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- Sainsbury’s Alerts Against Thieves Trading Eggs for Fakes | UK News
- Norway reports first familial stem cell transplant cure for HIV patient
- Ukraine strikes two Russian oil refineries amid ongoing drone attacks
- Meningitis B Vaccines Available for Youth Following Three Confirmed Cases in Dorset
- Pope Leo criticises world leaders for unjust wars during Cameroon visit
- Venezuela and EU agree on new cooperation agenda after parliamentary talks
- Why does this image provoke more distress than a ‘victim’ on a gossip site?
- Antarctica’s A-23A iceberg disintegrates after nearly 40 years at sea
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Sainsbury’s Alerts Against Thieves Trading Eggs for Fakes | UK News
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Get you up to speed: Sainsbury’s Alerts Against Thieves Trading Eggs for Fakes | UK News
SHOPLIFTING ALERT
Sainsbury’s is warning customers about CCTV surveillance to deter ‘egg theft’, asserting that shoplifters will face prosecution in conjunction with the police.
Sainsbury’s is warning customers about CCTV surveillance to deter ‘egg theft’, asserting that shoplifters will face prosecution in conjunction with the police.
INCREASING SHOPLIFTING
WTXpolitan Police reported that theft incidents surged 20% year-on-year to 2024, marking the highest level since records began, prompting concerns over shopkeeper cooperation.
WTXpolitan Police reported that theft incidents surged 20% year-on-year to 2024, marking the highest level since records began, prompting concerns over shopkeeper cooperation.
SHOPLIFTING SURGE
As incidents of shoplifting rise, Sainsbury’s has implemented a policy to prosecute thieves and pass CCTV footage to the WTXpolitan Police for action.
As incidents of shoplifting rise, Sainsbury’s has implemented a policy to prosecute thieves and pass CCTV footage to the WTXpolitan Police for action.
What we know so far
Sainsbury’s has issued a warning to customers regarding the rise of ‘egg theft’, as thieves swap premium eggs into cheaper boxes. The supermarket’s notices throughout its stores highlight that they are monitoring customers with CCTV to deter such behaviour.
The signs state: “Removing eggs from the packet is regarded as theft. Footage of shoplifting will be passed to the police. We prosecute all shoplifters.” This warning is part of a broader response to increasing incidents of shoplifting, which have surged by 20% year-on-year to 2024.
Customers have expressed frustration over this issue, with some inadvertently purchasing cheaper eggs after being misled by the swapped packaging. Anita Wong, 53, recounted her experience, stating that upon returning the eggs, she was informed that such issues are “not uncommon.” In 2025, shoplifting incidents continued to rise, prompting calls for more proactive measures from shopkeepers, as only a small percentage of reported thefts lead to charges.
The WTXpolitan Police have noted that the lack of CCTV evidence from retailers is hindering their efforts to tackle the issue effectively.
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Sainsbury’s issues warning to thieves swapping out eggs | News UK
Sainsbury’s is warning they will catch thieves who are swapping premium eggs into cheaper boxes.
The supermarket warned customers they are being watched on CCTV to prevent ‘egg theft’ in signs throughout the store.
The warning reads: ‘Removing eggs from the packet is regarded as theft. Footage of shoplifting will be passed to the police. We prosecute all shoplifters.’
And it is also affecting other shoppers, who buy a box of the more expensive eggs to find they have been swapped out for cheaper ones.
Earlier this year, Anita Wong, 53, found she had paid more for eggs which were not the right ones.
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She said in a post on Instagram: ‘This is what’s happening in a lot of supermarkets at the moment.
‘The more expensive eggs, people are actually decanting those into the less expensive egg boxes and buying them, so the people who are buying the more expensive eggs are unwillingly buying the less expensive eggs.’
When she returned the eggs to the store, she was told the issue was ‘not uncommon’.
It comes as shoplifting incidents rose 20% year-on-year to 2024, reaching the highest level since records began, according to official figures, and in 2025, soared another 5%.
A WTXpolitan Police chief has said shoplifters are escaping justice because shopkeepers aren’t handing over CCTV evidence to police.
The Met Police reports that around 5.9% of thefts recorded led to a charge as of March 2025.
Norway reports first familial stem cell transplant cure for HIV patient
2:00 pm
Get you up to speed: Norway reports first familial stem cell transplant cure for HIV patient
A 64-year-old patient known as the ‘Oslo patient’ has been virtually cured of HIV after undergoing a stem cell transplant from his elder brother. This transplant was successful because the brother carried a gene known as CCR5, which blocks HIV from entering the system.
The ‘Oslo patient’, who has been in remission for five years after a stem cell transplant from his brother, reported feeling as if he had “won the lottery twice.” According to Anders Eivind Myhre from the Oslo University Hospital, doctors are “quite certain the Norwegian patient had been cured ‘for all practical purposes’.”
The Oslo patient has been in remission for five years after receiving a stem cell transplant from his elder brother, who has a gene mutation that blocks HIV. Anders Eivind Myhre from the Oslo University Hospital stated that the patient is ‘for all practical purposes’ cured and now has ‘more energy than he knows what to do with’.
Man cured of HIV with transplant from his brother in world first procedure | News World
A patient in Norway has been cured of HIV by a stem cell transplant from his elder brother (Picture: Shutterstock /Spectral-Design)
An HIV patient has said it feels like ‘winning the lottery twice’ after being virtually cured of the disease with the help of his brother.
The 64-year-old, known as the ‘Oslo patient’, has been in remission for five years after receiving a stem cell transplant.
His brother, the donor, was found to be resistant to the virus, which if untreated can be deadly.
While treatments can keep HIV at bay, the virus remains extremely difficult to permanently cure as it can remain hidden in cells.
The Oslo patient was originally diagnosed with HIV in 2006, when he was aged 44.
He was then found to have myelodysplastic syndrome, a fatal cancer of the blood, in 2017.
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But, in a miraculous turn of events, doctors struck gold when they turned to the patient’s older brother, was found to carry the exact gene, known as CCR5, which blocks HIV from entering the system.
The resistant mutation is carried only by around one in a hundred people in Europe.
Even if one does find a donor with the correct variant, the stem cell transplant is only suitable for patients with both HIV and blood cancer.
Timothy Ray Brown, known originally as the ‘Berlin patient’, was the first person to be cured of HIV and cancer with a stem cell transplant in 2008 (Picture: AP)
Just two years after the procedure, the man stopped taking anti-retroviral drugs, which had until then helped keep his symptoms at bay.
However samples of his blood, bone marrow and gut were found to have no trace of the virus.
Anders Eivind Myhre from the Oslo University Hospital said doctors were quite certain the Norwegian patient had been cured ‘for all practical purposes’.
The patient had said the discovery was like ‘winning the lottery twice’, he told AFP.
What are stem cell transplants?
Stem cell transplants are used to treat damaged bone marrow which can no longer produce healthy blood cells.
They can treat life-threatening conditions including leukaemia, lymphoma and myeloma.
The procedure carries significant risk and relies on stem cells from a donor which must carry a certain genetic marker, known as a human leukocyte antigen, which is identical or similar to that of the person receiving the transplant.
Around 10 people have been successfully cured of HIV using a stem cell transplant – all of whom also had blood cancers.
Source: NHS
He added that the patient was now well and has ‘more energy than he knows what to do with’.
It’s believed to be the first time a HIV patient has received a stem cell donation from a family member.
More than 3,000 Britons were diagnosed with HIV in 2024, with the disease having claimed the lives of 643 people in the UK the same year.
The first person to be officially cleared of HIV was Timothy Ray Brown who was declared cured back in 2008.
He became known as the ‘Berlin patient’ after the city where he was treated for leukaemia.
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Ukraine strikes two Russian oil refineries amid ongoing drone attacks
1:00 pm
Ukraine strikes two Russian oil refineries amid ongoing drone attacks
Drone Strikes
Ukraine conducted drone strikes on two oil refineries in Russia’s Samara Oblast, with the Novokuybyshevsk facility processing 8.8 million tonnes of crude annually.
Ukraine conducted drone strikes on two oil refineries in Russia’s Samara Oblast, with the Novokuybyshevsk facility processing 8.8 million tonnes of crude annually.
Infrastructure Impact
Both refineries process significant quantities of crude oil, with the Novokuybyshevsk facility handling 8.8 million tonnes annually, crucially supporting Russian military logistics.
Both refineries process significant quantities of crude oil, with the Novokuybyshevsk facility handling 8.8 million tonnes annually, crucially supporting Russian military logistics.
Local Witness
“Residents reported blasts heard across the eastern and northern parts of the city following the drone strike on the Novokuybyshevsk refinery.”
“Residents reported blasts heard across the eastern and northern parts of the city following the drone strike on the Novokuybyshevsk refinery.”
Key developments
Ukraine executed drone strikes on the Novokuybyshevsk and Syzran oil refineries in Samara Oblast, igniting large fires and affecting critical aspects of Russia’s energy infrastructure.
The Novokuybyshevsk facility, processing 8.8 million tonnes of crude annually, serves as a vital node in supporting Russian forces through the production of over 20 commercial products.
A separate drone attack targeted an industrial site in Tikhoretsk, prompting a significant emergency response from over 200 firefighters and numerous fire appliances to manage the situation effectively.
Moscow bombards Ukraine while Kyiv targets Russian oil facilities
Ukraine struck two oil refineries deep inside Russia and repelled a massive overnight drone bombardment on Saturday.
Drones hit the Novokuybyshevsk refinery in Russia’s Samara Oblast in the early hours of Saturday morning, sparking a large fire visible in footage shared on social media.
Local residents reported blasts heard across the eastern and northern parts of the city.
The facility is a significant node in Russia’s energy infrastructure, processing 8.8 million tonnes of crude per year and producing more than 20 types of commercial products used to support Russian forces.
Hours later, a second drone strike hit the Syzran refinery, also in Samara Oblast, with footage showing fire breaking out near a storage tank farm that holds both crude oil and finished petroleum products ahead of distribution.
The Syzran facility feeds fuel into Russia’s domestic market, river logistics network, and export pipeline system, with the port of Novorossiysk serving as a key external shipment hub.
A separate drone attack also targeted an industrial facility in Tikhoretsk in Russia’s Krasnodar Krai overnight, sparking another fire that required over 200 firefighters and dozens of fire appliances to bring under control.
Meanwhile, Russia launched 219 drones at Ukraine from the evening of 17 April, with Ukrainian air defences destroying or jamming 190 of them — including Shahed loitering munitions and other types — across the country’s north, south, and east. The remaining 28 drones recorded hits at 17 locations, with debris from downed UAVs falling at a further nine sites.
Aircraft, missile units, electronic warfare systems, and mobile fire groups were all deployed in the defence effort, with some drones still airborne as of the morning report.
Russian oil for sale
US President Donald Trump’s administration on Friday issued a month-long sanctions waiver allowing the sale of Russian oil and petroleum products that are at sea, extending an earlier move to soften surging energy prices.
The license, issued by the Treasury Department, comes two days after Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said that Washington would not renew the waiver.
The latest move allows for the purchase of oil and petroleum products that have been loaded onto any vessel as of this Friday.
It prolongs an earlier easing of sanctions that expired on 11 April.
Both measures aimed to ease global supply shocks from the US-Israeli war against Iran.
Meningitis B Vaccines Available for Youth Following Three Confirmed Cases in Dorset
11:00 am
Get you up to speed: Meningitis B Vaccines Available for Youth Following Three Confirmed Cases in Dorset
HEALTH ALERT
Three new cases of meningitis B in Weymouth prompt the UK Health Security Agency to offer vaccinations and antibiotics to young people in local schools.
Three new cases of meningitis B in Weymouth prompt the UK Health Security Agency to offer vaccinations and antibiotics to young people in local schools.
PUBLIC HEALTH ALERT
Dr Beth Smout of the UK Health Security Agency emphasised the importance of precautionary measures following three new cases of meningitis B in Dorset schools.
Dr Beth Smout of the UK Health Security Agency emphasised the importance of precautionary measures following three new cases of meningitis B in Dorset schools.
HEALTH UPDATE
In Weymouth, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) is providing antibiotics and vaccinations to young people in school years 7 to 13 following three confirmed meningitis B cases.
In Weymouth, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) is providing antibiotics and vaccinations to young people in school years 7 to 13 following three confirmed meningitis B cases.
What we know so far
Health officials have confirmed three new cases of meningitis B in Weymouth, Dorset, prompting an immediate vaccination programme for young people in the area. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) reported that all three cases were confirmed among young people and that the patients are recovering well.
Vaccinations and antibiotics are now being offered to students in school years 7 to 13 across Weymouth, Portland, and Chickerell. This preventative measure follows recent concerns regarding meningitis B outbreaks, particularly in light of a severe incident in Kent that led to two fatalities.
The latest cases were identified between March 20 and April 15, and their close contacts have already received precautionary antibiotics. Two of the patients attended Budmouth Academy, while the third is from Wey Valley Academy. Although they are known to each other, health officials have stated there is currently no established link with the pupil from Wey Valley Academy.
Dr Beth Smout of the UKHSA noted that while these cases are not connected to the earlier Kent outbreak, there is potential for more cases to arise. She emphasised the importance of vaccination and antibiotics as additional precautions, aligning with national guidelines to mitigate the risk of infection spreading.
Read in full
Meningitis B vaccines offered to young people after three new cases confirmed in Dorset | News UK
Three new cases of meningitis B have prompted health officials to offer jabs in Weymouth, Dorset.
All three new cases were confirmed in young people, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) said.
The health watchdog said that the patients were all recovering well.
Now antibiotics and vaccines against the infection have been rolled out on offer to young people currently in school years 7 to 13 in Weymouth, Portland, and Chickerell areas.
Where were the three new cases of meningitis?
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The UKHSA said the cases were discovered between March 20 and April 15.
The close contacts of the three pupils who were taken ill have already been given antibiotics as a precaution.
Two of the young people attended Budmouth Academy, a large secondary school in Weymouth.
The third pupil attended Wey Valley Academy, another secondary school.
The Budmouth Academy students are known to each other, but there is currently no established link with the pupil at Wey Valley Academy, the watchdog said.
‘This may mean that this strain of menB bacteria is transmitting more widely among young people in Weymouth,’ it said.
The precautions come after a deadly outbreak of menB caused concern in Kent and beyond after cases exploded.
Two students died after contracting the infection, which can turn life-threatening quickly.
Juliette Kenny, 18, a Year 13 student in Faversham, died one day after her symptoms started after contracting menB, with her dad saying she was ‘fit, healthy and strong’ before her death.
The three Weymouth cases of menB are the same sub-strain type but a different sub-strain itself from the Kent cases.
Dr Beth Smout, UKHSA deputy director, said: ‘We are working closely with partners to follow up and offer precautionary antibiotics to close contacts of the cases.
‘However, meningococcal disease does not spread easily, and outbreaks like we have seen recently in Kent are rare.
‘These cases are not linked to the Kent outbreak, and it is important to be aware that this outbreak is not on the same scale as we saw in Kent in terms of speed of transmission or severity.
‘However, it is possible that we will see further cases linked to these latest cases in Weymouth and we understand that there will be concern among students, staff, parents and the local community as we widen our offer of antibiotics and vaccination.
‘I’d like to stress that this is an additional precaution, and that we’re following national guidelines to reduce the risk of the infection spreading.
‘School pupils and staff should attend school as normal if they remain well.’
What are symptoms of meningitis B infection?
Anyone suspecting the disease should seek immediate medical attention as Meningococcal infection can progress rapidly.
Symptoms can include a fever, headache, rapid breathing, drowsiness, shivering, vomiting and cold hands and feet.
Men B infection has an incubation period of two to seven days typically, although sometimes symptoms might not appear until 10 days after infeciton.
Pope Leo criticises world leaders for unjust wars during Cameroon visit
10:00 am
Get you up to speed: Pope Leo criticises world leaders for unjust wars during Cameroon visit
Pope Leo XIV criticised politicians who use religious language to justify wars during his visit to Cameroon. He stated, “the world is being ravaged by a handful of tyrants,” highlighting his condemnation of the US and Israeli war on Iran as “unjust.”
Pope Leo XIV, during his visit to Cameroon, expressed his condemnation of leaders who exploit religion for military gain, stating, “Blessed are the peacemakers,” and criticised the ongoing conflicts driven by “a handful of tyrants”. The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dame Sara Mullally, expressed support for the Pope’s stance, urging political leaders to seek peaceful resolutions to conflicts.
Pope Leo XIV plans to continue speaking out against the war, stating he does not wish to engage in a debate with President Trump. Additionally, Dame Sara Mullaly, the Archbishop of Canterbury, supports the Pope’s stance and is scheduled to meet him later this month in Rome.
Pope Leo warns ‘tyrants are ravaging the world’ in war of words with Trump | News World
Pope Leo ramped up his war of words with President Trump, blasting leaders who spend billions on wars.
The Catholic leader said the world was ‘being ravaged by a handful of tyrants’ during a visit to Cameroon on Thursday.
Leo, the first U.S. pope, criticised politicians who use religious language to justify wars.
The pope is in the midst of a furious spat with Trump, who said Leo should ‘stop catering to the Radical Left’.
Pope Leo XIV had tried to distance himself from his fued with the US President (Picture: Alberto PIZZOLI / AFP via Getty Images)
The post was prompted by the Pope labelled the US and Israeli war on Iran ‘unjust’.
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Trump also uploaded a bizarre AI-generated image depicting himself as Jesus and also wrote on Truth Social: ‘Pope Leo is WEAK on Crime, and terrible on foreign policy. I don’t want a pope who thinks it’s OK for Iran to have a nuclear weapon.’
Pope Leo rebutted the claims and told Reuters he plans to continue to speak out against the war, telling reporters: ‘I don’t want to get into a debate with him.’
Speaking at a cathedral in the western Cameroon city of Bamenda today, he said: ‘Blessed are the peacemakers.
‘But woe to those who manipulate religion and the very name of God for their own military, economic and political gain, dragging that which is sacred into darkness and filth.’
He added: ‘The world is being ravaged by a handful of tyrants, yet it is held together by a multitude of supportive brothers and sisters.’
The AI-generated photo of the President as Trump has sparked fury from high-profile religious figures and MAGA fans.
Fox News commentator Riley Gaines wrote: ‘Is he looking for a response? Does he actually think this? Either way, two things are true. 1) A little humility would serve him well. 2) God shall not be mocked.’
Donald Trump‘s Truth Social account depicts an AI-generated image of himself apparently as Jesus posted on April 12, 2026. ??@realDonaldTrump/Truth Social/Handout via REUTERS THIS AI-GENERATED IMAGE HAS BEEN SUPPLIED BY A THIRD PARTY. IT IS DISTRIBUTED, EXACTLY AS RECEIVED BY REUTERS, AS A SERVICE TO CLIENT” decoding=”async” loading=”lazy”/>
The image features Trump with apparent healing powers (Picture: Truth Social)
Trump then deleted the photo and claimed he he posted it thinking it was him ‘as a doctor’.
‘And had to do with red cross as a red cross worker, which we support, and only the fake news could come up with that one. I just heard about it,’ he rambled.
The Pope’s remarks today took place during a meeting in Cameroon’s English-speaking regions, where a conflict going back nearly a decade has left thousands dead.
The Archbishop of Canterbury backed Leo’s criticism of international conflicts.
Dame Sara Mullaly, who is due to meet the Pope later this month in Rome, said she stands with the pontiff ‘in his courageous call for a kingdom of peace’.
She also urged ‘all those entrusted with political authority to pursue every possible peaceful and just means of resolving conflict’.
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Venezuela and EU agree on new cooperation agenda after parliamentary talks
9:00 am
Venezuela and EU agree on new cooperation agenda after parliamentary talks
New Cooperation Agenda
Caracas and the EU have reached an agreement on a new cooperation agenda following discussions in the Venezuelan parliament.
Caracas and the EU have reached an agreement on a new cooperation agenda following discussions in the Venezuelan parliament.
Cooperation Agenda
Caracas and the EU’s new cooperation agenda signifies Venezuela’s strategic pivot towards international financial institutions, enhancing its economic stability and diplomatic relations.
Caracas and the EU’s new cooperation agenda signifies Venezuela’s strategic pivot towards international financial institutions, enhancing its economic stability and diplomatic relations.
Official Response
“This new cooperation agenda marks a significant step forward in our engagement with the EU,” stated a spokesperson for the Venezuelan parliament.
“This new cooperation agenda marks a significant step forward in our engagement with the EU,” stated a spokesperson for the Venezuelan parliament.
Key developments
Following talks in the Venezuelan parliament, Caracas and the EU confirmed a new cooperation agenda, marking a significant turn in diplomatic relations between the entities.
This agreement aligns with Venezuela’s broader economic strategy, as it also resumes ties with the IMF and the World Bank, seeking international financial support.
Venezuela and EU set out roadmap for renewed ties amid political thaw
Following talks in the Venezuelan parliament, Caracas and the EU have agreed on a new cooperation agenda. The shift aligns with a broader economic pivot, as the nation resumes ties with the IMF and the World Bank.
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