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KIDS usually mark World Book Day in style by dressing up as their favourite characters. But with only some schools open it will be very different this year. Still, there’s no reason you shouldn’t have a fun day. Here’s some ways to celebrate without spending too much. HAPPY DEAL: If you’re having a McDonald’s soon, the Happy Meals come with a £1 World Book Day voucher until the end of March. This means you can pick up a free kids’ book from most major supermarkets, from a selection of 12. This year’s include There’s A Wolf In Your Book, by Tom Fletcher, and The River Whale, by Sita Brahmachari. You can also use the £1 voucher to get a pound off any full-price kids’ title priced over £2.99. MEMBERS ONLY: TopCashback are celebrating World Book Day by offering new members 100-per-cent cashback when they spend £10, or £10 cashback if they spend over a tenner, at Waterstones until March 14. That’s tempting. Head to the Topcashback.co.uk site and search … [Read more...] about Celebrate World Book Day on the cheap with our top money-saving tips

The coronavirus sent Paul Dalmacio, 40, into a busy intensive care unit in Manila for 10 days. The severity of his case would keep him in the hospital for two months. That was a little over half a year ago. But a sense of relief has failed to come alongside his recovery. "I can't sleep every night. Sometimes I get flashbacks from the hospital," he said. It's not just posttraumatic stress keeping him up at night. His finances keep him awake, too. Falling ill with the coronavirus left him with a 1.8 million Philippine peso hospital bill (€30,630, $37,020). With the Philippine public health system and a private health insurance plan linked to his work covering only about 15% of his costs, he's been forced to find alternative ways to fund the rest. "My family has been trying to help pay my bills. They solicited money from relatives and friends," he said. "There were a lot of lifestyle changes." Seeking professional help for his anxiety has so far not been an option — his health … [Read more...] about Mental health crisis a threat to the Philippine economy

Covid deaths in England are falling faster than gloomy SAGE advisers thought they would, official data show — and scientists claim lockdown rules could be loosened faster. Models produced by the SPI-M group of scientists predicting the future of the Covid outbreak in February suggested the daily death count would stay above 200 until mid-March. But the average number of victims recorded each day had dropped below this level before the end of February, statistics show. Experts told The Telegraph the progress is 'better than expected' and suggested the Government's 'data not dates' approach could see relaxations brought forward. The vaccine rollout has made immense progress, with 20million people now vaccinated across the UK, and studies suggest the jabs are working better than expected, preventing between 85 and 94 per cent of hospitalisations. SPI-M's prediction was more pessimistic about how well the vaccine would work and whether it would stop transmission, which may … [Read more...] about Lockdown ‘could ease earlier’ in England because Covid deaths are falling FASTER than SAGE predicted thanks to vaccine success

IPL hair removal technology, that's portable and easy to use at home, is going from strength to strength. The best IPL hair removal machines can get rid of unwanted hairs by targeting the hair follicle directly and using intense pulsed light flashes to help minimise hair growth. While laser hair removal in a salon can cost upwards of £50 a session, and typically requires several sessions, at home IPL machines start at around £250, although you can find cheaper models for less than £150. Top-rated devices like the Philips Lumea Prestige have converts who love the convenience, cost-effectiveness and results of at-home IPL. In fact, 92 per cent of users noticed a reduction in the amount of hair after three treatments. While handheld IPL hair removal machines don't stop hair growth entirely, they do slow the process down significantly. However, you need to be consistent and use your IPL device regularly over the course of several months. Not everyone will see the same results … [Read more...] about 9 Best IPL Hair Removal Machines 2021 – from Philips Lumea to Silk’n Infinity get the best products for smoother skin

German Chancellor Angela Merkel met with the 16 state premiers on Wednesday to discuss the gradual easing of coronavirus curbs in the country. Though some measures could be lifted, most of the current restrictions are expected to be extended until March 28. With elections coming up in September, Merkel and the nation's leaders are under increasing pressure to offer plans to restore a sense of normalcy after four months of shutdowns . According to a draft proposal seen by the German news agency DPA, the next round of easing could be tied to a seven-day incidence rate of 100. The incidence rate is a metric that records the number of people infected per 100,000 people during a one-week period. If this level is reached, states could consider allowing retailers to reopen with "click and meet" times for shoppers. Museums and zoos could also welcome back visitors by appointment. What else are Germany's top lawmakers discussing? State leaders are discussing whether to make … [Read more...] about Germany: Merkel, state leaders mull coronavirus reopening plans