Category Archives: Uncategorized

This Is How Long You’re Only Meant To Sit On The Toilet For

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I hope this isn’t too disgusting to share, but honestly, I’ve long maintained that a sneaky five-minute sit-and-scroll on the loo is one of the greatest pleasures in life.

But if colorectal surgeon Karen Zaghiyan, MD, is to be believed, we all need to ensure we’re not sitting on the loo for too long.

In a video, the surgeon shared ten things she’d never do as a colorectal surgeon. Along with not using wet wipes and avoiding colonics, Zaghiyan says she “would never sit [for] more than five minutes on the toilet.” (gulp).

Why?

It’s all to do with strain ― which you should avoid where possible when going number two.

Many of us will be aware that not drinking enough water or eating enough fibre can cause constipation, hard-to-pass stools, and subsequent fissures, haemorrhoids, and more.

But it turns out that simply sitting on the can might take its own toll on your tushy.

“Sitting, especially if you are finished having a bowel movement or waiting to have a bowel movement and you’re just sitting there and scrolling the internet looking at social media, is really bad for your haemorrhoids,” the surgeon shared.

That’s because “there’s a vacuum effect on the toilet that pulls on the hemorrhoidal veins and aggravates them.”

So, your seemingly harmless number two routine could be causing you more bowels more harm than good ― especially if you’re sitting for more than five minutes.

What if I need that much time to get the job done?

“If you have not finished or begun your bowel movement in five minutes, get up, come back another time when you have the urge to go again,” Zaghiyan says.

“But do not sit there a long time ― obviously, this varies and it’s different for people that have gut conditions, have had surgeries, etc. ― I’m not talking about that, I’m talking about the average Joe who’s just sitting there spending half an hour in the toilet. Do not do that,” she finished.

Well, that’s us told…

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Donald Trump Addresses That Viral Video With Chuckling Barack Obama

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Asked at a presser on Thursday about the details of the exchange, the president-elect replied:

“It did look very friendly, I must say. I didn’t realise how friendly it looked. I saw it on your wonderful network just a little while ago before I came in and I said, ‘Boy, they look like two people who like each other.’”

“And we probably do,” Trump continued. “We have a little different philosophies, right? But we probably do. I don’t know. We just got along. But I got along with just about everybody. We met backstage, as you know, before we went on. And I thought it was a beautiful service. But we all got along very well, which is good.”

Obama himself has not commented on the interaction.

But the 44th president drew some criticism for what some said looked like his friendly demeanour to the man who for years pushed the racist Birther conspiracy theory that Obama was not born in the United States. Others suggested he was only humoring Trump.

Trump repeatedly drew Obama’s ire during the 2024 election, with Obama at one point slamming his successor in the White House as a “billionaire who has not stopped whining about his problems since he rode down his golden escalator nine years ago.”

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‘You Sound In Denial’: Nick Robinson Savages Cabinet Minister Over State Of The Economy

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BBC presenter Nick Robinson accused a cabinet minister of being “in denial” after she tried to paint a rosy picture of the UK economy.

Lisa Nandy, the culture secretary, insisted there were positive signs amid the gloomy news about soaring government borrowing costs, rising inflation, slugging growth and the falling value of the pound.

On Radio 4′s Today programme, Robinson told her: “Consumer confidence is down, business confidence is down and growth is down and inflation is going up.”

But Nandy said: “We inherited an economy where it was hard to see who had confidence, both to invest and particularly for consumers to feel that they could spend, given the huge fluctuations that we’d seen, particularly after the Liz Truss/Kwasi Kwarteng Budget.

“The chancellor has been absolutely clear that we are not going back to those bad old days. We’ve had two interest rate cuts since she became chancellor and we have worked very hard to restore economic credibility.

“Only a few months after we took office we were able to welcome investors from all over the world, who announced £63 billion-worth of investment in the UK economy. That is a huge vote of confidence, and we’re not only confident that we are on track, but the OECD is confident that we are on track to become the fastest growing economy in Europe.”

Robinson hit back: “There’s a danger, isn’t there, that you sound in denial. We can’t find an economist who would come on this programme to say that you will not either have to put taxes up, cut spending or break your borrowing rules.

“There isn’t an economist on the planet who believes you’ve got an alternative to doing one of those things, and yet you come on the programme and say it’s all going swimmingly.”

Nandy replied: “I’m not for a moment saying it’s all going swimmingly because my measure of success is whether people feel better off. I think there isn’t a single person in this country who said they felt better off after 14 years of Tory government, and our intention is that in the next few years people will start to feel significantly better off in their own lives and for the prospects for their children.”

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The Masked Singer Host Joel Dommett Teases Show’s First Ever Celeb Walk-Off

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The Masked Singer viewers are apparently in for something new during this weekend’s show.

According to The Sun, Saturday night’s instalment of the ITV singing competition will see the first ever celebrity contestant storm off when they don’t take too kindly to being eliminated so early on in the series.

In the first ever diva strop of its kind for The Masked Singer, the unidentified character apparently throws a strop and walks off stage, eventually having to be coaxed back on to reveal their identity on camera.

An audience member reportedly described the scene as “absolutely bonkers”, recalling: “Usually the celeb with the lowest votes takes off their mask and then chats to the panel and sings again. But instead this character turned around and shuffled off stage, which was hilarious in their costume obviously — but we were all stunned.”

ITV declined to comment when contacted by HuffPost UK, but host Joel Dommett confirmed the incident took place during an interview with Principle magazine published last weeK.

The Masked Singer host Joel Dommett
The Masked Singer host Joel Dommett

Kieron McCarron/Shutterstock

“That is gonna be my favourite reveal forever, I think,” he said. “One of the characters gets voted off and they are really not happy about it. Like genuinely.”

Joel continued: “They were really upset that they did not win it. There’s something hilarious about seeing someone in a massive costume storm off.

“What they’re gonna show of it, I have no idea. But even if they don’t show it, I know, and that’s amazing.”

So far this series has seen daytime star Kate Garraway and Great British Bake Off judge Prue Leith being unmasked.

The identities of the remaining contestants are still being kept firmly under wraps, with fan theories suggesting that comedian Harry Hill, Grammy winner Macy Gray and Wet Wet Wet frontman Marti Pellow are among the concealed stars still in the competition.

The Masked Singer continues on Saturday night at 7pm on ITV1.

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Good Morning Britain Sparks Hundreds Of Ofcom Complaints After Adil Ray Body-Shaming Claims

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A recent episode of Good Morning Britain has led viewers to make hundreds of complaints to Ofcom.

Last week, GMB anchor Adil Ray raised eyebrows with a series of comments he made about teenage darts champion Luke Littler.

“I have to say – and this might not be very popular – I’m a little bit worried about Luke,” Adil said. “He’s 17 and he’s turning into the look of a darts player. He is, though.

“If I were his mum and dad… I mean, he’s sort of – look at him!”

Adil continued: “He’s admitted he has pizzas before a match and sits there playing computer games. I just think I’d be a bit worried.”

“But he’s so successful,” co-host Kate Garraway responded, to which Adil said: “I know! But he’s going to get more successful and he’s going to keep on doing it. I just worry I don’t want him to get too unhealthy.”

At 17 years old, Luke Littler is the youngest world champion in the history of darts
At 17 years old, Luke Littler is the youngest world champion in the history of darts

via Associated Press

Adil’s remarks were met with an immediate backlash and accusations of body-shaming the 17-year-old, which have now been followed by complaints to Ofcom.

The Sun reported on Wednesday that the media regulator has received 311 complaints in total, which will be assessed by the watchdog before they determine whether to take the matter further, as is standard procedure.

HuffPost UK has contacted ITV for comment.

Adil is one of a host of rotating guest hosts who have been presenting Good Morning Britain since Piers Morgan’s infamous departure in 2021.

Former Labour MP Ed Balls, daytime star Richard Madeley and Judge Rinder are also on the team of current GMB hosts who sit alongside permanent anchors Susanna Reid and Kate Garraway.

GMB staple Ben Shephard also parted ways with the show just over a year ago to become the new permanent co-host of This Morning alongside Cat Deeley.

Good Morning Britain airs every weekday from 6am on ITV1.

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David Lammy Accuses Elon Musk Of ‘Peddling Mistruth’ Over Grooming Gangs Row

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David Lammy has accused Elon Musk of “peddling mistruths” following his attacks on Labour’s approach to the grooming gangs scandal.

The foreign secretary urged the world’s richest man to “focus on the facts” when using X, the social media platform he owns, to intervene on the row.

Musk accused safeguarding minister Jess Phillips of being a “rape genocide apologist” who should be in jail, and also attacked Keir Starmer’s record as head of the Crown Prosecution Service.

His outspoken comments shot the issue up the political agenda, culminating in MPs last night rejecting a Tory call for a national inquiry into grooming gangs targeting vulnerable young girls in dozens of towns across England.

The government has said a new probe is not needed while they implement the recommendations of Professor Alexis Jay’s inquiry into child sexual abuse, which reported in 2022.

On BBC Breakfast this morning, Lammy said: “There has been a debate prompted by Elon Musk, of course, this week, and I think the prime minister was right earlier in the week to call to mind the facts, the truth and to call out those who are putting forward mistruths in this area.”

Asked by presenter Naga Munchetty what he would personally say to Musk, Lammy said: “I insist that we focus on the truth, we focus on the facts.

“I recognise that there is a heated debate about free speech, and Elon Musk is at one end of that debate. But to have free speech, it must be based on facts and on truth.

“And some of what we’ve seen online is peddling mistruth, is creating bad faith, is very unfair to those victims, and I pray in aid the words of Alexis Jay in the last few days, which concentrates the minds on her recommendations, on the victims that sit behind this, and getting on with implementing her inquiry.”

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Hugh Grant Names The 1 Film Of His That His Wife Is ‘Banned’ From Watching

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Hugh Grant has admitted there’s one film from his oeuvre that he’s in no rush to revisit.

During a recent interview with Variety, the Bafta winner reflected on some of the romantic comedies that helped make him a global star – including one that still has a special place in his heart, despite its not-so-glowing reviews.

However, the British actor also made it clear that he’s not quite so nostalgic for all of his past work.

When the interviewer praised the 1995 movie Nine Months, Hugh apparently screamed “as if startled”, stating: “Let me stress, everyone involved with that film, with the exception of me, was brilliant and talented. It was just me that let it down.”

Nine Months told the story of a couple expecting their first child, and featured an all-star cast that also included Julianne Moore, Jeff Goldblum, Joan Cusack and Robin Williams.

Hugh added: “My wife wants to watch it, but I’ve forbidden her. I’ve put parental controls on the screen so that you can’t get it.”

Hugh Grant and Julianne Moore in Nine Months
Hugh Grant and Julianne Moore in Nine Months

Moviestore/Shutterstock

Back in 2023, Hugh joked during an appearance on The Late, Late Show that he would “happily shred my IMDb page” because he “specialised in being bad for decades”.

Asked to specifically name one film he would make disappear if possible, the Heretic star answered with 1988’s The Lady And The Highwayman, describing it as “low-budget, bad wig, bad hat”.

While Hugh is known for being self-deprecating about his work, he also made it clear during his interview with Variety that if people heard him slating his experience on one of his most recent movies in particular, it was all intended in good humour.

“On the web, it’s become a fact that I hated making that film,” Hugh lamented. “And I didn’t hate it all; I loved making it. I’m absolutely thrilled with it.”

He continued: “That’s what the internet does. It scrubs humour, and it scrubs context to create little clickbait moments. It’s one of the reasons I loathe it with such violence, really.”

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As Flu Cases Rise Rapidly In The UK, These Are The Symptoms To Look Out For

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Flu cases are continuing to rise, with some NHS Trusts declaring critical incidents due to “exceptionally high demands” in emergency departments.

The latest surveillance data from UKHSA shows that flu activity continued to increase over the Christmas break, with hospitalisations also increasing.

Data suggests hospitalisations are three times what they were at this point last year and around 5,000 hospital beds in England are currently occupied by flu patients, the Evening Standard reported.

The UKHSA said on 6 Jan that flu is now circulating at “high levels” in the community and figures are expected to rise further as children go back to school and more people return to the workplace.

They urged parents especially to encourage good hygiene habits – such as catching coughs and sneezes in tissues and washing hands regularly.

What are the symptoms?

Typically, flu symptoms come on very quickly. The symptoms are similar in adults and children, however some children may also get ear pain and seem less active than usual.

Symptoms of flu typically include:

  • a fever
  • aches
  • feeling tired
  • dry cough
  • sore throat
  • headache
  • difficulty sleeping
  • loss of appetite
  • diarrhoea
  • stomach ache
  • feeling nauseous
  • vomiting.

What to do if you have flu

The NHS advises staying home and avoiding contact with others if you have a fever or don’t feel well enough to do normal day-to-day activities.

The UKHSA said children can stay in school with symptoms such as a runny nose, sore throat or slight cough if otherwise well and do not have a high temperature – but they should stay home if they’ve got a fever.

There are plenty of things you can do at home to try and recover such as getting lots of rest, keeping warm, taking painkillers to lower a fever and staying hydrated.

When to go to hospital

While most people can recover from flu at home, there are some instances in which you need to seek medical help.

If any of the following apply to you, it’s advised you call NHS 111 or get an urgent GP appointment:

  • you’re worried about your baby’s or child’s symptoms
  • you’re 65 or over
  • you’re pregnant
  • you have a long-term medical condition – for example, diabetes or a condition that affects your heart, lungs, kidneys, brain or nerves
  • you have a weakened immune system – for example, because of chemotherapy or HIV
  • your symptoms do not improve after seven days.

If you experience sudden chest pain, have difficulty breathing or are coughing up a lot of blood you should get someone to drive you to A&E or call 999 for an ambulance.

How to prevent flu

To steer clear of any unwanted nasties this winter, it’s imperative you regularly wash your hands, and catch sneezes and coughs in tissues (binning said tissues straight away).

Some people are also eligible for a free flu vaccine – while it’s late in the season, you can still have one if you call up your GP.

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Elon Musk Corrected By X’s Community Notes Over His Latest Attempt To Smear UK MPs

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Tech billionaire and X CEO Elon Musk has been called out on his own platform for spreading misinformation about UK MPs and the grooming gangs scandal.

The world’s richest man has been repeatedly attacking the Labour government since they won the election. In recent weeks, he has started accusing ministers of inaction over gang rape and child abuse.

He also called for both Keir Starmer and his safeguarding minister Jess Phillips to go to jail – sparking an angry response from both.

Overnight, Musk turned to cross-party criticism and posted an edited image, showing a list of parliamentarians – MPs and peers from multiple parties – along with the caption: “Here is a list of MP’s [sic] who voted against deporting foreign rapists. They all need removing.”

Musk added: “Remember these names next election.”

Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey’s name was also circled in red.

But some of those listed are no longer MPs. And, as X users pointed out themselves, the letter is actually from February 2020 and has nothing to do with what Musk claimed.

The attached community note read: “This is a letter urging the government to not deport 50 victims of the Windrush Scandal back to Jamaica.

“It was not a vote, and it had nothing to do with foreign rapists.”

The note added a link to the letter, led by MP Nadia Whittome, on Labour’s website, proving Musk’s image is misleading.

Embarrassingly, Musk promoted the community notes feature as his flagship policy when he took over the platform formerly known as Twitter in 2022.

However, when he was fact-checked in December 2023 on the platform over the detention of a US YouTuber in Ukraine, he claimed he was “gamed by state actors”.

The red circling of Davey’s name in this latest image follows the Lib Dem’s post on X criticising Musk earlier this week.

Davey wrote: “People have had enough of Elon Musk interfering with our country’s democracy when he clearly knows nothing about Britain.

“It’s time to summon the US ambassador to ask why an incoming US official is suggesting the UK government should be overthrown.”

Musk, who has posted more than 100 times about grooming gangs in the last week, replied: “What exactly do I fail to understand about your failure to stop the mass rape of little girls in Britain, you sniveling [sic] cretin?”

Davey is not the only person to slap down Musk over his controversial comments.

The prime minister told journalists the tech mogul had “crossed a line” with his online attacks, while Phillips said she was worried about her safety as a result.

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Exclusive: Lib Dems Use Musk’s ‘Snivelling Cretin’ Jibe At Ed Davey To Raise Election Funds

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The Lib Dems are raising election funds on the back of Elon Musk calling Ed Davey a “snivelling cretin”, HuffPost UK has learned.

The X owner launched his attack after Davey said he “clearly knows nothing about Britain”.

Musk has repeatedly accused senior MPs – including Keir Starmer and safeguarding minister Jess Phillips – of failing to protect the victims of the grooming gangs scandal.

In an avalanche of posts on X, he has said Phillips should be in jail and called for America to intervene to overthrow the Labour government.

In response, Davey posted: “People have had enough of Elon Musk interfering with our country’s democracy when he clearly knows nothing about Britain.

“It’s time to summon the US ambassador to ask why an incoming US official is suggesting the UK government should be overthrown.”

Musk replied: “What exactly do I fail to understand about your failure to stop the mass rape of little girls in Britain, you snivelling cretin?”

Musk's exchange with Ed Davey.
Musk’s exchange with Ed Davey.

Davey has now emailed Lib Dem supporters urging them to use the row to help the party win seats at the upcoming local elections in May.

In the email, he says: “Last night Elon Musk called me a ‘sniveling cretin’, because I dared to call him out for his appalling suggestion that the United States should overthrow the UK government.

“People have had enough of Elon Musk interfering with our politics when he clearly knows nothing about our country.

“While Reform and the Conservatives desperately try to jump on the Musk bandwagon, the Liberal Democrats are standing up to him and his appalling attempts to subvert our democracy and divide our country.

“We need to counter the threat posed by Nigel Farage’s Reform party. Our next big test is May’s local elections in England – our liberal values vs Farage’s divisive politics.

“Elon Musk is the world’s richest man, and already there are rumours he could make a huge donation to Reform. We have to act now so we don’t fall behind.

“Every leaflet we deliver, and every conversation we have with a voter, will be critical to defeating the divisive politics of Farage and Musk this May.

“So I am asking you to contribute today to support our campaigning up and down the country.

“With your help and with our liberal values, I know together we can defeat this division.”

Supporters are given the option of donating £25, £50, £100 or “another amount” to the Lib Dems’ fighting fund.

Jess Phillips last night said her “world has been turned upside down” by Musk’s personal attacks on her, which Keir Starmer said had “crossed a line”.

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