Category: News

  • Larchwood Primary, Brentwood invites parents to try school dinners

    Larchwood Primary, Brentwood invites parents to try school dinners

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    In an effort to encourage more pupils to take up the option of school dinners, Larchwood Primary School is inviting parents to sample the food on offer to their children.

    At the first two events, 89 out of 120 children had a parent join them for lunch – greeting them at the door and queuing up together to collect their meals.At the first two events, 89 out of 120 children had a parent join them for lunch – greeting them at the door and queuing up together to collect their meals (Image: Supplied) At the first two events, 89 out of 120 children had a parent join them for lunch – greeting them at the door and queuing up together to collect their meals.

    Headteacher Steve Bowsher, who eats a roast dinner with pupils each week, said: “People have an idea in their head of what school dinners are like.

    “If school dinners were like this when I was at school, I would have had them a lot more.”

    Every year group will get the experience each year from now on.



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  • Olly Murs ‘broke down’ over leaving baby as a newborn

    Olly Murs ‘broke down’ over leaving baby as a newborn

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    Olly Murs has reflected on the tough decision to leave his newborn daughter for work, saying he ‘didn’t really process it at the time’.

    The singer welcomed his daughter Madison with his wife Amelia in April 2024 but had to leave her just two days after she was born.

    RELATED: Olly Murs reveals the ‘hardest part’ of being a dad to baby Madison

    Pic: Olly Murs/Instagram

    Madison’s arrival came just as he was due to go on tour with Take That. It was a decision that he later struggled to come to terms with as he felt he didn’t really get to know her as a baby.

    ‘I didn’t really process it at the time and a few months later me and Amelia were chatting and I just broke down in tears as I never actually got the chance to get to know this little baby,’ he told pal Mark Wright on their Heart Radio Breakfast Show.

    Pic: Olly Murs/Instagram
    Pic: Olly Murs/Instagram

    Mark, who has also just welcomed a daughter named Palma with his wife Michelle Keegan, consoled him saying: ‘But you were doing it for her future.’

    Olly touched on his feelings of guilt at the time, telling fans at London’s O2 arena: ‘It’s been the most craziest time… obviously on the one hand I’ve got this beautiful baby girl, my wife is at home looking after her with the nappies, and the sleepless nights.

    ‘And I’m on tour with Take That. I feel guilty!’ he said in the clip posted by MailOnline. Olly continued: ‘But this week I’ve been home, I’ve done the nappies, I’ve done the late nights… and I can’t wait to stay on tour! I’m joking honestly, it’s truly awesome. I never thought I’d be a dad so I can’t quite believe it.’

    Olly Murs brags that his sex life is just as good as ever after welcoming his new baby daughter but admits he's plagued by guilt for going on tour
    Pic: Olly Murs/Instagram

    During the radio show, smitten new dad Mark confessed that he struggles to be away from Palma while he’s presenting the show.

    He told listeners: ‘I wake up every morning just so excited to see her face – every time I wake up I go “ah she’s there” -and the moment when I held her in my arms… it gets me emotional now thinking about it, everything else goes out the window and it’s made me realise what life is all about.’



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  • Heartbreaking Reason Why Princess Diana Once ‘Slapped’ Her Father: “Don’t You Ever…”

    Heartbreaking Reason Why Princess Diana Once ‘Slapped’ Her Father: “Don’t You Ever…”

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    Source: Getty Images| Anwar Hussein; (Inset) Tim Graham Photo Library

    Princess Diana attends a polo match in New Zealand; (Inset) Diana’s father, Earl Spencer, outside Althorp House.

    March 15 2025, Published 9:06 a.m. ET

    Princess Diana greatly suffered in her marriage to Prince Charles as he pursued an affair with long-time flame Camilla Parker Bowles. Diana’s sufferings were also exacerbated by the fact that her own parents divorced in 1969 when she was just 7. According to Andrew Morton, author of Diana: Her True Story, the late Princess once even slapped her father over it. Morton claimed that Diana was extremely hurt by her father remarrying another woman without informing his children.

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    Diana had a difficult childhood marked with loneliness, according to The Express. Born Diana Frances Spencer, she was the fourth child in a family desperate for a male heir. Her parents’ marriage was troubled, with her mother, Frances Shand Kydd, having an affair with Peter Shand Kydd, which led to their divorce. In 1976, her father, Edward John Spencer, remarried Raine McCorquodale and Diana was furious that he didn’t tell or invite his children to his wedding. In a moment of rage, she slapped him across the face.

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    According to the Daily Mail, Morton penned that Diana allegedly shared, “I was the little crusader here… and I got really angry and I, if I remember rightly, I slapped him across the face, and I said, ‘That’s from all of us, for hurting us’ and walked out and slammed the door.”

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    Her father Spencer was understandably fuming with rage. He ran behind her daughter yelling, “Don’t you ever talk to me like that again.” But Diana bravely looked at her father and allegedly responded, “Well, don’t you ever do that to us again” — and he didn’t. He stayed married to his new wife up until his death in 1992 from a heart attack. Princess Diana had a rough relationship with her father, but the pair put their differences aside for her wedding to Prince Charles. He walked her down the aisle for the beautiful ceremony. He also reportedly convinced her not to call off her wedding to the future King when knowledge of Parker-Bowles gave Diana cold feet.

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    According to royal biographer Ingrid Seward’s book, My Mother And I, Diana once made her way to her father’s home in Northamptonshire feeling ‘distraught, flustered, angry’ that Charles was ignoring her at a party. As far as Diana was concerned, ‘the royal wedding was off.’ When she told her father, he was appalled. “After calming her down, he pointed out it would be an act of gross discourtesy to break off her engagement to the future King so close to the wedding,” said Seward. The marriage ultimately ended in divorce in 1996 at the order of the late Queen Elizabeth II herself, who was unhappy with Diana airing her grievances in the BBC Panorama interview.



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  • Emotional Patrick Kielty dedicates Late Late Show to mother after her funeral

    Emotional Patrick Kielty dedicates Late Late Show to mother after her funeral

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    Patrick Kielty has dedicated the latest episode of The Late Late Show to his mother, following her funeral earlier in the week.

    The Northern Irish TV presenter and comedian, 54, who fronts RTE’s flagship TV programme, addressed the audience on Friday night.

    Referencing Ireland’s annual holiday on Monday, Kielty said: “When you’re called Patrick, St Patrick’s Day is always special, and the person I have to thank for that and so much more is my mum.

    “Sadly, we lost her last week and I just want to say a huge thank you to everyone who took care of her and took care of our family this week.”

    He added that his mother, Mary Kielty, whose funeral was held at the Church of the Sacred Heart in Dundrum this week, “watched this show religiously”.

    Kielty said: “She loved it so much she still kept watching even after I got the gig.

    “In over 50 years, Mary never missed a Late Late Show and there was no way she’d want me to miss this one for her tonight.

    “So, I couldn’t be prouder to stand here and say ‘this one’s for you, Mary’. Welcome to The Late Late Show.”

    Patrick Kielty and Cat Deeley (Damien Eagers/PA)

    He then appeared to break down and was applauded by the crowd.

    His mother – whose husband Jack was shot dead by the Ulster Freedom Fighters (UFF) in 1988 – died peacefully at home in Dundrum, Co Down, last Saturday aged 84.

    Kielty replaced Ryan Tubridy as host of the popular Irish chat show, who stepped down in 2023 following a more than 10-year stint on the Irish talk show.

    The comedian is married to This Morning host Cat Deeley and they have two sons, James and Milo.













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  • Who Are Brianna Lyston’s Parents? All About Gregory Lyston and Zelveiga Bennett

    Who Are Brianna Lyston’s Parents? All About Gregory Lyston and Zelveiga Bennett

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    Brianna Lyston has made winning a habit. NCAA champion. SEC champion. All-American. Record after record, title after title. Then came last year’s NCAA Indoor Championships in Boston, which was another stage, another opportunity. She lined up for the prelims and clocked 7.07 seconds, the joint third-fastest time. It was enough to make the final but not enough for her. In the showdown for the title, she exploded off the blocks, leaving no doubt.

    When the LSU sophomore crossed the line, the clock read 7.03, a collegiate-leading time, the second-fastest in NCAA Indoor history. “I am happy for the win as the hard work has paid off,” she said. But in the stands, her mother was watching. Her presence wasn’t just support; it was fuel. Lyston’s journey is built on more than just raw talent. The sacrifices, the training, the relentless pursuit of excellence—it all started long before that night in Boston. Her parents had been there through it all. But who are the parents behind the champion? Let’s deep dive!

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    Who is Brianna Lyston’s father?

    Gregory Lyston is the father of Brianna Lyston, the Jamaican sprinting talent born on May 24, 2004, in Portmore, Jamaica. She is the daughter of Gregory and Zelveiga Bennett. Brianna grew up alongside her siblings, including her sister, Destiny.

    While much about Gregory Lyston’s background remains unknown, his name is now linked to one of Jamaica’s rising track stars, as Brianna continues to rule the roost in athletics. But one thing is clear. That is, without ample support, it is hard to become as successful as Brianna had become. This again is a statement on how much Gregory helped the LSU star in her journey towards realizing her fame.

    But it is not just Papa Lyston who is there supporting his daughter. No, there is one more person out there as well. Who is she? Well, it is Brianna’s mother.

    Who is Brianna Lyston’s mother?

    Zelveiga Bennett watched from Portmore, heart pounding, as her daughter, Brianna Lyston, took her mark at Champs. 12-year-old Brianna banded through the 200-meter semi-final in 23.46 seconds, a time so fast it had the world talking. But the wind? Just over the legal limit. No matter. Brianna lined up again for the final, focused, committed. This time, 23.72 seconds, wind-legal, undisputed. Victory.

    Back home, her mother couldn’t hold back her pride. “I’m so proud of her. It was just fantastic to watch. She always trains very hard,” she said, smiling.

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    What is Brianna Lyston’s Parents’ nationality?

    Brianna Lyston’s roots? Almost certainly Jamaican. While there isn’t much confirmed about her parents’ nationality, the signs point to the island that has produced sprinting legends. Her mother, Zelveiga Bennett, met her after quite some time last year, which suggests she hasn’t relocated to the U.S. Her father, Gregory Lyston, remains largely out of the spotlight, but given Brianna’s upbringing in Portmore, it’s a safe bet that Jamaica is home.

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    With the NCAA season in full swing, fans can only imagine how much more success Brianna will bring to her resume. After all, she already has created history a couple of times. And now it seems she is yet again ready for some more.

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  • I’ve worked in A&E – but raising a newborn baby is even harder

    I’ve worked in A&E – but raising a newborn baby is even harder

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    The substances that come out of babies can rival those I saw in the emergency room

    Before I got into my work now – creating healthy eating TV shows and cookbooks – I worked in A&E alongside my full-time work as a GP, and also in the intensive care unit for two years.

    My beautiful baby who is now 14 weeks, however, has proved by far my most demanding patient.

    How could this be, you might ask? The emergency room is notoriously challenging. Patients come in with heart attacks. On one occasion, a patient from the mental health ward vanished, sparking a frantic search throughout the hospital, including the car park. Eventually, we found him hiding under the table in my boss’s office – with my keys in his pocket.

    One of my more awkward moments in A&E involved a female patient who presented with abdominal swelling and constant fatigue. She mentioned she hadn’t had sexual intercourse in five years, yet her pregnancy test came back positive during our assessment.

    Despite fairly direct questions to determine whether sperm had come anywhere near her, we made little progress. It was only when we wheeled in the ultrasound scanner and pointed to the 20-week-old foetus on screen that her memory was jogged about an encounter a few months previously.

    In one intensive care unit when I was working in Australia, I had a patient who had had major abdominal surgery, which, naturally, involved a cocktail of drugs, including general anaesthetic. Disassociation and delirium is not uncommon in situations like these.

    Two police officers turned up on the ward, telling us the patient had phoned to say he was being held captive as a prisoner by people trying to kill him, and that he was being injected with all kinds of things by us (that last one was true of course). I explained to the young police officers,why he was delirious and apologised for wasting their time. But they continued to investigate as though we were in CSI.

    Working in emergency medicine and being on call meant working shifts over Christmas and New Year’s Eve, but at least we could hand over at the end and eventually go home.

    That’s not the case with a baby – parenting is permanent, with no weekends or holidays off. There’s no “clocking out” at the end of the day.

    Before I was one of those ridiculously disciplined people who has a distinct morning routine starting at 5am. I’d journal, meditate, fast, and not look at my phone until 9am. I’d try to be in bed by 9.30 and yes, I’d do a full wind-down routine with camomile tea and lavender on the pillows. Gosh I’m annoying. Since having a baby? All totally out the window, of course.

    It starts well. He has his bathtime routine from 6pm to 6.30pm, then it sometimes takes an hour-and-a-half to feed him. And then you’ve got to burp him and put him down. Then 30 minutes later, even though you’ve rocked him to sleep he’s up. As a doctor, you deal with patterns and probabilities – but I’m constantly flummoxed as to what my baby needs and what may or may not be right for him. And I wouldn’t even say I’m an anxious parent.

    You give him more milk and then he spits that up and then for no reason whatsoever he decides to projectile vomit. Then he’s up at 1am again because the last time he fed was (only) a couple of hours ago, then the same at 2.30 in the morning. Honestly, the things that come out of babies are truly enough to rival what I dealt with in A&E.

    “Poonamis” are the real concern, though. My wife spent days perfecting her Pinterest board for the kid’s nursery, designing the most aesthetically pleasing, safari-themed room. And since coming into this world, as a lovely token of thanks, our son has duly pooped all over it – the carpet, the boucle chair, the glass side table. The wall’s been smeared so bad we’re having to paint over it.

    All this might make it sound like I’m not constantly enamoured by my baby. He is honestly the best gift I’ve ever received, and I’m so aware of the privilege my wife and I have had – both in being able to conceive and as parents in general. We are incredibly lucky.

    More than my medical experience shaping how I parent, I believe becoming a dad has made me a better doctor – especially when it comes to understanding parents who bring their children to A&E at 2am. I now see firsthand how rational thinking flies out the window when it’s your own child.

    When my wife notices something concerning in the middle of the night, I have to consciously shift into “doctor mode” and approach the situation as if I were treating someone else’s baby in A&E. I’ll take his temperature, listen to his chest, and check his heart rate. Then I’ll calmly explain to her, in Dr Rupy’s voice, why there’s usually no need to panic – though a little paracetamol might help.

    This week I have been…

    Reading… As A Man Thinketh by James Allen. It’s the sort of original self help-stoic book written in 1903, amounting to something like 70-odd pages. It’s a beautiful read, a companion to this process I’m going through. It’s about training your thoughts to be positive and reframing any negative situation in order to manifest everything in your life. I’m trying to put that into action as much as possible to counteract feelings of exhaustion.

    Cooking… broth – pretty much every single week. It’s winter season, we’re trying to stave away coughs and colds, and above all else my wife is recovering from a C-section. Protein is also critical for breastfeeding women and those recovering from major surgery, so we often cook with tempeh, tofu and lean meat. 

    We’ve been making a very simple recipe – chicken or beef bones in cold water, gradually bringing the temperature up and simmering on a low heat for three or four hours. I flavour mine with Asian ingredients – clove, star anise, lemongrass, garlic, turmeric and ginger – which are good for inflammation and key ingredients in Chinese and ayurvedic medicine. 

    Listening… to right-wing podcasts, particularly American ones like the All-In podcast. I’m naturally left-centrist but I’m trying to hear perspectives different from mine – in this case rich Americans talking about macroeconomics. 

    It might sound odd, but I’m really intrigued by how we got to the place where right-wing governments are so popular. It’s a really good exercise to generate a more holistic understanding of the world. Otherwise we sit in our own little bubbles – which is why people don’t understand Brexit or the gripes around immigration. As a British-Asian I feel a responsibility to understand people better rather than just branding everyone as “racist”, which is lazy. I want to truly understand where these ideas stem from.

    Dr Rupy Aujla’s new book, Healthy High Protein, is out 13 March



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  • Son’s twisted deception revealed before whacking dad to death with dumbbell

    Son’s twisted deception revealed before whacking dad to death with dumbbell

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    A Texas man lured his father into a garage by asking him to find some meat before he turned around and bludgeoned him to death with a 15-pound dumbbell. 

    Ryan Mitchell Smith was found guilty of murdering his own father on Tuesday, after he also allegedly stabbed a police dog days before. 

    The 26-year-old racked up a list of charges that all stemmed around the week of January 22, 2022 and ended with the grisly death of his father, Cameron Smith. 

    He admitted to killing his father on January 24 by distracting him under the guise of searching for deer meat in their garage, before whacking him with a dumbbell. 

    According to an arrest affidavit seen by Law&Crime, Smith then tied a plastic bag around his head and dumped his father’s body into a trash can. 

    Just a few days previous Smith tried to unsuccessfully jack a car in Houston and was chased down a police dog, later identified as a Belgian Malinois named Nate. 

    He then stabbed the animal who suffered non-life threatening injuries, Houston cops said at the time. 

    Smith was taken to Harris County Jail after that incident where his family – including his father he killed less than 24 hours later – posted his $50,000 bond for him.

    Ryan Mitchell Smith was found guilty of murdering his own father on Tuesday, after he also allegedly stabbed a police dog days before

    Smith’s family then reported his father missing the day after, where they found the younger Smith driving his father’s GMC pickup with its plates removed and lights off.

    Cops tried to pull him over but he fled the scene, leading them on a 10 mile chase that lasted 15 minutes. 

    Smith crashed the car and continued on foot, inside the vehicle they found a loaded hunting rifle, a black Labrador dog, and a 15-pound dumbbell covered in blood. 

    It was at the address that police then found the body of his father, they eventually caught up with Smith and he was formally charged with murder. 

    He admitted to killing his father and this week a jury convicted him of his murder, after his attorneys had used the insanity defense. 

    According to court documents Smith told investigators he distracted his father before striking him three times with the weight, then tying a plastic bag around his head. 

    His lawyers claimed their client was experiencing a manic episode at the time of his spree, according to the Houston Chronicle

    One of his lawyers, Gianpaolo Macerola, told the court that Smith didn’t believe his father was human any longer, adding: ‘He didn’t think what he was doing was wrong.’

    He admitted to killing his father, seen here, by distracting him under the guise of searching for deer meat in their garage, before bludgeoning him with a dumbbell.

    He admitted to killing his father, seen here, by distracting him under the guise of searching for deer meat in their garage, before bludgeoning him with a dumbbell.

    In an obituary for his father, he is described as being a ‘caring son, supportive brother, dedicated husband, loving father’. 

    It adds: ‘Everyone he met was instantly a friend for life. He had a warming smile and a contagious laugh. 

    ‘You could always find him in a crowd by going to the largest group of smiling people. He loved to have a good time and lived every day to the fullest. 

    ‘If you were with Cameron, you were going to have fun. He had a tremendous zest for life!’

    Smith will return to court on Monday to be sentenced.  

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  • Mother’s Day 2025 gifts, with choices for every budget

    Mother’s Day 2025 gifts, with choices for every budget

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    Whether she’s your mum, step-mum, auntie, godmother, gran or just someone who gives you all the love, no one knows her quite like you do. 

    So, whether she loves sentimental gifts to remember, hands-on and practical choices to make her life easier, thoughtful versions of everyday items or just something delicious to eat or drink… this list has it covered, with choices for every budget.

    Prices range from pocket money treats to fabulous investment pieces, with everything in between, covering all budgets. It’s always the thought that counts, so if money is tight, nothing beats a home-drawn card and a cup of tea, made with love. 

    But, if you have money to spend, here’s our pick of the wonderful and unusual, based on her passions, with choices for all budgets.

    For the sentimental mum: Lily Charmed

    Lily Charmed spring charm bracelet (Image: Martin Edwards)

    Build your jewellery as your family grows, with Lily Charmed, the independent charm makers. Whether you’re looking for an engraved pendant, a charm and bracelet to start their charm story or a timeless pair of stud earrings, Lily Charmed have the perfect piece to make her day special.

    Honour your mum, mother figure, grandparent or mum-to-be with a charm that expresses her milestones, memories, and cherished moments, and add to them as the years go by.

    Spring charms, from £40, Lily Charmed

    For the Champagne buff: Waterford

    (Image: Waterford)

    This beautiful pair of flutes is an investment that will last a lifetime. Their shape is ideal for preserving the bubbles in Champagne and sparkling wines. The Lismore Diamond pattern has intricate diamond cuts rendered in radiant fine crystal, with brilliance, clarity, and the ring of Waterford to every toast. 

    £170, from a beautiful range on the Waterford website

    For the history buff: English Heritage Membership

    (Image: Getty Images/iStockphoto) For the mum who has everything – give the gift of a fun day exploring England’s colourful past together or enjoy afternoon tea in a spectacular property overlooking manicured gardens and indulge in a selection of sweet and savoury treats. Make mum an English Heritage member, with free entry to over 400 sites plus free or discounted access to an events programme throughout the year, so rather than just one day out, it’ a whole year of fun.

    Memberships start at £42, with details on the website

    For the jigsaw lover: Wentworth Puzzles

    There’s a Wentworth Puzzle to make every Mother’s Day. The personalised puzzles can bring your family photos to life, or there’s a host of spring animal or floral designs. Great quality, they can be enjoyed time and again, not just for Mother’s Day.

    Premium wooden jigsaw puzzles for adults start at less than £20.

    For the jewellery lover: Scream Pretty

    (Image: Scream Pretty)

    Who doesn’t love a bit of sparkle? There’s so much to love about the gorgeous British jewellery brand Scream Pretty, founded by sisters Jessica Pearce and Lucy Lee in 2017. There’s a big Mother’s Day selection – we love these sparkling heart hoop earrings, made from 18ct rose gold plated recycled 925 sterling silver, with a durable and luxurious rose gold finish.

    £55, from Scream Pretty

    For bargain lovers: Aldi

    Check out the middle aisle while you shop for some brilliant Aldi deals. Many are brilliant dupes of much pricier items, such as Aldi’s stylish Ceramic Aroma Diffuser (£14.99). This chic and stylish home accessory will add a touch of sophistication to any room. What’s more Aldi shoppers can save 79% instead of The White Company’s £80 alternative.  

    We have a full Aldi Mother’s Day gift guide here

    For a perfect sleep: Green People

    (Image: Green People)

    A stylish way to let go of the day, Green People’s aromatherapy bracelet gift set supports a calm and relaxed bedtime routine. Give the gift of restful sleep – this soothing scent set pairs an elegant aromatherapy bracelet with their best-selling essential oil blend for a peaceful night’s dream.

    £25, from Green People

    For the tea lover: Wedgwood

    (Image: Wedgwood)

    Treat your mum like the queen she is with this beautiful three-piece box set. Blessings is a lush green design featuring the signature peonies and butterflies, to form a heart-shaped posy in the centre of the plate and inside the teacup, in a collaboration with Miranda Kerr.

    £80, from Wedgwood

    For the outdoor type: SockShop

    Show her you care with the warmest, snuggliest socks this Mother’s Day. The Heat Holders original sock has expanded to include a huge range that now includes tights, leggings, thermal underwear, hats, scarves, gloves and even fleeces and blankets.

    From £7.99, Sockshop

    For a cosy night in: Silentnight Luxury Faux Fur Heated Throw

    (Image: Silent Night)

    Cuddle up in this heated throw in cosy, blissful comfort. March weather is no one’s favourite, and this super-soft and strokable throw offers luxurious warmth in minutes, so she can snuggle up and cocoon herself until the warmer weather comes.

    £79.99, down from £99.99, from High Street TV

    For the fitness fan: KEEN

    (Image: KEEN) Put a spring in your mum’s step with the world’s most comfortable walking shoes. Ergonomically engineered to promote the most efficient stride, these shoes are designed to make walking feel like rolling. The new WK400 II is elevated for improved comfort and performance, with a generous 31mm toe spring, promoting efficiency and conserving energy for an effortless ride.

    See the full range on the KEEN website.

    For the Beauty buff: LOOKFANTASTIC Mother’s Day Edit

    (Image: LOOKFANTASTIC) Spoil your mum with seven premium beauty essentials, in a pretty limited-edition box from LOOKFANTASTIC.

    It includes a range of goodies from haircare must-haves to skincare saviours, the ultimate indulgence for beauty lovers.

    It has five full-sized products from Clinique, BareMinerals and Natasha Denona, valued at over £219, it’s on sale for £50.

    Subscribers receive will receive an additional 15% off.



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  • Parents deported to Mexico while seeking brain cancer treatment for young American daughter

    Parents deported to Mexico while seeking brain cancer treatment for young American daughter

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    CNN
     — 

    The undocumented parents of a 10-year-old US citizen whose family was removed to Mexico say they are desperately seeking a way for either of them to return to the US with the girl so she can continue brain cancer treatment.

    The girl’s care was interrupted last month, when she, her parents and four of her siblings were detained at a Border Patrol checkpoint in Texas and were subsequently removed from the US to Mexico following the parents’ decision to take their children with them rather than separate, according to Texas Civil Rights Project (TCRP), an immigration nonprofit representing the family.

    The parents have “no criminal records,” according to Danny Woodward, an attorney with TCRP. All but one of the couple’s children are US citizens, TCRP said.

    At the time they were detained, the parents – who asked to be identified only by the pseudonyms “Juan” and “Maria” due to safety concerns – had been taking their daughter to a Houston medical center for ongoing care after she was diagnosed with a brain tumor last year and later underwent surgery.

    Getting their daughter care meant a five-hour drive from where they lived in the Rio Grande Valley in Texas, which lies along the border with Mexico. It also meant clearing a Border Patrol checkpoint inside the state in order to reach the hospital.

    Such longstanding federal checkpoints are designed to detect contraband and undocumented migrants moving into the country’s interior.

    In a video statement given to CNN by TCRP, the mother said the trip to Houston – a 350-mile drive – was “routine” until February 3.

    “This time we were detained and were confronted with the hardest decision to make, which was separate permanently from our children, or be deported together,” the mother said in the statement, as she struggled through tears.

    The little girl began experiencing headaches and dizziness the morning of February 3, prompting her parents to follow doctor’s orders and immediately return to the hospital, according to Woodward.

    With a physician’s letter in hand explaining the girl’s dire condition, the family’s vehicle approached Border Patrol agents at a checkpoint in Sarita, Texas, roughly 90 miles into the journey.

    “The family had passed through the checkpoint at Sarita a handful of times going to post-op medical appointments using this letter and for that reason they weren’t concerned,” Woodward told CNN.

    But instead of the routine clearance, Maria, Juan and the five children were questioned for hours, then were transported south to a federal processing facility, where they spent the night. The next day, they were taken to a nearby port of entry and were walked across the US-Mexico border by immigration authorities, Woodward said.

    The couple’s oldest child, who is also a US citizen, was not traveling with the family at the time and remains in the US, according to TCRP.

    The immigration attorney characterizes the couple’s status in Texas as “living clean, wholesome lives trying to raise their kids.” They “worked in the agricultural sector doing things like packing fruits and vegetables at produce-packing plants” and “had no criminal records or anything to speak of,” Woodward said.

    Maria added she and her husband have concerns for another one of their US-citizen children as he suffers from a heart condition.

    In response to a comment request from CNN regarding the account of events presented by TCRP, a spokesperson for US Customs and Border Protection said, “The facts as reported are inaccurate. When someone is given expedited removal orders and chooses to disregard them, they will face the consequences as outlined by the expedited removal process for individuals with removal orders.”

    The agency spokesperson added CBP could not comment on specifics of the case, citing privacy reasons.

    In response to CBP’s statement, TCRP told CNN: “We believe there was a prior removal order from years back, but there was no expedited removal documented on their current deportation papers, and despite any order, the family has always been able to cross the checkpoint to access the care their (US citizen) daughter needed.”

    Migrant advocates have long voiced concerns for so-called mixed-status migrant families – those with parents who have US citizen children but lack legal status to be in the country themselves. Such cases mean migrant parents may have to face some agonizing choices like Maria and Juan did: Do they separate from their children? Or leave the country together?

    The Trump administration has repeatedly said they will deport all undocumented immigrants. That includes the undocumented parents of approximately 4.4 million children who are US citizens, according to the DC-based nonprofit the American Immigration Council.

    Before officially filling the role of White House border czar, Tom Homan told CBS News in October that “families can be deported together,” when asked if there was a way to prevent family separation.

    Advocates argue deportations like those involving Maria and Juan do nothing to make the US more secure.

    The removal of the recovering child and her family “is not making our country or any child ‘safer’– it is instilling trauma and life-threatening consequences on entire communities. We are appalled, but sadly not surprised, to hear of the inhumane treatment and conditions,” said Kelly Albinak Kribs, co-director of the technical assistance program at the Young Center for Immigrant Children’s Rights, in a statement.

    Maria and Juan are now preparing to petition the US government for a chance to legally reenter the US with their daughter.

    “Their hope would be that the government would grant them some form of humanitarian parole to let one parent, or everybody, back in, in order to access the kind of medical treatment that the daughter needs,” Woodward said.

    Maria emphasized their plea in her video statement: “Help us return so that our little girl can continue receiving the medical care she needs. She does not deserve to suffer this way. Cancer has brought her enough suffering.”

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  • Prince William may take on special role after baby announcement

    Prince William may take on special role after baby announcement

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    Prince William could soon take on a new role as godfather to his close friend the Duke of Westminster’s first child.

    Hugh Grosvenor and his wife Olivia Henson announced they are expecting a baby this summer.


    The Prince of Wales and the Duke share a longstanding friendship, with William serving as an usher at Hugh’s wedding in Cheshire last year.

    The royal connection between the families runs deep, with Hugh already serving as godfather to Prince George, William’s eldest son.

    Prince William could soon take on a new role as godfather to his close friend the Duke of Westminster’s first child.

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    He is also godfather to Prince Harry’s son, Prince Archie.

    The potential godfather role would further strengthen the ties between the two families.

    The godparent connections between the families represent a web of close relationships spanning generations.

    King Charles is Hugh’s godfather, creating a direct link between the Royal Family and the Grosvenors.

    In turn, Hugh’s mother Natalia is one of Prince William’s godparents.

    u200bu200bHugh Grosvenor

    Hugh Grosvenor is Prince George’s godfather

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    While Prince Harry was reportedly invited to Hugh’s wedding last year, it is understood he did not attend due to the ongoing feud with his brother.

    Princess Eugenie was among the royal guests who did attend the celebration in Chester Cathedral.

    The Duke and Duchess of Westminster shared their pregnancy news in an official statement on Wednesday.

    “The Duke and Duchess of Westminster are very pleased to share that the Duchess is expecting a baby in the summer,” a spokesperson said.

    “The couple are delighted with the news and are very much looking forward to starting a family together.”

    Olivia Benson

    For her special day, Olivia wore an ivory silk gown by British designer Emma Victoria Payne.

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    The couple have maintained a private profile since their wedding last year at Chester Cathedral.

    For her special day, Olivia wore an ivory silk gown by British designer Emma Victoria Payne.

    The elegant dress featured floral motifs and the couple’s initials embroidered into the fabric.

    She completed her bridal look with the Grosvenor family’s Faberge Myrtle Leaf Tiara from 1906.

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