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Russian Attack Kills 12 In Ukraine Despite Trump’s Claim Putin Promised To Stop Bombing

Posted on 01/02/2026 by Boris Clair

Twelve Ukrainians were killed in a Russian drone strike just days after Donald Trump claimed Vladimir Putin had promised to temporarily stop attacking his neighbour.

A bus carrying miners in the Dnipropetrovsk region were targeted in the deadly assault.

Ukrainian foreign minister Andriy Sybiha said it showed the Russian pesident was pursuing a “war against civilians contrary to peace efforts”.

At least two others were killed in separate Russian attacks on Sunday, the Ukrainian authorities said.

The Russian strikes fly in the face of claims made by Trump on Thursday, in which he claimed Putin had told him no attacks would take place for a week as Ukraine endures a spell of bitterly cold weather.

The US president said: “They said they’ve never experienced cold like that, and I personally asked President Putin not to fire into Kyiv and the various towns for a week and he agreed to do that.

“And I have to tell you, it was very nice. People said, ‘Don’t waste the call, you’re not going to get that’. And he did it and we’re very happy that they did it because on top of everything else that’s not what they need is missiles coming into their towns and cities.”

However, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters that Putin had agreed to not strike Kyiv specifically, according to the Moscow Times.

“I can say that President Trump did indeed make a personal request to President Putin to refrain from striking Kyiv for a week, until February 1, as a way to create more hospitable conditions for negotiations.”

‘Kick Him Out’: Keir Starmer Under Pressure To Expel Mandelson Over Epstein Links

Posted on 01/02/2026 by Boris Clair

Keir Starmer is under mounting pressure to expel Lord Mandelson from the Labour Party after the latest revelations about his links to the late paedophile Jeffrey Epstein.

The peer appears to feature in several bank statements released on Friday in the latest tranche of files related to the disgraced financier by the US government.

In one bank statement, a payment of $25,000 to the account of Reinaldo Avila da Silva, now Lord Mandelson’s husband, features on May 14, 2003.

The statement appears to describe “Peter Mandelson” as the beneficiary of the payment.

Two later statements from May and June 2004 also feature $25,000 payments to Mandelson, one to an account which appears in his name, and another in which he appears to be listed as a beneficiary.

At the time, he was serving as Labour MP for Hartlepool.

Elsewhere in the newly-released Epstein documents, undated photographs of Lord Mandelson show him in a T-shirt and his pants, standing in what appears to be a hotel room.

Mandelson, who was sacked as the UK’s ambassador to Washington last September over his links to Epstein, told the BBC he had no recollection of receiving the payments, and did not know if the documents were genuine.

He finally apologised to Epstein’s victims in January, having initially failed to do so.

Although he has given up the Labour whip in the House of Lords, Mandelson is still listed as one of the party’s peers on the parliamentary website and it is understood he is still a Labour member.

Labour MP Richard Burgon said: “Just how much more appalling news needs to come out about Peter Mandelson before the Labour leadership finally kicks him out of the party?”

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Just how much more appalling news needs to come out about Peter Mandelson before the Labour leadership finally kicks him out of the party?

— Richard Burgon MP (@RichardBurgon) February 1, 2026

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Just how much more appalling news needs to come out about Peter Mandelson before the Labour leadership finally kicks him out of the party?

— Richard Burgon MP (@RichardBurgon) February 1, 2026

A government minister told HuffPost UK that Mandelson “should certainly be suspended” pending an investigation into the latest allegations.

Tory MP Tom Tugendhat, a former security minister, said: “Enough is enough. Peter Mandelson knew that his ‘best pal’ Jeffrey Epstein was a convicted sex offender. He continued engaging with him anyway.

“I don’t believe for a second that Mandelson cares about the victims. He put his own interests first. The fact that he’s still a member of the Labour Party is a disgrace.

“The fact that Keir is even considering returning the whip to him in the House of Lords is a disgrace. If Labour is really so concerned about the victims, they should kick him out.”

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Enough is enough.

Peter Mandelson knew that his ‘best pal’ Jeffrey Epstein was a convicted sex offender. He continued engaging with him anyway.

I don’t believe for a second that Mandelson cares about the victims. He put his own interests first.

The fact that he’s still a… pic.twitter.com/aq1psA4x7L

— Tom Tugendhat (@TomTugendhat) February 1, 2026

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He put his own interests first.The fact that he’s still a… pic.twitter.com/aq1psA4x7L— Tom Tugendhat (@TomTugendhat) February 1, 2026\n\n\n","options":{"_hide_media":{"label":"Hide photos, videos, and cards","value":false},"_maxwidth":{"label":"Adjust width","placeholder":"220-550, in px","value":""},"_theme":{"value":"","values":{"dark":"Use dark theme"}}},"provider_name":"Twitter","thumbnail_height":364,"thumbnail_url":"https://pbs.twimg.com/amplify_video_thumb/2017991400499929088/img/KsgbbFlfA2iXOJaT.jpg:large","thumbnail_width":640,"title":"Tom Tugendhat on Twitter / X","type":"rich","url":"https://twitter.com/TomTugendhat/status/2017991483706458376","version":"1.0"},"flags":[],"enhancements":{},"fullBleed":false,"options":{"theme":"news","device":"desktop","editionInfo":{"id":"uk","name":"U.K.","link":"https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk","locale":"en_GB"},"originalEdition":"uk","isMapi":false,"isAmp":false,"isMobile":false,"isAdsFree":false,"isVideoEntry":false,"isEntry":true,"isMt":false,"entryId":"697f7c8ee4b0e43ffdf7e816","entryPermalink":"https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/kick-him-out-keir-starmer-under-pressure-to-expel-mandelson-over-epstein-links_uk_697f7c8ee4b0e43ffdf7e816","entryTagsList":"keir-starmer,lord-mandelson,@ai_seo_headline","sectionSlug":"politics","deptSlug":null,"sectionRedirectUrl":null,"subcategories":"","isWide":false,"isShopping":false,"headerOverride":null,"noVideoAds":false,"disableFloat":false,"isNative":false,"commercialVideo":{"provider":"custom","site_and_category":"uk.politics","package":null},"isHighline":false,"vidibleConfigValues":{"cid":"60afc140cf94592c45d7390c","disabledWithMapiEntries":false,"overrides":{"all":"60b8e525cdd90620331baaf4"},"whitelisted":["56c5f12ee4b03a39c93c9439","56c6056ee4b01f2b7e1b5f35","59bfee7f9e451049f87f550b","5acccbaac269d609ef44c529","570278d2e4b070ff77b98217","57027b4be4b070ff77b98d5c","56fe95c4e4b0041c4242016b","570279cfe4b06d08e3629954","5ba9e8821c2e65639162ccf1","5bcd9904821576674bc55ced","5d076ca127f25f504327c72e","5b35266b158f855373e28256","5ebac2e8abddfb04f877dff2","60b8e525cdd90620331baaf4","60b64354b171b7444beaff4d","60d0d8e09340d7032ad0fb1a","60d0d90f9340d7032ad0fbeb","60d0d9949340d7032ad0fed3","60d0d9f99340d7032ad10113","60d0daa69340d7032ad104cf","60d0de02b627221e9d819408"],"playlists":{"default":"57bc306888d2ff1a7f6b5579","news":"56c6dbcee4b04edee8beb49c","politics":"56c6dbcee4b04edee8beb49c","entertainment":"56c6e7f2e4b0983aa64c60fc","tech":"56c6f70ae4b043c5bdcaebf9","parents":"56cc65c2e4b0239099455b42","lifestyle":"56cc66a9e4b01f81ef94e98c"},"playerUpdates":{"56c6056ee4b01f2b7e1b5f35":"60b8e525cdd90620331baaf4","56c5f12ee4b03a39c93c9439":"60d0d8e09340d7032ad0fb1a","59bfee7f9e451049f87f550b":"60d0d90f9340d7032ad0fbeb","5acccbaac269d609ef44c529":"60d0d9949340d7032ad0fed3","5bcd9904821576674bc55ced":"60d0d9f99340d7032ad10113","5d076ca127f25f504327c72e":"60d0daa69340d7032ad104cf","5ebac2e8abddfb04f877dff2":"60d0de02b627221e9d819408"}},"connatixConfigValues":{"defaultPlayer":"16b0ecc6-802c-4120-845f-e90629812c4d","clickToPlayPlayer":"823ac03a-0f7e-4bcb-8521-a5b091ae948d","videoPagePlayer":"05041ada-93f7-4e86-9208-e03a5b19311b","defaultPlaylist":"2e062669-71b4-41df-b17a-df6b1616bc8f"},"topConnatixThumnbailSrc":"data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAEAAAABCAQAAAC1HAwCAAAAC0lEQVR42mNkYAAAAAYAAjCB0C8AAAAASUVORK5CYII=","customAmpComponents":[],"ampAssetsUrl":"https://amp.assets.huffpost.com","videoTraits":null,"positionInUnitCounts":{"buzz_head":{"count":0},"buzz_body":{"count":0},"buzz_bottom":{"count":0}},"positionInSubUnitCounts":{"article_body":{"count":5},"blog_summary":{"count":0},"before_you_go_content":{"count":0}},"connatixCountsHelper":{"count":0},"buzzfeedTracking":{"context_page_id":"697f7c8ee4b0e43ffdf7e816","context_page_type":"buzz","destination":"huffpost","mode":"desktop","page_edition":"en-uk"},"tags":[{"name":"keir starmer","slug":"keir-starmer","links":{"relativeLink":"news/keir-starmer","permalink":"https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/news/keir-starmer","mobileWebLink":"https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/news/keir-starmer"},"url":"https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/news/keir-starmer/"},{"name":"lord mandelson","slug":"lord-mandelson","links":{"relativeLink":"news/lord-mandelson","permalink":"https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/news/lord-mandelson","mobileWebLink":"https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/news/lord-mandelson"},"url":"https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/news/lord-mandelson/"}],"isLiveblogLive":null,"isLiveblog":false,"backfillRelatedArticles":[],"signInUrl":"https://login.huffpost.com/login?dest=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.huffpost.com%2Fentry%2Fkick-him-out-keir-starmer-under-pressure-to-expel-mandelson-over-epstein-links_uk_697f7c8ee4b0e43ffdf7e816%3Fhp_auth_done%3D1","cetUnit":"buzz_body","enableIncontentPlayer":true,"bodyAds":["

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Enough is enough.

Peter Mandelson knew that his ‘best pal’ Jeffrey Epstein was a convicted sex offender. He continued engaging with him anyway.

I don’t believe for a second that Mandelson cares about the victims. He put his own interests first.

The fact that he’s still a… pic.twitter.com/aq1psA4x7L

— Tom Tugendhat (@TomTugendhat) February 1, 2026

Tory leader Kemi Badenoch said Starmer “must act”.

Posting on X, she said: “If Keir Starmer had a backbone he would suspend Mandelson’s membership of the Labour Party and launch an immediate investigation into how Mandelson and his husband were being sent money by the convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein.

“At the time Mandelson was Labour’s Business Secretary and acting as Deputy Prime Minister. This is an international scandal. The cover up needs to end. The Prime Minister must act.”

Asked on Sky News whether Mandelson should be stripped of his peerage, communities secretary Steve Reed said: “I think before taking any action like that, we need to understand exactly what’s happened.

“You’re asking me here about something that happened nearly 20 years ago. I don’t know the full detail of it, I wasn’t in government 20 years ago.

“I don’t know whether he declared it or not, and he should have done – the declaration rules had been brought in by then – so I think it would be for Peter Mandelson to explain whether or not that money was properly declared, and if not, then he will need to account for that.”

A Labour Party spokesperson said: “The Labour Party takes all complaints seriously and they are investigated in line with our rules and procedures.”

This Trend Is Exploding Among Millennials And Gen Z – And Honestly, It’s Worth Celebrating

Posted on 31/01/2026 by Boris Clair

As more research emerges about the harmful health effects of alcohol, fewer people – namely, younger people – are consuming it.

According to a 2025 Gallup poll, 54% of American adults say they drink, the lowest percentage since Gallup started polling.

With fewer folks relying on alcohol as a social lubricant, a healthier way to interact with others has gained traction. Enter “daylife”, a term coined by the fitness social app Sweatpals.

“Daylife” refers to daytime social outings involving alcohol-free fitness as a way to meet new people with similar interests.

“It’s just the concept of using wellness, using movement as a way to meet, as a way to get entertainment and to socialise, versus relying on alcohol,” Sweatpals co-founder Salar Shahini told HuffPost.

People are certainly still using alcohol-fuelled gatherings to meet new people, whether at a happy hour or a full-on party. But it’s less popular among young millennials and members of Gen Z as they drink less than older generations.

Shahini thinks this shift is partly due to the Covid-19 pandemic. “During Covid, all we could do for a few years was get together outside and just move and work out.”

For younger generations, that type of activity became the norm, Shahini said. During the pandemic, at-home fitness equipment and at-home fitness apps also surged in popularity.

But now, community-based fitness such as Hyrox competitions (which are commonly team-based) and run clubs are only becoming more popular – proof that people are looking for community.

“And we’re going to see more of that,” Shahini predicted.

More and more young people are turning to social gatherings that don't center alcohol. — More and more young people are turning to social gatherings that don’t center alcohol.

“Daylife” allows people to make new friends without centering alcohol

People who are drawn to daylife-aligned activities want to meet people and want to go out, but don’t want social gatherings to be centered on drinking, according to Shahini.

Research shows that alcohol consumption is linked to a higher risk of cancer, including colorectal cancer and breast cancer and an increased risk of dementia.

Beyond the health impacts, Kathryn Cross, a licensed professional counsellor with Thriveworks in Atlanta, said people are avoiding alcohol for its mental health impact, too.

“We are seeing that people are starting to prioritise other activities and other forms of socialisation just because we are in a season where everybody, for different reasons, is feeling heavy and alcohol tends to highlight heaviness in many different ways,” Cross said, “whether that’s aggression, irritability, sadness, it kind of traps people in their mind a little bit, and people are trying to find a better outlet for being so internalised in their thoughts.”

Shahini added that people are aware of the side effects of drinking alcohol – hangovers, bad sleep, getting drunk, bad decisions – which is also leading this shift.

Movement-based social gatherings lead to feelings of joy and accomplishment

“When you work out and feel that high that comes from working out … you keep feeling better. I think that’s much more interesting,” Shahini said.

People want to take care of themselves, he noted, which is a major feature of the run clubs, Pilates classes and other fitness activities that are booming in popularity right now. And while exercise helps you build muscle, bone strength and cardiovascular fitness, it also has measurable mental health benefits.

“Exercise stimulates the release of endorphins, the feel-good hormones in your body, which would help reduce the symptoms of anxiety and depression,” Cross said.

Joining a fitness class or run club to meet people already gives you a baseline level of connection

If you go to a certain gym or certain fitness club, you already have something in common with the other people there, Shahini said. You have similar fitness interests and you probably live in the same area.

This makes it easier to build a friendship with someone. Think about it: You can bring up your latest workout or your new fitness goal with another person who understands the kinds of workouts you do.

Social connections help us feel less isolated, Cross added, which is necessary in a country that has an epidemic of isolation and loneliness.

If you want to try out daylife, start with gyms in your area – sign up for classes on the same day and time each week so you eventually get to know the people who go to the gym then. You can also look at local groups on Facebook to learn more about local Pilates groups, running clubs and more, Cross noted.

When you do eventually make it out to one of these fitness groups, don’t be nervous about meeting or talking to new people. As mentioned above, you already have something in common.

Plus, “everyone is looking for an opportunity to feel seen by others, and everyone could use connections,” said Cross.

Help and support:

How To Tell If Rice Is Perfectly Cooked With A Single Glance

Posted on 31/01/2026 by Boris Clair

Cooking rice sounds easy, but making it truly perfect is surprisingly challenging.

Experts say that rinsing the grains, picking great varieties, and even cooking rice in the oven can help you to achieve fluffy bliss at home.

But even though I pride myself on my stovetop method, which took years to perfect, I still sometimes find that the side is more or less cooked than I expected after completing the absorption method.

This involves letting rice steam in a lidded pot with the hob turned off for at least 10 minutes after all the water has boiled out of the pan.

According to one chef, though, a simple sight test can confirm whether your rice is perfectly cooked or not.

If rice stands up, it’s perfectly cooked, says chef

Sometimes, once the water has cooked away, I notice that the grains of rice in my saucepan all “stand up” at the top, as if they’re looking up at me.

According to chef and teacher Erica Wides, that’s a sign it’s been perfectly steamed.

Like me, she lets the rice sit for 10 minutes after cooking it, so that the steam trapped under the lid makes it “fluffy”.

Once it was done, she showed her Instagram followers a pan full of rice which, also like mine, seemed to be standing on its end.

“You see how these rice grains are actually standing up, like, at attention?” she said. “That’s how you know that this is properly-cooked rice.”

It likely happens when the grains are steamed at the end of cooking. However, it’s not the only way to test its doneness.

How else can I tell if rice is cooked?

If you ask the late Julia Child, the secret lies under the channels (gaps) that steam makes in the rice as it cooks.

In a video showcasing the technique, she previously said: “If you notice, there are those little holes… but you can still see… liquid” at their base when the rice isn’t cooked.

But, she added, when the rice is done, you can “lift up an edge [of rice] and tilt the pan, and if there’s no liquid there” that means it’s good to go.

BBC Good Food, meanwhile, advises: “Check the rice is cooked at the end by trying a grain – this should also be indicated by the appearance of small holes on the surface and all the water having been absorbed.”

Catherine O’Hara, Emmy-Winning Schitt’s Creek Star, Dies Aged 71

Posted on 30/01/2026 by Boris Clair

Emmy-winning actor Catherine O’Hara has died at the age of 71.

On Friday night, the Schitt’s Creek actor’s agents confirmed that the Canadian-American performer had died at her home in Los Angeles following what they described as a “brief illness”.

Catherine’s career began as a cast member on the Canadian sketch series Second City Television, for which she won her first Emmy in 1982.

From there, she branched out into acting, often in comedic roles, making appearances in films like Beetlejuice, Home Alone and its sequel, After Hours and Christopher Guest mockumentaries like Best In Show, A Mighty Wind and For Your Consideration.

She was also a prolific voice actor, performing in the likes of Disney’s Chicken Little, the Apple TV+ comedy Central Park and The Nightmare Before Christmas, in which she provided both the speaking and singing voice for Sally.

However, to many she’ll be best remembered for her work as the incomparable Moira Rose in Schitt’s Creek.

The show reunited Catherine with her former Second City and Best In Show co-star Eugene Levy, alongside his son Dan, who was also the show’s co-creator, and Annie Murphy.

Schitt’s Creek became a sleeper hit after its premiere in 2015, eventually running for six seasons and earning all four of its main cast members Emmy wins.

Catherine also won a Golden Globe and Screen Actors’ Guild Award for her performance as Moira in 2020.

Last year, Catherine made a guest appearance in the second season of The Last Of Us, playing the therapist of Pedro Pascal’s character Joel, and joined the cast of Seth Rogen’s hit comedy The Studio.

She played studio-head-turned-producer Patty Leigh in the Apple TV+ comedy, earning yet another nomination at both the Emmys and Golden Globes.

Catherine is survived by her husband, Bo Welch, and their sons Matthew and Luke.

‘People Are Struggling, My Priority Is Cutting The Cost Of Living,’ Says Green Party By-Election Candidate

Posted on 30/01/2026 by Boris Clair

It’s been a whirlwind few days. At the start of the week I was at college doing a plastering course, and now I’m the Green Party’s candidate in the most high profile by-election we’ve ever properly contested.

I’m not your average politician. I didn’t go to university to study politics. I’m a plumber in Manchester – and through that job I spend my days in kitchens, bathrooms and front rooms. And from what I see, people are struggling.

We are not a poor country, we’re not a poor city – but government after government has treated us poorly. I see that in the cold homes, the repairs that people save up for months to do and the struggle that so many of us have with our mental health.

That’s why my number one priority will always be taking action to cut the cost of living – cheaper bills through public ownership, rent controls, free bus travel for young people. Insulating homes properly.

While Reform refuse to make the richest in our society pay their fair share, and flirt with privatising the NHS, I’ll be a champion for slashing inequality, re-wiring our economy to work for all of us and giving people the physical and mental healthcare they need.

Of course not everyone in Britain is struggling. In fact, the 50 richest families hold more wealth than 50% of the population. That kind of wealth is unimaginable to the people of Gorton and Denton, and despite widespread calls for a proper wealth tax, it’s a wealth that this government seems happy to watch accumulate.

As a plumber, my job is to assess a problem properly, take advice and find the right long term solution. That’s exactly how I’ll approach politics – and it’s a stark contrast to the other parties.

Labour is riven with U-turns, stitch-ups and lies. They do over their own mayor – and they’ll do over the rest of us too.

Reform is a party that drools over a dangerous US president, that is backed by big finance. In Matt Goodwin they’ve picked an extreme candidate, who has made his disdain for Muslims widely known, and who sees this place as just as a rung on the radical right career ladder.

In me, voters have the chance for something completely different. I’ll be an MP for all of Gorton and Denton, and i’ll be focused on tangible things to make our lives better. Where there’s a blockage, I’ll fix it – and where something needs repairing I’ll get my hands dirty.

In the coming weeks we’re going to see a lot of focus on our part of the world. Reform are backed by far-right thugs like Tommy Robinson, Labour are desperately trying to convince people that they’re still relevant. But this is Manchester, and we do things differently here.

I’ll be going door to door – with hundreds of fellow Mancunians – being very clear that there’s only one party that can be trusted on the cost of living, on taxing the very wealthiest and on bringing real justice to the Palestinians after years of British support for a genocidal Israeli regime.

I’m so proud to be from this amazing city – and I cannot wait to get going.

Hannah Spencer in the Green Party candidate in the Gorton and Denton by-election.

New Twice-Yearly Injections May ‘Help Millions’ With High Blood Pressure

Posted on 30/01/2026 by Boris Clair

As part of a global trial called KARDIA-2, researchers injected people with hard-to-treat high blood pressure with a medication called zilebesiran.

This is designed to be administered every six months.

It was given to 663 people with poorly-managed hypertension (high blood pressure) alongside their existing treatment.

The participants’ hypertension was not well managed with their existing medication.

The results, published in JAMA Network, suggest these injections may have the potential to “help millions with high blood pressure”, Queen Mary University of London, whose researchers led the study, said.

What did the injections do?

In this study, participants were given a dose of zilebesiran alongside their usual treatment.

Zilebesiran stops the production of a protein called angiotensinogen in the liver. Blocking that protein helps blood vessels to relax, thus lowering blood pressure.

The hypertension of the participants in this study was better-managed with the assistance of angiotensinogen injections alongside the “normal” medication, which, for one reason or another, was not working optimally for them.

The drug, which is far longer-lasting than medication which patients may have to take daily, matters because blood pressure is both hard to spot and vital to consistently treat.

It can lead to heart attacks and strokes if left unmanaged. It usually has no symptoms and is “very common,” the NHS said.

It affects about one in three UK adults.

What’s next?

KARDIA-3, a follow-up project, will investigate the effects of zilebesiran on people with high blood pressure and established cardiovascular disease, as well as people at risk of heart conditions.

And a large global outcomes study is set later this year to see how it affects stroke, heart disease, and cardiovascular event risk.

The study’s lead investigator, Dr Manish Saxena, said: “Hypertension is a global health concern as blood pressure control rates remain poor and is a leading cause of heart attacks and strokes.

“This study demonstrates the efficacy and safety of zilebesiran when added to commonly used first-line blood pressure-lowering drugs. The novelty of this treatment is its long duration; giving just one injection every six months could help millions of patients to better manage their condition.”

Trump Claims Putin Personally Agreed Not To Attack Kyiv Amid Plummeting Temperatures

Posted on 29/01/2026 by Boris Clair

Donald Trump claims to have convinced Vladimir Putin to stop the Russian bombardments on Kyiv for one week amid freezing conditions.

His request comes after Russia intensified its attacks on Ukrainian infrastructure, leaving civilians without electricity or heat at the height of winter.

Temperatures across Ukraine are expected to worsen this weekend, dropping to a staggering low of -28C on Sunday night.

Putin is yet to publicly confirm he agreed to Trump’s request, though some Russian bloggers close to the military claimed partial ceasefires were being imposed earlier today.

Speaking at a cabinet meeting at the White House on Thursday, the US president said: “I personally asked President Putin not to fire on Kyiv and the cities and towns for a week during this … extraordinary cold.”

He claimed Putin has “agreed to that”.

“A lot of people said, ’Don’t waste the call. You’re not going to get that,” Trump claimed. “And he [Putin] did it. And we’re very happy that they did it.”

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov refused to tell reporters earlier on Thursday if a mutual halt on energy facilities had been discussed with Ukraine.

Trump’s promise comes hours after Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned on Moscow that Putin is planning another large-scale barrage.

He said in an online video late on Wednesday that “every single Russian strike” discredits the progress made from any peace talks.

Russia has continued to target civilian areas around 600 miles away from the frontline.

This is a method Moscow has imposed on the Ukrainian population every winter since it invaded back in February 2022.

Ukraine and Russia agreed to a temporary halt to strikes in March 2025, during US-mediated talks in Saudi Arabia – but the break was never observed by Russian troops.

Putin continues to hold onto its maximalist goals in Ukraine, despite Trump’s push for a peace settlement.

The Russian president has insisted Ukraine must give up more sovereign land if it wants to end the war – a demand Kyiv has repeatedly rejected.

Reform UK Mocked After Police Refuse To Probe ‘Misleading’ Labour Post On X

Posted on 29/01/2026 by Boris Clair

Nigel Farage’s party reported their rivals over a clip in which Matt Goodwin, their candidate in next month’s Gorton and Denton by-election, appeared to criticise Manchester.

In actual fact, he was attacking the Conservative Party conference which had taken place in the city the week before.

Reform said the social media post broke electoral laws on misleading voters.

But in a statement on Thursday, Greater Manchester Police said: “We can confirm we have received a report and after assessment, informed the complainant there is no offence identified.”

Labour then posted a previous tweet from Reform in which they said: “We will ensure police focus on keeping our streets safe rather than wasting valuable time policing social media comments.”

A Labour source said: “Nigel Farage has repeatedly bemoaned the ‘policing of tweets’, yet desperately begged the authorities to look at a clip of his divisive candidate’s own words. It is as laughable as it is sad.

“Only Labour can take on Reform’s toxic politics and reject their shameless, divisive rhetoric.”

Reform UK have been contacted for comment.

The Gorton and Denton by-election will take place on February 26.

Ask A Pharmacist: Why Does My Cold Keep Coming Back?

Posted on 29/01/2026 by Boris Clair

Cold and flu season is miserable enough without raised norovirus cases and talk of “super flu”.

In fact, I know three people who’ve had colds on and off for the past two months or so – just as it seems to get better, new symptoms start to reappear.

Speaking to HuffPost UK previously, Dr Suzanne Wylie, GP and medical adviser for IQdoctor, said it’s quite common to see “a combination of genuine influenza, circulating Covid-19 variants, RSV, and other viral illnesses that overlap in symptoms and timing”.

Here, the superintendent pharmacist and director of Pyramid Pharmacy Group, Amir Bhogal, explains why colds can recur and what to do about it.

1) Chronic stress

Stress can wreak havoc on your immune system, the pharmacist said.

“When you’re under sustained pressure, your body produces elevated levels of cortisol, a stress hormone that actively suppresses your immune response. This reduces the production of white blood cells responsible for fighting infections, making them less effective at responding to threats.

“Due to this, you can become more susceptible to catching colds, and your body may struggle to clear infections once they’ve taken hold.”

If possible, try to rest and de-stress if your colds keep coming back.

2) Poor sleep

Sleep is key to recovery, Bhogal added.

“During deep sleep, your body increases production of cytokines, proteins that play a central role in immune function and inflammation control,” he explained.

“When you’re sleep deprived, this process doesn’t happen properly. Instead, your immune response weakens, and your body loses the opportunity to repair itself. In reality, pushing through a cold whilst maintaining your normal schedule can prolong your symptoms and make it harder for your body to recover fully.”

Getting seven to nine hours of sleep is crucial, if you can – try “painkillers, saline rinses, or throat lozenges” if symptoms keep you up at night.

3) Smoking

This not only affects your immune system, the expert said, but also “compromises lung function, making it harder for your body to clear infections”.

Additionally, “smokers typically experience worse symptoms and longer recovery times”.

Immune system recovery happens impressively quickly after quitting smoking, he added.

“When you’re ready to quit, some pharmacies, such as Pyramid Pharmacy Group, offer smoking cessation services which typically include nicotine replacement therapy as well as ongoing support for those who are struggling with withdrawals.”

4) Booze

Alcohol also harms your immune system. “It reduces the activity of key immune cells involved in fighting infections, while also contributing to dehydration and disrupted sleep, both of which are essential for recovery,” Bhogal said.

Even a little drinking can have an outsized impact, he added, so try to rein it in when you’re not feeling the best.

5) Close contact environments

Parents are all too aware how easily diseases spread in close contact environments like schools and nurseries.

This is true, Bhogal said, for places like open-plan offices too.

“If you’re regularly exposed to others who are unwell, you’re at higher risk of catching successive colds, rather than dealing with one persistent infection,” he said.

To avoid this, make sure to practise good hand hygiene, keep your distance from visibly unwell people, and stay home if you’re sick yourself.

6) Underlying health conditions

Sometimes, recurring colds can signal something else is going on with your immune system, said Bhogal.

“Immunocompromised individuals are more susceptible to infections and may take longer to recover. Beyond that, viral infections can also lead to secondary bacterial infections like acute bronchitis or sinus infections, which require different treatment approaches,” he said.

“If your symptoms aren’t improving after two weeks, seeking guidance from a qualified medical professional is sensible. They can rule out complications and identify underlying causes of repeat infection.”