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Australians felt special connection to Tina Turner through their Nutbush dance and rugby league
Australians felt special connection to Tina Turner through their Nutbush dance and rugby league
Tina Turner’s death is being mourned around the world
2023-05-26 16:19
How Tina Turner fled on foot with with no money to escape abusive husband Ike Turner
How Tina Turner fled on foot with with no money to escape abusive husband Ike Turner
'My relationship with Ike was doomed the day he figured out I was going to be his money-maker,' Tina Turner wrote in her memoir
2023-05-25 13:58
White House lawn turns to playground for kids' soccer clinic
White House lawn turns to playground for kids' soccer clinic
Children donning jerseys of their favorite Major League Soccer teams joined first lady Jill Biden and players from FC Cincinnati, DC United, Chicago Fire and other teams for a youth soccer clinic on the White House South Lawn
2023-07-18 08:17
Protests rock government-held areas in southern Syria as economy crumbles
Protests rock government-held areas in southern Syria as economy crumbles
Syrian opposition activists say protests have broken out in two government-held provinces in the south amid widespread anger over increasing prices, the crash of the Syrian pound and the dwindling purchasing power of many people in the war-torn country
2023-08-21 19:51
UK sanctions target Russian metal, 'shady' resellers of Ukraine's grain
UK sanctions target Russian metal, 'shady' resellers of Ukraine's grain
LONDON (Reuters) -Britain published plans to ban imports of Russian diamonds, copper, aluminium and nickel on Friday and announced a
2023-05-19 23:20
Before election, UK's Sunak commits to 1 million new homes promise
Before election, UK's Sunak commits to 1 million new homes promise
LONDON British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak will commit to a promise to build 1 million homes by the
2023-07-24 15:24
‘Millions of women and girls suffer severe pain’ during periods – research finds
‘Millions of women and girls suffer severe pain’ during periods – research finds
Almost half of people who menstruate experience period pain that is ‘severe’ – and 51% feel their symptoms aren’t taken seriously by healthcare professionals, new research has found. The survey, commissioned by health charity Wellbeing of Women, asked 3,000 women and girls in the UK about their experience. A massive 86% of those surveyed said they have had mental health problems in relation to their period. Many said they had ‘debilitating pain’, bleeding for six weeks and some waited decades for a diagnosis of a health condition, in the survey of 16 to 40-year-olds across all regions, backgrounds and ethnicities. Women and girls have been “dismissed for far too long”, said Professor Dame Lesley Regan, chair of Wellbeing of Women. “It’s simply unacceptable that anyone is expected to suffer with period symptoms that disrupt their lives.” Painful, irregular and heavy periods can be symptomatic of serious gynaecological conditions. Signs of the chronic condition endometriosis – when the endometrial lining grows outside of the uterus – include debilitating period pain. Similarly, adenomyosis – a condition where the uterus lining starts growing into the muscle of the womb wall – is normally identifiable by painful periods and heavy bleeding. Painful periods may also be a sign of fibroids, non-cancerous growths that develop in or around the womb. Despite around two in three women developing at least one fibroid at some point in their life, according to the NHS, only 38% of those surveyed knew about the condition. Awareness for adenomyosis was even lower, at only 10%. The research found only 14% have tried medication to reduce heavy bleeding, despite treatments, like tranexamic acid which reduces blood loss significantly, being available. Caroline Nokes, Conservative MP and chair of the Women and Equalities Committee which is conducting an inquiry into reproductive and gynaecological health, said: “There is a terrible phrase, ‘Well, it’s just a period, why are you making a fuss about that? Can’t you just get on with it?’ “Yet many women and girls are experiencing horrendous period symptoms and gynaecological conditions. “These are impacting the health of women and girls, and preventing them from taking part in work, school, sport and everyday life. “Endometriosis alone affects 1.5 million women in the UK and costs the economy £8.2 billion – now is the time for change.” Wellbeing of Women have launched a new campaign called ‘Just A Period’ – aiming to address the normalisation of worrying period symptoms. NHS GP Dr Aziza Sesay said: “In my clinic, I see teenagers who are anaemic, who miss several days of school, and they don’t realise that this isn’t normal. They’ll literally use the words, ‘It’s just a period’. “It’s vital that we raise awareness and education on periods. We need to stop the narrative that heavy and painful periods are something we have to live with. “I want women and girls to have the knowledge to advocate for themselves, to push for more investigations, and to push for a diagnosis and treatment so that they don’t have to live with debilitating symptoms.” Clare Nasir, Channel 5 weather broadcaster and host of BBC Under the Weather broadcast, was diagnosed with fibroids and had an myomectomy – an operation to remove them. “With fibroids, there’s the physical pain but also the mental pain, I was struggling to conceive but looked about five months pregnant. People would write into the show asking why I hadn’t declared my pregnancy. It took a toll on my mental health. “When I eventually had my myomectomy, it was life changing. I’m passionate about raising awareness so that other women don’t feel alone and or suffer unnecessarily.” Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Cats given vegan diets ‘have better health outcomes’, study claims Groundbreaking migraine treatment offers ‘new hope’ for patients Taylor Swift and Shakira lead the charge in slit dresses at the 2023 MTV Video Music Awards
2023-09-14 13:24
Tiger Woods sounds more optimistic about his game than a Saudi deal getting done on time
Tiger Woods sounds more optimistic about his game than a Saudi deal getting done on time
Tiger Woods sounds more optimistic about his golf schedule than the PGA Tour getting a deal finalized with Saudi Arabia on time
2023-11-29 02:26
Internet abuzz as IShowSpeed meets Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Erling Haaland at Ballon d'Or: 'Whole different level of fame'
Internet abuzz as IShowSpeed meets Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Erling Haaland at Ballon d'Or: 'Whole different level of fame'
Internet sensation IShowSpeed caused a stir at the Ballon d'Or event, where he interacted with football stars Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Erling Haaland
2023-10-31 15:15
Spanish actor Rodolfo Sancho Aguirre's son charged with murder
Spanish actor Rodolfo Sancho Aguirre's son charged with murder
Rodolfo Sancho Aguirre's 29-year old son is accused of murdering a Colombian surgeon in Thailand.
2023-08-08 14:58
What are depleted uranium munitions being used in Ukraine and why are they controversial?
What are depleted uranium munitions being used in Ukraine and why are they controversial?
The depleted uranium anti-tank rounds soon to be in Ukraine’s military stockpiles have kicked up a debate over its use in the continuing Russian invasion. Announced by the Pentagon in the latest military tranche on Wednesday, the controversial rounds have spread alarm among Vladimir Putin’s ministers who have warned against the escalation yet again. Britain has already promised armour-piercing rounds containing depleted uranium to Ukraine in March. Prime minister Rishi Sunak had backed drawing out the rounds from the UK military’s stockpiles ultimately “to degrade and deter – primarily – Russian aggression”. But what are these depleted uranium munitions? The 120mm anti-tank shells made of depleted uranium are self-sharpening and flammable penetrator in munitions. They are made of naturally occurring Uranium which has been stripped of mostly – not all – of its radioactive matter. So while it is not a nuclear weapon in itself, it acts as a fuel and also as a great explosive that can be used in tank armour, pressed between sheets of steel armour plate. They can be paired with top-tier tanks Western nations have already provided to Ukraine, and are particularly expected to boost the performance of 31 M1A1 Abram tanks set to be sent to the war-hit nation this fall. These rounds first emerged in the 1970s when the US army started making the armour-piercing rounds and has since used it along with tank armour to multiply the firing effect. Incredibly dense, more than lead, depleted uranium is considered a top-tier choice for projectiles. When fired, it becomes “essentially an exotic metal dart fired at an extraordinarily high speed”, RAND senior defence analyst Scott Boston said. “It’s so dense and it’s got so much momentum that it just keeps going through the armour – and it heats it up so much that it catches on fire,” Edward Geist, a nuclear expert at research organisation RAND said. The depleted uranium has also been added to the US ammunition fired by the Air Force’s A-10 close air support attack plane, known as the tank killer. Depleted uranium munitions, as well as depleted uranium-enhanced armour, have been previously used by US tanks in the 1991 Gulf War against Iraq’s T-72 tanks and again in the invasion of Iraq in 2003, as well as in Serbia and in Kosovo. Is the risk alarming? The UN nuclear watchdog has warned of the emissions of low levels of radiation from depleted uranium when handling and also warned of possible dangers of explosion. This is a bug, not a feature of the munition, says Mr Geist. Categorically, depleted uranium is not marked as a nuclear weapon. It is mainly a toxic chemical, as opposed to a radiation hazard. Particles in aerosols can be inhaled or ingested, and while most would be excreted again, some can enter the bloodstream and cause kidney damage. “High concentrations in the kidney can cause damage and, in extreme cases, renal failure,” the International Atomic Energy Agency has said. The US troops have questioned whether some of the ailments they now face were caused by inhaling or being exposed to fragments after a munition was fired or their tanks were struck, damaging uranium-enhanced armour. Experts have said that if the US military could find another material with the same density but without the radioactivity, it would likely switch. The IAEA has warned that handling of depleted uranium “should be kept to a minimum and protective apparel (gloves) should be worn” and “a public information campaign may, therefore, be required to ensure that people avoid handling the projectiles”. Initial signs of radioactivity from the Ukraine war have started trickling in. Russian foreign ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova had recently claimed that the use of these munitions has already led to radioactive contamination. How has Russia reacted? In March, Russia was fuming after the Rishi Sunak administration announced it will give depleted uranium rounds to Ukraine, prompting them to issue nuclear threats. This time, after the US joined Britain in sending the depleted uranium shells, Moscow snapped and called the latest military aid of depleted uranium a “criminal act” beyond just escalation. “It is a reflection of Washington’s outrageous disregard for the environmental consequences of using this kind of ammunition in a combat zone. This is, in fact, a criminal act, I cannot give any other assessment,” Russian deputy foreign minister Sergei Ryabkov said. He also reiterated previous warnings by Russia about the risk of a nuclear war, because of what he called Western “pressure” on Moscow. “Now this pressure is dangerously balancing on the brink of direct armed conflict between nuclear powers,” he said. In March, Vladimir Putin had warned that Moscow would "respond accordingly, given that the collective West is starting to use weapons with a ‘nuclear component.’” Several days later, Putin said Russia’s response will see Moscow stationing tactical nuclear weapons in neighbouring Belarus, action to which effect was announced in July as Putin and the Belarusian president said they had already shipped some of the weapons. Read More The Body in the Woods | An Independent TV Original Documentary The harrowing discovery at centre of The Independent’s new documentary Ukraine war: What are depleted uranium shells and why are they controversial? US sends Ukraine controversial depleted uranium weapons that can pierce tank armour UN nuclear watchdog report seen by AP says Iran slows its enrichment of near-weapons-grade uranium
2023-09-07 22:52
UN chief surprised by escalation of Israel's bombardment, calls for humanitarian ceasefire
UN chief surprised by escalation of Israel's bombardment, calls for humanitarian ceasefire
U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said on Saturday he was surprised by Israel's escalation of the bombardments in Gaza,
2023-10-29 00:26