A PREGNANT mum-of-four has been slammed for moving all of her kids into one bedroom.

Nicole Austin is currently pregnant with her fifth child and lives in a two-bedroom house.

Tiktok/@theaustins_1

Tiktok/@theaustins_1

In a recent video posted to social media, the mum revealed she was moving her youngest son in with her three daughters to get some alone time before the next baby comes.

In the clip, she said: “We’re putting four kids in one bedroom. I am currently pregnant and to make room for baby, we need to put our son in with his sisters.

“Now this may seem absolutely crazy to you because it really does to me without any context.”

She explained that her daughters were in a double bedroom on a triple bunk bed, which had lots of space for their toys and clothes.

Nicole said her son was in her bedroom, but as he needed a bigger bed had to move out as there was no room for it.

Expecting hateful comments on the video, Nicole added: “And you know what?

“Screw what you all think because me and my husband are going to really thoroughly enjoy having our own room back before the new baby comes.”

She went on to add that the sleeping arrangement would only be for four weeks, as they had a big announcement coming up about their living arrangements.

“And in those four weeks we will actually be away for seven nights on holiday without being at home,” she added.

“So he really only needs three weeks in with his sisters.”

tiktok/@theaustins_1

The pair said they had another announcement coming soon[/caption]

The clip has since gone viral on the family’s TikTok account @theaustins_1 with over 170k views and 4,000 likes.

People were quick to share their thoughts in the comments, while some branded the mum as ‘selfish’, others were more understanding.

One person wrote: “Buy a sofa bed, give up your room, and make downstairs your space.”

Another commented: “Stop breeding.”

“Give up your room, have a sofa bed and don’t be so selfish,” penned a third.

Meanwhile, others were much more supportive, a fourth said: “Good idea, it’s important to have some time alone before baby gets here, enjoy.”

“Looks perfect to me? I don’t understand the big deal,” claimed a fifth

Someone else added: “For 3 weeks crack on. Siblings sharing isn’t going to affect them in any kind of way. Especially so young. It’s not permanent and they’re not in their teens!”

VINTED is the go-to app for bargain hunters looking to snap up some pre-loved fashion finds – but beneath the surface lurk seedy sellers and even seedier buyers.

A shocking trade in unconventional items is quietly thriving, and it’s making one mum £300 a month to splurge on holidays.

Darren Fletcher

Michelle Lopez flogs dirty socks and unwashed pants on online platforms including Vinted[/caption]

Vinted

One Vinted user is selling a red ‘slinky nightie’ with the hashtags #ifyouknowyouknow #iykyk, a code to tell buyers that items have not been laundered[/caption]

While the majority of sellers focus on vintage dresses, worn trainers and outgrown denim, a growing number have discovered a lucrative market catering to niche interests.

From used socks to worn ­intimate nightwear, the hashtag #iykyk (or #ifyouknowyouknow) has emerged as a discreet signal to some users, sparking discussions about the hidden darker side of the platform.

Seller Michelle Lopez, 39, from Ealing, West London, confesses: “I sell my pongy pop socks, unwashed pants and well-worn gym bras on online platforms including Vinted to make cash.

“It’s a naughty work around and I can make up to £300 a month if buyers DM me on Vinted or use Telegram with special requests.

“It’s not seedy, it’s building up my savings. I am proud of making quick money this way. It helps with the bills and for holidays.”

Items like slips, lingerie, and even nightwear are often accompanied by cryptic hashtags, directing buyers to private messaging accounts for further transactions.

‘Smellier the better’

One user is currently selling a red “slinky nightie” with the hashtags #ifyouknowyouknow #iykyk #iykykfeet for £15, along with their Telegram — similar to WhatsApp — handle, facilitating off-platform communication.

Despite selling unwashed clothing being against Vinted terms and conditions, Michelle reveals just how easy it is for covert sellers like her to go under the radar.

She says: “You describe the item as ‘worn’ and post a picture and list the brand as ‘worn’. Vinted members know they can haggle for prices and ask questions.

“Sellers like me add ‘DM me for questions or Telegram for details’.

“But Vinted is just one platform I use. The buyers are polite and easy to deal with. I don’t have to pay up to 20 per cent on Vinted, like I do on some specialist selling platforms.”

The actress, who lives with husband Juan Lopez, 36, a sound recordist, as well as her 17-year-old daughter and nine-year-old son, has no time for anyone who judges her for the side hustle.

“I am not ashamed of my unconventional side gig. No one’s getting hurt,” she says.

“People who buy the items know what they’re getting, and the dirtier or smellier the item the better. I price my well-worn and distinctive smelling items from a fiver to £30. It all helps.

“I am cashing in from clothing I’d be chucking in the bin. I know some people will criticise, but I don’t care.

“I’m just like many other Vinted sellers using the secret work-around code and posting methods to sell well-worn and unwashed items.

“I sell normal second-hand clothes as well, I’m not too worried Vinted will boot me off.”

Michelle is certainly not the only one. Fabulous has discovered numerous posts that appear to be advertising unwashed ­clothing.

One seller, for example, had listed a pair of worn socks with a seemingly innocent description: “New pink ankle socks nice and soft.”

But the addition of #iykyk at the end signals a transaction far removed from thrifty fashion.

Vinted

An account features a pair of feet with pink toenails standing next to trainers and listed for £5[/caption]

Vinted

Another user has listed a pair of worn socks with a seemingly innocent description[/caption]

Another account featured a pair of feet with pink toenails standing next to white trainers, clearly worn and listed for £5.

The description read: “White trainers have been worn as you can see from pics. Perfect summer shoe IYKYK.”

Similarly, a pair of pink thong bikini bottoms were on sale for £4, with the description revealing: “Pink high-waist bikini bottoms. Holiday Dubai Ibiza iykyk festival rave ravefit creamfields.”

It’s a naughty work around and I can make up to £300 a month if buyers DM me on Vinted or use Telegram with special requests

Michelle

The string of location and event tags, combined with #iykyk, strongly hints at where it was worn.

Nelsi Diaz, Intimacy Coach and Sex Expert at AI platform HeraHaven, explains: “For some people, doing this through platforms like Vinted, which are not made for it, can add to the excitement.

“Using ‘iykyk’ codes and swapping to Telegram might make buyers feel like they’re part of something secret, and that can be half the fun.

“The kind of hush-hush vibe can be more exciting than just going to a fetish site where everything’s out in the open.

“For some, secrecy is part of the turn-on.”

Michelle admits she caters to the specific needs of buyers who follow her on platforms like Vinted.

She explains: “I sell to foot fans — some have a foot, a stinky sock or clothing fetish.

For some people, doing this through platforms like Vinted, which are not made for it, can add to the excitement

Nelsi Diaz, Intimacy Coach

“I never meet them, and I can sell a pair of smelly socks or underwear for up to £20. That’s three times what I paid for the item.

“Others have a pheromone fetish, which is a love of body odour. If I can pay the gas and electric bill flogging dirty socks like this, I will.”

A quick search of #iykyk on Vinted reveals countless suspicious listings, with some sellers openly advertising their availability for “extras” or directing buyers to other platforms for more discreet purchases.

Podcast Girls Overheard also spoke about this phenomenon in a video that has gained more than 240,000 views.

In the comments section, one viewer wrote: “Someone I know (air hostess) who has been kicked off Vinted multiple times, sold used tights and shoes. Has repeat buyers who contact directly and make good money!”

This growing trend has sparked fierce debate, with opinions ranging from outright disgust to acceptance of it as a harmless side hustle.

But it isn’t without risk, as Vinted claims to actively monitor and remove listings that ­violate its terms.

Yet the persistent presence of these items suggests this underground market is unlikely to cease any time soon.

Consent and hygiene

But beyond the platform’s rules, there are also broader ethical and safety concerns.

The lack of regulation and the discreet nature of these trans­ac­tions could open doors to exploitation and raise questions about consent and hygiene.

Dr Philippa Kaye, a GP and author says: “There are dangers either wearing unwashed underwear or using unwashed underwear in any way.

“Underwear is often in a very warm, humid and moist environment so it’s a breathing ground for fungi and bacteria and other micro­organisms which can cause infections.”

Michelle adds: “I know some people consider it seedy and gross. But people do know what they’re buying.

I know some people consider it seedy and gross. But people do know what they’re buying

Michelle

“I started doing it after lockdown, and haven’t stopped since. It’s great for making an extra bit of cash.

“Plus, I can do it from home and it’s completely safe.

“Last year I made £4,000 from it, this year I am on track to possibly doubling that figure.

“I know others will think it’s manky and gross.

“I am just trying to put my best foot forward, pay the bills and measure how my side hustle keeps growing.”

Vinted failed to respond to a request for comment.

Sarah Brick

She says she’s made £4,000 from selling her dirty clothes[/caption]

IN August 2022, after going off a ‘gut feeling’ while starring in a West End play and getting checked, Samantha Womack was diagnosed with breast cancer, aged 49.

And the star – known to millions for playing Ronnie Mitchell in EastEnders – had a long road ahead, one where she didn’t know what her end destination would be, and so, in a heartbreaking move, she prepared for the disease killing her.

PA

Samantha Womack was 49 when she was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2022[/caption]

BBC

The star is known to millions for playing Ronnie Mitchell in EastEnders[/caption]

Rex Features

“You obviously never want to lose your life, but cancer forces you to look into that cupboard,” Samantha told The Sun, continuing: “I started preparing for that from the beginning, because you do realise you could be close to possibly having that final moment.

“I started preparing for the ‘what’s going to happen if I’ve only got six months.’

“But actually, once you’ve looked in that cupboard, it’s not as scary as you think, I felt like, ‘OK, that cupboard is there, and I don’t know when it’s going to be fully open’.” 

The EastEnders star was told it was a Grade 3 invasive ductal carcinoma – one that tends to grow and spread more quickly than lower-grade cancers – and she’d neither found a lump, nor had a mammogram, but was instead guided by her intuition that something wasn’t quite right. 

It was over the next gruelling few months that Samantha would undergo the arduous task of having chemotherapy, and undergoing a lumpectomy, to try and remove the cancer – a time which the star describes as “frightening.” 

Samantha made her EastEnders debut on July 24, 2007, slipping into the skin of Ronnie Mitchell, a cousin of Walford tough man Phil. Less than a decade later, Ronnie and on-screen sister Roxy Mitchell – played by Rita Simons – were given the chop. 

She then moved into theatre, and it was one evening after a show that Samantha went for dinner with Grease superstar Oliva Newton-John, who battled breast cancer for three decades.

Little did Samantha know at the time, but Olivia’s tragic death from the disease in 2022 would spur her on to announce her own breast cancer to her large fan base. 

Sharing a picture of herself with the actress, who passed away at the age of 73, Samantha wrote: “This was the most magical of evenings. Olivia and Chloe had come to see Grease in London and we had dinner together afterwards. I was so excited and in awe, she was my childhood.”

Sam added: “I now start my own battle with this disease and am left feeling deeply moved.”

Samantha had gone to get checked while working, and she quickly got a diagnosis of a gremlin shadow, eventually diagnosed as breast cancer. 

“If I hadn’t gone to follow that instinct at that time, my life, well, I don’t even know if I could have my life now. That’s the reality,” she tells us. 

Samantha continued: “My diagnosis and my treatment would have just been so, so much harder, because it had already started to travel to my lymph nodes. Early diagnosis is absolutely life changing.”

Then came the next challenge of breaking the news to her family. 

The star spoke about how she told them, including her two children Benjamin and Lili-Rose, saying her initial response was to “protect” her kids from the news.

“I think it’s a very female thing to do, and you want to be like a ‘good cancer girl,’ Samantha added.

Currently, the star lives in Spain after making the move there with her Emmerdale star partner, Oliver Farnworth. 

Samantha continued: “Ollie, my partner, is very gentle, so he doesn’t force any kind of conversation or whatever. I mean, his way of taking care of it was just constantly coming in and trying to make nice things to eat and we’d go for a walk up the mountain every day, which was really hard after chemo, but then every day you go a little bit further, and a little bit further. 

You obviously never want to lose your life, but cancer forces you to look into that cupboard

Samantha Womack

“I was just so lucky to have that experience. I think I would really struggle in a city. A lot of the women that I speak to who now go on retreats after cancer or during cancer treatment say being around nature feels very healing.” 

Over the next few months, the brave star underwent treatment, and she described to us what that was like, grimacing while recalling ‘red devil chemo’ which is given that name due to its bright red appearance. 

Recalling that time of her life, Samantha said: “Interestingly, the radiotherapy, I was OK with. I didn’t react too badly to that. The chemotherapy that I had, I found frightening, but mainly because I was dovetailing between private healthcare. 

“I wasn’t insured. I cancelled my insurance during Covid. I knew I had a high grade three cancer, which means it was aggressive. So I had some savings, not a lot, but I just knew that the most important thing was to get it out ASAP, which actually I’m really glad I did because it had started to go to the lymph nodes. 

“Then I went back to the NHS because they’re brilliant at cancer care, and I was treated at the Royal Marsden. But, I think for me I was the most scared then because I didn’t know what was coming. 

“I feared the feeling of being out of control, and red devil chemo in particular felt really frightening because they needed to sign it off and two nurses needed to administer it because it’s highly toxic. 

“And when you watch that colour come out of a box and see two women with masks putting it in, it does feel really frightening.

“Some people decide to go traditional with treatment, some people don’t. The point is that you have as much information as you can, because then you get to tailor your treatment and your whole experience of cancer, which honestly now I wouldn’t change. I wouldn’t change it because I’m calmer and, I think, slightly more connected to myself than I ever have been before.” 

After around six months, Samantha was told she was cancer-free – a term the star says she finds “strange.” 

“I’ll say I’m cancer-free as of right now, but I also know that, statistically, if you’ve had cancer there’s probably a slightly greater risk that you’ll get it again compared to somebody that hasn’t had it,” she said. 

And cancer most definitely changed the star’s outlook in so many different ways.

Samantha tells us she’s become more pragmatic, won’t suffer fools, and is trusting and listening to herself a lot more than she once did. 

I feared the feeling of being out of control, and red devil chemo in particular felt really frightening

Samantha Womack

She said: “I’ve definitely changed as a human. If I feel like I need a break, or feel like I need a  check up, or if I’m actually really not comfortable with a job or I’m uncomfortable with a group of people, I just trust my voice in my head so much more than I ever did. 

“If I feel like something is wrong, not just health-wise, just anything, if I feel like something’s not a good fit for me, I’m far more confident now to be able to say, ‘Do you know what? I just don’t think this is for me. And that’s because my perception has shifted.”

Samantha’s shift in perception has also altered the way she views her finances, with the star admitting to having “far less money than she ever had,” but for good reason. 

She explained: “My biggest paranoia and, not even paranoia, my biggest anxiety was about financial stability because I didn’t have it growing up. I had a precarious start in life and I craved that financial security that would keep me physically safe. 

“I’d be in a house, and I’d control my environment. And I think work became attached to that for me, it became about financial security. and I think what’s happened since the diagnosis is I’m in no better position financially than I was. I’m still a jobbing actor. I still, if I’ve got paid for one good job, it could be up to a year before I want to take another job or get offered another job. 

“So I’m actually turning down more work now than I ever have, and I have far less money than I’ve ever had, but it’s a weird thing for me because normally, as my bank balances disappears, that anxiety would normally keep me awake at night, and I still worry about it, but it doesn’t take over my entire body because I know I’m safe. 

“I’m safe because I have me, I have my brain, I have my body, and I have my health. Don’t be distracted with all the other kinds of sparkly bits of life. If you’ve got a concern, if you’ve got any niggling worries, there are places you can go to get checked.”

On the topic of getting checked, Samantha is trying to educate women about the importance of knowing their breast density, for a Genesis Care campaign named ‘Keep Abreast of your Breast Density.’

While mammograms are a great screening tool for many women, for those with dense breasts it is harder to spot anything out of the ordinary, and cancer can be missed.

Dense breast tissue is found in approximately half of women who are aged forty or above and worryingly, women with extremely dense breasts are six times more likely to get breast cancer than those with fatty breasts.

Discussing her mission to educate, Samantha explained: “We often think of breast cancer as something that happens to women after menopause, and that’s dictated by the NHS calling us in for mammograms after the age of 50.

“But obviously we know now that cancer is now far more prevalent in all ages and breast cancer numbers are through the roof. What I love about the campaign is, as I’ve understood through my own journey, information is power.”

She praised the younger women who have been diagnosed with breast cancer for speaking out on social media, from Jessie J to EastEnders star Kara Tointon. 

“Genesis Care is doing this amazing thing, where they are informing women about what dense breasts are following their mammogram, which I’d never heard of. I did loads of reading, loads of treatments, but no one had ever told me to test my breast density. And the statistics are really important. If you’re D category and extremely dense, you’re six times more likely to get cancer.

We know now that cancer is now far more prevalent in all ages and breast cancer numbers are through the roof

Samantha Womack

“To get checked is probably the same price as you taking your car for an MOT, or a weekend away or, you know, and even if you’re low income, you could save up for a year and hopefully try and get enough.” 

GenesisCare has also launched a new screening service where patients who have dense breast tissue can benefit from a rapid breast MRI scan for early detection of cancer. These scans, which aren’t widely available as standard screening unless you have a very high risk of breast cancer, are now available privately at GenesisCare centres in Oxford and Windsor.

BBC

Samantha’s shift in perception has also altered the way she views her finances[/caption]

INSTAGRAM

Samantha said her initial response was to ‘protect’ her kids from the news[/caption]

Getty

Samantha is trying to educate women about their breast density for a Genesis Care campaign[/caption]

The Eastern Cape Department of Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA) invites applications from unemployed graduates across South Africa for its Internship Programme 2025/26 – 2026/27. Internship Application Closing Date: 11 July 2025Internship Location: Bhisho, Joe Gqabi, OR Tambo, Sarah...

The post Eastern Cape COGTA Internships 2025: 24-Month Paid Opportunities for Graduates appeared first on StudentRoom.co.za.

MANILA, Philippines — Suspected ecstasy tablets with an estimated value of P855,100 were intercepted by authorities at a mail hub at the Manila Port Area, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) said. The illegal drugs were found in a package during an inspection at the Philippine Postal Corporation’s Surface Mail Exchange Department Thursday afternoon, PDEA

ISRAEL has revealed details of its devastating wave of assassinations in Operation Red Wedding, killing 30 Iranian generals within the first few minutes of the conflict.

On June 13, the IDF launched a “preemptive” operation with not only the aim to decimate Iran’s nuclear program, but to take out its military chiefs.

AP

Smoke rises up after an explosion in Tehran, Iran, on June 13[/caption]

The 12-day conflict began when Israel launched Operation Rising Lion which saw Israeli jets blast Iran’s nuclear sites – as well as assassinate generals and scientists.

Within its first few minutes – Operation Red Wedding saw some 30 top Iranian military chiefs killed in near-simultaneous blitz.

And, with three of its most senior generals dead, any possible response from Iran was halted for nearly a whole day, according to the IDF.

The staggering operation was given the code-name Red Wedding from popular TV show Game of Thrones, due to the unbelievable way it was carried out, local media reports.

The scene the operation appeared to be named after to shows a political wedding reception where the groom and his entire family are betrayed and killed by the family of the bride.

Most significant among the 30 deaths was the chief of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards’ air force, Brig. Gen. Amir Ali Hajizadeh.

He was killed alongside fellow officials of the IRGC Aerospace Force – the unit responsible for Iran’s ballistic missiles and drones.

They had been meeting underground with the intention of preparing Iran’s retaliation.

Israel had launched a deception campaign purely to deceive Iran and cause the IRGC air force officials to congregate in the early hours.

Meanwhile Operation Narnia was unfolding, where nine senior Iranian nuclear scientists who were working on a bomb, according to Israel, were also killed.

The deadly strikes all hit within minutes of each other.

Hours that followed saw 200 Israeli fighter jets strike numerous Iranian nuclear sites, with air defences also destroyed and ballistic missile launches decimated – thwarting any imminent Iranian response.

The IDF said it used 330 munitions on 100 targets, including uranium enrichment plants and key command centres.

By the end of the 12 day conflict, it said it had “fully met, and even exceeded, all the objectives and goals” that were set out prior to the operation.

It was determined by IDF chief of staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir that June would be the time for the complex operation – and that any delay could mean Israel wouldn’t be able to stop Iranian threat later down the line.

Operation Rising Lion was therefore launched as a preemptive campaign with the intention of eliminating “the existential threat to Israel” – Iran’s nuclear and missile programs.

Mossad had reportedly spent years plotting the operation, and even built a drone base instead Iran and smuggled precision weapons systems and commandos over.

Bombshell footage appeared to show Mossad commandos directing attacks from inside Iran at the beginning of the 12-day conflict.

It captured troops on the ground as they helped direct drone strikes against Iran’s missile defences.

AP

President Donald Trump, left, stands with Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu[/caption]

Reuters

Smoke rises following an Israeli attack in Tehran, Iran[/caption]

AFP

Destroyed storage building and tunnel entrances at Kermanshah missile facilities, western Iran[/caption]

Reuters

A closer satellite view shows holes and craters on a ridge at Fordow underground complex[/caption]

The US joined in on decimating nuclear facilities on June 22.

To do so, President Donald Trump used some of the US military‘s most advanced weapons.

Twelve 30,000lb bunker busting bombs – officially called the GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrator (MOP) – were used to hit the most difficult target.

Then within 24 hours starting Monday, Iran launched a “very weak” response on a US air base in Qatar before a fragile ceasefire between Iran and Israel was brokered by the US.

Calls are now ringing louder for the Ayatollah’s regime to be taken down – and for a new democractic republic to take shape.

Trump hinted at regime change in a post of Truth Social as he demanded “Make Iran Great Again” – but the White House said it was not one of the authority’s official goals.

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, 86, claimed victory over Israel and America despite his country being hammered in the “12 Day War”.

Khamenei is hiding away in a bunker deep below ground despite the ceasefire as he fears being assassinated by secret agents, the New York Times reports.

The supreme leader was seen in a video sitting in front of the same brown curtain – presumably still cowardly hiding in his bunker – as he had last week.

On Israel, he ludicrously claimed Iran had almost crushed the country and the government in Tel Aviv was on the verge of collapse.

That’s despite the IDF controlling the skies over Tehran, assassinating dozens of top generals and nuclear scientists, and destroying dozens of valuable missile batteries in just 12 days of fighting.

On America, Khamenei claimed to have given the country a “severe slap” to its face and that it had “gained nothing” from the attack on Iran’s nuke plants.

The Ayatollah said: “The American regime entered a direct war because it felt that if it did not, the Zionist regime would be completely destroyed.

“However, it gained no achievements from this war.

“Here, too, the Islamic Republic emerged victorious, and in return, the Islamic Republic delivered a severe slap to America’s face.”

Khamenei also bizarrely claimed his rockets had hit the American’s Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, despite his forces giving advanced warning so the rockets could be all shot down.

The supreme leader was last seen a week ago in a video message, but it’s two weeks since he appeared to his people in the flesh.

A POPULAR European city has introduced an alcohol ban for both locals and tourists.

Porto has stopped the sale of alcohol from supermarkets, convenience stores, wine cellars, and souvenir shops for nearly 12 hours in the evening

Alamy

Porto has banned the sale of wine from supermarkets and off licences[/caption]

Alamy

The new rules have come into affect from this week[/caption]

The ban is in place between the hours of 9pm and 8am.

The rules came into effect on June 25 as part of the new regulations for nightlife in the city.

These restrictions are not city-wide, but they do apply to the entirety of Porto‘s ‘Containment Zone.’

This zone includes the downtown area, including Rua da Galeria de Paris, a street that’s very famous for its nightlife and bars.

Terraces will have limited opening hours, although there are some flexible for some in popular nightlife areas.

Filipa Correia Pinto, councillor for Economic Activities, explained to that the changes are aimed at combating ‘botellons’.

She added: “What justifies this is our conviction that this phenomenon in several parts of the city is causing harm and having an impact on urban security”, as reported by Portugal News.

The rules have been put in place to stop people congregating in public areas where they socialise while drinking alcohol.

Inspections will be stricter and the sanctions heavier, including the closure of establishments that don’t comply with the new rules.

You can still drink during the later hours hours, but alcohol needs to be bought in cafés, bars, restaurants and nightclubs.

Alamy

Porto has colourful houses and cobbled streets[/caption]

Alamy

The city is coastal and has beautiful beaches too[/caption]

Porto is a coastal city in northwest Portugal known for its beaches, bridges and of course, port wine.

If you fancy a drink, most of the port wine cellars are over the Douro in Vila Nova de Gaia.

The city has rambling old towns full of colourful buildings with cobbled streets and steep hills.

The Ribeira district has lots of architecture to admire with colourful houses and the Dom Luís I Bridge.

The Douro River is in the heart of the city and flows right around Porto.

On the river you can hop on scenic cruises, wine tasting tours, and outdoor adventures. 

As for beaches, Praia de Matosinhos is a large sandy beach located in the town of Matosinhos, it has strong waves so is a popular spot for surfers.

Praia do Senhor da Pedra in Miramar is popular with locals for its calm atmosphere and golden sands. 

The city’s speciality is a francesinha, similar to a croque monsieur, it’s filled with ham, sausage and steak, doused in melted cheese and hot tomato sauce.

You can get to Porto in just over two hours from the UK.

Here’s more on Porto with the world’s most beautiful bookshop and very famous 80p treats.

And where to find the ‘wine theme park’ in one of Europe’s cheapest cities.

Alamy

Porto has introduced new alcohol bans[/caption]

A MAJOR warning has been issued to road users as a busy stretch in a popular spot is set to close for an “emergency excavation” over a 10 day period.

Mayo County Council has has alerted motorists about the temporary closure on their Facebook page.

Getty Images

A major road used is closed for an “emergency excavation”[/caption]

Mayo County Council has closed off the L-1801 Coast Road at Belclare, Westport temporarily for emergency excavation works.

The closure is taking place from Wednesday, June 25 until the evening of Friday, July 4.

And motorists are being warned it will affect the section of the Coast Road approximately 300 metres from the junction with the R-335.

Taking to Facebook, Mayo County Council stated: “Emergency excavation works will commence on the L-1801 Coast road at Belclare, Westport (approx. 300m from the junction with the R-335) from Wednesday 25th June 2025 until the evening of Friday 4th July 2025.”

Pedestrian access will be maintained throughout the duration of the works, and restricted local access will be permitted where possible from all closure points.

Traffic management measures and diversions will be in place to guide vehicles safely around the affected area.

Traffic approaching from the R-335 will be diverted via alternative local routes to avoid the closure.

Road users travelling towards Belclare are advised to follow diversion signs and allow additional time for their journeys.

Clear signage will be erected at all approaches to the works to assist drivers navigating the area.

Mayo County Council added: “Restricted local traffic only will be permitted from all closure points.”

Meanwhile, three busy roads in Dublin city centre are set to close for HOURS next weekend as a “major event” takes place.

Drivers have been warned that the annual Dublin LGBTQ+ Pride Parade will affect the opening times of several major roads.

The first set of road closures will take effect from 8:00am to 4:00pm, impacting O’Connell Street Upper, O’Connell Street Lower and Cathal Brugha Street.

From 11:30am to 4:00pm, further restrictions will apply to major routes including Eden Quay, Custom House Quay, Memorial Bridge, Lombard Street East, Westland Row, Lincoln Place and parts of Merrion Street.

A third set of closures will be in place from 6:00am until 10:00pm, covering Merrion Square South, Merrion Square East, Fitzwilliam Street Lower and Mount Street Upper.

The road closures are part of a traffic management plan coordinated by Dublin City Council and Dublin LGBTQ Pride aimed at ensuring public safety throughout the day.

It reads on their website: “A request has been received from Dublin LGBTQ Pride CLG for the temporary closure of the following road to facilitate Dublin Pride Event on the date and times listed below:

“Location – O’Connell Street Upper, Eden Quay, Merrion Square South from 06.00hrs to 22.00hrs.”

WHERE TO AVOID

Pedestrian access will be maintained at all times, allowing people to move freely during the celebrations.

However, motorists are being advised to avoid the city centre on the day of the parade, as major diversions and delays are expected.

Eastbound traffic from Sarsfield Quay heading towards the North City will be rerouted via Blackhall Place, Manor Street, Prussia Street, North Circular Road, Portland Row, Seville Place and Guild Street.

Drivers heading eastbound from Sarsfield Quay to the South City will be diverted via Watling Street, Thomas Street and High Street.

Those travelling westbound from North Wall Quay towards the North City will need to follow a diversion through Guild Street, Seville Place, Portland Row, North Circular Road, Dorset Street Lower and Upper, Bolton Street, King Street North and Queen Street.

HEALTH warnings have been issued over salad bags due to potentially deadly contamination fears.

The popular ready-to-eat product sold across UK supermarkets has been associated with a rise in food poisoning cases.

EPA

UK shoppers could be at risk of a brain-eating parasite found in some ready-to-eat salad bags (stock image)[/caption]

Research carried out by the journal Eurosurveillance highlighted the contamination fears reported across 10 European countries, including the UK.

This came after over 4% of the leaves in salad samples, tested between October 2021 and September 2022, were found to be contaminated with toxoplasma gondii oocysts.

“The parasite Toxoplasma gondii can cause severe disease in humans,” the research said.

“People can acquire the parasite by eating raw or undercooked infected meat or unwashed fruits or vegetables contaminated with the parasite.

“We wanted to investigate T. gondii in commercial ready-to eat (RTE) salads in European countries to estimate the importance of these food products as sources of T. gondii.”

The bacteria, which can be passed on through contact with cat faeces, has been known to contaminate food and water.

This makes salad that is washed or watered with dirty water a prime place for bacteria to grow.

According to research cited by Science Alert, this bacteria “can seriously disrupt the brain function of intermediate hosts, potentially including humans”. 

The National Institute of Health previously reported that half of the UK population show signs of past infection by the age of 50.

They added that once acquired, these parasites remain in human tissues for life.

Health risks

This can cause a problem later in life for people who have a weakened immune system, often a result cancer treatments or immunosuppressant drugs.

The Food Standards Agency recommended the best action to take to combat this outbreak.

“[Always] wash fruit and vegetables with water before you eat them to make sure that they are clean,” the experts advised.

“You should wash them under a running tap, or in a bowl of fresh water, making sure to rub their skin under the water.”

While toxoplasmosis is not usually serious and normally gets better on its own, the NHS highlighted that it can cause serious problems in certain situations.

This includes if you get it while you’re pregnant or have a weakened immune system .

If you have a weakened immune system toxoplasmosis may cause problems with your eyes, brain, heart, or lungs.

And if you experience more severe symptoms such as confusion, blurred vision, or slurred speech, you should also seek medical help.

Positive samples across Europe

Samples of the leaves were collected in the Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, Norway, Poland, Portugal, and Spain as well as the UK. 

Majority of the positive samples were collected in winter and packaged in the UK, France, Portugal, Spain, and Denmark. 

Scientists have urged for better control measures to help protect prevent infection. 

“This is particularly relevant since ready-to-eat salads are intended to be consumed raw without any further treatment by the consumer,” they pointed out.

“Future work should investigate presence of [the parasite] in different steps of the ready-to-eat production to minimise infection risk for humans.”

Rise in food poisoning cases

The warning follows alerts relating to a significant rise in serious food poisoning cases.  

Health watchdogs reported a spike in Campylobacter and Salmonella infections across England compared to previous years.

The latest annual data from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) showed that Campylobacter infections increased by 17% between 2023 and 2014 – from 60,055 to 70,352.

According to UKHSA, this represents the highest number of cases recorded in the past decade.

Meanwhile, Salmonella infections also reached a decade high, according to data.

They rose by with a 17% as well, from 8,872 cases in 2023 to 10,388 cases in 2024.

THIS is the shocking moment an OnlyFans model called “Little Red Head” brawled with a mum and daughter in a bathroom bust-up.

Bethany Brown lashed out at Amelia Begg when she was slapped by the 23-year-old’s mum Heather.

SWNS

Footage showed the three women brawling in the club loos[/caption]

SWNS

Bethany Brown had first been slapped by Heather Begg[/caption]

Cavendish

She has now spoken out after the trio were convicted[/caption]

Footage has now been released of the attack at PJs in Warrington, Cheshire, that shows the feral trio brawling in the loos.

Brown was first hit by Heather, 40, after she accused the mum of swearing at her.

CCTV then shows the model grabbing the Heather as Amelia then joins in the fracas.

All three can be seen brawling with each other in front of stunned revellers as they exchange blows.

At one point, Brown’s hair extensions lay strewn the floor of the toilet after the trio scrapped with each other.

The fight on February 2 only ended when the pair were pulled apart by club-goers.

All three pleaded guilty to using threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour with intent to cause fear of or provoke unlawful violence.

They avoided a jail term and were instead handed fines – Brown 546 with £303 and the Beggs £615 each with £331 in costs and surcharge.

Warrington Magistrates’ Court was told the violence erupted when the trio got into an “exchange of words”.

But speaking out for the first time, Brown claimed she was “randomly attacked” by the mum and daughter.

She added: “I have no idea what caused it – this could have happened to anybody.

“Maybe it was because my outfit was see-through but that is the fashion these days – loads of girls wear things like that.

“The whole time I was wondering if I had done anything wrong – I did not want anything like this to happen.”

Brown claimed she was left with five small bald patches on the back of her scalp after her extensions were ripped out.

SWNS

The women grabbed each other’s hair and punched each other[/caption]

SWNS

Brown’s hair extensions were left on the bathroom floor[/caption]

She also suffered five large bumps on her head and bruises and scratches on her arms after taking a string of punches.

Brown, who also works as a hairdresser, left Amelia with a bloody nose after punching her in the face.

JP Alf Bean said the CCTV did not “make good viewing” after it was shown to the court.

Brown said she was only able to “defend herself” after taking part in two years’ worth of boxing sessions, which she did for fitness when she was 16 years old.

She said she now just wants to “move on” from what had happened.

The model continued: “So many people have reach out to me to ask if I am doing okay.

“I have been making content since the incident.

“My fans have reached out after finding out and told me to take some time if I need.”

Heather and Amelia have declined to comment on the incident.

Cavendish

Brown claimed the attack came out of nowhere[/caption]

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She claimed she was persuaded to plead guilty by her lawyer[/caption]