Author: Andrew Rogers

A new survey by the Migraine Trust has found significant inequalities in migraine care across the UK, with people from ethnic minority backgrounds far more likely to report poor treatment and fear discrimination. Among 2,200 respondents, 23% of mixed-ethnicity, 19% of Asian, and 16% of Black participants said their ethnicity negatively affected their care, compared with just 7% of white respondents. Many cited racism, poorer treatment, or not being taken seriously. Black respondents were also the most likely to worry about workplace discrimination related to their migraines. Some participants described harmful stereotypes affecting their care. Abigail Kabirou, 26, said she…

Mikel Arteta says Arsenal are well equipped to handle further injuries after confirming Kai Havertz will be out for a few more weeks. The Germany forward, sidelined since August following knee surgery, suffered a setback during rehabilitation and has not been able to progress to full training. Arteta must now decide whether to continue using Mikel Merino as a makeshift striker against Brentford on Wednesday or recall Viktor Gyökeres, who recently returned from injury. Gabriel Jesus is also pushing for involvement after nearly a year out. There are additional concerns over William Saliba and Leandro Trossard, who both missed the…

The Marsh Fritillary butterfly has had a strong year in Northern Ireland, thanks to warm weather and long-term habitat restoration. Once widespread, the species declined sharply in the 20th century due to changing farming practices and loss of its only food plant, Devil’s-bit Scabious. Butterfly Conservation has worked with farmers to manage grasslands in ways that support the butterfly’s life cycle. Recent surveys show major increases in caterpillar nests on managed sites—some rising from just a handful last year to dozens this year. Conservation manager Rose Cremin said good weather helps but is only a short-term factor; proper land management…

A UK expert health panel has advised against introducing prostate cancer screening for the general male population, saying the harms would outweigh the benefits. The UK National Screening Committee instead recommended targeted screening only for men with BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene variants, who could be tested every two years between ages 45 and 61. The committee concluded that widespread screening would lead to high levels of overdiagnosis, as many detected cancers are slow-growing and would never cause harm. Evidence was also deemed insufficient to recommend screening for Black men or those with a family history of cancer. Prostate cancer is…

Premier League clubs may soon see their wage bills increase following a budget announcement that player image-rights payments will be taxed as income from April 2027. Image-rights earnings — often paid into limited companies for sponsorship and commercial activities — are currently taxed at the 25% corporation tax rate. Under the new rules, they will instead be subject to the 45% top rate of income tax. Agents say many players will expect clubs to compensate for the higher taxes, especially during contract negotiations in the lead-up to 2027. Players who are paid on a net-salary basis will be particularly affected,…

Archaeologists say they now have strong evidence that enormous pits near Stonehenge were deliberately dug by humans more than 4,000 years ago. The circular formation, known as the Durrington pit circle, is thought to consist of about 20 विशाल pits stretching over a mile, with some measuring up to 10 metres wide and 5 metres deep. While initially discovered in 2020, some experts had questioned whether the features were natural. A new study has combined advanced techniques such as ground radar, electrical resistance scanning, sediment coring, soil DNA analysis and luminescence dating. Researchers found repeating, structured soil patterns that they…

Scientists have identified five major phases of human brain development, with key “turning points” typically occurring around the ages of 9, 32, 66 and 83, according to a large new study. The research, which analysed brain scans from nearly 4,000 people ranging from infancy to age 90, shows that brain development does not progress in a smooth, steady line. Instead, it shifts through distinct eras, each with different patterns of neural organisation. The five brain “epochs” are: The strongest shift in brain wiring happens in the early 30s, when the brain moves into what researchers describe as its “adult” operating…

Idrissa Gueye was warmly applauded by his Everton teammates after delivering an emotional apology following his red card for striking Michael Keane during Everton’s win over Manchester United. The midfielder became the first Premier League player in 17 years to be sent off for striking a teammate after slapping Keane in the 13th minute at Old Trafford. The incident came after Gueye’s misplaced pass nearly led to a Bruno Fernandes chance. Despite playing with 10 men for almost the entire match, Everton held on for a heroic 1–0 victory. After the match, Gueye asked to address the squad and personally…

People who stop using the weight-loss injection Mounjaro (tirzepatide) tend to regain weight and lose many of the associated health benefits, according to new research. The analysis of the Surmount-4 clinical trial found that after stopping the drug, most participants not only regained weight but also saw reversals in improvements to blood pressure, “bad” cholesterol, waist size and blood sugar levels. Among participants who had lost at least 10% of their body weight, 82% regained at least a quarter of that loss within a year of stopping treatment. Experts say this outcome is not surprising, as excess weight directly affects…

Virgil van Dijk has delivered a blunt assessment of Liverpool’s dramatic slump, admitting the champions are “a mess” and warning that not all players may be taking enough responsibility for the team’s downfall. The Liverpool captain spoke in anger after a 3-0 home defeat to Nottingham Forest, a result that left the club in the bottom half of the Premier League and with a negative goal difference. It marked Liverpool’s sixth loss in seven league games and their eighth defeat in 11 matches across all competitions. Van Dijk said the team’s response after going behind was “unacceptable” and revealed that…