The Florida Panthers are headed to the 2025 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs, but the reigning league champions remain without star forward Matthew Tkachuk on the ice. The 27-year-old Tkachuk has not seen action since playing for the United States in the championship game of the 4 Nations Face-Off way back in February, as he continues […]
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The St. Louis Cardinals picked up a 4-1 win over the Houston Astros on Wednesday afternoon. A three-run homer from outfielder Lars Nootbaar in the bottom of the fifth inning pathed the way for the Cardinals to get the job done. Nootbaar has been hitting the ball well as of late and he gives hitting […]
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PARENTS have been on the lookout for a new nappy cream after the popular Metanium Nappy Rash Ointment vanished from shelves.
Described as a “miracle” product by many, Metanium Yellow was beloved for its ability to treat nappy rash and is sorely missed by mums and dads who swear by it.
Usually available at major retailers like Superdrug, Tesco, Asda, Sainsbury’s, Savers, and online through Amazon, Express Chemist, and Lloyds Pharmacy, the ointment is now completely sold out.
Thornton & Ross said: “Thornton & Ross has taken the decision to discontinue Metanium Nappy Rash Ointment.
“This is due to constraints that have impacted our ability to guarantee consistent supply and maintain the high standards of excellence we strive for in all our products.”
They added: “We understand Metanium Nappy Rash Ointment was a valued product and we assure you this decision was not taken lightly.
“We sincerely apologise for any inconvenience the discontinuation may cause.”
However, a new contender has appeared, and it’s catching the attention of parents across the UK.
Boots, a high street retailer known for its wide range of health and beauty products, is now stocking an anti-fungal cream that some are claiming works just as well as the discontinued Metanium.
The product, Clotrimazole, priced at just £1.99, is marketed as an effective treatment for fungal nappy rash and even ringworm.
One mum, sharing her thoughts on the product, said: “This stuff is like magic!!!
“My little one suffers with nappy rash so badly when he’s teething! This clears it up every time!”
Despite rave reviews, the product has sparked mixed reactions in online comments.
Some parents are concerned about its long-term use.
One user pointed out: “NO, this can’t be used every day!! It’s short-term use only.”
Others were more specific about its intended purpose, with one saying: “It’s a thrush cream.”
Another adding: “For fungal rashes.
“This stuff thins the skin if used too much.”
Still, many parents are convinced that the Clotrimazole cream is a must have in their nappy-changing routine, with one comment saying: “It’s the thrush cream!
“Very similar to what causes nappy rash so it works so good.”
It is not uncommon for manufacturers to axe products in they are underperforming or because of issues in supply.
Earlier this year, Pampers axed its popular night nappy pants and told shoppers to buy its Baby-Dry nappy pants instead.
In May, M&S also scrapped its own brand nappy range, causing upset amongst parents who said they were one of the best brands for babies.
Parents have also faced shortages of baby formula from major brands such as Kendamil.
Kendamill’s classic and organic powder formula was missing from stores due to supply issues, but the problems have since been resolved.
WE'VE put together six top tips to cut costs, nab freebies and to make sure you're not fined.
GAMERS in Bristol are crushed as the city’s beloved gaming store shuts its doors for the second time in a year – and this time, it’s game over for good.
Geek Retreat Bristol manager, Liam, shared on social media the “tough decision” to close the hub for card fans, Pokémon enthusiasts and gamers looking to connect.
Liam explained he was closing down Geek Retreat Bristol to focus on the Geek Retreat Newport store, which he also manages.
He wrote: “After a lot of thought, I’ve made the tough decision to close the Bristol store.
“When I took on both Bristol and Newport, I genuinely believed I could give both sites the time and attention they deserved – even with 30 miles between them.
“But life changes, and trying to manage both stores across two cities while handling personal things has become too much to do well.
“This isn’t a reflection on Geek Retreat or the brilliant communities we’ve built – it’s a reflection on what I can realistically manage right now.
“I believe in the Geek Retreat model and what it brings to local communities, which is why I’ll be focusing all my energy on making Newport the very best it can be.
“To everyone who supported Bristol – thank you. Your community spirit meant everything, and I’m hopeful we’ll be back in the city in a new format very soon.”
Liam added: “In the meantime, your nearest Geek Retreat stores are in Cardiff and Newport, both home to friendly teams and welcoming communities.
“You can spend your £’s at either store, or with selected retailers through the Geek Retreat app.”
Gamers took to Facebook to express their disappointment.
“Totally understandable. I will miss our chats,” wrote one person.
“Always sad to see a community space close up in Bris, big love from the Hoard café team and best of luck with your other space,” one user said.
Another commented: “Hire me I’ll manage the store for you.”
Both Geek Retreat Bristol and Greek Retreat Newport first opened their doors in 2022 as part of the UK-wide chain of franchised shops and board game cafés.
The Bristol store’s closure comes just a year after it temporarily shut down when the previous managers left.
It was given a second life last July when manager Liam took the reins.
But the Bristol shop is not the only Geek Retreat location to close its doors – dozens across the UK have shut down in the past few years, including in Leeds, Liverpool and London.
Geek Retreat opened its first store in Glasgow in 2013 and grew to as many as 57 outlets in 2022.
But that number has since dropped to just 21, according to the Geek Retreat UK website.
RETAILERS have been feeling the squeeze since the pandemic, while shoppers are cutting back on spending due to the soaring cost of living crisis.
High energy costs and a move to shopping online after the pandemic are also taking a toll, and many high street shops have struggled to keep going.
However, additional costs have added further pain to an already struggling sector.
The British Retail Consortium has predicted that the Treasury’s hike to employer NICs from April will cost the retail sector £2.3billion.
At the same time, the minimum wage will rise to £12.21 an hour from April, and the minimum wage for people aged 18-20 will rise to £10 an hour, an increase of £1.40.
The Centre for Retail Research (CRR) has also warned that around 17,350 retail sites are expected to shut down this year.
It comes on the back of a tough 2024 when 13,000 shops closed their doors for good, already a 28% increase on the previous year.
Professor Joshua Bamfield, director of the CRR said: “The results for 2024 show that although the outcomes for store closures overall were not as poor as in either 2020 or 2022, they are still disconcerting, with worse set to come in 2025.”
It comes after almost 170,000 retail workers lost their jobs in 2024.
End-of-year figures compiled by the Centre for Retail Research showed the number of job losses spiked amid the collapse of major chains such as Homebase and Ted Baker.
It said its latest analysis showed that a total of 169,395 retail jobs were lost in the 2024 calendar year to date.
This was up 49,990 – an increase of 41.9% – compared with 2023.
It is the highest annual reading since more than 200,000 jobs were lost in 2020 in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, which forced retailers to shut their stores during lockdowns.
The centre said 38 major retailers went into administration in 2024, including household names such as Lloyds Pharmacy, Homebase, The Body Shop, Carpetright and Ted Baker.
Around a third of all retail job losses in 2024, 33% or 55,914 in total, resulted from administrations.
Experts have said small high street shops could face a particularly challenging 2025 because of Budget tax and wage changes.
Professor Bamfield has warned of a bleak outlook for 2025, predicting that as many as 202,000 jobs could be lost in the sector.
“By increasing both the costs of running stores and the costs on each consumer’s household it is highly likely that we will see retail job losses eclipse the height of the pandemic in 2020.”
THIS is the dramatic moment a brazen “Rolex Ripper” gang are tackled to the ground by undercover cops after an embarrassing failed robbery.
Footage caught thief Yakob Harket, 21, trying to steal an expensive watch from a couple in Mayfair – but he failed to realise they were actually undercover police.
Harket was swiftly chased down the street by two more incoming cops who watched his every move.
More officers then rushed in on bikes as they discovered another three suspected accomplices lingering nearby.
Two of the men were sensationally stood just feet away from where the robbery took place walking up the road in Berkeley Square.
They were caught watching the police chase after Harket before two more plain clothed officers ran into them and dumped them on the floor.
The pair Mohammed Naas, 34, and Adel Mohamdi, 31, were arrested on the ground.
A fourth suspected thief in Yanis Amri, 37, was also detained.
The men have all been accused of being a part of a “Rolex ripper” gang who target wealthy people and steal their jewellery.
Police had been following the men for some time with remarkable CCTV video showing their perfectly executed undercover mission.
Footage shows Harket following a pair of police officers who were posing as a wealthy couple.
The duo had bags of shopping, were wearing posh clothes and had expensive replica jewellery on to bait out the gang.
Lead prosecutor Henry Laidlaw told a court that the male officer was wearing a £40,000 Rolex Sky Dealer watch at the time.
The woman had a replica Patek Philippe Rose Gold watch – with the real version having a value of approximately £70,000.
Jurors were shown several clips of the officers walking from Berkeley Square to Hays Mews on the evening of October 10, last year.
One of these showed Naas, Amri and Mohamdi following the couple as prosecutors claimed they were relaying information to Harket.
A separate video captured the moment of the attempted robbery.
Harket quickened his pace as he reached forward to grab the woman’s wrist.
Laidlaw said: “He ripped the Patek Philippe watch off her wrist but dropped it, so it was recovered.”
Moments later, a large number of plain clothes officers – including the undercover couple – sprang into action and tackled the thief as he tried to run away.
Harket managed to flee for a brief few minutes before he was eventually captured and arrested along with Amri.
Mohamadi and Naas were arrested right next to the offence, as seen in the video.
Harket admitted robbery at Southwark Crown Court as Naas was later convicted of the same crime by a jury after a three day trial.
Naas denied having any knowledge of the robbery operation.
He told police he met Mohamdi for a coffee that afternoon as the pair ended up in Shepherd’s Market.
Laidlaw told a jury he did know who Harket was but that they had never had a conversation.
But the prosecutors found in their case that the pair knew each other well and had a lot of communication in the months leading up to the robbery.
Mr Laidlaw added: “Phones were downloaded and a number of internet searches had been made by Naas on 9 October for Richard Mille watches.
“It is the prosecution’s case that Naas was an essential cog in a machine and played a knowing and willing part in the robbery.”
Naas appeared in court, aided by an Arabic interpreter, as he was was convicted of robbery.
Amri and Mohamdi were also convicted in their absence after they absconded.
Arrest warrants were issued for the pair’s detention.
Sentencing was adjourned until June 2.
Mayfair now has the highest rate for watch robberies across the whole of Europe.
A spokesperson for the Metropolitan Police said: “Tackling violent crime is one of the Met’s priorities and we are determined to reduce the number of robberies.
“Uniform and plain clothes officers proactively patrol robbery hotspots to identify offences taking place, but more importantly to help prevent and deter offenders from committing robberies in the first place.”
