Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez said Wednesday she was “deeply humbled” by a new poll that shows her leading in the early 2028 presidential primary state of New Hampshire and, when pressed, would not rule out a 2028 White House bid.

The Independent spoke with the self-described Democratic socialist congresswoman from the Bronx and Queens after a poll from the University of New Hampshire showed her leading in the first-in-the-nation primary.

The survey showed 22 percent of would-be Democratic primary voters prefer Ocasio-Cortez, better known as AOC, while 21 percent would prefer Biden Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. Arizona Sen. Mark Kelly comes in third at 9 percent while California Gov. Gavin Newsom placed fourth at 8 percent.

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), an AOC ally who won New Hampshire in 2016 and 2020, clocked in at 6 percent while former Vice President Kamala Harris garnered 5 percent.

Ocasio-Cortez did not directly address whether she’d run, nor rule out a bid for the White House in 2028.

“I think there’s two things: One is that you know polls are polls, and a horse race is a horse race,” she said. “I am, of course, I think, very deeply humbled and grateful to you know folks who participate and convey that confidence.”

But Ocasio-Cortez said her main focus was helping Democrats win back the majority in the House of Representatives.

“I’m honestly I think my main focus is is really genuinely just the midterms right now, and we have to make sure that we win this majority,” she said.

The one-time insurgent, who defeated former House Democratic Caucus Chairman Joe Crowley in 2018, has in many ways inherited the mantle from Sanders, the independent socialist senator who caucuses with Democrats and ran two populist campaigns.

In 2024, AOC campaigned heavily for Harris in Nevada courting Latino voters. She also endorsed New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani during his primary challenge against disgraced former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo.

Since then, she’s endorsed in both deep-blue districts and swing races. In Pennsylvania’s 3rd district, she endorsed left-wing candidate Chris Rabb’s campaign in one of the bluest districts in the country. She also endorsed Randy Villegas’s successful primary in California’s 22nd district to run against incumbent Republican Rep. David Valadao.

Over the weekend, she campaigned with Abdul El-Sayed, who is running for the Democratic nomination for Michigan’s open Senate seat.

Historically, the Iowa caucus goes first in the nation before the New Hampshire primary. But in 2024, the Democratic National Committee moved South Carolina to be the first binding primary after President Joe Biden won the primary in 2020 thanks to Black voters. South Carolina and Nevada, which has a high Hispanic population, are now dueling for the right to go first.

Harris, the most recent Democratic nominee, would likely do better in the Palmetto State. In 2020, Buttigieg narrowly beat Sanders in Iowa but fell short in southern states due to a lack of trust among Black voters.

Some Democrats expect Ocasio-Cortez to either run for president or, more likely, for Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer’s seat in 2028.

On the Republican side, Vice President JD Vance has a wide lead against Secretary of State Marco Rubio to succeed President Donald Trump as the Republican presidential nominee, with 36 percent of would-be primary voters picking Vance and 26 percent picking Rubio.

Rubio ran for president a decade ago, but failed to put up a significant showing after a poor debate performance against then-New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie.

EA Sports FC 27 is set for its official reveal, but when can gamers pre-order? We’ve got all the expected info, including early access and other pre-order perks, ahead of the first trailer drop

EA Sports is set to officially unveil EA FC 27 with the game’s first trailer later today (Thursday, July 23). The hype is building for the latest in the long-running football sim series thanks to the release of two new covers.

As is tradition, the cover of EA FC 27 features a major football superstar. The man who has that honour this year is Real Madrid and France forward Kylian Mbappe, who graces both the Standard and Ultimate Edition covers.

Very little has been officially revealed about FC 27 so far, but the Standard Edition cover has hinted at plenty of new features. While Mbappe takes the spotlight, there are dozens of teases pointing towards fresh content.

Beyond the new features and gameplay tweaks, attention is turning quickly to pre-order bonuses and early access. Ahead of today’s major announcement at 5pm, prominent EA FC leakers have got their hands on information about the new Ultimate Edition – and more.

Here’s everything you need to know about the expected date you can pre-order, the perks you’ll get if you do so, and more.

EA FC 27 expected pre-order dates and prices

If EA FC 27 follows the same path as its predecessors, then pre-orders could open as soon as today. The last three FC games were all available for pre-order on the day they were officially unveiled.

For EA FC 26, that was July 16, 2025. We are a week late to meet the same deadline, which is likely due to EA hoping to capitalise on the interest following the conclusion of this year’s World Cup.

Both EA FC 25 and EA FC 24 were revealed in the same week for their respective years, so there’s precedent to expect pre-orders to open as soon as the EA FC 27 reveal trailer drops on YouTube at 5pm today.

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Pre-ordering the game usually ensures a week of early access before the official release date, too. Once again, each FC game has come out at roughly the same time every year, which is usually the last Friday in September – so expect EA FC 27 to drop on Friday, September 25.

Early access is almost certainly going to come seven days before that for Ultimate Edition customers and EA Play subscribers. Indeed, leakers have indicated this to be the case, so the earliest players can get their hands on the new game will be Friday, September 18.

As for pricing, EA Sports is rumoured to have thrown a spanner in the works for EA FC 27. While each FC title has come with a Standard Edition and an Ultimate Edition, FC 27 is set to introduce a third version, according to leakers.

The likes of insider DetectiveFUT, who is prominent on X, formerly Twitter, has said that an Ultimate+ Edition is coming for EA FC 27, While pricing for this version isn’t yet disclosed by EA Sports or leakers, many insiders fear it could come with a hefty £120 price tag.

In fact, the Ultimate Edition+ is teased by EA Sports in the cover for the Standard Edition. One of many Easter Eggs in the cover shows off the Ultimate Edition, while another piece of cover art features Mbappe and Jude Bellingham and is expected to be the Ultimate Edition+ cover art.

The Standard and Ultimate Editions of EA FC 27 are likely to stay at the same prices as last year, however. That means a cost of £69.99 and £99.99 on consoles, and £59.99 and £89.99 for the respective versions on PC.

EA FC 27 Ultimate Edition and Ultimate+ rewards and content leaks

The Ultimate Edition for EA FC has typically represented a chance for gamers to get a leg up on the opposition in Ultimate Team, as well as offering extras for Career Mode and Clubs. But with the rumoured arrival of the Ultimate+ Edition, there are even more perks for those willing to shell out more of their hard-earned cash.

According to DetectiveFUT, pre-ordering the Standard Edition guarantees an Icon player item rated 92 overall or above for FUT. It also includes pre-order challenges and a season boost for Career Mode, and three exclusive playable Icons and Heroes.

A five-star coach and five-star youth coach are also included for Career Mode. An Archetype unlock and two Archetype XP multipliers are also features, as well as a version of Kylian Mbappe for use in Ultimate Team and world customisation for the long-rumoured new open world mode, The Grounds.

There are also reportedly set to be ‘early bird’ and standard pre-order bonuses for those buying the Ultimate Edition. Both include all of the perks of the Standard Edition pre-order, plus a whole lot more.

It includes seven days early access, a premium pass for one FC Season, and three batches of 2,000 FC Points. An additional FUT Evolution slot will be made available, as well as a 99 Dribbling stat evolution to boost one player in FUT.

The Icon available in the Standard Edition will be a 93+ OVR player pick rather than a random player rated 92 or over. There will also be an additional five User Generated Content Creation slots – a feature that more light will hopefully be shone upon during tonight’s big reveal – and a five-star senior scout for Career Mode.

The only difference between the early bird and standard pre-order of the Ultimate Edition is that the early bird offer comes with an 85+ International Icon pack. The Ultimate+ edition, which is reportedly only available as an early bird pre-order, includes that same pack for FUT but plenty of other features.

These include five Premium Season Passes, five batches of 2,000 FC Points, plus a special, first-ever 1 of 5 Direct Hall of FUT Player Pick. The Hall of FUT is another new campaign coming in EA FC 27, and will celebrate iconic players and fan favourites with boosted player items.

The Ultimate Edition+ early bird pre-order also includes a 99 Physical stat Evolution, giving FUT players a major advantage going into the new season.

A mother and her 15-year-old daughter have drowned off an Essex beach after going into the sea in an attempt to rescue a six-year-old girl who had been swept away by the rising tide.

Emergency services were called to West Mersea beach, near Colchester, at around 5.30pm yesterday following reports that several people had got into difficulty in the water, according to police.

It is understood they might have found themselves struggling off the coast against high tides. 

A third person has been hospitalised and is in a serious condition, while two others also remain in hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

East of England Ambulance Service said one person was airlifted to hospital while a further three were taken by road.

West Mersea Coastguard Rescue Team said it had ‘responded to a tragic incident’ yesterday and that its thoughts were ‘with the family involved’.

News website Daily Dazzling Dawn reported that the victims in the incident were a mother and her 15-year-old daughter.

It said the fatalities had been confirmed by Abul Kalam Azad, convenor of the UK Bangladeshi National Party (BNP), and Khosruzzaman Khosru, the party’s UK member secretary.

The report added: ‘The family was enjoying a summer holiday trip to the seaside when the heartbreaking incident occurred.

A third person has been hospitalised and remains in a serious condition, while two others have been left with non-life-threatening injuries 

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An air ambulance near the scene of the tragedy in West Mersea, Essex yesterday – one person was airlifted to hospital and a further three taken by road

The woman and girl were named in reports as the wife and daughter of Dr Mansur Rahman, pictured, the leader of Jubo Dal UK, youth wing of the Bangladeshi National Party

‘Other injured family members were airlifted to a London hospital by helicopter.’

The report continued: ‘Our source confirmed that the tragedy occurred due to an incoming high tide at West Mersea.

‘The family was sitting near the shoreline when a six-year-old child was suddenly swept away by strong currents. Rushing into the water to save the child, both the mother and daughter tragically drowned.’

Daily Dazzling Dawn did not name the victims, but confirmed that the woman was the daughter of Mujibur Rahman, former vice president of the UK BNP, originally from Chhatak Upazila in Sylhet, Bangladesh.

Mr Rahman is said to have confirmed to Daily Dazzling Dawn that he was on the beach at the time ‘but was too overwhelmed to speak further’.

The website also confirmed that she was the wife of Dr Mansur Rahman, the leader of Jubo Dal, the youth wing of the BNP. Dr Rahman is also the son of Sylhet BNP leader Sheikh Makhan Mia.

At least six ambulances, a dozen police cars, a fire engine, a lifeboat, two air ambulances and a coastguard helicopter were sent to the scene yesterday.

One coastguard truck remained on the shingle beach into the night near an area which was cordoned off with a wind break. 

Other emergency vehicles were parked behind a row of multi-coloured pastel beach huts beside the West Mersea Holiday Park. 

Emergency services at the scene after the incident in West Mersea last night

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The area is known for its strong currents that can take swimmers and tourists by surprise 

The area is known for its strong currents that can take swimmers and tourists by surprise. 

Essex Police Detective Chief Inspector Al Pitcher said: ‘Today, our thoughts remain with the family members who are coming to terms with their loss.

‘We are grateful to the people who have already spoken to us and helped with our enquiries. 

‘We would ask anyone who was at the beach at the time, and who has not yet spoken with officers, to please get in touch, to help us understand what happened.’

One holidaymaker said: ‘We heard that the incident involved an Asian family. Children got into difficulty and adults went in the water after them, only to get into difficulty as well. 

‘Other people on the beach went into the water to try and help, but it looks like there were fatalities.’ 

Two air ambulances landed on the green beside the caravan park’s Sandbanks bar and restaurant while the coastguard helicopter is reported to have landed on the beach. 

Witnesses last night reported seeing at least one casualty being loaded into an air ambulance, while others said they had heard reports of ‘multiple people in the water’. 

One beach hut owner told the Daily Mail: ‘We heard the helicopter last night and the search and rescue operation.

‘We saw all the emergency services.

‘We have a beach hut and live locally as well.

‘I have heard the poor woman was trying to save the family and then has died. It’s horrific. It sounds like a worst nightmare. Apparently she did all she could and ended up dying.

A caravan owner said: ‘The first we knew something was wrong was when we heard a helicopter overhead. 

‘I spoke to someone who saw the emergency services working on someone and pumping their chest on the beach. 

‘People were shouting, “Come on you can do it.” They couldn’t tell if it was a man or a woman.’

A spokesman for East of England Ambulance Service said: ‘Following reports of multiple people in distress in the water at Sea View Holiday Park, West Mersea yesterday evening, we dispatched multiple resources including our Hazardous Area Response Team, critical care paramedics and two air ambulances to the scene.

‘Sadly, despite best efforts, two patients could not be resuscitated. One patient was transported by air to hospital, and a further three patients were transported by road to hospital.’

By JAMES TAPSFIELD, UK POLITICAL EDITOR

Published: 10:24 BST, 23 July 2026 | Updated: 12:14 BST, 23 July 2026

The US ambassador was confronted with Ed Miliband’s previous comments about ‘racist’ and ‘idiotic’ Donald Trump in an awkward interview today.

Warren Stephens insisted the new Foreign Secretary was ‘wrong’ and had ‘hopefully’ changed his mind as he was read Mr Miliband’s remarks on Sky News.

The envoy to the UK also said he ‘disagreed’ with the former Net Zero Secretary on energy policy, and suggested their sole face-to-face meeting had not been smooth.

But he stressed that the Transatlantic relationship would continue despite the tensions. 

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Mr Miliband has been put in charge of the Foreign Office by Andy Burnham despite concerns about how he will handle the ties with the US administration.

He held his first talks with counterpart Marco Rubio at a summit in the Philippines overnight, and agreed to visit Washington soon.

Warren Stephens insisted the new Foreign Secretary was ‘wrong’ and had ‘hopefully’ changed his mind as he was read Ed Miliband’s remarks about Donald Trump on Sky News

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Mr Miliband (pictured at the ASEAN summit in the Philippines last night) has been put in charge of the Foreign Office by Andy Burnham despite concerns about how he will handle the ties with the US administration

Mr Miliband had been widely tipped to become Chancellor, but was passed over in favour of former defence secretary John Healey.  

In his interview this morning, presenter Wilfred Frost read Mr Stephens a 2016 jibe by Mr Miliband at Mr Trump, in which he said: ‘The idea that we have shared values with a racist, misogynistic self-confessed groper beggars belief.’

With a grim smile, Mr Stephens replied: ‘Yeah I’ve read those, those were some time ago I think… Hopefully his views have changed.’

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Frost then pointed out that in 2018 Mr Miliband said Mr Trump had ‘lowered the bar for idiocy’ and had a ‘peculiar relationship with Russia’. 

Pressed whether Mr Miliband could really forge strong relations in light of his opinions, Mr Stephens said: ‘People’s view of President Trump in 2016 is probably a lot different than it is in… 2026.

‘I would suspect his views have changed on President Trump. But I haven’t talked to him about any of that.’

The ambassador added: ‘He was wrong then… people say things, and I’ve said things, where you come back a few years later and say, ”why did I say that, I don’t think that’s really right”.’

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Wilfred Frost read Mr Stephens a 2016 jibe by Mr Miliband at Mr Trump (pictured), in which he said: ‘The idea that we have shared values with a racist, misogynistic self-confessed groper beggars belief.’

Mr Miliband held his first talks with counterpart Marco Rubio (pictured) at a summit in the Philippines overnight, and agreed to visit Washington soon

Quizzed about his dealings with Mr Miliband as Net Zero Secretary, Mr Stephens said: ‘It’s no secret Mr Miliband and I disagree on energy policies. 

‘But he’s in a new role and as Foreign Secretary I’m sure he’ll cherish the relationship with the US.’

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He added: ‘We disagree. That’s fine, people do disagree… I don’t see the logic in using oil and gas that’s imported versus using your own.’

After Mr Stephens revealed that he only had one meeting with Mr Miliband in his previous job, Frost asked how it had gone. 

‘It was as you’d expect, we disagree,’ Mr Stephens said.

Manchester United’s pre-season is underway, and the club’s young players are desperate to make their mark this summer.

Michael Carrick gave plenty of opportunities to academy players against Wrexham in Finland, and he is expected to take a similar approach for the second pre-season friendly of the summer against Rosenborg on Friday.

This week’s edition of the Manchester Evening News’ Academy Notebook includes updates on Chido Obi’s future, JJ Gabriel, and an injury update on a player who excelled on loan last season.

Decision to come on Obi

Chido Obi didn’t get off the bench against Wrexham last weekend. Carrick made wholesale changes at half-time to field a team of academy players for the second half, but Obi was an unused substitute.

United academy striker Ethan Wheatley played the full second half, and most fans presumed that suggested Obi was about to leave on loan. However, it’s understood United are still weighing up his future.

The decision on Obi’s future will be made over the coming weeks. A few months ago, well-placed sources discussed the importance of Obi performing well in pre-season if he wanted to break into the first team again, so it was interesting that Wheatley was selected ahead of him in Helsinki.

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The chances of Obi leaving on loan are already high and they will increase the longer he does not get minutes in pre-season. It was suggested last month that FC Koln were in talks to sign Obi on loan, but sources said there had been no contact at that stage.

Gabriel’s potential debut

JJ Gabriel is expected to travel with the squad to face Rosenborg in Norway. The youngster was not in contention for last weekend’s trip to Finland due to his later return date to training, but he has been in first-team training this week.

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That means United fans at the Lerkendal Stadion could get a chance to see Gabriel in action for the first team for the first time on Friday evening.

Gabriel could not make his Premier League debut for United last season because he was too young. He was eligible to be given a chance in the FA Cup, but United were knocked out of that competition by Brighton at the first hurdle.

Darren Fletcher was asked whether Gabriel would be involved against Brighton two days before that game. While Fletcher lavished the youngster with praise, he preached patience and said it was too soon for him to be involved.

It has been seven months since Fletcher made those comments. The 15-year-old has continued to develop physically, as is normal for a player so young, and the feeling is that he will be handed his proper debut in the new campaign.

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This summer is the first step to making a competitive first-team debut for Gabriel. It will be a big moment if he gets minutes from the bench against Rosenborg on Friday, but even bigger milestones lie ahead in the near future.

Small setback for Ennis

Luck is a bigger thing in football than some may realise. There is no good time to pick up an injury, but it’s particularly bad timing when a player is at a crossroads in their career and trying to make an impression on a coach.

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Ethan Ennis would have been involved in United’s first pre-season friendly against Wrexham last weekend if not for picking up a small injury in training that will take a few weeks to recover from.

Ennis enjoyed an outstanding loan with Fleetwood Town last season. United activated their option to extend his contract by 12 months, and talks over a new deal are heading in the right direction.

He demonstrated his durability with 45 appearances in League Two last term and will return stronger from his minor setback. It’s just a small injury, but the timing of it is nevertheless frustrating for the talented winger.

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Plan for the new arrival

On Monday, United announced the signing of winger Tynan Thompson from Tottenham after agreeing a deal worth £4million, with a further £4 million in add-ons. Thompson wanted to relocate primarily for family reasons, but a move to United promises a clearer pathway to first-team football.

The 18-year-old is a similar signing to Ayden Heaven, who arrived from Arsenal last year. United will be patient with Thompson as he settles into his new surroundings, and he’s done individual work this week.

He had not taken part in a first-team training session at the time of writing, so it would be a surprise to see him make the trip to Norway with the squad.

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Confusion about a loan departure

The vast majority of United fans won’t know who Solomon Honor is, but a few readers of the Academy Notebook will have seen his loan departure announced by the club earlier in the week.

Honor was signed by United from Blackburn Rovers in the winter window. He was signed as a ‘training goalkeeper’, meaning he supplemented sessions in between the sticks in the second half of last season.

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That is why it was slightly confusing to see Honor sent on loan to Southport for the season, but sources have clarified that he will continue to train at Carrington, alongside sessions with the non-league club.

An opportunity came up to give Honor regular game time in men’s football and United want their young players to play as many games as possible to help their development.

The way United have structured the agreement means Honor can continue to work as a training goalkeeper at Carrington when needed, while also getting matches under his belt.

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Twitter founder Jack Dorsey has launched a rival to workplace messaging app Slack that treats AI agents like colleagues.

Built by Mr Dorsey’s fintech company Block, Buzz has similar functionality to the hugely popular workspace app, featuring channels, threads and direct messages.

It also supports voice, media sharing and code repositories, with the main difference being that it welcomes AI models built by companies like Anthropic and OpenAI.

Artificial intelligence agents operating on Buzz act as an “equal member of the team”, according to Mr Dorsey, allowing them to carry out tasks and collaborate on projects.

“We built it to reduce our dependency on Slack and GitHub, and we’re sharing it so anyone can do the same,” Mr Dorsey wrote in an article on X (formerly Twitter).

“We believe Buzz is truly social AI. The category so far has meant people chatting with AI companions, AI filling human feeds or chats, or agents talking to each other while people watch.

“People and agents as equal members of the same network doing work together feels like the first interesting and durable version.”

Buzz is open-source and decentralised, meaning users have more control over how they use the app, and it is more resistant to censorship, control or outages.

It is one of several decentralised projects that Mr Dorsey has launched since stepping down as the head of Twitter, having helped found Twitter rival Bluesky, crypto platform TBDex, and the peer-to-peer messaging app Bitchat.

The latest venture is the first to integrate AI as a core part of the platform, with agents getting their own profiles, channel memberships and permissions that allow them to work autonomously with other agents.

“Earlier today I watched several agents collaborate on a project in real time and work toward a solution together,” said Matt Ross, head of investor relations at Blocks.

“This work product was then available to everyone on my team instantly to iterate on further. This is going to completely transform how we work.”

Another early user described it as a “Slack killer”, though it remains in the early stages of development and is untested at scale.

A number of river users continue to breach licence conditions, according to Cambridge City Council

Cambridge City Council is considering potential enforcement action over river users breaching licence conditions. In February, the city council confirmed there were nine boats believed to be mooring without permission on the River Cam.

Two boats were believed to be in breach of licence conditions at that time. As of late July, the council confirmed that the number of boats thought to be mooring without permission, or potentially in breach of licence conditions, remains the same.

An email from the chief executive of the council, seen by CambridgeshireLive earlier this year, said the council was aware of ‘some’ boats mooring without permission or in breach of licence conditions. A council spokesperson later confirmed the exact figures.

The waiting list for permanent residential moorings in central Cambridge has been closed since 2022. It had around 25 applicants in February, and is now expected to reopen in early August. The council previously stated the waiting list for permanent residential moorings was expected to reopen in the spring.

Since February, officers have continued to monitor the situation through regular inspections and river patrols, the council claimed. Potential enforcement action is being considered for those who breach licencing conditions.

However, before any further action is taken, Cambridge City Council needs to ensure the enforcement is supported by the “appropriate evidence and legal process”.

A statement by Cambridge City Council said in full: “The number of boats thought to be mooring without permission, or potentially in breach of licence conditions, remains unchanged from those provided in February. The waiting list for moorings is due to reopen in early August 2026 as it was decided to align reopening with the annual renewal process for applicants already on the list.

“Since February, officers have continued to monitor the situation through regular inspections and river patrols, and discussions have continued with Legal and Enforcement colleagues regarding potential enforcement action.

“A further meeting with Legal and Enforcement is being scheduled to review the current position and agree next steps. Before any further action is taken the council needs to ensure any enforcement action is supported by the appropriate evidence and legal process.”

Many of us will be making the most of the summer with outdoor activities where our diet is a little more relaxed

Thousands of Brits are expected to enjoy summer barbecues, holidays and outdoor meals this year. However, a hair expert has warned that some seasonal favourites could be affecting hair health.

While many people focus on protecting their skin from the sun and staying hydrated during warmer months, experts say diet can also play a role in the condition of your hair. Studies published by PubMed have found that nutritional deficiencies, including low levels of key vitamins and minerals, can affect the hair growth cycle and contribute to increased shedding.

Dr Emrah Cinik, founder of Dr Cinik Hair Clinic, says some popular summer foods and drinks could be making hair weaker when they regularly replace nutrient-rich options.

Dr Cinik said, “Summer is a time when people often change their eating habits. More barbecues, sugary treats and alcohol can become part of a weekly routine.

“Your hair follicles need a consistent supply of nutrients to produce strong, healthy strands. When the diet lacks important vitamins, minerals and protein, it can affect the strength and quality of your hair.”

Five summer foods which could be affecting your hair

1. Ice cream

A summer staple on holidays and hot days, ice cream may be a favourite treat, but Dr Cinik warns that regularly consuming high-sugar foods could affect hair health.

“When you eat large amounts of sugar regularly, it can increase inflammation in the body,” explains Dr Cinik. “Inflammation can affect the environment around the hair follicles, making it harder for them to produce strong and healthy strands.”

He adds that frequent sugar spikes may also affect circulation.

He said, “When blood sugar levels are repeatedly raised, it can impact how efficiently nutrients reach the scalp. Over time, this may contribute to weaker hair and increased shedding.”

Dr Cinik recommends swapping some sugary treats for options that contain more nutrients.

“Summer fruits such as berries are a better choice because they provide vitamins and antioxidants that support overall health, including the scalp.”

2. Sausages

From garden barbecues to summer picnics, sausages are a popular warm-weather food, but Dr Cinik says that eating too much processed meat could affect hair quality.

“Processed meats can contain high levels of unhealthy fats and fewer nutrients that support hair growth. Hair follicles need a steady supply of vitamins, minerals and protein. A diet dominated by processed foods can make it harder for the body to provide what the hair needs,” he said.

He suggests balancing barbecue meals with healthier options. “Adding foods like grilled chicken, eggs, vegetables or fish alongside barbecue favourites can help provide the nutrients needed for stronger hair.”

3. Cocktails

Summer holidays and outdoor events often mean more cocktails and alcoholic drinks, but Dr Cinik warns that excessive alcohol consumption can affect the scalp.

“Alcohol can contribute to dehydration, and hydration plays an important role in maintaining a healthy scalp. It can also affect the body’s ability to absorb important nutrients such as zinc, iron and B vitamins, which are all linked to healthy hair growth,” he explains.

He advises being careful during periods of increased drinking.

“Having water alongside alcoholic drinks and maintaining a balanced diet can help reduce the impact on your hair and overall health.”

4. Chips

Whether it is a beachside meal or a holiday takeaway, chips are a common summer comfort food. Dr Cinik says regularly eating fried foods may contribute to poorer hair condition.

“Foods that are high in unhealthy fats can increase inflammation and may affect the scalp environment. This can leave hair feeling dry, greasy or more prone to breakage depending on the person, he said.

He recommends choosing healthier fats instead.

“Foods like avocado, olive oil, nuts and oily fish contain fats that support scalp health and help maintain stronger hair.”

5. Ice lollies

Another summer favourite, ice lollies can be packed with added sugar but offer little nutritional value, according to Dr Cinik.

“Hair growth requires a range of nutrients, and foods that provide mainly sugar without vitamins or minerals do not support the needs of the hair follicles. When these foods replace more nutritious options, the hair may not receive the nutrients it needs to stay strong,” he explains.

Dr Cinik recommends making simple swaps. “Choosing snacks such as yoghurt, nuts or fruit can provide more of the vitamins and minerals needed to support healthy hair.”

A man in his 20s suffered serious injuries after being shot

Five people charged in connection with an attempted murder have appeared in court. A man in his 20s suffered serious injuries after he was shot in Leverington Common in Gorefield, near Wisbech, at around 1.55am on May 31.

The man remains in a critical, but stable condition, Cambridgeshire Police said. Five people were arrested and later charged in connection with the attempted murder. These were:

• Jesse Hughes, 31, of St Thomas’ Road, Luton, Bedfordshire, has been charged with attempted murder, possession of a firearm, and perverting the course of justice;
• Billy Cameron, 21, of Grosvenor Road, Basildon, Essex, has been charged with conspiracy to murder and perverting the course of justice;
• Brandon Walsh, 29, of Long Riding, Basildon, Essex, has been charged with conspiracy to murder and perverting the course of justice;
• Eleanor Warren, 30, of Willingham Gardens, Flitton, Bedfordshire, has been charged with perverting the course of justice;
• Leah Foley, 34, of Byrd Court, Basildon, with assisting an offender.

All five appeared at Luton Magistrates Court on Wednesday, July 22. The five defendants will next appear at Cambridge Crown Court on Wednesday, August 19, for a trial and custody hearing.

All defendants, except Eleanor Warren, have been remanded in custody. Warren has been granted conditional bail, with conditions including a curfew and no contact to be made with the other defendants.

Cambridgeshire Police also arrested a 35-year-old man from March on suspicion of attempted murder. He was released on police bail and is due to return to Thorpe Wood Police Station in Peterborough on August 31.