The News Agents

• Special report: A scandal 'bigger than Thalidomide'

  It has now been more than a year since plans for a compensation scheme were laid out for those affected by the sodium valproate scandal - and it is a state failure that stretches back decades.Sodium valproate is an effective treatment for epilepsy, but it has been linked to lifelong disabilities in around 20,000 babies born since the 1970s whose mothers were prescribed the drug while they were pregnant. Many were not properly warned of the risks, and a 2020 review concluded that thousands of mothers and babies had been exposed to "avoidable harm".In opposition, Labour said that financial redress for victims was "desperately needed" - so why has nothing happened since the party took office? And how much longer will those families be forced to wait?In a special report, Lewis talks to the families affected, including one for The News Agents not far from home.Editor: Tom HughesExecutive Producer: Louis DegenhardtProducer: Natalie IndgeDigital Editor: Michaela WaltersSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellVideo Production: Rory Symon, Shane Fennelly & Arvind BadewalDigital Journalist: Michael BaggsDon’t forget you can also subscribe to our other News Agents podcasts via the link below:https://linktr.ee/thenewsagentsThe News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/EXCLUSIVE NordVPN Deal https://nordvpn.com/thenewsagents Try it risk-free now with a 30-day money-back guarantee

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• Weekend Edition - The Sports Agents

  This week on The Sports Agents...First up, an exclusive interview with the most important man in English rugby union, Bill Sweeney, CEO of the RFU. He faces a vote of no confidence next week after accepting a £350,000 bonus, taking his pay to £1.1m, when clubs are going bust, redundancies have been made and the community game is crying out for help (02:30). Newcastle legend Alan Shearer celebrated with Gabby (and Sam Fender) as they won their first domestic trophy in 70 years (13:30).And we talked about Lewis Hamilton's back seat driver and a big win for Lando Norris at Formula One's opening weekend with one of the world's most decorated female racing drivers and Sky Sports F1 Analyst, Jamie Chadwick (20:30). Got a question for The Sports Agents - email us at [email protected] New episodes every Tuesday and Thursday.

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• Kemi crashes Net Zero. Will Starmer be next?

  In dramatic fashion, The Sun reports that a leaked government memo claims that the UK's race to reduce carbon emissions could trigger a financial crash. Kemi Badenoch also ditched her party's commitment to net zero by 2050 this week, insisting that the target was now "impossible". So if the cross party consensus on Britain's climate targets are over - could Starmer's so far steadfast commitment to the green revolution come under pressure?Later, as Steve Bannon suggests a plan is being cooked up that would see Donald Trump running for a THIRD presidential term, what would it mean for American democracy - and what would it mean for JD Vance, the Vice President already taking up pole position as the MAGA successor?Editor: Tom HughesExecutive Producer: Louis DegenhardtProducer: Natalie IndgeDigital Editor: Michaela WaltersSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellVideo Production: Rory Symon, Shane Fennelly & Arvind BadewalDigital Journalist: Michael BaggsDon’t forget you can also subscribe to our other News Agents podcasts via the link below:https://linktr.ee/thenewsagentsThe News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/EXCLUSIVE NordVPN Deal https://nordvpn.com/thenewsagents Try it risk-free now with a 30-day money-back guarantee

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• Why has “Adolescence” touched such a nerve?

  It seems that everyone is talking about the Netflix hit drama 'Adolescence'. It has been viewed 24 million times in just a few days, and is topping the chart in the UK. It deals with raw teenage toxic masculinity - and it’s hit a nerve. Even the prime minister is watching it. As Gareth Southgate warns of the dangers to and from young men who’ve got tangled up in Andrew Tates world we ask why it’s suddenly become a talking point? Later, is Trump being played by Putin? Is he bright enough to even know? And does driving a Tesla make you “a nazi twat“?Editor: Tom HughesExecutive Producer: Louis DegenhardtProducer: Natalie IndgeDigital Editor: Michaela WaltersSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellVideo Production: Rory Symon, Shane Fennelly & Arvind BadewalDigital Journalist: Michael BaggsDon’t forget you can also subscribe to our other News Agents podcasts via the link below:https://linktr.ee/thenewsagentsThe News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/EXCLUSIVE NordVPN Deal https://nordvpn.com/thenewsagents Try it risk-free now with a 30-day money-back guarantee

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• Trump and Putin’s crucial phone call

  Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin spoke for an hour and a half today - could they bring the Ukraine conflict and closer to a sustainable peace? Or is the Russian president only interested in carving up Ukraine and taking the West for a ride?While a ceasefire in Ukraine does appear to be edging ever so slightly closer, the fragile cessation in Gaza collapsed overnight. More than 400 Gazans were killed, according to the Hamas-run health ministry, as Israel launched a series of airstrikes on the strip. The White House confirmed that Washington had been consulted on the offensive. Trump's press secretary told reporters that: "All those who seek to terrorise not just Israel but the US, will see a price to pay, and all hell will break loose." Is Trump giving Benjamin Netanyahu licence to act with impunity in Gaza? And why is the British government contradicting itself on whether Israel is committing war crimes?Later, Labour MPs have spent the afternoon voicing their unease at the welfare changes outline today by work and pensions secretary Liz Kendall. How much trouble is actually building on the backbenches?Editor: Tom HughesExecutive Producer: Louis DegenhardtProducer: Natalie IndgeDigital Editor: Michaela WaltersSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellVideo Production: Rory Symon, Shane Fennelly & Arvind BadewalDigital Journalist: Michael BaggsDon’t forget you can also subscribe to our other News Agents podcasts via the link below:https://linktr.ee/thenewsagentsThe News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/EXCLUSIVE NordVPN Deal https://nordvpn.com/thenewsagents Try it risk-free now with a 30-day money-back guarantee

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