Author: Andrew Rogers

A new study by Pesticide Action Network Europe (PAN) has found widespread contamination of cereal products across Europe with trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) — a toxic “forever chemical” created when pesticides containing PFAS break down in soil. Breakfast cereals were found to contain the highest concentrations, averaging 100 times more TFA than tap water. Researchers tested 65 conventional cereal-based foods from 16 European countries, detecting TFA in more than 80% of samples. Wheat-based products showed the strongest contamination. The highest levels were found in Irish breakfast cereal, followed by Belgian and German wholemeal bread, and French baguette. Products ranging from pasta…

Former Newcastle, West Ham and Portsmouth goalkeeper Shaka Hislop has revealed he is being treated for prostate cancer that has spread to his pelvic bone. The 56-year-old said he was diagnosed about 18 months ago after a routine PSA test showed elevated levels. Hislop underwent prostate removal surgery in December last year, but follow-up tests later showed the cancer had returned and spread. He has since been on medication and has just completed seven and a half weeks of radiation therapy. The ex-Trinidad and Tobago international urged men—especially those over 50 or of African or Caribbean descent—to get regular PSA…

A new survey by the Migraine Trust has found that people from ethnic minority backgrounds in the UK are significantly more likely to receive poorer migraine care and to fear discrimination because of their condition. Migraines affect about one in seven people in the UK. But the survey of 2,200 people revealed large disparities: 23% of mixed-ethnicity, 19% of Asian and 16% of Black respondents said their ethnicity negatively influenced their treatment, compared with just 7% of white respondents. Black respondents were also more likely to fear discrimination at work and to worry they would not be believed about their…

Mikel Arteta says Arsenal’s strengthened squad is helping them cope with a growing injury list, after confirming Kai Havertz will be out for a few more weeks. The German forward, sidelined since August following knee surgery, suffered a setback when he tried to step up his rehabilitation. With Havertz still unavailable, Arteta must choose whether to continue using Mikel Merino as a makeshift striker against Brentford or recall Viktor Gyökeres, who recently returned from a muscle issue. Gabriel Jesus is also pushing for involvement after nearly a year out. William Saliba and Leandro Trossard remain doubts, meaning summer signings Cristhian…

The rare Marsh Fritillary butterfly has had a strong year in Northern Ireland, thanks to warm weather and long-term conservation work. Once widespread, the species declined sharply as traditional grassland habitats were lost. Recent surveys show major increases in caterpillar nests on managed sites. One location saw numbers rise from 24 to 53, while another jumped from 24 to 139. Butterfly Conservation says these gains highlight the importance of habitat restoration. The species relies entirely on one plant—Devil’s-bit Scabious—and depends on carefully managed grassland, often grazed by cattle. Volunteers survey caterpillar webs each autumn to track population health. Because the…

A UK government health panel has advised against offering prostate cancer screening to most men, disappointing charities and campaigners. The UK National Screening Committee (UKNSC) concluded that the harms—mainly overdiagnosis and unnecessary treatment—would outweigh the benefits of screening all men or those with a family history of cancer. Instead, the committee recommends targeted screening only for men with BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene variants, who face a higher risk of aggressive cancer. These men could be screened every two years between ages 45 and 61. Prostate cancer is the most common male cancer in the UK, but the PSA test used…

Premier League clubs could soon face increased wage costs following the government’s budget announcement that image-rights payments will be taxed as income from April 2027. Currently, many players receive part of their earnings through image-rights companies, which are taxed at the 25% corporate rate. Under the new rules, those payments will instead be subject to the top income-tax rate of 45%, leaving many players facing much larger tax bills. Agents say players signing new contracts — especially those negotiated on net-pay terms — are likely to push for higher wages to offset the change. Some foreign players are believed to…

Archaeologists say they now have firm evidence that Neolithic people dug a massive circle of deep pits near Stonehenge, known as the Durrington pit circle. The formation is thought to include around 20 pits spread across a ring more than a mile wide, with some pits measuring up to 10 metres wide and 5 metres deep. The feature was first identified in 2020 but faced scepticism, with some experts suggesting it could be natural. New research published in Internet Archaeology used a combination of geophysical scanning, soil sampling and advanced dating techniques to confirm the pits were human-made. Scientists found…

Scientists have identified five major phases of brain development across a human lifetime, with research suggesting that the brain does not fully enter its “adult” mode until around the early 30s. The findings come from a large study of brain scans from nearly 4,000 people ranging in age from under one year old to 90. Researchers found that brain development shifts at four key “turning points”, occurring at roughly ages nine, 32, 66 and 83, creating five distinct brain “epochs”. The first phase, childhood, runs from birth to about age nine and is marked by rapid growth but also “pruning”…

Idrissa Gueye was applauded by Everton’s players after apologising for being sent off for slapping teammate Michael Keane during Monday’s 1-0 victory over Manchester United. The unusual red card came after a heated exchange following Gueye’s misplaced pass that led to a chance for Bruno Fernandes. Unable to speak at half-time, Gueye later addressed the squad in the dressing room, apologising directly to Keane and the team for leaving them with 10 men. His words were met with a round of applause. Everton manager David Moyes admitted he “likes my players fighting each other” but the club is still expected…