Syria’s new currency removes al-Assad family images, seeks to boost economy | Syria’s War News

Post published:January 5, 2026
Post category:Al Jazeera
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Authorities remove two zeros from the pound, hoping to simplify transactions and regain trust in the battered currency.New banknotes have arrived at money exchanges across Syria, replacing those showing ousted longtime ruler Bashar al-Assad and his family, as the fledgling government hopes the Syrian pound can regain some of the value lost over more than a decade of war.The redesigned notes have been months in the making and are part of a broader effort to stabilise and revitalise…

Devon school shuts as gas outage continues to affect thousands

Post published:January 5, 2026
Post category:Devon News
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A secondary school will be shut on Monday due to a major gas outage affecting 4,600 properties. More than 100 Wales and West Utilities engineers have been responding in the Kingsbridge, Malborough and Salcombe area of the South Hams in Devon following damage to a mains pipe on Saturday.Kingsbridge Community College said the school would be closed with lessons continuing online.The Mayor of Kingsbridge, Julia Wingate, said the cold weather "compounds the problem", and added electric heaters and…

BBC Radio Solent launches campaign to collect hygiene products

Post published:January 5, 2026
Post category:BBC Dorset

Helen Head and Patrick HughesSouth of EnglandBBCBBC Radio Solent's Soapbox Appeal will collect donations at over 50 drop-off points across Hampshire, Dorset and the Isle of WightA BBC campaign aims to help charities and community groups by organising drop-off points for toiletries and hygiene items to be donated to people who need extra support.The BBC Radio Solent Soapbox Appeal will collect donations at over 50 drop-off points in Hampshire, Dorset and the Isle of Wight across January.They will…

Project to help Atlantic salmon in Devon shows signs of success

Post published:January 5, 2026
Post category:Devon News

Briohny Williams,South WestandChloe Parkman,South WestBBCThe project near Fernworthy Reservoir has been running for 11 yearsMore than 1,000 tonnes of gravel has been added to a river since 2015 to improve Atlantic salmon populations. South West Water (SWW) and Westcountry Rivers Trust have worked on the project for 11 years to restore spawning habitats at the River Teign, below Fernworthy Reservoir.Olivia Cresswell, head of fisheries and ecology at WRT, said: "Dams and reservoirs reduce the natural supply of gravel…

Devon clog dancers appeal in bid to keep tradition alive

Post published:January 5, 2026
Post category:Devon News

A clog dancing group in Devon is appealing for new dancers and musicians to join them.The group Plymouth Clog was formed in the 1980s but group members said in recent years their numbers had dwindled.Clog dancing is similar to Morris dancing but the dancers wear wooden clogs on their feet. The group said it would welcome anyone who wanted to give it a try and previous experience of dancing was not required.Plymouth Clog was originally called Plymouth Maids…

Isles of Scilly lifeline cargo vessel repairs to take two months

Post published:January 5, 2026
Post category:BBC Cornwall

BBCCargo ship Gry Maritha has been taking supplies to the islands since 1982Repairs to the cargo vessel that supplies the Isles of Scilly will take at least eight weeks.The windlass, or winch, which winds the anchor and tightens moorings was damaged on Gry Maritha while at St Mary's harbour in heavy winds on 12 December.The ship was built in 1982 and will still be able to operate but only when winds are below force five on the Beaufort…

Tamar crossing charges ‘critical’ for commuters

Post published:January 5, 2026
Post category:BBC Cornwall

Julia GregoryBBC News, South WestTomasz Maciulewicz/BBCRegular travellers with a Tamar Tag pay discount crossing feesMPs are calling for a rethink to a proposed 150% increase in the monthly fee for the discounted toll and ferry scheme over the Tamar.The proposal would see the Tamar Tag admin cost rise from 80 pence to £2 a month for the service which costs between £15m and 18m a year to run.South East Cornwall MP Anna Gelderd said the increase proposed by…

Somerset Slinky on-demand bus providing ‘lifeline’ for passengers

Post published:January 5, 2026
Post category:BBC Somerset

BBCThe Slinky Bus in Somerset is an on-demand bus service across the countyA council says it is "determined" to protect an on-demand bus service which provides "a vital lifeline" for its passengers. The Slinky Bus, run by Somerset Council, allows people who do not live near a regular public transport route to ride into town or to the doctors by booking on an app or telephone.It uses existing bus stops and landmarks as pick-up points to connect people…

Dinah’s Hollow landslip road closes for a year for safety work

Post published:January 5, 2026
Post category:BBC Dorset

A stretch of road affected by landslips has closed for stabilisation works, expected to take a year.Dorset Council previously said there was a risk of a fatality on the C13 at Dinah's Hollow, near Shaftesbury, Dorset unless tree felling and stabilisation works went ahead.The road will be closed between Boundary Road and the B3081, with access for residents and emergency services between Boundary Lane and West Lane.The C13 is a key north-south route for Dorset. Previous landslips have…

Winter wellbeing scheme urges people in Bath to ‘reach out’

Post published:January 5, 2026
Post category:BBC Somerset

Jasmine Ketibuah-FoleyWest of EnglandAlicia CopeAlicia Cope said the charity's new scheme reminds her to check her mental healthA charity volunteer is urging people struggling with their mental health this winter to "reach out for that connection because facing it alone is so, so difficult".As part of their "season to breathe" social media campaign, Bath Mind is sharing tips and support to people in Bath and North East Somerset.A spokesperson for the charity said national data has revealed three…

Trump’s abduction of Maduro escalates concerns over potential war with Iran | US-Venezuela Tensions News

Post published:January 5, 2026
Post category:Al Jazeera
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Washington, DC – Hours after the United States announced the abduction of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, Israeli politician Yair Lapid issued a warning to Tehran: “The regime in Iran should pay close attention to what is happening in Venezuela.”The forcible removal of Maduro from power came less than a week after US President Donald Trump met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and threatened to launch new strikes against Iran.Recommended Stories list of 3 itemsend of listAlthough Washington’s…

Denmark PM urges Trump to stop ‘threatening’ Greenland | Donald Trump News

Post published:January 4, 2026
Post category:Al Jazeera
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The US president’s latest threat comes a day after Washington bombed Venezuela and abducted its president.Published On 4 Jan 20264 Jan 2026Click here to share on social mediashare2ShareDenmark’s prime minister, Mette Frederiksen, has ‍urged US President ‍Donald Trump to stop threatening to take over Greenland, after the latter reiterated his wish to do so following Washington’s abduction of the leader of Venezuela.“It makes absolutely no sense to talk about the US needing ⁠to take over Greenland. The US…