UK News and Opinion - The Huffington Post United Kingdom
UK News and Opinion - The Huffington Post United Kingdom
MPs Reverse Lords Amendments To Rwanda Deportation Bill
Home Secretary James Cleverly and Rwandan Minister of Foreign Affairs Vincent Biruta shake hands at bilateral meeting after they signed a new treaty in Kigali, Rwanda, Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2023. The treaty will address concerns by the Supreme Court, including assurances that Rwanda will not remove anybody transferred under the partnership to another country. (Ben Birchall/PA Wire via AP)MPs have reversed all 10 amendments to Rishi Sunak’s flagship Rwanda legislation – setting up a showdown with the House of Lords over the controversial plan to send asylum seekers on a one-way trip to the east African country.Using its comfortable Commons majority, the Tory government unpicked changes made to the Safety of Rwanda Bill by the Lords.Peers inserted a series of amendments designed to water down the legislation, but all 10 were removed by MPs during votes in the Commons on Monday night.The bill, which aims to overcome the Supreme Court’s block on deportation flights, will return to the Lords on Wednesday as part of the game of parliamentary “ping-pong”.The government is almost certain to prevail because the unelected Lords can’t overrule elected MPs, and the bill could be passed into law within days.The prime minister hopes that the first deportation flights will take off in the spring.The House of Commons has rejected all 10 amendments from the Lords with majorities ranging from 57 to 78.The bill now returns to the Lords for a crucial day on Wednesday when the Tories will hope they can pack enough of their peers into the chamber to defeat further amendments.— Matt Dathan (@matt_dathan) March 18, 2024Britain and Rwanda signed a deal almost two years ago that would see migrants who cross the English Channel in small boats sent to the East African country, where they would remain permanently. So far, no migrant has been sent to Rwanda under the agreement.The plan is key to Sunak’s pledge to “stop the boats” bringing unauthorised migrants to the UK. He argues that deporting asylum seekers will deter people from making risky journeys and break the business model of people-smuggling gangs.Just under 30,000 people arrived in Britain in small boats in 2023.“We need to make it clear that if you come here illegally, you won’t be able to stay and we will be able to remove you. That is the only way to properly solve the issue of illegal migration,” Sunak told reporters on Monday.Related...Rwanda Scheme Will End Up Costing Taxpayers Billions Of Pounds, Claims Think TankTory Plans To Pay Failed Asylum Seekers Up To £3k To Move To Rwanda Slammed As 'Brainless'Fresh Blow For Rishi Sunak As House Of Lords Inflicts 5 More Defeats On Rwanda Bill
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Famine 'Imminent' In North Gaza As Palestinians Continue To Starve: IPC Report
!function(n){if(!window.cnx){window.cnx={},window.cnx.cmd=[];var t=n.createElement('iframe');t.display='none',t.onload=function(){var n=t.contentWindow.document,c=n.createElement('script');c.src='//cd.connatix.com/connatix.player.js',c.setAttribute('async','1'),c.setAttribute('type','text/javascript'),n.body.appendChild(c)},n.head.appendChild(t)}}(document);(new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=ff7fdddc-5441-4253-abc4-f12a33fad58b';cnx.cmd.push(function(){cnx({"playerId":"ff7fdddc-5441-4253-abc4-f12a33fad58b","mediaId":"f5f8b126-d48c-4bd3-b8af-5ebc35bc2c28"}).render("65f8af68e4b030e8357afce8");});A harrowing food insecurity report has concluded that famine is “imminent” in northern Gaza, as millions of starving Palestinians face “catastrophic” food conditions in the territory amid Israel’s continued blockade of humanitarian aid.The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) report was released on Monday by the World Food Program. The IPC is an international process for estimating the scale of hunger crises, and serves as one of the international community’s primary sources for food insecurity data around the world.According to the report, North Gaza and area governorates are projected to meet the definition of famine ― the IPC’s fifth and most severe phase of acute food insecurity ― anytime between now and May. In North Gaza, food security and malnutrition have become crises at the most dire level of the IPC’s scale.Gaza’s southern governorates of Deir al-Balah, Khan Younis and Rafah are presently classified as IPC Phase 4 (Emergency) situations in the report. These governorates, however, face a risk of famine through July in a worst-case scenario, according to the data.Per the ICP, Gaza’s entire population of 2.23 million people are enduring high levels of acute food insecurity. About half of those people are expected to suffer “catastrophic conditions” if Israeli forces launch their planned ground offensive into the packed southern city of Rafah.“The upward trend in non-trauma mortality is also expected to accelerate, resulting in all famine thresholds likely to be passed imminently,” the group’s report said.In December, the IPC warned that there needed to be an immediate reduction of hostilities and an increase in humanitarian access in order to prevent a “realistic chance” of starvation in Gaza. The agency’s analysis at the time said that Gaza’s crisis is “the highest share of people facing high levels of acute food insecurity that the IPC initiative has ever classified”.“If no steps are taken to cease hostilities and to provide more humanitarian access, famine is imminent,” Beth Bechdol, deputy director-general of the United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization, said Monday. “It could already be occurring. Immediate access is needed to facilitate delivery of urgent and critical assistance at scale.”Gaza’s current crisis stems from Israel’s ongoing military campaign launched after Hamas militants attacked that country on October 7, killing about 1,200 people and taking roughly another 250 hostage. More than five months later, the Gaza Health Ministry ― which has a record of providing casualty figures that closely reflect the UN’s own ― reports that Israeli forces have killed more than 31,000 Palestinians, wounded nearly 73,400, displaced almost the entire population and blocked civilians from accessing most aid deliveries of food, water, fuel and medicine.The dire situation in Gaza is “simply unbearable” and “unjustifiable”, according to Hiba Tibi, country director for aid group CARE International in Gaza and the West Bank. “Our earlier fears that more would die in Gaza from hunger, dehydration and disease than from bombs, were well-founded, sadly. Starvation is cruel. It is a slow and painful death.”“Our partners who run health centres in Northern Gaza have reported that the number of children categorized as having moderate or severe malnutrition nearly doubled in February, compared to January. Their staff report watching children get thinner and thinner as the days go by and of kids who can barely speak and walk due to starvation,” she continued. “We also hear of kids being born and dying in shelters without even being registered in the hospitals. It’s like they don’t exist.”Boys wait while holding empty pots with other displaced Palestinians queueing for meals provided by a charity organization ahead of the fast-breaking "iftar" meal during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip on March 16.The UN Children’s Fund recently warned that life-threatening malnutrition was “spreading fast”, supported by the IPC’s report detailing how adults in Gaza have reduced their meals so their children can eat. The FAO said that at least 10 times in the last month, almost two-thirds of northern Gaza households went “entire days and nights” without eating.Northern Gaza was the first target of Israel’s invasion, and has become the centre of the territory’s humanitarian crisis, with much of the region completely destroyed. A third of children under two years of age in the north are acutely malnourished, according to the FAO, and the Gaza Health Ministry said last week that 27 Palestinians, mostly children, had died of malnutrition in the north.Monday’s report confirms what aid groups have been trying to convey to the world about the starvation crisis facing Palestinians in the territory. The international community has continued to call for a permanent cease-fire, the release of all remaining hostages, accountability for civilian casualties and the safe passage and distribution of more aid to Palestinians.“From the destruction of farms, flour mills and food processing sites, to ongoing fighting preventing the safe movement of humanitarian actors, to the blocking of aid, the people of Gaza are being starved to death. What’s worse, they have all too often been killed in attacks when seeking out food to keep their children alive,” Tjada D’Oyen McKenna, CEO of the aid group Mercy Corps, said in a statement, stressing that the denial of humanitarian access violates international law.“We cannot wait for an official famine declaration in Gaza to act when it is abundantly clear that people are and will continue dying from hunger and malnutrition,” she continued. “Today’s report must be a wake-up call for all parties with leverage over Israel to dramatically change course. Gazans cannot wait any longer.”
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Donald Trump Can’t Pay $464 Million Bond In Fraud Case
!function(n){if(!window.cnx){window.cnx={},window.cnx.cmd=[];var t=n.createElement('iframe');t.display='none',t.onload=function(){var n=t.contentWindow.document,c=n.createElement('script');c.src='//cd.connatix.com/connatix.player.js',c.setAttribute('async','1'),c.setAttribute('type','text/javascript'),n.body.appendChild(c)},n.head.appendChild(t)}}(document);(new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=ff7fdddc-5441-4253-abc4-f12a33fad58b';cnx.cmd.push(function(){cnx({"playerId":"ff7fdddc-5441-4253-abc4-f12a33fad58b","mediaId":"00ea06a4-d0e5-4f42-a3ba-bd2d569db7af"}).render("65f88898e4b0defe9b27ecce");});Former President Donald Trump told a New York state court that obtaining the approximately $464 million needed to meet bond on the appeal of his civil fraud conviction is “a practical impossibility” in a new filing on Monday.A New York state judge convicted Trump of civil fraud on February 16 for falsifying the business records of his Trump Organization for years. The court ordered Trump to pay $355 million to cover the amount he gained due to his fraud, plus interest. In total, Trump was ordered to pay out more than $464 million.Trump appealed the decision on February 26. Unless Trump wants New York Attorney General Letitia James to seize his assets, he must post bond by providing the court with the full amount owed in judgment.After “countless hours negotiating with one of the largest insurance companies in the world … obtaining an appeal bond in the full amount … is not possible under the circumstances presented”, Trump’s brief states.After contacting 30 bond companies, few of them would even “consider a bond of anything approaching” $464 million and those that do “will not ‘accept hard assets such as real estate as collateral,’ but ‘will only accept cash or cash equivalents (such as marketable securities),’” according to the brief.Trump’s brief also complains that the bond companies that could provide him with the $464 million require collateral totaling 120% of the bond, or $557 million.What this means is that Trump, who has claimed to be worth $10 billion in the past, does not have enough available cash to put up as collateral to obtain an insured bond of $464 million — or $557 million if he must put up 120% collateral. He could, theoretically, put his properties up as collateral, but bond companies won’t accept physical assets, according to an affidavit submitted by insurance broker Gary Giulietti that is cited by Trump’s lawyers.The final option would be a “fire sale” of his properties, including office towers, golf courses and resorts, but the brief argues this “would inevitably result in massive, irrecoverable losses”.Instead, Trump wants the bond requirement for his appeal to be waived or reduced and asked the court to grant oral arguments on the waiver.If, however, the appellate court does not intervene, Trump will be required to pay the full judgment on March 25. And if he fails to make that payment, then James will be able to seize assets equaling the amount owed.
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Billie Piper Reveals How She Handles Ex-Husband Laurence Fox’s Controversial Comments
Billie Piper has opened up about how she has attempted to deal with the recent controversial comments made by her ex-husband Laurence Fox.The I Hate Suzie star divorced from the actor and media personality – who has been embroiled in a slew of controversies in recent years – in 2016, with whom she shares two sons. Most recently, former GB News presenter Laurence was sacked by the broadcaster after asking what “self-respecting man” would “climb into bed” with a female journalist he was discussing with Dan Wootton.He also lost a High Court libel case in January after calling two people paedophiles on social media. Speaking about the father of her children in a new interview with Vogue, Billie said: “Of course I have feelings on that, I’m not dead inside.”“I’ve had to make some choices and a divorce speaks for itself,” she added. “Or at least it should!” The former Doctor Who star continued: “Look, if people want to try and understand the workings of the guy, they ought to either ask him or his family. Ask [Fox’s brother-in-law, actor and comedian] Richard Ayoade what he thinks, or his wife [Fox’s actor sister] Lydia. They might have a more interesting take.” She added that her priority is “the privacy and anonymity of my children. They deserve not to be extensions of the parents and to forge their own identities.” As for co-parenting, Billie said she does so “with enormous difficulty”.Asked by the Vogue writer, “What happens when a storm of his creation explodes?” Billie replied: “I close everything down and keep a very strict routine with the kids so that there’s consistency. I keep them close. That’s all I can do.”She also tries to “keep people from telling me stuff but it’s really, really hard.”She went on: “I don’t read it but everyone wants to talk about it. Sometimes I have to say to people: ‘Please don’t bring this to me, now or ever.’”The actor concluded that the experience has “made me feel stronger in many ways” and taught her “resilience”.Laurence has since challenged the actor – who stars in the forthcoming Netflix film Scoop alongside Gillian Anderson and Rufus Sewell – writing on X/Twitter that he takes “great exception to the assertion that co-parenting with me is enormously difficult”.Related...Netflix Releases Intriguing First-Look Teaser For New Prince Andrew Film ScoopBillie Piper Opens Up About Marriage To Chris Evans: 'It Was Very Nurturing And Also Very Drunken'Billie Piper Gets Real About Finding Fame As A Teenager: 'I Realised Quickly How Toxic It Can Be'
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What Was Barack Obama Doing At No.10 Downing Street?
LONDON, ENGLAND - MARCH 18: Former United States President Barack Obama arrives in Downing Street to meet UK Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, on March 18, 2024 in London, England. President Obama has been in Europe this week and appeared at a moderated debate "An Evening with President Barack Obama" last night in Antwerp. The evening focussed on his vision of the future and the challenges the world is facing. (Photo by Carl Court/Getty Images)Barack Obama prompted intrigue among Westminster watchers after making a surprise visit to No.10 Downing Street.The former US president was pictured arriving at prime minister Rishi Sunak’s residence on Monday, flashing a smile and waving at the assembled media before entering the famous black front door.Speculation quickly faded as Downing Street said Obama was paying a “courtesy visit” to discuss the work of his foundation with Sunak, who may have welcomed the distraction from his domestic woes.Former US president Barack Obama (centre) with United States ambassador to the United Kingdom Jane Hartley, leave following a meeting at 10 Downing Street, London. Picture date: Monday March 18, 2024. See PA story POLITICS Obama. Photo credit should read: Stefan Rousseau/PA Wire (Photo by Stefan Rousseau/PA Images via Getty Images)He left No.10 after around an hour following the meeting.The former US president said “I’m tempted” when asked questions by the media as he re-emerged and got into a Range Rover car with Jane D Hartley, the US ambassador to the UK, just after 4pm.Obama last visited Downing Street in 2016, when he was still in the White House and David Cameron was UK prime minister, and issued a warning on Brexit.At the time, he warned Britain would be at the “back of the queue” for a US free trade deal if the UK left the European Union.Related...Trump Compares Himself To Obama In Bonkers Boast About His HealthMichelle Obama Says 2024 Election Worries Keep Her Up At NightBarack Obama Says 'Nobody's Hands Are Clean' In Complexities Of Israel-Hamas War
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Sydney Sweeney Reveals There Have Been Talks For An Anyone But You Sequel
Sydney Sweeney has revealed that there have been discussions around a sequel to Anyone But You, her hit romcom co-starring Glen Powell.The actors starred together in the December 2023 film which follows the quarrelling Bea and Ben, who pretend to be smitten for one another to keep up appearances during a family destination wedding in Australia.Despite the film receiving a mixed critical reception, it was a box office success – surpassing $200 million (£157.1 million) after being made for just $25 million (£19.6 million).Now, Sydney has suggested that it might not be the last we’ve seen from their Anyone But You characters.“It’s a dream how big it’s become and how much it resonated with people,” she said in a new interview with GQ.She continued that a sequel is “maybe, maybe” in the works, adding: “We’ve been tossing around a bunch of different ideas.”She continued: “We just want to make sure that whatever we do gives the audience what they want and at the same time is new and exciting for us.”The film was also responsible for sending Natasha Bedingfieldback into the charts for featuring her 2004 song Unwritten.Elsewhere in the interview, the Euphoria actor explained her decision to make light of allegations of an affair with her co-star by way of her recent SNL monologue. In the opening skit, she mentioned that her fiancé Jonathan Davino also produced the film and was there for the entire shoot, before asking the camera operator to cut to him – revealing a smiling Glen in the studio audience instead.“We really wanted to make light of everything that’s out there and be like, ‘C’mon guys,’” she said.“You can’t control the media and I think that’s what a lot of my monologue was about,” she says. “People are gonna write what they wanna write and say what they wanna say, but there’s no research or truth behind any of it. It’s just people writing clickbait.”Rumours of an affair ran rampant in the lead up to its release, which Glen said subsequently told Men’s Healthfelt “disorienting and unfair”.Meanwhile, Sydney also recently addressed her new film Madame Web flopping at the box office, sharing that she was “unfazed”.Related...Sydney Sweeney Delivers Frank Response For Intense Madame Web BacklashSydney Sweeney Shows Bonkers Outtake Where 'Trained' Spider Really Bit HerSydney Sweeney Says She Feels 'Beat Up' By The Internet Gossip About Her
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The Eye-Watering Amount Sharon Osbourne Allegedly Was Paid PER MINUTE On Celebrity Big Brother
Sharon Osbourne made headlines this month when it was revealed that she would be staying in the Celebrity Big Brother house as their first ever “lodger”.The former X-Factor judge starred alongside the likes of her old colleague Louis Walsh, former This Morning presenter Fern Britton and Love Island winner Ekin-Su Culculoglu.During her stay, Sharon received special treatment as a temporary guest in the CBB house, which meant that she got her own room and was not involved in the nominations.The star’s shortened stay provided plenty of memorable moments, from laying into James Corden over his supposed name-dropping, taking down Anna Wintour (“I think she’s the C-word”) to simply making a vomit noise when describing Ellen Degeneres.She later went after Adele for supposedly overplaying being English.But her nine-day stint on the reality show wasn’t without its reward, with the Daily Mail reporting that she earned nearly £7000 for every minute she appeared on screen.After a source previously revealed a reported £100K day rate to The Sun, the Mail totalled up two hours and 13 minutes of screen time across the nine episodes.That calculated to around £6,767 per minute in the show, including her entrance, exit and interview on Big Brother: Late & Live.In response to tabloid rumours about her fee, a member of Sharon’s team previously told Metro that this is “not true”.Publications also speculated that Sharon did not stay in the house for the full duration due to husband Ozzy’s Parkinson’s disease. The Black Sabbath star has been open about his ailing health in recent years, having also undergone multiple surgeries for a neck injury. HuffPost UK have contacted Sharon Osbourne’s representatives for comment.Related...Sharon Osbourne Reveals Just How Often Husband Ozzy Was Stoned During MTV ShowSharon Osbourne Tears Into Yet Another A-Lister – And This Time It's A True National Treasure'I Think She's The C-Word': Sharon Osbourne Pulls No Punches As She Lays Into 3 Hollywood Stars
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Another Horrific Opinion Poll For The Tories Has Piled Even More Pressure On Rishi Sunak
Rishi Sunak attempted to put a brave face on things this morning after a weekend of headlines about Tory MPs plotting to bring him down.The prime minister insisted his party is “united” as the general election looms.But it isn’t difficult to find Conservatives at Westminster who believe that dumping Sunak is their only chance to avoid wipeout when the country goes to the polls.As one told HuffPost UK: “There is no outcome other than total disaster if we don’t change course.”Westminster is awash with rumours that Sunak could be dumped after the local elections on May 2, with Penny Mordaunt being lined up to replace him.After delivering a seven-minute speech on the economy in Coventry this morning, Sunak tried to brush off the threat to his leadership by insisting that things really weren’t that bad.He told ITV’s Robert Peston: “I’m not interested in all Westminster politics. It doesn’t matter. What matters is the future of our country, and that’s what I am squarely focused on.”The PM added: “All Conservatives are united in wanting to deliver a brighter future for our country.”Within hours, however, a new poll landed delivering yet another hammer blow to the embattled Tory leader.The Deltapoll survey showed support for the Conservatives has slumped by four points in the past week to just 23%, while Labour has gone up two points to 46%.Even more worryingly for Tory MPs, backing for Reform UK has also increased to put them on 12%.?New Voting Intention?Labour lead increases to twenty-three points in our latest results.Con 23% (-4)Lab 46% (+2)Lib Dem 9% (-1)Reform 12% (+1)SNP 2% (-)Green 5% (+1)Other 3% (+1)Fieldwork: 15th-18th March 2024Sample: 2,072 GB adults(Changes from 8th-11th March 2024) pic.twitter.com/BK6sCROjZp— Deltapoll (@DeltapollUK) March 18, 2024Business secretary Kemi Badenoch, another senior figure tipped as a contender for the Tory crown, this morning tried to play down the significance of the anti-Sunak plotting.She said: “There will be some people who are unhappy, I’m not going to deny that.“But we need to move away from scenario where one or two people can create all the news and 300 others can’t get a word in.”But one former minister told HuffPost UK: “Kemi cannot be seen to be associated with any plot. And she’s in a safe seat so she doesn’t have to worry about losing her own seat.”Ben Wallace, the former defence secretary, said like it or not, the Tories are stuck with Sunak until the election.He told Times Radio: “Whether colleagues are happy with him or not, it’s too late, right. Get on with it.”As endorsements go, they don’t get much weaker than that.Related...Sunak Says This Will Be A 'Bounce Back' Year – Prompting 1 Big Eye Roll OnlineTory Chaos As Minister Is Forced To Insist Rishi Sunak Will Still Be Leader At The ElectionSunak's Titanic Problem: Tory MPs Engage Panic Mode As Party Heads For The Iceberg
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The 1 Part Of A Plane Seat Flight Attendants Warn You Should Never Touch
First, came the news that flight attendants aren’t just being polite when they greet you onto their plane. And now, it seems that there’s a part of the plane’s seats some recommend you never sit on ― because it’s so filthy. Speaking to Ski Vertigo, a flight attendant warned that there are parts of some plane seats that are much, much grosser than the rest. “Awareness and preparation are your best allies against germs on a plane,” they suggest. So where’s the worst spot?It’s the pocket you see on the back of some airlines’ seats, the flight attendant said. “If you must use the seat-back pocket, consider lining it with a disposable bag for your items,” they recommended. “This not only keeps your belongings clean but also simplifies cleanup and minimises your contact with potential contaminants.” They’re not the only ones who have warned against the area The anonymous flight attendant who spoke to Sky Vertigo isn’t alone, it seems. In response to a Reddit question which read “Flight attendants of reddit, what are some disturbing secrets that passengers should know?”, site user u/HausOfDarling ― who had been a long-haul flight attendant for six years when they answered the question ― warned against the same area. “I ALWAYS recommend you never, ever, ever, EVER use or put anything in the seat pocket,” they said. “They are cleared of rubbish but are never ‘cleaned’. I have pulled out and seen all sorts pulled out from there. Dirty tissues, sick bags, knickers, socks, people’s feet, gum, half-sucked sweets, apple cores... and then next flight you go and put your phone/laptop/iPad in there.” The site user added, “people seem to curl up into a fetal position by putting their feet in the seat pocket. Also finger and toe nails. Just... I don’t know why.” Okay, okay... I’m keeping that seat area free, thanks. Related...The 6 Things NEVER To Do When Flying With KidsFlight Attendant Reveals The Ideal Time To Go For A Poo When Flying7 Things Flight Attendants Personally Avoid When Flying During The Festive Season
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Katie Price Declares Bankruptcy For Second Time Over Unpaid £750K Tax Bill
Katie Price has been declared bankrupt for the second time in five years over an unpaid tax bill exceeding £750K.The former glamour model currently owes £761,994.05 to HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC), a court was told on Monday, according to Metro.The reality star was declared bankrupt once before in 2019 after failing to stick to a plan to repay her debts.During a short hearing at London’s Rolls Building, Insolvency and Companies Court, Judge Sebastian Prentis said Katie had not yet responded to HMRC over the debt.“There has been no response from the debtor. The papers are in order,” he said.“There is a substantial debt due from Ms Price to HMRC, and therefore I will make a bankruptcy order.”The judge added that the bill “derives from self-assessments from the year 2020-2021 and from the year 2021-22”.Katie was absent from the hearing on Monday, and comes after she reportedly failed to make payments after reaching a voluntary agreement last month.Barrister Darragh Connell told a judge that the agreement included 36 payments of £12,500, in addition to a lump sum.Four companies including OnlyFans and celebrity photo agency Backgrid are now “obligated to deduct 40% of the income due to be paid to Ms Price” every month for the next 36 months.The new development comes after Katie said she was “fed up” with being threatened by legal action, and would rather go to prison to be “done with it all”.Speaking on Michelle Visage’s Rule Breakers podcast about her bankruptcy, Katie said she had been to court “more times than I’ve had hot dinners” and would “genuinely” not care if she was jailed (per The Independent).Related...Netflix's New Guy Ritchie True Crime Docuseries Is Everything Fans Of The Gentlemen Have Hoped ForSo THAT's Why TV Characters Never End A Call With 'Goodbye'Hugh Grant's Progressed From Oompa Loompa To Tony The Tiger For Netflix's New Movie
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Banksy Goes Green With New Street Art That's Like An Optical Illusion
!function(n){if(!window.cnx){window.cnx={},window.cnx.cmd=[];var t=n.createElement('iframe');t.display='none',t.onload=function(){var n=t.contentWindow.document,c=n.createElement('script');c.src='//cd.connatix.com/connatix.player.js',c.setAttribute('async','1'),c.setAttribute('type','text/javascript'),n.body.appendChild(c)},n.head.appendChild(t)}}(document);(new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=ff7fdddc-5441-4253-abc4-f12a33fad58b';cnx.cmd.push(function(){cnx({"playerId":"ff7fdddc-5441-4253-abc4-f12a33fad58b","mediaId":"b65dfedf-f34b-4c12-a74f-1f730ad202a8"}).render("65f8520de4b030e8357accd5");});Banksy is back with his first confirmed installation of 2024.The anonymous British street artist confirmed on his Instagram account on Monday that he was behind a mural that was first spotted in Finsbury Park in London, at the weekend.In the artwork, a stencilled figure of a woman appears to have sprayed green paint over a white wall behind a pollarded tree, thus giving an optical illusion effect of foliage from afar.Banksy, who has never been officially identified, shared before and after images of the stunt on Instagram.See the post here:View this post on InstagramA post shared by Banksy (@banksy)The artist didn’t caption the post, prompting multiple theories as to the meaning of the mural.Some people thought it was a message of hope amid the climate crisis, of which Banksy, who originally hails from Bristol in southwest England, has used his artwork to highlight on multiplepreviousoccasions.Others suggested it was a pessimistic take on the environment or a commentary on greenwashing, the tactic the United Nations defines on its website as “misleading the public to believe that a company or other entity is doing more to protect the environment than it is.”Banksy confirmed he was behind the mural in Finsbury Park, London. (Photo by Jonathan Brady/PA Images via Getty Images)Documentarian James Peak, the creator of the BBC’s “The Banksy Story” radio series, said the message is “clear” that “nature’s struggling and it is up to us to help it grow back.”“So, when you step back, it looks like the tree has burst into life, but in a noticeably fake and synthetic way,” he told the broadcaster. “And it’s pretty subtle for a massive tree, I’d say.”Related...Banksy Seems To Confirm First Name In Lost Interview Discovered In CupboardBanksy Unveils Powerful New Valentine's Day Artwork Themed Around Violence Against WomenNew Banksy Artwork Defaced In ‘Selfish And Mindless Way’
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My Ex-MIL Wants To Take My 1-Year-Old To Another Country For 3 Months And Won't Take No For An Answer
Putting up boundaries with family members isn’t always easy, especially when it comes to your children. Some families have difficulties when it comes to knowing when they’re crossing a line — so, this one parent decided to vent to other parents about a peculiar situation with her ex-mother-in-law. But, apparently the parent isn’t the only one who had concerns when it came to the scenario they mentioned — others were quick to validate!On the Mumsnet post they explained that their ex-mother in law casually said she wanted to take her 13-month-old daughter to her home country for three months.They added: “I immediately said absolutely not! She then followed up with “ok, just one month then”!“This is apparently so that DD can “get used” to being away from me as she is very clingy. Why on earth would a 13 month old need to get used to being away from their mother for months at a time?!“Apparently I’m completely unreasonable for not allowing this and have been accused of “hogging” the baby... honestly couldn’t make this up.”Parents unanimously advised to stay cautious of the mother in law, one even said they have avoided creating their kids passports for this exact reason, “to stop the in-laws attempting to take them away.”Another chimed in saying the parent was not being unreasonable at all, and to always keep an eye on the child’s passport.Others couldn’t believe what the mother in law had said with one person saying they had a lovely mother in law who they could never imagine doing such a thing.One said: “I would not allow this woman to have ANY unsupervised access to my child. Ever. And that supervision would be done by me. I would also hide your daughter’s passport. There is something very, very wrong and sinister about this woman.”Often parents find it difficult to set boundaries with grandparents, but it’s important to have an open conversation with your partner to establish your values as parents. That way, you can present a united front and a clear message when broaching the issue.“If I know my values, I can communicate my needs, boundaries, and standards to others with more clarity,” said Jacob Goldsmith, director of the Emerging Adulthood Program at The Family Institute at Northwestern University. Fran Walfish, a family and relationship psychotherapist in Beverly Hills, California says: “In order to avoid being reactionary, or even worse, manipulative, always converse about setting boundaries when you are calm and settled down. It is extremely challenging to communicate kindly and fairly when you’re frustrated. Chill and then chat!”Speaking in a gentle, soothing, direct way is more effective and gives the impression that your style of parenting is well-thought-out and has merit. If you’re in an emotional state, try to reason with yourself.Related...Should You Pay For Your In-Law's Expensive Plans? Mumsnet Weighs InMum Sparks Debate After Saying She Doesn't Want To Buy Toys For Kids At ChristmasWoman Allows Mumsnet Users To Choose Baby Name With Simple Voting Process
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How Soon Can I Have Sex After A C-Section?
Profile view of loving African American couple being close to each other in nature.Having a caesarean section is considered major abdominal surgery. An incision is made in the abdomen to get the baby safely out of the womb, while the parent is given regional anaesthesia.With such a big surgery, there has to be some downtime as well in order to recover well and avoid infection risks.Usually the parent is discharged 1—2 days after surgery, but they are advised to take things easy for several weeks. This means limiting activities such as driving, exercising, carrying anything heavier than your baby for around 6 weeks when you start to feel better.When can you have sex?After being pregnant for 9 months where you may or may not have had a low sex drive or felt uncomfortable in your body, many parents might question when is it finally time to do the deed again?Well, according to the NHS you’ll probably start to feel better 6 weeks after your C-section, when you can resume these activities. But if you do feel better sooner and it’s not uncomfortable, you can actually have sex sooner!But you should always be careful and listen to your body.What if sex is painful after birth?“If penetration hurts, say so. If you pretend that everything’s all right when it isn’t, you may start to see sex as a nuisance or unpleasant, rather than a pleasure. You can still give each other pleasure without penetration – for example, by mutual masturbation,” advises the NHS.The governmental body also says to take it gently and even try to explore with your fingers to reassure yourself that sex won’t hurt. Don’t rule out using a lubricant either!The NHS says that you don’t need to rush it, and that you can get pregnant again as soon as three weeks after having a baby. You could wait until you’ve had your six-week postnatal check with a doctor, and have discussed contraception options, to resume a regular sex life.Cathy Ranson, the former editor in chief of Netmums believes the answer is waiting until you feel comfortable.“If you’ve had a tear or C-section, what feels comfortable will be very different from someone who had a ‘straightforward’ birth,” she says. “Every body and every vagina is different, so take it from your body’s cues, don’t feel pressured. Do it only when you want to, to keep the experience loving and positive.Related...12 Things Midwives Would Never Do While Giving BirthI Almost Died Giving Birth — Twice. This Is The Lifesaving Knowledge I Wish I'd Had.Everything You Need To Know About 'Free Birthing' – The Rapidly Rising Birth Plan
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Vladimir Putin Is 'Afraid' Of War With Nato, Estonian PM Claims
Estonia's PM Kallas (R) says Putin (L) is afraid of war with NatoEstonia’s prime minister has claimed Vladimir Putin is afraid of war with Nato, even though the Russia president has repeatedly threatened to go nuclear on the group.The North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (Nato) is keen to avoid a direct war with Moscow, believed to be the world’s largest nuclear state, but has been offering essential support to Ukraine since Russia’s invasion two years ago.Russia has repeatedly suggested that if Nato takes it too far – or intervenes directly with the war – it will not hesitate to press the nuclear button.On Sunday, Kaja Kallas, PM of Russia’s neighbouring country Estonia, told the BBC: “Of course, we have to take everything seriously, what he says.“He has been threatening with nuclear war for quite some time, but it has been only words.“He’s very good at sowing fear within our societies, really listening to what we are afraid of, and giving you the fears that you have.”She said Putin understands people are “afraid of the nuclear war” so plays into that to shock the public.“It is a trap, a trap of self-deterrence,” the Estonian politician said. “Because if we are afraid, then we start to self-deter – and this is what Putin wants.“We also have to think what Putin is afraid of – and he’s actually afraid of going to war with Nato, so he doesn’t want that.“And we, of course, don’t want that either.’But it is, to understand the messages that he is giving out, so that we would be afraid and refrain from the decisions that we would otherwise make.”Last week, Putin told the West that Russia was technically ready for nuclear war – and that if the US sent troops to Ukraine, it would be considered a serious escalation of the conflict.However, the White House has said in the past that this is just Putin’s “nuclear saber-rattling” and that there is no evidence Russia is looking to use nuclear weapons imminently.Chief of the UN nuclear watchdog Rafael Grossi suggested there were not the conditions for nuclear war yet in Ukraine last week.Senior Ukrainian presidential official Mykhailo Podolyak also downplayed the Russian president’s threats, telling Reuters: ”“Realising that things are going the wrong way, Putin continues to use classic nuclear rhetoric.“With the old Soviet hope – ‘be scared and retreat!’”Putin has just been re-elected for his fifth term as Russian president after suppressing all viable opposition, meaning he can legally stay in office until at least 2036.Related...Putin Names Navalny For The First Time Since Critic's Death In Victorious Election SpeechIn The Least Surprising News Ever, Vladimir Putin Has Won The Russian ElectionPutin Employs Forceful Carrot And Stick Approach To Get People Voting In Russia's Election
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Calling All UK Fans Of Selling Sunset – Netflix Has The Best News For You
A new Selling Sunset-style real estate show is coming to the UK this year, Netflix has announced.If you’ve loved diving into the luxury world of Los Angeles real estate for the last seven seasons of the hit Netflix reality show – along with its spin-offs set in Tampa and The OC – a brand new show called Buying London will be exploring the capital’s lucrative property market in 2024.An official synopsis reads: “Property mogul Daniel Daggers and his ambitious team of agents at DDRE Global take on and challenge London’s luxury property market in this brand-new Netflix series, Buying London. “The talented team set out to conquer the super prime high-end real estate market from the prestigious streets of Mayfair to the exclusive enclaves of Holland Park as we follow the group as they navigate the intricacies of their personal lives as well as striving to make their mark in the glamorous world of luxury real estate.”While the cast haven’t been revealed yet, one of the agency advisors is former Made In Chelsea star Rosi Walden, so it’s quite possible she will be featuring.As for DDRE Global boss Daniel, we can expect him to be London’s answer to Selling Sunset’s Oppenheim twins Jason and Brett.The DDRE website includes listings of luxury properties in Regents Park, Notting Hill and Chelsea and many more affluent neighbourhoods, along with international homes in France, South Africa and Antigua.Whether the new series will also include the explosive arguments, extravagant fashion and themed broker’s opens of Selling Sunset remains to be seen, but it’s sure to give us huge amounts of house envy.No release date has been announced yet, but Netflix confirmed it will be in 2024 (via Deadline).If you’re still eagerly awaiting for the next season of Selling Sunset to drop, you can catch up on the most dramatic moments from season seven here.Related...Selling The OC's Tyler And Alex Share Relationship Update After Steamy On-Screen DevelopmentGot Questions After The Latest Season Of Selling Sunset? Well, We've Got AnswersHere's Everything Selling Sunset Fans Will Want To Know About The Drama Of Season 7
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UK Gardeners Urged To Keep Hold Of Old Dishwashing Sponges For This Purpose
The leaves are coming back to trees, the flowers are starting to bloom and I, personally, a certified Garden Goblin, am looking for any tips I can find this gardening season to stop my beloved plants from dying.The idea we have of gardening is that it’s a zen-like experience, filled only with peace and love towards the life that we’re bringing into the world.However, for Garden Goblins like myself that love our gardens but can’t always keep them entirely healthy and have almost entirely given up on houseplants, we need a little extra help. Some hacks, some tips, some assurance that at least a few of our plants will survive these warmer months, PLEASE.Cue, Simple & Fast’s YouTube video.How dishwashing sponges can help your plantsIn the video, the host shares that instead of throwing away our sponges when they’re not giving our dishes the same polish and shine that they did before, we should save them for our plants.First, we should soak the sponge in disinfectant for an hour because plants are fussy and don’t want our dirty dish water. I know, I was confused too.Once the hour is up, then you will need to cut up the sponge into smaller pieces. In the video, the expert said: “Once we have all our sponge cut, we are going to start using it to benefit the soil of our pots and plants. And we are going to use the sponge to fill one of these pots.”The cubes are then planted into the plant pots and, over time, gradually absorb nutrients and moisture promoting plant health and longevity. The gardening expert said: “What happens is that they have already begun to absorb the nutrients from the soil itself and the moisture from the soil that I have added to the bucket.”They then repotted a plant on top of the layer of the sponge and filled in the pot with more soil. They assured that this will go on to retain moisture and keep plants hydrated for a longer period of time.Basically, it saves us Garden Goblins when we forget to water or feed our plants and buys us a little more time.And, if you’re not chronically unorganised, according to commenters, this is ideal for hanging plants or trips away when you won’t be home to look after your plant pals.Brb, off to chop up a sponge.Related...The Grim Gardening Reason Your Veggie Leaves Are YellowUK Gardeners Urged To Check For Yellow Patches On GrassGardening Expert Shares The Plant Every New-Build Owner Should Grow
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Netflix's New Guy Ritchie True Crime Docuseries Is Everything Fans Of The Gentlemen Have Hoped For
Already binged Guy Ritchie’s new Netflix series The Gentlemen in its entirety? Fear not, as the iconic British director is already working on a new true crime documentary.As a master auteur of the criminal genre, the acclaimed director is no stranger to the logistics of a complicated heist.And that’s exactly what he’s set to explore in a new documentary about one of the most infamous foiled diamond raids in British history.Millennium Diamond Heist will chart the notorious attempted robbery of the Millennium Dome’s diamond exhibition in Greenwich in November 2000.The three-part series was announced at the Next on Netflix showcase in London, and will cover “a group of South-East London criminals” orchestrating “what just might be the most audacious heist of all time”, according to What’s On Netflix.Millennium Diamond Heist, due out in 2026, is directed by Jesse Vile and executive produced by Guy, Simon Chinn, Jonathan Chinn, Suzanne Lavery and Ivan Atkinson. Perpetrators of the Millennium Dome raid were hoping to get their hands on the Millennium Star diamond, which had an estimated worth of £200 million.The attempted robbery was ultimately foiled by the Flying Squad branch of the Metropolitan Police.The heist has previously been covered in ITV’s The Millennium Dome Heist with Ross Kemp. It was also documented in Kris Hollington’s book titled Diamond Geezers: The Inside Story of the Crime of the Millennium and detective superintendent Jon Shatford’s own book with William Doyle called Dome Raiders: How Scotland Yard Foiled the Greatest Robbery of All Time.Guy’s new eight-part series The Gentlemen continues to hold the top spot in Netflix’s UK TV rankings.The show stars Theo James, Kaya Scodelario, Ray Winstone, Daniel Ings, Vinnie Jones, Joely Richardson and follows an aristocrat who inherits the family estate and discovers it’s home to a huge weed empire.Elsewhere in Netflix’s slate of newly announced projects is a Bear Grylls celebrity survival series presented by Holly Willoughby.Related...Finished The Gentlemen? You Need To Visit Guy Ritchie's Cosy London Pub Loved By The BeckhamsThe Gentlemen Fans Are Only Just Realising Where They Know Actor Theo James FromThought The Stars Of The Gentlemen Looked Familiar? Here's Where You've Seen The Cast Before
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The Haunting Of Hill House's Creator Just Confirmed A Fan's TikTok Theory
Fan theories abound on TikTok ― not all of them verified, or even probable. But recently, ghostwriter @glittering_ghostwriter had her The Haunting of Hill House theory confirmed by none other then the director of the show himself, Mike Flanagan. She created a video explaining why she thought Hugh, the patriarch of the Crain family who occupied Hill House in the Netflix show, was the only one not to get a clearly-assigned version of the Red Room in the building. “He actually did have his own version,” the creator argued ― “and you can see it.” What was it? “The point of the Red Room is to consume members of the house, right?” the TikToker said. “The Red Room is there to relax them, so that the house can watch who they really are,” she explained. For some characters (like Theo, who gets a dance room), this is easy to spot. “But when you think of Hugh, he’s never relaxed in Hill House,” she points out. “Hill House is only a means to an end for him ― he’s trying to rebuild his house so they can sell it, and they can finally settle down in their ‘forever house.’” So, while others’ Red Room may offer them a hobby, for Hugh it won’t look like that. “he’s not gonna take up a hobby at Hill House ― he’s gonna get this job done,” the ghostwriter reasoned. “So what does the house do? It gives him more tasks ― and it makes the Red Room impossibly locked so that he cannot get in it... Trying to break into this room and spending time doing that, that is Hugh’s Red Room,” she suggests. Director Mike Flanagan confirmed the theory Tagging the director of the show, one commenter asked, ”@Mike Flannagan can you confirm or deny this please? It’s really great if true.” “Confirmed!” the show’s creator said beneath the request. Naturally, the fan who created the video was happy to read the confirmation. “Omg... thank you so much lmao I’m a huge fan,” she responded to Mike. The stuff of fandom dreams...You can watch The Haunting of Hill House on Netflix.@glittering_ghostwriterI loved this #hauntingofhillhouse#redroom#hughcrain#endingexplained♬ original sound - Glittering GhostwriterRelated...Unsure About Your Relationship? The 'Dorito Theory' Might HelpHow The 'Let Them' Theory Can Stop People Disappointing YouCould The Viral ‘Burnt Toast Theory’ Explain Why Bad Things Happen To You?
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Matt Le Blanc Turned Down This Iconic Sitcom Role And We're Absolutely Stunned
Famed for his role as Joey Tribianni in Friends, Matt Le Blanc has gone on to do a number of shows including Friends spin-off ‘Joey’, ‘Episodes’ and even joined the team on Top Gear for a short stint.However, there’s one sitcom that he was almost cast in and while we’re happy with who eventually got the role, it’s hard to not think about what could have been for the loveable comedy star.Yes, that’s right, Matt Le Blanc was actually offered a role in another huge sitcom: Modern Family! Back when the show was starting out, Matt was actually offered the role of the iconic Phil Dunphy. I KNOW.Why Matt Le Blanc turned down the role of Phil DunphySpeaking to USA Today, Matt revealed that after his show Joey was cancelled, the Modern Family script landed on his desk with an offer to play the role of dorky dad Phil Dunphy.He said: “I remember reading it thinking, this is a really good script, (but) I’m not the guy for this, I’d be doing the project an injustice to take this.”As any Modern Family fan would tell you, he did both the show and Ty Burrell — the actor who landed the iconic role — a favour because, at this point, can you imagine anybody more perfect to play that role?It’s thought that while the producers were dead-set on Ty, there were concerns that he wasn’t famous enough from people higher up. We’re glad the producers got their way!Matt stayed close to the Modern Family team, thoughThere was never anything but affection between the Friends star and the Modern Family cast and, in fact, when the cast staged a sickout and sued 20th Century Fox in a salary dispute, star Jesse Tyler Ferguson called Matt for negotiating advice as the Friends cast had been through something similar.He told Jesse, who plays Mitchell Pritchett: “You have to walk out, or they won’t take you seriously, iIf you stick together, you have power.”Of course, Matt couldn’t resist being a little cheeky. On the day that the cast huddled together after refusing to work, Matt texted Jesse saying: “Hey, I killed it as Mitch today at the table read, thanks for the opportunity!”Ah, he’s great.Related...This Is What Friends Was Almost Called – And We’re StunnedFriends Star Tom Selleck Shares His Funniest Memory Of Working With 'Raw Talent' Matthew PerryI Just Learned How Much Goggleboxers Get Paid, And it's Not What I Thought
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Holly Willoughby Makes Presenting Comeback With Bear Grylls In New Netflix Survival Series
The duo will appear on a new Netflix reality series.Bears Grylls has pushed plenty of celebrities to their limits over the years in his survival series Running Wild, but a new Netflix show is set to introduce a fresh twist.As revealed by the streaming service at the Next on Netflix showcase in London, the new series will see the survival expert dropping an unlikely group of British celebrities in the Central American jungle.But instead of working alongside them to build fires, catch dinner and build shelters to survive, Bear won’t exactly be on their side this time.As reported by Deadline, the logline for the new show reads: “Bear believes there’s an action hero inside us all – even the celebs – but how strong is their will to survive? As Bear puts them through their paces, those who fail to impress will face the dreaded ‘Bear Hunt’ – a brutal game of cat and mouse where they’ll be hunted down by Bear himself and, if captured, eliminated from the show.”Bear Hunt (a working title) is set to premiere next year and will be hosted by Holly Willoughby, who recently left This Morning after 14 years.View this post on InstagramA post shared by Netflix UK & Ireland (@netflixuk)Bear has previously worked with Netflix on his show You vs. Wild, an interactive series which allowed viewers to make decisions to help complete missions.Both Bear and Holly commented on Netflix’s Instagram announcement to share that they were “ready”.Survivalist Bear has previously ventured into the wild with Hollywood stars like Channing Tatum, Zac Efron and Courteney Cox, having first found fame with his solo series Born Survivor.Bear Hunt will also mark one of the first newly announced gigs for Holly since departing from her longtime presenter role on This Morning. Her leaving announcement came after a man was arrested over an alleged plot to kidnap her.It also came after Phillip Schofield’s own exit after he admitted to having lied to producers about an affair with a younger colleague.Holly was back presenting the latest series of Dancing On Ice this year with new co-host Stephen Mulhern.Related...'I Think She's The C-Word': Sharon Osbourne Pulls No Punches As She Lays Into 3 Hollywood StarsLorraine Kelly Shares Her Honest Take On Phillip Schofield And Holly Willoughby's This Morning Exits'F***!': Holly Willoughby Issues Apology After F-Bomb Slips Out Live On Dancing On Ice
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Mary Berry's £1.65 Veggie Pasta Is My Go-To Weekday Meal
Between her low-fuss lasagne recipe and her cheaper-than-you’d think crab pasta recipe, it’s safe to say Mary Berry is a pretty reliable midweek meal guru. And her pasta primavera recipe is no exception; the veggie-packed meal is as inexpensive as it is addictive, and it’s perfect for meal prep or big families. How much does it cost?Using 24p’s worth of onions, £1.20 worth of red peppers, £1.05 worth of courgettes, 52p worth of tagliatelle, 82p worth of broccoli, £3.80 worth of asparagus, 75p worth of green pesto, 60p’s worth of crème fraiche, 80p’s worth of Parmesan cheese, and about 15p’s worth of olive oil, salt, and pepper serves six. At just under a tenner for the lot, that puts each portion at £1.65.Not bad for a seriously luxe dinner ― especially when it only uses two dishes and half an hour to cook, right? Plus, Mary Berry has some extra-handy tips for people cooking it ― “the roast vegetables can be roasted well ahead of time, or even the day before, and reheated in a hot oven as you boil the pasta,” she shares. Having tried the “fairly healthy” pasta myself, I can guarantee it’s worth the extra step. How do you make it?You’ll need two tablespoons of olive oil, two peeled, halved, and sliced onions, and two red peppers.You’ll also require 350g of small courgettes along with 350g of tagliatelle, 225g of broccoli florets, and 225g of asparagus tips.For the sauce, you’ll want 3-4 tablespoons of pesto according to taste, 200ml of crème fraiche, salt, pepper, and 50g of freshly grated Parmesan.Preheat your oven to 220°C. Combine the oil, onions, and red peppers in a large poly bag, seasoning well.Transfer the lot into a roasting tin and let it cook for about 40 minutes, turning occasionally (add your courgettes after 20 minutes, as they cook faster.)While your vegetables roast, boil the pasta in salted water as per the packet’s instructions. Add the broccoli and asparagus to the water for the last three minutes of cooking, then drain and set aside.In a saucepan, heat up your crème fraiche and pesto. Add the cooked pasta and roasted vegetables, tossing them together. Sprinkle with some Parmesan.Serve immediately in a heated dish, garnished with the remaining Parmesan. Enjoy!Related...Mary Berry's 1 Tip For Avoiding A 'Soggy Bottom' When Baking PiesMary Berry’s Breakfast Eggs Are Exactly What We Want Every MorningMary Berry's £1.73 Crab Pasta Is The Perfect No-Fuss Meal
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Rishi Sunak Says This Will Be A 'Bounce Back' Year – Prompting 1 Big Eye Roll Online
Rishi Sunak has claimed this year will be a "bounce back" year for the Tories.Rishi Sunak has allegedly said this year will be the Tories “bounce back” year – but, judging from the reaction online, not everyone is so convinced.According to reports published on Sunday, the prime minister said: “There is a real sense that the economy is turning a corner will the economic indicators pointing in the right direction.“This year, 2024, will be the year Britain bounces back.”Sunak’s comments come amid mounting agitation on the Tory backbenches over his ongoing leadership, and a growing list of Conservative MPs who have confirmed they will be stepping down at the next general election.And let’s not forget February’s confirmation from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) that the UK did sink into a recession – two quarters of negative growth – at the end of 2023.That’s despite the PM’s promise he would grow the economy at the start of 2023.There are hopes that inflation will continue to fall this week and the Bank of England will start to bring interest rates down once again. But, after 14 years of a Conservative government, plenty of people on X (formerly Twitter) think this promise of a bounce back is too little too late for the Tories...Even Mr Blobby couldn’t bounce back from this. pic.twitter.com/p1x2plrsEU— Tim Walker (@ThatTimWalker) March 18, 2024Narrator: the Conservative Party has been in power for 14 years. https://t.co/yXs49qt3Q7— Stephen McCormack ?? (@McCormack1991) March 18, 2024Bouncing back from what exactly his party has been in power for over a decade?!? https://t.co/1PwWVL3GOD— Daniel (@sillyolddaniel) March 18, 2024THIS is supposed to calm the braying Tory mob?! This is like the captain of Titanic saying they'll make it to New York right in front of the iceberg! https://t.co/BNvrsrfEHZ— Matthew Caddis (@MatthewCaddis) March 18, 2024Technically, the current parliamentary term does not have to be dissolved until December with an election held next January.So some people took his comments as a sign that he was going to wait until the last possible moment to call the next general election.Oh Christ! The election is going to be in January 2025. https://t.co/iQhhwp8Nje— Dave Lauchlan (@davelauchlan) March 18, 2024His remarks also drew the inevitable comparisons with the satirical character Alan Partridge – even within Tory circles, according to Bloomberg reporter Alex Wickham.Doing the rounds on Tory WhatsApp this morning… pic.twitter.com/dytxpEmDXc— Alex Wickham (@alexwickham) March 18, 2024While some astute X users pointed out that we are already more than three months into Sunak’s supposed “bounce back” year.In that time, the Tories have fallen to a new low in the opinion polls, and they’ve lost three by-elections.When does it begin? I only ask because we're nearly a quarter way through, and his party is still digging downwards. https://t.co/jvU1I5mSJD— Phil (@Philmoorhouse76) March 18, 2024Is being delusional a prerequisite for being Prime Minister or @Conservatives leader @RishiSunak? https://t.co/nJsVrY614d— Judy Hamilton (@secretspartacus) March 18, 2024Sunak having his 8 millionth reset this year. https://t.co/XwaCdsQAICpic.twitter.com/3n3YSXTXxC— Matt ???? (@MatthewCarter97) March 17, 2024Related...Tory Chaos As Minister Is Forced To Insist Rishi Sunak Will Still Be Leader At The ElectionSunak's Titanic Problem: Tory MPs Engage Panic Mode As Party Heads For The IcebergPeople Still Don't Believe Rishi Sunak On When The Next General Election Will Happen. Here's Why
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GB News Programmes Presented By Jacob Rees-Mogg Broke Impartiality Rules, Says Ofcom
GB News programmes presented by Tory MPs including Jacob Rees-Mogg broke impartiality rules, broadcasting watchdog Ofcom has ruled.In a ruling published this morning, they said they were putting the broadcaster “on notice” and would impose sanctions if the rules are broken again.Ofcom investigated two of Rees-Mogg’s ‘State Of The Nation’ programme and three other programmes presented by his Conservative colleagues Esther McVey and Philip Davies.They said the shows breached rules 5.1 and 5.3 of the Broadcasting Code on the use of politicians to present news and current affairs programmes.The Ofcome ruling said: “All five programmes in question contained a mix of news and current affairs content.“We found that host politicians acted as newsreaders, news interviewers or news reporters in sequences which clearly constituted news – including reporting breaking news events – without exceptional justification.“News was, therefore, not presented with due impartiality. Politicians have an inherently partial role in society and news content presented by them is likely to be viewed by audiences in light of that perceived bias.“In our view, the use of politicians to present the news risks undermining the integrity and credibility of regulated broadcast news.”The watchdog’s ruling went on: “Since opening these investigations, there has only been one further programme which has raised issues warranting investigation under these rules.“We are clear, however, that GB News is put on notice that any repeated breaches of Rules 5.1 and 5.3 may result in the imposition of a statutory sanction.”Related...Matt Hancock Gets Rinsed By Jacob Rees-Mogg's Teenage SonJacob Rees-Mogg Conjures Up Bizarre Counting Method To Defend Tory By-Election DisasterJacob Rees-Mogg Gets In Awkward On-Camera Clash With Journalist: 'Keep Your Hands To Yourself'
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Baby Rashes Decoded: When Do You Need To Worry And What’s Normal?
Whether your a first time parent or not, it’s easy to worry when rashes seem to appear on your child. These often pop up on babies and it’s difficult to know whether it’s just a tomato sauce stain — or something you need to flag with the GP.I’m not ashamed to say when my toddler breaks out in a rash, especially when she was younger, I always Google and contemplate whether I need to see a doctor, even if my child seem to be fine otherwise.So, if you find yourself panicking over a bit of redness, here’s what you need to look out for.Paediatric doctor Dr Rachael Barr who is also known @thekidsdoctor_ online has shared a list of rashes that are quite common, that you don’t need to worry about and don’t usually require any treatment.Common rashes that don’t require you to see a doctorMiliaMiliaDr Barr explains that these are tiny 1-2mm spots that are usually white or yellow in colour. They appear on babies face in the first days of life and are usually gone by 4 weeks old.“They don’t need any treatment and are harmless. About half of all babies will develop these,” she says.You can find out more about these rashes on the NHS website.Erythema Toxicum NeonatorumErythema ToxicumThough this has a long name and can look frightening in your newborn, it is actually very common and is nothing to worry about, explains Dr Barr.These are blotchy flat red patches with white or yellow little bumps within the patches. They can be scattered all over a babies face and body.“It appears and then disappears all within the first few days usually. Health visitors, midwives and paediatricians should all be very used to seeing this rash so if you’re worried get someone to glance at it for reassurance!”, she adds.Baby AcneBaby acneThis rash usually appears at about 2-4 weeks old and again clears up on its own with no treatment by around 3-4 months, says Dr Barr.These look like red or white bumps on babies cheeks, nose and forehead. Unlike it’s teenage counterpart - it doesn’t usually leave any scarring. Avoid scrubbing or squeezing the lesions and see your GP if its not clearing up!Heat Rash/Prickly HeatHeat rashDr Barr says that heat rashes usually appear as red small raised spots and can be anywhere on the body. They’re usually a bit itchy and often irritated by getting very sweaty or hot.“It will usually settle on it’s own over the course of a few hours or days. You can help by keeping your little one in cool lightweight clothing and keeping them hydrated with plenty of fluids,” she advises.Rashes that require you to see a doctorEczemaEczemaThis usually appears in the first few months of life but can look different in different age groups. In babies it classically affects the face and scalp most, whereas in older children it more typically affects the ‘flexures’ i.e. the inside of the elbows and the back of the knees, says Dr Barr.“It causes skin to become dry, cracked, itchy and sore. The exact cause isn’t known but you may notice certain ‘triggers’ in your child e.g. particular food, detergents, soaps or weather changes. Eczema is a dry skin condition so you should start by using regular emollients (moisturisers), but if this isn’t keeping it well under control then see your GP for further advice.”Slapped CheekSlapped cheekThis is caused by an infection with a virus called Parvovirus B19. This is a really common infection in childhood and usually gets better on it’s own but it’s important to recognise it if you can for several reasons, explains Dr Barr.She says it can cause complications in pregnant women, but also in people with weakened immune systems or blood conditions like Sickle cell or thalassaemia.“If you think you have slapped cheek and have any of these conditions or are pregnant then you should see your doctor.“It starts with a fever, runny nose, sore throat, headache and sometimes some joint pain. After a few days you then get a characteristic red rash on one or both cheeks. It can be less easy to spot in darker skin tones.“A few days later you may get a spotty red rash over the rest of the body and limbs which can be itchy. If your child is otherwise fit and well it can usually be managed at home by keeping hydrated and paracetamol or ibuprofen for comfort,” says Dr Barr.Hand, Foot and MouthHand foot and mouthThis is an infection most commonly caused by Coxsackievirus. It typically starts with a high temperature, sore throat and being off their food. A few days later children may develop the classic rash which consists of mouth ulcers both in and around the mouth, and spots on the hands and feet, according to Dr Barr.“They can start as little red spots but develop into blisters that might have a grey tinge to them. HFAM can also often affect the nappy area. This typically gets better on it’s own in 7-10 days, but try to keep your child hydrated and use paracetamol/ibuprofen for comfort.“You should see a doctor if you can’t get your child to drink at least 50% of their normal fluids, they have less than 2 wet nappies in a day or if the lesions are very widespread over the top of eczema,” she adds.ChickenpoxChickenpoxChickenpox usually affects children but can be more serious if it’s caught in adulthood. There is a very good vaccine against chickenpox but unfortunately, it’s not yet included in the routine schedule, so you have to pay privately for it through a pharmacy says Dr Barr.“The rash typically happens in 3 stages. Little red/pink/dark spots appear anywhere on the body including inside the mouth and around the genitals. These will then become very itchy fluid filled blisters. Eventually these will scab and crust over before healing. They can leave scars.”Chickenpox often gets better on its own at home by keeping hydrated and using paracetamol for comfort, you should try to avoid using Ibuprofen, advises Dr Barr.She says you should seek help if:- You’re pregnant and either have chickenpox or haven’t had it before and you’ve been exposed to someone with it.- The skin around the blisters is hot, painful and red - Your child is dehydrated (Not having at least 2 wet nappies/wee’s in a day)- Your child seems unwell in themselves (drowsy, difficult to wake, confused)- Your baby under 4 weeks old has chickenpox or has been exposed to chickenpox- Your child has a weakened immune system and either has chickenpox or has been exposed to it.MeaslesMeaslesMeasles is often thought of as a thing of the past because we’ve had an effective vaccine against it for a long time (MMR). However Dr Barr has added it in here as there has been a recent large outbreak of measles in the UK particularly in the Midlands and around London.She believes it’s important to recognise the symptoms.“Children aren’t vaccinated in the UK until their 12 months immunisations so your little one may be unprotected. It typically starts with high temperatures, snotty nose, cough and red watery eyes.“A few days later the rash develops which typically starts behind the ears/on the face and then spreads down over the body. You should notify your GP if you think your child may have measles, it’s best to speak to them over the phone first as measles is highly infectious so they may have to plan a time so you aren’t waiting in a waiting room with other people,” she explains.Measles can have a number of serious complications and Dr Barr recommends discussing with a health professional if you think you have measles even if your child is currently well so they can discuss all the signs to watch for.Viral Urticaria and HivesHivesHives are red raised itchy rashes that may have paler skin in the middle of the raised patches. There are so many causes of hives in children including food allergies, insect bites/stings, contact with allergens like latex and reactions to drugs, says Dr Barr.“They can also commonly develop in children in response to a viral infection. You can chat to a pharmacist about anti-histamines which can be helpful at improving the rash and settling down the itch. If it’s in response to a virus it will usually settle on it’s own over a few days, however if it’s recurring then it’s probably a reaction to something your child is coming across so you should see your doctor. ”Occasionally hives can happen as part of a life threatening allergic reaction called anaphylaxis, you should call 999 if your child develops any of the following:- Difficulty breathing- Swelling of tongue/lips/mouth- Loud harsh noise when your child is breathing in – called stridor- Wheezing- They feel faint/dizzy or look pale/clammy- They are confused or agitatedOf course this list does not cover every single type of rash, so it’s best to check with your GP if you spot something you’re worried about!Related...The 2 Places You Should Never Put Your Baby Down To Sleep, Unlike 70% Of UK ParentsI Asked A Baby Sleep Training Expert To Rate TikTok Hacks. Here's How It WentSo THAT’s Why You Should Always Read To Your Baby Before Bedtime
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People Are Just Realising How To Use The Spring At The Base Of Their Door, And I Have No Idea How I Didn't Know This
I’d be too embarrassed to admit I’ve never known what that springy coil at the base of my bedroom door does if I was alone ― but a recent TikTok proves I’m not.“I was 29 years old when I figureed out how to use this,” app user@torid94 shared in a now-viral video. In the clip, the user showed that the metal coil doesn’t just prevent the door from slamming against her wall and skirting boards, as I’d always assumed its sole job was. What else does it do?The app user tucked the plastic cap of the spring under the door ― using the spring as an effective doorstopper. In her video, she used her toe to place the nub of the device under her door ― in a 2022 YouTube Shorts video, a man said “here’s something I wish I knew before I was in my 30s” before tucking the same part under his door with his hands. When you look at the spring door stop’s 1957 patent, it was intended as “a door stop adapted for securement to a wall or other supporting surface cushioning or limiting the movement of a door.” And a 1964 spring doorstop patent reads: “The original spring doorstop was designed to yield for the purpose of avoiding damaging impact with feet, vacuum cleaners, mops, etc.” Both patents were filed as “Buffers or stops limiting opening of swinging wings, e.g. floor or wall stops” ― one YouTube commenter said “the ones in my current apartment are mounted to the doors instead of the wall,” meaning their ones in particular were almost certainly only intended as buffers. Still, having tried the door-halting trick, I can confirm it works. Commenters were impressed“Are you serious? They’re actually doorstoppers?” one commenter asked. “I mean that’s not what it’s for. But you can,” said another. “I thought I was so smart when I figured that out as a teen and my mum was like, ‘it’s a doorstopper...’” yet another app user responded. Well, stranger’s mum, you’re smarter than me.@torid_94Figuring out how a door stopper works
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Martin Lewis Urges Everybody With £5000 In Their Accounts To Do This
Households with £5,000 in savings will have the opportunity to invest in a new type of ISA later this year. The UK Government has confirmed that this will be introduced to encourage investment in the UK and boost the economy.Chancellor Jeremy Hunt announced: “This will be on top of the existing ISA allowances and ensure that British savers can benefit from the growth of the most promising UK businesses as well as supporting them with the capital to help them expand.”New ISA benefits big-saversThe British ISA applies to people who have maxed out their £20,000 tax-free allowance on an ISA.Money Saving Expert Martin Lewis posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, saying “it will probably happen later this year and there’ll be a £5,000 extra if you’re investing in British assets.”Kevin Brown, saving specialist at Scottish Friendly, said it was “encouraging” to see the ISA allowance extended “in the form of an extra £5,000 tax-free to invest exclusively into the UK.”He added: “Saving and investing is increasingly important for people that are trying to marshal their stretched resources through the current economic turbulence.”Martin Lewis shares more news for UK saversOn the Money Saving Expert website, Martin Lewis said: “Starting in ‘early April’, these savings accounts will offer a fixed rate for three years on deposits of between £500 and £1 million – though we don’t yet know what that rate will be.”He also added that despite the campaigning from him and his team to ensure that savers buying a home that’s now over the scheme’s property price limit of £450,000 aren’t hit by a 6.25% fine for accessing their own cash, the government isn’t immediately tackling this but a “shake up isn’t off the table.”Here’s hoping.Related...Martin Lewis Urges People Born Between These Years To Put £1 In An ISAMartin Lewis Explains Huge 'Win' For Child Benefits In Budget AnnouncementMartin Lewis Would Rather 'Wire My Nipples To Electrodes' Than Be Prime Minister
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Miriam Margolyes Gives Iconic Reason For Rejecting 500K Marvel Role
Miriam Margolyes has revealed that she turned down a Marvel role because they refused to pay her the £1 million she requested.The Harry Potter actor didn’t budge when it came to negotiating her salary to play a witch in the upcoming Agatha TV show starring Kathryn Hahn, a spin-off of the TV miniseries WandaVision starring Elizabeth Olsen and Paul Bettany.In her new memoir, Oh Miriam! Stories from an Extraordinary Life, the British actor briefly recalled turning down a Marvel role, before elaborating further in an interview with news.com.au.“They contacted me and said, ‘we’re doing a story about witches’. I thought, ’oh god, not witches again, because I’ve done that with Harry Potter,” she said.The Call The Midwife star added that she was further put off by the filming location. “I don’t like America and I didn’t want to be in Georgia for four months,” she said.“So I just said, ’well, I want a million pounds and they said, ‘you can have half a million’, and I said, ‘no, I don’t want to do it’, so it just stopped.”The famously outspoken star added that “really it’s a story about my own greed rather than anything else.”As for her reluctance to return to a role that called back to her Harry Potter character Professor Pomona Sprout, Miriam recently declared that she’s concerned for adults of the beloved wizarding world franchise.”“I worry about Harry Potter fans,” she admitted to New Zealand’s 1News, claiming: “They should be over that by now.”During her recent cover interview with British Vogue, the Bafta winning star also said that “for me Harry Potter wasn’t important”, adding: “I was very glad I got the part and I enjoyed being in it and meeting all the people, but it’s not Charles Dickens.”It’s not just Marvel that the actor has turned down, with the actor having recently opened up about the reason she said no to I’m A Celebrity.“I’ve got class, love. I’m not doing that,” she shared on Nick Grimshaw and Angela Hartnett’s podcast Dish.During the interview, she also confessed that she “only wrote” her new memoir because “they offered me a lot of money”.Related...Miriam Margolyes Is As Candid As Ever As She Shares Blunt Message For Adult Harry Potter FansGraham Norton Makes Surprising Admission About His Outrageous Interviews With Miriam MargolyesMiriam Margolyes Is As Iconic As Ever In Behind-The-Scenes Clips Recording Her Doctor Who Lines
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Finished The Gentlemen? You Need To Visit Guy Ritchie's Cosy London Pub Loved By The Beckhams
We'd love a pint here.Fans are still loving Guy Ritchie’s The Gentlemen on Netflix, as the new series continues to ride high on Netflix UK’s TV charts.The eight-part series starring Theo James, Kaya Scodelario, Daniel Ings, Vinnie Jones, Joely Richardson and more has viewers appreciating the British director’s signature style once again.Along with his rapid editing, tight dialogue and tough as nails characters, the Snatch director is also known for selecting excellent filming locations for his gritty criminal underworlds – including a classic boozer.As it turns out, the director has his own London pub in Fitzrovia which counts the Beckham family among its fans.The Lore of the Land is a classic British pub on Conway Street which offers a range of spirits, cocktails, and even wines selected by Guy himself.View this post on InstagramA post shared by Lore of the Land (@loreofthelandpub)The bar also serves up pints of Guy’s very own ‘Gritchie Brewing Company’ ales, beers and ciders, which even makes a cameo in his 2019 feature film The Gentlemen, which is set in the same universe as the new series.Along with a daily dining menu, they also cook up a mean Sunday roast.The pub, which is spread across three floors, is reportedly located nearby a townhouse Guy owns with his wife, Jacqui. He’s also said to regularly visit with his son Rocco, who he shares with ex wife Madonna.In the meantime before your visit to the director’s watering hole, if you think you recognise the cast of The Gentlemen, you can check out where you might have seen them before here.Fans have also been shocked to only just release where they know it’s star Theo James from. Related...The Gentlemen Fans Are Only Just Realising Where They Know Actor Theo James FromThought The Stars Of The Gentlemen Looked Familiar? Here's Where You've Seen The Cast BeforeThe Gentlemen's Kaya Scodelario Names 1 Surprising Scene That Made Her 'Really Anxious' To Film
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So THAT's Why TV Characters Never End A Call With 'Goodbye'
Think about it; when was the last time you remember hearing a TV or movie character end their phone call with “bye”?It’s not that it never happens ― but it’s definitely less common on the small or big screen than it is IRL. And that’s not just because telly and movie characters are rude, Michael Jamin ― who’s written on shows like King of the Hill and Beavis and Butthead ― revealed on his TikTok.So what is the reason?“In TV, we call lines like that ‘shoe leather,’” Michael revealed.″‘Show leather’ might make a scene feel more realistic ― but it doesn’t necessarily make the scene more entertaining.” He added that “in TV we also have running times,” which means that teams behind your favourite shows have to write to exact timeframes ― “they won’t accept” even a 30-second discrepancy, Michael points out. “Knowing this, we always shoot long ― maybe [three minutes over target], knowing that not every scene is gonna be great. We want to have the liberty to trim... but we don’t know where” he said in the clip. “The first two minutes are easy to cut, but that last minute is hard. So you think, ‘if I cut that guy saying ‘goodbye,’ maybe I get to keep my favourite joke.” “Eventually, you get to the point where you’re not even writing ‘goodbye’ into the script, knowing from experience that you’re just gonna cut it later,” he added. People had thoughts in the comments “I thought it was for dramatic effect[,] like they were too cool to say goodbye,” one commenter replied. “I’m from Europe and when I was younger I thought that’s the way people from the US end their phone calls,” another wrote (same, TBH). “But devoting 1/4 of the runtime to canned laughter is just fine...” another said (HMM!).@michaeljaminwriter#stitch with @scottpropandroll #screenwritingtips#tvwriting#screenwritingtiktok#screenwritingadvice#screenwritingcommunity#tvwriter#screenwriter♬ original sound - MichaelJaminWriterRelated...The Very Important Reason Why Actors Are Given Red ScriptsHere's How Actors Can Eat Endless Food In Eating Scenes, And It's DisgustingHere's What Actors Are Actually Snorting In Drug Scenes ― And We're Horrified
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Noticing This When Swallowing Could Be An Early Sign Of Dementia
We’ve written before at HuffPost UK about how everything from brushing your teeth to eating your dinner can reveal early signs of dementia. The condition often goes unnoticed in its early stages, which is unfortunate as an early diagnosis “an accurate early, or timely, diagnosis of dementia can have many benefits” (per NHS 111 Wales). So it’s a good idea to keep an eye out for early symptoms ― including, it turns out, how a person swallows.How does dementia affect swallowing?Speaking to The Express, Dr Ahmad Khundakar, a senior lecturer in biomedical science at Teesside University, said that “one unusual physical sign of dementia is dysphagia, or difficulty swallowing.“It occurs due to damage to brain regions responsible for movement and coordination, including those controlling the swallowing reflex,” the doctor shared, adding that “those living with dementia may experience muscle weakness, coordination problems, and reduced throat sensation, leading to difficulties in swallowing.” A 2008 US study found that “it is estimated that 45% of institutionalised dementia patients have dysphagia.” And the NHS East Sussex Healthcare Trust says that “it is very common for individuals with dementia to have difficulties with eating, drinking and swallowing... Things are likely to get worse as the dementia progresses.” What are the signs of dysphagia? Per the NHS, the signs that you or someone else may have trouble swallowing include: Poor lip closure and/or drooling of saliva, food or drinksTaking a long time to chew foodPouching food in the cheeksContinual chewing without swallowingA delayed swallowCoughing or throat clearing when eating or drinkingA wet sounding voice when eating or drinkingRepeated chest infectionsWeight lossNot wanting to eat or drink.If you suspect you or a loved one may have dementia, contact your GP ASAP. After all, “although at present there’s no cure for dementia, there are ways you can slow it down and maintain mental function if it’s diagnosed in the early stages,” the NHS says.Related...The 1 Household Object That Can Help To Spot Early DementiaThe 1 Supplement You Should Take Every Day To Prevent DementiaOh Good ― Here's How Cortisol Levels Affect Your Dementia Risk
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