Doctor Amir Khan is known for sharing handy health tips on ITV. According to him, people should keep a key item in their loo to aid bowel movement, and it’s easy to do

Using the toilet is a routine part of daily life, yet it can become a real struggle when constipation strikes. Whether you suffer from it regularly or only occasionally, it’s worth paying attention, as a straightforward solution could help resolve the problem rather quickly.

ITV‘s Doctor Amir Khan is well recognised for dispensing a wide range of health advice online, and one particular piece of expert guidance is especially useful for those who may need a little help when visiting the loo. According to him, keeping just one item in your bathroom could be the remedy, and it’s something everybody ought to consider having to hand should they ever encounter the problem.

This isn’t the only method that works to tackle the issue, however. It was previously revealed that a natural remedy can also aid the problem too.

In a video shared on Instagram, he outlined what people can do to reduce their discomfort. His recommendation is refreshingly straightforward, as you may only need a single item to get things moving.

The doctor said: “We know that pushing hard to open your bowels increases risk of piles (haemorrhoids), anal fissures and even a rectal prolapse. But did you know that research shows the best position to be in whilst sat on the loo is with your knees higher than your hips?

“This opens up the rectum making it easier to pass poo. It mimics the natural squatting position. Also remember to drink water, eat fibre and exercise. Plus, get any worrying persistent bowel changes checked.”

He further noted that, when seated with your feet flat on the floor, you don’t always achieve full relaxation, which can make it more challenging to pass stools. Fortunately, there’s a straightforward solution.

Simply place a small footstool or box beneath your feet to facilitate “easier passage of stools”. This guidance is consistent with the natural squatting position, which has been described as the “most efficient” method for using the toilet.

Additionally, it’s advised to drink plenty of fluids, boost your fibre consumption and maintain regular physical activity to encourage consistent bowel movements. Following these straightforward tips could make a tremendous difference.

Numerous people acknowledged that the technique has worked brilliantly for them, with one person writing: “I have a squatty potty – game changer.” Another commented: “Thank you Amir! You are brilliant at all these embarrassing topics!”

A third remarked: “I got advised to do this by a colorectal nurse after having bowel surgery. It really helps! Thanks Amir. These little videos you are doing are great!”

It appears that keeping a stool in your bathroom could be the way forward. For those who suffer from constipation, the doctor suggested it may be the key to providing relief.

What to know about constipation

Constipation commonly presents itself as changes in bowel habits, such as difficulty passing stools or reduced frequency of toilet visits. It’s a prevalent condition affecting individuals of all ages and can be triggered by insufficient fibre or fluid intake, changes in diet, lack of physical activity and even stress.

Fortunately, constipation frequently responds well to straightforward dietary and lifestyle modifications. To combat this uncomfortable condition, taking measures such as following a balanced diet, consuming sufficient water, reducing alcohol intake, incorporating more physical activity into daily routines and progressively increasing fibre in meals can prove helpful.

Whilst the doctor’s guidance might prove useful when you’re experiencing difficulties, it’s always essential to seek medical advice if you’re concerned about the issue, or if it’s failing to improve. If there’s a significant change in your bowel habits and it’s causing you concern, it’s always advisable to contact your GP for guidance.

The fire was reported on Roosevelt Street in Kearsley on the afternoon of Sunday February 22 at around 3.30pm.

Firefighters and police officers were called to the scene on Sunday afternoon and officers say no injuries were reported because of the 3.30pm blaze.

A Greater Manchester Police spokesperson said: “We were called around 3.30pm on February 22 2026 to reports of a fire at a property.

“Emergency services attended. The fire was extinguished and no injuries reported.

Emergency services were on the scene (Image: Public)

“Enquiries are ongoing.”

It is understood that no one was inside at the house on Roosevelt Street while the fire was underway.

Members of the public have reported that emergency services were called again to the same house later that same day at around 10pm in the evening.

They reported that a fire appeared to have broken out again at the same house with images from the scene showing firefighters going about their work to make the scene safe.

Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service have been approached for further information.

Members of the public have been encouraged to always call 999 in the event of an emergency.

The adverse weather conditions have caused several flights to be cancelled with passengers advised to contact their airlines for updates

Advertisement

Flights arriving and departing from Dublin Airport have been cancelled due to a huge storm.

Storm Hernando is causing chaos in the USA and, as a result, 13 flights to and from the Irish airport have been cancelled on Monday, February 23.

The weather conditions on the east coast of the USA have already caused thousands of flights to and from the region to be cancelled.

Posting on X, the airport said: “Due to adverse weather (Storm Hernando) on the east coast of the US, airlines have cancelled a number of flights due to operate to/from Dublin Airport on Monday.”

Dublin Airport said airlines had cancelled seven outbound and six inbound flights so far as a result of the storm.

It said flights to JFK airport in New York, Newark airport in New Jersey and Boston airport are affected.

Passengers have been advised to contact their airlines for the latest updates.

The National Weather Service has warned: “A major winter storm is expected to bring heavy snow, strong winds, and coastal flooding across the Mid-Atlantic and north-east that may cause impossible travel conditions and power outages.”

Want to see more of the stories you love from Belfast Live? Making us your preferred source on Google means you’ll get more of our exclusives, top stories and must-read content straight away. To add Belfast Live as a preferred source, simply click here.

The war in Ukraine has become a grinding test of attrition, where movement on the map is measured in metres, not miles. In the frozen wastelands where this fight is being waged, it feels never-ending.

At stake are huge consequences not just for Ukrainians, but for Europe and the wider international order – whether borders can be changed by force.

On the ground, the conflict feels less like grand strategy and more like a daily slog to survive.

We joined a unit from the 117th Brigade, tasked with defending one of the most heavily contested areas of the Donbas, known as the “fortress belt”.

Ukraine latest: Putin has started WWIII, says Zelenskyy, on war’s anniversary eve

Just getting to their positions is a test of nerve, as moving forward often means walking across open ground. It is terrifying.

All around, the landscape bears the scars of war. It used to be only the scream of a shell you had to fear, but now it is also the menacing buzz of a drone – and the sky here is full of them.

A drone spots us

The soldiers scan the skies for any unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and use handheld drone detectors.

One drone heads over our position, hunting for a target, and the radio soon alerts us that it is tracking back. The drone detector doesn’t stop bleeping, indicating that our movement has been spotted.

We hear it before we see it, and the increasingly louder whizzing sound means the drone is getting closer and closer.

The deputy commander we are with opens fire with his assault rifle, and another soldier joins the fight. While hitting a small, fast-moving target is not easy, it’s the only way to combat the threat and has become routine for the soldiers.

We are relieved when we see the drone fall from the sky, but there is no time to linger, as more drones could follow and artillery might be called in on our position.

The next leg of the journey to the village where the unit is stationed is by quad bike, racing over icy roads.

As we speed forward, smashed Ukrainian vehicles lie abandoned along the route; they are stark reminders of the danger ahead.

Ukrainian drones are our eyes in the sky, tracking our movement overhead, thereby offering some protection.

Cheap, mass-produced and deadly

The small “drone hunter” unit operates largely in the shadows, helping protect the logistical hub of Sloviansk, a key city anchoring the defensive line in eastern Ukraine.

Inside their bunker, where they live and plan missions, they show us a drone they shot down that morning. It is cheap, mass-produced and deadly.

Bohdan, the commander of the anti-aircraft battery unit of the 117th Brigade, explains: “There are men working with pump-action shotguns because the drones fly at their lowest altitude there.

“That is within the effective range for a shotgun. But here, they fly higher and faster so the Kalashnikov is the most effective tool.”

Desperate fight for survival

The drones are relentless, and the landscape has been battered by years of war.

The soldiers show us something extraordinary: two civilians are still living in this shattered place.

For four years, Alexander and his wife have survived under constant bombardment. He tells me they are frightened, but have no money and nowhere to go.

As we speak, we move for cover, as another drone has been spotted overhead.

For the men defending this territory, the danger is constant.

One soldier describes the rhythm of their days: “It happens two, three times a day: icy roads, sleeper drones, flying drones, and the Russians. It couldn’t be more dangerous. Threats from everywhere – within seconds.”

Life in eastern Ukraine is a desperate fight for survival.

Secret underground bunker

We are taken to a secret location deep in a forest. Access to the brigade’s headquarters is tightly restricted.

Inside, we descend into a bunker – a labyrinth of screens and monitors that reflects what this war has become.

This is now a conflict of microchips and mud, with drones sketching digital kill chains and men doing whatever they must to survive.

Colonel Dmytro Yaroshenk, the commander of the 117th Brigade, says the transformation has been profound: “The war has changed fundamentally.

“We used to fight ‘on horseback’, so to speak; now we fight in the sky. We’re even taking down helicopters with drones. Not my brigade specifically, but there are units doing it.”

On one screen, he shows us what remains of a group of Russian soldiers who tried to use the mist to launch a probing attack. Surveillance drones – and the algorithms guiding them – see everything and everyone.

“Logistics are currently a nightmare because technology has evolved so much; drones are flying almost everywhere. If the enemy spots a vehicle, it’s highly likely to be quickly destroyed,” the colonel adds.

Another image appears: a bunker where Russian troops were spotted entering. Attack drones are called in, striking the hideout. No one comes out.

The 21st century has fused with the muddied trench battlefields of the First World War, and the result is grim and brutal.

The fighting here may feel remote to those thousands of miles away, but the implications are not.

Read more from Sky News:
The ‘hero city’ 30,000 Russians failed to take
Klitschko to Trump: ‘Be on the side of Ukraine’

This war will help determine whether might makes right in the 21st century, whether international law is enforced or eroded.

After four years of merciless combat, the battle for the Donbas is about more than territory. It is about the kind of world that will emerge when the guns finally fall silent.

Clive Howard, now 67, was branded the “Night Stalker” after he was jailed for life for attacking at least six women over a 28-year period in Norfolk and Cambridgeshire

A rapist dubbed the “Night Stalker” after he preyed on lone women over a 28-year period could walk free – just 10 years after he was jailed for life.

Clive Howard, then 57, hunted the streets of Cambridgeshire and Norfolk for victims before attacking them in his Volvo estate car. The loner, who lived with his parents, was described as “every woman’s living nightmare” by a judge after he attacked at least six women from 1986 onwards.

After he was handed a life sentence another 15 women came forward to claim they were also targeted. Howard’s own brother said “it was terrifying to think of how many women Clive may have attacked”. He was jailed for a minimum of 10 years and three months, but the sentence was later cut by a year because it did not consider time spent on remand.

Now an official report reveals he went before a parole hearing in February last year but was denied his freedom because he still posed a danger to the public. The Parole Board review said he had undertaken training to address his use of “violence and sex offending” but “there had been some occasions when he had not obeyed the prison rules and had displayed hostility to staff”, reports the Mirror.

There are fears he will make a fresh bid for freedom within months – with insiders condemning the failure to adequately punish him for the “predatory” nature of his crimes. A source said: “It won’t be long before he’s referred to the parole board again. It’s a disgrace he could be released so soon after being jailed. His offending was horrific, predatory and targeted, so the thought he could be freed after a little more than a decade is terrifying.”

Norfolk Police confirmed the investigation into Howard’s offending was closed “a few months after the sentencing”. A spokeswoman added: “We received a number of calls from members of the public following the sentencing of Clive Howard in 2015. Each of these were thoroughly investigated and no evidence of further criminal offences was found.”

Human rights barrister Harriet Wistrich, who spearheaded the legal battle to keep the so-called black cab rapist John Worboys behind bars, said: “The level of risk for serious sexual predators is not sufficiently recognised in these types of cases.”

Howard was ultimately apprehended in 2014 when a victim assisted police in tracing his Volvo after he raped her in a car park. It subsequently emerged that his reign of terror had spanned nearly 30 years.

In 2015, Howard admitted to seven rapes and received a life sentence. Judge Stephen Holt described Howard as “every woman’s living nightmare” who waged a “campaign of sexual offences over many years”.

He told the father of six: “You did severe psychological harm to your victims. There was clearly a significant degree of planning and targeting.”

Howard – who had an 82-year-old girlfriend at the time of his arrest – pleaded guilty to seven rapes and was handed a life sentence, yet detectives believe he has targeted at least 15 further victims dating back to 1986. Following his sentencing, police revealed that more than a dozen women had come forward alleging they too had been attacked by the convicted rapist.

At the time, Howard’s brother David, 58, disclosed that it was he who had first alerted detectives to Howard, having become aware of the 1986 rape. Having been ostracised by his family for reporting Howard to the authorities, welder David said: “He’s a serial rapist, I had to go to the police, it was the right thing to do. I was so pleased when he was sentenced I celebrated in the pub.”

John Higgins makes ‘genius’ Zhao Xintong his favourite to win the World Snooker Championship after an historic victory at the Players Championship.

The reigning world champion beat Higgins 10-7 in Sunday’s final in Telford, bursting for the winning line with breaks of 104, 126 and 92 after the pair could not be separated for 14 frames.

The 28-year-old becomes the fourth player to win his first five ranking finals, after Steve Davis, Mark Williams and Neil Robertson.

The Cyclone is now the first player to win the World Grand Prix and the Players Championship since the Players Series came into being in 2018/19.

He now has the chance to become the first to complete the hat-trick at the Tour Championship in Manchester next month.

Higgins was stunned by what he saw from the Chinese superstar, believing he can make more history in Sheffield this year and break the Crucible Curse, by becoming the first player to defend his first world title at the venue.

‘I couldn’t pot a long ball all day and Zhao doesn’t really miss any long balls,’ Higgins said on Channel 5. ‘The last three frames there it was absolutely poetry in motion.

‘I’m lucky to have my kids here and I can remember my dad saying he was lucky to see footballers like George Best and Jimmy Johnstone. My kids are lucky to see someone like Xintong. He is an absolute genius, a genius.

‘I felt totally great, I felt really good, I just couldn’t pot long balls. You get down for them and think you’ve got to get them because if you don’t get them you know he’s going to punish you. The last three frames it was a joy to watch even though I was on the receiving end.

‘I think he’ll be the man to beat at the World Championship this year, I really do.’

Stephen Hendry, who has tipped Zhao to reach ‘four or five’ World Championship wins, feels he is taking snooker to another level with his excellence.

‘I’m always looking for players who can take the game to the next level. I think this young man can,’ said the seven-time world champion. ‘I think he’s operating at a higher level than anyone else in the game at the moment.

‘He seems to have shrugged the expectation of being world champion and the pressure of that. And now just playing with a freedom and a confidence. Best player in the world at the moment, no doubt about it.’

Zhao was not always at his best in Telford, struggling at times against Elliot Slessor and Mark Allen in round one and the semi-finals, but bouncing back to 6-5 victories against both.

He also faltered at times in the final, before surging to the winning line in style.

‘I still can’t believe that, last week I was in Hong Kong and now back to Telford. I can’t believe that,’ he said of triumphing at the Grand Prix before Players Championship glory.

‘This week I played not really good, but tonight I think the last three frames I played really nice frames. I’m really happy.

‘Our Chinese people really respect John, Ronnie [O’Sullivan] and Mark [Williams], they’re 50 years old and can beat everyone in the world, so I’m really a lucky one.’

On his chances of defending his World Championship title, he said: ‘I don’t want to think a lot. I just want to enjoy snooker.’

Former Masters champion Alan McManus feels Zhao is on course to become one of the all-time greats, saying: ‘That’s what generational talents do in winning big tournaments.

‘He’s put away a legend and put him away in style. He is something incredibly special.

‘We’re talking about six, seven or eight players in the history of our sport are that special. He’s definitely the next one.’

Zhao would have to break the Crucible Curse to defend his world title in May and he would have to become the first to reach the Players Championship final and make it to the World Championship final in the same season.

The new world number five, China’s first world champion, has already made history, how much more can he write this season?

MORE: Mark Selby and Mark Allen rate each other’s games ahead of Players Championship clash

MORE: Shaun Murphy reveals career-changing Peter Ebdon message: ‘That wasn’t easy to hear’

MORE: Mark Williams weighs in on Judd Trump all-time snooker great debate

The opportunity and ability for teams to rewrite their own narratives in the space of just a few weeks is part of what makes the Six Nations so compelling.

Lacklustre and outgunned in Rome in week one, Scotland are now France’s biggest challengers after following up the Calcutta Cup demolition of England with a nailbiting, nerve-wrenching win in Wales.

The hosts were 23-12 up with just over 20 minutes to go but Scotland roared back to win 26-23 after some brilliant quick thinking from fly-half Finn Russell.

He switched the momentum of the match with a kick that caught Wales out and allowed Darcy Graham to score in the corner. Yet again, the Bath number 10 was the difference-maker.

“Big-game players turn up when it matters and Russell had moments when he bailed Scotland out,” former Wales captain Sam Warburton told BBC Rugby Special.

“He was exceptional at managing the team when they were down in the game. He waits for the perfect moment to get involved.

“He plays what he sees, he has that licence and his clutch kicking was immense. The big-game player rocked up in the last 30 minutes, he was immaculate and a big part of the comeback.”

“Scotland found a way to win ugly,” added their former flanker John Barclay.

“They found solutions and ground their way in. In some ways that was the most important win they have had in a while. It has given them a strong position in the table.”

Up next? France at Murrayfield on Saturday, 7 March, and the chance to end Les Bleus’ Grand Slam dreams after three successive wins.

Gary Neville hailed David Raya as an ‘absolutely incredible’ signing for Arsenal after he helped the Gunners dispatch of north London rivals Tottenham.

Raya made a rare mistake in Arsenal’s deflating 2-2 draw with Wolves last week, colliding with Gabriel and allowing the basement boys to score an injury-time equaliser.

Neville questioned how Raya would respond to his uncharacteristic blunder in Arsenal’s huge north London derby on Sunday but was impressed by his reaction.

Viktor Gyokeres and Eberechi Eze stole the headlines after both scoring twice in an emphatic 4-1 win, but Neville was keen to praise Raya for his ‘dominant’ performance in between the posts.

Raya looked back to his best as Arsenal breezed past Spurs and Neville said he has been an ‘absolutely incredible’ signing for Mikel Arteta’s side.

Eyebrows were raised when Arsenal signed Spanish shot-stopper Raya from Brentford in 2023 as Arteta already had England international Aaron Ramsdale at the Emirates Stadium.

But £27m signing Raya quickly displaced Ramsdale as Arsenal’s No. 1 and has been one of the most consistent goalkeepers in the Premier League ever since.

Asked how Arsenal coped with the growing title pressure against Tottenham, Neville said on his Sky Sports podcast: ‘Really well in the end.

‘At half-time they may have looked back and thought, “how are we in this position?” because they were so dominant in the game.

‘They caused their own problems once or twice and I was wondering if these mistakes were becoming contagious and would cost a team who were dominant in most matches.

‘In the end it was really important what happened today. It’s too early to feel the real title pressure, we’re not quite in the home straight, but this is going to get really hot when we get into April. Games really do count now and Arsenal have been in a difficult run.

‘I was thinking about it before the game and I singled out David Raya because I think he’s been absolutely incredible, what a goalkeeper he’s been this season and since he joined Arsenal.

‘But he had all of Thursday and Friday to think long and hard about that Wolves game and listen to the noise. How is he going to respond? Is he going to be a bit more tentative and wobbly and shaky?

Tiger Woods hosted the PGA Tour’s second Signature Event of the season at Riviera Country Club in California, with one of the biggest prize purses of the year on offer

Rory McIlroy is only interested in winning golf tournaments – but a cheque for over £1.3million for finishing in a tie for second sure softens the blow when you come up short.

Breakthrough American star Jacob Bridgeman was a cut above at Riviera Country Club this week, taking a six stroke lead into the final round and seeing that out on Sunday evening to win by a single shot.

Tiger Woods hosted the PGA Tour’s second Signature Event of the season at Riviera Country Club in California, and there was one of the biggest prize purses of the year on offer.

Although the Genesis Invitational is a Signature Event with a limited field compared to a regular PGA Tour tournament, the 36-hole cut in operation ensured not every player earned a paycheck on Sunday night. However, just making the cut banked players over $50,000.

McIlroy finished one shot behind the winner in a tie for second with Kurt Kitayama, who had shot a seven-under par final round 64.

Meanwhile, the world number two had a final round 67, which included five birdies and one bogey. He took home a cheque for over £1,330,000 for his efforts, while the winner pocketed £2,950,000.

A final round 67 – his lowest score of the tournament – saw Shane Lowry finish in a four-way tie for 24th place, for which he earned just under £132,000.

Genesis Invitational Prizemoney

Winner: Jacob Bridgeman, -18/266, $4 million

T-2: Kurt Kitayama, -17/267, $1.8 million

T-2: Rory McIlroy, -17/267, $1.8 million

4: Adam Scott, -16/268, $1 million

5: Aldrich Potgieter, -15/269, $840,000

6: Jake Knapp, -13/271, $760,000

T-7: Collin Morikawa, -12/272, $603,200

T-7: Cameron Young, -12/272, $603,200

T-7: Tommy Fleetwood, -12/272, $603,200

T-7: Ryan Fox, -12/272, $603,200

T-7: Xander Schauffele, -12/272, $603,200

T-12: Min Woo Lee, -11/273, $415,000

T-12: Scottie Scheffler, -11/273, $415,000

T-12: Jordan Spieth, -11/273, $415,000

T-12: Alex Noren, -11/273, $415,000

T-16: Sam Stevens, -10/274, $319,000

T-16: Pierceson Coody, -10/274, $319,000

T-16: Akshay Bhatia, -10/274, $319,000

T-16: Marco Penge, -10/274, $319,000

T-20: Ludvig Aberg, -9/275, $259,500

T-20: Robert MacIntyre, -9/275, $259,500

T-22: Harris English, -8/276, $224,500

T-22: Sahith Theegala, -8/276, $224,500

T-24: Shane Lowry, -7/277, $178,250

T-24: Matt McCarty, -7/277, $178,250

T-24: Matt Fitzpatrick, -7/277, $178,250

T-24: Max Greyserman, -7/277, $178,250

T-28: Rickie Fowler, -6/278, $136,500

T-28: Nick Taylor, -6/278, $136,500

T-28: Hideki Matsuyama, -6/278, $136,500

T-28: Tony Finau, -6/278, $136,500

T-28: Aaron Rai, -6/278, $136,500

T-28: Ryan Gerard, -6/278, $136,500

T-34: Si Woo Kim, -5/279, $109,000

T-34: Patrick Rodgers, -5/279, $109,000

T-34: Tom Kim, -5/279, $1049,000

T-37: Sami Valimaki, -4/280, $92,250

T-37: Corey Conners, -4/280, $94,250

T-37: Max Homa, -4/280, $94,250

T-37: Patrick Cantlay, -4/280, $94,250

T-41: Viktor Hovland, -3/281, $78,000

T-41: Ben Griffin, -3/281, $78,000

T-41: Wyndham Clark, -3/281, $78,000

44: Jhonattan Vegas, -2/282, $70,000

T-45: Ryo Hisatsune, -1/283, $64,000

T-45: Taylor Pendrith, -1/283, $64,000

T-47: Andrew Novak, E/284, $57,000

T-47: Denny McCarthy, E/284, $57,000

49: Matti Schmid, +2/286, $54,000

T-50: Sepp Straka, +5/289, 51,500

T-50: Brian Harman, +5/289, $51,500

Want to see more of the stories you love from Belfast Live? Making us your preferred source on Google means you’ll get more of our exclusives, top stories and must-read content straight away. To add Belfast Live as a preferred source, simply click here.

Click here to sign up to our sport newsletter, bringing you the latest sports news, headlines and top stories