including

LIDL has released a slew of exciting new items in its famous middle aisle. 

The products include everything from household essentials to gardening gadgets and are available at stores across Britain. 

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Two separate sales are underway at the brand’s stores, with both kicking off on August 24. 

The deals include the Clean-up Prices-Down deal and the Parkside sale. 

The Clean-Up Prices-Down has seen a huge range of products go on sale for staggering low prices.

On the more expensive end of the spectrum, Tower Aquajet Plus Carpet Washer retails for just £69.99, while a Nimble Anti-Tangle Vac is selling for just £59.99.

However, some products are selling for under £10. 

The Livarno Home Extendable Handle is just £2.99, as is the brand’s mop head. 

That means a full mop can be yours for just £5 when bought in Lidl’s middle aisle. 

Other products on sale include a £17 Philips iron, a £9.99 clothes airer and a slew of cleaning pads for under £2. 

The Parkside sale includes many of the garden tech brand’s products, some of which are included in the supermarket’s Lidl Plus promotion. 

The Brand’s Long-Reach Hedge Trimmer normally costs £59.99, but is £10 less if you use Lidl Plus. 

The shovel with a root saw retails for £19.99, but is 25 per cent off when you use the store’s promotion. 

Other products in the Parkside middle-aisle sale include a pressure washer, top handle petrol chainsaw and a variety of secateurs. 

A range of Livarno gardenware covers are also available for £4.99.

Lidl regularly goes viral for its wide variety of products.

The supermarket is selling a vacuum cleaner which is £100 cheaper than the exact same one available on Bosch. 

The Bosch Readyy’y Cordless Vacuum Cleaner costs just £99.99 on Lidl’s website. 

Meanwhile, the hoover costs £199.99 on the Bosch website.

The vacuum can be used upright or handheld, making it perfect for cleaning floors and kitchen surfaces.

The device also folds completely flat, making it easy to clean in difficult to reach areas.

Who wouldn’t be interested in some Warren Buffett stocks to consider for their portfolio? After all, Buffett’s investing chops have not been exaggerated. He increased the value of his company Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.A -0.13%) (BRK.B -0.06%) by 5,500,000% (nearly 20% annually) over 60 years. In contrast, the S&P 500 index of 500 of America’s biggest companies gained about 39,000% (10.4% annually, on average) over the same period.

Here, then, are some stocks in the Berkshire Hathaway portfolio that you might want in your own. Do note, though, that the days of Buffett himself making all the investment decisions (often in consultation with his late business partner Charlie Munger) are over. He now has two investing lieutenants, Ted Weschler and Todd Combs, so some stocks in the portfolio may be their picks.

Image source: The Motley Fool.

1. Amazon

You might know that Berkshire Hathaway owns multiple insurance and energy operations, along with companies such as Dairy Queen International, See’s Candies, Fruit of the Loom, and the entire BNSF railroad. Buffett has long avoided many high-tech companies, but yes, his company now owns shares of Amazon.com (AMZN 3.12%) — some 10 million shares, in fact, per the latest disclosure.

You might want to consider buying Amazon stock, too, because it still has enormous growth potential. It features a hugely dominant online marketplace, but it’s also home to a major cloud computing platform, Amazon Web Services (AWS). Its shares are appealingly valued at recent levels, too, with a recent forward-looking price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 34, well below the five-year average of 46.

2. Lennar

You may not be very familiar with Lennar (LEN 5.19%), but it’s a major homebuilder in America, and its future is promising because America needs many more homes — especially affordable ones for young first-time home buyers. If interest rates drop in the near future, that could spur home buying, though a recession could thwart that trend.

Near term, it’s hard to know what will happen, but Lennar’s long-term outlook is promising. Patient investors can collect a dividend that recently yielded 1.5% — and that has grown by an annual average rate of 33% over the past five years.

Lennar shares are reasonably priced at recent levels, too, with a price-to-sales ratio of 1, on par with its five-year average, and a forward P/E of 13 above the average of 9. It’s a new holding for Berkshire, and Berkshire already owns 3% of the company.

3. Chevron

Chevron (CVX 1.50%) is Berkshire’s fifth-largest stock holding, and Berkshire now owns close to 7% of the energy giant. It’s another dividend-paying stock, with a recent fat 4.5% yield. It’s also been a big stock repurchaser, with its reduced share count leaving each remaining share more valuable.

Why might you buy Chevron stock? Well, thanks to various investments (such as its purchase of Hess), it stands to collect a lot of free cash flow in the years ahead — which can be used to pay dividends and increase dividends. Chevron is also well positioned to profit from both traditional energy sources as well as alternative energies.

Chevron’s forward P/E was recently 20, a bit above its five-year average of 14, suggesting it’s somewhat overvalued. You might wait for a lower price, or buy into it incrementally, or just buy anyway — as long as you plan to remain invested for many years.

4. UnitedHealth Group

Berkshire was in the news recently, for buying into the beleaguered health insurer UnitedHealth Group (UNH 1.24%). It’s a new holding for Berkshire, and was recently the 18th-largest position in the portfolio

Shares of the insurer were recently down 39% year-to-date, in part due to the fact that it’s being investigated by the Department of Justice for possible Medicare fraud. Also, its CEO has just stepped down. For those who see such issues as temporary and surmountable, this is a good buying opportunity.

You can be sure the company’s management is working to turn things around, and simple demographics paint a promising future, too, as our growing and aging population will continue to need healthcare — and medications. (UnitedHealth includes the pharmaceutical specialist Optum.)

5. Berkshire Hathaway

A last Berkshire Hathaway stock to consider is Berkshire Hathaway itself. It’s built to last, after all, and is likely to keep growing over time, though not at the breakneck speeds of yore, perhaps. Buffett is stepping down at the end of the year, but he’ll still be around, and his successor, Greg Abel, is a promising choice.

Berkshire Hathaway doesn’t pay a dividend, but when it’s under new management, that might change. It has all depended on whether there were more productive ways to deploy the company’s cash. So far there have been, but Abel might decide differently. Investing in Berkshire means you’ll always be a part-owner of any stock in Berkshire’s portfolio.

Give any or all of these companies some consideration for your own portfolio. And know that you can always take the easier (and also effective) path, recommended by Buffett himself, of opting for a simple, low-fee index fund.

A passenger bus carrying Afghan returnees from Iran struck a motorcycle and a fuel truck, triggering a huge fire.

The death toll from a bus crash in western Afghanistan has risen to 79, after two survivors died from their injuries, an interim Taliban administration official said.

The incident occurred late on Tuesday in Herat province’s Guzara district, when a passenger bus carrying Afghan returnees from Iran struck a motorcycle and a fuel truck, triggering a huge fire.

At least 19 children were among those killed, Abdul Mateen Qani, spokesman for the interim Interior Ministry, told reporters in Kabul on Wednesday.

Mohammad Janan Moqadas, chief physician at the military hospital, said many bodies were too badly burned to be identified.

A journalist with the AFP news agency reported that cleanup crews were working on Wednesday to remove the burned-out bus and the twisted wreckage of the other vehicles.

“There was a lot of fire… There was a lot of screaming, but we couldn’t even get within 50 metres to rescue anyone,” witness Akbar Tawakoli, 34, told AFP. “Only three people were saved from the bus. They were also on fire and their clothes were burned.”

Abdullah, 25, another witness, told AFP, “I was very saddened that most of the passengers on the bus were children and women.”

The bus was transporting Afghans recently expelled from Iran to the capital, Kabul, provincial spokesman Mohammad Yousuf Saeedi said. The central government has ordered an investigation.

“It is with deep sorrow that we mourn the loss of numerous Afghan lives and the injuries sustained in a tragic bus collision and subsequent fire in Herat province last night,” it said in a statement.

More than 1.5 million Afghans have returned from Iran and Pakistan this year alone, according to the United Nations migration agency, as both countries step up deportations after decades of hosting Afghan refugees. Many arrive with little means and face dire conditions in a country battling poverty and mass unemployment.

The state-run Bakhtar News Agency described the incident as one of Afghanistan’s deadliest accidents in recent years.

In December 2023, two separate bus crashes involving tankers killed 52 people, while in March 2024, another 20 died in a collision in Helmand province. In late 2022, a tanker overturned in the Salang Pass, igniting a fire that killed 31.

Luxury cruising has become synonymous with opulence and service, and these ships are some of the most expensive in the world – but they offer something a little bit special

Luxury cruising has evolved beyond simply travelling from port to port – it’s now about embracing a way of life filled with sophistication, comfort and carefully crafted experiences on the open seas.

Throughout the last ten years, cruise operators have revolutionised their fleets into floating masterpieces, combining the personal touch of boutique accommodation with the magnificence of top-tier resorts.

These ships are crafted not merely to ferry passengers to stunning locations but also to envelop them in the most exquisite facilities conceivable, reports theluxurytravelexpert just days after a new 129-day cruise was launched from Sydney to London with unlimited food and drink.

READ MORE: Road trips to Europe’s most beautiful cities planned using free travel toolREAD MORE: Island you can only visit on cruises has perfect beaches and all-inclusive drinks

1. CRYSTAL SERENITY – CRYSTAL CRUISES.

Freshly rejuvenated, the Crystal Serenity merges traditional elegance with modern luxury. Cabins and suites boast generous proportions, showcasing premium furnishings, private balconies and considerate details including pillow menus and bespoke evening service, reports the Express.

Restaurant options include the Waterside main dining room serving internationally influenced dishes, an elegant Marketplace buffet and the exclusive Vintage Room offering wine-pairing experiences.

6. SCENIC ECLIPSE – SCENIC LUXURY CRUISES & TOURS.

Frequently dubbed the globe’s inaugural “discovery yacht,” Scenic Eclipse provides ultra-premium expedition adventures that merge luxury with exploration. Equipped with twin helicopters, a submersible and numerous Zodiacs, it provides access to isolated locations such as the Arctic, Antarctica and the Mediterranean.

Passengers can enjoy helicopter excursions for panoramic viewing, explore underwater in the submarine, or paddle alongside marine life in pristine waters. 5.

EVRIMA – THE RITZCARLTON YACHT COLLECTION.

Evrima, the inaugural yacht of The RitzCarlton Yacht Collection, sets a new standard by combining the intimate feel of a private yacht with the brand’s signature service and sophistication. Suites are designed with warm natural materials, plush furnishings and luxurious amenities to create serene retreats.

Its intimate size allows access to exclusive, lesser-travelled ports and hidden coves that larger ships cannot reach, delivering unique, immersive destination experiences.

4. EXPLORA 1 – EXPLORA JOURNEYS.

Explora 1, the flagship of Explora Journeys from MSC Group, aims to redefine elegant ocean travel with sustainability and personalisation at its core. Hosting around 918 guests, it offers an intimate atmosphere with spacious, contemporary suites featuring floor-to-ceiling windows, private terraces and a minimalist aesthetic inspired by the Mediterranean.

State-of-the-art technology reduces its environmental footprint, including advanced wastewater treatment and energy-efficient systems.

3. SILVER ENDEAVOUR – SILVERSEA CRUISES.

Purpose-built for polar exploration, Silver Endeavour brings ultra-luxury to the world’s most remote regions without compromising comfort. With an ice-class 6 rating, it navigates Arctic and Antarctic waters to reach pristine destinations such as the Ross Sea and the Northwest Passage.

Onboard, spacious suites offer floor-to-ceiling windows or private verandas, plush bedding and personalised butler service to ensure every detail is attended to.

2. SEABOURN VENTURE – SEABOURN CRUISE LINE.

Seabourn Venture represents the pinnacle of ultra-luxury expedition cruising, combining extraordinary adventures with the brand’s lavish comforts. Carrying just 264 guests and built to a robust Polar Class 6 standard, it explores remote polar regions and hidden tropical paradises with confidence.

All-suite accommodations feature elegant furnishings, private verandas and modern amenities including custom-designed beds and deep soaking tubs.

1. SEVEN SEAS SPLENDOR – REGENT SEVEN SEAS CRUISES.

Seven Seas Splendor is widely described as the most refined ship ever built, with a construction cost exceeding $600 million – the most expensive cruise ship on a per-passenger basis. Designed for just 750 guests, it delivers exclusivity and sophistication, from custom-crafted furnishings to fine Italian marble.

Suites rank among the most spacious at sea, complete with private balconies, expansive living areas and indulgent marble bathrooms.

WITH huge smiles, cheering crowds and an incredible ten-year career of hits under their belt, Little Mix went out with a bang in 2022 as they completed their biggest ever UK tour.

Backstage, Perrie Edwards knew she was about to enter an exciting new chapter of her life because, just as the girl group was preparing to go on a break, she was secretly expecting her second child.

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But in a devastating new interview, the singer revealed that, months later, she lost her baby at 24 weeks.

Perrie, 32, who now has son Axel with footballer fiance Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, said she had discovered she was pregnant again “not even a year” after his birth.

She recalled: “I was rehearsing for the last Little Mix tour, and I thought, ‘I don’t feel good’. Every symptom under the sun. I was like, ‘I think I’m pregnant’.”

But as her pregnancy progressed past the five-month mark, Perrie began to suspect that medics had spotted something wrong with her unborn baby.

‘Loved being pregnant’

She said: “We went for what was a 20-week scan, but we were actually 22 weeks, and that was just the worst day of my life. Like, horrendous.

“I just knew something was wrong in the scan. I’ve never experienced an out-of-body experience where everything goes in slow motion.”

Two weeks later, Perrie and Alex were given the heartbreaking news that there was no heartbeat. She said: “So then I remember sobbing. Alex was injured at the time and couldn’t really drive.

“He was struggling to drive, but I couldn’t see straight. I was just distraught. We basically lost the baby at, like, 24 weeks.”

Perrie bravely opens up about her anguish on the We Need To Talk podcast with Paul C Brunson, out this morning.

And she revealed Axel, who turns four on Thursday, was a “rainbow baby” — the term used for a tot born after a previous pregnancy loss.

The star explained: “I had a miscarriage very early on with my first ever pregnancy.

“I remember finding out I was pregnant. Obviously, I started bleeding not long after, and I went to hospital and I had the scan and they were like, ‘There’s no baby.’ And I was like, ‘Oh, I’ve made this up.

“Maybe I got a false positive or something’. I remember being on my own at the appointments.” Perrie said of the cherished son she went on to have in August 2021: “Axel’s a rainbow baby.”

In heartbreaking detail, she also recalled how she had already planned out her baby’s bedroom before her second miscarriage.

She admitted: “It’s weird, because the first time it happened, I think because it was so early, I was like, ‘Oh, that’s hard’.

“But I think when you’re 24 weeks and you’ve planned out that room and all these things, it’s really hard. And nobody knows other than immediate friends and family.

“I remember shortly after, friends would message and be like, ‘How’s the bump?’ And I’d be like, ‘There is no bump’.”

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The You Go Your Way singer said her first pregnancy loss had made her naturally apprehensive when she learned she was expecting Axel.

She explained: “When I was pregnant with him, I loved being pregnant, it was one of the happiest times of my life. I just love carrying babies.

“And it was lovely. But I was a bit on edge, thinking, ‘Oh gosh, I want to get past the 12 weeks. I want to get past this’. And when I get past every scan, that pregnancy was complete bliss, it was perfect.”

Thankfully, Perrie had former England midfielder Alex, 32 — who fans nickname The Ox — by her side. The couple have been together since 2017 and got engaged in 2022.

I didn’t even want to meet anybody. I was like, that’s me done. I don’t think I could bear that pain.

Perrie Edwards

Their relationship came two years after Perrie’s engagement to first love Zayn Malik, of One Direction, fell apart before millions of fans.

They had met in 2011, when X Factor stars One Direction returned to perform on the series of the singing contest that Little Mix won.

Months later, they were a fully fledged couple, but it was never plain sailing. Zayn was alleged to have cheated with an Australian waitress in a London club, and was later hit with more claims of infidelity.

In 2013, he demonstrated his commitment by getting a portrait of Perrie tattooed on his arm and even bought her mum a house in Dorset.

But in 2015, they split — and she was left devastated, with reports at the time that he had ended their almost four-year romance by text.

The ordeal inspired one of Little Mix’s biggest hits, the chart-topping Shout Out To My Ex.

‘Always the underdogs’

However, Perrie held a dignified silence on the ins and outs of their relationship and how it ended.

Reflecting on it now, she explained: “I think definitely, at the time, I thought everything we experienced in our relationship was normal. Because it was my first relationship, first love.

“I was like, ‘Oh, this is how it’s supposed to feel. It’s supposed to feel a little bit toxic. In some ways, this is probably normal, right?’.

“And then, when I became single, I was almost thinking, ‘I never, ever want to go through that again’. I didn’t even want to meet anybody. I was like, that’s me done. I don’t think I could bear that pain.

“But now, I’m thinking, ‘Oh, that probably wasn’t good’. And I’ve noticed it a lot.

“Like in the start of the relationship, I would handle things differently with Alex, and he’d come at it with such a level head that it would throw me.”

On what kind of man Alex is, Perrie continued: “He’s very mature. He’s very laid back. He’s very level-headed.

“He’s not the type to get mad or get angry or get funny about things. It might sound boring to some, but it’s so unproblematic.”

During her time in Little Mix, Perrie — alongside Jade Thirlwall, Leigh-Anne Pinnock and, up until the end of 2020, Jesy Nelson — sold over 75million records, released six albums, had five No1 singles and became the first girl band in 41 years to win the British Group gong at the Brit Awards.

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Since then, she has signed a deal with Columbia Records, which has a roster featuring Adele, Beyonce and Harry Styles, and released a handful of solo singles, including Forget About Us, which peaked at No10 last year.

This Friday, Perrie is back with her latest single, If He Wanted To He Would. But she still feels like Little Mix were underestimated.

She said: “I still think they looked at us and thought it was four little girls in a pop group.

“I don’t think they really saw the graft and the dedication and the numbers and the success that we had. I still think people kind of overlook it a little bit.

“And we were always the underdogs. Like from the very beginning, it was like, ‘You won’t do very well. Bands don’t do that well and it won’t last’.

“That’s what gave us the fire in our bellies to want to work so hard to prove everybody wrong.”

Despite her later success, the Black Magic singer had a tough childhood as she was born with oesophageal atresia, a condition where the oesophagus doesn’t fully develop, and she was in and out of hospital as a youngster.

She told the podcast: “I was there every other week for an operation, so I was used to being put to sleep.

“Instead of counting down from ten, I’d be like, ‘Meet me downstairs in a van,’ (singing), off I went.”

It was Perrie’s passion and talent for singing which meant her mum Debbie was always confident she would make it in music.

She said: “I remember sobbing that I failed my GCSEs, and my mum was like, ‘It’s OK, darling, you’re going to be a singer’.

“I was like, ‘Why is she such an irresponsible parent? I’m never going to get a job.’ And she was like, ‘Well, you’re not going to need a job. You’re going to be a singer’.”

SOCIAL media slang words skibidi, tradwife and delulu have been added to the Cambridge Dictionary.

They are among thousands of new expressions, which also include the working from home term “mouse jiggler” and toxic “forever chemicals”.

Skibidi has different meanings, such as “cool” or “bad”, and can also be used with no real meaning, for example in: “What the skibidi are you doing?”

The term was coined by the creator of a viral animated video series called Skibidi Toilet on YouTube, Cambridge Dictionary said.

Tradwife — short for traditional wife — is a married woman who cooks and cleans and stays at home to look after her children.

And delulu means somebody who chooses to believe things which are not true — as in delusional.

Colin McIntosh, of Cambridge Dictionary, said: “Internet culture is changing the English language and the effect is fascinating to observe and capture in the dictionary.

“We only add words where we think they’ll have staying power.”

The dictionary uses a database of more than two billion words in written and spoken English to observe how new words are used by different people, how often and in which context.

Remote working helped “mouse jiggler” — a device or piece of software used to make it seem as though a shirker is working — gain its place in the dictionary.

And “forever chemicals” are man-made substances which do not naturally break down and pollute the environment or the body.

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You can find it on Spotify in playlists for insomniacs, but on a Friday afternoon on Exmoor, we are happily listening to the real thing: the gorgeous ambient sound made by grasshoppers, birds and the buzzing insects that momentarily fly in and out of earshot.

The view is just as serene: the deep-blue Bristol Channel in the middle distance, golden fields just in front of us and, in our immediate surroundings, huge expanses of grasses and wildflowers. Our tent is pitched between two strips of woodland, which provide just enough shade. To complete the sense of calm wonderment: for 24 hours, we have this piece of land completely to ourselves.

Essentially, we are wild camping, but in a reassuringly managed way. Our spot has been arranged by CampWild, an adventure outfit that started in 2023 and has about 200 approved locations on its books.

A SECRET website crammed with discontinued snacks and unusual flavours from across the globe has been revealed.

From Lemon Pie Twix bars to Italian-inspired Nestle treats, the online store promises to spice up your kitchen cupboards.

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Discount Dragon is an online-only retailer that sells products that are no longer on shelves from well-known brands.

The online shop is currently selling 18 lemon-flavored Twix bars from Brazil for just £11.99.

The zingy chocolate bars were inspired by the beloved Brazilian lemon pie.

Each bar features a crisp biscuit base topped with a tangy lemon-flavoured creme and wrapped in smooth milk chocolate.

If citrus isn’t your bag, there are also strawberry pie-flavoured Twix bars.

Nestle’s Extrafino Maxibon Chocolate bar is also up for grabs for just £1.99.

With three indulgent layers of chocolate and a satisfying crunchy base – this Italian favourite comes in a 235g bar.

Cheetos Flamin’ Hot Limon flavour from America are also available on the site.

Packed with fiery chilli and a lime zing, the crunchy snacks are perfect straight from the bag or to be enjoyed with cheese for the ultimate nachos dish.

For more tasty deals, keep your eyes glued to Discount Dragon’s “Snacks & Treats” category.

They rotate mysterious stock regularly—from multipacks of limited-edition bars to exotic overseas flavours.

Discount Dragon also flogs brand-name grub for fractions of the usual cost.

Don’t worry, the website is perfectly legal and squeaky clean – it just snags surplus stock, clearance lines, or bulk buys at knock‑down prices, and simply passes the savings onto savvy punters.

With no minimum spend, you can bag yourself goodies anytime—though £40 or more gets you free tracked delivery.

Orders promptly dispatched—24 trackers in 1–2 working days, 48 in 2–3.

The website also offers 1p sales on snacks and household items from time to time.

Recently, the mad promotional sale included Nestlé Milkybar eggs, scented candles, flavoured honeys, and premium snacks.

These 1p wonders are snapped up in seconds by eagle-eyed bargain hunters with lightning-fast fingers.

This comes as B&M shoppers spotted a rare flavour of Snickers selling for just £1.

Customers were surprised to see coffee flavoured versions of the classic chocolate stocked on the shelves of the bargain store.

Posting on the Facebook group Food Finds UK Official, a user wrote: “Not sure if these are new, but in B&M and I’ve never seen this flavour!”

One user wrote: “I’ve been meaning to check out B&M for ages now and this might just be the push I need to go.”

Another added: “Imported from Australia, I had them over there and so so good I’ll need to head to B&M.”

“I will be trying these,” a third wrote.

How does Discount Dragon work?

Discount Dragon launched in 2022 and flogs products nearing their best before date or items with faulty packaging.

Because traditional retailers want to shift this produce, Discount Dragon can buy it for massively discounted prices then pass these discounts on to shoppers.

Bargain hunters will find a host of branded goods, from Cadbury and Fairy to Brewdog and Heinz, on the website on the cheap.

There’s even a dedicated page where you can browse products selling for £2 or less.

Shoppers can currently get Cadbury Dairy Milk Freddos for 25p, Heinz Broccoli and Stilton soup for 35p a tin and 2litre bottles of pineapple and grapefruit Lilt for 99p.

All-in-all, there are hundreds of products to choose from, with prices starting from just 1p.

Discount Dragon also comes with a 4.5 out of 5 star rating on the Trustpilot review website, earning an “excellent” score.

Reviewers note the bargain prices and “fantastic” standard of customer service.

If Discount Dragon doesn’t take your fancy, Motatos is another online supermarket that sells surplus or short-dated stock on the cheap.

Shoppers can pick up branded products such as Walkers, Coca-Cola, Heinz and Kellogg’s.

Approved Food is another, offering consumers products nearing best before dates at discounted prices.

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LIDL is selling a range of budget-friendly camping gadgets as Brits soak up the sunny weather.

The discount supermarket chain is stocking kids’ sleeping bags and chairs, cool boxes and even an air mattress.

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The new range will be perfect for camping during the end of summer and autumn and getting outdoors to make the last of the year’s light.

There are 30 items Crivit Camping range that range from air mattresses to cool boxes.

And some even have a discount attached to them.

For example, the camping cutlery set selling for £9.99 now has 20 per cent with Lidl Plus and is selling for £7.99.

The Crivit Aluminium Camping Table normally sells for £24.99, but with the Lidl Plus card is currently selling for £19.99.

The air mattress in a double size is selling for £14.99, while sleeping bags are selling for £12.99.

A range of four cool bags are selling for £3.99 while backpacks are selling for £14.99.

It comes after Crivit released a number of tents and festival gear for summer at Lidl several months ago.

The incredible Crivit camping range has everything festival-goers need to set themselves up in the Wilderness, including the 4-Person Blackout Tent – popping up in stores for just £99.00 with Lidl Plus.

Crivit was even selling stand up paddleboards at supermarkets.

The Crivit All-Round Inflatable SUP is priced at just £99.99, and was available at Lidl stores from Thursday May 29.

This bargain bed comes after Lidl have begun selling ice cool gel pillows that are easy to use and would be perfect for keeping cool on those hot car trips.

For just £7.99 on the Lidl plus app, shoppers can get their hands on the Silentnight Cooling Gel Pillow Pad.

That’s more than £12 cheaper than a similar product on Argos, with the low price available until June 7.

Described as perfect for restless sleepers and over heaters, the pillow give you instant cooling comfort, so you don’t need to flip your pillow during the night.

At 60x40cm it covers your entire pillow and simply needs to be slid inside your pillowcase on top of your normal pillow.

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CHRISTMAS might still feel months away, but in the world of beauty lovers, the countdown starts now.

The first wave of 2025’s beauty advent calendars has landed, and they’re stuffed with luxe treats, jaw-dropping savings and golden ticket surprise savings.

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TikTok beauty lover Alex, @hiyaimalex, has given fans a first peek at some of the biggest launches for 2025, and we’ve broken down the highlights so you can decide which one to stick on your wish list.

Selfridges

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Whether you like it or not, Selfridges has officially kicked off Christmas in August.

The department store has revealed 23 of the 37 products inside its 2025 beauty advent calendar, with a huge 24 of them full-sized.

Priced at £250 but worth £1,136, it’s packed with high-end favourites.

The following have been confirmed so far.

• Charlotte Tilbury’s setting spray (30ml)
• Laneige’s full-sized berry lip mask
• Lisa Eldridge lip liner
• Augustinus Bader eye cream
• Jo Malone’s English Pear & Freesia scent (30ml)
• A Refy bronze brush
• Moon Glaze Stick
• UK Lash Serum
• Mini Tatcha Silk Cream
• The Ordinary’s niacinamide serum
• Rodial’s Vitamin C tonic
• Elemis resurfacing pads
• Gisou hair oil (20ml)
• Full-sized Color Wow Dream Coat
• Lashify lash set
• Charlotte Mensah salt scrub
• Scalp brush
• Murad hydration mask
• Maria Nila soothing serum
• Mini Ormonde Jayne and Fleur de Teck fragrances

Plus a Selfridges Beauty Concierge card has been added for an as-yet-unknown treat.

The mix of full sizes and fragrance has already got beauty fans buzzing.

You can join the waitlist here.

SPACE NK

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Always one of the most lusted-after calendars, Space NK is back with a sleek new look for 2025.

At £260, it’s a serious investment but with a value of £1,150 and 25 products (many full-sized), it’s one of the most generous on the market.

The waitlist’s already open, so if you want in, you’ll need to move fast.

CULT BEAUTY

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This year Cult Beauty is spoiling shoppers with not one but two advent calendars.

The classic curation has 35 items, while the limited edition has 40, with the latter sneaking in a few fragrance treats.

Priced at £240 with a value of around £1,100, they’re also hiding golden tickets worth £1,000 inside some lucky boxes.

Revealed so far is the Hourglass mascara, Gucci lip oil, Patrick Ta blush duo and Huda Beauty lip gloss.

The waitlist is now open.

SEPHORA

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It seems Sephora is playing hard to get with their 2025 calendar, having not shared a price yet, but we do know it holds 41 products.

Alex reckons she’s spotted the Gisou lip oil, Laneige cream, Merit blush balm, Kayali fragrance, Rare Beauty, Glow Recipe skincare and an Amika dry shampoo.

Fans can expect more reveals soon, but even these early guesses are enough to get beauty fans buzzing.

The waitlist is now open.

ELLE BEAUTY

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Affordable but still packed with high-end names, Elle Beauty’s calendar is going for £130 but worth around £700.

It’s got a jaw-dropping 10 full-sized products.

The full list of products included are as follows.

• Zelens Power B
• Murad Cellular Hydration Barrier Repair Cream
• Medik8 Advanced Day Total Protect SPF30
• Wild Nutrition Food Grown Complete Beauty Support
• Champo Pitta Brow Serum.
• AKT Body Conditioning Balm
• Rare Beauty Soft Pinch Liquid Blush in Happy
• Sync Beauty Lip Oil
• Goldwell Rich Repair Mask
• OPI Infinite Shine
• PERS Vitamin C Serum
• Votary Blemish Rescue Oil
• By Terry Brightening CC Serum
• Narciso Rodriguez All Of Me eau de parfum
• Rodial Snake Serum
• Aveda Botanical Repair Strengthening Leave-In Treatment
• Neal’s Yard Remedies Vegan Wild Rose Beauty Balm
• Aromatherapy Associates Deep Relax Bath and Shower Oil
• Tweezerman Micro Mini Tweezer
• Drunk Elephant A-Passioni Retinol Cream
• L’Occitane Almond Shower Oil
• Gallinee Youthful Serum
• Rituals Ayurveda Shower Foam
• Espa Bergamot Body Lotion
• Fenty Cherry Dub BHA Toner
• Nuxe Hair Prodigieux High Shine Shampoo
• Nuxe Hair Prodigieux High Shine Conditioner

With the waitlist now open.

HARRODS

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The Harrods Beauty Advent Calendar is pure Christmas luxury, costing a hefty £250 for 32 products, 14 of them full-sized.

Fans can expect the crème de la crème of beauty brands, from La Mer and Tatcha to Sisley and Medik8.

The full list of products is below.

• Laura Mercier Black Caviar Extravagant Mascara 8.5g (Full Size)
• La Prairie Foam Cleanser 50ml (Travel Size)
• Medik8 Crystal Retinal 6 30ml (Full Size)
• Rodial Frosted Pink Blush Drops & Bronze Glowlighter 15ml (Full Size) and 2g (Deluxe Mini)
• Evidens De Beaute The Special Mask 30ml (Travel Size)
• Davines OI All In One Milk 50ml (Travel Size)
• Shiseido FSLX Total Regenerating Cream 15ml (Travel Size)
• Sisley Floral Toning Lotion 100ml (Travel Size)
• Beautifect Beauty Blender 1pc (Full Size)
• Hourglass Veil Translucent Setting Powder 2g (Travel Size)
• U beauty Resurfacing Compound 15ml (Travel Size)
• La Mer Crème de la Mer 15ml (Full Size)
• Bobbi Brown Taupe Long Wear Cream Eye Shadow Stick 1.6g (Full Size)
• 111SKIN Cyro Sheet Mask 1pc (Full Size)
• Christophe Robin Cleansing Purifying Scrub & Regenerating Mask 40ml & 75ml (Travel Size)
• Cle De Peau UV Protective Cream 8ml (Travel Size)
• Etat Libre D’Orange Uruk 10ml (Travel Size)
• Skin Cycles Lip Balm 0.5ml (Full Size)
• Lancaster Ligne Princière Cream & Ligne Princière Serum 15ml & 7.5ml (Travel Size & Deluxe Mini)
• Valmont Votre Visage L’Elixir Face Cream 15ml (Travel Size)
• Augustinus Bader The Face Oil 10ml (Travel Size)
• Moncho Moreno Bond J’ aime Bond 100ml (Travel Size)
• MZ SKIN Hydra-Bright Gold Eye Mask 1pc (Full Size)
• MZ SKIN Vitamin Infused Meso Eye Mask 1pc (Full Size)
• MZ SKIN Soothe & Smooth Hyaluronic Brightening Eye Complex 14ml (Full Size)
• Champo Pitta Lash Serum 4ml & Pitta Brow Serum 4ml (Full Size x 2)
• Tatcha Indigo Overnight Repair 15ml (Travel Size)
• Mac Ruby Woo Macximal Sleek Satin Lipstick 3.8g (Full Size)

Pre-order is open but customers are limited to buying a maximum of five boxes.

HARVEY NICHOLS

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Another £250 option, Harvey Nichols’ calendar is worth over £1,000 and already available to rewards members.

Big names include NARS, La Mer, Charlotte Tilbury and Color Wow — and as a festive bonus, one in every 50 calendars contains a £50 Harvey Nicks gift voucher.

You can now join the waitlist.

LIBERTY

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One of the priciest and poshest on the list, Liberty’s advent calendar costs £270 but packs in over £1,200 worth of beauty.

Inside are 30 products, 20 of them full-sized, from brands like Augustinus Bader, Sisley and Lisa Eldridge.

Plus, 15 golden tickets worth £1,000 are hidden among the calendars. The waitlist’s open now, and these will go fast.

ANTHROPOLOGIE

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At £98, this is one of the most affordable luxury beauty calendars of the year, but it’s still worth £365 and includes 11 full-sized items.

With a golden ticket promotion offering extra prizes, it’s a fun, budget-friendly option for beauty lovers who don’t want to miss out on the seasonal sparkle.

Best value for money

If you’re chasing the biggest bang for your buck, Space NK comes out on top for sheer savings at £260 for a £1,150 haul is hard to beat.

Liberty offers the highest overall value at £1,200+, but it’s also the most expensive.

For budget-conscious shoppers, ELF’s £150 calendar crams in £1,100 worth of products, making it the best mid-price steal.

And if you’re after something affordable but still luxe, Anthropologie’s £98 calendar gives you over three times your money in products.

These aren’t the only calendars to hit the market this year so if you’re still after a more affordable option don’t worry.

Boots and a few other high street favourites are still keeping their Christmas cards close to their chest, but if last year’s sell-out calendars are anything to go by, their launches will cause a frenzy.

For now, though, the early releases are already making December mornings look a whole lot more glamorous.

Money-Saving Tips from Gemma Bird: Save £2k Before Christmas

IF youre’ looking to save cash, you’ve come to the right place, as here, Gemma Bird has shared her top tips that’ll save you £2k before Christmas.

• Set a budget: Track your spending and create a realistic budget.
• Cut unnecessary costs: Cancel unused subscriptions and avoid impulse buys.
• Meal planning: Plan meals to reduce grocery bills and avoid takeaways.
• Sell unwanted items: Declutter and sell items online for extra cash.
• Cashback and discounts: Use cashback sites and hunt for discount codes.
• DIY gifts: Make personalised gifts to save money and add a personal touch.
• Pick up a seasonal shift: A really easy way to pick up a bit of extra cash in the winter is to find yourself some seasonal work.

Follow these practical tips from Gemma Bird to boost your savings before the festive season!

THERE are just four days to go until the new Premier League season kicks off.

Champions Liverpool wasted no time in dropping nearly £300million to bolster Arne Slot’s squad ahead of their title defence.

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But as managers across the division make their final preparations ahead of this weekend, chairmen will be trying to get some more players in through the doors in time for the curtain-raisers.

SunSport rounds up ten mega-money transfers that could get done THIS WEEK…

ALEXANDER ISAK

The Newcastle striker’s future has been one of sagas of the summer – will he stay or will he go?

Liverpool had a £110m offer rejected as the Toon want £150m but how helpful could a sulking, unhappy Isak be for Eddie Howe?

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SAVINHO

The Brazilian winger only joined Manchester City a year ago – seen as very much the replacement for Riyad Mahrez.

But Tottenham have entered talks over the wide man – although City would not entertain offers under £50m.

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MARC GUEHI

The Crystal Palace captain led his side to a second Wembley trophy in three months on Sunday – but could line up for opponents Liverpool this season.

Steve Parish admitted the Eagles will sell if the right bid comes in as Guehi enters the final year of his deal. Newcastle have also been interested.

CASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS

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YOANE WISSA

The mass exodus at Brentford this summer may not be over just yet if Wissa follows Thomas Frank, Bryan Mbeumo, Christian Norgaard and Mark Flekken out of the Gtech.

Newcastle reportedly had a £25m bid turned down but look set to go back in for the DR Congo international, with Liverpool monitoring the situation.

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KEVIN

Another Brazilian winger, this time it is Kevin who could be on the move – and heading to the Premier League.

Fulham submitted an offer of £32m but Shakhtar Donetsk are trying to hold out for £43m.

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CARLOS BELEBA

Manchester United want to bring in another midfielder before the window closes – and would love Baleba in time for the start of the new season.

The Cameroon star is only 21 but Brighton will not let him go on the cheap, so much so that the Red Devils may well need to pay a record-breaking £115m-plus for the holding midfielder.

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XAVI SIMONS

Chelsea are after a young, exciting attacker – again. This time it is Xavi Simons being lined up.

RB Leipzig will want at least £60m but the Blues may try and strike a deal which sees Christopher Nkunku return to his former club – plus Tyrique George.

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TRANSFER NEWS LIVE – KEEP UP WITH ALL THE LATEST FROM A BUSY SUMMER WINDOW

ALEJANDRO GARNACHO

Copy and paste from above – but this time it is Alejandro Garnacho who could be on his way to Stamford Bridge with talks underway.

He is part of the ‘bomb squad’ deemed surplus to requirements by United gaffer Ruben Amorim, who will happily see the back of the Argentine wideman who was left out of the USA pre-season tour.

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NICOLAS JACKSON

But with all the incomings at Chelsea – including strikers Joao Pedro and Liam Delap – there may be a major exit, too, with Jackson third-choice No9.

Jackson would prefer a switch to Newcastle, but the Toon will only bid for him should Isak leave – and they are determined not to let that happen.

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EBERECHI EZE

Just like his skipper Guehi, Eze continues to be linked with an exit away from Selhurst Park.

With the Ademola Lookman deal seemingly off the cards, Arsenal may swoop for the Palace talisman in a package worth £55m to £60m – although Tottenham may attempt to hijack the transfer if they can’t get Savinho.

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A surprising number of iconic and underrated 80s movies are currently available to stream – here’s the best of the best

Several incredible movies from the 1980s are available to stream, but what’s the cream of the crop?

Many film buffs will agree that the 80s was one of, if not the best decade for cinema in history, with many of the most iconic films of all time releasing in the space of just 10 years.

From rip-roaring blockbusters to spine-tingling horror movies, the decade launched franchises, produced acclaimed filmmakers and broke box office records left, right and centre.

Let’s run down 10 of the best undeniable classics and a handful of underrated gems, from sci-fi epics to stunning animation and guaranteed tearjerkers.

And, even better, they’re all available to stream right now in the UK, including a handful you can watch completely free.

READ MORE: BBC Gavin and Stacey’s Mathew Horne choked up as he announces colleague deathREAD MORE: Peaky Blinders fans ‘work out’ who next James Bond villain will be after Steven Knight announcement

The Blues Brothers

This musical masterpiece starring John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd is undoubtedly one of the funniest movies produced during this decade.

Based on their iconic Saturday Night Live characters, Jake and Elwood Blues race against time to assemble their R&B band for one last show to save the orphanage where they were raised.

Featuring appearances from beloved blues musicians such as Ray Charles, Aretha Franklin and James Brown, this love letter to music and the city of Chicago is guaranteed to leave you tapping your toes.

The Blues Brothers is available to stream on NOW.

ET

If there’s one name who dominated film culture in the 80s, it’s almost certainly Steven Spielberg.

From acclaimed historical dramas such as The Colour Purple and Empire of the Sun, to rollicking adventures with Indiana Jones, the blockbuster filmmaker released what many consider to be his best films during the decade.

One of his most daring and personal projects at that time, E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, was a risky venture thanks to its small-scale drama and bold premise. Thankfully, the gamble paid off, knocking Star Wars off its podium and remaining the highest-grossing film of all time, until Spielberg beat his own record a decade later with Jurassic Park.

ET is available to stream on Netflix.

Grab Disney Plus’ £1.99 membership right now

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Die Hard

For our money the best action film ever made, Die Hard is a guaranteed crowd-pleaser whether you’re watching at Christmas or during a heatwave.

Launching the big screen career of Hollywood powerhouse Bruce Willis, John McTiernan’s sublime thriller remains so influential to this day that ‘Die Hard on a [insert location/vehicle here]’ is still a bankable pitch for an action film.

With so many imitators out there, make sure you find time for the triumphant genuine article soon.

Die Hard is available to stream on Disney+.

A Dry White Season

This underrated historical drama shines a light on the devastating realities of apartheid in South Africa during the 1970s.

Featuring Donald Sutherland as a teacher at a school for white students, he’s forced to question his morals when the son of his Black gardener is viciously murdered by the white police.

One of the first major Hollywood films directed by a Black woman, Euzhan Palcy, and also featuring an oft-forgotten Oscar-nominated performance from Marlon Brando, A Dry White Season is an essential and gripping part of cinema history that often gets overlooked.

A Dry White Season is available to stream on Prime Video.

The Thing

Body horror became a defining sub-genre of the 1980s thanks to the advancement of special effects and film fans’ growing appetite for boundary-pushing scares.

Widely considered the best example, with masterful practical effects and tension in every frame, John Carpenter’s The Thing is a creature feature like no one had ever seen before – or since.

Starring Kurt Russell, this eerie, paranoid thriller about an Antarctica research team who get infiltrated by a shape-shifting extra-terrestrial was a box office flop at the time but has since become a beloved horror classic.

The Thing is available to stream for free on ITVX.

The Fly

With so many excellent gory masterpieces to choose from, why just settle for one example?

Arguably even more horrifying than The Thing is David Cronenberg’s masterpiece The Fly, a morbid reimagining of a classic sci-fi horror from 1958.

Jeff Goldblum portrays an ambitious scientist who begins to transform after perfecting the art of teleportation, only for his machine to malfunction with grotesque results.

The Fly is available to stream on Disney+.

Do the Right Thing

From body horror to social satire, the 80s were also renowned for a wide variety of thought-provoking dramas.

Influential director Spike Lee was just 32 when he made Do the Right Thing, cementing himself as one of the most prominent Black artists in history by tackling race relations in America like never before.

Combining laugh-out-loud humour with high-stakes drama and career-best performances from much of its cast, which includes Lee himself alongside Danny Aiello, John Turturro and Rosie Perez, there’s a reason why many cinephiles still consider it among the filmmaker’s best work.

Do the Right Thing is available to stream on NOW.

Watch Stranger Things on Netflix for free with Sky

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Sky is giving away a free Netflix subscription with its new Sky Stream TV bundles, including the £15 Essential TV plan.

This lets members watch live and on-demand TV content without a satellite dish or aerial and includes hit shows like Stranger Things.

My Neighbour Totoro

We’d be remiss not to include any animated films on a list of the best of any decade and, while Disney had its fair share of hits, from The Fox and the Hound to The Little Mermaid, in our opinion this masterpiece from Studio Ghibli wipes the floor with all of them.

My Neighbour Totoro is a timeless tale of childhood seen through the whimsical lens of Japanese animation genius Hayao Miyazaki, who injects every heartfelt moment with fantasy and wonder.

If you’ve already seen this animated gem, or fall in love with the furry forest spirit on your first watch, all of Studio Ghibli’s incredible films are available on the same service.

My Neighbour Totoro is available to stream on Netflix.

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Blade Runner

Yes, it’s yet another science fiction classic, but you can’t ignore perfection. While it may have spawned a generation of moody film bros, it’s easy to see why this atmospheric, neon-drenched cyberpunk thriller caught the imagination of so many.

From cinematic mastermind Ridley Scott, who already reinvented the genre with his seminal space horror Alien in 1979, comes a gripping existential head-trip starring Harrison Ford as a futuristic detective tasked with hunting down synthetic humans known as replicants.

Blending classic noir with one of the bleakest visions of the future ever put to film, Blade Runner is worth watching for the visual splendour alone, but will also keep you thinking long after the credits roll.

Blade Runner is available to stream on Prime Video.

Raiders of the Lost Ark

What’s left to say about Raiders of the Lost Ark that hasn’t been said a million times before?

Somehow, Spielberg delivered two masterpieces back-to-back, with the introduction of yet another iconic Harrison Ford hero arriving in 1981, a year before the acclaimed filmmaker made millions of moviegoers sob uncontrollably with ET.

The most iconic movie star of all time in his prime, an enthralling, globetrotting adventure, booby traps and ancient puzzles galore, and Nazis getting punched in the face. What’s not to love?

Raiders of the Lost Ark is available to stream on Netflix and for free on Channel 4.

MILLIONS receiving benefits are in line for one-off boosts to help ease the pain on budgets at certain pressure points over the coming months.

As long as you are claiming qualifying benefits, you could receive several cash injections before the end of the year,

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Here are all the one-off payments on the cards…

Household Support Fund

You can get help with the cost of living through the Household Support Fund.

The pot is worth £421 million and distributed by local councils.

Each authority has different qualifying criteria and gives support in different ways and for different amounts.

It means that what you are able to apply for depends on where you live, as well as your financial situation.

The money is usually given as cash transfer or through shopping or food vouchers.

For example, in some parts of the country such as Portsmouth you can get as much as £1,000.

Whereas households in other areas including Doncaster may be more likely to get up to £300 to support with gas, electricity and food costs.

To find out, you’ll need to look what your council offers and apply directly.

DWP Christmas bonus

Thousands of households on benefits receive a tax-free £10 cash boost from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).

The tax-free £10 payment is paid to eligible households usually during the first full week of December.

To qualify for the payment you must be present or “ordinarily resident” in the UK, Channel Islands, Isle of Man or Gibraltar.

Households will also need to claim at least one of the 20 qualifying benefits within the same period.

The bonus is for those who receive Universal Credit plus mone of the qualifying benefits.

To claim your part of the Christmas cash, you’ll need to be claiming at least one of the following DWP’s benefits:

• Armed Forces Independence Payment
• Attendance Allowance
• Carer’s Allowance
• Child Disability Payment
• Constant Attendance Allowance (paid under Industrial Injuries or War Pensions schemes)
• Contribution-based Employment and Support Allowance (once the main phase of the benefit is entered after the first 13 weeks of claim)
• Disability Living Allowance
• Incapacity Benefit at the long-term rate
• Industrial Death Benefit (for widows or widowers)
• Mobility Supplement
• Pension Credit – the guarantee element
• Personal Independence Payment (PIP)
• State Pension (including Graduated Retirement Benefit)
• Severe Disablement Allowance (transitionally protected)
• Unemployability Supplement or Allowance (paid under Industrial Injuries or War Pensions schemes)
• War Disablement Pension at State Pension age
• War Widow’s Pension
• Widowed Mother’s Allowance
• Widowed Parent’s Allowance
• Widow’s Pension

If you’re part of a married couple, in a civil partnership or live together, you’ll both get the cash bonus – as long as you both are eligible.

If you or your partner do not get one of the above qualifying benefits, then they could still get the bonus if they are over the state pension age by the end of the qualifying week.

Winter Fuel payment

The Winter Fuel Payment is made every year to help cover the cost of energy over the colder months.

It has been changed in recent months so that fewer can claim.

However, the cash boost, worth up to £300, is still valuable for those who quality – particularly those on Pension Credit.

The cash is usually paid in November and December, with some made up until the end of January the following year.

If you haven’t got your payment by then, you need to call the office that pays your benefits.

Households eligible for the payment are usually told via a letter sent in October or November each year.

If you think you meet the criteria, but don’t automatically get the winter fuel payment, you will have to apply on the government’s website.

The Child Winter Heating Assistance

If you’re based in Scotland, you could receive a child winter heating assistance payment of £255.80. 

You get child winter heating payment for a child or young person under 19 who lives in Scotland and who is entitled to:

• the highest rate of the care component of child disability payment (CDP) or disability living allowance (DLA), or
• the enhanced rate of the daily living component of adult disability payment (ADP) or personal independence payment (PIP).

They must be entitled to the relevant disability benefit during the ‘qualifying week’, which is the week beginning on the third Monday in September (w/c Septmber 15 in 2025).

You do not have to make a claim for the payment, but it should be paid by Social Security Scotland, usually in November. 

If you think you’re entitled but have not received payment by the end of December, you should contact Social Security Scotland on 0800 182 2222.

Warm Home Discount

The Warm Home Discount is an automatic £150 discount off energy bills.

As the money is a discount, there is no money paid to you, but you’ll get the payment automatically if your electricity supplier is part of the scheme and you qualify.

You’ll have to be in receipt of one of the following benefits to qualify for one of the payments:

If you don’t claim any of the above benefits, you won’t be eligible for the payment.

Cold Weather payment

Cold weather payments are dished out when temperatures are recorded as, or forecast to be, zero degrees or below, on average, for seven consecutive days between November 1 and March 31.

Eligible Brits are then given extra money to help heat their homes.

You get £25 for each seven-day period where the weather is below zero Celsius on average during this time frame.

You can check if your area has had a cold weather payment by popping your postcode into the government’s tool on its website.

You’ll need to be on certain benefits to qualify, which are:

• Pension credit
• Income support
• Income-based jobseeker’s allowance
• Income-related employment and support allowance
• Universal Credit
• Support for mortgage interest

Those in Scotland don’t get cold weather payments but may be able to receive a winter heating payment instead.

Student maintenance payments loans

Student maintenance loans are paid to university students to help cover living costs such as rent.

They are usually paid at the start of each new term, so you typically receive three payments a year.

 Maintenance Loans are paid straight into your student bank account in three (almost) equal instalments throughout the year.

The amount you will receive depends on where in the UK you’re from, whether you’ll be living at home or not, your household income and how long you’re studying for.

The average Maintenance Loan is approximately £6,116 a year.

Official says ‘contingency plan had flaws’ as torrential rains, floods kill 31 people at senior centre near Beijing.

Torrential rains and flooding across northern China have killed dozens of people, authorities say, including more than 30 elderly residents who were trapped at a care facility in a suburb of the capital Beijing.

Officials said on Thursday that 31 people died at the Taishitun Town Elderly Care Center in the Miyun district, about a 90-minute drive from central Beijing, which was one of the areas hit hardest by this week’s storms.

“For a long time, this senior centre was in the town’s centre and was safe, and such was not included in the preparedness plans,” said Yu Weiguo, the Communist Party secretary for Miyun, expressing his condolences and adding it was a “bitter lesson”.

“This showed that our contingency plan had flaws, and our understanding of extreme weather was inadequate,” Yu said.

The care centre housed 69 residents, including 55 who were disabled in some capacity. The facility sat on low-lying ground near a river that had flooded after the unusually intense rains, local media outlet Caixin reported.

Torrential rains began a week ago and peaked around Beijing and its surrounding provinces on Monday.

In the space of a few days, the hilly Miyun district in the northeast of the capital saw rainfall of up to 573.5mm (22.6 inches). By comparison, the average annual precipitation in Beijing is around 600mm (23.6 inches).

The Miyun Reservoir, the largest in northern China, saw record-breaking water levels during the rains.

The Qingshui River, which runs through Taishitun feeding into the reservoir and is normally a small stream, was flowing at 1,500 times its normal volume on Monday morning when the disaster struck, Yu said.

One Beijing resident’s 87-year-old mother managed to get out of the elder care centre in Miyun, Caixin reported.

“She doesn’t know where she got the strength, but she managed to climb onto the windowsill,” the woman’s daughter said, noting her mother’s roommate was unable to escape and drowned.

Hundreds of thousands affected

At a news conference on Thursday, Beijing’s Deputy Mayor Xia Linmao said at least 44 people died over the past week in the city.

In total, more than 300,000 people have been affected by the rain and flooding in the capital, with more than 24,000 homes, 242 bridges and 756km (470 miles) of roads damaged, said Xia, citing preliminary figures.

In neighbouring Hebei province, authorities announced an additional eight deaths on Thursday and 16 deaths total this week.

At least 31 people were missing in Beijing and Hebei province, authorities said.

Meanwhile, in northern Shanxi province, authorities said on Wednesday evening that 10 people were dead after a minibus carrying farm workers washed away in heavy rain.

Four people were still missing as the rescue continued, according to a city government statement three days after the bus disappeared.

LONDON Heathrow Airport has revealed their multi-billion masterplan for the extension of the airport including the controversial third runway.

The huge project is expected to cost nearly £50million, if given the go-ahead by the government.

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The major new upgrade will be the £21billion third runway, which is set to be operational in the next 10 years.

This is the same estimation of costs predicted in 2014 of £14billion, when adjusted for inflation.

The new 3,500 metre runway will be in the northwest of the airport, and will eventually welcome up to 276,000 new flights a year.

This takes the annual flights from 480,000 to 756,000, with as many as 30 new flight routes a day.

It could even welcome more budget airlines, such as easyJet who have expressed desires to launch from London Heathrow with the expansion.

easyJet boss Kenton Jarvis said: “I’ve always thought Heathrow would fit our network of primary airports with great catchment areas.

“It would be a unique opportunity to operate from Heathrow at scale and give us an opportunity to provide lower fares for UK consumers that currently at Heathrow just have the option of flag carriers.”

The airport suggests this could save as much as £79billion over three decades with the addition of low-cost airlines.

A new £15billion terminal complex will also be built, called T5XW and T5XN.

The creation of the new terminals will also see T1 and T3 demolished, and T2 expanded, at the cost of £15billion.

In total, the entire project is expected to cost as much as £49billion.

As many as 150million passengers could then be using the airport, up from 84million.

This would make it the busiest airports in the world, overtaking Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport’s 105million passengers.

The airport hopes to get planning permission by 2029, if ministers allow the proposal to go ahead.

Other parts of the renovation include a 50 per cent in cargo capacity, and and larger access for buses and trains.

One of the biggest concerns is the access around the M25, a notoriously busy motorway.

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The improvement plans also include the widening the M25 near the Heathrow junctions (at a cost of £1.5billion) which will see a new section in a tunnel under the runway to reduce congestion.

A similar road layout is already in place at Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris.

Earlier today, rival plans for a cheaper third runway were put forward.

Arora Group – a major Heathrow landowner – proposed a shorter third runway which would eliminate the need to reroute the M25.

Rather than being 3,500 metres in length, it would be just 2,800 metres.

The plans also include a new T6 terminal, with the full project estimated at £25million – half the cost of the official London Heathrow plans.

Mr Surinder Arora explained in regards to the ‘Heathrow West’ plan: “I am proud to unveil the Heathrow West proposal which meets the UK’s ambition to grow its only hub airport while delivering on time and on budget.”

He added that the Arora Group had a “track record of delivering on-time and on-budget projects including in and around Heathrow airport.”

However, London Heathrow refuted their suggestions in the their own proposal, saying “any other proposal would not have this extensive public scrutiny and policy backing, risking years of delay and judicial review which mean the Government’s timetable would be undeliverable.”

They also said that shorter runways “do not necessarily cost less” as the different location would require buying more residential properties with compensation costs not factored in.

Here’s another mega airport opening in Europe set to take on London Heathrow.

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The attacker was armed with an AR-style rifle when he opened fire inside a skyscraper at 345 Park Avenue, Midtown Manhattan.

At least four people, including a New York City police officer, have been killed in a shooting inside a Midtown Manhattan office tower that houses major financial institutions and the headquarters of the National Football League, US media reports.

The shooting took place at about 6pm local time (22:00 GMT) on Monday at 345 Park Avenue in Midtown Manhattan, with police arriving at the scene within minutes, according to local media reports.

The suspected shooter, tentatively identified as a 27-year-old man from Las Vegas, was also found dead at the scene, CNN reported. The US network said authorities believe he died from a self-inflicted injury, citing multiple law enforcement sources.

The New York Post, citing unnamed police sources, reported that the gunman was wearing a bullet-resistant vest and was armed with an AR-style rifle when he opened fire inside the skyscraper. He had reportedly barricaded himself inside the building, possibly on the 32nd floor.

CNN said police shared a photo of the suspect walking into the building carrying the rifle. Preliminary checks of the suspect’s background did not show a significant criminal history, the report added, citing officials.

New York Police Department Commissioner Jessica Tisch said the situation has been “contained” and that the “lone shooter has been neutralised”.

New York Mayor Eric Adams said in a video message on X that there were “multiple injuries” in the shooting.

The skyscraper at 345 Park Avenue is home to several major firms, including Blackstone – the world’s largest hedge fund – KPMG, Deutsche Bank and the headquarters of the National Football League (NFL). It is located near Rockefeller Centre, just a few blocks south of Central Park.

Three killed in Reno casino shooting

Separately, earlier on Monday, an attacker armed with a pistol opened fire outside a casino in Reno, Nevada, killing three people and critically wounding two others, before being shot and seriously injured by police, authorities said.

The shooting occurred just before 7:30am local time (00:30 GMT) at the valet station in the car park of the Grand Sierra Resort, a high-rise casino and hotel complex in Nevada’s third-largest city, according to police.

The suspect, whose identity has not been released, was described only as an adult male.

Police believe the victims were targeted at random.

POLICE say a “lone shooter” has been “neutralised” after an officer and three civilians were shot in a brazen daylight attack in New York City.

The gunfire erupted inside a swanky skyscraper on East 52nd Street between Park Avenue and Lexington Avenue on Monday — home to corporate giants Blackstone and the NFL.

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Authorities have yet to release full details of the incident, but a law enforcement source told Reuters that at least one NYPD officer and three civilians were hit by gunfire.

New York City Police Commissioner Jessica S. Tisch later posted on X: “UPDATE: At this time, the scene has been contained and the lone shooter has been neutralized.”

The crazed gunman clad in a bulletproof vest and carrying an assault rifle stormed the building before barricading himself inside, law enforcement sources told the New York Post.

He was reportedly equipped with a silencer when he opened fire in a room of the skyscraper where about 30 people were gathered, according to the American outlet.

The suspect was later discovered on the 33rd floor, dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, the NY Post and CNN reported, both citing police sources.

Chilling images shared by the Post appear to show the gunman casually walking through the entry plaza of the Park Avenue skyscraper with an assault rifle at his side.

The suspect has not yet been officially identified.

In footage captured by Fox 5, officers were seen carrying a bloodied victim while others tended to a person lying on the ground outside.

Witnesses reported hearing gunshots echoing through the area around nearby 51st Street and Park Avenue.

One told the New York Post: “It sounded like a barrage of shots …Like an automatic weapon. Like a high-capacity weapon.”

A heavy police presence quickly flooded the block as officers from both the NYPD and the Sheriff’s Department arrived in tactical gear with weapons drawn.

According to reports on X, the terrifying attack prompted a Level 3 mobilization, one of the highest alerts, bringing in counter-terrorism units, a bomb squad, and a heavy weapons team.

Emergency medical units were seen rushing to the 44th floor, while reports suggest the suspect may have barricaded himself on the 32nd floor.

Hundreds of people are now said to be sheltering in place inside the skyscraper as elite units continue to comb the floors.

The NYPD has urged the public to steer clear of the area as the situation remains active.

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The force said in a post on X: “Expect emergency vehicles & delays in the surrounding area.”

New York City Mayor Eric Adams wrote on X: “New Yorkers: there is an active shooter investigation taking place in Midtown right now.

“Please take proper safety precautions if you are in vicinity and do not go outside if you are near Park Avenue and East 51st Street.”

The FBI said agents from its New York field office were also responding to provide support at the scene.

The skyscraper at 345 Park Avenue houses a number of financial firms, including Blackstone, Deutsche Bank, along with the NFL headquarters and the Consulate General of Ireland.

The tower also contains a Bank of America branch and office space for the accounting giant KPMG.

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AN ‘unbelievable’ horse and serial Cheltenham winner has made a shock stable switch from Paul Nicholls to Nicky Henderson.

Ginny’s Destiny, owned by Gordan and Su Hall, was second in the 2024 Turners Novices’ Chase won by Grey Dawning.

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Prior to that he had won three times in a row at the home of jumps, rocketing up the ratings from 133 to 155.

With more than £150,000 in career earnings, the nine-year-old has more than paid his way for his popular owners.

But the Halls have decided now is the time to move on and have sent him to Henderson instead.

The horse’s updated page on the BHA showed he moved to the Seven Barrows handler earlier this week.

Ginny’s Destiny had been with 14-time champion trainer Nicholls since July 2023, having previously been with Tom Lacey for just shy of three years before that.

Promising bumper winner Act Of Innocence is another of the Hall horses on his way to Henderson.

The five-year-old gelding looks like he could be set for a season novice hurdling after winning at Taunton when last seen in March.

Don’t Tell Su, a 118-rated hurdler and novice chaser has also gone to Henderson.

While £100,000 Old Park Star, who Nicholls bought alongside Tom Malone in June 2023, will now be trained by Henderson too.

Gordon, who runs a construction company, and Su have been labelled the ‘luckiest owners in racing’.

Their first horse together was Truckers Lodge, an eight-time winner who finished second in the 2019 Grand National and won the 2023 London National under Nicholls’ expert care.

Owners Neil and Alfie Smith have moved Scottish Champion Hurdle runner-up Kabral Du Mathan to Dan Skelton from Nicholls.

While the Ditcheat boss has been busy stocking up his squad with some eyecatching purchases, including the hugely promising £260,000 Gold Cast.

Henderson is starting to welcome some of his horses back from their summer break.

He recently posted a photo of Constitution Hill alongside Sir Gino.

Both stars will be on recovery missions in the new season.

Constitution Hill looked nothing like the breathtaking Champion Hurdle winner when falling twice last season.

While Sir Gino was forced to miss Cheltenham after one of his legs suffered a nasty infection.

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