Form Time News

Current BBC News stories to read and discuss with your tutor group.


Monday
3rd November 2025

Around the world

'No help, no food, no water': Hurricane-hit Jamaican towns desperately wait for aid

Days after Hurricane Melissa hit, communities are isolated with little food, no water, and no idea of when normalcy will return.

Casualties feared after magnitude-6.3 earthquake hits Afghanistan

The quake struck near Mazar-e Sharif, one of Afghanistan's largest cities in the early hours of Monday.

In the UK

One suspect in train stabbings as rail worker critical

British Transport Police said the "heroic" LNER staff member had tried to stop the attacker.

What we know about stabbings on Doncaster to London train

Nine people have life-threatening injuries, police say, with counter-terror police joining the investigation.

Politics

Military homes to be renovated in £9bn government plan

The poor state of military housing has been a consistent complaint among serving personnel in recent years.

King to strip Andrew of his final military title, minister says

Defence Secretary John Healey says King Charles has "indicated that's what he wishes".

Education

UKHSA 'monitoring situation' after meningitis cases

The government body says meningitis symptoms can easily be confused with a hangover.

Pledge to remove Raac from schools by 2029

The Labour government makes a new promise for schools containing the unsafe concrete.

Health

Thousands of poorest Scots to receive free weight-loss jabs in trial

Up to 5,000 people in Scotland will take the injections as part of a multi-million pound study being led by Glasgow University.

Long A&E waits causing heartbreaking suffering, charity says

Patients are dying in corridors and others left for hours in soiled clothes, says Age UK.

Business

I blew the whistle on a massive tax scam - and they sued me

Jas Bains reflects a month on from the end of one of highest value civil cases ever heard in the UK.

China to ease chip export ban in new trade deal, White House says

Nexperia chips are vital in car production and there were concerns from manufacturers about the damage a shortage could have.

Science

Devastation on repeat: How climate change is worsening Pakistan's deadly floods

The BBC speaks to those who have lost everything in this year's monsoon season and finds out why it will likely happen again.

Bats are seeking sanctuary in churches - but they're making an unholy mess

A new study estimates that about half of all churches in England have bats living in them.

Technology

Will AI mean the end of call centres?

Some commentators predict artificial intelligence is about to replace most customer support jobs.

China to ease chip export ban in new trade deal, White House says

Nexperia chips are vital in car production and there were concerns from manufacturers about the damage a shortage could have.

Entertainment

Paddington: New musical reveals its 'all-singing, all-dancing' star

The new West End production shares a first look at its star, whose design was a closely guarded secret.

Folk musician and BBC presenter dies aged 86

The singer, songwriter and guitarist had presented BBC Radio Scotland's Travelling Folk from 1983 to 2010.