The chicken will be moist, juicy and full of flavour with every bite

Roast chicken is a go-to dinner, offering a scrumptious meal that requires little fuss. Yet, to avoid ending up with dry meat, there’s one straightforward technique you can employ beforehand to guarantee it stays succulent and packed with taste.

Chef Stephen Beaddie recently revealed his method for transforming an ordinary roast chicken on TikTok. Stephen champions the use of a dry brine for any cut of meat, urging home cooks to incorporate this crucial step to “level up” their roast chicken game.

Stephen said: “You may think this is a lot of salt, and you’d be right, it is a lot of salt. But it’s exactly what the chicken needs.”

The chef outlined how salting meat well in advance of cooking, particularly a substantial piece such as a whole chicken, does more than simply season it. By coating the bird in salt, it draws moisture from the flesh, before that salt dissolves and redistributes the liquid back through the meat once more, reports the Express.

He added: “That’s how you get your chicken seasoned the whole way through so it’s tasty and delicious with every bite, not just the top. About 24 hours is usually the sweet spot.

“Just do it in advance, do it as early as possible. Anything is better than nothing.”

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Salting the meat can enhance its flavour, make it juicier and improve its texture during cooking. Stephen said: “You will never ever go back, I can guarantee that.”

In the comments section of his video, he shared some more advice on the dry brining process: “One thing to do before you cook chicken & makes it better… simples. Salt it well & do it early. This is a dry brine.

“So what’s happening is… Salt draws moisture to the surface. That salty moisture gets re-absorbed. It seasons the meat all the way through. Proteins relax = juicier chicken. Skin dries out = better colour & crisp.

“Do it 12- 24 hours in the fridge, uncovered. But if you don’t have time, even 30-60 minutes helps. Something is always better than nothing. The difference is night & day!”

Stephen’s video has racked up over 19,000 views. Darragh suggested in the comments: “I’d recommend wet brining when cooking big birds bud. Gives it such a great overall texture and locks in flavour too.”

To which Stephen replied: “Completely agree!! This method is just more doable for the home cooks.”

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WARNING: DISTRESSING CONTENT Justin Rey, 35, was found in astorage unit with his two daughters and the dismembered remains of his wife who died after giving birth in a motel room

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In a grim story of life and death, a father-of two-has been found living in a storage unit alongside his daughters and the skinned and dismembered remains of his wife, who supposedly died just hours after she had delivered their baby girl.

Justin Rey, 35, horrifically “skinned” Jessica Monteiro “like a fish” following her death aged just 32 in a motel, before taking a shocking photograph with her body and their two children.

Jessica’s body parts were discovered spread across several containers. Rey initially insisted she had taken her own life, though he later claimed she died during labour. The coroner conducting the post-mortem was unable to establish a definitive cause of death.

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After Jessica died following the birth in a Kansas City motel, Rey failed to contact emergency services, instead dismembering her body in the bathtub. He defended this appalling act by saying he feared their two daughters would be removed from his care, reports the Express US.

Rey spent eight harrowing hours cutting up his partner’s body before placing it in a cooler, according to Jessica’s sister, reports the Mirror.

At his preliminary hearing, Rey gave evidence: “It’s something I had to do. My family is very dear to me. It’s something I had to do to protect my family.”

Following his arrest in October 2017, Rey admitted his culpability to Johnson County District Court, expressing his desire to keep his family intact. Following reports of someone living in the storage unit with two children, police discovered Rey alongside his newborn baby girl and his two year old daughter.

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An officer gave evidence that the older child “almost looked like she had cancer”. Rey subsequently told officers he was heading to Arizona to give his wife a proper ceremony. Rey was arrested and his children were placed into protective care.

Lenexa police detective Shannon Murphy gave evidence that Rey had made his children pose for photographs with their mother’s dead body, and Rey confessed that he had “skinned her like a fish”.

Murphy presented evidence Ray admitted to placing the body parts that wouldn’t flush down the toilet into containers.

Deputy Johnson County Coroner Charles Glenn told the court there were a “number” of stab wounds on the body parts but said it couldn’t be established whether they occurred before or after her death.

During his disturbing testimony, Rey claimed they had only been at the storage facility for 11 hours when they were discovered. He also told the court he only flushed the placenta down the toilet and not any other body parts.

“It was not fun for me,” he said.

Investigators alleged Rey took photographs with his wife’s body and his newborn and two-year-old, then dismembered the body two days later in a hotel bathtub and placed some of the remains in a large cooler. CCTV footage captured him manoeuvring a red cooler with a black bag atop it through the hotel, whilst pushing a pram with a toddler ambling alongside.

When probed about the dismemberment, Rey told The Associated Press, “What was I supposed to do? I wasn’t going to leave mama behind.”

Rey’s solicitor only cross-examined him regarding the images discovered on his mobile, thereby preventing the prosecution from grilling him about the children and the fate of his wife. However, during a series of telephone interviews, Rey claimed he refrained from alerting the police as he didn’t want them to “steal more children.”

He alleged that he and his wife had six children together and that the police had previously “stolen our children before.”

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In a letter addressed to AP dated 23 June, Rey penned, “My children had not been in any danger, I’m not a murderer, I never abandoned a corpse, never lived in a storage unit/facility, never looked up/screenshot child porn.”

Yet, he conceded: “I did dismember a dead corpse under religious views.”

Rey was facing charges including two counts of aggravated child endangerment and two counts of contributing to a child’s misconduct – these were unrelated to his own offspring but rather stemmed from photos of teenagers found on Rey’s phone after he asked law enforcement to scrutinise it for evidence he believed would assist him at trial.

Rey was made to watch the hearing via video link from a separate room after his numerous interruptions led to a judge ordering his removal. As part of his nine-year prison term, Rey will be obliged to register as a sex offender.

The village was once lost in time before it saw its rich mining history bought to life once again

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Nestled between the Irish Sea and the Eifl mountains at the very edge of civilisation, this small village was once frozen in time before its prosperous mining heritage was brought back to life.

The quarry – Nant Gwrtheyrn – began operations in 1861, next to Porth y Nant, which has become a cherished language centre at the forefront of campaigns to revitalise the Welsh language.

As an isolated village, residents’ lives centred around extracting and transporting Nant Gwrtheyrn stone used for road surfacing – dispatching materials predominantly via the Irish Sea, which resulted in limited interaction with the wider world, according to Nant Gwrtheyrn.

History.

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After demand declined in the early stages of World War Two, the quarry shut down, leaving the local population devastated. The worldwide conflict meant operations came to a standstill, reports Wales Online.

The locals left and their properties deteriorated. Apart from a brief spell when a handful of outsiders attempted to revive the village in the 1860s, the settlement remained abandoned.

You can step back in time to when quarry labourers inhabited the local dwellings by exploring the quarryman’s cottage. This property and its entire contents have been recreated to demonstrate how a quarryman and his family would have existed in 1910.

Later, the location received an injection of funding that would construct a new school – which was eventually taken over by a local trust, spearheaded by Dr Carl Clowes, who established it to create a Welsh language centre.

Tre’r Ceiri.

Close by stands Tre’r Ceiri – among Wales’ most striking ancient monuments.

Initially documented by renowned ‘Tours of Wales’ writer Thomas Pennant, this represents some of the earliest archaeological proof of life in the Iron Age hillforts scattered across the hills above Nant Gwrtheyrn.

Both Tre’r Ceiri and Yr Eifl were occupied between 150 BC and 400 AD – little is understood about them apart from their significant reliance on local iron which was traded and distributed.

Debs wrote on Trip Advisor: “What a fabulously tranquil place. We spent several hours here, walking and enjoying the peace and quiet. Found the history of Nant Gwrtheryn fascinating.

“We sampled the tasty cakes in the cafe. Would highly recommend a visit. We will most certainly return.”

One reviewer said: “What a beautiful place. The Welsh Language Centre. The story behind the revival of this village is inspirational. The vision on a local doctor and the surrounding communities is worthy of a Hollywood film.

“The views are breathtaking and the road down is incredibly steep but worth it.

“We had breakfast in the cafe. Highly recommended good quality produce and full flavoured coffee. Another great plus was the indoor seating where we could have food with our dog.

“The lady who greeted us was so welcoming and friendly too. Just a beautiful place great walks too.”

‘I love it! Recommend to anyone! It looks even better in real life’

Try to spruce up any room and there’s always one thing that simply must be taken into account – lighting. Gone are the days of just sticking the ‘big light’ on and being done with it, as the room’s occupants squinting their way through the evening.

And I have to say, since getting my own house and filling it with other forms of lighting like table lamps, wall lamps and TV back lighting, I hardly ever reach for the light switch anymore. That subtle lighting creates such a calming and relaxing vibe to a room on an evening.

But, of course, they have to look good, a requirement you don’t have to look far to find these days. I’m often trawling through the pages of retailers with snazzy homeware like Dunelm and M&S, but this Titan Gold Domed Table Lamp, £39 at Dusk, really caught my eye.

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It boasts a striking blend between classic and modern, while the gold colour gives off a touch of luxury. It’s the sort of lamp that will look beautiful on a desk or bedside table and give the whole room a lift.

Buyers who’ve purchased the lamp so far have been very impressed, with the product averaging 4.94 stars out of 5 from almost 50 reviews. One said: “This lamp is simply gorgeous and well worth the price.” Another continued: “Keen to receive this floor lamp. It’s very subtle and chic. Super slim and neat glistening away. With adequate light in the evening.”

Buy the Titan Gold Domed Table Lamp

The lamp is said to bring ‘warmth and elegance to any room’

A third went on: “It’s absolutely beautiful! Fits perfectly to my whole room filled with Dusk furniture! I love it! Recommend to anyone! It looks even better in real life!”

Meanwhile, a fourth added: “I absolutely love this mushroom lamp. It has made a stylish addition to my office space. Lovely quality and a decent size. Would definitely recommend.” Of the 48 reviews left to date, 45 have awarded the full five stars.

Three reviewers deducted a star, with one explaining “the shade doesn’t quite cover the base of the light bulb”. Another four star review said: “Looks stylish and works with my new furniture from Dusk but one came dinted. They gave me a discount which was easier than sending back and waiting for another but it’s annoying that it’s not perfect.”

The other thing to note is that it’s not the cheapest option out there, and a lightbulb isn’t included. Amazon, for instance, has a number of budget-friendly lamps, such as this one priced at £13.97. Those looking for a pair of matching lamps can also make a small saving by purchasing a two-pack for £27.48.

Elsewhere, Dunelm is another solid bet for lighting, with its plug-in wall lights offering a modern twist for those who might lack table space for a more traditional light. Products like the Churchgate Harby Plug In Wall Light (£40) can be wall-mounted, while the wires are designed in such a way that they look natural and aesthetically pleasing.

The front page of the Sunday Express leads with the shadow foreign secretary, Dame Priti Patel, flying to Washington as part of what the paper calls her “mission to save Chagos”. It says that if she succeeds in brokering a U-turn on the current deal to hand sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius, which Trump has said he opposes, it could cause “fresh humiliation” for Sir Keir Starmer. The government has said previously that the Chagos Islands deal is “crucial to the security” of the UK and allies.

Manchester United aim to maintain their strong form as they head to Everton in the Premier League on Monday night with Michael Carrick at the helm

Michael Carrick will look to stretch his unbeaten streak in his second stint as Manchester United boss to six matches when his side take on Everton. The new manager’s team make the trip to Hill Dickinson Stadium on Monday.

Since Carrick replaced Ruben Amorim until the conclusion of the campaign, United’s fortunes have been transformed completely. The 44-year-old kicked off this tenure with a derby triumph over Manchester City and has delivered victories against Arsenal, Fulham and Tottenham.

The most recent fixture was a thrilling 1-1 stalemate against West Ham and attention now shifts to Everton. Beyond the current first-team squad, on-loan United ace Marcus Rashford’s future remains a major talking point.

Recent speculation suggests that Rashford could complete a permanent switch to Barcelona in the summer but a fresh complication may emerge. The Manchester Evening News provides you with the latest from Old Trafford.

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Marcus Rashford move under ‘threat’

Since completing his loan transfer to Barcelona in the summer, Rashford has been the focus of considerable transfer speculation. The £26million purchase clause included in his deal could result in him remaining at the Camp Nou on a permanent basis.

Over the past month, reports have varied, suggesting that United manager Carrick wants Rashford back, whilst also claiming the player himself is keen to remain in Spain. Recent rumours suggest Barcelona may attempt to negotiate a lower purchase fee, despite viewing Rashford as an integral part of their squad.

Adding to the uncertainty, Spanish publication Sport has introduced another potential complication. They claim that Lyon’s Malick Fofana, another winger target, could jeopardise Rashford’s transfer.

The report indicates that Fofana, like Rashford, carries a £26m price tag. The Belgian 20-year-old is returning from a long-term injury, and if he performs well, the outlet suggests he could potentially disrupt Rashford’s move, even though the Englishman is currently preferred over him.

Mason Mount nearing return

Another English player’s future has been under discussion, with Mason Mount nearing his comeback. The 27-year-old sustained an injury during training earlier this month.

The United star has been out of action since before the 3-2 win over Fulham, but ahead of Monday’s match against Everton, Carrick has provided a positive update.

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He said: “Mason’s getting closer. I think we’re going to be patient as well, and we have been patient with him, so we don’t want to push anything.

“He’s an important part of the group, Mason, and we want him back and fit and he’ll have a big impact for us. So, he’s getting closer, which is good for us.”

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The tail end of February brings us into a Mercury Retrograde, which is not the demon that folk paint it out to be — especially as this one is in lovely Pisces.

See this three-week phase more as a time to do less, think more, and recoup your energy ready for the launch phase of spring!

Winter is almost over. What outside, external, world-facing ambitions, energy or activity do you most want to tap into and pursue?

Time to plan and prepare. Make this Spring season amazing by getting your priorities and hopes lined up now, so you can research and schedule accordingly.

So… let’s use the tarot to ask what you can be getting ready for spring right now.

Looking for deeper insight? My new Everything Covered reading has all the answers. Or, come join my magical, mystical tarot club, free for a whole month when you sign up using this link.

Aries

March 21 to April 20

Tarot card for Aries for this week: The Sun

Meaning: Spring starts at the same time as your own sign’s season, so it’s like a double whammy of good vibes, positive energy and action. The Sun blesses this season even more with love, joy, travel, success, and opportunity. The preparation you can do now is to imagine what you’d be doing if failure wasn’t an option. What makes you feel most excited? What would you love to spend your time on this Earth pursuing?

This is what you should plan to do this spring — seriously, the sky’s the limit. Write that business plan, invite your object of affection on a wild weekend, book a trip or holiday that makes you feel adventurous, apply for the promotion. Do it all!

Head here for everything you need to know about being an Aries

Taurus

April 21 to May 21

Tarot card for Taurus for this week: Five of Cups

Meaning: The key to the best ever spring that you can plan for now is to simply have no regrets. That is going to be your mantra. Imagine that it is now winter again, what memories of this season would you love to have made, places visited, spring-like activities tried, new food eaten, relatives visited etc?

Let this stance of ‘no regrets’ inform your priority to-do list and use this week to research and plan how you can land it over from March to June. This might be shaping up to be your best ever season, you know!

Head here for everything you need to know about being a Taurus

Gemini

May 22 to June 21

Tarot card for Gemini for this week: Three of Cups

Meaning: As spring approaches, the sap rises, flowers unfurl, things heat up in all manner of ways. This applies to your nature too. You are a part of nature! So feel the warmth, light and fertile energies swirling through the air embrace you and lift your spirits. Focus on receiving the energy coming through and letting it change your mood, outlook and appetites.

Hibernation is over. Winter habits are over. Time to refresh, renew and revive your spring-like personality and true nature. Time to get outside, start sniffing the air, taking walks, looking with curiosity at what’s going on that you can get involved with!

Head here for everything you need to know about being a Gemini

Cancer

June 22 to July 23

Tarot card for Cancer for this week: Three of Coins

Meaning: You do have a tendency to go into total hibernation during winter, and folk wonder if you’ve dropped off the face of the Earth. But you are missed. Your presence is powerful and when it’s removed, people notice. So, as Spring starts to come around, start thinking about your social life, family outings, networking and general human interaction once more!

What events are coming up, who have you not seen in ages, what trips or new places are there waiting for your attention, what professional relationships need some attention? Make a list, make a plan, start in advance now and get a head start.

Head here for everything you need to know about being a Cancer

Leo

July 24 to August 23

Tarot card for Leo for this week: The Empress

Meaning: This is the card of love, passion, nurturing, mothering and fertility and this suggests your spring is going to be very loving and fertile in new additions to your life. Abundance, blossoming, creation, and growth. So… get your magic wand of manifesting polished and poised.

Where are you going to point it? What do you want create and make? What new things do you want to be birthed into your realm? Make a wish list. This powerful Empress energy is there to help you get what you desire and deserve. Know what you truly want, from the heart, and use that to guide your spring preparations and priorities. Also, look out for Taurus and Libra.

Head here for everything you need to know about being a Leo

Virgo

August 24 to September 23

Tarot card for Virgo for this week: King of Coins

Meaning: A new season is like you getting a new notepad or blank sheet of paper, on which you can project and plan a whole new era! Bliss. Vision boarding is what is needed right now. Create your ideal vision of where you want to be in terms of health, wealth, work and home this spring.

What jobs need doing, what outcomes are you looking for, what investments might be worth exploring, what career ideas are you brewing, what health and wellbeing goals do you have in mind? Get it all down on paper this week and take charge of making it into a you Spring Schedule 2026!

Head here for everything you need to know about being a Virgo

Libra

September 24 to October 23

Tarot card for Libra for this week: Two of Cups

Meaning: Use your closest relationships – family, romantic and otherwise – to plan your upcoming spring season. What do you want to do with those you love and like? Get together with these folk this week and have a pre-season planning get-together. What films, outings, events, trips, gatherings, new places, foods, shows, classes or reunions might you all want to undertake, share and arrange?

Use this relationship-focused approach as the underpinning of your season ahead and you will feel loved, supported and valued. Getting together with people is your favourite thing. So, make it a real priority this season.

Head here for everything you need to know about being a Libra

Scorpio

October 24 to November 22

Tarot card for Scorpio for this week: Two of Swords

Meaning: Spring is always a busy time when everyone comes up for air, breaks out the hibernation cycle, and new invites, news and opportunities flourish. So get ready to be a lot busier real soon, Scorpio! As such, take a step back this week and look at the bigger picture of your year. What decisions are awaiting your attention that will shape your plans and priorities?

This card suggests there are at least two decisions you need to face into, process, research and decide, and this is the week to do it. Get all the info you can, discuss it, kick it around, sleep on each option and then make your move. Doing all of this now will help you come springtime when you’ve overwhelmed with new offers and ideas. You are creating a firm foundation from which to grow.

Head here for everything you need to know about being a Scorpio

Sagittarius

November 23 to December 21

Tarot card for Sagittarius for this week: Knight of Coins

Meaning: You love spring. You love the return of the light and warmth, the energising vitality of the sun’s rays, and the sense of new possibilities ahead. So, this is a good week to get all those outstanding jobs, tasks and chores done that you’d rather have out of your hair by the time the season starts and you want to be ‘out out’.

Work hard, make a strong to-do list and set to work, use your Jupiter powers of luck and fortune to get ahead and take a few chances. Invest your time and energy in things which need doing, so that you have more time and energy later when the ‘art of the possible’ in is play.

Head here for everything you need to know about being a Sagittarius

Capricorn

December 22 to January 21

Tarot card for Capricorn for this week: Nine of Cups

Meaning: Springtime livens your spirits and makes you feel optimistic about life. And so it should, because the Nine of Cups suggests you have a magical season of wishes granted and dreams coming true awaiting you.

Use this week to consider your greatest wishes right now. Let your imagination roam, spend time walking and daydreaming, fantasise and invent ideals, scenarios, and outcomes that make you feel proud, strong and excited. And use these visions as the raw clay to mould your plan of attack for the coming season. Whatever you wish for is possible this spring, don’t waste this hopeful energy by second guessing or undermining yourself.

Head here for everything you need to know about being a Capricorn

Aquarius

January 22 to February 19

Tarot card for Aquarius for this week: Ten of Wands

Meaning: The Ten of Wands wants you to eek the very last drops of hibernation restoration and rejuvenation energy out of this tail end of winter. Rest up. Do little. Heal and process and reflect and take in good stimulus physically and mentally.

Spring will be busy, active, demanding, fun and lively. A great time. Expect several months of high energy and new news. For now, recharge your batteries so you have even more juice when the time comes and you need that vitality and stamina. This is worthwhile rest.

Head here for everything you need to know about being an Aquarius

Pisces

February 20 to March 20

Tarot card for Pisces for this week: The World

Meaning: The World is a card of completion and achievement, a recognition that you have ‘done’ winter and are oh so ready for spring. For you, it will mean new challenges and ambitions to pursue, new travel and location plans or moves, and a fresh sense of where you’re heading — and why. A renewal of purpose.

For now, enjoy this tail end of winter, celebrate the season’s achievements and successes, reflect on what you’ve done and learned, measure your progress against your goals, and start to notice what things or areas of your life might also be coming to a conclusion, along with the season. It’s time to let go, and then go again!

Head here for everything you need to know about being a Pisces

Kerry King has been reading, teaching and creating tarot for 30 years. Join her magical, exclusive Tarot Club for forecasts, predictions, lessons and readings straight to your inbox. Enjoy one month free for all Metro readers (no lock-in or commitment) over on Patreon.

Your daily Metro.co.uk horoscope is here every morning, seven days a week (yes, including weekends!). To check your forecast, head to our dedicated horoscopes page.

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Research suggests that this spice may assist in reducing cholesterol levels and blood pressure

A tasty spice costing just 6p a serving might help reduce your chances of developing certain severe health conditions. Research suggests that coriander seeds may assist in reducing cholesterol levels and blood pressure.

This could also lower your likelihood of related problems including heart disease, heart attack, and stroke. Coriander seeds, which are also used as ground coriander, are a key ingredient in many dishes like curries and stews.

A study, featured in the Journal of Environmental Biology in 2008, involved giving coriander seeds to laboratory rats. The findings revealed that rodents consuming the seeds showed reduced levels of “bad” cholesterol, termed low-density lipoprotein, whilst displaying elevated levels of “good” cholesterol – high-density lipoprotein.

The research noted: “The level of low density lipoprotein (LDL) and very low density lipoprotein (VLDL) cholesterol decreased while that of high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol increased in the experimental group compared to the control group.”

Additionally, research published in the Journal of Ethnopharmacology in 2009 found that the seeds – or fruit – of the herb could effectively reduce blood pressure – or hypertension.

The study states: “These results indicate that coriander fruit exhibits gut stimulatory, inhibitory and hypotensive effects mediating possibly through cholinergic, Ca(2+) antagonist and the combination of these mechanisms respectively.

“Diuretic activity adds value to its use in hypertension.” Generally speaking, a normal total cholesterol reading in the blood should be five or less millimoles per litre (mmol/l). More precisely, a normal high-density lipoprotein level should be one or more mmol/l.

Meanwhile, your low-density lipoprotein should measure four or less mmol/l. To determine whether your cholesterol levels are elevated, your GP will need to carry out a blood test.

If you have concerns about your blood pressure, you should monitor it using a home testing kit or request that a pharmacist or doctor takes your reading.

Coriander seeds can be used in cooking whole or you can buy them ground as a powder form. The plant of the coriander is also popularly used as a herb.

At the time of reporting, you could buy 36g of ground coriander from Sainsbury’s and Tesco for £1.10, working out as just 6p per 6g serving.

When Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine surpassed 1,418 days last month, it officially exceeded a historic milestone — the same span of time it took Moscow to defeat Nazi Germany in World War II.

And unlike the Red Army that pushed all the way to Berlin eight decades ago in what it called the Great Patriotic War, Russia‘s 4-year-old, all-out invasion of its neighbor is still struggling to fully capture Ukraine’s eastern industrial heartland.

After Moscow failed to seize the capital of Kyiv and install a puppet government in February 2022, the conflict turned into trench warfare with tremendous cost. By some estimates, nearly 2 million soldiers are dead, wounded or missing on both sides in Europe’s most devastating conflict since World War II.

Russia has occupied about 20% of Ukrainian territory since illegally annexing Crimea in 2014, but its gains after the Feb. 24, 2022, invasion have been slow. NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte this month likened Moscow’s advance to “the speed of a garden snail.”

Russian troops have moved only about 50 kilometers (about 30 miles) into the Donetsk region of eastern Ukraine in the past two years in a grinding battle for control of a few strongholds.

Despite the slow pace and high cost, President Vladimir Putin has maintained his maximalist demands in U.S.-mediated peace talks, saying Kyiv must pull its forces from the four Ukrainian regions that Moscow illegally annexed but never fully captured. He has repeatedly brandished his nuclear arsenal to prevent the West from boosting military support for Kyiv.

A war of attrition

Initially involving quick movements of large numbers of troops and tanks in Russia’s opening blitz and Ukraine’s counteroffensive in fall 2022, the fighting morphed into bloody positional warfare along the 1,200-kilometer (750-mile) front line.

The Washington-based Center for Strategic and International Studies estimated Russian military casualties at 1.2 million, including 325,000 killed. It put Ukrainian troop casualties at up to 600,000, including up to 140,000 killed.

“Russia has suffered the highest casualty rate of any major power in any war since World War II, and its military has performed poorly, with historically slow rates of advance and little new territory to show for its efforts over the last two years,” it said, noting Russian troops were advancing an average of 70 meters (76 1/2 yards) a day in two years to capture the transport hub of Pokrovsk.

For the first time in military history, drones are playing a decisive role, making it effectively impossible for either side to covertly mass significant numbers of troops.

Since early in the conflict, Ukraine has relied on drones to offset Moscow’s edge in firepower and stem its advances, but Russia has drastically expanded drone operations and introduced longer-range optical fiber-tethered drones to avoid electronic jamming. They widened the kill zone to 50 kilometers (about 30 miles) from the front, leaving the terrain tangled in strands of filament.

The mixture of high-tech drones and World War I-style trench fighting has seen small groups of infantry — often just two or three soldiers — try to infiltrate enemy positions into towns flattened by Russian heavy artillery and glide bombs. Ferrying supplies and evacuating the wounded is a major challenge as drones target supply routes.

Long-range attacks

Ukrainian officials described this winter as the most challenging of the war. Russia exponentially increased its strikes on the country’s energy system, causing blackouts in Kyiv where power supplies to many were cut to a few hours a day amid bitter cold.

Russia also has increasingly targeted power lines aiming to halt energy transfers and split Ukraine’s power grid into isolated islands, increasing pressure on the grid.

Ukraine retaliated with long-range drone attacks on oil refineries and other energy facilities deep inside Russia, aiming to drain Moscow’s export revenues.

Its drones and missiles sank several Russian warships in the Black Sea, forcing Moscow to redeploy its fleet from Russia-occupied Crimea to Novorossiysk. And in an audacious attack code-named “Spiderweb,” Ukraine used drones from trucks to hit several air bases hosting long-range bombers across Russia in June, a humiliating blow to the Kremlin.

US pressure, conflicting demands

U.S. President Donald Trump, who once promised to end the war in a day, has pushed to end the fighting, but mediation efforts have run into sharply conflicting demands.

Putin wants Ukraine to pull its troops from the part of the Donetsk region it still controls, abandon its bid to join NATO, curb its military and grant official status to the Russian language, among other demands Ukraine has rejected.

Russia left the door open to Kyiv’s prospective European Union membership, but it firmly ruled out any European peacekeepers deployed to Ukraine as part of a settlement.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy wants a ceasefire along the existing line of contact, but Putin rules out a truce, demanding a comprehensive peace agreement.

“The territorial issue is important to the Kremlin, but the war has a more ambitious goal: to create a Ukraine that would be entirely within Russia’s sphere of influence and not perceived by Moscow as ‘anti-Russia,’” observed Tatiana Stanovaya of Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center.

Ukraine and its allies accuse Putin of dragging out talks while he seizes more territory. The Kremlin accuses Kyiv and its European supporters of trying to undermine a tentative agreement reached by Trump and Putin at their Alaska summit.

While sticking to their positions, Putin and Zelenskyy have praised U.S. mediation and tried to curry favor with Trump.

After a disastrous White House meeting a year ago, Zelenskyy has adopted a more practical negotiating stance, emphasizing Ukraine’s goodwill.

After Trump called for a presidential election in Ukraine, Zelenskyy signaled readiness for it even though it’s banned under martial law. The election could be coupled with a referendum on a peace deal, he said, but insisted the vote was only possible once a ceasefire is established and Ukraine gets security guarantees from the U.S. and other allies.

Elusive settlement

Zelenskyy said the White House has set a June deadline for the war’s end and will likely pressure both sides to meet it. But even as Trump appears eager for a peace deal before the U.S. midterm elections, challenges remain.

With Putin insisting on Ukraine’s pullback from Donetsk and Zelenskyy ruling it out, a quick deal appears unlikely. Zelenskyy also expressed skepticism about a compromise U.S. proposal to turn the eastern region into a free economic zone.

The Kremlin expects its attacks eventually will force Kyiv to accept Moscow’s terms. Ukraine hopes it can hold on until Trump loses patience and increases sanctions on Russia, forcing Putin to halt his aggression. But Trump often appears to be losing patience with Zelenskyy instead.

The war and Western sanctions have increasingly strained Russia’s economy. Growth has slowed to a near halt, due to persistent inflation and labor shortages. The latest U.S. sanctions on Russian oil exports have added to the strain.

But even with the economic challenges, Russia’s defense plants have increased weapons output and its government has shielded key social groups like soldiers and industrial workers from hardship.

“Its economy is poorer, less efficient and less promising than it might otherwise have been,” wrote Richard Connolly of the Royal United Services Institute. “But it remains capable of sustaining the war. Its elites are more dependent on the regime, not less. Its political system is insulated from the transmission of economic discontent into pressure for regime change.”

Six DWP benefits could make you eligible for free NHS dental treatment, including Universal Credit and Pension Credit

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A visit to the dentist seldom features at the top of anyone’s list of preferred activities. And with routine check-ups generally setting you back £27.40, it’s hardly surprising that many individuals skip them altogether.

However, you may be interested to discover that certain individuals throughout England might be eligible for complimentary dental appointments and treatment via the NHS. This especially helps those within a particular age range and anyone in receipt of several key benefits administered by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).

We’ve looked into who is eligible for this and what steps you need to take. If you’ve previously paid for NHS dental treatment but subsequently discover you’re entitled to free care, you could also be due a refund, reports the Mirror.

Who’s entitled to free NHS dental appointments in England?

The NHS confirms there are five groups of individuals who automatically qualify for free NHS dental care. These specifically include the following:

• You’ve had a stillbirth in the past 12 months
• You’re getting treatment in an NHS hospital from a hospital dentist (but you may still need to pay for dentures or bridges)
• You receive War Pension Scheme payments, or Armed Forces Compensation Scheme payments and the treatment is for your accepted disability
• You’re aged under 18, or under 19 and in full-time education
• You’re pregnant or have had a baby in the last 12 months

Additionally, you may be eligible if either you or your partner is in receipt of one of six specific benefits. Dependants under the age of 20 could also qualify, provided you’re claiming:

• Pension Credit Guarantee Credit
• Pension Credit Guarantee Credit with Savings Credit
• Universal Credit – but only if your income is below a certain amount
• Income Support
• Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
• Income-related Employment and Support Allowance

Keep in mind that these rules relate solely to NHS dental treatments. Should you choose private treatment, you’ll be responsible for the costs yourself.

Generally, you’ll also need to provide evidence of your eligibility for free NHS care, though this may differ depending on your exemption category.

Examples of documentation accepted by the NHS include: Nevertheless, official NHS guidance states: “If you receive War Pension Scheme or Armed Forces Compensation Scheme payments and get free dental treatment, you’ll usually need to pay for it yourself first and claim the money back from Veterans UK.”

How do I verify my eligibility?

If you believe you may be entitled to free NHS dental treatment, visit the NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA) website to find out. The platform offers a free eligibility checker, which typically takes approximately three minutes to complete.

Should you qualify, it will guide you through the next steps required to access support. Those who suspect they have been incorrectly charged for NHS dental appointments may be entitled to a refund.

What’s the NHS Low Income Scheme about?

Even if free dental care is unavailable to you, financial assistance may still be accessible through the NHS Low Income Scheme. This programme extends beyond dentistry, encompassing other essential costs such as prescriptions, eye examinations, wigs, and travel expenses relating to medical treatment.

The amount you are able to claim depends primarily upon your weekly income, savings, and essential outgoings at the time of your application. Online applications are limited to those with capital or savings under £6,000, and you must also satisfy at least one of the following criteria: The NHSBSA also offers the following guidance: “If the amount you have left is low, you may be able to get help through the NHS Low Income Scheme. Any help you’re entitled to is also available to your partner, if you have one.

“If you have already paid for treatment, you can apply for a refund at the same time as you apply for the scheme. We will normally assess your application within 18 working days from the date we get your form.”

For further details on the assistance on offer, visit the NHSBSA website.