Author: Andrew Rogers

Max Verstappen secured pole position for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix ahead of Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, setting up a dramatic final race of the season with all three still in the title fight. Verstappen said he will go “all out” with nothing to lose, but Norris holds the championship advantage: he becomes world champion if he finishes ahead of both rivals or takes third place or better. Verstappen must win and hope Norris finishes off the podium to take the title, while Piastri needs victory and for Norris to finish sixth or lower. McLaren have confirmed they will…

U.S. airlines and tourism stakeholders are gearing up for a major increase in travel tied to upcoming sports events in 2026. With events like the World Cup on the horizon, both domestic and international travel demand is expected to rise sharply. Airlines are expanding seat capacity, while cities and tourism operators plan enhanced services and infrastructure to accommodate the influx of visitors. American Airlines, for example, is adding 27,000 extra seats across 12 major routes in summer 2026. These routes connect cities hosting World Cup matches and other large events. Travelers will benefit from greater flight options, making it easier…

A new study has detected widespread contamination of cereal foods in Europe with a toxic “forever chemical” known as trifluoroacetic acid (TFA), raising concerns over food safety and pesticide regulation. Research by Pesticide Action Network Europe (PAN) found that breakfast cereals contained the highest concentrations, averaging levels 100 times greater than those found in tap water. TFA forms when certain pesticides containing PFAS chemicals break down in soil. PFAS — a large group of long-lasting industrial chemicals — are used in countless consumer products and degrade extremely slowly, often taking centuries to break down. Their accumulation in the environment has…

Former Newcastle, West Ham and Portsmouth goalkeeper Shaka Hislop has announced he is being treated for prostate cancer that has spread to his pelvic bone. The 56-year-old discovered the disease after insisting on a PSA blood test during a routine check-up 18 months ago. A biopsy confirmed an aggressive cancer, and he underwent surgery last December. Six months later, Hislop’s PSA levels began rising again, and scans revealed the cancer had spread. He has since completed seven and a half weeks of radiation therapy and remains under medical care. Hislop used his announcement to urge men—especially those over 50 and…

A new survey from the Migraine Trust has revealed significant inequalities in migraine care across the UK, with people from ethnic minority backgrounds reporting poorer treatment and greater fears of discrimination. Among 2,200 respondents, 23% of mixed-ethnicity, 19% of Asian, and 16% of Black participants said their ethnicity had negatively affected their care, compared with just 7% of white respondents. Black respondents were also more likely to fear workplace discrimination because of migraines, and many ethnic minority patients worried they would not be believed about their symptoms. Examples included stereotypes about pain tolerance and dismissive attitudes from healthcare professionals. Advocacy…

Mikel Arteta says Arsenal’s improved squad depth will help them handle another injury setback, confirming that Kai Havertz will be out for a few more weeks. The Germany forward, sidelined since August after knee surgery, suffered a setback when he tried to increase his training intensity. Arteta must now decide whether to continue using Mikel Merino as a makeshift striker against Brentford on Wednesday or turn to Viktor Gyökeres, who recently returned from a muscle injury. Gabriel Jesus is also pushing for his first appearance after 11 months out. William Saliba and Leandro Trossard remain doubts, meaning summer signings Cristhian…

The rare Marsh Fritillary butterfly has enjoyed a strong year in Northern Ireland, thanks to warm weather and long-term habitat restoration by Butterfly Conservation and local farmers. Once widespread across the UK and Ireland, the species declined sharply as farming practices changed and its only food plant—Devil’s-bit Scabious—became scarce. Conservation teams have worked with landowners to improve grassland management, ensuring the right conditions for the butterfly to breed. Autumn surveys showed dramatic rises in caterpillar nests at managed sites. One location saw numbers jump from 24 to 53, while another increased from 24 to 139. These nest counts indicate healthy…

A UK government health panel has advised against introducing prostate cancer screening for most men, saying the harms would outweigh the benefits. The UK National Screening Committee (UKNSC) only recommended screening for men with confirmed BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene variants, who are at higher risk of aggressive prostate cancer. These men could be screened every two years between ages 45 and 61. The committee found that widespread PSA testing would lead to high levels of overdiagnosis, detecting many slow-growing cancers that would never cause harm but could result in unnecessary treatment and side-effects. Evidence for screening Black men—who face a…

Premier League clubs may face higher wage costs after the UK government announced that image rights payments will be taxed as income from April 2027. Currently, many players receive a portion of their earnings through image rights paid into limited companies, taxed at the 25% corporate rate. Under the new rules, these payments will be taxed at the 45% top income tax rate — leaving players with larger tax bills. Agents say many players will expect clubs to compensate for the difference, particularly in new contract negotiations. Some foreign players have clauses requiring clubs to cover major tax changes, while…

Archaeologists say they now have strong evidence that huge pits near Stonehenge were deliberately carved by Neolithic people, ending years of debate over whether the features were natural. The features, known as the Durrington pit circle, form a massive ring more than a mile across and may include around 20 pits, some measuring up to 10 metres wide and 5 metres deep. The circle surrounds important prehistoric sites such as Durrington Walls and Woodhenge. Although the pits were first highlighted in 2020, some experts doubted their human origins. A new study published in Internet Archaeology used a combination of advanced…