12 h. ago Overcrowded Scots prisons gripped by 'increasing levels of drugs misuse and violence'

The Prison Officers' Association blamed the influence of organised criminal gangs operating behind bars for deteriorating conditions.

Events

9 d. ago Scotland's jails 'dangerously out of control' amid gangland feuds and overcrowding

New figures have confirmed six Scottish prisons are at their absolute maximum capacity.

Events

1 week ago Food becoming more calorific but less nutritious due to rising carbon dioxide

Researchers noticed ‘dramatic’ changes in nutrients in crops, including drop in zinc and rise in leadMore carbon dioxide in the environment is making food more calorific but less nutritious – and also potentially more toxic, a study has found.Sterre ter Haar, a lecturer at Leiden University in the Netherlands, and other researchers at the institution created a method to compare multiple studies on plants’ responses to increased CO2 levels. The results, she said, were a shock: although crop yields increase, they become less nutrient-dense. While zinc levels in particular drop, lead levels increase. Continue reading...

Politics

2 w. ago Senate rejects dual healthcare bills as Obamacare tax credits expiration nears

Votes came as premium tax credits for estimated 21.8 million enrollees of plans set to expire at end of monthThe US Senate on Thursday rejected competing proposals to address the imminent expiration of subsidies for Affordable Care Act health insurance plans, greatly increasing the chances that healthcare costs will soon rise to unaffordable levels for millions of Americans.The votes, part of a deal brokered between Republican majority leader John Thune and the Democratic senators who agreed to reopen the government after a historically long shutdown last month, came as premium tax credits for an estimated 21.8 million enrollees of the plans are set to expire at the end of the month. Health policy research group KFF estimates that annual premiums will more than double if the subsidies are allowed to expire. Continue reading...

Politics

2 w. ago US lawmakers condemn seizure of Venezuelan oil tanker: ‘Trump is sleepwalking us into a war’

Unease grows in Washington, including among some Republicans, over Trump administration’s escalating military posture in the CaribbeanUS politics live – latest updatesSenior Democratic lawmakers and at least one Republican have condemned Wednesday’s seizure of a Venezuelan oil tanker off the nation’s coast, with one saying Donald Trump is “sleepwalking us into a war with Venezuela”.There is growing, at least somewhat bipartisan unease in Washington over the administration’s escalating military posture in the region. Trump has accused Venezuela of facilitating drug trafficking, and increased the US military presence in the Caribbean to a level not seen in decades. The administration has also conducted a campaign of bombings of alleged drug boats, killing more than 80 people so far. Continue reading...

Events

3 w. ago Social media use damages children’s ability to focus, say researchers

Study of 8,300 US children suggests social media may be contributing to a rise in ADHD diagnosesIncreased use of social media by children damages their concentration levels and may be contributing to an increase in cases of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, according to a study.The peer-reviewed report monitored the development of more than 8,300 US-based children from the age of 10 to 14 and linked social media use to “increased inattention symptoms”. Continue reading...

Events

3 w. ago Chernobyl unable to stop radiation leak after Russian drone strike, UN watchdog warns

The strike pierced the power plant’s outer shell but radiation levels have not increased in the area

Events

3 w. ago Celebrities urge public to back food banks as use soars during festive period

New figures reveal almost three quarters of a million (740,000) emergency food parcels were distributed overall last winter. a 40% increase compared to pre-pandemic levels

Politics

4 w. ago Report says world's biggest arms producers increased revenue by 5.9% last year to record level

A new report says that the world’s biggest weapons-producing companies saw a 5.9% increase in revenue from sales of arms and military services last year as demand was fed by the wars in Ukraine and Gaza as well as countries’ rising military spending

Politics