The News - Tuesday, 20 May 2025

BBC News

UK now best placed country on trade - Reeves

The chancellor tells the BBC the latest trade agreements with the EU, US and India will boost economic growth.

Chris Mason: EU deal a reminder of an uneasy relationship

Our political editor reflects on the UK's deal with the EU to smoothen frictions in trade.

Trump's call with Putin exposes shifting ground on Ukraine peace talks

Statements from both world leaders reveal two very different realities about ending the war in Ukraine.

Family criticises law change on paedophiles' parental rights

Those convicted of child sexual offences may not be banned from contact with their own offspring.

Post Office data breach victims to get compensation

Hundreds of sub-postmasters had their names and addresses accidentally published online last year.

My AI therapist got me through dark times: The good and bad of chatbot counselling

With NHS mental health waitlists at record highs, are chatbots a possible solution?

Starmer joins condemnation of Israel over Gaza

The UK, France and Canada "strongly oppose" Benjamin Netanyahu's expansion of military operations.

British man breaks record for fastest run across Australia

William Goodge ran from Perth to Sydney in 35 days, running the equivalent of 2.5 marathons each day.

Sesame Street heads to Netflix after Trump pulled funding

The platform will offer a new season and 90 hours of previous episodes to its 300 million subscribers.

US to pay $5m to family of Capitol rioter shot by police

It would settle a wrongful death suit brought by the family of Ashli Babbitt, who was fatally shot by police while breaching the US Capitol.

Watch: How Gary Lineker's long BBC career came to an abrupt end

The Match of the Day host will leave the corporation after presenting his final episode on Sunday.

Fire chief took own life after harassment and questions over qualifications, inquest told

Wayne Brown was being investigated over claims he had lied on his CV when he died last year, aged 54.

What will 'reset' deal mean for UK economic growth?

The deal paves the way for more common ground with the EU, but only dismantles a fraction of the trade barriers erected post-Brexit.

UK-EU deal moves us on from Brexit rows, Starmer says

The deal covers defence, trade, fishing, and a possible youth scheme, in the first big reset since Brexit.

What does the new EU deal mean for Scotland?

The new agreement is set to affect sectors including fishing, agriculture, hospitality and defence.

New UK-EU deal long overdue, says garden centre owner

A new UK-EU deal means the reversal of a ban on British-grown plants being sold in Northern Ireland.

Who are the winners and losers from the UK-EU agreement?

A deal between the UK and European Union (EU) has been agreed at a post-Brexit leaders summit in London.

Scientists in a race to discover why our Universe exists

Researchers in the US and Japan are competing to explain the existence of the planets, stars and galaxies.

The Papers: 'UK condemns Israel' and 'Brexit reset'

Reaction to the UK's new trade deal with the EU dominated the front pages of Tuesday's papers.

Royals, celebrities and dogs shine at Chelsea Flower Show

The horticultural event welcomes royals, celebrities and dogs, showing rewilding and pet-friendly designs.

Gary Lineker could not keep quiet. In the end, it finished his BBC career

His years as a BBC host end in circumstances nobody would have wanted, but some might have predicted.

Huge challenges await new president of divided Romania

"Fear managed to defeat fury" is how one analyst interpreted liberal Nicusor Dan beating hard-right George Simion to the presidency.

Tesla battery maker sees shares jump on Hong Kong debut

China's CATL makes more than a third of electric vehicle batteries sold worldwide and also supplies VW and Toyota.

TikTok star Zoë Bread wins parking fine battle after campaign

A woman dons a bread mask and launches social media campaign to win a battle over a parking ticket.

Amputee, 92, Tasered, pepper sprayed and hit with baton by police, court hears

Donald Burgess, who had one leg and was in poor health, was also pepper sprayed in his care home.

US Supreme Court lets Trump end deportation protections for 350,000 Venezuelans

Temporary Protected Status allows people to live and work in the US legally if their home countries are deemed to be unsafe.

Third man arrested over fires at homes linked to PM

A 34-year-old man is arrested over alleged arson attacks on properties connected to Sir Keir Starmer.

Jeremy Bowen: Goodwill running out as allies demand that Israel end Gaza offensive

France, the UK and Canada are among nations that have sharpened their criticism of Israel's ground offensive.

Ministers consider easing winter fuel payment cuts

Options under discussion include changing eligibility, or restoring the payments to all pensioners.

Doubts over whether Brits can use EU e-gates this summer

It is unclear whether UK travellers can avoid long queues this summer and use e-gates at European airports.

Spain orders Airbnb to take down 66,000 listings as mass tourism backlash returns

The Spanish government calls for the removal of almost 66,000 property listings saying they breach tourism rules.

Second man charged over fires at homes linked to Starmer

Stanislav Carpiuc, 26, has been charged with conspiracy to commit arson with intent to endanger life, police say.

Millions of consumers could get £70 after Mastercard ruling

It is not necessary to have held a Mastercard to make a claim, after a court ruled historic fees the firm charged were unfair.

Lorraine's ITV show cut to 30 minutes as job cuts loom

The daytime show will be cut by half an hour as

Her bravery shone through, says family of firefighter who died in business park blaze

Firefighters Jennie Logan and Martyn Sadler, along with father Dave Chester, died in the fire.

Girl, 11, who drowned at water park unlawfully killed, inquest rules

Kyra Hill, 11, drowned during a birthday party at the park near Windsor in August 2022.

Supplier to major supermarkets hit by cyber attack

Logistics firm Peter Green Chilled supplies major supermarkets, but it is relatively small compared to its rivals.

Ryanair tells flight attendants in Spain to repay salary rises after union wins court case

The Irish airline is pursuing members of a Spanish union to hand back up to €3,000 following a ruling.

UK sanctions 'godmother' of Israel's settler movement Daniella Weiss

The foreign secretary said the move "demonstrates our determination to hold extremist settlers to account".

Watch: Gazan babies will die without aid, UN humanitarian chief warns

About 14,000 babies will die in 48 hours if aid does not reach them, a UN humanitarian chief warns.

At least 38 killed by Israeli strikes in Gaza in half-hour period, medics say

Fighter jets hit sites including a school in Gaza City, the Hamas-run civil defence agency says.

Watch: 'You don't do that to someone you love' - doorbell camera captures domestic abuse

Hayley, a domestic abuse survivor, details years of violence and control.

What does the UK-EU deal mean for holidays and jobs? Your questions answered

We have been answering questions on the trade deal submitted via Your Voice, Your BBC News.

Can AI therapists really be an alternative to human help?

With NHS mental health waitlists at record highs, are chatbots a possible solution?

Biden's cancer diagnosis raises fresh questions about his health in White House

The news that he has "aggressive" prostate cancer has some medics asking why it was not detected sooner.

British teen Bella Culley is behind bars in Georgia. What is life like inside her prison?

Bella Culley, 18, is being held in a Georgian prison after being charged with drug offences.

Wife of Tory councillor loses appeal against jail sentence for racist Southport post

Lucy Connolly called for migrant hotels to be "set on fire" on the day of the Southport attacks.

Zelensky accuses Russia of 'buying time' to stall truce talks

It follows Donald Trump saying Russia and Ukraine will "immediately" start negotiating, after a two-hour phone call with Vladimir Putin.

Man who helped smuggle more than 3,000 people into Europe jailed for 25 years

Ahmed Ebid is believed to be the first person from the UK convicted of organising boat crossings across the Mediterranean.

Jennifer Lopez sued for posting photos of herself

A photographer and picture agency are seeking up to $150,000 (£112,000) damages each per photo.

Teenagers admit torturing and killing kittens

A boy, 17, and girl, 16, plead guilty to killing the animals found in a field on 3 May.

Liberty Steel plants in Rotherham and Sheffield under threat

A court will decide whether the firm should be wound up on Wednesday

Fortnite faces complaint from actors' union over AI Darth Vader

Sag-Aftra says the hit video game has used tech to replace human performers.

Formula 1

Formula 1 and Disney launching Mickey & Friends collaboration in 2026

Formula 1 and Disney have announced an exciting new collaboration that will see Mickey & Friends in the high-speed world of F1 from 2026.

F1 NATION: Verstappen's masterclass, positives for Piastri and pressure at Ferrari – it’s our Emilia-Romagna GP review

Former Red Bull Racing driver Daniil Kvyat and F1.com editor Greg Stuart join Tom Clarkson in the Imola paddock to discuss Max Verstappen’s sensational victory at the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix.

'F1' movie tickets to go on sale as Fan-First Premiere Screenings are expanded

Due to overwhelming popularity, with sold-out screenings in 25 markets across the globe, Warner Bros. Pictures and IMAX are expanding their Fan-First Premiere Screenings of Apple Original Films’ F1 The Movie to 400 IMAX houses worldwide.

GREATEST RACES #24: Jim Clark's wet weather masterclass – 1963 Belgian Grand Prix

Coming in at No. 24 on our Greatest Races list is the 1963 Belgian Grand Prix as David Tremayne reflects on a race that helped cement the legendary status of two-time World Champion Jim Clark...

Hulkenberg calls Imola ‘one of the closer ones’ as Kick Sauber come within touching distance of points

Nico Hulkenberg was left to rue the late Safety Car that denied him any chance of sneaking a point on Sunday at Imola, after the German has found himself in 10th place with not much of the race left.

TECH WEEKLY: McLaren’s ingenious design is the latest step in a spectacular evolution in rear brake duct design

There has been a lot of intrigue recently about how an ingenious McLaren rear brake duct design is helping the MCL39 have better tyre temperature control than the others.

WIN THE ULTIMATE BRITISH GP EXPERIENCE WITH F1 UNLOCKED

F1 Unlocked member exclusive. Enter to win your chance to experience the British GP, like a VIP.

POWER RANKINGS: Who impressed our judges during an incident-packed weekend at Imola?

Red Bull driver Max Verstappen delivered another masterclass to take victory in the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix and keep the pressure on his McLaren rivals on Sunday. But who else caught the attention of our judges across an action-packed Imola weekend? Check out the latest Power Rankings scores and overall leaderboard below...

‘The rest was perfect’ – Hadjar pinpoints the one thing he needs to work on after another points finish at Imola

Isack Hadjar has pinpointed exactly what he needs to work on after he was left frustrated with one particular element of his race at Imola, despite what he described as a near “perfect” Grand Prix that saw him finish ninth to pick up two vital points for Racing Bulls.

Vasseur admits Ferrari ‘are not fast enough’ as he highlights Qualifying concerns ahead of Monaco

Ferrari had a much better Sunday in Imola than Saturday, getting both cars home well into the points. Lewis Hamilton rose from 12th on the grid to fourth at the flag, with Charles Leclerc sixth. But having watched both cars exit in Q2 in Qualifying, team boss Fred Vasseur was under no illusions where their problems lie.

Windows Central

The Witcher 3 celebrates its 10th anniversary, and it's still one of my favorite games of all time

I look back at The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt as it celebrates its 10th anniversary, as CD Projekt RED's fantasy RPG is still one of my favorite games of all time.

I'm glad Helldivers 2 finally got this highly requested feature in time for the Illuminate invasion update

As the Illuminate invades in Helldivers 2, developer Arrowhead has implemented a huge change that makes it easier and more convenient to contribute to Super Earth's war effort.

At $799, the best OLED Windows laptop of 2025 with the longest battery life is also the cheapest

One of the best laptops I've tested this year is now just $799. It's super light, minimal, fast, and gets 10+ hours of real-world battery life, making it our top recommendation for anyone needing a non-gaming Windows laptop.

Microsoft's premium Xbox Elite Series 2 Wireless Controller is on sale with a rare 20% discount

There is a big 20% discount sale going on for the Xbox Elite Series 2 Controller, that chopped the price of this critically acclaimed controller to a more affordable price for the general public.

"Bungie leadership needs to be gutted completely." Former Marathon dev says Bungie "was extremely toxic and humiliating" to work with days after art theft controversy

Days after Marathon developer Bungie found itself in the middle of an art theft controversy, a former employee has now come out and said the studio's leadership "needs to be gutted completely."

I found the best Elden Ring Nightreign deal you'll see before launch — save nearly $10 on FromSoftware's co-op spinoff

The release of Elden Ring Nightreign is imminent, and ahead of launch, you can preorder for nearly $10 off on Xbox and PC with this deal. Without a doubt, this is the best sale you'll see before the game is out.

DOOM: The Dark Ages PC launch has been dismal, but not because it's a bad game — I'm not surprised if player counts are lower

NVIDIA gamers are still in the majority on PC, and they've been sorely let down with DOOM: The Dark Ages. So it's not surprising numbers are low.

I found a 20 year old World of Warcraft PvP video I made when I was 18, and it's a bit like an internet time capsule to better times

This past week saw the 20 year anniversary of the legend Leeroy Jenkins World of Warcraft meme, which was among the internet's most early user-generated video gaming memes.

This new tech could be for AI agents what HTML was to the open web

At Build 2025, Microsoft discussed NLWeb and MCP, open standards that could revolutionize the web and help developers connect sites to AI agents.

NZXT's latest PC case is the one I've been dreaming about, but it might not be right for you

NZXT refreshed its H9 Flow RGB+ for 2025, and I was able to build my gaming PC inside ahead of launch. It's an impressive case made for enthusiasts, and it's easy to recommend.

Crucial's new PCIe 5.0 SSD is the first high-performance drive I'm considering putting into a laptop

Crucial announced a new T710 PCIe 5.0 SSD made for high-performance laptops and desktop PCs. With it comes a new X10 portable SSD with USB-C 3.2 (Gen 2x2) speed.

The biggest unanswered questions about Xbox's next-gen consoles

The 10th generation of mainstream video game consoles kicks off with the Nintendo Switch 2, but what's Xbox's answer going to look like?

Samsung takes on LG's best gaming TVs — adds NVIDIA G-SYNC support to 2025 flagship

Samsung's 2025 OLED TV lineup supports NVIDIA G-SYNC, adding a key feature to compete with the best gaming TVs.

Qualcomm's new Adreno Control Panel will let you fine-tune the GPU for certain games on Snapdragon X Elite devices

Snapdragon X Elite devices are getting a new Adreno Control Panel app that will let users and developers tweak the GPU for enhanced performance in certain games.

Helldivers 2: Heart of Democracy update is live, and you need to jump in to save Super Earth from the Illuminate

The Illuminate invasion of Super Earth is now underway in Helldivers 2, threatening managed democracy in the streets and cities.

Microsoft makes limited edition Surface Slim Pen in vibrant colors, but you can't buy one

The Surface Slim Pen has only ever been available in black, but a limited edition set of colorful Surface Slim Pens were recently given out at a Surface influencer event.

Outlook's classic yellow icon is back... at least unofficially

Microsoft is testing out new icons for its most popular apps. A recent survey inspired an artist to make a modernized Outlook logo in the app's clasic yellow.

Raidou Remastered feels more like a proper Pokémon action-RPG than Palworld, and I can't get enough of this cult classic

A look at the first two chapters of RAIDOU Remastered: The Mystery of the Soulless Army, a remaster of the action-RPG spin-off from Atlus’ Shin Megami Tensei.

I tested Nacon's new 'Revolution X Unlimited' Xbox controller — It nails the basics, but not the details

The Nacon Revolution X Unlimited controller is a solid Xbox gamepad that incorporates Hall Effect sticks, a variety of customization, and a bright and responsive LCD configuration screen. Is it worth buying? Read on to find out.

NVIDIA's latest driver fixes some big issues with DOOM: The Dark Ages

After a pretty poor launch of DOOM: The Dark Ages for NVIDIA graphics users, the latest driver does at least fix some of the biggest issues.

One of the most promising open-world RPGs in years is releasing next week on Xbox and PC

Tainted Grail: Fall of Avalon is all kinds of Wyrd as it tackles the world of King Arthur 600 years after his death.

Elon Musk's Grok 3 AI coming to Azure proves Satya Nadella's allegiance isn't to OpenAI, but to maximizing Microsoft's profit gains by heeding consumer demands

At Microsoft's annual Build developer conference, the company announced that xAI's Grok 3 and Grok 3 mini are joining Azure's long list of AI models.

GPT-5 should have a higher "degree of scientific certainty" than the current ChatGPT — but with less model switching

GPT-5 will be able to achieve everything the ChatGPT maker's current versions can, but with less switching between its AI models.

Laffgaff

The first ever Formula 1 World Championship race was held at what English circuit?

Silverstone.

More Greens

The doctor said I need to eat more greens. So I'm switching to mint chocolate chip ice cream.

Itsfoss

Those Blinking LEDs on Your Raspberry Pi Have Special Meanings

Raspberry Pi’s status LEDs are a surprisingly powerful diagnostic tool, especially for headless setups.