Author: Andrew Rogers

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…

People who stop using the weight-loss injection Mounjaro tend to regain weight and lose key health improvements, including lower “bad” cholesterol, improved blood pressure and better blood sugar control, according to new research. The findings come from the Surmount-4 clinical trial, in which participants with obesity or weight-related health conditions took tirzepatide (the active ingredient in Mounjaro) for 36 weeks, then either continued treatment or switched to a placebo for a further year. Among those who stopped the drug after initially losing at least 10% of their body weight, 82% regained at least a quarter of the lost weight within…

Virgil van Dijk has delivered a blunt assessment of Liverpool’s struggles, admitting the reigning champions are “in a mess” and questioning whether all players are taking responsibility for the team’s collapse in form. Speaking after Liverpool’s 3-0 home defeat to Nottingham Forest, the captain said the performance was “unacceptable” and that “panic kicked in” once Forest took the lead. The loss left Liverpool in the bottom half of the Premier League table, having suffered six defeats in their last seven league matches. Van Dijk acknowledged that the squad is letting down manager Arne Slot and insisted the team must take…

A Washington state resident has become the first known person to die after being infected with the rare H5N5 strain of bird flu, health officials confirmed, though they stressed that the overall risk to the public remains low. The individual, an older adult with underlying medical conditions, had been hospitalised since early November with symptoms including high fever, confusion and respiratory problems. According to the Washington State Department of Health, the person lived in Grays Harbor County and kept a backyard flock of domestic poultry that had been exposed to wild birds. Health authorities said no other people connected to…

Frank says Tottenham are still far from matching Arsenal’s £100m-level spending, despite recent structural changes at the club. Following Daniel Levy’s removal as chair in September and the Lewis family’s appointment of a new leadership team, Spurs have outlined plans to grow the business and strengthen their sporting prospects. But Frank believes they are not yet at the stage where they can emulate Arsenal, who signalled their ambition by paying £105m for Declan Rice in 2023. Tottenham’s record signing remains Richarlison at £60m. Asked about former manager Ange Postecoglou’s claim that Spurs would never spend £100m on a player, Frank…

Ian Wright has defended Jude Bellingham, arguing that some of the criticism directed at the England midfielder stems from people not being “ready for a black superstar.” Bellingham came under scrutiny after reacting to being substituted during England’s World Cup qualifying win over Albania, with some suggesting he was becoming a disruptive influence. Wright dismissed those claims, saying certain critics are “frightened” by Bellingham’s success. Speaking on the Stick to Football podcast, Wright said Bellingham’s confidence and ability make some people uncomfortable. He compared the different public reactions to quieter players like N’Golo Kanté and more expressive stars such as…