It’s time for spiritual restoration and creative expansion. As we round out Cancer season, we’re welcoming a much-needed change of pace. Mars, the planet of action, began a six-week transit in Virgo last week, and Mercury is continuing its two-week transit through the sign of Leo. This Earth-Fire combo sparks a blend of intellect and action in our minds and in our lives. The highlight of this week is the Cancer new moon occurring at 2:32 p.m. EST on July 17. This occurs on the same day that the lunar nodes switch out of the Taurus-Scorpio axis and enter the Libra-Aries axis. The next year and a half will feel karmically lighter and more expansive as a result of this shift, and all zodiac signs would benefit from focusing on living in the moment rather than trying to project themselves into the future. Venus begins its six-week retrograde in Leo on July 22 at 9:33 p.m. EST, signaling a time for introspection and reexamination of one’s core values. Less than twenty minutes later, the Sun enters Leo for the next four weeks. This Leo season will have a cosmic twist to it due to the energy of Venus retrograde asking us to be boldly honest with ourselves and learn from our past. What need for social approval can you do your best to release at this time? This week encourages us to direct our attention to intimately approving of our own selves, right here, right now, without seeking external validation. Validate yourself instead.

On Wednesday, Microsoft announced a business-friendly version of Bing Chat, so you can use the

It’s no secret that Spice Girls star Geri Halliwell retired her famed flag dress and ditched her platform booties for preppy pieces and flat shoes, and now she has explained why. According to the 51-year-old, as her “Ginger Spice” era ended, so did her desire to don daring clothing like shimmery pencil skirts and ultra-cropped tops. Halliwell said that, as she’s gotten older, she’s started to feel a desire to streamline her wardrobe. During a conversation with Jenna Bush Hager for the 4 October episode of Today With Hoda & Jenna, Halliwell said: “I don’t know about you, but as you get older, you want to keep it simple. And one thing I’ll say is everything matches. It’s just fast, fast.” From halters to high-neck solid shirts, the “Wannabe” singer explained her style change to be inspired by men surprisingly. “You look at the men who are always wearing these same things, a uniform,” Halliwell remarked. “Can’t I do the same? Why not?” Now, the music icon – known for her eccentric on-stage energy and fiery red hair with bleached streaks – has assumed a neutral palette, sticking to mostly monochromatic looks. When asked about her iconic Union Jack mini, Halliwell admitted the design was motivated by a common kitchen essential. “I made that dress out of a tea towel,” she confessed. While the vibrant performer may not wear jewelled one-pieces, she’s adopted versions of her former favourite. Most recently, Halliwell lengthened the Union Jack gown, before reimagining the entire design to be a ball gown with a straight neckline. Speaking to Vogue in 2020, the author opened up about how altering her old emblem only made the garment more special. “I felt a sense of power in developing the dress into something different, something even more timeless,” she noted. “For me, it shows the revolution of being a woman.” “The way I dress has always reflected how I feel about myself at that time,” she continued. Halliwell tied the knot with Christian Horner in May of 2015. The two were first aquainted during her Ginger Spice days when the group of girls were invited to the 2009 Monaco Grand Prix with Bernie Ecclestone. However, Halliwell and Horner ignited their whirlwind romance in 2014, developing their connection for one year before saying “I do.” Before getting hitched, Halliwell welcomed her daughter Bluebell, 11, with her previous partner. In 2017, she gave birth to her second child, Montague. Read More Spice Girls star Geri Horner says having children is a ‘better’ achievement than a No 1 record Geri Halliwell says her ‘sillier self came out’ when she met husband Christian Horner Geri Halliwell recalls learning her father died while studying Hamlet: ‘It woke me up to my own mortality’ Kim Kardashian criticised for modelling in Balenciaga after brand’s campaign scandal 4 must-have denim trends for autumn, from wide-leg jeans to split skirts Zendaya recreates Naomi Campbell’s iconic Louis Vuitton 2004 ad in an elevator

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ITV2 has and revealed the first 10 contestants who will be heading to Majorca to take part in the summer season of Love Island. Commercial estate agent Catherine Agbaje, semi-professional footballer Tyrique Hyde and model Ella Thomas are among the islanders who will enter the Spanish villa when the new series starts on Monday, June 5. We’re set for another summer of romantic recouplings, dramatic dumpings and bombshell arrivals, but it’s important to remember that this brand of ‘reality’ TV doesn’t always reflect the real world. Especially when it comes to body diversity. Love Island contestants lounge around in swimwear all day, meaning there’s more of a focus on their physiques than on other shows. While for some viewers, the clothing (or lack thereof) doesn’t make a difference, it’s understandable if you do find that you compare yourself unfavourably to the scantily-clad islanders. “It depends really on the way that we do that comparison, whether it’s positive or negative,” says Lowri Dowthwaite, lecturer in psychological interventions at the University of Central Lancashire. “We do know that there’s a big link between that kind of negative comparison and people feeling bad about themselves or feeling that they’re not good enough.” There may also be a gender divide when it comes to comparison and body image. Dowthwaite says: “Women have a tendency to be to compare themselves a lot more. Rumination around that as well tends to be higher in women… and that can be quite damaging.” Indeed, a 2019 YouGov survey found that 75% of Love Island viewers agreed with the statement ‘it is important for me to look physically attractive’, the majority of which (43%) were aged 18 to 29. “When people are younger, I think naturally we are much more self-conscious and much more preoccupied with the way that we look,” says Dowthwaite. “As people get older, past 30 or 40, the preoccupation gets a bit less. I definitely think it is a bit of a thing that affects the younger people.” In turn, this ‘compare and dispair’ mindset can affect our behaviour or self-esteem. “People get drawn into that negative self-evaluation, where they maybe focus in on one particular part of their body that they’re not happy with. In extreme cases, it might have an impact on dieting,” Dowthwaite continues. Although she points out: “We can’t definitely say that the media and what we see causes eating disorders, because it’s too complex to say that. I think it’s about how we consume [TV] helpfully.” So how can viewers enjoy Love Island in a balanced, body positive way? Remember it’s not always realistic First of all, remind yourself of all the technical trickery that goes into making glossy TV shows. “It’s filmed in a way with lighting whereby it’s going to accentuate people’s features, there’s a lot of editing that goes into it as well,” says Dowthwaite. Same goes for the glamorous promo materials: “It’s photographed in such a way that, you know, it’s not real life – real people have flaws, we all have flaws.” Plus, these contestants have had weeks or months or get ready for their ‘big TV reveal’. “They might have gone through rigorous regimes to get themselves looking as good as they can possibly look,” she says. It’s not healthy to try to have the same figure as someone who is, for example, naturally very thin: “If you’re not genetically meant to be that slim, then you’re not going to be.” Monitor what you’re consuming With reality shows that are designed to keep you hooked, it’s easy to forget how they might be affecting your mood. “You need to become conscious of it,” says Dowthwaite, who recommends keeping a diary of what you’re viewing in terms of TV or social media and monitoring how it makes you feel. “If you find that you’ve consumed lots of things like Love Island and things that are appearance-based and you’re feeling quite low and moody… there’s probably a correlation between that.” Seek out body positivity To counteract the effects of unattainable reality TV ideals, it can help to follow body positive Instagram or TikTok accounts. “We need to see more of that, I think, in the media, to help people to not be so self-critical,” says Dowthwaite. “And to kind of appreciate that we’re all different shapes and sizes – and that’s good.” Focus on other activities Ultimately, it’s not healthy to derive your self-esteem from your looks, which is why you need to remind yourself that there’s more to life than having a Love Island-level body. “What are you good at? What talents do you have? What interests do you have? What are your strengths? Those kinds of things are a lot more important,” says Dowthwaite. If you’re feeling down about yourself, switch off the telly and take part in some mood-boosting activities. “Exercising and using your body to do things that you enjoy, like going for walks in nature, or doing yoga or horseback riding or whatever it is you’d like to do, that’s a way to have a healthier relationship with your body,” Dowthwaite recommends. “Moving your body in the great outdoors is just an excellent way to kind of feel that all that stuff doesn’t really matter that much.” Love Island returns to ITV2 and ITVX on Monday June 5. Voting for the first coupling up opens at 8am on Thursday on the Love Island app. Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Dating ‘green flags’ to look out for on Love Island – and in your own life Crackdown on vape adverts targeting kids – what parents can do How to make a small garden feel bigger

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Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares has defended his decision not to join most of his Republican counterparts across the country in supporting a lawsuit challenging the safety and approval of the abortion medication mifepristone