Srinagar, Feb 25 (SocialNews.XYZ) As the Kashmiri Pandit community celebrates its holiest religious festival of Mahashivratri, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday greeted people on this auspicious occasion. PM Modi said on X, "Herath Poshte!"...
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WEATHER chiefs have warned that sleet and snow will hit parts of the country – as temperatures fall to 0C.
Snowfall is set to hit high parts of Northern Ireland tomorrow as well as Scotland.
Confirming snowfall for parts of the North on Wednesday morning, the Met Office in the UK said: “A band of heavy rain will sweep in tonight, bringing snow over the hills across Northern Ireland, southern Scotland and the northern Pennines.”
For the rest of the country, there’s “heavy showers” on the cards.
Alan O’Reilly from Carlow Weather said: “A band of heavy showers crossing country tonight but after that rainfall amounts look generally low for next seven days away from Northwest and West.
“Milder air moving in for first week of Spring too. Could be a lot of cloud next week though.”
A spokesperson for Met Eireann said: “While rain tonight may fall for a time as a mix of sleet and snow over hills and mountains and in the north, accumulations are not expected.
“There is no expectation of accumulations of snow this week in Donegal, Monaghan or anywhere else in Ireland.”
Forecaster Linda Hughes said: “For the rest of this afternoon there will be sunny spells and scattered blustery showers.
“Some of those will be heavy and there’s a chance of hail. The showers will become isolated this evening.
Highest temperatures of 7C to 10C in a moderate to fresh westerly wind.”
Tonight will bring “clear spells and isolated showers”.
She continued: “Outbreaks of squally rain will move into the southwest and will extend north-eastwards over the country during the night.
“There’s a chance of a few thunderstorms and possibly sleet on some northern hills.”
And temperatures will plummet to 0C to 3C.
Tomorrow morning, rain will clear from east Ulster to leave a “bright and breezy day with a mix of sunshine and scattered showers”.
Linda said: “Some of the showers will be heavy and prolonged especially in the northwest and there’ll be a chance of hail and thunder.
“Highest temperatures of 6C to 9C in fresh to strong north-westerly winds.
“Thursday looks set to be bright and fresh with plenty of sunshine.
“There’ll be a few passing showers mainly confined to Atlantic coastal counties. Highest temperatures will range from 7C to 10C.”
GAVIN and Stacey finale memorabilia has sparked a bidding war for thousands of pounds – here’s how you could snap it up.
Millions watched as the beloved BBC sitcom came to an end on Christmas Day 2024.
Fans now have a chance to get their hands on an incredible keepsake.
The clapperboard used in the hit TV show’s finale has been donated to Tŷ Hafan Children’s Hospice in Sully.
Provided by camera crew member Steve, it is now up for bids on the Hospice’s eBay site.
So far, there have been over 20 bids made – with the price currently at £2,500.00.
As per the listing, bidding will conclude on Friday, February 28.
A total of 12 cast members have added their autographs – making it incredibly alluring for any Gavin and Stacey enthusiast.
The names include Mathew Horne (Gavin), Joanna Page (Stacey), Ruth Jones (Nessa) and James Corden (Smithy).
Meanwhile, Alison Steadman (Pam), Larry Lamb (Mick), Rob Brydon (Uncle Bryn) and Melanie Walters (Gwen) also contributed their signatures.
Rounding out the list are Robert Wilford (Jason), Julia Davis (Dawn), Adrian Scarborough (Pete) and Steffan Rhodri (Dave Coaches).
According to the Penarth Times, co-creator Ruth Jones said: “I hope it raises some much-needed funds for the wonderful Tŷ Hafan.”
The much-anticipated Christmas Day finale took many fans by surprise early on.
In a major, top secret plot twist, Smithy was revealed to be marrying overbearing fiancee Sonia.
Laura Aikman, who played Sonia, even hid the details from her family until transmission.
Fans recalled how the 2019 special ended with Nessa proposing to the father of her child.
By 2024, Smithy was unaware how many of his loved ones felt Sonia wasn’t the right fit for him.
With the news that the show is set to make an exciting return to screens, let's take a look at some of the comedy programme's biggest and best moments...
He later came to this realisation – at the altar of all places – and then knew who he was meant to be with.
Smith reunited with Nessa, thanks to an assist from the other characters.
Viewers saw the pair tie the knot at long last in one of the show’s final scenes.
Gavin and Stacey’s finale is available to watch on BBC iPlayer.
AN ENORMOUS “beating heart” has appeared in Trafalgar Square – powered by human connections.
The installation, called the Connected Heartbeat measures nearly four by four metres and glows in real time as calls, texts and data connections are made on the Vodafone network in the capital.
The best time to see the heart in action could be 7:01 pm, after research of 2,000 adults revealed this to be the busiest time of day when it comes to making calls and sending texts.
Across a whole day, the average adult sends an estimated 28 messages to friends and family – more than 10,000 a year – with Londoners the most active on their phones compared to other parts of the country.
Vodafone unveiled the installation and research to celebrate being named London’s Best Network by NET CHECK for the second year running.
Broadcaster Roman Kemp got the heart glowing as he encouraged passers-by to get the heart ‘beating’ with their own network connections.
He said: “I have lived in the capital for years now and to see my fellow Londoner’s waking up and connecting with others in real time as they go about their day and as a piece of art is really cool.
“I’ve never seen anything like it, and it really shows the power of connection and how integral it is to the fabric of our daily lives.”
The study also found a good old fashioned phone call is only the fourth most-common way to get in touch with friends, with just 10 per cent frequently making them.
Despite this, nearly 13 million voice calls are still made in London on an average day on Vodafone’s network.
It lags behind WhatsApp messages (51 per cent), SMS messages (16 per cent) or social media updates (14 per cent).
Of the UK’s mobile phone users, those in London send the most messages, firing off more nearly 50 a day – and they also make the most phone calls.
While Gen Z are the biggest message fans, with WhatsApp used most frequently, sending five times more than a typical Boomer.
The typical adult is also involved in eight different group chats, with those aged 25-34 in the most, having to keep up with a staggering 12 different groups.
But 66 per cent believe daily digital connection is essential for maintaining relationships with loved ones, according to the survey conducted via OnePoll.com.
And six in 10 believe they would have less contact with their loved ones if it wasn’t for their mobile phones.
Andrea Donà, chief network officer and network director at Vodafone UK, said: “Seeing our network brought to life in such a striking way is fascinating and something that has never been done before.
“We power millions of connections in the city every single day, and what better way to celebrate this than by putting it in shining lights.
“We know staying connected night and day is important, whether that’s for work or being able to check-in with loved ones on-the-go.”
IT may seem like the perfect road to freedom – living in a camper van and travelling the world without any of the constraints of conventional life.
Van life is certainly enjoying a boom with more and more people opting to quit the 9-5 rat race, sell up their belongings, and hit the road.
And, of course, many of them are choosing to document their journeys online with van life influencers making a career out of their nomadic lifestyles on Instagram, TikTok and YouTube.
But while van life, as documented by influencers, may look romantic and idyllic there are harsh realities behind the off-grid lifestyle.
The Netflix documentary, American Murder: Gabby Petito, tells the story of 22-year-old van life blogger Gabby and her fiancé Brian Laundrie’s life on the road.
To her thousands of social media followers Gabby and Brian appeared to be living their dream, travelling across America in their van.
But behind the scenes the stresses of van life were taking their toll and police even pulled the couple over after reports of a domestic violence incident in the street.
Controlling Brian eventually murdered Gabby, dumped her body and fled back home before taking his own life.
And. in 2021, another van life couple’s dream ended in murder when 22-year-old Emily Ferlazzo’s body was found in Vermont after being reported missing by her family.
Her husband Joseph later admitted to killing her after a row in their camper van.
He was convicted of her murder in December last year and faces at least 35 years in prison.
The intensity of travelling alone and isolation from family can play into the hands of a controlling partner, and worsen domestic abuse, one charity has warned.
In October, Women’s Aid teamed up with LadBible and Merman to create the film ‘Van Wife’ to help people spot the signs of coercive controlling behaviour.
The film follows a young couple, Liv and Jack, heading off on a van life adventure, documenting their journey on social media.
To the outside world, they seem to be living the dream. But behind the picture-perfect facade, a darker reality is unfolding.
He controls the finances, her phone, her passport. He isolates her from her friends, shames her about what she eats and dictates her appearance.
His criticisms, initially disguised as concern, escalate into emotional, verbal and physical abuse.
Throughout the film, you see the gradual erosion of her confidence and independence.
Eventually, Liv bravely escapes her abusive partner at the ferry terminal where she’s met by a male friend who knew something wasn’t right and came to support her.
As well as domestic abuse, travellers can be vulnerable to attacks from strangers.
In 2019, American Chynna Deese and her Australian boyfriend Lucas Fowler were found shot dead next to their camper van in Canada.
The couple had been enjoying a three-week road trip when they were brutally murdered in what police believe was a botched robbery.
Their suspected killers, teenagers Kam McLeod, 19, and Bryer Schmegelsky, 18, were found dead in the wilderness after a huge manhunt – having taken their own lives.
And just last year 72-year-old Gary Weaver died and his wife Mary, 71, was left in a critical condition in a double stabbing after parking their RV at a rest stop in Nebraska.
Their alleged attacker, James Thompson, 22, was attempting to steal a Jeep that was hitched to the van.
While being cooped up in a van can be a pressure cooking for domestic abuse, travelling solo also brings a whole new set of dangers.
Last summer a 60-year-old French woman was found brutally murdered in her camper van in Spain.
The solo traveller had been stabbed to death.
In the Van Life UK Facebook group one woman posted that she had given up her travels due to some bad experiences.
The anonymous member posted last July: “I’m a solo female and have taken a step back from van life, at least for now. I chose this lifestyle after finding myself in a vulnerable position.
“While being houseless allowed me to enjoy freedom and learn some valuable off-grid living skills whilst travelling the UK, it unfortunately attracted some unsavoury characters that forced things to come to a halt.
“The popularity of this lifestyle is on the rise, which is great, but it also means it can attract the wrong crowd. As a solo female, particularly without a dog, it’s crucial to prioritise safety.
Be cautious about sharing your location both online and offline, especially if you are a streamer, as some people may try to pry for your whereabouts
Anonymous poster
“Always be vigilant, keep your doors locked invest in a safety keyring set or other self-defence gadgets and choose established campsites over dark and empty lay-bys.
“Keep a spare power bank in the glove box and be cautious about sharing your location both online and offline, especially if you are a streamer, as some people may try to pry for your whereabouts.
“Above all, I hope everyone has a fantastic summer filled with adventure and empowerment while staying safe and vigilant.”
Lucy Ruthnum has been solo travelling for 10 years and runs Solo Adventure Gals, a community for solo female travellers and van lifers.
And while she loves van life, she says women have to take extra precautions during life on the road.
She says: “Particularly as a woman there are a lot more things to consider.
“I haven’t really ever had any majorly negative experiences of solo van life but I wonder if that is actually because I have been very thoughtful about how I’ve approached it.
“So there are certain things I will do if I am looking at where I am going to be parked up, maybe going to campsites or doing a lot of research if I am doing free park ups in places.
“There have been some times where I have found a nice nature park up but if I am not feeling particularly comfortable I will move on. It is a lot about trusting your gut and seeing who is around.
“Because I am a woman by myself people will come and approach me a bit more, which can make me feel a more uncomfortable on campsites than when I have just parked up in nature.
“There a lot of things you have to consider, and it is not specific to van life, it is something as a woman travelling by yourself you are constantly aware of and have to adapt the way you do things.
“If you are in a van where do you park up? Where do you fill your water? Do you want to mix with other people? Are you going to feel safe and comfortable?
“But a lot of the time I find that van owners really tend to look out for each other, particularly if you are a woman travelling in your own. So if you do have someone is bothering you, people will try to intervene and help you out.”
The charity Refuge has created some advice on how to spot signs of coercive control .
First and foremost, coercive control is a form of domestic abuse. We can support you if your abuser is perpetrating this abuse. You are not alone.
Coercive control is an act, or a pattern of acts, of assault, threats, humiliation and intimidation that abusers use to harm, punish or frighten survivors. It doesn’t relate to a single incident – it is a purposeful pattern of behaviour.
Controlling or coercive behaviour within an intimate or familial relationship is a crime and perpetrators can be prosecuted.
Spotting the signs
It can be tricky to spot coercive control so we’ve pulled together a list of questions to help you spot the signs:
Helen Laing lives in her van full-time and is the founder of vanlifehub.co.uk giving other van lifers tips.
And although she says she has always felt safe she says there are sensible precautions everyone should take when living in a van.
“I am a big advocate for van life and can honestly say that I have never felt scared at all, but I am nicely naive, and I have a pretty high fear threshold – so that helps,” she explains.
“People often ask me if I’m scared, and it makes me wonder what people think happens outside at night? To be honest, most of the time it’s quieter and safer than in the daytime. However, I do understand that most people feel safer in familiar surroundings.
“Over the last few years, van life has changed from being mainly a lifestyle choice of adventure, to one of necessity for many. With that comes different challenges.
“If another van lifer introduces themselves to me, I won’t share much information about myself or my van until I feel like I have the measure of them – but that’s probably the same as someone who lives in a row of terraced houses.
“Just because someone knocks on your door and says they live in the same street, it doesn’t always mean that they are safe to let into your home!”
And Helen says that it is important for couples embracing van life to retain their independence as living in such a small place can create pressures.
She explains: “In terms of loneliness, I try to stay somewhere for a little while and become part of the community somehow. This might mean joining a co-work space, working from the library, joining a gym or a yoga studio, etc.
“It’s good to become familiar somewhere and have people recognise you. I travel solo, but even if I was in a couple, I’d still do these things – you need to keep your independence when you live in such a small space.
“This seemed to be an issue in the horrible Gabby Petito story. It’s also important to make sure you understand all aspects of your van individually – so you don’t feel like you absolutely depend on your partner.”
Tia (@tiasvanlife) built and customised her own van a year ago and hasn’t looked back. But although she enjoys the freedom and adventure van life brings, she admits it does have its challenges.
“There have been a few moments that made me rethink my safety. One of the most unsettling was when I was building my van—an intimidating man approached me, blocked my exit, and questioned what I was doing.
“I thought on my feet and said I was live on TikTok and he quickly left. I’ve also had people beep at me while driving by and received uncomfortable messages from social media followers about what they’d do if they saw me in my van.
“These experiences have made me much more aware of my safety, and now, with a larger following, I often bring someone along for extra security.”
Rome, Feb 25 (SocialNews.XYZ) In a major development under the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), the Cali Fund for the Fair and Equitable Sharing of Benefits from the use of Digital Sequence Information on Genetic...
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Roorkee (Uttarakhand), Feb 25 (SocialNews.XYZ) The Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee (IIT Roorkee) on Tuesday said that it has made a groundbreaking discovery about the potential of mother’s milk in improving infant health. The study,...
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