Drinking tea can reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke but only if milk is not added to the brew, German scientists said on Tuesday. Research has shown that tea improves blood flow and the ability of the arteries to relax but researchers at the Charite Hospital at the University of Berlin in Mitte found milk eliminates the protective effect against cardiovascular disease.

British surgeons have condemned a plastic surgery lottery that offers winners money for face lifts, breast enlargements and tummy tucks. London-based Europa International is running what is thought to be the world’s first lottery for cosmetic surgery.

Cases of drug resistant tuberculosis are higher than previously estimated and three nations — China, India and Russia — account for more than half of all cases worldwide. Multi-drug resistant tuberculosis are strains of the disease that are resistant to at least two of the most important first-line drugs.

Researchers are creating a global malaria map to tackle the killer disease by pinpointing the areas where it strikes most often. The map, the first in 40 years, is designed to spot mosquitoes carrying the malaria parasite and determine where they are likely to infect people so the best control and treatment strategies can be implemented.

Losing weight, cutting down on saturated fats, eating more fibre and exercising can make a difference when it comes to diabetes. Finnish researchers have shown that lifestyle changes not only reduce the odds of high-risk people developing Type 2 diabetes but can also postpone the onset of the illness.