The News - Thursday, 22 August 2024

BBC News

Oprah tells Democrats to 'choose truth' in surprise convention speech

The unannounced speech by the TV host hit back at Republican criticism of "childless cat ladies".

‘I never worked for the Russians’ - punished by Kyiv for being a collaborator

Almost 2,000 people have been convicted of collaborating with Russia under a new Ukrainian law.

Divers find five bodies in wreck of Sicily yacht

The grim discoveries come two days after the Bayesian sank in a freak storm off Sicily.

Taylor Swift says she felt ‘fear’ over Vienna attack threat

The US pop star cancelled three concerts in Austria after an alleged suicide attack plot was uncovered.

One half of world-famous gay penguin couple dies

Sphen and his partner Magic shot to global stardom in 2018 when they fell in love at a Sydney aquarium.

I'll let councils decide on local 20mph limits, says transport secretary

The transport secretary says local communities should have the power to decide on road calming schemes.

Cate Blanchett to return to stage after six years

The actress will star in Chekhov's The Seagull, which will also feature Strike actor Tom Burke.

Watch: Trump speaks behind bullet-proof glass at rally

Trump was in North Carolina, at his first outdoor rally since an attempted assassination.

Starbucks new boss under fire for 1,000 mile commute

Job offer which allows new CEO to commute to and from work on corporate jet sparked criticism.

Child benefit claims rise after income rule change

The number of new claims rose in April, after a rule change on how much parents can earn and still be eligible.

Pro-Palestinian delegates denied Democratic convention speaking slot

Delegates from the Uncommitted National Movement said the decision by Democratic Party leaders was "unacceptable".

Oprah Winfrey alludes to JD Vance's 'childless cat lady' jibe

Oprah Winfrey spoke about racism, sexism, and income inequality as she addressed the DNC.

Democrats try to turn tables on one of their biggest weaknesses

Democrats used the convention to try to flip the script on Republican criticism of their immigration policies.

What young Democrats want Harris to do if she wins

Her Gen Z supporters say the economy, abortion rights and a Gaza ceasefire are among their priorities.

Three things the Democrats have avoided so far at the convention

What they have tried to avoid says as much about their weaknesses as what they choose to highlight, writes Anthony Zurcher.

A simple guide to the US 2024 presidential election

Trying to understand it for the first time or need a refresher? This guide can help.

‘That little devil is filming’: Director’s time with the Taliban

Ibrahim Nash’at succeeded in getting permission to film with the Taliban for a year.

The Papers: 'Divers bring bodies ashore' and 'jobs tax looms'

The recovery of bodies from the superyacht wreck off Sicily dominates Thursday's front pages.

Rape investigations held up as police get moved to football duty, says watchdog

Report finds officers are having to cancel appointments with victims and delay making arrests.

LGBT Indians demand end to 'discriminatory' ban on blood donation

Many countries have lifted bans on blood donations by LGBT people, but India hasn't yet.

Sherwood writer calls for more working-class people in TV

He says class should be considered as a diversity metric as much as other forms of representation.

Who benefits from Lesotho’s ‘white gold’?

While Lesotho sells water to South Africa some near a huge dam have to use an unreliable spring.

What might have caused Sicily yacht to sink

As the rescue operation continues off the Italian coast, questions remain as to why the superyacht sank.

How can I help my kids through exam results day?

As results days loom, we asked an expert and a family who've been through it for their top tips.

How does the GCSE grading system work?

The 9-1 grading system for GCSEs began in 2017 in England.

'I got no GCSEs and cleaned pubs - now I'm a uni lecturer'

As students receive their exam results, Anna Champneys shares advice she would give her younger self.

What are BTecs and how are they graded?

Hundreds of thousands of students do vocational qualifications known as BTecs every year.

Mum and three children who died in fire named

A 29-year-old woman, two girls aged one and nine, and a five-year-old boy died after the Bradford fire.

Plan approved for £15m Ken Dodd Happiness Centre

The new centre will give the comedy legend's archive a permanent home in his home city of Liverpool.

Man killed by XL bully dog in his own home

The man was found dead in his home in Lancashire and the dog was later destroyed by police.

McDonald's to open 200 new restaurants in growth drive

'Drive to' sites - with a small seating area and no drive-through - will be tested as part of the offer.

Russian priests bless fire trucks as huge blaze continues after Ukraine attack

More than 500 firefighters have been tackling the giant blaze at a fuel depot sparked by a Ukrainian attack.

Father-of-three jailed for Southport police van attack

Luke Moran's assault left an officer fearing for their life as he tried to smash a van window during the Southport riots.

Wrong junior winner announced at World Pipe Band Championships

A review found Lochgelly High School was wrongly named the winner in a junior category at the championships in Glasgow.

Mum and three children who died in fire named

A 29-year-old woman, two girls aged one and nine, and a five-year-old boy died after the Bradford fire.

Thousands of students to get GCSE results

As with A-level results, it is expected the number of top grades may fall compared to 2023.

I still have flashbacks from explosion that wrecked my home

Marie McDowall has been displaced from her home for nearly three years following a devastating gas blast.

GCSE results day arrives for Covid lockdown pupils

Results will be released on Thursday and are expected to match the drop in top grades at A-level.

Bayesian sinking: The key questions for investigators

Experts tell the BBC that investigators will be asking if a freak weather event sank the Bayesian.

BBC sacks One Show presenter Jermaine Jenas after complaints

The former footballer is taken off air at Match of the Day and the One Show.

Harris speech to provide finale to Democratic convention on day four

The vice-president's' speech will share the story of her upbringing and contrast her vision for America to the one offered by Trump.

Hunt for two dogs suspected of killing man

Two dogs have been seized but two more American bulldog types are being sought by police.

Andrew Tate put under house arrest as new charges emerge

The controversial influencer appeared in court in Romania as prosecutors investigate new allegations.

First drug to slow Alzheimer’s too costly for NHS

Health assessment body NICE says the benefits “are too small to justify the costs”.

Edinburgh backs introduction of new 'tourist tax'

Visitors would be charged an additional levy on top of their hotel bill to stay in the city if plans are approved.

Suspect in woman's stabbing placed under Mental Health Act

Alberta Obinim, 43, died in the attack in Manchester on Sunday while two others were seriously injured.

World's second-largest diamond found in Botswana

A 2,492-carat stone has been unearthed, in the biggest find since the Cullinan diamond in 1905.

Four takeaways from 2024's GCSE results

These students were in Year 7 during the first Covid lockdowns - and regional disparities have grown.

As the GCSE pass rate falls, how to appeal or resit?

The GCSE pass rate is down for the third year running across England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Team GB archer celebrates GCSEs - despite failing PE

The Olympian says she passed all of her GCSEs apart from PE, "ironically".

Siblings, 10 and 13, enjoy GCSE and A-level success

Ariel, 10, and her brother Elias, 13, are awarded top grades.

'Don't panic': What to do if you don't get the GCSE grades you want

BBC journalist Terel Edmunds goes through the options available if your GCSEs didn't go as planned.

Great-grandad, 73, passes his English GCSE exam

Danny Davey, a retired roofer from Ipswich, says it is never too late to surprise yourself.

Ukrainian who spoke no English celebrates GCSEs

Roman's mum says she is proud of his achievements after they were displaced by war two years ago.

'UK's greatest tech entrepreneur' - tributes paid to Mike Lynch

A leading figure in the UK tech scene, he died shortly after winning a legal battle in the US.

How worried should we be about mpox?

As a global emergency is declared over mpox, our health and science correspondent assesses the threat.

How many people cross the Channel in small boats?

Keir Starmer has said the UK will "smash the gangs" bringing people to the UK in small boats.

‘I never worked for the Russians’ - punished by Kyiv for being a collaborator

Almost 2,000 people have been convicted of collaborating with Russia under a new Ukrainian law.

The 'blended' family behind Kamala Harris

Take a look at the husband, step-children and others supporting Kamala Harris in her White House bid.

'Coach Walz' rallies Democrats with personal pitch to middle America

The running mate of Kamala Harris told the Democratic convention that voters should back "the right team" and "turn the page on Donald Trump".

'That’s my dad': Gus Walz gives tearful reaction to father's speech

Tim Walz said it was the honour of his life to be selected as Kamala Harris's running mate, as he addressed crowds at the DNC.

Night three at the DNC: Oprah, 'cat ladies' and coach Walz

The Democratic National Convention's third night in Chicago featured a folksy 'coach' Tim Walz, Oprah Winfrey and a host of other big names.

Democrats try to turn tables on one of their biggest weaknesses

Democrats used the convention to try to flip the script on Republican criticism of their immigration policies.

UK's oldest rollercoaster closed after 'crunch'

Visitor Micah Fagan said: "I heard an enormous crunch of wood splitting...it didn’t sound right."

Worker's engagement ring found in customer's shopping bag

Morganne Moreno says she feels 'super lucky' after the customer found the ring amongst their shopping.

Drop in people coming to UK to work in NHS and social care

The decline comes after the former Conservative government introduced restrictions on foreign workers and their families in an effort to slash overall immigration.

Man, 81, charged after city centre protest

Keith Edwards, from The Meadows, is due to appear at Nottingham Magistrates' Court on 6 September.

Starbucks boss under fire for 1,000-mile commute by corporate jet

Job offer which allows new CEO to commute to and from work on corporate jet sparked criticism.

Dad hacks database to fake death and avoid child support pay

The man, from Kentucky, has been jailed for what a judge in the US called his "cynical" actions.

New Order cancel gig amid weather warning

The organisers say customers will automatically receive a refund.

BBC sacks MOTD & One Show's Jenas after complaints

The former footballer is taken off air at Match of the Day and the One Show.

Man, 81, charged after city centre protest

Keith Edwards, from The Meadows, is due to appear at Nottingham Magistrates' Court on 6 September.

Martin McCauley in court over 1982 Lurgan bombing

Three RUC officers in an unmarked police car were killed in the blast at Kinnego Embankment.

Edinburgh backs introduction of new 'tourist tax'

Visitors would be charged an additional levy on top of their hotel bill to stay in the city if plans are approved.

Woman accused of killing baby after crash into pram

Mabli Cariad Hall died in hospital four days after a car hit her pram outside Withybush Hospital.

Bournemouth Echo

'It will completely destroy everything and bring us back a year and a half'

A Ferndown pub has claimed it is losing £5,000 a week due to the construction of a cycle lane outside its pub.

'Eco electric' homes to be showed off amid handing over £1.2m to council

Housebuilder Redrow has launched a sales cabin at its new energy efficient Royal Oaks development in Gillingham.

Old painting from early 1600s to be auctioned

An old painting by Neapolitan artist Francesco di Rosa of St Catherine of Alexandria will be put on display before being auctioned off.

Castle set to open doors to overnight stays for first time in 500-year history

Residents may be allowed to stay in Brownsea Castle for the first time in its 500-year history.

Bar ordered to close earlier after incidents of violence and disorder

A bar in Highcliffe will be forced to slash its opening hours following incidents of violence, disorder and anti-social behaviour.

New Mauritian and Indian restaurant opens in Bournemouth

A new Mauritian and Indian restaurant was opened in Winton by Bournemouth's deputy town mayor.

Big plans for building destroyed by fire four years ago

Developers have unveiled big plans to replace a fire-torn building in Bournemouth town centre.

Tip to close from early next week for major changes

A tip will close in a week’s time as part of a major shake-up to the way it is run.

In The Dock: Man found with hacksaw and pliers among the cases

The following cases were heard at Poole Magistrates' Court:

WHSmith to be demolished in January

A former WHSmith is to be demolished in January as part of major plans to regenerate a town centre.

New summer carnival to launch this weekend

A new summer carnival and parade is set to take place in Boscombe this weekend for two days of fun, creativity and community spirit.

'The seven (free) wonders of BCP'

I wrote the following from a wish to celebrate rather than, as seems to be more usual, denigrate our local area:

Beauty clinic to host launch of luxury skincare brand

A Poole beauty and healthcare clinic will be hosting the launch of luxury skincare brand, Amanda Caroline.

6 pets from RSPCA Dorset who are on the lookout for their forever homes

The RSPCA Ashley Heath Animal Centre in Ringwood, Dorset has many pets, such as cats and dogs, looking for new homes

Olivier Award-nominated play 'The Shark Is Broken' comes to Poole

A play inspired by the making of the film 'Jaws' is coming to Poole.

Folk music group set for Poole performance in September

Folk music group Tarren will be performing at Lighthouse Poole in September.

Man charged with attempted murder after a nine-year-old girl stabbed

28-year-old Jordan Wilkes from Christchurch has been charged with attempted murder and possession of an offensive weapon.

No end in sight for temporary traffic lights causing havoc

NO date can be given for when temporary traffic lights that are causing long delays will be completed.

Search underway to locate 12 year old who has gone missing in Bournemouth

A SEARCH is underway for a 12-year-old boy who has gone missing in Bournemouth.

Man arrested after motorcyclist seriously injured in crash

The motorcyclist was rushed to hospital with serious injuries after being involved in a two-vehicle crash.

Two men come forward after bottling outside bar

TWO MEN have come forward to police after a man in his 20s was bottled outside a Bournemouth bar.

PICTURES: ‘Chained orcas’ storm TUI store protesting against marine parks

PROTESTERS dressed as orcas and wrapped in chains stormed Bournemouth’s latest TUI store calling for the travel agent to cut ties with SeaWorld.

PICTURES: GCSE results day across BCP and Dorset

Thousands of pupils across Dorset and the New Forest collected their GCSE results on Thursday.

Travellers set up camp 'next to private £700k homes’

TRAVELLERS have set up camp at a nature reserve in Longham.

Search for four men after boat taken from dock multiple times

AN investigation has been launched after a boat was taken from its dock multiple times without the owner’s consent.

Road closed after car crashes into lamppost

Dorset Police were alerted to a crash on Wyke Road at around 9am this morning (August 3).

Police helicopter deployed after car chase through Dorset

A vehicle allegedly failed to stop for officers on August 21 at around 1.30pm.

Cuts to Dorset and Wiltshire fire service 'will put public safety at risk'

THE Fire Brigades Union has warned that plans to cut Dorset and Wiltshire fire and rescue service will "put homes, communities and public safety at risk".

Bank building transformed by restaurant chain ahead of opening

A RESTAURANT chain will unveil its brand-new branch in Lymington next week.

People sleeping in tents on the beach slapped with eviction notices

EVICTION notices have been issued to people sleeping in tents on the beach.

Bus crashes with scaffolding in town centre

A BUS has crashed with scaffolding in Bournemouth town centre.

Missing 12-year-old boy found safe and well

A 12-YEAR-OLD boy who was reported missing has been found safe and well.

Lilliput Sailing Club holds 68th annual regatta

LILLIPUT sailing club held its 68th annual regatta in 'ideal sailing conditions'.

Student who missed school due to chronic fatigue passes all his GCSEs

A pupil who missed most the majority of his school days due to an illness has passed all of his subjects.

Person rescued from bog by firefighters in Studland

Southwestern Ambulance Service also attended the incident to check over the patient.

GCSE results day 2024: Live updates across BCP

Students across BCP and Dorset are collecting their GCSE results today

Rare King Charles 50p coin sells for £153 on eBay - how to tell if you have one

A King Charles III 50p coin sold on eBay for more than £153 recently - find out if you have one worth that much in your loose change.

GCSE results day freebies and discounts at TGI Friday's, Bella Italia and more

From Bill's to Nando's, here are the places students can get free and discounted food on GCSE results day 2024.

I'm a vet: This 'simple' but 'overlooked' at-home routine could save you £700

From dental care to paw checks, vet Rebecca MacMillan has rounded up some top tips that all conscientious owners should follow.

Can money with the late Queen Elizabeth II's portrait on still be used in the UK?

Coins and notes now have King Charles III’s portrait on but can you still use old money with the late Queen Elizabeth II's face on?

Formula 1

WEEKEND WARM-UP: Verstappen chasing a fourth straight win at home, but McLaren and Mercedes look strong as F1 returns

F1 is back after the summer break, with the teams and drivers ready and raring to go racing in Zandvoort.

Sainz says ‘trust and belief’ from Williams convinced him to sign as he confirms Red Bull and Mercedes talks

Carlos Sainz headed into the summer break with a weight off his mind after committing his future to Williams on a multi-year deal – with Sainz revealing the factors that led to him signing on the dotted line for the Grove team.

Norris hoping upgrades can lift McLaren further in battle with Red Bull as he aims to iron out ‘little mistakes’

Lando Norris is optimistic that McLaren can move closer to Red Bull during the Dutch Grand Prix weekend as the team prepare to run upgrades on the MCL38, with the Briton hopeful that the squad can be “very strong” going forward if they improve in certain areas.

FIA Thursday press conference – Netherlands

The drivers face the press ahead of the 2024 Dutch Grand Prix weekend from Zandvoort.

Gasly backs ‘positive changes’ at Alpine as he explains what ‘extremely motivated’ new Team Principal Oakes can bring

Pierre Gasly is optimistic that the arrival of Alpine’s new Team Principal Oliver Oakes can help to “push the team forward”, with Oakes set for his first race weekend in the role at the Dutch Grand Prix.

Bottas now has ‘clear direction’ over F1 future with driver market ‘more straightforward’ after Sainz’s Williams deal

Valtteri Bottas has described news of Carlos Sainz’s move to Williams for the 2025 season as “one big piece of the puzzle” being settled in terms of F1’s driver market, with the Finn making clear that continuing at Kick Sauber is “where I want to be”.

‘In my mind, it’s still a win’ – Russell details factors behind Spa disqualification and shares what Mercedes have learned

George Russell has opened up on the heartache of being disqualified from the Belgian Grand Prix, with the Mercedes driver losing what would have gone down as a third F1 race win due to an underweight car.

'If I get the results, I stay in the family' – Ricciardo's F1 future 'up to me' as he offers verdict on potential Lawson promotion

Daniel Ricciardo has insisted he plans to remain part of the Red Bull family for the upcoming seasons after an up and down year season, with the Australian also admitting that junior driver Liam Lawson deserves a spot in F1.

DUTCH GRAND PRIX – Read the all-new digital race programme here

Check out the digital race programme for this weekend's Formula 1 Heineken Dutch Grand Prix 2024 in Zandvoort.

Verstappen expecting his toughest Dutch Grand Prix yet as he assesses challenge posed by ‘many more teams’

Max Verstappen has admitted that he is feeling less certain about his prospects of winning the Dutch Grand Prix than during F1’s last visit to Zandvoort 12 months ago, with “many more teams” now in with a chance of taking victory.

AS IT HAPPENED: Follow all the build-up ahead of the Dutch Grand Prix weekend

Live coverage of all the build-up ahead of the 2024 Dutch Grand Prix weekend in Zandvoort.

BETTING GUIDE: Who are the favourites as F1 returns to action in Zandvoort?

With the summer break now over, the F1 teams and drivers are raring to go again as the season resumes at the Dutch Grand Prix. Max Verstappen has claimed victory in his home event since its return to the calendar in 2021, but do the odds favour the Red Bull driver this time around, or will his rivals have the upper hand?

‘We believe we can turn it round’ – Marko explains why Red Bull have stuck with Perez and how they are helping him

Helmut Marko has clarified why Red Bull committed to Sergio Perez in spite of his underwhelming performances this season that have seen him struggle in comparison to his team mate.

NEED TO KNOW: The most important facts, stats and trivia ahead of the 2024 Dutch Grand Prix

After embarking on its traditional summer break, Formula 1 is back in action with the Dutch Grand Prix kicking off the second half of the season. Ahead of the event, Need to Know is your all-in-one guide with stats, trivia, insight and much more. You can also see how fans have voted using our F1 Play predictor game.

Windows Central

"It would have ROCKED!": Today I learned a Halo dev prototyped an Alien crossover — here's what it looked like

Ever wanted to see Halo's Master Chief fight an Alien Xenomorph? As it turns out, a crossover may have been in the works many years ago.

Xbox reveals a new accessibility-focused Adaptive Joystick — and players can now 3D print their own thumbstick toppers

The new Xbox Adaptive Joystick is coming in early 2025, while players can now 3D print their own thumbstick toppers for the existing Adaptive Controller.

Is Masters of Albion a Fable game? Peter Molyneux claims "Albion can't be copyrighted" to dodge Microsoft legal complications, says it's in the same universe

Peter Molyneux's new game is Masters of Albion, and that title has everyone wondering if it's a Fable game. But is it? Here's what the developer had to say on the matter.

Black Myth: Wukong goes ape with well over 2 million players at launch, surpassing Palworld as the second most-played Steam game ever released

Game Science's highly anticipated ARPG Black Myth: Wukong has enjoyed an explosive launch, with the game's Steam player count rocketing past the 2 million milestone.

Microsoft confirms Windows Recall is still coming, announces new public testing date

Windows Recall is still on track to enter public testing this year, and the first Windows 11 preview builds with Recall will begin rolling out to Insiders in October.

Phil Spencer: "We have more Xbox console players than ever," as fans question Microsoft's multi-platform strategy

Xbox CEO Phil Spencer recently conducted an interview to discuss the Xbox platform and the future fans can expect from Microsoft, as the mood on social media continues to deteriorate.

God of War Ragnarök is already on sale before it hits Windows PC — act fast and save money

PlayStation's God of War Ragnarök is coming to Windows PC, with a nifty preorder sale ahead of launch.

Apple Podcasts is no longer behind the tech giant's walled garden

Apple Podcasts is now available on the web. The service is accessible on Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge, Mozilla Firefox, and other modern browsers.

How to install Virtualbox on Windows 11 for free virtual machines

Oracle's Virtualbox is one of the most popular ways to create virtual machines, so here's how to take your first steps.

Why buy a full-size desktop when one of our favorite mini PCs is so cheap?

Geekom's XT12 Pro mini PC is what I'd consider a value-conscious buy on any day, but this deal through Windows Central can knock a further $100 off the price, bringing it down to $599. Just add a monitor and some accessories for a great desktop setup.

AMD promises to fix (some) Ryzen 9000 gaming woes with the next major Windows 11 update

AMD just shared a post explaining why reviewers and the chipmaker saw different benchmark results when testing Ryzen 9000 CPUs. The good news is that the chips should receive a performance improvement in certain setups.

NVIDIA GeForce Now gets Xbox sign-in for cross progression and achievements, Black Myth: Wukong in tow

Black Myth: Wukong, Civilization VI, and a demo of Final Fantasy XVI are only a few of the new games and experiences on the way to NVIDIA GeForce now this week. NVIDIA also announced that its service now supports Xbox automatic sign-in.

Amazon cloud boss echoes NVIDIA CEO's of coding being dead in the water with the rapid prevalence of AI sentiments: "If you go forward 24 months from now, it's possible that most developers are not coding"

Amazon Web Services CEO Matt Garman predicts a paradigm shift in coding as a career with the prevalence of AI, prompting developers to stop coding in the foreseeable future. They might need to upskill in the field to gain new skills.

McAfee debuts 'the world's first automatic' Deepfake Detector exclusively to select Lenovo AI PCs: "No more wondering, is this Warren Buffet investment scheme legitimate"

McAfee recently unveiled its AI-powered Deepfake Detector, shipping exclusively to Lenovo's Copilot+ PCs with dedicated neural processing units (NPUs) to help users identify AI scams and deepfakes.

Our favorite Start menu replacement finally supports Windows 11 on ARM and runs on my Surface Pro, fixing Microsoft's failures

Stardock developers have unveiled Start11 v2, designed to replace the stock Start menu on Windows 11. Finally, it now offers native support for ARM64 for Windows on Arm devices.

Laffgaff

Machu Picchu is located in which country?

Peru.

Margarine Removal

If we remove all of the margarine on Earth ... The world will be a butter place.

Itsfoss

FOSS Weekly #24.34: Deepin 23, Archcraft Experience, Linux in Schools and More

Linux is being used successfully for more than a decade in this state's schools. That's inspiring.