Connie and her mum, a self-employed make-up artist and beauty therapist are preparing to go to Great Ormond Street Hospital in London

A young girl from Co Armagh is preparing to go to Great Ormond Street Hospital to receive treatment for a rare disease that leaves her immune system unable to fight off infections.

Eight-year-old Connie has been in and out of hospital her whole life and always seemed to get sick and develop infections that required multiple doses of antibiotics to clear.

For years her mum Carrie McKeown felt something more serious was going on with her daughter as she couldn’t understand why Connie was constantly developing infections and struggling to fight them off.

Two years ago the young girl from Bleary got her ears pierced which led to her developing a serious infection that eventually required multiple surgeries to remove, however afterwards her surgery wounds would not heal.

Eventually blood tests were carried out which showed that Connie had a rare immunodeficiency disease called Chronic Granulomatous Disease that stops her body from fighting off certain bacteria and fungi. She is the only girl in Northern Ireland to be diagnosed with the disease.

Connie is now preparing to go with her mum to Great Ormond Street Hospital in London to receive treatment for CGD which will include chemotherapy and a life-saving bone marrow transplant even though she does not have cancer.

Speaking to Belfast Live, Carrie said: “I always knew there was something more that was causing Connie to develop all of these infections and I had spent years asking doctors to do more tests to see what was going on.

“Ever since she was a baby she has constantly developed ear and nose infections that would take her four or five courses of antibiotics to clear and this went on for a very long time. It was not until after she got her ears pierced a couple of years ago and developed a granuloma on the back of her ear that required surgery to get rid of that we were finally able to get further tests done.

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“When her diagnosis came back it was disappointing because it was not the answer that we wanted but at the same time at least we had something and knew what are dealing with. Chronic Granulomatous DiseaseCGD means that part of connies immune system cannot properly fight certain bacteria and fungi, making her body more vulnerable to serious infections and inflammation and she has been put on profolactic medicine until she is able to go over to Great Ormond Street.

“While she is due to undergo a bone marrow transplant and chemotherapy, Connie does not have cancer, it is just the treatment that she requires and there is a possibility that if the transplant is successful then it could cure her.”

Carrie is a self-employed make-up artist and beauty therapist who also has two four-year-old twin daughters to care for but has been unable to work recently due to ongoing hospital appointments and stays with Connie and is unable to return to work until six months after they return from London.

Her friend Carla has setup a GoFundme page in order to help Carrie and her children with the financial pressures they face due to their current circumstances and has thankfed everyone who has supported it so far with it raising over £6,000 in three days.

Carla said: “With everything Connie has been going through it has been very hard for Carrie to work and due to being self-employed there is no real support out there for her when it comes to things like this. She still has her mortgage, bills to pay and children to care for and I wanted to do something to help her while she is away with Connie in London getting the treatment she needs.

“So far the response to the appeal has been incredible and I am so thankful to everyone who has donated to help Carrie, Connie and the twins.”

If you would like to donate to the fundraiser you can do so via this link.

For all the latest news, visit the Belfast Live homepage here and sign up to our daily newsletter here.

Referee (REF): Chris Kavanagh

Assistant Referee 1 (AR1): Dan Cook

VAR: Darren England

Assistant VAR (AVAR): Akil Howson

RO: Hawk-Eye replay operator

When the on-field team is able to hear the VAR discussion, the text is shown in bold.

VAR: Possible foul on keeper.

VAR: Watch has gone.

AVAR: Goal given.

AR1: I don’t see any foul on the goalkeeper.

REF: On-field decision is goal.

VAR: Checking the on-field decision of goal.

VAR: OK, let’s play it through, let’s play it through. Let’s just get a feel now.

VAR: So, the keeper there…

VAR: Then it’s just a shot. So, it’s literally just a possible foul on Raya, what I’m seeing in terms of that.

AVAR: Yeah, and to make sure he doesn’t have it in his hand.

VAR: OK, let’s get a tighter angle on the goalkeeper please.

VAR: On the Arsenal goalkeeper.

RO: Yeah.

VAR: This one. Slow it down, frame by frame.

VAR: For me, there is a foul. Potential foul with the arm.

VAR: His hand is holding his arm down. That’s impactful, for me.

VAR: The left arm there, is holding, is across the body.

VAR: He’s across the head and he’s holding the left arm of Raya, there.

VAR: Which impedes his ability to get to the ball properly.

VAR: Doesn’t look that impactful from that angle.

RO: I’ve got a pole-cam angle.

VAR: Give us pole-cam.

AVAR: It’s like, Raya…

AVAR: Because that contact we’ve got there, we’ve got…

VAR: Just keep delaying. Just checking possible foul on the goalkeeper.

AVAR: You’ve got that straight behind him as well, look.

VAR: Yeah.

RO: I’ll go back to the original angle.

VAR: Yeah.

VAR: But this happens before.

RO: Do you want to see it at full speed?

VAR: Yes please.

VAR: Is it impactful on the goalkeeper that, for me.

VAR: Go back to the second angle you showed me, the second angle.

RO: No problem, just going to look now.

AVAR: Can you do a split screen on both of them as well?

VAR: This one here, this one. Yeah, give us a split screen. That one and then the first angle.

RO: OK, goalline?

VAR: No, sorry, this one and this one, thank you.

AVAR: I don’t like Trossard not facing the ball and you’ve got…

AVAR: I agree, it’s impactful, it’s just everything else that’s going on as well.

AVAR: Let’s say we’re saying that’s a foul, then what are we saying about Trossard’s actions on the same player?

AVAR: What are we saying about Declan Rice behind?

VAR: Yeah.

VAR: He still gets a hand to the ball, doesn’t he? When he’s getting to the ball.

AVAR: What’s your initial opinion as you watched it?

VAR: I think, for me, we send him for an on-field review to look at the possible foul on the goalkeeper.

VAR: And then we get him to look at the other incidents as well. I think that’s the best decision in terms of this.

VAR: OK.

VAR: Chris (Chris Kavanagh – REF), I’m going to recommend an on-field review for a possible foul on the goalkeeper but there are some other incidents to look at while you’re at the monitor as well.

REF: OK.

VAR: So, I’m going to show you a possible foul on the goalkeeper.

RO: This angle?

REF: OK.

VAR: The left arm of Pablo comes across Raya and holds on to the left arm of Raya as he goes to win the ball.

REF: Yeah.

VAR: I’m showing you that now.

REF: I can see the clear holding on him across.

VAR: Yeah, but then I’m just going to show you some, obviously, other angles on that incident, of players.

REF: OK.

AVAR: You’ve got Declan Rice and you’ve got Trossard.

REF: I don’t know what you’re trying to show me, give me a clue.

VAR: Trossard on Pablo. Just if you look at Trossard on Pablo. Give me a better angle on that.

VAR: I’ll get you a better angle.

REF: I don’t think there’s much in that at all, I’m happy with that.

VAR: Yeah, OK.

REF: That’s nothing.

VAR: And then if you just want to consider the actions of Declan Rice on Mavropanos at the back.

VAR: But the foul happens on the goalkeeper before.

REF: Before it, so… After review, West Ham number…

VAR: 19.

REF: 19. Foul.

REF: Just confirm his number again for me.

VAR: 19.

VAR: Yeah, confirmed.

REF: Mic open.

REF: After review, West Ham number 19 commits a foul on the goalkeeper. Final decision is direct free-kick.

We’ve all heard the advice: eat your fruit and vegetables, get your vitamins, and stay healthy. For the most part, that guidance holds up. But some nutrients have a more complicated story, and vitamin B12 is a fascinating example.

Also known as cobalamin, B12 is essential for life. It helps the body produce red blood cells, keeps the nervous system functioning, and plays a central role in how cells copy and repair DNA.

B12 is found naturally in animal products such as meat, fish, eggs, milk and cheese. Some cereals and breads are also fortified with it, helping people who do not eat meat get enough. Most people following a varied diet get the recommended amount, but vegans, people with certain gut conditions and older adults who absorb nutrients less efficiently may need supplements.

Without enough B12, things can go wrong, sometimes seriously, especially if deficiency is not recognised and treated. Yet in recent years, researchers have been asking whether high levels of B12 intake or high levels of B12 in the blood could be linked to cancer.

Staying balanced

The body is constantly making new cells. Every time a cell divides, it needs to copy its DNA accurately. Vitamin B12 is critical to that process. When levels are too low, DNA can be copied incorrectly, leading to mutations that, over many years, may increase the risk of certain cancers, particularly colon cancer. This is why B12 deficiency is taken seriously.

A 2025 case-control study from Vietnam found what researchers described as a U-shaped relationship between B12 intake and cancer risk, with both lower and higher intakes associated with increased risk. Because this kind of study can show an association but cannot prove cause and effect, the takeaway is not that B12 is dangerous. It is that balance matters.

It might seem logical that if B12 helps healthy cells thrive, taking extra doses should offer extra protection against cancer. But research does not fully support this. Vitamin B12 supports cell growth generally, not only the growth of healthy cells. One concern is that, if pre-cancerous cells are already present, very high availability of growth-supporting nutrients such as B12 could, in theory, support their growth too. But this remains difficult to prove in humans.

Overall, studies of high-dose B vitamin supplements taken over long periods have not shown clear protective effects against cancer incidence or cancer deaths. One analysis did report a reduced risk of melanoma, but this was a cancer-specific finding rather than evidence that high-dose B vitamins prevent cancer generally. Some observational research has also suggested a slight increase in lung cancer risk linked to long-term, high-dose B6 and B12 supplementation, particularly among men and smokers, although this kind of study cannot prove that the supplements caused the cancers.

Doctors have noticed that many cancer patients show unusually high levels of B12 in their blood. This raises an important question: does elevated B12 contribute to cancer, or can cancer itself cause B12 levels to rise?

Research in 2022 concluded that high B12 in cancer patients is often an “epiphenomenon”. In other words, the vitamin appears alongside the disease but does not necessarily trigger it. Further research from 2024 reached a similar conclusion.

This effect is thought to involve two main mechanisms. First, tumours can affect the liver, which stores large amounts of B12. When the liver is damaged or under strain, it may release more B12 into the bloodstream. Second, some tumours may increase proteins that bind to B12 in the blood. This can push blood test readings higher without necessarily meaning the body’s cells are receiving or using more B12.

Useful indication

Researchers are also recognising that elevated B12 may not be a cause of cancer, but it could be a useful marker of whether cancer is present or progressing. A large 2026 study found that colon cancer patients with very high B12 levels survived a median of around five years, compared with nearly eleven years for those with normal levels.

Similar patterns have been found in oral cancer and in patients receiving immunotherapy, where elevated B12 has been associated with poorer outcomes. This means that unexplained, persistent high B12, especially when it is not caused by supplements, should not be ignored. It may point to liver disease, blood disorders or an underlying cancer that has not yet been detected.

For most people, this is not something to worry about. B12 from a normal diet containing meat, fish, eggs, dairy or fortified foods is not usually the issue: it is very difficult to consume too much B12 from food alone. Deficiency remains a more common and better-established problem than excess.

The concern is prolonged high-dose supplementation without medical advice, or a blood test showing persistently high B12 when someone is not taking supplements.

The broader message is simple: more is not always better. Cancer cannot be prevented by loading up on any single vitamin. Long-term habits matter more: eating a balanced diet, exercising regularly, avoiding smoking, protecting your skin and attending routine health screenings.

So what about vitamin B12? Get enough through food or supplementation if you need it, especially if you are vegan, older or have a condition that affects absorption. But leave the megadoses on the shelf unless a doctor advises them. With B12, as with many nutrients, the goal is not as much as possible. It is the right amount.

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — Memphis Grizzlies forward Brandon Clarke has died, the team, his agency and the NBA said Tuesday. He was 29.

Neither the Grizzlies nor Clarke’s agency, Priority Sports, provided any details about when, where or how Clarke died.

“We are heartbroken by the tragic loss of Brandon Clarke. Brandon was an outstanding teammate and an even better person whose impact on the organization and the greater Memphis community will not be forgotten,” the Grizzlies said in a statement. “We express our deepest condolences to his family and loved ones during this difficult time.”

His agents wrote on social media that they were “beyond devastated” by Clarke’s death.

“He was so loved by all of us here and everyone whose life he touched,” Priority Sports said. “He was the gentlest soul who was the first to be there for all of his friends and family.”

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver expressed sympathies to Clarke’s family and friends and the Grizzlies organization.

“We are devastated to learn of the passing of Brandon Clarke,” Silver said. “As one of the longest-tenured members of the Grizzlies, Brandon was a beloved teammate and leader who played the game with enormous passion and grit.”

The National Basketball Players Association said: “This is an incredible loss for the brotherhood. We will remember Brandon not only for the immense joy he brought to so many throughout his career, but for the genuine friendships he built far beyond basketball.”

Clarke was arrested April 1 in Arkansas for speeding and possession of a controlled substance that was reportedly kratom, an herbal supplement promoted as an alternative pain remedy that becomes illegal in Tennessee as of July 1. He was released on bond a day later.

Clarke was the 21st overall pick out of Gonzaga in the 2019 NBA draft by Oklahoma, which dealt his rights to the Grizzlies, who already took guard Ja Morant second overall. Clarke joined Morant on the NBA’s All-Rookie team in 2020, and the Grizzlies gave him a multiyear contract extension in October 2022.

He tore his left Achilles tendon March 3, 2023, in a loss to the Denver Nuggets in a showdown of the top two teams in the Western Conference. Injuries limited him to 72 of a possible 246 games over the past three seasons, including only two this season.

Clarke averaged 10.2 points and 5.5 rebounds over his seven seasons with the Grizzlies.

He had one more season left on his contract with Memphis and was due to earn $12.5 million, according to Spotrac.com. But the Grizzlies are in the midst of another major roster rebuild after going 25-57 after trading away stars Desmond Bane and Jaren Jackson Jr. within the past year.

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AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA

President Donald Trump is still furious with several conservative influencers who have voiced opposition to him over the Iran war, according to a recent phone call he had with his close ally, Laura Loomer.

Loomer, a conservative political commentator who occasionally informally advises the president, said in a Substack post that the president recently told her that former Fox News host Tucker Carlson was “done” and conservative podcaster Candace Owens is “totally crazy and unhinged.”

In her Substack, titled “The Loomer Rumor,” posted Tuesday, Loomer said the president insisted Owens was on the way to losing her business and fanbase.

Loomer’s revelations suggest the president remains furious with some former allies; Trump has openly criticized Carlson, Owens and conspiracy theorist and InfoWars. creator Alex Jones on Truth Social and attempted to undermine their credibility with his MAGA base.

Trump was once allied with the conservative media personalities and, at times, relied on them for support. But the influencers, and others, have broken from him – particularly on the Iran war.

“They have one thing in common, Low IQs,” Trump wrote of the group on Truth Social last month. “They’re stupid people, they know it, their families know it, and everyone else knows it, too!”

“They think they get some ‘clicks’ because they have Third Rate Podcasts, but nobody’s talking about them, and their views are the opposite of MAGA — Or I wouldn’t have won the Presidential Election in a LANDSLIDE,” he added.

Carlson, a former Fox News host, often went to bat for Trump while serving as the host of Tucker Carlson Tonight. At one point, he joined Trump on the campaign trail. But recently, he denounced the president’s foreign intervention and expressed regret for bolstering Trump’s campaign.

Owens, who vocally supported Trump during his first administration and endorsed him in 2024, said last year she was “embarrassed” to have supported him. Owens, who has platformed various conspiracy theories, is staunchly against Israel and has condemned the administration’s teamwork with Israel to attack Iran.

Jones, who was subjected to a congressional investigation for helping raise money for the January 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol, has recently called for Trump’s removal from office via the 25th Amendment.

Other well-known former Trump allies have also broken from the president based on his actions regarding the Iran war. Conservative podcaster Megyn Kelly has criticized Trump and been subjected to his insults online.

Former Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene, who resigned from Congress late last year after a falling out with the president, has accused Trump of betraying his campaign promise not to start more wars.

The president’s approval rating has declined since he chose to conduct strikes on Iran in February. As of May, less than 40 percent of people approve of Trump’s handling of his job.

The war is widely unpopular, with more than half of Americans believing the conflict is not worth it, according to an Ipsos poll. One Pew Research Center survey found that more than half of Americans disapprove of the war.

Yet, the president dismisses the opinions of his former conservative allies as nothing more than clickbait.

“They’re NUT JOBS, TROUBLEMAKERS, and will say anything necessary for some ‘free’ and cheap publicity,” Trump wrote on Truth Social last month.