The Sun Newspaper

DEAR DEIDRE: DATING a young widower was going so well – until we had sex.

Since then, he’s been very distant, and now I feel used and confused.

The problem is I’ve fallen for him and worry he’s not ready for anything serious.

I’m 40 and divorced, he’s 46. His wife died a year ago.

We met online and have been dating for four months.

At first, everything was going brilliantly. We have a lot in common and had brilliant conversations by message and on the phone.

He said he wanted to take things slowly, and that he wasn’t ready to tell everyone about our relationship. I was happy to agree.

After two months, we finally became intimate. He stayed over at my house and the sex was great.

But afterwards, he seemed to withdraw.

He still wants to meet and we still chat and have sex, but he’s less keen. I feel I’m doing all the running. And he still hasn’t told anyone about us.

I wonder if I should finish the relationship before I get my heart broken.

DEIDRE SAYS: You may well be right that he isn’t ready for a serious relationship. You’ll feel a lot happier if you have an honest conversation about where things are going between you.

Don’t pressure him, but do let him know you’d really appreciate some clarity.

Perhaps sleeping with you made him feel guilty – as if he was betraying his late wife.

He hasn’t ghosted you, so it sounds like he likes you and still wants to date you. Don’t give up on him yet. But you may have to accept that things will move slower than you’d like.

Check out WAY (widowedandyoung.org.uk) for further advice. My support pack, Coping With Bereavement, provides plenty of insight, too.

SPARKLING water may aid weight loss by encouraging the body to burn sugar, research claims.

Carbon dioxide in the bubbles can force red blood cells to consume glucose before it turns to fat, it suggests.

1

Dr Akira Takahashi, a Japanese kidney specialist, said slimmers often drink fizzy water because it is more filling than still.

He said effects are not strong enough to melt flab on its own, but could help with shedding weight due to blood acidity levels.

Dr Takahashi, of the Tesseikai Neurosurgery Hospital, said the body converts the CO2 in the bubbles into bicarbonate, making the blood less acidic and more alkaline. This speeds up the process of red blood cells soaking up sugar.

But he admitted the theory needs human studies.

He wrote in the journal BMJ Nutrition Prevention and Health: “CO2 in carbonated water may promote weight loss by enhancing glucose uptake and metabolism in red blood cells.

However, carbonated water is not a stand-alone solution for weight loss.”

He also warned of unwanted side-effects of excessive consumption, including bloating. A YouGov poll found just 19 per cent of Brits prefer sparkling water to still.

Prof Keith Frayn, of the University of Oxford, was “sceptical”.

He said: “Even if it were possible to show the carbon dioxide in fizzy drinks increases the use of glucose by red blood cells, that will not necessarily lead to weight loss.”

TO most, she was Birds of a Feather’s Sharon Theodopolopodous.

But Pauline Quirke was a hugely underrated actress with exceptional range beyond that comic timing.

3

3

Recently, she showed that depth in Broadchurch.

But many will have forgotten her acting ­masterclass in dark 1996 thriller The Sculptress.

She was admired across the board — a proper pro who was never flashy like Hollywood types, despite having twice the talent.

On Birds of a Feather, she, Lesley and Linda pushed for the same pay as the lads over on Only Fools and Horses.

And her work helping working-class youngsters try to make it in the industry is legendary. Her influence will live on.

3

ARE you among the 9million people hooked on BBC One reality show The Traitors?

The big final of the trust and treachery show hits our screens this Friday, so why not host a themed viewing party full of mystery, betrayal and fun?

INTRIGUING INVITES: Create digital invitations, using the easy — and free — templates at canva.com.

Add cryptic messages such as “Your presence is requested . . .  but can you be trusted?”

DECOR DEAL: Transform your entertaining space into a moody manor house without spending a fortune.

Use candles to set the scene, and decorate with red and black accents from leftover party supplies.

Old books, fake scrolls, or vintage trinkets from a charity shop make perfect props.

For an extra touch, make your own house crest using cardboard and paint as a table centerpiece.

FAITHFUL FOOD: Go for a highland feast, which won’t cost lots, to feed hungry guests.

Hearty stew and crusty bread is a good option that fits with the manor vibe.

Create Traitors-themed drinks by adding a dash of food colouring to prosecco to create a Faithful Fizz and serve in skull goblets, £1.49 from The Range.

CLOAK AND DAGGER COSTUMES: Encourage guests to dress the part.

Hit the charity shops for costume jewellery and dark material or clothes that can be used for capes.

As the host, make like presenter Claudia Winkleman, with lots of black eyeliner and a pair of fingerless gloves.

GAME OF DECEPTION: Assign Faithful or Traitor players using slips of paper, and create a backstory to read aloud for the evening.

You can add riddles or secret missions.

You could even hide a gold necklace in the house for players to find, granting the finder protection from the next round of banishment!

If you want more of the full Traitors experience, the official Goliath Games board game (usually £26.99), is £19.99 on Amazon.

• All prices on page correct at time of going to press. Deals and offers subject to availability

7

Deal of the day

7

BE prepared for sudden sleepovers.

The Draper velvet two-seater sofa bed was £265, but add it to your basket to get 50 per cent off, making it £132.50 at homebase.co.uk.

SAVE: £132.50

Cheap treat

7

REPLACE your old kitchen utensils with this 11-piece silicon set on sale at Debenhams.

Previously £60, now £13.49.

SAVE: £46.51

What’s new?

JANUARY blues be gone!

Buy a main meal from a selected menu of classics at Flaming Grill pubs and get another free!

There’s also BOGOF deals on selected drinks this month.

Top swap

7

7

CHILDREN will love these cute fur-lined clogs, for £10 from Next.

But you can get a similar pair at Primark for £7.

SAVE: £3

Little helper

FRESHEN up at superdrug.com.

Save ten per cent when spending £40, 15 per cent when spending £50 or 20 per cent with £60 or more on selected fragrances until the end of today.

Online only.

Shop & save

7

ADD these stylish New Look faux fur boots to your wardrobe.

They were £59.99, now £18 at newlook.com.

SAVE: £41.99

PLAY NOW TO WIN £200

7

JOIN thousands of readers taking part in The Sun Raffle.

Every month we’re giving away £100 to 250 lucky readers – whether you’re saving up or just in need of some extra cash, The Sun could have you covered.

Every Sun Savers code entered equals one Raffle ticket.

The more codes you enter, the more tickets you’ll earn and the more chance you will have of winning!

President Donald Trump has cashed in on his return to the White House — with his family launching crypto tokens.

The new US leader, who has described himself as the “crypto president,” has issued his own $Trump coins.

4

4

They are marketed with pictures of him raising his fist and his quote from after his assassination attempt last year: “Fight Fight Fight.”

The token — already with an overall value of $10billion — is expected to rise and fall in value along with Trump’s popularity.

It came as cryptocurrency Bitcoin also hit a record high yesterday of $109,000, giving it a market value of $2trillion.

Trump’s token means his supporters who buy it have a greater financial incentive to back him.

Crypto is unregulated, highly speculative, and volatile. In the UK, there are no financial protections for traders.

Trump’s family owns an 80 per cent stake in the crypto, leading to accusations the president is further exploiting his supporters.

Finance professor Carol Alexander, of Sussex University, told The Sun: “There’s more to it than pure monetary gain for Trump. It’s a way of showing the world that he’s above the law.”

$Trump began trading at $50 on Friday, before hitting $70. Yesterday it was at $53.92.

Trump’s wife Melania has also released her own crypto token, $Melania, which is trading with a value of $2billion. Daughter Ivanka Trump also released her crypto coin yesterday.

During his last presidency, Trump trashed crypto as “based on thin air” and cautioned about its use to fund illegal activities.

But he has turned from cynic to advocate, partly helped by his Republican campaign accepting donations in crypto.

UK firms face taxing time

4

As Donald Trump re-enters the White House, companies are bracing for him to unleash “America first” tariffs.

Economists reckon the UK is vulnerable to the tariffs, which will levy a tax of 10 to 20 per cent on imports into the US. In 2023, the UK imported £57.4 billion of services from the US and exported £126.3 billion, official figures show.

Jaguar Land Rover is one of the most exposed as the US is its biggest market. The firm has refused to say whether it might open a US factory to avoid tax.

Drinks giant Diageo faces a hit from imports of Gordon’s gin, Guinness, and Johnnie Walker whisky from the UK and Ireland.

Engineer Rolls-Royce made a third of its global sales from North America in 2023. Drugs firms AstraZeneca and GSK are scrambling to increase facilities in the US, meaning the UK misses out on jobs, investment, and revenues.

Quiz cut plan for survival

4

Struggling fashion retailer Quiz is considering shutting around a third of its stores in a rescue attempt.

It is understood closures could be announced within the next few weeks.

Quiz, which has 60 stores and 1,500 staff, is working with advisers at Teneo while another restructuring firm, Interpath, has been brought in by its bank.

The Glasgow-based fashion chain delisted from the London Stock Exchange last month to cut costs and engineer a turnaround of the business away from the full glare of City investors.

Quiz has already had two restructurings and shut 240 stores since it floated in a stock market listing in 2017 that made the founding Ramzan family £90million. Founder Tarak Ramzan put in a £1million loan last year to keep the firm afloat.

Aldi rap on cider

Family-owned cider maker Thatchers has won a legal battle against grocer Aldi over a copycat of its cloudy lemon cider.

The Somerset-based brewer sued after Aldi launched its own version. Thatchers lost in the High Court but a Court of Appeal has now found in its favour.

It said Aldi’s use of similar packaging graphics was unfair. The firm said it would appeal again.

DEMENTIA will affect one in three of us in our lifetime.

So it is no wonder that 54 per cent of Sun readers are worried about developing it, according to our Health Kick survey.

4

4

Meanwhile, half of us will get cancer – something that 60 per cent fear being diagnosed with.

And those concerns have increased year-on-year.

In fact, rates of both dementia and cancer in the UK are on the rise.

However, we’re seeing more people, including high-profile celebrities, talking about their experience of the illnesses, which alerts others to the warning signs.

It also shows that while we can’t change our genetics – and therefore a significant proportion of our risk – there ARE lifestyle factors within our control, at least to some degree.

In next week’s health pages, the team will be giving you the tools to help you lower your risk of both cancer and dementia.

Did you know that up to 40 per cent of both dementia and cancer cases are precentable, according to studies?

In the meantime, here’s a selection of what readers have asked me this week . . . 

PERSISTENT AROUSAL GETTING ME DOWN

Q: I AM a 69-year-old virgin and I’m getting erections that last half an hour.

What can I do to make them go down? Nothing is helping. Do I need an injection?

A: While normal erections can last up to half an hour, a persistent, prolonged erection can also be due to a condition called priapism.

This unwanted erection is not caused by sexual arousal and in most cases is painful.

It is considered a medical emergency if the erection does not go down after several hours.

At this stage, there is a risk of permanent damage to the tissues of the penis and, if this is the case, you should attend the emergency department at your local hospital.

Priapism affects about half of men who have sickle cell disease, and this is the most common cause.

Other blood disorders such as thalassaemia and leukaemia can cause it, too.

Alternatively, blood-thinning medicines such as warfarin, some antidepressants, drugs including cannabis and cocaine and some medicines for high blood pressure and erectile dysfunction could be a trigger.

Sometimes no cause is found.

You’ve mentioned that you are a virgin.

This is certainly not something that would cause priapism.

The condition can be frightening and embarrassing, but it is important to seek help, because the longer it lasts, the greater the risk is of long-term damage to the penis – which can cause impotence (failure to have an erection).

As it has a number of causes – some spontaneous, and others rooted in conditions such as sickle cell disease or leukaemia, the doctor may recommend various treatment options.

An injection (which usually is a medication that helps to constrict blood vessels and reduce blood flow to the penis) is not necessarily the first line of treatment, as it would depend on the underlying cause.

It is best to get a professional evaluation to determine the appropriate course of action.

Night-time toilet trips affect my kip

Q: FOR the past two years, I have had to get up twice a night to use the toilet.

I am teetotal and my last drink of water is about 10pm to take medication.

My rest is badly affected and I desperately need a full night’s sleep. I have tried pelvic floor exercises but that hurts my stomach after a couple of days.

I am 52 years old, I eat healthily and I’m not overweight.

A: What you’re describing is called nocturia, a condition that causes you to empty your bladder two or more times during the night.

One in three adults over the age of 30 will have nocturia, so it’s very common and it increases in prevalence as we get older. How to manage nocturia will depend on its cause.

In addition to ageing, causes include urinary tract infections, caffeine, alcohol, some medications, underlying medical conditions such as diabetes, as well as menopause in women and prostate issues in men.

Strengthening the pelvic floor is generally a good idea for most of us, and it’s best to start gently and build up.

Stomach soreness would suggest that you may be strengthening the abdominal muscles rather than the deeper ones in the pelvis.

Some guidance on this may be helpful and you can buy devices that can help guide you too.

Ultimately, I’d advise you to see a healthcare professional.

In the meantime, I’d like to share some useful advice from a professor of sleep.

Our sleep cycles last around 90 minutes and in between them, we have a period of light sleep and often brief awakenings.

These do not affect us negatively but it’s in these moments we might notice the urge to use the loo.

It is important that if you do get up to use the toilet, you do not turn on too many lights, look at your phone or check the time.

These can prevent you from getting back to sleep when you return to your bed.

Q: HOW can I get my sense of smell back?

A: A lot of people know that the medical term for loss of smell is anosmia, because it was a common symptom of Covid-19.

4

It’s now known that other viral infections, including those that cause the common cold, can also cause anosmia.

Other common causes include nasal or sinus issues, brain injury and conditions which can cause nerve degeneration.

No cause is identified for one out of five cases.

Anosmia brought on by viral illnesses may improve with “smell training”, which involves repeated exposure to odours – and this can potentially lessen but not cure the symptoms.

Smell retraining is one of the things that can help.

It involves buying a kit or making potions yourself with essential oils.

The smells are quite strong and the thinking is that this can sometimes trigger the nerve endings to start stimulating again.

In the UK, charities AbScent and Fifth Sense offer advice and support for those with anosmia, along with smell retraining kits, and information on how to make your own.

There are important safety considerations when someone has lost their sense of smell, as we depend on it to alert us to smoke, leaking gas and poisonous gases and smells from food which has gone off.

So it is important to ensure other safety measures are in place.

This includes smoke and carbon- monoxide detectors.

Ideally, opt for electric over gas appliances and pay careful attention to use-by dates on food.

INTIMATE MOMENTS CAN GIVE YOU KEY CANCER POINTERS

MEN can help their partners by looking out for signs of cervical cancer, experts say.

Signs of the disease can crop up during the most intimate moments.

4

As it is Cervical Cancer Prevention Week, Lorraine Grover, psychosexual nurse specialist at Oxford Online Pharmacy, suggests how you can help:

PAIN DURING SEX: This shouldn’t be ignored.

Lorraine says: “If it’s persistent and your partner describes a sudden, sharp, burning pain or deep pelvic discomfort during or after intimacy it could be worth looking into.

“Cervical cancer can cause inflammation or even press on surrounding tissues and nerves, leading to pain.

“And this could happen on other occasions separate from sexual activity too – showing up as a dull ache, a twisted or knotted feeling, or cramping, which may come and go.”

SPOTTING: Bleeding between periods or after menopause – when bleeding shouldn’t occur at all – is called spotting.

One of the most common symptoms of cervical cancer is bleeding from the vagina, which may happen after sex.

Cervical cancer can cause changes to the blood vessels and cells in the cervix, which makes them more fragile and more likely to bleed during or after intimacy.

Lorraine said: “If you spot this, keep a note of when it happens and gently bring it up with your partner, to encourage them to get checked.”

DISCHARGE: Emissions from the vagina that smell strong, contain blood or are watery could indicate cervical cancer.

Lorraine said: “Tumours in the cervix can cause irritation and excess fluid production, sometimes mixed with blood or infected tissue.

“This can easily be mistaken for an infection so don’t jump to conclusions – encourage your partner to see a doctor.”

BLOATING: This can be a sign of cervical cancer. In some advanced cases, the dis­ease causes a urine build-up in the kidneys, making hands, ankles and feet swell.

“So, if you notice swelling or persistent bloating, keep track of symptoms and delicately ask your partner if they have seen anything unusual,” Lorraine said.

UNINTENTIONAL WEIGHT LOSS: This can be a red flag symptom of cancer.

Lorraine explained: “Our bodies produce small proteins called cytokines when trying to stave off infection.

“Cytokines break down fat at a higher rate than normal, which means you continue to lose weight, no matter how much you’re eating.”

Fatigue can be another common sign of cervical cancer, as the body uses more energy to fight inflammation or infection.

DONALD Trump vowed “a revolution of common sense” as he took an axe to dozens of woke, green and border policies within minutes of being sworn in.

In a flurry of Executive Orders signed upon taking office, the President sent troops to the US-Mexico border, tore up electric car targets and made it “the official policy of the United States government that there are only two genders — male and female”.

9

9

9

He also called time on online censorship and what he termed efforts to “socially engineer race and gender into every aspect of public and private life”.

And he promised “a society that is colour-blind and merit based” as he set out his vision of a United States “respected again and admired again”.

Insisting he had “been saved by God to make America great again” — following the first assassination attempt on his life last July — the 47th President wasted no time in a policy blitz to “completely and totally reverse” Joe Biden’s legacy.

Mr Trump savaged his predecessor and blasted a “radical and corrupt establishment” for triggering a “crisis of trust” in American politics.

He said: “We now have a government that cannot manage even a simple crisis at home, while at the same time is stumbling into a ­continuing catalogue of catastrophic events abroad.”

He accused the Democrats of protecting dangerous immigrants instead of law-abiding citizens, and caring more about foreigners while “no longer delivering basic services in times of emergency”.

But he promised “all of this will change starting today, and it will change very quickly”.

He vowed a “new golden age” to make the United States the “envy of the world”.

He said: “Our sovereignty will be reclaimed. Our safety will be restored. The scales of justice will be re-balanced.”

And he added: “Our top priority will be to create a nation that is proud, prosperous and free.”

In one of his first actions, Mr Trump announced troops would be sent to the US/Mexico border in a “national emergency” move.

Also, tariffs would be slapped on imports to “enrich our citizens” and it was time to “drill, baby drill” for more domestic oil.

The President insisted he’d be remembered as “peacemaker and unifier”, as he put America’s enemies on notice, warning his “sole mission” was their defeat.

He also warned he would come good on his campaign promise to hit competitors with tariffs to boost US manufacturing and production.

He said: “Instead of taxing our citizens to enrich other countries, we will tariff and tax foreign countries to enrich our citizens.

For this purpose, we are establishing the External Revenue Service to collect all tariffs, duties and revenues.

It will be massive amounts of money pouring into our Treasury from foreign sources.”

Our sovereignty will be reclaimed. Our safety will be restored. The scales of justice will be re-balanced

President Trump

Mr Trump also unveiled a series of executive orders designed to beef up security at America’s border with Mexico, which is a hotbed of illegal migration — and promised to redefine who gets to become an American.

He said: “I will declare a national emergency at our southern border.

“All legal entry will immediately be halted, and we’ll begin the process of returning millions and millions of criminal aliens back to the places from where they came.”

He got a standing ovation.

Tens of thousands waiting for asylum claims in the US will be forced to “remain in Mexico”, while criminal gangs smuggling people and drugs will be redefined as ­foreign terrorist organisations.

He also said the Gulf of Mexico would be renamed as the Gulf of America, he would take back the Panama Canal and the US would “plant the stars and stripes flag on Mars”.

9

As he made the Mars vow, his right-hand man Elon Musk, who owns SpaceX, gave two thumbs up.

Mr Musk has made similar pledges and plans to launch uncrewed missions to the Red Planet as early as next year.

Mr Trump also declared “a national energy emergency”, vowing to use “that liquid gold under our feet” to drive down prices.

He said: “We have the largest amount of oil and gas of any country on Earth and we are going to use it.

“We will bring prices down, fill our strategic reserves up again, right to the top and export American energy all over the world.”

America will quit the UN’s Paris climate accord that polices global warming and he said he would “revoke the electric vehicle mandate, saving our auto industry and keeping my sacred pledge to our great American autoworkers”.

He added: “In other words, you’ll be able to buy the car of your choice.

“We will build automobiles in America again at a rate that nobody could have dreamt possible just a few years ago.”

Wearing a purple tie — mixing the red of the Republicans and blue of the Democrats — Mr Trump at times attempted to strike a far more conciliatory tone than his famous “American carnage” address at his first inauguration in 2017.

9

He said: “If we work together, there is nothing we cannot do and no dream we cannot achieve.

“Many people thought it was impossible for me to stage such a historic ­political comeback. But as you see today, here I am.

“That I stand before you now is proof that you should never believe that something is impossible to do.”

Those who wish to stop our cause have tried to take my freedom and, indeed, my life

President Trump

But in a nod to the legal attempts to bring him down, Mr Trump said: “The journey to reclaim our republic has not been an easy one.

“Those who wish to stop our cause have tried to take my freedom and, indeed, my life.”

He added: “After all we have been through together, we stand on the verge of the four greatest years in American history.

“With your help, we’ll rebuild the nation we love.”

Declaring January 20, 2025, as “Liberation Day for millions of Americans”, he promised: “We are one people, one family, and one glorious nation under God.

“So to every parent who dreams for their child and every child who dreams for their future, I’m with you. I’ll fight and win for you.”

He added: “America will be respected and admired again, including by people of religion, faith, and goodwill.

“We will be prosperous. We will be proud.

“We will be strong and we will win like never before.

“We will not be conquered. We will not be intimidated.

“We will not be broken and we will not fail.”

Thousands of Trump supporters had earlier lined up to get into Washington’s Capital One Arena for an inauguration watch party.

Crowds danced to The Village People’s YMCA, which has become a staple of Trump rallies.

The previous day it was performed live by the band on stage at the same arena, with Mr Trump cutting his signature dance moves.

Crowds also sung Sweet Caroline with the singalong changed to “Go Trump, go Trump, go Trump!”

9

9

9

9

SINGER Dua Lipa was terrified as fans snuck into her hotel and waited outside her bedroom door.

The New Rules star was left shaken by the intrusion, which has prompted a review of her security.

2

2

Dua, 29, has been staying at the five-star Ritz-Carlton in Santiago, Chile, after flying to South America to film a commercial.

Selfie hunters were found outside her bedroom door and others were waiting for her at the lift.

A source said: “Things were manic as she touched down with fans desperate to see her.

“A group of fans gained access not only to her hotel floor but some were found outside her room.

“Security ended up doing an extra sweep and there were more fans waiting at her lift.

“Dua said she would not take pictures inside her hotel.”

The Sun told last year how she was forced to halt rehearsals for Glastonbury after a TikTok wannabe broke into her rehearsal space in Birmingham.

Dua will return to the stage in March when she kicks off the second leg of her massive stadium tour in support of her third album Radical Optimism.

POLICE probing a funeral home where 35 bodies and human ashes were recovered have submitted a file to prosecutors.

Officers suspect relatives were charged for cremations that never took place.

2

Robert Bush, 47, of Hull-based Legacy Funeral Directors was arrested last March on suspicion of fraud and prevention of a lawful burial.

The file of 13,000 exhibits, compiled in the ten months since, was handed to the Crown Prosecution Service.

Specialists will now decide whether or not to bring charges.

Humberside Assistant Chief Constable Thom McLoughlin described it as a “significant development”.

In July a woman, 54, was arrested on suspicion of money laundering.

She and Mr Bush remain on conditional bail.

A woman held in March faces no further action.

Julie Dunk, of the Institute of Cemetery and Crematorium Management, said: “Anyone can set up as a funeral director with no training.

It’s time to have another look at this with perhaps a system of licensing and inspections.”

2

TAXPAYERS are on the hook for £45billion over archaic public sector services, ministers warned.

Tech Secretary Peter Kyle has vowed to digitise government systems after an audit laid bare the burden of physical systems — including NHS paper-based admin.

2

Meanwhile Brits themselves often have to file forms in person such as registering death, which will be made digital.

Kyle said updating the process may net a £45billion “jackpot”, enough to fund all primary schools in Britain for a year.

He said: “Technology at the foundation of our country has been left to decay.

“It often grinds to a halt and stalls essential public services — racking up a huge taxpayer bill.”

2

OUR much-loved astrologer Meg sadly died in 2023 but her column will be kept alive by her friend and protégée Maggie Innes.

Read on to see what’s written in the stars for you today. 

♈ ARIES

March 21 to April 20

If you’ve been waiting to see which way a friendship will go, this can be a decisive day. You see exactly what needs to happen next.

In love terms, you have a chart of dreams, and the moment you see an “N” face, you see a fantasy future.

A cash partnership may not feel fair, but you can change this.

2

♉ TAURUS

April 21 to May 21

Jupiter luck matches with the moon’s intuition, and this gives you an advantage in both money-making and deal-breaking.

You can approach practical matters with a lightness of touch, and this impresses important people.

Love-wise, the friend who tells the truth can be your key to the happiest future.

Get all the latest Taurus horoscope news including your weekly and monthly predictions

♊ GEMINI

May 22 to June 21

What starts as a tiny spark of inspiration can leap into life today, given the right circumstances.

So if you feel the need for some solo thinking time, make it happen.

The best ideas are the ones that excite you most, even if they may not promise the most profits.

Passion pushes past at least two barriers.

Get all the latest Gemini horoscope news including your weekly and monthly predictions

♋ CANCER

June 22 to July 22

Your tendency to keep worries to yourself doesn’t work well with the sun’s new position in your chart.

Choosing to share your feelings with someone you trust is a positive step – but it’s important to be honest with yourself.

Especially if you face a choice of two different futures. Luck calls at door “101”.

Get all the latest Cancer horoscope news including your weekly and monthly predictions

♌ LEO

July 23 to August 23

Everything about you that already shines is enhanced even more by the sun – so you can dazzle everyone you meet.

But in love terms, you know you need more than surface glitter, and this guides your heart toward someone quieter with an inner strength.

In love already? Take time to listen, try not to interrupt.

Get all the latest Leo horoscope news including your weekly and monthly predictions

♍ VIRGO

August 24 to September 22

Your career chart is sun- inspired, and even on a routine day you find ways to make your skills stand out.

Instead of waiting to develop a new role, put together your own suggestions.

In love? Treat all shared promises the same way.

Single? A Pisces should be so wrong for you, yet feels so right.

Get all the latest Virgo horoscope news including your weekly and monthly predictions

♎ LIBRA

September 23 to October 23

It’s not what you learn but how you do it that matters – as you could develop a new technique that can find a unique audience.

Consider talking to camera.

Mercury tries to contain family matters, but if you feel certain things need to be said or done you should take the lead.

Lucky numbers start or end with “5”.

Get all the latest Libra horoscope news including your weekly and monthly predictions

♏ SCORPIO

October 24 to November 22

Saturn’s sensible approach may feel stifling – but be careful how you decide to spring your ideas free.

Keep everyone who matters on board with your plans, as a schedule could suddenly speed up.

If you’re in love, Mars adds naughty adventure to a chore.

Single? The One wears an unusual shade of red.

Get all the latest Scorpio horoscope news including your weekly and monthly predictions

♐ SAGITTARIUS

November 23 to December 21

It’s easy to let words run away with you – but the sun is at your shoulder to help.

Keep respect and truth at the forefront of your mind and you can say exactly what you need to.

If recent cash rules prove too big a challenge, making just a couple of tiny changes could fix this.

Luck links you to mystery voices.

Get all the latest Sagittarius horoscope news including your weekly and monthly predictions

♑ CAPRICORN

December 22 to January 20

Who you really are and what you really want are your topics of the day and your thoughts start to clear.

You can see where, and why, you may have given too much, and pull this back in positive ways.

Love is ready to talk, but you must be ready to listen.

Jupiter revisits a missed career opportunity.

Get all the latest Capricorn horoscope news including your weekly and monthly predictions

2

♒ AQUARIUS

January 21 to February 18

Start as you mean to go on, with a heart full of flexibility and forgiveness.

Even if your instinct is to draw a line, hold off a little longer, as essential facts and feelings can suddenly emerge.

Your luck chart links to travel, and you can spot surprise chances when you are on the move.

Love values trust, above all.

Get all the latest Aquarius horoscope news including your weekly and monthly predictions

♓ PISCES

February 19 to March 20

Shining the light of the sun on your deep, secret self is your key to taking one big step toward the future you want.

You have been hiding a part of your personality, perhaps for a quiet life.

Now you can let this show, and feel the difference by tonight.

Saturn’s self-control is strong – you can say “no” and mean it.

Get all the latest Pisces horoscope news including your weekly and monthly predictions

RACHEL Reeves’ Office for Value for Money is a waste of cash, a Commons probe has found.

The Chancellor launched the quango last year to ensure every pound spent was benefitting taxpayers.

1

But the Treasury select committee has delivered a scathing verdict in a fresh blow to her handling of the public finances.

Its chairwoman, Labour’s Dame Meg Hillier, said MPs concluded it was “understaffed and poorly-defined” with “no clear plan to measure its effectiveness”.

She added: “All of which leads me to feel this initiative may be something of a red herring.”

Dame Meg also questioned what the quango will achieve which cannot be done elsewhere.

Other government areas already scrutinise spending.

The National Audit Office has an annual £106million budget and 960 staff — dwarfing the OfVfM’s 12 full-time civil servants.

Shadow Chancellor Mel Stride said: “Labour are more interested in vanity quangos than saving money. If they can’t make clear what this unit will do, and how, it should be abolished.”

But a Treasury spokesman hit back: “For too long, taxpayer money has been squandered and we are putting an end to it.

“This office’s role is additional to existing parts of government.

“It will draw on a range of expertise to help root out waste, including on where department spending may be overlapping.”

THE moon is just a chunk of the Earth and not mainly part of an ancient planet as previously thought, scientists claim.

Experts had believed our satellite was created when hypothetical body Theia hit our planet 4.5 billion years ago.

1

Molten debris from the smash was believed to have bound together to form the moon.

But a new study suggests it is instead made primarily from material spat out from the Earth’s mantle — the layer beneath the crust, where temperatures can hit 3,700C — in the collision.

Researchers at the University of Göttingen in Germany compared rock samples from the moon and Earth.

The likeness led them to conclude the satellite must have formed entirely from the same material when Theia hit.

Study lead Professor Andreas Pack said: “One explanation is that Theia lost its rocky mantle in earlier collisions and then slammed into the early Earth like a metallic cannonball.

“If this were the case, Theia would be part of the Earth’s core today, and the Moon would have formed from ejected material from the Earth’s mantle.

“This would explain the similarity in the composition of the Earth and the Moon.”

They say the study has also cast doubt on theories that water only arrived on Earth after the moon was formed.

GOAL ace Cole Palmer has signed a six-figure deal with Amazon to star in a Three Lions documentary.

The four-parter will chart England’s next generation — including the Chelsea star, 22.

2

2

Filming has begun, with the series due for release in the spring.

A source said: “This is an exciting project for everyone.

“Amazon were desperate to land Cole. He’s one of the hottest properties in the world. The series will lift the veil on his life so far, feature exclusive footage, and help him connect with fans on a new level.

“But it won’t just be about Cole. Other England players of the future have also signed up.”

England are among the favourites to lift next year’s World Cup in the US, Canada and Mexico.

New boss Thomas Tuchel took over at the start of the month from Gareth Southgate, who encouraged his young stars to speak about their hopes and dreams.

Sources said the Football Association were consulted and approved the project.

One source added: “They know how important players like Cole will be if England are to end a 60-year wait for a major trophy.

“It’s important they allow a relationship to form between the players and fans. The FA saw the fruits of that under Southgate and want it to continue.

“Cole is intensely private but a balance has to be struck, given how special a talent he is. He’s excited and wants fans to get to know him. He’s just a normal kid.

“He loves football and is a whizz on Fifa in his spare time.”

Cole recently trademarked his shivering goal celebration and made moves to own the term “Cold Palmer” to use to sell products.

OUR much-loved astrologer Meg sadly died in 2023 but her column will be kept alive by her friend and protégé Maggie Innes.

Read on to see what’s written in the stars for you today. 

AQUARIUS

JAN 21 – FEB 18

🔵 Read our horoscopes live blog for the latest readings

Your time in the sun begins with a fresh set personal goals – that you may suddenly realise have been forming for weeks. 

Now you can make the private, public – and do it with room for negotiation. 

A set of decisions you assume done and dusted can be re-opened due to Mercury’s input, the best answer can be the first one. 

Love and trust can be balanced, at last. 

DESTINY DAYS: Widen your career network on Monday.  But narrow a love choice down to two, on Thursday.  Refuse to take family sides, on Saturday. 

CONFLICT: Preferring reason over instinct can make you a frustrating opponent, and you often cling to over-high ideals. 

Allowing yourself to be less perfect and more intuitive can open doors to honest connection.  

CO–OPERATION: Try not to assume you know better than everyone else in a group – as they could actually teach you so much. 

If you want the right to speak your mind, you must also grant it to others. But will you? 

COMPASSION: You can seem quite detached, in your “own world”. 

To reach deeper levels of understanding, try to value emotions more positively, and accept a flawed reality can be just as rewarding as an ideal fantasy.

Fabulous is the home of horoscopes, with weekly updates on what’s in store for your star sign as well as daily predictions.

You can also use our series of guides to find out everything from which star sign to hook up with for the steamiest sex to what it’s like to live your life totally by your horoscope.

OUR much-loved astrologer Meg sadly died in 2023 but her column will be kept alive by her friend and protégé Maggie Innes.

Read on to see what’s written in the stars for you today.

VIRGO

AUG 24 – SEPT 22

🔵 Read our horoscopes live blog for the latest readings

A health load can lighten when you focus on what you can do, rather than what you can’t.

And making time, every day, just for yourself, can be the key. 

Venus is so pro-commitment this week, but Saturn could make you stay longer than you should – inner honesty is your best guide here. 

Your ability to turn vague ideas into business plans is in demand on a local scale.  

DESTINY DAYS: Monday, get tougher with a workmate you’ve been carrying. Thursday, spot your soulmate in a sports-themed location. Saturday, set fewer goals, but see them through. 

CONFLICT: Try not to get lost in the details of a discussion, and missing the bigger picture. Loosen up in terms of control – accept others will go their own way. 

Don’t dismiss your own talents, or rights. 

CO-OPERATION: Virgo urge to micro-manage, and concoct a fixed plan, sometimes forgets that other people are also involved. 

Gathering ideas and opinions is a positive process, and can feed into your natural flair for processing information. 

COMPASSION: You are always eager to help and support, and expect nothing in return. 

Do remember friends and family need to give something back, to feel a bond is truly equal in both directions.

Fabulous is the home of horoscopes, with weekly updates on what’s in store for your star sign as well as daily predictions.

You can also use our series of guides to find out everything from which star sign to hook up with for the steamiest sex to what it’s like to live your life totally by your horoscope.

OUR much-loved astrologer Meg sadly died in 2023 but her column will be kept alive by her friend and protégé Maggie Innes.

Read on to see what’s written in the stars for you today. 

SCORPIO

OCT 24 – NOV 22

🔵 Read our horoscopes live blog for the latest readings

Family can take many forms and deciding which one is right for you can be your task of the week.

More distance, just for a while, or more closeness can both happen, but make sure you are a driver here, not just a passenger. 

Your learning zone has Mars reverse energy, and going back to a missed education chance can be the outcome. 

Luck links to personal writing.

DESTINY DAYS: Look deeper into a writing or speaking talent on Tuesday. 

Review food intake on Friday, make just two key swaps. Go for substance over style on Saturday.  

CONFLICT: Sudden flashes of temper, or jealousy, can spike your attempts at logical argument – plus you tend to keep secrets that would be better shared. 

But your determination makes you a wonderful champion for weaker signs. 

CO-OPERATION: Learning to let go, and let others in, is a key team-building tip for Scorpio. 

You have innate research skills, find information and spot details others miss – but do beware of using this for personal power rather than shared success. 

COMPASSION: Your own emotional strength can sometimes blind you to the needs of others – but you’re a born survivor and this can be inspiring.

Give up a little self-control, prove you can be vulnerable, too. 

Fabulous is the home of horoscopes, with weekly updates on what’s in store for your star sign as well as daily predictions.

You can also use our series of guides to find out everything from which star sign to hook up with for the steamiest sex to what it’s like to live your life totally by your horoscope.

OUR much-loved astrologer Meg sadly died in 2023 but her column will be kept alive by her friend and protégé Maggie Innes.

Read on to see what’s written in the stars for you today. 

SAGITTARIUS

NOV 23 – DEC 21

🔵 Read our horoscopes live blog for the latest readings

Maybe you’ve felt the need to monitor words more carefully lately – as the sun moves signs, you can be set free.

It’s still important to handle delicate people with care, but telling the truth matters too. 

A role speaking or otherwise performing on camera can come closer. 

Venus reminds you love security comes from inner peace, not outer property or possessions.

The luck factor re-forms a team of super-fans. 

DESTINY DAYS: Making money grow is your  Monday talent.  Set pride aside and send a message on Friday.  Get outside on Sunday.

CONFLICT: Confident and courageous, you may find dealing with people who disagree with you baffling – but try not to gloss over their concerns. 

Take time to listen and try to understand.  The easy way is not always the right way.

CO-OPERATION: You need freedom, above all, and can feel confined when you need to compromise. 

Apply your positive mindset, focus on the benefits first, before you get lost in the demands. 

COMPASSION: You could seem a little uncaring at times, simply because you’re always moving forward. 

And your natural honesty can make you a bit blunt! 

Think twice before you speak, and try to accept not everyone is as naturally optimistic as you.

Fabulous is the home of horoscopes, with weekly updates on what’s in store for your star sign as well as daily predictions.

You can also use our series of guides to find out everything from which star sign to hook up with for the steamiest sex to what it’s like to live your life totally by your horoscope.

Dawdleon fraud costs us all dear

BENEFIT fraud is the scourge of our welfare state.

Since the pandemic, a shocking £35billion has ended up in the pockets of criminal gangs or those scamming the system.

1

That could have paid for more than 900,000 extra nurses for a year, or 70 new hospitals.

Incredibly, it is also more than half the Government’s annual defence budget.

And fraud and error are still costing us £10billion a year.

New laws to recover money directly from the bank accounts of cheats are welcome.

But we’ve been demanding major welfare reforms on all fronts for far too long.

The sickening fraud is a shameful legacy of the Tories.

But Labour had 14 years to plan its tactics, so why is Liz Kendall’s Department for Work and Pensions still dragging its feet?

A Green Paper on reform is not now due until March.

By the time it gets through the system we will be lucky to get any action before next year.

Meanwhile, other key reforms such as social care, which could slash NHS waiting times, are also held up in the slow lane.

The Government can’t afford to let the grass grow under its feet.

We don’t have the time for these delays. And we certainly don’t have the money.

Courtroom farce

HARDLY a week goes by without a foreign criminal making a mockery of our justice system.

Only last Sunday we reported on an Albanian people-smuggler who is fighting deportation to Belgium because he doesn’t like the state of the prisons there.

This week we have another crook who was convicted of trafficking migrants by a Belgian court in 2018 but who — surprise, surprise — is still here seven years later.

Albanian Kujdesi Dauti has launched appeal after appeal against his removal from the UK after being handed an eight-year sentence in the EU country.

Incredibly because Dauti has since pleaded guilty to a further criminal offence here — aggravated vehicle-taking — and is still awaiting sentence two years on, his latest appeal cannot currently proceed and he cannot be extradited.

This farcical scenario is effectively an incentive to commit crime for those trying to evade or delay deportation.

Meanwhile, the Belgian authorities are furious.

And you can’t blame them.

Because our basket case legal system is now also wrecking theirs.

DEAR DEIDRE: ALL the signs point to my long-distance boyfriend cheating on me, but I don’t want to believe it.

I think he’s sleeping with his ex, but would he really travel four hours to see me if he wasn’t genuine?

I’m 24 and he’s 27. We were friends and started a relationship last year, shortly before he moved back to his home town across the country.

Since then we’ve met up every month or so – he always comes to mine, as he’s living with his parents until he gets sorted – and we’ve been on weekends away and holidays abroad. 

When we see each other, we spend most of our time drunk and in bed. 

The sex is great and I feel really close to him. He wants to take things slowly and ‘date’ each other, rather than committing to a serious relationship. 

He says that’s because he’s been hurt in the past. 

But I’m becoming increasingly suspicious about his relationship with his long-term ex-girlfriend – who lives in the same town. 

He says they aren’t in contact. However, they shared a cat – which she got custody of – and lately he has posted pictures of the cat on his social media. 

It looks like it’s in his parents’ house, where he is. I recognise the room from when we video chat. 

His ex is also still on the accounts of all his close family and friends. Last week, his name with a heart appeared on her instagram account. 

He asked her to remove it, saying it must have been there for years, and I should trust him.

But I know it wasn’t there a few weeks ago.

Am I being lied to and used? Or am I just being paranoid?
I’m finding it hard to concentrate and feel sick about this.

DEIDRE SAYS: Long-distance relationships are dependent on trust and strong foundations.

It doesn’t sound like you have either. Your boyfriend may be telling the truth about his ex, but even if he is, your instincts are telling you he can’t be trusted. 

And he won’t commit to you either.

You sound unhappy and anxious – which isn’t how a relationship should make you feel.

Ask him to be honest with you. But first, be honest with yourself. 

Perhaps a long-distance casual relationship is not right for you. Tell him what you do need and if he can’t deliver, ask yourself if this is the man for you.

My support pack, Looking After Your Relationship, should help you to communicate.