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Even the tooth fairy is feeling the pain of high inflation.

The average amount of cash left under the pillow by the tooth fairy (spoiler alert: parents) dropped to $5.84 in 2023, 6% lower than the $6.23 the previous year — the first time decline since 2018, according to a survey conducted by insurer Delta Dental.

Even the loss of a first tooth, which usually elicits a more lucrative award, wasn’t as profitable as it once was, the survey found.

Last year, losing a first tooth resulted in an average gift of $7.09 — down from $7.29 in 2022, according to the survey, which polled 1,000 parents of children between the ages of 6 and 12.

Kids living in the western part of the United States scored the biggest bonanza.

The average value of a lost tooth in the West was $8.54 — a 37% increase compared to 2022, when the value was $6.23.

In the Northeastern US, the average value rose 12% from $6.14 to $6.87.

The tooth fairy was more miserly in the South and Midwest.

In the Midwest, the worth of a lost tooth fell 36%, dropping from $5.63 to $3.63. In the South, the value dropped to $5.51 per tooth from its 2022 mark of $6.59 — a 16% decrease.

The poll noted that the tooth fairy’s gift has traditionally tracked with the S&P 500, but that trend has been bucked the last two years.

In 2022, the tooth fairy’s dropped off a record high of $6.23 — up 16% from the year before. Meanwhile, the S&P 500 underwhelmed that same year — dropping 18% in value.

Last year, the tooth fairy was a bit more stingy, but the S&P 500 roared back with 24% gains — a sign of the resilience of an economy that has been hampered by high interest rates and soaring levels of inflation.

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Entertainment

Madonna plays biggest-ever show to 1.6 million fans on Rio’s Copacabana beach

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Madonna plays biggest-ever show to 1.6 million fans on Rio's Copacabana beach

Madonna has played her biggest-ever gig to an estimated 1.6 million people on Copacabana beach in Rio de Janeiro.

It was the last show in her Celebration tour and she performed hits such Like A Prayer, Vogue, Hung Up, Into The Groove and Like A Virgin.

The Brazil city was buzzing ahead of Saturday’s free two-hour show, with hotels and Airbnb’s packed and about 170 extra flights expected into the city.

Pic: Reuters
Image:
Pic: Reuters

The famous Rio beach was packed with fans. Pic: AP
Image:
The famous Rio beach was packed with fans. Pic: AP

Helicopters and drones buzzed over the beach as the Queen of Pop took to the stage at 10:37pm, nearly 50 minutes late.

“Here we are in the most beautiful place in the world,” Madonna told the crowd as she pointed out Rio’s famous mountains and Christ the Redeemer statue.

The 65-year-old opened up with Nothing Really Matters from 1998’s Ray of Light album.

Eighteen speaker towers were dotted along the beach to ensure everyone could hear the US star’s vocals.

Brazilian musicians and people from local samba schools were involved in the show – with many fans dressing up in Madonna-themed outfits.

Pic: AP
Image:
Pic: AP

Pic: Reuters
Image:
Pic: Reuters

“Since Madonna arrived here, I’ve been coming every day with this outfit to welcome my idol, my diva, my pop queen,” said Rosemary de Oliveira Bohrer, 69, who wore a version of Madonna’s iconic gold cone bra.

Many fans had staked out a spot many hours – or even days – before the show, while others took in the spectacle from yachts or apartment balconies.

Madonna’s website said it was the biggest she had ever done – more than 10 times the 130,000 she played to in Paris in 1987.

However, Rio is used to huge shows – The Rolling Stones and Rod Stewart have played to similar-size crowds there.

Pic: AP
Image:
Pic: AP

Pic: Reuters
Image:
Pic: Reuters

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Thousands of police were on duty for Saturday’s show, which city authorities estimated drew a crowd of 1.6 million and would earn the local economy about 293 million reals (£46m).

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For Madonna, it was the culmination of an 81-date retrospective tour that began in London in October and moved across Europe and North and South America.

The singer embarked upon the tour a few months after being admitted to intensive care with a serious bacterial inaction in June 2023.

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UK

Bradford: One child dies and four other people taken to hospital after house fire

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Bradford: One child dies and four other people taken to hospital after house fire

A child has died in a house fire in Bradford.

A woman and three other children managed to escape the property and are being treated in hospital for non-life-threatening injuries.

In a statement, West Yorkshire Police said: “At 1.08 this morning (5 May) police were called by the fire service to reports of a serious house fire on Kingsdale Drive, Bradford.

“A woman and three children managed to escape the property and were taken to hospital for treatment. Their injuries are not life-threatening.

Police at scene of fatal house fire in Bradford
Police at scene of fatal house fire in Bradford

“A fourth child was found inside the address and was sadly pronounced deceased at the scene,” police added.

“A scene is currently in place at the address and police are working with the fire investigators to establish the exact cause of the fire.”

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World

Israel’s Benjamin Netanyahu rejects ceasefire deal that would ‘leave Hamas intact’

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Israel's Benjamin Netanyahu rejects ceasefire deal that would 'leave Hamas intact'

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has rejected ceasefire proposals because he says Hamas’s call for a withdrawal of all troops from Gaza and an end to the war is unacceptable.

Mr Netanyahu said agreeing to such proposals would “leave Hamas intact” and leave the possibility of another attack in future.

“Surrendering to the demands of Hamas would be a terrible defeat for the State of Israel,” he said in a video statement.

Mediated negotiations for a pause in the fighting in return for the release of hostages held by Hamas have been going on in Egypt, but a deal still appears some way off.

Hamas said in a statement on Sunday it’s “still keen to reach a comprehensive, interconnected agreement that ends the aggression, guarantees withdrawal, and achieves a serious prisoner exchange deal”.

The impasse comes after Egyptian media reported “noticeable progress” in ceasefire talks on Saturday.

The proposal mediators had put to Hamas set out a three-stage process for an immediate, six-week ceasefire and partial release of Israeli hostages, with some sort of Israeli pull-out in exchange.

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More than 34,600 Palestinians have been killed and more than 77,000 have been wounded in Israel’s military operation, according to Gaza’s health ministry.

Israel has said it remains committed to a ground offensive in the southern city of Rafah, where more than a million have fled in search of safety, as it tries to wipe out Hamas.

The UN and others have warned of catastrophe if it goes ahead.

The war began in October after Hamas killed about 1,200 people, according to Israeli figures, when it launched a surprise attack.

More than 200 were abducted and many remain as hostages, while others are thought to have died.

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