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Politics

Why Does Sunlight Make Me Sneeze? ACHOO Syndrome Explained

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Why Does Sunlight Make Me Sneeze? ACHOO Syndrome Explained

I’ve begun to refer to a junction near my home as “sneeze corner”.

While the pavement outside my flat is shady, the path perpendicular to it is almost always sunny – inevitably, passing from one to the other makes my eyes water and my nose twitch. I usually sneeze about three times afterwards.

It turns out I am not alone, and that I likely have a condition with a (surprisingly cute) name: ACHOO syndrome.

What is ACHOO syndrome?

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The name, which stands for Autosomal Dominant Compelling Helio-Ophthalmic Outburst, refers to “uncontrollable sneezing in response to the sudden exposure to bright light, typically intense sunlight”, the clinician resource book Medical Genetics Summaries (MGS) explained. It’s also known as photic sneezing.

The Cleveland Clinic said it could happen due to all kinds of sudden bright light, though it’s more common in sunlight.

Those with the condition find that when they go from dark (or shade) into bright light quickly, they can’t help but sneeze.

What are the symptoms of ACHOO syndrome?

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The main symptom is sneezing, or wanting to sneeze, when met with sudden light. It’s not the light itself, but the change in intensity from dimmer light to a brighter kind, that appears to trigger the response.

It might also manifest as a “prickling feeling” in your nose.

In fact, MGS said, about 25% of people who already feel that prickling go on to sneeze in sunlight. But ”‘pure’ photic sneezing is far less common,” they added.

Dr Tan Zhibin, an associate consultant at the Department of Neurology at the National Neuroscience Institute, said in some cases, it can lead to over 40 back-to-back sneezes at a time.

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Why does ACHOO syndrome happen?

Researchers aren’t really sure.

Genes seem to have something to do with it: if one of your parents has ACHOO syndrome, you have a 50-50 chance of getting it too.

Still, not only has the genetic basis of ACHOO syndrome remained “unknown” to scientists, but the mechanisms behind photic sneezing is a bit of a mystery, too.

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Some think it has to do with “over-excitability of the visual cortex in response to light, leading to a stronger activation of the secondary somatosensory areas”.

That means bright light might make the part of the brain that processes sight react a little too strongly, affecting other parts of our mind that deal with physical touch and sensory processing.

Another theory is that there might be a crossed wire between the part of your brain that senses irritants and tells you to sneeze, and the section that tells your eyes’ pupils to constrict in bright light.

How common is ACHOO syndrome?

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Again, we’re not sure – but The Cleveland Clinic puts it at anywhere from 18-35% of the population.

Research shows that it may be more common in people who are:

  • white, especially women,
  • affected by a deviated septum.

Is ACHOO syndrome dangerous?

Not in and of itself. But, like anything that temporarily distracts you, it might have knock-on effects.

One case study documented a 26-year-old whose sudden sneezing was linked to three motor vehicle accidents while he was driving a scooter.

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It might also put you at risk if you’re having dental surgery and a dentist shines a bright lamp onto your face. And eye tests can prove tricky, too.

Experts think ACHOO syndrome might also pose risks for high-wire acrobats, some athletes (like baseball players), pilots, and drivers exiting tunnels into bright daylight.

Speaking to the Cleveland Clinic, allergist Dr Dylan Timberlake said: “You certainly wouldn’t want [photic sneezing] to happen when you’re behind the wheel or operating heavy machinery.”

He added it’s probably worth bringing it up with your healthcare providers before they do any procedures, just in case.

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This may be especially true if you’re about to undergo eye surgery. Eye injections used to administer anaesthesia to the area might elicit sneezes in people with the syndrome, too, Healthline said.

How can I lower my risk of sneezing in sunlight?

Shielding your eyes from the sun before leaving a dark area and wearing sunglasses or a hat that provides shade might help.

Healthline explained that taking antihistamines might also reduce your risk of photic sneezing if you have seasonal allergies.

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But right now, there are no medications or surgeries to target ACHOO syndrome specifically.

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Starmer Getting On With The Job Amid Leadership Tensions

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Starmer Getting On With The Job Amid Leadership Tensions

Downing Street insists Keir Starmer is is “getting on with the job” as he tries to push through major policies in what could be his final weeks in No.10.

On Monday, the prime minister gave tech companies three months to introduce measures to prevent children sending and receiving explicit images on their mobile phones.

“This is not an impossible challenge,” the PM said in a speech at London Tech Week. “These are some of the most innovative companies in the world and I believe they can solve it.

“But if they choose not to, then we will act and we will change the law because when it comes to the safety of our children, standing by is not an option.”

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The PM is also expected to finally unveil the government’s long-awaited defence investment plan ahead of a Nato summit being held in Turkey next month.

All of this activity is taking place against the backdrop of next week’s Makerfield by-election, when Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham appears on course to become an MP once again.

An opinion poll last week gave him a 10-point lead over his Reform UK rival, Robert Kenyon, and one Labour MP who has knocked on doors in the seat told HuffPost UK that “feels about right”.

Burnham admitted last week that he plans to replace Starmer as PM, with speculation mounting that he could launch his leadership bid within days of his return to Westminster.

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The prime minister’s official spokesman denied that Starmer is in a hurry to create a legacy he can point to if his time in office is entering its final weeks.

He said: “The prime minister has made it clear that he is very much focused on the job in hand as the PM.

″[The tech announcement] is further evidence of the prime minister being determined to take action when it puts people at risk.

“He is getting on with the job and delivering for the British people in a number of different ways.”

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Allies of Starmer have made it clear that he will definitely stand in any leadership contest, with former health secretary Wes Streeting also insisting that he plans to throw his hat into the ring.

Despite the sudden burst of activity emanating from No.10, Westminster is currently in a holding pattern as we await the verdict of the people of Makerfield.

Whether Burnham wins or loses, it still seems certain that Starmer will face a leadership challenge.

A month may have passed since the May 7 elections which saw Labour thrashed in England, Scotland and Wales, but the feelings of anger and disenchantment are still raw among the party’s MPs.

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Starmer may well be “getting on with the job” right now, but it is unlikely that he will be able to for much longer.

Subscribe to Commons People, the podcast that makes politics easy. Every week, Kevin Schofield and Kate Nicholson unpack the week’s biggest stories to keep you informed. Join us for straightforward analysis of what’s going on at Westminster.

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The ‘Airbnb Of Campervans’ Has Your Summer Road Trip Plans Sorted

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The 'Airbnb Of Campervans' Has Your Summer Road Trip Plans Sorted

We hope you love the products we recommend! All of them were independently selected by our editors. Just so you know, HuffPost UK may collect a share of sales or other compensation from the links on this page if you decide to shop from them. Oh, and FYI — prices are accurate and items in stock as of time of publication.

I won’t bore you with details of the endless travel difficulties we’re experiencing right now. You get it – fuel prices are high, meaning lots of us are opting for staycations in the UK this year.

With the school holidays approaching, Airbnbs are getting booked up fast, and options for places to stay in the UK are dwindling by the minute. And while camping is always an option, it’s certainly not for everyone.

So, if you’re looking for the perfect in-between, I’ve found just the thing for you: the ‘Airbnb of campervans’.

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Romanticised in everything from On The Road to Little Miss Sunshine, there’s nothing like a road trip to get some bonding time in, whether that’s with your partner, family, or friends.

Understandably, you might not want to invest in an entire campervan or motorhome to be responsible for year-round. But, if you’re anything like me, a road trip is something you’ll want to do at least once in your life.

For a happy medium, Goboony has a range of rental campervans and motorhomes to meet every need you could have. You only need a driving license to get behind the wheel, and you can choose from electric or diesel-powered vehicles.

Then there are sleeping arrangements to consider (some can sleep a whole family) and whether you want to take a furry friend along with you for the ride.

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As well as a stylish motorhome for a few days, Goboony also offers insurance and around the clock roadside assistance, so you can travel to the prettiest spots in the UK without worrying about breakdowns (motor or emotional) or damage.

If you’re considering a mobile holiday this summer, I’ve gone ahead and picked out the chicest motorhomes on Goboony right now – all you have to do is find the best dates to suit you.

Best campervans for a staycation in the UK

Location: West Sussex
Vehicle type: 5 berth Mercedes-Benz Campervan
Sleeps: 5 people
Weekly mileage limit: 1,000 miles.

Location: Shawlands
Vehicle type: Vauxhall
Weekly mileage limit: 1,000 miles
Sleeps: 2 people.

Location: Glasgow
Vehicle type: Volkswagen campervan
Weekly mileage limit: 1,000 miles
Sleeps: 2 people.

Location: Greater London
Vehicle type: Citroën campervan
Weekly mileage limit: 1,000 miles
Sleeps: 3 people.

Location: Oxfordshire
Vehicle type: Lamborghini campervan
Weekly mileage limit: 1,000 miles
Sleeps: 4 people.

Location: Oxfordshire
Vehicle type: Volkswagen campervan
Weekly mileage limit: 1,000 miles
Sleeps: 6 people.

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The obnoxious hypocrisy of Starmer’s fury with JD Vance

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The obnoxious hypocrisy of Starmer’s fury with JD Vance

Why is it okay for Brits to be righteously angry over the death of George Floyd but not for Americans to be righteously angry over the death of Henry Nowak? Our cousins across the pond have every right to ask this question following David Lammy’s staggeringly imperious comments on Sky News on Sunday morning. With aristocratic swagger, our deputy PM lamented JD Vance’s meddling in our national life with his tweet about the ‘righteous anger’ we should feel in response to Nowak’s death. It’s inappropriate, Lammy sniffed. Yep, this is the same David Lammy who cheered the ‘righteous anger’ that greeted the killing of Floyd.

One is forced to ask: was it arrogance or stupidity that led Lammy to rebuke an American for doing exactly as he once did? Did he forget that he also used the phrase ‘righteous anger’ after Floyd’s death, and that he barked at America to turn this rage into ‘meaningful reform’? Or is he now so high on his own supply of moral vanity that he thinks different rules apply to him? I suspect it’s the latter, because even when the Sky News host – Trevor Phillips – played clips of Lammy and his Labour colleagues righteously raging over Floyd’s death, Lammy didn’t flinch. We are allowed to wag a finger at Trumpist America, but those rough Yanks must never do likewise with us – that was the patrician essence of the rictus smirk he wore even as his rank hypocrisy was played back to him.

Even by the low standards of our smug elites, the Victorian gasping over Vance’s comments has been wild. It feels positively pre-1776, with America’s old rulers telling Vance and the rest of the DC riff-raff to do as we say, not as we do. No sooner had Vance mourned the murder of Nowak by Vickrum Digwa – calling it ‘tragic’ and ‘enraging’ – than Downing St was noisily gnashing its teeth. ‘People [are] trying to interfere in our democracy’, said Keir Starmer’s spokesman. Yes, it’s the same Keir Starmer who, as leader of the opposition in May 2020, took to his despatch box in the Commons to express ‘shock and anger’ over Floyd’s death. And to vent his ‘abhorrence’ over Trump’s response to that death.

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It takes cant to dizzying new heights for a PM who lectured America about Floyd’s death to get all uppity because Vance has ventured an opinion on Nowak’s death. Labour is stuffed with such moral pretenders. Shabana Mahmood, the home secretary, wrote a wordy public letter in 2020 to voice her ‘unspeakable outrage’ over Floyd’s death. Now she yaps about the ‘dangerous undercurrent’ of rage in response to Nowak’s death. London mayor Sadiq Khan welcomed the ‘fury and anguish’ that swept the globe after Floyd’s death. Now he says we should stop playing ‘knockabout politics’ with Henry’s death. Why is it righteous fury when people like him mourn the death of a man 4,000 miles from Britain, but ‘knockabout politics’ when others do likewise following the cruel slaying of a boy in Britain?

Britain’s entire political class, not to mention the well-fed activists of the Oxbridge left, stand so morally exposed right now. Both the House of Commons and House of Lords held a minute’s silence for George Floyd. Not only have they done no such thing for Nowak, but MPs jeered and finger-jabbed at Nigel Farage when he dared to say we should ‘rage’ over that teen’s cruel, lonely death. Meanwhile, plummy leftists who took the knee, tore down statues and bored us rigid with their performative fury after Floyd’s death now warn us oiks not to ‘weaponise’ Nowak’s death. Only they are allowed to exploit human tragedy for moral kicks, okay?

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It isn’t hard to see why Vance’s tweet rattled our ruling class. For he did something they are too craven and culpable to do – he tied young Henry’s death to the West’s violent drift from the virtues of its own civilisation. Yes, he was wrong to link the killing with Britain’s burning of its own sovereign integrity and the corresponding spike in undesirable forms of immigration – Vickrum Digwa was born here. But he was right to lament the ‘politics of self-hatred’ that led us to a situation where cops will prioritise a false accusation of racism over a dying boy’s begging for help. That atrocity in Southampton, where Henry said ‘I can’t breathe’ nine times as cops dragged him, cuffed him and basically called him a liar, was a microcosm of our institutionalised identity politics and its elevation of the cult of grievance over the enlightened virtues of reason and fairness.

The current Vance Derangement Syndrome is so telling. That Brits who wailed over the death of Floyd can reprimand Vance for mourning the death of Nowak reveals so much about the elites’ culture wars. To them, America is less a real place than a kind of moral playpen – a distant, unreal zone in which Europeans bereft of ideas for their own societies might puff out their chests and wang on about racism, slavery, whiteness, etc. In 2020’s Covid-addled, Floyd-enraged digital highways of voguish self-loathing, America became a stage for the pious of the world to act out the thin morality of their anti-Westernism. The possibility that actual Americans – like a then 35-year-old JD Vance – might have taken umbrage at this colonial-vibing venom for the American republic seems never to have crossed their minds. And now they froth like loons upon receiving a taste of their own medicine.

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But there’s something else at play, too. It isn’t really Vance and his social-media missives they fear – it’s us. They are consumed by fever dreams that Vance’s tweet will ignite the bovine rage of the British masses. The Westminster elites’ frantic policing of our post-Nowak emotions – especially our ‘righteous anger’ – is driven by a deep dread of working-class feeling. Just as they seek to temper our fury following Islamist attacks or further revelations about the rape gangs, so they want to crush our dismay over Henry’s death and our dissent over the neo-racialism of identity politics that exacerbated that horror. They might be pissed with Vance, but it’s us they hate.

Brendan O’Neill is spiked’s chief political writer and host of the spiked podcast, The Brendan O’Neill Show. Subscribe to the podcast here. His latest book – After the Pogrom: 7 October, Israel and the Crisis of Civilisation – is available to order on Amazon UK and Amazon US now. And find Brendan on Instagram: @burntoakboy.

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Tired of the 3 AM Wake-Up Call? Here’s What Your Body Is Trying to Tell You

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According to Harvard Health, the term refers to a lack of sleep that happens not because someone can’t nod off, but because they wake up and can’t fall back asleep.

I have insomnia, but not the kind that means I struggle to fall asleep (in fact, the speed and ease with which I nod off at night put me off seeking help for years).

Instead, the problem happens in the early hours of the morning. It reaches roughly 3am, and my body wakes me up – a common enough process, but one which I, for some reason, don’t recover from.

After the disruption, I stay up for hours, only feeling able to sleep when it’s time to get up and go to work. This persists no matter how much shut-eye I do (or don’t) get, how much exercise I do, or how early I go to bed.

If that sounds familiar, you – like me – may have something called sleep maintenance insomnia.

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What is sleep maintenance insomnia?

According to Harvard Health, the term refers to a lack of sleep that happens not because someone can’t nod off, but because they wake up and can’t fall back asleep.
According to Harvard Health, the term refers to a lack of sleep that happens not because someone can’t nod off, but because they wake up and can’t fall back asleep.

According to Harvard Health, the term refers to a lack of sleep that happens not because someone can’t nod off, but because they wake up and can’t fall back asleep.

In America, it’s believed to affect as many as one in five people (and while there doesn’t seem to be much data on the phenomenon in the UK, one in three adults here are thought to experience acute insomnia at some point).

Harvard Health added that the condition might be especially common in women during midlife.

Health problems, family stresses, depression, and even hot flashes might play a role.

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As, they say, can age: “as we grow older, the normal sleep cycle becomes shorter, and we spend less time in deep sleep”.

How can I manage sleep maintenance insomnia?

Dr Karen Carlson, a doctor who runs classes focusing on women’s sleep quality at Boston’s Massachusetts General Hospital, told Harvard Health that going to bed really early to “make up” for missed sleep might not help.

“What sometimes happens is that women are going to bed early trying to sleep and then they wake up at 3 or 4am – and they’re not really meant to sleep more than six or seven hours, but they’re in bed early trying, and they awaken early.”

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What may help, however, is “clock blocking”, or ignoring any screen which tells you the time, Johns Hopkins shared.

So, too, can getting up out of bed to do something screen-free and relatively mindless, like folding laundry after about 20 minutes of being awake ― or, as Johns Hopkins sleep expert Dr Luis F. Buenaver said, try to “Read a book, with just enough lights on so that you can see the print comfortably”.

Try as much as you can to stick to your regular routine the day after a bad night’s sleep, he continued.

Speak to your doctor if sleep issues persist for weeks and/or affect your day-to-day life.

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Hugh Laurie Defends House From Claims It’s Repetitive

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Hugh Laurie in House

It may have been more than a decade since House came to an end, but its leading man Hugh Laurie has made it clear he’s still poised and ready to jump to the show’s defence at any given moment.

The British actor played Dr Gregory House in all eight seasons of the US medical drama, which came to an end in May 2012.

Over the weekend, one viewer claimed they’d just started watching the show from the beginning, but found it a little far-fetched and repetitive.

Same narrative every episode,” they claimed on X. “Patient has mysterious illness. Hugh Laurie (House) gets diagnosis wrong. Patient nearly dies.

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“Hugh Laurie gets diagnosis wrong again. Gets threatened with being fired. Patient nearly dies again. Hugh Laurie has last minute leftfield idea. Gets diagnosis right. Doesn’t get fired.”

“Eight seasons of this?” they pondered.

Days later, Hugh responded to the post directly, with a counterargument.

Hugh Laurie in House

“Thanks for your critique,” he wrote back. “We actually tried a couple of episodes where House (Hugh Laurie) (please put the brackets in the right place) gets it right first time, but they were only six minutes long. NBC weren’t happy.”

Hugh continued: “Then we tried some where House never gets it right and the patient dies. The audience wasn’t happy.

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“One could apply your trenchant analysis to other art forms: JS Bach wrote 30 Goldberg variations on the same chord structure; Frida Kahlo painted 50 portraits of herself; Henry Moore, what??

“The point is, or was, variations on a theme; if all you see is hospital, medical blah blah, then it wasn’t meant for you.”

When another X user replied questioning whether it was “really worth going to such an effort to put someone who thinks it might be a bit ‘samey’ in their place” given how long ago the show – which they pointed out “was a popular, long-running series and consensus is that you were great in it” – came to an end, Hugh issued another curt reply.

“I put no more effort into my message than you have into yours,” he noted. “It just happens to be closer to my heart.”

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During House’s original run, the show was nominated for 25 Emmys, winning five, including for its writing and directing.

All eight seasons are now available to stream for free on Channel 4.

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9 Lightweight Waterproof Jackets To Keep You Chic And Dry This Summer

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9 Lightweight Waterproof Jackets To Keep You Chic And Dry This Summer

We hope you love the products we recommend! All of them were independently selected by our editors. Just so you know, HuffPost UK may collect a share of sales or other compensation from the links on this page if you decide to shop from them. Oh, and FYI — prices are accurate and items in stock as of time of publication.

Ah, summer, the time when weather swings between scorching heat waves and drizzling showers. Or at least, in the UK that’s what it means!

While you might’ve been looking forward to sporting skirts and flip flops under sunny skies this summer, the weather clearly has other plans.

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And we’ll forgive you for begrudging the fact you don’t want to wear a jacket after May, desperate times call for desperate measures. I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but it looks like you’re going to need a raincoat this summer.

That shouldn’t come at the expense of a cute outfit, though, so to help you stay chic and protected from showers, I’ve rounded up nine of the best waterproof jackets, rain coats, and trench coats to shop now.

9 waterproof jackets for women to shop now

Feel like embodying the drizzle? This black coat will not only keep you dry, but help you blend in with the crowd. Don’t worry though, you won’t look drowned out by trying to keep safe from the rain, as the Curve has a waist tie to keep things flattering.

Waterproof: Protection from light rain.

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Trust Damson Madder to create the solution to navigating the rain in style. The redesign of its bestselling Liu raincoat is designed to be purposely oversized, both for fashion, darling, but also so you can fit jumpers etc beneath it. Those waist ties mean you can cinch it in to be as flattering as you like, and the wrists do the same, so you can avoid getting soggy sleeves.

Waterproof: Shower-resistant

The weather in this country is unpredictable at best, so having a coat you can pull out or stash away in an instant will be a handbag essential this summer (by the looks of things). This one from M&S is super lightweight and floaty, which means it easily packs away into a little bag once the downpour stops.

Waterproof: Shower-proof

The best part of summer is the outfits, and you don’t want to have to sacrifice a great outfit combo by smacking a waterproof over the top. Luckily, this unisex Hunter option showcases what’s underneath while keeping you dry, making it the perfect accoutrement to your festival ‘fit.

Waterproof: Water-repellant.

Uniqlo is there for us through all the seasons, so naturally it has a packable parka that comes in a range of summery colours. I’m also a fan of this wine-coloured parka that’s not quite so lightweight, but will transition nicely from season to season.

Waterproof: Water-repellant.

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Trench coats are a staple for a reason, not least because they’re needed in this in-between of spring and summer we’re in, but also because they look timeless. This one from Damson Madder is reversible, so you can choose between gingham and red, depending on what matches your outfit. It even has a funnel neck, so you’ll be bang on trend – even if you do have a soggy head. But that’s what hats are made for!

Waterproof: Shower-proof.

If the sun isn’t going to shine, you might as well do it. This shorter Rains jacket is made from a glazed shell, which will match the glossy eye looks you’re donning this season.

Waterproof: Protection from light rain.

Okay, I know what you’re thinking: who has £500 to drop on a rain coat? To which I’d rebuff: think about cost per wear. We live in a rainy country, so there’s an absolute guarantee you’ll get plenty of wear from this stylish Barbour x Ganni collab. Still can’t justify it? This leopard print coat from George is a more affordable alternative.

Waterproof: Waterproof.

Sometimes fashion is not the main motive, but if you want to stay stylish and protected on everything from dog walks, to long hikes and office commutes, this Regatta number has got your back. Literally.

Waterproof: Water-repellant.

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Polanski warns UK food system is close to collapse

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Zack Polanski Food insecurity speech

Zack Polanski Food insecurity speech

Green Party leader Zack Polanski has warned that food insecurity is not a distant threat. He says it’s already impacting customers, farmers and workers in the food industry.

In a speech to the Bakers, Food and Allied Workers Union on 8 June, Polanski warned that the UK’s food system is close to collapse. He spoke of pressures from rising temperatures and global instability and called for urgent action to support the UK’s food resilience.

The speech comes as figures from the Autonomy Institute show that UK fruit and veg prices could rise 170% by 2050. And the climate crisis is likely to become the leading driver of fresh produce inflation in the UK.

Speaking at the union’s keynote address, Polanski accused the government of ‘just not getting it’ when it comes to the crisis facing the UK’s food system. And he called for government to produce a real plan to boost UK food production and support customers struggling to afford groceries.

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Last week, Green MP Adrian Ramsay challenged ministers in parliament over two suppressed government-commissioned reports warning of serious risks to the UK’s national security, including ecosystem collapse, biodiversity loss, food security and water supplies.

Polanski called for:

  • Support for farmers to adapt their practices to a changing climate to make UK crop growing more resilient.
  • Stronger regulation of supermarkets to ensure farmers get a fair deal for their produce.
  • Free school meals for all primary and secondary pupils to support families struggling to put food on the table.
  • A £15/hour minimum wage for all workers to tackle the cost of living crisis.

Polanski added:

Just a couple of weeks ago, we saw the hottest May day ever recorded in the UK. By the beginning of May, the UK had received received 23% less rain than average. The Climate Change Committee warns that within 25 years we could see temperatures above 40°C.

That doesn’t just mean more people getting sick from extreme heat, or more pressure on infrastructure that just isn’t built for these temperatures. As many of you in this room well know, it has terrifying implications for the most fundamental need we all have – food.

And right now, from food growers to customers – and everyone in between – the crisis is already making itself felt.

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That’s something you all know well – and it’s time we started listening to you.

Because whether you get up at the crack of dawn to serve pasties to hungry commuters, spend hours rising dough, or work in rain or shine picking fruit – your work is what keeps this country moving.

But all too often, that fact is forgotten. Your work is sneered at, shrugged off, or taken for granted.

Your pay doesn’t match the importance of the work you do – and doesn’t keep up with your rising bills. Your hours get longer, you’re expected to work in increasingly hot or wet conditions, you’re on a precarious contract so you’re scared to take sick leave or have a day off to spend with your kids.

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And all the while, when you go to the supermarket to put food on the table, the prices there are rising too – while the farmers that produced it aren’t being paid fairly either.

The system is broken. And under increasing strain from the climate crisis, it’s close to collapse.

Dr Will Stronge, CEO at the Autonomy Institute, said:

We have been cautious in our assumptions – looking only at heatwaves, and only against a stable inflation backdrop. The conclusion is still stark: within fifteen years, climate change will be the biggest single factor driving up the cost of fresh food.

Politicians cannot afford to wait and see. The time to build food resilience into our industrial strategy is now, before the pressures become acute.

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Featured image via Jon Rowley / Getty Images

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Farage to speak at Yank hand-me-down event in UK

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Nigel Farage at CPAC

Nigel Farage at CPAC

The Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) is a US event at which American Conservatives gather to revel in their own evil. Or it was, anyway. The most recent event was significantly diminished from the conference’s heyday. And as such, it’s no surprise to see the organisers expanding out into new markets:

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The question for the UK is this: do we really want some tired, Yank hand-me-down event, or are we going to start being our own country again?

Farage and Yank slop

In days gone by, CPAC hosted scenes such as an allegedly drugged-up Elon Musk brandishing a chainsaw:

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This stuff seems ridiculous – and it is – but the freaks in attendance had the time of their lives. The most recent CPAC, however, failed to attract any significant speakers. As Mother Jones reported:

In the days leading up to this week’s opening of CPAC, the nation’s oldest conservative political convention, organizers still seemed to be holding out hope that some brighter MAGA luminary would agree to headline the event. The CPAC app and social media accounts offered a slow drip of news of newly confirmed speakers. There was the HUD secretary, a low-level HHS official, and a Nigerian lawyer who advocates for Christians in his Muslim country. On March 21, CPAC excitedly announced that Todd Chrisley would be joining the lineup.

Who?

Did Mother Jones get to the bottom of who this Todd Chrisley was? The truth is you don’t care, and nor should you, because that’s not the point.

What the downturn tells us is that the American right is in a lull period. They’ve gotten everything they want, and as a result they can’t do their usual thing of railing against the establishment, because the establishment is this now:

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While the US is flagging, however, the British right is on an upswing. And as such, the British CPAC could potentially outshine its progenitor.

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And we’re not saying this as a positive.

Speaking out

The list of speakers at CPAC Great Britain include a mixture of Yanks, Brits, and Europeans. The ones you’re likely to have heard of include:

  • Liz Truss.
  • Nigel Farage.
  • Jacob Rees-Mogg.
  • Toby Young.
  • Mike Graham.
  • Matt Goodwin.
  • Allison Pearson.
  • Dan Wootton.
  • Lucy Connolly.

We’re not going to say these are people you’d want to hear speak, but they are at least speakers you’ve heard of. Possibly.

What will they say?

We’re going to predict that the speakers will rattle off the grievance politics we’re used to alongside Yank talking points we’re not. So expect more right-wing Christian nationalism, as well as the need to ban abortion and reintroduce the death penalty.

Basically, this is what the British right are now – a bunch of waiters serving up reheated Yank slop and pretending its Sunday roast dinner.

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Featured image via Andrew Harnik (Getty Images)

By Willem Moore

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Y2K Is Back: 11 Affordable Jelly Shoes To Bring Out Your Inner Child

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Y2K Is Back: 11 Affordable Jelly Shoes To Bring Out Your Inner Child

We hope you love the products we recommend! All of them were independently selected by our editors. Just so you know, HuffPost UK may collect a share of sales or other compensation from the links on this page if you decide to shop from them. Oh, and FYI — prices are accurate and items in stock as of time of publication.

It’s no secret we’re living in a nostalgia economy: from our makeup down to our shoes, there’s a nineties and noughties revival happening.

While there is seemingly a new trend emerging every week, one that’s stuck around for a couple of years now is the jelly shoe.

Yep, those shoes you wore to the beach when you were a kid are back, but this time for adults.

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Recently, the internet lost its mind over Chloe’s own jelly design.

But (sobs) not everyone can afford to drop almost £500 on a princess shoe, even if they wanted to.

The good news is, there are plenty of alternatives out there that I predict will become your shoe of the season. From frilled flip flops, to jelly Mary Janes, I’ve rounded up the 11 best jelly shoes to skip through summer.

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John C Reilly Tried To Talk Leonardo DiCaprio Out Of Titanic Role

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Leonardo DiCaprio

John C Reilly has admitted he once tried to give Leonardo DiCaprio some advice that would have changed the course of the young actor’s career.

The pair met on the set of the 1993 coming-of-age drama What’s Eating Gilbert Grape?, with John going on to collaborate with Paul Thomas Anderson on his movie Boogie Nights.

Before filming got underway, the future Oscar-winning director had hoped to snag Leo for the lead role of Dirk Diggler, after watching him in The Basketball Diaries.

However, the Romeo & Juliet actor had to turn the offer down as he’d already agreed to appear in a little-known indie film you may or may not have heard of… known as Titanic.

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During an appearance on Ted Danson’s podcast Where Everybody Knows Your Name, John recalled: “I knew Leo. I met him when he was 17. And I was like, ‘Give me the assignment, Paul. I’ll get this guy to do your movie. I’ve known him since he’s a kid’.”

Leonardo DiCaprio

He continued: “I was like, ‘Listen, Leo, let me tell you something. That movie Titanic is about a boat that sinks. Everyone knows the boat sinks. No one’s going to give a shit about who’s on the boat’.

“I was like, ’This guy, this director, is going to be one of the most talented film directors going forward, and you should not miss this opportunity.”

Apparently, Leo wasn’t sure on this as his agents had assured him Titanic was about to become “a really big movie”, to which the Step Brothers star replied: “I’m telling you, man. I’m telling you, I wouldn’t give you a bum steer here. It’s about a boat that sinks.”

John C Reilly and Mark Wahlberg in Boogie Nights
John C Reilly and Mark Wahlberg in Boogie Nights

New Line/Kobal/Shutterstock

Of course, as we all know now, Leo eventually turned down Boogie Nights, recommending his former co-star Mark Wahlberg for the role instead, although he once claimed that not doing the film was his “biggest regret”.

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All’s well that ends well, though – and he did finally get to work with Paul Thomas Anderson on 2025’s One Battle After Another, which was awarded Best Picture at this year’s Oscars.

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