Iron deficiency anaemia has previously been linked with a string of serious health issues like heart disease and kidney failure

Being low in iron could increase your risk of dementia and accelerate symptoms, research suggests.

Anaemia has previously been linked to serious health problems including heart disease and kidney failure. But now researchers have discovered a link between the two conditions. They found low iron reserves may not only increase the risk of getting the disease but also reduce the brain’s resilience to it. It is particularly pronounced in men, according to the findings.

Some eight per cent of women and three per cent of men in the UK have anaemia, which is caused by a lack of resources in the blood used to carry enough oxygen around the body. Symptoms typically include tiredness, shortness of breath and heart palpitations. Iron deficiency anaemia can be the result of a lack of iron in the diet, but heavy periods and pregnancy are also common factors.

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OPINION

Martin Bagot

The study, conducted by researches at Stockholm University and published in the journal JAMA Neurology, followed 2,300 over-60s who did not have dementia for nine years, tracking how changes in iron levels influenced Alzheimer’s risk. Blood was collected at the start of the study and analysed for levels of tau, a protein which gathers and tangles in the brain, thought to be behind Alzheimer’s symptoms.

Levels of haemoglobin, a protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen around the body and which iron helps to make, were also recorded. Anaemia was defined as blood haemoglobin levels of 120g per litre or less for women and 130g per litre or less for men.

Those with anaemia were 66 per cent more likely to develop Alzheimer’s than those with normal haemoglobin levels. Low haemoglobin was also associated with higher levels of the tau protein p-tau217 – believed to be the most specific blood marker for Alzheimer’s.

Anaemia was associated with higher dementia risk in men than women, despite more women being affected by the deficiency. Researchers said: “While females tend to have lower haemoglobin levels and higher anaemia prevalence in early life due to reproductive factors, anaemia in males is less common, frequently driven by disease, inflammation or deficiencies. Females’ lower baseline haemoglobin levels might confer greater tolerance to anaemia, buffering its impact on brain health. Our findings suggest anaemia is a factor in dementia risk and is possibly a modifiable target in dementia prevention strategies.”

Police stopped a red Mitsubishi Evo that had been travelling at nearly double the speed limit for the road

A driver caught travelling over 135mph reportedly told officers they were “heading for a Chinese takeaway” and will soon have to explain their actions in court.

Police stopped a red Mitsubishi Evo after they were recording driving at speeds of over 135mph on the A26 Lisnevenagh Road and have said they were told the explanation for this was that the driver was going to a takeaway restaurant. Officers warned that the driver could face losing their licence when they later appear in court.

The incident took place as officers from the PSNI Road Policing Interceptors team were heading to the Kilrea area for a patrol on Friday, April 17, where they seized two other vehicles, a BMW and a Seat.

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The blue BMW was seized after police systems showed it had no insurance and later discovered the driver was currently banned from driving.

The black Seat Leon was seized close to the BMW after it was shown not to have valid insurance with the driver later telling officers they only had a provisional driving licence.

A PSNI spokesperson said: “Tonight officers from Road Policing Interceptors (Sprucefield) on patrol in the Kilrea area stopped the Blue BMW (pictured) as there were no policies of insurance showing on Police systems, on speaking with the driver it became apparent they were currently serving 2 periods of disqualification as well as driving without insurance. The driver will now have their day in Court to explain their actions. Their BMW was seized.

“Whilst waiting on recovery for the seized vehicle the Black Seat Leon was stopped in the same area as it also had no valid Insurance policies shown on our systems, in this instance the driver admitted no insurance and they also admitted only holding a Provisional driving licence, they’d also neglected to display any L plates on the car.

“They’ll also have a day in Court to explain their actions. This vehicle was also seized.

“Whilst travelling up to the Kilrea area earlier in the evening, one of our crews was passed by the pictured Red Mitsubishi Evo, the Evo’s speed was measured along the A26 Lisnevenagh Rd and at times the vehicle was travelling in excess of 135 mph, this is nearly double the permitted speed for the A26 dual carriageway – the drivers explanation . . . . they were heading for Chinese takeaway!!

“This driver will also have their day in Court and could possibly face disqualification.”

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One person has died and another is fighting for their life after a car swerved in Comic Con fans in Melbourne.

Fans standing outside the Supanova Comic Con at Melbourne Showgrounds were hit by a grey Toyota after it mounted the pavement at 5pm.

Two pedestrians were hit, with one declared dead at the scene and the other suffering life-threatening injuries.

A witness, Tom, told The Age: ‘I heard a screech and a guy (allegedly) mounted the kerb at an erratic speed, hit a couple people.’

The car reportedly did a U-turn and drove back down the street, stalled and a group of witnesses tried to apprehend them.

Tom said: ‘He was erratic. ‘I said, “you’re not going anywhere mate”.’

Tom’s wife is a paramedic who worked on one of the victims for 20 minutes before ambulances arrived.

Melbourne Police said: ‘Major Collision Investigation Unit detectives are investigating a fatal collision in Ascot Vale this afternoon.

‘Police have arrested a man who will be interviewed by police. The circumstances surrounding the collision are yet to be established and the investigation remains ongoing.’

Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.

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WrestleMania season is in full swing, with WWE’s showpiece event arriving at last.

This weekend, for the 42nd edition of WrestleMania, the professional-wrestling company is making the rare move of returning to the city that hosted last year’s event. That means WrestleMania 42 will take place at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, with two nights of action scheduled in Sin City once more.

Many key names will compete, from Roman Reigns and CM Punk to Cody Rhodes and Randy Orton.

There will be significant celebrity involvement, too, with wrestler-turned-actor John Cena hosting proceedings and IShowSpeed among several famous faces to feature.

Here’s all you need to know.

When is WrestleMania 42?

WrestleMania became a two-night event in 2020, and this year it will take place on Saturday 18 and Sunday 19 April at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas. In the US, each evening of action will begin at 4pm PT / 5pm CT / 6pm ET. In the UK, that works out to 11pm BST.

How can I watch it?

WrestleMania 42 will stream live on Netflix in the UK and most territories worldwide, as part of subscribers’ existing plans (at no additional cost, in other words). In the US, however, the event will air live on ESPN.

Confirmed matches

Night 1

Jey Uso, Jimmy Uso and LA Knight vs Logan Paul, Austin Theory and IShowSpeed

Drew McIntyre vs Jacob Fatu (Unsanctioned Match)

Lash Legend and Nia Jax (Women’s World Tag-Team Champions) vs Charlotte Flair and Alexa Bliss vs Bayley and Lyra Valkyria vs Nikki Bella and Brie Bella

AJ Lee (Women’s Intercontinental Champion) vs Becky Lee

Seth Rollins vs Gunther

Stephanie Vaquer (Women’s World Champion) vs Liv Morgan

Cody Rhodes (Undisputed WWE Champion) vs Randy Orton

Night 2

Penta (Intercontinental Champion) vs Rey Mysterio vs JD McDonagh vs Rusev vs Je’Von Evans vs Dragon Lee (Ladder Match)

Brock Lesnar vs Oba Femi

Sami Zayn (United States Champion) vs Trick Williams

Jade Cargill (Women’s WWE Champion) vs Rhea Ripley

Finn Balor vs Dominik Mysterio

CM Punk (World Heavyweight Champion) vs Roman Reigns

Which celebrities will be involved?

YouTubers Logan Paul and IShowSpeed will compete, even teaming up together, while music star Jelly Roll will also feature in some capacity. The same applies to rapper Lil Yachty, while wrestler-turned-actor John Cena will act as the host of WrestleMania. NFL kicker-turned-sports analyst Pat McAfee is also expected to feature.

How much do WWE stars earn at WrestleMania?

The specifics of WWE contracts have long been hard to ascertain. However, WWE star-turned-executive Triple H (real name Paul Levesque) told The Athletic in 2022 that $250,000 is the minimum base salary for wrestlers in the company. That figure might have risen since, of course, and it reportedly only applied to members of the Smackdown and Raw rosters – not wrestlers on NXT, which is WWE’s developmental show.

However, wrestlers’ wages are boosted by merchandise sales and, it is believed, by cuts of pay-per-view sales as well. Of course, merchandise sales are likely to be significant on a WrestleMania weekend, as well as pay-per-view sales, so 18 and 19 April could be the most lucrative days of the year for most WWE wrestlers.

In 2023, The Mirror reported some of the highest WWE wages as these: Roman Reigns $5m per year; Randy Orton $5m per year; Seth Rollins $3.5m per year; Cody Rhodes $3m per year; Logan Paul $2m per year. These figures reportedly don’t include bonuses.

Tehran has reimposed restrictions on ships travelling through the Strait of Hormuz claiming US ‘violation’

Tehran has rapidly reversed its decision to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, reimposing restrictions on the vital waterway after the US indicated that the reopening would not bring an end to its blockade of Iran-linked shipping.

Tehran’s joint military command announced on Saturday that its “control of the Strait of Hormuz has returned to its previous state… under strict management and control of the armed forces”.

It warned that it would continue to obstruct passage through the strait for as long as the US blockade of Iranian ports remained in place.

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The statement came the morning after President Donald Trump declared that the American blockade “will remain in full force” until Tehran reaches a deal with the US, including on its nuclear programme.

The dispute over the crucial chokepoint threatened to worsen the energy crisis already weighing on the global economy, after oil prices began to slip again on Friday amid hopes that the US and Iran were edging closer to an agreement.

About a fifth of the world’s oil passes through the strait and further limits would squeeze already constrained supply, driving prices higher again.

Control over the strait has proven to be one Iran’s main points of leverage and prompted the US to deploy forces and initiate a blockade on Iranian ports as part of an effort to force Tehran to accept a Pakistan-brokered ceasefire to end almost seven weeks of war between Israel, the US and Iran.

Iran said it fully reopened the Strait of Hormuz to commercial vessels after a 10-day truce was announced between Israel and the Iranian-backed Hezbollah militant group in Lebanon, but after Mr Trump announced the blockade would continue, senior Iranian officials said his announcement violated last week’s ceasefire agreement between Iran and the US and warned the strait would not stay open if the US blockade remained.

Data firm Kpler said movement through the strait remained confined to corridors requiring Iran’s approval.

US forces have sent 21 ships back to Iran since the blockade began on Monday, US Central Command said.

Despite the escalation in the Strait of Hormuz, Pakistani officials say the US and Iran are still moving closer to a deal ahead of the April 22 ceasefire deadline.

Foreign minister Ishaq Dar said the ceasefire in Lebanon was a positive sign, noting that fighting between Israel and Hezbollah had been a key sticking point before talks in Islamabad ended “very close” to an agreement last weekend.

Pakistan’s army chief Field Marshal Asim Munir visited Tehran, while Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif met Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Qatar’s Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani in Antalya, the military and Mr Sharif’s office said. Pakistan is expected to host a second round of talks between Iran and the US early next week.

The ceasefire in Lebanon could clear one major obstacle to an agreement, but it is unclear to what extent Hezbollah would abide by a deal it did not play a role in negotiating and which will leave Israeli troops occupying a stretch of southern Lebanon.

Mr Trump said in another post that Israel is “prohibited” by the US from further strikes on Lebanon and that “enough is enough” in the Israel-Hezbollah war.

The State Department said the prohibition applies only to offensive attacks and not to actions taken in self-defence.

Shortly before Mr Trump’s post, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel agreed to the ceasefire in Lebanon “at the request of my friend President Trump”, but added that the campaign against Hezbollah is not complete.

He claimed Israel had destroyed about 90% of Hezbollah’s missile and rocket stockpiles and that Israeli forces “have not finished” with the dismantling of the group.

In Beirut, displaced families began moving towards southern Lebanon and Beirut’s southern suburbs despite warnings by officials not to return to their homes until it became clear whether the ceasefire would hold.

The Lebanese army and UN peacekeepers in southern Lebanon reported sporadic artillery shelling in some parts of southern Lebanon in the hours after the ceasefire took effect.

An end to Israel’s war with Hezbollah was a key demand of Iranian negotiators, who previously accused Israel of breaking last week’s ceasefire with strikes on Lebanon. Israel had said that deal did not cover Lebanon.

The fighting has killed at least 3,000 people in Iran, more than 2,290 in Lebanon, 23 in Israel and more than a dozen in Gulf Arab states. Thirteen US service members have also been killed.

No arrests have been made

Police and paramedics descended after a young boy was hit by a car on a busy Oldham road. Emergency services attended Lees New Road on Friday evening (April 17).

Images showed multiple ambulances and Greater Manchester Police vehicles at the scene, before 9pm. GMP confirmed it was called out to the scene after an eight-year-old boy was hit by a vehicle.

His injuries are not thought to be serious, according to GMP. No arrests have been in connection with the incident.

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The incident came hours after emergency services had also attended a crash elsewhere in Oldham. Police and paramedics attended Oak Road, in Limeside, where a grey Renault Clio was severely damaged.

A 17-year-old boy was arrested on suspicion of dangerous driving. The victim was taken to hospital for treatment and later discharged, GMP said.

A professional chef has explained how he used to make triple-cooked chips on an “industrial scale” — and explained that one ingredient would “give them the best flavour”

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Adding a single ingredient to chips while cooking them will “give them the best flavour you could possibly get”, according to a professional chef. Will Murray, who co-runs Fallow, Roe and FOWL restaurants in London alongside fellow chef Jack Croft, recently took viewers through his method for making the “perfect” triple-cooked chips — a dish he maintains has its origins in Britain.

He revealed that he used to prepare them “a lot” during his time at Dinner by Heston Blumenthal, the celebrity chef’s namesake restaurant, though a “few things have changed” since those days.

Will shared his step-by-step guide on how to cook the beloved side dish in a video for the Fallow YouTube channel, explaining how he once produced them on an “industrial scale” — and revealing the one ingredient that would “give them the best flavour”.

He said: “We had to do it on an industrial scale, and a few things have changed since then. We actually found out a better potato to use than the one we used to use.

“Crucially, I’m going to use beef fat or beef dripping to give them the best flavour you could possibly get. If you wanted to do these at home: patience, a bit of fridge space, you could.”

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He stressed that you “can’t make good chips” using a potato with an excessively high starch or sugar content, noting that he was using the Agria potato. While peeling them, he highlighted that this step was essential in achieving those desirable “ruffled edges”.

Will said: “You need to allow for at least 15 per cent of the potato to come away, and you’ll pretty much lose 15 per cent of the spud. That’s going to allow for these beautiful little sort of fissures all over your potato.”

As he rinsed the slices, Will observed that the starch had begun to come away. Agria potatoes, however, contain high levels of the enzyme amylase, which he noted “contributes to crispiness”, helping them to remain fluffy on the inside while developing a crisp exterior.

He cautioned that an excess of starch can be a “bad thing”, making it essential to strike the right balance — ensuring sufficient starch for crispiness, while avoiding too much, which can cause the chips to “brown” too quickly.

Will drained the water, then rinsed the chips until it ran clear. He then added salt to a pot of simmering water before placing the chips in, advising viewers to leave enough room in the pan so they could be moved around.

After around six or seven minutes, the ruffled edges should become visible, at which point the key is to continue stirring them gently “over and over again”.

Once 18 minutes had passed, Will switched off the hob and left the chips to sit and finish cooking through, carefully turning them with a wooden spoon.

He then carefully lifted the chips out using a ladle and arranged them on a tray, acknowledging that some may begin to break apart, though he noted the smaller fragments would be the “nice, crispiest bits”.

Will popped the chips into the freezer while he readied a pan for frying, choosing vegetable oil for the cook. Regarding temperature, he stated he would fry them at 120 to 140 degrees for approximately eight minutes.

At this stage, Will showed viewers the beef fat to be used for the final fry. He mentioned that most delis and butchers stock beef fat which you can render yourself, or alternatively dripping or lard.

He then retrieved the chips from the freezer for the first fry, observing that he’d “chilled them down” until cold, though he clarified that people at home could simply use their fridge for this step.

His oil sat at around 140 degrees, emphasising the need for a “gentle heat” and warning against overcrowding the pan. Will advised checking the chips don’t stick to the pan’s bottom, while cautioning that they’re “delicate”.

Fry the chips for eight to 10 minutes before lifting them from the pan (though he acknowledged his took 12 minutes owing to the pan’s size), noting they shouldn’t have “lots of colour” at this stage.

Will returned the chips to the freezer to cool while he prepared for the subsequent fry. He then incorporated beef fat into the oil (using a one-to-four ratio of beef fat to oil) and heated it to 180 degrees.

He placed the cooled chips into the pan, remarking that the final fry would take between four and five minutes. Finally, Will removed the chips and seasoned them with fine salt, explaining it’s best done while they’re hot.

Just think about it – not having to pay for anything (after the initial payment) and everything you need all in one place, including virtually an endless supply of food and drink. Sounds like a dream.

I had only ever been on one all-inclusive holiday in my 35 years on this earth – a cruise from Australia to Fiji, and back (back in the days when I lived in Australia).

It was a fantastic experience at the time. But that was over 10 years ago, and my taste in holidays has changed since.

Now, my wife and I prefer either a cosy staycation in the UK, where we can go out on walks with our golden retriever, or visiting an overseas destination where there is plenty to see and do.

So when I was offered the chance to travel to Crete for an all-inclusive stay at Mirabello Bay Luxury Resort, I jumped at the chance to try something a little different.

3 things to consider before booking an all-inclusive holiday

My wife and I thoroughly enjoyed our stay at Mirabello Bay (I’ll get to that in a minute), but upon our return, we had time to reflect and asked ourselves – are all-inclusive holidays really “worth it”?

We decided there were three main things to consider before booking an all-inclusive holiday:

What exactly is included in an all-inclusive package?

It is worth considering exactly what you get when booking an all-inclusive holiday.

At Mirabello Bay, food and drink were included in the package, meaning you could enjoy a drink at any of the bars on site, or a meal at any of the fantastic restaurants on site, including:

• Elia
• Kafenion (my favourite)
• Bahia Mar Grill
• Amalthea

Kafenion restaurant was my favourite. (Image: Patrick Glover)

While Amalthea was an all-you-can-eat buffet with a wide range of options, the others served up delicious Cretan dishes.

Another feature of Mirabello Bay is Spilia, a natural cave for “unique and exclusive” wine tastings.

All residents also have access to the numerous pools scattered across the site, a gym, a tennis court, a hotel-only beach, and an exclusive waterpark.

But if you are looking to do more than just lounge around with a cocktail by the beach, that is when you start to venture out of the all-inclusive package.

For example, you can take part in various water sports at Mirabello Bay, or head out for a spot of sailing, but all will cost you extra.

There are also spa treatments available on-site (in the Aegeo Spa), which again, guests have to pay for.

All-inclusive holidays are different for everyone

So this leads into my next point – what are you looking to get out of your holiday?

If you are looking to spend your time away relaxing in the sun, by a pool (or beach), eating and drinking as much as possible, then an all-inclusive holiday is perfect.

Having our own private pool with out room was one of the highlights of our stay. (Image: Patrick Glover)

They are also ideal for families, as there is always plenty for the kids to do, and you can do it all within the safety of the hotel grounds.

At Mirabello Bay there were daily shows, sports activities, a kids club, and a water park, while in the evenings, families could sit under the stars and watch a movie at the hotel’s outdoor cinema.

When it came to food, the buffet at Amalthea had something for everyone, even the fussiest of eaters.

As I mentioned at the beginning of the article, my wife and I like to be active when on our holidays – heading out for walks, sightseeing, and just getting as much out of our trip as possible.

For people like us, an all-inclusive holiday may not be the way to go.

Don’t get me wrong, there was still plenty to do. On-site, we were able to:

• Partake in various water sports – prices vary depending on the activity.
• Play tennis – free.
• Workout at the gym – free.
• Relax with a spa treatment – starting from €33.
• Visit the waterpark – free (for hotel guests).

I enjoyed spending time in the ocean while in Crete, whether it be swimming or in a kayak (pictured). (Image: Patrick Glover)

Off-site, we took part in various activities, including:

• Visit the UNESCO World Heritage Island of Spinalonga (a must-visit) – entry €20 and boat transfer to the island from €14.
• Walk into the nearby town of Agios Nikolaos – free.
• Take part in a Cretan culture experience at Spiridi Olive Oil Farm – tour €8 and cooking class €45 (adult prices per person).

Spinalonga (pictured) is a must-visit if you are visiting Crete. (Image: Patrick Glover)

While most of these activities aren’t overly expensive, if you are looking to partake in numerous adventures, it does add up.

Are all-inclusive holidays worth it?

So, are all-inclusive holidays “worth it”? I don’t think it is a simple yes or no answer.

It depends really on what you are looking to get out of your holiday and whether you are going as a couple or a family.

The current lead-in rate for a deluxe room with a bay view and an all-inclusive package at Mirabello Bay in 2026 is £511 per night (prices will vary throughout the year).

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Put simply, you have to think about whether it is worth spending £511 per person, per night to cover:

• Your three meals a day, plus any extra food you consume in between
• All you can drink
• Accommodation, with a private pool (not available with all rooms)
• Access to exclusive pools, beaches, and a waterpark
• Gym access
• And more…

It is also worth considering prices and what is available will vary between resorts, I have just used Mirabello Bay as an example.

So…will you be booking an all-inclusive holiday for your next trip? Let us know in the poll above or in the comments below.

The disruptions are caused by engineering works between Preston and Edinburgh/Glasgow Central, affecting travel on Saturday 18 and Sunday 19 April.

No trains will be running this weekend between the following locations:

• Preston
• Oxenholme, Lake District
• Penrith, North Lakes
• Carlisle
• Lockerbie

Northern Rail posted on X: “Major engineering work between Preston and Edinburgh / Glasgow Central from Saturday 11 to Sunday 19 April.”

Travellers are advised to check their journeys on the National Rail journey planner, as services may be diverted, delayed, replaced by a bus service, or only run part for part of their normal route.

Rail replacement busses will be in operation to aid travellers on their journeys, which will be made visible in online journey planners and the National Rail website.

The National Rail website also hosts a rail replacement services page offering advice.

The engineering works started on April 11 are expected to be completed by the end of Sunday April 19.