Trump emerges as 'leading contender' to win 2026 Nobel Peace Prize

 

A UK betting company, William Hill, has named US president Donald Trump as the “leading contender” to win the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize, despite the ongoing conflict with Iran that commenced on 28 February.

Trump's current odds are 3/1, representing a 25 per cent chance, which is a decrease from the 55 per cent chance quoted by the bookmaker late last year.

Last year, Trump was overlooked for the award in favour of Venezuelan politician María Corina Machado, who subsequently presented her prize to him in January.

Several international leaders, including Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet, have publicly stated they nominated Trump for the prestigious award - the annual deadline for nominations is January 31.

Trump has expressed a desire to be recognized as a “great peacemaker” and has controversially claimed that if he does not receive the Nobel Peace Prize, then “nobody will ever get it”.

Trump was overlooked by the committee last year in favor of Venezuelan politician María Corina Machado, but we now price the U.S. President at 3/1 to claim the 2026 prize – a 25 percent chance. That is a longer price than we quoted late last year, when we rated Trump’s chances at 55 percent,” he added.

Trump has long claimed that he deserves to win the Nobel Peace Prize, and his allies complained after last year’s award went to Machado. In January, she presented her prize to Trump, who called the offer “such a wonderful gesture of mutual respect.”

everal world leaders, including Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet, have said they nominated Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize. The annual deadline for nominations is January 31.

Trump has “no idea” if the war with Iran will “get him over the finish line” with the Nobel Committee, he told the Washington Examiner on March 12.

“I don’t know. I’m not interested in it,” he said.

But about two weeks later, the president claimed that if he doesn’t secure the prize, nobody will.

“If I don't get the Nobel Prize for peace, nobody will ever get it. I didn't get it. I'm not surprised. The person that got it was shocked — she’s a wonderful woman too, by the way,” he said at an investment event in Miami, Florida.

The president also said he wants to be known as a “great peacemaker.”

“I know it doesn't sound right for me to say this, but I'd love my legacy to be made as a great peacemaker, because I really believe I’m a peacemaker. It doesn’t seem it right now, but I think I'm a peacemaker,” he added.

There are 287 nominees for this year’s Nobel Peace Prize, including 208 individuals and 79 organizations, the Norwegian Nobel Committee announced Thursday.

“The number of nominations remains consistently high, reflecting the robust global interest in the Nobel Peace Prize. In an increasingly conflictual world, there is no lack of candidates whose principled commitment and innovative action points towards a brighter future,” the organization said in a statement.

Putin powerless as China tightens grip on occupied Ukraine

Moscow has grown increasingly dependent on China for investment, trade and technological support as Western sanctions continue to strain Russia’s economy.

That reliance is now shaping developments far beyond Russia’s borders.
Quiet expansion

According to The Insider cited by Onet, China is steadily increasing its presence in occupied areas of eastern Ukraine, particularly in Donbas.

A report by the Eastern Human Rights Group found around 6,000 mobile base stations in these territories rely on Chinese technology.

At the same time, about 80 bank branches now offer transactions in yuan, signaling deeper financial integration.

Beijing has not formally recognized Russia’s control over Crimea or other occupied regions.

However, business ties continue to develop through indirect channels, with delegations and trade links quietly expanding.

Local authorities have also pursued partnerships with Chinese firms under the banner of “import substitution”, while China avoids breaching Western sanctions.

Projects on ground

Chinese companies have become involved in infrastructure and industrial activity across the occupied territories.

One example is a quarry in Donetsk region, where agreements were signed with firms supplying mining equipment.

According to Donbas-based journalists cited by The Insider, Chinese machinery is also being used in key mining operations in Luhansk.

Experts say Russia’s ability to rebuild occupied areas increasingly depends on Chinese funding and support.

“The reconstruction of the industry under occupation is already being financed with Chinese money. Without China, Russia has no way to quickly rebuild all of this,”

This cooperation often takes place through intermediaries, including private firms and individuals operating between the two countries.

Are Seed Oils Bad for You? New Research Reveals the Truth

 For a while now, claims have been floating around the internet highlighting the ‘health risks’ of seed oils. Such oils include kitchen mainstays like rapeseed oil and sunflower oil (most vegetable oils are seed oils), which are generally rich in omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids.

Although omega-6 fatty acids are essential for the body, some critics have argued that elevated levels can lead to inflammation, which, in turn, can increase your risk of certain diseases, including heart disease, obesity, and cancer.

Why Do Some People Think Seed Oils Cause Inflammation?

The argument that seed oils can cause inflammation comes from the way they are metabolised in the body. Omega-6 fatty acids – particularly linoleic acid (found in seed oils) – are converted into arachidonic acid by our body. When the body needs to respond to an event, for example, an injury or infection, arachidonic acid is converted into a type of signalling molecule (a tiny chemical messenger), which may promote inflammation to help deal with the injury/infection.

It’s a normal immune response, but it could potentially be harmful if chronically elevated over time. Some researchers have argued that the issue lies in the ratio of omega-6s to omega-3s (which tend to produce anti-inflammatory compounds). In other words, if somebody is consuming too much omega-6 compared to omega-3 through their diet.

However, new research presented at the American Society for Nutrition’s recent annual meeting has challenged this school of thought entirely, suggesting that omega-6 fatty acids found in seed oils may reduce inflammation and support cardiometabolic health.

What Did the Study Find?

Based on a study of almost 1,900 people, the researchers found that higher levels of linoleic acid in blood plasma were associated with lower levels of biomarkers of cardiometabolic risk, including those related to inflammation.

While several observational studies have already shown higher intake of linoleic acid to be associated with lower risks for type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular events (like heart attacks and strokes), this new study employed more robust methods. Researchers used objective biomarkers rather than diet records or food frequency questionnaires to assess linoleic acid intake, making the results more reliable.

The researchers found that those with higher linoleic acid showed lower levels of glucose and insulin, as well as something called HOMA-IR, which is a biomarker of insulin resistance. They also had lower levels of inflammation biomarkers, including C-reactive protein, glycoprotein acetyls, and serum amyloid A.

In layman’s terms, ‘their blood tended to have a healthier overall risk profile for heart disease and diabetes,’ the researchers explain.

Butter or Oil – Which is Best?

These findings are supported by another recent large-scale study of 221,054 adults, which compared the effects of butter with plant-based oils. The study, published in JAMA Internal Medicine, found that higher butter intake was associated with increased total and cancer mortality. Conversely, higher intake of plant-based oils was associated with lower total, cancer, and cardiovascular disease mortality.

Those who ate the most butter had a 15% higher risk of dying during the study’s follow-up than those who had the least butter, while those who consumed the most plant oils had a 16% lower risk of dying during the study’s follow-up than those who consumed the least.

Based on further calculations, the researchers conclude that swapping 10g of butter per day with an equivalent amount of plant-based oils is linked to an estimated 17% reduction in total mortality and 17% reduction in cancer mortality.

The Bottom line

This isn’t to say you need to go on a butter rampage and rid your fridge of all the evidence. Certainly not when a tub of the good stuff is so pricey these days. No – it’s simply about moderation. It’s probably not a good idea to slather everything in oil either.

We know we say it all the time, but as long as you’re consuming something as part of a balanced diet, there’s likely very little risk involved. Perhaps if you have a lot of butter, it might be worth cutting down and using plant-based oils for cooking instead. However, as long as you are consuming butter and oil in moderation, you should be alright.

It’s more about challenging the messaging that something is inherently unhealthy. There’s almost always nuance involved.

Next time you see somebody slating seed oils, you’ll have the information and evidence to take their claims with more than a pinch of salt.

Your birth order could be affecting your health, according to a new study

Birth order has always been one of those things people argue about in families.

There’s the responsible eldest, the overlooked middle child, the carefree youngest… you get the picture. However, a huge new study suggests there may be something more going on, with researchers finding links between birth order and the risk of a wide range of health conditions, including autism, allergies, migraines, and gut problems.

That doesn’t mean your place in the family decides your future. What it does mean is that researchers are starting to spot patterns that could help explain how early life experiences shape health in ways we didn’t fully understand before.

This is one of the largest birth-order studies ever carried out.

The research looked at data from more than 10 million siblings, making it far bigger than most previous studies on the topic. Instead of focusing on one condition at a time, it examined a wide range of health outcomes across the population.

That scale matters because it gives the findings more weight. Earlier research often relied on smaller groups or focused on narrow questions, which made it easier for bold claims to get ahead of the evidence and see the bigger picture.

Firstborn children showed higher risk for some conditions.

One of the clearest patterns was that firstborn children appeared to have a higher risk of certain neurodevelopmental and immune-related conditions. That includes things like autism and some allergic conditions.

It’s important to keep this in context, of course. This doesn’t mean most firstborn children will develop these conditions. It simply means that across a very large group, the risk was slightly higher compared to their younger siblings.

Later-born siblings had different risks, not fewer.

The study didn’t find that younger siblings were simply better off overall. Instead, they tended to show higher risk in different areas, including issues linked to gut health and substance use later in life. That suggests this isn’t a simple ranking system where one birth position is “better” than another. It’s more about different patterns of risk that change depending on where someone falls in the family.

The autism link has been seen before, but this adds weight to it.

Previous research has already suggested that firstborn children may have a slightly higher risk of autism compared to later-born siblings. What this new study does is show that the same pattern appears even when looking at a much larger population. That doesn’t explain why it happens, but it does suggest there’s something consistent enough for researchers to keep investigating rather than dismissing it as coincidence.

The findings go beyond one or two conditions.

What makes this study stand out is how wide-ranging the results are. It’s not just about autism or one specific illness. The patterns showed up across multiple types of health conditions, including things like migraines and digestive issues, which makes the findings feel broader and more complex than the usual birth-order theories people are used to hearing.

There are likely multiple reasons behind these patterns.

Researchers don’t think there’s one simple explanation. Instead, it’s likely a mix of biological and environmental factors that change slightly with each child. This could be everything from differences between pregnancies to changes in the mother’s body over time, or even how family life evolves once there’s already a child in the home.

Family dynamics may also play a role.

Beyond biology, there are everyday differences in how children are raised depending on when they arrive. Firstborn children often get more one-to-one attention early on, while later-born children grow up in a busier environment. The changes in attention, routine, and even exposure to things like infections could all contribute in small ways that add up over time.

This doesn’t mean parents are doing anything wrong.

It’s easy for research like this to feel personal, but it’s not about blaming families or suggesting anyone has made a mistake. These are patterns seen across millions of people, not individual stories. Health outcomes are shaped by a wide mix of factors, including genetics, environment, and chance. Birth order may be one piece of that puzzle, but it’s far from the whole picture.

The research still needs to be reviewed further.

Another important point is that the study has been released as a preprint, which means it hasn’t yet gone through full peer review. That doesn’t make it unreliable, but it does mean the findings could still be refined. As with any large study, other researchers will look closely at the methods and conclusions before anything is considered settled.

This isn’t proof of the old birth-order stereotypes.

It’s tempting to connect this kind of research to familiar ideas about personality, like eldest children being more responsible or youngest siblings being more relaxed. However, this study isn’t about personality traits. It’s about patterns in health risk across large groups, which is a much more specific and less dramatic finding.

The bigger picture is about early life influences.

What this research really highlights is how much early life can shape long-term health. A child doesn’t grow up in isolation, they grow up within a family that changes over time. Each new child arrives into a slightly different environment, and those small differences may leave a subtle mark that shows up later in life.

NHS advice to anyone taking common allergy antihistamine medication

 Certain people are advised to speak with a GP before taking a common antihistamine. The medication is used to relieve symptoms of insect bites, eczema, conjunctivitis and chickenpox, as well as allergies like hay fever, and is available on prescription and in pharmacies.

Although you might not be familiar with chlorphenamine, you've probably heard of Piriton, Allerief or Pollenase, which all contain it as a main active ingredient. Most adults and children aged over one year old can take chlorphenamine, but there are 12 main groups who should always take caution.

According to the NHS, this includes anyone with the following symptoms, who should always speak with a doctor or pharmacist first:

Anyone who's had an allergic reaction to chlorphenamine or any other medicine

Anyone with an eye problem called primary angle closure glaucoma

Anyone who has taken a type of antidepressant called monoamine oxidase inhibitors in the last 14 days

• Anyone with problems peeing or emptying their bladder
• Anyone with epilepsy or another health problem that can cause fits or seizures
• Anyone who has breathing difficulties such as asthma or a lung condition
• Anyone who has heart disease or very high blood pressure
• Anyone with an enlarged prostate
• Anyone who has liver or kidney problems
• Anyone due to have an allergy test, as taking chlorphenamine may affect the results, so you might need to stop taking it a few days before the test – ask a pharmacist or your doctor for advice
• Anyone who is unable to have any alcohol – some liquid chlorphenamine products contain a very small amount of alcohol, so check the ingredients and the packaging carefully
• Anyone who is a frail, older adult – they may have more side effects, such as confusion

The health service also adds: "If you or your child has been prescribed chlorphenamine, follow your doctor's instructions about how and when to take it.

"If you've bought chlorphenamine or any medicine containing chlorphenamine from a pharmacy, follow the instructions that come with the packet, or ask your pharmacist for advice. If you or your child's symptoms do not get better within a few days, talk to a doctor."

People taking chlorphenamine should also be mindful when combining it with other medications to avoid side effects. Check with a doctor or pharmacist if you're already taking medications such as:

• A type of antidepressant called a monoamine oxidase inhibitor, such as phenelzine
• Phenytoin (an anti-epilepsy medicine)
• Any medicines for anxiety or to help you sleep
• Any medicine that makes you drowsy, gives you a dry mouth, or makes it difficult for you to pee – taking chlorphenamine might make these side effects worse

Children under six years old should also not take cough or cold medicines containing chlorphenamine alongside other ingredients. However, NHS guidance warns: "These are not all the medicines that may cause problems if you take them with chlorphenamine. For a full list, see the leaflet inside your medicine packet."

It adds: "It's safe to take chlorphenamine with painkillers like paracetamol or ibuprofen that you buy from a pharmacy or shop. But if you take chlorphenamine with painkillers that contain codeine (such as co-codamol) or other prescription painkillers, you're more likely to have side effects."

Chlorphenamine generally starts working within 30 minutes to an hour, and users should wait at least four hours before taking another dose. Typical side effects include nausea, dizziness, headaches, sleepiness, blurred vision and difficulty concentrating.

Anyone experiencing dizziness, sleepiness, or blurred vision should avoid riding a bike or driving a car until their symptoms resolve. Alcohol should also be avoided when taking chlorphenamine.

Children are getting taller... because they’re fat

Children are growing taller, but only because they are becoming fatter, research shows.

A study by the University of Oxford shows that 11-year-old girls are almost an inch taller than those just over a decade ago, while boys of the same age are half an inch taller.

Researchers said the trend was being fuelled by childhood obesity, with much of their growth spurt taking place during the pandemic.

Being overweight or obese causes hormonal changes, which accelerate children’s development. Obese children grow faster, so they tend to be taller than their peers who are at a healthy weight.

However, they also have a greater risk of conditions such as heart disease and diabetes later in life.

Children were taller in poorer areas

The research showed the sharpest increases in height were in the most deprived areas, while rates of obesity rose. When the figures were standardised, the growth of girls in poor areas increased twice as much as those in wealthy parts.

Andrew Moscrop, a researcher from Oxford’s Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, said: “It might look like a simple good news story, as on average children in Britain are getting taller.

“But in fact, it’s a complex bad news story, because this trend is mostly due to height changes among poorer children, and these are being driven by increases in obesity prevalence, which are themselves driven by unfair determinants of health.

“Children in poorer areas are exposed to more unhealthy food outlets and fewer healthy food sources, while they have less access to outdoor spaces and safe streets for exercise.”

Overall, the average height of 11-year-old girls went from 145.75cm (just under 4ft 8in) in 2008-9 to 148cm by 2020-21.

Meanwhile, boys saw a rise from 145cm to 146.5cm over the same period.

‘Remarkable’ growth during the pandemic

The figures show a “remarkable” rise in the average height of children during the pandemic.

Researchers said the jump reflected a rise in obesity prevalence, as children ate less healthily and took less exercise during lockdown.

Among 11-year-old girls in England, average height jumped from 146.6cm to 148cm between school years 2019-20 and 2020-21, while prevalence of overweight and obesity among this age group increased in the same period from 35.2 to 40.9 per cent.

The increase in average heights from 2019-20 to 2020-21 was 1.3 cm in boys and 0.7 cm in girls, compared with rises of 0.7cm seen between 2009 and 2019, researchers found.

For five-year-olds, average height increased between 2019-20 and 2020-21 by 0.5 cm in boys and 0.4 cm in girls, more than the 0.2cm rise seen from 2009 to 2019.

However, researchers also highlighted some poor record-keeping during the pandemic, which might explain the patterns, some of which levelled out.

Researchers said their interest in children’s heights was prompted by reports in 2023 claiming that children were shrinking during the pandemic, which was found not to be the case.

However, the research suggests heights have now started to fall.

Records for 2022-23 show five-year-old girls and boys were at least half a centimetre shorter than they were in 2021-22, with a similar dip seen among 11-year-old girls.

Child Measurement Programmes routinely measure the height and weight of every child during their first year of state education in Britain.

In England, approximately 600,000 children aged between four and five are measured annually, while fewer are measured in Scotland (50,000 to 55,000) and Wales (30,000 to 35,000).

Children in England are also measured between the ages of 10 and 11, in their final year of primary education.

Hidden body fat could be secretly ageing you, even if you're skinny - but bigger things could help protect...

Slim people may still be at risk of a deadly heart attack—because of hidden fat that accelerates ageing of the heart, a major study has found.

The dangerous fat—known as visceral fat—builds up deep inside the body, wrapping around the liver, stomach and intestines.

Unlike the fat you can see and pinch, it is invisible from the outside, meaning many people who appear slim may still be carrying harmful amounts.

Researchers analysed data from more than 21,000 people and found those with higher levels of visceral fat showed signs their hearts and blood vessels were ageing more quickly. 

Blood tests revealed this type of fat also triggered inflammation throughout the body—a process long linked to premature ageing and disease.

The findings, published in the European Heart Journal, also suggest that body shape may be more important than weight alone when it comes to heart health.

Men who carried fat around the belly in an 'apple-shaped' body type were much more likely to show accelerated heart ageing.

By contrast, 'pear shaped' women genetically predisposed to storing fat around their hips and thighs—known as gluteofemoral fat—appeared to have healthier, younger hearts. 

This lower-body fat may even help guard against heart disease, strokes and type 2 diabetes.

The researchers also found that higher oestrogen levels in premenopausal women were linked to slower heart ageing—suggesting the hormone could play a protective role.

To reach their conclusions, scientists at the Medical Research Council's Laboratory of Medical Sciences in London analysed MRI scans from participants in the UK Biobank.

Whole-body images were used to map the amount and location of fat, while detailed scans of the heart and blood vessels were assessed with artificial intelligence to detect signs of ageing—such as tissue becoming stiff or inflamed.

Each participant was then given a 'heart age', which researchers compared with their actual age.

Lead researcher Professor Declan O'Regan, from Imperial College London, said: 'We have known about the apple and pear distinction in body fat, but it hasn't been clear how it leads to poor health outcomes.

'Our research shows that 'bad' fat, hidden deep around the organs, accelerates ageing of the heart. But some types of fat could protect against ageing—specifically fat around the hips and thighs in women.

'We also showed that BMI wasn't a good way of predicting heart age which underscores the importance of knowing where fat is stored in the body and not just total body weight.

'The goal of our research is to find ways to increase healthy lifespan. While being active is important, we found that hidden fat could still be harmful even in fit people.'

His team now plans to investigate whether new weight-loss jabs such as Ozempic can target the ageing effects of this hidden fat.

The drugs, which mimic the hunger-suppressing hormone GLP-1, have already been shown to cut levels of dangerous visceral fat—and could one day help keep the heart younger for longer.

Professor Bryan Williams OBE, chief scientific and medical officer at the British Heart Foundation added: 'We already know excess visceral fat around the heart and liver can lead to increased blood pressure and high cholesterol, so it is concerning that it could also help to speed up ageing of the heart and blood vessels.

'As the pattern of fat distribution typically seen in women's bodies is linked to oestrogen, that hormone may be key to future therapies developed to tackle heart ageing.

'Eating a healthier diet and becoming more active can help to reduce visceral fat levels.'

Earlier this summer, US researchers developed a free online test that they claim can help you calculate if your heart is aging faster than the rest of your body. 

By utilising data provided by the American Heart Association it can help you better understand how much stress your heart is under.

It asks you to enter your sex, age, total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, systolic blood pressure, whether or not you have diabetes, and if you take medication for blood pressure or statins.

It also requires you to input your eGFR (estimated glomerular filtration rate) which is used to measure how well your kidneys are functioning.

The age calculator was tested on more than 14,000 US adults between the ages of 30 and 79 from the year 2011 up until 2020.