MARIAH Carey’s ‘All I Want for Christmas is You’ is the Christmas song we’d happily never hear again, according to a poll.

Research of 2,000 Yuletide-celebrating adults revealed ‘Mistletoe’ by Justin Bieber and Band Aid’s ‘Do They Know it’s Christmas’ are other tracks people have grown tired of.

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Mariah Carey’s ‘All I Want For Christmas Is You’ topped the list of least-liked Christmas songs[/caption]

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Justin Bieber’s ‘Mistletoe’ came second[/caption]

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Band Aid’s 1984 hit ‘Do They Know It’s Christmas?’ followed suit in third place[/caption]

While ‘Stay Another Day’ by East 17, and ‘Santa Tell Me’ by Ariana Grande were also loathed.

However, ‘Last Christmas’ by Wham!, Chris Rea’s ‘Driving Home for Christmas’ and ‘Fairytale of New York’ by The Pogues were the most popular songs.

However, the latter proved divisive by also featuring in the top 10 of most disliked.

According to the research commission by Twix, 23 per cent listen to festive music every day during the Christmas period, 24 per cent listen every few weeks or less, with some not listening to any songs at all.

But by mid-December, 20 per cent are sick of hearing Christmas music, with 17 per cent believing you should stop hearing festive tunes altogether by the 26th.

And 30 per cent said they’ve not heard a good festive song release in years.

To mix up festive music this year, the confectionery brand has launched a Twixmas track featuring grime MC D Double E and Nella Rose for those frazzled by the festivities.

D Double E said: “We all have Christmas songs we love, but we’ve been listening to them for decades and they can feel a bit stale.

“And it looks as though people agree with that – so we’ve looked to flip the script on festive tracks to show you lot how to do Twixmas this year, to give people something to enjoy once the big day is done and dusted.”

Presenter Nella Rose, who features on ‘It’s Twixmas Time’ added: “This is the soundtrack to your post-Christmas party.

“We wanted to show you that you can turn up and have fun, without having to go anywhere or do anything – capturing the time between Christmas and New Year that people seem to enjoy.”

The research also revealed 20 per cent confess they don’t know what day it is during this time, with 56 per cent losing all sense of time between Christmas and New Year.

And 30 per cent would go as far as to say they like this period as much as the big day itself.

With routines in disarray, 52 per cent take full advantage of the downtime to relax, 23 per cent binge-watch their favourite TV shows.

And 34 per cent went as far as to say they enjoy the period as much as Christmas itself.

Additionally, 33 per cent live off Christmas Day leftovers and 21 per cent seek out bargains in the sales (21 per cent).

The study also found the favourite parts of the festive period include spending more time with friends and family (45 per cent), giving gifts (33 per cent), and the festive spirit (30 per cent).

And 38 per cent enjoy music more between the 1st and 31st December compared to any other time of the year.

The study also found 61 per cent enjoy food more over the festive season than any other time of year.

And of those who took part in the study carried out through OnePoll.com, 54 per cent think the time between Christmas and New year is a celebration in itself.

Laura Boothroyd from Mars Wrigley added: “The unique Twixmas period reminds us that sometimes, the best gift is to simply unwind.

“From uninterrupted naps, to finally spending time on your hobbies, to having a laugh with the family.

“We hope that ‘It’s Twixmas Time’, will encourage everyone to embrace the simple joys at this time of year.”

ENGLISH clubs will be BLOCKED from joining the newly-proposed European Super League, Sir Keir Starmer vowed today.

The footie-mad PM went studs up on the latest threat of a breakaway tournament and said Premier League sides would not participate “on his watch”. 

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Sir Keir Starmer has attacked plans for a European Super League[/caption]

He is currently passing laws for a new football regulator with powers to ban teams from joining adjacent competitions. 

Downing Street hit out after promoter A22 Sports announced proposals for a 96-team series.

The bizarre “Unify League” worships the EU – with its four divisions named Star, Gold, Blue and Union after the bloc’s flag. 

Arsenal-fan Sir Keir’s spokesman said: “Clearly this is not something the Prime Minister supports.

“You’ve heard him previously say that on his watch, there’ll be no Super League-style breakaway from English football. 

“And as part of the strength in the Football Governance Bill, the regulator will be able to prevent English clubs from joining future breakaway competitions by taking into account factors such as sustainability, heritage and fairness should be at the heart of our game.

They added they hope to pass the legislation – currently going through the Lords before coming to the Commons – “as quickly as possible”.

Ex-Sports Minister Tracey Crouch – who first proposed the regulator in her Fan Led Review – slammed this “latest wheeze”.

She told The Sun: “While this is a matter for UEFA, after the huge fan reaction to the breakaway super league that ultimately led to the Bill now going through Parliament to protect the long term future of English football, it will be a brave move for any Premier League club to support this latest wheeze without the approval of its fans.”

Niall Couper, chief executive of football campaign group Fair Game, added: “The spectre of a new Super League needs to be killed immediately. And that is exactly why football needs a regulator with real teeth and why it needs one now.

“The owners of elite clubs cannot be allowed to run roughshod over football.

“But it is not just about urgency, it is also about ensuring the regulator has real power.

“Without the ability to stand up to the top clubs, then it will betray not just the fans but the entire football pyramid that the success of our national game has been built on.”

Revived Super League

Promoter of the new league, A22 Sports, unveiled plans for a radical revamped format named the “Unify League” on Tuesday.

The Madrid-based firm, backed by Real Madrid chairman Florentino Perez, said it had written to Fifa and Uefa to ask for official endorsement for the league.

The previous attempt by the firm to form a breakaway league announced in April 2021 was met by huge fan backlash.

But the new refined league will see 96 teams spread across four divisions – Star, Gold, Blue and Union – and crucially include promotion and relegation, meaning inclusion will be based on merit.

As many as TEN Premier League teams will be offered the chance to take part in the new competition.

Participation in the league would NOT affect membership of the Premier League, but the tournament would effectively spell the end of the Champions League.

SunSport understands a significant number of Prem clubs have privately said they would be willing to take part in the new league.

A22 bosses believe Uefa must endorse its latest proposal following a December 2023 European Court of Justice ruling that previous tactics used to block a Super League were contrary to EU law.

And the league’s bosses are confident the latest iteration of their “Super League” will receive authorisation from Uefa, according to The Guardian.

The report adds that Uefa is unlikely to respond in haste and that authorising the league, in essence calling A22’s bluff, will be an option under consideration.

The prize fund for the tournament is yet to be confirmed, but A22 has promised £330million in “solidarity” payments for smaller clubs and countries.

The total pot is expected to exceed the current £2billion Uefa fund for the Champions League and the £700m for the Europa and Conference Leagues combined.

Measures to block clubs from joining any breakaway competition are included in the Government’s Independent Football Regulator, currently going through Parliament and backed by all major parties.

But the new competition seeks to supplant Uefa and be club-run — as happened when the Premier League was set up more than 30 years ago.

HOLLYWOOD star Kate Beckinsale has clapped back at online trolls who have made fun of her Christmas tree.

Pearl Harbor actress, Kate, 51, responded to the bait left by critics who dared to diss her festive creation.

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The star was seen swinging by the tree and doing yoga[/caption]

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Kate could be seen in a range of hilarious positions[/caption]

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Trolls had a field day berating the festive creation[/caption]

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The star was seen wearing a Pat Butcher skirt[/caption]

The star posted a bizarre video in front of her pink, fluffy Christmas tree while being swung in a flurry of yoga poses by a friend, with a cat on her back – wearing a Santa hat.

The brunette bombshell was also seen wearing a Pat Butcher-inspired skirt.

She wrote alongside the colourful footage: “It’s ok to have weird Christmas traditions.”

The star was seen lying on a rug on the ground, surrounded by an arch of pink balloons and her collection of cute animals.

The unique tree, caked in pastel-coloured trinkets and accessories, caught the eyes of fans – and not in a good way.

One user mocked: “That tree makes me wish for a migraine so I can’t see it.”

“That tree is fugly, looks like a pile of puke,” berated a second.

“That’s a Clump of a tree… why did you torture the tree? Where’s the tree?” inquired a third unimpressed user.

Kate responded: “Oh, I worked really hard on it and I loved it so much and it brought me joy.

“What a weird instinct to say that to somebody.”

The Van Helsing star had a rough start to 2024 suffering the loss of her stepfather, Roy Battersby, back in January. 

The TV director died of a stroke, while also suffering from two types of cancer. 

Her mother, Judy, has also had health problems, and was rushed to hospital last August. 

Judy now lives in LA with her daughter so they can look after each other. 

It’s not the first time Kate has lashed out at trolls.

Earlier in July, the star revealed that she was left ‘vomiting blood’ during a recent terrifying health scare.

Kate made the admission while hitting back at a cruel troll, who’d left a nasty comment beneath her latest flesh-flashing Instagram post.

But when one commented: “Go do some squats @katebeckinsale I think ur a** ran away,” she furiously clapped back.

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The actress has put on a brave face, despite starting the year losing her stepfather[/caption]

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The stunning star has taken offence to Christmas tree critics[/caption]

The Underworld star bluntly replied: “No, actually, I watched my stepfather die quite shockingly, my mother has stage 4 cancer, and I lost a lot of weight from stress and grief, quite quickly.

“Then I was in hospital for six weeks because the grief had burned a hole in my oesophagus which made me vomit copious amounts of blood.

“I found eating very hard and I just worked very, very hard on a movie that was actually quite triggering because it also involved the theme of the death of my father so I’m not really concerned about what you think about my a**.”

The London native was previously married to director Len Wiseman.

Kate shares 25-year-old daughter Lily Mo Sheen from her previous relationship with Michael Sheen, 55, that lasted from 1995 to 2003.

She has since dated a series of younger men, and is currently believed to be single.

AMAZON’s Boxing Day sale is your last opportunity to save in 2024, and there’s plenty of bargains to be had.

We’ve got all you need to know right here and there are already savings to be found on beauty, home essentials and Amazon’s smart tech.

Amazon Boxing Day Sale

Amazon is a mecca when it comes to the post-Christmas sales, and its deals are not to be missed.

This year the retail giant has held some pretty spectacular sale events, and the Boxing Day frenzy is no exception.

The period between Christmas and the New Year is best spent decompressing from the festive rush, and shopping the Boxing Day and January sales.

With a stock of thousands of product lines, on everything from your humble dishwasher tablets to the latest smart tech, Amazon is one to watch.

We’ve got all you need to know on the sale right here, and are already rounding up the best bargains in Amazon’s Boxing Day sale for you to shop.

Read on for our tips and tricks to make the most of the sale and a look at the best deals we spot.

Best live Amazon deals

There’s still the Christmas festivities to enjoy, but that doesn’t mean you need to wait to save.

Amazon has some great deals on right now in its last minute Season’s Savings event.

Here are a few of the standouts:

• New Amazon Kindle (Matcha), £84.99 (was £94.99) – buy here
• New Ring Battery Video Doorbell, £69.99 (was £99.99) – buy here
• Amazon Fire TV Stick HD, £29.99 (was £39.99) – buy here
• Echo Pop (Newest gen), £18.99 (was £44.99) – buy here
• BaByliss Corded Electric Air Styler, £29.99 (was £75) – buy here
• Elemis Pro-Collagen Cleansing Balm, £28.08 (was £48) – buy here
• Versuni L’Or Barista Sublime Capsule Coffee Machine, £59.99 (was £109.99) – buy here
• Shark Stratos Corded Stick Vacuum, £169.99 (was £249.99) – buy here

What deals to expect in the Amazon Boxing Day sale?

Amazon is home to everything from your everyday essentials to the latest gaming goodies, so you can be sure to find a bargain on something in the sale.

We’ve covered its Boxing Day deals for a while now, and we can safely say the best discounts will come on its own smart tech – think Kindles, Fire tablets, TVs, and streaming sticks.

But there will also be discounts on your big name brands too, with the likes of Samsung, Ninja, Philips, and Revlon slashed.

Here are the top categories to shop:

• Lightning (flash) deals
• Amazon devices
• Tech
• Beauty
• Home appliances

When does the Amazon Boxing Day sale 2024 start?

Thursday, December 26th will see the Boxing Day sales officially kick off, but there’s no official word from Amazon on its sale dates just yet.

Amazon has been known to kick things off on Christmas Day, but right now the retail giant is offering shoppers savings in its Last Minute Season’s Savings event, with up to 55% off.

Our guess is that this will morph into the Boxing Day sale post-Christmas, with discounts continuing until the end of the year.

You’ll also be able to shop Amazon’s short lived ‘lightning deals’, but you’ll need to act fast on those. They offer the best discounts and if you blink you’ll miss them.

When does the Amazon Boxing Day sale end?

We predict that the sale will run until December 31st, that said, in all likelihood it will stretch further.

Amazon is no stranger to extending its Boxing Day sale well into the New Year.

In previous years, the January sale has kicked off hot on the heels of the Boxing Day event. The deals are often just as good and carry through until January 31st.

That gives shoppers plenty of opportunity to shop and treat themselves to those goodies Santa didn’t bring, or beat those January blues.

What was in Amazon’s Boxing Day sale last year?

Amazon’s sales never disappoint, and at any point in the sales calendar, it’s almost a shoo-in for big discounts.

For us Brits, the Boxing Day sales are something of a tradition, and we’ve seen some pretty great offers come from the retail giant in the past.

We may not have a crystal ball, but we do have eyes on what was on offer when we covered the sale last December, and we’re expecting more of the same.

Here’s a snapshot of some of the best deals from 2023:

Best tech deals

• Motast Smart Watch, £23.59 (was £32.99) – buy here
• Samsung Galaxy Watch4, £189 (was £239) – buy here
• Panasonic SC-HTB01 SoundSlayer Gaming Speaker, £199.99 (was £249) – buy here
• Nerunsa Smart Watch, £19.19 (was £39.99) – buy here

Best smart home deals

• Amazon Fire TV 32-inch 2 Series HD smart TV,  £229.99 (was £249.99) – buy here
• Amazon Fire TV 43-inch Omni QLED series 4K UHD smart TV, £499 (was £549.99) – buy here
• Amazon Fire HD 8 Kids tablet, £99.99 (was £149.99) – buy here
• Amazon Fire TV Stick, £34.99 (was £44.99) – buy here
• Echo Dot 5 + Meross Smart Plug, £44.99 (was £83.98) – buy here

Best Home Appliance deals

• Samsung Jet Bot Robot Vacuum Cleaner Max 60W Suction Power, £389 (was £599.99) – buy here
• Ninja Foodi MAX Dual Zone Digital Air Fryer, £179 (was £249.99) – buy here
• Tower T17021 Family Size Air Fryer, £36.99 (was £69.99) – buy here

Best Hair and Beauty deals

• Revlon Salon One-Step hair dryer and volumiser, £31.99 (was £62.99) – buy here
• Philips Sonicare DiamondClean 9000 Black Electric Toothbrush, £159.99 (was £349) – buy here

What is Amazon’s Christmas returns policy?

Amazon often extends its return window over the festive season, which is great news for shoppers during one of the busiest retail seasons.

For 2024, most items purchased between November 1 and December 25 will be eligible for return until January 31, 2025 or within 30 days from receipt, whichever comes later.

You’ll notice that doesn’t include the Boxing Day sale, so any items purchased during the post-Christmas sale will be subject to the standard 30 day return window.

To avoid any disappointment, head to the Amazon returns page to find out more.

How to get Amazon Prime for free?

Becoming an Amazon Prime member is your route to a smooth and perks filled shopping experience with Amazon.

The membership costs £8.99 per month, or £95 annually, but gets you access to exclusive member only discounts, early access to sales, and Prime Video originals.

But you can test it all out for free by signing up for Amazon’s free 30-day Prime trial offer.

All you need to do is head to the Amazon sign-up page, sign up and create an account if you don’t already have one and you’re ready to enjoy the perks.

How much is Amazon delivery?

If you’re a Prime member,  you’ll enjoy free delivery on most items as a perk of your membership, but it’s worth checking before you buy.

For non-members, there will likely be delivery fees to factor in as part of the deal costs, but this varies from as little as 99p to £4.49.

Amazon Boxing Day Sale

LIAM Handley didn’t seem like a typical lung cancer patient.

The 36-year-old from Glossop, in Derbyshire, was young, fit and a non-smoker – but he did have anxiety.

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As a non-smoker, no one thought Liam could have lung cancer[/caption]

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Liam started to develop chest pain, which doctors put down to anxiety (Pictured with his parents)[/caption]

So when the dad-of-four started experiencing chest pains, his GP put it down to stress and increased his anxiety medication.

“I don’t think lung cancer was ever considered,” said Liam’s mum, Lynn.

“He didn’t fit the stereotype. He was young, healthy, and didn’t smoke. And herein lies the problem.”

Despite multiple visits to his GP, Liam was never referred for a chest X-ray.

The pain got so severe that his dad, Gordon, rushed him to the hospital, fearing a heart attack.

Doctors found blood clots in his lungs, but still no one suspected cancer.

Liam’s symptoms persisted and worsened over time.

He also began experiencing pain in his shoulders and lower back, for which he was prescribed strong painkillers.

It wasn’t until he paid for the private CT scan that the dad got the devastating news.

The scan confirmed lung cancer that had already spread to his liver, spine, and lymph nodes.

He also had a fracture to his pelvis and back.

The family was devastated.

“We were also so angry,” said Lynn. “It had taken so long – around nine months – to get the diagnosis.

“These were all precious months that could have made a difference to Liam’s prognosis and given us more time with our beautiful boy.”

Further tests revealed that Liam had a genetically mutated form of lung cancer called adenocarcinoma EGFR Exon 19 positive.

This type of cancer typically affects people with little to no history of smoking.

The dad was provided with a spinal brace that he had to wear 24/7.

He was restricted to lying flat, unable to sit up more than 30 degrees, and was not allowed to leave his bed

Why didn’t his GP send him for chest x-rays? Why didn’t they question why a healthy 36-year-old, young man was having severe chest pain?

LynnLiam's mum

Liam started treatment, including targeted therapy. And for a while, it seemed to work.

By December 2020, he was well enough to marry his long-term partner, Louise.

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The dad-of-four went on to discover he had lung cancer that had already spread to his liver, spine, and lymph nodes[/caption]

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Despite chemotherapy and immunotherapy, Liam passed away leaving behind his children and wife Louise (pictured)[/caption]

But tragically, by April 2021, Liam started to experience chest pain again and began to get quite out of breath.

Scans revealed the treatment was no longer working and his cancer was growing again.

‘Being a non-smoker worked against him’

Despite chemotherapy and immunotherapy, Liam passed away in October 2021, just 36 years old.

“We are left with so many questions,” said Lynn.

“Why didn’t his GP send him for chest x-rays? Why didn’t they question why a healthy 36-year-old, young man was having severe chest pain?

“How was the cancer not found when he was admitted to hospital with blood clots?”

Now, in his memory, the family is helping to raise awareness through Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation’s Let Go of the Labels campaign.

“We can only think that the label of non-smoker worked against Liam,” his mum added.

“The fact that he didn’t smoke clouded the doctor’s view so lung cancer was never considered.”

Paula Chadwick, chief executive of the charity, said: “Lung cancer is still so intrinsically linked to smoking,

“But the reality is anyone can get this disease, regardless of if they have smoked or not.”

TYSON FURY gets back in the ring on Saturday night for a highly-anticipated rematch against Oleksandr Usyk.

The Ukrainian won via a split decision in their thrilling first bout back in February.

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Tyson Fury will came away with plenty of cash if not the belts on Saturday night[/caption]

Reuters

Usyk became the undisputed heavyweight champion thanks to his ninth round onslaught last time.

But he has since had to give up one of his belts to Daniel Dubois, who then retained it by shocking the boxing world with a knockout win over Anthony Joshua.

There is still three titles on the line (WBA, WBO and WBC) in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on Saturday night.

Only one man can get their hands on the belts, but both Usyk, 37, and Fury, 36, are guaranteed to walk away with huge pay cheques.

What is Tyson Fury’s net worth?

Forbes claim his net worth is £40million – but others suggest it could be way higher.

Before his rematch against Usyk, the Gypsy King had already banked £39.5m this year.

That figure, which will rise, already makes him the 42nd highest paid sportsman in the world this year.

And it is not just mega-money fights where Fury makes his millions.

CASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERS

He also has his own Furocity energy drink, owns a number of bars, has three best-selling books and is endorsed by brands like Lucozade.

Fury was also well paid for his Netflix reality TV show “At Home with the Furys“.

Though he will not be giving his seven kids a penny, explaining: “I want my kids to get their own money, do their own things and be their own people.

“I don’t believe in just giving all your money to your kids but it will make them weak, spoiled and not value anything, worthless.

“They’ll end up getting to 35 and never having done anything for themselves, apart from spending dad’s money.”

How much is he getting paid for Usyk rematch?

Reports suggest the fighters are getting in the ring for a whopping £150m purse.

The split of that figure is not yet known, but having won their first meeting, Usyk could be taking home more than his rival this time around.

Fury has admitted money is the motivation behind this rematch.

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Fury took home more cash last time despite Usyk winning[/caption]

How much has Tyson Fury earned from his previous fights?

The dust-up with Usyk back in February was for a purse of £115m.

Fury is understood to have collected £85m of that after an agreement was sealed for him to get the majority.

When the Morecambe-born boxer came up against Francis Ngannou a year ago, he received a cheque for £65m.

Another of Fury’s iconic clashes was the last bout of the Deontay Wilder trilogy three years ago, which has been labelled the best bout of all-time.

The Brit reportedly earned £22m, plus 60 per cent of the pay per view revenue that night.

RYAN Clark is fuming on social media over a segment involving Aaron Rodgers.

Clark took to X on Tuesday to air out his grievances with The Pat McAfee Show hosting Rodgers.

First Take

Ryan Clark has been called out by Aaron Rodgers for calling him out on First Take[/caption]

AP

Rodgers went on a two-minute tirade against Clark on The Pat McAfee Show[/caption]

Clark asked for time to speak on the Pat McAfee Show regarding being “jealous.”

“Think @PatMcAfeeShow is still on YT,” he wrote.

“Texted and FaceTimed the number I have. Would love to clear up this whole ‘jealous’ thing!

“I’m in South Bend this week though. I’ll walk out if we can’t connect. Quick convo sets it straight.

“Got no issue with dude unless he has 1 with me.”

The beef seemingly stems from Rodgers’ appearance on Tuesday where he called out some NFL media personalities live on air.

“I know I gotta say this multiple times for people because they don’t listen,” he said.

“Say whatever the f*** you want about me, I don’t care. But before you do it, whether you state your name, your accolades, your pronouns, whatever it is, just state your vax status so anything you say after get puts in the right light.

“Then when you say things about me, people can at least be like “Oh you are captured by the multibillion-dollar propaganda psyop.

“Just put that in so everybody knows where you’re coming from.”

While it didn’t sound like Rodgers was targeting anyone specifically, he eventually made a statement that was directly towards Clark.

“You don’t just need a broach with your initials in it,” Rodgers said.

“Put your vax status on there too.”

Rodgers directly called out an outfit Clark wore on First Take where he wore a broach with the initials “RC” while talking about Rodgers.

While Clark is hoping to get on The Pat McAfee Show to talk about the beef with Rodgers, it seems that more fans are on the New York Jets quarterback’s side and shared on social media.

“Sad to see you became so soft,” one fan said.

“You were up there calling Aaron Rodgers a fraud and a terrible leader among other things and now that you’ve been called on your BS you’re back pedaling faster than you ever did as a player,” another fan said.

“Take it up with Aaron, don’t use Pat to try and flex,” a third fan said.

“Dish it but can’t take it lol,” a fourth fan said.

“U doing too much now bro. U said what u said, that man has a right to say something back,” a fifth fan said.

SOME say snow fall can be a magical sight but many change their mind when it settles on their car overnight.

While a crisp layer of powder may be aesthetically pleasing, it can cause trouble for motorists if they don’t take care of their cars properly.

Snowy rooftop

There is no law stating it is illegal to drive with snow on your car but there is a risk of it obstructing your vision – or impacting other drivers.

The Highway Code sets out that if driving in harsh weather conditions you must, by law, be able to see out of every glass panel in your vehicle.

This is supported by the section 41D of the Road Traffic Act 1988, meaning it is a legal requirement to have a clear view of the road ahead before you set off.

Failure to do so could incur a fine, but more importantly could place your life, the lives of others in danger.

Fine it

If you are caught driving with snow on your car (potentially even on the roof) by police, you can be given a £60 fine and have three penalty points added to your licence.

This is because the snow from your car roof could easily fall on to your windscreen, affecting your visibility while on your journey.

However unintentional, this could mean you end up driving with snow obscuring your view, which would be classed as ‘driving without due consideration’ or ‘using a motor vehicle in a dangerous condition’.

Bryn Brooker, head of road safety at Nextbase stressed drivers could be issued an “instant fine” for this reason.

“It might be surprising, but police have the power to issue an instant £60 fine and three penalty points if they see snow on your vehicle or falling off while you are driving.”

The same applies if an officer sees snow fall on to the road from your vehicle.

The fine falls in line with section 229 of the Highway code, which outlines correct guidelines for driving in adverse weather conditions.

The rule states that drivers must “remove all snow that might fall off into the path of other road users” as it could pose a potential hazard for other drivers.

Windscreen worries

Waking to a thick layer of snow on the windscreen can be an annoying start to the day.

However it pays to clean the snow from your windscreen before setting off as it could be dangerous for your and others.

Failure to properly clear the windscreen of snow or ice from your windscreen can result in the driver receiving a fixed penalty notice under the CU20 penalty code. 

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Better to clear your windscreen and roof for optimal vision[/caption]

Using a vehicle with parts or accessories in a “dangerous condition” could result in a fine of up to £1,000 and three penalty points.

Simply removing the ice from the driver’s side of the windscreen is not enough – you must de-ice the entire area, using the wipers when the ice has melted.

Highway Code rule 229 states that all of your windows need clearing and demisting.

Although it may seem like a major hassle when in a rush to get to work, it could prove an expensive shortcut if you do not clear all your window panels of snow before setting off on your journey.

The Highway Code stipulates that if you’re driving in adverse weather conditions you must, by law, be able to see out of every glass panel in your vehicle to ensure you have maximum visibility. 

Your vehicle licence plate must also be visible.

A representative from the AA has warned that drivers could suffer harsher penalties if snow falls from their car on to another vehicle as they could then be charged with “driving without reasonable consideration for other road users”.

This road law carries a £100 fine and as many as nine penalty points if an accident is caused.

Jack Cousens, Head of Roads Policy for the AA, said: “If snow on the roof of your car falls off on to your windscreen, or flies into the path of another car, then you could find yourself in trouble which was completely avoidable.

“With the help of a soft brush and very little effort, you can avoid any penalties by sweeping the snow away.”

“Storing your car under a roof can help – and it’s got a nice side benefit, too. 

“If you can, parking in a garage or somewhere undercover can save you time as well as keeping you in the warm a bit longer,” Cousens said.

Not worth a fine

You can receive a £60 fine if you are caught by police driving with snow on your car, or if snow falls from your vehicle.

If snow falls from your car on to another vehicle, you could be fined £100.

In an extreme case where an incident has ended up in court, the consequences could be even more severe.

A driver could be charged with “careless driving” and face a sanction of between 3-9 points and a fine capped at £5,000.

You can also be fined for failing to clear frost entirely from the windscreen and de-icing with your engine running could void your car insurance.

TARGET has come under fire again for its maximum item policy at self-checkouts.

One unhappy shopper took to social media to complain after he was left unable to pay for his goods.

Photo by: Jeffrey Greenberg/Universal Images Group via Getty Images - Getty

Target is under fire again for its self-checkout item limit[/caption]

He exceeded the store’s limit with more than 10 products – but there were no manned check-outs open.

“When you limit the self checkout to 10 items, but don’t have any employee-run registers open … please explain,” posted Charles C on X.

Voicing his frustration he continued: “And then I’m told I can’t use the self checkout because too many items but no one is available to work a register…. Cmon now. Shouldn’t be like this.”

It would seem Target recognizes there’s a problem with their system as a spokesperson responding on X said: “I understand how this can be frustrating, thank you for sharing your feedback.

“We hear that the new checkout process isn’t working. And it sounds like we’re not staffing enough team members at the register.”

The spokesperson also asked which store was involved, but so far, there has been no post in reply.

SELF-CHECKOUT WOES

It’s the latest in a series of complaints directed at Target and other retailers about customers’ bad experiences at check-out.

Target employees have been rigorously enforcing the maximum number of goods allowed at self-checkout kiosks, which has added to shoppers’ dissatisfaction.

And this is made worse by self-checkout machines that aren’t working properly, as well as lack of manned lanes open.

Target introduced the 10-item limit in Fall 2023 in response to queues at self-checkouts – with stores in Maine reporting lines of over 50 customers waiting to pay for their goods.

The policy was then rolled out to other locations, but it has not been welcomed by frustrated shoppers.

The retailer has been accused of adding to waiting times and so increasing people’s stress levels.

As the U.S Sun reported recently, Target bosses say they want to provide shoppers with a fast and easy experience.

They intend to open extra manned checkout lanes, which will reduce queues but also benefit those customers who don’t like using self-checkout.

In response to complaints earlier this year on X and reported here, Target wrote: “We’re prioritizing full-service check lanes to support our guests during the entire day and intend to open Express Self-Checkout to support busier times.”

Target isn’t the only retailer to have introduced a maximum limit on products that can be processed through self-checkouts.

Other retailers too have introduced the measure in a bid to cut theft in their stores.

Walmart has come under fire in locations where it has introduced item limits – thought their limit is 15 items and doesn’t apply to all stores.

Schnucks is another chain that rolled out a max of 10 items for self-checkout, however bosses relaxed that rule after backlash from customers and the limit is now 15 products.

The restriction on the number of items allowed to be purchased via self-checkout is in response to increasing levels of theft from stores.

FORGET the nuts – squirrels have developed a taste for meat, according to shock new footage.

The rodent has been spotted by stunned scientists hunting and feeding on voles.

Sonja Wild/UC Davis

A number of squirrels in a California park were seen hunting voles[/caption]

Sonja Wild/UC Davis

Not clear when squirrels started eating voles – or why[/caption]

Sonja Wild/UC Davis

Scientists couldn’t believe their eyes[/caption]

Ground squirrels are considered a granivorous species, eating seeds and grains.

But it turns out they’re more of an opportunistic omnivore with flexible diets that includes other eating animals.

During an observation in California this year, squirrels were seen chomping on voles.

And it wasn’t just a one off either – out of 74 tracked by scientists between June and July, four in ten were spotted actively hunting.

Those documented varied in age and gender – and even competed for the tiny creatures.

“This was shocking,” admitted lead author Jennifer E. Smith, associate professor of biology at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire.

“We had never seen this behaviour before.

“Squirrels are one of the most familiar animals to people.

“We see them right outside our windows; we interact with them regularly.

“Yet here’s this never-before-encountered-in-science behaviour that sheds light on the fact that there’s so much more to learn about the natural history of the world around us.”

Dr Sonja Wild from the University of California, Davis has studied hundreds of squirrels in nature and wasn’t even sure what the students were referring to when they flagged it.

“I could barely believe my eyes,” she said.

“From then, we saw that behaviour almost every day. Once we started looking, we saw it everywhere.”

The strange development peaked during the first two weeks of July, when an explosion of vole numbers where reported at Briones Regional Park in Contra Costa County, California.

This has led scientists to believe that the squirrels’ new hunting came about due to temporary surge in availability of juicy prey.

Throughout their research, the squirrels were not caught feeding on any other mammals.

But experts say there are many questions still to answer – are these types of hunting tendencies widespread and how do squirrels learn about it.

“The fact that California ground squirrels are behaviourally flexible and can respond to changes in food availability might help them persist in environments rapidly changing due to the presence of humans,” Wild added. 

The study was published in the Journal of Ethology.