Latest news with #tiny
South Wales Argus
2 hours ago
- Sport
- South Wales Argus
Mimi Xu revels in everything Wimbledon debut had to offer
Tennis prodigy Mimi Xu revelled in everything her Wimbledon debut had to offer despite defeat to Emma Raducanu. The 17-year-old was defeated by the British No.1 6-3 6-3 and admitted that the task of causing a first-round upset against the former US Open champion was a bridge too far. But the Swansea native, who trains at the National Tennis Centre in Loughborough, enjoyed testing her mettle against her compatriot and revealed that the loss only strengthened her resolve to reach the summit of the sport. "My dream would have definitely been to have won, but I'm so honoured that this was my debut," said Xu. "I got to play on an amazing court with an amazing crowd, such a great atmosphere and against an amazing opponent. I just don't think I could have asked for anything different. "I enjoyed every moment out there. It's really put belief in me and ignited a fire within me that I can do this, and I belong here. I've learned so much from this match, from playing her, kind of how she deals with these moments and what the differences were there against a top player. I think I can do a lot of things in my game to improve it further." Xu was a wild card entry into the women's main draw — testament to how highly her star has risen in recent times. It was only weeks ago that Xu enjoyed memorable wins against Alycia Parks and Katie Volynets in Birmingham and Nottingham respectively. But none of those highs compared to the feeling of taking her first steps at a senior Grand Slam. "I don't know what I expected, to be fair," added Xu. "I expected anything to happen out there, but I'm so grateful to everyone who came to support. In my box I had all my old coaches from in Swansea when I was four years old. They all came to support me. I'm just really appreciative of all of them for going out of there way to come here. "I just really wanted it to last a tiny bit longer, but I loved every single moment out there." Xu won't have to wait long to create more magical memories in SW19, with the 17-year-old due to team up with Ella McDonald in women's doubles, where they face Rebecca Šramková and Linda Noskova. "It's a really good opportunity to go out there after losing singles, she said. To go out there and just enjoy every moment. Me and Ella, we get on really well off court. We're just going to have a great time out there. Whatever the result. If we enjoy every moment, that's a win." For the latest action on the British summer grass court season, check out the LTA website.
The National
10 hours ago
- Health
- The National
I was able to travel for surgery for my son thanks to Scottish Child Payment
Michaela King, who lives in Leith, told The National that when her child Rupert had to be taken to Great Ormond Street children's hospital for emergency open heart surgery last year, the only money she had to survive on was the Scottish Child Payment (SCP) and the Best Start Foods card. Two-year-old Rupert was diagnosed with noonan syndrome after he was born and has complicated health needs including cardiac issues. He was given a 50 per cent chance of survival from the crucial surgery, and thankfully recovered well. King, 33, had applied for disability benefits for Rupert before the operation, but it took nine months to come through. 'Even in that nine months, Rupert's going through all these hospital appointments, that tiny bit like a hundred and odd pounds, that can make quite a drastic difference in the family's life, and it did when Rupert was in Great Ormond Street,' King explained. READ MORE: Social Security Scotland is 'shining example of what independence can do' King, who used to be a support worker for children with special needs before leaving her job to look after Rupert full time, said that a mix-up between her previous employer and HMRC over payslips meant there was a period she could not claim Universal Credit for two months. 'That was just before we went to London,' she explained, adding that the NHS asks families to pay for hotels and food up front before reimbursing them at a later point. King added: 'I had no money going down to London. All I had was these little pockets of money that the Scottish Government were giving out, so the Scottish Child Payment and the little money on the card for food. 'I had to survive on that for nearly two months. If I didn't have the Scottish Child Payment that would have changed everything, because I wouldn't have been able to afford it. 'Obviously that has made a massive difference, and it meant that Rupert could get the health care that he needed.' (Image: PA) King added that since having Rupert her financial situation changed completely compared to when she was working full-time. 'When you're a solo parent and when you are in this sort of poverty line that us parents that own this situation are in, you learn to adapt,' she said. 'I budget totally differently now than what I budgeted previously, when I didn't have Rupert and I had a job with a lot of money. My lifestyle has completely changed.' Asked how life with Rupert would look without having access to the Scottish Child Payment, King said: 'I think we probably would lose out on stuff. We wouldn't do as much. 'We probably wouldn't be taking trips out or buying the toys that fit around Rupert's needs. He likes spin toys. READ MORE: I'm still using my baby box – here's how my family benefitted from it 'The Scottish Child payment has probably paid for most of his spinning toys. We would have had to adapt differently.' The SCP is currently £27.15 a week, while the UK Government's Child Benefit, also available for those living in Scotland to claim, is £26.05 a week. King, who is originally from England but had Rupert in Scotland, said that there is better support north of the border. However, she feared that the payment is not keeping up with how fast prices are rising. 'The economy is getting harder and harder to live by. Food prices are going up, fuel prices are going up, transport prices are going up, and the Scottish Child Payment, I think it rose by like two or three pounds this year - that's not going to cover my bananas. 'You are better off up here, but it's still hard. You still have to budget even on the amount that you do get. (Image: Getty) 'I think it's a step in the right direction, and it is brilliant. I think there's just a little bit more that could be done to help families, definitely.' King added that the looming disability cuts in Westminster had given her 'sleepless nights' as she fears of the impact on Rupert's future. She added: 'I keep thinking, maybe it won't affect us because he's just a baby. Surely they wouldn't take money away from children?' While King aims to go back to work, finding affordable specialised childcare for Rupert has proven difficult. 'You get anxious about it, you don't want to claim all these things,' she added. 'I think there is still this stigma of claiming things, and I think could I do it with just going to work? No, I definitely couldn't.' READ MORE: Poverty levels in Scotland below UK for 20 years, graphs show Satwat Rehman, chief executive of One Parent Families Scotland (OPFS) said that the SCP is a 'vital lifeline' for single-parent households, a third of whom are living in poverty. 'But it does not yet go far enough,' she said. 'The Scottish Child Payment and benefit cap mitigation have already provided much needed relief to many struggling families.' Rehman added: 'Yet, with 23% of children in Scotland still living in poverty, and the rate rising to 36% for children in single-parent families, it's clear that further urgent and targeted action is needed to meet the statutory target of 10% of Scotland's children living in relative poverty by 2030.'
NDTV
21 hours ago
- Science
- NDTV
Astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla To Talk To Students, ISRO Engineers Via Radio
New Delhi: Astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla is set to interact with school students and scientists at the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) from his orbital post on the International Space Station via ham radio on Friday evening. The interaction is planned via a telebridge set up at the U R Rao Satellite Centre in Bengaluru, said the Amateur Radio on International Space Station (ARISS), which facilitates interaction of school students with astronauts on the orbital laboratory. Group Captain Shukla is on a 14-day scientific expedition on the International Space Station (ISS) as part of the Axiom-4 mission, along with three other astronauts. The ARISS programme inspires students worldwide to pursue interests and careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics through amateur radio-communication opportunities with the ISS on-orbit crew. "Contact upcoming with India! @Axiom_Space #Ax4 crew member Shubhanshu Shukla, VU2TNI, will talk to the UR Rao Satellite Centre (URSC) in Karnataka via ham radio from the Space Station. Scheduled Fri. July 4 at 10:17 UTC, 6:17 AM ET, 3:47 PM ISS via K6DUE telebridge," the ARISS said in a post on X. Ham radio, officially known as amateur radio, is a non-commercial radio-communication service operated by licensed enthusiasts and is considered a reliable mode of communication during disasters, when conventional modes of communication are not available. Meanwhile, Group Captain Shukla was busy conducting the space microalgae experiment on Sunday. He deployed sample bags and captured images of the algae strains in his orbital post on the ISS. "These tiny organisms could play a big role in the future of space exploration, offering a sustainable, nutrient-rich food source for long-duration missions," Axiom Space said. The Axiom-4 crew also collected data for the Neuro Motion VR project, where astronauts don VR headsets and perform attention-based tasks, while their brain activity is monitored using functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS). "This research explores how microgravity affects cognitive and motor functions, which could provide valuable insight for future deep-space missions," Axiom Space said. Data was also gathered for the Telemetric Health AI study, which integrates biometric data with mission analytics to better understand how spaceflight impacts cardiovascular and balance systems. By applying advanced data-science techniques, the project could lead to smarter, real-time health monitoring -- both on orbit and on Earth.
Mint
a day ago
- Mint
Most advanced home robot vacuums in 2025 that you can't miss
Just last year, most home robots were limited to basic cleaning. Many robot vacuums struggled with obstacles, often getting stuck on thresholds or tangled in cords. But in 2025, new models are introducing features like object recognition, spill detection, and even robotic arms to pick up clutter. It's a clear step forward in how these machines handle everyday chores. Did you know that several brands have launched robots that don't just clean floors? Some can cook food, too. One can fold your laundry. And robot vacuum cleaners have learned new tricks. While none of these devices are perfect, they show how fast home automation is moving toward being genuinely useful instead of just interesting. The Roborock Saros Z70 is probably the clearest sign that robot vacuum cleaners are evolving. Watching it move around a living room is almost funny at first. It pauses, reaches out a tiny retractable arm, and picks up stray toys or cables before it starts cleaning. It still feels like something out of a sci-fi film, but it solves a very real problem. In the past, most vacuums would get stuck or leave areas untouched if you forgot to tidy up first. Released in early 2025 after its debut at CES, the Saros Z70 makes it possible to skip that prep step. Another on the list is the Dreame X50 Ultra Complete, which came to market in February 2025 after its CES debut. If you've ever seen a robot vacuum freeze at the edge of a rug or a doorway threshold, you know how quickly the novelty wears off. This model uses extendable legs to climb over raised edges so it can keep moving room to room. I watched it transition from a tile kitchen to a thick carpet without stopping. For families who don't want to babysit a vacuum, this feels like progress. The Eureka J15 Max Ultra does not look very different from earlier models, but it stands out in one important way. Unlike most robot vacuums that only detect obvious spills or ignore clear liquids altogether, this robot vacuum cleaner uses advanced infrared sensors that can spot even transparent water on the floor. When it senses a spill, it automatically adjusts its path instead of driving straight through. That small change makes it much better at avoiding the messy streaks many other vacuums still leave behind. It might sound like a minor feature, but if you've ever had to clean your floor after a robot dragged a spill across it, you know how helpful this can be. For example, if your pet dog knocks over the water bowl or your toddler spills juice on the floor, this robot can detect the liquid and avoid driving through it which in turn makes things easier and mess free. While cleaning robots get most of the attention, the Posha Kitchen Robot shows that automation is moving into the kitchen too. This home robot came out in early 2025 and looks like a big mixer, but it does much more. You load the ingredients, pick a recipe, and it chops, stirs, and cooks by itself. It's a new technology you can bring into your home to make everyday meals easier, not just something created to show off. It can weigh ingredients, adjust cooking time and temperature with sensors, suggest recipes to match your taste, keep food warm, clean parts of itself, and connect to an app so you can control it from your phone. While Tesla's Optimus isn't something you can buy today, its public demos show how quickly robotics is advancing beyond single-purpose machines. Watching a humanoid robot fold laundry and carry boxes makes it clear that more general-purpose helpers could move from prototypes to real homes sooner than many people expect. Even if Optimus remains out of reach for a few more years, it offers a glimpse of what the next wave of home robots might look like. These home robots are not perfect yet, but 2025 shows they can really help with everyday chores. From cleaning floors to cooking meals, home robots are becoming useful parts of our homes. It's a sign that in the future, robots could make life a lot easier for everyone.
Irish Examiner
4 days ago
- Lifestyle
- Irish Examiner
Couples will love St Luke's townhouse, a superbly renovated €325k gem
LUCKY for someone, No 13 Alexandra Villas is a pretty little townhouse whose 120-year-old fortunes were restored by the couple that bought it seven years ago. They did all of the sensible stuff first: re-wiring, re-plumbing, installing a new gas fired central heating system, taking out old windows and doors and replacing them with double glazing, even installing underfloor electric heating in the bathroom. Having worked wonders with improving basic comforts, they then set about infusing their home with style, character, and charm. Their endeavours paid off as was clear from the enthusiasm of viewers that came to look on day one. 'The owners did a fabulous job, they put blood, sweat, and tears into it, and we had about a dozen people viewing on the first day. It's already under offer at €347,000,' says selling agent Seán McCarthy of ERA Downey McCarthy. The downstairs layout is clever, with open plan living/dining. A large picture window through an open arch at the dining room end overlooks a pretty courtyard and lets in plenty of natural light. The arch leads to a rear hallway which brings you past a strikingly tiled bathroom to the neat kitchen, with Spanish-style tiling. Any fear of a dark, pokey rear is banished by the French doors that open from the kitchen into the tiny, decked courtyard, 'perfect for morning coffee', Mr McCarthy says. Installed just this year, a lovely old stone wall rises up behind the courtyard, so it's totally enclosed and private. Two double bedrooms upstairs are also tastefully decorated. Tucked in towards the end of a small, quiet, rectangular cul-de-sac between Military Rd and Alexandra Rd, high above St Luke's Cross, Mr McCarthy says a young professional couple would love it, given Cork City centre is a short walk downhill, and St Luke's Cross, with its bustling social scene — Henchy's Bar/Live at St Lukes/two restaurants/a coffee shop — is five minutes down the road. 'It's a gorgeous home in a great location, and we are very busy with first-time buyers and with people already renting in the area who love it there and want to stay put,' the agent says. He's guiding the 74sq m, two-bed terraced home at €325,000. VERDICT: A first-time buyer or downsizer gem
