India’s top court revokes ban on women ‘of menstruating age’ entering Hindu temple

India’s Supreme Court has ruled that one of the country’s holiest Hindu temples must open its doors to women. The Sabarimala temple in Kerala had banned women and girls of "menstruating age" – defined as from 10 to 50 – from entering the place of worship.  The precedent could affect hundreds of temples across India…

Australia to introduce 15-year jail term for fruit tampering as strawberry needle scare spreads

Australia plans to increase the maximum jail term to 15 years for anyone convicted of food tampering, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said on Wednesday, as a scare over needles found in strawberries and other fruits gripped the country. Police are investigating more than 100 reports of needles found in fruit. Needles, first found in strawberries produced…

UK refusing to take back Isil fighters detained in Syria amid concerns it could be hard to prosecute them

The UK is refusing calls to repatriate at least nine Britons detained in Syria for links to Isil, the Telegraph has learnt, as it emerged crown prosecutors may not have the power to bring returning extremists to justice. The jihadists include two members of the so-called "Beatles", the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant’s execution squad,…

British Army starts recruiting for revived Monuments Men unit to protect art and archaeology in war

A former Gulf War tank commander is recruiting experts to form a specialist unit that will protect cultural heritage in war zones, similar to the role carried out by the famed Monuments Men who saved artistic treasures from the Nazis during the Second World War. Lt Colonel Tim Purbrick, who took part in Operation Desert…

Former Trump aide Hope Hicks heads to Hollywood as PR chief for Rupert Murdoch’s Fox

Hope Hicks, formerly one of Donald Trump’s closest aides, is to start a new role in Los Angeles as executive vice president and chief communications officer for New Fox. New Fox is being created as Rupert Murdoch’s 21st Century Fox reorganises with the sale of assets to Disney, to be completed next year. The new company will include…