BBC News
'Police failed to tell me about my partner's violent past - he ended up strangling me'
Delays have been widespread in a scheme protecting potential abuse victims, police data suggests.
Reeves vows to 'defy' gloomy economic forecasts
The chancellor says investment is the answer to boosting the UK's productivity performance.
Israeli strikes kill 33 in Gaza, Hamas-run civil defence says, as Trump insists ceasefire remains
Israel and Hamas have both accused each other of breaking the US-brokered ceasefire.
Home Office has struggled to deal with crises, says Mahmood
The home secretary speaks to the BBC while overseeing a police operation in south London aimed at tackling illegal working.
Illegal teeth-whitening industry exposed by BBC
A BBC investigation finds kits on sale with more than 500 times the legal limit of bleaches in them.
Brigitte Macron's life 'deteriorated' after alleged cyber-bullying, daughter says
Tiphaine Auzière was testifying in the trial of ten people accused of cyber-bullying her mother, the French first lady.
BBC 'deeply concerned' about journalist unable to leave Vietnam
The journalist has been in Vietnam for several months while authorities have withheld their renewed passport.
Elderly woman left behind by cruise ship on Great Barrier Reef island found dead
The ship's crew realised the 80-year-old was missing several hours after they had left the island
US kills 14 in strikes on four alleged drug boats in Pacific
Mexico's navy is searching for the sole survivor of the latest attack on boats the US says were carrying drugs in both the Pacific and Caribbean.
Floods hit Jamaica as Hurricane Melissa leaves trail of destruction
Hurricane Melissa is the strongest storm to hit the Caribbean nation in modern history.
Windows blown in, trees uprooted and croc warnings - Hurricane Melissa batters Jamaica
Hours after the storm passed Jamaica, causing a massive power outage, authorities urged residents to continue sheltering.
'We are all terrified'
"I am trying to use my own manpower to stop the wind blowing in the door," a frightened mother tells the BBC.
The Papers: 'Storm of the century' and 'Farewell, Sybil'
Hurricane Melissa and the death of Fawlty Towers actress Prunella Scales make Wednesday's papers.
Watch Prunella Scales's memorable moments in Fawlty Towers
Fawlty Towers actress Prunella Scales, best known for playing hotel manager Sybil Fawlty, has died aged 93.
The AI job cuts are here - or are they?
Amazon's latest cuts fed into anxiety about AI replacing workers. But some are sceptical that recent layoffs are a telling sign of how AI is affecting employment.
What are the government's options on asylum seeker accommodation?
Where to put asylum seekers has become one of the fiercest topics of political debate since last year's general election.
'No Trump! No China!': Caught in the middle, South Korea hosts rival superpowers
South Korea's President Lee is in for a diplomatic dance as he hosts the leaders of US and China.
The 79-year-old boxer whose moves have made him an unlikely TikTok star
Frank Gilfeather hung up his gloves more than half a century ago but is now an unlikely boxing superstar.
One of Britain's finest comic actors: Prunella Scales dies aged 93
The versatile actress, who has died aged 93, will be best remembered for her portrayal of Sybil Fawlty.
At least 64 killed in Rio's largest police raid on gangs
Fierce clashes erupted in the Brazilian city, with the Red Command gang dropping bombs with drones.
Fifth Met Police officer sacked after BBC investigation
A Met Police sergeant was found guilty of gross misconduct over behaviour filmed in an undercover report by Panorama.
Ben & Jerry's co-founder says Unilever blocked Palestine-themed ice cream
Ben Cohen says he will independently create the new watermelon flavour in support of "permanent peace in Palestine".
Fear of mass killings as thousands trapped in besieged Sudan city taken by militia group
The UN says there are credible reports of "summary executions" in el-Fasher.
Irish man killed in first Australian mine explosion in a decade
Ambrose McMullen, who was known as Ambie, from Cootehill, in County Cavan, is understood to have been killed at the Endeavor mine at Cobar.
Headlights to be reviewed after drivers complain of being 'blinded' at night
Concern over the glare from brighter headlamps is prompting the government to review vehicle design.
Migrant sex offender given £500 after threat to disrupt deportation
Hadush Kebatu was given the money to avoid a "slower, more expensive process", Downing Street said.
Two suspects partially admit involvement in Louvre heist, prosecutor says
The Paris prosecutor says the jewels are not yet recovered and there could be a bigger gang behind the theft.
Neighbours with baseball bats 'saved life' of man attacked in London triple stabbing
Uxbridge residents ran out with baseball bats to protect one of the men attacked on Monday.
Starmer declines to rule out breaking manifesto tax pledges
The prime minister fails to repeat a promise not to raise income tax rates, VAT or National Insurance next month.
New videos show executions after militia takes key Sudan city
RSF troops executed a number of unarmed people after seizing el-Fasher, videos reviewed by BBC Verify show.
Teenager guilty of murdering boy at NYE event
Harry Pitman, 16, died after he was stabbed at Primrose Hill, north London, on 31 December 2023.
Character.ai to ban teens from talking to its AI chatbots
The AI chatbot app, which has millions of users, said it was responding to parents and regulators.
Jamaicans wake to devastation - floods, power cuts and crippled communications
With communication networks in Jamaica crippled, the true scale of the disaster remains unknown.
UK to provide £2.5m in support to Jamaica after hurricane
As many as 8,000 Britons are in Jamaica and the FCDO has urged them to register their presence.
How do hurricanes form and are they getting stronger?
These powerful tropical storms are generally becoming more intense as the world warms.
Police failed to tell me about my partner's violent past. He ended up choking me
Delays have been widespread in a scheme protecting potential abuse victims, police data suggests.
Angry Spaniards still demand answers a year after Valencia's deadly floods
The devastating weather phenomenon left more than 230 dead - in the worst floods Spain had seen for decades.
Why Delhi's experiment to fix toxic smog with artificial rain failed
Officials attempt to artifically trigger rains in the city to tackle its worsening air pollution.
Three things you need to know about the Trump-Xi meeting in South Korea
The two world leaders are set to hold talks in South Korea, after months of escalating trade tension between the US and China.
‘It’s easy to do and the profit is insane’: Secret filming exposes dangerous teeth-whitening industry
A BBC investigation finds kits on sale containing more than 500 times the legal limit of bleach.
Investigation after woman left behind by cruise ship dies on island
Crew of Coral Adventurer only realised the 80-year-old Australian was missing hours after they left Lizard Island on the Great Barrier Reef.
Attorney general blames outdated law for collapse of China spy case
The government's chief legal adviser says the trial would have gone ahead if new legislation had been in force.
Cancelling Zoë Bread fine was mistake, council says
Liverpool City Council says decision to quash fine was incorrect, despite the TikTok user's earlier victory
Government set to miss 1.5m new homes target, housebuilders warn
Housebuilders tell the government's budget watchdog the new homes target for England is too optimistic.
David Attenborough backs bid to buy £30m estate for wildlife conservation
Wildlife trusts attempt to raise £30m to keep Northumberland's Rothbury Estate from being split up.
Asylum seeker who murdered man inside bank jailed
Haybe Cabdiraxmaan Nur is jailed for life for the murder of 37-year-old Gurvinder Johal.
Former MP Mhairi Black to play detective in BBC legal drama
Black, who was the SNP deputy leader at Westminster, will play a detective in the eight-part series in her first acting role for television.
Bournemouth Echo
Inside the 'haunted' chapel that has a terrifying secret
To the casual observer, it is a beautifully preserved 18th-century chapel, a relic of a bygone era. But after dark, it is something more
Pet shop going cashless after 'aggressive' short-change scam
A pet shop in Christchurch has stopped accepting cash payments after it was recently scammed and a staff member was made to feel threatened.
Works begin to transform town centre into 'ultimate festive destination'
The teams behind this year's Christmas market and tree wonderland are busy preparing for its launch on November 13, running until December 31.
'Funding landscape has changed dramatically', says struggling cancer charity
A Dorset charity supporting young people with cancer is urging local people and businesses to rally behind small charities, as new data reveals a steep national decline in charitable giving.
Swanage Literary Festival returning to the Mowlem Theatre
The Swanage Literary Festival returns to The Mowlem Theatre next month for its second year, promising to be bigger and better than before.
Parents 'happy and excited' after launch of refurbished play area
FAMILIES and children gathered for a launch event of new and improved play area offering accessible and inclusive space for kids.
Hobby artist 'overwhelmed' as shortlisted for prestigious art prize - vote now
Lara Davis, from Blandford Forum, entered the British Art Prize 2025, run by the Artists and Illustrators magazine with her drawing of a highland cow, created using pastel pencils on a pastel mat.
Charity faces £1,000 loss as bypass closure disrupts 'vital' therapy sessions
A CHARITY fears it will lose £1,000 and be forced to cancel vital therapy sessions for vulnerable children because of the Christchurch bypass closure.
Pre-school praised for 'working hard to improve' with exemplary Ofsted report
A PRE-SCHOOL which was previously told it "requires improvement" has been praised for its improvements, with an inspection finding it to be a place that children settle into "very happily".
Police concerned for the welfare of missing man
A search is underway for a missing man.
LIVE: Cordon put up as emergency services respond to incident
Emergency services are attending an incident in Poole
Man driving stolen car killed in 'catastrophic' crash with HGV
A MAN driving a stolen car with false plates was killed after pulling out in front of a HGV in the early hours
War of words heats up over plan to scrap free parking across New Forest
A war of words has broken out in the New Forest over plans to levy charges in 130 car parks across the district
Broken down vehicle causes slow traffic on A31
There are reports of partially blocked and slow traffic on the A31 this morning following a crash at the A348 Ringwood Road roundabout.
‘I don’t feel safe’: Residents in fear over brazen youths scaling derelict care home
Residents have been left in fear after brazen youths have been caught scaling a derelict care home and shouting abuse at neighbours.
Air ambulance attending to incident in Poole
An air ambulance is attending to an incident in Dorset Way.
41 prison staff members investigated for misconduct in three years
A freedom of information request submitted by the Bournemouth Echo has revealed that, between April 2021 and March 2024, 41 members of staff at HMP Guys Marsh have been investigated for misconduct.
Ringwood to be transformed into winter wonderland this Christmas
The launch of Ringwood's Winter Wanderland is fast approaching, with festivities set to kick off on November 30.
Car smashed into bollard near water treatment site
A CAR smashed into a bollard near a water treatment site before driving down a bridle path.
Man dies after 'concern for welfare' as emergency services swarm property
A man has died following a "concern for welfare" in Poole as emergency services descended to an incident on Wednesday morning.
Giant pumpkin grown in Lymington sets two Guinness World Records
Hampshire twins Ian and Stuart Paton grow world's heaviest and largest pumpkin, setting Guinness World Records. The Nelson family also set the pumpkin mosaic record at Sunnyfields Farm.
'Gridlocked in every direction': Residents fury at Christchurch bypass closure
Christchurch Town Council has reminded people that it is not responsible for the 'chaos' caused by the bypass closure.
Man arrested on suspicion of driving offences after crash
A man from Bournemouth has been arrested following a single-vehicle crash near Blandford.
Police appeal after clothes stolen from shop in Hampshire
At the time of the incident, he was reportedly wearing a white polo shirt, black shorts and white trainers.
Man banned from driving for three years after admitting drink-driving
Poole man Brogan Wake banned from driving for three years after drink-driving conviction at Poole Magistrates’ Court. Fined £700 and ordered to pay £85 in costs to the Crown Prosecution Service.
What new renters' rights will mean for Dorset residents
The Renters’ Rights Bill is now law, ending section 21 “no-fault” evictions and strengthening tenant protections in Dorset, likely from April 2026.
Hall & Woodhouse to donate 50 per cent of Charity Day sales
Hall & Woodhouse is set to donate 50 per cent of its sales on Charity Day.
Care home helping provide Christmas gifts for disadvantaged children
Heathland House care home on Wimborne Road East supports FCS Mission Santa Sacks 2025, collecting Christmas gifts for disadvantaged children. Donations welcome.
Craft fair raises £450 for Rotary supported charities
He added: "We will run the fair again next year, and the money received from this year’s event will be used to benefit Rotary supported charities."
Latest plans submitted for redevelopment of former theme park
In the latest set of plans, new signage has been requested for the site, directing users to the entrance and car parking areas.
Roald Dahl's The Enormous Crocodile coming to Lighthouse
Roald Dahl's "The Enormous Crocodile" musical comes to Lighthouse Poole, 7–10 May. Family show with puppets and songs.
Almshouse selling altarpiece to fund homes for people in need
St. Johns’ Almshouse in Sherborne is selling its altarpiece to fund accommodation for those in need.
'Farage's aping of Trump's policies is predictable and wearisome'
I write following the letter from Sally Wilton (27th October, 'Farage apes Trump's policies because he can't think of his own').
'The Great Magician of the North' coming to Bournemouth
Chris Cross, "The Great Magician of the North," brings his new close-up magic show to Bournemouth’s Chaplin's Cellar Bar on 17 November. Tickets £25.
Domestic abuse victim finds new purpose as south west magistrate
Wiltshire domestic abuse victim Linda Walton has become a magistrate, inspired to volunteer to help deliver justice in the south west of England.
Museum to host sophisticated evening of fine wine sampling
Enjoy an evening of fine wine sampling at Russell-Cotes Art Gallery & Museum, with an expert-led masterclass and sake sampling, 22 November.
More than 25,000 bulbs to light up town for Christmas switch-on
Wimborne Christmas Lights Switch-On: Over 25,000 LED bulbs, Christmas market, live music and choir performances. Free event.
Bournemouth's 'biggest' fireworks party is returning in November
Bournemouth Fireworks returns to Littledown Centre on 8 November with three dazzling displays, live music, food stalls, funfair and family activities.
Charity fair to be held at King Street Community Centre
Wimborne in Bloom Charities Fair on 8 November at King Street Community Centre. Free entry, fundraising for charities. Join or visit the event.
Skating rink to reopen with brand-new themed party nights
Cool Coast Ice Rink at Bournemouth International Centre reopens 13 Dec 2025–22 Feb 2026 with themed party nights, beginner, advanced, and relaxed sessions.
Charminster is the happiest place to live in Bournemouth
Charminster named happiest place to live in Bournemouth in Furniturebox survey, praised for community spirit, schools, and family-friendly living.
New organisation set up to protect BCP tourism sector
This move is aimed at creating an industry-led, commercially focused and resilient model for tourism in the area.
Dorset Police 999 call response times exceed national target
"This rapid response is essential for keeping our communities safe."
Review: MAMMA MIA! is the ultimate feel-good musical
Experience the smash-hit ABBA musical MAMMA MIA! at Southampton’s Mayflower Theatre. Enjoy timeless hits, dazzling dance routines, and uplifting entertainment.
Rare photographs and theatre programmes saved for future generations
An archive of rare photographs and theatre programmes is being preserved by a team of volunteers at Bournemouth Pavilion.
Bournemouth school recognised as top performer in southwest
LeAF Studio wins the Regional Pupil Choice Award at the 2025 Edurio Awards, recognised as the top performer in the southwest region.
How to transform your home into a winter wonderland this Christmas
Haskins Garden Centres reveal top Christmas decorating tips, including Carnival and Winter Wishes themes, festive colour schemes, and styling advice.
Women can now access morning-after pill without a GP appointment
Women in England can now get the morning-after pill free at high street pharmacies, as NHS expands access to emergency contraception and sexual health services.
Blind veteran creates special candles to commemorate Remembrance
Dorset blind veteran Tony Haskey sells Remembrance candles with wax poppies, donating half of the profits to Blind Veterans UK. Honour loved ones and support UK veterans.
Music director clocks up 250,000 miles to conduct Dorset choir
Tim Hooper travels weekly from Watford to conduct the Bournemouth Bach Choir. See 2025/26 season, concert at Wimborne Minster.
New recycling service sees 208 missed collections in first week
"This marks another significant milestone in our journey to deliver a more efficient and sustainable waste and recycling service for the New Forest."
Police call handlers praised for 'vital service' to community
Dorset Police celebrates its contact management team during International Control Room Week, highlighting 999 call handling, EVR video response, and online reporting.
The Ivy Bournemouth Brasserie to transform into Emerald City
The Ivy Bournemouth Brasserie celebrates Halloween with an Emerald City theme, a new dessert, cocktails, and live Wicked & Wizard of Oz music, October–November.
'Let's all play by the rules in swimming pool'
Having poor health I am a member of a local swimming club, and enjoy swimming a couple of times a week to lower high blood sugar and help me relax having acquired brain injury.
Care home donates hamper for charity treasure trail
Hyacinth House Care Home donates family hamper to Guide Dog UK’s Wimborne treasure trail, supporting local fundraising for guide dogs and community involvement.
Sherborne set to host New Year's Eve celebration to remember
Sherborne is set to host a New Year's Eve celebration to remember.
Care home team slept rough to raise funds for homelessness charity
Southbourne Beach Care Home staff slept rough for YMCA Bournemouth’s Big Sleep Easy 2025, raising awareness and funds for people experiencing homelessness.
Art exhibition to feature work from 140 local artists
Discover the Art in Poundbury Winter Exhibition at Jubilee Hall in Poundbury. View and buy original works, prints, and cards by 140 local artists, raising money for Dorset County Hospital Charity and Arts in Hospital.
Gallery exhibition of poetry and art open until November
Discover 'Art of Poetry 2' at Lighthouse Poole—an exhibition uniting 35 artists and 50 poems from members and invited friends of Poole Poetry Collective. Free entry until 22 November.
Formula 1
Louis Tomlinson to headline F1 Grid Gigs in Las Vegas
The Las Vegas Grand Prix is set to turn up the volume for the 2025 race weekend, with acts including Louis Tomlinson and Kane Brown confirmed to headline the electrifying entertainment on the grid.
Should there have been more penalties in Mexico?
Former F1 driver Jolyon Palmer picks the bones out of the penalties handed out in Mexico.
Mika Hakkinen on his incredible recovery from horror crash
Two-time F1 World Champion Mika Hakkinen reflects on the impact of his Adelaide crash in a special Beyond The Grid Legends episode.
How to style F1 merch beyond race weekends
Transform your F1 team merch into everyday outfits. 10 stylish looks showing how to wear racing gear anywhere, whether in the office, out and about, or even on a date.
Mexico disappointment for Alpine's Colapinto and Gasly
Franco Colapinto admits there "was not a lot of things we can do" as the Argentinian and Alpine team mate Pierre Gasly finished at the back of the field in the Mexico City Grand Prix.
10 quiz questions on the Mexico City GP and latest F1 news
Were you paying attention to the on-track action at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez over the weekend?
Alonso found Mexico City ‘difficult’ for Aston Martin
Fernando Alonso did not make the chequered flag in Sunday’s Mexico City Grand Prix, the Spanish racer forced to retire midway through with a brake issue. With Lance Stroll also unable to score, it left Aston Martin in a precarious position in the Championship with four races to go.
Windows Central
Microsoft begins rolling out new Start menu on Windows 11 — here's everything you should know
The new Start menu that Microsoft unveiled for Windows 11 earlier this year is now beginning to roll out for users who install the latest optional non-security update.
Battlefield 6 REDSEC reaches all-new player counts — Is it the Warzone crusher?
Battlefield launches an all-new Battle Royale mode that's free-to-play, causing flocks of players to try it out.
Battlefield 6 REDSEC's mixed Steam reviews ignite a firestorm — "This is not why I bought Battlefield 6."
From forced Battle Pass integration to being a Warzone clone, players aren't happy.
ID@Xbox showcase recap: Every indie game announcement from the Fall 2025 event
Every world premiere, update, and deep dive from the Fall 2025 ID@Xbox showcase.
Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella is "looking forward," to the next Xbox — "We want to do innovative work on the system side, on both console and PC."
In a new interview, Microsoft CEO offered some rare comments on Xbox's gaming strategy, talking up the new console and musing on the death of the Xbox exclusive.
Battlefield 6 Redsec looks like the battle royale game that might finally win me over — but one missing feature is really killing my buzz
EA and Battlefield Studios have officially kicked off the Battlefield battle royale Battlefield Redsec, and I (mostly) like what I'm seeing.
Amazon Games layoffs cut into development and publishing groups, ending updates for MMO New World — while the company is praising AI
Amazon Games is laying off large chunks of its development and publishing teams.
Vampire Survivors drops a bucketload of new content with a Balatro collab and an "expansion within an expansion" — and it's not over yet
Vampire Survivors just added Balatro content, online co-op, a bunch of new levels and expanded the Castlevania expansion
Xbox Series X
Xbox Series X
Xbox Game Pass
Xbox Game Pass
Xbox
Xbox
ON THIS DAY: Windows 10 Mobile now on nearly 6 percent of all Windows Phones
From the archives: Things were looking bright for Windows 10 Mobile as proved "by the numbers" on a Wednesday in 2015.
Hands-on — why ARC Raiders' gameplay preview is the most fun I've had all year
ARC Raiders launch is finally almost here, but before that, I had one last chance to try it in preview. And it's the most fun I've had all year.
Are you a real Halo fan? — Test your knowledge in celebration of Halo Campaign Evolved
Celebrate the reveal of Halo: Campaign Evolved with our ultimate quiz covering Halo 1, 2, and 3. From iconic missions to obscure lore, see if you’ve got what it takes to finish the fight.
Not gonna lie, I thought this remake of one of the greatest horror games of all time was going to be total trash — but boy was I glad to be proven 100% wrong
The critically acclaimed, multi-million copy-selling remake of Silent Hill 2 by Bloober Team is off by 55% over at Loaded for its limited-time Halloween sale.
White House responds to use of Halo icon Master Chief — "Only one leader is fully committed to giving power to the players"
Apparently, only one leader is fully committed to giving power to the players.
Tired of being chased by monsters in horror games? — Then become the monster with this discounted classic indie 'reverse-horror' to get revenge
We have found a special 79% Halloween discount for Carrion, a classic indie horror game that flips the script by having you play as the monster instead of being hunted by one.
Windows 11’s October Insider update brings 9 features worth trying
In the last two weeks of October 2025, Microsoft released several Insider builds for Windows 11 versions 25H2 and 24H2 with various visual changes and improvements, including a redesigned About page, the Copy & Search feature, proactive memory diagnostics, and more dark mode improvements for File Explorer.
How to choose the best Dell laptop for you: Alienware, Premium, Pro, Pro Max, and more
The Dell portfolio of laptops and other devices can be overwhelming, even after a simplifying rebrand. Here's what you need to know to pick the best Dell for you.
Tired of console aim assist or PC players in Battlefield 6 and RedSec? Here’s how to disable crossplay
Battlefield 6 and its new battle royale mode, RedSec, both support cross-play across Xbox, PlayStation, and PC — but not everyone wants mixed-platform lobbies.
Nintendo's patent relevant to the Palworld case has been rejected by Japan's office for lacking originality — what happens next?
Nintendo’s patent fight over Palworld takes a blow as Japan’s patent office rejects one of its “monster capture” patents, citing older games like ARK and Pokémon GO, and potentially bolstering Pocketpair’s defense.
Microsoft's CEO Satya Nadella says Bill Gates almost nuked Microsoft's partnership with OpenAI before it started — "You're going to burn this billion dollars"
Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella revealed that securing board approval for investing $1 billion in OpenAI was challenging. Bill Gates warned that it was like setting the money ablaze.
This insane Hades-like action RPG inspired by the original God of War looks great on PC — absolutely criminal that it's not on Xbox
From veteran developers behind the early God of War titles and various PlatinumGames and FromSoftware titles comes an exciting new action RPG called Loulan: The Cursed Sand, coming soon to PlayStation 5 and Steam.
Laffgaff
What is the first name of Frankenstein in Mary Shelley’s novel?
Victor.
Mute Crow
My pet crow went mute, so I took him to the vet. Unfortunately, it was a lost caws.
Itsfoss
Pomodoro With Super Powers: This Linux App Will Boost Your Productivity
Pomodoro combined with task management and website blocking. This is an excellent tool for productivity seekers but there are some quirks worth noticing.