Author: Loveworld UK

The ecstasy drug MDMA could help people recover from post-traumatic stress disorder, a pilot study has found. Scientists in California combined MDMA treatment in varying doses with psychotherapy on a study of 22 military veterans, three firefighters and a police officer, all diagnosed with PTSD.Participants were given doses of either 30mg, 75mg or 125mg of MDMA, and on average people in the higher dose groups experienced a greater decrease in PTSD symptom severity than those in the low-dose group.After two sessions, 86% of participants in the 75mg group, 58% in the 125mg group and 29% in the 30mg group no…

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has published a list of the world’s towns and cities exceeding its safe pollution limits. Researchers looked at fine particle emissions which travel deep into people’s respiratory systems and can lead to health problems.They have determined that anything over 10 micrograms per cubic metre is a risk to people’s health.A total of 47 British towns and cities matched or exceeded the limit in 2015, the latest data available, but none of them is anywhere near matching the world’s most polluted areas.Muzaffarpur in India was the world’s most polluted city, with 197mg per cubic metre, while…

The nuclear deal struck with Iran in 2015 should be kept because it allows “intrusive inspections”, Boris Johnson has said. The Foreign Secretary intervened after Israel accused Tehran of covering up its weapons programme before signing the deal three years ago.Mr Johnson said a presentation by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu “underlines the importance” of keeping the deal’s constraints on Iran in place.At a time of growing uncertainty, Donald Trump has set a 12 May deadline to decide whether to pull the US out of the accord.:: What Benjamin Netanyahu wants to achieve with his Iran ‘stunt’ 0:40 Video: Israeli…

UK manufacturing growth slowed to a 17-month low in April leaving the chances of Bank of England rate hike further in doubt, a report showed. The Markit/CIPS UK Manufacturing purchasing managers’ index (PMI) showed a reading of 53.9 last month, lower than the 54.9 for March. Economists were expecting a figure of 54.8. A reading above 50 indicates growth.Rob Dobson, director at IHS Markit, said: “The start of the second quarter saw the UK manufacturing sector lose further steam. The headline PMI dipped to a 17-month low as growth of production, new business and employment all slowed.”While adverse weather was…

The UK must treat asthma patients “promptly” and take the condition “seriously”, a charity is warning, after the number of Britons dying from it rose by more than 20% in just five years. Asthma UK is calling on the NHS to invest in “better front-line services” after discovering Britain is performing poorly compared to its European neighbours.The charity said that between 2011 and 2015, the UK’s average asthma death rate was almost 50% higher than the average across the EU, according to its own analysis.Around 1,400 people died from an asthma attack in the UK in 2015, it said.The UK’s…

Donald Trump has postponed metal tariffs on the UK at the eleventh hour to prevent a trade war. The US President offered the 30-day reprieve to the EU, Mexico and Canada after Wall Street closed down on Monday over fears of a tit-for-tat spat.A 25% tariff on steel and 10% duty on aluminium was due to come into effect at 5.01am BST on Tuesday after temporary exemptions granted in March expired.The Trump administration is “extending negotiations with Canada, Mexico and the European Union for a final 30 days”, the White House said.Mr Trump had told US trading partners they must…

The man in charge of the Vatican’s finances is to face sex abuse charges in Australia. Cardinal George Pell is the most senior Catholic Church official to be charged with such offences, which relate to his time as a priest and bishop in Australia.Following a month-long pre-trial hearing, magistrate Belinda Wallington ruled that some of the historical allegations against the 76-year-old should be tested in court.Cardinal Pell has pleaded not guilty to the charges.He will next appear in court on Wednesday in Melbourne. He is facing at least one charge after being accused of sexually abusing multiple victims decades ago.The…

Claims by Israel and the US that Iran “lied” about its nuclear programme have caused international disagreement. Israel’s Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, said “half a ton” of secret Iranian documents obtained in a “great intelligence achievement” by his government showed Iran was “brazenly lying” when it said it never had a nuclear weapons programme.After signing a deal in 2015, Iran was obliged to limit its nuclear energy programme, amid fears the country could use the technology to make a nuclear weapon. Economic sanctions were lifted in return. Iran has denied ever seeking nuclear weapons.Mr Netanyahu claimed Iran did not honour…

Scotland has introduced a minimum unit price for alcohol – the first country in the world to do so. Retailers must now ensure a unit of alcohol is not priced below 50p, in a government bid to reduce the high number of alcohol-related deaths in the country each year.It means a standard 750ml 13% bottle of wine cannot be sold for less than £4.88, a 700ml 40% bottle of whisky for £14 and two litres of 5% cider for £5.The Scottish government has warned retailers there will be no period of grace and that if rules are broken licences could…

The Prime Minister has named Sajid Javid as the new Home Secretary, replacing Amber Rudd. Mr Javid, 48, was promoted from the position of Communities Secretary after scandals over the Windrush generation and deportation targets.Addressing the Windrush scandal is his “most urgent task”, he said.He added that he wants people caught up in the controversy to be treated with the “decency and fairness they deserve”.Speaking not long after being appointed, he said he wanted an immigration policy that was “fair”, and that “treats people with respect and with decency”.Ms Rudd resigned late last night after admitting “inadvertently” misleading a committee…