India-Pakistan ceasefire holds for ‘first calm night in days’
The federal territory of Jammu and Kashmir observed the first peaceful night in days as the truce between Pakistan and India appeared to be largely holding after both nations claimed victory in the conflict.
The night remained mostly peaceful in Jammu and Kashmir and other areas along the international border, the Indian Army said, adding there were no reported incidents of military action on the “first calm night in recent days”. The military operations chiefs of both India and Pakistan will resume talks on Monday on the next steps to ensure peace between the two nuclear-armed rivals.
US president Donald Trump over the weekend pledged to find a solution to the long-running Kashmir dispute after the South Asian nations reached a ceasefire on Saturday afternoon, for which he took credit.
The truce announced on Saturday followed four days of intense fighting between the neighbours in one of the largest military escalations in nearly three decades, killing almost 70 people.
India‘s military on Sunday claimed the strikes into Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir last week killed more than 100 militants, including prominent leaders.
Lt Gen Rajiv Ghai, the director general of military operations, said India’s armed forces struck nine militant infrastructure and training facilities, including sites of the Lashkar-e-Taiba group that India blames for carrying out major militant strikes in India and the disputed region of Kashmir.
“We achieved total surprise,” Lt Gen Ghai told reporters in New Delhi, adding Pakistan’s response was “erratic and rattled”.
India launched airstrikes on Pakistani soil to avenge the killing of 26 people, all but one tourists, in the Pahalgam valley of India-administered Kashmir in one of the worst attacks on tourists in decades.
India accused Pakistan of backing the militants who carried out the massacre, a charge Islamabad denied. The incident first led to a spat of tit-for-tat diplomatic measures by both the nations, sending their bilateral ties to a near historic low.
The two expelled each other’s diplomats, shut their airspace, land borders, and suspended a crucial water treaty.
After Wednesday’s strikes in Pakistan, both sides exchanged heavy fires along their de facto border in the restive Kashmir region followed by missile and drone strikes into each other’s territories, mainly targeting military installations and airbases. Dozens of civilians were killed on both the sides in heavy shelling, the two countries said.
The Indian Army claimed 35-40 personnel of the Pakistan Armed Forces had been killed at the Line of Control, the de facto border that divides the Kashmir region.
Both India and Pakistan claimed to have downed each other’s jets in a dog-fight that reportedly involved around 125 jets – the largest aerial combat since World War Two.
Air Marshal Awadhesh Kumar Bharti said India “definitely we have downed a few planes”, without revealing the actual number or offering evidence. “There are loses from their sides which we have inflicted,” he said.
He refused to comment on Pakistani claims of shooting down five Indian fighter jets, including a French-made Rafale, but said “we are in a combat scenario and losses are a part of combat”.
Pakistan’s military on Sunday told reporters it did not ask for a ceasefire, as claimed by India, but rather it was India that had sought the ceasefire.
Lt Gen Ahmad Sharif said Pakistan’s armed forces targeted a total of 26 Indian military installations in response to India’s missile strikes which were launched before dawn Wednesday.
He said the military had vowed it would respond to the Indian aggression, and it has fulfilled its commitment to the nation. Lt Gen Sharif warned that any threat to Pakistan’s sovereignty or territorial integrity would be met with a “comprehensive, retributive, and decisive” response.
He claimed Pakistan exercised “maximum restraint” during the counterstrike, employing medium-range missiles and other munitions, and that no civilian areas were targeted inside India.
Pakistan’s information minister Attaullah Tarar last week alleged his country’s armed forces had killed 40 to 50 Indian soldiers along the Line of Control.
People on both sides of the border reported heavy exchanges of fire between Indian and Pakistani troops, which subsided by Sunday morning.
In the Poonch area of Indian-administered Kashmir, people said the intense shelling from the past few days had traumatised them. “Most people ran as shells were being fired,” said college student Sosan Zehra, who returned home Sunday. “It was completely chaotic”.
As part of the ceasefire, both nations agreed to immediately stop all military action on land, in the air and at sea. Pakistan has thanked the US, and especially President Trump, several times for facilitating the ceasefire.
The Indian military sent a “hotline message” to Pakistan with complaints of violations of the ceasefire, which Pakistan denied flouting.
India has not said anything about Mr Trump or the US since the deal was announced. Indian prime minister Narendra Modi chaired a meeting on Sunday with top government and military officials.
US secretary of state Marco Rubio said he spoke with British foreign secretary David Lammy and discussed the ongoing tensions between India and Pakistan, and called for both countries to maintain the ceasefire and to continue to communicate. Mr Rubio said the US supported direct dialogue between India and Pakistan and encouraged continued efforts to improve communications.
Warning issued for thunderstorms across large parts of the UK
A yellow weather warning has been issued for thunderstorms in parts of England and Wales.
The Met Office has said the scattered storms across areas including Wales, the West Country, the Midlands and London could lead to disruption and some flooding.
More than half a month’s worth of rain could hit some areas during the warning period, from midday on Monday until 10pm.
On Sunday afternoon showers started to hit the Reading and Bristol areas, before the further thunderstorms will develop on Monday, Met Office meteorologist Becky Mitchell said.
It comes after much of the rest of the country had seen a hot and sunny weekend.
Ms Mitchell said: “It’s another hot and humid day across the southern areas and that’s going to trigger thundery showers.
“On Monday between 20mm and 30mm of rain could fall in an hour and between 40mm and 50mm in the space of one to two hours. There’s the possibility of flooding and disruption, that’s just going to depend on those heavy showers lingering.”
Hail and localised power cuts are also a possibility within the warning area, she said.
Northern Ireland could see some potentially heavy rain on Sunday night and the north west of England and southern Scotland could see scattered showers on Monday afternoon, but the same level of impact as the warning zone is not expected.
From Tuesday onwards, the weather is forecast to turn more settled, with highs of low to mid 20s, which could mean Northern Ireland and Scotland see their hottest days of the year so far, Ms Mitchell said.
On Sunday, a 42-year-old man’s body was recovered on Sunday following searches for a swimmer who went missing in Loch Ard on Saturday, Police Scotland said.
A search was launched after the swimmer was reported missing from the loch, which is in the Trossachs National Park, at 9pm on Saturday.
Police Scotland’s diving and marine unit were involved, along with a mountain rescue team and an air support unit. There are not thought to be any suspicious circumstances surrounding the death.
Liverpool fans booing Alexander-Arnold was shocking but feelings were hurt
Trent Alexander-Arnold went to the Kop to applaud them. Many responded with a similar salute to a Liverpudlian. None of which would have been exceptional but for the reception he had received earlier. There was a smattering of boos when the name of the West Derby boy who became a Champions League winner was announced. There were a lot more when he came on.
Some, presumably, from those who cheered his winner against Leicester three weeks earlier. Some, logically, from those who had celebrated him during many a magical moment, a whipped cross or caressed pass, over nine seasons, 352 earlier appearances and eight trophies. Liverpool crowds can be loyal towards their own. Not this, though the dissenters may argue the initial disloyalty came from Alexander-Arnold, the player who rejected a lucrative contract, who seems bound for Real Madrid.
Even if predicted, the reality of it felt shocking. “Maybe he is positively surprised how the reactions were,” insisted Arne Slot, not entirely convincingly but saying a “few” had booed. It was more than that, and it also demonstrated some of the depth of feeling, and that it is not confined to the online world. “If you tell me 60/40, 50/50, 40/60, I don’t know, but what I do know is clapping is not as loud as booing,” Slot said, arguing that the majority were not silent, but drowned out. Perhaps it was tempting to wonder if the Dutchman was making a veiled reference to events on the other side of the Atlantic when he said: “It is a privilege to live in Europe where everyone can have his own opinion and express their own opinion and that is what we saw.”
Slot noted the timely chant of Steven Gerrard’s name when Alexander-Arnold was brought on; Gerrard, of course, had his opportunities to leave but stayed. There was one of the many odes to Conor Bradley: the fanbase engaged in succession planning by hailing Alexander-Arnold’s likely successor. That can be the Liverpool way: to move on.
There was a question if Slot, a relative newcomer, had misjudged the mood when bringing on Alexander-Arnold. But he made a footballing decision. Bradley was booked and struggling against Leandro Trossard. “The thing I consider is I want to win a game of football and if we think we can win with Trent, I owe it to his teammates and to the fans, because they [Liverpool] hired me to win as many games of football as possible,” he said. “If, after 70 minutes, Conor can’t continue and I have a world-class full back on the bench I bring him in and it’s a big compliment to him. You can understand the mixed emotions going through his head and he can produce a performance like that tells me why I think and everyone else thinks he’s a world-class full-back.”
Will Bradley become one? The evidence from a 2-2 draw with Arsenal was mixed. He may need as much exposure as possible. Yet Alexander-Arnold could be held in reserve. Slot will not curtail his Liverpool career by omitting him for the final-day game against Crystal Palace, when the Premier League trophy will be presented, which would be Alexander-Arnold’s Anfield farewell. The boos, he said, were not a distraction against Arsenal. He did not worry about the prospect of more. “I don’t think there’s any possibility whatever can happen that can take the edge of us winning this 20th league title,” he said.
For now, Slot said, emotions are mixed. Raw, too, even if, while it was only six days since Alexander-Arnold had announced his departure, he had told Slot in March, and it had long seemed apparent what his decision would be.
His teammates, like his manager, have been disappointed but supportive. Andy Robertson has been a brother in arms, a fellow full-back who has had a competition to get the most assists. “He’s an amazing player and an amazing person,” said the left-back. “He has pushed me through and made me a better player. His legacy will always be there: he’s done so much for this club. He will be missed for me as one of my best friends in the game, we’ve done it all together. He’s took me to levels I never knew existed. It hasn’t been an easy one for Trent but he has made the decision. It was not nice to see him get booed but you can’t tell people how to feel.”
But it was an illustration of how they do feel. Some of the supporters may object to the way a potential £50m fee will elude them, even if a player who cost Liverpool nothing will leave for nothing. But that reaction is in part because he is the Liverpudlian who is rejecting Liverpool. And before the eventual applause, some at Anfield barracked the player they used to celebrate as “the Scouser in the team”.
Peacemaker president? Trump’s quest for international recognition
President Donald Trump, hailing a successful U.S.-mediated ceasefire between India and Pakistan on Saturday, brought flashbacks to his inauguration day address and desire to be seen as a “peacemaker.”
Standing under the dome of the Capitol Building, the bombastic, newly sworn-in 47th President of the United States, previously its 45th commander-in-chief, delivered a dark and partisan address before the throng of lawmakers and dignitaries.
Amid declarations on immigration, taxes, governmental upheaval, being saved by god, and the dawn of a golden age for America, Trump also revisited some of his familiar grievances about how unfairly he has been treated.
There was a nod to one particular complaint, sandwiched between promises to build the strongest military the world has ever seen and a desire for an expansionist America, Trump said: “We will measure our success, not only by the battles we win, but also by the wars that we end, and perhaps most importantly, the wars we never get into.”
He continued: “My proudest legacy will be that of a peacemaker and unifier. That’s what I want to be, a peacemaker and a unifier.”
On the surface, an admirable mission statement, but underneath lies a personal motive and related gripe. President Trump has made no secret that one thing he really desires is a Nobel Peace Prize.
He has complained about not getting one for almost a decade and is particularly galled by the fact that President Barack Obama was awarded one after just nine months in office for working toward “the great climatic challenges.”
On the campaign trail last year, Trump said: “If I were named Obama, I would have had the Nobel Prize given to me in 10 seconds.”
Former Trump national security adviser, turned vocal opponent, John Bolton, told The New York Times: “The center of his public life is the greater glory of Donald Trump, and the Nobel Peace Prize would be a nice thing to hang on the wall.”
Bolton added: “[Trump] felt if Obama got it for not doing anything, why should he not get it?”
In one of his many public airing of grievances, in February, during an Oval Office meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Trump said: “They will never give me a Nobel Peace Prize. It’s too bad. I deserve it, but they will never give it to me.”
Indeed, the president has been nominated for the award by Republican allies. In early 2024, New York Rep. Claudia Tenney put Trump forward for the honor for his role in the Abraham Accords treaty that normalized relations between Israel, the United Arab Emirates, and Bahrain.
“Donald Trump was instrumental in facilitating the first new peace agreements in the Middle East in almost 30 years,” she claimed in a statement posted on her website.
And yet, nothing came of the nomination — it was instead awarded to Nihon Hidankyo, the Japanese organization of atomic bomb survivors dedicated to advocating for nuclear disarmament and nuclear non-proliferation.
Trump returned to the White House this year at an especially fraught time in international relations. Russia’s war on Ukraine is now in its third year, and Israel’s war on Hamas in Gaza has continued for more than 18 months. The president made grandiose promises to end the former in 24 hours and “quickly restore stability” in the latter case.
Both conflicts grind on, with a fragile two-month ceasefire in Gaza coming to a catastrophic end in March.
Adding further to the tense global situation, India and Pakistan entered the most serious military escalation between the two nuclear powers in years following a deadly terrorist attack in Indian-administered Kashmir in April.
However, in this case, there was quick progress. As cross-border missile and drone attacks escalated, the U.S. engaged with officials on both sides to lower tensions.
Shortly before 8 a.m. East Coast time on Saturday, May 10, the president took to his social media platform, Truth Social, to triumphantly announce: “After a long night of talks mediated by the United States, I am pleased to announce that India and Pakistan have agreed to a FULL AND IMMEDIATE CEASEFIRE. Congratulations to both Countries on using Common Sense and Great Intelligence. Thank you for your attention to this matter!”
Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Vice President JD Vance, who recently visited India, reportedly did the heavy lifting, with Rubio tweeting a few minutes later: “Over the past 48 hours, [Vice President] Vance and I have engaged with senior Indian and Pakistani officials, including Prime Ministers Narendra Modi and Shehbaz Sharif, External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, Chief of Army Staff Asim Munir, and National Security Advisors Ajit Doval and Asim Malik.”
“I am pleased to announce the Governments of India and Pakistan have agreed to an immediate ceasefire and to start talks on a broad set of issues at a neutral site,” he continued.
“We commend Prime Ministers Modi and Sharif on their wisdom, prudence, and statesmanship in choosing the path of peace.”
Vance added: “Great work from the President’s team, especially Secretary Rubio. And my gratitude to the leaders of India and Pakistan for their hard work and willingness to engage in this ceasefire.”
Saudi Arabia and Turkey both played an important role in securing the deal, according to Pakistan’s foreign minister, Ishaq Dar, and the chiefs of military operations on both sides have spoken, according to Indian foreign secretary Vikram Misri. However, it is Trump himself who announced the ceasefire and claimed credit for the U.S. in de-escalating the situation, although there were reports on Saturday that the ceasefire had already been violated.
Late on Saturday night, the president followed up on Truth Social, saying he was “proud of the strong and unwaveringly powerful leadership” on both sides, praising their “strength, wisdom, and fortitude,” to stop the conflict, knowing that “millions of good and innocent people could have died!”
Saying that he was “proud” of the U.S. role, Trump added his own personal contribution to the deal: “While not even discussed, I am going to increase trade, substantially, with both of these great Nations. Additionally, I will work with you both to see if, after a “thousand years,” a solution can be arrived at concerning Kashmir.”
There was also progress in Europe on Saturday, with Ukraine and European leaders agreeing to an unconditional 30-day ceasefire on May 12 with the backing of Trump, threatening Russian President Vladimir Putin with new “massive” sanctions if he failed to comply.
This comes after accusations of Trump appeasing Putin and an apparent realization by the president that, as most of the world already knew, he was being strung along by the Russian leader, despite his continued insistence that neither side in the conflict was playing him.
Following his last meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the Vatican, the president wrote of Putin on Truth Social: “It makes me think that maybe he doesn’t want to stop the war.”
“He’s just tapping me along, and has to be dealt with differently, through ‘Banking’ or ‘Secondary Sanctions?’” he wrote. “Too many people are dying!!!”
Saturday’s announcement of a unified approach was made by the leaders of Britain, France, Germany, Poland, and Ukraine at a meeting in Kyiv, after which they held a phone call with Trump.
“So all of us here, together with the U.S., are calling Putin out. If he is serious about peace, then he has a chance to show it,” British Prime Minister Keir Starmer told reporters at a news conference. “No more ifs and buts, no more conditions and delays.”
Zelensky said in part on X: “By uniting others, we are working to bring real peace closer, ensuring long-term security not only with the five of us here but also with our friends, partners, and leaders from 30 other EU and NATO countries participating online.”
U.S. Special Envoy to Ukraine Keith Kellogg commented on a post on X by Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha: “A comprehensive (air, land, sea, infrastructure) cease fire for 30 days will start the process for ending the largest and longest war in Europe since World War II.”
He added, giving a nod to his boss: “As the President has repeatedly said, stop the killing now.”
Trump remained quiet on the matter until around midnight, before posting: “A potentially great day for Russia and Ukraine! Think of the hundreds of thousands of lives that will be saved as this never ending ‘bloodbath’ hopefully comes to an end. It will be a whole new, and much better, WORLD. I will continue to work with both sides to make sure that it happens. The USA wants to focus, instead, on Rebuilding and Trade. A BIG week upcoming!”
Why the delayed reaction from the White House? Being the weekend, shortly after his post on the ceasefire in South Asia, Trump departed for a round of golf at his club in Virginia, perhaps feeling a step closer to his much-desired personal goal of becoming a Nobel laureate — or, perhaps, adding to his complaint for if he doesn’t receive the honor.
It is worth remembering that, given the global scope of the president’s remit, diplomatic wins in one area will always be weighed against failures or actions in others.
The Norwegian Nobel Committee will not be able to overlook an inability to stop the fighting in Gaza, and his disturbing vision of its future, nor his threats to take back the Panama Canal and annex Greenland.
Trump may still be left wanting, no matter what other successes he can claim as his own.
Four-year-old boy sent to hospital as 74 ill after petting farm trip
The parents of a four-year-old boy rushed to hospital after suffering an infection linked to a visit to a petting farm have spoken of their “nightmare” ordeal.
Public health officials are examining 74 cases of cryptosporidium linked to visits to Cowbridge Farm Shop at Marlborough Grange Farm in Cowbridge, Vale of Glamorgan, during April.
Public Health Wales said the outbreak has resulted in 16 people having to stay in hospital for at least one night.
The farm has voluntarily ceased all public animal feeding activities and is cooperating with the investigation, the health watchdog added.
One of the children affected was named by his family as four-year-old Michael Carpenter, from Bridgend, who had visited the petting farm with his grandparents on 11 April.
The boy followed the rules, washing his hands and using a hand sanitiser after stroking some lambs before flying to Malaga with his family. Three days later, Michael’s temperature rose and he suffered severe diarrhoea, with the family being advised to take him to a local private hospital for tests.
His father Gareth, 46, told the BBC: “We were driving ourselves crazy.
“We were thinking, was it a bit of chicken he ate, or an ice cream his Nana gave him – she was feeling terrible about that – or was it something in the water?”
It cost £719 deposit to get Michael seen – and a £4,229 bill for the three days sent to hospital – luckily covered by the family’s insurance.
On their return to Wales, and with Michael still recovering from the effects of the parasite, they visited their GP, who took a stool sample.
Public Health Wales called Michael’s father the next day to say the test had shown Michael was infected with cryptosporidium and asked if the boy had been around any animals.
Cryptosporidium is a parasite that can cause gastrointestinal illness, often associated with contact with animals, especially young farm animals such as calves and lambs.
The boy’s mother, Kate, said: “It was an absolute nightmare.”
She said the boy’s grandmother “blames herself” for taking Michael to the petting farm, but “more information” had been given to people attending the petting sessions about the potential risks.
“It’s only when something happens that you realise how serious it is,” said Gareth.
“I would hate to see another parent go through the same thing.”
The main symptoms of a cryptosporidium infection include:
Public Health experts are warning those who have come into contact with infected cases to take extra care to avoid passing the infection onto others.
Su Mably, consultant in health protection for Public Health Wales, said: “We are continuing to work with our partners to investigate this outbreak. Although cryptosporidium infection is usually mild and clears up on its own, it can cause more serious illness in young children and people with weakened immune systems.
“If you visited the farm and feel unwell, please contact your GP or call NHS 111. It is possible for this infection to be passed on from one person to another, for example, if someone is caring for a family member who is unwell. It is important to protect yourself by washing your hands well, particularly before preparing food.”
Celebration villa breaks: find your perfect luxury getaway
If you’re planning a milestone birthday, a big anniversary, or a long-awaited reunion, a villa holiday is hard to beat. Imagine clinking glasses on a rooftop terrace at sunset or gathering loved ones around a candlelit garden table for a leisurely dinner under the night sky.
These special occasions deserve much more than booking out a busy hotel, and nothing beats having your own sun-drenched sanctuary where you have the space and privacy to celebrate in style. Whether you’re heading to Marrakech in the shadow of the Atlas Mountains, to the rolling hills of Tuscany, or a tropical oasis further afield, Villas are the perfect home-away-from-home for celebrating something, or someone, special.
CV Villas’ luxurious ABOVE collection offers the perfect backdrop for unforgettable moments – think breathtaking settings, total privacy, and the kind of comfort and space that makes everyone feel at home. All come with stunning interiors, sweeping views as far as the eye can see, and enviable locations in some of the world’s most sought-after spots. Each villa is hand-picked by dedicated CV Villa specialists, who are experts in helping people craft their dream getaway. Many come with their own infinity pools, breathtaking views and large alfresco dining areas, perfect for spending quality time together during life’s most important moments. Villas aren’t just places to stay, they’re a big part of the celebration itself.
From the moment you book your stay to your arrival back home, the CV Villas Concierge team is there to make everything as seamless and stress-free as possible. They are dedicated to looking after you and your party before and throughout your holiday so that you can focus on the things that really matter, like spending quality time together and celebrating without having to worry about the minor details. The team tailors each trip to exactly what you’re after, whether you’re looking to book a private boat day or need to organise a surprise celebration dinner, nothing is too much trouble. Many of the five-star villas even come with their own butlers and chefs so that you can be waited on hand and foot during your special getaway.
ABOVE villas are the epitome of luxury and come with designer interiors, infinity pools boasting panoramic ocean views, and terraces made for golden hour cocktails – properties with serious star quality. What’s more, they’re located all around the world, from the sun-soaked shores of Spain and Greece to the palm-fringed beaches of far-flung Sri Lanka and beyond.
Sampling delicious local food is a big part of a holiday, but catering for a large group can often mean juggling different requests and palates. Luckily for you, many of these luxury villas come with their very own in-villa chefs – perfect for when you’d rather toast the moment with a glass of fizz than spend time flapping around in the kitchen. Instead, let your chef whip up multi-course meals morning till night, using the freshest local produce, all based on your personal tastes and dietary requirements, before tucking into it alfresco under the undisturbed starry night sky.
The little luxuries make a big difference to a bucket-list trip: daily housekeeping to keep things spic and span, spa treatments for when you need a little R&R, wine tastings for the adults, yoga sessions with epic views, and even round-the-clock babysitting. All of this can be arranged to make your stay feel even more indulgent.
Maison Emilion, France
This rustic French villa is practically made for wine lovers, aptly located amidst the rolling vineyards of Bordeaux. This six-bedroom hilltop hangout boasts views of the working vineyards from every angle, including from the heated pool and surrounding sunbeds. Wander into the nearby village of Saint-Émilion, then enjoy the included wine-tasting experience before settling into the garden for dinner with nothing but the glow of flickering candlelight and the moonlit sky.
Oleander, Corfu
It doesn’t get much more luxurious than Oleander in Corfu, a five-bedroom villa overlooking Avlaki Bay and the picturesque town of Kassiopi. It’s located high above the Ionian Sea and is the ideal villa for memorable summer celebrations. Soak up the sunshine from the infinity pool while enjoying views of Albania’s craggy Ceraunian Mountains, or hang out on the wrap-around terraces and communal outside dining areas. During peak season at Oleander, chef service is also included, so you can enjoy meals with your loved ones without even having to leave the villa.
Spirit of Son Fuster, Mallorca
Spirit of Son Fuster in Mallorca is hard to beat for large groups and multigenerational stays. This five-star bolthole is set in a stunning natural landscape at the foot of the Alaro twin mountains, right near the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Serra de Tramuntana, and is as secluded as it gets. This gorgeous 14th-century manor house sleeps twenty people across ten bedrooms and even has its own on-site spa and hammam where everyone can enjoy treatments in the dedicated treatment rooms. There’s even a private cinema room for movie nights and a well-stocked wine cellar filled with local vintage wines.
Masseria Giardini, Puglia
Masseria Giardini in Puglia is the height of luxury and the perfect home-away-from-home for families and large groups. It was built in 1750 and is surrounded by leafy olive groves and landscaped gardens curated by Chelsea Flower Show winners Urquhart & Hunt. Enjoy unparalleled views of the Canale Di Pirro Valley from this ten-bedroom farmhouse and spend days lazing around in the heated pool. This villa is an architectural masterpiece, with signature stone domed roofs and hand-carved stone baths in five of the ten bedrooms.
For more travel information and inspiration and to book your perfect villa getaway, visit CV Villas
Weight loss jabs could have surprise anti-cancer effect
New research suggests that weight loss injections, also known as GLP-1 receptor agonists, may have a significant anti-cancer effect beyond simply aiding in weight reduction.
While experts acknowledge the link between weight loss and reduced cancer risk, this study indicates the injections themselves may play a more direct role.
Researchers believe the anti-cancer properties may stem from the drugs’ ability to reduce inflammation, with newer GLP-1 receptor agonists potentially having the most pronounced effect. These medications work by suppressing appetite, making it easier for individuals to lose weight. They are available through the NHS for those with a high BMI and can also be obtained privately.
However, experts caution that further research is crucial to fully understand the relationship between weight loss injections and cancer prevention.
Major names of GLP-1 receptor agonists, some of which are used to treat diabetes, include semaglutide (Wegovy and Ozempic), tirzepatide (Mounjaro), liraglutide (Saxenda) and exenatide (a drug which has now been discontinued).
The new research, published in the journal eClinicalMedicine, was presented at the European Congress on Obesity in Malaga.
It found that first-generation GLP-1 receptor agonists such as liraglutide and exenatide may have anti-cancer benefits beyond weight loss.
Researchers first of all discovered similar rates of obesity-related cancer among patients treated with the drugs and those given bariatric surgery.
Co-lead author, Dr Yael Wolff Sagy from Clalit Health Services in Tel-Aviv, Israel, said they also found a “direct effect” of GLP-1 receptor agonists beyond weight loss “to be 41 per cent more effective at preventing obesity-related cancer”.
She added: “We do not yet fully understand how GLP-1s work, but this study adds to the growing evidence showing that weight loss alone cannot completely account for the metabolic, anti-cancer, and many other benefits that these medications provide.”
Being overweight or obese is the second biggest cause of cancer in the UK, causing more than one in 20 cancer cases.
The risk is higher the more overweight people are and the longer they have been overweight.
Keeping a healthy weight reduces the risk of 13 different types of cancer, including breast, bowel, pancreatic, oesophageal and gallbladder cancer.
In the new study, researchers analysed electronic health record data for obese people and those with type 2 diabetes, all with no prior history of cancer, who were treated with first-generation GLP-1 receptor agonists.
Over a typical follow-up of 7.5 years, 298 patients were diagnosed with obesity-related cancer, most commonly breast, bowel and womb cancer.
The analysis found that obesity-related cancer occurred in 150 of 3,178 bariatric surgery patients and in 148 of 3,178 patients taking GLP-1 receptor agonists, despite the “relative advantage” of bariatric surgery in weight reduction, which is already known to cut cancer risk.
Further analysis suggested GLP drugs had a direct effect on reducing obesity-related cancer beyond weight loss, with a 41 per cent lower relative risk compared to bariatric surgery.
Co-lead author, Professor Dror Dicker from Hasharon Hospital, Rabin Medical Centre in Israel, said: “The protective effects of GLP1-RAs against obesity-related cancers likely arise from multiple mechanisms, including reducing inflammation.
“Our study is unique in that the long-term follow-up allowed us to compare the effects of GLP1-RAs and surgery with potential long latency periods of cancer.
“New generation, highly potent GLP1-RAs with higher efficacy in weight reduction may convey an even greater advantage in reducing the risk of obesity-related cancers, but future research is needed to make sure that these drugs do not increase the risk for non-obesity-related cancers.”
Naveed Sattar, professor of cardiometabolic medicine at the University of Glasgow, said larger trials with carefully matched groups of people were needed to test the theory.
“This study, whilst interesting, cannot confirm or refute any links of incretin-based therapies with cancer as the design was not a trial but rather observational, and there were quite marked differences between the groups in baseline characteristics that simply cannot be matched,” he said.
“It is better to wait to see further large outcome trials versus placebo to get closer to the truth.”
He said larger trials “are needed to understand links between such medicines and cancer risks, and several should report over the next five years”.
Trump administration claim high-stakes trade talks with China were ‘productive’
“Substantial progress” has been made in a U.S.-China trade deal after President Donald Trump’s aggressive tariffs fueled a trade war with the world’s second-biggest economy.
The two countries held high-stakes talks this weekend after being at loggerheads for weeks over the tariffs. While the administration has yet to share details of their deal, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent described the Geneva discussions as “productive” and said the administration will share more on Monday.
“I’m happy to report that we made substantial progress between the United States and China in the very important trade talks,” Bessent said in a Sunday afternoon statement.
Bessent and U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer were deployed to meet with their Chinese counterparts in Geneva in an attempt to thrash out a deal. Saturday’s meeting lasted at least eight hours, while Sunday’s lasted several hours, according to the Wall Street Journal.
“We will be giving details tomorrow, but I can tell you that the talks were productive,” Bessent said. “We had the vice premier, two vice ministers, who were integrally involved, Ambassador Jamieson, and myself.”
“And I spoke to President Trump, as did Ambassador Jamieson, last night, and he is fully informed of what is going on,” he added. “So, there will be a complete briefing tomorrow morning.”
Greer said “a lot of groundwork” went into the two days of talks.
“Just remember why we’re here in the first place — the United States has a massive $1.2 trillion trade deficit, so the President declared a national emergency and imposed tariffs, and we’re confident that the deal we struck with our Chinese partners will help us to work toward resolving that national emergency,” he said.
Trump similarly described the first day of meetings as “very good” in a Saturday night Truth Social post.
“A very good meeting today with China, in Switzerland. Many things discussed, much agreed to. A total reset negotiated in a friendly, but constructive, manner,” Trump wrote. “We want to see, for the good of both China and the U.S., an opening up of China to American business. GREAT PROGRESS MADE!!!”
China’s state-run news agency Xinhua described Saturday’s meetings as “an important step toward resolving the dispute,” according to the Wall Street Journal.
Trump imposed tariffs of 145 percent on Chinese goods, while China has set 125 percent tariffs on U.S. products, with huge consequences for both countries. China supplies a massive amount of electronics, toys, textiles and furniture to the U.S. as it buys grains and oilseeds from American farmers, as well as oil and gas.
But in recent days, Trump has hinted that he could lower the tariffs in a bid to turn down the heat between the two nations.
The president on Friday suggested lowering the tariffs to 80 percent.
Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said Friday that Trump may even settle near 34 percent during an interview with Fox News, the rate the president announced on April 2.