It’s been difficult to find much to be positive or hopeful about in recent weeks. While Brits are doing their best to keep up morale on social media, using hashtags like #BritishThreatLevels and #ThingsThatLeaveBritainReeling, there’s no denying that many of us are anxious following the recent terror attacks in Manchester and London.

The uncertainty about our own safety and the safety of our loved ones, combined with a constant stream of sombre and violent news coverage, makes it tough to see a light at the end of the tunnel.

However, reading stories about the kindness of others can offer a glimmer of hope and positivity in even the darkest times, which explains why we’re so heartened to read about people offering shelter to those caught up in terror attacks.

Hashtags such as #RoomForManchester trended on Twitter and Facebook following the Manchester Arena attack on 22nd May, with hotels and taxi drivers also offering up their services for free. And volunteers can now offer shelter, food, transport, water and more via a new Facebook feature, which some even used to donate blood following the attack on and around London Bridge on Saturday.

But what actually happens once you’ve volunteered to house strangers who have been caught up in or left stranded because of terror attacks? Or wars and natural disasters, for that matter? Well, a number of such kindhearted souls have shared their experiences on Reddit. They offered their help following incidents including Saturday's London attack, the Boston marathon bombings and 9/11. Here's what they had to say.

London attack

aTinofRicePudding: "I live in London. Last night was interesting. I was out at a friend’s birthday when we all started getting calls and texts like, ‘r u ok??!’. Decided to head home, but Uber was down for the count (no cars available, anywhere, for hours). I was puzzling my way through public transport options and ran into a cold, lost friend wasting the last dregs of her phone battery trying to get an Uber. So, she came with me. Slowly other friends who’d been at the same party began to assemble at my house, because it was close by, and what else were they gonna do – walk? Not in those shoes.

“We stayed up late making jokes in poor taste and talking about human nature, and the value of human life, among other things. There were people in the guest bed, the blow up bed, the couch and one in my bed. This morning I cooked a lot of eggs and mushrooms and made many cups of tea. Then I spent the rest of the morning dropping the last stragglers off to their respective destinations before going to the gym. It was kind of just an impromptu, unusual sleepover.”

Munich shooting (2016)

stephaniealice: “This is kind of related but from the other side of things. I was offered a place to stay during an incident. Last July there was a shooting at a mall in Munich, Germany while I was visiting there. My friends and I were having a beer at the Hofbrau House when suddenly there was a mass panic. We were told to run, so we did. I heard loud crashing behind me and kept running. I got separated from my friends. A woman waved me and a bunch of others in to the atrium of an apartment building. We waited there for a while until we saw police and heard more commotion.

“I don’t speak German, I had only been in the city for a day, my phone had very little battery, and I was alone. Needless to say I was scared out of my mind. I was comforted by another woman who was also alone. She was German and only knew a few words in English. We waited together in the atrium comforting each other even though all we could really say was ‘ok’ over and over. Finally a young man came down to the atrium and, first in German then in English, invited us and several others upstairs.

“It was an apartment of college-age guys and they took in around 20 strangers that night because the city was on lockdown. They offered us food and water and a place to be safe. Some people were injured and they broke out all of the first aid supplies they had and everyone pitched in to help. Thankfully many people there spoke English, but the people they took in were from all over the world. We put on the news and someone translated for me because we still had very little idea what had happened. They helped me contact my group and my parents back home.

“I will never forget those kind people that helped me. We ended up there for several hours until the city was declared safe. They helped me reunite with my friends and get back to where we were staying. I am forever grateful to them for making a horrible night just a little bit better.”

Boston marathon bombings (2013)

PickleOh: “I was in Boston when the marathon bombings occurred. I was living in a big house with a good amount of people around three blocks away from the finish line. Most of the people in the house were on the roof when the bombs went off. We immediately went downstairs and saw a bunch of terrified people running away from the finish line area. We tried to corral anyone who was looking for a place to seek refuge, and ended up getting a few families, some with kids (probably about 20 in all).

“The adults mostly watched the TV in our living room, while we set up another TV in different room with video games and snacks so the kids could play. The people were very respectful of our house and grateful that we opened the doors to strangers, and the kids were definitely less rattled and seemingly less traumatised than they could’ve been. I’m glad we got to help out in the little way we did.”

Typhoon Haiyan (2013)

turtletyler: “In the aftermath of Typhoon Haiyan, I volunteered at the military airbase where we brought and distributed relief goods and donations. I joined a group that ferried refugees in and around the city to their relatives and friends who’d take them in. By nightfall that first day I was dead tired and volunteered to drive for just one more family before heading home – a single mom with five teens who’d already spent days at the airport. I was supposed to bring them to a local women’s shelter, but we somehow bonded in that short car ride and I couldn’t bear to just dump them at a place totally unfamiliar to them and looking the way they did. I was also thinking, ‘what if the same thing happened to my family?’ So I spoke to the mom and said, ‘This isn’t part of what we do but if you’d let me, I’d like to bring you to our home where all of you can take a hot bath, wash and dry your clothes, go online and let your family and friends you’re ok...’ and that is exactly what I did. They are back to their normal, everyday lives now and to this day, we are friends.”

9/11

Cauliflowered: "I’m from a little Canadian town called Gander, which is in Newfoundland. During 9/11, the US had shut down their airspace which left a lot of planes on transatlantic routes stranded. Gander is an airport town that once had a lot of significance during World War II for transatlantic military flights, but these days the glory is long gone.

“So imagine our surprise when the ‘plane people’ came. Over 7,000 of them, to be specific. They flooded into our tiny airport after their planes landed in our town of 10,000 - nearly doubling the population. It was surreal.

“Half of the town went to the airport and stood on the other side of the fence, just looking at all of these planes land and park on the runway one after the other. And in those planes sat some very scared and worried people. They weren’t allowed off of their planes at this point so I imagine they were looking out their windows at us, too.

“When they were allowed to leave their planes, we were ready. The entire town shut down ― and I mean it came to an absolute halt. Every school, every church, every gymnasium, every recreation centre and arena converted into a shelter to house our stranded visitors. And that wasn’t nearly enough, so they opened their homes for them too. They crammed people on every spare bed and every couch. Clothes and food were provided as it was suspected that they would be stuck there for a while.

“The school bus drivers were on strike and they abandoned their picket lines and hopped in their buses to help move this massive amount of people to places where they could be cared for.

“It ended up being a bit of fun, even during such a stressful and uncertain time. After a week the planes started leaving again, and the population quickly shrunk back down to its normal, quiet size. I have fond memories of those days and I’m so proud of my little town.”

Cassi_3410: "Started a new job just before the 9/11 attacks in NYC. One of my new co-workers, also a new hire, was going to come home with me and I told her I would drive her home once we got to my car. We saw the 2nd plane, but still weren’t comprehending what had happened. Her husband told her to make her way up town and he would come get her so we parted ways. I was getting on a ferry when the first tower came down. Little did I know, she followed fleeing crowds onto the same boat to avoid the collapse.

“As I was picking up my kids from their school, she came bursting in. She remembered me saying my kids went to school near the water, kept asking random strangers for directions, and found the school! Anyhow, she ended up spending the night. Thankfully, we are the same size so she was able to shower and change and make herself at home. We stayed up all night watching the news, crying, hugging, and crying some more. That night bound us for life.

“We’re not only best friends to this day, we’re sisters. Her family is mine, and my family is hers. Working together, we probably would have become friends anyway, but our colleagues and even random strangers are amazed at how close we are.”

Yugoslav wars (1991-2001)

Lono37: “Not exactly a terrorist attack, but my brother and his (now-ex) wife took in a Croatian Muslim refugee family (husband, wife, and two young kids) in the late 1990s during the war with Serbia. Their town had been destroyed by the bombing/fighting, and they had fled with little more than a couple sets of clothes.

“He hosted them for over a year at his house near Denver and said it was the most amazing and gratifying experience of his life. He formed a close bond with this family, which was something he never anticipated would happen. The husband and wife eventually got jobs and their own place—and became US citizens—but to this day they still come by regularly, invite him to dinner at least every couple of months, and treat him like a family member.”

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The day after I graduated from college, I moved to New York City. Many of my classmates did the same — New York was the main destination for our class, followed by places like Boston and Washington, D.C. I thought that this would make things easy, and I made the journey to New York with rosy expectations. My friends were coming along, so the real world would be just like college! Except we’d get paid for our work, so it would be even better!

I wish that someone had pulled me aside, in those days before graduation, and told me the truth about what awaited. I arrived in New York totally unprepared for how big the change was. Maybe this is obvious, but it didn’t feel that way at the time: the real world is nothing like college. In fact, if you have been lucky enough to spend your life in a structured educational environment, with clear goals and signposts along the way, the real world is nothing like anything that has come before.

I hadn’t really considered what I was leaving behind when I left school. For years and years, there were so many external motivations in place: parents, teachers, report cards, final exams. There was some freedom within the structure, but there was still a structure. The school year had a satisfying rhythm to it, with a clear sense of progress. In high school and college, for all my occasional moments of dissatisfaction, I never had the feeling: am I doing the right thing? What if I’m supposed to be doing something else?

In my first months in New York, I was troubled to find myself asking those questions. There were no more signposts, no checklist to follow. I felt occasional flashes of panic as I was furnishing my first apartment and navigating my first job. Each passing day felt like a commitment to a plan I wasn’t sure about.

That was over six years ago now. An advantage of six years may not seem like enough to justify offering advice, but you’d be surprised by how different 28 feels from 22. (Or maybe you wouldn’t, if you’ve lived through it.) So if I could go back in time, I would tell my 22-year-old self to be patient. I would tell my 22-year-old-self not to obsess about finding the answers right away. Mostly, I would tell her to stop worrying about the short term, and instead start playing the long game.

Each passing day felt like a commitment to a plan I wasn’t sure about.

I left my first job after about nine months, staying in the same industry but switching tracks. It was the right decision for my career, and I have been in that same job ever since, happily so. Sticking with my current job has been one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. But there were so many moments when I watched friends departing for grad school, changing jobs or changing cities, and felt that question return: am I doing the right thing? There were so many moments when I thought, this isn’t happening fast enough. I sometimes felt like I was standing still, and perpetual motion looks so much better, doesn’t it?

Instead, what I needed to give myself — what any 22-year-old needs to give him or herself — was time. Much of being an adult is learning to become comfortable with yourself. And that self needs time and space to emerge. It’s a new thing, getting to generate your own priorities, getting to decide what matters to you in the long-term. That is the crucial phrase: the long-term. I had to learn to think on a new timescale.

Here is what I would tell any 22-year-old: Your first job probably won’t be the right job, and if you know that, you should move on.

But once you find a place that feels right, there is a virtue to sticking with it. Every job will have its frustrations. The point is not to bail on that job as soon as things become difficult—because, I promise you, whatever job comes next will also be difficult at some point. It takes a long time to get good at something, to start recognising patterns and developing instincts. It takes so much longer than you think it should. But as that time accumulates, so does your pride and investment in your work.

So how do you know when you’ve landed on the right thing? That’s the question I asked myself (and still ask myself, sometimes). It takes a while to find your North Star. It also takes a certain amount of stability and quiet. This is why I would also tell any 22-year-old the following: max out your 401(k) contribution if you have it, go to the dentist, exercise regularly, stick to a budget, learn to cook some basic meals, buy fewer and better items of clothing. Organise your life so the daily routine is under control, and so you have room to ask yourself the big question, which is: what really matters to you, in the long term?

Maybe it is creative work; maybe it is financial security; maybe it is challenging societal norms; maybe it is a job that makes the world a better place. Maybe you haven’t figured it out yet, and you need more time. That’s okay, because your life is not divided into slim eras, with definitive beginnings and endings. The scale of your accomplishment is no longer visible in months, or even years. The measure won’t be taken for a long, long time. Instead you are laying a foundation that will need to endure. So take your time to get it right, because this is your life—this is the whole thing.

Anna Pitoniak is the author of The Futures, out now

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If you thought the author of The Handmaid's Tale would shy away from condemning the barrage of anti-abortion laws being enacted across the country, think again. In fact, Margaret Atwood believes anti-abortion legislation is a "form of slavery" for women.

On Saturday, the author spoke about her book and the critically acclaimed Hulu adaptation in a panel at BookCon in New York City. During the Q&A portion of the event, a man asked her where we go from here in the fight for reproductive rights when "it's virtually impossible for a woman to get an abortion in the state of Texas."

Texas already has some of the most restrictive abortion legislation in the country. However, Senate Bill 8, commonly known as SB8 and recently approved by Texas lawmakers, aims to take those restrictions even further.

If signed into law by Gov. Greg Abbott, SB8 would make it illegal to donate foetal tissue and cord blood for research purposes from both abortions and miscarriages, even without receiving payment. SB8 also bans the dilation and extraction procedure, which is typically done in the second trimester. (In the US, only 9% of women obtain an abortion at 14 weeks or later, and slightly more than 1% at 21 weeks or later, according to the Guttmacher Institute.) To top it off, the bill also requires foetal remains be buried or cremated.

In her response, Atwood didn't hold back, and explained why she believes anti-abortion legislation "is a form of slavery" for women. She also said that if anti-choice lawmakers' "dream" is to have women die and children be orphaned, they should keep pursuing their anti-abortion laws.

"Maybe they're just then going to have to figure out, ' Who's going to pay for this? '" Atwood said. "Who is going to pay for the orphans and the dead women? Because that's what you're going to have. And I'm waiting for the first lawsuit. I'm waiting, you know, in which the family of the dead woman sues the state."

She continued, "And I'm also waiting for a lawsuit that says if you force me to have children I cannot afford, you should pay for the whole process. They should pay for my prenatal care. They should pay for my, otherwise, very expensive delivery. You should pay for my health insurance. You should pay for the upkeep of this child after it is born. That's where the concern seems to cut off with these people. Once you take your first breath, [it's] out the window with you. And, it is really a form of slavery to force women to have children that they cannot afford and then to say that they have to raise them."

The author also compared Texas' restrictive anti-abortion laws to the legislation enacted in Romania in the '60s. Back then, Romanian dictator Nicolae Ceausescu issued Decree 770, which made abortion and contraception illegal in most cases. The rule was issued in hopes of increasing the population and mandated that a woman under the age of 45 couldn't have an abortion unless she had given birth to five children and her life was at stake. Each case of a woman seeking to terminate a pregnancy had to be scrutinised by a committee of doctors, an attorney's office representative, and a militia officer, who ruled whether the woman was eligible to get an abortion.

While Ceausescu was successful in his attempt to increase the population, it came at the cost of the deaths of thousands of women and an increase in the number of orphans across the country.

"It was nuts," Atwood said. "And it did result in a number of suicides and the number of kids being put into orphanages with no proper care at all. I mean, it was just horrible."

She continued, "So, [if] that's what you want, state of Texas, live your dream. Then we can all watch and see what that looks like, and whether you're actually going to go as far as to force this upon women and families and not pay for any of it. If you're drafted into the army, the other situation in which the state seizes control of your body, at least you get three meals a day, clothing, and a place to sleep. So, if you're going to do that to women, pay up."

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I've been pretty conscious of climate change since taking Environmental Science in high school, and while I still am, some of my environmentally friendly habits have fallen off in the past few years. Spending most of my time working, moving further away from an affordable grocery store, and getting caught up in New York's take-out culture definitely contributed. And I'll also be the first to admit getting in a new relationship made me want to go out more and spend less time grocery shopping and cooking at home.

But President Trump's decision to remove the US from the Paris climate deal was an abrupt wake-up call I didn't expect. For one, I didn't think I needed a wake-up call — I know humans contribute to climate change; I wrote my college thesis on what happens to New York City's recyclables; I remind my friends to recycle their plastic coffee cups. One political decision couldn't possibly alter my thinking that much, or so I thought.

I suddenly found myself questioning the packaging of my take-out meals, whether I could compost the almost-mouldy cheese in my fridge, and how to talk my boyfriend into eating less meat.

It's not like the decision to recuse America from the climate pact through which almost every nation pledged to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions was all that surprising — President Trump already rolled back some of Obama's clean energy initiatives and was expected to withdraw from the Paris Agreement days before he made the announcement.

To be completely honest, I normally pride myself on being fairly environmentally friendly — I don't have a car; I haven't eaten meat in about eight years; I save my food scraps and take them to the farmer's market to be composted.

But over the weekend I started realising how much waste my lifestyle generates despite all of that.

Friday night, I ordered dinner after a long day at work, and as I unwrapped my burrito and multiple hot sauces in my fully air conditioned apartment, I realised how much paper, plastic, and energy I was using.

Thinking back on how often I'd ordered out over the last month (at least twice a week, if not more), the clothing I'd ordered in the mail (I'm a recent MeUndies convert), and the number of beer and wine bottles I put in the recycling bin, I started feeling very complicit in America's waste.

America is currently the second largest emitter of greenhouse gases in the world, and the nation's leaders aren't willing to do anything about it. For me, the news last week became an opportune time to reflect on what I was doing. America's consumer-driven culture inevitably leads to a lot of plastic bags and containers, wasted food, discarded clothes, and Uber rides.

While small island nations that import a lot of goods produce the most waste, the U.S. falls in the top five producers among developed countries. And a 2015 study published in the Journal of Industrial Ecology shows that everything households across the world consume contributes to about 60% of global greenhouse gas emissions, from the industries producing everything we buy to the physical waste it inevitably leads to.

In a recent op-ed in The New York Times, Michael Sivak and Brandon Schoettle, a research professor and project manager at the University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute respectively, said the best way for Americans to help the environment is switching to a more fuel-efficient vehicle. But outside of getting a new car, cutting back on the distances you drive and fly, replacing incandescent light bulbs with LEDs, and reducing the amount of meat and overall calories you eat, as well as throwing out less food, are also helpful changes.

It's easy to get distracted by life and forget about all the little ways our actions impact the Earth, which is why you shouldn't feel bad if Trump's decision to remove the US from the Paris climate deal either reminded you of this anew, or opened your eyes for the first time.

I'm outraged by America's regressive climate change policies, especially since global warming disproportionately impacts women , and I don't feel disingenuous for suddenly caring more. After all, change only happens when people care.

There are small changes everyone can make to be more environmentally friendly. Look up what you can and can't recycle in your area, and make sure your parents are recycling, too. Try to cut back on ordering take-out and going out for lunch at work. Plan ahead to make sure you eat the food in your fridge before it goes bad. Find a local farmer's market or garden that will compost your food scraps. Turn your AC off when you leave the house. Walk and take public transportation instead of driving or calling an Uber.

If you're worried people will think you're just jumping on the climate change bandwagon, tell yourself it's better late than never. And if, like me, you thought you were already doing an okay job of respecting the environment, you could probably be doing more.

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There are about 10 different compliments I want to give Dua Lipa immediately upon meeting her, but I start with one that I know will resonate with her the most. It concerns her debut album, Dua Lipa, parts of which she just performed on the main stage at Governors Ball. It's great. The 12-track album has been in the works for years, and Lipa couldn't be more ecstatic about its release on June 2. "There is no feeling quite like it," she says. "Just that feeling of relief — but also pride and excitement and adrenaline and nervousness— all these feelings all in one. I am so fucking excited."

We're sitting on two fold-out chairs in the media area of Governors Ball, sitting face-to-face in the glaring mid-afternoon sunshine with wafts of Rae Sremmurd's viral hit "Black Beatles" being performed in the background.

I'm ready to drop my second compliment: "I love your toe nail polish." Her toes are painted with this insane holographic colour that makes each toe look like a tiny mirror, and they keep catching the light. She wiggles them in response and smiles. With over one million followers on Instagram, Lipa knows how to combine great visual content (like this Insta-worthy polish) with her impressive audio tracks, which are part-revenge ballads, part-dance party bops. This winning combination of A+ aesthetics and a soothing electric sound could explain why she's on fire right now.

The New York Times recently credited the 21-year-old London singer with writing this year's "pop bangers," and possessing a "big, new voice." New York Magazine has labeled her the "anti-pop star." Lipa is happy to claim all of those titles if it means that she is writing, releasing, and performing her own music. After starting her career on YouTube, uploading covers at 14 years old, the singer has steadily released hit single after hit single, from 2015's "Be The One" to 2017's "Scared To Be Lonely." On top of that, her collaboration with Sean Paul, "No Lie," serves as the mood-setting opening track for the big ticket summer remake of Baywatch.

With a glowing resume (including being the subject of a short documentary with Fader), Lipa also stands out in the oversaturated world of pop music because of her instantly distinguishable low voice (which is sometimes raspy, but always alluring) and for those undeniably catchy "fuck you" break-up lyrics. But those extremely intimate lyrics do come at a cost. Lipa says it's worth it in the end, and she is comfortable pushing herself to the limit because, as with most things in life, "the songs that you are scared to write about and the feelings you are scared to express lead to the best ones."

She credits P!nk, Nelly Furtado, and Destiny's Child for influencing her the most after listening to their albums on repeat for ages, and acknowledges their distinct sound and ability to be radio-charting, but also honest in the stories they tell with their songs. Right now, Lipa is only interested in writing songs she can identify with, full of personal anecdotes. "Throughout the whole writing process, the only thing I knew to write about was my own experiences," she says, "so I had to write about things I know and those were heartbreak, love, and loss. Putting this album out really exposed but it was really important to me to put my life out into the world and have people know me on a more personal level."

I ask about her favourite song on the album, "Blow Your Mind (Mwah)," a flirtatious single featuring an onomatopoeia element with literal lip-smacking kissing noises incorporated into the chorus, and she gets giddy. "It is definitely one of the most pop ones [on the album]. That whole 'mwah' thing happened spontaneously and it is just a bit of fun. Everyone just went wild for it and it is just so fun it was a whole new high for me performing that."

Speaking of highs, there are a few times in the album that Lipa uses religious metaphors to examine a blissful time in a relationship, or a state of contentment. The subtle religious undertones (one track is called "Genesis" and another "Garden," referring to the Garden of Eden, and a third, "Hotter Than Hell") make me ask if this is her take on religion, modelled after the Justin Biebers (just look at the album cover of Purpose) and Chance The Rappers (who had performed the evening before on the same stage as Lipa, and whose sound has been called "gospel rap") of the world. "It is more of a metaphor," she explains. "It is a nice way to describe things and I think there is something special to describing something as "heavenly" or to describe a situation as "genesis" when talking about something being at the beginning. I am a bit of a sucker for that."

Don't let anyone dull your sparkle.

And with that, it's clear why she is being classified as a new age pop artist, who deviates from the cookie-cutter mould used to establish many of her contemporaries. The only real influence in her music today is her own life experience, with its peaks and pits. We finish the conversation with some real-talk about body issues and confidence, because it's easy to look at someone like Lipa (young, tall, thin, with KILLER style), and think her life is perfect. But, like the stories she tells on her album, things aren't always what they seem. "I think comparing yourself to someone else happens so often but it is one of the worst things that you can do because it is so important to realise that we are not all meant to look the same, we are made to look differently," she says. "I have struggled a lot with body confidence during my life and like I said it is something I am learning to do — to not compare myself to other people. I think it is important to wake up every morning and to be nice to yourself."

I ask if that is what her album is inherently about: putting yourself first — in relationships, in day-to-day life, and in love. "It is a lot about empowerment and being proud of who you are," she says. "Don't let anyone dull your sparkle."

Holographic nail polish and all.

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Apple has finally set some rumours straight. At today’s annual industry event, the Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) in San Jose, CA, the company revealed what we can look forward to with the next major iPhone update, iOS 11.

Apple execs, including CEO Tim Cook, took the stage today to give developers, media, sheeples, and everyone else an official sneak peek at the upgrade. If Apple sticks to its usual release schedule, iOS 11 won’t roll out until the fall, when we will likely see new iPhones, too.

Ahead, read about the biggest updates coming to your iPhone with iOS 11.

Message Me £££
iOS 10 was primarily focused on texting upgrades, with improvements to iMessage that included features like “Digital Touch,” an embedded App Store, and fullscreen effects. While there aren’t as many additions to Messages in iOS 11, there is one big one: The integration of Apple Pay. With iOS 11, you'll be able pay a friend back for drinks or a meal with an iMessage. Apple Pay will show up as an iMessage app along the bottom of the screen, so you can access it without leaving Messages. What’s cooler though, is that if a friend texts and asks you for money, you’ll see Apple Pay pop up in your quick type keyboard along the bottom of the screen (the same place where suggested emoji show up). You can simply tap that, authenticate the amount of money with your fingerprint, and your friend debt is settled.

Photo Magic
Apple is adding some playful new editing tools to Live Photos. When iOS 11 launches in the fall, you’ll be able to turn a Live Photo into a seamless loop (you can make your friend jump up in the air repeatedly) or add a bounce effect. It'll be similar to Instagram Stories’ new Rewind camera mode.

New Control Centre
Your Control Centre, which you open by swiping up from the bottom of the screen, includes quick access to everything from your flashlight to airplane mode. In the past, you’d have to then scroll to right to the next page to control your music. Now, it will all be on one page, making it easier to get to your beats sooner. You'll even be able to customise your Control Centre, adding the features that are most important to you.

Apple is also merging the iPhone’s lock screen and notification centre, so when you swipe down — you can see both in one continuous thread.

An Easier-To-Use App Store
The App Store is getting a complete makeover, its first since it launched nine years ago. The update will make the store look far less cluttered and, from a first glance at today’s presentation, more useful. Instead of opening to a page with tons of apps, you’ll open into a “Today” tab that will be updated daily with original, editorial content.

Scroll down and you’ll see how-to videos and features on new apps and games (including videos showing what it’s like to play a game). There will also be dedicated tabs for “Games,” “Apps,” and “Search.”

Eyes On The Road Please
If you're someone who's tempted to check your phone while driving, the new "Do Not Disturb While Driving" mode should help. Your iPhone will know when you're on the road and turn off all notifications (but you can let it know if you're in the passenger seat) so you can stay focused on the task at hand — sticking to the speed limit.

Siri, Sound More Human
Apple also announced that it will be making Siri a little more human. Thanks to machine learning developments, her robotic language is getting a human touch, with a new voice that sounds a bit more natural and expressive when giving you directions or telling you the weather.

Tone and inflection aside, the best part of the Siri update is a new translation component. Now, you can ask her to translate entire sentences into Chinese, French, German, Italian, and Spanish. So, if you’re headed to a café in Paris and need to know how to pronounce a question you might have about the restaurant, you can ask Siri to translate for you.

Now, if only Siri could produce new iPhones at our request...

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To celebrate Pride Month, Equinox has released a short film called "LGBTQAlphabet: Six Letters Will Never Be Enough" in order to celebrate the diversity within the LGBTQ community. Produced in collaboration with the LGBT Community Center, the film showcases voices that give meaning to different identities and experiences based on letters of the alphabet, including "B" for bisexual and "M" for masc.

The A-Z themed video is meant to expand the definition of what it means to be a part of the LGBTQ community, and to provide a fuller representation of the myriad of experiences that queer people can have.

The film is part of Equinox's "Commit To Something" campaign, which seeks to explore personal identity. Earlier this year, the campaign featured a model showing off mastectomy scars after surviving cancer.

LGBTQAlphabet shows 26 different voices speaking to what each identity or experience means to them, interwoven with footage of interpretive dances.

“Equinox has always empowered the community to be proud and unapologetic about who they are, but this year, we wanted to make an even more meaningful contribution to a cultural dialogue that is being written before our eyes," Elizabeth Nolan, executive creative director at Equinox said in a statement shared with Refinery29."With the help of The Center, we were able to bring this vision to life in a way that feels simultaneously brave, authentic and celebratory.”

While the short film is indeed beautiful and celebratory, we do wish it had taken the opportunity to showcase asexual identity instead of allyship for the letter "A." Still, the people behind the video seem to understand that when it comes to identity and representation, the best thing to do is to pass the mic to those who can really speak to it.

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For many working adults, salivating at the thought of sleeping in on our days off is par for the course. Sure, some people awaken seven days a week with the same cheery, early-bird resolve routinely seen during working hours, but many of us are excited to gift ourselves a few extra hours on the weekends. No big deal, right? Well, according to a recent study noted in Yahoo News, this little habit is a big deal. In fact, it’s the sign of something greater: Social Jet Lag.

As reported by Yahoo News, 85% of people sleep and wake up later on weekends/days off. This routine is actually causing chronic fatigue and often triggers a terrible mood. Even worse, a new study reveals that this form of “jet lag” can increase your risk of heart disease by 11%.

“These results indicate that sleep regularity, beyond sleep duration alone, plays a significant role in our health,” said the study’s lead author, Sierra B. Forbush to EurekAlert. Forbush is an undergraduate research assistant in the Sleep and Health Research Program at the University of Arizona in Tucson. “This suggests that a regular sleep schedule may be an effective, relatively simple, and inexpensive preventative treatment for heart disease as well as many other health problems.”

This isn’t the first time “social jet lag” has made the news. The term first popped up in 2012 and was linked to obesity. Researchers also found that those suffering from SJL were likely to consume more caffeine, smoke, and drink more alcohol than the average adult. They were also reportedly more depressed.

As for the name, jet lag, it’s been dubbed that for a very specific reason.

“The behaviour looks like if most people on a Friday evening fly from Paris to New York or Los Angeles to Tokyo and on Monday they fly back,” said researcher Till Roenneberg PhD, to WebMD. Roenneberg, who coined the term, is a professor at the Institute of Medical Psychology at the University of Munich. “Since this looks like almost a travel jet lag situation, we called it social jet lag. They have to live a life almost in a different time zone in comparison to their biological clock.”

The solution was simple: Give yourself seven hours each night for rest and avoid the desire to sleep that extra two hours or more on your day off.

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If the 2017 CFDA Awards belonged to anyone, it was Raf Simons. The Belgian fashion designer, who was announced as chief creative officer of Calvin Klein in August, received both Menswear Designer of The Year and Womenswear Designer of The Year, an achievement that's only occurred once before – by Calvin Klein himself in 1993.

Since taking on his role, Simons' influence has been heavily felt not just at Calvin Klein, but on American fashion as a whole. His debut womenswear collection in February couldn't have been more perfectly timed: An immigrant designer writing a love letter to the American Dream, as America itself struggled with the very things that make it, well, America (diversity, inclusivity, equal opportunity). It was a love note as much as a call to action – a sentiment that Simons reinforced in his acceptance speech on Monday evening.

"If we as creatives can be an inspiration for how the world should look," he said, "I think that it's something we should take as a very important task in our existence."

The elusive Demna Gvasalia, who earlier this week announced that his brand, Vetements, would be quitting the catwalk for good, accepted the International Award. "It doesn't have to be pretty for us to like it," he said of the aesthetic of his divisive label, as well as that of Balenciaga, of which he is creative director. In a not-so-black-tie baseball hat and Rammstein band tee, the Georgian designer took the stage to express his gratitude for the influence of the industry in which he works.

"I could never do this job without such a fascination of how clothes can change us," he said, "and how we can use them as powerful tools of innovation and self-expression."

Also honoured for her undeniable impact on fashion was Franca Sozzani, who posthumously received the Fashion Icon Award from Anna Wintour.

"Franca and I were thrown into each other’s lives quickly, when we were hired to lead our magazines the very same week," Wintour said of the Vogue Italia editor-in-chief. "But we became friends slowly, in part because both of us were independent spirits, each unsure of what to make of the other. We circled each other for years, like jungle cats. Frankly, I was really intimidated by all that glorious hair. It was only after extraordinary issue after extraordinary issue of Italian Vogue that I began to realise not only what a brilliant editor Franca was, but how generous and playful her imagination could be. 'I wanted to prove myself,' she says in her son Francesco’s marvellous film. 'I did the exact opposite of what they said...I prefer to make my own mistakes.'"

The evening's other awards included: Accessory Designer of the Year, given to Stuart Vevers of Coach; the Swarovski Award for Emerging Talent, given to Fernando Garcia and Laura Kim of Monse; the Founder's Award, given to Pat McGrath; the Swarovski Award for Positive Change, given to Kenneth Cole; the Geoffrey Beene Lifetime Achievement Award, given to Rick Owens; and the Board of Directors’ Tribute, given to Planned Parenthood's Cecile Richards, Gloria Steinem, and Janelle Monáe.

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It feels like only yesterday that Theresa May called the snap election, but this Thursday it's actually happening. Millions of us will take to the polls and mark that little 'X' on a bit of paper. Many of us have already done so via post. And thank god, because the stakes have arguably never been higher, what with Brexit, the NHS in near-tatters, threats to national security and a misogynistic bully leading the free world.

But the parties' manifestos differ wildly – not least when it comes to issues that disproportionately affect women – so our choice will have consequences. Unfortunately, young women are statistically among the least likely to cast their vote. Fewer than half of 18-to-24-year-old women and just 54% of women aged 25-34 voted in the 2015 election, and fewer women than men voted in last year's EU referendum. What's stopping us? We spoke to young women supporting the gamut of parties about what's motivating them this year. So if you're yet to decide who to vote for, or toying with the idea of shunning the polling station altogether, their answers might inspire you to use your voice.

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It’s almost a decade since I last attended a music festival. At some point towards the end of my 20s it occurred to me that, much as I enjoy live music and camping, I’m not at all keen on combining the two – especially in a cocktail that also contains Portaloos and British weather. Imagine, then, my reluctance to return to the trenches for a so-called “family festival”, which tosses several hundred young children into that already sickly mix.

In the years since kicking my modest festival habit, I got married and had a daughter, who’s now 2 years old and a great excuse for never going to Glastonbury. But my wife got wind of said family festival and decided it would be an excellent way to occupy the toddler over the Bank Holiday weekend. My dissenting arguments went unheeded. Full disclosure: the festival site in East Sussex is five minutes’ drive from my dad’s, so I didn’t have to camp, after all.

The festival in question is Elderflower Fields, now in its sixth year, and presumably so named to signal to cordial-sipping, chattering-class types that this will be just our sort of bunfight. Like Latitude, where the 2017 lineup includes Dara Ó Briain and the Royal Court Theatre – or that one Alex James does in his back garden in the Cotswolds, with the cheese and Jeremy Clarkson. Sure enough, Elderflower Fields boasted a paella stand, a creperie and a prosecco bar.

Having a child introduces you to all kinds of concepts you’d never previously appreciated: Peppa Pig, half-term, the Diaper Genie. And it turns out Elderflower Fields is just one of at least a dozen family-friendly annual festivals across the country. There’s Camp Bestival in Dorset, Just-So in Cheshire, Deer Shed in North Yorks. As we clambered from our Toyota, the family in the car next to us were loading their stuff into the pop-up canvas trolley they’d brought with them: clearly, they’d done this before.

The headliners were the Magic Numbers, who topped the bill at Latitude 10 years ago. There was a solo performance by Ben Ottewell, he of the gravelly voice from Gomez, who won the Mercury Prize 20 years ago. Then there were dozens of acts I’d never even heard of, such as The Goat Roper Rodeo Band or Holy Moly and the Crackers. (Most disconcerting was a DJ with the same name as me, whom the programme promised would be “dishing out disco mayhem”.)

For the kids, meanwhile, there was a lineup of poets, children’s authors and a lady called Ant, who was an expert on ants. Scattered through the fields and woodlands were a mud kitchen, an art camp, a kids’ yoga class, some people making giant bubbles and a glade full of fairy paraphernalia, courtesy of something called the Fairy Preservation Society. For children older than two years of age, there was orienteering, archery, zip-lines, kayaking and so forth.

Naturally, there were clichés around every corner. Here’s one mum, overheard on the phone to the father of her children: “Milo’s in a bait. Can you bring the vegetable sticks and hummus from the yurt?” Later, I looked on in sympathy as a hungover father in a Trainspotting T-shirt and cargo shorts, just back from smoking a sneaky fag in the woods, tried vainly to sew the ears onto a felt rodent for his daughter at the Make-Your-Own-Mouse tent.

But then I, too, am a basic dad: comfy trainers, eye-bags, paunchy midriff. And despite the 45-minute line for the face-painting stall, I can see the value in a family-friendly festival that’s clean, safe, wholesome and totally free of gurning 20-somethings mashed off their yams on Afghan Spangles. Currently, my kid requires round-the-clock supervision. But a few years from now, I’d gladly pack her off to kids’ yoga while I chug prosecco and bop to Franz Ferdinand.

As the evening wore on, waves of children retreated wearily to the campsite as their elderflower cordial buzz wore off, each group a little older than the last. It occurred to me then that these family festivals aren’t just a way for mums and dads to claim back a little of their lost youth; they’re also a training ground for their kids, who before long will be clicking refresh on the Glasto ticket site, or hitching a ride to Creamfields.

After all, what better place to prep for the Pyramid Stage mosh-pit than in a mud kitchen? How else to rehearse for dress-up at Bestival than by earning your wings with the Fairy Preservation Society? And as far as my daughter is concerned, giant bubbles are approximately as euphoria-inducing as MDMA. I may never go to a music festival again, but she has many years of yurts, Portaloos and indie rock ahead of her. So why not give her a head-start?

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Sadiq Khan is calling on the government to cancel Donald Trump’s planned state visit to the UK after the US president criticised his response to the London Bridge terror attack on Twitter.

Trump blasted the London mayor on Sunday, but took a quote from Khan completely out of context in doing so. “At least 7 dead and 48 wounded in terror attack and Mayor of London says there is ‘no reason to be alarmed!’,” he tweeted. Khan’s original statement had read: “Londoners will see an increased police presence today and over the course of the next few days. There’s no reason to be alarmed.”

At least 7 dead and 48 wounded in terror attack and Mayor of London says there is "no reason to be alarmed!"

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 4, 2017

The mayor’s office later pointed out the president’s error, but Trump responded by accusing Khan of making a “pathetic excuse”. His tweet read: “Pathetic excuse by London Mayor Sadiq Khan who had to think fast on his ‘no reason to be alarmed’ statement. [Mainstream media] is working hard to sell it!”

Pathetic excuse by London Mayor Sadiq Khan who had to think fast on his "no reason to be alarmed" statement. MSM is working hard to sell it!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 5, 2017

Khan went a step further in his response to Trump’s erroneous remarks by urging the government not to welcome the US president to the UK later this year, the Guardian reported. “I don’t think we should roll out the red carpet to the president of the USA in the circumstances where his policies go against everything we stand for,” he told Channel 4 News last night.

“When you have a special relationship it is no different from when you have got a close mate. You stand with them in times of adversity but you call them out when they are wrong. There are many things about which Donald Trump is wrong.”

Nearly 2 million people signed an online petition calling on the UK to cancel the state visit when it was announced in January, but the government ultimately rejected it.

While all this was going on, prime minister Theresa May refused to take sides (no surprises there). She commended Khan for his response to the attack but failed to explicitly address Trump’s comments. “Sadiq Khan is doing a good job and it’s wrong to say anything else – he’s doing a good job,” she said yesterday when asked if the president’s targeting of Khan was wrong.

Tension has also broken out between the president and his own acting ambassador to Britain, Lewis Lukens. Lukens stood by Khan and his response to Saturday's incident, saying: “I commend the strong leadership of the mayor of London as he leads the city forward after this heinous attack,” which didn't go down well with Trump supporters online.

I commend the strong leadership of the @MayorofLondon as he leads the city forward after this heinous attack. – LLukens 3/3 https://t.co/p4dDZuCpyO

— U.S. Embassy London (@USAinUK) June 4, 2017

Trump's backers decided to troll Lukens and accuse him of disloyalty, with others highlighting the fact that he was showing support for a Muslim foreign official, rather than the US president. Some even called for him to be sacked. We know whose side we're on.

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It's a weird time for women's bodies. Though, as women of all sizes will tell you, it's always a weird time for women's bodies. But right now is particularly weird. Because on the one hand, the fitness movement has exploded; more British people are participating in exercise than ever before, and "clean" eating (whatever that now means) dominates headlines. Body types perpetuated by female celebrities, while still skewed compared to most women, have shifted ever so slightly to appear more "athletic" compared to the size zero phase a few years back.

On the other hand, though, fat acceptance and the body positivity movement has never been stronger or more powerful. Women of all shapes and sizes are, quite rightfully, refusing to conform to the insane standards of "beauty" that the media has forced on them for years.

But what happens if you straddle both worlds? Plenty of plus-size women take part in exercise. Nike knows – it's just released a plus-size fitness range, which has been received marvellously well. And plus-size Instagram fitness stars are everywhere, with accounts like MyNameIsJessamyn and Nolatrees attracting hundreds of thousands of followers obsessed with their incredible yoga moves.

A few weeks ago, a study came out saying that it is a myth that you can be fit and fat. The study, from the University of Birmingham concluded that "'metabolically healthy' obese individuals are at higher risk of coronary heart disease, cerebrovascular disease and heart failure than normal weight metabolically healthy individuals." So where does that leave the body positive movement?

Lauretta Johnnie, a size 26 personal trainer in London, wrote a post about this very subject two years ago. Lauretta was originally a size 34-36 and now runs a fitness company for plus-size people called Full Figured Fitness. In her post she agrees that being overweight "can be a predisposition for many diseases including cardiovascular disease, stroke, diabetes and some cancers," but says there are other factors which come into play. She refers to a study from 2014 from the European Society of Cardiology headed up by Dr. Francisco Ortega, who found that "metabolically healthy but obese people had a 38% lower risk of death from any cause than their metabolically unhealthy obese peers."

This should not be interpreted as obese being 'healthy'. Even if you are fit being obese does increase your mortality rate.

However, she also notes that this should not be interpreted as obese being "healthy" . " Even if you are fit being obese does increase your mortality rate," she writes. "A metabolically healthy obese individual has increased risk of dying compared to a metabolically healthy individual of normal weight."

"We need to get the right messages across to people who are overweight, obese and inactive," she tells us. "This is why the body positive movement needs to understand sometimes loving yourself is not enough – taking care of your health, and your whole self holistically is needed."

Below, we speak to Lauretta about what it's like being a member of the plus-size fitness community, how she inspires and encourages her clients, and which obstacles still prevent some plus-size people from getting into fitness.

When did you get into fitness and why?
I have always had a personal interest in fitness. As a child my parents were strict. I couldn't say "I am going out to play", I had to "do" something. That something was tennis, going for walks with friends, running, cycling or practising some form of sport. I put on weight in my late teens and wanted to teach exercise as a way to get fit myself and motivate others.

When did you first get into personal training?
I qualified as a personal trainer over a year ago [Lauretta first became an Exercise to Music Instructor 16 years ago]. I wanted to qualify because I couldn’t find an instructor to train me the way I wanted to be trained. I wanted to be taken seriously and be on par with other fitness professionals.

I am happy if a client wants to focus on getting fit or losing weight. It is their body and their choice, either way is a move in the right direction.

How did you know there was a need for your company training fuller-figured people?
I knew my experience was not unique and wanted to create a space where every BODY could exercise. I wanted to shift the focus off weight loss and being an unobtainable size and self-hate, to focus on fitness, healthy living, eating nutritious meals and creating sustainable lifestyle changes.

Fitness can be intimidating to anyone. But what sort of things do you hear from your clients about their experiences in mainstream fitness classes and gyms?
I have heard a lot about experiences like these – including my own! I have heard of people attending classes where the instructor tells the class what to do and then looks at the individual and gives them another set of instructions. In my classes all instructions are integrated with modifications, so the class receives the same instructions.

When I first went to the gym at my biggest I couldn't actually get into the actual turnstile in reception – they had to open the service gate. The receptionist said sorry about 28 times. Also a concern is the communal changing room – often there are no private rooms, and small toilet cubicles make it difficult to go in and out of the loo. There’s also the question about what to wear and finding activewear that fits bigger sizes, although this is changing now.

Do people ever seem surprised that you are plus-size?
No, because it is advertised – there were a few surprises in the early days, though. I was once asked, "Do you know when the instructor will arrive?" I can still picture the woman’s face when I told her I was the instructor.

I once saw a comment saying, "this is promoting obesity". I am not sure how encouraging overweight and obese people to exercise is promoting obesity. Surely it’s the opposite?

How have you noticed people's reactions to you changing as the body positive movement grows?
I believe I exist beyond the body positive movement as it maintains, "Be happy with your body as you are". I am happy if a client wants to focus on getting fit or losing weight. It is their body and their choice, either way is a move in the right direction. It seems the body positive movement wants to shy away from discussing weight loss. If I did not lose weight I may not be here today, or I would be very unwell.

How do you deal with any negative press/comments?
Overall the comments have been 99% positive but I once saw a comment saying, "This is promoting obesity". I am not sure how encouraging overweight and obese people to exercise is promoting obesity. Surely it’s the opposite?

Some people are disgusted at the thought of an overweight person, no matter what you say. It is their default mode. In the UK, 63% of the population is overweight or obese but the images in gyms or advertising fitness clothing are of slim women or muscular men; likewise, the conversations berate overweight people into weight loss. Full Figured Fitness is about challenging the stereotypes of fitness and encouraging plus-size people to share their stories and create understanding and helping people get fitter.

You can be fat and fit – but be aware that 'fit' does not mean 'healthy'.

Is there one thing plus-size people are sick of hearing?
"Congratulations" when the plus-size person has just done a class or a gym session and they are the only one being congratulated, patted on the back or given a high five. Also, unsolicited dietary advice like, " I always make sure I eat loads of salad [smile]”.

Personal trainers can either be overzealous, overly sympathetic or overcompensate. There can be assumptions that you have never exercised before or need lots of help.

What misconceptions do you think there are about plus-size people and fitness?
You can be fat and fit – but be aware that "fit" does not mean "healthy".

Fat people have never exercised before – people always assume it is your first time in a gym or exercise class.

That all fat people can be lumped into one homogenous group, seen as lazy, greedy, inactive, uneducated, slow, unfit. Every BODY is different and tells a different story regarding their weight gain. If you dehumanise people it is easier to treat them unfairly or badly.

Are your journeys with your clients focused on losing weight or upping fitness levels?
Many of my clients want to focus on their fitness and health and creating a lifestyle that embraces both. Ultimately they run parallel to each other – if you get fitter and eat a healthy balanced diet, you will lose weight. At Full Figured Fitness I focus on behavioural change, upping fitness levels and nutrition, making "swaps" for healthier food.

If you dehumanise people it is easier to treat them unfairly or badly.

Are you worried about the impact the fat and fit study could have on your clients’ mentality?
I am worried that the interpretations of the study may be another reason to put off people who need to exercise and change to a healthier lifestyle. We need to discourage inactivity and encourage individuals to take up fitness. I am also concerned that the media may take this as an opportunity to further stigmatise overweight people.

Do you think our idea of what “fit” looks like is too tied-up in outward appearances?
We live in a society where calorie intake is up and calorie output is down, a society where over 63% of adults and 28% of children are overweight or obese.

I do believe we need to redefine fitness from the ground up, the organisational culture, the low expectations of service providers, the culture of blame, the imagery. We need more understanding of the connection to mental and emotional health, we need to challenge fat shaming and fitness shaming, gyms and health centres need to be more accommodating, for instance, when it comes to benches to sit on on the gym floor, cubicle sizes and attitudes of staff. We need to discuss the journey and create understanding. We also need to promote fitness to people of all sizes.

What are your recommendations for someone who is plus-size and wants to exercise but doesn’t know where to start?

First, get a check-up from a doctor – get clearance and medical advice and support.

Train with a qualified instructor – speak to the instructor ahead of the class and discuss any needs or concerns.

Make sure you have quality trainers and footwear, correct clothing and bring water and a towel.

Get a fitness buddy or a "crew". You may have a friend who wants to come along.

Don't go too hard, start with a good warm-up targeting your major muscle groups. It can be five minutes, although I usually recommend a 10-15 minute full body warm-up for the bigger body.

Do what you enjoy! Fitness can include: walking/brisk walking, swimming, cycling, chair-based exercise, cross trainer, exercise classes, weights/strength training and going out dancing. The best way is to get a personal trainer. You can join a class and there is also online training. Nutritionally, try drinking water and eating unprocessed foods. Keep a journal of your fitness journey, it's great to reflect on.

Lauretta Johnnie is a qualified personal trainer and founder ofFull Figured Fitness. Clothes byState of Mind Activewear

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There are few times in your life when you’re allowed, nay encouraged, to make things all about you without being deemed a narcissistic attention-seeker. Your birthday? Sure, it’s only once a year. Celebrating a killer success, like a promotion? Great! You earned it. Getting married? Well, ramming your own good fortune down others’ throats for a whole day is basically the law.

But beware – there’ll always be someone ready to overshadow your moment in the spotlight. One such person is “John”, who popped the question to his girlfriend “Jane” at his best friend’s wedding and in so doing, riled up a horde of Twitter users.

The shocked and angry unnamed bride, who understandably felt upstaged by John’s actions, wrote to Slate’s advice column, Dear Prudence, to ask whether her anger was warranted. Twitter user @ashuhhleeee_ posted a screenshot of the column and, needless to say, the ensuing consensus was that the bride's fury is very much justified.

Trump is totally the asshole who would get engaged during someone else's wedding.

— Aaron Rottinghaus (@rottinghaus) February 16, 2017

“My husband and I started dating, got pregnant, had a child, moved in together, bought a house and got a dog in that order. Our friends and family have asked us for years why we weren’t married yet. We always pushed it off to build better lives. We’ve done really well for ourselves and finally reached a point where we could afford a huge blowout wedding to celebrate our lives with everyone we know and love. My husband’s best friend, ‘John,’ was the best man/officiant,” the bride wrote.

“The setting was beautiful, everyone seemed happy, our families were overjoyed. My mom may have used the phrase ‘hallelujah’ a few dozen times. The entire atmosphere felt moving. So moving in fact that John stopped mid-ceremony to propose to his longtime girlfriend, ‘Jane’, and reveal her pregnancy,” the bride added. Could you imagine being as arrogant or as socially gauche as John?

“I couldn’t even hear the vows my husband wrote or the rest of the ceremony over the noise of Jane’s happy sobs, her very surprised family who were also guests, and people seated nearby congratulating her. Even the videographer cut to her frequently during the ceremony, and you can’t hear anything over the chatter.”

It gets worse. John didn’t just hijack the ceremony and interrupt one of the most important moments of his friends' lives, he then went on to ensure the rest of the day was about his own relationship. “When John gave his toast, he apologized for being caught up in the moment, and then proceeded to talk about he and Jane’s future with nary a mention of us. During the reception John and Jane became the primary focus of our guests."

Yup, you guessed it. It gets worse still. "John even went out of his way to ask the band for a special dance for just him and Jane on the dance floor." Really. Our jaw just hit the floor.

The self-effacing bride went on to say she's "never been an attention hog" and wouldn't have minded if John had proposed to Jane after the ceremony. But weeks later, she's "still seething" at John's selfishness. "I am so shocked and angry that I keep asking myself if this is real life."

Her husband hasn't spoken to John since the wedding and the couple's mutual friends agree that what he did was rude, but that her husband "should just get over it". The bride added: "My husband has joked that he’ll resume his friendship when John and Jane give him a $40,000 check for 'their half of the wedding.'"

She then went on to ask 'Prudence', agony aunt Mallory Ortberg, whether John's actions warrant ending a long-term friendship or whether they should let it slide. Ortberg said it "merits a fight" to help find a middle ground "in between ‘getting over it’ and ‘never speaking to John again’." She continued: "He’s your husband’s best friend, so your husband should tell John just how upset his behavior during your wedding made him."

But many thought Ortberg's advice didn't go far enough and Twitter users expressed their outrage on the bride's behalf.

DO NOT TRY THIS AT MY WEDDING. I can fight in a tux. https://t.co/EB21LWmF0Q

— dp3 (@dpalm66) June 2, 2017

He stopped officiating the wedding to propose? If he drowns in some holy water there & then the lord will understand https://t.co/k2826Hjr37

— Tinashe 🇬🇭🇿🇼 (@TBHer_) June 2, 2017

Yeah, no, friendship over https://t.co/R8l3XvOlap

— Ashley Reese (@offbeatorbit) June 2, 2017

I really believe that getting engaged at someone else's wedding is one of the most disrespectful things you could do

— EN (@_nunezeliana) June 1, 2017

Me at y'all who think it's cute to get engaged at someone else's wedding. pic.twitter.com/pI6mZLLYUA

— t'challatchagrl (@audacityofdope) June 5, 2017

I really don't see how people thinks it's cute to get engaged at someone else's wedding

— 2cats&counting (@LumpOffLouise) June 4, 2017

Others began suggesting devious ways in which she could get her own back.

I would actually give birth at their wedding. If I have to induce the labour, no problem. https://t.co/PiWAWmwDOQ

— Ebose Oriarewo (@ebose__) June 2, 2017

oh hell naw, they need to have a revenge baby and announce it at their wedding. Be petty af. And then end the friendship. https://t.co/cruj5zUU41

— Màymųna 🌹 (@CinamonSugarz) June 3, 2017

I'd go to their wedding and be $40000 worth of petty. Giving caffeinated candy to the kids, pushing the wedding cake off the table...

— Amanda WallerPMP (@Floedezzy) June 2, 2017

They should go to John&Jane's wedding in their wedding dress&tux and bring some extra, uninvited guests. If they request "no kids" bring 5. pic.twitter.com/E2dKVqqY4g

— ShePersisted!💪 (@coco_cana) June 4, 2017

I'd act like everything is all good until their wedding. Arrive in a wedding dress, vomit on their cake, and knock over the wedding gifts.

— Yvette 💕 (@onepear) June 4, 2017

What would you do if John commandeered your wedding? Would he be dead to you henceforth, or could you let it go?

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We could all do with a little optimism right now, and super stylist and future British Vogue editor-in-chief Edward Enninful has launched a Gap campaign celebrating just that. Directed and styled by Enninful, "Bridging the Gap" shows a cast of models, activists, sports stars, musicians, and actors moving and grooving to Boney M.’s glorious ‘70s disco track "Sunny".

The British stylist has had vast experience on both sides of the pond. Cutting his teeth at one of the UK's most iconic fashion titles, i-D, he featured some of the most important faces in fashion, from Twiggy to Naomi Campbell, before moving to New York to become fashion and style director at US magazine W. Enninful explains how his indirect experiences of the US during his youth influenced "Bridging the Gap": "Growing up, I loved the imagery I saw from America as it celebrated being the land of the free and home of the brave. This project is about authenticity and people living their truths," he explains.

Dressed, of course, in Gap’s iconic white T-shirts, the cast was handpicked by Enninful to be representative of American optimism. Always on the pulse of the cultural zeitgeist, his selection of change-making women – like Brit model and Gurls Talk founder Adwoa Aboah and actress and activist Yara Shahidi, who both use their platform to speak out on important issues facing young women and people of colour today – makes the campaign a party of positivity and self-expression. “It’s about knowing yourself, which takes time," Adwoa explained, "but I do it by being myself 100% of the time.”

“Gap is a quintessentially American brand and we strive to embody all of America in everything we do,” Gap’s chief marketing officer Craig Brommers said in a statement. “‘Bridging the Gap’ is about showing the many faces of what it means to be an American and bringing all of those sides together.” In a country that can often feel divided, this is an uplifting look at the diversity and spirit of the USA. As model, designer and cast member of the campaign Alek Wek says, it's "about not just celebrating culturally, but also universally.”

This is Enninful’s directorial debut, something we’re hoping to see more of when he takes the helm at British Vogue in August. The stylist has always championed diversity in his editorial shoots and campaigns, and "Bridging the Gap" is no different: "Edward is the perfect partner in this project as he and Gap share an optimistic view of the world", Brommers explains.

So, if you're in need of a little positivity today, watch the video below. As pink-haired model Fernanda Ly says, “whatever makes you happy makes you you." We defy you not to dance.

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Ever wondered what it’s like to be in a celebrity’s inner circle? In our series The Plus One, Arianna Davis offers a peek inside the world of assistants, backup dancers, BFFs, and other right hands to the world’s buzziest celebs. Don't miss thefirst andsecond instalments.

Whether you're a member of the Beyhive or the most casual fan, odds are that you're aware of what sets Beyoncé apart from the average pop star: Her ability to put on a show. Whether it's at sold-out concerts around the world or award show performances that have been viewed millions of times, the singer's status as one of the greatest entertainers of our time has been cemented by her stage presence; by the way she tells a story through vocals, visuals, and mind-bending choreography; the way she completely and fully slays audiences to the point of hysterical shrieking, crying, gasping, and yes, even fainting.

And since 2007, a Beyoncé show has not been a Beyoncé show without the help of one person: Ashley Everett.

Since first auditioning for Beyoncé a decade ago, Everett is now the longest-standing dancer on Bey's team — and her dance captain, a well-known performer in her own right with a cult following, easily recognisable onstage thanks to her red curls. (Which, by the way, started as a lighter colour in 2009, until Queen Bey admired the look in a rehearsal and asked if she'd consider a slightly brighter shade. The fiery hue has been Everett's signature since.)

As I drive down a palm-tree lined street of Los Angeles's Valley Village one April morning — my rental car windows down, blasting "Freedom" at full volume into the particular kind of crisp blue sky that seems to be saved solely for the city of L.A. — I search for the home Everett shares with her fiancé, John Silver. I scan each street, looking for the sprawling mansion the head backup dancer of the world's most recognisable entertainer must live in. Instead, I pull up outside a charming apartment building; Everett is standing on a lawn of bright green grass in fuzzy black slippers and cobalt workout pants (Ivy Park, of course) with her rescue dog, Future. I can see her bright smile from across the street, so when I approach her for a hug, I'm surprised that she's a bit reserved — timid, almost, returning my embrace with a gentle pat before shyly asking if I'm okay with Future sniffing my calves.

Later, this will all make sense: There's a clear difference between the Ashley Everett who saunters on stage in heels and bodysuits in front of hundreds of thousands of fans, and the Ashley Everett who walks her dog through her quiet neighbourhood on a Thursday morning with little fuss or fanfare.

"What some people don't realise is that when you’re a performer — whether that's a singer or actress or dancer — you’re playing a character," Everett says. "When I'm working, I'm a completely different person. That's Ashley onstage, and she's very different than the person y'all see here, with no makeup, thinking about what she wants to eat for brunch."

It's time to officially get acquainted with the latter.

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Just when you thought this election couldn't get much more surreal. We've had Jeremy Corbyn join BBK and be adopted by the grime community, a Conservative candidate give us his best Alan Partridge impression, and now the prime minister has got us all laughing about – wait for it – wheat.

During a wide-ranging interview with Julie Etchingham of ITV’s Tonight programme ahead of Thursday's general election, Theresa May was asked to reveal the "naughtiest" thing she ever did as a child.

What's the naughtiest thing @theresa_may has ever done?https://t.co/Y8Ys4T2fAT pic.twitter.com/5QvIXVNEl8

— ITV News (@itvnews) June 6, 2017

A self-described "goody two shoes", May, who was born in Sussex, initially seemed reluctant to answer. You can practically hear the cogs turning in her brain as she scrambles for the most politically correct response.

"Oh, goodness me. Well, I suppose... gosh. Do you know, I'm not quite sure. I can't think what the naughtiest thing...," she dithered.

But when pressed again by Etchingham, May revealed just how much of a thrill-seeking adrenaline junkie she once was. "Well, nobody is ever perfectly behaved, are they? I mean, you know, there are times when... I have to confess, when me and my friend, sort of, used to run through the fields of wheat, the farmers weren’t too pleased about that,” she added.

Judging by this answer, it came as no surprise to learn during the interview that she was a "bookish" child who enjoyed going to school and loved learning. One of those kids.

No prizes for guessing how the PM's answer went down on social media. The news of her wild youth has spawned an avalanche of sidesplittingly hilarious tweets and memes. Some people also used the hashtag #naughtiestthing to admit to the most mischievous thing they'd ever done. We're in fits.

photo emerges of Theresa May running through a field of wheat pic.twitter.com/3AGSYwPKeh

— David Lewis (@davidclewis) June 6, 2017

Theresa May: The naughtiest thing I ever did was run through a wheat field
David Cameron: pic.twitter.com/YfcShfYRrk

— Jamie Ryan (@JamievRyan) June 6, 2017

I'm Danny Dyer and I'm about to meet Britain's nawtiest wheat runners pic.twitter.com/LLqK03DSuR

— Kit Lovelace (@kitlovelace) June 6, 2017

Thatcher in the Rye https://t.co/HhkHs6Xnl9

— Jonathan Dean (@JonathanDean_) June 6, 2017

#Journorequest Looking for a farmer whose wheat was trampled by children in Oxfordshire c. 1966. For a sensitive piece.

— Jack Sommers (@jack_sommers) June 6, 2017

On my way to trample your wheat. pic.twitter.com/LyLYiRtVKg

— Ben Kelly (@BenKellyMusic) June 6, 2017

Running through a field of wheat sure puts shitting on the pitch in the shade. Downright evil. #naughtiestthing

— Gary Lineker (@GaryLineker) June 6, 2017

say "fields of wheat" in the mirror three times and theresa may as a victorian ghost child shows up in the reflection

— Bolu Babalola (@BeeBabs) June 6, 2017

Theresa May: Wanna run through a field of wheat?
David Cameron: Can't bbz i'm busy
May: There might be pigs in the field
Cameron: pic.twitter.com/uEKjUI6lDw

— Liam O'Hare (@Liam_O_Hare) June 6, 2017

Did she grow up in the fucking Darling Buds of May? https://t.co/REAphfkcHV

— Laura Snapes (@laurasnapes) June 6, 2017

Meanwhile, others took the opportunity to make serious political points.

A selection of things Theresa May has done which are a bit naughtier than running in wheat fields pic.twitter.com/Mhy9iThYae

— Ambleside Jenner (@tramfrau) June 6, 2017

The #naughtiestthing @theresa_may has ever done? Steal children's lunches, starve the NHS of funding, #dementiatax - need I go on? #GE2017 https://t.co/YGpXq0KlAu

— rosie_k_ (@rosie_k_) June 6, 2017

Theresa May ran in fields of wheat. I don't like it, but I'd rather she was doing that than RUNNING for Prime Minister. Please retweet this.

— Limmy (@DaftLimmy) June 6, 2017

theresa may is RECKLESS imagine running through fields of wheat 😆 nearly as bad as selling weapons to saudi arabia!! pic.twitter.com/jwVozIUZhr

— olivia newton tom (@tomwaIker) June 6, 2017

We can't wait to hear about Jeremy Corbyn's wild-child past.

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Update: Authorities in the UK released the name of the third suspect involved in the London Bridge attack last Saturday. Youssef Zaghba was a 22-year-old man born in Italy and of Moroccan descent. The police said he was not a subject of interest before the attack took place. Zaghba and the other two attackers, Khuram Shazad Butt and Rachid Redouane, were fatally shot by the police.

Update: British authorities have released the names and photographs of two of the three suspects in the London Bridge attack.

Khuram Shazad Butt was a 27-year-old British citizen of Pakistani descent who was known to the authorities. He had also appeared in a recent Channel 4 documentary called "The Jihadist Next Door." The second suspect, Rachid Redouane, was a 30-year-old who claims to be of Moroccan and Libyan descent. The authorities said they are still working to confirm the identity of the third suspect. All three suspects were killed by the police on Saturday.

This article was originally published on June 3, 2017.

A terrorist attack struck London on Saturday night, with police now saying seven are dead and the city’s Ambulance Service transporting at least 48 people to various hospitals around the city in the wake of the incident.

Metropolitan Police announced that three male suspects were also shot and killed, within eight minutes of the attack being reported. Several arrests have been made this morning, following police raids in the nearby east London area of Barking.

The first incident was confirmed by the Metropolitan Police at 10:28 p.m. at London Bridge. Pedestrians were reportedly mowed down by a vehicle, with the BBC reporting that eyewitnesses, including one of their reporters, saw the vehicle hit multiple people.

Info available at this stage: from 2208hrs officers responded to reports of a vehicle in collision with pedestrians on #London Bridge. 1/3

— Metropolitan Police (@metpoliceuk) June 3, 2017

BBC reporter Holly Jones, who was on London Bridge at the time of the attack, reported that she saw a van “probably travelling at about 50 miles an hour,” being driven by a man. "He swerved right round me and then hit about five or six people. He hit about two people in front of me and then three behind," Jones told the BBC.

The second incident was reported at nearby Borough Market at 11:16 p.m., an area full of restaurants and bars. Metropolitan Police confirmed that shots were fired after armed officers responded to the scene.

Officers have then responded to reports of stabbings in #BoroughMarket. Armed officers responded and shots have been fired. 2/3

— Metropolitan Police (@metpoliceuk) June 3, 2017

The Metropolitan Police's Assistant Commissioner, Mark Rowley, said that the suspects drove from London Bridge to Borough Market, where they "left the vehicle and a number of people were stabbed, including an on-duty British Transport Police officer who was responding to the incident at London Bridge. He received serious but not life-threatening injuries."

Armed officers confronted the three suspects at Borough Market, where the suspects were shot and killed. Rowley said, "The suspects were wearing what looked like explosive vests but these were later established to be hoaxes."

A third attack was reported in the Vauxhall area at 11:44 p.m. but was later declared by police as unrelated.

Within an hour, Prime Minister Theresa May made a declaration. “Following updates from police and security officials, I can confirm that the terrible incident in London is being treated as a potential act of terrorism,” May said. The Metropolitan Police followed suit, confirming that the two incidents were being treated as a terrorist attack at 12:50 a.m.

Theresa May described Saturday night's events as "dreadful", while Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn called them "brutal and shocking." Campaigning for Thursday's national general election has been suspended in the wake of the attack.

This morning, the Prime Minister will chair a meeting of the government's Cobra emergency committee.

In a statement, Sadiq Khan, the mayor of London, said, “We don't yet know the full details, but this was a deliberate and cowardly attack on innocent Londoners and visitors to our city enjoying their Saturday night. I condemn it in the strongest possible terms. There is no justification whatsoever for such barbaric acts.”

The police advised Londoners involved in the attacks to run away, rather than negotiate or surrender with attackers. If they were unable to get away, citizens were instructed to hide with their phones off and call the police and make a report when they were able.

#Londonbridge #boroughmarket #vauxhall pic.twitter.com/a7OciBEBjH

— Metropolitan Police (@metpoliceuk) June 3, 2017

U.S. President Donald Trump was briefed on the attacks and tweeted his support to the UK, saying his country would do whatever was needed to help. He also tweeted about his so-called travel ban, citing this incident as a reason to support it.

Whatever the United States can do to help out in London and the U. K., we will be there - WE ARE WITH YOU. GOD BLESS!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 3, 2017

We need to be smart, vigilant and tough. We need the courts to give us back our rights. We need the Travel Ban as an extra level of safety!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 3, 2017

The U.S. State Department issued a statement condemning the attacks, with spokeswoman Heather Nauert echoing the president's statements by saying, “The United States stands ready to provide any assistance authorities in the United Kingdom may request."

London Bridge remains closed overnight, with the neighbouring Southwark Bridge also closed. Several London tube stops were also closed, along with Borough High Street. This morning, people are being urged to avoid the London Bridge and Borough Market area while the emergency services continue to deal with the incident.

If you're concerned about friends or relatives who may have been caught up in the attack, you can call the Metropolitan Police's casualty bureau on 0800 096 1233 and 020 7158 0197.

The attack came two weeks after the Manchester attack during an Ariana Grande concert, and less than three months after a terrorist attack on London's Westminster Bridge left six people dead and 49 injured.

This is a breaking news story. We'll update it with more details as they become available.

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For the most part, Ikea is regarded as a reliable source for everyday home supplies, like plain bedsheets and basic dinnerware sets. The Swedish superstore's vast, no-frills inventory makes it the ultimate destination to shop for affordable apartment basics. But, if Ikea's June 2017 catalog is any indication, your next visit to the retailer is going to get much more colourful and interesting.

The brand has introduced Stunsig, a limited-edition line of tableware, cushions, and bedding in a variety of striking patterns. The edgy designs are created in collaboration with six artists and design teams with serious fashion credentials, giving rise to a daring collection (for Ikea at least) with lots of personality to spare. Think edgy hand drawings, cartoons and photography that scream " I picked this up at a cool indie boutique." Click through to take a peek at the eclectic new collection, now available in stores only.

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Mornings are hard enough without throwing intense summer heat into the equation. That equation being: As temps (we hope!) rise so does our exponential need for fast and easy a.m. refreshments. But don't worry, because we have the sweet solution to keep things cool: smoothies! And not the kind you need to drop a pretty penny (a.k.a. £6) on, but the quick and cheap kind you can make at home with only four ingredients — most of which you might have on hand already.

All it takes is your liquid of choice (nut milk, coconut water, yogurt, etc.), a creative combo of frozen and fresh add ins (fruits, greens, nut butters, etc.), and the right ratios blended together for that extra-frosty sip. If you're still in need of a little recipe inspiration, click on for three simple smoothies to soothe your summer mornings.

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