World's only research centre for flesh-eating infection ransacked in Sudan
The footage sent Dr Ahmed Fahal into shock. On the outskirts of Khartoum, his research centre had been completely ransacked – the reception burned, the laboratory stripped, and four decades of biobank samples destroyed.
'I'm not sure when it took place… but we discovered the damage two weeks ago,' he told the Telegraph from Cairo, where he fled when a brutal civil war broke out in Sudan in April 2023.
'[When I saw the video], I was not able to start or to talk or to communicate with anybody. All this time I had believed the centre was safe – but now we found this. It's a really sad, sad story,' he said.
Dr Fahal heads the Mycetoma Research Centre in Sudan, the world's only specialist facility treating and researching the flesh-eating infection.
But it's become yet another victim of the country's conflict, in a 'major blow' for efforts to tackle the disease.
'I don't know how to describe the kind of set back it has provided,' said Dr Borna Nyaoke-Anoke, head of mycetoma at the Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative (DNDi). 'It's devastating.'
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Telegraph
3 days ago
- Telegraph
Dear Richard Madeley: ‘I am totally terrified of getting naked with a potential new lover'
Dear Richard, I'm a divorced mother of two and I've been cautiously dipping a toe into the dating scene. Apart from a couple of comically horrific evenings, I have enjoyed meeting new people and feeling I was interesting, and might be attractive to mostly quite presentable men. However, I didn't feel any sort of spark until a few weeks ago, when I met someone I'd definitely like to take things further with. My problem is that while I look OK in clothes (I am small but curvy), I hate-hate- hate my naked body, and I am terrified of what will happen if a potential lover sees it. My husband left me for another woman, which is part of the problem, but not all of it: there is no getting around the fact that motherhood and time have both taken their toll. I am sure this man won't run out of the bedroom screaming, if it should come to that point, and perhaps he isn't such a magnificent specimen himself – who knows? But it's the prospect of that flicker of disappointment in the air and on his face that I can't bear; it will be all I can do not to run out of the room myself. How can I get over this hurdle and take this promising new relationship to the next level? – Amy, via Dear Amy, OK, let's take this to its logical conclusion. If you're never going to let a potential lover ever see your naked body, then you're never ever going to have sex again, are you? You might as well join the nearest convent. Look around you: at the couples shopping together at your local supermarket. Or having coffee at a pavement café. Or grabbing a bite at your favourite pub or restaurant. Let's assume roughly 50 per cent of them have reasonably regular sex together. Are they all perfect physical specimens – toned, chisel-jawed, luscious-lipped? Er… no. They'll look just like most of us do when we're undressed. Imperfect. Flawed. Probably slightly or even hugely embarrassed about it. Just like you. And, probably, your potential paramour. Relax, Amy. Sexual attraction is not, thank the stars, dependent on physical perfection. If it were, the human race would have died out one generation after Adam and Eve. If you do get to this stage with this chap, he'll probably be as nervous as you.
Telegraph
29-05-2025
- Telegraph
How to look great in jeans at every age
Trends may come and trends may go, but one thing remains true: A reliable pair of jeans or (or two) is the foundation of every well-dressed woman's wardrobe – whatever your age. The etiquette of where and when you can wear jeans has changed radically, of course. Now it's perfectly acceptable to wear a smart dark wash denim jean to work or on a night out. However, the key to looking and feeling confident in jeans is fit. And here's the rub… confusing sizing and the frustrations of navigating websites mean that we've fallen out of love with shopping. That's why so many of us stick to whatever jeans we've worn for the last 10 years (or whatever is in the cupboard); so we never really get on board with flattering modern new cuts like barrel-leg jeans, or cropped styles that work really well in summer. 'Jeans are so many women's nemesis when it comes to the try-on process but they are the one item that can elevate casual looks and also refresh an outfit so it looks contemporary,' says Alexandra Fullerton, who is not only a regular Telegraph contributor, but a personal stylist, who regularly helps clients get over their jeans-trying phobias. 'The process has to be kind and needs to be considerate to any past traumas in the changing room… My role is to honestly advise on how things look (I take videos to show clients the 360 view of what flatters – or not) and also share my thoughts on what trends have longevity and making sure the client invests in denim in the best way for their lifestyle.' Happily the British high street is still a good hunting ground for jeans. In fact, M&S denim has several devotees in the Telegraph offices (the stores's 2024/25 results showed they sold more than 10 million pairs of jeans – there's been a 7 per cent rise compared with last year – and prior to their recent cyber-hack troubles they were selling ten pairs of jeans every minute). While my stylish colleague Lisa Markwell favours 'Tesco's dark denim wide-leg jeans' and the subtle details – raw hems, patch pockets – that the store's design team introduce to update their core fits. 'Getting back in the game is the best way of reigniting your understanding of shopping – particularly for jeans,' counsels Fullerton. 'Plan a morning and head to a multi-brand boutique or department store and be prepared with coffee and an open mind. Take a stylish friend, or a stylist, for non-biased opinions and be prepared to spend time reacquainting yourself with all the new cuts and silhouettes. Size up to begin with, there is nothing worse – or more dated looking – than squeezing into something too tight. Take lots of pictures, from all angles too (this is where a friend comes in handy) as well as for moral support.' With this advice in mind, the Telegraph team scoured the stores to showcase jeans that work well for our different ages and personal styles, putting together two different looks: one casual and one smart. Get thee to a changing room – and find your true blue hero fits! Skip to: 20s 30s 40s 50s 60s Sophie Tobin – 20s Casual Agolde Kelly high rise straight leg jeans, £300, Net-a-Porter Sacai Nylon bomber jacket, £680, MyTheresa; Shirt, from a selection, Cos; Hai Silk shoes, £142, Whistles; Gold plated earrings, £359, Tom Wood I'm 6ft so good quality jeans at the right length are few and far between. I've tried a crop (on me they're more like pedal pushers), dipped into the Mom jean trend (the narrowed ankle makes everything very top heavy) and given a loose wide leg a go (way too much fabric swishing around) and have come to the conclusion that there is nothing better than the classic straight leg. I have three pairs of jeans in my rotation and prefer a thicker denim which means they keep their shape, last for years and justify a higher price point. So many high-street stores don't offer longer lengths (Topshop Tall used to be my go to) but I've found Abercrombie & Fitch, M&S and Zara are your best bet if you don't mind stretch denim. Smart Ayla polish denim trousers, £340, Citizens of Humanity; Tubular knitted tank, £45, Cos; Leather belt, £125, J&M Davidson; Loafers, from a selection, Russell & Bromley; White rhodium plated earrings, £299, Tom Wood I always make sure to try on jeans with the highest shoes I would wear them with to get the length perfect and when shopping online, I check the height of the model. Another trick is to buy turn up hem jeans and turn them down (if you're getting them tailored remember that you can take fabric away but you can't add it on). For smarter denim, I've chosen these subtle tapered-leg jeans which are just different enough from my day-to-day straight legs and are cut to a trouser fit, making them feel a little more special. Made from Eco-Indigo, these jeans are guaranteed to last a lifetime and at the perfect length the cost-per-wear will be worth it. Get the look... Sonia Haria – 30s Casual High waisted cropped flare jeans, £39.50, Marks & Spencer; Blouse, from a selection, Sezane; Leather tote bag, £155, & Other Stories; Shoes Sonia's own My weekend uniform usually consists of a dark grey or mid-blue pair of straight-leg jeans with a T-shirt or cotton shirt. This takes me from early morning kids football practice to an afternoon barbeque with friends (I just swap out my trainers for a pair of sandals). I am in jeans most of the time and have more pairs in my wardrobe than I care to admit – except I didn't have a pale blue pair like the ones by M&S worn in our shoot. I'm really taken with them; I've paired the jeans with one of my favourite jazzy floral shirts by Sezane and the leopard-printed leather sandals by Topshop I have worn for the past seven summers. I also love the kick-flared cropped length of the jeans; at 5ft 3in, I avoid very baggy shapes, and I found this cut to be surprisingly flattering. A bargain for under £40, too. Smart High waisted denim trousers, £125, Sezane; Top, from a selection, Cos; Shoes, from a selection, Marks & Spencer For the evening, high-waisted, dark-washed denim in a wide-leg shape is very much my comfort zone. This pair of jeans by Sezane are utter perfection. They are too long to wear with flat shoes, but I'm not mad about that – if I'm out for a dinner with friends, I will usually be in some sort of comfortable heeled sandal anyway. I think this is a classic pair of jeans that will never date, and although they are wider in structure, I've paired them with a fitted linen bandeau top by Cos for some balance. The whole outfit is just dressy enough for my liking, and the bare neckline means I can wear some sort of fun necklace (in this case, a 4 euro beaded choker from a Greek market a few weeks ago). Get the look... Tamara Abraham – 40s Casual Extreme tapered jean, £175, Me+Em; Organic cotton T-shirt, £30, Colourful Standard I've developed an addiction to barrel-leg jeans, the more exaggerated the better. Some friends are baffled by this, convinced they're a shortcut to broader hips, but I find them to be flattering, nipping in my waist, yet delivering a slightly grunge-y slouch that's pleasing to the Nineties teenager in me. The shape makes all my staple shirts, T-shirts and blazers look more current – anything that helps my existing wardrobe work harder is a win for me. My all-time favourites are the Sienna Miller for M&S grey cropped barrel-leg jeans – you can't buy them new anymore, but I've just tracked down a white pair on Vinted for £30. For blue denim the wash of this Me+Em pair is spot on. As a general rule, non-stretch denim is key – it requires a little wearing-in but the way it hangs on the body is so much more effortless and expensive-looking. Smart The Kite Rancher argyle frayed jacquard denim jeans, £325, Wiggy Kit; Silk top, £150, Rise & Fall; Suede shoes, £450, Toteme; Rope-chian necklace, £44.99, H&M This silhouette transcends into eveningwear beautifully, and white jeans look so elegant when you add heels and jewellery. This Wiggy Kit pair has a frayed argyle pattern woven into the denim that makes it more formal. There are also buttons at the back to adjust the fit at the waist. I'm 5ft 4in, so somewhere between petite and regular – those shorter of stature will love Mother's cream Lil' Mother Half-Pipe ankle jeans with black piping down the leg. Get the look... Sarah Bailey – 50s Casual XL Straight jeans, £110, Levi's; Reversible denim and nylon blouson, £860, Levi's x Sacai; Tencel lyocell shirt, £130, With Nothing Underneath; Suede shoes, £150, Esska I love the sassy, can-do energy that wearing a great pair of jeans can bestow. But, of course, if you are wearing a style that is too tight and cuts you in half when you sit down… well, all that goes out the window. I blame my 1980s and 1990s youth, but for years I associated looking fashionable in jeans with sausaging my legs into the most uncomfortable straight-leg/drain-pipe/spray-on styles imaginable. The thigh chafing wore me down after a while, and I confess, I went through a few no jeans years. But now, in my 50s, I am a jeans wearer once more and I give rousing thanks for the advent of wide-legs, barrel-legs and boyfriend styles. In fact, I feel I can bravely assert that you can no longer say that there isn't a style of jean that suits you, you simply haven't tried on enough pairs yet! Smart Stella A-line jeans, £85, Lee; Silk blouse, £375, Philippa London; Leather shoes, £199, Penelope Chilvers For our shoot, I revisited two of the classic American denim brands – Levi's and Lee. These Levi's XL Straight Jeans are soft and slouchy (and come with a cute tie belt if that is your thing). I've been road-testing the pair you see here at weekends with trainers and a bomber jacket and I love them (let's say, they have 'anti-aged' my wardrobe). The Lee 'Stella' jeans I'm wearing in the picture for my 'smart' look have a tighter waist and a sharper leg, but I'm delighted to report there is no compromise in terms of comfort. I really enjoyed styling them with this puff-sleeved fondant pink blouse by Philippa London. On my frame at least (I'm 5ft 4in), this style looks best with a heel and with these gorgeous Penelope Chilvers numbers on my toes, I really feel like I could go anywhere. Get the look... Lisa Armstrong – 60s Casual Taylor relaxed barrel leg jeans, £301, DL1961; Tencel lyocell shirt, £120, With Nothing Underneath; Shoes: Lisa's own; Earrings: Dinosaur I weeded out all the old jeans I no longer wear a while back and am now at half a dozen pairs, including some dark straight-leg Acne's I bought 12 years ago and still love. My other perennials are a pair of straight-leg Levi's (mid wash) and some slightly darker Khaite Abigail straight legs from Net-A-Porter. They're always sold out but this size must have been returned. Lesson: always turn on your notifications and get your name on a waiting list. Both work, on Net-A-Porter at least. Having got to an edit I wear all the time, including weekends in the country, where wide legs just aren't compatible with wellies, I very rarely buy new jeans. I love the up to date look of these looser cuts though, particularly the Gap ones, which feel ultra soft and floppy. I like to keep a note of current trends, but I'm never doing low rise again. They're so unflattering – and chilly. Bell bottoms are also off the list. I wouldn't normally go as faded as the DL1961s. Nothing to do with my age, but for me, faded equals a casual look, whereas something darker is more versatile. Come to think of it, maybe that notion is to do with my age. Smart Wide leg jeans, £50, Gap; Tweed jacket, £589, Ridley London; Supima cotton T-shirt, £14.90, Uniqlo; Reversible leather and suede belt, £95, Me+Em; Leather bag, £265, Stow London These days, dressing something up isn't necessarily about adding heels or sparkle. It's more a question of wearing them with beautiful shirts or the perfect T-shirt. I also love the idea of them with a Dior Bar jacket (who doesn't? You can find these for much less on the pre-worn sites). Interesting flats and velvet mules can look sophisticated and modern with jeans. I love them with classic cropped boucle jackets too. At a certain age, you have to start mixing your classics with casual or more punk pieces, otherwise you can look very staid. This jacket's from Ridley London – choose from a range of tweeds and they'll make you one in 10 days. I love the fact that DL 1961 uses a tenth the amount of water of the average jean manufacturer to make each pair. E.L.V. Denim is another great sustainable brand which upcycled old jeans into innovative new styles. Get the look...
Daily Record
24-05-2025
- Daily Record
Jeremy Clarkson reveals 'I was hours away' in heartbreaking health admission
The Clarkson's Farm star, 65, was rushed to hospital in October last year, where he underwent emergency heart surgery, after two stents were fitted to his blood vessels Jeremy Clarkson has disclosed that he was "hours away" from a potentially fatal heart attack before being rushed to hospital for an emergency procedure last year. The television host underwent surgery to have two stents inserted. The star of Clarkson's Farm recounted waking up feeling "clammy" with chest tightness and pins and needles in his left arm, reflecting on the incident as "scary looking back" at his close call with death last October. Speaking to the Telegraph, Jeremy said: "It wasn't a heart attack, but I was hours away from one." "All of the vessels feeding the heart with blood looked like something dangling from a cave in the Peak District. They were just ruined," reports Gloucestershire Live. "One of them was 90 per cent blocked. I didn't feel very well one morning. But everybody seems to agree it was the result of 60 years of really bad living, and of two weeks of ridiculous stress and no sleep." After experiencing these alarming symptoms, the 65 year old sought medical attention at the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford. An electrocardiogram (ECG), blood tests, and X-rays initially ruled out a heart attack. However, further examinations by doctors indicated that his condition was on the brink of rapid deterioration. As a consequence of this health scare, Jeremy has made significant changes to his lifestyle. Heeding medical advice, he has cut out processed foods and started exercising more frequently. One of his new activities includes playing pickleball, which is akin to tennis but played on a smaller court and involves using rackets or paddles. Jeremy Clarkson has reportedly taken up a 'mono diet ', sticking to a single food or a tight selection of eats for an extended period, although he hasn't given up on the occasional glass of rosé wine. This follows a humorous jab by Kaleb Cooper directed at Jeremy after feeling "being replaced" at the Diddly Squat farm. Since rising to fame on the initial three series of Clarkson's Farm, Kaleb has become quite the celebrity himself. Sharing his thoughts with Amanda Holden and Jamie Theakston during their show on Heart Radio, Kaleb was asked to rate Jeremy's performance. Kaleb disclosed: "I'd say [with] 10 being the highest, probably a six." Embarking on an assessment of Jeremy's farm skills, Kaleb added: "When he first started, he was like a 0.4 and then now... I'd be unfair to say that he's not good at his job anymore, do you know what I mean?" He elaborated about Jeremy's abilities: "For example, he's really good with the pigs, he still can't put a tractor on a cultivator for example or any of that, but at the same time, you know, he's getting there slowly." With Kaleb on tour, Jeremy brought on board new farm worker Harriet Cowan. Fans welcomed the fourth instalment of Clarkson's Farm, which premiered on Amazon Prime on Friday, May 23.
