All posts tagged: Winter

Labour minister admits winter fuel payments is still ‘biggest thing on the doorstep’ | Politics | News

Labour minister admits winter fuel payments is still ‘biggest thing on the doorstep’ | Politics | News

Published by Sam Flores

The winter fuel payments row is still the “biggest thing on the doorstep”, a Labour minister has admitted. Sir Keir Starmer faced fury for scrapping the allowance for most pensioners shortly after entering No 10. The backlash forced the PM to U-turn and restore the allowance to the majority of older people in June 2025. But almost a year on, the fiasco has still been dominating conversations on the doorsteps, Sir Chris Bryant said. The Labour minister told the BBC: “The biggest thing on the doorstep has undoubtedly been winter fuel… even in this campaign.” Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced in July 2024 that previously universal winter fuel payments of up to £300 a year would be restricted to only those on pension credit. The policy sparked condemnation from opposition parties, campaigners, unions and even some Labour MPs with warnings older people would be forced to choose between heating and eating. In a climbdown almost a year later, Ms Reeves announced that the parents would be restored to pensioners with an annual income of £35,000 or …

Lindsey Vonn reflects on her Winter Olympic downhill crash : NPR

Lindsey Vonn reflects on her Winter Olympic downhill crash : NPR

Published by Sam Flores

Lindsey Vonn arrives at The Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute benefit gala on Monday celebrating the opening of the “Costume Art” exhibition in New York City. The U.S. alpine skier is still recovering from a horrific crash at the Winter Olympics in February. Evan Agostini/Invision via AP hide caption toggle caption Evan Agostini/Invision via AP NEW YORK — Was it crazy? Was it dangerous? Was it even possible? For nine days last winter, the question of whether Lindsey Vonn should race in the Winter Olympics on a freshly torn ACL was the talk of sports TV shows, TikToks, Instagram comments and real-life debates. In the end — the painful end — it was “all of the above,” Vonn says. A few months ago, America’s most famous downhill skier was in the midst of a remarkable career comeback. At 41 years old, Vonn’s return to the World Cup leaderboard after years of retirement had defied her doubters and turned the world’s heads. Her goal had always been to go out on top at the Olympic …

Iran’s New Winter | Christopher de Bellaigue

Iran’s New Winter | Christopher de Bellaigue

Published by Jenni Sidey

In 1953 Iran’s prime minister, Mohammad Mossadegh, was toppled in a coup planned by MI6 and the CIA and carried out by Iranian army units and hoodlums supportive of Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi. Mossadegh had nationalized Iran’s British-run oil industry and allowed Iranians more freedom than they had ever known; the constitutional monarchy he favored was a path between the extremes of royal tyranny and popular radicalism that had beset the country for the previous three quarters of a century. In the years after Mossadegh’s overthrow, as the Shah built a dictatorship backed uncritically by the United States, Iranian democrats and liberals sank into a despondency that was expressed in works of art, perhaps the most lasting of which, the poem “Winter” by Mehdi Akhavan-Sales, describes the insidious effect of political failure on the spirit of the individual and the cohesion of society: They do not wish to return your greeting, their heads are buried in their collars,No one dares raise their head to greet, to acknowledge friends,They see no further than their own foot,For …

How AAA tests the winter range of EVs : NPR

How AAA tests the winter range of EVs : NPR

Published by Sam Flores

An electric vehicle charges at an EVgo electric charger in Monrovia, Calif. Justin Sullivan/Getty Images hide caption toggle caption Justin Sullivan/Getty Images Electric vehicle batteries are a lot like people, in one important respect: They’re most comfortable in temperatures around 65 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit. When the weather gets much colder or hotter than that, a battery works less efficiently. It has to work harder, too, to keep the vehicle’s cabin comfortable for its equally picky human occupants. The result? Electric vehicles can’t drive as far or as efficiently in extremely hot or cold weather. AAA has been testing exactly how big an effect temperatures have on modern EV batteries. In its latest research, shared exclusively with NPR, it found that hot temperatures reduced range by an average of 8.5%. Cold weather cut vehicles’ range by a whopping 39%. AAA ran similar tests back in 2019 with a different vehicle lineup. Back then, the cold weather hit to range was approximately the same, while the high-temperature range loss was higher, 17%. The different slate of …

I Like That Cameron Winter Dresses Bad

I Like That Cameron Winter Dresses Bad

Published by Jenni Sidey

There are two kinds of boys in this world: boys who have good style, and boys who have bad style. I don’t need to say much about the boys who have good style. That’s the point of GQ! But within the other category, bad-style boys, there are two subcategories: 1) boys who try really hard to have good style, but it just doesn’t work (yikes), and 2) boys who just do not care about what they wear at all, and look like shit, but in a way that is hot. Usually, this is because they are already hot. For most of my adult life, I have dated men in subcategory two. I have showed up to a date in a Comme des Garçons miniskirt, freshly polished loafers, and a cute little vintage blouse, while a boyfriend of mine has showed up in…a stretched-out blue shirt, a pair of jeans that are four sizes too big but not in an on-purpose way, and Nikes with a hole in the sole. I have one ex-boyfriend who almost …

Why We Get the Winter Blues

Why We Get the Winter Blues

Published by Jenni Sidey

It’s been a very long winter for those of us who live in the northeast United States. We’ve had several big snowstorms—one of which left me stuck in Arizona for several days—and a major arctic outbreak that resulted in freezing temperatures for weeks. Some states experienced their coldest winter in decades, and there were even reports from Florida of iguanas freezing and falling out of trees. But winter didn’t just bring freezing temperatures; it also brought with it a wave of seasonal depression, or what some call seasonal affective disorder, or appropriately SAD. SAD affects about 5 percent of adults, and milder forms of “winter blues” affect up to 20 percent of people. It is most common in higher latitudes, like New Hampshire, and less common in places like Florida, where it’s typically warmer (regardless of falling iguanas) but affects people all over the world. International studies, for example, have shown that while the prevalence rate for SAD is only about 3 percent in Saudi Arabia (where the sun shines reliably for most of the …

Ditch the winter tones: 17 mood-boosting nail looks for spring 2026

Ditch the winter tones: 17 mood-boosting nail looks for spring 2026

Published by Daniella Wilson

Spring is of course the perfect excuse to refresh both your wardrobe and your nails with a manicure that’s as bright and cheerful as the season itself. So get ready ditch the winter tones and embrace pops of colour and playful designs – nail looks that will give you a little boost of joy every time you catch a glimpse of your hands. Whether you’re into dainty florals or bold, unexpected palettes, the possibilities are endless. To get you started, we’ve rounded up spring-inspired manicures that perfectly capture the mood of the season.  From understated elegance to standout original designs, you’re sure to find the perfect inspiration for a unique spring mani. Trend: The new neutrals If you’re not into beige or nude nails, this is your season to shine with matcha, salmon pink, pearlescent white and yellow leading the way. © thenaillologist For a fun, fresh start Pastel Green & Florals  If you’re looking for a subtle way to ease into ultra-bright manicures, try a pastel green – one of this season’s must-have shades. …

27 Spring Accessories Under 0 That Put Winter in the Rearview

27 Spring Accessories Under $100 That Put Winter in the Rearview

Published by Jenni Sidey

Ah, spring. You’ve hopefully felt it already: that first warm, sun-splashed afternoon when the whole city suddenly looks better. Legs and shoulders out, everyone strutting around. Meanwhile, you’re standing there in your winter clothes. The good news? The easiest way to level your style up this spring isn’t by buying a whole new wardrobe. In fact, chances are you’ve already got your spring essentials down. Instead, just a few sharp accessories will do all the heavy lifting. Think an eye-catching ball cap, a solid tote for your daily carries, maybe a proper umbrella for April showers. The even better news is that you don’t need to blow the bag to show you’ve got the season dialed. Below, we’ve rounded up a stack of outfit-finishing, spring-enhancing accessories—all under a hundo. The Under-$100 Spring Accessories Hit List The ‘90s Shades Sunski Bianca Sunglasses Read More The Essential Cap Ralph Lauren The Ralph Logo Twill Ball Cap Read More The Candy-Colored Bracelet Northworks Murano Bead Bracelet Read More The Reservation-Ready Watch Casio Vintage Analog Digital Bracelet Watch Read …

The Winter Verdict by Dan Buzzetta

The Winter Verdict by Dan Buzzetta

Published by Jenni Sidey

There is something irresistibly compelling about a protagonist who trades a corner office at a powerhouse law firm for a wooden shingle above a small-town art gallery. Tom Berte, the sharp-witted, deeply human attorney at the center of The Winter Verdict by Dan Buzzetta, is exactly that kind of character. He is a man who chose peace over prestige, family over fame, and a morning ski commute over a Manhattan subway ride. But in the world of the Tom Berte Legal Thrillers, tranquility is always temporary, and the past has a way of following you uphill. This second installment in the series picks up with Tom settled into life in Castle Ridge, a picturesque ski town nestled in the mountains of central New York. His small general practice handles everything from real estate closings to pro bono work for veterans. His wife Brooke runs a family counseling center, and their three-year-old daughter Aneilia fills their slopeside cabin with laughter and hide-and-seek games with Bentley, the family’s rescue dog. For readers who followed Tom’s harrowing journey …

Shake Off Winter Blues: Brain-Healthy Habits for This Spring

Shake Off Winter Blues: Brain-Healthy Habits for This Spring

Published by Jenni Sidey

Spring has arrived here in North America, and with it comes the perfect opportunity to reset, recharge, and get ready for the heavy speaking seasons ahead. Whether you’ve been hibernating a little too comfortably this winter or you’ve been grinding through back-to-back engagements, now is the time to build some sustainable habits that will keep you sharp, energized, and on your game through the spring, summer, and fall speaking seasons. And the good news? Some of these are practically guaranteed to bring a smile to your face right away. First off, don’t obsess about happiness. A study showed something you might have already suspected: Those of us who keep close track of how happy we are, fretting about minor moments and changes in our happiness barometer, tend to be less happy than folks who simply live in the moment and enjoy themselves. So let go of the scorecard, stop comparing yourself to the other speakers on the conference agenda, and just savor that cup of coffee in your hotel room or that sunset from the …