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How Falklands Veterans Are Marking The 40th Anniversary
Falklands War veterans have gathered in Lincolnshire to remember their part in a special mission. The event marked the 40th anniversary of an RAF raid on Port Stanley airport by Vulcan bombers. The overnight attack which began on 30 April 1982 was the first of seven raids on the airfield.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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‘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.”
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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."
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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.
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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.”
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Study Finds Playing With Your Baby Could Boost Your Mental Health
A new UK study suggests that something as simple as singing and playing with your baby in a group setting could make a meaningful difference for new parents’ mental health. The research, from the Universities of Leeds and Huddersfield, tracked the impact of a five-week creative play program called Let’s Play and found it significantly reduced symptoms of postnatal depression in moms, dads, and caregivers of children under two. The program was developed by children’s arts charity Theatre Hullabaloo and combines informal, artist-led play sessions with a focus on building parent confidence and supporting child development, especially around speech and language. But the biggest surprise? The mental health benefits for parents. “This time is crucial for development, but for parents and carers, it is often a socially isolating, tiring and challenging time,” said Dr. Paige Davis, lead researcher from the University of Leeds School of Psychology. “So it is encouraging to see improvements to mental health in this research.” A total of 57 parents participated in the study. Many were referred by GPs or health workers through a system of social prescribing — connecting patients with non-medical community support programs. They completed surveys before and after the program to measure symptoms of postnatal depression. Not only did symptoms drop over the course of the five-week program, they continued to fall for those who came back for a second round. The structure is simple: same group of parents and babies, meeting weekly in a relaxed, play-filled space, led by artists trained in early childhood development. A key ingredient? Repetition and relationship-building. “Creative programs have really made a difference to local families,” said Miranda Thain, artistic producer at Theatre Hullabaloo. “Giving new creative approaches to supporting vital development and helping new parents build supportive networks.” For Kellie, a mom of two who participated in the program twice, the experience was transformative. Struggling with anxiety after her first child was slow to start speaking, she began to doubt herself as a parent. “Before taking part in Let’s Play, I had thoughts like, am I a bad parent? Am I alone here?” she said. “It was reassuring to hear about how other children were developing.” She was referred to the program by her GP and was nervous at first — arriving late and feeling tense. But the moment she stepped into the space, something shifted. “It was inviting and welcoming,” she said. “I genuinely felt accepted from that first session.” The benefits weren’t just emotional. Inspired by the sessions, Kellie now takes her son to music classes — something she and her partner, Jason, hadn’t considered before. “He absolutely thrives when music is playing,” she said. “It really uplifts our mood too.” Kellie and Jason recently welcomed their second child in May. Study co-author Dr. Susanna Kola-Palmer said the program’s social connection is key. “This social support can help reduce postnatal depression, social isolation, and enhance emotional well-being in early parenthood,” she explained. “We’d expect to see these benefits ripple out to the children, who are more likely to feel secure and thrive when parents are emotionally balanced.” One surprising takeaway from the research: parents didn’t join the program for social reasons, but by the end, that became the most valued part. Many said it was the first time they felt seen — not just as caregivers, but as people. “It’s beneficial to both parents and children, rather than one or the other, and backed by real science,” Kellie said. The team behind Let’s Play is now calling for the NHS to roll out similar programs nationwide, training more artists to deliver “Play on Prescription” as a way to better support parents during one of the most vulnerable times of their lives. “This is something that should be available to everyone,” Kellie said. “In an ideal world, it would be.”
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Immigrant Heroes In Comic Books are Inspiring a New Classroom Curriculum
Since 2006, the Carnegie Corporation of New York has celebrated the Fourth of July with something a little different: a comic book series called Great Immigrants, Great Americans, featuring the stories of naturalized citizens and the extraordinary ways they’ve shaped the country. Now, thanks to a new partnership, these real-life stories are making their way into classrooms across the country. This summer, Carnegie teamed up with the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) to bring the comics to middle and high school students nationwide. Instead of handing schools a finished product, they invited teachers from across the U.S. to help design classroom resources based on the series. “I’m really pleased and excited that Carnegie wanted to bring in teachers… rather than create something on their own and have teachers react to it,” said Emily Kirkpatrick, NCTE’s executive director, in an interview with K-12 Dive. “That’s something that I wish a lot of other entities in our world would model.” Each comic book opens with a simple message: “In this comic book, naturalized U.S. citizens tell their immigrant stories in their own words: how they built careers, fled war zones, united with family, found belonging, created a new home, and made America a better place.” The stories vary widely — and intentionally so. One highlights Mona Hanna, a pediatrician and public health advocate whose research helped uncover the Flint water crisis. Born in the United Kingdom after her family fled Iraq’s Baath regime, Hanna later moved to the U.S. and dedicated her career to protecting children’s health. “It’s impossible for me to separate me from my background,” she writes in her comic. “The circumstances that shaped me led me to advocate for children. My story is an immigrant’s story.” Visually, each character is drawn in bold, superhero style — capes, power poses, and all. It’s an eye-catching design choice meant to reflect the courage and resilience behind each story. “We know that the more that an individual reads, the better a reader they become,” said Kirkpatrick. “So one of the most important things an educator can do is find the type of content that’s most attractive to a student.” For teachers, the series offers more than just compelling reading material. It’s also a practical tool to connect classroom lessons to identity, history, and civic engagement — especially for students who may see parts of their own family story reflected on the page. “This is really important, especially when we’re seeing so much turnover in the teaching profession,” Kirkpatrick added. “We need to find new and novel ways to encourage and engage teachers, and NCTE really sees evidence that we’re on to something.” The comic book project and its new classroom expansion come at a time when the stories of immigrants are often politicized — or erased entirely. But through this creative blend of storytelling, art, and education, teachers are finding a way to bring those stories front and center, where students can read, reflect, and see that greatness often begins with a journey.
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Eating Two Kiwis a Day May Boost Your Skin From the Inside Out, Study Finds
Adding more vitamin C to your diet this winter might not just help fight off colds — it could also quietly improve your skin. Researchers at the University of Otago in New Zealand found that people who ate two kiwis a day for eight weeks saw significant increases in skin vitamin C levels, along with signs of enhanced skin density and cell renewal. Both are linked to collagen production, which plays a key role in maintaining firm, healthy skin. “We were surprised by the tight correlation between plasma vitamin C levels and those in the skin,” said lead author Margreet Vissers in a university news release. “This was much more marked than in any other organ we have investigated.” Twenty-four healthy adults in New Zealand and Germany participated in the study, published in the Journal of Investigative Dermatology. Each ate two kiwifruits daily for eight weeks while researchers monitored their blood and skin vitamin C levels, as well as changes in skin function using imaging and lab tests. By the end of the study, skin density had increased by nearly 50%, and cell turnover rose by about 30%. The researchers were especially interested in how efficiently vitamin C from food made its way into the skin — something they say hasn’t been shown this clearly before. “Our study shows that the skin is extremely good at absorbing vitamin C from the blood circulation,” Vissers said. “It reaches all layers of the skin and is associated with measurable improvements in function.” Vitamin C is already a familiar ingredient in skincare products, often promoted for its role in collagen production and its antioxidant effects. But since the nutrient is water-soluble, topical applications don’t always absorb well through the skin’s outer layers. That’s why researchers wanted to explore whether dietary sources might be a better way to deliver the nutrient where it’s needed. The answer appears to be yes — though, as the researchers note, the benefits may not be immediately visible. “Because the improvement in density was on a cellular level, any cosmetic improvement would be difficult to appreciate with the naked eye,” said Dr. Brian Toy, a board-certified dermatologist at Providence Mission Hospital in California, who was not involved in the study. Toy called the findings interesting, especially the idea that diet might influence skin function. However, he pointed out that the study didn’t show measurable improvements in skin elasticity or protection against UV damage, and it only included a small group of people who already had relatively low vitamin C levels. “If a patient suffers from low vitamin C, dietary changes and supplement use would be advised regardless,” Toy told Fox News Digital. Healthy adults are advised to consume about 250 milligrams of vitamin C per day to maintain proper plasma levels. Because the body doesn’t store vitamin C, researchers emphasized the importance of getting it regularly through food. While this study focused on kiwifruit, the researchers said similar benefits could come from other vitamin C–rich foods like citrus fruits, berries, bell peppers, and broccoli. The research was partially funded by Zespri International, a major kiwifruit producer. But Toy noted that industry funding is common and said the Journal of Investigative Dermatology is a reputable, peer-reviewed journal. Though two kiwis a day likely won’t replace your skincare routine or reverse aging overnight, researchers say the findings add to growing evidence that what you eat can influence your skin — in ways you might not immediately see, but that matter underneath.