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Palestinian health officials said 27 people, including three children, were killed in Israeli airstrikes across Gaza; the Israeli military said the strikes targeted militant commanders and sites after an alleged ceasefire breach.

Scotland's Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service is investigating seven deaths potentially linked to infections at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital campus; four police prosecution reports have been submitted to COPFS while three cases remain under evidence gathering.

Netflix star Lori Hanford posted a video of her son Sean wiping tears at his December 19 Kennesaw State University graduation, captioning it 'black boy joy'; she said scholarships, work and mentorship helped him complete his degree.

A community-focused International Women's Day event curated by Elif Köse will take place in Brighton on March 8 and emphasises lived experience, inclusive leadership and grassroots connection.

Founded in 1881 by James Dixon and John Walkden to educate and provide meals and clothing for needy children, the Blackburn Ragged School later became a community centre and was demolished in 2009 with its foundation stones and war roll call preserved.

Saddleworth Parish Council's civic service for chair Helen Bishop is scheduled at Greenfield Methodist Church on Sunday 1 February at 2pm, and donations collected that day will go to the chair's chosen charities for 2025–26.

Studies have linked the MIND diet — rich in vegetables and fresh foods and low in processed items — with a lower risk of dementia, and Professor Catherine Mummery said about 45% of dementia could be prevented by modifying risk factors.

Hour-long classes for Year One pupils in Jersey teach safe behaviour around dogs, and the project was launched after the island's dog population rose about 25% over five years.

A former Bedfordshire police and crime commissioner criticises Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood's plan to abolish PCCs, saying the role—created in 2012 to provide local accountability and control over budgets and leadership—has matured and should be reformed rather than scrapped.

British-Iranian comedian Omid Djalili has been using his platform to amplify protesters in Iran and highlight reports of a harsh government crackdown; an internet blackout and differing accounts from human rights groups mean casualty figures are difficult to verify.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves said freezing the Plan 2 repayment threshold is 'fair and reasonable' and aims to align repayment plans; personal finance expert Martin Lewis criticised the move as treating loans like a tax.

The National Trust has sunk three decommissioned barges in the Blackwater Estuary and will cover them with about 8,000 cubic metres of sediment to create a 0.55-hectare island intended as bird habitat.

Families in east London say they will set up a 'virtual hospice' to provide home-based care after Richard House in Newham closed on 18 December.

Catherine O'Hara died at 71, her agency CAA said, following a brief illness; a cause of death has not been released. She and Macaulay Culkin reunited at his Hollywood Walk of Fame ceremony in December 2023, where they embraced.

A cast-iron codfish sculpture in Robin Hood's Bay was installed around 1885 to raise money for the RNLI and is Grade II listed; Historic England reports it could be the charity's oldest collecting box still in use.

Christopher and Denise Mitchell, from the Derbyshire Dales, were presented with a British Citizen Award at the Palace of Westminster after decades of adopting and fostering children, including three adopted children with Down's syndrome and 12 foster placements over 14 years.

A Science paper, reported in The Guardian, used a model that adjusts for deaths from external causes and, based on historical twin data from Denmark and Sweden, suggests genetics may account for about 50% of variation in human lifespan.

Disney+ will stream a one-off Muppet Show special on 4 February 2026, with Seth Rogen credited as executive producer and Sabrina Carpenter appearing as a guest; the episode follows the characters staging a variety show with skits and musical numbers.

Bruce Friedrich argues in his book Meat that cultivated and plant‑based proteins, if they reach taste and price parity and receive government and private support, could replace much industrial meat by mid‑century.

Former footballer Jeffrey Boadi says he gained weight and strength after switching to a plant-based diet and highlights plant proteins, antioxidants and fibre as factors that supported his recovery and training.

The Grade II* Scenic Railway at Dreamland in Margate has been announced as permanently closed. The wooden ride, Britain’s oldest rollercoaster, has been out of service since developing a fault in 2024 and was last restored in 2015.

Merly's Tearoom at Damhouse in Astley closed in January but reopened last summer under Merly's Kitchen, a Community Interest Company, and now offers homemade food, volunteer-led services and community activities.

Last October, former Eton teacher Jacob Leland was convicted of three counts of sexual assault; a former pupil identified as "Thomas" says he was abused while under 16, though Leland admitted only to sexual activity after the pupil turned 16. Undetermined at this time.

The British Hen Welfare Trust is arranging rehoming in South Marston for hundreds of 18-month-old ex-commercial hens, with a public rehoming event on February 8 and an adoption deadline of February 6.

The British Hen Welfare Trust is organising the rehoming of hundreds of ex-commercial hens in South Marston. The birds are about 18 months old, and a rehoming event is scheduled for Sunday, February 8.

A GoFundMe appeal has been launched to raise funds for BDJ 67, a 75‑year‑old former St Helens Corporation AEC Regent III RT-type that recently returned to the North West Museum of Road Transport; planned repairs include bodywork, a full repaint and possibly an engine overhaul.

Local events in Penarth this week include a Songs of Praise recording at St Augustine's Church on Saturday, January 31 and community sessions such as African drumming, a sound bath and a Cancer Research charity bingo night.

James Bell, a Grimsby driving instructor, is running a JustGiving prize draw offering up to 40 hours of driving lessons valued at £1,600 to raise funds for Lincs & Notts Air Ambulance; the draw is scheduled for March 31 and donations have already been recorded.

Wilder Wednesdays, run by the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust in North Whiteley, will expand in 2026 with extra activities supported by Whiteley Town Council. The programme will add family walks, bat and moth sessions while continuing weekly family nature activities.

PETA will hold its annual General Assembly Breakfast on February 3 at the Colgate Darden Memorial Garden in Richmond, featuring rescued dogs available for adoption and vegan refreshments; the group will also outline animal‑welfare legislative priorities.