It’s become easy to say that “small-town America” is slowly dying

Cats in Cyprus are being treated with anti-Covid pills meant for humans after a feline virus killed thousands of animals on the island. An estimated 8,000 cats have died from Feline Infectious Peritonitis (FIP), prompting the government to approve the use of stockpiled human coronavirus medication. The disease is almost always lethal if left untreated, but medication is effective in around 85 per cent of cases. However, the high price of the medication made it inaccessible to vets and pet owners in Cyprus, activists said. The government’s veterinary services director, Christodoulos Pipis said the first batch of 2,000 medication packages will be used to mitigate what has been called the “FCov-2023” outbreak, with a total of 80,000 pills becoming available later. Mr Pipis told the Guardian the health ministry rolled out the treatment on 8 August, celebrated as International Cat Day. Each pill will cost €2.5 (£2.16) and can be bought at local vets’ offices, after a formal examination and diagnosis. It is hoped the move will end the outbreak, first noticed in the Cypriot capital of Nicosia in January. FIP, which spreads through contact with cat faeces, has spread across the island four months later, the Pancyprian Veterinary Association said. Local animal activists claimed FIP has killed 300,000 cats, but PVA president Nektaria Ioannou Arsenoglou called that figure an exaggeration. The disease is unrelated to Covid-19 and cannot be contracted by human beings. However, the active ingredient in anti-Covid medication Lagevrio, molnupiravir, has proven effective in treating cats who’ve contracted FIP. The feline virus has been around since 1963, Ms Arsenoglou added, but previous epidemics in the UK, US, Taiwan, and Greece remained confined to catteries and eventually fizzled out without the use of any medication. However, the outbreak in Cyprus has also affected indoor cats. Read More Maui wildfires – live: Devastating wildfire burns historic town ‘to the ground’ in Hawaii and kills 36 Wildfire devastates Hawaii's historic Lahaina Town, a former capital of the kingdom A feline virus mutation in Cyprus caused far fewer cat deaths than claimed, veterinary leader says UK man bitten by cat contracts previously unknown and ‘extensive’ bacterial infection Ukraine war live: Putin ‘considers coming face to face with world leaders’ at G20 Poland to double troops number at border with Belarus

Millions of Social Security recipients will get a 3.2% increase in their benefits in 2024

EDINBURGH, Scotland--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jul 5, 2023--

Japan’s release of treated radioactive wastewater into the sea has sparked outrage across China, triggering a ban on

Over the past year, bridal fashion trends have made a glamorous comeback. From feathers and high slits to party frocks, wedding style today is defined by over-the-top fashion fit for a celebration. And if 2024 bridal fashion trends — unveiled during New York Bridal Fashion Week in the spring and fall — are any indication, aisle style is going to get even bolder.

Associated Press photographer Matt York, who has covered Arizona for 23 years, recently was caught off guard by the heat wave that has shattered records in Phoenix

A young woman whose health “deteriorated rapidly” after being diagnosed with long Covid and suffering a liver bleed is now in a wheelchair, feeds herself through a tube in her chest and has been unable to urinate in three years. Abigail Snowball, 29, was told she suffered from a rare condition known as Fowler’s Syndrome a few months after she was diagnosed with long Covid in July 2020 and her bladder stopped working. The social worker, from Northumberland, says she was “never sick” and enjoyed long runs before testing positive for coronavirus in early 2020 and feeling a sharp pain under her ribs which scans showed was a bleed on her liver. Abigail had not fully recovered from the virus and since the diagnosis, her health has gone from bad to worse, to the point where she has not been able to urinate in three years. She now depends on her husband Mark, 34, to carry her to the bathroom so she can empty her bladder, which can take up to four hours, and has not been able to enjoy a mouthful of food for nearly a year. “I had never really been ill before,” Abigail told PA Real Life. “As a child, I was always really lucky and never poorly. I look back at pictures from before Covid and I don’t even recognise myself.” Abigail had completed a 20-mile race, the Run Northumberland BIG 20, just a week before testing positive for Covid and having to quarantine away from Mark, who works in maintenance for Nissan. “It was very much at the start of the pandemic, back at the time when there weren’t any vaccines or much testing,” she said. “It was just tiredness like I’ve never felt before in my entire life. I remember having a cup of tea and struggling to lift the mug up.” Like many other people’s experience of catching Covid, Abigail’s health improved over the next 10 days. “I did get better, but I never fully recovered,” she said. But a couple of months later, while visiting her parents, Jane and Ray Cresswell, in Cornwall on holiday, she suddenly began feeling a sharp pain under her ribs. “It was a really strange location to have pain,” she added. She visited the GP a week later and was admitted to Northumbria Specialist Emergency Care Hospital (NSECH) in July 2020, where scans revealed Abigail had suffered a bleed on her liver. “That’s when they diagnosed me with long Covid,” she said. “There was no other explanation, because they tested for blood disorders and carried out a scan. “They asked me if I had a fall or accident, but there was literally nothing.” Abigail was recovering from her liver bleed in hospital late one evening when a nurse asked when the last time she urinated was. “I actually thought, ‘god, it wasn’t since this morning’,” she said. “From that point, my bladder never regained any function. That was really the start of my health declining quickly.” Doctors hoped her bladder block was simply a result of the liver “trauma” and that she would be on the mend soon. But, sadly, this was not the case. A few months later, Abigail was diagnosed with a rare condition called Fowler’s Syndrome, which causes women to have problems passing urine. Abigail’s condition has deteriorated over the past few weeks and she is now losing weight rapidly. “I am now sleeping on the sofa downstairs and my husband Mark is having to carry me to the toilet and back again,” she said. “We can spend up to four hours at a time trying to drain my bladder, and the pain is just unbearable. “I went from running 20 miles to using a wheelchair. You don’t realise how inaccessible the world is until you are in that position.” Since the diagnosis, Abigail has spent more than 350 days in hospital and undergone 12 surgeries, including one in October 2021 to try and reconstruct her bladder. To make matters worse, she developed intestinal failure last year, which means she can no longer eat food. “I haven’t eaten anything in a year now,” she said. Instead, she is fed through TPN (total parenteral nutrition), a tube in her chest which delivers nutrients directly into the blood stream. Abigail and Mark, who married earlier this year in May, both received close to six months of training on how to perform the feeding procedure given there is a high risk of infection. “We had never even heard of that – being fed through a line into your heart,” she said. Abigail has been told by doctors that her liver bleed was “extremely likely” to have been caused by Covid. While Covid is known to harm the lungs, it has also been found to affect other organs, including the heart, liver and kidneys, but wider research is needed to better understand its long-term effects. Liver problems are common among patients with Covid-19, according to a study carried out by researchers at Oxford University and published in the peer-reviewed journal Hepatology Communications. Abigail, whose condition is considered “severe”, is hoping to receive specialist treatment in London, known as bladder Botox, which involves injecting Botox into the bladder every three to nine months, but there is no guarantee this will work. “Because of how severe and complex my case is, we’ve exhausted all our options here and the doctors are saying that I need to see the specialists in London,” she said. “Removing my bladder completely remains on the cards, but it’s incredibly high risk because of my intestinal problems. “There is no cure for Fowler’s, so it’s about managing it in the best way possible.” The combination of health conditions has left Abigail unable to perform everyday tasks. “It’s funny because the things I want to be able to do are so normal,” she said. “Just being able to wake up, take the dog for a walk and go to work. “Things that in the past, I completely took for granted.” To help cover the costs, Abigail’s friend Emma Holt has set up a GoFundMe which has received thousands of pounds in donations. “We never imagined in our wildest dreams that we would raise the amount of money that we have already,” she said. “It’s the one thing that really keeps us going, when things are really difficult. “Knowing that we have so many people behind us and supporting us is amazing.” Fowler’s Syndrome is most often caused by infection or following surgery or trauma, but a link to long Covid has yet to be established and more research is needed. Dani Coombe, CEO, Fowler’s Syndrome UK said: “It’s too early to say if long Covid is a trigger for Fowler’s syndrome; we haven’t seen an increase in Fowler’s and retention post-Covid yet, and there is no indicator that urinary retention gets worse. “Our research into what patients believe triggered their urinary retention shows that infection is the most common trigger at 57 per cent, followed by surgery in 32 per cent of patients and trauma at 19 per cent. “It would be noteworthy to see in coming years if there is an increase in women with Fowler’s because of the trauma of Covid-19.” Read More Fake meat is dying, but that shouldn’t mean the end of veganism What I gained (and lost) from walking 10,000 steps a day for five months Woman behind ‘not real’ plane tirade identified as marketing executive with $2m home Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live

Lewis Hamilton cannot be blamed for considering a blockbuster switch to Red Bull following Mercedes’ failure to provide him with a winning machine, Christian Horner has claimed. Red Bull team principal Horner confirmed on Friday that Hamilton’s father Anthony made an inquiry about the availability of a seat alongside Max Verstappen at the grid’s all-conquering team. Verstappen has won the past three world championships, while Hamilton last took a victory at the penultimate round of the 2021 season in Saudi Arabia. “I have known Anthony Hamilton for 15 years and I don’t think he was enquiring about himself to come and drive,” said Horner of Anthony, who managed his son in the formative years of his career. “I don’t know who represents who, but with the surname you would think they are reasonably close. “Anthony is a good guy, a proud racing father and inevitably when drivers go through tough spots – and Lewis has not won a Grand Prix for two years – questions will be asked up and down the paddock. “Lewis is the most successful driver of all time and he hasn’t won a grand prix since 2021. You have not got to be a rocket scientist to work that out and I doubt I was the only one that an inquiry was made to.” Red Bull will head into the season finale having failed to win just one of the 21 rounds so far. Verstappen has triumphed on 18 occasions – a record for any driver during a single campaign. Hamilton’s Mercedes team are in a state of flux, but the seven-time world champion signed a two-year deal with the Silver Arrows, worth £100million, in August. Sergio Perez is contracted to Red Bull for 2024. On Thursday, Hamilton denied seeking a move to Red Bull and claimed it was instead Horner who approached him. “I have checked with everyone in my team and nobody has spoken to them. However, he (Horner) did reach out to me earlier on in the year about meeting up,” Hamilton said. Horner added: “It is entirely normal for drivers, drivers’ representatives and drivers’ parents to have different conversations during the year. “There was never a seat available and there was never any engagement. There are many drivers we hear from during the course of the year. “We have not had any serious discussions with Lewis and there was never a seat available.” Read More George Russell fastest as rookies handed chance in first Abu Dhabi practice Class action lawsuit filed over farcical start to Las Vegas Grand Prix Toto Wolff fuelled by ‘personal anger’ to help Lewis Hamilton win eighth title On this day in 2010: Sebastian Vettel becomes youngest ever F1 world champion F1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix LIVE: Practice updates and times at Yas Marina Christian Horner reveals talks with Lewis Hamilton’s father over Red Bull seat

Karyna had just stepped inside to check on her 12-year-old son in the kitchen when Russian rockets exploded into her garden, leaving craters where her...

With the release of the Barbie movie fast approaching on July 21, the marketing campaign has been unavoidable. From the pink billboards to the endless amount of brand collaborations - everyone and everything is channelling Barbie this summer. This includes Barbie herself, Margot Robbie who is taken fashion inspiration from the different looks the Mattel doll has worn over the years to wear at different premieres. Sign up to our free Indy100 weekly newsletter Of course, fans are loving the way the Australian actor is paying homage to her character. One person said: "I literally can't even with the perfect Barbie looks that Margot Robbie has been sporting on her Barbie press tour." "It’s so unbelievably perfect. She [Robbie] gave everything I wanted and more. Need this energy from the other characters," another person wrote. Someone else added: "Margot Robbie is slaying the #barbie promo tour so hard it's almost painful." "Margot Robbie turned Barbie into the fashion event of the year and I am here ittttt," a fourth person commented. Here is a rundown of all Robbie's Barbie-inspired looks during the Barbie movie press tour: Cinemacon, Las Vegas (April 25 2023) Robbie hinted at her Barbie wardrobe at Cinemacon back in April where she sported a pink gingham Prada bralette and skirt set based on a dress her character wears in the film. Since then, Mattel has created this outfit for Barbie dolls, so you could say the film was the inspiration in this case. Los Angeles photo call (June 25 2023) Barbie loves all things pink, including a pink dress with white polka dots. This fun Valentino number accessorised with a bright yellow bag took inspiration from the 2015 Pink & Fabulous Barbie. Sydney, Australia photo call (June 29 2023) Throwing it back to Barbie's first-ever outfit with the black-and-white swimsuit, Robbie took inspo and wore a black-and-white Hervé Léger dress with white sunglasses to match during a photo call on Bondi Beach. This swimsuit can also be seen on Robbie in the Barbie movie trailer too. Barbie Celebration party, Sydney (June 30 2023) Sparkling in a dazzling metallic pink 1994 Versace dress, Robbie's outfit channeled a similar outfit to the Happy Birthday Barbie - and while it might not be Robbie's birthday, she had plenty to celebrate at the Barbie party in Sydney. Seoul 'Barbie' premiere, South Korea (July 2 2023) Dress up with a white brimmed hat, hot pink blazer, pencil skirt and high heels - not forgetting the rhinestone phone - Robbie's outfit was a throwback to the 1985 Day-to-Night Barbie, with this being the day look. Robbie later changed into the night look which was a pink sparkly leotard and a part-Versace pink dress with the tutu skirt. Media news conference, Seoul (July 3 2023) It was pink and sparkles galore for Robbie at a media conference in Seoul when she turned up for the event in a bejewelled suit skirt set, with a cute hair bow and heart bag to match in tribute to the 1964 Sparkling Pink Barbie. Mexico City 'Barbie' premiere, Mexico (July 6 2023) Robbie wore a long-sleeve pink minidress at the Barbie Mexico premiere, but the accessories made the look complete with a silver belt and some huge dangly hearts and stars silver earrings for Earring Magic Barbie. Mexico photo call (July 7 2023) A bright patterned dress with fluorescent pink earring and crimped hair screams the 80s which means sense since the look is inspired by the Totally Hair 25th Anniversary Barbie. 'Barbie' world premiere in Los Angeles (July 9 2023) Ditching the pink (although not entirely with the delicately held handkerchief), Robbie stepped out in a black custom Schiaparelli haute couture dress to the LA premiere of Barbie. This look referenced Barbie’s Solo in the Spotlight dress from 1960, in which both the doll and Robbie wore black gloves, tulle fringe, and pink handkerchief. 'Barbie' European premiere, London (July 12 2023) Robbie stunned in a vintage Vivienne Westwood draped corset gown, which featured a white tulle stole, and was accessorised with matte ivory opera gloves and a layered pearl necklace. A look that was originally created for the Mattel doll back in the 1960s for Enchanted Evening Barbie. Elsewhere, here are 29 of the biggest Barbie brand collaborations ahead of the new movie, doctors warn against 'Barbie foot' challenge taking over TikTok and how old is Barbie supposed to be? Have your say in our news democracy. Click the upvote icon at the top of the page to help raise this article through the indy100 rankings.

You probably know your astrological sign; but when it comes to cybersecurity, do you know