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A report says Africa was the fastest-growing solar market in 2025, with installed capacity up 17% and large imports of Chinese-made panels; working solar capacity still trails the volume of equipment shipped to the continent.

Radio 1 presenter Greg James will cycle 630 miles (1,000 km) across the UK on a tandem bike from Weymouth to Edinburgh between 13 and 20 March for Comic Relief 2026.

Part of the UK Aids memorial quilt is on display at the University of Reading as Thames Valley Positive Support marks its 40th anniversary. Six panels from the 42-panel quilt are being shown and the display coincides with National HIV Testing Week.

Four astronauts — Jessica Meir, Jack Hathaway, Sophie Adenot and Andrei Fadyaev — are scheduled to lift off to the International Space Station aboard a SpaceX Crew Dragon from Kennedy Space Center at 5:15am ET (10:15am UK), in a flight the article describes as following an ISS evacuation.

Greg McCormick asked that his fee be given to Woodhouse Close Food Bank, and Debbie Richardson attended the Bishop Auckland Civic Society meeting to accept the cheque on the charity's behalf.

The Met Office forecasts a rare sunny day across the UK on Saturday, February 14, with clear skies in Greater Manchester and cooler-than-average temperatures; rain, sleet and snow are expected before and after this day.

UK property and window experts report that black mould often appears around damp windows and that lemon juice, containing about 5% acidity, is being described as an effective natural remover when used full strength.

A US congressman told a House hearing that a woman pictured with Andrew in photos from Jeffrey Epstein's New York home should be treated as a sex trafficking victim, while US Attorney General Pam Bondi said the images do not prove criminality.

Volunteers and conservation groups are planting native cypress and tupelo trees to restore wetlands around New Orleans; organizers report progress toward a roughly 30,000-tree goal and say key plantings should finish by next year.

Ukraine expects formal approval of a new $8.2 billion IMF programme in coming weeks, its debt chief said, which would replace an existing $15.6 billion facility and support public spending amid the ongoing war.

The Robert Burns Ellisland Trust has unveiled plans to restore Ellisland Farm and recreate the rooms where Burns and his family lived, with every room in the cottage to be opened to the public for the first time; proposals will be submitted to Dumfries and Galloway Council as the trust seeks £12m for conservation work.

White Lodge Centre in Chertsey will stop providing paediatric therapy from April when its contract with NHS Surrey Heartlands ends and the work moves to HCRG Care Group; the ICB says it is managing a planned transition so children continue to receive specialist therapy.

The article reports that drinks can influence cholesterol, and that problems mainly arise when sugar or full-fat milk are added, especially with frequent consumption; Stanford notes that milk itself is not bad and provides calcium and protein.

Saudi Aramco and Microsoft signed a non-binding memorandum of understanding to explore AI and other digital initiatives for industrial operations and workforce training in Saudi Arabia.

Krystle Hickman has photographed more than 300 native bee species and published a book on California's native bees supported in part by National Geographic; she documents living bees to record species and behaviour amid habitat loss and climate threats.

An industry report says Africa was the fastest-growing solar market in 2025, with installed capacity rising 17% and large imports of Chinese-made panels; working capacity still trails the nearly 64 GWp shipped to the continent since 2017.

Ophthalmologists say people should have sight tests every two years and note measures such as year-round UV-protective sunglasses, the 20-20-20 screen rule, and protective eyewear for risky tasks.

Six volunteers walked a 0.5km loop for more than nine hours on January 30 and raised over £3,400 for Waggy Tails Rescue.

Teal Tag Vintage, run by co-owners Ben Givan and Linda Persely, has opened a shop on The Rock in Bury selling 1990s and 2000s clothing, retro electronics and coffee; the pair expanded from online sales and a Liverpool market presence and opened their second location in November last year.

Cooper, a five-year-old beagle at Dogs Trust Shoreham with a heart-shaped patch of fur, is available for adoption this Valentine's Day. The centre describes him as friendly, playful and making progress with positive muzzle training.

Egremont Methodist Church, opened in 1876, will mark its 150th anniversary with an exhibition on May 16 and two commemorative services on May 17, 2026.

After a ceasefire halted major operations, Palestinians and heritage teams are assessing damage and recovering artifacts at historic sites including the Great Omari Mosque and the Pasha Palace.

Officials say nine people were killed at Tumbler Ridge and the suspected shooter was found dead from an apparent self-inflicted wound.

Jelly Roll, the 41-year-old country rapper, was spotted jogging in Los Angeles as part of an ongoing health journey; he has said he lost more than half his body weight and is now at 265 pounds.

Furley Page marked its 300th year by donating £30,000 to Pilgrims Hospices after a year of staff fundraising and community volunteering.

A GoFundMe for James Van Der Beek's family has raised over $2 million (£1.46m) after the actor's death from bowel cancer; several celebrity colleagues have made donations or pledges.

The south region team of Morgan Sindall Construction raised £1,040 for Heartbeat after 10 riders, including clients, completed a 110km charity ride around Purbeck.

On 26 January in Kotdwar, Mohammad Deepak intervened when activists confronted an elderly Muslim shopkeeper; a video of the encounter went viral. Deepak has since received public praise as well as protests, threats and police complaints involving both unknown people and a complaint against him.

Days after the Trump administration oversaw removal of a Pride flag from the Stonewall national monument, New York City officials raised the flag again at the site in Greenwich Village.

US secretary of state Marco Rubio said he expects to meet Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the Munich Security Conference, while recent Russian strikes in Ukraine have left thousands of people without power.