Somerset charity has helped women in Africa for 25 years

Chris LockyerandClara Bullock,SomersetHarriet Gordon-BrownChase Africa is educating women in Africa about healthcareA charity from Somerset that promotes healthcare for women in Africa is celebrating 25 years of work. Chase Africa is based on a farm near Frome, but works in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda by bringing birth control and healthcare to women in rural communities.Robin Witt founded Chase Africa after visiting his wife's family in Kenya and noticing that the local forest was disappearing.Mr Witt said: "Environmental health…

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Cotswolds 60th year as AONB to be celebrated with film

Maisie Lillywhite,GloucestershireandJo Durrant,BBC Radio GloucestershireBBCAlana Hopkins (left) and Tea Sharp (right) have been working on plans for the 60th anniversary of the Cotswolds becoming an Area of Outstanding Natural BeautyA feature-length film highlighting the changing face of the Cotswolds at "a really pivotal time" will be released in 2026, a film maker says.Cotswolds: Field & Folk's will be shown in Gloucestershire schools to mark the 60th anniversary of the Cotswolds becoming an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB).Tea…

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What can I do with my Christmas tree after the festive period?

Carys NallyWest of England Getty ImagesRecycling centres and tree collection services are available across the regionAs the festive period comes towards a close you may be thinking about what to do with your Christmas tree. There are plenty of options across the West - whether you want to recycle or even give it to charity.For regular waste collections, residents have been urged to check their postcode-based collection calendar and to use recycling and food waste collections as much…

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Cricket club collects Christmas trees to help young players

A Cornish cricket club is offering a Christmas tree collection service to help raise funds for its youth teams.Saltash Cricket Club chairman Shayn Rencher, who has been in his role for two years, said it was the second year the club had offered the service.Last year, the team collected 160 trees, raising about £1,100 for its youth teams through donations."All the team help out and it's quite a fun team building exercise followed by a pint after," he…

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The story of the buried whale’s head

BBCExcavating the whale's head took some heavy equipmentEarlier this year, I found myself standing in a field, watching, as a digger lifted the remains of an enormous fin whale's head from a resting place few people knew about. It was the culmination of an investigation into something I initially thought may be a myth but turned out to be true - a whale's head being buried somewhere in my hometown.On Valentine's Day 2020 the crew of a former…

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Record-breaking silk dress on display in Devon

BBCArtist Kirstie MacCleod estimates there are between 1-1.5 million stitches on the dress, which took 10,000 hours of workA red silk dress embroidered by 380 people in 51 countries over the course of 14 years has gone on display at Killerton House near Exeter.The Red Dress Project, which saw 87 panels created and stitched together between 2009 and 2023, was begun by Somerset-based artist Kirstie MacCleod. She said: "What I really love is that probably the women and…

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Train derails in southern Mexico, killing 13 and injuring dozens | Transport News

Mexico’s Navy says the train was carrying 250 people when it derailed partially near the town of Nizanda in Oaxaca.Published On 29 Dec 202529 Dec 2025Click here to share on social mediashare2ShareA train carrying 250 people has derailed partially in southern Mexico, killing at least 13 people and injuring 98, according to officials.The Mexican Navy said that the Interoceanic Train linking the states of Oaxaca and Veracruz went off the rails on Sunday as it passed a curve…

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North Korea’s Kim oversees test launch of long-range cruise missiles | Kim Jong Un News

Kim Jong Un urges ‘unlimited and sustained’ development of nuclear combat forces as North Korea gears up for a key party congress.Published On 29 Dec 202529 Dec 2025Click here to share on social mediashare2ShareNorth Korean leader Kim Jong Un has overseen a test launch of long-range strategic cruise missiles and called for the “unlimited and sustained” development of his country’s nuclear combat forces, according to state media.The Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported on Monday that Kim expressed…

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Antoine Semenyo: Bournemouth forward wants future resolved by 1 January

Antoine Semenyo's future is entering a crucial 48 hours, with the Bournemouth attacker eager to have his departure concluded by 1 January.BBC Sport reported last week that Manchester City's move for the player, who has a £65m release clause, is at an advanced stage following discussions between his representatives and the Etihad club.It is understood further discussions between parties are scheduled to take place in the next two days with a view to wrapping up Semenyo's move to…

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Kyrgios beats Sabalenka 6-3, 6-3 in ‘Battle of the Sexes’ tennis showdown | Tennis News

Kyrgios, who is currently 671st in the men’s rankings, beat the four-time Grand Slam singles champion in straight sets.Published On 28 Dec 202528 Dec 2025Click here to share on social mediashare2ShareNick Kyrgios has beaten women’s world number one Aryna Sabalenka in the “Battle of the Sexes”, a highly-publicised showdown with modified rules that divided tennis fans.Former Wimbledon finalist Kyrgios won 6-3, 6-3 in an exhibition match in the United Arab Emirates on Sunday that bore little resemblance to…

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The Prem: Exeter 24-10 Leicester Tigers: Chiefs go second in table

Exeter: Woodburn; Feyi-Waboso, Slade, Rigg, Ridl; Skinner, Varney; Sio, Dweba, Tchumbadze, Jenkins (c), Zambonin, Hooper, E. Roots, Fisilau.Replacements: Yeandle, Goodrick-Clarke, J. Roots, Tuima, James, Chapman, Haydon-Wood, John.Sin bin: Tuima (76)Leicester: Steward; Radwan, Perese, Kata, Hassell-Collins; Searle, Whiteley; N. Smith, Blamire, Heyes, Henderson, Chessum (c), Moro, Reffell, Cracknell.Replacements: Theobald-Thomas, Haffar, Hurd, Thompson, Williams, Van Poortvliet, Bailey, Hamer-Webb.Sin bin: Williams (51), Searle (62)Referee: Anthony Woodthorpe. Source link

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Javad Zarif: Main threat to the Middle East is Israel, not Iran | Israel-Iran conflict

Iran’s former foreign minister argues Israel, backed by the US, has killed every opportunity for peace.Months after being attacked by the United States and Israel, Iran finds itself in the crosshairs again, with Israeli officials lobbying US President Donald Trump to address Tehran’s ballistic missiles.Veteran Iranian diplomat Javad Zarif tells host Steve Clemons that “everybody lost any faith in diplomacy” after Israel and the US attacked Iran following five rounds of reconciliation talks between Washington and Tehran.Zarif added…

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