city news

Litter pickers find needles and knives while collecting rubbish

Litter pickers find needles and knives while collecting rubbish

Clean Our Patch CICSome of the needles a litter picking group found in Victoria Park in PlymouthLitter picking volunteers said this year they have found items such as hunting knives and more than 5,000 used needles and syringes from different areas of Plymouth.Clean Our Patch CIC runs 43 litter picking groups in the city and has two trained volunteers who have specialist equipment to remove needles.Teams recently cleared 56 needles and a hunting knife from the edge of…

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The NFU Mutual Charitable Trust Centenary Award 2025

A promising postgraduate student from Holne in Devon has been selected to receive a national ‘Centenary Award’ bursary from The NFU Mutual Charitable Trust to support her studies relating to UK agriculture. Maeve Leith was selected for the award to support her PhD at the University of Exeter. Maeve’s working title for her thesis is “Shared Values, Divided Visions: Perceptions of Landscape Health in a National Park Context”. It will be a Sociology programme with the university’s Centre…

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International Criminal Court cases not fully representing victims of crimes, study warns

Victims who participate in proceedings at the International Criminal Court are unlikely to be fully representative of the communities harmed by the crimes that have been charged, a new study warns. The research shows there are a wide range of barriers to certain groups participating in court action, which may limit their ability to access justice through the ICC. This conflicts with the ICC’s legal framework and goals, and limits victim agency and voice. The study shows victims…

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Former Plymouth solicitor had ‘no respect’ for alleged victims

Former Plymouth solicitor had ‘no respect’ for alleged victims

BBCAlan Harris has denied 12 charges of indecent assault, eight charges of sexual assault and two charges of rapeA former criminal defence solicitor hoped clients he allegedly sexually abused would be seen as "second-class citizens" due to their past offending, a court has heard.Alan Harris, 72, of Thorn Park, Plymouth, is on trial at Winchester Crown Court accused of 12 charges of indecent assault, eight charges of sexual assault and two charges of rape, dating from 1989 to…

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Warship crew ‘excited’ to see family and pets at Christmas

Warship crew ‘excited’ to see family and pets at Christmas

BBCJoshua Dear has reunited with his parents Lisa and David in time for ChristmasRoyal Navy crew members from HMS Richmond say they are excited to see family, friends and pets after a long deployment overseas.Hundreds of relatives and friends of the Plymouth-based frigate's crew welcomed them home on Sunday following an eight-month mission.The vessel and its 200-strong crew played an integral role in its premier deployment of 2025. Operation Highmast saw deployments to India, Asia and Australia to…

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University of Exeter celebrates South West cinema success with online public film festival

An online film festival showcasing movies and documentaries that comment upon creative life in Devon and Cornwall opens today (Monday 1 December). DxC will feature works past and present from regional directors, with the theme of Southwest Crossings: Journeys Through Time. The films are all being screened free of charge on YouTube, courtesy of eXeFilm, the University of Exeter’s film distribution label. There will also be two ticketed pop-up cinema events in Exeter this week, featuring short films…

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Memorial bench planned for murdered lecturer Claire Chick

Memorial bench planned for murdered lecturer Claire Chick

There are plans for a memorial bench to be placed in the centre of the University of Plymouth in memory of a university lecturer who was murdered.Claire Chick was stabbed to death​ in January by her estranged husband, who is now serving a life sentence.She was awarded a posthumous PhD in October and friends and colleagues at the university created the Claire Chick Nursing Fund to support student nurses. Professor Aled Jones, from the School of Nursing and…

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Funding agencies can end profit-first science publishing

Funding organisations can fix the science publishing system – which currently puts profit first and science second – according to new research. The new paper says the current relationship between researchers, funders and commercial publishers has created a “drain” – depriving the research system of money, time, trust and control. The research team used public revenue and income statements to assess the money being spent on publishing articles with the biggest commercial publishers, and placed this in the…

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Gary Caldwell: Exeter City boss proud of performance in Bradford City loss

Gary Caldwell: Exeter City boss proud of performance in Bradford City loss

The result means Exeter have lost three of their past five league games.But despite the club's difficult league position, and financial issues off the field that means his budget is frozen, Caldwell is confident his side have what it takes to stay up. "I know the outcome of a football match is what everyone cares about and what you need to get right," he said."But over the course of 46 games we have to be clear on what…

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Exeter City captain blending firefighting with football

Exeter City captain blending firefighting with football

BBCBow Jackson says the two jobs complement each otherA professional footballer says her other job as a firefighter provides good preparation for what happens on the pitch.Exeter City captain Bow Jackson has worked with Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service for the last seven years.Since joining the Grecians in 2022 she has helped the club gain promotion to the third tier of the women's game.Speaking about her two contrasting roles she said: "I'm probably exposed to pressures…

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‘If we wait, it will be too late’: Hundreds of scientists sign urgent climate declaration

In the wake of the COP30 climate change conference, more than 500 scientists have signed an urgent declaration, stating: “The planet’s future hangs in the balance.” COP30 ended with almost every country in the world signing an agreement called the “Global Mutirão” (meaning “collective efforts”) – but the final text does not mention fossil fuels, and contains no “roadmaps” to end fossil fuel burning and deforestation. The Dartington Declaration – co-ordinated by the Global Tipping Points Report team…

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HMS Richmond welcomed home to Plymouth after eight months

HMS Richmond welcomed home to Plymouth after eight months

BBCThe Royal Navy frigate is crewed by 200 men and womenHundreds of relatives and friends of HMS Richmond's crew welcomed them home on Sunday following an eight-month mission. The Royal Navy said that the Plymouth-based frigate and its 200-strong ship's company, including sailors, aviators, and Royal Marine Commandos, had played an integral role in its premier deployment of 2025, Operation Highmast.HMS Richmond visited South Korea, Vietnam, the Philippines and India during its mission, in addition to taking part…

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