Until the shock defection of Tory MP Dan Poulter to Labour, Rishi Sunak had enjoyed that rarest of things: a good week.

Over the past seven days, the prime minister has seen his flagship, long-delayed Safety of Rwanda Bill make it onto the statute books.

The bullish PM said that would see deportation flights to Africa finally get off the ground in the next 10 to 12 weeks and, ultimately, provide enough of a deterrent to “stop the boats” carrying migrants across the Channel from France.

Throw in a successful trip to Europe, during which he announced that the government will spend 2.5% of gross domestic product (GDP) on defence by 2030 and it’s easy to see why Sunak might be feeling pretty pleased with himself.

Poulter’s decision to cross the floor dramatically punctured Sunak’s bubble on Saturday night - and teed up yet another nightmare week for the embattled PM.

On Thursday, voters across England will go to the polls to elect around 2,600 councillors, as well as mayors in Manchester, Liverpool, Tees Valley, and the West and East Midlands.

Bar some possible exceptions, the results will not be pretty for the Conservatives.

The party is expected to lose anything up to 500 seats - around half the number they are defending.

Throw in the possibility that high-profile Tory mayors Ben Houchen and Andy Street could also fall and it is clear why officials at Conservative Central Headquarters are bracing themselves for catastrophe.

The extent of the Tory meltdown will go a long way to determining when the general election will take place - and even whether Sunak will still be leading the party when it comes around.

Conservative peer and polling expert Lord Hayward predicted “a bad night” for his party, in which they will lose at least 400 seats.

That is marginally more optimistic than Sky News pollsters Colin Rallings and Michael Thrasher, who say 500 Tory councillors are on course to lose their seats.

Either way, the results will pile yet more pressure on a prime minister who has failed to improve his party’s fortunes since becoming leader in October 2022.

Much will hinge on the fate of Houchen in Tees Valley and Street in the West Midlands. Both contests appear to be on a knife-edge.

Were they both to hang on, Sunak could at least point to some high-profile successes on an otherwise grim night.

But if they lose - and Labour insiders are sounding increasingly confident in Tees Valley - then there is a real possibility of Tory MPs entering a tailspin which could even see Sunak removed from office.

One Conservative aide told HuffPost UK: “If we lose those mayors then he’s in serious bother.”

Tory MPs need to submit 52 letters of no confidence to Sir Graham Brady, chair of the 1922 Committee of Conservative backbenchers, to trigger a ballot.

Party sources believe the anti-Sunak faction remain at least 20 short of the magic number, but a flurry could be sent in should next Thursday go particularly badly.

The continued uncertainty around the PM’s position has done nothing to dampen speculation that a summer election in on the cards, with wild rumours that one could be called as soon as Monday.

The logic behind such a move is that it would head off any attempts to unseat him in the wake of the local elections.

Intriguingly, Sunak refused once again this week to rule out going to the country in July - a date which which would meet his “working assumption” that the election will take place in the second half of the year.

One Tory adviser said: “Election preparations have really ramped up in No.10 in the last couple of weeks. They want submissions sent in for the manifesto so they can get it done as soon as possible.

“My hunch is that they want to at least give themselves the option of holding it at the start of July.”

But former Brexit secretary David Davis spoke for many of his colleagues this week when he said the government would be “off its head” to call an election now.

“It’s going to go distant, sometime in November, maybe even December to allow some of the economic improvements to come through,” he told Times Radio. “So no, it would be a suicidal thing to do in political terms.”

Whether it will be Sunak’s choice to make remains to be seen, however. Some Tory MPs envisage a scenario - albeit one which remains highly unlikely - in which he loses a confidence vote, a new leader is elected following an expedited contest and an election takes place in the summer or autumn.

Whatever happens, Sunak’s time in Downing Street is running out. He should enjoy the good days while he can, because there won’t be many more of them.

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Tory MP Dan Poulter has defected to the Labour Party in the latest hammer-blow to Rishi Sunak’s authority.

The former health minister and doctor said he no longer trusted the Conservatives with the NHS.

He also said the Tories had “become a nationalist party of the right” since David Cameron quit as leader eight years ago.

In an interview with the Observer, Poulter, who was elected MP for Central Suffolk and North Ipswich in 2010, said his experiences on more than 20 accident and emergency ward night shifts in the past year had been “truly life-changing”.

He said: “I could not go on as part of that. I have to be able to look my NHS colleagues in the eye, my patients in the eye and my constituents in the eye.

“And I know that the Conservative government has been failing on the thing I care about most, which is the NHS and its patients.”

Poulter said the Conservatves’ values “have changed” since Cameron stood down as prime minister in the wake of the 2016 Brexit referendum.

He added: “It feels to me that the Tory party has gone from being a pragmatic, centrist, centre-right party which focused on and understood the importance of public service and the state to deliver certain things …and had a compassionate outlook on key issues.

“It has gone from that and feels like it has become a nationalist party of the right, much more of what we see in Europe.”

Labour leader Keir Starmer said: “It’s fantastic to welcome Dr Dan Poulter MP to today’s changed Labour Party.

“It’s time to end the Conservative chaos, turn the page, and get Britain’s future back. I’m really pleased that Dan has decided to join us on this journey.”

Shadow health secretary Wes Streeting said he was “proud” to welcome Poulter to Labour.

He said: “As a frontline clinician, he’s seen the damage that 14 years of Conservative government have done to our NHS. Delighted to have his support and look forward to working with him, especially on mental health reform.”

Poulter’s defection to Labour comes ahead of next Thursday’s local elections, in which the Conservatives are predicted to lose up to 500 council seats.

It will pile further pressure on the prime minister, who already faces the threat of a potential challenge to his leadership from worried Tory MPs.

A Conservative Party spokesperson said: “For the people of Central Suffolk and North Ipswich this will be disappointing news.

“What Dan says is wrong as Sir Keir Starmer has no plan for our NHS. Under the Conservatives we are raising NHS funding to a record GBP165 billion a year, helping it recover from the effects of the pandemic and driving forward its first ever long term workforce plan so that we train the doctors and nurses we need for the future in our country.”

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Looking after your hair properly isn’t treated with the same level of importance as skin care but really, it’s pretty important and it turns out that shampoo, conditioner, and a quick swipe of a hairbrush isn’t enough.

I feel called out, too.

In fact, Anabel Kingsley, Brand President and Consultant Trichologist (a hair doctor) at Phillip Kingsley has shared five things she would never do when it comes to haircare and some of them are things that many of us do every single day, such as using straighteners every day.

What you should never do to your hair, according to a hair expert

Use a boar bristle brush regularly

Kingsley said that she’s had clients who have suffered with hair loss solely due to frequent use of a bristle brush. She said: “It’s true that boar bristle brushes provide great traction and smoothness, but they damage the outer hair cuticle, over-time weakening hair and causing breakage and split ends.”

She added that these should be saved for special occasions but for everyday use, we should brush and style with rounded, plastic flexible prongs. She added: “Vented paddle brushes with a large surface area can give you the smooth and shiny finish you want, but without the trauma.”

Use hair straighteners or high-heat settings on hairdryers

Kingsley said: “In my late teens, I broke off about a quarter of my hair from using hair straighteners, and I’ve seen many women in my Clinic who have done the same. Hair can burn, you simply can’t feel it.”

She added that straighteners and similarly hot styling tools can scorch strands and cause irreparable damage that’s only remedied with time and new growth. These tools can also cause something called “bubble hair” which causes weak spots to form along the hair shaft. The only cure for this is to cut the hair off above the damage.

Kinglsey recommended: “If you must use a straightener, don’t do so more than once a week, if at all. Even one overzealous straightening session can do a lot of harm.

“In terms of blow-drying, always keep your heat setting to low or medium and hold your dryer at least 6 inches away from your hair – and keep moving the dryer - don’t leave it focused on any one area.”

Skipping out on scalp cleanses

Kingsley said: “I go back and forth between NYC and London, lovely yet definitely not the cleanest of cities, and I would never not shampoo regularly – especially after seeing the grime I remove from my face when I cleanse it at the end of the day.”

She pointed out that the scalp is skin and needs similar care to the skin on your face. Scalps sweat, product oils, shed dead skin cells and are exposed to the same environment as other skin.

She advised: “I have fine hair and shampoo daily, medium textured hair may be ok with every other day, and curly, coiled hair, for the health of your scalp, don’t leave more than 3 days between shampoos.”

Not applying SPF to the scalp

Kingsley said: “I would never not apply sunblock to my face – so I give the same consideration to exposed areas of my scalp, like my part and near my hairline behind my ears.

“Like my other skin, I use SPF 50 on my scalp in the summer. I’ve seen many men and women with sun damage on their scalp, and quite a few who have had skin cancer on their scalp.”

Detangling hair top-down

Kingsley said: “I always detangle gently from my ends up. Detangling from the top places unnecessary friction on hairs, and you’re much more likely to snap through interlocked hairs.”

She advised that If you start from the ends, you’re able to carefully ease them apart.

Brb, rethinking my entire hair routine.

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For generations, people have been told they need to look a certain way and weigh a certain amount to be accepted and to be considered “healthy.” But we know that being thin isn’t an indicator of well-being.

“It’s actually a major talking point I would say in the obesity community now ... what are the unintended consequences of weight loss?” said Dr. Kurt Kennel, a bariatrician and endocrinologist at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota.

One of those consequences was detailed by actor Jameela Jamil, who recently shared on Instagram that years of extreme dieting and weight loss had harmed her bone density.

“So much chat about the dangers of eating too much and crickets when it comes to the long term impact of eating too little,” Jamil wrote. Jamil, who is 38, said that she damaged her bone density through 20 years of extreme dieting and is now dealing with consequences such as pain.

Though bone density isn’t talked about very much in day-to-day life, it’s an important measure of health. Bone density is how much mineral content is present in your bone, explained Dr. Gillian Wooldridge, a sports medicine physician at Houston Methodist Hospital.

“If you have higher bone density, it generally means you have denser - and for the most part, healthier - bones that are more resistant to fracture or breaking,” Wooldridge said. “If you have thinner bone density, it means you don’t have as much good structure there and you could be at increased risk for fracture.”

Our bone density peaks around 25-years-old, said Kennel, “and then we hope to maintain that through most of our midlife until our 50-ish year of age or so. Because after that we start to lose it as part of menopause, we start to lose it as part of ageing.”

This is one reason why falls for older people are often a huge deal, resulting in things like hip fractures or other broken bones. Your bone density is measured via a bone density test, generally starting at age 65, though it may be recommended earlier to women during menopause.

“We want to hang on to that peak bone density, we want to maintain that as long as we can, or at least not do anything to aggravate losing it beyond things we can’t control, like menopause and ageing, for example,” Kennel said.

One way we also lose it is through significant weight loss, like Jamil said. Here’s what experts want you to know:

Weight loss can harm bone density, but extreme weight loss and crash diets are the most damaging

“Weight loss can decrease bone density, both for people who become underweight but also for overweight people who lose a significant amount of weight,” Dr. Deborah Sellmeyer, a clinical professor of medicine in endocrinology, gerontology and metabolism at Stanford University, told HuffPost via email.

Research shows that bone density loss is less prevalent and harmful in folks who lose a moderate amount of weight in a healthy manner — although some experts say it does still happen. “Even if we’re doing healthier approaches, there’s still some of that weight loss that is not fat. Some of that weight loss will always be muscle and, especially in the case of menopausal women, bone,” Kennel said.

Wooldridge stressed that extreme dieting and rapid weight loss pose the biggest threat to your bone density.

“Rapid weight loss, severe calorie restriction or some sort of other significant energy deficit ... sometimes they make up for what they eat by exercising excessively. Any of those states are potentially going to have a negative impact on bone density,” Wooldridge said.

It’s worth noting that extreme weight loss from disordered eating or a medical procedure, such as gastric bypass, can have a negative impact on bone density, too, Wooldridge added.

Resistance training and proper nutrition can help you maintain bone density while losing weight

“We can say with confidence that when we incorporate exercise into the weight loss process, especially resistance exercise at the end of the weight loss ... by having that exercise in the picture throughout that process, we will lose less muscle and less bone than if we just restrict our calorie intake [or] just lose weight by cutting back on eating,” Kennel said.

Resistance training includes push-ups, lunges, squats, weightlifting — “anything that involves your muscles having to work against resistance ... you’re pulling something, you’re pushing yourself up, you’re pulling yourself down. Anything that has that kind of quality to it,” he said.

What you’re eating can help you maintain bone density, too.

“Nutrition is very important for bone health, so food intake is important, but so is ensuring adequate intake of calcium, vitamin D and protein,” Sellmeyer said.

“We generally consider ‘healthy weight loss’ or sustainable weight loss to be at the rate of about a half pound to a pound per week,” Wooldridge said. “So, for someone who is engaging in a weight loss program, that is a pretty good goal; that means that’s going to be weight that you lose that you can keep off.”

Unsustainable weight loss - losing and gaining weight over and over - tends to put a strain on the body, she added.

This may be particularly relevant now in the world of GLP-1 medications, such as Wegovy and Ozempic, which many people now use to lose weight. Though there are benefits for many folks, some research says these medications can decrease bone density and muscle mass, too. They’re also a concern for people who are at risk of developing osteoporosis.

The idea that you need to lose weight to be healthy is wrong

“This issue of losing muscle and losing bone, you don’t tolerate that as well when you’re 80 [or] 70, versus when you’re 30, partly because the 30-year-old will be able to do more to attenuate that by doing a lot of exercise, for example, whereas the 80-year-old, may not be able to do that as much,” Kennel explained.

Weight loss for someone in their 70s or 80s may not have the same health benefits as for someone in an earlier stage of life, he noted. So all of those diet culture messages to slim down no matter your age aren’t totally fair.

“I tell people all the time, a number on a scale is a number on a scale. It’s not a score for how you’re doing or has anything to do with your value,” Wooldridge said “And it also doesn’t necessarily reflect health. It is simply a number on a scale.”

It’s more important to think about how you’re living your life. Are you exercising regularly? Are you eating a diet made up of fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, healthy fats and whole grains?

“I care about that so much more than a number on a scale, and a number on a scale is really not a reflection of someone’s overall health,” she said.

Help and support:

• Beat, Adult Helpline: 0808 801 0677 and Youthline: 0808 801 0711 or email help@beateatingdisorders.org.uk (adults) fyp@beateatingdisorders.org.uk (youth support)
  Samaritans, open 24 hours a day, on 116 123
  Mind, open Monday to Friday, 9am-6pm on 0300 123 3393

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Measles is often thought of as a thing of the past because we’ve had an effective vaccine against it for a long time (MMR), but with measles cases on the rise globally, parents need to stay vigilant to spot the symptoms as soon as possible.

In 2023 there was an increase of the measles outbreak in 40 out of 53 countries in the European region. Additionally in the UK there has been an outbreak in the West Midlands, London and Yorkshire.

Dr Vanessa Saliba, UKHSA Consultant Epidemiologist, says: “The ongoing measles outbreak in the West Midlands remains a concern. MMR vaccine coverage has been falling for the last decade with 1 out of 10 children starting school in England not protected and so there is a real risk that this outbreak could spread to other towns and cities.

“Measles is a nasty illness for most children and for some can be serious, but it is completely preventable. Vaccination is the best way to protect yourself and your children. If you or your child are not up to date with your two doses of MMR vaccine please contact your GP to catch-up now.”

But how can you spot if your child has measles?

What symptoms should I look out for if I think my child has measles?

The best way to prevent measles is by getting the measles, mumps and rubella vaccination. If someone hasn’t had the vaccine or hasn’t had measles they are prone to getting the infection.

The infection is common in children and usually clears in around 7 to 10 days.

According to the NHS, signs you should be looking out for if you think your child has measles are:

1. Cold-like symptoms, runny nose.

2. Sore, red eyes that might be sensitive to light.

3. Watery or swollen eyes.

4. High fever.

5. Small greyish white spots in the mouth.

6. Tiredness and irritability.

7. Loss of appetite.

8. Aches and pains.

Dr Rachel Barr who is also known as The Kids Doctor says as there has been a recent large outbreak of measles in the UK particularly in the Midlands and around London, she believes it’s important to recognise the symptoms.

“Children aren’t vaccinated in the UK until their 12 months immunisations so your little one may be unprotected. It typically starts with high temperatures, snotty nose, cough and red watery eyes.

“A few days later the rash develops which typically starts behind the ears/on the face and then spreads down over the body. You should notify your GP if you think your child may have measles, it’s best to speak to them over the phone first as measles is highly infectious so they may have to plan a time so you aren’t waiting in a waiting room with other people,” she explains.

Measles can have a number of serious complications and Dr Barr recommends discussing with a health professional if you think you have measles even if your child is currently well so they can discuss all the signs to watch for.

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You might have experienced one or know someone who has gone through a c-section, but one video has gone viral because people are just realising what ACTUALLY happens during a caesarean.

As April is c-section awareness month, advocates are highlighting information about the surgery. With one in three deliveries completed this way, it’s important to know as much about it as possible to give the best support.

In the video, which was originally posted on TikTok, you can see the layers that need to be cut through in order to get to the baby.

The order of layers to cut through is the skin, fat, fascia, muscle (which is pulled apart), peritoneum and uterus. However, before reaching the uterus, the bladder is pulled down to access it.

Then finally, the amniotic sac which can be cut or pulled open.

Social media users were left shocked to find out doctors had to cut through seven layers to reach the baby.

On TikTok users were also quick to share their feelings, one wrote: “I’m 16m postpartum and this is making my c-section scar hurt.”

Another said: “And yet you’re expected to get up and walk around a few hours after I still can’t believe I done it afterwards and and years later I still get twinges of pain on my scar.”

What is a Caesarean birth?

A c-section is also known as a Caesarean. It is an operation carried out to take your baby out of the womb.

The NHS explains the cut that is made is usually around 10 to 20cm long and is mostly done under spinal or epidural anaesthetic where the parent is awake throughout but numbed from lower part of their body.

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According to Waste Managed, the UK wastes approximately 9.5 million tonnes of food each year, with an estimated value of GBP14 billion.

This can happen within our homes for a variety of reasons, from busy lifestyles to depression making preparing food impossible. In restaurants and fast food places, there are now apps like TooGoodToGo but clearly, the UK still has a long way to go in tackling food waste.

However, while it may sound mammoth, there are small changes you can make to your routine that will prevent food waste and the guilt that comes with it.

How to tackle food waste at home

Use your leftover ingredients to create a new recipe

It can be hard to put together a recipe from the leftover ingredients of your last meal but thankfully, websites like SuperCook do the hard work for you. Simply type in three ingredients you’d like to reuse and the website will generate a brand-new recipe for you.

Use stale bread to make delicious new foods

As long as the bread isn’t mouldy, leftover bread can be ideal for a range of recipes. BBC Good Food created a list of their top 10 ways to use up leftover bread, including croutons, bread and butter pudding and burgers.

Use overripe bananas to make banana bread

If you were on the banana bread bandwagon during the 2020 lockdown, you’ll be familiar with this tip. Ripe bananas make for extra delicious, gooey banana bread and the recipe is really very simple.

Buy frozen vegetables

Back in January, we spoke with NHS surgeon Dr Karan Rajan who said: “We need to stop being afraid of frozen tinned or canned fruits and vegetables,

“They’re cheap and often retain their nutritional value a lot more than fresh items – because as soon as something is harvested, it begins to lose its nutritional value.”

Frozen vegetables are often much cheaper and of course, last a lot longer than their fresh counterparts.

Make a meal plan

The experts at MoneySavingExpert said in a 2018 blog post: “You can avoid a lot of food waste simply by buying only the ingredients you need for your meals each week.

“To help, thrifty MoneySaving Old-Stylers on our forum share their meal plans, and even have challenges to help you use up what you’ve already got. See the Vegan store cupboard challenge and the What are you making for dinner? threads.”

Seems simple enough!

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The title of one of Taylor Swift’s songs on her newest album, “The Tortured Poets Department,” is enough to draw many listeners in simply for its relatability: “I Can Fix Him (No Really I Can).”

The urge to “fix” someone or change their behaviour — as well as the assurance that we’ll be successful — is a real phenomenon many of us have experienced in all kinds of relationships.

I doubt she’s the only one who felt able to be someone’s “saviour,” knowing just what they needed to be “fixed.” Maybe you’re dating someone who gets angry a bit too easily, and you think you know just the way to calm them down. Or there’s the acquaintance who describes themselves as “broken” and “lost,” and you’ve got just theright words to say. And maybe you do, maybe you don’t.

Either way, like Swift, you might feel like you’re the person who can “fix” a certain someone else. You may even feel a deep and strong urge to work on them … even when it only comes back to bite you.

What’s the psychology behind this, and can it work? Here’s why we do it and what else to know:

It makes you feel good about yourself.

Helpful or not, feeling like we’re “fixing” someone can admittedly feel good at times.

“Oftentimes, people who develop patterns of trying to ‘fix’ others do so as a coping mechanism,” said Sydney Gomez, a licensed clinical social worker with Thriveworks in Colorado Springs who specialises in relationships, stress and self-esteem (and is a Swiftie). “These individuals may derive a sense of purpose or value from their ability to help others. At times, this is done to counteract deeper seeded feelings of worthlessness or insecurity.”

And that’s not a bad thing on the surface, she continued — but it can become an unhelpful, codependent dynamic. In other words, it can create situations in which you only feel OK when they feel OK.

Gomez added that this dynamic often stems from childhood or adolescent experiences. That might entail being handed more responsibility than was developmentally appropriate, receiving praise for being “the easy kid,” or hearing (implicitly or explicitly) that others’ needs always come first.

It gives you a sense of control.

It’s understandable you want to grasp for control in a world where we often feel so powerless to the pain, violence and undesirable circumstances that are ever-present right now. You want to fix what you can. You want to help others. That’s admirable.

“Many of us want to be in control of a situation and change something about another person that we deem is ‘wrong’ or ‘broken’ about them,” said Nicholette Leanza, a therapist at LifeStance Health.

But the intentions and implications can be hurtful and unhelpful. Leanza said trying to “fix” someone can imply they’re deficient or dysfunctional; it assumes “the fixer” knows what’s best for the person better than they know for themselves. (Hence why “fix” is in quotations.) This can create a hierarchy and sense of “being better than,” which doesn’t help anybody.

It helps you feel safe.

That sense of control can also help you feel more powerful and comfortable. Gomez said this can be especially present for individuals who are in a chaotic or unstable environment. By fixing, they feel like they’re playing an active role; they may feel like they have a “say,” so to speak, over what happens (or doesn’t happen).

Can (And Should) You Try To ‘Fix’ Someone?

The answer to this question is pretty clear-cut, according to these therapists. “People cannot be fixed,” Gomez said.

Ultimately, change must start internally. “Someone cannot be ‘fixed’ unless they agree — or want — to be fixed,” Leanza said. “People will only change through their own motivation to do so.”

Not only is trying to fix someone undoable, but it can also be harmful. “Trying to ‘fix’ people is a dangerous game as it often leads to an unhealthy relationship dynamic and an abandonment of self,” Gomez continued.

The line can be blurry, though. What’s the difference between helping someone and trying to fix them?

It comes down to two factors: boundaries and effort. “In the case of fixing, the ‘fixer’ will likely feel a tremendous amount of responsibility for the outcome of the situation,” Gomez said. “They will also feel their emotions fluctuate strongly based on how their partner is doing because they are so emotionally dependent on deriving value from that identity as ‘the helper.’” (So, back to the point on codependence.)

What To Do Instead

Instead of focusing on fixing someone, therapists say these methods can help:

Engage in self-reflection.

Take a moment to step back and think: Why am I trying to “fix” this person? What is it making me feel? What might be more helpful for me?

“Understanding [your] own needs, as well as alternative ways to meet those that do not include fixing, is key,” Gomez said.

It might be easier said than done, so be patient and compassionate with yourself. “Identifying personal needs and feelings is also a skill that may be underdeveloped if this dynamic stems from childhood,” she added.

Remind yourself of what a good, healthy relationship looks like.

Ultimately, most (if not all) of us are looking for a satisfying relationship — and feeling the need to fix the other person is not a great sign.

“The healthiest relationships happen when two whole people choose to join their lives, not when one person tries to craft their ideal partner out of the other,” Leanza said. “If you feel the need to ‘fix’ someone to make them dateable, they simply may not be the right partner for you.”

Support the person’s desire to change.

As mentioned above, true change requires an internal desire to do so — but that doesn’t mean you can’t help at all. Gomez listed options such as providing a safe space to share their emotions, validating their progress, and supporting them in their proposed solutions.

She also wanted to be clear that this tip isn’t one to try when the person is violent (and that includes emotionally). “If the concern in question is violence in any form, the person in the fixer role should immediately assure their own safety and seek support for interpersonal violence situations,” she said.

Remember the importance of self-love and self-care.

Fixers aren’t used to focusing on themselves at all — and perhaps for that reason, it may be just the thing they need. Remember, as author Eleanor Brownn said, self-care isn’t selfish.

Leanza encouraged being the right partner for yourself. So again, what do you need? Maybe a partner or friend who can support you as much as you support them. Maybe it’s a relationship where you can be yourself and just relax and laugh. Take some time to reflect on this, too.

Create a strong support system.

It’s important to remember that you don’t have to go through this alone. Allow others to support you - you deserve it.

“Stepping out of the role of a fixer is difficult,” Gomez said. She cited examples of setting boundaries and consistently upholding them — two hard tasks.

“Building a support network can be incredibly helpful for both partners in this dynamic,” she said.

That network may include friends, family, people at your place of faith or other trusted loved ones. It may include finding a therapist as well.

“Working with a professional may be helpful in uncovering the deeper drives of the fixing behaviour and get to the root cause of the pattern,” Gomez said.

While a professional can be helpful for individual challenges, don’t forget they can treat couples, too. “If there are issues you believe can be worked through and there’s room for compromise, consider couples counselling,” Leanza said.

Losing that sense of control and purpose may be scary and upsetting - and it’s probably your best move. Swift summed up the main point well in the last line of the song: “I can fix him, no, really I can … Whoa, maybe I can’t.”

The most recent film in the Jurassic Park franchise debuted on Netflix UK just days ago – and quickly leapt to the top of the streaming platform’s list of most-watched films.

Jurassic World Dominion first hit cinemas in 2022, and sees Chris Pratt and Bryce Dallas Howard sharing the screen with Laura Dern, Jeff Goldblum and Sam Nell, who first appeared in Steven Spielberg’s original film from back in 1993.

While admittedly it didn’t exactly get the warmest reception from critics upon its release, it was still a hit at the box office, which has seemingly now translated into viewers tuning in on Netflix.

And if watching Jurassic World Dominion has got you in the mood to revisit the rest of the adventure saga, here’s where the rest of the series is streaming.

Throwing it right back to the acclaimed original film, you can catch the epic Jurassic Park on Now or Sky Cinema.

Staying in the 1990s, Steven Spielberg’s follow-up The Lost World was somewhat more coolly received at the time, with the third film in the series, titled simply Jurassic Park III, faring even less well with critics.

However, if you’d still consider them an essential part of your Jurassic rewatch, you can catch both of them on Amazon Prime Video.

The series was rebooted more than a decade later with 2015’s Jurassic World, considered by many to be a return to form for the dinosaur film saga.

Like the first Jurassic Park movie, this one is also available to watch on Now and Sky Cinema, while follow-up Fallen Kingdom, which reintroduced Jeff Goldblum to the series, is streaming on Netflix.

And although Dominion marked the end of the Jurassic World trilogy, another reboot was recently confirmed to be in the works, which will reportedly star Scarlett Johansson alongside Bridgerton’s Jonathan Bailey.

Oh… and if you wanted to check out the animated spin-offs Chaos Theory, Camp Cretaceous or the interactive Camp Cretaceous: Hidden Adventure, they’re also on Netflix now, while 2019’s short film Battle At Big Rock is available to watch on YouTube below:

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Courteney Cox recently revealed that she once went to a therapy session with the intention to fix her relationship with her current partner, Johnny McDaid, but was hit with a devastating surprise instead.

During a Wednesday appearance on the podcast Minnie Questions, the Friends star told host Minnie Driver that she was completely caught off guard when Johnny – who was her fiance at the time – ended their relationship during a therapy session that took place a few years after they began dating.

“We broke up, and it was really intense. We broke up in therapy, I didn’t know it was coming,” Courteney said.

“Whether I should have or not... we went to this therapist to talk about our boundaries, what we could and couldn’t accept about each other.”

She later continued: “Instead, he just broke up within the first minute.”

Courteney said that she was “so shocked” and in “so much pain” from the breakup.

“I also don’t like surprises,” she said. “And he’s an incredible human being, so he wasn’t trying to surprise me. He was in that much pain in the relationship.

“There was that much that needed to be dealt with, that he had to protect himself around his heart.”

Courteney and Johnny began dating in 2013, and announced their engagement the following year. In 2015, they shared with the public that they called off their engagement, but they later confirmed their reconciliation in 2016.

Courteney also said in the podcast episode that she worked on herself after her breakup with the Snow Patrol singer, and that she was ultimately “so thankful” for the temporary split.

“When we got back together, it was a different relationship,” she said.

In September, Courteney celebrated on Instagram her 10-year anniversary with a slideshow of photos of them together. She shared that the two were introduced to each other by Ed Sheeran.

“10 years!!!!” she captioned the post.

Courteney celebrated Johnny’s birthday in July last year, by sharing on Instagram an edited photo of the singer that depicted him looking older with grey hair.

“Happy birthday my sweetheart. Good to know that when you’re older… you’ll actually look older than me,” she captioned the post.

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Emma Stone would like everyone to finally address her as Emmanuella Gertrude Stonebreaker III, already.

Just kidding! That is by no means her real name — but neither is Emma.

During a joint interview for The Hollywood Reporter with her The Curse co-star Nathan Fielder published on Wednesday, Fielder told the outlet he was going to refer to Stone as “Emily” instead of “Emma”.

Stone has explained in the past that although her birth name is Emily Stone, she had to change it while earning her Screen Actors Guild card because there was already an actor named Emily Stone in the union.

After Fielder declared he’d be using Stone’s real name throughout the interview, the outlet asked if anyone else in the industry calls her by her real name.

“When I get to know them, people that I work with do. It’s just because my name was taken [by another actor in SAG]. Then I freaked out a couple of years ago. For some reason, I was like, ‘I can’t do it anymore. Just call me Emily’,” she said, noting that Fielder also calls her “Em.”

When THR asked whether she’d like it if a fan called her “Emily,” the Poor Things star gave a resounding yes.

“That would be so nice. I would like to be Emily,” Stone said.

Stone isn’t alone in being somewhat irked by the overuse of their stage name.

Anne Hathaway was born Anne Hathaway, but prefers to be referred to as her nickname, which is Annie.

The Idea of You star explained to Jimmy Fallon in 2021 that she filmed a commercial when she was 14 and needed a SAG card.

“They asked me, ‘What do you want your name to be?’ And I’m like, ‘Well, it should be my name. My name’s Anne Hathaway,’” she said.

“And so that seemed like the right choice, but it never occurred to me that for the rest of my life people would call me Anne.”

She added that everyone in her life calls her Annie — except for her mum, who only uses “Anne” when she’s angry with her.

“Every time I step out in public and someone calls my name, I think they’re gonna yell at me,” she said.

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The second part of Zack Snyder’s sci-fi epic Rebel Moonarrived on Netflix last week, and quickly soared to the top of the streaming service’s most-watched movies list.

Most of the all-star cast are reprising their roles in Part Two: The Scargiver, making for an impressive ensemble of acting legends, TV stars and promising up-and-comers.

The second instalment picks up with Kora and the surviving warriors as they prepare for battle against the tyrannical Motherworld to defend their homeland.

Read on to find out where you’ve seen the cast of Rebel Moon – Part Two: The Scargiver before…

Sofia Boutella

Leading actor Sofia returns as the titular Scargiver Kora in part two. This follows her huge role as antagonist Ahmanet in 2017’s The Mummy reboot opposite Tom Cruise.

Her first major film role back in 2015 was also a big one, playing Samuel L Jackson’s henchwoman Gazelle in Kingsman: The Secret Service, before she starred opposite Nicolas Cage in Prisoners Of The Ghostland.

More recently, she played Eve Mansour on SAS Rogue Heroes and appeared in an episode of Guillermo del Toro’s anthology series Cabinet Of Curiosities. Her other film roles include Argylle, Star Trek Beyond, Prisoners of the Ghostland, Fahrenheit 451, Hotel Artemis and Atomic Blonde.

Music fans might recognise Sofia as a former dancer for Madonna – she performed on the Queen of Pop’s Confessions Tour and appeared in the music videos for Hung Up, Sorry and Celebration. She also went on to star opposite Dave Grohl in Foo Fighters’ music video for Shame Shame in 2020.

Djimon Hounsou

The twice Oscar-nominated actor plays Titus in the Rebel Moon franchise and was initially best known for his roles in 2002’s In America and 2006’s Blood Diamond opposite Leonardo DiCaprio.

Since then, he’s joined the Marvel Cinematic Universe, playing Korath the Pursuer in Guardians Of The Galaxy and Captain Marvel. He’s also across the DC universe as The Wizard in Shazam! and Black Adam.

Djimon’s other previous roles include Gladiator, Amistad, The King’s Men, A Quiet Place Part II, 2019’s Charlie’s Angels, Serenity, King Arthur: Legend Of The Sword, The Legend of Tarzan, Air, Fast & Furious 7 and Elephant White.

You might also recognise Djimon from his stint as a Calvin Klein underwear model back in the mid-2000s.

Anthony Hopkins

The Welsh acting legend, who voices Jimmy in the second Rebel Moon instalment, is best known for his Oscar-winning roles playing Hannibal Lecter in The Silence Of The Lambs. More recently, he won a second Academy Award thanks to his moving performance in The Father with Olivia Colman, which made him the oldest winner in an acting category at 83 back in 2021.

You’ll also be familiar with his extensive filmography ranging from One Life, The Remains Of The Day, The Elephant Man, The Two Popes, Amistad, Hitchcock, Alexander and much more.

He also earned an Emmy nomination for his role as Dr. Robert Ford in HBO’s dystopian western series Westworld, before it was cancelled after four seasons.

Ed Skrein

You’ll probably know the London-born actor, who plays Atticus Noble in both Rebel Moon films, for playing Ajax in Deadpool opposite Ryan Reynolds, as well as a brief three-episode stint as Daario Naharis in Game Of Thrones’ third season (after which he was replaced by Michiel Huisman, which he claimed at the time was due to “politics”)

Other past film roles of Ed’s include The Transporter Refuelled, Maleficent: Mistress Of Evil, Alita: Battle Angel and If Beale Street Could Talk.

Michiel Huisman

In a slightly awkward twist of casting fate, it was Michiel (aka Gunnar in Rebel Moon) who replaced Ed Skrein as Daenerys Targaryen’s love interest and advisor Daario Naharis in Game Of Thrones (don’t worry though, Michiel has insisted he “got on really well” with his now co-star).

You might have also seen him in shows like The Haunting Of Hill House, Nashville, Echo 3, Treme, Angela Black and The Flight Attendant.

Other past credits of Michiel’s include A Boy Called Christmas, The Other Lamb, The Last Right and The Guernsey Literary And Potato Peel Pie Society, Irreplaceable You, The Age Of Adaline, Wild, World War Z and The Young Victoria.

Bae Doona

Along with playing Nemesis in Rebel Moon, the South Korean actor is known for movies like Cloud Atlas and Bong Joon Ho’s 2006 monster film The Host.

She was also in TV series Sense8 and Korean dramas like The Silent Sea, Kingdom and Bimilui Soop.

Ray Fisher

The US actor plays Bloodaxe in Rebel Moon, which saw him reunite with Zack Snyder once again after his roles as Cyborg in Justice League and Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice.

He also played Henry Hays, the son of Mahershala Ali’s character, in season three of True Detective.

Staz Nair

Staz’s role as Tarak in the Rebel Moon series follows his previous turns as Dothraki warrior Qhono in Game Of Thrones.

He also played William Dey in the Supergirl series between 2019-2021 and Gordon in Humans.

In 2016, Staz also played the titular “creature” in a new televised version of The Rocky Horror Picture Show.

Fra Fee

As well as playing Balisarius in the Rebel Moon films, the Irish actor is best known for his role as Kazi in Marvel’s Hawkeye.

His other on screen appearances include 2021’s Cinderella starring Camila Cabello, The Laureate, Pixie, Boys From County Hell and 2012’s Les Miserables.

In 2022, Fra also took over the role of Emcee from Eddie Redmayne in the current West End production of Cabaret.

Cleopatra Coleman

Cleopatra’s Rebel Moon role as Devra follows her recent film appearances in Cobweb, Infinity Pool and A Lot of Nothing. Meanwhile, her TV roles include Dopesick, The Last Man On Earth, White Famous and one episode of Sorry For Your Loss.

Like many Australian stars who eventually get their Hollywood break, she also put in a short stint on Neighbours back in 2006.

Ingvar Sigurdsson

The Icelandic actor plays Hagen in both Rebel Moon films, and has previously been in Everest, The Northman and A White, White Day.

You might remember him as Lars in three episodes of Killing Eve season four.

Alfonso Herrera

Along with starring as Cassius in both Rebel Moon instalments, the Mexican actor has been in TV shows like Ozark, Sense8 and 2016’s The Exorcist.

True fans will also know that he first shot to fame with his role in the Mexican telenovela Rebelde about private school teens who start a fictional band called RBD – before the members decided to form the group for real.

However, Alfonso did not join his former bandmates on their reunion tour last year.

Cary Elwes

The King in both Rebel Moon films also has a role on one of Netflix’s biggest ever TV shows – playing the mayor of Hawkins Larry Kline in Stranger Things.

He’s also been in Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part On, Billionaire Boys Club, Saw, The Princess Bride. Cary’s TV work includes The Art of More, Life In Pieces and The X Files.

Rebel Moon – Part Two: The Scargiver is available to watch on Netflix now.

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His opponents have cruelly dubbed him “Humza Useless”, and in the past 48 hours Scotland’s first minister seems to have gone out of his way to prove them right.

Humza Yousaf is this weekend fighting for his political career ahead of a crucial vote of confidence which could see him ousted from office barely a year after succeeding Nicola Sturgeon as SNP leader.

His decision to dump the Greens from the Scottish government - thereby bringing an end to the Bute House Agreement struck between the two pro-independence parties - must have seemed like a good idea at the time.

Indeed, it was widely welcomed by most within the SNP, not least the party’s Westminster leader Stephen Flynn, who said Yousaf had “shown leadership in the national interest”.

But within hours, the move had backfired and thrown his leadership into crisis as the Greens - furious at how they had been treated - announced they would support a motion of no confidence in Yousaf tabled by the Scottish Tories.

In an ironic twist, that left the first minister relying on the vote of Ash Regan - who defected from the SNP to Alex Salmond’s Alba Party last year - to save his political skin.

That would be the same Ash Regan who Yousaf said was “no great loss” when she jumped ship.

She has wasted no time in naming her price. In a letter to the first minister, Regan said she wanted to see progress made towards Scottish independence and more done to defend “the rights of women and children”.

The latter point is a reference to the Scottish government’s stance hitherto on support for trans rights, a position heavily influenced by the Greens.

Speculation is mounting that Yousaf could even resign before the confidence vote takes place.

“I think there is a very high chance that he announces he’s stepping down, possibly over the weekend,” said one MSP. “I don’t think he would give up easily, but people close to him are drifting away.”

Yousaf on Friday insisted that he would not be quitting, and that he intended to fight - and win - the confidence vote.

Senior SNP figures continue to back him - at least in public - with the party’s Westminster leader Stephen Flynn insisting yesterday he would “come out fighting” to save his job.

The embattled SNP leader does still have the support of many within the party, who say he had no choice but to dump the Greens, who were planning to ballot their own members on whether to end the Bute House Agreement anyway.

One senior figure told HuffPost UK: “My overwhelming feeling at ending the coalition is relief. All we’ve been getting on the doors for months is ‘you need to get rid of the Greens’.

“We couldn’t wait four weeks for them to decide themselves whether or not to end it, and it was fairly obvious the whole thing was coming to a natural end anyway.

“People are concerned about food prices, their utility bills, their mortgages and their insurance premiums, not wood stoves and heat pumps.”

“It’s time for cool heads and deep breaths,” one SNP MP said.

“No relationship break-up is ever easy, but the reaction of the Greens has been laughable and just tells you that the continuation of the coalition was unsustainable.”

In theory, Yousaf could cling on were he to lose next week’s vote, although no one expects him to do so as his political authority would be destroyed.

Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar upped the ante even more yesterday by announcing that he will table a motion of no confidence in the Scottish government.

Under Holyrood’s rules, that would have the effect of forcing Yousaf to resign immediately were he to lose the vote and could even trigger a snap Holyrood election.

However, there are some within the Scottish Labour who want Yousaf to remain in place.

“Humza is so bad I’d rather keep him as I think it will be hard to get someone worse,” one insider told HuffPost UK.

With Westminster abuzz with rumours that Rishi Sunak could call a general election for early July, any stay of execution for Yousaf may only be temporary.

Senior SNP figures are now openly speculating that the party could see its number of MPs reduced to single figures in what would be a remarkable turnaround from the 48 it returned at the last election.

Were that to happen, the “men in grey kilts” would waste little time in telling Yousaf that his time is up.

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Buckingham Palace announced on Friday that King Charles will return to public-facing duties next week, after taking a brief step back due to his health.

“His Majesty The King will shortly return to public-facing duties after a period of treatment and recuperation following his recent cancer diagnosis,” the palace said in a statement shared with HuffPost.

“To help mark this milestone, The King and Queen will make a joint visit to a cancer treatment centre next Tuesday, where they will meet medical specialists and patients,” the palace said. “This visit will be the first in a number of external engagements His Majesty will undertake in the weeks ahead.”

The statement added that Charles and Camilla will also host the Japanese Emperor Naruhito and his wife, Empress Masako, during their state visit to Britain in June.

The release on Friday also included a new portrait of Charles and Camilla, taken by photographer Millie Pilkington, to mark the first anniversary of their coronation on May 6, 2024.

Of the upcoming anniversary, the palace said: “Their Majesties remain deeply grateful for the many kindnesses and good wishes they have received from around the world throughout the joys and challenges of the past year.”

The palace previously announced on February 5 that King Charles had been diagnosed with cancer, but did not specify the type or the cancer’s severity.

The cancer was discovered following a procedure the king underwent at the hospital for an enlarged prostate.

At the time, the palace said that Charles had “commenced a schedule of regular treatments, during which time he has been advised by doctors to postpone public-facing duties”.

Shortly after Charles’ diagnosis, the king thanked well-wishers for their support during his health troubles.

“As all those who have been affected by cancer will know, such kind thoughts are the greatest comfort and encouragement,” the king said.

Charles’ health crisis comes at a difficult time for the British royal family.

Kate Middleton recently announced that she was also diagnosed with cancer, which was discovered following a planned abdominal surgery back in January.

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While it’s something we will all experience throughout our lives, grief can still leave us feeling unmoored and uncertain of how to carry on. Even when the loss isn’t a shock and we believe we have mentally prepared, the love we had for those we’ve lost runs deep – and so does our grief.

So, what do you do? Do you choose distraction? Do you cry alone in bed? There is no wrong way to grieve but finding the way that helps us to heal and feel is what we’re often drawn to.

Well, for some people, spending time in the garden, growing and tending to new life, is the perfect remedy after a death.

How gardening is helping people to recover from loss

According to research from national bereavement charity Sue Ryder, gardening and nature can have a profound impact on the grieving process and 40% of the 1,000 respondents surveyed said that gardening had actually ‘saved’ them from their grief.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, over a third (37%) of respondents said that flowers helped to evoke memories of lost loved ones and 42% of those said that roses were the ones most likely to bring a loved one to mind.

It seems that even in moments that we can’t find, or don’t want to find the words, we can still find comfort and support in the nature surrounding us and even right in our gardens.

Sue Ryder has partnered with award-winning designer Katherine Holland to bring these insights to life through the Sue Ryder Grief Kind Garden at the upcoming RHS Chelsea Flower Show. The garden aims to provide a sensory sanctuary for visitors to reflect and share their own experiences of grief.

The garden design has already elicited feelings of peace and calm in respondents, underscoring the therapeutic potential of green spaces and nature.

This is backed by a recent study conducted by psychiatric unit researchers which found that being in nature reduced feelings of isolation, promoted calm, and lifted mood among patients.

“I found from my own experiences of grief that I needed a green space to reflect and sit with my feelings”

Katherine Holland, garden designer of the Sue Ryder Grief Kind Garden at RHS Chelsea Flower Show said: “For the Sue Ryder Grief Kind Garden, I am creating a safe and sensory sanctuary for visitors to sit within in the beauty of nature, whilst encouraging them to either share their own experiences of grief or have a moment of reflection.

“I found from my own experiences of grief that I needed a green space to reflect and sit with my feelings. Through this garden, I wanted to emulate this and with the layout give visitors the feeling that they are being given a ‘green hug’.”

The Sue Ryder Grief Kind Garden is sponsored by Project Giving Back, the unique grant-giving charity that funds gardens for good causes at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show.

Help and support:

• Mind, open Monday to Friday, 9am-6pm on 0300 123 3393.
• Samaritans offers a listening service which is open 24 hours a day, on 116 123 (UK and ROI - this number is FREE to call and will not appear on your phone bill).
• CALM (the Campaign Against Living Miserably) offer a helpline open 5pm-midnight, 365 days a year, on 0800 58 58 58, and a webchat service.
• The Mix is a free support service for people under 25. Call 0808 808 4994 or email help@themix.org.uk
• Rethink Mental Illness offers practical help through its advice line which can be reached on 0808 801 0525 (Monday to Friday 10am-4pm). More info can be found on rethink.org.

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While the dating world has many pitfalls (how many times can I read ‘roast dinner and a walk on a Sunday’ in a bio, I beg?!), the main concern surrounding it is harassment and unwanted contact.

Research has found that online harassment has been on the rise across all digital spaces – particularly for vulnerable groups like women, BIPOC and LGBTQ+ users.

Now, finally, Hinge has announced that users can hide certain words from appearing in their ‘likes’ as the dating app can: “detour negative interactions before they start, creating a safer and more positive experience on the app.”

What the Hidden Words setting on Hinge means for users

When users go to the Hidden Words setting, the app states: “We’ll hide likes from people who use any of the words you add here”, giving users complete control in hiding everything from the inoffensive bugbears ( hiking, anyone?) to offensive words that they would prefer not to see.

Social media users took to X (formerly Twitter) to share their excitement.

Some users are... a little fussier than others:

Though it does appear that people really are tired of hearing about Sunday roasts.

“This feature is about giving daters the ability to define their boundaries”

Jeff Dunn, Hinge’s VP, Trust & Safety said: “At Hinge, we believe in creating an environment where everyone can feel safe and respected, which is integral to building genuine connections,

“With the launch of Hidden Words, we are living by our mission, to become the most trusted dating app. This feature is about giving daters the ability to define their boundaries, enhancing their confidence in the process.”

The safety expert added that Hinge’s hope is that with Hidden Words, users will feel reassured they can explore potential connections in a way that’s most comfortable to them, leading to safer and more satisfying dating experiences.

We can all but hope.

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Shower curtains can be... a deeply personal thing.

For some of us, a brightly-patterned shower curtain can be exactly the thing to make our bathrooms pop as they stand out from standard white showers and sinks.

However, some of us have opted for the more elegant, the arguably harder to clean, glass shower door. It is a simple staple of every minimalist bathroom and, importantly, doesn’t sometimes dip into your bath like shower curtains do.

Or am I just woefully clumsy?

However, there is one issue: they can spontaneously combust.

Why do glass shower doors spontaneously combust?

It sounds like something directly from a 2010?s comedy film but really, they can just explode and it can happen while you’re in the shower or even when you’re not at home.

According to the experts at Me and My Glass: “The glass in shower doors is designed to be incredibly strong and is capable of withstanding hot temperatures and impact.

“However, there are certain things that can cause your glass shower screen to shatter.”

These can include imperfections to the glass itself that occurred during the tempering process, poor installation of the door itself or, most frustratingly, just plain old bad luck.

How to prevent glass shower doors from shattering

While this would make a GREAT story for the grandkids, a glass door smashing in your home is pretty nightmarish.

To avoid it happening to you, Glass.com advise: “Be sure to assess your shower door glass regularly. Check the hardware and frame to make sure fasteners and fittings are secure.

“Also, check the glass edges for chips and cracks that could lead to spontaneous breakage. It’s also important to avoid slamming the shower door and avoid using door handles or towel bars as a safety grip, as that could also put added pressure on a glass door.”

Eek!

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Let’s face it, flying is pretty boring for the most part. Especially long-haul flights when there’s nothing to do but cycle between forms of entertainment and wait for the time to pass.

One highlight, though, is the meal. A little in-flight picnic or even a full-blown meal, it’s a perfect way to break up the flight and keep your energy going on the way to your destination.

The only difficulty is choosing the right meal. The pressure! The indecision! What if it’s not great and then you’re stuck with that until you land at your destination? What if it’s a little too heavy for your stomach?!

Well, according to Dr Karan Rajan, there is actually a definitive answer to this quandary.

The best food to order during a flight

In a recent TikTok video, Dr Rajan advised that if you want to have airline food that ‘tastes better’, you should choose umami-rich foods.

These foods include meats, tomatoes, and cheeses.

Apparently, this is because the low cabin pressure when you fly impacts your tastebuds, meaning that sweet and salty flavours are muted but umami tastes are amplified.

He added: “This is gonna sound strange, but you can also wear earplugs or noise-cancelling headphones to boost your sense of taste.”

This is because the constant sound of the engine, as well as your ears popping, stimulates the middle ear nerve which negatively impacts your ability to taste sweet and salty flavours.

Finally, the doctor said hydrating before meals is an ‘absolute must’ and if you’re on a long-haul flight, consider saline nasal sprays as flying 35,000 feet in the air, combined with the dry air inside the cabin, dries out your mouth and sinus cavities.

Smell receptors and taste buds (both of which are essential for taste) require some kind of humidity to work optimally.

Who knew!

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Humza Yousaf has insisted he won’t resign as Scotland’s first minister despite facing two votes of confidence next week.

The SNP leader said he was “getting on with the day job” as his political career teeters on the brink.

His leadership was plunged into crisis yesterday after he ended the SNP’s tie-up with the Green Party at the Scottish Parliament.

The Greens said they would support a motion of no confidence in Yousaf tabled by Scottish Tory leader Douglas Ross.

Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar also announced today that he will table a separate motion of no confidence in Yousaf’s government - a move that could trigger a snap election.

That has left the first minister relying on the backing of Ash Regan - who defected from the SNP to the Alba Party last year - to save his job.

Asked by Sky News if he was going to resign, Yousaf said: “No, I intend absolutely to fight that vote of no confidence and I’m getting on with the day job.”

Yousaf also rejected the suggestion that he is now “a lame duck leader”.

He said: “Let’s forget the tired cliches and let’s concentrate on the reality.

“The reality is I’m out here delivering on the priorities of the people. The opposition may wish to play games, that is up to them.”

The first minister said he had “every intention of winning” the vote of no confidence and said he would write to the leaders of the opposition parties calling on them to help him “make minority government work”.

The SNP chief had earlier been supported by the party’s leader at Westminster, Stephen Flynn.

He said: “He’s going to come out fighting because he believes in his priorities for the people and he believes in representing the public to the best of his ability and that means ensuring that the Scottish government is delivering for them.

“I’m very keen to hear what he has to say and I’m going to be standing shoulder to shoulder beside him as he seeks to convince others in Holyrood that he’s the right person to take our country forward.”

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Pet Shop Boys frontman Neil Tennant has admitted he’s a little unconvinced by Taylor Swift’s status as a pop icon.

Earlier this week, Neil took part in a live interview with The Guardian, in which he lamented about the current state of pop lyricism.

“[The self] is the only subject,” he said of modern pop. “To have a successful pop career now you have to have a series of relationships which are amazing and then break up tragically.”

Later in the conversation, Neil shared: “I was looking at the chart earlier today, and … it’s all Taylor Swift.”

Confirming he had listened to Taylor’s much-discussed new album The Tortured Poets Department, Neil admitted to being “fascinated” by the Grammy winner’s continued dominance.

“Taylor Swift sort of fascinates me as a phenomenon because she’s so popular and I sort of quite like the whole thing,” he explained.

“But then when I listen to the records [...] for a phenomenon as big [as she is]… where are the famous songs? What’s Taylor Swift’s Billie Jean?”

After Taylor’s 2014 single Shake It Off was suggested, Neil continued: “I listened to that the other day, and it’s not Billie Jean. It’s not…

“Melodically – she’s got a great voice, by the way, and the production’s beautiful – but melodically … it’s all sung one or two notes going up and down…”

While heaping praise on the sense of community and “collective experience” among the Swifties, Neil added: “I just think that the one disappointing thing is the music. Not even the lyrics, the music.”

The West End Girls singer isn’t the only veteran musician to call Taylor’s credentials as a pop juggernaut into question recently, though.

Last week, Courtney Love made headlines when she claimed Taylor was “not important” or “interesting as an artist”.

READ MORE:

• Denise Welch, Matty Healy's Mum, Has Finally Spoken Out About Taylor Swift's New Album
• 'Underwhelming' Or 'A Triumph'? Critics Can't Seem To Agree On Taylor Swift's Tortured Poets Department
• Courtney Love Is As Candid As Ever When It Comes To Beyonce, Taylor Swift And Madonna

Eating fresh fruit and veg is all well and good but when it seems to go off within seconds of going into the fridge, it can be difficult to convince yourself to splash out on them.

No judgement here but how many times have you thrown out half a bag of salad because it went off so quickly? Same.

Well, for those of us who are both forgetful and desperate to cut down on food waste, there is actually a secret to keeping this fresh produce, well, fresh and it probably won’t cost you much, if anything.

How to keep fruit and veg fresher for longer

Keep berries fresh using white vinegar

According to allrecipes, to keep berries fresh, simply mix one cup of white vinegar with three cups of water and swish the berries in the mix for around a minute. Then, rinse them with clean, cold water until any vinegar smell and taste is gone. After that, you can simply store them in the fridge and enjoy the lasting freshness!

Store lettuce and salad greens with paper towels

StopFoodWaste advised: “To keep your salad greens fresh, don’t leave them packed up tight. Move half of the greens into a large, clean airtight container layered with paper towels.

“Lay one paper towel on the bottom and one the top, then flip the container over for storage. Now your greens have room to breathe and the paper towels will absorb excess moisture, ensuring you have fresh salad that doesn’t get slimy so quickly!”

Don’t store tomatoes in the fridge

I will be honest, when I learned this, my jaw genuinely dropped. You’re not supposed to store tomatoes in the fridge!? WHO KNEW?!

Anyway, according to culinary queen and Snoop Dogg’s bestie Martha Stewart: “Tomatoes contain an enzyme that reacts to cold temperatures, causing the cell membranes to break down and leaving you with a piece of fruit that’s mushy and mealy.”

Instead, they should be stored at room temperature.

Store potatoes with apples

It turns out that the best cupboard partner for spuds is actually apples. This is because apples produce a natural gas known as ethylene, and according to a study, exposure to ethylene can slow down or halt potatoes’ sprouting process. The ethylene produced by apples can also generally keep potatoes fresh for longer.

Don’t cut lemons in half

I know, I know, lemons sliced in half is extremely normal but actually, if you only need a little lemon juice for a recipe or cocktail, simply pierce the skin and squeeze. This saves the lemons from drying out faster, according to Food Republic.

... Brb, I really need to re-organise my kitchen.

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Anne Hathaway has given fans an update on the potential third film in the Princess Diaries franchise.

The Oscar winner’s career breakthrough moment came in 2001 when she appeared in the live-action Disney movie as Mia Thermopolis, a teenager who discovers she’s actually the heir to the throne of a small European nation.

She later reprised the role of Mia in a sequel three years later, on which she reunited with her co-star Dame Julie Andrews.

During a new interview with V magazine, Anne was asked about the possibility of a third film in the series, and while she admitted she was limited as to exactly what she could divulge, the Dark Knight Rises star did confirm that wheels were in motion.

“We’re in a good place,” she explained. “That’s all I can say. There’s nothing to announce yet. But we’re in a good place.”

This comes after Julie Andrews suggested last month that the project may have been “shelved”, despite her hopes to return for a part three.

Elsewhere in her V interview, Anne was less convinced about the idea of a Devil Wears Prada follow-up film.

“Probably not,” she said when asked about a sequel to the hit comedy.

“We all love each other and if somebody could come up with a way to do it, I think we’d all be crazy not to.

“But there’s a huge difference in the world now with technology, and one of the things about that particular story is it was about producing a physical object. Now with so much being digital, it would just be very different.”

She added: “Maybe me, Stanley [Tucci], Emily [Blunt], Meryl [Streep], [director] Dave Frankel, [costume designer] Patricia Field…we should just all do something else together. That’d be fun.”

While a Devil Wears Prada sequel is seemingly off the table, fans of the original film still have reason to be excited as a new musical based on the Oscar-nominated film is coming to London later this year.

Vanessa Williams will be taking on the role of Miranda Priestley, previously played by Meryl Streep, having previously racked up three Emmy nominations for her portrayal of a similar character in the sitcom Ugly Betty.

READ MORE:

• Anne Hathaway Gets Candid About 'Gross' Way She Was Once Asked To Test Co-Star Chemistry
• Anne Hathaway Says She Couldn’t Get A Job Amid 'Hathahate' Until Christopher Nolan Stepped In
• This Singer Was An Unlikely Producer On The Princess Diaries

Humza Yousaf will “come out fighting” to save his job as Scottish first minister, the SNP’s Westminster leader has declared.

Stephen Flynn said he will stand “shoulder to shoulder” with Yousaf, who faces a vote of no confidence at Holyrood next week.

His leadership was plunged into crisis yesterday after he ended the SNP’s tie-up with the Green Party at the Scottish Parliament.

The Greens said they would support a motion of no confidence in Yousaf tabled by Scottish Tory leader Douglas Ross.

That has left the first minister relying on the backing of Ash Regan - who defected from the SNP to the Alba Party last year - to save his job.

Amid speculation that Yousaf could resign before next week’s vote, Flynn told BBC Radio 4?s Today programme: “I spoke to the first minister last night shortly after we’d put our own kids to bed and he’s going to come out fighting.

“He’s going to come out fighting because he believes in his priorities for the people and he believes in representing the public to the best of his ability and that means ensuring that the Scottish government is delivering for them.

“I’m very keen to hear what he has to say and I’m going to be standing shoulder to shoulder beside him as he seeks to convince others in Holyrood that he’s the right person to take our country forward.”

Asked if Yousaf would quit if he lost the confidence vote, Flynn said: “24 hours is a long time in politics, a week is an even longer time in politics.

“There’s a lot of water to flow under the bridge over the coming days. There’s a lot of discussions to be had, there’s going to be a lot of time for reflection for many of the main parties within this.

“I would still be confident that once people have heard what the first minister has to say that they can be convinced that he is indeed the right man to remain as first minister and to focus on the public’s priorities.”

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Janet Jackson has revealed she came close to playing an iconic superhero character on the big screen.

During a new interview on Drew Barrymore’s US talk show, the five-time Grammy winner was asked about long-held rumours that she was “almost in The Matrix”, though she claimed this was not the case.

However, the That’s The Way Love Goes singer did have another close call with a major film role.

“Ooooh, this is horrible,” Janet began. “I can’t remember the film, but Halle Berry played Storm.”

A stunned Drew then asked whether this meant that her guest was almost cast in the X-Men movies, to which she confirmed: “I couldn’t, because I was just embarking on the Janet tour, but I think that’s what you’re confusing [The Matrix] with.”

Back in 2021, Gabrielle Union claimed she had an audition of her own for The Matrix, for which she decided to channel Janet Jackson – only for the woman herself to wind up arriving in the audition room, too.

“The same audition and I’m cosplaying as Janet,” Gabrielle joked during an appearance on James Corden’s now-defunct talk show.

Meanwhile, Drew matched Janet’s story with an anecdote of her own about how she turned a major movie offer in the mid-1990s.

“I have so many of those experiences,” the Charlie’s Angels star said. “Mine was… I’ve never said this out loud… Boogie Nights. There was a moment where we were talking about Boogie Nights.

“I think it’s when I went and did Ever After. I went in a very different direction.”

Watch Janet Jackson being interviewed by Drew Barrymore below:

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• Henry Cavill Speaks Out About Possibility Of Playing James Bond As Fake Trailer Goes Viral
• Glen Powell Finally Addresses Viral Theory About Him And Sydney Sweeney

Emmanuel Macron has launched a furious attack on Rishi Sunak’s flagship Rwanda plan.

The French president said the UK government’s determination to deport migrants to Africa was “a betrayal of [European] values” and would prove to be “ineffective”.

His comments came days after parliament finally passed the Safety of Rwanda Bill, which the prime minister said would see flights to the country taking take off in 10 to 12 weeks.

But in a speech in Paris, Macron said he did not agree with “this model that some people want to put in place, which means that you go and look for a third country, for example in Africa, and send our immigrants there”.

He added: “We’re creating a geopolitics of cynicism which betrays our values and will build new dependencies, and which will prove completely ineffective,”

Macron also took a swipe at Brexit which he said had led to “an explosion of negative effects”.

A spokesperson for Sunak said the government’s approach was “the right one”.

He said: “Indeed, we’ve seen other partners and other countries around the world also explore similar options.”

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While many Swifties were left feeling rather conflicted by their idol’s widely-rumoured romance with Matty Healy last year, for Loose Women viewers it was a rather different story – namely due to the irresistible idea of Denise Welch one day becoming Taylor Swift’s mother-in-law.

Taylor and Matty reportedly dated for a short period in 2023, which appears to have inspired most of her 11th studio album The Tortured Poets Department, released last week.

During Thursday’s edition of Loose Women, Denise was put on the spot by fellow panellist Nadia Sawalha, who questioned whether the former Coronation Street star had heard any of Taylor’s new material.

“I wasn’t aware she had an album out at all,” Denise responded, prompting big laughs from the studio audience. “I haven’t heard anything about it.”

“Anyway,” she added. “I wish her all the best.”

Denise’s comments come after her son, The 1975 frontman Matty, also faced an impromptu grilling from a paparazzo about The Tortured Poets Department.

He claimed: “I haven’t really listened to that much of it. But I’m sure it’s good.”

A number of songs on The Tortured Poets Department, including lead single Fortnight, Fresh Out The Slammer and The Black Dog, are widely considered to be inspired by Matty – but he isn’t the only one who appears to have been referenced on the 31-track release.

Stand-out album cut So Long London is thought to be inspired by Taylor’s break-up from her ex of six years, British actor Joe Alwyn, while thanK you aIMee alludes to the singer’s long-held feud with reality star Kim Kardashian.

Taylor even appears to have written about some of her more overzealous fans’ reactions to her divisive relationship with Matty on the song But Daddy I Love Him.

READ MORE:

• Matty Healy Breaks Silence On Taylor Swift's New Album As He's Put On The Spot By Paparazzo
• Here's The Story Behind Those A-List Cameos In Taylor Swift's New Music Video
• Joe Alwyn, Matty Healy And... Kim Kardashian?! 10 Biggest Talking Points From Taylor Swift's New Album

According to National Geographic, crows are some of the most intelligent birds in the world. They have also always been held in incredibly high esteem and are considered to be symbols of prophecy, transformation, change, and freedom.

However, as majestic and revered as these birds are, they are also not to be messed with.

According to Science World: “Crows are incredibly territorial during May and June. They are known to dive and strike humans not just once, but repetitively until the human in question has moved a good distance away from the nest.”

Yikes!

In fact... you may actually want to be a little more friendly with crows and even befriend one. Yes, really.

Why you should befriend a crow

So, maybe you don’t need to specifically befriend a crow but you definitely need to stay on their good side.

This is because a five-year study by scientists at the University of Washington has found they possess an unusually good memory for human faces linked to a stressful event.

Not only do crows remember the faces of humans for five years, but these clever corvids can also warn their friends and family about you, too. I don’t know about you but being the target of a murder of local crows sounds bloody terrifying.

However, if you do choose to buddy up with a crow, they’ll actually bring you gifts. They may be fiercely protective and hold a hell of a grudge but they are generous souls, too!

John Marzluff, conservation ecologist at the University of Washington said that crows take part in “gifting” by leaving behind keys, lost earrings, bones, or rocks, for the people who feed them.

How to befriend a crow

According to Pet Helpful, following these steps can help you to become friends with a crow:

• Find food that the crows seem to like and keep it in stock. Crows tend to like nuts and seeds
• Establish a regular feeding schedule so they know when to expect you and can create a rhythm with them
• Don’t overdo it — you don’t need to feed them meals, just enough for them to know that you care and want to befriend them
• Don’t overdo it. Don’t feed them so much or so often that they become dependent—just a handful of something to show you care.
• Don’t just throw the food out there and walk away. Stay at a respectful distance to watch them eat. You may see them eat it on the spot, or they might choose carefully and fly off to cache it for later
• Don’t get too close to them as they prefer to be standoffish and may feel threatened

Brb, off to invest in some nuts and seeds.

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A Conservative minister has faced ridicule on BBC Question Time for saying: “Rwanda is a different country to Congo, isn’t it?”

Chris Philp was facing questions on the government’s Rwanda deportation plan when a member of the audience from Tottenham, north London, questioned whether relatives from Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) would be sent to the neighbouring African country.

Almost seven million people have been displaced by violence in eastern DRC, one of Africa’s most volatile regions.

Violent clashes have recently escalated between the DRC’s army and Rwandan-backed M23 Tutsi-led rebels in eastern Congo.

On the broadcaster’s flagship politics show, the audience member asked if family members fleeing the DRC would be sent to Rwanda given the conflict.

“No, I think there’s an exclusion on people from Rwanda being sent from Rwanda,” replied Philp.

“They’re not from Rwanda, they’re from Congo,” the audience member said back.

Philip seemed puzzled, and then asked: “Well ... Rwanda is a different country of Congo, isn’t it?”

“Yes, it is,” intervened host Fiona Bruce, among others, as some in the audience laughed, and Labour frontbencher Wes Streeting’s eyes said it all.

You can watch the exchange below.

Legislation underpinning the immigration crackdown finally made it through a parliamentary stalemate this week that has caused months of delay to Rishi Sunak’s flagship Rwanda policy.

Britain and Rwanda signed a deal almost two years ago that would see migrants who cross the English Channel in small boats sent to the east African country, where they would remain permanently. So far, no migrant has been sent to Rwanda under the agreement.

The plan is key to Sunak’s pledge to “stop the boats” bringing unauthorised migrants to the UK. He argues that deporting asylum seekers will deter people from making risky journeys and break the business model of people-smuggling gangs.

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Rishi Sunak faces more poll woe as even viewers of GB News, the opinion-led TV network with Tory MPs as presenters, would rather see the Labour Party in government than his Conservatives.

Since it launched in 2021, the channel has paid a number of current and former Tory MPs to front shows, notably Jacob Rees-Mogg. Husband and wife Conservative MPs Esther McVey and Philip Davies have their own programme, as does Lee Anderson, who was a Conservative when he was given the gig but has since defected to Reform UK.

But this doesn’t appear to have done the governing party much good.

A JL Partners poll of more than 500 current and recent GB News viewers found that Labour holds an 11-point lead over the Tories, or by 39 per cent to 28 per cent. Keir Starmer’s party has also seen its vote share among GB News viewers increase by 13 points in the past five years, while the Tories’ support has fallen back from 42%.

The Conservatives were also only just ahead of Reform UK, which polled 20 per cent. Underlining how Reform is eating into the Tory vote, the poll also revealed that 26 per cent of GB News viewers who voted Conservative in 2019 have now switched to Richard Tice’s party. Tice is another GB News presenter.

The GB News stable also includes Nigel Farage and former Labour MP Gloria De Piero.

Recent polls of the broader electorate have seen Labour’s consistent l ead over the Tories stretch to 20-points. Meanwhile, the party is on course to l ose more than 400 seats at next month’s local elections, according to a Conservative peer.

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According to Bowel Research UK, 16,000 people die of bowel cancer every year in the UK and now, the family of a broadcaster who died of the condition at age 40 are calling on the UK government for a national cancer strategy.

Dame Deborah James was diagnosed with stage four bowel cancer in 2016 and died in 2022 at age 40 of the disease. A memorial fund in her name raised GBP12m for cancer research.

Now, her family believes that all political parties should commit to ensuring earlier diagnosis and improve access to treatment, according to BBC News.

Dame Deborah’s family wrote an open letter to all government parties

Writing exclusively in The Sun, Dame Deborah’s husband, Sebastien Bowen, her parents Alistair and Heather James and her siblings Ben James and Sarah Wieczorek wrote to say they were joining Cancer Research UK’s Longer, Better Lives manifesto.

This manifesto sets out the measures and commitments the next government can make to help prevent 20,000 cancer deaths every year by 2040.

Speaking about Dame Deborah, the family said: “She smashed stigmas around cancer and was a passionate advocate of the importance of early diagnosis.She would tell anyone who would listen to ‘ check your poo!’.”

They continued: “Today, during Bowel Cancer Awareness Month, we are joining Cancer Research UK’s call from ‘Longer, better lives: A manifesto for cancer research and care’ for the Government to publish a long-term cancer strategy for England within one year of the general election.

“What we want and need to see in this cancer strategy are more measures in place that will drive earlier diagnosis and reduce inequalities in access to treatment and care.”

The family added that to do this, the NHS cancer workforce needs to be grown and there needs to be more investment in vital diagnostic equipment to ensure that everybody who needs it can access the right test, in the right place, at the right time.

They also urged the importance of earlier diagnosis saying: “In England, if bowel cancer is diagnosed at the earliest stage, around 9 in 10 people will survive their disease for five years or more. This becomes around 1 in 10 when diagnosed at the latest stage. ”

What are the signs of bowel cancer?

According to Bowel Cancer UK, these are the symptoms to look for:

• bleeding from your bottom
• blood in your poo
• a change in your pooing habits. You might be going more or less often, or have diarrhoea or constipation that might come and go
• losing weight but you’re not sure why
• feeling very tired all the time but you’re not sure why
• a pain or lump in your tummy

The charity added that while these do not mean you definitely have bowel cancer, you should speak to your GP if you’re experiencing any of these symptoms.

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Around 15 years ago, I was living in a cottage in the countryside and I woke from my sleep to a woman at the end of my bed in what I’d describe as Victorian clothes, just staring at me. I wasn’t scared but I definitely saw her and can even picture what she looked like to this day.

However, when I told the family I was living with about my ghostly visitor, none of them believed me and they even said that there was no way she’d be there because the cottage was only built 30 years prior.

I’d argue that there’s no reason to believe that ghosts can’t wander the countryside at will, but that’s for another day.

Now I’ve learned from The Sleep Foundation that my vision likely wasn’t actually a ghost but that doesn’t mean I didn’t see her.

What causes us to see demons and ghosts in the middle of the night?

It turns out that seeing demons in the middle of the night is actually a form of sleep paralysis. According to The Sleep Foundation: “Roughly 20% of people have an episode of sleep paralysis at least occasionally. In as many as 75% of these episodes, the sleeper has a hallucination in which they hear, see, feel, or sense something in their bedroom that is not actually there.”

While we don’t yet know exactly why this happens, it’s believed that during sleep paralysis, the lines between sleep and wakefulness are blurred.

The Sleep Foundation explained: “As a person is at the edge of waking up or falling asleep, they become aware of their surroundings while their muscle paralysis continues for a few seconds to several minutes.

“This means that they can think, see, and breathe while they lie awake, but they are unable to move their body.”

When this is combined with a sleep-related hallucination, the person then begins to sense changes in the environment that don’t actually exist. These hallucinations are called ‘intruder hallucinations.’

The conditions related to sleep paralysis

While this is most often triggered by a lack of sleep, it can also be related to a range of disorders, according to the NHS. These include:

• insomnia
• disrupted sleeping patterns – for example, because of shift work or jet lag
• narcolepsy – a long-term condition that causes a person to suddenly fall asleep
• post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
• generalised anxiety disorder
• panic disorder
• a family history of sleep paralysis

The NHS recommends keeping good sleep habits, such as not eating too close to bedtime and getting 8 hours of sleep a night to tackle sleep paralysis. However, if you think you may have a deeper problem, a GP may be able to treat an underlying condition that could be triggering sleep paralysis such as insomnia or post-traumatic stress disorder.

Help and support:

• Mind, open Monday to Friday, 9am-6pm on 0300 123 3393.
• Samaritans offers a listening service which is open 24 hours a day, on 116 123 (UK and ROI - this number is FREE to call and will not appear on your phone bill).
• CALM (the Campaign Against Living Miserably) offer a helpline open 5pm-midnight, 365 days a year, on 0800 58 58 58, and a webchat service.
• The Mix is a free support service for people under 25. Call 0808 808 4994 or email help@themix.org.uk
• Rethink Mental Illness offers practical help through its advice line which can be reached on 0808 801 0525 (Monday to Friday 10am-4pm). More info can be found on rethink.org.

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Brace yourselves Heartstopper fans, because your excitement for season three is about to get even bigger.

As viewers eagerly await the return of the hit teen drama this autumn, Netflix just dropped some huge casting news to help tide us over in the meantime.

Along with the return of Nick ( Kit Connor) Charlie ( Joe Locke) and the gang, Bridgerton heartthrob Jonathan Bailey is set to make a cameo as an Instagram-famous classicist, and celebrity crush of Charlie’s called Jack Maddox.

The news was announced in a video teaser that even shows Jonathan delivering his best breathy Heartstopper “hi!”.

And that’s not the only exciting news.

Hayley Atwell (Mission: Impossible, Agent Carter) will be joining the Nelson family as Nick’s Aunt Diane, who takes Nick on a summer holiday to Menorca and “has some tough advice to impart about his relationship”, as shared by creator Alice Oseman in a statement (per Deadline).

Meanwhile, Eddie Marsan ( Black To Black, The Gentlemen) will be portraying a “beloved character” from the graphic novels called Geoff, who is Charlie’s “wise and straight-talking therapist”.

“It was an absolute joy to see Hayley, Eddie, and Jonathan’s talent alongside our existing cast, and I can’t wait for the Heartstopper fans to meet these new characters,” said Alice.

The fresh casting announcement comes as welcome news after Olivia Colman revealed that she would not be returning for the new season, admitting that she “felt awful” about being unable to squeeze it in her busy filming schedule.

Heartstopper returns with eight episodes in October 2024, and so far we know that the plot is about to get “darker” and “raunchier”.

“It’s still Heartstopper,” said Joe while speaking on the Today show recently. “But it’s also that we deal with some darker issues.

“Charlie, my character – he deals with some quite severe mental health issues, which we tackle in this season, which I’m very excited for people to see.”

You can check out everything we know about the upcoming series so far here.

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Glen Powell and Sydney Sweeney certainly know how to sell a rom-com.

The duo sparked widespread rumours of an on-set romance while filming their movie Anyone But You (2024) and delivered seemingly real flirtation during its promotion.

In a new interview with The New York Times, however, Glen confirmed it was all for show — to sell tickets.

“The two things that you have to sell a rom-com are fun and chemistry,” he told the outlet.

“Sydney and I have a ton of fun together, and we have a ton of effortless chemistry,” Glen continued. “That’s people wanting what’s on the screen off the screen, and sometimes you just have to lean into it a bit — and it worked wonderfully. Sydney is very smart.”

Sydney was certainly invested in their chemistry as an executive producer and told the Times she was “on every call” about the film with the marketing department.

Her playful banter with Glen at CinemaCon last year certainly helped cement the romance narrative.

“I wanted to make sure that we were actively having a conversation with the audience as we were promoting this film,” she told the Times, “because at the end of the day, they’re the ones who created the entire narrative.”

Glen previously told ET that making the movie “felt like a rom-com in itself,” however, and said Sydney was “very easy to pretend fall in love with”.

He added that “ideas of love are swirling through your head” while making a rom-com, making it “harder to differentiate between real life and fake life”.

It was much harder for fans to do so, however, as Glen and his ex-girlfriend Gigi Paris broke up during production. While Sweeney remains engaged to producer Jonathan Davino, she did share fan videos on social media about her rumoured romance with Glen while filming.

In the end, the approach worked — as Anyone But You grossed $219 million worldwide, setting a record for a film based on a William Shakespeare play.

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Freak events do happen – but how often do you get four in a week?

From Athens changing colour, to horses running through the streets of London, the last few days have been a real gift to the more superstitious corners of the internet.

1. The sails of the Moulin Rouge fell off

Yes, the iconic Parisian windmill mysteriously dropped its sails early on Thursday morning, along with three letters (the front M, O and U) from the sign.

The most famous cabaret club in the French capital is a known tourist attraction, and according to its manager, it has never lost its sails before.

“The Moulin Rouge, in 135 years of history, has experienced many adventures but it is true that for the wings, this is the first time that this has happened,” general manager Jean-Victor Clerico said, according to Reuters.

He explained: “A little before 2am, the wings of the windmill gave way, fell on the boulevard and fortunately at this time the boulevard was empty of passers-by.

“We are relieved this morning especially to know that there were no injuries.”

He added that clearly the incident was not intentional.

Insurers are reportedly carrying out an investigation into what may have happened.

2. The blood-soaked horse running around London

OK this one already made it onto international news, but it was still an unnerving sight.

Horses training with the British Army in central London were spooked by some building work, and five of the animals unseated their riders and bolted.

Four then ran across the capital, shocking many pedestrians in their wake as they thundered down main roads, going against the traffic during the morning rush hour.

Four people were injured in the process and went to hospital.

While all the horses were rescued relatively quickly, two of them managed to run five miles to Limehouse before they were captured.

To make things even stranger, one of the two most evasive animals collided with a car at one point, cutting itself in the process – meaning the white horse was running through the city covered in its own blood.

The defence minster James Cartildge told Sky News on Thursday: “Three of them are fine, two of them are unfortunately in a relatively serious condition and obviously we will be monitoring that condition.

3. Big Ben stopped

To make matters worse, just before reports of the runaway horses started to go viral, London’s most famous clock mysteriously stopped just before 9am, despite recently being refurbished.

And that was after it announced the time with an incorrect number of bongs.

Then, it seemed to wake up again – but it rang out at 10.06am instead of on the hour.

A House of Commons spokesperson said: “We are aware that the clock dials on the Elizabeth Tower were temporarily displaying the incorrect time this morning.

“Teams worked quickly to rectify the issue and carried out servicing to the mechanism, which has now completed.

“The clock dials of the Elizabeth Tower are currently functioning as normal and no risks to the integrity of the mechanism have been identified.”

By 10.15am, the clock was showing the correct time, and returned to hourly strikes as of midday on Wednesday after its mechanism was reset.

4. Athens turned orange

Looking further afield, it appears strange things have been happening in Greece, too.

A dust storm which blew in from the Sahara desert turned a handful of cities orange on Tuesday, in the worst phenomenon of its kind since 2018.

It stretched across several regions after several strong winds blew in from the south

Weather research director at the Athens Observatory, Kostas Lagouvardos, said: “It’s one of the most serious episodes of dust and sand concentrations from the Sahara since March 21-22, 2018 when the clouds invaded the island of Crete in particular.”

This was not a sudden weather occurance though – it had been building since late March – and was expected to clear by Wednesday.

So X (formerly Twitter) naturally had a field day....

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Laurence Fox has been ordered to pay almost GBP200,000 in damages after being found guilty of libel.

Back in 2020, a defamation lawsuit was filed against Fox by drag performer Crystal and Stonewall trustee Simon Blake after the former GB News presenter branded them “paedophiles” on X (then known as Twitter).

Earlier this year, a judge ruled in favour of Crystal – whose legal name is Colin Seymour – and Blake, and it’s now been decided Fox must pay a total of GBP180,000 in damages.

This amount will be split evenly between the pair.

“By calling Mr Blake and Mr Seymour paedophiles, Mr Fox subjected them to a wholly undeserved public ordeal,” the judge reportedly said on Thursday (as reported by Deadline).

“It was a gross, groundless and indefensible libel, with distressing and harmful real-world consequences for them.”

Fox had previously filed a countersuit against the two parties, as well as former Coronation Street actor and social commentator Nicola Thorp, over social media posts they shared accusing him of racism, but this case was thrown out on Monday. The former London mayoral candidate has previously claimed he will attempt to overturn this decision.

During a subsequent interview on Sky News, Crystal claimed: “We had a victory on all counts, and it’s incredibly liberating and satisfying after three long years.”

The Drag Race UK competitor added: “[Fox] is a bully, and accusations of paedophilia against people in the queer community, against drag queens, these are old, old tropes and I didn’t want to stand for it. I didn’t want to let that slide.

“It honestly felt like if I didn’t pursue this, to the very end, that it was a tacit admission. I needed to see it through and make it clear that there was no basis of fact to this.”

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The Tories are on course to lose more than 400 seats at next month’s local elections, according to a Conservative peer.

Polling expert Lord Hayward said his party would have “a bad night” on May 2, piling even more pressure on Rishi Sunak.

However, he said it “will not be a blowout for Labour”, with the party expected to gain between 200 and 250 seats as they are squeezed by left-wing and independent candidates.

According to his analysis for Channel 4 News, the Lib Dems will gain around 100 seats, with a “surge” in support for the Greens seeing them gain 30 councillors.

The Tory peer said small “disruptor” parties like Reform UK, resident groups and the Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition (TUSC) could also damage the Tories and Labour.

He said: “Overall, I expect the Tories to have a bad night but it will not be a blowout for Labour.

“The new disruptors will probably have a greater impact on Labour than the Tories.”

He said he would put the Tory losses at “somewhat less” than the 500 predicted by Sky News pollsters Michael Rallings and Colin Thrasher.

“I would put the figure on the upside of 400,” he said.

More than 2,600 seats will be up for grabs across England, with the Tories and Labour defending around 1,000 each.

The last time those seats were up for election, in 2021, the Conservatives were enjoying a surge in popularity thanks to the success of the Covid vaccine rollout.

They comfortably won with a national equivalent vote (NEV) share of 40%, compared to Labour’s 30%.

But the chaos which led to the demise of both Boris Johnson and Liz Truss has sent the Tories’ poll numbers plummeting since then and Sunak has failed to arrest the Conservatives’ decline.

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Giving birth is a life-changing experience. Whether you gave birth vaginally or through a c-section, it’s a major day in any parent’s life.

But it might not always go as planned or be the day you imagined. In fact, nearly 30,000 people suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder after giving birth in the UK.

Though it can seem PTSD is limited to the birthing parent, diagnosis of PTSD also includes birthing partners who have been present at the birth.

Geeta Nayar, a senior associate solicitor at Irwin Mitchell, sustained life-changing injuries and post-natal PTSD after the birth of her first child.

Recently she gave evidence at the National Birth Trauma Inquiry, sharing that she had sustained life-changing Obstetric Anal Sphincter Injuries (OASI) and Post-Natal PTSD following the traumatic birth of her first child, Maya, in 2008.

The impact on her health, career and family has been profound and she still suffers with after-effects on a daily basis — like Geeta, there are of course thousands of people who have unfortunately experienced the same.

What can be helpful when dealing with birth trauma?

1. Geeta says the first step is to try to acknowledge that you have been through a traumatic experience which has a psychological and often physical impact, and which is going to take time and support to recover from.

“I blamed myself for not being able to protect my daughter from her injuries and it took me months to realise the extent of my own birth trauma. Until that acknowledgement happens you cannot begin to heal,” she explained.

2. Another tip she says is to be kind to yourself and lower your expectations – experiencing a birth trauma can cause debilitating psychological symptoms; anger, flashbacks, reliving the experience in detail, guilt, shame which can all impact your sleep and day to day functioning.

She says: “If you are also suffering from physical injuries such as pain and incontinence this adds to the difficulties and may mean multiple bathroom trips or frequent showering. Managing this and a new baby can be extremely difficult so reach out for support from family and friends, you don’t need to battle this alone.”

3. Get help both medically and psychologically. If you have sustained physical injuries it is vital you talk about what symptoms you are experiencing such as bowel incontinence so you can get the correct referrals for treatment.

It is also vital that you get the right psychological support specifically for trauma, such as trauma-focussed CBT or EMDR (eye movement desensitisation and reprocessing) which can be accessed through your GP, specialists, or by self-referral.

Contacting birth injury charities such as Birth Trauma Association and The MASIC Foundation can also be incredibly helpful.

They can signpost you to treatment, advise about birth debriefs or birth reflections, legal advice as well as provide peer support.

Birth trauma can be isolating so being able to share in a safe space with other women who have experienced similar traumatic events can be so helpful.

If you want more information on PTSD post-birth, check out the NHS website.

Help and support:

• Mind, open Monday to Friday, 9am-6pm on 0300 123 3393.
• Samaritans offers a listening service which is open 24 hours a day, on 116 123 (UK and ROI - this number is FREE to call and will not appear on your phone bill).
• CALM (the Campaign Against Living Miserably) offer a helpline open 5pm-midnight, 365 days a year, on 0800 58 58 58, and a webchat service.
• The Mix is a free support service for people under 25. Call 0808 808 4994 or email help@themix.org.uk
• Rethink Mental Illness offers practical help through its advice line which can be reached on 0808 801 0525 (Monday to Friday 10am-4pm). More info can be found on rethink.org.

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I know I’m not the only one who believes that if I give my child sugar, she will be bouncing off the walls and probably won’t sleep very well.

The idea that kids get hyper from sugar is something that is never really questioned, it’s just an understanding most parents have. But is it even true?

According to the NHS, children aged 7 to 10 should have no more than 24g of free sugars a day, those aged 4 to 6 should have no more than 19g of free sugars a day and for children under the age of 4, it’s recommended they avoid sugar-sweetened drinks and food with sugar added to it.

However, this isn’t to do with ‘being hyper’.

We looked at research to understand whether it’s just a myth that children shouldn’t have too much sugar or they’ll become hyper, and here’s what we found.

Is it a myth that sugar causes hyperactivity?

Mark Wolraich, professor emeritus in developmental and behavioural paediatrics at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center says it is a myth that sugar causes hyperactivity, according to The Washington Post.

In fact, in the 1990s Wolraich conducted studies which disproved the idea that sugar causes attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children.

In a randomised controlled trial he found that neither sugar nor artificial sweetener impacts kids’ behaviour, even when they had excessive sugar.

During the trial, families were placed on a different diet for three consecutive three-week periods.

For three weeks periods the families including kids ate either a high sugar diet without artificial sweetener, a low sugar diet with artificial sweetener or a low sugar diet with a placebo.

For each period, the families consumed a diet either high in sucrose with no artificial sweeteners, a diet low in sucrose and containing aspartame (artificial sweetener), or a diet low in sucrose and containing saccharin (the placebo).

Parents recorded their observation of their child’s behaviour. Parents who had been told their child had ingested large amounts of sugar, although it was in fact a placebo, rated their child as being more hyper.

Additionally, his research was supported by the Centre For Disease Control And Prevention which states that “research doesn’t support the popularly held views that ADHD is caused by eating too much sugar, watching too much television, parenting, or social and environmental factors such as poverty or family chaos.”

Parents who make the association that their kids are effected by sugar intake might want to look at other environmental reasons. For example having cake at a party might make your child hyper, but that’s probably because they’re at a party rather than the cake itself.

So there you have it — there is no scientific evidence that sugar will make your child hyper!

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Not that I like to think about it often or even at-all, but I only just found out that ringworm isn’t actually a worm or, in fact, anything to do with worms whatsoever. Am I a bit of an eejit? Maybe.

However, I was surprised to learn that ringworm, athlete’s foot and jock itch are all basically the same thing — just different forms of fungi that interact with our bodies and impact our health. Very lovely stuff.

In a TikTok video, NHS GP Dr Karan Rajan shared the true facts of what ringworm is and how we can prevent catching it.

So, what actually is ringworm?

Dr Rajan explained that if you wake one day with a red, itchy bump on your body after working out in “salty human body juice”, you have likely found yourself with a case of ringworm.

He explained: “Ringworm is actually nothing to do with worms and is actually caused by a variety of different fungi that are very treatable and pretty preventable with basic hygiene measures.”

He said that this is highly contagious through either direct contact with an infected area on someone else’s skin or direct contact with a contaminated surface.

In quite the grim twist, this fungi has an incubation period, meaning you might not see symptoms for several days or even weeks after you’ve been infected.

Dr Rajan added: “In fact, someone you infect may show symptoms before you do.”

Additionally, not all ringworm infections look the same. The doctor shared images of a range of ringworm infections that ranged from one he dubbed “the flying saucer” to “the head hickey.”

Lovely.

How to stop ringworm spreading

The NHS recommends that if you think you have ringworm, first speak to a pharmacist for over the counter treatment and if it doesn’t improve, book an appointment with a GP.

To stop it spreading further you should:

• start treatment as soon as possible

• wash towels and bedsheets regularly

• keep your skin clean and wash your hands after touching animals or soil

• regularly check your skin if you have been in contact with an infected person or animal

• take your pet to the vet if they might have ringworm – for example, if they have patches of missing fur

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Emma Stone is finally addressing her recent viral moment at the Oscars.

The Poor Things star is used to being on camera but had no idea she got caught reacting to a joke about it during the ceremony, that her inaudible comment went viral — or led online sleuths to speculate she called host Jimmy Kimmel a “prick” for it.

After a Poor Things montage aired as part of the broadcast, Emma appeared annoyed when the evening’s host joked: “Those were all the parts of Poor Things that we’re allowed to show on TV.”

In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter published on Wednesday, however, she cleared things up.

“Did he upset me?” Emma asked her interviewer, The Curse co-star Nathan Fielder, who clarified that “some people” thought she had insulted Jimmy.

“No! I didn’t call him a prick,” she said. “What did I say? I didn’t call him a prick. I wasn’t upset with him at all. I’ll have to look that up.”

“I’m near-unoffendable,” Emma added after Nathan pointed out she was “always down for a joke”.

Poor Things was nominated for 11 awards at this year’s Oscars, and garnered Stone her second Best Actress statue.

The Easy A star previously won for La La Land, but appeared genuinely emotional after beating fellow nominee Lily Gladstone this time around.

“You are all incredible, and the women in this category … Lily, I share this with you,” Emma said at the podium. “I am in awe of you, and it has been such an honor to do all of this together. I hope we get to keep doing more together. I don’t know what I’m saying.”

While she also can’t remember her earlier comments that evening, Emma understands how quickly these moments can garner traction — and publicly regretted making headlines for jokingly calling her friend Taylor Swift an “asshole” at the Golden Globes earlier this year.

Grant Shapps has been accused of misleading the public after it emerged he broadcasts from home while giving the impression that he is in the Ministry of Defence.

The defence secretary regularly appears on breakfast television against a blue background showing the official MoD logo.

But HuffPost UK can reveal that the minister is actually sitting in a room at his home in Hertfordshire.

The cabinet minister uses a temporary backdrop, with a Union Jack flag, so it looks like he is in his Whitehall department.

One TV insider said Shapps was being “disingenuous” by giving the impression of being in the office when he is not.

Labour drew comparisons with Shapps previously being caught out using aliases, including Michael Green, during his business career.

A source said: “The public will be astounded to learn that the man with a track record of assuming false identities is pulling the wool over their eyes again.

“While Michael Green uses army backdrops to talk tough on the telly, his Tory government’s legacy is cutting the Army to its smallest size since Napoleon.”

Before he became defence secretary, Shapps had no qualms about being shown broadcasting from his study, complete with his ministerial red box behind him.

In 2020, he was mocked by LBC’s Nick Ferrari for urging people to get back to their offices after lockdown while working from home himself.

The presenter told Shapps: “I’m sitting in my studio in central London. Unless I am mistaken you are in your study in Hertfordshire.

“So I am back to work, Secretary of State you are not. Why?”

Shapps replied: “That is true. For this morning’s round [of interviews] this works very well.”

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Which underwear you should avoid to protect your vaginal health

• Bacterial vaginosis (BV): An imbalance of vaginal bacteria that causes thin grey discharge and a fishy odour. BV can often become recurrent and needs to be treated with antibiotics in most cases.
• Thrush infections: An overgrowth of naturally occurring yeast that causes itching, burning, and thick white discharge. You will need antifungals to treat thrush
• Vulvar dermatitis: Inflammation of the external genitals that can cause redness, itching, and irritation

Which underwear materials should we be avoiding?

• Nylon
• Polyester
• Spandex
• Satin

How to protect your vaginal health

• Change underwear daily and whenever damp from sweat, discharge, or menstrual flow
• Sleep without underwear to let the vulva breathe
• Avoid tight-fitting clothing that rubs and chafes
• Use gentle, fragrance-free detergents to wash underwearCotton underwear should be washed at 60 degrees celsius to kill bacteria and yeast
• Consider taking a probiotic to support healthy vaginal flora

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The sun is shining! Winter is over! Life is good again!

Oh, just one thing. According to Dr Bhavini Shah, a GP from Lloyds Pharmacy Online Doctor, an STI is rapidly spreading throughout the UK and there are strains of it that are antibiotic-resistant.

The STI is called ‘Shigella’ and the symptoms of it are a little different to more commonly known STI’s.

According to Public Health England, symptoms of this usually start within four days of infection and can cause diarrhoea with blood in it, fever, vomiting, and stomach cramps.

Signs, symptoms, and treatment: all you need to know about Shigella

What is Shigella?

According to Dr Shah: “Shigella is a highly infectious bacteria which commonly causes diarrhoea and vomiting, as well as abdominal pain and fever.”

Dr Shah explained that over the past 4 years, we’ve seen a 24% increase in diagnoses of this condition. He says that while this is a much lower rate than other common STI’s, this year-on-year increase in cases is very concerning.

Se added: “What is also concerning is the rapid rise in antibiotic resistant strains of Shigella. There has been a 53% increase in antibiotic resistant Shigella from January to November 2023, with 97 cases being reported, compared to just 9 cases for the whole of 2022.”

How do you catch Shigella?

The infection is caused by bacteria found in faeces. There only needs to be a tiny amount in your mouth to pass it on — such as from your fingers. This is often caused by contaminated food but it can be passed on sexually.

Dr Shah explained: “Sex that may involve contact with faeces is a risk. This includes anal sex, fisting, handling a condom or sex toy used for anal sex, oral sex after anal sex, touching someone’s backside or rimming.”

She added that someone with Shigella can be infectious for up to a month.

Are there other ways to contract Shigella?

Dr Shah explained: “Many people may know shigella, or Shigella sonnei, by its more common historical name: dysentery. The disease is often associated with developing countries or ancient times when sanitation was poor.

“In the past, dysentery was most commonly caught by people drinking untreated water that had been contaminated with sewage. While this is no longer the case in the UK, it is still a common source of the disease in countries with poor access to sanitary drinking water. Shigella can also be common among young children.”

How can you get tested for Shigella?

Dr Shah said: “If you’re experiencing symptoms you should contact your GP or local sexual health clinic. You should explain to them that you may have picked up a gut infection from sex, possibly Shigella. The doctor needs to know this so you get the right tests and treatment.

“For most people, the illness gets better on its own after 3 to 7 days. But some people can have a severe illness. If your symptoms are severe or persistent, a GP may prescribe a short course of antibiotics.”

As well as visiting your doctor, you should also:

• Abstain from sex until 7 days after symptoms end

• Avoid sharing bedding, towels, or clothing

• Avoid preparing food for others or sharing cooking utensils

• Wash your hands often with soap and warm water

Dr Shah advised: “Shigella is also highly contagious so you should try to work from home or take sick leave until at least 48 hours after symptoms cease. This is especially important if your job involves handling food and drink or you work in healthcare as you will need to be given the all clear by a public health official.”

How can I avoid shigella?

Public Health England said: “To lower your risk you can wash your hands after sex (and buttocks, groin and penis too if you can by taking a shower), especially if you’re fingering or handling used condoms, sex toys or douching equipment.”

Public Health England also recommends using latex gloves for fingering and fisting as well as a barrier such as a latex square for rimming.

Finally, in everyday life, you can easily avoid catching Shigella by washing your hands thoroughly with warm water and soap before you eat and after you use the toilet.”

Contact your GP or local sexual health clinic if you think you may have contracted this.

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Polling guru Professor Sir John Curtice has suggested we could have another referendum on joining the EU before 2040.

Curtice spoke to UK in a Changing Europe think tank on Wednesday evening and said: “I think the 2016 referendum is going to be as unsuccessful as the 1975 one.”

He added that the timescale “depends very much on uncertain politics”.

He said: “I wouldn’t be surprised if it happens before 2040.”

The polling expert continued: “If you look so far at what has happened to attitudes and if you look at the age profile of attitudes towards Brexit, you can see why...”

Data shows the likelihood of a voter supporting Leave in 2016 increased with age.

Seventy-three percent of people aged between 18 and 24 voted to Remain in the EU, compared to just 40% of those over 65, according to data gathering website Statista.

He continued: “It’s a lot will also happen in terms of how does our relationship with the EU evolve, to what extent does the next Labour government soften it, or not.

“One of the things to realise is that the Labour Party is going to get elected by an election which is three-quarters anti-Brexit.”

Curtice has previously predicted that Keir Starmer’s party has a 99% chance of getting into No.10 at the next general election.

He continued: “One of the great ironies of the whole situation of where we are at, is that the party that has tried the hardest to change the Brexit profile of its support has succeeded the least.

“ Labour’s vote is almost as anti-Brexit as it was back in 2019.

“I think it’s not unlikely that the next Labour government is going to hit political trouble fairly early on because I think it’s a terrible, terrible legacy that they’re going to inherit.

“Then they have to think about ways to keep their voters on board - a lot of voters would be hoping that a Labour government would do something about the EU, which is perhaps rather more than what the Labour party is currently saying it wants to do with the EU.”

Starmer, a former Remain campaigner, has repeatedly said there is no case for trying to rejoin the EU amid Tory attempts to paint him as a leader who “wants to rejoin the EU in all but name”.

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Mel B has spoken out following reports of a “frosty” reunion with one Spice Girl in particular at Victoria Beckham’s 50th birthday party.

Over the weekend, Posh Spice celebrated her milestone birthday with her nearest and dearest at a private members’ club in Mayfair, where all five Spice Girls were in attendance and even broke out into some of their original choreography on the dance floor.

According to The Sun, an unnamed “source” suggested that things were a little awkward between Mel B and Geri Halliwell, after the former’s repeated jokes (including during a recent appearance on Olivia Attwood’s So Wrong It’s Right podcast) that the latter had previously lied about her age.

This came after another dig back in 2022, when Mel named Geri among “the biggest dickhead” celebrities she’d ever encountered.

However, Mel’s recent Instagram post appears to put rumours of any tension between herself and her bandmates to bed for now.

“What an amazing girl power weekend with all my girls, I have soooo much love and respect for you ALL,” she wrote alongside the hashtag #FriendshipNeverEnds and a snap of the five-piece together at the party.

The group’s mini reunion (and impromptu dance routine) came as a huge treat for fans, given the last time all five members have performed together was the closing ceremony of the London Olympics over a decade ago.

While the band embarked on a UK stadium tour in the summer of 2019, Victoria did not take part in the live shows.

Since then, Mel has been teasing a mysterious project involving all five Spice Girlsfor the last year, though fans are still waiting for any official news.

Meanwhile, Victoria described her birthday Spice Girls reunion as “the best gift” on Instagram.

“Thank you to all my friends and family for celebrating with me,” she shared alongside a carousel of party snaps.

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