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CNN
27-05-2025
- Entertainment
- CNN
Twins' mysterious deaths, middle age weight loss, summer TV preview: Catch up on the day's stories
👋 Welcome to 5 Things PM! Losing weight in middle age could set you up for a longer and healthier life, a new study found. The benefits include a lower risk of chronic diseases and death. Here's what else you might have missed during your busy day: 1️⃣ Mystery solved: Twin 19-year-old brothers Qaadir and Naazir Lewis were found shot to death at the remote summit of a mountain in northern Georgia. Their deaths baffled the close-knit family for months, but police now say they know what happened. 2️⃣ 'A major issue': A sperm donor with a rare genetic mutation fathered 67 children, and now 10 of them have been diagnosed with cancer. Advocates say there's a need for greater regulation and a limit on the number of births allowed from a single donor. 3️⃣ You snooze, you lose? When jolted awake by a blaring alarm clock, it's tempting to reach for the snooze button. 'Just five more minutes' is practically a morning mantra. But you could be silently sabotaging your shut-eye. Experts explain the pros and cons. 4️⃣ What to watch: With the dog days of summer approaching, our entertainment team rounded up the best new series and movies coming to a TV screen near you, including a drama from the creator of 'Succession' and an Adam Sandler comedy sequel. 5️⃣ Gone viral: Archie and Miles Shephard used to work together as salesmen in a lumber yard. Now they're social media stars known for their high-energy and hilarious interpretations of some of the most dramatic moments in sports. GET '5 THINGS' IN YOUR INBOX CNN's 5 Things newsletter is your one-stop shop for the latest headlines and fascinating stories to start and end your busy day. Sign up here. 💥 Big boom: A home security camera captured the moment a box truck exploded while passing through a residential neighborhood in Addison, Illinois. The driver walked away with only minor injuries. • RFK Jr. says Covid-19 shot will no longer be recommended for healthy children and pregnant women• Trump considers new sanctions on Russia as he grows more furious with Putin• NPR sues Trump over executive order to cut funding 🇩🇰 That's about to be the new retirement age in Denmark, and it's the highest in Europe. 🧀 Hole-y rollers: It's been described as the world's most dangerous race, and it's certainly one of the most ridiculous — people tumbling down a steep hill in pursuit of a wheel of Double Gloucester cheese. Contestants explain why it's so thrilling. This chapter is over. The story? Still being written. Thanks to all. Cristiano Ronaldo ⚽ What's next? The Portuguese soccer star threw his future into doubt with a cryptic message on social media after scoring his 25th goal on the final day of the Saudi Pro League season. 📖 Whose voice narrates the audiobook version of first lady Melania Trump's memoir?A. Megyn KellyB. Barron TrumpC. Morgan FreemanD. Her own voice using AI⬇️ Scroll down for the answer. 🐼 Cute overload: Hong Kong's first locally born baby pandas — affectionately known as 'Elder Sister' and 'Little Brother' — finally have actual names after a contest that drew more than 35,000 entries. Take a look. 👋 We'll see you tomorrow. 🧠 Quiz answer: D. The first lady said her memoir is narrated 'entirely using artificial intelligence in my own voice.'📧 Check out all of CNN's newsletters. 5 Things PM is produced by CNN's Chris Good, Meghan Pryce, Kimberly Richardson and Morgan Severson.
CNN
27-05-2025
- Entertainment
- CNN
Twins' mysterious deaths, middle age weight loss, summer TV preview: Catch up on the day's stories
👋 Welcome to 5 Things PM! Losing weight in middle age could set you up for a longer and healthier life, a new study found. The benefits include a lower risk of chronic diseases and death. Here's what else you might have missed during your busy day: 1️⃣ Mystery solved: Twin 19-year-old brothers Qaadir and Naazir Lewis were found shot to death at the remote summit of a mountain in northern Georgia. Their deaths baffled the close-knit family for months, but police now say they know what happened. 2️⃣ 'A major issue': A sperm donor with a rare genetic mutation fathered 67 children, and now 10 of them have been diagnosed with cancer. Advocates say there's a need for greater regulation and a limit on the number of births allowed from a single donor. 3️⃣ You snooze, you lose? When jolted awake by a blaring alarm clock, it's tempting to reach for the snooze button. 'Just five more minutes' is practically a morning mantra. But you could be silently sabotaging your shut-eye. Experts explain the pros and cons. 4️⃣ What to watch: With the dog days of summer approaching, our entertainment team rounded up the best new series and movies coming to a TV screen near you, including a drama from the creator of 'Succession' and an Adam Sandler comedy sequel. 5️⃣ Gone viral: Archie and Miles Shephard used to work together as salesmen in a lumber yard. Now they're social media stars known for their high-energy and hilarious interpretations of some of the most dramatic moments in sports. GET '5 THINGS' IN YOUR INBOX CNN's 5 Things newsletter is your one-stop shop for the latest headlines and fascinating stories to start and end your busy day. Sign up here. 💥 Big boom: A home security camera captured the moment a box truck exploded while passing through a residential neighborhood in Addison, Illinois. The driver walked away with only minor injuries. • RFK Jr. says Covid-19 shot will no longer be recommended for healthy children and pregnant women• Trump considers new sanctions on Russia as he grows more furious with Putin• NPR sues Trump over executive order to cut funding 🇩🇰 That's about to be the new retirement age in Denmark, and it's the highest in Europe. 🧀 Hole-y rollers: It's been described as the world's most dangerous race, and it's certainly one of the most ridiculous — people tumbling down a steep hill in pursuit of a wheel of Double Gloucester cheese. Contestants explain why it's so thrilling. This chapter is over. The story? Still being written. Thanks to all. Cristiano Ronaldo ⚽ What's next? The Portuguese soccer star threw his future into doubt with a cryptic message on social media after scoring his 25th goal on the final day of the Saudi Pro League season. 📖 Whose voice narrates the audiobook version of first lady Melania Trump's memoir?A. Megyn KellyB. Barron TrumpC. Morgan FreemanD. Her own voice using AI⬇️ Scroll down for the answer. 🐼 Cute overload: Hong Kong's first locally born baby pandas — affectionately known as 'Elder Sister' and 'Little Brother' — finally have actual names after a contest that drew more than 35,000 entries. Take a look. 👋 We'll see you tomorrow. 🧠 Quiz answer: D. The first lady said her memoir is narrated 'entirely using artificial intelligence in my own voice.'📧 Check out all of CNN's newsletters. 5 Things PM is produced by CNN's Chris Good, Meghan Pryce, Kimberly Richardson and Morgan Severson.
Daily Mail
24-05-2025
- Health
- Daily Mail
Doctor issues urgent plea as sperm donor used to conceive 67 kids passes cancer-causing gene on to them - 10 now confirmed to have the disease
A doctor has issued an urgent plea after it was revealed a sperm donor used to conceive at least 67 children across Europe has passed on a rare cancer-causing mutation. Around 23 of those conceived from the donor's sperm between 2008 and 2015 have been found to carry a variant in the TP53 gene which provides instructions for making tumour proteins. And 10 of these children have already been diagnosed with cancers such as leukaemia and non-Hodgkin lymphoma. The case was described by Dr Edwige Kasper, a biologist at Rouen University Hospital in France, as an 'abnormal dissemination of genetic disease'. She urged The Guardian: 'We need to have a European limit on the number of births or families for a single donor. 'We can't do whole-genome sequencing for all sperm donors – I'm not arguing for that,' she added. 'But this is the abnormal dissemination of genetic disease. Not every man has 75 children across Europe.' The shocking revelation came to light when two separate families contacted their fertility clinics after their children were diagnosed with cancers connected to the a variant in the TP53 gene. Analysis by the European Sperm Bank which supplied the sperm confirmed that the rare variant was present in some of the donor's sperm. But they emphasised that it was not known to be linked to cancer at the time the sperm was donated in 2008 and it would not have been detected using standard screening techniques. Furthermore, the donor is thought to be in good health. The European Sperm Bank said that more than 67 children had been conceived using the donor's sperm, but that its policy does not allow them to confirm exact numbers of children for a specific donor. It said all of the relevant clinics had been alerted. Julie Paulli Budtz, a spokesperson for the European Sperm Bank, said: 'We are deeply affected by this case.' Although the donor had been thoroughly tested, she said that 'it is scientifically simply not possible to detect disease-causing mutations in a person's gene pool if you don't know what you are looking for'. She added: 'We welcome continued dialogue on setting an internationally mandated family limit, and have advocated for this on several occasions. 'This is also why we have proactively implemented our own international limit of 75 families per donor.' It is suggested that children who have the mutated TP53 gene undergo whole body and brain MRI scans. They are also advised to have regular breast and abdomen ultrasounds throughout adulthood. The case has sparked questions about the challenge of tracing the families affected and the lack of internationally agreed limits surrounding the use of a single sperm donor. Many European countries have their own limits on either the number of families that can use a donor or the number of children that can be conceived using the same donor. Current UK law allows for sperm from a single donor to be used to create a maximum of 10 families.
The Independent
24-05-2025
- Health
- The Independent
Sperm donor with cancer-causing gene passes on disease to 10 children
A sperm donor who has been used to conceive at least 67 children across Europe had a rare cancer -causing mutation, with 10 of the children developing the disease. Twenty-three of the children, conceived between 2008 and 2015 across eight countries, have now been found to carry the variant, while some have been diagnosed with cancers such as leukaemia and non-Hodgkin lymphoma. The case has raised concerns about the lack of internationally agreed limits on the use of a single sperm donor, and the difficulty in tracing a large number of families to inform them of a serious medical issue. The news was uncovered after two separate families contacted their fertility clinics becaues their children had developed cancers that were linked to a genetic variant called TP53. An analysis by the European Sperm Bank, who supplied the sperm, confirmed that the variant was present but was not known to be linked to cancer at the time of donation in 2008. Dr Edwige Kasper, a biologist at Rouen university hospital in France, said: 'We need to have a European limit on the number of births or families for a single donor. 'We can't do whole-genome sequencing for all sperm donors – I'm not arguing for that,' she added. 'But this is the abnormal dissemination of genetic disease. Not every man has 75 children across Europe.' She continued: 'I analysed the variant using population and patient databases, computer prediction tools and the results of functional trials and came to the conclusion that the variant was probably cancer-causing and that children born from this donor should receive genetic counselling.' Children who have been shown to have the gene are advised to have whole body and brain MRI scans. They are also recommend to have breast and abdomen ultrasounds as adults. Julie Paulli Budtz, a spokesperson for the European Sperm Bank, told The Guardian: 'We are deeply affected by this case.' She said the donor had been thoroughly tested but that 'it is scientifically simply not possible to detect disease-causing mutations in a person's gene pool if you don't know what you are looking for'. She added: 'We welcome continued dialogue on setting an internationally mandated family limit and have advocated for this on several occasions. This is also why we have proactively implemented our own international limit of 75 families per donor.'
Telegraph
20-05-2025
- General
- Telegraph
I met a stranger in a hotel room to try to get pregnant – and fled in horror
As I fled the hotel room, heart pounding and hands sweaty, I clutched my bag and pulled my jacket tightly around me. Overwhelmed with emotion, tears filled my eyes. How had it all come to this? Society tells you that becoming a mother is the most natural progression in a woman's life, but after years of trying, pursuing every route possible, it still hadn't happened for me. So, there I was, leaving my hotel room after a desperate encounter with a sperm donor I'd found online, clinging to one final hope of becoming a mother. It was the summer of 2016, and I had been trying for a baby for four years. Back in 2012, at 37, I was an international destination wedding photographer, living a life many envied – travelling the world and capturing couples at the start of their journey together. But beneath it all, I longed to be a mother. Though in a loving relationship at the time, I knew it wouldn't last. We had never discussed having children and I knew he wasn't the man I would spend the rest of my life with, so I decided to go it alone. I had always wanted to be a mother but as an ambitious young woman my career had always come first. As I neared the age of 40 there was a realisation that although I had the rest of my life to find Mr Right, my time to conceive was limited, and would quickly run out. Researching sperm banks I researched sperm banks and knew they were regulated by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA), ensuring safety and ethics. However, UK donor information was limited – just a brief medical history and anonymity until the child turned 18. That didn't feel right. I wanted transparency, so I looked beyond the UK and found a Danish sperm bank offering donors from across Europe. Eventually, I chose one from the Netherlands. His profile was everything I had hoped for – detailed medical records, a childhood photo, and a letter explaining why he chose to be an open donor. He was thoughtful, articulate and tall – which felt like a bonus – as I'm tall myself and naturally drawn to tall men. But most importantly, he felt real and safe. A year earlier I had become pregnant the 'natural' way with my current partner, but I had hidden it from him, and then miscarried. However, despite losing the baby, medical tests had shown no issues with my fertility. Once I allowed myself to grieve, I was ready. I confirmed my choice – the Dutch donor whose sperm was stored by a fertility clinic in Denmark. I completed the paperwork, and arranged for the sperm to be shipped to my consultant in London, where it was frozen until I was ready to move forward. There would be enough sperm for multiple attempts, but of course I prayed success would come swiftly. But by 2015, as I approached 40, the toll of four rounds of intrauterine insemination (IUI) and countless trips to London from Hampshire had drained me. I felt time slipping away – I had forever to find Mr Right, but just a few years left to have a child. Each failed attempt left me heartbroken, and aside from my mother's support, I felt utterly alone in the process. The cost of insemination quickly drained my savings – around £10,000 - and my desperation grew. I was single, but putting off any ideas of a relationship until I had settled into my life as a mother. Meeting men online One evening, after hours of late-night searching, I stumbled upon a UK site where men offered their sperm free to women struggling to conceive. I knew the risks but, consumed by my desire to become a mother, I decided to take the chance. It was like a dating site – swiping through profiles, hoping to find a match. I connected with a donor and after exchanging personal details we met for a coffee to get to know each other. While certain personal details had to remain anonymous for our mutual protection, we both shared enough to feel reassured and comfortable moving forward. The one non-negotiable was that we each had to take an HIV test. There were two options to attempt conception – the natural way or through insemination. I made it clear I preferred the latter. A friend who works in a hospital sent me what I needed for the procedure, I put my donor on standby, did my temperature readings every day and waited for the sign that my body was ready. Eventually, the day came to try, and despite the nerves it felt strangely impersonal. We met at a hotel near Waterloo where I'd booked a room, and I left the supplies he needed in the bathroom while I waited anxiously in the lobby. Once he had emptied his sperm into a sterile test tube, he would leave it there for me to then transfer to a pipette and inseminate myself. As he descended the stairs, I rushed past him and up to the room, conscious not to waste any time, not even a second. Afterwards, I called my friend who had sent the supplies to keep me company while lying with my legs up for as long as I could. It was a totally surreal experience with absolutely no emotional connection, but I remember being confident it was going to work. It didn't. We tried again, but this attempt failed too and the disappointment was overwhelming. I knew the odds were stacked against me, having just one chance per cycle and a success rate of around 10 per cent for women my age, but I was determined to keep going, despite the emotional toll. Taking fertility medication Eventually, I asked my donor if he'd be willing to proceed the 'traditional' way, and he agreed. To boost my chances, I started fertility medications to stimulate ovulation and increase the number of available eggs. Almost immediately I felt the effects – my emotions were in overdrive and my body out of balance. A few weeks later, I ovulated. We met again: same hotel, same purpose. It wasn't romantic, but it wasn't uncomfortable. The process was repeated once again – waiting, hoping, willing it to work, and ending in disappointment. We tried one last time. On that occasion, I noticed his tablet propped up strangely against the wall and a wave of panic hit me – was he filming me? My stomach lurched. Heart pounding, I grabbed my things and fled, shaken to my core. What was I doing? I'll never know if he was planning anything that I hadn't consented to, but it made me realise that I'd put myself at serious risk; anything could have happened. For over four years, my life had been on hold in the pursuit of pregnancy – tracking every cycle, spending my savings, and sacrificing potential relationships and happiness. I sat on the train home, tears falling down my face. I knew it had to stop. Nothing ever prepares you for the emotional weight of that realisation – the sense of loss, the silence, the space where something was meant to be. It made me question my identity, my direction and what purpose could possibly fill the void. I had to make a living and knew I needed something meaningful to pour my energy into. Finding a new obsession Wedding photography stopped fulfilling me – it felt too painful and no longer brought me joy. Instead, I found myself drawn to the creative world of personal branding, capturing the stories of women building something of their own. That shift felt right, and my new business was steadily growing – until Covid hit in 2020 and everything went quiet. Bookings vanished overnight and, like so many others, I was left staring into the unknown. But in that stillness, something stirred – a desire to create not just for myself, but for women like me: those rethinking their futures, craving connection, support, and a sense of possibility. That's how Brand You 2020 was born: a Facebook community created to empower female entrepreneurs with inspiration, support, and practical guidance. It has since evolved into a collaborative, glossy magazine where women in business share their stories, expertise, and lift each other up – a platform rooted in real experience and collective growth. In many ways, Brand You has become the baby I never had. I've since expanded it into an in-person event, Showtime – a day where like-minded women come together to support one another and learn how to grow their brand and business. On Oct 1 this year, more than 150 women will gather in London to cover every aspect of branding and entrepreneurship. Last week, I turned 50. I've never felt happier or more fulfilled. I'm godmother to five wonderful boys – sons of friends – and I cherish my extended family and beautiful niece and nephew, whom I see whenever I can. I don't resent friends who were lucky enough to have children, nor do I want pity for a life that didn't follow the path I once imagined. My life is rich, positive and full of joy. While I didn't get the life I once dreamed of, I'm deeply grateful for the life I've created. I'm proud of what I've achieved and the community I've built – and I know this journey wouldn't have been possible had I become the mother I once hoped to be. As told to Emily Cleary IUI vs IVF: How the different fertility treatments compare Intrauterine insemination (IUI) A quick procedure that involves injecting the highest quality sperm directly into the uterus during ovulation to fertilise the eggs naturally. The process, which often involves the patient taking fertility medication to stimulate ovulation, reduces the time and distance sperm has to travel, making it easier to fertilise the egg. Before being injected, the sperm goes through a process called 'sperm washing' that collects a concentrated amount of healthy sperm from the semen. IUI is often recommended as the first step for couples struggling to conceive because it's less expensive and less invasive than IVF. It costs about $300-$1,000 (£230-£766) without health insurance. The procedure has lower success rates per cycle and is not always suitable for those with severe fertility problems. IUI can also increase the chances of having twins or triplets. In vitro fertilization (IVF) A more invasive process that involves externally fertilising an egg with sperm in a lab, before transferring the resulting embryo into the uterus. IVF has a higher success rate than IUI, but it can depend on factors including age and the number of healthy eggs carried in a woman's ovaries. IVF is a multi-step process that can involve about six to eight visits over four weeks. It involves the woman taking medication to mature her eggs and prepare them for fertilisation. The eggs are removed through a minor surgical procedure and mixed with sperm in a lab to help fertilise them. If the sperm has lower motility, they can be injected directly into the eggs. One or more embryos are then placed directly in the uterus. The average cost of an IVF cycle can range from $14,000 to $20,000 (£10,730-£15,330) in the US, depending on factors such as location and additional procedures.
