An official store closure date has been confirmed for a popular fashion brand

River Island will close its Swansea store next month.

The shop on Oxford Street has been a longstanding presence in the city centre but will officially close its doors on Saturday, September 12.

Signs have appeared in the windows confirming the closure, with a message thanking customers for their support. It reads: “Thanks for shopping with us – we’ve had a blast!”

The closure is the latest setback for Swansea city centre and comes just months after Marks & Spencer shut its doors following more than a century of trading in the city.

The loss of M&S left many locals disappointed, with one shopper previously telling WalesOnline: “I don’t know why or where these big shops go… British Home Stores, Next. It’s terrible. There will be nothing here before long – other than the market.”

The city has also seen the loss of other major brands like The Body Shop and Zara, however, both units have since been filled by the likes of premium home and body cosmetics brand, Rituals and Scandinavian lifestyle brand Søstrene Grene.

The Swansea closure comes as River Island continues with a major restructuring of its store estate. Earlier this year, the fashion retailer announced plans to close 27 branches as part of efforts to secure the future of the business.

In Wales, its Wrexham shop closed on January 18, while its Llandudno Retail Park branch also subsequently ceased trading. Never miss a Swansea story by signing up to our newsletter here

At the time, River Island chief executive Ben Lewis said the retailer had been affected by the long-term shift in shopping habits, with more customers choosing to shop online rather than on the high street.

He stated: “River Island is a much-loved retailer with a decades-long history on the British high street.

“However, the well-documented migration of shoppers from the high street to online has left the business with a large portfolio of stores that is no longer aligned to our customers’ needs.

“The sharp rise in the cost of doing business over the last few years has only added to the financial burden. We have a clear strategy to transform the business to ensure its long-term viability.

“Recent improvements in our fashion offer and in-store shopping experience are already showing very positive results, but it is only with a restructuring plan that we will be able to see this strategy through and secure River Island’s future as a profitable retail business.”

WalesOnline has contacted River Island for comment.

On Monday, SEW apologised to customers.

Head of health and safety Mike Pickard told BBC South East the team were “exhausted and being pushed to limits” trying to manage the “unacceptable” situation.

While understanding the difficulties faced by customers, he said the company was aware of a number of incidents of abuse directed at staff and contractors, which it would “not tolerate”.

On Tuesday, he added: “Being angry about the situation is understandable, but attacking a vehicle, threatening a member of staff or subjecting our teams to abuse is not acceptable.

“No one should face threats, intimidation or violence simply for doing their job, our people are not responsible for the disruption.

“If our teams feel unsafe, they may have no choice but to leave an area.”

On Monday, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) said the situation was “simply not good enough.”

A spokesperson said the company’s new leadership “must now deliver a step change in performance, where customers’ needs are prioritised”.

SEW was the first water firm to issue a hosepipe ban this summer, having barred 850,000 customers in Kent on 3 July.

This ban was extended to parts of Sussex, Surrey, Berkshire and Hampshire about three weeks later.

An employee of a company that provides accommodation for asylum seekers has been charged with misconduct in public office over sharing the properties’ addresses.

Houses in St John’s Way, Bracken Road, Clover Way, Elm Road and Chester Way in Thetford, Norfolk, were targeted by crowds over three nights earlier this month.

James Jobson, 62, from Highlow Road, Costessey, near Norwich, works at Serco and appeared at Ipswich Magistrates’ Court on Monday.

He was remanded in custody and will appear at Norwich Crown Court on 14 September.

The charge states that between 3 and 14 August, while acting as a public officer namely Serco, Jobson “wilfully and without reasonable excuse, or justification” committed misconduct in a way which “amounted to an abuse of the public’s trust in the office”.

Norfolk Police said the charge was in connection to the “release of information relating to a number of addresses in Thetford, which were later targeted during several nights of violent disorder in the town”.

A spokesperson for Serco said: “This matter is currently being handled by the police, and we are cooperating fully. As this relates to an ongoing legal process, it would be inappropriate to comment further.”

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University resits are a second chance for students who have experienced academic difficulties. Typically resit exams are sat during the summer break.

But while resits are available to all eligible students, the ability to engage with them is influenced by broader inequalities.

When students fail assessments, the conversation typically shifts towards personal responsibility. The assumption is that students need to work harder or manage their time more effectively to bounce back.

However, this way of thinking can oversimplify a much more unequal experience. Bouncing back from educational adversity, called academic resilience, is linked to wellbeing. Less resilient learners are more likely to suffer the negative cognitive effects of adversity.

By focusing only on individual resilience, universities risk overlooking the inequalities that determine who can make the most of their second chance.

Unequal circumstances

Students with stable housing, family financial support and access to quiet study spaces are better positioned to focus on revision over the resit period.

On the other hand, many students will have a different experience. Some students need to work more to cover basic living costs, while others face housing problems such as paying rent. Financial pressures can reduce the amount of time, energy and emotional capacity these students have available for revision.

A recent research report found that 66% of students work to cover basic living costs, while 26% work to support their families. Students balancing work commitments alongside resits may face disadvantages compared to peers with greater financial security.

Social isolation and belonging also play a significant role. During the summer months resit period, many students return home or move away from campus. This reduces their opportunities for connecting with other students. Revising alone can intensify feelings of disconnection and perceptions of failure or exclusion.

Belonging is not simply an individual feeling, but is shaped by institutional culture and access to academic support. When those studying at university are separated from this environment, they may feel less connected to the academic community and begin to lose their sense of academic identity.

Summer resits can also leave students with little downtime from university work. This be especially challenging for students with caring responsibilities, including those who are parents.

Resits can result in students becoming more anxious and losing confidence in their academic abilities. They may trigger concerns about disappointing family members, losing financial support or jeopardising career plans. Feelings of disappointment may discourage students from seeking support, reinforcing isolation and disengagement.

In some cases, repeated academic difficulties may lead students to drop out of their degree. Resits therefore involve far more than simply retaking an assessment. They are an emotionally complex experience.

Helping all students

Workshops on exam technique and study skills provided by universities are valuable. However, students often require broader forms of help during periods of academic difficulty.

Research has found that students undertaking resits value clear guidance and opportunities to help build their self-confidence.

One proposed approach for universities arising from our work is the development of “resit roadmaps”. These plans provide students with individualised guidance, structured timelines and signposting to support services. While this could add to academic staff workload, it should help make resit support more consistent and equal.

Support should be proactive and tailored to students’ individual circumstances. Universities can help students by improving the quality of feedback after failed assessments and supporting them to understand and use that feedback. However, it is unclear to what extent universities can fully level the playing field, when many of the challenges students face during resits are due to wider financial and social inequalities beyond institutional control.

When universities aim to increase participation to make themselves open to people from all parts of society, they often focus heavily on access. Less attention is given to how students are supported once they encounter difficulties.

The resulting awarding gaps, where some groups are more likely to achieve top degrees than others, significantly and disproportionately affect students from Black and other ethnic minority groups. If universities are committed to equity and inclusion, support during periods of struggle must become a central part of widening participation strategies rather than an afterthought.

Vladimir Putin’s leading TV propagandist called for a nuclear strike on Britain in a chilling threat after UK drones were used to strike deep inside Russia

Vladimir Putin’s most prominent TV mouthpiece has issued a chilling call for a nuclear strike on Britain, as fears of World War 3 continue to escalate. The threat follows the revelation that UK drones are now being used by Ukraine to carry out strikes deep within Russian territory.

On Tuesday, Moscow threatened the UK with ‘consequences’ over reports that British drones have been used by Ukraine in strikes on Russia’s mainland for the first time. Russia’s embassy to the UK said in a statement the reports ‘confirm that London is deliberately opting for an escalation of the Ukraine crisis’.

The embassy accused Britain of ‘seeking to contain Russia and inflict maximum damage on it by proxy’. “London’s actions will inevitably carry consequences for which it will have to answer,” it added. “The deeper its involvement in the conflict and the greater its support for Kyiv’s terrorist machinery, the higher the price it will pay.”

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A Ministry of Defence spokesperson said in response: “Britain stands shoulder to shoulder with Ukraine and we are committed to providing the equipment Ukraine needs to defend itself against Putin’s illegal invasion.

“Russia should be in no doubt about the resolve of this Government to stand against Russian aggression, in Ukraine and against the UK and our allies.”

Attacks on Russia have been stepped up by Kyiv this year, with long-range missiles and swarms of drones increasingly targeting military industries and energy facilities. Ukraine has also targeted giant depots for Russia’s largest online retailer, Wildberries, burning billions of pounds of merchandise.

‘Give the British 3 days to learn to breathe underwater’

Now, Putin’s propaganda mouthpiece, Vladimir Solovyov, has demanded that British arms factories be targeted with Poseidon – the country’s underwater nuclear drone which is reportedly near completion.

“Hit them with Poseidon [underwater nuclear drone],” Solovyov declared during a primetime broadcast on state television. “Give the British three days to learn to breathe underwater, then hit them with Poseidon.”

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Moscow military sources claim Russia’s Poseidon will be capable of triggering a coastal nuclear explosion, unleashing a radioactive tidal wave over Britain once the weapon becomes operational. Last month, Putin claimed the weapon is nearing completion and will be ready for deployment shortly.

Solovyov also called for the British Embassy in Moscow to be shut down and UK journalists expelled from Russia, reports the Express.

“When will they finally get rid of all these British journalists [in Moscow], all this vomiting anti-Russian scum, from here….?”. Drive them all out of here, and close the [British] embassy and kick them out.”

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Vladimir Kornilov, another Kremlin propagandist, insisted Britain should be “nervous” following the revelation that UK drones are striking deep inside Russia.

“They write with pride that finally British drones are hitting Russian enterprises, they name these enterprises,” he said. “They cite an anonymous source from the British Ministry of Defence who says that Russia has been keeping us on edge the whole time….

“Now we’re showing Russia, we’re not nervous anymore….The bad thing is that they’re not nervous. Of course they should be.”

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He threatened: “If British newspapers are boasting that their drones are already hitting civilian targets deep in Russia, then surely we can do the same. Or is that something else entirely?”

Andy Burnham’s government responds as Russia sends chilling ‘consequences’ threat to UK after bomb attacks

Andy Burnham vows to stand “shoulder to shoulder” with Ukraine as he welcomes President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to UK

Solovyov added: “Now, strikes deep into Russia are being carried out with British weapons…this is classic Anglo-Saxon warfare. We need to understand who we’re fighting and respond asymmetrically….”

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“We shouldn’t pay attention to what they say or what they think. They need to be destroyed.

“Starting with the Baltic states, through which drones have flown again, ending with the ports in Romania through which they’re importing weapons, with factories in England, Italy, France, and Germany, we need to sink their ships that are transporting military supplies for the Ukrainian Armed Forces. And don’t even worry about it. There’s no point.”

This came as hardline MP Andrey Lugovoy claimed Britain had been intimidated by Vladimir Putin’s warning Russia could arrest Western ships in the Pacific and other oceans in retaliation for the impounding of the Kremlin’s shadow fleet vessels.

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“The British attempt to legalise piracy ended in another flop. Was it worth the risk?

“Vladimir Putin’s promise to respond in kind to the West’s seizure of Russian ships forced London to admit that its strength is no longer what it once was. England is no longer the ‘mistress of the seas’.”

A spray of perfume on the neck is a familiar final step before leaving the house. But a viral Instagram post by a cancer specialist has singled out the neck as an area “worth thinking about” because it lies close to the thyroid gland.

The caption says there is no evidence that spraying perfume on the neck damages the thyroid. Yet its references to hormone disruption and lifelong chemical exposure through thin skin may suggest a possible link with thyroid disease or cancer. Could a quick spritz really pose a special risk?

Current evidence does not show that applying perfume over the thyroid selectively delivers fragrance chemicals to the gland or exposes it to a higher dose than spraying elsewhere. Research on skin absorption and the anatomy of the neck do not support the idea of a direct, selective route to the thyroid.

The thyroid is a butterfly-shaped gland in the lower front of the neck. It releases hormones that help control how the body uses energy and sits beneath the skin and several layers of connective tissue and muscle.

What happens when perfume reaches the skin?

Skin acts as a barrier. An ingredient may evaporate, remain on the surface, enter the skin’s layers or reach the bloodstream. Absorption depends on the chemical, its mixture, skin condition and location, dose and contact time.

Body site can influence absorption. Once a chemical reaches blood vessels in the deeper skin, it can circulate more widely. Applying a substance near an organ does not automatically target that organ.

Safety assessments of sprayable cosmetics also consider inhalation. This route does not give the thyroid special exposure from neck application.

What about phthalates and hormones?

Much of the concern centres on phthalates, a family of chemicals with different uses and health effects. Diethyl phthalate, or DEP, has been used as a solvent and fixative in fragrances. Other phthalates have mainly been used to make plastics flexible. Evidence about one member of the family cannot simply be applied to all the others.

A systematic review published online in 2024 brought together 17 studies involving 5,616 children and adolescents. It reported associations between phthalate exposure and levels of some thyroid hormones, while findings for other hormones were inconsistent. The studies examined exposure from multiple sources. They did not investigate perfume application to the neck or the development of thyroid disease, and cannot establish cause and effect.

Perfume can contribute to DEP exposure. In a study of 337 women, perfume users had higher urinary levels of monoethyl phthalate, a breakdown product of DEP. This supports perfume as a source of DEP exposure. The study did not examine thyroid damage or application site.

An “endocrine disruptor” is an outside substance that changes the hormone system and causes a harmful effect. Risk depends on the chemical, dose, route, timing and duration of exposure. A hormonal effect in a laboratory experiment does not establish the risk from a finished perfume used in everyday conditions.

Repeated use means repeated exposure, although it does not necessarily mean accumulation. Phthalates are converted into breakdown products that pass out of the body quickly in urine, while frequent use can repeatedly renew exposure.

In Great Britain and Northern Ireland, cosmetics must undergo a safety assessment before being placed on the market, although the regulatory systems differ. Assessors consider ingredients, concentrations, intended use and likely exposure. Fragrance mixtures may be listed as “parfum”, while specified allergens must be named above prescribed concentrations under Great Britain and Northern Ireland’s rules.

The better-established skin risks

For perfume applied directly to skin, the clearest established concern is allergic contact dermatitis, an itchy, inflamed rash caused by contact with an ingredient. A review estimated that fragrance contact allergy affects 0.7% to 2.6% of the general population.

An allergic reaction can develop after someone becomes sensitised, meaning their immune system has learned to react to an ingredient. Later contact can produce itching and an eczema-like red rash. Perfume can also irritate skin without causing an allergy. If a rash persists or returns, patch testing can help identify the cause.

Some fragrance ingredients can cause a phototoxic reaction, a sunburn-like response when a chemical on the skin is exposed to light. A human study of model perfumes found that bergamot oil containing a light-reactive chemical could cause such a reaction after exposure to ultraviolet A, or UVA. The risk depended on the concentration and UV dose, so this does not apply to every perfume.

Long-term sun exposure is considered a main contributor to poikiloderma of Civatte, which causes reddish-brown, thinned skin with visible small blood vessels on the sides of the neck. A small study of 32 patients suggested fragrance allergy might contribute in some people, but could not show that fragrance caused the condition.

Perfume odour can also affect people with migraine. In one clinic-based study, people with migraine frequently named perfume as an odour they believed had triggered attacks. The study relied on recollections, so cannot provide a population estimate or prove causation. It provides no evidence of thyroid damage.

So, should you avoid spraying your neck?

For most people, current evidence provides no thyroid-related reason to avoid the neck specifically. Cancer Research UK reports no evidence that using perfume causes cancer.

If perfume causes burning or an itchy rash, stop applying it to the skin and seek medical advice if the reaction persists. “Natural” fragrances are not automatically gentler because essential oils can also cause allergic contact dermatitis. A “phthalate-free” label does not by itself establish that a fragrance is safer because phthalates differ and replacement products are not automatically safer.

Further research could clarify the effects of repeated exposure to fragrance mixtures. Current evidence does not show that spraying the neck gives fragrance chemicals special access to the thyroid.

Empty Chairs is a community-led campaign encouraging strangers to gather at pub tables across the UK to help tackle loneliness

A new initiative has launched in Glasgow, inviting people who are feeling isolated and seeking companionship to join others at designated pub tables, with empty seats deliberately “left open” for community members in need of connection.

Empty Chairs is a community-led campaign encouraging people to gather at pub tables across the UK, ensuring nobody has to sit alone.

The global project has recently arrived in Glasgow’s southside, thanks to volunteer host Kirstie Cusick, 52, who has partnered with staff at the Clockwork Pub in Mount Florida to provide a regular gathering for those seeking to connect or simply have a chat.

Kirstie explained: “It’s a blether in the pub with strangers – and sometimes having a blether with strangers can be easier than in a workplace or even with your family.

“It’s just another way of meeting people. I really think that is what it is. Loneliness is at the heart of what we’re trying to combat, and with loneliness comes potential mental health issues. I think we live in a world where there isn’t enough face to face connection.”

Kirstie, who works with mental health charity Penumbra, became involved with Empty Chairs after her husband learnt about it on the radio, Glasgow Live reports.

With a history of volunteering for mental health organisations including the Samaritans, she was seeking a way to support people locally after spending time in Australia with Roses in the Ocean, an organisation dedicated to suicide prevention.

Kirstie explained: “Dean, the founder of Empty Chairs, came up with this concept after losing his best friend Rob to suicide, and started it last December.

“He went into a local pub, put on a bright coloured top, booked a table, and opened himself up to conversations. I just thought it was a wonderful idea.

“Joining them as a volunteer host was a really straight forward process, I registered via the website, then spoke to the owners at the Clockwork about this emerging movement and how it can help people, and they were happy to host.

“The movement is still in its early days, so there was an immediacy about it that I loved. You can just start the group, and anyone can do it.

“It can be daunting, but Empty Chairs have been really helpful, and someone checks in with you before you start and when it finishes. It’s also organic, meaning I can host these events when I can and the timetable fits around me.”

Having now hosted her fourth session, Kirstie says that following a hectic summer filled with major sporting and music events, she’s hoping to run as many Sunday nights as possible.

“I chose that night because a lot of people don’t have things on on a Sunday night, but also I think it’s really important was that whenever I personally felt lonely, Sunday nights were really tough.

“Sometimes I wouldn’t have spoken to anybody all weekend other than maybe my family. I might not have seen anybody, but also Sunday nights can be really tough for people that are working and maybe they’re going back to work and they’re having the Sunday fears.

“We are open to anybody, of all ages that can come to the pub, and I think the thing that we stress is there is no need to buy anything, nobody needs to drink.

“You can just come along and sit with us for as long or as little as they like. Nobody needs to sign up. You don’t need to tell anybody you’re coming, you can just show up.”

For Kirstie, the groups are about peer support, empathy and connection – and she says the response has been overwhelmingly positive, both from the people who have come and from online.

She added: “I’ve done four sessions so far and at every session there has been people there. Even if just one person turns up, that to me is a success.

“Because of my volunteering and my professional experience, I feel that I can bring extra to the table if needed. So, if anybody did want to have a conversation with me about their mental health, I know how to signpost them to other support and resources.

“I want to stress that this isn’t counselling, we’re not crisis support. But I would be able to support someone if you know, if they were having a bad day.”

Kirstie’s upcoming Empty Chairs at the Clockwork between 7pm – 8pm are:

• Sunday August 23
• Sunday August 30
• Sunday September 6

For more information about sessions in Glasgow (Clockwork and Oran Mor), Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Elgin, Falkirk and beyond please visit their website.

If after reading this article you need immediate support, please contact:

• Samaritans 24/7 on 116 123
• Breathing Space (from 6pm) on 0800 83 85 87
• NHS24 (from 6pm) on 111