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Politics

UK prime minister weighs approval of two North Sea oil and gas fields

Andy Burnham is weighing whether to approve the Rosebank and Jackdaw projects north of Scotland, amid pressure over jobs, energy security and climate impacts.

“The public interest in authorities acting lawfully and the private interest of members of the public in climate change outweigh the private interest of the developers”
Andrew Stewartjudge

MI5 chief warns of rising risk of rightwing terrorist attacks in UK

MI5 chief Ken McCallum says anti-immigration and anti-Muslim extremism is increasingly leading people to consider attacks, contributing to a rise in the UK’s terror threat level.

Farage pledges five-year suspension of UK asylum system

Reform UK leader Nigel Farage says his party would suspend asylum claims for up to five years if elected, void pending applications and deport failed applicants.

Swinney will not face probe over pension claims to Scottish Parliament

Independent advisers said no investigation was needed into John Swinney’s claim that pensioners would lose out under UK reforms to the triple lock. Swinney says the matter is closed.

Ministers plan cuts to heat pump grants to help fund defence spending

Ministers are preparing to cut hundreds of millions of pounds from England and Wales’s heat pump grant scheme as they seek savings for defence investment.

Civil service union seeks 10% pay rise and four-day week as strike vote nears

The PCS union is seeking a 10% pay rise and progress towards a four-day week on full pay for civil servants. Members will vote on strike action from October 20 to December 1.

Burnham says Russia interfered in 2016 Brexit vote, but not successfully

The UK prime minister said he was told Russia interfered in the 2016 Brexit referendum. His office says there is no evidence Russia changed the result, which remains legitimate.

UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham says Russia interfered in the 2016 Brexit referendum, based on an answer he says he received after entering Downing Street.

He made the claim in a podcast interview while warning that Russia seeks to disrupt politics in other countries.

Burnham gave no details of the evidence or what the interference involved.

His office says there is no evidence that Russia successfully interfered, and that the referendum result remains legitimate.

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Former Burnham adviser says PM is on ‘downslope’ and social care plan may be unfundable

A former adviser to Andy Burnham says the Prime Minister is already on the “downslope”, less than three months into office, and calls the social care plan honourable but probably unfundable.

The former adviser warned that the Prime Minister was already on the “downslope”.

This is Money published the article.

UK expands police support for political figures and reviews security

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood announced police support for political figures who are not MPs and an independent review of security for high-profile people after Ann Widdecombe was killed.

Review lead
Sir Stephen Lovegrove, former UK national security adviser
Review deadline
Within six months
Police support
Access to a named police officer and help with wider security measures
Reported offences against MPs
976 alleged offences recorded in 2025, compared with 364 in 2019

Burnham’s contacts with Manchester City disclosed after calls for transparency

Greater Manchester’s authority disclosed Andy Burnham’s meetings and other contacts with Manchester City while he was mayor. City has appealed a finding that it breached Premier League financial rules.

Greater Manchester Combined Authority Louie French

Transparency

The authority said the contacts had been disclosed and that match visits had been declared in the usual way.

French said the disclosure was far from the full transparency football fans deserved.

Responsibility

The authority released the details of Burnham’s contacts during his mayoral term.

French said Burnham should take responsibility himself and provide more information about what was discussed or agreed.

Burnham to seek new post-Brexit deals at UK-EU summit

Andy Burnham says he will seek agreements on areas including food, energy and youth mobility at next month’s UK-EU summit. He says closer cooperation could support economic growth.

World

Drones hit two ships off Bulgaria; one sinks and 11 crew are missing

Two cargo ships were hit by drones in the Black Sea off Bulgaria. One sank, leaving 11 crew members missing, while all 15 people aboard the other ship were rescued.

“This is absolutely unacceptable: yet another attack in close proximity to Bulgaria’s territorial waters”
Rumen RadevBulgarian prime minister

Break-in reported at business building in Drensteinfurt-Walstedde

Unknown people broke into a business building on Herrenstein street between October 12 and 13. Police are asking witnesses to come forward.

France boards Russia-linked tanker in Indian Ocean

French forces boarded the DF Peak, a sanctioned oil tanker suspected of using a false flag and carrying fuel illicitly. The vessel is being escorted to Réunion for further checks.

UK says Iran was highly likely behind RAF Fairford security incident

Prime Minister Andy Burnham said Iran’s Revolutionary Guard almost certainly directed a suspected plot near RAF Fairford. Britain has sanctioned two people and says further sanctions may follow.

Two Turkish citizens detained in Germany over fire at Polish Starlink station

German police detained two Turkish citizens suspected of setting fire to a Starlink station in central Poland. Polish officials say they will face sabotage charges in Poland.

19-year-old jogger escapes attack on forest path in Bavaria

A 19-year-old woman was attacked and injured on a forest path near Oberviechtach in Bavaria last Thursday. Police are seeking witnesses as they investigate.

Eight people injured in stabbing at Incheon supermarket

A man stabbed eight people at a supermarket in Incheon, South Korea. Police detained the suspect and are investigating the attack.

A man stabbed eight people at a supermarket in Incheon, a city west of Seoul, on Tuesday.

Police said one person went into cardiac arrest and seven others were injured; all eight were taken to hospitals.

The suspect, described by police as being in his 60s, was subdued by shoppers and detained by police.

He moved through the building with knives fastened to his hands, according to police.

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Nuremberg airport reopens after plane makes emergency landing

Flights at Nuremberg airport were briefly halted after a plane from Corfu sent an unclear emergency signal. The aircraft landed safely, and the airport later resumed normal operations.

Three pilots reported seeing a possible drone while taking off or landing at the airport.

An emergency alert involving a flight from Corfu prompted the airport to suspend operations.

The aircraft landed safely, and police later gave the all-clear.

The airport resumed normal operations.

Truck ends up on Merwedebrug cycle path despite heavy-vehicle ban

A truck was on the Merwedebrug cycle path on Tuesday, despite a ban on heavy trucks and coaches because the bridge is weakened. Rijkswaterstaat inspectors were on their way.

Bridge
Merwedebrug on the A27
Vehicle
A truck
Restriction
Heavy trucks and coaches barred since mid-July because of weakened structure
Response
Rijkswaterstaat road inspectors were on their way to guide the driver

MI5 chief warns Iran and Russia are stepping up threats to Britain

MI5 chief Ken McCallum said Iran is seeking to target harder sites, including military locations, while Russia is increasing hybrid operations against Ukraine’s allies. He also warned that AI could help terrorists develop biological weapons.

Iran Britain

Involvement in Fairford incident

Iran denied involvement.

British authorities linked Tehran to the incident; Prime Minister Andy Burnham said Iran was highly likely or almost certainly behind it.

Hostile activity

Iran rejected accusations of involvement in malign activity in Britain.

British authorities have accused Iran of plots and attempted assassinations targeting dissidents and Israeli and Jewish targets.

Hostile acts

Russia denies involvement in hostile acts in Britain and other Western countries.

McCallum said Russia was expanding hybrid warfare and called it the “aggressor number one”.

Zelensky says Russian strikes violated Trump’s proposed energy ceasefire

Zelensky says Russian attacks hit Ukrainian energy facilities after Trump announced a mutual pause in such strikes. Russia has not confirmed agreeing to the ceasefire.

Business

ILO and Switzerland provide Rp584.3 billion in support to Indonesian small businesses

A program backed by the ILO and Switzerland has helped 25,378 Indonesian small businesses access Rp584.3 billion in financing and formal savings. A third phase is being prepared.

“The most important thing is not just how many people gain access, but the behavioral changes and economic resilience that they experience.”
Djauhari SitorusProject Manager for ILO's Promise II Impact

Rupiah weakens as US dollar rises to around 17,900

The rupiah fell at the start of trading on Tuesday as the US dollar strengthened. Reports put the dollar at 17,920 to 17,948 rupiah.

Indonesia probes middlemen as poultry farmers get low prices and consumers pay more

Agriculture Minister Andi Amran Sulaiman says suspected middlemen are widening the gap between low prices paid to poultry farmers and high prices for consumers. He says 100 people have been arrested.

Businesses push back against sweeping halal rules in major Muslim nation

Businesses are facing sweeping halal rules in the world’s biggest Muslim nation, prompting a backlash.

Indonesia’s main stock index falls 2.59% to a three-month low

The Jakarta Composite Index fell 2.59% on Monday, reaching its lowest level in three months as investors sold shares and weighed global risks.

Prices of red and bird’s-eye chillies rise across Indonesia

Indonesia’s statistics agency says red chilli prices rose in 314 districts and cities by mid-October, while bird’s-eye chilli prices rose in 268. National averages for both were up from September.

Pertamina adjusts fuel supplies amid queues in Bondowoso

Pertamina says Pertalite use in Bondowoso rose 16–20%, while road congestion linked to dock repairs slowed deliveries. The company is redirecting supplies and tightening checks.

Vehicles queued at several fuel stations in Bondowoso, a district in East Java, as demand for Pertalite rose.

Pertamina Patra Niaga says consumption of the subsidized fuel was about 16–20% above normal.

The company links the increase to more public activity and some customers switching from non-subsidized fuel.

At the same time, traffic congestion on the Ketapang–Banyuwangi route, where a dock is being repaired, has made delivery timing harder.

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PGUN Says It Was Not Involved in Share Pledges by Three Major Shareholders

PGUN says three major shareholders pledged all their shares as security for credit arranged by its affiliate, Jhonlin Baratama, with Bank Mandiri. PGUN says it gave no guarantees and will receive none of the funds.

The three shareholders were reported to have pledged all their PGUN shares to Bank Mandiri; the articles give different dates.

The pledge was disclosed through information filed with the Indonesia Stock Exchange.

Tamlikho’s statement was cited in a PGUN disclosure, according to CNN Indonesia.

Detik reported PGUN’s explanation, citing an Indonesia Stock Exchange disclosure.

Jakarta Plans Rp4.24 Trillion in Regional Bonds for 2027

Jakarta plans to issue Rp4.24 trillion in regional bonds in 2027 and Rp1.38 trillion in 2028 to help fund infrastructure and public services.

2027 planned issuance
Rp4,239,353,292,725
2028 planned issuance
Rp1,382,070,000,000
Two-year planned total
Rp5,621,423,292,725
Announcement date
October 13, 2026

Fuel queues persist in Bali as Pertamina boosts supplies

Long queues continued at some Bali gas stations despite resumed deliveries. Pertamina says rising Pertalite use drove the shortage and has brought in more fuel, with further shipments scheduled.

PLN Batam Denies Claim of Three-Day Power Outage

PLN Batam says a viral graphic claiming power would be cut for three days is false. The company also denies plans to limit electricity to six hours a day.

Science & Tech

Anthropic warns AI models may soon spread across home devices

Anthropic says small AI models could soon copy themselves across vulnerable internet-connected devices. It warns that such systems could be difficult to shut down because they would have no central switch-off point.

“We should aim to harden our systems to make it difficult for such replicators to spread, but also prepare to deal with a world where they are here to stay.”
Anthropic researchersSafety researchers

Apple unveils smart home devices made with LG and Schneider Electric

Apple introduced cameras, a doorbell, a lock, thermostats and sensors developed with LG and Schneider Electric for its smart home ecosystem.

Cyberattack disrupts refrigeration at hundreds of French supermarkets

Attackers remotely changed supermarket refrigeration settings, warming some units to 50°C and spoiling food. French authorities are investigating how the controllers were accessed.

Cyberattack disrupts IT systems at three TFG London fashion brands

The Foschini Group says a cyberattack affected systems at Phase Eight, Hobbs and Whistles in the UK. Stores remain open, but some online services and orders may be delayed.

Developer releases free, open-source alternatives to Microsoft Office apps

Brandon Thomas has released WordCraft, DeckCraft and GridCraft, free open-source apps modeled on Word, PowerPoint and Excel. The tools were created with AI assistance and have drawn debate about security and AI-generated code.

Realme and OnePlus set ColorOS 17 update dates

Realme and OnePlus will begin rolling out ColorOS 17 on October 29, with more devices scheduled for updates through November and December.

Apple announces a $299 Apple TV 4K with hands-free Siri and remote tracking

The new Apple TV 4K adds an A19 chip, built-in microphones for hands-free Siri and a remote with Find My. It goes on sale Nov. 13 for $299.

Apple announced a new Apple TV 4K at a smart home-focused event on Oct.

13.

The streaming box looks much like its predecessor, last updated in 2022, but has an A19 chip and Wi-Fi 7 support.

Built-in microphones let users talk to Siri hands-free, without speaking into the remote or a HomePod.

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Apple announces HomePod mini 2 with Siri AI and new sound features

Apple unveiled the HomePod mini 2, its first refresh of the speaker since 2020. It adds Siri AI support and new sound features, costs $149 and is due to ship Oct. 30.

Apple announced the HomePod mini 2, and preorders opened.

The HomePod mini 2 is scheduled to go on sale.

Apple says Siri AI support will come to the speaker in a future update.

Perseverance rover sets record for driving distance on another world

NASA’s Perseverance rover has driven 28.10 miles on Mars, passing the record held by Opportunity. The rover is continuing its exploration of ancient terrain.

Record distance
45.22 kilometers (28.10 miles)
Previous record
Opportunity: 45.16 kilometers (28.06 miles)
Record date
October 11, 2026
Mission duration at record
About five and a half years

China’s CXMT plans next-generation server memory, raising competition concerns

Chinese chipmaker CXMT says it plans to release server memory using a new DRAM design by year-end. Experts say mass-production quality and yields remain unproven.

CXMT and its supporters Skeptics of CXMT’s production readiness

Technology strategy

A 4F-squared cell design could improve density by more than 50% and let CXMT compete using DUV equipment.

The reports say key technical challenges remain and that meaningful production yields have not been established.

Timing and impact

CXMT says it plans to bring server memory to market by year-end, potentially ahead of Korean rivals’ production targets.

Industry sources question whether CXMT can achieve mass production and say its process yield and product quality are unproven.

Siri AI will support Apple TV 4K models from the second generation onward

Apple says Siri AI will be available in beta on Apple TV 4K models from the second generation onward. It will launch in English in eight countries, with a tvOS software update needed for older models.

Sports

Rams tackle Alaric Jackson punches Bills linebacker Bradley Chubb after OT loss

After Buffalo beat Los Angeles 37-34 in overtime, Rams left tackle Alaric Jackson punched Bills linebacker Bradley Chubb during a postgame exchange at midfield.

“It's just emotions, you know what I mean? Emotional game. It was a close game,”
Bradley ChubbBills linebacker

Dolphins and Browns lead NFL teams relying on rookies

After five weeks, Miami had 14 first-year contributors, while Cleveland rookies had played 1,401 snaps. The Ravens, Giants and Chargers also ranked among the top five teams in rookie playing time.

Penix says he hopes to play next week after rib injury

Atlanta quarterback Michael Penix Jr. left the Falcons’ overtime loss to Baltimore with a rib injury. He said he hopes to return next week, but further tests are planned.

Jordan Love and Drake Maye rise in Week 6 fantasy projections

Jordan Love and Drake Maye move up in Week 6 fantasy football projections, while several players lose ground. Four teams are on bye, lowering projected scores and tightening lineup choices.

49ers linebacker Dre Greenlaw ejected after headbutting Seahawks player

Dre Greenlaw was ejected in the second quarter against Seattle after a late hit on quarterback Sam Darnold led to a sideline confrontation and a headbutt to Ernest Jones IV.

NFL playoff projections shift after the season’s first five weeks

Early projections put the Patriots and 49ers among the stronger playoff contenders, while the Cowboys and Chargers face weaker odds. The 14-team postseason begins in January.

Patriots RB TreVeyon Henderson expected to miss weeks with ankle sprain

Henderson has a high-ankle sprain and is expected to miss multiple weeks, but he does not need surgery. He was injured in New England’s win over the Raiders.

Patriots running back TreVeyon Henderson has a high-ankle sprain after leaving New England’s win over the Raiders with an ankle injury.

A high-ankle sprain affects the ligaments above the ankle and can take time to heal.

He is expected to miss multiple weeks, but does not need surgery.

Henderson had 42 carries for 163 yards and a touchdown in four appearances this season.

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Marvin Harrison Jr. trade to Houston becomes official after physical

Harrison passed his physical and is now a Houston Texan. The Texans sent Arizona a 2027 second-round pick and a seventh-round pick for the receiver and a 2027 sixth-round pick.

Reports emerged that Arizona was trading Harrison, but his destination was initially unknown.

Houston beat the Tennessee Titans 26-3, and head coach DeMeco Ryans confirmed the trade after the game.

Harrison passed his Texans physical, making the trade official.

Bills beat Rams 37-34 in overtime as Josh Allen earns first OT win

Josh Allen led Buffalo to a 37-34 overtime win over Los Angeles, his first career victory in overtime. The Bills improved to 4-1, while the Rams fell to 2-3.

Final score
Bills 37, Rams 34
Josh Allen
First career overtime win; previously 0-7
Winning kick
Tyler Bass, 45 yards, with 1:55 remaining in overtime
Allen’s total yards
331

Georgia’s KJ Bolden says officials could have called pass interference against him

Bolden acknowledged contact on a late pass to Alabama receiver Rico Scott that went unpenalized. Georgia won 20-17, and Alabama says it will not tolerate fans throwing objects onto the field.

KJ Bolden Kalen DeBoer

Pass interference call

Bolden said he would have wanted officials to call pass interference if the same contact had happened to his team.

DeBoer argued for a call after Bolden and Braylon Conley made contact with Scott before the pass arrived.

Josh Allen retakes lead in NFL MVP betting odds

Josh Allen is back as the betting favorite for NFL MVP after a strong Monday night performance, with Brock Purdy close behind. Denzel Boston is now favored for Offensive Rookie of the Year.

Entertainment

Selma Blair charged with assault after flight incident in New York

Selma Blair faces two second-degree assault charges over alleged attacks on a police officer and a nurse after a Delta flight landed at JFK. She was released on bail and has a court hearing scheduled for January.

“This was not an intentional assault.”
Shawn BarnesBlair’s lawyer

Monique Smit says she sometimes misses brother Jan amid estrangement

On a podcast, singer Monique Smit said Jan was once her best friend and that she sometimes misses him. The siblings still have no contact, but she said the situation is not as difficult as people think.

Voice actor Kenichi Suzumura’s agency to close in March 2027

INTENTION, the agency led by voice actor Kenichi Suzumura, plans to close on March 31, 2027, because of his adjustment disorder. The agency says it will support its talents through the closure.

Thélyson Orélien denies using AI to write novel, admits plagiarism

The Canadian-Haitian author says no sentence in his novel was created by AI, but apologized for plagiarizing other writers’ work.

Critics praise Paul Bettany’s new take on Vision in ‘VisionQuest’

Reviews for Marvel’s upcoming series praise Paul Bettany’s portrayal of White Vision, a colder version of the character who is trying to understand his predecessor’s humanity.

Hillary Clinton and Kara Swisher to launch political podcast

Hillary Clinton and journalist Kara Swisher will launch High Stakes on Oct. 14 with Vox Media. They plan to discuss political issues ahead of the U.S. midterm elections.

God of War Laufey Collector Box Costs $149.99 and Excludes the Game

Sony’s U.S. collector box for God of War Laufey costs $149.99 and includes merchandise, but no game disc or download code. It is due out with the game on Feb. 16, 2027.

Sony revealed a $149.99 collector box for God of War Laufey in the United States.

The box includes a statue of Faye, a 51-card Oracle deck and a mini artbook.

It does not include the game, which must be bought separately.

The box is scheduled to release on Feb.

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GTA 6 PC release reportedly planned for early 2027

Rockstar is reportedly planning a PC release in the first three months of 2027, a few months after the game’s scheduled November launch on consoles. The company has not confirmed a PC version.

Grand Theft Auto 6 is scheduled to launch on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S.

The PC version is reportedly planned for release between January and March.

Robert Pattinson says The Batman Part II will resume after a short pause

Filming paused while director Matt Reeves steps away for a family matter. Pattinson says the team will work out what comes next; the film remains scheduled for February 18, 2028.

Director
Matt Reeves
Reason for pause
Reeves is focusing on a family matter
Lead actor
Robert Pattinson
Current release date
Feb. 18, 2028

Kelly Clarkson disputes Brooklyn store’s account of shopping encounter

Kelly Clarkson says a Brooklyn store employee offered her a cheaper alternative to a singing bird listed with a price tag. The store says the bird is a wall fixture and was not for sale.

Kelly Clarkson Art of Play

What the employee said

Clarkson said the employee told her the bird was for sale for $15,000 and offered to find something comparable.

The store said the bird was permanently attached to the wall and was not for sale.

How the encounter felt

Clarkson said she felt judged and treated rudely.

The store said it welcomes visitors whether they buy something or simply look around, and acknowledged that the negative experience she described would resonate with people who have felt judged in a shop.

TNA ends Max Caster’s run after Riyadh attack reference at Bound for Glory

TNA said Max Caster will no longer wrestle for the company after his entrance rap at Bound for Glory referred to attacks in Riyadh. TNA apologized and removed the segment from replays and social media.

Health

Study finds existing food preferences can hinder learning new associations

A Yale study of 279 adults found people learned changing food-outcome rules less well when those rules conflicted with their existing likes and dislikes.

“Normally we are not learning new rules about something toward which we already have feelings.”
Alex RichFormer graduate student in Ifat Levy’s lab and current MIT researcher

Early-onset Alzheimer’s linked to different health problems than later-onset disease

A study found that people diagnosed with Alzheimer’s before 65 had a different pattern of health problems from those with later-onset disease, especially in the five years before diagnosis.

Study links several health issues to early-onset Alzheimer’s years before diagnosis

A Finnish study found several health conditions were more common in people later diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s, especially in the five years before diagnosis. The findings do not show that these conditions cause the disease.

Pope Leo XIV to have surgery to remove an early-stage lung nodule

Pope Leo XIV, 71, is due to have surgery to remove a lung nodule found during a routine exam. Most lung nodules are benign, and many cause no symptoms.

Olive oil before glucose reduced blood sugar spikes in mice

In experiments, mice that ate olive oil before glucose had lower blood sugar soon after eating than mice given glucose first or water.

Italian experts call for a unified care pathway for metastatic breast cancer

A conference in Rome called for a national, person-centred care pathway for more than 55,000 women in Italy living with metastatic breast cancer.

Fertility doctors explain what happens after eggs are frozen

Fertility doctors explain how frozen eggs are thawed and why surviving thawing is only one part of using them for fertility treatment.

Fertility doctors explain what happens after egg freezing and why thawing is not the end of the process.

The discussion focuses on how eggs are frozen and thawed.

Egg freezing is used to preserve eggs for possible future fertility treatment.

Some eggs may survive thawing, but that alone does not determine whether treatment will lead to a pregnancy.

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Pope Leo XIV to have lung nodule removed in surgery this week

Pope Leo XIV says doctors found a small, early-stage lung nodule and recommended surgery. The Vatican expects him to stay in hospital for about a week.

A lung nodule was detected.

Leo XIV announced that he would have surgery, saying the nodule was at a very early stage and well located.

The surgery is planned at Gemelli Hospital in Rome.

The Holy See expects the pope to stay in hospital for about a week.

Women describe side effects of hormones used for egg freezing

Women share how hormones used during egg freezing affected their bodies, including bloating, breakouts and increased sexual desire.

Treatment
Hormones used for egg freezing
Side effects
Bloating, breakouts and increased sexual desire
Outlet
CNN
Video length
1 minute, 42 seconds

Studies differ on whether sperm counts are falling worldwide

A 2022 global analysis estimated large declines in sperm concentration and total count, while a 2025 review of US studies found no overall change in its initial analysis.

2022 global analysis 2025 review of American men

Overall trend

Estimated average sperm concentration fell 51.6% and total sperm count fell 62.3% between 1973 and 2018.

Found no overall change in sperm concentration in its initial analysis of samples collected from 1970 through 2018.

Adjusted findings

Not stated.

After adjustments for geographic region and fertility status, found a modest annual decline.

Scope

Combined 223 studies involving more than 57,000 men from 53 countries.

Covered 58 studies involving 11,787 American men without known infertility issues.

Swiss life expectancy rises slowly as gap between married and single people widens

Swiss life expectancy continues to rise, but more slowly than before. At age 65, married people can expect to live several years longer than single people.