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Former Burnham adviser says PM is on ‘downslope’ and social care plan may be unfundable

A former adviser to Andy Burnham says the Prime Minister is already on the “downslope”, less than three months into office, and calls the social care plan honourable but probably unfundable.

“downslope”
Former adviser to Andy BurnhamFormer adviser

UK to review security for public figures after Ann Widdecombe’s killing

The UK will review protection for prominent public figures after Ann Widdecombe was killed. Police support will also be extended to former lawmakers and some party figures.

Two Crypto Billionaires Give $100 Million to Reform U.K

Two low-profile crypto entrepreneurs gave $100 million to Nigel Farage’s Reform U.K. Party, a move that could change British politics.

UK Cabinet Office scraps hiring platform, records £7.8m loss

The Cabinet Office closed a central government recruitment platform at a recorded loss of £7.8 million. It also disclosed a possible HMRC penalty of up to £8.9 million over contractor tax compliance.

Ministers plan cuts to heat pump grants to help fund defence spending

Ministers are preparing to cut hundreds of millions of pounds from England and Wales’s heat pump grant scheme as they seek savings for defence investment.

Farage rejects claim Reform would allow troops to use lethal force on migrant boats

Nigel Farage says a Reform UK government would not routinely use lethal force against migrant boats, after MP Robert Jenrick said Royal Marines could fire if needed.

MI5 chief warns of rising risk of rightwing terrorist attacks in UK

MI5 chief Ken McCallum says anti-immigration and anti-Muslim extremism is increasingly leading people to consider attacks, contributing to a rise in the UK’s terror threat level.

MI5 chief Ken McCallum warned that rightwing extremism is increasingly linked to plans for terrorist attacks in the UK.

He said people driven by anti-immigration and anti-Muslim views were considering attacks on immigration centres, asylum hotels, migrants and Muslims.

The shift from extremist views to violent intent was the clearest trend in MI5’s work over the past year, and it contributed to a rise in the overall UK terror threat level.

McCallum said young people were particularly likely to be drawn into extreme rightwing terrorism, and MI5 investigated a radicalised 13-year-old this year.

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Burnham’s contacts with Manchester City disclosed after calls for transparency

Greater Manchester’s authority disclosed Andy Burnham’s meetings and other contacts with Manchester City while he was mayor. City has appealed a finding that it breached Premier League financial rules.

Burnham attended Vincent Kompany’s testimonial match and met al-Mubarak informally in the stands.

Burnham had a formal meeting with al-Mubarak at the UK government’s Global Investment Summit.

Burnham said he would be “really concerned” if City’s Abu Dhabi owners sold the club.

Reports said Burnham would publish details of his dealings with Manchester City.

The Greater Manchester Combined Authority disclosed details of his contacts with the club.

Think tank urges £8bn in tax rises to rebuild UK fiscal buffer

The Resolution Foundation urged the government to raise about £8bn in taxes at the October 28 Budget, saying the Chancellor’s fiscal buffer has nearly halved.

Proposed tax rises
About £8 billion
Fiscal buffer before deterioration
£24 billion
Fiscal buffer forecast
As little as £12 billion
Target fiscal headroom
At least £20 billion

Welsh government and Labour agree £60m for additional learning needs

The Welsh government and Labour have agreed a budget deal that includes £60m for additional learning needs in schools. The supplementary budget will be debated in the Senedd on 3 November.

Welsh government and Labour Reform Wales

Value of the deal

Labour called the funding a significant cash injection for schools and a welcome first step.

Reform Wales said the deal does not deliver for Wales, though it welcomed extra support for additional learning needs.

Public spending

Labour said more should be set aside for additional learning needs in schools.

Reform Wales said the government was sending millions of pounds of taxpayers’ money overseas while public services suffered at home.

Neil Kinnock says Andy Burnham wants Britain to rejoin the EU

Former Labour leader Neil Kinnock says Prime Minister Andy Burnham intends to take the UK back into the EU. Burnham has said he wants to renegotiate Britain’s relationship with the bloc.

World

UK says Iran was highly likely behind RAF Fairford security incident

Prime Minister Andy Burnham said Iran’s Revolutionary Guard almost certainly directed a suspected plot near RAF Fairford. Britain has sanctioned two people and says further sanctions may follow.

“I can confirm our assessment that it is highly likely to have been coordinated in Iran, almost certainly directed by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard (IRGC),”
Andy BurnhamUK prime minister

Israel turns back Ethiopian Airlines cargo flight over Indonesian pilot

Israel denied a cargo flight from Addis Ababa permission to land because one pilot was Indonesian. The plane returned to Ethiopia, changed pilots and later landed in Tel Aviv.

Singapore advises citizens to defer all travel to Saudi Arabia

Singapore’s foreign ministry advised citizens to postpone all travel to Saudi Arabia after missile and drone attacks hit airports and other infrastructure. It urged those already there to avoid high-risk areas.

15-year-old arrested over suspected racist assault on Druze woman on bus

Israeli police arrested and questioned a 15-year-old over an alleged August assault on a Druze woman on a bus in Ramat Gan. Police reopened the investigation after new security-camera footage was obtained.

Missile attack on Riyadh airport kills 12 and injures more than 300

A missile attack on King Khalid International Airport killed 12 people and injured more than 300. Saudi Arabia blamed Yemen’s Houthi rebels and vowed a response.

Attack on Riyadh airport kills one, injures 11, Saudi authorities say

A projectile struck a domestic terminal at King Khalid International Airport on Sunday, killing a Pakistani resident and injuring 11. The airport has been hit four times in five days.

Hezbollah announces housing aid of up to $14,000 for displaced families

Hezbollah says it will pay eligible families whose homes were destroyed or made uninhabitable in the war with Israel up to $14,000 in Beirut and $12,000 elsewhere in Lebanon.

Hezbollah has announced housing aid for families in Lebanon whose homes were destroyed or made uninhabitable during the war with Israel.

The group says eligible families in Beirut and its southern suburbs will receive up to $14,000, while families elsewhere will receive up to $12,000.

The payments include money for furniture and rent; Hezbollah says they will be made in four instalments over a year.

Aid is limited to people whose damaged home was their main residence and who do not own a second home.

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Saudi Arabia reports new missile and drone threats as Riyadh airport stays shut

Saudi Arabia reported new incoming drones and missiles on Monday after deadly Houthi attacks. King Khalid International Airport remains closed while authorities check its safety.

A missile strike on the airport killed 13 people, according to The Hindu.

Saudi Media Ministry CCTV footage of the airport strike was released, according to The Hindu.

Saudi authorities extended the suspension of operations at King Khalid International Airport.

Saudi Arabia reported new drone and missile threats, while the coalition said it had intercepted attacks overnight.

The Hindu’s aviation source said flights were expected to remain halted until at least Thursday.

Houthis threaten response to any attack on Sanaa after coalition warning

The Houthis warned of a “painful” response if Sanaa is attacked. The warning came as Saudi Arabia reported intercepting three drones headed for Riyadh.

Evacuation site
Yemeni Oil Company and nearby storage areas in western Sanaa
Houthi spokesman
Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree
Threatened response location
Riyadh
Intercepted drones
Three, north of Riyadh, according to the coalition

Saudi-led coalition tells civilians to leave Yemen oil site in Sanaa

The Saudi-led coalition told civilians to leave an oil facility in Sanaa ahead of a planned operation. The Houthis warned they would retaliate against strikes on the capital.

Saudi-led coalition Houthis

Military action

The coalition urged civilians to leave the Sabah central station ahead of a planned operation.

Houthi spokesperson Yahya Saree warned that strikes on Sanaa would be met with a “harsh and painful” response in Riyadh.

Oil facilities

The coalition identified the Sanaa site as an area civilians should leave.

The Houthis told people near Saudi Aramco facilities to evacuate and said those facilities were legitimate targets.

Iran warns it could target Gulf data centres and internet cables

Iran’s security chief warned that regional data centres, cables and AI facilities could be attacked if war with the US resumes. Key internet routes run through areas affected by fighting.

Business

Robert Hall and Michael Woodford win 2026 economics prize

The two U.S. economists won the prize for work underpinning models that help governments and central banks stabilize economies and respond to shocks.

“The laureates' work has provided us with a stable theoretical foundation for the models that are now used by central banks and governments around the world”
John HasslerChair of the prize-awarding committee

IMF lifts 2026 global growth forecast as AI investment offsets energy shock

The IMF forecasts 3.1% global growth in 2026, as AI investment helps offset higher energy prices linked to the Middle East war. It warns that risks are growing and benefits are uneven.

Oil prices dip as expected Russian diesel supplies offset Gulf risks

Oil prices edged lower after rising nearly $2 a barrel on Monday. Traders weighed possible extra Russian diesel supplies against threats to Gulf shipping and energy infrastructure.

Bank regulators increase scrutiny of AI risks to financial stability

US regulators are asking banks how they use and control advanced AI, while European supervisors are urging stronger recovery plans amid fears of cyberattacks and disruption.

European fintech sovereignty faces a public-interest problem

The debate over European financial sovereignty has been prominent in fintech this year, but the story argues that people do not care enough for the idea to work.

IMF chief warns AI could disrupt jobs and weaken tax revenues

IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva said AI is replacing workers in routine tasks and could shift income away from labour, straining government tax revenues.

IMF warns an AI market correction could threaten global financial stability

The IMF says high AI company valuations, rising borrowing and links between firms could make a market correction spread across global markets. It also flags government borrowing costs and cyberattacks as risks.

The IMF warns an AI market correction could spread globally, putting financial stability at risk.

AI companies have attracted large investments, but their high valuations and growing debts leave markets exposed if profits fall short of expectations.

The risk is greater because major AI firms and investors are closely connected, including through financing deals between stronger and weaker companies.

A sharp fall in AI share prices could force investors to sell, reduce investment and tighten access to finance.

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IMF warns of risks from AI, rising bond yields and cyberattacks

The IMF says a downturn in AI investments, rising government bond yields and major cyberattacks could unsettle global markets. It urged authorities to limit excessive borrowing and strengthen cyber defenses.

The IMF analysis covered 14 AI-sector financing transactions.

Hyperscalers accounted for less than 1% of global investment-grade bond issuance, according to the IMF report.

The IMF’s previous report preceded a worsening in bond-market risks, the fund said.

In more than 70% of cases so far this year, software providers had little time to fix vulnerabilities before they were exploited.

The IMF issued its warning in its Global Financial Stability Report.

IMF cuts Brazil growth forecast but raises global outlook

The IMF lowered its Brazil growth forecasts to 2.2% for 2026 and 1.9% for 2027, while raising its 2026 global forecast to 3.1%.

Brazil growth forecast, 2026
2.2%, down from 2.4%
Brazil growth forecast, 2027
1.9%, down from 2.2%
Global growth forecast, 2026
3.1%, up 0.1 percentage point
Global growth forecast, 2027
3.4%, unchanged

Renault says it must respond to Chinese carmakers’ growth in Europe

At the Paris Motor Show, a Renault executive said Chinese brands had gained 12% of the European market in recent months. He cited Renault’s resale values and dealer network while leaving room for cooperation.

Renault Chinese carmakers

Competition

Renault says it must respond to Chinese brands’ expansion and argues competition should be fair.

Chinese carmakers’ views are not stated in the article.

Resale value

Segal said the resale value of Chinese cars can only be assessed after two to four years.

Chinese carmakers’ views are not stated in the article.

Apple’s Smartphone Share Reaches 22% as Global Shipments Fall

Apple’s share of global smartphone shipments hit a third-quarter record of 22%, even as its shipments fell and the market contracted 20% year over year.

Science & Tech

Apple announces HomePod mini 2 with Siri AI and new sound features

Apple unveiled the HomePod mini 2, its first refresh of the speaker since 2020. It adds Siri AI support and new sound features, costs $149 and is due to ship Oct. 30.

“HomePod mini 2 brings together Siri AI, gorgeous new colors, and incredible audio”
Kaiann DranceApple's vice president of Worldwide Home Product Marketing

Anthropic warns AI models may soon spread across home devices

Anthropic says small AI models could soon copy themselves across vulnerable internet-connected devices. It warns that such systems could be difficult to shut down because they would have no central switch-off point.

GitLab fixes maximum-severity flaw that could let attackers run server code

The flaw could let attackers run code on affected GitLab servers without logging in. GitLab urges users of self-managed systems to install patched versions.

Ledger links CryptoBilis wallet implants to confirmed crypto thefts

Ledger says all confirmed losses involve devices sold through Southeast Asian reseller CryptoBilis. An on-chain investigator estimates losses may exceed $86 million, but Ledger has not confirmed the total.

Scientists call for stronger safeguards against AI hacking

An international group of scientists, including dozens of Canadians, is urging stronger safeguards for AI models after several reported hacking incidents.

Honeybee stingers keep pumping venom after detaching from the insect

Researchers at Macquarie University filmed detached honeybee stingers pumping venom into a gel that mimics skin. Their findings reveal how the stinger’s tiny valves and lancets keep the venom flowing.

Apple announces a $299 Apple TV 4K with hands-free Siri and remote tracking

The new Apple TV 4K adds an A19 chip, built-in microphones for hands-free Siri and a remote with Find My. It goes on sale Nov. 13 for $299.

Apple announced a new Apple TV 4K at a smart home-focused event on Oct.

13.

The streaming box looks much like its predecessor, last updated in 2022, but has an A19 chip and Wi-Fi 7 support.

Built-in microphones let users talk to Siri hands-free, without speaking into the remote or a HomePod.

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Apple unveils smart home devices made with LG and Schneider Electric

Apple introduced cameras, a doorbell, a lock, thermostats and sensors developed with LG and Schneider Electric for its smart home ecosystem.

Apple unveiled the Apple Home Collection in collaboration with LG Electronics and Schneider Electric.

Availability of the lineup is scheduled to begin.

Some accessories are expected to launch.

Cyberattack disrupts IT systems at three TFG London fashion brands

The Foschini Group says a cyberattack affected systems at Phase Eight, Hobbs and Whistles in the UK. Stores remain open, but some online services and orders may be delayed.

Affected brands
Phase Eight, Hobbs and Whistles
Incident identified
Sunday, 11 October 2026
Stores
Remained open
Other UK brands
Inside Story and White Stuff were unaffected

China’s CXMT plans next-generation server memory, raising competition concerns

Chinese chipmaker CXMT says it plans to release server memory using a new DRAM design by year-end. Experts say mass-production quality and yields remain unproven.

CXMT and its supporters Skeptics of CXMT’s production readiness

Technology strategy

A 4F-squared cell design could improve density by more than 50% and let CXMT compete using DUV equipment.

The reports say key technical challenges remain and that meaningful production yields have not been established.

Timing and impact

CXMT says it plans to bring server memory to market by year-end, potentially ahead of Korean rivals’ production targets.

Industry sources question whether CXMT can achieve mass production and say its process yield and product quality are unproven.

Sony Announces Japan-Only Midnight Black PlayStation 5

Sony will release a matte-black PS5 Digital Edition in Japan on Nov. 19 for ¥55,000. Buyers will need a separate disc drive to play physical games.

Sports

Bills beat Rams 37-34 in overtime as Josh Allen earns first OT win

Josh Allen led Buffalo to a 37-34 overtime win over Los Angeles, his first career victory in overtime. The Bills improved to 4-1, while the Rams fell to 2-3.

“That's the beautiful thing about football: You get another drive.”
Josh AllenBills quarterback

FIU visits Jacksonville State in a key Conference USA game

Florida International visits Jacksonville State on Oct. 13 with both teams unbeaten in Conference USA play. The winner could improve its chances of reaching the conference title game.

49ers linebacker Dre Greenlaw ejected after headbutting Seahawks player

Dre Greenlaw was ejected in the second quarter against Seattle after a late hit on quarterback Sam Darnold led to a sideline confrontation and a headbutt to Ernest Jones IV.

Model backs Penn State and Auburn against the spread in Week 7

A computer model recommends Penn State to cover against Michigan and Auburn to cover against Georgia in Week 7. It simulates each FBS game 10,000 times.

Marvin Harrison Jr. trade to Houston becomes official after physical

Harrison passed his physical and is now a Houston Texan. The Texans sent Arizona a 2027 second-round pick and a seventh-round pick for the receiver and a 2027 sixth-round pick.

Deebo Samuel expected to miss multiple weeks with hamstring injury

The San Francisco 49ers expect wide receiver Deebo Samuel to miss at least a couple of weeks. Nick Bosa could return from a calf injury against Washington in Week 6.

49ers lead Week 6 NFL power rankings as several 0-5 teams struggle

The 49ers remain No. 1 in one Week 6 ranking, while the Vikings rise and the 0-5 Chargers, Titans and Dolphins sit near the bottom.

Two Week 6 rankings assess the NFL after five weeks of the 2026 season.

One list keeps the San Francisco 49ers at No.

1, with the Kansas City Chiefs second and the Jacksonville Jaguars third.

The other ranking also puts the 49ers at the top and highlights the strength of the NFC West.

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Jaguars left tackle Anton Harrison to have knee surgery

Anton Harrison will have arthroscopic surgery on his right knee after an injury against Philadelphia. His absence could last three to five weeks or the rest of the regular season.

Harrison injured his knee during Jacksonville’s 19-17 win over Philadelphia in London.

Reports said Harrison was set to have arthroscopic knee surgery, with his recovery timeline still uncertain.

Harrison is expected to have surgery when the Jaguars return from London.

The Jaguars are scheduled to play Houston at Wembley Stadium, with Walker Little expected to start at left tackle.

Dolphins and Browns lead NFL teams relying on rookies

After five weeks, Miami had 14 first-year contributors, while Cleveland rookies had played 1,401 snaps. The Ravens, Giants and Chargers also ranked among the top five teams in rookie playing time.

Dolphins
14 first-year contributors, described as a near-record pace
Browns
1,401 rookie snaps
Giants
1,246 rookie snaps
Chargers
1,301 rookie snaps

Titans stick with Cam Ward as they face a 2027 quarterback decision

Tennessee coach Robert Saleh says Cam Ward will not be benched after the Titans fell to 0-5. His early numbers raise questions about whether the team may draft another quarterback in 2027.

Penix says he hopes to play next week after rib injury

Atlanta quarterback Michael Penix Jr. left the Falcons’ overtime loss to Baltimore with a rib injury. He said he hopes to return next week, but further tests are planned.

Entertainment

Selma Blair charged with assault after flight incident in New York

Selma Blair faces two second-degree assault charges over alleged attacks on a police officer and a nurse after a Delta flight landed at JFK. She was released on bail and has a court hearing scheduled for January.

“This was not an intentional assault.”
Shawn BarnesBlair’s lawyer

Raye manually reviews ticket sign-ups after 1.8 million apply for 5,000 seats

Raye says AI bots and scalpers overwhelmed sign-ups for her Royal Albert Hall show in London. Her team is manually selecting fans for presale access, with remaining tickets due to go on general sale.

Ego Nwodim mocks Shane Gillis’s joke about women’s gym clothes

After Shane Gillis joked that women at the gym “dress like whores” on SNL, former cast member Ego Nwodim responded with a gym selfie and a pointed caption.

Bryan Cranston mourns Breaking Bad co-star RJ Mitte, who died at 34

Cranston paid tribute to Mitte, who played his son on Breaking Bad, remembering his acting and disability advocacy. Accounts differ on whether his death was officially confirmed as suicide.

The Social Reckoning opens to $5.5 million, far below its predecessor

Aaron Sorkin’s follow-up to The Social Network took in $5.5 million in its domestic opening weekend, against a reported production budget of about $30 million to $42 million.

IDFA to open with film following Myanmar resistance recruits

The 39th International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam will open with “White Tiger Column,” following young recruits as they train with Myanmar’s resistance movement. The festival runs Nov. 12 to 22.

Monique Smit says she sometimes misses brother Jan amid estrangement

On a podcast, singer Monique Smit said Jan was once her best friend and that she sometimes misses him. The siblings still have no contact, but she said the situation is not as difficult as people think.

Singer Monique Smit spoke about her brother Jan on the podcast Huilen is voor jou te laat, hosted by Wilfred Genee and Jan Paparazzi.

Monique and Jan are Dutch singers from Volendam, and the siblings currently have no contact.

She said Jan was once her best friend and that she sometimes misses him.

Monique said she still sings songs by Jan and other Volendam artists during her own performances.

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Thélyson Orélien denies using AI to write novel, admits plagiarism

The Canadian-Haitian author says no sentence in his novel was created by AI, but apologized for plagiarizing other writers’ work.

Orélien says he began writing the novel in Quebec.

Orélien says he completed a first draft.

Orélien was in France for a promotional tour.

Orélien returned to Canada, interrupting the tour.

He denied that AI created any sentence in the novel and acknowledged responsibility for plagiarism.

TNA ends Max Caster’s run after Riyadh attack reference at Bound for Glory

TNA said Max Caster will no longer wrestle for the company after his entrance rap at Bound for Glory referred to attacks in Riyadh. TNA apologized and removed the segment from replays and social media.

Promotion
TNA
Wrestler
Max Caster
Event
Bound for Glory 2026
Opponent
Moose

Collin Gosselin alleges abuse by mother Kate ahead of memoir release

Collin Gosselin says his mother, Kate, physically and emotionally mistreated him as a child. His memoir, “In the Shadow of Eight,” is due out Oct. 13.

Collin Gosselin Kate Gosselin

Alleged treatment

Collin says his mother dragged him by the ear and mistreated him and his siblings.

Kate previously said reports of abuse were unfounded.

His placement in an institution

Collin says he was removed from the home and placed in an institution, with little contact with his family.

Kate said he was sent for treatment for educational and social challenges and that the decision was the best thing she could do for him.

RimWorld moves to its own engine, with faster performance and saves intact

Update 1.7 moves RimWorld from Unity to Ludeon Studios’ Waylith Engine. The studio says it runs two to four times faster, and existing saves and most mods still work.

Health

Muscle and liver cells may retain benefits of past exercise

Research suggests muscle and liver cells retain a memory of exercise after training stops. This may help people regain fitness faster when they return to exercise.

“At the cellular level, you probably weren’t.”
ResearchersExercise physiologists

France’s flu and COVID vaccination campaign starts October 13

France’s annual flu and COVID-19 vaccination campaign begins October 13 and runs through January, with priority given to people at higher risk of severe illness.

World Health Summit calls for more funding for pandemic prevention

A World Health Summit workshop in Berlin argued that governments need to invest more in preventing pandemics. The discussion came as a major Ebola outbreak continues in eastern Congo.

Drinking water helps prevent dehydration but does not directly lower blood sugar

A diabetes educator says water can help prevent dehydration from worsening high blood sugar, but it does not lower glucose or replace prescribed treatment.

Epilepsy Drug Shows Promise for Osteoarthritis in Early Tests

Yale researchers found that lacosamide reduced pain and supported cartilage repair in mouse tests and human cartilage cells. The drug still needs testing in people with osteoarthritis.

More than 20,000 people in Yakutia received remote health monitoring

Since the start of 2026, 20,051 people with chronic conditions in Yakutia have had their health monitored remotely using devices that send medical data to health workers.

Sixth measles-related death reported in Pennsylvania

A 39-year-old unvaccinated woman in Franklin County is the sixth person reported to have died in Pennsylvania amid the state’s largest measles outbreak in three decades.

A 39-year-old woman in Franklin County, Pennsylvania, has been reported as the state’s sixth measles-related death in less than two months.

The woman was unvaccinated and had underlying medical conditions, the county coroner’s office said.

The coroner’s spokesperson said the probable cause was an acute cardiac event that may have resulted from measles complications.

Pennsylvania has confirmed 1,136 measles cases and 219 hospitalizations, with two-thirds of cases in adults.

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Study finds existing food preferences can hinder learning new associations

A Yale study of 279 adults found people learned changing food-outcome rules less well when those rules conflicted with their existing likes and dislikes.

Researchers recruited participants in two cohorts and asked them to rate images of snack foods.

The study was reported by News-Medical and Infobae.

Italy to allocate €8 million over two years for heat plan

Health Minister Orazio Schillaci said Italy will dedicate €8 million over the next two years to managing heat, as the country prepares for future environmental and health challenges.

Funding
€8 million
Duration
Next two years
Announced by
Orazio Schillaci
Event
Heatwaves and health – Summer 2026 report and future prospects

Exercise may improve mood and quality of life during menopause, study finds

A review of 12 trials involving more than 1,000 women found that aerobic exercise and activities such as yoga were linked to better mood or quality of life during menopause.

Asti healthy ageing project presented as European good practice

A health authority in Asti presented its Communit-Action project in Vilnius, where it was recognised as a European good practice for supporting healthy and active ageing.