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  • Couple Next Door writer reveals why he brought back creepy character

    Couple Next Door writer reveals why he brought back creepy character

    Subtle? The Couple Next Door doesn’t know her!

    Following his stroke, Alan was confined to a wheelchair and his now ex-wife Jean (Kate Robbins) also informed him that the police would be paying him a visit, which seemingly brought his story to a close.

    But ahead of season 2’s release, Allison said that he felt like there was “unfinished business” with Alan, who has since recovered from his health problems and is carrying out community service.

    “He’s [Dennis] said people come up to him in the street and say ‘We love how creepy you are,’ and we thought, ‘Is there something interesting we can do here?’” said the writer.

    “He does provide a kind of anchor to the street, he’s quite nosy, he wants to get involved in other people’s lives, so naturally he tends to insert himself into stories.”

    And we see that with Mia (Aggy K Adams), a mysterious nurse from Norway who moves into the house where Evie (Eleanor Tomlinson) and Pete (Alfred Enoch) used to live. But how he interacts with her might come as a surprise, said Dennis, who teased “redemption” for his character, who “hopes to turn out differently than expected”.

    “I’m good at noticing things and become aware of one new neighbour, wondering what’s going on in her life,” he added.

    Aggy K Adams as Mia. Channel 4

    But it’s not just Alan whose interest is piqued by Mia.

    Annabel Scholey’s Charlotte, a heart surgeon, and her husband Jacob (Sam Palladio), an anaesthetist, appear happily married, that is until she moves in next door and begins working at the same hospital.

    And with Charlotte’s ex Leo (Sendhil Ramamurthy) also back on the scene, you can expect plenty of fireworks in the show’s sophomore season.

    Read more:

    “Leo’s return sparks a change in Charlotte and Mia seizes the opportunity to work her way into Jacob and Charlotte’s confidence, their street, and eventually even their bed, befriending cul-de-sac outcast Alan (Hugh Dennis) along the way,” reads the official synopsis.

    “But it’s not long before Mia’s past comes back to haunt her, leading Charlotte and Jacob to question who she really is, especially when patients at the hospital start mysteriously dying.

    “One thing is clear – giving in to their desires could have deadly consequences.”

    The Couple Next Door season 2 will premiere on Channel 4 on Monday 14th July.

    Add The Couple Next Door to your watchlist on the Radio Times: What to Watch app – download now for daily TV recommendations, features and more.

    Check out more of our Drama coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what’s on. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.

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  • The Institute creators break down changes from Stephen King novel

    The Institute creators break down changes from Stephen King novel

    Not only have those behind The Institute adapted this tale for MGM+, though, but writer-producer Benjamin Cavell has revealed they made some big changes from the original novel: most notably focusing more on the character of ‘night knocker’ Tim Jamieson, played by Ben Barnes.

    “The book introduces the character of Tim for the first 70 pages, and then he disappears for the next several hundred pages until [Tim and the young adults in the Institute] meet,” Cavell explained.

    “And there was a real challenge. I mean, one of the big changes we made is that in the book, the town where he is night-knocking and sort of settling in and hiding out from his past is very removed from the Institute.

    “I mean, it’s hundreds and hundreds of miles away in a different state. It’s in South Carolina, and the Institute is in Maine. It felt to us as though we’re missing an opportunity to have him nearby.”

    Ben Barnes in The Institute. MGM+

    So, in an effort to bring Tim closer to the action, both his storyline and that of the young adults in the Institute take place in the same area, and come together far more quickly than in King’s book.

    But how did the author himself feel about the switch?

    “At first he wasn’t certain about the change, when we first pitched it to him, just because it’s such a departure,” Cavell admitted.

    “But we were able, Jack [Bender, director] and I, together we were able to sort of essentially show him why it’s not the departure that it feels like, and it’s actually just in some way amplifying what’s already there in the book.

    “Michael Wright from MGM always says that they’re like two trains on a track and they’re just, you know, they’re kind of inexorably coming together.

    “And that is, I think, helped by having Tim nearby, having Tim start to understand that something untoward is taking place at the Institute.”

    That isn’t the only major change, however, with Cavell and Bender deciding to cast older stars as the young adults in the Institute – including newcomer Joe Freeman, son of Martin.

    “We luckily found actors who were just a little bit older, starting with Joe Freeman, who’s a genius find for his first show, he does a remarkable job, as do our other kids,” Bender explained.

    “The goal in casting slightly older kids was… we didn’t want to do a sadistic show, because these kids go through torture, right?

    “But I will say that Ben’s and my approach to this has always been, let’s make this a little bit more of a dark ink version… Let’s make this a little more edgy.”

    The Institute is now showing on MGM+.

    Add The Institute to your watchlist on the Radio Times: What to Watch app – download now for daily TV recommendations, features and more.

    Check out more of our Sci-Fi coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guideto find out what’s on. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.

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  • Mohsin Naqvi condemns India’s human rights violations on Kashmir Martyrs’ Day – Pakistan

    Mohsin Naqvi condemns India’s human rights violations on Kashmir Martyrs’ Day – Pakistan

    In a strong message on Kashmir Martyrs’ Day, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi condemned India’s obstinacy and human rights violations in occupied Kashmir.

    He highlighted that the mediation offer by US President Donald Trump had the potential to open a path to peace, but India’s refusal demonstrated its aggressive mindset.

    Naqvi paid homage to the 22 Kashmiri martyrs who sacrificed their lives on July 13, 1931, in respect of the call to prayer, emphasising that their legacy continues to fuel the freedom movement.

    He characterised this date as a pivotal moment against tyranny, stating that the violence of the Dogra Raj and current Indian oppression are merely different expressions of the same injustices.

    The minister noted that beliefs, identity, and opinions in occupied Kashmir are being stifled by state power, equating this repression with a violation of human dignity.

    He criticised the Modi government for perpetuating suffering on Kashmiris similar to that of the Dogra regime.

    Naqvi asserted that the cry for freedom from Kashmiris cannot be silenced by any force.

    He reaffirmed that Pakistan stands as the protector and advocate for the Kashmiris’ right to self-determination, pledging ongoing political, diplomatic, and moral support for their cause.

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  • US aid cuts halt HIV vaccine research in South Africa, with global impact

    US aid cuts halt HIV vaccine research in South Africa, with global impact

    JOHANNESBURG — Just a week had remained before scientists in South Africa were to begin clinical trials of an HIV vaccine, and hopes were high for another step toward limiting one of history’s deadliest pandemics. Then the email arrived.

    Stop all work, it said. The United States under the Trump administration was withdrawing all its funding.

    The news devastated the researchers, who live and work in a region where more people live with HIV than anywhere else in the world. Their research project, called BRILLIANT, was meant to be the latest to draw on the region’s genetic diversity and deep expertise in the hope of benefiting people everywhere.

    But the $46 million from the U.S. for the project was disappearing, part of the dismantling of foreign aid by the world’s biggest donor earlier this year as President Donald Trump announced a focus on priorities at home.

    South Africa has been hit especially hard because of Trump’s baseless claims about the targeting of the country’s white Afrikaner minority. The country had been receiving about $400 million a year via USAID and the HIV-focused PEPFAR.

    Now that’s gone.

    Glenda Grey, who heads the Brilliant program, said the African continent has been vital to the development of HIV medication, and the U.S. cuts threaten its capability to do such work in the future.

    Significant advances have included clinical trials for lenacapavir, the world’s only twice-a-year shot to prevent HIV, recently approved for use by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. One study to show its efficacy involved young South Africans.

    “We do the trials better, faster and cheaper than anywhere else in the world, and so without South Africa as part of these programs, the world, in my opinion, is much poorer,” Gray said.

    She noted that during the urgency of the COVID-19 pandemic, South Africa played a crucial role by testing the Johnson & Johnson and Novavax vaccines, and South African scientists’ genomic surveillance led to the identification of an important variant.

    A team of researchers at the University of the Witwatersrand has been part of the unit developing the HIV vaccines for the trials.

    Inside the Wits laboratory, technician Nozipho Mlotshwa was among the young people in white gowns working on samples, but she may soon be out of a job.

    Her position is grant-funded. She uses her salary to support her family and fund her studies in a country where youth unemployment hovers around 46%.

    “It’s very sad and devastating, honestly,” she said of the U.S. cuts and overall uncertainty. “We’ll also miss out collaborating with other scientists across the continent.”

    Professor Abdullah Ely leads the team of researchers. He said the work had promising results indicating that the vaccines were producing an immune response.

    But now that momentum, he said, has “all kind of had to come to a halt.”

    The BRILLIANT program is scrambling to find money to save the project. The purchase of key equipment has stopped. South Africa’s health department says about 100 researchers for that program and others related to HIV have been laid off. Funding for postdoctoral students involved in experiments for the projects is at risk.

    South Africa’s government has estimated that universities and science councils could lose about $107 million in U.S. research funding over the next five years due to the aid cuts, which affect not only work on HIV but also tuberculosis — another disease with a high number of cases in the country.

    South Africa’s government has said it will be very difficult to find funding to replace the U.S. support.

    And now the number of HIV infections will grow. Medication is more difficult to obtain. At least 8,000 health workers in South Africa’s HIV program have already been laid off, the government has said. Also gone are the data collectors who tracked patients and their care, as well as HIV counselors who could reach vulnerable patients in rural communities.

    For researchers, Universities South Africa, an umbrella body, has applied to the national treasury for over $110 million for projects at some of the largest schools.

    During a visit to South Africa in June, UNAIDS executive director Winnie Byanyima was well aware of the stakes, and the lives at risk, as research and health care struggle in South Africa and across Africa at large.

    Other countries that were highly dependent on U.S. funding including Zambia, Nigeria, Burundi and Ivory Coast are already increasing their own resources, she said.

    “But let’s be clear, what they are putting down will not be funding in the same way that the American resources were funding,” Byanyima said.

    ___

    Associated Press writer Michelle Gumede in Johannesburg contributed to this report.

    ___

    For more on Africa and development: https://apnews.com/hub/africa-pulse

    The Associated Press receives financial support for global health and development coverage in Africa from the Gates Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content. Find AP’s standards for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at AP.org.

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  • Is UAE crypto-ready? How you can now buy property and book flights using cryptocurrency – The Times of India

    1. Is UAE crypto-ready? How you can now buy property and book flights using cryptocurrency  The Times of India
    2. Dubai’s Emirates signs preliminary deal to add crypto to payments  Reuters
    3. LET Mining: The application of cryptocurrency will make your travel more convenient, let cloud mining pay for you  GlobeNewswire
    4. No crypto? No problem: Here’s how UAE residents can still pay using digital currencies  Gulf News
    5. Dubai, Emirates Airlines Embrace Cryptocurrency: New Payment Option To Transform Travel Experience For Tech-Savvy Travelers  Travel And Tour World

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  • World’s Biggest Camera May Find 50 Interstellar Objects, Scientists Say

    World’s Biggest Camera May Find 50 Interstellar Objects, Scientists Say

    The new Vera C. Rubin Observatory detected interstellar object 3I/ATLAS and may detect up to 50 more during its 10-year mission, according to a new model.

    The observatory in Chile, which unveiled its first images last month, is equipped with a unique view of the night sky, supported by the world’s largest camera.

    What Is The Vera C. Rubin Observatory?

    A new survey telescope in Chile, the Rubin Observatory, looks set to become astronomy’s most ambitious and productive eye on the sky ever made. It will begin a 10-year mission later this year, during which it’s expected to discover 10 million supernovas, 20 billion galaxies, and millions of asteroids and comets.

    About the size of a car, Rubin’s $168 million LSSTCam imager — the most sensitive optical device ever made — weighs over three tons and captures 3,200-megapixel images. Every image is big enough to fill 378 4K screens. It took 10 years to manufacture, features six optical filters, and, crucially, has a 9.6 square-degree field of view — it can see a large portion of the sky at once.

    What Is 3I/ATLAS?

    Discovered on July 1, 2025, by the ATLAS telescope network at El Sauce Observatory in Chile and thought to be around 12 miles (20 kilometers) in diameter, 3I/ATLAS’s eccentric trajectory suggests that it’s from outside the solar system. The third interstellar object ever to be found after ‘Oumuamua in 2017 and a comet called 2I/Borisov in 2019, 3I/ATLAS could be three billion years older than the solar system — the oldest comet ever seen. It could even be up to 14 billion years old, according to Matthew Hopkins, an astronomer at the University of Oxford, who spoke on July 11 at the Royal Astronomical Society’s National Astronomy Meeting in Durham, U.K., about a new model, the Ōtautahi–Oxford Model, that simulates the properties of interstellar objects based on their orbits and likely stellar origins.

    Why Rubin Will Find Interstellar Objects

    The next interstellar object to enter the solar system is likely to be discovered by the Rubin telescope. Objets such as 3I/ATLAS are incredibly faint when they are far from the sun, but Rubin’s wide field and large aperture make it ideal for finding interstellar objects. “Rubin’s speed means it also scans 18,000 square degrees every few nights,” said Bob Blum, Director of Rubin Observatory Operations, in an email. “The combination of depth, field of view, and speed is ideal for finding rare objects.”

    With all of this in its favor, Rubin is expected to find any interstellar objects sooner than other facilities because it will detect them when they’re farther away. “We expect Rubin will be able to find at least multiple 10’s of these rare interlopers over the course of its 10-year survey,” said Bloom.

    It’s already begun its work, with Rubin’s team locating 3I/ATLAS in test images taken since early June and now studying the object in the night sky.

    A Surprising Discovery

    For astronomers working on how to best detect interstellar objects, the sudden arrival of 3I/ATLAS took them by surprise — just as they were preparing to begin using the Rubin Observatory. “The solar system science community was already excited about the potential discoveries Rubin will make in the next 10 years, including an unprecedented number of interstellar objects,” said co-researcher Dr Rosemary Dorsey of the University of Helsinki. “The discovery of 3I suggests that prospects for Rubin may now be more optimistic; we may find about 50 objects, of which some would be similar in size to 3I.”

    Wishing you clear skies and wide eyes.

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  • Over 60? Add these 5 anti-aging exercises to your routine to build muscle mass and increase bone density

    Over 60? Add these 5 anti-aging exercises to your routine to build muscle mass and increase bone density

    As we age, strength training, also referred to as resistance training, becomes more important than ever. It can slow down the effects of aging on the body, help increase muscle mass and bone density, and reduce the risk of falls. But if you’re a beginner, which are the best exercises to focus on?

    To help you get started, below, we’ve rounded up the five best anti-aging exercises to add to your routine.

    Remember, if you’re a complete beginner or you’re returning to exercise following an injury, it’s always a good idea to check in with a medical professional before taking on a new workout routine.

    5 best anti-aging exercises

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  • SANZAAR Teams Announced for World Rugby U20 Championship Semi-Finals

    SANZAAR Teams Announced for World Rugby U20 Championship Semi-Finals

    Round 3 in Italy Argentina, New Zealand and South Africa qualified for the semi-finals. Australia’s loss to England means they play in the 5th place semi-finals. New Zealand and South Africa qualified as pool winners with Argentina qualifying as the best second-placed team in the three pools. 

    South Africa versus Argentina – Stadio Luigi Zaffanella, Viadana

    New Zealand versus France – Stadio Luigi Zaffanella, Viadana

    Australia v Italy [5th place semi-finals] – Payanini Center, Verona

    Where is it?

    Rugby’s future stars will play matches across four cities in the Lombardia and Veneto regions of Italy – Calvisano, Rovigo, Verona and Viadana.

    What are the dates?

    The tournament runs from 29 June up to the final on 19 July.

    [Matchday 1: Sunday, 29 June]

    [Matchday 2: Friday, 4 July]

    [Matchday 3: Wednesday, 9 July]

    Matchday 4: Monday, 14 July – Semi-Finals and Qualifying Finals

    Matchday 5: Saturday, 19 July

     

    Click HERE for the World Rugby U20 official tournament website

     

    The New Zealand Under 20 will face France in the semi-finals of the World Rugby U20 Championship.

    The clash is a rematch of last year’s semi-final, where France claimed a 55–31 victory. Four players from that match, Stanley Solomon, Rico Simpson, Dylan Pledger and Mosese Bason, have been named in the starting line-up and will be eager to turn the tables this time around.

    There are two changes to the team that defeated Ireland in the final round of pool play. Rico Simpson shifts from fullback to first five-eighth, with Stanley Solomon moving into the 15 jersey.

    Up front, prop Sika Pole and lock Xavier Treacy retain their starting spots, continuing their streak of starting every match for New Zealand in 2025.

    New Zealand Under 20 versus France:

    1. Sika Pole, 2. ⁠Manumaua Letiu (c), 3. ⁠Robson Faleafā, 4. ⁠Xavier Treacy, 5. ⁠Jayden Sa, 6. ⁠Finn McLeod, 7. ⁠Caleb Woodley, 8. ⁠Mosese Bason (vc), 9. ⁠Dylan Pledger (vc), 10. ⁠Rico Simpson, 11. ⁠Maloni Kunawave, 12. ⁠Jack Wiseman, 13. ⁠Cooper Roberts, 14. ⁠Frank Vaenuku, 15. ⁠Stanley Solomon.

    Replacements: 16. ⁠Eli Oudenryn, 17. ⁠Israel Time, 18. ⁠Dane Johnston, 19. ⁠Aisake Vakasiuola, 20. ⁠Micah Fale, 21. ⁠Jai Tamati, 22. ⁠Tayne Harvey, 23. ⁠Harlyn Saunoa.

     

    After making a few rotational changes for their last Pool A match against Scotland, which the Junior Springboks won by 73-14 in Calvisano, Foote has selected mainly the same combination that defeated Australia and England in their first two group games.

     

    For Monday’s important knockout match with Los Pumitas, Demitre Erasmus is back at outside centre after missing the England clash due to illness and coming off the bench against Scotland.

     

    Jaco Williams is retained at left wing for his second start in a row since replacing Siya Ndlozi, who returned home with a hamstring injury sustained against England.

     

    The Junior Bok pack remains the same as the combination that faced Australia and England, with Norton leading a starting team that have impressed with their physicality and ability to create plenty of scoring opportunities with their speedy outside backs.

     

    However, Foote has opted for six forwards and two backs on the bench for the semi-final in a bid to use their explosive forwards and attack the Argentina pack, with No 8 Stephanus Linde now the extra forward among the replacements.

     

    Foote said it was a tough task to select the team to face Argentina: “It was so difficult to leave out anybody because the players did so well against Scotland. My message to those who weren’t selected for the match-23 is to help us prepare the starting team as best as we can.”

     

    According to Foote, Argentina’s forward prowess will be a huge test for the SA U20s, which is one of the reasons why he has decided to go with a six-two split on the bench.

     

    “The Argentineans are very confrontational and physical, and they play with lots of passion,” he said. “We know we are in for a fight which is why we went for six forwards on the bench, because we have so much respect for them.”

     

    Junior Springboks team to play Argentina:

     

    15 Gilermo Mentoe, 14 Cheswill Jooste, 13 Demitre Erasmus, 12 Albie Bester, 11 Jaco Williams, 10 Vusi Moyo, 9 Haashim Pead, 8 Wandile Mlaba, 7 Bathobele Hlekani, 6 Xola Nyali, 5 JJ Theron, 4 Riley Norton (captain), 3 Herman Lubbe, 2 Siphosethu Mnebelele, 1 Simphiwe Ngobese

    Replacements: 16 Jaundré Schoeman, 17 Oliver Reid, 18 Jean Erasmus, 19 Jaco Grobbelaar, 20 Matt Romao, 21 Ceano Everson, 22 Dominic Malgas, 23 Stephanus Linde

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  • Neurodiversity festival in Exeter born from ‘passion project’

    Neurodiversity festival in Exeter born from ‘passion project’

    A mother with autism and ADHD has worked with an art venue to put together a festival celebrating neurodiversity in Devon.

    Emily Way-Evans, who was diagnosed with the conditions two years ago at 38, said the Kaleidoscopic Minds Festival of Neurodiversity in Exeter was a “passion project” for her.

    The event is on from 11:00 to 16:00 BST at Exeter Phoenix.

    Organisers said it featured workshops, a family disco and various activities for neurodivergent people and families.

    Ms Way-Evans, who has two neurodivergent children, said she “wanted to create an event which is for families like mine… to feel welcome and understood and just to kind of relax and have a nice day”.

    “The hope is that people will take something from it, whether it’s a feeling of connection, maybe some tools and strategies, information,” she said.

    The “pay what you can” event would see local neurodivergent charities on site, such as Dimensions for Autism, to offer resources to attendees.

    Ms Way-Evans said people could “book a free ticket if you need to, otherwise it’s £5 or £10”.

    “The lovely team at the Phoenix have kind of allowed me to create it and they’ve helped me make it happen,” she said

    “It’s for all ages and everyone’s welcome.”

    There are movement and writing workshops, art and printing workshops aimed specifically for people with disabilities, guidance on regulation techniques and a family rave.

    There will also be ear defenders available for those who need them, as well as two regulation areas, a play room and a sensory garden.

    Ms Way-Evans said: “I’ve done as much as I can to design it specifically for neurodivergent people based on my experience… and I’ve tried to think of everything but if there’s anything I’ve missed I would really love to know.

    “I have put a lot of effort into it, and it’s been a bit of a passion project for me, it’s obviously very close to my heart.”

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  • Why baby formula is in Knowsley Council’s sights for advert ban

    Why baby formula is in Knowsley Council’s sights for advert ban

    Lynette Horsburgh

    BBC News, Merseyside

    PA Media Bottle filled half-filled with baby milk formula with baby sat in a high chair out of focus in the background. PA Media

    The World Health Organization recommends breastfeeding until at least six months

    A council is set to restrict advertising of baby formula and baby foods sold in jars and pouches on sites it owns.

    Knowsley Council said the move was part of its plans to prevent the marketing of “health harming or misleading products”.

    A report prepared for the Merseyside council’s cabinet on Wednesday said infant formula was often marketed in such a way that it suggests “its benefits outweigh breastfeeding”.

    It comes after the authority announced last year it would restrict adverts for unhealthy food on its sites as part of its strategy to tackle its obesity rates, which according to NHS data is among the highest in England.

    The World Health Organization and Unicef recommend exclusive breastfeeding until six months as best practice and continued breastfeeding alongside solid foods until a child is at least two years old.

    In the UK there are restrictions on advertising infant formula for babies under six months but companies are able to advertise follow-on milks.

    The council report proposes to add restrictions on advertising baby formula and baby foods to its Healthier Advertising Policy introduced in January 2024.

    It said the move would “align” with the aims of the authority’s breastfeeding strategy.

    The document said: “Infant formula is often marketed in such a way it suggests its benefits outweigh breastfeeding or simply using cows’ milk after the age of one.”

    “The marketing and packaging of these products can be misleading and undermines public health messaging for breastfeeding, widening health inequalities particularly for those on lower incomes,” it added.

    Baby products on display at a shop

    Knowsley Council says formula and baby pouches are marketed as “healthier or better” than breastfeeding or homemade food

    The report said baby foods – usually sold in packets, jars or pouches – were also marketed in such a way “they appear to be healthier and better for the child than fresh foods prepared at home or used in raw form”.

    It said the so-called “health halos” such as “organic” or “supports with hand to mouth co-ordination” undermined the use of non-processed foods instead.

    The report said they were “often less nutritious” than preparing food at home and were advertised as suitable for babies from four months, “directly contravening global health guidance for weaning at six months”.

    A BBC investigation in April found parents had been “misled” by marketing of baby food pouches which were often lacking key ingredients.

    In response, the Department of Health said there were existing laws to ensure the safety and quality of baby food and it was “committed to tackling the childhood obesity crisis and improving children’s health through our Plan for Change”.

    The Knowsley Council report also proposed restricting advertising payday and high interest loans.

    It said they were “damaging to financial wellbeing” and “trapping people into a cycle of unaffordable debt” which “can lead to severe mental health impacts”.

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