Latest news with #HuffPostUK
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Not To Brag, But I've Finally Found A Toy That Keeps My Kid Busy For 20+ Minutes
We hope you love the products we recommend! All of them were independently selected by our editors. Just so you know, HuffPost UK may collect a share of sales or other compensation from the links on this page if you decide to shop from them. Oh, and FYI ― prices are accurate and items in stock as of time of publication. As a working mum of two young kids, the most important quality I look for in toys is the ability to keep my child occupied for chunks of time so I can get things done – whether that's cooking dinner, tidying up, or sending a few work emails. While it's all too easy to stick the TV on, I've definitely noticed that my eldest child's behaviour can rapidly go downhill afterwards – so screen-free time is much preferred. When she turned two, we bought her a Toniebox after hearing friends rave about it. It felt like an expensive purchase at the time – but we've certainly got our money's worth. Let me explain why... What's a Toniebox? The Toniebox is essentially a durable audio player for kids. You can buy little figures (Tonies) for it which sit on the top of the player and tell stories and sing songs. There are also other accessories that go with it like night lights (we have the sheep one), headphones and cases for transporting the characters around. The figures, while not cheap at £14.99 each, double up as toys – my daughter spends 20+ minute chunks playing games with them, while also sitting and listening to the stories and songs when she puts one on top of her Toniebox. In fact, every bedtime we sit and play 'nursery' with all the characters, where I'm the teacher and have to read them all some stories. After we've done that, we'll say goodnight – which includes a fairly lengthy process of me saying goodbye to each individual Tonie and us having a chat about her day. Then she'll lie in bed and listen to one (or two, as we discovered during the heatwave) of the Tonies before going to sleep. She recently got the Anna and ElsaTonies for her third birthday which went down an absolute storm (she's listened to them every night since). She's also a huge fan of Peppa Pig's Bedtime Stories, as well as the Julia Donaldson characters, like the Snail and the Whale, and – of course – the Gruffalo. Listening to a Tonie before bed has become a bit of a ritual that enables me to go and clean the kitchen or take the bins out, while she winds down. If you find bedtime drags out for a thousand years, a Toniebox might just be your saviour. The other perk is that kids can listen to it while travelling – ours get car sick, especially if looking at books or watching something on a tablet, but they don't have this problem listening to the Toniebox. We also take it on holiday with us for moments when our eldest needs a bit of quiet time, and to stick to our bedtime routine as much as possible. The squishy (and therefore, drop-proof) box is £79.95 and comes in a range of colours – red, blue, green, pink, purple and grey. It's suitable for kids aged three and up, and there are over 250 Tonies to choose from. Is it more expensive than most 'toys'? Yes. But a moment's peace is priceless when you're a parent – so boy is it worth the Well, This List Of The 'Top 100 Toys Of All Time' Has Sent Me Down Memory Lane Don't Throw Old Toys Away. Here's What To Do Instead Kids Keep Saying 'Chat' And It's (Probably) Not What You Think It Means
Buzz Feed
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Buzz Feed
Fake 'Lafufus' Are Flooding The Labubu Market – Here's How To Spot One
Chances are you've heard of Labubu by now – after all, celebs like Cher, Rihanna, David Beckham, Kim Kardashian, RuPaul (he dubbed his the 'LaRuRu,' of course), and Dua Lipa have been seen with the toy. Invented by artist Kasing Lun as part of his 'monsters' collection, the little toothy creatures are most often worn as a bag charm. Though 'Blind Box' Labubu pendants can sell for less than £20, choosing a specific version of the grinning gremlin is more pricey – one on Pop Mart's site will run you £164, while limited-edition collabs caused 'Bedlam' at Art Basel and have sold for hundreds of thousands at auction. No wonder fake Labubus, sometimes called 'Lafufus,' have flooded the market. This month, for instance, hundreds of fakes were seized in Ayrshire. But why are the toys so popular, and how can you spot a fake? Why are Labubus so popular? Speaking to HuffPost UK previously, Mandy Saven, a content director at consumer trends publication Stylus, said, 'The 'lottery' style of acquisition – what's in my blind box? Will I get the doll I desperately want? – provides a hit of dopamine that consumers are craving.' The limited runs and one-off collabs also provide 'a sense of rarity and exclusivity.' Then, there's social media 'hype' to consider – this 'turbocharged the Labubu appeal, and then algorithms did the rest,' Savern told us. Lastly, 'Labubu can tap into consumers' desire for nostalgia, reassurance and joy in these troubled times.' In other words, Beanie Baby-style collector frenzies combined with TikTok virality and simply the toothy-chic appeal of the charms have made them popular. How can I spot a fake Labubu? According to business insurance comparison site Bionic, there are four signs a Labubu is fake: 1) Packaging quality 'Genuine Labubu figures come in high-quality packaging with sharp printing, embossed logos, and secure seals,' Bionic told us. 'Poorly printed or flimsy boxes are a major red flag.' 2) Finish and detail 'Authentic Labubu figures have clean, precise detailing and consistent paintwork,' Bionic continued. Watch out for sloppy paint, uneven edges, or 'off' proportions. 3) Branding and stamps 'Check for the official Pop Mart and Kasing Lung markings, including serial numbers or authenticity stamps typically located on the base or packaging,' the insurance experts added. You should expect a 'Pop card' with the character name and illustration, along with a QR code and serial number, in the pack. 4) Pricing If the price sounds too good to be true, especially for a limited-edition Labubu, the pros say it's likely a fake. How many teeth does a Labubu have? All real Labubus have exactly nine fang-like teeth. If yours have more or less, that might also be a sign it's fake. Where can you buy an authentic Labubu in the UK? Pop Mart's official site is the most straightforward way to get a legit Labubu. But the company also works with TikTok on their own shop, Which? shared, while the consumer advocacy publication says you may also be able to nab yours from the 'Pop Mart Robo Shop pop-up on the fourth floor of Selfridges London.' The brand has also opened a new flagship store at 262 Oxford Street in London, while Pop Mart outlets are also available in Manchester, Birmingham, London, and Cambridge. The company's official vending machines, also known as Robo Shops, are in London and Reading. Pop Mart also has an Amazon storefront.
Yahoo
09-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Trump Just Called Out Putin's 'Bulls***' – But Don't Expect Anything To Change In Ukraine
Donald Trump has just accused Vladimir Putin of selling him 'bullshit' about the Ukraine war in a moment Kyiv, and its allies, have been rooting for. The US president has long swallowed his Russian counterpart's claims about his invasion of Ukraine, irrespective of how the rest of the west interprets the Kremlin's promises. When Putin first launched its offensive into Ukraine back in February 2022, Trump – who had been ousted from office the year before – called the ruthless land grab 'savvy' and 'genius'. In 2023, he promised he would resolve the war within 24 hours because 'there's a very easy negotiation to take place'. While Europe sent money and weapons to Kyiv so it could protect its sovereignty and isolate Putin on the world stage through sanctions, Trump seemed indifferent about the threat Russian expansionism posed to the whole continent. In fact, he seemed to be a friend to Putin. Weeks after he was re-elected to the White House, Trump shouted at Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy in the Oval Office, claiming: 'You should have never started it. You could have made a deal.' Donald Trump, J.D. Vance and Volodymyr Zelensky got into an explosive shouting match in the middle of the Oval Office ... and, it wasn't behind closed doors, but in front of the press. Watch the FULL VIDEO HERE: — TMZ (@TMZ) February 28, 2025 The tide appeared to change in spring this year after Moscow launched the deadliest strike on Ukraine since last summer. In a much-mocked moment, he wrote on social media: 'Vladimir, STOP!' Trump even said he was 'absolutely' considering imposing more sanctions on Russia after Putin started to escalate his use of force against Ukraine, and seemed bewildered in May over Russian aggression, saying: 'I don't know what the hell happened to Putin.' At the start of July, he spoke to Putin on the phone and said he was 'disappointed' in the Russian leader and that he did not believe Moscow would end the war. So, when Trump finally told reporters on Tuesday that Putin had been misleading him over his promises to seek peace in Ukraine, it seemed like a watershed moment. The US president said: 'We get a lot of bullshit thrown at us by Putin, if you want to know the truth. 'He's very nice all the time, but it turns out to be meaningless.' He also resumed weapon shipments to Ukraine after the White House implemented a brief pause of shortage fears last week. But this might not be the turning point that Ukraine and its supporters may have been hoping for. Keir Giles, senior consulting fellow of Chatham House's Russia and Eurasia programme, told HuffPost UK: 'Every time Trump expresses frustration with Putin, there is a surge of optimism across Western media that he may finally have had enough of being laughed at by the Kremlin, and consequently his consistent policy of doing nothing that might offend Russia might change. 'But every time these hopes are disappointed, as the brief flash of irritation in a social media post or a throwaway comment comes to nothing – no measures against Moscow, no renewed support for Kyiv.' Trump has indeed threatened to sanction Putin plenty of times now but is yet to actually do it – even when Russia has obviously breached the deadlines for truce imposed by the White House. And let's not forget how the president conveniently forgets what he's said in the past when it does not suit him. Less than a week after he echoed Kremlin falsehoods and called Zelenskyy a 'dictator', Trump seemed bewildered when reminded of his remark in the Oval Office by reporters. 'Did I say? I can't believe I said that. Next question,' the president said. Trump, of course, does not have as much at risk as Ukraine's European allies who fear Putin will look to encroach further into the continent unless he is stopped. Perhaps there is just one factor which could Trump to overcome years of support for Putin: his pride. After promising so publicly to end the war (and announcing his desire to win the Nobel Peace Prize), Trump is being embarrassed on the world stage by Russia. Poland's foreign minister Radoslaw Sikorski warned on X earlier this month: 'President Trump, Putin is mocking your peace efforts.' Perhaps only time will tell what the mercurial leader actually decides to do next. Trump Boasts About Threat To 'Bomb The S**t Out Of Moscow' In Leaked Audio Trump Accuses His Benefactor Putin Of Spewing 'Bullshit' About Ukraine Invasion Kremlin Slams Trump Administration For Resuming Weapon Shipments To Ukraine
Yahoo
08-07-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Does My Covid Vaccine Still Work? I Asked A GP If It's Time For A Booster
Recently, the Covid strain XFG – nicknamed 'Stratus'– became the dominant variant in the UK. Before then, the 'Nimbus' strain was rapidly spreading. In both cases, the World Health Organisation (WHO) said that while they were 'variants under monitoring', the 'Currently approved COVID-19 vaccines are expected to remain effective' against the mutations. They can help to prevent extreme symptoms and reduce the risk of people getting seriously ill, the WHO explained, even though both Stratus and Nimbus strains have mutated from the original virus. But does that mean we should all be getting more Covid vaccines? Who needs to get them more often, given that their effects 'wane'? HuffPost UK asked GP, Dr Suzanne Wylie, a medical adviser for IQdoctor, about who may need yearly vaccines. 'As with the flu vaccine, COVID vaccinations are now being tailored to the most prevalent strains circulating at the time,' Dr Wylie said. 'Currently, the general advice is that most people do not need regular COVID boosters unless they fall into higher-risk categories, such as those over 75, individuals with underlying health conditions, or those who are immunocompromised.' This is different to 2024 when booster vaccines were given to everyone over 65. The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) said in a report that they made these changes because population-level immunity has improved, thanks to exposure to the virus and/or vaccines (this combination is called 'hybrid immunity'). As a result, they said, they chose to focus on people most at risk, including 'the oldest adults and individuals who are immunosuppressed.' For healthy younger adults, Dr Wylie added, 'routine vaccination is not usually necessary more than once a year, if at all, unless advised otherwise during periods of high transmission or in response to a new variant of concern.' The NHS say they will contact you if you're eligible for a vaccine. This may be the case if you're over 75, are immunocompromised, and/or live in a care home for adults. Dr Wylie says that 'Vaccines, including updated COVID boosters, are designed to provide protection against the most common or concerning strains each season.' 'While no vaccine offers complete immunity,' she added, 'they significantly reduce the risk of severe illness, hospitalisation, and complications.' But newer variants, like the Stratus strain, can 'sometimes partially evade prior immunity, which is why updated vaccines may be offered if there's evidence of increased severity or spread.' The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) and the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) monitor Covid risk levels and will help determine if a wider rollout becomes necessary. 'For now,' Dr Wylie told HuffPost UK, 'for most younger, healthy individuals, annual or less frequent vaccination is generally sufficient.' New Covid Stratus Strain Is Dominant In The UK – Here's Its Most Unique Symptom New Covid Variant Nimbus Symptom May Show Up When You Swallow, Doctor Says Reform UK MP James McMurdock Gives Up Party Whip Over Covid Loans Allegations
Yahoo
08-07-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Peeing For Longer Than This Exact Amount Of Time Could Reveal Health Issues
We've written before at HuffPost UK about how the colour of your pee can reveal a lot about your health. And according to experts, how long your wee lasts can reveal potential bladder issues too. Speaking to The Washington Post, Stephen Freedland, a professor of urology at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, advised that an average pee shouldn't last longer than half a minute. 'Once you get going and it takes you a minute to empty your bladder, that's a problem. That's not normal,' he added. Meanwhile, Dr. Janis Miller, nurse practitioner behind the bladder-based website puts it at an even stingier 20 seconds, per Well + Good. Funnily enough, most mammals ― regardless of size, so long as they're over 3 kilos ― spend more or less exactly 21 seconds urinating, due to gravity and a phenomenon called Pascal's Barrel. Regularly taking a lot longer than that to pee may mean you're drinking too much water, that you're not giving yourself enough wee breaks, or even that you're overstretching your bladder, Dr. Miller suggests. If, for instance, you get too used to holding in your urine, a condition that's sometimes called 'nurse's bladder' or 'teacher's bladder' can happen, urologist Nicole Eisenbrown, MD, told Well + Good. At this point, your brain becomes less able to pick up fullness cues from your bladder, leading you to empty it less often than you should. 'Your bladder just gets slightly bigger, then slightly bigger, and slightly bigger,' she explained. In the short term, that can make your urination sessions lengthy ― and over time that makes your bladder weaker. Unusual peeing habits can also sometimes reveal other conditions, including diabetes, neurological disorders or prostate issues, The Washington Post revealed. The odd extra-long pee likely isn't too much to worry about. But if you're regularly spending a lot of time on the loo and aren't sure why, if it's interfering with your daily life, and if you have other issues that worry you with your urine, it could be a good idea to chat to your GP. The Mayo Clinic adds that you should seek medical help immediately if you notice any of the following; Blood in your urine. Red or dark brown urine. Pain when you pass urine. Pain in your side, lower belly or groin. Trouble passing urine or emptying your bladder. A strong urge to pass urine. Loss of bladder control. Fever. If Your Urine Is This Colour, It's Probably Time To See A Doctor Here's When A Urine Bug Could Be A Sign Of Something More Serious Could This Urine Test For Prostate Cancer Be A Lifesaver For Men?
