Author: Andrew Rogers

Doctors say a return to Nepal’s traditional lentil and rice diet could help tackle a growing type 2 diabetes crisis. Around one in five Nepalis over 40 now lives with the condition, driven partly by the spread of western processed foods. With diabetes medication often unaffordable, complications can quickly become life-threatening. Small studies in Kathmandu and nearby communities show promising results. A calorie-controlled traditional diet helped about half of participants achieve remission within four months, with modest weight loss. The research forms part of a wider four-year project led by the University of Glasgow and Dhulikhel Hospital in Nepal. The…

People who drink a couple of teas or coffees a day may face a lower risk of dementia, according to a large US study. Researchers analysed health data from more than 130,000 people followed for up to 43 years and found that those who drank two to three cups of caffeinated coffee or one to two cups of caffeinated tea daily had a 15–20% lower risk of dementia than non-drinkers. The study, published in Journal of the American Medical Association, also found slightly better cognitive performance among caffeinated coffee drinkers compared with those who chose decaf. Lead author Yu Zhang…

BP faces growing pressure from shareholders as it prepares to publish full-year results this week. Analysts expect weaker profits after a third consecutive year of falling oil prices, with earnings forecast at about $7.5bn, down from nearly $9bn in 2024. A sharp drop in crude prices late last year is expected to hit fourth-quarter results. Incoming chief executive Meg O’Neill is under pressure to outline a clearer long-term strategy. Investor groups want BP to explain how it will manage spending on oil and gas as demand weakens. Activists led by Australasian Centre for Corporate Responsibility and supported by Nest have…

Researchers say menstrual blood testing could provide a convenient alternative to cervical cancer screening.A sanitary pad fitted with a sample strip can detect human papillomavirus, the main cause of cervical cancer.Women could use the test at home, avoiding invasive clinical procedures. The study, published in BMJ, analysed data from more than 3,000 women in China.Researchers compared menstrual blood samples with clinician-collected cervical samples.The pad-based test detected serious cervical abnormalities with similar accuracy. The menstrual test showed 94.7% sensitivity for detecting high-grade cell changes.Clinician-collected samples showed a sensitivity of 92.1%.Both methods performed equally well at ruling out disease after negative results.…

A major review finds most statin side-effects listed on labels are not caused by the drugs.Researchers published the analysis in The Lancet after reviewing 19 trials involving 124,000 people. Evidence supported muscle pain, diabetes risk, and four minor effects, including liver test changes and swelling.Researchers found no strong evidence for 62 other listed effects, including memory loss and sleep problems. Christina Reith said statins did not increase common complaints compared with placebo.Experts said benefits clearly outweighed risks and called for updated drug labels.

Hidden-market sellers promote unlicensed weight-loss drugs through WhatsApp and Telegram giveaways.They offer injectable medicines such as retatrutide as competition prizes. The Guardian found groups urging users to enter within 24 hours.Experts warn these tactics create serious health risks. One group promoted prizes including retatrutide, Glow pens, and melanotan II.None of these injectable products hold UK approval. UK law allows weight-loss injections only with valid prescriptions.Unapproved drugs cannot be legally sold or advertised. Another seller disguises drug sales as fitness coaching programmes.Researchers say these promotions misuse marketing pressure and bypass safety rules.

Ultra-processed foods should face tobacco-style regulation because they promote addiction and harm public health, researchers say.Scientists from Harvard, the University of Michigan, and Duke compared UPFs to cigarettes in design and health impact.They said manufacturers optimise ingredients to drive compulsive consumption and reward responses.The study, published in Milbank Quarterly, warned that marketing claims can delay regulation.Researchers urged governments to shift responsibility from consumers to the food industry.Some experts cautioned against overreach but agreed stronger controls are needed.

Toto Wolff dismissed rivals’ claims that Mercedes broke engine rules.He said competitors should “focus on themselves” after missing a regulatory opportunity.The row centres on engine compression ratios used by Mercedes and Red Bull Racing.Rivals argue thermal expansion boosts performance while staying legal during inspections.FIA reviewed complaints but backed Mercedes’ interpretation.Wolff warned teams may still protest after the Australian Grand Prix.

Researchers believe cosmic dust helped deliver life’s building blocks to Earth.At the University of Sydney, PhD researcher Linda Losurdo recreated cosmic dust in a laboratory from scratch.She simulated dying stars by energising gas mixtures inside a vacuum tube using high voltage plasma.The dust contains CHON molecules, key ingredients for organic chemistry and life.Scientists hope the work explains how meteorites came to carry organic matter to Earth.Experts say the method offers a powerful way to study early life formation.The study appears in the Astrophysical Journal.

The Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply warned rising shipping costs could push up consumer prices in 2026.Its survey showed growing supply chain disruption fears, the highest in two years.Procurement leaders expect sharp cost rises in shipping, computers, transport equipment, and electrical machinery.Some shipping routes saw rate increases of nearly 30% within weeks.Businesses already passed higher costs to consumers, with laptop prices rising late last year.CIPS said price volatility now looks permanent rather than temporary.Respondents blamed geopolitical tensions, trade uncertainty, and US tariffs.Threats of new tariffs under Donald Trump added pressure to fragile global trade systems.