Animal has always been a wild child. Introduced on The Muppet Show in 1975, he

We are heading into Black Friday at breakneck speeds, and holiday shoppers are anticipating all

Global shifts in incomes and populations, geopolitics and climate change are combining to drastically alter the outlook for

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A Singapore money laundering probe involving more than S$1 billion ($740 million) is shining a light on fund

Our biggest tip when it comes to picking out the perfect Father’s Day gift — which is no simple feat, might we add — is to think beyond a “best dad ever” mug or gift cards. If you take your dad’s everyday habits and lifestyle into consideration, your purchase will not only make practical sense, he will think of you every time he uses it, too. Bonus points if it’s something he won’t think to buy for himself — and maybe because he’ll forget he needs it until he gets that Southwest notification that it’s time to check in for his flight. For that reason, travel accessories get our top vote as a thoughtful gift idea that fathers will get a lot of mileage out of, especially if your dad is someone who is always on the move.

Somewhere in the midst of after-work park hangouts and sunny trips abroad, the forecast has started to dip into fall territory (how dare it?!). While this may require us to remember additional layers in the morning (and, depending on where you live, regret them by the afternoon), fall’s arrival doesn’t mean that winter hibernation is here just yet.

Claire Richards, one of the five-member girl group Steps, has opened up about experiencing an eating disorder in the Nineties, before she joined the band. The singer, 45, said she went on a restrictive diet that only allowed her to eat 900 calories a day, with her meals comprising of just “fish fingers, peas and baked beans”. Appearing on Vicky Pattison’s The Secret To podcast on Thursday’s (20 July) episode, Richards claimed she was told she had to lose weight even though she was a UK size 10 to 12 at the start of her career in the music industry. She added that Kate Moss’s “heroin-chic” thin look was what people aspired to at the time when it came to body image, which in turn encouraged her dieting. “It happened when I was in TSD,” Richards said, referring to her first band, The Scan-Dolls. “They did it to all of us because we were all quite curvy girls. I was probably a [size] 10 or a 12 and wasn’t big at all. “But in the music world, and at that time, that whole Kate Moss, heroin-chic, was a thing and they wanted everyone to be really, really skinny. “So, we were all put on a diet. That diet was interesting because we were encouraged to eat fish fingers, peas and baked beans and have like a 900-calorie diet.” After she auditioned for Steps, Richards claimed she was still under pressure to lose weight. “The audition for Steps was [in] 1997 and by that time I had cut my hair really short, stupidly, and I was wearing this stripey catsuit which I wore in the video for ‘Last Thing on My Mind’,” she explained. “And I always used to tie a hoodie around my waist because I was really conscious of my bum because I thought I had a massive bum… They sat me down, did my audition and they said, ‘Oh, we really like you. We want you to be in the band, but you’re going to have to lose weight’. “It set me on a pathway of not really eating for four-and-a-half years.” Richards said that the years spent worrying about her body image damaged her confidence so much that she has never managed to fully regain it. “I think I’m much better than I was,” she reassured listeners, but added: “But I don’t think I ever will get rid of it completely because it’s played such a massive part of my life for such a long time. “I think I probably was anorexic. You know, I manged to kind of stop what I was doing to myself, but that went from not eating at all, to overeating.” The “It’s The Way You Make Me Feel” singer said she went from being “dangerously thin” to weighing 16.5 stone (104kg) at her heaviest. Richards has previously spoken out about her struggle with disordered eating and expressed how anxious she was about image filters that are popular on the internet today. Last May, she appeared as a guest on Sophie Ellis-Bextor’s Spinning Plates podcast and said: “I’ve gone from being dangerously thin to obese and I honestly do believe it’s all part of the same… if it’s an eating disorder, it’s one extreme to the other. “There is a massive lack of understanding, generally, and I think especially on the overweight side of it. I think people just look at anybody who’s overweight [and think] that they’re lazy and have got no discipline. “I’m not lazy and I definitely have discipline but I found myself in that position,” she continued. “I struggle everyday and I’ve managed to maintain a good size now for a long time but it’s a battle everyday and people just don’t understand that psychological side of it generally.” For anyone struggling with the issues raised in this piece, eating disorder charity Beat’s helpline is available 365 days a year on 0808 801 0677. NCFED offers information, resources and counselling for those suffering from eating disorders, as well as their support networks. Visit eating-disorders.org.uk or call 0845 838 2040. Read More Bye bye swimwear round, hello body positivity: How beauty pageants became less ugly Prince Harry and Meghan weren’t allowed to fly Air Force One with Biden after Queen’s funeral, report says ‘Just awful’: Man accused of ‘selfish’ behaviour after proposing to girlfriend at their graduation Should I keep my windows closed or open during a heatwave? Why am I so lethargic in the heat? 6 hacks for handling the heatwave at a festival

Thailand will allow Russian citizens to visit for longer periods in a bid to boost tourism during peak

Amy Schumer has opened up about the reason why she stopped taking Ozempic, as she urged celebrities to be honest about their weight loss. The 43-year-old actor and comedian appeared on Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen on Thursday (8 June), where she revealed that tried taking the type 2 diabetes drug Ozempic for weight loss last year. “Like a year ago, I tried it,” she told Cohen, before admitting that she stopped taking the FDA-approved medication because of its side effects. “I was one of those people that felt so sick and couldn’t play with my son,” Schumer explained, referring to her four-year-old son Gene, who she shares with husband Chris Fischer. “I was so skinny and he’s throwing a ball at me and [I couldn’t].” Although the Trainwreck star admitted that she was “immediately invested” before trying the drug, she ultimately decided that Ozempic wasn’t “livable” for her. However, Schumer did take a moment to call out celebrities who have been “lying” about taking the once-weekly antidiabetic injection for weight loss. “Everyone’s like: ‘Smaller portions,’” she joked. “Shut the f*** up. You’re on Ozempic, or one of those things.” Much like Ozempic, FDA-approved medications Wegovy and Mounjaro are also brand names for semaglutide – which work by mimicking a hormone that regulates appetite and creates the feeling of fullness. “Just stop,” Schumer added. “Just be real with the people.” The Inside Amy Schumer star even noted how she was open about undergoing liposuction for weight loss in January 2022. “When I got lipo, I was like, I got lipo,” she said. Ozempic, a once-weekly injection used for the treatment of type 2 diabetes, has skyrocketed in use after people were reportedly prescribed the diabetes medication as an “off-label” weight loss drug. Meanwhile, Wegovy and Mounjaro are once-weekly semaglutide injections specifically approved for the treatment of obesity and weight loss. There are many side effects of taking medications like Ozempic, Wegovy, and Mounjaro. According to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the most common side effects of taking Wegovy include nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, constipation, abdominal pain, headache, fatigue, indigestion, dizziness, and digestive disorders. The FDA has also warned against more serious complications that can occur from using Wegovy or Mounjaro, such as the “potential risk of thyroid C-cell tumours,” pancreatitis, gallbladder problems, acute kidney injury, increased heart rate, and suicidal behaviour or thinking. Meanwhile, taking Ozempic can lead to possible thyroid tumours, including cancer, pancreatitis, changes in vision, and kidney and gallbladder problems. Amy Schumer isn’t the only celebrity to open up about taking certain medications for weight loss. Comedian Chelsea Handler previously revealed that she “didn’t know” she was on Ozempic because her doctor allegedly “hands it out to anybody”. During an appearance on Alex Cooper’s Call Her Daddy podcast in January, the Chelsea Lately star spoke candidly about the alleged widespread use of Ozempic in Hollywood and her concerns over its popularity. “So, my anti-ageing doctor just hands it out to anybody,” Handler claimed. “I didn’t even know I was on it. She said: ‘If you ever want to drop five pounds, this is good.’” She said she realised she was taking the type 2 diabetes drug for weight loss after feeling nauseous while at lunch with a friend, who was also on Ozempic. When her friend asked if Handler was taking the medication, which the comedian referred to as “semaglutide” during their conversation, her friend informed her Ozempic was simply a brand name for semaglutide. However, Handler said she stopped taking the medication after she realised what it was. “I’m not on it anymore. That’s too irresponsible,” she shared. “I’m an irresponsible drug user, but I’m not gonna take a diabetic drug. I tried it, and I’m not gonna do that. That’s not for me. That’s not right for me.” Read More Shapewear is booming, and body image experts are worried: ‘It’s really dangerous’ OnlyFans model Elle Brooke praised for ‘perfect’ response to Piers Morgan’s concerns about her career Prince Andrew ‘staying in Royal Lodge amid renovations in case he is evicted’ STI cases at record highs: 6 things everyone needs to know about sexually transmitted infections Men’s Health Week: How to talk about sensitive or ’embarrassing’ health issues Jonnie Irwin explains why he hasn’t told his sons about his terminal cancer

Suction vibrators: They’re not just a trendy sex toy — they’re a lifestyle choice … and one that’s dominated the market for nearly the last decade. The first suction vibrator was pioneered by the sexual wellness brand Womanizer. Its patented Pleasure Air Technology relies on — you guessed it — air to stimulate the clitoris, creating a non-touch sensation that mimics the feel of oral sex. Though they were first to the game, Womanizer’s immaculate technology has kept them at the top of buyers’ minds again and again. In fact, the brand’s suction vibrators have made their way to the top of the best-selling list at mega-retailer Lovehoney. And none more so than the Womanizer Starlet.

In our opinion, the best thing about & Other Stories is that it’s just a hair more polished than its mainstream fast-fashion brethren. While we fully expect to see tried-and-true runway trends at the likes of H&M, the Swedish behemoth’s smaller companion boutique is like a well-traveled cousin who just came traipsing back from Paris. You’re more likely to find those influencer-approved styles that feel straight out of a sun-lit Instagram feed, rather than pulled from the highly-produced pages of a glossy fashion magazine. So it comes as no surprise that shoppers are as excited for the brand's discounted styles as its regular-priced ones — we're talking up to 60% off preppy fall must-haves.