Paul Barry, experienced community pharmacist and NHS business partner for Well Pharmacy, is urging the nation to be aware of the 12 signs and symptoms of a new strain known as Cicada. 

He said: “The new Cicada variant has now been identified in the UK and is expected to become the dominant strain.

“This deceptive new strain can trick the immune system into not recognising that it is Covid and can allow for the Cicada variant to quickly spread across the UK.

How to tell if you have a cold, the flu or COVID-19

“Young children are prone to picking up infections and could be particularly exposed to this variant given they will have unlikely had a Covid vaccination.  

“I would urge everyone to consider a Spring vaccine, given it will be almost five years since they have had a Covid vaccine. While the vaccine is not altered to target the new variant, it still offers the best form of protection against the virus.”

Pharmacists are bracing for a rush of patients wanting Spring vaccinations after the recent Meningitis outbreak exposed the dangers of being unvaccinated against serious disease. 

The genetic modifications of the new variant mean that the body may not recognise the virus, allowing it to spread quicker. 

Cicada was first identified in Africa before making its way across the globe and as of February 2026, it was in 23 countries including the Netherlands.  

In the UK, overall Covid cases remain low with 491 reported cases for the week up until March 25, with 27 covid-related deaths up to March 20. 

While there is no current evidence to suggest that Cicada poses a greater risk than other strains of Covid, patients should be cautious that vaccines might prove less effective against this variant. 

Paul wants to remind patients of the usual symptoms of Covid-19 including a cough, fever or chills. 

Other severe symptoms can include sore throat, shortness of breath, fatigue, headache, loss of smell or taste and gastrointestinal issues. 

While symptoms can vary with rest, it is also important to remain hydrated, drinking plenty of water and ensuring that the medicine cabinet is appropriately stocked up with over-the-counter medications including paracetamol.

Other patients can present asymptomatically, meaning that they won’t feel unwell, but they can still spread the virus. 

The NHS has a list of Covid symptoms available to be viewed on their website which suggests testing for Covid-19 if the following are present;

• A high temperature or shivering 
• A new continuous cough
• A loss or change to your sense of smell or taste
• Shortness of breath 
• Exhaustion or fatigue
• An aching body
• A headache 
• A sore throat 
• Blocked or runny nose
• Loss of appetite 
• Nausea or being sick 
• Diarrhoea 

Last year, the Nimbus and Stratus variants of Covid left patients feeling as though they had swallowed razor blades due to the pain felt when swallowing. 

Paul warns Brits to be cautious especially as the new Covid variant spreads and believes that anyone who might be under the weather and believes they have Covid should follow NHS advice.

Paul, from Well Pharmacy, said: “If you have Covid, you should stay indoors and rest, avoiding contact with other people and wait until you feel better or do not have a high temperature.

“Younger people who have tested positive for Covid seem to be infectious for less time than adults, and so usually within three days it is possible that they may be testing negative. 

“If you’re over 18 and have tested positive then it is recommended that you wait five days to have contact with anyone as this is usually when most over 18’s begin to test negative for Covid. 

“Patients who believe they might be vulnerable for Covid should book in for a Spring vaccine to ensure peace of mind as well as protection against the most severe effects of the virus.

“It’s important that everyone does their part, if you are testing positive for Covid then please do follow the NHS guidelines and don’t go to crowded places.”

A woman who swapped her home in Buckden, Cambridgeshire for a new life in the south of France has admitted that the life of an expat can be a lonely one

Quite a few of us fantasise about upping sticks and moving to a picturesque part of Europe to enjoy the sunshine and the benefits of the Mediterranean diet. But alongside the complexities of European bureaucracy – and the sheer expense – there is one other drawback that many people overlook.

Debbie Dawtrey, who moved from Buckden in Cambridgeshire to south-western France in 2023, says that one of the most significant problems she’s encountered is social isolation.

Debbie, 64, opened a small hotel in the Charente, based in the picturesque village of Confolens, and says while she’s kept very busy during the holiday season, the winter months can be a very lonely time.

She told The Times: “I didn’t know anyone in the area and while the summers are busy with guests, contacts are transient and the winters are especially hard as people hunker down and close the shutters.”

Debbie, who is single, says that she’s found a way of rebuilding her social life by organising a regular supper club for other expats: “Every month we’d take turns in hosting a dinner and had lots of fun,” she says, “it helped broaden our social circle.”

Debbie adds that it’s all too easy to become isolated when you move far away from family and friends, and advises “you have to really make an effort to put yourself out there”.

Even if you’ve made an effort to pick up the local language, the ability to strike up a casual conversation can be much more difficult compared to meeting people in the UK.

While some people might hang out in a local bar, or even join a health club, they’re easier to find in larger towns and cities. Starting a new life in the French countryside – or even in a rural community in the UK, can represent quite a challenge.

Even if they are operating on quite a large budget, expats can find themselves longing for the life they left behind. Earlier this year, Kate Ferdinand opened up about her homesickness after she and her football star husband Rio relocated to Dubai.

Speaking on her ‘Blended’ podcast in February, Kate broke down in tears and admitted she was missing her loved ones back home. Kate and Rio moved to the UAE last August and while her husband is “loving” his new life out there, things aren’t quite as rosy for Kate.

“I am enjoying it, but I miss home quite a lot,” she admitted. “I can’t talk about it because I get upset. I feel like we’ve opened our eyes to a different world. But I love London. I do feel happy in Dubai, but I’m just missing a part of me.”

A friend of the couple told The Mirror that the move to Dubai hasn’t worked out the way Kate had hoped, and she finds the glittering Middle-eastern city itself “soulless.” They revealed: “She’s struggling. She’s really missing home. She’s not enjoying it. And even though she’s got the kids and she’s got Rio there, she’s homesick. She can’t stop it and it’s very difficult. It’s just not home.”

Kate is also missing her stepchildren. While Rio’s daughter Tia, 14, made the move to the UAE with them, his eldest sons Lorenz, 19, Tate, 17, remained in the UK to focus on their budding football careers – a move which has caused further anguish for Kate.

Speaking on her podcast, she confessed, “I miss the big boys a lot and I’m struggling with that. I know this decision is right for my younger children and as a family we are settled there, but the boys are following their football careers. So they’re doing what they want to do, otherwise they’d be with us.”

She added: “But it’s very hard because we’ve been through so much as a family and we’ve always been together and that’s a huge adjustment.”

The village is made up of pretty houses and cottages as well as lots of local amenities

Locals have praised a “hidden secret” village in Cambridgeshire for its “really cute community” and for being in an ideal location to spot planes flying from the garden.

Home to over 2000 people, the village of Duxford is made up of pretty houses and cottages. It is a village widely known for its Imperial War Museum and their historic air shows. Situated around 10 miles south of Cambridge, Duxford has a shop, a community centre with a park and a café, and two pubs called The Plough and John Barleycorn. The village also has a charming café called Four Duxford.

As part of our Exploring Cambridgeshire series, we visited the village and spoke to people about what it is like to live here.

Caroline and Meredith Lloyd-Evans moved to the village five years ago from Cambridge. Meredith said Duxford is a “hidden secret” where he can see planes flying and “doing acrobats” from his garden. The couple say they enjoy seeing the planes because of “the history”.

Meredith highlighted the sereneness of the village and how “it’s one of the few places I’ve been where you can walk back from the nearest station”, which is Whittlesford Parkway. The railway station is around a 25 minute walk from Duxford or five minutes away by car.

He likes that Duxford is filled with “old buildings” that feels like “old England”. Caroline said she is actually “such a ‘townie” but finds that “villages are coping better post pandemic”. She added that “most towns end up with tattoo shops, fudge shops, and coffee shops” but she has “more or less” all the amenities she needs in Duxford.

Caroline continued: “What you still have in villages is community pride and character.”

Meredith explained that during his first day in Duxford, he noticed “one very big difference from Cambridge”. He said: “People stopped and said ‘hello’ and ‘good morning’.”

Gentiana Restelica runs the local café, Four Duxford. She “loves” the village for its “really cute community” that makes her feel as though she has “a big family”. Gentiana has been at the café for around eight months and initially expected Duxford to be “gridlocked” during air shows, however she said “it felt really controlled” and “well organised”.

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The 33-year-old highlighted another “really fun” event where “hundreds of people come down”. Duxford Soapbox Derby is an annual charity racing event featuring homemade, gravity-powered vehicles racing through the village streets. Gentiana explained that there are adult and child races and each of the go-karts has a unique design.

Jenny Mustoe, has lived in Duxford for 44 years. She highlighted how the locals are all “friendly” and the transport options “work well”. Duxford has a bus station which takes you into Cambridge city or alternative routes such as Saffron Walden. Jenny said that she “wouldn’t want to live in a town” and she has all the amenities she needs.

Andrew Baker, 52, grew up in Duxford and said “it’s a beautiful village” and reminisced on how he used to go to the village green with friends when he was a child. His favourite feature of the village is the two pubs alongside the community hub which Andrew believes is “a fantastic addition” and says it is “always busy” and “very vibrant”.

Mikel Arteta has warned Arsenal will be ruthless over the futures of their prized academy youngsters with the club open to offers for Myles Lewis-Skelly and Ethan Nwaneri.

The Gunners are prepared to sell members of their first-team squad this summer to help fund another big transfer window.

Sales of youth team players will represent pure profit on the balance sheet at the Emirates with Arsenal looking for a combined fee of £100m for their two 19-year-old stars.

Lewis-Skelly enjoyed a superb breakout campaign for the club last season but has been limited to just one starting appearance in the Premier League this term, third choice behind Riccardo Calafiori and Piero Hincapie.

Nwaneri also failed to get a look-in, managing just 165 minutes of Premier League football before getting the green light to join Marseille on loan during the January transfer window.

Manchester United are interested in Lewis-Skelly as they consider long-term options at left-back to replace Luke Shaw while Nwaneri will have no shortage of suitors with Chelsea exploring an audacious move for him last year.

Arsenal have a rich history of promoting their Hale End academy stars but have also shown they can be ruthless, collecting big fees after deciding to sell Emile Smith Rowe and Eddie Nketiah in recent years.

And while insisting young players from the club are part of Arsenal’s identity, Arteta has warned they will not receive any special treatment.

‘It’s part of us,’ Arteta said when asked about the club’s academy.

‘At the end what has to define this football club is to seek for excellence and seek for the best, regardless if you’re coming from the academy or abroad.

‘If we can have players from Hale End, much better because the identity is there. We grow with them and they know exactly what we’re looking for.

‘But at the end they have to earn it. Not for a week, not for a month, for years. Like anybody else, it doesn’t matter what department or role you have in the club.

‘You have to sustain performance and that has to be at the very highest level if we want to win and be where we want to be.’

MORE: Alejandro Garnacho opens up on ‘bad things’ that forced Man Utd move to Chelsea

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As the Premier League season approaches its finale, April could be the defining month for leaders Arsenal and closest challengers Manchester City.

Mikel Arteta’s men are aiming for the club’s first league title since 2004 – and with a nine-point lead and seven games remaining, have destiny in their own hands.

Second-placed City, though, are looking to push them all the way and have a game in hand and experience of getting over the line in this decisive period.

Pep Guardiola’s side, looking to claw back the deficit, can increase the pressure when they host the leaders in a monumental fixture at Etihad Stadium on Sunday, 19 April. And recent history shows this is the month where City excel and Arsenal flounder.

“We need to get a lot of points,” said Guardiola. “We have not been consistent enough in the season. We have dropped points that we should have taken, which is why we are now in the position where we cannot do it differently.

“We have to win every single game.”

Arteta will be desperate to triumph come May, having won only the FA Cup and the Community Shield since taking charge in 2019. Like City, his side have drawn seven games, but they have suffered two fewer defeats.

Arsenal can further extend their lead when hosting Bournemouth in Saturday’s lunchtime kick-off, before City face a tricky trip to sixth-placed Chelsea the following day.

“The closer we get, the relevance and importance of the match increases,” admitted Arteta, whose side have finished runners-up for the past three seasons.

“Tomorrow is a big day for us. The players know it, the supporters know it.

“It is a 12:30 kick-off, an early kick-off, so get up early, have an early breakfast, bring your lunch and let’s go altogether for it because it has to be a big day.”

Riz Ahmed’s Bait is an exceptional piece of television. Not only for its satirical exploration of the entertainment industry, but for the psychological narrative running underneath it.

At its heart, the Prime Video series is a quietly devastating study of the pressures placed upon British‑Pakistani men. What appears to be an eccentric comedy about a struggling actor auditioning for James Bond soon reveals itself to be a nuanced portrayal of shame, internalised stigma and the early signs of psychosis.

The series follows Shah Latif (Ahmed), whose obsessive pursuit of validation becomes a catalyst for a psychological unravelling. Shah’s downward spiral is shaped by relentless scrutiny and the fear of not belonging. These themes resonate strongly with a growing body of research on psychosis in British‑Pakistani communities.

A 2024 study in The British Journal of Psychiatry found a significantly higher incidence of first‑episode psychosis among British‑Pakistanis, compared with the majority population.

This offers an important parallel to Bait. Shah’s sense of cultural drift, his distance from grounding community structures and his struggle to inhabit multiple identities all heighten his vulnerability.

The show does not name psychosis explicitly, but Shah experiences intrusive thoughts, escalating paranoia, fragmentation of self and delusions. This reflects real trajectories observed in early intervention services.

Racism and psychosis

One of the most incisive threads in the series is the portrayal of racial microaggressions that Shah absorbs without resistance. These include remarks about his “Britishness”, comments on his appearance, and the persistent insinuation that he exists outside the cultural centre.

Recent research has shown that racial discrimination is one of the strongest predictors of psychosis risk. It increases the likelihood of psychotic symptoms by 77%, with physical racial attacks multiplying the risk five-fold.

Shah’s encounters – ranging from subtle jabs to overt dismissal – operate cumulatively, shaping his internal monologue and eroding his self-esteem. The brilliance of Bait lies in how it embeds these aggressions into the comedic structure, illustrating the subtle normalisation of harm.

The series highlights the importance of family dynamics, a key but under-researched factor in understanding psychosis among South Asian Muslims in the UK. A 2009 study found that families often had to navigate stigma, concerns about privacy and honour, and tensions between medical models of illness and culturally rooted understandings of distress.

Shah’s relationship with his family shifts between warmth, expectation and pressure, reflecting this complexity. Family can act as both a source of support and a cause of psychological strain.

Research examining British-Pakistani Muslim views on mental health has found that cultural stigma, fear of public opinion, and uncertainty around religious explanations can delay people seeking help.

These dynamics are reflected in the silence running through Shah’s world. Mental health struggles are hinted at but never openly discussed, and Shah instinctively hides his distress behind humour and performance. This also reflects how many communities describe mental health in moral or spiritual terms, rather than psychological ones.

I recently explored these issues in a podcast conversation with Zenab Sabahat, a PhD researcher at the University of Bradford. Her research looks at access to, experiences of and outcomes for South Asian Muslim families receiving family interventions for psychosis. This work explores how cultural identity stress, stigma and mismatches between different models of care shape pathways into support.

Sabahat’s work reinforces what Bait illustrates narratively: that psychological distress among British-Pakistanis is closely linked to experiences of migration, racism, cultural belonging and intergenerational tension.

This reality also underpins the work of Our Minds Matter, the UK charity I co-founded to deliver culturally grounded mental health education and support in under-served communities. The organisation’s mission emphasises the need to address mental health through the lenses of culture, faith and community – approaches that mainstream services often overlook.

Early education, reducing stigma and building culturally sensitive support are essential for addressing the inequalities faced by communities like Shah’s.

Five years ago, our team produced a community-led documentary exploring psychosis. It highlighted the experiences of South Asian families and the urgent need for culturally coherent support structures. The challenges articulated in the documentary continue to be reflected in both academic research and people’s lived experiences today.

What Bait achieves is not simply representation but illumination. It exposes how psychological vulnerability can be fuelled by cultural dislocation, racialised exclusion, and the impossible expectation to excel while carrying generations of unspoken pressure.

Shah’s experiences – humorous, painful and increasingly fractured – mirror the mental health inequalities faced by British‑Pakistani communities, particularly men navigating contradictory identities and structural disadvantage.

The series invites viewers to see psychosis not as an isolated biomedical event, but as a response to accumulated pressures: family honour, societal scrutiny, cultural misrecognition and stigma that constrains emotional expression.

These pressures interact across biological, psychological and social frameworks, creating conditions in which psychosis risk becomes elevated. The show’s understated portrayal of this trajectory offers a culturally specific, psychologically accurate narrative rarely seen in British television.

In a media landscape where the mental health of British South Asian Muslims is often sensationalised or overlooked, Bait offers an important counternarrative. It shows that the intersections of identity, discrimination and cultural expectation are not abstract ideas but lived experiences that shape psychological wellbeing.

The show’s quiet strength lies in revealing these dynamics without being preachy – inviting audiences and practitioners to better understand how culture, racism and mental health intertwine.

Boxing icon Tyson Fury is back in the ring this weekend after announcing his retirement over 12 months ago

Boxing icon Tyson Fury is set to make his return to the ring this weekend, marking yet another comeback following his retirement announcement.

Fury, 37, most recently walked away from the sport in January 2025 after suffering a second successive defeat to Ukrainian icon Oleksandr Usyk. The former two-time heavyweight world champion is due to face hard-hitting Russian contender Arslanbek Makhmudov on Saturday night in London.

He insists he still has what it takes to hold his own against the sport’s biggest names, and a win over Makhmudov could potentially set up a blockbuster bout with fellow British heavyweight Anthony Joshua.

With Fury firmly back in the spotlight, the Manchester Evening News takes a closer look at his personal life, including his temporary separation from wife Paris, his net worth, and his extensive family.

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Tyson Fury has come out of retirement to face Russian boxer Arslanbek Makhmudov in a heavyweight clash in London on April 11. The fight will stream live on Netflix, which fans can get for free with Sky’s £15 Essential TV bundle or £24 Ultimate TV bundle, the latter of which also includes HBO Max and Disney+.

Why did Tyson Fury and Paris split?

Tyson and Paris have enjoyed 18 years of marriage after meeting as teenagers, yet their wedding almost never took place. In her 2021 memoir, Love and Fury, Paris candidly revealed how the couple clashed over their wedding date, nearly bringing their relationship to an end.

While Paris had her heart set on a November wedding, their “schedule was thrown into the air” when Tyson failed to secure his place at the Olympics and pushed to move the date forward.

“My fiancé clearly didn’t understand the amount of planning and organisation that went into a wedding,” Paris wrote.

“I was beginning to realise how incredibly impulsive he was, the sort of person who lived life in the moment and liked to make decisions on the hoof. In Tyson’s world, our big day could be rescheduled on a whim, just like one of his boxing matches. I was having none of it, though, and refused point-blank to change the date.

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“As tensions simmered between us, I soon found myself reaching breaking point. It was one conflict after another and after an ugly slanging match with him outside mam’s house, I decided to call time on the wedding and our relationship.

“He thought I was joking and when I dropped the big bombshell, then he realised I was deadly serious. I simply couldn’t take any more, I told him. As far as I was concerned, we were done. Our courtship was over.”

After six months apart, Tyson reached out. Paris recalled: “He sent me an emotionally-charged text. He told me he couldn’t believe I’d abandoned our relationship so easily, and he couldn’t bear the thought of me meeting somebody else.”

Tyson persisted in his efforts to win Paris back, ultimately succeeding when the couple encountered one another again. Finally, in November 2008, they wed at St Peter-In-Chains Roman Catholic Church in Doncaster, surrounded by friends and family.

Who’s in the Fury family?

The Fury family stand as one of boxing’s most formidable dynasties. Tyson and Paris are parents to seven children: Venezuela, 16, Prince John James, 13, Prince Tyson II, eight, Valencia, six, Prince Adonis Amaziah, five, Athena, three, and Prince Rico, two.

The family offered supporters an insight into their world through the 2023 Netflix series At Home with the Furys, which featured numerous other relatives from their extended family. Former Love Island contestant and boxer Tommy is Tyson’s half-brother and John Fury’s son.

The duo are two of John’s five offspring, alongside half-siblings Shane and Roman, who are also boxers. Shane and Roman are frequently seen at prominent boxing occasions backing Tyson.

Tyson’s cousin, Hughie Fury, has similarly established himself within the boxing world. Meanwhile, Peter Fury, Tyson’s uncle, may ring a bell for those remembering Tyson’s formative years when he assisted in coaching ‘The Gypsy King’, particularly during the victory over Wladimir Klitschko in 2015.

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What is Tyson Fury’s net worth?

Tyson is estimated to possess a net worth of approximately £120million. To date, he has earned at least £188m through guaranteed purses and pay-per-view bonuses.

A substantial share of his fortune derives from his 2024 bouts, including an estimated £81.2m for the initial Usyk fight and £40m for his encounter with Francis Ngannou.

Tyson Fury Ltd, which oversees his boxing and commercial ventures, doubled its assets from approximately £82m in 2023 to more than £161m in 2024.

Despite the company’s staggering valuation, Fury drew a relatively modest salary and dividend of approximately £100,000 that year. He also supplements his earnings through his Netflix series At Home with the Furys, book deals, and his energy drink brand, Furocity.

Fury is set to face Makhmudov on Saturday in a 12-round contest at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, with the bout broadcast live on Netflix. The main card is scheduled to begin at 7pm, with Fury anticipated to make his ring walk at around 10:30pm.

Subject to planning approval, the former TK Maxx building will be demolished to make way for shops and homes

Locals have shared what they would like to see happen to a massive building that housed a Woolworths and TK Maxx. At the end of March, Peterborough City Council announced the sale of the former TK Maxx building in Bridge Street had been completed and that it would be demolished.

Dubbed a “landmark building” by council leader Councillor Shabina Qayyum, the building will be converted into new shops and accommodation. Peterborough residents have shared what they would like to see the building replaced with.

William Elmore said it is “time for change” with the building set to be demolished. He said: “I think it’s important there is something different.

“We’ve got a awful lot of vape shops and takeaways. We’re also trying to café culture thing, but we need to trim the trees down so some sunlight gets through. It needs to be something nice, something that suits the town. An independent shop would be good.”

David Miller and Roseanne Holmes have fond memories of when the building was Woolworths. David said it was a “good shop”.

On its future, he added: “We have a lot of cafés, so an indoor market would be great, with local produce and things like that. It’s a huge space, and it’s sitting there doing nothing. There are lots of people out there that make stuff.”

Roseanne also liked the idea of a market. She said: “If they’ve got a market, then people can make a bit more money.”

David added: “It’s very cultural around here, so it would be great for all cultures.”

One woman, who asked to remain anonymous, said it is “such a big building”, that it would be “nice to put something in a bit different”.

She added: “Maybe another high end clothes shop? Or it would be nice to have a proper market. I remember when the market was near the old Wilko’s. It used to be popular. It would be nice to have somewhere for everyone to go to.”

Frank Golding said Woolworths was his “favourite” shop. He said: “It was so good for its bargains. It was sent when it turned into a TK Maxx and it was ok, but I didn’t go there as much. It’ll be nice to see something finally done with it.

“Maybe something a bit more cultural, like some different food shops. There is a lot of culture in Peterborough, why not show it off?”

Mary Whittaker would like to see some independent shops added to the city centre. She said: “It’s such a big building to knock down.

“The homes will be good, being in the centre of the city. I do wonder what shops they’ll put in, maybe some independent shops? That’s what Peterborough is lacking I feel, more of a space for more niche things.”

Peterborough City Council bought the former TK Maxx building in 2020 for £4 million. The shop was then moved into the Queensgate Shopping Centre, where it remains today.