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Repair café celebrates 10 years of fixing things and saving the planet
Headington Repair Café in Oxford marked its 10th anniversary on January 27 with a 'fix‑it' cake and more than 35 attendees; volunteers meet most Tuesdays to repair household items and estimate they have kept about three tonnes of waste out of landfill over the decade.
Shoebury community orchard grows after 16 apple trees planted
Volunteers and Southend Council's Parks Team planted 16 locally sourced apple trees at East Beach, funded by the Big Sparks Fund; organisers also plan a surrounding native hedge and later pruning training.
Australia's opposition coalition reunites after dispute over hate-speech laws
Australia's Liberal-National Coalition reunited after splitting over proposed hate-speech reforms, with leaders Sussan Ley and David Littleproud announcing an agreement that joint shadow cabinet decisions will stand.
Islamabad replaces trees with infrastructure, prompting resident anger
Large-scale tree clearing in Islamabad for roads, monuments and other infrastructure has reduced urban tree cover and prompted complaints; a court challenge over the removals is still being heard.
Keto diet may reduce symptoms of depression in some adults
An Oxford University trial of 88 adults with treatment‑resistant depression found that a high‑fat, low‑carbohydrate ketogenic diet was associated with a significant reduction in depressive symptoms after six weeks; participants continued their usual medication.
Tropical Cyclone Mitchell expected to impact north-west WA coast as category 3 storm
Officials say Severe Tropical Cyclone Mitchell is maintaining category 3 strength about 30 km west of Karratha with 120 km/h winds and gusts to 165 km/h; emergency warnings cover Whim Creek to Onslow and landfall is expected between Exmouth and Onslow late Sunday or early Monday.
Mounjaro may reverse scarring in fatty liver disease
Patients and recent research report that the GLP-1 drug Mounjaro has been linked with substantial weight loss and measurable improvement in liver fibrosis for some people with fatty liver disease; the drug is not yet licensed on the NHS for this use and a decision may come this summer.
More than half of women report hair loss during the menopause
A recent survey found 53% of menopausal women reported hair loss or scalp problems, and experts link these changes to reduced oestrogen and lower scalp moisture.
Savannah Guthrie appeals to mother's abductor, says 'We are ready to talk'
Savannah Guthrie and her siblings posted a video asking whoever has their 84-year-old mother, Nancy Guthrie, to make contact; Arizona investigators say she is missing, no suspect has been identified and the FBI is assisting after a possible ransom note was received.
Sex after years together: how to keep pleasure alive
Research links regular pleasurable sex with several health and relationship benefits, and large studies report that couples who have sex about once a week tend to report higher relationship satisfaction; the article describes approaches such as scheduling sex, intimacy dates, mutual question-asking, addressing household imbalances and small novelties as ways long-term partners have improved their sexual lives.
UK's unpaid carers report finds 1 million provide full-time care and need more support
A Resolution Foundation report says about 1 million people in the UK provide at least 35 hours of unpaid care a week, and that one in three carers from poorer families are unable to work because of their duties.
Tributes to treasured daddy, 49, and 95-year-old great-gran appear in The Gazette
The Gazette this week published funeral notices including tributes to a 49-year-old father and a 95-year-old great-grandmother of 15, alongside many other local death notices and listed service arrangements.
Saboteurs target Italian railways on first day of Winter Olympics
Authorities reported coordinated attacks on railway infrastructure near Bologna on the first full day of the Milan‑Cortina Winter Olympics, causing delays and a temporary suspension of services; officials said traffic later returned to normal and an investigation is under way.
Wales' woes deepen and raise questions for the Six Nations
Wales suffered a heavy defeat to England in the Six Nations opener, with England leading 36-0 early in the second half and Henry Arundell scoring a hat-trick; the result extended Wales to 12 consecutive Six Nations losses and they face France next week.
Lil Jon's late son praised him in a resurfaced interview clip
A March 2025 interview clip of Nathan Smith (DJ Young Slade) praising his father, Lil Jon, has resurfaced; police in Milton, Georgia said a body recovered from a pond near Smith's home is believed to be him and the Fulton County Medical Examiner will confirm.
Funeral held for army officer who died during training in Northumberland
A funeral in Ireland remembered Capt Philip Gilbert Muldowney, 25, who died after an incident at Otterburn Training Area; the Army says the circumstances are being investigated.
Eye health: 'Green time over screen time' can help protect vision
About 90% of vision loss is preventable or treatable, experts say, and spending more time outdoors rather than close-up screen use is linked with slower progression of childhood myopia; regular eye examinations help detect age-related eye diseases early.
Rafah border crossing reopens but few people get through
The Rafah crossing reopened this week under a limited pilot arrangement, but far fewer people than expected crossed and the crossing was later closed for two days.
Gladiators contestant honors father who appeared on the show 30 years ago
Shaun Stephen wore his father's original 1995 tracksuit on BBC's Gladiators and said his father reached the semi-finals in 1995.
Care home's charity fundraiser brings colourful outfits and Pilates
Wilton Place Care Home held a Flip Flops and Flowers fundraiser where residents, families and staff dressed in bright summer clothes and joined a beginners Pilates session; the event raised £120.70 for the Salisbury Hospice Charity.
Syria and Saudi Arabia sign multibillion-dollar investment deals
Officials said the agreements include a reported $1 billion SilkLink telecommunications project and a new low-cost Syrian‑Saudi airline, along with plans to develop Aleppo's international airport.
Ending AIDS is within reach, but UK funding cuts risk progress
UNAIDS modelling shows ending AIDS globally by 2030 is achievable with scaled prevention and treatment, but recent UK cuts to Official Development Assistance and a reduced pledge to the Global Fund are constraining support.
Dutch royal family visit Netherlands team at the Winter Olympics
King Willem-Alexander, Queen Máxima and Princess Amalia visited the Netherlands delegation in Milan and watched the Games' opening ceremony; the Dutch team includes 39 athletes across bobsleigh, ice dance, skeleton, snowboarding, speed skating and short track, and speed skater Jutta Leerdam is highlighted in the report.
Cricket league donates £1,245 to Sue Ryder's Manorlands hospice.
The Timothy Taylor's Craven & District cricket league gave £1,245 to the Oxenhope Manorlands Sue Ryder hospice, money raised at a finals day and through season donations.
US wants war to end by June, Zelensky says
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said the US has invited Russian and Ukrainian negotiating teams to talks in the United States next week and that Washington wants the war to end by June.
Crypto firm apologises after accidental $40 billion bitcoin transfer
South Korean exchange Bithumb says it accidentally sent roughly 2,000 bitcoins to about 695 users during a promotion, recovered 99.7% of 620,000 bitcoins and restricted trading and withdrawals while addressing the error.
ADHD: Seven signs the NHS looks for and why diagnoses are rising
The NHS lists seven common signs of ADHD, and clinicians and researchers report increases in diagnoses, referrals and prescriptions in recent years.
I cut all my hair off to raise money for cancer care
Val raised £1,030 for Rosemere Cancer Foundation after having her long hair cut into a short bob and donated the cut hair to Little Lady Locks, a Manchester charity that provides real hair wigs for children.
Volunteers plant new hedge at Mayflower Park entrance
Nine volunteers and a dog planted 100 hedge whips at the main entrance to Mayflower Park on January 31, using plants donated by CPRE Hampshire.
Flood prevention project in Stoke-on-Trent finishes.
A multi-million-pound Environment Agency project on the Fowlea Brook in Stoke-on-Trent has finished, protecting up to 333 properties and reopening 6.5km of the brook for fish migration.
