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Major update now that lotto winners have to wait weeks for payouts receive good news

Jeffrey Bailey — Thu, 21 Mar 2024 23:02:16 +0000

LOTTO winners who had to wait to collect their cash payouts have now been paid – thanks to The Sun.

Graham Crerar, 64, was sent a check for £800 – after weeks of problems – after we contacted new operator Allwyn.

After The Sun got involved, 64-year-old Graham Crerar was sent an £800 check from Allwyn – after weeks of problemsCredit: Simon Jones

Peter Wilson had to wait six weeks for an £800 prize to be paid out, but after The Sun contacted him. Allwyn contacted him to say they are sending the check

Carpenter Graham is thrilled after spending five weeks chasing his prize for hitting three numbers on February 7.

The Scot, from Notting Hill, west London, said: ‘I got my check in the post a few days after your story – and went straight to the bank. Thank you for The Sun’s help in this.”

Hot Picks winner Peter Wilson was also contacted by Lotto bosses following our story.

Bosses apologized to Peter, who had to wait six weeks for his £800 from January 31.

The retired sales manager, 70, from Nuneaton, Warks, said: “They’re sending me a cheque. We may still be waiting without your intervention.”

Paul Simpson, 69, from Leicester, had a check bounced. He has also been paid.

Allwyn, who took over from Camelot, apologized and said the delays were due to the Post Office stopping paying out prizes over £500.

It added: “Anyone affected will receive their prize.”

I only get half of my £200,000 National Postcode Lottery jackpot because of my neighbor’s stupid blunder

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I still have periods at 52 and can’t wait for menopause! HANNAH BETTS reveals the negative consequences for her health – and career

Sabir Ansary — Thu, 21 Mar 2024 10:26:55 +0000

Monday morning I wake up struggling and screaming from a psychotic nightmare, drag myself out of bed, down painkillers for my tortured lower body, then lie in a boiling bath until their numbing effects kick in.

As for my mood, depressed doesn’t even begin to cut it. I feel cripplingly miserable, barely energetic enough to get dressed.

Objectively, of course, I can see that it is a beautiful spring morning. However, for me there is no objective purpose to it. I’m almost 53, a week into my last period and as miserably hormonal as a 15-year-old waiting for a math test. Or should I say biology? Today’s question: “Why on earth am I still having long, regular, painful periods as I’m limping towards my mid-50s?”

I’m jealous of menopause. I don’t fear change, I crave it. I’m tired of being stuck in generational limbo, writes Hannah Betts

Menopause and its myriad harmful effects have never been far from the news lately. Fabulous 50-something celebrities from Mariella Frostrup to Davina McCall are calling for action. Parliament has a British Menopause Taskforce, the government has a menopause czar.

And of course, this is all wonderful, wonderful and necessary: progress, not just for women, but for humanity itself.

It’s just that, in my own case, I have menopause envy. I don’t fear change, I crave it. I’m tired of being stuck in generational limbo. Give me my #menorights now!

First and foremost, I want my period to stop: now, before the next one, because I’m turning 53 next week (because that’s how birthdays are supposed to be celebrated, with clots and cramps and a doom-laden brain).

I know that menopause – officially the state after twelve period-free months – is unlikely to be smooth sailing and can be associated with significant health problems. Women may experience cardiovascular problems, brittle bones, urinary incontinence, problems with sexual function and weight gain.

However, it’s perimenopause—that phase when hormones rise and then fall, hot flashes flare, and tantrums erupt—that can often cause the brunt of the trauma. And it’s perimenopause that I assume I’m suffering from now, or my body’s theatrical view of it.

After all, I swapped my birth control pill for HRT to treat hot flashes a while ago, but there’s still no sign of an endgame, where the well eventually, thankfully, dries up.

Instead, I may endure for years longer the corpse-like, permanent disorder of a woman strolling into her mid-fifties, with the physical and mental anguish of a volatile teenager.

My periods hurt, like they always hurt. They hit full strength every month and last more than a week. My mood plummets, my head and stomach hurt, I can’t sleep, my daytime lethargy is extreme.

As an extra sting in the story, a prolonged period can also make you feel unwell. If you have early menopause (before age 45), you won’t benefit from estrogen’s protective impact on bone density and cardiovascular health. However, late menopause (classified as age 55 or older) is also not ideal, as it increases the risk of breast and uterine cancer (which my mother died from at age 69).

I worry about the consequences for my partner Terence, who jokes about having to put me on suicide watch every month. He must be almost as scared of my cycle as I am.

Hannah says her period hurt and always has hurt. They arrive in full force every month and last well over a week, she writes

From my teens through my thirties, my mental health hit rock bottom right before my period. Now it’s most problematic at the end of it, when, since I’m already depressed, I alarm even myself with my despair.

And I don’t even want to think about the ways my period makes me a bad employee. The irony, of course, is that menopause, when it comes, will actually be good for my career.

My inbox is full of emails inviting me to participate in panels, protests and empowerment parties. I can’t seem to order a coffee without someone bending my ear about adding collagen for vaginal atrophy, or how matcha might be better for estrogen-drained bones.

Meno-bonding is such a phenomenon that women look at me suspiciously when I don’t participate, as if I were being stubbornly aloof; not playing the game by volunteering myself as part of the club.

You could say I’m not far off from the average closing date. Maybe, but no one else I know my age is in the same boat, with a cycle that shows no signs of abating, and I regret every second of it.

My mother and younger sisters all stopped bleeding in their forties. They, and more particularly my brothers, are incredulous that I still complain about period pain on the family WhatsApp, with the guys mocking me for ‘faking it to look young’.

“Maybe you started later?” experts try to console. I was 11, barely in high school, also an outlier until every other girl joined in around 14. “It’s not faaair,” I want to bleat.

Forty-two years – and for what? It’s not like I ever wanted children. Forty-two times twelve chances of fainting, leaking, pain, dizziness and depression.

I had my period during my first week at Oxford, my final exams, crucial job interviews and crucial career moments, during countless holidays and while nursing my dying parents. But still they come.

Obviously, I’d like the village-old, don’t-sweat-the-small-things attitude that I’m told is the perk of post-period existence. But I’d settle for pain-free and not still be in danger of getting confused no matter how fashionable Tana Ramsay and co are. let it appear. So here I am still buying condoms in bulk just in case, while my friends are enjoying their relief from all that anxiety.

Frankly, I’ve had enough. It’s time to give up my Nurofen and hot baths, my Tampax and anesthesia, for freedom and calm.

Mother Nature, I beg you, give this hatchet a break.

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They thought their Freaknik days were behind them. No, wait for the tape.

Sabir Ansary — Thu, 21 Mar 2024 09:06:43 +0000

At the time, hundreds of thousands of young people, mostly black students, came to Atlanta every spring for the loud and raunchy event called Freaknik. Artists like Notorious BIG, OutKast and Uncle Luke perform shows all over the city. Traffic barely budged, and why should it? The party was there on the street.

Three decades passed. Partygoers became professionals. Children were born. Castes have evolved. All the while, some who had been in the thick of it were perfectly content in the knowledge that their youthful exploits, which might be a little embarrassing today, had been tucked away. They had their memories. Photos were stored in shoe boxes. As for whatever was caught on tape, who has a VCR anymore?

But a new documentary threatens to shake things up.

“Freaknik: The Wildest Party Never Told” promises to be more than a racy exposé, exploring the transformation in the 1980s and 1990s from a modest spring break cookout for students at the city’s historically black colleges to a sprawling spectacle that seized Atlanta.

Still, the conversation surrounding the documentary, which was released Thursday on Hulu, has been for months about the curiosity and anxiety of attendees, now in their 40s and 50s, wondering whether they would appear in it.

The concerns led to threats of legal action. One participant preemptively requested divine intervention. “I pray that Jesus will be a big, high privacy fence,” she wrote on social media platform X.

In a nod to the unease, producers have said releases were signed by those who shared their images, and that faces were blurred to protect identities in scenes that were more explicit.

Be that as it may, much of the conversation was good-natured and fun, with the sense that whatever appears in the film will provoke a cringe rather than a scandal. Nevertheless, it has suddenly thrust members of the camcorder generation into a TikTok-era predicament.

“You don’t think, ‘In 20, 30 years, someone will see me,’” says Ronda Racha Penrice, a cultural expert. historian and writer who participated in Freaknik twice in the 1990s.

That said, she and others argue that any inconvenience is worth it if it means exploring the complexities of a meeting often remembered in Atlanta for the disruption it caused and its ignominious demise. City officials came down hard on Freaknik, effectively killing himprior to the 1996 Olympics. (Smaller variations using the Freaknik name have continued.) In the mid-1990s, there were allegations of sexual assault, public drunkenness, and looting during the days-long event.

“It was a headache for some, and I understand,” said DJ Mars, who performed at Freaknik as a student at Clark Atlanta University before launching. a career that included tours with Usher and other great artists. “As an adult I see what the problem was.”

But for young people immersed in it, the atmosphere was electric. Freaknik – a mix of “freak” and “picnic” – is described as a black alternative to both Woodstock and the spring break madness that took over the beaches of Florida.

“It was like a takeover, an epic takeover,” says Lori Hall, co-founder of a marketing agency, who lived in Atlanta and participated in Freaknik festivities as a teenager. “We were living life and we felt like we had the power, the power to just be, and that was really cool for the culture.”

The event, especially at its peak, introduced the promise of Atlanta to a new generation. Many who came for a weekend ended up coming back for good, including Tyler Perry, the media mogul, who built one of the country’s largest movie studios on 330 acres in the city.

“While all the kids were getting numb, drinking and partying, I woke up to the possibility,” Mr. Perry, who grew up in New Orleans, wrote in his book “Higher Is Waiting.” “I saw that there were black people doing great things with their lives. There were black doctors, lawyers and entrepreneurs,” he added. “I knew Atlanta was the place for me.”

For many, Freaknik represented something bigger than a festival: it was an annual transfusion of music, fashion and culture.

“It wasn’t the age of cell phones,” said Ms. Penrice, who first visited Freaknik in 1994 while studying at Columbia University in New York. “There was no internet. It was really word of mouth. It’s hard to explain how everyone knew, but everyone knew.”

The filmmakers collected footage from those holding their camcorder tapes and used it to capture the energy pulsating through the event and the city. The documentary, which premiered this month at South by Southwest, has high-profile backers. Jermaine Dupri, the rapper and producer, is an executive producer, as are rapper 21 Savage and Uncle Luke.

During a recent appearance on Tamron Hall’s daytime talk show, the host posed the question directly to Uncle Luke: “Should people be afraid of this documentary about Freaknik?”

“Yes,” he said, bursting out laughing.

His response likely did little to quiet the discourse that emerged as soon as the film was announced and has dragged on for months on social media, podcasts, YouTube videos and blogs.

“’Freaknik aunties’ are shocked,” reported Rebellion, an outlet for hip-hop culture. The comments can be found on butter.atl, a popular Instagram account in the city to reports about the film Among them were people who had similar concerns, or others who wanted to look closely to see if they could spot people they knew.

“I’m zooming in trying to find my man in his heyday,” one person wrote.

“They’re putting the mom and pop businesses on the street,” wrote another.

And perhaps most importantly: “Who handed over the images.”

Whether it was the filmmakers’ intention or not, the uproar has led to a “dream marketing maneuver,” says Miles Marshall Lewis, a pop culture expert. critic and author.

“Anyone who has experienced Freaknik in real time will watch at least once,” he added, “to protect themselves from incriminating footage.”

Mr. Lewis first participated in 1989, as an 18-year-old student at Morris Brown College, one of the city’s historically black institutions, along with Spelman, Morehouse and Clark Atlanta.

“Everyone of a certain age was there at least once or knew someone who went there,” he said, “and came away with outrageous stories about what happened.”

DJ Mars wasn’t all that interested in seeing which of those stories made it into the documentary. He wanted to hear the music. He wanted to see the fashion: the “Homey the Clown” bootleg T-shirts, the Nike Cortez sneakers, the African American College Alliance sweatshirts, the tennis skirts that weren’t complete without a pager attached to them.

“It’s basically a throwback to my childhood,” he said.

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Did hospital at the centre of Kate medical records scandal wait a week to report ‘hack’? Information Commissioner’s Officer said it took over seven days after Princess was discharged before ‘breach report’ as it is claimed clinic could face ‘£17m fine’

Sabir Ansary — Thu, 21 Mar 2024 08:23:36 +0000

The private hospital at the centre of a scandal around alleged attempts to access the Princess of Wales’s medical records did not report the suspected breach to the authorities for more than seven days after she was discharged, it is claimed.

Three members of staff at The London Clinic are under investigation over claims of a data breach at the clinic, with the trio believed to have been suspended and facing professional sanctions if proven to have accessed her private medical information.

The alleged breach took place at the clinic after the future Queen was admitted for planned abdominal surgery on January 16, with Kate being discharged 14 days later. She has rarely been seen in public since then, leading to cruel conspiracy theories on social media about her wellbeing and health.

It was claimed one member of staff attempted to view her medical records while she was a patient there.

The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) is investigating the incident, with reports claiming that part of the probe will look into whether there was a delay in the clinic flagging it them amid claims it took more than a week for a ‘breach report’ to be filed.

Official rules state that any personal data breaches must be reported within 72 hours of their discovery, while data protection rules mean the private hospital could be fined up to £17million if found to have committed wrongdoing, one expert has claimed.

King Charles has also used the clinic in recent months, first for treatment for an enlarged prostate and then after he was diagnosed with cancer. However, his private medical information was not affected by the breach.

The alleged attempt by three members of staff at a private clinic to look at the Princess of Wales’s medical information will be investigated by the Information Commissioners Office. Pictured: Kate and William at Manchester Cathedral in May 2022

The suspected breach happened at the same hospital where King Charles underwent treatment for an enlarged prostate and was diagnosed with cancer, although his data has not been affected. Pictured: King Charles waving to the public as he leaves Clarence House in Westminster yesterday

The allegations centre around The London Clinic, a prestigious private hospital where Princess Catherine had planned abdominal surgery in January. Pictured: Police officers stand guard outside The London Clinic on January 17

Al Russell, the CEO of The London Clinic, has said the allegations are being investigated and there is ‘no place at our hospital for those who intentionally breach the trust of any of our patients’

The ICO says it is investigating the incident as the clinic itself says it will take ‘all appropriate steps’ to investigate the alleged breach.

It is believed the police could probe the allegations, with one government minister claiming the Metropolitan Police have been ‘asked to look at it’, although the force says it is not aware of any referral as of yet.

The CEO of The London Clinic vowed on Wednesday that ‘all appropriate investigatory, regulatory and disciplinary steps will be taken’ as it investigates the data breach claims.

Al Russell, broke his silence yesterday, saying in a statement: ‘Everyone at the London Clinic is acutely aware of our individual, professional, ethical and legal duties with regards to patient confidentiality.

‘We take enormous pride in the outstanding care and discretion we aim to deliver for all our patients that put their trust in us every day.

‘We have systems in place to monitor management of patient information and, in the case of any breach, all appropriate investigatory, regulatory and disciplinary steps will be taken.

‘There is no place at our hospital for those who intentionally breach the trust of any of our patients or colleagues.’

Executives have remained tight-lipped over the nature and extent of the embarrassing breach of private records.

In addition to the alleged breach itself, the ICO is also said to be investigating whether the clinic delayed notifying the watchdog.

Official rules state that any personal data breaches must be reported within 72 hours from their discovery if a risk is posed to a person’s rights or freedoms.

However, reports suggest the ICO did not receive a ‘breach report’ for more than a week after Kate was discharged from the hospital on January 29.

One source told The Guardian that ‘timeliness of reporting’ was part of its ‘ongoing’ probe into the hospital.

The Princess of Wales has been rarely seen in public over the last two months as she recovers from the planned surgery. Pictured: Princess Catherine at the opening of Evelina London’s new children’s day surgery unit in December last year

The future Queen was last seen in public with her family attending Christmas Morning Service at Sandringham Church in Norfolk. Pictured: Catherine holds hands with her daughter Charlotte, as her sons George and Louis, her husband William and Mia Tindall walk to church

A spokesperson for the clinic told ITV News that they would not comment further other than to say ‘all our patients, no matter what their status, deserve total privacy and confidentiality regarding their personal medical information.

The Princess is said to be aware of the allegations, while a spokesperson for Kensington Palace said: ‘This is a matter for the London Clinic.’

The ICO said on Wednesday: ‘We can confirm that we have received a breach report and are assessing the information provided.’

ONe data protection expert claimed that the Waleses could even sue The London Clinic if the breach is proven to have taken place.

Iain Wilson, from Brett Wilson LLP, told The Sun: ‘They’ve obviously got obligations to keep medical records secure through the Data Protection Act.

If it is found they didn’t have sufficient systems in place, for instance, they hadn’t trained staff properly, then they could be fined by the information commission officer.

‘A very large sum, I think up to £17.5million or 4 per cent of an organisation’s annual worldwide turnover and potentially sued by the individuals in question.’

He added that the hospital might have had ‘all the training and systems in place’ and the incident took place through a ‘rotten egg’ which is difficult to guard against.

According to the 2018 Data Protection Act, it is an offence to obtain or disclose personal data ‘without the consent of the controller’.

A spokesperson for the General Medical Council, which is the watchdog for doctors, told the Telegraph: ‘Patients must have confidence that their personal information is protected at all times.

The Princess of Wales – pictured here with William in 2023 – has been maintaining a low profile as she continues recovering from surgery she underwent two months ago

Catherine – pictured here in 2019 – underwent planned abdominal surgery at the London Clinic in January

Kate has barely been seen in public since undergoing planned abdominal surgery in January; conspiracy theories about her health were fuelled by a Mother’s Day photo that was later revealed to have been edited before it was released (above)

‘Our guidance is clear: we expect doctors to make sure any personal information about patients is effectively protected at all times against improper access, disclosure or loss, and they must not access a patient’s personal information unless they have a legitimate reason to view it.’

Jon Baines, a data protection specialist from the law firm Mishcon de Reya, told ITV News: ‘Any investigation by the ICO is likely to consider whether a criminal offence might have been committed by an individual or individuals.’

‘Section 170 of the Data Protection Act 2018 says that a person commits an offence if they obtain or disclose personal data ‘without the consent of the controller’.

‘Here, the ‘controller’ will be the clinic itself.’

While the allegations are being probed by the ICO, it is also claimed that the police could investigated the situation alongside the watchdog.

A source told The Mirror: ‘The IOC will deal with anything as a criminal matter which could end up in a Magistrate’s Court, but if there were further claims of wrongdoing such as a conspiracy to distribute illegally accessed information, then that could be a matter for the police.’

The Metropolitan Police has said it is not aware of any referral to the force regarding the incident at this time.

However, Health Minister Maria Caulfield said she understood ‘police have been asked to look at it’.

Speaking to Sky News, she said the allegations were ‘pretty serious stuff’.

She said: ‘I say this as someone who’s still on the nursing register, that the rules are very, very clear for all patients. That unless you’re looking after that patient, or they’ve given you their consent, you should not be looking at patients’ notes.

‘So there are rules in place and the Information Commissioner can levy fines, that can be prosecutions, your regulator, so as a nurse my regulator would be the NMC (Nursing and Midwifery Council), can take enforcement action… and can strike you off the register if the breach is serious enough.

‘So there are particularly hefty implications if you are looking at notes for medical records that you should not be looking at.’

When asked if the Met Police should also be looking into the matter, she said: ‘My understanding is that police have been asked to look at it – whether they take action is a matter for them.’

The Prime Minister’s official spokesman urged Brits to ‘get behind’ Kate on Wednesday amid unsubstantiated speculation about her health and private life

Royal experts say Kate has likely been left shocked by the news of the alleged data breach – but will be too busy focusing on her own recovery to let it get to her.

Ingrid Seward, royal biographer and editor-in-chief of Majesty Magazine, told the Mirror the news will have come as ‘a shock to the palace, a shock to the Princess and a shock to her husband and (to her) father-in-law, the King’.

‘For the London Clinic, it is an embarrassment of the worst kind and they will do their best to appease everyone concerned,’ she continued.

But Ms Seward added: ‘As for Catherine it is another emotional upset; she is going to have to put behind her. She is far stronger than she looks. She will not allow her battered emotions to get the better of her.’

Quizzed by reporters on Wednesday, Rishi Sunak’s official spokesman has urged Brits to ‘get behind the Princess of Wales’.

Asked about the alleged breach at the London Clinic, the spokesman said: ‘Clearly there are strict rules on patient data that must be followed.’

And on whether people should give Kate a break, he added: ‘I think we all want to get behind the Princess of Wales, and indeed the Prince of Wales, and we obviously wish her the speediest of recoveries.’

The Princess of Wales has been the subject of a series of cruel conspiracy theories in recent weeks while continuing to recover from surgery she underwent in January.

Online trolls have suggested she is recovering from ‘Brazilian butt lift surgery’ or that she has even been replaced by a body double.

The toxic discourse has been fuelled further by the Mother’s Day photo shared from the Prince and Princess of Wales’ social media accounts earlier this month – after it emerged the picture had been digitally manipulated at source before release.

Global picture agencies including AP, Getty and PA issued a rare ‘kill order’ on the photograph after ruling that it had been manipulated beyond what they considered acceptable journalistic standards.

It had been hoped that footage of Kate walking happily with William outside a farm shop in Windsor at the weekend might have silenced those sharing theories online.

Instead, conspiracy cranks have pored over the footage trying to give weight to their completely unsupported suggestions that she has been replaced by a lookalike, or that the footage itself is old.

Even professional Kate lookalikes have made it clear that they believe it is the Princess herself in the footage – calling for the conspiracy wonks to leave her alone.

Palace sources have fumed at the ‘madness of social media’ as cruel trolls claim to have found ‘proof’ that the princess is more unwell than claimed, or has been replaced with a double.

Kensington Palace has stated since the start of the year that the Princess will not return to public duties until sometime after Easter.

It has not denied that the video of the Princess captured at the weekend is genuine.

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Brown Cruises in Ohio’s Democratic Senate Primary as Republicans Wait for Results

Sabir Ansary — Tue, 19 Mar 2024 23:56:25 +0000

Sen. Sherrod Brown, the only Democrat still holding statewide elective office in Ohio, was nominated for his Senate seat on Tuesday as three Republicans fought for the right to challenge the incumbent president in November.

The winner of the Republican slugfest between Bernie Moreno, a wealthy former car dealer with the support of former President Donald J. Trump, Senator Matt Dolan, whose family is the majority owner of the Cleveland Guardians baseball team, and Frank LaRose, the Ohio Secretary of State, will entering the general election penniless and bruised by the negative primary campaign.

But he will also be running in a state that Trump won in successive presidential elections in 2016 and 2020, each time by eight percentage points.

Mr. Brown, who was first elected to the Senate in 2006, showed little concern about his third reelection bid or about which Republicans would prevail in the primaries. The Democrat has built his reputation as a pro-labor politician who has spoken out against free trade deals and championed unions in a state where the working class has drifted toward the Republican Party since Barack Obama won it twice.

“We will spend this campaign contrasting my position on taking over Wall Street, my position on taking over the pharmaceutical companies and my position on trade with theirs,” he told reporters in Dayton, Ohio, on Monday.

With control of the Senate now within Republicans’ reach, Ohio and Montana — the only states where Trump won in 2020 and a Democrat is running for re-election — promise to draw enormous attention. Democrats have 51 seats in the Senate, but one of them, in deep-red West Virginia, has all but disappeared with the retirement of conservative Democrat Joe Manchin III.

The Senate Leadership Fund, a super PAC affiliated with the Senate Republican leadership, and an allied group, American Crossroads, have earmarked nearly $83 million in ad time in Ohio this fall.

But Mr. Brown, whose fundraising has brought in money not only from unions steadfastly loyal to him but also from companies that do business for the Senate Banking Committee, which he chairs, will have his own firepower. His campaign has raised at least $26.7 million this election cycle and has $13.5 million cash on hand.

By contrast, Mr. Moreno and Mr. Dolan had each spent their war chests down to less than $2.4 million by the end of February. Mr. LaRose had less than $600,000.

On the Republican side, there has rarely been a primary that so clearly separated the old Republican establishment from the new Trump wing of the party. Mr. Dolan had the support of Ohio’s low-key Republican governor, Mike DeWine, and the recently retired moderate senator, Rob Portman. Mr. Moreno had Mr. Trump and was counting on the former president to provide another loyal foot soldier to the Senate.

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Overheard during the Half Marathon: ‘Wait, was that Lil Nas

Sabir Ansary — Tue, 19 Mar 2024 00:36:33 +0000

Ahead of one of its signature events, New York Road Runners made an unusual email request Friday evening.

The rapper and singer Lil Nas United Airlines NYC Half, a 13.1-mile race scheduled to be held on Sunday morning. And one of his representatives was curious: was there room in the race for one more runner?

“It kind of came out of the blue,” New York Road Runners CEO Rob Simmelkjaer said in a phone interview on Monday.

The nonprofit, which hosts about 60 races each year, including the New York City Marathon, was happy to oblige. It hardly mattered that Lil Nas Or that he came to the race with a few Coach high sneakerswhich are more boat than high-end racing flat.

Accompanied by Roberto Mandje, New York Road Runners senior advisor for running engagement and coaching, Lil Nas 2 hours 32 minutes 53 seconds.

“We were running and you heard someone yell, ‘Wait, was that Lil Nas X?’” Mr. Mandje said in an interview. “So he turned around and waved, and they panicked.”

Representatives for Lil Nas X did not respond to a request for comment.

Ahead of Sunday’s event, race officials kept his participation on the back burner, Mr. Simmelkjaer said, as did Lil Nas He also seemed determined to get the full experience, going so far as to personally visit the pre-race expo on Saturday to grab his race bib (No. 2271) and commemorative long-sleeved T-shirt.

He was wearing the shirt when he met Mr Mandje at 6.30am on Sunday. Mr. Mandje, who described himself as “one of the few people in the world” who didn’t know Lil Nas (No.) Did he have a purpose? (End.) Did he want to talk during the race? (Absolutely.) More than anything, Mr. Mandje said, that’s what Lil Nas enjoy the experience.

“We’re going to have a good time,” Mr. Mandje remembered telling him.

When Lil Nas In other words, Lil Nas – unconventional.

“I’m not sure everyone can do that,” Mr. Mandje said.

Lil Nas Coach describes its high-top sneakers as “built for comfort and long-lasting wear.” But they are more than twice as heavy as a normal pair of running sneakers.

And sure enough, around Mile 10, Lil Nas He even came up with the idea of taking a break from the track so he could buy a pair of running shoes at a Foot Locker. But the store was closed, so he plowed on.

“Hey, you’ve come this far,” Mr. Mandje remembered telling him.

Mr Mandje also captured a few moments behind the scenes on social media. For example, at Mile 3 he asked Lil Nas

“I don’t feel anything,” he said. “No pain at all. There’s nothing in my shoulders. There is nothing in my legs at all.”

“And we learn a lot about running, right?” Mr. Basket asked as they continued jogging.

“We’re learning a lot,” Lil Nas

When Mr. Mandje told him to wave goodbye to Brooklyn around Mile 4, Lil Nas Lil Nas And at Mile 11: “I smell ribs. I’m going to use that as motivation.” And at Mile 12: “It’s basically over. Actually, I’ve already done it.”

Mr Simmelkjaer, who used the race’s live results app to track Lil Nas After Mr. Simmelkjaer introduced himself, Lil Nas

“I’m officially no longer uncool as a dad,” Mr Simmelkjaer said.

Mr. Mandje said he was under the impression that Lil Nas

Lil Nas

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Millions NEED to switch to Universal Credit – you can beat the five-week wait for cash

Jeffrey Bailey — Sun, 17 Mar 2024 11:59:03 +0000

MILLIONS of households on various legacy benefits are being asked to switch to Universal Credit as part of a massive wealth change.

All two million legacy benefit claimants must move to Universal Credit (UC) or pension credit by the end of March 2025, through a process known as managed migration.

Households waiting for their first Universal Credit payment can apply for an advance loanCredit: Alamy

Universal Credit was created to replace old benefits.

Eligible households will be contacted with letters in the post explaining how they can make the switch from tax credits to Universal Credit.

Once you receive a letter, you have three months to switch. Otherwise, you may lose your current benefits.

However, the latest statistics show that more than 31,000 people with tax benefits who were invited to move to UC have not made a claim and have had their benefits stopped.

There could be a number of reasons for this, including the issue of the five-week wait for cash.

When you first sign up to the Universal Credit scheme, there can be quite a long wait for your first payment.

In some cases it can take up to five weeks before you are in the system and this can cause problems for many people.

Many households struggle to afford basic necessities during this period as other pre-existing benefits are usually canceled.

For example, if you claim tax credits under the managed migration process, your entitlement will stop as soon as you apply for Universal Credit.

However, those receiving income support, housing benefit, means-tested Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA), means-tested Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) will continue to receive their old payments for a further two weeks after making a Universal Credit application.

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This means there are still three weeks without benefits.

However, households waiting for their first Universal Credit payment can apply for an advance loan.

The advance loan is designed to help you bridge the gap while you wait for your first Universal Credit payment.

However, keep in mind that it is not free cash, it is just a loan and the money does have to be paid back.

This means that the amount of Universal Credit you receive will be reduced until the cost of the loan is repaid.

However, it can still be a lifeline for some. Here’s exactly how it works.

How much can I get?

Claimants can borrow up to 100% of their estimated payment, but you can also ask for less.

The advantage of this loan is that it is interest-free, so if you do need to borrow, it is wise to do so rather than incurring debt elsewhere.

However, remember that you will have to pay it back, so think carefully before signing up.

The money will be transferred to you within three working days and must remain for the full five weeks before your first payment.

How do I request an advance?

You can apply for a Universal Credit advance before you receive your first payment from UC.

There are several ways in which you can apply for the loan.

You can sign up with the help of your Jobcente work coach, or by calling the Universal Credit helpline.

You can apply for the loan from the time you first apply for Universal Credit until the date you receive your first payment.

You will need to explain why you think you need the advance, provide information to verify your identity (during your first Jobcentre Plus interview) and provide banking details for the advance.

If you are unable to open a bank account, please contact your work coach.

You will usually be told the same day whether you will receive your advance loan.

If you need help, you can call the Universal Credit helpline on 0800 328 5644.

The lines are open Monday to Friday from 8am to 6pm.

When do I have to repay an advance?

You are expected to repay the loan within the first 24 months of obtaining it.

To pay it back, the DWP will deduct an amount from your Universal Credit payment every month.

You can calculate how much will be deducted from your payment each month by dividing the full cost of the loan by 24.

For example, if you borrowed £1,500, £62.50 will be deducted from your Universal Credit payment each month.

You can request to defer your repayments for up to three months if you are unable to pay them, but this is only allowed in exceptional circumstances.

If you call the helpline and are successful in your application, they will tell you over the phone:

How much you can take
The monthly repayment amounts
When the first payment is due

However, you still have to pay it back within 12 months if you applied for the advance before April 12 this year.

You only have six months if you have submitted the application due to changed circumstances. You can then request a postponement of repayment by one month.

Am I better off with Universal Credit?

According to the government, around 1.4 million people on old benefits will be better off after switching to Universal Credit.

Another 300,000 would see no change in payments, while around 900,000 will be worse off under Universal Credit.

About 600,000 are expected to receive additional payments if they move under managed migration, so they don’t immediately lose out on money.

The majority of these – around 400,000 – are claiming Employment Support Allowance (ESA).

About 100,000 people benefit from tax credits, while fewer than 50,000 of them are expected to experience other inheritance benefits.

Examples of those who the government believes may be entitled to less on Universal Credit include:

Households receive ESA-who and the premium for serious disability and an increased disability premium
Households with a child with a lower disability receive a supplement on top of the old benefits
Self-employed households that fall below the minimum income limit after the 12-month grace period expires
Working households who have worked a certain number of hours (for example a single parent who works 16 hours and is entitled to employment tax credits
Households receiving tax benefits with savings over £6,000 (and up to £16,000)

But if they don’t switch in the future, they risk missing out on a future benefit increase and having their payments frozen.

Those who voluntarily move and are worse off will not receive these additional payments and could lose money.

Those who miss the deadline and file a claim later may also not receive this transitional protection.

The clock starts ticking on the three-month countdown from the date of the first letter, and reminders are sent via mail and text message.

After this, there will be a one-month grace period during which any Universal Credit claim will retroactively expire and transitional protection can still be granted.

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Fortnite players can’t wait to try out the 20 new skins they can earn this season

Jeffrey Bailey — Thu, 14 Mar 2024 02:58:32 +0000

FORTNITE Chapter 5 Season 2 has just started after a long downtime that left players desperate to get back into the game.

With each new season comes a new Battle Pass, which means there are new outfits for people to earn.

Teaser images gave us a first look at the new skins

This season is called Myths & Mortals and all the new skins fit the theme of Greek mythology.

These are the new skins available in Fortnite Chapter 5 Season 2.

Cerberus – Fortnite Chapter 5 Season 2

You can pick up three different variants of the Cerberus skinCredit: Epic Games

Although Cerberus, the guardian of the underworld, is usually depicted with three heads, this does not work with Fortnite’s character models.

So this is a humanoid version of the dog, basically a single dog head on a man’s body, with two smaller heads on the shoulders.

You can grab your Cerberus skin as soon as you purchase the Battle Pass.

The immortal version of the skin, which looks the same but with a gold flavor, can be unlocked at level 8.

Blazing Fire Cerberus can be claimed by completing the three-week weekly missions.

Aphrodite – Fortnite Chapter 5 Season 2

Aphrodite’s default skin is white and goldCredit: Epic Games

Aphrodite is the goddess of love and beauty, and her standard attire shows her in a white and gold garb.

This is the second outfit you can unlock, which you can grab at level 14.

There is also a variant of the Immortal Aphrodite that shows her completely pink, with a heart-shaped motif, and you can unlock this at level 20.

All other gods have a third variant, and we think Aphrodite’s third is the mysterious skin you can claim after getting all the other Battle Pass rewards.

Poseidon – Fortnite Chapter 5 Season 2

Poseidon’s skin was hit and miss among fansCredit: Epic Games

The god of the sea is one of the few gods in Fortnite that is not human and looks more like a blob of water.

Poseidon’s regular green skin is available starting at level 26 of the Battle Pass.

You can also grab a purple variant Immortal Poseidon at level 32.

The final version of Poseidon’s skin is orange and you can grab it once you’ve claimed all the other Battle Pass rewards.

Medusa – Fortnite Chapter 5 Season 2

Medusa didn’t become a complete snake monsterCredit: Epic Games

The Gorgon with snakes for hair is not nearly as ugly in Fortnite as Greek mythology would have you believe.

You can pick up her default design by reaching level 38 of the Battle Pass.

A variant skin that is pink and black is also available at level 46.

Unlike the others, a third variant hasn’t been revealed, but this is the other option for the secret skin.

Zeus – Fortnite Chapter 5 Season 2

Zeus also has three versions of his skinCredit: Epic Games

Zeus rules Olympus and Fortnite has completed his look with a belt of grenades.

You can pick up his regular skin at level 54 of the Battle Pass.

The army commander style Conqueror Zeus with a more modern look is available from level 63.

There is also an Immortal Zeus, but unlike the other Immortals, this one is only available after all other rewards in the Battle Pass have been unlocked.

Artemis – Fortnite Chapter 5 Season 2

The goddess of the hunt has a cosmic atmosphereCredit: Epic Games

Artemis is the goddess of wildlife and the hunt, and she has a cosmic design on this battle pass.

Her regular design can be picked up after you reach level 70 of the Battle Pass.

There is also an immortal Artemis, an orange version that can be taken after level 78.

The final white and pink Elysian Artemis variant can be picked up after collecting all other rewards in the Battle Pass.

Hades – Fortnite Chapter 5 Season 2

Hades is the hardest outfit to unlock in the Battle PassCredit: Epic Games

The final skin available through the regular Battle Pass track is Hades, ruler of the Underworld.

His regular outfit with a gas mask-like design is available starting at level 86.

Immortal Hades in black can also be picked up at level 94, and its final form, Lethean Hades, is available after you claim all Battle Pass rewards.

Korra – Fortnite Chapter 5 Season 2

We don’t know when Korra will be unlocked for fansCredit: Epic Games

There is another secret skin for the Battle Pass that will be available but will launch mid-season.

This skin features Korra from Avatar: The Last Airbender and ties in with the Fortnite x Avatar event.

We also expect an Aang skin to launch alongside the event.

If you want to read more about the game, check out everything you need to know about Fortnite Chapter 5 Season 2.

Written by Georgina Young on behalf of GLHF.

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‘A quarter of a century has passed, how much longer… The world cannot wait’: India on UN Security Council reforms

Sabir Ansary — Sun, 10 Mar 2024 05:02:05 +0000

India’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations Ruchira Kamboj stressed the need for immediate reforms at the United Nations Security Council.

‘A quarter of a century has passed, how much longer… The world cannot wait’: India on UN Security Council reforms

New York: India’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations Ruchira Kamboj, while addressing the informal meeting of the 78th session on Saturday, emphasized the need for immediate reforms in the United Nations Security Council (UNSC). Stressing that discussions on the reforms have been going on for a decade, Kamboj said: “The world and our future generations cannot wait any longer.”

“Discussions on Security Council reforms have been going on in earnest for more than a decade since the early 1990s. The world and our future generations cannot wait any longer. How long do they have to wait?” Kamboj questioned the inordinate delay in introducing reforms in the world body.

As the world approaches the 80th anniversary of the United Nations and a crucial summit in September, Kamboj urged concrete progress toward reforms, emphasizing the importance of listening to the voices of the younger generation and addressing historic injustice, especially in Africa.

Kamboj cautioned against maintaining the status quo and proposed a more inclusive approach, suggesting that limiting the expansion of the Security Council to only non-permanent members would risk widening disparities in its composition. She emphasized the need for representativeness and fair participation in the composition of the Council to enhance its overall legitimacy.

Responding to concerns about the veto, Kamboj stressed that it should not hinder the reform process. She advocated flexibility on the veto issue for constructive negotiations and suggested that new permanent members should not exercise the veto until a decision has been made during a review.

“Let me also say that while the new permanent members would have the same responsibilities and obligations as directors as the current permanent members, they will not exercise the veto until a decision on the matter is taken during a review,” Kamboj also said. said.

“Nevertheless, and that is why I say that we should not allow the veto issue to have a veto over the reform process itself,” she added.

The G4, comprising India, Brazil, Germany and Japan, reiterated India’s call for greater representation in the non-permanent category and emphasized the importance of reflecting the diversity and plurality of views of the 193 member states.

As a practical measure, Kamboj suggested identifying specific groups or countries that deserve special attention in the reform process and listening carefully to their voices.

“Member States should also make full use of the possibility of inter-regional arrangements to ensure that the diversity of the membership of the General Assembly is adequately reflected in the Council. To move the discussion from the abstract to the concrete, we believe it would be helpful if Member States first identify and define which specific groups or countries deserve special attention in this regard and then listen carefully to their voices,” she also said. .

Earlier on February 17, Kamboj also highlighted that India supports comprehensive United Nations Security Council reforms in all five clusters, including expansion in both permanent and non-permanent categories.

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One of the worst games of all time has been remastered and we can’t wait to play

Jeffrey Bailey — Wed, 06 Mar 2024 13:12:26 +0000

IN the gaming industry, a lot of money can be made remastering, remaking and rebooting older games.

Some of last year’s best games were remakes, including the Game of the Year nominated Resident Evil 4 remake.

Plumbers Don’t Wear Ties is a cult classicCredit: Limited Run Games

While the majority of remakes and remasters are for already popular games, one company has decided to make a different choice.

Limited Run Games releases Plumbers Don’t Wear Ties, a game released in 1994 for the short-lived Panasonic 3DO console.

Plumber Don’t Wear Ties is now available for PlayStation, Xbox and Nintendo Switch and is known as one of the worst games of all time.

It’s been called a “shallow, hateful waste of a game” by one critic, and “the worst storyline in gaming history” by another.

There are a number of reasons why Plumbers Don’t Wear Ties has aroused the disgust of gamers.

The story is nonsensical and shallow, and instead of playing in full-motion video, money was saved by using a series of still images instead.

These images often have strange after-effects and filters and the sound quality is very poor.

Despite its obviously poor quality, Plumbers Don’t Wear Ties has gained infamy among the gaming public.

Just as people enjoy B-movies like The Room, it has acquired a cult following.

Physical editions will be produced by Limited Run Games in the future, but for now you’ll have to make do with digital copies.

If you want to read more about gaming releases, check out our WWE 2K24 review.

Written by Georgina Young on behalf of GLHF.

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