WASHINGTON — Former President Biden is receiving radiation and hormone therapy as part of a new phase of treating the aggressive form of prostate cancer he was diagnosed with after leaving office, a spokesperson said Saturday.
“As part of a treatment plan for prostate cancer, President Biden is currently undergoing radiation therapy and hormone treatment,” Biden aide Kelly Scully said.
Biden, 82, left office in January after he had dropped his bid for reelection six months earlier following a disastrous debate against Republican Donald Trump amid concerns about Biden’s age, health and mental fitness. Trump, despite similar questions during the campaign about his age and mental fitness, defeated Democrat Kamala Harris, who was Biden’s vice president.
In May, Biden’s postpresidential office announced that he had been diagnosed with prostate cancer and that it had spread to his bone. The discovery came after he reported urinary symptoms.
Prostate cancers are graded for aggressiveness using what is known as a Gleason score. The scores range from 6 to 10, with 8, 9 and 10 prostate cancers behaving more aggressively. Biden’s office said his score was 9, suggesting his cancer is among the most aggressive.
Last month, Biden had surgery to remove skin cancer lesions from his forehead.
Tourist taxes are being massively hiked up in a new bid to combat the effects of overtourism as locals have had it with the crowds of visitors coming for photos
(Image: Getty Images/iStockphoto)
Visitors heading to a beautiful city renowned for its gorgeous views and rich culture are about to face a 900% increase in tourist taxes.
Kyoto in Japan has long been a firm favourite with tourists from all over the world, thanks to its beautiful cobbled streets, traditional tea houses and countryside views. However, the city’s popularity means that it’s been fighting against overtourism for years, in a bid to manage the crowds.
Now, the city is taking new steps in a bid to help mitigate the effects of overtourism; last year alone the iconic destination saw over 10 million tourists visiting, marking a 53% increase on the previous year.
Kyoto has already had a tourist tax in place costing approximately £5 a night per tourist, but it’s set to increase this up to nearly £50 (£48.92) per person, per night. This will apply to visitors staying at the city’s more luxurious hotels, and is expected to come into force from early 2026. It marks a jump of approximately 900% cost for tourists.
It’s not the first steps that Kyoto has taken when facing the crowds of holidaymakers that flock to its picturesque districts.
Since 2019, the city has had a ban on tourists taking photos in its historic Gion district. Although some popular areas such as Hanamikoji Main Street are deemed acceptable, locals complained that tourists were heading to private streets and properties in the area, and taking photos without the owner’s permission. As a result, local authorities introduced a ban on photos, with fines for rule-breakers of 10,000 Japanese Yen (approximately £49).
The ban on entering private alleyways and taking photos was reinforced last year. Isokazu Ota, Gion Southside District councillor, said at the time that livelihoods were being “threatened”, not to mention the narrow alleys were becoming overcrowded and therefore posing a danger to both residents and tourists.
Signs have also been placed around private areas to warn off visitors, with requests for tourists not to sit down on people’s properties to eat and drink.
Visitors have also been warned not to take photos of the city’s geishas without requesting their permission first. Nicknamed the ‘maiko paparazzi’, tourists follow local maiko and geisha and wait outside teahouses where they work. Maiko and geisha live and work on these roads and apprentice geisha are often 16 to 17 years of age, with concerns for their safety amplifying after incidents which included them being hounded by strangers for a photo.
Sora News, a Japanese publication, stated last year: “One area struggling more than most is Gion, which, despite being a place of work and residence for many locals, has been treated like something of a theme park by tourists, who have been known to chase and photograph geisha and maiko (trainee geisha) in the area.”
A few years ago the city’s authorities also temporarily released an ‘etiquette guide’ for visitors to help them navigate the local customs and behave in a way that would be deemed appropriate.
WHEN Shirley Bartram began suffering severe pain in her left side, coupled with vomiting, a raised heart rate and the inability to pass urine for 12 hours, she rushed to hospital where she was diagnosed with a suspected kidney infection.
But an “antibiotics mistake” led to the gran and mum-of-four’s fingers and toes turning black and suddenly “dropping off”.
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Shirley Bartram with daughter KellyCredit: Jam Press/Irwin Mitchell
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The gran was placed in an induced coma for four weeks – her health deteriorated after a kidney infection and she developed life-threatening sepsisCredit: Jam Press/Irwin Mitchell
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When she woke up from the coma her hands and feet had started to dieCredit: Jam Press/Irwin Mitchell
While at hospital, the 69-year-old, from Gravesend, was prescribed intravenous antibiotics to treat her UTI, but was discharged just a few hours later and sent home with oral antibiotics instead.
Shirley’s condition then deteriorated quickly and the gran ended up being placed into an induced coma for four weeks.
It was when she woke up that the tissue in her hands and feet had started to die – as she had developed life-threatening sepsis.
“Before all this happened, I was independent and active,” Shirley, a former carer, said.
“Now I struggle with the simplest things that many people take for granted.
“Holding a pen is impossible and I need help with things I used to do without thinking – buttoning clothes, washing my hair, preparing meals.
“I can’t manage stairs without help.
“Walking is painful and exhausting.
“I wear a brace on my left foot to try and stop it catching, but I still fall over.
“I can just about walk to the local shop aided with a walking stick and also some trips out to the cinema – but I am sometimes limited.”
I thought I had a winter cold then I woke from a coma about to lose my legs
After Shirley had been discharged from hospital, she was sick through the night
She was then re-admitted the next afternoon in September 2022.
It was then she was diagnosed with sepsis, which is believed to have been caused by her kidney infection.
Sepsis is a serious condition in which the body responds improperly to an infection.
The infection-fighting processes turn on the body, causing the organs to work poorly.
Sepsis may then lead to septic shock, which is a dramatic drop in blood pressure than can dam,age the lungs, kidneys, liver and other organs.
If the damage is severe, it can lead to death.
In total, Shirley spent four weeks in intensive care and nine weeks in hospital.
Now, she only has her fourth and little finger remaining on her right hand, with her index finger and little finger lost on her left.
Her toes are gradually self-amputating and bones in the feet have also changed shape.
‘It’s not just the physical toll, it’s the emotional one too’
Shirley, who lives with her daughter, Kelly, 47, is suffering from repeated swelling in her right hip because of infections and has experienced leaking from a wound in her top right leg.
Metalwork from a previous hip displacement has loosened as a result and it’s a waiting game while doctors try to find a solution.
She said: “It’s not just the physical toll, it’s the emotional one too.
“[…] I feel very self-conscious about my hands.
“I can’t thank Kelly enough for everything she does for me, but it’s upsetting to think about what has happened and how much independence I’ve lost.
“It’s hard to accept.
I just hope that by sharing my story, I can raise awareness of how dangerous sepsis is so others don’t have to go [and] endure what I have
Shirley Bartram
“I’m still concerned whether everything possible was done to prevent what happened to me and the least I feel I deserve is answers.
“However, I just hope that by sharing my story, I can raise awareness of how dangerous sepsis is so others don’t have to go [and] endure what I have.”
Shirley has instructed medical negligence lawyers, Irwin Mitchell, to investigate her care at Darent Valley Hospital.
Josh Beszant, a specialist medical negligence lawyer representing Shirley, said: “The last few years and coming to terms with her life-changing injuries has been incredibly difficult for Shirley.
“She was previously very independent but has now lost this and is more reliant on her family.
“While the Trust has admitted that intravenous antibiotics should have been given, but were not, Shirley firmly believes more should have been done to help and monitor her during her first hospital visit.
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Shirley only has her fourth and little finger remaining on her right hand, with her index finger and little finger lost on her leftCredit: Jam Press/Irwin Mitchell
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Her toes are gradually self-amputating and bones in the feet have also changed shapeCredit: Jam Press/Irwin Mitchell
“Nothing can make up for what she’s been through, but we’re determined to secure Shirley with access to the specialist support and therapies she requires.
“We call on the Trust to resolve the remaining issues in this case, allowing Shirley to focus on her rehabilitation.
“In the meantime, we join her in warning of the dangers of sepsis and the need for everyone to be aware of the signs.
“Sepsis is a medical emergency with early detection and appropriate treatment vital to preventing serious injury and even death.”
A spokesperson for Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust said: “Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust is very sorry for the distress and complications experienced by Ms. Bartram and her family.
“We recognise how deeply personal and difficult this is for everyone involved.
What causes sepsis?
Any type of infection can lead to sepsis, this includes bacterial, viral or fungal infections.
Those that more commonly cause sepsis include infections of:
Lungs, such as pneumonia.
Kidney, bladder and other parts of the urinary system.
Digestive system.
Bloodstream.
Catheter sites.
Wounds or burns.
Some factors may increase the risk infection will lead to sepsis. These include:
People over age 65.
Infancy.
People with lower immune response, such as those being treated for cancer or people with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).
People with chronic diseases, such as diabetes, kidney disease or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
Admission to intensive care unit or longer hospital stays.
Devices that go in the body, such as catheters in the vein, called intravenous, or breathing tubes.
Treatment with antibiotics in the last 90 days.
A condition that requires treatment with corticosteroids, which can lower immune response.
Sepsis needs treatment in hospital straight away because it can get worse quickly.
You should get antibiotics within one to six hours of arriving at hospital.
If sepsis isn’t treated early, it can turn into septic shock and cause your organs to fail, which is life-threatening.
Source: Mayo Clinic
“While legal proceedings are ongoing, and to respect patient confidentiality, we cannot comment on individual clinical details.
“However, we have acknowledged shortcomings in certain aspects of the care provided, and we are fully cooperating with the legal process that will determine cause and effect.
“We remain committed to learning and strengthening our procedures to ensure the highest standards of safety and care for all our patients.
“We actively support national initiatives to raise awareness of the signs of sepsis.
“Early recognition and prompt treatment are vital, and we remain dedicated to working with our staff and the wider community to promote greater understanding of this serious condition.”
What are the symptoms of sepsis?
SEPSIS is a life-threatening reaction to an infection that happens when your immune system overreacts and starts to damage your body’s own tissues and organs.
Symptoms of sepsis in an adult include:
Acting confused, slurred speech or not making sense
Blue, grey, pale or blotchy skin, lips or tongue – on brown or black skin, this may be easier to see on the palms of the hands or soles of the feet
A rash that does not fade when you roll a glass over it, the same as meningitis
Difficulty breathing, breathlessness or breathing very fast
Symptoms in a child include:
Blue, grey, pale or blotchy skin, lips or tongue – on brown or black skin, this may be easier to see on the palms of the hands or soles of the feet
A rash that does not fade when you roll a glass over it, the same as meningitis
Difficulty breathing (you may notice grunting noises or their stomach sucking under their ribcage), breathlessness or breathing very fast
A weak, high-pitched cry that’s not like their normal cry
Not responding like they normally do, or not interested in feeding or normal activities
Being sleepier than normal or having difficulty waking
They may not have all these symptoms.
If you think you or someone else has symptoms of sepsis, call 999 or go to A&E.
GERMANY’S army is preparing its forces to treat 1,000 injured troops a day as the prospect of a war between NATO and Russia looms ever larger.
Berlin’s war planning lays bare the scale of devastation that such a conflict would unleash upon the continent.
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German Army servicemen participate in a large-scale military exerciseCredit: EPA
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Eurocopter Tiger of the German Army takes part in the Lithuanian-German division-level international military exerciseCredit: AP
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A member of the French armed forces fires a weapon during a military drillCredit: Reuters
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Western countries have been forced to reckon with the prospect of a major war breaking out on European soil once againCredit: Reuters
The Kremlin denies that it wants a war against Russia’s Western rivals.
But recent incursions of military jets into NATO airspace has amplified fears that Putin has his sights on members of the alliance.
Since Russia‘s brutal invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Western countries have been forced to reckon with the prospect of a major war breaking out on European soil once again.
It has prompted military leaders to warn of the scale of casualties that could come if Moscow attacked the alliance.
Germany’s Surgeon General Ralf Hoffmann told Reuters that the exact number would depend on the intensity of fighting.
But he said: “Realistically, we are talking about a figure of around 1,000 wounded troops per day.”
Berlin is far from the only country to ramp up planning for mass casualties in the face of Russian sabre-rattling.
France has also placed its hospitals on a war-footing, with health bosses ordered to be ready for a “major engagement” by March 2026.
In anticipation of a large influx of wounded soldiers, Paris has ordered the country’s health centres to integrate the “specific needs of defence” into their planning.
They want French hospitals to be prepared to take in not only their own country’s injured troops, but also those of NATO allies.
How Putin squandered chance to EASILY topple Kyiv in opening days of invasion – by clinging to Soviet-era rules of war
Hoffmann added that Germany needs to look to the war in Ukraine to adapt how it approaches medical training for the battlefield.
“The Ukrainians often cannot evacuate their wounded fast enough because drones are buzzing overhead everywhere,” he warned.
Flexible transport options would be needed to get injured troops out of harm’s way, Hoffmann said, such as how Ukraine has used hospital trains.
Germany’s chief of defence General Carsten Breuer issued a stark warning this summer as to how soon a Russian attack could come.
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Servicemen of the 14th Assault Brigade Chervona Kalyna of the Ukrainian National Guard fire a howitzerCredit: Reuters
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Members of the Danish and French armed forces practice looking for potential threatsCredit: Reuters
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Ukrainian troops carry munitions as they prepare to move towards a positionCredit: EPA
He told the BBC that Moscow’s increased military production represents a “a very serious threat” that could come as soon as 2029.
“This is what the analysts are assessing – in 2029. So we have to be ready by 2029,” he warned.
“If you ask me now, is this a guarantee that’s not earlier than 2029?
“I would say no, it’s not. So we must be able to fight tonight.”
In Britain, government officials are hurriedly updating decades-old contingency plans to protect the country in the event of Russian aggression.
Former NATO commander Colonel Hamish de Bretton-Gordon previously told The Sun: “Britain is very much in the sights of Putin’s derision, and we are the ones likely to be attacked first.
“Britain really has got to dust off its contingency plans.
“Over 20 years of neglect, and we understand that’s exactly what this report is about at the moment.”
An assault on one NATO country by Russia would require all other member states to take up arms in their support.
This is because of the alliance’s Article 5 protection guarantee, which makes an attack on one an attack on all.
Fears of confrontation with Russia have spiked since Moscow’s air force launched incursions into NATO airspace in recent weeks.
LOVE a freebie? Don’t we all – but the best giveaways rarely last forever.
We’ve rounded up the very best offers and promotions that are due to run out before the end of 2025. Don’t ignore them: you could miss out on free Apple AirPods, a £400 laptop, cheap theatre tickets, and more video games than you could ever hope to play.
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You may be eligible to bag a free £400 laptop from SamsungCredit: Samsung
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There’s also a free smartwatch up for grabs for some shoppersCredit: Samsung
FREE SAMSUNG LAPTOP
A tempting offer to claim a free £400 laptop from Samsung is due to expire this year.
Samsung launched the promotion back in August.
It gets you either a £399 14-inch Chromebook Go or a Samsung Galaxy Watch7 worth £239.
You can claim it if you’ve recently bought an eligible Samsung smartphone.
For a free laptop, you’d need to have bought:
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7
Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge
Samsung Galaxy S25+
Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra
And for a free smartwatch, you’d need to have snapped up one of the following:
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7 FE
Samsung Galaxy S25
Samsung Galaxy S25 FE
The promotion is due to close down on October 2 this year.
And you need to submit your claim for the freebie within 30 days of making your purchase.
Sky customers can claim delicious freebies in new giveaway scheme
HEAR WE GO! The must-listen podcasts that will keep kids & teens entertained for hours on long journeys this summer – & they’re FREE
PLAY DATES The secret free games on Netflix, Amazon, Sky and phones your kids will love playing for hours – & even get them moving
FREE-SY DOES IT Must-have tech that’ll keep kids entertained this summer WITHOUT an iPad & boredom buster games that won’t cost a penny
I-SAVED! The 9 little-known discount apps that’ll save YOU £100s this summer – slashing prices and unlocking free stuff
MOVIE MAGIC! Netflix, Disney & Amazon subscription hacks for at-home film days this summer that’ll save you £850 on TV & cinema trips
It’s always possible that some of these perks could be extended, but there’s no guarantee.
FREE APPLE AIRPODS
Yes, really.
Apple is running a back-to-school promotion that expires next month.
And the offer nets you a free pair of Apple AirPods if you’ve bought a qualifying gadget.
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The Apple AirPods Pro 3 are brand new – they only landed in stores on Friday, September 19 this yearCredit: Apple
You just need to be a teacher, staff, student or parent.
And students are anyone who has gone on to college, university, or any other public or private tertiary education institution.
But beware: the deal runs out on October 21, 2025.
If you’ve bought a MacBook Air or MacBook Pro then you can claim:
Apple AirPods Pro 3 (with £50 fee) – saving £169
Apple AirPods 4 with ANC (free) – saving £169
If you’ve snapped up an iPad Air or iPad Pro, you can get:
Apple AirPods 4 (free) – saving £119
Apple AirPods Pro 3 (with £100 fee) – saving £119
And if you’ve bagged an iMac, the options are:
Apple AirPods 4 with ANC (free) – saving £169
Apple AirPods Pro 3 (with £50 fee) – saving £169
The main catch is that you can only do this once for the promotion period. Just don’t miss the offer window.
It’s also worth noting that Apple’s AirPods Pro 3 are brand new, so they’re a good buy.
BONUS £100 FROM O2
If you’re planning to buy one of the new iPhone models recently announced by Apple, take a look at this O2 offer.
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Want one of the new iPhone 17 models? O2 is running a brilliant temporary promotionCredit: Apple
It comes with a bonus £100 – but only until October 8, 2025.
If you buy the new iPhone 17, iPhone Air, iPhone 17 Pro, or iPhone 17 Pro Max on a pay-monthly plan, you’ll get an extra £100 if you recycle your existing mobile.
That’s in addition to the regular trade-in value of your phone.
It’s a special promotion on the O2 Recycle scheme, and you can only claim the deal once.
You don’t get the money in cash – but it’ll be credited to your plan.
So effectively, it’s a £100 discount on the amount you would’ve plaid.
You can check out the full terms for the offer here.
AMAZON PRIME GAMES
There are loads of Amazon Prime freebies that will vanish before the year is out.
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Amazon serves up free video games to Prime members every single month – but claim this year’s lot before they disappearCredit: Amazon
Amazon runs a special scheme for Prime members called Prime Gaming.
Every month, Amazon will dish out a selection of free games that you can keep forever.
Usually the monthly haul is worth hundreds of pounds, so it’s not bad at all.
The games drop in waves every single Thursday, and by the end of the month, the full batch is available.
HOW MUCH DOES AMAZON PRIME COST?
Here’s a breakdown of all the pricing options…
Prime monthly (£8.99 monthly) – £107.88 a year
Prime annual – £95 a year
Prime Video (£5.99 monthly) – £71.88 a year
Prime 18-22/student (£4.49 monthly) – £53.88 a year
Prime 18-22/student annual – £47.49 a year
Prime 18-22/student monthly + 6-month free trial – £26.94 for first year
Prime 18-22/student annual + 6-month free trial – £23.75 for first year
Picture Credit: Amazon
But the games are only available for a month before they vanish from Amazon’s freebie list.
So you need to claim them before they disappear.
If you’re savvy, you’ll collect them all. You can bag September’s lot, and then get the October, November, and December offerings too.
You’ll probably end up with more than £1,000 in games from a four-month run.
But if you miss any of them then you’ll be too late – they’re then gone for good.
So make sure you’re hot on checking for the freebies each month. You can find them here at the Prime Gaming website.
Just note that you’ll need to have an active Amazon Prime membership to claim the games.
All prices in this article were correct at the time of writing, but may have since changed.
Always do your own research before making any purchase.
Ceramicist and Saint Lucia local, Amanda, went viral on TikTok last year when she posed a special quest for UK travellers. This year, she’s upping the stakes in her pursuit of a sausage melt.
Amanda is imploring visiting Brits to bring her a Greggs sausage melt, in exchange for a reward(Image: Craig Connor/ChronicleLive)
For all the beauty and sunshine that Saint Lucia offers, one of its few short falls is its lack of a Greggs. After achieving viral success with her social media call to action last year, one Saint Lucia resident is setting Brits on a quest to help with her sausage melt fix.
On September 1, the TikTok creator and ceramicist Amanda offered up a “side quest” to British travellers planning a visit to Saint Lucia. Posting under her TikTok account, @keramikslu, she asked inbound holidaymakers to bring her some Greggs sausage and bean melts.
In exchange, the generous travellers will get to take their pick of one of her pottery creations. While it may seem like a big ask to some, Amanda was spurred by the success of her same call to action last year, though this time she’s updated her request.
Amanda is directing her request to those visiting Coconut Bay after confusion caused by her previous post(Image: Getty Images/Westend61)
“Well ladies and gentleman, it’s that time of year again,” Amanda shared in a recent TikTok video. “Are you British? Are you coming to St. Lucia on holiday? Are you going to be staying at Coconut Bay?” she asked her followers.
If you answered yes to all of these questions, then Amanda wants to know if you can do her a “little favour please” and bring her some Greggs. But while last year, she was only asking for a single sausage and bean melt, she’s upped the ante this time round.
“I have upped the difficulty level just a tiny bit because it was so easy apparently last time. The challenge is this: can you bring me a frozen box of Gregg’s sausage and bean melts. Can you? Can you!”
Content cannot be displayed without consent
The same rules as last time apply, she clarifies: “As a reward, I’ll bring you here [to the studio] and let you pick your own pottery”. Amanda is the business owner of the pottery site Keramik Saint Lucia Artisan Ceramics.
According to her blog she learned to make pottery in Vietnam and continued taking classes in Manchester, UK before deciding to move to Saint Lucia at the end of 2019. It is here that she began documenting her attempt to process clay dug up on her own land.
Her TikTok video concludes with a simple plea: “So British people coming to Saint Lucia staying at Coconut Bay, are you up for the challenge? Please say you are. Please. I really need some Greggs.”
For more stories like this subscribe to our weekly newsletter, The Weekly Gulp, for a curated roundup of trending stories, poignant interviews, and viral lifestyle picks from The Mirror’s Audience U35 team delivered straight to your inbox.
In just three days, the video has massed over 400,000 views and users in the comments are already signing on to the challenge. One wrote: “Adding Coconut Bay to my travel list just so I can bring you Greggs”.
Another commenter identifying themselves as a British Airways cabin crew member shared they’re also ready to help if Amanda can meet them at the airport. “I’m genuinely willing to get you your Greggs! I’m BA cabin crew and coming to St Lucia on Monday!” they wrote.
Amanda’s original video shared in May 2024 achieved viral success with over 1.5 million views. The following week, she shared a video of her meeting up with a traveller to exchange her pottery for a Greggs delivery with the caption: “happily ever after”.
Let’s hope there’s another happy reunion for Amanda.
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IF you use a hair dryer, or heated styling tools, you should also be using heat protectant to keep your hair healthy.
Without it, strands will become dry, brittle and harder to manage.
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We test three heat protectants to keep your hair healthy
Try these three . . .
BUDGET
E45 Protection Lip Balm SPF30, £7.99 for 10ml, boots.com
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You really can’t go wrong with the Arkive The Prologue hair primerCredit: Supplied
Arkive The Prologue hair primer, £14 for 200ml, boots.com
You really can’t go wrong with this product.
Not only does it protect hair from heat, it also de-tangles, adds shine, reduces frizz and smells delicious, thanks to the rhubarb, tomato leaf, honeysuckle and vetiver.
So it doubles up as a hair perfume.
It makes my hair feel like silk, and I really notice on the days I don’t use it, which is always the sign of a brilliant product.
It’s also nearly impossible to apply too much, as it doesn’t weigh hair down or leave it looking greasy.
MID-RANGE
Ghd Bodyguard heat protect spray, £23.95 for 120ml, boots.com
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Ghd Bodyguard heat protect spray is the original heat-straightener brandCredit: Supplied
Ghd Bodyguard heat protect spray, £23.95 for 120ml, boots.com
As the original heat-straightener brand, it will come as no surprise that ghd knows how to protect hair from styling.
This spray isn’t at all sticky and does not leave a residue behind, despite conditioning ingredients such as castor oil and glycerin.
It also helps maintain my style for longer, so curls don’t drop out by the end of the day, which is usually the case.
Plus, it smells like a fancy hair salon, so every time I use it I feel like I have had a professional treatment.
The Inkey List has launched new tinted lip balms, and they have saved my dry lips this summer
LUXURY
Dyson Omega leave-in conditioning spray, £59.99 for 165ml, dyson.co.uk
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Dyson Omega leave-in conditioning spray is the newest heat protectant in my arsenal
Dyson Omega leave-in conditioning spray, £59.99 for 165ml, dyson.co.uk
This is the newest heat protectant in my arsenal, and its almost milky formula is thicker than the others.
That is great for dull, brittle lengths or hair that gets dry between washes, as it immediately softens strands.
I have very fine hair, and if I apply too much to my roots it can make them feel dirty, so that’s something to be aware of.
But as long as I keep the spray away from my scalp, it’s not an issue.
This one feels super luxe, and is refillable, so better for the planet too.
PICK OF THE WEEK
THIS week, I had a Charlotte Tilbury makeover and afterwards, couldn’t stop looking at my skin in the mirror.
The redness across my cheeks and around my nose had disappeared, my pores were blurred and, best of all, I was glowy without looking greasy.
It was all down to the new Charlotte Tilbury airbrush flawless foundation, £39, which promises 24-hour wear.
DELIVEROO drivers could provide life-saving treatment to people suffering cardiac arrest, a new study suggests.
Deploying defibrillators to the public via food-delivery services like Uber Eats, could save lives, scientists from Taiwan believe.
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Deliveroo-style scooters could save lives by getting defibrillators to people faster than ambulancesCredit: Alamy
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Defibrillators are often too far away when someone needs them mostCredit: Getty
More than 30,000 Brits each year suffer a cardiac arrest when their heart suddenly stops beating.
It can be caused by an irregular heart rhythm or other heart disease, but often strikes without warning.
Breathing stops and the person becomes unconscious, with the lack of oxygenated blood to their organs leading to death.
Giving cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) straight away can be the difference between life and death.
The technique involves pressing hard and fast in the centre of the chest to manually pump blood around the body until help arrives.
The most effective treatment is a defibrillator, a device that gives the heart an electric shock to try and restart it.
Fewer than one in ten survive a cardiac arrest outside hospital because every minute without a defibrillator slashes their odds.
Experts warn too many victims die because the machines are out of reach and ambulances take too long to arrive.
Lead investigator Kuan-Chen Chin, from the National Taiwan University Hospital, said: “Each minute of delay in defibrillation reduces the survival rate by 7-10 per cent.
How to perform CPR on an adult
“Our approach leverages an existing, widespread urban workforce to address a well-known weak link in the chain of survival.”
For the new study, researchers ran simulations comparing ambulance response times of six to seven minutes against delivery scooters carrying defibrillators.
Defibrillators arrived around three minutes faster, cutting delays by nearly half, they found.
Even if just ten per cent of riders joined in, more than 60 per cent of cardiac arrests were successfully attended.
During rush hours, only 13 per cent of riders needed to respond to cover 80 per cent of cases.
Writing in the Canadian Journal of Cardiology, Dr Jen-Tang Sun, of Far Eastern Memorial Hospital, added: “We were encouraged to see that even low response rates might yield meaningful time savings, and that the model appeared effective during off-peak hours despite reduced availability.”
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Call 911 or emergency medical services for these symptoms
How to respond to cardiac arrest
A cardiac arrest is an emergency.
If you’re with someone who’s having a cardiac arrest, call 999, start CPR and use a defibrillator if there’s one nearby.
Follow instructions from the 999 operator until emergency services take over.
Starting immediate CPR is vital as it keeps blood and oxygen moving to the brain and around the body.
A defibrillator will then deliver a controlled electric shock to try and get the heart beating normally again.
Public access defibrillators are often in places like train stations and shopping centres.
Anyone can use one and you don’t need training to do so.
WE may be in the midst of a late summer heatwave, but clearly some people are thinking ahead to Christmas – as Morrisons has already started selling mince pies.
An eagle-eyed shopper posted an image of the festive dessert on sale at their local Morrisons in Sheffield on August 16.
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The festive treats were found in the bakery aisle of a Morrisons in Sheffield
The photo, on Instagram account @newfoodspotteruk, shows a pack of six shortcrust mince pies, priced at £1.50 and set to expire on August 29 – almost four months before Christmas.
Mince pies are also available on the Morrisons website at the same price point. As well as shortcrust, deep filled (£2) and puff pastry (£1) mince pies are also now on sale.
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Shoppers were outraged at the high street chain stocking Yuletide snacks in August
“Get stuffed it’s still summer,” commented one outraged follower. Others were less concerned, with one remarking that the pies “need some Baileys squirty cream [clapping emoji]”.
Morrisons is not the only major retailer with Christmas products for sale in the height of summer. Rival supermarket ASDA were already selling their range of mince pies in June.
Meanwhile, B&M were recently at the centre of an online spat after they were caught stocking Advent calendars and selection boxes.
One concerned commenter complained: “The way the chocolate is going in b&m during this heat, I would hate to think what it would be like in Dec!”
It’s also not the first time shoppers have noticed Morrisons stocking festive treats in summer.
Earlier in August, a father of three was shocked to find Milkybars branded with snowflake and other yuletide imagery on the shelves. Last year, The Telegraph reported that the chain was selling six different types of mince pie by the end of August.
When it comes to non-food items, like Advent calendars or decorations, experts note that August is the ideal time to start shopping and bag a bargain.
Growing up, Melanie Scrofano had a hard time relating to other kids — especially other girls. And though she felt like she was able to fit in with the boys for a while, it was a phase that also eventually ended.
“It was just a lonely existence,” the actor says during a recent Zoom call, “which I think was a gift. Because as I got older, I [realized] your female peers are your superpower, and I really started trying to cultivate those relationships.”
Nowadays, Scrofano is best known for work on TV that center such bonds between women. She says experiencing just how special the relationship between sisters can be during her time on “Wynonna Earp” — a supernatural western about fiercely loving your family — made it something she’s drawn to in projects.
“I think I crave those relationships because there’s a safety in them that I never found when I was younger,” says Scrofano, who emphasizes that it helps that she’s been “spoiled” by her castmates. “Yes, I’ve gravitated to those stories, but partly, it’s fate and luck that these people who make it so easy to fall in love with them fall into my lap.”
Her latest series, “Revival,” which premiered last week on Syfy (the first episode will hit Peacock on Thursday), is also anchored by the relationship between two sisters. Created by Aaron B. Koontz and Luke Boyce, the supernatural mystery revolves around a small Wisconsin town where one day, people who have recently died suddenly come back to life. The show is based on the comic book series by Tim Seeley and Mike Norton.
Melanie Scrofano’s Dana Cypress with her father, Wayne (David James Elliott), in “Revival.”
(Naomi Peters / Lavivier Productions / Syfy)
Scrofano stars as Dana Cypress, a single mother and local police officer who is simply trying to provide for her kid. Audiences first meet Dana as she is packing up her house to chase a new opportunity away from her hometown.
“It’s a small town, [and] once people have decided who you are, that’s who you are,” says Scrofano, who also serves as an executive producer on the series. “[But] Dana knows she can be more. … So she wants to get out of there and fulfill the promise she knows that she has in herself.”
Unfortunately, the sudden resurrection of the town’s recently deceased derails Dana’s plans. The series follows Dana as she investigates the situation around the no-longer-dead, dubbed “revivers” in the show’s parlance, as well as other (possibly related) crimes. She’s also navigating a strained relationship with her father and a budding romance while trying to reconnect with her estranged younger sister.
What struck Scrofano about the character is that she is not defined by her job or any one specific role.
“She [feels] like a real human being,” Scrofano says of Dana. “She’s simply a woman trying to exist and achieve her dreams in a way that is feeling impossible, and there’s nothing more human than that.”
The revivers, Scrofano explains, are also human — real people who appear to have returned just as they were before they died, rather than as undead zombie-like monsters — at least for the most part. But much of the world no longer sees them that way, and views differ on how the revivers should be treated.
“The rules [that apply to them] have changed, even though they have not,” Scrofano says. “So as a metaphor for how we treat people who are different than us, I was really compelled by that. How do you fight for what’s right when you don’t fully understand what’s going on, but in your heart, you know we need to stand by these people?”
Dana’s sister Em (Romy Weltman), right, confronting Arlene Stankiewiscz (Nicky Guadagni) in “Revival.”
(Naomi Peters / Lavivier Productions / Syfy)
Although the show is set in 2006 — as evidenced by everybody’s flip phones — the themes it touches have become timely. While the revivers are more a general metaphor for those who are deemed “other,” the show arrives at a moment when immigrants and their status in the U.S. have been challenged by the federal government ostensibly for public safety reasons, leading to people being targeted for what they look like. (Scrofano was interviewed before the recent immigration raids and unrest in Los Angeles.)
Also topical is how the ideological rift between Dana and her father, town sherriff Wayne Cypress (David James Elliott), is a source of tension. They hold differing views regarding their duty as well as attitudes towards revivers.
“So many families right now I find are quite divided because of what’s going on in the world,” Scrofano says. “I love the story of a fight to find common ground between them. … They’re forced to find it … and that gives me hope that it could inspire people who might be in those divisions to try to find their way back to each other in a way that feels respected and fulfilling for both sides.”
The series touches on relevant themes through its supernatural allegory, but “Revival” tells more than one story. As Scrofano describes, “it’s got horror, it’s got comedy, it’s got family, it’s got paranormal [and] it’s got true crime.”
Dana’s relationship with her younger sister Em (Romy Weltman) checks off a few of those boxes.
Em was born with osteogenesis imperfecta, also known as brittle bone disease, so her family has treated her delicately her entire life.
“Growing up, we were all very protective of her,” Scrofano says of her character’s family. “Much in the way that Dana is defined and can’t escape the definition of who she is, Em has the same burden. There’s a distance there that happened because Dana couldn’t get close … because all of her life [her] dad would have said, ‘Don’t touch. Be careful.’ ”
The sisters grew distant some time prior to the beginning of the show, but the mysterious events happening in their town bring them back into each other’s orbit. They try to reconnect, discussing how much the sisters can and will touch because of Em’s condition.
“We’re rediscovering our relationship in this new way,” says Scrofano. “Because of what she’s gone through, it frees her from certain things and frees us to be able to bond in a way that we couldn’t previously.”
Scrofano calls Weltman, who portrays Em, “a blessing.”
“Romy is one of the most thoughtful, considerate, compassionate people I’ve ever met, and she’s wise beyond her years,” she says.
Scrofano acknowledges that there are some similarities between “Revival” and the show she is best known for: “Wynonna Earp,” on which she played the eponymous, initially reluctant demon hunter. The Syfy series premiered in 2016 and gained a devoted following over its four-season run. A special, “Wynonna Earp: Vengeance,” was released on Tubi last year.
Dana (Melanie Scrofano) and a reviver in “Revival.”
(Mathieu Savidant / Lavivier Productions / Syfy)
Both are supernatural shows featuring a group of reanimated dead folks and a central relationship between sisters. Scrofano admits that she felt some pressure to make sure Dana and Wynonna were separate enough that the former did not feel like a derivative of the latter, since “ ‘Wynonna’ is such a special thing.”
She even jokes about avoiding the word “curse” when discussing “Revival” just to maintain the distance between the two shows, but she also makes it clear that the similarities only go so far.
“I’m not going to try to convince people there isn’t … an obvious parallel, but that’s kind of where it ends,” Scrofano says. She does share one less obvious connection between the two shows, explaining it was “Wynonna Earp” writer-producer Noelle Carbonewho initially reached out to her about the “Revival” role.
That Scrofano is a bit protective of “Wynonna Earp” is understandable. The cast and crew have spoken often about the show’s fiercely loyal and compassionate fanbase over the years. The show also helped kick off Scrofano’s writing and directing career.
“‘Wynonna’ opened so many doors creatively,” Scrofano says. “Because it’s opened so many doors, I don’t feel the pressure of [having] to escape some mold that Wynonna has created or that I’ve created for myself through her.”
In a conversation that detours through jokes about the composition of turduckens, nostalgia about the state of jeans worn during the aughts and comparing the background decor visible in each of our Zoom windows, Scrofano is most engaged when discussing storytelling.
She shares how as a child growing up with anxiety, thinking about “Married… With Children” episodes was the one way she was able to settle her mind. Identifying with “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” led her to start martial arts. She also has deep love for “Spaceballs, “ Weird Science” and “Labyrinth.”
And what Scrofano loves about her job and shows like “Revival” is that they give people an opportunity to “search for answers through these stories” and characters to foster empathy and understanding toward others.
“By doing what we do, we hopefully can empower people to at least tolerate each other a little bit better,” Scrofano says.
MCVITIES has rolled out a new flavour of Jaffa Cakes and shoppers are divided.
The brand has launched plenty of alternatives to the classic orange over the years, but this one has been accused of taking the biscuit.
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Jaffa Cakes come in a variety of flavours, including raspberry and cherry
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Jaffa Cakes have a brand new flavour and it’s caused a stir
Jaffa Cakes have jumped on the Hot Honey trend and have unveiled the first-ever ‘swicy’ flavour.
In case you are not yet familiar with the term, ‘swicy’ is used to describe foods that are both sweet and spicy.
The new flavour combines the sweetness of honey with a chilli kick, which is sandwiched between the signature crackly dark chocolate and the famous sponge cake.
The controversial hot cakes are exclusively on sale at Asda stores nationwide for £1.50 for a box of 10.
They will be rolled out to other retailers from the end of July.
Over on Facebook, the Hot Honey snacks have caused a stir, and some fans have bees in their bonnets.
“I love Hot Honey and I love Jaffa Cakes but I think this will be a miss,” one wrote.
“Not a chance mate,” added another.
One person suggested: “They will do everything but not a white chocolate Jaffa Cake.”
But not everyone was against the latest addition.
SWEET TOOTH ‘A tangy twist’, cry fans over 85p packs of Jaffa Cakes in a unique flavour
“I am definitely intrigued,” a Facebook user wrote.
“Oh might have to try these,” agreed a second, while another echoed: “That sounds like an acquired taste.”
On Dansway Gifts and Bargain UK’s Facebook post, followers tagged friends to share the news.
Some added heart-eye emojis to the comment section.
Jessica Woolfrey, Marketing Manager for Jaffa Cakes, says: “At Jaffa Cakes, we’re known for doing things a little differently.
“As the only cake in the biscuit aisle, it makes sense that our newest flavour brings an unexpected twist.
“We’re super excited to introduce Hot Honey Flavour to the Jaffa Cakes family – tapping into the viral ‘swicy’ trend with a perfectly balanced sweet-meets-heat flavour.”
Last year, the brand unveiled another unusual flavour based on retro childhood sweets.
The Cola Bottle flavour was the first ever non-fruit flavour since the first Jaffa Cake was made in 1927.
It had a similar response from snackers, who either loved or hated them.
McVities has also rolled out raspberry and cherry flavours – which have both gone down well with customers.
