Two wonderful first half goals from Eoin McElholm and Ronan Cassidy were well worthy of the great man from Ardboe

It wasn’t just during the minute’s silence that Frank McGuigan’s presence was palpable in Dr. Hyde Park on Sunday afternoon.

The passing of the man that they called ‘The King’, a giant of Tyrone’s footballing history, was always likely to galvanise the Red Hand men as they prepared to take on the freewheeling Connacht champions, and they delivered in style.

Sure, there was all the control and steel that has become synonymous with Tyrone teams in the modern era, but two wonderful first half goals from Eoin McElholm and Ronan Cassidy were well worthy of the great man from Ardboe.

“The boys wanted to put on a performance that would make the McGuigan family proud, and I think we achieved that,” said Tyrone manager Malachy O’Rourke.

“We felt that the big pitch would suit us. We felt that if we got our running game going, we had forwards that could thrive, and that’s how it proved”.

For their part, Roscommon never reached the lofty heights that they scaled in the Connacht championship.

It looked like more of the same when after Tyrone started solidly with good points from Peter Teague and Ethan Jordan, the summer’s golden boy Darragh Heneghan scorched through the Tyrone back line and fired past Niall Morgan for his fifth goal in four games.

The sides were still level going into the second quarter, when Tyrone moved things up a gear. First McElholm rolled an inch perfect shot into the bottom left corner of the net, then Cassidy exploded down the left flank of the attack – a territory that Tyrone attacked hard and often in the first half – and rifled the ball under the crossbar.

A needless turnover in the Roscommon attack in the last minute of the half saw Tyrone come back down the field and fire over a double from Jordan to make it 2-11 to 1-9, and it was all going their way.

Without ever hitting their best form, Roscommon locked down the Tyrone attack, holding them scoreless for 16 minutes, and the crowd of just over 16,000 exploded when Enda Smith fielded a high ball to put them in front. Diarmuid Murtagh added a point, and finally, they were rocking.

Then Conor Carroll, who had been flawless up to then misplaced a short kickout into Frank Burns. Two passes later, Mattie Donnelly made them pay the ultimate penalty.

Roscommon did get back level through a Paul Carey two-pointer, but they left Tyrone with 90 seconds. Niall Morgan’s kickout was pinpoint, their control of the ball in working it up the field was exquisite, and once McElholm was fouled, Ethan Jordan lobbed over the winning point.

“It’s easier to see out games when you’re winning a load of games in a row, you sort of have a wee bit of momentum behind you,” said O’Rourke.

“I suppose the way the year has gone for us, what happened in the Armagh game, it takes that wee bit of extra resilience, that wee bit of extra character. I thought the boys showed that in spades, so it’s great to see that.”

A turning point for last year’s All-Ireland semi-finalists?

“Time will tell. Looking at all the teams that are left, it’s a very competitive championship. We lost against Armagh, we were determined to bounce back today, and we did that. We’ll see what the draw throws up, and it’s going to be a big chance whoever it is.

“It’s a cliché, but the way the league went, we knew we had an awful lot of work to do. We knew the boys were working hard, there was a good spirit among them, but it wasn’t showing maybe in some of our results and performances – and people weren’t slow to tell us that”.

Now the pressure rolls back on to Roscommon. The accusation of being lions in Connacht and lambs later in the Summer has been levelled at them before, and Rossie boss Mark Dowd says that it’s up to them to change that narrative.

“If we have the ambition of being a Division One team, getting to these big games, that’s what we’ve got to do. We’ve three weeks now of a rest but if we’re ambitious, we’re going to have these days week on week going forward.”

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Victoria Chesworth had more than four times the legal limit of cocaine in her blood when she was stopped by police

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A coked-up driver blamed the smell of wine in her car on “cooking a beef bourguignon”.

Victoria Chesworth was spotted “driving erratically” moments before she was stopped by police on July 18.

Officers pulled over the 46-year-old on London Road, Stoke-on-Trent and said they “smelled alcohol”. It was then they discovered a small amount of powder in the back of her car, reports StokeonTrentLive.

North Staffordshire Justice Centre heard Chesworth was found to have 45mu g/L of cocaine in her blood, well over the legal threshold of 10mu g/L. She also had a staggering 800b ug/L of benzoylecgonine in her blood – the breakdown product of cocaine – which is 16 times the legal limit.

Prosecutor Sherrie Henry told the court: “This matter occurred shortly after 11pm. Officers saw the defendant’s red Toyota Yaris which appeared to be driving erratically along the A52. She could be seen swerving repeatedly between lanes.

“Officers pulled the defendant over and smelled alcohol. They attempted to perform a breathalyser test. They were unable to get her to complete it successfully.

“A small amount of powder was found in the back of the defendant’s car. She was taken back to the police station where a drug test was performed.”

Chesworth, of Swallows Nest Close, Blurton, pleaded guilty to two counts of drug-driving. Representing herself in court, Chesworth stated that her interim driving ban has left her “struggling financially and with transport”, appealing to magistrates for a more lenient outcome.

She tearfully told the court: “The swerving in and out of lanes, I disagree with, because I was following the one-way system. I believed the van behind me was getting too close. I didn’t realise it was the police.

“I only learned that later after they pulled me over. They could smell wine on me because I had made a beef bourguignon earlier that evening.

“I struggled to do the breath test because I had a stroke last year. I agreed to do the blood test. The white powder they found in the car is a drug I take to manage my stroke symptoms.”

Magistrates handed Chesworth a 17-month driving ban alongside a 12-month community order incorporating 20 rehabilitation days. She is also required to pay £239 in costs.

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Manchester United have an opportunity to agree a bargain transfer in the summer window

Manchester United have a chance to swoop in and sign Robert Lewandowski to address a key area of their squad this summer. The experienced striker is leaving Barcelona, providing Michael Carrick’s side with the perfect opportunity to lure him to Old Trafford.

The 37-year-old remains prolific, despite no longer being one of the first names on Barcelona’s teamsheet. He scored 14 times as the Catalan club secured the La Liga title, averaging a goal every 118 minutes in the league.

ESPN have reported that Lewandowski rejected a new Barcelona deal on reduced wages after losing his starting sport in Hansi Flick’s team. It is claimed that the striker has attracted interest from European clubs, as well as in Saudi Arabia and the USA, but has not decided on his next destination. But one thing is for certain – he will not be at the Camp Nou next season.

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The uncertainty over Lewandowski’s future provides a chance for United to pursue a marquee free transfer. Having thrived in Germany and Spain, the veteran is yet to test himself in English football and joining United could be a tempting proposition.

A new striker is not top of United’s transfer wishlist, with midfield being the team’s top priority. However, a world-class striker available on a free transfer should always be considered, particularly as United prepare to return to the Champions League.

Michael Carrick’s side have benefitted from a lack of European competition this season but the next campaign will be more demanding of the squad. Young striker Benjamin Sesko has impressed during the interim boss’ reign but is still earning his manager’s trust and honing his craft.

Both Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo are also capable of leading the line but Lewandowski would bring something different to the United squad. He has been an elite centre forward for more than a decade and could pass on his goalscoring knowledge to Sesko and other stars.

It is a formula that United have used on several occasions in recent years. Zlatan Ibrahimovic was an instant hit, Edinson Cavani became a fan favourite and Cristiano Ronaldo scored 27 in 54 games before his second spell came to an end.

Lewandowski still has his goalscoring instincts. The striker would have the opportunity to prove himself in England, even as a rotational player, while United’s attack could benefit from his experience at the highest level.

In his four years at Barcelona, Lewandowski won La Liga on three occasions. Moreover, since 2010, he has clinched an incredible 13 league titles across his time at Borussia Dortmund, Bayern Munich and the Spanish giants.

Lewandowski’s winning mentality could be priceless to Carrick’s team as United look to take the next step towards securing major trophies.

Sky Sports, HBO Max, Netflix and Disney+ with Ultimate TV package

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Sky has upgraded its Ultimate TV and Sky Sports bundle to now include HBO Max, Netflix, Disney+, discovery+ and Hayu, as well as 135 channels and full Sky coverage of the Premier League and EFL.

Sky broadcasts more than 1,400 live matches across the Premier League, EFL and more with at least 215 live from the top flight alongside Formula 1, darts and golf.

Emergency crews were called to Hardwick Country Park near Sedgefield at about 11.45am on Sunday (May 24).

The Great North Air Ambulance took the injured person to James Cook Hospital in Middlesbrough.

A North East Ambulance Service spokesperson said: “We were called to a person injured at Hardwick Country Park at 11.45am on Sunday (May 24).

“We dispatched two ambulance crews and requested support from the Great North Air Ambulance Service.

“After working together on the scene, one patient was flown to James Cook Hospital for further treatment.”

Durham Police has been contacted for further information.

Salford City take on Notts County at Wembley on Bank Holiday Monday in the League Two play-off final

Salford City are no strangers to writing scripts. When you have David Beckham and rest of Manchester United’s Class of 92 in your corner, cameras are inevitable. Documentary after documentary has charted the club’s journey through non-league and a new chapter could emerge at Wembley this afternoon when the Ammies face Notts County seeking a place in the third tier for the first time in their history.

But even by Salford standards, this season has been dramatic. There was a cup run for the ages which took them to the Etihad and a combative performance in a 2-0 defeat. There was the drama of the final day of the regular season when they were held by relegation-threatened Crawley to miss out on automatic promotion. And then there was the play-off semi-final against Grimsby Town.

A first-leg victory away from home had set them up for Peninsular Stadium return, and when they led 1-0 midway through the second half, it seemed as though the job was done. But Grimsby responded with two goals in the space of a matter of minutes to force extra time.

Yet Salford found resolve and a tie-winning goal through Kallum Cesay. It was a poignant moment for Cesay, whose dad Tony – a former boxer who represented Sierra Leone at the Commonwealth Games in Manchester in 2002 – died earlier this month.

The 23-year-old had spent much of the second half of the campaign out injured but netted in both legs of the semi-final, and his story epitomises the spirit Salford have shown.

“He lost his dad and life is so hard when something like that happens and he just got back on the pitch and does what he does,” said striker Dan Udoh. “He is such a vital point for the team and we need him as much as needs us to put his arm around him.

“We have a respect in the dressing room and you just want each other to do well.”

Salford boss Karl Robinson attended the funeral of his young defender’s dad, with several legends of boxing in attendance.

“I went there to represent the football club and it brought me to tears,” Robinson admitted. “His dad was a credit to the boxing world. His dad is an icon in East London and when you speak about the names who were there and he respect he carried in his world. His son is in his world now creating a name for himself.”

Salford have made a name for themselves in recent years. The club is inextricably linked with Manchester United, with the Class of 92 having invested in the club in 2014 and helped fuel a rise that could reach League One later today.

Paul Scholes and Nicky Butt watched the semi-final second leg in person, David Beckham and Gary Neville, who bought out their former team-mates last year, watched it together from the Napa Valley in California. Ryan Giggs has been an integral part in the success of the club in recent years.

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Udoh, who has scored 11 goals this season, having dropped down a division to sign for Salford a year ago, regularly receives text messages from Scholes offering advice and assistance.

“These are players that have won Champions Leagues, to have advice from people like that it’s gold dust, isn’t it?” said Udoh. “You couldn’t have asked for anything better as a player.”

Robinson too knows the value of the Premier League legends involved. “I want a special mention to Nicky Butt, Paul Scholes and Ryan Giggs,” said the boss. “When I met them in January, I had never been bowled over by so many geniuses around the table – not just as footballers, as coaches and people.

“With David even more involved, and Gary even more involved now, and the changes that might come, I think it’s a really exciting time for the football club.”

And that excitement is beginning to capture the attention of the city. Salford’s home semi-final had a mix of young and old supporters. There was face painting and FIFA for the kids in the bar, a fan zone for supporters to mingle pre-match with a beer and the number of young fans watching the game was noticeable.

That is something not lost on Robinson, who wants to build a legacy for the club and the city.

“Football clubs are the heartbeat of everything,” said Robinson. “You could be having a terrible time at work or in life, but football stadiums are unique. People don’t know how far we have come.

“We’re never going to be Manchester United or Manchester City, but you know what, we are the first generation of people coming to bring their kids and then bring their kids, who bring their kids, and granddads, dads, mums, grandmothers. Then that becomes a generational thing. We can’t lose that generational support because the kids haven’t had that. We’ve got to build that and then hopefully this will be a club with multiple parts of a family and generations coming to watch their team.”

A full list of opening hours for supermarkets across Wales this Spring bank holiday – from Tesco, Asda, Morrisons, Sainsbury’s, Co-op, Lidl and Aldi.

This bank holiday Monday, shoppers should expect notable adjustments at supermarkets across the country, including reduced opening times. If you’re looking to pick up a few last-minute essentials, it’s advisable to check when your local store is open to avoid any unnecessary frustration.

We’ve compiled a thorough rundown of opening times for Tesco, Co-op, Asda, Morrisons, Sainsbury’s, Lidl and Aldi, among others, so you can plan accordingly and avoid any unwanted surprises.

Below are the opening hours for supermarkets across Wales this bank holiday Monday. For the biggest stories in Wales first sign up to our daily newsletter here

Tesco

Tesco stores throughout Wales will be running on reduced hours this bank holiday. While they ordinarily close at midnight, they will be open from 8am to 6pm on Monday.

Tesco Express stores will be open from 6am to 10pm/11pm on the bank holiday.

You can verify your nearest branch here.

Co-op

Over the Spring bank holiday, Co-op will keep to their usual hours of 7am to 10pm/11pm, depending on location

You can confirm here whether your nearest branch will be trading.

Asda

A number of Asda stores across Wales will be trading around the clock, while others will be open from 8am to 10pm on Monday.

However, you can confirm here when your nearest outlet will be trading.

Morrisons

Morrisons in Wales will be open between 7am and 8pm, which is shorter than their usual hours of 7am to 10pm.

Nevertheless, petrol stations are expected to operate from 8am until 10pm.

You can verify when your nearest branch is trading here.

Sainsbury’s

Sainsbury’s stores across Wales will function with shortened hours of 8am to 8pm on the bank holiday Monday.

Smaller outlets will probably run between 7am and 11pm.

You can verify if your local branch is open here.

Lidl

The vast majority of Lidl stores will be operating with reduced trading times of 8am to 8pm.

However, it is advisable that customers confirm their local store’s hours online in case they vary.

Aldi

Most Aldi shops will be closing somewhat earlier on the bank holiday Monday, running from 8am to 8pm, shutting three hours sooner than normal.

You can locate the opening times of your local branch here.

M&S Food

Marks and Spencer’s trading hours differ across the UK, so shoppers are advised to check their nearest location.

You can find further details here.

Waitrose

On the early May bank holiday, the small number of Waitrose stores throughout Wales will have marginally shorter opening hours from 8am to 8pm.

The stores located at service stations and Little Waitrose shops across the UK have varying opening times and will operate from 7am to 10pm.

You can find the opening times for your local branch here.

Manchester United’s new manager, Michael Carrick, has discussed how his new team surprised him

Manchester United boss Michael Carrick has disclosed that he was taken aback by how “together” the United squad proved to be after assuming control on an interim basis in January. Following a prolonged wait, Carrick was formally confirmed as United’s new permanent manager on Friday.

The 44-year-old has committed to a contract running until 2028 with the option of an additional year after an outstanding stint as the club’s caretaker boss. Carrick has secured victory in 11 of his 16 matches in the temporary role, dramatically turning United’s season around after replacing the dismissed Ruben Amorim in January.

United’s revival in fortunes has even enabled them to secure Champions League qualification for the first time in three years. When Carrick stepped in at the turn of the year, United sat seventh in the Premier League standings and had claimed just one win from their previous seven fixtures across all competitions.

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Speaking to former Manchester United icon Wayne Rooney on Inside Carrington, Carrick revealed that, despite the upheaval the club experienced under Amorim, he discovered the squad remained firmly united in their ambition to progress.

“Do you know what you hope to see? Good people with a willingness to do well,” Carrick said after Rooney asked what surprised him upon taking charge. “The intentions, loving being here, the intentions to do the right thing. I was probably surprised by how good a group it is in terms of wanting to do well for each other.

“We’ve been part of different dressing rooms and it can quite easily go in different directions. But that was probably the biggest thing I felt straight away. These [players] are really in it together, want to do well, and are listening and learning. That’s the thing that stands out, which is probably what’s giving us the chance to be consistent since we come in.”

United’s players have vindicated their new manager’s faith. Since his arrival, United have beaten Manchester City, Arsenal, Aston Villa, Chelsea and Liverpool, indicating the squad has always been closely bonded, but perhaps needed the right head coach to provide the final piece of the puzzle.

Carrick’s sole prior managerial experience came at Middlesbrough, where he spent two-and-a-half years at the Riverside. Nevertheless, the former midfielder served as a first-team coach at United under both Jose Mourinho and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer between 2018 and 2021, and has stepped into the interim role on two previous occasions, following the dismissals of Mourinho and Solskjaer.

On his appointment, Carrick said: “From the moment that I arrived here 20 years ago, I felt the magic of Manchester United. Carrying the responsibility of leading our special football club fills me with immense pride.”

“Throughout the past five months, this group of players have shown they can reach the standards of resilience, togetherness and determination that we demand here.

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“Now it’s time to move forward together again, with ambition and a clear sense of purpose. Manchester United and our incredible supporters deserve to be challenging for the biggest honours again.”

Jason Wilcox, Manchester United director of football, added: “Michael has thoroughly earned the opportunity to continue leading our men’s team. In the time he has been doing the role, we have seen positive results on the pitch, but more than that, an approach which aligns with the club’s values, traditions and history.

“Michael’s achievements in leading the club back to the Champions League should not be understated. He has forged a strong bond with the players and can be proud of the winning culture at Carrington and in the dressing room, which we are continuing to build.”

Sky Sports, HBO Max, Netflix and Disney+ with Ultimate TV package

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Sky has upgraded its Ultimate TV and Sky Sports bundle to now include HBO Max, Netflix, Disney+, discovery+ and Hayu, as well as 135 channels and full Sky coverage of the Premier League and EFL.

Sky broadcasts more than 1,400 live matches across the Premier League, EFL and more with at least 215 live from the top flight alongside Formula 1, darts and golf.

World leaders have condemned Russia after it attacked Kyiv with an Oreshnik hypersonic intermediate-range ballistic missile in an intense assault on the capital overnight.

The combined attack included 600 strike drones and 90 air, sea, and ground-launched missiles, according to Ukraine’s air force.

At least four people have been killed in the attacks, while dozens more were injured, authorities said.

Several world leaders, including French president Emmanuel Macron, Italian prime minister Giorgia Meloni, and vice-president of the European Commission Kaja Kallas, have criticised Russia.

Germany’s chancellor Friedrich Merz labelled Russia’s bombardment of the Kyiv region and its use of the Oreshnik missile system as a “reckless escalation”.

Foreign secretary Yvette Cooper said: “Moscow’s escalating assault on Ukrainian civilians betrays its weakness.”

It comes after Vladimir Putin ordered his military to prepare options for retaliation for a drone strike on a student dorm in the Russian-controlled Luhansk region of eastern Ukraine, which Kyiv denied responsibility for.

Russia has already attacked ‌Ukraine twice with the Oreshnik, targeting Dnipro in November 2024 and the western Lviv region in January.

Energy infrastructure damaged in missile attack on Russia’s Belgorod

Energy infrastructure was damaged in a massive missile attack on Russia’s Belgorod region bordering Ukraine, including the city of Belgorod, local officials said this morning.

There were ⁠no casualties but power and water supply were interrupted, Interfax news agency reported. ‌It ​did not ‌provide ⁠further details.

Arpan Rai25 May 2026 04:40

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Ukrainians flee Kyiv after latest deadly Russian attack

Some locals said they had no choice but to flee Kyiv after Sunday’s attack, one of the worst so far on the capital since the war began.

“It was a terrible night, and there had never been anything like it in the entire war,” said Kyiv resident Svitlana Onofryichuk, 55, who had worked for 22 years in the market that was damaged.

“I am very sorry that I have to say goodbye to Kyiv now, I am not staying there anymore, there is no possibility,” she added.

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“My job is gone, everything is gone, everything has burned down.”

Yevhen Zosin, 74, a Kyiv resident who witnessed the attack, said the moment he heard the explosion he rushed to grab his dog.

“Then there was another explosion and she and I were thrown back like a pin by the shock wave. We both survived, she and I. My apartment was blown to pieces,” he said.

In Kyiv’s Shevchenko district, a five-story residential building was hit, which caused a fire, and one person was killed, Ukraine’s state emergency service reported.

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A school building was damaged by an attack while people sheltered inside, mayor Vitali Klitschko said.

Damage was recorded in 50 locations across several districts of the capital, including residential buildings, shopping centres and schools, Ukraine’s emergency service said in a Telegram post.

Fires continued to rage into the morning, complicating rescue efforts as buildings collapsed from the blasts.

Arpan Rai25 May 2026 04:34

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Finland’s Stubb says he can represent Europe in Ukraine peace talks if asked

Finland’s president Alexander Stubb said he is open to representing Europe in Ukraine peace talks if he is asked.

“If you ask, it’s probably something that can’t be answered negatively,” Stubb told Yle, Finland’s public service broadcaster.

Ukraine is seeking active communication channels to end the war with Russia as US-brokered peace talks have stalled amid the conflict in the Middle East.

Foreign minister Andrii Sybiha said Ukraine has asked Europe to help with the process of an airport ceasefire, a limited truce on attacks on airport facilities so that both nations can continue their air travel safely.

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“We probably need a new role for Europe in our peace efforts,” Sybiha has said.

Arpan Rai25 May 2026 04:00

Editorial: Putin will not wait for the UK to get its act together on defence

Nato’s joint military exercises on the London Underground are a reminder that the UK’s soft targets are underprotected and underfunded – even as our enemies are looking more dangerous than ever.

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Dan Haygarth25 May 2026 03:00

Denmark says support for Ukraine must be increased

Dan Haygarth25 May 2026 02:00

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Zelensky: ‘Continued support from our partners is no less important’

Following Russia’s attack on Kyiv with an Oreshnik hypersonic intermediate-range ballistic missile, Volodymyr Zelensky said on X on Sunday: “I am grateful to all our services currently working at the sites of Russia’s overnight strikes: units of the State Emergency Service, the National Police, and municipal services.

“Everyone is acting as effectively as possible, given the scale of the attack and its consequences: about 100 people have been injured across the country, and four more, tragically, have been killed.

“My condolences to the families and loved ones. In Kyiv alone, about 30 residential buildings have been damaged or destroyed.

“It is very important that our people are supporting one another. I am grateful to each and every person helping those affected.

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“Continued support from our partners is no less important. I am grateful to everyone now expressing words of support. But concrete steps to bolster air defense are also needed – missile deliveries must not stop for a single day.”

Dan Haygarth25 May 2026 01:00

Full story: Putin launches huge attack on Ukraine with high speed missile and 600 drones after threatening revenge

Daniel Haygarth24 May 2026 23:59

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GPS signals of RAF jet carrying defence secretary ‘jammed by Russia’

An RAF jet carrying the defence secretary had its signals jammed as it flew near the Russian border this week.

John Healey was travelling back to the UK from Estonia, where he had been visiting British soldiers, when the electronic attack happened, according to The Times.

It is thought Russia was behind the incident on Thursday, which meant that smartphones and laptops were unable to connect to the internet and pilots had to use a different navigation system as the plane’s GPS was disabled for the entire three-hour flight.

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A defence source told The Independent: “This is reckless Russian interference, but the RAF is well prepared to deal with this activity.”

Dan Haygarth24 May 2026 23:40

Missile attacks on Ukraine demonstrate Putin’s ‘weakness’, Cooper says

Vladimir Putin’s attack on Kyiv and other cities has shown his “weakness”, foreign secretary Yvette Cooper said after Ukraine was hit by a hypersonic missile and drone barrage.

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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Russia used the hypersonic Oreshnik ballistic missile during the attacks.

Mr Zelensky said around 100 people were wounded in the attacks, with four killed, and he issued a fresh call for Ukraine’s allies to help with air defence weapons.

The Ukrainian leader said 90 missiles of various types and 600 drones were used by Russia.

“Unfortunately, not all of the ballistic missiles were intercepted – the largest number of hits was in Kyiv,” he said.

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“Kyiv was the primary target of this Russian attack.”

He said the Oreshnik, which is capable of carrying nuclear or conventional warheads, struck the city of Bila Tserkva.

Ukraine’s foreign minister Andrii Sybiha said: “This strike was probably meant to demonstrate ‘strength’ to the domestic audience, but instead it only confirms Putin’s weakness.

“Even Russians see that he is a loser.”

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Ms Cooper said: “Awful scenes in Kyiv and across Ukraine overnight after another massive Russian attack.

“I agree with Andrii – Moscow’s escalating assault on Ukrainian civilians betrays its weakness.”

Daniel Haygarth24 May 2026 23:00

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Ukraine says it hit oil pumping station in Russia’s Vladimir region

Ukraine’s SBU security service said its drones attacked an ⁠oil pumping dispatch station in Russia’s Vladimir region on Sunday, adding that the facility was an important node ⁠in pumping oil ​products ⁠southwest to Moscow and its surrounding area.

“It supplies fuel ⁠to major oil depots around ​Moscow ⁠and to Sheremetyevo, Domodedovo, ‌and Vnukovo airports,” the SBU said in a statement on social ‌media. It added that ‌a fire over an area spanning 800 square metres (8,600 square feet) was ⁠recorded after the strike.

The governor of Vladimir Region, Alexander Avdeyev, said in a social media post that the fire near the town of Kameshkovo had been extinguished.

Avdeyev’s post, ‌quoted by Interfax news agency, ​referred only to the fire ‌being at ⁠an infrastructure site and gave ⁠no indication that it was linked to ‌the oil ​industry.

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Dan Haygarth24 May 2026 22:23

EXCLUSIVE: In a wide-ranging interview, Paul O’Kane reflected on a campaign that saw Scottish Labour collapse to their fifth defeat in a row to the SNP.

A former Labour MSP and defeated candidate has criticised his party’s election strategy after their worst ever Holyrood defeat.

Paul O’Kane said Labour focused too much on constituencies over regional Lists and lacked “ambition” in their manifesto.

He also said “everything should be on the table” after being asked about the creation of an independent Scottish Labour party.

Anas Sarwar’s party returned 17 MSPs earlier this month – their worst tally at a Scottish Parliament election.

The performance of the UK Government is widely blamed for the loss, but criticism is mounting over Sarwar’s campaign.

READ MORE: John Swinney urged to implement EHRC biological sex ruling ‘without delay’

OPINION

Insiders say targeting 38 first-past-the-post seats was too ambitious and claim there was no strategy for the regional lists, where Labour does best.

O’Kane, a moderate who was Sarwar’s shadow education secretary, was one of three sitting MSPs to lose his seat on May 7th.

In an interview with the Record’s Planet Holyrood podcast, he said Starmer was a “principal” factor in the result, but warned:

“It would be wrong for us not to take time to have self-reflection in Scotland as well, and in the Scottish Party, about what happened in the campaign, about the way the campaign was run, about the decisions that were made around various issues of policy.

“I wouldn’t want us to just see the issues with the UK Government and the Prime Minister as a reason not to have a wider reflection and a wider piece of work that looks at all of the issues in the round.”

He criticised the failure to focus on the regional lists when polling showed Labour trailing the SNP in the constituencies:

“I do think there are questions to ask about that sort of 38 seat strategy, whether that was a strategy that could evolve with the changing picture of polling.”

He said: “My sense is there should have been more focus on a list strategy and thinking about that more widely.”

He added: “The challenge for me is just, again, what was the contingency? What was the balancing factor? Because with the best will in the world, a lot of the national polling was starting to show that that was quite a narrow path.”

On the manifesto, O’Kane said Labour were “trying to be honest” with voters about challenges with public finances.

He said it would not have been right to “promise the Earth and not deliver it”, but said his party could have been more “ambitious and hopeful in our language”.

O’Kane is also in favour of greater autonomy for Scottish Labour from the UK party.

While he did not back an independent Scottish party, he kept the door open on the idea:

“As part of any wider review…I think everything should be on the table. I think it would be wrong if we sort of closed off ideas about how we might move forward.”

He said: “We are the party of devolution. We believe in devolution. We believe in devolution that progresses. But we probably didn’t do that for our internal party structures and we need to accept that in a devolved UK, looking at more devolved structures to the Scottish Labour Party isn’t necessarily a bad thing.”

He is also worried this party could suffer the same fate as Labour in Ireland, which has for generations been in the shadow of nationalism:

“There’s definitely a danger in it [Scottish politics] becoming really entrenched into two polarising sort of nationalisms where…the politics of working people, of aspiration, of support and all of the things I’ve just spoken about gets lost and squeezed to a point where it becomes slightly irrelevant, which is I think what you see in Ireland. “

O’Kane said he supported a UK constitutional convention which could look at various issues including House of Lords reform and even the trigger point for indyref2:

“I’m not really sure why we as Labour would advocate for a process that I don’t think is being demanded by the people, because I think what we saw actually was people wanted action on the cost of living, education, the health service, all of those things.

“That said, do I think there is a space for a wider conversation and discussion about the UK as a whole in terms of its constitutional arrangement? Yes, I do.”

He explained: “And of course, if we want to, as part of that process, have a discussion about how we define future votes on a whole range of issues, including independence, then that should absolutely form part of that. But I’m not in a rush to have a Scottish-only conversation.”

A Scottish Labour spokesperson said: “In the election we ran an ambitious campaign for change. Unfortunately we did not win that argument, so we must reflect and learn from that result.

“We will now be the credible opposition Scotland needs – holding this SNP government to account to make sure it delivers on its promises and that the Scottish Parliament is focussed on the issues raised in this election, from the NHS to the cost of living.”

Man Utd beat Brighton 3-0 at the Amex Stadium to end the Prmeier League season on a high under Michael Carrick.

Michael Carrick praised the performances of Mason Mount and Patrick Dorgu after they starred in an outstanding team performance at Brighton.

United brought the curtain down on the campaign with a 3-0 win at the Amex Stadium thanks to goal from Dorgu, Bryan Mbeumo and Bruno Fernandes.

There were a string of fine performances on the south coast, with Fernandes breaking the Premier League’s single-season assist record with his 21st of the campaign, while youngsters Dorgu, Amad and Kobbie Mainoo shone.

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Carrick believes those young players will be better for the experience with United and then reserved praise for Dorgu, who was starting his first game in four months, and Mount, who was making just his second start under Carrick.

“It gives us confidence, without getting carried away and taking anything for granted,” he said of recent results. “We’ve had a good spell, but I do think, again, experience, especially for the younger players, you can’t put a price on what a season or two in this league and playing for Manchester United, dealing with that and learning and understanding what it feels like to then perform really, and the boys have shown that.

“I think Patrick especially, it was a massive setback for him at the time when he got injured, but the way he’s just got on with it. It’s incredible to think he’s so young still. To come back like he did today is great.

“I have to say, I thought Mason in particular as well, coming and playing midfield, I was delighted for him. I thought he did ever so well and Kobbie just keeps improving all the time.”