Autism spectrum disorder: differences in social communication and a preference for predictability.
Professor Jason Arday has resigned from the University of Cambridge after the university has opened an investigation into new information about his academic qualifications and honorary appointments. Media reports have alleged plagiarism in his PhD and questioned several public claims about his achievements; Arday has said the scrutiny has taken a profound toll on him.
England is expanding its network of community mental health centres and dedicated mental health emergency departments to provide walk-in, same-day access closer to home. The plan aims to relieve pressure on A&Es and reduce crisis-point care, backed by 343 million pounds with sites planned to open this autumn and more by 2027.
A wave of SEND families are urging government action as reforms to the SEND system threaten to shift support into mainstream schools. Reports from The Mirror and BBC Business highlight widespread funding gaps, delayed diagnoses, and tribunal battles as families confront a system under strain.
A new CMS rule redefines medical frailty for Medicaid expansions, threatening to bar exemptions for some patients who are too sick to work. The guidance requires proof that conditions “significantly impair” work ability, potentially affecting many patients who rely on treatment while facing complex paperwork and renewal hurdles.
The military has reinstated flu vaccination requirements for recruits after a localized outbreak at Lackland Air Force Base in Texas has sickened hundreds. Officials say exemptions were granted earlier in the year, but ongoing cases and a recruit death have prompted renewed vaccination efforts across basic training.
England’s children’s mental health referrals have surpassed 1 million for 2024-25, a rise driven by anxiety and suspected autism. Wait times remain long, with more than 60,000 waiting over two years. The report calls for joined-up services across health, education and social care to meet demand.
Advocates warn that a shift of special education oversight from Education to Health and Human Services and a DOJ memo on Olmstead interpretation signal a broader push to roll back rights for people with disabilities. Critics describe the moves as a return to a medical model and a threat to integrated living and schooling.
The AI-driven shift is forcing brands to rethink online presence, with marketers stressing structured data and authentic content as AI search and recommendation engines gain influence. Firms are investing in content factories and cross-platform strategies as competition for visibility intensifies.
New Jersey has reported heat-related deaths since Thursday, primarily in central and northern areas. Officials say many victims were found in non-air-conditioned homes, with temperatures reaching unseasonably high levels across the region. Storms followed the heat, causing widespread power outages as downed wires and severed poles strain grids nationwide.
A sweeping Timms review finds the Personal Independence Payment not fit for purpose and not serving disabled people or taxpayers well. Interim proposals call for bold reform while spending on the benefit continues to rise, driven largely by mental-health related claims.
A U.S. appeals court has revived private lawsuits alleging a link between prenatal acetaminophen exposure and autism/ADHD, reversing a district court that had excluded expert testimony. The panel says the doctors’ methodologies reflect scientific disagreement and are admissible, returning the case to ongoing proceedings.
A U.S. FDA advisory panel is evaluating seven peptide injections for potential compounding by licensed pharmacies. The panel's votes and the FDA's stance reflect ongoing debates about safety, efficacy, and industry influence amid rising wellness interest in peptides.
Barack Obama has announced a speaking tour that will take him to Belfast, Glasgow and Manchester, in addition to previous stops in London and Dublin, to discuss what comes next for America and the world.
Measles cases in the U.S. have surged to 2,371 this year, the highest in years, prompting renewed calls for vaccination amid political and public health pressures. Outbreaks are intensifying in several states as officials warn that vaccination alone may not curb spread. Health Secretary Kennedy faces scrutiny over his vaccine stance while states push to bolster immunization programs.
Benjamin Lewis has pleaded guilty to religiously aggravated harassment and theft of lambs. Southampton Crown Court has detained him in hospital with restrictions after a pattern of killings, desecrations at churches and an NHS facility, and disturbing material found at his home. Multiple churches and a mental health facility were targeted, with deer heads and lambs left at sacral sites.
The university confirms Jason Arday has resigned amid ongoing investigations into his academic qualifications and honorary appointments. Cambridge will feed findings into a review of senior appointment processes, while other bodies weigh in on the broader implications for diversity and integrity in academia.
The executive order directs a downward revision of the U.S. childhood vaccine schedule to 11 core vaccines, with the MMR vaccine to be given as three separate shots. It also directs further investigation into exemption policies. Health officials warn that spacing out vaccines could raise the risk of disease, while critics say there is no scientific link between vaccines and autism.