The News - Sunday, 29 December 2024

BBC News

Thousands protest in Georgia ahead of political showdown

The new president is set to be inaugurated on Sunday, but the current president is refusing to step down.

Lost city found by accident and rhino IVF breakthrough: 2024's scientific wins

Moments to celebrate included a solar eclipse seen by millions and a lost city discovered by accident.

UK and EU look to 2025 for reset, but with little room for trade-offs

Sir Keir Starmer is invited to an EU summit in February - the first of its type since the Brexit negotiations.

Quiz of the Year, Part 4: Why did 100 couples all say 'I do' together?

Test your memory of 2024 in the last part of our quiz. What happened from October to December?

Growth of women in power grinds to near-halt in a mega-election year

Out of 46 countries where elections were held, nearly two-thirds saw numbers of women elected fall - BBC finds.

Toddler nearly runs off cliff at Hawaii volcano

The little boy wandered off from his family and "ran straight toward the 400ft cliff edge" of the Kilauea volcano.

Rail disruption after £100k of cable stolen

Passengers have been warned to expect disruption between Chorley and Bolton following the theft.

Stephen Fry treated chronic pain 'as a friend'

The actor opens up about how he came to regard the pain he experienced after a fall off stage.

Dame Maggie Smith and the other famous people who passed away in 2024

Dame Maggie Smith, James Earl Jones and Liam Payne are among the well-known figures who died this year.

What five gold rings found in 2024 tell us about UK's past

A treasure expert says a carol reminds her of her job, which involves looking at lots of gold rings.

The Papers: NHS 'repair costs triple' and Badenoch 'fury' at Farage's TV time

Headlines include repair costs for hospitals tripling and Kemi Badenoch's anger at Nigel Farage's airtime.

From Squid Game to Blackpink, how South Korea became a culture powerhouse

The wild success of K-entertainment - from pop hits to mushy dramas - has been in the making for years.

How AI revolution could help benefits appeals and landlord disputes

Using AI to summarise long documents and help with other tasks could cut legal costs for those struggling financially, experts say.

A year of extreme weather that challenged billions

Climate change caused 41 additional days of dangerous heat and extreme weather, say scientists.

On the trail of Scotland's mysterious big cats

Forty-five years ago a puma was captured in the Highlands, but reported big cat sightings continued.

Woman charged with murder of man on Christmas Day

Police say Louis Price, 31, was found suffering a cardiac arrest at an address in Norton Canes.

S Korean president accused of ordering use of guns to stop martial law vote

Yoon Suk Yeol told authorised soldiers to break down doors and drag politicians out of parliament, prosecutors say.

Starmer asks UK regulators for ideas to boost growth

The prime minister writes to regulators including Ofgem and Ofwat for ideas to boost economic growth.

Model Dayle Haddon dies in carbon monoxide leak

The 76-year-old appeared on the front of magazines including Sports Illustrated and Vogue Paris.

How feminism, not Bollywood, drew global audiences to Indian cinema in 2024

Women-led Indian films have made a splash across the world this year, including at major festivals.

Three dead in suspected Christmas cake poisoning in Brazil

Police say arsenic was detected in the blood of family members who ate the cake in Torres.

Watch: Huge waves strike Peruvian coastline

Videos show waves reported to be up to four metres high upending boats and deluging towns.

Video captures moments before South Korea plane crash

The Jeju Air flight landing at Muan Airport had 181 passengers on board when it crashed off the runway.

Warnings of snow, wind and rain across the UK for New Year

Winds up to 70mph, rain and snowfall are expected to bring disruption to parts of the UK from New Year's Eve.

New elections could take up to four years, Syria rebel leader says

Sharaa says it could take three years to write a constitution and longer to establish voting integrity.

As Putin reaches 25 years in power, has he 'taken care of Russia'?

Over a quarter of a century in power we've seen many different Putins, says the BBC's Russia editor.

Dame Maggie Smith, Liam Payne and the other famous people who died in 2024

Dame Maggie Smith, James Earl Jones and Liam Payne are among the well-known figures who died this year.

Chlamydia could make koalas extinct. Can a vaccine save them in time?

Koalas are barrelling towards extinction but vaccine efforts to save them are running out of time and cash.

Three migrants die attempting to cross Channel

Dozens of other people were rescued off the coast of Sangatte on Sunday morning.

Private school tax breaks a 'luxury', says Phillipson

The education secretary defends ending tax breaks for private schools as the policy is set to begin.

Rebel Wilson marries Ramona Agruma in Sydney ceremony

The couple held a service in Sardinia in September and have now made it official in Wilson's hometown.

Dame Deborah would be 'thrilled' at fund's use

Her father says she would be thrilled about the impact that's been made by her campaigning.

Ocean gives up hundreds of rare Lego treasures

Hundreds of Lego pieces lost at sea 27 years ago are found in 2024, including the first shark.

Lost city found by accident and a fly's brain mapped: 2024's scientific wins

Moments to celebrate included a solar eclipse seen by millions and a lost city discovered by accident.

Did bird strike contribute to South Korea plane crash? What we know so far

Officials are investigating the cause of the deadliest aircraft crash in South Korean history, which killed 179 people.

Quiz of the Year, Part 4: Why did 100 couples all say 'I do' together?

Test your memory of 2024 in the last part of our quiz. What happened from October to December?

Inside a Syrian 'reconciliation centre' where Assad's soldiers give up their weapons

Former regime fighters tell the BBC they want to regain civilian status and had nothing to do with atrocities.

UK and EU look to 2025 for reset, but with little room for trade-offs

Sir Keir Starmer is invited to an EU summit in February - the first of its type since the Brexit negotiations.

Georgia's outgoing president refuses to quit as successor sworn in

Former head of state Salome Zourabichvili agreed to leave the presidential residence, but vowed to fight on.

School chaplain killed in shark attack on Australia's Great Barrier Reef

The youth pastor was spearfishing with his family off an island at the time of the attack.

What five gold rings found in 2024 tell us about UK's past

A treasure expert says a carol reminds her of her job, which involves looking at lots of gold rings.

Boys held in murder probe after man, 18, stabbed

Four boys, all 17, are arrested with three others held on suspicion of assisting an offender.

Fog causes flight delays at Gatwick Airport for a third day

Gatwick Airport says it has "temporary" restrictions in place due to the fog with "delays" expected.

The YouTubers exploring their family homelands

Three friends, known as the Kids of the Colony, have racked up millions of views on social media.

Airport train services hit by £100k cable theft

Passengers have been warned to expect disruption because of the stolen cable.

Bournemouth Echo

Bournemouth hotel in administration with near £2million debt

A Bournemouth hotel owed almost £2million to creditors when it fell into administration earlier this year.

Restaurant and bar told 'major improvement' needed by hygiene officials

A NUMBER of cafés, pubs, restaurants and takeaways across Dorset and the New Forest have been handed new food hygiene ratings recently.

Dramatic police chase ends in crashed police car and driver being tasered

A dramatic police chase came to an abrupt end with the driver being tasered.

Winds of up to 75mph set to hit BCP on New Year's Day

Winds of up to 75mph could hit Dorset on New Year’s Day.

Known shoplifter caught by police with stolen wine not arrested but told to go away

A known shoplifter caught with stolen bottles of wine was asked to leave Bournemouth town centre for the day – but not arrested.

Poole's popular bath tub race to return on New Year's Day

Poole’s craziest race featuring bathtubs and handmade boats is returning to the Quay this new year.

'All the locals love it - they always say how cosy it is'

St Peter's Finger in Lytchett Minster is the Daily Echo's Pub of the Week.

All the Greggs branches in the BCP area ranked from best to worst

All the Greggs branches in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole have been ranked by their Google Review score

New fare changes for Morebus passengers from January - and it's not all £3

MOREBUS is assuring residents that there are still affordable tickets available once the £2 price cap ends on December 31.

Top 10 things to do in Dorset

There is a lot to see and do across Dorset

How should £30k be spent on town's culture?

Ferndown Town Council has asked its residents for their thoughts on what could happen if it was to win a bid.

All the singers, comedians and shows to see at the BIC in 2025

A huge number of stand-up comedy acts and musicians will be coming to the Bournemouth International Centre in 2025

Bobby's celebrates 'incredible' past year

Department store Bobby’s has reflected on an “incredible” year.

Bake Off star judges Christmas cooking at care home

A great British Bake Off star visited residents at a Parkstone care home to judge their Christmas baking competition.

Parkstone Golf Club selected for national award finals

A Parkstone golf club has been selected as a finalist in the British and International Golf Greenkeepers Association (BIGGA), Awards 2025.

Council reminder you can't recycle plastic chocolate tubs

New Forest District Council is reminding residents not to put plastic chocolate tubs into the recycling bin.

When should I take my Christmas decorations down to avoid bad luck?

Here is when you should take your Christmas decorations down to avoid bad luck.

Concerns growing over 'multiple high end car thefts'

A warning has been issued to car owners by a man whose car was stolen from his driveway.

Bournemouth beach huts to be removed and possibly scrapped

Beach huts are expected to be removed from the seafront and possibly scrapped.

Man killed in crash just minutes from home named at inquest

A builder who was killed in a crash just minutes from his home has been named at an inquest.

Broken instrument among seven items left in patients bodies in Dorset hospitals

A broken instrument was accidentally left in a patient's body in a Dorset hospital.

Family desperate to be reunited with missing dog issue urgent appeal

A FAMILY desperate to be reunited with their missing dog have put out an urgent appeal.

PHOTOS: Mercedes crashed and ditched on roundabout

A Mercedes that crashed into a roundabout during the early hours of Christmas day remains.

Town council advertises clerk job on up to £70k

Christchurch Town Council is advertising a job for a town clerk on a salary of up to £70,000.

Man banned from roads after driving at 121mph on M27

A man has been banned from the roads after speeding at 121mph on the M27 near Fareham

The independent holiday lettings firm with a new vision for New Forest tourism

New Forest Escapes is the small independent holiday lettings business with an exciting new vision for local tourism

7 shock business closures in 2024

7 high-profile businesses closed during 2024 in what was arguably another tough year.

Village shop to lose 'pillar of the community' as employee retires after 35 years

A long-serving shop assistant in Bere Regis has been described as a 'pillar of the community' as she retires

Calls for improvements to playgrounds in Bournemouth

Tom Hayes MP is campaigning to spotlight the ‘vital role’ of playgrounds in Bournemouth.

E-scooters being ridden "anti socially" through town seized

Two men riding their e-scooters through the Lower Gardens had them seized by police officers.

Gallery: 10 photos of Christchurch in the 80s

Looking back at a selection of photos from our archives of Christchurch in the 1980s.

All the singers, comedians and shows to see at Bournemouth Pavilion in 2025

A huge number of stand-up comedy acts and musicians will be coming to the Bournemouth Pavilion in 2025

Charity asks for unwanted Christmas gifts to support people in need

They believe that unwanted gifts such as scarves, gadgets and novelty items could be valuable to them.

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

Can you pass the world's shortest IQ test? Only 17 per cent of people can

The Cognitive Reflection Test has a pass rate of just 17 per cent, leaving the majority who attempt it boggled.

'Starmer’s “reset” with EU means further weakening of Brexit'

Geoffrey Brooking believes Keir Starmer and Labour are leading us all to the golden uplands with their “clean energy plan” that he thinks “will ultimately bring down household bills”.

Pet owners urged to take precautions ahead of fireworks season

The PDSA sees an average of 1,400 pets with firework-related issues, such as phobias and injuries, every year.

Heritage railway to mark 200 years of passenger steam trains

A new visitors' car park is nearing completion and tracks are being laid to the north at Lamb House Bridge, which will eventually connect back to Shillingstone Station.

Where to watch the New Year's Eve countdown for 2025 on TV

If you are looking to welcome the start of 2025 here's where you can watch the New Year's Eve countdown on TV

Arrest made after Christmas Eve bus crash left two people with serious injuries

A driver has been arrested after a serious crash involving a bus on Christmas Eve.

Good Samaritan 'disgusted at the lack of humanity' after parking ticket

Lorna Dawson was driving past when she saw a medical incident involving an older man who fell off a coach.

Documentary tells story of WWII prisoner of war rescue

‘The Sinking of the Lisbon Maru' made by Chinese filmmaker Fang Li is a documentary tells the story of a Japanese ship.

'Amazing Amy' and all the work she's done for homeless people

A Bournemouth woman has been working hard to provide meals to people living on the streets this Christmas.

Independent school celebrates 'Good' Ofsted report

An independent school in Ringwood is celebrating a ‘good’ rating from Ofsted inspectors.

Dorset NHS faces £1.5M pay-outs amid gynaecology care crisis

New data has revealed gynaecology negligence claims have cost Dorset NHS Trust £1.5m.

Woman identified in connection with car theft

A woman has been identified in connection with a theft from a car in Bournemouth.

Mercedes careers into roundabout during early hours Christmas crash

A Mercedes crashed into a roundabout during the early hours of Christmas Day.

Learner Honda Jazz among cars pulled over by traffic officers

Traffic police stopped several cars during their Boxing Day patrols.

£3m project to boost two Dorset coastal communities

A £3 MILLION project will look at how communities in Swanage and Charmouth can adapt to the effects of climate change on the coast.

Formula 1

Funniest moment, best radio message and more – F1's 2024 alternative awards

It’s almost time to say goodbye to 2024 and the extraordinary F1 season that came with it. While the battles on track kept us gripped throughout the year, as well as the various driver market moves, it’s time now to celebrate the lighter side of the sport.

Windows Central

The mouse I will never play games without is currently $80 off. Here's why this is a must-buy for any serious PC gamer looking for an easy upgrade.

The SUPERLIGHT was the first mouse that dramatically improved my gameplay; I recommend it to everyone I know.

Palworld is riding high in the Steam charts once again hitting 200k concurrent players

Palworld is making a strong comeback, climbing the Steam charts with over 200,000 concurrent players following the release of its major Feybreak update. While not reaching its viral launch peak of over 2 million players, the game has surged back into Steam's top 10 most-played games.

New hinge patent reveals Microsoft was exploring possible foldable flip smartphone designs

A patent design from Microsoft details a smaller and more rigid hinge design for potential folding devices.

Square Enix: 'Final Fantasy VII Rebirth' "cannot be exclusive to one console," again implying an eventualXboxlaunch

Square Enix recently revealed during an interview with IGN that Final Fantasy VII Rebirth cannot remain exclusive to one console if they wish sell it to a wider audience, which means we could see a potential Xbox port down the road.

Razer's new cooling pad really does let you push your laptop to its limit, but wow, it's loud!

The Razer Laptop Cooling Pad aims to keep your laptop performing at its best, and it's a surprisingly effective accessory. That massive fan can make a ton of noise, though.

Laffgaff

Who was the last President of the Soviet Union?

Mikhail Gorbachev.

U2 Karaoke

I did karaoke at a bar that had U2 songs with no guitar track. It took the edge off them.