The News - Monday, 31 March 2025

BBC News

Trump 'very angry' with Putin over Ukraine ceasefire negotiations

The US president threatened Russia with tariffs if Putin does not agree to a ceasefire within the next month.

'I met her for 30 seconds, she stalked me online for four years'

Victims tell BBC Panorama how a prolific stalker posted thousands of abusive messages about them on social media.

Germany decides to leave history in the past and prepare for war

Russian aggression and US isolationism push a once hesitant Germany to invest heavily in defence.

Record number of illegal sewage spills in Windermere last year

Campaigners identified 140 illegal spill days into the beauty spot in 2024

UK to host 40 countries for illegal migration summit

The talks, seen as the first of their kind, will aim to increase international co-operation.

Alarms, overdoses and saving lives: Two days in UK's first drug injection room

The BBC was given exclusive access to the controversial facility in the east end of Glasgow.

Starmer and Trump discuss 'productive negotiations' on economic deal

The call comes after sources at No 10 say the government is prepared to retaliate against US tariffs if needed.

Red Cross outraged over killing of eight medics in Gaza

The ambulance team came under fire last Sunday in what Hamas said was an Israeli military attack.

Protests postponed after pharmacy funding boost

Community pharmacies have delayed protest action after the government agreed a new funding package.

Secret filming reveals brazen tactics of immigration scammers

An undercover BBC investigation exposes how rogue agents are exploiting a UK visa scheme.

Al Fayed estate faces legal action from alleged victims

The women worked as nannies or private air stewards for the late billionaire and former owner of Harrods.

Three ways to cushion the blow of bill rises

'Awful April" will see a range of household bills rise, but there are ways to ease the pain.

The Papers: Harry's charity 'row' and 'Roaster for 2 weeks'

The fallout from Prince Harry's resignation from a charity he co-founded features in Monday's papers.

'Greedy landlords are cashing in and forcing us out of town'

Some locals say rent hikes prompted by an influx of construction workers are pricing them out.

Decision day in court for Marine Le Pen's French presidential hopes

Accused of misusing EU funds, Monday's verdict could determine whether the far-right National Rally leader can run again.

AI was enemy No. 1 during Hollywood strikes. Now it's in Oscar-winning films

Tech companies say AI will make productions cheaper and faster - but many in Hollywood think it will replace their jobs.

A Minecraft Movie and Stranger Things star's new album: What's coming up this week

SIX The Musical Live! also hits cinemas, and we're finally going to find out about the Switch 2.

Half of job centres reducing support over shortages

A report says there are 2,100 fewer work coaches than needed while the number of people requiring support has risen.

Crypt closed to visitors after burning of Crusader's remains

A historic crypt is unable to open after an arson attack damaged the remains of mummified bodies.

Musk gives away $1m cheques ahead of Wisconsin's Supreme Court election

The state's attorney general tried to block the giveaway arguing it was an illegal bid to buy votes.

'No fuss, no surprises': Shoppers defend supermarket cafes amid closures

Morrisons and Sainsbury's have announced a raft of cafe closures - but some customers insist they should stay open.

Richard Chamberlain: Heartthrob king of the TV mini-series

Dashing American actor who was unrivalled in his ability to hold a television audience.

Quakers condemn arrests of activists at meeting house

Quakers in Britain says the arrests were the first at a meeting house and an "aggressive violation".

Council embarks on spring Christmas tree planting

The council says 12 trees have been permanently planted across the borough this week.

Shock Le Pen verdict rocks French far right

The far-right figurehead has been barred from running for public office for five years, throwing her plans into disarray.

Birmingham declares major incident over bin strike

City council leader John Cotton says the action is being taken because of public health concerns.

'I feel guilty for not being in Myanmar - our people need us the most now'

They fled war - now Myanmar's diaspora feel helpless watching their country struggle after the quake.

Underwater camera set up to film Loch Ness Monster in 1970s discovered

No sign of the famous monster was found on the camera that had been in Loch Ness for 55 years.

Primark boss quits after complaint about behaviour

Paul Marchant leaves after an allegation about his behaviour towards a woman "in a social environment".

Woman arrested after newborn baby found dead in bag outside London church

The woman, thought to be the baby's mother, is held on suspicion of concealing a birth and neglect.

Emergency law in response to 'two-tier' sentencing row will not pass before Easter

It comes after the government said it would pass an emergency law to override the guidelines.

Police search for girl in Thames near City airport

Police are searching water in North Woolwich after reports of an 11-year-old girl in the Thames.

They met for 30 seconds - she then stalked him for four years

Victims tell BBC Panorama how a prolific stalker posted thousands of abusive messages about them on social media.

Trump says he wants to serve a third term as US president. Can he?

Donald Trump says "a lot of people want me to do it" and supporters claim there's a loophole to the two-term constitutional limit.

Germany decides to leave history in the past and prepare for war

Russian aggression and US isolationism push a once hesitant Germany to invest heavily in defence.

Secret filming reveals brazen tactics of UK immigration scammers

An undercover BBC investigation exposes how rogue agents are exploiting a UK visa scheme.

'Nothing is left' - BBC witnesses earthquake destruction in Myanmar's capital

The BBC is in Myanmar's capital Nay Pyi Taw to see the destruction caused by the devastating earthquake.

Is compulsory dog insurance needed to ensure victims of attacks get help?

A father believes it is "insane" pet insurance to cover attacks is not mandatory for all owners.

Trump labels alleged Turnberry vandals 'terrorists'

The US president said he hoped those who caused damage to his resort would be 'treated harshly'.

Lib Dems aim to become 'party of Middle England'

Sir Ed Davey says they're vying for votes in Tory-run council areas, in his local election launch.

Harrods launches compensation scheme for Al Fayed victims

Survivors of alleged sexual abuse by the department store's former boss could get up to £385,000.

Adolescence was hard to watch as a dad, Starmer tells makers at No 10

Keir Starmer tells them there is not a "policy lever that can be pulled" to combat online misogyny.

King returns to public duties after hospital visit

The monarch is returning to work this week after suffering side effects from his cancer treatment.

Man, 84, dies weeks after XL bully attack

The man had been critically injured as he walked home on 24 February, Cheshire Police say.

Buses in Wales to be brought under public control

Ministers have promised a "simpler" network replacing a system where bus companies set their own timetables.

Bournemouth Echo

LIVE: Emergency services descend on Bournemouth Pier

Multiple police and ambulance crews are attending an incident near Bournemouth Pier

'Avoid the area': Large woodland fire breaks out at country park

FIREFIGHTERS are tackling a large woodland fire at Moors Valley Country Park, with the public being told to avoid the area.

Investigations continue after thieves steal thousands in equine equipment

Investigations are continuing after thieves ‘ransacked’ a number of stables across Dorset

Two men charged after alleged car jacking

Two men have been charged following an investigation by detectives into a reported robbery and attempted robberies near Dorchester

'We should be asking the wealthiest to pay their share - not targeting the poorest'

An MP has criticised the welfare cuts proposed in the Labour government's Spring Statement, arguing that the changes will hit the most vulnerable the hardest.

Man due in court after woman 'forcibly removed' from car

A man is due in court after reports that a woman was forced out of her car before the vehicle was stolen in Slough.

PICTURES: Partial solar eclipse over Dorset and the New Forest

Skygazers across Dorset and the New Forest caught a glimpse of the partial solar eclipse at the weekend.

Three people rushed to hospital after A35 crash

Three people have been taken to hospital following a crash on the A35

Motorcyclist sustains serious leg injury after crash with car

A motorcyclist sustained a serious leg injury after a crash involving a car.

Dorset hotel named among UK's best places to stay for under £150

A hotel in north Dorset has been named among the best hotels in the UK for under £150 a night

'Please be aware': Number of thefts from stables reported

Police are advising people to 'be aware' after a 'number of thefts' have been reported from stables in Dorset.

Police launch raid on man's house in Bournemouth

Police have seized more than 120 wraps of class A drugs and a telescopic baton from an individual in Bournemouth.

Queues down the street after new bakery opens

A new twin-run bakery has seen long queues and goods flying off the shelves since their recent opening.

Person rescued from boat with suspected spinal injuries

Poole Coastguard was called to reports of person with suspected spinal injuries at Salterns Marina.

Amber wildfire warning issued for Dorset this week

An amber wildfire warning has been issued for Dorset and Wiltshire this week.

Poole flood defences to receive £12.2m in funding to protect homes

Poole flood defences are to receive more than £12m in funding from the government, which is said to protect 135 homes.

Beauty salon to open third site in 'amazing location'

A beauty salon will be opening their third site in Christchurch high street this month

Man dead in 'unexplained circumstances' near Bournemouth Pier

Dorset Police received a report of a man requiring medical attention in Bath Road in Bournemouth close to the Royal Bath Hotel.

Man attacked female emergency workers at Poole Hospital

A MAN attacked two female emergency workers, including a psychiatric staff member, at Poole General Hospital.

Court orders family to remove caravans from private site

The issue began in January 2021 when the council's planning enforcement team received a report from the public about suspicious activity on the land.

Breast cancer awarness walk at Bournemouth Pier

A CHARITY walk to support breast cancer patients will take place at Bournemouth Pier next month.

Country park restricting visitors after large blaze in woodland

Moors Valley Country Park is restricting visitors onto the site after a large fire broke out in the woodland.

How is car tax changing? HMRC rates updated - is yours going up?

Major changes to car tax vehicle excise duty (VED) will be introduced this week. Here's what you need to know, and a Martin Lewis hack

Hit Netflix show Adolescence to be available in all UK secondary schools

The hit Netflix drama Adolesence is to be available in all UK secondary schools.

Man driving van ‘without care and attention’ seriously injured person in crash

A MAN driving a transit van ‘without due care and attention’ seriously injured a person in a crash.

Homes and businesses in England given start date for new recycling plan

Homes and businesses in England will recycle under new rules with homes expected to have at least five bins or containers.

Travel insurance warning as millions voiding coverage due to simple mistake

Martin Lewis has also issued an urgent warning to anyone planning a holiday this year, and to anyone who already has one booked

World-class festival with 'epic' line up of afternoon grooves and late night euphoria

Nestled in the countryside at South Allenford Farm in Damerham, the event has room for up to 1000 festival goers, who can expect a weekend of underground sounds from the 90s, through to cutting edge beats of today, with hopes it will be the first festival of many to come.

'Do no eat' - Lidl issues urgent recall of snack item over salmonella fears

Lidl has issued a recall for its Sol & Mar Chicharricos BBQ Pork Scratchings due to a worry it may be contaminated with salmonella

HMRC offering thousands of Brits who work from home free £140 payment

Thousands of workers who work from home can claim £140 back from HMRC through tax relief.

Charities warned of 'trilogy of challenges' at legal summit

They also voiced fears about the growing threat of cybercrime and the weaponisation of artificial intelligence.

Formula 1

TREMAYNE: Japanese drivers have a rich history in F1 – but can Yuki Tsunoda grab his chance and be the best of them all?

For Yuki Tsunoda, Liam Lawson’s misfortune opens the door ahead of his home Grand Prix and represents the biggest opportunity in a career that has revealed the 24 year-old from Sagamihara to be an aggressive and feisty racer in the Takuma Sato mould.

Formula 2 racer Victor Martins joins Williams Driver Academy

Williams have announced that F2 driver and former F3 champion Victor Martins has become the latest addition to their Driver Academy, adding to their roster of young talent on the pathway to Formula 1.

IT'S RACE WEEK: 5 storylines we're excited about ahead of the 2025 Japanese Grand Prix

Two races into the season and we’ve already had plenty of storylines and controversy, along with multiple winners. So as the first triple header of the season gets underway, there’s a lot to talk about as we head to Suzuka.

‘I feel really lucky’ – Antonelli expands on what it’s like working with race engineer ‘Bono’

Kimi Antonelli has given an insight into how he has found working alongside new race engineer Pete ‘Bono’ Bonnington at Mercedes, with the rookie admitting that he feels “really lucky” to have such an experienced name to support him during his debut season.

Windows Central

Do this first in Atomfall before freeing Dr. Garrow — you can thank me later for making it so much easier

The choices you make in Atomfall directly impact the path your game takes. If you're going to free Dr. Garrow, do it this way.

Windows 11's new headline security feature is now in testing — here's how it can help your PC

Windows 11’s new Quick Machine Recovery tool detects boot failures and applies fixes automatically. The feature is now in testing among Windows Insiders.

The Palworld Dating Sim is real — and so is the Lovander body pillow

Palworld devs are committing to the bit and announced Palworld! More Than Just Pals, the dating sim coming soon to Steam. To celebrate they are giving away not one but TWO Lovander body pillows.

Can AI help in gaming? Intel says yes and proves it.

Intel showed off some new details regarding its Core Ultra H and HX mobile chips, including an AI Assistant that makes use of an NPU to boost performance and help with difficult games.

MAINGEAR's best pre-built PC now packs NVIDIA RTX 50-series GPUs, Ryzen 9000, and Intel Core Ultra Series 2

The MAINGEAR MG-1 now features NVIDIA RTX 50 GPUs, plus AMD Ryzen 9000 or Intel Core Ultra 2 CPUs.

Final Fantasy IX fans think this new website hints at the long rumored remake

Square Enix has just launched a new website dedicated to the 25th anniversary of Final Fantasy IX and fans are speculating it could be a hint at a remake in development.

If you want to destroy Oberon in Atomfall, you need to do this first

To access Oberon in Atomfall, you first need to power on the Central Processor. Here are the steps you need to follow.

Microsoft's 50th Anniversary

Microsoft's 50th Anniversary

Playing Age of Empires 2 on a Windows PC in the 1990s instilled my lifelong love of real-time strategy games

As Microsoft is turning 50, I'm reflecting on how playing Age of Empires 2 at a young age set me up for a life of appreciating strategy games.

Monster Hunter Wilds celebrates 10 million copies sold as Capcom fully admits it made the game too easy — Plans to increase challenges in the coming months

Monster Hunter Wilds is now Capcom's fastest-selling game after shipping 10 million units in a month, and major gameplay balance changes are coming.

Bill Gates would restart Microsoft as an AI-centric lab after 50 years — "Raising billions of dollars from a few sketch ideas"

Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates says he'd start the company again as an AI-centric firm to rival OpenAI, Google, and more.

TeamRICOCHET unveils plan to use machine learning in its effort to ramp up Call of Duty anti-cheat efforts

Call of Duty's TeamRICOCHET has fought an uphill battle stopping cheaters since Black Ops 6's first season. With Season 3 on the horizon, new tools are planned to stop disruptive players.

Laffgaff

In what country was the escape artist Harry Houdini born?

Hungary.

Fishing Trip

I went on an all-inclusive fishing trip and the worm fell off my hook. Do you think I can get a rebait?