Latest news with #Chest
Daily Record
6 days ago
- Sport
- Daily Record
Fundraisers club together to remember Stirling author and sports fan
Bridge of Allan Sports Club hosted a remembrance fundraiser event in honour of dedicated member Bert Mitchell, who sadly died of a stroke last April. His wife Arlene and daughter Ava put on a day to celebrate their beloved Bert and to ensure his legacy lives on at his club. The day boasted everything Mitchell enjoyed: sport, food and socialising. Ava said: 'With excellent cuisine thanks to the Secret Chef, everyone was kept happy with the vast selection of food options. 'A thanks needs to go to Louise from Chest, Heart and Stroke Scotland who said a couple of words on the day on the impact of strokes and how many people in the UK are affected. 'Approximately 100,000 people have a stroke each year in the UK. 'Stats like that put into perspective how important it is to raise money for causes like CHSS, to help ensure no-one is alone when going through a stroke.' The first exhibition of the afternoon was tennis, featuring Jonny O' Mara [Andy Murray's coach for his last year on court] and some of Stirling University's best players: Scott MacAulay, Matthew Earnshaw and Robert Cawley. Ava added: 'The match was a smashing success with people oohing and aahing at every shot. 'Everyone loved the raffle and it came to a point where tickets had to be created as they ran out. 'A huge thank you has to go to all the companies and brands who donated to us. 'These include: Whyler Photography, Adam Brown Tennis Academy, Paper Kisses, Malmaison, Hotel Du Vin, Game4Padel, Head Squash, Arran Sense of Scotland, Stirling Gin, Birds and the Bees and Graham's Dairy's, among others. 'The day was non-stop with a squash exhibition match starting at 5pm featuring John Meehan and Andrew Glen who are both Senior International players. 'This was a gripping match with both players dripping of sweat and it went to a fourth set. 'The level was high and points were long, with viewers turning their heads at each stroke. 'They certainly put on a good show.' The day fittingly concluded at the squash courts with the unveiling of a memorial plaque in honour of Bert Mitchell. It has been positioned between court 3 and 4. Court four is memorable for being 'Bert's court' - the one he loved to play on and booked regularly. Ava said: 'It felt right to conclude the day where my dad spent much of his time training on court. ' It was great to see so many people who knew my dad, supporting us on the day. 'I want to thank the local community for their help in advertising our event. 'A special thanks needs to go to Forrester Pyke, the local organist at Bridge of Allan Parish Church who put posters up in the church. 'It was great to have the support from so many.' Arlene and Ava have so far raised nearly £1500 on Justgiving - with further funds raised on the day seeing the total so far sitting at around £3500. The pair are hoping with further advertisement and encouragement they could get to £5000. Arlene said: 'It was a great day and everyone was so generous - but we are still keen to keep pushing. 'We want to reach £5000 for the charity. 'Any donations would mean a lot to us. 'Even £10 could make a difference to someone struggling with a stroke just now. 'Please help us reach our target to a well deserving cause which is close to many of our hearts.'
BBC News
29-04-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
'We're honoured to play Latitude,' say Suffolk and Norfolk acts
Independent artists from Suffolk and Norfolk have spoken of their excitement and disbelief after being selected to perform at this year's Latitude annual arts event, first hosted in 2006, will take place at Henham Park, near Southwold, Suffolk, from 24 to 27 line-up includes big-name headliners Sting, Fatboy Slim and Snow Patrol, as well as laugh-out-loud comedians like Bridget Christie, Greg Davies and Reggie artists Lottie Gray, Pozzy, Arthur Black and Chest will also take to the Alcove Stage, and Jazmine Banks and The Wild Hearts will play The Sunrise Arena, all having been selected to perform by either BBC Introducing and First Light Festival. Lottie Gray from Gorleston, Norfolk, started writing songs aged eight and considers Latitude her local festival. "I am so excited to be at Latitude because I have always wanted to play at Latitude and I am lucky enough to have been given the opportunity," the 21-year-old told the BBC."My whole family is going to come and watch. It's amazing and a big milestone for me. I can't wait."Expect upbeat, fun pop songs mixed with moody folky stuff, good songwriting and a great band." Singer Arthur Black, who is from Lowestoft, Suffolk, but based in Norwich, said she was "honoured" to be performing at the festival. "It is so exciting and there will be lots of emotion," she said."Our performances are quite open and raw and we are a bit rocky at times, too, so you can get your boogie on."It is super-special and quite surreal and I am really looking forward to it. It's such a great community [at Latitude] and going back to reality is strange." 'It's so important' Chest, a '90s grunge-inspired band from Norwich, thanked BBC Introducing for the impact it has had on the group's success so far."If it wasn't for BBC Introducing I don't think we would have got half the opportunities we have," said the group's guitarist, Stan. "It's so nice to come to a festival that is on such beautiful grounds and there's so much nice water around here."So, I am looking forward to getting in that when we get here - a pre-show dip." Grime and hip-hop artist Pozzy, from Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, said he was shocked when he was asked to take his blend of "raw, relatable lyricism and energy" to the event. Describing his reaction, he previously told BBC Introducing it was: "'"No way? Thank you so much."'That'll be sick; that'll be amazing. Let's do it.'"This year's event, run by Festival Republic, is expected to attract as many as 45,000 music fans. Follow Suffolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
New York Times
18-04-2025
- Health
- New York Times
Trump-Allied Prosecutor Sends Letters to Medical Journals Alleging Bias
A federal prosecutor has sent letters to at least three medical journals accusing them of political bias and asking a series of probing questions suggesting that the journals mislead readers, suppress opposing viewpoints and are inappropriately swayed by their funders. The letters were signed by Edward Martin Jr., a Republican activist serving as interim U.S. attorney in Washington, D.C. He has been criticized for using his office to target opponents of President Trump. Some scientists and doctors said they viewed the letters as a threat from the Trump administration that could have a chilling effect on what journals publish. The health secretary, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., has said he wants to prosecute medical journals, accusing them of lying to the public and colluding with pharmaceutical companies. One of the letters was sent to the journal Chest, published by the American College of Chest Physicians. The New York Times obtained a copy of the letter. The Times confirmed that at least two other publishers had received nearly identically worded letters, but those publishers would not speak publicly because they feared retribution from the Trump administration. In the letter to Chest, dated Monday, Mr. Martin wrote, 'It has been brought to my attention that more and more journals and publications like CHEST Journal are conceding that they are partisans in various scientific debates.' He demanded that the journal's publishers answer a series of questions by May 2. Do they accept submissions from 'competing viewpoints?' What do they do if the authors they published 'may have misled their readers?' Are they transparent about influence from 'supporters, funders, advertisers and others?' And he specifically singled out the National Institutes of Health, which funds some of the research the journals publish, asking about the agency's role 'in the development of submitted articles.' The prosecutor's inquiry amounts to 'blatant political intimidation of our medical journals,' Dr. Adam Gaffney, a pulmonologist and researcher in Massachusetts whose articles have been published in Chest, wrote on X. It was not clear how many journals had been targeted. Several prominent medical and science publishers said they had not received letters. Others declined requests for comment. News of the letters was earlier reported by MedPage Today, a medical news website. The U.S. attorney's office in Washington also declined to comment. Andrew Nixon, a spokesman for the Health and Human Services Department, declined to comment on whether Mr. Kennedy had any involvement. Laura DiMasi, a spokeswoman for the American College of Chest Physicians, confirmed that the organization had received the letter but declined an interview request. Most of what medical journals publish is highly technical, aimed at an audience of specialists. But they and the organizations that publish them have increasingly come under attack. Right-leaning sites like Breitbart have derided them as 'woke medical journals.' The Alliance Defending Freedom, a conservative Christian legal group, has been attacking the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, which publishes a journal and runs a variety of reproductive health programs. It has received federal funding for an effort to promote maternal health. The alliance recently urged the Trump administration to cut funding and investigate the group, saying it was pushing liberal ideas about diversity and gender. Several journals or their publishers have publicly opposed Mr. Trump. In January, the American Public Health Association, which publishes a journal, was among several groups that sued the Trump administration over a memo freezing federal funding. That policy that has now been rescinded, though the administration has since halted other funds. In March, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists called mass layoffs at H.H.S. an 'attack on public health.' In 2020, The New England Journal of Medicine published an editorial condemning Mr. Trump's response to the pandemic — the first time the journal had taken a position in an election in its 208-year history. The journal Nature endorsed Joseph R. Biden Jr. for president in the 2020 election and spoke out against a second Trump term during the 2024 election. Medical journals are afforded the same First Amendment protections as any other news media outlet. Kent Anderson, a consultant for scientific publishers who has written about conservative attacks on medical journals, said that Mr. Martin's inquiry could have a chilling effect among publishers. 'This is a fishing expedition from a U.S. attorney, and that makes people nervous,' Mr. Anderson said. 'It may make them think twice about an editorial about treating women who have a spontaneous abortion or about transgender teens dealing with a health issue, because it may make them think that somebody is going to knock on the door.' Mr. Kennedy had been nursing grievances about scientific journals for years. Medical and science publishers have long rejected article submissions that purport to show a link between vaccines and autism. (Dozens of studies have failed to establish such a link.) He said in a podcast interview last year that he would seek to prosecute medical journals under the federal anti-corruption statute. 'I'm going to litigate against you under the racketeering laws, under the general tort laws,' he said. 'I'm going to find a way to sue you unless you come up with a plan right now to show how you're going to start publishing real science and stop retracting the real science and publishing the fake pharmaceutical science by these phony industry mercenaries.' As examples, he pointed to two prominent journals, The New England Journal of Medicine and The Lancet, and the scientific publishing giant, Elsevier. Other top health officials in the Trump administration have also criticized the big scientific publishers. In a book published last year, Dr. Martin A. Makary, the new commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration, accused journal editorial boards of 'gate-keeping' and publishing only information that supports a 'groupthink narrative.' Before becoming director of the N.I.H., Dr. Jay Bhattacharya publicly chastised the editor in chief of a prominent journal, Science, claiming he had 'publicly denigrated scientists' who opposed Covid-era lockdowns. Dr. Bhattacharya was widely denounced by mainstream scientists during the pandemic for proposing that the virus should allowed to spread naturally through the population. Dr. Bhattacharya also co-founded a new journal pitched as an alternative to traditional scientific publishing. It has published contrarian views on Covid.
Washington Post
18-04-2025
- Health
- Washington Post
DOJ questions science journal about bias, triggering free speech concerns
Amid brewing conflict between scientists and the administration of President Donald Trump, the U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia sent an unusual letter this week to a scientific journal focused on diseases and medicine related to the chest, asking about its editorial policies. 'It has been brought to my attention that more and more journals like CHEST journal are conceding that they are partisans in various scientific debates,' U.S. Attorney Ed Martin wrote. In the letter, Martin said that he has been told some journals 'have a position for which they are advocating due to advertisement (under postal code) or sponsorship (under relevant fraud regulations).' Martin's letter states, 'The public has certain expectations and you have certain responsibilities.' It then poses questions about the journal's view of its role in protecting the public from misinformation, its publication of 'competing viewpoints' and its handling of allegations that authors have misled readers. Martin requested that the journal's editor in chief, Peter Mazzone, respond by May 2. Chest, an Illinois-based monthly journal published by the American College of Chest Physicians with a global circulation of more than 13,000 and more than 156,000 average monthly visits online, confirmed that it received the letter and was having it reviewed by legal counsel. 'Its content was posted online without our knowledge,' the journal said in a brief statement, declining to comment on the requests made by Martin in the letter. Free speech experts raised alarm over the letter. 'It's baffling that the chief federal prosecutor in the District of Columbia could send a letter like this,' said David Snyder, executive director of the nonpartisan, nonprofit First Amendment Coalition. 'I cannot imagine what purpose a letter like this would serve other than to chill freedom of expression.' 'The government has no authority under the First Amendment to regulate the editorial decisions of publications, and the letter suggests that's what Martin intends to do,' Snyder added. A spokesman for The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services declined to comment, referring questions to the office of the U.S. attorney. The Justice Department and Martin's office did not respond to requests for comment. The letter comes as the scientific community has raised alarm over Trump administration actions that have halted or disrupted research and science. Since Trump's inauguration on Jan. 20, funding from the National Institutes of Health has dropped by more than $3 billion compared with grants issued during the same period last year, according to a review of publicly available grant data as of late March. Universities that power research and innovation across the country fear losing billions in federal funding amid the administration's actions against elite institutions it views as bastions of 'woke' ideology and anti-Israel sentiment. And the White House budget draft for the Department of Health and Human Services calls for massive cuts to federal programs dealing with health and science. It's unclear whether similar letters have been sent to other journals. Three other major publishers of medical and scientific journals, including the New England Journal of Medicine and Health Affairs, said they had not received similar letters from Martin. Springer Nature, a large publisher of such journals, said there was no one available to comment when asked whether any of its publications had been contacted by Martin. 'When a U.S. Attorney wields the power of his office to target medical journals over their content, he isn't doing his job, let alone upholding his constitutional oath,' JT Morris, supervising senior attorney for the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression, said in a statement. 'These letters are just the latest in a pattern of Ed Martin sticking his nose in places where it doesn't belong, all in an effort to pursue speakers who express views he doesn't like,' he added. Martin has sent letters to critics of Elon Musk and the U.S. Supreme Court admonishing them for comments he viewed as threatening or bullying. Snyder said that he did not see 'any legal compulsion that would require [Chest] to respond.'
