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The GCC and collective security | GCC

The GCC and collective security | GCC

The Arab Gulf states have for decades looked externally for their security, particularly to the West.The United States, United Kingdom and France have bases throughout the region, underscoring the Gulf’s importance to the West. But the sense of security these bases provide is not as solid as it once was.In the US, a growing segment of the foreign policy sphere views East Asia as more important to Washington, largely because of the rise of China as a threat…

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Thousands gather across the West to mark Armistice Day

Thousands gather across the West to mark Armistice Day

Georgia EadieWest of EnglandBBCWreaths were placed on GWR trains from Gloucester to London PaddingtonEvents have taken place across the West of England to mark Armistice Day.A two-minute silence was observed in offices, schools and shopping centres at 11:00 GMT to mark the time and date when the World War One Armistice came into effect.It was also the sixth anniversary of The Veterans Charity and Great Western Railway joint "Poppies to Paddington" Remembrance memorial.Poppy wreaths were collected from stations…

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Barnstaple charity helping children cope with grief

Barnstaple charity helping children cope with grief

BBCLauren, 13, has received help from Barnstaple-based charity Families in Grief after her grandparents diedA girl said a Children in Need-backed charity has helped her deal with grief and regain confidence.Following the loss of her grandparents, Lauren, 13, received support from Families in Grief, who work with children, young people and their families who have experienced the death of a loved one.The Barnstaple charity has received a £105,000 grant, split over three years, from Children in Need to…

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Harbour dredging trials begin in Bridport and Lyme Regis

Harbour dredging trials begin in Bridport and Lyme Regis

A new method of dredging is being trialled in two harbours with the aim of reducing costs and the environmental impact.Dorset Council is testing the Water Injection Dredging (WID) system at Lyme Regis and West Bay, which avoids the need to excavate and suction the seabed.The technique uses low-pressure water jets to loosen sediment which is redistributed by the natural currents.The dredging vessel, Doonhamer, will be in Bridport's inner and outer harbours for about 10 days before the…

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Wessex Water agrees £11m package to cut sewage spills

Wessex Water agrees £11m package to cut sewage spills

BBCWessex Water said the deal means the money will be used to benefit customers rather than going to HM Treasury A water company has agreed to fund £11m worth of improvements to cut sewage spills across its network to avoid a fine by the regulator.Wessex Water and its shareholders will pay for upgrades to reduce spills at storm overflow sites, extra monitoring equipment, and to help customers better manage rainwater at their properties.The company proposed the package to…

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Trains carry poppy wreaths from Cornwall to memorial in London

Trains carry poppy wreaths from Cornwall to memorial in London

Cornwall Partnership NHS Foundation TrustThe Night Riviera Sleeper from Penzance was the first of the 2025 trains to leave for London as part of Poppies to PaddingtonPoppy wreaths have been carried by train from Cornwall to London Paddington as part of Armistice Day.The night riviera sleeper from Penzance was the first of the 2025 trains to leave for London as part of The Poppies to Paddington initiative, now in its sixth year,. Military personnel, members of the Royal…

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British Sailing Team’s training base at Portland axed

British Sailing Team’s training base at Portland axed

Plans to build a new training base for the British Sailing Team have been abandoned due to the rise in build costs.The Royal Yachting Association (RYA) wanted to build the centre within the grounds of Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy (WPNSA) in Portland, Dorset.But the RYA said rising construction costs had "prompted us to re-evaluate how best to invest" and it would instead revamp its current facilities.The new centre, given planning permission last year, was intended to…

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How many times has Israel violated the Gaza ceasefire? Here are the numbers | Israel-Palestine conflict News

How many times has Israel violated the Gaza ceasefire? Here are the numbers | Israel-Palestine conflict News

One month into the declaration of a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, Israel has violated the agreement with near-daily attacks, killing hundreds of people.Israel violated the ceasefire agreement at least 282 times from October 10 to November 10, through the continuation of attacks by air, artillery and direct shootings, the Government Media Office in Gaza reports.The office said Israel shot at civilians 88 times, raided residential areas beyond the “yellow line” 12 times, bombed Gaza 124 times, and…

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North Somerset car park lease an ‘absolute scandal’

North Somerset car park lease an ‘absolute scandal’

John WimperisLocal Democracy Reporter LDRSThe lease of Carlton Street car park has been described as a "scandal"A council signed the "worst deal any council has ever signed" when leasing a loss-making carpark, its leader has said.The Carlton Street multi-storey Park, in Weston-super-Mare, is currently losing North Somerset Council about a quarter of a million pounds a year.The authority took out a lease in 2012 but the poor quality build has meant most of it has now had to…

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Sand art created near Padstow to mark Remembrance

Sand art created near Padstow to mark Remembrance

Rocks UpIt took five hours to crate the artworkA huge piece of sand art has been created on a beach to mark Remembrance.The design featured a life-size scale drawing of a Vulcan aircraft which was used for a series of long-range raids during the Falkland's war in 1982.Harry Maddox and Steve Rolfe made the piece over about five hours on Saturday, at Tregirls beach near Padstow in Cornwall.Mr Maddox said: "It was big...the Falkland conflict was in my…

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Scientists find evolutionary explanation for “irrational” Dread Risk behaviour

The evolution of the so-called Dread Risk response has been explained by new scientific research. People often respond to low-probability, high-consequence events like terror attacks or nuclear accidents with a Dread Risk response. This intense fear of the perceived sources of dread leads to extreme avoidance behaviour, which often means that people expose themselves to higher risk of dying in more common incidents like traffic accidents. Scientists at the Universities of Exeter and Bristol have used a mathematical…

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