Latest from Saqr Aljidyan
Daily Mirror
4 minutes ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
We found a £35 lookalike for Lisa Snowdon's £1.3k colourful beaded necklace
Lisa Snowdon's colourful beaded necklace is the perfect summer accessory, and we've managed to find a great alternative to her £1.3k jewellery – that costs just £35 If there's one person we're always happy to take fashion advice from, it's Lisa Snowdon. As well as being the resident fashion expert on This Morning, Lisa also often shares her personal fashion finds on Instagram, which is where she gave followers the details of her summery jewellery. In a series of Instagram stories, Lisa can be seen wearing the Rainbow Beaded Necklace With ID Tag Pendant from Diane Kordas, which retails for £1295. Whilst we love the look, it's definitely a little out of budget for most of us, which is why we were thrilled to spot this much more affordable option from Peachy & Wild. The Rainbow Moonstone Smiley Face Necklace costs just £35 – considerably more affordable than Lisa's designer version. The price tag of Lisa's Diane Kordas necklace is justified thanks to its combination of 14k rose gold and white diamonds, however for something more everyday, the Peachy & Wild pendant is a perfect alternative. It's made from rainbow coloured moonstones which are slightly translucent, allowing them to catch the light beautifully. The necklace also features a delicate smiley face pendant in the middle, which is made from shell and makes the whole necklace just scream 'summer'. Although the necklace is perfect for bringing a little dopamine dressing to anyone's wardrobe, moonstone is also the birthstone for June, making it extra special for those with a June birthday. Whilst you can wear it on its own, it's also great for adding some colour and fun to a layered necklace stack. If you loved the sparkle and rectangular pendant dangling from Lisa's necklace, this Beaded Charm Cluster Necklace, £58, from Anthropologie is another gorgeous option. Its rainbow beads are grouped into colours along the chain, with a 14k gold-plated brass pendant, fish charm and small gemstone dangling from it. It also comes in three other colourways. If you prefer your necklace without any charms at all, this Good Vibes Multi Beaded Choker from Missoma is ideal. Plus the Kate Middleton-loved brand has just slashed its price down from £125 to £50, making now the perfect time to get your hands on it. However for some true accessory joy, we'll be snapping up the Rainbow Moonstone Smiley Face Necklace from Peachy & Wild. It also comes in three lengths, 41cm, 43cm or 45cm, so you can decide whether you want it as a snug choker or more of a dangling necklace. Join our Shopping & Deals WhatsApp for the best bargains and fashion news WHATSAPP: Get the best deals and exclusive discount codes straight to your phone via our WhatsApp group. Users must download or already have WhatsApp on their phones to join in. All you have to do to join is click on this link, select 'Join Chat' and you're in! We may also send you stories from other titles across the Reach group. We will also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. Some of these articles will contain affiliate links where we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from them. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose Exit group. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.
Irish Daily Mirror
5 minutes ago
- Irish Daily Mirror
Inside 'Crossbow Cannibal' flat where evil PhD student butchered sex workers
The stench was the first thing that struck the police officers as they stormed into Stephen Griffiths' compact Bradford flat - a blend of decay and burnt flesh. It didn't take long to trace the nauseating smell back to the dismembered body of a woman, who Griffiths had been seen on CCTV dragging back to his den. Suzanne Blamires, 36, had vanished from Bradford's red-light district just days before. She had been enticed home by Griffiths, who had made friends with some of the sex workers operating in the streets surrounding his flat. Suzanne was captured on the same CCTV camera fleeing in terror from his foul-smelling flat, pursued by the murderer wielding a black crossbow. After rendering her unconscious in the hallway, the beast dragged Suzanne back inside, then smirked at the camera and raised his middle finger in a derisive salute, reports the Mirror. It wasn't until the building's caretaker casually reviewed the footage on the morning of Monday, May 24, 2010 - three days later - that he noticed the altercation. It was witnessing Suzanne's final act of courage, her attempt to escape, that ultimately led to the capture of the self-proclaimed 'Crossbow Cannibal'. Griffiths, a criminology PhD student who idolised Yorkshire Ripper Peter Sutcliffe, amassed an arsenal of weapons and books about murder, nurturing dreams of becoming a serial killer. As a child, he would torment animals, ripping the wings off birds and smashing his own pet rat with a hammer. His younger siblings were subjected to violence. Griffiths designed a system whereby he would award them 'points' for annoying him. After accumulating a certain number of points, he would launch a vicious attack on them, ignoring their sobs of pain. But even they could not have predicted the twisted crimes he went on to commit against at least three women. Now, 15 years on from the Bradford murders, a new Prime Video documentary looks back at how the killer was able to get away with his crimes for so long - crimes which would have a lifelong impact on everyone involved. After the shocked caretaker and his manager called 999 to report the chilling CCTV footage, Damien Sharp, a former firearms tactical advisor with West Yorkshire Police, was tasked with planning and executing the raid to arrest Stephen Griffiths. His partner Adam Twigg was part of the ground team, poised to break down the killer's door and free the woman they hoped was still alive inside. Both men are speaking publicly about what they witnessed for the first time. "We had a collapsing time frame," says Damien. "We knew from the cameras that Suzanne hadn't left Griffiths' apartment over the weekend. The hope was that she was still alive." Firearms officer Adam and his squad broke through Griffiths' door only to find him sitting up in bed. "I gave him a gentle prod with the front of my gun to drive him to the floor," he remembers. A loaded crossbow was found near the scene, along with an array of hunting knives and shells. As officers subdued the murderer and handcuffed him, Adam knelt to inform him of his arrest. "I told him, 'Stephen, I am arresting you on suspicion of murder.' And he just looked up at me and went, 'I'm Osama bin Laden.'". Adam's team then began a thorough search of the flat for any signs of Suzanne. The discoveries they made were chilling to the core. "One of them opened the microwave and immediately shut the door again," Damien recalls, describing how he could hear his team's reactions over the radio. "He said the flat was like something out of [horror film] Seven, blood smeared everywhere and crossbow bolts embedded in the walls. The smell was horrific - sweet and rotten. It was the smell of death." Adam proceeded to check the bathroom, which the murderer had ominously referred to as 'The Slaughterhouse. '. Blood was splattered across various surfaces, and a burnt quilt in the bathtub covered what remained of a rucksack. Griffiths was attempting to destroy DNA evidence from Suzanne's dismembered body parts, which he had packed into the bag to dispose of in the nearby River Aire. "There was a sizable portion of a brain in the microwave," Adam recounts. "And there was another portion of brain on a plate, on a coffee table in the front room, next to a pair of amputated breasts." The police also seized Griffiths' laptop and digital camera, which contained a trove of disturbing images and videos. In a horrifying case, Shelley Armitage aged 31, who had vanished a month earlier on April 26, 2010, was found deceased with 'My sex slave' etched into her flesh. She had been fatally shot with a crossbow by Griffiths, who then dismembered and partly consumed her. Griffiths, tagged as a sadistic schizoid psychopath since 1991, after he slashed a shop clerk's face during a theft, is known to have ended the lives of at least three women. Susan Rushworth, 43, fell victim to his hammer attack when she went missing on June 22, 2009. He chopped up her body, using machine tools, cooked, and ate parts of her remains; her remains have not been recovered. After his conviction, the merciless killer taunted her grieving family by withholding details of his vile act. Shelley was his second casualty, Suzanne his third. In a chilling moment of courtroom drama, Griffiths declared himself the 'Crossbow Cannibal' when questioned on his identity - a claim that Dr Nicola Davies, a behavioural scientist and psychological profiler, sees as a cover for his bruised ego. Dr Davies states: "Griffiths had invested so much of his identity into becoming what he saw as the ultimate predator," adding "He had rehearsed his fantasies, studied serial killers at PhD level, and created a mythologised version of himself online. Being caught destroyed that performance and he found that intolerable. "Griffiths wanted to be a serial killer and yet he only just achieved that definition - three murders - before the brave Suzanne Blamires ensured he was caught when she escaped his flat and his crime was recorded on CCTV. The Irish Mirror's Crime Writers Michael O'Toole and Paul Healy are writing a new weekly newsletter called Crime Ireland. Click here to sign up and get it delivered to your inbox every week "For a man who saw himself as untouchable and the ultimate predator, this would have severely hurt his ego – as would the fact that he 'underperformed' in comparison to his serial killer idols." After being found guilty in 2010, Griffiths received a rare whole-life order for the killing of Susan, Shelley, and Suzanne, thus ensuring he'll spend the rest of his days locked up, with no chance of release. The presiding judge labelled him "wicked and monstrous". He has since been implicated in the deaths of three other women, but defiantly refuses to assist police in their ongoing inquiries.
Daily Record
5 minutes ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Record
Lewis Capaldi's health condition that triggered stage hiatus as singer makes Glastonbury return
Singer was diagnosed with Tourette's syndrome just a few months before announcing he would be stepping away from music to focus on his mental and physical health Lewis Capaldi made a rousing comeback at Glastonbury with a surprise set on Friday afternoon. The singer even joked that it was the "worst kept secret" as he delighted fans with his afternoon appearance on the Pyramid stage during a time slot mysteriously marked as TBA. But for Capaldi and his admirers, the performance symbolised more than a surprise. Two years ago, the Glasgow-born artist suffered a severe Tourette's episode live on the same stage. The moment unfolded midway through his Grammy-nominated hit 'Someone You Loved', when Capaldi was suddenly gripped by an intense tic attack – involuntary twitches affecting his head, shoulders, arms, and legs, which are characteristic of Tourette's syndrome. As he valiantly tried to push forward with the show, his tics wrenching the mic away, Capaldi was visibly shaken and upset. Footage capturing this raw moment circulated online, touching hearts worldwide as the audience pitched in with the lyrics whenever Capaldi struggled. In the aftermath, the singer took to Instagram to reveal his temporary departure from performing, citing his health and recent diagnosis of Tourette's, which had occurred less than a year before. Characterised as a neurological condition resulting in uncontrollable sounds or movements, known as tics, Tourette's currently has no cure; nevertheless, treatments are available to help individuals manage their symptoms and tic attacks according to the NHS. Common vocal tics are behaviours such as whistling, sniffing, emitting animal noises, repeating phrases, and in rarer cases, cursing. Meanwhile, movement tics can compel someone to roll their eyes, blink excessively, shrug, jump or exhibit unpredictable, spasmodic movements. These tics can be set off by intense emotions like stress or exhilaration. While people often receive a diagnosis before becoming teenagers, Lewis did not learn about his condition until he was 25, which happened in September 2022. Shortly after the diagnosis, on an appearance of the Jonathan Ross Show, the singer shared that he felt compelled to go public because "people think I am on cocaine (because) I twitch a lot and I'm in showbusiness so I can understand (why) but I have Tourette's." Lewis remarked: "I said it on an Instagram Live, I didn't expect it to be a big thing but people picked it up and now I am the poster boy for Tourette's which I'll take, I'll gladly accept." Discussing his initial fears before the diagnosis, Lewis said: "I thought I had a degenerative disease. So to be told I have Tourette's was, as you can imagine, quite the relief." To coincide with his sensational comeback at Glastonbury, Lewis has debuted a new tune named 'Survive'. Detailing his determination to persist in spite of the challenges brought on by his health. When performing Friday, the artist touched on the true sentiment behind his lyrics and disclosed how he coped during his hiatus, saying according to The Metro: "The last two years haven't been the best for me, it's been difficult at times. "I wanted to write a song that was about overcoming that stuff and getting over the other side of it. This has been my goal, to get back here doing this. So, this is the song about that."
Shafaq News
5 minutes ago
- Shafaq News
Landmine kills shepherd in Kurdistan Region
Shafaq News - Erbil On Saturday, a young man was killed when a landmine exploded in Sidekan district, north of Erbil, the capital of the Kurdistan Region. According to the Erbil Directorate of Mine Affairs, Sadiq Osman had entered the area to herd sheep when the explosion occurred, causing his immediate death. Landmines and unexploded ordnance continue to pose a serious threat across Iraq and Kurdistan. In 2024, at least four people were killed and seven others injured in landmine incidents within the Kurdistan Region. While the Kurdistan Regional Government's Mine Action Agency cleared nearly 3 million square meters of contaminated land last year, approximately 40% of hazardous areas—more than 700 square kilometers—remain uncleared.
Time Out
5 minutes ago
- Entertainment
- Time Out
The food trends shaping Johannesburg's menus right now
Johannesburg's food scene has always been a melting pot of cultures, and in 2025, it's going global in the best way. This week, I got a front-row seat to the launch of the Future Menus Report by Unilever Food Solutions, hosted right here in Johannesburg. Not only did we dive into the insights shaping restaurant menus around the world, but we also got to taste them. The hottest global trend, according to the report? Street Food Couture. Think gourmet mac and cheese, Korean rice rolls, and even a luxe take on our beloved lamb and apricot sosaties. This trend is redefining how we dine out, with bold flavours, informal vibes, and high-end touches all wrapped in wax paper and grit. For a city that thrives on food trucks, weekend markets and pop-ups, Johannesburg is more than ready to run with this. Another standout trend is Borderless Cuisine, which refers to dishes that mix influences and ingredients across continents. It's a concept that mirrors how many Joburg kitchens already operate. From truffle-enhanced bunny chow to Joburg-style tteokbokki, our local chefs already know how to mix things up with flair. This trend just gives them permission to go even bolder. But my favourite part of the day was the interactive Diner Designed showcase. The Diner Designed trend is a playful, customisable approach to dining where guests become co-creators of their meals. This isn't just build-your-own burger territory; it's about turning the entire dining experience into something personal, memorable, and fun. This concept came to life in the most decadent way at the launch when we were asked to use a QR code to access a short quiz on our phones to determine the perfect sauce to pair with our crème brûlée (mine landed on an indulgent chocolate espresso sauce), and then we got to decorate it ourselves based on personal taste. It was delicious and creative, but more than that, it showed just how much diners love being part of the process. For Johannesburg restaurateurs, the message is clear: experiment, localise, and personalise. Diners want food that tells a story and sparks connection, whether that's through nostalgic street eats or unexpected global mashups.
