Ben Sturt

The New World • 26th May 2026

The VP who dreamed of decapitating the president

The Philippine House of Representatives has now voted to impeach Duterte for a second time, with the process now moving to the Senate for trial. She is accused of misusing public funds and making death threats against president Marcos Jr, after stating that she had dreamed of decapitating him. Being impeached twice does not always condemn a leader – just ask the current occupant of the White House. But, unlike Donald Trump, Sara Duterte, vice-president of the Philippines, finds herself on the ba...

Bournemouth Echo • 28th May 2026

I was at beach disorder — residents have every right to be angry

Dotted along various vantage points on the pier, locals displayed a quiet yet seething anger at what they were witnessing.

They gazed down towards the hundreds of youths gathered on the beach who were throwing bottles at police, getting into fights, and discarding rubbish.

While all eyes were on this antisocial mob, I occasionally directed my attention to those on the side-lines — the residents left to clear up the mess.

“This has got to stop!” one eyewitness told me.

“Bournemout...

The Times • 19th April 2026

Covert filming turned me into a TikTok star

I didn’t know what to expect when — after months of working as an estate agent, fumbling with keys and showing rich kids around central London pads I couldn’t afford — I made the hasty decision to up sticks and buy a one-way ticket to Thailand. I certainly didn’t anticipate going viral.

The New World • 15th April 2026

Trump’s Iran war is going global

I’ve often thought the jeepney served as a metaphor for the Philippines itself. Now, it’s at the epicentre of a national fuel crisis brought on by the Iran war. The elongated, brightly decorated military jeeps that look like small buses were originally left behind by American troops after the second world war. They are the most popular means of public transport across the nation’s cities.

While teaching in Davao City, I was initially hesitant to ride a jeepney bus.A lanky, six-foot-plusser like...

Bournemouth Echo • 1st June 2026

Protestors clash outside Bournemouth 'asylum hotel'

The Bournemouth Patriots demonstration was opposed by counter-protesters from Stand Up to Racism.

The clash between protestors comes amidst a heightened police presence in Bournemouth, where recent disorder on the beach has exacerbated social tensions.

Sandra, protesting with the Bournemouth Patriots, said: “We are protesting the illegals in hotel and stating that we are sick to death of our girls being intimidated, sexually assaulted and raped on our beaches.

Sandra was protesting w...

Bournemouth Echo • 28th May 2026

Widespread dispersal orders 'not yet necessary' despite beach violence

This comes after three arrests were made on Bournemouth Beach yesterday, amid a wave of disorder which saw police officers “attacked with bottles”.

Chief Superintendent Julie Howe also admitted that the majority of violence was caused by “groups of young people who had travelled from out of the county and were intent on causing disorder”.

Chief Superintendent Howe told the Echo: “Our message is strong and clear: do not visit Bournemouth if you are intent on causing harm.

“Lots of thi...

The New World • 25th March 2026

If you thought Rodrigo Duterte was bad, wait til you meet his daughter

Sara, the current vice-president of the Philippines, recently took a step closer to succeeding him by declaring that she will run for president in 2028. When a furious city mayor in the Philippines punched a sheriff for disobeying her demands back in 2011 – in full view of the television cameras – there was little outrage. Instead, with one fell swoop, Sara Duterte announced herself as the true heir to her strongman father, the “Trump of Asia”, Rodrigo Duterte. Her father, president from 2016-20...

Bournemouth Echo • 31st May 2026

Council call for 'tourist tax' to manage beach pressures

The suggestion — which would need the green light from central government — came after the disorder on Bournemouth Beach last week, where a group of youths engaged in anti-social behaviour.

Council leader Millie Earl believes that a range of measures, including a levy, will help to fund and manage the range of challenges the area faces in the summer.

Speaking to the Echo, Earl said: “Our area is a resort, and for the vast majority of people who respect our area, they have a really good t...

Bournemouth Echo • 6th May 2026

Reform candidate shares Covid vaccine conspiracy theories

Simon Hollosi, the Reform candidate in Bournemouth Central, Westbourne and West Cliff, reposted “anti-vax” theories on at least three separate occasions to his 2,600 X followers.

These revelations come just weeks after Reform were criticised for allowing a doctor— who claimed the King’s cancer was caused by the Covid vaccine— to run in the upcoming local elections.

In December 2024, Mr Hollosi shared a post by William Makis, who was barred from practicing medicine in Alberta, Canada, aft...

Bournemouth Echo • 27th May 2026

Resident claims son has to wait "over a year" for driving test

Bella Kidd, from Ferndown, says her son RJ has been forced to look for tests in unfamiliar locations— which only “adds to the stress and cost of learning to drive”.

The lengthy waiting times for driving tests has made national headlines in recent months, but the effects in Dorset have been compounded by the fact that Bournemouth test centre permanently closed in 2019.

Bella said: “There is no tests available— it’s a nightmare.

“We haven’t got the time to go on the website every day a...

Bournemouth Echo • 20th May 2026

'Leave your brain at home' - Jim Davidson brings his adult panto to Wimborne

The former Big Break host, who has frequently toured over-18 pantos, will be staring at the Tivoli Theatre for four nights, between June 16 and 20.

Davidson promises an evening of laughs alongside co-stars John Altman, aka “Nasty Nick” from Eastenders, and Debbie Arnold.

Jim said: “You could do these pantomimes for children if you took some of the dirty lyrics out.

“It’s still the great stories of panto being told in the traditional ways— accept its with an adult audience.

Big Di...

Bournemouth Echo • 29th April 2026

Family faces prospect of selling home to fund their mum's cancer treatment

Sandra Harrison, 77, from Broadstone, has been battling bladder cancer (metastatic urothelial cancer) for nine years, and has recently learned the disease has spread.

In April 2025, the family were offered a lifeline through a new treatment, Enfortumab Vedotin, but this was short lived after the NHS said it wouldn’t cover the costs— despite evidence the drug works.

Sandra’s daughter Kay Cox said: “We saw the news about the treatment and thought, oh my God! This is what we’ve been waiting...

Bournemouth Echo • 7th May 2026

Residents 'may be priced out' of visiting popular country park

Currently, year-round parking at the Moors Valley Country Park is included in the £96 annual Forestry England membership, however, the Echo understands this is under review.

Dorset Council, which owns and manages the facilities at Moors Valley, say income from parking plays a vital role in covering rising costs— but some residents fear its removal from the membership will price them out of the forest.

Nick, from Fordingbridge, said: “Growing up in the area, having the forest for free was...

Bournemouth Echo • 5th May 2026

'It puts locals off visiting' - Residents divided over New Forest car park charges

The charges, which started on April 20, have been brought in to address funding concerns for Forestry England.

However, car parks have been left almost empty with people leaving their vehicles elsewhere - something residents say is an inevitable consequence of the price hike.

Annie Allcroft said: “The charge puts locals off visiting the forest.

“Most tourists will be expecting, and willing, to pay for parking but if you live nearby and like to visit frequently it becomes difficult wi...

Bournemouth Echo • 3rd May 2026

'I'm grateful to be alive': Cancer survivor to attempt 100-mile charity run

Paul O’Boyle, 61, originally from Liverpool, is attempting to complete the mammoth 100-mile challenge along Bournemouth Bay in July after he had a cancerous nipple removed.

The funds raised will go to Ladybird Breast Cancer Unit, who operated on Paul in July 2024.

Paul and friends after completing a run (Image: Paul O'Boyle)

Paul said: “I was very surprised when I was told I had nipple cancer.

“They caught it early enough, and thankfully the cancer didn’t go as far as my breast....

Bournemouth Echo • 29th April 2026

Bournemouth MP 'frustrated' by Mandelson appointment scandal

Speaking in his constituency on Friday, Tom Hayes, MP for Bournemouth East, indicated that the Mandelson affair is taking attention away from people’s priorities.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer is under increased pressure over his decision to appoint Mandelson as US ambassador after the Epstein files revealed the extent of Mandelson’s relationship with the sex offender as well as alleged misconduct in public office.

Hayes said: “When people turn on their TVs and they hear they news talk...

The Diplomat • 14th April 2026

Thousands of Overseas Filipinos Celebrate Former President Duterte’s Birthday

If you had passed Marble Arch on March 28, you would probably have assumed that the music, cake, and colorful balloons were for a birthday party. And you’d have been right.

What you probably wouldn’t have guessed is that those celebrations were for a man accused of crimes against humanity: Rodrigo Duterte, the former president of the Philippines. Hundreds of Filipinos from the diaspora community in the U.K. gathered in central London to show their support, while thousands more gathered at meeti...

Ben's Substack • 24th March 2026

Is the "Trump lens" leaving Iranians and Venezuelans out of focus?

The Iran war has exposed an uncomfortable discourse, with those living through the conflict being lectured on what is in their best interests. Social media has predictably provided the perfect breeding ground for opinionators and faceless accounts to spew out their hot takes – muzzling the lived experiences of Iranians in the process. lilsmichelle captured this frustration in About Iran, from an Iranian Woman: “For a moment, it felt like the man who presided over decades of death, imprisonment,...

Metro • 15th March 2026

Offensive signs saying 'boom boom Tel Aviv' held up at Al Quds Day protest

Reporting by Ben Sturt

Horrific signs including ‘boom boom Tel Aviv’ are being displayed at the annual Al Quds Day demonstration in central London. 
At least 1,000 officers have been drafted in to manage crowds expected of around 12,000 people as conflict continues in Iran.
On the south side of the city, thousands of pro-Palestinian supporters have gathered where the atmosphere is tense. 
Hundreds of police have thrown a ring of steel around the gathered demonstrators. 
Police are investigating ‘death, death to the ID...

Mail Online • 15th March 2026

Arrests as thousands gather for London Al-Quds 'hate rally'

By MATT STRUDWICK, SENIOR NEWS REPORTER and CHRIS POLLARD, NEWS REPORTER and BEN STURT

Thousands of pro-Iran demonstrators gathered for an Al-Quds 'hate rally' in London, with 1,000 riot police being placed on alert. Demonstrators congregated on the South Bank of the Thames for prayers and brandished placards declaring 'boom boom Tel Aviv'.Chants of 'from the river to the sea' and 'Israel is a terror state' could be heard as...

Southern Daily Echo • 18th February 2026

Southampton councillor abused by anti-immigration protesters

John Savage, who is the cabinet member for Environment and Net Zero, has stated that he has received threats and has been targeted online.

Cllr Savage was first confronted by anti-immigration protesters in Hoglands Park on the October 26 last year.

“I was surrounded by a group of people who were asking what I was doing there.

“As a councillor, I was reminding them that they were not allowed to leave their vehicles in a public park - they responded with abuse.

“In the park there’s...

Tes Magazine • 27th January 2026

‘Something completely different’: teaching on a Southern Hemisphere timetable

Moving abroad as an international teacher comes with plenty of new things to get your head around - language, culture, currencies, which side of the road you drive on and more.

But for teachers who really want to turn their world upside down, how about an entirely new academic calendar?

“People looking at doing something completely different should look for a place in the Southern Hemisphere,” says Ronan Moore, deputy principal at Port Moresby International School in Papua New Guinea.

This is...

North West Londoner • 5th December 2025

Islington schools have highest London suspension rates

Islington schools have the highest suspension rate in London, new data released by the Department for Education has revealed.


The research – which was collected from the 2024/25 autumn term – shows that 932 pupils were suspended in Islington, which is equivalent to a rate of four suspensions per 100 pupils.


Persistent disruptive behaviour, physical abuse towards other pupils, and verbal abuse towards staff were the top three reasons given for the suspensions in Islington.


Islington Coun...

Tes Magazine • 30th October 2025

Menstruation should be in PE curriculum, say experts

Education about the menstrual cycle should be part of the PE curriculum, MPs have been told.

Dr Emma Ross, former head of physiology at the English Institute of Sport, told the House of Commons’ Women and Equalities Select Committee on Wednesday that sport is an “amazing place” to teach girls about their bodies.

With this in mind, MPs were also told that education about menstruation should be compulsory in PE teacher training.

Dr Ross said: “Coaches are so integral to retaining girls and wome...