A man from Sudan has been arrested over a knife attack in Belfast which prime minister Sir Keir Starmer condemned as “horrific” and “abhorrent”.

The man aged in his 30s has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder following the “brutal” assault on Monday night which left the alleged victim with significant injuries to his face, neck and back, the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) said.

The PSNI has launched a “critical incident” in response to the attack, which was captured on video and appears to show a man stabbing at the victim’s head and neck while he was on the ground.

The clip shows people, including one with a hurling stick, intervening to stop the man attacking the victim in the residential area close to the busy Antrim Road in north Belfast.

Northern Ireland secretary Hilary Benn thanked those who tried to stop the attack, saying “you showed the very best of humanity”.

When the 2026 FIFA World Cup begins on June 11, 2026, matches will be played across 16 cities in the United States, Canada and Mexico. Millions of fans will arrive through multiple airports and will pack into stadiums, airports, hotels, bars and public transit systems over five weeks.

That makes the World Cup not just a sporting event but a weekslong experiment in global mixing that creates a perfect environment for infectious diseases to spread. Events of this scale rarely cause major outbreaks, but they do create opportunities for outbreaks and for health systems to be tested.

The possibilities range from the dramatic but unlikely (an imported Ebola case) to the much more probable (flu and measles spreading through crowded venues) and the largely overlooked (spikes in sexually transmitted infections and mosquito-borne diseases gaining footholds in new areas).

As an infectious diseases physician studying how outbreaks affect peoples’ health, and an avid soccer fan – I root for the Colombian team – I have been watching closely as public health experts prepare for the event.

Here are some of the infectious disease threats they are monitoring as the world’s largest sporting event kicks off:

Ebola – scary but unlikely

In May 2026, the World Health Organization declared a global health emergency over an Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda caused by a rare strain called Bundibugyo, which kills roughly 1 in 3 people it infects.

No approved vaccines, rapid diagnostic tests or treatments exist for this strain. And the global response has been complicated by deep cuts to international health aid and the U.S. withdrawal from the World Health Organization.

If a case is detected, rapid identification and isolation are critical to prevent further local transmission.

Still, the risk of Ebola reaching a World Cup stadium is very low. That’s because the virus spreads only through direct contact with bodily fluids like blood or saliva, not through the air, and infected people aren’t contagious until they show symptoms.

The U.S. has banned entry for non-U.S. citizens and green card holders who have been in the affected countries in the past 21 days and is screening all passengers traveling from affected areas. It is also urging European countries to embrace similar procedures as World Cup travel picks up. Mexico and Canada also have travel restrictions in place.

Measles, flu and COVID-19 – the bigger dangers

The more likely threats for soccer fans attending the World Cup are respiratory infections — illnesses spread by coughing, sneezing and breathing in crowded spaces.

Of special concern is measles, which is surging in the United States as well as in Canada and Mexico. As of June 4, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has confirmed 2,030 cases of measles in the U.S. in 2026 – close to the total count for all of 2025 and significantly higher than in previous years.

Measles is one of the most contagious infectious diseases on the planet. A single infectious traveler passing through Denver International Airport in 2025 triggered an outbreak of at least 10 cases. An infected fan in the stands, at an airport or in a bar could easily cause an outbreak.

On top of that, the 2025–2026 flu season reached a 30-year high, and COVID-19 continues to cause an estimated 290,000 to 450,000 hospitalizations per year. And big gatherings can amplify the risk of transmission.

In the background, avian influenza H5N1 — the bird flu circulating in dairy cows and poultry — has caused 70 human infections in the U.S. since 2024. No person-to-person spread has been detected, but scientists are watching closely for mutations that could change that.

Mosquito risks

Mosquito-borne diseases add another layer of risk to health authorities and travelers, especially for matches in southern U.S. and Mexican host cities during peak summer mosquito season.

Dengue – a tropical virus that causes high fever, severe body aches and sometimes life-threatening complications – set a U.S. record in 2024, with nearly 3,800 cases. That was a 359% jump over the prior 14-year average.

Most cases occurred in travelers returning from the Caribbean and Central America. Still, locally acquired cases have cropped up, mainly in Los Angeles.

There’s also the risk that fans will bring infectious diseases from their home countries.

Yellow fever, a potentially deadly viral infection, is absent from the U.S. but remains a threat to fans traveling from parts of Sub-Saharan Africa and South America, where the disease is native. A 2024 yellow fever outbreak in South America outside the Amazonian jungle, where transmission generally occurs, hinted that its spread to urban areas is possible.

And Oropouche virus, a once-obscure mosquito-borne illness, exploded across Latin America in 2024 in the largest epidemic ever recorded, with over 8,000 confirmed cases in Brazil alone. Although infection is usually mild, it can have dangerous complications such as brain inflammation and bleeding disorders and can harm a developing fetus. No vaccines or treatments exist.

Travelers carrying these infections may need medical care, but familiarity with them among U.S. physicians tends to be low. There’s also a small risk that illnesses may spread locally through mosquito bites.

Sexually transmitted infections under the radar

One category of possible risk that’s getting less media attention is sexually transmitted infections.

About 1 in 5 international travelers engages in casual sex, according to one study, and nearly half of those encounters are unprotected.

Mpox, a viral infection that spreads through close physical contact, continues to circulate in the U.S and is a particular concern at large public events. Syphilis is also seeing a global resurgence.

Public health in action

Public health authorities across the U.S., Canada and Mexico have scaled up monitoring efforts amid preparations for keeping World Cup travelers safe.

In the U.S., a coalition of academic institutions, companies, nonprofits and public health organizations led by Georgetown University and nonprofit healthcare provider MedStar Health, called the Health Security Operations Center, will be keeping close tabs on disease transmission during the event. But some experts have raised concerns about U.S. resilience to public health threats at the World Cup due to significant cuts to public health infrastructure since 2025, including to the CDC.

Fans can take several steps of their own to protect themselves. They can make sure their routine vaccinations – especially measles, flu and COVID-19 – are up to date; practice safe sex; use mosquito repellent; and stay home or wear a mask if they feel sick.

A total of 24 closures are set to sweep the high street – including a couple in Greater Manchester

Customers in Greater Manchester face losing more access to face-to-face banking services this week as Halifax, Lloyds, NatWest and Bank of Scotland press ahead with another round of branch closures. A total of 24 branches across the UK have either already closed or are scheduled to shut their doors over the coming days.

Several banks say the decision reflects changing customer habits as many now opt to manage their finances online and via mobile banking apps rather than visiting banks in person. But this decision has sparked huge concern, especially among the elderly, who rely on the additional support banks provide for their banking needs.

In a statement, NatWest said: “We’ve recently announced that we’re closing some branches. You can still bank with us in many other ways.

“Banking has changed dramatically in recent years. There’s more demand for mobile and online services, allowing you to benefit from a faster and easier way to bank.”

It continues: “We understand the closure of your local branch will bring some changes, and we want to make sure you are fully informed and supported every step of the way.”

Nevertheless, NatWest and Lloyds Banking Group – which operates Lloyds Bank, Halifax and Bank of Scotland – say customers will still be able to access banking services through alternative arrangements. These include temporary community banking events, while dedicated banking hubs are being introduced in some areas affected by branch closures.

Of the 24 branches affected nationwide, two are located in Greater Manchester. Halifax’s Didsbury branch is scheduled to close on Wednesday, June 10, while Lloyds Bank’s Altrincham branch ceased operations on Tuesday, June 9.

To find out more information, visit each respective bank’s websites. Here’s the full list of Halifax, NatWest, Lloyds, Bank of Scotland closures:

Halifax

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1. Ellesmere Port, Cheshire – June 8
2. Hunts Cross, Merseyside – June 8
3. Shipley, West Yorkshire – June 9
4. Didsbury, Greater Manchester – June 10
5. Bridgend, Wales – June 11
6. Cardiff Albany Road, Wales – June 11

NatWest

1. Sheffield – Attercliffe June 8
2. South Shields – June 9
3. Kirkby Lonsdale – June 10
4. Boston – June 11

Lloyds

1. Golders Green, Greater London – June 8
2. Birkenhead, Merseyside – June 8
3. Lymington, Hampshire – June 8
4. Altrincham, Greater Manchester – June 9
5. Crowborough, East Sussex – June 9
6. Lancaster, Lancashire – June 9
7. Southam, Warwickshire – June 9
8. Hinckley, Leicestershire – June 9
9. Birmingham Blackheath, West Midlands – June 10
10. South Newington, Oxfordshire – June 10
11. Wolverhampton Tettenhall, West Midlands – June 11

Bank of Scotland

1. Bridge Of Don – June 10
2. Haddington – June 11
3. Rutherglen – June 11

The official also trashed any suggestion of a Westminster inquiry into the scandal.

The First Minister’s official spokesperson has refused to give an assurance John Swinney will cooperate with a Westminster inquiry into the Peter Murrell scandal.

The official said a Commons probe would “destroy” the credibility of the Scottish Affairs committee and its convener, Labour MP Patricia Ferguson.

John Swinney is under pressure after Murrell, the former SNP chief executive and estranged husband of Nicola Sturgeon, pled guilty to embezzling over £400,000 of funds from the party.

He is expected to be jailed later this month and calls have been made for a parliamentary probe into the scandal.

A bid for a Holyrood inquiry is likely to be voted down by the SNP and Greens on Wednesday, a move that could see the Westminster committee act.

The Record last week reported the SNP could boycott participating in a Westminster inquiry and the FM’s official spokesperson fuelled that speculation at a briefing.

OPINION

Asked if Swinney would cooperate, he said: “If they do decide to hold an inquiry, then the First Minister and the Government and the party will need to decide how to respond.

“But I think the First Minister’s clear view is that if the committee decides to proceed it will destroy the credibility of the committee and its convener.”

Asked again, he replied: “We will decide how to respond.”

The Scottish Affairs committee will meet on Tuesday to discuss its next steps.

Any hearings could be held in Edinburgh in a move to pressurise the First Minister.

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The leisure development supports a wider eastern expansion of a Cambridgeshire town

Plans for amenities including a new M&S Food store have been approved for a Cambridgeshire estate. The supermarket is part of a new leisure development at Wintringham in St Neots.

Planning permission has now been granted by Huntingdonshire District Council for the new supermarket alongside other shops, offices, and a café to create a main centre for services and local amenities.

The new M&S Food will be triple the size of the existing M&S shop and will sell everyday essentials and household products. Smaller shops for independent retailers will sit alongside the M&S Food store.

Joanne Herd, Regional Manager at M&S, said: “We’re excited to be one step closer to delivering a show-stopping store for our customers. From our new location, we’ll be able to offer the very best of M&S Food, whether doing your weekly shop or grabbing something on the go.

“We’re proud to work with over 60 Select Farms across Cambridgeshire and this new significant investment in the region will help to create more than 40 new local jobs – with recruitment starting in the coming months.”

The development also includes a café which is expected to provide a range of snacks and refreshments on its menu. Other features include accessible green spaces and a public square with seating areas.

Work is due to start on the northern zone of The Hub at Wintringham in the summer. It is expected to be completed by September 2027, ready for opening before Christmas.

The designs for The Hub have been shaped through engagement with residents and inspired by the archaeological discovery of an Iron Age settlement close to the site. The developers said three main buildings will feature undulating rooflines of Iron Age roundhouses, which are reflected in the architecture.

Communications and partnerships manager for Urban&Civic, Paul Murfin said he is delighted that planning permission has been granted as it marks “another significant milestone in delivering a vibrant and sustainable community at Wintringham”.

He added: “Alongside the David Lloyd health and wellness club that is due to open in the autumn, and the plans currently being developed for the Hub’s central zone that will include a health centre and community centre, these facilities will play a major role in supporting the continued growth of eastern St Neots.”

The event at Sheepfolds Stables in Sunderland on Saturday night drew around 700 attendees.

Organised by LGBTQ+ charity OUT North East, the concert marked the official start of the Summer of Pride programme, which includes Pride events in Sunderland, South Tyneside, and Gateshead.

Around 700 people attended a fundraiser concert at Sheepfolds Stables in Sunderland to launch the North East’s new Summer of Pride Festival (Image: Supplied)

Peter Darrant, CEO of OUT North East, said: “This was a fantastic evening and shows what a successful partnership can bring.

“Not only was it a celebration of Pride but it had a huge economic benefit to the Sheepfolds and shows how Pride plays its part in supporting the local economy.”

The fundraiser featured live music and was promoted as a free community event to raise funds and awareness for the wider festival.

Around 700 people attended a fundraiser concert at Sheepfolds Stables in Sunderland to launch the North East’s new Summer of Pride Festival (Image: Supplied)

Organisers said the night underlined the positive impact of Pride events on the local area, both culturally and economically.

The festival continues throughout the month with a full schedule of activities.

Events include a Pride march and rally on Saturday, June 27, along with additional concerts, film screenings, family-friendly gatherings, and sports activities across the region.

Around 700 people attended a fundraiser concert at Sheepfolds Stables in Sunderland to launch the North East’s new Summer of Pride Festival (Image: Supplied)

Around 700 people attended a fundraiser concert at Sheepfolds Stables in Sunderland to launch the North East’s new Summer of Pride Festival (Image: Supplied)

A guest on ITV’s This Morning opened up about turning to a sex surrogate after years of bullying

A man who faced bullying due to his cerebral palsy has revealed how he sought help from a sex surrogate.

James shared his story during an appearance on This Morning, speaking to the ITV programme’s presenters Cat Deeley and Ben Shephard about how the experience has proved transformative for him.

Appearing on the sofa with his sex surrogate Saurora Grace, James described being bullied throughout school and beyond, stating: “I guess there’s a weird thing where I sort of walk the line between disabled and able-bodied and people don’t really know how to handle that.”

He revealed it reached “a point where I just stopped leaving the house because I’d have people spit at me, throw apples at me”.

James explained he attempted numerous different approaches but was “not really in a good place” and “felt very lost”.

When a friend recommended he consider a sex surrogate, he chose to pursue it, reports the Mirror.

“It becomes one of those things where you go, once you’ve gone through it, you go, ‘I wish I’d done it sooner’,” he remarked. “Because it, it can be extremely life-changing. It changed a lot for me.

“You don’t sort of, realise the need for connection and things because it’s not what people think it is. It’s not like, there’s a lot of preconceived notions about it and different things, and that’s why I wanted to talk about it.”

Saurora then explained: “Sex surrogacy is all about the intention behind it. So it’s more holistic. There’s a more of a therapeutic aspect to it. It’s all about connection, intimacy, and literally seeing and hearing the person. Like, a lot of us all want to be seen and heard as human beings, and so that is ultimately what it is.

“Obviously, you do have, like, your standard sex work, which is just come in, have sex, and leave. But we do a lot more to do with literally what James has just said – connection, intimacy, seeing and hearing, and helping him to understand that because he’s got a disability, it doesn’t make him, you know, any different from anybody else.

“He’s just the same, and he deserves to have a loving relationship and, you know, deserves to have sex and a juicy lifestyle.”

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When questioned about the impact of her work on others, she responded: “I get a lot of messages afterwards, and people are like, ‘I’m now not gonna go and kill myself.’ And that really hits.”

“It honestly, in all ways that I could count, it’s changed my life,” James remarked. “It changed the trajectory of what I’m gonna do with my life. So it’s just been extremely powerful. It’s taken me in directions that I just thought were never doors that would open to someone like me.

“So Saurora’s training me to be a surrogate now. So that’s the career change for me.”

He continued: “I’ve got this lived-in experience that nobody else has got, and I can sort of I’ve been to those dark places, and I really, really want to help people out.”

This Morning airs from 10am on ITV on weekdays.

Officers were called to reports of a stabbing at a school on Plant Hill Road on the morning of Tuesday, June 9.

In an update, GMP confirmed a 14-year-old girl had been arrested on suspicion of Section 18 assault and remains in custody for questioning.

Three people were injured during the incident – a 14-year-old girl, a 14-year-old boy and a 27-year-old male member of staff.

All were taken to hospital, although police said their injuries are not believed to be serious and they are in a stable condition.

The force said school staff quickly detained the girl before officers arrived, preventing any further harm to pupils or staff.

Police have confirmed they are not looking for anyone else in connection with the incident and believe there is no wider threat to the public.

Chief Inspector Jon Shilvock said: “We understand that this incident will have caused concern to pupils, staff and the wider school community.

“The incident was swiftly dealt with by staff before officers attended to arrest the girl.

“There is believed to be no wider threat at this time, and we thank everyone for their support as emergency services dealt with this.

“We are not looking for anyone further in connection with this incident.

“Officers will remain at the school and within the area to provide a visible presence and community reassurance.”

An investigation remains ongoing.

The Prime Minister has condemned an attack on a man in Belfast as “horrific” and “abhorrent”.

A man in his 30s, believed to be Somalian, has been arrested following the incident in the north of the city on Monday night.

The victim, in his 40s, has sustained significant injuries to his face, neck and back, the Police Service of Northern Ireland said.

The PSNI has launched a “critical incident” in response to the attack.

Graphic video footage is circulating online appearing to show the violent incident unfold on Kinnaird Avenue.

The clip shows people intervening to stop a man attacking a prone victim lying on the ground in the residential area close to the busy Antrim Road.

Condemning the incident, Sir Keir Starmer said: “The horrific attack in Belfast last night is sickening.

“I have absolutely no tolerance for abhorrent scenes of violence like this on our streets.

“My thoughts are first and foremost with the victim, and I thank the first responders, including members of the public who intervened.”

A train passenger who grabbed a young woman’s hair and asked “can I kiss you?” has been sentenced in the first-ever conviction for harassment based on a person’s sex.

David Stroud, 44, made sexually motivated comments to the victim on a train to London on April 3, two days after a new law came into force banning harassment because of a person’s sex.

He pleaded guilty to harassing the woman at Highbury Corner Magistrates’ Court, which heard Stroud sat next to the woman, who was on the phone to her boyfriend at the time, on a train which left Hastings at about 8.50pm.

The 44-year-old father-of-two had previously pleaded guilty to a separate 22-month stalking campaign, the court heard on Tuesday.

He had been on bail for stalking when he harassed the victim on the train.

Stroud was sentenced for both offences and was spared jail, receiving a 12-month community order and being told to complete 15 days of rehabilitation activity requirement.

The defendant, of Dartford, Kent, tried to make conversation with the woman, who attempted to ignore him as she was a lone female travelling, the court heard.

He was “constantly leaning on to the woman” and got closer, telling her “you’re magical” and grabbing her hair, which the victim “perceived to be sexual”.

The woman said she could smell alcohol on the defendant’s breath.

Stroud, a father-of-two, told the woman “you’re never going to find someone who loves your hair as much as I do”, and she replied, “I already have someone”.

The woman’s boyfriend heard the comments over the phone and called the British Transport Police, who arrested Stroud at London Bridge station.

While under caution Stroud said: “It’s just banter, we had banter together, do you know what I mean?” the court heard.

He also said: “I’ve done nothing wrong to her.”

The new offence, under Section 4B of the Public Order Act 1986, covers intentional harassment directed at someone because of their sex, including where perpetrators target women and girls in public places, including streets, parks and public transport.

Stroud was also ordered to carry out 150 hours’ unpaid work and be fitted with an alcohol abstinence monitoring tag for 90 days.

District Judge Caroline Jackson also made a five-year restraining order against him for the stalking victim.

Olivia Rose, deputy chief Crown prosecutor and the Crown Prosecution Service’s (CPS) lead on stalking, said she hopes the law and Stroud’s prosecution send a message to would-be offenders: “If you think you are going to get away with sex-based harassment because you consider it just to be friendly banter, it isn’t.

“This is a serious offence and you will be prosecuted.

She added: “I want to send a message to victims, so they feel that they can come forward, because they will be taken seriously.”