Best goals, biggest gaffes: Premier League fans assess the season so far

Best goals, biggest gaffes: Premier League fans assess the season so far

The Guardian’s fans network on the opening stages of 2025-26: their toughest opponents, biggest setbacks, and tips for the next manager sacked Story so far Top of the table, looking down at our rivals, despite still not really firing on all cylinders … it’s early days, but we’re struggling to keep a lid on the excitement here. Having star turns such as Havertz, Madueke and now Ødegaard succumb to long-term injury is a reminder of the risk of being derailed, but it does feel like we’ve never been better equipped to cope with the slings and arrows. Arteta is still unwrapping his new toys and figuring out the best way to use them – can’t wait to see how the chemistry develops. Bernard Azulay onlinegooner.com ; @GoonerN5 Jonathan Pritchard Continue reading...

Parliamentary staff of colour earn £2,000 less than white colleagues, study suggests

Parliamentary staff of colour earn £2,000 less than white colleagues, study suggests

Exclusive: Report by GMB union also finds pay disparity for women and disabled, trans, non-binary and gay staffers A race and gender pay gap among parliamentary staff means people of colour earn on average £2,000 less each year than their white counterparts, research seen by the Guardian suggests. A study due to be released this week will say that parliamentary employees who have a range of protected characteristics under equality legislation are more likely to suffer disparities in pay. Continue reading...

It can get worse: Blackpool’s latest defeat recalls Mick McCarthy meme

It can get worse: Blackpool’s latest defeat recalls Mick McCarthy meme

Optimistic in August under Steve Bruce, Blackpool are now managerless and 23rd in League One after Stockport’s win The Mick McCarthy “it can” meme is known far and wide as social media shorthand for woeful underperformance, although the full context is not. When McCarthy was infamously asked if a miserable run of one win in 17 games could continue and issued the deadpan response “it can” , he was the Blackpool manager struggling through his ill-fated 2023 spell. Continue reading...

Do you really need to buy a new laptop? When to upgrade – and when to hold off

Do you really need to buy a new laptop? When to upgrade – and when to hold off

Don’t splash out just yet! Your existing laptop may have plenty left to give • From smash-proof cases to updates: how to make your smartphone last longer So you want a new laptop. Of course you do. Everybody always does, except for perhaps during that short honeymoon period after you’ve just bought one. But the glamour wears off, technology marches on, and before you know it, a newer, younger, more powerful model is wandering into your thoughts. I’m not here to judge, but as a technology specialist I can share a few thoughts that might help you fight the urge to upgrade. Continue reading...

Parents who film their children crying for clicks should take a good look at themselves | Rhiannon Lucy Cosslett

Parents who film their children crying for clicks should take a good look at themselves | Rhiannon Lucy Cosslett

Toddlers have big feelings. But sharing their tantrums and pain on social media is not a ‘teachable moment’. It’s cruel There’s a song that’s been in my head all week, and no, it’s not from Taylor Swift’s new album. It’s by a far more sophisticated songwriter than Swift: Ms Rachel . The song is called Big Feelings and it goes: “Big feelings are OK / I’m here to stay with your big feelings.” Thanks to the trend for gentle parenting, the concept of “big feelings” has become big money online, and for the most part I welcome that (Big Feelings isn’t the only song that reflects this cultural shift; the animation Small Potatoes on CBeebies has a song that goes “Feelings / I’ve got so many feelings”, which my husband likes to sing to me when I’m premenstrual). As a parent, strong emotions are hard to escape: you’re feeling them, the small child in your home is feeling them and, in one of the biggest departures for us as a species, so are myriad other children on your social media feed. Rhiannon Lucy Cosslett is a Guardian columnist Continue reading...

The Surprising Effect Menopause Can Have On Your Eyes

The Surprising Effect Menopause Can Have On Your Eyes

Eye You might associate menopause with a few symptoms: hot flushes, disrupted sleep and changes to your libido, for instance. But other side effects , like a frozen shoulder, tinnitus, and a burning mouth, are lesser-known side effects. Perhaps that’s because more than 90% of women were never taught about the menopause in school (even once they start noticing symptoms, University College London noted just 60% seek more information). And yet another under-recognised example of how menopause can impact women, said Marcela Espinosa-Lagana, consultant ophthalmic surgeon at Centre for Sight , includes changes to the eyes. “Many women don’t realise that menopause can impact their eyesight,” she said. “We want to encourage women to seek help, get regular eye checks, and explore treatment options rather than suffer in silence.” How can menopause affect your eyes? We aren’t exactly sure why, but dry eyes are associated with menopause and perimenopause (the stretch of time where some symptoms of menopause kick in, but before you’ve gone without your period for a full year). Scientists originally thought the change was linked to lower oestrogen levels, but more recent research suggests it could be down to androgens, like testosterone. Whatever the cause, though, Dr Espinosa-Lagana said: “Eye symptoms such as dryness, irritation or visual changes should not be ignored.” You might face itchiness, a “burning” or gritty feeling, blurriness, or an increased sensitivity to light. For mild cases, the surgeon advised trying: A warm compress – Soaking a flannel in warm (not hot) water and gently applying it to the eyes helps the glands around the eyes produce oils that lubricate the area, she noted. Lubricating eye drops – Over-the-counter eye drops can relieve dryness. Try different types to see what works best. Non-preserved drops may be gentler if irritation occurs, added the surgeon. Some research suggests that Omega-3 fatty acids, like those found in fatty fish, can help tear quality and make dry eye easier to manage. When should I see a GP? See your doctor when you first notice , or suspect, signs of menopause or perimenopause. This includes dry eyes. Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) may help with the issue if it’s caused by hormonal changes, Dr Espinosa-Lagana said. Steroid eye drops and even light therapy may be used, too. The NHS says that whether you think you’re menopausal or not, you should see a GP if your dry eye symptoms persist after trying home treatments for a few weeks and/or if there’s been a change to the shape of your eyelids. Related... The Sleep Change You Should Never Ignore In Menopause Boost Heart Health After Menopause With This 5-Second Daily Trick 4 Signs Of Menopause Your Dentist Might Spot First