A Phuket MP has filed a police complaint after being branded a “servant dog of the Chinese mafia” in a vicious online smear campaign that he says was designed to destroy his reputation. Chalermpong Saengdee, Member of Parliament for Constituency 2 in Phuket, marched into Phuket City Police Station at 10am, yesterday, July 14, with …
The story Ruff justice: Phuket MP bites back over ‘mafia dog’ slur as seen on Thaiger News.
PAUL Shankey and Mark McHugh haven’t lost any of their passion for their counties in retirement judging from their pre-match segment.
Prior to Donegal ultimately proving a step too far for a young Meath side, they offered an entertaining preview piece on the Croke Park surface.
You get a sense of it from the above clip, however, that doesn’t even include the best part.
As 2012 All-Ireland winner McHugh thought he’d gotten in the final point/blow, the Meath All-Ireland champion quickly countered about a previous game “being a systems-based game compared to today’s”.
He then theatrically threw a clenched fist as if he’d just won a match-winning free in the 70th minute.
As presenter Damian Lawlor then threw back to Joanne Cantwell and the main punditry team pitchside, he quipped about how he’d barely had to say a word to instigate a debate between the two.
He joked: “Well, that was the easiest interview I’ve ever done! Back to you Joanne.”
Twelve months since Jim McGuinness admitted that his side ‘ran out of steam’ in their bid to reach the All-Ireland SFC final, Donegal delivered the goods as they charged towards a first showpiece since 2014 like a freight train.
In the wake of their defeat to Galway at the same stage last summer, McGuinness lamented their failure to convert nine of 14 scoring opportunities in the second half.
But having seen his team hit 3-13 after the change of ends at a packed Croke Park, there were no such complaints this time after they ruthlessly disposed of Meath’s attempt to take another major scalp.
The Royals have already tasted unlikely Championship victories over Dublin, Kerry and Galway this summer. Hopes of a first All-Ireland final appearance in 24 years were therefore high.
But Robbie Brennan’s superb first season at the helm was brought to an end in chastening fashion. Even at half-time, things looked ominous for Meath as they trailed by 0-13 to 0-8.
With a Sam Maguire decider against Kerry to come in a fortnight, Donegal could even afford to withdraw 35-year-old talisman Michael Murphy with 25 minutes still to play.
Murphy made way just moments after kicking his side into an eight-point lead. By then, the Ulster champions had also bagged the first of three second-half goals.
Donegal can now look forward to a first All-Ireland final appearance since the defeat to the Kingdom 11 years ago. McGuinness’ side played five games in 99 days to reach that stage then.
It has taken them twice as many outings in the same number of days to do it again.
Every facet of Donegal’s output was impressive here. Singling out just one of their awesome attackers would do a disservice to the others.
At the back, high standards were set by the colossal contributions of Brendan McCole and Finnbarr Roarty.
On a day when Paddy McBrearty came off the bench and kicked 0-3, McGuinness noted that the strength of his panel has been a key factor in taking Donegal a step further than in 2024.
He said: “We didn’t know at that stage the rule changes that were coming down the line and the physical demands of the rule changes, but certainly we knew that we needed people to come in and give us more depth and strengthen.
“We knew we had to be stronger and it would build its own energy within the group because it’d be more competitive and people want to play naturally, so I think we did see that today.
“We were able to make those changes the whole way through the game and going in to play Kerry in an All-Ireland final, you’re going to need every man that you’ve got.
“That’s a huge challenge and they’re so confident about what they do.
“There’s a rite of passage there almost in terms of winning All-Irelands, so that’s the first thing we’re going to have to meet head on.
“But certainly it’ll not be 15 players, it’ll be every single player that can get onto the pitch that’ll be needed.”
A WOMAN in her late teens has been rushed to the hospital after suffering serious injuries in a horror road traffic collision in Co Galway.
The incident, involving two vehicles, occurred at Ballyhaddy Road in Tuam at approximately 6:05pm on Sunday, July 13.
Gardai and emergency services rushed to the scene shortly after the alarm was raised
The driver of one of the cars, a female aged in her late teens, was conveyed to University Hospital Galway, where her condition is described as “critical”.
The driver and passenger of the second car, a male in his 20s and a female in her 30s, were treated for non-life-threatening injuries.
Gardai reported that there were no other injuries at the scene.
The road was closed for Garda Forensic Collision Investigators to conduct an examination of the scene.
The examination has been completed and the road has now reopened to the public.
The cops confirmed that the investigation is ongoing.
A garda spokesperson said: “Gardaí are appealing for anyone with information regarding this incident to come forward.
“Any persons who were in the Ballygaddy Road area between 5:50pm and 6:15pm and who may have witnessed the incident should contact investigating Gardaí.
“Any road users who were travelling in this vicinity at the time, and who may have camera footage including dash cam, are asked to make this footage available to investigating Gardaí.
“Gardaí can be contacted at the Tuam Garda Station on 093 70840, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda Station.”
Separately, a motorcyclist has been rushed to hospital with “serious injuries” following a horror crash in Co Donegal.
The crash took place on N56 at Derryfad, between Creeslough and Termo, at around 4:30pm yesterday afternoon.
Gardai and emergency services rushed to the scene shortly after the alarms were raised.
A spokesperson said: “I refer to your query and confirm Gardai attended the scene of a single-vehicle RTC on the N56 at Creeslough, Co. Donegal this afternoon Sunday 13th July, 2025 at approximately 4.30pm.
“A male motorcyclist was removed from the scene to Letterkenny University Hospital with serious injuries.”
The road was closed to accommodate the emergency services at the scene, with diversions put in place.
A Garda spokesperson added: “A road closure is in place due to a serious road traffic collision that occurred on the N56 at Derryfad (between Creeslough and Termon).”
THE BBC has said it will “never work” with Gregg Wallace again as a bombshell report revealed a “substantial” number of allegations across 19 years.
The MasterChef star, 60, who was diagnosed as autistic midway through the investigation into complaints against him, was sacked after the BBC concluded he is unable to change his ways.
Now the findings of a long investigation into 30 historic complaints were unveiled today in a report.
The Beeb’s report, seen by the presenter, also references reputational damage to the corporation in light of comments he has made about them since he was taken off air.
The corporation said the possibility of Gregg returning to MasterChef was “untenable”.
A “final decision” on whether the latest season of the show will be aired will “not be made at this stage”, the BBC added.
The Beeb also said it takes the “findings very seriously” and will prioritise addressing “two further allegations” upheld against Gregg.
The full statement read: “We welcome the publication of the findings by Lewis Silkin, following the investigation into the conduct of Gregg Wallace.
“In light of these findings, Banijay UK and the BBC have agreed Mr Wallace’s return to MasterChef is untenable.
“The BBC has informed Mr Wallace we have no plans to work with him in future.
“The investigation details a substantial number of allegations of inappropriate conduct spanning 19 years.
“This behaviour falls below the values of the BBC and the expectations we have for anyone who works with or for us.
FORTY-five allegations made against Gregg Wallace during his time on MasterChef, including one of “unwelcome physical contact”, were found to have been substantiated.
An independent report commissioned by production company Banijay assessed 83 allegations against Wallace.
The report substantiated:
– Twelve claims he made inappropriate jokes and innuendo;
– Sixteen reports he made sexually explicit comments;
– Two allegations that he made sexualised comments to or about someone;
– Four complaints that he made culturally insensitive or racist comments;
– Three claims that he was in a state of undress;
– Seven allegations of bullying;
– One allegation of unwanted touching.
The allegations span from 2005 to 2024.
“Although the full extent of these issues were not known at the relevant time, opportunities were missed to address this behaviour – both by the production companies running MasterChef and the BBC.
“We accept more could and should have been done sooner.
“We want to thank all those who took part in the investigation, including those who first raised concerns directly with the BBC in November last year.
“We apologise to everyone who has been impacted by Mr Wallace’s behaviour.
“Lewis Silkin’s findings include two further allegations which were upheld, relating to other individuals.
“The BBC takes these findings very seriously and we have asked Banijay UK to take action to address these issues, which is underway. This will be completed as a priority.
“The BBC will not be commenting further at this stage, but we are clear we expect the highest standards of respect at work to be upheld on the production.
“At this stage we are not going to make a final decision on the broadcast of the series that was filmed last year.
“We know this is disappointing for fans of the show and those who took part and at the appropriate time Banijay UK will consult further with the amateur contestants.
“In April the BBC published a detailed response to an independent review of workplace culture, which reinforces expectations around behaviour and that we will act more decisively when standards are not met.
“This also requires all TV production partners to align with the Creative Industries Independent Standards Authority (CIISA) standards.
“We want to reaffirm, there is no place for the abuse of power, unacceptable behaviour or language at the BBC, or shows made for the BBC.”
While Gregg angrily slammed the BBC in his Instagram post on Monday, promising “not to go quietly”, the corporation have been keen to distance themselves from the presenter, saying he was not technically an employee.
A source said: “Gregg received his letter telling him his Masterchef job was gone and that, effectively, his 21 year tenure at the BBC is also over.
“He’s obviously in a pretty bad way, and hasn’t been sleeping at all these past few days. But he’s also incredibly angry, and feels his autism has been used against him – production company are basically saying he is incapable of change.
“‘Learned behaviour’ – presumably from his years down the markets as a greengrocer – was given as a main factor for his inappropriate actions and language.
“But given that a different production first raised concerns about his neurodivergence in 2018, and the word ‘odd’ also appears through the 200 page report against him, he feels his autism is being used against him.
“The report states the company has a duty of care towards both him and the public – as well as contributors and crew – and that it is clear he ‘struggles to distinguish the boundaries between appropriate and inappropriate behaviour.’ They therefore say they cannot guarantee a safe working environment if he is on a show.
“He is really angry the complaints against him came before he was put on a course in 2019. He therefore feels they are discriminating against his autism; that effectively they cannot accommodate a disabled person.”
There has been a massive backlash from the appalled public, slamming the fallen star as being “completely offensive” for using autism as an excuse for his behaviour.
Others told him “how dare you” and said “it’s an insult”.
The Times reported Gregg’s friends as saying his autism means he can’t wear underwear.
Charities have also blasted the axed star, telling him it is not a “free pass for bad behaviour”.
The Sun revealed Gregg’s clinical team proposed clear accommodations, shared directly with the BBC, outlining how a supportive environment could be achieved.
He believes the BBC have chosen to ignore this.
The star has taken on bullish lawyer Dan Morrison – the man who represented Nigel Farage against NatWest.
He could now take Banijay and the BBC to tribunal.
Gregg has hosted Masterchef alongside John Torode since 2005 and has also fronted other BBC programmes including Inside the Factory and Supermarket Secrets.
In late 2024, it was reported that the BBC had been made aware of complaints as far back as 2017, while it was claimed that a letter had been sent to the broadcaster in 2022 stating that women had been made to feel “uncomfortable” in his presence.
However, he has been cleared of a number of the most serious allegations, including those against high profile complainants including Kirsty Wark and Penny Lancaster.
It comes after The Sun revealed the disgraced star called co-stars “sexy” 135 times on social media.
Not only this, but he called a former MasterChef winner and a BBC presenter a “sexy b***h” – with the post yet to be removed.
He called 2012 MasterChef winner Shelina Permalloo a “sexy b***h” and “sexy girl”.
In one exchange, he said: “Hello mate, how you doing? Sexy b***h!”
He also called former BBC Breakfast presenter Penny Haslam, whom he knows from them both being ambassadors for WeightWatchers, a “sexy b***h”.
In total, on his X page, Gregg calls people – men and women – “sexy” over 135 times.
This includes MasterChef finalist Angela Langford, MasterChef judge Monica Galetti, and interior designer Kelly Hoppen.
As well as This Morning’s Alison Hammond, Bake Off’s Paul Hollywood and former Page 3 model Linda Lusardi, whom he also called a “sexy girl”.
John Torode is constantly called “sexy” – and his wife Lisa Faulkner “hot point” and “pretty”.
Gregg has always claimed his behaviour isn’t harassment, yet ex-Celebrity MasterChef contestant Aasmah Mir publicly called him out for saying “sexy b***h” to her face.
The TV host claims he was cleared of all the serious allegations in the BBC probe, including accusations of groping.
The BBC later said 50 more people had approached the broadcaster with fresh claims about the MasterChef star, including allegations of sexual misconduct. Wallace denies the claims.
With Gregg’s sacking from the BBC revealed this week, he released a statement online.
He wrote: “After 21 years of loyal service to the BBC, I cannot sit in silence while my reputation is further damaged to protect others.
“I have now been cleared by the Silkins report of the most serious and sensational accusations made against me.
“I recognise that some of my humour and language, at times, was inappropriate.
“For that, I apologise without reservation.”
He claims that the stress led to him being taken to hospital with a suspected heart attack after two days of agonising chest pains.
CASUALTY star Charles Venn reflected on a family tragedy – and why he kept filming hours after receiving the sad news.
The actor, 52, has been playing Jacob Masters since debuting on Casualty in July 2015.
Now approaching a decade on the BBC show, Jacob has become a mainstay character.
Charles recently recalled the aftermath of his sister’s unexpected death.
His sibling passed away three years ago – just days before Charles had been due to head home from filming.
He told The Mirror: “In my insane mind, I thought I could get through those two days. I really thought I would.”
Charles explained how “it was still very raw” mentally and that he had been “very subdued” upon getting to work.
Continuing, Charles shared: “Someone asked me ‘Are you ok?’ in my dressing room and of course, I wasn’t.
“They were kind enough to let me go home. But it’s the that same thing of despite what’s going on, the challenges, being able to put that to the side and deliver a performance, play the scene, play what’s required for the character to tell his story – that’s the biggest challenge.”
Last year, the actor addressed his real-life tragedy amid a BBC storyline.
He told the Express: “There is an element of definitely contrition on Jacob’s part.
“He feels he could have done more, he could have done better.”
Charles added: “I know that feeling myself in a way. I remember when my sister passed, and I remember feeling in my heart, I wish I could have done more.”
Before joining Casualty, Charles starred in EastEnders as Ray Dixon – a former love interest to Bianca Jackson (Patsy Palmer).
The character was introduced as the estranged father of Bianca’s son, Morgan Butcher (Devon Higgs).
Ray notably featured in the “Who’s Been Sleeping with Kat?” – where he and four other men were suspected of having an affair with Kat Moon.
However, Ray was the first suspect to be ruled out – with the mystery man later unmasked as Derek Branning (Jamie Foreman).
In 2018, he was among the famous faces participating in Strictly Come Dancing.
Partnered with Karen Clifton, Charles finished sixth overall in the series.
Casualty airs on BBC One and iPlayer.
SERIAL child murderer and rapist Robert Black is known to have killed four girls, but has been linked with many more cases.
His horrifying crime spree is explored in Channel 5 docuseries The Child Snatcher: Manhunt.
Robert Black was born in Grangemouth on April 21, 1947.
His mum put him up for adoption before moving to Australia, leaving him to be taken in by foster parents.
When his foster parents died, Black moved between care homes.
In 1963, aged just 16, he was charged with lewd and libidinous behaviour after luring a seven-year-old girl into an air raid shelter and sexually assaulting her.
Black never married and had only one known girlfriend, Pamela Hodgson, who broke up with him because of his “unusual sexual demands”.
Once he was allowed to live independently, Black moved to London and started working as a delivery driver.
He drove up and down the country delivering posters and billboard adverts — a job detectives later said helped him dispose of his victim’s bodies.
Black was convicted of murdering four children, but the monster is suspected of killing many more.
Recordings from a counselling session in 1990 revealed how he lured his victims by persuading them to get into his car.
While alive, Black was found guilty of murdering four schoolgirls across the UK.
after new evidence was found linking him to more than a dozen more murders across the UK and Europe, detectives believe that number could be as high as 18
When he died in 2016, Black was just weeks away from being charged with Genette Tate’s murder.
On August 19, 1978, she vanished on her paper round near her home in Aylesbeare, Devon.
Genette’s body was never found and her family was reportedly devastated that Black never faced justice for her killing.
Black committed his first known murder on August 12, 1981, three years after he is thought to have killed Genette.
He abducted, sexually assaulted and killed nine-year-old Jennifer Cardy in Ballinderry, County Antrim.
Six days later, Jennifer’s body was found in a reservoir in Hillsborough, County Down.
Black wasn’t found guilty of the murder until 2011 — 30 years after the crime was committed.
On July 30, 1982, Susan Maxwell was abducted by Black while she was walking home from a game of tennis in Coldstream, Scotland.
Her body was found on the A518 near Uttoxeter, Staffordshire — 264 miles from where she was last seen.
An inquest concluded that her body had been in Black’s van for more than 24 hours as Black continued his deliveries across Scotland, before driving back down to London.
At just five years old, Caroline Hogg was Black’s youngest victim.
She disappeared after playing outside her house in Portobello, Edinburgh.
Black took her to the local funfair before killing her and hiding her body near the M1 motorway in Twycross — 310 miles away.
Sarah Harper was abducted by Black when she went to buy a loaf of bread from the local corner shop in Morley, Leeds, on March 26, 1986.
On April 19, her body was found 71 miles from where she had been kidnapped, in the River Trent near Nottingham.
Black sexually assaulted Sarah before she died.
Black was finally caught in 1990 after he attempted to take another child victim.
David Herkes witnessed his neighbour, a six-year-old girl, disappear across the road from his home in Stow, Scotland.
He said he noticed her walking past a parked Transit van on the opposite side of the road, before her feet disappeared and the van sped off.
Herkes wrote down the van’s number plate and contacted police, who immediately launched a manhunt.
Black was caught when he drove down the same road again and an officer jumped in front of the van, forcing him to swerve.
When the officer forced open the van, he found his own daughter inside.
He managed to rescue her, bringing an end to Black’s crime spree.
No matter how horrific or distressing the evidence had been, Robert Black demonstrated not a single flicker of concern
Reporter Gordon Adair Cardy,
After a lengthy court trial, Black was found guilty of murdering Sarah, Susan and Caroline on May 19, 1994.
Black was later convicted of Jennifer’s murder.
Gordon Adair Cardy, the BBC’s Northern Ireland reporter, said that he had never seen an “outpouring of emotion” equal to the one that triggered when the foreman “uttered the single word ‘guilty’”.
Gordon said: “Jennifer’s family, jurors, journalists, and even detectives wept.
“The only person who showed no emotion was Robert Black.
“He sat – as he had done throughout the trial – gazing towards the front of the court.
“No matter how horrific or distressing the evidence had been, he demonstrated not a single flicker of concern; not for Jennifer, not for her family.”
Since being found guilty of murdering four schoolgirls, Black has been linked to several other murders and disappearances in the UK and abroad.
April disappeared on April 8, 1969, when she was cycling to a relative’s house.
Her body has never been found and Black was questioned over her disappearance.
Retired police officer Chris Clark, told The Sun in 2016: “I am convinced Black abducted April.
“The methods used are exactly the same as in his other attacks, and he had easy access to Roughton from his London home.”
Christine was never found after vanishing from Scunthorpe on May 21, 1973.
She disappeared after leaving for school but tragically never arrived.
The case was linked to Black in 2004 but police do not consider him a strong suspect.
Mary is Ireland‘s longest missing person after vanishing near her grandparents’s house in Ballyshannon, County Donegal on March 18, 1977.
Black was known to make deliveries in Donegal.
He is also said to have returned to ask about girls living in the area a year after she disappeared.
Suzanne was originally thought to have run away when she disappeared from Harold Hill in Essex, in July 1979.
However, police later began to consider that she may have been murdered.
Her case has been linked to both Black and Glasgow-based serial killer Peter Tobin.
Patsy disappeared from school in Feltham, London, on June 16, 1980.
Tragically, her body was found two days later in Hounslow Heath.
The murder was linked to Black, as he was living in London at the time.
Serial killers Levi Bellfield and Peter Tobin have also been considered suspects.
Pamela was found to have been raped and killed in Rannoch Woods after she went missing from Johnstone, Renfrewshire, on November 4, 1981.
A man confessed to her murder and was jailed a year later but his conviction was overturned in 2007 when his admission of guilt was found to be false.
Black was linked to the murder after he was identified as running out of the woods on the night of the killing by a van driver.
Tracey’s body was found in the back garden of a house half a mile away from her home in Johnstone on February 14, 1983.
She had been killed after disappearing on her way to a Valentine’s Day event at the local youth club.
Her death has been linked to Black as it bears similarities with his previous crimes and took place in the same location as Pamela Hastie’s murder.
Lisa was assaulted and strangled before being killed as she walked home from a party.
Her body was found just 500 yards from her front door in Leigh, Greater Manchester, on December 8, 1984.
However, DNA was found and has never been matched.
In 2024, cops renewed a £50,000 reward for information leading to the identification and conviction of Lisa’s killer.
In 2016 Black died in prison at the age of 68.
He was serving 12 life terms at the time of his death.
The murderer was found to have died from a heart attack.
Black’s chilling crimes will be explored in the Channel 5 documentary The Child Snatcher: Manhunt.
You can catch the first episode of the two-part series on Wednesday, July 16, 2025, at 10.05pm.
Both episodes are already available on Channel 5’s streaming service My5.
BRITS are being urged to look out for symptoms of measles after a child with the highly contagious disease died at a UK hospital.
Most people associate measles with a flat, red rash that appears on the face and starts to form blotchy patches.
But this symptom typically doesn’t appear for a good few days after the infection has taken hold.
Official data released earlier this year revealed that cases of the lethal Victorian disease have surged to their highest level since 1997 in Europe and central Asia, and rates have doubled in the past year alone.
This includes the UK, where a child with measles and other health problems died in intensive care at Alder Hey Children’s Hospital in Liverpool.
Around 16 other children have been treated at the hospital – which is in the grip of an outbreak – after becoming severely unwell.
Health officials warn that low uptake of the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) jab threatens further spread of what is one of the world’s most infectious diseases.
Professor Matt Ashton, director of public health for Liverpool, said: “I’m extremely worried that the potential is there for measles to really grab hold in our community.
“My concern is the unprotected population and it spreading like wildfire.
“It’s really important that people understand the seriousness of this.”
Speaking on BBC Radio 4, Dr Mary Ramsay, from the UK Health and Security Agency, added: “Measles is always serious.
“Most children will have a mild illness, but it spreads so quickly that it’s very difficult to keep on top of it; it is such an infectious disease.
“Even one or two cases poses a threat to everyone in that community who hasn’t been protected by vaccination because just passing someone in the street or very casual contact is enough to spread the infection.”
In 2024, over 127,350 measles cases were reported across the WHO’s European region, which covers 53 countries.
This marks a dramatic jump from just 4,400 cases in 2016.
Measles is highly contagious, and a person remains infectious for up to 10 days and can spread the virus to 15 people.
Measles is not a minor illness. Up to one in five children will get complications
Dr Sarah Jarvis
Experts stress that giving your kids the MMR vaccine is by far the best way to stop them from getting the illness (providing about 97 per cent protection) – and any side effects that could appear later down the line.
But rates are falling. The MMR vaccine rate in Liverpool for children by the age of five is 73 per cent, the lowest outside of London.
It is also lower than an 86 per cent average across the northwest and 84 per cent across the the whole of England.
To ensure herd immunity, where enough people are protected to prevent the virus spreading, vaccination rates must hit 95 per cent.
Here, we break down the timeline of measles symptoms and what to expect if you or your child fall ill.
Measles has been dubbed the world’s most contagious diseases as up to 90 per cent of people who come into close contact with an infectious person will get it if they aren’t protected, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
The virus lives in the nose and throat mucus of an infected person and spreads to others when they cough or sneeze.
Breathing contaminated air or touching an infected surface and bringing your hand to your eyes, nose or mouth can be enough for you to catch measles if you aren’t vaccinated.
It will typically take a week to 14 days for the first measles symptoms to appear.
These many not seem serious at first as they’ll often resemble a cold, according to NHS guidance.
The first signs of measles include:
Two to three days after you start to experience cold-like symptoms, you might notice tiny white spots in your mouth.
These are sometimes referred to as Koplik spots, the CDC says.
They tend to pop up inside the cheeks and on the back of the lips and should disappear within a few days.
It’s not until three to five days after the cold-like symptoms appear that you’ll see the beginnings of the telltale measles rash.
It usually starts as flat red spots on the face and the hairline before spreading downward to the neck, torso, arms, legs, and feet.
You may get small raised bumps on top of the flat spots and the blotches may join together as the rash spreads across the body.
The rash is sometimes accompanied by a spike in your temperature, sometimes exceeding 40C.
Measles is not a mild illness and even the healthiest of children may suffer complications like diarrhoea, vomiting, eye infections, ear infections and laryngitis.
The high fever can sometimes trigger fits.
Less common complications of measles are meningitis and pneumonia, which affects one in 20 children.
These problems are rare, but babies and people with weakened immune systems are most at risk.
Other nasty side effects include hepatitis and, rarely, encephalitis – inflammation of the brain, which can cause convulsions, blindness, deafness and other long-term damage.
These complications may lead to death.
Dr Sarah Jarvis, GP and clinical consultant to Patient.info, told Sun Health: “Measles is not a minor illness – at best, your child is likely to be really poorly for about five days, and off school for up to two weeks.
“Up to one in five children with measles will get complications.”
About one in 16 children will get pneumonia from the illness and one in 12 develop ear infections.
Dr Jarvis added: “Even worse, one in 1,000 to 2,000 will get inflammation of the brain, which can be fatal.
“And there’s a rare form of brain inflammation which can develop years after the infection, which is usually deadly.”
Measles can also be dangerous if you’re pregnant, as it can cause miscarriage, stillbirth or premature birth.
In other cases, your baby might be born with a low birth weight.
The complications don’t end there.
Gemma Larkman-Jones, from Brixton, South London, shared how her little boy Samuel passed away aged six from a rare and slow-progressing form of brain inflammation called subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE).
SSPE strikes sufferers years after they were first infected with measles.
Gemma believes Samuel wouldn’t have died if he’d received the MMR vaccine.
According to the National Institute of Health, just four to 11 per 100,000 measles cases result in SSPE, though this number jumps to 18 per 100,000 if the child was under five when infected.
It can take years for this deadly form of brain inflammation to develop, typically around seven to 10 years after a person has measles – even if the person seems to have fully recovered.
TO help deal with parental concerns, Professor Helen Bedford, a specialist in child public health at University College London, tells you all you need to know about the MMR vaccine.
When is the vaccine given?
The MMR vaccine is part of the NHS Routine Childhood Immunisation Programme.
It’s typically given via a single shot into the muscle of the thigh or the upper arm.
The first dose is offered to children at the age of one (babies younger than this may have some protection from antibodies passed on from their mother, which start to wear off at about 12 months.)
The second dose is then offered to children aged three years and four months before they start school.
To check to see if you or your child have had the recommended two doses of MMR, you can look at their/your Personal Child Health Record, also known as the red book.
If you can’t find the red book, call your GP and ask them for your vaccine records.
You are never too old to catch up with your MMR vaccine.
If you see from your vaccination records that you did not receive two doses as a child, you can book a vaccination appointment.
Is the vaccine safe?
The MMR vaccine is safe and effective at preventing measles, mumps and rubella.
In the UK, we started using the jab in 1988, so we have decades of experience using it.
The jab is made from much-weakened live versions of the three viruses.
This triggers the immune system to produce antibodies that are protective in the face of future exposure.
It takes up to three weeks after having the vaccine to be fully protected.
Like any vaccine, the MMR jab can cause side-effects, which are usually mild and go away very quickly.
This includes rash, high temperature, loss of appetite and a general feeling of being unwell for about two or three days.
There is also a very small chance children can have a severe allergic reaction.
But compared to the complications of measles, there is no contest that vaccination is by far the safest and most effective route to take.
Why was it linked with autism?
In 1998, Andrew Wakefield and his colleagues published a now-discredited paper in medical journal The Lancet.
The paper suggested that the MMR vaccine might be associated with autism and a form of bowel disease.
It led to a sharp decline in vaccination rates.
Even at the time, the research was considered poor.
The Lancet retracted the story in 2010 after Wakefield’s article was found “dishonest” by the General Medical Council.
He was later struck off and subsequently, in 2011, the British Medical Journal declared the story fraudulent.
Does it contain ingredients from pigs?
There are two types of MMR jabs: One with gelatin (animal/pig collagen), and one without it.
For some religious groups, the inclusion of pig products is not acceptable.
Those people should ask for the vaccine without gelatin.
You should ask for an urgent GP appointment or get help via NHS 111 if you think you or child have measles.
Bear in mind that it’s highly unlikely that you’ll have measles if you’ve received both doses of the MMR vaccine.
After speaking to a GP, the best thing to do is:
Unvaccinated children who come into contact with the disease are currently being advised to stay at home for 21 days.
Kids are offered their first dose of the vaccine aged one and their second at three years at four months, just before they start school.
However, anyone who has missed shots can catch up at any time through their GP surgery.
To keep measles at bay, 95 per cent of children must be vaccinated.
But Latest NHS Digital shows that up to three in 10 children (56 per cent) in parts of England haven’t had both MMR jabs by the time they turn five.
Urgent, “concerted action” is needed to tackle the virus to stop its spread, according to the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA).
COLE PALMER and Reece James were left confused after Donald Trump celebrated with them as they lifted the Club World Cup.
Chelsea won the tournament by beating Paris Saint-Germain 3-0 on Sunday, with Palmer on target twice before laying on an assist for Joao Pedro to add a cheeky third before half-time.
But as the Blues geared up for the trophy lift ceremony, they were threatened with being upstaged by US President Trump.
The 79-year-old was seen handing out many of the medals alongside Fifa president Gianni Infantino, before the pair lifted the trophy over to Chelsea captain James.
However, while typically political figures would be expected to exit the stage at that point to give the team their moment to shine, Trump remained alongside the team with a beaming smile.
Trump appeared to be gestured away from the stage initially by Infantino, before James, 25, was seen asking him, “Are you staying?”
The Republican had also inadvertently blocked the view of Golden Ball winner Palmer, who had a confused look on his face as he was also seen asking James, “What’s he doing?”
Speaking after the game, Palmer, 23, and James both admitted they were surprised about the turn of events.
Palmer told the BBC: “I knew he was going to be here but I didn’t know he was going to be on the stand when we lifted the trophy so I was a bit confused, yeah.”
Captain James added to Sky Sports: “Before they told me he (Trump) was going to present the trophy and then exit the stage.
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“Then I thought he was going to exit the stage but he wanted to stay.”
Following the game Trump revealed he had a good time, and joked he would even consider signing an executive order to change America’s naming of “soccer” to football for next summer’s World Cup.
This summer’s Club World Cup served as a preamble for the coveted international tournament next summer, which Fifa estimate will see 6.5 million visitors to stadiums across the US, Canada and Mexico.
Trump’s appearance at the MetLife stadium was met by a mixture of applause and boos by the crowd, exactly one year on from the assassination attempt he survived in Pennsylvania at an election rally.
SOME of the world’s biggest clubs are in action at this summer’s Club World Cup in the United States!
Chelsea are keeping Premier League hopes alive in the big tournament which is on until the final at New Jersey’s Metlife Stadium July 13.
Though Manchester City have been knocked out by Saudi Pro side Al-Hilal after losing in a 4-3 thriller.
Watch EVERY match of the Club World Cup 2025 on DAZN
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A GERMAN backpacker who spend nearly two weeks lost in the Australian outback has broken her silence following her rescue.
Carolina Wilga thanked her rescuers as she revealed the reason she left the safety of her vehicle in rural Western Australia.
The backpacker has been recovering in a Perth hospital after her gruelling ordeal stuck in the harsh terrain of the outback.
She spent 11 nights wandering barefoot through the wilderness after abandoning her van when it got stuck in Karroun Hill Nature Reserve.
The 26-year-old was found in a chance encounter by farmer Tania Henley on Friday.
But the backpacker has now shared the reason why she left her van behind to spend nearly two weeks on a perilous trek through the outback.
Wilga revealed she had lost control of her vehicle and hit her head when it crashed, leaving her in a state of confusion.
She said: “Some people might wonder why I even left my car, even though I had water, food, and clothing there.
“The answer is: I lost control of the car and rolled down a slope. In the crash, I hit my head significantly.
“As a result of the accident, I left my car in a state of confusion and got lost.
“I am simply beyond grateful to have survived.”
Before her disappearance, Wilga was last seen June 29 at a general store in Beacon, 186 miles north-east of Perth.
She was then seen driving away in a black and silver Mitsubishi Delica van.
Having spent the last two years backpacking across Australia, she recently worked at mine sites in regional WA.
Her chance rescue came when she was spotted walking along on an unsealed access road.
Wilga had spent nearly two weeks with minimal supplies, even resorting to drinking water from puddles and seeking shelter in caves to survive the outback’s unforgiving conditions.
Cops had found her bogged down vehicle less than 24 hours before she was rescued.
Wilga shared her thanks to her rescuers from “the depth of my soul”.
She said: “I am deeply impressed by the courage, helpfulness, and warmth that has been shown to me here.
“Western Australia has taught me what it really means to be part of a true community.
“Here, humanity, solidarity, and care for one another are what truly matter — and in the end, that’s what counts most.
“I am certain that I survived only thanks to this incredible outpouring of support.
“The thought of all the people who believed in me, searched for me, and kept hoping for me gave me the strength to carry on during my darkest moments.
“For this, I want to say thank you from the bottom of my heart.”
Bush survival expert Kelli Jackson told ABC Radio Perth that anyone caught in a similar situation should always stay with their vehicle.
“It’s no surprise that people leave their vehicle,” she said.
“If you’ve been through any emergency situation, a car accident or something like that, you might remember how things go in slow motion.”
She added that the shock people feel can make them do “really weird things” like throwing their gear away or running in a random direction.
IRAN’S President was reportedly injured during an Israeli blitz during the 12-day war last month – before being bundled out of an emergency hatch.
Masoud Pezeshkian was wounded in the leg and forced to flee during a high-profile emergency meeting of the Supreme National Security Council, Tehran said.
The attack on June 16 targeted the entry points of a secret underground facility in the Iranian capital with six missiles.
The devastating attack left the building without power, blocked all its access points and cut off its ventilation system.
But all the top officials there, including Pezeshkian, managed to escape death during the blitz which came on the fourth day of the conflict.
The claims come after the Iranian President accused Israel of trying to assassinate him during the tense conflict last month.
The 12-day war kicked off with Operation Rising Lion, which saw Israel attempting to derail Iran’s nuclear programme by striking Tehran’s enrichment facilities.
During Tel Aviv’s attack on the high-profile meeting, other top officials alongside Pezeshkian included Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, the parliamentary speaker, and Mohseni Ejei, a judiciary chief.
Tehran also claimed the strike had similarities to the one that eliminated long-term Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah in Beirut.
The Iranian President told Tucker Carlson last week that he had personally been the target of an Israeli attack.
When asked if he had been the subject of an assassination attempt, he said: “They did try, yes. They acted accordingly, but they failed.
“I was in a meeting. We were discussing the ways to move forward, but thanks to the intelligence by the spies that they had, they tried to bombard the area in which we were holding that meeting.”
But Israel’s defence minister Israel Katz denied the allegations – saying that “regime change” had not been a part of the plan during the blistering conflict last month.
Iranian state media reported the the attack occurred “before noon on Monday, June 16, while a meeting of the Supreme National Security Council was being held”.
The meeting included the “heads of the three branches of government and other senior officials”.
State media added that the meeting was held “in the lower floors of a building in western Tehran”.
“The attackers targeted the building’s entrances and exits by firing six bombs or missiles to block escape routes and cut off air flow,” the report detailed.
Investigations are now ongoing in Iran in order to find out how such a precise attack was possible.
Internal probes will hope to get to the bottom of how Israel came to know the president’s exact movements and the location of the top-secret Supreme National Security Council meeting.
Tehran has arrested more than 700 people in the wake of the war on charges of collaborating with Israel.
It has also attempted to push through a new emergency spy law – which will introduce more severe punishments including the death penalty.
The Supreme National Security Council is seen as Tehran’s number two decision-maker, just behind Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
The Ayatollah went into deep hiding during the teetering conflict while Israel carried out its advanced air and ground attacks.
The 12-day war began on June 13 when Israel launched Operation Rising Lion – a sophisticated bombing campaign which targeted Iran’s military nuclear sites.
The Israelis also orchestrated Operation Red Wedding – which saw 30 top Iranian military chiefs killed in a near-simultaneous blitz as Tel Aviv sought to root out the country’s military strength entirely.
Iran retaliated by launching daily salvos of ballistic missiles across Israel, but failed to hit any strategic targets.
Less than a fortnight later, Trump joined the Israeli bombing campaign against Iran with Operation Midnight Hammer.
The US military’s flagship B-2 Spirit stealth bombers dropped more than a dozen 30,000lb GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrator (MOP) bombs.
The bunker-buster bombs were used to hit Iran’s Fordow Nuclear Enrichment Plant.
Iran, which vowed to hit US military bases across the Middle East, sought its revenge by launching missiles at Al-Udeid Air Base – America’s biggest military station in the region.
But Tehran seemingly cooked up a fake attack after passing warnings to its Qatari allies, which allowed all US service personnel and aircraft to be moved out of harm’s way.
Trump dubbed the expected response “weak” before announcing that a ceasefire deal had been reached between the Israelis and Iranians.
by Katie Davis, Chief Foreign Reporter (Digital)
TYRANNICAL leaders in Iran have demanded citizens act as undercover informants to turn in anyone who dares oppose the regime, insiders say.
Panicked mullahs have also ordered “telecom cages” be installed around prisons as the regime wages war against its own people.
Political prisoners – largely banished to death row on trumped-up charges – have been subject to extreme torture and a disturbing rate of executions in the face of growing tensions in the Middle East.
Insiders say their treatment is being weaponised to deter opposition.
The fight against repression has loomed large for decades in the rogue state – but the so-called 12-day war last month has made the barbaric Ayatollah more fearful than ever of being toppled.
With Ali Khamenei’s grip weakened by the unprecedented Israeli and US blitz, the incapacitated supreme leader has discharged fresh hell on his own people in a corrupt bid to stifle uprising.
Sources inside Iran told The Sun how a direct alert has been issued to the public, urging them to report any activity linked to resistance groups of the People’s Mojahedin Organisation of Iran (PMOI/MEK).
Regime loyalists have been implored to act as informants – compiling detailed reports with photos, times, locations, licence plates and facial features of suspected individuals.