A new treatment has shown huge potential for treating spina bifida in the womb, after a trial showed that it improved children’s mobility and quality of life.  

Spina bifida, a condition in which a baby’s spinal cord is not properly enclosed during gestation, can lead to a range of lifelong disabilities. However, scientists claimed this week to have a promising new treatment, which involves applying stem cells from the mother’s placenta to her baby’s spine while surgeons repair it in the womb. 

Diana Farmer, chair of the University of California’s Davis Department of Surgery, which led the US trial, said the procedure “paves the way for new treatment options for children with birth defects”.

Six mothers took part in the phase one trial, the results of which were published in the Lancet health journal this week. Michelle Johnson was among them.  

“Our family couldn’t feel more blessed,” said Johnson, whose son Tobi (pictured) was born in 2022. “Tobi’s physical and mental abilities are nothing short of a miracle.”

While further research is needed, Aijun Wang, co-inventor of the treatment, said it was a “major step toward a new kind of fetal therapy”. Shine, a UK-based spina bifida charity, described the results as “very exciting”.

Image: University of California

Catherine Quinn was giving evidence at the trial of Paul Quinn, 51, who is accused of raping a woman after dragging her away from a motorway bridge between Little Hulton and Farnworth in 2003.

More than 20 years on Mrs Quinn told Manchester Crown Court she had seen a report about the attack on the television news and joked to Quinn she hoped his shirt would not be found there.

Mrs Quinn said she and her ex-husband were together from 1996 to 2016 and that their divorce was finalised in 2019.

She said they kept in touch via phone calls and messages and that in December 2022 Quinn had told her that he had been “arrested and let go” about an incident that happened in 2003.

The trial opened at Manchester Crown Court (Image: Anthony Moss)

Mrs Quinn said: “He said it was about a lady who had been attacked at about that time.”

She added that the rape attack was “massive news at the time”.

Security guard Andrew Malkinson was arrested, convicted and spent 17 years in prison for the crime, of which the prosecution say he was entirely innocent.

Questioned by John Price KC, prosecuting, Mrs Quinn said she remember how her then husband had gone out on his own the night of the attack and came home with his shirt missing.

She said she remembered that when Quinn was hot or was dancing he would “take it off or open it” and that he would often go out on nights out in Farnworth without her.

Pressed by Mr Price, Mrs Quinn said she first heard about the rape investigation off Cleggs Lane when she saw a report about it on the television news.

The prosecution say Andrew Malkinson was wrongly convicted of the crime (Image: GMP)

This was after Quinn had come home with his shirt, which she described as cotton, white with vertical and horizonal blue stripes, missing.

Mrs Quinn said that on seeing the news about the rape investigation she jokingly told Quinn “I hope they don’t find it anywhere near there”.

Questioned by Lisa Wilding KC, defending, about how she could remember the design of the shirt so well after 20 years, Mrs Quinn said “Paul didn’t have many shirts”.

Ms Wilding suggested that Mrs Quinn could not have seen the TV report about the rape investigation the same day as her husband came home without his shirt.

She said no such report appeared until a day later and asked if Mrs Quinn could have been mistaken in how she remembered the timings.

Mrs Quinn said anybody’s memory could have been affected after “that amount of time”.

Further pressed by Mr Price on what she meant about hoping Quinn’s shirt was not found near the scene of the alleged rape, Mrs Quinn agreed it was a “kind of joke”.

She could not remember if in response he had laughed.

Next to give evidence was Clifford Anthony Minor, a friend of Quinn’s since primary school who had gone on to work with him as a fencer between 2002 and 2010.

Mr Minor said as a younger man he had often gone out to Chuffers nightclub on Market Street in Farnworth with Quinn, who had sometimes stayed out longer than him after meeting women.

He said he had never seen Quinn use cocaine or other drugs until around 2007 to 2008.

Questioned by Mr Price, Mr Minor said that if Quinn had ended the night in Chuffers by “getting off with girls” then he would end up going home on his own.

Quinn, of Whipton Barton Road, Exeter, denies two counts of rape, one count of attempt to strangle, and one count of assault, intending to cause grievous bodily harm.

The trial, before Mr Justice Robert Bright, continues.

The staff member ended up with a cut on his nose and bite marks on one of his fingers

A man has been jailed after attacking a member of staff at a hotel with a Bible. William Poyning, 45, was asked to leave the Bull Hotel, in Westgate, Peterborough, on February 12, late last year.

Poyning was escorted to an exit, becoming violent and hitting a member of staff in the face with the Bible he was holding.

Poyning also kicked out at the victim. Staff and a member of the public were able to get him out of the hotel.

The victim received a cut to his nose and bite marks on one of his fingers. The police were called and he was arrested.

At Cambridge Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday, March 10, Poyning, of no known address, was jailed for nine months after pleading guilty to assault causing actual bodily harm.

PC Jess Broome: “Poyning’s behaviour was aggressive and intimidating as he lashed out with the Bible and attacked someone who was simply doing their job.

“We won’t tolerate attacks like this on staff working in hospitality or the nighttime economy. I’m pleased Poyning has now appeared in court to answer for his actions.”

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It comes after the actress returned to the ITV soap last year in the role of Eva Price after seven years away

Coronation Street star Catherine Tyldesley has been seen hailing her ‘amazing’ castmate who she predicts is going to go on to be a ‘big star’.

The actress returned to the ITV soap last year in the role of Eva Price after seven years away, with her previously saying that the move “felt right”.

Fans will recall that Eva left Weatherfield to start a new life in France, but she is now returning as landlady of the Rovers Return – and Catherine admitted how she thought her comeback would be limited to a “funeral” sequence and was delighted to find out soap bosses wanted her back full-time.

And it was in October that viewers saw Eva heading back to Weatherfield with her daughter, Susie Price, and her new partner, Ben Driscoll, after he bought the Rovers Return for her the family, which includes his two sons, Ollie, and Will, to run. However, he failed to mention that his mother, Maggie, had to bail him out with the money to buy the boozer, and she was soon seen moving in with them too.

And it was the actress behind Susie, who was seen on-screen for the first time since she appeared as a newborn baby, who Catherine was praising as she took part in an interview with Inside Soap which was published alongside a Mother’s Day themed photoshoot alongside Aurora Bradshaw, who plays the youngster.

Asked by the publication what it is like working with Aurora, Catherine said: “We just clicked straight away. She’s amazing. She’s just so gorgeous and professional. I’d already met her mum at the chemistry test, and we got on like a house on fire. We all met up outside of work so Aurora could meet my kids and spend some time together in the park, so she could get used to me.”

She added: “I wanted her to feel comfortable when we started. She always knows her lines and she’s always so well-rehearsed. She really loves being here and she’s an absolute dream!”

Corrie fans will recall that Eva gave birth to her and Aidan Connor’s daughter in April 2018 in a cottage where she was staying to hide the pregnancy. She handed her newborn daughter over to Toyah Battersby and the baby was named Susie after Peter’s late sister, Susan Barlow. Eva registered her daughter as ‘Susie Price’ immediately after her birth.

But Toyah created a fake birth certificate saying that Jacqui was Susie’s mother and Peter was her father as well as her name being ‘Susie Barlow’ so Peter wouldn’t suspect anything. Eventually, the truth came tumbling out following the tragic death of Aidan and convinced that his son would not have taken his life if he had known the truth about his little girl, Aidan’s father Jonny Connor decided to fight for custody.

Not wanting Eva to flee the country with the baby, Eva’s ex-boyfriend Adam Barlow, who Aidan originally believed was the father of the baby, decided to make a fake DNA test to show Johnny that he was in fact Susie’s biological father and Eva eventually left the cobbles behind when Susie was just a few months old.

Also asked if Aurora is as sassy as viewers have found Susie to be, Catherine revealed: “Absolutely! Susie Price is another level of sass, but Aurora is older than her years. I’m really good at predicting stars of the future and to me, she’s gonna be a big star. She really wants it and she puts so much time and energy into bringing Susie to life. It’s a real joy to see such a brilliant work ethic in somebody so young.”

Meanwhile, some Corrie fans may not know that Susie actress Aurora Bradshaw isn’t the only one in her family starring in the soap. Her older brother, Bobby is best known for playing Jake Windass, the son of Gary Windass and Izzy Armstrong. The character was born after the former couple used a surrogate, Tina McIntyre, to conceive due to Izzy’s health problems.

Jake’s parents have since separated, but do share joint custody but Jake lives with Gary, his wife Maria Connor, and stepbrother Liam at 5 Victoria Court. The youngster was originally played by twins Harley and Layton Phoenix from 2013 to 2015, before Seth and Theo Wild took over in 2016 until 2018, which was then when Bobby took over.

The head chef of world-renowned restaurant Noma has been forced to step down over allegations of bullying and abuse.

René Redzepi, who founded the three Michelin star restaurant, announced that he would resign in a post on social media that acknowledged the concerns surrounding his “past leadership”.

Noma, which put Copenhagen on the map as a global food hotspot through its brand of innovative Nordic cuisine that championed foraged ingredients, had been due to open a Los Angles residency.

But Noma’s arrival in the US has raised concerns about allegations about its head chef’s history of cultivating a toxic workplace, including claims of verbal and physical abuse.

After major corporate sponsors American Express and Blackbird were widely reported to have pulled out of the pop-up event, Mr Redzepi announced late on Wednesday in the US that he would “step away”.

“I have worked to be a better leader and Noma has taken big steps to transform the culture over many years,” he said in a post on Instagram.

“I recognise these changes do not repair the past.

“An apology is not enough; I take responsibility for my own actions.

“After more than two decades of building and leading this restaurant, I’ve decided to step away and allow our extraordinary leaders to now guide the restaurant into its next chapter.”

Mr Redzepi said the residency would continue without him, adding “the Noma team today is the strongest and most inspiring it has ever been”.

The New York Times published allegations from former staff that Mr Redzepi had subjected his staff to psychological and physical abuse, including hitting, jabbing and shoving workers for minor errors as well as punching them in anger.

Protesters gathered outside the Noma pop-up venue on Wednesday, led by the acclaimed restaurant’s former director of fermentation Jason Ignacio White, who has been a vocal critic of Mr Redzepi, Sky News’ US broadcast partner NBC reported.

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After the allegations emerged, Mr Redzepi defended his actions in another Instagram post last week.

“I want to address past stories around my leadership in the kitchen that have resurfaced recently,” he said.

“Although I don’t recognise all details in these stories, I can see enough of my past behaviour reflected in them to understand that my actions were harmful to people who worked with me.

“To those who have suffered under my leadership, my bad judgement, or my anger, I am deeply sorry and I have worked to change.”

The Danish chef added: “I was not able to handle the pressure, small mistakes could feel enormous to me, and I reacted in ways that I regret deeply today.”

The pop-up in Silver Lake is widely reported to have sold out in three minutes, with diners paying $1,500 per package.

Noma has been named the world’s best restaurant five times by The World’s 50 Best Restaurants list.

The restaurant shot to prominence off the back of pioneering Nordic cuisine, including a dish known as the “Hen and the Egg” (a duck egg served with hay oil and greens) and the “Edible Soil” (Carrot and Radish in Edible Soil).

Ants have also featured on the menu, among other experimental ingredients used by Noma.

Despite communication restrictions, the BBC was able to speak to several Iranians who oppose the government and who initially did not oppose the idea of military action against the Islamic Republic, particularly after another uprising attempt and nationwide protests were subdued in what has become the deadliest protest crackdown in the Islamic Republic’s history.

What does patriotism mean to you?  

Being house proud 

“It’s a bit like being house proud, but of my country– looking after it, keeping it tidy, investing in it, caring for the people in it, looking out for neighbours and making visitors and newcomers feel welcome.” – Zoe, Barnsley, England 

Progression 

“Carl Schurz said ‘my country, right or wrong. If right, to be kept right. If wrong, to be set right.’ The truth is more involved. A nationalist believes the appearance of supremacy is so important he will attack his own countrymen for criticising it. A patriot will criticise their own country so it can become greater tomorrow than it was yesterday.” – William, US

Shared humanity  

“Patriotism is not wrapping yourself in your country’s flag; it’s wrapping yourself in your shared humanity.” – Gary, Rhode Island, US

A quieter, enduring love  

“Patriotism isn’t loud. It’s not about flags or anthems and proving who loves their country most. For me, it’s a quieter and enduring love. The kind that stays, even when things aren’t perfect. Patriotism is caring enough to see what’s wrong and still believe we can do better. It’s shown in small things –helping a neighbour, listening, choosing kindness when anger would be easier. True patriotism doesn’t draw lines between people. It asks only that we care enough to build something worth belonging to. Because love of country isn’t shouted. It’s shown – in hope, in effort, and in how we treat each other, irrespective of our origins.” – Brian, Portishead, England

Duty and understanding 

“Patriotism is the feeling of love for your country. However, like conventional love, the feeling is not unconditional and, to be sustainable, should not be all encompassing. Patriotism is understanding that your country has a history, some of which can be celebrated, some of which should be addressed critically and all of which can be learnt from. Patriotism is understanding that your country is alive, ever changing. Patriotism is understanding that while you had no role in being born in the country you consider home, it is your duty to look to help shape and improve it.” – Richard, Croydon, England

Setting a positive example

“Patriotism for me is a sense of flying my own personal flag for those before me – my late mum and grandmother – and being a positive role model for my daughters. Caring for Mother Earth as much as possible, continuing to be charitable to those in my community.” – Joanna, Essex, England

“As a biracial child growing up in the UK in the 1970s I’ve already been told that [certain patriotic] symbols are not mine. Moving from England to Scotland as an adult again reinforced what I am not. So without much sense of conventional patriotism, I try to be a useful citizen of planet Earth; through work, through actions, through care.” – Devinder, Scotland 

Kindness

“It means embracing all that is kind and welcoming in our country, striving to rescue our natural habitats from capitalism and to rescue our human population from the scourge of social media. It’s about smiling and saying hello to anyone and everyone.” – Ann, Bishop’s Stortford, England

Being welcoming  

“For me, patriotism is the land. I love the English countryside, the trees, meadows, moors and beaches – that is where I feel my peace, belonging and roots, and what I want to protect. This land should be welcoming to anyone who loves and cares for it and wants to belong here, no matter where they were born or what their race or religion is. Love is all that matters.” – James, England

“I recently became an immigrant and I’ve been overwhelmed by how welcoming my new home is. In turn I’ve done my best to return that love through voluntary work, donating to local causes, and being there for my neighbours when they need help. I don’t speak the local language yet but despite that, I feel a stronger sense of belonging here than I ever have before.” – Gem, Berlin

Aiming high  

“Patriotism means wanting the UK to be the best, cleanest and fairest it can be, with no one or nowhere left behind.” – Candida, West Sussex, England

Preserving identity 

“I think being patriotic means preserving our country’s unique identity. It can mean learning and teaching our local history, folk songs, arts and crafts… and also looking after our local wildlife.” – Beth, Lancashire, England

Main image:  Saj Shafque / Unsplash

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Reviewed by Kulwinder Rai

Steam mops for hard floors are a familiar concept but the Bissell Revolution HydroSteam is the first wet, upright consumer carpet cleaner with an integrated steam function. It performs its headline party trick by forcing steam into dirty carpets via a bank of 27 steam nozzles, located in front of, and underneath, its fixed, dual-brush roll assembly.

The overall weight is heavier than Bissell’s Pet Pro (reviewed below) and while still manoeuvrable, a trip up the stairs does require some extra bicep action. The steam functionality also doesn’t extend to the supplied accessory tools.

Operation is incredibly simple, however, with three choices. The first is the SteamWash Max mode, which is activated by pulling a trigger to dispense steam, water and cleaning formula. It takes eight hours to fully dry.

The second allows you to soften deeply embedded stains by passing over them in Pretreat (steam-only) mode. Lastly, a faster, water and formula quick dry cleaning mode deals with everyday, light staining and sees carpets dry in around 30 minutes.

The Revolution HydroSteam chews through more cleaning formula than rivals, but on its SteamWash MAX setting, it positively scythed through absolutely all but the toughest of carpet stains in a couple of passes.

Even deeply embedded, dried-in wine stains succumbed to its ministrations, once given a couple of passes of pure steam pre-treatment. In bald performance terms, this machine categorically outperforms every other consumer-grade wet carpet cleaner I’ve tested, no mean feat.

Key specifications

• Weight: 10.2kg
• Power: 1,300W
• Capacity: 3.8-litre clean water tank; 1.9-litre dirty water tank
• Settings: SteamWash MAX, Steam Pretreat, Quick Dry modes
• Attachments: 3-in-1 stair tool, 8cm tool and three trial bottles of cleaner