A Clever New Recycling Campaign is Helping Reduce Waste in Manchester

Manchester is embracing an innovative way to tackle litter while engaging the community in a fun and interactive manner. The "Big Ballot Bins" installed in the city center encourage people to vote on fun subjects, such as Barbie vs Oppenheimer or barm cakes vs muffins, by throwing their rubbish in the bins, making waste disposal an enjoyable experience. The project, a collaboration between Manchester City Council, Hubbub, and KFC, aims to reduce littering, keep streets clean, and promote positive behavior change in waste disposal habits.

Read More

Air Crew Rescues Chamois in Distress

Video from Italy’s national fire service shows you can be as sure-footed as a mountain goat and still occasionally need some help from the experts. The Vigili del Fuoco said a team was called in on December 28 to Tessari, in the hills north of Verona, where a chamois had become tangled in ropes on a disused climbing wall. The area was described as “inaccessible from above due to dense vegetation, and even less so from nearby areas due to the lack of passable roads and trails.” A Drago 149 helicopter spotted the chamois from above and lowered two rescuers who reached the animal, the fire service said.

Charity Café Turns First-Month Profit, Plans Expansion to Help More Homeless

A community café in Rushden, Northamptonshire, that opened just six months ago is already eyeing expansion after turning a profit in its very first month. Café 16:15, launched in July by Stan Robertson—a former rough sleeper—is part of Project 16:15, a local initiative aimed at helping homeless people in Northampton. The café is entirely volunteer-run, and all profits are reinvested directly into the charity's outreach work. “We were in profit in our first month and we haven’t looked back really,” Robertson said. “It’s grown steadily. We’ve become well-established in such a short space of time. We’ve really become part of the community.” That early success has already funded two new welfare and outreach volunteers and is now fueling Robertson’s broader plan: a new café in Wellingborough, followed by a drop-in centre in Northampton. The café, located in Hamblin Court, serves homemade food sourced from local suppliers. The popular sausage rolls, in particular, have developed a following. Linda Nightingale, who came to Rushden on a pensioners’ trip from Raunds, said she made a point of stopping by. “It’s a fantastic idea,” she said. “It’s word of mouth that has spread the news that it is such a lovely, welcoming, bright, wonderful facility... and the prices are so good.” Regulars like Shirley Heard, from nearby Irchester, now stop in for soup and a chat. “I like the company, the food is good, and it’s a bonus helping others,” she said. She recently donated a sleeping bag to the charity. “I like to give him [Stan] a bit extra so he can put it into the charity.” Lorna, a volunteer from Northampton, said she helps out a few days a week to give back and connect with others. “It’s a chance to meet new people and work within the community,” she said. David Gillings, a local from Rushden, was already familiar with Robertson’s work through his job and said he was quick to support when the café opened. “It’s brought an empty unit back into use, Stan’s great, the volunteers are great, and it’s great quality food,” he said. “Nice quality, and good-sized portions.” Robertson emphasized that this is just the beginning. “This is only phase one of a three-year plan,” he said. “The cafés are being established to help fund the future plans as well.” Café 16:15 is set to reopen on Saturday, January 3 after a short festive break—ready to keep serving meals, community, and a mission with real impact.

Read More

Virginia Beach Man Paralyzed by Rare Syndrome Walks Again After Near-Death Ordeal

Ra-Jon James wasn’t sure he would survive—let alone walk again. The Virginia Beach man was left paralyzed in July 2025 after being diagnosed with Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS), a rare autoimmune condition that causes the body’s immune system to attack its own nerves. Now, after months in the hospital and intensive rehab, he’s defied the odds and is sharing his story to raise awareness. “I told myself when all of this stuff happened, when I was fully recovered, I said this could happen to anyone,” James told WTKR 3. His ordeal began on July 28, when he started feeling weak and others noticed his eyes were unusually red. He went to urgent care, but test results came back normal. Hours later, his condition worsened dramatically. He collapsed on the floor at home and couldn’t get up. His father tried to take him to the hospital, but James couldn’t walk. He remembers hearing a voice that told him, “You’re gonna be okay.” Once admitted, he was rushed to intensive care. “I was on the trach, I was on the ventilator. I was actually paralyzed,” he said. “Am I going to live? That was my thought.” GBS typically appears after an infection and can quickly escalate. “For some reason, your body creates antibodies that attack your own nerve cells,” explained Dr. Jennifer Quilter of Sentara Virginia Beach General Hospital. “This is a nerve problem. It’s not a muscle problem.” James was treated with plasma exchange therapy and spent nearly three months hospitalized. Doctors told him he had been “close to death.” But thanks to intense rehab, he slowly regained movement. When he returned to visit the hospital team, Dr. Quilter and her colleagues were stunned. “We were like, ‘Holy smokes—we can’t believe it.’ He looked great,” she said. “We don’t often see it that severe.” Now fully mobile, James wants to use his experience to help others recognize the early signs of GBS and seek help quickly. Symptoms can include tingling, numbness, muscle weakness, and loss of coordination. His message is simple: this could happen to anyone. But with fast action and the right care, recovery is possible—even from the most frightening of circumstances.

Read More

Rescue Dog Leads 19 Buddhist Monks On 2,300-Mile Peace Walk Across The US

When a group of Buddhist monks set out on a peace walk across India, they didn’t expect to gain a four-legged companion. But along the way, an abandoned dog—now named Aloka—joined them, and never left. The monks, who now live at the Huong Dao Vipassana Bhavana temple in Fort Worth, Texas, first met Aloka during a 112-day journey in India meant to spread messages of peace and unity. The stray dog followed them step by step across the country, enduring heat, illness, and even a car accident. At one point, the monks loaded him onto a truck to rest and recover. He jumped out and returned to walking beside them. “He followed us the whole time,” one of the monks said in a TikTok video. “He’s a true hero. He wanted to walk. That inspires a lot.” Aloka—believed to be an Indian Pariah dog—has since joined the group on a new journey: a 2,300-mile walk from Texas to Washington, D.C. that began in October. The mission, known as the Walk for Peace, will take 110 days and cross through 10 states before arriving at the U.S. Capitol in February. “It really touches the hearts and minds of people,” said Texas Representative Nicole Collier. “We live in a time when the noise often drowns out understanding, where division can feel louder than unity—but this is what the community and interfaith solidarity looks like.” By late December, the group had made it to Atlanta, with a live tracker on Facebook documenting their route. Along the way, the monks and Aloka have been welcomed by strangers offering meals, checkups, and encouragement. A Dairy Queen in Texas served them ice cream—and made sure Aloka got a treat, too. In Alabama, doctors gave him a free health check. The walk isn’t just symbolic. It’s a daily act of endurance. “It’s a journey filled with both known and unforeseen challenges,” the group shared on Instagram. “Yet, with hearts anchored in calmness and minds set firmly on their purpose, the monks move forward—step by step—embodying peace, resilience, and unwavering determination.” Aloka, now affectionately known as the “Peace Dog,” has become a symbol of that resilience. He’s also developed a fan base of his own, with followers keeping up via his dedicated Instagram account. “Aloka is a very good boy helping to carry the message of peace and harmony,” the group wrote. The peace walk has drawn attention not only for its spiritual mission but for the quiet joy and connection it sparks wherever it goes. Crowds have gathered to meet the monks, ask questions, and share meals. For many, it’s a chance to slow down and connect with something hopeful. And through it all, Aloka remains right there—leading, watching, and walking alongside them.

Read More

Five Years, 1,825 Hats: Woman Raises £5,000 for Air Ambulance That Saved Her Husband

Every day for the past five years, Hilary Fleming has put on a different hat—some silly, some colourful, all worn with purpose. The retired NHS podiatrist from Wroughton, near Swindon, has now worn 1,825 unique hats and raised £5,000 for Wiltshire and Bath Air Ambulance, the charity she credits with saving her husband Shaun’s life. “They got him to hospital quickly and basically saved his life,” she said. “So as a payback I try and raise money.” The air ambulance was called out twice for Shaun, once in 2013 and again in 2014, after he fell from a ladder. That experience became the inspiration for Hilary’s unusual fundraiser—a daily ritual she calls “hatsercise,” where she dons a new hat each day for a brisk half-hour walk. Over the years, friends, neighbours, and even strangers have donated hats to the cause. Some were given by her husband, others by people who’ve crossed her path during her daily walks. She’s kept many of them, sold others to raise more money, and sparked countless conversations along the way. “If I’m out for a walk and I’ve got a silly hat, I often get into conversations,” she said. “I’ve met so many people who have used the air ambulance who want to tell their story. It’s raising awareness and also giving people a chance to have a chat and also just have a laugh.” The Wiltshire and Bath Air Ambulance team responded to a record 1,343 incidents last year, with doctors onboard for more than half of those callouts. For many, like the Flemings, the service has meant the difference between life and death. To mark the fifth anniversary of her daily hat challenge on 8 January, Hilary hopes to visit the air ambulance’s base in person to celebrate. Amy Noad, marketing and communications manager for the charity, said volunteers like Hilary are essential to keeping their service running. “Our volunteers play a vital role,” she said, “from supporting us at events, distributing collection tins across the community, to becoming our mascots.” Hilary, it seems, is all three.

Read More

18-Year-Old Dominates Darts World Again, Proving He's a Legend Already

Luke Littler didn’t just defend his world title. He obliterated the competition. The 18-year-old has now won two World Championships in three visits to Alexandra Palace, dropping only four sets across the entire tournament. His final match—an emphatic dismantling of Gian van Veen—sealed what was a near-perfect run and confirmed what most of the darts world already suspected: Littler isn’t just good. He’s dominant. “It’s what dreams are made of,” Littler said after hoisting the Sid Waddell Trophy. “To go back-to-back feels amazing.” He might be humble—“At times, I am unstoppable,” he offered at the post-final press conference—but his record is anything but modest. Ten major titles. Two world championships. A single final loss. All before his 19th birthday. And he’s not slowing down. “I want to dominate everything,” he said. “I want to try to win everything.” If there was any lingering doubt before, Littler has now made it clear: he’s the best darts player on the planet right now. He’s also doing it in record-breaking fashion. His 106.02 average in the final was the sixth-highest in a PDC world final and the best since 2018. Across the tournament, he averaged 104—a level of consistency that darts analyst Wayne Mardle described as “ridiculous.” “When he has this 'off' game, he had one that was a 97 average,” Mardle told Sky Sports. “That is how 'badly' he has played, and it’s still world class.” The comparisons to legends are inevitable. Only Phil Taylor (16) and Michael van Gerwen (3) have more PDC world titles. Littler is now one of just four players to win back-to-back championships, alongside Taylor, van Gerwen, and Gary Anderson. Anderson was 45 when Littler won his first. Adrian Lewis, who also won consecutive titles, has already been passed in total majors by Littler. Even Eric Bristow and van Gerwen, both considered generational talents, didn’t win their second world titles as early. Littler’s pace is historic. Taylor didn’t win his first PDC crown until age 34. Littler is 18. Asked if he thinks he can catch Taylor’s 16-title record, Littler didn’t rule it out. “It’s so far away, 14 to go,” he said with a grin. “Another 15 or 16 years, I’d say… I think I could if I stay around long enough and keep the hunger.” That hunger, he insists, is going nowhere. “Once the hunger goes there’s no point playing,” he said, “but there’s a lot of hunger left inside me.” The final also signaled a new era for darts. Littler’s opponent, 23-year-old Gian van Veen, held his own through the early stages. Together, they made history as the youngest-ever World Championship final pairing, with a combined age of just 41. “We’re always going to have battles,” Littler said. “Pro Tour, Euro Tour, majors, everything. We’re going to play so many times.” Van Veen agrees. “I know I can match him,” he said, already looking forward to a rematch. And it’s not just those two. A wave of young talent is changing the face of the sport. “With us two, Josh Rock, Wessel Nijman—the young boys are here,” said Van Veen. “Even Luke Humphries is still a young guy in the sport. I think this game is for the young players now.” Add Beau Greaves and Charlie Manby to that list, and the picture becomes clearer: the future of darts isn’t coming. It’s already here. Still, it’s Littler who leads the charge—winning not just titles but the imagination of fans, broadcasters, and a new generation of players who grew up watching Phil Taylor but are now watching someone even younger do things even faster. What comes next is anyone’s guess. But if Littler’s current trajectory holds, the sport may be witnessing the rise of its next all-time great.

Read More

‘Gobby Bird’ Retires: Award-Winning Town Crier Leaves Her Post After 22 Years

Elizabeth Anderson-Watson has never been one to keep quiet—and for more than two decades, that’s been a very good thing. The 51-year-old maths teacher, who served as the official town crier for Barnoldswick in Lancashire, has stepped down after 22 years on the job. Known affectionately in the town crying community as the “gobby bird,” she’s now heading to Australia to be with her daughter Hazel and baby grandson, Alfie. “I’ve just been very loud all my life,” Anderson-Watson said. “I’ve always been told to be quiet, so it was nice to find my tribe, finally.” Her retirement marks the end of an unusually spirited run. Elizabeth picked up several titles over the years, including the 2008 European Town Crier Champion. She’s one of only two women to ever win a UK national championship, and the role even landed her TV appearances on The X Factor, Tipping Point, and The Weakest Link. “It’s been amazing,” she said. “The people that I’ve met and the places I’ve been has just been fantastic.” Her career began, fittingly, through sheer persistence. She was lobbying for a local bus route to help kids travel from Earby to Barnoldswick’s sports centre when she got to know local council officials. Councillor David Whipp mentioned the crier position was opening up—and figured Elizabeth would be perfect. “He knew I could talk to anybody,” she said. The tradition of town crying goes back centuries, with criers used to announce everything from royal news to tax changes. They’re best known for their iconic “oyez, oyez” call, which comes from the old French word ouïr, meaning “to listen.” Anderson-Watson embraced the pageantry and people that came with the title. “When I went online, there was a whole world of town crying out there and I got very quickly scooped up into it,” she said. “Made a lot of really great friends.” Her booming voice and charisma earned her the nickname “gobby bird” among fellow criers—something she wears with pride. Though she's moving across the world, she doesn’t plan on hanging up her bell entirely. “I do know quite a few of the Australian town criers and they’re already trying to get me going out there,” she said. “So we’ll probably continue.” At a recent council meeting, Barnoldswick Town Council member Callum Hird presented her with a bouquet to mark the occasion. “She has been a real asset to Barnoldswick as well as helping to promote the name of the town,” he said. “We will all miss her very much but wish her well with her new life in Australia.”

Read More

This 16-Year-Old Karting Champion is Eyeing an F1 Future After Historic Win

A teenager from Sheffield has her sights set on Formula 1 after becoming the first female driver to win one of Britain’s most prestigious karting titles. Maisy Creed, 16, made history in November by claiming the PF International X30 Junior Championship, a title previously held by future F1 stars like Lewis Hamilton, Jenson Button, and Lando Norris. "I'm there with all the guys, the only female driver there, and it just feels really special," Maisy said. "I've done something nobody else has done — and that feels special." The win not only cements her place among the UK’s top young racing talents but also strengthens her case for a future spot in the F1 Academy, the all-female driver development programme launched by Formula 1 to help promote gender diversity in the sport. Maisy started indoor karting at the age of eight, later than many of her competitors. But her rapid rise through the ranks has turned heads. She now plans to train at Silverstone — home of the British Grand Prix — to sharpen her skills behind the wheel of a racing car, moving beyond karts and towards formula racing. The goal is to build up a strong set of performance data that could help her earn a coveted place in the F1 Academy by 2027. Her father, Adam Creed, said he couldn’t be prouder of her achievements so far. "For girls to come into that sport and excel, it's unbelievably difficult," he said. "It's a massively male-dominated sport." Maisy hasn’t shied away from calling that out. Despite her success, she says female drivers still face sexism. "There's a few girls that I'm quite close with, and we all experience it," she said. "It's just really annoying to deal with because I don't understand why they [males] find it so unbelievable, and they really just don't want to be beaten by me." Still, she’s not letting any of it slow her down. Maisy knows she’s already part of a very rare group of women capable of racing — and winning — at the highest levels of karting. "I'm one of a tiny handful of girls on the whole planet that can actually compete at the top level against the boys and actually be at the front," she said. And she’s far from finished. "I have the passion and desire to reach for the very top of this amazing sport that I love," she said. "I can't wait to experience the journey over the next five years."

Read More

New Study Finds ‘Dry January’ Linked to Better Sleep, Mood and Long-Term Health Gains

Cutting out alcohol for just one month can lead to lasting benefits in sleep, mood, energy, and overall health, according to a major new study from researchers at Brown University. The analysis, published in the journal Alcohol and Alcoholism, reviewed data from 16 studies involving over 150,000 people who took part in Dry January — the month-long challenge where participants give up alcohol for the first 31 days of the year. The results are striking. People who abstained completely during Dry January reported better sleep, improved concentration, lower blood pressure, healthier liver function, and even weight loss. Those who didn’t fully abstain but reduced their drinking also experienced health improvements, though to a lesser extent. “The effort leads to sustained moderation,” said Dr. Megan Strowger, the study’s lead author. “Most participants continue to drink less alcohol rather than increasing consumption afterwards.” That outcome — drinking less after the challenge ends — is key to why researchers say Dry January works. It doesn’t just hit pause on drinking; it helps people rethink their habits entirely. The study also looked at who is most likely to join the challenge. Participants tend to be younger, female, and more likely to have higher incomes and college degrees. They also tend to drink more than average — a group that’s traditionally been harder to reach through public health campaigns. Dry January began as a small UK campaign in 2013 with just 4,000 participants. Now it’s a global phenomenon, with millions taking part each year — including those trying what some call “Damp January,” where the focus is on cutting back rather than cutting out completely. One of the study’s more hopeful findings is that even those who didn’t fully abstain still reported mental health gains. Dr. Matthew Meisel, one of the co-authors, called it “a very good thing” in a culture where alcohol is deeply embedded in social norms. “There is so much more support for living an alcohol-free lifestyle now,” said researcher Suzanne Colby. “It is more socially acceptable than ever to be ‘sober curious’ or alcohol free. Social norms have shifted, in part with the help of influencers on social media sharing the benefits of sobriety and reducing the stigma of not drinking.” The study also found that people who officially signed up for the campaign and used its tools — like the Try Dry app, daily emails or text messages — were far more likely to succeed in staying alcohol-free through January and maintain healthier habits afterward. Still, the review didn’t ignore potential downsides. A small number of participants who failed to complete the month reported drinking more than usual afterward — a kind of “rebound” effect. Researchers said this highlights the need for more support and more research, especially for those trying the challenge on their own. The team is now calling for further studies not just on Dry January but also on Damp January, to explore the effects of reduced — rather than eliminated — alcohol consumption during the month. “I think the most important takeaway from our Dry January review is that taking a break from drinking can be reframed as a positive experience,” Colby said. “I tried it myself and experienced benefits first-hand.” As 2026 begins, more people appear to be embracing that message — and raising a glass of sparkling water to the idea that less really can be more.

Read More

Teen Boxer Transforms Life Through Crime Reduction Program, Wins British Heavyweight Title

Two years ago, Divine Aikbekean was heading down a dangerous path. Today, the 17-year-old from Heywood, Greater Manchester, is a British Muay Thai champion with dreams of going pro — and helping others stay off the streets. At 6'5" and 108 kilograms, Divine has the frame of a natural heavyweight. But it wasn’t until age 15, after a referral from his school and a message from a local charity, that he discovered where that power could take him. “I was doing stuff that I shouldn't be doing, hanging with the wrong people,” he said. “The school referred me to Your Trust and they messaged me saying, would you like to have a go at doing Muay Thai? I said, yeah, why not.” That one “yes” changed everything. In December, Divine became the adult British Muay Thai Nai Khanom Tom Heavyweight Champion — a major milestone after just four fights. He now trains most days of the week at Middleton Martial Arts Academy and has even started helping coach younger kids. “I had one session and I thought, I like this, I want to keep on going,” he said. “If you’d asked me two years ago what my purpose was in life, I’d tell you I don’t know. I was just coasting through life. But if you ask me now, I have things to do. I actually have something I have to commit to.” Divine is now part of England’s Muay Thai squad and has been invited to train in Thailand — the birthplace of the sport. His transformation is part of a wider effort by Greater Manchester’s Violence Reduction Unit (VRU), which carried out more than 40,000 interventions last year. The program has been linked to a 13% drop in knife crime across the region. Gareth Chambers from Your Trust, the charity supporting Divine, said his dedication has stood out from the beginning. “He’s just turned into a real role model now and I don’t really know anybody who’s put that time and effort in like that,” said Chambers. “Greg, his coach, keeps telling me he just can’t get him out of the gym!” “He’s been really inspirational. I know that he’s desperate to pass that knowledge and that message on to groups of kids to try and help them stop going down the wrong path as well.” For Divine, it’s personal. “I always think, what if I never said yes to the session?” he said. “What would I have been doing now? Some people I know are in prison now. Some people I used to hang about with are dead. So now I think, what if I went that way?” Instead, he’s focused on going forward — and going far. “I want to be a world champion. That’s the goal now,” he said. “I want to go professional, and I want to help others do the same. Because if I can turn it around, so can they.”

Read More