Spanish giants Real Madrid have confirmed the signing of England international Trent Alexander-Arnold from Liverpool.
Real Madrid have signed defender Trent Alexander-Arnold from Liverpool on a deal until 2031.
The 26-year-old England international’s contract at Anfield was drawing to an end but Madrid paid a fee to bring him in earlier so he can play in the Club World Cup, the Spanish club said on Friday.
Right-back Alexander-Arnold, who has just won the Premier League title with Liverpool, came through the academy of his boyhood club and won the Champions League in 2019.
He also won the Premier League in 2020 and 352 appearances for the club.
The defender joins former Liverpool midfielder Xabi Alonso at Real Madrid, with the Spaniard appointed as their new coach to replace Carlo Ancelotti.
Alexander-Arnold’s close connections to Liverpool meant that his announcement that he was leaving the club was viewed with disgust by some supporters and he was booed in the penultimate match of the season.
But after club figures including former manager Jurgen Klopp and Mohamed Salah urged fans to remember the contribution he has made to Liverpool’s success over the last six years, he was roundly cheered when he lifted the Premier League trophy at Anfield last Sunday.
The defender joins a Real Madrid side which failed to win a major trophy this season.
Alexander-Arnold has been criticised for his defensive concentration at times but brings supreme passing vision and attacking edge down the right flank.
Real Madrid have struggled at right-back this season with Dani Carvajal recovering from a long-term knee injury and winger Lucas Vazquez enduring a torrid time there out of position.
Alexander-Arnold could make his Real Madrid debut when they face Saudi Arabian side Al-Hilal in their opening Club World Cup match on June 18 in Miami.
Real Madrid have also signed Spanish centre-back Dean Huijsen from Bournemouth as they look to bolster a back line which was ravaged by injury this season.
The Freedom Flotilla Coalition plans second sailing after earlier attempt saw ship targeted in a drone attack blamed on Israel.
Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg and Game of Thrones actor Liam Cunningham will join the next sailing of the Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC) as it attempts to break Israel’s months-long blockade of Gaza.
The “Madleen” is due to disembark from Catania, Sicily, on Sunday with a cargo of humanitarian aid and several high-profile activists on board, including Thunberg, European Member of Parliament Rima Hassan and Palestinian-American lawyer Huwaida Arraf.
Cunningham, an Irish actor best known for his role as Davos Seaworth in the hit HBO series, is a longtime advocate for Palestine and similar causes.
The sailing marks the second attempt in as many months by the FFC, a coalition of humanitarian groups, to reach Gaza.
A mission at the start of May was aborted after another FFC vessel, the “Conscience”, was attacked by two alleged drones while sailing in international waters off the coast of Malta.
The FFC alleges that Israel was responsible for the attack, which severely damaged the front section of the ship.
— Freedom Flotilla Coalition (@GazaFFlotilla) May 29, 2025
MEP Hassan said in a short video on social media that the trip by the “Madleen” is a protest against Israel as much as an attempt to deliver much-needed aid to Gaza.
“The first [goal] being of course to reject the blockade of humanitarian aid, the ongoing genocide, the impunity enjoyed by the State of Israel and to raise global international awareness,” she said.
“This action is also in response to the attack that took place on May 2 against the previous ship that took place in international waters near Malta.”
Israel partially lifted its nearly three-month blockade of Gaza last week, but since then has only allowed a tiny amount of assistance into the Palestinian territory, which the United States has warned is on the brink of famine.
This week, thousands of Palestinians rushed to so-called aid distribution stations set up by the controversial Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, leading to the deaths of at least three people and dozens of injuries in the chaos that ensued as desperate people tried to get food supplies.
The UN and other humanitarian organisations are boycotting the US and Israeli-backed initiative, accusing Israel of attempting to consolidate and control aid distribution across Gaza in a further weaponisation of food and starvation.
The World Health Organization has warned that Gaza is at risk of famine following months of prolonged food shortages amid Israel’s punishing blockade, and that about a quarter of the population is in a “catastrophic situation of hunger, acute malnutrition, starvation, illness and death”.
New data has revealed the “unprecedented reversal” of trans rights in Europe and Central Asia.
On 13 May, the Trans Europe and Central Asia (TGEU) organisation released its Trans Rights & Map 2025 report, which “shows country-specific requirements for legal gender recognition, protections for trans asylum seekers, hate crime and speech laws, and more.”
For the first time in its 13-year history, the report revealed that setbacks in human rights for trans people across Central Asia and Europe now outweigh progress.
Out of the 54 countries in the aforementioned regions, only 39 countries have legal or administrative measures in place that make legal recognition of gender available to trans people. Of those select countries, 24 require a mental health diagnosis, 12 demand sterility and 12 countries base legal gender recognition procedures on self-determination.
In regard to trans asylum seekers, only 27 countries out of the 54 reviewed offer explicit international protection on the grounds of gender identity.
When analysing hate speech and crime, the report revealed that 24 countries have laws in place that prohibit hate crimes against trans people, with 16 of those territories being European Union member states.
Regarding non-discrimination practices, only 20 of the 27 EU member states protect against discrimination in employment based on gender identity.
Of the 27 EU member states, 17 protect against discrimination in access to goods and services on the grounds of gender identity, while only 15 protect against housing discrimination based on gender identity.
Lastly, Iceland and Malta are the only two countries that have effectively depathologised trans identities, and 10 out of the 54 reviewed states prohibit conversion practices on the grounds of gender identity.
“The data confirms what trans people have been saying and feeling it. It shows a historically low amount of progress and historically high levels of stagnation,” TGEU senior research officer Freya Watkins said in a statement.
“In 2025, we saw more than twice as much regression as progress on our Map. This marks the first time in the 13-year history of the project when clearly more rights have been taken away than have been gained.”
TGEU Executive Director Ymania Brown echoed similar sentiments, calling on the EU to “actively defend trans people’s dignity and human rights by adopting an ambitious EU LGBTIQ Strategy.
“Despite the unmistakable deterioration of the situation for trans people, many political leaders halt progress and recoil from solidarity action–– as if this could stop the attack. The opposite is true. Only going forward will stop the attack on our rights and our value system,” Brown said.
“How the EU responds to this threat within its own borders sets the tone globally. In Eastern Europe, Central Asia, and the Caucasus, Human rights protections are visibly eroding. This is a critical moment. Europe can defend or it can lead. But it cannot look the other way. Dignity is not optional. Equality is not negotiable. And most important of all, freedom, is not for the few.”
The recent report comes at a time when trans people worldwide are facing increased scrutiny and attacks from politicians and conservative figures worldwide.
To view the entire 2025 Trans Rights & Map, click here.
In a world trying to erase LGBTQIA+ stories, we keep writing them. Join our mission as shareholders in Gay Times and help us fight for your rights. Find out more at investors.gaytimes.com.
They’ve long been hedging their bets. But Southeast Asian nations are caught in the dispute between the United States and China. The trade-dependent countries are under threat from Trump’s tariffs, too. They face a delicate balancing act between economic survival and strategic neutrality. The message was clear at the Association of Southeast Asian Nations – ASEAN’s recent summit in the Malaysian capital Kuala Lumpur. Member countries are recalibrating their economic partnerships to insulate their economies. That includes a push to deepen trade ties with China and Gulf countries.
These are the key events on day 1,191 of Russia’s war on Ukraine.
Here’s where things stand on Friday, May 30:
Fighting
The Russian army said on Thursday that it had captured three villages in Ukraine’s Donetsk and Kharkiv regions in its latest advance.
Authorities in Ukraine said Russia had fired 90 drones overnight and at least seven people were killed in drone, missile and artillery strikes across five front-line Ukrainian regions.
Russia said it had repelled 48 Ukrainian drones overnight, including three near Moscow.
Drones made a night-time attack on Russia’s western Kursk region, damaging a hospital and apartment buildings, and injuring at least one person, the regional Governor Alexander Khinshtein said.
Ukraine’s military said its forces remained active in small areas of Kursk, though Russia’s military said last week it had completed the ejection of Ukrainian forces from the Russian region.
Across the border in Ukraine’s neighbouring Sumy region, the regional governor reported new fighting in villages near the border where Russia has been seizing territory. He said various areas in his region were constantly changing hands as both sides continued to battle for control.
“Active battles continue in certain border areas, notably around the settlements of Khotyn and Yunakivka,” Sumy Governor Oleh Hryhorov wrote on Facebook. “The situation on the line of contact is constantly changing. In some places, we hold the initiative, in others, the enemy is proving to be active.”
Russia’s Defence Ministry said its forces had captured three more villages as it slowly advances through parts of eastern Ukraine. These were Stroivka in the northeastern Kharkiv region, and Shevchenko Pershe and Hnativka near the town of Pokrovsk, the focal point of Russia’s westward drive for months.
Ukrainian military reports made no mention of any of the three villages coming under Russian control. Russian forces had launched 53 attacks over 24 hours near Pokrovsk, the military said.
Ceasefire
The Kremlin said on Thursday that it was waiting for Kyiv’s response to its proposal for new talks in Istanbul next Monday.
Ukraine said it was ready to hold more talks with Russia in Istanbul but demanded that Moscow supply a document setting out its conditions for peace in the war, adding that Kyiv had already submitted its vision of a peace settlement.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that Russia was engaging in “yet another deception” by failing to hand over its peace settlement proposal in advance of the next potential meeting. “Even the so-called ‘memorandum’ they promised and seemingly prepared for more than a week has still not been seen by anyone,” Zelenskyy said in his nightly video address.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that Kyiv’s demand on the “memorandum” was “non-constructive”.
Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Heorhii Tykhyi, said Moscow’s refusal to send the document “suggests that it is likely filled with unrealistic ultimatums”.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who will host the new talks, called on Russia and Ukraine not to “shut the door” on dialogue.
The Russian delegation to the second round of talks in Istanbul will be the same as for the first round, the Russian TASS news agency cited Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova as saying.
United Nations Undersecretary-General for Political Affairs Rosemary DiCarlo told the Security Council that the “cautious hope” she expressed a month ago for a ceasefire in Ukraine has diminished in the face of the “brutal surge in large-scale Russian attacks” against Ukraine.
Ukrainian Deputy Ambassador to the UN Khrystyna Hayovyshyn told the council that “Russia is not signalling any genuine intention to stop its war”, and said that increased political, economic and military pressure on Moscow was required.
Russian Ambassador to the UN Vassily Nebenzia rejected the accusations, instead accusing Kyiv of “attempting to prolong the war” and warning that Ukraine’s defeat was inevitable. “No new anti-Russian sanctions, nor deliveries of weapons to Ukraine or any other hostile steps vis-a-vis Russia will be able to prevent the inevitable military defeat of the Zelenskyy regime,” Nebenzia said.
John Kelley, the United States’s alternate representative at the UN meeting, said that if Russia “makes the wrong decision to continue this catastrophic war”, Washington will consider “stepping back from our negotiation efforts to end this conflict”, adding that additional sanctions against Moscow were “still on the table”.
Military aid
Zelenskyy said he discussed the possible delivery of German Taurus cruise missiles to Ukraine with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz during his visit to Berlin. “The Taurus issue was discussed in a one-to-one meeting between the chancellor and me,” the Ukrainian president told the German broadcaster RTL.
Russia accused Serbia of exporting arms to Ukraine, saying it was a stab in the back by its longtime Slavic Balkan ally.
“Serbian defense enterprises, contrary to the ‘neutrality’ declared by official Belgrade, continue to supply ammunition to Kyiv,” Russia’s foreign intelligence service said in a statement.
The statement alleged that exports of Serbian arms to Ukraine are going through NATO intermediaries, “primarily the Czech Republic, Poland and Bulgaria”. It added: “Recently, exotic options involving African states have also been used for this purpose.”
Regional security
A Belarusian radio station has been flouting European Union sanctions to spread “disinformation” and back a pro-Russian candidate on social media in advance of Poland’s presidential election, according to reports.
A Polish-language radio station, set up by Belarus, has been posting pro-Russian narratives on social media for almost two years “despite EU sanctions”, experts said in a report published by three think tanks. Poland votes on Sunday in a hotly contested presidential run-off between pro-EU and nationalist candidates, which is being closely watched in Europe.
Economy
The International Monetary Fund announced it had reached an agreement with Ukraine on a loan programme review to unlock about $500m dollars of funds to support macroeconomic stability.
A MASSIVE European waterpark has opened a new year-round outdoor pool – and it comes with a massive swim-up bar.
The outdoor pool Svømmepøl is n the Rulantica water world at Europa-Park Resort in Germany.
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The new pool will be heated to 32CCredit: Europa Park
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It has a Nordic-theme, included the surrounding vegetationCredit: Europa Park
It measures around 660sqm and sits inside a Nordic-style ‘volcanic landscape’.
The 32C heated pool is in the ‘Dynstrønd’ area of the park and is the largest open-air pool in Rulantica to date.
It also has several features including geysers, water mist and an infinity area.
In addition, there is a rock cave with bubbling water loungers and a discovery tour with mascot ‘Snorri’ – perfect for little ones.
There is a swim-up bar called ‘Svømme-Bar’ too – which seats 150 guests.
The pool is then surrounded by sun loungers and Nordic vegetation.
Visitors can also get to the outdoor swimming area from the indoor area.
Europa-Park’s owner, Ronald Mack, said: “With ‘Svømmepøl’, we are expanding Rulantica’s year-round offering with a spacious and fascinatingly designed outdoor pool that promises both relaxation and adventure.
“The numerous details and special features create an impressive bathing experience and once again set new standards in innovative water attractions,” reports EAP Magazine.
The pool even took an entire week to fill.
Inside Universal Epic Universe with incredible thrill rides and amazing food
Rulantica first opened in 2019 and in total spans 32,600sqm with 14 themed zones based on Nordic legends including Rangnakor.
There are 50 slides and attractions in total, as well as a wave pool and two swim up bars.
There are a number of other experiences available at the waterpark including evening DJ sets and private relaxation booths and saunas.
Rulantica is operated by Europa-Park, which sits just next door to the waterpark.
There is even a free shuttle that runs between the two attractions.
Tickets to enter Rulantica cost £38.50 and tickets to enter Europa-Park cost £54.
What is Europa-Park like?
WRITER Lee Bell recently visited Europa-Park and has shared his thoughts.
Within just one hour, I wake up in Rome, stroll through the streets of southern Spain, and whizz through Scandinavia on a rollercoaster.
There are still 15 more countries to see before the day is through.
But that is easily done at Europa Park — a mega theme park in Germany where different areas are designed to look just like European countries.
Spanning 230 acres just outside Rust, a small unassuming town in the southwest of the country near the borders of France and Switzerland, this theme park and hotel resort is an adrenaline junkie’s dream.
And its theming means you can travel the continent on a whirlwind tour.
The attention to detail is off the chart. The Greece area captures the feel of being in Mykonos while the Switzerland section transports you to the heart of the Alps.
From the architecture to the street signs, it feels like you’re really visiting these different lands.
Its extravagance reminds me of a family-friendly Las Vegas, just without the casinos and flashing neon lights.
Instead, it’s packed with 13 rollercoasters, 100 attractions, six themed hotels, and a full-blown water park.
Back in February, Europa-Park celebrated its 50th anniversary and with it, opened a new ride.
Featuring the park’s mice mascots Ed and Edda, the ride is a train journey with an interactive gaming element.
The ride is based on the upcoming film, ‘Grand Prix of Europe‘ – a cartoon film that stars Ed and Edda voiced by Thomas Brodie-Sangster and Gemma Arterton.
Visitors can ride on ‘Grand Prix EDventure’ with Ed and Edda’s racing crew and take a trip across Europe.
What: UEFA Champions League final When: Saturday, May 31, 9pm (19:00 GMT) Where: Allianz Arena, Munich, Germany Who: Paris Saint-Germain (France) vs Inter Milan (Italy)
How to follow our coverage: We’ll have all the build-up from 5pm (15:00 GMT) on Al Jazeera Sport.
The 2024/25 UEFA Champions League season concludes at the dazzling Allianz Arena in Munich as Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) meet three-time champions Inter Milan in the final of Europe’s premier club competition.
PSG will be appearing in just their second Champions League final, having lost their first to German side Bayern Munich in 2020.
For PSG manager, Luis Enrique, it is just the latest chapter in his record of climbing to new highs – first from release by Real Madrid, as a youngster, and then by winning the 2015 title treble at Barcelona as a coach, the club where he also made his name as a player.
Road to the final
PSG, backed by owners Qatar Sports Investments, booked their place in the Champions League final earlier in May. The Paris-based side beat Arsenal 2-1 at the Parc des Princes, winning their semifinal tie with a 3-1 aggregate scoreline.
Inter Milan beat Barcelona 7-6 on aggregate, with the second leg in Italy going to extra time despite the Spanish club leading in injury time in normal time.
How did PSG and Inter fare in their league seasons?
Inter Milan finished second in Serie A in a dramatic final round showdown with Napoli, who began the final day with a one point advantage.
PSG were dominant in the 2024-25 Ligue 1 season, wrapping up the domestic title by an incredible 19 points – and that was despite slacking off towards the end of the season with three straight winless matches to end their campaign.
Their last outing, however, was the French Cup final, which resulted in a 3-0 win against Reims last Saturday.
Retired star football player Thierry Henry, second right, in an interview with Inter Milan’s French forward Marcus Thuram, right, as part of the club’s media day on May 26, 2025 in Italy before the final [Piero Cruciatti/AFP]
Which French forward will prevail?
PSG’s gifted French forward, Ousmane Dembele, overcame a slow start to the season to reel off one of the greatest offensive performances in Europe this season.
In 50 appearances this season, the 27-year-old Dembele scored 32 goals – and he was huge part of an incredible 30-match unbeaten league run by PSG.
Inter Milan’s French international Marcus Thuram has netted 18 goals in 52 appearances this season.
Son of Lilian Thuram, a legendary French World Cup winner, Marcus was born in Italy, where his father was representing Parma at the time.
The 27-year-old has scored twice for France in 29 appearances for his country, and has proved a fine foil for Inter’s top scorer this season, Lautaro Martinez.
Where will the final be played
The 2024/25 UEFA Champions League final will take place at the Munich Football Arena.
The 75,000 seat venue, better known as Allianz Arena, is the home of current German Bundesliga winners Bayern Munich.
It’s the first time a German venue has held the Champions League final since 2012.
One of the world’s great football venues – the ‘Allianz Arena’ stadium in Munich, Germany [Matthias Schrader/AP]
Have PSG ever played Inter?
This will be the first time that Inter and PSG meet in a competitive fixture.
The teams last played in a preseason friendly on August 1, 2023 at the Japan National Stadium in Tokyo. Inter won the contest 2-1 with Stefano Sensi scoring the game-winner in the 83rd minute.
Stefano Sensi of Inter scores the game-winning second goal during the preseason friendly match between Paris Saint-Germain and FC Internazionale on August 1, 2023 in Tokyo, Japan [Shi Tang/Getty Images]
Why did star player Hakimi leave Inter for PSG?
Current PSG defender Achraf Hakimi last played for Inter Milan in the 2020-21 season.
The Spanish-born speedy right-back, widely regarded as one of the best full-backs in the world, was a casualty of Inter’s huge cost-cutting drive caused, in large part, by the financial debts attributed to the COVID-19 shutdown period.
Hakimi appeared in 37 matches for the Italian giants, scoring seven goals and racking up eight assists as Inter won their first domestic league title since 2010.
Achraf Hakimi played for Inter Milan in the 2020-21 season [File: Nicolo Campo/Light Rocket via Getty Images]
Team News: PSG
Out: None Doubtful: None
Enrique has a fully fit squad to choose from, no doubt boosted by the fact that PSG wrapped up the French top flight with six games to spare – thereafter managing the players’ workloads in the run-up to the final.
Inter pushed champions Napoli to the wire in Serie A – which concluded last Friday – so will inevitably feel heavier in the legs.
Inter fullback Benjamin Pavard and striker Lautaro Martinez are both expected to be fully fit, with the latter having returned to the bench in recent matches.
“My wish is to have everyone available on Saturday evening,” Inzaghi said. “We’re going to approach the final in the best possible way.”
PSG’s head coach Luis Enrique, centre, celebrates at the end of the French Cup football final [Aurelien Morissard/AP]
Form guide
PSG (all competitions, most recent first):
W-W-W-W-L
Inter Milan (all competitions, most recent first):
W-D-W-W-W
What the managers had to say
Luis Enrique, PSG manager: “It’s Inter Milan’s second final in three years. They’re ready. They’ve not made too many changes to their side. It’s a team that dominates from set pieces. It’s up to us to go into the final in the right frame of mind.
“We’ve grown a lot this season and the players have progressed a lot. I think the strength of the team is the most important thing. You learn something every day after many years of experience as a coach, and I’m improving all the time with this group.”
Simone Inzaghi, Inter Milan manager: “The players did something extraordinary. We played four amazing games against two world-class teams like Bayern and Barcelona. It was great to celebrate this achievement [reaching the final] here with our fans.”
What is the prize money
Winner: €20m ($22.5m)
Runners-up: €15.5m ($17.5m)
The UEFA Champions League trophy [File: Ibrahim Ezzat/NurPhoto via Getty Images]
Ukrainian official urges Moscow to share its plan before any talks, as Turkiye’s Erdogan calls for dialogue.
Russia says it has yet to receive a response from Ukraine over its proposal to hold another round of ceasefire talks in Istanbul next week, as Turkiye’s president urged the warring sides not to “close the door” to dialogue.
Moscow said earlier this week it wanted to hold new talks with Ukraine in the Turkish city to present a memorandum that would outline what it referred to as the key elements for “overcoming the root causes” of the war.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Thursday that so far Moscow has not received a reply from Kyiv.
When asked to comment on Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha’s suggestion that Russia should immediately hand over the memorandum, Peskov dismissed the idea as “non-constructive”.
“Here, you have to either confirm your readiness to continue negotiations or do the opposite,” Peskov said.
Ukrainian Defence Minister Rustem Umerov said on Wednesday that Kyiv had already submitted its memorandum on a potential settlement and called on Russia to produce its version immediately, rather than waiting until next week.
Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry spokesman, Heorhii Tykhyi, said on X on Thursday that Russia’s hesitancy to share its plan suggests that it was “likely filled with unrealistic ultimatums”.
“They are afraid of revealing that they are stalling the peace process,” Tykhyi said.
Officials from both sides met in Istanbul on May 16, their first direct talks in more than three years, but the encounter failed to yield a breakthrough.
But Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said the recent momentum for talks was an opportunity to reach lasting peace.
“The road to a resolution goes through more dialogue, more diplomacy. We are using all our diplomatic power and potential for peace,” he told reporters on Thursady, according to his office.
“During the course of each of our meetings, we have reminded our interlocutors that they should not pass up this opportunity,” Erdogan said, adding that “extinguishing this huge fire in our region … is a humanitarian duty.”
In Ukraine, local authorities said at least five people were killed across the country after Russia fired 90 drones overnight.
Russia’s Ministry of Defence said its air defences had intercepted 48 Ukrainian drones overnight, including 30 over the Belgorod region.
The ministry added in separate comments that its army had captured the village of Stroivka in Ukraine’s northeastern Kharkiv region as well as Gnativka and Shevchenko Pershe in the Donetsk region.
Across the UK, pro-Palestinian protests in reaction to the war in Gaza have placed universities’ response to human rights concerns under the spotlight. But concerns about links between Britain’s higher education institutions and human rights abuses are not limited to one area.
A new investigation by Freedom from Torture has found that UK universities are offering postgraduate security and counterterrorism education to members of foreign security forces, including those serving some of the world’s most repressive regimes. These institutions are offering training to state agents without scrutinising their human rights records, or pausing to consider how British expertise might end up being exploited to silence, surveil or torture.
The investigation reveals that British universities may not just be turning a blind eye to human rights abuses, but could also be at risk of training some of the abusers. Some universities have even partnered directly with overseas police forces known for widespread abuses to deliver in-country teaching. Others have welcomed individuals on to courses designed for serving security professionals from countries where torture is a standard tool of state control. All of this is happening with virtually no oversight of the risks to human rights.
These are not abstract concerns. They raise serious, immediate questions. What happens when the covert surveillance techniques taught in British classrooms are later used to hunt down dissidents? Why are universities not investigating the backgrounds of applicants from regimes where “counterterrorism” is a common pretext for torture and arbitrary detention?
Freedom from Torture’s investigation found that universities across the UK are accepting applicants for security education from some of the world’s most repressive states. Yet just one university in the study said they are screening out applicants who they believed have either engaged in human rights violations or “intend to”.
Torture survivors in the UK have spoken out about their shock that members of the security forces from countries they have fled can access UK security education without meaningful human rights checks. British universities, long considered beacons of liberal values and intellectual freedom, appear to be overlooking the fact that the knowledge they produce may be used to further oppression and state violence.
Meanwhile, student activists across the country are staunchly positioning themselves as stakeholders in their university’s human rights records. The recent Gaza protests indicate that that when students believe universities’ conduct does not align with their values, they won’t hesitate to hold them accountable.
Across the world, the global student body has a rich history of activism. From anti-apartheid solidarity campaigns to the student protests that sparked Myanmar’s 1988 uprising, young people have long stood at the front lines of struggles against repression. Today’s generation – often described as the most socially conscious and globally connected in history – is no different. It shouldn’t come as a surprise to universities that their human rights performance is a hot topic for the young people they serve.
In the corporate world, businesses are now routinely judged on their human rights records. Terms like “ethical sourcing,” “responsible investment,” and “human rights due diligence” are standard parts of doing business. Universities, which pride themselves on being forward-thinking and socially responsible, should be held to no lower standard. The fact that many have no policy at all on overseas human rights risks is indefensible.
It’s time for that to change.
Torture survivors seeking safety in the UK should not have to worry that the nation’s educational institutions are offering training to the security forces of the very regimes they fled. Universities should be able to provide reassurance to anyone expressing real concern, whether that is those with lived experience of the most terrible abuses of power, or their own students.
In order to do this the university sector must get its house in order. This starts with adopting transparent human rights policies across the sector and undertaking effective due diligence to manage risks to human rights. Failure to take these necessary steps leaves the sector at risk of contributing, however unintentionally, to global human rights violations.
Universities must ask themselves: Who is sitting in our classrooms? Who benefits from our training? And what consequences might flow from what we teach? These are amongst the many urgent questions, but not ones the sector appears to be asking.
UK universities must take meaningful steps to ensure they avoid inadvertently sharpening the tools of global repression and move towards building a human rights record they can be proud of. Not only will it appeal to a new generation of activist students, but it’s the right thing to do.
*Full details of FfT’s investigation, including responses from universities, can be found here.
The views expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect Al Jazeera’s editorial stance.
Simon Calder was speaking on ITV’s This Morning as he discussed different destinations for Brits to consider over summer – and one place stood out in particular for value
Bulgaria has many sunny beaches for tourists to enjoy(Image: Getty Images)
Travel expert Simon Calder has revealed the ultimate cost-effective hotspot for sun-seekers looking for a bargain break, tipping Bulgaria as a top budget-friendly summer destination. Simon waxed lyrical about the beauty spot, emphasising that savvy travellers can bask in all-inclusive luxury while enjoying prices reminiscent of a bygone era. “Bulgaria. It’s a great, great destination. Cheap as chips,” he raved.
“This is an all-inclusive favourite. Great long beaches and prices which are kind of out of the 1980s.” Reassuring that Bulgaria offers tremendous value, he said that it’s roughly a third of the cost compared to a holiday in Italy, with just a slight language challenge thrown into the mix.
“It’s really cheap when you get there,” Simon declared. “So whatever you want, whatever you’d be spending in Italy for instance, you just divide it by three and that’s what you’d pay in Bulgaria.
“You’ve got to master the Cyrillic alphabet though. Back to front Rs and all that but it’s a three hour flight so just do that on the plane.”
According to Muveone, a pint of local beer in Bulgaria will only cost you around 3.00 BGN, which is roughly £1.50. The country offers popular destinations such as Burgas, a city on the Black Sea Coast.
It boasts stunning beaches and is just a short distance from the lively Sunny Beach – a favourite amongst young Brits. Visitors can also explore the city’s Sea Gardens, home to a vast array of sea plants from across the globe, designed by landscape artist Georgi Duhtev.
Alternatively, head to Lake Atanasovsko for a relaxing dip in its black mud pools for a natural yet luxurious spa experience.
Further south of Burgas lies the ancient seaside town of Sozopol. Here, the Old Town provides a glimpse into local history and the tranquil Kavatsite Beach.
Sozopol offers breathtaking views of the Black Sea, and tourists can take a boat trip to St Ivan Island to spot monk seals and birds.
FRANKFURT, Germany — Top officials at the European Union’s executive commission say they’re pushing hard for a trade deal with the Trump administration to avoid a 50% tariff on imported goods. Trump had threatened to impose the tariffs on June 1, but has pushed back the deadline to July 9, repeating an oft-used tactic in his trade war.
European negotiators are contending with Trump’s ever-changing and unpredictable tariff threats, but “still, they have to come up with something to hopefully pacify him,” said Bruce Stokes, visiting senior fellow at the German Marshall Fund of the United States.
Stokes also sees more at play than just a disagreement over trade deficits. Trump’s threats “are rooted in frustration with the EU that has little to do with trade,’’ Stokes said. “He doesn’t like the EU. He doesn’t like Germany.”
What exactly does Trump want? What can Europe offer? Here are the key areas where the two sides are squaring off.
Buy our stuff
Over and over, Trump has bemoaned the fact that Europe sells more things to Americans than it buys from Americans. The difference, or the trade deficit in goods, last year was 157 billion euros ($178 billion). But Europe says that when it comes to services — particularly digital services like online advertising and cloud computing — the U.S. sells more than it buys and that lowers the overall trade deficit to 48 billion euros, which is only about 3% of total trade. The European Commission says that means trade is “balanced.”
One way to shift the trade in goods would be for Europe to buy more liquefied natural gas by ship from the U.S. To do so, the EU could cut off the remaining imports of Russian pipeline gas and LNG. The commission is preparing legislation to force an end to those purchases — last year, some 19% of imports — by the end of 2027.
That would push European private companies to look for other sources of gas such as the U.S. However the shift away from Russia is already in motion and that “has obviously not been enough to satisfy,” said Laurent Ruseckas, a natural gas markets expert at S&P Global Commodities Insights Research.
The commission doesn’t buy gas itself but can use “moral suasion” to convince companies to turn to U.S. suppliers in coming years but “this is no silver bullet and nothing that can yield immediate results,” said Simone Tagliapietra, an energy analyst at the Bruegel think tank in Brussels.
Europe could buy more from U.S. defense contractors as part of its effort to deter further aggression from Russia after the invasion of Ukraine, says Carsten Brzeski, global chief of macro at ING bank. If European countries did increase their overall defense spending — another of Trump’s demands — their voters are likely to insist that the purchases go to defense contractors in Europe, not America, said Stokes of the German Marshall Fund. One way around that political obstacle would be for U.S. defense companies to build factories in Europe, but “that would take time,’’ he said.
The EU could also reduce its 10% tax on foreign cars— one of Trump’s long-standing grievances against Europe. “The United States is not going to export that many cars to Europe anyway … The Germans would be most resistant, but I don’t think they’re terribly worried about competition from America,’’ said Edward Alden, senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations. ”That would be a symbolic victory for the president.’’
A beef over beef
The U.S. has long complained about European regulations on food and agricultural products that keep out hormone-raised beef and chickens washed with chlorine. But experts aren’t expecting EU trade negotiators to offer any concessions at the bargaining table.
“The EU is unwilling to capitulate,” said Mary Lovely, senior fellow at the Peterson Institute for International Economics. “The EU has repeatedly said it will not change its sanitary rules, its rules on (genetically modified) crops, its rules on chlorinated chickens, things that have been longtime irritants for the U.S.’’
Backing down on those issues, she said, would mean that “the U.S. gets to set food safety (standards) for Europe.’’
Value-added tax
One of Trump’s pet peeves has been the value-added taxes used by European governments, a tax he says is a burden on U.S. companies.
Economists say this kind of tax, used by some 170 countries, is trade-neutral because it applies equally to imports and exports. A value-added tax, or VAT, is paid by the end purchaser at the cash register but differs from sales taxes in that it is calculated at each stage of the production process. In both cases, VAT and sales tax, imports and exports get the same treatment. The U.S. is an outlier in that it doesn’t use VAT.
There’s little chance countries will change their tax systems for Trump and the EU has ruled it out.
Negotiating strategy
Trump’s approach to negotiations has involved threats of astronomical tariffs – up to 145% in the case of China – before striking a deal for far lower levels. In any case, however, the White House has taken the stance that it won’t go below a 10% baseline. The threat of 50% for the EU is so high it means “an effective trade embargo,” said Brzeski, since it would impose costs that would make it unprofitable to import goods or mean charging consumers prices so high the goods would be uncompetitive.
Because the knottiest issues dividing the EU and U.S. — food safety standards, the VAT, regulation of tech companies — are so difficult “it is impossible to imagine them being resolved by the deadline,’’ Alden said. ”Possibly what you could have — and Trump has shown he is willing to do this — is a very small deal’’ like the one he announced May 8 with the United Kingdom.
Economists Oliver Rakau and Nicola Nobile of Oxford Economics wrote in a commentary Monday that if imposed, the 50% tariffs would reduce the collective economy of the 20 countries that use the euro currency by up to 1% next year and slash business investment by more than 6%.
The EU has offered the US a “zero for zero” outcome in which tariffs would be removed on both sides industrial goods including autos. Trump has dismissed that but EU officials have said it’s still on the table.
Lovely of the Peterson Institute sees the threats and bluster as Trump’s way of negotiating. “In the short run, I don’t think 50% is going to be our reality.’’
But she says Trump’s strategy adds to the uncertainty around U.S. policy that is paralyzing business. “It suggests that the U.S. is an unreliable trading partner, that it operates on whim and not on rule of law,’’ Lovely said. “Friend or foe, you’re not going to be treated well by this administration.’’
McHugh and Wiseman write for the Associated Press. Wiseman contributed to this report from Washington.
AN ALLEGED gang member wanted over the fatal stabbing of a young man in London has been arrested in Spain.
Six mobsters went on the run after the tragic murder of 21-year-old Giovanny Rendon Bedoya in Walworth, south London, on April 21.
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An alleged gang member wanted over the fatal stabbing of a young man in London has been arrested near BarcelonaCredit: Solarpix
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Several men went on the run after the tragic murder of 21-year-old Giovanny Rendon Bedoya in Walworth, south London, on April 21Credit: Solarpix
The fugitive was detained at the request of British authorities in the town of Sabadell around 15 miles north-west of the Catalan capital as he entered a restaurant, Spanish police said.
He is said to belong to the dangerous Latin gang known as the Trinitarios.
They have become a major security threat across much of Europe in recent years especially in cities like Madrid and London.
The alleged killer is now facing extradition to the UK and a possible “life sentence” according to Spanish cops.
Met Police pleaded for information around the death of Giovanny earlier this year.
It comes as three of the six people initially arrested have now been bailed pending further inquiries.
In the latest update this month, they said a fourth man has now been charged with murder.
All four men have been named by police as Joseph Jimenez, 21, Angel Gonzales Angulo, 19, Brian Villada-Hernandes, 19, and Zozoro Mohamed Olivier, 20.
Cops previously said a 17-year-old boy was also arrested on suspicion of murder.
Confirming the latest arrest near Barcelona today, Spain’s National Police said in a statement: “National Police officers have arrested a member of the Trinitarios gang in the town of Sabadell in Barcelona who is wanted by the British justice system after allegedly committing a murder in the United Kingdom.
Irishman fighting for life after being shot in Spain as 2 arrested
“An international arrest warrant was issued for him after the crime which took place on April 14.
“He could face a life sentence for attacking with five other alleged members of the same gang, another young man from a rival gang who was killed.
“The investigation was launched by the British authorities on 14 April when the fugitive and five other alleged members of the Trinitarios gang violently accosted another young man from a rival gang following a dispute.”
Giovanny was attacked just after 9pm and was left with serious injuries which resulted in the amputation of fingers, the loss of an organ and multiple fractures.
These injuries resulted in his death, police confirmed at the time.
The Trinitarios gang is said to have been founded in 1993 by two Dominicans facing separate murder charges being held in the Rikers Islands New York City jail.
The gang’s notoriety across the globe even caused them to be scrutinised by the Trump administration this year.
Donald Trump described them as “animals” as he carried out his sweeping sanctions on US criminal enterprises.
Nearly two dozen Trinitarios gang members were hit with RICO conspiracy charges in February.
They were accused of six murders and 11 attempted murders, according to the US Attorney’s Office in Massachusetts.
Spiralling violence around Madrid in recent years has been blamed on the fracturing and spread of Dominican gangs which have become Spain’s primary urban security threat.
Officials believe the man arrested today may have been in Spain trying to flee to the Dominican Republic.
The Sun has contacted the Metropolitan Police for further comment.
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The alleged killer is now facing extradition to the UK and a possible “life sentence” according to Spanish copsCredit: Solarpix
KINGS of Leon have been forced to cancelled their UK and European shows after frontman Caleb Followill suffered a “freak accident” while playing with his kids.
The Grammy-winning group had been due to perform across several countries this summer, including stops in Cardiff and Lancashire, as well as shows and festivals in Spain, Germany, Italy, Switzerland, Croatia, Belgium and Portugal.
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Kings of Leon have been forced to cancelled their UK and European showsCredit: Getty
But Caleb, 43, has been sidelined after breaking his foot and requiring emergency surgery, giving the band no choice but to pull out of all appearances in June and July.
In a video posted to the band’s Instagram account, he explained: “Hello to everyone out there, especially our European fans that are coming to see us this summer. Unfortunately I regret to inform you that those shows will have to be cancelled due to a freak accident that happened the other day.”
“I broke my foot pretty bad just playing with my kids… It’s pretty gnarly and I’ll spare all the details. But we’re fortunate enough to have some great doctors here in Nashville that gave me emergency surgery.”
Caleb, who shares two children with model Lily Aldridge, revealed that he’s been told to stay off his feet for around two months.
read more on Huge US bands
He added: “I’m on the mend, but they’ve told me that I can’t be on my feet, travelling, or anything for the next eight weeks or so. That’s a big bummer.”
The singer looked visibly frustrated as he continued: “We were so excited. We’ve been preparing for this tour for a long time, we’ve been preparing for a lot of things.”
“We’ve been in the studio recording, we have a bunch of new songs, we were going to debut a few of them on this run. We had a lot of exciting things planned and now we’re going to have to pivot and find a new way to continue the work that we’ve started.”
Despite the disappointment, Caleb ended the message on a more hopeful note.
He said: “I’m very excited for when we do get to show you the stuff we’re doing, and in the meantime we’re going to do whatever work we can while I have these limitations.”
“Exciting stuff is coming, I know this isn’t the message anyone wants to hear, and it’s certainly not the message I want to be sending, but it’s going to be alright. Everything is going to be good. Hopefully, we will see y’all soon.”
The clip ended with a shot of Caleb’s foot in a cast.
His bandmates, Nathan, Jared and Matthew Followill, issued a separate statement, confirming the necessary recovery time.
They said: “Kings of Leon are updating fans that Caleb Followill has recently sustained a serious injury, shattering his heel and requiring a significant emergency surgery, that will prevent him from travelling and performing.
“The anticipated recovery process is expected to take eight weeks, under strict guidance of expert orthopaedic specialists.”
“The band regrets to report that they will need to cancel all upcoming UK and European festival headline shows in June and July of this year.”
The tour had been set to include a high-profile headline slot at Lytham Festival in Lancashire, where they were billed alongside Justin Timberlake and Alanis Morissette.
Organisers have since confirmed the festival will be reduced from five days to four, as it’s too late in the day to book a replacement act.
They also wished Caleb a “speedy recovery”.
More to follow… For the latest news on this story, keep checking back at The U.S. Sun, your go-to destination for the best celebrity news, sports news, real-life stories, jaw-dropping pictures, and must-see videos.
Joel Le Scouarnec tells court he committed ‘despicable act’ in another mass rape case that shocks France.
A French court has sentenced a retired surgeon to 20 years in prison for raping or sexually abusing nearly 300 victims, many of them children under anaesthesia, over 25 years of his career in another case of years-long abuse that has rocked the nation.
The conviction and sentencing on Wednesday in the Brittany court capped what is widely seen as the worst case of abuse of children that has ever gone to trial in modern France.
It comes after 51 men were convicted of taking part in the decade-long mass rape of a woman, Gisele Pelicot, in southern France in what many advocates hoped would be a watershed #MeToo moment for those seeking justice against their abusers.
Throughout the most recent trial, 74-year-old Joel Le Scouarnec admitted to raping or sexually abusing 299 patients – including 256 victims under the age of 15 – as he worked in hospitals in western France.
The attacks took place from 1989 to 2014, many while his patients were under anaesthesia or waking up after operations. All told, Le Scouarnec was charged with 111 rapes and 189 sexual assaults in the case, which began in February.
Throughout the trial, Le Scouarnec told the court he committed “despicable acts”.
“I owe it to all these people and their loved ones to admit my actions and their consequences, which they’ve endured and will keep having to endure all their lives,” he said at one point.
A woman holds a banner representing anonymous victims during a demonstration before Joel Le Scouarnec was convicted in Vannes on May 28, 2025 [Mathieu Pattier/The Associated Press]
Victims ‘will never forgive you, never’
But victims, lawyers and advocates who gathered at the courthouse throughout the trial and on Wednesday for the verdict said they put little stock in Le Scouarnec’s words of contrition.
“You are the worst mass paedophile who ever lived,” Thomas Delaby, one of about 60 lawyers representing the victims, said during the trial. He described Le Scouarnec as an “atomic bomb of paedophilia”.
Delaby told Le Scouarnec the victims “will never forgive you, never”.
Le Scouarnec had previously been convicted in 2020 for raping and sexually assaulting four children, including two of his nieces. He was already serving a 15-year sentence as the current trial played out.
The 20-year sentence is the maximum possible. In France, sentences are not served consecutively. In the United States, prosecutors noted, Le Scouarnec would have been sentenced to “2,000 years”.
Questions over public health system
The case has raised questions about France’s publicly run health system and how Le Scouarnec was able to act with impunity for so many years.
Advocates have demanded to know why he was allowed to continue working in public hospitals despite being convicted in 2005 of downloading images of child sexual abuse. At the time, he received a suspended jail sentence.
The extent of Le Scouarnec’s abuse was revealed only after his rearrest in 2017 on suspicion of raping his 6-year-old neighbour. Police then discovered electronic diaries that appeared to document decades of abuse in painstaking detail.
In his notes, the doctor described himself as a “major pervert” and a “paedophile”.
“And I am very happy about it,” he wrote.
Wednesday’s verdict was handed down during what some hope will be a wider reckoning over sexual abuse in France and what some see as social mores that enable such crimes.
In December, a court in the southern French city of Avignon convicted 51 men of the years-long rape and sexual abuse of Pelicot, who refused to remain anonymous during the proceedings and whose clear-eyed testimony resonated among the French public.
“I’ve decided not to be ashamed, I’ve done nothing wrong,” she testified during the trial. “They are the ones who must be ashamed.”
Among those convicted was Pelicot’s ex-husband, 72-year-old Dominique Pelicot, who prosecutors said orchestrated the drugging and raping of his wife for nearly a decade.
Local media reports say the small vessel appeared to be packed with more than 100 people.
Four women and three girls have died when a small boat carrying dozens of refugees and migrants capsized while approaching the port at one of Spain’s Canary Islands, according to Spanish emergency services.
Local media reports said the small vessel seemed to be packed on Wednesday with more than 100 people. Spanish rescuers and members of the Red Cross pulled people out of the water.
Red Cross spokesman Alexis Ramos told broadcaster RTVE there could be “more than 100 people” on the boat but he was unable to provide a figure for the number of those missing.
Spain’s maritime rescue service said the boat tipped over as rescuers began removing minors after it had arrived at a dock on the island of El Hierro. The service had initially located the boat about 10km (6 miles) from shore.
The sudden movement of people on the boat caused it to tip and then turn over, dumping the occupants into the water, the service said.
Canary Islands emergency services said four women, a teenage girl and two younger girls died in the accident. A helicopter evacuated two more children, a girl and a boy, to a local hospital in critical condition after they nearly drowned, the service added.
The Spanish archipelago located off Africa’s western coast has for years been a main route for refugees and migrants who risk their lives in dinghies and rubber boats unfit for long journeys in the open sea.
Thousands have died on the way to European territory on a treacherous journey from Africa over the Atlantic Ocean.
Nearly 47,000 people who made the crossing last year reached the Canary Islands. Most were citizens of Mali, Senegal and Morocco with many boarding boats to Spain from the coast of Mauritania.
The arrivals include thousands of unaccompanied children.
When Luis Enrique leads his Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) team out to play Inter Milan in Saturday’s UEFA Champions League final, the coach will be seeking to win the European continent’s top prize for the first time for the French side and reverse years of fan frustration at the Parc des Princes.
This is the club which, until recently, boasted superstar players the caliber of Kylian Mbappe, Lionel Messi and Neymar Jr, but failed to win any European silverware since the third-tier UEFA Intertoto Cup way back in 2001.
Since his arrival in 2023, Enrique has changed PSG radically, overseeing the high-profile exits of Messi, Neymar and Mbappe, and transitioning from a team of ageing galacticos into one of the most exciting attacking sides in Europe.
Whether Enrique’s method is the best may ultimately be judged by what happens in the Champions League final in Munich.
Enrique the player
Away from events on the pitch, who is the real Luis Enrique who has presided over this radical transformation at PSG?
The 55-year-old began his football career in 1988, playing in the midfield for his local side, Sporting Gijon, a team in the Spanish Segunda Division.
In 1991 he was signed by mega club Real Madrid where he helped Los Blancos win La Liga, the Copa del Rey and the Super Cup. On an individual level, Enrique did not perform up to expectations, which was mostly attributed to playing out of position on the wing and in more defensive roles.
Bitter rivals FC Barcelona snapped up an out-of-form Enrique in 1996, where he reverted to his favoured central midfield role. It paid dividends for the Catalan giants and Enrique went on to win La Liga, the Copa del Rey and Spanish Super Cup trophies with Barca.
After retiring as a player in 2004, he went into management, reportedly at the invitation of current Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola.
Enrique started his coaching career at FC Barcelona “B”, before moving to AS Roma in Italy’s Serie A for the 2011-2012 season. The Spaniard was sacked at the end of the season, with a year still remaining on his contract, after Roma finished a disappointing seventh in the premier domestic competition.
Barcelona’s Luis Enrique, right, competes with Real Madrid legend Zinedine Zidane during a La Liga match at the Camp Nou Stadium, Barcelona on March 16, 2002 [Firo Foto/Getty Images]
Managing expectations
His next move was to Spanish La Liga side Celta Vigo – but he also departed from that club after just one year. It was then that Enrique received his career-altering managerial opportunity, returning to Barcelona as manager of the first team.
His four-year reign at the Nou Camp was crowned by Barca’s victory in the Champions League final in 2015 against Juventus, with the “Big-3” of Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar leading the attacking line, completing a rare treble for the club: Spanish League (La Liga), Spanish Cup (Copa del Rey) and European (Champions League) titles.
If PSG win the Champions League final on Saturday, Enrique will make history be becoming the only man to ever achieve a treble on two occasions.
When Enrique was named team coach of Spain in 2018, he entered a new world of international football.
Before the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, Spain was fancied as possible winners. However, after a crushing round of 16 loss to underdogs Morocco, Enrique announced his resignation from the national side.
Incessant media speculation linked Enrique’s next managerial job with a move to England’s Premier League.
He was interviewed by Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea – but it was PSG, to the surprise of many, who secured his signature.
Perhaps it was the unique challenge of winning the Champions League with one of only two European super clubs never to have achieved the milestone – Arsenal being the other – which made him head to Paris.
Or perhaps it was a desire to show off his vision of attacking football by rebuilding a club his way.
Spain’s head coach Luis Enrique, left, embraces Sergio Busquets after losing the FIFA World Cup round of 16 match between Morocco and Spain, at the Education City Stadium in Al Rayyan, Qatar on December 6, 2022 [Luca Bruno/AP]
Take me to Paris
A recent three-part documentary, produced by Zoom Sport Films, provided an intimate portrait of the coach who allowed the cameras into his private life for the first time, despite Enrique’s well-known animosity towards the media.
No Teneis Ni P*** Idea (You Don’t Have Any F****** Idea) reveals a driven man who is as passionate about football as his family – and keeping fit.
Viewers see Enrique arriving at PSG speaking only a few words of French. Nevertheless, he imposes his character on the club from the start.
Known by his nickname, Lucho, Enrique brings a Spanish-speaking coaching staff with him and addresses the players in his own language, with the aid of a French translator.
As relations with his biggest star – Mbappe – appear to worsen, viewers are treated to Enrique giving the star player what former Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson used to call the “hairdryer treatment”, or a huge telling off.
But, as this is France, Enrique calls it “C’est Catastrophique (It’s catastrophic)” on a big presentation screen to the striker. The Spaniard is referring to Mbappe’s apparent refusal to defend at all after PSG were beaten 2-3 at home by Barcelona in the quarterfinal of the Champions League in April last year.
Despite the manager-star player bust-up, PSG would move on to the semifinals, where they were ultimately beaten by Borussia Dortmund. A year on, Enrique’s post-match comments may turn out to be prophetic:
“Now it’s a sad moment but you have to accept sometimes sport is that way. We have to try to create something special next year and win it.”
Then-PSG forward Kylian Mbappe is consoled by manager Luis Enrique after defeat to Borussia Dortmund during the UEFA Champions League semifinal second leg match between Paris Saint-Germain and Borussia Dortmund at Parc des Princes on May 7, 2024 in Paris, France [Richard Heathcote/Getty Images]
Behind-the-scenes with Lucho
Curiously for a football manager, he spends much of his day studying his team on a series of computer screens. This is interspersed with workouts. “You must move every half an hour,” he says. In the documentary, Enrique is seen, in his plush Parisian house, regularly doing various strenuous exercises or cycling.
At the PSG training camp, he mixes team talks with plunges into his ice pool. It pays off, as the manager is fit. But when he walks around the pitch, it is always barefoot as he believes in “grounding” or getting back in touch with nature.
The documentary mixes moments from Enrique’s illustrious career, from the Real Madrid and Barca days, as well as the Spain role – the good and the bad. Not surprisingly, the lowest point is when Morocco upsets Spain and knocks the bookmaker’s favourite out of the World Cup.
Away from football, we also see a tender side to Lucho when the documentary touches on his close relationship with his youngest daughter, Xana, who died at the age of nine from osteosarcoma, a bone tumour, in 2019.
Enrique set up a foundation in her name with his wife, Elena Cullell, to try to help other families who are stricken by the same condition.
Then-Barcelona manager Luis Enrique and his late daughter Xana celebrate victory after the UEFA Champions League Final between Juventus and FC Barcelona at Olympic Stadium on June 6, 2015, in Berlin, Germany [Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images]
Graham Hunter, a producer on the documentary and a football journalist who is friends with Enrique, described his personality as “demanding and inspirational”.
“As a footballer, he was exceptional. A Spanish Roy Keane. His ability to play everywhere on the pitch slightly cut how good he was because managers used him all over the pitch. He was trophy-laden at Madrid and Barca,” he says.
“He did not want to be a coach originally. [He] Accepted an invitation from Pep [Guardiola] I think to coach Barca B. Although he clashed a little bit with Messi and Luis Suarez but that [2015] Champions League victory, it was unbelievable. They won the treble.”
Hunter believes Enrique changed the playing style of the Spain team during his managerial tenure, introducing young talent like Pedri.
“He built what has become a winning franchise and he carries a huge amount of credit to him,” he said.
Hunter says Enrique did not just go to PSG to win the Champions League.
“He went to PSG to imprint his brand of football and to convince the players, the fans that it was a brilliant, modern way to play football and to do that, you have to win the Champions League. For him, he is as interested in how people see his football as attacking and inspirational as winning trophies.”
Paris Saint-Germain’s head coach Luis Enrique, centre-right, celebrates PSG’s French League One title after the League One football match between Paris Saint-Germain and Auxerre at the Parc des Princes stadium in Paris, on May 17, 2025 [Franck Fife/Pool via AP]
Activists in Paris dyed a fountain red to symbolise what they called “the bloodbath” taking place in Gaza. The protesters said a lack of political will to confront Israel’s actions in Gaza was increasingly being seen as “a form of complicity” with genocide.
