8 hours agoLatest NewsComments Off on Man Utd transfer news LIVE: Onana’s EXIT hint, Emi Martinez ‘interest’, United turn to Osimhen after Gyokeres snub
MANCHESTER UNITED are in for a crucial summer of transfers at Old Trafford.
But they may need to recruit a goalkeeper quickly as Andre Onana has hinted that an exit could be round the corner.
And that replacement could be in the shape of Aston Villa star Emi Martinez who is reportedly attracting interest from United.
8 hours agoLatest NewsComments Off on I’ve visited over 100 cities across the world – here are my five European faves including 84p beers and £15 flights
HAVING been travelling the world for the best part of 15 years, it’s safe to say I’ve racked up a fair few city breaks.
And while that includes far-flung destinations from Colombia to Korea, these are a few that have taken my heart in Europe.
Deputy travel editor Kara has been to more than 100 cities around the worldGettyMagical Copenhagen is one of the world’s happiest cities[/caption]
Kara loved the Only U hotel in Seville
From amazingly friendly locals and cheap bars to beautiful streets and fun theme parks, here are my top five – and how to visit without breaking the bank.
Seville
One of my most recent ventures to Spain took me to the southern city of Seville and it quickly became my favourite place to go in the whole country.
It felt much more uniquely Spanish than other, more touristy cities, and was perfect for wandering down side streets lined with historic buildings and tapas bars spilling onto the road.
While this might have meant I ordered the wrong thing a few times (I swear I asked for fish only for chickpeas to arrive), it also means you can expect some Spanish prices.
For example, rather than a large beer, locals drink cañas, which admittedly are smaller – but that means they’re still cold by the time you finish.
You can find these for as little as €1 (84p) in some bars.
Along with one of the cheapest beers, you’ll also want to head to 100 Montaditos for some cheap food.
A Spanish fast food institution, they sell 100 different varieties of small sandwiches for €1 (84p) a pop every Wednesday and Sunday.
And if you know where to look, you can even visit some top attractions for free.
I love the the historic royal palace, the Alcázar of Seville, which has limited free tickets on Mondays between 6pm-7pm in April to September, and from 4pm-5pm in October to March.
Similarly, the cathedral – the largest gothic cathedral in the world – has free tickets every day from 2pm-3pm if you’re fast enough.
Hotels might be on the pricier side but tour operators have some great deals.
For example, easyJetholidays has a three-night package deal (with flights and a four-star hotel) for just £160 per personnext month.
If you don’t mind splashing out a bit, the newish Only U is one of my favourite hotels in Europe, feeling more like a fancy members club with outdoor pool and onsite florist and cafe.
But it shouldn’t be, and not least because it hosts an amazing music festival every summer that most people haven’t heard of – Way Out West.
I was lucky enough to see live music acts such as Chvrches and Sia there, and this year’s line up is just as good, with Charli XCX and Chappel Roan appearing.
Day tickets cost around £130, while three-days ones are £230 – much cheaper than Glastonbury‘s £373.
The best part? It isn’t a camping festival so I was well-rested and comfy in my Airbnb every night.
You can find hotels for around £65 a night, and Ryanair flights are around £15.
If music doesn’t take your fancy, the small city has its own theme park, Liseberg, which is opening a number of new rides in the next few years (entry starts from £7).
AlamyCafes, bars, restaurants and shops in Gothenburg’s Haga district[/caption]
Meanwhile, the rest of the city feels like a fairytale town, especially the oldest neighborhood, Haga. My favourite cosy spot was Le Petit Cafe for a coffee and blueberry scone while people-watching and chatting to the owner.
Locals are big fans of ‘Afterwork’ or AW – AKA cheap beers and food after finishing work on a Friday.
For example, Kings Head lets you buy a beer for 59 SEK (£5) that comes with free access to the buffet – it’s simple food, but one of the most affordable when visiting between 5pm and 7pm.
Want to go full Swedish? Try the fried stömming fish, mashed potatoes and lingonberry sauce from food truck Strömmingsluckan – even I was converted.
Lille
If you want all the great parts of Paris without actually going to Paris, then Lille is a great option.
It has its own Arc de Triomphe, albeit on a much smaller scale, as well as the Palais des Beaux-Arts (nicknamed the Louvre of Lille).
Once known as being the “Manchester of France” due to its textile and industrial history, the fifth-largest French city is also home to cheap weekend markets and an amazing food scene.
A must-try is the Meert vanilla waffle, said to be loved byformer president Charles de Gaulle, which costs less than £3.
Lille Braderie Flea Market is the largest market in Europe, with more than 10,000 stalls, so you can find the perfect bargain souvenir. Just time your visit well as it only runs the first weekend of September.
AlamyThe Braderie flea market is the largest in Europe[/caption]
Lille is also a great place to visit for nervous flyers, as it is one of the few destinations with direct trains from London St Pancras.
Taking just 1hr22 on the Eurostar, you can find £39 tickets if you’re quick (although some are as little as £31 right now).
Be even savvier and go for Eurostar Snap for up to 50 per cent off tickets, as long as you don’t mind not knowing the time of day you are visiting until nearer the departure.
Make sure to pop to rooftop restaurant NU, which has beautiful views over the city and is right by the train station too.
I love staying at the Mama Shelter hotels, and while the rooms start from £95 in Lille (including an extensive breakfast) they also often have 3-for-2 nights.
If you want something cheaper, there are lots of Ibis budget hotels around the city, some as little as £57 a night.
Copenhagen
While Copenhagen is the one of the pricier cities to visit in Europe, it’s still one of my favourites and I think worth the price.
Getting there is cheap as Ryanair has £15 flights from the UK.
My favourite place for brunch is Mad & Kaffe, where three small bowls of anything from protein, fruit or bakery items costs around £9, or try Grodwhich serves just porridge and risotto (hearty and warming when visiting in winter), for breakfast.
Alcohol is expensive here, so I recommend heading to one of the city’s bodegas if you really want a cheap drink.
Or try the new Kissavesterbro cocktail bar, where you can find cocktails for just over a fiver.
If you don’t mind a small room for the night, one of the cheapest stays that isn’t a hostel is the CityHub Copenhagen – a Japanese-like pod hotel with rooms from £50 a night.
You’ll have to share a communal bathroom but it’s more stylish that you’d think, with your own robes, rowels and Rituals toiletries.
Don’t mind splashing out? I love the stylish Hotel SP34 which starts from £155 a night, but has a free wine hour every evening at 5pm so you can make some of that money back.
Faro
Most people fly into Faro as a stopping point to the Algarve, but it is a great affordable base to explore the nearby areas.
For example, for a few euros and a 20-minute boat ride, you can visit an island nicknamed the Caribbean of Portugal.
Ilha Deserta has golden sandy beaches where you won’t see many other tourists – I was the only one there when I visited in May.
Make sure to grab some fresh fish from Estamine, the only restaurant on the island as well.
AlamyFaro in Portugal is a great base for exploring the surrounding area[/caption]
AlamyNo wonder Ilha Deserta is known as the Caribbean of Portugal[/caption]
There is also Ilha Armona, also just a few minutes from the mainland, with a only few houses and food stalls.
Or just 15 minutes from Faro is the pretty fishing town of Olha, where you have to visit Terra i Mar for amazing seafood and massive glasses of local wine for £3.
I stayed at 3HB, the first five-star hotel in the area with one of the few infinity rooftop pools in Faro – easyJet Holidays has seven night holiday packages for £724pp.
Otherwise Loveholidays has seven-night stays with return flights for £279pp when staying at budget hotels like Best Western.
8 hours agoLatest NewsComments Off on Arsenal transfer news LIVE: Viktor Gyokeres makes Gunners ‘priority’ Williams’ release clause, Kepa ‘done deal’
ARSENAL have a HUGE summer of business to take care of in the transfer market.
Viktor Gyokeres has reportedly made it his priority to push through a move to Arsenal after snubbing Manchester United.
Elsewhere, the Gunners are willing to meet Nico Williams’ £48.1million release clause, according to reports but they face competition from Bayern Munich.
And Kepa Arrizabalaga to Arsenal is a done deal, according to Telegraph journalist Matt Law.
8 hours agoLatest NewsComments Off on Are YOU in the diabetes danger zone? The string test that reveals key sign – plus how to REVERSE silent killer
IT’S dubbed a silent killer, triggering 568 heart attacks, 812 strokes and 184 amputations each week in England alone.
Millions of people are at risk of developing type 2 diabetes, yet have no clue of the potential deadly timebomb waiting to explode. But how do you know if you’re among those on the precipice of a diagnosis?
GettyWe share some warning signs that may indicate you’re prediabetic[/caption]
Over 10,000 Brits are living with end-stage kidney failure due to the condition, and it causes thousands more to go blind.
Type 2 diabetes also raises the risk of eight different types of cancer.
Every two minutes a new case is diagnosed, and a staggering 4.6million Brits have been diagnosed with it – but experts warn 6.3million of us are living in the diabetes ‘danger zone’.
If this non-diabetic hyperglycaemia, or prediabetes, is left untreated, we could go on to develop type 2 diabetes.
Dr David Unwin, a GP in Southport, Merseyside and the Royal College of General Practitioners’ clinical expert on diabetes, tells Sun on Sunday Health: “When I trained at university, type 2 diabetes only affected people over 60.
“Sadly that has changed a huge amount in the last 40 years. Now it’s not unusual to see patients in their early 20s with diabetes or prediabetes. Tragically, we’re even starting to see young children diagnosed.
“That’s really worrying, as diabetes damages your arteries over time.
“If you’re diagnosed at 70, there’s less time for the damage to occur. But if you’re diagnosed in your 20s, it will begin earlier.
“Diabetes is shortening lives – through cardiovascular disease, stroke and an increased risk of cancer.”
Prediabetes is the period in which blood sugar levels are elevated but full-blown diabetes hasn’t yet begun.
Esther Walden, senior clinical advisor at Diabetes UK, says if you have this you are at “high risk” of developing type 2.
But Dr Unwin believes knowing this could be “good news”.
“This is an early warning sign of something that doesn’t have to happen,” he says.
“It’s a golden opportunity to cut back on foods that raise blood sugar, exercise more and generally be a bit healthier.
“Loud and clear, I want to send a message that warding off this illness isn’t necessarily complicated. You can turn your life around.”
Many people with prediabetes may not be aware as it’s symptomless.
But here, Dr Unwin shares some warning signs that may indicate you’re one of them.
1. STRING TEST
IT’S not just being overweight but the distribution of fat that matters.
If you’re big around the middle, you’re at an increased risk. We call this ‘central obesity’.
Cut a piece of string to the same length as your height then fold it in half and wrap it around your waist.
If the string meets or overlaps, you’re off the hook. But if you can’t make the ends touch, you’re more likely to develop diabetes.
2. ARE YOU TATT?
GettyIf you’re tired all the time, make sure to check your blood sugar[/caption]
MANY patients think they’re tired all the time simply due to getting older.
But I would always check for prediabetes as your blood sugar might be too high or low.
3. WHAT’S YOUR NUMBER?
GettyBeing diagnosed with high blood pressure is another prediabetes risk factor[/caption]
BEING diagnosed with high blood pressure – when the force of blood flowing through your blood vessels is too high – is another risk factor.
The NHS defines this as 140/90mmHg when measured by a healthcare professional.
You can get yours checked for free at your GP surgery or local pharmacy.
HOW TO REVERSE PREDIABETES
WHILE Diabetes UK believes around half of prediabetes patients can reduce their risk of developing the disease, Dr Unwin says they have reversed all cases at his surgery.
“We offered 100 patients with prediabetes a low-carb diet at my practice. Two years later, not one had developed diabetes and 93 per cent ended up with normal blood sugar, reversing this prediabetes just by making a few lifestyle changes,” he says.
“Many also lost weight, their blood pressure improved – all without medication.”
Remember: it’s not just cakes and biscuits that raise your blood sugar levels.
Dr Unwin says: “Sugar itself is obvious, but the thing that most people miss – and I missed it myself for years – is that starchy carbohydrates like bread, breakfast cereals, potatoes and rice digest down into surprising amounts of sugar.
“A 150g portion of boiled rice and a medium-sized baked potato are each roughly equivalent to 10 teaspoons of sugar.
“You should focus on eating more green vegetables and protein.”
Esther believes weight loss is key to reversing the condition.
“If you are overweight or obese and at high risk of type 2 diabetes, even small amounts of weight loss can be beneficial,” she says.
“Losing five per cent of your body weight can significantly reduce your risk.”
If you are worried you might have prediabetes, speak to your GP.
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Drafted by West Coast as a forward, first-year Eagle Jobe Shanahan says he is in no rush to return to attack after putting in some impressive performances as a defender at WAFL level.
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