Pete Hegseth has been condemned after he used a D-Day commemoration to accuse Nato countries of not doing enough to tackle illegal immigration.

The US defence secretary was branded “an absolute bum” after saying “European beaches are [being] stormed by different, dangerous ideologies”.

Critics said his comments, at the Normandy American Cemetery in north-west France on the 82nd anniversary of the D-Day landings, were disrespectful to the memory of those who died in the Second World War.

Nearly 4,500 Allied troops were killed attempting to liberate Nazi-occupied France on June 6, 1944.

Hegseth said: “Sadly, today, different European beaches are stormed by different, dangerous ideologies. Beaches in Spain, Italy, Greece and Bulgaria, boats and men arrive.

“When will European capitals do something about that invasion or is it too late? I pray not, and I believe not.”

But his comments sparked a furious backlash on social media.

Former Labour MP Jamie Reed said Hegseth was “a bum with wet hair and a suit that doesn’t fit”.

The row comes after US vice-president JD Vance sparked anger by blaming “the mass invasion of migrants” for Henry Nowak’s murder.

The 18-year-old was handcuffed and arrested by police as he lay dying after being wrongly accused of racism by his killer, Vickram Digwa.

Digwa, who is Sikh, was jailed for life with a minimum term of 21 years at Southampton Crown Court last Monday.

Responding to Vance’s comments, a No.10 spokesperson said: “In recent days we have seen people trying to interfere in our democracy and seeking to stir up division on our streets.

“The Nowak family are grieving after Henry’s horrific murder. They have said they do not want his death to be used to create further division, hatred or tension. We should be respecting their wishes.

“Our politics should bring people together even in the most terrible of circumstances. That is who we are as a country.”

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I love a good cooking hack, whether it’s the Gordon Ramsay-approved technique of removing the slimy middles of cucumbers for your salad or Mary Berry’s semolina coating for extra-crispy roast potatoes.

Which means that for years, I salted my aubergines before cooking them. I grew up hearing that it took that bitter taste from the veg and improved its texture.

But on Nigella Lawson’s site entry about her At My Table beef and aubergine fatteh recipe, the chef’s team recommended skipping the step.

After a deeper dive, I learned that everyone from Nigel Slater to Ottolenghi avoids pre-salting for the majority of aubergine dishes.

There are a few reasons people do this, including:

1. Removing their bitter flavour,
2. Drawing out moisture for a crispier/less mushy result.

We’ll deal with these one by one.

Nigella’s site reads: “Some people recommend salting the aubergines before cooking, to draw out any bitter juices. However, most modern aubergines do not have this problem and are quite mild”.

Culinary publication Food and Wine agrees. They write that aubergines date back to 50BC, when the plant was indeed very bitter. They argue that the practice of salting them may have started long, long ago (we don’t know who by), and passed down even though farmers have been growing select, less-bitter veg for generations now.

“Today, most eggplants available at the grocery store and farmer’s market are bred without bitterness,” the publication shared.

In case you needed any more convincing, chef Nigel Slater and cooking bible Larousse Gastronomique agree it doesn’t make the plant less bitter. “The process of degorging [salting] is no longer necessary as commercially cultivated aubergines are not as bitter as they used to be,” the iconic cooking book said.

Verdict: salting an aubergine is not likely to make it less bitter.

Salting very moisture-heavy veg, like courgettes, is undeniably useful when prepping them for e.g. fritters. Salt draws moisture out of the produce, which you can then squeeze through a muslin cloth for a drier, crispier fry; I did this just yesterday for some mucver.

Bitter or not, aubergine does not change the nature of osmosis. It’s true that salt always draws moisture from vegetables.

But the question of whether or not that actually makes it easier to crisp up is not as easy to answer as you might think. Food and Wine said that salting aubergines to dry them is a “double-edged sword for the ultra-absorbent” veg.

Drier aubergine may be less able to take on flavours, they say. On the plus side, it could, in theory, take on less fat when frying, which may make it crispier.

However, a Guardian journalist tried the method and said that while the salted version took up less oil at first, both salted and unsalted versions ended up absorbing the same amount of fat when they fried them. They also said the end results were basically identical, flavour and texture-wise.

Sara Jenkins, chef and owner of Porsena in New York City, said that she doesn’t bother when pan-frying aubergine. “I have rarely found an eggplant that is so bitter that it needs salting. I just cut it up, toss the pieces with olive oil, and start cooking,” she told Epicurious.

Her only exception is deep-frying.

A New York Times Cooking recipe shared another, salt-free way to stop fried aubergine from becoming mushy: “Eggplant is known to absorb liquid like a sponge, so here’s a trick: oil the slices (lightly) just before they hit the pan [instead of laying them in fat] to ensure that they are not oil-logged,” they wrote.

For roasting or baking, recipe tester Anna Theoktisto said it’s not worth the extra time, as aubergine that cooks for that long of a time inevitably breaks down anyway. Ottolenghi omits the step for his roasting recipes, too.

Verdict: Salting might make aubergine crispier when frying, though cooks have seen mixed results, and many chefs don’t bother. For roasting, grilling, baking, marinating, and stewing, lots of experts advise against salting.

This year, the UK’s rules for recycling changed under the “Simpler Recycling” initiative.

That means we should now have four standard bins for collection across the UK, as opposed to the previous up to seven bin options provided by some councils.

As part of the new rules, the government explained on their site, “Plastic film packaging and plastic bags will need to be collected with plastic recycling from 31 March 2027”.

That’s because not all plastic bags can be recycled in all parts of the UK at the moment.

“Generally, plastic film and carrier bags can’t be recycled at home, but some can be recycled at supermarket carrier bag collection points,” London Recycles shared.

That means that in some areas, thin, film-like plastic bags and colourful plastic might not be accepted by the council in your domestic waste. Others allow you to put supermarket carrier bags in your recycling, but say they won’t be processed.

And some bodies like York Council have said they don’t accept black or dark plastics as these can’t be recycled yet. “Stretchy plastics”, like bubble wrap or bread bags, aren’t recyclable in that area’s home waste either.

They also don’t recycle food or drink pouches.

These rules might change according to your local council’s rules, so check those before recycling. But across the board, compostable and biodegradable bags can’t be recycled.

“If they enter the recycling system can potentially cause quality issues in the recycled material. These should be placed in your home composting bin, if you have one,” said Recycle.

And dirty or sticky plastic bags or those that have food residue or grease on them can’t be recycled either.

Not all types of plastic are as valuable as others to recycling plants. They don’t all cost the same to recycle, and there isn’t the same demand for different kinds of recycled plastic either.

Others need specialist recycling facilities, which the UK doesn’t have in large enough quantities yet.

Then, there are the bags themselves to consider.

“Plastic bags and film can… cause problems at recycling plants, clogging up the sorting equipment and potentially causing whole loads of recyclable waste to go to landfill”, said Zero Waste Scotland.

Kent County Council said plastic bags and soft plastics can wrap around their machines, slowing everything down.

Some supermarkets in the UK recycle plastic bags on-site. You can find signs on some carrier bags saying whether they can be recycled, and whether or not you need to do so in the store.

If you’re a Bridgerton fan and have been noticing more Daphnes, Penelopes and Eloises on the playground and in baby announcements of late, you’re not imagining it.

New data from the Social Security Administration shows that several names of characters from the Netflix period drama Bridgerton are climbing the U.S. baby name charts.

“Ever since arriving in December of 2020, ‘Bridgerton’ baby names have been exactly what parents needed,” Abby Sandel, creator of the baby name blog Appellation Mountain, told HuffPost. “They’re vintage, elegant and fun, just like the Vitamin String Quartet-fuelled soundtrack.”

Between 2024 and 2025, both Eloise and Daphne jumped 15 spots to No. 49 and No. 178, respectively.

Benedict leapt 100 spots to No. 814, Penelope rose six spots to No. 22, Francesca gained eight spots to No. 307, Simon climbed 21 spots to No. 230, and Violet got a little bump from No. 15 to No. 13.

Even Hyacinth – perhaps the most distinctive name in the ‘Bridgerton’ universe – saw its numbers tick up, with 33 baby girls receiving the name in 2025, up from 28 in 2024 and 17 in 2023.

“The ‘Bridgerton’ names feel refined and aristocratic, but also emotionally warm,” said baby name consultant Taylor Humphrey.

“They evoke scenes of handwritten letters, silk dresses, long walks through formal gardens, classical music, grand gestures and old-world beauty, all of which strongly aligns with the current appetite for ‘romanticised girlhood’ and coquette aesthetics.”

The timing is key to understanding why these names are resonating so strongly.

“I think ‘Bridgerton’ arrived at the perfect cultural moment for names like Daphne, Eloise, Francesca, Hyacinth, Violet and Penelope to flourish,” Humphrey said.

“Parents are increasingly drawn to names that feel romantic, literary, elegant and feminine without sounding overly modern or invented.”

Baby name consultant Jenn Ficarra sees the trend as part of a broader shift in naming culture.

“I think as we see a rise in gender neutral name choices for girls, we’re also seeing the pendulum swing in the opposite direction – feminine and sweet,” she said.

“The ‘Bridgerton’ names somehow feel like fresh discoveries, even if they’re a top 20 name like Violet, while also offering a playful, modern energy. These names are versatile – cute and playful for little girls while being elegant, strong names for adults. They feel grand and regal without being uppity or snobby.”

Sophie Kihm, the editor-in-chief of Nameberry, believes the rise of Bridgerton names follow her site’s “100 Year Rule.”

“Names cycle back into fashion every 100 years,” she explained. “Eloise and Violet, two of the biggest ‘Bridgerton’ hits, last peaked in the 1920s, so we’d expect them to be trending regardless. But a push from a major pop culture phenomenon like ‘Bridgerton’ helped propel each of them into the Top 50.”

While choices like Daphne and Penelope had more recent peaks, Kihm added that neither was ever endemically popular, “which prevented them from feeling too dated or fusty to revive”.

Part of what makes the Bridgerton effect so durable, experts say, is that these names were already on an upward trajectory long before the show debuted.

“Penelope and Violet, for example, were already quietly climbing before the show aired,” Humphrey noted.

“Daphne has been a staple on the Top 1,000 most popular baby names list since 1900. Francesca has been on the list since 1953. After a 65-year run, Eloise took a hiatus in 1965 and reentered the Top 1,000 in 2008 and has steadily climbed to No. 49 in the nearly two decades since. Shows like ‘Bridgerton’ don’t create naming trends out of thin air – they amplify names that were already culturally primed for revival.”

Undoubtedly, these names feel classic, rather than costume-y or overly tied to the show.

“Unlike Khaleesi and Renesmee, which will forever be tied to ‘Game of Thrones’ and ‘The Twilight Saga,’ ‘Bridgerton’ names feel unencumbered by this one television series,” Humphrey said.

“These names were standing on their own merits long before ‘Bridgerton’ came along. Most people aren’t going to meet a baby Daphne or Penelope and immediately say, ‘Oh, like the ‘Bridgerton’ character?’ the way they might with a more singular pop culture reference.”

Sandel traces the Bridgerton names’ appeal back even further to the books that inspired the show.

“When author Julia Quinn released the first ‘Bridgerton’ novel in the year 2000, names like Penelope and Benedict were obscure,” she said. “She tapped into the next wave of antique revivals and helped push choices like Eloise into the U.S. Top 100.”

For Ficarra, the enduring appeal of these names comes down to the way they strike a certain balance in our times.

“They represent a desire for a ‘safe’ and ‘normal’ name choice that still feels new and exciting without feeling overdone or tired,” she said.

Sandel offered one final reason why book and TV show characters make for such appealing choices in the first place.

“Real life figures can be complicated, but fictional characters offer naming inspiration without as much baggage,” she said. “We see the Bridgerton family names as the perfect blend of traditional and current – beautiful names for attractive people falling in love and behaving honourably, at least by the end of every season.”

Speaking to HuffPost UK previously, orthopaedic surgeon Dr Pamela Mehta of Resilience Orthopaedics said that “Two of the most common causes of runner’s knee are overuse and muscular imbalances”.

This includes weaker hips, which can lead some muscles further down the leg or closer to the small of your back to work harder to compensate.

Which is why some experts, like online run coach Ken Graham, reccomend runners in particular try the “Myrtl routine”.

In an Instagram Reel, Graham explained “It only takes five minutes but could save you weeks of injuries”.

It’s a series of body weight exercises devised by running coach Jay Johnson, SELF explained. These are designed to strengthen your hips and improve flexibility.

One study found that runners with greater hip strength and balance ran more economically. Another noted a link between weaker hip muscles and overuse injuries in recreational runners.

On his site, Johnson said: “I get asked all the time, ‘Why was it named Myrtl?’ Because Myrtl rhymed with ‘hip girdle.’ I had no idea that Myrtle is the common spelling”.

The hip girdle is sometimes also called the pelvic girdle and involves the hip bone.

Per Graham and SELF, these can include:

1. Clamshells – 8-10 reps each side (we’ve written before about how great these are for your hips),
2. Lateral leg raise – 10-15 reps each leg,
3. Fire hydrants – 8-10 reps each leg,
4. Donkey kicks – 8-10 reps each leg,
5. Donkey whips – 5 reps each leg,
6. Forward knee circles – 10 each leg,
7. Reverse knee circles or hurdle trail legs – 10 each leg,
8. Lateral leg swing – 10 each leg,
9. Forward leg swing – 10 each leg,
10. Bent knee leg swing – 10 each leg.

Graham advised doing the routine three times a week after your runs.

Writing for Runner’s World, Jay Johnson himself said it should be done after your run, too.

“This routine takes no more than five minutes once you’ve learned the exercises. Once you’ve done it a handful of times it will become an easy, gentle cool-down routine,” he shared.

The Government has issued a warning on oak processionary moth caterpillars “ahead of peak season”.

They have said it’s important for the public to “stay vigilant” as the “pest” begins to make its hairy way onto oak trees.

Not only can they harm the iconic trees, which The Tree Council has described as being “under threat” in the UK, but they can also cause irritation “and should not be touched under any circumstances”, the Government said.

They’re the caterpillar, or the younger stage, of the oak processionary moth.

The Forestry Commission’s Oak Processionary Moth Programme Manager, Dr Edward Straw, said we might see more of these than usual as “The warm weather in spring has led to oak processionary moth growing quicker than in previous years and we may see higher infestation levels”.

They’re about 2-3cm-long caterpillars with a grey body and a dark head with lengthy, white hairs. They usually form a nose-to-tail formation in groups as they travel down oak trees.

They have nests which the Government has said are usually teardrop-shaped or dome-shaped and can range from the size of a 50p coin to that of a melon. These look white at first, but can turn brown later on.

Forest Research said that while the invasive oak processionary caterpillar looks like harmless native species – including the lackey moth and brown tail moth caterpillars – there are ways to distinguish the “pest” from the rest.

They said, ”(The) oak processionary moth feeds only on oak and produces large nests on oak trunks and large branches from May onwards. Hairy caterpillars which are not on oak or are not associated with a silk nest are almost certainly not (oak processionary moths)”.

They’re usually found in the South-West of the UK.

Professor Nicola Spence, Defra Chief Plant Health Officer, said: “I would advise that members of the public living in the South East, Derbyshire and Dorset, avoid any contact with the caterpillar and its nests, as this can cause irritation”.

Firstly, they feed on the leaves of oak trees, which means they can hamper the trees’ growth. This can leave them more vulnerable to disease.

Secondly, the tiny hairs on the caterpillars’ bodies can “cause itchy rashes, eye and throat irritation and should not be touched under any circumstances,” said the Government.

Firstly, don’t touch them. Don’t even touch the nest, the government warned, as this could contain the irritating hairs.

Secondly, report any sightings so experts can keep track of the caterpillars.

“If you spot the pest, report the sighting via our TreeAlert portal. Alternatively, you can email opm@forestrycommission.gov.uk,” Dr Straw said.

The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) also said that “Due to the irritant hairs, control of this insect should only be carried out by professional contractors”.

The government previously said, “if you or someone in your care has a serious allergic reaction, get medical help. For less severe reactions, a pharmacist can provide advice on relief from skin or eye irritations.”

They also say that “if an animal in your care is seriously affected, get advice from a vet”, and warn to “Tell the medical person or vet you suspect it is due to OPM [oak processionary moth] contact.“

Nadhim Zahawi has been condemned over his “disgraceful” attempts to defend a Reform UK ad attacking Kemi Badenoch which has been widely criticised as misleading.

The former Tory, who defected to Nigel Farage’s party earlier this year, insisted there was nothing wrong with the controversial social media post, which was produced following the jailing of Henry Nowak’s killed.

The 18-year-old was handcuffed and arrested by police as he lay dying after being wrongly accused of racism by his killer, Vickram Digwa.

Digwa, a British-born Sikh, was jailed for life with a minimum term of 21 years at Southampton Crown Court last Monday.

Farage has said the case is an example of “two-tier policing” and anti-white discrimination.

The Reform ad showed a quote from 2020 in which Badenoch said “black lives do matter”, alongside a partial quote she gave this week in which she said “I don’t care about white lives matter”.

However, her full quote, which she gave in an interview on ITV’s Good Morning Britain, was: “I don’t want to hear about Black Lives Matter. I don’t want to hear about White Lives Matter. Everyone matters.”

On Sky News on Sunday morning, presenter Trevor Phillips asked Zahawi if someone at Reform “is getting sacked” for the ad.

He replied: “In 2020, she said black lives do matter. In 2026, she says I don’t care about black lives matter or white lives matter. Why? Because she finds it hard to talk about a white boy who bled out on the street.”

But Phillips told him that was “clearly a misrepresentation of what she said”.

“Are you telling me that this is ok,” he asked in reference to the advert.

Zahawi said: “It’s her words, that’s what she said. Why is it so different when it’s a white boy, that we’re all so frightened of upsetting anyone?”

The presenter hit back: “This is not you at all. You’re doing what all the others do. You are inventing your own question and answering it.

“You’re not answering the question I asked you, which is ’is this a fair representation of what Kemi Badenoch said ir not?”

Zahawi said: “I would have more respect for Kemi Badenoch if she said ’by the way, in 2020 I was wrong.”

Social media users slammed the former Tory chancellor.

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A government minister says he was left “horrified” by Pete Hegseth after he used a D-Day commemoration to accuse Nato countries of not doing enough to tackle illegal immigration.

The US defence secretary said “European beaches are [being] stormed by different, dangerous ideologies” in a speech at the Normandy American Cemetery in north-west France.

Hegseth was speaking on the 82nd anniversary of the D-Day landings, when nearly 4,500 Allied troops were killed attempting to liberate Nazi-occupied France on June 6, 1944.

He said: “Sadly, today, different European beaches are stormed by different, dangerous ideologies. Beaches in Spain, Italy, Greece and Bulgaria, boats and men arrive.

“When will European capitals do something about that invasion or is it too late? I pray not, and I believe not.”

Speaking to LBC, justice minister Jake Richards hit out at Hegseth, in a further sign of the worsening relations between the UK government and Donald Trump’s administration.

Asked what he thought of the comments, he said: “I think it’s totally inappropriate and wrong. I’m actually horrified that someone would, at a moment that we’re there to remember those heroes who fell for all of us to enjoy the freedoms that we do today, you would launch some sort of political argument about illegal migration.

“Of course, illegal migration, the small boats crisis, is one of the biggest issues that come up in my constituency. It’s one that this government hs to get a grip of over the next few years.

“But when we’re discussing D-day and the history of those heroes, that’s not the moment for politics, it’s not the moment for those types of arguments, and I wish he hadn’t made them.

“I don’t think that was an appropriate remark and I hope he regrets it too.”

Meanwhile, deputy prime minister David Lammy also hit out at US vice-president JD Vance after he blamed the murder of Henry Nowak on the “mass invasion of migrants”.

Eighteen-year-old Henry was handcuffed and arrested by police as he lay dying after being wrongly accused of racism by his killer, Vickram Digwa.

Digwa, who is a British-born Sikh, was jailed for life with a minimum term of 21 years at Southampton Crown Court last Monday.

Appearing on Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg on BBC1, Lammy – who is friends with Vance – said: “I spoke to him yesterday and I told him he was wrong. This has got nothing to do with mass migration.”

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