New mums and dads are being given free thermometers for their babies’ rooms as part of a campaign to raise awareness of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).
SIDS, a rare phenomenon sometimes known as cot death, is the sudden and unexplained death of an apparently healthy baby.
Black Country parents and carers are being given the thermometers to remind them 16-20C (60.8-68F) is an ideal temperature for where babies sleep, and this can help prevent SIDS.
The project is part of a campaign called Safer Sleep Week run by the Lullaby Trust, a charity that offers safe sleep advice to parents and caregivers.
The Health in Pregnancy Service at Walsall Healthcare NHS trust is giving out the thermometers, and The Black Country Integrated Care Board, a local NHS body, is supporting the project.
Parents from Walsall, Wolverhampton, Dudley and Sandwell should have access to the thermometers, The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust said.
It added the Black Country Local Maternity and Neonatal System and the Black Country Child Death Review Strategic Partnership were supporting the initiative.
Taylor-Jane Daley, a Walsall mum of two whose youngest daughter was born on 25 January, said she was grateful to be given a thermometer.
“I don’t think you realise quite how warm a room has become sometimes,” she said in a statement released by the care board.
“We all want to do what we can to keep our babies safe.”
The NHS also advises that babies sleep on their backs on a firm mattress, along with other safety measures, in order to reduce the risk of SIDS.
The vice president has described former President Rodrigo Duterte’s arrest over his deadly drug war as ‘oppression’.
Philippine Vice President Sara Duterte, the daughter of former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, is on her way to the Netherlands to help her father after he was arrested in Manila on a warrant by the International Criminal Court (ICC) and flown to The Hague.
Rodrigo Duterte, who served as president from 2016 to 2022, was placed on a plane on Tuesday just hours after his arrest at Manila airport over alleged “crimes against humanity” stemming from a crackdown on drugs that killed thousands of people during his presidency.
Duterte, 79, could now become the first Asian former head of state to go on trial at the ICC.
Sara boarded a morning flight to Amsterdam, her office said in a statement on Wednesday. She is planning to help organise her father’s legal team in the Netherlands, local news outlet Rappler reported.
In an earlier statement, Sara said her father was “being forcibly taken to The Hague” in what amounted to “oppression and persecution”.
“This is a blatant affront to our sovereignty and an insult to every Filipino who believes in our nation’s independence,” she said.
According to the Rappler report, Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr has defended his government’s decision to facilitate the former president’s arrest and transfer to the ICC, saying it was “in compliance with our commitments to Interpol” – the international policing agency.
Duterte’s youngest daughter, Veronica Duterte, plans to file a habeas corpus request with the Philippine Supreme Court to compel the government to bring her father back, Duterte’s former chief legal counsel Salvador Panelo said.
Silvestre Bello, a former labour minister and one of the former president’s lawyers, said a legal team would meet to assess options and seek clarity on where the former president will be taken and whether they would be granted access to him.
“First thing we will do is find out where exactly the former president will be brought, so we know where we should go, because he will need legal assistance,” Bello said.
“We will also discuss all possible legal remedies.”
People light candles following the arrest of former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, in Quezon City, Philippines, on March 11, 2025 [Lisa Marie David/Reuters]
Sara’s travel to The Hague comes one month after she was impeached by the Philippine lower house of Congress amid a growing rift with Marcos Jr.
The vote came after lawmakers, many of whom are allies of Marcos, signed a petition to remove her from office.
While exact details have not been shared, the impeachment vote followed a string of complaints accusing the vice president of crimes ranging from the misuse of public funds to plotting Marcos’s assassination.
Sara has consistently denied wrongdoing and described moves against her as a political vendetta.
While the ICC has yet to issue an official statement on the specific charges against her father, the court has been investigating allegations of “crimes against humanity” committed by Duterte since 2018, when he was still in power.
Duterte ran for president in 2016 on a single issue of fighting crime in the Philippines.
During his campaign and later on as president, he repeatedly urged police to “kill” drug suspects, or encouraged suspects to fight back to justify their own deadly shootings.
According to police records, more than 7,000 people were killed in official antidrug operations during his six years in office.
In the hours after Duterte’s arrest, family members and supporters of people killed during Duterte’s presidency held a candlelit vigil in Quezon City.
Their protest signs called for justice for victims of the ex-president’s so-called war on drugs, anti-terror laws and martial law in Mindanao.
Just because someone is open to advice doesn’t mean they’ll like what they hear.
What would you do if a friend complained about their relationship and asked for your unfiltered opinion? Would you tell them what they wanted to hear? Or would you be brutally honest, even if it risked upsetting them?
In the following story, one woman finds herself in this exact dilemma with her friend. Here’s what’s going on.
I 32F have been with my husband 29M Jay for 3 years. We have a daughter Annie 1F.
For Mother’s Day, Jay booked me a weekend trip to spend with my sisters and Mom, and he took Annie to visit my MIL.
Jay was really thoughtful and booked us all a spa weekend.
I posted a selfie of me, my mom, and my sisters thanking Jay for organising this surprise on my Instagram.
Her friend saw the Instagram post.
I went to lunch with my friend Sara, 31F, who is 4 months pregnant.
She asked me about my weekend and mentioned she saw my Instagram story.
I told her about it and then asked her about her Mother’s Day.
She offered Sara some advice.
She started complaining that her husband Dan didn’t even offer to look over their 2-year-old daughter while she cleaned on Sunday.
I sympathised until she made a comment about how I would never understand as Jay is so nice and then said maybe she should have been a cougar like me.
I told her that her comment was unfair, and then I asked if she wanted advice, which she agreed to.
I told her that if she was really that upset over how Dan treated her, she wouldn’t have gotten pregnant a second time and instead demanded that Dan treat her better.
She didn’t compromise on what she was looking for in a husband.
Sara has been friends with me since before I dated Jay.
She saw me date guys who didn’t treat me as well, and I told her that.
I said I set expectations, and that is how I got a husband who treated me well and taught me not to lower my standards.
Now, she’s involving other people.
She is now going around to our mutual friends, saying I insulted her husband.
I will admit I got upset at her comments and I maybe could have phrased it more delicately, but she asked for my advice, and I gave it.
I don’t know how else I could have said it.
Sara knows I have a more honest approach when it comes to advice, as she has asked for my help in the past, but maybe I took it too far, and it came off as snobbish, and should apologize.
AITA?
Eek! In this case, she may have been better off not getting involved.
Let’s see what the readers over at Reddit have to say about it.
The supermarket has launched a fund to help parents with the financial impact of having a child, which nearly two-thirds say was bigger than expected.
The Mamia New Parent Fund will give away £100 Aldi vouchers to parents every week for a year.
Research among new parents found half describe having a child as overwhelming, with nearly the same proportion saying their stress levels increased due to the added financial pressure.
Aldi will give away a £100 voucher to someone each week (Image: Aldi) The most surprising expenses for new parents were the recurring purchases of nappies and baby food, with total monthly expenses increasing by £225 on average.
Julie Ashfield, chief commercial officer at Aldi UK, said: “No parent ever forgets the joy of welcoming a new child, but it often also brings unexpected financial challenges.
“Even after the big-ticket purchases before the baby arrives, there are suddenly lots of new items to add to your weekly grocery list for the first time.
Aldi has launched the Mamia New Parent Fund (Image: Aldi) “As the UK’s cheapest supermarket, we’re committed to doing whatever we can to support parents in making their money go further, including through our award-winning Mamia brand.
“Our Mamia New Parent Fund is just another way that we’re supporting parents in Oxfordshire to help them better enjoy every moment with their new arrival.”
New parents who want to apply for Aldi’s Mamia New Parent Fund can email mamiaparentfund@aldi.co.uk with a receipt showing their latest Mamia nappy purchase.
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The Father of Make Believe is the latest instalment in the cinematic fantasy world that Coheed and Cambria have meticulously crafted over the last 30 years. It’s openly more personal in nature than previous albums but The Amory Wars storyline and Sci-Fi emo prog rock atmosphere that the band are known for are still as present.
The catchy, anthemic tracks that are scattered amongst both the delicate and spacey, and the heavier prog metal that make up the rest of the album, are some of the strongest moments. “Goodbye, Sunshine” and “One Last Miracle” in particular stand out as highlights, their upbeat, singalong melodies impossible not to imagine on future setlists.
As ever with Coheed and Cambria, there is a tenderness and certain romance weaved throughout the album. Sweet ballad “Meri of Merci” continues the story of previous characters based on the grandparents of singer Claudio Sanchez, Sirius and Meri Amory. Sanchez’ vocals shine with the delicacy in which he sings their story, and the emotion is palpable. “Corner My Confidence” is filled with the same sweetness and poetry, a style that it would feel neglectful for the band to have missed from this album. Much like Good Apollo, I’m Burning Star IV, Volume One’s “Wake Up”, the simplicity of these tracks is only made more precious by the powerful and energetic songs that surround them.
The Father Of Make Believe is a display of everything that Coheed and Cambria are known and loved for, it draws listeners back into the created universe that they have come to care about but with more openness from Sanchez than ever before. It provides an imaginative escape, just like art should.
Indonesian authorities have rescued a critically endangered baby Sumatran elephant after it became separated from its mother at a palm-oil plantation.
Sumatran elephants are on the brink of extinction with only about 2,400 to 2,800 left in the world, according to the global conservation body, WWF.
The two-month-old male calf was found at an oil-palm plantation in Riau province on the western island of Sumatra on Monday after residents alerted authorities, local conservation agency official Ujang Holisudin said.
“We suspect this elephant was left behind by his group or his mother,” Ujang said, adding that the calf was alone when authorities found him.
A rescued wild Sumatran elephant calf is cared for by a member of staff at the Minas Elephant Training Centre in Riau province on Tuesday. Photo: AFP
The baby elephant was found in good health after medical checks and brought to the conservation agency’s elephant training centre near the provincial capital Pekanbaru, he said.
“We were completely unaware of what this meant for Rudi and we were thrown into a world of unknowns.”
Sarah Parker with her son Rudi(Image: Alasdair MacLeod/Ayrshire Post)
Dedicated Mauchline parents have launched a campaign to help their six-year-old son reach his dreams of walking.
Rudi was diagnosed with hypotonia and global developmental delay but the cause of the conditions has baffled doctors, his parents say.
Sarah, 45, and Robert Parker, 54, aim to raise £30,000 for rare treatments after striving to improve Rudi’s mobility and overall development in recent years
Rudi was born a healthy baby at full term with no problems but as the months went on he didn‘t meet expected developmental milestones, making his parents feel increasingly worried.
After several visits to doctors, referrals and investigations, Sarah and Robert were advised that Rudi had central hypotonia, a condition that causes low muscle tone in the brain, brainstem, or cervical spinal junction.
Sarah said: “We were completely unaware of what this meant for Rudi and we were thrown into a world of unknowns.
Sarah and her husband are hoping to fundraise £30k to help with treatments and therapies(Image: Alasdair MacLeod/Ayrshire Post)
“As the months passed and the appointments with every type of medical professional seemed never ending, Rudi continued to have delays in various areas and we began to learn how low muscle tone was affecting every aspect of his development from gross motor development to eyesight to oral skills.”
Rudi’s parents are delighted with the progress they see as a result of the therapies(Image: Alasdair MacLeod/Ayrshire Post)
Sarah added: “Rudi has hypotonia and global developmental delay but has baffled doctors with no known cause or diagnosis for these symptoms and the difficulties he faces.
“Our little man can’t yet walk, talk or do much for himself but he is the happiest, brightest, cheekiest wee boy who loves everything that other 6-year-olds do.”
With limited public sector support, Sarah and Robert decided to research what treatments were available outwith the NHS and across the world to help Rudi.
They found a specialised physical therapy called Cuevas Medek Exercise (CME) originating in South America that was producing much better outcomes for children than conventional physiotherapy and is said to be the 20th century treatment for children with motor problems.
The family have travelled to London to access this with the only UK based therapist being in England.
Rudi doing the CME therapy
Sarah said: “This different approach has been a godsend for our little boy and we have seen so much progress with Rudi now able to sit, stand with minimal support and take steps with very little help. Unfortunately there is only one therapist trained in this technique in the UK which we regularly travel to see in London and also went to Romania last year for two weeks treatment from a specialist.”
Sarah continued: “My husband and I are delighted with the progress we have already seen Rudi make as a result of the therapies. Rudi needs to work really hard for the things we all take for granted but he is a determined wee boy who wants to be mobile and independent.
“All of these improvements in Rudi’s mobility have also had added benefits for his communication and cognitive abilities, he is a clever wee boy who knows his own mind and understands much more than he gets credit for.
Rudi with his aunt Anne at the Christmas raffle
“These therapies have been vital for Rudi and really given him a lifeline and hope for the future to lead a life with as much independence as possible. We are under no doubt that without this input Rudi would not have progressed to the stage he has.”
This June, Rudi is also going to the world renowned Napa Centre, recently opened in London, for three weeks.
However, Sarah and Robert say they’ve found it challenging accessing therapies, with each session costing around £130 per hour.
With every trip to other parts of the UK or Europe, there are associated costs not only for therapy itself but the travel and accommodation involved.
Sarah and Rudi with Betty McDonald, Diane Glass and Isabella Douglas who organised event at Heathfield Community Centre
Sarah and Robert also need a lot of time off work and use all of their holiday leave to travel with Rudi to intensive treatment sessions as well as taking unpaid leave when necessary which adds to the financial burden.
To help with the cost of these treatments, Rudi’s parents decided to start a fundraiser last year.
The family have already raised over £15,000 and hope to reach their goal of £30,000 with the help from the community.
Sarah said: “We are trying to raise £30,000 to help cover these costs for the foreseeable and we are over half way there with the support of people across Ayrshire and beyond.”
To help with the fundraiser, Sarah’s sister Anne Murray Brown who is a line dancer, decided to organise a fundraising raffle at her Christmas social event.
Sarah spoke about Rudi’s story at the event and hearing about his journey, others within the line dance community decided that they wanted to help too.
Anne raised £700 at her Christmas raffle and following on from this there has been three events since last month organised by line dancing community.
One of the events took place on February 23 at Troon Concert Hall
The second event was organised by line dancers Betty McDonald, Diane Glass and Isabella Douglas on February 16 at Heathfield Community Centre where a total of £1,500 was raised.
Wendy Allan, who runs a group called West Coast Country Liners, organised another event to fundraise funds for Rudi on February 23 at Troon Concert Hall where over £700 was raised.
Last Sunday, on March 2, the latest event was organised by Lee Hamilton, a world champion dancer and teacher, with help from Karen Rennie. The event took place at Troon Concert Hall once again, where over £800 was raised.
Sarah said: “We have recently had a lot of support from the line dancing network across Ayrshire with over £3,700 raised so far.
“We are extremely grateful for the kindness of so many and this community of dancers have been amazing with many of them telling me that Rudi’s story has touched their hearts.
Karen Rennie, Rudi and Sarah Parker, Lee Hamilton and Anne Murray Brown at the line dance event in Troon on March 2
“We have loved meeting them and chatting, they are a lovely bunch of people who support each other like a family.”
She added: “It really means the world to us that people are supporting us on this journey and routing for our precious boy to reach his full potential.
“We have had support from lots of people including all of our family, friends and organisations and we are so grateful for all of it.”
To help Sarah and Robert with the fundraiser for their son Rudi, please visit here.
Donald Trump has bought a Tesla in support of the car company he calls “Elon’s baby”.
The White House driveway briefly became a pop-up showroom, with various models on display.
“Will I get in?” he asked the waiting media, before declaring the red Model S “beautiful”.
Image: Mr Musk brought his young son along for the car handover. Pic: Reuters
Tesla stock has lost half its value in three months, its share price tanking to an all-time low this week. The president had urged Americans to buy Tesla in solidarity with Elon Musk, “a great American”.
Federal workers sacked by his Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) were not impressed by the president’s purchase.
“I will never buy a Tesla,” Dr Peter Kerndt told me.
A former employee at USAID Global Health, Dr Kerndt said cuts made in recent weeks would “cost lives”.
Amy, who worked in the environmental agency, told me she became “unaccountably angry every time a Tesla passed by” but expressed it “internally”.
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Protesters target Tesla showroom
Image: Mr Musk’s support of the president and work with DOGE has angered some. Pic: Reuters
The Tesla brand has become the focal point for protest over Musk’s role in cutting government spending.
What began with bumper stickers declaring “I bought this before Elon went crazy” has descended into violence on forecourts at charging stations.
But with the president of the United States now acting as a salesman, there’s still a steady flow of customers.
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At one dealership in Virginia, a woman told me she’d recently been in an accident and safety was her priority.
“I’m a federal employee myself but need to separate the fact that as a vehicle, the car just makes sense,” she said.
There is much debate about who is in the driving seat – the US president or CEO of Tesla? But for now at least, the relationship between them seems as invincible as a Cybertruck.
A father has been found guilty of the manslaughter and criminal neglect of his 21-day-old son, who sustained injuries consistent with a high-impact car crash.
Warning: This story contains content which may be distressing to some readers.
Ashley John McGregor, 35, stood trial in South Australia’s District Court earlier this year after being charged over his son’s death in April 2021.
During the trial, a police interview with McGregor was played to the court in which a police officer described the injuries suffered by baby Alvin as being consistent with him being “violently shaken”.
“It’s very similar to what you’d expect … in a high-impact car crash,” he said.
McGregor will appear again in court next month for sentencing submissions.
During the trial, prosecutor Michael Foundas told the court Alvin arrived at the Noarlunga Hospital unresponsive on April 23, 2021 — about 40 hours after he was allegedly injured at the family’s Christie Downs home.
He said the autopsy revealed the baby had suffered “a number of significant injuries”, including rib fractures, bruising to the back, brain and two separate scalp bruises, as well as a detached retina.
