Trump envoy calls for ‘ceasefire now’ after Moscow attacks Kyiv: Live
US special envoy general Keith Kellogg has called for a ceasefire after Russia launched its largest aerial bombardment since the war began in 2022.
The presidential envoy shared a photo of Ukraine’s capital following an aerial attack. He said: “This is Kyiv. The indiscriminate killing of women and children at night in their homes is a clear violation of the 1977 Geneva Peace Protocols designed to protect innocents.
“These attacks are shameful. Stop the killing. Ceasefire now.”
General Kellogg’s statement follows Volodymyr Zelensky’s condemnation of the United States’ silence after at least 12 people, including three children, were killed in the historic attack on Ukraine.
Ukraine’s president said: “The silence of America, the silence of others in the world only encourages Putin.”
Moscow and Kyiv have exchanged fire as Russia said it faced a barrage of Ukrainian drones and intercepted or destroyed around 100 of the unmanned Ukrainian weapons including some aimed at Moscow.
The drone attacks have intensified between Russia and Ukraine this week as Russia and Ukraine continue to exchange prisoners as part of a negotiated exchange of a thousand citizens from each side.
Mother and three children who died in house fire in London named
A mother and three children who died following a house fire in Brent, northwest London, have been named.
Nusrat Usman, 43, Maryam Mikaiel, 15, Musa Usman, eight, and Raees Usman, four, were killed after a blaze broke out at Tillett Close, Stonebridge, at 1am on Saturday.
Four people managed to escape the fire before emergency services arrived at the scene. A woman in her seventies was taken to hospital, but has since been released, while a 13-year-old girl remains in hospital in a critical condition.
A 41-year-old man was arrested at the scene in connection with the incident. He has since been bailed and subsequently detained under the Mental Health Act.
Superintendent Steve Allen, from the Met’s local policing team in northwest London, said: “Our thoughts go out to all those impacted by what has happened.
“Specialist officers are continuing to support the wider family who have asked for privacy at this deeply upsetting time.
“Local officers are working closely with officers from the Specialist Crime Command on what continues to be a very complex investigation.
“I’d like to thank the members of public, our first responding officers and colleagues from other emergency services for their efforts during this highly pressurised and distressing incident.
“Equally, we appreciate this has affected the wider community, who have been extremely supportive. You will see extra officers in the area during the coming days and some of the cordons will remain in place.
“We are grateful for your patience and understanding. If you have any concerns, then please speak to them.”
London Fire Brigade received more than 20 calls reporting the blaze, which raged until 3.24am.
Neighbour Victor Pedra said he broke a lower-floor window after hearing screams from the home in Tillett Close at around 1.15am on Saturday.
The electrician, 33, helped to rescue the woman in her seventies, said to be a grandmother, and the teenage girl who is fighting for her life.
“I had gone outside and saw people standing around watching these huge flames, so I just knew I had to act,” Mr Pedra told The Sun. “I cut my hand breaking the window.
“The grandmother and one of the daughters managed to get out safely. The only way they could escape was through the garden as the front door was blocked by the fire.
“The flames were so strong and there was smoke everywhere. I couldn’t get to the second floor where the mum and her youngest son was.
“I also had to wake up the people in the house next door before it caught fire, as they were all sleeping and hadn’t realised.”
Police ask anyone with more information which might assist their investigation to call 101, giving the reference 509/24MAY. They also referred people to the independent charity Crimestoppers, on 0800 555 111, to share information anonymously.
easyJet flight to UK diverts after woman ‘grabs emergency exit’
A disruptive passenger caused an easyJet flight travelling to the UK from Turkey to unexpectedly divert to Germany.
Travellers catching the late night flight from Dalaman to Manchester Airport found their flight disrupted by an “erratic” woman, who tried to grab the emergency exit on the flight.
The woman screamed there was a bomb on the flight before grabbing the emergency exit door and reaching for life jackets, according to the Manchester Evening News.
A passenger sitting close to the emergency exit told the publication: “Once the plane had took off, she began to run up and down the plane screaming about how it was going down and there was a bomb.
“She also tried to get life jackets and oxygen masks out.”
The newspaper reported she was “wrestled away” by three men before the flight made an emergency landing.
FlightRadar showed that a plane due to leave Dalaman at 11pm on Saturday (24 May) instead departed not long after midnight and was diverted to Frankfurt around 1.30am, when emergency services boarded the flight.
Passengers were then kept on board the flight for a number of hours before being allowed to leave for the airport around 5am.
An easyJet spokesperson said: “Flight EZY2148 from Dalaman to Manchester on 25 May diverted to Frankfurt due to a passenger behaving disruptively onboard. Unfortunately, due to the airport curfew, the flight had to be delayed overnight and is planned to continue to Manchester today.
“Due to limited airport ground handling availability overnight, we are aware that customers were required to remain onboard for longer than usual before they could disembark and we did everything we could to mitigate the impact of the delay. As there was unfortunately limited hotel availability in the area, some customers stayed in the terminal where we provided refreshment vouchers to help make them as comfortable as possible.
“easyJet’s cabin crew are trained to assess and evaluate all situations and to act quickly and appropriately to ensure that the safety of the flight and other passengers is not compromised at any time. Whilst such incidents are rare we take them very seriously and do not tolerate abusive or threatening behaviour onboard.
“The safety and wellbeing of our customers and crew is easyJet’s highest priority.”
German authorities have launched an investigation into the matter.
Police officer fighting for his life after crash on duty named
A police officer left fighting for his life after being hit by a car while on duty has been named and pictured.
Police Constable Christopher Miller, 38, was on duty in Stoke Poges, Buckinghamshire, on Thursday evening (22 May) when he was hit by a car. The officer has been hospitalised with life-threatening injuries.
Thames Valley Police released a photo of the officer in an appeal for more information as the investigation into the serious incident continues.
The force announced on Saturday they had arrested two men, aged 28 and 38 from Slough, on suspicion of attempted murder and causing serious injury by dangerous driving. A third man, 43 from Slough, was also arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender and perverting the course of justice.
Senior Investigating Officer Detective Superintendent Will Crowther said: “I am today issuing a public appeal for witnesses to come forward and share any information that may help out investigation.
“I would be particularly keen to hear from anybody who was in the area of Stoke Poges between 10pm on Thursday evening until around 1am on Friday morning (23/5) and may have seen this vehicle or witnessed the incident itself.
“I believe the BMW will have had front-end damage after the incident, and so if you saw the vehicle, either before the incident or afterwards, please contact us.
“I am also keen to hear from anyone who may have dash-cam, CCTV or doorbell footage which could have captured anything that could help our investigation.”
Deputy Chief Constable Ben Snuggs said: “Police officers face danger every day. In this incident, PC Christopher Miller was simply doing his job, serving the public and keeping our communities safe.
“Sadly, Christopher has sustained extremely serious injuries, and we are doing all we can to investigate the exact circumstances.
“All officers should expect to return home safely after each tour of duty, and we wish Christopher a swift and full recovery.
“We have all been affected by this, right across Thames Valley Police. I want to thank our local communities in Slough for all their support and the wider public for the supportive messages we have received.”
PC Miller’s family are being supported by specially trained family liaison officers, as are his closest colleagues.
Nadal sheds tears with ‘big four’ in emotional French Open farewell
An emotional Rafael Nadal was celebrated at Roland-Garros as the 2025 French Open got underway 20 years after just his second win on the famous clay.
The Spaniard was hailed by thousands, including legendary former players Roger Federer and Andy Murray, and Novak Djokovic, the final member of the ‘big four’ joined in the party in Paris.
In the tournament’s main stadium came on May 25, 2005 — Nadal clinched a straight-set victory in the second round against Xavier Malisse. That made Nadal’s career record in the tournament 2-0, and he was just getting started on the way to what would end up as a 112-4 mark and 14 championships at Paris.
Back on Court Philippe-Chatrier, instead of competing, Nadal was feted by the French tennis federation for all that he accomplished on the red clay.
During the tribute to Nadal, a video played showing his three rivals — together, the quartet with a combined 69 Grand Slam titles came to be known as the Big Four.
“We couldn’t let you leave like this,” Murray in the taped segment, and then he, Federer and Djokovic walked out together onto the clay court.
Nadal, who turns 39 next month and retired after last season, went over to them and gave each a hug. They all patted him on the back.
“At the end, now, it’s all about being happy about everything that we achieved,” Nadal said. “At the end, all of us achieved our dreams.”
Federer, now 43, played his last match in 2021 and announced his retirement the following year. Murray, who turned 38 this month, retired after participating in the Paris Olympics last year and briefly coached Djokovic this season. Djokovic, who turned 38 on Thursday and won his 100th career title on Saturday, is the only member of the group still active on tour.
Djokovic has won the most Grand Slam titles for a man, 24. Nadal is next on the list with 22, followed by Federer with 20. Murray won three.
“After all these years fighting for everything, it’s unbelievable how time changes the perspective of everything,” Nadal told them. “You don’t know yet, Novak. Probably you know already, Andy. With Roger, we have talked about it a couple times. All of the nerves, pressure, strange feelings you feel when we see each other when we are rivals — it’s completely different when you finish your career.”
Nadal and Djokovic played each other 60 times, the most matches between two men in the Open era of tennis, which began in 1969. Djokovic led the series 31-29, taking their final encounter in the second round of the Paris Olympics last year, although Nadal led 8-2 in French Open matchups.
Nadal led Federer 24-16, including 6-0 at Roland-Garros. Nadal led Murray 17-7.
“We showed the world that we can fight as hard as possible, but being good colleagues and respecting each other very well. And for me, it means a lot that you are all here,” Nadal said. “You gave me some hard times on court, honestly, but I really enjoyed pushing myself to the limit every single day to compete with all of you.”
AP contributed to this report
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.
I run Camp Bestival with Rob da Bank and this is what it’s really like
It started one evening in the early 2000s when my husband Robby, better known to his fans as the DJ Rob da Bank, and I were – to put it politely – a little tipsy.
That eventful night, we hatched a plan to start a brand new music festival that we called Bestival – and even though we hadn’t really thought it through back then, here we are, some 20-odd years later, still running the family-friendly spin-off we launched in 2008, Camp Bestival, albeit with greyer hair, four kids and an ever-patient bank manager.
It’s probably best that we were a bit loopy, as, if I’m honest, I’m not sure anything could have prepared us for the reality of running a music festival. Forget the bands: the first thing we needed to master was the clear up. When all our guests go home on Monday, the work doesn’t stop there. Instead, that’s when we go through the knackering and somewhat depressing experience of taking down the stages, sets and campsites. Depending on the weather, this can take anything from a week to a whole month.
Then, hot off the heels of one festival, we have to start planning the next; fixing any bits that didn’t go right – no festival ever runs completely smoothly – and worrying about how to sell a fresh batch of 30,000 tickets. Yet, for some reason, this whole psychologically challenging and physically exhausting process is oddly addictive.
When Merlin was a baby, I remember us sleeping in a Mongolian yurt with him and Arlo, then two, who was suffering from a hacking croup cough. Spiders crawled across the cot and cold crept in and kept us awake. But each morning, as the sun hit the canvas, we felt more alive and inspired than by any morning in “the real world”.
Watching Florence & the Machine, Ed Sheeran (then barely famous and playing to 30 screaming teens), a brooding Bon Iver and the legendary Chuck Berry play across our first couple of years set a benchmark for us. It proved that family festivals need not be “poptastic” and full of naff activities – they could be cool, too.
We’ve worked hard to achieve this status. In Camp Bestival, we have created a multi-layered, multi-venue wonderland for kids of all ages – as well as their parents and grandparents. Surrounded by rolling fields, colourful tents and shady woodlands, they can get lost in hundreds of activities and creative happenings all day. Screens are forgotten, devices are ignored, and for once technology takes a backseat.
One of the biggest challenges I’ve faced with Camp Bestival came five days after giving birth to our youngest child, Miller, in 2017. Bearing a freshly bandaged emergency C-section scar with my newborn baby and buggy in tow, I was hit with the very real reminder that the show must go on. When you’re an independent festival promoter, maternity leave is a lovely idea, but not very practical.
Yes, we grow more exhausted as the weekend progresses. But as each day unfolds, we feel better and better for having so many unique, memory-making experiences, and we’re able to temporarily forget the day job, mortgage or the state of the world. Encouraging creativity and exposing kids to the performing arts, live bands and DJs, as well as immersive arts and crafts, is what motivates us – and is so enriching for them.
We still camp on-site with our kids for that reason – and they all have their assigned jobs. Arlo, now 19, lends a hand to the art department, helping them build and create sets; young entrepreneur Merlin, 17, has his own on-site sweet shop; Miller, 15, goes full DIY mode; and our youngest, Eli, eight, does the most important job of all: he enjoys the festival and reminds us why we do it.
Of course, festival life has its challenges – not least being woken up in a sweaty teepee by one of the kids at 3am or having one of them “steal” a golf buggy from the crew. However, as I look around at what we’ve created, almost two decades on, I know I wouldn’t change any of it for the world.
The Independent has announced an exclusive news partnership with family-focused Camp Bestival for 2025