news

Women in the Indian Armed Forces suffer systemic discrimination across all stages of their military careers, study shows

Women serving in the Indian Armed Forces suffer systemic discrimination across all stages of their military careers, a new study shows. Experts have identified persistent unfairness across recruitment, career progression, combat roles, pay and benefits, and institutional culture. While legal interventions, particularly Supreme Court judgments, have helped to bring about greater gender equality, implementation remains problematic. Discriminatory practices are deeply embedded in military institutional culture. Addressing these issues requires not just policy changes but a fundamental shift in…

Continue ReadingWomen in the Indian Armed Forces suffer systemic discrimination across all stages of their military careers, study shows

Somerset Council to spend £2.2m on ash dieback and tree care

Somerset Council to spend £2.2m on ash dieback and tree care

A council has agreed a contract that will see them spend nearly £2.2m on tree care over the next four years.The deal agreed by Somerset Council includes funding for ongoing efforts to combat ash dieback, which is a fungal disease that has wiped out thousands of ash trees in the UK since it arrived in 2012.The Mendip and Quantock hills in Somerset are some of the areas that have been particularly effected by the spread of the disease.Councils…

Continue ReadingSomerset Council to spend £2.2m on ash dieback and tree care

Two more arrests in Poole murder and burglary inquiry

Two more arrests in Poole murder and burglary inquiry

Two more men have been arrested on suspicion of murder and burglary following the death of a woman in her 80s.Dorset Police found her body at an address in Higher Blandford Road, Poole, shortly after 16:50 GMT on 1 December and noticed signs of a possible break-in.A 22-year-old man from Wimborne and a 21-year-old man from Alderholt have been arrested and bailed while inquiries continue.A 32-year-old man from Verwood, a 30-year-old man from Wimborne and a 16-year-old boy…

Continue ReadingTwo more arrests in Poole murder and burglary inquiry

Bridgwater school’s ban on make-up is ridiculous, say parents

Bridgwater school’s ban on make-up is ridiculous, say parents

Joe SkirkowskiWest of EnglandBBCPupils at Haygrove School in Somerset are being punished for wearing mascara and false eyelashesParents have described a make-up ban at their children's school as "ridiculous".They said that pupils at Haygrove School in Bridgwater, Somerset, have been inspected and separated from their peers for wearing fake eyelashes and false nails.Staff have been criticised for bringing in the rules suddenly but said they were merely enforcing an existing ban, for the benefit of the pupils' mental…

Continue ReadingBridgwater school’s ban on make-up is ridiculous, say parents

Man jailed on ‘vicious’ murder of partner in Plymouth flat

Man jailed on ‘vicious’ murder of partner in Plymouth flat

Devon and Cornwall PoliceMark Fitzgerald was jailed for life with a minimum term of 21 years and 168 daysA man who concealed the murder of his partner in his flat has been jailed.Mark Fitzgerald, 62, was jailed for life with a minimum term of 21 years and 168 days after being found guilty over the murder of Lisa Paris, 54, in March 2024. Plymouth Crown Court heard Fitzgerald pretended to find her unconscious in his Rendle Street flat…

Continue ReadingMan jailed on ‘vicious’ murder of partner in Plymouth flat

Zoe Tucker ‘devastated’ by theft of gold medal-winning bike

Zoe Tucker ‘devastated’ by theft of gold medal-winning bike

Dave GilyeatSouth of EnglandDuathlon World ChampionshipsZoe Tucker won gold at the world championships in JulyA duathlon world champion has described the theft of her racing bike as a "devastating loss".Zoe Tucker, from Sherborne in Dorset, had her £7,000 measured-to-fit Giant Propel, alongside another similar model, stolen from her garage at some point during Thursday night and Friday morning.Ms Tucker rode the bike during her gold medal victory at the world championships in July, and was using it to…

Continue ReadingZoe Tucker ‘devastated’ by theft of gold medal-winning bike

No 10 says it backs pubs as landlords bar Labour MPs in tax protest

No 10 says it backs pubs as landlords bar Labour MPs in tax protest

Downing Street has insisted the government backs pubs, as a growing number sign up to a campaign to bar Labour MPs from their premises in protest at tax rates.The Labour MP ban was kicked off a week ago by Andy Lennox, landlord of the Old Thatch in Dorset, championing the ban and more than 250 pubs, restaurants and hotels signing up all over the country.Mr Lennox said the ban was a last resort after multiple campaigns spelling out…

Continue ReadingNo 10 says it backs pubs as landlords bar Labour MPs in tax protest

Traders relieved as ‘challenging’ Tavistock roadworks conclude

Traders relieved as ‘challenging’ Tavistock roadworks conclude

GoogleNational Grid said the works were needed to supply electricity to a new housing developmentThe end of roadworks that had caused delays and disruption in a Devon town have been welcomed by traders.There were three-way traffic lights around Drake's statue in Tavistock which had caused congestion on a main route into the town.National Grid said the works, which began on 17 November, were necessary to provide an electricity connection for a major new housing scheme in the town.The…

Continue ReadingTraders relieved as ‘challenging’ Tavistock roadworks conclude

Man jailed after flipping car during police chase near Bodmin

Man jailed after flipping car during police chase near Bodmin

A man who flipped his car during a police pursuit has been jailed for 16 months.Jean-Luc Coombe, 29, of Forth an Venegh, Bodmin, Cornwall, appeared at Truro Crown Court on Thursday and was sentenced for dangerous driving, driving while disqualified, driving without insurance and failing to stop for police.He had previously admitted the offences at Bodmin Magistrates' Court on 8 November.He was also disqualified from driving for two years and ordered to pay a surcharge of £187.Coombe, who…

Continue ReadingMan jailed after flipping car during police chase near Bodmin

Liverpool vs Brighton: Premier League – teams, start time, lineups, Salah | Football News

Who: Liverpool vs BrightonWhat: English Premier LeagueWhere: Anfield in Liverpool, United KingdomWhen: Saturday, December 9, at 3pm (15:00)How to follow: We’ll have all the buildup on Al Jazeera Sport from 12:00 GMT in advance of our text commentary stream.All eyes will be on the Liverpool team sheet when it is released at roughly the same time the bus carrying the squad will arrive at Anfield for the Brighton match on Saturday.Recommended Stories list of 4 itemsend of listSpeculation…

Continue ReadingLiverpool vs Brighton: Premier League – teams, start time, lineups, Salah | Football News

Child reveals murder plot as man guilty in double jeopardy trial

Child reveals murder plot as man guilty in double jeopardy trial

Surrey PoliceRobert Rhodes, 52, has been convicted of murdering his wife, Dawn Rhodes, in a trial at Inner London Crown CourtA man has been found guilty of murdering his wife eight years after being cleared of the crime - after their child gave new evidence.Robert Rhodes stabbed his wife Dawn in the neck but was acquitted of murder in 2017 after claiming she had tried to attack him.The retrial came after new evidence from Rhodes' child – disclosed…

Continue ReadingChild reveals murder plot as man guilty in double jeopardy trial