Bike sales boomed during the pandemic, but now cycle shops are going bust, sales of ebikes are sluggish and there’s a downturn in ‘active travel’ When Alice Clews-Smith and her partner, Kitty, moved to London, they didn’t see many options for pursuing their shared passion for cycling. “I think it’s fair to say that the industry and the cycling scene were very male dominated,” she said. “There was a lack of space for women, trans-femme, non-binary people. We wanted a space where these people could feel welcomed and included. And because not everything is about going fast in Lycra.” So was born the Steezy Collective, which brings together cyclists across the UK. Not that going fast is off the table. The collective noticed that there were no women in the Fastest Known Times list for the Lakeland 200 route – 200km of mountain bike trails through the Lake District – so they set about correcting that, and now the list includes nine women riders, with their efforts captured on film The existence of the Steezy Collective and others such as Sisters in the Wild, the Lakes Gravel Gang, the New Forest Off Road Club and 6am Cycling is part of a new wave of enthusiasts fuelled by the lockdown bicycle boom. Riders are now much more diverse than the cliched and not entirely accurate stereotype of middle-aged men in Lycra. With miles of cycle paths opening up in cities across the UK, people reacted during the pandemic lockdowns by buying bikes in record numbers, with latecomers facing months-long waits. By March 2021, cycle traffic in England was 64% higher than in December 2013. Now that has all changed. Last week, Wiggle Chain Reaction Cycles, one of the UK’s largest online cycle retailers, went into administration while Islabikes, which transformed the design of children’s bikes to make them lighter and easier to handle, said that it would stop manufacturing. The announcements came after three major UK distributors went bust, along with German company Signa Sports United, and the Italian firm Bianchi announced redundancies, Cycling Weekly reported. So what went wrong? “We could see it before anyone else,” said Martin Shepherd at Reynolds Technology in Birmingham, which for the past 125 years has made steel tubes used to create bicycle frames. “During the pandemic, you couldn’t ship bikes fast enough,” he said. “Everybody’s lead time for orders [mostly to Taiwanese factories] started to go up nine months in advance, 12 months in advance. “Now we’ve come out of the other side of it, there’s just vast amounts of inventory because all those people who were having to order 500 bikes 18 months in advance were suddenly swamped with stock.” Customers, on the other hand, had been hit hard in their bank accounts. Sales have dipped, leaving companies with stock that’s proving hard to shift – something analyst Velco described as an economic “whiplash effect”, where small changes are magnified down the supply chain. Some bikes can now be bought at steep discounts since 2024 models will be arriving in a matter of weeks. Shepherd said high interest rates, as well as post-Brexit trade barriers, were also playing their part. UK firms have specialised in mid- and high-end bikes, and sales to Europe had been substantial, but they have been hit by customs delays and extra charges. Now is an excellent time to buy a bike, but those bargains come with a price tag for the sector. If the market is flooded with more cheap stock, it could drive more firms out of business. Link

ow is Formula E not the biggest sport on the face of the planet? By now it ought to have amassed the wealth and global audience to make LIV golf, Saudi Pro League footie and Formula One look about as powerful as a village lawn bowls club. Next season will be Formula E’s 10th. The recipe ticks every box a manufacturer, driver, broadcaster and spectator could ask for. Carmakers like the afterglow of competition pedigree, but only if it gels with their electrified ambitions. Drivers (publicly) want broadly comparable cars that let their talent – not wind tunnel wizardry – propel them to the top. Viewers want close racing, overtaking and the potential for carbon fibre to go flying every so often. And if that’s guaranteed, the broadcasters will keep signing on for next season. Holding the races in cities means the series is also accessible to folks who wouldn’t trek to Silverstone or Spa. It wouldn’t even get clobbered by the ULEZ. Formula E says all the metrics point in the right direction, with audience share swelling, sold-out grandstands and fanbase feedback overtaking NASCAR and MotoGP. But thanks to Netflix, it’s Formula One that’s been catapulted from a nerdy purgatory into a worldwide phenomenon of memes and heartthrobs. So you probably hadn’t noticed that this year’s Portland ePrix had 403 overtakes. And that ahead of this season’s penultimate round, any one of four FE drivers had a title shout. F1 hasn’t enjoyed such a wide open season climax in a decade. Meanwhile, Formula E cars themselves aren’t what they used to be. Remember 2014, when the gangly newbies mustered less power than a Boxster and their batteries couldn’t last an entire race? Forget fresh tyres, the drivers literally had to pit for a whole car halfway through each event, clumsily unbuckling themselves and sprinting across the garage to be belted into a freshly charged twin. That unedifying spectacle was purged in 2018 when the Gen2 cars arrived, teaming a Dallara chassis with a McLaren engineered battery. Those cars were again superseded in 2023 with this Gen3 car. Part stealth bomber, part Christmas tree. Now developing up to 469bhp and capable of six times more regen than the early cars (explaining the 10p pieces behind the front wheels and the total absence of rear brakes), a Gen3 racer is good for in excess of 200mph and 0–62mph in under 2.8 seconds. Being zero emissions, it was the perfect joker in the pack for Speed Week. So, we dialled up Formula E and asked if anyone had a spare car. Perhaps Mercedes (who ditched the series after winning it twice) had one gathering dust in a warehouse. Or Audi, who followed BMW’s works team out the door in 2021. “Actually, we’ve got our own car,” they replied. “And you’ll prefer ours. Ours is faster.” There’s nothing quite like a racing car that’s allowed to break the rules which govern it. Enter the GenBeta – a potential test bed for where Formula E goes next. Four-wheel drive, for starters. The front motor-generator, which is usually only on power harvesting duty, is allowed to contribute some grunt here, so thanks to an uprated battery this £1.3m one-off generates over 530bhp and gets off the line faster on softer, stickier tyres. Handy, when you want to break a world record. Formula E driver Jake Hughes recently guided this very machine to 135.9mph on a 346-metre track within the walls of an exhibition centre in London’s Docklands, shattering the indoor land speed record but not ExCeL’s skirting boards. Gratifyingly for someone whose single seater experience is go-karts and 20 minutes in a BAC Mono nine years ago, it’s simple to operate. Left foot on the near-solid brake pedal, right foot on the long throttle. Click both paddles for neutral, then left for reverse or right for drive. No DRS, no charge modes. Just stop, go and steer. It’s not comfy though. My hips wedge in the carbon seat before my backside touches the bottom, and my knees rest up against the underside of the nose while the steering wheel bumps into my thighs beyond a quarter turn of lock. It’s a relief to realise the reason I’m not a successful racing driver owes little to my talent vacuum and can be entirely blamed on the shape of my skeleton. Like all racing cars, the GenBeta doesn’t like dawdling. As we set up the cameras, it’s getting chilly. Its French handler gestures to a readout on the steering wheel: 37.5°C and falling. Battery temperature. Any colder and the car will lose performance and shut down. It’s imperative to generate some heat. The best way to do that? A couple of brisk laps. The fact I half-spin it on my first lap isn’t a shock to anyone. The fact I make it six corners before spinning it is a surprise to me. What have we learned? The unassisted steering is heavy and I can’t get much leverage on it before thunderthighs cost me an apex. The brakes are stupendous despite barely being there and the throttle travel is very long indeed. That was my downfall. I forgot that bit in the briefing where they warned me how it’s calibrated. The further you press the right pedal, the more the rear motor takes over from the front one, as the car presumes you’ve got plenty of tyre temperature and confidence. I had neither, so it looped around, and knocked one of the bespoke 3D-printed endplates off into the gravel. Freshly versed in new French curse words, I venture out again just as the Gotlandring starts being peppered by a late afternoon shower. But helpfully, this isn’t a slicks ’n’ wings special that needs to be driven at a certain lick to avoid falling off a downforce plateau. Formula E cars aren’t versed in dirty air and DRS. I can sort of imagine how you might go wheel to wheel and race someone in one of these. Whatever language you choose, it’s swearword fast. It whines and whooshes and buzzes with energy. Certainly sounds angry enough to be a racecar when you’re strapped into its core, peering around the halo that your brain quickly learns to see ‘through’. I spend half an hour feeling the car out, trying to absorb and process the messages it’s constantly feeding back. No more spins, happily. But Formula E hasn’t called back so I can’t imagine my data was too tasty. Build me a wider chassis? Despite it body shaming me, then spitting me off for some unscheduled disassembly, it seems to me that the engineers behind Formula E have done their jobs superbly, and improbably it’s the marketing that’s lagging. The rate of technical progress is wild. Formula E’s second decade will be defined by whether or not the viewing public, not the cars, are finally up to speed. Link

ICC Men's Cricket World Cup, Mumbai Afghanistan 291-5 (50 overs): Zadran 129* (143), Rashid 35* (18); Hazlewood 2-39 Australia 293-7 (46.5 overs): Maxwell 201* (128); Rashid 2-44 Australia won by three wickets Scorecard. Table. Glenn Maxwell battled through injury to hit a sensational double century against Afghanistan and guide Australia into the World Cup semi-finals. Maxwell arrived at the crease to face a hat-trick ball after Australia slumped to 91-7 in pursuit of 292 in Mumbai. He was dropped twice and struggled with a back injury and cramp but played a remarkable innings, often on one leg post century, to finish 201 not out. He shared 202 with Pat Cummins (12*) as Australia won with 19 balls to spare. Afghanistan, who had earlier made 291-5 with Ibrahim Zadran hitting their first World Cup century, were well set to join Australia in the current top four after a rampant start in the field before Maxwell produced one of the all-time great innings. He had already hit the fastest World Cup century earlier in the tournament against the Netherlands and returned to the Australia side for this game after missing Saturday's win over England because of a concussion sustained after falling off the back of a golf buggy. It was a truly breathtaking innings, with remarkable reverse sweeps for six, flicks and whips over the leg side on one leg, which will also be remembered as an incredible show of grit and determination. He is the first Australian to hit a double century in a one-day international and was mobbed by his ecstatic team-mates, who could barely believe what they had seen. It is the 11th double ton in ODI history but the first ever made while chasing. Australia's sixth win in a row sees them set up a semi-final clash against South Africa. One of New Zealand, Pakistan and Afghanistan will realistically claim the final knockout spot - all three sides are currently on eight points - to face leaders India. Who needs what to reach World Cup semi-finals? World Cup table and top-runscorers & wicket-takers Maxwell produces all-time great innings At the interval a tight game felt likely, though Afghanistan were favourites, with no side completing a chase of more than 281 at the Wankhede Stadium and Australia also needing to pull off their highest chase in World Cups. After Afghanistan's rampant start, where Australia were guilty of loose strokeplay and lacking a calm head, it looked certain Jonathan Trott's side would pull off their first win over Australia. Yet Afghanistan let the game slip when Maxwell was dropped in the covers on 24, before Mujeeb Ur Rahman put down an easy chance at short fine leg with Maxwell on 33. He was also halfway off the pitch after reviewing when given out lbw on 27, only to return in shock when the technology showed it was going over the stumps. The 35-year-old is one the most destructive batters in the game and this was another example of his game-changing talent. He struck 10 fours and three sixes in his first century, which came up off 76 balls, before the back struggles and cramp left him hobbling. He received treatment on numerous occasions, while Adam Zampa, the next man in, came down prepared to bat twice. But Maxwell persevered, his second century taking 54 balls, with most boundaries followed by a grimace or stretch of the leg or back. The all-rounder showed a nerveless ability to clear the ropes and find the gaps, but also calmly turned down singles and twos he knew he could not make, while never letting the require run rate spiral. He finished the game with a monstrous flick over the leg side to bring up his double century off 128 balls, including 21 fours and 10 sixes. Zadran's century not enough On reflection it may look like Afghanistan failed to put enough on the board, but they were simply denied by one of the greatest innings. South Africa and hosts India have undoubtedly been the standout batting sides in this tournament, but Afghanistan are next on the list. They have shown great maturity, both in setting a winning total against England and in their victories while chasing against Pakistan, Sri Lanka and the Netherlands. There is a calmness bestowed upon them from head coach Trott, who was regarded as one the toughest players during his international career with England. On this occasion they were was led by opener Zadran, who played some beautiful shots through the covers at the start of his innings before demonstrating his power over the leg-side, hitting an unbeaten 129 from 143 balls. Australia were far from their best in the field but seemed happy to just restrict Afghanistan's scoring, only to then take significant punishment late on. Afghanistan added 96 off the final 10 overs, including 64 off the last five, with Rashid Khan hitting a superb unbeaten 35 off 18 balls to lift his side to their highest World Cup score. Maxwell's heroics meant it did not matter here but death bowling is one area Australia will have to tighten up on for the semi-finals. 'I don't know know how you describe that' - reaction Player of the Match, Australia's Glenn Maxwell: "Horrific, I feel shocking. It was quite hot when we were fielding, I haven't done a whole lot of high intensity exercise in the heat. It got a hold of me, I was lucky to stick it out until the end. "It would've been nice if it was chanceless, I've lived a very charmed life out there. To make the most of it, be not out with Patty out there at the end I'm proud of." Australia captain Pat Cummins: "Just ridiculous. I don't know how you describe that. "A great win but Maxi was just out of this world. It's got to be the greatest ODI innings that has ever happened. "It's important. Not only from our team, thinking you can win from anywhere, but opposition look at that as well. It gives us real belief and we're into the semi-finals now so that's great." Afghanistan captain Hasmatullah Shahidi: "Really disappointed. Cricket is a funny game, it was unbelievable. "Our bowlers started really well, we dropped chances for the eighth wicket. Maxwell doesn't stop, I have to give credit to him. "I am proud of the team, the team will be disappointed because we didn't think that could happen. We will try our best to come out stronger against South Africa." Link

South Korean authorities are working to contain bedbug infestations that have caused concern across the country. At least 17 outbreaks have been reported in the capital of Seoul and in the cities of Busan and Incheon as of 5 November, local media report. Seoul has set aside 500 million won ($383,000; £310,000) and set up a response team to take on the bedbugs. The blood-sucking insects have also been a recent source of public alarm in France, and the UK. Bedbug infestations in South Korea were reported in September, at a university in Daegu city in the south-west. They were later reported in tourist accommodations and a public sauna. Some South Koreans have been staying away from cinemas and public transportation out of fear of bedbugs. Hotels battle to beat bedbugs as outbreaks rise 'I've suffered from bedbugs for two years' South Korea's EDaily News reported that a 34-year-old Seoul resident, Ms Choi, would avoid riding subway trains with fabric seats for the time being. Ms Choi had also been spraying pesticide "all over" her house in fear that bedbugs would "suddenly appear", the report said. EDaily News also reported that another local, Mr Seo, had said that he and his girlfriend would be staying at home for the time being. Before the recent outbreak, South Korea was thought to have eradicated bedbugs after a nationwide extermination campaign in the 1960s. While bedbugs do not transmit disease, their bites can cause intense itching. Scratching to relieve the itch can cause wounds that may lead to infections or scarring. The wingless pests, which often cluster near beds or in crevices, are also known to exact an emotional toll. Those living with bedbugs can feel uncomfortable, embarrassed or even fear sleeping. People in Seoul have been flocking to public health centres, asking to have their insect bites checked and seeking advice on measures they should take, local reports say. The Seoul Metropolitan Government is scheduled to inspect some 3,200 public facilities, including hotels and bathhouses, to assess their sanitary conditions. The government will also meet private experts to discuss best practices in controlling bedbugs. Seoul plans to hot-steam fabric seats on subways across the city on a regular basis and replace fabric seating with other materials, local reports said. Authorities' recent recommendations to use certain types of pesticides against bedbugs have sparked controversy as recent studies have deemed them ineffective, South Korean national daily JoongAng Daily reported. link

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Nick movie:marvel studios echo Time: 10 January, 2024 Netflix / Amazon / HBO:hulu Duration of the movie: five episodes. Trailer:

More than twice as many U.S. service members may have been injured in recent attacks in Iraq and Syria than the Pentagon previously disclosed, U.S. defense officials said on Monday. At least 45 Americans are reporting minor injuries or potential traumatic brain injuries. The military is monitoring approximately two dozen service members who may have suffered traumatic brain injuries (TBI) during the attacks, which are believed to have been carried out by groups with links to Iran, according to U.S. defense officials. The Defense Department has previously said 21 service members received minor injuries in attacks on U.S. forces at al-Tanf in southern Syria and on al-Asad air base in western Iraq late last month. The officials attributed the increase to more reports of possible traumatic brain injuries from those attacks. The number of possible TBI cases is likely to change over the coming weeks and months as troops who report mild symptoms initially could be cleared or as more individuals with symptoms could come forward. Three members of Congress who are all military veterans sent a letter Monday asking Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin how the Pentagon is protecting service members stationed at forward operating bases from traumatic brain injury. “The Department must proactively work to reduce the risk to service members both to protect our men and women in uniform and to preserve the capability and readiness of forward operating bases,” Reps. Ruben Gallego, D-Ariz.; Morgan Luttrell, R-Texas; and Bill Johnson, R-Ohio, wrote. They also asked for more information about how the military screens for traumatic brain injury after incidents to identify and treat it soon after the injuries occur. Since Oct. 17, there have been at least 38 separate attacks on bases housing U.S. troops in Syria and Iraq, mainly by one-way drones, mortars or rockets. The two attacks that caused the injuries were both on Oct. 18. One of the attacks, on al-Tanf in southern Syria, included two drones. One of them was shot down, but the other struck the base, injuring U.S. troops. The other attack, on al-Asad air base in Iraq, also involved two drones. Both were shot down, but one broke apart over the base, with the debris destroying a hangar and injuring the troops inside. A U.S. contractor died that day when he suffered a heart attack sheltering in place at al-Asad, the Pentagon said. The injuries so far include at least 32 people at al-Tanf, 13 at al-Asad and one in Erbil in northern Iraq, according to Pentagon press secretary Brig. Gen. Patrick Ryder. A separate attack on Oct. 25 had the potential to be catastrophic for the U.S. military, two U.S. defense officials said. An explosives-filled drone hit the roof of a building housing U.S. troops on a base in Erbil. The drone did not explode. If it had, dozens of troops inside could have been injured or killed, the officials said. The Wall Street Journal first reported that the drone landed on the barracks. Last month, the U.S. military conducted strikes on two targets in eastern Syria to retaliate for the recent spate of attacks, hitting an ammunition storage facility and a weapons storage facility that the U.S. said had direct ties to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and its proxy groups. The U.S. blames the recent attacks on Iranian-backed militia groups. While they have not said Iran is directing the attacks, U.S. officials say Iran is responsible for funding, arming, equipping and training the groups. “What we want is for Iran to take very specific action to direct its militias and proxies to stand down,” a senior U.S. defense official said after the strikes last month. Link

rom now until early spring, leeks will have a permanent presence in this kitchen, fat green and white alliums to blend with potatoes for soup or simmered in chicken and barley stews. They will be mashed into purées for pasta and fried for filling a baked potato. Cooked slowly and softened without colour, they will fill open-faced tarts of goat’s cheese or bacon. The first fat leeks of the year went into a pie this week, cooked until silky, their flesh seasoned with grated parmesan, then wrapped in pastry and baked. Another time, I might be tempted to add chopped leaves of tarragon or a smattering of blue cheese, a spoonful of mustard or a dusting of smoked paprika. On this occasion, it was simply leeks and cheese, a partnership that ticks every box for me. I also baked a batch of soft, nutty cookies, their surface nubbly with salted peanuts. Biscuits so tender you could crumble them over a bowl of stewed apples or a glass dish of ice-cream. Topped with roasted peanuts, I even sprinkled a few with extra flakes of sea salt – buttery, nutty, salty little treats to pass around on an autumn afternoon. Leek and parmesan pie You can make this in a large springform cake tin or bake freeform on a baking sheet. I take the middle route, baking the pie freeform, but using the outer ring of a 23cm cake tin to hold the pastry in shape. The ring isn’t essential, but it does stop the pastry splitting as it bakes. The flavour of leeks is less strident if you cook them without colour, placing a piece of greaseproof paper over the surface of the sliced leeks as well as a lid, so they partly sauté, partly steam. This is a good recipe for using up small, hard ends of parmesan. Serves 6-8 For the pastry: butter 180g, fridge cold plain flour 300g egg yolk 1 egg 1, lightly beaten for brushing water about 50ml For the leeks: leeks 1kg butter 60g plain flour 3 heaped tbsp crème fraîche 100g parmesan 80g, grated Make the pastry: cut the butter into small pieces and rub into the flour with your thumbs and fingertips or use a food processor. When the mixture resembles coarse breadcrumbs, add the yolk and enough water to bring it to a rollable dough. Using lightly floured hands, pat the dough into a ball and refrigerate for half an hour or so. Remove and discard the roots and very darkest green tips of the leeks. Slice the leeks thickly (1-2cm), then wash thoroughly in cold water to remove any grit that can get trapped between the layers. Put them in a colander and shake dry. Melt the butter in a large pan with a heavy base. Put the leeks into the pan, cover with a disc of greaseproof paper or baking parchment, push it down to cover the surface, then cover with a lid and let them cook – a cross between sautéeing and steaming – for about 25 minutes, lifting the paper and stirring once or twice, until they are soft, but not coloured at all. Season with black pepper and a little salt. Sprinkle the flour over, stir, and cook for a further 5 minutes. Stir in the crème fraîche and grated parmesan, then set aside. Set the oven at 200C/gas mark 6 and place an empty baking sheet in the oven. Line another baking sheet with baking parchment. Lightly oil a 23cm cake tin, place it on the lined baking sheet, then place the pastry over it, pushing it gently down into the corners and leaving the overhanging pastry in place. If you are taking the freeform route simply lay the pastry on the lined baking sheet. Fill the middle of the pastry with the leek and cheese mixture. Now fold the edges of overhanging pastry over the filling, leaving the middle free of pastry. Brush the pastry with the beaten egg. Place this baking sheet on top of the hot baking sheet already in the oven and cook for about 45 minutes until the pastry is golden. If the leeks are colouring too much, then place a piece of foil loosely over the surface. Remove from the oven and leave to settle for about 10 minutes. If you used a cake tin, run a palette knife around the edge to release the pie, then cut into thick slices and serve. Peanut butter cookies The only ingredients you need to make great peanut butter are peanuts and salt, so check the label for intruders like palm oil and sugar. The flavour of these small, soft-textured cookies is even better if you opt for the darker roast peanut butter. Makes roughly 38-40 little cookies butter 225g caster sugar 100g soft brown sugar 100g egg 1 plain flour 150g baking powder 1 tsp peanut butter 200g roasted, salted peanuts to decorate Line a baking sheet with baking parchment. Cut the butter into small pieces and put them in the bowl of a food processor with the sugars. Beat until soft and fluffy. In a small bowl, beat the egg with a fork, just enough to mix the yolks and white together, then add little by little to the butter and sugar. (I do this in 3 or 4 stages, so the mixture doesn’t curdle. If it does, stir in a spoonful of the flour.) Sieve together the flour and baking powder, then add to the mix and continue until the flour has been incorporated. Stir in the peanut butter. Set the oven at 170C/gas mark 3-4. Place level heaped tbsps of the mixture on to a baking sheet, lined with greaseproof paper, leaving plenty of room around each to allow the biscuits to spread. With the back of a floured dessert spoon press lightly on each one to flatten the top. Roughly chop the salted, roasted peanuts, then sprinkle 2g (about 1 tsp) on each biscuit. Bake for about 12 minutes until the biscuits have spread and turned pale gold. They should still be soft to the touch. While the biscuits are baking, prepare a second tray and repeat until the mixture is all used (I do about 4 batches). Let the cookies firm up a little before transferring carefully to a cooling rack. Follow Nigel on Instagram @NigelSlater You've read 10 articles in the last year Article count on … there is a good reason why people choose not to support the Guardian. Not everyone can afford to pay for the news right now. That’s why we choose to keep our journalism open for everyone to read. If this is you, please continue to read for free. But if you can, then here are three good reasons to make the choice to support us today from Morocco. 1. Our quality, investigative journalism is a scrutinising force at a time when the rich and powerful are getting away with more and more. 2. We are independent and have no billionaire owner controlling what we do, so your money directly powers our reporting. 3. It doesn’t cost much, and takes less time than it took to read this message. Link

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A Cambridgeshire cat that went missing from its home eight months ago has finally been found more than 60 miles (96km) away in London. Fluffy feline Stark disappeared from his home in Bar Hill and his owners had almost given up hope of finding him. But as the luck of the black cat would have it, "Starky" had been cared for by office workers in the capital and when they had him checked, his microchip revealed his true owners. He is now settling back in at his home. His owners had searched far and wide for their wayward moggy and placed adverts in papers and on websites in the hope someone would find their cat, as Cambridgeshire Live first reported. Ashleigh Archer and her husband William had no idea where their cat could be, she told the BBC. "Starky had always been an explorer but he'd always greet my husband when he came home from work - so when he was missing for a day - and then for longer - we feared the worst," she said. "We were devastated." Stark had been best friends with the couple's dog, Winnie, and when a vet told the couple their hound was pining for a playmate they decided to get a kitten - Bucky - but never lost hope that Starky would return. Towards the end of October, Ms Archer was amazed when a London-based charity - the Celia Hammond Animal Trust - got in touch to say a cat had been brought in - and it was Stark. His owners hot-footed it to London and were reunited with their beloved pet. "He recognised my husband immediately," said Ms Archer. Once back home, she said Stark went straight to the couple's bedroom - where he always slept on the bed. "Winnie is so happy to have him back, and he's getting on well with our new kitten," she said. "We're all over the moon." Ms Archer wanted to stress the importance of having pets microchipped, as without that, her family would not have been reunited with Stark. Link

The rebel group holding Luis Diaz's father hostage has demanded "security guarantees" before his release. The National Liberation Army (ELN) said the ongoing military and police search "will delay the release and increase the risks", Colombian media reported. Luis Manuel Diaz was kidnapped at gunpoint along with his wife in Barrancas, Colombia on 28 October. Liverpool player Diaz has called on the kidnappers to free his father immediately and end a "painful wait". His mother was abandoned in a car after the kidnapping as police closed in, but his father was taken hostage. Colombia international Diaz came off the bench to salvage a point for Liverpool with a stoppage-time goal at Luton Town on Sunday in his first match since his parents were kidnapped. The ELN reiterated its intention to release Diaz's father "as soon as possible". But, in a statement signed by commander Jose Manuel Martinez Quiroz, it added the current scale of the search operation undertaken by the Colombian authorities was delaying that process. "We are making efforts to avoid incidents with government forces," the ELN said. "The area is still militarised, they are carrying out flyovers, disembarking troops, broadcasting and offering rewards as part of an intense search operation. "This situation is not allowing for the execution of the release plan quickly and safely, where Mr Luis Manuel Diaz is not at risk. "If operations continue in the area, they will delay the release and increase the risks. "We understand the anguish of the Diaz Marulanda family, to whom we say that we will keep our word to release him unilaterally, as soon as we have security guarantees for the development of the liberation operation." Both of Diaz's parents were seized at gunpoint in his hometown of Barrancas, in the northern province of La Guajira, by left-wing guerrillas of the ELN. But, while his mother was found later that day, his father remains missing and the Colombian government has deployed hundreds of police and soldiers in the search. Diaz, 26, had not featured for Liverpool since their Europa League win over Toulouse on 26 October but returned to the squad for Sunday's Premier League match at Luton. After scoring his side's equaliser, Diaz lifted his shirt to show a message of "freedom for papa" and later released a statement calling for his father's release. "I beg that they free him immediately, respecting his integrity and ending this painful wait. In the name of love and compassion we ask they reconsider their actions and allow us to have him back," Diaz said. Link

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has demanded answers for the families of soldiers killed in a missile strike during an awards ceremony on Friday. A Ukrainian unit said 19 of its soldiers were killed in a Russian attack near the front lines in the southern Zaporizhzhia region. The 128th Mountain Assault Brigade said its "best fighters have been killed". Many have expressed disbelief that the ceremony was allowed to go ahead so near to the front line. President Zelensky said the incident "could have been avoided". "Criminal proceedings have been initiated," the Ukrainian leader added in a post on social media on Sunday. "Every soldier in the combat zone - in the enemy's line of fire and aerial reconnaissance - knows how to behave in the open, how to ensure safety." A number of Ukrainian soldiers and military experts say the ceremony should not have taken place in a strike-risk area. They say Ukrainian officers should have been aware that Russian drones are constantly monitoring Ukrainian troops' activities near the frontlines to guide air and artillery strikes. Drone footage has now emerged on a Russian Telegram channel purportedly showing the moment of the deadly strike - on what appears to be an open-air ceremony. A number of bodies, believed to be those of Ukrainian soldiers, are also seen lying on the ground. Russia's military has not officially commented on the attack. Ukrainian Defence Minister Rustem Umerov had earlier confirmed reports that soldiers from the 128th Mountain Assault Brigade had been killed in the strike. He ordered a "full investigation" into what he described as a "tragedy". Meanwhile, Ukraine's Strategic Command (StratCom) said an Iskander-M - a short-range ballistic missile used by Russia - was used in the attack. A number of civilians were injured. In his own statement, President Zelensky said he wanted to "establish the complete truth about what happened and prevent such incidents from happening again". Three days of mourning have been declared in Ukraine's westernmost Transcarpathia region, where many of the victims are believed to be from. Kyiv has not publicly revealed the location of the strike, but reports in Ukrainian media say it was a village near the front line. Russian bloggers said it was the village of Dymytrovo - which was renamed Zarichne by Ukraine in 2016. The attack is believed to have been launched as Ukrainian troops marked Artillery Day, which celebrates military personnel working in artillery and missile units. Ruslan Kahanets, commander of Ukraine's volunteer battalion Sonechko (Sun), said in a Facebook post on Saturday that there was "a pile of dead officers and soldiers" in the aftermath. He also posted photos of burned vehicles and soldiers' bodies. A video has also emerged in which a Ukrainian soldier - believed to be from a nearby brigade - publicly criticises officers for organising the reported ceremony. The unnamed soldier says that front-line villages are being hit "methodically and regularly" and "anyone who is here will tell you this". "As a result of this [ceremony] line-up, many Ukrainian defenders and civilians died". He asks what the officers who had gathered the crowd were thinking, because "everyone on the front lines knows that a crowd of more than two people always provokes an 'arrival' [air strike]". Serhiy Sternenko, a well-known Ukrainian volunteer, suggested on Saturday that the commander who had organised the ceremony should be jailed for life. "There have already been many similar incidents. Unfortunately. Without systemic changes, there will be more such incidents," he said. A number of social media users in Ukraine have also voiced their anger and demanded punishment for the ceremony's organisers. "Who gathered them there, why is this person's name being withheld? Whose initiative was it? Are these people already under investigation?" one user wrote. Another asked: "How was it possible to gather ALL our warriors in one place?" Meanwhile, a Russian military blogger suggested that Ukraine's military chiefs should now "think why such incidents have become more frequent". Another pro-Kremlin blogger wrote that "earlier, Ukrainians had 'punished' Russians in a similar way several times. And we quickly forgot about lining up outside, stopped huddling and began to constantly look at the sky". Link

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Music title: Sabrina Carpenter - Feather (Official Video) Signer:Sabrina Carpenter Release date:Oct 31, 2023 Official YouTube link: Informations about the signer:- Your opinion about the track (music video):-

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Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., and Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-La., on Sunday defended the cuts to IRS funding in a bill passed by the GOP-led House that would provide about $14 billion in aid to Israel amid its war with Hamas. The House last week voted 226-196, mostly along party lines, to pass the Israel aid bill, championed by Johnson, with a dozen Democrats voting with Republicans for the measure and two Republicans opposing it. But Democrats have made clear that the bill — which would slim IRS funding that was approved in President Joe Biden's 2022 sweeping health, climate and tax law — has no chance of survival in the Senate, and Biden has vowed to veto it. In an interview on "Fox News Sunday," Johnson was asked to comment on the backlash from Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and other congressional Democrats, who have pointed a recent Congressional Budget Office report that estimated the legislation would add nearly $27 billion to the deficit. Republicans are “trying to be good stewards of the taxpayers’ resources” and want to offset spending rather than print more or borrow money to support our international allies, Johnson said. "We want to pay for it, what a concept, we are trying to change how Washington works." Fox News' Shannon Bream noted that Rep. Brendan Boyle, D-Pa., had argued Johnson is prioritizing “deficit-busting tax giveaways for the wealthy over helping Israel.” In response, Johnson said: "Listen, we’re trying to take care of our priorities and we will. We know that these other important measures are right there on the table and we’re working through it hour by hour, day by day and we’re going to meet those obligations but we have to do these things in the proper order.” “We passed a bill that addressed two problems that our Defense Department talks about,” he said. “One, we need to get aid to Israel and we do. But when our generals come and testify before committees like Armed Services, they say our debt is our biggest national threat — not other countries like China, and Russia. They say it’s our debt.” “We addressed both in this bill,” he added. Among the Democrats who voted against the bill, some said that although they support aid to Israel, they could not vote in favor of the bill due to the IRS cuts. The funding to the IRS was intended to strengthen enforcement against tax cheats to bring in more revenue. Biden and Senate Democrats have said they support a broader package that would provide $106 billion in aid to both Israel and Ukraine, humanitarian aid for Gaza, and funding for U.S. border operations. Schumer last week vowed that the GOP's Israel aid bill would be dead on arrival in the Senate. “I am glad that the president issued a veto threat over this stunningly unserious proposal,” Schumer said in a floor speech last week. “The Senate will not be considering this deeply flawed proposal from the House GOP.” Link

A therapist could help you to separate yourself from the part of you that dislikes your little girl, says Philippa Perry The question I am a mother of a four-year-old girl and an 18-month-old boy. And I find it hard to love my daughter. From the moment she arrived, I felt like I was getting it all wrong and wasn’t good enough – I even felt she wasn’t a good enough baby. The sound of her cry did, and still does, bring up feelings of rage, anger and resentment. I do not feel like this about my son. All I feel for him is pure love, his cries make me feel sad and concerned and like I want to support him, not pull away from him. Why can’t I love my daughter like I do my son? She is a sensitive child and I’m sure she can sense my confused feelings towards her. I don’t want to damage her mental health, but I also don’t know how to love her properly and often feel myself withdrawing from her, especially when she is being difficult and defiant, which I know is probably when she needs me to understand her the most, but I just can’t seem to be fully there for her. I love my son, but I resent my daughter A therapist could help you to separate yourself from the part of you that dislikes your little girl, says Philippa Perry Philippa Perry Sun 5 Nov 2023 06.02 GMT The question I am a mother of a four-year-old girl and an 18-month-old boy. And I find it hard to love my daughter. From the moment she arrived, I felt like I was getting it all wrong and wasn’t good enough – I even felt she wasn’t a good enough baby. The sound of her cry did, and still does, bring up feelings of rage, anger and resentment. I do not feel like this about my son. All I feel for him is pure love, his cries make me feel sad and concerned and like I want to support him, not pull away from him. Why can’t I love my daughter like I do my son? She is a sensitive child and I’m sure she can sense my confused feelings towards her. I don’t want to damage her mental health, but I also don’t know how to love her properly and often feel myself withdrawing from her, especially when she is being difficult and defiant, which I know is probably when she needs me to understand her the most, but I just can’t seem to be fully there for her. Philippa’s answer What you have done right is acknowledge and identify the problem. Instead of being blaming or critical of her, you are curious about yourself. This is absolutely on the right track. Well done. I cannot know the reasons behind how you feel, but I’m going to suggest a few in case any of them resonate and help you to understand what might be happening. When you have your first-born, you overhear so much about “good mother” and “bad mother” that when your baby cries you can hear the tears as a way of being “told off”. Almost as if it’s “proof” you’re a “bad mother”. And yet it’s normal for a newborn to cry for two to three hours a day. Good-mother, bad-mother labelling is an unhelpful cultural concept. If you’ve given yourself this label you may be resenting your daughter because of it. The labels are either used defensively or to self-flagellate, and neither of these positions helps our children one bit. When you have your second child, you expect your baby to cry a lot and because you’ve learned that your soothing does eventually work, you don’t panic or see it as a marker for how you are doing. And so, you may resent the second child less as you haven’t used them as a way to judge yourself unfavourably. It is the first-born child that turns your life upside down. Before she came along, you probably saw colleagues every day, were free to be spontaneous in your life, could sleep for as long as you liked and only had to be responsible for yourself. Everyone knows their life will change beyond recognition when the first baby arrives, but there is a difference between knowing it and the actual experience. It is normal to resent the baby for changing your life. This might be one factor in your case and it may be compounded by others. Again, when your son arrived, you were used to having a young child. It is also possible that your daughter reminds you, on a somatic level, of you and how you felt when you were her age. Perhaps her cries put you in touch with your own pain of helplessness and vulnerability when you were an infant and you don’t like being reminded of that, so your instinct is to push her away. Ask yourself how you felt and what happened to you as a child when you were defiant. Over the years I have seen several clients in my psychotherapy practice who were distressed because they didn’t like their children. And four times out of five it was because the age their child was when they came to me was the same age the parent was when they were going through a difficult time. It could be that you don’t identify so much with your son, as you do with your daughter, so it is her who unwittingly triggers these unwanted feelings. I’m also wondering whether not loving yourself enough could be behind your resentment of your daughter? Some sections of society are misogynistic; we can pick this up unknowingly and dump this internalised misogyny on to our daughters. Or you might be projecting parts of yourself that you don’t like on to her. I suggest psychotherapy for you because a therapist could help you to separate yourself from the part of you that dislikes your little girl, help you to observe that part, but not let that part take the reins when it comes to how you behave towards her. In therapy, you would get to speak from that resentful part, to get to know that part more and give her some compassion. I think she needs looking after by the part of you who wrote to me. If the resentful part of you feels safe and seen, I think there would be less of an urge to withdraw from your daughter. This psychological work would be hard to do on your own, so the right therapist might really help. To find a therapist, try welldoing.org. You are aware of the problem – that is halfway to solving it. Now cheer yourself up by watching Jen Brister’s Mothers and Sons v Mothers and Daughters on YouTube. And read The Book You Wish Your Parents Had Read and Your Children Will Be Glad That You Did, by me. Philippa Perry’s The Book You Want Everyone You Love* To Read *(and maybe a few you don’t) is published by Cornerstone at £18.99. Buy it for £16.14 at guardianbookshop.com Every week Philippa Perry addresses a personal problem sent in by a reader. If you would like advice from Philippa, please send your problem to askphilippa@guardian.co.uk. Submissions are subject to our terms and conditions You've read 5 articles in the last year Article count on … there is a good reason why people choose not to support the Guardian. Not everyone can afford to pay for the news right now. That’s why we choose to keep our journalism open for everyone to read. If this is you, please continue to read for free. But if you can, then here are three good reasons to make the choice to support us today from Morocco. 1. Our quality, investigative journalism is a scrutinising force at a time when the rich and powerful are getting away with more and more. 2. 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good activity in the project, I hope it stays like this!