Grants awarded to tackle cost-of-living crisis in Dorset

Post published:November 27, 2025
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Organisations tackling the cost-of-living crisis in Dorset have been awarded £80,000 worth of grants.Dorset Community Foundation and Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole (BCP) Council provided the money to 23 local groups.The council said it would pay for projects providing warm hubs, free meals, cookery workshops and money advice.Council cabinet member Sandra Moore said: "By funding these groups, we are helping to ease the cost-of-living pressures and ensure vital services reach those who need them most.""The incredible efforts of volunteers…

Australia clamps downs on ‘nudify’ sites used for AI-generated child abuse | Social Media News

Post published:November 27, 2025
Post category:Al Jazeera
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Three websites used to create abuse imagery had received 100,000 monthly visits from Australians, watchdog says.Published On 27 Nov 202527 Nov 2025Click here to share on social mediashare2ShareInternet users in Australia have been blocked from accessing several websites that used artificial intelligence to create child sexual exploitation material, the country’s internet regulator has announced.The three “nudify” sites withdrew from Australia following an official warning, eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant said on Thursday.Recommended Stories list of 4 itemsend of…

Thailand’s pork industry fears influx of cheap US imports under Trump | Business and Economy News

Post published:November 26, 2025
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Bangkok, Thailand – Stewed, seasoned with sugar and cloves, deep-fried or dished up in a zingy chilli mince – the diets of most Thais are incomplete without pork.But a $3bn market – supplied nearly entirely by domestic pig farmers – may be about to face competition like never before from the giant hog farms of the world’s third-largest producer, the United States.Recommended Stories list of 4 itemsend of listWhile the fine print of the Thai government’s preliminary trade…

What does a ‘tourist tax’ mean for the West of England?

Post published:November 26, 2025
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Visitors to the west of England may soon have to pay an overnight visitor levy under plans set out in the autumn Budget.Chancellor Rachel Reeves is expected to give locally-elected mayors across the UK the power to enforce a tourist tax and reinvest the money directly into their areas.According to government statements, the new levy would be "modest" and applies to hotels, B&Bs, holiday lets, guesthouses and other paid accommodation.Bath and North East Somerset (BANES) councillor Kevin Guy…

Was Budget ‘the right thing’ or ‘deeply frustrating’?

Post published:November 26, 2025
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Katie Waple,South of EnglandandStephen Stafford,South of EnglandBBCThe Budget announcements were eagerly followed across the south of EnglandAn increase in the minimum wage, a three-year freeze on income tax thresholds, tax surcharge on properties worth more than £2m and scrapping the two-child benefit cap were among the main announcements in the Budget.Chancellor Rachel Reeves insisted she would not "lose control" of public spending with "reckless borrowing".She told the House of Commons earlier that she would take "fair and necessary…

Delivering new Somerset railway station ‘remains on the horizon’

Post published:November 26, 2025
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Daniel MumbyLocal Democracy Reporter Daniel MumbyPlanned site of the New Somerton Railway Station seen from the Ricksey Lane BridgeDelivering a new rural railway station remains "on the horizon" despite the immediate lack of funding, a council said.Plans to deliver a new railway station to serve the growing towns of Somerton and Langport, in Somerset, were dealt a blow shortly after last year's general election when chancellor of the exchequer Rachel Reeves MP cancelled the restoring your railway fund…

Former Plymouth solicitor denies sex abuse and rape of clients

Post published:November 26, 2025
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Stephen Richards/GeographAlan Harris is accused of sexually abusing clients in the cells at Charles Cross Police Station (pictured) and Plymouth Magistrates' CourtA former criminal defence solicitor has denied he sexually abused and raped clients.Alan Harris, of Thorn Park, Plymouth, Devon, is on trial at Winchester Crown Court accused of 18 charges of indecent assault, eight charges of sexual assault, three charges of rape and one of another serious sexual offence.The 72-year-old, who has denied all 30 charges, is…

Budget sparks concern among south west businesses

Post published:November 26, 2025
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Georgina BarnesSouth WestBBCJohn Brown says increased wages will come at an "extra cost for businesses"Workers aged between 18-20 will see a minimum wage increase to £10.85 an hour, up from £10, and those aged 21 and over on the living wage will receive £12.71 an hour, up from £12.21.Teenagers aged 16 or 17 on the minimum wage will be paid £8 an hour - a 45p raise.Mr Brown said businesses needed more support with the rising wages.He said:…

‘Ageing’ traffic lights at Dunster junction to be replaced

Post published:November 26, 2025
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Onyi UbadighaWest of EnglandBBCSomerset Council said the work was part of a county-wide plan to replace traffic lightsTraffic lights on two "busy" junctions that are more than 30 years old will be replaced in early 2026. Work on the signals at the A39 junction with the A396 at Dunster, Somerset and the A39 junction with Clarks Village is expected to start on 5 January and finish in AprilSomerset Council said it was "imperative" the "ageing" signals were replaced…

Georgia judge drops election interference case against Trump | Donald Trump News

Post published:November 26, 2025
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BREAKINGBREAKING, Judge Scott McAfee in the southern state of Georgia rules that the case against Trump ‘is hereby dismissed in its entirety’.Published On 26 Nov 202526 Nov 2025Click here to share on social mediashare2ShareA Georgia prosecutor has dropped pending charges against Donald Trump over allegations of 2020 election interference by the United States president and his allies.Judge Scott McAfee granted the request to terminate the prosecution on Wednesday, putting an end to the last set of criminal charges…

First locomotive crosses rail bridge at Shillingstone since 1966

Post published:November 26, 2025
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Volunteers rebuilding a section of railway ripped up in the 1960s are celebrating after witnessing a locomotive cross the station bridge for the first time in nearly 60 years.Shillingstone station in Dorset closed in 1966 but, in 2005, a group of locals took on the lease and began restoration work, initially opening a museum and cafe.In July, North Dorset Railway completed a four-year project to double the length of the track to half a mile (0.8km), with the…

Girl, 5, died after tonsils surgery in Cornwall, inquest hears

Post published:November 26, 2025
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Lisa YoungCornwall, Cornwall Coroner's Court, TruroThe Milnes familyAmber had her tonsils and adenoids removed in a planned operationA five-year-old girl died after a blood vessel ruptured following a routine operation, an inquest has heard.Amber Milnes died at Royal Cornwall Hospital on 9 April 2023, four days after her tonsils and adenoids had been removed to help improve her sleep patterns.Paediatric pathologist Dr Andrew Bamber told the inquest at Cornwall Coroner's Court on Wednesday Amber had died as a…