BBC News
Ukraine and US negotiators to meet in Florida after Moscow talks, White House says
US special envoy Steve Witkoff will meet senior Ukrainian negotiator, Rustem Umerov, for talks in Miami on Thursday.
Oil, defence and geopolitics: Why Putin is visiting Modi in Delhi
BBC editors explain what is at stake as Russian President Vladimir Putin starts a two-day visit to India.
Investigation into pre-Budget leaks is under way, MPs told
Chancellor Rachel Reeves has given her "full support" to a review of security processes around the lead-up to the Budget.
Streeting orders review into mental health and ADHD diagnosis
The health secretary said the aim was to tackle a rising demand for services and the increased pressure on the NHS.
Eurovision faces crucial decision over Israel
Organisers of the song contest meet in Geneva on Thursday to debate Israel's role in the event.
Patients clogging A&E with hiccups, sore throats and other niggles
NHS bosses warn the public to use hospitals wisely amid concern this could be a tough winter.
Previously unseen images of Epstein's island released
The new images come as a deadline for the broader release of documents held by the US government looms.
Court sides with Adidas in appeal over Kanye West collaboration
Investors had accused Adidas of misleading them as its relationship with the rapper showed cracks.
Miley Cyrus confirms engagement to musician Maxx Morando
The Grammy winner says she was "so surprised" after her partner of four years proposed on a trip.
Steve Cropper, guitarist of Booker T and the MGs and Blues Brothers band, dies aged 84
The musician was known for his work on hits including Green Onions and Otis Redding’s The Dock of the Bay.
A speeding driver killed my parents - there needs to be a cultural change
Claire Corker wants cultural change on road safety after her parents were killed by a speeding driver.
The Papers: 'Face ID in every town' and 'Kate's great herr do'
Many of Thursday's front pages carrying photos of the state banquet for the German President at Windsor, alongside a range of other stories.
Cough medicines or lemon and honey – which is better for you?
What's the best way to deal with a cough and is lemon and honey as effective as medicine?
'My heart breaks every time I'm called a hero' - Hong Kong fire survivor
A survivor tells the BBC he feels guilty he didn't save more people from the blaze at his block of flats.
Why we chose to get married in front of two strangers we found through Reddit
Harmony Elmy and Seán Mauremootoo eloped hundreds of miles to Cardiff for their unconventional wedding.
School taught me about bank accounts but not breast exams
Resources will be made available in schools on women's health topics to reduce the gender health gap.
Steve Rosenberg: What latest Ukraine talks reveal about Putin's state of mind
Russia's president looks determined to continue his war in Ukraine - even as the country's economic problems grow.
'No excuse' - California doctor sentenced to 30 months in Matthew Perry overdose case
Dr Salvador Plasencia is the first of five people to be sentenced in the Friends star's overdose death.
Banquet, Royal Family and Starmer on first day of German state visit
The Royal Family hosted the first German state visit to the UK in 27 years - with a state banquet and ceremonial events in Windsor.
Lib Dems call for farming equivalent of Teach First scheme
The party warns the country is facing a "lost generation of farmers" with only 5% of farmers in the UK under the age of 35.
How the White House account of September boat strike has evolved
Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth has distanced himself from a follow-up attack on a suspected drug vessel.
Supermarket loyalty discounts to be allowed on baby formula
The government claims that parents who cannot or chose not to breastfeed could save £500 a year.
Drunk raccoon found passed out on liquor store floor after breaking in
The intoxicated animal suffered no injuries and was released back into the wild by animal protection once sober.
Spotify Wrapped reveals most-played artists of 2025 - but who's yours?
The app reveals its top artists of the year, as users find out who they've been playing most often.
'Like first aid for manuscripts': Recovery work begins at Gaza's war-damaged heritage sites
Palestinians are clearing rubble from archaeological sites, but restoration is hampered by Israeli restrictions on building materials.
Porn site fined £1m over age checks has never responded to Ofcom
The regulator tells the BBC it has been emailing AVS Group Ltd without reply since July.
Police officer sacked for groping colleagues at party
A misconduct panel says PC Pamela Pritchard breached the force's standards of behaviour.
UK and Norway form naval alliance to hunt Russian submarines
The partnership aims to protect undersea cables, which Western officials say face increased threat from Moscow.
Man accused of driving synagogue attacker to UK defence site charged with terror offences
Greater Manchester Police confirms the 31-year-old was an associate of Jihad Al-Shamie.
Henry Zeffman: PM says he wants a closer relationship with the EU – how far does he want to go?
This week, the PM was trying to set the scene for what is to come on the UK-EU relationship, sources say.
Oil, defence and geopolitics: Why Putin is visiting Modi in Delhi
BBC editors explain what is at stake as Russian President Vladimir Putin starts a two-day visit to India.
Police accused of 'homophobic assumptions' over victims of blackmail on Grindr
A BBC investigation learns of five cases of suspected blackmail involving victims targeted on Grindr in one area.
MND took our son at 14 - anyone at any age can get it
Kyle Sieniawski, from Pontypridd, died last month, after being diagnosed with motor neurone disease in January.
Euphoria creator teases new storylines for the show's third season
Zendaya, Sydney Sweeney, Jacob Elordi among stars back in the HBO drama after four years.
Crypto investor donates record £9m to Reform UK
The sum from Christopher Harborne is the largest ever single donation by a living person to a British political party.
Suspect arrested in pipe bomb incident on eve of Jan 6, ending years-long manhunt
The bombs were placed the night before the 6 January riots, and were discovered as rioters began to storm the Capitol.
Household bills will rise to fund £28bn investment in energy network
Ofgem says the investment will help lower reliance on imported gas and make wholesale energy cheaper.
Watch: A baby seal walks into a bar...
A bar in Richmond, New Zealand had a surprise visitor when the marine mammal popped in.
'A rumbling sound and a loud bang' - small earthquake hits homes in north-west England
Lancashire residents say the 3.3-magnitude tremor felt like "an underground explosion", but there are no reports of damage.
Bournemouth Echo
Plans to alter homes in five Dorset locations
Dorset Council has received a series of planning applications proposing changes to homes and properties in Bridport, Burton Bradstock, West Bexington, and Beaminster.
More than 70 years since the arrest that ended the Great Train Robbery
It was a quiet evening in Bournemouth, a Tuesday night when people had drawn their curtains and the streets were abandoned to the silence of suburbia at dark.
Laptops and water pump stolen during late night incident
A pair of cars were broken into in Poole last month where laptops and a water pump were among a list of items stolen.
Town councils will cost residents £4million for no services in first year
Residents will pay more than £4 million across three new town councils next year, but services such as allotments will still be run by BCP Council for the first 12 months.
Large drug crackdown uncovers cannabis plants, cash and guns
A LARGE scale drug crackdown seized 560 cannabis plants, 320g cannabis, 16g cocaine, 22g heroin and MDMA tablets.
Woman guilty of murder after running over man with Range Rover
A woman who deliberately drove her car into a motorcyclist in Bournemouth has been found guilty of murder.
Family pay tribute to 'loving' teen son after fatal crash on motorcycle
Tributes have been paid to a 'loving son' and 'wonderful friend' who died in a crash in Poole.
Man arrested on suspicion of murder detained under mental health act
A man arrested on suspicion of murder of woman in Southbourne has been detained under the Mental Health Act, police have said.
6 gorgeous pets at RSPCA Dorset who would love to find forever homes
A number of pets at Dorset RSPCA branches in Ashley Heath and Dorchester are looking to find loving new homes.
Man who was hit by bus still in critical condition
A man who was hit by a a bus on Wednesday morning remains in critical condition, police have said.
MP visits playground factory after helping to secure £18 million boost
AFTER helping to secure £18 million to improve playgrounds, Tom Hayes has visited the UK’s leading manufacturer of play equipment to see how the funding can be used.
Former police officer who 'abused his power' guilty of gross misconduct
A former Dorset Police officer who was found to have "abused his authority" as a police officer has been determined to have committed gross misconduct.
Man arrested after woman suffers 'serious' injuries in alleged assault
A woman suffered "serious" injuries as she was reportedly assaulted by a man on Wednesday evening in Wallisdown.
Quay Thistle Hotel decision overturned after being approved two years ago
A decision to allow developers to demolish The Quay Thistle Hotel in Poole has been overturned by planning committee two years after being approved due to the applicant failing to sign a legal agreement with the council.
Changes to pub in Bournemouth to be heard by licensing committee
Proposed changes to a pub in Bournemouth are set to be heard by the licensing committee.
Decision deferred on former Creekmoor park and ride site
A decision on changes proposed to plans for a temporary indoor padel court at the old park and ride site in Creekmoor has been deferred by planning committee.
Large cordon in place in cul-de-sac
A large police cordon is in place in Riggs Gardens in Wallisdown
Super producer to play at iconic theatre next year
Super producer Trevor Horn announces 2026 UK spoken word tour, "Adventures In Modern Recordings", with dates including The Barn, Ringwood. Tickets out 6 Dec.
Cyclist in hospital with 'serious' injuries after being hit by car
A cyclist was hospitalised with "serious" injuries on Wednesday morning after he was a hit by a car in Bournemouth
Police 'have learned lessons' following teenager's tragic death on railway
Police say they have learned lessons following the tragic death of a teenager on the railway
Woman who was missing since Saturday is found
A Poole woman who was reported missing has now been found, police have said.
Stolen bikes, firearms and drugs among haul as three arrested
Three people were arrested on suspicion of drug offences, handling stolen goods and a fire arms offence on Tuesday in Poole.
'Impressive' art supply shop moves into new location
Overbury’s Fine Art Supplies opens in Bournemouth’s historic Westbourne Arcade, reflecting strong demand for quality retail space in vibrant suburban locations.
Cocktail bar chain gives away free drinks all week
Be At One bars across the UK offer a free cocktail for every new toy donated to their Christmas charity drive, supporting children’s hospitals and charities.
Students to host sell-out boxing match supporting anti-knife crime charity
University students have organised a boxing match supporting a local anti-knife crime charity.
Festive fun for bus drivers in the run-up to Christmas
Morebus drivers in Dorset will wear Christmas jumpers this December to raise funds for University Hospitals Dorset NHS Charity at Poole, Bournemouth and Christchurch.
AFC Bournemouth legends turn on Christmas lights at nursery
AFC Bournemouth legends Steve Fletcher and Jimmy Glass switch on Christmas lights at Tops Day Nurseries Bearwood, delighting families in Bournemouth.
Hidden device helped save victim from knife attack
A hidden TecSAFE device helped a Dorset domestic abuse victim summon police during a knife attack, leading to the arrest of the attacker.
Residents of care home surprised by arrival of motorbikes
Poole care home The Potteries welcomed Top Hat Riders for a surprise motorbike visit, giving residents a nostalgic and interactive afternoon in Broadstone.
Local swim school speaks about event at Poole Dolphin Centre
Puddle Ducks Dorset sponsored the 10th Poole Baby Event at Dolphin Centre, supporting families and raising funds for Spring, a baby loss charity.
Floral tributes laid at the grave of Tolpuddle Martyr
Floral tributes mark James Hammett’s anniversary at Tolpuddle. Dorset Council and heritage leaders celebrate Tolpuddle Old Chapel’s renovation and legacy.
RSPCA urges drivers to be careful during dark nights
The RSPCA urges UK drivers to slow down and stay alert on dark evenings to protect wildlife and pets, including deer, foxes, badgers, and cats.
Police roll out new system for collecting evidence in criminal cases
Dorset Police launch NiCE Investigate, a digital evidence management system, enabling secure, efficient handling of CCTV footage and streamlining investigations.
Woman inundated with birthday cards to mark milestone age
Bournemouth care home resident Joan Rollason receives over 550 birthday cards for her 102nd birthday at Zetland Court, thanks to a community appeal.
'It is an eyesore, a severe danger to wildlife and an absolute disgrace'
Residents in Poole have criticised the council for failing to remove a large pile of fly-tipped waste that has been left on a nature reserve for more than six weeks.
Two family-run businesses join forces in landmark merger
Holmans of Wimborne merges with Dacombes of Wimborne, uniting two historic Dorset electrical retailers. Relocation brings expert service under one Leigh Road roof.
Funding secured for new Poole community initiative
Pavilion Dance South West secures Esmée Fairbairn Foundation funding for a Poole community dance initiative with Poole Communities Trust in Bourne Valley and Turlin Moor.
New facility to serve as headquarters for global company
IMI breaks ground on new 105,000 sq ft engineering centre in Poole, set for 2026. Sustainable HQ meets BREEAM Excellent, powered by solar. Kingsbridge leads.
Fire service issues top safety tips ahead of Christmas
Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue urge Christmas fire safety. Follow Fire Kills tips: check smoke alarms, take care with candles, heaters and decorations.
Hundreds gather at nature reserve to plant hundreds of trees
Dorset Wildlife Trust hosted a community conservation day at Wild Woodbury, planting 420 trees and showcasing successful rewilding and biodiversity efforts.
Lighthouse launches this year's Big Christmas Appeal
Lighthouse launches the Big Christmas Appeal 2024 to provide free theatre, music, and cinema tickets for disadvantaged families, carers, and children.
Alpacas visit care home to the delight of residents
Alpacas visit Kingland House care home, delighting residents and staff with a therapeutic animal encounter, photos, and laughter in a memorable mid-week event.
Mum heartbroken after daughter receives no birthday cards due to mail delays
A mum has been left heartbroken after her daughter received no birthday cards on her 21st birthday due to ongoing Royal Mail delivery issues in Bournemouth.
New restaurant takes over former Pizza Express premises
A new quick service restaurant has taken over a premises in Bournemouth town centre.
Comic legend from TV's Brookside coming to Ringwood barn
Ricky Tomlinson brings his “Retirement ‘My Ar*e’!” live show to The Barn, Ringwood in September 2026, sharing stories from Brookside, The Royle Family and more.
Government
National Insurance Contributions (Employer Pensions Contributions) Bill
A Bill to Make provision to amend section 4 of the Social Security Contributions and Benefits Act 1992, and section 4 of the Social Security Contributions and Benefits (Northern Ireland) Act 1992, so that amounts of salary sacrificed for employer pensions contributions pursuant to optional remuneration arrangements are liable to national insurance contributions.
Fireworks (Noise Control etc) Bill
A Bill to make provision about the maximum noise levels of fireworks which may be sold to the public; to require that specified information about noise levels is included on labelling and in sales information for fireworks; to require the Secretary of State to review the impact of firework noise on the welfare of veterans, neurodivergent people, people with certain medical conditions, and animals; to provide local authorities with power to regulate the use of fireworks in certain circumstances, and to enforce such regulation; and for connected purposes.
Formula 1
Laura Mueller and Esteban Ocon on their engineer-driver dynamic
2025 has been a year of firsts for Laura Mueller and Esteban Ocon. It’s Laura’s first season as a race engineer, Esteban’s first season with Haas, and it’s their first time working with each other.
Our writers’ predictions for the Abu Dhabi title decider
Anticipation is building ahead of the 2025 season finale in Abu Dhabi, where the Drivers’ Champion will be crowned following a thrilling 24-race campaign. But will it be Lando Norris, Max Verstappen or Oscar Piastri who leaves the Yas Marina Circuit with the title? Our writers – Lawrence Barretto, Chris Medland, David Tremayne, James Hinchcliffe and Alex Jacques – have shared their predictions for what might unfold at this weekend’s championship decider…
PALMER: How should the contenders approach the title decider?
After 23 races we reach the season finale in Abu Dhabi with a three-way battle for the title, so former F1 driver Jolyon Palmer takes a look at how the three championship contenders might approach the crucial final Grand Prix of the year…
Russell assesses Mercedes’ chances of sealing P2 in Abu Dhabi
George Russell is confident that Mercedes have a “very good shot” of sealing second place in the Teams’ Championship during the season finale in Abu Dhabi, with the Silver Arrows needing to fend off the challenge posed by Red Bull.
‘F1 is my life’ – Tsunoda reacts to Red Bull’s driver decision
Yuki Tsunoda has given his first full reaction to the news that he will drop off the F1 grid in 2026, admitting it is “tough” to take but he is also yet to fully process the situation.
Madrid to host winter ‘Warm Up Party’ before 2026 Spanish Grand Prix
The iconic Las Ventas venue will host the first official party of 2026 Spanish Grand Prix in Madrid on December 12
FIA Thursday press conference – Abu Dhabi
The drivers face the press ahead of the 2025 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
Lawson reveals emotions on keeping Racing Bulls seat for 2026
Liam Lawson admits that securing his seat on the 2026 Formula 1 grid is "probably more relief than anything right now" ahead of the final race of the season in the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
The ultimate fan guide to the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
Your complete fan guide to the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix 2025. Discover what to do on Yas Island, top viewing points, Fanzones, food, post-race entertainment and essential travel tips for race weekend.
Piastri bringing ‘a lot of confidence’ into Abu Dhabi
Oscar Piastri is feeling “a lot of confidence” that he can perform well at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix off the back of his strong drive in Qatar, with the Australian admitting that a statistic from previous three-way title fights is giving him the “tiniest comfort” about his own championship bid.
Lindblad reflects on ‘very fast’ journey to F1
Arvid Lindblad was all smiles when he arrived at the Yas Marina Circuit on Thursday, shortly after news of his promotion to the Formula 1 grid for next season.
Verstappen ‘very relaxed’ ahead of Abu Dhabi title decider
Max Verstappen has insisted that he is feeling “very relaxed” ahead of the title-deciding Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, with the Dutchman admitting that he is content with how he and Red Bull have been “turning things around from difficult times” during the second half of the season.
Norris knows he has ‘most to lose’ in Abu Dhabi
Lando Norris has insisted that his approach will be “the same as every weekend” at the title-deciding Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, despite acknowledging he has “more to lose” than championship rivals Max Verstappen and Oscar Piastri.
Windows Central
We just lost a huge RAM and SSD manufacturer to AI — Micron is killing Crucial after nearly 30 years to support "larger, strategic customers"
As the AI market's demand for RAM continues to swell, manufacturer Micron is axing its consumer brand Crucial in order to supply it.
Diablo 4 Season 11 arrives just hours after The Game Awards, fueling speculation among fans that Blizzard timed the launch as a deliberate strategy. But why?
Diablo 4’s Season 11 arrives December 11 with major updates, endgame changes, and a launch time fans find suspicious.
From breakout indie hit to global success: Ball X Pit surpasses 1 million sales and teases bold updates in its 2026 roadmap
Indie hit Ball x Pit has crossed 1 million copies sold since launch, and the developer has three updates coming in a 2026 roadmap.
Microsoft confirms Clair Obscur: Expedition is Xbox Game Pass’s biggest third‑party launch of 2025
Microsoft has announced that Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, one of the most critically acclaimed video games of 2025, has become the biggest third-party launch title on Xbox Game Pass.
Getting banned by Steam and Epic has made HORSES a best-seller — but this censorship bodes ill for creativity
HORSES is now a top seller on GOG and itch.io after it was controversially banned on Steam, the Epic Games Store, and now Humble.
"This is a critical failure on my part" — Google's AI coding assistant deletes user's entire D: drive, and apologies won't bring back the data
Are you using AI to help you code? Are you sure it's not going to delete anything important? This recent problem experienced by a casual developer might make you think twice.
The creators of My Time at Portia announce 'The God Slayer' for Xbox — an Eastern steampunk RPG that looks incredible
The God Slayer is a new Eastern inspired steampunk RPG from Pathea Games. It features a chi powered combat system, a detailed open world set in the Zhou Kingdom, and a different visual style than the studio’s earlier games.
A new discrete gaming GPU evidently supports Windows on ARM for the first time — and it's not from NVIDIA, AMD, or Intel
Chinese GPU maker Lisuan and its 7G106 GPU could make waves in the PC gaming world as it shows off Windows on ARM support for the first time.
Microsoft's RTO mandate suspiciously aligns with Teams' controversial Wi-Fi location tracking — coincidence or micromanaging?
Microsoft set the record straight about its location tracking feature in Teams that automatically snitches on your live location when connected to the office Wi-Fi, clarifying that it's disabled by default.
A Saudi Public Investment Fund will hold around 93.4% of Electronic Arts' shares after a $55 billion deal — almost total ownership
A new filing shows the Public Investment Fund will hold 93.4% of EA after backing a $55 billion deal. This gives it near-total control, raising questions about EA’s direction, long-term strategy, and what this means for fans.
Outlook let spam flood my inbox, but Copilot caught it instantly — so what’s stopping Microsoft from combining them?
Outlook let obvious spam reach my inbox, but Copilot flagged the same junk instantly from screenshots. It raises the question: why isn’t Microsoft using better AI to clean my inbox?
Windows 10 is dying on Steam — over 65% of gamers now use Windows 11 as Linux gains an ever-so-slight OS adoption bump
Windows 10 continues to fade as Windows 11 climbs, while Linux inches upward and mobile GPU trends reshape how players engage with Steam.
Artificial intelligence drives up prices, but Joe Rogan says it might revive the messiah — "AI could absolutely return as Jesus."
Podcaster Joe Rogan recently shared that Jesus might return as AI. He compared Jesus being born of a virgin mother to a computer while asking, "What's more virgin than a computer?"
"Resolved to my satisfaction": Marathon art theft scandal finally resolved with Bungie and Sony after months of controversy
Marathon’s art theft scandal is finally over, yet player sentiment remains low as Bungie works to steady the project and prepare for its delayed release window.
You can't play Call of Duty: Warzone on PC from today if you don't have TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot enabled
As we've seen with some recent EA titles, such as Battlefield 6, Call of Duty has jumped on the TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot train to boost its anti-cheat. And it now applies to Warzone, too.
The official Xbox app finally gets a wishlist — here's what else is coming to Android and iOS with a UI that 'seems faster'
The Xbox app is finally becoming more complete, with a proper store, synced wishlisting, and a faster overall experience for users testing the latest update.
Obsidian's Xbox survival game Grounded 2 gets a December update bringing cheerful holiday decorations — and PC gets DLSS, too
Grounded 2's latest update brings some holiday decorations, as well as DLSS and FSR options for players on Windows PC.
Microsoft is reportedly partnering with Foxconn to expand Xbox manufacturing by "4.8 million" devices per year — as Grand Theft Auto 6 looms
Thanks to United States tariffs, customers in the U.S. and around the world are being forced to pay higher prices for electronic goods of all types. Xbox was no exception. To combat this, many companies are moving to lower-tariff regions, like Vietnam.
Laffgaff
Which French luxury fashion house is known for its logo with interlocking L and V?
Luis Vuitton.
Darth Vader Mask
I used to wonder how Darth Vader ate with that mask on. Then I realized he's probably force fed.
Spinning Class
A friend of mine injured themself at a spinning class. I think they've taken a turn for the worse.
Itsfoss
FOSS Weekly #25.49: Kernel 6.18 'LTS', Ubuntu 26.04 LTS, Linus Torvalds on BSOD, Obsidian Distro and More Linux Stuff
And we enter the Christmas month.
Reddit Strangers Built an Open Source Linux Handheld, And They Want Your Help
A fully modular development tool that you can build, modify, and extend yourself.
Fedora 44 is Replacing Decades-Old Kernel Console with Safer, Modern Alternative
It is making a more secure userspace console the default while keeping the old one as a backup.
There is No Future for Online Safety Without Privacy and Security
Alexander Linton of the Session Technology Foundation on building decentralized messaging and why platform-wide content moderation is impractical on encrypted platforms.
Good News! Canonical Plans to Rebuild Ubuntu Wiki From Scratch
Current wiki to be decommissioned in August 2026 due to content quality, security and usability concerns.