underfunding
Vikki Slade, Liberal Democrat MP for Mid Dorset and North Poole, has challenged the Home Secretary in Parliament over Dorset being the second worst-funded police force in England, ranking 42nd out of 43 nationally.
Dorset music festival announces second wave of artists for 2026 edition
We Out Here Festival announces new wave of artists for its 2026 line-up this August, featuring Joy Crookes, Digable Planets and more emerging UK talent.
Event to support and safeguard young people with additional needs
Thrive Fest in BCP, organised by STARS Dorset, will be supporting SEND youth with safety advice, local services info, and community engagement for young people.
Sherborne student appointed to prestigious national leadership role
The role will see her represent CCFs across the UK at national events, giving her a rare glimpse into the careers of senior Royal Navy officers.
Additional seats released for 'national treasure's' one-man show
Demand shows no sign of slowing as the 'unstoppable' Gyles Brandreth returns with his wildly funny one-man show.
Bournemouth Water's parent company creates new executive role
Pennon Group to appoint Ian Christie as chief asset officer to boost asset health, resilience and long-term investment in UK water company sector from May 2026.
Bournemouth chauffer firm wins two national awards
PRESLA wins two national QSi Awards for its eco-friendly electric chauffeur fleet and innovative BACKRUNS booking platform at Brighton’s 2026 PRO Driver event.
Band releases new album recorded in Noel Gallagher’s studio
Bournemouth band Green Isaac have released a new album titled 'Branch', recorded at Noel Gallagher’s studio, the result of a 40 year-long creative relationship
Pension inheritance tax shake up risks piling pressure on grieving families
Reforms to pensions and inheritance tax risk creating delays, extra costs and serious stress for families, professionals and businesses, say the House of Lords.
Park residents thank emergency services after flooding
Residents of Beaulieu Gardens Home Park are thanking emergency services for their assistance following the recent flooding.
Formula 1
F1 drivers who have competed at the Winter Olympics
Excitement builds as the Winter Olympics kicks off in Milano Cortina, but did you know there are a handful of Formula 1 drivers who have competed in previous editions of the Winter Games?
Verstappen encouraged as Red Bull ‘hit the ground running’
Max Verstappen has described a “good start” for Red Bull in 2026 following the debut of their new car and new power unit at the Barcelona Shakedown.
WIN YOUR PLACE ON THE GRID WITH F1 UNLOCKED
F1 Unlocked and Aston Martin Aramco Formula One® Team are giving you the chance to experience the first race of the new season with unparalleled insider access.
Antonelli on why he is feeling 'more prepared' for 2026
Kimi Antonelli has admitted that he is feeling “more prepared” for the 2026 campaign, with the Italian explaining how working with a psychologist during the winter break has helped him to set goals for his sophomore season.
Who do you think will get the regulation changes right?
Cast your vote for the team you believe will have mastered the new rules right from the start of F1's new era.
Racing Bulls impressed by 'calm' and 'professional' Lindblad
Racing Bulls’ leadership team have praised Arvid Lindblad for his “calm” and “professional” approach during the Barcelona Shakedown, with Team Principal Alan Permane admitting that the rookie’s attitude reminds him of Isack Hadjar at the start of last season.
MS Dynamics
The Key Facets of AI Evaluation in the Contact Center
Organizations must think about when, how, by whom, and on what data AI systems are evaluated. This blog explores the key facets of AI evaluation and how they apply specifically to contact center environments.
The post The Key Facets of AI Evaluation in the Contact Center appeared first on Microsoft Dynamics 365 Blog.
Evaluating AI Agents in Contact Centers: Introducing the Multi-modal Agents Score
Introducing the Multimodal Agent Score (MAS)—a unified, absolute measure of end‑to‑end conversational quality designed for AI agents operating across modalities. MAS is grounded in a simple observation: every service interaction, whether handled by a human or an AI agent, progresses through three fundamental stages. First, the agent must understand the input, accurately interpreting content, intent, and contextual signals. Next, it must reason over that input, determining the correct actions, maintaining conversational continuity, and resolving ambiguity responsibly. Finally, the agent must respond effectively, delivering clear, natural, and confident communication in the appropriate tone and format.
The post Evaluating AI Agents in Contact Centers: Introducing the Multi-modal Agents Score appeared first on Microsoft Dynamics 365 Blog.
Announcing General Availability of Proactive Voice Enhancements in Dynamics 365 Contact Center
Answering machine detection, SIP call outcomes, and predictive dialing are now available for proactive voice scenarios.
The post Announcing General Availability of Proactive Voice Enhancements in Dynamics 365 Contact Center appeared first on Microsoft Dynamics 365 Blog.
Agentic AI for inventory to deliver: From procurement to fulfillment
From procurement and production to fulfillment and customer satisfaction, inventory-to-deliver impacts every aspect of the supply chain.
The post Agentic AI for inventory to deliver: From procurement to fulfillment appeared first on Microsoft Dynamics 365 Blog.
Windows Central
The studio behind one of Xbox's best new games plans to return to its iconic franchise, and just opened a second office — "we're not done with it"
MachineGames' studio director Jerk Gustafsson has promised that it will return to the Wolfenstein franchise, though it may be "later" instead of "now."
Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 and Warzone devs on making one of the biggest live-service games in the world — "Some teams see launch as the finish line. For us, it’s the starting gun"
As Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 and Warzone starts Season 2, its devs joined us to talk how they're handling the challenges of live-service game development.
WWE 2K26 releases a new gameplay overview trailer — new match types, Start-of-Match actions, and more
Wade Barrett from WWE provides a breakdown of WWE 2K26's new match types and gameplay improvements in this newly released gameplay trailer.
Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection has a free demo out now for Xbox and PC — carry progress to the full game
Capcom has released a free playable demo of Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection, the next and biggest entry in Monster Hunter's JRPG spin-off series for platforms. Here's what you can expect from the demo.
A popular Grammarly alternative is killing its browser extension unless you pay — blames AI in the process.
LanguageTool, a popular grammar checker, is killing its free browser extension and opening it only to paid, premium users.
Windows 11 now locks Storage settings behind admin rights — and it’s going to confuse a lot of people
Accessing the Storage settings on Windows 11 now triggers a UAC prompt, giving admins an extra layer of security over system files and device security.
This new promo video of the “Windows 11 phone” concept makes the NexPhone look shockingly real — triple‑booting Windows 11, Android, and Linux on actual hardware
The NexPhone runs Windows 11, Android, and Linux. With a Q3 2026 launch and a $549 price tag, it's a bold attempt to revive the "PC in your pocket" dream.
5 more TOP recent ID@Xbox greats — Ever wanted to be an egg, or quarantine potential zombies? This list is for you.
From zombie admin to pest control, these ID@Xbox titles are great to get you over the January slump.
"We recommend using search engines other than Bing" — 1.5 million Neocities sites are blocked by Microsoft's search engine, and AI support bots aren't helping
Neocities is home to almost 1.5 million human-made websites, keeping the GeoCities dream alive. Bing search would rather promote dangerous clone sites, and the Neocities founder isn't having any luck with AI-powered support.
Windows 11 locked me out of Notepad via Microsoft Account bugs — is the 'Thin Client' era ruining my 27 blissful years of PCs?
I recently lost the ability to open Notepad and other apps on my Windows 11 PC when Microsoft's servers suffered authentication issues. Has it gone too far?
Call of Duty: Warzone added a new easter egg to snowy Rebirth Island — here's how to get the secret weapon blueprint
Rebirth Island in Warzone has been given a much needed overhaul, and it's more than just a bit of snow. With the rework comes a new easter egg, and here's how you solve it.
Windows 11 moves toward multi-device Bluetooth streaming — but your PC probably isn't invited
Windows 11's new Shared audio feature lets you stream to two devices at once, but strict hardware requirements mean many PCs are still left behind.
Sony Exceeds $2 Billion in Revenue from Multi-Platform Game Releases on Xbox and PC
Will PlayStation continue to print money from multiplatform releases? All signs point to yes so far.
Microsoft Teams is finally ditching the clutter with a simple fix — streamlining meetings with better collaboration
Microsoft Teams will soon introduce a toolbar hiding option, enhancing video calls by providing more screen space and reducing clutter for smoother collaboration.
Laffgaff
Who assumed power in Russia after the death of her husband Peter III in 1762?
Catherine the Great.
Itsfoss
I Ditched Claude Code and Now Using Open Source Qwen AI for Real Sysadmin Work
An AI assistant in the terminal can help you guide through the process, help you move faster with your tasks. I tested Qwen Code and share my findings with you.
DI.DAY is a Movement to Encourage People to Ditch Big Tech
A new day for privacy advocates to look forward to.