Latest news with #Stone
7NEWS
2 days ago
- Health
- 7NEWS
Major changes to blood and plasma donation rules announced for cancer survivors
Many cancer survivors will now be able to donate blood just 12 months after treatment, a significant drop from the original five-year wait time. The latest major rule change announced by Lifeblood comes after June's update that made it easier for gay and bisexual men to donate. A survey by the Kirby Institute of UNSW found more than half (54 per cent) of the population believed having cancer made them ineligible to give blood for life, while another 28 per cent were unsure. Lifeblood said this change, approved by the Therapeutic Good Association (TGA), will hopefully alter this misconception. Lifeblood executive director Cath Stone said the change would provide a greater opportunity for those who have had cancer to be able to give back. 'Cancer patients are the largest users of blood in Australia, they need 11,000 donations each week,' she said. 'Many cancer survivors have relied on blood transfusions and plasma medicines during chemotherapy or surgery, and we know many are eager to give back.' According to Lifeblood, 34 per cent of donated blood currently goes to people with cancer and blood diseases. Chemotherapy can deplete the body of platelets, an important clotting component in blood that helps prevent internal bleeding. Red blood cell infusions are also needed while bone marrow recovers and any surgery to remove cancer may also result in the need for infusions. A patient with acute leukaemia can use up to nine bags of platelets each month, with four donors needed to make each bag. Cancer also has a big impact on the immune system, making patients vulnerable to infections and needing plasma infusions. It is estimated more than 450 Australians will be diagnosed with blood cancer each day, with this number projected to double by 2035. Research by Lifeblood has found the previous five-year wait for cancer patients to donate can be safely reduced, with large-scale international studies having confirmed cancer is not transmissible through blood transfusion. 'As we see the number of cancer diagnoses increasing, we're also seeing an increase in the demand for blood to help cancer patients through their treatment,' Stone said. 'Supporting people with cancer is one of the greatest reasons to donate.'
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
'South Park' creators 'apologize' for latest Trump episode: 'We're terribly sorry'
SAN DIEGO – The day after one of the most controversial episodes in the show's history, 'South Park' creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone had a succinct response to the ruckus they caused. 'We're terribly sorry,' Parker said with a sly grin at a Comedy Central's Comic-Con animation panel next to Stone, 'Beavis and Butt-Head' honcho Mike Judge and 'Digiman' creator Andy Samberg. The Season 27 premiere of 'South Park' tore into President Donald Trump, showing him literally getting into bed naked with Satan, and referenced their Paramount bosses' settlement with the president, the '60 Minutes' flap and the surprise cancellation of CBS's "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert." All followed Wednesday by an agreement between Paramount and the 'South Park' creators for 50 new episodes and a lucrative new streaming deal on Paramount+. White House spokesperson Taylor Rogers slammed the episode in a statement to USA TODAY, calling "South Park" a "fourth-rate show" that "hasn't been relevant for over 20 years." When Comic-Con panel moderator Josh Horowitz joked that he had a subpoena with him, Parker responded, 'It's fine; we're ready.' Parker and Stone talked at length about the speed of today's topical comedy and making newsy jokes. 'It's not just 'SNL' anymore,' Stone said. Parker revealed that they were at their studios this morning trying to figure out next week's episode. 'Right now we don't know,' Parker said. 'It's super stressful.' And when working on the July 23 season premiere, 'three days ago I didn't know if anyone's going to like this,' Parker added. They were looking at newspapers and changing things on the fly right up until they needed to be done. As far as big ideas for the season go, 'my whiteboard's blank, dude,' Parker said. So much so that when they were asked to do a summer promo video hyping the new season, they made up a bunch of scenes just for that sizzle reel. 'You seriously think we went and made a bunch of shows ahead of time and banked them?' Then Stone chimed in, mock seriously: 'No politics. We're not doing any of that (stuff).' Stone said he feels most competitive with 'what the kids are doing on TikTok and YouTube.' In fact, he and Parker admitted they now get a lot of their entertainment online and from social media. 'We have a great gig, but I'm jealous. You see someone do something in their front yard and it's really funny.' Contributing: Brendan Morrow This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 'South Park' creators 'apologize' for Trump episode at Comic-Con Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
‘It most certainly is cheating': Readers debate using weight-loss jabs
After Telegraph columnist Allison Pearson revealed that she had lost almost three stone after a weight-loss jab helped her 'kick-start' the process, readers shared their own experiences taking Mounjaro. While some agreed with Pearson that the drug has been 'life-changing' and effectively silenced the 'food noise' that is often attributed to overeating, making it finally possible to lose weight, some argued that weight loss achieved through taking medication is, in fact, 'cheating'. This week, we asked you if you have ever thought about using a weight-loss injection, with the majority, 57 per cent of over 10,000 readers, responding that yes, they have. 'It's the Holy Grail' When the injections first became available, reader James Maclean's instant reaction was to believe 'that's cheating'. However, he reasons that 'so is having a fast metabolism, and the health benefits of losing weight can help millions of people avoid disease and low self-esteem, which shouldn't be sniffed at.' 'If it makes people happier and healthier, then it's great for everybody,' Mr Maclean concludes. For instance, Victoria Morgan, 77, started Mounjaro two months ago 'after reading DT readers' comments about being able to get it privately from pharmacies'. Ms Morgan shares she had been dieting since she was 10 years old and has done 'every diet known to mankind, from tapeworms and injections of pregnant horse urine to amphetamines and the more usual low-calorie or low-carb ones.' However, 'Mounjaro is the Holy Grail, the Philosophers' Stone which transmutes base metal into gold.' The reader explains how, within hours of taking the jab, she had the sensation of 'what normal people feel like', which consisted of normalised hunger and resulted in her lessening food portions. As for her weight loss, she is losing 'a healthy 1lb and a bit per week', but will continue as she has a 'long way to go yet from 15st 5lbs on a 5ft 4 inch frame'. 'But feeling that [normal hunger] is one of the greatest discoveries of medicine, with huge potential for good,' she says. Meanwhile, Andy Smyth*, 68, has been using Mounjaro since October, and shares that it has 'changed my life immeasurably for the better.' 'It means I can have a normal appetite like my wife and other people I know. I'm no longer thinking about food every minute of the day, and a normal meal leaves me feeling satisfied at last, a sensation not experienced in decades,' Mr Smyth explains. Like Victoria Morgan, Mr Smyth details how 'after 30 plus years of miserable yo-yo dieting, Mounjaro has helped me lose nearly 50lbs without any conscious dieting. I'm delighted that it will be available more widely.' 'Saved my life' An additional benefit of the weight-loss drug reported by two readers was that it reduced alcohol cravings. 'The most glorious benefit of Mounjaro is that it's removed my impulsive need to drink alcohol regularly. There is no revulsion towards it. Strangely, I simply forget that it exists,' Mr Smyth says. Similarly, Scott Adams's last sip of alcohol was on April 1, 2024. His first Mounjaro injection was on the afternoon of April 2, 2024. Mr Adams shares that before taking the drug, he 'was morbidly obese' and 'alcohol had taken control of my life'. He opted to go on the weight-loss injection as he had gone from someone who loved exercise, running marathons and participating in team sports, 'to a couch potato, barely able to walk a quarter mile without needing a taxi.' A year later, he is 'running again, at the gym multiple days per week' and reports feeling '20 years younger than my real age – this medication saved my life.' 'Steer clear of artificial remedies' Whilst many of our readers enthusiastically shared their success stories with Mounjaro, others felt that a more traditional or natural approach to losing weight was the best way forward. One reader said that he would 'steer clear of artificial remedies' such as Mounjaro and other weight-loss drugs. He concluded that a 'focus on personal responsibility' for what you eat and drink is a much 'safer bet'. Telegraph reader Michael Walker echoed this sentiment by emphasising the importance of self-belief and discipline: 'If you're obese, surely you need willpower to overcome it, rather than a jab.' Liz Harrison, from Gloucestershire, doesn't have the wherewithal to pay for jabs and instead took a different approach: 'I took the NHS Healthy Lifestyles route. I finish the 12-week course tomorrow and have lost 5lb. They offered exercise but, importantly, they also offered the psychological side.' One person had concerns about the effectiveness of Mounjaro once you stop using it. The Telegraph reader, who wished to remain anonymous, used the drug for five months but started to look 'gaunt' due to the amount of weight she lost – two stone. 'I went from a size 14 to a size 10. I had the misfortune to renew my passport photo and there it was in technicolour, my unsmiling face, sunken cheeks and dark rings under my eyes. That will haunt me for the next 10 years!' 'I stopped because I couldn't afford to lose more weight. No side effects. However, as soon as you stop, the weight comes back on. Of course it does,' the reader explains. She stresses that Mounjaro is an appetite suppressant and that 'without it, your appetite is not suppressed'. The reader also was disappointed by the lack of medical care offered when she was taking the drug. 'Apart from sending me stock emails about how to manage side effects, at no point in five months did any medical professional contact me to discuss how it was going contrary to the original selling point,' she says. The cost is also of concern. The reader spent £170 on each order and says 'people are paying a fortune for the drug just to be back in the same place six months after they stop'. 'Pumping yourself full of chemicals' Readers with other concerns include Mrs Jackson, who poses some questions: 'What happens if you stop the jabs? Do you have to use them for life, and does that have an increased risk?' She is worried that many people she knows have 'shrunk massively on this drug, but nobody stops using it'. 'Things that sound too good to be true sometimes are.' Davyd Melnyk argues that using the jabs 'is most certainly cheating,' but believes the real issue with them is 'what the ultimate long-term side effects might be.' And an anonymous reader agrees, 'it is cheating,' and proposes 'diet and exercise are the way to lose weight safely and efficiently. 'Pumping yourself full of chemicals is really just the easy way out.' * This person's name has been changed Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
Forbes
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Forbes
South Park Creators Reveal Network ‘Notes' For Episode That Mocked Trump
The writer-producers of 'South Park', Trey Parker and Matt Stone, addressed the reaction to the season 27 premiere of their show—which prominently skewered President Donald Trump—during a panel at the 2025 San Diego Comic Con on Thursday night, where they also described the 'notes' they received from the network about the show. Matt Stone, Trey Parker at the Comedy Central Adult Animation panel at the 2025 Comic-Con ... More International: San Diego. Variety via Getty Images Parker and Stone were featured on the 'Comedy Central Adult Animation' alongside comedian and 'Digman!' creator Andy Samberg and 'Beavis and Butt-Head' and 'King of the Hill' creator Mike Judge. The panel began with Parker and Stone being asked if they anticipated the strong reaction to their latest episode, to which Parker jokingly apologized, saying, 'We're terribly sorry.' The panel didn't heavily focus on the episode itself, but while talking about receiving notes from the network for some episodes, Judge asked the 'South Park' creators if they had received any for Wednesday's Season 27 opener. They said the network informed them that the image of the president's genitalia—which appeared during a mock PSA depicting a AI-generated Trump where he is fully naked—would get blurred out. Parker claimed he pushed back, saying 'No, you're not gonna blur the penis,' before Stone pointed out that they added eyes to the genetalia to tackle that. Stone then said this was followed by a conversation 'with a lot of grown-up' people for four days, insisting that the network can't blur the genitalia because it was a 'character.' 'South Park', which is no stranger to controversies, aired its first full episode in more than two years on Wednesday. The episode focused mainly on Trump and Paramount—the parent company of the network and streamer that airs 'South Park.' Multiple segments throughout the show depicted a cartoon version of the president getting in bed with Satan, who is shown as Trump's lover, in a callback to the early days of the show, where Satan and former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein were depicted as romantic partners. Jesus Christ, who has been a regular character in the show, reappears in the fictional town of South Park during the premiere and says he had to do this because of the 'lawsuit and an agreement with Paramount,' an apparent jab at the media giant's $16 million settlement with the president. When townspeople ask him for more details, Jesus retorts, 'Do you really want to end up like Colbert?' a reference to the late-night host whose show was canceled by CBS. The show also features repeated depictions of Trump with comedically small genitals, which enrages the fictional version of the president. How Has The White House Reacted To The Episode? The show triggered an angry reaction from the White House, with a spokesperson for the president describing 'South Park' as a 'fourth-rate' show. 'The Left's hypocrisy truly has no end – for years they have come after 'South Park' for what they labeled as 'offense' content, but suddenly they are praising the show,' White House spokesperson Taylor Rogers told several outlets. 'This show hasn't been relevant for over 20 years and is hanging on by a thread with uninspired ideas in a desperate attempt for attention.' White House Slams 'South Park' Episode That Skewers Trump And Paramount Amid $1.5 Billion Streaming Deal, Skydance Merger (Forbes)
USA Today
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- USA Today
'South Park' creators 'apologize' for latest Trump episode: 'We're terribly sorry'
SAN DIEGO – The day after one of the most controversial episodes in the show's history, 'South Park' creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone had a succinct response to the ruckus they caused. 'We're terribly sorry,' Parker said with a sly grin at a Comedy Central's Comic-Con animation panel next to Stone, 'Beavis and Butt-Head' honcho Mike Judge and 'Digiman' creator Andy Samberg. The Season 27 premiere of 'South Park' tore into President Donald Trump, showing him literally getting into bed naked with Satan, and referenced their Paramount bosses' settlement with the president, the '60 Minutes' flap and the surprise cancellation of CBS's "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert." All followed Wednesday by an agreement between Paramount and the 'South Park' creators for 50 new episodes and a lucrative new streaming deal on Paramount+. White House spokesperson Taylor Rogers slammed the episode in a statement to USA TODAY, calling "South Park" a "fourth-rate show" that "hasn't been relevant for over 20 years." When Comic-Con panel moderator Josh Horowitz joked that he had a subpoena with him, Parker responded, 'It's fine; we're ready.' Parker and Stone talked at length about the speed of today's topical comedy and making newsy jokes. 'It's not just 'SNL' anymore,' Stone said. Parker revealed that they were at their studios this morning trying to figure out next week's episode. 'Right now we don't know,' Parker said. 'It's super stressful.' And when working on the July 23 season premiere, 'three days ago I didn't know if anyone's going to like this,' Parker added. They were looking at newspapers and changing things on the fly right up until they needed to be done. As far as big ideas for the season go, 'my whiteboard's blank, dude,' Parker said. So much so that when they were asked to do a summer promo video hyping the new season, they made up a bunch of scenes just for that sizzle reel. 'You seriously think we went and made a bunch of shows ahead of time and banked them?' Then Stone chimed in, mock seriously: 'No politics. We're not doing any of that (stuff).' Stone said he feels most competitive with 'what the kids are doing on TikTok and YouTube.' In fact, he and Parker admitted they now get a lot of their entertainment online and from social media. 'We have a great gig, but I'm jealous. You see someone do something in their front yard and it's really funny.' Contributing: Brendan Morrow
