Category: News

The online programmes, which are all free, are based on the principles of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, or CBT, and are created by SilverCloud, a leading digital mental health provider.

 

A parent whose child is suffering from anxiety can feel utterly helpless. They are desperate to help them but simply don’t know what to do.  For a parent whose child is on the CAMHS waiting list, the waiting time can feel interminable. If you live in Cork or Kerry, one of the areas in the country with the longest waiting times, it can feel catastrophic. But there is something a parent can do to help their child – and themselves.

ISPCC provides three separate but complimentary Digital Mental Health and Wellbeing programmes, two of which are available to parents/carers of either anxious children or teens while the third is aimed at teenagers experiencing low to moderate levels of anxiety.

ISPCC offers these programmes to all, it isn’t necessary to be on a CAMHS waiting list to avail of them.

For Susan Nicholson, who completed the Supporting an Anxious Child programme after her GP recommended that her daughter Lauren attend CAMHS, the ISPCC programmes were invaluable.

“I wanted to do something that would help our family to support Lauren. The programme encouraged to me to look at the positives, rather than focusing on the effects of her anxiety. Going through the programme, you could see what other parents were going through and you’re able to relate to their challenges. To know that other people are going through is very helpful. As a parent, you’re supposed to know all the answers, and it’s scary.

“Starting the programme was such an easy process. I liked the fact that it was anonymous, nobody knew me and I didn’t have to go to a meeting in person. It was such a personal experience – in a good way. I didn’t feel like I was just another number.

Supporting an Anxious Child and Supporting an Anxious Teen are programmes that will help users to understand anxiety and better support their child or young person. Space from Anxiety is aimed at 15–18-year-olds, and it is designed to empower young people who experience low to moderate anxiety. An adult can refer themselves or their child to the programmes.

The programmes includes interactive tools, activities, mood monitors and journals to encourage users to apply CBT to their own lives. Users have 12 weeks in which to complete the programme under the guidance of a volunteer, known as a supporter, and can avail of an unsupported version of the programme for one year after this time. 

“Chloe [my supporter] was very empathetic,” says Susan. “When you’re in this situation, it’s great when you know someone else cares. I felt as if she cared about Lauren.”

Dee Higgins, an ISPCC volunteer who works on its Digital Mental Health and Wellbeing programmes, believes that the programmes are empowering for users of all ages. “It gives parents and young people a chance to deal with their anxieties before it becomes a huge issue,” she said, adding that “if parents can understand what their child is going through, that’s a huge step.” 

To find out more, go to https://www.ispcc.ie/guided-digital-programmes/

The deaths of three newborn babies could have been avoided if reasonable precautions had been taken, a fatal accident inquiry has concluded.

The inquiry was launched after the deaths of Leo Lamont, Ellie McCormick and Mira-Belle Bosch within hours of their births at two hospitals in North Lanarkshire.

Aisha Anwar KC, sheriff principal of Glasgow and Strathkelvin, issued her determination on Tuesday into the deaths.

She said “reasonable precautions” could have been taken that might “realistically” have saved each baby’s life.

In each case the baby’s mother had been in contact with a hospital in the hours before giving birth, but had been advised to stay at home rather than go in for an assessment.

The report also highlighted “defects in systems of working” in the hospitals, pointing to a lack of guidance for midwives in assessing preterm labour symptoms, and the lack of an “effective means” of flagging pregnant women’s risk on hospital systems.

It also flagged issues with the interpretation of guidance around when to induce labour after a woman’s waters have broken.

Leo

Leo was two hours old when he died at University Hospital Monklands on February 15, 2019.

His mother Nadine Rooney had a history of preterm delivery and had reported episodes of bleeding during her pregnancy.

She was 27 weeks into her pregnancy when she called the Princess Royal Maternity Hospital in Glasgow at 3.17am on February 15 complaining of “agony” in her back.

A midwife advised her to take painkillers and to call back if the pain did not improve, and she gave birth to Leo on her bathroom floor just before 5am.

Mother and child were rushed to University Hospital Monklands but Leo was pronounced dead at 7.10am having suffered from a shortage of oxygen during and shortly after labour.

Ms Anwar found Leo’s death might realistically have been avoided if his mum had been advised to attend the maternity assessment unit for further assessment on February 15 and if she had acted upon that advice.

Dr Claire Harrow, deputy medical director for acute services at NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (NHSGGC), said: “We would like to extend our sincerest condolences to the family of Leo Lamont, and once again to apologise for the distress they have experienced.

“The care Leo and his mother received fell below the standards expected and for this, we are very sorry.

“We have received the findings from the FAI. A number of the recommendations for NHSGGC have already been implemented, including preterm guidelines and improvements to electronic record keeping. Others are in progress and should be fully implemented by early summer.”

A statement issued on behalf of Leo’s family said: “Leo’s family are grateful to Sheriff Principal Anwar for the sensitive manner in which she conducted the inquiry and for her careful consideration of the evidence.

“The family hope that lessons are leant from the tragedy of the deaths of Leo, Ellie and Mira-Belle, for the safety of other families in the future.

“Leo’s family have been through an extraordinarily difficult ordeal and would be grateful for privacy to allow them to attain closure and focus on their family.”

Ellie

Ellie’s mother Nicola had also reported episodes of bleeding during her pregnancy, but her observations had been considered normal.

She called the maternity unit at about 4.30pm on March 4, 2019, to report that she was experiencing contractions, and was advised to take painkillers and have a bath or shower, and to call back if she was “not coping”.

When she called again at about 7.30pm she was advised to go in, and her baby’s heartbeat was found to be slow so medics carried out an emergency caesarean section.

After being delivered Ellie was in “poor condition and there were no signs of life”, and she was pronounced dead at 2.20am having suffered a brain injury due to a lack of oxygen during labour.

Ms Anwar found Ellie’s death might realistically have been avoided if her mother had been advised of the need for induction at or before 40 weeks gestation when she attended for assessment on February 13 and if she had acted upon that advice; or if she had been advised to attend Wishaw General Hospital for assessment following her call to the maternity triage unit at 4.29pm hours on March 4, 2019 and if she had acted upon that advice.

A statement issued on behalf of Ellie’s family said: “Over six years ago, the McCormick family lost their baby daughter Ellie in what has proven to be very avoidable circumstances. The determination marks the end of what has been a very lengthy process in the pursuit of answers and accountability. The family could simply never have imagined the scale of both the individual and systems failures that came to light during the Inquiry.

“What seemed to be flaws with the electronic system of record keeping actually turned out to be a catalogue of errors with numerous opportunities to avoid the tragic outcome that followed. The determination sets out in considerable detail all of the failures that contributed to Ellie’s death.

“The family is grateful for the careful and considered analysis of the court and for the sensitive way in which the Inquiry was conducted. At no point did they feel that Ellie, Leo or Mira-Belle had been forgotten about and the family again wish to express their condolences to the other families involved.  

“It was extremely difficult for the family to hear the evidence and reading the determination is bittersweet in terms of achieving some sense of closure but also learning once again how different things ought to have been.

“As the court commented at the outset, the death of any child is an extremely painful event and the family can only hope that all of the recommendations will be implemented in full and as a matter of priority. The family has an expectation that all of the Health Boards across Scotland will take the recommendations very seriously to ensure all possible lessons have been learned and that such tragic events are avoided in the future.

“The family would again ask for time to consider the lengthy determination in private and do not wish to make any further comment at this stage.”

Mira-Belle

According to the report, Mira-Belle’s mother Rozelle’s pregnancy had gone smoothly.

She called the maternity ward at Wishaw General Hospital at about 8.50pm on June 30 2021, reporting that her waters had broken and she was experiencing contractions.

She went in for an assessment but was discharged, and called the unit again at about 2.30pm on July 1 and was advised to remain at home.

About eight hours later, her partner called for an ambulance reporting that the baby was being born feet-first.

When paramedics arrived they tried phoning the maternity unit for advice, and had to call five times before they could get through.

After they attempted to deliver the baby in situ Mrs Bosch was rushed to hospital, where Mira-Belle was delivered but found to be unresponsive.

She was pronounced dead at 12.30pm on July 2, having suffered a brain injury due to a lack of oxygen.

Ms Anwar found Mira-Belle’s death might realistically have been avoided if her mother had been advised to attend Wishaw General Hospital for induction approximately 24 hours after her waters had broken and if
she had accepted that advice.

She said it might also have been avoided if she had been offered the option of admission to Wishaw General Hospital on 30 June, 2021 to await induction of labour when possible and she had chosen that option.

Recommendations

In her report Ms Anwar offered condolences to the bereaved parents, who she said had given evidence “with great dignity” during the inquiry.

“The death of a child is an unimaginable and deeply painful event in any parent’s life; one from which it is undoubtedly difficult to recover,” she said.

“What ought to have been a time of celebration for the parents and families who awaited the births of Leo, Ellie and Mira-Belle turned to one of sorrow and tragedy.”

The report makes 11 recommendations, including the drawing-up of a “trigger list” for identifying preterm labour symptoms, and the introduction of a dedicated telephone line to give ambulance service staff direct access to maternity units.

It also recommends that women are given an “approximate timeframe” in which to call back when told to see if symptoms improve after taking painkillers, as well as recommending improvements in the way information is recorded on hospital systems.

‘Sincerely regret the pain and distress these families have experienced’

Trudi Marshall, executive nurse director at NHS Lanarkshire, said: “We extend our deepest sympathies to the families of Leo Lamont, Ellie McCormick and Mira-Belle Bosch.

“We sincerely regret the pain and distress these families have experienced and we recognise their strength and bravery in sharing their experiences during the Fatal Accident Inquiry (FAI).

“We acknowledge the findings of the FAI which we will carefully consider to ensure that the lessons learned are fully acted upon.

“Following the reviews we carried out into these tragic events, we have already put in place a range of actions that align with the Sheriff Principal’s recommendations for NHS Lanarkshire and maternity units in Scotland.”

Procurator Fiscal Andy Shanks, who leads on fatalities investigations for the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service, said:  “The tragic deaths of Leo, Ellie and Mira-Belle have been an overwhelming loss for their families and they have my deepest sympathy for all they have suffered.   

“I hope that these proceedings provided the families with the answers they sought, and the sheriff principal’s determination, which is extensive and detailed, helps to prevent similar deaths in the future.”  

Filmmaker Ayan Mukerji’s father, Deb Mukherjee, passed away on March 14, 2025. Ayan’s father was 83 and he died due to age-related health issues. A prayer meet was held in Mumbai today and several Bollywood celebrities attended the same. Ranbir Kapoor, who is very good friends with Ayan, was there to be by his side during the tough times. Also Read – Not Ranbir Kapoor, MS Dhoni in Animal by Sandeep Reddy Vanga? Netizens react, ‘Absolute…’

Along with Ranbir Kapoor, Vicky Kaushal was also spotted on his way to attend Deb Mukherjee’s prayer meet. A lot of paparazzi were present outside the premises to take the photos. In a video, the Rockstar actor requests the media to maintain distance and rolls up his car window as he enters the premises. Also Read – Neither Shah Rukh Khan’s nor Ranbir Kapoor’s blockbusters, THIS is Bollywood’s craziest…, holds the world record of…

Check out the video below:

Coming to Ranbir Kapoor and Ayan Mukerji’s bond, they have worked together in three films so far—Wake Up Sid, Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani and Brahmastra Part One: Shiva. Their last collaboration was Brahmastra, which was released in 2022 and also starred Alia Bhatt. Also Read – Kareena Kapoor, Ranbir Kapoor or Alia Bhatt: Which Kapoor family member outshines all with net worth of whopping Rs 550 crore?

Recently, during Alia Bhatt’s birthday event, Ranbir confirmed that Brahmastra 2 is in development. Kapoor shared, “Brahmastra 2 is something that Ayan has been nurturing as a dream for a very long time. He is currently working on War 2. Once this releases, he will start pre-production of Brahmastra 2. It is definitely happening. We haven’t really announced much of it, but then some really interesting announcements (will be made soon) regarding Brahmastra 2.”

Stay tuned to BollywoodLife for the latest scoops and updates from Bollywood, Hollywood, South, TV and Web-Series.

IT’S Mother’s Day on 30 March, so treat your mum to a helping of me-time.

If she’s a fan of a relaxing bath (and who isn’t?!) she’ll love Kloris Soothing CBD Bath Salts — they’re chock-full of natural ingredients designed to relieve tension and ease aches.

I had the tough job of testing them out.

Kloris Soothing CBD Bath Salts, £24 (plus free travel-size CBD Balm worth £12)

They contain a blend of CBD for pain relief and magnesium for tired muscles, together with essential oils, including geranium, lavender and patchouli — heavenly!

Simply sprinkle them into the bath while it’s running, then sink in and soak up the aroma as the ingredients work their magic.

Right now you’ll also receive a free travel-size CBD balm worth £12 with your order.

I’m a big fan of natural beauty and skincare products so I couldn’t wait to try these out.

Pros:

• Relaxing after a heavy day
• Contains two kinds of magnesium plus CBD
• They smell gorgeous

Cons:

• The herbal fragrance may be too strong for some people
• There’s only enough for up to five baths

Rating: 7.5/10

How I tested the Kloris Soothing CBD Bath Salts

Though I’m more of a shower girl, I do enjoy a bath now and again.

The Kloris CBD Bath Salts gave me the perfect opportunity to remember this and luxuriate in deliciously hot water, rather than my usual jumping in and out of the shower as quickly as possible.

I first used the salts after a particularly trying day and was glad I did.

Since then I’ve used them a couple more times and have enough left in the packet for two more baths.

Kloris Soothing CBD Bath Salts review: Quickfire Q&A

Kloris Soothing CBD Bath Salts, £24 (plus free travel-size CBD Balm worth £12)

How much are Kloris Soothing CBD Bath Salts? The bath salts cost £24 for 500g. Kloris is currently running a promotion wherein you’ll also receive a free travel-size CBD balm worth £12.

Who are they best for? Anybody who enjoys relaxing in a hot bath, especially if suffering from aches after a long day.

What we loved: How relaxed I felt afterwards and the fragrance, which lingered in the bathroom for ages.

What we didn’t: They’re a little expensive and there’s only enough in the pack for four or five baths.

Kloris Soothing CBD Bath Salts, £24 (plus free travel-size CBD Balm worth £12)

Kloris Soothing CBD Bath Salts review: The Nitty Gritty

First impressions

Kloris Soothing CBD Bath Salts, £24 (plus free travel-size CBD Balm worth £12)

Kloris’ bath salts are contained in artisanal brown paper packaging, adding to the natural feel of the product — they feel like something from an apothecary.

It’s quite a weighty packet for its size and is resealable with a press-n-seal fastening.

I love the fragrance – patchouli is one of my favourite scents, while lavender always smells calming and vaguely nostalgic to me.

The salts also contain geranium, ylang-ylang and blood orange, which contribute to the generally relaxing effect.

There’s nothing subtle about these bath salts, though; if you’re not a fan of strong herbal aromas, they may prove too much for your poor nose to cope with.

I personally loved it, and quite happily drifted off in the hot water. It made a delightful change to just be there, to lie back with nothing to do, no rushing — just chilling.

Is there any better gift to mum than that?

It made a delightful change to just be there, to lie back with nothing to do, no rushing — just chilling.

Do they deliver?

The first time I used these was after an emotional day so I was ready to just switch off.

It had been a while since I had treated myself to a bath and I’d forgotten how relaxing it could be. Usually, I’m in a rush and opt for a shower instead.

As the bath filled, I poured the recommended amount of bath salts into the running water and was immediately enveloped by the fragrance.

It’s a heady, herbal aroma that quickly filled not just the bathroom but all of the upstairs. I was A-OK with this but it is very strong and won’t be to everyone’s liking.

The bathwater takes on a milky appearance and a silky, soft texture once the salts have dissolved.

Kloris recommends you soak for at least 20 minutes to reap the full benefit of the ingredients.

Kloris Soothing CBD Bath Salts, £24 (plus free travel-size CBD Balm worth £12)

If you use 100g of bath salts per bath that means you’re getting around 240mg of CBD each time.

In addition, you’re also absorbing two forms of magnesium – magnesium sulphate (more commonly known as Epsom Salt) and magnesium chloride.

Both forms of magnesium included, plus the CBD, help ease aching muscles. Achy joints from a gym session or running, or even walking the dogs for hours, are soothed and tired muscles are relaxed.

Though you can use these bath salts at any time, I would suggest saving them for the evening, or at least a lazy afternoon where you have nothing else planned, because you won’t feel like doing anything energetic afterwards.

I would suggest saving them for the evening, or at least a lazy afternoon where you have nothing else planned, because you won’t feel like doing anything energetic afterwards.

They’re also helpful if you’re feeling anxious or stressed as not only are CBD and magnesium calming, but the simple act of being in a warm bath is in itself relaxing.

Epsom Salts (magnesium sulphate) have been used for hundreds of years and people swear by them for relieving muscle soreness, or for ensuring a good night’s sleep.

The mineral is also said to reduce inflammation and soothe itchy skin.

I felt very chilled after bathing in the Kloris bath salts; I’m glad to say there’s no greasiness to them and I felt no residue left on my skin.

They don’t leave the bath slippy so there’s no extra fall risk getting out of the tub, which means they would be great for grans as well as mums this Mother’s Day.

Kloris Soothing CBD Bath Salts, £24 (plus free travel-size CBD Balm worth £12)

How much are Kloris Soothing CBD Bath Salts?

Kloris Soothing CBD Bath Salts cost £24 for 500g.

The pack contains enough product for five baths if you use 100g each time, or four if you use 150g per bath.

Kloris recommends using 100g to 150g per session, which is equal to one or two handfuls of the salts, depending on personal taste.

Where to buy Kloris Soothing CBD Bath Salts

You can purchase the bath salts from the Kloris website, but they’re also sold though several other retailers.

We found them online at:

For more Mother’s Day inspiration check out our Shopping Beauty hub.

Abby Govindan first went viral in 2018 at age 20 by garnering a huge following on X through relatable takes on being a first-gen American. Thousands retweeted her jokes about being the daughter of immigrant parents and she seemed prime for stardom.

But her social media presence offered few clues about her internal struggles, and two years later, she was hospitalized after trying to take her own life.

And now she’s telling her tale at SoHo Playhouse in an 80-minute solo-act and stand-up show titled “How to Embarrass Your Immigrant Parents.”

“The show is the story of how I told my parents I wanted to be a stand-up comedian, how our relationship fell apart because of it and how we built our relationship back up together after my brief stint in a mental hospital following a suicide attempt,” she said while sitting beside her mother in the theater’s basement bar.

Govindan partnered with comedians Hasan Minhaj and Daniel Sloss, who are producing the off-Broadway show, to bring it to New York after a sold-out nationwide run in cities including Boston and Seattle. Govindan, the child of Indian immigrants, grew up in Houston but lives in New York. She has won rave reviews here and abroad for her candid reflections on navigating family drama, cultural identity, internet fame and mental health challenges.

Govindan said that being emotionally open wasn’t the norm in South Asian households. She said that her dad, for instance, is not verbally affectionate, and she always felt like they were speaking different languages.

“My dad has never in his life said the words ‘I love you’ to me,” she said.

But Govindan said her story is about learning how to “extend empathy” and how to understand each other a little better.

“We’re finding ways to communicate,” she said. “Every single time I come to Houston, he buys these little tangerines, because he knows it’s my favorite fruit.”

It wasn’t easy for Govindan to break through such deep-rooted “conditioning” and reconnect with her family. But she knew that openness, honesty and humor was the key to challenging norms, she said.

‘We’re messy, complicated people and that makes beautiful art.’

Minhaj also said that laughter creates connection. The comedy icon said he started supporting Govindan because he knew how financially stressful producing solo work can be. He was also excited by comedy’s potential to unite different generations and allow them to see new perspectives.

“It’s been great to see the rise of a multitude of different comedians with different voices,” he said in an email. “We’re messy, complicated people and that makes beautiful art.”

Minhaj is also the child of immigrant parents: He was born in Northern California to Muslim Indian parents. He said that he was glad to see new South Asian American voices in comedy.

“It’s important that we add our chapter to the book of American storytelling and stand-up comedy,” Minhaj said by email. “No one is going to do it for us, so we have to be the editors and framers of our experience.”

Govindan, now 27, isn’t shy about her life in her new show, in which she shares details of her struggles — internet trolls telling her to end her life, her parents’ disapproval and her previously undiagnosed bipolar disorder.

She said her parents, who are private people and “grew up in a different cultural climate,” originally hated her openness. She exposed their family group chat online and opened up about their arguments. In the years since, however, they’ve tried to meet her in the middle.

For years, Govindan said she saw her mother and father as “evil immigrant parents who are out to destroy my dreams.” They couldn’t understand why their daughter didn’t want to pursue something more financially stable, like finance or medicine. Her internet presence eroded their relationship, and they struggled to see eye to eye.

“The time she was in the hospital was very traumatic for me,” said the comic’s mom, Kalyani Govindan. Kalyani Govindan also wrestled with the idea of her daughter returning to comedy and the public eye.

Through patience, they’ve found common ground. “That’s her calling,” Kalyani Govindan said. “Who am I to stop her from doing it?”

“My decision to tell this story was a lot of me telling my parents, ‘Trust me. I know that in the past, me sharing in a humongous way didn’t bode well for us,” Abby Govindan said. “But trust me, this time around.’”

Today, her shows attract what she describes as a “cult following” of young adults and their parents, many of whom line up to speak with her afterward. Abby Govindan said it’s exhausting, but also an honor to be a “torchbearer” for conversations that destigmatize mental illness in the South Asian community.

Confronting these sensitive subjects makes both the younger generation and their immigrant parents feel less alone, she said. Most of her peers relate to her family problems. Parents, on the other hand, have come up to Govindan to share that hearing her story made them realize that nothing is more important than their child’s happiness.

A trailblazer

Govindan doesn’t consider herself a trailblazer, but her fans certainly do.

“The fact that she’s sticking true to her creative side and to her passion — it’s a testament to everything that can be possible in the community,” said Raza Rahman, 27, who’s seeing Govindan’s show this week.

Another fan, comedian Aneri Shah, 37, discovered Govindan through social media. Shah got her own start performing stand-up in New York’s comedy scene years before internet celebrities were common.

“Ten years ago, there were not very many South Asian comics, and there were not as many Abbys,” she said. “I remember feeling kind of lonely sometimes. At most of my shows I was the only woman, and definitely the only South Asian woman.”

Thanks to social media, Shah said, the tide is turning. She has access to more female and South Asian comics, which she finds motivating.

“I think South Asian women specifically are really uncomfortable with vulnerability,” she said, adding that for years she felt judgement from all sides for opening up about her personal life — including writing skits about her abortion or sex life. Today, comedians like Govindan are finally normalizing private topics. “Now there’s this opportunity to remind them that it’s OK.”

Comedian Pooja Reddy has loved seeing Govindan’s sets over the years. Her own comedy show, “Kutti Gang,” translates to “b—- squad” in Hindi, she said. She said their work presents an unfiltered (and, she added, sometimes “unhinged”) peek into South Asian communities.

Shayoni Mitra, a Barnard professor whose research includes contemporary South Asian media, said social media is rapidly changing the comedy landscape. But while it “flattens the hierarchy” comedians often face, it also reduces the “expertise” and “cultural sensitivity” found in traditional criticism, leading to the kind of cyberbullying that Govindan faced.

Mitra, who’s also attending this week’s show, also recognizes the power in this “real generational shift” thanks to social media, and how it’s allowing more young people to confront and even reshape cultural stereotypes.

Govindan takes a simpler approach.

“Stay true to yourself,” she said. “In my experience, that’s the best marketing tactic.”

“How to Embarrass Your Immigrant Parents” is on from March 19 through March 22 at the SoHo Playhouse. Tickets start at around $52.

New York and New Jersey have resources for anyone experiencing mental health crises, including those considering suicide. You can reach the National Suicide & Crisis Lifeline any time by calling or texting 988, or by chatting online, to be connected for free local mental health resources and emergency counselors. Health officials advise anyone observing warning signs of suicidal ideation to call for help or take the person to an emergency room for immediate care.

Kosovo’s Justice Minister and Albania’s Prime Minister slated the decision not to allow former Kosovo President Hashim Thaci to attend his father’s funeral on Tuesday as “shameful”.

Kosovo’s former President, Hashim Thaci, currently in detention at the Kosovo Specialist Chambers in The Hague, was not permitted to attend the funeral in Kosovo on Tuesday of his father, who died just days after Thaci was granted a visit by the court.

Luka Misetic, Thaci’s lawyer, wrote on X on Tuesday that “Thaci will not be attending today’s funeral” even though “a request was made by Mr Thaci yesterday [on Monday] before 2pm to attend today’s funeral”.

Thaci is on trial for war crimes and crimes against humanity. He is also awaiting trial for obstruction of justice and tampering with witnesses in his ongoing case,

Haxhi Thaci, the father of the former president, was buried on Tuesday in the village of Buroje in Skenderaj/Srbica. Hashim Thaci’s son, Endrit, said at the funeral that his “grandfather never gave up in the face of illness.

Referring to Hashim Thaci’s final visit, he said his grandfather “waited every hour for the hospital door to open for him, he did not give up and came back to life several times. Three hours of conversation that day – they spent a lifetime, both father and son. Both sought freedom, liberation.”

Hashim Thaci visited his father at the University Clinical Centre of Kosovo on Thursday last week.

The Kosovo Specialist Chambers’ spokesperson, Michael Doyle, told BIRN at the time that the court had “instructed the Registry to manage a custodial visit to Kosovo for Hashim Thaci to be with his father”.

Kosovo’s Justice Minister, Albulena Haxhiu, criticised the decision to not allow Thaci to attend the funeral. She asked the court to take “immediate measures to ensure that his rights are not violated.

“We believe that this decision is unjust, and given the circumstances, it should be reconsidered. I ask you to address my concerns and to take immediate measures to ensure that Mr Thaci’s rights are not violated,” Haxhiu’s request to the Specialist Chambers read.

Ganimete Musliu, an MP from Thaci’s Democratic Party of Kosovo, PDK, said the Specialist Chambers was “politized” and was “demonstrating force instead of justice … this is a shameful act that proves how far this court can go, which is shaming justice at its core”.

Albania’s Prime Minister Edi Rama also condemned the court as “shameful”.

Writing on X, Rama slated “a new low from a shameful and shameless tribunal that has turned international justice into a charade, democratic rights into empty words”.

In a statement, the Kosovo Specialist Chambers said the court does allow family visits on humanitarian grounds.

“The legal framework allows detainees to request a visit to Kosovo on compelling humanitarian grounds … So far, thirteen such visits by detainees to Kosovo have been … managed by the court, for example for a detainee to visit a sick relative or to pay their respects and spend time with close family members after the death of a relative,” it said.

It did not give any specifics on Thaci’s case, however. Instead, it added that the “requests by a detainee and the decisions on those requests are always initially confidential for reasons that include privacy and operational security.

“While such visits, when ordered by the judges, are organized as quickly as possible, this can take some time, requiring close coordination with a number of actors, and complex logistical arrangements, including flights and security,” it added.

Thaci was charged in 2020 with war crimes and crimes against humanity alongside fellow former Kosovo Liberation Army guerrillas Kadri Veseli, Jakup Krasniqi, and Rexhep Selimi.

In a separate case, in January, Thaci and four others were accused of obstruction of justice and witness intimidation. He has pleaded not guilty to both charges.

The Specialist Chambers were established in 2015 by the Kosovo Assembly and investigate the alleged crimes of members of the KLA, committed against ethnic minorities and political rivals in the years 1998-2000.

The Chambers are part of Kosovo’s judicial system but are located in the Netherlands and staffed by internationals, established under pressure from the country’s Western allies, who believe Kosovo’s own justice system is not robust enough to try KLA cases and protect witnesses from intimidation.

Many Kosovo Albanians believe the court is ethnically biased and denigrates the KLA’s just war against Serbian repression.

Marks and Spencer has come to the rescue once again as they’ve just unveiled their very tasty Afternoon Tea Selection filled with mini cakes – ideal to celebrate with this Mother’s Day.

Making for a perfect Mother’s Day treat on a budget, the six-cake selection box has all the yumminess you could need for the perfect at-home tea set up.

Sharing the M&S Food buy on their Instagram page, they wrote: “New in the M&S Foodhall – Mother’s Day Edition – mini treats for your maxi-MUM. If you fancy creating an Afternoon Tea experience for Mum this Mother’s Day, our new mini cake selection is a great place to start!

“It features a variety of squishy sponge cakes, each piped and finished with the tastiest toppings.”

The selection box, which costs just £6, includes two Victoria sponge cakes with strawberry jam, two lemon meringues with zesty lemon curd and two blackcurrant jam cakes with freeze-dried blackcurrants.

And while they’re great to create a tea party on a budget to celebrate Mother’s Day with, they’re also the perfect buy for any occasion too from having friends over, birthday celebrations and more.

Delighted with the Afternoon Tea Selection, Instagram user @marcus_j_ra commented: “Got these for an afternoon tea party at the weekend. They were so nice. Should stock them all summer!”

Social media user @alymcc10 also added: “Got some at the weekend to gift a friend very cute.”

A box of these, a beautiful handmade gift and a bunch of flowers and you’ve got yourself the perfect Mother’s Day set up for that special person in your life.

Zoe is a freelance digital writer and editor, specialising in SEO (all your Google needs), lifestyle, parenting, fitness and showbiz. When she’s not obsessing over the latest internet trends, you’ll find her chasing around two little ones or trying to relax with a book or new Netflix series.

Staying down with the kids is a lot more difficult these days, considering the rate at which slang terms evolve.

These days, ‘bad’ means ‘good’ and people say someone ‘ate that’ when not a single piece of food has passed their lips…so you can see how it’s hard to keep up with.

The lingo that youngsters tend to use is like another language to most parents, and kids often communicate with one another in this code while glued to their smartphones.

It might be innocent enough – perhaps discussing their puppy loves or lost homework – however, these acronyms, emojis and cryptic symbols can also stand for something sinister.

Nottinghamshire Police have shared a laundry list of terms which parents ought to become well versed with, as it could help save your child from a dangerous situation.

The force divvied up the words, hashtags and contractions into three categories describing their risk level; ‘warning flags’, ‘terms to keep an eye on’, and ‘fun’.

The new codes kids are using is a topic which has been thrust to the forefront of a lot of parents minds following the success of Netflix drama Adolescence, starring Stephen Graham.

The acting legend stars as the father of Jamie, played by incredible newcomer Owen Cooper, who uses emojis and slang to disguise the contents of his chats with his teenage pals.

Graham’s character wasn’t the only one left baffled by this means of communication, as a host of Brits were too.

Thankfully, Nottinghamshire Police’s list of 60 terms can act as something of a dictionary of potential danger, as it may help you spot when your offspring is in some kind of trouble.

You might know a few of them already – such as AF referring to ‘as f**k’, DM meaning ‘direct message’, YOLO standing for ‘you only live once’, JK for ‘just kidding’ and ILY for ‘i love you’.

It’s simple enough stuff…but the next generation have also evolved onto other puzzling acronyms these days, such as using ‘CD9’ to explain that a parent is keeping a watchful eye on them.

Other bizarre codewords being used as a cover up for worrying words include ‘sue’ for suicide, CU46 to say ‘see you for sex’ and GNOC, which police say means ‘get naked on camera’.

Further alarming phrases include IWSN for ‘I want sex now’, KPC to say ‘keep parents clueless’ and Molly to refer to ‘ecstasy or MDMA’…unless it really is just a friend named Molly.

Moving on from these ‘warning flags’, police also said there are a few terms which parents should ‘keep an eye on’, such as TMB which stands for ‘tweet me back’.

Cops also pointed out that VSF stands for ‘very sad face’, while the letters SWAK are code for ‘sealed with a kiss’.

As well as this PAP is ‘post a picture’, WTPA is ‘where’s the party at?’, TBR is ‘to be rude’ – while ‘airing’ somebody is just a new way of saying ‘ignoring’.

Teens might brand each other ‘salty’ when referring to someone being bitter, ‘slipping’ means making a mistake, ‘preeing’ means having a cheeky spy on someone via social media and ‘parring’ means having someone off.

Spotting some of these terms on your kids devices might help you nip potential cyberbullying in the bud as early as possible.

There are some completely innocent ‘fun’ slang words being used by youngsters though too, which are simply used to shorten their sentences.

AFAIK means ‘as far as I know’, CBA is ‘can’t be ar**d’ and RAK is ‘random act of kindness’ – so on some occasions, kids are just being kids with these contractions.

You can take a look at Nottinghamshire Police’s full list of terms here:

Warning Flags

#ana – Anorexia

#deb – Depression

#sue –Suicide

#svv – Self-harming behaviour

#thinsp –Thinspiration

9 – A parent is watching

420 – Marijuana

ASL – Age, sex, location

CD9 – Parents are around

Crow – Cannabis

CU46 – See you for sex

Daddy – A partner with influence/power or affection

Down in the DM – Plans for a sexual hook-up in social media/texts

F2F or FTF – Face to face

FWB – Friends with benefits

FYEO – For your eyes only

GNOC – Get naked on camera

Hooking up – Having sex

“I know a way you can earn money fast” – Possible attempt to get photos/webcam access or blackmail info

“I know someone who can get you a modelling job” – Possible attempt to ask for photos/flatter

IRL – In real life

IWSN – I want sex now

“Let’s go private” – Leaving public chatroom for private messaging

LMIRL – Let’s meet in real life

KPC – Keep parents clueless

Merked – Really drunk/beaten up/told off

MIRL – Meeting in real life

Molly – Ecstasy/MDMA (or a person named Molly)

MOOS – Member of the opposite sex

MOS – Mum over shoulder

Moving to (someone) – Approaching aggressively or romantically

Netflix ‘n Chill – Meeting under pretense of watching Netflix, but actually for sex

NIFOC – Naked in front of computer

NSFL – Not safe for life

NSFW – Not safe for work

P911 or P999 – Parents are watching

POS – Parents over shoulder

Pre-ing – Pre-drinking

RU/18 – Are you over 18?

Sket – Insulting term towards girls

Smash – Casual sex

Swipe right – Tinder term of approval

Thirsty – Desperate for something

Trolling – Fooling someone; often abusive online

Wavey – Drunk or high

“Where’s your computer in your house?” – Potentially checking if parents are around

“Who/What’s your favorite band/designer/film/gear?” – Possible attempt to gather info for gifts

Wired – Drug-induced paranoia

WYRN – What’s your real name?

“You are the love of my life” – Potential emotional manipulation

“You seem sad. Tell me what’s bothering you” – Potential attempt to gather personal info

Zerg – To gang up on someone

Keep an eye on

4eae – Forever and ever

AND – Any day now

Af – As f**k

Aired – Ignoring someone

“Are you parring me?” –Are you disrespecting me?

B – Babe (friend)

Bae – Term of endearment (before anyone else)

Basic – Lacking originality

Begfriend – Someone who sucks up to others

BFN – Bye for now

BOL – Be on later

Bookie – Weird or disgusting

Booted – Left behind or dumped

Butters – Ugly person

“Bye Felicia” – Dismissive phrase to tell someone to go away

Curve – Reject someone romantically

Dime – Extremely good looking person

DM – Direct message

Ghost – Completely ignoring someone (ghosting)

GLHF – Good luck, have fun

HT or H/T – Heard through

HAK – Hugs and kisses

IANAL – I am not a lawyer

ILY or ILU – I love you

IU2U – It’s up to you

IYKWIM – If you know what I mean

J4F – Just for fun

JIC – Just in case

J/K – Just kidding

Kicked – Left behind

Low key – Not wanting something widely known

NAGI – Not a good idea

OH – Overheard

PAP – Post a picture

Peng or tidy – Really attractive

Preeing – Looking at someone online (Facebook stalking)

PTB – Please text back

QQ – Crying

RL – Real life

Salty – Bitter about something

Ship – Relationship admiration

Sip tea – Mind your own business

Skurt – Go away or leave

Slept – Knock someone out

Slipping – Messing up

Stacked – Muscly, toned

Swag – Confidence or fancy clothes

SWAK – Sealed with a kiss

SWYP – So what’s your problem?

TBR – To be rude

Throw shade – Give a nasty look or comment

TIME – Tears in my eyes

TMB – Tweet me back

VSF – Very sad face

WTH or WTF – What the heck?

WTPA – Where’s the party at?

WYCM – Will you call me?

WYSIWYG – What you see is what you get

YGM – You’ve got mail

YOLO – You only live once

Fun

:3 –Cat face emoticon (cute/odd/coy)

2day – Today

Acc – Actually

AFAIK – As far as I know

AFK – Away from keyboard

ATM – At the moment

B4 – Before

Baffed – Confused

Banter – Fun chat

Bare/Bear – Really, really

B/C – Because

BF or GF – Boyfriend or girlfriend

Blates – Obviously

Blessed – Nice person

Boots – Used to mean ‘very’ or ‘a lot’

BRB – Be right back

Bromance – Close friendship between two boys

Bruh – Casual “bro”

BTW – By the way

Buck me – Give me

Buff – Attractive

“Can’t even” – Expression of exasperation

CBA – Can’t be bothered

Cray – Crazy

Cuz – Friend

Dench – Fantastic/cool

Dope – Really cool

DWBH – Don’t worry be happy

Fail – Something goes wrong

Fam – Close friends

FB – Facebook

Feels – Feelings

FF – Follow Friday

Fierce – Looking amazing

FOMO – Fear of missing out

FTL – For the loss

FTW – For the win

FWIW – For what it’s worth

FYI – For your information

G – A friend (boy to boy)

Gassed – Happy

GOAT – Greatest of all time

GR8 – Great

GTG – Got to go

Gucci – Good/cool

HAND – Have a nice day

Hella – Really

HTH – Hope this helps

Hundo P – 100% sure

IDEK – I don’t even know

IDK – I don’t know

IIRC – If I remember correctly

IK – I know

IKR – I know, right?

Ill – Fantastic/cool

IMHO – In my honest opinion

IMO – In my opinion

“Is everything” – Great/important

“It’s lit” – Cool/awesome

“I’m weak” – That was funny

Jarring – Annoying

Jokes – Really funny

JSYK – Just so you know

K or KK – Okay

Legend – Very cool person

LMAO or LMBO – Laughing my arse/butt off

LMK – Let me know

Lol – Laugh out loud

MM – Music Monday

MSM – Mainstream media

NM – Never mind

NMU – Not much, you?

NP – No problem

NTS – Note to self

Obvi – Obviously

OMG – Oh my God

On fleek –On point/executed well

ORLY – Oh really?

OTP – Fictional couple meant to be together

Peak – Unfortunate

Pls or plz – Please

PPL – People

RAK – Random act of kindness

ROFL – Rolling on the floor laughing

RT – Retweet

RUOK – Are you okay?

Skl –School

Safe – Reliable/good person

SSDD – Same stuff, different day

Savage – Cool

Sick – Fantastic/cool

Slay – Doing really well

Squad – Friend group

SMH – Shaking my head

Snatched – Same as “on fleek”

SRSLY – Seriously

Straight fire – Hot/trendy

Swear – Serious?

TBH – To be honest

TIA – Thanks in advance

TMI – Too much information

TMRW – Tomorrow

Truss – I agree

TTYL – Talk to you later

Turnt – Excited/lit

TY or TU – Thank you

Ur – Your/you’re

V –Very

YAS – Enthusiastic “yes”

“You da real MVP” – Thanks for doing something important

YW – You’re welcome

Wag1/Wagwan – What’s up?

WB – Welcome back

Woke – Highly aware of social issues

ZOMG – Oh my God

The deaths of three newborn babies could have been avoided if “reasonable precautions” had been taken, an inquiry has found.

Leo Lamont, Ellie McCormick and Mira-Belle Bosch all died within hours of their births in two Lanarkshire hospitals in Scotland.

Leo was two hours old when he died at University Hospital Monklands on 15 February 2019, while Ellie was just five hours old when she died at Wishaw General Hospital a few weeks later on 5 March that year.

Mira-Belle was 12 hours old when she died on 2 July 2021 at Wishaw General Hospital.

Following the fatal accident inquiry, Sheriff Principal Aisha Anwar KC said “reasonable precautions” could have been taken that might “realistically” have saved each baby’s life.

In each case, the mothers had been in contact with a hospital in the hours before giving birth but had been advised to remain at home rather than go in for an assessment.

Leo’s mother Nadine Rooney had a history of preterm delivery and had reported episodes of bleeding during her pregnancy.

She was 27 weeks into her pregnancy when she called Princess Royal Maternity Hospital in Glasgow at 3.17am on 15 February 2019 complaining of “agony pains” in her back.

A midwife advised her to take painkillers and to call back if the pain did not improve, and she gave birth to Leo on her bathroom floor just before 5am.

At 7.10am, Leo was pronounced dead at University Hospital Monklands having suffered from a shortage of oxygen during and shortly after labour.

Ellie’s mother Nicola McCormick had also reported episodes of bleeding during her pregnancy, but her observations had been considered normal.

She phoned Wishaw General Hospital’s maternity unit at about 4.30pm on 4 March 2019 to report that she was experiencing contractions. She was advised to take painkillers and have a bath or shower, and to call back if she was “not coping”.

When she called again at about 7.30pm, she was advised to go in. Her baby’s heartbeat was found to be slow so medics carried out an emergency caesarean section.

Ellie was pronounced dead at 2.20am having suffered a brain injury due to a lack of oxygen during labour.

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According to the inquiry’s report, the pregnancy of Mira-Belle’s mother Rozelle Bosch had gone smoothly.

She called the maternity ward at Wishaw General Hospital at about 8.50pm on 30 June 2021, reporting that her waters had broken and she was experiencing contractions.

Ms Bosch was discharged following an assessment. She phoned the unit again at about 2.30pm on 1 July and was advised to remain at home.

About eight hours later, her partner called for an ambulance, reporting that the baby was being born feet-first.

When paramedics arrived, they tried phoning the maternity unit for advice, and had to call five times before they got through.

After they attempted to deliver the baby in situ, Ms Bosch was taken to hospital, where Mira-Belle was delivered but found to be unresponsive.

She was pronounced dead at 12.30pm on 2 July, having suffered a brain injury due to a lack of oxygen.

In her report, Ms Anwar offered condolences to the bereaved parents, who she said had given evidence “with great dignity” during the inquiry.

The report makes 11 recommendations, including the drawing-up of a “trigger list” for identifying preterm labour symptoms, and the introduction of a dedicated telephone line to give ambulance service staff direct access to maternity units.

It also recommends that women are given an “approximate timeframe” in which to call back when told to see if symptoms improve after taking painkillers, as well as recommending improvements in the way information is recorded on hospital systems.

Scotland’s public health minister Jenni Minto said she would “consider the findings carefully with the maternity community” and ensure that the sheriff’s recommendations “are acted upon promptly”.