Latest news with #HuffPostUK
Yahoo
09-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Trump Just Called Out Putin's 'Bulls***' – But Don't Expect Anything To Change In Ukraine
Donald Trump has just accused Vladimir Putin of selling him 'bullshit' about the Ukraine war in a moment Kyiv, and its allies, have been rooting for. The US president has long swallowed his Russian counterpart's claims about his invasion of Ukraine, irrespective of how the rest of the west interprets the Kremlin's promises. When Putin first launched its offensive into Ukraine back in February 2022, Trump – who had been ousted from office the year before – called the ruthless land grab 'savvy' and 'genius'. In 2023, he promised he would resolve the war within 24 hours because 'there's a very easy negotiation to take place'. While Europe sent money and weapons to Kyiv so it could protect its sovereignty and isolate Putin on the world stage through sanctions, Trump seemed indifferent about the threat Russian expansionism posed to the whole continent. In fact, he seemed to be a friend to Putin. Weeks after he was re-elected to the White House, Trump shouted at Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy in the Oval Office, claiming: 'You should have never started it. You could have made a deal.' Donald Trump, J.D. Vance and Volodymyr Zelensky got into an explosive shouting match in the middle of the Oval Office ... and, it wasn't behind closed doors, but in front of the press. Watch the FULL VIDEO HERE: — TMZ (@TMZ) February 28, 2025 The tide appeared to change in spring this year after Moscow launched the deadliest strike on Ukraine since last summer. In a much-mocked moment, he wrote on social media: 'Vladimir, STOP!' Trump even said he was 'absolutely' considering imposing more sanctions on Russia after Putin started to escalate his use of force against Ukraine, and seemed bewildered in May over Russian aggression, saying: 'I don't know what the hell happened to Putin.' At the start of July, he spoke to Putin on the phone and said he was 'disappointed' in the Russian leader and that he did not believe Moscow would end the war. So, when Trump finally told reporters on Tuesday that Putin had been misleading him over his promises to seek peace in Ukraine, it seemed like a watershed moment. The US president said: 'We get a lot of bullshit thrown at us by Putin, if you want to know the truth. 'He's very nice all the time, but it turns out to be meaningless.' He also resumed weapon shipments to Ukraine after the White House implemented a brief pause of shortage fears last week. But this might not be the turning point that Ukraine and its supporters may have been hoping for. Keir Giles, senior consulting fellow of Chatham House's Russia and Eurasia programme, told HuffPost UK: 'Every time Trump expresses frustration with Putin, there is a surge of optimism across Western media that he may finally have had enough of being laughed at by the Kremlin, and consequently his consistent policy of doing nothing that might offend Russia might change. 'But every time these hopes are disappointed, as the brief flash of irritation in a social media post or a throwaway comment comes to nothing – no measures against Moscow, no renewed support for Kyiv.' Trump has indeed threatened to sanction Putin plenty of times now but is yet to actually do it – even when Russia has obviously breached the deadlines for truce imposed by the White House. And let's not forget how the president conveniently forgets what he's said in the past when it does not suit him. Less than a week after he echoed Kremlin falsehoods and called Zelenskyy a 'dictator', Trump seemed bewildered when reminded of his remark in the Oval Office by reporters. 'Did I say? I can't believe I said that. Next question,' the president said. Trump, of course, does not have as much at risk as Ukraine's European allies who fear Putin will look to encroach further into the continent unless he is stopped. Perhaps there is just one factor which could Trump to overcome years of support for Putin: his pride. After promising so publicly to end the war (and announcing his desire to win the Nobel Peace Prize), Trump is being embarrassed on the world stage by Russia. Poland's foreign minister Radoslaw Sikorski warned on X earlier this month: 'President Trump, Putin is mocking your peace efforts.' Perhaps only time will tell what the mercurial leader actually decides to do next. Trump Boasts About Threat To 'Bomb The S**t Out Of Moscow' In Leaked Audio Trump Accuses His Benefactor Putin Of Spewing 'Bullshit' About Ukraine Invasion Kremlin Slams Trump Administration For Resuming Weapon Shipments To Ukraine
Yahoo
08-07-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Does My Covid Vaccine Still Work? I Asked A GP If It's Time For A Booster
Recently, the Covid strain XFG – nicknamed 'Stratus'– became the dominant variant in the UK. Before then, the 'Nimbus' strain was rapidly spreading. In both cases, the World Health Organisation (WHO) said that while they were 'variants under monitoring', the 'Currently approved COVID-19 vaccines are expected to remain effective' against the mutations. They can help to prevent extreme symptoms and reduce the risk of people getting seriously ill, the WHO explained, even though both Stratus and Nimbus strains have mutated from the original virus. But does that mean we should all be getting more Covid vaccines? Who needs to get them more often, given that their effects 'wane'? HuffPost UK asked GP, Dr Suzanne Wylie, a medical adviser for IQdoctor, about who may need yearly vaccines. 'As with the flu vaccine, COVID vaccinations are now being tailored to the most prevalent strains circulating at the time,' Dr Wylie said. 'Currently, the general advice is that most people do not need regular COVID boosters unless they fall into higher-risk categories, such as those over 75, individuals with underlying health conditions, or those who are immunocompromised.' This is different to 2024 when booster vaccines were given to everyone over 65. The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) said in a report that they made these changes because population-level immunity has improved, thanks to exposure to the virus and/or vaccines (this combination is called 'hybrid immunity'). As a result, they said, they chose to focus on people most at risk, including 'the oldest adults and individuals who are immunosuppressed.' For healthy younger adults, Dr Wylie added, 'routine vaccination is not usually necessary more than once a year, if at all, unless advised otherwise during periods of high transmission or in response to a new variant of concern.' The NHS say they will contact you if you're eligible for a vaccine. This may be the case if you're over 75, are immunocompromised, and/or live in a care home for adults. Dr Wylie says that 'Vaccines, including updated COVID boosters, are designed to provide protection against the most common or concerning strains each season.' 'While no vaccine offers complete immunity,' she added, 'they significantly reduce the risk of severe illness, hospitalisation, and complications.' But newer variants, like the Stratus strain, can 'sometimes partially evade prior immunity, which is why updated vaccines may be offered if there's evidence of increased severity or spread.' The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) and the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) monitor Covid risk levels and will help determine if a wider rollout becomes necessary. 'For now,' Dr Wylie told HuffPost UK, 'for most younger, healthy individuals, annual or less frequent vaccination is generally sufficient.' New Covid Stratus Strain Is Dominant In The UK – Here's Its Most Unique Symptom New Covid Variant Nimbus Symptom May Show Up When You Swallow, Doctor Says Reform UK MP James McMurdock Gives Up Party Whip Over Covid Loans Allegations
Yahoo
08-07-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Peeing For Longer Than This Exact Amount Of Time Could Reveal Health Issues
We've written before at HuffPost UK about how the colour of your pee can reveal a lot about your health. And according to experts, how long your wee lasts can reveal potential bladder issues too. Speaking to The Washington Post, Stephen Freedland, a professor of urology at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, advised that an average pee shouldn't last longer than half a minute. 'Once you get going and it takes you a minute to empty your bladder, that's a problem. That's not normal,' he added. Meanwhile, Dr. Janis Miller, nurse practitioner behind the bladder-based website puts it at an even stingier 20 seconds, per Well + Good. Funnily enough, most mammals ― regardless of size, so long as they're over 3 kilos ― spend more or less exactly 21 seconds urinating, due to gravity and a phenomenon called Pascal's Barrel. Regularly taking a lot longer than that to pee may mean you're drinking too much water, that you're not giving yourself enough wee breaks, or even that you're overstretching your bladder, Dr. Miller suggests. If, for instance, you get too used to holding in your urine, a condition that's sometimes called 'nurse's bladder' or 'teacher's bladder' can happen, urologist Nicole Eisenbrown, MD, told Well + Good. At this point, your brain becomes less able to pick up fullness cues from your bladder, leading you to empty it less often than you should. 'Your bladder just gets slightly bigger, then slightly bigger, and slightly bigger,' she explained. In the short term, that can make your urination sessions lengthy ― and over time that makes your bladder weaker. Unusual peeing habits can also sometimes reveal other conditions, including diabetes, neurological disorders or prostate issues, The Washington Post revealed. The odd extra-long pee likely isn't too much to worry about. But if you're regularly spending a lot of time on the loo and aren't sure why, if it's interfering with your daily life, and if you have other issues that worry you with your urine, it could be a good idea to chat to your GP. The Mayo Clinic adds that you should seek medical help immediately if you notice any of the following; Blood in your urine. Red or dark brown urine. Pain when you pass urine. Pain in your side, lower belly or groin. Trouble passing urine or emptying your bladder. A strong urge to pass urine. Loss of bladder control. Fever. If Your Urine Is This Colour, It's Probably Time To See A Doctor Here's When A Urine Bug Could Be A Sign Of Something More Serious Could This Urine Test For Prostate Cancer Be A Lifesaver For Men?
Yahoo
07-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Starmer Facing Fresh Labour Revolt As Minister Fails To Deny Special Needs Are 'On The Chopping Block'
Keir Starmer is on a fresh collision course with Labour MPs amid fears the government is preparing to cut support for children with special educational needs (SEND). The prime minister was forced into an embarrassing climbdown last week over welfare cuts after a backbench revolt. HuffPost UK revealed last month that upcoming reforms to the level of state support given to SEND pupils were also likely to spark opposition from Starmer's own MPs. At the moment, more than 600,000 of those children rely on education, health and care plans (EHCPs) to access the support they need. But critics say they face the axe as the Treasury seeks to find billions of pounds worth of savings. On Sky News this morning, education minister Stephen Morgan repeatedly refused to deny that EHCPs were under threat. Asked to rule out the move by presenter Wilfred Frost, he said: 'We inherited a SEND system that was broken. 'I want to make sure that children get the right support where they need it across country and that's why we have invested £1 billion of additional money in SEND for capital spending in school buildings.' Frost then asked him again: 'Are you ruling out removing that benefit?' Morgan replied: 'I'm not going to get into the mechanics today.' But the presenter told him: 'It's not the mechanics, it's a pretty clear question. There's a benefit that exists for children who have special educational needs. Will that remain?' When Morgan said again that 'the system is broken', Frost said: 'So it could be on the chopping block?' The minister said: 'I'm not going to get into specifics today, but it's absolutely right that we work really hard to reform the system to make sure it works for every child.' Dozens of child disability charities and campaigners have written to The Guardian urging the government not to axe EHCPs. No.10 insiders acknowledge that the planned reforms could be even more controversial than the welfare cuts, which were opposed by over 120 Labour MPs. One backbencher told The Times: 'The government has got to think again now or they'll be repeating the same mistake they made with welfare reform. 'We're all in favour of reforming the system but that cannot be driven by saving money and taking support away from children.' Minister Warns Labour Rebels That Watering Down Welfare Cuts Came 'At A Cost' Exclusive: Labour Rebels Set Their Sights On Lifting 2-Child Benefit Cap After Welfare U-Turn Starmer Brutally Mocked After Shambolic Welfare U-Turn: 'Epic Political Mismanagement'
Yahoo
03-07-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Could UK Tap Water's 'Forever Chemicals' Lead To France-Style Bans?
France has seen its biggest ever ban on tap water in Saint-Louis, near the Swiss city of Basel. Local authorities put letters through approximately 60,000 mailboxes urging the public to ensure that kids under two, pregnant and breastfeeding people, and the immunocompromised don't drink tap water. This was because the levels of PFAs, also known as 'forever chemicals,' had been raised to four times the acceptable limit by firefighting foam used in a local airport since the '60s. PFAS stand for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, chemicals which take an extremely long time to break down. They're present in everything from skincare products to frying pans and include 5,000+ substances. Saint-Louis is one of thousands of EU water sources suspected to be contaminated by too many PFAs, the overconsumption of which may be linked to increased cancer risk, reproductive issues, compromised immune systems, and even heightened cholesterol levels. Given that 'from 2018 to 2022, 51-60% of rivers, 11-35% of lakes and 47-100% of transitional and coastal waters exceeded the annual average environmental quality standards (EQS) for PFOS [a specific PFAS]' in Europe, we thought we'd ask what that might mean for the UK. Speaking to HuffPost UK, Professor Sir Colin Berry, Emeritus Professor of Pathology at the Queen Mary University of London, offered some reassurance. 'It is worth emphasising the reason that these compounds [PFAS] are persistent is that they are non-reactive; the chances that the very small amounts found will have detectable adverse effect if ingested is vanishingly small,' the former President of the European Society of Pathology told us. 'The levels are set as precautionary values and are more to do with control of contamination than concern about health,' he added. The Drinking Water Inspectorate says that, 'Based on our current knowledge, the low levels of PFAS detected in some untreated water abstracted for public drinking water supplies has no acute or immediate impact on human health.' Still, a 2023 evaluation by the World Health Organisation concluded that teo PFAS (perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS)) can be considered carcinogenic and possibly carcinogenic, respectively. PFOAs are group 1 carcinogens per the WHO's cancer research sector, IARC, along with processed meat, tobacco, and asbestos. PPOS are group 2B 'possible' carcinogens, along with aloe vera, coconut oil, and pickled vegetables. Doctors have previously criticised the IARC cancer grouping system for not considering 'the level of risk relative to the dosage,' which they think may have led to the body grouping things like salted fish in the same group 1 carcinogen class as plutonium. Whatever the disputed effects of going over the EU's limit of PFAS may be, Dr Shubhi Sharma, a Scientific Research Assistant at CHEM Trust, says parts of the UK certainly do that. 'PFAS have already been found in almost 200 untreated drinking water samples in England and the levels in these samples were found to be above the Drinking Water Inspectorate's PFAS threshold guidance for England and Wales, which is a 'wholesomeness' value of 0.1 ug/l for 48 PFAS,' she told us. A Ministry of Defence spokesperson told The Guardian in response to those claims that 'Ensuring the safety of our staff, personnel and the public is our number one priority and that's why we are complying with the relevant legislation and regulations. 'As understanding of these chemicals has changed, we have responded accordingly. We have prioritised a programme of investigation of our sites, which has been agreed with the Environment Agency.' The CHEM Trust researcher said England and Wales 'have no statutory limits on PFAS in drinking water – the water companies just need to test for 48 PFAS, but this is a non-binding guidance. Scotland, on the other hand, adheres to EU standards, which are far stricter than the UK guidelines.' Member states of the EU, she added, will need to comply with the Drinking Water Directive thresholds by 12th January 2026. 'People in [the] UK have different threats of exposure to PFAS in their drinking water depending on whether they live in Scotland or England/Wales,' Dr Sharma added. Dr Sharma, who believes PFAS carry health risks and are a 'huge concern,' says that 'the UK needs to regulate PFAS as a group and at the very source' (mainly industrial sites). But seeing as England and Wales have no statutory limit on PFAS and Scotland sticks to the EU-recommended level, a tap water ban based on the slow-degrading chemicals seems unlikely any time soon. The Next Thing To Ruin The UK's Water Supply Isn't What You Think Tories Shamed Over UK's Polluted Water Supply: 'They Turned A Blind Eye' I've Dreaded Every Heatwave Since 2019 – And It's Only Going To Get Worse
