Deaths from multiple cancers linked to alcohol have surged in the past several decades, new research shows. 

Experts believe when the body breaks down alcohol, it creates a toxic chemical called acetaldehyde that destroys healthy cells and results in a prime environment for cancer cells to thrive. 

As a result, alcohol is considered a Group 1 carcinogen, meaning there is sufficient evidence that the drink causes cancer. 

Recent evidence has increasingly sounded the alarm on alcohol’s potential link to colon, liver and stomach cancers, especially as these diseases soar in young Americans. 

Now, Florida researchers have urgently warned that alcohol-related cancer deaths are on the rise throughout the US.

Using 33 years’ worth of health data from thousands of Americans, the team found alcohol-attributable cancer deaths in the US doubled from about 11,400 in 1990 to 23,100 in 2023. 

And among adults under 55, colon and breast cancers were the leading alcohol-related cancer deaths, with esophageal, prostate and pancreatic cancers also seeing unprecedented growth. 

The researchers believe the findings show alcohol is becoming one of the most prominent modifiable risk factors in reducing cancer rates, particularly in younger Americans.

‘The most surprising finding was the breadth of alcohol’s potential impact across cancer types,’ Dr Chinmay Jani, corresponding study author and chief fellow in hematology and oncology at the Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center in Miami, said. 

‘Although its relationship with liver cancer is widely recognized, its contribution to cancers such as colorectal, esophageal, breast, pancreatic and prostate cancer is less well understood by the public.’

The current Dietary Guidelines for Americans urges adults to ‘consume less alcohol for better overall health.’ Previous guidelines suggested men have less than two drinks per day while women have one. 

The new study, published in The Lancet Regional Health – Americas, looked at cancer death rates and alcohol-related cancer death rates between 1990 and 2023 for 10 different forms of cancer: esophageal, stomach, liver, larynx, breast, prostate, colorectal, lip and oral cavity, pharynx and pancreatic.

The researchers used statistical modeling to calculate which deaths were related to alcohol-consumption. 

Overall, alcohol-attributable cancer deaths increased from 11,361 in 1990 to 23,126 in 2023, a 103 percent rise. Men and adults over 55 saw the highest concentrations of deaths, and the leading cause of alcohol-related death was liver cancer, followed by esophageal and colorectal cancers.

When looking at data for sexes combined, there were increases in alcohol-related deaths from all cancers studied except liver cancer. The greatest increase (57 percent) was in deaths from stomach cancer, followed by 40.5 percent for pancreatic cancer and 39.7 percent for colorectal cancer.

In men ages 20 to 54, colorectal cancer was the leading cause of alcohol-related death, followed by esophageal cancer. For women in the same age group, the leading cause was breast cancer, followed by colorectal cancer. 

Alcohol-related deaths among older men were highest for liver cancer, followed by esophageal and colorectal cancers. Breast cancer was the most common form in older women.  

‘Notably, among adults aged 20 to 54, colorectal cancer was the leading cause of alcohol-attributable cancer mortality in men and the second leading cause in women, surpassing liver cancer in both groups,’ Jani said. 

The study also looked at state-by-state alcohol-related cancer death data and found that in 2023, Washington DC had the highest rate for both sexes, followed by Texas for men and Alaska for women.

Utah, meanwhile, had the lowest rate for both sexes, which may be due to the state consistently recording the country’s lowest alcohol consumption rate. 

Washington DC, meanwhile, has some of the nation’s highest wine consumption and binge drinking rates, according to 2025 Gallup research. Those researchers attributed the rates to the area’s young professionals.

‘What this study makes clear is that alcohol-related cancer risk is not limited to one disease or one group of people,’ Dr Gilberto Lopes, senior study author and chief of the Division of Medical Oncology at the Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, said.

‘As physicians and cancer researchers, we have an opportunity to help patients understand that alcohol is a modifiable risk factor and that even small, informed changes can be part of a broader strategy to reduce cancer risk in our community.’ 

The researchers stressed the importance of raising awareness of alcohol’s relationship to cancer, especially for forms of the disease beyond liver cancer. 

‘The most important takeaway is greater awareness that alcohol may affect cancer risk beyond the liver,’ Jani said. 

‘These findings highlight alcohol as a potentially modifiable risk factor, and while the lowest safe dose is not yet known, this study suggests that reducing consumption to the lowest amount feasible for each individual may help lessen its impact on cancer risk and overall health.’ (Daily Mail)

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Nearly three weeks after an Indian family of four were found dead in their home, investigators tell the BBC they are no closer to knowing what actually happened.

The Dokadia family – Abdullah, his wife Nasreen and their two daughters Ayesha and Zainab – were found dead at their home on 25 April in Mumbai’s Pydhonie area.

When the news broke, Indian media quickly dubbed the case “watermelon deaths”, after the last thing the family had eaten before their deaths.

The deaths received incessant media coverage in India, with lots of headlines advising caution while eating what is one of India’s most popular summer fruits.

Reports claimed the fruit was either adulterated or had been poisoned and that the couple and their teenage daughters died because they consumed it late at night. This even led to a crash in watermelon prices in Mumbai’s fruit markets after demand plummeted.

There was also a lot of speculation over whether the deaths were accidental or intentional.

Last week, police in Mumbai said forensic tests had shown it was zinc phosphide – an extremely toxic chemical commonly used to kill rats – that killed the Dokadias. They said it was found in their organs and the remnants of the fruit.

But despite the revelation, the case is far from being solved and there are many unanswered questions.

On Wednesday, sources in the Mumbai police told the BBC that there is still no clarity on the motive or how the poison entered the watermelon.

“We are still collecting evidence and looking at all angles for motives,” a senior police officer said. “We have not ruled out homicide, accidental death or suicide.”

The Dokadias lived on the first floor of an old building in south Mumbai’s Pydhonie area.

In their first comments after the deaths, police said that night the family had hosted some relatives for dinner where they had eaten biriyani – a rice dish cooked with meat and fragrant spices.

The guests left at 22:30 and a few hours later the Dokadias ate watermelon. Soon after, they became ill.

“They all began suffering from vomiting and diarrhoea. They were taken to a nearby hospital and later transferred to JJ Hospital. However, all four individuals unfortunately died,” Deputy Commissioner of Police Pravin Mundhe told the media.

On hearing about their distress, neighbours, including Dr Zaid Qureshi who lives on the fourth floor of the building, rushed to help the family.

“I noticed that the youngest of the four individuals was experiencing difficulty breathing. I administered CPR. However, as her condition did not improve, she was taken to a nearby hospital. She passed away,” Dr Qureshi told BBC Marathi.

“The other three individuals were transferred from a local hospital to JJ Hospital,” he said, adding that they also died. Their post-mortem reports are still awaited.

Police said they seized all the food items, including rinds of the watermelon, to check for adulteration. As the last item the family had eaten before becoming ill, the attention was focused on the fruit.

Last week’s report from the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) in Mumbai shifted the focus from watermelon to zinc phosphide.

The chemical was “detected in the deceased individuals’ viscera samples – specifically in the liver, kidney, and spleen – as well as in samples of stomach contents, bile and abdominal fat”, FSL director Dr Vijay Thakare told BBC Marathi. “Zinc phosphide was also detected in the watermelon sample.”

Mundhe, who is investigating the case, also confirmed that the chemical was “detected in the watermelon samples collected during the investigation, although it was not found in any other food samples sent for analysis”.

The building in which the Dokadias lived has a rodent problem, according to a report in the Indian Express newspaper. It says that many families use repellents, poison cakes and glue pads to get rid of these pests.

Some of the poison used to kill rats contains zinc phosphide which is “an extremely toxic chemical compound”, says Mumbai-based doctor Bhushan Rokade.

“Once ingested or upon contact with moisture, this chemical generates phosphine gas which inhibits the body’s cells from utilising oxygen and has severe repercussions on multiple organs.

“Symptoms include vomiting, a sensation of tightness in the chest, shortness of breath and going into shock. Even in very minute quantities, it can prove fatal,” Dr Rokade explained.

On Wednesday, a senior police official told the BBC they were still puzzled by how the rat poison ended up in the fruit.

“We have questioned 40-50 people, including relatives, friends, family, neighbours and Dokadia’s work colleagues. We have formed multiple teams that are working to solve the case.

“We will keep working until we find the answers,” he said. (BBC)

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The Institute of Policy Studies of Sri Lanka (IPS) has highlighted the urgent need for stronger tobacco taxation, citing alarming figures on tobacco-related deaths. 

According to research by the World Health Organization (WHO), over 12,300 Sri Lankans die every year from diseases linked to tobacco use.

In a message for World Health Day 2026, IPS Sri Lanka stressed that higher tobacco taxes are recognized by the WHO as the single most cost-effective public health intervention to prevent these deaths.

“Tobacco isn’t just a health issue; it kills thousands annually. Strong tobacco taxes cut smoking and save lives, paving the way for healthier futures,” the IPS Sri Lanka added in its message on social media. (Newswire)

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Two people have been killed, and three others injured, after debris fell from the successful interception of a missile by UAE air defences in Abu Dhabi on Thursday.

The incident occurred on Sweihan Street, where multiple vehicles were also damaged. Abu Dhabi Media has said that authorities are investigating the incident and have not yet identified the victims.

Residents have been urged to rely on official sources for information and avoid circulating unverified reports.

On Tuesday, a civilian contractor working with the UAE Armed Forces died in a routine mission in Bahrain following an Iranian attack. Authorities then said that the “brazen Iranian attack” resulted in injuries to five members of the UAE Ministry of Defence.

Since the beginning of the Iranian aggression on February 28, the attacks have resulted in the martyrdom of two armed forces personnel, the deaths of six civilians of Pakistani, Nepalese, Bangladeshi, and Palestinian nationalities.

Injuries recorded so far range from minor to critical and the vicims are nationals of the following countries: The UAE, Egypt, Sudan, Ethiopia, Philippines, Pakistan, Iran, India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Azerbaijan, Yemen, Uganda, Eritrea, Lebanon, Afghanistan, Bahrain, Comoros, Turkey, Iraq, Nepal, Nigeria, Oman, Jordan, Palestine, Ghana, Indonesia, and Sweden. (Khaleej Times)

Abu Dhabi authorities have responded to an incident involving falling debris in Sweihan street, following the successful interception of a ballistic missile by air defence systems. The incident resulted in the deaths of two unidentified individuals, three injuries, and damage to…

— مكتب أبوظبي الإعلامي (@ADMediaOffice) March 26, 2026

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Authorities in Chiang Mai, a city in northern Thailand, are investigating the deaths of dozens of tigers at a popular tourist attraction this month.

Seventy-two tigers died in the span of less than two weeks across two facilities of Tiger Kingdom Chiang Mai, a park where visitors can touch and interact with tigers.

The provincial livestock office in Chiang Mai said in a statement on Friday (Feb 20) that testing detected the highly infectious canine distemper virus as well as bacteria affecting the respiratory system.

“When tigers fall ill, it is more difficult to detect than in animals like cats or dogs. By the time we realised they were sick, it was already too late,” Somchuan Ratanamungklanon, director of the national livestock department, told local media.

The park where the deaths occurred, Tiger Kingdom, could not be reached for comment on Saturday.

Its website advertises a chance for visitors to touch and take photos with the big cats. (BBC/ CNA)

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The main suspect in the incident where six people died from consuming illicit liquor has been arrested by the Wennappuwa Police.

According to the Police, the suspect is a 47‑year‑old resident of Galawatta, East Bandirippuwa.

The post‑mortem examinations of five victims were conducted at the Chilaw Hospital, which revealed that the deaths were caused by alcohol poisoning.

The post‑mortem of the sixth victim is scheduled to be carried out today (08 Jan) at the Chilaw Hospital.

Meanwhile, eight other individuals who fell ill after consuming the illicit liquor are receiving treatment at hospitals in Negombo and Peradeniya.

Investigations into the deaths of six people on January 06 due to illicit liquor consumption were initiated by the Wennappuwa Police, leading to the arrest of two suspects.

The two suspects were produced before the Marawila Magistrate’s Court yesterday (07 Jan) and were remanded until January 19. 

Further investigations are being carried out by the Wennappuwa Police. (Newswire)

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Sri Lanka Police say it is suspected that illness linked to illicit liquor consumption is the cause of the death of five individuals in the Thambaravila area of the Wennappuwa Police Division today.

According to the Police, the incident came to light this morning (Jan 06), following information relayed to the 119 Police emergency hotline.

Investigations revealed that a group had consumed illicit liquor at their workplace on Sunday night (Jan 04). 

Police had received information of two people who had been found dead at a grinding mill in Thambarawila. 

Further investigations had revealed that two more people employed in the same area had fallen ill and died after being admitted to the Marawila Hospital. 

Meanwhile, another individual had been found dead at a house, Police said. 

The deceased are aged between 28 and 57, who had been employed in the Thambarawila area, and hail from Anuradhapura, Diyagama, Ratnapura, and Madampegama. 

Police said three other mill employees admitted themselves to Negombo Hospital after the deaths of their coworkers were reported. They are currently receiving treatment.

Further investigations are being carried out by the Wennappuwa Police. (Newswire)

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The Registrar General’s Department has announced that the legal provisions required to register the deaths of persons who died or went missing due to landslides and floods caused by Cyclone Ditwah have already been implemented.

Issuing a statement, the department noted that if a person, relative, or friend has been reported missing due to this disaster, the necessary legal framework has been established to register the death of such missing individuals.

The department stated that, according to the Temporary Provisions Act on Death Registration in National Disaster Areas and Administrative Districts, a special gazette notification was issued on December 2.

Under this regulation, anyone applying to register the death of a missing person must submit an application form with relevant details and a sworn affidavit confirming the facts to the Grama Niladhari of the area where the missing person habitually resided.

The Grama Niladhari will then forward the application to the Divisional Secretary, who must display it for two weeks at both the Divisional Secretariat and the relevant Grama Niladhari office for objections.

If no objections are raised, the Divisional Secretary must submit the application for approval to the Regional Deputy or Assistant Registrar General authorized by the Registrar General.

If objections are presented, an inquiry will be conducted and appropriate action taken, the department added.

Furthermore, under this regulation, when a certificate of disappearance is requested, applications will be accepted, and proper investigations carried out, after which the Divisional Secretary will issue a certificate confirming the disappearance, the Registrar General’s Department stated. (Newswire)

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The death toll due to the inclement weather conditions experienced in Sri Lanka stands at 69 persons in 08 districts during the four day period from 26 to 29 November 2025.

According to the Disaster Management Centre (DMC), 30 individuals were reported dead in the Badulla District, 02 in the Monaragala District, and 03 in the Kurunegala district.

Six (06) persons have been reported dead in the Nuwara Eliya District, and one each in the Galle, Anuradhapura, and Hambantota Districts.

05 individuals were reported dead in the Ampara District, 04 in the Kandy District, and 08 each in the Matale and Kegalle Districts. 

The DMC further states that 18,443 persons from 5890 families in 21 districts have been placed at 266 temporary shelters due to the inclement weather conditions.

Although the DMC’s official figures report that 69 persons have died in the last four days, there are reports that the death toll could be higher. (Newswire)

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Several more deaths have been reported in various districts due to the prevalent inclement weather conditions in Sri Lanka. 

The Badulla District Secretary says 35 people have died in the Badulla District alone due to the disaster. 

Meanwhile, the Kandy District Secretary says the death toll in the Kandy district alone has risen to 50, with another 67 missing. 

Five bodies have been recovered and 12 people are unaccounted for in the area of Yahangala in Hasalaka, Kandy, following a landslide.

Furthermore, the Police say 12 people are unaccounted for in the area of Dedugala in Bulathkohupitiya, Kegalle following a landslide. (Newswire)

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The Disaster Management Centre (DMC) has reported that 30 deaths occurred over the two days of November 26 and 27 as a result of the adverse weather conditions affecting Sri Lanka.

According to the DMC, 19 of the deaths were reported in the Badulla District, 01 each in the Kurunegala and Galle Districts, 04 in the Nuwara Eliya District, and 05 in the Ampara District. 

The deaths have occurred due to landslides, flooding, and other weather-related disasters reported in the said areas. 

Meanwhile, a total of 40 disaster-related deaths have been reported across Sri Lanka due to the adverse weather conditions experienced between November 16-27. 

Twenty-one (21) persons are reported missing, while 10 have sustained injuries during this period.

A total of 5893 individuals from 1729 families in 20 districts have been severely affected due to inclement weather in Sri Lanka. (Newswire)

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The Disaster Management Centre (DMC) reports that 39 disaster‑related deaths have occurred so far due to the prevailing adverse weather conditions in Sri Lanka.

Seventy‑nine Divisional Secretariat divisions across 17 districts have been affected.

In these areas, 4,008 individuals belonging to 1,158 families have been impacted, while 14 persons are still reported missing, according to the Centre.

Meanwhile, 10 individuals have sustained injuries due to the disasters, and 131 persons from 41 families have been temporarily sheltered in five relief centres.

The DMC further stated that 472 individuals from 136 families are currently staying with relatives as a result of the disaster situation.

Furthermore, three people have lost their lives in a landslide that occurred in the Gangoda area of Kandy today (27).

The Disaster Management Centre stated that at least 17 more individuals are reported missing.

Moreover, the Disaster Management Centre reports that the number of deaths in the Nuwara Eliya District due to the adverse weather conditions has risen to six.

It further stated that three persons in the district are reported missing.

Meanwhile, the Police state that three persons have gone missing after a house in the Pussellawa–Taldena area of Badulla was swept away by a landslide. (Newswire)

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A total of 31 persons have been reported dead due to various disaster situations reported due to the inclement weather conditions experienced in Sri Lanka from 17-27 November 2025.

According to the Disaster Management Centre (DMC), 14 individuals are reported missing, and 10 have sustained injuries during this period. 

A total of 4008 persons from 1158 families in 17 districts have been severely affected due to the prevalent inclement weather. 

The DMC states 131 individuals from 41 families have been currently placed at 05 temporary shelters, while 472 persons from 136 families have been relocated to their relatives’ houses. (Newswire)

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Eleven (11) persons have been reported dead due to adverse weather conditions experienced in the Badulla district, in the last 24 hours ending at 06.00 am today.

According to the Badulla District Secretary,  07 persons are also reported missing during this period.

The deaths are reported as a result of several landslides and rockfalls reported in multiple locations of the Badulla District due to inclement weather. (Newswire)

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Three workers, including two Sri Lankans, have been found dead at a land-based fish farm in Goseong, South Gyeongsang Province, in South Korea, prompting a police investigation, South Korean media, The Chosun Daily reported.

According to the Gyeongnam Provincial Police Agency, the three workers, a Korean man in his 50s, the site manager, and two Sri Lankan employees in their 20s and 30s, were discovered deceased inside a large reservoir at the Goseong farm around 8:30 pm on November 09. 

The news report further states that the reservoir was nearly filled with water at the time.

The Police began their investigation after receiving a report at 7:38 pm the same day from the family of the man in his 50s, who stated, “My father is not responding.” 

One of the foreign workers was wearing attire resembling work clothes, while the other two were in casual clothing.

South Korean authorities plan to conduct autopsies on the deceased and investigate the company to determine the exact circumstances, including potential safety accidents and possible negligence. (Newswire)

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Two individuals have been reported dead due to the adverse weather conditions experienced in Sri Lanka between 18th and 21st October 2025.

According to the Disaster Management Centre, the deaths were reported in the Anuradhapura and Kegalle districts, due to drowning. 

A total of 747 persons from 187 families in 16 districts have been affected due to the inclement weather conditions. 

The DMC says 152 houses have sustained partial damage due to the adverse weather conditions experienced during this period. (Newswire)

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Three individuals have died under suspicious circumstances inside a house in Tangalle, where a stock of ICE narcotics had been found.

Speaking to Newswire, Police Spokesman ASP F.U. Wootler said two individuals were found dead alongside the stock of ICE recovered in Seenimodara in Tangalle. 

He said another person had died after being admitted to the hospital. 

The Police Spokesman said investigations have been launched into the suspicious deaths. (Newswire)

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Two individuals have been reported dead in separate road accidents in the Hungama and Kalpitiya areas on Monday.

According to the Police, a 79-year-old motorcyclist from Ranna died after a bus collided with his motorcycle from behind on the Tissa–Matara main road. 

The injured rider was first admitted to the Ranna Hospital and later transferred to Tangalle Hospital, where he succumbed to injuries. 

The bus driver has been arrested, while the Hungama Police is conducting investigations. 

Meanwhile, a 19-year-old youth from Ettale was killed in a road accident in Kalpitiya yesterday.

According to the Police, the teenage pedestrian had been hit by a car travelling from Palaviya to Kalpitiya at Ettale junction. 

The victim was admitted to Kalpitiya Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. 

The driver of the car has been arrested, while the Kalpitiya Police are conducting investigations. (Newswire)

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Three individuals have been reported dead in separate incidents in various parts of Sri Lanka on Tuesday, the Police said. 

A 46-year-old resident of Kelaniya was reported dead after being attacked with a sharp object in Peliyagoda. 

Investigations reveal that an argument between the victim and a group of persons had escalated, resulting in the death. 

The Peliyagoda Police is conducting investigations to apprehend the suspects involved in the murder.

Meanwhile, a 46-year-old resident of Kanagarayankulam has been found dead in a suspicious manner inside a canal near the Nedunkerny Town on the Nedunkerny – Mullaitivu Road. 

Investigations have found parts of a vehicle nearby, but the cause of death is yet to be ascertained. The Nedunkerny Police is conducting investigations. 

Furthermore, the unidentified body of a male has been found inside a house in the Vijayapuram area in Talaimannar.

Investigations have found that the individual had died a few days before. The Talaimannar Police is conducting investigations. (Newswire)

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Three wild elephants have died in separate incidents reported from various parts of Sri Lanka.

According to state TV, the Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation, the deaths occurred in the areas of Polonnaruwa–Gallella, Girandurukotte, and Buttala.

One elephant that was struck by a train travelling from Colombo to Batticaloa around 5:30 am today was found dead in the Kanduruwela–Gallella area.

In Girandurukotte, residents discovered the body of a 25-year-old elephant near a canal adjacent to the Water Supply Board.

Wildlife officers from Mahiyanganaya initiated an investigation and noted gunshot wounds across the elephant’s body, suggesting it may have died from being shot.

Locals reported that the elephant had been causing damage to homes during both day and night, severely affecting daily life. Investigations into the incident are ongoing.

Meanwhile, the body of another elephant was found yesterday in a cultivated field in the Buttala–Mahagodaya area.

The elephant was estimated to be between 20 and 25 years old, but police stated that the exact cause of death has not yet been determined. (Newswire)

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