WASHINGTON (AP) — Cage-match fighting is coming to the White House to fete President Donald Trump, a proud proponent of cage-match politics.

In the coming weeks, crews will erect a 6-foot (1.83 meter) wire-mesh fence shaped into an octagon on the lawn, where UFC fighters will use a combination of kickboxing, jiujitsu, wrestling and other martial arts in a June 14 mixed martial arts show timed for Trump’s 80th birthday and as part of the nation’s 250th anniversary.

The celebration of bloody, brute force dovetails with Trump’s gleefully combative charisma and extreme ideological masculinity — a brawling, no-holds-barred approach to the highest office in the land.

Trump was the first sitting president to attend a UFC show, taking in a 2019 fight that was stopped because of a cut over the loser’s eye that left blood pouring down the fighter’s face.

“A lot of people don’t understand fighting and they think fighting is about anger. It’s not. If you’re angry when you fight, you’ll lose,” said veteran MMA referee and commentator “Big John” McCarthy.

“Fighting is about technique and style, and understanding how to make your opponent make mistakes while you don’t,” McCarthy said.

“I totally understand why he likes it,” he added of Trump. “Because I do.”

It is hard to find a phrase more Trumpian than Ultimate Fighting Championship.

A committed devotee of hyperbole, Trump relishes grand descriptors that can elevate anything to its “ultimate” version. He also proudly fancies himself a fighter: “Fight! Fight! Fight!” became his 2024 campaign mantra, one crystalized after an assassination attempt that summer.

Then there is “championship,” another thing close to the heart of a president who constantly professes love for winning and those who do it frequently.

All of that means Trump giving UFC its largest-ever platform “is calculated. He knows what he’s doing,” said Kyle Kusz, a University of Rhode Island professor who studies the connection between sports and the far right.

Trump “uses UFC to portray himself as a manly sportsman,” said Kusz, who said he sees parallels between the sport’s style of masculinity and Trump’s approach to policy and politics.

The league is planning to issue 85,000 free tickets for the event. Trump said UFC boss Dana White, a longtime friend, will build “a 5,000-seat arena right outside the front door of the White House” and eight large screens in a nearby park for ticket-holders to watch from afar.

The show falls on a Sunday, deviating from UFC’s usual Saturday night time slot, and will be carried live on Paramount+, which is controlled by the Ellison family, also close allies of Trump. France even pushed back the Group of Seven summit it is hosting so as not to conflict with Trump’s birthday festivities.

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Trump has boasted that the event will feature “all top guys.” But fans online have panned the card for lacking top talent such as former two-division champion Jon Jones, who requested his release from the UFC immediately after being excluded from the White House show. Also absent is MMA icon Conor McGregor, whose first bout since 2021 would have been a seismic moment for the sport. The UFC’s White “knows the White House card sucks,” said former champion Ronda Rousey, who is mounting her own MMA comeback outside the UFC because she says the promotion would not meet her financial expectations.

Rousey, who is close to White, says the White House show “fell extremely short of expectations.”

While still being finalized, the card features two championship fights. Brazil’s Alex Periera will meet France’s Ciryl Gane for the interim UFC heavyweight title. Then Spanish-Georgian lightweight champion Ilia Topuria takes on interim champ Justin Gaethje, one of just two Americans who currently hold even a share of the UFC’s 11 championship belts.

The White House did not answer questions about criticism of the card or the event’s aggressive politics. Instead, communications director Steven Cheung, said, “This will be one of the greatest and most historic sports events in history.”

Cheung, a UFC spokesman before joining Trump’s 2016 campaign, called Trump’s event “a testament to his vision to celebrate America’s monumental 250th anniversary.”

A UFC spokesperson did not respond to a request for comment.

In 2014, Trump invested in his own, short-lived MMA league. A decade later, his reelection campaign enhanced his UFC ties, seeking to reach voters who do not usually engage in traditional politics.

Two days after he was convicted on 34 felony counts in a hush money case in June 2024, Trump went to a UFC bout in New Jersey, strolling out into the crowd with White while Kid Rock’s “American Bad Ass” blared. Trump’s campaign used footage of the raucous ovation to help launch its TikTok account.

Then, after his election victory, Trump triumphantly appeared with House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., and a large political entourage at a UFC fight in New York. He also attended UFC bouts in Newark and Miami last year.

Trump, who has built a large portion of his domestic travel around sporting events, is not unique among presidents using sports to appeal to voters.

Republican George W. Bush zinging a pitch in from Yankee Stadium’s mound during the 2001 World Series is remembered as a moment of resilience after the Sept. 11 attacks. Republican Richard Nixon so publicly embraced his football fandom that aides worried it might alienate some voters, said Chris Cillizza, author of “Power Players: Sports, Politics, and the American Presidency.”

Such worries are gone today, though, since sports “now tends to self-select by political affiliation,” he said.

“In an era where people feel like politicians are mostly weirdo aliens,” Cillizza said “sports — playing them, having knowledge about them — represents one of the best ways to prove to voters you are actually a human being.”

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Associated Press writers Greg Beacham in Los Angeles and Michelle L. Price contributed to this report.

Our survey revealed most Sky Mobile customers are content with the value they’re receiving, with 77 per cent declaring themselves satisfied.

As I stated earlier, the best deals are on offer to customers who already take other Sky products, as on a standalone basis, they aren’t always great value. For example, Sky’s cheapest tariff is only £5 per month for 1GB of data, but Lebara will offer you five times that amount of data for 5p less per month.

You need to do your sums when comparing Sky tariffs, as it often offers discounts for the first six months of a deal. For example, at the time of writing, it’s offering 40GB for £18 a month and 50GB for £20 a month, but the 50GB tariff is half price for the first six months. That means it’s £36 cheaper over the course of the year to plump for the 50GB contract than it is the 40GB. How confusing.

Sky also offers different discount offers on airtime if you’re buying a phone at the same time, so check the deals carefully if you’re in the market for a new mobile.

Speed

Score: 3.5/5

The Sky Mobile customers we surveyed gave the network a 72 per cent satisfaction score when it came to speed. That largely chimes with the experience of other companies that use O2. Giffgaff had a higher speed satisfaction score of 89 per cent, while O2 itself had a score of 73 per cent. Of the three main networks (O2, VodafoneThree and EE), it seems O2 has the most customers satisfied with their speeds.

Reliability

Score: 4/5

Again, there’s little to worry about when it comes to reliability on Sky Mobile. Overall, 83 per cent of Sky Mobile customers were happy with the reliability, with similar scores for Giffgaff (95 per cent) and O2 (84 per cent).

According to Ofcom’s latest figures, the O2 5G network reaches between 70 and 76 per cent of UK premises outdoors, which is some way behind the coverage offered by EE.

Support

Score: 3.5/5

Sky’s a big business, so you would hope its support is up to scratch, but generally, our survey revealed a few problems here. Seven out of ten Sky Mobile customers said they were happy with the ease with which they could contact the support team, while 73 per cent were happy with the quality of that support.

Those scores are better than those recorded by other big beasts, including BT Mobile, Vodafone and EE. However, they’re significantly down on the scores registered by Tesco Mobile.

Roaming

Score: 2.5/5

Roaming is something of a sore point for Sky Mobile customers. For many countries, you can use your contracted allowance of data, minutes and texts when travelling, but you must pay £2 a day for the privilege. Many destinations, such as India, Israel and Saudi Arabia are not included in that deal, meaning you must pay a ridiculous £2.16 per MB of data when you’re travelling. You’d be mad to even switch roaming data on in those countries. Opt for a travel SIM instead.

Little wonder Sky Mobile customers don’t rate the roaming value, with only 56 per cent satisfied.

Tesco Mobile is right up there with some of the best-value deals you’ll find from any mobile network. If you’re a data fiend, you might want to check out joint value award winner, Lebara, but Tesco has a wide spread of deals, particularly on SIM-only.

Note that Tesco offers its best prices to customers who are part of its Clubcard loyalty scheme, so if you’re ordering online, you might want to sign up for the free Clubcard first. You can also use Clubcard vouchers gained from supermarket shopping to pay your phone bills. More details on this in the FAQs below.

Pay particular attention to those Clubcard deals, because they can mean a one-year contract is cheaper per month than a two-year deal, the latter of which might also include an annual price rise.

Speed

Score: 4.5/5

The data speed performance of the Tesco Mobile network is right up there with the best, according to the Telegraph readers we surveyed, with an 89 per cent satisfaction score for speed. That score was only matched by Giffgaff, which also piggybacks on the O2 network.

Tesco Mobile includes 5G and 4G coverage in all of its plans. 5G coverage for O2 (Tesco Mobile’s parent network) is some way behind that of EE, with the regulator Ofcom claiming O2’s 5G network has outdoor coverage to 70-76 per cent of UK premises. EE, by comparison, reaches 86-89 per cent.

Reliability

Score: 5/5

The Tesco Mobile customers we surveyed were happy with the reliability of the network. It achieved an 89 per cent satisfaction score for the reliability of voice and text, and 81 per cent for data coverage. Overall network reliability, covering issues such as outages, was up at 93 per cent.

Customer service

Score: 5/5

Tesco Mobile is head and shoulders above its rivals when it comes to customer service. A healthy 94 per cent of customers were satisfied with the ease of contact and 93 per cent were impressed with the quality of support. Those scores are at least 12 percentage points better than the next closest rival.

Tesco Mobile does, of course, have the advantage of in-house staff in many of its supermarkets, potentially making it easier to reach than other virtual network rivals that may rely on phone/online support alone.

Roaming

Score: 4/5

All of Tesco’s SIM-only contract deals include free EU roaming, although you should check the terms carefully on phone contract and PAYG deals. Of the Telegraph customers we surveyed, 80 per cent were satisfied with the roaming value on offer.

Flamingo Land, near Kirby Misperton, has created a new dedicated holding facility for Eurasian beavers.

The facility will support reintroduction projects across Britain and strengthen ongoing partnerships with organisations such as Forestry England and Beaver Trust.

For the past seven years, Flamingo Land has worked closely with Forestry England to temporarily hold beavers prior to their release into other locations in Britain as part of national restoration programmes.

During that time, Eurasian beavers that have passed through Flamingo Land have gone on to play a role in reintroduction projects across the country, with animals now living in locations including London, Cornwall and Scotland.

In January this year, a brand new holding facility was constructed to expand this important work.

The project was developed in collaboration with Forestry England with additional funding by Yorkshire Water and Beaver Trust. The new facility will allow Flamingo Land to increase the support it can provide to Eurasian beaver restoration efforts across Britain and potentially play a key role in future releases across Yorkshire and the wider north of England.

The facility is particularly significant as it is one of only a few dedicated beaver holding facilities located within zoos in Britain, and provides a stepping stone between those in Scotland and the South of England.

Designed to be fully bio-secure, it provides a safe and controlled environment where beavers can be temporarily housed while health checks and veterinary tests are completed, or where animals can rest during longer transportation journeys between release sites.

While the primary purpose of the facility is to support beaver reintroduction programmes, it may also provide a safe temporary home for animals involved in wildlife conflict situations should they arise in the future. However, conservationists hope that such scenarios remain rare, as coexistence between beavers and people continues to improve.

Kieran Holliday, Science and Conservation Officer at Flamingo Land, said: “Eurasian beavers are one of the most important ecosystem engineers in Britain, and their return to our landscapes has the potential to deliver enormous environmental benefits.

“Being able to support reintroduction programmes by providing a secure holding facility is something we are extremely proud of. We are not the first zoo to do this and it has been extremely useful to communicate with other establishments and use their knowledge and experience. This new facility strengthens the role Flamingo Land can play in native species conservation and allows us to support partners such as Forestry England and Beaver Trust even more effectively.”

Dr Roisin Campbell-Palmer, Head of restoration for Beaver Trust, said: “The development of these new beaver holding facilities represents an important step forward for beaver restoration efforts in Britain. While not designed for long-term housing, they play a vital role as short-term holding spaces where animals can be carefully prepared for successful release into the wild.

A key function of these facilities is to reunite family groups wherever possible, as maintaining natural social structures is essential for both beaver welfare and their ability to thrive once released. They also enable essential health screening, ensuring that each individual is fi t, healthy, and ready to adapt to its new environment.

As beavers are increasingly translocated across Britain as part of coordinated restoration efforts, having dedicated, well-managed facilities like these ensures that these movements are carried out responsibly and to the highest standards of animal welfare. Importantly, these sites are not open to the public and are designed to minimise human interaction and stress for the animals.

Ultimately, this is about giving beavers the best possible start before returning them to the landscapes where they belong, supporting the long-term success of restoration across Britain.”

‘Flamingo land has played a key part in the success of the Forestry England led beaver trial in Cropton Forest, temporarily holding beavers for health checks before release and relocation. We are pleased to support the development of this specific holding facility for beavers in Yorkshire as part of our Forest Wilding programme funded by DEFRA, and see it as a positive step for the restoration of the species across the country’ Cath Bashforth, Species Recovery Officer Forestry England

Steph Renshaw, Technical Specialist (Ecology), Yorkshire Water environment team, said: “Beaver are a keystone species and reintroductions are reliant on facilities like these. Yorkshire Water is involved in a number of beaver-related projects and is pleased to support the important work that Kieran and the team at Flamingo Land, Forestry England and the Beaver Trust are undertaking.”

The creation of the facility marks another important milestone in Flamingo Land’s growing portfolio of UK conservation initiatives, which also includes projects supporting white-clawed crayfish, harvest mice, great crested newts and paves the way for more native species in the future.

The sudden death of Olivia O’Shea from Portmagee has left her family, friends and community heartbroken

A close-knit community in Co Kerry has been left devastated following the unexpected death of a young woman who “made such a difference to so many lives in the most positive of ways.”

Olivia O’Shea, from Kilkeveragh in Portmagee, died “suddenly and peacefully in University Hospital Kerry, surrounded by her loving family,” a death notice posted on RIP.ie stated.

She will be deeply mourned by her devoted parents, mother Marion, father Gerard, sister Ailish, brothers Ronan and Aaron, their partners Christopher, Rachel and Aisling, and all her aunties, uncles and cousins from the O’Shea and O’Driscoll Family, along with her countless friends.

Olivia was a passionate GAA supporter who participated in various sports within her local area. She was raised near Cnuicín Rowing Club, who expressed they “are numbed with grief” after her passing.

“A dark cloud has cast shadow over our entire Community in Cnuicín, Portmagee and the whole of south Kerry this week,” they said, reports the Irish Mirror.

“Since the devastating news broke on Wednesday morning that Our dear Olivia had gone to her heavenly home we are numbed with grief.

“Olivia’s family home is a stones throw from our Clubhouse in Cnuicín Pier and her family members have always been a big part of Cnuicín Rowing Club . Olivia loved Cnuicín and spent many happy Summers on Cnuicín Pier swimming with her family and friends and was always present and helping out with the Christmas Day Swim.

“Olivia was loved by everyone in the Community and beyond. Her beaming smile radiated the love and affection she had for her family, her neighbours and her many dear friends.

“We would like to extend our deepest sympathies to Olivia’s parents Marion and Ger, her sister Ailish, Brothers Ronan and Aaron and her Aunts, Uncles and cousins from the O’ Shea and O’ Driscoll families, her neighbours and many friends.

“We will always love and remember you Olivia in Cnuicín. Rest in peace.”

Olivia represented Skellig Rangers in Portmagee at football up to U12 level and was also a member of Southern Gaels Ladies Football Club, who posted a tribute online stating: “All at Southern Gaels wish to extend our deepest and most heartfelt condolences to Marion, Ger, Ailish, Ronan and Aaron O’Shea, the extended O’Driscoll and O’Shea families, and all of Olivia’s friends on her untimely passing.

“Olivia was a member of our Mothers and Others team, and she will be fondly remembered by all who had the pleasure of knowing her.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with her family and loved ones at this incredibly difficult time.

“Ar dheis Dé go raibh a hanam dílis.”

During many summers, Olivia worked in the kitchen at Fisherman’s Bar in Portmagee Village, where staff paid tribute to their former colleague on social media.

“It was with great shock and sadness that we heard of our former colleague and dear friend Olivia O’Shea’s sudden passing on Wednesday morning,” they said. “Olivia worked with us during the summers in the kitchen and brought so much joy and fun to the workplace.

“She had a warm, bubbly personality and a constant smile. The working day went that bit quicker with her quick wit, good company and never taking anything too serious. We are incredibly lucky to have shared many moments of laughter and memories that will last us forever.

“Thank you Olivia for the many fond memories. We will always remember you. May your gentle and beautiful soul Rest in Peace.”

The unexpected passing of Olivia has devastated her family, friends and local community, with mourners paying emotional tribute to the much-loved young woman.

One close friend wrote: “My Deepest condolences to Marion, Ger, Ailish, Ronan, Aaron, all the extended O’ Shea and Driscoll families and all of Olivia’s dear friends at this heartbreaking time. Olivia was one of a kind, a beautiful girl, who was a pleasure to get to know when in college in Cork. My thoughts and prayers are with you all in this sad time. May Olivia’s beautiful soul rest in peace.”

Another person shared: “Deepest sympathy to Olivia’s Family, to Sally and the extended family on your immense loss. I am truly sorry for the pain and utter devastation that is now your world.

“Your Olivia was a truly special lady, full of joy, laughter, energy and goodness, she was one of this world’s special people who brought smiles to every company she graced and made such a difference to so many lives in the most positive of ways. Her reach is now extended to her Heavenly family, may it embrace her gentle soul and surround her with the love she truly deserves.

“Thinking of you all and praying peace may fill your hearts.”

Those wishing to pay their respects have been welcomed to a celebration of Olivia’s life, taking place at her home on Sunday at 12pm, with a procession afterwards to Portmagee cemetery.

For all the latest news, visit the Belfast Live homepage here and sign up to our daily newsletter here.

Arsenal are nine points clear atop the Premier League with just seven games left but Manchester City are still chasing as the title race reaches its climax

Arsenal have a mere seven league matches remaining this season as they continue to lead the race for the Premier League title. Manchester City are still in contention but face a more challenging set of fixtures.

Mikel Arteta’s squad have grown used to playing the supporting role in the top tier, finishing as runners-up in each of the previous three seasons. However, this term, they’re within touching distance of the trophy and hold a nine-point lead at the top.

Pep Guardiola’s City are their sole remaining competitors, sitting in second place with a game in hand. They defeated the Gunners 2-0 in the Carabao Cup final, dashing any hopes of an Arsenal quadruple.

Both teams will clash once more during the Premier League home stretch but one has a smoother road to glory. Mirror Football assesses which of Arsenal and City face the tougher final few fixtures.

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If we utilise the Fixture Difficulty Rating (FDR) that Fantasy Premier League players use, it becomes clear which of the two title contenders faces an easier end to the season. This rating varies from 1 to 5, with the higher number indicating a more challenging match.

READ MORE: Marc Guehi’s reaction to being denied Man City Carabao Cup final medal says it allREAD MORE: Declan Rice made one comment before Carabao Cup final that could come back to haunt Arsenal

League frontrunners Arsenal are set to host Bournemouth next, a match with an FDR of 3. Following this, they face City away (5), before welcoming Newcastle (3) and Fulham (2) to the Emirates.

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The Gunners conclude their season with a visit to West Ham (2), a home game against Burnley (1) and a trip to Crystal Palace (3). In contrast, City not only have an additional match to play but also face more challenging opponents.

Guardiola’s squad return from the international break to take on Chelsea (4) away, followed by a home match against Arsenal (4). They then hit the road to face Burnley (2) and Everton (3).

City will later host Brentford (3), before an away showdown with Bournemouth (3) and a home clash against Aston Villa (3). Additionally, there is still the match against Palace (3) at the Etihad to be rescheduled.

Given that City have an extra match, we can examine the averages of these final fixtures and deduce that they face a tougher run-in. Arsenal’s average FDR stands at 2.7, whilst City’s is 3.1. Despite besting their title rivals in the Carabao Cup, manager Guardiola doesn’t believe that trophy success will influence the league battle.

Following the victory at Wembley, he stated: “I would like to be nine points in front of Arsenal, but I don’t know if I’d change a trophy to fight for the Premier League.

“I don’t think it will have an impact, different competition and they will be more concerned when they come to the Etihad. That title will help us a lot for the [FA Cup] quarter-final against Liverpool at home with our people.

“Today all our side was fully Blue, I’m so happy being together and celebrating. Maybe it will help us for that game but the Premier League is in their hands, they punished us a lot.”

England’s 2026 World Cup kits

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Kim Jong Un observed a test of a high-thrust, solid-fuel engine for weapons, hailing it as a development to boost North Korea’s strategic military capability, state media reported. 

The test likely indicates Kim’s plans to expand and modernise an arsenal of missiles capable of reaching the US mainland.

The report on Sunday from Korean Central News Agency came days after a speech at North Korea’s parliament in which Kim pledged to irreversibly cement his country’s status as a nuclear power.

Iran war latest: US ‘preparing ground invasion’

He accused the US of global “state terrorism and aggression,” apparently referencing the war in the Middle East.

Kim observed the ground jet test of the newly upgraded engine using a composite carbon fibre material, KCNA reported.

The engine’s maximum thrust is 2,500 kilotons, up from around 1,971 kilotons reported in a similar solid fuel engine test in September, according to the agency.

A push to increase engine power is likely connected with efforts to place multiple warheads on a single missile to increase chances of defeating US defences, observers say.

KCNA did not report exactly where or when the test took place.

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The test is part of the nation’s five-year military escalation programme.

Objectives include upgrading “strategic strike means,” KCNA reported.

The reference is understood to mean nuclear-capable, intercontinental ballistic missiles targeting the continental US.

Kim said the engine test had “great significance in putting the country’s strategic military muscle on the highest level,” KCNA reported.

In recent years, North Korea has test-fired a variety of ICBMs demonstrating the potential range to strike the US mainland, including missiles with solid propellants that make detection ahead of liftoff more difficult.

The country’s older liquid-fuel missiles must be fuelled before liftoffs and are not long-lasting.

Some foreign experts say North Korea still faces technological hurdles before it has a functioning ICBM, such as ensuring warheads survive atmospheric reentry.

But others dispute that assessment given the number of years the nation has spent on its nuclear and missile programmes.

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Kim Jong Un unveils ‘most powerful’ missile

North Korea has made a big push to expand its nuclear arsenal since Kim’s high-stakes diplomacy with Donald Trump collapsed in 2019.

In a ruling Workers’ Party congress in February, Kim left open the door for discussions with the US president but urged Washington to drop demands for the North’s nuclear disarmament as a precondition for talks.

Before that crash, the win looked to be between Piastri and Russell.

Antonelli made a slow start and dropped to the back of the top six as Piastri swept into the lead, and Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc and McLaren’s Lando Norris also passed Russell.

Piastri held the lead confidently as Russell moved past Norris and Leclerc into second place by lap four.

Russell tracked Piastri within a second for several laps and then overtook him into the chicane on lap eight, only for the McLaren to move back past down the pit straight at the start of the following lap.

Russell was never as close again and Piastri’s confidence began to build, and he got on to the radio to his team to say he felt that he could hold on to the win if they could keep him in the lead through the pit stops.

Leclerc started the pit stop period on lap 17, Piastri following him in a lap later and Russell three laps after that.

Piastri was proved right as Russell came out of the pits behind the McLaren. Meanwhile, Antonelli – who had moved past Hamilton but no further after the start – cycled up into the lead.

Bearman’s crash happened almost straight afterwards and Russell immediately knew the consequences as he saw the safety car signs alight around the track.

Piastri lost out, too, on what could have been a victory had he managed to hold on ahead of Russell, as the rest of the race suggested he would have.

But a second place finally gets the Australian’s season off the ground, and gives McLaren their first 2026 podium, after he had failed to start the first two races.

“Turns out we’re all right when we actually get to start,” Piastri said.

“A shame we never got to see what would have happened, but for us at this point to be disappointed about finishing second is a pretty good place to be.”

Manchester City midfielder Rodri suggested he would be open to returning to La Liga before the end of his career

Manchester City midfielder Rodri has urged fans to listen to his full interview from earlier this week after he said he would be open to returning to La Liga before the end of his career. After winning the Carabao Cup, the 29-year-old joined up with the Spanish national team for the final international break of the campaign.

During an interview with Spanish media, Rodri was asked about the prospect of playing for Real Madrid, despite previously representing Atletico, and returning to La Liga. He replied: “There have been many players who have gone down that path, right?

“And especially not directly, but over time. I mean, for me, you can’t turn down the best clubs in the world. They have a fanbase that really goes all out for them, and for me, the Bernabeu is always incredible, a stadium that’s very imposing.” He then added: “I’d like to return [to Spain], yes, obviously.”

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Rodri’s contract expires in 2027 and his words led to concerns he might push for a City exit either this summer or at the end of his current deal. But the midfielder has now spoken again about the fallout from the interview, insisting that context was missing.

“I’m used to it,” he explained in response to that interview. “If, out of a 50-minute interview, they cut out whatever they want… in the end, I don’t have much more to say.

“I’m a person who speaks directly. The interview is there if you want to listen to it in its entirety… and not just certain snippets.”

Despite his admiration for La Liga and admitting he still follows the division, Rodri was also complimentary about the Premier League in that initial interview. “I think it’s a thrilling league but at the same time very demanding, meaning it pushes you to the limit,” he said.

“I’ve been there for seven years now, and I’m noticing the passage of time, but for the moment I’m very happy there. I’m currently recovering from an injury, and what worries me right now is my feeling, my level, how to get back to my previous level.

“Not the contract issue, that will come, especially with a World Cup coming up, which is crucial for reaching my level. Right now, I’m free, well, obviously I have a year left on my contract.

“Obviously, there will be a point where we’ll have to sit down and talk, have a conversation.” Rodri is due to return to City after Tuesday’s international friendly against Egypt, ahead of Saturday’s FA Cup quarter-final vs Liverpool.

WASHINGTON (AP) — For several hours Friday, in the stillness before dawn, the Senate appeared to have finally figured out how to fund most of the Department of Homeland Security before it faced the longest partial shutdown in U.S. history.

Senators handed House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., their deal and headed for the airports, seemingly confident of success.

Then it collapsed. Spectacularly.

An incensed Johnson marched out of his office Friday afternoon. He angrily rebuked the plan that the Senate had unanimously agreed to as a “joke.”

“I have to protect the House, and I have to protect the American people,” Johnson told reporters.

It was a dramatic denunciation of a deal that his counterpart, Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., had negotiated after weeks of effort, and was the latest abrupt turn in a funding saga that has bedeviled top Republicans for much of the year.

The collapse of the deal leaves Congress, now on a two-week spring break, with no easy way out of the impasse that has put DHS into a shutdown since mid-February. It also has exposed a rare rupture between the two Republican leaders in Congress, testing their alliances as they labor to move another set of President Donald Trump’s priorities into law before the November elections.

Nothing ahead is likely to be easy.

How the deal collapsed

Thune had negotiated for weeks with Democratic senators on their demands for new restrictions on the department’s immigration enforcement work. Offers were traded several times. The talks moved along at a stop-start pace. Votes failed again and again.

But as Trump made it clear Thursday that he would sign an executive action to pay Transportation Security Administration workers, Thune and Democratic leader Chuck Schumer of New York settled on a deal: It would not include funding for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and for U.S. Border Patrol, and would set aside Democratic demands for new limits on the agencies.

Thune pointed out that Congress had allotted money for immigration enforcement and he told reporters that “we can get at least a lot of the government opened up again and then we’ll go from there.”

Asked if he had cleared the compromise with Johnson, Thune said the two had texted.

“I don’t know what the House will do,” the senator said early Friday as the deal came together.

But as House Republicans woke up to the news, their outrage was swift.

Rep. Nick LaLota, R-N.Y., said that on a GOP conference call that morning to discuss their path forward, a few dozen members ranging from moderates to hard-line conservatives spoke in opposition to what the Senate had done.

“The Senate chickened out,” he said. “The cowards there, only a few of them in the middle of the night with I think only three to five senators present on the floor, chickened out because they wanted to go home for two weeks. We need to raise the bar.”

What’s next for Republicans?

The bitter split threatens to make the job for Republican leaders more difficult as they try to advance their priorities while they still have guaranteed control of both chambers. Trump has said that legislation to impose strict new proof of citizenship requirements on voting is his top priority, but there is no real path for that plan in the Senate with its 60-vote threshold for advancing legislation.

Some Republicans have pushed instead for a budget package that could potentially put some parts of the voter ID law in place. Republicans are also contemplating how to pass an expected request from the White House to fund the war with Iran that could total more than $200 billion, among other priorities.

Meanwhile, the flop of the funding deal has given Democrats another chance to pin the partial shutdown on House Republicans.

“They know this is a continuation of the shutdown because the Senate is gone,” said Massachusetts Rep. Katherine Clark, the No. 2 Democratic leader. “So they know fully well what they’re doing.”

It is not clear what the Senate will do next. A quick resumption of talks is unlikely. Negotiations ended acrimoniously on both sides, with each blaming the other for moving the goalposts along the way.

Schumer said he was proud of his caucus for “holding the line.” But Republican Sen. Susan Collins of Maine, who leads the Senate Appropriations Committee, said Democrats were “intransigent and unreasonable.”

Thune said he believed that Democrats never wanted a deal and would not vote for ICE funding under any circumstances.

“I felt like from the beginning, they just didn’t want to get to ‘yes,’” Thune said after the vote.

The dynamic left senators convinced that the deal was the only way to move past their disagreements and reopen DHS.

But House Republicans on Friday night seemed to revel in the fact they had defied the wishes of the Senate. GOP members said that they work from a perspective that is closer to the will of their constituents.

To Rep. Virginia Foxx, R-N.C., the Senate’s proposal was “nothing more than unconditional surrender masquerading as a solution.” She said the House ”will not bend itself into submission by acquiescing.”

Those searching for a way out of the shutdown seemed discouraged.

“This takes two chambers to get the job done,” said Pennsylvania Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick, a moderate Republican. “Apparently, there’s not enough communication between those chambers.”

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Associated Press writer Kevin Freking contributed to this report.