Brief summary
Leo XIV was inaugurated as the new Pope in front of tens of thousands of people and world leaders. He pledged to work for unity and peace, and met with Ukrainian President Zelensky, offering to act as a mediator in the war with Russia. Meanwhile, Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin are preparing to talk about a ceasefire in Ukraine. In Romania, the pro-EU candidate Nicuşor Dan is set to win the presidential election, defeating the Eurosceptic George Simeon. In New York, a ship crashed into the Brooklyn Bridge, killing two people. A former Great Ormond Street surgeon is under investigation for performing inappropriate and unnecessary operations on patients, including a teenager named Phineas who is now in continuous pain. Finally, it’s reported that Gary Lineker will leave the BBC after this weekend’s final Match of the Day of the season.
Full Transcript
Leo at his inauguration mass as tens of thousands and world leaders watch on. The Pope meets Volodymyr Zelenskyy with an offer to act as peacemaker with Russia, as Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin prepare to talk tomorrow. We’ll be live in Bucharest after a Romanian presidential election that could radically shape the future of the country and the region. Thus, farewell to 133 years of football history as Everton’s men play their last match at Goodison Park and we’ll take a first look at tomorrow’s front pages in our press preview from 10: 30.
00:00:46
Good evening, we start with breaking news tonight and former U. President Joe Biden has been diagnosed with what has been described as an aggressive form of prostate cancer, with evidence it has spread to his bones. It comes after prolonged concerns about Mr. Biden’s health which culminated in him dropping his re-election bid last year. My health correspondent Ashish Joshua joins us now from Washington DC, Ashish, what more do we know about this particular cancer and the prognosis? Well, we know the prognosis isn’t the best news for Joe Biden and his family. Quite a bit of detail released from the former president’s team about this particular prostate cancer. We’ve been told that’s a Gleason score of nine, a grade group of five.
00:01:39
What that means in real terms is this is the highest grade group and this is the most aggressive form of prostate cancer. Cancer has spread beyond the tumour. It’s spread to his bones. So that’s going to make treatment quite difficult. And it is going to be an extremely worrying time for Joe Biden’s family. But the good news here, if there is any at all, is that his team, his medical team, think that his cancer will be susceptible to hormone treatment. These cancers can be treated with hormones, but the fact that it has spread to his bones makes it difficult because the tumor isn’t localised and any sort of therapy is quite difficult in targeting all around those tumors. But certainly, that’s the news from his medical team. Quite a bit of detail.
00:02:30
There was a nodule removed last week, I think on Tuesday, and the tests have come back. He presented to his doctors. He was having some sort of urinary problems. He presented to his doctors. They removed this prostate nodule that was sent away for testing. And sadly, it has come back as positive and one of the most aggressive forms of prostate cancer. But indeed, his team are confident that they will be able to start treatment. And word from my colleagues at NBC, here: From his family, from the Biden family, that they will be going ahead with that hormone therapy as soon as possible. Ashish, thank you very much for that update. The Israeli military says it has begun an extensive ground operation in multiple areas of Gaza, marking a new phase of the war with Hamas. Health officials in Gaza say more than 100 people were killed in Israeli airstrikes overnight. The International Committee for the Red Cross called for immediate protection of civilians and healthcare facilities in Gaza. This evening, the Israeli government said that it would allow what it called a basic amount of food into the Strip to prevent a deterioration in the hunger crisis. A warning: this report from our Middle East correspondent, Alistair Buncombe, does contain distressing images.
00:03:57
This happened last night in southern Gaza. Al-Mawasi is supposed to be a safe zone, but Israeli airstrikes hit a camp where families were sleeping.
00:04:13
They desperately tried to put out the fires, even throwing sand onto the flames. But the canvas tent provided no protection against the blast, and the inferno would have ripped through before there was time to escape. Anyone trapped inside burned alive. They had to pick limbs and pieces of flesh out of the ashes. Charred, mutilated corpses were unrecognizable, making it hard to count the dead. But there is no mistaking the small form of a child’s body. By daylight, this was all that was left. Well, it’s another day of devastation here in Gaza. The stories coming from the north, absolutely horrific, particularly around the Indonesian hospital, but also in the Al-Mawasi area this morning where 36 people were killed in the so-called safe zone. It’s difficult to describe in words what’s happening here. Constant sound of bombardment, jets overhead. If Cambodia was the killing fields, then Gaza now is the slaughterhouse. In Gaza City to the north, there were yet more funerals today. Um Mahmoud had to bury her daughter.
00:05:51
As heavy as the strikes have been over recent days, this is said to be only the start of Israel’s new offensive and it is expected to become much more intense, possibly in the coming days, if a ceasefire agreement isn’t reached. More Palestinian journalists have been killed in the last 24 hours, including Aziz al-Hajjah, who was killed with his wife and children in northern Gaza. Ahmed al-Zanati, his wife Noor and two of their children died in an airstrike that hit their tent in Khan Yunis. Noor Kandil, her husband Khalid, and young daughter were all killed when their home in central Gaza was hit. And Abdel Rahman al-Abadli had been missing for two days. His body has now been found in southern Gaza. 106 Palestinian journalists have now been killed in this war. The main hospital in Deir el-Bala has been forced to close and evacuate because of the fighting. One by one, they dragged and pulled patients on stretchers over rough and deserted streets. The never-ending hum of drones overhead and gunfire close by.
00:07:13
Alistair Bunkle, Sky News, in Jerusalem. Pope Leo has vowed to work for unity and peace in front of an estimated 200,000 people who attended his inauguration mass in St. Peter’s Square. And we soon saw that ambition in action as he went on to meet Ukraine’s President Zelensky with an offer to act as a mediator in the war with Russia. Our Europe correspondent Siobhan Robbins reports from Rome. APPLAUSE Under the Roman sun, a pope. Greets his people through the tens of thousands gathered in St. Peter’s Square, Leo XIV made his way, a relaxed and smiling Pontiff, riding in an open-top pope mobile, stopping every now and then to bless babies in the crowd; the overjoyed faithful who’d come from all corners of the world. This is the first opportunity for people to see Pope Leo up close, the first US Pontiff, and they’re absolutely loving it.
00:08:32
Then, after the excitement, a moment of reflection. Leo XIV praying at the tomb of the first-ever Pope, St. Peter. Before making his way towards the altar, retracing the journey of Pontiffs past. In front of princes, Vice Presidents, and the public, Leo then received the papal possessions. First, the pallium laid around his shoulders. Then, the Fisherman’s Ring, placed on his finger by the Asian Cardinal, who many once thought would be standing in his place.
00:09:23
The enormity of the moment hitting home as he perhaps pondered the weight of his new responsibility. A cardinal turned pope. A follower, now a leader, of 1. 4 billion Catholics worldwide. And what type of leader will he be? His inaugural mass gave hints, first of a seemingly humble pope. I was chosen without any merit of my own, and now, with fear and trembling, I come to you as a brother who desires to be the servant of your faith and your joy. A pontiff pledging to sow peace and unity. In this our time, we still see too much discord, too many wounds caused by hatred, violence, prejudice, the fear of difference, and an economic system that exploits the earth’s resources and marginalises the poorest. Pope Leo then prepared the Holy Communion.
00:10:38
While the crowd shook hands, offering each other the sign of peace. A message Leo would return to at the end of the mass. We cannot forget our brothers and sisters who are suffering because of war. In Gaza, the surviving children, families, and elderly are reduced to starvation. In Myanmar, new hostilities have cut short innocent young lives. Finally, war-torn Ukraine awaits negotiations for a just and lasting peace. No doubt, peace was also a point he emphasized to the waiting VIPs. Among them, leaders close to conflict. The U. S. Vice President J. D. Vance. The President of Israel. And Ukraine’s President Zelensky, to whom the Pope offered to help with negotiations with Russia at a private meeting, giving fresh hope to Ukrainians waiting outside.
00:11:40
It’s a very important history moment and we are so proud that we can be here in this moment and pray for peace. As the crowd celebrated this historic day, the Pope was perhaps already contemplating the challenges ahead. The daunting task of trying to bring unity to an increasingly divided world. Siobhan Robbins, Sky News, Vatican City. Tomorrow will be another day of frenetic diplomacy for the Prime Minister. He’s expected to join other NATO leaders in speaking to Donald Trump ahead of the President’s phone conversation with Vladimir Putin to discuss a ceasefire in Ukraine. But the main item on Keir Starmer’s agenda is the first UK-EU summit since Brexit, designed to, in his words, reset relations with the bloc. Here’s our political correspondent, Serena Barker-Singh.
00:12:45
Five years since Big Ben boomed for Brexit. Nine years since the vote. A chance tomorrow for a reset. The EU and the UK are set to hold their first bilateral summit since Brexit. Today, the government says it will be a step towards a deeper and ongoing partnership with Europe, but not quite finalised yet. There is no final deal as yet. We are in the very final hours. I always expected it to go to the wire because we are negotiating extremely hard in the national interest. And what we are looking to deliver tomorrow is a deal that’s going to be good for jobs, that’s going to help to secure our borders, and it’s going to help to lower household bills. Key conflicts include the UK’s position on fishing and a youth mobility scheme for EU students.
00:13:38
There is a willingness, I believe, at political level on both sides to come to an agreement. I have no doubts about that on the European side. But let’s hope that some specific issues that are sometimes toxic will not, let’s say, prevent the leaders to come to a decision tomorrow. 12,645. Two weeks after voters deserted the two main parties in British politics, Keir Starmer has since been on a media blitz, hoping that by securing international deals it might help him prove they shouldn’t give up on his government. But the strong performance in the May local elections of Nigel Farage’s Reform UK party currently leading the polls means any close alignment with the EU is fraught with political risk. When people hear about a youth mobility scheme, they think about an 18-year-old coming over and working in a bar.
00:14:34
But actually, we may well be looking at a scheme which allows 30-year-olds to come over and claim access to the NHS on day one, to claim benefits on day one, to bring their extended families. After years of bitter relations, last Friday Starmer told European political leaders meeting in Albania the UK would not turn inwards. The UK taking its place on the world stage, strengthening our alliances, supporting freedom and peace in Europe. A sign of openness going into next week, but with big symbolism also comes big challenges. And Serena joins us now live from Westminster. So, Serena, a busy day of diplomacy for the Prime Minister, obviously on EU relations, but also to try to shape Donald Trump’s approach to Ukraine. Exactly. He’ll have to work to try and knock headlines off and focus on this EU summit.
00:15:31
But full of symbolism, it will be. And Downing Street will be pulling out all the stops. They’re going for the full works. They’re hosting this in Lancaster House. A warship is meant to be brought to the Thames to be shown off, even used to potentially host lunch. And then also a final Rose Garden. Downing Street conference, if. They get to it. It’s a summit of what the Prime Minister is hoping will mark this new era and reminding us that in the last two weeks, they think they’ve made strides on trade deals with India and the US. And whilst government insiders say that they’re not expecting a giant new deal with the EU as soon as tomorrow, they do say it’s in the final stages.
00:16:17
They’re not trying to rewrite Brexit, they say, but they will try to improve the existing Brexit. Agreement now this is a significant moment nonetheless after years of bitterness the government will be trying to make meaningful agreements particularly on defense I think tomorrow and tidying up some of the cooperation between the UK and EU countries on security, the trouble is for them are also the optics how close the deal this looks to any kind of Brexit reversal reform in the UK and the Conservatives will be looking on for any sign of that but also whether the public have the stamina for another summit, another big spectacle before they feel real change. Thank you. The Romanian people have been voting in a presidential runoff election between the Eurosceptic candidate George Simeon and the pro-EU mayor of Bucharest Nicolás Jordán.
00:17:14
And with nearly all the votes counted, it looks like Mr. Dan is heading for a decisive victory. Our Europe correspondent, Adam Parsons, is in Bucharest for us now. Adam, what is the latest? Is it all over? The latest is that Nicosia Dan will be Romania’s next president. We’ve heard in the past few moments that is the cheering you can hear for it. He leads this election runoff against George Simeon by more than 900,000 votes. And the official commission says that there are now only slightly more than 800,000 ballots to be counted. In other words, George Simeon cannot win. To the total that Nicosia Dan has reached, so we know that Dan will be Romania’s next president after a campaign that has divided this nation between those backing a populist, nationalist, hard-right politician, a young man with not much political pedigree, but with a view of changing this country and saying that he was the anti-establishment candidate.
00:18:27
Picked against Nicolas Rodin, the mayor of the city of Bucharest, a 55-year-old, much more experienced politician, pro-West, pro-EU, someone much more from the political centre. You’ll remember in the first round of voting, it was Simeon who won, who’s got a convincing victory. But after that, what seemed to happen is that while he certainly picked up votes, that a lot of the nation really coalesced behind Nicashore Dan and decided that effectively they would pick him simply because they didn’t want Simeon. There are people here who are very ardently in favour of Nicashore, but there’s a lot of people in that crowd who are carrying European Union flags and who said that they feared that Simeon would take them out of the EU, something that, I have to say, Simeon flatly denied when I asked him about it.
00:19:24
There are people there who thought that Simeon was a retrograde candidate, the sort of person who would take Romania back towards the philosophy of its communist past, something that there are a lot of people who dread that sort of rhetoric. And there are plenty, particularly here in Bucharest, who see Nicosia as a much more modern political figure. This was a closely run race. Perhaps only a week ago, it was Simeon who was the favourite. Tonight, the exit poll came out, and to everyone’s surprise, predicted a wide victory in the end for Nicosiaudan. Then the votes started to be counted and it looked a lot closer, but ever since then, actually the gap has got wider and wider. We may not reach exactly that remarkable 10% gap that the exit poll predicted, but it won’t be far off.
00:20:19
And at the same time, I have to tell you, in neighbouring Poland, they’ve had the first round of a different presidential run-off, and there they’re going to have a final two, who once again will be a populist from the hard right, pitched against a liberal censor candidate. We will watch with interest there to see if it’s replicated, but the news here in Romania is that the next president will be the mayor of Bucharest, a centrist politician, Nicosia Dan. Adam, thank you. An investigation has been launched in New York after two people were killed when a ship crashed into the Brooklyn Bridge. The Mexican Navy sailing ship was about to leave New York when its masts hit the bridge on Saturday night. The New York mayor, Eric Adams, said 19 people needed medical treatment after the crash.
00:21:09
The ship had 277 people on board as it set off for a goodwill tour to Iceland. The New York Police Department has said the ship lost power before the crash. A teenager who was treated by a surgeon accused of carrying out inappropriate and unnecessary operations has told Sky News he’s living in continuous pain. Phineas Sandhu was operated on by former Great Ormond Street Hospital surgeon, Dr Yasser Jabbar, who is currently under investigation. Ashna Huranak has this special report. This is Phineas, aged seven, thanking well-wishers as he recovers from the first of now two deemed unacceptable operations at Great Ormond Street Hospital, done by a now unlicensed surgeon. Phineas was born with a condition that causes curved bones in his legs, so a reconstructive lengthening procedure was carried out on his left leg in 2017.
00:22:12
A few years later, the same was done to his right one too. But rather than getting better, the pain has worsened. The surgeries, he’s now been told, were inappropriate for his young age and caused him harm. Trusting somebody is hard to do, knowing what they have done to me. It wasn’t something just physically, like my leg pain and everything else. It was emotionally, because I put my trust in that specific doctor. We didn’t really understand, like, the more scientific terms. We just went by what he said. The doctor was Mr Yasser Jabbar, a former consultant orthopaedic surgeon who has not had a licence to practise medicine in the UK since last year. Now 15 years old, Phineas struggles to be on his feet for more than ten minutes. And how’s the pain?
00:23:10
Oh, the pain? Every day. Every day, continuously, the pain. It’s not something, like, really sharp, although it does get to a certain point where it hurts quite a lot, but it’s always there. It just doesn’t leave its, like, companion to me. The family had moved back to their native Romania four years ago, but due to the impact of the surgeries he’s had, doctors there refused to treat him. So they had no choice but to return. I cry. I cry so many days. Because I’m furious, I’m sad. The operation is very hard for Phineas and for everybody. And I say, oh, my God, it’s finished, yeah, everything is OK. But after this, no, it’s not OK. Phineas is one of over 700 patients of Jabbar’s whose care is being reviewed at Great Ormond Street.
00:24:09
His family is now one of dozens taking legal action. In cases where it has been identified that harm was caused, we want to see Great Ormond Street Hospital agreeing to pay interim payments of compensation for the children so that if they need therapy or treatment now, they can access it. The prestigious children’s hospital has assessed over 400 patient cases so far, and their review of the entire orthopaedic department is due to be completed by the end of the year. In a statement, they told us, ‘We are deeply sorry to Phineas and his family and all the patients and families who have been impacted.’ We want every patient and family who comes to our hospital to feel safe and cared for.
00:24:52
We will always discuss concerns, families may have, and where they submit claims, we will work to ensure the legal process can be resolved as quickly as possible. Phineas is accessing mental health support to prepare him for corrective surgery later in the year, one he didn’t anticipate he’d need, but could finally free him from pain. Ashna Haranag, Sky News, in Essex. Just want to bring you some breaking news now, just coming in to us, and Sky News understands that Gary Lineker is set to leave the BBC after Sunday’s final match of the day of the season. That’s rather than staying on to present the FA Cup and the 2026 World Cup. It’s understood that an announcement is due tomorrow as it’s been first reported by the Sun newspaper.
00:25:47
So just to reiterate that breaking news, Gary Lineker is set to leave the BBC after Sunday’s final match of the day of the season rather than staying on to present the FA Cup and 2026 World Cup. It’s understood an announcement is due on Monday. Meanwhile, Evertonians said a fond farewell to Goodison Park today as the men’s team played their last match at England’s first-ever purpose-built football stadium. They went out on a high, winning 2-0 against Southampton. Sky’s Katie Barnfield was there for the historic final match. A proper send-off. Everton fans bidding farewell to the ground they’ve called home since 1892. We’ve been coming here for years, haven’t we? Yeah, I’ve been coming here since ’65. ’65 he’s been coming here. Yeah. This is one generation, two generations, three-generation blues.
00:26:54
You know, what can you say? We are excited for Bramley Moor, but we’re heartbroken for the Grand Isle lady. We’ll always love her. For me, it’s a wrench. I’m still with Bramley Moor, but. This is home and it always will be. There’s so many memories. As David Moyes’ side pulled in to play their final game at Goodison Park, they were met with cheers from thousands of fans lining the streets. And they went out with a victory, 2-0 in a Premier League clash against Southampton. But it was after the match the emotion really kicked in. Well, the final whistle has now blown here at Goodison Park for Everton’s men’s side. At least 133 years of history have come to an end and the fans are in full voice as they say goodbye to the grand old lady.
00:27:52
Over the years, Goodison Park has played host to more top-flight football than anywhere else in England. From having the pitch graced by some of the greats of the game during the 1966 World Cup to Everton’s glory days in the 1980s. And the ground has a new chapter ahead when it becomes the home of Everton Women from next season. While the men’s side move to a brand new stadium at Bramley Moor Dock. It’s one of those grand old stadia where it’s so close to the pitch and you can’t recreate that anywhere. I know Brandy Moordock, they’ve done their very best and it’ll be as close as possible to that experience, but you can never recreate that intimacy that you get at a grand stadium like Goodison Park. It’s been the site of so many special moments for Everton fans, young and old. But as the club moves into the future, the memories of Goodison Park will live on. Katie Barnfield, Sky News in Liverpool. Let’s get the rest of today’s sports news now with Nick. Staying connected is vital for business. Sky Business sponsors this report.
00:29:17
56% have been British. The Premier League are also committed to coach development, launching an elite coaching plan in 2020 with a clear philosophy: better coaches lead to better players. Through that, they’ve supported 480 coaches and coach developers over the last five years. Alongside that, there’s the Professional Coaching Partnership, bringing together the Premier League, FA, EFL, League Managers Association and others to offer further support for coaches. The League Managers Association, which represents managers in our top four divisions, told us they run a significant number of qualifications and personal development services for English coaches, all of which are oversubscribed, they say. But they admit that the football industry in this country is competitive, volatile and short-term. They say increased foreign ownership of English clubs and the purchasing power of English football mean clubs can scour the globe, and that has narrowed opportunities for home-developed coaches.
Summary of 3 Key Q&As
1. Q: What is the latest update on former U.S. President Joe Biden’s health?
A: Joe Biden has been diagnosed with an aggressive form of prostate cancer (Gleason score 9, grade group 5) that has spread to his bones. His medical team plans to start hormone therapy, though the prognosis remains challenging due to the cancer’s metastasis. The diagnosis follows prolonged health concerns that led Biden to withdraw from his re-election bid last year.
2. Q: What is the current situation in Gaza amid Israel’s military operations?
A: Israel has launched an extensive ground offensive in Gaza, resulting in over 100 deaths overnight. Airstrikes hit a supposed “safe zone” in Al-Mawasi, killing 36 people, including families in tents. The International Red Cross has called for civilian protection, and Israel has agreed to allow minimal food supplies to prevent starvation. Hospitals like Deir el-Balah are evacuating due to fighting, and 106 Palestinian journalists have been killed in the conflict.
3. Q: What symbolic actions did Pope Leo XIV take during his inauguration?
A: Pope Leo XIV emphasized peace and unity during his inauguration, meeting with Ukrainian President Zelenskyy to offer mediation in the war with Russia. He criticized global discord, economic exploitation, and humanitarian crises in Gaza and Myanmar. The Pope also received traditional papal symbols (the pallium and Fisherman’s Ring) and pledged to address conflicts and poverty as a “servant of faith and joy.”
