Author: BBC

Getty ImagesNewspaper headlines are warning eating “a ham sandwich a day” increases a the risk of type 2 diabetes – but experts say it is not that simple. A study of nearly two million people from 20 different countries found a link with both red and processed meats, such as steak, bacon and sausages. While the research has been done well, the findings are nuanced and should not cause fear or panic. It is sensible to limit intake, in line with healthy-eating guidelines, they say, but the study should not wipe meat off the menu. Link not proofThe research, in…

Getty ImagesA typical household’s annual energy bill will rise by £149 in October under the new price cap.People using an average amount of gas and electricity will pay £1,717 a year, a 10% rise compared with now.The cap, set by the energy regulator Ofgem, affects the price paid for each unit of gas and electricity used in 27 million homes in England, Wales and Scotland.Although prices are still lower than last winter, the rise in bills comes as some support for bills has been withdrawn, and the new government has announced it will halt winter fuel payments for 10 million…

Quang Doan HongThere are about 600 pigs on Quang Doan Hong’s farmQuang Doan Hong is a busy person. The accountant, who lives with his family in Hưng Yên, Vietnam, also owns a farm with about 600 pigs.He’s had to learn quickly about pig health, from which vaccines are effective to when to use antibiotics.“When the weather changes, I give the pigs antibiotics,” Mr Hong says. In his experience, rapid changes between sunny and rainy weather make it necessary to administer antibiotics for respiratory and diarrhoeal diseases.Mr Hong has also had to learn which sources of information are reliable. He’s joined…

Getty ImagesFriends and colleagues of Mike Lynch have paid tribute to him, with the death of the tech tycoon in a luxury yacht sinking off the coast of Sicily being described as an “irreplaceable loss”.The British businessman, 59, was among those killed when the Bayesian yacht foundered in stormy weather early on Monday.The bodies of four others have been recovered, and a sixth person – believed to be Mr Lynch’s daughter Hannah, 18, is still missing.Mr Lynch was a prominent figure in the UK tech industry, where his backing of successful companies led to him being dubbed the British equivalent…

Getty ImagesIdris Elba is one of the producers of Shifters Luther actor Idris Elba told the BBC he knows what heartbreak feels like as he spoke at the opening of a new play he is promoting.Shifters, starring Heather Agyepong and Tosin Cole, tells the story of Des and Dre, two young black people who meet again after years apart.The drama of first love is described by The Guardian in a four star review as having “giddy kisses, real heart and soul” while also showing the “everyday tragedy of long-lost first loves”.Speaking after the show at London’s Duke of York theatre,…

Getty ImagesThe first drug to slow the progression of early stage Alzheimer’s won’t be available on the NHS because health assessment body NICE says the benefits “are too small to justify the costs”.Lecanemab has been licensed by the UK medicines regulator, the MHRA, which means it can be prescribed privately.In trials, the drug was shown to slow cognitive decline by about a quarter in patients in the early stages of Alzheimer’s over the course of 18 months. But in draft guidance, NICE said there was a significant cost to the treatment including intensive monitoring for side-effects and fortnightly trips to…

Getty ImagesNearly 20 million passengers travelled through the West Sussex airport in the first half of 2024Gatwick Airport said it is having one of its “busiest summers yet”, according to the latest passenger data.In the first half of 2024, 19.9 million passengers travelled through its two terminals, which is 7.7% more than the same period in 2023. The West Sussex airport hopes to double capacity by making use of its existing northern runway.Stewart Wingate, airport chief executive, said the “strong start” is thanks to “robust planning” and it has delivered a “reliable and enjoyable experience” for passengers.Mr Wingate said: “I…

2KOpening Night Live gave us a first glimpse at Borderlands 4If there’s one thing the world’s gaming studios need at the moment, it’s a little bit of hype.It has been a year with no major new console launches and where the industry has seen strikes and cuts with thousands of workers being laid off.The opening night of Gamescom is often an opportunity for a big shiny night to get fans all excited for the year ahead.Setting the stage for the next 12 months, here are the biggest things we found out from Europe’s biggest gaming show in Germany.A Borderlands sequelIn…

South Africa’s last zoo elephant has been released back into the wild after 40 years of captivity.The elephant, named Charlie, was captured in 1984 from Zimbabwe’s Hwange national park when he was two years old.He was taken to Boswell Wilkie Circus in South Africa and trained to perform tricks. In the early 2000s he was transferred to the country’s only national zoo.In recent years, animal welfare groups have pushed for the elephant to be freed due to concern for his health.On Tuesday, EMS Foundation, which advocates for the rights of wildlife, announced that after “a nail-biting four-hour trip to freedom”…

Getty ImagesSir Ken pictured with two of his trademark tickling sticksSir Ken Dodd’s joke books, tickling sticks and other artefacts are to be preserved in a new £15m centre dedicated to the late comedy legend in his home city of Liverpool.The Sir Ken Dodd Happiness Centre will provide a permanent home for his archive, as well as hosting comedy performances and events.The four-storey centre will be attached to the city’s Royal Court theatre, where Sir Ken regularly performed during his career. He died in 2018.The plans were submitted in November and were approved by Liverpool City Council last week.His widow…