Whether slathered on a piece of toast, melted seamlessly into sauces, or mixed vigorously into a cake batter, butter has cemented its place as an essential part of culinary tradition.

Traditionally crafted by churning cream until the fat separates from buttermilk, butter has often been accompanied by health warnings. Its high saturated fat content is known to elevate LDL cholesterol levels, often referred to as ‘bad’ cholesterol, which can in turn increase heart disease risk.

However, recently, butter is experiencing a renaissance, shedding its role as just another ingredient and stepping into the spotlight.

On the social platform TikTok, creator Mary Alexis has captivated millions, with viral videos showing her indulging in towering heaps of butter enveloped in frosting. Inspired by her, others have jumped on the trend, posting videos of themselves enjoying entire blocks of butter adorned with an array of accompaniments like pasta sauce, guacamole, molasses, chocolate mousse, and even more butter.

This butter craze extends beyond digital borders. At New York City’s Quality Bistro, diners can indulge in a ‘butter service’. Here, a server theatrically prepares a sizable portion of butter, spreads it lavishly onto a board, and embellishes it with salts and spices, serving it with an extra helping of buttered toast for a decadent experience.

In London, the Pembroke Club in Belgravia made headlines earlier this year by advertising for a ‘butter sommelier’. And in Paris, July saw the opening of the world’s first ‘butter bar’, Le Butter Shop, where customers can sample loaf-sized butters in a range of flavours.

Butter fads aren’t entirely new. In the late 2000s, ‘bulletproof coffee’ – coffee blended with butter – became popular among people hoping to suppress their appetite and sharpen their focus.

But while few nutrition experts would recommend eating sticks of butter or adding it to your morning coffee, what actually happens if you regularly consume butter in these quantities?

According to Sophie Medlin, a consultant dietitian at CityDietitians, ‘there’s nothing wrong with appreciating high-quality butter occasionally, but making it the star of every meal is a different story’.

She said: ‘Bread and butter served before a meal can add a substantial number of calories before you’ve even started eating, making it easier to consume more than you need overall. 

‘From a nutritional perspective, it also displaces foods we know are beneficial for heart health, such as vegetables, pulses, wholegrains and sources of unsaturated fats.’

Specifically, Ms Medlin highlights that when it comes to butter portions, ‘for most people, a thin scraping on toast or using a small amount in cooking is perfectly reasonable.

‘The problem comes when butter is piled onto bread or becomes a major ingredient in several meals every day – the biggest concern is cardiovascular health.

‘A diet consistently high in saturated fat can increase LDL (‘bad’) cholesterol, which is a major risk factor for heart attacks and strokes.

‘Large amounts of butter can also contribute to excess calorie intake, increasing the risk of weight gain over time.’

A typical 250g block of butter contains around 1,860 calories – almost an entire day’s worth of energy for many adults.

It also packs 130g of saturated fat, more than four times the UK’s recommended daily maximum for men (30g) and more than six times the recommendation for women (20g).

That doesn’t mean butter is inherently unhealthy. Eaten in moderation, it can form part of a balanced diet and does provide some beneficial nutrients.

According to Ms Medlin: ‘Butter isn’t devoid of nutrition. It provides vitamins A and B12, contains small amounts of vitamins D and E, and provides iodine if made from milk from iodine-supplemented cattle.

‘It also contributes energy and fat, which help absorb fat-soluble vitamins.

‘However, these nutrients are available from many other foods that contain much less saturated fat.

‘So while butter can absolutely be part of a healthy diet, it’s generally not the best source of these nutrients if health is your primary goal.’ 

And when it comes to butter alternatives, Ms Medlin highlights that olive oil is a better substitute to serve with bread, explaining that ‘large studies consistently show that replacing saturated fats like butter with unsaturated fats such as olive oil is associated with lower LDL cholesterol and a reduced risk of heart disease.

‘That’s why olive oil is a cornerstone of Mediterranean-style diets, which have one of the strongest evidence bases for long-term health.’

Margarine, however, can vary in healthiness depending on the type.

Ms Medlin said: ‘Older margarines contained trans fats, which were harmful, but modern soft margarines sold in the UK are very different.

‘Many are made from vegetable oils and contain much more unsaturated fat than butter, making them a better option for heart health. They often also contain less saturated fat and may be fortified with vitamins A and D.

‘The best choices tend to be soft spreads in tubs rather than hard block margarines, which usually contain more saturated fat.’

Ultimately, when it comes to butter, Ms Medlin explains that it’s ok to slather it on toast from time to time, ‘one indulgent meal or special occasion isn’t what determines your long-term health. Our bodies respond to the overall pattern of what we eat over months and years.

‘If someone enjoys generous amounts of butter on holiday or at a special restaurant, that’s unlikely to have a meaningful impact if their usual diet is balanced. The issue is when social media encourages occasional treats to become everyday habits.’

The running back market is bustling with activity, especially after Bijan Robinson inked a lucrative deal on Tuesday morning.

Robinson has secured a groundbreaking three-year extension with the Atlanta Falcons valued at an astounding $75 million, including $51 million guaranteed and $37 million paid upfront. According to ESPN.com, this agreement crowns Robinson as the highest-paid running back in NFL history.

The Falcons’ star athlete was strategically sitting out of training camp team drills, hoping this move would speed up negotiations for a new contract.

While Robinson made sure to attend camp to avoid fines and stay compliant with league rules, he refrained from participating in any team activities as he lobbied for a fresh deal.

At just 24, Robinson’s performance over the past two seasons has solidified his reputation as potentially the best running back in the league, showcasing his skills both as a rusher and a receiver.

Robinson ran for over 1,400 yards in each of the past two seasons but broke out as a receiver in 2025, when he grabbed 79 passes for 820 yards.

This marks another big extension done by the Falcons.

The Falcons recently extended receiver Drake London to a four year $141.05 million deal while also re-upping Kyle Pitts to a three year $54 million contract.

The Robinson deal should cement the team’s future at skill positions, but massive questions remain at quarterback.

Tua Tagovailoa signed with the team this offseason after he was benched at the end of his Dolphins tenure.

Michael Penix Jr., who the team hopes is the QB of the future of the future after taking him No. 8 in the 2024 NFL Draft, is still not cleared for contact after tearing his ACL for the third time.

Atlanta’s preseason begins in 10 days when they host the Broncos and their regular season will kickoff in Pittsburgh against the Steelers on Sept. 13.

An unexpected tragedy has unfolded involving an Afghan migrant, once merely a small-boat arrival, now at the center of a shocking murder case. The family of an American woman, who wed the Afghan man accused of killing a British national in Greece, has revealed their initial reluctance toward the marriage. A family insider disclosed the hesitation they felt about their daughter’s union with him.

Sharif Ahmadzai, a 26-year-old, faces serious charges following the death of Elisabeth-Jane Ross. The 38-year-old, known for her dedication to charity work, was found dead in Athens, sparking a widespread investigation.

Ahmadzai, formerly a professional boxer, has been accused of committing the heinous act by allegedly murdering Ross. The grim discovery of her body packed inside a suitcase and abandoned in a derelict building has further intensified the case’s notoriety.

After first stepping onto Greek shores on the island of Lesvos in 2016, Ahmadzai converted to Christianity. This pivotal change in his life was followed by his marriage to Alaina Hall, a 28-year-old American woman, in 2023.

Together with Hall, who grew up just miles away from Chattanooga in Ringgold, Georgia, Ahmadzai embarked on a mission to establish a ministry dedicated to aiding refugees in Athens. Their shared life and work bore further fruit with the arrival of a child, marking a new chapter in their lives amidst the backdrop of these serious allegations.

But Alaina’s aunt, Leanne Hall, said her pilot brother, Thomas, 65, and sister-in-law Susan, 61, always had grave doubts about their daughter’s choice of husband.

Asked about Sharif, she told the Daily Mail: ‘I’ve never met him, I’ve only heard about him. But I can tell you my brother and sister-in-law never wanted them to get married.’

Greek authorities believe the alleged murder was driven by ‘confrontation’ and are now speculating two possible motives, including an attempted mugging or sexual assault.

‘We believe there was a confrontation,’ said one source. 

‘But was that spurred by Ross discovering the Afghan rummaging through her things and stealing her credit cards, or was it a case of sexual assault or the Briton spurning his advances?’ 

The body of Ms Ross, also known as Lisa, was found by a homeless man in the Kypseli area of the Greek capital on July 18, three days after she went missing. 

Ahmadzai was arrested on Monday over the Scottish charity worker’s death.

This came after CCTV footage emerged which allegedly shows him leaving his apartment where Ms Ross was staying with a suitcase and dropping it where her remains were found. 

The boxer is captured heading towards an abandoned car park while holding a blue rucksack. 

He leaves the derelict site around 13 minutes later without the bags. 

Other footage obtained by the police reportedly show him arriving at Ms Ross’s flat in a car owned by Ms Hall on the evening of July 15.

The professional boxer reached the island of Lesvos in 2016. He then converted to Christianity and married US-born Christian Alaina Hall in 2023 before they founded a ministry helping refugees in Athens. 

Ahmadzai and Ms Hall, are believed to have known Ms Ross, who was also a Christian volunteer, through their work.

They had a key to the flat she was staying in as it was owned by their organisation, Love Every Nation Athens, police sources told the Daily Mail. 

Police started investigating the Afghan-national after it is understood his wife reported her husband’s suspicious behaviour on July 30. 

She allegedly woke to find him missing on the evening of July 15 and checked his shared location which showed him at Ms Ross’s apartment. 

Ahmadzai is understood to have told police he found Ms Ross already dead in her bathroom.

He allegedly admitted he used the victim’s bank cards to withdraw cash and also used her phone to send messages to relatives and friends, pretending to be her.

Ahmadzai’s wife grew suspicious when it was announced Ms Ross’s body had been found. She left the family home with their baby and stayed in a hotel.

Ahmadzai gave her €2,550 and a new Apple iPhone 17 Pro but she refused them.

She handed them to police believing they were bought with Ms Ross’s money.

Detectives raided the family home on August 1 and found a black metal replica Glock-style pistol and a black military-style knife, sources say.

Ahmadzai is a Super Light professional boxer who has had two fights in Athens with one loss and one victory.

His life story has been documented in a cartoon video and a forthcoming book titled: From Hell To Home: How Loss, Exile And Hope Built The Man I Became.

Ahmadzai wrote: ‘No matter how dark your story is, there is always light at the end of the tunnel.’

He was born in Afghanistan to a military commander father who survived six Taliban assassination attempts before being killed in a midnight ambush when Ahmadzai was three.

The militants shot him in the head on the way home from an 18-hour shift.

When he was nine, his older brother Samuel was kidnapped by the Taliban and never returned.

His mother, sister and younger brother were killed in a suicide car bomb six years later leaving him an orphan.

Alone in Kabul, Ahmadzai used his family’s remaining money to leave Afghanistan and spent 45 days walking through Pakistan, Iran and Turkey in freezing conditions.

He witnessed a fellow migrant freeze to death and was arrested multiple times with police in Iran opening fire on a group that saw 26 killed.

On arrival in Turkey, he made three attempts to get to Greece by sea. His boats sank on the first two journeys before he was finally successful.

He arrived on the island of Lesvos aged 16 in 2016 and entered Moria Camp where he taught himself English and began translating for a humanitarian organisation.

He met Alaina, who was volunteering at the centre that year, converted to Christianity the following year and moved to Athens in 2019.

It was here he began boxing in a park before helping train refugee boys. He developed romantic feelings for Alaina in 2021 and proposed the following year.

His wife said: ‘I had seen his growth and his heart for the Lord, and it was so attractive to me…

‘We had both entered the relationship with intentionality; we both had the same heart and desire – to love the Lord and to serve people…

‘There were challenges, and it definitely wasn’t an easy road, but the Lord was faithful through it all.’

They founded Love Every Nation Athens before finally getting the paperwork to marry on April 29, 2023.

He was running free boxing sessions five nights a week for unaccompanied teenage boys and the couple were distributing food bags and prescriptions weekly to refugee families.

They also organised community events, sports sessions and activities for young people across Athens.

Police sources previously revealed that Ahmadzai – who had converted to Christianity – told his wife that he had argued with Ms Ross because she wanted him to join her ‘stricter’ Christian group.

He was arrested shortly after Ms Ross’s mobile phone – which had been off for days – was suddenly switched on earlier this week with police immediately tracing it to a residence in Athens where he was staying.

When questioned by detectives, his wife told officers they had earlier been staying in Arachova, a mountainous village around two hours away from Athens and while there she became concerned after her husband went missing.

After using a shared location tracking app, she saw that he was in an apartment in Rethymnou Street, where Ms Ross was staying and is believed to have been killed.

A police source revealed: ‘The woman told us that her husband had confided in her that he was angry with the British woman. She was trying to influence him religiously and it became too much for him.’

Ms Ross, who was from Edinburgh, had been a regular visitor to Greece over the past seven years volunteering with NGOs helping refugees, homeless people and other vulnerable groups.

She had previously volunteered with the One Heart organisation when in Greece, which specialises in providing medical support to refugees, particularly those from Afghanistan or Iran.

She arrived in Athens on June 26 and had initially been staying with Greek friends in the Keratsini district, the country’s main seaport close to the city.

Police confirmed that she moved to Rethymnou Street in Athens city centre on July 2 and was volunteering with a Christian-based NGO working with refugees and other vulnerable groups.

CCTV footage gathered by police showed the Afghan man arriving by car at Ms Ross’s ground-floor flat on the evening of July 16.

At around 10pm, cameras captured him carrying the suitcase along the road on which the abandoned car park is located. Thirteen minutes later he is seen walking away from the derelict site without the suitcase.

The last confirmed sign of life from Ms Ross was recorded at 9.41pm on July 15, when she called a close friend.

Following that, her friends and relatives continued to receive messages from her, but they became suspicious that they were not genuine because of the style of language.

She also spoke about going away and wanting to be alone, which they thought was out of character for her.

Ahmadzai is due to appear before magistrates in Athens on Wednesday.

In a notable phone call, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian extended his congratulations to Hamas on the election of their new political chief, reaffirming Tehran’s unwavering support for the group. As President Donald Trump advances a significant agreement aimed at disarming Hamas and reducing its influence in Gaza, this show of solidarity underscores continued regional tensions.

The freshly appointed head of Hamas’ political bureau, Khalil al-Hayya, received Pezeshkian’s affirmation of Iran’s enduring support for the Palestinian cause. This message was conveyed in a Hamas statement, originally issued in Arabic, which was subsequently examined by various news outlets.

During the call, Pezeshkian emphasized, “We are with you, and we support you in every action you take, despite the attacks we are facing,” as recounted by Hamas in their report of the conversation.

In response to this development, efforts have been made to obtain confirmation from Iran’s mission to the United Nations regarding the exchange, including a request for an official statement about the phone call.

The reported conversation highlighted a central contradiction confronting Trump’s Gaza initiative: While the White House is presenting the roadmap as a landmark agreement to remove Hamas from power and secure its weapons, Iran — the group’s longtime military and financial patron — was simultaneously reaffirming its support for Hamas and its new leader. Tehran’s backing raises fresh questions about whether Hamas is prepared to surrender the arsenal at the core of its power and how the Board of Peace could enforce disarmament against a group that continues to receive political support from one of Washington’s principal regional adversaries.

Trump in recent days announced what he called a “HISTORIC agreement for the COMPLETE DISARMAMENT of Hamas and all other armed groups,” presenting it as a breakthrough after nearly three years of war. The stakes extend far beyond the wording of the deal: Hamas’ weapons remain the central obstacle to rebuilding Gaza, and the agreement will test whether Trump’s Board of Peace can enforce a postwar transition or whether Hamas will exploit the process to survive, regroup and retain power.

At the center of the effort is Trump’s Board of Peace, the president’s handpicked vehicle for implementing his Gaza policy and potentially extending his approach to other global conflicts. Trump chairs the board, whose executive leadership includes Secretary of State Marco Rubio, special envoy Steve Witkoff, Jared Kushner and former British Prime Minister Tony Blair.

The White House says the board will oversee Gaza’s transition, mobilize reconstruction funding and hold the parties accountable.

But the tensions intensified Monday also on the Israeli side, when Nickolay Mladenov, Board of Peace director-general and high representative for Gaza, and board advisor Aryeh Lightstone met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and urged Israel to halt its attacks in Gaza.

Israel appeared to reject the board’s two central demands shortly afterward.

“Israel will not withdraw from its current line in the Gaza Strip and will continue to thwart any threat to our civilians and soldiers,” an Israeli political official said. The statement amounted to a rejection, at least for now, of demands that Israel return to the “yellow line” and halt targeted strikes in Gaza.

A Board of Peace official declined to discuss the meeting but said the body remained focused on carrying out the roadmap.

“We are focused on implementation,” the official told News Media. “We have provided a pragmatic path forward to transform Gaza by removing Hamas from power and seeing it hand over its weapons. These steps would undoubtedly allow for the improvement of life in Gaza and enhancement of security in Israel. We remain determined to advance these objectives.”

Meanwhile, the Hamas terrorist group says it has agreed only to a phased and conditional process involving the storage of weapons after Israel stops its attacks, withdraws its forces and allows more aid into Gaza. Hamas has avoided the word “disarmament” in its statements and insists its weapons would remain under Palestinian control rather than being surrendered to Israel or an international force.

The board’s 15-point roadmap calls for Hamas to transfer Gaza’s civilian government and security responsibilities to a Palestinian technocratic body known as the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza. Hamas-run police would surrender their weapons to the committee, while heavy weapons, military production sites, weapons depots and tunnels would be addressed later through a phased decommissioning process linked to an Israeli withdrawal.

The intended endpoint is that only the new Palestinian authority would possess or control weapons in Gaza. But the roadmap leaves unresolved who will enforce the process, what constitutes compliance and which side must act first.

Hamas’ disarmament remains a central obstacle to rebuilding Gaza. Trump has tied reconstruction to the group laying down its weapons, while The Associated Press reported that the Board of Peace had secured approximately $7 billion in pledges by February — a fraction of the estimated $70 billion needed to rebuild the devastated territory.

Moumen al-Natour, a Palestinian lawyer from Gaza and co-founder of the anti-Hamas “We Want to Live” movement, said civilians desperately want the agreement to succeed but do not trust Hamas to relinquish power.

“Civilian people inside Gaza Strip… want safety, want to stop this war, want a new government, want to be alive,” al-Natour told News Media.

But al-Natour, who previously was imprisoned by Hamas, warned that the group would use delays and violations to remain embedded in Gaza.

“I can’t trust Hamas because I know Hamas,” he said, arguing that the group had repeatedly arrested and killed Palestinians who opposed its rule. He said an international force of only a few hundred personnel would be unable to secure Gaza or prevent Hamas from intimidating residents and that a much larger force and a new Palestinian police structure would be required.

Drawing on a grassroots network of thousands of Gazan professionals who reject Hamas’ ideology, the “We Want to Live” movement is promoting its own plan to rebuild Gaza’s civil society and is calling for cooperation with the Board of Peace and the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza, the technocratic body tasked under the U.S.-backed transition plan with governing and rebuilding the enclave.

Al-Natour also proposed allowing civilians who want to escape Hamas-controlled areas to move into protected zones near the “yellow line” — the boundary separating Israeli-held territory from the rest of Gaza — where they could live under a new Palestinian administration backed by an international security force. He said the arrangement could provide Gazans with a safer alternative while a post-Hamas governing structure is established.

Michael Milstein, a former military intelligence officer in Israel and now head of the Palestinian Studies Centre at Tel Aviv University, said the compromise has been developing for months under pressure from Qatar, Turkey and Egypt.

Milstein said Hamas may be prepared to give up control of Gaza’s day-to-day government and accept restrictions on heavy weapons but is unlikely to abandon its armed organization completely.

Under the model Hamas appears to favor, Milstein said, a technocratic government and international forces would assume responsibility for public services and reconstruction while Hamas preserves its personnel, infrastructure and political influence — an arrangement resembling Hezbollah’s longtime position in Lebanon.

“There is a very, very low chance that Hamas will completely disarm,” Milstein told News Media, describing the roadmap as the kind of “gray area” Hamas has historically used to its advantage.

The Board of Peace also is pressing for an end to actions that could derail the plan. After Israeli strikes killed civilians and reportedly destroyed medical supplies over the weekend, Mladenov, the director-general of the Board of Peace, called for de-escalation but did not identify Israel by name.

“Two days of strikes across Gaza have killed civilians and destroyed medical supplies,” Mladenov wrote on X, adding that he was working with the parties and regional mediators to “create the space for the full implementation of the President’s plan.”

Israel, meanwhile, says it will not withdraw before Hamas genuinely disarms. Hamas says Israel must withdraw first.

The roadmap also faces resistance inside Israel’s government. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and Settlements Minister Orit Strock urged Netanyahu on Monday to convene the security Cabinet immediately and block the international stabilization force from entering Gaza, according to Israel’s N12 news outlet.

In an urgent letter reported by N12 on Aug. 3, 2026, the ministers called the Board of Peace roadmap “dangerous to Israel” and argued that it contradicts Israel’s stated goals of disarming Hamas and demilitarizing Gaza. They objected that weapons would be placed under the authority of a new Palestinian body rather than removed from Gaza or handed to Israel and that Israeli troops would begin withdrawing while the disarmament process was still underway.

The far-right ministers also argued that the international force would monitor the separation between Israeli troops and the new Palestinian administration rather than directly disarm Hamas. They demanded that Netanyahu prevent implementation until the roadmap is revised to require full demilitarization before an Israeli withdrawal. The letter underscores that the plan’s obstacles extend beyond Hamas: Influential members of Netanyahu’s coalition are also challenging its sequencing, enforcement and security provisions.

That leaves Trump’s proclaimed milestone resting on the same question that has stalled previous Gaza negotiations: whether Hamas is truly preparing to surrender the weapons that underpin its power — or merely buying time to ensure that it remains standing when the rebuilding begins.

In a bold move generating buzz among New York’s business elite, Mayor Zohran Mamdani has dismantled the advisory board of a prominent nonprofit responsible for channeling private sector donations to city initiatives.

The surprise decision came to light through a letter—accessed by Bloomberg News—in which Mamdani acknowledged the service of the departing members of the Mayor’s Fund to Advance New York City.

In an unprecedented shift, the fund also announced via email that it would dissolve its entire board, a dramatic step not seen across at least three previous mayoral administrations.

Expressing gratitude, Mamdani’s letter stated, “I commend you for your dedication and the benefit you have brought to our City as you conclude your tenure on the Mayor’s Fund Board of Advisors.”

The roster of departing advisors includes such prominent figures as Richard Born of BD Hotels, Jeffrey Gural, chairman of GFP Real Estate, Alex Katz, senior managing director at Blackstone Inc., Edward Skyler, Citigroup Inc.’s head of enterprise services and public affairs, and James Whelan, president of the Real Estate Board of New York.

The mayor’s office told Bloomberg it would be replacing the released board members later this year.

“The creation of a new advisory board is an important next step in reimagining how philanthropy can augment, but not replace, public dollars and public goods, and we are eager to share more about our new board of advisors later this year,” Mamdani senior advisor Dora Pekec told the outlet.

The fund, which had $16.4 million cash on hand according to its 2025 tax filing, championed fundraising efforts in part by leveraging relationships with New York’s business community to raise millions of dollars each year.

It’s raised hundreds of millions since its 1995 inception – including a staggering $107 million to support family members of rescue workers killed or injured in the Sept. 11, 2001 terror attacks.

During the darkest days of the COVID-19 pandemic, the fund raised $54.5 million for an emergency relief fund that covered meals and personal protective equipment (PPE) for healthcare workers.

But Mamdani started eroding the fund’s lucrative business connections as soon as he took office in April, appointing a former dockworker and a high school teacher to serve on the fund’s board of directors.

“In January, our city entered a new era – one that demands our city government reflect our communities,” Pekec said. “The building of a new Mayor’s Fund, built on the ethos of putting those directly impacted in the rooms where decisions are made, is a continuation of that work.”

The move is the continuation of an anti-business throughline in the Mamdani administration, which has repeatedly demonstrated its willingness to spit in the face of big business and wealthy New Yorkers.