Donald Trump’s surprise claim that historic peace talks between Israel and Lebanon will soon be taking place is causing some bewilderment.

Ambassadors from the two warring countries held direct talks on Tuesday in Washington – their first in decades – and agreed to launch direct negotiations at a mutually agreed-upon time and place.

But there was a lack of clarity about just when these next discussions might happen.

However, the US president wrote on TruthSocial overnight: “Trying to get a little breathing room between Israel and Lebanon. It has been a long time since the two leaders have spoken, like 34 years. It will happen tomorrow. Nice!”

He did not elaborate or offer any further detail on who might be present.

Officials in Beirut then told several media outlets they are unaware of any contact or meetings arranged with their Israeli counterparts.

AFP news agency reported an official source in Lebanon saying: “We are not aware of any planned contact with the Israeli side, and we have not been informed of any through official channels.”

Al Jazeera reported another official source from Lebanon saying “there is no information” about a potential phone call between the two countries or their ambassadors in Washington.

Tehn a member of the Israeli security cabinet Galia Gamliel claimed Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu planned to speak to Lebanese president Joseph Aoun today.

She told Israeli Army radio that the conversation will take place “after so many years of a total disconnect in the dialogue between the two states, and this move will, hopefully, in the end, lead to prosperity.”

But a spokesperson for the Lebanese presidency told CNN they were not “aware of any call” between Netanyahu and Aoun.

The Israeli military also urged the general public in southern Lebanon to flee amid “ongoing” airstrikes against what Israeli claimed are Hezbollah targets early on Thursday morning.

Lebanon is understood to wants to a ceasefire agreement before any peace talks to address its current humanitarian crisis.

Meanwhile, Israel wants to ensure the Lebanese government is “no longer occupied by Hezbollah”.

Subscribe to Commons People, the podcast that makes politics easy. Every week, Kevin Schofield and Kate Nicholson unpack the week’s biggest stories to keep you informed. Join us for straightforward analysis of what’s going on at Westminster.

High blood pressure is sometimes called a “silent killer” because, while it increases your risk of heart conditions, stroke, and cardiac arrest, it often has no symptoms.

About five million people in the UK are believed to have undiagnosed high blood pressure, the British Heart Foundation said.

Also known as hypertension, the condition can be brought about or worsened by high levels of salt in your diet, smoking, inactivity, and stress.

But a meta-analysis published in the BMJ Global Health found that drinking water – especially among coastal communities – was potentially adding to millions of people’s salt intake without them realising, thus raising their risk of high blood pressure.

“As sea levels rise, more and more salt water tends to infiltrate global freshwater sources,” study author Dr Rajiv Chowdhury said.

This is called “saltwater intrusion”, which especially affects a lot of low-lying countries like Vietnam and Bangladesh, though it’s a global problem.

This meta-analysis looked at 27 observational studies, including 74,000 participants from countries including the US, Australia, Bangladesh, Vietnam, Kenya, and various European countries.

A separate study found that European estuaries are at increased risk of saltwater intrusion, which is a global phenomenon.

The BMJ research showed that those who drank saltier water had higher blood pressure, on average. In fact, risk rose by 26% – and was highest among coastal populations.

Writing for The Conversation, Dr Chowdhury pointed out that the World Health Organisation currently has no guidelines for water salinity (saltiness).

But his research suggests that the metric could have serious health outcomes for “millions” of people.

Over three billion people live on or near the coast globally.

Physical inactivity raises hypertension risk by anything from 15-25%, Dr Chowdhury added.

His research suggested that drinking salty tap water could raise your likelihood of developing high blood pressure by 26%. That means “the risk that higher water salinity levels poses to hypertension is similar to that of other cardiovascular risk factors, such as low physical activity.”

While a lot of blood pressure advice focuses on lifestyle changes, perhaps this might mean people who are otherwise making great decisions are unwittingly facing much higher risk.

“More research is needed to examine connections with CHD and stroke, and to create strategies to counter salinity’s effects, particularly in climate-vulnerable coastal areas,” the study concluded.

Digital salinity meters are commercially available if you have concerns.

We hope you love the products we recommend! All of them were independently selected by our editors. Just so you know, HuffPost UK may collect a share of sales or other compensation from the links on this page if you decide to shop from them. Oh, and FYI — prices are accurate and items in stock as of time of publication.

I am a lube lover. And I’m not ashamed. Just like anything sex-related, there are a plenty of misconceptions about this slippery liquid and when it is (or isn’t) needed.

But if there’s one product that can improve your sexual experiences, it’s lube.

You might think you don’t ‘need’ it, or it’s just another unnecessary thing to think about in the heat of the moment, but the truth is that lube is something we can all benefit from.

“Lube is for everyone, there is a huge misconception that lube is only necessary if something is ‘wrong’ or during menopause,” says Lauren Short, founder of sexual wellness brand Ples’Jour.

“These statements are not based on any factual information. Lubricant isn’t about fixing a problem, it’s about enhancing your experience.”

Whether you’re playing with sex toys, or going manual, lube can result in more pleasure, and also contribute to overall sexual health. So it’s about time we start giving it the love it deserves!

For those with vulvas that experience vaginal dryness, which is a common symptom during menopause, store bought lube can step in to replace natural lubrication.

You might think it’s not necessary if you’re already aroused. But here’s something no one’s telling you: there’s no such thing as being ‘too’ wet.

“Even when you are fully aroused, lubricant enhances the experience,” Short explains.

But lube isn’t just about adding moisture down there, it can also contribute to your mental experience and presence during sex.

“Lube increases sensitivity and allows the body to relax more deeply into the moment creating a more fluid, connected experience,” says Short.

“On average women can take around 20 minutes of foreplay to become aroused and even then, external factors can impact the body’s response. Lubricant supports you regardless and enhances your experience whether your body is at 50% or 100%.”

As well as adding much-needed slip ‘n’ slide during intimacy, lube can also prevent unwanted side effects.

“From a biological perspective, lubricant also helps reduce micro-tears that can occur during intimacy, even when natural lubrication is present, and can minimise post-sex discomfort or soreness,” Short explains.

And this isn’t just a surface-level pursuit: stopping micro-tears could prevent bacteria from spreading and reduce the risk of infections. So it’s win-win, essentially.

If you’re officially convinced to use lube, there are a few things you need to know before you splurge out on one.

Lube comes in several formulas, and each one has its benefits and drawbacks. These are the main types of lube on the market:

• Water-based: This is the most versatile type of lube, as it can be used with condoms and sex toys.
• Silicone-based lubes: The most durable type of lube, but it can’t be used with silicone sex toys as it can degrade the surface of the toy and make it more likely to transmit infections or cause tears. It can be used with condoms, however.
• Oil-based: Although coconut oil is a popular lube option, there is evidence that it can disrupt the pH balance of the vulva. It’s also not compatible with condoms or dental dams, as it can make them more likely to rip or tear, nor with sex toys.

Having written about sex for the last six years, I’ve tested more than my fair share of lubes.

When testing lube, I first consider what kind of lube it is, including if it’s compatible with sex toys, condoms, and dental dams. I tested each lube for consistency, how long it lasts, and whether it had added benefits like skin-friendly ingredients, added flavouring, and sensation enhancers like CBD.

I also think about the bottle it comes in – not just because it can look pretty (a bonus, IMO) but also because it can impact how easy the lube is to dispense in the heat of the moment. And that’s the bulk of the battle!

Before you even touch that bottle of lube, hold up and ask yourself: is this lube going to be compatible with the kind of sex I’m about to have?

Water-based lube is the most versatile kind of lube, so it could be wise to keep a bottle of this on-hand for every kind of sexy scenario you might find yourself in.

Once you start having sex, there’s no need to play a waiting game – you can integrate lube from the off.

“Introduce lube during foreplay, for both men and women,” says Short. “It functions far better than saliva and provides a smoother more silky glide.”

You can also use lube during penetrative sex, masturbation, or when using sex toys.

“It can also be used during penetrative sex, this can be applied beforehand or reapplied as needed to maintain comfort and ease,” Short explains.

“Two areas that are often overlooked are masturbation and the use of toys. In both cases, lubricant can significantly enhance sensation, reduce friction, and create a more pleasurable, fluid experience.”

And who doesn’t want that?

With less than a month to go until Rivals returns for its second season, the show has unveiled a bumper-length trailer letting fans know what’s in store this time around.

Although specific plot points are still being kept under wraps for the time being, the new trailer teases the return of David Tennant’s corrupt Lord Tony Baddingham, more of the fan-favourite romance between Danny Dyer’s Freddie Jones and Katherine Parkinson’s Lizzie Vereker and, of course, all the battling, bitching and bonking that made season one such a hit on both sides of the Atlantic.

An official synopsis released by Disney+ on Thursday teases: “The battle for the Central South West television franchise reaches a fever pitch as the war between Corinium and Venturer enters a dangerous new phase.

“More ruthless than ever, Tony Baddingham is determined to dismantle his rivals piece-by-piece, weaponising scandal and manipulating those closest to him to maintain his grip on power.”

Take a look at the Rivals season two trailer for yourself below:

Alex Hassell and Aidan Turner return as Rupert Campbell-Black and Declan O’Hara in Rivals’ second outing, which will also see the likes of Rupert Everett, Hayley Atwell and Oliver Dench (yep, Dame Judi’s great nephew joining the cast.

Season two is also welcoming back Emily Atack, Nafessa Williams and Victoria Smurfitt for the latest run of episodes, which are once again based on the late Dame Jilly Cooper’s romance novels.

Dame Jilly died last year at the age of 88, with Rivals cast members Aidan Turner, David Tennant, Danny Dyer and Alex Hassell attending a private memorial for her, alongside Queen Camilla.

In December last year, Queen Camilla also paid a visit to the Rivals set for a behind-the-scenes tour, where she was joined by members of the late Dame Jilly’s family.

Rivals returns to Disney+ for its second season on 15 May.

Spring, with its delicate shoots and budding roses, can be a busy time for gardeners.

Now’s the time to cover tentative seedlings, fertilise hungry soil, and keep slugs away from tender baby plants.

Luckily, Ellen Fletcher, an expert gardener from MyBuilder.com, said a bag of untreated (raw) sheep’s wool can help with all three tasks.

“Spring is here, and millions of gardeners are getting ready to roll up their sleeves and get to planting for the summer season. An issue for many is slugs and snails, but wool has the ability to act as a barrier, which copper tape, egg shells, and coffee grains aren’t able to do,” Fletcher told us.

“The lanolin in the wool keeps them away, making it a simple and natural way to protect plants.”

Lanolin is a waxy substance naturally produced by sheep, which helps to keep their wool waterproof. It’s also called wool fat, wool wax, sheep grease, or wool grease, and is largely removed from wool when it’s processed into yarn.

But raw wool is packed full of the stuff, which slugs don’t like.

Farmers have previously burned raw wool in protest, as they say the cost of transport and time needed to sell it to manufacture it wouldn’t be worth the pay they get from processors.

It’s sometimes possible, the MyBuilder experts said, to get bags of raw wool for £10-£12.

Additionally, “Sheep’s wool acts as a slow-releasing natural fertiliser by gradually breaking down the soil.” It releases nutrients over time, rather than in a single burst.

It “has great insulating properties, allowing it to regulate the soil temperature throughout the whole year,” preventing both drying and freezing.

Sheep’s wool also “acts as a sponge, retaining a large amount of water, keeping plants hydrated as it slowly releases this stored moisture back to the plant root during dry periods”.

It works as a natural mulch, too, the expert added, suppressing weeds and deterring pests.

“Fibres from the wool improve soil structure and increase soil porosity and aeration, allowing air and water to move freely through the soil. Improved aeration supports beneficial microorganisms and earthworms, both of which contribute to the overall soil health,” too.

“Sheep’s wool isn’t just cost-effective, it serves a variety of purposes in the garden, since it decomposes and releases its natural benefits over time,” Fletcher said.

“It’s also an environmentally friendly alternative to synthetic products and fits in perfectly with the growing demand for greener gardening methods.”

Not a baa-d (sorry) deal, right?

Keir Starmer reopened a dangerous can of worms this week.

No, not the Peter Mandelson saga, but the UK’s ties with the EU.

While the government says it does not want to undo Brexit – as Labour’s political opponents claim – the prime minister made it clear he “strongly believes the UK’s best interests are in a stronger, closer relationship with Europe” on Monday.

His remarks came after chancellor Rachel Reeves revealed she would be open to working with the EU if it boosts economic growth or helps the UK’s “security and resilience”.

These comments raised eyebrows among critics, especially as MPs will soon vote on the government’s UK-EU reset bill after it’s unveiled in the King’s Speech on May 13.

Acting on the prime minister’s orders, the monarch will set out the government’s plans for the coming parliamentary session.

Labour has long pledged to “reset” Britain’s relationship with the EU after Boris Johnson’s trade deal made it harder to import and export to and from the UK’s nearest neighbours.

Donald Trump’s war in Iran has rocked the international economy by threatening global oil supplies – and raised significant fears about the UK’s depleted defences in the process.

The president has also been attacking Britain, even threatening to rip up the UK-US trade deal, after Starmer chose not to join Trump’s offensives against Iran.

So it’s rather timely that the new reset bill will grant the government new powers to align the UK with parts of the EU to make trading with the bloc easier, a move ministers hope will ease cost of living pressures.

But it won’t be plain-sailing for Starmer. While MPs will vote on the overall bill, the “secondary legislation” within the bill will bypass a Commons vote.

That means parliamentarians will not be able to have their say when the government chooses to line up with EU laws around certain trade sectors.

Brexiters will be especially infuriated because, being outside of the EU, the UK cannot even have a say on making these laws anymore.

But ministers are becoming increasingly outspoken in their attacks on Brexit – and evidently happy to take on that fight.

Housing secretary Steve Reed told HuffPost UK: “Brexit – Tory Brexit – led to a collapse in UK exports of one-fifth. We’ve lost jobs, we’ve lost investment, people have lost wages. We need to grow the economy if we want to put money back in people’s pockets, and that’s what we’re going to do.”

He insisted Labour respects the referendum result, while acknowledging that “nobody I know who voted for Brexit voted to make themselves and their community poorer”.

Reed’s sentiments appear to reflect voters’ changing feelings towards Brexit, according to new polling from the More in Common think tank.

It found the Remain camp would win with 65% of the vote if another EU referendum were held today, while just over a quarter would vote Leave.

Meanwhile, Naomi Smith, Chief Executive of Best for Britain, which campaigns to strengthen UK-EU ties, said their polling has similar results.

“Labour is shedding far more of its support to the left than the right,” she said, analysis the party’s vote share ahead of the May elections where the party is expected to lose a shocking number of seats.

“A far closer relationship with Europe – delivered with the urgency the moment demands – is the key policy area uniting the majority of voters Labour is currently hemorrhaging.”

But this pro-EU shift will come at a cost.

Joe Meighan, a policy adviser from the pro-EU think tank the European Movement, said Starmer “needs to confront what it means for Labour’s red lines” if he wants closer ties with the union.

Labour promised in the run-up to the 2024 general election that rejoining the Single Market is a red line.

Meighan said: “No business would decide to distance itself from its best customer. The impact of doing so is written across our entire economy.

“Food and drink exports to the EU were 31% lower in 2025 than in 2019. At least 4% of our GDP has been lost.

“Energy bills are higher, young people are trapped, our international clout has dwindled.”

But, he added: “In this new reality, Labour cannot go on treating its own Brexit red lines as untouchable.“

We look at the risks the government is taking by reviving the Brexit rows in this week’s Commons People, complete with extracts from our interview with Reed:

Subscribe to Commons People, the podcast that makes politics easy. Every week, Kevin Schofield and Kate Nicholson unpack the week’s biggest stories to keep you informed. Join us for straightforward analysis of what’s going on at Westminster.

Donald Trump has declared the Strait of Hormuz open almost two months after he started a war with Iran.

Writing entirely in capital letters, the US president triumphantly declared on TruthSocial that “THE STRAIT OF HORMUZ IS COMPLETELY OPEN AND READY FOR BUSINESS AND FULL PASSAGE”.

However, he insisted that the US blockade will remain “IN FULL FORCE AND EFFECT” for Iran for the time being, until the US’s “TRANSACTION WITH IRAN IS 100% COMPLETE”.

He claimed that this process should “go very quickly” with many of their “points” already negotiated.

Iran chose to effectively close the major shipping lane after the US and Israel bombed the Middle Eastern country at the end of February.

That sparked global economic turmoil as the oil sector slowed down, meaning prices around the world increased amid the supply issues.

In frustration – and without any support from his allies – Trump decided to send US ships to the waterway to implement his own blockade on Iranian ships and ports.

His celebratory social media post comes after Iran’s foreign minister Seyed Abbas Aragchi declared that the Strait would be open.

He wrote on X: “In line with the ceasefire in Lebanon, the passage for all commercial vessels through Strait of Hormuz is declared completely open for the remaining period of ceasefire, on the coordinated route as already announced by Ports and Maritime Organisation of the Islamic Rep. of Iran.”

Lebanon, an ally to Iran, and Israel agreed to a ceasefire last night after the long-running conflict between the warring nations resumed earlier this year.

It remains unclear which truce Aragchi was referring to in his post.

The ceasefire between the US and Iran is set to end on April 22, while the 10-day Lebanon-Israel deal is expected to last until April 26.

Trump also did not acknowledge that Iran has previously said it would open the strait to nations which liaise with its military.

Meanwhile, Keir Starmer and Emmanuel Macron were in Paris today co-hosting a. virtual meeting about reopening the waterway. Approximately 40 international leaders were expected to join.

Subscribe to Commons People, the podcast that makes politics easy. Every week, Kevin Schofield and Kate Nicholson unpack the week’s biggest stories to keep you informed. Join us for straightforward analysis of what’s going on at Westminster.