Katherine Livingstone is an Associate Professor, Institute for Physical Activity and Nutrition, Deakin University. This article was first published by The Conversation and is republished under a Creative Commons licence. Read the original article.
Indian student protests: What’s next after Modi’s promise on exam leaks?
Late on Thursday, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi promised stern action against perpetrators of examination paper leaks that have snowballed into the biggest protest movement against his government in its third term.
Modi pledged to set up fast-track courts to punish those involved in the leaks, addressing students in an Instagram-style phone recording. This was his first spoken response to the youth-led protests that have exploded across the country, with their epicentre in the heart of the capital, New Delhi.
The same night, Indian activist Sonam Wangchuk, a supporter of the students, called off a 26-day hunger strike aimed at pressuring the government to respond to their demands.
However, the student activists have said that they would continue with the agitation until Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan steps down.
We break down the latest protests that have not only roiled New Delhi, but also spread to other cities including Mumbai, Bengaluru and Patna, and look at what’s next.
What is the protest about?
The protests have been organised by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), a satirical online movement formed in May that has evolved into a national platform demanding structural education reforms and Pradhan’s resignation over a series of leaks of examination papers.
The protests came after recent scandals pertaining to examination paper leaks, technical faults and cancelled tests triggered outrage.
The main protest site is Jantar Mantar in New Delhi, a historic 18th‑century astronomical observatory, close to Parliament Street.
Demonstrators have also occupied parts of Parliament Street since Monday, with many demonstrators camping on the key thoroughfare that connects Parliament House to Connaught Place, the Indian capital’s central commercial square.
The Jantar Mantar site has seen bouts of unrest and violence this week. On Monday, the protests escalated after police fired tear gas and baton-charged demonstrators as they tried to march to parliament.
Rights groups Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International have condemned the Indian government over “excessive use of force” by the police and suspension of mobile internet services at Jantar Mantar.
The CJP’s demands include Pradhan’s immediate resignation, the dropping of cases against peaceful demonstrators and 10 million rupees ($104,000) in financial assistance for each of the families of more than 20 students who have died by suicide since recent exam cancellations.
Sonam Wangchuk calls off his hunger strike
Indian activist Wangchuk ended his 26-day hunger strike, also demanding the resignation of Pradhan.
In a post on X late on Thursday night, Wangchuk, 59, said he ended his fast after “a long negotiation on various conditions and in view of possible violence in the country”.
Wangchuk’s fast was broken in the presence of Indian Health Minister JP Nadda and the junior Atomic Energy Minister Jitendra Singh, who offered Wangchuk his first sip to end the protest.
“The government is positive on not registering cases against those protesting peacefully at Jantar Mantar in Delhi, and those participating in the march to the Parliament on July 20, 2026,” Nadda said, according to the social media platforms of Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
Nadda added: “The government has already assured threadbare discussions to find solutions to paper leaks and educational reforms for exams in the Parliament. Besides, the government is also positively considering suitable compensation for the suicide victims of recent NEET paper leaks.”
The National Eligibility cum Entrance Test or NEET is a national examination for entry into medical schools. It is taken by more than two million students each year, but examination papers have leaked thrice in the past five years — including this year.
What have Modi and other leaders said?
Hours after Wangchuk ended his hunger strike, two senior government ministers and two leaders of the CJP met for talks.
The meeting raised hopes that the sides could be moving towards a breakthrough in the crisis in which tens of thousands of angry youth are demanding Pradhan’s resignation as a measure of accountability from the government over paper leaks.
“Nothing is more important than the welfare and future of our youth!” Modi wrote on X on Thursday.
“We have decided to set up fast-track courts to ensure swift and stringent punishment for those involved in paper leaks. … Those who try to harm the future of our youth will not be spared.”
What have the students said?
On Thursday, the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation announced that 16 Metro stations in New Delhi would be closed until further notice.
In response to this, the CJP’s founding president, Abhijeet Dipke, wrote in an X post: “Modi is ready to shut down all of Delhi, but not sack Dharmendra Pradhan.”
Dipke made a series of posts on X on Friday emphasising the demand for Pradan’s removal.
CJP spokesperson Ashutosh Ranka dismissed Modi’s judicial proposal as insufficient to address underlying systemic failures.
“The announcement of fast-track courts is not a real solution. It is merely a distraction,” Ranka said in a statement at Jantar Mantar. “Paper leaks are not happening because India lacked fast-track courts. They are happening because Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan has been completely incompetent.”
What’s next?
After the meeting on Friday, CJP’s leaders said the government asked to be given until Saturday afternoon to respond to their demand for Pradhan to resign.
A senior Indian government minister said on Thursday that the government was always open to talks, for however long it would take, and that it would not “stand on prestige”.
Is your breakfast helping or hurting your health?
Many of us have grown up with the mantra that breakfast is the most important meal of the day.
But whether it’s snatching an extra half hour of sleep, or focusing on getting the kids out of the house, there are various reasons why assembling a healthy breakfast might slip down your list of priorities – especially on a weekday.
So, is it worse to eat unhealthy foods first thing, compared to later in the day? And what about skipping breakfast altogether?
It’s not just about calories
You probably know eating foods high in sugar, salt and saturated fats – especially when they’re highly processed – puts you at greater risk of a range of serious health conditions. These include diabetes, heart disease and some cancers.
Poor diet can also affect our gut health, mental health and reproductive health.
Eating a diet high in vegetables and fruit, lean meat and alternatives, such as chicken and lentils, wholegrains, and reduced-fat dairy and alternatives (such as plant-based yoghurt) will improve your overall health and wellbeing, and reduce the risk of serious health conditions.
For breakfast, aim to include a source of good-quality protein, wholegrains, fruit and/or vegetables and healthy fats.
This could look like: toasted wholegrain bread with avocado, a poached egg and sliced tomato. Or it might be wholegrain porridge oats, with yoghurt, seasonal fruit and some almonds.
What about when you eat unhealthy food?
Let’s look at an example. A big brekkie burger (think: bacon, hash brown, beef patty, cheese, bun, and BBQ sauce) contributes about 36% of an average adult’s daily recommended energy intake (8,700 kilojules).
You may be surprised to learn there’s more sugar in the burger (11.5 grams) than some sweet breakfast cereals (10g a serve) – largely thanks to the refined carbohydrate in the bun, and sugars in the sauce.
Eating the brekkie burger will make your blood sugar levels spike.
If you’re generally in good health, your body will respond by producing the hormone insulin. This moves the sugar out of the blood and into muscles, fat, and liver cells for energy production. Blood sugar will then return to a normal level.
But if your body is regularly exposed to high blood sugar levels, you can develop insulin resistance. This means your body pumps a lot of insulin to get the blood sugar into your cells, but the cells stop responding, and your blood sugar levels remain high.
This can lead to worse health, including type 2 diabetes.
Does when you eat matter?
The short answer is: yes.
Your body has a 24-hour circadian rhythm that regulates when you feel alert or tired (your sleep-wake cycle). Disruptions such as jet lag or shift work can affect this cycle and, if sustained long-term, can affect your health.
Eating late at night can disrupt the sleep-wake cycle, by signalling to your body it’s time to digest not sleep. This triggers insulin spikes, and delays the release of melatonin, the “sleep hormone”.
This is why it’s recommended to eat in time with your body’s natural sleep-wake cycle: eating most of your food early in the day – when your body can process it most efficiently – and reducing how much you eat across the day.
So it may be better to eat more of your calories early at breakfast. But it’s important to get this energy from high-quality protein – such as eggs, beans, nuts or fish – and wholegrains, such as high-fibre bread.
Refined sugars, salt and saturated fat are high in calories but low in nutrition.
But protein is digested slowly, and will help you feel full for longer and stop you craving unhealthy snacks later in the day.
When lunch rolls around, you may be less tempted to eat a large meal. While a big lunch won’t disrupt your sleep-wake cycle, it can still make you feel sluggish while you wait for your body to digest it.
What about skipping breakfast?
Some intermittent fasting regimes – which involve scheduled periods of eating and fasting – involve skipping breakfast altogether or limiting the time you eat to a small window. For example, some people may not eat their first meal until after 11am.
Advocates say these diets have a range of health benefits, including weight loss, blood sugar control, heart and brain health, and cellular repair. However, the evidence for these remains mixed.
It’s also important to consult with your health-care professional, as it’s not recommended for some people, including pregnant women, children or those on certain medications.
The takeaway
You need high-quality nourishment for your body to work properly and feel good.
In the morning, your body can process food more efficiently than later in the day. But if breakfast is high in refined carbohydrates, sugars and fat, you’re more likely to experience a blood sugar spike and feel hungry sooner. And it’s not recommended to skip breakfast.
If time is an issue, consider portable foods that are nutritious, and high in good-quality fibre and protein, such as yoghurt, a banana and a jar of muesli you can mix together at the office.
Why Jimothy the raccoon has become a mega meme online
It all began with an innocuous video shared by Seattle resident Kiana Hall on Instagram.
“What am I looking at?” Hall could be heard exclaiming, as the unusual-looking raccoon hurtles across a pavement and up some nearby steps.
A caption alongside it referred to the creature as “Jimothy the raccoon with short spine syndrome”.
While it is not known for sure if the condition has caused his appearance, many have assumed as such, and the description has stuck.
As Hall’s Instagram reel spread, it attracted more and more likes, comments and reposts, with more than eight million views as of Friday morning.
“My brother was talking about Jimothy the other day, and I asked him who he is,” reads one comment on Hall’s video. “He told me Jimothy would find me, and now he has.”
Some users have also praised the raccoon’s online fame for drawing attention to spine conditions.
“I hope that someone can care for Jimothy as a wild animal… he will get older and need more care,” wrote one user, who said she had been born with a congenital spine syndrome.
Jimothy would not be the first to attract online fame for such a condition, Australian YouTuber Lessons in Meme Culture points out, external.
A dog called Pig became a brief internet sensation in 2014 owing in part to having short spine syndrome.
South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa wins bid to temporarily halt impeachment inquiry over ‘Farmgate’
On Friday, Western Cape high court judge Andre le Grange halted the parliamentary committee from proceeding with its hearings “pending the determination by this court of the applicant’s review” – a reference to Ramaphosa’s case against the panel.
The ruling effectively buys more time for Ramaphosa – time in which the president hopes he will be able to clear his name.
In court his legal team had argued that not halting the impeachment committee’s work until his other case was ruled on could cause him irreparable reputational harm.
Three judges heard the matter: two ruled in his favour. The majority judgement means that until his other case is heard and finalised the impeachment proceedings cannot continue.
This whole saga goes back to 2020 when a robbery that took place at the president’s private farm in Phala Phala, in Limpopo province.
Thieves broke in and stole money – at least $580,000 (£430,000) in US dollar bills – that had been stuffed into a sofa.
Details of the theft only came out two years later when the country’s former spy chief, Arthur Fraser, highlighted the theft in an explosive dossier that he sent to the police.
Fraser, a close ally of Ramaphosa’s predecessor Jacob Zuma, accused the head of state of hiding the theft from the police and tax authorities.
As the stolen cash was in foreign currency, it meant that exchange control laws could also have been contravened.
Ramaphosa said the cash came from the sale of buffaloes.
The president released a statement shortly after Friday’s ruling saying he noted and “respects” the court’s decision.
There has been a range of reactions to the ruling.
The Democratic Alliance, the second biggest party in the governing coalition, said the ruling was not unexpected but it did not “stop the committee from continuing with preparatory [work]”.
The opposition party led by Zuma, uMkhonto weSizwe (MK), accused the president of using the courts to stop a process that was trying to uncover what happened at his private farm.
While the ANC welcomed the ruling and urged other parties to “refrain from politically motivated distortions” as the legal process unfolded.
Additional reporting by Pumza Fihlani in Johannesburg
Experts predict what happens next with UK mortgage rates – and what you should do now
.jpeg?trim=0,18,0,18&width=1200&height=800&crop=1200:800 "Experts predict what happens next with UK mortgage rates – and what you should do now")
The UK mortgage market was on a rollercoaster ride in the first half of 2026, and homeowners hoping for a calmer journey from summer and beyond have quickly been left disappointed.
Turbulence in the Middle East saw the Iran war impact the UK economy, with deals being withdrawn, and two and five-year fixed rates peaking at 5.9 per cent and 5.78 per cent respectively in April.
Moneyfacts’ Rachel Springall points out a temporary US-Iran ceasefire did bring some relief to the market – but the mood has since shifted again later in July.
“Borrowers will be deeply disappointed to see mortgage rates on the rise again, but this just shows how sensitive our financial markets are to geopolitical tensions. As feared, rising swap rates are a signal for lenders to move quickly to re-price their ranges, as fixed mortgage rates tend to follow these moves,” Springall said.
But what is next for borrowers? To give some insight into what the remainder of 2026 could look like and what consumers might want to do in the current market, The Independent spoke to five industry experts across mortgage brokerages, property consultancies and estate agents for their thoughts.
Richard Dana, founder of online mortgage broker Tembo
Dana expects more stability rather than dramatic change for the remainder of 2026. While no one can predict interest rates with certainty, “the most likely scenario is that the Bank of England continues its cautious, data-driven approach, with any moves likely to be gradual rather than significant”.
He adds: “For anyone looking to remortgage or buy their first home, the focus should be less on trying to perfectly time the market and more on finding the right mortgage product for their circumstances.”
Dana’s biggest piece of advice is don’t panic an instead, to seek advice early and make a plan.
The entrepreneur also urges buyers to look beyond the purchase price. “Make sure you understand the total monthly cost of owning the property, not just the mortgage payment, before you commit,” he says.
Sharief Ibrahim, head of residential at consultancy CBRE
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Ibrahim is not expecting any increases to the base rate for the remainder of 2026, but cautions we could see further volatility in the rates available to borrowers.
“There is a chance that long-term borrowing costs and swap rates may be impacted as markets react to changes in government. Hopefully, the number of mortgage products available and the rates widely available will remain relatively stable for the remainder of 2026,” he said.
When it comes to moving, do your research, which should include speaking to your bank, existing lender, and a good independent mortgage broker.
For those remortgaging, Ibrahim says if you are concerned about the monthly cost increasing significantly, you could consider switching to an interest only product if eligible.
“Alternatively, if you have the cash available you could consider reducing the outstanding amount if the change in loan to value qualifies you for a lower interest rate,” he says.
Dominic Agace, CEO of estate agency Winkworth
Agace says: “Looking ahead, forecasts for interest rates continue to vary, with predictions ranging from a single 25 basis point increase to as many as three [interest rate hikes]. At present, market expectations are centred on one further increase, which I believe is a reasonable indication for the mortgage environment for the rest of the year.”
He has observed the housing market has become increasingly driven by genuine moving needs, making it more resilient to wider economic shocks.
Agace’s advice would be to secure a fixed-rate mortgage that remains “comfortably affordable” for the next three to five years, depending on your circumstances and the reasons behind your move.
He thinks if that still enables you to purchase, then it is worth considering moving ahead rather than waiting indefinitely for market conditions to improve.
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Andrew Montlake, CEO of mortgage broker Coreco
The biggest challenge for the Bank of England is where to go next on interest rates, thinks Montlake. He says: “The issues in the Middle East, volatile oil prices and political changes here in the UK all have had an effect on the swap rate market which has led to mortgage rates often changing quickly.”
He remains cautiously optimistic that the market will improve going into 2027.
Montlake’s advice includes: “Remember that there is so much more mortgage choice out there than just your current bank. Speaking to an adviser early on, before you start looking for a property, can save so much time, money and heartache.”
For those looking to remortgage, Montlake says: “The earlier you start the better position you will find yourself in.”
His firm speaks to clients six months before their rate expires to have time to look at all the options and secure a rate early.
Nigel Bishop, founder of agent Recoco Property Search
Bishop is clear that rates won’t be headed downward soon. “The Bank of England has continued to hold rates at 3.75 per cent and any major rate cuts for the remainder of the year are unlikely. Unfortunately there is too much uncertainty over geopolitical and economic developments as well as speculations over what our new prime minister has up his sleeve,” he said.
Bishop continues: “Compared to last year, borrowers need to adjust to potentially tougher market conditions and stricter lending criteria.”
He suggests anyone looking to remortgage or seek their first mortgage consults with a professional and independent mortgage advisor, scouts the market for the latest deals and, “most importantly, take into account future rate rises”.
When investing, your capital is at risk and you may get back less than invested. Past performance doesn’t guarantee future results.
Sharon Stone’s terrifying weed withdrawal sparks warning about today’s potent marijuana
New research casts doubt on cannabis benefits, cites mental health risks
Fox News senior medical analyst Dr. Marc Siegel discusses new research that casts doubt on cannabis benefits and highlights increased mental health risks, especially for teenagers. Modern marijuana, with 70-90% THC potency, is linked to higher rates of PTSD, anxiety, depression, ADHD, and bipolar disorder. Usage among Americans aged 12 and older has skyrocketed by 180% since the early 2000s, leading to concerns about addiction and health issues.
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Hollywood icon Sharon Stone recently opened up about a health scare after quitting marijuana, revealing her symptoms were so intense that she turned to a neurologist.
During an interview with Variety, the actress said her decision to quit was driven by a desire for a drug-free life.
“And because I think they put so much stuff in it now — they really do — when I stopped smoking pot, I also got sick,” she said.
CANNABIS COMPOUNDS COULD REVERSE DISEASE AFFECTING ONE-THIRD OF ADULTS
“I got pretty sick for a month. I went to my neurologist, and he said, ‘Sharon, I’ve had people dying in the emergency room from marijuana.'”
Stone attributed her ordeal to the potency of modern weed, saying, “It’s not like you’re pulling it out of the ground anymore … It’s not like when we were kids.”
American actress Sharon Stone quit “smoking pot” and got so sick that she consulted a neurologist, she revealed in a recent interview. (Getty Images, iStock)
Experts note that cannabis withdrawal itself is generally not considered life-threatening, although severe symptoms, underlying medical conditions or interactions with other substances can complicate recovery.
FLYING WITH CANNABIS? TSA’S NEW GUIDANCE COMES WITH A MAJOR HEALTH WARNING
Dr. Chris Tuell, clinical director of addiction services at the Lindner Center in Cincinnati, confirmed that today’s cannabis products are vastly different from the strains of decades past.
THC levels in marijuana have surged from about 3% to 5% in the 1980s to as high as 30% in today’s cannabis products, while concentrates can exceed 90% THC, he told Fox News Digital.
“I do believe cannabis is addicting, especially with the high levels of THC.”
Higher THC concentrations have been linked to greater risks of dependence, cannabis use disorder (CUD), psychosis in some users and more severe withdrawal symptoms, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse.
As today’s cannabis products become increasingly potent, experts say there are several risks and warning signs that daily users should know before deciding whether to continue — or quit — using marijuana.
No. 1: High-potency THC changes the brain’s reward system
According to Cleveland Clinic, CUD occurs when marijuana takes over the brain’s reward pathways, amplifying compulsive behavior.
“I do believe cannabis is addicting, especially with the high levels of THC,” Tuell told Fox News Digital.
No. 2: Addiction isn’t always obvious
The American Psychiatric Association’s DSM-5 (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition) outlines the following diagnostic criteria signaling that casual use may have crossed into dependency.
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- Taking larger amounts over longer periods than intended
- Experiencing unsuccessful attempts to cut down or control usage
- Failing to fulfill work, school or home responsibilities
- Continuing use despite clear relationship problems
Today’s cannabis flower and concentrates contain up to 90% THC, making modern products exponentially stronger than those from decades past, experts say. (iStock)
No. 3: Withdrawal can be intense
Quitting heavy, long-term cannabis use can trigger withdrawal symptoms within 24 to 48 hours, Cleveland Clinic notes.
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Users frequently experience severe insomnia, intense irritability, anxiety, appetite loss, sweating, headaches and stomach upset. While acute physical symptoms typically resolve within a month, mood swings and sleep issues can linger much longer, according to Tuell.
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4. Medical guidance may be needed
While cannabis withdrawal alone rarely requires hospitalization, Cleveland Clinic notes that people with significant medical or mental health conditions — or those stopping cannabis while also withdrawing from alcohol, opioids or certain other medications — may benefit from medical supervision.
Addiction experts strongly advise stepping down THC intake slowly to cushion the impact on the nervous system and avoid severe rebound symptoms. (iStock)
No. 5: Underlying issues may fuel dependence
Mental health conditions often occur alongside cannabis use disorder, and treating those underlying issues may help reduce problematic marijuana use, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse and the Cleveland Clinic.
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“I strongly believe that CUD and mental health issues co-exist, and that mental health counseling can address the issues driving the addictive behaviors,” Tuell said.
Fox News Digital reached out to Stone’s representatives requesting comment.
EU finds TikTok violates digital rule book by failing to protect privacy of minors
BRUSSELS — The European Commission on Friday said it found TikTok had not adequately protected children’s privacy rights on its platform by allowing adults to view the accounts of minors.
The action exposed children to cyberbullying, unwanted contact and predatory behavior, the commission said.
The investigation comes on the heels of back-to-back crackdowns on Big Tech by Brussels, which has led the world in regulating tech behemoths including Meta and Apple.
TikTok can now defend itself and reply to the findings.
If unsatisfied with the Chinese firm’s response, the commission could issue a so-called non-compliance decision and possible fine worth up to 6% of the company’s total annual revenue.
The 27-nation European Union found in February that TikTok had breached another aspect of its digital rule book with an “addictive design” of features such as autoplay and infinite scrolling that could harm the physical and mental health of users and minors especially.
What Trump’s new tariffs mean for you and the UK economy
Donald Trump has imposed new tariffs on 60 countries including the UK to replace the 10 per cent global levy that was set to expire on Friday.
The Supreme Court defeated previous attempts by the administration to impose aggressive trade policies in February, but Mr Trump was still able to introduce temporary tariffs for 150 days.
The fresh tariffs have been imposed over claims the countries have not done enough to enforce bans on items produced by forced labour.
This move from the US president could enable him to create a more durable framework of tariffs, imposed on the basis of a 1974 trade law.
His administration says the levies have been applied on these countries “for their failure to impose and effectively enforce a prohibition on the importation of goods produced with forced labour”. It claims this is based on investigations by the Office of the United States Trade Representative.
The UK exports more to the US than to any other single country. UK exports to the US were worth £66 billion in 2024, which was 17 per cent of all UK goods exports.
As before, the new tariff regime will impose a 10 per cent duty on goods imported from the UK to the US. This is paid for by the importer on the US side, but has a major knock-on effect on UK businesses as stateside demand drops.
But there will also be new product exemptions under the changes, which means they will work differently for some sectors than before.
Here’s what the new tariffs could mean for the UK:
How could this affect prices in the UK?
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Crucially, the US has carved out exemptions for whisky and medical products under the new tariff scheme.
Whisky producers have welcomed the change, with tariffs majorly hitting their US sales. The Scotch Whisky Association (SWA) calculated last year the industry was losing approximately £4 million per week due to tariffs.
Ian Duddy, international director at the Scotch Whisky Association, said: “The return of tariff-free trade for Scotch whisky in the US is welcome news for businesses on both sides of the Atlantic.
“As Scotch whisky’s most valuable global market, worth £933 million in 2025, the removal of tariffs provides greater confidence to invest, grow exports, and support jobs and communities across Scotland and the US.”
The current 10 per cent tariff will also be removed from medical equipment. With UK medical device exports to the US totalling over £115 million annually, a 10 per cent tax added an estimated £12 million in supply chain costs. Medicines were already exempt in the earlier round of tariffs.
As a result, UK consumers may benefit from both of these sectors reducing the prices of products over time, or at least increasing them less slowly, as a key pressure on them is removed.
But in both of these cases, the brunt of the economic impact was actually felt by those in the US. Higher tariffs on imports generally mean higher business costs for US importers, and higher prices for US consumers on imported products.
The impact that the Trump administration hopes this will have is not to raise major funds, but to change consumer behaviour in the US by boosting demand for American-made products.
While this might not have an immediate, pronounced impact for UK households, the decision by president Trump to make his tariffs permanent means businesses will need to factor in the costs and losses that arise from this.
UK physical goods exports to the US fell by 10.3 per cent from 2024 to 2025, from £66.5bn to £59.7bn – a loss of £6.8bn. Last year also saw the UK’s £8.5 billion goods trade surplus with the US in 2024 flip into a £957 million goods trade deficit in 2025.
Responding to the latest US tariffs, a government spokesperson said: “There is no change to the tariff rate facing UK businesses as a result of this announcement.
“The UK remains on a 10 per cent tariff rate and the preferential access secured under our agreement with the United States remains in place.
“We take forced labour very seriously and ensure that in global supply chains UK businesses are not complicit in forced labour and human rights violations.
“The US has recognised the steps the UK is taking, which is why there are no additional tariffs for the UK under this announcement.”
Commonwealth Games: NI boxers Jon McConnell and Kaci Rock put Love Island chance on hold
It could have been a very different summer for two members of Northern Ireland’s 12-strong boxing team.
Jon McConnell and Kaci Rock will compete in this year’s Commonwealth Games for the first time, but had progressed through the initial auditions for the latest series of Love Island before pulling out because the TV show clashes in timing with the Games.
McConnell, who competed at the recent World Boxing Cup in Brazil, will compete in the light-middleweight division and will face India’s Sumit Sumit on Monday, with Holy Trinity’s Rock in welterweight action against Niue’s Karen Te Ruki Pasene the following day.
Reality TV show Love Island, hosted by Maya Jama, has just completed its 13th series in Mallorca.
“I used to spend a lot of time watching Love Island with the team,” said 23-year-old McConnell.
“It was never really my idea at first, but Kaci mentioned it and said she’d put my name forward as well.
“I got through a few stages of the process but then I got selected for the Commonwealth Games.”