Foreign Office backed experts issue update as tourists from England, Scotland and Wales struck down
09:14, 12 Jun 2026Updated 09:19, 12 Jun 2026
UK health experts have disclosed that 164 individuals have arrived back in England, Scotland and Wales from a holiday destination carrying a serious infection. In a fresh update, the Foreign Office-backed Travel Health Pro stated that people must exercise additional caution.
The surge in stomach bugs Shigella – also referred to as shigellosis or dysentery – and Salmonella has been occurring on the Cape Verde Islands, a favoured destination among British holidaymakers. Authorities confirmed that over the past eight months, cases of Shigella and Salmonella infection have been documented in travellers returning to England, Scotland and Wales from the Cape Verde Islands.
Of 164 confirmed Shigella cases, the majority – 112 – individuals reported travel to Cape Verde, predominantly to the Santa Maria and Boa Vista regions. As of June 2026, of 99 confirmed Salmonella cases, from three distinct clusters reported in England, Scotland and Wales since 1 October 2025, a total of 70 individuals reported travel to Cape Verde.
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Cases in the largest of the Salmonella clusters reached their peak in January 2026. The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) also flagged a surge in Shigella cases amongst travellers returning from Cape Verde since September 2022.
More than 1,000 confirmed and suspected cases of shigella and other gastrointestinal infections, including salmonella, have been identified in travellers returning from Cape Verde to 13 countries across the European Union/European Economic Area: Belgium, Czechia, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Luxembourg, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Sweden and the Netherlands. Cases have also been recorded amongst US travellers who visited Cape Verde.
Shigella is a bacterium that can trigger shigellosis, a gut infection capable of causing severe diarrhoea, fever and stomach cramps. The majority of people recover within a week.
However, certain individuals, such as older adults, those with weakened immune systems, anyone with complex medical conditions, pregnant women and children under five, may face a heightened risk of complications, including sepsis.
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Shigella spreads through contact with contaminated faeces, either directly via person-to-person transmission or indirectly through food, water or surfaces tainted with Shigella. Travellers visiting destinations where food and water safety cannot be guaranteed are particularly at risk.
Globally, the majority of Shigella cases occur in children younger than five years of age, though all age groups can be affected. There is additionally a risk of sexual transmission amongst men who have sex with men.
Salmonella, also known as salmonellosis, is a bacterial illness that primarily targets the intestines. Symptoms such as diarrhoea, stomach cramps, nausea, vomiting and fever typically appear between 12 and 72 hours after infection [8].
Young children, pregnant women, those with underlying health conditions and elderly people are at greater risk of developing severe symptoms. The majority of human cases stem from contaminated food and water.
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For further details, click here.
While you are away.
Be sure to follow these steps when travelling overseas.
In a statement, the South African government commended Bafana Bafana for their “spirited performance”, adding that while the final score was not what the nation had hoped for, the team “represented South Africa with unity, determination, and a sense of pride on the world’s biggest stage”.
Hockney, who was one of the UK’s most important and influential artists, passed away peacefully in his home yesterday.
Following the announcement, there was an outpouring of grief from friends and fans alike.
However, the BBC has been criticised for making a huge mistake while reporting the artist’s death.
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During the 1 pm news bulletin, a graphic was displayed on screen which read ‘David Hockney resigns’.
The mistake was almost immediately noticed by viewers who questioned how the news organisation had allowed such a silly error to be broadcast.
‘The BBC seemed confused at lunchtime,’ wrote @trashingdays on X. ‘They put up a caption “David Hockney Resigns”.’
@Elms_1905 added: ‘Well done the #bbc apparently David Hockney has resigned from life, otherwise known as died. Who is in charge of this?’
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Meanwhile, @Beverle48452933 was the most excoriating, writing: ‘I hope they apologise (Sic) to his family. Why is the @BBCBreaking @BBC so useless??’
@Toddyspace had a theory as to why the mistake had been made, and it seems it might be Keir Starmer’s fault.
‘There must be some embarrassment at BBC 1 news this afternoon,’ they wrote. ‘BBC headline caption said ‘David Hockney resigns’…resigns from life that is…the iconic artist has died at the age of 88. Perhaps their error was down to so many government resignations these past few weeks.’
Metro has approached the BBC for comment.
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Detective Chief Inspector Mike Sharples said: “Our investigation is progressing, and we now have a suspect in custody who is being questioned by our officers.
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“We will not accept incidents like this in our communities; we take this very seriously.
“Those found responsible will be brought to justice.
(Image: NQ)
“As our enquiries continue, we urge the public to please continue to submit information, CCTV, or dashcam footage to police.
“You can do this by calling 101 quoting log 3561 of 10/06/2026 or contact us via the LiveChat function at gmp.police.uk.
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“Alternatively, contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.”
No further details have yet been released about the circumstances leading up to the incident.
The family was left in shock and without sleep following the attack.
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The family has received support from MPs, councillors, organisations and many more in the neighbourhood.
Hassan Patel, the homeowner and local Imam, said: “We, as a family, are devastated by the serious and callous arson attack that targeted our home on 10.6.2026 at 9.15pm.
(Image: NQ)
“It was still daylight at that time. This was clearly a dangerous and deliberate act that put lives at risk.
“It has caused significant damage to our house and emotional distress to our family including our children.
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“The family as a whole and I as a professional individual have always maintained peace and harmony with all communities.
“I am an active citizen of Bolton and proactively engage with people all faiths and no faith. The family is horrified as to why we were targeted.
“We are grateful that no one was seriously injured, and we wish to thank the emergency services for their swift response in bringing the incident under control.”
SAN CRISTOBAL DE LA LAGUNA, Spain (AP) — Pope Leo XIV warned people smugglers on Friday that they will face God’s wrath for exploiting the desperation of migrants, demanding they stop and repent during his final day in this epicenter of the African migration route to Europe.
For the second day in a row in the Canary Islands, the American pope insisted on the inherent dignity and rights of migrants and demanded they be welcomed and integrated into society, in some of his strongest comments on the politically divisive issue.
“Break those chains and free those you hold in bondage,” Leo said in a message to human traffickers that he delivered during a meeting with humanitarian aid organizations that help migrants on the island of Tenerife.
Leo wrapped up his weeklong trip to Spain in the Spanish archipelago, which is closer to Africa than the Iberian Peninsula and is a key point of entry for migrants who make the perilous Atlantic crossing from West Africa.
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He is fulfilling a wish of Pope Francis to visit the islands to commemorate the thousands of lives lost at sea. He is also drawing attention to the Catholic Church’s biblically-mandated mantra to “welcome the stranger,” amid anti-migrant sentiment in Europe and the Trump administration’s mass deportation program in his native United States.
Pope Leo XIV meets a migrant at the ‘Las Raices’ center, in San Cristobal de la Laguna, Tenerife, Spain, Friday, June 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
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Pope Leo XIV meets a migrant at the ‘Las Raices’ center, in San Cristobal de la Laguna, Tenerife, Spain, Friday, June 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
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During the encounter with aid groups in Tenerife, Leo implored receiving communities to integrate people fleeing war, poverty and climate change and spare them from the “silent shipwreck” of abandonment when they are left on the streets with nothing after surviving perilous crossings.
“A human conscience, and even more so a Christian conscience, cannot remain indifferent in the face of these graveyards of the sea, to the victims of shipwrecks and the lack of aid,” Leo said. “Every life lost on these routes is a failure for the human family.”
A deadly passage and a warning to traffickers
The Canary Islands have long been a stepping stone for migrants trying to reach Europe from West Africa and Morocco.
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While people smugglers and human traffickers operate the Atlantic route, there are also many self-organized boats of migrants, including many former fishermen from Senegal who were left without income due to overfishing in recent years.
Migrant arrivals in the Canary Islands peaked in 2024 at nearly 47,000. They have fallen dramatically, with over 3,000 people landing there in the first five months of 2026.
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Migrants attend a meeting with Pope Leo XIV at the ‘Las Raices’ center, in San Cristobal de la Laguna, Tenerife, Spain, Friday, June 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
Migrants attend a meeting with Pope Leo XIV at the ‘Las Raices’ center, in San Cristobal de la Laguna, Tenerife, Spain, Friday, June 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
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Because of the vastness of the ocean and scarcity of rescue ships or monitoring, some experts consider the Atlantic route more deadly than the more well-known central Mediterranean smuggling route from Libya and Tunisia to Italy. Since 2020, several West African boats have been found in the Caribbean and Latin America with only dead bodies on board after drifting across the Atlantic, pushed by trade winds and currents.
Leo directed his remarks Friday to the criminal organizations and individual smugglers who organize these “death routes” to Europe. Such smugglers charge thousands of euros a person and often force their passengers into prostitution or other forms of black market labor by withholding their documents to pay off the debt.
“Stop. Repent,” Leo said in his message to traffickers, emphasizing each word in Spanish and drawing a sustained applause from the crowd. “For every life lost, every family deceived, every body subjugated, every woman threatened, every worker exploited, you will have to appear before divine justice.”
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“Repent while there is still time, for God’s mercy can reach even the most hardened sinner, but it enters only through the narrow gate of truth, justice and conversion,” he said.
With his two-day visit to the Canary Islands, Leo has confirmed himself as the heir of Francis’ migration preaching, which was a priority of Francis’ 12-year pontificate and often caused friction with U.S. and European powers.
History’s first U.S.-born pope has not only echoed Francis’ message and gestures, he has expanded and amplified them during a deeply symbolic visit. Upon arrival on Thursday, Leo threw a bouquet of flowers into the sea from a port nicknamed the “Dock of Shame” in 2020, when migrants were forced to live in squalor during a spike in their arrivals.
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Pope Leo XIV hug a child during a meeting with migrants at the ‘Las Raices’ center, in San Cristobal de la Laguna, Tenerife, Spain, Friday, June 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
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Pope Leo XIV hug a child during a meeting with migrants at the ‘Las Raices’ center, in San Cristobal de la Laguna, Tenerife, Spain, Friday, June 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
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Leo’s gesture mimicked the one Francis made in 2013 when he visited Lampedusa, Sicily, another flashpoint in Europe’s migration drama, and denounced the “globalization of indifference” that the world showed asylum seekers.
But in a sign Leo is making the papacy his own, the 70-year-old pope has added a new gesture to his repertoire: After a onetime migrant offered his testimony during Leo’s encounter Friday, the pope did the viral “6-7” hand gesture that’s popular with young people as he joked alongside him. That earned the pope cheers and applause from the crowd.
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Leo meets with migrants at reception center
In the Canary Islands and in remarks on the Spanish mainland, Leo reaffirmed the right of migrants to flee but also to stay home, demanding their countries of origin provide the necessary economic and security conditions. He shamed European countries that turn their back on migrants’ plights, and said Christian cannot remain indifferent.
On Friday, he noted that for the Catholic Church, the process of integrating migrants into a community can become a chance at spreading the faith, “without imposing” it and in respect of the migrants’ own beliefs.
Leo opened the final day of his trip by visiting the Las Raíces migrant camp. Leo drew a round of applause when he went off-script to tell migrants that he would speak in French and English, the language spoken by many of the people living in the camp.
One woman told him of the desperation that drove her to leave her homeland and family, the trauma of the crossings, and her gratitude at finding safety and a new life.
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“We aren’t asking for privileges. We aren’t asking for compassion. We just want respect, humanity and the chance to live with dignity,” said the woman, identified as Bousso Diouf.
Next month, on July 4, the American pope will spend U.S. Independence Day on the island of Lampedusa, where Francis in 2013 first denounced the “globalization of indifference” the world shows migrants.
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Pope Leo XIV attends a meeting with migrants at the ‘Las Raices’ center, in San Cristobal de la Laguna, Tenerife, Spain, Friday, June 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
Pope Leo XIV attends a meeting with migrants at the ‘Las Raices’ center, in San Cristobal de la Laguna, Tenerife, Spain, Friday, June 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
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Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the AP’s collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content.
Mercedes driver George Russell set the pace from McLaren’s Oscar Piastri in first practice at the Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix.
Russell was 0.203 seconds quicker than Piastri, with Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc third ahead of Red Bull’s Max Verstappen.
The session was marked by six junior drivers replacing the regulars as part of the mandatory requirement for teams to use at least two practice sessions a year for up and coming drivers.
McLaren’s Leonardo Fornaroli was the fastest, in fifth place, ahead of Estonian Paul Aron in an Audi, on loan from his regular role as Alpine reserve driver.
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Racing Bulls’ Liam Lawson was seventh, separated from team-mate Arvid Lindblad by Dino Beganovic, driving Lewis Hamilton’s Ferrari.
Louise Cameron, a mum from Billingham, has been convicted of murdering her eight-year-old autistic son Rhys after spiking his blackcurrant juice with methadone and giving him morphine. She left a chilling note saying she was “not dying without him”.
Laura Hill and Esther Halligan
13:32, 12 Jun 2026
A mother from Billingham has been found guilty of murdering her young son. Louise Cameron administered morphine to eight-year-old Rhys and laced his blackcurrant juice with methadone.
Cameron left a note for her family, over the weekend of September 13 and 14 , stating she was “not dying without him”. Teesside Crown Court was told that Cameron’s sister grew worried after failing to reach her that weekend, prompting her to visit the house on Monday, September 15, ahead of a planned call from Cameron’s social worker.
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Upon arrival, she discovered her sister lying in bed alongside Rhys, who was already dead. The jury heard that Cameron appeared “out of it” and may have attempted to take a fatal overdose herself.
A family member told police that Cameron had been under considerable strain during a pub meal the previous Friday, when Rhys, who was autistic, “had a meltdown”. The relative revealed that Cameron had hoped to speak with her social worker during a visit that week, but claimed the professional had “left early” when Rhys was crying “because the television wasn’t working”.
At the University Hospital of North Tees in Stockton, Cameron reportedly told staff: “I’ve just murdered Rhys. I didn’t want to have to stab him or drown him or hurt him.”, reports Teesside Live.
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The jury took less than an hour on Thursday morning to reach their verdict. Judge Heather Williams confirmed that Cameron will be sentenced on Thursday, September 18.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s last Trooping the Colour in 2019 saw the couple share what appeared to be an awkward exchange on the Buckingham Palace balcony
Harry and Meghan attend the Trooping of the Colour in 2019
The annual Trooping the Colour is due to get underway on Saturday, with members of the Royal Family and royal enthusiasts descending on the Mall to mark King Charles‘ birthday. Following the Horse Guards Parade and during the RAF flypast, the senior members of the Firm will gather on the Buckingham Palace balcony, which has famously served as the backdrop for numerous iconic moments.
From Prince William being reprimanded by the late Queen, to Prince Louis upstaging everyone with his mischievous behaviour, the balcony appearance is frequently the most eagerly awaited part of the day for fans to catch a glimpse of their favourite royals.
One particular instance dates back to the 2019 Trooping the Colour, which marked the last occasion Prince Harry and Meghan Markle attended the annual ceremony.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex were accompanied on the balcony by numerous royals, including the late Queen Elizabeth, the then Prince Charles and Camilla, along with William, Kate and their three children amongst others.
As all the royals waved at devoted supporters lining the Mall and took in the RAF flypast, sharp-eyed observers believed they caught an uncomfortable moment between Harry and Meghan, creating a somewhat strained atmosphere on the balcony.
Footage circulated of the incident on X showed Harry glancing inside the room adjacent to the balcony before uttering a few words to someone beyond the camera’s view. Meghan turns her head slightly and mouths something, then faces her husband.
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The couple exchange a few words and Meghan faces forward. She then turns back once more towards Harry – and it’s at this moment it appears he tells her to “turn around” – which she promptly does. Harry maintains his serious expression while Meghan awkwardly attempts to compose herself before the camera, which prompted fans to wonder if they may have exchanged heated words.
Yet when the video is played with full audio, the context becomes apparent and reveals there was more happening during the uncomfortable moment than initially thought.
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With the sound enabled, the footage demonstrates the moment took place just a second or so before the National Anthem begins playing, suggesting there’s a strong possibility that Harry was simply alerting Meghan that the music was about to commence so she wouldn’t be caught facing the wrong direction.
Rather than standing uncomfortably after a presumed tense conversation, they are in fact simply listening to the opening part of God Save the Queen.
While the majority of senior working royals are anticipated to feature on the Palace balcony on Saturday for King Charles’ birthday celebrations, it’s hardly surprising that Harry and Meghan will not be in attendance. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex attended just two Trooping the Colour ceremonies before stepping back from royal duties in 2020, appearing in 2018 and 2019.
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At the time of the 2018 procession, Meghan and Harry had recently married at their stunning Windsor Castle wedding ceremony. When they emerged for the Trooping in 2019, their firstborn Archie had arrived only the month prior.
The yearly tradition of Trooping the Colour has served as the official birthday celebration of the reigning monarch for over 260 years. The ceremony features hundreds of horses and servicemen executing intricate battlefield drill movements to military music. More than 1,400 soldiers, 200 horses and 400 musicians unite for the spectacular showcase.
Throughout the parade, members of the Royal Family travel from Buckingham Palace along The Mall to Horse Guards Parade in a grand procession – either mounted on horseback or riding in carriages. At Horse Guards, they observe the military spectacle before rejoining the procession returning to Buckingham Palace when it concludes.
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Following the parade, the royals assemble on the Palace balcony for a march-past and the RAF fly-past, featuring the Red Arrows, which brings the day’s festivities to a close.
There are “severe delays” on the M11 following two crashes on Friday. The M11 is being held in both directions between Junction 10 at Royston and Junction nine at Newmarket due to a serious crash involving three vehicles.
Cambridgeshire Police are at the scene of a crash near to the A505 at Duxford. The force has warned that the southbound carriageway will be closed for some time and for motorists to “avoid the area”.
Traffic was also stopped on the M11 south between Junction nine at Newmarket and Junction eight at Stansted Airport following a multi-vehicle crash. National Highways confirmed Essex Police and Essex County Fire and Rescue Service attended the scene.
Also joining were Christopher “Tricky” Stewart, who has written for Beyoncé, Rihanna and Katy Perry; Walter Afanasieff, known for his work with Mariah Carey; Terry Britten, whose songs include Tina Turner’s We Don’t Need Another Hero; and Graham Lyle, who was behind Turner’s What’s Love Got to Do with It?
Today’s world doesn’t cater for ADHD. Children are expected to sit in a classroom all day and if they display their natural behaviour, they are branded “too much”.
As a child, I never felt comfortable in my own skin. After I finished watching a film, I would act like the main character for days or even weeks, until I got bored and moved on to something else.
When I did interact with people, I found myself copying their mannerisms and their tone of voice. I even pretended to share their interests and hobbies. I altered who I was in order to appear likeable to whoever I was with.
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ADHD children have as much right to be their authentic selves as anybody else and that means they might fidget, move around and get lost on their way to places – and none of that behaviour needs telling off.
The worst thing you can do to an ADHD kid is to try to turn them into a neurotypical kid or bring them closer to a neurotypical one.
Parents need to stop trying to knock the ADHD out of their child. We must accept it, without shame, and work with it.
How can you do that for your child?
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Try to connect with other parents and spend time with other ADHD children. This will help you to learn by sharing common experiences.
It will also enable your child to spend time with other children who share similar traits. This puts them in an environment where they feel less pressure to mask because there will be less contrast between their authentic behaviour and the behaviour of the other children.
Make ‘effort’ the metric for success, too. Starting a task can be extremely hard for ADHD children. They might not be able to communicate this, so it’s important they’re encouraged and praised when they start a task – and not just when a task is completed.
And don’t forget to encourage physical play time and exercise. This will allow them to have a release for any pent-up hyperactivity and also give them the dopamine they need to be happy.
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Use their hyperactivity to their advantage. Don’t tell them off for it. Examples of physical play time can include running, playing ‘hide and seek’, going to the beach, playing with friends, ball games, swimming, skipping, dancing and many others.
If I had been born with the understanding of ADHD I have now, my life would have been very different. So much pain would have been avoided.
I wish I could go back in time with the knowledge I have accumulated, put my arms around the younger version of me and tell him: you’re not broken. You don’t need to be fixed. Your brain works a little bit differently. And with the right tools, you can mitigate the challenges and lean into your strengths – and ultimately, achieve amazing things.
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