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Travel & transport from BBC stories as at 10:55 18 Mar 2026
 
. What have US allies and China said about sending ships to the Strait of Hormuz?
[18 hours old]: US allies have either pushed back or remained cautious on Trump's initial request to send ships to the crucial oil route.

. Train Delay Repay rule changes to make claims easier
[35 hours old]: There will also be additional checks on railcards during a trial to crack down on fraud.

. Iran hits key UAE oil port and Dubai airport
[46 hours old]: The port of Fujairah plays a crucial role in helping keep global supplies moving when the Strait of Hormuz is blocked.

. Trump urges UK and other nations to send warships to Strait of Hormuz
[86 hours old]: The US president says he hopes China, France, Japan and South Korea will also send ships to defend the key oil shipping route.

. The real impact of roadworks on the country - and why they're set to get worse
[1593 hours old]: There is a fine balance between the benefits of improved infrastructure, versus the cost of disruption. Does the country have it right?

. Why the railways often seem to be in such chaos over Christmas
[2074 hours old]: Parts of Britain’s rail network will close for engineering work over the festive period - but is that the right time to do it?

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and in other news ...

- Total repression and air strikes bring unrelenting dread for Iranians
[10 hours old]: Tehran residents tell the BBC they're caught between US-Israeli bombing and an Iranian regime trying to reassert its power.

- Scotland's assisted dying bill rejected after emotional debate
[10 hours old]: Scotland would have become the first part of the UK to legalise the process had MSPs backed the proposals.

- Morocco awarded Africa Cup of Nations title after Senegal win overturned
[7 hours old]: Morocco declared the winners of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations after the Confederation of African Football overturns the result of their final defeat by Senegal.

- Angela Rayner's explosive speech reignites leadership speculation
[1 hours old]: The ex-deputy PM did not name Keir Starmer in her attack on Labour's direction and policies - but she did not have to.

- Ukraine faces missile shortage due to Middle East war, says Zelensky
[3 hours old]: In an exclusive interview with the BBC, the Ukrainian president says Putin wants a "long war" between the US and Iran.

- Dog owners to face unlimited fines if their pets attack livestock under new law
[8 hours old]: Police will have new powers to seize and detain dogs that have attacked or chased farm animals.

- Higgs boson breakthrough was UK triumph, but British physics faces 'catastrophic' cuts
[9 hours old]: Britain is preparing to cancel its contribution to one of the Large Hadron Collider's next major upgrades.

- Nigeria president begins first UK state visit in 37 years
[10 hours old]: King Charles and senior royals will provide a ceremonial welcome for Nigeria's President Tinubu on his state visit.

- Ad for AI editing app which said it could 'remove anything' banned
[11 hours old]: The UK regulator said the ad condoned "digitally altering and exposing women's bodies without their consent."

- Temperatures forecast to reach 20C in warmest day of the year so far
[2 hours old]: Temperatures are on the rise again and it will feel like spring has returned.

- Hospitalised woman describes her symptoms before being rushed to hospital
[15 hours old]: Speaking from her hospital bed, the 21-year-old woman said her symptoms included a headache, hot and cold sweats, achey bones and vomiting.

- Was response to outbreak too slow?
[2 hours old]: Questions are being asked about whether the NHS and authorities should have raised the alarm sooner.

- Woman who learned to walk again after 130ft fall meets 'incredible' rescuers
[1 hours old]: Leah Matthews has been reunited with the teams who saved her from a gorge in Waterfall Country.

- Why the B-52s are trading their Love Shack for Downton Abbey
[8 hours old]: The new wave pranksters plan a final visit to the UK, with detours to their favourite TV show sets.

- Scotland's assisted dying bill has fallen - what happens now?
[10 hours old]: Debate on the issue has been ongoing in parliament for more than 15 years but this is the closest legislation has made it to become a law.

- I've applied for 500 jobs in two months since graduating
[4 hours old]: Charlotte Briggs has applied for hundreds of jobs and cannot find work, despite achieving a 2:1 degree.

- The Papers: 'First cracks' in Trump camp over Iran war and UK tackles meningitis outbreak
[5 hours old]: The ongoing US-Israeli conflict with Iran and the meningitis outbreak in the UK lead Wednesday's papers.

- Mean Girls actress says being cast as Regina George is 'monumental'
[6 hours old]: Vivian Panka is the first black actress to play the character full-time in in the UK production of Mean Girls.

- Has the military's investigative crime unit improved justice for sex assault victims?
[4 hours old]: The Defence Serious Crime Command (DSCC) removes the complaints process from the chain of command.

- Israel strikes and destroys building in heart of Beirut
[1 hours old]: There are no known casualties so far from the strike near downtown, as Israel said it targeted a building affiliated with Hezbollah.

- Death of Ali Larijani deepens crisis at heart of Iran's leadership
[6 hours old]: Larijani has long been seen as one of the Islamic Republic's most experienced and influential policy makers.

- Trump says Nato making 'foolish mistake' over Iran
[10 hours old]: The US president expresses frustration that US allies are not helping secure the Strait of Hormuz.

- School phone bans not enough to cut screen time alone, researchers say
[3 hours old]: New research suggests efforts to suppress screen time need to go further than the school gates to be effective.

- Blackpool, Ipswich, Milton Keynes among nine finalists for UK City of Culture 2029
[10 hours old]: The nine-strong longlist of cities will receive a £60,000 boost of funding to develop a full bid plan.

- Government admits adoption system 'needs to improve' after BBC investigation highlights failures
[5 hours old]: The children and families minister for England apologises to families who have received "support from services that isn't good enough".

- Suspected stray bullet from military drill hits girl at South Korea playground
[8 hours old]: South Korea's military has since halted all shooting drills involving small firearms.

- Greyhound racing to be banned in Wales after Senedd vote
[13 hours old]: But the legislation faces a legal challenge and accusations ministers did not consult properly.

- Watch: Sean Penn receives 'Oscar' in Ukraine after skipping US ceremony
[13 hours old]: The Academy Award winning US actor won his third Oscar on Sunday, but skipped the ceremony to visit Ukraine.


- Starmer Turns His Attention To Ukraine (Or Tries To)
[14 hours old]: Zelenksy comes to parliament, as Trump hits out at Starmer (again).

- Morocco awarded Afcon title after Senegal's win overturned
[7 hours old]: Morocco declared the winners of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations after the Confederation of African Football overturns the result of their final defeat by Senegal.

* Why ex-Palace winger Olise is now in Ballon d'Or contention at Bayern
[0 hours old]: Michael Olise has been in superb form for Bayern Munich this season, has the French winger put himself in contention for the Ballon d'Or?

- The 'anti-Lamine' backed to be one of best in world
[4 hours old]: Newcastle United defender Lewis Hall renews hostilities with Barcelona star Lamine Yamal on Wednesday night and team-mate Kieran Trippier believes he has "all the attributes to be one of the best left-backs in the world".

- Dubai withdrawal criticism ridiculous - Sabalenka
[2 hours old]: World number one Aryna Sabalenka dismisses criticism of her late withdrawal from the Dubai Championships and says she may not play at the tournament again.

- Celtic's Schmeichel 'could've played last game'
[3 hours old]: Celtic goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel may have played his "last football game" with surgery required on his shoulder but he is eager to "fight" to regain fitness.

- 'Bielle-Biarrey's pace spooked me' - Chessum on intercept try finish
[11 hours old]: England back row Ollie Chessum says the fear of being run down by Louis Bielle Biarrey prevented him from running in an intercept closer to the post in defeat by France.

- Have the 30 hours of funded childcare brought down costs for parents?
[2 hours old]: Free childcare support for working parents varies across the UK, depending on the child's age.

- From £12 to £1,000: how much is a prom dress really worth?
[4 hours old]: Some families are splashing out hundreds on a school prom outfit - but many will only be worn once.

- New community food store helps lower food bills
[4 hours old]: The community grocery store in Crewe aims to bridge the gap between food banks and supermarkets.

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and in other older news ...

. Why is MenB vaccine not given to teenagers in UK and should they be offered it?
[20 hours old]: Students and older teens have not been vaccinated against the strain that has caused the outbreak of cases in Kent.

. Fear and defiance in southern Lebanon city as Israel-Hezbollah war intensifies
[17 hours old]: Civilians who remain despite evacuation orders in Tyre – some unable to move, others defiant - are trying to continue their daily routines next to bomb sites.

. Dates confirmed for new driving test booking rules
[17 hours old]: Only learners will be able to book a car driving test under new rules to make the system fairer.

. BBC News app
[7724 hours old]: Top stories, breaking news, live reporting, and follow news topics that match your interests

. The Global Story: How does war affect a child’s brain?
[25 hours old]: Veteran war reporter Fergal Keane on PTSD among children in conflicts worldwide.

. Mayors to gain more spending power under Reeves tax plans
[16 hours old]: The chancellor sets out the government's plan for economic growth, which also includes closer ties to the EU.

. Typical new mortgage costs soar £788 a year in two weeks
[23 hours old]: Lenders have hiked rates on new deals and withdrawn products as war creates uncertainty in the markets.

. Easter holidaymakers switching from Dubai to Spain as flights fill up
[21 hours old]: It comes after the war in Iran caused mass disruption to flights across the Middle East and UAE.

. Is it possible to build a plastic-free home?
[35 hours old]: Using plastic in construction is cheap and easy, but some are trying to radically cut back its use.

. Trump seeks to delay meeting with Xi in China
[24 hours old]: The escalating war in Iran has overshadowed many of the US' foreign policy objectives

. Another former sub postmaster dies awaiting payout
[24 hours old]: Tributes are paid to Parmod Kalia who ran a branch in Orpington, who has died aged 67.

. More than 200 jobs at risk at carmaker Bentley
[22 hours old]: The news comes as financial results for 2025 show a seventh consecutive year of profitability.

. AI firm Anthropic seeks weapons expert to stop users from 'misuse'
[34 hours old]: The artificial intelligence firm says it wants to prevent "catastrophic misuse" of its systems.

. Car park firm NCP collapses with nearly 700 jobs at risk
[26 hours old]: The car park operator says demand for parking has not recovered to pre-Covid levels, as its administrators look to sell the business.

. Teens sue Musk's xAI over Grok's pornographic images of them
[37 hours old]: Musk's AI chatbot has created millions of fake sexualised images, experts say.

. Starmer announces £53m support to help with heating oil costs
[37 hours old]: The money will be for "vulnerable" households who have faced a sharp rise in energy bills since the outbreak of the US-Israeli war with Iran.

. Bank of America settles over Epstein claims
[41 hours old]: The lawsuit had accused the bank of facilitating Epstein's sex trafficking.

. Alcohol-free beer and pet grooming used to measure inflation
[46 hours old]: Houmous and motorhomes are also added to the basket of goods and services used to chart the rising cost of living.

. Trump 'not happy' with UK response to Iran conflict
[26 hours old]: It comes after Sir Keir Starmer said the UK was working with allies on a plan to protect the Strait of Hormuz.

. Companies offered £3,000 to hire jobless under-24s
[45 hours old]: It comes as ministers grapple with spiralling unemployment rates among young people.

. Steelworks costing £1.3m a day to run
[52 hours old]: The government spent £377m to keep British Steel's Scunthorpe site operating, according to a report.

. Banknotes, beavers and a very British backlash
[82 hours old]: Politicians are furious Churchill will be replaced on banknotes. The RSPCA wants rats and pigeons to feature.

. Starmer speaks to Trump about importance of reopening Strait of Hormuz
[62 hours old]: The leaders discussed the need to "end the disruption to global shipping", No 10 says.

. We will intervene on energy bills if necessary, says Miliband
[71 hours old]: Oil and gas prices have surged due to the US-Israel war in Iran, with fears over the cost of living.

. How the Iran war may affect your money and bills
[44 hours old]: The conflict in the Middle East could raise the cost of petrol, household energy bills and even food.

. 'Gruesome' war bets fuel calls for crackdown on prediction markets
[83 hours old]: Predictions markets have hosted millions of dollars of bets related to the war in Iran.

. She spent 16 hours on Instagram in a day. It's up to a jury to decide if Meta is to blame
[106 hours old]: A landmark lawsuit will set the stage for thousands of people who say social media platforms are intentionally addictive.

. We're not profiteering on fuel. But my staff still face abuse
[108 hours old]: Independent retailer Goran Raven says the higher oil price is "horrific" for him as well as his customers.

. Ukraine's urgent fight on the financial frontline
[58 hours old]: The war-torn country is battling to secure crucial funding from the IMF and EU, as well as putting up taxes.

. Can plastic-eating fungi help clean up nappy waste?
[130 hours old]: Cost and convenience have made disposable nappies dominant - can start-ups compete?

. Why has Trump eased sanctions on Russian oil - and will it help Putin?
[114 hours old]: The US said easing sanctions on Russian oil would provide only a limited financial boost to Putin.

. Dharshini David: Economy on shaky ground even before Iran war
[120 hours old]: The government's hopes that 2026 would be the year when growth picks up are at risk of being scuppered.

. A small US grocer is calling out the lower prices at big chains
[154 hours old]: It is 'impossible for us to compete', says the boss of a New York grocery store.

. Can Ukraine's war-torn wheatfields be cleansed?
[124 hours old]: Researchers take 8,000 soil samples from battlefields to see if it is safe to grow crops.

. The Aldi-style disruptors who could be about to shake up the vets market
[168 hours old]: As pet owners complain of rising prices, independent practices want to take on the big chains.

. GPS jamming: The invisible battle in the Middle East
[203 hours old]: GPS jamming has made navigation hazardous in the Gulf, spurring efforts to develop alternatives.

. Spain's migrants welcome amnesty: 'It will help us in every way'
[226 hours old]: Madrid cites humanitarian and economic reasons to give undocumented workers legal status.

. Can snacks help you sleep?
[298 hours old]: Chocolates, bars, gummies and drinks promise to help you sleep, but is the science behind them sound?

. We have more privacy controls yet less privacy than ever
[322 hours old]: Has online privacy become "a luxury not a right" for us all in 2026?

. Know when to fold them: the tech inspired by origami
[365 hours old]: Origami techniques can add strength to structures without adding bulk.

. Deepfake attack: 'Many people could have been cheated'
[388 hours old]: The boss of the Bombay Stock Exchange was recently targeted in what is a growing global problem.

. Why you can't get a signal at festivals and sports matches
[466 hours old]: Connecting up music and sports events to the internet is a massive undertaking.

. The family-owned soda firm that still uses returnable glass bottles
[490 hours old]: Soft drinks company Twig's Beverage has a loyal following for its old-fashioned approach.

. Electricity costs set to rise in Alderney
[23 hours old]: Electricity costs will rise in Alderney to help ensure the long-term stability of the energy supply.

. Budget 2025: What's the best and worst that could happen for Labour?
[2611 hours old]: Three days in, after a tax U-turn and partial climbdown on workers' rights, Laura Kuenssberg looks at what impact Budget week might have.

. Has Britain's budget watchdog become too all-powerful?
[2723 hours old]: Ahead of this week's Budget, some have accused the Office for Budget Responsibility of being a "straitjacket on growth"

. The curious case of why Poundland is struggling during a cost-of-living crisis
[2810 hours old]: Why - in an age where so many of us are feeling the financial pinch - are some budget shops on UK high streets having such a tough time?

. Why both partners need to be across a couple's money
[115 hours old]: Martin Lewis explains why both partners in a relationship need to know what financial products they hold.

. Why animals will replace historical figures on bank notes
[136 hours old]: British wildlife will replace historical figures on the next series of Bank of England banknote

. The Inquiry
[146 hours old]: How Poland’s economy became one of Europe’s fastest-growing success stories