This year, 76 marching bands – comprising pipes, accordions, flutes, and silver – will accompany around 4,000 members of the Royal Black Institution

Tens of thousands are expected to gather in Scarva for the annual Sham Fight. To be held on Tuesday, July 14, it will see a parade of more than 70 marching bands.

The mock battle and the large-scale procession through the Co Down village is hosted by the Royal Black Institution’s Sir Knight Alfred Buller Memorial RBP 1000.

The Scarva-based preceptory has the honour of leading the parade, accompanied by Waringsford Pipe Band.

This year, 76 marching bands – comprising pipes, accordions, flutes, and silver – will accompany around 4,000 members of the Institution in the procession preceding the Sham Fight.

Sovereign Grand Master Rev William Anderson said: “The procession and Sham Fight at Scarva hold a special place in the parading calendar, regularly attracting crowds of upwards of 100,000.

“The day is rooted in tradition, with preceptories carrying their wonderful banners portraying biblical scenes, and it is a unique spectacle of music and pageantry.

“Once again, the Royal Black Institution will proudly declare our stance for the Reformed Christian faith.”

John Adair is the Registrar of RBP 1000 and famous for playing King William at Scarva for more than 30 years: “It is a day of music, pageantry and culture, and it is important to maintain the tradition of the Sham Fight, which is the only remaining one in Ireland, if not Europe.”

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John is looking forward to “a terrific response from the spectators” when he and Colin Cairns, in the role of King James, cross swords once again, leading to an inevitable conclusion.

Colin is no stranger to Scarva, having portrayed King James “heading up to 40 years”. “Out of it all, I’ve never won one battle,” he joked.

Andrew Boyce is the Worshipful Master of RBP 1000 and a member of Markethill Protestant Boys Flute Band: “I’m really looking forward to it – it’s one of my favourite days on the parading calendar, especially when the weather is good. Last year, I walked in with the preceptory and walked out with the band, and that’s the plan for this year, too.”

A special guest at Scarva will be internationally renowned mezzo-soprano Emma Brown, who has performed at remembrance events throughout Europe. Emma is from Nottingham, but now lives in the Netherlands, and is looking forward to returning to Scarva, where she performed in 2018 and 2019.

“I’ll be travelling with my three-year-old son, Henry,” she said. I can’t wait to introduce him to the festivities for the first time – not to mention letting him experience the warm hospitality in Northern Ireland.”

The main parade starts at 10.45am, leaving the assembly field on Gilford Road and proceeding through the village to the Demesne. The Sham Fight will take place at 1.15pm, with the religious service due to begin at 2.15pm, and the return parade scheduled to leave the Demesne at 3.15pm.

Platform proceedings will include contributions from Rev William Anderson, Sovereign Grand Master; David Livingstone, County Grand Master, Armagh; Rev Timothy Eldon, District Chaplain, Portadown; Noel Berry, WDM, Tandragee; John Dumigan, WDM, Lower Iveagh; Niall Truesdale, WDM, Rathfriland; Trevor Holmes, WDM, Newry; and Samuel Courtney, WDM, Markethill.

Earlier in the day, as is customary, Scarva RBP 1000 officers will lay a wreath at the village war memorial to local members of the security forces murdered during the Troubles.

Meanwhile Royal Black Institution members from Lurgan will take part in their traditional parade in Bangor on July 14.

Sovereign Grand Master Rev William Anderson said it was a tradition that Lurgan RBDC No 2 travelled to Bangor for its annual parade: “The Bangor parade complements the institution’s celebrations at Scarva and is a day for all the family to enjoy,”.

Andrew Hamill is Worshipful District Master of Lurgan District No 2 and a member of RBP 353: “We are more than happy to be returning to Bangor. We always receive a warm welcome, and we are expecting a strong turnout of spectators to add to the great atmosphere.”

Craigavon Protestant Boys Flute Band, who are celebrating their 60th anniversary, will accompany Morning Star RBP 399, one of 11 Lurgan preceptories in the parade. Earlier in the day, at Brownlow House, Lurgan, the preceptory will unfurl a new bannerette.

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Biohacking hasn’t just become a craze for billionaires and Silicon Valley tech bros – celebrities are jumping on the bandwagon too.

Today’s A-listers are not just chasing youth – they’re focusing on health span, aiming to live longer and invest in their future.

From ŌURA rings to hyperbaric oxygen chambers and red light therapy beds, Hollywood stars are splurging thousands on advanced health technology in the pursuit of self-improvement.

The ring that tracks sleep

One of the most recognisable pieces of jewellery in Tinseltown isn’t a designer accessory or high-end diamonds- it’s the ŌURA Ring.

Worn by A-listers including Jennifer Aniston, Kim Kardashian and Gwyneth Paltrow, the device measures heart rate, body temperature, stress levels and recovery.

But most importantly, it has become one of the most popular health trackers on the market to help monitor our sleep, one of the biggest areas of focus in longevity research, which influences everything from hormone balance and immune function to memory and cardiovascular health.

As one of the millions around the world suffering from terrible sleep and bouts of insomnia, I have found the ŌURA ring has helped me get my forty winks back on track after I joined the coveted club earlier this year.

As many fans insist, it makes you accountable for how you treat your body – what you eat, what you drink and how much exercise you get – all of which affect your time between the sheets.

Dr Rebecca Robbins, a sleep expert and Assistant Professor of Medicine at Harvard University, also highly rates the ring and how it advocates the importance of sleep for a longer, healthier life.

‘It’s so exciting as a sleep scientist to see the explosion in interest around sleep tracking and about 30% of the population, according to our research, uses some sort of mobile or wearable technology,’ she told Daily Mail.

‘It prompts this process of self-reflection. You ask “what did I do yesterday? Well, I had a glass of wine, I overdid it, or I had a little bit too much coffee.” That behaviour change is the most important when it can come from ourselves. What’s so powerful about sleep tracking is it helps you understand your behaviours and how they relate to your ability to get a good night’s rest.’

Dr Robbins said that people who often think they are getting enough sleep are not getting enough at all, and the ŌURA ring helps track the various vital stages to improve it.

‘It’s so amazing to have this information at our fingertips. I would ask people in my study ‘How much sleep do you get?’ And people would say, ‘Oh, I get about seven hours. I’m doing fine.’ 

One of the most recognisable pieces of jewellery in Tinstletown isn’t a designer accessory or high-end diamonds—it’s the ŌURA Ring . Worn by A-listers including Jennifer Aniston, Kim Kardashian and Gwyneth Paltrow (pictured)

If I measure those people who are telling me seven hours, they’re probably sleeping closer to six because the average person is not factoring in the time it takes to fall asleep or wake up. Subtracting can be very eye-opening for some users because it sheds light on how much sleep they are actually getting,’ she explained. 

‘Sleep duration is one of the most commonly talked about topics, and I think we kind of bash people over the head with the notion of getting to know ‘your hours’, but one of the most important aspects of sleep is good quality, restorative sleep.

‘At the end of the day, it doesn’t really matter if you spend eight hours in bed, if they’re not restorative hours. The most important thing is quality sleep. Sleep that restores us and allows us to wake up and go about our day.’

The ŌURA ring monitors heart rate, heart rate variability (HRV), body temperature, breathing patterns and movement while you sleep. By analysing these, it estimates time spent in light, deep and REM sleep, providing users with personalised Sleep and Readiness Scores that can help indicate recovery trends over time.

Although it doesn’t measure brain activity like a laboratory sleep study, it offers valuable insights into long-term sleep and recovery patterns, helping users understand how exercise, stress, alcohol, travel and late-night eating affect their health, empowering them to make more informed lifestyle choices.

Dr Robbins explains that deep and REM sleep are the key stages of our sleeping pattern and adequate amounts are important for muscular regeneration, heart health and cognitive performance.

‘Our research has found that sleep is a significant predictor of your cognitive health in the long-term. Individuals who are not getting enough of it may be at greater risk for outcomes like Alzheimer’s disease and dementia,’ she said.

‘Deeper sleep is where we enter the closest thing humans get to hibernation, where our body temperature cools, our heart rate slows. This is where an amazing amount of repair can happen, including muscular regeneration.

Kendall Jenner owns several pieces of advanced health technology, including a Vitaeris 320 hyperbaric chamber – which retails for around US$24,000 – and a TheraLight 360 red light therapy bed, which currently retails for US$84,997 

‘For the past couple of years, I’ve been just really like loving health. I don’t know, it’s become an obsession,’ Jenner said during an episode of The Kardashains, explaining she often spends an hour in the chamber ‘reading her emails’

‘During deep sleep, there are heart health benefits because our heart rate drops to the lowest point in the 24-hour day. Natural nightly dipping in heart rate and blood pressure is vitally important for all of us. 

‘Then something fascinating happens. We enter a rapid eye movement state, defined, as the name suggests, by ‘rapid eye movements’, where your eyes dart under your eyelids back and forth, indicating an enormous amount of activity in the brain, which is vital from the standpoint of memory consolidation and cognitive performance.’

As for weight management, she said she often jokes that a good night’s sleep is the best diet out there, because it may help curb our appetite.

‘The neurotransmitter that travels from the lining of the stomach to the brain that says ‘I’ve had enough to eat’ is 20% lower when we are sleep-deprived compared to when we’re getting enough. It delays or limits our ability to say, ‘Oh, we are full,” she explained.

‘If we take someone (in one clinical trial) who’s getting six hours and we move them to seven hours, you see that each additional hour of sleep into that recommended range of seven to nine hours offers a benefit of about a 200 calorie reduction in the day.

‘It is one of the best ways to manage our weight effectively because when we wake up all you want to do is fuel your body with healthy food.’

Meanwhile, excellent sleep may help support healthier and youthful-looking skin, without reaching for the Botox or filler.

‘In terms of skin and appearance, there’s so much research to show that over the course of the night you go into this deep repair, a very cellular level of our skin, our body, our heart health. Research does show that a good night’s sleep is associated with a better physical appearance,’ Dr Robbins said.

Red light therapy beds have quickly become a staple in celebrity homes and cutting-edge wellness studios across the world

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‘If you’re not getting enough sleep, the body is kind of in this internal survival mode resulting in the appearance of fine lines or bags under eyes.’ 

The glow of red light 

Red light therapy beds have quickly become a staple in celebrity homes and cutting-edge wellness studios across the world.

Stars such as Kendall Jenner, Kristin Cavallari, Olivia Munn and Chrissy Teigen have turned to RLT in the hope of improving skin appearance.

Research has found red light therapy may stimulate cellular energy production and collagen synthesis, with some studies reporting improvements in skin appearance and recovery, although evidence for many broader health claims remains limited.

I first tried red light therapy in Los Angeles, home to some of the biggest celebrities in the world.

Love.Life: Holistic Health + Wellness Club, a ‘one-stop health ecosystem’ with a huge focus on longevity, features the beds as part of their program at the 45,000-square-foot centre situated in the upscale beachside suburb of El Segundo.

Love.Life is described as a ‘wellness country club’ full of biohackers who have top-tier memberships that offer a dedicated physician-led care team, multiple 1:1 doctor visits + acute care access, advanced diagnostics (bloodwork, biomarkers, scans), nutrition, health coaching, lifestyle planning and full access to fitness + recovery facilities, including RLT.

After my first thirty minutes on a RLT bed, I haven’t looked back, noticing improvements in my sleep, energy and skin following regular sessions back in Sydney.

These days juice cleanses and crash diets have been binned in favour of longevity-focused eating plans that include high-quality protein to preserve muscle, colourful vegetables and fruit for antioxidants and fibre (think Kris Jenner’s immaculately organised greens fridge), healthy fats such as olive oil, nuts and avocado, and fermented foods to support gut health

During my visit to Love.Life, I also tried a hyperbaric chamber, a favourite of reality TV star and supermodel Kendall Jenner, who has become so obsessed with health and wellness she has spent well over US$100,000 to build her very own wellness retreat in her home.

Jenner owns several pieces of advanced health technology, including a Vitaeris 320 hyperbaric chamber – which retails for around US$24,000 – and a TheraLight 360 red light therapy bed, which currently retails for US$84,997.

‘For the past couple of years, I’ve been just really like loving health. I don’t know, it’s become an obsession,’ Jenner said during an episode of The Kardashians, explaining she often spends an hour in her hyperbaric chamber ‘reading her emails’.

Meanwhile, sports stars such as LeBron James and singer Justin Bieber have also splashed the cash on hyperbaric chambers for their own homes.

While the beds are used by athletes in the hope of boosting performance and speeding up the healing process, celebrities are hoping the device helps with anti-ageing, along with other health benefits including increased energy and stamina, potential improvements in tissue oxygenation and wound healing.

Some plastic surgery clinics in South Korea even use hyperbaric oxygen therapy to support recovery following cosmetic procedures.

Greens glorious greens 

While all these new-age technologies help us preserve our bodies, diet and exercise will always remain a traditional practice for optimal health. 

Celebrities such as Jennifer Aniston, Kate Hudson and Cindy Crawford are in the gym lifting weights several times a week while still enjoying walking, Pilates, yoga and other forms of cardiovascular exercise 

These days juice cleanses and crash diets have been binned in favour of longevity-focused eating plans that include high-quality protein to preserve muscle, colourful vegetables and fruit for antioxidants and fibre (think Kris Jenner’s immaculately organised greens fridge), healthy fats such as olive oil, nuts and avocado, and fermented foods to support gut health.

Strong is sexy 

And while many think thin may still be in, building muscle to stay young is the latest trend when it comes to exercise regimes.

According to research, strength and muscle mass are one of the strongest predictors of healthy ageing, and resistance training improves bone density, balance, mobility and independence later in life.

Celebrities such as Jennifer Aniston, Kate Hudson and Cindy Crawford are in the gym lifting weights several times a week while still enjoying walking, Pilates, yoga and other forms of cardiovascular exercise. 

With the rise of biohacking, the longevity trend is here to stay and, personally, I cannot wait to see what is next to come.

Andy Burnham has now received the backing of 349 Labour MPs, making it mathematically impossible for any other candidate to challenge for the party leadership.

Andy Burnham is set to be the next prime minister after receiving an extra 27 nominations from Labour MPs on Monday, taking his total to 349.

The additional nominations, on top of the 322 he received last week, mean it is now impossible for any other candidate to gain the 81 endorsements needed to challenge for the Labour leadership.

While almost 80% of the Parliamentary Labour Party formally nominated Mr Burnham last week, extra endorsements on Monday took him over the line.

As the only candidate to replace Sir Keir Starmer, Mr Burnham is expected to formally take over the Labour leadership at a special party conference on Friday.

He will then become prime minister three days later, on July 20.

Despite being the only candidate, Mr Burnham is expected to take part in an online hustings with Labour MPs later on Monday.

Northern Lights Community Choir staged the event in the town, with performances from its 50 members, who come from a range of age groups and backgrounds.

The choir was founded by Revd Caroline Ferguson and is led by musical director Stuie Ellerton.

Revd Ferguson said the group continues to grow and plays an important role in bringing people together.

She said: “Music has the power to unite people, and that is something we see regularly through the choir.

“It reflects the strength of community in Darlington, and we are grateful for the continued support we receive.”

Darlington mayor councillor Helen Crumbie and her consort attended the concert. The choir is one of the mayor’s chosen charities for the year.

Northern Lights describes itself as a community-focused group, offering members opportunities to socialise as well as sing, including organised events such as open mic nights and outdoor activities.

Representatives from Point North, which provided grant funding to support the choir’s formation, were also in attendance.

Members said the concert was a positive shared experience, highlighting the role of music in reducing isolation and supporting wellbeing.

For more information, contact Revd Caroline Ferguson at caroline.ferguson64@gmail.com

Friends have described him as a ‘tremendous character’

Friends of a man who died after falling from a bonfire in Belfast have launched a fundraiser to support his family with funeral costs.

Warren “AKA” Lyttle, aged in his 40s, died following an incident at an Eleventh Night bonfire in the Braniel estate in the east of the city on Friday night. He was taken to hospital but died from his injuries on Saturday.

A statement from the Braniel Bonfire Committee, Braniel Loyal Flute Band and Braniel Community Group said there had been a “tragic accident” at the bonfire.

It continued: “Our thoughts, prayers and deepest sympathies are with Warren’s family, friends and everyone who knew and loved him at this incredibly difficult time.

“As a community, we are heartbroken by this tragic loss and ask that everyone keeps his loved ones in their prayers in the days and weeks ahead.”

Following discussions with the dead man’s family, the fire was lit as planned on Saturday night.

Police are investigating the circumstances of what happened, and the Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland (HSENI) has also been informed.

Warren’s daughter Lacey posted on Facebook on Saturday: “Well, never did I think I’d have to write this so soon. Was with you yesterday. Rest easy, daddy. Never used to let me get a pic with you lol. Wouldn’t change you for the world, I will love you forever until we meet again.”

Almost £5,000 has been raised on a GoFundMe page set up in the wake of the tragedy,

Organiser Stephen Johnston said: “Hi. My name is Janty. We are fundraising for our childhood friend Aka, who sadly lost his life on 11th July following a tragic accident. Any donations would be greatly appreciated to help towards funeral costs.”

Paying tribute, another friend added: “We are all just devastated at the passing of our best mate Warren ‘Aka’ Lyttle.

“No words can describe Aka’s passing, the shock, and way too soon. Tremendous character and friend.”

You can donate to the fundraiser here.

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A wife who held on to her husband’s legs as he was being sucked out of a Ryanair jet window at 20,000ft has described her battle to save him.

Ljubiša Karović, from Serbia, was left hanging outside the aircraft while his desperate wife, Svetlana Grković, clung to his feet after part of the engine broke away during the flight and smashed through the window on Friday.

The Boeing 737-800 flight FR1879 – travelling from Thessaloniki, Greece, to Memmingen, Germany – was forced to turn back and make an emergency landing at its departure airport following the dramatic incident.

Passengers said they heard a deafening bang moments after takeoff, which turned out to be the jet’s windows shattering.

Moments later, Mr Karović – seated next to the window – was sucked through the opening, placing him within inches of death.

But his wife held him by his legs for about five minutes, after which fellow passengers were able to pull him back into the cabin as oxygen masks dropped down. 

Now Ms Grković has described the ordeal in the air, which took place as she and her husband were heading back from a summer holiday in Greece.

She told Nova: ‘It was as if a part of the engine broke off and hit the window next to which my husband Ljubiša was sitting. 

The Boeing 737-800, travelling from Thessaloniki, Greece, to Memmingen, Germany, was forced to turn back and make an emergency landing following the dramatic incident

‘I reacted immediately and grabbed his legs. I thought: “If we die, we die together.” It was horrible.’

Chaos ensued with some people panicking and other passengers rushing to help Mr Karović.

‘Some people came to my aid, I remember one man and one woman,’ she added. ‘That man helped me a lot, Ljubiša and I.’ 

Ms Grković said she would like to thank the heroic passenger in person after he helped save her husband’s life. 

Mr Karović remains in hospital and is believed to be unable to speak due to his injuries. He also has friction burns and is in a state of severe shock.

His wife said his hand is badly injured and he also has a series of burns.

She recalled that he lost consciousness several times during the incident and cannot remember much of what happened.

Mr Karović comes from Vrnjačka Banja in central Serbia but has spent a lot of time in Greece as he sells and rents apartments in the resorts of Paralija and Olympic Beach, the Informer reports.

One passenger told the Informer: ‘Luckily, he didn’t unbuckle his seat belt. His wife Svetlana Grković held his legs for five full minutes, until the other passengers ran to help and managed to pull him back into the cabin.’ 

Footage, shared by a Ryanair flight attendant, appeared to show a missing engine blade and damage to the outside of the aircraft before panning to the smashed window. A large hole could also be seen in the side of the engine casing. 

‘His head and shoulders were sticking out of the broken window,’ another witness told Greek broadcaster ERT. 

Travellers feared they ‘wouldn’t make it’ as the jet flew for around 30 minutes with the damaged window.

One witness, who had been sitting at the back of the plane, said they did not initially realise what had happened.

‘We thought we were falling,’ he said, before describing the injured passenger.

‘He had blood on his head. He fainted several times.’

‘We were wearing oxygen masks, we didn’t know if we would make it,’ the witness added.

A Ryanair spokesman told the Daily Mail: ‘A Ryanair flight from Thessaloniki to Memmingen on Friday morning returned to Thessaloniki shortly after take-off when a passenger window dislodged inflight.

‘The aircraft landed normally and passengers returned to the terminal.

‘One passenger requested and received medical assistance on the ground in Thessaloniki.

A large hole can be seen in the side of the engine casing. Travellers feared they ‘wouldn’t make it’ as the jet flew for around 30 minutes with the damaged window

Shortly after taking off, passengers heard a deafening bang as the jet’s window was shattered (Pictured: The shattered window from outside the aircraft)

Travellers feared they ‘wouldn’t make it’ as the jet flew for around 30 minutes with the damaged window

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A video showed the shattered engine of the Ryanair plane after the incident

‘In order to minimise any delay, a replacement aircraft was arranged to bring passengers to Memmingen which departed Thessaloniki at 9.53am local this morning.’

According to publicly available flight data, the Ryanair plane landed back in Thessaloniki after one hour and 14 minutes. 

A pregnant woman also on board the flight was taken to hospital. According to local media, she is in good health and has since left the hospital. 

Commenting on the incident, the president of the Panhellenic Federation of Public Hospital Employees (POEDIN) claimed there was ‘almost a tragedy’.

He said the ‘damaged’ window gave way and that part of the passenger’s body was pulled outside the aircraft before he was restrained by his wife.

A thrilling whodunnit premiered on the BBC at the weekend, and viewers are already hooked

BBC viewers are already loving a mystery series that aired at the weekend.

Six-part mystery series I, Jack Wright is written by Chris Lang, who is known for his work on Unforgotten, Innocent, and The Thief, His Wife and the Canoe.

The drama first debuted in April 2025 on U&Alibi, but has now been acquired by the BBC. Season one is currently being re-aired by the broadcaster, with season two also expected to air on BBC One.

I, Jack Wright has been described as a “propulsive whodunnit” with family secrets at its core.

“The apparent death by suicide of high-powered businessman Jack Wright sends shockwaves through his family, leaving a mystery that pits greed, loyalty and suspicion against one another,” reads the official synopsis.

“As his many wives and children fight over the remains of his estate, a dogged police detective investigates – and uncovers the shocking truth about this well-heeled clan.”

The series features a stacked cast, including John Simm, Nikki Amuka-Bird, Gemma Jones, Zoë Tapper, Daniel Rigby, Ruby Ashbourne Serkis, Harry Lloyd, Liz Kingsman, Percelle Ascott, and Niamh Cusack.

I, Jack Wright premiered on BBC One on Sunday (July 12), with another instalment airing on Monday night (July 13). However, most viewers had already binged the entire series by the time the second episode was broadcast live.

Sharing their delight on X (formerly Twitter), one person wrote: “Already binged this. Simm is excellent, as are [the] rest of the cast. Oh but I do hate it when rich, entitled people call Josh, Joshy!”

Another added: “We binged the lot and loved it all!! Such messy lives, red herrings galore and blind endings! Money certainly doesn’t bring happiness with that lot! Loved it all!”

A third said: “There has to be another series of #IJackWright. We binged watched the lot, absolutely superb,” while someone else noted: “Watched this on alibi when it first aired. Liked it. Watching it again in anticipation for S2.”