The European Central Bank is in the final stretch of its historic cycle of interest-rate increases, according to

While millions of people own cats and dogs and wouldn’t dream of getting rid of them, pets pose a health risk to humans that is massively overlooked, according to a new study. Since the Covid-19 pandemic swept the world with devastating impact, it has become evident how much of a risk new viruses can pose to our well-being. However, experts are warning that it is not just the wildlife trade or exotic animals that we should be concerned about, as pets could also be sources of zoonotic diseases (which jump from animals to humans). Back garden pets, house pets, working animals and even rodents and pests could host new viruses that could affect humans, according to a new study. It warns that the urbanisation of our habitats and climate change will have an impact on diseases and their dynamics. The study was shared in Science Translational Medicine and penned by disease ecologist Amandine Gamble along with a group of colleagues, who gave examples of how companion animals (aka pets) and stray animals carried a risk of zoonotic spillover. While the risk is thought to be small, experts warn it is significantly underappreciated, especially given the frequent proximity human beings have to pets and strays. The study said: “These animals can play critical roles in zoonotic spillover by enabling the maintenance of a zoonotic pathogen, facilitating its spatial spread, acting as a bridge between otherwise unconnected species, or providing particular opportunities for its evolution.” While the zoonotic spillover that caused Covid-19 sparked a global pandemic, any instance of infection that jumps from animal to human is known as a zoonotic, regardless of the numbers affected. Pet parrots are a known transmitter of the Chlamydia psittaci bacterium to humans. Elsewhere, bats and horses are also known sources of zoonotic diseases. In terms of common household pets, cats can act as a link to a number of fatal diseases. The experts explained: “Numbers of infections are low, but plague is endemic in 17 western U.S. states, and many of the small mammals on which cats prey carry Y. pestis. “Consequently, outdoor cats and cats with incomplete veterinary care, combined with human interaction, suggest that cat-transmitted plague can be considered an increasing public health risk.” They conclude that “it is critical to implement surveillance programs allowing us to track changes in pathogen dynamics”. Sign up to our free Indy100 weekly newsletter Have your say in our news democracy. Click the upvote icon at the top of the page to help raise this article through the indy100 rankings.

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Black Mirror season six has become even more immersive with the opportunity to make your own ‘Joan is Awful’ inspired poster, but fans noticed another aspect of the website that’s even more like the hit episode. Black Mirror premiered its sixth season with five new episodes, the first titled ‘Joan is Awful’ starring Annie Murphy and Salma Hayek. The episode follows Joan (Murphy) who turns on her TV to find ‘Streamberry’ (a parody of Netflix) has made a show about her life called Joan is Awful with Salma Hayek portraying Joan and showing the events that happened in Joan’s life that day. After losing her fiancé and job, in an attempt to stop Streamberry from using her likeness and her life for a show, Joan tries to sue Streamberry. That is until her lawyer points out that she had technically consented for Streamberry to portray her likeness and her life in the terms and conditions she had agreed to when signing up for the platform. Joan discovers that the show is produced using CGI and that Salma Hayek simply signed off on having her likeness digitally reproduced by Streamberry. Yesterday, the official Black Mirror Twitter account, along with official Netflix accounts (who temporarily changed their name to ‘Steamberry’) posted a link to a website named “You Are Awful” with the caption: “Sign up for Streamberry today!” When clicking on the link it takes you to a page similar to that of Netflix asking you to upload a photo of yourself “to set up your sweet new Streamberry profile!” Sign up to our free Indy100 weekly newsletter It then asks you to enter your first name along with a photo of yourself. In order to continue the process, you must consent for Netflix to use the image in its marketing campaign as well as read and agree to the terms of service and privacy statement. Many shared on Twitter their recreation of the original ‘Joan is Awful’ poster, with their own names and faces, but some fans were more hesitant to check the terms of service after watching the episode. One fan decided to read the terms of service, learning from Joan’s mistake in the show, and saw that there was a clause titled “Name and Likeness” where users agreed to “grant the Netflix entity that provides you with this Experience, its affiliates and respective successors and assigns and anyone authorised by any of them (collectively, “Netflix”), the irrevocable, perpetual, worldwide, non-exclusive right to record, depict, and/or portray you.” It also states that users give Netflix the right to “record, depict, and/or prorate you and use, your actual or simulated likeness, name, photograph, voice, actions, etc.” So maybe don’t be surprised if you see your name and face on Netflix in the future. Have your say in our news democracy. Click the upvote icon at the top of the page to help raise this article through the indy100 rankings.

Heavy fighting between Israeli forces and Hamas is reported around Al-Shifa and Al-Quds hospitals.

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After a largely disappointing spring, the bank holiday weekend is set to bring with it the warmest weather of the year so far. Temperatures are predicted to go as high as 24C on Saturday and Sunday, according to the Met Office, with dry and sunny weather expected to last into next week. Many of us will be heading out to enjoy the sunshine – but as ever, it’s important to protect your skin from harmful UV rays. When it comes to tanning and sunburn, there are a variety of misconceptions that still abound, and the consequences of not following sun protection advice can be severe – especially as skin cancer rates across the UK have been rising, charities have warned. Here are five sunburn myths that could be putting your health at risk… 1. The UK and Irish sun isn’t strong enough for sunburn We might grumble about the gloomy weather in our part of the world, but the risk of sunburn remains for a large part of the year. “The sun can be strong enough in the UK between mid-March and mid-October to burn you,” says Karis Betts, senior health information manager at Cancer Research UK, which is working in partnership with Nivea Sun to educate consumers on how to be sun safe. “You’re most likely to get burnt in the middle of the day, when the sun is at its highest point, not necessarily its hottest.” UV rays are generally strongest between 11am and 3pm, she says: “It’s wise to take a break in the shade or indoors during these hours. And remember, you can burn through clouds.” 2. You have to go red before you go brown Our complexion can turn darker in the sun due to the release of melanin as the skin attempts to protect itself, but that doesn’t mean you need to turn lobster-red first in order to try and get a tan. “This is one of the biggest myths in sun protection, and it contributes to skin damage and skin cancer cases,” says Abi Cleeve, MD of Ultrasun UK. “The fact is that as soon as the skin reddens, it’s in trauma. A ‘trauma tan’ occurs from inadequate protection where the skin appears to tan more quickly, but hasn’t – it has burned. This only ensures that the skin peels, leaving the skin tan-less in days.” To avoid this pattern, Cleeve recommends gradually building up your time in the sun, and using higher SPF sunblock: “Use high UVA and UVB filter SPF – a minimum of SPF30 with a UVA filter over 90% will protect the skin and still tan, just more slowly [and] minimising long-term damage and peeling.” 3. The odd sunburn doesn’t make a difference It’s easy to get caught out by a sudden blast of sunshine, but don’t be fooled into thinking that one instance of sunburn here and there doesn’t matter. “This is something I hear a lot but unfortunately, it’s just not true,” says Betts. “Damage to our skin from the sun is the number one cause of melanoma, the most serious type of skin cancer, and skin damage from the sun builds up over time – it doesn’t go away after the burn fades.” That’s why wearing sunblock is crucial – even more so for children. According to the Skin Cancer Foundation: “Even one blistering sunburn in childhood or adolescence more than doubles your chances of developing melanoma later in life”. 4. People with darker skin don’t get sunburnt “Anyone can get sunburnt – including people with darker skin – but your risk of getting sunburnt and how sunburn feels will depend on your skin type,” says Beth Vincent, health information manager at Cancer Research UK. “For people with lighter skin tones, sunburned skin is usually red, sore, and swollen. In people with darker skin tones, sunburned skin might not change colour but will often feel irritated, itchy, tender and sore.” While people with lighter skin tones are generally at higher risk of sunburn and skin cancer, you should still use sunblock if you’ve got darker skin or a tan. In terms of sunscreen for darker skin tones, Betts recommends: “At least SPF15 and four or five stars [for UVA protection]. Make sure to reapply it regularly and generously, especially after swimming, sweating or towelling.” 5. All body parts are created equal when it comes to sunscreen “Burning – overexposure to UVB rays – tends to happen where the skin is closer to the bone structure, and especially where the part of the body faces directly the sun’s rays,” says Cleeve. “Tops of feet, shoulders, décolleté, top of the scalp and the nose – take extra care in these areas.” Other easy-to-miss areas include the scalp or parting, ears, areas around swimwear such as straps, and shorts that might move or rise up through the day. Cleeves top tip for all-over protection? “Do your sun cream naked! Then any movement in straps, shorts won’t suddenly bare unprotected skin to the sun’s rays.” 6. Aftersun products repair the damage done by sunburn “No, they don’t,” says Vincent. “While aftersun products may soothe the unpleasant symptoms of sunburn, they won’t fix any damage that was done to the DNA inside your cells.” If you do start to notice signs of burning, cover up or get out of the sun as soon as possible, she warns: “Don’t spend more time in the sun that day – even with sunscreen. And don’t rely on aftersun to fix the damage, because it can’t.” Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Dame Esther Rantzen faces stage four lung cancer: key facts about the disease Camilla receives ‘beautiful’ compliment after meeting children at historic library 7 foods that could help you get better sleep