“Was your room this messy when you left?”
Becky, 31, who lives in east London, was sunning herself on holiday when her cat sitter videocalled to ask about the chaos.
Her bedroom “looked absolutely ransacked”, she recalls. She thought she must have been burgled, but after her friend found four pairs of (treasured) heels that were chewed off, and caught a whiff of a “really strong burny smell” they realised the likeliest culprit: a fox, who would have crept in through the back door.
How baby girls are more sociable than boys from birth
Baby girls tend to be more people-focused than boys from when they are first born, a study suggests.
Researchers found that when newborns were shown side-by-side videos of a face and a toy, girls spent proportionally more time watching the face than boys did, suggesting that differences in attention may emerge from birth.
Biological factors at play
Because the babies were only a day or so old, it is unlikely that cultural or social experiences had influenced the effect.
It instead points to biological factors, including genetics and differing levels of testosterone exposure in the womb.
However, it is worth noting that the findings, based on tests with 130 babies at the Rosie Hospital in Cambridge, do not apply to all girls and all boys.
There was still plenty of variation and overlap between each sex.
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This is a very active and heated debate in the field of sex differences: what are the causes behind sex differences and how early in life are they present? What our research shows is that at least some differences are present at a small scale very early on in life.
Yumnah Khan, a PhD student at the Autism Research Centre at the University of Cambridge
What does it tell us?
- Small differences at birth may play a role in long-observed trends.
- For example, girls typically learn to talk earlier than boys, and develop certain social skills younger too.
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The expert view
If they’re showing heightened social interest from birth onwards, that might facilitate the development of these skills.
Although only a hypothesis, Khan said that greater social interest from birth could help facilitate verbal and social skills.
However, she said further studies that follow the babies until they are toddlers would be required to support that idea.
Cash ISA cut to go ahead in April – everything we know
A cut to the tax-free amount savers can deposit in a cash ISA will go ahead next April, The i Paper has learned.
Here is everything we know about the changing rules so far.
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What you need to know
The Government will press ahead with reforms to the cash ISA on 6 April 2027.
Former chancellor Rachel Reeves proposed the change in 2025 so that only £12,000 of the £20,000 annual ISA allowance could be held in cash, in a bid to encourage more people to invest in stocks and shares, which can offer higher long-term returns and boost businesses and the economy.
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Uninvested cash subject to new tax
The amount savers under 65 can deposit into a cash ISA tax-free each year will fall from £20,000 to £12,000 in April.
Savers in that age bracket will still be able to invest a further £8,000 tax-free in a stocks and shares ISA or the rarely used innovative finance ISA. Any interest earned on uninvested cash held inside stocks and shares ISAs will also face a new 22 per cent tax charge.
Finance industry calls for delays to new rules
- With less than seven months to go, the finance industry is demanding clarity on how the change will work – with some calling for a delay.
- Yorkshire Building Society described the timetable for implementing the changes as “challenging”.
- The Treasury has said officials are working “at pace” to put the necessary rules in place ahead of its launch next April.
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Customers face confusion about new rules
Bryan Byrnes, director of personal finance at savings provider Moneybox, said that customers were already confused about how the new rules will work.
He added: “Helping customers navigate these changes will therefore be just as important as implementing them.”
PM to meet Trump for first time this week – what to expect
Prime Minister Andy Burnham set off for New York on Monday for the United Nations General Assembly.
It will be Burnham’s first foray into global diplomacy, as well as his first opportunity to meet his US counterpart Donald Trump.
Burnham is expected to meet Trump on Tuesday, at a time when the UK’s special relationship with the US is particularly fraught.
From the war in Iran, to Israel and the Falklands, there are a string of issues that could lead to conflict. Though there are hopes for co-operation too.
PM to set out vision for Britain
For Burnham, who Trump has described as the “mayor of a town”, an array of flashpoints may crop up in their 30-minute meeting.
The meeting will happen the same day the PM plans to set out his vision for Britain’s place on the world stage.
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What could be on the agenda?
Britain has not endorsed the wider Iran war, which is driving up energy costs.
Burnham is expected to press Trump for more support for Ukraine.
Trump has pressed former PMs to expand North Sea drilling and welcomed Burnham’s pledge to do so.
What could be on the agenda?
Digital services tax
Trump has threatened trade deals over the UK’s £1bn digital tax and has concerns over its under-16 social media ban.
Trade deals
Burnham may press Trump to fully revive the £31bn tech prosperity deal.
Trump has declined to commit to defending the Falklands, stoking fears that he could treat the islands’ sovereignty as negotiable.
Watch more from The i Paper
How to be more grateful for daily life in five easy steps
The world feels like a difficult place at the moment, and it can feel very hard sometimes to find things to be thankful for; when we are overwhelmed, we have less capacity to notice and reflect on the good things. Yet, ironically, proactively cultivating gratitude is one of the things that can actually help us feel less stressed.
NHS GP dR RADHA
The science
Research has shown that feeling or expressing thanks can actually alter our brain.
- The balance of neurotransmitters change; more serotonin and dopamine (feel good chemicals) are produced.
- This can be long lasting if we make gratitude a regular habit.
- We also get a decrease in our cortisol (stress hormone) levels which helps lower anxiety.
- Being grateful can strengthen the nerve pathways which triggers positive emotion.
How can we build gratitude?
Change your words
Instead of seeing something as a problem, try to see the opportunities within it.
Our brains are very receptive and what we read or write can alter our emotional system.
Express it
This will not only make you feel good, but you will also get a positive response from others.
How can we build gratitude?
Notice more
Throughout your day, try to notice all the things that are going well; has someone opened a door for you, or smiled?
The basics
By being thankful for the small things every day, we are far more likely to be and stay healthy so that we can enjoy them.
What to do
Gratitude can lead to feelings of optimism, lower our blood pressure, and improve sleep quality.
- Write down what potential good aspects there are to the things you don’t feel like doing, or even what could be worse about it.
- Spend a few minutes writing down three things that you are looking forward to that day, or the good things that have happened to you that day.
- Say thank you to yourself for the things you have achieved, or managed to get through and changed that day.
Sales of battery
electric vehicles hit a record high last year.
Starts at £22,995 for the smaller battery
Available with either a 40kWh battery or a larger 52kWh pack, that offers almost 255 miles, the latest, retro-inspired Renault 5 is both a joy to behold and a hoot to drive.
The interior has been lavished with a level of detail that’s typically reserved for more expensive cars.
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A champion of EV efficiency
It offers a remarkable 491 mile range on a single charge from the 85kWh battery.
It is a technological masterclass inside with the ability to option screens that span the entire width of the dashboard, including an optional display for the front passenger.
Priced from £37,400
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It’s a lot of money to part with, but this is arguably all the car you will ever need.
The £89,000 Macan is a premium SUV that somehow manages to blend Porsche’s reputation for dynamics and sporty driving with everyday practicality.
The 95kWh batteries can go from 10 to 80 per cent in as little as 21 minutes from the fastest public charging outlets.
With the business class-style six seat configuration costing a staggering £76,995, it is by far the most expensive Kia ever made, but it backs up its financial demands with a suite of genuinely useful and impressive onboard technology.
It’s fast, goes a long way between stops and charges relatively quickly but the interior is bland, the onboard technology is infuriating and the experience is devoid of emotion.
All of its gadgetry can’t disguise the fact that performance is weak, even for a typically zippy EV, the ride is fussy at slower speeds and it’s not in the least bit enjoyable to drive on a country road.
- While good value (prices start at £17,935) for the 200-mile max range, there are more interesting options from Hyundai, Citroen and Renault for similar money.
- It attempts to wow with tech, much of which hinders, rather than helps.
- There’s no tangible benefit over mounting your phone to the dash.
- Simply an average driving experience, adequate range and slow charging speeds.
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The kitchen gadgets under £25
Victorinox paring knife
It’s comfortable to hold, with a point sharp enough for scoring pastry.
ProCook cast iron pan
For unbeatable searing and heat-retention, cast iron is the top choice.
Tesco chopping board
Priced at just £22, I’ve yet to find another board that matches it for sheer value and quality.
The kitchen gadgets under £25
Pyrex jug
It is the perfect vessel for blending smooth sauces, melting butter, or warming stock. It won’t stain like plastic and the red measurements never fade.
Salter scales
“I’ve had my slim little set of Salter Disc Scales for over a decade, and I’m delighted to see they are still made to exactly the same reliable design today.”
Microplane grater
It uses photo-etched stainless steel teeth that stay razor-sharp for a decade, something the lookalike copycats simply can’t match.
Braun hand-held blender
It’s an essential for everything from making velvety soup to getting the lumps out of white sauce.
Bodum cafetiere
As well as delivering great results, cafetieres are easy to clean and there’s no ongoing filter paper costs or pod recycling to deal with.
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The kitchen gadgets under £25
Oxo peeler
What truly sets it apart is the chunky, rubberised handle that absorbs pressure and stays completely non-slip, even if your hands are wet. It is inexpensive and incredibly durable.
Falcon pie dish
Made by fusing porcelain onto heavy-gauge steel for smooth durability, it is dishwasher, freezer, hob, air-fryer and oven-safe.
The golden rules for a happy, secure relationship
Psychiatrist and neuroscientist Dr Amir Levine, author of bestselling book , explains why we behave the way we do in love.
Golden rules for happy relationships
Start with your own behaviours
The foundation of a secure, connected life is being what I call CARRP: that means being consistent, available, responsive, reliable and predictable. All of these qualities can be enacted in small gestures every day.
Express your needs
People need consistency and connection to feel safe. This is not, ‘You hurt my feelings by never replying to me’, it’s more ‘this is the kind of contact that helps me feel secure’.
Golden rules for happy relationships
The appendix ‘inflammation’ rule
If a relationship repeatedly inflames your nervous system, you need to disengage and deprioritise it.
Lean on community
You don’t need hundreds of friends. You need people and places that regularly remind you that you belong.
Stop blaming childhood
Humans are much more complicated than: ‘this happened to you, therefore you are doomed to be anxious’.
Reach for a
secure script
When something unsettles you in a relationship, your first reaction is not always the most accurate one.
If you’re anxious, your brain may jump very quickly to: ‘this is the beginning of the end’. If you’re avoidant, your brain may say: ‘this person wants too much from me, I need to get away’. So one very practical thing you can always do is pause and ask: ‘What would a secure person do here?’
Loneliness elsewhere
When people talk about loneliness, they often assume it means you don’t have enough people in your life. But you can be surrounded by people and still feel lonely if those relationships leave you feeling excluded, ignored or disconnected.
What to do
- Build a community that works for your temperament and gives you regular, reliable moments of connection.
- You can still be kind to people while not treating them as someone who belongs in your inner circle.
- Explain what you need. Sometimes people simply don’t realise how you are experiencing them.
- Check in with people: does this person actually feel that I’m reliable? Do they experience me as predictable? That’s the only way that you can start to become more secure.
Do some foods leave
you feeling hungry rather than satiated? Experts say there are…
Foods that leave you hungrier
A bowl of cereal and glass of orange juice
More refined cereals are digested quickly, and fruit juice, whilst one of your five-a-day, contains less fibre than whole fruit. This might mean you find yourself hungry again within 1-2 hours of eating this breakfast.
Swap the orange juice for a whole orange, the cereal for oats and milk or serve it with Greek yoghurt or a boiled egg. This would increase the fibre and protein content; two nutrients strongly linked with fullness.
Foods that leave you hungrier
These pastries are made primarily from refined flour and butter, and are relatively low in protein and fibre.
Toast and jam
Shop-bought packs can contain a lot of white rice, which is digested quickly, and the protein content is often modest.
Foods that leave you hungrier
Vegetable soup
On its own, it is often very low in protein and calories, so hunger can return quickly.
Unless it’s loaded with veggies, it’s probably pretty low in fibre.
Liquids are generally less filling as they require little chewing which may not trigger satiety signals.
Foods that leave you hungrier
Snack bars
They are ideal for a quick pick-me-up, but if reducing hunger is what you’re after, it’d be better to swap it out.
Low-fat yoghurt
A full-fat plain Greek yoghurt with berries and seeds tends to be much more filling due to the protein, fat and fibre.
On an empty stomach, it can actually increase your appetite.
What to eat instead
Instead of thinking about avoiding foods, think about what you can add to them.
- Add beans, lentils or shredded chicken to your vegetable soup and pasta.
- Thicken your smoothies with Greek yoghurt, chia seeds and oats.
- Apple slices with peanut butter, yogurt with berries and hummus with oat biscuits are better snack options than a pre-made snack bar.
- Have alcohol alongside a balanced meal containing protein and fibre.
Foxes have always been wily creatures: scavenging for food, staring down your dog on evening walks, volleying haunting screeches at 2am. In the past 40 years, their numbers have been rising, mainly due to urban sprawl giving them more access to food. Their tendency to avoid humans means there is no precise science to measure the British fox population, but a study from scientists at Bournemouth University and the University of Reading in 2017 estimated that 280,000 foxes live in the countryside and around 150,000 are city-dwellers.
And just like autumn heralds freshers’ week for young adults, at this time of year fox cubs, almost fully grown, begin to scope out new digs. So, if your neighbourhood is home to foxes, you can expect increased activity as they battle for territory. Meanwhile, there are strong signs that foxes are becoming braver and more confident around humans than ever before.
Last month, a mother in Watford, Hertfordshire, recalled how her three-month-old’s head was bitten by a fox who’d come into their home while she slept. Residents in London, now home to 10,000 foxes, report that they are wandering into open front doors and back doors and even sitting on sofas and jumping on kitchen tables.
Jen Elliott, 38, who also lives in Watford, says when foxes first started coming closer to her terraced house, she “found it novel and quite welcome”.
However, over the past 18 months, “the screaming starts just as it gets dark. We thought it was people fighting at first, then realised [it was foxes] because they’ve been pooing in our yard. It absolutely stinks. They did it on our welcome mat and I thought I’d hose it off, but the smell was so rank I had to just put it in the bin.”
Her kids’ garden toys have also been “destroyed” by foxes’ gnaws. “They’re wild animals, but they do really smell and there doesn’t seem to be a way of moving them on”, she says. Yet, part of her doesn’t want them to go. “I am a bit of a softie, especially when it comes to nature,” she says.
She has neighbours who’ve had foxes come into their homes. “It’s either when people have left their back door open, or, in one case, through a skylight into a child’s bedroom.”
Foxes, like all animals, adapt to their surroundings. A study from the University of Hull, published in 2023, found that urban foxes are becoming bolder as they increasingly adapt to the hustle and bustle of city life. Researchers gave the animals unfamiliar puzzle feeders to see how they would react. At the time, Dr Blake Morton said: “We found that urban foxes were more likely to behave bolder than rural populations in terms of their willingness to physically touch the puzzles, but they were not more motivated to try to gain access to the rewards inside.”
This is where problems really arise. Rhiannon, 42, lives in Snaresbrook and has found foxes “treating the kids’ trampoline like a bed, and when it was very hot, I think they thought, ‘Eff it, I’m not moving’. They did move off if I approached, but then I’d have to wipe the whole thing down.”
More frustratingly, she has had to bid a budding rosebush adieu after discovering that the fox was ruining her plants. “I don’t normally mind them, but they left soil everywhere.”
Becky lives in Homerton, east London, and recalls the time she found a fox in her home. “[I was] in the lounge watching TV the other day, and I looked to the right, and I saw a fox there, just eating our cats’ food. It then weed onto the floor and their cat food bowl, then trotted off like nothing had happened!”
That burning smell is lingering, so Becky and her partner have “ordered a UV light to try and locate the exact spot to clean with all these special enzymes”.
“The smell reeks and literally haunts me every day. I just cannot get it out of my head, and it’s driving me insane.”
Not everyone is so anti-fox, with plenty of Britons more than happy to feed their local foxes. On social media hundreds of thousands of vulpephiles use dedicated fox-lover pages to share images of cutesy foxes snuggling on benches, trotting around patios in search of food and curled up asleep.
Chloe, 40, who lives in Loughton, has “befriended a fox called Jingles” and feeds him cracked eggs.
Dr Rebecca Machin, a zoologist and scientific and policy officer in the RSPCA’s wildlife team, understands the temptation to feed and photograph foxes. “It’s great if people leave out a bit of wet dog or cat food to help them, to welcome them into their gardens. But there have been people on social media, posting about getting foxes really tame and leaving out inappropriate food like donuts and fast food.” The RSPCA strongly advises the public against feeding foxes inside their property or hand-feeding them.
A 2025 study from the Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust and Bournemouth University found that 14 per cent of foxes’ diets consisted of human food sources. However, Machin says that foxes’ food should mainly be self-sourced and consist of “small vertebrates, like frogs, small birds and mammals, and also worms, fungi and fallen fruit”. She also warns that “if people are trying to be overfamiliar with them, then it might encourage them to go into neighbours’ houses who obviously aren’t wanting them inside”.
“Foxes are really unlikely to become aggressive, but it is much more likely to happen when people are trying to hand-feed foxes. If foxes become familiar with people there’s more chance they will […] start to expect food from other people. That might result in them being more aggressive if they don’t receive food when they’re expecting it.”
Dr Phillip Baker, a zoology lecturer at the University of Reading and member of the science advisory committee of the Mammal Society, echoes this warning. “In this selfie age, we are aware, increasingly, of people trying to have interactions with foxes which are not particularly constructive. Back in the day, people would not have thought about trying to feed foxes from the hand or getting them to come into their houses”.
He continues: “But now, foxes just kind of get a bit inquisitive for their own good […] and there is this increasing tendency for people to see them as extended pets […] which is not in the fox’s best interests.”
“If people feed foxes from the hand or allowing them indoors, then the fox might be tempted to approach another person who does not like foxes [or] go into a strange house. This then could create a scenario where they scare or antagonise someone who does not like them approaching too closely, and then that person gets someone in to kill the fox because they are fearful of it.”
Baker says that in truth foxes rarely act aggressively. “The reason that [fox attacks] make headlines is it’s phenomenally rare if it does occur, and in this day of social media, people do make stories up without question. We’ve had maybe five reports of foxes attacking people in the way that this last one did […] in the past 25 years”.
The RSPCA carries guidance on how to fox-proof your garden, including sealing bins and composters, blocking areas beneath decking, protecting fruit and vegetable crops and planting spiky plants at the edges of the garden.
If a fox does show up in your home, Machin advises that people “leave the outside door open, but block access to elsewhere in the house. The fox will likely leave, but if not, approach gently with a long-handled broom to help usher it out. But don’t try to handle it directly.”
In the course of Baker’s work, he has “been bitten by foxes several times. Every time, it’s my own fault. Obviously with smaller children, it’s a bit more concerning. But a big fox weighs about six kilos, and even a small baby is kind of that size or bigger.”
He concludes: “I think it’s very much a British cultural thing, that wildlife, which is common and abundant, ultimately rubs people up the wrong way.”
So, although foxes are perhaps responding to humans’ familiarity, there is nothing to suggest they are becoming more aggressive.
The only big change of late is that foxes may find getting indoors that much easier, Machin explains. “The hot summer has led to plenty of people keeping more windows and doors open, in search of some [air] circulation”.
Vulpine guests seem to be yet another inadvertent consequence of climate change on Britons, but for some it’s a joy.
As Jen puts it: “Yes they are a pest, and when they get into our food waste bins, they cause a mess, but equally we’ve sort of invaded and taken away their spaces.”
“I think it’s one of those things where you do have to try and live harmoniously if you can.”