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South Wales Argus
3 hours ago
- Entertainment
- South Wales Argus
Sporty Spice teams up with Red Rose to support grassroots girls' rugby
Music icon Melanie C has joined forces with England rugby international Natasha 'Mo' Hunt in a new campaign with Volvic, aiming to inspire the next generation of female rugby players. The unlikely duo met to discuss their careers, the importance of role models, and how sport can help build confidence and life skills in young girls. The partnership marks the launch of Volvic's Force of Nature Fund, which offers grants of up to £5,000 to grassroots rugby clubs and initiatives aimed at getting more girls into the game. The fund is part of Volvic's role as official water supplier for the Women's Rugby World Cup 2025. Backed by new research from YouGov, the campaign highlights that 87% of women believe team sports are crucial in helping young girls develop key life skills such as teamwork, leadership, and resilience. Yet the infrastructure is still lacking: while there are over 2,000 male-focused rugby clubs in the UK, there are only around 400 for women and girls. Mo Hunt, who earned her first England cap in 2011 and has become a standout figure in the women's game, hopes the fund will encourage more girls to pick up a rugby ball. 'We're entering a new era where more eyes are on women's rugby than ever,' she said. 'But participation is still a big concern. We need more girls getting involved at the grassroots level. That's why I'm buzzing to work with Volvic to support their initiative.' In the candid video interview, Hunt sits down with one of her earliest role models, Spice Girls star Melanie C, to talk about self-belief, preparation, and how inspiration can come from unexpected places. 'When I was little, there were very few female role models in sport,' said Hunt. 'But Sporty Spice was someone I could pin my hopes on—I wanted to be like her.' Melanie C, whose daughter is now 16, reflected on the progress made since her own childhood. 'It's exciting to see young girls saying, 'I want to be a rugby player,' and actually believing it's possible. When Mo told me I'd been an inspiration to her, it really hit home how much visibility matters.' Volvic hopes to channel its natural volcanic heritage into supporting these 'forces of nature' on the pitch. 'This summer is a pivotal moment for women's rugby,' said Rachel Hann, Category Director for Beverages at Danone, Volvic's parent company. 'Our Force of Nature Fund is designed to help build the infrastructure needed to sustain that momentum—from better facilities to more girls-only training sessions.' Sporty Spice, Mel C discusses being a role model with England Rugby star Natasha Hunt, supporting Volvic's Force of Nature Fund With 60% of women believing the 2025 World Cup will inspire more girls to play rugby, the fund aims to turn inspiration into action. Applications are now open to clubs and organisations across the UK. To apply or learn more, visit:
The National
4 hours ago
- Politics
- The National
Rowling and Ewing: Loud, proud, and missing the point
Today there are two tales of self-importance. JK Rowling, who came to fame and fortune as the author of derivative children's fiction, Billy Bunter on broomsticks, has in recent years set herself up as the arbiter of feminism, devoting herself to an all-consuming social media attack on trans people, cis gender women she suspects of being trans, and any woman who dares to espouse a form of feminism which is trans-inclusive. Thus it was that Rowling took to social media to attack The National as being "anti-woman". This newspaper is one of the very few publications which covers both sides in the heated and polarised debate about the trans issue, it has a female editor, a female assistant editor, has more female than male reporters, and has gender balance amongst its columnists and regular contributors. On International Women's Day last year, the entirety of The National, from the front page to the sports section, was written and produced by women. READ MORE: The abuse I've had just weeks into my journalism career is abhorrent No newspaper in Scotland comes close to The National in terms of female representation and in the breadth and depth of coverage of women's and LGBT issues. But because that means that The National gives space to opinions on the contentious trans issue which are at variance with those of JK Rowling, that makes The National "anti-woman" in her eyes. Trans exclusive feminists like Rowling lob accusations of misogyny about like the Israeli Government weaponizes accusations of antisemitism – as a tool to bully and silence those who dare to disagree with them. However, empirical evidence strongly suggests that they represent only a minority of women, and an even smaller minority of lesbians. (Image: LESLEY MARTIN)Despite her apparent belief to the contrary, JK Rowling does not get to be the sole judge of what constitutes valid feminism. There are very many women whose feminism has no problem with trans people. Indeed, most surveys find that a majority of lesbians, particularly younger lesbians, believe in a trans inclusive form of feminism and have no problem with admitting trans people into women's spaces. LGBT young people's charity Just Like Us commissioned a poll of 3,695 adults aged 18 to 25. The research found that young lesbians are the demographic most likely to agree that they are supportive or very supportive of trans people, rising to over 90% of respondents. These results were confirmed by a YouGov survey which found that cisgender lesbians and bisexual women in particular are likely to have positive feelings towards trans people, at 84%, including 66-68% who say they are 'very positive' towards trans people. YouGov says this finding mirrors national polling which shows that women are generally more likely to hold pro-trans views than men. But I suppose that JK Rowling would dismiss these lesbian feminists as being "anti-woman" too. We are now at the point in this so-called debate where anyone who doesn't express overt hostility to trans people is dismissed as a woman hating misogynist. READ MORE: 'Where's the dignity?': SNP minister hits out at Labour's 'damaging' welfare cuts Even Rowling's former friend and ally Stephen Fry has now spoken out against her, saying that she has become 'radicalised' and calling her views on trans people 'cruel' and 'mocking'. Rowling's gloating and knife twisting cigar selfie, published on social media when the UK Supreme Court ruled in favour of For Women Scotland, was a tipping point for many. Fry said he used to enjoy Rowling's company and admired her wit, but now feels her behaviour is no longer something he can excuse or overlook. He said: "She says things that are inflammatory, contemptuous, and mocking. It's a terribly distressing time for trans people, and her words only make it worse." Fergus Ewing stands as an independent Meanwhile, the intensely self-important right wing MSP Fergus Ewing has announced that he intends to stand as an independent in next year's Holyrood election. Ewing is one of those mediocre politicians who is permanently angry that the rest of the world does not accept his own estimation of his brilliance. READ MORE: SNP councillor succeeds in bid to force Labour action on Israeli arms sales Ewing owes his position to his family name and connections. Were it not for his belief in Scottish independence, he'd be perfectly happy in the Conservative party. His reactionary and right-wing views are deeply at variance with the mainstream SNP. Ewing has spoken out in favour of fracking. In 2015 the south Scotland SNP MSP, Joan McAlpine, complained to then-First Minister Nicola Sturgeon about Ewing's support for plans by the Duke of Buccleuch to mine coalbed methane at Canonbie in Dumfries and Galloway. (Image: PA)In 2018 he also tried to block Scottish Government moves to ban the pesticide Acetamiprid, which was categorised as a "Highly Hazardous Pesticide (HHP)" by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) in 2015. The chemical is highly toxic to birds and earthworms and moderately toxic to most aquatic organisms with a high potential for bioaccumulation. It has been blamed for killing bees and butterflies. It is widely used by the forestry industry and in attempting to block moves to ban it, Ewing was again demonstrating that he puts the commercial interests of businesses ahead of all other considerations. Ewing has served as an SNP MSP for the Inverness and Nairn constituency since 1999 and is seeking re-election for the seventh time. This time, he runs as an independent after he became estranged from the SNP when he refused to accept the very mild slap on the wrist punishment of suspension from the SNP group in Holyrood for a week, which he received for the political cardinal sin of voting against now-former Green minister Lorna Slater in a no-confidence motion in 2023. All that Ewing is likely to achieve is to split the pro-independence vote in the constituency and allow an anti-independence candidate to take the seat. But Fergus will always have his self-righteousness to comfort him. In an interview with the BBC today, Ewing said that politicians should start acting like grownups. Quite, Fergus. How about you going first?
The Guardian
7 hours ago
- Health
- The Guardian
One in three overdue for cervical cancer screening across UK
A third of people across the UK are overdue their cervical cancer screening, while in parts of England some are at greater risk of the disease than others due to a low uptake for the preventive vaccine, experts have warned. Since the coronavirus pandemic, cervical screening attendance rates have been steadily declining, from 72.2% in 2020 to 68.4% in 2024, NHS England data shows. A YouGov survey of 3,000 people across the UK eligible for cervical cancer screening, commissioned by Cancer Research UK, is in line with these findings, with 30% of respondents being overdue their screening. It also highlighted the main barriers people cited, with 42% of respondents finding cervical screening painful previously, 40% not wanting a man to carry out the screening test, and just under one in five (19%) of respondents saying they were too embarrassed to go for a screening. Of those who did not attend their screening, 16% of respondents said it was because they didn't have any symptoms, highlighting the misinformation still prevalent regarding cervical screening, which is for people without symptoms. Separate figures from the UK Heath Security Agency (UKHSA) have found that uptake of the HPV vaccine greatly varies by region, with girls in London by year 10 having the lowest uptake (64.9%) and girls in the south-east the highest (82.7%). Among boys of the same age, it was also lowest in London (58.9%) and highest in the south-east (77.3%). HPV refers to a group of viruses that can be transmitted through sexual contact and cause no symptoms. About 13 high-risk types of HPV are known to cause 99.7% of cervical cancers. Each year, about 3,200 women in the UK are diagnosed with cervical cancer and 850 die from it. It is the 14th most common cancer affecting women in Britain, with women aged 30 to 34 most likely to receive a diagnosis. Last year, NHS England pledged to wipe out cervical cancer by 2040. Globally, it is the fourth most common cancer in women, with about 660,000 new cases and 350,000 deaths every year, according to the World Health Organization. The disease develops when abnormal cells appear in the lining of the cervix and grow, eventually coming together as a tumour. If the cells are not caught early, the cancer can spread to other parts of the body. In June, NHS England said that women aged between 25 and 49 who test negative for HPV, meaning they are at very low risk of cervical cancer over the next 10 years, will safely be invited at five-year intervals instead of three. Fiona Osgun, Cancer Research UK's head of health information, said the declining rates were due to a combination of factors. Sign up to First Edition Our morning email breaks down the key stories of the day, telling you what's happening and why it matters after newsletter promotion 'We know that people have specific barriers to accessing screening; some of those are practical such as not being able to get an appointment at a time that works for them, but some are more specific to the test itself, such as finding the screening painful or being worried about who's going to be carrying out the test,' Osgun said. 'I think we have just seen a slow decline, which unfortunately can happen even with successful screening programmes. We need to continue to chip away at those misunderstandings and misconceptions some people have regarding cervical screening.' Osgun added that there were various measures people could ask for to make their cervical screening test more comfortable, such as asking for a double appointment or a different-sized speculum. Dr Amanda Doyle, national director for primary care and community services at NHS England, said: 'The NHS HPV vaccination programme has already helped save thousands of lives and we need to go further to boost uptake of HPV vaccines and cervical screening to help eliminate cervical cancer in England by 2040.'
LeMonde
7 hours ago
- Health
- LeMonde
British MPs approve assisted dying bill in historic step
Britain took a historic step in support of legalized euthanasia on Friday, June 20, when MPs backed contentious legislation that would introduce assisted dying for terminally ill people. After four hours of emotional debate, lawmakers in the House of Commons voted 314 in favor of the bill, and 291 against, thereby sending the proposal to the House of Lords for further scrutiny. The outcome sparked celebrations among supporters gathered outside parliament who say legalized euthanasia will give people with an incurable illness dignity and choice at the end of their lives. Opponents attending a neighboring counter-protest said they feared vulnerable people could be coerced into dying and urged lawmakers to focus on improving palliative care instead. The Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill would allow assisted suicide in England and Wales for adults who have been given less than six months to live. They would have to be able to administer the life-ending substance themselves, and any patient's wish to die would have to be signed off by two doctors and a panel of experts. A change in the law would see Britain emulate several other countries that allow some form of assisted dying in Europe and elsewhere, including Belgium and the Netherlands. Several changes In an initial vote last November, MPs backed the proposed legislation by 330 to 275 votes. Since then, the bill has undergone several changes, including a ban on ads for assisted dying and a clause to allow health workers to opt out of helping someone end their life. MPs in the 650-seat parliament also added a safeguard which would prevent a person being eligible "solely as a result of voluntarily stopping eating or drinking," ruling out people with anorexia. Britain's medical community and Prime Minister Keir Starmer's top ministerial team are split on the proposed law change, with health and justice secretaries publicly opposing it. But a YouGov poll of 2,003 adults surveyed last month and published on Thursday showed 73% of respondents backed an assisted dying law. The House of Lords now needs to approve the legislation before the end of the current parliamentary year, likely in the fall, or the bill will fail. If it passes and receives royal assent, it would still be four years before an assisted dying service is implemented. A government impact assessment published this month estimated that approximately 160 to 640 assisted deaths could take place in the first year, rising to a possible 4,500 in a decade. Assisted suicide currently carries a maximum prison sentence of 14 years in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Separate legislation is going through the devolved Scottish parliament. At the end of March, the Isle of Man became the first British territory to pass an assisted dying bill.
Yahoo
7 hours ago
- Health
- Yahoo
MPs vote for the Assisted Dying Bill after impassioned Commons debate
MPs have voted in favour of the Assisted Dying Bill after an impassioned debate in Parliament. The bill was passed with 314 votes in favour and 291 against - a majority of 23. The majority is smaller than that of a vote in November which was passed with 55 votes. The legislation will allow terminally ill adults in England and Wales with fewer than six months to live to apply for an assisted death. This is subject to approval by two doctors and a panel featuring a social worker, senior legal figure and psychiatrist. MPs were given a free vote on the bill, allowing them to decide according to their conscience rather than along party lines. Some MPs were visibly emotional as they left the chamber after the bill was passed. Others lined up to shake hands with Kim Leadbeater, the bill's sponsor through the Commons. A new YouGov poll of 2,003 adults in the UK suggested public support for the bill is at 73%. Four Labour MPs confirmed last night that they had switched sides to oppose the new law. Labour's Paul Foster, Jonathan Hinder, Markus Campbell-Savours and Kanishka Narayan wrote to fellow MPs to voice concerns about the safety of the proposed legislation. They branded it 'drastically weakened', citing the scrapping of the High Court Judge safeguard as a key reason. Opening a Commons debate on Friday, Bill sponsor Kim Leadbeater, said her proposed legislation is 'cogent' and 'workable', with 'one simple thread running through it - the need to correct the profound injustices of the status quo and to offer a compassionate and safe choice to terminally ill people who want to make it'. She shared emotional stories from people she had met throughout the campaign to legalise assisted dying, both bereaved and terminally ill. Pressed by Conservative former minister Simon Hoare on concerns raised about the Bill by some doctors and medical bodies including the Royal College of Psychiatrists, Ms Leadbeater said: 'We have different views in this House and different people in different professions have different views.' She has insisted the replacement of High Court judge approval with the multidisciplinary panels is a strengthening of the legislation, incorporating wider expert knowledge to assess assisted dying applications. Ahead of the debate, Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch urged her MPs to vote against the legislation, describing it as 'a bad Bill' despite being 'previously supportive of assisted suicide'. Writing in the Daily Mail, Tory MP Robert Jenrick made an emotional appeal against assisted dying. The Shadow Justice Secretary wrote about how his grandmother, Dorothy, continued to bring joy to the family as she defied a terminal diagnosis for nearly a decade. Saying the prospect of legalising assisted dying 'fills me with dread', he wrote: 'My Nana felt like she was a burden. I know how much she hated the indignity she felt at having to ask my Mum or us to help her with basic needs. 'People like her – and there are many such people – may consider an assisted death as another act of kindness to us. How wrong they would be.'
