BBC News
Government shutdown looms as Trump-backed bill fails to pass House
Dozens of Republicans defied Trump and joined Democrats to reject a revised spending bill. Here are five things to know ahead of Friday’s shutdown deadline.
Roadmap to fix England's potholes revealed
Local authorities across England will be given a share of £1.6bn to fix potholes and maintain roads.
Lord Mandelson expected to be named as UK ambassador to US
The former minister and life peer will replace Dame Karen Pierce in early 2025.
Paul and Ringo get back together at London gig
Fans are treated to an appearance by The Beatles drummer during the last night of the Got Back tour.
Christmas getaway: How to avoid the queues
Some 14 million drivers are expected to hit the road in the last weekend before Christmas, according to the RAC.
Zoe Ball to host her final Radio 2 breakfast show
Ball says it's time "to step away from the very early mornings and focus on family" after six years.
Don't underestimate North Korean troops in Russia, ex-soldiers tell BBC
Army defectors say units sent to fight against Ukraine will have high morale but won't be battle hardened.
Defendants face judgement for actions that led to beheading of French teacher
Eight people accused of abetting the jihadist murder of Samuel Paty will learn their fate in a Paris court.
Hundreds attend vigils after killing of children's nurse
The nurse was found with a serious head injury in Banbridge on Saturday and later died.
Soldier-spies in Myanmar help pro-democracy rebels make crucial gains
Leaked intelligence from military spies is helping turn the civil war in the resistance’s favour, BBC finds.
Musk flexes influence over Congress in shutdown drama
Musk and Trump quickly derailed a stopgap spending bill, showing their power before the president-elect even takes office.
The Papers: 'Hope after horror' and Labour 'crashing the economy'
Gisèle Pelicot's bravery is honoured on many front pages, while the growth outlook also makes headlines.
Weekly quiz: Which Christmas dinner ingredient went up in price?
How closely have you been paying attention to what's been going on in the world over the past seven days?
Marianne Jean-Baptiste on Oscars buzz for playing 'difficult' woman
The British actress has reunited with Mike Leigh for a film that could score her an Oscar nomination.
'There are no barriers': Youngsters explain what blind Strictly winner means to them
Chris McCausland answers questions from young visually impaired people on Newsround.
Ancient landmarks closed off to walkers, campaigners say
They include a neolithic burial mound in Wiltshire and an Iron Age hill fort on the edge of Dartmoor.
Watch BBC's Steve Rosenberg challenge Putin on his 25 years in power in Russia
Russian President Vladimir Putin was speaking at an annual end-of-year press conference.
Kate and William reveal poignant Christmas card
The royal couple use a photo from a video in which Catherine announced the end of her chemotherapy.
Doctor Who writer gets TV ideas brushing his teeth
The screenwriter says he has thought of entire shows while brushing his teeth in the morning.
India court resolves baby naming dispute, unites couple seeking divorce
A local court gave the couple a list of names to choose from, ending the three-year-long dispute.
Brothers charged over airport fight with police
Two men are charged after an incident at Manchester Airport, but no officers will face charges.
Warning signs for Trump as Republican rebels defiant
Trump has shown he can kill legislation, but can he rally the support to get his proposals over the finish line?
'AI deepfake romance scam duped me out of £17k'
Nikki MacLeod believed she was sending money to a real woman whom she was in a relationship with.
Sue Gray among 30 new Labour peers appointed to House of Lords
Sue Gray will join the Houe of Lords two months after she left her role as the PM's chief of staff.
Malaysia approves new search for flight MH370, 10 years after it disappeared
The Boeing 777 carrying 239 people vanished 10 years ago in one of aviation's greatest mysteries.
Countdown crowns first female winner since 1998
Fiona Wood, from Kinross, won after correctly identifying "lassitude" as the final conundrum.
Patients with high need should get own GP, says government
Surgeries will be financially rewarded if patients with long term conditions see the same GP each time.
Syria's rebel leaders say they've broken with their jihadist past - can they be trusted?
The rebel offensive that ended Bashar al-Assad's 24-year rule has left Syria facing an uncertain future
Don't underestimate North Korean troops in Russia, ex-soldiers tell BBC
Army defectors say units sent to fight against Ukraine will have high morale but won't be battle hardened.
Myanmar military riddled with soldiers betraying their colleagues
Leaked intelligence from military spies is helping turn the civil war in the resistance’s favour, BBC finds.
'Danger of IS resurgence has doubled' - Syria's Kurds warn of group's comeback
Kurdish forces say there's a real threat IS militants will try to break out comrades held in their jails in the north east.
Peter Mandelson: How the 'Prince of Darkness' became His Excellency
Lord Mandelson - set to be the UK's ambassador to the US - revels in his image as a behind-the-scenes fixer.
What is a US government shutdown and who does it affect?
Here's how the US got to the brink of yet another funding lapse and what it means for Americans - and Trump.
How to avoid disruption during this year's Christmas getaway
Some 14 million drivers are expected to hit the road in the last weekend before Christmas, according to the RAC.
Dominique Pelicot's double life: Who is the man who plotted his wife's mass rape?
The ex-husband - who is under investigation for other attacks - has a divided personality, a doctor finds.
Weekly quiz: Which Christmas dinner ingredient went up in price?
How closely have you been paying attention to what's been going on in the world over the past seven days?
Illegal nail bar jobs offered despite clampdown, BBC finds
Businesses were fined a total of £4m following a crackdown on people working illegally.
Zoe Ball in tears at son Woody's last show message
Zoe Ball gets tearful after a surprise message from her son on her last Radio 2 Breakfast show.
Amateur footballer in court charged with murdering goalkeeper
Mckenzie Dicicco, 22, is charged with murder and affray following the death of James Hitchcock.
Call for extension to winter fuel payment deadline
The Lib Dems warn tens of thousands of pensioners risk missing Saturday's deadline to get help with energy costs.
Paul and Ringo get back together at London gig
Fans are treated to an appearance by The Beatles drummer during the last night of the Got Back tour.
Bournemouth Echo
Car park chaos at Bournemouth hospital leaves motorists angry
Traffic chaos at Royal Bournemouth Hospital car park is angering motorists who are waiting over an hour to leave.
Popular tourist attraction buys field from council to accommodate cars
A museum has bought a field from a council to accommodate a high number of cars that visit it during the summer.
Dorset's 'largest' caravan retailer 'to close down'
Dorset's self-proclaimed largest caravan retailer is reportedly set to close before Christmas, staff have said.
New cinema operator to take on Tower Park Cineworld site
A new cinema operator has already snatched up the soon-to-be shut Cineworld at Tower Park.
Police patrols to target violence against women and girls
Police officers will be running dedicated operations and patrols to target violence against women and girls.
‘Vital mission’ to protect women after seafront killer convicted
THE POLICE have said it is a “vital mission” to protect women and girls after a killer was convicted of murdering and attempting to murder two friends on the seafront.
In The Dock: Woman caught lying about car theft to insurance company
The following cases were heard at Poole Magistrates' Court:
WATCH: Heart-warming tribute to coach killed in seafront murder
A heart-warming tribute has been paid to the head coach of an indoor football club who was murdered on a Bournemouth beach.
South Coast Karting invest £200,000 into new track and karts
George Lovell found a love for motorsport at the age of eight along with his dad who decided to create South Coast Karting.
International superstar to come to Bournemouth for 2025 tour
International superstar Sean Paul will be performing in Bournemouth in 2025 for his UK tour.
Woman charged after woman 'beaten up' in supermarket car park
A woman has been charged after an alleged attack in a Sainsbury’s car park.
Petition demanding protection for harbour edges closer to goal
A petition calling for the environmental protections of the “toilet bowl” Christchurch Harbour is edging close to 2,000 signatures.
More people injured in e-scooter crashes in Dorset
More people were injured by e-scooter collisions in Dorset last year, new figures show.
Employer NI rise is 'of greatest concern' to councils, Vikki Slade says
A rise to employer national insurance contributions “is of greatest concern” to councils which contract adult social care providers, the Liberal Democrats’ local government spokeswoman has warned.
Safe hub to be launched in Bournemouth town centre
A safe hub will be launched in Bournemouth town centre alongside several dedicated ‘safe spaces’ in the town.
Radio mast bid among latest applications in Dorset
An extra antenna is being requested for a telecoms mast near Corfe Castle to allow the broadcast of a DAB community radio in the area.
Bake Off star visits care home to taste mince pies
A Great British Bake Off star visited a Dorset care home to taste test mince pies and enjoy Christmas carols with the residents
Woman, 90, honoured with BBC Unsung Hero award for inspiring young sailors
A 90-year-old from Lymington has been made a winner of the BBC’s Unsung Hero award for ‘inspiring generations of young sailors’ for four decades.
Man charged after staff member hospitalised in Bournemouth shop
A store manager in Bournemouth was hospitalised after being assaulted during a disturbance at their shop.
Sunseeker staff temporarily laid off days before Christmas
"Up to 250" staff at Sunseeker have been temporarily laid off this Christmas.
Search and rescue teams deployed to search for missing man after car found
Mark Street, 51 was last seen leaving the Holt area at around 6pm on December 18 in a blue Mercedes C220.
Two horses die after collision with car on A350
Two horses sadly died after being involved in a collision with a car on the A350 at Sturminster Marshall.
Man 'hit on the back of his head' in assault
A man was hit on the back of the head during an assault in Bournemouth.
Two women steal hundreds of pounds worth of stock from Boots
Officers are issuing CCTV images of two women they would like to identify as they investigate thefts from a store in Christchurch.
Man banned from owning dogs for five years following dog's death
At around 6.10pm on Tuesday 30 July 2024, Dorset Police received a report for a member of the public concerned with the welfare of an animal in Tyneham Close in Wareham.
Woman sexually assaulted in car park behind pub
A woman said she was sexually assaulted in a car park behind a pub.
Dorset Police celebrate anniversary of highly talented dog section
In December 2023, digital detection dogs were first introduced after going through six weeks of police training.
Ambulance service urges public to reserve 999 for emergencies this Christmas
The ambulance service has asked the public to use its services responsibly this Christmas to support people in medical emergencies.
RECAP: Two horses die and road closed after crash
Road is closed after two horses were killed in a collision.
Motorcycle stolen from home in the New Forest
A motorcycle has been stolen from a home in the New Forest following reports of a burglary
'No one at BCP Council is about to be dismissed'
MAY I assure your readers, and the staff of BCP, that no one is about to be dismissed, and that the council is not planning to follow P&O’s appalling conduct in 2022, in sacking 800 staff in order to cut costs.
Liam Payne, Dave Myers and Maggie Smith among those lost in 2024
Liam Payne, Michael Mosley, Dave Myers and Maggie Smith were among the celebrities we lost in 2024
King Charles' cancer treatment ‘to continue into next year’
Buckingham Palace sources said that “his treatment has been moving in a positive direction"
Formula 1
Our writers pick their best drivers and favourite stories from 2024 – and who needs to up their game in 2025
With the dust settling on an action-packed 2024 F1 season, now is the perfect time to take a look back at what proved to be a thrilling and memorable 24-round campaign. From who performed best to what made them laugh the most – and which names need to do better in 2025 – we asked our writers Lawrence Barretto, Chris Medland, Will Buxton, David Tremayne and Alex Jacques to give us their take on all of the burning questions about the season gone by…
THE STRATEGIST: Could Norris have beaten Verstappen to the title had he maximised every race in 2024?
For each of the Grands Prix, former Aston Martin strategist Bernie Collins has looked at what was theoretically possible for both drivers, given the pace of their respective cars, to see whether the championship could have gone the other way...
END OF YEAR REPORT: Aston Martin – A season below expectations but with key high-profile arrivals
By Aston Martin’s own admissions, 2024 fell significantly short of their expectations. While the season before had brought podium-scoring exploits, this year the on-track performances failed to sparkle on a regular basis. In the end that would result in a relative no man’s land of P5 in the constructors’ – 374 points behind fourth-placed Mercedes. That said, the continued work behind the scenes and key personnel additions – including one particularly high-profile individual – means this is still one of the teams to watch in the months and years to come. Here is their end of year report…
ANALYSIS: The key factor that saw ‘raw talent’ Hadjar handed his shot with RB – and what it means for ‘bridesmaid’ Tsunoda
Isack Hadjar has become the final piece of the 2025 driver market puzzle after agreeing a deal to step up from F2 and race for RB. Why did the Red Bull family choose him – and what does it mean for his team mate Yuki Tsunoda?
Excited Lawson reacts to Red Bull promotion as he details discussions with Horner and outlines his goal
Liam Lawson has been sharing his reaction to the news that he will become a Red Bull driver in 2025, with the New Zealander giving an insight into how he found out about his promotion as well as what his goal will be as he prepares to go up against Max Verstappen.
Hadjar signs for RB as he takes final seat on 2025 F1 grid
Isack Hadjar will make his Formula 1 debut in 2025 and takes the final seat on the grid after agreeing a deal to become Yuki Tsunoda’s team mate at RB.
Windows Central
Capcom has revealed new framerate and resolution improvements coming to Monster Hunter Wilds's launch, along with weapon gameplay changes and more
Capcom has a hosted Community Update video on gameplay and graphical improvements coming to Monster Hunter Wilds at launch day.
Can Microsoft convince gamers to upgrade to Windows 11?
A new blog post from Microsoft argues that Windows 11 is the best version of Windows for gaming. The question is if the OS has enough features to get people to upgrade or purchase a new PC.
Is Google copying Microsoft's security playbook? Chrome might get a new AI-powered tool to detect scams
The latest Google Chrome Canary update ships with a new "Client Side Detection Brand and Intent for Scam Detection"
Helldivers 2 developers embrace holiday spirit of giving — some Killzone crossover content will now be entirely free
Arrowhead Game Studios is making some changes to its Killzone crossover event after player feedback indicated the items were too expensive.
Does AMD's new "AFMF 2" increase FPS in Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 on ROG Ally?
AMD's Fluid Motion Frames 2 provides smoother gameplay on my ASUS ROG Ally with the correct settings and tweaks.
Can a pair of earbuds really make me ditch my gaming headset?
I went hands on with the SteelSeries Arctis GameBuds and they exceeded my expectations as well as replacing my gaming headset.
How to get started with Windows Recall on Windows 11
These instructions are for Windows 11 version 24H2. They can help you familiarize yourself with the Windows Recall app and learn how to search and manage settings.
Windows Central Game Awards 2024 — Showcasing the best Xbox and PC games of the year
It's that time of year again. Windows Central's team comes together to showcase our favorite games of the past year across Xbox and Windows PC.
Older games dominate Steam as 85% of playtime in 2024 was spent on titles released before this year
Steam Replay revealed that only 15% of playtime on the platform was spent on games released in 2024, but that's actually an increase from last year.
OpenAI's Sam Altman says AGI is becoming a "less useful term" with o1 — "astonishing cognitive capabilities" predicted before 2026
Sam Altman claims the term is increasingly becoming less useful. He predicts AI systems that "can do truly astonishing cognitive tasks" by the end of 2025.
The next CODMas event is live in Black Ops 6, and its brought Stakeout 24/7 back for the festivities
Call of Duty's second holiday event, Archie's Festival Frenzy, kicks off today alongside the return of the Stakeout 24/7 playlist.
Laffgaff
Who played Poison Ivy in the 1997 film Batman and Robin?
Uma Thurman.
Bankrupt Lion Tamer
My brother was a lion tamer. When he went bankrupt they took almost everything. But at least he still has his pride.