I recently learned that “purple” garlic really does taste different to its white counterpart.

It’s a “hardneck” variety, meaning it’s got a wooden stem in its centre: this makes the cloves larger, sweeter, milder, and more evenly-sized.

Which left me wondering ― is there an equivalent rationale behind why some onions are more intense than others?

Anyone who regularly cooks will know that picking your alliums often feels like Russian roulette. The eye-wateringly sharp kinds seem to come out of nowhere, and often appear in the same pack as their less offensive peers.

But why does it happen, and can you tell which onions will make your eyes water before you slice into them?

To understand why some onions are more likely to get you to “cry,” we need to look at what causes the reaction.

Per Britannica, onions are excellent at absorbing sulphur as they grow. This is used for amino acids in the bulb.

But when you slice into an onion, its cell walls break down. That allows enzymes to meet sulphur-rich amino acids, creating a chemical known as syn-propanethial-S-oxide (some research suggests two enzymes are needed for its release).

This is unstable and volatile, meaning it easily evaporates from the plant and gets into your eyes. Tears are a means of washing the offending chemical away.

This is an effective way of repelling hungry mammals, Bon Appetit writes ― whether hungry rabbits or me, making a spag bol.

Spring onions and sweeter onions absorb less sulphur, so they’re less liable to elicit tears. But yellow, red, and white onions are all potential tear-jerkers.

The strength of the response is linked to the concentration of sulphur-rich amino acids in the onion, which may change according to the soil the veg is grown in.

Writing for The Conversation, dietitian Dr Duane Mellor of Coventry University wrote: “It’s also possible that no two onions from the same bag will have the same effect, so cutting into the vegetable may be the only way to know if it will make you cry.”

Avoid cutting the root of the onion, as this has the highest concentration of sulphur.

“The sharper the knife, the less damage is done to the onion, and fewer irritations are released into the air as a result,” Healthline adds.

Chilling your onions in a bowl of cold water 30 minutes before slicing them may inhibit the enzymes, they say, producing less irritating gas.

Life is full of little mysteries – for instance, why do some new-build homes have bricked-up windows, and what does the mysterious cable airline staff sometimes holds in front of a grounded plane really do?

Then, there are the more frustrating questions, like why chocolate is so expensive right now and why you can’t stop watching that terrible TV show.

A recent scroll on Reddit brought me to an everyday conundrum I’d never stopped to think about, too.

Writing to r/whatisthisthing, site member u/kristhecadet asked: “What is this thing that you always see on an escalator?”.

Their accompanying picture showed a red arrow pointing to the “brush” at the base of the machine, right where the stairs meet the rail.

Good question, I thought. What does that do?

I’ll be honest; I, along with a lot of Redditors, it seems, use the tempting bristles to clean my shoes.

But according to elevator and escalator providers KONE, they have a “surprising safety purpose” that means shoe-shining is about the worst move you can pull on the brush.

“Some people mistakenly believe the brushes are intended for cleaning shoes, leading them to place their feet near the brushes, which increases the risk of getting shoes, shoelaces, or loose clothing caught in the moving parts of the escalator,” their site reads.

But in reality, the brush is designed to stop things like fingers and laces from getting jammed in the gap between the moving stairs and the barrier wall (the “skirt”), which would potentially cause serious injuries.

“Escalator brushes act as a barrier, gently nudging anything that gets too close to the edge away from danger,” they add – including people, who tend to move a little further away from the unsafe “skirt” zone thanks to the helpful addition.

“This helps prevent accidental falls and ensures a smooth ride for everyone,” KONE shares.

The first half of a top comment under the original post from Redditor u/brock_lee is therefore bang-on: “They help keep shoes, dresses, handbags, etc. from getting snagged in the tiny gap at the side,” they said.

Still, the site user said they also shine their shoes with the device, which a lot of other commenters admit to doing.

Given that the brush is designed to prevent items like laces from getting stuck in the skirt, this is far from advisable – as KONE points out, this actually increases your risk of injury.

Whether you’re a parent, have young children in your family or even just spend the occasional afternoon looking after your friends’ kids, the chances are you’re familiar with the TV phenomenon Bluey.

The Australian animated series centres around a family of colourful dogs, and has been widely praised for the way it teaches lessons around social themes in a humorous and unpatronising way (plenty of adults will be happy to confess that they’ve kept watching Bluey long after they’ve put their little ones to bed).

It was a cause for celebration, then, when it was announced by Disney that the canine heroine was heading for the big screen.

Or, it would have been, had the film not made one major change to the format that has split opinion right down the middle.

At the D23 fan event last week, Disney shared a first teaser for the Bluey movie, which features the titular character reimagined in three-dimensional CGI, rather than the 2D animated style of the original series.

Reacting to the announcement in the days that followed, many were quick to voice their upset at Bluey’s discerning new look…

Others, meanwhile, were happy to take any new Bluey they could get, and were excited at the prospect of a cinema trip to see the movie in the not-too-distant future…

Speaking at a D23 panel, series creator Joe Brumm pointed out that he had been toying with 3D animation since he was at art college, and this was a medium he’d always wanted to pursue.

“When it came time to do this movie, it actually wasn’t a hard decision [to make it 3D animation],” he said. “That doesn’t mean I don’t love the 2D show, but… we’re always striving to show the beauty of nature in the show, and I wanted to have every tool available to capture a beautiful blade of grass…”

He added: “I wanted kids to be able to feel like they could reach in and give these little dogs a scratch on their furry heads. So, it had to be 3D.”

The Bluey Movie is currently slated to hit cinemas in August 2027.

The former fiancé of actor Hayden Panettiere has said that he and his family are “going through a time of profound shock and grief” in the wake of her death.

Over the weekend, the Golden Globe nominee died at the age of 36, with an investigation into her death currently ongoing.

In life, Hayden was the mother to 11-year-old Kaya, whose father, the Ukrainian boxer Wladimir Klitschko, she was in an on-off relationship with for the better part of a decade.

Posting on X on Tuesday morning, Wladimir wrote: “The announcement of Hayden’s tragic death saddens me deeply. She left this world far too soon. Hayden was, although no longer my partner, an important part of my life and the mother of our daughter, Kaya.

“She built an incredible career through immense talent, while also facing the darker sides of a very demanding industry. Nothing will erase the times we shared or the place she had in our lives.”

“To our daughter Kaya, I will always speak of her mother with respect and make sure she remembers the person she was,” he continued.

“I extend my deepest condolences to Hayden’s parents, her friends, and her fans, who are also grieving today. Young and talented people like Hayden should not leave this world so soon.”

He ended his statement by asking people to “respect our family’s feelings and privacy during this incredibly difficult time”, and thanking “everyone who is supporting my family and expressing their sincere condolences”.

“Rest easy, Hayden. May you find eternal peace,” he concluded, alongside a photo of himself, the late actor and their daughter in happier times.

Greenville Police said on Monday that they’d been called to an apartment block in the South Carolina city the previous day, after an “acquaintance” of Hayden contacted emergency services.

“Upon arrival, medical assistance was administered; however, the individual, later identified as Hayden Panettiere, was pronounced deceased at the scene,” a spokesperson explained.

“The case is under investigation by the Greenville Police Department in conjunction with the Greenville County Coroner’s Office,” the statement continued. “The preliminary investigation has not indicated any signs of foul play or suspicious circumstances.”

An initial autopsy also indicated there had been “no signs” of any physical trauma that may have contributed to Hayden’s death.

One thing about me is I’m going to be wearing headphones. In the office, at the gym, working from home – you name it, I’ve got to have music on.

While I love picking an outfit out, if there’s one thing I wear more than anything else it’s my headphones, so having a comfy pair I can whack on, that looks cute, and won’t leave me with a burning headache at the end of the day is a must.

You’ve heard of cost per wear for clothes, but trust me, I really put my headphones to work for their money.

And I know I’m not the only one: headphones are a serious purchase, and one that folks don’t take lightly – as they shouldn’t because, well, they’re expensive!

To help you make your decision (or delegate it to someone else for a Christmas pressie) I’ve tested the best noise cancelling headphones on the market today.

Best noise cancelling headphones at a glance:

As well as wearing headphones in every situation possible – at the gym, in the office, during my daily commute, while cooking – I wanted to make sure I tested the noise cancelling capabilities as fairly as possible.

I always listen to the same few albums on repeat, so this wasn’t a problem for me: I sat next to a fan on the same setting, listening to the same album on the same volume for each pair of headphones to rank each noise cancellation mode.

For those with multiple modes, I chose the highest level of noise cancellation possible to rate every pair on my list, while also testing the other modes and apps during my daily life to see how functional they were in different situations.

I also considered features such as battery length, price, app functionality, and overall how customisable the headphones were.

My favourites are rounded up below.

In the box: Hard shell storage case, charging cable, audio cable, instruction manual, quick start guide.

I’m so glad the Bose QuietComfort Ultra headphones came out top of my list for functionality, because they’re the most comfortable pair I tried by miles.

The newly-released second generation of these headphones, Bose has improved upon their offering by adding the potential for an extra six hours of battery life, and a metallic headband accent.

They arrive in a hard shell storage case, which means you won’t have to worry about tearing the soft padding by chucking them in your bag.

Connecting these to the Bose app is easy, and you’ll want to to unlock their full potential. There are a few built-in controls, including a bluetooth and pause/play button.

One of my favourite features while testing noise-cancelling headphones has been swipe features (don’t ask me why, it just feels high tech). These headphones have a volume strip on the right ear cap, which you only have to swipe your finger over to increase or decrease the volume, or switch between immersive audio modes.

Speaking of, you can change the audio to suit what you’re doing: still, for when you’re in one place, and motion, for when you’re on the mood, which adjusts the intensity of the audio. You can also change that control to sync with Spotify or use your voice assistant on your phone.

Then there are several pre-set audio modes to choose from, including quiet, aware, immersion, and cinema. But if you really want to get granular with it, the Bose app has 10 other modes to choose from, including focus, relax, and run, as well as an equaliser slider so you can mix your audio to your exact preferences.

In terms of noise cancellation, the Bose QuietComfort Ultra was the most effective I’ve tried. The level can be adjusted from 0 to 10 on the Bose app, and on the highest mode I can barely hear any outside noise.

The only caveat to this is that the headband isn’t adjustable, and because I have a small head, when I’m wearing these headphones lying down (at the gym or in bed) they tend to slip off a little.

I have an iPhone, and I love that when you search for Bose, it’ll let you switch your immersion mode to cinema or quiet from your homescreen.

If you’re willing to fork out nearly £400 for a pair of everyday headphones, these are well worth the investment. Keep reading for more affordable alternatives.

+ Extremely customisable audio, with tons of modes and motion settings to choose from.
+ Doesn’t take a genius to connect them to your phone.
+ The on-ear controls are easy, so you won’t always have to be on your phone.
+ Noise cancellation is super effective (and the best I’ve tried).
+ Comfortable to wear for long periods of time.
+ Comes with a storage case and audio cable, in case you need it.
– The headband isn’t adjustable.
– Battery life could be slightly longer, if we’re being fussy.
– On the more expensive end.

Overall rating: 4.8/5
Noise cancelling rating: 4.9/5

In the box: AirPods, smart case, USB-C charging cable, instruction manual

Battery life: Up to 20 hours

There are Apple purists out there, but I’m not one of them. While I’ve always had an iPhone, I’ve not been swayed by AirPods; in fact I’ve convinced myself I don’t need the AirPods Max.

When I had them in my hands, though, it was a different story. I got the purple colour, and they do look extremely pretty. They also feel as though they’ll be durable, too.

Unlike other headphones I tried, these come with a mesh headband, which isn’t quite as cloud-like of a feeling on the head, but Apple claims it’s designed to reduce pressure and headaches. Plus, I found it was a lot less sweaty than the padded bands during the heatwave.

They come with a smart case, which covers the ear pads and doesn’t take up too much room in your bag. Connecting these to my iPhone took literally no effort at all, as it magically sensed their presence in the way all Apple devices do.

Although there’s no Apple AirPods Max app, per se, your phone will ask if you want to use Adaptive EQ to personalise the sound to your environment. I would highly recommend you do, as the headphones will do all the heavy lifting of choosing the right level of noise cancellation for you.

It is highly effective, too: even having the headphones on blocks out a good chunk of noise, and when music is playing they use inwards-facing microphones to sense what your ears are hearing and adjust the levels.

If you like to have control over your listening habits, fear not, because you can switch between modes with the tab-shaped button on the right ear cap. Simply holding it down will move from Transparency mode (to let outside noise in) to Adaptive Audio. There’s also a dial to play and pause the music, turn it up, answer calls, and skip songs, which makes for an intuitive listening experience.

Plus, if you like to wear your headphones in the office (like me) you can enable Conversation mode, which reduces the volume when it notices you’re talking. I loved this feature, as my hearing is bad enough that I don’t need another barrier to stop me having normal interactions when I’m out and about in the world, and means I don’t have to take my headphones off every five seconds.

These would make a great pair of headphones for anyone who isn’t super technical about their audio, as they really take the thinking out of noise cancellation, and don’t require another darn app.

+ Five minutes of charge for 1.5 hours of listening.
+ Can sense when you take them on and off your head, and when you’re having a conversation.
+ Automatically adjusts the noise cancellation to your needs, and I’ve never found it to be obtrusive or not enough coverage for what I’m doing.
+ The headband is breathable, so you can wear them at the gym without worrying they’ll get all sweaty.
+ Wear them in a foreign country for automatic in-ear translation while someone is talking to you with Apple Intelligence (so cool!).
– Battery life could be longer.
– Not quite as comfortable as the Bose headphones, and it would be fun if there were more modes for serious audio heads.

Overall rating: 4.7/5
Noise cancelling rating: 4.8/5

SONY 1000X series WH-1000XM6

In the box: Hard shell storage case, audio cable, USB-C charging cable, instruction manual.

Battery life: Up to 40 hours, but 30 with NC on.

Confession: these headphones and I did not get off to a good start. I spent a long time trying to figure out how to connect them to my phone, because the SoundConnect app really did not want to recognise them.

After a while arguing with them, though, I managed to sync them up. Right off the bat, I don’t love the fact that you have to physically press the on button to get them to connect to your phone. I’m aware how unforgivably lazy that sounds, so sue me, but I found they disconnect even if you take them off to go get a coffee, so it’s a bit annoying to have to press it every time.

But what makes up for that is how supremely comfortable and intuitive they are in other ways. The padded headband truly feels like wearing nothing on your head, and the controls make me feel like I was living in the future.

On the left ear cap is a button to turn the noise cancellation on and off, although the SoundConnect app gives you much more acute control over this as you can switch between noise cancelling, ambient sound, and nothing at all.

The app also offers other ways to tailor your listening, including a ‘standard’ listening mode, in which you can use the app-controlled equaliser for tailored mixing, ‘background music’, which makes your audio sound distant, and cinema, to sound like you’re climbing inside a speaker.

You can also set a ‘state’ so your headphones know whether you’re at home or out and about, and will adjust the noise cancellation accordingly.

The best feature of all, though, is that you can adjust the volume up and down by swiping your finger vertically on the right ear cap. Swiping side to side also lets you switch songs. I just wish that tapping would let you pause and play, as you’ll need to do this on your phone, in the app, or by taking your headphones off.

While the noise cancellation is really impressive, and really doesn’t let much noise in, I think these could have slightly more features for the cost. But for the comfort and noise quality alone, I’d buy these again.

+ Can connect to two devices at the same time.
+ Adjust noise cancellation according to whether you’re outside or inside.
+ Audio quality is really excellent.
+ Battery life is really impressive.
+ They truly feel like you’re not wearing anything at all.
+ Tons of colours to choose from.
+ I love the swipe volume and skip control.
– Doesn’t have a pause/play function on the headphones.
– Often disconnects from your phone.

Overall rating: 4.7/5
Noise cancelling rating: 4.8/5

In the box: Headphones, charging cable, outer caps, ear cushions.

You’ve heard of the AirWrap and decades of vacuums, but Dyson also dabbles in audio, too.

Our editor, Dayna McAlpine tested out the OnTrac a few years ago and discovered that the tech company makes some of the best noise cancelling headphones on the market.

They boast up to 55 hours of power, and truly look like something out of the future. This pair comes with yellow ear pads and metallic caps, but they’re also totally customisable as there are other colours available to purchase separately.

You can switch between its five audio modes (noise cancelling, reduced isolation, full transparency, reduced transparency, and off) by simply double tapping on either of the caps.

But sync them up with the MyDyson app, and you’ll get access to customisable audio modes, or toggle with the equaliser settings.

If you really care about audio quality, you’re in luck, because they can manage frequencies between 6Hz and 21,000Hz – above and beyond other headphones that usually operate between 20 and 20,000 Hertz.

+ Super crisp sound.
+ Comfortable to wear, with a proper ear seal.
+ Can change the colours and make them look as ‘you’ as possible.
+ Easy to control via the ear pad, or by connecting to the app.
+ Battery life is good.
– Quite expensive.

Overall rating: 4.6/5
Noise cancelling rating: 4.8/5.

In the box: Storage pouch, charging cable, audio cable, instruction manual.

Battery life: Up to 75 hours.

Charli XCX might be the new ambassador for Nothing, but I liked the Headphones (a) first, okay?

As well as looking like little french fancies, the USP of these headphones is that they come with a whopping 75 hours of battery life. As someone who takes her headphones with her everywhere, that is an absolute lifesaver.

Although they’re cheaper compared to their Apple and SONY counterparts, they’re just as good, with manual control pads to increase the volume, play and pause, skip songs, and switch the NC off and on.

I can’t say it enough apparently, but I have a small head, so the fact these come with a padded expandable headband is perfect.

They come with an on and off button, so you can make sure you’re conserving the battery, but honestly even if you don’t remember to, the battery barely drains.

I’ve used these for weeks at a time without running out of battery, and they’re my go-to because they’re made of plastic so they don’t feel like they’ll get crushed in my bag, unlike some of the foamier models.

However, they only come with IP52 rating, so they’re not fully waterproof or dustproof, and I’d hesitate to wear these in the rain.

If you feel like it, you can connect to the Nothing app, which allows you to change the noise cancellation from low to high, or adaptive, and change the spatial audio. It’s pretty comprehensive but not as much as the likes of Bose. You can also equalise your audio, or turn the noise cancelling feature off altogether.

Should pink not be your colour, you can also get these in white and yellow or black.

+ Battery lasts forever.
+ Comfortable to wear and they feel durable.
+ Easy to control from the headphones themselves, so you don’t need to use your phone if you don’t want to.
+ Love the pink colour, and they look really different to other models (in a cool way).
+ Great value for money.
– Dust and waterproof rating is quite low.

Overall rating: 4.8/5
Noise cancelling rating: 4.8/5

In the box: Storage pouch, USB-C charging cable, warranty card, instruction manual.

These lilac headphones pack serious value for money, with 80 hours of continuous listening with noise cancellation.

If it weren’t for the ear caps being slightly smaller, they’d be just as comfortable as the Bose QuietComfort Ultra, and the noise cancellation is certainly just as good.

To control the mode, you can hold down on a button on the right ear to switch from noise cancelling to ambient sound control, or you’ll need to connect to the JBL Headphone app for more customised levels.

You’ll also be able to play and pause, switch songs, or activate your voice assistant by tapping on the outside of the right ear, which you already know I love as a feature.

Also on the app is the option to improve sounds from your surrounding, or switch on Ambient Aware mode, so you hear what’s going on in your surroundings. You can also use the VoiceAware mode to change how much you hear your own voice , which is great if you’re using the headphones for gaming or work calls.

Proving they’ve been designed with gaming in mind, the app offers multiple spatial sound modes, including movie, music, and game, or you can ‘personi-fi’ (see what they did there?) the equalisation.

You’re also able to change the balance between your left and right ear, or switch to video mode if you’re using them for on-phone gaming or streaming.

+ Comes in a ton of fun colours; I love lilac.
+ Battery life is amazing.
+ Gamers will love these.
+ Combines the best parts of Bose, Apple, and SONY headphones but at an accessible price point.
+ Can set a volume limit, to protect your hearing.
– The storage pouch isn’t very protective as it’s soft.

Overall rating: 4.8/5
Noise cancelling rating: 4.8/5

BEATS Powerbeats Fit Wireless Bluetooth Earbuds

In the box: Earbuds, charging cable, instruction manual.

Battery life: Up to 7 hours.

If you don’t love the sensation of a sweaty headband against your head while you’re exercising (fair enough, to be honest) you might want to consider an earbud.

These Powerbeats from Beats have been my go-to gym headphones for months, because they stay firmly in my ears and are loaded with just the right amount of noise cancellation.

They come with five different earbud sizes, so they won’t pop out during a workout, and are both sweat and water-resistant so they can handle a rainy run or a HIIT class.

In terms of noise cancellation, there are just two modes: NC enabled, and transparent, which can be switched between by holding down on the right earbud so it’s no effort when you’re working out.

When the charging case is charged, they can last up to 30 hours, which is ideal for me because I can barely manage to remember to charge my regular headphones, let alone a whole separate pair for exercise.

I also use these as everyday headphones, but they’re not quite as noise cancelling as the others on this list – which is just what you want if you’re in the gym or on a run, where you need to be more aware of your surroundings!

+ They’re pink (but also come in black, grey and orange).
+ Charge is good enough to last a week of workouts by themselves, and more with the charging case.
+ Can play and pause by tapping on the right bud.
+ Won’t fall out while you exercise, as they come with different buds so you can get the right fit.
+ Easy to switch modes.
– Not as advanced noise cancellation as other headphones.

Overall rating: 4.7/5
NC rating: 4.5/5.

In the box: Storage case, USB-C charging cable, instruction manual.

Battery life: Up to 10 hours.

I have to start this with the immediate caveat that I wouldn’t use these headphones as my everyday music-listening headphones – the sound is quite tinny.

But, if you’re looking for a headphone that blocks out sound and helps you get to sleep, these should be on your radar.

These lightweight flat earbuds are designed specifically for side sleepers, and slot into your ears without feeling too obtrusive during sleep.

While you can use the headphones to switch noise cancelling on and off, and between Bluetooth and local mode, I’d recommend downloading the Soundcore app to unlock a whole host of sleep sounds, meditations, and ambient sounds like rainfall.

If your partner snores, these will be an absolute lifesaver, because the headphones use dynamic snore masking to block out their drones.

Thanks to the fact they have up to 10 hours of battery life, they’ll last all night long if you want them to, but you can also set them to turn off when you fall asleep or to switch to local mode, which turns off noise cancellation and lets you listen to white noise all night long.

They also come in a charging case which, when fully charged, can provide up to five nights of battery, so you won’t need to remember to take a USB-C cable with you when you go away.

Honestly, I don’t have a partner who snores (thank god) but I wear these to block out the noise outside my apartment. It’s blissful.

+ Comes in a charging case.
+ Really can’t feel them while you’re asleep.
+ Love that you can access Calm and other ambient music or meditations, so they’d be great for focus, too.
– The sound quality isn’t great for everyday listening.
– Make sure you have the right fit.

Overall rating: 4.6/5
Noise cancelling rating: 4.7/5

Bose were the best all-round headphones I tested: not only was the noise cancellation the most effective and customisable, but they’re comfy and come in a protective storage case.

SONY’s WH-1000XM6 and Apple’s AirPods Max 2 came in as a close second, but if you’re looking for something at a lower price point, JBL Live 780NC and Nothing Headphone (a) are just as good as the more expensive options.

In this fierce competition, the more peculiar your dog looks, the better.

At the World’s Ugliest Dog Contest at the Sonoma County Fair in Santa Rosa, California, dogs compete to be crowned the ugliest of them all.

The annual contest “advocates for the adoration of all animals and the benefits of adoption” and celebrates “the imperfections that make all dogs special and unique,” according to its website.

This year, Jinny Lu, a floppy-tongued, beady-eyed rescue pug draped in pearls, took the top honours. The six-year-old pup won bragging rights for herself and her owner – as well as a $5,000 (approx £3,697) prize and a trip to New York City, where they appeared on NBC’s Today show.

According to her biography on the contest’s site, Jinny Lu was “found in a wooden box in freezing weather in the mountains of South Korea”. She enjoys screaming at herself in the mirror.

Jinny Lu’s owner, Michelle Grady, told Today that Jinny Lu is a curious pup. “A lot of the time, she’s looking for things to get into. She loves purses. She loves mirrors,” Grady said.

What matters most is that they are all good pups. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and so is ugliness. Here are the “ugliest dog” winners from previous years:

According to her biography on the contest’s website, Petunia is a hairless Frenchie and English bulldog mix who was rescued from a backyard breeder.

Rescuers from Luvable Dog Rescue in Oregon also got her surgery to correct her elongated palate to help her breathing.

Since she’s healed, her favourite activity is snuggling and taking trail walks in the Oregon woods where she resides.

Wild Thang won the contest on his fifth try, and his perseverance paid off.

In an Associated Press video of the event, one of the 2024 judges, California State Treasurer Fiona Ma, said Wild Thang’s story of being “like the bridesmaid and never the bride, really tugged at our heartstrings. He deserved to win.”

After a breeder brought him to animal control, Scooter was saved from euthanasia by the Saving Animals From Euthanasia (SAFE) rescue group. Scooter has wispy hair, reversed hind legs, and a long tongue that flops – and these qualities are what endeared him to the judges.

“In the cutest way possible, he kind of reminds me of a hairy hippopotamus,” Catherine Liang, one of the judges for the 2023 competition, told The New York Times.

The competition was put on pause for a few years during the Covid-19 pandemic, and in 2022, Mr. Happy Face, a Chihuahua mix with a mohawk, won the top prize at 17 years old.

“His soul is too beautiful,” his owner, Jeneda Benally, told Today after the win. “He came from a hoarding situation where he was very badly abused … It took a long time for him to feel OK with human touch.”

Benally said she dubbed him “Mr. Happy Face” after seeing him hobble out at the shelter, showing he “had an incredible capacity to show so much love”.

Scamp the Tramp was rescued by owner Yvonne Morones in 2014, and it was an immediate connection.

“It was on the way home that I knew I made the right choice,” Morones said in a statement about rescuing Scamp.

“There we were, two strangers in a car on the way home to a new start. Bob Marley was playing ‘One Love’ and I looked over and little Scamp was bobbing his head. It was like he knew he had found his forever home.”

Reform UK has suspended prominent board member Tim Montgomerie after he called out Zia Yusuf.

Montgomerie has been openly critical towards Reform’s home affairs spokesperson in recent months and doubled down on his attacks while recording the Spectator’s Coffee House Shots podcast recently.

He told the show that Yusuf has “consistently freelanced on Twitter” over major Reform policies, suggested “Nigel [Farage] has fallen out of love with Zia” and called for Yusuf to be more of a “team player”.

The Spectator’s deputy political editor James Heale then confirmed on Tuesday that Montgomerie was suspended as a party member after the podcast was recorded, but before it was posted online.

The now-suspended party member also told the Spectator that Yusuf “did not talk to me” for three months after he discovered Montgomerie had helped Robert Jenrick defect to Reform.

“A lot of people are on not-speaking terms with Zia and it’s nearly always Zia who initiates it,” he said. “It needs to end. You cannot behave like a child in politics.”

He also claimed Yusuf is not interested in Reform-curious voters and said his actions “make sense” in the context of his ambitions to succeed Farage as party leader.

Montgomerie and party leader Nigel Farage both criticised Yusuf last week after he accused former Tory defence secretary Ben Wallace of being a “traitor” to the country.

Montgomerie then told the Spectator: “It was unprecedented for Farage to criticise him last week, but did he take down the tweet that Nigel criticised? No. He wouldn’t. He’s loyal to Nigel as he has to be if he wants to succeed him, but in terms of being able to really play as a team player…

“He has consistently freelanced on Twitter [X], on for example, accepting Conservative candidates, Suella Braverman and Robert Jenrick, even though he knew they were being wooed. But it was his way of trying to undermine that policy.”

Reform UK has been approached for comment.

A Labour source said: “Tim Montgomerie dared to say what we’re all thinking – Nigel Farage should have declared his secret £5 million gift. If Farage had nothing to hide, why is he being so defensive? What a snowflake.”

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Your schedule may be packed. You see your friends regularly. You might even be progressing in your career or hitting new personal goals.

But behavioural coach Elizabeth Walker, founder of The Empowerment Warrior, told HuffPost UK that “it is possible to keep showing up for work, relationships and responsibilities while feeling emotionally absent from your own life”.

She added that people who run on “autopilot” can sometimes appear to be functioning capably and productively on the outside, while inside, they feel a deep detachment from their reality.

“The signs can be easy to overlook until you realise you no longer feel like yourself,” Walker added.

Here, she shared seven signs you might not be fully present:

One in eight Brits say they feel tired “all the time”, and Walker points out that this doesn’t always come from running on autopilot.

Still, she said, it can sometimes be the earliest sign you’ve been tapping out.

“Constant exhaustion can suggest a person has little space to pause, reset or fully engage,” she explained. That might be because familiar routines “can become mentally draining” over time, making rest less effective.

If that sounds like you, the coach suggests taking a moment at the end of the day to write down what felt exhausting and engaging during the day. “Over time, this can help to identify patterns and see whether tiredness is linked to lack of rest or disconnection from daily life,” she added.

Our minds are designed to make familiar actions easier to repeat, which is why your “usual day” flies by faster than a new experience.

But “when every day starts to feel like a repeat of the last, it may be a sign that life is running on autopilot,” Walker advised.

“A practical first step is to make one small change to a familiar part of the day, such as taking a different route to work, rearranging a morning routine, or slowing down during a conversation.

“The goal is to interrupt the automatic pattern and become more aware of the day as it is happening.”

That doesn’t necessarily mean physically avoiding people, said the coach. It might mean tuning out during conversations, giving short responses, and struggling to actively listen.

“Over time, the person withdrawing may feel guilty without fully understanding why, or others may leave the conversation feeling unheard,” Walker stated.

“A helpful first step is to seek out spaces where interaction feels genuine, rather than forced,” she said, this might look like community meet-ups or hobby groups.

Opening ourselves up to new experiences can make us more creative and enhance our ability to learn. But in contrast, those on autopilot might find “work may feel slower and small details can be easier to miss”.

This, the founder shared, “may look like forgetfulness or even a lack of discipline, but it can also signal mental fatigue from operating on autopilot for too long”.

Luckily, there are some steps you can take to break the habit, including taking breaks during the day and seeing a therapist or mental health professional if needed.

This “can be a sign that the brain is operating in a reactive state, focused on everyday routines and responsibilities rather than where the person wants to go in life,” per Walker.

People who are deeply entrenched in their usual routines might have lost touch with the link between their personal choices and the reality of their lives.

“Over time, this can leave them feeling as though life is moving forward without a clear sense of purpose or direction,” the expert added. “One way to rebuild that sense of direction is through guided self-reflection, such as journalling”.

People who aren’t fully present might find that their former favourites, like a tasty meal or an incredible film, have fallen flat because “the brain is not fully taking in what makes them enjoyable,” said Walker.

“When this automatic way of functioning becomes the default, it can reduce the brain’s responsiveness to reward, making it harder to engage with an activity that once brought joy,” she added.

“A gentle way to rebuild enjoyment is to return to a favourite activity slowly and deliberately, whether that means eating without distractions or watching a film without multitasking.”

Personally, I’ve had some great success with “mindful walking”. But something completely different may work for you.

Side note: sometimes, a lack of enjoyment is called “anhedonia”. This can be a symptom of things like depression and bipolar disorder; see your GP if you suspect you have a mental health condition.

“When the brain is focused on getting through responsibilities, it can become less responsive to internal cues such as hunger, fatigue, or emotional overwhelm,” Walker ended.

That might mean people running on autopilot might miss meals or fail to get enough sleep.

This is also worth speaking to an expert about. As Walker said: “When self-neglect starts to feel normal, seeking professional support can help uncover what is driving the pattern and create a clearer path towards addressing it.”

Ricky Gervais has dismissed the suggestion that his absence from a recent TV special celebrating The Office was an intentional snub of the BBC.

Last month, Martin Freeman and Mackenzie Crook took part in a one-off BBC special reflecting on their time on The Office to commemorate 25 years since the hit sitcom’s debut.

Weeks earlier, Ricky had told The Independent that he’d been invited to take part in the special, but turned it down as he was “not available” at the time, instead filming a video about his own memories for his personal YouTube channel.

The Sun reported at the time that this was a “huge blow” to the BBC and indicated a “lack of allegiance towards the Beeb” on his part.

However, in a new interview with Saga magazine, Ricky claimed it was “nonsense” that he’d chosen not to be involved in the special.

“I couldn’t be prouder of The Office,” he insisted (as reported by Metro). “It wasn’t a snub to the BBC.”

Ricky added: “’I was already doing my own thing for my YouTube channel and doing theirs would have watered mine down.”

Over the last few years, Ricky has become known for his collaborations with Netflix, including the award-winning sitcom After Life and numerous stand-up comedy specials.

His latest offering for the streaming giant has ultimately become one of the most polarising of his entire career, after creating, writing, directing and starring in Alley Cats, an animated series about feline friends living on the streets of London.

Mackenzie Crook And Martin Freeman Remember… The Office is now streaming on BBC iPlayer, while Alley Cats is available to watch on Netflix.