All posts tagged: pressure

Politics Home | Ed Davey Under Pressure To Raise Game As MPs Signal Leadership Tensions Aren’t Over

Politics Home | Ed Davey Under Pressure To Raise Game As MPs Signal Leadership Tensions Aren’t Over

Published by Sam Flores

Ed Davey is safe as Liberal Democrat leader for now, but some MPs still believe that a leadership challenge is inevitable (Alamy) 5 min read1 hr Ed Davey is fighting on as leader of the Liberal Democrats after a rumoured challenge fell flat. However, some of his MPs think a move against him has been delayed, not defeated for good. A routine meeting of Lib Dems parliamentarians on Tuesday evening attracted unusual levels of attention amid speculation that Davey’s leadership was under threat due to two frontbench MPs resigning from their positions in the last few weeks. However, the meeting largely went without any conflict and was widely described by MPs in attendance to PoliticsHome as a “damp squib” which did not result in a leadership vote. Lib Dem MPs who want a change of leadership aimed to get a quarter of MPs to sign a letter – equivalent to 18 signatories – and then a majority of MPs would need to vote against Davey in a confidence motion to pass and trigger a leadership contest. Last week, Charlie Maynard …

‘Girls aren’t supposed to be cocky’: Sophia Stel on the pressure of writing The Greatest Album Of All Time

‘Girls aren’t supposed to be cocky’: Sophia Stel on the pressure of writing The Greatest Album Of All Time

Published by Sam Flores

The first time Sophia Stel came to London, she slept outside in the freezing cold. The Vancouver songwriter had finished a live set last autumn, then gone out until 3am with her then crush, but when they returned to their Airbnb, they found that Stel’s manager had dead-bolted the door and fallen asleep. Stel plus crush looked for a hotel but ultimately had no choice but to kip on the doorstep. “We hadn’t spent that much time together and I got to see how she was in a stressful situation,” Stel says, smiling at the memory. “She kept her vibe up and tried to solve it – I knew I was so in love then.” A lot has changed in Stel’s life in the year since. She opened her business bank account as an artist, and that crush is now her girlfriend. “It’s a lot of change, but maybe because of my Sagittarius moon, I’m fine with it to an extent,” she says, only half-joking, when we meet at her publicist’s office in south London, …

Europe’s mass-market carmakers under ‘enormous pressure’, Volkswagen CEO says

Europe’s mass-market carmakers under ‘enormous pressure’, Volkswagen CEO says

Published by Sam Flores

PARIS, Oct 13 : Europe’s mass-market car industry is under “enormous pressure” from Chinese competition and a changing market, Volkswagen’s CEO Oliver Blume said on Tuesday, renewing calls for more flexible regulation and incentives to support local manufacturing. Speaking at an event alongside the Paris motor show, Blume said Volkswagen, Stellantis and Renault — which together account for more than 60 per cent of European car production — face growing pressure to produce affordable electric vehicles while keeping costs under control. “We cannot build our future on export profits alone. Our European businesses must be profitable, resilient and competitive,” he said. Blume is trying to drive through the biggest restructuring in Volkswagen’s history, including tens of thousands of job cuts and potential factory closures, in the face of union opposition. “We must secure Europe’s industrial base,” he said. Volkswagen, Stellantis and Renault are all using the show to present new EV models as European demand for the technology gathers pace, helped by higher fuel prices and a growing range of lower-cost vehicles. Chinese brands are …

UN Special Rapporteur says families of executed protesters in Iran subject to regime’s pressure

UN Special Rapporteur says families of executed protesters in Iran subject to regime’s pressure

Published by Sam Flores

Editor’s note: this story was translated from the original VOA Persian article. The U.N. Special Rapporteur on human rights in Iran says the consequences of the death penalty in the Islamic Republic are not limited to the person executed, as families face pressure and punishment, as well as restrictions on mourning the dead. Mai Sato made the comment Wednesday, referring to the execution of Alireza Sepahi, a protestor who was arrested last year and remained imprisoned until his death sentence was carried out on October 5. His family members say they were not allowed to transfer his body to Isfahan — where they are from — for burial. He was buried in Kashan, away from his family’s place of residence. The U.N. Special Rapporteur underscored that families of those sentenced to death in Iran face measures such as the regime forces’ refusal to hand over the body to the family, placing restrictions on the place of burial and mourning, depriving families of a last visit, and threats of arrest or prosecution. In a post on …

Iraq devalues dinar to ease economic pressure

Iraq devalues dinar to ease economic pressure

Published by Sam Flores

Washington —  Editor’s note: this story was translated from the original VOA Kurdish article. The Central Bank of Iraq announced that effective Wednesday it has changed the official exchange rate of the Iraqi dinar against the U.S. dollar, citing current economic and financial conditions and a recommendation from the country’s Council of Ministers. Under the new rates, the Central Bank will purchase U.S. dollars from the Ministry of Finance at 1,500 dinars per dollar and sell them to banks at 1,510 dinars. Banks will sell dollars to the public at 1,520 dinars. Before the decision, the official selling rate to the public was 1,320 dinars per dollar. The increase to 1,520 represents a significant devaluation of the Iraqi currency. The Central Bank said Iraq’s foreign currency reserves remain sufficient to meet demand, including financing foreign trade, the use of bank cards abroad and providing dollars to travelers. Mazhar Mohammed Salih, financial and economic adviser to the Iraqi prime minister, told VOA that the stability of the dinar depends largely on the availability of foreign currency …

Dolce & Gabbana mixes it up as pressure mounts for turnaround

Dolce & Gabbana mixes it up as pressure mounts for turnaround

Published by Sam Flores

Earlier this week Jennifer Lopez walked down the Vogue World catwalk in Milan wearing a black beaded A-line bustier dress from Dolce & Gabbana. On Saturday, she sat in the front row at the Italian house’s womenswear show in a three-piece velvet suit from the same brand, her look topped off with a baker-boy cap. The reminder of Dolce & Gabbana’s inimitable celebrity connection is no coincidence. In a turbulent luxury market, the brand has found itself trying to navigate a nearly £400m debt pile. In August, the company, embroiled in controversy over the years, reached an agreement with its banks that gave it until March 2028 to settle its debt. In exchange for the waiver, the brand must carry out a series of “extraordinary corporate transactions”, which reportedly include the sale of some of its properties. It is one of the few fashion houses that remains independent. Gucci and Bottega Veneta are owned by the French conglomerate Kering while Fendi has been absorbed by LVMH. Jennifer Lopez at the Dolce & Gabbana catwalk show …

Meet the smartwatch that puts medical-grade blood pressure monitoring on your wrist

Meet the smartwatch that puts medical-grade blood pressure monitoring on your wrist

Published by Sam Flores

Hypertension carries health risks, including heart attacks and strokes, but often slips through the cracks as it has no signs or symptoms, known as the “silent killer”. Smart tech can flag health issues early so we have greater awareness of what’s going on within our bodies. When it comes to health monitoring and measuring blood pressure, Huawei is at the forefront of that innovation with exciting new developments in its tech. What you might not know is that an inflatable cuff is the only clinically accepted method for taking your blood pressure. But many smartwatches use a different method: optical sensors that measure pulse waves and alert you to the fact that your blood pressure might be worth investigating. Huawei’s Watch D3 is an exciting watch that features a medical-grade inflatable air cuff that actually monitors your blood pressure while inflating against the wrist. This not only allows for accurate and reliable results, but also continuous data collection, which can monitor fluctuations caused by lifestyle changes, including stress or sleep. Instead of a snapshot, the …

Warning issued over common blood pressure medication | UK | News

Warning issued over common blood pressure medication | UK | News

Published by Sam Flores

A common blood pressure medication continues to have constrained availability until at least the end of October 2026. It comes following a recent update from the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC). Initially, it issued an alert on September 7, but the shortage continues and the most recent update is from September 22. At the moment, every strength of ramipril capsules – encompassing 1.25mg, 2.5mg, 5mg, and 10mg – is currently experiencing severely constrained availability. A statement on Community Pharmacy England reads: “Ramipril 1.25mg, 2.5mg, 5mg and 10mg capsules are in limited supply until the end of October 2026. Ramipril 1.25mg, 2.5mg, 5mg and 10mg tablets remain available but cannot support uplift in demand.” Those taking the drug throughout the UK are being advised to review their prescriptions well in advance. Healthcare authorities have confirmed that a significant supply disruption is anticipated to continue until at least the close of next month. Patients encountering problems are being encouraged to “speak to their pharmacy team”. To address the supply crisis, authorities have implemented emergency measures …

Pressure mounts on Carrick as Man United seek to halt slide at Fulham

Pressure mounts on Carrick as Man United seek to halt slide at Fulham

Published by Sam Flores

LONDON, Sept 17 : One month into the new Premier League season, excuses about bedding-in processes and newly assembled squads needing time to gel are wearing thin and for Manchester United there is an acute sense of urgency as the international break looms. United are by no means the only ‘big club’ enduring a faltering start to the campaign but after so much pre-season optimism, the spotlight has fallen very much on manager Michael Carrick ahead of Sunday’s trip to Fulham. Only one win in four league games, at home to promoted Ipswich Town, has been compounded by Wednesday’s League Cup exit at home to Brighton and Hove Albion having led 2-0. Another setback at Craven Cottage against a Fulham side without a league win so far would escalate the pressure on Carrick and deepen the sense that United’s season is in danger of drifting before it has properly begun. “Of course we can turn it around, we have got some really good players,” Carrick said after the 3-2 defeat by Brighton – the first …