The News - Friday, 09 May 2025

BBC News

Continuity the key for Pope seen as unifier in the Church

The new Pope is seen as someone who could unite traditionalist and progressive within the Church, writes the BBC's religion editor.

Trauma and survivors’ guilt: First interview with two injured in Nottingham attacks

Sharon Miller and Wayne Birkett were hit by a van driven by Valdo Calocane on 13 June 2023.

Watch: Royals, veterans and politicians attend VE Day thanksgiving service and concert

The service, held at Westminster Abbey, marks 80 years since the end of World War Two in Europe

US and UK agree deal slashing Trump tariffs on cars and metals

It will leave a 10% import tax on most goods shipped from the UK to the US.

Chris Mason: Starmer can claim limited win with America deal

The government's diplomatic achievement in sorting this deal before anyone else delivers reprieve to carmakers.

NHS plans 'unthinkable' cuts to balance books, health managers say

Diabetes care, rehab centres, end-of-life services and talking therapies at risk in England.

UK must 'do everything' to rebuild trade with EU, says Bank boss

Andrew Bailey told the BBC that as a public official he did not take a view on Brexit, but that reversing the post Brexit hit to UK-EU trade would be "beneficial".

Moon dust 'rarer than gold' arrives in UK from China

First Moon samples collected in nearly 50 years and loaned by China for the first time are now in the UK.

Trump hints tariffs on China may drop as talks set to begin

The US president's comments come as top trade officials from Washington and Beijing are due to meet.

Bill Gates plans to give away most of his fortune by 2045

Microsoft founder said he will speed up his charitable giving - and accused Elon Musk and Doge of "killing children" through aid cuts.

Who is Robert Prevost, the new pope?

Pope Leo XIV has supported his predecessor and focus will turn on whether he continues Church reforms.

Watch: From white smoke to balcony speech, how the new pontiff was unveiled

Robert Prevost becomes the first American to be elected pope, following a two-day conclave in Vatican City.

'Enthusiasm and joy' in new Pope's hometown of Chicago

Catholics are surprised and delighted in Chicago, where the church's influence persists despite declining numbers.

Pope Leo XIV marks new beginning for Catholic Church

Excited crowds gathered in St Peter's Square to witness the historic election of the first American Pope.

'God loves Peru': Country celebrates new Pope as one of their own

Robert Prevost is a source of pride for many Peruvians, who say he represents their country.

Inside the secretive world of Zara

The BBC's Emma Simpson gets a rare glimpse behind the scenes of how the fashion brand operates.

Hong Kong pro-China informer: 'Why I've reported dozens of people to police'

Ex-banker Innes Tang has established a hotline for reporting behaviours deemed disloyal to Beijing.

Weekly quiz: Which star showed off her baby bump at the Met Gala?

How much attention did you pay to what has been going on in the world over the past seven days?

The 2000s indie heroes who are back and bigger than ever

After being dismissed as "indie landfill", many guitar bands are back with a vengeance after 20 years.

'There is no truce': Ukraine's soldiers and civilians on Russia's ceasefire

The BBC's Yogita Limaye went to the Donetsk region of Ukraine to speak to soldiers about life on the frontline.

The Papers: US trade deal 'made by Brexit' and 'Holy smoke'

The UK has won the global race to "shake off worst Trump trade tariffs" and a new pope is elected.

Behind the smiles: Three things to watch as Xi meets Putin

The BBC’s Laura Bicker explains what to look out for during the Chinese leader's state visit to Russia.

Enforced skort rule in camogie 'screams sexism'

The Camogie Association is facing pressure to relax the rule on skorts being mandatory for players

UK to announce fresh sanctions on Putin's 'shadow fleet'

Officials say action will be taken against up to 100 oil tankers that have been carrying cargo.

Candles, wreaths, famous faces: VE Day at 80 in pictures

Events are taking place across the UK to mark the 80th anniversary of the end of World War Two in Europe.

Woman found not guilty of having illegal abortion in UK lockdown

Nicola Packer took abortion medicine at home when she was about 26 weeks pregnant, her trial heard.

Pair guilty of cutting down Sycamore Gap tree

Prosecutors say the pair thought it was "a laugh", but the "mindless thuggery" sparked global fury.

Pope Leo XIV calls Church 'a beacon to illuminate dark nights' in first Mass

Chicago-born Robert Prevost, 69, is the first North American to be elected pontiff.

Southport attack officers nominated for awards

Merseyside Police says three officers who were first to the Southport attacks showed great courage.

US confirms plan for private firms to deliver Gaza aid despite UN alarm

UN agencies say they will not co-operate with the proposed system because it appears to "weaponise" aid.

Three things we learned from Putin's Red Square parade

BC Monitoring's Russia Editor Vitaly Shevchenko reflects on the Victory Day spectacle in Moscow.

The first drone war opens a new chapter in India-Pakistan conflict

Experts say the tit-for-tat attacks mark a dangerous new phase in the decades-old rivalry. What next?

Rose named after Princess of Wales to celebrate 'power of nature'

The RHS said 'Catherine's Rose' will raise awareness of how nature and gardening can help to heal.

Madeleine McCann suspect faces new unrelated charge

Christian Brückner is the prime suspect in Madeleine McCann's disappearance in Portugal in 2007.

BA plane caught fire as pilot confused left and right

The aborted take-off involving a British Airways flight to Vancouver led to 23 cancelled departures.

Hormone-treated beef will not enter UK after US deal, says government

Farmers are raising questions over how checks will ensure US beef produced using hormones doesn't enter the UK market.

Sweden's national security adviser quits over Grindr images

Tobias Thyberg resigned from the job just hours after taking up the position on Thursday.

Bargain Hunt expert admits terror offence after sales to alleged Hezbollah financier

Oghenochuko Ojiri, who has been an expert on the BBC programme, has admitted eight offences.

What is behind the new pope's chosen name, Leo?

Due to a longstanding tradition, newly-elected popes are asked to change their names.

What Pope's speedy election says about Church's priorities

The new Pope is seen as someone who could unite traditionalist and progressive within the Church, writes the BBC's religion editor.

Oh my God, it's Rob! - Pope's brother speaks of joy

Pope Leo XIV's brother Louis says nothing will be the same again after his appointment.

Xi shows he wants to be close to Putin - but not too close

The relationship between China and Russia is no longer one of equals.

How a park ranger alerted the world to the Sycamore Gap tree's fate

Gary Pickles recalls his dismay at finding the felled tree.

'I saw the van, and next minute I'm in the air'- Nottingham attacks survivors speak for first time

Sharon Miller and Wayne Birkett were hit by a van driven by Valdo Calocane on 13 June 2023.

How can India and Pakistan find a way to de-escalate?

India and Pakistan both blame each other for escalating military tensions.

NHS plans 'unthinkable' cuts to balance books, health managers say

Diabetes care, rehab centres, end-of-life services and talking therapies at risk in England.

Talks with US over digital services continue, says PM

The government continues to push for a wider US trade pact after cutting car and steel tariffs.

Molly-Mae confirms she and Tommy are back together

The pair announced their split last August, five years after they met on reality series Love Island.

Two porn sites investigated for suspected age check failings

The UK demanded in January that porn sites show how they were beefing up age verification to stop children accessing them.

Rediscovered Thomas & Friends pilot to be released

The test episode of the fictional talking train, voiced by Ringo Starr, arrives on YouTube on Friday.

Bournemouth Echo

Man struggling with leg amputation died after falling into quay

A MAN struggling with a leg amputation died after driving his motorised wheelchair into Poole Quay, a court heard.

Meet the group offering a safe space for ex-military personnel

AN ORGANISATION started by military veterans to support ex-military personnel and serving military with re-integration to civilian life by dealing with the issues they face when leaving the Armed Forces.

Morebus passengers rise again - amid 'abuse' of tickets

MOREBUS has seen further growth this year – as it looks to carry as many passengers as possible.

In The Dock: Teenager assaulted person in McDonald's among the cases

The following cases were heard at Poole Magistrates' Court:

Man died after choking on lunch during cruise

A MAN died after choking on his lunch while on a cruise ship.

Richard Carr departs as owner of rugby club

Bournemouth Rugby have announced that Richard Carr will no longer be one of its three owners.

WWII explosive found at Dorset scrapyard

AN EXPLOSIVE ordnance believed to be from WW2 has been discovered at the scrapyard.

Bournemouth weather forecast: A mix of sunshine and clouds

The Met Office has not issued any weather warnings for the area.

Plans submitted for eight new apartments to replace family house

A PROPOSAL has been submitted to demolish a single-family home in Poole and replace it with a block of eight new apartments.

Items salvaged from Dorset seabed to go under the hammer

He decided to contact Charterhouse for a valuation, which led to the auction decision.

Poole firm's 'landmark' deal secures £350 million funding facility

The funding is composed of a £200 million senior-secured facility from J.P. Morgan and an additional £150 million facility from Pollen Street Capital.

Bournemouth surgery to get government funding for improvements

The first projects are expected to begin in the summer of 2025.

Bournemouth MP joins VE Day 80th anniversary commemorations

"It has been an honour to see our town’s pride and respect for our armed forces and veterans."

Gavin & Stacey star to visit Dorset as part of UK book tour

The story gives readers an inside look at the film industry, inspired by Mr Lamb's own experiences.

90-year-old woman walking 100 miles to help charity

"I will enjoy the challenge; this is not just a personal goal, it is a heartfelt commitment to support disabled children.

Bournemouth hotel opens largest EV charging station in resort

The Hilton Bournemouth installation is the first to be completed in this venture, offering hotel guests and visitors access to EV charging facilities.

Country hotel to open private gardens to public for first time

Visitors will also be able to explore the hotel's greenhouses and vegetable patches, which supply The Montagu Arms' restaurant, The Terrace.

Skittles night to raise funds for new community theatre production

The theatre group is also asking for people to take part in a survey to share their thoughts on this.

Dorset Police issues burglary warning ahead of summer

He advised residents to make their properties appear occupied when empty, by using a light timer switch, drawing the curtains and cancelling milk and newspaper deliveries.

Children from Dorset nursery build 'bug hotel' to support wildlife

"These activities help foster curiosity about the world around us and promote problem-solving skills as well as our imagination."

New board of trustees appointed at pivotal moment for museum

The museum, under Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole (BCP) Council's ownership, has been transformed over the past three years.

Police descend on school following 'emergency situation'

"Police will remain in attendance overnight and tomorrow."

Man arrested after child hit by a car in leisure centre field

Police remain at Blandford School, where several caravans have gathered in the field.

Road partially blocked after vehicle fire in Ringwood

A31 in Ringwood partially blocked after reports of a vehicle on fire.

Updates: Police and ambulances at incident in town centre

Police and ambulance services are in attendance on the corner of Richmond Hill and Post Office Road

Warning issued as Asian hornet spotted in New Forest trying to make nest

Asian Hornets have been spotted in the New Forest trying to create nests, the National Bee Unit has confirmed, with one trying to build a nest in Hythe.

WATCH: Moment a 'mini tornado' appears on beach

A beachgoer filmed the moment a mysterious phenomenon swirled across the sand in Bournemouth.

Firefighters tackle blaze at property under construction

A FIRE broke out at a property under construction.

Firefighters tackle blaze at unfinished building

Firefighters rushed to an unfinished building in Burley in the New Forest last night after a blaze broke out in the late evening.

‘A war that had to be fought’: Dorset marks 80 years since VE Day

Hundreds of people across Dorset gathered to mark the 80th anniversary of VE Day. Thursday, May 8, marked 80 years since the end of the Second World War.

Special forum on creative health and wellbeing to take place

It will serve as a platform to discuss opportunities and issues facing health and culture in Dorset and beyond, and to share projects, events and resources.

14-year-old boy sustains injuries after assault at recreation ground

A 14-year-old boy and a man in his 50s have sustained injuries following assaults at Turlin Moor Recreation Ground.

Wetherspoon customers issued warning as pint prices to rise by 20p in days

Wetherspoon customers have been warned that the price of a pint will go up by 20p in the coming days.

Martin Lewis update for savers and anyone with a mortgage, credit card or loan

Martin Lewis has given an update for savers and anyone with a mortgage, credit card or loan following the Bank of England announcement

Martin Lewis says Winter Fuel Payment policy 'needs to change'

Martin Lewis has highlighted the 'broken' system of means testing Winter Fuel Payments and says 'if a fix is to come, let it be a proper one'.

Three-year-old airlifted to hospital following 'serious collision'

A THREE year old was airlifted to hospital after being hit by a car which was towing a caravan.

Finalists for Dorset Apprenticeship Awards 2025 revealed

It has a vision for "a vibrant and prosperous Dorset business community that enhances the quality of life for all."

Emmerdale star quits show and their final scenes will be shown tonight

An Emmerdale star has quit the ITV show six years after their debut, and their final scenes on the Yorkshire soap have already been filmed.

Vet issues urgent flea warning to dog and cat owners - how to stay flea free

The summer is notorious as the peak time for fleas to run riot in the UK, with one female laying 50 eggs per day

Formula 1

F1 EXPLAINS: Guenther Steiner on calming rookies, leading a new F1 team and acting with Brad Pitt

How do F1 bosses keep the pressure off young drivers? What's it like launching a brand-new Formula 1 team? Former Haas Team Principal and future star of the F1 movie Guenther Steiner answers these questions and more live on-stage with the F1 Explains podcast at the Miami Grand Prix.

From brilliance in Baku to struggles in Sao Paulo – Colapinto’s 9 Grand Prix weekends so far ranked

Franco Colapinto will return to the Formula 1 grid next weekend when he takes over Jack Doohan’s Alpine race seat at the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix. Ahead of the Argentinian’s comeback, F1.com revisits his stand-in run for Williams over the second half of the 2024 season to provide a race-by-race ranking of his efforts…

‘We want to be fresh, bold and new’ – Cadillac chiefs on their plans for F1, and the drivers on their shortlist

The Miami Grand Prix weekend marked a seminal milestone for Cadillac, who will become Formula 1's 11th team next season, with a glitzy launch in Miami Beach and the coming together of the squad's senior figures for the first time since the all-American outfit's entry was officially rubber-stamped. 

‘I’m impressed, he’ll be fine’ – Red Bull praise Tsunoda for avoiding ‘intimidation’ of being Verstappen’s team mate

Yuki Tsunoda has received a positive report card from Red Bull Racing after his first few weekends at the team – Chief Engineer Paul Monaghan describing him as a “good member” who is “settling in really well” so far.

Wolff insists Hamilton magic 'is still there' as he backs him 'to be stellar' at Ferrari

Toto Wolff believes that the “magic” for Lewis Hamilton is “still there” amid some struggles for the seven-time World Champion during his few races at Ferrari, with Wolff confident that Hamilton will be “stellar” when he has fully aligned with the car.

Windows Central

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is nerfing its best skill after it started one-shotting every boss in sight: "We gave it a big damage boost—and clearly overdid it"

Maelle has a Skill in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 — Stendhal — so powerful that it's completely broken the game. Now, the developers are nerfing it and the builds that make it so overpowered.

Microsoft is hiring to double down on one of Xbox's best features; I can't wait

Xbox Backward Compatibility could come back if this new job listing is accurate, meaning much older games could be played on the latest Xbox hardware. Here's why it matters.

"It's not even funny anymore." Helldivers 2 players are putting the underwhelming new Warbond on blast, and I'm with them

Helldivers 2 developer Arrowhead has finally announced the game's new Masters of Ceremony Warbond, but the disappointing look of its unlocks has left many underwhelmed.

Tariffs could increase game console prices by up to 69% (not nice)

A report warns that electronics prices could rise if new tariffs take effect, with game consoles up 69% and smartphones, tablets, and laptops also increasing.

DOOM: The Dark Ages review and Metacritic score roundup — Does Xbox have its GOTY contender with this long-awaited shooter?

At long last, DOOM: The Dark Ages is finally here — but is the highly anticipated prequel the Xbox Game of the Year contender everyone's hoping it is? Here's what the reviews are saying, and how it's scoring on Metacritic.

Mafia: The Old Country will be $50, confirms leaked release date of August 2025

Mafia: The Old Country is launching in August 2025, and it'll be available at $50 USD.

You can now wrap your Xbox, Switch, or Steam Deck in glow-in-the-dark dbrand skins — is Surface Pro 12-inch next?

Limited glow-in-the-dark skins from dbrand just launched, combining iconic artwork with a nostalgic green glow.

AMD's new Radeon graphics driver is ready for DOOM: The Dark Ages and delivers FSR 4 upscaling support to Frostpunk 2, more

AMD's latest Radeon "Adrenaline Edition" GPU driver 25.5.1 supports FSR 4 (FidelityFX Super Resolution 4) upscaling tech to Frostpunk 2 and more PC hits.

I love DOOM: The Dark Ages' brutal dark fantasy so much that I'm awarding it a perfect score — eager for more

DOOM: The Dark Ages shakes up the established formula, inventing awesome new ways to rip and tear in a dark fantasy setting. Here's my review.

The Xbox app on Windows 11 gets a handy feature just in time for the Project Kennan handheld

The Xbox app on Windows 11 now shows additional system information in Compact Mode, particularly useful on gaming handhelds like the upcoming Project Kennan.

Overwatch 2 joins up with Street Fighter 6 in this dream-come-true collaboration

Blizzard has announced that Overwatch 2's next big crossover event will be with Capcom's flagship fighting game, Street Fighter 6, and it will go live later in May.

Build the ultimate Surface Pro 12-inch with these new accessories

Kensington’s new Surface Pro 12-inch accessories include a rugged case, privacy screen, and an elevated stand.

"Hey, why do I need Excel?": Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella foresees a disruptive Agentic AI era that could "aggressively" collapse 'Software as a Service' apps

Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella predicts the Agentic AI era might lead to the collapse of traditional Software as a Service business applications.

Bill Gates to donate '99% of his billions' to fix Elon Musk's mess: "The picture of the world's richest man killing the world's poorest children is not a pretty one"

Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates will give away $200 billion and spend the next 20 years eradicating deadly diseases and premature deaths of mothers and babies.

Laffgaff

Who was the last Catholic monarch of England?

King James II.

Inflatable Thief

Someone has stolen a collection of inflatables from the local pool. Police think he's decided to lilo.