Five US troops die in training air crash in eastern Mediterranean
The service members died in a helicopter crash in a region where the US has boosted operations.
2023-11-13 05:59
Spain's conservatives rally against deal with Catalan separatists
Protests denounce a deal with Catalan separatists aimed at securing a new term for the Socialist PM.
2023-11-13 02:55
Peter Nygard: Fashion mogul guilty of sex assaults
The 82-year-old is still facing a trial in Montreal and extradition to the US.
2023-11-13 02:16
Jonnie Irwin says he ‘never thought’ he’d be alive to see his 50th birthday amid terminal cancer diagnosis
TV star Jonnie Irwin has admitted that he “never thought” he’d be alive to see his 50th birthday, which is next week. Irwin, 49, who is best known for presenting property TV shows A Place in the Sun and Escape to the Country, was diagnosed with terminal cancer in 2022. In January, Irwin threw an early 50th birthday party, ahead of the actual date next week, with a huge part with 170 friends and family. But in a new interview, the presenter has said he will be jetting off on holiday to Spain with his family for his actual birthday. “I never thought I’d be here,” Irwin told The Sun. “I’m really looking forward to some time with [wife] Jess and the boys.” Irwin shares three young sons with his wife, Jessica Holmes. He has been praised for his transparency about his condition, and his experiences with various cancer treatments. Since his diagnosis, Irwin has followed a strict diet and spends one to two hours a day in an O2Worx hyperbaric oxygen tent. Some studies have shown that flooding the body with oxygen does not promote tumour growth and has been linked to preventing cancer growth. In July this year, Irwin discussed his “really good” experience with palliative care, which focuses on improving the quality of life for anyone facing a life-threatening condition. Irwin said that he has been in palliative care since the day he received his terminal cancer diagnosis. He was first diagnosed with lung cancer in August 2020, but only publicly shared the news in November 2022 after the cancer spread to his brain. His hospice experience was a “delight”, Irwin said, challenging his initial perception that such facilities were “very much a boiling hot room full of people who looked frail and towards the end of their days”. In September, the presenter made his long-awaited return to TV when he hosted a new episode of Escape to the Country on BBC One. Looking back at his time in a hospice six months ago, Irwin said he was “on the cusp of death”. “Lying in the hospice, I thought I’d had it,” he told The Sun. ​​“But at my weakest point I thought, ‘This is it, this is the beginning of the end.’” ​​Irwin returned home and resumed his strict diet, drinking protein shakes and spending time in the oxygen tent to attempt to curb the growth of his cancer. “I won’t let cancer define me,” Irwin told the publication from his newly renovated home in Newcastle. “A friend of mine told me, ‘Your body achieves what your mind achieves’, and I want to live by that.” Read More Jonnie Irwin jokes he’s ‘whacked’ after attending The Streets gig in Newcastle Billy Connolly shares health update on Parkinson’s disease: ‘Every day gets stranger’ What are the symptoms of Parkinson's disease and how can it be treated? Billy Connolly shares health update on Parkinson’s disease: ‘Every day gets stranger’ What are the symptoms of Parkinson's disease and how can it be treated? Tracey Emin says she ‘totally accepted death’ following cancer diagnosis
2023-11-13 00:29
Storm Debi: Severe wind and rain weather warnings for NI and ROI
A red alert, the highest level, has been issued in the Republic, with a yellow warning for NI.
2023-11-13 00:17
Ugandan army officers sacked for cowardice in attack on Somalia's Bulo Marer Atmis base
More than 50 soldiers were killed in the attack by al-Shabab fighters in May.
2023-11-12 20:20
Iceland earthquakes: What are your rights if you are on holiday or are planning to go?
The earth is at its most restless in Iceland right now. The Reykjanes peninsula, southwest of Reykjavik, is seething with seismic activity sparking hundreds of small earthquakes. The town of Grindavík, just 10 miles south of Keflavik International Airport, has been evacuated as a precaution. Yet flights are continuing to arrive and depart as normal. These are the key questions and answers on consumer rights. I am in Iceland. Will I be able to leave? Yes, assuming the international airport remains open. So far operations have been normal. There are 14 arrivals and departures planned for Saturday from and to the UK, with no signs of disruption to flights. You may be keen to leave earlier than booked, in order to guarantee your getaway, but at present you will not be able to switch flights without paying a penalty. A spokesperson for British Airways told The Independent: “Our flights are operating as planned and we continue to monitor the situation closely. “We will be in touch with customers directly should the situation change.” The easyJet statement is very similar: “Our flying schedule is currently operating as normal however we are monitoring the situation closely and should this change we will contact customers directly to advise on their flights.” But didn’t an Icelandic volcano shut down European aviation for a week? Yes. Travellers may remember where they were March 2010, when the Icelandic volcano Eyjafjallajökull erupted. The skies of northern Europe completely closed to passenger aviation for almost a week because of fears that volcanic ash spreading southeast from Iceland could damage aircraft engines and endanger travellers. More than 50,000 flights, with eight million passengers booked to travel, were cancelled. So far in 2023, though, ash has not been an issue in the current geological outburst. What if I am booked on a package holiday? Foreign Office advice stops well short of advising against travel to Iceland, meaning holiday companies can continue to operate as normal – with no automatic right to cancel. The Foreign Office advice to British travellers is that it is “increasingly possible” that a volcanic eruption could occur. The official warning on “volcanic eruption and earthquakes” reads: “Earthquakes and indications of volcanic activity have increased above normal levels on the Reykjanes peninsula, southwest of Reykjavik. “The Icelandic authorities continue to monitor the area closely, particularly the area northwest of Mt Thorbjörn near the Svartsengi power plant and the Blue Lagoon. On 10 November, a Civil Protection Alert was declared after an intense swarm of earthquakes. “The town of Grindavík was evacuated as a precaution. Some roads have been closed and visitors are advised to stay away from the area. “Keflavik International Airport is operating as normal. While there is no current eruption, it is increasingly possible that one could occur.” Until and unless the Foreign Office warns against travel, the assumption is that everything will go ahead as normal. The one exception is for holidaymakers who had planned to stay at the Blue Lagoon – an increasingly popular “wellness” destination, with an upmarket hotel on the site. The Blue Lagoon is currently closed. Only those booked for a stay have the chance to cancel; if you were hoping to pop in as a day visitor for a steamy stop in the volcanic rock pools, you will need to return at some time in the future. Can I claim on insurance? No, unless it is one of the vanishingly rare “cancel for any reason” policies. On standard travel insurance, “disinclination to travel” is not an acceptable reason for a claim. Would you go to Iceland at the moment? Yes, I would relish the opportunity. Late November is an excellent time to visit Iceland for good value. Conditions right now are also excellent for the prospect of a good show to the Northern Lights, which are at a peak of the usual 11-year cosmic cycle. I also know that the Icelandic authorities are expert at handling seismic events, with extremely good monitoring and emergency systems in place. I would book a package holiday, though, knowing that if the earth gets too restless for comfort in the vicinity, I would be able to cancel for a full refund. Read More Iceland earthquakes: Your rights if you are on holiday there or are planning to go Iceland earthquakes: Are flights still running amid fears over volcano eruption? In the Superloop: London’s southbound express bus In the Superloop: London’s southbound express bus Airbnb rules go ‘step too far’ with guidance on how to clean up blood Passenger claims tequila in his luggage came back with ‘shot’ missing after flight
2023-11-12 17:28
Afghanistan's first female orchestra 'inspiring'
Sisters follows musician Dan Blackwell who travels Kabul to meet the Zohra orchestra.
2023-11-12 16:59
French march against antisemitism shakes up far right and far left
Far-right leader Marine Le Pen plans to rally alongside major political parties but the far left refuses.
2023-11-12 09:56
Donald Trump: Legal experts see uphill battle in fraud case
Two weeks of testimony from Donald Trump and his family has hurt his case, say lawyers watching.
2023-11-12 09:24
Stubborn Core CPI Helps Explain Some Fed Restlessness: Eco Week
Underlying US price pressures are seen advancing at a pace that backs apprehension among Federal Reserve officials to
2023-11-12 05:53
Blue plaque honour for Fermanagh World War Two heroine
Historians and relatives gather in Derrylin to commemorate the "amazing" life of Monica de Wichfeld.
2023-11-12 02:25