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Researchers say social media myths drive nocebo effect' of side-effects that are real but psychological in originSocial media misinformation about the contraceptive pill is encouraging women to view it so negatively that many give it up, a study has found.Researchers have identified myths spread on TikTok and other social media platforms as a key driver of users suffering side-effects that are real but psychological in origin. It is called the nocebo effect", the opposite of the better-known placebo effect.An expectation at the outset that the pill will be harmful.Low confidence in how medicines are developed.A belief that medicines are overused and harmful.A belief that they are sensitive to medicines. Continue reading...

Commission asked platforms to apply content warnings to protect children or others who do not want to see US shooting

Tommy Robinson, Steve Bannon, Ant Middleton and Joey Mannarino among names to speak at London eventThe killing of Charlie Kirk is being used by Tommy Robinson to mobilise support before what is expected to be Britain's largest far-right rally in decades, which will include speakers from Britain, the US and Europe.Steve Bannon, Donald Trump's former chief strategist, is among those listed to appear on stage at the rally in central London, which is expected to draw tens of thousands for an event that Robinson has been heavily attempting to monetise. Continue reading...

Fitch downgrade to lowest level on record complicates new prime minister Sebastien Lecornu and President Emmanuel Macron's efforts to control France's financesThe Fitch agency downgraded France's credit rating on Friday, as President Emmanuel Macron struggles with political instability and disagreements on how to put the country's strained public finances in order.The US rating agency, one of the top global institutions gauging the financial solidity of sovereign borrowers, downgraded France on its ability to pay back debts, from AA-" to A+", the country's lowest level on record at a major credit rating agency. Continue reading...

Total of 33 groups and 10 individuals face continued financing sanctions as government adds new entity linked to Hamas'

Film-makers pledged not to work with institutions linked to genocide and apartheid against the Palestinian people'Paramount said it does not agree with recent efforts to boycott Israeli film-makers", making it the first major studio to respond to a recent pledge not to work with institutions that supported or were otherwise involved in the genocide and apartheid against the Palestinian people".The pledge circulated by an organization called Film Workers for Palestine has more than 4000 signatures including directors and actors like Jonathan Glazer, Ava DuVernay, Yorgos Lanthimos, Emma Stone, Joaquin Phoenix, Rooney Mara, Olivia Colman and Mark Ruffalo. Continue reading...

President tells Fox News the radicals on the left are the problem' and refuses to seek common way forward

President makes remark on Fox & Friends after Memphis mayor said he requested financial resources insteadDonald Trump said on Friday that he will send national guard troops to Memphis as part of his administration's expanding military-led response to urban crime in Democratic-run cities.I think maybe I'll be the first to say it right now: we're going to Memphis," the US president said during an appearance on Fox & Friends, describing the violence in Memphis as dire. Continue reading...

Duke says serving others has saved him as he announces support for veterans through his Invictus foundationPrince Harry laid a wreath at a flower and flag memorial to Ukraine's war dead in Kyiv's Maidan Square during a surprise visit to support the country in its fight against Russia, as well as its thousands of seriously injured veterans.Harry said he wanted to do everything possible" to help the recovery of the thousands of military personnel who have been seriously injured in the three-year war against Russia. Continue reading...

Top Senate Republican says Democrats see shutdown as politically advantageous' as 30 September deadline loomsThe US government is drawing nearer to a potential shutdown after Donald Trump told Republicans on Friday don't even bother dealing with" the Democrats, whose congressional leaders are refusing to support spending bills that do not include their healthcare priorities.Congress is up against an end-of-the-month deadline to approve legislation funding the federal government, otherwise many departments will stop work and employees will be told to stay home. While the Senate and House of Representatives have made some progress on passing the 12 appropriations bills that make up the budget, it seems certain that Congress will need to pass a short-term measure to keep the government open beyond 30 September. Continue reading...

Reproductive rights group condemns ruling as backdoor abortion ban' and says 200 US clinics may face closureThe Trump administration can move forward with its plan to defund" Planned Parenthood by blocking it from receiving reimbursements from Medicaid, the US government's insurance program for low-income people, a federal appeals court ruled late Thursday.The ruling from the first US circuit court of appeals lifts a lower court's preliminary injunction, which had stopped the Trump administration from enacting a provision of its tax and spending bill that axed Planned Parenthood's ability to participate in Medicaid for one year. Continue reading...

Watchdog says there are also allegations of discriminatory and misogynistic comments, centring on Charing Cross police stationNine Scotland Yard officers have been suspended after an investigation was launched into claims of excessive use of force and the making of discriminatory and misogynistic comments.The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) said the allegations centre on Charing Cross police station in central London, the source of a previous scandal for the Metropolitan police. Continue reading...

Decision means none of drugmaker's much-trumpeted 650m UK investment package is currently proceedingThe drugmaker AstraZeneca has paused a planned 200m expansion of its Cambridge research site, completing a depressing week for the UK pharmaceutical industry.The decision by the UK's largest company means none of its much-trumpeted 650m investment package in the UK - which was originally announced in March 2024 - is proceeding. Continue reading...

After disastrous week, some MPs predict challenge against PM likely if local and Welsh elections go badly next MayKeir Starmer has been warned that time is running out to repair his faltering leadership, with Labour MPs beginning to ask whether he could be challenged as prime minister.After a disastrous week in which Angela Rayner resigned and Peter Mandelson was sacked as ambassador to Washington, a number of MPs said a challenge was likely if local and Welsh elections went badly next May. Some said the one thing now protecting Starmer was the lack of an agreed replacement. Continue reading...

France, Germany and Denmark to contribute fighter jets and other assets in mission also expected to involve UKFrance, Germany and Denmark will contribute fighter jets and other military assets to an enhanced defence of Poland against future Russian drone incursions, Nato leaders announced at a press conference on Friday.The UK is also expected contribute to the Eastern Sentry mission, which will gradually be expanded across from the Arctic in the north to the Black Sea and Mediterranean in the south to better tackle Russian drones and missiles. Continue reading...

FBI said threats were hoax calls', although universities took measures to prevent incidences on campuses

Poland's prime minister praised Rutte and general Grynkewich for their decisive and swift action' and welcomed new Nato missionTusk also says the announcement with BAE Systems is only a part of our cooperation with the UK."He says he received another message from prime minister Starmer about greater UK involvement in military assistance, here in Poland, on an urgent basis," without offering further details. Continue reading...

Ryan Routh, who is accused of trying to assassinate US president at one of his golf resorts, unexpectedly spoke about evolution and HitlerThe trial defense of the man accused of trying to assassinate Donald Trump at one of his golf resorts in Florida in September 2024 got off to a shaky start on Thursday, after he was cut off by the judge minutes into his opening remarks.Ryan Routh, 59, who is representing himself despite having no legal education, is charged with five crimes including attempted assassination of a major presidential candidate. He has pleaded not guilty. Continue reading...

Former prime minister makes comments as Lords debate legislation for England and Wales for first time

Anti-corruption advocate Sushila Karki was nominated by gen Z representatives after forced resignation of predecessorNepal has sworn in its first female prime minister after a historic week in which widespread youth protests forced the resigniation of her predecessor and the dissolving of parliament.Sushila Karki, the former chief justice of Nepal, took the oath of office to lead an interim government late on Friday, after several tense days of negotiation. Continue reading...

Fellow forecasters have paid tribute to Wynne, who was described as a talented musician and enthusiastic golferThe weather presenter Jay Wynne has died at the age of 56 after a long illness, his family have said.Wynne, who joined the BBC Weather team in 2000, died in June, his brother Matthew confirmed to BBC News on Friday. Continue reading...

Scotland secretary Douglas Alexander said of Rayner's departure that MPs feel quite acutely that sense of loss'Speaking at the Reform press conference in Caerphilly, Nigel Farage said he had a very expensive week" seeking advice from tax experts, reports the PA news agency.The Reform UK leader said last year he had bought a home in his Essex constituency, but it was later reported that his partner had actually made the purchase. Questions over the home have resurfaced after Angela Rayner resigned last week over underpaying stamp duty on a seaside flat she bought this year.The money was legally hers, she bought the house. I don't have any financial stake in it whatsoever - other than she lets me stay there.I have paid a lot of money to make sure we have done everything right.I have done everything I can to prove everything I have done has been legal and correct. Continue reading...

As the federal takeover of DC police ends, Muriel Bowser is balancing leftwing pressure with a rightwing presidentDuring a press conference at the end of August, Washington DC's mayor, Muriel Bowser, made sure to say thank you" - in her own way - for Donald Trump's influx of federal law enforcement in the nation's capital.We greatly appreciate the surge of officers that enhance what MPD has been able to do in this city," Bowser said. She admitted that, after a recent meeting with the president, his knowledge of DC had significantly increased" since his first term in the White House. Continue reading...

Exclusive: Isabel was fined three times in one week in Sydney. I was like, there's been some kind of malfunction,' she said

Hope Not Hate writes letter to PM as senior Labour MPs call for party to take firmer stand against far rightSenior Labour MPs and the UK's largest anti-fascist charity have called on Keir Starmer to mount a more heartfelt defence of diversity and anti-racism. They say they fear that Labour is not yet putting its heart and soul" into the battle against Nigel Farage and the far right.Hope Not Hate's chief executive has written a letter to Starmer in the lead up to a planned far-right demonstration in London on Saturday, demanding the prime minister speak up more against hate and racism. Continue reading...

Yellow weather warning issued from Sunday evening until 6pm on Monday for most of England and WalesWinds of up to 80mph are expected to batter parts of the UK this weekend along with heavy rain and thunderstorms, the Met Office has said.A yellow weather warning for wind has been issued from Sunday evening until around 6pm on Monday for most of England and Wales, which means delays to public transport and on roads are likely. Continue reading...

Group opposing the proscription announces major escalation' that will culminate in London on 4 October

Bride finally tracks down awkward-looking stranger she and husband noticed only when looking through photosA baffled bride has solved the mystery of the awkward-looking stranger who crashed her wedding four years ago.Michelle Wylie and her husband, John, registered the presence of their unidentifiable guest only as they looked through photographs of their wedding in the days after the happy occasion. Continue reading...

In a move praised by RFK Jr, the FDA approved a new shot, but only for some people - here's what to know about who can get them, and whereThere is a lot of confusion about Covid vaccines this year.In late August, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced that it had rescinded emergency use authorizations (a tool that allows the FDA to expedite the availability of certain medications) for Covid-19 vaccines. It also said it had approved updated versions of the Covid-19 vaccine, but only for certain groups. Continue reading...

Police hunting for two male suspects who are alleged to have racially abused the victim during the assaultPolice investigating the alleged rape of a Sikh woman in the West Midlands say they are treating it as a hate crime.Detectives are hunting for two white male suspects alleged to have racially abused the woman during the assault in broad daylight. Police say they believe one suspect had a shaved head and wore gloves. Continue reading...

Prison Officers' Association says change in eligibility for skilled work visas is disgraceful' and pandering to Reform'Hundreds of foreign prison officers will lose their jobs and could be forced to return to their home countries at short notice because of a change in visa rules introduced by Labour, governors and a union have warned.More than 1,000 staff, mainly from African countries, have been sponsored by prisons across England and Wales allowing them to come to the UK on skilled worker visas. Continue reading...

Decision expected soon after reports in Cairo about status of imprisoned dual-national human rights activistKeir Starmer has spoken to Abdel Fatah al-Sisi amid reports the Egyptian president has directed his officials to study an internal request to grant a pardon to release the British-Egyptian human rights activist and writer Alaa Abd el-Fattah.Abd el-Fattah's British-based family are not commenting on developments save to say they are praying for his release. Continue reading...

It was left to a - albeit extinct - tiny relative of the kangaroo to offer some relief from the blizzard of major eventsWhere to start in a week so fraught with major events you could hardly draw breath for the news flashes? It started with Trump's alleged contribution to Jeffrey Epstein's birthday book," shared by the Democrats on social media on Monday and leading to the discovery of a name not widely recognised in the US but of intense interest in the UK - Peter Mandelson. The British ambassador to the US had proffered an undiplomatically warm birthday message to the late child sex offender financier, starting a press scramble that ended, on Thursday, with Keir Starmer firing him. Continue reading...

CS Venkatakrishnan also calls for government to avoid bank tax hike as Rachel Reeves seeks to plug fiscal hole

Pippa Crerar and Kiran Stacey speak to the minister for EU relations, Nick Thomas-Symonds, about the fallout from Brexit and our relationship with the European Union. Plus, we hear his thoughts on Keir Starmer's leadership and how Labour should take on Nigel Farage and the rise of Reform --

Late founder instructs heirs to gradually sell stakes with priority given to LVMH, L'Oreal or EssilorLuxottica

Research finds children as young as nine in England and Wales taken to A&E because of lack of specialist suitesChildren as young as nine detained under the Mental Health Act are spending hours in NHS accident and emergency departments under police control rather than in specialist mental health assessment suites.The detention under the act of children in England and Wales in police cells was banned in 2017 but a lack of suitable alternatives has led to the use of A&E departments. Continue reading...

Global Counsel, which the sacked ambassador to the US co-founded, starts to sell off his multimillion-pound stakePeter Mandelson's advisory firm is cutting ties with him after his firing as US ambassador after the extent of his relationship with paedophile Jeffrey Epstein was revealed in emails.Global Counsel, which Mandelson co-founded in 2010 alongside Benjamin Wegg-Prosser, is in the process of selling off his multimillion pound stake to a new investor. The sale is expected to conclude within the next two months. Continue reading...

Police officer gave evidence to Melbourne court about feeling highly anxious' over his and his family's safety after Sewell's podcast comments

Nigel Farage's party featured in considerably more News at Ten bulletins than Lib Dems over six months, study findsThe BBC has come under renewed pressure over the amount of coverage dedicated to Reform UK after an analysis showed Nigel Farage's party featured in a quarter of all News At Ten bulletins over six months.Reform featured in 49 bulletins between January and July this year, whereas the Liberal Democrats - the third party in parliament with 72 MPs - featured in 17.9% of bulletins, with 35 references. Continue reading...

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Aftab Malik cites bomb threats and assaults when releasing report containing 54 recommendations

Concern for anchor tenants' as trade body warns that stores could put up prices or cut jobs to protect profitsUp to 400 large shops are at risk of closure with as many as 100,000 jobs at risk if the government goes ahead with plans to hit stores with higher business rates, retailers have warned.Some of the UK's largest retail premises, including supermarkets and department stores, would face higher property tax charges under new rules being considered by the government before November's budget. Continue reading...

Exclusive: Prince and team from his Invictus Games Foundation were invited to Kyiv and will detail new initiatives to support woundedPrince Harry has made a surprise visit to Kyiv after an invitation from the Ukrainian government, saying he wanted to do everything possible" to help the recovery of the thousands of military personnel who have been seriously injured in the three-year war against Russia.During the trip to the Ukrainian capital, he and a team from his Invictus Games Foundation are set to detail new initiatives to support the rehabilitation of the wounded, with the eventual aim of providing help to all areas of the country. Continue reading...

Director, marking new exhibition in LA, tells of chaotic filming - and says he's never seen so much vomit in my life'Before Jaws became a cinematic classic, and the very first American summer blockbuster", director Steven Spielberg thought the 1975 film would be the last one he would be allowed to make.Spielberg, who was just 26, had decided to shoot his second film, a thriller about a killer shark, on location on the east coast island of Martha's Vineyard. Continue reading...

Retailer's owner has stake in Wagestream, which offers workers loans of up to 25,000An influential group of MPs has sought assurances that Asda is not squeezing staff" to drive profit after it emerged they are being offered high-interest loans by Wagestream, a company in which the retailer's owner has a stake.The business and trade select committee has written to Asda over its links to the financial wellbeing app" that recently began offering the supermarket's staff loans of up to 25,000. The default arrangements for Wagestream's workplace loans" involve debt repayments being directly deducted from workers' pay packets. Continue reading...

National Trust-owned painting will be exhibited with a meditation option for art lovers to take a long, lingering lookThe impulse to race around a gallery and take in as many wonderful paintings as possible can be hard to resist.But art enthusiasts are being urged to slow down and take a lingering, meditative look at one of the great self-portraits when it is taken on an unhurried tour of England. Continue reading...

As House of Lords prepares to debate bill, Hospice UK says sector needs adequate funding for end-of-life careHospices are on the brink" and two in five are making cuts this year despite the importance of end-of-life care if assisted dying becomes legal, the sector has warned before the first House of Lords debate on the legislation.Hospice UK, which represents the sector, said many were financially struggling and still in the dark" about how funding for end-of-life care will be improved when assisted dying legislation is passed. Continue reading...

Luke Briggs, 35, died in a hospital's intensive care unit eight days after his arrest in Hoppers Crossing in July 2024

Interior minister says murder has been committed' while US Congress demands justification for attackNone of the 11 people killed in a US military strike on a boat in the Caribbean last week were members of Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua, Venezuela's interior minister has said, while US media reported the attack came after the vessel had turned around and was heading back to shore.The administration of Donald Trump has said the boat was transporting illegal narcotics, but has provided little further information about the incident, even amid demands from members of the US Congress for a justification for the action. Continue reading...