Kyiv says drone raids on Moscow airports intended to damage public morale

Ukrainian drone attacks across Russia are part of efforts to “make the Russian population pay” for Vladimir Putin’s invasion, Kyiv has claimed.

Three Moscow airports were forced to suspend operations again on Friday morning after reports of Ukrainian drones in the region. Authorities suspended flight operations at Vnukovo, Domodedovo and Zhukovsky airports after mayor Sergei Sobyanin said Russian air defence had shot down six drones that were “flying towards Moscow”.

Ukrainian drone attacks have forced at least 217 temporary airport closures in Russia this year, an increase on the previous two years.

The latest attacks also capped a week in which Russia claimed Ukraine fired nearly 500 drones across the border. These numbers could not be verified.

Serhii Bratchuk, spokesperson for the Ukrainian Defense Army’s Southern Division, said these efforts were an attempt to disrupt Russian public morale.

“These disruptions are not accidental. They are part of a pressure campaign against logistics, air defense systems, and public morale,” he told The Kyiv Independent.

“The Russian population has to pay for this war. Sleeping in tents at the airport is not the highest price, but it does affect morale.”

Ivan Toney recalled as Thomas Tuchel names England players for June internationals

With the domestic season coming to a close this weekend focus shifts to the next round of international football with England manager Thomas Tuchel naming his squad for June’s international fixtures later today.

Tuchel has overseen two wins from two since taking charge of the Three Lions at the start of the year and England sit top of Group K in Europe’s World Cup qualifiers. They defeated Albania 2-0 and Latvia 3-0 during Tuchel’s first camp with Myles Lewis-Skelly, Eberechi Eze and Harry Kane in particular impressing the German coach.

The next camp is preparing to face Andorra, who have lost both of their qualifiers so far, before an international friendly against Senegal which should prove to be a sterner test for Tuchel’s charges.

Phil Foden looks set to miss out on a place in the squad while he recovers from an ankle injury and it remains to be seen if Tuchel will persist with Marcus Rashford who has been sidelined with a hamstring problem.

We’ll have all the updates from Tuchel’s squad announcement and press conference with our live blog below:

Haunting moment Oceangate CEO’s wife hears Titan submersible implode

New video reveals the harrowing moment the wife of OceanGate CEO Stockton Rush listened live as the Titan submersible imploded during its deep-sea voyage to the wreck of the Titanic.

Footage recently obtained by the U.S. Coast Guard shows Wendy Rush, an Oceangate company director, attempting to contact Titan on June 18, 2023, as the sub began to dive 2.4 miles towards the Titanic shipwreck, which lies 380 miles from St John’s in Newfoundland, Canada.

On board the sub’s support ship, Rush sat in front of a computer that sent and received text messages from Titan.

“What was that bang?” she said with a smile, unaware that the Titan had just suffered a catastrophic implosion.

Moments later, Rush received a message from the sub stating that it had dropped two eights, which appeared to have led her to believe that the dive was going according to plan.

To Rush, the grim reality of events remained unclear: the message had taken longer to arrive at the support ship than the sound of the implosion.

The video of Rush, first obtained by the BBC for its upcoming documentary Implosion: The Titanic Sub Disaster, has been presented as evidence to the USCG Marine Board of Investigation, which has spent the last two years investigating the sub’s catastrophic failure.

It took four days for parts of the sub to be discovered following the “catastrophic implosion,” with the sub’s last known position about 1,600 feet away from the Titanic. Debris was found as close as 900 feet away from the ship’s bow, the USCG revealed in a Titan Marine Board of Investigation inquiry in September last year.

All five crew members died, including OceanGate’s CEO, British explorer Hamish Harding, British-Pakistani businessman Shahzada Dawood, and his son Suleman, as well as French deep-sea explorer Paul-Henri Nargeolet, who earned the nickname “Mr Titanic”.

Warning signs had been raised prior to the dive, according to testimony from several former employees at the USGC’s inquiry in September.

Matthew McCoy, who worked at OceanGate for six months in 2017, testified on the final day of the inquiry that the company’s engineering department was “full of college interns” at the time, adding that he “doesn’t believe” there was a professional engineer on staff.

Another former employee described the Titan’s design as an “abomination” and said the disaster was “inevitable.”

Titan had never undergone an independent safety assessment, and a key concern was that the main body of the sub, the hull, where the passengers sat, was made of layers of carbon fibre mixed with resin, which was deemed unreliable under pressure.

The USCG said sensors fitted to Titan show that the bang was caused by delamination, the separation of layered materials.

‘I went to hospital with flu symptoms – and ended a quadruple amputee’

A student who went into hospital thinking she had the flu ended up losing all four of her limbs to a rare but aggressive infection.

Lily McGarry, 23, had flu-like symptoms on 14 January when her flatmates took her to the University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff – but she rapidly deteriorated within hours.

The 23-year-old developed a rash while waiting in A&E, which signalled alarm bells for medical staff, who hurriedly treated her for septic shock. She was later diagnosed with meningococcal septicaemia, a severe type of blood poisoning that is caused by the same kind of bacteria that cause the most common form of bacterial meningitis.

The Cardiff University medical student suffered two cardiac arrests, spent two weeks in a coma, and suffered brain, spleen and liver damage. She also had to have all four of her limbs shortened in surgeries that took place over five weeks. She is still in hospital.

Her mother Jo Gorrod, 54, told The Independent of the “terrifying” moment she found out what had happened to her daughter. The 54-year-old was in Melbourne, Australia, visiting her other daughter, having spoken to the 23-year-old on the phone who said she was feeling unwell but being taken care of.

But just hours later, Ms Gorrod, of Jersey, said: “I had a phone call from the hospital asking for consent for her to intubated, and at the time they had to put her into an induced coma.

“We were there within 48 hours with her.

“You don’t sleep – you just, every moment, I’m not a religious person, but pray in whatever way, just thinking ‘hang in, just hang in till I get there’.

“Since that point we’ve lost her probably about five times, she’s been very close to not making it – so it’s not as if you’re going through it once but multiple times.”

The family are now fundraising for Ms McGarry’s treatment, including for prosthetic limbs, having so far raised more than £378,000 on their GoFundMe page.

Ms McGarry was an avid swimmer, runner, and surfer before her illness and is determined to return to doing these sports again – as well as to complete her medical degree.

Her family are also calling on people to ensure they get the meningitis vaccine, including for the B strain, which is not a routine injection.

And they are aiming to raise awareness of sepsis, urging people to look out for the warning signs, such as discoloured skin or a rash that does not fade, flu-like symptoms, and breathing difficulties. Ms Gorrod explained that had her daughter gone to A&E any earlier or later then she may not have made it due to the rapid onset of the infection and how difficult it is to spot.

But the 23-year-old is determined in her recovery journey, described as an “optimist, strong and funny” by her mother. “She has a smile which lights up the room,” said Ms Gorrod. “She is genuinely happy to see people, always asking other people how they’re doing, and grateful for the care she’s had.

“‘Yes, there are going to be challenges, but it doesn’t stop me from trying’ – Lily is of that mindset, she wants to do things herself, she wants her independence.”

You can donate to Lily McGarry’s fundraiser here

‘Declining’ is most common word associated with UK, damning poll shows

The most common word the public associates with Britain is “declining”, a damning new poll has revealed.

A study by a group of Labour backers reveals seven in 10 people feel ignored by politicians amid the erosion of public services and the hollowing out of local communities.

And, in the landmark report, the influential groups are calling on Sir Keir Starmer to take the fight to Reform UK with a radical programme to rebuild local communities – not by seeking to ape Nigel Farage on immigration.

Labour’s sister Co-op Party and campaign group Hope not Hate, backed by union Unison, have co-published a report laying bare the despair among voters after more than a decade of communities being eroded and public services being underfunded.

Amid growing disillusionment among voters, the report warned Britain faces a choice between “a path of division and extremity, or a path of community power, hope and solidarity”.

When asked by pollsters Focaldata to describe the UK today, four in 10 voters said “declining”, while a quarter said “weak” and another quarter said “directionless”. And among those who say they feel ignored by politicians, the majority are planning to vote for Mr Farage’s insurgent right-wing party.

As well as a sense of national decline, almost half of voters said their local area has been declining, with the report warning that a fall in the number of community organisations is eroding the country’s sense of shared identity and trust.

The report calls on the PM to immediately develop and publish a strategy to support communities, including through further devolution and greater support for community ownership.

The general secretary of the Co-op Party, which has 43 MPs in Westminster and is represented by cabinet ministers including business secretary Jonathan Reynolds, said it is “clear that the path to rebuilding trust in politics runs through our communities”.

Joe Fortune, a quietly influential figure in Labour circles, told The Independent: “People want the power to improve the place they call home, but politics needs to deliver that power in a serious way.”

Mr Fortune said rebuilding communities would act as “an antidote to the trust crisis” in politics.

Nick Lowles, founder and chief executive of the Hope not Hate campaign group, said investing in communities is “the only way we can fight the rise of Reform UK”.

“After over a decade of austerity, communities in Britain feel isolated. In times of economic hardship, it is harder to come together, forge friendships and tackle local issues. People feel ignored by the politicians who are meant to represent them,” he added.

And Christina McAnea, general secretary of Unison, Britain’s biggest trade union, said: “Public services are the beating heart of communities and if they’re suffering, people are clearly going to feel abandoned and ignored.

“Residents need to feel connected again. That means proper investment in public services to rebuild neighbourhoods and, in turn, restore trust in politicians at both national and local levels.”

Mr Farage and Reform swept to victory in hundreds of council seats and a series of mayoral contests in this month’s local elections. The party has surged in the polls as disillusioned voters turn their backs on Labour and the Conservatives.

Hilary Armstrong, chair of the Independent Commission on Neighbourhoods, said the only way to quell the “pull of political extremism” is to reverse the decline of local neighbourhoods.

“Up and down the country, neighbourhoods have been battered by decades of deindustrialisation and a decade of austerity. From illegal drugs to vandalism, litter to anti-social behaviour, the everyday experience in communities has markedly declined,” Baroness Armstrong added.

Family holiday guide: why the Costa Dorada ticks every travel box

If there’s one thing every parent knows, it’s that children can sometimes (as much as we love them) be hard to please. So the key to any family holiday destination is variety: somewhere you can spend a sunny day by the sea, but where you can also enjoy breathtaking nature, as well as fascinating culture and history.

The brilliant news? The Costa Dorada (known locally as Costa Daurada) delivers all of this in spades, offering everything from theme parks and waterparks to stunning beaches, picturesque hiking and cycling trails, and incredible historical sites. What’s more, with Jet2holidays flying to the Costa Dorada from 12 UK airports and a range of two to five-star accommodation, it’s easy to get your family getaway in the bag. Jet2holidays is always giving you more, to help make planning and booking as smooth as possible. That goes for the PayPal Pay in 3 interest-free payments** option, 22kg baggage and 10kg hand luggage for all the kids’ stuff, and return transfers† that are included. Look out for Free Child Places***, while infants under two go free‡.

Here’s what to look forward to on your family getaway…

With 50 miles of coastline and 26 Blue Flag beaches, families are spoilt for choice when it comes to somewhere to pitch up at with a unicorn-shaped inflatable and a bucket and spade. The stretches of soft sand are long and golden, with safe, calm and shallow waters perfect for little ones. And in many places, water sports and beach activities to suit older children.

Some of the most popular seaside resorts include Salou, which houses the charming Platja Llarga, surrounded by a small pine forest. And there’s Cambrils, where you’ll find Platja del Cavet, which boasts a water sports school and open water swimming channel. Vila-seca, la Pineda Platja, is known for its nearly two miles of fine, champagne-sand beach, fronted by a long promenade, while Tarragona has a range of fantastic options, including Platja del Miracle in the heart of the city. There, you’ll find a great range of bars and restaurants and Platja de la Savinosa, a quieter beach enveloped by imposing cliffs. Many of these can be reached by easy coastal paths.

Another advantage of the Costa Dorada is its many theme parks and waterparks. For a real all-rounder, head to PortAventura World in Vila-seca, la Pineda Platja, a three-in-one park that’s one of Europe’s largest. Here you can enjoy everything from thrilling rollercoasters, rides (don’t miss Dragon Khan, which reaches over 68 miles per hour) and live entertainment. Then pop your swimmers on to enjoy waterfalls, pools and beaches at Caribe Aquatic Park. After you’ve had fun splashing around, head to Ferrari Land, which has a range of spectacular attractions that will make you feel like a real F1 driver.

Get even more thrills at nearby Aquopolis Costa Dorada. It has a range of attractions for all ages, from toddler-friendly and gentle – like the Mini-Park playground and Treasure Island – to more high-octane rides, such as the Boomerang, a speedy waterslide. Or there’s the Kamikaze that older kids will love. Alternatively, Náutic Park offers a range of fun activities and experiences spanning a coastal area of nearly 60 miles including those in Salou, Cambrils, Vandellós – l’Hospitalet de l’Infant and Mont-roig – Miami Platja. Whether you want to rent a sailing boat for the day, try a water bike or even take part in an escape room on the beach, Nàutic Park has it all.

Finally, Aqualeon, near Tarragona, has plenty of enjoyable rides and slides too. The Rapid River is fun for all the family, where you’ll feel like you’re gently ‘flying’ over the water. All the while, the Crazy Race pits you against grown-ups and siblings to see who can get down the slide first. Do you dare to ride the Anaconda? Featuring two intertwined tubes, it’s suitable only for the bravest…

Getting the kids out into the fresh air can sometimes feel like a struggle, but when the scenery in the Costa Dorada is this beautiful, nobody will feel it’s a hardship. Head inland to the striking Prades Mountains, which has a wealth of hiking and cycling trails in the area. These are filled with quaint villages and jaw-dropping viewpoints, where you can get active, immerse yourself in nature, and explore the distinctive, rocky landscape. Don’t miss the Gorgs route, near La Febro, known for its scenic natural pools and waterfalls.

For fascinating grottoes and gorges, head to Serra de Montsant Natural Park, which has dozens of walking trails which offer spectacular views. Back at ground level, in Cambrils, Parc Samà is a lovely botanical garden where kids will enjoy visiting the aviary, filled with exotic birds, as well as looking out for the deer, pheasants and peacocks which also call this place home.

With its rich history, there are stacks of captivating sights in the Costa Dorada that will grab your kids’ imaginations. Take them back to Roman times at archaeological sites, such as the amphitheatre of Tarragona; it was used for fights between wild beasts, races and gladiatorial combat. All these are brought excitingly to life by guided tours and interactive exhibits. Children will also love walking the Roman walls, and exploring the Circus and Forum, with the open-air setting making for the ultimate mix of education and adventure.

In a quiet spot at the end of a valley, nestled under the Montsant hills, you’ll find Cartoixa d’Escaladei (see main image), a 12th-century monastery founded by French monks at a site where a shepherd had dreamt of angels coming down from the sky. Here you can enjoy guided tours around its three cloisters, church and refectory, while learning the history and purpose of each building.

Finally, stoke their creativity with a visit to the Gaudí Centre in Reus, where the architect Antoni Gaudí was born. It offers an interactive and engaging experience that brings his genius to life in a way that appeals to all ages. You’ll find real objects related to him, detailed mock-ups of his iconic works, and a special effects room that immerses visitors in his groundbreakingly imaginative world.

With Jet2holidays, it’s a doddle to book your family getaway to the Costa Dorada. From a low £60 per person deposit* to PayPal Pay in 3 interest-free payments**, 22kg baggage for all the kids’ stuff to return transfers†, it’s all included. Families can make the most of Free Child Places*** and infants under two going free‡. And with flights included and the choice of two to five-star hotels, Jet2holidays is always giving you more. For more Costa Dorada travel inspiration, and to find and book your ultimate family holiday, visit Jet2holidays. Plus, right now, myJet2 members can save £100 per person§ in The Big Jet2 Price Drop (correct at original publish date).

*On bookings made ten weeks or more before departure. Full payment required by balance due date. **Spread the cost over three interest-free payments. Available when booked online, for holidays under £2,000, departing within ten weeks. ***One free child place per two paying passengers. Subject to availability. T&Cs apply, please see www.jet2holidays.com/promotions#FCP2025 for further details. †Unless otherwise stated. ‡Applicable for all infants under the age of two years on the date of return. Infants are not entitled to a flight seat (they must be seated with a parent or guardian) or a 22kg baggage allowance. §£100 per person off holidays for myJet2 members departing until 15 November 2026. myJet2 members will need to be logged into their account at the time of booking for the discount to automatically apply. Book online, via our app, through our call centre or with your travel agent. Please note the discount is not applied to children travelling on a free child place. Terms and conditions apply, please see www.jet2holidays.com/promotions#100APRIL2025 for details.

Outcry as Denmark’s retirement age to become highest in Europe

Denmark will increase its retirement age to 70 by 2040 making it the highest in Europe, after its parliament adopted a controversial new law.

Since 2006, retirement age in Denmark has been tied to life expectancy, which is currently 81.7 years. It is revised every five years and is set to rise to 68 in 2030 and 69 in 2035.

Passed in the Danish parliament with 81 votes for and 21 against, the increase has prompted anger among Danes who hoped the retirement age would not reach a symbolic milestone, forcing many to work until they reach their eighth decade.

Mette Frederiksen, Denmark’s Social Democrat prime minister, has made clear that the policy is not sustainable long term.

“We no longer believe that the retirement age should be increased automatically,” she said, according to the BBC. “You can’t just keep saying that people have to work a year longer.”

Many voters have reacted angrily, fearful of being forced to “keep going” even when their bodies are not up to it.

The policy is “unrealistic and unreasonable”, 47-year-old roofer Tommas Jensen told public broadcaster Danmarks Radio. “We work and work and work, but we can’t keep going.”

While it might be different for those with desk jobs, Mr Jensen added, workers with physically demanding jobs would struggle with the changes.

“I’ve paid my taxes all my life. There should also be time to be with children and grandchildren,” Mr Jensen told outlet DK.

According to the Times, however, surveys show that more than half of Danes want to keep working beyond the state pension age, gradually phasing themselves into retirement over several years during their 60s rather than cutting off entirely once they reach retirement.

Jesper Ettrup Rasmussen, chair of the Danish trade union confederation, said the change was “completely unfair”, according to the BBC.

“Denmark has a healthy economy and yet the EU’s highest retirement age,” he said.

“A higher retirement age means that [people will] lose the right to a dignified senior life.”

Some Danes have angrily noted the retirement age of 60 for many of their politicians on parliamentary pensions, including Ms Frederiksen, 47, and 26 MPs elected before 2007. They need only to have worked as an elected MP for one year to be eligible for this pension.

Ofgem confirms energy bills will fall – this is how much you will pay

Ofgem has confirmed household energy bills will fall by around 7 per cent from July in its latest price cap update.

The regulator said on Friday that the typical bill is expected to fall by £129 to £1,720 per year when its new price cap comes into force.

The price cap, which sets the limit on how much firms can charge customers per unit of energy, is currently at around £1,849 for a typical household after three consecutive increases in bills.

It comes after US president Donald Trump’s aggressive tariff plans led to a significant slump in gas and oil prices.

However, the drop is slightly less than the previously forecast 9 per cent fall following an easing of trade tensions in recent weeks.

News of a fall in energy costs will come as a relief for households, who suffered through an “awful April” of bill rises, including Ofgem’s last 6.4 per cent price cap increase.

Under-pressure households have also been hit with the biggest increase to water bills since at least February 1988, alongside steep increases across bills for council tax, mobile and broadband tariffs, as well as road tax.

Bill rises have led to Consumer Prices Index (CPI) inflation jumping to 3.5 per cent in April, up from 2.6 per cent in March and the highest since January 2024.

On Monday, Craig Lowrey, principal consultant at Cornwall Insight, said: “The fall in the price cap is a welcome development and will bring much-needed breathing space for households after a prolonged period of high energy costs.

“It’s a step in the right direction, but it should be taken in context.

“Prices are falling, but not by enough for the numerous households struggling under the weight of a cost-of-living crisis, and bills remain well above the levels seen at the start of the decade.

“As such, there remains a risk that energy will remain unaffordable for many.”

Matthew Cole, CEO of Fuel Bank Foundation warned this week the drop in energy price cap from July “won’t go far enough” for those who are “already struggling to make ends meet”.

“People are still being forced to make tough choices — between topping up the meter or putting food on the table,” he said.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham, also does not believe the cap will be enough. She said: “Ofgem has lowered its cap, but our bills are still sky high and nobody has any faith left in this regulator, which allows multinational companies to extract obscene profits from our energy system.

“We urgently need to reverse the market madness and address the real causes of the lingering energy crisis.”

Citizens Advice chief executive Clare Moriarty agreed that the drop will “ease the burden of high bills for some households”. But she warned it’s not enough for those who are “paying off a mountain of debt”.

She said: “The Government must not lose perspective: bills will still be 52 per cent higher than before the energy crisis and nearly seven million people live in households that have fallen behind on bills.

“Today’s announcement will be cold comfort to the millions paying off a mountain of debt on top of their monthly costs.

“The Government has said it hopes to provide more support to pensioners this winter but we know that people with children are often struggling most of all with energy. It must provide more targeted energy bill support to those hardest hit, and upgrade five million homes with money-saving energy efficiency measures.”

Simon Francis, coordinator of the End Fuel Poverty Coalition, said: “The Government’s reverse ferret on Winter Fuel Payments are a clear sign that ministers know that people are struggling with energy bills – but sticking-plaster solutions and U-turns won’t help people in the long-term.

“While bills may fall slightly in July, they’re still significantly higher than before the energy crisis and remain tied to the unpredictable cost of fossil fuels. Without urgent reform and real investment, millions will continue to face unaffordable bills and cold homes.”