Posts

Showing posts from August, 2026

Pregnant Strictly star Dianne Buswell hits out over ‘conspiracy theories’ being linked to Stefan Dennis’s early exit

Image
Collecting Art, take a look PREGNANT Strictly dancer Dianne Buswell has hit out at “conspiracy theories” being shared online about her early exit with celebrity partner Stefan Dennis. Neighbours legend Stefan, 66, pulled out of the BBC One show after suffering a horror calf muscle tear. Sign up for the TV newsletter Thank you! Email address Please provide a valid email. Your info will be used in accordance with our Privacy Policy Youll now receive top stories, breaking news, and more, straight to your email. However, some trolls have suggested online that the real reason they left was because Dianne is expecting a baby. Speaking on BBC Two’s It Takes Two tonight, Stefan said: “I was given the bad news that I’ve torn calf muscle quite badly to the point where I can’t dance for the rest of the competition. In fact I can’t dance full stop.” Dianne added: “Obviously it’s definitely not a conspiracy theory. I feel great and I would love to continue with Stefan. I wish you the best in y...

Antisemitism watchdog: Antisemitic ‘Tired Islam’ conspiracy takes root on social media

Image
Collecting Art, take a look CyberWell, a nonprofit trusted partner of Meta Facebook, Instagram, and Threads, TikTok and YouTube, focused on combating online antisemitism, has identified and flagged a rapidly growing Arabic-language conspiracy theory known as “Tired Islam.” Born entirely on social media, the narrative falsely claims that a Jewish or “Zionist” author named Jacob Dunne published a book titled “The Tired Islam,” outlining a secret plan to dismantle Arab and Muslim society from within. In reality, no such book exists in the U.S. Library of Congress or elsewhere, yet this fabricated claim has become central to the narrative’s viral spread. “This trend is a modern-day digital replica of The Protocols of the Elders of Zion. It revives century-old religious antisemitism, tailored to go viral on today’s platforms,” said CyberWell Founder and CEO Tal-Or Cohen Montemayor. “The narrative pushes the same antisemitic tropes that have historically led to mass violence against Jews, n...

14 Tasty Eateries near Centro Puerto Vallarta (+ map)

Image
Collecting Art, take a look I am many different things, but three of the most prominent of those are an avid researcher, borderline obsessive foodie, and Mexico fangirl. This cocktail means that I arrived back in Mexico armed with an enormous amount of lists, mostly centered around where and what to eat in Puerto Vallarta. Having spent most of my previous time in Mexico based out of Oaxaca, I was prepared for the food to be different. Jalisco is famed for tequila, birria & torta ahogada; quite the change from the lands of mezcal, chocolate, & mole I’d come to know. To say I was eager was an understatement. Armed with my encyclopaedia-reminiscent lists, and guided by what was nearby in barrio Las Canoas where we were to start our adventure. So in this edition, the restaurants are all around the Emiliano Zapata Zona Romántica, Centro, and 5 de Diciembre areas. Without further ado, here are the best restaurants I tried in my first month of Puerto Vallarta. A Handy Map of Resta...

Baked Egg Cups with Zucchini and Onion

Image
Collecting Art, take a look These tasty egg cups can be frozen and reheated, making them a perfect quick breakfast. They’re great for brunch, as well – like small, crustless quiches. Also, very simple to prepare, so if you need to whip up something quickly, these work well. I love a recipe that works for feeding us dinner/breakfast/brunch but also gives some leftovers to use later. Cook once, eat twice or more!,

Bryson and McKay cleared in Nama trial

Image
Collecting Art, take a look Co-accused Thomas O’Hara was also found not guilty by the judge at Belfast Crown Court on Thursday. Jamie Bryson outside Belfast Crown Court after he, Thomas O’Hara and Daithi McKay were found not guilty Liam McBurney/PA PA Wire Jonathan McCambridge 2 minutes ago Three men, including loyalist activist Jamie Bryson and former Sinn Fein MLA Daithi McKay, have been cleared at Belfast Crown Court of charges relating to misconduct in public office. Mr Bryson, 35, from Rosepark in Donaghadee, and co-accused Thomas O’Hara, 41, from Lisnahunshin Road in Cullybackey, were found not guilty of conspiracy to commit misconduct in public office. The charges had related to a Stormont committee hearing that examined the sale of the National Asset Management Agency’s Nama Northern Ireland assets in 2015. Daithi McKay outside Belfast Crown Court on Thursday Liam McBurney/PA PA Wire Mr McKay, 43, from Loughan Road in Dunnamanagh – who was chairman of the finance comm...

cucumber crunch salad with tofu

Image
Collecting Art, take a look We are long overdue to talk about my favorite heat wave meal, one I’ve been holding out on you for five too many summers. As the president of Overthinkers Anonymous, I had my reasons. What if you’re not as obsessed with inhaling a pound of fridge-cold cucumbers as I am? What if the mere whiff of peanut sesame noodle dressing doesn’t make you want to climb into a vat of it? What if you don’t have a favorite salad tofu? Six question marks in a paragraph might be a record! This starts with a reduced portion of the peanut sesame noodle sauce I’ve been making since college, or 100 years ago “did they have cars back then?” according to my children. Whenever there’s leftovers, I happily toss them with any kind of raw vegetable, from grated carrots to shredded cabbage, but cucumbers are my go-to, especially topped with minced salted peanuts and scallion. But when I want it to feel like even more of a full meal, I add tofu, and if you can find firm silken tofu, whic...

How to plan a last minute getaway

Image
Collecting Art, take a look Maybe you’ve stumbled upon some unexpected time off, found an amazing flight deal that’s too good to pass up, or just desperately need to shake up your routine. Whatever your reason, planning a last-minute getaway doesn’t have to send you into a panic spiral. The beauty of last-minute travel is that it forces you to be flexible and think on your feet, which often leads to the most memorable experiences. Plus, there’s something incredibly liberating about making a quick decision to just go somewhere. Let’s dive into everything you need to know. *Advertisement feature* Sort out the paperwork First things first, let’s tackle the boring but super important stuff. If you’re thinking of heading abroad, don’t let visa requirements rain on your parade. Frequent travellers will tell you, service providers like OnTrailVisa are the way to go. These folks are absolute lifesavers when it comes to sorting out last-minute visa needs. They’ll make quick work of any pap...

Green leader Zack Polanski caught 'endorsing grim conspiracy theories'

Image
Collecting Art, take a look Zack Polanski appears to have liked a number of controverisal social media posts Green Party leader Zack Polanski repeatedly endorsed social media posts alleging Sir Keir Starmer was in the pocket of powerful Jewish figures. Published on Bluesky — a left-leaning rival to Elon Musks X — the posts included claims Sir Keir was receiving money from Zionist philanthropists and the question: How much does Israel pay him? This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. An analysis by The Economist found Mr Polanski has liked nearly 35,000 posts on Bluesky since 1 April 2025. Among them was a post from 9 November 2025 by a user called Urris, written in response to an interview in which Mr Polanski said he would not work with Sir Keir. It attracted just two likes — one of which came from Mr Polanskis verified account. Article continues below ADVERTISEMENT According to the Telegraph, on 24 April 2026, Mr Polanski also allegedly liked a po...

14 Top Things to do in Dubai with Kids

Image
Collecting Art, take a look Dubai is home to lots of fun family attractions offering amazing experiences for kids and adults alike. Whether you are enjoying an exciting theme park or your kids are learning at museums, the city will never cease to amaze every family, of every age, at all levels. 1. IMG Worlds of Adventure IMG Worlds of Adventure is one of the biggest indoor theme parks in the world and a refreshing break from the Dubai heat. At the park, themed areas with characters from Marvel and Cartoon Network let kids meet their favorite superheroes and cartoon characters. IMG World tickets should be booked in advance as it has many rides and attractions. 2. Aventura Parks Located in Mushrif Park, Aventura Parks is an adventure park offering an exciting experience for families. Based among the natural ghaf tree forest, this park has zip lines, rope courses and tree-surfing challenges for different age groups. Children can build their confidence and physical life skills while al...

Greece wildfires: mass evacuations as blaze rages near Ierapetra, Crete

Image
Collecting Art, take a look Mass evacuations as wildfire rages in Greek island of Crete 8 hours ago Nikos Papanikolaou BBC News Hundreds of people have been evacuated as a major wildfire continues to burn out of control on the Greek island of Crete. The fire, which has been fanned by gale-force winds, broke out on Wednesday afternoon in rugged forested terrain near the municipality of Ierapetra. The flames have spread rapidly, threatening homes, tourist accommodation, and critical infrastructure, including a fuel station. The fire front now extends over at least 6km, according to emergency services, making containment increasingly difficult. Thick smoke has engulfed the wider area, reducing visibility to near zero in places. Authorities have also ordered the mass evacuation of hotels, rental rooms and homes in the Ferma municipality, as the flames approach the area. The operation is underway with the support of the fire service, police and local volunteers. So far, approximate...

Things to Do in Helen Georgia: 3 Day Oktoberfest Itinerary

Image
Collecting Art, take a look There are many amazing things to do in Helen Georgia. In fact, nearly six million people visit Helen Georgia each year for its Oktoberfest celebrations. Helen is a Bavarian village in northern Georgia less than 1.5 hours north of Atlanta. The city was revitalized in the 1960s to resemble an Alpine village in the Appalachia Mountains. It is now the third most visited city in Georgia. You will find cobblestone streets, half-timbered architecture, over 200 specialty shops, and authentic German food and beer. Adventure lovers can hike, mountain bike, zipline, and go white water rafting. One of Helen’s must-see attractions is the Bavarian Village’s Main Street. If you are looking for an off-the-beaten-path experience, be sure to visit the Stovall Mill Covered Bridge. If you love spending time outdoors and adventure sports you will not want to miss the nearby waterfalls. As you can see, you will have no problem filling your long weekend in Helen Georgia with amaz...

Portrait of last Battle of Britain pilot handed over at National Museum

Image
Collecting Art, take a look John ‘Paddy’ Hemingway died in March this year at the age of 105. Group Captain John ‘Paddy’ Hemingway PA PA Wire Cate McCurry 3 minutes ago A portrait of the last Battle of Britain pilot, John “Paddy” Hemingway, has been handed over at the National Museum of Ireland. Group Captain Hemingway, originally from Dublin, was the final surviving member of “The Few”, who took to the skies in 1940 to defend the UK against Luftwaffe attacks in what became a pivotal moment of the Second World War. He died in March this year, at the age of 105. His portrait will find a permanent home at Collins Barracks in the Irish capital. Group Captain John ‘Paddy’ Hemingway Brian Lawless/PA PA Wire The portrait, unveiled by Mr Hemingway at the British Embassy in Dublin last year marking his 105th birthday, was painted by Welsh artist Dan Llywelyn Hall, 44. He was the last living pilot from the Battle of Britain and would have been 106 on July 17. Mr Llywelyn Hall is kn...

Trump's Election Conspiracy Files Include Something He Doesn't Want You To See

Image
Collecting Art, take a look President Donald Trump talks after speaking in the East Room of the White House, Thursday, July 16, 2026, in Washington. Saul Loeb/Pool via AP via Associated Press US President Donald Trump used his primetime address to the nation on Thursday to continue his favorite pastime of sowing doubt in the results of the 2020 presidential election – which he lost to Joe Biden. During the speech, Trump announced that he had declassified documents and had them posted on the White House website. He claimed they show that China interfered in the election in 2020, and the “deep state” had it out for him. However, the heavily redacted document dump revealed intelligence that suggested something Trump probably didn’t want out in the open. Advertisement “As the 2020 election approaches, the IC has detected Chinese state-sponsored cyber actors targeting the former Vice President’s presidential campaign, probably to gather intelligence that could enable future operations,”...

Scott McTominay reveals connection to 'one of the best Wimbledon clips of all time'

Image
Collecting Art, take a look Napoli and Scotland footballer Scott McTominay has revealed his friend was responsible for a viral Wimbledon moment shared every single year. At the 2019 Championships, Australian tennis star Nick Kyrgios was heckled by a fan in a video that regularly does the rounds on social media. In a match against Jordan Thompson, a frustrated Kyrgios shouted out he couldn’t ‘buy a first serve’ before a second attempt clipped the net for a let. One spectator, who turns out to be McTominay’s close friend, then made the crowd and Kyrgios himself erupt into laughter as he quipped: ‘You can’t buy a second serve!’ ‘It gets recycled in our group chat every year!’ ‘It was so good,’ McTominay said on talkSPORT. ‘It gets recycled in our group chat every year.’ Kyrgios, working as a tennis pundit for the sports radio station this year, replied: ‘I can’t believe it. ‘So the clip and then the guy who said, ‘Can’t buy a second serve’ – is your mate! That’s got to be one of th...

Mental health in England really is getting worse – our survey found one in five adults are struggling

Image
Collecting Art, take a look The proportion of people in England with poor mental health has risen sharply over the past 30 years, according to England’s most robust national mental health survey. While in 1993 15% of 16- to 64-year-olds surveyed were found to have an anxiety disorder or depression, this reached 23% in 2024. The Adult Psychiatric Morbidity Survey APMS is the longest running mental health survey series in the world. It began in 1993 and has published five waves of data since. The survey series is commissioned by NHS England and conducted by the National Centre for Social Research, alongside the University of Leicester and City St George’s, University of London. The findings from this series are our best barometer of trends in the nation’s mental health because of the quality of the survey samples and the rigour of the mental health assessments. Each wave, a random sample of addresses are invited to take part. By drawing from the whole population, and not just those in ...

How many people in Ireland believe in conspiracy theories?

Image
Collecting Art, take a look Analysis: While the majority do not believe six prominent conspiracy theories, the level of support for some of these might raise a few eyebrows By Robert Brennan and Rabhya Mehrotra, DCU Conspiracy beliefs are explanations for events or situations that involve secret plots by powerful and malevolent groups. These beliefs often arise when people are trying to make sense of complex, uncertain, or threatening situations. While some conspiracy theories turn out to be based on genuine misconduct or secrecy, most are built on misinformation, misunderstanding or deliberate distortion of reality. Research suggests that conspiracy thinking can be more common when people feel powerless, threatened or distrustful of institutions. Social media platforms can also amplify conspiracy narratives by enabling rapid sharing of misinformation and connecting like-minded believers It has been well documented that conspiracy theories have gained traction in recent years, part...

The Ultimate Australia and New Zealand Travel Itinerary

Image
Collecting Art, take a look For those of us who live in North America or Europe, a trip down under to Australia and New Zealand might just be the ultimate bucket list item. These countries are so far away and full of so much adventure – from fiords, waterfalls and glowworm caves to rainforests, reefs and deserts, there’s no shortage of incredible landscapes and experiences in Oceania. Not to mention incredible coffee, local Indigenous culture, friendly people and icons like the Sydney Opera House or original bungee jump. Because these countries are so far away from North America and Europe, many visitors want to see both New Zealand and Australia in one trip. After all, when will they get a chance to come back to Oceania? But these countries are huge with a ton to do. So how do you plan a single Australia and New Zealand travel itinerary to see and do it all? In truth: you don’t. Even if you had months and months to spend in this part of the world, there would still be lots left u...