Former Lloyd’s Bank could become community and office space

Post published:October 13, 2025

Eve WatsonSouth West andFrancesca CarpenterSouth WestBBCPeople have been asked to share their views on the building in HelstonA council has proposed converting an old bank into offices and a community space.Helston Town Council said plans to restore the town's Guildhall would reduce its available office space and so it has proposed creating more in the former Lloyd's Bank building in Market Place.The council is asking for residents' views on the proposals, which would see it lease the building with the option of buying it in two years.Town mayor Nicola Bosae said funding the repairs would have a "slight" financial impact on council tax bills for people in band D properties. "[The Lloyd's building is] falling apart inside and outside will be next," Bosae said."We'd like to take it on for office space upstairs and community space downstairs if the town would like it."It will affect them financially slightly - if they are a band D property, it will cost them £35 for the first year only for the cost of the repairs for the building. "After that, the running cost will only be £16 a year."She said the majority of Helston residents were below band D.She added: "Nobody wants to see…

How Indigenous knowledge is aiding Pakistan’s fight against climate change | Climate Crisis News

Post published:October 13, 2025

Skardu, Pakistan – When Wasiyat Khan was woken up by a loud explosion in the middle of the night, he thought “the mountains had burst” and a landslide was on its way.Accompanied by his family, Wasiyat, a shepherd from Roshan valley of Ghizer, in northern Pakistan’s mountainous Gilgit-Baltistan region, had taken his livestock to elevated land for grazing on a sojourn during the warmer months.Recommended Stories list of 4 itemsend of listSoon enough, as the family sought immediate safety, he realised the explosion was the sound of a glacier bursting. As their temporary accommodation was being swept away by the floodwaters, Wasiyat thought of the villages which lay in the water’s path.At more than 3,000 metres in the darkness of the night, outside help was impossible to get. He immediately jumped across boulders and reached a designated spot where he could get mobile phone signals and alerted the villagers, who numbered about 300.“Within 30 minutes, we got a call back saying the villagers had evacuated safely and no lives were lost,” Wasiyat told local media. “While they were safe, we were left with nothing, not even a matchstick to keep us warm near the glaciers. It was very cold and we…

Rafa the labrador helping boost Devon children’s reading skills

Post published:October 13, 2025

A waggy-tailed mentor is helping children take their reading to the next level as part of a library scheme.Okehampton Library has been hosting "Read to Rafa" sessions for three years, giving young people the chance to read books to an eight-year-old labrador called Rafa on Tuesdays.Staff at the library said the aim was to boost literacy skills and development and since starting up the project they had seen "huge progress".Mel Thompson, Rafa's owner, said she thought her pet also enjoyed the sessions - which can be booked via the library - especially when the children picked a book with dogs in it.Library assistant Kayleigh White said the scheme helped take away the feeling of judgement some children might have when learning to read."Reading to a dog is less intimidating than reading to a human being," she said."He doesn't judge, it doesn't matter if it takes you 20 minutes to read a page, he's there to provide that listening ear."Seven-year-old Alfie, who has been coming to read to Rafa for several months, believes other children would get a lot out of doing the same."They'll get to be happy because they will be better readers, so then they will read books more and…

LIVE: Israel, Hamas set to free captives; Trump says Gaza ‘war is over’ | Israel-Palestine conflict News

Post published:October 13, 2025

blinking-dotLive updatesLive updates, Families in Palestine and Israel await the return of their loved ones as the Israeli-Hamas truce continues to hold.Published On 13 Oct 202513 Oct 2025Click here to share on social mediashare2Share Source link

‘New reality’ as world reaches first climate tipping point

Post published:October 13, 2025

Widespread mortality of warm-water coral reefs under way, as world reaches first tipping point With global warming set to breach 1.5°C, world dangerously close to further catastrophic tipping points These include melting ice sheets, Amazon rainforest dieback and collapse of vital ocean currents Tipping points pose a new type of threat that current international structures and agreements are not designed to counter Key to averting catastrophe is to act urgently, by supporting societal transformation and triggering ‘positive tipping points’ such as the self-propelling rollout of green technologies The world faces a “new reality” as we have reached the first of many Earth system tipping points that will cause catastrophic harm unless humanity takes urgent action, according to a landmark report released today (13 Oct) by the University of Exeter and international partners. With ministers gathering today ahead of the COP30 summit, the second Global Tipping Points Report finds that warm-water coral reefs – on which nearly a billion people and a quarter of all marine life depend – are passing their tipping point. Widespread dieback is taking place and – unless global warming is reversed – extensive reefs as we know them will be lost, although small refuges may survive and…

France’s Macron unveils new government ahead of budget deadline | Politics News

Post published:October 12, 2025

The new government, led by Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu, must present a 2026 draft budget on Monday.French President Emmanuel Macron has unveiled a new government after holding marathon talks with newly re-appointed Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu ahead of a fast-approaching deadline to present next year’s budget to parliament.In Lecornu’s new cabinet, Jean-Noel Barrot remains as foreign minister, while outgoing Labour Minister Catherine Vautrin takes on the defence portfolio, according to a lineup published by the president’s office on Sunday.Recommended Stories list of 3 itemsend of listIn a post on X, Lecornu wrote: “A mission-based government has been appointed to draw up a budget for France before the end of the year.”“I would like to thank the women and men who have freely committed themselves to this government, putting aside personal and partisan interests. Only one thing matters: the interests of the country.”Macron reinstated Lecornu late on Friday, just four days after the premier had resigned and as his first government collapsed, leading to outrage and pledges from opponents to topple any new cabinet at the first chance.The former defence minister was tasked with assembling a government to present a 2026 draft budget on Monday, giving parliament the constitutionally required 70 days…

Devon man sustains serious head injury after being punched at pub

Post published:October 12, 2025

A man has sustained a serious head injury after being punched in the face at a Devon pub.Police said officers were called to The Coaching Inn, in Queen Street, South Molton, just after 21:00 BST on Saturday after reports a man had been punched by another man, causing him to fall to the ground and hit his head.The victim, a local man in his 30s, was taken to hospital where he remains in a serious but stable condition, Devon and Cornwall Police said.They said a man in his 20s, from South Molton, was arrested on suspicion of wounding and or inflicting grievous bodily harm without intent and remained in custody.The force asked anyone who had witnessed the incident or had footage to come forward and assist its investigation.It added that the assault was an isolated incident and that there would be "increased police presence" in the area as inquiries continued. Source link

Far-right AfD party may win first German city mayor post in run-off vote | Elections News

Post published:October 12, 2025

The election in Frankfurt an der Oder, a city on the border with Poland, is between Independent candidate Axel Strasser and AfD contender Wilko Moller.Voters in the eastern city of Frankfurt an der Oder have cast their ballots in a run-off election that could give the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, the largest opposition party in parliament, its first mayoral victory in a German city.Independent candidate Axel Strasser and AfD contender Wilko Moller faced off on Sunday after leading the first-round vote on September 21, with Strasser receiving 32.4 percent of the vote and Moller 30.2 percent.Recommended Stories list of 3 itemsend of listCandidates from the centre-right Christian Democratic Union and the centre-left Social Democratic Party were eliminated in the first round.The election comes three days after the Bundestag, Germany’s parliament, stripped two AfD lawmakers of their parliamentary immunity, with one accused of defamation and the other of making a Nazi salute, which is illegal in Germany.Political scientist Jan Philipp Thomeczek, of the University of Potsdam, told the dpa news agency that a victory for Moller would send “a very strong signal” that the anti-immigrant and eurosceptic AfD can succeed in urban areas.Frankfurt an der Oder is a city in…

Fisherman catch 210kg bluefin tuna off Devon coast

Post published:October 12, 2025

Caroline RobinsonSouth WestIan PerkesBrixham Fish Market said the fish was caught by the team on Pechos Grandes on ThursdayA fish wholesaler has purchased a 210kg (463lb) bluefin tuna for more than £2,000.The fish was caught on Thursday by the team at Pechos Grandes and was sold at an auction on Friday at Brixham fish market.Ian Perkes, a wholesaler and exporter based in Brixham who bought the fish, said it was the biggest one caught in the area."We know they're here... we have footage of them on a feeding frenzy so we know that there's masses of them here but it's certainly the biggest one that's been landed on Brixham Market so far," he added. Ian PerkesMr Perkes said he believed the tuna had reappeared in local waters after 70 years purely as they were looking for foodHe added bluefin tuna was not always a common site in Devon's waters. "I've been doing this for 50 years next year, so this is... relatively new," he said."Apparently it happened here in 1952, was the last and now we're seeing these fish here over the last two or three years."Mr Perkes said he believed they had reappeared purely for food.He said the fishermen that…

Taliban and Pakistani forces exchange heavy fire across Afghanistan border | Pakistan Taliban

Post published:October 12, 2025

NewsFeedDeadly clashes erupted overnight between the Taliban and Pakistani forces across the Afghanistan border, with each side claiming to have captured or destroyed outposts. The fighting follows an alleged Pakistani air strike on Kabul on Thursday, which the Taliban called a violation of their sovereignty.Published On 12 Oct 202512 Oct 2025Click here to share on social mediashare2Share Source link

Royal Navy ship stops boat carrying £35m illegal drugs

Post published:October 12, 2025

Royal NavyThe boats were travelling across the Gulf of OmanA Plymouth-based ship has intercepted three small boats travelling across the Gulf of Oman carrying £35m worth of illegal narcotics, the Royal Navy has said.Commando snipers from Bickleigh barracks were used to disable the boats and the Navy said it was the first time they had been called on to use non-lethal force in the specific area. A spokesperson said the crews on the small boats tried to throw their cargo into the water and speed away, with two of the skiffs subsequently abandoned. After disabling the third boat's engine, teams found more than 1.5 tonnes (1,500kg) of drugs including heroin, crystal methamphetamine and cannabis concentrate hashish. Royal NavyTeams found crystal methamphetamine, heroin and hashishThe operation used the Navy's Wildcat helicopter and the Maritime Sniper Team from 42 Commando – which is based in Bickleigh in Plymouth - were also involved.HMS Lancaster is based in Plymouth but has been operating out of the Royal Navy's Middle East hub in Bahrain since late 2022.Commander Sam Stephens, commanding officer, said he was "hugely proud" of the team.He said: "This operation saw Lancaster's crewed and uncrewed aircraft working hand-in-glove under the direction of the ship's…

Two new public woods in South West to provide sustainable timber

Post published:October 12, 2025

Forestry England has unveiled plans for two new woodlands in Devon and Somerset, adding more than 247 acres (100 hectares) of forest to the counties.Okement Wood, covering 205 acres (83 hectares), will be located between Abbeyford Wood and Berrydown Plantation near Okehampton, on the northern edge of Dartmoor. Blackwell Wood, spanning 52 acres (21 hectares), will be next to Druid's Combe Wood and Langridge Wood, north of Treborough in eastern Exmoor.The woodlands will be open to the public and tree species have been selected for their climate resilience with the aim of eventually provide sustainable timber, said Forestry England.They follow the creation of Dury Wood, Wagaford Wood, and Burriott Wood in north Devon, where more than 200,000 trees were planted during 2024 and 2025."Creating new forests from scratch is an exciting opportunity to apply the latest evidence-based forestry quite literally from the ground up, while ensuring that each woodland is designed sympathetically for its landscape," said Kevin Stannard, forest management director for the west of England.Public consultation on the draft designs will begin in spring 2026. The project is supported by the government's Nature for Climate Fund. Source link