Author: Andrew Rogers

Health officials in the UK have identified a newly evolved variant of mpox after testing a patient who had recently travelled to Asia. Genome analysis showed the infection was a recombinant strain, formed from two existing mpox lineages: clade 1, known to cause more severe illness, and clade 2, the type responsible for the global mpox outbreak in 2022. The UK Health Security Agency said the discovery was not unexpected, as both strains continue to circulate internationally, but stressed that surveillance is important to understand how the virus may be changing. Experts are now assessing whether the combined variant poses…

Crystal Palace continued their impressive run under Oliver Glasner as Marc Guéhi scored a late winner to seal a 2-1 victory over Fulham, sending Palace up to fourth place in the Premier League. Eddie Nketiah marked his first league start of the season with a well-taken opener, finishing off a move sparked by Adam Wharton. Fulham hit back through a stunning Harry Wilson finish, combining beautifully with Raúl Jiménez before curling in with the outside of his boot. Fulham pushed for a second, hitting the post through Calvin Bassey and briefly thinking they had scored again before VAR ruled Samuel…

Far from the Himalayas and tourist-filled Kathmandu, Nepal’s Terai lowlands offer a very different experience — one rooted in wildlife, community and deep cultural tradition. Home to the Tharu people, this southern region near the Indian border is rich with national parks, farmland and Lumbini, the birthplace of the Buddha. Here, tourism is more personal, thanks to a growing homestay network run largely by local women. In the village of Bhada, travellers can live with Tharu families through the Community Homestay Network, learning to cook traditional meals, share celebrations and immerse themselves in daily life. During one such stay, guests…

Max Verstappen will start from pole in the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix title showdown, ahead of Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri. While Verstappen struck first in qualifying, Norris remains favourite for the championship thanks to a 12-point lead over the Dutchman and 16 over Piastri. Norris becomes world champion if he finishes ahead of both rivals or secures third place or better. Verstappen, confident after a strong end to the season, said he will go “all out” with nothing to lose. McLaren may use team orders if needed to secure the title. The opening laps could be decisive, with Verstappen…

A new study by Pesticide Action Network Europe (PAN) has found widespread contamination of cereal-based foods across Europe with trifluoroacetic acid (TFA), a toxic “forever chemical” formed when PFAS-containing pesticides break down in soil. On average, levels detected in breakfast cereals were 100 times higher than those found in tap water. Researchers tested 65 common cereal products from 16 European countries, including bread, pasta, croissants, flour and sweets. TFA was detected in over 80% of samples, with wheat-based foods showing the highest contamination. The most polluted products were Irish breakfast cereals, followed by Belgian and German wholemeal bread, then French…

Former Premier League goalkeeper Shaka Hislop has announced he is undergoing treatment for prostate cancer, which has spread to his pelvic bone. The 56-year-old, known for his time at Newcastle, West Ham and Portsmouth, shared that he was diagnosed about 18 months ago after insisting on a PSA blood test during a routine check-up. After scans confirmed an aggressive form of the disease, Hislop underwent a radical prostatectomy last December, believing the cancer had been removed. But six months later his PSA levels began to rise again, and a scan showed the cancer had spread. He has since started medication…

A new Migraine Trust survey reveals that people from ethnic minority backgrounds in the UK are significantly more likely to receive poorer migraine care and to fear discrimination. Among 2,200 respondents, 23% of mixed-ethnicity, 19% of Asian, and 16% of Black participants said their ethnicity negatively affected their treatment, compared with just 7% of white respondents. Black respondents were also more likely to worry that migraines could harm their careers or lead to discrimination. Some said they feared not being believed: 19% of Asian and 14% of Black respondents shared this concern, compared with 8% of white respondents. One respondent,…

U.S. home buyers are seeing more favorable conditions as mortgage rates have fallen over half a percentage point compared to a year ago. Analysts say this shift could make purchasing a home more appealing and may help stimulate the housing market. Lower mortgage rates reduce monthly payments, making homeownership more affordable for many families. This trend comes at a time when housing demand is gradually rising, as buyers respond to improved financing conditions. Experts note that even small drops in mortgage rates can significantly impact affordability. For example, a half-point decrease can lower monthly payments on a $300,000 loan by…

Mikel Arteta says Arsenal’s strengthened squad can handle further injury setbacks after confirming Kai Havertz will be out for a few more weeks. The German forward, recovering from knee surgery, was expected back earlier this month but struggled to progress in rehabilitation. Arteta must now choose whether to continue using Mikel Merino as a makeshift striker against Brentford or turn to Viktor Gyökeres, who recently returned from a muscle injury. Gabriel Jesus is also pushing for involvement after an 11-month absence. William Saliba and Leandro Trossard remain doubts, meaning summer signings Cristhian Mosquera and Piero Hincapié may again start in…

The Marsh Fritillary butterfly, once common but now severely reduced across the UK and Ireland, has had an excellent year in Northern Ireland thanks to warm weather and years of habitat restoration. Surveys by Butterfly Conservation found large increases in caterpillar nests on managed sites. One location saw nests rise from 24 to 53, while another recorded 139 compared with just 24 last year. These gains reflect long-term work with farmers to maintain grasslands rich in Devil’s-bit Scabious—the only plant the species’ caterpillars eat. Conservation manager Rose Cremin said weather helps in the short term, but restoring and managing habitat…