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Drinking a few cups of coffee a day may help people avoid clogged arteries – a known risk factor for heart disease – Korean researchers believe.

They studied more than 25,000 male and female employees who underwent routine health checks at their workplace.

Employees who drank a moderate amount of coffee – three to five cups a day – were less likely to have early signs of heart disease on their medical scans.

The findings reopen the debate about whether coffee is good for the heart. There is a lot of confusion when it comes to the effect of coffee on heart health. Some studies have linked consumption to heart risk factors, such as raised cholesterol or blood pressure, while others suggest the beverage may offer some heart protection. But there is no conclusive evidence either way, and the latest research from South Korea, which is published in the journal Heart, only adds to the discussion.

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Singapore has retained its position as the world’s most expensive city, according to research by the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU).

The top five most expensive cities in the world remain unchanged from a year earlier and include, in descending order, Paris, Oslo, Zurich and Sydney.

The EIU’s survey comprises 133 cities worldwide and uses New York as a base.

It compares the cost of more than 160 services and products including food, clothing and utility bills.

Singapore was found to be 11% more expensive than New York for basic groceries.

And together with Seoul, it was found to be the most expensive place in the world for clothes, “with prices 50% higher than New York”, the EIU said.

“Most significantly, Singapore’s complex Certificate of Entitlement system makes car prices excessive, with Singaporean transport costs almost three times higher than in New York.”

The information gathered for the survey is designed to be used online as a way to calculate the cost of relocating and living for expatriates and business travellers.

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Barclays has reported a sharp fall in profits as it sets aside more funds to cover potential fines for misconduct.

Statutory pre-tax profits fell 21% to £2.26bn for the year to 31 December 2014.

The group increased its provision to cover any fallout from a probe into currency market manipulation by £750m to £1.25bn.

But stripping out this and other provisions, profits rose 12% to £5.5bn, the bank said.

Boss Antony Jenkins was awarded a £1.1m bonus – his first as chief executive – pushing his total pay package to £5.5m for 2014.

But the bank reduced the overall pool of money allocated for bonuses by 22% to £1.86bn.

Provision for payment protection insurance (PPI) compensation was increased by £200m for the last three months of 2014, the bank said, taking the year’s total to £1.1bn.

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The UK’s next national security strategy will be prepared in an “unnecessary rush”, MPs and peers say.

The joint Parliamentary committee on the strategy said not enough groundwork had been done to prepare for it.

Last published in 2010, the document sets out threats to national security and how the government will respond.

The government said preparatory work had started but that it was “right” for the final strategy to be published after May’s general election.

Prime Minister David Cameron has told the committee the new version, expected after the general election, needed a “refresh” but not a complete overhaul.

But the committee said a “thorough revisit” was required to take account of changes to the security situation around the world.

International events had caused “greater insecurity and uncertainty” since the current strategy was set out soon after the coalition took power, the committee said.

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In a few months’ time, perhaps even weeks, you might remember the story, but will you remember the names? Kadiza Sultana, 16; Shamima Begum, also 16; and Amira Abase, 15.

All three London schoolgirls said they were going out for the day and now it is thought they have left the UK, gone to Turkey and slipped across the border to join Islamic State (IS) militants in Syria.

Their names are important to me, because they focus my mind on them as individuals, as young girls, with a promising future ahead of them, with friends, siblings and parents.

Yet, inevitably, we are in thrall to the bigger narrative: a troubling and growing sisterhood is being cultivated – it appears an estimated 200 to 300 European Muslim girls have made the same journey as Kadiza, Shamima and Amira.

Why? What for? The term jihadi bride is particularly egregious, but there is some truth to it.

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