explains

ABC late-night comedian Jimmy Kimmel explained his controversial joke about First Lady Melania Trump, but declined to apologize for offending her.

On Monday, President Trump repeated his demand that ABC fire the longtime show host over a joke that aired on the L.A.-based “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” program two days before the White House Correspondents’ Assn. dinner in Washington. Kimmel, who has headlined that event before, staged a pretend roast during his Thursday night broadcast that featured spliced-in footage of Melania Trump, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Vice President Vance and others.

During the bit, a tuxedo-clad Kimmel called the first lady “beautiful,” saying she had “the glow of an expectant widow.” There wasn’t much reaction to Kimmel’s comment at the time, Kimmel said during Monday’s show.

On Saturday, the White House Correspondents’ Assn. gala, to celebrate the 1st Amendment, was interrupted when a gunman sprinted past security at the Washington Hilton, where the event was being held. He did not reach the ballroom. The suspect, Cole Tomas Allen, of Torrance, has since been charged with attempting to assassinate the president.

“There was no big reaction to [the joke] until this morning, when I greeted the day facing yet another Twitter vomit storm and a call to fire me from our first lady,” Kimmel said during Monday night’s telecast.

“Obviously, it was a joke about their age difference and the look of joy we see on her face every time they’re together,” Kimmel said.

“It was a very light roast joke about the fact that he’s almost 80 and she’s younger than I am,” Kimmel said. “It was not, by any stretch of the definition, a call to assassinate. And they know that.”

Kimmel added that he has long been vocal “speaking out against gun violence,.”

Melania Trump, who appeared visibly shaken during the Saturday night scare, expressed her outrage in a social media post earlier Monday.

“Kimmel’s hateful and violent rhetoric is intended to divide our country,” she wrote. “His monologue about my family isn’t comedy- his words are corrosive and deepens the political sickness within America. People like Kimmel shouldn’t have the opportunity to enter our homes each evening to spread hate. A coward, Kimmel hides behind ABC because he knows the network will keep running cover to protect him.”

ABC has not commented about the flap.

Eurobonds have returned to the spotlight after Emmanuel Macron revived the debate last week, calling for increased joint EU borrowing to boost the European economy.

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The French president has often argued the EU will need billions in fresh funding as the bloc faces mounting competition from China and the United States and invest massively in defence and advanced technologies.

Macron is leading a group of countries that argue no single member state can meet these challenges alone. Instead, they argue it would be more effective to raise funds collectively on financial markets, unlocking billions of euros for shared European projects.

A growing number of economists and central bankers — including the typically cautious Deutsche Bundesbank — have also voiced support, noting that joint borrowing could reduce financing costs.

However, countries opposed to further debt, led by Germany, argue that eurobonds will only increase the EU’s debt load, while ignoring the real issue of declining productivity.

So, what happens next? Euronews explains:

What are eurobonds?

In the EU context, eurobonds means joint debt issued by EU institutions and backed collectively by member states. This means the responsibility to repay it is shared, with risk pooled across the bloc, and the additional debt does not impact national balance sheets alone, which is useful for the most indebted member states.

With a top-tier, AAA credit rating, they would be considered a safe asset, underpinned by the combined guarantees of EU countries. This could allow governments to borrow at a lower cost compared and thus pay less interests to creditors.

Eurobonds are intended to help finance major long-term investments, including infrastructure, the green transition and defence, where the EU will have to raise and spend billions of euros in a plan titled Readiness 2030.

The EU has already made use of joint borrowing through its €750 billion recovery plan, NextGenerationEU, agreed in 2020 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, and Brussels agreed that it was successful. Still, it insists it was a one-off.

More recently, the idea was revived by Mario Draghi in his 2024 report on European competitiveness. The report argued that joint EU borrowing would be needed to mobilise an additional €800 billion in annual investment if the bloc is to remain competitive globally. A part of it would be private funds, but public investment would be needed too.

Who supports eurobonds — and who opposes them?

The debate over eurobonds has divided the EU for decades, stretching back to the euro zone’s sovereign debt crisis.

Fiscally conservative countries — including Germany, Netherlands, Austria, Finland and Sweden — often referred to as the “frugals”, have traditionally opposed joint borrowing.

They argue it could weaken fiscal discipline and leave more prudent countries exposed to the debts of others. Nonetheless, the need to massively rearm has eased some of the opposition from the Nordic countries which are open to it as long as it goes into defence.

By contrast, southern member states such as France, Greece, Spain, and Portugal have generally supported the idea, seeing it as a way to unlock investment and share financial risks across the bloc. Italy under Giorgia Meloni has played this both ways, saying it sees the benefits while trying to build a close rapport with Germany.

Emmanuel Macron has been among the most vocal advocates in recent months. Speaking at an informal EU summit in February, he called for the creation of a joint borrowing capacity for future investment. His proposal was quickly rejected by Germany.

But still, the French president has not given up on the idea, and by reviving the plan for eurobonds, he is looking to place the debate high on the agenda ahead of a June summit of European leaders.

Paris and Berlin did, however, work together in 2020. Emmanuel Macron and then-German chancellor Angela Merkel played key roles in pushing through the EU’s pandemic recovery fund, although Berlin insisted at the time that the measure was temporary.

Her successor, Friedrich Merz, has taken a firmer stance. Speaking on 24 April, he said that higher debt and the issuance of eurobonds were “out of the question” from a German perspective.

Who will pay for eurobonds?

As a form of collective debt, eurobonds would be repaid jointly by all 27 EU member states, with responsibility shared across the bloc.

The EU has already taken a similar approach with its €750 billion recovery instrument, NextGenerationEU. The repayments should begin in 2028, which kickstarts the next EU’s long-term budget through 2034, which is currently under negotiation in Brussels.

The deadline for the full repayment is 2058.

Some countries, led by France, have called for repayments to be delayed or refinanced through new joint borrowing. Macron said a quick reimbursement in the current context would be “idiotic” and the EU should not rush repayments at the expense of future investment.

Kyriakos Mitsotakis has made a similar case, questioning whether repaying the recovery fund now would reduce the EU’s budgetary capacity at a time when demand for European bonds remains strong.

How are discussions around eurobonds going in Brussels?

Eurobonds have so far gained little traction in Brussels.

They were briefly referenced in a preparatory note by the European Commission ahead of a 16 February meeting of euro-area ministers. However, the issue was not taken forward at the subsequent Eurogroup meeting in March.

“There is a divergence in appetite regarding eurobonds,” Eurogroup President Kyriakos Pierrakakis said at the time.

In recent months, Eurogroup discussions have instead focused on the fallout from the conflict in Iran, particularly its impact on European energy prices, as well as broader efforts to boost competitiveness and advance Capital Markets Union legislation.

For now, diplomats say momentum is limited.

“I don’t see a lot of appetite on eurobonds at this stage, and indeed it’s not being really discussed for now,” one EU official told Euronews.

What happens next?

The Eurogroup is due to meet again on 22 May, and EU leaders will gather for a summit in Brussels in June.

No major Eurogroup discussions on eurobonds are currently foreseen, and Macron’s endorsement is unlikely to change the agenda, diplomats told Euronews.

Part of the reason is the EU’s focus on the impact of the conflict in Iran on energy prices — a major concern for the bloc’s economic outlook. The firm opposition of Friedrich Merz is also weighing heavily on the debate.

However, eurobonds are likely to remain on the agenda for EU leaders, with further backing expected in the coming months.

Vernon, who has two daughters with former Strictly host Tess Daly, explained that “your babies will always be your babies” and highlighted a horrifying scenario for parents

Vernon Kay has opened up about a family change he and his wife “don’t want” as he confessed that their dynamic is changing. Vernon, who is married to former Strictly Come Dancing host Tess Daly, shared his thoughts while reflecting on his evolving relationship with their two daughters, Phoebe, 21, and Amber, 16.

The couple exchanged vows at St Mary’s Church in Horwich back in 2003 and now reside in Buckinghamshire with Amber, while Phoebe has headed to New York to pursue her studies. Vernon and Tess, like many parents, have spoken about their daughters spreading their wings and becoming “independent”, yet it appears that, deep down, neither parent is truly ready to let go.

Vernon revealed he has had to figure out how to “enter their world” — a world with certain “pitfalls” that he and Tess never encountered — including one particularly alarming modern-day concern. In a recent interview, he noted that “your babies will always be your babies”, while acknowledging that today’s world brings with it an issue of which they are “acutely aware”.

Vernon told The Times: “Now that Phoebe is 21 and Amber is nearly 17, our relationship with them is changing. We talk about encouraging them to leave the nest and be independent, but we don’t really want them to. You have to learn to enter their world and that world has pitfalls that just didn’t exist for us.

“When Phoebe started going out, we became acutely aware of drink spiking. I think that just didn’t happen in the Nineties.” Last month, Phoebe shared her relocation to the Big Apple via TikTok, posting a clip of herself dancing against the New York skyline, including views of the Empire State Building.

She wrote: “NYC has my hearttt! Lucky to call it home for a while.” Her parents travelled to the US earlier this year to visit her, with Tess documenting the trip on Instagram, featuring snaps of a pancake breakfast and visits to art galleries. Tess, who lived in New York during the 1990s, said: “I love NYC. Maximised every minute on a whirlwind half-term trip and fell in love with this magical city all over again.”

Meanwhile, Vernon’s BBC Radio 2 co-star recently issued an apology to Tess on air. Vernon has been suffering from a bad back and has been struggling to keep on top of household jobs. In the segment, he informed colleague Gary Davies about his intentions to visit a chiropractor and how he’d been “getting the garden ready”.

Vernon explained: “Chiropractor this afternoon… I think I’ll be a little bit better, but the thing is we’re pre-summer, aren’t we? So, at the moment, I’m getting the garden ready. Done a bit of lawn mowing and I’ve got a list as long as my arm of jobs to do, but I can’t do them with a bad back! I don’t want to get anyone in either.”

Gary joked that this was a convenient excuse, prompting Vernon to quip: “To keep my feet up… and do absolutely nothing!” Gary said: “Sorry, Tess, sorry!” Offering a further glimpse into his relationship with Tess, Vernon revealed: “She sent me a message this morning on the train, ‘Why is half the lawn done?’.”

When questioned whether he’d taught Tess how to tackle the mowing herself, Vernon stated: “That’s my job – no, that’s my job. That’s my job, I love it. Put my headphones in and away we go!”

Meanwhile, Vernon has shed light on a “horrendous” hidden struggle while presenting The One Show alongside regular host Alex Jones.

Speaking with Ellie Brennan on Radio 2 , Vernon disclosed how his stomach had begun rumbling, explaining: “Did you watch The One Show last night? Did you notice that Alex and I had the giggles? Just out after filming Watchdog. They take it very seriously at The One Show. It’s a consumer rights programme, so it’s very serious, and my tummy, because I hadn’t eaten lunch, decided to pop up and say hello.”

He continued: “I literally – and it’s the first time in, I’d say 25 years, since I was working with June Sarpong – that I’ve done a live television link biting my lip to try to stop myself laughing as I’m introducing something really, really serious. It was horrendous.”

Ryanair is calling on passengers to act

Thousands of Ryanair flights have been cancelled, with the budget carrier continuing its campaign to “keep EU skies open”.

Ryanair has set up a a petition, aimed at the European Commission, to reduce the impact of French Air Traffic Control (ATC) strikes on EU flights. The campaign has now garnered support from more than two million people, with thousands of flights scrapped – and more disrupted – in 2025 alone. In October of last year, Ryanair CEO Michael O’Leary said: “It is inexcusable that Europe’s worst performing ATCs in France, Spain, Germany and the UK continue to inflict avoidable delays and cancellations on millions of EU citizens every month.

“Despite warnings, Europe’s ATC performance is not improving, as national providers fail to properly staff and manage their operations. EU ATC needs reform and its passengers who are paying the price.

“ATC delays have already disrupted 33m citizens so far this year, with France, Spain, Germany and the UK consistently failing to staff and manage their services properly.”

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) reported last month that Air Traffic Flow Management (ATFM) delays in Europe have “grown sharply” in recent years, with this “far outpacing traffic growth”. ATFM delays, it said, “have cost airlines and passengers an estimated EUR 17.5 billion since 2015 (in 2025 prices), of which over 70% is linked to capacity shortages and staffing issues”.

The Council of the European Union said last year that “the air traffic control system is increasingly struggling to manage this growing demand”, noting that while “close coordination has been underway for many months between the European Commission and EUROCONTROL as well as ongoing planning between the EUROCONTROL Network Manager, airlines, airports, air navigation service providers and the military … resolving the issue also requires political will at the national level as each country is responsible for providing adequate air traffic services and making the necessary investments to support these services.”

Corinthians striker Memphis Depay has explained why he was using a mobile phone while on the substitutes’ bench during a Brazilian top-flight match.

The Netherlands forward was pictured by television cameras using a phone in the second half of Sunday’s 1-1 draw with Flamengo.

Depay, 32, had been taken off in the 22nd minute of the game and has said he was providing the Dutch camp with an update on his fitness before the international break.

“Just to clarify my moment with the phone was pure to communicate with the medical staff in the Netherlands at that moment,” Depay wrote on X, external.

“I came outside to show support to my team while I could’ve stayed inside the dressing room with the injury.”

Depay added that he was “upset with the result of the game” and will “keep working for better days”.

The former Manchester United and Barcelona forward, who has been capped 108 times by the Netherlands and is their record goalscorer, joined Corinthians in September 2024.

England manager Thomas Tuchel explains his decisions for selecting Manchester United players Harry Maguire and Kobbie Mainoo for his upcoming camp.

He also says it was a “tough decision” to not include Trent Alexander-Arnold in the expanded 35-man squad.

The Three Lions continue their World Cup preparations with friendlies at Wembley Stadium against Uruguay on 27 March and Japan on 31 March.

Teams must submit their final World Cup squads by Saturday, 30 May.

READ MORE: ‘Last opportunity to impress’ – Tuchel names 35-man England squad

Simon Calder gave his thoughts on when travel disruption will start to ease following the strikes on Iran

A travel expert has shared his views on when ‘people will be able to travel again’ as the Middle East conflict continues to escalate. Journalist Simon Calder, who specialises in travel, discussed the crisis and its impact on worldwide travel.

American and Israeli strikes on Iran are approaching the end of their second week, with no resolution in sight. Travel to the Middle East remains limited, with airlines cutting back on the number of flights to and from the area.

Countries such as Oman, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates serve as vital transport hubs for destinations including Asia and Australasia. The outbreak of hostilities has left hundreds of thousands of travellers stuck.

Speaking to Sky News, Mr Calder offered his perspective on when travel might become more straightforward. He said: “We’ve already seen missiles sent to Turkey and attacks on Cyprus. Now, personally, I think the chances of anything happening to a tourist in Turkey or Cyprus are microscopically low, but I also know that people are rebooking away. They’re going to the western Mediterranean – typically Spain and Portugal – because they believe they will be safer there.

“If you’re flying from the UK to a holiday spot such as Turkey or Cyprus and that flight is cancelled, then, fortunately, air passenger rights rules are squarely on your side. The airline that cancels the flight has to get you to your destination as soon as possible, regardless of the cost. And if you can’t get there immediately, the airline has to provide meals and accommodation, if necessary, before you are able to get to your destination.

“The Foreign Office warns against travel to Kuwait, to Bahrain, to Qatar and, crucially, to the UAE, home to the busiest hub in the world: Dubai International Airport. But I’m also predicting that, actually, that ruling is going to lift fairly quickly, and people will be able to travel again.”

Flights are still operating through Dubai International Airport, despite two Iranian drones injuring four people after exploding at the facility. The Dubai Media Office, which releases statements on behalf of the city-state’s government, confirmed flights are continuing, and that the attack caused ‘minor injuries to two Ghanaian nationals and one Bangladeshi national, and moderate injuries to one Indian national’.

Officials have been attempting to restore its flight schedule, though the airport has been targeted amid the conflict. The war has created uncertainty for travellers with flights booked in the coming weeks, prompting Mr Calder to offer his guidance on what passengers should do.

READ MORE: Iran war travel expert Simon Calder issues Emirates ‘flights will be resuming’ updateREAD MORE: Martin Lewis explains ‘safe thing to do’ ahead of April 1 price change

“If your flight is due to go, I’d say, a week or more from now, well, all you can do is just hope that it goes ahead,” he stated. “If you’re going imminently and you do not know if your trip is running, well, the basic news is that if you go to Abu Dhabi, to Dubai, to Doha, you will be going against Foreign Office advice. So, be aware of that; your travel insurance will be invalidated.

“I’ve got some skin in the game. I am booked to fly out on Saturday night from Jakarta, the Indonesian capital, through to Abu Dhabi and connect onwards to London. Now, at the moment, along with many, many other travellers, I’m absolutely promised the flight will go ahead as normal, and I trust that it will. But I simply do not know.

“At the moment, I’m definitely not cancelling my flight because, well, bluntly, if you cancel the flight – which is what the airlines would really like you to do – you will simply be removing yourself from the problem. If, like me, you’re booked in a few days’ time and you do have a bit of flexibility, then absolutely keep your booking open.

“If you go for a refund, first of all, the airline will be delighted because you’ll be a problem that’s removed from their cares and, secondly, you could find yourself paying three times, five times, 10 times as much to get back. Much better to remain a problem for the airline; they’ve got to get you where you need to be.”