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Revealed: Vietnam is the destination where your pound will stretch the furthest in 2024, with Costa Rica named the most expensive place and NEW YORK coming in second by value (where bottles of beer cost £5.82)

Albert Elence — Fri, 22 Mar 2024 17:21:39 +0000

The world’s best value for money destinations for Brits have been revealed, with Vietnam topping the list for the first time.

Second in the Post Office Travel Holiday Money Report rankings is South Africa, another long-haul hotspot, with Kenya in third.

The most expensive destination in the world is Tamarindo in Costa Rica, which languishes in 40th place. Next is New York, which ranks second from the bottom. There, beer costs an average of £5.82 per bottle.

The findings are from the 18th Post Office Travel Money Worldwide Holiday Cost Barometerand are based on the costs of eight ‘tourist items’ in forty resorts and towns, making comparisons between the costs of a beer, a three-course meal, insect repellent and sunscreen.

In Vietnam’s Hoi An, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, this basket of goods totals £51.18. Meanwhile, at the other end of the scale, holidaymakers planning a trip to Tamarindo won’t get change on £158.04 if they buy the same items.

Vietnam’s UNESCO World Heritage-listed Hoi An is the best value for money spot for Brits, according to the Post Office

Cape Town (above) in South Africa is the second best country by value in 2024

Kenya, loved for its safari and beach holiday combinations, comes in at number three thanks to a basket total of £54.93

The most expensive destination in the world is Tamarindo in Costa Rica, which languishes in 40th place

Second-place Cape Town has been knocked off the top spot for 2023 thanks to a five percent price increase, taking the basket to £54.35.

Kenya, loved for its combination of safaris and beach holidays, comes in at number three thanks to a basket total of £54.93.

Many of the destinations have seen local price increases, but once prices are converted to sterling, holidaymakers at 19 long-haul destinations, including six in Europe, will still pay less than a year ago.

Tokyo has risen in the rankings to move into fourth place after costs fell by 16.2 per cent to £59.05.

The Algarve in Portugal, where prices fell by 1.2 per cent, came in at number five (£59.69), overtaking Turkey (ninth, £66.07) and Bulgaria (seventh, £62.49). Traditionally Bulgaria offers great value for money, but prices have risen by 6.4 percent, resulting in a sharp increase to £62.49.

The Post Office Travel Worldwide Holiday Costs Barometer shows price increases and decreases

Tokyo has risen in the rankings to move into fourth place after costs fell by 16.2 per cent to £59.05

The Algarve in Portugal, where prices fell by 1.2 per cent, is at number five (£59.69).

Tropical Bali ranks eighth overall. Above is the tranquil Pura Ulun Danu Temple

Sharm el-Sheikh is in sixth place with £61.37 thanks to the devaluation of the Egyptian pound

Sunny Cyprus is the fourth European destination in the top 10, while Paphos sneaks into 10th place at £73.32.

Tropical Bali is eighth overall, while Sharm el-Sheikh is sixth at £61.37, thanks to the devaluation of the Egyptian pound.

Cancun, Mexico, has seen a dramatic decline, topping itself from a place in the top 10 to 33rd, as a result of a 16.7 percent price increase. The goods now stand at £127.10 thanks to the strong Mexican peso.

Holiday concerns and intentions

Two-thirds of Britons planning a trip abroad admit that the strength or weakness of the pound will be a factor in their decision-making.

The top ten cheapest holiday destinations, showing the cost of coffee in Vietnam is just £1.30

The basket of goods includes coffee, mineral water, a glass of wine and a three-course meal

Another concern is prices. Eighty-four percent of people, rising to 89 percent of family travelers, are concerned about the cost of meals and drinks.

Budgeting is also a top priority, with 90 percent worried about crushing their budgets and the cost of flights and ferries.

The holiday pay will largely come from savings, with 40 percent admitting that the money will come from existing income. Many are thinking about how they can save even more: 32 percent of holidaymakers choose to travel during the cheaper intermediate periods, when costs are lower.

Currencies

In other results, the Post Office Travel Holiday Money Report shows that the euro is by far the best-selling currency, with an eight percent increase in sales and a strong indicator of where people will travel in 2024.

Prices vary enormously – the difference between Croatia and New Zealand is £26.42

Costa Rica is by far the most expensive place to visit, with goods worth a total of £158.04

This is followed by the US dollar and in third place the Australian dollar.

When it comes to the fastest growing currencies, the Egyptian pound has shown the biggest growth this year at 656 percent. Closely followed by the Chinese yuan with 589 percent, followed by the Japanese yen with 266 percent.

The best deal will be found in Turkey due to the collapse of the Turkish lira. In 2024, visitors can expect to receive 81 percent more liras than a year ago. However, prices in restaurants and bars in Marmaris have more than doubled in the last twelve months, so if you’ve been there before, expect a big increase.

Egypt is also a good choice for 2024. With a drop of over 71 percent, visitors can now earn an extra £208 on a £500 purchase.

If you consider Japan or Kenya, the pound sterling has appreciated by more than 16 percent against both the Japanese yen and the Kenyan shilling over the past twelve months.

Prices in restaurants and bars in Marmaris have doubled in the past year. It ranks ninth in value this year

Vietnam, Prague and Thailand are also showing strong share price gains and if you go Down Under to visit relatives, the British will earn seven percent more to spend on their holiday allowance.

Top rated holiday destinations

When it comes to the highest-rated holiday destinations, perennial British favorite Spain still takes top spot with 86 percent, despite falling to 14th on the Barometer after recording a price increase of 9.3, with goods came in at £81.45.

When it comes to the highest-rated holiday destinations, perennial British favorite Spain still takes first place with 86 percent. Above is Calella de Palafrugell, Catalonia

It is closely followed by Portugal and Greece, both of which receive an 82 percent rating from holidaymakers.

Not far behind are the Canary Islands and the Balearic Islands, as well as Cyprus, Croatia, Malta and Turkey, all of which have impressive viewing figures of between 75 and 79 percent.

Bulgaria, in tenth place, has a 73 percent good value rating, while Croatia is only three points lower.

Thailand tops the list for the highest approval ratings of the 16 long-haul hotspots, with 71 percent considering it good value, ahead of Mexico, Egypt, the US and the Caribbean.

Commenting on this year’s results, Laura Plunkett, head of Post Office Travel Money, said: ‘The barometer results highlight how important it will be this year to consider how the strength of the pound has affected individual destinations.

‘Holidaymakers looking to travel long distances can expect to get better value for their money as the pound has gained ground in most destinations.

‘By comparison, sterling’s gains against the euro have been more modest, so it’s worth comparing destinations across the eurozone to see which offer the cheapest prices. Portugal and Cyprus seem to be the best choices for bargain hunters.’

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A Place In The Sun’s Scarlette Douglas is left in tears during recent hospital visit: ‘I was scared and nervous’

Sabir Ansary — Thu, 21 Mar 2024 11:29:27 +0000

Scarlette Douglas has admitted she was left in tears during a recent hospital visit during her ongoing fertility journey.

The 37-year-old A Place In The Sun presenter has frozen her eggs to boost her chances of having children.

The star took to Instagram on Wednesday to share how being in hospital for an egg retrieval procedure left her feeling emotional.

She told her followers: ‘Well I’ll be honest, I felt very uncomfortable going in today ladies.

‘The trigger injection really made the bloating and lower abdominal pain worse, and the closer it got to egg retrieval, the more uncomfortable I felt. I had to sit on my left side most of the day!’

Scarlette Douglas has admitted she was left in tears during a recent hospital visit during her ongoing fertility journey

The 37-year-old A Place In The Sun presenter has frozen her eggs to boost her chances of having children

Scarlette told how she got teary before the procedure because no one could accompany her.

She wrote: ‘Everything was well explained and I felt in good hands. I did shed a tear just before the anesthesia took effect, mainly because I was scared and nervous, but also because you have to do it all alone; no one can come in with you.

“Anyway, the best night’s sleep I’ve ever had, came out, was in pain, so they gave me some more pain relief, then hung around for about an hour and a half and just as I was ready to leave the recovery room, I was told about my 24 eggs collected, 19 of which were viable for freezing!!!!! I was over the moon!

‘That was more than I could ever have imagined and that’s why I was and am so happy that it has all been worth it so far.’

It comes after Scarlette was rushed to A&E earlier this month after experiencing ‘strange numbness and tingling’.

While getting ready for an awards ceremony, Scarlette explained how she “freaked out” by Googling her symptoms.

In the clip shared to Instagram, she began: ‘I’m hosting an awards ceremony today, which means on my break here I’m running to the toilet and glamorously doing one of my injections.

‘I have noticed over the past few days that I am getting a slight numbing tingling sensation in my left arm and a little bit in my left leg.’

The star took to Instagram on Wednesday to share how being in hospital for an egg retrieval procedure left her feeling emotional

She continued, “It feels like a dead arm, a dead leg, you know when you sleep on something funny.

“So at first I thought that was probably it, but then Dr. Google definitely scared me and made me think it could be something worse.”

In another update, Scarlette added: ‘So I called the clinic today, they said I needed to go to A&E asap. Just to double check that everything is okay, so I’ll do that tonight after the awards ceremony.

‘Make sure I don’t have any blood clots and also make sure there is no ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome.

‘Now I only had a scan on Tuesday and it showed that everything was actually fine. So I’m sure it’s nothing to worry about, but if you’ve been through this process and if you’ve noticed that too, please let me know.”

Scarlette is freezing her eggs after admitting that ’37 came so quickly’ and hopes to protect her ‘future offspring’.

Freezing eggs means going through the IVF process, which typically takes two to three weeks.

This includes taking medications to stimulate egg production, and also to help the eggs mature.

It comes after Scarlette was rushed to A&E earlier this month after experiencing ‘strange numbness and tingling’

While getting ready for an awards ceremony, Scarlette explained how she ‘freaked out’ by Googling her symptoms

She said: ‘I learned so much about my eggs and the process of vitrification at the @barbadosivf. I really wish this was something I was taught when I was younger, or at least talked about in more depth.

“Yes, my aunt and friends had encouraged me to do so in my younger years, but I didn’t think for a second that it would be something I had to think about, let alone think about at the time, but who would have thought that 37 would still come so soon?!”

The TV presenter added: ‘I really should have taken action when they first said it all those years ago.

‘I cannot turn back the clock now, but I can move forward as quickly as possible (armed of course with the new knowledge I now have) and not wait another minute to protect my future descendants.’

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How new ‘intelligence’ prompts police to search for a possible grave site for Samantha Murphy, just steps away from a place dear to her alleged killer’s loved ones

Albert Elence — Wed, 20 Mar 2024 01:17:29 +0000

Police search for remains in the Buningyong Bushland Reserve
Search area just steps from where the accused murderer was arrested
Get the latest news by following Daily Mail Australia on WhatsApp here

By Olivia Day for Daily Mail Australia

Published: 8:49 PM EDT, March 19, 2024 | Updated: 9:16 PM EDT, March 19, 2024

A remote area of bushland being searched for the remains of Samantha Murphy is just a stone’s throw from the house where her accused killer was arrested.

Victoria Police launched a new search in the Buninyong Bushland Reserve on Wednesday after saying they had received “new intelligence”.

Despite extensive search efforts by police and volunteers, no trace of the mother-of-three has been found in the six weeks since her disappearance.

The new search area is located along Webbs Hill Road, a one-lane dirt road Two miles from the home in Scotsburn, Patrick Orren Stephenson, 22, was house-sitting with his girlfriend when he was arrested on March 6.

Stephenson was charged with murder the following day, with police claiming he ‘intentionally assaulted’ Mrs Murphy, 51, in Mount Clear on February 4.

The new search area is on Webbs Hill Road, a single-lane unsealed road less than 2km from the Scotsburn home. Patrick Orren Stephenson, 22, (pictured) was house-sitting with his girlfriend Meg Harbor when he was arrested on March 6.

Victoria Police launched a new search in the Buninyong Bushland Reserve on Wednesday

He was taken into custody and police allege he repeatedly refused to cooperate with police in their investigation into Ms Murphy’s remains.

Researchers were originally searching in the vast Woowookarung Regional Park, which is about 10km from the new search area.

The Buningyong Bushland Reserve is a relatively smaller area of bushland with a hidden dam and only a few properties scattered throughout its boundaries.

Police units are stationed in nearby Royal Park as dozens of specialist officers search the reserve.

“The search will focus on an area highlighted by intelligence from a number of sources,” a police statement said.

Members of the public who have been searching for Ms Murphy over the past six weeks have been advised not to take part in the latest search.

All available resources are being used, including missing persons investigators along with specialist officers from the Search and Rescue Unit, Mounted Unit, Dog Brigade, Public Order Response Team and motorcyclists from the Road Policing Command.

Detective Acting Chief Inspector Mark Hatt said police are determined to do ‘everything we can to locate her and return her to her family’.

No trace of Samantha Murphy (pictured) has been found in the six weeks since her disappearance, despite extensive search efforts by police and volunteers

“Since Samantha’s disappearance, extensive searches have been conducted in the Ballarat area and today we will be focusing on an area of bushland in Buninyong,” he said on Wednesday.

‘We will be using a range of specialist resources, but whilst we search for Samantha’s body we ask that the public do not attempt to take part in today’s search.

‘Hopefully today’s search will aid the investigation or provide further investigative opportunities for police.

“We will also be looking at further searches in the Ballarat area as the investigation progresses.”

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The ultimate guide to 101 FREE Easter treats taking place across Britain – from bunny trails and egg rolling to chocolate festivals

Albert Elence — Sun, 17 Mar 2024 20:31:04 +0000

Hard-pressed families are counting pennies as the cost-of-living crisis continues to bite. But we’ve come to the rescue by tracking down 101 of the best events over the four-day Easter weekend. And the best thing? They’re all completely free.

LONDON AND HOME COUNTIES

Trafalgar Square for all: A cast of more than 100 volunteers, plus horses, donkeys and doves re-enact the Passion of Christ (twice) at Trafalgar Square on Good Friday. From noon and 3.15pm. wintershall.org.uk

Hertfordshire hot cross fun: St Albans, the historic home of hot cross buns, celebrates Easter with a long list of events from traditional religious processions to egg hunts – being held at the cathedral and town centre at various times. enjoystalbans.com

Highgate treasure hunt: Solve map riddles while hunting the ‘Giant Bunny’ to win chocolate prizes at Waterlow Park in Highgate, North London, on Easter Sunday, 11am-4.30pm. lauderdalehouse.org.uk

Here are the best events of the Easter weekend to keep everyone occupied (stock image)

Westminster Abbey traditions: A historic ceremony of ‘Solemn liturgy of the passion and death of our lord’ is just one of the traditional Easter services at Westminster Abbey on Good Friday from 3pm to 4.15pm. westminster-abbey.org

‘Bunny rave’ in Camden: Expect egg hunts, live music, face painting, flower planting and a children’s ‘bunny rave’ disco at Camden Market, North London, running all weekend. camdenmarket.com

Music at St Paul’s Cathedral: A free recital is being given by prize-winning organist Alexander Knight on Easter Sunday at 4.30pm. stpauls.co.uk

South London bonanza: A free day of family activities, including egg hunt and prizes for best bonnets, takes place at Rookery Gardens on Streatham Common on Easter Sunday, from noon to 3pm. eventbrite.co.uk

Capital choral delights: An acclaimed Anglican choir and quartet will perform Mozart at St Giles In The Fields, Central London, on Easter Sunday at 11am and 6.30pm. stgilesonline.org

Wonders of Wokingham: There’ll be treasure trails, bunny characters, inflatables and face painting at Home Grange Craft Village on Easter Monday from 10am to 3pm. holmegrangecraftvillage.co.uk

EAST ANGLIA

Rabbit trails in Norwich: Follow a Peter Rabbit toy trail using a map and clues at the Chantry Place shopping centre all weekend. chantryplace.co.uk

Choir in Cambridge: Cambridge Voices Easter choral concert takes place at Downing Place Church on Easter Saturday at 4pm. cambridgevoices.org

You can take part in family games at Alexandra Park in Hastings

East Anglican egg hunt: Search for hidden eggs in a medieval setting – and decorate your own – at Dragon Hall in Norwich on Easter Monday from 10am to 3pm. nationalcentreforwriting.org.uk

THE SOUTH WEST

Cornish bunny race: One of the strangest Easter traditions comes in the form of an Easter Bunny costume race across a beach… against 100 dogs. It’s held at St Agnes on Easter Sunday from 1pm. stagnessurflifesavingclub.co.uk

Parade in Dorset: The town mayor leads scores of entrants in the traditional bonnet parade through Lyme Regis on Easter Sunday from 2.15pm. There’s also a rubber duck race on Easter Monday at noon. lymeregiscarnival.co.uk

Celtic craic: The annual Celtic and Breton Easter music and dance festival takes place in the streets (and pubs) of Falmouth in Cornwall on Easter Saturday. facebook.com/AberFest

Easter lambs in Gloucester: Collect Larry the Lamb trail maps and use them to explore Gloucester Cathedral all weekend. gloucestercathedral.org.uk

Wild in Devon: Explore wildlife trails, check out bird hides and visit a farm zoo – as well as chocolate-making and a lamb feast (egg hunt £3.50, Easter meal £20-45) – at Darts Farm in Topsham on Easter Sunday from noon. dartsfarm.co.uk

Cornish tradition: Watch or join a traditional family Easter ‘trigging’ – using a rake to catch cockles and winkles at low tide – at Helford River on Good Friday. cornwallforever.co.uk

Prizes in Plymouth: Follow treasure maps around the cobbled waterfront or the city centre to win prizes at the Barbican or West End Centre all weekend from 10am to 5pm. visitplymouth.co.uk

Dunk your dolls: The ancient Easter ceremony of ‘dolly dunking’ (ceremonially dipping toys in a spring at a remote sacred well) is the main event at Morvah in Cornwall on Good Friday at 11am — hot cross buns are provided for onlookers. calendarcustoms.com

St Agnes is the setting for an Easter Bunny race

Wiltshire surprise: There’s a special Easter opening of an old church which had been ‘lost’ to an army firing range (and consequently rarely open) at Imber on Salisbury Plain on Easter Saturday, Sunday and Monday from 11am to 4pm. imberchurch.org.uk

Bath bunny hunt: Explore a garden trail around Beckford’s Tower, hunting for 16 hidden bunnies, all weekend from 9am to 5pm. beckfordstower.org.uk

Ceremony in Salisbury: Head to cathedral green outside Salisbury Cathedral at 5am on Easter Sunday for a bonfire at sunrise and candlelit service. salisburycathedral.org.uk

THE SOUTH EAST

Broadstairs food festival: Delicacies from chocolate pigs to brioche buns feature at the annual Easter seafront food festival in the Kent town all weekend. broadstairsfoodfestival.org.uk

East Sussex fancy dress: Traditional revels with fancy dress and an Easter bonnet parade are planned at Battle on Good Friday from 10am. battleeastsussex.co.uk

Rubber ducks in Kent: The popular annual rubber duck race, with a barbecue and music, at the Royal Military Canal in Warehorne on Good Friday from about 9.30am. facebook.com/woolpackwarehorne

Candlelit Canterbury: An atmospheric candlelit celebration of ‘Easter Eve’ will be held at Canterbury Cathedral on Easter Saturday at 7.30pm. canterbury-cathedral.org

Mad hats in Hastings: Stalls, games, music and art, plus Punch & Judy shows, will be at the Mad Hatter’s Easter Party in Alexandra Park on Easter Saturday from 11am to 4pm. facebook.com/artintheparkaop

THE SOUTH

Isle of Wight fireworks: An hour-long Easter celebration display is being launched from the end of the pier at Sandown on Easter Saturday at 7.30pm. visitisleofwight.co.uk

Southampton challenge: Pick up a free map, follow a city centre trail and solve Easter clues in the city’s old town, all weekend. visitsouthampton.co.uk

Portsmouth falcons displays: Free falconry displays will be held inside a hilltop fort along with an Easter Bunny treasure trail at Fort Nelson all weekend. visit-hampshire.co.uk

Eastleigh ‘Eggstravaganza’: A day of live theatre and music, craft activities and a bouncy castle is planned at the Pavilion on the Park on Easter Saturday, 10am-3pm. southamptonrocks.co.uk

WALES

Perfect in Pembrokeshire: Enjoy a waterfront coloured-egg trail, meet a giant bunny and get involved with face painting and homemade chocolate too at Milford, all weekend. milfordwaterfront.co.uk

Swansea fun: Find family craft, music and story events – to be held at the National Waterfront Museum on Good Friday, from noon to 4pm. museum.wales

Blaenafon treasure trail: Meet ‘Butty Bear’, who welcomes kids to an Easter treasure trail at Big Pit National Coal Museum, Blaenafon, in south-east Wales, all weekend from 10am to 3.30pm. museum.wales

Llandudno beach party: Join the annual Easter community beach-cleaning party by the West Shore Prom in Llandudno on Good Friday, from 10am to 1pm. northwaleswildlifetrust.org.uk

The Pembrokeshire coast will be used as part of a poetry exhibition

Market in Cardiff: From homemade gin to carved lovespoons, explore the huge free market of Welsh craftspeople by St Fagans Museum in Cardiff, all weekend from 10am to 5pm. museum.wales

Poetry in St Davids: Find poems, pens and paper in boxes along the inspirational coastpath linked to a poetry exhibition in St Davids in Pembrokeshire, all weekend. pembrokeshirecoast.wales

THE NORTH WEST

Egg rolls in Preston: Join the 150-year-old tradition of rolling Easter eggs down a hill with a free festival of live music, theatre and crafts at Avenham and Miller Parks in Preston on Easter Monday, from 11am to 4pm. visitpreston.com

Lytham live music: Theatre shows, live music, craft sessions, rides and Easter bonnets will be at Lowther Pavilion in Lytham, all weekend from 11am to 5pm. lowtherpavilion.co.uk

Egg and spoon fun near Eccleston: Family day of activities including egg and spoon races, egg hunts and Easter bonnet parade, at Heskin Hall, near Eccleston, Lancashire, Easter Sunday from 11am to 4pm. heskinhall.com

Animal magic in Bootle: A mobile zoo, Easter craft stalls and a hunt for the missing golden egg are all part of the fun at Lock and Quay in Bootle, Merseyside, on Easter Sunday from 1pm to 3pm. facebook.com/lockandquaybootle

Blackpool horsing around: An Easter experience of ponies and birds, treasure trails and quizzes at an animal sanctuary is planned at Penny Farm in Blackpool, all weekend from 11am to 3pm. worldhorsewelfare.org

Donkeys in Lancs: Donkey rides, crazy golf, circus acts and comedy magic will be on offer at a street fair in Colne on Easter Saturday. colnetowncouncil.org.uk

Liverpool art: Create a masterpiece at free family art sessions at Tate Liverpool all weekend, from 10am to 4pm. tate.org.uk

Cumbrian festivities: Discover scarecrow creations in an historic walled garden with children’s pony rides alongside at Ford Park in Ulverston all weekend, from 10am to 5pm. ulverston.com

Lancashire entertainment: Willy Wonka characters, chocolate making, egg design and edible wallpaper are among the Easter events at Affinity shopping centre, in Fleetwood all weekend. affinitylancashire.com

THE NORTH

Huddersfield prizes: Scan the QR codes on hidden eggs to win prizes in a high-tech Easter egg hunt through Huddersfield on Good Friday and Easter Saturday, from 8am to 5pm.

York chocolate cheer: A street party of chocolate sculptures, tasting trails and egg hunts is planned on Parliament Street from Good Friday to Easter Sunday, from 10am to 5pm. yorkfoodfestival.com

Creature comforts: A family Easter Fair including games, eggs, crafts and lots of animals is being organised at the RSPCA Animal Home on Landing Road in York on Easter Sunday, from 10.30am to 3pm.

Roll up to see jugglers and clowns on Easter Saturday in Oswestry, Shropshire

Bradford egg hunt: Donkey rides, egg hunts and Easter bonnets at Harold Park in Bradford on Easter Monday, from 11am to 1pm.

Medieval Easter in Leeds: Brace yourself for live combat demonstrations and thrilling battle stories at the Royal Armouries Museum all weekend, from 10am to 5pm.

Dragon hunt: Explore an ancient fortress while searching for dragon eggs at Castle Garth in Pontefract, West Yorkshire all weekend, from 9.30am to 4.30pm. experiencewakefield.co.uk

Yorkshire duck race: Around 12,000 rubber ducks join an annual river race through the town centre at Hebden Bridge in Yorkshire on Easter Monday, from 1pm. hebdenbridgeduckrace.uk

Skipton bunny hunt: Ten bunnies have been hidden in Skipton, Yorkshire. Can you find them and win a hamper? All weekend. welcometoskipton.com

THE NORTH EAST

Party in Durham: Meet the Easter bunny, a balloon artist and the local police team at a town centre fun day involving rides, games and raffles in Newton Aycliffe, County Durham on Easter Saturday, from noon to 3pm. facebook.com/NewtonAycliffeTownCentre

Northumberland petting zoo: Get close to the animals at an Easter Family Day petting zoo at Ridley Park in Blyth on Easter Saturday, from 11am to 3pm. blythtowncouncil.org.uk

Party in Thirsk: An Easter party with a local bake off, inflatables and a classic egg hunt is planned at Thirsk and Sowerby Institute in North Yorkshire on Easter Sunday, from 11am to 5pm. facebook.com/ThirskSowerbyInstitute

Newcastle no-strings fun: Enjoy a wide array of puppet shows across Newcastle over Easter, starting with a ‘giant beast’ parade. movingpartsarts.com

North Yorkshire daffs: Join the Easter tradition of taking a three-mile walk along the banks of the River Dove carpeted with daffs planted by monks at Farndale, North Yorkshire, all weekend. discoveryorkshirecoast.com

Cracking contest in Peterlee: The annual world championship of egg jarping – that’s banging boiled eggs together to see which is the hardest – is being held at Hearts of Oak in Peterlee, County Durham, on Easter Sunday at 3pm. facebook.com/theheartsofoak

THE MIDLANDS

Shropshire festival: Find growers, sewers, knitters, carvers and brewers at a fair at the British Ironworks Centre in Shropshire on Good Friday and Easter Saturday, from 10am to 3pm. britishironworkcentre.co.uk

Hereford Cathedral show: Hear the ‘Father Wills organ’ in full voice at a recital in the cathedral, with playing close-ups shown on a large screen on Easter Monday at 1.15pm.

Bunny hop in Worcestershire: Find hidden bunnies by following a town centre trail in Tenbury Wells all weekend, from 10am to 4pm. visitthemalverns.org

Wolverhampton fun for all: Meet Mother Goose and Bo Peep, search for eggs, make glitter tattoos and try your own balloon art at the Mander Centre on Easter Saturday, from 11am to 4pm. mandercentre.co.uk

Street circus in Oswestry: Roll up to see jugglers and clowns on Easter Saturday, and a treasure hunt, face painting and donkey rides on Good Friday in Oswestry, Shropshire. oneoswestry.co.uk

Herefordshire intrigue: Enjoy a ‘Gruffalo’ trail through the arboretum at Queenswood Country Park all weekend. queenswoodandbodenhamlake.org

Music in Oxford: An Easter Passiontide organ recital will be held at the medieval chapel at Magdalen College on Good Friday at 1.30pm. magd.ox.ac.uk

Leamington Spa parade: Take part in a fair with stalls, activities and a homemade bonnets show at The Parade on Easter Monday, from 10am to 4pm. warwickdc.gov.uk

Leicestershire bottle battle: A traditional Easter bottle-kicking parade and subsequent battle between two villages takes place at Hallaton, Leicestershire, on Easter Monday from 2pm. calendarcustoms.com

SCOTLAND

Capital celebrations: A band, choir and orchestra perform in a Christian Easter celebration at Usher Hall, in Edinburgh, on Easter Sunday at 7.30pm. originscotland.org

Castle forays: Historic Scotland holds Easter egg hunts at many of its castles, abbeys and palaces such as Skara Brae, St Andrews Castle and Fort George. It’s free to take part and member entry is free (new visitors pay an entry fee), all weekend from 9.30am to 5.30pm. historicenvironment.scot

Families can go on egg hunts at St Andrews Castle in Fife

Edinburgh egg hunt: Drop in for a day of Easter quizzes, trails and egg hunts around the grounds at Lauriston Castle on Easter Monday from 11am to 4pm. visitscotland.com

Fife fun: Enjoy a festival of arts, crafts and speciality food stalls in the centre of the pretty seaside town of Crail, Fife, on Easter Saturday and Sunday from 11am to 4pm. welcometofife.com

Magic on Mull: Visit artists in their studios dotted around Mull’s picturesque capital Tobermory from Good Friday to Easter Monday, 10am to 5pm. mytobermory.com

Egg hunt in Kirkcaldy: Scour a two-mile golf course trail for hidden eggs (not balls) at Dunnikier Park on Easter Sunday, from 9.30am to 12.30pm. greenerkirkcaldy.org.uk

Baby chicks in Perth: Experience an Easter food, art and craft market at a farm shop with baby chicks hatching at Arngask Home Farm on Easter Saturday, from 10am to 4pm. facebook.com/arngaskfarm

New Lanark festivities: The historic village of New Lanark hosts an Easter market, egg rolling and egg hunt for high-tech 3D-printed Easter eggs on Easter Saturday. newlanark.org

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Greg Rutherford shares a sweet photo with daughter Daphne, 2, as he continues his recovery from serious stomach injury that cost him a place in Dancing On Ice finale

Sabir Ansary — Sat, 16 Mar 2024 15:19:14 +0000

Greg Rutherford shared a sweet update as he continues recovering from a serious stomach injury.

The Dancing On Ice star, 37, took to his Instagram Stories to share a selfie of himself and his daughter, two, with the caption ‘Hugs with Daph’.

Greg has a further two children with his fiancée of almost five years Susie Verill: sons Milo, eight, and Rex, five.

It comes after Greg issued an update on Wednesday following his emergency dash to hospital last week.

The retired Olympian missed the Dancing On Ice final after experiencing a significant injury the morning of rehearsals which saw him needing stitches.

Greg Rutherford, 37, shared a sweet photo to his Instagram Story of himself and daughter Daphne, two, as he continues recovering from a serious stomach injury

It comes after Greg issued an update on Wednesday following his emergency dash to hospital last week which caused him to miss the Dancing On Ice final

Despite still not knowing what is causing his illness, Greg revealed his stomach is ‘not in a good way’ and said he will be able to give fans a full rundown in the next 24 hours.

While Greg roamed around his kitchen in his dressing gown, he said: ‘Good morning everyone. Just thought I’d give you a little update. I’m moving around a little bit better today which is nice.

‘Loads of people are asking exactly what happened. I will be able to give a full rundown tomorrow. I’m seeing a specialist to figure out a plan of action and everything else.’

‘But my stomach is not in a good way and it’s going to need fixing. So that is what is going to be happening but I’ll give you a full rundown of everything when I know exactly what is happening.

‘I’m trying as well not to take too much of the co-codamol I’ve been given because it makes me sleepy but my stomach is not in a good way.’

On Tuesday, Greg said his fiancée got it wrong when she said he was ‘recovering well’ in her latest update and he insisted he was ‘very sore’ and ‘very tired’ and undergoing further tests.

Susie, 35, had taken to her Instagram pages to tell his fans that he was ‘doing a lot better and recovering well.’

Greg had to take to his own social media pages to correct her and after sharing her post which said he was making progress, he wrote on it: ‘No I’m not.’

The athlete experienced a significant injury on the morning of rehearsals which saw him needing stitches

The Dancing On Ice star missed the final after experiencing a significant injury the morning of rehearsals which saw him needing stitches – picture with pro partner Vanessa James

Despite still not knowing what is causing his illness, Greg revealed his stomach is ‘not in a good way’ and said he will be able to give fans a full rundown in the next 24 hours

Greg said his fiancée, 35, Susie got it wrong when she said he was ‘recovering well’ in her latest update and he insisted he was ‘very sore’ and ‘very tired’ and undergoing further tests

Susie then corrected her statement and said: ‘Ok ignore, would like everyone to know he’s actually in a lot of pain.’

Greg also filmed himself in bed and told his fans he was having an early night after seeing a specialist on Monday afternoon.

After thanking fans for their support he said explained: ‘Seen a specialist today, I’ve got some scans tomorrow, and then I will know more about what’s going on, and what’s happening.

‘I’m very sore and very tired so I’m going to get an early night tonight. But again I cannot believe the amount of lovely messages I’ve had so thanks very much. I’ll update everybody once I know what the next step is. This is grim.’

Greg also shared a video of himself and Vanessa James doing the bolero as he lamented that he missed the final and was a ‘bit heartbroken’.

He wrote: ‘Something that I really wish I could have performed… #Bolero Im almost 36 hours since the injury and watching the videos of what could have been. It’s bloody hard to take at this point as I know we could have shown something exciting and new with our final performances.

‘Of course the Bolero isn’t a given and I’ll post our showcase at some point too… I haven’t shown the end as I’m determined to actually perform it with Vanessa one day for everyone to see.

‘I’m really proud of what we achieved on the show. This take was from Saturday morning and we were marking for the double twist… the full program was truly beautiful. I’m a bit heart broken at the moment.’

The Olympian was set to battle it all out against Ryan Thomas, Adele Roberts and Miles Nazaire for the trophy on Sunday.

That day, Susie took to her Instagram to update fans on the star’s condition – reassuring them he was doing fine and on a path to recovery.

Posting a snap on her stories of Greg laying down on the hospital bed, she penned: ‘Resus is never a fun place to be is it. There’s a lot of screaming (not from Greg).’

On Sunday, Susie took to her Instagram to update fans on the star’s condition – reassuring them he was doing fine and on a path to recovery

The Olympian was set to battle it all out against Ryan Thomas, Adele Roberts and Miles Nazaire in the Dancing On Ice final but withdrew after a last minute injury

In the following story, she wrote a lengthy message to thank everyone who supported Greg throughout this difficult time.

‘Thanks for all your lovely messages for Greg. Sorry for being rubbish at replying.

‘My inbox was a mess already because the past few months have been manic so I need to work through them all properly. Greg’s doing a lot better and recovering well,’ and finished with a heart emoji.

Greg’s hopes of taking part in the final were shattered after he sustained a ‘significant’ injury on the morning of rehearsals.

Taking to Instagram to thank fans for their ‘kind messages, Greg took a selfie from his bed and wrote: ‘Recovery sort of starts now…

‘After a pretty rough first night, I’m looking forward to getting everything sorted and sewn up so I can get back to normal. Thank you all so much for your kind messages.’

Ryan Thomas skated to victory and was crowned Dancing On Ice’s 2024 winner alongside pro partner Amani Fancy during Sunday’s action packed live final.

The former Coronation Street star, 39, beat Made In Chelsea ‘s Miles Nazaire and partner Vanessa Bauer, after DJ Adele Roberts finished in third place and Olympian Greg Rutherford was forced to quit hours before the show due to injury.

Susie wrote a lengthy message to thank everyone who has supported Greg throughout this difficult time

Greg’s hopes of taking part in the hotly-anticipated final were shattered after he sustained a ‘significant’ injury on the morning of rehearsals

He was partnered up with skating pro Vanessa James and the two were favourites to win (pictured together on the show)

Following his win an emotional Ryan choked back tears as he raised the trophy and and admitted he was speechless before paying tribute to his partner saying: ‘I’m just so happy for Amani!’.

Ryan then turned to the camera and sent his best wishes to missing fellow finalist: ‘ Greg, If you’re watching at home this trophy’s for you’.

It comes after Greg checked in with fans from hospital as he took to his Instagram story to wish his fellow contestants well ahead of the live show.

He said: ‘I know this looks very dramatic and everything else but sadly I picked up a big injury in rehearsals.

‘I am on my way to hospital and I won’t be performing on Dancing On Ice tonight and I am devastated but these things happen. Stay tuned and I’ll keep you updated but what a nightmare way for this to finish’.

An ITV spokesperson added in a statement to MailOnline: ‘Sadly Olympian Greg Rutherford MBE has had to withdraw from Dancing On Ice after sustaining an injury whilst in rehearsals for the final episode of the current series.

‘Greg and Vanessa have been such a popular couple this series and have performed some truly memorable routines.

‘We will be helping to support Greg and wish him well with his recovery. We also want to thank him for being such a treasured member of the Dancing on Ice family.’

Ryan Thomas was crowned Dancing On Ice’s 2024 winner alongside his pro partner Amani Fancy during Sunday’s action packed live final

The actor turned to the camera and sent his best wishes to missing fellow finalist: ‘Greg, If you’re watching at home this trophy’s for you’

Earlier in the month, Greg told The Mirror his time on the competition might be over after sustaining a painful groin injury four weeks ago.

‘I was gutted at first, that’s classic me, an injury right at the wrong time. But due to Sharon, the physio who works for the show, has done a tireless job to keep me going and doing well,’ said the Olympian.

‘We are currently in a situation where, yes, it is still healing and there’s a little bit of soreness and tightness. But I am able to do what we need to do. Thankfully I am here and I’m thrilled to be here as well.’

The athlete admitted the last hurdle will be attempting to do the Bolero – although he is ‘happy’ to have made it to the final regardless.

Greg also highlighted being voted best skater in the solo skate, something he called a ‘really proud moment’.

‘All in all, thrilled to bits, I’m ignoring the fact there’s still a little bit of an injury there but that’s fine. I’m hoping the showcase, everyone loves it, and we get to do the Bolero. Then, who knows at that point, who knows!,’ he added.

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Cheapest place to buy prosecco for Easter as discount supermarkets cut prices

Jeffrey Bailey — Thu, 14 Mar 2024 19:51:39 +0000

There are only two weeks to go until Easter and shoppers are preparing to celebrate in style.

A few bottles of prosecco are a great way to toast the holiday. These are the cheapest places to stock up for the Easter weekend.

Supermarkets reduce the price of prossecco for Easter

Supermarkets often compete for the cheapest drink deals around important celebrations such as Easter and Christmas.

And with only a few weeks to go, they’re lowering prices even more.

So it may be a good time to replenish your drinks cabinet.

You should always shop around to see where you can find the cheapest price.

It is sometimes a good idea to check prices before major events such as Easter, as shops can sometimes increase prices if there is demand.

However, we’ve done most of the work for you and found a number of corkers, all under a tenner.

Here are some of the cheapest bottles you can buy right now at your local supermarket.

Lidl

Lidl has reduced the price of its Allini Prosecco Spumanteto from £5.49 to £4.49.

But to bag the bargain, make sure you scan the Lidl Plus app when you buy the drink.

Woman shares secret Prosecco code hack and how to tell if it tastes like champagne

To sign up, you must download the discounter’s free app.

The Plus card app lets you unlock coupons when you reach your spending goals each month, and it’s a great way to save on Lidl’s already low prices.

Lidl’s prosecco is available now until April 3.

Tesco

Tesco is selling a 75cl bottle of Plaza Centro Prosecco for £6.

However, with the Tesco price there is a catch.

To bag the bottle for £6 you’ll need a Clubcard.

Without one it’s £7. The deal only lasts until New Year’s Day too, so you’ll need to be quick if you want to save the extra £1.

It’s free to get a Tesco Clubcard. Just sign up and you can start using the rewards program right on your phone.

Asda

Asda has some of the cheapest bubbly you can buy in time for Easter.

The Nice Drop prosecco is on sale now for just £4.99.

The price of the Plonk has been reduced from £5.75 and is exclusive to Asda.

It’s not clear when the deal ends, so it may be best to get the deal sooner rather than later and before it disappears.

Morrisons

Morrisons is also one of the cheapest, with a bottle of Coppiere Prosecco Frizzante going for £5.50.

It also has a 75cl capacity, but the bottle is 51p more expensive than Asda and £1 more than Aldi.

The fizz has been reduced from £6.50 and Morrisons describes it as “fun and fruity with apple and pear flavours”.

Sainsbury’s

Sainsbury’s own fizz is the cheapest the supermarket offers.

For £6 you can buy Sainsbury’s Prosecco Frizzante, which is 75cl of bubbles.

The supermarket even describes the bottle as a “softer effervescent style with a gentle sparkle.”

Iceland

Icelandic Dandelione Prosecco costs £6.95, making it one of the most expensive bottles.

The 75cl effervescent bottle has been reviewed online by 38 customers who all agree that the bottle has a great taste and a great price.

One said: “Excellent wine, nice smooth taste, great buy.”

Another wrote: “Think this prosecco is really good.

“Without paying a fortune you get a fantastic drink. I add a little orange juice and who would know it wasn’t real Bucks Fizz?”

Marks and Spencer

Marks and Spencer’s La Vita Prosecco is the most expensive of the bunch at £7 for 75cl.

The chic store describes it as “sparkling and light, with notes of green apple, white blossom and citrus.”

You can pick up a bottle at your local M&S or order it online through Ocado.

Aldi

A bottle of Aldis’ Asti DOCG Vino Spumante also costs £4.49 – the same price as Aldi Fizz.

It is described as an “aromatic sparkling wine” with a “sweet aroma”.

You can pick up a bottle at your local Aldi store, or book a collection online.

Meanwhile, we tested the supermarket’s own brand Easter eggs: the winner beats M&S and tastes like an iconic cake.

We also tried eight hot cross buns from the supermarket to find the best.

How can I save on my supermarket shopping?

There are plenty of ways to save money at your grocery store.

You can look for yellow or red stickers on products, which indicate when they are discounted.

If the food is fresh, eat it quickly or freeze it for another time.

Making a list should also save you money because you’ll be less likely to make hasty purchases when you go to the grocery store.

Choosing your own brand can be an easy way to save hundreds of dollars a year on your food bill, too.

This means ditching the ‘best’ or ‘luxury’ products and instead opting for ‘own’ or value-for-money lines.

Many supermarkets have shaky fruit and vegetable programs where you can get cheap prices if they are misshapen or imperfect.

For example, Lidl runs its Waste Not scheme, offering 5kg boxes of fruit and vegetables for just £1.50.

If you’re on a low income and a parent, you could potentially get up to £442 a year in Healthy Start vouchers, which you can also use at the supermarket.

In addition, many municipalities offer supermarket vouchers as part of the Household Support Fund.

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Surviving inhabitants of top secret Soviet-era town where more than 400 NUCLEAR BOMBS were detonated reveal horrors of living in ‘the most nuked place on Earth’ where radiation left ‘everyone’ riddled with cancer

Albert Elence — Thu, 14 Mar 2024 15:56:19 +0000

The surviving inhabitants of a Soviet-era town in northeastern Kazakhstan where 456 bombs were detonated on their doorstep, have revealed the devastating impact the explosions had on their health, with cancer spiking along with severe birth defects.

Filmmakers Thomas Brag and Staffan Taylor ventured to Kurchatov, which was a top secret town established in 1947 as the headquarters of the Soviet Union’s nuclear weapons program. At the time, it was not even visible on maps due to the high level of secrecy.

It is estimated that more than one million people lived in and around the remote settlement when the nuclear program was running from 1949 to 1989 – but today there just a few thousand people remaining and many of the buildings are stripped bare and derelict.

In their eye opening YouTube documentary titled ’50hrs in the most nuked place on Earth erased from maps,’ Thomas and Staffan find four Kurchatov locals who are willing to talk about the nuclear testing they witnessed. All of them make it clear that they had no idea what was happening at the time, as the authorities succeeded in keeping people in the dark.

Thomas Brag and Staffan Taylor ventured to Kurchatov, a top secret town established in 1947 as the HQ of the Soviet Union’s nuclear weapons program. Nadezhda Golovina (seen) unknowingly witnessed hundreds of nuclear bombs go off in her youth

It is estimated that more than one million people lived in and around the remote settlement when the nuclear program was running from 1949 to 1989

Today there just a few thousand people remaining in the remote region and many of the buildings are derelict

From time to time their houses would violently shake and they would see plumes of dust erupting in the distance but these aftereffects were written off as extreme weather cycles.

One woman called Nadezhda Golovina, who unknowingly witnessed hundreds of nuclear bombs go off in her youth, explains: ‘We didn’t know it was so bad.

‘Now everybody writes and talks about it. And then, what did we know? We didn’t know anything. Just what the teacher taught at school.

‘They used to tell us to leave the house in case it collapsed, a window or the door of the stove would open and ashes would fall out. [Even] the chandeliers were swinging.’

During the 1950s, it was reported that one detonation in the area resulted in four times the number of cases of acute radiation sickness than those from the Chernobyl disaster.

Another local in the documentary, a man called Uncle Serikpay, reveals that he moved to Kurchatov as a miner and his role was to help construct passages to ‘prepare everything for the [nuclear] tests.’

He says he knew about what was happening at the ‘Semipalatinsk’ test site – which was less than 100 miles from Kurchatov – but he had to sign a non disclosure act.

Anyone who did speak about their work there, Uncle Serikpay says, would suddenly disappear and ‘we never saw him again.’

In a bid to reduce health risks, Uncle Serikpay says he was only allowed to work 30-minute shifts in places with high levels of radiation.

They used to tell us to leave the house in case it collapsed, a window or the door of the stove would open and ashes would fall out. Even the chandeliers were swinging.

‘If there was a low level of radiation, we could work longer,’ he adds.

Thankfully, Uncle Serikpay wasn’t exposed to high levels of radiation and at almost 73 years old, he says he still ‘feels good.’

While some were not effected by the radiation, many people were, as a woman called Lyubov Filina explains.

She says: ‘Of course it affected people’s health. People have cancer. Cancer, cancer, cancer, cancer…

‘There was radiation and people started getting sick. There are the books from the hospital where only cases of radiation and anemia are written.

‘We were kids back then and we didn’t understand anything. Even adults didn’t know that the mushroom cloud was more dangerous than vibration or broken windows.

‘In 1989, I was pregnant with my son and he was born with congenital cataracts of 16 diopters.

‘I believe it was caused by the radiation exposure. I read about it in the medical encyclopedia. We saw helicopters over the city measuring something and now we understood there was a radiation release at that time.

In their eye opening YouTube documentary, Thomas and Staffan find four Kurchatov locals who are willing to talk about the nuclear testing they witnessed. Uncle Khamit, pictured, helped dismantle radioactive weapons after the Soviet Union fell

During the 1950s, it was reported that one detonation in the area resulted in four times the number of cases of acute radiation sickness than those from the Chernobyl disaster

Uncle Khamit moved to Kurchatov in 1976 and said that when he first moved there, the nuclear bomb explosions were a scary experience. Above, pictured with the filmmakers

At the time, the nuclear testing site was not visible on maps due to the high level of secrecy

‘Some children were born with disabilities. Our parents covered us, but not themselves.’

It was only in 1989 that information about radioactive contamination from the Semipalatinsk test site became public and the findings triggered mass outcry.

An anti-nuclear movement raged for two years with the Kazakh government demanding that Moscow end nuclear testing.

Eventually, the activists won and the Semipalatinsk nuclear testing site was officially shut down on August 29, 1991, with all testing banned in the region.

This marked the same year that Kazakhstan gained independence from the former Soviet Union.

Uncle Serikpay said most people left Kurchatov when the testing site closed.

He explains in the documentary: ‘In 1991 when the test site was closed and Kazakhstan declared a moratorium everything broke up. People moved away and the Soviet Union collapsed.’

Lyubov Filina says the mass exodus of people was quite strange but her family decided to stay.

She recalls: ‘They just left. The military was reassigned to other places and went there.

‘People were leaving but we continued to live and work here. Everyone had families and children to feed.

‘The military moved away, and our family didn’t have military, so we stayed here.’

Uncle Serikpay continued working at the nuclear testing site after its closure, and from 1996 to 1999 America helped dismantle the site.

He also reveals in the film that he helped to excavate an unexploded bomb, which was then safely detonated in an underground tunnel in 1995.

He says: ‘It was an atomic bomb that was supposed to explode. It was a real bomb that we had time to install, but we didn’t have time to use it.’

A man called Uncle Khamit – who lost both of his parents to cancer – also reveals in the documentary that he helped dismantle radioactive weapons after the fall of the Soviet Union.

He moved to Kurchatov in 1976 and said that when he first moved there, the nuclear bomb explosions were a scary experience.

Detailing what the detonations were like, he said: ‘First, there’s a big flare and then there’s the mushroom that comes out. We were kids, but there was a feeling inside that something bad was being done.

Uncle Serikpay moved to Kurchatov as a miner and his role was to help construct passages to ‘prepare everything for the [nuclear] tests’

While some were not effected by the radiation, many people were, as a woman called Lyubov Filina explains

It was only in 1989 that information about radioactive contamination from the Semipalatinsk test site became public and the findings triggered mass outcry

‘Older people, everyone was afraid because everything became dark there, everything was covered in dust, the feeling was terrible.

‘We were taken outside the village. There was a ravine dug there, and there we lay down.

‘They always covered us with blankets, and the whole village lay there. Soldiers would run to see if we were covered or not.

‘One time I remember a soldier being swept away.’

The worst explosion at Semipalatinsk took place on January 15, 1965, when the Soviet Union tested a hydrogen bomb 11 times the strength of the bomb dropped on Hiroshima by the U.S. military in 1945.

In the documentary, the narrator explains: ‘The 140-kiloton device was buried nearly 180 meters in the ground, and upon detonation, the blast created a crater of 454 meters wide and 100 meters deep, throwing soil nearly one and a half kilometers up in the air.

‘The blast was so large that it took the dust nearly 50 days to settle, forming the current hills that now surround the crater.

‘Shortly after the test, a nearby river was diverted to fill the crater and turn it into what locals now call the Atomic Lake.’

Towards the end of the documentary, the subjects are asked how they feel about rising global tensions and the possibility of nuclear conflict coming into force again.

Uncle Khamit merely says that he feels ‘very badly’ about it. He muses: ‘An achievement is an achievement, every state develops its armament. But I would like to have a peaceful sky over my head, to have no conflicts with anyone.

‘And we, Kazakhstani people, want to have peace everywhere. I also call on all those countries that have nuclear weapons to reduce it or even be like Kazakhstan.

‘We are in favor of nuclear-free armaments, always. I want to say that people all over the world should live in harmony and in peace. That our future generation should grow up healthy and strong.’

Echoing his sentiments, Nadezhda Golovina repeats that ‘we need peace,’ while Uncle Serikpay ends with a request for ‘all countries to abandon nuclear weapons like Kazakhstan has done.’

He tells the cameramen: ‘Kazakhstan abandoned all its nuclear weapons, although it had fourth-biggest nuclear arsenal in the world. I wish all countries behave the same way.’

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I’m American and couldn’t afford a nice flat in London so I moved to a tour boat – it’s the only place we’ve lived that’s big enough for our dog to run around

Sabir Ansary — Tue, 12 Mar 2024 23:06:08 +0000

A TikToker has revealed why she loves living on a canal in London – saying she couldn’t afford an apartment as nice as her boat.

Maisy Dewey, 24, originally from Savannah in Georgia, lives on a narrowboat on the River Thames with her fiancé Harry and Dalmatian Kipper.

Maisy says she never planned to live on a boat, but came across this one by accident while hunting after it was advertised as a ‘riverside’ property – and didn’t realize how literal the description was .

Her boat is permanently moored, meaning they are connected to the normal sewage system and can still access utilities such as electricity and Wi-Fi, while drawing water and gas from separate tanks.

Maisie gave a tour of her boat to her 25,000 TikTok followers in a videoshowing off her cheerfully decorated and spacious boat.

Maisy Dewey, 24, lives on a permanently moored tour boat on London’s River Thames

Speaking to the camera, she explained: ‘I’ll give you a tour of our boat while I tell you why we love living here. First of all, looking around, we wouldn’t be able to afford a regular apartment as nice as our boat.

‘We have a beautiful kitchen, we even have an extra room as an office/cloakroom and the boat is surprisingly spacious.

‘We lived in three other apartments with our dog Kipper before boarding our boat, and this is by far the most spacious place we’ve lived. We also have a lot of storage space.’

A narrowboat is a type of tour boat, specially built for the narrow waterways of Great Britain. Most are about six feet wide and semi-permanently moored or constantly cruising.

Maisy filmed the beautiful interior of the boat, which consists of a combined living and kitchen area, a guest room for an office and wardrobe space, a large double bedroom with extra storage and a bathroom.

The couple moved aboard in November and despite an ‘extremely draughty’ winter, they are generally loving boat life.

Maisy continues: ‘Apart from generally having a nice place to live, we love being on the quay and on the river. It’s just such a great atmosphere and our neighbors are so nice.

‘We’re still getting used to the boat lifestyle, but so far we’re enjoying life on board the boat and all the nice little quirks. I love waking up every night and going to bed on the river, it’s such a dream.”

The interior of the boat is bright and cheerful – and they have a spacious double bedroom (pictured, with Kipper on the bed)

Maisy filmed the boat’s beautiful interior, which consists of a combined living and kitchen area (pictured), a guest room for an office and wardrobe space, a large double bedroom with extra storage and a bathroom

She added that the boat, which they rent, is the only living space they’ve had that’s big enough for their dog Kipper to run around in.

The boat largely manages to remain stable due to its large size, but can become rocky in windy weather or at high tide.

It has a 50-gallon water tank in the back that provides enough water for the entire boat, and it refills when it becomes empty.

They also have a gas tank, which the landlord refills.

Maisy did not reveal the exact location of the boat or how much she is paying for the rent, but says it is cheaper than apartments she has rented in the past.

Her boat trip video has now been viewed 1.8 million times as people are intrigued by the idea of boat life in the capital.

One viewer said: ‘It’s beautiful!’ while another was also taken back and said: ‘It’s huge.’

Others question the safety of living on a boat, writing: ‘A trailer that can easily sink. Cool.’

Her boat trip video has now been viewed 1.8 million times as people are intrigued by the idea of boat life in the capital

It comes amid a growing trend of people leaving their expensive London flats for a cheaper life on the water.

Emily Jones, 32, who is originally from Merseyside, has lived on her narrowboat called ‘Florrie’ in London for four years with her dog Beautiful.

She made the move after feeling ‘trapped’ by the London property market, and previously shared a house with five other people for £800 a month.

After her father passed away in 2020, Emily bought Florrie with a loan for £21,000.

Her rent is now the price of her bills, but she has also warned people that life on a boat is sometimes not as glamorous as it seems.

She spends around £3,000 a year on costs including driving licence, insurance and diesel, but admits she does ‘more cruising than most people in London’.

Emily added that any repairs are always more expensive than repairs to a house – and boaters are advised to always have £1,000 on hand in case of an emergency.

According to the Canal & River Trust, more than 34,000 boats navigate Britain’s 2,000-mile waterway.

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Man found dead on Buchanan Place in Greenvale, Melbourne: Police investigating

Albert Elence — Mon, 11 Mar 2024 20:20:13 +0000

The man was found outside a home in Melbourne’s north

By Olivia Day for Daily Mail Australia

Published: 3:45 PM EDT, March 11, 2024 | Updated: 4:15 PM EDT, March 11, 2024

The discovery of a seriously injured man outside a home has led to an investigation by the homicide unit.

The man was found outside a house on Buchanan Place in Greenvale, 20km north of Melbourne’s CBD, about 4.30am on Tuesday.

Initial reports indicate that the man was shot in the usually quiet suburb.

A Victoria Police spokeswoman confirmed there had been a death in Greenvale, but the cause of death was

Greenvale is located approximately 20 km north of Melbourne’s CBD. Homicide detectives are investigating after a man was found with serious injuries outside a home on Buchanan Place on Tuesday

More to come.

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Pictured: Dubai’s stunning shopping center that claims to be ‘the most visited place on earth’, with a whopping 105 million visitors by 2023

Albert Elence — Mon, 11 Mar 2024 16:57:20 +0000

By Jessica Hamilton

Published: 12:18 EDT, March 11, 2024 | Updated: 12:20 EDT, March 11, 2024

A Dubai mall has claimed it is the most visited place in the world, with 105 million visitors by 2023.

‘Dubai Mall’, the world’s largest by total area, saw a 19 percent increase in visitor totals from 88 million in 2022.

Figures released by the shopping center – which is owned and operated by Emaar – show that as many as 20 million people visited the complex in the first two months of this year alone, with 2024 set to be another record year.

Emaar founder Mohamed Alabbar claims the new statistics show how the mall has become a global attraction, attracting visitors from all corners of the world.

He said: “These figures reflect the impressive status of Dubai Mall and reflect Dubai’s progressive leadership and strong economy.

‘Dubai Mall’ claims to be the most visited place in the world, with 105 million visitors in 2023

Dubai Mall saw its visitor total of 88 million increase by 19 percent in 2022. Upstairs is the mall’s epic aquarium

“Our mall embodies the city’s vibrant spirit and commitment to excellence, making the leadership’s vision a reality. As an integral part of Dubai’s economic fabric, we play a crucial role in the city’s success and innovation.

‘This wide range of nationalities not only underlined the global charm of the mall, but also reflected the cosmopolitan culture of Dubai itself.’

The 12 million square foot mall offers 1,200 stores, hundreds of dining options, an Olympic-sized ice skating rink, a giant aquarium and a huge Chinatown district.

It stands next to the tallest building in the world, the Burj Khalifa (828 meters).

The 12 million square meter shopping center offers 1,200 stores

Shopping Mecca: Dubai Mall is the world’s largest by total area

The shopping center is located next to the tallest building in the world, the Burj Khalifa (828 meters)

Other extremely popular shopping centers include the Ala Moana Center in Honolulu, Hawaii, which received 52 million visitors in 2019, according to figures. Statisticaland Mall of America in Minnesota, which attracted about 40 million visitors in 2019.

Britain’s most popular tourist attractions are Windsor Great Park (5.6 million visitors in 2022); the Natural History Museum (4.6 million visitors) and the British Museum (four million visitors).

These figures pale in comparison to the visitor numbers of the Dubai Mall, which is also much more popular than the most visited city in the world, Istanbul, which welcomed 20.2 million international visitors in 2023, according to Euromonitor International.

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