The News Matrix: Wednesday 28 August 2013

BMA slams plan to charge foreigners

The British Medical Association has slammed plans to charge foreigners for using NHS Services. Doctors have warned that the proposals would mean every patient, including British nationals, would have to prove their identity when registering with a GP. MORE

Too much TV linked to low self-esteem

Watching too much TV causes children to have “lower self-esteem and lower levels of self-reported happiness”, according to Public Health England. Meanwhile, children who play computer games experience higher levels of emotional distress, anxiety and depression. MORE

Borrowing limit may go over $16.7 trillion

Treasury Secretary Jacob Lew has told Congress that the government will run out of money to pay its bills in mid-October unless lawmakers raise the country’s borrowing limit, which is capped at $16.7 trillion. Mr Lew said the government is running out of manoeuvres. MORE

Bertin gets down to business

David Cameron has appointed one of his most experienced advisers to the role of building relations between the Tory Party and businesses. The appointment of Gabby Bertin is seen as an attempt to limit Ed Miliband’s chances of gaining the level of support Tony Blair enjoyed from the sector. MORE

Food poisoning from burger topping

A food poisoning outbreak that caused more than 220 people to fall ill at Toronto’s Canadian National Exhibition was caused by a contaminated topping on burgers. Symptoms of the illness were first reported on 20 August.

Teenage mentor slams football stars

A former American football star said Premier League players don’t help disadvantaged youngsters enough. Cecil Martin has been recruited by London Mayor Boris Johnson to mentor the capital’s teenagers. MORE

Gaddafi’s son and spy chief go on trial

The late Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi’s son and his spy chief were charged yesterday with murder in relation to the 2011 civil war and are set to stand trial, said Libya’s general prosecutor. The trial of former intelligence chief Abdullah al-Senussi and Saif al-Islam Gaddafi will start on 19 September.

Briton’s bribery case confession on TV

A confession by a British corporate investigator held in connection with an alleged £320m bribery scandal at GlaxoSmithKline has been shown on Chinese state television. Peter Humphrey is a partner of ChinaWhys, a Shanghai-based risk management firm. Such confessions are common in China. MORE