Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Wednesday 28 Dec 2016

1. Warning of middle age health crisis

Eighty per cent of middle-aged people in England are overweight, drink too much or don't get enough exercise, Public Health England (PHE) is warning. Some 77% of men aged 40 to 60 are obese, as are 63% of women, with obesity across both genders up 16% in the last 20 years. PHE has launched a campaign to tackle the problem.

2. Tributes paid to Star Wars actor Fisher

Tributes have been paid to Carrie Fisher, the Star Wars actor who died in Los Angeles on Tuesday at the age of 60. Co-star Harrison Ford said she was "one of a kind" who lived "bravely". Director George Lucas said Fisher was "a talented actress, writer and comedienne". Tributes came from Whoopi Goldberg, Seth MacFarlane and others.

3. Abe: 'We must never repeat the horrors of war'

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe yesterday laid a wreath at the Pearl Harbour memorial in Hawaii, where Japan attacked a US naval base without warning in 1941, alongside US president Barack Obama. Abe said: "We must never repeat the horrors of war again… To the souls of the [US] servicemen... I pledge that unwavering vow."

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4. Women's drinking 'unfairly portrayed'

A new study published in the BMJ has found that women's binge drinking is given more coverage in British newspapers than men's. Looking at 308 articles from seven newspapers, they found the amount drunk by women was misrepresented. The impact of drinking on women was also portrayed differently, often linked to their appearance.

5. Toshiba shares fall 20% on US warning

Toshiba's share value fell 20% this morning, enough for trading to be automatically suspended, after the Japanese firm warned its US nuclear business was worth less than previously thought. A substantial write-down is linked to the acquisition by subsidiary Westinghouse Electric of Chicago Bridge & Iron's nuclear construction business.

6. US dismisses 'ludicrous' IS support claim

The US says the accusation by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan that it supported Islamic State (IS) in Syria is "ludicrous". Erdogan insisted he had "confirmed evidence with pictures, photos and videos". He also claimed the Kurdish groups the US has been supporting in Syria were linked to the banned PKK organisation.

7. Modern slavery tackled in nail bars

Almost 100 people have been arrested in recent weeks, in raids on 280 nail bars across the UK as immigration officers and police target "modern slavery". More than 60 businesses now face fines, while 14 possible slaves – all Vietnamese – have been identified. Tackling modern slavery is one of Theresa May's key pledges.

8. Search for missing student despite Facebook post

Police are continuing the search for missing student Isabel Gayther, not seen since the morning of Christmas Eve, despite a new post on her Facebook profile which says: "Am not on my way to Syria or being held hostage… I AM NOT MISSING peace. How embarrassing…" The 21-year-old from Oxford is studying in south London.

9. Passengers pay for 'decrepit' trains

New figures show the average age of a train in the UK is now 20 years, older than it has been for 15 years. Think tank IPPR North said passengers are "paying through the nose for decrepit trains", with rail fares increasing by an average of 2.3% across the country from Monday. Caledonian sleeper trains are 41 years old on average.

10. Briefing: Oscar predictions 2017 - which films will be nominated?

La La Land looks set to dominate the Golden Globe awards, taking seven nominations - but what about the most prestigious ceremony of the season? The 89th Academy Awards will be handed out to filmmakers and actors on 26 February next year. With just under two months to go, punters and film lovers are already predicting the winners.

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