At the beginning of 1994, few people expected Friends to develop into the cultural phenomenon it became in later years. The daily lives of six New Yorkers- Jennifer Aniston’s Rachel Green, Courteney Cox’s Monica Geller, Lisa Kudrow’s Phoebe Buffay-Hannigan, Matt LeBlanc’s Joseph “Joey” Tribbiani Jr., Matthew Perry’s Chandler Bing, and David Schwimmer’s Ross Geller- quickly […]
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If you ever need proof that the Academy Awards operate in a strange alternate reality, look no further than the 2019 Oscar nominations. That was the year when Toni Collette delivered what can only be described as an acting masterclass in Hereditary and the Academy responded by giving her performance the same level of recognition […]
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What do you do after earning $500 million, starring in 200 movies, and getting hit with an 85% tax bill? If you're Gérard Depardieu, you flee France, hug Putin, and buy a Belgian mansion — but that's just the beginning.
Read more: Oh mon Dieu! Gerard Depardieu's $500 Million Dollar 13-Year Tax Evasion Battle
A POPULAR toy has been recalled due to safety concerns for young children.
The Easter-themed buy has been taken off the shelves at all Home Bargains with the retailer offering full refunds to those who purchased it.
Home Bargains issued the recall for its Happy Easter Plush Toys due to a serious risk of asphyxiation.
The Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) warned that the products present a significant safety hazard.
Asphyxiation, which refers to a deficiency of oxygen in the body, in this case relates to choking.
The plush toys have been found to have weak seams that can easily come apart.
This could potentially expose the internal fibrous stuffing material, creating a “serious risk” for young children who may place it in their mouths.
“The limbs of the toy can become easily detached due to the weakness of the seams,” the OPSS explained.
The plush toys, which were made in China, measure 25 centimetres in length.
They come in three Easter designs: Yellow Chick, Pink Rabbit, and White Rabbit.
The Home Bargains barcode for the item is 10811016.
“The products do not meet the requirements of the Toys (Safety) Regulations 2011,” said the OPSS.
“The products have been withdrawn from the market and recalled from end users by Home Bargains.”
The product regulator office recommended removing the item from your child “immediately” if you have already purchased it.
“Consumers who have purchased any of the Easter plush toys should stop using it immediately and keep out of the reach of children,” they said.
Anyone who purchased the product can receive a full refund at any Home Bargains location.
No proof of purchase is required when returning this item.
PRODUCT recalls are an important means of protecting consumers from dangerous goods.
Many safety notices for products are issued as a precautionary measure, letting consumers know an item may be dangerous.
In more serious cases, manufacturers or retailers issue a recall, warning customers not to use the product and asking them to return it.
As a general rule, if a recall involves a branded product, the manufacturer would usually have lead responsibility for the recall action.
But it’s often left up to retailers to notify customers when products could put them at risk.
A company will sometimes issue a recall to limit the number of complaints.
Shoppers who require further assistance are advised to ask in store or visit the Home Bargains help centre.
Asda has also recalled a popular toy which “may pose a risk of choking”.
The £7 Hapello was taken off shelves after a “small number of cases” found the “potential release of a small piece of plastic lodged in the toy in the manufacturing process”.
Full refunds are also being offered on this item, with no receipt required.
For further information, customers can call Asda Customer Relations at 0800 952 0101.
A CONTAGIOUS illness has hit a “record high” in Ireland – with those most vulnerable being urged to take precautions.
Whooping cough (pertussis) can infect the lungs and breathing tubes, causing severe coughing fits and flu-like symptoms that can last for months.
And the HSE is reminding pregnant women to protect themselves and their babies by getting the whooping cough vaccine between 16 to 36 weeks of pregnancy.
The vaccine is available free of charge from participating GPs and provides vital immunity for newborn babies during their earliest and most vulnerable months of life.
Whooping cough tends to surge in cycles every five to six years; in 2024, there was a record high of over 539 confirmed cases.
The trend has continued into early 2025, with cases expected to rise further in the spring and summer months.
Last year, one in four cases (25.9 per cent) were hospitalised. Of those, just over two-thirds (65.6 per cent) were infants aged 0-5 months.
While no infant deaths from whooping cough were reported in 2024, in previous years, some young infants have died from the disease.
Consultant in Public Health Medicine at the National Immunisation Office at the HSE, Dr Chantal Migone, emphasised the importance of vaccination for pregnant women to protect their infants.
She said: “Young babies are most vulnerable to whooping cough because they do not begin their vaccinations until they are two months old.
“This makes them particularly susceptible to serious complications, including respiratory distress, hospitalisation and sadly in some cases death.”
She continued: “By getting vaccinated during pregnancy, mothers protect themselves and pass on critical immunity to their baby, protecting them from birth until they are old enough for infant vaccines.
“It’s one of the most effective ways to safeguard your baby’s health before they can receive their own vaccines.”
Whooping cough, caused by the pertussis bacteria, naturally peaks every three to five years.
Babies under six months who catch the bug are at risk of serious complications, such as pneumonia, seizures and, in some cases, death.
This is because they are too young to be immunised with the existing vaccine.
Babies and young children who survive may have long-term neurological or lung damage.
Older children and adults can also get whooping cough – as neither vaccination nor infection provides lifelong immunity – and it is highly infectious.
Paediatrician and the National Clinical Advisor for Children and Young People at the HSE, Dr Ciara Martin, highlighted the severe impact of whooping cough on new-borns and the importance of maternal vaccination.
She said: “As a pediatrician, I have seen first-hand the impact whooping cough can have on very young babies.
“Babies with pertussis often struggle to breathe.
“Pertussis can also cause severe coughing fits which affect the babies’ ability to feed and sleep and some infants will need intensive hospital care.
“The reality is that whooping cough can be life threatening for young babies, yet a simple vaccine during pregnancy can provide them with vital protection from birth.
“The whooping cough vaccine given in pregnancy has been shown to be safe and effective for both mother and baby.”
GP and member of the Irish College of GPs (ICGP), Dr Scott Walkin, added: “The vaccine is a simple and effective way to ensure your new-born starts life with strong protection.
“Women can access the vaccine through their participating GP during the recommended window of pregnancy (16-36 weeks).”
WHOOPING cough (pertussis) is a bacterial infection of the lungs and breathing tubes.
The first signs of whooping cough are similar to colds, such as a runny nose and sore throat (a high temperature is uncommon).
After about a week, you or your child:
The cough may last for several weeks or months.
IRELAND head coach Carla Ward has named three returning stars in her squad for the Nations League double header against Greece.
The Girls in Green travel to Heraklion for the first tie on Friday, April 4 before the return clash at Tallaght Stadium on April 8.
Saoirse Noonan, Aoibheann Clancy, and Chloe Mustaki all return to the squad, with the likes of Louise Quinn, Tara O’Hanlon, Megan Connolly, Jamie Finn, Lily Agg, and Jess Ziu all absent.
More to follow…