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A new Netflix docuseries dives into the turbulent rise and fall of Sean "Diddy" Combs, uncovering shocking details — from a violent childhood in New York to explosive allegations of his involvement in the deaths of Tupac Shakur and Biggie Smalls. New York (tca/dpa) – Netflix released its long-awaited50 Cent- produced documentary “ Sean Combs : The Reckoning ” on Tuesday, featuring unseen footage, major revelations and exclusive insider interviews. Thefour-part docuseries covers everything from the rap mogul’s troubled childhood to the tragedies that shaped his career. Here’s a rundown of the doc’s most jaw-dropping revelations about Diddy’s rise and fall. Combs’ chaotic childhood The documentary explores the violence and chaos of Combs’childhood in Mount Vernon, N.Y. , including alleged beatings at the hands of his mother. AfterDiddy’s drug-dealer father was murdered when he was 3 years old, his mother, Janice, took on a strict disciplinarian role, according to childhood friend Tim Patterson . “His beatings made me scared,” Patterson said. “I got beatings … but when he got his beatings, it wasn’t a joking thing.” Patterson also revealed that Combs grew up in a home where wild parties were the norm. “Janice knew how to throw a party, and the parties were packed,” Patterson said. “You got the ladies who looked like they were straight out of a ‘Jet’ magazine. Some brothers up there. If you want to call them pimps, you can. If you want to call them hustlers, you can. You got a member of the New York Knicks, or two. There was a stage in her living room, literally a stage. And that’s where we used to have to go and dance. And everybody’s calling you, ‘Baby.’ And everybody’s saying, ‘Do that dance.’ And all of this stuff he’s taking in.” Diddy attempted a “propaganda” campaign before his arrest Six days beforeCombs was arrested in September 2024 , he attempted to form a plan to activate a pro-Diddy campaign on social media, according to the documentary. Footage exposes an intense conversation between the Bad Boy Records founder and his lawyer regarding the perception of him online. Diddy hoped to repair his public image by bringing in a strategist, saying it should be “somebody that has dealt in the dirtiest of dirtiest, dirty business of media and propaganda.” Jurors explain mixed verdict in trial “I do feel it’s important that we let the public know from the jurors’ standpoint just kind of how we reached the verdict,” Juror 160 said in the documentary. “It’s not everything that the media has put it out to be.” Twojurors from Combs’ trial , who convicted him on charges of transportation to engage in prostitution, said they felt his relationship with Cassie Ventura was definitely violent, but they didn’t think the evidence was strong enough to convict him of themore serious charges of sex trafficking and racketeering . “You can’t beat that small girl like that, the way he did,” one juror said, in reference to thesurveillance video of Combs brutally beating Ventura in a hotel hallway, but noted that “domestic violence wasn’t one of the charges” against Combs. The second juror said he felt “confused” by the complicated nature of Combs and Ventura’s relationship, explaining that they’d see evidence of violence and then “the next minute, they’re going on dinners and trips.” Allegations of involvement in Tupac and Biggie deaths Interviews with former artists and staff at Bad Boy Records revealed behind-the-scenes stories about the murders of Tupac Shakur and Biggie Smalls , with severalclaiming Combs was heavily involved . With interviews from Mark Curry , Roxanne Johnson and Bad Boy co-founder Kirk Burrowes , the documentary alleges that Combs helped escalate the East Coast-West Coast hip-hop rivalry in the 1990s. According to Burrowes, Combs “ushered Biggie to his death” by pressuring the “Big Poppa” artist to go to Los Angeles to promote his album, even though Smalls didn’t want to go and knew it was dangerous. Burrowes also alleged that he now believes Combs similarly “had a lot to do with the death of Tupac.” The documentary claims that Diddy paid drug kingpinDuane ‘Keffe D’ Davis to have Shakur killed in 1996. Davis is currently awaiting trial in connection to Shakur’s death. The following information is not intended for publication tca dpa coh

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It takes work and application to learn how to write by hand. Surely, these days everyone tends to type? Not so fast, says an educational expert, who spells out why it makes sense to learn handwriting and how parents can help motivate youngsters to pick up a pen or pencil. Berlin (dpa) – Learning how to write takes time, whether it is holding your pen properly or ensuring all the letters are on the same straight line. These days, some children roll their eyes, wondering why they still need to be able to write by hand when everything tends to be typed or dictated into a phone. Adults also have differing views on this issue as the digital world continues to develop. In Germany, Professor Emeritus Friedrich Schönweiss has developed a diagnostic and support tool for spelling, at the University of Münster. The education researcher and media educator explains why he still considers writing by hand to be important – and gives parents specific tips on how to support their children. Do children today still need to learn to write with pen and paper? Friedrich Schönweiss:Absolutely, in fact it should be a matter of course. Even in a highly technological age, it is indispensable. It would be naive not to consider the many new possibilities offered by keyboards, tablets and voice input. However, these should not be viewed simply as "modern" or "old-fashioned and dispensable," but as additional new options. In order to be able to use a keyboard at all, learning to write correctly is an absolute prerequisite. Studies also repeatedly show that this must be done by hand, with pen and paper. Only by literally grasping the individual characters, developing a feel for differences and subtleties, and quickly combining or deciphering groups of letters can the technology be used properly. And should children also learn cursive writing? Schönweiss:Yes, the transition to cursive writing is essential as only then is the process of learning to write complete. You can prepare to learn cursive through exercises and mandalas, and children also enjoy it. Once children have mastered cursive writing, they can concentrate much better on the content of the writing process or its results. We see this reflected in other subjects, such as maths word problems. What actually constitutes "good" handwriting? Schönweiss: The criteria are actually quite clear: both writers and readers must be able to clearly identify the result later on. This requires automated, relaxed and unforced movements, uniformly recurring characters, clear distinctions between upper and lower case letters, and sufficient differentiation between similar or easily confused characters. By reproducing the ideal core of each letter, the writing automatically becomes legible. Of course, confidence in spelling also plays a decisive role in legibility. Do you have any tips for parents on how to support their child in learning to write? Schönweiss: First of all, it is important that parents do not just let their child do it, but support them. They are also welcome to do this in consultation with the teacher. But give your child and yourself enough time. Spend enough time on the first playful stroke and writing exercises. Initially, concentrate only on individual letters and their ideal form and allow your child to automate the movements. When holding the pen, make sure they use the three-point grip, with the thumb and index finger holding the pen and the middle finger serving as support. Insist on this grip consistently. However, as soon as your child starts to tense up, take a break and then pay attention to their pen grip again. Establish small rituals – you could for example ring a bell every now and then during homework time, prompting your child to check their posture. Make handwriting part of your everyday life by writing postcards, shopping lists, short messages, "research reports," recipes, game instructions, travel reports and the like. How can parents motivate their children? Schönweiss: All parents can assume that their children are motivated to begin with – or that they can be motivated if they understand the purpose of the effort and the challenge is one they can master. However, it is not uncommon for this initial curiosity and willingness to learn and constantly improve to be lost. Parents should then convey to children that they are ultimately working for themselves and that by learning to write, they are becoming more independent, able to exchange ideas with others and learn more and more about the world. It is very important that parents do not become impatient and do not focus too much on achieving the desired result. It is not possible to prescribe learning success. Even if it is clear that success is not possible without effort, encourage your child and support them so that they can take small steps in their learning, and then appreciate these as real successes together. The following information is not intended for publication dpa/tmn bac cwg lue xxde arw

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Berlin (dpa) – You may be seeking ways to handle frizzy, flat or tangled hair. One popular approach is to wear a silk cap at night, to prevent your hair from losing its shape or getting split ends due to movement and friction against the pillow. If you are considering a silk cap, master hairdresser Antonio Weinitschke spells out why people wear them and what matters if you choose to do so too. You pull a silk bonnet over your hair for the night so it can act as a protective cover and prevent your hair structure from being damaged by friction. "Your hair retains its natural shape better as a result," he says. These are especially good for people who move around a lot in their sleep as a bonnet can be an easy way to prevent hair breakage. Why silk works so well Silk is an ideal material to protect your hair as it is smooth and temperature-regulating. It feels pleasantly cool in summer and retains heat in winter. Unlike cotton, silk absorbs hardly any moisture so conditioning agents and natural oils remain in your hair instead of being transferred to the pillowcase. That means your hair feels softer and less brittle the next day. Another advantage is that hairstyles last longer. If you have curls, waves or blow-dried styles in the evening, you can better maintain the shape overnight. What hair types is the bonnet suitable for? Originally, silk bonnets were mainly used in Afro hair care as Black hair tends to be dry and fragile. It can also help maintain a hairstyle if the hairstyle is "set" to last for several days. But these days, lots of people with straight or fine hair are also wearing the bonnets, which you can buy in different shapes. Get a tight-fitting model for short or straight hair, while a loose-fitting version works better for hairstyles with more volume. For long hair, cap shapes are ideal, as the hair can be tucked inside them. Make sure the bonnet fits comfortably and does not slip. Alternative: silk on the pillow If you feel uncomfortable wearing a cap, try switching to a silk or satin pillowcase as these materials are also smooth and gentle on your hair structure. They prevent hair from sticking to the surface or losing its shape due to heat. Caring for your silk bonnet: gentle washing Silk is delicate so wash it carefully. Weinitschke recommends hand washing with lukewarm water. You could also wash it in a gentle cycle at a maximum of 30 degrees is also possible, but without a strong spin cycle. After washing, let your bonnet air dry to keep the material supple and durable. The following information is not intended for publication dpa/tmn nam tsn xxde arw

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Cologne (dpa) – Try these delightfully contrasting ingredients for an unforgettable soup. Roasting cauliflower draws out its nutty flavour, which is enhanced by baked garlic and shallots. Finely puréed and refined with cream, it becomes a rich and creamy soup. Meanwhile the salsa verde is crisp and fresh and not only adds visual appeal but is also a refreshing highlight in itself. The salsa is based on finely chopped parsley and coriander plus plenty of olive oil. Added capers provide saltiness, plus there is the added zing from pickled green pepper. Plus, the lemon zest adds further freshness to the dish. Ingredients for 8 servings The soup: 1 cauliflower 4 potatoes 100 g celeriac 2 shallots 3 cloves of garlic (large) 3 tbsp olive oil Salt Pepper 1 litre vegetable stock 200 g whipping cream For the salsa verde: 20 g flat-leaf parsley 15 g coriander (fresh) 1 spring onion 2 tbsp capers 1 tsp green peppercorns in brine 1/2 organic lemon 120 ml olive oil Preparation Line a baking tray with baking paper and preheat the oven to 180 degrees (fan). Remove the leaves from the cauliflower and roughly divide the cauliflower into florets. Roughly dice the stalk. Peel the potatoes and celeriac and also dice them roughly. Wrap the garlic cloves and shallots in a piece of baking paper to prevent them from burning. Place all the ingredients on the baking tray, drizzle the vegetables with olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Bake in the oven for approx. 40 minutes until the cauliflower is roasted – it should be lightly browned. In the meantime, prepare the salsa verde: wash the herbs, shake dry and chop the leaves as finely as possible. Cut away the root and dark green part of the spring onion. Quarter the light-coloured part of the spring onions lengthways and then cut into very fine slices. Wash the lemon and grate approx. 1/2 teaspoon of zest. Chop the capers and green pepper very finely. Mix all the ingredients with the olive oil. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Remove the vegetables from the oven. Carefully peel the shallots and garlic cloves. Set aside a few smaller cauliflower florets to add to the soup. Then place the vegetables in a blender with a little vegetable stock and purée until smooth. Pour the soup into a saucepan with the remaining vegetable stock and cream, bring to the boil briefly and then simmer for around 5 minutes. To serve, ladle the soup into bowls, add the cauliflower florets to the soup and serve the salsa verde separately in a small bowl and gently stir the salsa through the soup. The following information is not intended for publication dpa/tmn cwg xxde arw cwg amc

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Berlin (dpa) – Few hairstyles polarise people as much as the mullet. Once a fashion faux pas, it is now firmly back in vogue. But is it a suitable look for the office? In Germany, master hairdresser Antonio Weinitschke explains why the mullet is now more about style than scandal – and how you can make it work even in everyday business life. "The difference to the 80s is huge," says Weinitschke. Compared to today, the mullet of that era was more extreme, with more volume and a stronger contrast between the front and back. In those days it was a look that stood for rebellion and pop culture. Today's mullets are softer, with gentler transitions and a more natural structure. Although it is reminiscent of the rock and country aesthetic of the 80s, the mullet now looks much more elegant and contemporary. Instead of being loud and provocative, individuality is now the focus. But what about at work – can you really wear a mullet when you're dealing with Excel spreadsheets and team meetings? The style specialist says yes, with the right attitude. "The days when there were rules dictating hairstyles in the office are over. If your mullet is cut by a professional, you can wear it in almost any industry." Of course, there are differences. In creative professions, for example, an individual look hardly stands out, but in more conservative environments such as a bank, it can still cause frowns. Nevertheless, the mullet has arrived, not only on the catwalks, but also in open-plan offices, according to Weinitschke. For everyday wear, he recommends a more subtle style. "It's best to wear it soft and loose, not too torn, which would be more of a party or band look." You can use styling cream or light hairspray to shape the mullet naturally. However, he advises against gels or strong hold products, "otherwise the look can quickly appear artificial or stuck on." So when you stand in front of the mirror in the morning, go for "casual rather than loud" and style your hair to suit your personality and work environment. An unkempt or overly styled mullet quickly looks unprofessional, says Weinitschke. "If it looks like it's from the 80s, that's a no-go." It's important that the haircut is cleanly executed and suits the wearer. Only then will it exude style consciousness rather than nostalgia. The following information is not intended for publication dpa/tmn nam sw xxde arw

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Keep your chopping boards clean, rinse and dry your cloths and wipe the fridge monthly, say specialists. Here is your handy list of hygiene rules to help keep your kitchen bright, clean and healthy. Berlin (dpa) – Things can get hectic in the kitchen when you're chopping, frying, baking plus washing and drying up. But beware that germs can spread easily. It is "important to maintain good hygiene," says Bernd Glassl from the German Cosmetic, Toiletry, Perfumery and Detergent Association (IKW). Bacteria and other pathogens otherwise increase the risk of infection – which can lead to gastrointestinal troubles or even food poisoning. What to bear in mind when it comes to kitchen hygiene Use a different cloth for each task Use a separate cleaning or washing-up cloth for each area of the kitchen. In other words, don't use the same cloth to wipe the chopping board and clean the table or floor. You should also use different cloths for drying – one for your hands, one for work surfaces and one for dishes. "Wash cloths at a minimum of 60 degrees and change them once a week – or more often if you use them intensively," says Anna-Delia Knipper from Germany's Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR). Her tip also applies to cleaning and dishcloths. The high washing temperature ensures that pathogens are killed, says Knipper, a research assistant in the Product Hygiene and Disinfection Strategies department. "In general, it is not necessary to wash textiles at 90 degrees," says Knipper. The disinfecting effect of a 90-degree wash or the addition of disinfectants only makes sense in the case of acutely communicable diseases – if recommended by a doctor or the health authorities. But the more often you prepare raw food in the kitchen, the more often you should clean or replace used cloths, sponges and brushes. Do not leave sponges and cloths in the sink Stainless steel wool and dishwashing brushes can be used to clean heavily soiled pots and pans. However, after scrubbing, burnt-on food or other residues may stick to the cleaning utensils. Such residues should be carefully removed, advises Knipper. "Plastic dishwashing brushes can be cleaned in the dishwasher," says Glassl. If you are unable to clean the stainless steel wool and dishwashing brushes, you should replace them. It is also important not to leave wet cleaning cloths and used dishwashing brushes in the sink. Utensils used for cleaning dishes and the kitchen should first be rinsed well and wrung out. That is because "bacteria can multiply quickly at room temperature, especially in damp cloths and sponges," says Knipper. Glassl says, "Damp cloths should be hung up and left to dry, as this reduces the spread of any pathogens." Sponges are less suitable for use in the kitchen than cleaning cloths or dishcloths because they dry slowly, Knipper says. She also recommends using kitchen paper to wipe up liquids and food residues. Handling frozen meat Frozen meat should not be thawed at room temperature, but rather in the refrigerator, advises the German Consumer Advice Centre. It is best to store it covered so that the meat does not come into contact with other foods. Defrosting water is a good breeding ground for germs, so it is essential to collect it and pour it away carefully or you risk spreading salmonella, which can cause bacterial gastrointestinal disease. Always store meat, poultry and fish in the coldest part of your refrigerator, meaning the lowest glass shelf above the vegetable compartment. Pay attention to hygiene during preparation Consumer protection agencies advise against rinsing raw meat, as germs can spread through splashing water. Instead, it is better to remove the meat from its packaging with a fork and place it directly into the pan. If you chop raw meat and poultry, you should generally use a different chopping board than the one you use for fruit and vegetables. If raw food has been prepared on a board, you should not use it to prepare cooked food. After coming into contact with raw meat or poultry, raw eggs, fish or vegetables, Knipper recommends thoroughly cleaning your work surfaces and equipment – ideally with hot water and washing-up liquid. Wash your hands thoroughly before and between steps, because they can also transfer pathogens to food. Also, do regularly clean the handles of drawers, the refrigerator and the dishwasher. Clean chopping boards and kitchen utensils in dishwasher For hygiene reasons, when putting crockery, cutlery and kitchen utensils in the dishwasher, you should select programmes with temperatures of at least 60 degrees Celsius. To allow the detergent to work properly, you should also avoid overloading the dishwasher. "Plastic chopping boards can usually be cleaned in the dishwasher at temperatures above 60 degrees," says Knipper. This makes them more suitable for raw foods than wooden boards. Cutting boards, whether made of wood or plastic, should have a smooth surface so that they can be cleaned easily. Boards with cuts and grooves, where bacteria can accumulate and multiply, should be replaced with new ones. Avoid aggressive cleaning agents on the hob With newer models, it may be sufficient to turn the hob up to a high temperature, as they often clean their interior automatically.However, "depending on the type of dirt, washing-up liquid or special cleaners are best for cleaning the hob," says Glassl. For light soiling, it is sufficient to wash the hob surface with washing-up water and a cloth. Special cleaners help with stubborn stains and burnt-on food. Do not use abrasive cleaners on glass ceramic hobs, as these can leave scratches. Instead, use special glass ceramic scrapers. Kitchen appliances also need care To ensure your dishwasher works well, it needs regular care. "Even the parts of the dishwasher that the spray jets don't reach, such as the rubber seal or the door edge, should be cleaned regularly with a cloth and a little detergent," says Glassl. Hygiene is also important for other household appliances. "Ideally, clean the refrigerator once a month with an all-purpose cleaner," says Glassl. Don't forget the seals on the refrigerator door. Depending on the degree of soiling and the type of use, more frequent cleaning may be necessary. If you spill something, remove it immediately with a piece of kitchen paper. Store your cleaning products separately from food – preferably outside the kitchen. The following information is not intended for publication dpa/tmn eut bzl mod nhr xxde arw

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Simple acts of kindness, like checking in or offering to help with errands, can go a long way. Check whether groups may be able to help support activities with neighbours where you live. London (PA Media/dpa) – In the lead up to Christmas it’s easy to get caught up in our own family celebrations and social lives, but it’s important to also keep an eye on your neighbours too. Reaching out to people in your community can help build rapport and help reduce feelings of isolation. “In society we are becoming increasingly isolated and suspicious of each other, so the benefit of reaching out to a neighbour is that you can bring some of those barriers down and realise that we’re all very similar,” says Karen Jordan, team leader at the Good Neighbours Network, a collection of over 120 local groups in the UK all offering a helping hand to others in their community. “Reaching out to your neighbours can help you realise that we all have similar problems and worries and sharing them can help reduce that burden.” She highlights that it’s particularly crucial to look out for more vulnerable groups, such any elderly neighbours who live on their own, this time of year. “A lot of our Good Neighbourhood Network groups help people who are over 65 and many of the volunteers themselves are in that age bracket,” says Jordan. “I think it’s also important to reach out to young families and mothers who might be struggling on their own and might benefit from a chat.” Here are some simple ways to be the best neighbour you can be this Christmas… Look around “I think one of the most important things that people can do to help their neighbours this Christmas and winter is to just start taking notice,” says Jordan. “Just look around and take notice of little signs that might indicate that somebody is struggling.” Get a conversation going “It can be tricky because the older generation is very proud, so often wouldn’t want to admit that they’re lonely, so that can be quite a barrier,” recognises Jordan. “I would always recommend having a very light touch about it and perhaps just start with ‘if you fancy a chat and a cup of tea anytime, just let me know’ to help get the conversation going.” Spread awareness about local groups and services Your neighbour might not be aware of all the great local groups and activities in the area, so Jordan recommends highlighting these wonderful services. “You could say I know of a local voluntary group that can help with taking people to the GP or a hospital, or has befriending services,” says Jordan. “You could phrase it in a way of wanting to spread the message about the certain group, so they don’t feel targeted.” Consider a festive gesture A small gesture like a Christmas card could help brighten someone’s day. “A lot of our Good Neighbours Network groups do Christmas specific things, such as putting on a Christmas community lunch or putting cards or small gifts through people’s doors,” says Jordan. “Small festive gestures like these are really nice.” Signpost helpful services “One of our satellite projects is to spread the message of the Priority Services Register,” says Jordan. “It’s a service that quite a wide range of people can sign up to, including people of pensionable age and people who have children under five.” To register, you need to contact your energy and/or water supplier directly, either online, by phone or in writing. “If there is a power cut or a water cut and you have signed up to the register, then you will be one of the first people who are reached out to,” explains Jordan. Offer to help with errands If you know your neighbour is unable to drive, you could ask them if they would like a lift to the shops or any upcoming hospital appointments. “Many of our Good Neighbours Network groups offer medical transport, but it isn’t just about taking them to hospital,” says Jordan. “It’s the reassurance that somebody is going to turn up at a certain time and take some of that worry of their hospital appointment away. “It’s also about knowing that they’re going to have a chat on the way there and a chat on the way back. Most of our volunteers will actually take them into the hospital or GP practice and wait for them. So, there’s that important moral support element to it as well.” Introduce them to a lunch club “A lot of local groups offer lunch clubs which are a really good way to get people out of their home and into a warm environment to have a cup of tea and a chat with somebody that they wouldn’t normally speak to,” says Jordan. The following information is not intended for publication dpa pa arw

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Bonn (dpa) – People often confuse passion fruit with maracuja. But they taste different, even though they both belong to the passion flower genus. Here's how to spot the difference, thanks to tips from some nutritionists: Maracujas They contain a lot of acid, which is why they are mainly used to make juice. The fruit is round to egg-shaped, significantly larger than passion fruit and yellow when ripe, says Germany's Federal Centre for Nutrition (BZfE). Passion fruit But ripe passion fruit are green-brown to purple and are also called purple granadillas. They taste sweet and sour, and to eat them you can just cut them in half and spoon out the fruit. To make juice, squeeze the halves with a lemon squeezer or pass the pulp through a sieve, say specialists. Passion fruit tastes good in fruit salads, muffins, pancakes and fruity punch. Why wrinkled is better When you shop, don't be tempted to reach for smooth passion fruits. If they have wrinkled skin, it's a sign of ripeness and sweetness says Arne Betzold from Germany's Federal Office for Agriculture and Food (BLE). "When they arrive from abroad as smooth fruits, they are usually still very sour." Passion fruits only shrivel when they ripen. "The evaporation of moisture concentrates the sugar content in the fruit and makes it much tastier," says Betzold. If you buy smooth fruit or find the taste too sour, Betzold recommends "simply leaving it at home for another two or three days." Once your passion fruit is ripe, it will keep in the crisper drawer of the refrigerator for one to two weeks. The following information is not intended for publication dpa/tmn cwg bac xxde amc arw

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Berlin (dpa) – If leaves are falling where you are, then act fast to prevent damage to your home. Leaves often accumulate on flat roofs and in gutters, especially in stormy weather. If you are a homeowner, take timely action to prevent major blockages in drainpipes and downpipes, says Fatma Özkan from the North Rhine-Westphalia Consumer Advice Centre in Germany. And if there are tall deciduous trees near your home, be sure to check rain gutters and drainpipes regularly and clean them if necessary. Once leaves form a thick layer, they can become as slick as a sheet of plastic. Install grates and check the drainage pipe If your rain gutter is blocked, water will find other ways to drain. During heavy showers, gutters can quickly overflow, leading to water damage to the house wall. So take preventive measures to avoid blockages in the gutter and downpipe. You can get special grilles or leaf filters and attach them to the gutter to keep it clean. Also check whether the downpipe is firmly attached to the drainage pipe that leads into the ground. If not, you must ensure that this connection is restored so that the water can drain away without any obstacles. If rainwater cannot seep away on the property, it can accumulate, which can also cause damage to the building, flood basement rooms and overload your sewage system. Roofs as reservoirs With green roofs and unsealed surfaces, owners can make an important contribution to preventing flooding during heavy rainfall events, especially in densely built-up residential areas. Plants on roofs or in gardens store rainwater and relieve the burden on your sewage system. And unsealed surfaces ensure that the water can seep away directly. Also consider special retention green roofs as these are designed to specifically collect rainwater in a temporary storage facility. These kinds of measures reduce the risk of backwater during local heavy rainfall and ideally prevent flooding. The following information is not intended for publication dpa/tmn mod lue xxde arw

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Sex and drugs – Billy Idol left all that behind long ago, but not rock'n'roll. Hits like "Rebel Yell" and "Eyes Without A Face" are now cult classics. And they also inspire his granddaughter, he tells us. London (dpa) – In the 1980s he was the wild poster boy of mainstream punk. With straw-blond spikes and a curled top lip, Billy Idol was one of the best-known faces of the MTV era and delivered global hits such as "White Wedding", "Rebel Yell" and "Sweet Sixteen". "I was alive in the 80s. It was so much fun," he told dpa in an interview in London. He has long left the wild times behind, but the rock’n’roll remains. Even as a grandfather, the British musician keeps putting out new music and regularly takes the stage. On his milestone birthday he will play in Mexico City. Age does not matter to his career, he said. If the Rolling Stones are still on stage at 80, he can do it at 70. "I think it's partly that we are doing what we love. So there's no impediment to not wanting to do it," he told dpa in a 2024 interview. "A day may come when the audience isn't there," he said. "But at the moment, we're going strong." That was not always the case. From London to New York City The path of William Michael Albert Broad — the name in his passport — began on November 30, 1955. He was born in Stanmore, a district in the north-west of the British capital. He later chose the name Idol because a teacher called him "idle", which he noted that can mean vain as well as lazy. After trying his hand as a guitarist in the punk band Chelsea, he founded Generation X and became its frontman. The initially aggressive punk soon gave way to a radio-friendly style. The Generation X song "Dancing With Myself" gave a foretaste of Idol’s future sound and was re-released as his first solo single. In the early 1980s he moved to New York. "It was to meet someone like Steve Stevens," he said. In the American virtuoso guitarist he found a kindred spirit. "Once I met Steve, I just knew and I saw what he could do. I went: 'This is the guy. I can do anything I want with this guy.'" Together with Stevens and British producer Keith Forsey he developed the typical Idol sound. The blend of muscular rock and new wave with strong pop melodies, punchy guitar riffs and danceable rhythm can be heard to perfection on the second album "Rebel Yell" from 1984. It made Billy Idol a global star. His success in the United States was closely tied to MTV. The channel went on air in 1981 almost at the same time as Idol’s arrival in New York City. His sexually charged videos, in which he poses half naked, clenches his fist and curls his upper lip, ran in heavy rotation. At the height of his success he fully lived the excesses of the 1980s. "There was this free love and tons of sex and drugs and all going on at the same time," Idol recalled. "And it was all fuelling the music and the fashions and everything. It was a hell of a lot of fun." After a decade of rock'n'roll lifestyle came the crash. Motorcycle crash and drug collapse In a motorcycle accident in 1990 he almost lost his leg. His experimental studio album "Cyberpunk" flopped in 1993. After splitting from his longtime girlfriend Perri Lister, his drug use spun out of control. In his autobiography he writes it was clear that he had to stop taking heroin, but admits he foolishly started using cocaine to help with the withdrawal symptoms. In 1994 he collapsed outside a nightclub in Los Angeles. He then began rehab and turned his life around. The thought of his children got him off drugs, said Idol, who is now in a relationship with actress China Chow. Willem Wolf, his son with Lister, is 37. His 36-year-old daughter Bonnie Blue — from a brief affair with American Linda Mathis — made Billy Idol a rock grandad. His granddaughter, Poppy, is already a fan. "I remember Poppy first tapping her foot to 'Rebel Yell'," the proud grandad recounted. "The child doesn't get taught to tap its foot to music, it just does it. So I saw her tap her feet to some of my music for the first time, to 'Rebel Yell'. She was tapping her feet for the first time. So I've really enjoyed being a grandad." Musically, Billy Idol returned with his congenial partner Stevens in 2005 on the studio album "Devil’s Playground", 12 years after "Cyberpunk". More albums and EPs followed, most recently "Dream Into It", on which he looks back on his life with nostalgia and self-criticism. In the supergroup Generation Sex — with musicians from Generation X and the Sex Pistols — he plays old punk classics. Today Billy Idol enjoys cult status and tours regularly. In summer he played several concerts in Europe where he appeared in top form. "I don't get bored of singing 'Rebel Yell' or 'Eyes Without a Face' or any of the songs," Billy Idol emphasized. "They've got an energy that doesn't fade." The following information is not intended for publication dpa pde xx a3 ara coh

(The article has been published through a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has been published verbatim. Liability lies with original publisher.)