About 40% of Brits hadn’t finished a book in the 12 months between 2024-2025, YouGov reported.

Of those who had, 30% listened to an audiobook; 18% had ticked titles off their list through headphones, without ever picking up a physical book.

Some people think that shouldn’t “count,” though. For instance, author Nathan Bransford said in his blog, “Consuming an audiobook is a fundamentally different activity than reading. We already have a word for it: LISTENING”.

He also argued that reading from a page engages the brain differently. But not everyone agrees.

In 2016, Dr Beth Rogowsky, a professor specialising in language learning styles from Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania, co-authored a study comparing comprehension rates for people listening to audiobooks to those who read from an e-reader page and another group who did both.

It tracked how much they remembered right after taking in the information and two weeks later.

Speaking to NPR, Dr Rogowsky said, “We found that there was no significant difference between reading a book using a Kindle or listening to a book or doing both – listening and reading simultaneously.”

Of course, that was only for adults who already knew how to read; the professor said physical books might be more helpful to children who can’t yet read.

But, to be fair, the “do audiobooks count?” debate does not rage among three-year-olds so much as it does those with Goodreads accounts and access to Reddit.

Fine, you might take in information from listening to an audiobook. But that isn’t the definition of the word reading – is it?

Well, major dictionaries don’t seem to agree about that.

Merriam-Webster defines “to read” as “to receive or take in the sense of (letters, symbols, etc.) especially [but not exclusively!] by sight or touch”.

Another definition – “to learn from what one has seen or found in writing or printing” – does not technically preclude listening.

Cambridge Dictionary, however, puts the first definition as “to look at words or symbols and understand what they mean,” and Collins Dictionary puts “look” in their main definition too.

A very compelling article, written by visually impaired author James Tate Hill for Literary Hub, reads: “It was hard to say if the words read with my ears reached my brain differently from everything I had read with my eyes”.

For instance, he said, the narration of audiobooks placed a new layer on top of the experience – but it took “minutes” for the author’s words to override the narrator’s voice.

He identified as a “reader” thanks to his love of audiobooks, and added it “didn’t matter if I was reading or listening” to his favourite titles; “the words in my ears were the same words other people saw when they held a book in their hands.”

I have to agree. The strongest argument I can find against calling listening to audiobooks “reading” is a (disputed) semantic nuance, but I don’t find that compelling enough to stop someone calling themselves a reader if they want to (side note: self-identifying as a reader is linked to increased happiness).

It’s true that you can’t fold laundry while you’re rifling through War and Peace, and accents and pace changes are more in your control when you read from a page.

But seeing as two in five people aren’t enjoying books in any form, that information seems to land similarly whether it’s read from a page or some headphones, and that reading is good for us, whether we listen or look, I’m not particularly fussed about how it’s done.

As hard as it can be to admit, you can have a stroke. Your loved one can have a stroke.

Statistically, someone in the United States has a stroke every 40 seconds; every 3 minutes and 14 seconds, someone dies of a stroke. It’s not a concern to ruminate on, per se, but one to be mindful of.

For example, you might avoid habits that can increase the risk, such as being sedentary, smoking, ignoring health concerns and drinking alcohol. Knowing the clear signs of a stroke – illustrated by the BE FAST acronym – is smart, too. BE FAST stands for (problems with) balance, eyesight, facial drooping, arm weakness, speech and time or terrible headache.

However, there’s also a surprising sign of a stroke that many people don’t know, according to vascular surgeons. Hiccups.

Ahead, experts explain how hiccups can be a sign of a stroke, other commonly missed signs and when to see the doctor about this seemingly “harmless” symptom.

To understand why hiccups can be a sign of a stroke, it’s important to understand exactly what hiccups are – particularly, how they’re connected to the brain.

“Hiccups are caused by involuntary contractions of the diaphragm, coordinated by a reflex arc involving the brainstem, particularly the medulla,” said Dr. Christopher Yi, a board-certified vascular surgeon at MemorialCare Orange Coast Medical Center in Fountain Valley, California. “In rare cases, a stroke affecting this region – most classically a lateral medullary (Wallenburg) stroke – can disrupt that reflex and trigger persistent hiccups.”

Usually, hiccups aren’t so concerning. You might get them after eating too fast, moving too quickly after eating or drinking a carbonated beverage. But if a stroke in the brainstem is causing the hiccups, they need to be taken more seriously.

“In rare cases, hiccups can be linked to a stroke – specifically a stroke affecting the brainstem,” said Dr. Adeel Popalzai, a vascular neurologist and stroke program director at Pomona Valley Hospital Medical Center.

“The brainstem is involved in the hiccup reflex pathway. When a stroke disrupts this area, it can cause persistent, uncontrollable hiccups that don’t respond to usual remedies.”

Yi affirmed that persistent hiccups have been documented in posterior circulation strokes, which affect the back of the brain. They also don’t always cause one-sided weakness (a classic symptom of a stroke) and rather present with more subtle symptoms. This makes hiccups an early and arguably clearer clue, especially when present with other neurologic abnormalities.

That last piece is vital because otherwise, a lot of us would get unnecessarily nervous when we get the hiccups, right?

“It is important to remember that hiccups alone are almost never a stroke, but persistent hiccups with other symptoms can be a warning sign,” Popalzai stressed.

Hiccups aren’t the only symptom of a stroke that often goes ignored, especially with posterior circulation strokes.

“Many people expect a stroke to look dramatic, but some of the most dangerous strokes – especially those in the back of the brain – can present with subtle or misleading symptoms,” Popalzai warned.

The vascular surgeons listed the following symptoms:

• Sudden dizziness, vertigo or a spinning sensation
• Trouble walking, or loss of balance or coordination, which can look like clumsiness, intoxication, veering to one side, difficulty standing or coordinating movements and generalised weakness
• Visual disturbances, such as double vision, trouble focusing or loss of part of the visual field
• Difficulty swallowing
• A sudden, severe headache (particularly in hemorrhagic strokes) – it can signal a brain bleed
• Nausea and vomiting, especially when combined with dizziness or imbalance
• Sudden confusion or trouble understanding, which can present as difficulty processing information or following a conversation, and may appear as disorientation or memory trouble.

“These symptoms are often missed because they don’t fit the ‘classic’ stroke picture, but they are just as important,” Popalzai said.

Since hiccups are usually no big deal (well, other than being super annoying), how do you know when you’ve got a normal bout of the hiccups versus a stroke?

According to Yi, consider medical evaluation “when they persist for more than 48 hours, become severe or disruptive or occur in conjunction with neurologic symptoms.” Examples of the latter are the same as above: dizziness, vertigo, difficulty walking, imbalance, double vision, slurred speech and trouble swallowing.

Popalzai agreed it’s best to focus on the context and associated symptoms. He encouraged calling 999 immediately if you or a loved one experiences those signs.

Additionally, having a stroke risk factor, such as high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease, smoking or a prior stroke, is also a reason to call the doctor ASAP.

“When symptoms are sudden and unusual, it’s always better to err on the side of caution and seek medical attention,” he added.

Yi emphasised the timely nature. “When hiccups present suddenly with any of these neurologic findings, the situation should be treated as a potential stroke emergency, and immediate medical attention is warranted, as timely intervention can significantly improve outcomes,” he said.

The bottom line is that while most hiccups are harmless, they can signal a stroke when accompanied by other brain-related symptoms. Don’t let an unexpected sign of a stroke convince you that a stroke isn’t at play. Take it all seriously.

“Acting fast can save brain function, independence and life,” Popalzai said.

If you spend hours cleaning your bathroom several times a week, put the bleach down: you’re wasting a whole lot of time according to one molecular virology expert.

Emma Harding, postdoctoral researcher at the University of Oxford, has shared that using soapy water to clean your bathroom just once a week is more than enough.

The pro told 9Honey Living: “Soapy water is very effective at killing a wide range of microbes, so your regular cleaning can be done with that.”

If stuff does start getting grottier than soapy water can handle, Harding advises using disinfectant once a month.

In terms of what needs cleaning the most, the expert says that “high-touch surfaces” such as taps and showers should be the priority.

However, there is one non-negotiable – when it comes to cleaning your bathroom, the toilet is an essential.

Harding adds that if anyone in your household is unwell it is crucial to give your entire toilet and bathroom a thorough scrub when they’ve recovered to stop anyone else catching the bug.

Want to keep bugs at bay? It’s all about how you flush the loo after you’ve done your business, according to the expert.

“The bathroom is one of the dirtiest places in the house, especially if it has the toilet in the same room,” Harding explains.

“As a general rule, always flush with the lid down to prevent particles from escaping the toilet bowl and settling elsewhere.”

When you flush the toilet with the lid open, a delightful plume of germs fly out of your loo and settle on the surfaces in your bathroom.

That plume includes nasty poo and wee particles that can carry everything from E. coli to Covid-19 – so it’s really important you shut that lid before you flush.

Donald Trump has signalled that he is looking to increase sanctions on Russia again as the US is on the cusp of an agreement with Iran.

The US president was speaking shortly after a face-to-face conversation with his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the G7 summit in France.

Trump put a waiver on countries buying sanctioned Russian oil earlier this year when global energy supplies were put under strain by the US and Israeli war in Iran.

The controversial move – which undermined years of co-ordinated efforts to punish Russia from Ukraine’s allies – came after Iran effectively shut down the major oil shipping lane, the Strait of Hormuz, in the wake of US-Israeli strikes on Tehran.

But America and Iran have now agreed to hash out a new deal in the next 60 days, and the president has suggested oil transportation will resume.

Trump told reporters at the G7: “Soon we’ll be able to do [reapply penalties against Russia] because the oil is now flowing.

“So we took sanctions off because obviously we’re not looking to impede the US, so we’re in a position to do that soon.”

Senate Democrats told Kyiv Independent in April that Russia earned an additional $150 million per day due to the waiver.

Trump’s shocking decision to ease those penalties came after more than year of yo-yoing from the US president over the Ukraine war, which he once pledged to end within the first 24 hours of his second term.

He has repeatedly rolled out the red carpet for Russia and tried to push Ukraine to give up more land in the name of peace.

But Trump’s remarks from the G7 summit could signal a wider pivot back to support for Kyiv from the White House.

Vladimir Putin is thought to be on the back foot right now in the Ukraine war, more than four years after he first started his illegal land grab.

The economic cost of the conflict, the staggering number of casualties and Kyiv’s recent strikes into the heart of Russia mean Putin is at a disadvantage.

Zelenskyy said ahead of the G7 summit that he was ready to meet his Russian counterpart in the French Alps for face-to-face negotiations, but claimed Putin was not ready to talk.

The Kremlin’s spokesperson Dmitry Peskov hit back, saying: “There are currently no official channels between Kyiv and Moscow.”

He repeated Putin’s previous claims that Zelenskyy could go to Russia if he wanted to talk.

Zelenskyy also sent an open letter to the Russian leader earlier this month calling for them to meet for further negotiations.

But Putin described the missive as “rude,” and rejected it almost immediately.

Listen 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.

Kemi Badenoch has been told she is “not fit to be prime minister” after comparing a cabinet minister to a Nazi.

The Tory leader said education secretary Bridget Phillipson “has acted like a Gestapo officer” by ending a tax break for private schools.

Badenoch made the remark in an interview with The Spectator.

Responding on X, Phillipson said: “The Gestapo marched hundreds of thousands of innocent people to their deaths. I’ve ended private schools’ tax breaks to invest in state schools.

“No responsible leader makes vile comparisons like this. Kemi Badenoch is not fit to be Prime Minister.”

Labour MP Phil Brickell, secretary of the all party parliamentary group on Germany, called on Badenoch to apologise.

He said: “Kemi Badenoch’s characterisation of Bridget Phillipson as having ‘acted like a Gestapo officer’ over private school VAT fees are contemptible, unbecoming of any parliamentarian and demonstrate – yet again – that Badenoch is completely unfit for public office.

“Her remarks serve no purpose but to undermine the UK-Germany relationship and sow unnecessary division. Ad hominem attacks such as this inexplicable reference to Nazi-era officials should not be tolerated in our public discourse.

“I had hoped that language such as this was a thing of the past. Kemi Badenoch should withdraw her comments immediately and unreservedly apologise.”

A spokesman for Badenoch said: “Bridget Phillipson has pursued a class war on independent schools, forcing many treasured schools to shut, upending the lives of young people across the country, and sending hundreds of children into already overcrowded state schools.

“Worse still, the money from her vindictive tax raid was supposed to fund new teachers, and even the Department for Education’s own website says teacher numbers are lower than under the Conservatives.

“Instead of getting self-righteous, Phillipson should focus on her job. Or even better – stand aside for someone who isn’t out to ruin the lives of people who don’t vote Labour.”

Listen 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.

Soon after a 35°C May record-breaker, the Met Office said more heatwaves are likely in the UK this summer.

And it turns out they may be just days away from being proven right in London.

As of the time of writing (17 June), temperatures between 28°C and 30°C are expected in the capital this weekend.

Here’s what you need to know about: when that could happen, what it would take to count as an official heatwave, and why hot spells can be so insufferable in the city.

The Met Office predicts our current miserable weather will take a sunnier turn on Friday, 19 June.

At that point, temperatures will rise to 29°C.

From then on, per the Met Office, Londoners can expect:

• Friday 19 June: 29°C
• Saturday 20 June: 28°C
• Sunday 21 June: 30°C.

Even if the highest of those temperatures come to pass, however, an official heatwave may still not have taken place.

A heatwave is defined as three back-to-back days at or above an area’s maximum temperature threshold.

Because some parts of the UK are usually hotter than others, that upper limit changes depending on location.

As you head further North or West, that threshold is set a little lower than the warmer South-East – around 25°C and 26°C.

But in London, the threshold is 28°C.

That means that it’d need to reach at least 28°C on Tuesday after the predicted Sunday and Monday temperatures to officially count (or Saturday would have to be a degree hotter than currently anticipated).

As we mentioned before, London is already in the warmer South-East. Then, there’s the infrastructure to consider.

Speaking to HuffPost UK previously, Richard Millard, senior sustainability consultant at Building Energy Experts, said that built-up areas can make already brutal UK heatwaves even more unbearable.

“Our towns and cities have a large urban heat island effect due to the amount of concrete, asphalt and such that absorbs heat and releases it slowly, making cities and towns feel hotter,” he shared.

2026′s two consecutive record-breaking May temperatures were recorded in London’s Kew Gardens this year (34.8°C and 35.1°C, respectively).