One killed and several injured in Israeli airstrikes on Lebanon

Israel carried out intense airstrikes on southern Lebanon early Saturday, killing one person, wounding seven and briefly cutting a highway that links Beirut with parts of south Lebanon, the Health Ministry said.

The pre-dawn airstrikes on the village of Msayleh struck a place that sold heavy machinery, destroying a large number of vehicles.

A vehicle carrying vegetables that happened to be passing by at the time of the strikes was hit, killing one person and wounding another, according to Hezbollah’s Al-Manar TV.

The Health Ministry later said that the one slain was a Syrian citizen, while the wounded were a Syrian national and six Lebanese, including two women.

The Israeli military said it struck a place where machinery was stored to be used to rebuild infrastructure for the militant Hezbollah group.

Since the 14-month Israel-Hezbollah war ended in late November with a US-brokered ceasefire, Israel has carried out almost daily airstrikes killing dozens of people.

Israel accuses Hezbollah of trying to rebuild its capabilities after the group suffered heavy losses during the war.

Earlier this month, the UN human rights chief, Volker Türk, called for renewed efforts to bring a permanent end to hostilities in Lebanon following the war. He said that until the end of September, they have verified 103 civilians killed in Lebanon since the ceasefire.

The most recent Israel-Hezbollah war killed more than 4,000 people in Lebanon, including hundreds of civilians, and caused an estimated $11 billion worth of destruction, according to the World Bank. In Israel, 127 people died, including 80 soldiers.

The war started when Hezbollah began firing rockets across the border on 8 October, 2023, a day after a deadly Hamas-led incursion into southern Israel sparked the war in Gaza.

Israel responded with shelling and airstrikes in Lebanon, and the two sides became locked in an escalating conflict that became a full-blown war in late September 2024.

MP who feared her hotel room was bugged by China hits out after spy case collapses

A Tory MP has spoken out about her horror after being told her hotel room may have been bugged by China on a trip to Taiwan, saying the collapse of a case against two men accused of spying for Beijing “sends a really dangerous message”.

Alicia Kearns said she now worries what information the Chinese state may have “about me or particularly my family”.

It comes amid allegations that the prime minister’s team had access to multiple documents that proved China was a national security risk but said it “chose not to” hand them over to the Crown Prosecution Service before the case was brought to a close.

One of the men accused, 30-year-old Christopher Cash, worked as a parliamentary researcher and was director of the China Research Group (CRG), with close links to then-senior Tories including Ms Kearns, who served as chairwoman of the Commons Foreign Affairs Committee.

Mr Cash and 33-year-old Christopher Berry, a teacher, were charged by the CPS in April last year with spying under the Official Secrets Act 1911, when they were accused of collecting and communicating information which could be “useful to an enemy”. Both denied the charges.

The prime minister has maintained the last Conservative administration had not designated China as a threat to national security, so his government could not provide evidence to that effect, which the director of public prosecutions (DPP) Stephen Parkinson said was required to meet the threshold for prosecution.

But former attorney general Dominic Grieve on Friday dismissed those claims as “weird”, telling The Independent: “I can’t see why the PM was not in a position to ask the Cabinet Office to provide the evidence.”

Mr Parkinson said the CPS had tried “over many months” to gather material from ministers, but it had not been forthcoming. The case collapsed in September.

Speaking to the Daily Mail about the dropped charges, Ms Kearns said: “‘All I was told was it’s come from the top. I think they cut the legs from under the CPS for some kind of grubby deal at the Treasury and No 10.

“It sends a really dangerous message that we will not defend our own democracy, we won’t defend our own people and the nation itself.

“It is inconceivable that the case could have collapsed without ministerial or executive involvement in some way. There are serious questions about constitutional propriety.”

Ms Kearns, the Conservative MP for Rutland and Stamford, added that she fears that Chinese dissidents could have been put in danger, while she also has concerns over a trip she took to Taiwan in 2022.

Describing a conversation she had with officers while being interviewed about the case, she added: “An officer asked ‘Can I just check that you went to Taiwan, and is this the name of the hotel you stayed at? Can you tell us why it would be of interest to somebody to know that you were in Taiwan in that hotel?’

“They could have got in that room at any time. When I stay in a hotel, I always double check if it is a two-way mirror, I always try to do a rough check for anything I’m worried about.

“But unless you have been specifically trained to do it, you can’t be sure that the room hasn’t got a bug or a camera somewhere. There could be photos of you walking around your hotel room naked.

“On trips like Taiwan, you assume that you’re being listened to in meetings. But in a hotel room it’s not like you get changed under the covers. I worry what information they have about me or particularly my family – I would have rung my family in that room.”

The collapse of the case has raised questions about Britain’s willingness to confront China as Sir Keir’s government looks to build closer ties with the country.

And it comes as approval for the planned Chinese “mega embassy” in London is reportedly set to be further delayed as tensions rise over Labour’s approach to Beijing.

Officials in the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) are reportedly preparing to announce that the deadline on 21 October will be pushed back, according to The Telegraph.

Controversy has surrounded China’s plans to build a large embassy near the Tower of London since 2018; no final decision has been made as it has been repeatedly delayed. China bought the 20,000 square metre complex in the Royal Mint Court at the time for £255 million.

Yvette Cooper has insisted that she wanted the alleged Chinese spies prosecuted when she was home secretary in charge of MI5, but claimed her hands were tied.

“Let’s be really clear, the activity that was alleged in this case absolutely should be illegal and should face prosecution, and that’s why we supported changing the law since then, which makes it easier to prosecute cases like this”, she added.

Paloma Faith reveals daughter’s response to Celebrity Traitors betrayal

Paloma Faith has shared her daughter’s hilarious reaction to her shock exit from The Celebrity Traitors.

The singer, 44, was one of 19 stars taking part in the hit BBC game show. She became the first to leave the programme on Thursday (9 October) after her close friend Alan Carr “betrayed” her.

Faith opened up about her disappointing early departure during her appearance on The One Show on Friday night (10 October).

She told hosts Alex Jones and Lauren Lauverne that she felt “humiliated and embarrassed” by how little time she spent in the castle. “I psyched myself up,” she said. “I brought six suitcases of clothes! I was ready for a fashion parade!”

Faith also shared her daughter’s reaction to Carr’s backstabbing move. “My four-year-old turned to me this morning and said, ‘Mama, I don’t like Alan anymore, he can’t come to our house,’” recalled the musician.

Her elimination from the series came as a particular shock given that she and Carr are long-standing friends. The pair were seen giggling away together throughout the early experience of the series.

However, by the end of the debut instalment, Carr, who was chosen to be a traitor by host Claudia Winkleman, opted to oust Faith from the show – something the singer said she would never have done to him.

Carr and his fellow traitors – TV presenter Jonathan Ross and singer-songwriter Cat Burns – were tasked with “murdering” a faithful in plain sight by touching the face of the celebrity they wanted gone.

It was decided that Carr was the best candidate for the job and, after struggling to touch someone’s face without arousing suspicion, he pretended to remove a piece of hair from his friend’s cheek.

“There’s no one as devastated as me,” she added. “My default setting is forgiveness, but I don’t forget.”

Despite the televised betrayal, Faith insisted there were no real hard feelings between them, stating that she had texted Carr good luck.

Carr himself has spoken about how guilty he felt, admitting that “murdering” his real-life friend was a tough decision.

Also taking part in this year’s series are actors Celia Imrie, Mark Bonnar, Tameka Empson and Ruth Codd, former QI host Stephen Fry, broadcasters Kate Garraway and Clare Balding, singer Charlotte Church, comedian Lucy Beaumont, rugby player Joe Marler, YouTube prankster Niko Omilana and historian David Olusoga.

Other stars include Olympic swimmer Tom Daley, comedian Joe Wilkinson and Ted Lasso star Nick Mohammed.

The lucky players who survive to the end of the game have the chance of winning £100,000 for their chosen charity.

The next episode of Celebrity Traitors will air on Wednesday 15 October at 9pm on BBC One.

Macron reappoints Sébastien Lecornu as PM days after he resigned

French President Emmanuel Macron has reappointed Sebastien Lecornu as the country’s prime minister, just days after he offered his resignation.

Mr Lecornu’s reappointment followed days of intense negotiations and came less than a week after he resigned amid infighting in his freshly named government.

As France struggles with mounting economic challenges and ballooning debt, Macron has asked Lecornu to try again to form a government and produce a budget in a bid to end the country’s political deadlock.

The appointment is widely seen as the president’s last chance to reinvigorate his second term, which runs until 2027.

Lacking a majority in the National Assembly to push through his agenda, Mr Macron faces mounting criticism – including from within his own ranks – and has little room to manoeuvre.

Mr Macron’s office released a one-sentence statement announcing the appointment, one month after a statement when Mr Lecornu was initially named and four days after he resigned.

Mr Lecornu said in a statement on social networks that he accepted the new job offer out of “duty”.

He said he was given a mission “to do everything to give France a budget by the end of the year and respond to the daily problems of our compatriots”.

All those who join his new government will have to renounce ambitions to run for president in 2027, Mr Lecornu said, adding that the new cabinet will “incarnate renewal and a diversity of skills”.

He said: “We must put an end to this political crisis that exasperates the French and to this bad instability for France’s image and its interests.”

Mr Lecornu abruptly resigned on Monday, only hours after unveiling a new cabinet that drew opposition from a key coalition partner.

The shock resignation prompted calls for Mr Macron to step down or dissolve parliament again. But they remained unanswered, with the president instead announcing on Wednesday that he would name a successor to Mr Lecornu within 48 hours.

Political party leaders who met for more than two hours with Mr Macron, at his request, on Friday emerged from the talks saying they were not certain what step the French leader would take next.

Some cautioned that another prime minister picked from the ranks of Mr Macron’s fragile centrist camp would risk being disavowed by the parliament’s powerful lower house, prolonging the crisis.

“How can one expect that all this will end well?” said Marine Tondelier, leader of The Ecologists party. “The impression we get is that the more alone he is, the more rigid he becomes.”

Over the past year, Mr Macron’s successive minority governments have collapsed in quick succession, leaving the European Union’s second-largest economy mired in political paralysis as France is faced with a debt crisis.

At the end of the first quarter of 2025, France’s public debt stood at 3.346 trillion euros, or 114 per cent of gross domestic product.

France’s poverty rate also reached 15.4 per cent in 2023, its highest level since records began in 1996, according to the latest data available from the national statistics institute.

The economic and political struggles are worrying financial markets, ratings agencies and the European Commission, which has been pushing France to comply with EU rules limiting debt.

The two biggest opposition parties in the National Assembly – the far-right National Rally and the far-left France Unbowed party – were not invited to the discussions on Friday. The National Rally wants Mr Macron to hold fresh legislative elections and France Unbowed wants him to resign.

Mr Lecornu argued earlier this week that Mr Macron’s centrist bloc, its allies, and parts of the opposition could still clump together into a working government.

“There’s a majority that can govern,” he said. “I feel that a path is still possible. It is difficult.”

Mr Lecornu will now have to seek compromises to avoid an immediate vote of no confidence and may even be forced to abandon an extremely unpopular pension reform that was one of Mr Macron’s signature policies in his second presidential term.

Rammed through parliament without a vote in 2023 despite mass protests, it gradually raises the retirement age from 62 to 64. Opposition parties want it to be scrapped.

The political deadlock stems from Mr Macron’s shock decision in June 2024 to dissolve the National Assembly. The snap elections produced a hung parliament, with no bloc able to command a majority in the 577-seat chamber.

The gridlock has unnerved investors, infuriated voters, and stalled efforts to curb France’s spiralling deficit and public debt.

Without stable support, Mr Macron’s governments have stumbled from one crisis to the next, collapsing as they sought backing for unpopular spending cuts.

Mr Lecornu’s resignation, just 14 hours after announcing his cabinet, underscored the fragility of the president’s coalition amid deep political and personal rivalries.

Venezuelan politician wins Nobel Peace Prize despite intense campaign by Trump

Maria Corina Machado has been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for her work in “promoting peace” in Latin America at a time when “democracy is under threat”.

The 58-year-old industrial engineer was declared the winner in an announcement made by the Norwegian Nobel Committee in Oslo on Friday.

The Venezuelan opposition leader was awarded for “for her tireless work promoting democratic rights for the people of Venezuela and for her struggle to achieve a just and peaceful transition from dictatorship to democracy,” the Norwegian Nobel Committee said in its citation.

The politician is currently in hiding due to serious threats to her life.

While her family fled the country after the threats, Ms Machado chose to remain in exile within Venezuela, a point noted by the Committee in its speech.

“When authoritarians seize power, it is crucial to recognise courageous defenders of freedom who rise and resist,” it continued.

In January this year, Ms Machado was “violently intercepted” amid gunshots as she was leaving a protest in eastern Caracas. She was detained after making her first public appearance in months.

The politician and activist dedicated her win to President Donald Trump “for his decisive support of our cause” and to the “suffering people of Venezuela”.

“This recognition of the struggle of all Venezuelans is a boost to conclude our task: to conquer Freedom,” she wrote in a post on X/Twitter on Friday.

“We are on the threshold of victory and today, more than ever, we count on President Trump, the people of the United States, the peoples of Latin America, and the democratic nations of the world as our principal allies to achieve Freedom and democracy.”

Born in Caracas in 1967, the mother-of-three set up a foundation for orphaned children living on the streets of her city called Fundación Atenea. She was subsequently forced to leave her role when she co-founded Súmate, which marked her official entry into politics.

Ms Machado then went on to found the liberal political party Vente Venezuela, for which she become the National Coordinator. From 2011 to 2014, she served as a member of the National Assembly of Venezuela.

The news will come as a disappointment to President Donald Trump. The American leader has been engaged in peacemaking efforts – with one eye on the accolade – ever since he returned to office in January this year. In the past 24 hours, he shared several articles on Truth Social claiming he should win the award for securing a peace deal between Hamas and Israel in Gaza.

Since his return to office, he has claimed to have stopped “seven wars” including Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which remains ongoing.

Trump is eager to be recognised for his efforts to end the wars America has been involved in around the world.

Declaring his 20-point plan for Gaza alongside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, he announced the document would end “thousands of years” of conflict and that it was a “big, big day, a beautiful day”, and “potentially one of the greatest days ever in civilisation”.

He has been open about his frustrations with his allies’ reluctance to cooperate, hitting out at Russian President Vladimir Putin as a “paper tiger” and saying Netanyahu was “f**king me” and being “so negative” with attacks on Qatar and further delays to a ceasefire.

However, he has had his supporters around the globe including the Hostages and Missing Families Forum who said the President should win for having brought them “light in our darkest times”.

Pakistan also nominated Mr Trump for his involvement in the de-escalation of the conflict Pakistan and India earlier this year.

His efforts have been lauded as “historic” by some commentators with no previous leader having launched an initiative for Israeli-Palestinian talks on such a scale and forging a formidable coalition of nations to work towards it.

Trump has previously said about the Prize: “I should have gotten it four or five times.”

Ms Machado has previously thanked Mr Trump for targeting drug lords.

“We Venezuelans are immensely grateful to President Trump for his decisive and courageous action in dismantling the criminal enterprise that has seized our nation,” she wrote. The US leader has also expressed his support for Ms Machado’s work in return.

“I think it’s amazing, she’s an incredible woman,” Adriana, a Venezuelan business graduate living in London, told The Independent.

“She’s always aimed for peaceful measures. She has always called for peaceful movements. She was running for the elections then the government made her ineligible for some silly reason. She organised witnesses to get proof of the votes in the thousands of tables across the country and that’s how she knew Edmundo Gonzalez won the election.”

The results of the 2024 Venezuelan presidential election were disputed and sparked a political crisis in the country.

In March 2025, the Nobel Committee announced that 338 candidates had been nominated for the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize, of which 244 are individuals and 94 are organizations.

The winner is awarded $1.2 million, (£902,000) which will be presented at a ceremony on 10 December on the anniversary of the death of the Swedish industrialist.

Previous Prize holders include activist Mother Theresa, South African leader Nelson Mandela, and US politician Henry Kissinger.

Norwegian nature: Enjoy wild, wonderful adventures on a safari-at-sea

Norway’s rugged coast is chock-full of natural beauty, dotted with steep fjords where the mountains meet the sea and teeming with all kinds of curious wildlife, from orcas, humpbacks, and over 80 species of seabirds to red foxes, reindeer, and otters. Norwegians are famous for their deep love of the outdoors, which even has its own word: friluftsliv. It helps that it is home to more than 150,000 lakes and is known for its dramatic fjord-fringed landscapes and shimmering glaciers. It’s also one of the best places to catch the technicolour magic of the Aurora Borealis.

What’s more, if you explore this breathtaking region on a Hurtigruten cruise, you’ll do so alongside the expert local Expedition Team, who have spent years traversing Norway’s rugged coastline. They are always on hand to provide engaging insights into the nature, wildlife, and culture you’ll encounter on every voyage. They go above and beyond to ensure you experience more than just the tourist hot spots. Each team member has their own area of expertise and hosts regular lectures for those who want to delve deeper into a specific interest. They also encourage you to join them on their hand-picked hikes and activities, which are at an additional cost and subject to availability but offer the chance to explore with those who know the area best.

Drawing on over 130 years of travel experience, Original and Signature Hurtigruten Voyages lead passengers along Norway’s dramatic Arctic coastline, showcasing its remarkable natural beauty in all its glory, with options to stop off in various locations along the way. As you sail between destinations, keep your eyes peeled for the abundance of wildlife that frequents the area. The coastline is a popular haunt for mammals like giant humpbacks, frolicking seals and playful porpoises.

During time spent on land, depending on your route, you might also come face-to-face with reindeer in the north or the elusive lynx, not to mention the flora that decorates the landscape in various seasons. Some routes stop at Mehamn, a traditional fishing town with only 800 inhabitants. From here, you can embark on an excursion to learn about the Sámi, an indigenous people from Europe’s northernmost region, known for reindeer herding, traditional handicrafts, and a deep connection to nature. Get to know the family, hear their stories and joik chanting, and try dried reindeer meat around a fire in a lavvo tent.

There are many different journeys you can take, depending on what you want to get out of your cruise. Trace the historic Coastal Express route on one of their Original Voyages, Hurtigruten’s first and most iconic route, established in 1893 and often hailed as the world’s most beautiful voyage. You’ll cover 2,500 nautical miles and visit 34 ports, starting in Bergen, Norway’s second-largest city, where you can hop on a funicular to the summit of Mount Fløyen and soak up the incredible views of the city, the nearby fjords, and the surrounding mountains.

The North Cape Line Winter route is another popular cruise for nature lovers. This Signature Voyage adventure starts and finishes in Norway’s Capital, Oslo. The Signature Voyages take things up a notch, offering unmatched views of Norway’s best bits with more time to explore each stop. They’re also a hit with foodies, thanks to the all-inclusive option featuring award-winning restaurants and seasonal produce from Norway’s bountiful coastline.

Åndalsnes is also a favourite stop on the route, home to soaring mountains overlooking the surrounding town. It’s the ultimate hotspot for hikers, climbers and skiers thanks to its abundant accessible natural beauty. The Troll Wall is a highlight for adrenaline seekers here; this 1,000-metre vertical cliff in the Romsdalen valley boasts some of the most epic views from atop, including 360-degree vistas of Romsdalshorn, Åndalsnes town centre, and the Rauma River.

This route also takes you to The City of Northern Lights, Alta, where you can stand at the northernmost point in Europe, Cape Point in Honningsvåg – the perfect vantage point for those trying to catch this incredible natural phenomenon. Hurtigruten is so confident you’ll see the lights that they even offer a ‘Northern Lights Promise’: a free cruise if you don’t see them during the season (valid on 11-day plus voyages from 20th September to 31st March).

Many of the routes stop at Lofoten, an archipelago with immense peaks and fishing villages sandwiched between slopes. It’s not hard to see why this chain of islands is referred to as one of Norway’s most beautiful locations. Hiking opportunities abound here, and most trails lead to spectacular vistas, or if you prefer to stay on the water, you can hop in a kayak and enjoy a leisurely paddle.

Lofoten isn’t the only archipelago you’ll see on specific routes — keep an eye out for the Vega archipelago, a collection of around 6,500 islands, skerries, and islets. On Gardsøy Island, you’ll find a UNESCO World Heritage Centre with dedicated huts for local eider ducks to build their nests.

Journeying south along Norway’s west coast, many of the routes also take you past some of the country’s most famous fjords, including Hardangerfjord, measuring a whopping 179 kilometres in length, making it the second longest fjord in the country and fifth longest in the world. Get your cameras ready, as you’ll be treated to panoramic mountain vistas from every direction, with snow-capped peaks peeking over the fjord reflected on mirror-like water.

Hurtigruten cruises stop at Torsken on the southbound leg of the Svalbard Line, one of their premium, all-inclusive Signature Voyages that sails from Bergen to the Arctic archipelago and back. The secluded fishing village of Torsken is perfect for outdoors enthusiasts, tucked away in Torskenfjorden on the rugged west coast of Senja Island. It’s home to just a handful of houses, workshops, and small piers sprinkled with fishing boats and is the ideal base for exploring Norway’s second-largest island, Senja.

Senja’s stunning coastline has been rightly nicknamed the ‘Caribbean of the North’ thanks to its white-sand beaches and towering mountain peaks. It’s best to take an excursion and explore by small boat to spot white-tailed eagles, seals, seabirds like cormorants, and maybe even a golden eagle. Whether exploring Senja or simply soaking up sea views from onboard, a Hurtigruten cruise offers a chance to connect with nature, wildlife, and Norway’s stunning landscapes, with countless routes to choose from.

Book your Norwegian adventure for less, with up to 30% off, plus 10% off excursions on selected Coastal Express and North Cape Line voyages. For offers, routes and excursion info, visit Hurtigruten.

‘Endometriosis almost killed me – but it still took years to diagnose’

At just 12 years old, a terrified Zaynah Ahmed lost so much blood during her period that she was left in a life-threatening condition and needed an urgent blood transfusion.

Doctors and nurses rushed around her, using words like the pill, and haemoglobin levels – all things that, as a child, she could not understand.

One medic even joked, “imagine you’d been short in your leg and you just like bled out” in a bid to explain how serious her blood loss had been.

“The doctor… basically said that if you hadn’t come within that week, it would have had a life-threatening impact on my life,” Ms Ahmed, now aged 19, told The Independent.

Years later, in 2023, she was finally diagnosed with endometriosis, which affects millions of women in the UK.

The condition occurs when cells similar to those that make up the lining of the uterus appear in other parts of the body. Symptoms can include pelvic pain, painful periods, heavy period bleeding, pain when going to the toilet or having sex, and fatigue.

Figures from the charity Endometriosis UK show that it takes an average of eight years to get a diagnosis.

Just nine months before her first A&E admission, and then aged 11, Ms Ahmed knew something wasn’t quite right when she experienced severe bleeding, heart palpitations and lost chunks of her hair during her first period.

She said: “At the beginning, I was convinced that it was just me who didn’t know how to put a pad on. I would go through like about 18 pads in 3 days. I’d have to keep putting more on the shopping list. My parents were like, ‘this isn’t normal.’

“I couldn’t sleep the whole night. I’d have to wake up at a certain time to change it; otherwise, it would have leaked.”

After her frightening admission at age 12, Ms Ahmed’s severe symptoms resurfaced again when she was in Year 11 at school.

She suffered periods so painful and frequent that they would leave her crying in her teacher’s office, and she was forced to miss school weekly.

“I had really bad pain. But it wasn’t just when I was on my period; it was all the time now.

“I thought period cramps were normal, but when I was on my period. So if I was getting them all the time, then that wasn’t normal. It was hard to understand.”

But things took a further turn when she was admitted to A&E again – on the day she had a GCSE exam.

“That’s when it got really bad, that summer, and then when I started Year 12. That is when the term endometriosis started being thrown around because it was something my mom had heard of. After all, she met someone with it quite a few years ago,” the teenager recalled.

While she had been referred to gynaecology services previously, she received no appointment, but she was finally referred again after her second A&E visit.

However, the long waiting list, worsened by delays caused by the Covid pandemic, meant it took four years for her to be seen by a specialist.

“I think that a lot of young girls shouldn’t have to go through that on their own because, regardless of whether they have supportive parents or teachers, or friends around them, if you don’t know what they are dealing with, there’s not much that you can do.”

Despite the years of pain and bleeding, Ms Ahmed still did not know what was causing her symptoms.

Finally, in 2023, she got the answer she needed after laparoscopy surgery, where doctors look inside the abdomen and pelvis, revealed she had endometriosis, as well as a condition called adenomyosis, which causes cells to grow into the muscle wall of the womb.

Although doctors had sold the surgery as a “golden ticket”, Ms Ahmed said it did not make her symptoms go away, but she was relieved she finally had a name for the pain she had been experiencing.

Now studying to be a journalist at City University, London, Ms Ahmed has been fitted with a coil, also known as a hormonal intrauterine device (IUD), which helps thin the lining of the uterus, and follows a special diet and exercise regimen to help manage her symptoms.

She said: “The pain isn’t 24/7 anymore. It’s allowed me to be able to do a lot more and just be awake longer, enjoy things a lot more.”

To help others in a similar situation, Ms Ahmed is now taking part in a research project that aims to improve care for young people living with period pain.

She is calling for more young people, aged 18 to 24, to join by signing up to Be Part of Research, as part of a national recruitment campaign from the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR).

“It was really important to me to speak up and give back,” she said. “I thought about what I would have wanted to see when I Googled it. We all do it. Think about if there was someone else suffering the way you are – if your story came up, that could be really helpful to them.”

My GP told me my diagnosis over text. Is this Streeting’s NHS vision?

Sitting in the middle of an office was not how I had ever envisaged being told that I have a long-term health condition, but that’s where I was when I received the following message – original typos included:

“Dear Miss Thomas, Your recent ultrasound examine shows your have endometriosis (a condition where tissue similar to the linking of your uterus) causing certain symptoms). Symptoms can include heavy painful periods, lower abdominal pain, tiredness. Sometimes it can impact your bowel habits as well.

“For this reason I need to refer you to the gynaecology team. The hospital will be in contact with your to inform you of an appointment.”

That is how I was told that I have endometriosis. There was no further information, no option to call the GP, just a text and a referral letter.

As a national health journalist, I’ve covered the stories of women who went through years of agony and gaslighting to get a diagnosis of endometriosis. I’m incredibly lucky that I haven’t faced the same struggles.

Despite having the knowledge I gained through my work, being given a diagnosis in this way, with no information on how bad the condition is, what it means for me and what the next steps might be – and was it even definitive? – was just brutal.

Any information I could glean on the condition through research, or friends and family who have it, did nothing to alleviate my concern, given that it was so generalised rather than personal.

One in 10 women in the UK has endometriosis, yet my GP had never discussed with me the possibility that my symptoms could be explained by that diagnosis – hence the shock.

In fairness, I’ve been on hormonal contraception for over a decade and have never had the debilitating period pain or bleeding so often linked to the condition. The other symptoms are ones which have only developed in the last two years.

So here I am with an unexpected diagnosis and progressive symptoms – and no insight into what it means for my health.

After the text, I went straight to my NHS app to find my scan results in the hope of more information, only to be met with notes written in medical jargon which may as well have been Klingon for all I could understand.

Is this the patient experience the government hoped for when it told the public that we would now be able to access our records through our phones?

Digitisation, improving access and faster diagnosis are all important and will undoubtedly transform care in many ways. However, it’s important that this is done while also thinking about the patient experience.

Beyond the brutality of receiving the news through a poorly worded text message, I was shocked by the fact that medical information would be shared in such an insecure way.

Others could’ve seen that message on my phone – and yes, I understand that, in writing this piece, I’m sharing my medical information with the world, but that is a decision I am choosing to make, rather than having it forced upon me.

The national waiting list for gynaecology services currently stands at 582,016, with more than 18,000 people waiting for more than a year. The average wait time for gynaecology is among the worst of any speciality.

Giving patients the ability to choose a hospital through the NHS App has been a key feature in the government’s recent policies.

I’ve been given the choice of three hospitals to contact about my diagnosis. As a health journalist, I have knowledge and resources at my disposal that others may not, but even so, I had no idea where to go.

A quick browse of the government’s new league table with its “segments, scores and ranks” told me nothing about the quality of care for women with endometriosis, or gynaecology services, within those three hospitals. As think tanks have already suggested, these league tables are quite simply useless in terms of patient choice.

While the government has promised a move from “analogue to digital” as one of its three shifts for the NHS, the use to patients will be limited unless they’re given information in a way that can actually empower them.

As I re-read the original message from my doctor on my phone screen, I’m left asking: is this what Wes Streeting meant when he envisioned his great NHS reform?

Endometriosis UK run a free, confidential helpline for anyone needing support or information about diagnosis and treatment options – 0808 808 2227