The News - Sunday, 19 April 2026

BBC News

Foreign secretary concerned ministers not told of Mandelson vetting fears sooner

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer is facing calls to resign over the scandal and will address MPs on Monday.

Scammers are becoming ever more sophisticated - this is what the fightback looks like

Scams have exploded over the last few years. Can countries and companies come together to turn the tables on the scammers?

Police treating arson attack as antisemitic hate crime

It comes as a man attempts to ignite a plastic bag containing containing fluid in north-west London.

New charity to remember Queen Elizabeth 100 years since her birth

The Royal Family will be remembering the late monarch at events on Tuesday - on what would have been her birthday.

Chernobyl's last wedding: The couple who married as a nuclear disaster unfolded

Serhiy and Iryna married 40 years ago, unaware a nuclear reactor had exploded less than 3 miles away.

Should you really trust health advice from an AI chatbot?

Abi has had very mixed results when asking a chatbot for guidance about her health issues.

Harry and Meghan's trip felt like a royal tour - except many Aussies weren't interested

The Sussexes' four-day tour of Australia appears to have fallen flat with some.

'Croatia, but cheaper': The quirky holiday spots on trend for 2026

Montenegro and Albania are among the places rising in popularity for Britons seeking a holiday away from tourist traps.

The South Korean authors rising above a tide of hate to become bestsellers

A quiet revolution is unfolding as women writers carve out space in the wake of an anti-feminist backlash.

'We're not teaching them to order baguettes' - languages enjoy a renaissance in schools

After a long decline, the number of pupils taking language GCSEs in Wales rises for two years.

Newspaper headlines: 'Starmer accused of Mandelson cover up' and 'Time for Strait talking'

Criticism of Downing Street's handling of Lord Peter Mandeslon's vetting scandal remains prominent on Sunday's front pages.

Britain's youngest F1 driver on his debut season so far - and learning to skateboard

The youngest ever British F1 driver is looks forward to a lifelong dream of racing at Silverstone.

'The weapons were loud, but there was always music': Sudanese band play on through the war

One of Sudan's most popular bands, Aswat Almadina, recall being in the studio when the war broke out three years ago.

Rude names, railways and a mass trespass - how the Peak District became a tourist attraction

It became the UK's first national park 75 years ago, but has been attracting visitors for longer.

Titanic life jacket sells for £670,000 at auction

It is the only life jacket from the Titanic to be sold at auction in 114 years.

Chief Rabbi says attacks 'gathering momentum' after another synagogue targeted

The warning comes after a north-west London synagogue was hit by an arson attack overnight.

Eight children killed in Louisiana shooting, police say

The children, aged from one to 14 years old, were killed in a shooting in Shreveport, Louisiana, which police are describing as a "domestic disturbance".

Attempted murder arrest after car hits pedestrians in central London

The incident took place in central London in the early hours, leaving a woman in a critical condition.

Thousands of Parisians evacuated as WW2 bomb detonated

Residents within a 450m radius of the device were told to leave their homes while it was neutralised.

Jesy Nelson appeals after car with medical equipment for daughters is stolen

Jesy Nelson offers a £10,000 reward for the recovery of her car, which had medical equipment inside.

Twenty goals and a burning yellow card - the best bits from Sidemen charity match

A sold-out Wembley Stadium watched the Sidemen FC charity match, which raised £6.2 million.

'It terrified me': Richard Gadd on his follow-up to Baby Reindeer

Gadd's new six-part drama explores the breakdown of the "unshakable" bond between two Glaswegian men.

Watch: Runners v robots at China half marathon

Robots competed in a half marathon race in Beijing on Sunday, with the winning machine leaving its human rivals for dust.

Rat poison found in HiPP baby food jar in Austria, police say

The brand warned on Saturday that consuming the purées may be potentially "life-threatening".

Scammers are becoming ever more sophisticated - this is what the fightback looks like

Scams have exploded over the last few years. Can countries and companies come together to turn the tables on the scammers?

Why are gray whales dying in San Francisco's waters? US scientists search for clues

Climate change and shifting migration patterns are bringing rare research opportunities and new mysteries.

Watch: Obama and Mamdani sing with children in New York

The former US president and New York City mayor meet for the first time at a child care centre in the Bronx.

Zelensky condemns US extension of Russian sanctions waiver

The US argues that the waiver is meant to ease the energy supply crunch sparked by the US-Israel war with Iran.

Family reunited with daughter's 55-year-old book

Nicola Lomax says she was drawn in by the book's cover and wanted to find its original owner.

Bournemouth Echo

New traditional style pub opens in Southbourne with launch a 'fantastic success'

A NEW traditional pub has opened its doors in Southbourne, with owner saying the launch day was a “fantastic success.”

Extra £2.5million in funding welcomed for new SEND programme

A Bournemouth MP and BCP Council have welcomed an extra £2.5million  in funding for a brand-new SEND Programme

Venomous snakes spotted in the New Forest

Three adders have been spotted in the New Forest.

Wessex Water grants from Dorset foundation will boost environmental projects

Charities and community groups in Dorset are being offered the chance to apply for funding to support environmental projects.

More than 450 walkers join first Sunset Walk in memory of loved ones

More than 450 people took part in a charity's first-ever Sunset Walk in memory of loved ones.

Major refurbishment to bring 'state-of-the-art' upgrade to Poole dental clinic

A FAMILY run dental surgery in Poole is undergoing a “huge renovation” to introduce a state-of -the-art technology, alongside the addition of four new treatment rooms.

Russell-Cotes Museum exhibiting Flower Fairies and Dorset landscapes this spring

A magical world of garden fairies has been brought to life through art at a seafront museum in the heart of Bournemouth.

40 firefighters tackle blaze that tore through 15 hectares of land

40 firefighters were on the scene tackling a large fire at New Forest with an affected area of 15 hectares.

Person rescued from water after large emergency response

A person was rescued from the sea near Boscombe Pier.

Person in water after boat breakdown at marina

An individual had entered the water after a boat broke down and was brought to safety by a lifeboat crew.

Families urged to watch for symptoms after meningitis cases reported

HEALTHCARE officials are offering preventative antibiotics and vaccinations to young people in Weymouth following three reported cases of meningitis.

Care home residents enjoy 'eggs-cellent' Easter with families and staff

An Easter bonnet parade brought together residents, families and staff for a day of colourful celebrations and creativity.

Four free live music performances this summer announced for New Forest town

Enjoy free live music in New Milton this summer. Concerts at the recreation ground run 7 June–6 September, organised by New Milton Town Council.

Iconic fan favourite classic car show returns to Dorset next month

Brewery Square in Dorchester hosts a free classic car show with Dorchester Classic Vehicle Club on May Bank Holiday, plus other local events all May.

Bournemouth university professor leads panel at high-profile industry conference

Dr Romana Turina of Arts University Bournemouth to chair a key panel at the 2026 BAFTSS conference, presenting research on AI in screenwriting.

Wimborne Minster welcomes civic leaders for celebratory Civic Day

Wimborne Minster Civic Day 2026 saw Dorset civic leaders visit key heritage sites, celebrate local craftsmanship, and highlight the town’s arts and culture.

Rare Dorset vineyard with 30 acres of vines on market for £1 million

Rare Dorset vineyard, Muston Farm, with 30 acres of vines and English sparkling wine production, for sale at £1m near Dorchester. Contact Savills for details.

Formula 1

Bottas aims for turnaround amid long pre-season odds

After a tough start to his Cadillac career, things should start getting better for Bottas.

The state of play at Aston Martin

Aston Martin have had a tricky start to the 2026 season, but with Adrian Newey at the helm, they certainly have the expertise in play to turn things around. A myriad of issues have curtailed plenty of sessions for Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll already this year, but there were signs in Japan last time out that some of those problems are starting to be solved…

How Lindblad’s start to life in F1 has unfolded

Arvid Lindblad is only three rounds into his F1 career, but the British youngster has already made an impression – reaching Q3, scoring points and mixing it with some of the sport’s biggest names. Midway through the April gap, he sat down with selected media, including F1.com, to review the journey so far…

Windows Central

World of Warcraft finally kills 'pirate' server Turtle WoW ... but there are real lessons as to why it was so popular

It wasn't just about money. Turtle WoW and other "Classic+" servers were trying to deliver an MMORPG fantasy that is lost in modern World of Warcraft.

14 defaults I think are worth changing: Windows 11 feels modern, but many out‑of‑box settings push services, tracking, and clutter.

Windows 11 isn't perfect out of the box. These 14 default settings can slow your computer, reduce privacy, and add clutter. Here's how to fix them.

I tested 5 PC games on the ASUS Zenbook A16 with Qualcomm's Snapdragon X2 Elite Extreme: Is Windows on ARM improving?

ASUS and Qualcomm created a stellar Windows laptop in the Zenbook A16, but can it handle any PC gaming? I tested a few favorites to find out.

Retro gaming PCs are booming in 2026, and not just for nostalgia — Here's the story behind it and how to build your own on the cheap

With modern hardware costs exploding and modern games leaving a lot to be desired, many PC gamers are returning to retro games. The barrier to entry is quite low, and I'm here to help you get started with a retro gaming PC of your own.

“Yes, we’re beginning to look into port options”: critically acclaimed Sword of the Sea could be heading to Xbox

Giant Squid has confirmed it is beginning to explore port options for Sword of the Sea, raising the possibility of a future Xbox release for the critically acclaimed indie title.

“You’ll get good performance with the OmniBook X Flip” as HP’s AI‑focused 2‑in‑1 pairs long battery life with dependable speed for real‑world workloads

The HP Omnibook X Flip 14" laptop is a well-made laptop that's a safe bet for work with dependable performance rates, a durable build, long-lasting batteries, and multiple configurations to suit your needs, which are now on sale.

Laffgaff

What classic toy was accidentally invented by an engineer trying to create a spring for naval ships?

The Slinky.

Dictator Neckwear

A dictator complained fiercely about the neckwear he received. What a tie rant.

Itsfoss

Thunderbolt Wants to Do for AI Clients What Thunderbird Did for Email

This self-hostable enterprise AI client lets you bring your own models and keep your data off third-party servers.

Mozilla’s New Firefox Mascot ‘Kit’ Triggers Online Backlash Over Pronouns

From cute mascot to online outrage, Firefox’s “Kit” quickly became the center of a debate no one expected. But is the controversy even justified?

Won’t Somebody Think of the Children? Why Big Tech’s ‘Tobacco Moment’ Isn’t What It Seems

As regulators rush to “protect children,” we risk creating something worse. A more centralized, identity-driven, and surveilled internet that strengthens Big Tech instead of challenging it.