
Beijing blasts EU probe as protectionist as China EV maker stocks slide
By Brenda Goh and Ryan Woo SHANGHAI/BEIJING (Reuters) -Beijing on Thursday blasted the launch of a probe by the European
2023-09-14 14:51

Afghanistan: Taliban welcome first Chinese ambassador since takeover
Afghanistan's leaders say it's a sign for other nations to establish relations with its government.
2023-09-14 14:50

Taliban welcomes China's new ambassador to Afghanistan in lavish ceremony
The Taliban has welcomed Zhao Sheng as China's new ambassador to Afghanistan during a lavish ceremony held at the presidential palace in Kabul on Wednesday.
2023-09-14 14:47

‘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

Rogue Russian pilot tried to shoot down RAF aircraft in 2022
The pilot fired two missiles - the first missed rather than malfunctioned, as was claimed at the time.
2023-09-14 13:15

Extreme weather may cost the global fashion industry $65 billion by 2030
Extreme heat and flooding are set to deal a massive blow to the global fashion industry, with four of the world's top garment producing countries at risk of missing out on $65 billion in earnings by 2030, according to a study from Cornell University and investment manager Schroders.
2023-09-14 12:56

Vast stretches of coastal New England face hurricane and tropical storm watches ahead of Hurricane Lee's arrival
Hurricane Lee continues to creep toward New England, where hurricane and tropical storm watches have been issued for much of its coastal residents in anticipation of the colossal storm's possible impact on Friday and through the weekend.
2023-09-14 12:53

North Korea Says Putin May Visit After ‘Epoch-Making’ Talks With Kim
Russian President Vladimir Putin accepted an invitation from Kim Jong Un to visit North Korea after the two
2023-09-14 12:28

Putin and Kim meet in Russia, but what are the main takeaways?
Covering a meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un might best be described as a caption contest: The two held what the Kremlin called "very substantive" discussions on Wednesday, but beyond a few photo opportunities, we still have very little idea what went on behind closed doors.
2023-09-14 12:27

Libyan rivals 'co-ordinating over flood disaster'
More than 5,300 people died after dam bursts brought devastating floods to the eastern city of Derna.
2023-09-14 12:26

Groundbreaking migraine treatment offers ‘new hope’ for patients
A treatment for acute migraines has been approved for NHS use for the first time, with experts saying the move could be a “step-change” for thousands of people who suffer from the condition. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (Nice) said its final draft guidance on Rimegepant “addresses the high unmet need for treatment options for acute migraine”. Rimegepant, also known as Vydura and made by Pfizer, will be available to adults who have tried at least two triptans – medication usually given to tackle headaches or migraines – but found they did not work well enough. It can also be administered to those who are not able to take triptans or have an intolerance, or patients who have tried nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and paracetamol. Helen Knight, director of medicines evaluation at Nice, said: “Migraine is a condition described in comments to Nice from carers and people with migraine as an invisible disability that affects all aspects of life including work, education, finances, mental health, social activities and family. “Today’s final draft guidance addresses the high unmet need for treatment options for acute migraine, once again demonstrating our ability to ensure clinically and cost-effective medicines are available to those who need them as quickly as possible.” Rimegepant is taken as a wafer, which dissolves under the tongue and works by stopping the release of a protein around the brain called calcitonin gene-related peptide. In July, the medicine was recommended as an option for preventing episodic migraines in adults who have at least four and fewer than 15 attacks per month if “at least” three other treatments have not worked. This is the first and only Nice-recommended medicine that can help alleviate the misery of acute migraines, and may be considered a step-change in treatment Helen Knight, Nice Under the latest guidance, it will also be used to relieve symptoms of a migraine, which can include pain, nausea and sensitivity to light, but also painless symptoms such as temporary visual disturbances known as “aura”, which Nice said “is not well managed with existing treatments”. The recommendation is expected to benefit about 13,000 people. Ms Knight added: “This is the first and only Nice-recommended medicine that can help alleviate the misery of acute migraines, and may be considered a step-change in treatment.” Migraine is an incredibly misunderstood condition that can have a significant impact on all areas of life, including ability to work, maintain relationships and mental health Robert Music, The Migraine Trust Robert Music, chief executive of The Migraine Trust, said the Nice guidance “provides people with migraine valuable options to help reduce the pain and length of a migraine attack”. “It brings new hope,” he added. “It will especially benefit those who have not found a treatment that works, those who get debilitating side effects – including medicine overuse headache – from them, and those with cardiovascular disease who cannot take existing treatments. “Migraine is an incredibly misunderstood condition that can have a significant impact on all areas of life, including ability to work, maintain relationships and mental health.” Read More NHS winter resilience fund announced by Government NHS reliance on paper notes ‘stopping trusts from realising full potential’ Recession fears as UK economy shrinks by more than expected in shock decline Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live
2023-09-14 11:52

Pentagon watchdog establishes new team in Ukraine to monitor US aid
The Pentagon's watchdog is establishing a new team in Ukraine to monitor ongoing US security assistance to Kyiv as a growing number of Republicans call for more oversight into how the money is being used.
2023-09-14 11:47