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Jennifer Lawrence Makes Candid Comment About How Childbirth Changed Her Body

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For Jennifer Lawrence, apparently no personal detail is too revealing to share.

The 36-year-old Oscar winner, who recently opened up about undergoing a breast lift, offered an unfiltered account of the lasting effects of childbirth during an appearance on the Call Her Daddy podcast.

Alex Cooper, 32, was pregnant when the interview was recorded and has since welcomed her child. During the conversation, she asked Lawrence about her own experience of pregnancy and motherhood.

When Cooper asked what had caught her off guard about childbirth, Lawrence delivered a blunt and decidedly graphic answer: “You know, your vagina will bounce back. Your butthole won’t.”

Cooper, who has hosted the sex-focused podcast since 2018, appeared stunned by the revelation. “I don’t know if I needed to hear that before giving birth,” she replied. “I’m like, ‘Wow, wow, Jen.’”

Lawrence and her husband, Cooke Maroney, welcomed a baby boy in April last year. The couple are also parents to four-year-old Cy.

Jennifer Lawrence made a very crude comment about how childbirth changed her body forever during an appearance on the Call Her Daddy podcast

Jennifer Lawrence shared a blunt account of how childbirth affected her body during her appearance on the Call Her Daddy podcast

The actress also admitted that she had not felt prepared for the reality of caring for a newborn.

“Everyone says, ‘Your instincts, your instincts,’” Lawrence recalled. “You have no idea what you’re doing.”

Her comments about postpartum changes came shortly after another candid confession about the way motherhood had affected her appearance.

Earlier this week, Lawrence revealed that she had chosen to have a breast lift after feeling that her body had not fully “bounced back” following the birth of her son last year.

The Hunger Games star said she decided to undergo the procedure because she wanted to feel like a “sexy mom.” She also acknowledged that she may consider a facelift at some point in the future.

“At drop-off, I want to look like a woman that has her s**t together, even when I’ve just woken up and don’t have my s**t together,” she said.

Lawrence underwent the surgery before filming a nude scene for Martin Scorsese’s What Happens At Night, which has now completed production.

Although the upcoming film helped accelerate her decision, Lawrence said she would have pursued the procedure regardless. Speaking to The Cut, she explained: “Maybe I wouldn’t be hustling to the appointment in the same way.”

Lawrence crassly responded: 'You know, your vagina will bounce back. Your butthole won't'

Lawrence gave Cooper a graphic warning about the physical effects of childbirth, saying: “Your vagina will bounce back. Your butthole won’t.”

Cooper, who has hosted the sex podcast since 2018 , was shocked by the honest response as she said: 'I don't know if I needed to hear that before giving birth. I'm like, "Wow, wow, Jen"'

Cooper, who has presented the sex podcast since 2018, was taken aback by Lawrence’s honesty: “I don’t know if I needed to hear that before giving birth. I’m like, ‘Wow, wow, Jen.’”

The actress welcomed a baby boy with husband Cooke Maroney in April last year. They also have another son, four-year-old Cy

The actress welcomed a son with husband Cooke Maroney in April last year. They also share four-year-old Cy.

Lawrence went on to explain that she generally avoids fillers because they are noticeable on camera. She said she uses Botox only sparingly, wanting to retain enough movement to express emotion and play characters who “don’t have access to celebrity dermatology.”

She also addressed past speculation that she had undergone a nose job, saying the change in her face was instead the result of losing “babyweight in my face” and getting older.

The striking cover image on The Cut saw the mother-of-two don a plunging brown suede blazer with patterned lapels as she stared directly towards the camera.

But after snapshots from the photoshoot began circulating online, dozens of fans began to question Ms Lawrence’s seemingly ‘changing face.’ 

‘Why do celebrities feel the need to get work done? In most cases, they become unrecognisable. Does altering their look actually help their careers?’ one wrote under a Reddit post.

‘I wouldn’t recognise this woman as Jennifer Lawrence,’ another added.

‘Oh, please, not JLaw. Of all people that breaks my heart… Why does her face look so different? It’s subtle but at the same time feels like I’m looking at an impersonator,’ a third added. 

There were some, however, who leapt to Lawrence’s defense and blamed any apparent face changes on makeup and lighting.

Earlier this week Lawrence, pictured in October 2025, confirmed she had breast lift surgery because she felt her body 'didn't bounce back' after having her second son

Earlier this week Lawrence, pictured in October 2025, confirmed she had breast lift surgery because she felt her body ‘didn’t bounce back’ after having her second son

The actress, pictured at the Golden Globes in January, said she went under the knife because she 'wants to be a sexy mom'

The actress, pictured at the Golden Globes in January, said she went under the knife because she ‘wants to be a sexy mom’

Dozens of fans began to question Lawrence's seemingly 'changing face'. Pictured in 2011

One commenter wrote: 'Why do celebrities feel the need to get work done? In most cases, they become unrecognisable.' Pictured in 2026

Dozens of fans began to question Lawrence’s seemingly ‘changing face’. Pictured left in 2011 and right in 2026

Dr Melinda Lacerna Kimbrell, a double board-certified plastic surgeon and owner of LA Plastic Surgery, speculated: ‘The most obvious procedural changes appear to be around her eyes.’

‘There is substantially more upper-lid visibility, less hooding and elevation of the outer brow. 

‘That pattern strongly suggests an upper blepharoplasty, possibly combined with a brow lift and a lateral eye lift,’ she added.

The specialist, who has performed more than 1,000 facelifts but has not treated Ms Lawrence, said that her midface ‘appears higher’ and added: ‘There may also have been selective fat grafting around the lower eyelid and upper cheek, although the area beneath her cheekbones looks markedly hollow.’

Dr Kimbrell did add that non-surgical treatments could have played a part in Lawrence’s seemingly altered face.

She questioned whether ‘significant weight loss’ had contributed to her new look with her lower cheeks appearing ‘almost sucked in, creating a much narrower and more angular face.’

In reference to Lawrence’s taut complexion, the doctor suggested it looked ‘exceptionally smooth and even, which could be consistent with laser skin resurfacing.’

‘However, editorial lighting, make-up and retouching can significantly exaggerate improvements in skin texture,’ Kimbrell added.

She concluded: ‘The hair extensions add another layer to the transformation. The tremendous length and volume frame her face very differently, making her new facial proportions appear even more dramatic.’

The Daily Mail has reached out to Lawrence’s representatives for comment. 

Jennifer Lawrence posed up a storm in her latest magazine photoshoot - but it was her 'unrecognisable' appearance that caused the biggest stir

Jennifer Lawrence posed up a storm in her latest magazine photoshoot – but it was her ‘unrecognisable’ appearance that caused the biggest stir

In October 2025, the star said she had plans to undergo a breast enhancement following her second pregnancy.

‘Everything bounced back, pretty much, after the first one [referring to her four-year-old son]. Second one, nothing bounced back,’ she said in an interview with The New Yorker.

She has now ventured into the beauty world with her newly launched ‘bio-designed haircare’ company, Mes. 

It sells just three products – a volumising mist, a repair mask and a serum.

In her interview, the actress labelled herself ‘dumb but cute’ while admitting she has ‘no clue’ about the money side of her new business. 

Spain’s King and Queen Moved After Visiting Train Crash Victims

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King Felipe and Queen Letizia were visibly emotional as they met survivors of the devastating train crash in Toledo, where at least 69 people have died this week.

The Spanish monarchs visited Toledo University Hospital on Thursday to see passengers injured in the disaster and speak with those receiving treatment.

Their hospital visit came as Spain and the Canary Islands began three days of official mourning for the victims of Wednesday’s high-speed rail collision near Urda, in Toledo.

In tribute to those who lost their lives, the Royal Household has cancelled its official engagements throughout the mourning period.

King Felipe arrived in a grey suit and was welcomed by Emiliano García-Page, president of Castilla-La Mancha. Queen Letizia followed in a black suit as the couple prepared for the solemn visit.

The King and Queen met survivors and their relatives, including 15 patients being treated in intensive care, before thanking hospital workers and emergency teams for their efforts.

King Felipe and Queen Letizia were moved to tears while meeting with survivors of the horrific rail crash that claimed the lives of at least 69 people in Toledo this week

King Felipe and Queen Letizia became emotional while meeting survivors of the devastating Toledo rail crash, which has claimed at least 69 lives

Spain's royal couple headed to the Toledo University Hospital on Thursday, where those injured in the disaster are receiving medical care

The Spanish King and Queen visited Toledo University Hospital, where passengers injured in the train disaster are being treated

Their visit coincided with the beginning of a three-day period of national mourning across Spain and the Canary Islands in honour of those who lost their lives in the high-speed train collision, which occurred near Urda in Toledo on Wednesday

The royal visit took place as Spain and the Canary Islands entered a three-day period of national mourning for those killed in Wednesday’s high-speed train collision near Urda, Toledo

After the meetings, both monarchs appeared overwhelmed with emotion. They seemed to wipe away tears as King Felipe read a statement from his phone.

Their daughters, Princess Leonor and Infanta Sofía, did not accompany them, as both are currently away at university.

The royal couple were joined at the hospital by Emiliano García-Page, Education Minister Milagros Tolón and regional Health Minister Jesús Fernández Sanz, according to HELLO!.

Speaking to local media on Wednesday, King Felipe offered his condolences to the victims and their families during what he called “such a difficult time” after the “terrible accident”. He also commended the emergency services involved in the response.

The crash happened shortly before 9am on Wednesday, when a train travelling from Madrid to Seville struck a stationary train on the same route. The impact sent carriages from both trains off the tracks.

At least 69 people were killed and more than 100 injured. Survivors described the wreckage as “apocalyptic”, with one saying the destruction looked “as if a bomb had been planted”.

Officials warned that the death toll could rise as investigators continue examining the technical-room “error” believed to have contributed to the collision.

Transport Minister Oscar Puente said an “inexplicable” instruction from a central command unit may have played a role after a security system malfunctioned.

Investigators survey debris amongst the damaged carriages of the train crash between two high-speed trains

Investigators examine debris scattered around the damaged carriages following the collision between two high-speed trains

Dressed in a grey suit, King Felipe was greeted by the Emiliano García-Page, President of Castilla-La Mancha, upon his arrival at the hospital

King Felipe, wearing a grey suit, was welcomed by Emiliano García-Page, president of Castilla-La Mancha, as he arrived at the hospital

As they reflected the gravity of the tragedy, the couple maintained a solemn demeanour as they prepared to meet with survivors - 15 of whom are in the ICU - along with their families, as well as offering their gratitude to medical staff

The King and Queen maintained a sombre presence as they prepared to meet survivors, including 15 people in intensive care, their families and the medical staff treating them

Violent demonstrations erupted in Madrid on Wednesday evening amid growing public anger over the failures that led to the deadly train collision

Violent demonstrations erupted in Madrid on Wednesday evening amid growing public anger over the failures that led to the deadly train collision 

All trains on a stretch of 63km had been drawn to a halt due to the computer malfunction, but central command told a Renfe train to restart its journey without any speed restrictions.

A little more than 20 minutes later at 8.53am, it smashed into the back of the stationary Iryo train 100 miles south of Madrid, leaving carriages totally destroyed and derailed. It was reported that the locomotive was capable of travelling at speeds of 185mph.

Mr Puente said the control centre ‘had more than enough time to verify the error, and they did not fix it.’

He added: ‘The decision to resume traffic, while that system had not been restored, belongs to the control centre.’ 

That smash raised widespread concern about the safety of the nation’s railways, with Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez declaring the situation ‘not acceptable’ following Wednesday’s incident.

He said Spain would observe three days of mourning, while opposition leader Alberto Nunez Feijoo suspended campaigning but said: ‘Spain has the right to know what is going on with its infrastructure.’

Violent demonstrations erupted in Madrid on Wednesday evening amid growing public anger over the failures that led to the deadly train collision. 

It comes after an audio recording from the control centre, which was made minutes before the crash, revealed how operators failed to warn one of the train drivers of the impending collision.

Riots erupted outside the Ministry of Transport, with protesters demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez and transport minister Oscar Puente.

This is Spain’s third deadly railway disaster this year, following two crashes in January, one of which killed 47 people and the other of which claimed the life of the train driver, with dozens more injured. 

Father and Son Charged in Fatal Shooting of Football Standout

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A father and his teenage son have been arrested in connection with a drive-by shooting that killed an Indiana high school football standout in what investigators believe was a case of mistaken identity.

Christopher Wilson Jr., a Yorktown High School star who had committed to play football at West Virginia University, was shot in his vehicle earlier this month as he and his girlfriend returned from a restaurant.

Authorities allege that Dairus E. Thompson III, 17, and his father, Dairus E. Thompson II, 40, worked together in the killing of the athlete, whom they mistakenly identified as a man the elder Thompson had been feuding with, according to charging documents obtained by Fox 59.

The younger Thompson allegedly fired the fatal shots while following “step-by-step instructions” provided by his father, the documents state.

Surveillance video allegedly captures a white GMC Acadia linked to Thompson II traveling through the neighborhood before fleeing at high speed shortly after the shooting.

Investigators searching Thompson II’s phone reportedly found a video apparently recorded inside the Acadia. In it, he could allegedly be heard discussing how to carry out a drive-by shooting and providing “step-by-step instructions on how to do so,” according to the charging documents.

A witness told police that Thompson II, who is also known as “Gotto” or “lil Gotto,” later acknowledged Wilson’s death had been a mistake because he believed the teenager was the individual with whom he had a dispute.

The witness said Thompson II used the phrase “let lil bros rockout,” which was understood to mean that he had directed his son to carry out the Oct. 5 shooting.

Witnesses also told investigators that the father and son attempted to exchange the firearm allegedly used in the attack and instructed someone to “get rid of it.” Police eventually recovered the weapon and said it was ballistically matched to the gun used in the fatal shooting.

Thompson II was arrested last week and charged with inducing or causing murder.

Thompson III was arrested Thursday in Detroit and faces charges of murder, conspiracy to commit murder and obstruction of justice. He is awaiting extradition to Indiana.

Wilson, a high school senior, was an elite defensive end for the Yorktown Tigers. According to his obituary, he led the team to a sectional championship last year and became Delaware County’s first four-star football recruit.

Known as a “gentle giant,” Wilson committed to the West Virginia Mountaineers in June and was scheduled to graduate from high school early, in December.

He is survived by a large family, including three sisters and four brothers.

“Despite national attention for his athletic abilities, Christopher remained humble and grounded. He never sought the spotlight or allowed his success to change who he was,” his obituary states.

“The young man underneath the helmet was what made Christopher truly special. His humility, kindness, determination, and the relationships he built left a lasting impression on his family, friends, classmates, coaches, teammates, and community.”

Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee Weighs Christa Pike’s Possible Execution Again

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Christa Pike has survived two brushes with death, but the convicted killer may be headed back to Tennessee’s execution chamber.

“She is still incarcerated under the laws of the state of Tennessee,” Gov. Bill Lee told reporters Oct. 28. “And I suspect her sentence will be the same as it was before, unless determined otherwise by the courts.”

A spokesperson for the Tennessee Department of Correction told Oxygen that Pike “does remain on death row. We have not received any orders from the court for a new date.”

Pike has spent three decades in prison for the killing of 19-year-old Colleen Slemmer. Her execution was scheduled for Sept. 30, but after two doses of pentobarbital were administered, she began gasping, snoring and making choking sounds before being hospitalized in critical condition.

Her attorneys filed two emergency motions seeking to halt the execution, secure life-saving medical care for Pike and preserve evidence from the failed procedure. Gov. Lee also ordered an investigation into what went wrong.

Pike’s lawyers have suggested that problems with her IV caused the drugs to leak into surrounding tissue instead of entering her bloodstream properly.

“We may never know,” attorney Stephen Ferrell told CNN, “what sort of torture she endured during that process.”

Pike’s attorneys initially feared she was brain dead. But they later told CNN that she made a “medically unprecedented” recovery, eventually speaking and walking.

She was released from the hospital by Oct. 10 and returned to the Debra K. Johnson Rehabilitation Center, where she has been incarcerated for years.

Why Was Christa Pike on Death Row? 

On Jan. 12, 1995, Pike and her boyfriend, Tadaryl Shipp, carried out the fatal attack on Slemmer. Pike said the teenager was competing for Shipp’s attention.

Shipp carved a pentagram into Slemmer’s chest, while Pike kept a piece of the victim’s skull that she later referred to as a “souvenir.”

Slemmer’s body had been beaten so severely that a University of Tennessee employee who found her remains initially thought they belonged to an animal.

Pike was convicted the following year of premeditated first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit first-degree murder and received a death sentence. Shipp was convicted on the same charges and sentenced to life in prison.

No replacement execution date has been set. Legal experts have said another attempt would enter uncharted territory.

Representatives for Pike and Gov. Bill Lee did not immediately respond to Oxygen’s requests for comment.

Cyclists Flood Oxford Street as London Cabbies Warn Journeys Will Take Longer

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Sadiq Khan’s vision of a tranquil, pedestrian-friendly Oxford Street has come under immediate strain, only days after the first phase of the scheme was completed.

Promotional digital artwork depicted smiling shoppers and tourists walking beneath trees, hand in hand and admiring the shop windows.

The images also suggested that traffic and buses would move smoothly through nearby streets once vehicles were removed from the famous shopping thoroughfare.

Instead, pedestrians have been forced to contend with groups of cyclists riding through the new zone, while security staff looked on this week.

Black-cab drivers say the changes have also made journeys across central London more difficult, adding as much as 20 minutes to some routes.

Video filmed one evening appears to show dozens of cyclists—many of them young men or teenagers—ignoring the restrictions and riding along Oxford Street as though the rules had not changed.

“He’s given up,” one person can be heard laughing, referring to a security guard standing with his arms extended beside the bollards.

A large group of cyclists had gathered near a crossing where vehicles are still permitted to pass, before weaving through shoppers who appeared caught off guard.

Cyclists have refused to obey the new rules, with footage showing them continuing to ride down Oxford Street

Cyclists have continued to ride along Oxford Street despite the new restrictions, according to footage shared online

One video posted online shows chaos as bikes weave among startled shoppers in the pedestrianised zone

One video appears to capture bikes weaving between startled shoppers in the newly pedestrianised area

Oxford Street was closed to cars, bikes, buses and taxis from Monday morning

Oxford Street was closed to cars, bikes, buses and taxis from Monday morning

Sadiq Khan tests out various poses for the cameras on Monday morning

Sadiq Khan struck several poses for photographers on Monday morning as the scheme began

Against a backdrop of loud music, the disorder stood in sharp contrast to the calm, welcoming vision presented to Londoners ahead of the launch.

Among those closely monitoring the impact is Bahrain “Baha” Mujagata, a 21-year-old believed to be London’s youngest black-cab driver.

He said traffic on surrounding roads had quickly intensified, prompting him to reminisce about “how it was before” the changes were introduced.

Mr Mujagata told the Local Democracy Service: “Yesterday, I felt the real-time repercussions—there was so much traffic on Regent Street with nowhere else to go. Sitting in traffic that I used to bypass makes life much harder.

“Regent Street going northbound is very crowded, with a cycle lane on the left and a central reservation. If a bus stops to pick up passengers, you have to wait behind it. If it’s like that at night, I can only imagine what it’s like during the day.”

The driver stressed that he was not opposed to pedestrianising Oxford Street in principle, but said the current approach under Mayor Khan was not the right solution.

Mr Mujagata added: “We will evolve and get used to it, as we do whenever they change a road or a turn. But drivers who knew how it was before will always remember.”

At dawn on Monday, London Mayor Sadiq Khan stood in the middle of Oxford Street as the scheme got under way, posing for photographers with his arms outstretched, waving to passing workers and looking towards the sky.

Bahrain 'Baha' Mujagata, 21, thought to be London's youngest black cab driver, is not a fan of Lord Khan's scheme

Bahrain ‘Baha’ Mujagata, 21, thought to be London’s youngest black cab driver, is not a fan of Lord Khan’s scheme

A video from Wigmore Street this week showed cars and buses backed up to a standstill

A video from Wigmore Street this week showed cars and buses backed up to a standstill

Locals had warned of congestion on the roads around Oxford Street, and their fears were realised

Locals had warned of congestion on the roads around Oxford Street, and their fears were realised 

A team of security guards on day one barked instructions at cyclists to dismount, with mixed results

A team of security guards on day one barked instructions at cyclists to dismount, with mixed results 

New signs were installed overnight that asked cyclists to dismount from their bikes and walk them through the pedestrianised zone

New signs were installed overnight that asked cyclists to dismount from their bikes and walk them through the pedestrianised zone

Hours earlier, green bollards had been installed at either end of a 0.9km stretch of the famous shopping hub – from the famous Selfridges department store down to Ikea.

Despite a team of guards barking orders to disembark, at mid-morning cyclists continued to race through the bollards and down the road, trundling over the big new green sticker that had been laid over the tarmac.

Perhaps it would take a day or so for them to get the message, onlookers suggested. The fresh footage suggests not.

Speaking to the Daily Mail, Tim Barnes, Westminster City Councillor for Growth and Planning, said after the scheme’s launch: ‘We have been concerned from the outset that taking London’s main east-west road and pushing it to the smaller side roads behind was always going to inevitably lead to traffic problems.

‘You just can’t take that much traffic out of central London and push it on to roads that are smaller, less well suited to taking big vehicles, and not expect it to cause problems.

‘Last night there were all sorts of complications. There was traffic on Regent Street that was backed up, and indeed it stopped for so long at times that we even saw a big waste truck having to turn around and go the wrong way [up the street].

‘And if you look at Wigmore Street, there are points where buses now have to make very, very hard right-hand turns or 90-degree turns, which I think will be a problem for pedestrians and cyclists. 

‘I also think it’s only a matter of time until we see more incidents with cyclists hitting pedestrians on Oxford Street itself.’

Artists' imaginings of pedestrianised Oxford Street were a far cry from the recent scenes

Artists’ imaginings of pedestrianised Oxford Street were a far cry from the recent scenes

Workmen erect bollards at one end of Oxford Street as the pedestrianisation came into force

Workmen erect bollards at one end of Oxford Street as the pedestrianisation came into force

Lord Khan claimed the street had been 'in decline' for the past two decades

Lord Khan claimed the street had been ‘in decline’ for the past two decades

The changes have prompted fears that traffic, noise and pollution will simply be pushed on to smaller residential roads, leaving those living and working nearby to bear the brunt of the Mayor’s flagship project. 

Among the roads affected by the new arrangements are Wigmore Street, Henrietta Place and Cavendish Place, which are now accommodating diverted bus services.

Transport for London has confirmed that five bus routes – the 98, 139, 390, N98 and N207 – have been redirected on to surrounding roads, with new stops introduced to accommodate passengers.

Other services have been shortened or altered, while taxis and private hire vehicles are no longer permitted to enter the pedestrianised section.

The upheaval comes despite warnings from Westminster City Council that the scheme risked creating serious problems for residents, businesses and motorists.

Residents in neighbouring Marylebone had also raised concerns before the closure that their streets would become increasingly congested as buses and other vehicles were forced away from Oxford Street.

The Marylebone Association previously calculated that Wigmore Street could see around 46 additional bus movements an hour during peak periods.

Henrietta Place has also been converted to accommodate two-way traffic as part of preparations for the scheme.

The changes represent a major transformation of one of Britain’s most famous shopping destinations, which attracts around 500,000 visitors every day.

8 Surprising Foods Experts Say May Help You Live Longer

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With new supplements, eating plans and wellness fads appearing almost daily, working out what genuinely supports a long, healthy life can feel like a challenge.

However, experts say healthy ageing may depend on a surprisingly broad range of foods – including several items many people might otherwise dismiss as treats.

Owen Filer is a striking example. Believed to be ‘Wales’ oldest man’, he celebrated his 107th birthday on October 19.

Rather than pointing to a diet built around fruit, vegetables and vitamin supplements, Owen attributes his remarkable longevity to a much-loved British takeaway: fish and chips.

‘How I got here I’ll never know, but I’ve met a lot of people who have admired me and asked me how do I do it. There is no secret, you just live properly, and I’ve always done it. I’ve never overeaten… I lived on fish and chips,’ he said.

Dr Asiya Maula, a private GP and longevity specialist at The Health Suite, told the Daily Mail: ‘People often assume that eating for longevity means following a restrictive diet or cutting out all their favourite foods.

‘In reality, the evidence points towards a varied, balanced diet built around plants, fibre and healthy fats, with room for some foods that might surprise you.’

From coffee and cheese to an evening square of dark chocolate, these are the unexpected foods experts say may have a place in a diet linked with longer life…

Owen Filer, who turned 107 on October 19, credits his longevity to a British pub classic: fish and chips

Owen Filer, who reached 107 on October 19, attributes his longevity to the classic British meal of fish and chips

1. Fish and chips

Nutritionist Brenda Heather: Owen’s fish and chips theory may contain more nutritional logic than it initially appears. Cod and haddock provide lean protein, while potatoes offer potassium and fibre – particularly when the skins are left on.

The less healthy elements are usually the batter and the size of the serving, meaning frequency matters more than the dish itself.

Choosing a smaller portion and adding mushy peas can increase the meal’s fibre and protein, creating a more balanced plate.

Dr Ramon Velazquez, scientific advisor at Mind Lab Pro: DHA, an omega-3 fat found in high amounts in oily fish, forms part of the membranes surrounding neurons. That may help explain why fish is repeatedly associated with a slower rate of cognitive decline in research.

There is an important limitation, though: cod and haddock, the usual chip-shop choices, are lean white fish and contain significantly less DHA than salmon, sardines or mackerel. For the strongest brain-related benefits, oily fish are the better option.

2. Coffee

Dr Maula: Coffee is often labelled a guilty pleasure, but research has consistently associated moderate consumption with a lower risk of death from a range of causes.

It contains polyphenols [they act as antioxidants, helping neutralise harmful free radicals and reduce inflammation linked to chronic disease], along with other compounds that may benefit metabolic and cardiovascular health.

The key difference is whether you are drinking coffee or effectively eating a dessert loaded with sugar and flavoured syrups. And if you do not enjoy coffee, there is no health-related reason to force yourself to start drinking it.

Ms Heather: Data from the UK Biobank associated drinking two to three cups of coffee daily with a lower risk of premature death. Coffee is also among the leading sources of polyphenols in the British diet, especially compounds known as chlorogenic acids.

The benefits seem to hold for instant and decaf as well, so you don’t need an expensive habit. Skip the syrups and whipped cream, which can turn a near-zero-calorie drink into a dessert.

Dr Velazquez: Caffeine blocks adenosine receptors, which is why it sharpens alertness, and large population studies have linked regular coffee drinking with lower Parkinson’s risk. 

That’s an association, not proof. Timing matters too. Caffeine late in the day can disrupt deep sleep, which is when the brain clears metabolic waste, so an afternoon cup could undo some of the morning’s good.

3. Cheese

Dr Maula: Cheese can absolutely have a place in a healthy diet. It provides protein, calcium and other nutrients important for maintaining muscle and bone health as we age. 

Some observational research has also found associations between cheese consumption and lower mortality, although this does not prove that cheese itself makes us live longer. 

It can be high in saturated fat and salt, so portion size and the overall diet still matter.

Ms Heather: In observational research, fermented dairy hasn’t shown the heart risk many people expect, and hard cheeses bring calcium and protein. 

One explanation is the way cheese’s proteins, fats and minerals are bound together, which seems to change how the body handles its saturated fat. 

It’s salty, so a matchbox-sized portion is plenty.

4. Eggs and oily fish 

Dr Maula: Salmon, sardines, mackerel and trout provide omega-3 fatty acids, which support normal heart function, as well as protein and other important nutrients. 

Fish is not a miracle longevity food, but including oily fish as part of a balanced diet can help people meet their nutritional needs as they age.

Dr Velazquez: Yolks are among the richest dietary sources of choline, which the brain uses to make acetylcholine, a chemical messenger central to memory. 

Many adults fall short of recommended choline intake without realising it, and eggs are one of the easiest ways to close that gap.

Ms Heather: They’re cheap, long-life sources of omega-3. Eat the soft bones and you get calcium too. 

Oily fish is also one of the few foods that naturally contains vitamin D, which many Brits run low on over winter. 

The NHS recommends two portions of fish a week, one of them oily, and a tin on toast is the easiest way to get there.

5. Beans, lentils and leafy greens 

Dr Maula:  These are some of the most underrated foods for healthy ageing. They provide fibre, plant protein, minerals and slowly digested carbohydrates, helping support gut health, fullness and healthy blood sugar levels. 

Regularly replacing some processed or red meat with beans or lentils is a simple way to improve the nutritional quality of meals without spending a fortune.

Ms Heather: Pulses feature heavily in the traditional diets of some of the world’s longest-lived populations. They’re high in fibre, and most UK adults eat around 20g a day against a recommended 30g. 

A tin of chickpeas counts, and rinsing it cuts the added salt.

In a Rush University study of older adults, about a daily serving tracked with cognitive scores resembling people roughly 11 years younger. 

Spinach and kale carry vitamin K, lutein and folate, all of which have been linked to brain ageing in research. 

6. Cooled potatoes and rice, and extra virgin olive oil

Ms Heather: Cooling them after cooking forms resistant starch, which feeds your gut bacteria. It also tends to cause a gentler rise in blood sugar than freshly cooked versions. 

With rice, cool it within an hour, keep it in the fridge and reheat it only once until it’s steaming hot.

Dr Maula: Olive oil is another food worth prioritising. It is rich in monounsaturated fats and contains polyphenols, which may help support cardiovascular health. 

Using it in place of butter or other fats high in saturated fat is a practical change that fits well with Mediterranean-style eating patterns, which have been widely studied in relation to healthy ageing.

7. Dark chocolate and fermented foods 

Ms Heather: Cocoa flavanols support blood vessel function. 

Heavy processing strips many of them out, so a higher cocoa percentage is a rough guide to getting more. That means a couple of squares, not the whole bar.

Yogurt, kefir and kimchi feed the gut microbiome, which communicates with the brain through the vagus nerve. 

In a Stanford trial, ten weeks of a fermented-food diet increased microbiome diversity and lowered markers of inflammation. 

8. Herbs, plants, nuts and seeds 

Dr Maula: A small handful of unsalted nuts or seeds can provide unsaturated fats, fibre, protein and minerals. 

They are particularly useful for supporting heart health, and studies of healthy ageing consistently associate diets rich in nuts and other plant foods with better long-term outcomes. 

Walnuts, almonds, chia seeds and ground flaxseed are easy additions to porridge, salads or snacks.

Different plants provide different fibres and polyphenols, which help nourish the gut microbiome. Think beyond fruit and vegetables: beans, lentils, nuts, seeds, wholegrains, herbs and spices all count. 

Ms Heather: These quietly count towards 30 plants a week. The American Gut Project found that people eating 30 or more plant types had more varied gut bacteria than those eating 10 or fewer. 

Variety matters because different gut microbes thrive on different plant fibres. A spoonful of mixed seeds, a pinch of cinnamon and some fresh parsley add three plants before lunch.

Norway Hilariously Mocks Trump Over His Vulgar Criticism of the Country

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Norway has answered Donald Trump’s vulgar attack on the country with a tongue-in-cheek showcase of its most scenic ‘s*** houses’.

The US President intensified his criticism of Norway on Sunday, branding it a ‘s***house country’ after he failed to receive the Nobel Peace Prize.

Blaming immigration for recent unrest in France, Trump said he would welcome migrants from some countries—but not Norway, ‘because I didn’t get the Nobel Prize… So I don’t want anybody from Norway.’

Trump made the remarks at a political rally in Michigan ahead of next week’s midterm elections, telling the crowd that Norwegian immigrants were not welcome in the United States.

He also declared that ‘Norway sucks’, apparently linking the outburst to the Nobel committee’s decision not to award him the Peace Prize. The committee is based in the Norwegian capital, Oslo.

‘I’m not in love with Norway. Frankly, Norway sucks. Norway has become a s*** house country, actually,’ Trump said, repeating language he has previously used to describe Haiti, Libya, Somalia and Yemen.

Norway’s tourism board responded this week by highlighting some of the country’s most striking public toilets on its website.

‘Are these the world’s best s*** houses?’ Visit Norway asked, adding: ‘Norway makes s*** houses great again!’

A collection of striking designer loos were featured, many boasting breathtaking views of fjords, rivers, waterfalls and some of Norway¿s most spectacular landscapes

The collection featured a series of eye-catching designer loos, many offering spectacular views of fjords, rivers, waterfalls and some of Norway’s most dramatic scenery

Visit Norway said that along 18 scenic routes across the country, leading architects had been commissioned to transform the roadside toilet into an attraction in its own right

Visit Norway said leading architects had been commissioned to turn roadside toilets along 18 scenic routes into attractions in their own right

Alongside photographs of the award-winning facilities, the tourism board wrote: ‘These toilets are worth a visit, both when you really have to go – and when you don’t.’

According to Visit Norway, leading architects have redesigned roadside toilets along 18 scenic routes, transforming them into destinations rather than simple stopping points.

The project produced a series of distinctive designer loos, several of them positioned beside breathtaking views of fjords, rivers, waterfalls and other spectacular Norwegian landscapes.

Among them are a wave-shaped toilet at a Helgeland rest stop, a solar-powered, ‘Instagram worthy’ loo at the Utsikten viewpoint and Senja Island’s well-known triangular ‘golden toilet’.

Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide addressed Trump’s comments earlier this week, telling national broadcaster NRK: ‘He knows very well that the Nobel Committee is independent. We have reminded them of that, if anyone is wondering, and that is still the case.’

Barth Eide sought to brush off the US President’s foul-mouthed tirade as campaign rhetoric.

He said Norway placed ‘great importance’ on its close relationship with America, while adding pointedly that Trump ‘is currently in the midst of an election campaign that perhaps isn’t going very well for his party, and that leads him to say a lot of things’.

Earlier this month, Trump described the decision not to award him the Nobel Peace Prize as an ‘indelible stain’ on Norway.

Washington insiders say Trump is ‘obsessed’ with securing the Peace Prize. He has reportedly been particularly frustrated that Barack Obama won it during the first year of his presidency for his efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and support a world free of nuclear weapons.

Aides in the Trump administration say senior State Department officials remain conscious of the issue. One said: ‘Trump sees this prize as the ultimate capstone to how history will remember him.’

Only two other sitting US presidents besides Obama, Theodore Roosevelt and Woodrow Wilson, have won the award.

Norway, a country of 5.6 million people, hasn’t exactly taken to the longboats over the insults.

Norway's tourism board this week showcased on their website some of the country's most beautiful lavatories

Norway’s tourism board this week showcased on their website some of the country’s most beautiful lavatories

Alongside pictures of award-winning toilets, the board adding: 'These toilets are worth a visit, both when you really have to go ¿ and when you don't'

Alongside pictures of award-winning toilets, the board adding: ‘These toilets are worth a visit, both when you really have to go – and when you don’t’

Boosted considerably by oil and natural gas revenue, Norway is among ⁠the highest-income countries as measured by GDP per capita. Its sovereign wealth fund posted record profit of 1.75 trillion Norwegian crowns ($184.3billion) for ⁠the first half of 2026.

The metrics that show Norway significantly outperforming the US include life expectancy (more than four years), infant mortality, adult obesity (the US has more than twice the rate), GDP per capita ($106,000 to $94,000), corruption perceptions, press freedom and the World Happiness Rank, which has Norwegians in sixth place and Americans in 23rd.

Another statistic that rather undermines Trump’s threat over Norwegian migration is that the flow is far stronger in the other direction.

According to the Oslo government, more Americans emigrated to Norway in 2025 than Norwegians emigrated to the United States. 

Last year, 1,529 American citizens moved to Norway, compared with 1,005 Norwegians who relocated to the United States.

‘Dear President Trump – a little perspective from Norway,’ posted Norwegian Magne Bjella on X. ‘Please don’t lose any sleep worrying about whether we are coming to America. I’m very happy here.’

Bjella then listed reasons including ‘healthcare that follows us through life’, ‘time to be parents’, ‘subsidized childcare’, ‘accessible higher education’ and ‘support when illness strikes’. 

Man Wanted After Attempted Rape of 83-Year-Old Woman in Manhattan Apartment

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Police are searching for a man accused of attempting to sexually assault an 83-year-old woman inside her Manhattan apartment. Authorities released surveillance video showing a bearded suspect glancing over his shoulder as he walked through the neighborhood.

According to the NYPD, the man followed the elderly woman into a residential building near Vermilyea Avenue and West 204th Street shortly before 9 a.m. Monday.

Investigators said the suspect followed her to her apartment, exposed himself and made unwanted sexual advances while attempting to force his way inside.

Police are hunting a suspect accused of trying to rape an 83-year-old woman inside her Upper Manhattan apartment. DCPI

Surveillance image of a suspect wanted in connection with an attempted rape, walking on a sidewalk near wooden pallets and stacked water bottles.

The man followed the woman into her building near Vermilyea Avenue and West 204th Street, police said. DCPI

The woman managed to resist during a brief struggle, police said, prompting the suspect to flee the building on foot.

EMS treated the victim at the scene for minor injuries.

The surveillance footage shows the suspect wearing boots, black pants, a black jacket and a black do-rag as he walked along the street.

Anyone who may have information about the incident is urged to contact the NYPD Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477).

Europe’s Economy Shrugs Off Iran War Energy Shock, Grows in Q3

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FRANKFURT – The eurozone economy maintained moderate momentum in the third quarter, with gross domestic product rising 0.4% from the previous quarter despite higher oil prices linked to the U.S.-Iran war.

The increase across the 21 European Union countries that use the euro exceeded the 0.2% growth forecast by market analysts. Eurostat, the EU statistics agency, said the economy expanded 1.3% compared with the same period a year earlier during the July-September quarter.

The continued expansion suggests that “households and businesses have not pared back their spending due to the Iran war,” said Jack Allen-Reynolds, deputy chief eurozone economist at Capital Economics.

“All in all, the eurozone economy remains resilient amid geopolitical turmoil and a worsening inflationary environment,” wrote Paolo Grignani, senior economist at Oxford Economics.

However, economists have identified “worrying signs” that elevated oil costs are spreading across other parts of the economy. These so-called second-round effects occur when higher energy prices begin pushing up wages and prices more broadly, potentially strengthening the case for higher interest rates from the European Central Bank.

Inflation stands at 3.8%, well above the ECB’s 2% target. The central bank kept interest rates unchanged at its policy meeting Thursday, but it could raise them at its next meeting in December to bring inflation under control. Such a move would increase borrowing costs even as economic growth remains modest and uneven across member countries.

Germany, the eurozone’s largest economy, grew 0.2% despite pressure from high energy prices and low river levels that disrupted trade. France contracted 0.1%, with a political deadlock over how to tackle its outsized budget deficit continuing to undermine business confidence. Spain, the Netherlands and Estonia posted stronger growth of 0.6%.

The eurozone’s headline growth rate was boosted by Ireland’s 5.5% expansion. Irish data can be volatile because the country hosts multinational technology and pharmaceutical companies whose global operations can significantly affect national economic figures. Excluding Ireland, eurozone growth was 0.2%.

Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.

Cruise Founder Says “I’m the Villain” After Guests Were Left Stranded in Cambodia

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The founder of the failed “endless cruise” that left passengers stranded in Cambodia this week has acknowledged his role in the collapse, describing himself as the “villain” and apologising to those affected.

About 200 passengers were given only seven hours to pack and leave the scheduled stop in Sihanoukville after operator Villa Vie Residences announced that it had “suspended operations.”

The 200-metre (656ft) Odyssey departed Northern Ireland in October 2024 on what was intended to be a continuous global voyage. Residents could rent cabins for a holiday or purchase one for life, with prices reaching $440,000 (£330,000). Some passengers reportedly sold all their possessions to finance the investment.

Mikael Petterson, who founded Villa Vie Residences in 2023, has now addressed the company’s collapse.

“I feel awful,” he said on Wednesday. “I’m the villain in the story, but I’m doing everything I can to support the residents on a solution.”

His comments came as passengers described the distress and uncertainty they had experienced, accusing the company of effectively abandoning them in Cambodia without meaningful assistance or communication.

Villa Vie blamed soaring oil prices linked to the conflict in the Middle East, saying the voyage could no longer continue within its existing budget.

In a statement issued this week, the company said average monthly fuel costs per cabin had risen from about $1,800 (£1,354) to an estimated $6,000 (£4,516) to $8,000 (£6,021) in parts of Asia.

A drone view of the Villa Vie Odyssey cruise ship docking at Sihanoukville Autonomous Port,  Cambodia

A drone captures the Villa Vie Odyssey cruise ship docked at Sihanoukville Autonomous Port in Cambodia

CEO of Villa Vie Residences Mikael Petterson spoke with passengers as they prepared to board the Villa Vie Odyssey cruise ship at Belfast Port's Cruise Ship Terminal in September 2024

Villa Vie Residences CEO Mikael Petterson speaks with passengers preparing to board the Villa Vie Odyssey at Belfast Port’s Cruise Ship Terminal in September 2024

Passengers pictured disembarking the Odyssey on Wednesday after it was docked at Sihanoukville port in Preah Sihanouk province in Cambodia

Passengers disembark the Odyssey on Wednesday after it docked at Sihanoukville port in Cambodia’s Preah Sihanouk province

Mr Petterson said the sharp increase in fuel costs had created a “cascading effect” that undermined the cruise’s financial viability.

He attributed the pressure in part to US President Donald Trump’s decision to strike Iran in February, saying the disruption had sent oil prices higher by affecting supply routes, reducing provisions and damaging energy infrastructure.

“Nobody that’s tried residential cruising has succeeded and we have gone further than anyone else,” he told the Axel Springer Reporters Network. “But I think we would have been absolutely fine and we would have seen this through, if there was no Iran war.”

The founder said he had been negotiating with a potential investor and was waiting for a cash injection when the plans fell apart, leaving the company without a workable path to survival.

The development followed repeated requests for additional money from passengers during the voyage to help meet rising fuel bills. In April, the company asked residents to provide a collective loan of $2.2 million (£1.6 million).

Passengers told the Daily Mail that the money has not been repaid.

“We have not received any payments,” Lynn Montoya told the Mail. “On July 31, they told us we would get a payment in the next three days. But two days after we were told there was no money.”

Former permanent residents of the Villa Vie Odyssey cruise ship returned to the vessel on Thursday to collect their belongings after being forced to disembark in Cambodia

Former Villa Vie Odyssey residents return to the ship on Thursday to retrieve their belongings after being forced to disembark in Cambodia

Paul Montoya and his wife Lynn described 'investing in a dream' when they chose to dedicate at least four years of their lives to travel the world on cruise ship the Odyssey

Paul Montoya and his wife Lynn said they had been “investing in a dream” when they committed to spending at least four years travelling the world aboard the Odyssey

Despite already handing over millions of dollars, the company called on the residents – and their retirement savings – again a few months later.

‘Residents started donating to keep us on our journey,’ Mrs Montoya said. ‘In September, the company asked for $1.5million (£1.1million) and then $360,000 (£270,049) this past week while we’ve been stranded in Cambodia.’

The grandmother believes the requests for money were strategic and came when the ship was docked at different ports, leaving the residents to feel vulnerable and ‘coerced’ into giving up their money.

‘We felt manipulated and when that happened time after time, it began to wear us down and frustrate us,’ Mrs Montoya, who sold the couple’s house to fund the trip, said.

‘We’d arrive at the port and six hours before we were meant to leave they would say, “Oh, we can’t leave. We haven’t got the money.”

‘Everybody then felt pressured to come up with these funds. We joked that we felt we were being held captive.’

Questions naturally began to arise as conditions on the ship began to deteriorate, despite donations having been made specifically to pay for fuel. 

‘The company cannot simply pass increases of that scale on to residents, and the resulting shortfall has placed its current operating model under unsustainable financial pressure,’ it said in a statement.

Villa Vie asked 22 residents for a collective loan of $2.2million (£1.6million), Mrs Montoya said

Villa Vie asked 22 residents for a collective loan of $2.2million (£1.6million), Mrs Montoya said

‘It started becoming apparent that the company is in significant debt – and we started losing a lot of our services,’ Mrs Montoya described.

She added: ‘Our internet was interrupted several times so we weren’t able to check our bank accounts or pay bills, or call home.

‘Our TV service then went down and so more questions started being asked. But despite this the company asked us again for money for fuel.’

Meanwhile, food quality deteriorated and crew members started disclosing to residents that their payments had been stalled.

This prompted residents to again shell out, although this time voluntarily, to financially support crew members ‘whose pay began being affected in August’.

‘We were able to give 128 crew members at least $100 (£75) each,’ Mrs Montoya said.

The turmoil came to a head this week when the hundreds of travellers were given just hours to pack their bags and disembark.

According to Long Dimanche, deputy governor of Preah Sihanouk province in Cambodia, 203 guests and 156 crew had arrived at the Cambodian port of Sihanoukville, where they were left behind by the cruise.

This came after the company asked for more money and received a further $360,000 (£270,049), the grandmother said – but the majority of residents declined to donate.

‘Most people said no, we will not give you anymore money,’ Mrs Montoya said. ‘We’re not going to do it.

‘I honestly believe that they believed people would give up their money again and they would just continue this.’

Permanent residencies on the cruise cost between $120,000 (£90,000) and $440,000 (£330,000), with cabins costing £3,500 per month to rent.

The request for money was followed by an official notice at 8am on Tuesday telling the travellers to disembark, which they must do by 2pm.

‘We were unsure whether we needed to take everything or just an overnight bag. We were told our cabins would be double locked so we packed enough supplies for 14 days,’ Mrs Montoya said.

‘But some people walked off the ship with 12 pieces of luggage.’

The group of around 200 stranded residents were then shuttled off in groups and dumped in the centre of town.

Villa Vie said it was ‘working with residents to co-ordinate disembarkation and identify temporary living arrangements’. 

Mr Petterson acknowledged the current doomed situation his clients are in, who had  been promised an endless cruise with stops at more than 400 ports and an ‘around-the-world’ trip every three and a half years.

The founder admitted to Business Insider they were ‘counting on me to make the decision here, and there’s nothing else I’m focused on’. 

READ MORE: Inside the ‘never-ending cruise’ that dumped its passengers in Cambodia: ‘It got worse and worse. Crew begged us for money. We gave them $450k after they pressured us’