Winning Strategies for the Aviator Casino Game
Education and gender equality: focus on girls isn’t fair and isn’t enough – global study
We compare the different effects of directing development assistance: improving girls’ school enrolment, prioritising schooling for both girls and boys, and addressing barriers to gender equality throughout life.
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Bad news, trade-loving Gen Z: Electricians and construction workers are among the unhappiest at work
Gen Zers are increasingly ditching corporate careers to take up traditional trades like construction. But it might not actually make them happier than a nine-to-five office job.
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Germany’s biggest lender reports a 42% jump in quarterly profits after major restructuring takes effect
Germany's biggest lender Deutsche Bank on Wednesday reported a sharp jump in third-quarter profits.
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The Love Is Blind UK cast are still very loved up: Here’s what they’re up to now
Not Steven and Tom bonding over being the most hated men on the show
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Martin Lewis issues urgent warning to check if you’re missing out on free government cash – check now
MARTIN Lewis has issued an urgent warning to millions of households who are missing out on vital benefits to make a claim.
Every year, people lose out on an estimated £23 billion in benefits and support due to stigma or the assumption that they are not eligible.
In the MoneySaving Expert newsletter Martin Lewis said: “Billions in benefits goes unclaimed each year – most by workers or pensioners who have paid into the system for yonks and are in need of help.
‘Even some with higher incomes are due – don’t assume ‘it’s not me’.”
The consumer champion has rounded up seven benefits that are massively underclaimed.
Here we explain whether you are eligible.
Universal Credit
Around 1.4 million people miss out on an average of up to £5,800 in Universal Credit each year.
The monthly benefit is a “catch-all” for those of working age who have low or no income and living and housing costs.
Households with incomes of up to £35,000 a year are the most likely to be missing out.
But if you have kids then high childcare costs and rent could mean you may still be eligible if your household income is up to £60,000 a year.
You can make a claim through the Government’s website or by calling the Universal Credit Helpline on 0800 328 5644.
Attendance Allowance
Up to 1.1 million pensioners are missing out on at least £3,778 a year in Attendance Allowance.
This benefit is not mean-tested and gives a fixed payout of £3,778 a year, or £5,644 a year to cover some of the cost of providing care to someone who needs it.
Those who needed help with day to day tasks such as washing or eating and have done so for more than six months could be missing out.
You can make a claim if you need this support during the day or at night.
If you have a condition such as Parkinson’s, dementia, terminal illness or blindness then you could be missing out.
Crucial to claim Pension Credit if you can
HUNDREDS of thousands of pensioners are missing out on Pension Credit.
The Sun’s Assistant Consumer Editor Lana Clements explains why it’s imperative to apply for the benefit..
Pension Credit is designed to top up the income of the UK’s poorest pensioners.
In itself the payment is a vital lifeline for older people with little income.
It will take weekly income up to to £218.15 if you’re single or joint income to £332.95.
Yet, an estimated 800,000 don’t claim this support. Not only are they missing on this cash, but far more extra support that is unlocked when claiming Pension Credit.
With the winter fuel payment – worth up to £300 now being restricted to pensioners claiming Pension Credit – it’s more important than ever to claim the benefit if you can.
Pension Credit also opens up help with housing costs, council tax or heating bills and even a free TV licence if you are 75 or older.
All this extra support can make a huge difference to the quality of life for a struggling pensioner.
It’s not difficult to apply for Pension Credit, you can do it up to four months before you reach state pension age through the government website or by calling 0800 99 1234.
You’ll just need your National Insurance number, as well as information about income, savings and investments.
You can apply for Attendance Allowance through the Government’s website or by post.
For help with your application, contact the Attendance Allowance helpline on 0800 731 0122.
Council Tax Support
Up to 2.25 million people miss out on up to £1,500 a year in council tax support.
Each council runs its own scheme, so the amount you can get will depend on where you live.
In some regions it can cut your Council Tax bill by up to 100%.
If you qualify for means-tested benefits such as Universal Credit or Pension Credit then you are often due a Council Tax reduction.
But these are not made automatically and you must apply, which is why so many people miss out.
To apply you will need to contact your local council.
You can find your local council here.
Carer’s allowance
Approximately 530,000 carers miss out on up to £4,250 each year.
Carer’s allowance is a specific payment for people who act as unpaid carers.
This can include a family member, spouse, child or even someone that you are not related to.
You are likely to be missing out if you care for someone who usually gets Attendance Allowance, a Personal Independence Payment or Disability Living Allowance.
You may also be eligible if you spend more than 35 hours a week helping with everyday tasks such as washing or cooking and earn less than £151 a week or have a low State Pension.
If you care for someone for less than 35 hours a week then you may be able to claim Carer’s Credit, which helps build National Insurance years to give you a greater State Pension.
You can also back-date it, which could boost the amount you receive even more.
To apply visit the Government website.
Pension Credit
The Government estimates that around 760,000 pensioner households are missing out on Pension Credit, which is worth £3,900 a year on average.
Pension credit tops up your income.
It is still worth claiming even if you are only due 50p a week as it opens the door for other support such as the Winter Fuel Payment, Council Tax Reduction and free TV licence.
It’s worth checking if you could claim it if you are aged over 66 and have a weekly income of below £235 (£350 if you are a couple and are both State Pension age).
You can apply through the Government’s website or by calling the Pension Credit claim line on 0800 99 1234.
Housing Benefit
Around 294,000 pensioners miss out on an average of £4,400 a year in help with their rent.
For those who are eligible and aged under 66 support for housing costs forms part of Universal Credit.
This is not the case with those of State Pension age.
Renters who are eligible for Pension Credit and are on a low income are likely to be missing out.
When you apply for Pension Credit you can usually make an application for Housing Benefit at the same time.
You can apply for Pension Credit online or contact the Pension Service to claim.
You can call the Pension Service on 0800 99 1234.
The Pension Service will then send details of your claim for Housing Benefit to your council.
If you already get Pension Credit you can apply through your local council.
Free School Meals
Approximately 470,000 families are missing out on free school meals, which are worth £490 a year.
Free school meals are served to eligible under-18s who are still in school or college.
Many people on Universal Credit with very low or no income are missing out as they do not realise they can only apply once they have received their first benefit payment.
Others lose out as they do not know they may need to re-register at the start of every year for each one of their children.
You can check if your child can get free school meals in England here.
To apply you will need to contact your local authority.
Can I get other support through my benefits?
Claiming benefits often opens the door to other discounts such as broadband social tariffs.
If you are successful in claiming any of these benefits then you should check if you are eligible.
If you are on a low income but do not qualify for benefits then help is still available.
You may still qualify for a water social tariff, so check with your supplier.
Do you have a money problem that needs sorting? Get in touch by emailing money-sm@news.co.uk.
Plus, you can join our Sun Money Chats and Tips Facebook group to share your tips and stories
Monty Don reveals the only time of the year you can plant roses & it’s coming up, plus his essential ‘healing in’ tip
MONTY Don has revealed the tips he swears by for flourishing roses as the time of year to plant them approaches.
The gardening expert said now is the time to order bare-root roses from an online retailer or nursery.
Don, 69, shared his must-try tips for planting “the nation’s favourite flower” in a recent episode of the BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine podcast.
He revealed that containerised roses can be planted year-round as long as the soil conditions are right.
“If the soil is sticking to your boots or your hands wait for it to dry a bit,” he said.
“If it’s powdery, dig the planting hole then fill it with water and let the water drain away before planting.”
However, he personally prefers to opt for bare-root roses instead as they tend to be “healthier, much cheaper, and you have much more variety to choose from.”
“If you buy bare-root roses they have to be planted when they’re dormant which means November through to the end of February,” he said.
“You won’t be able to get bare-root plants before November anyway.”
The roses can be ordered online and directly from nurseries now for delivery later in the year.
Don said this allows for stunning roses that “you’ll never see in a garden centre.”
“All the best rose growers have a really wide choice of bare-root plants,” he said.
“When you receive bare-root plants they either have to go into a bucket of water immediately and be planted within a day or so or they have to be healed in.
“By healing in all it means is you dig a sort of temporary trench and cover them up.
“What I do is just dig a slit about that deep and pile the earth up around them so the roots are covered.
“The roots must never, ever be exposed to the air.
“I always have them planted when I’ve had them in a bucket.
October gardening jobs
The Sun’s Gardening Editor, Veronica Lorraine, has shared the jobs you need to tackle in October.
“It’s a good time to trim deciduous hedges – like box, yew, hawthorn, hornbean and beech – plus hedge trimmers are a great upper body workout!
Make leafmould – gather up all the fallen leaves and fill either bin bags or plastic carrier bags. Seal the top, stick a few small holes in the bag – and then store for a year or more. Free compost!
It’s unlikely you’ll get any more red tomatoes so have one final harvest and chuck the plants on the compost. See if you can get the green ones to ripen by putting in a drawer (some say with a banana). Also keep the seeds from a couple – and plant again next year if they went well.
Finish getting in your spring bulbs. Ideally you’d have done daffs and alliums, but tulips are better in the ground when the soil temperature gets a bit colder.
It’s good to leave some plant litter in the ground – it adds to the nutrients as it rots down, and provides shelter and food for insects. But remove the manky brown bits collapsing all over the lawn/winter structure.
Mulch – it not only suppresses weeds, but keeps the soil warm, improves water retention and adds a little winter duvet to your outside space.
October’s a good month for carrots, peas, asparagus, broad beans, and rhubarb.”
“They go from bucket to hole because the little feeding roots are the width of a hair, they are very fine and they will dry out literally in minutes.
“If they dry out there’s a tendency for them to die and therefore the feeding is interrupted.”
Although bare-root roses take more planning than containerised roses, Don said the process doesn’t have to be stressful.
“The great thing about roses is they are tough,” he said.
“They are a glorified bramble so don’t worry about it.
“Don’t get precious about roses. Celebrate, love them, plant them but don’t be frightened of them.”
Kim Kardashian leaves nothing to the imagination as she celebrates birthday in nude see-through dress
KIM Kardashian pulled out all the stops and posed in a curve-flashing nearly-nude outfit to mark her birthday.
The bombshell, who has just turned 44, showed off her super-sculpted body in a series of revealing pictures.
Mum-of-four Kim poured herself into a nude and beige ‘birthday suit’ dress with a visible bodysuit worn over the sheer material.
The striking dress is from Diesel’s Spring/Summer 2024 collection and costs a whopping $2081 (around £1604).
One picture focussed on her cleavage, which was barely contained in the flimsy top and bodysuit combo.
Her cinched-in waist was emphasised by the figure-hugging sheer dress and natural colour.
She shared the nipple-flashing pictures on Instagram and wrote: “HB2 ME – love when my lifers surprise me w[ith] a cute dinner to celebrate.”
The icon accessorised the pricey dress with a huge silver diamond cross nestled in her ample cleavage.
The star could be seen draped over railings in front of a stunning sunset and showcasing her shapely derriere in the revealing outfit in different provocative poses.
Fans commented: “You age in reverse.” A second agreed: “That dress is wild, J’adore!” Another user wrote: “Simply gorgeous.”
Daughter North West bought her mum a toilet-themed gift to celebrate her day.
Her eldest daughter gave her a diamond necklace engraved with the phrase “Skibidi Toilet”.
“North got me this diamond necklace that says Skibidi Toilet. Wow,” Kim said with a laugh as she filmed the sparkling tennis necklace.
The piece included a plate with the inscription on the front, while the back was engraved with the words, “Love, North,” and the date, “10/21/24.”
North and her siblings, Saint, 8, Chicago, 6, and Psalm, 5, went all out to celebrate their mum’s special day.
Kim showed off white and pink balloons featuring her face, each with strings attached to personalised notes or photos from her children.
Momager Kris Jenner posted a sweet tribute to her eldest daughter and wrote: “Happy Birthday to my beautiful Kimberly!!! You are truly such a light to everyone who meets you.
“Your strength and determination is second to none and the way you constantly fight for those who need your help and always give your energy and love to everyone around you.
“I’m so proud of you every single day… you are the most amazing mother, daughter, sister, auntie and friend. You are such a huge part of my heart, and I cherish every single precious memory we have ever made.
“You bring me such happiness and joy and I love you beyond any measure my beautiful daughter. I love you (heart emojis) Mommy.”
Channel 4 announces brand new big money gameshow hosted by YouTube and TikTok star with big cash prize up for grabs
A new big money gameshow is set to be launched by Channel 4 later this month, offering up to £20k prize money every episode.
The new Channel 4 gameshow, ‘£20k Play’, will be hosted by a YouTube and TikTok sensation Harry Pinero and live on their new digital platform Channel 4.0.
According to Channel 4, the new Channel 4.0 is “Channel 4’s newest, and youngest, brand”. It’s Digital-only and available on YouTube, TikTok and Instagram.
As part of the starting line up for Channel 4.0, £20k Play sees five friends split up to win up to £20,000 for their group by secretly answering questions away from the rest of the team.
They will each be asked eight brutal questions, getting them to dish the dirt on their pals as they’re quizzed things like “Who is the most two-faced?” to “Who is the biggest disappointment to their parents?”
Any wrong answers will deplete the prize money, so it’s down to each contestant to trust their gut and be as honest as possible.
The final twist in the game is for the friends to decide how much of the prize pot they each want to split.
However, if their total is more than the actual prize fund, they’ll go home with nothing.
The new gameshow host Harry Pinero said: “This show is a hilarious rollercoaster of friendship, honesty, and wild revelations. I can’t wait for viewers to see just how far contestants will go for a shot at £20,000 – and how much they really know about their so-called friends!”
The new digital series is commissioned for Channel 4.0 by Digital Commissioning Executive Kaio Grizzelle, and has been produced by Wall of Entertainment and directed by Chris Goodson.
Channel 4’s Kaio Grizzelle, Digital Commissioning Executive, said: “We’re thrilled to have £20k Play as the latest daring format on the channel.
“It has Channel 4.0’s unique flavour of mayhem mixed up with all the high stakes, humour and human drama of the gameshow greats.”
Tafara Makopa, executive producer and MD of Wall of Entertainment added: “Get ready for a wild ride where friendships are tested and secrets are spilt!
“This game is not just about winning £20,000; it’s about the hilarious and sometimes brutal truths that come out when friends face off!”
£20k Play is available from 22 October on Channel 4.0.
Channel 4's best competition shows
Channel 4 boasts a number impressive competition shows, but which ones are really the best?
Four in a Bed
- Reality competition show Four in a Bed has been airing on Channel 4 since 2010. It follows four couples as they take turns to stay at each others B&Bs and hotels, rating their stays along the way. The couple with the establishment voted best value for money are the winners.
Come Dine With Me
- Come Dine With Me has been staple British viewing since 2005, providing some outrageous telly moments over the years. Like Four in a Bed, the series moves around to different properties as it follows four contestants as they each host a (supposedly) gourmet dinner party for each other. After each dinner the guests score the host out of 10, will the winner being revealed on the final evening.
The Great British Bake Off
- Another national treasure, The Great British Bake Off welcomes a group of 12 amateur bakers to put their culinary skills to the test with Paul Hollywood and Prue Leith judging their efforts. One contestant is eliminated each week until the final three face off in the last week.
Bake Off: The Professionals
- Bake Off: The Professionals puts a twist on GBBO, pitting two teams of professional pastry chefs against each other in every episode. It’s up to judges Benoit Blin and Cherish Finden to determine who has what it takes to make it through to the final.
I’m a psychic medium to the stars – 4 key signs your loved one is trying to contact you from the dead & how to talk back
LOSING a loved one can be heartbreaking – and it’s especially tough if you long for a sign or message from them which doesn’t come.
But psychic medium Chloe Smith – whose celebrity clients include Sue Radford, Helen Skelton and Maura Higgins – says signs from beyond the grave can often be subtle and it’s about knowing when and how to spot them.
“Understanding life after death is never easy,” Chloe explains.
“When we lose someone we love, we often find ourselves in a bubble of grief, and it becomes difficult to notice the subtle signs around us.
“Our minds naturally overthink, especially in moments of deep loss.
“But as hard as it is to accept, life follows a natural cycle: we are all born, we live, and eventually, we pass on.
“Many people question if it’s real or wonder why they aren’t receiving the same signs. The truth is, I don’t fully know why some people are more attuned to these signs than others. But I do know one thing: our connection to the other side is real.”
Here, Chloe reveals the four common signs which could mean your loved one is sending a signal and how to connect with someone you’ve lost.
Dreams
“Dreaming of a loved one is one of the easiest forms of communication,” explains Chloe.
“If you’ve ever had a vivid dream where you connected with someone who’s passed, you may wake up feeling overwhelmed or in tears, that’s perfectly normal.
“These are called visitations dreams and can make you feel a connection to your loved one like they never left, you can even experience the sensation of a hug!
“If you don’t dream of your past loved ones try not to worry, there is other ways they can communicate with you…
Touch
“Feeling a soft touch on your back or the sensation of a hug is also common,” continues Chloe.
“Like dreams, it’s one of the easiest way to get signs from your loved ones and can feel more ‘real’ as you are awake.
“Goosebumps are often a reminder that your loved one is with you, but even smelling a certain scent, a perfume your loved one would of worn, even a smell of smoke to confirm they are a smoker.”
Music
Have you ever heard a song that seems to play at just the right moment? Chloe says this isn’t always a coincidence.
“People will receive a sign when the time is right, usually when they need it most,” Chloe explains.
“When you’re having a difficult day and suddenly a song that reminds you of your loved one comes on the radio or pops into your head – that’s a sign.”
“It’s a reminder of how they will always be with you.”
Birds and Nature
“The old saying ‘A robin appears when a loved one is near’ is so true! Pay attention to the natural world around you,” says Chloe.
“Patterns in clouds are a sign, you will look up and see a shape of a baby, or pet! A sign they are with you.
“Owls also have a spiritual symbol, noticing a owl is a reminded or wisdom and guidance is needed.
“Rainbows too are again a sign from a loved one, but when you notice them during times of distress – they show you, you’re not alone.”
Why Am I Not Receiving Signs?
If you’re wondering why you’re not seeing signs from lost loved ones it could be down to your interpretation.
“It’s easy to overthink things, especially when you’re grieving,” Chloe explains.
“For example, if you see a feather on the floor, do you think it’s just a bird’s feather or a sign from your angels?
“Your loved ones want you to know they haven’t left you.
“They want you to find comfort and strength in the fact that you are still connected through an undying bond of love.
“To notice their signs, you need to tune in beyond the noise and distractions of daily life. It’s hard, I know – life is busy, loud, and full of things that take our attention away.
“But if you sit quietly, free from distractions, and settle your mind, you’ll start to notice.
“What do you hear? What do you feel? It’s almost like a form of meditation, and it’s powerful.”
How to tune into signs
Here are psychic medium Chloe Smith's top tips to help you tune in and recognise the signs around you...
Tip 1: Just Ask!
Sounds simple, right? But it works! Just ask.
Close your eyes, get quiet, and ask out loud or in your mind for a sign from your loved ones or your guides.
Make it specific – it’ll be harder to miss!
Tip 2: Be Present.
Let go of distractions. Take a deep breath and come into the present moment. Listen, look, and feel without overthinking.
The signs are there if you open yourself to them.
Tip 3: Go for a Walk.
Instead of being stuck in your own head, go outside. Feel the wind, the sun, the earth. Start to embrace life again.
When you’re connected to nature, it’s easier to receive messages from the other side.
Tools for connection
“If you’re still unsure about the signs, a reading with a medium can help. I always recommend letting the medium do the talking first, without giving too much away,” explains Chloe.
“A reading can offer love, guidance, and reassurance that life after death is real. It often heightens your awareness of the signs around you, which is truly magical.
“Try using a pendulum from my website.
“Another way to strengthen your connection is through dream journaling.
“Keep a journal by your bed and record your dreams as soon as you wake up.
“Over time, this will encourage your loved ones to communicate with you through your dreams.
“You can even ask for a dream visitation before going to sleep.”