Coffee can help you live longer

There is good news for coffee lovers from the American Heart Association. Their new report says coffee drinkers may live longer than those who do not drink coffee. Evidence shows that coffee makes you live longer. It also reduces the risk of heart disease, type 2 diabetes, other life-threatening illnesses, and even suicide. Researchers looked at over 200,000 people who drank between one and five cups of coffee a day. Researcher Dr Frank Hu said: "Moderate consumption of coffee may confer health benefits in terms of reducing premature death due to several diseases."

Scientists have been analysing what is in coffee that provides so many health benefits. Many reports in the past decades have highlighted the positive effects it has on the body. Dr Hu said it was still unclear how coffee interacts with the body. He said: "Coffee is a complex beverage. It's very difficult to pinpoint which component of coffee is responsible for which benefit." Researchers did not include highly caffeinated drinks in the study. They also said that while coffee seems to have health benefits, things added to it, such as cream, sugar and sweeteners, do not.

China and Taiwan in historic meeting

A historic event involving China and Taiwan will take place today, November the 7th. Chinese president Xi Jinping and Taiwanese president Ma Ying-Jeou will meet for discussions. It is the first summit at presidential level between China and Taiwan since the end of China's civil war in 1949. Taiwan is just 180 km from China but their relations have been difficult for decades. China believes Taiwan is part of its territory and not a separate nation. Only 22 countries recognise Taiwan as an independent country. Its status is one of the more difficult world problems to solve.

The meeting is a major stepping stone to repair decades-old differences. It could lead to similar meetings in the future. Special etiquette is already in place. The two parties have decided not to use the term "president" to address each other. Instead, they will use the word "mister". Further, the two leaders will not sign any agreements, issue any joint statements or hold a joint press conference. The meeting is to, "exchange views on promoting the peaceful development of…relations". The talks also, "aim to solidify relations between the two sides and keep the status quo"

China ends one-child policy

China has ended its decades-long one-child policy. The ruling party announced it would now allow all couples to have two children. The one-child policy was a population control measure that was introduced in 1979. Policy makers hoped to restrict the country's population to avoid high rates of poverty. It wasn't kept to strictly as there were many exceptions. Over a third of China's population had to follow the one-child restriction. Just over half was allowed to have a second child if the first child was a girl. The new two-child policy is to reverse China's low fertility rate.

The new two-child policy should give a huge economic boost for China and prevent China from becoming an ageing society. China’s labour force peaked at 940 million in 2012. This fell to 930 million in 2014 and is expected to fall by 29 million by 2020. Predictions are that there will be an average of 2.5 million extra newborns per year. This will provide more workers and an additional $11.8 billion in annual consumption. Shares in many baby goods companies jumped by over 10 per cent on Friday. The new policy will affect around 100 million couples.

Couple must lose pets or home

A couple in England could lose their home because they want to live with their pets. Clive and Rose Restall live in their rented home in southwest England with their 21 pet guinea pigs. The owners of the house, Plymouth Community Homes (PCH), say the couple have too many pets in the house. PCH want Mr and Mrs Restall to get rid of the guinea pigs. A spokesperson from the PCH said the number of animals in the couple’s house is unacceptable. The spokesperson added that the number of pets is not allowed in the contract the couple signed to rent the house. The PCH warned Mr and Mrs Restall that they must move out of the house if they do not get rid of the guinea pigs.

Mr Restall, 57, said he needs his guinea pigs because they have helped him fight cancer. Doctors told him he had cancer in 2010. Soon after, he bought several guinea pigs to help take his mind off his cancer. He said his new pets made him happy again because they made him forget about his cancer. He told reporters that his guinea pigs are mystic – they have special powers to help people. He said the animals have even helped his neighbours with personal problems. Mr Restall spoke about his pets, saying: "They've helped me through my cancer. They've helped me cope." He added: "The local community love them just as much as I do. I sometimes loan them out to people if they need someone to talk to."

More and more 70-year-olds working

People are working to an older age in Britain. The number of 70-74 year-old people who work has doubled in the past decade. Around 10 per cent of British people in their early 70s are now working. It is the highest figure since records began. The British government says just over a quarter of a million 70-74-year-olds currently have jobs. In 2005, there were around 100,000 of them. The government said people are working to an older age and are deciding to retire later. A labour union spokesperson said the reason for people working in their old age is because retirement pensions in Britain are becoming more difficult to live on. Many older people have to work and delay retirement to be able to survive.

Employment spokesman Frances O'Grady said: "The last decade has seen [big] changes in the labour market, with far more people working beyond retirement age. While there are plenty who enjoy remaining in work, many need to earn extra cash because they cannot afford to retire." He added that: "We need decent jobs and pensions for all so that people can make a genuine choice about whether they remain in work." A spokesman for small businesses, John Allan, said more older people were starting their own businesses. He said: "More and more older people are [deciding on] a career change later in life and are starting up their own businesses, pursuing something they may have dreamed of doing for years."