The new location will create 30 jobs

Papa Johns has announced the opening of its second store in Northern Ireland, as part of its wider expansion plan to launch 20 new locations across the region.

The new store will officially open on 21st May on Upper Newtownards Road bringing Papa Johns pizza to even more customers in the area. The opening follows the successful launch of the brand’s first Northern Ireland location in Ballymena in December 2025.

To celebrate the launch, the new East Belfast store will offer customers any large pizza for just £10, available for both collection and delivery for a limited time.

Papa Johns currently operates more than 450 sites across the UK and continues to invest in new store openings, digital innovation, and menu development, such as the recent launch of its Sourdough range. The expansion across Northern Ireland reflects the brand’s ongoing strategy to bring high-quality, handcrafted pizzas to more communities while creating long-term business and employment opportunities.

The Northern Ireland rollout is being led by experienced franchisee Rana Abhol of the Rana Group, who brings over 25 years of experience in the pizza industry. Having joined Papa Johns in 2017, Rana has built a strong track record within the business and currently operates more than 25 locations across the UK.

“We are excited to continue our expansion in Northern Ireland with the opening of our Belfast store,” said Chris Phylactou, Managing Director U.K. & Europe at Papa Johns.

Adding: “Following the success of our first location in Ballymena, this marks another important step in our long-term growth strategy for the region. We’re proud to bring our Better Ingredients, Better Pizza promise to more customers, while also creating valuable job opportunities and supporting local communities.”

For all the latest news, visit the Belfast Live homepage here and sign up to our daily newsletter here.

Jamie Carragher has applauded Arsenal’s ‘brave’ decision to find an upgrade on Aaron Ramsdale given the club now boast the ‘best goalkeeper in the Premier League’ in David Raya.

Raya is one of only six players to have played every single minute for their club in the English top flight this term, starting all 36 matches and producing a string of outstanding performances to help ensure Arsenal have remained a defensive force..

On Sunday, Raya once again underlined his vital importance to Arsenal with a crucial save to deny Mateus Fernandes as Mikel Arteta’s side edged out West Ham to restore their five-point lead at the summit and keep hopes of a historic double alive.

It’s easy to forget that eyebrows were raised when the Gunners first signed Raya – initially on loan from Brentford – in 2023, with Ramsdale the established number one having joined in a £30million deal just two years earlier.

However, the 30-year-old Spaniard has gone on to silence those initial doubters and is now widely to be among the most complete goalkeepers and finest shot-stoppers in European football.

After an excellent debut season at the Emirates, Raya was named in the PFA Team of the Year while also picking up the Golden Glove, despite Arteta’s men finishing second behind Manchester City.

Raya got his hands on the Golden Glove award for a second time last season – sharing the award with Nottingham Forest’s Matz Sels – as the north Londoners again finished runners-up.

With 18 clean sheets to his name this time around, Raya looks on course to scoop the prize for a third straight season, with his nearest rival, Gianluigi Donnarumma accumulating only 14 clean sheets with three games remaining of City’s campaign.

‘When you talk about magic moments, this is certainly one of the most needed moments as well to pull off with that save,’ Arteta said of Raya’s latest heroics at the London Stadium.

‘He was incredible.’

Analysing the central role Raya has played for Arsenal both domestically and in Europe on Sky Sports’ Monday Night Football programme, Carragher said there could be no doubting that Arteta now had the league’s best goalkeeper at his disposal.

‘It’s not just this season, it’s the call to bring him in. It wasn’t universally popular when the change was made,’ the ex-Liverpool and England defender stated ahead of Tottenham’s clash with Leeds.

‘I was probably quite adamant at the time that I felt Arsenal needed to move on from Aaron Ramsdale. He was a good Premier League goalkeeper and I just didn’t think they could win the Premier League with him in goal.

‘Now it remains to be seen if Raya is that guy but it was a brave decision.

‘The former goalkeeping coach [Inaki Cana] of David Raya at Brentford moved to Arsenal and probably gave a bit of an insight into what kind of goalkeeper he was, but he’s been a revelation.

‘A couple of months ago on Monday Night Football we made a play about which goalkeeper would you want to go on and win the league: Gianluigi Donnarumma or David Raya? And he’s certainly won that battle.

‘He’s the best goalkeeper in the Premier League and definitely one of the best goalkeepers in the world. He could certainly have that mantle.’

While conceding that many Arsenal fans may still be fearing another slip-up, Carragher is confident it is only a matter of time before Raya and Co are crowned English champions.

‘I said before the weekend that it felt like the biggest game of the season because it affected four teams: the two teams involved, plus Spurs and Manchester City as well,’ he said.

‘There was big controversy at the end which could have gone either way I suppose.

‘I said last week that if Arsenal win at West Ham, they win the league so I think they’ve got a great chance.

‘I still believe that anybody with anything to do with Arsenal, be it a player or a fan, won’t believe that because that’s the nature of the game and you always think the worst is around the corner.

‘But they’ve got a really favourable fixture coming next, Burnley at home, and then a game away at Crystal Palace which obviously isn’t easy but if you’re picking a fixture away from home, considering the European commitments they’ve got…’

Asked if he was confident in backing Arsenal to win a first title in 22 years, Carragher replied: ‘Yeah, I’m staying with that prediction, I think they’ll win the league now.

‘They’ve just got over that little wobble they had and since then they’ve been really impressive.

‘Not always in terms of performance, but they haven’t looked nervous, they haven’t looked edgy.

‘There was probably a spell of four of five games where it looked like they were coming off track, but it looks like they’re back on it now.’

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MORE: Rio Ferdinand makes bold Arsenal vs PSG prediction for Champions League final

MORE: Gary Neville makes Arsenal vs PSG prediction for Champions League final

MORE: Martin Keown slams Peter Schmeichel’s ‘ridiculous’ take on West Ham disallowed goal against Arsenal

Savings Credit is the secondary part of Pension Credit, alongside Guarantee Credit

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The Department for Work and Pensions is boosting the incomes of older state pensioners by £17.96 per week through Pension Credit. Savings Credit forms the secondary element of Pension Credit, alongside Guarantee Credit.

Pension Credit raises your weekly income to £238 if you’re single, or to £363.25 jointly if you have a partner. Additional amounts may be available depending on your individual circumstances and outgoings.

These top-ups and additional sums are referred to as ‘Guarantee Credit’. You could qualify for the ‘Savings Credit’ element of Pension Credit if both of the following conditions apply: you reached State Pension age before 6 April 2016 and you set aside money for retirement, such as through a personal or workplace pension.

You’ll receive up to £17.96 Savings Credit per week if you’re single. If you have a partner, you’ll receive up to £20.10 per week. At the higher end, for couples, this amounts to £1,045.

You may still be entitled to some Savings Credit even if you do not qualify for the Guarantee Credit portion of Pension Credit, reports Birmingham Live.

The DWP states: “You might be able to use the Pension Credit calculator to get an estimate of how much you could get. Contact the Pension Service helpline if you’re not sure whether you’re eligible for extra amounts.”

The Pension Service helpline number is 0800 99 1234 or, via Relay UK (if you cannot hear or speak on the phone), it is 18001 then 0800 99 1234.

You can also use the British Sign Language (BSL) video relay service if you’re on a computer – find out how to use the service on mobile or tablet via the DWP website.

The helpline operates Monday to Friday, between 8am and 6pm, excluding public holidays. The DWP states: “All benefits, pensions and allowances are usually paid into an account, for example a bank account.”

Writing for Belfast Live, Sinn Féin Chairman and South Antrim MLA, Declan Kearney, sets out how the Good Jobs Bill will benefit workers

The ‘Good Jobs Bill’ has now been submitted to the Executive. Hopefully, it will soon be allowed to proceed into the Assembly and Committee for legislative scrutiny to begin.

This is good news. The Bill represents the most progressive piece of employment law ever introduced in the north. Its provisions exceed the existing legislative arrangements in the 26 counties.

Employer and business organisations recently published concerns suggesting there would be insufficient time to scrutinise and amend the bill. That is not the case.

Of course, some organisations and economic interests will express disagreements.

Other political parties may well try to block the progress of the legislation and run the clock down for purely cynical and partisan ideological reasons.

The fact is, this Bill has been drafted to benefit every working family in the north.

In February 2026, the Law Centre NI and Joseph Rowntree Foundation reported that up to 60 per cent of people in the north who are living in poverty are in working families.

Across various sectors of our economy, including retail, hospitality, health and social care, workers are not making enough money to sustain decent living standards for their families.

Low-pay jobs and insecure employment have become a lived reality.

This damning statistic underscores the need to overhaul employment practices through a legislative measure which gets the balance right between employers’ profitability and the right of workers to a fair wage and decent living standards. Now we have an opportunity to get that balance right.

The primary objective of the ‘Good Jobs’ Employment Rights legislation is to address low pay and insecure employment through decent jobs, improved trade union access to workplaces, and collective bargaining.

Passage of this progressive legislation is also about encouraging the development of an economy that is both productive and rewarding for all.

Scare-mongering about unions and collective bargaining rights for workers is misplaced.

Workplace relations between employers and employees do not have to be contentious. Social dialogue provides the mechanism with which to meet the challenges facing the regional and national economies.

The Cambridge Centre for Business Research finds that strengthened workers’ rights and higher union density increase the productivity and profitability of a company while at the same time delivering well-paid jobs.

The Nordic experience shows that strong unions and enhanced collective bargaining rights contribute to improved levels of economic productivity, higher wages, strong workers’ rights, and a better quality of life benefits for workers and families. This model succeeds because it practices social dialogue.

There does not have to be a contradiction between union density and the sustainability of business enterprise models.

Data from the United States illustrates the positive role which unions play in its economy.

Workers in higher union density states, such as Washington, Hawaii, New York and California, earn higher median wages than their counterparts in states with lower union membership.

According to the US Department of Labour, in 2023, annual household income in higher union density states was approximately $12,000 higher, on average, than in lower union density states.

The Bureau of Labour Statistics finds that high union density states also enjoy higher levels of productivity. Washington leads all states in long-term productivity and growth.

These same states enjoy higher living standards, lower levels of inequality, better health outcomes, and levels of educational attainment.

The US Economic Policy Institute concludes that union density and collective bargaining rights improve wages and living standards for both union and non-unionised workers alike.

The presence of unions lifts all boats. The north’s regional economy is increasingly attracting Foreign Direct Investment.

Major investors operate here because of the well-educated workforce, our cost competitiveness, and dual market access.

Investments in engineering, manufacturing, and financial services have increased wages and benefits for thousands of workers across the north.

Some employers have a negative reflex towards empowered workers and collective bargaining.

A more considered response to the evidence from Nordic economies and the contrast in union density in US states should give pause for thought.

Large investors want profitability for their companies and their shareholders. And that’s fair enough.

However, a balance must be struck between gains for shareholders and the importance of raising the living standards of all our workers in the north and indeed across the island.

The ‘Good Jobs’ Employment Rights legislation will help to rebalance the economy in the interests of businesses, investors and workers.

Empowering our workforce with effective representation is the key to a stronger economy and more and better jobs.

For all the latest news, visit the Belfast Live homepage here and sign up to our daily newsletter here.

Millwall, Hull City, Southampton and Middlesbrough are all vying for a place at Wembley in the Championship play-off final

The Championship play-off semi-finals come to a conclusion this week, with the four teams in action and looking to book their place in the Wembley final.

First up Millwall and Hull City face off on Monday night, with their first leg ending in a 0-0 draw at the KCOM Stadium last week.

On Tuesday, Southampton and Middlesbrough re-ignite their rivalry which has been given extra spice by allegations the Saints sent a spy to eavesdrop in Boro training in the build-up to their clash.

Their first leg also ended goalless, so there is all to play for at The Den and St Mary’s.

Dates and kick-off times

Monday, May 11

Millwall v Hull City, 8pm

Tuesday, May 12

Southampton v Middlesbrough, 8pm

When is the play-off final?

Fans of the victorious sides will be eagerly anticipating their date at Wembley and a chance of promotion to the Premier League.

The date of the play-off final is Saturday, May 23, 2026.

The kick-off time has yet to be confirmed.

When are the other play-off finals?

League One final – Sunday, May 24 – 1pm kick-off

League Two final – Monday, May 25 – 3pm kick-off

Championship play-offs are changing

The Championship play-off final is widely regarded as the richest game in football – achieving promotion to the Premier League is worth more than £200m in extra revenue.

From next season, the play-offs will expand from four teams to six – meaning a place in the top eight could be enough for Premier League promotion.

“Since their introduction in 1986/87, the Play-Offs have become a highlight of the domestic football calendar, capturing the drama, suspense and jeopardy that make the EFL so special,” said EFL chief executive Trevor Birch.

“Following several months of discussion with clubs and other stakeholders, we are confident this change will further strengthen the Championship as a competition and give more clubs and their supporters a genuine opportunity of achieving promotion.”

Ireland joins Spain and Slovenia, where broadcasters are also boycotting in protest against Israel’s war in Gaza

Ireland’s national broadcaster will show an episode of the comedy Father Ted in place of the final of the 2026 Eurovision song contest.

On Saturday night, RTE2 will air the iconic Irish sitcom ’s Eurovision-themed episode A Song For Europe, where priests Ted and Dougal perform My Lovely Horse, as it boycotts the contest over Israel’s participation.

Ireland joins Spain and Slovenia, where broadcasters are also boycotting the 70th iteration of the song competition in protest against Israel’s war in Gaza.

The Netherlands and Iceland are also not sending acts to compete in Eurovision but it will be aired.

Russia was banned from Eurovision after its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022 but Israel has continued to compete.

The Hamas-run health ministry estimates that 72,300 Palestinians have been killed during Israel’s war in Gaza following the Hamas attack on October 7 2023.

The boycott came about after members attended a European Broadcasting Union (EBU) general assembly in Geneva to vote on changes, which included new rules to deter countries from organising campaigns for their acts following concerns around the number of public votes Israel received in 2025.

Israeli singer Yuval Raphael received the largest number of votes from the public last May, ultimately finishing as runner-up after the jury votes were taken into account.

After the 2025 competition, RTE requested a breakdown in voting numbers from the EBU while Spain’s public broadcaster, Radio Television Espanola (RTVE), called for a “complete review” of the voting system to avoid “external interference”.

Alternative programming will also be shown on RTE2 during the semi-finals on Tuesday and Thursday.

The Slovenian broadcaster will air a series of documentaries on the Middle East under the theme Voices of Palestine.

For all the latest news, visit the Belfast Live homepage here and sign up to our daily newsletter here.

Leeds, meanwhile, have propelled themselves away from danger with a strong run of form, and they are seven points clear of the bottom three before kick off, making them mathematically safe. Keep up to date with all the latest from the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium with our live blog below.

In a year when the Democratic base is inflamed over their party’s shutdown capitulation in the Senate, and sees its leaders’ resistance efforts as insufficient, there’s little appetite for bipartisanship in primaries for the make-or-break midterms.

With that in mind — and with control of the U.S. Senate on the line — Michigan’s Democratic primary has become an all-out brawl over dark money and Israel, one that is central to the debate over the Democratic Party’s identity, but still risks opening old wounds at an inopportune time.

That debate was dialed up to 11 this past week with the news that Rep. Haley Stevens, viewed as the favorite of Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, had become the beneficiary of a $5 million surge in dark money ad spending from a group aiming to boost Stevens’ image as an opponent of the Trump administration and ICE.

The group is “strongly suspected to be linked to the American-Israel Public Affairs Committee [AIPAC],” HuffPost reported. And it’s no secret that AIPAC, which also supports some of the most right-wing, pro-Trump members of the U.S. Congress — and has tarred Democrats who show support for Palestinians as antisemitic — is increasingly a pariah with large portions of the Democratic base.

Naturally, both of Stevens’ opponents in the primary leapt on the announcement with scorn: “No amount of dark money will paper over the fact that Haley Stevens voted to thank Trump’s ICE agents and proudly took thousands in corporate PAC money from the company that makes ICE’s TASERs,” said a spokesperson for state Sen. Mallory McMorrow.

“Michiganders will see through this clear attempt to buy this race for Congresswoman Stevens,” added Abdul El-Sayed’s spokesperson.

That news immediately followed a separate AIPAC-related bulletin: A fundraising page, launched by the controversial pro-Israel PAC, featured Stevens right next to Maine Republican Sen. Susan Collins, an effort to rally support for “pro-Israel candidates [running] for U.S. Senate.”

“Right now, Democrats in Michigan and around the country are organizing to win this seat and flip the Senate. Meanwhile, my opponent Haley Stevens is fundraising with a Republican Senator who could block the Democratic Senate Majority,” wrote McMorrow on X, who went on to argue in a video message that it showed Stevens’ priorities were not with building a Democratic majority.

A source with knowledge of the arrangement told The Independent that the page featuring both Collins and Stevens was set up without the campaign’s knowledge and was taken down when the Stevens campaign requested it.

Polling shows Israel losing support among Democrats at a record pace in the wake of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s deadly onslaught against Gaza and the resulting humanitarian crises. Reports indicate the group is increasingly using tactics like this most recent announcement — funneling money through unrelated groups using messaging unrelated to Israel, all aimed at boosing pro-Israel candidates. Groups like TrackAIPAC have sought to identify candidates with financial backing from the PAC and its growing network of related organizations.

But the group’s influence threatens to roil the Democratic primary in Michigan in a way it did not in the Texas Senate primary, the first major Democratic contest of the year. Unlike in Texas, AIPAC has made clear which candidate it strongly prefers and has thus kicked off the first real opportunity for Democrats nationally, not just in Michigan, to hash out the debate over Israel’s influence and support within the party that voters and electeds have been having internally since November 2024.

Stevens, whose PAC-funded ad buy will put her on TV at a key moment while many voters are undecided, received 44% of her donations, minus PAC support and unitemized contributions, in the third quarter of 2025 through a network of pro-Israel groups including AIPAC, according to an analysis of her donor list and a list of AIPAC contributors reviewed by The Independent. That figure, not before reported, represents a major show of support from the group that essentially represents a lifeline for her campaign.

The Independent reached out to the Stevens campaign for comment.

Allies of the congresswoman contend that support for Israel and AIPAC’s track records are not issues of high importance to voters in the primary, though their opponents clearly disagree. Michigan, in 2024, was the birthplace of the “Uncommitted” movement which sought to pressure the Biden and later Harris campaigns into taking a stronger stance against the Israeli war effort and strategy as it related to the Gaza Strip.

Polls for months have shown that issues like inflation, high fuel prices and fears about America’s economic future still remain the most pressing issues for voters nationally, especially as the war in Iran has caused gas prices to surge past $4.50 a gallon on average.

Stevens has taken fire on the issue of AIPAC in particular from both of her opponents. McMorrow and El-Sayed, however, have also locked horns over McMorrow’s own past support from corporate PACs including one tied to a major Michigan energy company, DTE, in her previous campaign for state senate. The Detroit Metro Times reported on her past comments defending taking money from corporate PACs in March.

And El-Sayed’s supporters have pummeled the state senator’s campaign online over whether her repudiation of AIPAC is genuine, given that her husband previously interned for the group. The same newspaper reported that McMorrow also ”reached out to pro-Israel Democratic groups, attended a private pro-Israel leadership event, and traveled to Israel on a trip sponsored by a prominent pro-Israel organization”.

“One of our opponents is partnering with AIPAC to fundraise alongside a Republican, while the other has conveniently forgotten that she too met with them earlier in the cycle and reportedly submitted a position paper. Abdul has been consistent on this issue and believes that our tax dollars should be spent here at home, rather than dropping bombs abroad,” Roxie Richner, a spokesperson for El-Sayed’s campaign, told The Independent.

McMorrow and El-Sayed’s own separate duel is playing out for control of the race’s progressive lane, which El-Sayed leads as the Bernie Sanders-endorsed candidate but McMorrow retains a sizable chunk of support as well, having won support from Elizabeth Warren. She and El-Sayed refer to Israel’s war in Gaza as a genocide; Stevens does not.

With three months to go until the primary, a clear frontrunner has failed to emerge. El-Sayed’s campaign is exuding confidence amid a recent polling uptick, while supporters of his opponent believe (or hope) that his support is reaching a ceiling. McMorrow and El-Sayed both remain extremely active on the trail, while Stevens is taking the opposite approach — she is holding fewer public events including town halls than her opponents, and has been hit by political analysts for an awkward campaigning style that isn’t connecting with voters with the same fervor that El-Sayed or McMorrow can evoke.

“I’m not seeing any enthusiasm for her campaign,” Michigan-based Democratic strategist Chris De Witt told NOTUS last October as the outlet reported that Stevens’ D.C. allies were growing nervous about her bid. “That certainly can change, but it doesn’t seem like there’s a lot of excitement about her effort.”

There’s good reason for Democrats to be nervous. Many in D.C. still blame the Uncommitted campaign for withholding support for Harris at a moment when her campaign needed Democratic unity. Plenty of other Democrats around the country see it the opposite way: They blame out-of-touch D.C. policymakers for wedding the party to a deeply unpopular war under an increasingly unpopular Democratic administration helmed by a man so old he was forced to drop out of the race after months of those same policymakers’ insistences to the contrary.

The August primary is still three months away.

Until then, Democrats will have to sit back and watch as those 2024 wounds are re-opened, re-examined and hashed out in a state where Democrats need to defend an open seat to have any chance of winning back a Senate majority many still see as out of reach until the next election cycle.

Best Ann Summers sex toys at a glance:

How we tested the best Ann Summers sex toys

If there’s one thing Ann Summers does really well, it’s rabbit vibrators. This thrusting one is their best selling rabbit for a reason, the G-spot shaft rotates at three speeds inside you, while that dangly clit vibrator buzzes against your clitoris at your choice of seven vibration speeds.

New to the sex toy game? A bullet is the best place to start. They might be small and unassuming, but they’re plentiful in power. This silicone-coated one has a squishy tip so you can mix it up between soft and intense power, which makes it versatile enough to use during both solo and partnered sex. Bonus points go to the magnetic charging cable, so there are no excuses for going for a second, third, or even fourth round…

Okay, okay, if you’re playing with someone else, whacking out your six-inch rabbit vibrator could make your bedmate feel kind of redundant. To solve that issue, this cock ring makes their penis into the shaft of the rabbit. As well as the ring making their erection stronger and their orgasms more powerful, those ears will catapult you into another dimension as they buzz against your C-spot during penetration.

Cute sex toys are having a moment, and while there are a ton of appealing shapes out there, we’re peachy keen on this one from ROMP. It uses the same suction power as the viral Rose toy (IYKYK) and, when loaded up with plenty of water-based lube, comes dangerously close to mimicking sucking sensations during oral sex. Sweet.

Sometimes rabbit vibrators can feel a little intense – not least because they use two motors, but also because trying to get the internal and external portions into place can be a little intimidating and time-consuming. This flexy rabbit is able to get into just the right position thanks to having a curved shaft, which sits precisely against your G-spot. If keeping the shaft in one spot doesn’t do it for you, this toy also makes a great rocking and grinding toy, as the internal shaft can move and bend with your body.

Remember that episode of Sex and the City? There’s a reason Samantha Jones argues with that shop assistant: these bobbly-headed vibes deserve their dues for being the pleasure product. As well as being simply fabulous (look at that shiny gold handle), magic wands pack tons of power as they were originally designed to get knots out of your neck. Unlike the first Hitachi edition, though, this one is rechargeable, meaning you won’t have to worry about it running out mid-session. Its head is also coated in silicone so its 20 settings land more softly against your sensitive spots.

If you haven’t heard of the viral Rose toy, where have you been?! Should suction not be your thing, though, this one from Ann Summers uses thumping technology to tickle your C-spot, nipples, or any other external erogenous zone you can think of. As well as being, well, blooming pretty, it’s quite discreet as sex toys go, and it even has a gem on its base to remind you that you deserve to sparkle.

In case you needed a refresher, size doesn’t matter. But shape can make the world of difference, which is why I’m a huge fan of this lipstick-shaped bullet. It has a tapered tip, meaning you can opt for broad or pinpoint stimulation. To add a little spice to your self-care moment, the tip is also rippled for added texture.

Is that a vibe in your pants or are you just happy to see me? Ah. You guessed it, this is exactly what it says on the tin: a crotchless thong (for easily access) with a pocket that houses a removable bullet that sits precisely against your C-spot.

No, this is not a popsicle – it’s for another hole. This summery-sweet ombre G-spot vibe is just four inches, making it perfect for penetration beginners. Once slathered in water-based lube, the tip can be used externally to warm up, before venturing in.

There are so many rabbits on the market, it can be hard to find the right one if you’re a beginner. What you see is what you get with this Moregasm+ option. With three buttons at its base, you’ll have no problem choosing the perfect combo of internal and external vibrations. Best of all, the tip of the shaft is ultra squishy, meaning its rumbly power lands gently (but still intensely) on your G-spot.

Exhibitionists listen up… you didn’t hear this from us, but love eggs make the perfect companion for playing on the go. Sitting inside your vagina against your G-spot, these round toys have just the right girth to mimic the sensation of penetration. But, thanks to being powered by a remote control, you can hand over control of your inner vibes to your lover for some fun while you’re out and about. Or, if that’s not your thing, they also make a great side dish to eating out (if you catch my drift).

If you’re looking for the versatility of a magic wand without the numbing power, this silicone-coated option will solve a multitude of problems. Putting the ‘self’ in ‘self love’, this lilac lover has eight vibration patterns and three intensities to choose from, for completely customisable stimulation, but the layer of buttery smooth silicone on its head means it’s delivered to your clit slightly more gently than it would be otherwise.

As well as a comprehensive range of its own sex toys, Ann Summers also stocks a ton of exciting sex toy brands like the Oh Collective. This vibrator is one of my favourites, which I’m not ashamed to admit isn’t unaffected by the fact it comes with an iridescent storage case. But the toy itself is also unassumingly versatile: the smaller end is ideal for C-spot stimulation, while the wider end is delightful for internal play. Plus, it’s extremely bendy, which means it can be used as a C-shaped toy to carry you towards a blissful blended orgasm.

Ann Summers might be in the business of female empowerment, but they’ve also got something for people with penises, too! Powered by thrusting technology, this masturbator can move at up to 120 strokes per minute to imitate real sex, without the energy. You can also link it up with your favourite erotic content or have a long-distance partner take control via the app.

Before you run for the hills, give me a moment to tout my love of glass toys. It might sound like exactly the opposite of what you should be sticking in your vagina, glass sex toys like this five inch one are made from borosilicate, or lab-grade, glass, meaning they definitely won’t break. Promise. They’re also great for internal stimulation because, unlike silicone, glass heats up with your body temperature. It can also be cooled or heated according to your preferences by popping the toy in a bowl of iced or hot water for 10 minutes before you use. We love a sensory delight!

Whether you’re exploring pegging or lesbian sex for the first time, this strap on set has everything you could possibly need for fuss-free fun. It comes with a harness that can be adjusted to fit your waist size, while the three O-rings it comes with means you can move on to bigger and better dildos if you tire of the included 5.25 inch option.

Never tried a C-shaped toy before? Let me put you on to something life-changing. Designed to hug your G-spot and C-spot at the same time, the Chorus will quickly become your beloved companion for partnered sex. It can be worn during penetration (yes, really) and that haptic feedback remote means whoever takes the reins on your pleasure will be able to tell just how intense the setting they’ve chosen is, to make sure you’re fully in sync.

Here’s something they don’t teach you in school: you can’t just jump straight into full-on anal sex. In fact, it can take up to six weeks to prepare your backdoor muscle to be able to withstand penile penetration, so if you’re interested in exploring anal adventure then it’s time to get training! This butt plug is non-vibrating, so you can figure out whether you like this kind of stimulation, and it has a wide base, which will help you avoid any unwanted trips to A&E.

A shiny pink sex toy is nice and all, but sometimes you just want something that you know you’re going to be into. If, for you, that means a vein-covered silicone dildo, this is just the thingaling for you. As well as being five insertable inches (the average size of a penis in the UK, you might be interested to know), it’s got a realistic head and balls for extra stimulation as you pound, and the suction cup base means it can hang from any surface. Time to get creative!

Look, no straps! Once you’ve mastered the sensation of having an external appendage, more advanced strappers might want to graduate to a strapless strap. A fair warning: you’ll need to do your kegels, because the wearer slots the pony (that egg-shaped ending) into their vagina, while the end of the shaft vibrates against their C-spot. And, so your fingers don’t have to get in the way mid-thrust, you can control the vibration settings in the base, pony, tip of the shaft separately via the handy remote.

Ryanair will close its Thessaloniki base and reduce capacity at Athens Airport for the 2026 winter season.

This closure will result in:

• 12 routes being cut
• The loss of 700,000 seats
• A 45% reduction in passenger capacity
• Suspension of operations in Chania and Heraklion

Ryanair said these cuts are due to high airport costs and the refusal of Fraport Greece and Athens Airport to pass on government tax cuts.

Ryanair Chief Commercial Officer, Jason McGuinness, said: “Ryanair regrets to announce the closure of our Thessaloniki base and reductions in Athens for Winter ‘26, resulting in the loss of 700,000 seats and 12 routes across Greece, as well as the suspension of operations at Chania and Heraklion during the off-peak months.

“These preventable traffic reductions are a direct result of the airports’ failure to pass through the ADF reduction, particularly in Thessaloniki where the Fraport Greece monopoly have hiked airport charges +66% since 2019.

“The removal of 3 based aircraft, 500,000 seats (-60% vs. Winter ‘25) and 10 routes from Thessaloniki for Winter ‘26 will be devastating for the city and region, as Ryanair provided 90% of international capacity to Thessaloniki last Winter.

“Unfortunately, there will now be less low-cost air fares for Thessaloniki’s citizens and visitors, and year-round tourism will be harmed as a result.

“These aircraft will be reallocated to Albania, regional Italy and Sweden, where airports have passed on their Govt’s aviation tax savings – resulting in more connectivity, tourism and jobs this Winter in those regions.

“There is an opportunity for Greece to secure significant year-round traffic growth however, this investment can only be realised once the German-run Fraport Greece monopoly fully passes through the Greek Govt.’s sensible tax cut from November’24 – allowing airlines such as Ryanair, to deliver the connectivity required to reduce Greece’s chronic seasonality.”

The 12 routes axed by Ryanair following the closure of its Thessaloniki base

The following routes from Thessaloniki will be scrapped this winter, as a result of the Ryanair announcement:

• Berlin (Germany)
• Chania (Greece)
• Frankfurt-H (Germany)
• Gothenburg (Sweden)
• Heraklion (Greece)
• Niederrhein (Germany)
• Poznan (Poland)
• Stockholm (Sweden)
• Venice-T (Italy)
• Zagreb (Croatia)

Routes from Athens to Milan-M and Chania to Paphos have also been cut.

All operations at Chania and Heraklion Airports will also be suspended over the upcoming winter.

Ryanair calls for the new EES to be suspended

Meanwhile, Ryanair has also called for the rollout of the EU’s new entry/exit system (EES) to be suspended.

The new EES, introduced in April, is an IT system for registering non-EU nationals travelling for a short stay (up to 90 days).

Travellers in Europe now have to provide personal data, and have their fingerprints scanned and a photograph taken as part of the system.

The EES has received significant backlash since its introduction.

A total of 122 passengers were reportedly unable to board the flight from Milan Linate to Manchester last month due to delays caused by the EU’s new EES.

The flight was held for 59 minutes before departing, with the majority of seats empty.

Travellers flying in and out of Malta are also experiencing wait times of up to 40 minutes due to the new system, according to the Times of Malta.

As a result, David O’Brien, the CEO of Ryanair’s Malta subsidiary, Malta Air, has threatened to pull all flights from the holiday hotspot.

Now, Ryanair has renewed calls for the introduction of the EES to be suspended until September in another country, Spain.

These latest calls come after passengers travelling to/from Spain over the May Bank Holiday weekend were “made to suffer” through “avoidable” hour-long passport control queues, causing some to miss their flights.

Ryanair’s Chief Operations Officer, Neal McMahon, said: “It makes no sense that countries, like Spain, are continuing to implement the EU’s new Entry/Exit System (EES) when they are clearly not ready to do so.

“As a result of this half-baked system roll out, passengers are being forced to endure excessive passport control queues, and in some cases, missing flights.

“This May Bank Holiday weekend alone, passengers travelling to/from Spain were made suffer hour-long passport control queues.

“Ryanair’s average flight time is approximately 1hr 15mins – that means that some passengers are spending as much time waiting at passport control than they spent on the flight that got them there.

“It is completely unacceptable, especially when there is a quick and easy solution already provided for under EU law (EU Reg. 2025/1534) to stop these needless queue times – suspend EES until September when the peak summer travel season has subsided and allow passengers a smoother airport experience for their summer holidays.”

Jet2 has also called for the EU’s new EES to be suspended because of the major disruptions and delays it has caused for Brits travelling abroad.

Greece has delayed its introduction of the EES in an attempt to avoid any disruptions to tourism.

The Greek Embassy previously revealed that as of April 10, all British passport holders are “exempt from biometric registration at Greek border crossing points”.

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