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Barnsley has been designated the UK government's first Tech Town, with an 18-month plan to introduce AI across public services, education and local businesses.

North Somerset Council proposes keeping Pill Library open after a public consultation that drew almost 5,000 responses, while Winscombe and Worle libraries remain set to close under planned budget cuts.

A 72-year-old man was diagnosed with lung cancer after a specialist NHS screening test despite having no symptoms, and the cancer was removed following early detection. The case was highlighted as the government launched a 10-year cancer strategy that includes expanded screening and diagnostic investment.

A London father learns practical techniques from stylist Jennie Roberts to care for his mixed‑race daughters' curls, replacing painful routines with gentler tools and methods. The piece also notes a wider movement of Black fathers taking workshops to share hair care and connect with their children.

The Manorbier Newton Fundraisers' annual Soup and Pudding event will be held on February 14 from 11.30am to 1.30pm at Lamphey Village Hall, with an £8 admission that includes soups, bread and cheese and a selection of puddings; all proceeds will go to local Pembrokeshire charities.

Nant-y-Cwm Steiner School in Pembrokeshire has signed the Smartphone Free Childhood Parent Pact, reported as the first school in Wales to do so; the pact supports delaying smartphones until at least age 14 and social media access until 16.

A blue plaque honoring Alphonse Cary was unveiled at 47 Northbrook Street in Newbury on 23 January, with his great‑great‑grandson Jon Boden attending and playing a tune by Cary; Cary ran a family music business from the 1870s and his successors kept it in town until 1964.

Yate and District Bowls Club raised funds during its 2025/26 season for the Alzheimer's Society and Yate Foodbank, after the committee noted four members had been diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease.

Lisa Hughes, 51, of Farnworth is wearing a different costume every day for a year to raise money for Bolton Destitute Animal Shelter and Winston's Wish, and has raised about £650 so far.

Jamie Lee Curtis marked 27 years of sobriety in an Instagram post remembering late costar Richard Lewis and thanking him for introducing her to recovery support.

Actress-director Jennifer Esposito has moved out of a New York house she mortgaged to help fund her 2022 film Fresh Kills and says she sold the property while continuing to make films.

Jesse Jackson Jr. is campaigning for his old U.S. House seat and openly addresses his 2013 campaign fraud conviction as part of his return; early voting begins ahead of the March 17 primary.

A federal survey reports nearly two-thirds of children are described as on track for kindergarten, while responses show about a 20% gap in readiness between the poorest and wealthiest families.

Vice President JD Vance will lead the U.S. delegation at the Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics and will then travel to Armenia and Azerbaijan to advance a White House-brokered peace agreement.

The Spanish government announced a decree to regularise 500,000 undocumented people, and the article notes the move followed coalition negotiations and drew criticism from the People's Party. Implementation details and formal next steps were not specified.

Ledbury’s Community Hub is preparing an initial bid to be UK Town of Culture, and a successful entry would secure a £3 million prize fund and a £60,000 development grant if the town is shortlisted.

A coffee and bacon butty morning to raise funds for Long Preston’s churchyard mowing team will be held at the village hall on February 7, and craft therapy sessions run on Fridays from 10:30am to noon.

The ONE Centre in Gateshead opened on February 2 and was awarded a £330,754 grant from the National Lottery Community Fund to help fund staff and core operating costs.

Police say a 27-year-old man from Maryborough used false online identities to groom children; he faces 596 charges and is due to appear in a Brisbane court today.

President Trump has repeatedly promised $2,000 "tariff dividend" checks since November 2025, but no payments have been made and his public statements about timing and need for congressional approval have been inconsistent.

Queensland police say a 27-year-old has been charged with 596 offences after thousands of digital files linked to alleged online abuse of 459 victims were found on his devices; he has been in custody since last February and was due to appear in court on Thursday.

Explosions were reported in Kyiv overnight, with officials saying at least four people were injured and air raid alerts active across Ukraine; Ukrainian negotiators are due to meet US and Russian delegations in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday and Thursday.

Malaysia reclassified all electronic waste as absolutely prohibited for import and said it will enforce the ban, announced as authorities widen a corruption probe tied to e-waste oversight.

Reuters reports Alphabet said its Gemini 3 model raised user engagement and that the Google Gemini app reached about 750 million monthly active users, and the company signalled much higher capital spending for AI by outlining a potential $175–$185 billion capex range for 2026.

A fundraiser for Aerobility will be held at Skylark Country Club in Whiteley on Wednesday, April 29; it is being organised by Farnborough Aerospace Consortium and Owen Daniels Consultancy.

The US deputy attorney general said the legal review of the Epstein Files was "over," while survivors including Lisa Philips say the process is not finished and are calling for more transparency.

South Australia Police have declared the disappearance of four‑year‑old Gus Lamont a major crime and outlined three lines of inquiry; a police press conference was scheduled for 1pm local time.

Savannah Guthrie and her siblings posted a video asking for confirmation that their 84-year-old mother, Nancy Guthrie, who was reported missing near Tucson, is alive; Pima County officials say a crime scene has been declared and foul play has not been ruled out.

The Los Angeles Times reported that two insiders said Mayor Karen Bass sought edits to the LA Fire Department's October after-action report on the Pacific Palisades fire; Bass has denied directing changes.

The New START treaty between the United States and Russia has expired, removing binding limits on their strategic nuclear arsenals; UN Secretary‑General António Guterres described the timing as "grave" and urged both powers to return to negotiations for a successor framework.