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Dentist issues warning over swimmer’s calculus

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With the UK basking in high temperatures, beachgoers and holidaymakers continue to don their swimwear for a cooling dip in the pool or sea. However, experts are highlighting that your summer swims might be impacting your hair and teeth. Longevita Dental‘s Dr Gizem Seymenoglu, warned  frequent swimmers about a condition known as ‘swimmer’s calculus’.

It’s caused by chlorine-induced tartar buildup on teeth and can lead to brown or yellow-stained teeth due to chlorine reacting with saliva, causing hard-to-remove mineral deposits. The dentist explained: “Frequent swimmers need to be aware of chlorine-induced buildup of tartar on the teeth, also known as swimmer’s calculus. This isn’t something you need to worry about if you’re spending about an hour in the pool every day. However, if you’re someone who swims for 3 to 4 hours every day, this could become a problem.”

Preventative measures Dr Seymenoglu recommended include rinsing your mouth out with regular water upon exiting the pool, but she cautions against immediate brushing.

She said: “You definitely should not brush your teeth immediately afterwards because your teeth will be coated in chlorine. Make sure to rinse first and then wait about 30 minutes before brushing.”

Heading to the seaside might seem like a good alternative to the swimming pool, but Dr Abdulaziz Balwi, the lead doctor at Elithair Clinic, warned about the potential damage to your hair from doing that.

Dr Balwi cautioned: “Seawater contains a high concentration of salt, which can negatively impact hair health in several ways. It strips moisture from both the hair shaft and scalp, leading to dryness, brittleness, and irritation.

“While seawater doesn’t directly cause hair loss, frequent exposure can disrupt the scalp’s natural balance and lead to dryness and brittleness of the hair shaft.

“This can result in increased hair breakage and, if scalp irritation is significant, may contribute to temporary shedding. These effects are more pronounced if consistent hair and scalp care is not maintained.”

For those already struggling with thinning hair, a dip in the ocean could exacerbate the issue and also leave the scalp more prone to inflammation, potentially aggravating conditions such as dandruff and folliculitis.

However, Dr Balwi shared some hope as these effects can be mitigated with some protective steps. These include rinsing your scalp with fresh water immediately after coming out of the sea.

Rehydrating your hair and scalp can be aided with products containing aloe vera, hyaluronic acid, or argan oil. For those who already have dry hair, the expert suggests using a hydrating hair mask or conditioner before taking a dip in the sea.

Wearing a swimming cap can also lessen the impact of salt water on your hair by offering a physical barrier.

If you’re regularly venturing into the sea, it might be beneficial to invest in a sulfate-free clarifying shampoo to use once or twice weekly to eliminate any residue build-up on the scalp.



This story originally appeared on Express.co.uk

The Best Travel Credit Cards for Canadians with Lower Incomes

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One of the best ways to make travel more affordable is by using the right credit card — but many of the top options in Canada come with steep income requirements.

For example, Visa Infinite cards usually require at least $60,000 in personal income, and the higher-tier Visa Infinite Privilege cards require a whopping $150,000 in personal or $200,000 in household income.

Meanwhile, qualifying for a Mastercard World Elite product usually requires $80,000 in personal or $150,000 in household income.

But let’s be honest — not everyone hits those numbers. Students, retirees, newcomers to Canada, or new parents on leave all deserve a way to earn travel rewards too.

The good news? There are some solid travel credit cards in Canada that don’t ask for a high income but still deliver great value in points, perks, and flexibility.

Let’s take a look.

Scotiabank Gold American Express® Card

For Canadians who want solid travel perks without sky-high income requirements, the Scotiabank Gold American Express® Card is one of the best picks.

You only need a $12,000 in annual income, and you’ll earn Scene+ points, which is a flexible currency that’s easy to redeem toward flights, hotels, or even rideshares.

Until October 31, 2025, you’ll be eligible for a welcome bonus of up to 50,000 Scene+ points, structured as follows:

  • 30,000 Scene+ points upon spending $2,000 in the first three months
  • 20,000 Scene+ points upon spending $7,500 in the first year

50,000 Scene+ points are worth a cool $500 when redeemed for travel, and you can further pad your balance with the card’s excellent earning rates:

  • 6 Scene+ points per dollar spent on Sobeys, IGA, Safeway, FreshCo, and more
  • 5 Scene+ points per dollar spent on groceries, dining, and entertainment
  • 3 Scene+ points per dollar spent on gas, transit, and streaming services
  • 1 Scene+ point per dollar spent on all other purchases

Scene+ points are super easy to use: they’re worth 1 cent per point toward any travel expense. No need to go through a special portal — just charge your travel to the card and redeem against it later.

Even if you don’t have enough points right away, you’ve got up to 12 months to earn more and redeem them against past travel.

On top of this, the Scotiabank Gold American Express® Card offers one of the best benefits of any credit card in Canada – no foreign transaction fees. While you’ll earn a flat rate of 1 Scene+ point per dollar spent outside of Canada, you also won’t have to pay the pesky 2.5% foreign transaction fee, which is levied by most banks.

Moreover, the card comes with a complimentary concierge service, which is a feature typically reserved for credit cards that require higher minimum incomes. The concierge can help you score tickets to an event, or a preferred reservation at restaurants.

Furthermore, you can register the Scotiabank Gold American Express® card to a plethora of Amex Offers, which have recently included statement credits for United Airlines tickets and Marriott stays.

In sum, the Scotiabank Gold American Express® Card offers incredible value for any would-be globetrotter.

While the $120 annual fee isn’t rebated with the current offer, you can easily offset its cost through the card’s earning rates and features alone.

TD® Aeroplan® Visa Platinum* Card

Next up is the TD® Aeroplan® Visa Platinum* Card, which only requires you to be the age of majority, a Canadian permanent resident, and have an email address. This makes the card a very good starting point for anyone looking to get into the Aeroplan ecosystem.

The card is currently offering a welcome bonus of up to 20,000 Aeroplan points†, structured as follows:

  • 10,000 Aeroplan points upon first purchase†
  • 10,000 Aeroplan points upon spending $1,000 in the first three months†

You can earn the full welcome bonus upon spending $1,000 in the first three months†, which averages out to just over $333 each month.

Better yet, the $89 annual fee is rebated in the first year,† and can be further waived in subsequent years by opening select TD bank account products.†

Note that the earning rates on this credit card aren’t the highest on this list. You’ll earn 1 Aeroplan point per dollar spent† on eligible gas, grocery, and Air Canada purchases,† whilst all other purchases will earn 1 Aeroplan point per $1.50 spent.†

However, the TD® Aeroplan® Visa Platinum* Card also comes with insurance benefits,† including baggage and flight delay, and trip cancellation coverage.† The insurance also covers Aeroplan reward flights,† as long as you pay for the taxes and fees with the card.†

Plus, with an Aeroplan co-branded credit card, you’ll enjoy preferred pricing on Air Canada flights† booked with Aeroplan points.†

RBC® ION+ Visa & RBC® Avion Visa Platinum† Combo

If you’re looking for a smart way to earn points quickly and redeem them for high-value travel, this duo might be your best bet: the RBC® ION+ Visa and the RBC® Avion Visa Platinum†.

Let’s break it down.

Start Strong with the RBC® ION+ Visa

The RBC® ION+ Visa is a sleeper hit when it comes to earning. With no income requirement and a monthly fee of just $4, it’s an ideal entry point for anyone starting their points journey.

Currently, you’ll get 14,000 RBC Avion points upon approval†, with no spending required — a welcome boost for those who want to ease in.

Here’s what you’ll earn on everyday purchases:

  • 3 Avion points per dollar spent on groceries, dining, gas, and streaming
  • 1 Avion point per dollar spent on everything else

And the perks don’t stop there. You can stack extra value by:

  • Saving 3¢/L at Petro-Canada when you link your card to a Petro-Points account
  • Earning 1 extra Moi point per $2 spent at participating grocery stores like Metro and Food Basics (minimum purchase applies)

The only drawback? While the ION+ is excellent for earning, it doesn’t allow transferring to airline partners, nor redeeming via the RBC Air Travel Redemption Schedule.

That’s where the RBC® Avion Visa Platinum† comes in.

Unlock High-Value Redemptions with the RBC® Avion Visa Platinum†

Pairing your ION+ with the RBC® Avion Visa Platinum† Card unlocks the full potential of your points — both through RBC Air Travel Redemption Schedule and transfers to airline partners.

The Avion Visa Platinum† is the entry-level card in the Avion Elite family, and it comes with no income requirement†. It earns at a slower pace, but makes up for it with premium redemption options.

The card is currently offering 35,000 RBC Avion points upon approval†, without having to spend a dime on the card.

Under the RBC Air Travel Redemption Schedule, the 35,000 points given on approval is enough for a round-trip economy booking in North America, worth up to $700 in ticket price†.

If you manage to earn 55,000 points (say, by pairing with the ION+), you can book a round-trip in economy to Sun destinations, up to a max ticket price of $1,100† – though taxes and fees still apply.

Better yet, you can also transfer Avion points to four airline partners, and then make redemptions from within each program:

As for the card’s other features, the budget-conscious traveller would benefit from the card’s suite of relatively strong insurance.†

The card’s $120 annual fee isn’t rebated in the first year with the current offer†, although it can be offset by opening one of several types of RBC bank accounts.†

American Express Cobalt Card

No list of income-friendly Canadian credit cards would be complete without the legendary American Express Cobalt Card.

Ever since its launch in 2017, this product has been revered as the best pound-for-pound travel credit card by the Miles & Points community. It likewise set a standard of excellence among Canadian credit cards that has often been imitated, but never fully replicated.

To recap, this incredible credit card, which requires no minimum income, earns the following:

  • 5 points per dollar spent on eligible restaurants and groceries (up to $2,500 monthly)
  • 3 points per dollar spent on eligible streaming services
  • 2 points per dollar spent on eligible travel purchases
  • 1 point per dollar spent on all other purchases

Keep in mind that American Express Membership Rewards (MR) points are transferable to a wide variety of partners, including Aeroplan, Air France KLM Flying Blue, British Airways Executive Club, and Marriott Bonvoy, amongst others.

If the earning rates alone aren’t enough to tempt you, consider that new applicants can earn a welcome bonus of up to 15,000 MR points in the first year. However, the welcome bonus requires spending at least $750 each month for a year, which could be onerous for Canadians with lower incomes.

While this card comes with a $12.99 monthly fee ($155.88 annually), the value you’ll be deriving from it is among the best in the entire Canadian credit card market.

CIBC Aventura® Gold Visa* Card

The CIBC Aventura® Gold Visa* Card is another unique fixture on this list because its welcome bonus and most of its benefits are identical to those of its Visa Infinite counterpart, the CIBC Aventura® Visa Infinite* Card, which has a higher minimum income requirement.

What separates them is that the CIBC Aventura® Gold Visa* Card only requires a $15,000 minimum personal household income, making it accessible to many Canadians. 

While the complimentary insurance coverage on this card isn’t as robust as its Visa Infinite cousin, its earning rates on everyday spending are identical, outlined as follows:

  • 2 points per dollar spent on eligible travel booked directly via CIBC’s portal
  • 1.5 points per dollar spent on eligible gas, groceries, EV charging, and pharmacy purchases
  • 1 point per dollar spent on all other purchases

However, the real magic comes in the form of its welcome bonus, which, compared to other cards, is one of the most generous in Canada relative to the size of the spend. 

Currently, the card is offering a welcome bonus of up to 45,000 Aventura Points, structured as follows:

  • 15,000 Aventura Points upon first purchase
  • 30,000 Aventura Points upon spending $3,000 in four months

The welcome bonus points you’ll earn may be redeemed through CIBC’s Aventura portal in a variety of ways, such as gift cards and merchandise.

You may also use fixed amounts of Aventura points to redeem for flights with the CIBC Aventura Flight Rewards Chart.

For instance, 25,000–35,000 Aventura Points will get you a round-trip ticket from Toronto to Las Vegas or Vancouver in economy, up to a maximum base fare of $800.

You can also redeem Aventura points directly against travel purchases charged to the card at 1 cent per point, making it simple and easy to redeem your points. This way, 45,000 Aventura Points from the welcome bonus can yield a total value of $450.

In terms of the card’s other travel features, the CIBC Aventura® Gold Visa* Card has something that’s often not included on cards with lower income requirements: meaningful premium luxury enhancements.

If you’re approved for the card, you’re entitled to four complimentary lounge visits at participating Visa Airport Companion Program lounges per year. Free lounge access is usually a benefit that comes in exchange for high annual fees, so it’s nice to see it provided on a card with lower income requirements.

Moreover, the CIBC Aventura® Gold Visa* Card offers a $100 (USD) NEXUS application fee credit for the primary cardholder – something that’s particularly useful for folks who often make trips to the United States. This is also a benefit included mostly with higher-tier cards.

As part of the current offer, the $139 annual fee is rebated for the first year, which means that you can score all of the above without an out-of-pocket cost in year one.

Conclusion

Travel rewards shouldn’t be reserved for people with massive paycheques and corner offices. Whether you’re a student, on leave, retired, or simply not swimming in six figures, there are still plenty of credit cards that offer great value — without gatekeeping behind high income requirements.

These cards prove you can earn solid points, enjoy travel perks, and save on fees without overextending yourself. All it takes is the right strategy, and maybe a bit of patience.

All it takes is the right card and a little know-how to start turning everyday spending into your next trip.

Terms and conditions apply.



This story originally appeared on princeoftravel

Jack Dorsey Announces Bitchat Messaging App

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Twitter co-founder and CEO of Block Jack Dorsey launched the beta version of a new peer-to-peer messaging app on TestFlight. Unlike WhatsApp and others like it that rely on internet connectivity and central servers, Dorsey says that Bitchat operates entirely over Bluetooth mesh networks, promising true decentralization and privacy for its users. He made “an ugly whitepaper describing protocol” available on GitHub.

CNBC broke down the tech and its features. In essence, Bitchat allows users to communicate via Bluetooth-connected devices. But here’s where it gets interesting: “As users move through physical space, their phones form local Bluetooth clusters and pass messages from device to device, allowing them to reach peers beyond standard range — even without Wi-Fi or cell service.”

Related: Jack Dorsey Says Intellectual Property Law Shouldn’t Exist, and Elon Musk Agrees: ‘Delete All IP Law’

Messages that are sent via Bitchat are encrypted from end to end and do not live in the cloud — they are only stored on devices and are set to delete. The message “never touch centralized infrastructure,” reports CNBC, “echoing Dorsey’s long-running push for privacy-preserving, censorship-resistant communication.”

Dorsey’s post on X has received over 1.3 million views, with beta testers eager to jump in. The TestFlight page is no longer available after hitting its 10,000-user maximum.

Twitter co-founder and CEO of Block Jack Dorsey launched the beta version of a new peer-to-peer messaging app on TestFlight. Unlike WhatsApp and others like it that rely on internet connectivity and central servers, Dorsey says that Bitchat operates entirely over Bluetooth mesh networks, promising true decentralization and privacy for its users. He made “an ugly whitepaper describing protocol” available on GitHub.

CNBC broke down the tech and its features. In essence, Bitchat allows users to communicate via Bluetooth-connected devices. But here’s where it gets interesting: “As users move through physical space, their phones form local Bluetooth clusters and pass messages from device to device, allowing them to reach peers beyond standard range — even without Wi-Fi or cell service.”

Related: Jack Dorsey Says Intellectual Property Law Shouldn’t Exist, and Elon Musk Agrees: ‘Delete All IP Law’

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This story originally appeared on Entrepreneur

Exxon Mobil warns lower oil, gas prices could cut profit by over $1B

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Exxon Mobil signaled on Monday that lower oil and gas prices could cut its second-quarter earnings by about $1.5 billion from the previous quarter’s level.

The earnings snapshot from the largest US oil producer is closely watched for clues on how the broader oil sector will fare when companies begin releasing quarterly results in a few weeks.

Benchmark Brent crude prices averaged $66.71 per barrel during the April to June quarter, an 11% decline from the previous quarter, as more crude supply from the OPEC+ group of producers weighed on prices. US natural gas prices declined 9% from the first quarter.

Benchmark Brent crude prices averaged $66.71 per barrel during the April to June quarter, an 11% decline from the previous quarter. Exxon Mobil will release second quarter earnings on Aug. 1. Getty Images

Exxon said in the regulatory filing that it will release the final quarterly results on Aug. 1.

Wall Street expects Exxon to report adjusted earnings of $1.53 per share for the second quarter, according to estimates compiled by LSEG.

The company had posted $6.8 billion in upstream earnings for the first quarter. Its total profit in that quarter was $7.71 billion.



This story originally appeared on NYPost

Malicious critics are trying to blame Trump for the Texas floods

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Donald Trump has been accused of many outlandish things, but killing children with flash floods has to be among the worst.

The first reflex of his critics was to blame him for the appalling tragedy in central Texas, where a flood on July 4 killed more than 100 people, including over two dozen children at a Christian summer camp.

This is one of the deadliest floods in the United States in the last 100 years, and the toll among kids is a particular gut punch.

It’s natural that observers will ask how it could have happened, but the fact-free, malicious attacks constitute one of the more poisonously stupid episodes of the Trump years — and that’s saying a lot.

The theory here is that Elon Musk’s chainsaw cuts to the National Weather Service gutted the agency with catastrophic consequences. See, Trump’s adversaries say, we told you DOGE would get people killed.

There were indeed staff reductions at the National Weather Service, totaling about 10%.

The idea, though, that this suddenly rendered the agency inoperable is absurd. (Trump’s budget proposes a very slight increase in funding for the NWS, by the way.)

In keeping with standard practice, the weather service in Texas surged extra staff as the storm gathered.

There is no doubt that the agency did its job. On Sunday, it noted the potential for heavy rainfall during the coming week.

A few days later, it was talking of the possibility of flooding Thursday, July 3. Then, on Thursday morning, it issued a flood-hazard outlook, followed in the afternoon by a flood watch.


Follow The Post’s coverage on the deadly Texas flooding


As Thursday evening progressed, its communications grew steadily more alarming.

At 1:14 a.m. on Friday, it used a warning of “life-threatening flash flooding of creeks and streams, urban areas, highways, streets and underpasses.”

It said that the “flash flooding is ongoing or expected to begin shortly.” The warning triggered wireless emergency alerts.

At 4 a.m., it declared a flash flood emergency.

The private prediction service AccuWeather also issued warnings. It has said that these notices should have provided officials “ample time” for evacuations.

What happened?

It’s almost unfathomable how quickly the waters of the Guadalupe River rose, from 1 foot to 36 feet, according to one gauge, creating from seemingly out of nowhere a cataclysm of biblical proportions. (“And, behold, I, even I, do bring a flood of waters upon the earth, to destroy all flesh, wherein is the breath of life.”)

The event happened in the middle of the night, when awareness is going to be limited.

And people naturally develop warning fatigue, assuming that the worst won’t actually happen or won’t affect them.

Texas and local communities would probably be well-served to adopt a tornado-type siren system to warn of imminent floods.

Another line of criticism of the Trump administration is that it doesn’t care about climate change, and such catastrophic floods — supposedly growing worse with more extreme rain events — are the inevitable result of global warming.

Yet, flooding is nothing new in this part of Texas known as “flash-flood alley.”

Weather maven Chris Martz points out that there were major floods of the Guadalupe River in 1838, 1869, 1906, 1921, 1932, 1936, 1952, 1978, 1987 and 1998.

It was the remnant of Tropical Storm Barry that fueled last week’s epochal rain, dumping 20 inches in spots.

According to the National Weather Service’s prediction center, it was the 20th time that a tropical cyclone or remnant led to 15 inches or more of rain in the interior of the state since 1913.

Martz notes that there has been no trend in the annual maximum one-day precipitation in Texas since 1895, and river floods have decreased in frequency in Texas Hill Country since 1965.

But the narratives are irresistible for anti-Trump partisans and their fellow-travelers in the media.

Donald Trump is responsible for many things. The weather is not one of them.

Twitter: @RichLowry



This story originally appeared on NYPost

3 reasons I’m avoiding Lloyds shares despite their huge dividends!


Image source: Getty Images

Lloyds (LSE:LLOY) shares often feature highly on the lists of most popular shares with retail investors. Given its reputation as a lucrative and reliable dividend share, on the one hand I’m not surprised.

As a retail bank, Lloyds enjoys a steady flow of income through account fees, loan interest and transaction charges that allows it to pay a consistent dividend. It can keep its progressive policy going even when revenues fall and credit impairments increase during economic downturns.

Today its forward dividend yield is 4.6%, and for 2025 it rises to 5.5%. And yet while these figures comfortably beat the Footsie average of 3.4%, I’m not tempted to touch the Black Horse Bank with a bargepole.

Here are three reasons why.

1. Rough ride

Lloyds is facing a staggering misconduct bill from the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). It relates to an investigation into whether commissions paid from motor finance providers to car dealers without the customer’s knowledge are lawful.

To date, the bank’s set aside roughly £1.2bn to cover possible costs. But if the Supreme Court rules against discretionary commissions later this month, the eventual penalty could be several times that amount.

A survey from Slater and Gordon shows that 23m people who agreed a car loan between 2007 and 2021 think they may be eligible for compensation. If this proves accurate, and the case goes against Lloyds, the impact on its share price and dividend could be eye-watering.

2. Rate pressure

Interest rates are critical for banks’ profitability. The higher the net interest margin (NIM) — that is, the difference between what they charge borrowers and what they pay savers — the better.

The problem is that Lloyds’ NIM is already worryingly low, at 3.03% in Q1. And it’s in danger of slipping sharply as the Bank of England (BoE) gears up for more interest rate cuts.

Cuts worth half a percentage point are tipped by City analysts in the second half of 2025 alone.

On the plus side, BoE rate reductions could stimulate loan demand and lessen bad loans. They could also boost the critical housing market. But on balance, I think these positives may be outweighed by the negatives.

3. Poor long-term growth

I’m also concerned about Lloyds’ long-term growth prospects versus other FTSE 100 banks.

Unlike HSBC and Standard Chartered, for instance, it doesn’t have weighty exposure to international markets. As a consequence, it faces a struggle to increase profits as the UK economy faces a prolonged period of low growth. By contrast, both of those other blue-chip operators have significant exposure to fast-growing Asia.

I don’t think this is reflected in Lloyds’ valuation. In fact, at 11.6 times, its forward price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio is actually higher than those of HSBC (9.7 times) and StanChart (9.9 times).

Added to this, HSBC also carries better near-term dividend yields, of 5.5% and 5.8% for 2025 and 2026. Without a doubt, I’d much rather buy one of these emerging market banks for my portfolio today.



This story originally appeared on Motley Fool

Below Deck Season 12 Episode 6 Recap

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Welcome back! This week on Below Deck Season 12 Episode 6, relationships are taking several turns, creating tensions amongst the exterior and interior teams alike. Speaking of the deck team, last week, Captain Kerry sent Caio home. But when a new bosun arrives, Fraser has zero time to celebrate, as he is up to his neck in party planning for his current, rude charter guests. Here is everything that happened in Below Deck Season 12 Episode 6, “Yacht-Chella.”

What happened in Below Deck Season 12 Episode 6?

Photo Credit: Bravo Media

Rainbeau continues trying to fit in. However, Bárbara and Solène remain wary. But Solène has other problems to deal with, as her relationship with Kyle is now taking an unexpected love triangle-sized turn. However, their main issues lie with their new charter guests, who are now in the running for the title of the absolute worst in this franchise. Now, Captain Kerry has his eyes on them, as he desires to protect his crew from their demeaning affronts.

Solène chooses Jess over Kyle

Below Deck
Photo Credit: Fred Jagueneau/Bravo

Caio graciously accepts his firing. All is well. Their new bosun is on their way, informs Captain Kerry.

Solène admits that she is not as into Kyle as he is into her. She will need to talk to him soon, she says. The crew heads off to dinner, ready to let loose. In her van, Solène confesses her lesser feelings to the girls.

Following dinner, Solène and Jess head to the bathroom, where they make out. They continue kissing on the dance floor, which everyone celebrates, minus Kyle. Back on the yacht, Jess crawls into bed with Solène as Kyle laments about his poor picker, both last season and now.

The crew awakens to a day off. Solène tells Bárbara that she did not sleep with Kyle, so he is likely jealous of her interactions with Jess. But Solène does “not care,” she admits.

The crew turns over the yacht. While working, Jess tells Damo that she only cuddled with Solène. The camera pans to show Kyle nursing his broken heart in his cabin.

A new bosun arrives while a love triangle forms

Below Deck - Jess Theron
Photo Credit: Fred Jagueneau/Bravo

The new bosun arrives. I was wrong. Jess did not receive a promotion. Instead, an American named Hugo Ortega arrives, thankfully leaving Jess in the lead deckhand position.

Strip club owners are coming on board tomorrow. They love the 90s and live music, so the crew must deliver a concert, complete with a VIP area, DJ, and dancing on the dock. Fraser is excited, albeit nervous, due to his small timeframe.

That night, Solène and Jess once again go to sleep in the same bunk. In the morning, Fraser learns that his budget is $20k for this deck party. Thrilled, Fraser assigns all bar duties to Solène and then finds a local event planner eager to help. He then heads to see Anthony to check on menus, as Anthony quips in his talking head that a storm is coming for him and Fraser.

Speaking of rough waters, Solène hugs Kyle, biting him during their embrace. This interaction makes her nipples happy, she tells Bárbara. In her interview, Solène admits that she feels torn between Kyle and Jess.

The charter guests arrive, and they are awful

Below Deck
Photo Credit: Fred Jagueneau/Bravo

The event planner arrives. He and Fraser sort out their plans. Several beats later, the guests arrive, immediately complaining about the lack of a red carpet and Solène, who rushed out late to the dock to greet them. Fraser sighs, labeling them as “rude, classless,” and “obnoxious” in his talking head.

“Why are you guys still standing there? Get on the boat,” Jason, a friend of the primary, yells. He then asks where their welcome drinks are, as Captain Kerry finds his voice first, stressing that the fun is all on board. Sure enough, a tray of rum punches surfaces.

Kyle and Solène randomly kiss as Hugo nails his first assignment, easily calling out orders as the yacht gets underway and through the bridge of hell. The deck team finally feels confident, thanks to Hugo.

Fraser readies the table for lunch as Jason once again chides him. “Jason is so pleasant,” Fraser jokes back, making the guests laugh. Fraser leaves and finds Captain Kerry, who notes that if the guests are rude, he will handle it.

While serving lunch, Rainbeau nudges Bárbara with her foot, seemingly trying to get Bárbara to move. Bárbara tells Solène about this, and they agree that they are not fans of Rainbeau.

The first Below Deck Carnivale Party might fail

Fraser Olender on Below Deck
Photo by: Fred Jagueneau/Bravo

Anthony comes out to check on how the guests felt about his lunch. Jason has another mean answer in return. Anthony smiles, flicking Jason off in his interview.

Seeing the red flags forming, Captain Kerry meets with the interior team. If they feel uncomfortable, they are to let him know.

The guests take to the water as Fraser texts his event planner, reminding him he wants a live band, Carnivale dancers, and a DJ. “Sounds good,” the planner replies. Happy, Fraser starts prepping for that night’s 1995-themed dinner service.

Rainbeau provides shots of tequila at dinner, which charter guest Dawn ribs her for. Dawn tells Rainbeau she is on her “sh*t list,” so she needs to bring her a better shot. On their preference sheet, Fraser draws devil horns on Dawn and Jason.

The next morning, Captain Kerry gives Fraser a lift back to the dock, where zero party prep has taken place. The event planner tells them everything will be ready, but Fraser remains stressed, as these guests are not the ones to piss off.

Below Deck continues Mondays at 8/7c on Bravo. It streams on Hayu in the UK and Ireland.

TELL US – DID YOU TUNE IN TO CATCH BELOW DECK SEASON 12 EPISODE 6? DO YOU THINK THESE CHARTER GUESTS WILL GET KICKED OFF? WILL FRASER’S CARNIVALE NIGHT BE A SUCCESS?



This story originally appeared on Realitytea

‘Mistletoe Murders’ Season 2 Premiere Date — Airing Hallmark Channel

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This story originally appeared on TVLine

Richard ‘Dick’ Eastland, Camp Mystic’s 74-year-old owner, died while leading campers to safety during the devastating floods

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Richard “Dick” Eastland, the owner and director of Camp Mystic in Kerr County, Texas, died during the flash floods that struck Central Texas on Friday, his nephew confirmed on Facebook. Eastland was 74.

The Eastland family has owned and operated Camp Mystic, the Christian girls’ summer camp, since 1939. The camp was founded back in 1926. Dick was the third generation to manage Mystic after he and his wife, Tweety, purchased the camp in 1974, serving as executive directors for over 50 years. Eastland’s wife Tweety was found safe at home, officials said.

Eastland’s children are also integral to Camp Mystic’s operations: Richard Eastland, their eldest son, serves as head chef and runs the dining hall; Edward Eastland, the youngest son, is the director at Camp Mystic’s original Guadalupe River site, and manages the camp with his wife, Mary Liz; and Britt Eastland, another son, directs Camp Mystic’s Cypress Lake campus, a newer addition established in 2020.

Dick Eastland was known for his involvement in the West Kerr County community, serving on the Hunt Independent School District Board and coaching youth sports, particularly the West Kerr County Little League and the West Kerr County Little Dribblers. Eastland also notably survived brain cancer.

According to statements from camp officials and survivors, Eastland was last seen leading a group of girls from a cabin trying to get them to safety. His body was later found near his vehicle.

On July 4, severe flooding in Texas Hill Country caused the Guadalupe River to rise more than 25 feet in less than an hour, which caught many campers and staff off guard. Officials say 27 campers and counselors died at Camp Mystic, including young girls from various states. As of July 7, at least 10 campers and one counselor remain missing. Statewide, the death toll from the floods has reached at least 95, with 75 people reported dead in Kerr County. The Texas National Guard and local authorities have deployed helicopters, boats, and drones to locate survivors and recover the missing.

Survivors described scenes of confusion as staff worked to move campers to higher ground. “We went to bed thinking it was just a normal thunderstorm,” Callie McAlary, a 16-year-old camper, told Fox News. “One minute you see lightning strike next to your cabin, and next to you, you hear water’s coming up.”

Camp officials and survivors credited Eastland and the staff with helping save lives during the disaster. Texas Governor Greg Abbott has since visited Camp Mystic, declaring a state of emergency and pledging continued support for search and rescue operations. “I urge every Texan to join me in prayer this Sunday—for the lives lost, for those still missing, for the recovery of our communities, and for the safety of those on the front lines,” Abbott said in a statement.

Camp Mystic, on its website, says it is “deeply grateful for the outpouring of support” and asks for “respect and privacy” as it charts a new path forward.



This story originally appeared on Fortune

The ‘Alligator Alcatraz’ detention centre was built in eight days – but problems are emerging | US News

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Videos and satellite imagery show how quickly Donald Trump’s detention centre in Florida has been constructed – as experts suggest the design of the site is flawed and will compromise the safety of people being held there.

Sky News’ Data and Forensics team has verified footage posted on social media that shows water covering the ground near electricity cables during a storm as the first detainees were due to arrive.

The Florida Division of Emergency Management (FDEM), run by Governor Ron DeSantis, posted on X that detainees were at the site on 3 July just before 1pm local time (6pm UK time).

Donald Trump held a tour of the facility on 1 July that took journalists around “Alligator Alcatraz”. Its name is a reference to both the local reptile population and the former maximum-security Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary in San Francisco Bay, California.

The tour showed the rapid construction of the centre, designed to accommodate up to 3,000 detainees. The purpose of the site is to house individuals detained by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

James Uthmeier, Florida’s attorney general, posted on X: “And in just a week, Alligator Alcatraz was built.”

Political commentator Benny Johnson, who was on the tour, praised the eight-day turnaround. “I don’t think anyone realises how impressive Alligator Alcatraz is,” he said.

Amid those positive comments, videos emerged highlighting flooding in the centre, with electricity cables covered with water on the day of the tour.

The flooding was said to have been caused by a small storm. However, the state department claims the structures and tents can withstand category two hurricanes, reaching 110mph winds.

FDEM spokesperson Stephanie Hartman wrote in a statement that “vendors had tightened any seams at the base of the structures that allowed water to come in during the storm”. She described the water intrusion as minimal.

The speed of the site development.

Steff Gaulter, a Sky News meteorologist, said: “In the last 10 years, we’ve seen 13 hurricanes that have hit Florida. Seven of them have been category three or higher.

“As well as needing to know how strong these storms are as they come, it’s also very unpredictable, their track can change at the last minute.”

The American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) and the Structural Engineering Institute (SEI) have said structures in risk category two – which Alligator Alcatraz falls under – need to withstand 121mph wind gusts.

If the housing tents exceed 300 occupants per tent, the guidelines go up to 167mph.

Ms Gaulter explained: “You don’t necessarily need a hurricane in order to see a gust of wind over 100mph. In the lowest category of hurricane, category one, the range of winds would be between 74mph and 95mph. But even in that category, you can easily get a gust of wind up to 120mph.”

Dr Patrick McSharry, Professor at Carnegie Mellon University and former head of catastrophe risk financing at Oxford University, told Sky News that in a hurricane “there’s no way that a tent is going to be in any way something that you would advise someone to be in”.

“It’s more the case of having a plan in place that can be mobilised really fast to get people out of that dangerous situation.”

The site is also located in a hurricane-prone region as defined by ASCE.

Discussing building regulations, Dr McSharry said: “We’re dealing here potentially with human lives so it’s an even more sensitive calculation I think that needs to be made.”

The blue pin marks Alligator Alcatraz. The key shows average wind speeds. Credit: ASCE.
Image:
The blue pin marks Alligator Alcatraz. The key shows average wind speeds. Credit: ASCE.

Sky News put these concerns to Ron DeSantis and the Florida state department, but did not receive responses.

White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson told Sky News: “Alligator Alcatraz is a state-of-the-art facility that will play a critical role in fulfilling the president’s promise to get the worst criminal illegal aliens out of America as fast as possible.

“President Trump is grateful to partner with [Homeland] Secretary [Kristi] Noem and Ron DeSantis on this important project.”

Satellite imagery obtained by Sky News shows the rapid construction of the centre, which was formerly Dade-Collier Training Airport.

Five days after the centre was announced by Florida’s attorney general James Uthmeier, more than 60 new trailers can be seen on the right-hand side of the runway.

photo-slider visualization

Satellite imagery obtained by Sky News also shows that from 24 June to the opening date on 1 July, more than seven large housing tents were put up at the site.

Satellite imagery showing the site on 24 June. Credit: Maxar
Image:
Satellite imagery showing the site on 24 June. Credit: Maxar

An aerial photo of the site on 1 July. Credit: AP
Image:
An aerial photo of the site on 1 July. Credit: AP

The site is reportedly set to open with 3,000 beds, expanding to 5,000 by early July.  

It is also reported that the site will cost an estimated $450m (£330m) per year to operate, with a bed costing $245 (£180) per day.

The bill is reported to be covered by the state of Florida, which plans to get money back from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

Tessa Petit, director of the Florida Immigrant Coalition, told Sky News: “It was constructed too [quickly]. This is a sign that we’re seeing a disaster [waiting to] happen as we look at it.

“Usual detention centres come up with, you know, their bricks and mortar, right? This is not bricks and mortar. This is just tents and mobile homes that are assembled on an airstrip.”

“There’s a detention of immigrants in a place that has been in the past ravaged by hurricanes and we’re getting into hurricane season,” Ms Petit added.

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She is concerned that medical support and sanitary provisions, like a sewage system, will not have been properly installed.

“You can’t build a sewage system that can sustain 3,000 people in eight days. You can’t dig in the Everglades. So, what are going be the additional sanitary conditions?” she said.

There are also sustainability concerns about the site.

The Centre for Biological Diversity has filed a lawsuit in US District Court to protect the Florida Everglades. They state it is “a reckless plan to build a massive detention centre for people caught in immigration raids”.

Tania Galloni, an attorney working with the Centre for Biological Diversity, stated the proposed plan “has not undergone the environmental review required by federal law, and the public has had no chance to provide feedback”.


The Data and Forensics team is a multi-skilled unit dedicated to providing transparent journalism from Sky News. We gather, analyse and visualise data to tell data-driven stories. We combine traditional reporting skills with advanced analysis of satellite images, social media and other open source information. Through multimedia storytelling we aim to better explain the world while also showing how our journalism is done.



This story originally appeared on Skynews