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The Conversation

Officials from Ukraine and Russia met in Ankara, Turkey yesterday to begin peace talks. However, there was limited room for progress given that Vladimir Putin — the man who called the summit in the first place— didn’t turn up. What is Putin up to? As Natasha Lindstaedt notes, the goal is not only to string Ukraine along, but to see how far Putin can push US president Donald Trump. And it’s unfortunately been quite an effective strategy.

Prime minister Keir Starmer’s unexpectedly hardline speech on immigration earlier this week continues to reverberate. There has been shock and consternation about the government’s new measures to curb arrivals. But perhaps we should we be all that surprised, a new survey of MPs shows politicians are lagging behind the public when it comes to views on immigration – so no wonder they are feeling the pressure to meet demands for action.

A new player has entered the arena in the ongoing debate around how many steps we should take in a day. You’ve met 10,000 steps, everyone’s main contender, but let me introduce you to 7,000 steps. This new number is not seeking to replace 10,000 as your fitness goal, of course, but some pretty exciting research shows that 7,000 is your target if you are aiming to cut cancer risk. Once you’ve taken that many steps on a daily basis, your risk drops by 11%. By 9,000, it’s down by 16%. Curiously though, that’s where the association ends. Still, by that point you’re practically at 10,000 anyway. So you may as well keep going.

Scientists have formally recognised type 5 diabetes as a distinct form of the disease. Unlike the more common type 2, which is linked to a high body mass index, type 5 is linked to malnutrition in early life. Did you know that there are actually many more different types of diabetes than those we commonly come across?

Half-filled shelves reminiscent of the pandemic continue at Marks and Spencer, weeks after a major cyberattack. I still can’t order a new bath mat and, significantly more importantly, customers still don’t know how compromised their data is. It’s all a terrible mess — and it’s potentially the result of what is known as a sim-swap fraud. There are reports that the whole system was taken down because hackers took control of one employee’s phone and convinced security to reset critical password information. An expert takes us through this audacious and dangerous technique.

Laura Hood

Senior Politics Editor, Assistant Editor

Putin is testing how far he can push Trump by not turning up for Istanbul talks

Natasha Lindstaedt, University of Essex

Putin’s no-show has given Turkey status as a power broker in the talks over a peace deal.

What do MPs really think about immigration? We surveyed them to find out

Mitya Pearson, University of Warwick; David Jeffery, University of Liverpool

Members of the public are more likely than MPs to think immigration has been too high in recent years.

How 7,000 steps a day could help reduce your risk of cancer

Mhairi Morris, Loughborough University

Study shows how small changes make a big difference when it comes to physical activity and reducing cancer risk.

Type 5 diabetes is a newly recognised disease – here are all the types of diabetes you need to know about

Craig Beall, University of Exeter

A guide to the different types of diabetes, including the latest type to be officially recognised – type 5.

M&S cyberattacks used a little-known but dangerous technique – and anyone could be vulnerable

Hossein Abroshan, Anglia Ruskin University

Sim-swap fraud is becoming increasingly prevalent.

Is matcha a healthier alternative to coffee? Here’s what you need to know

Anthony Booker, University of Westminster

Looking for a caffeine boost without the crash? Here’s why matcha could be a coffee alternative – minus the jitters.

 

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