Officials ordered a new evacuation for the Line fire Sunday, Sept. 29, nearly a month after the fire in the San Bernardino Mountains was first reported.
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New evacuation order and warnings issued Sunday as Line fire flares up
3 California firefighters seriously injured in Texas crash while heading to assist in hurricane response
Three members of the San Diego Fire-Rescue Department were seriously injured in a vehicle crash early Sunday while heading to assist in hurricane relief efforts in North Carolina, officials said.
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World first as woman, 25, ‘cured’ of her type 1 diabetes after groundbreaking stem cell transplant
SCIENTISTS claim to have reversed a woman’s type 1 diabetes with a pioneering stem cell transplant.
The 25-year-old had suffered from the chronic condition for more than a decade.
She previously relied on regular insulin injections, as well as closely monitoring what she ate.
But following “minimally-invasive” surgery using cells from her own body, she started producing her own insulin.
After less than three months, the woman was able to naturally regulate her blood sugar.
“I can eat sugar now,” the patient, from Tianjin, China, said.
“I enjoy eating everything — especially hotpot.”
It is understood to be the first case of its kind.
James Shapiro, a transplant surgeon and researcher at the University of Alberta in Edmonton, Canada, who was not involved with the treatment, described the results as “stunning”.
“They’ve completely reversed diabetes in the patient, who was requiring substantial amounts of insulin beforehand,” he added.
The technique involves converting existing cells into personalised stem cells, which are then used to grow clusters of fresh islets.
During a 30-minute procedure, carried out in June 2023, these were then transplanted into the woman’s abdominal muscles, where they began producing hormones to help regulate sugars in the body.
Two and a half months later, the woman was producing enough insulin to live without needing top-ups, and she has sustained this level for more than a year.
She no longer experiences dangerous spikes and drops in blood glucose levels, which remain within a target range for more than 98 per cent of the day.
“That’s remarkable,” Daisuke Yabe, a diabetes researcher at Kyoto University, said.
“If this is applicable to other patients, it’s going to be wonderful.”
Experts say she will be deemed “cured” if she continues to produce insulin in this way for five years.
Type 1 vs type 2 diabetes
There are two main types of diabetes, which causes a person’s blood sugar level to become too high.
Type 1 diabetes is a lifelong condition where the body’s immune system attacks and destroys the cells that produce the hormone insulin.
It affects around 344,000 people in the UK.
Type 2 diabetes on the other hand is far more common, accounting for more than 90 per cent of the 4.4million adults with diabetes.
It occurs when the body doesn’t produce enough insulin, or the body’s cells don’t react to it properly.
There are no lifestyle changes you can make to lower your risk of type 1 diabetes.
But you may be at higher risk of type 2 diabetes if you are overweight or obese, eat unhealthily, have a family history of the condition, take certain medications for a long time, have high blood pressure, and have had gestational diabetes during pregnancy.
People of Asian, Black African or African Caribbean origin are also at increased risk.
Source: NHS and Diabetes UK
The development, published in the journal Cell, builds on a related milestone in Shanghai in April.
Scientists successfully transplanted insulin-producing islets into the liver of a 59-year-old man with type 2 diabetes.
The islets were also derived from reprogrammed stem cells taken from the man’s own body.
The patient received the groundbreaking cell therapy in 2021 and has been off all medication since 2022.
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The studies are among a handful of trials using stem cells to treat diabetes, which affects about half a billion people worldwide.
Some 1.5million deaths are directly attributed to it every year, according to the World Health Organization.
Most people have type 2 diabetes, when the body doesn’t produce enough insulin or the body’s cells don’t react properly to it.
But a proportion have type 1 diabetes, which sees the body’s immune system attack and destroy the cells that produce insulin.
Islet cells can be transplanted from donors to treat the condition, but experts say there aren’t enough to meet growing demand.
Recipients must also use immune-suppressing drugs to prevent the body from rejecting the donor tissue, which limits the number of possible beneficiaries.
Scientists hope that using a patient’s own stem cells, which can divide and develop into many different types of cells, could offer “limitless” options.
However, the Tianjin patient was already taking immunosuppressants so it is unclear if similar results would be found in those not on the drugs.
Stem cell transplants - the future
A STEM cell or bone marrow transplant replaces damaged blood cells with healthy ones.
Stem cells are special cells produced by bone marrow (a spongy tissue found in the centre of some bones) that can turn into different types of blood cells – mainly red, white and platelets.
Transplants are often used to treat conditions affecting the blood, such as leukaemia and lymphoma, but scientists hope they will have widespread use for diabetes in the near future.
Stem cells can be taken from the blood or bone marrow of a healthy person – ideally a close family member or someone with the same or similar tissue type – before being transferred into someone else.
However, it is also possible to remove stem cells from your own body and transplant them later after any damaged or diseased cells have been removed.
Source: NHS
Wrexham targeting shock place in European football as they enter ‘transformational’ talks to switch competitions
LEAGUE ONE side Wrexham could soon be on the fast-track to European football.
The ambitious Welsh club have joined Cardiff, Swansea, and Newport County in discussions to rejoin the Welsh League Cup.
The four clubs have recently been engaged in talks with the Football Association of Wales, according to the BBC.
They have presented plans – known as Prosiect Cymru or Project Wales – to Uefa, the Football Association, the Premier League and clubs in the Welsh Premier.
It would see the four clubs, who all play in England’s domestic leagues, partake in the annual Welsh Cup.
Wrexham have won the competition a record 23 times but haven’t participated since 2011.
Winning the tournament gives one team a chance to play in the Europa Conference League.
The Prosiect Cymru report states: “Welsh football is in a unique position within European football in that its largest clubs play in the domestic league of another country (England).
“This has historically limited the ability of Welsh domestic clubs to be competitive in Uefa club competitions.
“An innovative solution to address this position has transformational potential for the whole Welsh football ecosystem from grassroots to the professional men’s and women’s game.”
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Currently, only domestic leagues in San Marino, Gibraltar, Andorra, Belarus and North Macedonia are ranked lower by Uefa than Wales.
The project hopes to boost Wales’ coefficient ranking and achieve greater prize money, with that revenue to be distributed amongst the Welsh pyramid.
Should the plans be put into action, the four clubs would all still play in England and contest English cup competitions.
But they would be unable to qualify for Europe through either the Premier League, FA Cup or EFL Cup routes.
Welsh-based clubs playing in the EFL were originally allowed into the Welsh Cup, up until 1995.
Between 1996 and 2011, teams playing their domestic football in England were banned from the tournament.
How Ryan Reynolds has been watching Wrexham games in style
CO-OWNER Ryan Reynolds hasn't been able to make it to Wrexham in recent weeks due to filming commitments.
But that hasn’t stopped him from watching his team in style.
Streaming the match on a laptop or even a TV was not grand enough for the Deadpool star as he worked on the set of his latest movie.
With a giant green screen behind him, he could not resist broadcasting Wrexham’s recent game on to the huge projector.
Reynolds and his crew watched on as the Welsh side notched their 23rd win of the season against Crawley Town.
He looked enamoured as the game played on behind him while surrounding by various pieces of Hollywood machinery.
And Reynolds captioned the moment: “Watching the Wrexham game at work: new level unlocked.”
It’s not clear what project Reynolds was working on at the time, with the actor currently developing several new movies including sequels to smash hits Free Guy and Red Notice.
Three teams – including Wrexham – returned for a season in 2011 before being excluded again.
Cardiff, Swansea, Wrexham and Newport have all previously played in European competitions after qualifying through the Welsh Cup.
Wrexham’s ambitious owners Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds have helped catapult the club from non-league to League One.
They have made a superb start to the new season and look likely to challenge for promotion to the Championship.
My village was named best place to live in the UK – it’s just 1 hour from London and perfect for Autumn weekend breaks
JUST an hour train ride from London Bridge is a quaint village that was crowned best place to live in the UK in 2023 – and even if you don’t up sticks and move there, it’s a great weekend break.
Wadhurst, named best place to live by The Sunday Times last year, is a place I’ve called home for the last four years after deciding to leave city life during the pandemic.
It was a village I’d never heard of before, but offered a cheaper cost of living than London, while still being on a direct train route into the capital.
But boring essentials aside, it has plenty of other amazing attributes and this time of year is when it really shines.
If you’re looking for some beautiful walks and cosy pubs to warm up in this Autumn, I definitely recommend you visit.
Just a half an hour walk from Wadhurst train station, you’ll find yourself in the middle of the village high street.
There are Indian and pizza restaurants, a small supermarket, a butchers, deli, a florist, charity shops, and two pubs – everything you could need, all in one place.
The village is very picturesque with an historic charm and vibrant community, but there are a host of beautiful places beyond the high street.
Bewl Rookery is a smallholding which is home to 16 alpacas.
As well as being able to meet the alpacas, you can enjoy afternoon tea alongside them – for adults, it’s £48, for children 10 and under, £38.
Mousehall is a family-run, sustainable distillery and winery that makes chardonnay, pinot noir, pinot meunier and various gins.
Guided tasting experiences are £25, and you can also stay in Mousehall Oast – an 18th century traditional oast house that sleeps 6.
Virgin Hot Air Balloon Rides also launch from Wadhurst, offering views across the High Weals Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Prices start from £169 per person.
And if you’re looking for somewhere to stay, there’s Little Tidebrook Farm, a lovely converted granary offering bed and breakfast.
There are also plenty of walks and pubs nearby that are perfect for the Autumn months. Here are a few of my favourites below.
Wadhurst Park
Wadhurst Park is a 796 hectare estate that’s home to a range of wildlife, stunning natural landscapes and pretty walks.
Swedish industrialist and the founder of Tetra Pak, Hans Rausing bought the estate back in 1975, making it his main residence.
Following his death in 2019, the house remains a private residence of the Rausing family.
But walkers are welcome to enjoy the estate by following marked pathways.
There’s plenty of wildlife to see as the park has undergone huge conservation efforts.
It’s a partner in the White Stork Project, which aims to restore a self-sustaining breeding population of storks in southern England – many of which can be seen by the Wadhurst Park lake.
In recent years, a handful of Mangalitsa pigs were added to the park, to mimic the activity of wild boar and help restore the habitat by breaking up dense grass. Although I’m yet to see these on my walks!
The park is a 10-minute walk from Wadhurst High Street and there’s no entrance fee.
Bedgebury National Pinetum and Forest
Probably one of my favourite autumn walks is Bedgebury.
It’s a 17-minute drive away and does cost to park there, but is an absolutely stunning place to visit at this time of year.
Its huge variety of trees create a kaleidoscope of colour, and the reflection of this in the lakes makes for the perfect Autumn picture.
There’s fun for all the family available with children’s play areas, a Gruffalo trail, mountain biking tracks, and a cafe selling hot and cold food.
A gravel trail around the forest also means you don’t have to get muddy.
Parking for an hour is £4, £8 for two hours, £11.50 for three hours, and £14.50 for all day.
If you’re there around lunch or dinnertime, then it’s worth making the trip 5 minutes down the road to the Bull Inn in Ticehurst, a quintessential English pub with a stunning garden and roaring open fires.
Bewl Water
If you fancy a longer walk, Bewl Water, a reservoir that’s the largest stretch of open water in the South East, is nearby.
To walk round the whole thing takes approximately six hours (so not for the faint-hearted), but there are plenty of places to stop and rest, have a picnic, and take in the beautiful views across the water.
If you’re walking from Wadhurst, check a map for the best entry point.
It’s also a great place to head for fishing, and paddle boards and rowing boats are available for hire.
There’s even Aqua Park for adrenaline junkies – but maybe summer‘s best for getting in the water.
If you want somewhere to stay, there’s camping and glamping with Mongolian yurts available too.
Bewl Water is free for people walking in and £7 a day for parking.
The Bell pub in Ticehurst
Wadhurst has some lovely pubs, including The White Hart and The Greyhound Inn.
But my favourite pub in the area has to be The Bell in Ticehurst.
Just an eight minute drive away, The Bell is known for its tasty food, snug atmosphere, and eccentric design.
As well as a big open fireplace you’ll find exuberant art, top hats as lampshades, uneven floors, and four lodges you can stay in out the back, including a unique Love Nest.
One of its most notable features can be found in the men’s toilets – urinals made out of tubas.
The pub’s definitely worth a visit if you’re looking for something a bit different.
Equally great towns near Wadhurst to visit
Tunbridge Wells
A 17 minute drive away from Wadhurst is Tunbridge Wells – the closest big town if you’re looking for more shops and restaurants. The Pantiles walkway is an iconic feature in the town, famous for its Georgian architecture and independent shops and restaurants.
Hastings
Not far away is the seaside town of Hastings. You can hop on the train at Wadhurst and it’s at the end of the line (about 30 minutes away). Hastings’ medieval Old Town is a main attraction, with its narrow streets, antique shops, boutiques and cafes. The beach is pebbly, but the perfect place to sit down and enjoy some fish and chips.
Bodiam
Less than half an hour away is Bodiam, a small village but with a rather large castle. The castle is owned by the National Trust, and it another good place to head for an Autumn walk. If you’re looking for a bite to eat, there’s the Castle Inn across the road or The Hub @ Quarry Farm, which has the Kent & East Sussex Railway nearby.
Legendary trainer John Gosden signs up ‘fantastic’ new jockey
LEGENDARY trainer John Gosden has got a new addition to his Clarehaven yard – but it’s not a horse.
The iconic handler has snapped up the services of hot claimer Luke Catton.
The 26-year-old has moved from fellow Newmarket trainer, Stuart Williams, where he was based for three years, and is hoping to pick up some rides for the top-class yard.
The jock most notably partnered the Godolphin cast-off Quinault, who under Williams’ guidance transformed into a winning machine.
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Last year, Catton was unbeaten aboard the then three-year-old in six races straight, also striking gold in a £80,000 handicap at Ascot in September.
The trainer went on to credit Catton, who rode him out every morning, with the gelding’s development.
He said: “Luke has done a fantastic job settling him. The horse was just a runaway when he arrived – he would just bolt.”
Before his time in Newmarket, Catton was with Richard Hannon, who is well known for churning out top quality apprentices, not least Ryan Moore, Hollie Doyle, Tom Marquand and Rossa Ryan.
But the young jock is delighted with his new move, and told the Racing Post: “I’ve been at Clarehaven a couple of months now and I’ve gone there to get more experience.
“You’re surrounded by some of the best horses in the world and I’m riding out upsides the likes of Kieran Shoemark, Rab Havlin and Kieran O’Neill every day.
“I feel like I’m learning off the best, so it’s good experience and should sharpen me up a little bit.
“Hopefully, surrounded by jockeys like that, I can learn little bits off them and keep improving.”
“I’m quite lucky that I’ve had a couple of spins out of John and Thady already, and prior to that I had a great three years with Stuart Williams.
“I had a good association with Quinault there and I was lucky enough to win a big handicap on him.
“I’ve still got 42 winners on my claim and we’ll just keep kicking and see what happens. I’ve got Guy Jewell as my agent, who is different class, and Jim Boyle is one of the trainers who keeps me going.
“I’ll stick around for the all-weather and see what happens. Hopefully I can pick up some rides on rider-restricted cards that they put on.”
Gosden has had a turbulent season after parting ways with Frankie Dettori at the end of last year.
The Italian left behind his multi-million pound mansion and headed to America, where he has been living the high life until a stalls accident left him with a dislocated shoulder last week.
Gosden’s replacement, Kieran Shoemark, has been unable to win a Group 1 for the stable yet this season.
And he came under fire for his ride on Emily Upjohn in the Irish Oaks when she was pipped at the post by Ralph Beckett’s Bluestocking.
The jock was then given the boot by Chevely Park, losing the ride on Inspiral to Ryan Moore, who still couldn’t persuade the five-year-old to get her nose in front.
BREAKING: Tight Security at Edo govt house as Obaseki moves to stall Philip Shaibu’s return
There is currently heavy security at the Edo State government house (Osadebe Avenue) following reports that Philip Shaibu is plotting to resume office as Deputy Governor. The Edo House of Assembly had impeached Shaibu at the height of his rift with Governor Godwin Obaseki. However, he challenged the impeachment in court, saying the lawmakers did […]
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Tinubu swear in Kekere-Ekun as substantive CJN
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has sworn in Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun as the substantive 23rd Chief Justice of Nigeria. The swearing in ceremony, took place at the Council Chambers of the State House, on Monday morning. The ceremony followed the confirmation of Justice Kekere-ekun by the Senate last week. Among those present at the swearing in […]
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10 Big Differences Between Sauron & Morgoth In The Lord Of The Rings
The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power follows Sauron’s rise to power in the Second Age, but there have now been several mentions of his previous master, Morgoth. This original Dark Lord dominated Middle-earth long before the events of Prime Video’s Lord of the Rings series, and there are many ways that he …
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Protest: FCT Police Reveal ‘Plans’ For October 1
The Federal Capital Territory Police Command has assured residents of the nation’s capital city, Abuja, of a hitch-free and secure October 1 independence day celebration. The FCT Police Command gave the assurance in a statement on Monday by its Public Relations Officer, SP Josephine Adeh. The Police disclosed that it has strategically deployed adequate personnel and …
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