By LUKE POWER, SPORTS REPORTER

Published: 10:53 BST, 23 August 2026 | Updated: 12:08 BST, 23 August 2026

Erling Haaland has shocked fans by debuting a new hairstyle.

The Manchester City striker has abandoned his trademark Viking-style long locks and opted for a buzz cut. 

He teased the new trim in a short Instagram video on Sunday morning and fans will get to see it in all its glory as City take on Bournemouth in their Premier League opener.

Haaland has varied his hairstyle down the years, sometimes adopting a ponytail and other times letting his plumage fall freely, but this is a new aesthetic for the 26-year-old. 

Advertisement

‘No way,’ former City boss Pep Guardiola said in reaction to Haaland’s new look on his YouTube channel. ‘You are lucky you have hair!’ 

Former Barcelona and Inter Milan star Zlatan Ibrahimovic – who once told Haaland his power comes from his long hair – asked if he shaved it all off ‘for a bet’, while Jack Grealish admitted ‘I can’t stop looking at the top of your head.’ 

Erling Haaland has ditched his iconic long locks for a buzz cut, as he revealed on Instagram 

Advertisement

Former City boss Pep Guardiola was stunned by his old striker’s new look

The forward has enjoyed a free-spirited summer holiday since reaching the World Cup quarter-finals with Norway. 

He spent time hanging out with Pretty Little Thing founder Umar Kamani on a yacht in the French Riviera and also went on a boat trip around Sicily. 

Haaland also had the chance to meet basketball legend Michael Jordan, a link-up brokered by one of Kamani’s friends, as exclusively revealed by Daily Mail Sport. 

Advertisement

He and Kamani were merrymaking at the Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc, a stunning coastal resort in Antibes where suites break the bank at up to £7,058 per night. 

Then again, that’s merely a drop in the ocean for Haaland, who nets close to £1million per week, and Kamani, whose net worth is estimated to be around $1billion (£797m). 

Haaland recently claimed on Snapchat that his brain is ‘fried’ after playing in 67 games for club and country last season, so a break was needed.

You could say he has been letting his hair down – but that won’t be possible with this new chop.

Advertisement

The Norwegian has garnered plenty of popularity for his hair in the past. Former Manchester City ace Kevin De Bruyne revealed that his children were inspired by his look.

‘Erling is a superstar. All three children have long hair. I see that with the kids at [my son’s] school too. They all have hair like that. It’s funny,’ he said in 2023. 

For the Community Shield last week, Haaland sported a ponytail and proved to be ineffective.

He sported a ponytail for last week’s Community Shield match with Arsenal but was ineffective

Advertisement

Manchester City lost 3-0 to Arsenal, submitting a languid and toothless performance which saw new manager Enzo Maresca come under fire.

Replacing Pep Guardiola after his trophy-laden decade was always going to be an uphill task.

Haaland was limited to 13 touches and had zero shots on target before being hooked against the champions.  

In a touching gesture in memory of her brother, Margaret presented the RNLI with Bobby’s old Sunday School Bible, which she asked to be kept on board the lifeboat.

A new Shannon class lifeboat has been officially named Bobby Cameron during a special naming ceremony and service of dedication at Kilkeel Lifeboat Station in Co Down on Saturday, 22nd August.

The lifeboat, which went on service in June of this year, has been largely funded by the donor Margaret Cameron and was named in memory of her beloved brother Bobby. Margaret and her brother were brought up, along with two older brothers, on a farm at Gracehill in Ballymena during the Second World War, and came from an Ulster-Scots background.

Bobby followed a career in joinery and construction and became a skilled City and Guilds craftsman in the construction industry. He also held a teaching post at the College of Technology, Belfast, and subsequently worked in the Department of Economic Development, setting up and organising training for apprentices and unskilled workers.

Bobby was happily married to Betty for 20 years and was devastated when she died in 1998. He remained a widower for the next 26 years until his death two years ago, aged 90 years. Neither Bobby nor Margaret had any connection with the RNLI other than a shared admiration for the lifesaving work they perform.

Advertisement

At the start of the ceremony, Margaret Cameron handed the lifeboat into the care of the RNLI through Peter Sparkes, the charity’s Chief Executive. John Fisher, Kilkeel Lifeboat Operations Manager, then accepted the lifeboat on behalf of the station.

Speaking during the ceremony, John said: ‘Today is a very special occasion for us. It marks 40 years since Robert Grimason, a local businessman, started the RNLI in Kilkeel. During those 40 years, we’ve answered 598 calls, aided over 400 people and saved 43 lives. The commitment, courage and dedication of our people is what the RNLI is all about. Today is another milestone in our history. I cannot thank the Cameron family enough for making this possible. Their generosity has provided us with an exceptional lifeboat that will help us to continue our mission of saving lives for many years to come.’

The Rev Rodney Cameron, nephew of Margaret and Bobby Cameron, led the Service of Dedication that followed. Then, before the gathered crowd of well-wishers, including family and friends of the station, Margaret Cameron named the lifeboat in memory of her brother, while the lifeboat crew poured a bottle of champagne over the side of the boat before it was launched.

Advertisement

Speaking as she named the lifeboat, Margaret Cameron said: “Today is the fulfilment of all my dreams. I am so glad that I was able to do this for Bobby. I miss him very much, and this lifeboat is really a tribute to his memory, as a brother and an uncle.’

In a touching gesture in memory of her brother, Margaret presented John Fisher with Bobby’s old Sunday School Bible, which she asked to be kept on board the lifeboat.

The Shannon is the latest class of all-weather lifeboat to join the RNLI fleet. She’s the first modern all-weather lifeboat to be propelled by waterjets instead of traditional propellers, making her our most agile and manoeuvrable all-weather lifeboat yet.

The lifeboat was also partly funded by generous bequests from Edna Joyce Burgess and Hazel Mills, lifelong supporters of the RNLI. The vessel is also a legacy lifeboat and carries the names of generous supporters who appear within the letters and numbers that make up the lifeboat’s identifying number.

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

The pair, aged 22 and 23, were detained in connection with the death of Liam Potts, whose body was discovered in the river on August 18, and have now been released on police bail.

Liam had been reported missing on August 15, after a night out with friends.

Specialist officers from Northumbria Police’s Marine Unit made the discovery in the river close to Wylam Bridge on August 18.

Prior to Liam’s disappearance, officers received a report of a disturbance at The Boathouse and a subsequent collision on Wylam Bridge involving a vehicle and a group of pedestrians.

A man and woman in their 20s suffered serious injuries in the crash.

The woman has since been discharged from hospital, while the man is still receiving treatment.

Liam was not in the car and was not hit by it. He was last seen leaving the bridge on foot towards Wylam.

At first, officers did not think there was any third-party involvement in his disappearance.

But further investigations are now trying to find out if the disturbance and crash on Wylam Bridge directly led to Liam entering the water.

Northumbria Police’s Major Investigation Team is leading the investigation.

After the latest arrests, Senior Investigating Officer, Detective Inspector Rachael Rutherford, said: “The facts remain the same that Liam was on the bridge at the time of the collision, but he was not an occupant of the vehicle and was not struck by the vehicle.

“Enquiries have revealed that Liam, for reasons yet to be established, entered the water within minutes of the collision.

“We have therefore made the further re-arrests as we are looking to establish whether there is any link between the collision and Liam entering the water.”

Police are continuing to investigate the circumstances of Liam’s death.

Liam’s loved ones have now shared an image and paid tribute to him.

Iran’s president defended a memorandum of understanding with the United States as the best way out of a stalled war.

Meanwhile, the new head of the Islamic Republic’s top security body warned, in a more forceful tone, of retaliation if neighboring countries support U.S. threats to further sanction Tehran.

Pakistan’s army chief planned to travel to Tehran on Monday, Iranian media reported.

A Palestinian man was beaten by an Israeli settler outside his home, and Israel’s military said they were pursuing a stabbing suspect in a separate attack, the latest violence in the occupied West Bank.

Here’s a look at the latest developments in the Iran war and the wider Middle East on Sunday. Full coverage can be found here.

Iran’s president says his country needs to get past current stall

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian defended a recent memorandum of understanding as the best way for the country to move beyond what he described as a situation of “neither war nor peace.”

In a speech published by state-run IRNA early on Sunday, he said members of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council believed the memorandum represented the best possible agreement based on what he described as dignity, wisdom and the national interest.

“There is not a single provision in this agreement that amounts to capitulation,” Pezeshkian said. “The supreme leader sets the policies, and we will follow that path.”

The deal known as the Memorandum of Understanding that U.S. President Donald Trump signed in June set an ambitious 60-day deadline for ending the war with Iran and reaching an accord on its nuclear program. That period ended last week, but the two sides remain far apart, with no signs of compromise on the crucial issue of reopening the Strait of Hormuz, vital to global shipping.

Pezeshkian also linked the agreement to Iran’s economic prospects, saying the country could not attract investment in this stalled phase.

“Capital and money are extremely sensitive to risk,” he said. “We have to remove this risk from the country.”

Nearly six months into the war with the United States and Israel, the Iranian economy is suffering under sanctions and a naval blockade.

Iran security chief warns neighbors against possible economic sanctions

Meanwhile, the hard-line new leader of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council warned Tehran’s neighbors against joining the new U.S. effort to hurt Iran’s economy.

“If (Trump) wants to do something, we will retaliate in a seismic manner,” Mohsen Rezaei said in an interview with the state broadcaster that aired Saturday.

Pakistan’s Field Marshal Asim Munir will lead an official delegation traveling to Tehran on Monday, Iranian state television reported, citing Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman, Esmail Baghaei.

Baghaei said the visit aims to strengthen bilateral cooperation between Iran and Pakistan and continue Pakistan’s work to promote peace and security in the region.

Two regional officials said the visit was part Islamabad’s ongoing efforts to de-escalate tensions between the United States and Iran, and urge both countries to return to the negotiating table. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the matter publicly.

The trip announcement came after a phone call between Munir and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi. There was no immediate comment from Pakistan, which has led several mediation efforts to end the Iran war.

Munir has made several visits to Iran since Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif assigned him to help defuse tensions between the United States and Iran.

__By Munir Ahmed in Islamabad.

Iran executes man arrested during January’s protests

The judiciary’s Mizan news agency reported on Sunday the latest execution connected to the protests, identifying the man as Majid Adineh and saying he was arrested Jan. 9 in Mohammadshahr, near Karaj, west of Tehran. Authorities said he was carrying a handgun with 30 rounds of ammunition, two stun guns, two cans of tear gas and a battery-powered chainsaw.

The judiciary said forensic examinations indicated the handgun had been fired on Jan. 8 and 9. Mizan said Adineh had joined the unrest following calls by groups opposed to Iran’s government and alleged that he had received training from groups outside the country.

A Revolutionary Court in Karaj later convicted Adineh under Iran’s law imposing harsher penalties for espionage and cooperation with hostile states. Mizan said the verdict accused him of carrying out operations on behalf of Israel, the United States and other groups Iran considers hostile.

Palestinian amputee beaten by settler in the West Bank

A 61-year-old Palestinian man was struck by a young Israeli settler with a pipe outside his home in the occupied West Bank, leaving him with bruises and pain, a year after he lost a leg after being shot by a settler.

Saeed Muhammad Ibrahim Rabah told The Associated Press that two settlers arrived with a tractor at his home in Khirbet al-Rakeez in the southern West Bank on Saturday afternoon. One of them began moving stones the family had placed at the property entrance and tried to enter.

One settler struck him on his back with a pipe when he approached them to find out what they were doing, Rabah said. They then left, and he was taken for medical treatment and later returned home with bruising and pain. He said the violence is an effort to make families like his leave.

“We will remain, no matter what happens,” he said after going to the police on Sunday to file a report. “This is our land and this is our homeland, and we must protect it.

Rabah said in April 2025, he confronted settlers on his land while his son filmed. One settler began choking his son as another settler grabbed the father, fired two shots into the air and then shot him in the legs, he said. After a delay, he was taken to a hospital where one of his legs was amputated.

Separately, Israel’s military said Sunday they were pursuing the suspect in a stabbing attack that injured a 24-year-old Israeli man in the area of al-Auja, in the eastern West Bank. Israel’s emergency services said the victim was taken to a hospital in moderate condition.

Violence has escalated in the West Bank, where at least 87 Palestinians have been killed in almost 1,500 attacks by Israeli settlers and soldiers this year, according to Palestinian officials. Three Israelis have been killed by Palestinians in 2026.

The small patch contains tiny microneedles that can pass through the outer layer of the skin without drawing blood.

A new dissolvable 3D-printed patch has been developed by researchers in Belfast with the aim of improving treatment for localised skin cancer.

The patch has been developed by researchers from Queen’s University Belfast.

The small patch contains tiny microneedles that can pass through the outer layer of the skin without drawing blood.

The microneedles can deliver two anti-cancer drugs, curcumin and 5-fluorouracil, for potential use in people with localised skin cancer.

Researchers have said that by delivering medicine straight to the affected area, it provides a more targeted medicine delivery and could help reduce the need for repeated topical treatments, or more invasive procedures such as injections – making skin cancer treatment less painful and easier for patients.

The research was carried out by Rutuja N Meshram, a final Year PhD student, and Professor Dimitrios A Lamprou, chair of Biofabrication and Advanced Manufacturing, both from the School of Pharmacy at Queen’s.

Professor Lamprou said: “Skin cancer is a major public health concern, and current treatments often require repeated topical applications, invasive procedures, or can cause unwanted side effects.

“Many people also experience fear, discomfort, or inconvenience when treatments involve needles and injections.

“Minimally invasive microneedle systems that dissolve after application could provide a more patient-friendly, simpler and less painful way to deliver cancer medicines.

“Because the microneedles dissolve after use, they may also help reduce the risk of needle-stick injuries and decrease medical sharps waste.”

To create the specialised patch, the researchers developed a one-step 3D-printing method. This allowed them to add both anti-cancer drugs directly into a printable resin before making the microneedle patch.

The researchers said this technique blends the drugs directly into the microneedles during the manufacturing stage, enabling better skin penetration, higher drug loading, and a controlled two-stage release.

They also believe this approach could support the development of next-generation medicine delivery technologies, including vaccines and other life-saving drugs.

Mr Meshram said: “Advanced manufacturing technologies such as 3D-printing are helping reshape the future of medicine by enabling more precise drug delivery and supporting personalised, patient-friendly healthcare.”

“Our findings point to a future where medicines and vaccines can be delivered in ways that are less painful, easier to use, and more acceptable to patients than traditional injections.

“In time, this research could support the development of more personalised treatments and safer, more accessible healthcare technologies.”

The study has been published in Advanced Healthcare Materials and was supported by the Joint Commissioner, Education Branch, Social Welfare in Maharashtra, India.

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

Luke Shaw says Manchester United did not prepare well enough ahead of their shock opening day defeat to Hull City in the Premier League.

There was plenty of optimism around the Red Devils at the start of the season but they began in terrible fashion with a 2-0 defeat at newly-promoted Hull.

Goals from Semi Ajayi and Nobel Mendy gave the underdogs the perfect return to the top flight and piled the pressure on Michael Carrick at the earliest opportunity.

Shaw obviously described the result and performance as ‘disappointing’ but surprisingly suggested that preparation was not good enough.

Given it is the first game of the season, Manchester United fans may be frustrated that not enough work was done to deal with the threats Hull posed.

‘Disappointing, I think we knew Hull’s strengths,’ Shaw told Stan Sports. ‘Set-plays and wide positions and crosses into the box. At times we did defend well, but the goals, set-plays, not good enough. We knew they were going to be good from set-plays and ultimately it’s cost us the three points today.

‘Really disappointing. It’s not us and we knew it was coming. I think as a whole, as a group, collectively, we could prepare better. Especially knowing how good they are at set-plays and what their dangers are.

‘I think also going forward we were lacking that cutting edge today to score the goals and try to fight our way back into the game.’

The England international made it clear that this is the kind of game the Red Devils should be winning as they look to challenge at the top end of the Premier League table.

‘No excuses at all in this game, but it’s the start of the season and maybe players are finding form a little bit,’ he said. ‘But no way is that an excuse, Manchester United should be coming to Hull and no disrespect to them, but we should be winning the game.’

The Tigers’ two goals did come from set-plays, with the ball falling to Ajayi after an Oli McBurnie effort was saved by Senne Lammens from a corner.

The second goal came as Mendy headed in a dangerous free-kick cross from Regan Slater, with Shaw coming in for criticism from Wayne Rooney for his ‘schoolboy’ defending.

A frustrated Bruno Fernandes told TNT Sports: ‘It was the same mistakes we made last season, every away game we give too much of the ball to the opponent.

‘In the first 20 minutes, their goalkeeper was the one with the most touches.

‘We needed to press more, be more aggressive, and then again we need to work on set-plays and not concede these type of goals.

‘Against these types of teams, they are waiting for that moment. We knew before the game set-pieces would be a big part of their game.’

Manager Carrick tried to be more positive, adding: ‘We did some good things today and it will get lost. We have to find answers but because we lose one game, it doesn’t mean everything needs dissecting.’

Manchester United return to action against another newly-promoted team, Ipswich Town, on Sunday August 30.

Lucy Davis issued a powerful message to fans on Saturday as she made her first public appearance since revealing she has incurable cancer. 

The Office star, 53, revealed this month that she’s been diagnosed with stage four breast cancer, and she ‘doesn’t know how long she has left’.

Yet Lucy put on a brave face on Saturday as she attended the For the Love of Fantasy & Sci-Fi convention at London’s ExCeL, where she reunited with her Shaun Of The Dead co-star Simon Pegg and the film’s director Edgar Wright. 

During her appearance, Lucy called her fans her ‘second family’, as she shared a poignant message about never giving up. 

She told the crowd: ‘It’s like this whole second family you never knew you had. Everyone is like a community, friendly, supportive of us, but you guys and each other. So I’m quite hopeful about that, to be honest. 

‘We need a bit more niceness in the world, and we get it here. So I’m grateful for you guys.’ 

Lucy put on a brave face at the For the Love of Fantasy & Sci-Fi convention at London’s ExCeL, where she discussed Shaun Of The Dead, the film she starred in more than 20 year ago

During her appearance, Lucy called her fans her ‘second family’ as she shared a poignant message about never giving up

When asked what advice she would give to someone trying to break into the film industry, she shared: ‘Don’t let anyone tell you that you can’t do or be anything that you want to do or be.

‘We all grow up just with lies from the world telling us that we all have limitations, and none of us do. 

‘Our only limitations are the things that we think are limiting us. You can do anything and be anybody, and don’t apologise for it.’

Lucy was on the panel because of her great work playing aspiring actress Dianne in the 2004 comedy horror Shaun Of The Dead, which followed a group of friends trying to survive a zombie apocalypse.

Her favourite memories of filming, she said, were ‘when we all pretended to be zombies and walked across the square; it was like being naughty schoolkids’.

She added: ‘It was a fun time, we went a bit mad.’

Lucy’s appearance came just 11 days after she announced her incurable cancer diagnosis. 

In an Instagram post last week, Lucy penned that she had ‘zero idea’ that her announcement would receive ‘the attention it did’, and said she’s still reading through the messages she’s received.

She wrote: ‘OK, so the last two days have been utterly overwhelming, in that I had ZERO idea my cancer post would have the attention it did. 

‘Truly, I am in shock. That said…. THANK YOU to everyone for the tremendous amount of kindness and support you have sent me. 

‘Good grief it was emotional! I am trying to go thru all the comments on my post – and I’ll get there! Just give me a bit of time:)

‘Also, to the couple of people who slightly misread the news and commented R.I.P., you’ll be delighted to know I am still alive – hurrah!’

Lucy (right) in comedy horror Shaun Of The Dead with co-stars, from left, Dylan Moran, Kate Ashfield and Simon Pegg

Lucy with, from left, Mackenzie Crook, Ricky Gervais and Martin Freeman in the BBC mockumentary The Office 

Advertisement

Lucy shared the post alongside a video of herself being taught how to ride a skateboard by Malachi Barton, who she worked with in 2023 when they starred in the US comedy series The Villains Of Valley View.

Her post continued: ‘So, to lighten things up, here’s a video of my first (and last) skateboarding lesson, from @malachibarton.

‘It was a few years ago but still something that cracks me up when I realise I have no sporting ability whatsoever.’

The actress has had a number of health worries over the years and had a kidney transplant using an organ donated by her mother, Hazel, in 1997. Then, eight years later, Lucy, who is diabetic, required hospital treatment with kidney failure, but went on to make a full recovery.

Lucy has also been open about living with bulimia, which was at its worst when she was going through a divorce in 2011 after a five-year marriage to The Mentalist’s Owain Yeoman.

In her post on Tuesday, Lucy shared that she first discovered a ‘tiny, hard spot’ in her breast a year ago and nearly ignored it before seeing a doctor. 

The star said that despite the cancer being declared incurable she is ‘at peace with whatever comes next’.

She shared her diagnosis alongside an emotional video that showed her ringing the cancer treatment hospital bell, and wrote in her post that she’s been told it’s ‘too late’ for her to undergo chemotherapy.

The star is best known for her role as Dawn Tinsley in Ricky Gervais’s comedy The Office, and went on to star in the DC film Wonder Woman and Netflix’s dark supernatural series Chilling Adventures Of Sabrina.

She wrote: ‘Hi friends:) I wanted to share something with you all that I’ve kept to myself for a while but for various reasons would like to share now.

‘A year and a half ago I was diagnosed with Stage 4 Breast Cancer, which has metastasised to my bones. Specifically to my spine, right hip, and my ribs. The cancer is incurable, and too late for chemo.

‘The initial lump that I felt, wasn’t a “lump” as such; rather a kind of hard spot. Really tiny. I almost didn’t bother getting it checked. So I guess I’m saying don’t ignore anything – get everything checked out.

‘As of now, I’m trying to live out whatever might be left of my life in as fun a way as I possibly can. I always like to find the teachable moments in anything negative that happens. 

‘And cancer has not disappointed in that regard; there’s a lot I have learned from it, and I’m grateful for that.

Lucy shared her diagnosis this month alongside an emotional video that showed her ringing the cancer treatment hospital bell, as she revealed it’s ‘too late’ for her to undergo chemotherapy

The actress with her father, comedian Jasper Carrott, at her wedding to Welsh actor Owain Yeoman in 2006 – they divorced five years later

Advertisement

‘As some of you will know, the pain can really be something else. Standing and walking for too long a time can be hard, and I need to use a wheelchair sometimes (so if you see me toddling around in one, feel free to give me a push!)

‘The thing that has been most vital to me is humour. I asked my friends and family to make fun of me as much as possible (which they’re really good at), and most importantly of all to not treat me like a sick person.

‘There’s nothing that will make you feel more unwell than being treated as if you’re unwell.

‘I’m not scared of whatever comes next. I’m at peace with it. I’ll see my Gracie [her dog, who died in 2024] sooner than expected, and for me, leaving my physical body just means going home. Any and all grieving is for my family; it’s far harder for them than for me.

‘I’m still going to keep up all my work for animal rights. It’s so important to me. And I still would like to keep working. I’m perfectly able to do so, and acting is one of the biggest joys in my life.

‘For those of you on a similar journey to mine, I do wish you well. Cancer asks a lot from us, physically and mentally. And we all get to do it however we choose. Much love to you all.’

After announcing the news in an Instagram post, many stars offered their own heartfelt messages in the comments. 

Trains across the UK have been cancelled by rail operator CrossCountry after a power cut at its control centre.

The power outage started in Birmingham on Saturday and as a result, many of the systems used to manage the railway are unavailable, the operator said.

Cancellations are affecting most routes, from Glasgow to Penzance and Leeds to Manchester, until further notice because of “significant and unforeseen disruption”, said CrossCountry, ranked Britain’s worst rail operator, in June.

Passengers are venting their anger on social media, saying the situation is the “worst case scenario” at the weekend, with some taking coaches before continuing their train journey with another operator.

“A massive thank you to Cross Country Trains for cancelling my train this morning to Birmingham. You are truly not fit for service. You have also cancelled my train coming back but that is immaterial. Useless. Utterly useless,” one user on X said.

Major routes between Manchester and Birmingham, which passes through Stoke-on-Trent, Coventry and Wolverhampton, along with routes from Leeds to York, Cheltenham to Cardiff and Glasgow to Edinburgh, are all affected.

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he believes actions taken by dismissed Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov, including his involvement in mass protests and calls for elections, were misguided, as he publicly detailed their dispute for the first time.

Zelenskyy also alluded to problematic decisions over defense spending and said inaccurate information provided by the Defense Ministry contributed to an awkward encounter with U.S. President Donald Trump over the use of Starlink in Russia.

Zelenskyy disclosed figures showing Ukraine’s growing shortage of Patriot air-defense missiles needed to counter Russian ballistic attacks, with deliveries from Western allies declining in the past three years even as Russian missile strikes intensified.

He highlighted battlefield gains, however, saying Ukrainian forces have almost completely recaptured the Dnipropetrovsk region, with only about 10 square kilometers remaining under Russian control.

He made the remarks during a two-hour off-the-record meeting with reporters on Saturday, with a transcript released publicly on Sunday.

Wide-ranging discussion included first public comments on Fedorov dismissal

His comments ranged widely, covering the latest battlefield developments, efforts to counter Russian ballistic attacks, the state of peace negotiations, Ukraine’s budgetary challenges and the political turmoil surrounding Fedorov’s dismissal.

“I really had and still have a very positive attitude toward Mykhailo. We have been through a lot together. But I believe that he himself goes, or is pushed, into the wrong things,” he said.

Fedorov, a popular minister credited with modernizing Ukraine’s armed forces and accelerating the military’s embrace of technology and drone warfare, was dismissed last month after reportedly falling out with the country’s top military commander. His removal triggered mass protests that lasted for weeks but ultimately failed to force a reversal of the decision. Fedorov later called for elections in a video address

Zelenskyy said he had offered Fedorov four different options to continue working in government. Fedorov, he said, rejected all four proposals.

Inaccurate information led to uncomfortable White House situation

Zelenskyy appeared to link Fedorov to an awkward episode involving Starlink and Elon Musk. Zelenskyy said that earlier this year the Defense Ministry had told him that SpaceX had agreed to allow Ukraine to use Starlink over Russian territory to carry out deep strike operations, subject to political approval.

Acting on that, Zelenskyy said, he raised the issue directly with U.S. President Donald Trump. He told Trump that Musk had confirmed the proposed use. Zelenskyy said the two sides subsequently sought Musk’s confirmation and discussed financing for the project.

Touching on a corruption probe that led Zelenskyy to fire one of his most senior officials this week, he said anti-corruption investigators do not believe the president was involved. The investigators had named a deputy head of the presidential office among the suspects in a money-laundering case.

“The heads of anti-corruption agencies have zero questions for me. They understand perfectly well that I am not involved in anything like that. And this is important to me,” he said.

On the battlefield, Zelenskyy was optimistic, saying Ukraine had almost completely regained control of the Dnipropetrovsk region, with only about 10 square kilometers and three small villages remaining outside Ukrainian control.

He said another operation was underway elsewhere and that its results were expected by the end of August.

He also predicted that by the end of 2026 Ukraine could reach parity between the territory occupied by Russia since the beginning of the year and the territory retaken by Ukrainian forces. Zelenskyy said Russia had occupied about 990 square kilometers since the start of the year, while Ukraine had restored control over roughly 820 square kilometers.

The president said Russia’s principal objective remained the Konstantynivka-Sloviansk-Kramatorsk axis and that Moscow was still demanding Ukraine withdraw from the Donbas region as a condition for a settlement.

Still struggling for access to Patriot missiles

Zelenskyy said Ukraine was receiving substantially fewer Patriot interceptor missiles even as Russian ballistic attacks are increasing.

He said Ukraine received 675 Patriot missiles in 2023, compared with 364 in 2025 and an expected 264 in 2026. Zelenskyy said he wanted to secure 300 additional Patriot missiles for the coming winter, while Ukraine’s Air Force had requested 360.

The shortfall is particularly serious because the United States and European partners are struggling to expand production. Zelenskyy said he hoped Ukraine could obtain even 5% or 10% of U.S. reserves and was able to pay for them.

Zelenskyy said Russia could eventually produce up to 1,300 ballistic missiles a year, compared with an estimated current capacity of 600.

He said Ukraine was also preparing alternatives to Starlink, including a European communications project, as Russia and China work on their own competing system.

Flight schedules are back to normal following a security breach overnight on Friday

Flight schedules have returned to normal at Manchester Airport this weekend following an overnight security breach on Friday which resulted in seven flights being diverted and at least 17 being held, which had the knock-on effect of more delays.

Shortly after 11.20pm last night, Friday August 21, police were called to the airport after the man ‘encroached’ onto the airfield. The incident lasted for around 15 minutes, a spokesperson for Manchester Airport said, before he was taken to hospital from the scene.

It is understood the incident was mental health-related. The incident was resolved with flights returning back to normal by the morning, the airport spokesperson confirmed, and a temporary fix has been put in place following the security breach.

Click here to get the biggest stories straight to your inbox in our Daily Newsletter

Among the seven flights diverted were a TUI flight from Boa Vista in Cape Verde, which according to Flightradar24 had to be diverted to the East Midlands, a Ryanair flight from Agadir in Morocco diverted to Birmingham and an easyJet flight from Barcelona diverted to Liverpool. One passenger who arrived just after the incident praised airport staff for how they handled the situation.

Rai Hirst told the Manchester Evening News: “The staff went above and beyond in the early hours of the morning. They made sure everybody was safe, everybody was ok. They answered any questions. I didn’t even think there were that many staff who worked at the airport overnight. I just hope that person gets all the help they need.”

Flight schedules are back to normal this Sunday. If you are due to fly it’s important to monitor the status of your flight. Below are delayed flights by 30 minutes or more, and cancelled flights from Manchester Airport as of 9.50am on Sunday August 23, according to FlightRadar24.com.