Other News
People with gardens alerted they could be growing dangerous item and not know it
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If you have a garden with grass that you don’t often check, then now may be the time to do just that. It comes amid a fresh warning from gardening experts who say that you could be growing dangerous mushrooms and not know it.
At the moment, clusters of mushrooms are appearing in gardens across the UK according to those in the know. And while they might look harmless, experts from Urban Farm-It have stated that if they keep appearing, it could actually indicate an underlying issue beneath the soil.
The experts warn: “When mushrooms appear regularly in lawns, it may be a sign that there is rotting material under the surface. Old tree roots or buried wood could provide the perfect conditions for fungi to thrive.”
Emphasising that the mushrooms visible above ground are only part of the picture, it also warns that while this natural process can benefit soil health, certain species may still pose concerns. They note: “What you see on the lawn is the fruiting body.
“Essentially the flowering part of a much larger fungal network. Beneath the surface, mycelium could be working its way through the soil, breaking down organic matter and helping recycle nutrients.
“Some wild mushrooms may be poisonous, meaning they could pose risks to pets or children if consumed. This is why many people choose to remove mushrooms from lawns when they appear, even though the underground fungus will usually persist until the wood or organic matter has broken down fully.”
For gardeners keen to banish mushrooms, there are a couple of approaches that may help. The expert’s guidance suggest: “Removing old tree roots from the soil could reduce fungal growth over time, though it can be heavy work.”
You could also try aerating lawns. This improves airflow and drainage which make conditions less favourable for mushrooms.
Different types of mushrooms may appear at different times of year. For example, “Field mushrooms are common in autumn, but other species such as the Tawny Funnel may emerge later into the winter.
“Their presence could tell you more about the conditions in your soil than about the health of your lawn itself.” If you want to know exactly what kind is growing, you can use the Garden Mushroom Identifier from BBC Gardeners World Magazine.
The experts from the BBC state that some are “very poisonous” meaning if you have pets or children, it is wise to get rid of these as soon as possible to avoid any accidents – it will also help any wildlife, like foxes, or neighbour’s cats falling ill too.
Should I worry about mushrooms growing in the garden?
The BBC Gardening experts explain that the presence of mushrooms in your garden is generally a positive sign, often indicating you have healthy soil and there is a presence of decaying wood or other organic matter like fallen leaves. Mushrooms play an important role in the ecosystem, acting as a food source for various forms of wildlife, including squirrels and beetles.
They note that some of the more common fungi you may come across include the fairy ring fungus (Marasmius oreades), which typically grows in lawns without causing any damage, and the jelly ear fungus (Auricularia auricula-judae), usually found on dead wood—particularly elder trees. Sadly, not all mushrooms are safe.
They conclude by warning people that if you come across fungi in your garden not to panic, as they stress: “Remember that most fungi is good and a natural, and healthy part of the ecosystem.
“Take time to identify which species you have and enjoy seeing which species come along to eat it.”
Other News
Mother of Daniel Aruebose’s phone had searches for ‘secretly burying’ and ‘missing child’
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Data records for a phone belonging to Daniel Aruebose’s mother show searches for ‘penalties for secretly burying a child,’ and ‘missing child’, we can reveal.
However, sources have emphasised there were no searches on the device relating to ‘murder’. Details of the online activity have emerged as gardai await DNA results to confirm the remains found in marshy wasteland in Donabate, north Dublin, are those of Daniel. A post mortem has taken place but has proved inconclusive.
Further tests are now needed to try and determine a cause of death. The phone findings are understood to have been reviewed as part of the wider circumstances surrounding Daniel’s disappearance.
“While the searches provide a glimpse into what may have been on the mind of Daniel’s mam at the time, they do not in themselves establish wrongdoing,” sources said. So far no arrests have been made but gardai have identified a number of people of interest they wish to formally interview.
Daniel, who was three years of age, was last seen four years ago. Detectives were told that Daniel had died of natural causes and had been secretly buried in the wasteland around 4km from The Gallery Apartments in the seaside town where Daniel lived with his parents.

(Image: Colin Keegan/Collins)
Daniel’s parents Ciaran Dirrane and Maria Aruebose have been co-operating with the garda investigation and continue to be spoken to informally by investigators. Earlier we revealed that Daniel’s mother Maria Aruebose did not initially tell gardai that Daniel had been secretly buried, though sources say she was “visibly relieved” upon the discovery of skeletal remains.
Instead, the little boy’s mum told gardai that he was dead – but that she didn’t know where his body was – and “to ask” her then partner, the child’s dad. However, in a turn of events, Daniel’s mum later admitted to gardai that they buried him in the marshy land along the Portrane Road in Donabate – about 4km from the apartment they lived in at The Gallery in the seaside town in north County Dublin.
Daniel’s mam, accompanied by her solicitor Martin O’Donnell and investigators, travelled to the search site twice to help identify the spot she told investigators she had buried Daniel over four years ago. Daniel’s parents have been cooperating with investigators since it was discovered Daniel at the end of August that Daniel had been missing for nearly four years.
That came about after a ‘spot check’ by officers from the Department of Social Protection who then alerted Tusla. Local councillor Corina Johnson has called for a public inquiry and possible memorial on the land where the skeletal remains, believed to be Daniel’s, were discovered, expressing concern over State involvement.

(Image: Collinsphotos.com)
“I think the State has questions to answer,” she said. “This can’t happen again. This is an absolutely horrific tragedy. And we cannot see this happen to another child again.”
In an updated statement to Dublin Live An Garda Siochana said: “Gardai in Swords are continuing to investigate all of the circumstances of the disappearance of Daniel Aruebose. The remains of Daniel Aruebose were removed to Dublin City Mortuary on Thursday evening, September 18 2025.
“A post-mortem examination was completed on Friday, September 19, the results of which are not being released for operational reasons. Formal identification of the remains will now have to be carried out including DNA analysis.
“Gardai are appealing to anyone who has any information in relation to the death of Daniel to contact the investigation team at Swords Garda Station on 01-6664700, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111 or any member of An Garda Siochana. Investigations are ongoing.”
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Breaking News
Life-saving stem cell centre welcomes first donors
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Rob Sissons, East Midlands health correspondent
The UK’s first stem cell collection centre strictly dedicated to transplants has started welcoming donors.
The Anthony Nolan Cell Collection Centre, based at Nottingham’s Queen’s Medical Centre (QMC), will help more people across the UK donate potentially life-saving cells to patients with blood cancers and disorders.
The Anthony Nolan charity said the centre would create 1,300 new donation slots a year, helping to tackle a “longstanding global shortage of cell collection facilities”.
Jordan, from London, said he was “proud” to be one of the first to donate. “I am really happy because today I could save someone’s life,” he added.
The centre will be run by the Anthony Nolan charity, in partnership with the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Nottingham Clinical Research Facility.
Jordan was called by the charity to donate stem cells after analysis of a saliva sample he gave nine years ago, when he signed up to the stem cell register at a freshers’ fair at the University of Exeter, proved to be a good match to a stranger.
“It is such an easy thing to do to help someone else,” he said.
“I’m not the biggest fan of needles, but I’m happy to do anything if it helps another person.”
‘Special’ feeling
Anthony Nolan has more than 900,000 people on its own register of potential donors.
It said a “longstanding global shortage of cell collection facilities” meant some patients did not receive a transplant at the best time.
Growing demand for cell-based treatments has put donation facilities at some NHS and private hospitals under more pressure than ever, it added.
According to its own data, in 2022-23, only a fifth of donors on the UK registry were able to donate on the date requested by the patient’s medical team due to capacity issues.
Not having a transplant at the right time can have an irreversible impact on a patient’s mental and physical health, said Anthony Nolan, and sometimes leave them in a life-threatening condition.
The charity said the chance of being matched from its UK-wide register was one in 800, in the first five years of being on the register.
Jordan said it felt “special” to help a stranger, for whom a stem cell transplant might be their only hope of staying alive.
“I like to think if something were to happen to me, then someone would be willing to do the same,” he added.
What is a stem cell transplant?
A stem cell or bone marrow transplant is a life-saving treatment for thousands of patients with blood cancers and disorders. It 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.
Donation is simple, Nicola Alderson – chief operating officer at Anthony Nolan – said.
“You are put on to a machine that has a needle in both arms,” she said. “The blood goes through the machine which takes out the stem cells and puts the rest of the blood back through.”
The process usually takes about five hours. Once the cells are collected from the bloodstream, they are typically transplanted into the recipient within 72 hours.
Anthony Nolan said any contact between a donor and patient depended on privacy regulations of the patient’s country, and was led by the patient.
UK rules allow direct contact from two years since the last transplant, although some overseas registries may not allow contact until five years post-donation.
Anthony Nolan co-ordinates transplants for the NHS, collecting and delivering cells to hospitals across the UK and sending cells abroad. It is involved in more than 1,000 UK transplants between donors and unrelated recipients each year and sends cells abroad to another 300 patients.
Ms Alderson said prior to the new centre, the charity had struggled to get stem cells collected “at the time the clinical community need us to”.
“It is only one in five times where we have been able to get collections to donors on the day doctors have asked for them,” she added.
She said when recipients saw a bag of stem cells, “it is an incredible moment”.
“Ultimately, that small bag can save someone’s life. It is a bag of magic,” she added.
“We will make sure [donors] have the best experience at our new centre.”
The centre has been part-funded by Omaze, which partnered with Anthony Nolan and raised £3.7m through a house prize draw in June.
It is estimated the money will help fund the centre’s work for 18 months.
Kathryn Fairbrother, director of clinical operations for research and innovation at Nottingham University Hospitals (NUH) NHS Trust – which runs the QMC – added: “There are opportunities for Anthony Nolan and for ourselves to do research that we wouldn’t have done before.”
One of the research projects planned involves using stem cells to treat liver disease.
Stem cell transplant recipients, like Raj, will benefit from the new centre.
The 32-year-old, a University of Liverpool student, received a stem cell transplant in Leicester in 2020 after being diagnosed with a rare blood cancer called myelofibrosis.
His cells came from an anonymous donor in Germany.
“I sent him an anonymous thank you letter but I haven’t tried to get in direct contact yet. I’d like to,” Raj said.
“It took me about a year and a half to two years to recover. It took quite a long time, and I was off sick from work for about a year.”
Raj added: “The Nottingham development is a brilliant set-up.
“Being able to be more efficient collecting and delivering stem cells to patients who don’t have time to wait is fantastic.”
Raj would like to see more people sign up to become potential donors at Anthony Nolan.
They need to be aged 16 to 30 years old to register, and can stay on as a potential donor until the age of 61.
Potential donors send off a cheek swab sample and wait to see if they are a match for anyone.
“We need more. It is the ultimate act of kindness,” Raj added.
Breaking News
How US megastar Luke Combs helped Britain fall in love with country music
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US country star Luke Combs has spoken exclusively to BBC News about why country music is having its moment, how his British fans are different – and the thrill of bringing Nashville to London.
Country music is hitting new heights in the UK – it is now the fastest growing genre among British listeners, hitting three billion streams alone last year.
That has not gone unnoticed by the genre’s biggest artists – including US country star Luke Combs, who boasts more than 25 million monthly listeners on Spotify and 7.5 million Instagram followers.
For Combs, the growing interest comes down to country’s universal appeal. “I just think country music is a place that everybody can go and enjoy,” the Grammy-nominated singer, 35, says.
“When I started out, there weren’t a lot of acts coming over to the UK and doing club or arena tours and putting in the work. So that was what we always tried to do. It was like, if we invest our time and our energy into coming over here, the fans over here will appreciate that.”
Combs, known for hits like When It Rains It Pours, has travelled to London as country music’s famous Grand Ole Opry relocates from Nashville, Tennessee, for a special one off-performance at the Royal Albert Hall on Friday.
The Opry is the world’s longest-running live radio show and is known the world over as the home of country music.
Stars including Johnny Cash, Elvis Presley and Dolly Parton have all performed on its iconic stage. The show is now streamed across the world six nights a week, but Friday’s historic 100th anniversary performance in London will be the first time the Opry has left the United States.
Combs says it will be something special.
“There’s a lot of hype going on. They’ve never done anything like this before. Playing at the Royal Albert Hall is a bucket list for me, and to play the Opry at the Royal Albert Hall will be insane. It’s like two epic things combined into one.”
An Opry performance consists of each artist performing up to four songs, along with some surprise collaborations. The London show, which also includes US country artists Darius Rucker and Marty Stuart, and British group Mumford and Sons, sold out in minutes when it was announced in May.
According to Combs, the UK was the right choice. “This is my sixth or seventh time in the UK and the fans here love country music. The appetite for it is here. When we started coming over here… it was just so cool to see there were this many country fans.”
He says streaming has been instrumental in introducing more people to the genre – and there is a big difference between his US fans and those based in Britain.
“Country music has become available to more people compared to when it was just terrestrial radio. In the States, we have singles that we promote to radio, which become the songs that get people drawn in.
“But when you come the UK, everyone has consumed the whole album already. It’s really awesome to come here and have the fans ask for songs that maybe wouldn’t even make the set list in the States.”
He adds: “I would say the UK fans are a very listening crowd, which I think is neat. In the States, our shows are very loud, a bit of a melee.
“The energy over here is great but everyone’s listening to the music. They’re focused on what you’re saying and what the lyrics are.”
Award-winning US singer-songwriter Ashley McBryde will join Combs on the bill for Friday’s historic show. She says other artists making the move into the genre has also helped it grow.
“There have been a lot of things that have broadened the fan base, like Post Malone and people like Jelly Roll. Just exposing us to different ears has been really helpful.”
She adds: “There’s not another city on the planet that I would name before London to do the Grand Ole Opry.”
Combs says playing for the first time on the Grand Ole Opry stage at the age of 26 in 2016 was something he will never forget.
“You make your Opry debut and your mom, dad and grandma come in town and it’s this linchpin of your whole career,” he says.
“You remember these certain moments, and your Opry debut is one of these moments that puts a feather in your cap and you just remember it forever.”
According to Opry boss Colin Reed, London’s one-off show, if successful, could lead to others in the future.
Combs adds: “I think the Royal Albert Hall is going to be a perfect venue to host this show, and I know that everybody at the Opry has been really excited about it for a long time, myself included.
“They’ve never done anything like this before but I think they’ve chosen the right place.”
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