Revealed: UK government was warned of infected blood risks in 1970s

An NHS blood bag. Photograph: NHS Blood and Transplant/PA

Documents show officials were told blood plasma harvested from US convicts was contaminated with viruses

Read more: the true story of the UK infected blood scandal; plus: ‘My mum gave the injections that killed my brothers’

Jon Ungoed-Thomas and Robin McKie

A commercial blood product at the centre of the biggest treatment scandal in the history of the NHS was approved for use after government officials were told convicts were among the paid donors and virus contamination “should be assumed”, corporate filings reveal.… Read the rest

Retaliatory spiral in Middle East must end, says UN chief after reported strikes on Iran

© WHO A young boy is treated by a mobile emergency clinic team in Northern Gaza.

Following reports of alleged Israeli strikes inside Iran near a nuclear power station early Friday, the UN Secretary-General António Guterres issued a new appeal to all parties to “stop the dangerous cycle of retaliation in the Middle East”.


“The Secretary-General condemns any act of retaliation and appeals to the international community to work together to prevent any further development that could lead to devastating consequences for the entire region and beyond,” he said in a statement issued by his Office.

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