The News - Wednesday, 12 March 2025

BBC News

Trade war escalates as Trump metal tariffs take effect

Duty on steel and aluminium imports is a major hit for some of the US's top trading partners.

Is the US really heading into a recession?

Stock market falls, tariffs and other changes are reigniting fear of economic downturn in the US.

NHS to offer take-at-home tablet for MS

Broadening access to cladribine should help more patients avoid hospital and free up clinic time.

UK helped Ukraine and US reach ceasefire agreement

Sir Keir Starmer led European efforts to mend Trump-Zelensky relationship, UK government sources tell the BBC.

US-Ukraine agreement shows a deal is never dead with Trump

That both countries were able to make progress after a bitter White House meeting suggests Trump is always open to further negotiations.

Cargo ship's captain arrested over North Sea crash

Humberside Police says an investigation has been launched into the collision between the two ships.

Lunar eclipse to grace pre-dawn sky

UK skywatchers will see a partial but still hopefully spectacular eclipse before dawn on Friday.

Girl, 13, charged with murder of woman and arson

Police say they believe the victim is 43-year-old mother-of-three Marta Bednarczyk.

Court in tears as John Hunt reads powerful statement to family’s killer

The racing commentator directs his victim statement to the man who murdered his wife and two daughters.

'Worrying' number of teens lose disability benefits

More than 124,000 young people have had claims for adult disability benefits refused, the BBC finds.

US education department plans to cut half its workforce

The mass layoffs will impact nearly 2,100 people who are set to be placed on leave from 21 March.

Doctors try to stop under-eights drinking slushies

Paediatricians studied 21 children in the UK and Ireland who became very ill after the icy drinks.

Man whose house was 'stolen' gets possession back

Reverend Mike Hall's home was sold without his knowledge nearly four years ago.

How JD Vance sees the world - and why that matters

In a speech to allies and in that infamous Oval Office row, the vice-president came out punching - but what is he fighting for?

The Papers: 'Jail.. then hell' and ceasefire 'if Putin agrees'

Several papers lead on the emotional tribute John Hunt shared in court about wife Carol and daughters Louise and Hannah.

Paul Adams: It's Russia that may now be feeling the pressure

It's time for Russia's intentions towards Ukraine to be tested in public, writes the BBC's Paul Adams.

Palestinian comedian is 'proud and hurt' after making Netflix hit

Actor and comedian Mo Amer explains why he avoided mentioning the 7 October attack in the show's storyline.

BBC Verify examines moments before cargo ship and oil tanker collision

Ship tracking data sheds light on what happened before the two vessels, the Solong and Stena Immaculate, collided in the North Sea.

Not enough power to share: The political feud behind Rodrigo Duterte's downfall

The ex-president is on his way to the International Criminal Court following his arrest in Manila.

Man who ran length of Africa begins new challenge

Russ Cook, aka Hardest Geezer, begins running the length of New Zealand on the Te Araroa Trail.

Medieval ring found in Norfolk field could sell for £18k

The retired firefighter says he was left "amazed" when he spotted some gold glistening in the mud.

Baby's death a 'tragic accident', Constance Marten and Mark Gordon retrial told

Constance Marten's lawyer says the death was caused by her "falling asleep and compromising her baby’s breathing".

Thousands miss NHS screenings due to admin error

Routine screening invitations were not sent because of an error dating back to 2008.

Nationwide customers to get £50 each after Virgin deal

More than 12 million members will receive the money directly into their accounts by the end of April.

Fire on tanker out after North Sea collision

The cargo ship Solong and the tanker Stena Immaculate collided off East Yorkshire on Monday.

Decoding the Ukraine ceasefire plan line by line

The US is expected to present a 30-day ceasefire proposal to Russia in the coming days.

Spotify paid £7.7bn to the music industry as royalties debate continues

The figures come as debate continues about how much money artists and songwriters receive in royalties.

Bridgerton or Strictly? Bafta opens vote on best TV moments of 2024

The Gavin and Stacey finale and The Traitors are also nominated for Bafta's "memorable moment" prize.

Labour councillor guilty of indecent exposure should quit, says health secretary

The health secretary calls for his former aide to resign after the aide admitted indecent exposure.

Nicola Sturgeon to step down from Holyrood

The ex-SNP leader says she will not seek re-election at the 2026 Scottish Parliament election.

Apple's appeal against UK government move to access customer data to be heard in secret

The BBC understands the dispute over accessing encrypted data is set to be heard at the High Court.

Pakistan army says 300 hostages freed from train

More than 30 militants were killed in the operation, a military spokesperson says.

Greenland's opposition wins election dominated by independence and Trump

The Democrats party wants a gradual move to independence but the second-placed party is keen to speed it up.

Amazon forest felled to build road for climate summit

The infrastructure required to host COP30 in Belém is undermining the cause, campaigners say.

Starmer says 'all options on table' on US tariffs

Canada and the EU have announced retaliatory tariffs but UK will take a "pragmatic" approach, the prime minister said.

Six things that could get more expensive for Americans

Economists say the president's import taxes could result in higher prices for a range of products in the US.

Is the US really heading into a recession?

Stock market falls, tariffs and other changes are reigniting fear of economic downturn in the US.

Her Holyrood career is over, but Sturgeon still remains the biggest name in Scottish politics

Nicola Sturgeon's decision to stand down as an MSP was obvious but it still has the capacity to startle, says BBC Scotland political editor Glenn Campbell.

How could Putin respond to US-Ukraine ceasefire plan?

The Kremlin is weighing its options following the US-Ukraine proposal for a 30-day ceasefire.

Passengers describe 'doomsday scenes' on Pakistan hijacked train

More than 400 passengers were on board a train in south-west Pakistan when armed militants attacked.

How this Scottish actor inspired Homer Simpson’s ‘D’oh!’

Finlayson performed in more than 100 films but was best known for being the "third man" to Laurel and Hardy.

Children under eight should avoid drinking slushies, doctors warn

Paediatricians studied 21 children in the UK and Ireland who became very ill after the icy drinks.

Man whose house was 'stolen' gets possession back

Reverend Mike Hall's home was sold without his knowledge nearly four years ago.

Give new dads the same job rights as mums, MP says

Campaigners say the Employment Rights Bill is a big opportunity to improve job security for new dads.

Treasury value for money unit targets asylum housing costs

Rachel Reeves set up the Office for Value for Money (OVfM) in October to "root out waste and inefficiency".

Bournemouth Echo

Flight to Bournemouth makes 'rapid descent' to France following medical emergency

Passengers on a flight to Bournemouth were told they would be landing in France after a medical emergency onboard.

NHS 111 advisor was 'confident' in system that left mother without a call

The health advisor that spoke with the mother of a 17-year-old hours before he died has stated that she believed that they would receive an urgent call back.

Cost of controversial and 'obstructive' cycle wands revealed

Controversial cycle wands installed in Poole cost more than £20,000 to buy and install, the Echo has learned.

The forgotten stage of Richmond Hill

The year was 1882 and Bournemouth was blossoming, a seaside jewel attracting visitors with its charm. The curtain rose on the Theatre Royal.

50p coin being sold for £25k due to tiny error

Somebody in Dereham, Norfolk, is selling a Peter Rabbit 50p on eBay coin for £25,000 due to a small error.

MP criticises 'blight' new supermarket planned

Vikki Slade has said Aldi’s proposals for a new supermarket would be a “blight” on the area.

'How was this allowed to happen?' Grieving mother to meet minsiter after son's murder

A Bournemouth MP has helped secure a meeting between the mother of Tom Roberts and a government minister following her son's murder.

Council to review bus routes - meaning some could be cut and new ones made

New bus routes could be made and others cut in a review of services across Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole.

Search for missing man last seen near Christchurch railway station

Police are searching for a missing man after he was last seen near Christchurch train station.

Emergency services respond to crash

Two vehicles crashed in a residential street in Bournemouth.

Person dies after emergency services called to incident on railway

A person has died after emergency services were called to reports of a casualty on the tracks at Winchester railway station.

Person dies after incident at railway station

Lines past Southampton have been blocked after emergency services deal with 'incident' on railway.

Man arrested on suspicion of murder remains on bail

A man arrested on suspicion of murder remains on police bail after a man aged in his 60s was found dead in his home.

Two men arrested and £60k seized after drug raid in Dorset

Two men were arrested and £60,000 seized after police raided properties related to drug dealing across Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole.

Two cars crash on dual carriageway

Two cars crashed on a dual carriageway.

Trespasser who got on to Bournemouth Airport airfield is arrested

A spokesperson for Dorset Police said: “We received a report at 3.36pm on Saturday 8 March 2025 of a trespasser on the airfield at Bournemouth Airport.

New changes to recycling in BCP from end of this month

Businesses and workplaces will have to adhere to new rules from the end of this month designed to make recycling easier.

CCTV image released of man after Waitrose is shoplifted

More than £500 of meat and alcohol was stolen from a Waitrose supermarket.

Thirty vehicles stopped as police crackdown on metal theft

Thirty vehicles were stopped in one day in Purbeck during a crackdown in metal theft.

Youths with ‘sole aim of causing distress’ riding e-bikes in park

Youths with the “sole aim of causing harassment, alarm and distress” have been riding electric bikes around a Bournemouth park.

Arrested man released on bail after armed police raid property

A man who was arrested on suspicion of having 'prohibited weapons' at home in Christchurch has now been released on bail.

Dorset pub plans are granted approval

Changes are on the way for two North Dorset pubs – with five homes approved in the grounds of one and an extension of the pub at the other.

First 'Hall' class steam locomotive visit to Swanage Railway

A busy timetable of passenger and demonstration freight trains will run between Swanage, Harman’s Cross, Corfe Castle and Norden.

Hospital trust issues smoking ban at sites across Dorset

To complement the smoke-free initiative, the trust has a dedicated Tobacco Addiction Care and Treatment Service.

'Courts are right to fine parents for term time holidays'

Comment regarding the article on March 8 headlined, Fined for taking children on holiday.

Anger as 825 Poundland stores 'facing closure' amid 'challenging' landscape

Shoppers are angry after it emerged Poundland is set to be sold as it struggles to battle an "increasingly challenging" UK retail landscape.

Wedding open day at stunning venue with free entry

Visitors will be able to explore the venue, meet wedding professionals and gather ideas for their wedding day.

Erasure star to perform in Bournemouth as part of UK tour

Ten Crowns will have ten tracks produced in Nashville, inspired by the dancefloor and gospel, and marks a significant moment in Andy's career.

Free kids entry to Tank Museum during National Lottery Open Week

The Tank Museum recommends booking the accompanying adult in advance, although the free child does not need to be booked.

Upcoming police contact points revealed around BCP

Upcoming police community contact points have been revealed for the next few days.

Wimborne school hosts French pen pals for first time

The visit allowed pupils from both schools to meet their pen pals face-to-face and experience school life in a different country.

REVIEW: Matthew Bourne's Swan Lake, Mayflower Theatre

Ethereal, eerie and a little bit evil — there really is nothing quite like Matthew Bourne's production of Swan Lake.

Care home to host healthy eating and hydration workshop

The care home wants to share its expertise on healthy eating and the importance of staying hydrated for older people.

Football legends to feature in charity event at Vitality Stadium

The evening with Tony Pulis and Harry Redknapp offers fans the opportunity to hear stories from their careers in football.

Martin Lewis: 'huge news' for millions of motorists due compensation

Martin Lewis has shared huge compensation news for anyone who has bought a car on finance

Bournemouth company makes national award shortlist

It began by raising more than £7,000 for the charity by walking 8,849 metres in a day, the equivalent of climbing Mount Everest.

Concert celebrating legends of rock 'n' roll to come to theatre

The show is described as a "fast-moving production" that captures the essence of the original Sun Recording studios.

Dorset teen selected for polo team to compete in Dubai

Freddie, who is also a member of the Dorset Polo Club, was the youngest of the four youth players chosen.

Best-selling author takes up open-water swimming at Southbourne

"I decided that I couldn’t possibly write about that community of swimmers unless I gave it a try myself."

Young musicians develop skills at Poole training day

The society organises various events, including masterclasses, rehearsals and workshops.

Wimborne Minster marks Commonwealth Day with ceremony

The ceremony featured a reading of the Commonwealth affirmation and the raising of the Commonwealth flag.

Orchestra receives £300,000 grant to boost community programme

This funding will allow the orchestra to reach thousands of people across the south west, including hospital patients and school children.

Dance school prepares for special show to mark tenth anniversary

The dancers will be accompanied by a live 13-piece West End orchestra, with musical scores specially written for the occasion.

Author visits school to 'ignite lifelong passion' for reading

"It not only brings books to life but also shows our pupils that storytelling is a powerful and accessible way to express themselves."

Councillor reads to children at nursery for World Book Day

They also discussed the increasing demand for childcare, particularly in the Explorers room, due to funding for nine-month-olds.

Popular events returning to Poole Quay this year

Last year, responsibility for these events was formally handed over by BCP Council to Poole Quay Events.

District council's stance on local government reorganisation

Councillor Cleary also expressed her belief that reorganisation is not necessary for growth and prosperity in the area.

BCP named one of the most affordable places for first-time buyers

The index found that renting was the more affordable option in every local authority studied, but highlighted the ten most affordable places to buy.

Government

Financial Education Bill

A Bill to make provision about financial education; and for connected purposes.

Sentencing Council (Powers of Secretary of State) Bill

A Bill to provide that the Sentencing Council may not issue sentencing guidelines without the consent of the Secretary of State; to give the Secretary of State the power to amend sentencing guidelines prepared by the Sentencing Council before they are issued; and for connected purposes.

Formula 1

ANALYSIS: Why McLaren have locked down Piastri to a new contract extension now

McLaren have made a habit of not wanting to hang about when it comes to handing out contract extensions to their drivers and senior leadership team in the last couple of years.

Piastri agrees new multi-year contract extension with McLaren

McLaren and Oscar Piastri have agreed a new multi-year contract extension that the British team say will keep the Australian with them “for the long term”.

BEYOND THE GRID: Liam Lawson on making it to Red Bull, teaming up with Verstappen and his 2025 goals

A new Formula 1 season means the return of the Beyond The Grid podcast and, for 2025’s opening episode, we caught up with recently promoted Red Bull driver Liam Lawson.

How to stream the Formula 1 2025 Australian Grand Prix on F1 TV Pro

Formula 1 returns to action this weekend with the season-opening Australian Grand Prix – and here’s all the information you need to follow the action live from Melbourne.

From championship contenders and star rookies to the biggest shocks – Our writers share their predictions for the 2025 season

After a busy build-up to the new campaign – featuring the spectacular F1 75 Live event followed by three days of testing in Bahrain – the 2025 season is officially upon us, with the Australian Grand Prix set to kick off a 24-race calendar this weekend. Before the action gets underway, we asked our writers Lawrence Barretto, James Hinchcliffe, Chris Medland and David Tremayne to share their predictions for the season ahead, ranging from who will come out on top through to the star rookie and the biggest surprise…

What tyres will the teams and drivers have for the 2025 Australian Grand Prix?

Formula 1’s 2025 season kicks off with the Australian Grand Prix this weekend – and tyre suppliers Pirelli have confirmed which compounds will be in play during the event at Melbourne’s Albert Park Grand Prix Circuit.

Leclerc highlights ‘super positive’ change at Ferrari with Hamilton ‘arriving at the right time’

Charles Leclerc believes that Ferrari have adopted a “super positive” change in learning to focus on themselves rather than being affected by external noise surrounding the team, something that he feels has been timed well amid the arrival of Lewis Hamilton.

Aston Martin reveal what Newey did ‘almost straight away’ after starting work at team

Aston Martin have provided an insight into Adrian Newey’s first days at the squad, with the F1 design guru “rolling his sleeves up” and getting “straight into the job”.

THIS WEEK IN F1: 10 quiz questions on the latest F1 news from the last seven days

To help you pass the time until the season gets going this weekend, we've cooked up a quick quiz, all about the F1 news from the last week, with a couple of questions thrown in about the history of the Australian GP...

Russell identifies team who look ‘by far’ the strongest going into 2025 season

George Russell has expressed his belief that reigning World Champions McLaren will start the 2025 campaign as “by far the strongest” outfit on the grid, having been impressed by their pace during pre-season testing.

WATCH: Idols, rivalries, predictions and more – get to know F1’s 2025 rookies in a special roundtable chat

Formula 1 welcomes several new faces in 2025, with rookie drivers making up around a quarter of the 20-strong grid – but how much do you know about these latest arrivals?

What time is the Formula 1 2025 Australian Grand Prix and how can I watch it?

Formula 1 bursts back into life this week as Australia – and Melbourne’s Albert Park Grand Prix Circuit – plays host to the season-opening round.

What is the weather forecast for the 2025 Australian Grand Prix?

Formula 1 returns to action this weekend with the 2025 season-opening Australian Grand Prix – but what kind of weather conditions can the drivers expect to be competing in?

Formula 1 reports on sustainability and social progress across 2024 season

As Formula 1 returns for the 2025 season – and the beginning of its 75th anniversary year this weekend at the Australian Grand Prix – the sport has released a round-up on the progress made towards its sustainability and social commitments across 2024.

Kick Sauber confirm Wheatley's start date as new Team Principal

Kick Sauber have confirmed that Jonathan Wheatley will officially become their Team Principal on April 1, 2025.

Windows Central

As Xbox's Ori franchise turns 10, developer Moon Studios is now self-publishing its action-RPG, No Rest for the Wicked

As the Xbox-owned Ori franchise turns 10, developer Moon Studios is now self-publishing its action-RPG, No Rest for the Wicked.

Is WWE 2K25 on Xbox Game Pass?

WWE 2K25 is slated to be one of the biggest games of 2025 for wrestling fans, but is it on Game Pass?

I spoke to Blizzard Entertainment President Johanna Faries on her first year in the job, and how Blizzard games like Warcraft and Overwatch are reaching for greater heights

Johanna Faries charted a course from the NFL, to Call of Duty, now to Blizzard. With her first year behind her, I wanted to get a glimpse at Blizzard's future.

Halo Infinite's new Operation update adds a classic mode I've waited ages for, and a pretty cool new one, too

Halo Infinite's Operation: Blue Team update adds Firefight Classic, a brand new mode, fresh maps to play on, and more.

Call of Duty: Black Ops 6's latest patch gives one-hit kills to this underpowered weapon and extends the TMNT event

Call of Duty: Black Ops 6's latest patch fixes several bugs while also granting a damage boost to the D1.3 Sector.

This excellent mini PC is designed to work with your desktop-class GPU

If you like the idea of a mini PC, but absolutely need a clean setup that also includes support for dedicated GPU cards, the Beelink GTi13 Ultra might be a great choice for you.

Windows 11 Patch Tuesday Update adds multi-app camera feature and addresses security issues

This month's Windows 11 Patch Tuesday update brings important security fixes and features, including one that lets multiple apps access the same camera stream at once.

Palworld's long-awaited crossplay update finally has a launch window, linking Xbox, PlayStation, and PC players together

Developer Pocketpair confirms the popular survival game will let players join worlds from multiple platforms, as well as transfer their Pals between worlds.

Months before millions of PCs will get stuck on Windows 10, Google makes its case for running ChromeOS to use Microsoft 365

Millions of PCs that cannot upgrade to Windows 11 will be stuck on an unsupported operating system later this year. Google has made a case for upgrading those PCs to ChromeOS.

Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei says AI will write 90% of code in 6 months, automating software development within a year — Is this the final nail in handwritten coding's coffin?

Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei claims AI code write 90% of all code in the next 3 to 6 months, further predicting that nearly all code will be generated by AI within 12 months.

"Would you say there is a reasonable balance between what you contribute to Microsoft and what you get in return?" Two-thirds of Microsoft employees say YES — as AI engineers get preferential compensation packages.

According to an internal Microsoft survey, 65% of employees at Microsoft indicated that "there is a reasonable balance between what I contribute to Microsoft and what I get in return."

Laffgaff

Who starred as Buffy the Vampire Slayer in the TV series of the same name?

Sarah Michelle Gellar.

Architect Advice

What's the best kind of advice to give to an architect? Constructive criticism.