Donald Trump grows angrier as Vladimir Putin exposes his impotence

As Washington settled in for a typically sleepy Memorial Day following the passage of Donald Trump’s “big, beautiful bill” in the House, the president fired off one of his trademark furious rants on Truth Social, but the target was a surprise.

This time, the target wasn’t any of his domestic political foes — like the Democrats who voted in lockstep against the budget package he endorsed, or the handful of Republicans who refused to fall into line. It wasn’t even aimed at the various law enforcement figures who have attempted to hold him to account over the years.

Sunday evening’s rant was aimed squarely at Russian President Vladimir Putin. Despite what he called a “very good relationship” with Putin, Trump in his latest statement on the Ukraine-Russia war blasted the Russian leader as “absolutely crazy.”

“He is needlessly killing a lot of people, and I’m not just talking about soldiers. Missiles and drones are being shot into Cities in Ukraine, for no reason whatsoever,” Trump posted on Truth Social. “I’ve always said that he wants ALL of Ukraine, not just a piece of it, and maybe that’s proving to be right, but if he does, it will lead to the downfall of Russia!” Trump warned.

He echoed the same thoughts as he spoke to reporters in New Jersey on Sunday ahead of his return to Washington that day.

“He’s killing a lot of people,” said the president. “I don’t know what the hell happened to Putin, I’ve known him for a long time.”

Trump sudden harsh turn was illuminative, if not for the reason he may have intended. A throwaway jab aimed at Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelensky (“everything out of his mouth causes problems … it better stop”) in the same post solidified the underlying intention of the screed: Trump was massaging a bruised ego.

With his pride wounded, Trump has turned to lashing out at the Russian leader who is now publicly refuting his repeated claim that he could end the destructive three-year-old conflict in “24 hours.” Four months after Trump took office, supposedly poised to immediately shut down the war, attacks on Ukrainian targets intensified over the weekend, with Russia launching its largest aerial assault of the war thus far.

Loathe as he is to give Zelensky any credit for correctly predicting that Russia’s leadership had no real intentions of ending the war, Trump’s emotional outburst comes as he seems to be realizing that the issue could become a major blemish on the “dealmaker” perception he has sought to cultivate.

More importantly than representing a threat to his ability to live up to his own boasting, the attacks also refute many of Trump’s more recent statements about the Russian president and his supposed desire to see the war end. Trump, who famously hates being made to look foolish by his allies, said as recently as last Monday of Putin: “I do believe he wants to end it.”

But France’s president Emmanuel Macron believes Trump is beginning to realize the truth about Putin’s war stance.

“I believe that President Trump has realized that when President Putin told him he was ready for peace, he was lying,” Macron said on Monday. He pointed to the severity of Russian offensives as the persuading factor.

“You cannot claim to be ready for negotiations and carry out attacks at the same time. Such double rhetoric demonstrates the insincerity of any statements about dialogue,” said the French president.

Now, Washington is already beginning to wonder if Trump will back up his rhetoric with action. He has repeatedly vowed to slap damaging sanctions on Russia if the invasion continues without a resolution, most recently doing so this month in an interview with Fox’s Bret Baier.

But in a press gaggle days after those remarks, Trump also suggested that his administration may “just back away” from the conflict, which would “keep going” without U.S. involvement if a deal was not reached.

Capitol Hill is not keen to let that happen — a bipartisan resolution to impose a new slate of sanctions on Russia hit 81 co-sponsors in the Senate last Wednesday, according to a press release from joint co-sponsors Lindsey Graham and Richard Blumenthal.

The bill, which is designed to be snapped into place if peace talks fall apart, would slap sanctions on a range of Russian top ministers, as well as on businesses and entities that transact with the Russian armed forces.

“Russia has agreed to provide its term sheet for a ceasefire in the next few days. Its contents will speak volumes as to whether or not Russia is serious about peace. We suspect it will be more of the same,” the pair said in a joint statement.

“If it is more of the same, Russia can expect decisive action from the United States Senate.”

King Charles to give historic speech to Canadian parliament amid US tensions

King Charles is set to make history and become the second British monarch to give the address at the state opening of the Canadian parliament.

He will deliver the speech from the throne to open the 45th session of Canada’s parliament in Ottawa on Tuesday.

It comes as Canada faces unwanted attention of Mr Trump who has launched a trade war against his neighbour and made threats to annex the country as America’s 51st state.

This is the King’s 20th visit to Canada, where he is the head of state. He is also the head of state of 13 other Commonwealth realms such as Australia and New Zealand.

King Charles and Queen Camilla were greeted by governor general Mary Simon, prime minister Mark Carney and his wife, Diana Fox Carney, when they arrived at Ottawa’s Macdonald-Cartier International Airport on Monday.

Camilla was presented with a bouquet of flowers by schoolgirl Lila Graham, and the couple were warmly welcomed by school groups from Ontario and Quebec, including students enrolled in the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award programme.

Man Utd near £62.5m deal and Liverpool eye striker

The transfer window is almost open with the Club World Cup opening up an emergency, short-term window, though other clubs not involved in the new Fifa tournament are pushing ahead with plans to strengthen this summer.

Manchester United have an awful lot of work to do in the window after a disastrous season, and Matheus Cunha appears to be the first one through the door, with Wolves set to bank more than £60m for the Brazilian forward.

Liverpool are ready to go from strength to strength after winning the Premier League title, with a new striker top of their priorities to push Cody Gakpo. And after links to Alexander Isak, the Swede is now poised to stay at Newcastle United after securing Champions League football next season.

A new name could be Hugo Ekitike, who is also a Chelsea target, with the Eintracht Frankfurt striker one of the hottest properties in European football.

Follow all the latest updates, rumours and done deals from what promises to be a chaotic transfer window:

MS patient’s life ‘crumbling’ after NHS switched her to cheaper drug

A woman with multiple sclerosis (MS) says she has been left with debilitating symptoms after the NHS switched her to a cheaper drug.

Julie Cowdrill is among scores of MS patients who say they have suffered a regression in their condition after being switched from a drug called Tysabri to one called Tyruko, with complaints that a “cost-cutting exercise” is coming at the expense of their health.

NHS England is hoping to save £1bn over the next five years by switching to biosimilar drugs – medicines that have been shown not to be clinically different from the original drug, but are made far more cheaply.

However, in Ms Cowdrill’s case, she has been left suffering from headaches and extreme fatigue, and has experienced worsenening mobility since she started taking the drug in December 2024.

“Myself and many others have said that it feels like we’ve regressed 10 or 15 years after all the work we’ve done to get better. It’s like the rug has been pulled from under you – it’s dreadful,” she told The Independent.

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) said it is “aware” that some patients have experienced side effects, but that a rigorous assessment has “demonstrated no clinically meaningful differences” between the drugs.

Ms Cowdrill first noticed her body was behaving unusually in 2006 when she was in her early twenties, after she suffered nerve damage in her eye. By 2009, at the age of just 28, she began to notice “literally everything” was going wrong with her health, and she was diagnosed with relapsing-remitting MS.

MS is a chronic autoimmune disease that affects the nervous system and disrupts communication between the brain and the body. There is no cure, but treatment and pain management are available to help patients manage their condition.

Due to the rapid progression of her disease, Ms Cowdrill was placed on Tysabri. While it did not reverse the neurological damage, she was able to return to her daily habits such as shopping, driving her car and taking her daughter to school.

Last April, she was told the drug could now be administered through an injection rather than an intravenous infusion, and she agreed to switch procedures.

However, an adverse reaction linked to how the drug was administered meant that by November, she was unable to walk and spent hours crying in pain in A&E at Queen Elizabeth’s Hospital in Birmingham. So doctors suggested switching to Tyruko.

“The nurse told me I could now take Tyruko and said it was exactly the same, and nothing would change. Since then, I’ve gotten worse every month. I’ve not relapsed, but my disability has worsened.

“My life is crumbling, my walking is just appalling, I’m falling every week. Every part of my body is worse since the switch.”

Despite requesting to return to Tysabri, which she took for 13 years without issue, Ms Cowdrill has been informed that only Tyruko and injections of Tysabri are available from now on, as part of a nationwide rollout.

Since communicating with others online, she has written a letter to NHS England, the MS Trust and the MS Society to outline concerns around the drug. The letter has been signed by 103 fellow patients from 31 different hospitals.

She has also launched a petition asking for access to Tysabri to be reinstated for those affected by the switchover. This has attracted more than 37,000 signatures.

At Charing Cross Hospital, about 170 patients have been switched back to Tysabri after suffering complications, including a relapse of their illness, from taking the biosimilar drug.

A spokesperson for the pharmaceutical company Sandoz, which manufactures the drug, said: “Tyruko (natalizumab) was approved by the UK medicine regulator (MHRA) based on no meaningful differences between Tyruko and Tysabri in terms of clinical efficacy and safety. Real-life patient data showed that switching from Tysabri to Tyruko was well tolerated.”

A spokesperson for the MS Trust said it had been contacted by patients who have noticed “significant symptom changes” after switching from Tysabri to Tyruko (both of which are natalizumab products).

“It is vital that we fully understand the experiences of people with MS when switching from one natalizumab product to another. We are talking to all stakeholders, including people with MS, to ensure that this data is collected and shared transparently with the MS community and the healthcare teams responsible for prescribing them,” the spokesperson said.

Laura Thomas, head of policy at the MS Society, said most people who have changed treatment have done so without issue, but some have reported problems.

“NHS England has said that it should always be possible for patients experiencing adverse events or deterioration on Tyruko to revert back to Tysabri IV [the version that is delivered intravenously]. We’re asking them to make sure that this is happening in practice.”

An NHS England spokesperson said the drugs have been shown to have no clinically meaningful difference in their safety or efficacy, but that it is liaising with the MHRA, manufacturers and patient groups following concerns raised by patients.

“Patient safety is our top priority,” the MHRA said. “We continuously monitor the safety of medicines on the UK market and are working to investigate these concerns using all available information, including reports from the Yellow Card scheme and data from the marketing authorisation holder for Tyruko.”

Passengers rushing off flights on landing to be fined £50 in Turkey

Holidaymakers too eager to get off the plane in Turkey will now face fines for standing up when the aircraft is still moving.

Travellers caught rising into the aisle before their row is ready to disembark may have to pay $70 (£52) to authorities in Turkey.

Turkey’s civil aviation authority hopes to stop impatient passengers dashing for the doors before the aircraft is stationary.

It proposed that airlines announce to passengers that they must remain seated, even after the seatbelt sign has gone off until it is their turn to leave the aircraft.

Passengers regularly immediately unbuckle on landing and queue down the aisle in a bid to be the first to baggage claim.

“According to the regulation, airlines are obliged to remind passengers to fasten their seat belts during and after landing until they reach the parking position and to explicitly point out that any infringement will be reported to the aviation authority and a fine will be imposed,” reported the German DPA news agency.

That means staying seated after the plane lands and taxis to the terminal.

Turkish Airlines, the country’s flagship carrier, flies routes to 131 countries, with other regional airlines, including Emirates and Qatar Airways, reportedly considering implementing the stay-seated rule.

Rushing to get off the plane isn’t the only bad habit airlines see from flyers.

Airlines are now making moves to crack down on “gate lice” – those who hover by the desk with their hand luggage in a bid to board first.

American Airlines is one airline trialling new technology to enforce boarding groups and cut queue jumping at the gate.

In trials at Albuquerque, Tucson and Washington airports, passengers scanning their boarding passes before their group number was called were met with an alarm sound.

The computer will also display an alert message for gate agents, who can then instruct pushy passengers to stand aside.

American Airlines said the move was intended to “improve the boarding experience” and “ensure customers receive the benefits of priority boarding”.

For more travel news and advice, listen to Simon Calder’s podcast

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.

HS2: Investigation launched into firms supplying construction workers

An investigation has been launched into allegations surrounding the practices of some “labour suppliers” for the HS2 rail line between London and Birmingham, a spokesman has said.

HS2 Ltd said tighter controls have been introduced after claims from a whistleblower, which are being taken “seriously”, threw a spotlight on two firms working on the the West Midlands section of the high-speed line.

A Department for Transport spokesman said: “The Government and HS2 Ltd take all whistleblower allegations extremely seriously and have a zero-tolerance attitude towards fraud, bribery, and corruption.

“We will therefore ensure any claims of wrongdoing in HS2’s supply chain are thoroughly investigated.”

The allegations are that an HS2 sub-contractor has been falsely declaring self-employed workers as PAYE (pay as you earn) salaried staff and charging an inflated rate for them, then submitting “fake” payslips, according to the i newspaper on Monday.

The HS2 spokesman said: “HS2 Ltd treats all whistleblower allegations seriously and we are aware of the claims made in relation to labour suppliers on part of the route.

“An investigation was launched earlier this year into a number of different allegations and our contractor Balfour Beatty VINCI  (BBV) has implemented additional monitoring and controls.”

It is believed that one company remains suspended from new contracts while an investigation continues.

It is believed that a second company was suspended and investigated.

This suspension was later lifted by BBV, after a period of remediation, but the company remains under enhanced monitoring.

The police and HMRC are not believed to be involved.

About 31,000 people are now employed on the programme across the 140-mile route.

Earlier this month, a giant HS2 boring machine broke through to complete the first section of a 3.5-mile tunnel on the route’s approach into Birmingham.

The tunnel is the first of two bores of the Bromford Tunnel, running from the village of Water Orton in North Warwickshire to the Birmingham suburb of Washwood Heath, and passing under the area’s motorway network and the River Tame.

The tunnel breakthrough, HS2’s first in Birmingham, was described as a significant milestone for the line, which will almost halve journey times between Birmingham and London, while freeing up track space on the West Coast Main Line for local, regional and freight services.

About 31,000 people are now employed on the programme across the 140-mile route.

Two dead, nine injured in Memorial Day mass shooting in Philadelphia

At least two people have been killed and nine injured in a Memorial Day mass shooting in Philadelphia, police say.

Gunfire rang out just before 10.30 p.m. on Monday as a large group of young people gathered near Lemon Hill Drive and Sedgley Drive at Fairmount Park, according to the Philadelphia Police Department.

Philadelphia Police Commissioner Kevin Bethel said that a man and woman were killed, while three teenagers aged 15, 16, and 17, were among the nine injured after “individuals” opened “fire into a crowd.”

All nine of the survivors are in “stable condition,” Bethel said. The identity of the victims has not yet been revealed.

“This is significant,” the police commissioner told reporters early Tuesday. “This is Memorial Day, where we honor those who gave their lives in war.”

Follow the latest news about the Fairmount Park shooting on our live blog, here.

Multiple rounds were fired, leaving investigators to determine whether several different weapons were involved.

“We have our team up there at the crime scene going through, looking at the shell casings, we’ll be able to determine if it was one weapon or multiple weapons,” Bethel added.

“But it’s pretty rapid fire, so we’ll be pretty confident that there probably was a switch on this gun.”

Earlier Monday, Fairmount Park had been filled with families and community members enjoying Memorial Day cookouts.

ABC 6 News reported that at least 200 juveniles were at the scene. A witness told FOX 29 that there were up to 1,000 people at a “cookout” when gunfire erupted.

“Everybody scared,” one person said. “I see two people drop, that’s it,” said a second witness.

No arrests had been made by Tuesday and police said they have not recovered any weapons. Investigators have not released information on any suspects.

“We expect that we’ll start to pick up a lot of information… as the day unfolds,” Bethel told reporters in the early hours Tuesday.

Fairmount Park was closed down late Monday night, with investigators on the scene into Tuesday morning. Investigators continue to comb through social media to gather more intel.

Police are expected to provide an update Tuesday morning.