Category: News

Jamie Redknapp has shared his father Harry’s reaction to his decision to have another son back in 2021, at the age of 49, with his wife Frida.

Speaking to The Times, the former footballer revealed that his father’s response to the announcement was abrupt.

“Are you sure? People will think you’re a grandad,” the I’m A Celebrity winner told his son.

On the challenge of having another child after a long time, Jamie told the publication: “Even with six children between us, we’d forgotten so much. But he’s so much fun.”

The football pundit also spoke about the experience of bringing a newborn into a large blended family.

He said: “It’s never easy when you’re blending the family and all of a sudden another one comes in. You’ve got to be very aware of everyone’s feelings, but the kids love Rapha. I describe him as the glue that brings us all together.”

Jamie continued: “I mean, it’s never going to be perfect: you’ve got lots of personalities all mixed together. But everyone gets on. Whether you’ve got a family that’s blended or not, there are still arguments.”

The 51-year-old concluded: “There’s always competition, but as long as it’s healthy, that’s fine. And for Frida and me to have our own child was just lovely. Family is everything to us.”

Jamie and Frida live in a blended family with their seven children. Jamie shares two sons, Charley, 18, and Beau, 14, with his ex-wife, Louise Redknapp. Meanwhile, Frida shares Michael, 17, Amanda, and two younger sons with her ex-partner, American hedge fund manager Jonathan Lourie. The couple have one child together: three-year-old Raphael.

Jamie’s mini-me son

In January, the couple escaped to the Maldives with Raphael, and Frida shared a fabulous video of the family on the beach. In it the three-year-old was the spitting image of his father.

Captioning the post, Frida wrote: “Soneva Fushi, a magical place. We loved every second of it @soneva.” 

In the video, Raphael could be seen swimming on a hammock on the beach, as well as flying down a water slide in his dad’s arms. Another moment saw the adorable toddler give his mum a kiss while they sat on the beach.

Fans and friends of the family flooded the comments section with messages.

“Ah, well deserved, lovely family! Xx,” one follower wrote. A second penned: “We love this!! Fabulous reel.” Meanwhile, a third replied, writing: “Wow, lucky you guys! X.”

A time well-spent with your little ones is always the best, right? Ask Serena Williams, a proud mother of two adorable daughters who’s enjoying her motherhood after hanging up her racket back in 2022. Time and again, she’s confessed how much she’s “obsessed” with Olympia and Adira. Especially when it comes to taking them on dinner dates. Remember how last year, in August, she took Olympia for the “NY Date nights” in New York City, alongside husband Alexis Ohanian? Afterwards she treated the 7-year-old visit to a delicious dessert at The Donut Pub. Guess what? The mother-daughter duo went to a dinner date again this week!

The 43-year-old WTA ex-pro took to her Instagram on Friday, sharing moments from a special place. In a string of her IG stories, featuring brief clips and pictures, Williams revealed she tried a ‘Tasting Menu’ at a high-end restaurant. In one of the clips, she Williams informed, “Okay, so we’re at a tasting and we’re going to have lots of fun things to try to decide what to narrow it down to.” Then, taking a sip of champagne, she said, “And most important part of a tasting, obviously. Yes, please.”

As per her own admission, Serena was starving. Sharing about her first course, the mother of two said, “First course is a beautiful salad with pomegranate…” Aren’t you curious to know what they wore for this occasion?

Sharing an adorable picture with Olympia after having dinner, Williams was seen posing in her one-shoulder silk dress, paired with Nike sneakers. And what about the little one? Well, Olympia sported an elegant sleeveless outfit with a cute bow. She was also seen holding a monkey plushie in her hand.

While the food was awesome, Williams did learn an essential dining etiquette from this experience. Reflecting on her newfound information on using utensils, she revealed, “You always want to start from the outside in, which I didn’t know because I was a tennis player and then I learned, okay, just start with the outside and work your way in.”

While this dining moment with Olympia went flawlessly, Williams once had a tough time entering a restaurant. In fact, she was denied the entry alongside her daughters!

When Serena Williams and her family had to go through a major inconvenience in Paris

Last August, Serena Williams expressed her frustration at a Parisian restaurant. The former tennis icon was in Paris for attending the Opening ceremony of the 2024 Olympics. However, when she decided to go for dinner with the family to the rooftop of Paris’ The Peninsula, they were denied an entry.

Lashing out at the luxury hotel’s restaurant, L’Oiseau Blanc (two Michelin star), she wrote on X, “Yikes @peninsulaparis I’ve been denied access to rooftop to eat in a empty restaurant of nicer places but never with my kids. Always a first. #Olympic2024,” adding a melting face and rolling eyes emoji. But what was the cause of this inconvenience?

“In response to Ms Williams’ tweet, for whom we have the utmost admiration and respect, as we do for all our esteemed guests, we reiterate our deepest apologies that we were not able to offer her a table at our rooftop bar when she arrived with her family and without a reservation,” the hotel said in a statement to The Post. “We do always try to make space for walk-in guests but sometimes this is not possible.”

“On August 5th, our rooftop bar was indeed fully booked, and the only unoccupied tables at that time belonged to our gourmet restaurant, L’Oiseau Blanc, which was also fully reserved. As an alternative, Ms Williams was offered an outside table downstairs at the hotel’s La Terrasse Kléber,” the statement concluded, adding that they “have reached out to Ms Williams directly.”

Previously, in a followup post, the hotel issued a public apology writing, “We have always been honored to welcome you and will always be to welcome you again. The Peninsula Paris.” Later, a restaurant employee, named Maxine Mannevy, threw light on the entire situation.

It seems a complicated moment occurred during his absence. “When she came there were only two tables available and they had been reserved by clients of the hotel,” staffer Mannevy explained. “My colleague didn’t recognize her and feels terrible, but he told her what he would have told any other client, which is to wait downstairs in the bar for a table to become available. That was absolutely nothing personal,” she added.

Well, there’s always a first, as Williams herself put it in her post. Have you ever faced a similar issue going to a restaurant like ReRe? Let us know in the comments below.

World Champion D Gukesh dedicated his World Championship win to his parents during the India Today Conclave 2025 on Saturday, March 8. Gukesh defeated Ding Liren to become the World Champion last year and his parents have played a big role in his success. Gukesh’s parents, Rajnikanth and Padmakumari, ensured that their son was able to pursue his dreams.

Rajnikanth gave up his career as an ENT surgeon to accompany the Indian grandmaster to tournaments across the globe while his mother became the sole earner of the family. Speaking at the India Today Conclave 2025, the world champion said he was glad to get the win for his parents. The 18-year-old said his parents didn’t allow him to face the struggles they went through for his career. Gukesh felt that last year was financially good for his family and he is happy his parents can live a comfortable life now.

“I’m really glad that I could do this for my parents. More than the financial aspect, because throughout my career, I think they did not allow me to realise the struggles that they were going through, but they did go through a lot of financial struggles, and I remember like when it was around 2018, 2019, we were basically playing tournaments. Basically, my parents’ friends were sponsoring me to play tournaments abroad, and it was quite difficult at that time and we had a lot of help from very nice people and very selfless people who came forward to help.”

“Now, the last year was financially very, very good for us, and I think it means a lot to me in the sense that my parents need not think about money any more. We can lead a comfortable life, not struggle like before,” said Gukesh.

‘I get recognised more’

Gukesh admitted that a few things have changed in his life since his World Championship win and claimed it was a childhood dream for him. The 18-year-old said that his schedule has gotten a bit hectic now and he is started to get recognised a lot more than before.

“After the World Championship for sure, some things have changed. Because becoming the world champion was like my childhood dream, and to have achieved that was like a very satisfying feeling. The first week or two, I was super excited. I was like celebrating, but then the next tournament started coming up. I started preparing again. But a few things have changed, like my schedule is a bit more hectic now. And yeah, like when I go out, I generally get recognised much more than before, but other than that, nothing, nothing too huge,” said Gukesh.

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play videoJohn Dumelo and his late father who he described as his best friend

It was an emotional moment on the morning of Saturday, March 8, as John Dumelo, Member of Parliament for Ayawaso West-Wuogon, read out a short tribute for his late father.

Being the funeral of his late dad, who he affectionately referred to as ‘Mr D,’ the MP started off by describing the difficulty he had writing his tribute.

“How do I start, but I have to. I think I was the last person to write my tribute because I couldn’t believe you are no longer here with us in flesh,” he said.

And with his voice telling the heaviness of his emotions, John continued: “I’ll try and keep it short because our time spent as father and son would probably require a whole book.

“Mr. D, you were my best friend, my gossip partner and my support system. You raised us to be humble, truthful, and not to be judgmental. Thank you for those attributs.”

John Dumelo’s late father, John William Kudzo Anoto-Dumelo Snr, died at the age of 75.

The MP and former actor made the announcement via a Facebook post in early January 2025, stating, “You has a good life at 75 years old. You contacted me multiple times yesterday asking me to come visit you. We talked extensively about politics, life, farming, business, and of course, gossip while we sat on the bed.”

It is worth noting too that John Dumelo lost his mother in August 2023.

See the video below:

AE

Having to foot the bill for every outing she has with her mother-in-law has left one woman frustrated.

On March 2, she raged about the situation in a post on the UK-based forum Mumsnet writing under the username Starry4321. The woman said she “regularly” goes for lunch and does other activities with her mother-in-law, who never offers to share the expense.

“DH [dearest husband] and I have a 1 year old and money is tighter than it used to be right now, which is why I think this has started to bother me,” the woman wrote. 

“When she stayed this weekend, we did a couple of things, and when the bill arrived she just sat waiting for us to pay without offering her part,” she continued. “We also went to a museum and she again waited for us to pay, despite this being something she suggested.”

The woman said she always ensures there’s food at home to cook when her mother-in-law visits. 

However, inevitably, they will also go out as “everyone wants to go and do something” that involves her child. 

“AIBU [am I being unreasonable] for wishing she would at least offer?” the woman asked of her complaint about splitting expenses.

Responses to the post were divided with many people asking the woman if her husband has made his mom aware that their financial situation has changed since they had a child.

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Several commenters advised the woman to opt for free activities or to see her mother-in-law less if she isn’t willing to discuss money with her.

One person wrote, “Spring is coming. Trips to the playground, to the woods to see bluebells, the park to see the ducks and swans. Take a nice packed lunch and say you will get coffee in a cafe later but you are needing to cut spending. And see if she offers to pick up the tab for a change.”

Another said, “No wonder she likes staying with you, if it’s all expenses paid! In the future, no expensive outings. Go to the park and take a flask of coffee. If she complains, just say that you and OH [other half] are trying to cut back on unnecessary expenditure.”

A third suggested, “I’d just start saying, right that’s $x each and then when the bill comes in a restaurant, and just pay your own entry to museums etc. She’s rude to expect you to pay.”

The mealtime negotiation struggle

A survey of 2,000 parents with school-aged kids sheds light on just how often food-related standoffs unfold at home. On average, parents negotiate with their children about meals five times a week, with dinner proving to be the most challenging battleground.

The study, conducted by Talker Research for SeaPak, found that age 5 is the peak of picky eating, a reality many kindergarten parents know all too well. Nearly half of parents (44 percent) worry that their child’s selective eating habits could be affecting their overall nutrition, a valid concern since childhood eating patterns often shape long-term dietary habits.

What triggers picky eating?

Vegetables are the top trigger for mealtime meltdowns, with 37 percent of parents saying their child refuses them outright. Sensory objections follow, with 33 percent rejecting food based on smell and 32% disliking its appearance. Spiciness (22 percent), texture issues (18 percent), and a refusal to try new foods (14 percent) also fuel dinner table battles.

These picky eating habits make it tough for parents to ensure proper nutrition. “It’s a common struggle,” says lifestyle expert Meaghan Murphy for SeaPak. “But with a little creativity, introducing new flavours in familiar dishes can help kids expand their palates without stress.”

Creative solutions for healthier eating

Instead of turning mealtime into a battle, many parents are finding creative ways to encourage their kids to eat better. A survey revealed that 36 percent of parents involve their children in meal prep, making them active participants rather than reluctant diners. Others take a slow and steady approach, 34 percent introduce new foods gradually, while 31 percent pair them with familiar flavours to ease the transition.

Teaching kids about nutrition (28 percent), creating a stress-free dining environment (26 percent), and modelling healthy eating habits (26 percent) are also popular strategies. Some parents rely on repeated exposure (25 percent), reward systems (19 percent), or fun food presentations (19 percent) to make mealtimes smoother.

When it comes to mealtime wins, some foods are almost guaranteed to get a thumbs-up from kids. Pizza tops the list with a 76 percent approval rate, followed by chicken nuggets (73 percent) and French fries (72 percent). Mac and cheese remain a favourite at 66 percent, while hamburgers satisfy 58 percent of young eaters. Surprisingly, seafood isn’t as off-limits as many might think, shrimp (32 percent) and fish sticks (31percent) are reliable options for many families. Interestingly, picky eating doesn’t always disappear with age. Over one in four adults (26 percent) admit they were selective eaters as kids and still are today.

Shifting the focus to long-term habits

Vegetables are the top cause of mealtime conflict, with 56 percent of parents reporting the most refusals, while proteins face less resistance, with only 17 percent of parents saying they’re an issue. This presents both a challenge and an opportunity for parents. While kids’ acceptance of protein provides a solid nutritional foundation, the rejection of vegetables calls for creative strategies.

The survey shows a shift in approach, parents are moving away from food-related power struggles and focusing more on conversations with their children. Instead of punishing, they’re engaging, allowing food preferences to evolve through positive experiences.

By creating supportive environments for trying new foods, parents help foster healthier, long-term relationships with food that can extend into adulthood. The goal of those 67 hours spent negotiating each year isn’t just to win the immediate battle but to promote lifelong healthy eating habits through creative compromises.

Spoiler Alert: This post contains spoilers from “If You Could Read My Mind,” the Season 3 finale of Hallmark’s “The Way Home,” which streams on Hallmark+ and Peacock.

“The Way Home” kicked off its third season with the abandonment of a mysterious baby, and fans have waited all season to get more information about the enigmatic scene. By the end of the Season 3 finale, we know one key thing about the baby: who he was. It turned out that the cooing infant was Elliot (played by Evan Williams as an adult) as a baby. He was left by the pond by his time-traveling mother,…

In a world filled with joy brought by daughters, a recent study has unveiled an unexpected benefit – fathers with daughters tend to enjoy longer lives compared to those without them.

This revelation prompts a closer examination of the impact of childbirth on fathers’ health and longevity, an area of research that has remained relatively unexplored.

Researchers from Jagiellonian University conducted an extensive study that delved into the effects of childbirth on fathers’ lifespans. The study involved collecting and analysing demographic data from a substantial sample size of over 4,310 individuals, comprising 2,147 mothers and 2,163 fathers.

Child variables: Daughters vs sons

The study scrutinised the number of children, differentiating between daughters and sons, to discern any potential effects on fathers’ longevity. Interestingly, the data revealed that the total number of children or the number of sons had no discernible impact on fathers’ lifespans.

However, a significant correlation was observed between the number of daughters and paternal longevity.

The study’s key finding indicates that fathers with daughters tend to live longer lives, with an intriguing trend emerging – the more daughters a father has, the longer he is likely to live. In fact, the data suggests that for each daughter born, a father’s lifespan extends by an average of “74 weeks.”

While the findings regarding fathers present a positive outlook, the study takes a different turn when considering the impact of children on mothers. According to the research published in the American Journal of Human Biology, both daughters and sons have a detrimental effect on a mother’s health and reduce her overall lifespan. In light of this, it’s worth noting that staying single for longer has recently been associated with increased happiness among women.

In contrast to the specific study mentioned above, another research project suggests that having a child, regardless of gender, can contribute to longer lifespans for both parents. This alternative study, conducted over 14 years, has found that couples with children are more likely to enjoy extended lifespans compared to those who opt to remain childfree.

 

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Ayelet Samerano

(Photo: UN WEB TV)

Samerano also addressed claims that UNRWA had suffered from the deaths of its staff, responding: “Your report, Mr. Rapporteur, speaks of the death of UNRWA staff. Does this include the UNRWA worker who kidnapped my son, Yonatan? Mr. Rapporteur, I ask you. I ask all of the UN.”

UN Watch, a Geneva-based organization that monitors the UN, invited Samerano to speak at the council session. Its executive director, Hillel Neuer, later shared a video of her speech, which quickly gained millions of views.

“The UN should apologize for the fact that many UNRWA employees—including school principals and teachers—were exposed as participants in the October 7 massacre and helped hold hostages in UNRWA facilities and employees’ homes,” Neuer said.

“Instead of being fired and prosecuted, the UN has the audacity to claim that the real victims are UNRWA employees.”

Samerano has been a vocal critic of UNRWA in recent months. In August 2024, she traveled to Switzerland for a UN Watch event attended by UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini. Standing on an improvised stage, she revealed a shirt that read, “UNRWA kidnapped my son,” and confronted Lazzarini directly, asking, “Where is my son, Mr. Lazzarini? Why are you silent?”

In November, she interrupted a UN conference on UNRWA, telling Lazzarini: “You are not human. My life has been destroyed—and you are responsible.”

Samerano continues to fight for the return of her son’s body as negotiations over a possible hostage deal remain uncertain.