It's official: coffee is “more likely to benefit health than harm”, a new review has found.

People appear to reduce their risk of a range of health problems when they drink three to four cups a day, experts found.

They concluded drinking coffee seems safe “within usual patterns of consumption”, except in pregnancy and among women who are at risk of a fracture.

Experts from the University of Southampton and the University of Edinburgh, conducted an “umbrella review”, bringing together evidence from more than 200 studies which examined the effects of coffee consumption on health.

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The UK is braced for heavy rain and snow as strong winds lash much of the country causing widespread flooding.

Heavy rain and snow is forecast north of the border on Thursday morning, with 2cm to 5cm likely for many parts and up to 20cm on the highest ground, the Met Office said.

A yellow “be aware” weather warning for snow kicked in just after midnight for the Scottish Highlands, Western Isles, Grampian, Strathclyde and Central, Tayside and Fife regions.

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President-in-waiting Emmerson Mnangagwa has made a triumphant return to Zimbabwe, telling a huge crowd of cheering supporters that the country is witnessing “a new, unfolding democracy”.

“I appeal to all genuine people of Zimbabwe to come together,” Mr Mnangagwa said. “We are all Zimbabweans … we need peace in our country and jobs, jobs, jobs.”

His call for unity was received enthusiastically by hundreds gathered at the headquarters of the ruling ZANU-PF party in Harare.

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