Asda hits out at government for ‘killing confidence’ among consumers

Talks between the UK and the EU regarding the UK's participation in the EU defence fund have collapsed, primarily due to disagreements over a fee that would enable UK defence firms to access a larger portion of loans. This breakdown in negotiations highlights ongoing tensions between the two sides following the UK's departure from the EU.

Prostate cancer screening is not expected to be made widely available in the UK, with expert advisers likely to recommend testing only for a select group of men aged 45 to 61 who carry the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genetic variants. This decision reflects ongoing debates about the effectiveness and necessity of broad screening programs.

Ryanair is discontinuing its frequent flyers members’ club after just eight months due to excessive exploitation of its benefits by customers. The airline reported that while 55,000 individuals signed up for the Prime membership, passengers benefited from discounts totaling over €6 million, surpassing the €4.4 million generated from the scheme.

UK energy bill payers will contribute £2 billion annually to EDF, the French government-owned company, for the construction of two nuclear power stations, Hinkley Point C and Sizewell C, as per government figures. This funding will commence once Hinkley Point C begins operations in 2030 under a contracts-for-difference system that ensures fixed payments for low-carbon energy generation.

France has announced a new policy to intercept small boats crossing the English Channel, following pressure from UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, who communicated directly with President Emmanuel Macron regarding the issue. This shift aims to address ongoing concerns about illegal immigration and enhance border security between the two nations.

An eight-year-old girl, Lati-Yana Brown, has been denied a visa to join her parents in the UK after being left homeless in Jamaica due to Hurricane Melissa. Her mother, Kerrian Bigby, moved to the UK in April 2023, leaving Lati-Yana in the care of her grandmother. The family had requested an expedited application to reunite after the hurricane devastated their home.

A recent study indicates that minor adjustments to the political content in the 'for you' feed on X can lead to significant increases in political polarization among users within just a week, a shift that historically would have taken three years. The research highlights how even subtle boosts to posts with anti-democratic sentiments can alter users' perceptions of opposing political groups.

Irish author Sally Rooney informed the High Court that she may be unable to publish new books in the UK and might have to withdraw existing titles due to the government's ban on the activist group Palestine Action, which has been classified as a terrorist organization.