Explosions occurred in the Syrian capital of Damascus near a hotel where French president Emmanuel Macron was due to be staying.

Roads ‌were sealed off and security ‌measures were implemented after ‌the blast. Images of the scene show a plume of black smoke and multiple fires as locals gather round

A witness ⁠heard explosions in the vicinity and smoke was seen rising, according to Reuters news agency.

The French president did not hear any explosions while on his way to meet Sharaa, the Elysee palace said.

Macron was received by the Syrian president soon after the explosions occurred, according to Syrian state TV, making him the first major western leader to visit the war-torn country since the ouster of Bashar al-Assad in 2024.

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky visited in April but Macron is the first leader from western Europe or North America to do so.

The French president’s visit comes during a period of relative calm in the Middle East after the monthlong war in Iran and Lebanon.

He will travel next to Ankara, Turkey, for the Nato summit, where Syrian president Ahmad al-Sharaa is also expected to attend and hold a high-profile meeting with US president Donald Trump.

“I have come to express France’s commitment to the Syrian people. For a sovereign Syria, united in its diversity and at peace with its neighbors,” Macron said in a post on X. “Together, let us open a new chapter of stability and peace.”

France supports all those who can “contribute to build a new Syria” in line with the aspirations expressed since the 2011 Arab Spring, Macron’s office said, referring to a period of widespread uprisings across the Middle East that called for political change and reform.

Macron will “engage directly with diverse Syrian people” after he meets with al-Sharaa, his office said.

More follows on this breaking news story…

Becky Small, 33, says she was twice misdiagnosed by GPs before finally getting her terrifying diagnosis after visiting A&E

A mum of three who suffered bloating so severe it felt as though she was “nine months’ pregnant” claims she was misdiagnosed by two GPs before to being told she had stage four cancer.

Becky Small, 33, a logistics manager from Hampshire, noticed “severe bloating” in her abdomen in April, describing it as feeling “really hard” – uncomfortable enough to disrupt her sleep.

She also experienced pain on the right side of her back. She visited a GP who examined her, requested a urine sample and prescribed anti-inflammatory medication.

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When her condition showed no signs of improvement, Becky went to a different GP at another practice, who she claims didn’t carry out any tests and “didn’t even feel” her stomach before prescribing medication for suspected gastroenteritis – an infection of the intestines.

By early May, Becky described her abdomen as “rock solid”, leading her to attend A&E. There two doctors “examined (her) properly” and were “shocked” that neither blood tests or CT scans had previously been done.

That same evening, Becky was told that doctors had discovered two lesions on her ovaries and one on her kidney, and her immediate thought was that she was “going to die”.

After a biopsy, Becky finally received her diagnosis of stage four metastatic ovarian cancer on June 1, before starting chemotherapy four days later.

Becky’s husband Paul, 34, has been one of her biggest supporters, especially when they told their two eldest children, Logan, 10, and Harley, eight, about her cancer diagnosis.

As for their daughter, Iris, four, Becky said she knows her mother is unwell, but she is “too young to understand” what cancer really means.

Becky said: “My daughter starts school this year and that is the bit that scares me the most – that I’m not going to see her start school. I just want to be a mum to my kids and to be a wife to my husband.”

According to the NHS, the main symptoms of ovarian cancer can include bloating, pain in your tummy or the area between your hips, no appetite and increased urgency or frequency of peeing, along with back pain.

‘The bloating was getting bigger‘

Despite a diagnosis at 16 of polycystic ovaries which made later conceiving her children difficult, Becky said she has always been “quite a fit and healthy person”, and going to the GP was “very rare” for her.

So, when she started experiencing bloating on April 22, she initially thought it might just be linked to her polycystic ovaries.

She said: “My stomach was going really hard all the time. I couldn’t fit any trousers on and it was just really uncomfortable. I couldn’t sleep and I couldn’t even roll over in bed because it was so painful and so big.”

Becky said she visited a GP on April 27, who examined her abdomen and believed it might be inflammation, so he asked her to do a urine test which later came back as clear.

She said she was also prescribed medication to help reduce the suspected inflammation and was told it should “go down within a couple of days” – but Becky said she saw no improvement “whatsoever”.

“The bloating was getting bigger,” she said.

On April 30, Becky saw a different GP and she claims the doctor did not carry out any tests or examine her abdomen.

Instead, she said she was prescribed medication for gastroenteritis and was told she should be “back to normal” within a week.

By May 5, Becky said: “My stomach was rock solid, it was uncomfortable and it was painful. The only way to describe it was like I was nine months’ pregnant. I couldn’t breathe or walk properly too.”

‘Thinking that you’re going to die is a horrible feeling’

Becky took herself to A&E that morning, where she was examined by two doctors and had a cannula – a fine tube – inserted, before she had blood taken and a CT scan.

She said: “Two doctors actually examined me properly and were shocked that I hadn’t had tests done.”

By that same evening, Becky said she was taken into a side room and made aware that doctors had found two lesions on her ovaries and one on her kidney.

Becky said: “My three children are my world, so thinking that you’re going to die is a horrible feeling.”

A biopsy on May 20 confirmed nine days later that Becky had stage four metastatic cancer, with an oncologist specifying on June 1 that it had originated on her ovaries.

Becky said she was in and out of hospital during the wait between the conversation on May 5 and the initial cancer diagnosis on May 29.

“It was a hell of a long wait,” she said.

Becky said she has had two sessions of chemotherapy since June 5 and is thankful she is yet to experience “any major side effects”.

She will have four more rounds of chemotherapy, to be completed by September, as well as a full hysterectomy – where the womb and cervix is removed – in August.

For now, Becky said she does not want to know her prognosis because she wants to “enjoy what time” she has left without worrying that she “may not wake up in the morning”.

Paul and Becky decided against telling their youngest child about her mother’s cancer diagnosis because she is “too young”, but Becky said telling their two eldest children was “the hardest conversation” she has ever had in her life.

She said: “I was in hospital at the time. We were just honest with them and said if they have questions or they want to talk, then they can.”

A fundraiser has since been launched to help support Becky and her family financially while she goes through treatment.

Becky said the donations will allow her family to make memories like “going to the park and having an ice cream”.

She added: “It’s just things I want them to remember if I’m not here.”

Looking back on her cancer journey, Becky said: “I think I probably should have pushed to have extra tests done.

“If they had just run some more tests before, then I may be further along than where I am now.

“If I hadn’t taken myself to A&E, then I probably wouldn’t be here now.”

Becky believes ovarian cancer is “silent and deadly”, so she is urging young women in particular to watch out for the symptoms and get tests if they have any concerns.

She said: “I don’t want other women or even my own daughter to have to go through what I’m going through.”

You can donate to Becky’s GoFundMe here.

By JAMES TAPSFIELD, UK POLITICAL EDITOR and JASON GROVES, POLITICAL EDITOR

Published: 08:13 BST, 7 July 2026 | Updated: 08:29 BST, 7 July 2026

Keir Starmer is taking his final bow on the world stage today – and it could involve another kicking from Donald Trump.

The ousted PM is heading for the Nato summit in Turkey with less than a fortnight until he hands over to Andy Burnham.

But Sir Keir will be bracing for a backlash over his shambolic defence investment plan. After months of Whitehall wrangling and the resignation of Defence Secretary John Healey, the £15billion extra over five years turned out to be largely unfunded – and gave no timetable for 3 per cent of GDP going on the military. 

The US president has pushed the alliance into agreeing an even higher 3.5 per cent target, and is widely expected to make his displeasure clear at the gathering of leaders.

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He has already repeatedly clashed with Sir Keir, branding him ‘no Churchill’ for refusing to join the chaotic Iran war.

Keir Starmer is taking his final bow on the world stage today – and it could involve another kicking from Donald Trump

Mr Trump has pushed Nato into agreeing a 3.5 per cent target for defence spending, and is widely expected to make his displeasure clear at the gathering of leaders

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The PM has only committed to an ‘ambition’ of defence spending reaching 3 per cent of GDP in the 2030s

Mr Trump reportedly called Nigel Farage to congratulate him when Sir Keir was forced to announce his resignation last month.

Despite it being Sir Keir’s final outing on the world stage, the two men are not due to meet one-on-one. 

The PM will tell Nato allies that the DIP represents a major step on the way to hitting Nato’s target of spending 3.5 per cent on defence by 2035. But it only commits the UK to reaching 2.7 per cent by the end of the decade.

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New Defence Secretary Dan Jarvis said Labour would ‘commit the resources to evidence the trajectory to 3.5 per cent’ at a spending review next year. But neither No10 nor Mr Burnham have so far agreed to the timetable.

Nato chief Mark Rutte said he expected member states to produce ‘clear, concrete and credible’ plans to hit the 3.5 per cent target.

Speaking at the weekend, Mr Trump said ‘weak’ British leaders had allowed the country to become a ‘deindustrialised welfare zone unable to stop Third World men arriving on boats’.

Downing Street said Sir Keir and Mr Trump will be seated next to each other at a meeting tomorrow and insisted that their relationship remains ‘constructive’.

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Meanwhile, Kemi Badenoch is warning that Britain’s defence policy is becoming a ‘pantomime’ at the moment threats are at their most serious since the end of the Cold War.

In a speech this morning, Mrs Badenoch will urge Mr Burnham to take up her offer to help push through welfare cuts to help fund defence investment. 

But she will warn that the would-be prime minister has ‘said nothing’ about the growing threats facing the UK.

‘We are sending an outgoing Prime Minister who is now completely powerless to that Nato summit,’ she will say.

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‘And he is taking with him a Defence Investment Plan which he knows is not fit for purpose. With barely half of the additional funding that our armed forces need.’

Ahead of the summit, Putin sent a clear message to defence chiefs over Russia’s willingness to threaten its member states, including Britain.

It has emerged a Russian aircraft conducted a ‘danger close’ low pass of the HMS Prince of Wales while the £3.5billion carrier was operating in the Norwegian Sea.

After ignoring requests from the carrier’s control room, the Bear-F maritime patrol aircraft then dropped tens of sonobuoy projectiles in close proximity to HMS Prince of Wales which could have injured sailors or damaged the carrier.

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Confrontation: An F-35 jet launched from HMS Prince of Wales shadows a Russian military aircraft as it drops a sonic device, inset

Experts have warned that Vladimir Putin is testing the resolve of the UK

British commanders scrambled two F-35 jets from HMS Prince of Wales to shadow the Russian aircraft in the carrier’s first ‘real-time’ engagement with enemy forces.

The Royal Navy has released information about the July 2nd incident for the first time.

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At the time HMS Prince of Wales was sailing as part of the UK’s Carrier Strike Group which also consisted of the Type-45 destroyer HMS Duncan, the Royal Fleet Auxiliary ship Tidespring which were conducting freedom of navigation patrols in the High North.

The Arctic Sentry patrols are intended to reinforce security. The engagement came just weeks after the UK seized a Russian shadow fleet vessel in the English Channel for the first time and after a Russian fighter jet flew within feet of a Royal Air Force intelligence gathering aircraft conducting a patrol over the Black Sea.

Belgium midfielder Nicolas Raskin said his team felt a “sense of injustice” over United States striker Folarin Balogun’s one-match ban being suspended by Fifa shortly before their World Cup last-16 match.

Balogun, 25, appeared certain to miss the tie in Seattle after being shown a straight red card for a foul on Bosnia-Herzegovina defender Tarik Muharemovic in the previous round.

But on Sunday Fifa suspended the automatic one-match ban for 12 months, leading to widespread criticism, with Uefa, Belgium and England boss Thomas Tuchel among those speaking out against the ruling.

On Monday US President Donald Trump said he asked Fifa to review Balogun’s ban, which he said would have left a “big stain” on the tournament.

But, despite the American’s star striker being cleared to play and starting the match, Belgium convincingly beat the tournament co-hosts 4-1.

“A lot has happened off the pitch over the last two days,”said Belgium and Rangers midfielder Raskin.

“There was a sense of injustice within the squad, and we were determined to respond on the field.”

Belgium captain Youri Tielemans insisted the affair had boosted his side.

“We told ourselves we had to respond on the pitch. That’s what we did,” he said.

After Belgium scored their fourth goal several of their players were pictured dancing in a style similar to the ‘Trump dance’ – where he rocks his hips and slowly pumps his arms – which gained notoriety during the 2024 US presidential campaign.

The official Instagram account for the Belgium national team also appeared to mock the debacle, posting a picture of striker Romelu Lukaku cupping his ear with the caption “overturn this”.

The event was meant to be a ‘magical’ celebration of Taylor Swift’s love story – as well as an expression of the sheer clout of her enormous global fame.

But guests at pop icon Taylor’s July 3 wedding to football star Travis Kelce at Madison Square Garden in New York have been complaining post-event about the ‘tacky’ and ‘chaotic’ scenes inside, which saw the champagne running dry ‘really early’ and long queues for buffet food.

‘I couldn’t believe that there was a buffet at the wedding of the year!’ said one shocked guest. ‘That felt like such a tacky move.’

Another added: ‘There were slightly chaotic scenes around the food carts with all these amazing A-listers having to stand in line. It wasn’t quite what I expected. You know Julia Roberts was there. And Steven Spielberg.’

And that’s before you get to the cringe-inducing system which ranked attendees from A-list to D-list according to their importance to the bride – and told them when they needed to arrive accordingly.

British supermodel Cara Delevingne, for example, was in the first, D list contingent, getting to the Madison Square Garden at 2.30pm, a full three hours before the ceremony.

Guests described the wedding at New York’s iconic Madison Square Garden as ‘tacky’ and ‘surprisingly chaotic’. (Pictured: A billboard at the venue announcing the couple’s marriage)

Actor Bradley Cooper and TV host Graham Norton were not far behind, arriving by 3.30pm. Taylor’s best friend Abigail Anderson, whom she’s known since her high school days in Nashville, Tennessee, only showed up at 4.30pm.

The most important guests arrived as instructed closer to the time of the 5.30pm ceremony.

A source said: ‘It was surprisingly chaotic inside. Arrivals were staggered with people having to wait for hours with nothing to do. The cocktails only started at 4pm. People literally were twiddling their thumbs for hours.

‘If you were in the 2.30pm time slot, you couldn’t even amuse yourself by checking your phone. You were just standing around like a lemon wondering why the hell you were forced to arrive so early.’

Everyone had to give up their phones upon arrival – and faced long queues to collect them at the end of the night.

Before giving up hers, Joann Jordan, wife of personal trainer Rob Jordan, shared a look at the transformation of the infamously unglamorous venue in midtown New York. In one of the photos, Rob and Joann walk up a large staircase covered in a red carpet, which is surrounded by white and dark pink curtains.

‘An unforgettable evening in New York celebrating the beginning of a beautiful new chapter for our dear friends, Travis and Taylor. Love was in the air, the city was magical, and every detail was simply unforgettable!’ she gushed.

Kelce’s friend, DJ Chop UFL, also shared photos on the same two staircases. ‘The secret garden was an unbelievable celebration and experience! So happy for my brother and sister Trav & Tay Tay. Congratulations once again! Yesterday was perfect,’ he said.

A video obtained by the Daily Mail shows guests queuing up to walk through a ‘castle door’ into the inner sanctum of the wedding located inside the vast venue, which can seat 20,000.

Famous guests included TV host Graham Norton (pictured), model Cara Delevingne and actor Bradley Cooper, while the ceremony itself was officiated by actor and comedian Adam Sandler

Before giving up her phone – as all attendees were instructed to do – Joann Jordan, wife of personal trainer Rob Jordan, shared a look inside the venue, where she posed on a red carpet

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As a thank you for coming, guests will receive a documentary about the big day, which Taylor and Travis are in the process of making. (Pictured: Hugh Grant and wife Anna Eberstein arriving)

News website TMZ reported that the theme was Wizard Of Oz meets Alice In Wonderland.

A source says: ‘I know everyone was saying how it was all decked out fairytale garden-style so you’d never even know it was Madison Square Garden – but apparently this is not true.

‘When you got inside, some of the flowers, vines and garlands were wrapped so badly around the seating that they barely camouflaged the plastic bucket-style stadium seats. It was all quite ghastly and tacky. They had tried to cover up that it was a wedding in a stadium, and that failed.

‘Also, there were loads of huge fake plastic trees all over the place and it just looked bizarre.’

The specifics of the theme appeared to be lost on the guests – some said it was ‘fairground Americana’ while others described it as ‘an enchanted forest’.

Even more bizarrely, dotted around the stadium were traditional pinball and slot machines swagged with pink, peach and coral drapes and lots of gold heraldic renderings of the love-birds’ initials T&T.

Another unusual element to the wedding was a raffle. The celebrity guests were invited to win raffle tickets by playing games like mini golf, pinball and a ring toss during the post-nuptial party.

A number were later notified that they had won prizes which included designer Dior and Chanel bags, a Cartier watch and a classic 1970 Chevy car. Singer Avril Lavigne, who performed karaoke later in the evening, was reportedly one of the lucky millionaires who won a free bag.

In all, the event apparently cost billionaire Taylor and her beau at least $20 million (£15 million). They also made a $26 million (£19.5 million) donation to charities, including children’s hospitals and food banks.

The wedding itself was officiated by actor and comedian Adam Sandler, who is legally ordained and whose daughters are huge Swifties. Kelce became friendly with Sandler on the set of his 2025 Netflix comedy Happy Gilmore 2. Apparently Sandler joked that he accepted the gig ‘in order to get both Travis and Taylor in one of his next movies’ or to negotiate a good price in case he ever produced a movie about their life and love.

News website TMZ said the theme was Wizard of Oz meets Alice in Wonderland, but guests seemed unconvinced. (Pictured: A giant white staircase is lifted into a truck the next morning)

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A source said: ‘There were loads of huge fake plastic trees all over the place and it just looked bizarre’. (Pictured: Removal men outside Madison Square Garden after the wedding)

Fake flowers, vines and garlands were wrapped around the seating inside, but attendees say the plastic stadium seats were still clearly visible underneath

The bride was dressed in Christian Dior haute couture, and flanked by her new nieces – the daughters of Kelce’s brother Jason and wife Kylie – who threw petals as she walked towards her groom to an instrumental version of her hit, Love Story.

There were no traditional bridesmaids. Instead Swift’s brother, Austin Swift, served as Taylor’s ‘man of honour’ while the groom’s brother Jason was his best man.

The vows, according to ABC anchor and former Bill Clinton aide George Stephanopoulos, who spoke briefly as he left, were ‘everything you would hope for – real, vulnerable, serious and silly’. News website TMZ reported that the couple exchanged deeply personal vows from ‘little books’ in the stadium.

A guest tells me more prosaically: ‘The ceremony was really long. Taylor’s vows took around 20 minutes to make and it was the same again for Travis.’

What’s not known is that sadly most of the invited guests had to stand throughout. The source added: ‘There were only about 150 official seats which meant that about 800 people had to stand throughout the ceremony.

‘People were trying to reserve seats by throwing their jackets over them, but they got booted out of those seats by staff because those were reserved for the closest people.’

And then came the food and the partying – with dancing, a DJ and live music performances, including former Beatle Sir Paul McCartney singing I Want To Hold Your Hand.

A source said: ‘It was an amazing event but people couldn’t believe that the champagne ran out really early. That felt kind of astonishing.

‘There were also people who were surprised about the food. It was not great and served buffet-style with long lines if you wanted to eat.’

The source adds: ‘The problems were all because the wedding was so big. At a normal wedding, everyone knows the bride and groom, and you don’t have to stagger arrivals or queue for food because there aren’t 1,000 people.

‘Also, at a normal wedding people have a table to sit on and are then catered for. This was far more of a stadium vibe. People kind of felt like they existed to be Taylor’s audience on the day.’

One guest said that there was genuine excitement and surprise over the performance by Sir Paul McCartney, however. He and Taylor are big fans of each other’s work, and she is also close to his daughter, fashion designer Stella.

At one point Taylor’s groom Travis Kelce also got up to sing. ‘I think it was at Rod Stewart standard,’ says the guest. ‘It wasn’t quite at Macca’s level.’

It is reported that Travis and Taylor – never known for underplaying their cultural significance – are making a documentary about the big day, which will detail the wedding planning process from picking the flowers to how the event was organised backstage. This will be sent to every guest as a thank you for coming.

Whether it can erase those less delightful memories of food carts and lengthy queues remains to be seen.

Dr Ahmed Adbelghani was practising as a Registrar in General and Breast Surgery at the South Tees NHS Foundation Trust when he submitted five certificates for training courses he did not attend, between 2021 and 2023.

Concerns were raised by a member of the public who alleged that most of the conference, seminar, and course certificates Dr Abdelghani provided were non-existent or forged.

The doctor admitted forging the documents to a Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service (MPTS) panel.

The panel considered that, while Dr Abdelghani’s misconduct was serious, the risk to the public was medium and determined that a period of suspension would be enough.

The panel took into account that Dr Abdelghani had been open and honest with the Trust once the issues had come to light.

He said: “I would like to begin by expressing my sincere regret, admitting my mistake and taking full responsibility for my actions.

“I admit that submitting certificates that I had not completed in my appraisal was a big mistake and is away from the professional standards.

“I deeply regret this lapse in judgement, and I fully understand that my actions were not keeping with the principles of good Medical Practice.”

Dr Abdelghani told the tribunal that the first instance of misconduct was during an appraisal at the height of the Covid pandemic.

He said he was separated from his family, living in hospital accommodation, and working in a highly stressful and understaffed work environment.

He added that, prior to 2021, he had never been asked to take part in an appraisal and subsequently took ‘bad advice’, from an individual who suggested he provide false certificates.

A spokesperson for University Hospitals Tees said: “The tribunal determined there are no concerns relating to patient safety and, as such, Dr Abdelghani remains in our employment and the suspension will come into force following the 28-day appeal period, during which he has the right to submit an appeal.

“The tribunal specifically acknowledged Dr Abdelghani’s high standard of conduct during the hearing, recognising his remorse and reflection.”

Dr Abdelghani qualified as a doctor in 1988 and had worked at the Trust since 2019 after retiring from working as a doctor in the Egyptian army in 2018.

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The United States have been dumped out of the World Cup, humiliated 4-1 by Belgium – and the gleeful reaction of the rest of the world that followed. 

After FIFA reversed the red-card suspension of USA star Folarin Balogun following pressure from President Donald Trump, critics had warned that the integrity of the beautiful game was at stake.

And, led by the Trump-dancing Belgian striker Romelu Lukaku, the reaction has been one of mockery. And Iran FA spokesperson this morning said: ‘Now the whole world is dancing to celebrate politics’ humiliating defeat by football.’ While Belgium, who were furious with Trump’s Balogun intervention, wrote on their official social media accounts: ‘Overturn this.’

The ‘Trump dance’ first went viral when he performed it on stage at numerous political rallies while YMCA played and involves him standing still and alternating fist pumps in time to the music. It’s since been mimicked plenty of times but Lukaku’s taunting was particularly pointed. 

Mauricio Pochettino‘s team were humiliated. Belgium opened the scoring in just the ninth minute after some sloppy defending was capitalised upon by Charles De Ketelaere. 

Malik Tillman’s deflected free-kick brought the USA level but De Ketelaere scored again just minutes later and a horror error from goalkeeper Matt Freese allowed Hans Vanaken to add a third Belgium goal.

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Trump is pictured boarding Air Force One, hours after his intervention with FIFA

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Lukaku profited from a final defensive error to seal a 4-1 win. He appeared to celebrate with the ‘Trump dance’. At the final whistle the commentator on Turkish television joked: ‘USA is out of the World Cup… unless there’s a last-minute change.’

Another commentator from Croatia quipped: ‘Belgium won, but let’s wait… maybe tomorrow morning when we wake up, a call from the White House comes in.’ 

And while the VAR team for the match were being shown on Belgian television, commentator Frank Peterkenne said: ‘Here are the VAR officials. And of course, you can add Donald Trump from the White House.’ 

Plenty of other supporters took to social media, with teasing Balogun’s anonymous display, writing: ‘Nice of Balogun to do the right thing and not play today. Very noble.’

Another shared his stats from the game, noting that he lost possession eight times and failed to complete a single dribble.  

For many, the final result was deserved reward for a nation and president who had tried to bend the rules of football to their own gain.

There have even been jokes about a Trump curse, listing this game, his prediction of a Kansas City Chiefs win at the Super Bowl, watching the New York Knicks lose during their NBA play-off streak and attending the Ryder Cup – where Europe beat Team USA, as evidence.

Balogun, at the centre of the red-card storm, said last night: ‘When you know you’re given a red card, and then you know usually the protocol is you don’t play in the following game, and then when that decision’s overturned, of course it’s going to be controversial.

‘I had to respect FIFA’s protocol. I didn’t know a lot about it. I accepted the decision when I was given a red card, and I accepted the decision when I was told I was allowed to play. I didn’t have any involvement in the process and that’s not something that has anything to do with me personally.

‘Belgium were a better team today. They played much better than us. I feel today we didn’t have a good game. We didn’t give the crowd a lot to cheer for. The feeling of disappointment is very difficult to put into words.’

Disconsolate American fans watch on as their side are humiliated on the world stage 

Trump is understood to have called FIFA president Gianni Infantino three times, starting the day after Balogun received a red card in the US game against Bosnia. FIFA subsequently decided to suspend Balogun’s automatic one-match ban for a year, without explaining why – causing outrage.

Trump insists he did not know what a red card was – even though he was photographed with one at the White House during a meeting with Infantino in 2018 – but ‘asked for a review by FIFA’ after learning that Balogun would miss last night’s clash against Belgium.

The US President said: ‘He gave him a red card, I didn’t know what that meant. Then I started hearing that means he can’t play in the next game. I said, ‘Boy, that’s big’. You know, if it happened to another player it would’ve been unfair.

‘But when they take your best player, or just about… and they say you can’t play, that’s very unfair.

‘It’s one thing to penalise someone for a game. But how do you penalise them for a game they haven’t even played yet? It’s very unfair. You can’t do that. I spoke to Gianni. I asked for a review by FIFA. I’m good at this stuff – that wasn’t a foul.’

Trump then cast doubt on Brazilian referee Raphael Claus – who sent Balogun off – claiming he was ‘suspect’. ‘If you check his past, I don’t want to say that because I don’t like to create controversy, but very suspect. If you’d like, I’ll provide you with his past,’ he said.

Claus was accused of match-fixing in 2023 in Brazil, but was never charged with wrongdoing, and there is no suggestion of any allegation aimed at him in the World Cup.

The Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) hit back last night, saying: ‘There is nothing in his record that discredits him or gives grounds for any suspicion.

‘The CBF rejects any insinuation casting doubt on Raphael Claus’s integrity. He is an exemplary professional.’ 

Infantino defied Trump‘s World Cup narrative as he defended the tournament’s referees amid criticism from the President. 

The FIFA chief credited the crew of referees at the World Cup for the success of the tournament so far. 

Trump and FIFA president Gianni Infantino shared three phone calls before the overturning

‘The FIFA World Cup 2026 has been an overwhelming success and a major contributor to this is our fantastic group of match officials – Team One,’ Infantino wrote in an Instagram post on Monday, shortly after Trump’s scathing comments. 

‘The tournament is being officiated by the best in the world, selected through a rigorous process which considered their skills, consistency, and quality over a sustained period.

‘Once more, I reiterate that we must respect the referees and respect the rules that govern our game. It is very simple and cannot ever be overstated – without referees, there is no football.’

England manager Thomas Tuchel, ex-players and football federations across the globe expressed dismay at FIFA’s decision to suspend Balogun’s punishment.

Former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp said: ‘This is our sport, not theirs. If Donald Trump and Gianni Infantino really sorted this out between themselves, it is madness – it calls everything into question.’

Broadcaster and pundit Piers Morgan, a former ally of Trump, described his intervention as ‘cheating’. The Royal Belgian Football Association said it was ‘astonished’. Its appeal was rejected without explanation.

UEFA, the Union of European Football Associations, said the ‘unprecedented, incomprehensible and unjustifiable’ move ‘crossed a red line’.

Former England striker Wayne Rooney said: ‘It is an absolute disgrace. Infantino should be ashamed. The sportsmanship of the game is at question here.’

ITV pundit Roy Keane added: ‘It seems unfair because it is unfair.’ Balogun, 25, got a red card in the 64th minute of Thursday’s 2-0 win over Bosnia-Herzegovina after a video review ruled he raked his studs down the calf of defender Tarik Muharemovic.

Jubilant Belgium fans took extra joy in rubbing in their victory given the preceding events 

Trump said of the striker: ‘He didn’t do anything wrong.’

But Tuchel said FIFA had set a dangerous precedent, adding: ‘Where does this start and where does this end now? Can we overturn it or not overturn it?’

England defender Jarell Quansah was sent off in the 3-2 victory over Mexico yesterday, leaving former manager Harry Redknapp asking on Times Radio: ‘Is the King going to ring up FIFA and ask them to rescind the decision?’ It is just using power.’

The FA is considering appealing to FIFA against Quansah’s suspension.

Even former FIFA president Sepp Blatter criticised the decision, saying: ‘Red cards are not overturned by political phone calls. They are overturned by rules, evidence and independent bodies.’

Infantino, who gave Trump the ‘FIFA Peace Prize’ last year, stated that FIFA’s judicial bodies were ‘independent’ and rulings ‘must always be respected’.

He added: ‘I regularly discuss matters related to the World Cup with the President of the United States, and on this matter, I did receive a call from President Donald Trump, just as I receive calls from heads of state, government officials, football stakeholders and business executives from around the world on many different issues.’

FIFA said: ‘In line with article 27 of the FIFA disciplinary code, the implementation of the match suspension is suspended for a probationary period of one year.’

NEW: How much is David Beckham set to pocket from his World Cup brand deals? Take on our quiz in our newsletter HERE 

The fan also has warm functions so it can be used as a heater during autumn, winter and spring

Another heatwave is on the cards this week. Households who struggled to get fans last time round might find it worthwhile to snap one up now because they are flying off the shelves again.

Bladeless air fans have been a popular choice for some years now, as they’re dust-free, making them suitable for allergy sufferers. Plus, they’re easy to clean.

Yimbly, a marketplace owned by this title’s parent company Reach Plc, has an offer on a Drew & Cole fan. The Smartair Bladeless Fan has hot and cold functions, so it can be used now and in winter as a heater.

The device is normally £129.99; however, users can buy it for £117 at Yimbly with the discount code SUMMER10. For comparison, it’s also sold on Amazon at the higher recommended retail price.

The Drew&Cole Smartair Bladeless Fan has three speed settings, including low, medium or high airflow to create the perfect breeze for a user’s comfort. It’s also equipped with two heat settings – select between 1100W and 2200W.

Yimbly’s bladeless fan

£129.99

£117

Yimbly

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Buy Now on Yimbly

Get 10% off this Drew&Cole Smartair Bladeless Fan ahead of the heatwave, with the code SUMMER10.

Drew&Cole’s Smartair Bladeless Fan also features adjustable temperature settings ranging from 15 °C to 45 °C. The cooling/heating device also has a timer with a maximum setting of 12 hours, making it suitable for use during hot, humid nights.

At the higher end of the market, Dyson offers this Pure Hot+Cool HP00 Purifying Fan for £449.99. Dyson claims the device can save you up to 30% in running costs when maintaining room temperature.

For other options, Argos offers a wide range of tower fans at lower prices. This Bush White Tower Fan is £35 and has three speed settings and a two-hour timer feature.

The Drew&Cole Smartair Bladeless Fan has no reviews on Yimbly or Amazon. However, new Yimbly shoppers can find reviews and ratings of the marketplace on Trustpilot, where one person who bought a fan said: “Ordered a Blade Air fan advertised in the newspaper that Yimbly were selling at a great price compared to other blade fan manufacturers.

“The whole experience from ordering to delivery of the fan went fine, and I am quite impressed with my purchase and would recommend Yimbly as a good seller of quality items.”

Another shopper who also ordered a fan wrote: “Easy to order, delivered on time, straightforward set up, we had it set up and running in a flash, absolutely perfect in our bedroom.”

Another positive review reads: “What a great range of products and at very competitive prices. Quality very good.”

Yimbly has a 4.1-star rating on Trustpilot. Negative reviews, in a minority, involve issues surrounding the occasional late delivery of items.

However, another shopper wrote: “My garden rocking chair arrived quicker than they said, great sturdy product for relaxing outdoors.”

A penultimate shopper commented: “Absolutely brilliant service and quality goods, thank you, definitely use you in the future.” A final buyer concluded: “A good quality product, delivered without any problems. Value for money.”

During patrols on Monday (July 6) in Newton Aycliffe, police say they spotted the driver and branded the motorist “a fatal collision waiting to happen”.

After pulling him over, police say the man, a 49-year-old, blew a breath test of 160.

The legal limit is 35 micrograms of alcohol per 100 millilitres of breath.

Police stop a driver on the roadside (Image: DURHAM CONSTABULARY)

He was arrested and charged with two counts of drink driving and remanded to court.

In a video shared by Durham Police, the police force used a series of football-related puns to bring home the severity of the situation.

The post read: “This is one guy who definitely wasn’t watching the match last night!

“Instead, he was sleeping off a skin-full after scoring a spectacular own-goal with a roadside breath test result of 160.

“Yes, you read that right, this 49-year-old was more than four times over the legal limit, ‘driving’ his Audi A5 in the middle of the road in Newton Aycliffe. We say ‘driving’ because quite frankly, with that much alcohol in his system, he was a fatal collision waiting to happen.

“Thankfully our Durham Roads & Armed Policing officers were on the ball as much as Bellingham last night and got this man stopped before he hurt anyone. He has now been charged with two counts of drink driving and remanded to court.

“This was the best outcome, but sadly some families aren’t so lucky, and our officers have had to tell them the horrendous news that their loved one isn’t coming home.”

Despite this shocking example, the police force did say they conducted random stop checks in Chester Moor on Monday, where everyone passed the roadside breath test.