A major European study has found that offering routine prostate cancer screening to all men over 50 could save thousands of lives. The 23-year trial of 162,000 men across eight countries showed that regular prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood tests reduced prostate cancer deaths by 13%, matching the life-saving impact of breast and bowel cancer screening. The findings strengthen calls for the UK to introduce a national prostate screening programme. Experts say earlier detection allows curative treatment before symptoms appear, though some warn of overdiagnosis and overtreatment of harmless tumours. Advances such as MRI scanning and precision surgery now reduce these risks. Prostate cancer is the UK’s most common cancer, causing more than 12,000 deaths a year. Health officials will review the results next month, and advocates say the evidence is now overwhelming. Campaigners urge government action to protect men’s health, noting that high-risk groups such as black men and those with family histories remain especially vulnerable.
A new survey by the Children’s Society reveals that over half of UK teenagers (56%) feel overwhelmed by expectations surrounding Christmas. The poll of nearly 2,000 young people aged 13 to 16 found that school deadlines, social media pressure, and family expectations are major stress factors. Almost a third cited looming exams, while 28% said constant exposure to 'perfect' online images of gifts, parties, and families made them feel inadequate. One in five admitted finding it hardest to 'look happy' when they didn’t feel it. Although some teens found social media uplifting, many said it made them feel worse, especially when reminded of holidays or lifestyles they couldn’t afford. Many wanted less pressure to perform and more understanding from adults. Mark Russell, CEO of the Children’s Society, said many young people feel crushed by constant demands, urging greater access to early mental health and wellbeing support. The charity’s mission is to help teenagers find peace, perspective, and the true joy of Christmas.
A groundbreaking approach to diagnosing endometriosis offers potential to revolutionise research and treatment of the disease. Affecting one in ten women, endometriosis often goes undiagnosed for years. Traditionally, diagnosis involves invasive procedures like laparoscopy. However, scientists in Spain and France have developed a method of analysing blood-derived stem cells (MenSCs) directly from menstrual samples. This preserves the cells' molecular integrity, allowing researchers to study endometriosis more accurately. By using a technique common in cancer diagnosis, researchers achieved an 81% accuracy rate in distinguishing endometriosis patients from healthy individuals. This non-invasive method, developed by endogene.bio and collaborators, could reduce diagnosis time from years to weeks. The study has gained attention from the pharmaceutical industry, as potentially it could transform endometriosis management and patient care. The co-founder of endogene.bio says: ‘This world-first approach to endometriosis research and diagnosis is truly game-changing for women’s health.’
In October 2024, devastating floods swept through Spain’s Valencia region, leaving 229 people dead and countless others traumatised. Among the victims were Miguel and Sara, a father and daughter who perished together while trying to save their car from rising waters. For their widow and mother, Toñi García, the pain remains raw – just one example of the human cost behind the natural disaster known as the Dana. One year later, Valencia continues to rebuild both its cities and its spirit. Memorials honour those lost, while reconstruction and new safety protocols aim to prevent a recurrence. Yet grief and trauma linger, especially among children who now fear the rain which once brought destruction, and anger at the handling of the Dana on the day it struck refuses to fade. As towns like Paiporta rise from the ruins, residents are striving for resilience and renewal.
One of the strongest Atlantic hurricanes ever recorded, Hurricane Melissa has left a trail of devastation across Jamaica, Haiti, and Cuba, killing at least 33 and displacing hundreds of thousands. Striking Jamaica as a Category 5 storm with winds of up to 185 mph, it tore roofs from homes, flooded entire communities, and crippled power and communication lines across the region. In Haiti, where fragile infrastructure magnified the disaster, scores are dead or missing after floodwaters swallowed coastal towns. Cuba also faces collapsed buildings and blocked roads, with hundreds of thousands forced into shelters. In Jamaica, 77% of the island lost power: emergency services were inundated by floods and unable to conduct emergency operations. Two airports have reopened, with the UN and other agencies ready to deliver aid. Amid the chaos, local leaders and residents describe scenes of heartbreak and resilience - families salvaging what little remains, emergency workers battling through mud and wreckage, and governments scrambling to restore hope. Recovery will be long, painful, and costly.
On 29 October, Hamas reported that Israeli airstrikes in Gaza had resulted in at least 104 Palestinian deaths, including 46 children. Israel's defence minister accused Hamas of an attack in Gaza which killed an Israeli soldier, and of breaching the terms on returning deceased hostages' bodies. Although Hamas denied involvement in the attack, asserting its commitment to the ceasefire, the IDF said it had targeted what it described as ‘terror targets and terrorists’, killing numerous individuals, including thirty armed group commanders. The strikes caused significant destruction, hitting homes, schools, and residential blocks: each side has accused the other of ceasefire violations. Despite the violence, Donald Trump downplayed the likelihood of renewed hostilities, supporting Israel's right to retaliate. The conflict shows the fragile nature of the ceasefire and the ongoing volatility in the region – which has also been highlighted by the call by Amnesty International to investigate whether a US airstrike on Yemen in April was a war crime. See
At least 64 people, including four police officers, have been killed during a massive law enforcement operation in Rio de Janeiro - the deadliest in the city’s history. Governor Claudio Castro hailed the raids as a decisive blow against organised crime, but the high civilian toll has sparked national and international alarm. Operation Containment targeted the powerful Comando Vermelho gang, deploying 2,500 officers with helicopters and armoured vehicles across the Alemao and Penha favelas. Bystanders were reportedly caught in the crossfire, reigniting debate over police tactics, human rights, and the heavy cost of Brazil’s drug war. For many residents of Rio’s poorest neighbourhoods, the tragedy underscores a grim reality - they are trapped between violent gangs and aggressive law enforcement. Human rights groups have questioned the timing of such a large-scale operation, less than two weeks before the UN climate summit COP30 begins. As Brazil heads for a national election in 2026, the threat of criminal violence and drug trafficking is expected to take centre stage.
South Korea stands at a delicate crossroads, balancing its security alliance with the USA and its economic reliance on China. Recent rallies in Seoul captured this tension vividly, with protesters denouncing both Donald Trump and the Chinese Communist Party - reflecting deep divisions over the nation’s direction. President Lee Jae Myung faces immense diplomatic pressure as he hosts both Trump and Xi Jinping on 30 October, hoping to ease trade disputes while maintaining South Korea’s fragile political stability. In August, when Lee visited the USA, things seemed to go well, with Trump reducing tariffs on South Korean goods from 25% to 15%. However, relations soured after immigration officials detained more than 300 workers at the Hyundai plant in Georgia, and Trump has increased his trade demands. Meanwhile, anti-China sentiment has grown, fuelled by old grievances and modern fears of interference. Breaking news: Trump has hailed his meeting with Xi as ‘amazing’, even though it did not result in a formal trade deal: see