Friday briefing: Five key takeaways as Harris closes the Democratic national convention

In today's newsletter: The presidential nominee's big speech, no speaking slot for a Palestinian American, and a glut of celebrities

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Good morning. For today's newsletter, we're bringing you coverage of Kamala Harris's speech accepting the Democratic nomination for president courtesy of Rachel Leingang, in a preview of our newsletter covering the US election, The Stakes. You can sign up here.

Hello from Chicago, where it's like the Oscars, but for people with slightly less charisma.

Education | The aftermath of the Covid pandemic has been squeezed out of GCSE results as students received grades more similar to pre-pandemic levels. But there were wide regional variations, with students in London powering ahead of pre-pandemic grades, while top grades in Wales and Northern Ireland came down with a bump compared with last year.

Politics | Rachel Reeves has insisted there will be no blank cheques" for public sector unions amid Conservative claims that the government's attempt to end long-running strikes has made it a soft touch. Reeves said that the cost of not increasing pay for police officers, the armed forces and teachers would have been very damaging".

Italy | The British tech entrepreneur Mike Lynch has been confirmed dead by search and rescue authorities after his yacht sank off the coast of Sicily during a violent storm. A spokesperson for the Italian fire brigade said it could take days before the last missing person was found.

Health | The UK's health regulator has rejected a drug that can slow the progression of Alzheimer's disease, saying its benefits are too small to justify the costs of the therapy. The drug is not a cure, but in clinical trials slowed cognitive decline by 27% in early Alzheimer's patients.

Media | Jermaine Jenas, a presenter on The One Show and pundit on Match of the Day, has been sacked by the BBC after complaints about his workplace conduct, allegedly involving text messages and other digital communication. The former footballer said he was seeking legal advice.