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CARS have never been better – thanks to modern technology, years of trial and error, and enormous development budgets.

But every so often, even the biggest and best brands allow thousands of motors to roll off production lines with a hidden defect that’s then discovered and needs to be repaired or replaced.

According to Autocar, and with help from car-recalls.eu, 2024 saw 249 recalls to the Europe-wide Safety Gate system, across 256 models from 41 brands.

Using the data collected, they were able to identify the individual models that were recalled the most over the last 12 months.

Toyota ProAce – 5 recalls

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The latest generation model of Toyota’s ProAce, the Japanese brand’s range of diesel and electric vans, was recalled for issues with seating and the rear suspension in 2024.

What’s more, the ProAce City was affected by several issues, including a timing belt fault in the 2022 model, a hydraulic braking issue in the 2023 to 2024 version, and a gearbox oil leak in models built between 2019 and 2021.

Mercedes-Benz GLE – 5 recalls

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Merc’s plush mid-size SUV has been championed in the past for its size, comfort, and space, but last year it was affected by a handful of issues.

These included a hydraulic steering problem with the 2010 to 2016 model, along with a fault in the 48V electrical system in the 2017 to 2023 iteration.

GLE examples from 2021 equipped with a 12V electrical system were also recalled, while 2023 examples were recalled for an accelerator pedal attachment issue.

Additionally, 2019 to 2023 examples were affected by a braking issue.

Mercedes C-Class – 5 recalls

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Merc’s equally plush C-Class, from 2010 to 2016, was affected by a power steering issue, while newer examples from 2021 to 2022 experienced a wiring harness issue.

Faults with the 80A fuse and the attachment of the fuel tank led to recalls of the 2023 C-Class.

Those who forked out for the C-Class AMG models from 2022 to 2022 were also informed of an issue with the wiring harness on the rear axle.

BMW X3 – 5 recalls

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BMW’s compact SUV, known for its sporty handling, had several airbag-related recalls last year.

Recalls were issued for X3 examples built during 2003 to 2018, 2004 to 2005, 2006 to 2008, and 2012 to 2014.

However, examples built between 2019 and 2021 didn’t escape issues either, as these were also recalled for a problem with the attachment of the rear lashing rails in the boot.

BMW 5 Series – 5 recalls

DANIEL KRAUS / BMW AG For press purposes only

BMW’s hugely popular 5 Series, including the M5 model from 2024, saw numerous recalls in 2024.

Examples built during 2003 to 2018 and 2012 to 2014 were each recalled for separate airbag issues.

Newer examples from 2022 to 2024 were brought back after a servomotor issue was discovered.

2024 5 Series examples, including the aforementioned M5 pictured, were recalled for issues with a steering rotation bushing.

There was another recall relating to Isofix clips, while examples built between 2022 and 2024 were affected by a fault with the integrated braking system.

BMW 3 Series – 7 recalls

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The mighty BMW 3 Series saw an equally mighty seven recalls in 2024 across various generation models.

Most of these were airbag-related, including models from 2003 to 2018, 2004 to 2005, 2006 to 2008, 2012 to 2014, 2013 to 2014, and 2024.

In addition, examples of the 3 Series built during 2018 to 2020 were recalled for an issue with the starter motor software.

EASTENDER’S Cindy Beale finally works out who attacked her at Christmas and it’s an old foe.

The long-running BBC One character was shockingly attacked on the Christmas Day special.

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BBC

BBC

A whole list of suspects have been at the centre of attention as they might be the person behind the attempted murder.

On tonight’s episode, a terrified Cindy is convinced she’s discovered the guilty party!

Gina Knight (Francesca Henry) was feeling the pressure after she admitted she’d slept with her sister’s boyfriend Freddie Slater (Bobby Brazier).

So she stays the night at her brother Junior Knight’s (Micah Balfour) apartment because she doesn’t feel safe at the The Vic.

In the morning, she gets a text from her father George Knight saying the shovel’s gone and she rushes out to help him.

However, outside the apartment, a neighbour stops her and says: ” She can hear her and Junior arguing through the walls.”

Gina explains that Junior slept with her mother and the woman tells Gina to follow her because she needs to see something.

Meanwhile, Cindy visits Junior who explains he has stolen the shovel from The Vic so that she can take it to the police and find out who tried to kill her.

He tells her that he is the only person she can trust and that she is wrong to blame any of his family and should be looking at the Beales.

Later, Cindy takes the shovel to the police and when she sees Kathy Beale and Lauren Branning she tells them that their days are numbered.

“As if being related to you would stop anyone trying to do you in says Kathy.

However, Gina visits Cindy afterwards and says: “I think I know who did it. I think I know who attacked you”

Gina then shows Cindy a video of Junior from the night of the attack which proves he was lying about where he was.

Cindy rushes back around to confront Junior but he denies any wrong doing and explains to her that as a jilted lover, he was just protecting himself from the police.

EastEnders' 40th anniversary cameos so far

With the 40th anniversary of EastEnders coming up, fans are looking forward to some more incredible cameos from iconic faces of Walford's past. But who have we had so far?

Tracy-Ann Oberman – Oberman returned as Chrissie Watts, a character she last played nearly two decades ago.

Paul Bradley – Bradley returned as Nigel Bates, a character he last played over 25 years ago.

Micheal French – French returned as David Wicks, a character he last played two decades ago.

Patsy Palmer – Palmer returned as Bianca Jackson, a character she last played in 2019.

Coming up this year…

Ross Kemp – Kemp will reprise his role as Grant Mitchell, a character he first played in 1990. The BBC has described Kemp’s storyline as “explosive”. Kemp said it was an “absolute honour” to return to the show.

Other aspects of the 40th anniversary celebration include: A wedding between fan favorites, A huge explosion at the Queen Vic, and A live interactive episode.

He explains: ” I still love you, Why would I want to hurt you?”

But Cindy is too confused to know who to believe and rushes out of his apartment.

Outside Kathy confronts her saying: “You’ve really got your feet under the table again, haven’t you?

“Do you know what it doesn’t matter what you do to Ian, he’ll always be trailing after you like a little lost puppy.”

Cindy attempts to walk off but Kathy grabs her arm and Cindy screams: “Get your hands off me. Kathy.

“If you’ve left any evidence on that shovel the police are going to get you, that’s if I don’t get you first!”

As Cindy walks away, Junior appears and asks Cindy why she ran out on him.

A clearly upset Cindy replies: “She’s wanted me gone from the moment I got here. She even said herself, she wished she’d finished the job”

“Who Cindy?” asks Junior.

“Kathy! It’s Kathy who tried to kill me!” shouts Cindy.

EastEnders airs on BBC1 and is available to stream on BBCIplayer.

In a surprising move, national health and nutrition organizations are calling out plant-based milks, in addition to other beverages, as an inadequate source of nutrition for kids and teens in the U.S.

Experts from four prestigious academies—the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, the American Academy of Pediatrics, and the American Heart Association—were recently brought together to deem which drinks in the American diet are healthy for kids and teens ages 5-18, and which should be either limited or avoided altogether.

Some beverages, like energy drinks and sodas full of artificial sweeteners, were obvious for the panel to denounce as unhealthy for young people. But, they also stated that plant-based milks, such as almond, oat, and coconut milk, are not a nutritious choice. This has both parents and the plant-based community raising eyebrows.

RELATED: Drinking This Daily Can Add Nearly 2 Years to Your Life, Study Says

The Best and Worst Drinks for Kids & Teens, According to Experts

Healthy Eating Research (HER)

The expert panel behind the new recommendations, released yesterday, was organized by Healthy Eating Research (HER), a national program of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF), a non-profit on a mission to "improve children's nutrition and prevent childhood obesity."

The advice is meant to provide clarity around sugar, caffeine, and other ingredients in popular drinks on store shelves, and whether or not these are suitable for kids, teens, and their growing needs.

In their research, the panel chose only two drinks to recommend as healthy and nutritional options for young people: water and plain milk.

"All of your child's hydration needs can be met by drinking water," the report states. "Unsweetened, unflavored, and fluoridated water is best. The recommended water amounts are: 40 fl oz per day for 5-8 year olds, 61 fl oz per day for 9-13 year olds, and 88 fl oz per day for 14-18 year olds."

For plain milk, the panel recommends "unsweetened, plain, pasteurized milk" to compliment kids' and teens' water intake. "Milk is primarily recommended because it is a good source of nutrients that kids are often lacking (protein, calcium, potassium, vitamin D). If your child does not drink milk they can also get these nutrients by eating dairy foods such as yogurt and cheese."

Three categories of drinks, in particular, were called out for being the worst options for young people: sugar-sweetened beverages (like sports drinks, soda, juices, etc.), drinks with non-sugar sweeteners (diet soda or anything containing artificial sweeteners like stevia or aspartame), and beverages with caffeine or other stimulants (coffee, tea, energy drinks and shots).

"New research has shown us that even small amounts of caffeine can cause delayed sleep, increased amounts of depressive moods and anxiety, and other mental health issues that are really problematic for young teens," Megan Lott, deputy director of Healthy Eating Research, told NPR. There are also "case studies of kids and teens coming into ERs who had cardiac events as a result of too much caffeine."

Why Plant-Based Milks Are Under Scrutiny

The three drinks that the recommendations suggest should be limited in young peoples' diets are 100% juice, plant-based milks (such as oat, almond, coconut or other alternatives), and flavored milks (like chocolate or strawberry).

"100% juice means that everything in the container comes from a fruit or vegetable with no added sugars or artificial ingredients," the report states. These should be limited to no more than 4-6 fl oz per day for 5-8 year olds, 6-8 fl oz per day for 9-13 year olds, and 8 fl oz per day for 14-18 year olds.

Given their high sugar content, flavored milks should be thought of as a "treat," the recommendations say, and "not a daily drink."

But, when it comes to plant-based milks, the advice is more nuanced.

"With the exception of soy milk, plant-based milk alternatives are not recommended as a nutritional substitute for cow’s milk, as even fortified varieties do not contain the key nutrients that kids and teens need to grow up healthy," the report states.

"Plant milks also often contain other additives, including added sugars and non-sugar sweeteners that offer no nutritional benefit."

The panel advises that plant-based milk alternatives should really only be an option for kids and teens if they have a dairy allergy, are vegan, or can't drink milk for other medical reasons.

"A lot of [plant-based milks] have very little protein in them," explained Lott. "And somehow, people are giving them to their kids thinking they're an alternative to cow's milk." She told NPR that their lack of vitamin D, calcium, and riboflavin mean they "aren't even close" to the nutrition that plain milk offers, and if parents are choosing to give their kids plant-based milk, they should also be consulting with a pediatrician or a dietitian to make sure their full dietary needs are being met.

In response, Marjorie Mulhall, a senior policy director for the Plant Based Foods Association, wrote to NPR: "We respectfully disagree with the premise that plant-based milks should be limited based on nutritional comparisons to cow's milk... Some vitamins in conventional dairy milk are added through fortification, similar to how plant-based milks are fortified. Many plant-based milks offer excellent sources of protein, calcium, vitamin D, and other important nutrients that support children's health and development."

RELATED: Nutritionists Say You're Probably Drinking Water All Wrong

What Nutritious Drinks Should You Buy for Your Family?

Of course, water is an obvious choice to fuel you and your kids' daily hydration needs. And with all their natural energy, kids and teens don't need caffeine to help them power through their day.

Plus, the research speaks for itself when it comes to drinking sugary beverages and how unhealthy they can be for anyone—regardless of age. A new study published in the journal Nature Medicine found that sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs), such as soda and lemonade, were globally responsible for 2.2 million new type 2 diabetes cases and 1.2 million new cardiovascular disease cases in 2020.

Now, when it comes to whether or not you and your family should be drinking plant-based milk alternatives, it's important to do your due diligence by reading the nutrition labels of the grocery products you intend to buy.

Our sister site, Eat This, Not That!, provides a helpful list of the healthiest non-dairy milk alternatives in grocery stores nationwide, which have been vetted by nutritionists. Better-for-you plant-based milks have short ingredient lists, plenty of protein, and are low in added sugars.

The plant-based milk options to avoid contain added sugars, oils, and emulsifiers like gums that are considered ultra-processed ingredients. Steer clear of these for your family's benefit.

For more personalized recommendations, consult with your kid or teens' doctor.

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