If you’re worried about the new ‘superflu’ going around spoiling your Christmas plans, then you might want to add these great immune system boosting hacks to your everyday routine
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The new ‘superflu’ has been causing chaos across then nation(Image: Getty Images)
Christmas is coming and New Year’s Eve is on the horizon, which means we’re all starting to wind down from work and look forward to plenty of festive plans with friends and family. But, just in time to put paid to those fun plans you’ve been looking forward to, a brand new strain of “superflu” has arrived.
With even celebs like Molly-Mae Hague being struck down by the illness recently, it’s been doing the rounds up and down the country just as we’re all looking forward to time off and lots of socialising. However, all is not lost, because if you want to make sure you’re feeling healthy and in the best shape to fend it off, we’ve got some essential staples to add to your daily routine.
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Glow Hub Hand Sanitiser Cleansing Mist – £7
Hygiene is one of the most important things to keep on top of, especially if you do a regular daily commute or spend a lot of time around people. Everything from the poles on the train to escalators’ handrails and doorknobs in the office can be covered in germs, so it’s always a good idea to whip out some hand sanitiser after being out and about.
We love this one from Glow Hub, which has a quick-drying mist rather than a sticky, thick gel and can be easily attached to your keys or bag for easy instant access. They contain glycerin which keeps your hands hydrated, and come in a choice of three scents; Hot Sauce, which smells like cherry and smoky musk, Dopamine, which has notes of florals and wild spice, and Pipe Dream, which smells of citrus zest and forest air.
Rheal Ginger Zing Box – £32
A ginger shot is a great way to boost your immune system in seconds, and Rheal’s are packed with essential vitamins that will help ward off illnesses like colds and flus. They come in a handy single shot serving so you can grab it out of the fridge and drink it on the go, and this multi-pack gets you two weeks worth of daily drinks that should perfectly see you through until the new year.
Just like the ginger shots, gummies can help ensure your body is getting all the right vitamins and minerals it needs to keep your immune system feeling good and functioning properly. The Boots Gummies contain vitamin C and zinc, which help your system’s natural defences, and you simply need to take two a day to get the full benefits of them.
Kind Patches Defence Patches – £12
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If you’re terrible at remembering to take daily vitamins, then these handy patches from Kind are a great alternative, packed with a combination of vitamin C, vitamin D3, zinc, echinacea, elderberry, astragalus and olive leaf, plus more antioxidant-rich actives. Simply apply one to your skin, and the vitamins and minerals will work their way into your body in a steady flow to boost your immune system.
A matter of weeks ago, Nick Reiner, who is suspected of killing his famous parents Rob Reiner and Michele Singer Reiner, was sitting down to family dinners and pouring drinks for houseguests
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Nick Reiner has been charged on suspicion of the murders of Rob Reiner and Michele Singer Reiner(Image: Variety via Getty Images)
Mere weeks before allegedly murdering his parents, Nick Reiner appeared to one houseguest to be the very picture of a caring son, helping out with household chores and even joining in on family dinners.
These scenes of apparent domestic bliss seem to be in stark contrast to the tragedy that was about to unfold. On the afternoon of Sunday, December 14, 2025, the bodies of filmmaking legend Rob Reiner, 78, and his producer wife Michele Singer Reiner, 68, were found at their Brentwood mansion.
The couple had suffered multiple stab wounds, and reports suggest their throats had been slit. It was allegedly the Reiners’ daughter, Romy, 28, who discovered her slain parents. Middle son Nick, 32, has since been charged on suspicion of the double murder. It has has not yet been decided whether or not the District Attorney’s Office will pursue the death penalty.
Here, the Mirror takes a look at Nick Reiner’s allegedly erratic behaviour leading up to the tragedy that has shaken Hollywood.
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Struggles with addiction
It’s understood the screenwriter first went to rehab at the age of just 15 in what was to be the first of 17 stints. In 2016, at the age of 22, he claimed he was left homeless after repeatedly refusing offers of help.
Nick told People magazine: “I was homeless in Maine. I was homeless in New Jersey. I was homeless in Texas. I spent nights on the street. I spent weeks on the street. It was not fun. If I wanted to do it my way and not go to the programs they were suggesting, then I had to be homeless.”
In a 2018 podcast, Rob’s son admitted to destroying his parents’ guest house while high on meth. He recalled: “It’s not much of a story. I got totally spun out on uppers — I think it was coke and something else — and I was up for days on end. I started punching out different things in my guest house.”
According to Nick, he “started with the TV and then I went over to the lamp,” and eventually “everything in the guest house got wrecked.” When asked as to whether there was “any logic at all” to his behaviour, Nick responded that he was in a “crazy” state. He also revealed that, prior to this incident, his parents told him he “had to go”.
Nick is said to have distanced himself from his family when his addiction was at its height, but then returned to his parents’ home. He would allegedly leave them frightened with “chaotic” binges where he wouldn’t sleep for days.
But in September, just months before his death, Hollywood legend Rob said in an interview that Nick was doing “great” and had been drug-free for “over six years.”
Rob’s heartbreaking regret
In 2015, Rob, famed for classics such as Stand By Me and The Princess Bride, took time out of his busy career to direct a movie written by his son Nick his friend Matt Elisofon, who he met in rehab. A semi-autobiographical movie, Being Charlie, focuses on issues such as drug addiction and homelessness.
Silver screen icon Rob even took a starring role, playing celebrity actor turned governor, David. The movie ends with David apologising to titular character Charlie, who is based on Nick. Rob confirmed this was that had actually happened, and was something he felt he owed to his son.
Rob and Michele had previously shared that they didn’t always listen to their Nick, with Michele reflecting that they’d been “influenced” by others. Speaking with the LA Times at the Toronto International Film Festival at the time of the premiere, Rob said: “When Nick would tell us that it wasn’t working for him, we wouldn’t listen. We were desperate and because the people had diplomas on their wall, we listened to them when we should have been listening to our son.”
Michele added: “We were so influenced by these people. They would tell us he’s a liar, that he was trying to manipulate us. And we believed them.” Opening up about his experiences, Nick said: “I got sick of it. I got sick of doing that …. I come from a nice family. I’m not supposed to be out there on the streets and in homeless shelters doing all these things.”
‘Hostile’ family dynamic
A source told Us Weekly that Nick allegedly “always” had a “volatile” and “hostile” relationship with all family members, including siblings Jake and Romy.
It’s claimed that Romy in particular “has been so traumatised by Nick’s behavior over the years”, with the source alleging: “She has always been so close with her parents, and watching their constant pain over Nick has impacted her and the whole family so much.”
The source continued: “They did everything a parent could possibly do to help him. Even in his younger years, they really tried to get him help. And then it became a cycle of seeking treatment for him, kicking him out, or him leaving the house, him moving back in.”
‘Love fest’ household
Cinematographer Barry Markowitz, who worked closely with his friend Rob over the years, has spoken out about his recent stay at the Reiner household. The Tel Aviv-based director of photography had been in LA for the November 14 premiere of his film, The Perfect Gamble, and generous Rob wouldn’t hear of him staying in a hotel.
Barry recalled how, just weeks before the double tragedy unfolded, he spent time with Rob, Michele, Nick and Romy as they went about their “business as usual.” Elder son Jake is understood to have been busy elsewhere with work.
Looking back on this seemingly happy time, Barry remembered: “Romy was in and out [of the house] and at dinner time she comes over and we all bulls–t together. [We would] scream at the TV, we watched a movie and a basketball game. Played with the dogs. Family time. One big love fest.”
Barry told PageSix that he didn’t notice “anything strange” within the family unit, and even noted that Nick appeared to be “on the upswing.” He said: “He looked great. He was sitting and talking with the family. They eat dinner together, old school, and a lot of love, always a lot of love.”
During Barry’s visit, Nick would head out to play tennis or “shoot hoops”, and was a present member of the household. According to Barry: “He helped out, he took out the garbage, he watched TV, he washed dishes. He’d bring me something to drink. He was just normal in that sense.”
Christmas party ‘row’
Rob and Michele’s final Saturday night was spent at Conan O’Brien’s star-studded Christmas party, where they’d brought Nick along to “keep an eye on him”. Nick allegedly ended up creating an uncomfortable scene, with a source telling People: “Nick was freaking everyone out, acting crazy, kept asking people if they were famous.”
It’s claimed that a “very loud argument” erupted between parents ad son, allegedly over Nick’s drug use and refusal to try more treatment. Nick’s disruptive behaviour at the fetive bash allegedly gave his worried parents cause for alarm.
As reported by The New York Post, a longtime friend of the Reiners, who lives close to the family home, stated: “They had had an argument at Conan’s holiday party, and Rob had been telling people that they’re scared for Nick and scared that his mental state was deterioating.”
While Nick had supposedly worked on getting sober from drugs, it’s claimed that “he was not so much off them”, a subject which allegedly cropped up at the gettogether. Another family friend said: “I know [the parents] wanted him to get help, go to rehab, but he wanted to get help while at home – he did not want to get treatment at a facility. And I know they have argued about that for years.”
NBC also reports that the Hollywood couple’s son became “disruptive and upset” when his parents raised their concerns over his health at the party where, as per Rolling Stone sources, Nick “exhibited anti-social behavior”, including staring at people. After the allegedly blazing row, Rob and Michele ended up leaving.
Horror discovery
Tragically, just hours later, Rob and Michele were found stabbed to death in their Los Angeles home on Sunday, Dec. 14. Their bodies were allegedly found by their daughter, Romy – with the LA Fire Department called to the gruesome scene at around 3.30pm local time, to provide medical aid.
A source has claimed that Rob and Michele were killed “in the middle of the night”. They told the Daily Mail: “They were in bed when that happened.” LAPD sources also told TMZ that “rigor mortis appeared to have set in Rob and Michele’s bodies,” meaning that the pair would had lain dead for hours by the time Romy made the dreadful discovery.
LA officials then confirmed in a press conference on Tuesday night that Rob will be charged with the murder of his parents. The charges carry a maximum sentence of life in prison without possibility of parole. Hochman said no decision has been made if prosecutors will seek the death penalty.
Hochman said: “I’m here to announce that our office will be filing charges against Nick Reiner accused of killing his parents. These charges will be two counts of first degree murder with a special circumstance of multiple murders. He also faces a special allegation that he personally used a dangerous and deadly weapon, that being a knife.
“These charges carry a maximum sentence of life in prison. No decision at this point has been made with the respect to the death penalty. Nick Reiner is being held without bail. I want to announce these are just charges. Charges are not evidence. Evidence is something that will be presenting in a court of law.”
Nick is currently being held in custody. On Sunday, Los Angeles Police officers were responded to a death investigation at the Reiner home, according to LA Police Department Chief Jim McDonnell.
He said: “Upon entering the residence, they discovered the bodies of Mr. And Mrs. Reiner. Detectives from our robbery homicide division homicide special section immediately initiated a comprehensive investigation.”
Police then gathered evidence which has resulted in the arrest of the couple’s son Nick Reiner, McDonnell said. He was taken into custody that night. McDonnell added: “This case is heartbreaking and deeply personal, not only for the Reiner family and their loved ones, but for our entire city. We extend our deepest condolences to all of those who are affected by this tragedy.”
Do you have a story to share?Email me at julia.banim@reachplc.com.Follow Mirror Celebs onSnapchat,Instagram,Twitter,Facebook,YouTubeandThreads.
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South Africa has arrested and ordered the deportation of seven Kenyan nationals who were illegally working at a centre processing refugee applications for a highly controversial United States resettlement programme aimed at only white Afrikaners.
The arrests on Tuesday in Johannesburg followed intelligence reports that the Kenyans had entered the country on tourist visas and taken up employment despite South Africa’s Home Affairs Department having previously denied work visa applications for the same positions.
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The seven individuals will be banned from re-entering South Africa for five years.
The operation has led to a new diplomatic dispute between Pretoria and Washington, adding to tensions that have escalated throughout 2025 over US President Donald Trump’s widely rejected claims that white South Africans face “genocide” and racial persecution.
The US State Department told CNN that “interfering in our refugee operations is unacceptable” and said it would seek immediate clarification.
CNN reported that two US government employees were briefly detained during the raid, though South Africa’s statement said no American officials were arrested.
The Kenyans were working for processing centres run by Amerikaners, a group led by white South Africans, and RSC Africa, a Kenya-based refugee support organisation operated by Church World Service. These organisations handle applications for Trump’s programme, which has brought small numbers of white South Africans to the US this year.
South Africa’s Department of International Relations and Cooperation said the presence of foreign officials coordinating with undocumented workers “raises serious questions about intent and diplomatic protocol” and has initiated formal engagements with both the US and Kenya.
‘If you’re not white, forget about it’
Trump launched the resettlement programme in February through an executive order titled “Addressing Egregious Actions of The Republic of South Africa”, cutting all US aid and prioritising Afrikaner refugees who he claims face government-sponsored discrimination.
In September, he set a historic low refugee ceiling of 7,500 for 2026, with most spots reserved for white South Africans.
Scott Lucas, a professor of US and international politics at University College Dublin’s Clinton Institute, previously told Al Jazeera the contrast between how Trump treats white South African refugees, and refugees of colour from other countries, showed a “perverse honesty” about Trump’s conduct and worldview.
“If you’re white and you’ve got connections you get in,” Lucas said. “If you’re not white, forget about it.”
South Africa’s government strongly rejects the persecution allegations.
Foreign Minister Ronald Lamola has said there is no data supporting claims of white persecution, noting that Afrikaners are among the country’s “most economically privileged” citizens.
Major Afrikaner organisations also rejected Trump’s characterisation.
AfriForum and the Solidarity Movement, representing some 600,000 Afrikaner families, declined his refugee offer, saying emigration would mean “sacrificing their descendants’ cultural identity”.
The Afrikaner enclave of Orania said: “Afrikaners do not want to be refugees. We love and are committed to our homeland.”
Deteriorating relations
Trump has repeatedly presented debunked evidence to support his claims, including a choreographed and televised ambush of South African President Cyril Ramaphosa during a White House visit.
Trump played video in May featuring images later verified as being from the Democratic Republic of the Congo and footage of a temporary memorial that Trump falsely claimed showed mass graves.
Relations between the countries have deteriorated sharply this year.
Trump expelled South Africa’s ambassador in March, boycotted Johannesburg’s G20 summit in November, and last month excluded South Africa from participating in the 2026 Miami G20, calling it “not a country worthy of Membership anywhere” in a social media post.
Wales head coach Craig Bellamy has warned against writing off potential World Cup play-off opponents Northern Ireland.
The teams could meet in a play-off final in Cardiff in March, but only if Wales win their semi-final at home to Bosnia-Herzegovina and Northern Ireland progress from theirs with an against-the-odds victory in Italy.
The prize on offer for the play-off final winners will be a place at next summer’s World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico, in Group B alongside Canada, Switzerland and Qatar.
Four-time World Cup champions Italy are the favourites but, having missed out on the previous two editions of the competition in Qatar and Russia, the Azzurri will be under severe pressure to qualify this time.
“Everyone thinks it’ll be Italy we’ll have to play if we beat Bosnia, but if there’s one team that’s happy not to have the ball it’s them [Northern Ireland],” said Bellamy.
“I think they’re ranked 48th of 54 teams in Europe for possession. They know where they’re going and… they were the one team I didn’t want to play.
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Northern Ireland are 69th in the Fifa world rankings, 57 places below Italy and 27 adrift of Wales, but two spots above Bosnia.
Michael O’Neill’s side finished third behind Germany and Slovakia in the World Cup qualifying group but secured their play-off place thanks to their Nations League success.
Italy, Wales and Bosnia all finished second in their groups, behind Norway, Belgium and Austria respectively.
Northern Ireland are looking to qualify for their first major tournament since Euro 2016, when they were knocked out in the second round by a Wales side who went on to reach the semi-finals under Chris Coleman.
O’Neill was in the midst of his first, nine-year spell in charge of Northern Ireland at the time and is now three years into his second stint as his country’s manager.
“Down the years they’ve just had something and they know what they are. They’ve got a brilliant manager who I really like,” Bellamy added.
“I was lucky enough to spend a bit of time with him as well, and I loved him. No wonder his players do well. They won’t be playing at their home ground [against Italy], but I just feel they’ll be comfortable in any situation you throw them into.
“There will be pressure coming on Italy because they haven’t qualified for two World Cups. If I was Italy going into that game, with everyone expecting you to win, I’m telling you I’d be edgy. I wouldn’t be comfortable with it.
Marketing manager Georgina Shannon used the money to buy a cottage in Cornwall
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Georgina came to realise she had too much stuff and not enough space
For Georgina Shannon, it was the small purchases on Vinted, the odd new outfit and the frequent trips to Superdrug that proved problematic. While she was not a compulsive shopper, she eventually recognised she had accumulated far too many possessions for the space available.
She was also concerned about how much of her shopping was destined for landfill. That is why in 2022, she made a commitment to stop buying anything for an entire year.
Apart from food and cleaning supplies, she banned herself from purchasing new books, clothes, jewellery, beauty items, gadgets or household goods. She even ruled out second-hand purchases.
“I am a bit of a hoarder and I was finding the clutter a bit overwhelming and depressing,” says Georgie, 35, a marketing manager. “And I can be a reactive shopper in that I will see someone wearing a skirt and I will buy it. I realised I was buying things based on how they look on other people and not me.
“So I was constantly putting stuff I didn’t need anymore on Vinted, doing clothes sales and sorting through piles. And I’d had enough.”
She then established clear guidelines for herself: no clothes, shoes or accessories to be purchased new unless something breaks, no new or pre-owned homeware, and no extra beauty, skincare or hygiene products, given she already had cupboards full in her bathroom. Beyond her ambition to purchase a property, she was equally troubled by environmental impact.
“We are inundated with messages on TikTok and social media to just buy, buy, buy. I was buying a lot of second hand but I was working with the Cornish Seal Sanctuary at the time and I was doing a lot of beach cleaning and seeing what is happening to our oceans because of consumerism, and I didn’t want to be adding to that,” she explains.
She discovered the experiment to be remarkably straightforward, and with such a defined target ahead, resisted any urge to splash out. The outcome was extraordinary.
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Within a year, she and boyfriend Fred accumulated £20,000, sufficient for a deposit on a delightful Cornish cottage they now call home.
Once the twelve months concluded, she’d amassed such wealth that reverting to previous spending patterns felt unthinkable. Her living space felt more organised, her mind more peaceful and her finances considerably stronger.
“It completely changed my life. And I didn’t run out of clothing, even though I was decluttering at the same time. I still have socks from 10 years ago which are fine.
“It just taught me to appreciate what I have and it felt like I was taking my power back as a consumer”, Georgie, who shares on Instagram as @georgies_corner, says. The initiative proved so triumphant that she’s launching another no-buy year in 2026, aiming to fund home improvements and finance some adventures abroad.
“There will be temptations as I know I will want to get new clothes for my trip to Italy. But I will try not to. We all get swept up with this aspirational lifestyle of wanting the new shoes and the new bag, but you can’t throw stuff away that you don’t need. There is no away. There’s just not enough room on the planet for all the stuff we have,” she adds.
Georgie’s tips for no-buy living
1. Delete the apps!
If you are making purchases on TikTok shop or Vinted, just take away the lure. Get the apps off your phone and you wont be tempted. 2. Tell everyone you do not want any gifts
And that way, they might say the same to you and everyone will consume and spend less. I did buy a few presents in 2022, but only for close friends and family. You will probably find most people will be happy to be part of your no-buy project.
3. Don’t see shopping as a hobby
Either online or in real life. Avoid town. There’s no need to go into the shops if you don’t need anything. And see if you can distract yourself with a new hobby – like arts and crafts. Or even better, running or swimming – hobbies that don’t require you to buy more stuff. 4. Take your credit card details off the computer and Amazon account
You get a dopamine hit every time you buy something online which will have disappeared by the time it arrives. If you put a barrier between you and those online purchases, they will be harder to make. 5. Shop your own wardrobe
If you have an event to go to, like a party, festival or wedding, take everything out of your wardrobe and see what you already have before heading to the shops. The likelihood is that you already have something that will work that you had forgotten about. 6. Do not be hard on yourself.
If you slip up sometimes, that’s fine. You’re doing this for yourself, nobody else. If no-buy seems too much to you, even reducing the amount of shopping you do can help. Some people do a month of no-buy at a time. Whatever works can make a difference to your savings. 7. When you do shop, make sure it’s mindful shopping
As we get further into December, many of us start to feel that we’re losing control of our finances.
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There are easy ways to help curb spending this Christmas(Image: Getty)
From spiralling food and drink costs, non-stop socialising and taking the children to festive experiences to trips to your local city to see the lights, our credit cards can take a beating. And that’s all before you’ve started buying presents for your friends, family and colleagues. For those who haven’t spent months saving up for Christmas or haven’t decided on a strict gifting budget, it’s all too easy to panic, throw caution to the wind, spend too much and enter the new year feeling anxious and stressed about money.
Fortunately, there are easy ways to help curb spending, cut financial leaks and take control of our finances. Laura Linden, a chief financial officer and author of UnF*ck Your Business Finances: Unlearn the Shame, Reclaim the Power and Change the Game, advises using two rules when you’re shopping for presents. “Consider this the first step to taking control of your finances by forming better habits and changing your money mindset. These are part of setting you up for success in 2026,” says Laura.
The ROI (return on investment) test
Ask yourself if the present you’re buying will give a return on joy to the recipient. “Before you spend on a gift, ask yourself if this will bring real pleasure to the recipient. If not, is it worth the money?“ says Laura. “This ‘return on joy’ test helps you prioritise giving that has meaning.”
Five minute rule
When you’re hunting for gifts, build in an important pause before handing over your credit card or pressing ‘buy’ online. “If you’re online shopping, place the item in the basket and then do something else for five minutes,” she says. “If you’re in a physical shop, take a picture of the item and the price tag but then walk away for five minutes.
“Then before buying, ask yourself, is there a less expensive alternative? And make sure you’re not falling victim to the trap of ‘nice person spending’ – pouring more money that you intended into presents because you want to get the ‘perfect’ gift. Generosity is a lovely trait but not if it’s causing you financial hardship behind the scenes. This is about having boundaries, being confident in saying no or not putting your hand in your pocket first,” she says.
“If you still think the items are reasonably priced, and you believe they’ll bring joy to the recipient, go ahead and purchase, feeling confident that you’ve made a good decision.
Find gifts that feel expensive but are just £5
Treat your loved-ones and stay well within your budget: Famed 19th century artist and designer William Morris said, “Have nothing in your houses that you do not know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful”. Let this be your guiding philosophy when you’re picking up presents this year – give loved ones something that feels expensive, and that will be a pleasure for them to actually use – and not extra clutter they’ll have to take to the charity shop in 2026.
