Public research university in Lancaster, England, chartered in 1964
A wave of online cortisol folklore is meeting steady medical guidance. Doctors say cortisol misinfo has surged on social platforms, but expert reviews show cortisol is a vital hormone and alarm over it is often unfounded. Clinicians recommend cautious interpretation and trusting health professionals over quick fixes.
Parliament has convened for the first time under a five-year transitional framework after Bashar al-Assad’s ouster. The assembly includes appointees by President al-Sharaa and elected members, with debates over representation, a new constitution, and transitional justice shaping the agenda.
The United States has stated it will charge a 20% toll on all cargo transiting the Strait of Hormuz to fund security. Analysts say the plan faces legal, diplomatic, and practical hurdles and could reduce traffic through the waterway. Shipping groups condemn tolls on international waters. The proposal remains unproven and contentious.
In Australia, Pauline Hanson has faced swift criticism from domestic-violence experts and advocates after labelling domestic violence a “two-way street.” The comments are being challenged as harmful, with activists highlighting the dangers of victim-blaming and the gendered nature of abuse. The discourse expands across SBS, The Guardian and the BBC as politicians respond.
A Damascus criminal court has sentenced ousted president Bashar al‑Assad, his brother Maher and several senior former officials — including Atef Najib, who is in custody — to death for murders, torture and crimes against humanity committed during Syria’s 14‑year conflict. The rulings have been issued in absentia for Assad and Maher, who are in Russia.