The three-day Sample Sale, exclusively curated by Polo Avenue for its discerning clients and fashion-forward luxury shoppers, ends today. Marking the close of a carefully curated seasonal moment defined by exclusivity, sophistication and refined access.

Conceived as an intimate retail experience rather than a conventional sales event, the Sample Sale offer guests thoughtful access to an exclusive selection of sample pieces drawn from Polo Avenue’s prestigious fashion collection. Each piece reflects impeccable craftsmanship and exclusivity, elements rarely made available beyond internal presentations and private viewings.

Holding at 274, Kofo Abayomi Street, Victoria Island, Lagos, the Sample Sale offers a final opportunity today to own rare pieces that embody exceptional craftsmanship, renowned design, and the quiet confidence of exclusive luxury, available only today.

Since its opening, the experience has attracted clients who value quiet access, elevated service, and intentional curation over spectacle. Guests have enjoyed an unparalleled shopping experience that reflects Polo Avenue’s commitment to true luxury, where access is a privilege, relationships are prioritised, and every interaction is guided by discretion.

The conclusion of the Sample Sale marks the end of a rare moment of access, one that will not be extended or repeated.

For enquiries, please contact the Polo Concierge: 0901 999 9401 or visit here.

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Amber Davies issued a playful complaint about the Strictly Come Dancing Christmas special scores on her TikTok page.

On Thursday (25 December), Scarlett Moffatt lifted the Silver Star trophy alongside professional dancer Vito Coppola, following their Cha Cha to “DJ Play A Christmas Song” by Cher, which scored them a perfect 40.

The Love Island winner and West End star wrote: “Watching the Strictly Xmas special seeing the judges give out 9s & 10s when it took me ten weeks of breaking my body to get those marks,” in the video, clarifying in the caption that it was a joke.

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Live your life healthier and happier with our free weekly Living Well newsletter

You’re in the middle of the afternoon, eyelids heavy, focus slipping. You close your eyes for half an hour and wake up feeling recharged. But later that night, you’re tossing and turning in bed, wondering why you can’t drift off. That midday snooze which felt so refreshing at the time might be the reason.

Naps have long been praised as a tool for boosting alertness, enhancing mood, strengthening memory, and improving productivity. Yet for some, they can sabotage nighttime sleep.

Napping is a double-edged sword. Done right, it’s a powerful way to recharge the brain, improve concentration, and support mental and physical health. Done wrong, it can leave you groggy, disoriented, and struggling to fall asleep later. The key lies in understanding how the body regulates sleep and wakefulness.

Most people experience a natural dip in alertness in the early afternoon, typically between 1pm and 4pm. This isn’t just due to a heavy lunch – our internal body clock, or circadian rhythm, creates cycles of wakefulness and tiredness throughout the day. The early afternoon lull is part of this rhythm, which is why so many people feel drowsy at that time.

Studies suggest that a short nap during this period – ideally followed by bright light exposure – can help counteract fatigue, boost alertness, and improve cognitive function without interfering with nighttime sleep. These “power naps” allow the brain to rest without slipping into deep sleep, making it easier to wake up feeling refreshed.

But there’s a catch: napping too long may result in waking up feeling worse than before. This is due to “sleep inertia” – the grogginess and disorientation that comes from waking up during deeper sleep stages.

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Waking from a deep sleep can leave you sluggish for up to an hour (Getty Images)

Once a nap extends beyond 30 minutes, the brain transitions into slow-wave sleep, making it much harder to wake up. Studies show that waking from deep sleep can leave people feeling sluggish for up to an hour. This can have serious implications if they then try to perform safety-critical tasks, make important decisions or operate machinery, for example. And if a nap is taken too late in the day, it can eat away from the “sleep pressure build-up” – the body’s natural drive for sleep – making it harder to fall asleep at night.

When napping is essential

For some, napping is essential. Shift workers often struggle with fragmented sleep due to irregular schedules, and a well-timed nap before a night shift can boost alertness and reduce the risk of errors and accidents. Similarly, people who regularly struggle to get enough sleep at night – whether due to work, parenting or other demands – may benefit from naps to bank extra hours of sleep that compensate for their sleep loss.

Nonetheless, relying on naps instead of improving nighttime sleep is a short-term fix rather than a sustainable solution. People with chronic insomnia are often advised to avoid naps entirely, as daytime sleep can weaken their drive to sleep at night.

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Try not to sleep after 2pm, as it can push back your natural sleep schedule (Getty)

Certain groups use strategic napping as a performance-enhancing tool. Athletes incorporate napping into their training schedules to speed up muscle recovery and improve sports-related parameters such as reaction times and endurance. Research also suggests that people in high-focus jobs, such as healthcare workers and flight crews, benefit from brief planned naps to maintain concentration and reduce fatigue-related mistakes. Nasa has found that a 26-minute nap can improve performance of long-haul flight operational staff by 34 per cent, and alertness by 54 per cent.

How to nap well

To nap effectively, timing and environment matter. Keeping naps between ten and 20 minutes prevents grogginess. The ideal time is before 2pm – napping too late can push back the body’s natural sleep schedule.

The best naps happen in a cool, dark and quiet environment, similar to nighttime sleep conditions. Eye masks and noise-cancelling headphones can help, particularly for those who nap in bright or noisy settings.

Despite the benefits, napping isn’t for everyone. Age, lifestyle and underlying sleep patterns all influence whether naps help or hinder. A good nap is all about strategy – knowing when, how, and if one should nap at all.

For some it’s a life hack, improving focus and energy. For others, it’s a slippery slope into sleep disruption. The key is to experiment and observe how naps affect your overall sleep quality.

Done wisely, naps can be a valuable tool. Done poorly, they might be the reason you’re staring at the ceiling at midnight.

Talar Moukhtarian is an Assistant Professor in Mental Health at Warwick Medical School, University of Warwick

This article was originally published by The Conversation and is republished under a Creative Commons licence. Read the original article

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A two-in-one dazzling reception dress? How fabulous! If that’s a dream look you desire on your big day, here’s one that will give you much charm and grace as you twirl into forever.

Hers Uganda expertly designed this bedazzled illusion dress, very glamorous and luxurious. From the cutout plunging neckline to the full silhouette covered in crystals and the flowing bow drape, this look screams high fashion in the most enchanting, versatile way. Mbajja Sean delivered magic with this curly bun hairstyle, adding a romantic touch to the look. Then Glam by Keith brought the full ensemble to life with this beautiful, flawless makeup —  utterly glowy and glamorous. This look is a masterpiece, for special queens on their special day. As you celebrate your beautiful union, this is one ensemble that will radiate your joy and sparkle while you dance the night away.

Enjoy the photos below and be inspired:

Credit

Dress @hers_uganda
Makeup @glam_bykeith
Hair @mbajja_sean
Jewelry @thesnstore
Photography @daville_256

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Jamie Laing and Sophie Habboo have shared a glimpse of their first Christmas with baby Ziggy.

The couple welcomed their first child earlier in December.

Laing posted footage on Instagram showing Habboo kissing Ziggy’s forehead, as well as their lavish Christmas decorations adorning a dining table.

Laing and Habboo were friends on the Channel 4 show Made in Chelsea. They developed a romance on the reality show about the young and affluent in London’s SW10, before marrying in Spain in 2023.

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Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more

Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more

Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more

An elasticated waistband, fleece lining, a roomy silhouette… once you’re in a pair of tracksuit bottoms, it can be quite difficult to get out. It starts with wearing them around the house. Then you’ve got them on in the supermarket. Suddenly, you can’t remember the last time you wore something with actual buttons. Notably, during the pandemic, our heels, handbags and blazers were all firmly furloughed in favour of pyjamas, tracksuits and leggings. Since lockdown lifted, officewear is still yet to return to its pre-Covid heights. The same can be said for airport fashion, where terminal outfits range from stylish athleisure to thinly disguised pyjamas.

Last month, one man decided enough was enough. “Things aren’t what they used to be,” declared US Transportation Secretary Sean P Duffy in a video advert for a new campaign demanding decorum in the airspace. “Let’s bring civility and manners back,” he preached to viewers following a montage of social media videos showing passengers putting their bare feet on seats, starting fights on planes and other unruly behaviour. “Ask yourself, are you helping a pregnant woman put her bag in the overhead bin? Are you dressing with respect?” he questioned. Well, come on, you lycra-clad reprobate, are you? Duffy demands to know!

“Whether it’s a pair of jeans and a decent shirt,” Duffy continued, “I would encourage people to maybe dress a little better, which maybe encourages us to maybe behave a little better. Let’s try not to wear slippers and pyjamas as we come to the airport.”

Predictably, so far, the US transportation secretary’s initiative has achieved exactly the opposite of what it set out to do. Rather than encouraging flyers to return to the so-called golden age of air travel that existed in the 50s and 60s – where passengers boarded planes in pillbox hats and skirt suits or single-breasted slim cut blazers – Americans have been retaliating by rocking up to the airport in sweatsuits and sleepwear. “Well, now I absolutely must wear my pyjamas to the airport!” one woman on TikTok wrote in response, tracksuit at the ready.

Where the US goes, the rest of the world often follows, meaning that airport civility may soon be suggested in the UK too. While America’s Federal Aviation Administration has reported almost 14,000 “unruly passenger incidents” over the past four years, the UK’s Civil Aviation Authority shared that it receives a “number of harrowing letters” every 12 months from passengers who witness “drunk and disruptive behaviour in-flight” – also known as “air rage”. It appears we have a problem. But are clothes really the way to fix it?

“People are not valuing air travel or seeing it as an occasion,” says fashion psychologist Dr Dion Terrelonge. “It’s become so accessible that it’s lost the thing that makes it special. In the same way that if someone brought you diamonds every single day, it wouldn’t be so special any more, the novelty wears off. As human beings, we respond massively to novelty,” she adds. “The fact you can now travel to mainland Europe for less than the price of a new pair of boots tells you a lot. Your weekly shop could cost you more than it does to get to the Costa del Sol.” At the time of writing, there’s a flight to Malaga for £23 – there and back.

Last year, Ryanair operated 3,044 flights a day on average, making it the most active airline, followed by EasyJet, according to the Eurocontrol performance review. During the Golden age era of air travel, before the introduction of budget airlines in 1970, there were fewer than half a million flights operated in an entire year, with only 195,000 operated in the whole of 1950. Perhaps somebody needs to remind the politicians that if they want their air travel rarefied, it must crucially first be rare – an argument that could aid both politeness and the planet.

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Golden age: Passengers being served food and drink from a trolley by a steward in a Bristol Britannia airliner in 1956 (Popperfoto/Getty)

“We dress up for special occasions – birthdays, parties, even the work Christmas party only happens once a year,” Terrelonge explains. “Rarity, we know, increases the perceived value of something. Because of the accessibility of flying and the price, which is the outing’s perceived value, it’s less of an occasion. People see a flight as a flying coach.” Truly, there’s nothing chic about being blinded by a neon orange EasyJet Airbus A320.

Since the 50s and 60s, plane leg room has decreased, food has become less fancy, there’s no proper drinks service – and the interiors are awful. You wouldn’t put on your black tie to go to a Burger King. Similarly, nobody is going to wear a suit (or even jeans) to board a Ryanair flight. As humans, if we’re treated like cattle, we’re more inclined to act like them – cue bellowing, bare feet, and stinky snacks.

Although up in first class, things aren’t much better. It’s common now to see an influencer wrapped in overnight curl rods (for a tarmac-ready blow dry), with a hydrating sheet mask atop their face, and their feet out. Modern culture encourages this, with thousands of videos across the internet detailing “anti-airplane nighttime beauty routines”, which seem to suggest passengers have forgotten that the plane is not, in fact, their bedroom. The private shower in Emirates first class is, of course, the exception.

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Passengers at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in Virginia continue to dress casual for their flights, despite transportation secretary Sean Duffy’s etiquette demands (Getty)

But personal stylist Manisha Sabharwal, in charge of dressing high-net-worth businesswomen who fly two to three times a week, says the entire flight clothing debate has fundamentally missed the point of what makes a so-called refined airline passenger in 2025. “There’s a huge psychological impact when we’ve made an effort. It changes the mood. But a suit, heels, it’s a bit try-hard. It’s like being the most overdressed person at the party. Why are you making so much effort?”

Instead, she says that travel chic has changed. It still doesn’t involve wearing pyjamas, but you don’t need to dress like you would for the office. “There’s a new travel dress code where people are prioritising comfort,” Sabharwal explains. “It’s elevated casual. For young people, it might be a cashmere set with a full face of makeup and a pair of Uggs. Women in their 40s, they’re wearing slightly more structured, close to the body, matching sets – and they might pair this with their favourite earrings and a gorgeous handbag from The Row. But people will always prioritise comfort. They’re not giving up on that.”

Her words are a reminder to never take fashion advice from politicians. Duffy might think it’s more appropriate for passengers to fly in jeans and a shirt instead of pyjamas and slippers – but what if they’re silk Victoria Beckham daywear pyjamas and slip-on mules from The Row?

In 2025, airport chic no longer requires a single button, and leaves Golden Age travel attire firmly in the past.

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Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more

Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more

Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more

Miles Teller got a special Christmas gift for his wife, Keleigh Sperry, after their home was destroyed during the Los Angeles wildfires earlier this year.

The 33-year-old model shared a video on TikTok Friday of herself opening a huge red box with a green ribbon, given to her by her husband.

While Teller was filming the video, his wife pulled out a grey zippered garment bag from the box, revealing that he had her wedding dress remade after it was destroyed in their home during the Los Angeles wildfires in January.

“Is this my wedding dress?” she asked, before her husband answered yes. “Oh my god,” she added. She also burst into tears while she unzipped the bag and showed off the white gown.

In the comments, fans applauded the Eternity star for getting his wife such a meaningful gift.

Miles Teller’s wife was shocked when he had the wedding dress she lost in LA wildfires remade (Getty Images)

“This is deeply romantic,” one wrote, while another added: “Oh yeah, I would cry for a week straight.”

“The fact that this also symbolizes the rebuilding of what was lost,” a third wrote. “How beautiful.”

Teller and Sperry, who’ve been married since 2019, lost their $7.5 million home in the Pacific Palisades in January due to the wildfires. Following the devastating loss, Sperry shared an emotional message on Instagram about the home and the belongings she left behind.

“I wish I grabbed my wedding dress,” she wrote in January. “Wish I did a lot different but it doesn’t matter, stay safe, get out. There are no words.”

“To everyone reaching out I can’t thank you enough, your kind hearts have meant the world,” she also wrote. “Community has come out stronger than I could imagine. Pacific Palisades, I love you beyond measure… we will come back stronger than ever.”

In July, Teller opened up about how he and his wife were handling the aftermath of the wildfires. “Yeah, we’re figuring it out,” he told Entertainment Tonight. “I imagine with most people that lost their house, we’re trying to figure it out with insurance.”

“My wife and I…she’s very strong,” Teller added. “It’s brought us closer together.”

During an interview with E! News back in February, the Top Gun: Maverick star also gushed over the support he received from his friends.

“Many people have reached out, just either letting us know that they’re there emotionally, or people are offering us their place,” he told the publication at the time. “I’m a Deadhead, and so I’ve had a lot of people reach out to Keleigh like, ‘I want to send Miles a Grateful Dead shirt.’ Little stuff just means a lot, so it’s been very heartwarming,”

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Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more

Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more

Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more

Multiple bags of dog treats have been recalled due to a potentially dangerous health risk.

Consumers Supply Distributing, LLC, based in Iowa, is recalling four-pound bags of biscuits for dogs, according to a company announcement shared by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration Wednesday. The recall is due to the potential presence of salmonella, a type of bacteria that can cause a common bacterial illness.

The recall affects four-pound bags of Country Vet Biscuits, Original Meaty Flavor, with the UPC 899623000463, lot code 40906513, and expiration date of September 6, 2026.

Four-pound bags of Heartland Harvest Dog Biscuits, with the UPC 840227340691, are also included in the recall. The product has the lot code 40906513 and expiration date of September 6, 2026.

The recalled products were sold at various retail stores in seven states: Colorado, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Texas, Montana, and Nebraska.

Some Country Vet Biscuits and Heartland Harvest Dog Biscuits have been recalled due to salmonella risk (Getty Images)

The recall was issued after a routine sampling program by the FDA “revealed that the finished products contained the bacteria,” according to the report shared by the health organization.

“The company has ceased the production and distribution of the lot number as FDA and the company continue their investigation as to what caused the problem,” the FDA report notes.

While there haven’t been any illnesses reported to date, consumers are urged to discard the recalled dog treats immediately or return them to the place of purchase for a full refund.

As noted in the FDA report, pets with salmonella infections can be “lethargic and have diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, fever, and vomiting.” Some can have only “decreased appetite, fever, and abdominal pain.” Pets that have the infections but are otherwise healthy can still infect other animals or humans.

If your pet has eaten the recalled product and is showing symptoms, contact your veterinarian. Pet owners are also urged to thoroughly wash their hands after touching the pet food or any surface exposed to it in order to stop the spread of bacteria.

In people, salmonella infections can occur anywhere between 12 and 72 hours after eating food that is contaminated with the bacteria, and symptoms can “usually last four to seven days,” according to the FDA’s website.

Symptoms can range from diarrhea, fever, and abdominal cramps. Elderly people, children younger than five, and people with weakened immune systems are “more likely to have severe infections.”

Salmonella is the second leading cause of foodborne illnesses in the U.S., according to the CDC. The organization also notes that each year, there are 1.35 million illnesses, 420 deaths, and 26,500 hospitalizations due to salmonella.

Multiple types of pet foods were also recalled earlier this year due to a health risk. In October, Wisconsin-based Foodynamics voluntarily recalled specific lots of freeze-dried pet treats from brands Raw Dog Barkery, BellePepper Cats, Kanu Pets, and What’s In the Bowl, because of the potential presence of salmonella.

In addition, Raw Bistro Pet Fare, based in Minnesota, also recalled three-pound bags of the Raw Bistro Dog Fare Grass-Fed Beef Entrée and 18-pound cases of the Raw Bistro Dog Fare Grass-Fed Beef Entrée.

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Some opportunities arrive quietly, disguised as routine. You notice them later, usually as regret. PalmPay’s Travel Carnival is one of those moments. Former Big Brother Naija stars Imisi and Kola (Komisi) have teamed up with PalmPay, and the collaboration is already making serious waves online. Users now stand a chance to share from a massive ₦400 million cash reward pool and even travel abroad for free.

Everyday actions like buying airtime, paying for data and making transfers now carry the possibility of something more lasting: a share of ₦400 million in cash, or an all-expense paid journey to places people promise themselves “someday” —- London, Sydney, Cape Town, Dubai, New York.

To begin, open the PalmPay app and tap the Travel Carnival banner on the home or Rewards page. Complete eligible tasks to earn City Cards: one task, one card or redemption right. Some tasks unlock the rare London Card. Collect all five cities and merge them into a World Card to qualify for each
round’s cash pool. The more World Cards you merge, the more your reward grows. T&C applies.

Cards can be sent or requested from friends using unique Card IDs, often the difference between almost and complete. Each card is redeemed once, and timing matters. The Carnival runs across three rounds from Dec 17 to Jan 8, 2026, with cash rewards credited automatically at the end of each round.

The top two users per round, ranked by eligible transactions after merging a World Card, will also win a fully paid international trip once per user. Years from now, travel regrets tend to sound the same: I could have gone. This time, you don’t have to. Open the app. Collect the cards. Pack your bags.
Visit our social media page for more info

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Live your life healthier and happier with our free weekly Living Well newsletter

Whether you had breakfast this morning or not, your pancreas is working quietly behind the scenes. This vital organ produces the enzymes that help digest your food and the hormones that regulate your metabolism. But when something goes wrong with your pancreas, the consequences can be devastating.

Pancreatic cancer has earned the grim nickname “the silent killer” for good reason. By the time most patients experience symptoms, the disease has often progressed to an advanced stage where treatment options become severely limited.

In the UK alone, over 10,700 new cases and 9,500 deaths from pancreatic cancer were recorded between 2017 and 2019, with incidence rates continuing to rise.

The most common form, pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), develops in the pancreatic duct – a tube connecting the pancreas to the small intestine.

When tumours form here, they can block the flow of digestive enzymes, causing energy metabolism problems that leave patients feeling chronically tired and unwell. Yet these symptoms are often so subtle that they’re easily dismissed or attributed to other causes.

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Advancements in microbiome research offer hope for earlier detection (Getty/iStock)

Now, researchers are turning to an unexpected source for early PDAC detection: faecal samples. While analysing poo might seem an unlikely approach to cancer diagnosis, scientists are discovering that our waste contains a treasure trove of information about our health.

This is because your gut is home to trillions of bacteria – in fact, bacterial cells in your body outnumber human cells by roughly 40 trillion to 30 trillion. These microscopic residents form complex communities that can reflect the state of your health, including the presence of disease.

Since PDAC typically develops in the part of the pancreas that connects to the gut, and most people have regular bowel movements, stool samples provide a practical, non-invasive window into what is happening inside the body.

Global evidence builds

This innovative approach has been validated in studies across several countries, including Japan, China and Spain. The latest breakthrough comes from a 2025 international study involving researchers in Finland and Iran, which set out to examine the relationship between gut bacteria and pancreatic cancer onset across different populations.

About the authors

Falk Hildebrand is a Researcher in Bioinformatician at the Quadram Institute.

Daisuke Suzuki is a PhD Candidate in Gut Microbiome at the Quadram Institute.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons licence. Read the original article.

The researchers collected stool samples and analysed bacterial DNA using a technique called 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing. Despite the complex name, the principle is straightforward: scientists sequence and compare a genetic region found in every bacterium’s genome, allowing them to both identify and count different bacterial species simultaneously.

The findings from the Finnish-Iranian study were striking. Patients with PDAC exhibited reduced bacterial diversity in their gut, with certain species either enriched or depleted compared with healthy people. More importantly, the team developed an artificial intelligence model that could accurately distinguish between cancer patients and healthy people based solely on their gut bacterial profiles.

The field of microbiome research is evolving rapidly. While this study used amplicon sequencing, newer methods like “shotgun metagenomic sequencing” are providing even more detailed insights. This advanced technique captures the entire bacterial genome content rather than focusing on a single gene, offering an unprecedented resolution that can even detect whether bacteria have recently transferred between individuals.

These technological advances are driving a fundamental shift in how we think about health and disease. We’re moving from a purely human-centred view to understanding ourselves as “human plus microbiome” – complex ecosystems where our bacterial partners play crucial roles in our wellbeing.

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Pancreatic cancer has the lowest survival rate of all cancers (PA)

Beyond pancreatic cancer

The possibilities go well beyond pancreatic cancer. At Quadram, we’re applying similar methods to study colorectal cancer. We’ve already analysed over a thousand stool samples using advanced computational tools that piece together bacterial genomes and their functions from fragmented DNA. This ongoing work aims to reveal how gut microbes behave in colorectal cancer, much like other scientists have done for PDAC.

The bidirectional interactions between cancer and bacteria are particularly fascinating – not only can certain bacterial profiles indicate disease presence, but the disease itself can alter the gut microbiome, as we previously showed in Parkinson’s disease, creating a complex web of cause and effect that researchers are still unravelling.

Nonetheless, by understanding how our microbial partners respond to and influence disease, we’re gaining insights that could revolutionise both diagnosis and treatment. Our past research has shown this to be incredibly complex and sometimes difficult to understand, but developments in biotechnology and artificial intelligence are increasingly helping us to make sense of this microscopic world.

For cancer patients and their families, this and other advancements in microbiome research offer hope for earlier detection. While we’re still in the early stages of translating these findings into clinical practice, the potential to catch this silent killer before it becomes deadly could transform outcomes for thousands of patients, but it will require more careful and fundamental research.

The microbial perspective on health is no longer a distant scientific curiosity – it’s rapidly becoming a practical reality that could save lives. As researchers continue to explore this inner frontier, we’re learning that the answer to some of our most challenging medical questions might be hiding in plain sight – in the waste we flush away each day.

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Where are all our stylish ladies at? Still in the spirit of Christmas, today we’re gifting you some wedding guest inspo to level up your next wedding slay.

These 10 dashing #BNWedding Flow looks were intentionally curated to deliver 100% slay. Think of this as Stylish Santa’s special gift to you this festive season. From high glamour to effortless elegance, your next wedding invite is about to be graced with confidence, stunning style, and undeniable radiance. Why? Because every fashion preference is beautifully represented. Need proof? Dive in and see just how magical each look truly is.

Enjoy the photos below and be inspired:

Belle: @iniedo |Dress: @sevondejana | Stylist: @styl.addiction | Makeup: @just_glitz | Hairstylist: @adefunkeee | Photography: @shotbysukre

Belle: @tomike_a | Photography: @uforoabia

Belle: @diana_eneje | Dress: @moelleessentials

Belle: @riyah_abdul | Dress: @tonia.luchi_collections

Dress: @cynthetic_fits

Dress: @ijebydazzy

Belle: @kenesgloww | Dress: @illona.atelier | Makeup: @deoladacosta | Hair: @adefunkeee | Photography: @x.l_visuals

Belle: @hawa_magaji | Dress: @lanredasilvaajayi | Hair: @adefunkeee |Makeup: @annablissglams_  Photography: @koal_world | Production: @studio_showdown

Belle: @mayosama | Dress: @tmo_international x @lfjofficial

Photography: @flashandflicks_

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Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more

Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more

Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more

In a world where new streaming platforms seem to launch every month (and the ones you’ve already signed up for are hiking up their prices almost as frequently), one simple device is offering access to pretty much everything you could ever want to watch. You just have to get in touch with a friend of a friend, or follow a dubious link on a pop-up-laden website, hand over a one-off fee, and you’re sorted. Or so you think.

This is the promise of the so-called “dodgy stick”, the ubiquitous nickname for modified – or, to use the more technical term, “jailbroken” – versions of easy-to-use devices such as Amazon Fire Sticks that come pre-loaded with thousands of free channels and streaming libraries. Conduct a quick poll of your friends or colleagues, and you’ll probably discover that many of them already own a similar device. Perhaps they’re using it to follow their football team of choice without endless sports subscriptions, or to watch American shows before they land in the UK.

The only catch? It’s completely illegal. Using modified sticks to stream content that you’re not paying for violates the Fraud Act of 2006. Yet this doesn’t seem to put off the devotees. Otherwise law-abiding citizens who’d never dream of dabbling in other illicit behaviour seem perfectly happy to break the rules when it comes to dodgy sticks. Some of them don’t even realise they’re doing anything wrong.

Recent stats from The Athletic found that almost five million of us consumed pirated sports coverage over the past six months, with 31 per cent admitting to using a modified Fire TV Stick or similar to do so. These devices have become so widespread that earlier this year, Sky’s chief operating officer Nick Herm claimed that their use accounted for “probably about half of the piracy” in the UK, and argued that “tech giants” such as Amazon were failing to sufficiently “address some of those problems”. He suggested it is costing the broadcasting industry hundreds of millions of dollars in lost revenue.

It’s almost as if owning a dodgy stick has become the ultimate “acceptable” crime, infiltrating middle-class homes. Eva*, 34, is a recent convert. She and her partner sourced one from a friend after they worked out the exact amount they’d been spending on streaming as part of their mortgage application process. “It was ridiculous how much we were paying each month, especially for sports,” she says. “It wasn’t worth it for a couple of games or boxing matches.” It is £80 for a year’s use of the illegal option, or spend just under that amount per month on the legitimate versions? It was an easy decision – especially when it meant they had unlimited access to new episodes of Below Deck.

The platform she uses boasts sports, TV series and films – even ambient footage of virtual log fires, just in time for Christmas festivities. Sometimes they have to faff around with the language settings when their new favourite show suddenly defaults to a French dub, but it’s a sacrifice they’re willing to make for the savings. That they might be eating away at the potential profits of a mega media corporation “hasn’t crossed [their] minds” and the fact that “everybody is doing it” makes it feel less illicit.

So how does it work? What makes a dodgy stick so, well, dodgy? When a device is “jailbroken”, its inbuilt protections have been bypassed, explains ethical hacker Rob Shapland. Once this has been done, pirates can load it up with their own apps from outside the official app stores, which allow viewers to access illegal content in a process known as “sideloading”.

Sellers tend to rely on word-of-mouth recommendations. “It’s mates bragging down the pub, saying, ‘I’ve got access to this’, and it feels like there’s no downside,” Shapland says. WhatsApp groups, social media accounts and websites will pop up offering the devices, too.

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‘Jailbroken’ devices can be packed with illegal streaming apps – and with malware (Getty Images)

The illicit appeal is obvious: the pirates have taken something that the average consumer already knows how to use (like a Fire TV Stick, for example) and packed it with a whole load of shiny streaming options, at what seems like a great price. Once, anyone hoping to access an illegal stream would have had to poke around in the murky recesses of the internet to try and find one. With one of these devices, though, they can simply plug and play.

It’s so straightforward that it might not necessarily feel like breaking the law. Using a modified stick “becomes an easy route into illegal streaming”, says David Ingham, head of media, entertainment and sport at tech consultancy Cognizant. The average customer, he suggests, “and even some of the middlemen selling these devices, [does] not realise that they are stepping into a world of piracy, fraud and the theft of intellectual property. They think they are simply buying or passing on a low-cost gadget”.

And as for those who do know that they’re doing something dubious? “The simple fact of the matter is that this is a fraud and everyone since time immemorial has tended to look at fraud as a victimless crime against corporations,” says Kieron Sharp, chairman at the anti-piracy organisation Federation Against Copyright Theft (FACT). He suggests that the popularity of modified sticks is essentially the modern equivalent of picking up pirated videos or DVDs back in the day. “People would jump at the chance of buying them very cheaply regardless of the fact that they were stolen.”

The cost of living crisis has certainly squeezed the nation’s disposable income; couple this with rising streaming subscription prices, and you have a landscape where it’s easy for users to “justify the infraction as acceptable”, as Ingham puts it. This year alone, Netflix has upped the cost of its standard ad-free subscription in the UK to £12.99 a month, marking an increase of 18 per cent; Disney+ has hiked its standard rates by £1 a month, and so has Apple TV (a subscription for the latter now costs twice as much as it did when it launched in November 2019).

This is a fraud and everyone since time immemorial has tended to look at fraud as a victimless crime against corporations

Kieron Sharp, FACT

But investing in a device that seems like a bargain might turn out to cause users a whole load of pain in the long run. As well as coming pre-loaded with streaming apps, the chances are that your dodgy stick will also be riddled with viruses and malware. A recent survey from BeStreamWise found that 65 per cent of people who’ve watched content illegally over the past 12 months have had a security scare while doing so. “If you think about the morals of the people that are making the sticks, they’re obviously breaking the rules already,” says Shapland. “It’s not a very big step to then put software on there that allows [them] to access someone’s online banking account”.

Sometimes, Shapland adds, the device might act as a keylogger, recording your passwords and personal details and then sending them on to the criminals. According to a survey from BeStreamWise, almost four in 10 illegal streamers have suffered financial losses after being targeted by fraudsters; the average amount stolen was £1,680, but one in 10 respondents ended up losing more than £5,000.

Once you’ve entered your payment details, fraudsters might activate “set and forget” payments, and “just keep billing”, says Gareth Sutcliffe, the author of a recent report into video piracy from media and tech consultancy Enders Analysis. Or they might steer users towards cryptocurrencies through dodgy sideloaded apps, or sell your details to a third party.

So, when you’re handing over, say, £20 for your dodgy stick, you’re potentially inviting organised crime groups into the comfort of your own living room. “The idea, really, is [for criminals] to be able to put their tentacles right into the average consumer”, who often thinks that “they’ve got a good deal, when in fact they’ve opened the hen house door to the fox”, says Sutcliffe. And your money could end up funding other types of organised crime activity, too.

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Illegal streaming is thought to be costing sports broadcasters millions of dollars (Getty Images/iStockphoto)

But Sutcliffe reckons that the rise of the dodgy stick is not just about arbitrage, or “getting something for less than you would pay for if you were going through a legitimate service”. It’s also a question of innovation. “If the broadcasters were innovating more, providing different sets of packages, a wider range of services, would that be something that perhaps would ameliorate the risk from piracy?” he asks. “You have to argue: ‘possibly, yes.’”

Sky’s chief operating officer has estimated that piracy is costing sports broadcasting companies hundreds of millions of dollars. Again, it’s easy for illegal streamers to tell themselves that football, for example, is already a wildly lucrative industry, and that broadcasters (and the players) don’t need the extra money. But Sharp tells me that “the Premier League would not be attracting the best players in the world, would not be seen as the best league in the world, would not be the most watched sporting event in the world if people weren’t paying for it in the first place”.

The same goes for TV shows and films. Most of these projects cost vast amounts of money, Sharp notes, and plenty of them “don’t actually make a profit. None of those things would happen if people weren’t paying [for content]”. And when broadcasters cut back, it’s the ordinary workers who feel the impact. “There’s only a few people getting millions – the rest are all being paid normal wages as sound technicians or set designers or whatever it might be,” he says.

A crackdown is underway. Over the past couple of years, a handful of sellers have been sentenced to between two and four years in prison on copyright and fraud charges. And in recent weeks, you might have seen headlines about a spate of raids targeting 17 areas across the UK. When law enforcement operatives raid suppliers, they can typically access their customer databases and find out who is using the devices, Sharp explains.

But, he says, the emphasis is usually on the suppliers. “Our intention is never to criminalise everybody within the whole ecosystem,” he says, noting that the users are “people we would like to see as being legitimate players. They’re obviously film fans, football fans – we want to see them paying for the original content in its best format, and to save themselves any potential future heartache if they were to fall foul of the law”.

Even if this particular Fire Stick diminishes in terms of its risk to the public and to content owners, others will come up in its place

Gareth Sutcliffe, Enders Analysis

Amazon has also stepped up its efforts. Last month, the company, which has always maintained that it “encourages the responsible consumption of content”, confirmed that it is in the process of blocking pirate apps on its Fire TV Sticks. This is currently in progress in Germany and France and is set to expand globally. “We’ll now block apps identified as providing access to pirated content, including those downloaded from outside our app store,” a spokesperson said. And the latest Fire TV Stick model, the 4K Select, uses a new operating system called Vega, which doesn’t allow sideloading, rather than the previous Android software.

This won’t necessarily wipe out the pirates, who are pretty nifty when it comes to innovating and adapting. “Even if this particular Fire Stick diminishes in terms of its risk to the public and to content owners, others will come up in its place,” says Sutcliffe. “It’s always like whack-a-mole.”

And if you’re still willing to break the law to get your streaming fix? Just don’t kid yourself that you’re making some big anti-establishment gesture. “It’s very easy to think of it as, ‘I’m just sticking a finger up to the man,’” Shapland says. “But you end up screwing yourself over instead.”

*Name has been changed for anonymity

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Diana, Princess of Wales, was considered “far more” adept at navigating the media landscape than Charles, then Prince of Wales, Irish officials were informed three decades ago.

Newly declassified documents from the National Archives of Ireland reveal that her staff were actively engaged in “upstaging” St James’ Palace during their highly publicised separation.

These files also shed light on Charles’s two-day visit to Ireland in June 1995, following his 1992 split from Diana.

His inner circle reportedly viewed the extensive coverage of this trip as a crucial component of a “long-term public relations strategy to rehabilitate the Prince in the eyes of the British public” in the wake of their high-profile divorce.

Charles’s press team, led by press secretary Alan Percival and his successor Sandy Henney, had reported to Irish officials that they felt the visit to Ireland was “the best public outing the Prince has had in a very long time”.

Charles, then the Prince of Wales, conducted a two-day visit to Ireland while Prince of Wales in June 1995 (Martin Keene/PA Wire)

Ms Henney was described in the Irish Department of Foreign Affairs’ document as “fiercely loyal” to Charles and “alive to every opportunity to advance his cause”.

A Department of Foreign Affairs note shows officials were unsure if she was joking when she suggested that Diana may also want to visit Ireland.

“Henney (who would have been less aware of the political dimension than the more restrained Percival) told me that if she had any say in it the Prince would be here again before the summer was out,” according to the document.

“She also remarked that if practice to date was any guide we could shortly expect an approach from Princess Diana!”

Department of Foreign Affairs official Joe Hayes added: “I took this as a joke until she repeated it and assured me that in the media battle between the two, the Princess was by far the more predatory and skilled and her staff devoted a great deal of time to finding ways and means of upstaging St James’ Palace.”

Charles’ officials agreed with the Irish diplomats that coverage of the visit in the UK was, while positive, “relatively light” compared with that in Ireland.

It was noted by officials on both sides of the Irish Sea that, in contrast with the blanket coverage in Ireland, the coverage of the visit in the UK was “though positive, relatively light” in tone.

This article is based on documents contained in the file labelled 2025/124/160 in the National Archives of Ireland.

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The King and the Prince of Wales are reportedly planning separate visits to the United States in 2026, a year that will mark the 250th anniversary of American independence.

Advanced discussions for a trip by the King are said to be under way, while Prince William is expected to visit during the Fifa World Cup later that year, according to reports in The Times.

These potential royal engagements would coincide with ongoing UK trade deal negotiations and would be the first by a reigning British monarch since 2007.

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(Getty)

But it would also come as the UK continues efforts to finalise a trade deal with the US, after Washington reportedly paused the tech partnership announced during President Donald Trump’s state visit to the UK in September.

Earlier in December, Downing Street said the government was still in “active conversations” with the US on the tech deal.

But the Prime Minister’s spokesman acknowledged that “negotiations of this kind are never straightforward”.

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(Yui Mok/PA Wire)

Reports suggested US negotiators had become frustrated by slow progress in agreeing a wider trade deal announced in May 2025, when Britain avoided the 20 per cent tariffs Mr Trump imposed on much of the rest of the world.

Britain’s digital services tax, opposed by Mr Trump’s big tech backers, and the sensitive issue of greater access to British markets for US farmers, are thought to be key sticking points.

The Times suggested the King’s visit to the US could take place in April.

William, who is president of the Football Association, could then visit during the World Cup being held in the US, Canada and Mexico between June and July.

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The iconic New Year’s Eve ball drop is getting an encore in 2026 — but this time on the Fourth of July.

Tourists and New York City locals will take over the streets of Times Square at midnight on January 1, to watch the multi-colored LED crystal ball, also known as the Constellation Ball, drop, in celebration of the new year.

America will also be marking a major milestone in 2026 with the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. So America250 — the nonpartisan organization that commemorates the 250th anniversary — is launching a second ball drop July 3.

But a preview will be taking place in just a few days in Times Square.

At 12:04 a.m. on January 1 — four minutes after the regular New Year’s Eve Ball drop — the Times Square Ball will be relit in red, white, and blue, with an America250 design and rise above the illuminated “2026” numbers.

Another ball drop is happening in New York City in July for America’s 250th birthday (Getty Images)

There will also ​be “a first-ever post-midnight release of 2,000 pounds of red, white, and blue confetti, and a dynamic pyro finale set to Ray Charles’ rendition of ‘America the Beautiful,’” as noted by America250.

New York City residents and locals can return to Times Square July 3, when the iconic ball will drop again, right before midnight strikes on the Fourth of July.

“America250 will kick off the Semiquincentennial year on New Year’s Eve in Times Square — the most watched celebration on the planet — signaling that the largest and most inspiring celebration and commemoration in our nation’s history is underway in 2026,” Rosie Rios, Chair of America250, said in a statement. “Our goal is to inspire all 350 million Americans to join in this moment to celebrate our country.”

However, according to a city hall spokesperson, the details for the second ball drop in July are still being figured out. “As the city continues to work on the details, nothing is finalized, and conversations are ongoing,” the spokesperson told the New York Post.

Still, Rios has teased that America250 has big plans in store to honor the signing of the Declaration of Independence.

“I’m telling you right now, whatever you’re imagining, it’s going to be much more than that,” he told the Associated Press. “It’s going to be one for the ages, the most inspirational celebration this country and maybe the world has ever seen.”

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