General news
I trusted a tanning salon — now I’m battling stage 3 cancer
A young mother has shared her journey after being diagnosed with Stage 3 melanoma — one of the most aggressive forms of skin cancer — which develops in the cells responsible for producing skin pigment.
She believes her regular use of sunbeds played a major role in her diagnosis.
During an interview, she said:
“I’d just been diagnosed with Stage 3 Melanoma – an aggressive type of skin cancer – and told my love of tanning was to blame.
“It was a huge shock. I honestly had no idea they were dangerous.
You see warnings on cigarette packets, and photos of people with lung cancer, but you never see a picture of a person with skin cancer in a tanning shop.
“It’s not just a lack of warning about the health risks.
“Now, a BBC investigation has found tanning companies spreading dangerous misinformation on social media about how sunbeds can actually be good for you; falsely claiming, for example, that doctors prescribe sun beds for issues like seasonal depression and skin disorders.
I don’t want anyone to be convinced that sunbeds can be beneficial to our mental or physical health.
“This is highly damaging misinformation, and it’s terrifying. I wish I hadn’t experienced the very real dangers of sunbeds first hand; but, as I learned that day with the nurse, I have.
And I paid the price.
“I didn’t even think of myself as an excessive user. I might have gone two or three times a week before a holiday or night out. But then I wouldn’t go again for months.
“That’s still a form of sunbed abuse,’ the nurse told me. She likened it to binge drinking – avoiding booze all week and then getting drunk on a Saturday night.
“I was only 16 when I went on a sunbed for the first time. Everyone I knew did it – my mum, aunts, cousins and friends.
“My mum was going to the tanning shop and asked if I wanted to go with her. I had a three-minute tan that first time and afterwards I felt great – like I was glowing.
I found out later that it’s actually illegal for tanning shops, beauty salons and other commercial premises in the UK to allow anyone under 18 to use a sunbed, but no one ever asked my age.
“But I was hooked. I started tanning regularly. I’m very pale, with a lot of moles, so I felt like it gave my skin a base colour.
Everyone around me was doing it.
“On the weekends, my friends and I would make a trip to our local salon. I rarely went alone – it was more of a social thing. If somebody else was going, I’d tag along.
“I left school at 16 and went into hairdressing so there was a big focus on beauty. You got your hair done, you got your nails done and you got a tan.
“I grew up in Belfast, which is one of the UK’s sunbed hotspots – according to charity Melanoma Focus, 37% of adults in Belfast use sunbeds. It’s just the done thing.
“By the time I turned 20 I fell pregnant with my daughter Connie, now four, and during my pregnancy I didn’t go near sunbeds. To me it felt like smoking or drinking while pregnant – it was just something I didn’t think it was right to do.
“But after giving birth I went back to the tanning shops. It felt like a wee treat and a bit of me time.
“In the chaos of being a first-time mum, I found it was also a lot quicker than getting my nails or hair done – it was easier to fit in around childcare.
“Then, in the summer of 2022 I noticed a black mole growing on my right cheek.
“I’m a fairly moley person so at first I wasn’t too worried, but then it started looking different to my other moles – it kept scabbing over, dropping off, then growing again. This went on for a couple of months.
“I sent photos to my GP. They weren’t worried either but they referred me to a dermatologist just to be on the safe side.
“In September 2022 I had the mole removed at a dermatology clinic and sent away to be biopsied. It would take six weeks to get my results, and during that time I didn’t really think about it. There hadn’t been any red flags yet.
“Finally, the clinic called me and invited me to go in for my results.
It was awkward to arrange childcare, so I asked them why I couldn’t get them over the phone.
“They told me I needed to go in person and to bring someone with me. That’s when I first realised.
“Driving to the clinic, I started to feel anxious. The phone call had unsettled me, something didn’t feel right.
“At first, they said it looked like Stage 2 Melanoma and referred me to the Ulster Hospital, in Belfast, to have a larger section of tissue on my face – where the mole had been – removed.
“They couldn’t tell me what my face would look like afterwards or how big the scar would be, but by that time my priority was staying alive.
“I knew things were more serious than I’d first thought.
“I had the surgery in February 2023 and also woke up with a scar on my neck where an associated lymph node had been removed – to test to see if the cancer had spread.
“Waiting for the next set of results to find out if it had spread into my lymph nodes – six weeks felt like six years.
“I was crying a lot, although of course I tried to hide my upset from Connie. I just told her mummy was poorly and needed to go to hospital to get better.
“The results showed the melanoma had spread to my lymph nodes so it was upgraded to Stage 3 and I was referred to Belfast City Hospital’s Cancer Centre for MRI and CT scans to check it hadn’t spread anywhere else, which thankfully it hadn’t.
“That’s when it really began to sink in that I had cancer. People think if they get a bad mole it will just be removed and that’s that, but melanoma means cancer.
My family and friends were a huge support, and also helped keep Connie occupied and entertained.
“This month, I’ve come to the end of a year of targeted immunotherapy treatment, and I’m now cancer-free.
“But it isn’t over – I’ll now have five years of monitoring scans every six months, to make sure the cancer doesn’t come back.
“They will also do mole-mapping – it’s where I have to stand in my underwear and every single mole on my body is measured and photographed. They can then track any changes every time they check my moles.
“My mum and other family members have stopped using sunbeds now. A lot of my friends have stopped too, but not all – people still think it won’t happen to them.
“That’s what I thought until it happened to me.
It’s not just sunbeds – getting sunburnt is another risk factor for developing skin cancer, and I remember getting burnt on family holidays as a child.
“One year, as a 10-year-old, in Egypt was particularly bad – I remember my shoulders were so blistered that my mum applied Greek yoghurt from the hotel bar to cool our skin.
“We always think our sunburns are just something we need to quickly recover from, and never consider the long-term effects.
Being scared of her daughter that would not see her while she grows up, she added: “And now, my biggest fear now is not being around to see Connie grow up.
“I’m a mum and she needs me. I’ve seen other people my age, with the same diagnosis, tragically pass away.
“This is very real and skin cancer needs to be taken more seriously – as do the claims that some unscrupulous companies are putting in front of impressionable teenagers.
“If I could travel back in time I’d tell my younger self that having a tan is just not worth it, and I would tell everyone else to look at everything you have – and not be tempted to play Russian roulette with your life.”
General news
I’m Sorry I Was Unable to Make It to the End – Adult Star Lulu LoveBottom Dies After Being Hurt by Someone he Trusted
Drake was reportedly found dead at his apartment in Los Angeles on Monday, September 7, after law enforcement and emergency responders were called to the location.
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A spokesperson for the Los Angeles Fire Department said a medical call involving an adult male prompted the dispatch of an engine and rescue units. The man was pronounced dead at the scene and was not taken to a hospital.
The Los Angeles Police Department is reportedly handling the death investigation.
His final post read:
“I love you and I’m sorry I was unable to make it to the end. GOODBYE FOREVER. Love, LuLu.”
A close friend of Drake also reportedly confirmed that he had died.
According to reports, Drake had been open about his struggles and emotions before his death, with his final message suggesting that he had been deeply hurt by someone close to him.
See below………
General news
We Hope That the Corpse Will Be Recovered So We Can Give Him a Befitting Burial – Father Mourns as His 13-Year-Old Son Is Swept Away by Flood in Abuja
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The tragic incident occurred on Wednesday, September 9, as the teenager was reportedly on his way to school with his father, Jamil Maikasuwa.
Narrating the incident, Maikasuwa told Daily Trust that he had picked up his son on his motorcycle and was taking him to school when they reached a double-cell culvert.
Maikasuwa said he immediately pushed the motorcycle aside and attempted to save his son, but the strong current swept the teenager away.
He said:
“Upon discovering that the flood water was coming on high speed, I applied brake but my son, out of fear, jumped from the bike and suddenly fell into the flood water. And immediately when I discovered he jumped down from the bike, I quickly pushed the bike aside and tried to grab his hand in order to save him but unfortunately, the flood water swept him away,”
Maikasuwa, who serves as the Special Assistant to the Chairman of the council on Domestic Affairs, said his son’s body had not been recovered at the time of the report.
He disclosed that fishermen and divers had been mobilised to search for the teenager.
According to him, some residents living close to the riverbank claimed they had seen what appeared to be the boy’s body floating in the water with his school bag still strapped to his back.
He said:
“Actually, my son’s corpse is yet to be recovered, even though some residents whose houses are close to the river bank said they discovered the corpse with his school bag strapped to his back floating. We hope that the corpse will be recovered so we can give him a befitting burial,”
General news
No Need for School for You, Just Go and Marry – People React as Liberian Girl Happily Shows Off Her F9 Parallel WAEC Result
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In a screenshot of the result shared online, Blessing appeared to have failed her science-related subjects as well as other courses listed on the result.
Sharing the screenshot, Blessing wrote:
“Lord, I’m forever grateful call me unstoppable blessing till October 17”
The post has since circulated on social media, with people reacting to her positive attitude despite the disappointing examination result.
General news
Italian Catholic Priest Dumps Priesthood and Marries Kenyan Woman After Falling in Love Following Years of Celibacy
An Italian Catholic priest, Father Sandro Ferretto, has reportedly left the priesthood and married a Kenyan woman after years of living a celibate life as a Catholic priest.
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Ferretto previously served as a Catholic parish priest in Kasiela and Mochongoi in Baringo County, Kenya, where he carried out missionary work and became familiar with the local community.
It was during his time in the region that he reportedly met Sharon Jepng’ok, a Tugen woman and daughter of former councillor John Wendot.
The former priest has now married Sharon in a traditional wedding ceremony held at Seretion Village in Kasiela, Baringo South.
The marriage marks a major change in Ferretto’s life after spending years serving as a Catholic priest, a role that required him to observe celibacy.
See videos below………
For years, Father Sandro stood at the altar in the Kasiela region of Mochongoi, leading Mass and upholding the Roman Catholic Church's absolute vow of celibacy. However, the Italian-born cleric made a profound life shift when he stepped down from his pastoral duties to embrace a… pic.twitter.com/E4wT9bPhLp
— The Kenyan Vigilante (@KenyanSays) September 7, 2026
Former Catholic priest Father Sandro, also known as Sandro Ferretto, has left the priesthood and married his partner, Sharon Jepngok, a Tugen woman from Baringo South.
— Ⓝⓖ'ⓞⓡⓞⓡⓘⓔⓣ🐐🇰🇪 (@baroswahjr) September 7, 2026
The Italian born former cleric previously served as a parish priest in the Kasiela and Mochongoi region of… pic.twitter.com/EU7tI5a6Cy
General news
Man Sentenced to Life in Prison Plus Additional 40–80 Years for Murdering His Pregnant Girlfriend
A man identified as Justin Smith has been sentenced to life in prison for the murder of his 21-year-old pregnant girlfriend, Dianna Brice, who was 14 weeks pregnant when she was killed.
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Brice disappeared in March 2021 after she was reportedly last seen leaving a laundromat while crying and getting into Smith’s car.
According to prosecutors, Smith murdered Brice inside his vehicle before seeking help from his best friend, Tylydia Garnett, to dispose of her body and destroy evidence connected to the killing.
Prosecutors also presented surveillance footage showing Smith and Garnett loading a heavy object into the back of Garnett’s vehicle.
Brice’s blood was later discovered inside the boot of the car, according to investigators.
After dumping Brice’s body, Smith reportedly set his own vehicle on fire in an attempt to destroy evidence. Investigators later recovered cartridge casings from the burned-out car that matched a casing found in Brice’s clothing.
Smith and Garnett reportedly fled to Miami on the same day Brice was killed.
Four years on the run
Smith remained a fugitive for approximately four years before he was arrested in March 2025.
He was eventually taken into custody after being stopped by police in Atlanta, Georgia.
A jury later convicted Smith of first-degree murder, third-degree murder of an unborn child, arson, conspiracy to commit arson, firearms offences, tampering with evidence and abuse of a corpse.
He has now been sentenced to mandatory life imprisonment without parole, followed by an additional 40 to 80 years for the other convictions.
Garnett, who prosecutors said assisted Smith after the killing, had previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit arson, tampering with evidence, hindering apprehension and abuse of a corpse.
She has already been sentenced and is currently on probation.
Brice was already a mother to her four-year-old son, AJ, at the time of her death.
Shitsui Hakoishi, recognised as the world’s oldest female barber, has died at the age of 109.
Hakoishi died on September 1, 2026, after spending more than seven decades working in the barbering profession.
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Her journey began when she was just 14 years old, when she started training to become a barber. She later obtained her professional licence in 1936.
However, their family was later affected by the Second World War.
In 1944, her husband was drafted into the Japanese Army and sent to Manchuria. He died at Tiger’s Head, in what is now Jilin Province, China, on August 19, 1945, just four days after Japan announced its surrender.
Hakoishi did not receive official confirmation of her husband’s death until 1953.
Her life was also deeply affected by the war when the family’s Tokyo barber shop was destroyed during the devastating air raid on the capital on March 10, 1945.
Following the destruction of the shop, Hakoishi returned to Tochigi, where she raised her children while continuing to work as a barber.
She eventually opened her own barber shop in 1953 and remained in the profession for more than 70 years.
Hakoishi’s remarkable career earned her international recognition.
In March 2025, Guinness World Records recognised her as the world’s oldest female barber at the age of 108.
Even in her later years, she continued to take part in public activities.
At the age of 104, Hakoishi participated in the Tokyo Olympic torch relay in 2021, carrying the Olympic torch for approximately 200 metres.
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In a post shared on Facebook by Ini Imah, the girl was found lying on the road at Etta-Agbor Layout in Calabar, Cross River State.
According to the post, the girl appeared weak and was unable to speak at the time she was found. Some Good Samaritans suspected she might have been hungry and bought her Sprite and bread.
She was later taken to the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital (UCTH), where she reportedly received food, an injection and medication.
However, the post claimed that the hospital did not admit her because a police extract was required.
The Good Samaritan who took her to the hospital later brought her back to Etta-Agbor Layout, where she was reportedly sleeping at the time of the update.
He wrote: “She was found today, abandoned at Etagbo Layout. Feeling very weak and unable to talk, a case of hunger was suspected, and Sprite with bread were bought for her.
After eating, she gathered a little energy and revealed that she was r^ped by 3 skolombo boys around CUDA.
She was then taken by a good Nigerian to UCTH, where she got food, injection and medication.
UCTH reportedly refused admitting her, demanding for Police Extract.
The good Nigerian brought her back to the spot at Etagbo Layout, where she is presently sleeping”
A 31-year-old Chinese lecturer in South Korea has been arrested and charged after a 25-year-old female graduate student he was reportedly dating was found dead and dismembered.
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The lecturer, identified as Zheng Changsheng, is accused of killing the student at his studio apartment in Gyeongsan City in the early hours of August 20 before disposing of her remains in different locations.
According to police, the victim, who was also Chinese, had gone to Zheng’s apartment on August 14 to collect her master’s diploma. She later disappeared on the night of her graduation ceremony.
CCTV footage reportedly showed Zheng and the victim entering his apartment at around 2pm on August 20.
Afterwards, Zheng reported the woman missing and told police that he was her boyfriend. Investigators said his account later came under suspicion.
Police also accused him of turning off the woman’s phone near Dongdaegu Station and wearing her clothes in an attempt to create the impression that she had moved around the area.
Zheng was arrested on the street on August 25, while the victim’s body was found at his apartment the same day.
Local police have released his name and photograph and said the publication period will run until October 1.
Zheng is facing charges including murder, mutilating a body, abandoning a corpse, concealing a corpse and obstructing police officers.
The Daegu District Court ordered that he remain in custody over concerns that he could flee.
During questioning, Zheng reportedly told investigators that he and the victim had an argument before he strangled her. His account remains an allegation made during interrogation and is not a court finding.
He initially refused to undergo a psychological assessment but later agreed to the examination. The results have not been made public.
Meanwhile, the university has begun investigating whether Zheng made inappropriate advances towards other Chinese students.
The Chinese Consulate in Busan has also called for a full investigation and severe punishment if the allegations are proven.
The victim’s identity has not been publicly released, while the prosecution file is now before the courts.
General news
Two Workers Found Alive After Spending Nine Days Trapped in Flooded Nepal Hydropower Tunnel
Rescue teams in Nepal have pulled two workers alive from a hydropower tunnel, nine days after they became trapped following devastating floods.
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The two men were rescued from the Trishuli 3A hydropower tunnel on Friday as emergency teams continued searching for other workers believed to remain trapped underground.
The flooding is suspected to have been caused by a glacier collapse, which left several workers stranded inside the tunnel and triggered a major rescue operation.
The rescue was announced by Nepalese lawmaker Shri Ram Neupane, who shared the development on his Facebook page shortly after Army spokesperson Brig. Gen. Raja Ram Basnet confirmed that the first trapped worker had been rescued.
Officials said both rescued workers were in stable condition. They were subsequently flown to a hospital in Kathmandu, where they are receiving medical treatment.
Rescue teams are continuing their efforts to locate the other workers who are believed to still be trapped inside the tunnel.
General news
She Was Chained for 7 Months – Woman Shares Before-and-After Photos of Her Brother’s Wife After Kidnapping
In the video, the woman shared an earlier clip of her sister-in-law before she was reportedly taken away in January 2026.
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She captioned the video: “Before my brother wife was kidnapped in January 2026”
Responding to a follower who asked what was done to the woman during the seven months, she claimed that her sister-in-law was chained by the leg throughout the period she was allegedly held captive.
See video below……….
@amazingwok This is a testament that God is good. #freeatlast #happiness #fypシ #viral #nigeria ♬ original sound – Light lyrics