I Am Still Here, an independent film, has won Best Feature at the Nice Film Festival. The film follows the story of Layla, played by Aliyah Conley, a 10-year old girl of colour who is abducted into the sex trade. It follows the next 48 hours of torment at the hands of her captors.

The trailer is very difficult to watch. In the beginning, we see her being kidnapped and thrown into a van, where she screams as she's being gagged. Layla wakes up in a brothel, dizzy and disoriented, indicating she may have been drugged. Drugging victims to make them more compliant is a tool of torture that traffickers are known to use.

It is heartbreaking when she says "I want my mommy," through sobs that sound terrifyingly real. She is told by her captors that she has a "new family," and is introduced to more young trafficked girls as "sisters." In various scenes, we see Layla being assaulted by her abductors, the other young victims, and johns. In one particularly heart-wrenching scene she is curled up in a ball covered in injuries, and in another she is crying in a bathroom while a man looms menacingly over her tiny frame. But we also see the police working to rescue her.

There's still so much work to be done to ensure that the law protects victims of trafficking. The United Nations says that "sexual exploitation [is] noted as by far the most commonly identified form of human trafficking (79%) followed by forced labour (18%)."

Senator Heidi Heitkamp, D-ND, spoke to Refinery29 about the the legislation she co-sponsored, the Stop, Observe, Ask and Respond (SOAR) to Health and Wellness Act which was passed earlier this year in the US. The SOAR Act trains healthcare professionals to recognise signs of trafficking, which was the biggest request she heard directly from the families of victims.

It's also important that Layla is played by a young actress of colour. Actress Gabrielle Union explained in Essence that girls of colour are disproportionately more likely to be victims of child sex trafficking.

The film was both directed and written by Mischa Marcus, who tells Deadline that a child sex trafficking ring was busted in her area, which "shook [her] to [her] core." She studied the crime extensively before creating the film, and the trailer notes that the film is based on actual events.

Watch it below, but please note the sobering subject matter is graphically portrayed. The next stateside screening of I Am Still Here is in Harlem, NY on June 1 (UK release TBC).

If you have experienced sexual violence of any kind, please visit Rape Crisis or call 0808 802 9999.

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After a successful mission studying the rings and moons of Jupiter and the landing of the Mars rover, NASA is turning its eyes towards the sun. In a release posted to its website, NASA explained that a solar probe is set to launch in the summer of 2018.

Solar Probe Plus already has a nifty countdown clock on its website, so you can plan accordingly around the historic launch, which should happen between July 31 and August 19, 2018, if everything goes according to plan. After launching, the probe will begin its exploration, zooming past Venus and Mercury on its way to orbit the sun.

When it arrives at the sun, the Solar Probe Plus will make itself at home four million miles above the sun's surface. According to NASA, from there, the probe will "explore the sun's outer atmosphere and make critical observations." Scientists are already loading up the Solar Probe Plus with advanced tech. The Energetic Particle Instrument-Low Energy (EPI-Lo), is the first thing to get installed. It'll measure the low-energy particles that come off of the sun, but scientists are still adding more and more to the probe, so there's no telling just what information it'll send back when it's fully locked and loaded. Back in April, the probe got its cooling system installed, which is probably pretty important for something that's basically face-to-face with the sun itself.

NASA hopes that the Space Probe Plus will offer further insight into the sun's effect on space weather as well as the physics that happen within it. Plus, researchers are hoping to use information gathered by the probe to improve the conditions faced by astronauts and satellites in space, so this isn't just a fun jaunt to get some rays.

Anyone looking to tune into the live announcement, which will be held at the University of Chicago’s William Eckhardt Research Center Auditorium, can check out NASA TV on Wednesday.

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Climate change caused by human emissions of greenhouse gases is wreaking havoc on our planet — from heat waves to heavy rainstorms to higher sea levels, the consequences of global warming are far-reaching. The mere thought of the irreversible damage being done to our planet is enough to leave us tossing and turning at night. But as it turns out, there's a scientific reason that climate change is making us lose sleep.

Many of us have had the experience of struggling to fall and stay asleep during a heat wave — especially if we don't have air conditioning. A newly published paper in the journal Science Advances predicts that as global temperatures continue to rise an increasing number of people will lose sleep.

This side effect of climate change will disproportionately affect certain demographics — specifically, people who can't afford to run their air conditioning all night, and the elderly, who have a harder time regulating their body temperature.

According to the researchers' calculations, an extra six nights of sleeplessness can be expected every month for every 100 Americans by 2050. That number will surge to 14 nights per month by 2099 if global emissions continue at their current level.

Sleep deprivation is miserable, but it's more than a mere inconvenience. Chronic sleep loss is associated with a number of serious health issues, including heart disease, diabetes, and obesity. It has also been shown to have negative effects on memory, attention, and processing abilities. And, for self-explanatory reasons, sleep deprivation is linked to bad moods and, in more serious cases, depression.

The study's lead author, Nick Obradovich, says the effects will likely be far worse in areas of the world with higher poverty rates.

“When I started the study, it wasn’t clear to me that we would even observe an effect in the US because we do have air conditioning here,” he said. “The fact that we do observe an effect makes me think that it we had data from India or Brazil, we would observe a much larger effect.”

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I have never seen into Ian Hislop’s eyes. But I can see into his soul, and I know he’s a good man. A grumpy chestnut mushroom of a man, with a receding patch of fluff on his bald spot, the Have I Got News For You panellist’s face is nearly always screwed up, either in anger or with laughter. Lately, though, his grimace has made way for a more mournful, drooped visage. Because if we’d all listened to this remarkable man’s mutterings, moanings and gripes, and followed his suggestions, the UK wouldn’t be in such a state right now.

Ian is just another nasal-voiced, white, middle-class guy in a suit on a panel show. On paper, he’s why panel shows are awful. But he’s the exception that proves the rule, in part because of his chuckles, in part because he’s spent all of his working life speaking truth to power and, in the process, risking financial destitution via a bunch of libel cases (don’t sue me!).

If Have I Got News For You is the gateway drug, news and current affairs magazine Private Eye is the hard stuff that Ian’s hooked me on. Ensconced in its editor’s chair for over 30 years, Ian was an obnoxiously young 26 when he started in the role. Though private schooling and an Oxford education can be thanked for forming the sturdier rungs of Ian’s career ladder, he deserves credit for his bravery.

Because in both his roles, Ian calls out everything and everyone from Vivienne Westwood’s tax dealings to ex-police chief Gordon Anglesea's paedophilia, from the Conservatives’ inability to posit an election policy beyond “Jeremy Corbyn is Labour leader” to the murkiness of the UK’s arms deals with Middle Eastern countries. A furious critic of the European Union’s leadership, Ian still thinks that the result of the EU referendum doesn’t mean Remainers should hush up now. Under Ian’s editorship, Private Eye has launched investigations into everything from offshore companies buying up British property to MPs’ expenses, from phone-hacking to various officials’, companies’ and publications’ hypocritical conflicts of interest.

More British people than ever realise that traditional pillars of society like the government and the press aren’t always to be trusted. And many readers have flocked to Private Eye, which is now at a 55-year high in its circulation. Unlike the nonsense fake news sites which peddle damaging myths both left and right, the Eye has no agenda other than to prod at, and make fun of, people who are doing, objectively, the wrong thing. Also unlike fake news, Private Eye is not online.

Its website, a bunch of banners telling visitors to buy the magazine, is as sparsely populated and poorly decorated as a Cotswolds branch of Budgens. This is down to Ian, and it should annoy me; does he not care about Private Eye ’s future in a digital world? But instead, it endears me: reading Private Eye is not only as old-school as using a Moleskine diary, it renders you part of a secret club.

There are times when Ian may exclude certain people, though. In a recent item satirising the endless trend of female journalists reviewing new wellness routines, The Telegraph ’s columnist Bryony Gordon was mocked in Private Eye for her appearance while running. But Bryony was training to run the marathon in aid of a mental health charity; was it really worth sniggering at her body? Similarly, another recent item grumbled that an award for writers of colour was somehow discriminatory. A glance at Private Eye ’s letters page shows that it's got its own work to do regarding diversity.

Perhaps I’m giving Ian the benefit of the doubt here, but I’d hope he’d not make these mistakes again. He’s got spectacular previous form for punching upwards, not down, and I’ve got a hunch he’d be on the right side of any fight if he knew enough about the subject. Plus, when it comes to latching onto Generation Z-level woke interpretations of what is objectively good and bad in the world, Private Eye is getting stuck in. As well as criticising companies offering or auctioning unpaid internships, the magazine has directed snark towards both that Pepsi advert, and Sadiq Khan’s apparent forgetfulness in light of another Kardashian-Jenner’s advertising. Remember when Protein World’s “Beach Body Ready” signs provoked the London mayor to promise an end to sexist adverts on the Tube? The very same company, via posters of trim spokesmodel Khloe Kardashian, is flogging the same products, under the slogan “Can you keep up with a Kardashian?” On the Tube!

More seasoned journalists than I can vouch for Ian’s purity: after embarrassing Piers Morgan (long-nicknamed “Piers Moron” in Private Eye), investigators were ordered by the then- Mirror editor to dig for an exposé on Ian, soon finding that he’s totally clean. But it doesn’t take a genius to know that Ian is one of our brightest minds. Maybe that’ll give him something to smile about again.

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For fans of rosé who don't have Rihanna budgets (Bad Gal Riri has a fridge fully stocked with Miraval Côtes de Provence, the £19 rosé from Brad and Angelina's vineyards), there's a bottle out there that won't drain your summer vacation budget and still gets high marks. And believe it or not, the clutch rosé comes from Aldi. Delish reports that the discount supermarket chain's £5.99 in-house rosé, Exquisite Collection Côtes de Provence Rosé, earned a silver medal at the International Wine Challenge.

Considered the Oscars of winemaking, the International Wine Challenge pits wines against each other — whether they're super-expensive wines or more affordable — to find the best of the best. This year, Aldi's pink vino topped the list. The rosé earned that silver medal thanks to its "strawberry, white fruit and subtle spice" flavours, according to The Sun.

"It has been a huge year for innovation at Aldi. We've not only expanded our sparkling range, but also introduced a brand new French initiative," Tony Baines, Aldi's joint managing director of corporate buying, told The Sun. "We have been working closely with renowned winemaker Jean Claude Mas to change perceptions around French wine, which is often perceived as expensive and intimidating, so it is fantastic to see some of these products acknowledged as some of the best in the world."

Not a fan of the pink stuff? Aldi's other options also ranked pretty high. Fans of bubbles have a few options to try out: Aldi's Lot 25 Prosecco (£9.99) and limited-edition Organic Prosecco (£7.99) also picked up medals at the international event. It's been a good year for wine at Aldi. The store reports that sales have jumped 15% now that its expanded its options. With award-winning choices at rock-bottom prices, what's not to love?

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When a collection is showcased against a backdrop of some of the most famous paintings in the world, from Rubens, Titian and Velázquez to Raphael, Botticelli and Caravaggio, it takes the boldest, richest clothes to distract from those Renaissance masterpieces. But Alessandro Michele, Gucci's creative director, lauded for his flamboyant, maximalist, eccentric designs, was easily able to retain the attention of the international editors flown into Florence – more specifically, the gilded, sumptuous rooms of the Palatine Gallery in the Palazzo Pitti – for the 2018 Cruise show.

Cruise collections are undoubtedly the most lavish and spectacular shows in the fashion calendar (remember Dior's, held earlier this month in the middle of the Californian wilderness?), inviting the leading fashion press to far-flung destinations for unforgettable presentations. So why did Michele choose Florence, following last year's Cruise show held in the magnificent Westminster Abbey? "Florence is still one of the most fascinating metropolises of the past. I adore the classical pieces of our culture, the Greek and Roman are still inside and everywhere, it’s impossible to disconnect. I feel very comfortable here," Michele explained to WWD backstage. "The very beginning of European aesthetics started from Florence. Everything here was beauty, money and creativity, the power of the good money."

Heavily inspired by the historical Florentine setting, Michele's collection was an ode to the Renaissance but with a contemporary rock 'n' roll twist. With 115 looks shown in quick succession, drawing on disparate trends from the 16th century right up to the present day, there really was something for everyone. The opening look – a vivid green qipao-esque dress worn over blue patterned trousers, finished off with a pink bow – was followed by quilted coats, mink furs, cricket jumpers, colourful lace, sporty zip-ups, rugby-striped tops, puffer jackets, silk bombers, rich embroidery, paisley print, embellished lumberjack shirts, brocade and even a metallic purple flared-leg suit, worn by musician (and former Klaxon) James Righton. Numerous looks were completed with gold laurel crowns as a nod to the ancient world, and the fauna and flora prints with which we've grown so familiar since Michele took the creative helm in 2015, were as prevalent as the Gucci logo.

This season, the words 'Guccy', 'Guccification', and 'Guccify Yourself' were emblazoned across garments, perfect for the droves of loyal fans eagerly waiting to clothe themselves in the latest Gucci wares and accessories as soon as they drop. Celebrity fans Jared Leto, Elton John, Beth Ditto (who performed at the afterparty), Dakota Johnson, Saoirse Ronan and Dev Hynes sat keenly in the front row – all in full-look Gucci, of course.

As Michele's Gucci empire only continues to grow and he keeps hold of his title as the current king of fashion, this collection – similar in style to all those that preceded it (though perhaps with even more print, pattern and layered references) – ought to have been as well received as ever. However, as the show concluded last night, eagle-eyed fashion enthusiasts noticed that one particular look, a fur zip-up jacket with balloon monogrammed sleeves, was remarkably similar to a creation by '80s Harlem designer, Dapper Dan, made for Olympic medallist Diane Dixon. Whether this was meant as a tribute to the shop-owner who outfitted countless hip hop stars in the '80s and '90s is unclear. But this is not the first time Michele has been criticised for apparently copying someone else's ideas. Last month the designer came under fire for the alien characters in the Gucci AW17 campaign, which were noticeably similar to the work of Central Saint Martins womenswear student Pierre-Louis Auvray. Michele swiftly refuted all claims of plagiarism so we'll have to wait and see if he responds regarding Dapper Dan.

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How many tricks, treatments and formulas have you tried to keep your hair in optimum condition? From long-loved conditioners to next-gen serums, there’s an endless line of products out there promising to deliver the kind of swishy, shiny hair you see in adverts. But what if, in the quest for our best hair yet, we’ve been neglecting something that can truly make a difference?

When you consider that the follicle is the only living part of your hair (the fibre is dead, so you can’t make it ‘healthier’), it seems crazy that we don’t pay it a little more TLC. Anabel Kingsley, trichologist at Philip Kingsley, explains: "The scalp is the bedrock for the hair follicle, and if it is not in good condition, the chances of you experiencing problems with hair growth and health increase significantly. In fact, research has proven that a flaky, itchy scalp can cause and/or worsen hair loss in certain individuals."

Just as with your complexion, there are many factors that can cause issues on the scalp. “There are various ways that the scalp can become damaged – these include unbalanced sebum levels, an excess build-up of product, sunburn, and using too-hot water to wash your hair,” adds Michael Lendon, advanced creative director at Aveda Lifestyle Salon and Spa, Covent Garden.

But panic not, because there are plenty of ways to remedy a suffering scalp. According to Lendon, the best way to begin is with deep, effective cleansing – cleansing is for your scalp, while shampooing is for the strands. “Essentially, the scalp is an extension of your face and skin – and should be treated in a similar manner. It is pivotal that the scalp is kept in a good condition and is balanced, as a healthy scalp will in turn lead to healthy-looking, gorgeous hair.” As Anabel adds, we should be cleansing at least every two days in order to remove oils, sweat, dirt, and environmental pollutants: “If you wash your hair infrequently, your scalp is likely to become irritated and you’re also more likely to get blocked pores and pimples. Your hair may also start to smell.” And once you’ve washed, be equally loving with the hairbrush: “Imagine what your forehead would look like if you raked it with bristles. The same applies to your scalp. Choose a brush that is gentle – the best are those with rounded, plastic prongs. Metal-pronged brushes can scratch the scalp and be quite damaging.”

Unsurprisingly, your diet is pivotal, too. “Certain foods can trigger dandruff flare-ups and make them worse,” says Kingsley. “They are not the same for everyone, but the most common are full-fat dairy products (especially cheese), spicy and sugary foods, as well as white wine and champagne. You can work out yours by process of elimination. Stress can also exacerbate flaking and itching. We often suggest yoga, Pilates and mindfulness to manage stress levels. At our clinics in London and New York, we encourage clients to eat a 120g portion of a ‘complete protein’ with breakfast and lunch when nutrient requirements are greatest. Good examples are eggs, fish, lean meat, poultry and low-fat cottage cheese. If you are a vegan or vegetarian, you must be mindful of food combination, as well as quantity, to make sure you are intaking all essential amino acids and in great enough amounts.”

So you’ve got the techniques down, but what about the products? Click through for our round-up of the most effective scalp saviours.

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Prime Minister Theresa May and opposition leader Jeremy Corbyn faced a grilling on Channel 4/Sky News last night ahead of the general election, which is now just over a week away (yes, really). But Tory HQ might be regretting letting the PM loose on live TV, as her performance is being widely mocked on social media.

Yes, we've learned to take the prevailing "consensus" on social media with a grain of salt, thanks to the 2015 general election and EU referendum results. Our Twitter accounts tend to be echo chambers of our own beliefs, and it's tricky to know what impact (if any) the grilling will have on the election result.

But that doesn't mean we can't enjoy the GIFs people are sharing to mock May's performance. #TheresaMayGIFs began trending last night and people are still using it to characterise her appearance as shoddy and counterproductive to the Tory cause.

Theresa May's election campaign so far. #TheresaMayGifs pic.twitter.com/vcgL2zZ3qw

— David Schneider (@davidschneider) May 29, 2017

#theresamaygifs Strong & Stable. pic.twitter.com/yskJ8Pmo3q

— Dom SP (@DomCMM) May 29, 2017

Theresa May's response when asked to do another public debate. #TheresaMayGIFs #BattleForNumber10 pic.twitter.com/AFNnRbmfxl

— Elliot Newstead (@ejnewstead) May 29, 2017

How Theresa May expected it to go vs how it actually went.#TheresaMayGIFs pic.twitter.com/uRukcKnhe6

— Stuart Brown (@StuartLeeBrown) May 29, 2017

@OwenJones84 @theresa_may Theresa May when she comes within 5 miles of a real question on her uncosted manifesto #TheresaMayGIFs pic.twitter.com/2fERL1yHGp

— Ashley Borges (@aborgestweets) May 29, 2017

After 30 minutes of waffling on... #TheresaMayGifs #BattleForNumber10 pic.twitter.com/mN2kIRKGsR

— Peter J Holland (@PeterjHolland) May 29, 2017

When faced with a member of the actual public #BattleForNumber10 #theresamaygifs pic.twitter.com/NmcPXKFp54

— JocMoran (@JocelynMoran18) May 29, 2017

Watching May crumble on #BattleForNumber10. Reaffirmed everything I knew about her - disaster #TheresaMayGIFs pic.twitter.com/AcmSRFaJT9

— Cheryl Diane (@cheryldthomas1) May 29, 2017

Many have expressed empathy with Tory HQ.

#TheresaMayGifs Conservative PR department right now. pic.twitter.com/UnnK5A4ngs

— Emily Crawford (@Crawf28) May 29, 2017

#TheresaMayGIFs Tory HQ after TV debate pic.twitter.com/4F42Q4BfvA

— Steve Callen (@steve_callen) May 29, 2017

The mood at Conservative HQ tonight #TheresaMayGifs pic.twitter.com/jkQ5BmTHWY

— Jane Waring (@warijan) May 29, 2017

Corbyn supporters, meanwhile, are posting sassy GIFs to suggest they're feeling pretty pleased with themselves right now.

#TheresaMayGIFs - Jeremy Colbyn in action pic.twitter.com/aEhBkIRttF

— Dook Domini (@platinumshore) May 30, 2017

Nice try but... #TheresaMayGIFs pic.twitter.com/BvGyIpPdRg

— Niall Suibhne (@NiallSuibhne) May 29, 2017

Corbyn striding home tonight #TheresaMayGIFs pic.twitter.com/TnkaTKnSVD

— Ricki Lord (@Ricki2901) May 29, 2017

And while Theresa May GIFs continue to entertain, there's also a song calling her a "liar" sitting at number three in the UK iTunes download chart. The song, "Liar Liar GE2017", produced and performed by Captain Ska, lambasts the PM's impact on the NHS, poverty and education, and criticises the Tories' recent U-turns, including on calling the snap election.

"When there’s nurses going hungry and schools in decline I don’t recognise this broken country of mine," the lyrics read. All profits from downloads between 26th May and the 8th June election with be split between food banks and the People’s Assembly Against Austerity.

if #TheresaMayGifs wasn't enough, #LiarLiarGe2017 is number 2 in the charts! pic.twitter.com/r3s3UCmHn6

— Yvette Dunn (@YvetteCDunn) May 30, 2017

Radio stations, including Capital FM and Heart, have so far refused to play the catchy track but a petition against this "censorship" has garnered more than 1,400 signatures at the time of writing.

The TV and radio regulator, Ofcom, says broadcasters must be impartial, but Captain Ska said they wouldn't necessarily be breaking the rules by playing a short section of the song or describing it on air.

Not convinced playing a short section of #LiarLiar or just describing the song/band is covered in this! More explanation needed @BigTop40! https://t.co/jutmiL2ZbE

— Captain SKA (@CaptainSKA) May 29, 2017

Either way, we don't envy the poor folks in the Tory press office right now.

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I love weddings. I love getting dressed up and watching friends celebrate their happily-ever-after, catching up with people I haven’t seen in years and drunkenly eating cake and cheese at midnight. Love it. But as I’ve gotten older, what was once an exercise in tequila tolerance and dance-floor stamina has given way to a new kind of challenge: adulthood one-upmanship.

Nobody’s walking around shouting about their achievements or besmirching those of others, of course (because that makes you a jerk), but during the reception’s inevitable cavalcade of interactions, the same things come up: careers, marriage, kids. "Are you going for a promotion?" "When are you two tying the knot then?" "Can we expect the pitter-patter of tiny feet soon?" Loaded questions, all of them, and as I discovered at a pal’s recent nuptials, a new contender has entered the ring: "Have you bought?"

"Bought what?" I thought, the first out of the four times I was asked. And then my brain kicked into gear. “Oh! You mean a house! Haha, hell no.” And then my conversational partner smiled politely and muttered something about the economy before heading to the bar, seemingly embarrassed that he’d put me in the position of admitting my financial shortcomings.

But why? It’s no secret that it’s harder than ever to get on the property ladder – the average deposit now stands at £33,000 and that’s not the sort of cash most people have lying around. You can’t so much as skim the headlines without seeing yet another depressing piece of research telling us that many millennials won’t ever be able to afford to own a home by themselves – and god help you if you’re in London, where the situation is, frankly, dire.

And yet as a nation we’re absolutely fixated on the idea of property ownership. On the continent, renting is the norm and, once upon a time – before Thatcher’s Britain, before the post-war flurry of rebuilding and development – it was the norm here, too (in 1918, 77% of UK families rented their homes). But now it seems we’re all expected to make the long pilgrimage towards owning a house – the holy grail of today's economic climate – whatever the cost.

I’ve seen friends mortgage themselves to the hilt to buy dilapidated sheds, marriages nearly destroyed by the stress involved in the knackering climb onto that first rung, and families face emotional and financial chaos as they try to get their fully-grown offspring into a nest of their own. Meanwhile, nights out, holidays, experiences – living – is put on the back burner for months and years in a bid to grow modest monthly savings into a monster deposit. And seldom does signing on the dotted line bring relief. Of my friends that do own, few actually love their homes – some don’t even like their homes – but it’s a hard-won first step so "it’ll do".

I get it. I’ve lived in enough rented crapshacks and forked out enough money on mysterious letting agency fees to understand the appeal of a pile of bricks and mortar that is truly yours. I’d like, one day, to experience the giddy thrill of waking up in a bedroom that isn’t painted magnolia. But the reality is, that probably won’t be the case until my parents pass away (so obviously I’m not in any rush for that), or I move into a place similar to my post-uni digs where everything is inexplicably painted a blinding shade of aquamarine.

And I’ve made peace with this, because as much as I begrudge lining my landlord’s pockets with my hard-earned cash, the alternative – the scrimping, the saving, the arguments with friends and family, the sleepless nights and unending paperwork all in aid of a place "that’ll do" – holds no appeal for me.

I like knowing that I could up sticks at any point – for work, for love, for adventure – without a monumental bureaucratic headache. I like knowing that when the washing machine breaks down or the guttering goes, there’s someone who’ll sort it out for me, and that while my rent might go up, I never have to worry about fluctuating markets or the risk of losing thousands of pounds in investment. I like the fact that I can live where I want, not just where I can afford, and I like that I’m doing it on my own two feet, instead of relying on help from Mum and Dad. In a world where the simple business of existing is fraught with challenges, I like being able to choose.

And I’m not alone. Tamara Leckworth is 52 years old. She owns a successful business, has two grown-up children and has been renting her entire adult life. “It makes me really sad to see the pressure younger people are under to get on the housing ladder,” she tells me. “My eldest is 29 and feels like a failure because she’s unable to buy. But why, I ask her? I’ve always rented. I probably could have bought if I wanted to, but I hated the idea of being tied down, or having to stay in an unhappy relationship or career because of financial commitments. Renters get a raw deal, sure, but the payoff is major freedom.”

Indeed, we are a generation seeking freedom. We’ve replaced stuffy offices with remote working. We take cheap and cheerful mini-breaks throughout the year instead of committing to an annual fortnight in the sun. We don’t own cars, we order rides, and the weekly "big shop" is a thing of the past. We’ve been shafted by politicians and the economy in many restricting ways, so we take choice and convenience where we can. Renting is no different and there’s no shame in being part of – and even revelling – in that.

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Holidays are supposed to be about relaxing, but even experienced travellers know that planning a trip also comes with its own set of stresses. From figuring out how you're going to pay for it (so many costs!), to fitting everything into your carry-on (because, checked-bag fees…), to simply trying to get your bearings a new place, it’s easy to get overwhelmed.

But, luckily, it doesn't have to be so hard. We talked with four professional travellers who shared their insider tricks for making travel easier. Ahead, pick up tips for getting perks like free Champagne and learn how to make your trip a lot more comfortable, from beginning to end. Bon voyage! 

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If you head into a Ben & Jerry's ice cream shop in Australia to order a two-scoop serving of the same ice cream flavour, be prepared for the response, "no ice cream for you!"

In protest of Australia’s Marriage Act, which refuses to recognise same-sex marriages, the company won't serve "same scoop" ice cream orders until gay marriage is legalised in the country.

“Imagine heading down to your local Scoop Shop to order your favourite two scoops of Cookie Dough in a waffle cone. But you find out you are not allowed…You’d be furious!” Ben & Jerry’s wrote in an official statement. “But this doesn’t even begin to compare to how furious you would be if you were told you were not allowed to marry the person you love. So we are banning two scoops of the same flavour and encouraging our fans to contact their MPs to tell them that the time has come — make marriage equality legal!”

We’re banning any same-flavour love in the fight for #marriageequality! Join us by signing petition to get Australia moving. pic.twitter.com/DV5MHOrCsZ

— Ben & Jerry's Oz (@BenAndJerrysOz) May 25, 2017

The brand's goal is to encourage its customers to join in the fight for LGBTQ rights and contact Australian MPs to express their support for the legalisation of gay marriage. Ben & Jerry’s will also host post boxes in the country’s 26 stores, giving their patrons the opportunity to write postcards to their MPs. The messages will be delivered to Australian Parliament in mid-June.

This isn't the first time Ben & Jerry's has gotten political — in America, the company has expressed its support for the Black Lives Matter movement and spoken out against Donald Trump's travel ban. When the U.S. Supreme Court legalised same-sex marriage in 2015, Ben & Jerry's released a celebratory ice cream flavour called "I Dough, I Dough."

Let's hope "I Dough, I Dough" is available in Australia sooner rather than later.

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Your summer wardrobe needn’t be all about florals and sandals. Instead, mix things up this year and try a different approach to dressing for the warmer weather – the SS17 catwalks were doing it with softer fabrics paired with tougher accessories.

To show us how it’s done, we’ve looked to Refinery29’s Chemmie Squier for her unique take on how to style yourself this summer. Chemmie’s relaxed, tomboy vibe is all about being comfortable as well as stylish – the perfect combo when the sun shines – which is exactly why gingham paired with brogues is her favourite trend of the season.

So get ready for some summer style inspiration that will get you in the mood for the long days and the light evenings.

And if you’re after smooth legs to go with your summer outfit, try the Gillette Venus Swirl and Venus SatinCare shave gel – the razor uses FlexiBall technology to get to hard-to-reach areas.

Chemmie's Top Styling Tips:

1. “Gingham gives a summery vibe without being too over the top and it comes in so many different colours.”

2. “Just because it’s warmer outside doesn’t mean you always have to live in sandals – fun brogues and bright socks totally work for this time of year.”

3. “Wearing a choker adds a little something to any outfit.”

Chemmie Wears:
Look 1:
USA Pro Grey and Pink Shorts, £12.99, available at USA Pro
New Balance Trainers, available at New Balance
GAP White Vest Top, available at GAP

Look 2:
Cheap Monday Black Denim Skirt, available at Cheap Monday
Boohoo Gingham Top, available at Boohoo
Rogues Spangles Shoes, £179, available at Rogues
Kurt Geiger Bag, available at Kurt Geiger
ASOS Black Metal Ring Choker, available at ASOS
ASOS Glitter Socks, available at ASOS
Jeepers Peepers Red Sunglasses, available at Jeepers Peepers
Ekria Rings (middle fingers), £405 each, available Ekria
Freedom Geo Shape Ring Pack (other fingers), £8, available at Topshop

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Social networks are branching out from careful curation and are embracing ephemerality – big time. Snapchat led the way, of course, with its Stories that disappear after 24 hours and kooky filters. Then came the wildly popular Instagram Stories (how did we ever manage without it?), and now even Facebook Stories is a thing (nah, we’ve not tried it either).

But, did you know, WhatsApp also has a similar feature? WhatsApp Status launched in February and already has 175 million daily users, according to Mark Zuckerberg, who owns the messaging app. That means it’s already bigger than Snapchat itself – so it’s about time you gave it a try if you haven’t already.

What is WhatsApp Status?
WhatsApp Status lets you post photos, videos and those all-important GIFs, which disappear after 24 hours, with people whose phone numbers you have saved in your phone contacts.

How do I access it and post a Status?
Make sure you’ve got the latest version of WhatsApp. In the bottom left-hand corner it should say Status. Then, tap the icon in the top right-hand corner to take a new photo or video, or choose an existing one (crucially, you can add captions, emoji, text or drawings on top). Once you’re happy, simply hit the send button.

How do I view someone else’s status?
Your contacts’ statuses will automatically show up on the Status screen. You can give them feedback by tapping Reply at the bottom of the screen.

Is my Status private?
Only people who are saved in your phone’s address book can see your Statuses and you can even pick and choose which of your contacts can and can’t see them. On the Status screen, tap Privacy and choose who you can see your updates.

How do I delete a Status?
Having second thoughts about posting that vid of you grinding up against nightclub security? Want it gone before your mum stumbles on it? Luckily, you can get rid of Statuses before the 24 hour period is up. Simply tap the three dots next to the My Status button, select the Status you want to delete and hit the dustbin icon.

Can I mute someone's Status?
To hide updates from that annoying "friend" you haven't seen for five years, simply go to the Status screen, tap and hold their status update and tap Mute. If you want to start hearing from them again, just go to the Status screen, scroll down to see your Muted statuses, top and hold their update and tap Unmute.

Granted, it may be no Insta Stories, but WhatsApp Status might just be the easiest way to stop those meme screenshots from clogging up your phone and finally put them to good use.

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Ariana Grande will be returning to Manchester for a benefit concert on Sunday, 4th June. Grande confirmed the event, titled One Love Manchester, on Twitter Tuesday afternoon. Meanwhile, the BBC has revealed the star-studded lineup for the show, which will take place two weeks after the May 22 terrorist attack that killed 22 and injured 59. Joining headliner Grande are Justin Bieber, Katy Perry, Miley Cyrus, Coldplay, Pharrell, Usher, One Direction's Niall Horan, and Take That.

The BBC reports that net ticket proceeds will go directly to the the We Love Manchester Emergency fund, which was organised by the city of Manchester and the British Red Cross to support victims and their families in the wake of the tragedy. Everybody who attended the 22nd May show will be allowed to attend for free. (They have to register on Ticketmaster by Wednesday.) Then, on Thursday morning, tickets will become available to the general public. For those who can't make the event, it will also be broadcast live on the BBC's TV and radio stations.

Grande suspended her tour and announced her plans to return to the city for a fundraising show in a somber statement expressing her condolences last week. "Our response to this violence must be to come closer together, to help each other, to love more, to sing louder and to live more kindly and generously than we did before," she wrote. "I’ll be returning to the incredibly brave city of Manchester to spend time with my fans and to have a benefit concert in honour of and to raise money for the victims and their families. I want to thank my fellow musicians and friends for reaching out to be a part of our expression of love for Manchester."

pic.twitter.com/5lOxvyaslS

— Ariana Grande (@ArianaGrande) May 30, 2017

Ariana Grande to perform benefit concert at Emirates Old Trafford Cricket Ground for victims of Manchester attack https://t.co/Kau8fPgcew pic.twitter.com/iQmi6f7BNk

— BBC Breaking News (@BBCBreaking) May 30, 2017

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As a child of the '90s, my favourite magazine ads featured anything and everything scratch-and-sniff. Sure, it was usually a total gimmick, but it’s hard to resist the urge to bring the page to life — if only for your olfactory. Suffice it to say, I'm not surprised that the latest tattoo trend sweeping the internet has borrowed this clever feature many of us grew up with. Except this time, it’s no gimmick. Enter: scented tattoos.

According PopSugar, the scented tattoo fad is raging on Pinterest, just in time for festival season, and we're hopping on the bandwagon fast. The style is somewhere between a watercolour design and plant stamping, making the ink Instagram gold.

Some of the coolest scented tats come from Tattly, a site you may know thanks to its treasure trove of temporary body art designs. The company sells tons of non-toxic tattoos that last up to four days on your skin. Plus, they're created with vegetable-based ink that’s FDA-compliant, so they're safe for all ages. But here's the best part: The tattoos are pretty cheap (around £14 for a set of 8) and come in a multitude of scents like rosemary, sage, peony, hydrangea, and even Ring Pop.

But these are more than just your standard heart or star designs. The plant designs were crafted by Vincent Jeannerot, a French watercolour painter who primarily creates botanical pieces, while Julia Rothman is the mastermind behind the candy-inspired illustrations.

The scents are subtle, but just as complex as your favourite perfume. Formulated by Agilex Fragrances, each tattoo is made with a set of unique notes that last all day long. So we're calling it: Scented tattoos are the new adult version of flash tattoos — and we're so into it.

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Apparently frustrated by the U.S. Senate's slow action, President Trump wants to change the Senate's voting rules. On Tuesday, the commander-in-chief tweeted that the upper chamber of Congress should use a simple majority voting system, meaning a bill would pass if 51 of the total 100 representatives support a bill. That's how the Senate usually works, but Trump's comments suggest eliminating the possibility of a filibuster.

Trump tweeted, "The U.S. Senate should switch to 51 votes, immediately, and get healthcare and tax cuts approved, fast and easy. Dems would do it, no doubt!"

Filibusters are extended debates sometimes carried out by senators to defeat a bill. In order to end a filibuster, the Senate must invoke cloture, limiting further debate to 30 hours and requiring a three-fifths majority (or 60 votes) for the bill to pass.

The U.S. Senate should switch to 51 votes, immediately, and get Healthcare and TAX CUTS approved, fast and easy. Dems would do it, no doubt!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 30, 2017

One of the most notable filibusters in recent history was on the state level, when Texas Sen. Wendy Davis held the floor for 11 hours in an attempt to kill a bill that would have banned abortion at 20 weeks and imposed medically unnecessary requirements on abortion providers. The provision was later passed and signed by former Gov. Rick Perry, but Davis' lengthy filibuster caught the nation's attention.

Based on his tweet, the president seems to believe forbidding filibusters would help the Republican healthcare bill and his proposed tax plan pass quickly, but Senate Republicans already found a way to bypass a filibuster when it comes to health care. Because GOP leadership is attempting to reform health care through a budget reconciliation process, a filibuster isn't possible.

Still, conservative lawmakers (who currently hold 52 Senate seats) are having a hard time agreeing on what exactly the healthcare bill should look like, especially after the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office's analysis of the House version found that 23 million Americans will lose insurance by 2026 under the proposed law.

Changing the Senate rules could help move Trump's tax plan along, but Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell told reporters in April his party isn't looking to eliminate filibusters, though the party could use a reconciliation process for taxes as well.

Both parties have nixed the filibuster process in certain situations before. Senate Democrats did so for judge and executive branch confirmations in 2013, and Republicans for confirming Supreme Court Justice Neil Gorsuch earlier this year.

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Earlier this May, Robin Wright got incredibly candid in a feature with The Edit. The House of Cards star didn’t hold back when she explained to the magazine that her male co-star, Kevin Spacey, has a much higher salary than she does.

“I was told that I was getting equal pay and I believed them, and I found out recently that it’s not true...so that’s something to investigate,” she told the publication. It’s unclear how long ago the interview was given, but it’s safe to say that just as the hit Netflix series dropped today, many of us wondered if Wright was able to work out that whole “equal pay” situation..

It turns out, no, she didn’t. As noted by Vulture, the 51-year-old actress spoke more about what happened in United Airlines’ in-flight publication, Rhapsody . When asked about the comments she madelast year regarding the pay disparity between she and her male counterpart Wright said, “I don’t want to be a spokesperson. That was one of 20 questions they asked me, and it went viral.”

She continued, “I don’t think I’m getting paid the same amount [as co-star, Kevin Spacey]. They told me I was getting a raise. But…I don’t think so.”

It turns out Spacey is a founding producer of the series, which lends him certain privileges, including a heftier salary. What does this mean for Wright? It’s unlikely she’ll ever receive the same amount. Though it seems the company that signs her paycheques, Media Rights Capital, and Wright have reached an agreement that lends her some incentives. “They’ve offered Wright an incremental form of amends,” said Rhapsody. This gives the actress an executive producer credit as well as several directing opportunities. “According to one source close to the company, MRC has promised Wright a future production deal that could eclipse Spacey’s,” the publication noted.

While it seems like Wright has done some light back-pedalling after saying, “I was like, ‘You better pay me or I’m going to go public.’ And they did,” to the audience at the Rockefeller Foundation last year, what she said wasn’t entirely false. She did go public and she was promised a future production deal, one that could even upstage Spacey’s.

Though considering that at one point she was told she was given equal pay (but wasn’t) and future promises are no tangible commodity — you have to wonder: What would Claire Underwood do?

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After months and months of anticipation, last night Alexa Chung unveiled her debut eponymous collection, Alexachung, to an intimate audience of family, friends and fashion press, packed tightly together on pews in the beautiful Danish Church of Saint Katharine in London's Regents Park.

After a merry drinks reception in the church's flower-strewn back garden, evoking the quintessential English summer wedding, the crowd made its way into the church for the big reveal. "I wanted to hold the presentation somewhere that felt uplifting and celebratory and ultimately had a good vibe about it. I had been joking about marrying myself to this brand, which is where the wedding concept came from. I wanted it to feel ceremonial, to bring a sense of occasion to the unveiling of the collection. It’s been a long journey to get to this day and I was so happy to be able to share it with all my close friends and family along with my peers from the fashion industry who I have admired along the way,” Chung explained in a press statement. And though this may not have been a typical fashion show (taking place separately from the traditional fashion week schedule), Chung still pulled in fashion's heavyweights, with Natalie Massenet, Business of Fashion's Imran Amed and fellow designers Henry Holland, Molly Goddard and Shrimps' Hannah Weiland all jostling for space on the crowded church seats.

Capital Children’s Choir, just visible in the gallery (boy, were they cute!), sang "Good Vibrations" as the first model confidently strode down the aisle in a jumper emblazoned with the words 'Screw You'. Inspired by a kaleidoscope of Chung’s personal style influencers, from Jane Birkin to David Bowie, there were crochet twinsets and denim dungarees, leather pinafores and printed tees, covetable corduroy, floral tiered dresses and plenty of ruffles. A Brian Jones-inspired candy stripe suit followed a Charles Jeffrey-illustrated jacquard silk cheongsam, and pinafore dress in lilac PVC, offering an expressive combination of racy and rock ‘n’ roll with elegant tailoring, and classic silhouettes.

"I had this idea to make a miniskirt suit that would be our own classic, sort of like a Chanel suit, in trench fabric that would become an Alexachung staple. It’s more of a trend thing now, and probably won’t carry on to the next season. Though who knows; maybe we’ll carry it in another fabric down the line. We’re allowing ourselves the time to see what emerges as our cornerstone pieces. The whole line is pretty wardrobe-y anyway, and very wearable. We worked on the summer dresses and the hooded tee dress a fair bit,” Chung explained to Refinery29.

With over 150 pieces, priced from £85-£1,500, Chung will create four in-season collections a year, available from select retailers including Selfridges, Net-A-Porter, Matches and Mytheresa. "The first season is a sort of ‘getting to know you’ collection, and it gets more directional as we move along and I really took the reins more. For a while I was like, ‘I’m still floating between New York and London, It girl-ing around,’ and by season three I was locked in, just saying, ‘Oh shit, I’m here, working from 8 ’till 8, baby.’”

It was evident from the attention to detail throughout the collection, from cut to the quality of the fabric, that this was far more than just another celebrity-endorsed line. And judging from the reaction of the audience as the show drew to a close (pink confetti fell from the ceiling as the children's choir sang Jefferson Airplane's "White Rabbit"), the rapturous applause which filled the church and the excitable hubbub of people already discussing what they wanted to buy, you'd better place your orders quickly.

The collection is available from today, 31st May, fromAlexachung.com and select retailers.

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Break-time alert!

If you're staring at your computer screen trying to remember why you ever applied for this job then take a time out and do a travelling daydream.

Each month, we bring you the best of the best that Airbnb has to offer in order to give you two things. One: the chance to nosy inside other people's houses (who doesn't love to do that) and two: the opportunity to fantasise for five minutes about just what you're going to do next time you book yourself a much-needed holiday.

Here we go.

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You know when you’re just going through life, bossing the hell out of it and thinking to yourself, 'Damn, I got this down'? Yeah, that was me for the last month. I’d been living in Sicily, eating gelato and arancini daily, drinking spritz in the sun and swimming in the crystal-clear coves. Life was good; life was very, very good. Chemo, cancer and hospital visits were a distant memory. I was looking great; my hair was growing back and my skin was glowing thanks to a bit of sunshine – why is it that everyone looks great with a tan?! Even my period, as if by some lunar magic, had returned. Equilibrium had finally been restored.

I flew back to the UK on Sunday 23rd April in time for my three-month CT scan, to check things were still going swimmingly and to confirm that my last PET scan had just been a red herring, an anomaly. My consultant’s words rang in my ears – “If you feel well then you are well” – and I felt fucking great. The day before results day I’d left random WhatsApp messages on friends' phones. “Hey! Only me, getting my results tomorrow but not even worried about it in the slightest, going to boss it! Come visit me in Italy soon please! Okay, Looooooooove Yoooooooouu. Ciao Ciao!!”

Results day and I strutted into the hospital, the confident, healthy person I now was. Rested, relaxed, glowing with vitality and life. I visited my chemo nurses to deliver them some Sicilian treats. They hugged me tightly, beaming from ear to ear. “You look great!” they exclaimed, all smiles and elation. “Doesn’t that hair suit you?” “You’re rocking it girl!” Yep, yep I was, I was fucking rocking it. What a smug bastard. Within 20 minutes I’d be out of this hospital and on the next flight back to Palermo, back to my four-month-long holiday and the sun, Barry and the good life.

I waltzed down the corridor for my weigh-in, bantering with the nurse about my new palazzo-style trousers and how goddamn glamorous I was looking now I was back to my normal, healthy weight. I sauntered into my consultant's office, not a care in the world.

“Now unfortunately, Ariane, it’s not good news” and just like that the smile is wiped from my face. Everything stops. The world, as I now know it, stops. Time stops. All I can hear is my mum’s breath, next to me. That horrible raspy, long, sighing-out breath of someone who can’t quite believe what they’re hearing, exhaling loudly as a means of stopping themselves from crumbling and crying, from ending up a heap of emotion and soggy tears on the floor. I do not cry, I will not let myself. I swallow back the tears. My pragmatic head kicks into action.

Turns out there’s a 19mm tumour in my chest, still, right behind my breast bone. 19 fucking mm, that is all. The minuteness of it making it even more painful to grasp. It’s a tough pill to swallow. Tougher than all those nasty steroids and cancer drugs I’ve swallowed over the last year, that’s for certain. I’ve been so positive, so brave, shown the utmost strength and courage. The support network that has surrounded me has been more than I ever could have imagined. I have literally been shitting positive vibes and PMA. But sometimes nature and science has the final say.

I spend the next few hours in a state of numbness, wandering around Bath with a bewildered look on my face. Really and truly, I feel like giving up. What is the point, I ask myself? What has been the point of this whole year? I am not sure, I am confused. I feel like I have failed at fighting cancer. Why hasn’t the treatment worked fully? Why have I not gone into remission? Why the fuck is this happening? Why me? The evening is spent in bed, buried under my duvet, tears of bitterness and resentment trickling down my face. Anger seeps out of me, it soaks my bedsheets and coats my dreams. Unfairness, frustration and despair trample over my soul.

Thankfully, my old trusty friend, bravery, comes along to save me and kick my arse back into reality and rational thinking. What is a few more months of crap for a lifetime of fun? It tells me. Accept and be brave, accept and be brave. The mantra of my life plays over and over.

It’s not all bad. If I have to have more chemo then I’ll rent a Georgian flat in Bath, pretend I’m Jane Austen (the chemo chic version) for a bit, writing to keep sane. I will keep on with the humour and the positive thinking.

I even managed to slip back to beautiful Sicily for one last week of sunshine, eating as much seafood pasta and ice cream as my gob and belly would allow, feigning that I was a happy twenty-something once again.

For now, though, it’s back to Blighty for more scans, more biopsies, more waiting for results, more anxiety and more struggle. I’m hoping, so fucking badly, that there has been a mistake. That when I have my follow-up PET scan it will show zero cancer cells and that the lump is in fact just leftover scar tissue, a benign tumour that has been left there to taunt me. This is wishful thinking, I know. If I don’t get the results I want then it will likely be more gruelling chemo and a stem cell transplant – the cherry on the top of what has been the coldest, cruellest ice cream of my life.

Cancer, you bastard, I’m not finished with you yet.

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