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24 Oras Weekend April 12, 2025

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Fears grow for missing schoolboy, 13, who vanished in town centre two days ago as cops reveal crucial details

Police are urgently appealing for help to find a missing teenager from Trowbridge.

Joshua
Police are urgently appealing for help to find a missing teenager from Trowbridge. Joshua

A YOUNG boy has been missing for over 48 hours, as police grow increasingly concerned for his welfare.

Joshua, 13, was last seen in Trowbridge town centre in Wiltshire on Thursday, April 10.

He has short curly brown hair and was wearing all black clothing.

The clothing items included a hoodie, joggers, trainers and a black rucksack, police say.

Joshua also had a royal blue coloured medium size mountain bike with him.

Police believe he may still be in Trowbridge, but claim he has connections to Southampton.

A Wiltshire Police spokesperson said: “We believe Joshua is still in the Trowbridge area but he has links to Southampton.

“Joshua was wearing all black clothing – a hoodie, joggers, trainers and a black rucksack with a royal blue coloured medium size mountain bike.

“Anyone with information about Joshua’s whereabouts is asked to contact 101 quoting reference 54250044122.”

More to follow… For the latest news on this story keep checking back at The Sun Online

Thesun.co.uk is your go-to destination for the best celebrity news, real-life stories, jaw-dropping pictures and must-see video.

Like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/thesun and follow us from our main Twitter account at @TheSun.

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Inside Mexican cartels’ ‘schools of terror’ where boys are taught how to mutilate enemies and forced to eat human flesh

BLOODY initiations, torture, and teen boys forced to eat their dying enemies’ flesh – this is the twisted curriculum at Mexico’s “Schools of Terror” – the hellish training camps run by the country’s deadliest cartels.

These aren’t just camps – they are psychological slaughterhouses, where the goal is to destroy the teens mentally and physically – grooming them to become stone-cold killers.

Armed cartel members posing with a banner.
Twitter
Gang members of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), one of the most dangerous in Mexico[/caption]
Armed men in tactical gear pose for a video, one reading a statement.
Groups like CJNG teach their recruits how to inflict ruthless methods of violence
X/michelleriveraa
Graphic image of a man eating the heart of a victim.
LiveGorecom
CJNG members are forced to eat raw human hearts[/caption]

Young recruits, many just 15 or 16 years old, are lured in with promises of high-paying jobs – security work, farm gigs, warehouse shifts. Some are even handed bus tickets to remote ranches.

But when they arrive, the reality is a nightmare and there’s no escape – only a simple choice: obey or be killed.

Once inside, the transformation begins.

Stripped of their freedom, humanity, and even their names, the recruits are thrust into a brutal programme of psychological torture.

They live among corpses, breathe the stench of death, and are forced to sleep in blood-streaked bunks beside the mutilated bodies of those who attempt to flee the camps.

Among the most feared of these organisations is the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), which has taken desensitisation to new extremes – including forcing recruits to eat human flesh and hearts.

According to Tony Payan, director of the Center for the United States and Mexico at Rice University’s Baker Institute, these camps have been around Mexico as early as the 1970s.

But they have gotten worse over the last seven to eight years – the direct result of a government that has “allowed cartels to operate with impunity”.

He told The Sun: “They deceive young men as young as 15 or 16 with job offers, put them on a bus, and deliver them to remote ranches.”

“Once there, they’re told they can either join the cartel or be executed. If they refuse, they’re often made an example of and killed in front of others.”

Newcomers are forced to live alongside the dead, surrounded by the stench of decay, so they eventually become normalised to the sight of death.

Any sign of hesitation or weakness is met with brutal tests.

One survivor described how the most timid recruit was ordered to behead a rival and crush his skull with a rock.

Another who vomited while eating human flesh was forced to pick up the regurgitated remains and consume them again.

‘You live in terror’

Francisco, a former cartel trainee, recounted his nightmarish experience at one such camp.

His ordeal began when he was offered a well-paying job in security, only to be transported to a remote training ground where escaping was nearly impossible.

The 34-year-old dad told local outlet Sin Embargo: “You see how they kill people, taste human flesh, you live in terror.”

Cartel operatives use military-style psychological warfare to break down resistance, training recruits with cruelty and constant threats. It’s not just brutality – it’s systematised terror.

“We’ve seen videos of recruits being forced to kill each other,” said Payan.

“They have to prove their loyalty. Sometimes, they burn others alive. I’ve seen video of a chest being cut open and the heart ripped out. It’s about desensitising them.”

Drugs are also used as tools of control.

Cocaine is often administered to keep the new recruits alert and numb their conscience.

“It’s about dulling their ethical compass so they can commit atrocities without hesitation,” Payan said.

They have to prove their loyalty. Sometimes, they burn others alive. I’ve seen video of a chest being cut open and the heart ripped out. It’s about desensitising them

Tony PayanDirector of the Center for the United States and Mexico at Rice University’s Baker Institute

Cartels across Mexico have long employed horrific methods to enforce obedience and spread fear, turning the country into a battleground where civilians are often collateral damage.

From beheadings and dismemberments to drone warfare and sadistic initiation rituals, these criminal organisations have escalated their brutality to maintain control over drug routes, eliminate rivals, and deter those who dare to oppose them.

Payan believes the expansion of cartel activities – now stretching far beyond drug trafficking into kidnapping, extortion, illegal mining, and human trafficking – has driven the need for more manpower.

A recent study he cites estimates that over 300,000 people now work in Mexico’s criminal underworld.

“With turnover and expansion, they may need to recruit tens of thousands every year,” he said.

“And when people refuse or try to escape, you get extermination camps in the thousands.”

These camps aren’t just confined to one cartel or region.

They’ve appeared in Michoacán, Jalisco, Tamaulipas, Zacatecas, and more.

Payan points to the town of Tlachichilco in Veracruz and the horrifying discovery in Tamaulipas, where authorities uncovered 500kg of human bones, potentially from over 1,500 victims.

Cartels use terror as a weapon of control – not just internally, but publicly.

“This is about subjecting a population,” Payan explained.

Mexican National Guards in trucks arriving at a ranch.
AP
Troops arrive at Izaguirre Ranch in the state of Jalisco where skeletal remains of suspected cartel victims were discovered last month[/caption]
Two masked men prepare capsules of methamphetamine in a room.
Reuters
Members of the Sinaloa Cartel, another dangerous group, prepare capsules with methamphetamine in a safe house in Culiacan, Mexico[/caption]
Masked, armed men in a video threatening violence.
Twitter / @Dubitandum_
The gangsters often pose with their machine guns to terrorise local communities[/caption]

“Bodies hanging from bridges, mutilated corpses with warning notes, burned-out vehicles – these are psychological operations.”

The CJNG has become notorious for pushing the boundaries of terror, with cannibalism serving as a psychological weapon to ensure absolute loyalty.

In February last year, cartel members reportedly filmed themselves tearing the hearts out of murdered rivals and eating them, according to the Daily Mail.

The video showcased their ruthlessness on social media to instil fear in their enemies and prove their dominance.

Methods of terror

Cartels have a vast horror catalogue of preferred punishments across Mexico’s underworld – from body mutilations and face peeling to funeral executions.

Body mutilation has long been a preferred method of punishment.

The CJNG, in particular, has turned this into a public spectacle, often leaving messages with the victims to warn others.

Last week, nine mutilated bodies and a bag of severed hands were found on a highway in Oaxaca.

The victims — five men and four women — were allegedly students involved in petty thefts.

An insider claimed they were abducted, tortured, and executed, with their leader left with a note: “This is what you get for being a thief.”

It’s unclear if the CJNG was responsible.

Beheadings have also become a signature tactic of cartels to intimidate rivals and law enforcement.

In one of the most infamous cases in 2011, five decomposing heads were dumped outside a primary school in Acapulco, prompting mass protests by terrified teachers.

Brutally mutilated

Public hangings are another medieval-style terror tactic widely used by cartels.

In Zacatecas, nine bodies were found dangling from a bridge in 2021, left as a message in an ongoing cartel war.

Often, the victims are brutally mutilated before being hanged, with cartel messages left beside them to reinforce their threats.

While the CJNG is widely regarded as Mexico’s most violent cartel, others must also demonstrate extreme brutality to deter challengers.

The Sinaloa Cartel, one of the country’s most established criminal organisations, has been known to use face peeling as a terrifying scare tactic against rivals and would-be informants.

In 2010, cartel leader Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán recorded himself cutting off the head of 36-year-old Hugo Hernandez with a chainsaw.

The cartel then removed the skin from Hernandez’s face and stitched it back onto a football.

Police officers guarding a crime scene.
EPA
Mass graves are also a common way for cartels to dispose of victims while maximising fear and confusion about the extent of the violence[/caption]
Firefighters extinguishing burning vehicles used as roadblocks.
Reuters
Firefighters extinguish a burning tractor-trailer used as a roadblock in Guadalajara by Jalisco members[/caption]
Forensic technicians excavating a field.
AP
Forensic technicians excavate a field on a plot of land referred to as a cartel ‘extermination site’ where burned human remains were buried[/caption]

His head was later found on the streets of Los Mochis, accompanied by a note directed at a rival cartel: “Happy New Year, because this will be your last.”

His torso was found stuffed in a plastic container, while his arms, legs, and skull were dumped separately.

Mass graves are also a common way for cartels to dispose of victims while maximising fear and confusion about the extent of the violence.

By 2020, over 63,428 mass graves had been uncovered across Mexico, containing the remains of at least 92,658 people.

The dead include thousands of women and children, either caught in the crossfire or explicitly targeted by the cartels.

Every so often, public horror erupts when gruesome discoveries make headlines.

This month, a mass grave has been found at a suspected extermination camp during a family’s desperate search for a missing person in Mexico.

Three ovens and burned bodies were found at the horrifying scene along with piles of personal items including 400 pairs of shoes, clothes, jewellery, and diaries.

Even in death, cartel victims — and their families — are not safe. 

Mexico's most dangerous cartels

Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) – The most violent and rapidly expanding cartel, known for extreme brutality, including cannibalism, drone warfare, and high-profile assassinations. Led by Nemesio “El Mencho” Oseguera Cervantes.

Sinaloa Cartel – Once led by Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán, this powerful cartel is known for sophisticated drug trafficking networks and ruthless tactics, including face peeling and mass executions.

Los Zetas – Originally formed by ex-special forces soldiers, Los Zetas are infamous for military-style operations, public massacres, and the “Highway of Death” killings.

Gulf Cartel – One of Mexico’s oldest cartels, involved in human trafficking, kidnappings, and violent turf wars, often clashing with Los Zetas.

Beltrán Leyva Cartel – Known for alliances with other criminal groups and deadly feuds, this cartel specialises in assassinations and corruption at the highest levels.

Santa Rosa de Lima Cartel – A rising force primarily involved in fuel theft and extortion, responsible for deadly attacks against rivals and law enforcement.

In February last year, gunmen stormed a home in the Arboledas de San Andrés neighborhood of Guanajuato during a funeral wake, opening fire on mourners. 

Nine people were executed, including a 12-year-old boy, and one person was injured.

Neighbours later reported hearing more than 100 gunshots from automatic weapons.

According to Payan, the current government’s “hugs, not bullets” policy has failed to stop the spread of this horror.

“The government has essentially been asleep at the switch,” he said.

“This is a nightmare scenario for Mexico.”

These criminal organisations are no longer just about drugs – they’ve crossed the line into full-blown terror.

They’re no longer just economic actors. They use fear to control populations, and they do it because the government has allowed them to

Tony Payan

“There’s a serious debate now about whether these cartels are actually terrorist organisations,” said Payan.

“They’re no longer just economic actors. They use fear to control populations, and they do it because the government has allowed them to.”

With cartels operating in countries as far as Australia and Spain, and with thousands of new recruits passing through these death camps each year, Payan warns the threat is not confined to Mexico.

“If a country is weak enough, they’ll move in. And that’s what we need to watch.”

Mexico’s cartel violence has turned entire regions into war zones, with civilians trapped between feuding criminal groups.

More than 92,000 people have been buried in mass graves across the country, their bodies often mutilated beyond recognition.

Entire cities have been terrorised by firebombings and grenade attacks, while cartels have weaponized drone warfare to carry out precision strikes on rivals.

Endless cycle of violence

Despite efforts by the Mexican government to crack down on organized crime, the cartels continue to expand their influence, fueled by the billions made from drug trafficking.

Their ability to enforce their will through terror — whether by recruiting through fear or eliminating opposition through sheer brutality — has made them some of the most powerful and dangerous criminal organisations in the world.

For those who enter the School of Terror, survival comes at an unthinkable price.

Those who fail to meet the cartel’s expectations disappear, while those who succeed emerge as hardened killers, willing to commit the same atrocities that once terrified them.

The cycle of violence continues, ensuring that the horrors of Mexico’s cartel wars will not end anytime soon.

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M25 traffic: Britain’s busiest motorway grinds to a halt due to crash sparking chaos for 1000s heading to airport

BRITAIN’S busiest motorway has ground to a halt following a crash – sparking chaos for thousands heading to the airport.

Two lanes have been shut between J29 (Upminster) and J30 (Thurrock) on the M25 causing severe delays.

Essex Police confirmed no injuries have been reported and the incident is being dealt with by the National Highways team.

Traffic jam on the M25.
National Highways
Traffic has been held on the M25[/caption]

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The £9.5million plans to reopen England’s largest water tower as a new attraction – after closing 30 years ago

A NEW and unusual tourist attraction could soon open in an English city following a 30-year closure.

The largest municipal water tower in England, Jumbo, closed more than three decades ago.

The Jumbo water tower in Colchester, Essex, UK.
Alamy
Jumbo in Colchester closed to the public more than three decades ago[/caption]
Low-angle view of a brick water tower in Colchester.
Alamy
Since its closure in the mid-1980s, the water tower has suffered significant deterioration[/caption]

Located on Colchester High Street in Colchester, the Grade II* listed tower was built in 1882 from 1.25million bricks and 142 tonnes.

The historic structure opened one year later in 1885, serving Colchester with clean water until 1984 when the water tower closed.

Since its closure in the mid-1980s, the water tower has suffered ‘significant deterioration’ with cracks emerging on its tanks and roof leaking.

Jumbo is set to benefit from a new lease of life when it opens as a tourist venue.

Over £10million worth of funding is being pumped into the former water tower.

The site will receive an £8million grant from the National Lottery Heritage Fund, £1.1million from the government and £550,000 from Historic England.

Back in 2021, North Essex Heritage secured a 150-year lease for the building and outlined plans to reopen it as a heritage and events venue.

Chair of North Essex Heritage, Simon Hall, said: “It will provide Colchester with a fantastic accessible heritage asset, adding to Colchester’s attraction as a city and tourist destination.”

The huge restoration project is expected to take several years to complete.

Further details, including what will be inside the tourist venue, have yet to be revealed.

Elsewhere in the UK, other venues are set to benefit from huge renovation projects.

The British Library, the second largest library in the world, when based on books, is set for a massive £1.1billion renovation.

The huge revamp will see the size of the library increase with new learning centres and exhibition rooms added.

Another major London attraction is getting a huge renovation too.

The British Museum – one of the largest free attractions in the UK – revealed plans for its £1billion revamp.

This includes upgraded north and south entrances, which will be open by next year.

Five new water attractions opening in the UK

  1. Therme Manchester will have 25 swimming pools, 25 water slides and an indoor beach.
  2. Modern Surf Manchester will be a surfing lagoon offering lessons to both beginners and experts.
  3. Chessington World of Adventures Waterpark is set to have wave, infinity and spa pools as well as waterslides and cabanas.
  4. The Cove Resort, Southport is likely to have a water lagoon and a thermal spa with steam rooms and saunas.
  5. The Seahive, Deal plans to be the “surfing wellness resort” in the UK.

This includes upgraded north and south entrances, which will be open by next year.

And the Museum of London, which opened back in 1976, is reopening next year after a £437million revamp.

Brick water tower next to a modern building and statue.
Alamy
It is hoped that the water tower will reopen as a tourist venue[/caption]

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The 60-second ‘pinch test’ that reveals how fast you’re ageing – and 6 everyday habits that are making you look older

FOREHEAD lines, crow’s feet and the dreaded 11 between your eyebrows – there are countless signs of the advancing years etched on your face.

But there’s another body part that can indicate how old you really are…

Close-up of an older woman's and a young girl's faces, cheek to cheek.
Getty
The signs of ageing don’t just show on our faces[/caption]

And while you’re never going to have the hands you had at 20 when you’re 50, there are some lifestyle factors that might be making yours age a little quicker than you’d like. 

Dr Brendan Khong, founder and medical director at Dr BK Aesthetics Clinic, says that thin, crepey skin, fine lines and wrinkles, age spots, hyperpigmentation, dry skin, loss of elasticity and uneven skin tone are all signs of ageing which can show up on your hands. 

“The hands are often neglected when it comes to skincare routines,” he tells Sun Health.

“With less fat, thinner skin and much fewer sebaceous glands, the hands are often quicker to age.”

THE ‘PINCH TEST’

Dry skin test: person pinching skin on their hand to show dehydration.
Getty
The ‘pinch test’ can tell you how fast your skin is ageing compared to the rest of you[/caption]

Want to see how your hands are ageing? Try the ‘pinch’ test.

“Pinching the skin on your hands and seeing how long it takes to bounce back can demonstrate the loss of elasticity,” says Dr Khong.

According to Skin Software, the skin of anyone aged 30 and under should bounce back in one to two seconds.

This rises to three to four seconds for those 30 to 44, and five to nine seconds for 45- to 50-year-olds.

It should take 10 to 15 seconds for 60- to 70-year-olds, and 35 to 55 seconds for those 70-plus. 

Unhappy with your score? From nail salons to hand sanitiser, these habits could be to blame…

1. OVERDOING THE HAND SANITISER 

WE all bought bucketloads of sanitiser during the Covid pandemic.

A study published in the journal Skin Research and Technology actually found that almost a quarter of us applied the stuff more than 10 times a day, with 33 per cent reporting cracked skin.

Despite lockdown being long over, many of us still use hand sanitiser daily in a bid to stay germ free

While great for that, it’s not so good for the skin on our hands. 

“Alcohol-based sanitisers can strip the skin on hands of oils and moisture, leading to dryness, cracks, increased sensitivity, bleeding and itching,” Dr Khong says.

“Over time, this can lead to premature ageing, wrinkles and dry texture.”

Instead of using hand sanitiser, stick to washing your hands with gentle soap and water.

The NHS says that it’s best to wash your hands for the amount of time it takes to sing ‘Happy Birthday’ twice – around 20 seconds in total.

2. NEGLECTING HAND CREAM

MORE than just a beauty essential, hand creams can help to keep your hands youthful. 

“I use hand cream frequently throughout the day,” Dr Khong says.

“The most important time to use it is after using hand sanitiser or washing with soap,” adding that both can be very drying.

“At night I always use a thicker cream to moisturise my hands while I sleep.”

When choosing your hand cream, look for ingredients such as glycerin, panthenol, peptides, shea butter, ceramides and SPF for day time. 

“Glycerin, panthenol and shea butter are moisturising, while peptides and ceramides help to restore the skin barrier, reduce moisture loss and maintain the skin barrier,” Dr Khong says.

“SPF helps to protect against UV rays, which accelerate ageing.” 

Woman's hand under a UV nail lamp.
Getty
Going to the nail salon could be prematurely ageing your hands[/caption]

3. TOO MANY TRIPS TO THE NAIL SALON

WHILE choosing to have gel nails or BIAB might mean a longer-lasting manicure, it could contribute to ageing hands

“The UV lamps used to set nails emit UVA rays,” Dr Khong says.

“Over time and with repeated exposure, this can cause accelerated skin ageing.

“I enjoy a gel manicure as much as anyone, but I always apply sunscreen on my hands and use UPF gloves without fingertips every time I have one.

“I would also advise keeping a lookout for any suspicious lesions on your hands, especially if there are changes over time.”

Noticed a mark on your hands which seems to be changing? Book an appointment with your GP or a dermatologist to get it checked. 

Research as to whether UV lamps can cause skin cancer is limited, but one study, published in the journal Scientific Reports, found that “nail lamps carry a low risk of developing skin cancer”. 

The 'holy grail' anti-ageing foods doctors eat every day

By Eliza Loukou, Health Reporter

MOST of us do our best to eat well and make nutritious choices for our snacks and meals, as the food we eat can have a big impact on our health.

If you’re eating plenty of veggies and keeping processed meat and refined sugar at a minimum, you’re already on a good path.

But some foods could pack an extra punch, helping your body age well and protect it ‘like a suit of armour’.

Longevity researcher and regenerative medicine doctor Dr Neil Paulvin shared the nutrient-rich foods he eats daily to stave off infections, boost brain health and even help repair DNA. The top five were:

  1. Blueberries
  2. Tomatoes
  3. Whole grains – e.g. porridge and brown rice
  4. Nuts – e.g. walnuts and almonds
  5. Oily fish – e.g. salmon and sardines

You can read the full article here.

4. TOO MUCH SUGAR 

YOU may well know that the food you eat affects the skin on your face. But did you know it has a significant impact on your hands too? 

“I talk a lot about ‘inflammaging’ (inflammation causing ageing) with my patients,” Dr Khong says.

“Advanced glycation end-products (AGEs) that come from high sugar and high carbohydrate foods (think pastries, sweets, crisps, packet foods, white breads and white pasta) can lead to inflammation, collagen breakdown and dehydration.”

Collagen makes up 30 per cent of the proteins in your body and it’s one of the main building blocks for your nails, skin, hair and muscles. 

“Healthy collagen is able to provide the skin with structure and provides a youthful look,” says Dr Khong. 

Tap water can remove the natural oils in the skin to cause surface dehydration, irritation and oxidative stress

Dr Brendan Khong

As you age though, your body naturally produces less collagen. 

In fact, research published in the journal Plastic and Aesthetic Research found that collagen levels peak between the ages of 25 and 34 and over the following four decades, collagen declines by around 25 per cent. 

“A diet that is high in trans fat can also contribute to skin ageing,” adds Dr Khong.

“Alcohol, caffeine and saturated fats can also accelerate collagen breakdown.”

Fried foods, frozen pizzas and store-bought cakes contain saturated fats.

But don’t worry, you don’t need to go hungry. There are plenty of foods that can help to keep skin youthful

These include berries, leafy green vegetables, avocados, olive oil, seeds, and oily fish (sardines, mackerel, salmon).

“These help to reduce inflammation and keep skin hydrated,” says Dr Khong.

Spoon piled high with sugar cubes.
Getty
A diet full of sugar is bad for our waistlines – and our hands[/caption]

5. TOO MUCH SUN 

YOU’VE heard it before: UV rays from the sun damage skin and cause ageing. 

But don’t forget to lather SPF on your hands, as well as the rest of your body. 

Research published in the journal Molecules found that UV exposure may account for up to 80 per cent of visible signs of ageing in the skin.

“The sun breaks down collagen,” says Dr Joney De Souza, founder of London’s Dr Joney De Souza Skin and Laser Clinic.

“Your collagen fibres become disorganised, which gives the skin on your hands that criss-cross look.

“The skin loses its volume and it becomes lax. The sun breaks down the hyaluronic acid in the skin too and hyaluronic acid is what absorbs water and keeps skin hydrated.”

It’s best to wear SPF50 on your hands every day “without fail”, he adds. 

“The biggest problem with hands is that we wash our hands all the time,” Dr De Souza says.

“Whatever SPF you use will be washed away, so you have to be aware of that.”

Hand obscuring the sun.
Getty
It’s vital not to forget to apply SPF to our hands[/caption]

6. ‘HARD’ WATER

CERTAIN parts of the UK, such as the south and east, have harder water due to heavy minerals found in the soil.

While safe for your health, Dr Khong says it could damage your skin. 

“Hard water can contain high amounts of calcium and magnesium, which can disrupt the skin barrier and exacerbate inflammatory skin conditions like acne, eczema and psoriasis,” he says.

“Chlorine and fluoride, which are often added to tap water, can remove the natural oils in the skin to cause surface dehydration, irritation and oxidative stress. 

“This can lead to ageing hands.”

It’s hard to escape if you live in a hard water area, but fitting a water filter to your home tap can help.

And make sure you keep a hand cream by your sink, so whenever you wash your hands, you’re reminded to moisturise straight away!

Tips to age well

There are a number of habits you can take up to care for your health and wellbeing as you age.

Age UK shared the following tips:

  • Do things that you enjoy everyday – whether that’s cooking, seeing friends or enjoying a good book
  • Stay hydrated – drink six to eight cups of water a day
  • Eat plenty of fruit and veggies to lower your risk of heart disease and certain cancers, have beans, pulses, fish, eggs and meat to repair your body after injury, starchy carbs for energy dairy to help keep bones strong
  • Manage long-term health conditions to prevent them progressing or having a greater impact on your health
  • Quit smoking and reduce alcohol intake to no more than 14 units a week
  • Make mental health a priority and get treatment for it, as it can also impact physical health
  • Make sure you’re getting quality sleep
  • Keep socialising – and call a friend or loved one if you can’t make it out the house
  • Be physically active to lower the risk of depression and dementiaheart diseasestrokeParkinson’s and some cancers
Studio photograph of an elderly woman's hand next to a young woman's hand.
Getty
Some of our daily habits can wreak havoc on our hands[/caption]

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The 1% Club players struggle with difficult picture question – can you work it out in 30 seconds?

THE 1% Club players struggled with a difficult picture question – but can you work it out in 30 seconds?

The hit ITV show – hosted by Lee Mack – tests the audience’s logic and common sense rather than their general knowledge.

Quiz show question: What word completes three phrases shown with images of butter, a dragon, and fruit?
The 1% Club players struggled with a difficult 15% picture question
The 6 Out game show set.
Six people crashed out of the competition after getting it wrong

Questions can involve pictures, numbers and words, and in a recent episode it was a one that featured three images that stumped a number of remaining players.

The 15% question was: “What word can go after each of these images to make three new things?”

The first image was of a block of butter, the second a red dragon like on the Welsh flag and the third picture was a selection of fruit.

The remaining players had 30 seconds to try and work out the answer, before Lee revealed how many had got it wrong.

It turned out six contestants hadn’t been able to figure it out in time, meaning they missed out on continuing towards the final question and a share of the jackpot.

Lee revealed that the correct answer was “fly” with the screen confirming: “butterFLY, dragonFLY and fruitFLY.”

The same episode featured a difficult question about a common phrase, while a whopping 13 players went out early on the 80% question.

In the end, only one player made it to the 1% question, and had a chance of taking home the rare total of £100,000.

The player – Steve – was told he would become the “first person ever to win the full £100k” if he took the gamble and got it right.

Steve admitted the £10,000 he had secured for making it to the final question as a lot of money, but he was willing to gamble to try and land the jackpot.

His decision took Lee by surprise, but he then revealed the 1% question which was: “What two letters replace the question marks?”

Underneath the rest of the puzzling question read: “TE times T equals MESSAGE. TO times IN equals POISON. E times ?? equals LEAVE.”

After his 30 seconds were up, Steve revealed he had locked in his answer as “NE.”

There was a dramatic pause, then Lee revealed he had got it wrong, with the correct answer being “IT” and the explanation: “If you replace ‘times’ with ‘X’, you form words with the same meaning as the words on the right.”

Quiz: What word completes butter, dragon, and fruit to make three compound words?  The answer is "fly".
The word that linked them all was Fly

The 1% Club airs Saturdays on ITV and is available on ITVX.

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I’ve saved £1,300 with easy bill swap trick – it paid for my family’s holiday and anyone who doesn’t do it is bonkers

SAVVY shopper Heidi Flaherty has saved £1,300 by getting paid to swap bills. 

The 31-year-old lives in Thetford, Norfolk with her husband Declan, 31, a warehouse operator, and kids Willow, 8, Aria, 6, Eden, 5, and four-year-old Koen.

Family portrait in a field.
Heidi Flaherty, 31, has saved £1,300 on her family’s bill with an easy swap trick
Four children and a puppy sitting on the grass.
The couple lives in Norfolk with their children – Willow, 8, Aria, 6, Eden, 5, and four-year-old Koen

The nursery worker regularly gives her finances a makeover by hunting for cheaper deals on bills and finding cashback to help maximise her savings

Heidi says: “I saved almost £900 because I shopped around for new internet, pet insurance, phone contracts and water provider deals.

“And I received £450 worth of Amazon gift vouchers, cash back and contract pay offs as ‘switch incentives’. 

“My average saving was 34% and on some bills I saved more than a half off my monthly bills. That’s huge!.

“I am shocked more people are not doing the same thing.” 

Heidi and her husband bought and renovated their £266k now five bedrooms, forever, family home at just 26 and say scrimping and saving even with four children at 31 is possible.

Firstly, she looked at her broadband bill. 

Heidi said: “I was paying £38 a month with Vodafone for internet but switched to Light Speed and now only pay £32.99 – that’s an annual saving of £72 a year.” 

She also got a £150 Amazon voucher via Light Speed as an incentive to swap.

“I got it via mail to spend on what I want.  

Next, she found cheaper pet insurance for the family’s Cockapoo called Stitch and the two cats Pixie and Ariel.

The family had been forking out £39 a month to cover their beloved pets and now thanks to Heidi’s haggling they only pay £27.

She also managed to get £150 cashback from TopCashback for switching. 

Heidi’s water is provided by Anglia Water, and the family had been paying a flat rate of £82 a month.

“Most people think the flat rate, especially with a family of six, is cheaper. I discovered it was not, and I could save money.

Heidi had a water meter installed two months ago and says despite her research she was worried about her first bill.

When it arrived, it was £57 on the meter instead of the normal £82 cutting a staggering £25 or 35% off their water bill.

“For our family it is a huge saving and a reminder to always be water aware”, Heidi adds. 

“I wanted a new iPhone 16. If I had gone to normal phone provider, I would be looking at around £60-72 a month for the new iPhone and usage.

Instead, Heidi decided to go straight to Apple and use the low interest Apple Finance plan for her new phone.

“I got a 24-month contract and paid just £30 a month for the phone and £12 for a SIM for calls.

This means Heidi now pays £42 for her iPhone 16 and calls rather than £72 from phone contract providers.

“That is close to half price or 52% off my monthly bill.”

In total Heidi has saved £72 a month of these four bills or £864 a year.

Heidi's bill savings

BELOW'S a list of all of Heidi Flaherty's savings.

Pet insurance

  • Old rate: £39
  • New rate: £27
  • Savings: £12 a month, or £144 a year
  • Cashback: £150

Water meter switch

  • Old rate: £82
  • New rate: £57
  • Savings: £25 a month, or £300 a year

Internet

  • Old rate: £38
  • New rate: £32.99
  • Savings: £5.01 a month, or £60.12 a year
  • Amazon voucher: £150
  • Contract paid off: £150

Mobile phone

  • Old rate: £72
  • New rate: £42
  • Savings: £30 a month, or £360 a year

Once Heidi had found the deals that saved her money, she checked for cashback.

Websites like Quidco and TopCashback help you save money through shopping but also when you take out new financial contracts. 

In total, Heidi managed to find £450

That took her bill swapping total to £1314.12 for an evening’s work.

“I know people often feel overwhelmed about shopping around, but many sites do it for you.

“I have alerts on my phone for new deals. I also ensure whenever I buy a new deal I do it via Topcashback or can use my Nectar Card or credit card which gives me club card points.”

“It only took me an evening to sort out. 

“Most of the cash will pay for our next family holiday. 

“If you don’t ask, you don’t get. If it means more money in the bank or free money everyone should do it.”

How to get cashback every time you shop

NOT using a cashback site or app means you are missing out every time you shop. Here are full-time bargain hunter Collette Jones' best tips.

  • Check out welcome offers: Cashback sites have amazing freebies for new customers, such as a takeaway from Just Eat or a Benefit beauty product
  • Look for cashback on everything: You can claim on things such as MOTs, insurance, train tickets and holidays
  • Save money at the supermarket: It’s a good idea to download apps Shopmium, Check-outSmart, Quidco ClickSnap, GreenJinn and TopCashback’s Snap and Save. Check out what is available, pick it up in-store and upload a photo of the receipt to get your cashback
  • Combine cashback offers with promotions: Double savings and maximise cashback by matching third-party offers from cashback sites with in-store and online promotions. You can’t always use discount codes with cashback, but you can take advantage of sales and offers such as free gifts
  • Download cashback notifiers: The website Honey has a great notifier. It sits in your browser, pops up when you click on a website that offers cashback and searches voucher codes

Do you have a money problem that needs sorting? Get in touch by emailing money-sm@news.co.uk.

Plus, you can join our Sun Money Chats and Tips Facebook group to share your tips and stories

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Vet issues URGENT warning to dog owners that applies to ‘every breed’ & the key heat stroke sign to look out for in pets

A VET has issued an urgent warning to dog owners and it applies to “every single breed”. 

So with the weather heating up and summer fast approaching, you’ve come to the right place and will need to listen up if you want to ensure your furry friend is kept safe. 

Veterinary nurse warning about heat stroke in dogs.
A vet has issued a very important message to dog owners
tiktok/@eve_the_veterinary_nurse
Veterinary nurse warning dog owners about heat stroke.
According to Eve, this warning applies to “every single breed” as the temperatures rise
tiktok/@eve_the_veterinary_nurse
Black French bulldog sitting in the grass.
Alamy
Eve stressed that Brachycephalic breeds in particular are susceptible to heat stroke[/caption]
Pug puppy standing in grass.
Alamy
She acknowledged that heat stroke cases can start when temperatures reach 19 degrees[/caption]

Eve, a veterinary nurse from the UK and a dog mum-of-three, took to social media to share her advice on keeping pets safe during warm weather.

Discussing heat stroke, Eve shared her important “warning for dog owners”. 

Straight after finishing a night shift, Eve explained that “heat stroke cases” can start when temperatures reach 19 degrees. 

She said: “The temperatures are rising and taking your dog on a walk is not worth risking their life. 

“Do it responsibly – 6am in the morning, 8pm at night when it’s nice and cool.”

Eve claimed that this “applies to every single dog breed, but especially Brachycephalic breeds”, as she recognised: “Your Brachycephalic breeds, so your French bulldogs, any kind of bulldog, your pugs, any dog with a short snout – if you can hear your dog breathing on a day to day basis and you think that’s just normal – your dog struggles to breathe.

“Your dog already has stress on their respiratory system, you then take them out on a walk and exercise them, you’re increasing the stress.”

Eve claimed that when stress and respiration keeps increasing, your pooch could end up having a “bowel crisis.”

Not only this, but she also recognised that particularly with Brachycephalic breeds, their “airways get inflamed” and can then “close up.”

She also highlighted that such breeds are also “prone to regurgitating their food” – a key sign of heat stroke – as she warned: “Also a symptom of heat stroke is vomiting – so you’ve got a dog that’s unable to calm their panting down and then you add in vomit or regurge into it, so they inhale it, which ends up with fluid on the lungs.”

As a result, she claimed that dog owners are “better off preventing it” and highlighted the importance of allowing your dog to miss a walk or have a walk at a different time of the day when temperatures rise.

Additionally, Eve urged dog owners to “be mindful” and “please take care out there” to ensure pets are kept “safe”. 

The temperatures are rising and taking your dog on a walk is not worth risking their life

Eve, veterinary nurse

The TikTok clip, which was posted under the username @eve_the_veterinary_nurse, has clearly left many open-mounted, as it has quickly amassed 175,800 views, 7,487 likes and 350 comments. 

Dog owners were grateful for Eve’s advice and many eagerly flocked to the comments to express this. 

Dog breeds most susceptible to overheating

In general, there are six groups of dogs who struggle most in hot weather...

Firstly, those with underlying health problems. Dogs can’t sweat like we can, so rely largely on panting to cool down. However, if they have airway or lung impairments, or suffer from fluid balance or hydration issues, then this is more difficult, and their ability to lose heat is reduced, meaning they are at a higher risk of heat-stroke.

Overweight animals find it harder to ventilate, and their core temperature rises faster than you’d expect for a lean dog.

Very young dogs or very old dogs are also at increased risk of heatstroke, and these owners should be even more cautious in hot weather.

Dogs with very thick coats, who are adapted to a colder climate. Dogs such as the Husky or Malamute – and even the Chow Chow – have been bred to keep heat in. However, this comes at the price of being less well able to cope in hot weather. Their thick double coats effectively trap heat, making it the equivalent of us going out in the July heat wearing a fur coat and thermal underwear: they get very hot, very quickly. This problem can be alleviated by clipping (NOT shaving), however, the coat can take a long time to grow back. In a heatwave, though, if you’re struggling to keep your dog cool, I’d personally rather have a dog with a thinner coat who’s alive than a luxuriously coated dog in the morgue.

Short-nosed, or brachycephalic, breeds such as Pugs, Bulldogs, and French Bulldogs. These dogs have been bred to look “cute”, with big eyes and flat faces. Unfortunately, the result of this has been a narrowing of the airways and a profusion of soft tissue in the nasal chambers and pharynx – we call this Brachycephalic Airway Syndrome, and it profoundly affects their ability to pant and lose heat. Like a dog with any other respiratory disease, most members of these breeds are highly prone to heatstroke, and as they are often overweight as well, are at very high risk in hot weather.

One person said: “Thank you for explaining this.”

Another added: “Great advice.” 

A third commented: “Well said.” 

But just how hot is too hot to walk a dog?

Like us, pets love to be outside in the sunshine but with their fur they can easily overheat.

But in hot temperatures, dogs can become dehydrated, burn their paws, or get heat stroke so here’s how hot is too hot to walk your dog.

According to Kathleen Pohl, a vet from Pet Health Club, there’s an ‘extremely dangerous’ temperature that could cause ‘life-threatening heat stroke‘ for pets.

How to keep pets cool during hot weather

EVERYONE'S doing their best to beat the heat and stay cool as temperatures soar.

So here’s The Sun’s best advice on what you can do to keep your pet cool during hot weather.

CATS: Drop some ice cubes in your cat’s drinking bowl.

Wait until the end of the day before you play with kitty, when its cooler.

Pet your cat with a wet cloth, most cats don’t mind some moisture on their fur.

DOGS: Give them a wet towel to lay on.

Avoid walking on hot pavements and consider getting booties for them to insulate their toes.

Avoid exercise at the hottest parts of the day.

This vet claimed that the “ideal temperature to walk your dog in” is between five and 15 degrees.

She stressed that there is “no evidence of heat stroke risk at this range”, and as a result, dogs can enjoy outdoor activities and walks. 

Generally speaking, most breeds will be ok up to around 19 degrees celsius to be walked throughout the day and stay happy.

Although owners of obese pups or those with health issues or flatter noses should keep a close eye on their dog.

Up to around 23 degrees it is ok to lightly exercise your dog but any strenuous exercise could put them at risk of heat stroke.

However, when temperatures rise from 24 up to 27 degrees, according to this vet: “Most dogs will find the heat very uncomfortable – while it’s not immediately life threatening, prolonged exposure can lead to overheating and exhaustion.”

Remember, a dog has never died from skipping a walk, but they die every year from heat stroke

Kathleen Pohl

As a result, the Veterinary Surgeon advised that during these temperatures, dogs should be walked early in the morning or late at night, when it’s cooler.

Not only this, but the vet claimed that any temperature above 32 degrees is extremely dangerous for dogs.

The vet highlighted: “At this level there’s a high risk of life threatening heat stroke.

“Dogs can suffer from dehydration, rapid heart rate, even organ failure.”

Issuing an important warning to dog lovers, the expert concluded: “Remember, a dog has never died from skipping a walk, but they die every year from heat stroke. Don’t walk your dog in the heat.” 

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