London Gatwick Airport Seeks Second Runway as Air Travel Booms
London’s Gatwick Airport Ltd. is seeking planning permission to bring its second runway into full-time use, potentially raising
2023-07-07 00:46
Steve-O forced to correct interview claim that he was addicted to Diet Coke - because it was cocaine
Steve-O awkwardly had to correct an interview question on a new podcast appearance - by clarifying he was addicted to drugs, and not a popular soda drink. The Jackass star appeared on Steven Bartlett's Diary of a CEO, where he spoke about his addiction to getting attention, and drug addiction. Reading out an interview from 2007, Bartlett noted that Steve-O was 'living off Diet Coke, booze, and nitrous'. The stuntman quickly quipped back: "Not Diet Coke, a diet of cocaine...it's called psychosis and it's a fascinating thing". Click here to sign up for our newsletters
2023-07-07 00:28
Florence Pugh makes return to Paris Fashion Week in transparent dress following last year’s uproar
Florence Pugh has arrived at Paris Fashion Week on Wednesday (5 July) following last year’s uproar over her transparent dress. In 2022, she addressed the “vulgar” backlash she received over her decision to wear a transparent fushia pink Valentino gown to the fashion house’s couture show. At the time, Pugh responded to “commentary” about her outfit in an Instagram post after “so many of you wanted to aggressively let me know how disappointed you were by my ‘tiny t***’, or how I should be embarrassed by being so ‘flat chested’”. “Not a wink of me was nervous” to wear the gown “before, during or even now after” being body-shamed,” Pugh said. She added: “What’s been interesting to watch and witness is just how easy it is for men to totally destroy a woman’s body, publicly, proudly, for everyone to see.” The English actor, who is best known for starring opposite Harry Styles in the 2022 film Don’t Worry Darling, was not put down by last year’s criticism and returned to Valentino’s AW24 show this week on Wednesday in a transparent lilac tulle dress, featuring a plunging neckline, low back and bow detail. Pugh completed the looked with huge black platform heels, a matching handbag and a bright pink buzz cut. Fans have been praising Pugh for returning to the show wearing a bold look in light of the body-shaming she faced last year. “Her confidence is just so alluring,” wrote one fan on Twitter. “She’s just doing what others are too scared to do and I’m here for it,” added another, as one wrote: “SHE IS SOOOO BEAUTIFUL” “I think she looks good, haters gonna hate,” wrote another. Last year, celebrities rallied around Pugh, defending her against critics. The Interstellar actor Jessica Chastain spoke out in support of Pugh at the time, writing: “Why is it so threatening for some men to realise that women can love our bodies without your permission? “We don’t belong to you,” the 46-year-old Oscar winner added. FormerBridgerton star Regé-Jean Page also reacted to the uproar at the time, urging men to “do your bit” in the face of misogyny. “Read the caption. Take a look at yourself fellas [sic],” Page wrote, sharing Pugh’s post on his Instagram Story. “Then take a look at your mates and step up when it’s time to step up. When the boys are out of line, have a word,” he continued. “The weird thing about misogyny is men actually listen to other men, so do your bit, cos the next few years in particular are gonna be a really good time to listen, and take some responsibility, for everyone’s sake.” Read More Woman exits plane after tirade about passenger who is ‘not real’: ‘Final Destination vibes’ Who is in the Royal Box on the fourth day of Wimbledon? Fans mistake Jennifer Garner and Ben Affleck’s daughter Violet, 17, for her mother in new photos As Katie Boulter takes Wimbledon by storm, we look at her best on-court fashion so far How to shine all summer long in the disco-tastic silver trend The Barbie press tour has finally rescued Margot Robbie’s red carpet reputation
2023-07-07 00:20
And just like that, Gloria Steinem makes a cameo in 'Sex and the City'
And Just Like That... has strived to prove itself socially-conscious throughout its one-and-a-half released seasons.
2023-07-06 23:27
Ohio voters are likely to decide the future of abortion rights
Voters in Ohio will likely decide if the state’s constitution should enshrine the right to abortion care, after abortion rights advocates collected tens of thousands of signatures on a petition to put the issue on ballots this fall. If certified, those 710,000 signatures – roughly 300,000 more than required by state law – will place a proposed constitutional amendment asking whether “every individual has a right to make and carry out one’s reproductive decisions.” A statewide vote for abortion protections follows a wave of anti-abortion laws in the aftermath of the US Supreme Court’s decision to strike down a constitutional right to care last year. More than a dozen states, mostly across the entire US South, have effectively outlawed most abortions. But the Supreme Court decision to overturn the half-century precedent under Roe v Wade also fuelled efforts to protect abortion rights across the country, including in neighboring Michigan and Kentucky, where voters in both states voted to support abortion rights in ballot measures last year. After the Supreme Court’s ruling, Ohio lawmakers swiftly outlawed most abortion after roughly six weeks of pregnancy, a law that is currently suspended by a state court injunction but could be reinstated by the Ohio Supreme Court. A vote to enshrine abortion rights in the state’s constitution would effectively overrule any such law. Abortion rights advocates and providers have warned that Ohio’s ban, which does not include exceptions for pregnancies from rape or incest, ignited a healthcare crisis that endangered patients and their families across the state, forcing people to seek care hundreds of miles out of state and navigate complicated legal and medical minefields while experiencing pregnancy complications. The petition launched by Ohioans for Reproductive Freedom and Ohio Physicians for Reproductive Rights will head to the secretary of state, which has until 25 July to determine the validity of the signatures. The campaign launched with an open letter on 7 July of last year signed by hundreds of physicians rejecting the state’s anti-abortion law. “Over the past year, support for the amendment has grown exponentially thanks to our partners at [Ohioans for Reproductive Freedom], the thousands of volunteers who gathered signatures in communities across the state, and the hundreds of thousands of people who added their names to our petitions,” according to a statement from Dr Lauren Beene and Dr Marcela Azevedo, co-founders of Ohio Physicians for Reproductive Rights. “Today, the message we and they are sending is loud and clear: ‘let the people decide,’” they said. The campaign will magnify the role of Ohio – a state that voted for Donald Trump by more than 8 percentage points over Joe Biden in 2020 – in the 2024 presidential campaign and the renewed battle for abortion rights surrounding it, as Republican candidates and members of Congress weigh federal legislation that would outlaw or severely restrict abortion access nationwide. President Biden and Democratic candidates have signalled the central role that abortion rights protections will play in upcoming campaigns, alongside their warnings of a GOP-controlled White House and Congress legislating on abortion at the national level. Last year, a record number of voters in Kansas – a state that Mr Biden lost by more than 15 percentage points in 2020 – turned out for an election to reject a Republican-drafted amendment that would strip abortion rights from the state’s constitution, the first test for abortion rights put directly to voters after the ruling in Dobbs v Jackson Women’s Health Organization. That measure was shot down by nearly 20 percentage points, sending a resounding message that underscored the immense unpopularity of the Supreme Court’s decision. The president has repeatedly invoked that election victory in remarks supporting abortion rights in the months that followed, stating that the Supreme Court “practically dared women in this country to go to the ballot box and restore the right to choose,” and that anti-abortion lawmakers vastly underestimated how Americans would respond. Following the outcome in Kansas, Mr Biden pointed to the justices’ own writing in the Dobbs decision: “Women are not without electoral or political power.” “They don’t have a clue about the power of American women,” he said. “In Kansas, they found out women and men did exercise their electoral political power with a record turnout.” Read More Man sentenced to life in prison for rape of 10-year-old girl in Ohio abortion case that drew national attention Senator who once worked at a Planned Parenthood warns that Republicans are planning a national abortion ban One year after Roe v Wade fell, anti-abortion laws threaten millions. The battle for access is far from over
2023-07-06 22:48
Fiona Phillips target of telephone scam following Alzheimer’s diagnosis
Fiona Phillips found herself to be the victim of a telephone scam following her Alzheimer’s diagnosis. The former breakfast TV presenter, 62, was told she had the condition 18 months ago after she experienced symptoms of anxiety and brain fog, and has since disclosed her diagnosis to the public. Phillips, who is currently taking part in a drug trial that scientists hope could revolutionise the treatment of the incurable illness, has spoken out about an experience where she was scammed over the phone. In a new interview with The Mirror, Phillips explained she was scammed by a person who called her and managed to take money out of her bank account. The publication reports that Phillips was scammed out of “thousands” of pounds but was refunded by her bank. The journalist, best known for presenting the ITV breakfast programme GMTV, told The Mirror that she was reluctant to tell her two sons, Nat, 24, and Mackenzie, 21 – who she shares with her husband, This Morning boss Martin Frizell – about her condition. “I just didn’t want to make a big thing out of it where we all sit down as a family and announce we’ve got something to tell them,” she said. “And I was worried they might be embarrassed in front of their friends or treat me in a different way. And it’s not like I’m doing anything out of character.” Symptoms of Alzheimer’s include memory problems, like forgetting about recent conversations or events or becoming increasingly disorganised. Others include language problems, changes in mood or spatial awareness. It is typical that family members, friends and work colleagues may notice these changes first, often before the person themselves. Phillips, who took part in BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing in 2005, shared that she and Frizell had blood tests to check whether their children could inherit the disease. “We wanted to know in case we needed to prepare the boys to make some difficult decisions later in life,” Frizell told the publication. “When the results came back as negative, it was a huge moment – such an enormous sense of relief. There’s no Alzheimer’s on my side of the family and thank goodness it seems the boys have not inherited from Fiona’s side of the family.” Read More Woman exits plane after tirade about passenger who is ‘not real’: ‘Final Destination vibes’ The Barbie press tour has finally rescued Margot Robbie’s red carpet reputation Fans mistake Jennifer Garner and Ben Affleck’s daughter Violet, 17, for her mother in new photos This is the lesser-known symptom of Alzheimer’s that could affect drivers The shared symptoms of menopause and young onset dementia Fiona Phillips Alzheimer’s diagnosis at 62: 7 ways to reduce your risk
2023-07-06 21:22
Revealing debut for first Saudi in Paris Fashion Week
Paris Fashion Week welcomed its first Saudi designer into the fold on Thursday, with a haute couture show full of...
2023-07-06 19:28
Paige Spiranac breaks Internet as she celebrates National Bikini Day in blue beachwear: 'Plenty of beautiful women but you'd still stand out'
Golf influencer Paige Spiranac, who is known for her bold outfits, showed off her busty red and blue lacey swimwear on National Bikini Day
2023-07-06 19:25
Travel agency Booking to defend ETraveli deal at July 7 EU hearing
By Foo Yun Chee BRUSSELS Online travel agency Booking Holdings will on Friday try to convince European Union
2023-07-06 18:25
Tom Cruise, Barbie Are Hollywood’s Last Hope for Summer Success
Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny, the fifth film in the Walt Disney Co. series about a
2023-07-06 17:58
How to shine all summer long in the disco-tastic silver trend
Silver was a major trend on the spring/summer 2023 catwalks, with models at Michael Kors, Dolce & Gabbana and Gucci sashaying down the runway in dazzling eveningwear looks. From glittering, diamante-encrusted maxi skirts to mirror-like metallic gowns and shiny shoes, designers seem to think silver is the colour of the season. Then, in May, Beyonce commenced her long-awaited Renaissance World Tour and the disco-inspired craze really went into overdrive. Queen Bey wore a series of silver looks on the opening night – including holographic and diamante bodysuits – and has continued to introduce more shimmering looks at later concerts. The singer was inspired by house and disco music while creating hit album Renaissance, and her fashion choices reflect the decadent outfits seen during the Studio 54 era. Fans have been getting in on the action too, with fashion resale platform Depop reporting searches for ‘mirror’ going up by 65% and ‘silver’ spiking by 21% when the tour hit the UK. Celebrities have also embraced the look, with actors Sarah Michelle Gellar, Halle Bailey and Jamie Lee Curtis all rocking glittering ensembles on the red carpet. Kim Kardashian sent out a series of silver looks when she art directed the Dolce & Gabbana SS23 show, and wore a pair of gleaming gowns from the brand herself. But you don’t have to don a floor-length gown to get the disco diva look. From party frocks to everyday shoes, here’s how to wear the silver trend this summer… Party dresses For a sensational summer party look, you can’t go wrong with a sassy silver dress. For maximum impact, take a leaf out of the Paris Hilton playbook (who can forget the chainmail Julien Macdonald number she wore on her 21st birthday?) with a sparkly mini dress. To really nail the Beyonce look, add matching heels and handbag, or let your dress do the talking and team it with neutral accessories. Superdry Sleeveless Sequin A Line Mini Dress, £64.99 Belissh Cowl Neck Metallic Mini Dress Silver, £69 Shiny separates For a slightly more laidback take on the trend, silver separates can be dressed up or down. A swishy sequinned coord set is the ultimate cool-girl party outfit, while metallic shorts or trousers are the on-trend alternative to denim. Jigsaw Pewter Sequin Cami, £125; Pewter Sequin Palazzo Trousers, £150, John Lewis and Partners Misirli 1951 Zero Neck Beige Knitwear Crop Top, £58.46 (was £97.43); Metallic Pull On Shorts, £64.40 (were £107.33) Metallic bags In previous years, a silver bag would only be an after-dark accessory, but this season it’s a daytime staple. A Noughties-style metallic shoulder bag is the perfect partner for baggy jeans, relaxed tailoring or preppy skirts. Hvisk Moon Shiny Smooth Shoulder Bag, £42.50 (was £85), John Lewis and Partners Dune London Duchess S Silver Small Quilted Leather Bag, £120 Disco heels No disco diva ensemble is complete without a pair of metallic high heels for dancing the night away. This season the high street is awash with Seventies style ankle-strap heels perfect for teaming with your summer party dresses. Calla Emily II Silver Glitter Leather Shoes, £149 Monsoon Bow Block Heel Sandals Silver, £75 Esska Clara Silver Heeled Sandals, £155, Oliver Bonas Flashy flats Bring a dash of disco into your everyday wardrobe with a pair of metallic flats. Silver trainers or ballet flats elevate even the simplest of outfits, while shiny sandals are a great day-to-night option on holiday. Air and Grace Sadie Silver Metallic Platform Trainers, £189 Heavenly Feet Trudy Silver Casual Sandals, £44.95 Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Disability Pride Month: Motor neurone disease diagnosis spurred us on to get married 11 ways to channel seaside vibes at home One in four adults in UK have never boiled an egg, survey reveals
2023-07-06 16:29
Disability Pride Month: Motor neurone disease diagnosis spurred us on to get married
Getting married wasn’t “on the books” for London couple Craig Pollard and Alex Herd for a long time. But that changed when Alex got diagnosed with motor neurone disease (MND) in 2021, aged 30. “We decided to get married as a bit of a consequence of Alex’s diagnosis,” explains Pollard, 35. “It wasn’t something that was on the books for us before, especially as being gay, marriage wasn’t available to us when we were younger, so wasn’t necessarily something we’d aspired to. “But then thinking about the legacy we wanted and how much time we had together, we saw it as a good way of bringing our families together and celebrating something really positive in our life.” MND affects nerves in the brain and spinal cord which send signals to muscles. There is currently no cure, so as muscle loss gets worse over time – affecting movement, speech, swallowing and breathing – it eventually leads to death. It’s uncommon and mostly affects people in their 60s and 70s, although as Herd’s diagnosis shows, MND can occur in younger adults too. The charity Challenging MND, which helps people with MND, has the ‘opportunity to create amazing memories’, funded the couple’s big day last year – a fabulous festival-inspired party officiated by drag queen Just May from RuPaul’s Drag Race UK Season 4. They had already been together for a decade, so the wedding was a “celebration of all the things we’ve enjoyed together over the last 10 years”, Pollard notes (plus “lots of glitter and sparkle – it was perfect”). It was also the last time Herd went a full day without using a wheelchair. “So it was the very last moment we possibly could have done that,” adds Herd, now 32. “And we can look back at that as a really special day.” He first started noticing symptoms in early 2021 – muscle twitching then weakness in his hands and arms, before his legs became increasingly affected. Herd used a manual wheelchair for a while but recently switched to an electric one. “That’s changed my life quite a lot,” says Herd. “While I was in the manual wheelchair and Craig was pushing around, I sort of felt like I didn’t really exist anymore, because everyone would interact with him, and I wasn’t responsible for where I was. But now I’m in control of my movement, I feel like I’m more interacting with people myself.” The diagnosis has been challenging on multiple levels, individually and as a couple. MND doesn’t present with exactly the same patterns for everyone – so there is no guidebook as such, and navigating support services relies on a lot of self-advocating. Things such as specialist physiotherapy and occupational therapy can be helpful, along with home adaptations. “Having MND, you have to get used to things changing,” says Herd. “I mean, I can’t necessarily relate at this point to someone who’s been in their wheelchair for their whole life, but because things keep changing, you can’t really get used to it properly. So it’s very difficult for me to kind of keep hold of my identity.” In a recent survey, Challenging MND found 63% of people living with the MND had felt marginalised or ‘othered’ because of their condition, while 51% felt others see MND as their identity. In addition, 80% said they felt isolated, and 69% worry about being a burden to their family. Feeling ‘othered’ is something Alex found himself thinking about while attending Pride London recently. “It’s almost more like something I’m doing, than something other people are doing – because I’m seeing people doing what I would’ve been doing a year ago, it’s still fairly fresh for me, so I’m still comparing the before and after,” he reflects. “At Pride, lots of people get to see themselves represented in the crowds, and that’s nice. But then I realised how much more of a minority people in wheelchairs are. It made us realise how different our situation is now, our priorities and expectations in general.” Music has been an important way for him to stay connected with his identity. “I’ve been making music for over 10 years, so it’s nice I’m still able to do that. I think as much as possible, people in a situation like this need to try and keep doing the things that made them happy before,” he says. While he can no longer play his guitar, Herd made voice recordings to use an instrument and creates tracks on his computer, using foot pedals as he can no longer click the mouse. Since his diagnosis, he’s actually been finishing a lot more songs. “I have less distractions now!” Herd quips. “But using music as a communication tool, that’s definitely become more important to me.” Challenging MND also supported the couple with a trip to Eurovision – “which was really touching and we made great memories”, says Pollard. They’re also grateful to support from the Motor Neurone Disease Association, who provides a local area liaison, and their local St Christopher’s Hospice has been “really helpful”. These things make a huge difference. “Something I’m very conscious of as an able-bodied person is watching Alex have to come to terms with first of all being disabled, then being visibly disabled, and then being disabled in public – there’s been a lot of different elements we’ve had to really tackle,” Pollard reflects, citing navigating public transport as one of the main everyday challenges. There’s an emotional toll too. “My energy levels are a lot lower than they used to be, and my capacity for stress. I feel like I already have this much higher baseline of anxiety about various things, so it feels much easier to become overwhelmed,” says Herd. “I think the only thing we can really do is just try and focus on the next thing, rather than worrying about everything.” As members of the LGBTQ+ community, there are sometimes other nuances to their experiences. They’ve noticed LGBTQ+ events are doing well with accessibility, but representation can be a more subtle matter. “There’s definitely an element of the community who are very mindful of others and very empathetic, which I think has been where I’ve learned a lot about different people’s experiences in my life,” says Pollard. “But when it comes to the overall society of the community, I think there’s still a large proportion of it based on image, based around being cool and trendy. So it’s quite easy for people with accessible requirements to be kind of ignored in that space.” As for their experiences in public, Craig says: “We have struggled to feel like we can take up space. First of all being LGBT, we often don’t feel that safe in certain spaces, public transport we’ve had trouble on once or twice in the past, so you’re always a bit uneasy. With moving into being more visibly disabled and needing more accessible requirements, that’s something we’ve to discuss and manage.” Thanks to Challenging MND, the couple are banking up the joyful times. “They offered to support our wedding, which was really special, and without them we probably wouldn’t have had it,” says Pollard. “That isn’t just a memory for us, it’s a memory for our families and friends too. It was really special.” Challenging MND aims to support and empower those living with MND to create lasting memories for themselves and their families. To date they’ve granted in excess of £1.1million and supported over 100 families.
2023-07-06 16:22