Australian researchers on Thursday revealed that alcohol consumption causes a higher proportion of cancers in Australia than previous estimates.

According to a statement of the University of Sydney, the study estimates that around 4.6 per cent of all cancers in Australia are caused by alcohol consumption, which also increases the risk of developing cancer by 19 per cent.

The research, published in the British Journal of Cancer, analyzed alcohol consumption behavior among 225,000 people in the Australian state of New South Wales’ 45 & Up Study.

The study’s lead author Peter Sarich from the University Of Sydney School Of Public Health said “cancer is the leading cause of premature death in Australia.

“While the science on the causes of cancer continues to evolve, the evidence is now clear that reducing alcohol consumption is an effective strategy for preventing cancer.’’

Researchers estimated that over 7,800 cancer cases diagnosed in Australia in 2024 were attributable to alcohol, exceeding earlier estimates of between 2.8 per cent and 4.1 per cent.

The study found cancer risk rises with increased alcohol intake. For every 10 drinks consumed per week, the risk of cancer increased by 19 per cent.

The risk rose by 46 per cent for liver cancer, 27 per cent for cancers of the mouth, throat, larynx and esophagus, 18 per cent for breast cancer, and 16 per cent for colorectal cancer, according to the study.

Sarich said if Australians followed national guidelines of no more than 10 drinks per week, more than 3,700 alcohol-related cancer cases annually could be prevented.

He added that only around half the population is aware that alcohol causes cancer.

Pope Leo XIV commemorated the first anniversary of the death of his predecessor, Francis, as he addressed worshippers in Equatorial Guinea yesterday.

The pontiff paid tribute to his predecessor’s commitment to the most vulnerable and marginalised groups in society.

As he flew from Angola to Equatorial Guinea, Leo said Francis had given “his witness, his words, and his gestures.

He did so by truly living close to the poorest, to the least, to the sick, to children, and to the elderly.”

In tribute, Leo said, “Let us thank the Lord for the great gift of Francis’ life to the whole Church and to the whole world.

As Pope, Francis headed the Catholic Church from 2013 to 2025. He died at the age of 88.

The current pope, who was the curia cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, a U.S. and Peruvian citizen, was then elected to succeed him.

Equatorial Guinea is the final stop on the pope’s 11-day tour.

Africa is one of the regions of the world where the Catholic Church is growing.

There are currently around 290 million Catholics living on the continent, and this could rise to more than 700 million by the end of this century, forecasts suggest.

Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky has condemned a US decision to extend the period during which Russia is allowed to sell oil despite Western sanctions.

The move means countries can purchase Russian oil and petroleum products already loaded on vessels at sea until 16 May.

The US argues that the waiver is meant to ease the energy supply crunch sparked by the US-Israel war with Iran.

But in his remarks on Sunday, Zelensky said “every dollar paid for Russian oil is money for the war” in Ukraine. Widespread sanctions have been in place against Russia since President Vladimir Putin launched his full-scale invasion of its neighbour in February 2022.

The devastating US and Israel attacks against Iran have prompted it to retaliate not only against Israel and US military bases in the Gulf, but also against energy fatalities and other civilian sites across Arab allies of the US in the region.

Additionally, Iran has virtually shut the Strait of Hormuz – the narrow passage where some 20% of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas (LNG) is usually transported through.

This has led to turmoil in energy markets, with fears that a world recession may ensue if it is not reopened soon.

The US move to ease Russian sanctions on 13 March was widely condemned by Zelensky as well as his European allies.

Extending the waiver on Friday, the US said it wanted “to ensure oil is available to those ⁠who need it” as negotiations to end the war “accelerate”.

The Ukrainian leader said Russia had more than 110 tankers from its “shadow fleet” – vessels with obscured ownership designed to help it bypass sanctions – with “over 12 million tons” of oil.

Their sale, he added, would bring $10bn (£7.4bn) to Moscow’s coffers as “a resource that is directly converted into new strikes against Ukraine”.

The Ukrainian leader did not explain what those figures were based on.

But he added that just over the past week, Russia had launched “over 2,360 attack drones, more than 1,320 guided aerial bombs, and nearly 60 missiles of various types at our cities and communities”.

That included the deadliest attack against Ukraine in months on 15 April during which more than 700 drones and missiles were used in multiple waves in one night, killing at least 18 people.

Ukraine has also attacked Russia, particularly focusing on energy facilities.

However, despite ongoing attacks, a stalemate has been reached in the war in Ukraine, with Russia in control of about 20% of Ukrainian territory.

Efforts led by the US to end the war have been put on hold as a result of the war in Iran.