north america

A BRITISH grandad accused of trying to drown his daughter-in-law pleaded with cops that he is not in a relationship with her, The Sun can reveal.

Family sources claim Mark Gibbon, 62, has secretly been dating Jasmine Wyld – the mother of his grandchildren – for years.

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He was arrested last week and charged with attempted murder after allegedly forcing her head underwater at a Florida resort pool during a row over his will.

But despite reports of a love affair, both Gibbon and Wyld, 33, denied to cops they were a couple.

Polk County Sheriff’s Office told The Sun the pair had been quizzed on the status of their relationship.

A detective asked Gibbon and mum-of-two Wyld “about their relationship to determine if the incident would be classified as domestic violence”.

They both denied being in a romantic relationship, however.

It comes after a family source told the Daily Mail how the pair had grown close after Gibbon split from his partner and Wyld split from his son Alex.

The insider claimed: “Mark and Jasmine have been seeing each other for a few years, but they’ve never admitted it.

“[The couple] do an awful lot together and they go away on holiday with the children a couple of times every year.”

Gibbon is divorced from his wife and lives alone at a £800,000 semi-detached home in Beaconsfield he purchased in 2023.

Wyld – a hairdresser – separated from Gibbon’s son Alex, 34, back in 2021.

They share two young children together.

Just two years after they separated, Alex, 34, was jailed for trying to run over his dad in a £80,000 Porsche Cayenne in Beaconsfield, Bucks.

As well as assaulting his father, Alex also pleaded guilty to harassing ex-wife Wyld.

Alex was sentenced at Aylesbury Crown Court to 25 months in jail, a 36-month disqualification from driving, a five-year restraining order, plus a surcharge.

The dad was released from jail around six months ago and went to move in with his mum, who had divorced Gibbon some years earlier.

Alex and his father also became embroiled in a public row in 2023 after Alex left his dad’s business for an unknown reason.

The family source confirmed that Alex and Gibbon no longer speak.

They added: “He feels an awful betrayal at how his dad has struck up a relationship with the mother of his two children.”

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Gibbon – a lighting technician, who runs his own firm called MRG Lighting – is now being held in Polk County Jail and is due in court next week over the attempted murder charge levelled against him.

He and Wyld were on holiday at the Solterra Resort in Devenport, near Disney World, Florida with Wyld’s two children – Gibbon’s grandkids.

The reported couple started arguing over the “stipulations of his wilL” while by the pool, according to US police.

Gibbon then pushed Wyld’s head “under the water and held her down multiple times”, the arrest affidavit claims.

The mum told cops she “could not breathe and believed that she was going to drown”.

Police say Wyld was forced to “fight Mark in order to get away from him and from under the water but he kept pushing her back under”.

Her nine-year-old daughter then leapt to her mother’s defence but was pushed away by Gibbon, it is claimed.

Wyld is reported to have called out to two women in the distance and screamed at them to call 911.

Gibbon now faces one count of attempted murder and two counts of battery.

When questioned, Gibbon allegedly admitted to pushing Jasmine underwater, but insisted he hadn’t been trying to drown her.

The grandad is due in court on Monday.

HOMEWARE giant Wayfair has slashed its UK workforce by more than half in just two years, as it grapples with tumbling sales and a sharp drop in profit.

The US-based furniture retailer, which operates across Britain, cut staff numbers from 847 in 2022 to just 405 by the end of 2024, according to fresh filings with Companies House.

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The dramatic reduction follows a tough period for the business, with UK turnover plunging from £83.4million in 2022 to just £59.4million last year.

Profits also took a hit, with pre-tax earnings slipping from £2.6million to £2.2million over the same period.

Wayfair said it had made a 17 per cent cut to administrative expenses and was now focused on “driving cost efficiency” and “nailing the basics” as it tried to steady the ship.

Despite the ongoing slowdown, bosses remain upbeat about the retailer’s long-term prospects and said the group is working towards maintaining profitability and generating positive free cash flow.

The wider company reported a net revenue of $11.9billion (£8.8billion) globally last year – down $152million (£112million) on the year before.

International sales fell to $1.5billion (£1.1billion), while revenue in its core US market dropped to $10.4billion (£7.7billion).

Wayfair recorded a net loss of $492million (£363million) despite raking in $3.6billion (£2.7billion) in gross profits.

There was some relief in early 2025, as first-quarter results showed a $1billion (£740million) rise in total revenue, thanks to a modest recovery in US sales.

However, international takings continued to fall, dipping by $37million (£27million) to $301million (£223million).

Wayfair isn’t the only retailer feeling the pinch on the high street. Furniture favourite MADE.com collapsed into administration in 2022 after failing to find a buyer, leading to hundreds of job losses.

Habitat also shut down all standalone stores in 2021, moving exclusively online after years of underperformance.

Even major players have been forced to adapt.

Wilko closed its doors for good in 2023 after nearly a century in business, with more than 400 stores shutting and 12,000 staff affected.

Argos has continued to reduce its physical footprint, shutting dozens of standalone shops and moving into parent company Sainsbury’s stores to save costs.

Retail experts say changing consumer habits, rising costs and weaker demand are continuing to batter the home and furniture sector.

Many shoppers have tightened their belts amid soaring bills and higher interest rates, with big-ticket items like sofas and beds often the first to be cut from household budgets.

Wayfair bosses said the company remains “resilient” in the face of economic uncertainty and is pressing ahead with its long-term strategy to streamline operations and stay competitive.

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THIS is the hilarious moment Donald Trump’s golf caddy appears to drop his ball into a prime spot before he takes his shot.

A video clip has emerged which shows two golf caddies alongside the US President as he drives a golf cart around Turnberry’s Ailsa course, in Scotland.

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He donned a white USA baseball cap and was joined by his son Eric.

Trump, 79, is seen being escorted down to the course, with a convoy of 20 other carts following close behind.

The caddies go ahead of the US leaser and one appears to try and secretly place a golf ball on the ground.

The President then gets out and claims to have made the shot himself.

Trump waves for cameras on the third green at the southeast end of the course before the party moves on.

One person who watched the footage circulating on X wrote: “Caddy did that so smoothly. Can only imagine how many times he’s done it.”

“I want to know how he finds caddies to do that for him,” added another.

This comes as the US President arrived aboard Air Force One at around 8.30pm on Friday for his five-day private visit to Bonnie Scotland.

After waving to the crowds, he was welcomed by Scottish Secretary Ian Murray before being whisked to his luxury Turnberry resort 20 miles down the Ayrshire coast.

Villagers waved as the convoy passed through nearby Kirkoswald and later arrived at the resort at around 9.30pm.

And he wasted no time in taking to the green after being seen teeing off at the luxury resort.

Several protests were planned, with opponents of Mr Trump gathering in both Edinburgh and Aberdeen earlier this week.

The Stop Trump coalition has planned what it has described as being a “festival of resistance”.

Activists also shut down the Forth Road Bridge in South Queensferry as part of a huge protest ahead of Trump’s visit.

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Climate campaigners from Greenpeace confirmed that 10 activists abseiled from the massive 156m bridge to block an INEOS tanker.

A large number of police and military personnel were seen searching the grounds at the golf resort to ensure Mr Trump’s safety before he teed off.

A high-profile security operation was in full swing with land, sea and air coverage from police and security services while a number of guests were checked over.

Secret service agents with sniffer dogs checked bushes as snipers were positioned on a platform on the edge of the course and the roof of the hotel.

Uniformed and plain clothes cops guarded all access points to the course, including roads, footpaths and the beach.

Amid the search, a few golfers were also spotted at the course, enjoying an early-morning game.

A number of onlookers had gathered at the entrance to Turnberry hoping to catch a glimpse of the game.

But they were not let anywhere near.

Police also had road closures in place, with limited access for locals and members of the media.

Upon his arrival, Mr Trump told reporters: “There’s no place like Turnberry. It’s the best course in the world.”

As well as visiting Trump Turnberry, Mr Trump will later head to Aberdeenshire and visit his golf resort in Balmedie.

During his stay, he will officially open his second course at Menie, named in honour of his late mother, Mary Anne MacLeod.

His visit is expected to last until Tuesday, July 29.

The President is also scheduled to meet Scottish First Minister John Swinney and Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer during his trip.

After landing in Scotland, Mr Trump said the “invasion” of migrants is “killing” Europe and told the leaders to “get their act together”.

But when asked about illegal immigration, Mr Trump said a “horrible invasion” was taking place in Europe which needs to stop.

He said: “On immigration, you better get your act together.

“You’re not going to have Europe anymore, you’ve got to get your act together.

“As you know, last month we had nobody entering our country – nobody, [we] shut it down.”

He added: “You’ve got to stop this horrible invasion that’s happening to Europe.”

Mr Trump, who made a crackdown on illegal immigration a major policy in his second term at the White House, boasted: “Last month we had nobody entering our country.”

A massive £5million security operation has been rolled out to ensure his safety, with around 6,000 police officers drafted in from across the UK to support the efforts.

We previously told how police and security services assessed fears that Trump could be assassinated during his visit to Scotland after he survived an attempt at a rally in Pennsylvania last year.

David Threadgold, General Secretary of the Scottish Police Federation, said “a huge amount of threat assessment and intelligence gathering” took place ahead of the visit.

ALDI are launching a summer must have American snack perfect for picnics.

The middle aisle buy is coming to stores today (June 26) at an impressively low price of just £1.49.

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A bag of American salted pretzels made by budget snack firm Snackrite will make the perfect addition to a summer picnic basket.

Aldi are selling the 250g bags for less than £1.50, working out to only 60p per 100 grams.

Part of Aldi’s summer range of special buys the bag of pretzels will launch today, alongside a number of other products.

Appearing on shelves the pretzels can be bought in store – subject to availability.

Not every location will stock the snack and customers will have to visit their local store to check if they are on offer.

The pretzels cannot be purchased online and Aldi warns that prices may vary.

Aldi are offering a “taste of America” with today’s special buys.

There will be 21 American themed products on offer at the budget shop.

Each celebrates American food and flavour with the pretzels offered up as part of the range.

The taste of America special buys range will offer bizarre crisp flavours including cheeseburger and hot dog mustard.

Aldi is also offering a fruit loops dupe and American diner style coffee grounds as part of its new range of special buys.

The pretzel packaging boasts an American flag and a disclaimer reading: “Next stop flavour town.”

The American range of snacks is perfect for picnics in the sun this summer.

Aldi quietly launched the snack yesterday, June 24, announcing the special buy range on its website.

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The American style snacks, including the salted pretzels, will begin to appear on shelves overnight.

As with all special buys the snacks can only be bought while stocks last so shoppers better rush to get their hands on them if they want them.

A whole range of sweet and savoury treats are coming to the aisles today and once they are gone they are gone.

Each has an impressive price tag with the budget store selling products at a fraction of the price of most supermarkets.

More Aldi middle aisle buys

IF it’s middle aisle buys that you’re looking here, some of the new items you won’t want to miss.

EMERGING from a carpet shop in Iran’s beautiful and ancient city of Esfahan, I was engulfed by a group of jostling young men.

Like a desert mirage, as quickly as they had arrived they were gone.

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Patting myself down, a zip on my trouser pocket was undone.

My passport was gone.

And this so-called Axis of Evil nation had no British Embassy to get a replacement.

Hands trembling uncontrollably, my adrenalin-induced sweat of fear smelt like cat’s urine.

There can be few more hazardous places on Earth for a journalist without papers — and an entry stamp — than the Islamic Republic of Iran.

Years later Barry Rosen — a US embassy worker held hostage there in 1979 — told me how his interrogation played out.

With a rifle pressed to his temple, Barry was told he had ten seconds to admit he was a spy.

As the grim countdown began, the New Yorker wrestled with the dilemma of either being perceived as a traitor to his country or leaving his kids fatherless.

“On the count of five I relented,” Barry told me.

“I signed the false confession, distraught and ­completely ashamed.”

Barry would eventually return to his loved ones in the US after 444 days in captivity.

Britons are high-value hostages for the regime.

Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe was detained in Iran for six years on trumped-up charges of plotting to topple the Iranian government.

She was finally released when Britain paid a £400million outstanding debt to Iran.

I would eventually get out — more on how later — after staying with an extraordinarily kind Iranian man who put me up in his apartment and tempered my nerves with some rocket-fuel home brew.

Today — with Iran’s tyrannical regime in Israeli and US crosshairs — I cast my mind back to the welcoming people I met while travelling this ancient land.

These folk loathe rule by the hardline ayatollahs and long for a time less than 50 years ago when women wore miniskirts in capital Tehran, the hair bouncing on their shoulders.

I had arrived in Iran — successor state of the Persian Empire — in 2012 with the idea of travelling from Tehran to Persepolis, a millennia-old desert ruin once the centrepiece of its civilisation.

On the way I’d talk to ordinary people to try and understand what made this land tick.

Did they really think Britain was the cursed Little Satan?

‘GREAT SATAN’

On landing in Tehran — a high-rise city of 9.8million shrouded by mountains — fleets of white taxis honked their way through the city’s awful traffic.

In the pollution-choked centre, I was struck by the number of women walking around with white plasters on their noses.

Tehran has been called the nose job capital of the world.

Women here also face a daily battle over what they can wear in public, with checks made by the dreaded Basij militia network.

Yet many were wearing their head scarves pulled back to reveal dyed blonde hair, while their overcoats were colourful and figure-hugging.

Since the 1979 Iranian revolution, when the Shah — or king — Mohammad Reza Pahlavi was toppled and replaced by hardline cleric Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, Islamic dress has been strictly enforced.

Alcohol was banned, protests stifled and unmarried couples prevented from meeting in public.

Today, the internet is censored and the regime attempts to scramble satellite TV signals.

Near the Taleghani Metro station is the old American embassy — known here as “the nest of spies” — its walls daubed with murals and slogans decrying the so-called Great Satan.

Months after the revolution, students stormed the embassy compound and took 66 Americans hostage.

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A disastrous and aborted US rescue mission the following year — when eight servicemen were killed in a helicopter crash — badly damaged US president Jimmy Carter’s reputation.

The lingering stigma of that failure was perhaps a factor in why Donald Trump took his time before deciding to unleash American firepower on Iran.

In Palestine Square — in the heart of Tehran — beats a Doomsday Clock predicting Israel’s end by the year 2040. The regime put it there in 2017.

It helps explain why Israel launched a pre-emptive strike against Iran’s nuclear sites, senior nuclear scientists and top brass last week.

Nearby, I visited the British embassy compound, its gateway overlooked by lion and unicorn statues.

Around six months before my visit, diplomats had fled as a frenzied mob of Iran- ian “students” storm- ed the building and ransacked offices.

It would remain shuttered for nearly four years.

The rioters — who were chanting “Death To England” — were in fact state-sponsored Basij thugs.

It is the same sinister paramilitary force that is responsible for the policing of morals in this hardline Shi’ite Muslim state, including the wearing of the hijab or headscarf.

Yet these repressive goons are far from representative of the beating heart of this oil-rich nation.

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A short stroll away in the teeming Grand Bazaar, women shoppers, in the all- covering black cloak-like chador, were out looking for bargains.

But surprisingly, Union Jack-patterned knickers and bra combos were on sale on at least three stalls.

American stars and stripes underwear was also available in several shops.

One black-clad shopper in her thirties told me: “The underwear is very popular.

“We have nothing against your country.”

The message that the lingerie worn under the chadors sent out was clear: Knickers to the hardliners.

Indeed, as a metaphor for things being very different under the surface in Iran, it couldn’t be bettered.

Another stall sold Manchester United bath towels in a nation where the Premier League is avidly followed.

“We don’t hate Britain,” a 26-year-old Red Devils-mad taxi driver told me.

“Far from it.

“We admire your freedom.”

After a few days in Tehran I took a shared taxi on the five-hour, 280-mile journey to Iran’s third largest city Esfahan.

It’s home to an exquisite square overlooked by the imposing aquamarine dome of Shah Mosque, regarded as one of the masterpieces of Persian architecture.

The city’s outskirts are also home to one of the largest uranium enrichment facilities in the country.

‘EVERYBODY BREWS THEIR OWN NOW’

Terrified that Iran was close to producing a nuclear weapon to make good on its doomsday prophecy, the site was pummeled by more than two dozen US Tomahawk cruise missiles on Sunday morning.

I had checked into a largely empty hotel in the city centre which had no safe for valuables.

That evening I went out shopping for a Persian rug.

Warily passing some soldiers in the street, I was dismayed to see them beckon me over.

Yet they simply wanted a selfie alongside a rare Western traveller.

Emerging with my new carpet, I was heading for an electronics store bearing a fake Apple logo when I was surrounded by pickpockets.

Now passportless, I was petrified about being stopped by police and asked to produce my documents.

I then remembered meeting some Iranian migrants in Calais who had told me they used to work as smugglers, trekking over the mountains from Iran to Turkey with some contraband alcohol in backpacks.

Finding an internet cafe to research the journey, a man started using the computer next to me to watch porn.

The idea of attempting to walk alone over rugged mountains seemed more hazardous than another internet suggestion — go to another country’s embassy and throw myself at their mercy.

Travelling back to Tehran I attempted to check into a hotel but the receptionist insisted I needed to show my passport.

When I explained my predicament, he told me: “I’ll phone the police and they’ll sort this out.”

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I told him I needed to collect my luggage then scarpered.

Knowing no one in the country, a contact then put me in touch with someone who could put me up.

The grey-haired father lived alone in a ramshackle flat and said I was welcome to the sofa.

“I was jailed for protesting against the Shah when he ruled,” he told me.

“Now I wish I hadn’t bothered.

“This regime is far worse.

“We have far less freedom now.”

Deciding the Dutch would be most amenable to a stricken Brit, I tried their embassy but it was closed for holidays.

So I went to the Danes instead.

They took my details and I was told to return the following day.

Presented with a paper Danish temporary passport 24 hours later, I profusely thanked the embassy staff for making me an honorary viking.

Taking a cab to the airport, I checked my bag on the flight then queued up at immigration dreaming of a glass of red on the plane.

A bearded border guard disdainfully looked at my Danish passport, sniffing as he tossed it away: “No good, no ministry stamp.”

It was back to my new friend’s sofa to watch subtitled TV, including shows with Jamie Oliver and James May.

The former prisoner — raising a glass of home-distilled spirits — revealed: “Twice every year the police go upon the roof and smash up all our satellite dishes.

“But we simply go out and buy some more.

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“There’s a saying here that the regime closed down thousands of brewers during the revolution but created a million more.

“Everybody brews their own now.”

After two days queuing at the relevant Iranian ministry — and praying that they wouldn’t google my identity — I finally got my stamp.

My plane banked over the vast mausoleum built to house Khomeini’s remains as it headed west.

One after another, most of the women on the flight removed their head scarves, then their restrictive chadors.

Settling with a glass of wine, I hoped one day to return to this fascinating land under better circumstances.

Now, with the ayatollahs’ regime perhaps at threat of being toppled, I may one day make it to Persepolis.

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CAPTAIN COOK’S ship, HMS Endeavour, which the adventurer used to explore Australia, has been identified after a 250 year long mystery.

The vessel was the first European ship to reach Eastern Australia, in 1770, and went on to circumnavigate the main islands of New Zealand.

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It was then sold, renamed the Lord Sandwich and was last seen in the US in 1778, during the American War of Independence.

During the war, the ship was scuttled (intentionally sunk) to create a blockade to prevent French ships from entering the harbour and supporting the American forces. 

And it has now been confirmed that a shipwreck off Newport Harbour, Rhode Island, USA, called RI 2394, is in fact the HMS Endeavour.

In a new report the Australian National Maritime Museum (ANMM) announced the verdict, after 25 years of studying the wreck.

“This final report is the culmination of 25 years of detailed and meticulous archaeological study on this important vessel”, said museum director Daryl Karp.

“It has involved underwater investigation in the US and extensive research in institutions across the globe.”

“This final report marks our definitive statement on the project.”

The ship was hard to identify because anything that would have been of value, such as a bell, would have been stripped from the boat before it was intentionally sunk.

However, experts were able to determine that the shipwreck is the lost ship by comparing it with plans for the Endeavour.

For example, they discovered timbers which matched with the placement of the main and fore masts of the ship.

Additionally, measurements from the wreck corresponded to those taken during a 1768 survey of the ship.

Analysis of the ship’s wood also revealed that it had come from Europe, which is consistent with records show that the Endeavour was repaired there in 1776.

ANMM archaeologist, Kieran Hosty, said: “We’ll never find anything on this site that screams Endeavour. You’ll never find a sign saying ‘Cook was here’. 

“We will never see a ship’s bell with Endeavour crossed out and Lord Sandwich inscribed on it.

“We’ve got a whole series of things pointing to RI 2394 as being HMB Endeavour. 

“The timbers are British timbers. 

“The size of all the timber scantlings are almost identical to Endeavour, and I’m talking within millimetres – not inches, but millimetres. 

“The stem scarf is identical, absolutely identical. 

“This stem scarf is also a very unique feature – we’ve gone through a whole bunch of 18th-century ships plans, and we can’t find anything else like it.”

However, the Rhode Island Marine Archaeology Project previously said the identification is “premature” and has not yet ruled out that the Endeavour could be another shipwreck .

Only 15 percent of the ship remains and researchers are now focused on what to do to preserve it.

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DONALD Trump called Elon Musk a “big-time drug addict” as his spat with the world’s richest man intensified.

The US President is said to have blasted his billionaire ex-backer as reliant on ketamine in phone calls.

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It came after the Tesla billionaire linked Mr Trump to paedophile Jeffrey Epstein.

Their feud went public on Thursday night as both men used their own social media platforms — X and Truth Social — to insult each other.

Mr Musk, 53, turned on the US leader, calling his Congressional spending bill a “disgusting abomination” on Wednesday.

The President, 78, has called it his “big, beautiful bill”, but Mr Musk believes it will increase national debt by an unsustainable amount.

It triggered the ugly public bust-up, with Musk calling for Trump to be impeached and accusing him of being a close associate of Epstein.

Yesterday, Mr Musk deleted the post, which was seen hundreds of millions of times.

The Washington Post reported Mr Trump used private calls to urge his allies not to pour fuel on the fire and told Vice President JD Vance to be cautious.

But the President, whose campaign took £250million from Mr Musk, is also said to have become weary with the tycoon’s alleged drug use.

He called Mr Musk an “addict” in the calls and claimed he “lost his mind” after leaving the administration.

The businessman previously admitted using ketamine, but it is alleged he became so hooked last year it affected his kidneys.

Mr Musk officially left the government last week but said he would remain as a “friend and adviser” to Mr Trump.

The President last night said he had “no intention” of speaking to Mr Musk, adding: “I think it’s a very bad thing because he’s very disrespectful”.

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DONALD Trump has signed a sweeping new travel ban blocking people from a dozen countries from entering the US — with restrictions set to kick in within days.

The bombshell move, announced late Wednesday, resurrects the explosive “Muslim ban” policy from his first term and will take effect at 12.01am Monday.

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The countries hit with a full ban include Afghanistan, Burma, Chad, Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen.

In addition to the outright ban, heightened restrictions will be slapped on visitors from Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan and Venezuela.

“I must act to protect the national security and national interest of the United States and its people,” Trump said in a proclamation.

The sweeping list stems from a January 20 executive order, in which Trump tasked the State Department, Homeland Security, and the Director of National Intelligence with flagging “hostile attitudes” and countries that pose a national security risk.

The crackdown mirrors Trump’s highly controversial 2017 executive order, which initially barred citizens from seven majority-Muslim nations — Iraq, Syria, Iran, Sudan, Libya, Somalia and Yemen — triggering chaos at airports and global backlash.

Dubbed the “Muslim ban”, it sparked scenes of confusion as travellers, including students and tourists, were blocked from boarding planes or detained after landing in the US.

After legal challenges, the policy was retooled and upheld by the Supreme Court in 2018, with a version targeting Iran, Somalia, Yemen, Syria and Libya, alongside North Korea and Venezuelan officials.

Trump has consistently defended the bans as vital to national security, despite critics accusing him of religious discrimination.

The latest move ramps up his hardline immigration stance as the Republican firebrand gears up for a second term — once again placing border control and national safety at the heart of his presidency.

Earlier on Wednesday, Trump held an hour-long call with Vladimir Putin, revealing the Kremlin tyrant “will have to respond” to Ukraine’s devastating drone blitz on Russian airfields.

“It was a good conversation, but not a conversation that will lead to immediate Peace,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.

“President Putin did say, and very strongly, that he will have to respond to the recent attack on the airfields.”

The warning came after Operation Spiderweb — a daring Ukrainian drone assault that wiped out 41 Russian warplanes across four strategic air bases, including nuclear-capable bombers.

The pair also discussed Iran’s nuclear programme, with Trump writing: “I stated to President Putin that Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon and, on this, I believe that we were in agreement.”

He added: “President Putin suggested that he will participate in the discussions with Iran and that he could, perhaps, be helpful in getting this brought to a rapid conclusion.”

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.

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A BRITISH businessman has been accused of spying and plotting to smuggle sensitive military technology to China.

The FBI claim investigators intercepted phone calls in which John Miller, 63, called Chinese leader Xi Jinping as “The Boss”.

The 63-year-old from Kent is also alleged to have tried to buy military hardware in the US for the People’s Liberation Army.

This included missile launchers, air defence radars and Black Hornet “microdrones” that can fly within feet of enemy soldiers and enter buildings to spy on troop positions.

Other equipment he attempted to purchase included a hand-held device approved by America’s National Security Agency for the secure communication of classified material.

Mr Miller also suggested smuggling a device by glueing it inside a food blender so it could then be “sent via DHL or Fedex to Hong Kong, according to US court papers.

The FBI said Mr Miller calling Xi “The Boss” showed his “awareness that he was acting at the direction and control of the [Chinese] government”.

He was arrested on April 24 after he was caught in a sting when the ‘arms dealers’ he was negotiating with turned out to be undercover FBI agents.

Mr Miller was on a business trip to Belgrade, Serbia, at the time and is still being held last night facing extradition to the US.

He is accused of conspiring with US-based Chinese national, Cui Guanghai, 43, and if convicted, both men face up to 40 years in prison.

Neighbours at his five-bedroom £1.5million home in Tunbridge Wells described him a “respectable family man”, according to the Mail on Sunday.

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DONALD Trump’s luxury “sky Palace” gifted to him by Qatar will cost a few billion dollars, says the President of Emirates airline.

The US government now faces a “Herculean task” to transform the huge Boeing 747-8 into a new Air Force One fit for a president, warns Sir Tim Clark.

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President Trump, 78, sparked concerns earlier this month with his willingness to accept the plush flying mansion from the Qatari royal family.

The giant gift, worth an estimated $400m (£300m), has raised several ethical questions about if the US leader should be allowed to accept such expensive goods from other states.

But despite the controversy, Trump gladly took the 13-year-old mega jet back to Washington with him.

He now plans to make it part of his Air Force One fleet alongside two other Boeing 747-200 jumbo jets.

They have been operational since 1990 but are now said to be not up to scratch compared to modern planes such as Qatar‘s 747-8.

In order for it to become a fully fledged member of the president’s aviation arsenal however, it will need to go through some serious work.

It would have to be kitted out with top-tier communications and security tech before ever ferrying around Trump.

And significant retrofitting and clearance from security officials would be required.

Sir Tim, president of Emirates, told Piers Morgan Uncensored that President Trump’s flashy plans may cost a “couple of billion dollars”.

He explained to Piers: “I think you’re talking a couple of billion dollars to start with.

“Just roll back a little bit and look at what it takes for us to convert our 777s – from the old to the new – because we haven’t got the Boeing’s coming in at the pace we want them so we’re having to reconfigure all of them.”

The top aviation boss said trying to fix up all the jets as an airline has been an extremely tough task.

Tim admitted to “pulling his hair out” over the regulators and the tiny tweaks that have to be made to modernise a plane of that size and stature.

And he believes the US government will face an even trickier – and much more expensive – battle to get the gifted plane ready for presidential trips.

He said: “It’s a Herculean task, make no mistake about it.

“Whether President Trump will adapt fully, this present from Qatar, to an Air Force One I doubt it, but he’ll certainly get a lot of it done.”

Aviation specialist Jeff Wise also told The Sun that he expects the Air Force One replacement to take years and need billions of dollars pumped into the project to make the jet viable.

Trump’s Air Force One jets currently in use come with dozens of specialised security features.

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These include armoured glass and plating, on board flares to confuse enemy missiles, mirror-ball defences and even an electric jamming system.

Another unique yet needed element is an electromagnetic shield for nuclear explosions.

This has to be on a presidential plane as the leader of Washington can actually launch a nuke from the aircraft.

But the new Qatari jet lacks most of these security features.

Instead, the lavish aeroplane boasts a luxurious interior, featuring spacious suites and rooms with ornate interior decoration.

It also has glittering gold-coloured furnishings and hallways that echo Trump’s well-know interior design preferences.

The president is believed to have spent an hour inspecting the plan when when it was parked at West Palm Beach International Airport back in February.

The luxury Boeing was once even listed for a whopping $400 million, according to the Business Jet Traveler.

During his first stint in office, Trump had ordered two new Air Force One jumbo jets from Boeing to replace the pair that have been in service since George H. W. Bush’s presidency.

But the Boeing contract has faced delays, and reports suggest the new plans would not be ready until after Trump leaves the Oval Office.

Fears Trump’s new Air Force One replacement is vulnerable to devastating HACKS – or worse

By Chief Foreign Reporter, Katie Davis

A LAVISH jumbo jet Donald Trump plans to receive from Qatar will be vulnerable to hacking, an expert has warned.

The Boeing 747 – dubbed a “palace in the sky” – could even be blasted out the sky, aviation specialist Jeff Wise believes.

He fears Trump may bypass necessary measures to save time and money – which could therefore invite hacking or a devastating assassination attempt.

Wise told The Sun: “This Air Force One would be a major intelligence target for any adversary nation or even our allies, because allies love to spy on each other.

“The United States is being given this albatross that they are going to have to spend billions of dollars on to fix up for the personal use of Trump.

“If your job is to protect the President of the United States or if your job is to protect the secrets of the United States, then this is a massive headache for you.

“This is a plane that does not have secure communications and the anti-missiles defence systems that a normal Air Force One has. It’s just wide open.

“This is an administration that is completely irresponsible in the way they use their personal devices. They’re using these off-brand apps to communicate. It’s just a hacker’s dream.”

Wise continued: “I would say an increasing number of people would like to target Air Force One. 

“America’s list of enemies is growing longer and longer as we become an increasingly horrible nation, from the Houthis to the Iranians to the Russians.”

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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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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.

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.

Like us on Facebook at TheSunUS and follow us on X at @TheUSSun

IT doesn’t get more exciting than sailing in style to a paradise Caribbean private island.

And even more cruise lines are now going all out to host passengers on their own islands.

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Royal Caribbean last week announced its second Perfect Day destination off Mexico, opening in 2027, which will include a waterpark with 30 slides, the longest lazy river in the world, adults-only beach clubs and a host of bars and restaurants.

Lisa Minot looks at existing private islands you can cruise to.

ROYAL CARIBBEAN

IT was Royal who upped the ante with the launch of its revamped Perfect Day at Coco Cay in 2019.

The £185million transformation of its Bahamas island included a new pier, thrill rides and chill zones.

There are seven beaches to laze beside the warm waters and six pools, including Oasis Lagoon, the largest freshwater pool in the Caribbean with swim-up bar and in-water loungers.

The Thrill Waterpark has 14 slides including the tallest in North America while Splashaway Bay and Captain Jill’s Galleon are perfect places for the kids to play.

There’s complimentary food at four restaurants as well as a host of bars and shops.

The adult-only Hideaway Beach opened in January last year and, for an extra charge, over-18s can enjoy a private beach, two pools, seven bars and two restaurants.

Also available to book for an extra charge are overwater cabanas, a zipline and tethered hot air balloon as well as kayak tours and snorkelling excursions.

GO: A week full-board on Royal Caribbean’s Icon of the Seas is from £1,064pp, sailing from Miami on November 8 and calling at St Maarten, St Thomas and Perfect Day at Coco Cay.

See royalcaribbean.com.

MSC CRUISES

WITH its signature stripey lighthouse and two miles of white sand beaches, Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve in the Bahamas is a regular port of call for MSC cruise ships.

They sail from their new private terminal in Miami as well as Port Canaveral in Florida and New York, including MSC World America, which made its debut in April.

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The Italian cruise line has transformed a former sand excavation site in the last ten years, planting more than 75,000 trees and bringing back marine life and birds.

A newly-opened conservation centre on the island allows guests to discover their achievements and includes a land-based coral nursery and fully-equipped bio-lab.

But cruise guests will also appreciate the island’s laid-back vibe with food trucks and restaurants offering Bahamian specialities, barbecue classics, snacks and oodles of ice cream and beach bars serving tropical cocktails.

There’s a chance to explore the underwater wonders with snorkelling, kayak, paddle board and windsurfing excursions.

For a bit of luxury, you can relax in a cabana or take a sunset champagne cruise.

GO: Seven nights’ full-board on MSC World America is from £649pp.

Sailing from Miami on September 13, the cruise calls at Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve, the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico.

See msccruises.com.

HOLLAND AMERICA/CARNIVAL

ONE of the original private island pioneers, the Holland America line first started calling at RelaxAway at Half Moon Cay in the Bahamas in 1997 and it has been expanding its presence there ever since.

In summer next year, a major upgrade will see a new beach club and lunch venue on its original facilities on the south of the island’s stunning two-mile crescent of powder-soft white sand as well as a new pier at the north end of the beach that will be used by both Holland America and its sister cruise line Carnival.

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Thrill-seekers can enjoy horseback riding along the shore, snorkelling, jet skiing, and stingray encounters.

Families will love the Half Moon Lagoon Aqua Park, while nature enthusiasts can explore eco-tours and birdwatching.

Unique experiences include glass-bottom boat tours and a pirate ship-themed bar.

With beach sports, shopping and complimentary barbecue lunches, this is a high-end island escape for cruisers.

GO: A 14-night full-board Western & Eastern Caribbean cruise on Holland America’s Zuiderdam is from £1,379pp, departs Miami on November 8 and calls at Half Moon Cay, Jamaica, Cayman Islands, Cozumel, Mexico, Miami, Bahamas, Amber Cove, Dominican Republic, Turks & Caicos.

See hollandamerica.com.

DISNEY

MICKEY Mouse and pals now have two private islands to enjoy in the Bahamas.

Their original, Castaway Cay, opened in 1998 as part of the launch of the new cruise line.

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And last year, they opened Lookout Cay.

As you would expect, there is a huge amount of fun activities for kids including kids’ clubs for three to 17-year-olds.

The family beach features plenty of umbrellas, chairs and hammocks plus tube and float rentals and an all-you-can-eat lunch buffet.

Water babies will love Pelican Plunge, a huge floating platform featuring water slides and cannons.

Spring-a-Leak is a water play area with freshwater jets.

Adults get their own Serenity Bay stretch of pristine sands as well as a restaurant and bar.

The island features a 12-acre snorkel trail dotted with sunken treasures including the submarine from the classic Disney attraction 20,000 Leagues Under The Sea and there are miles of paths to explore on foot or bicycle.

Over at Lookout Cay, there’s more of a focus on nature and celebrating the island’s Bahamian location with a cultural centre where you can learn about traditions and crafts.

GO: A four-night full-board cruise on Disney Wish to the Bahamas, including calls at both Castaway Cay and Lookout Cay is from £920pp, based on two adults and two children sharing.

The cruise departs August 17.

See iglucruise.com.

THIS is the chilling moment the doomed Titan sub imploded as it was captured on video from its own support ship.

Footage reveals the sound of when OceanGate’s submersible catastrophically failed during its descent to the Titanic wreck in June 2023.

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The haunting video was obtained by the BBC and presented to the US Coast Guard’s Marine Board of Investigation.

It shows Wendy Rush – wife of OceanGate boss Stockton Rush – staring at a computer used to receive messages from the Titan when a deep metallic thud rings out.

Wendy, visibly startled, freezes before glancing up and asking the crew: “What was that bang?”

Seconds later, a message arrives from the sub: “dropped two wts” – a reference to the Titan shedding weights to control its dive.

But the timing of the message was tragically misleading.

According to investigators, the sub had already imploded.

The sound reached the surface faster than the delayed text, giving the false impression all was well.

All five people onboard were killed instantly when the vessel collapsed under immense pressure at a depth of around 3,300m – just 90 minutes into the £195,000-a-head journey.

The doomed expedition claimed the lives of CEO Stockton Rush, British explorer Hamish Harding, French Titanic expert Paul-Henri Nargeolet, and British-Pakistani businessman Shahzada Dawood and his 19-year-old son Suleman.

A BBC documentary, in which the footage is featured, will also reveal chilling new findings – including that the Titan’s carbon fibre hull began failing a full year before the fatal dive.

Lieutenant Commander Katie Williams from the USCG said: “Delamination at dive 80 was the beginning of the end.

“And everyone that stepped onboard the Titan after dive 80 was risking their life.”

The documentary details how carbon fibre, an unconventional choice for deep-sea vessels, started to separate in 2022.

On that dive, passengers heard a loud bang, but Rush reportedly reassured them it was “the sub shifting in its frame.”

The USCG has since confirmed that noise was a sign the hull was beginning to break apart.

Despite warnings from experts and former OceanGate staff – one calling the sub an “abomination” – Titan continued making dives.

Deep-sea explorer Victor Vescovo admitted: “I specifically told them that it was simply a matter of time before it failed catastrophically.”

Businessman Oisin Fanning, who was onboard for the last two successful dives, said: “If you’re asking a simple question: ‘Would I go again knowing what I know now?’ – the answer is no.”

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The mangled wreckage of the Titan was later recovered from the Atlantic seabed, along with clothing, stickers and business cards.

The USCG has confirmed “presumed human remains” were found and matched to the victims.

Christine Dawood, who lost her husband Shahzada and son Suleman, told the BBC the tragedy had changed her forever.

“I don’t think that anybody who goes through loss and such a trauma can ever be the same.”

The harrowing footage comes as the USCG prepares to release its final report later this year, with legal fallout already beginning.

In April, billionaire heiress Karen Lo launched a £1million lawsuit after her trip aboard Titan was axed.

The Hong Kong businesswoman, worth around £758million, paid £680,000 for the once-in-a-lifetime voyage – only for it to be cancelled after the sub was struck by lightning in 2018.

She was promised priority rebooking, but after the sub imploded in 2023, she demanded her money back.

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Lo is now suing Henry Cookson’s ultra-luxury travel firm, arguing it broke the contract.

The company denies wrongdoing, insisting she declined to use her credit for alternative trips and that the refund policy was clear.

Meanwhile, earlier this year, a 20-second audio clip recorded 900 miles from the implosion site emerged, capturing what experts believe was the actual moment the Titan was crushed.

The eerie recording revealed the “acoustic signature” of the vessel’s final seconds.

Rescue hopes were initially high when Titan vanished from sonar on June 18, 2023.

But days later, its shattered remains were discovered scattered across the ocean floor – an area the size of six football pitches.

The Titan was last heard from at 10.47am with the message: “dropped two wts.”

Six seconds later, it vanished from sonar.

The support ship Polar Prince sent a final message at 10.49am: “lost tracking.”

Communication was never re-established.

OceanGate later issued a statement: “We again offer our deepest condolences to the families of those who died on June 18, 2023… It would be inappropriate to respond further while we await the agencies’ reports.”

The investigation continues.

SUPERMARKETS have told The Sun they have no plans to sell American beef, upping the stakes for politicians thrashing out the details of a UK-US trade deal.

Donald Trump and Keir Starmer announced the outline of an agreement last week that would allow up to 13,000 tons of US beef to be imported here tariff-free.

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That is the equivalent of one medium steak per Brit per year.

Currently the UK imports just £24million worth of beef a year, but Trump’s team have called the deal a $5billion opportunity.

However, Tesco, Asda, Sainsbury’s, Morrisons, Lidl, Aldi, Iceland and The Co-op all said they have no plan to switch from UK and Irish farmers.

And the Government has said that imports of hormone-treated beef or chlorinated chicken will remain illegal.

Tesco boss Ken Murphy said this week that he had no plan to sell US beef.

He said: “We source 100 per cent Irish and British and for the foreseeable future that policy will be the same.”

Asda, Sainsbury’s and Morrisons also said they don’t intend to change supply or animal welfare and food standards.

Budget pair Lidl and Aldi are also not budging on beef.

Aldi chief exec Giles Hurley said: “British farming is known for its high welfare, food safety and environmental standards — and we know how important that is to our customers.”

Iceland boss Richard Walker said there was no appetite for US beef from customers or supermarket suppliers.

He said: “Consensus is that even at a ten per cent tariff it’s a very price prohibitive option.”

The Co-op’s Matt Hood said: “We’re a long-term supporter of British farming, and the first national UK grocer to switch to 100 per cent British fresh and frozen own brand protein.”

The National Farmers Union said: “It’s brilliant to see supermarkets championing British beef. Consumers value its high standards in animal welfare.”

A government spokesman said: “This is a great deal as we have opened access to a huge American market, without weakening UK food standards on imports.”

Butty giant spreading

GREENCORE, the UK’s biggest sandwiches maker, announced it has agreed a £1.2billion takeover of rival Bakkavor to create a food-to-go giant.

It will see £4billion of revenues generated from selling pizzas, soups, salads and sushi to almost all of Britain’s supermarkets.

But workers fear job cuts after the firms said they would save at least £80million in costs a year after the deal.

GMB union national officer Eamon O’Hearn said: “The likelihood of site closures and drop in headcount confirms our worst fears — that hard-working production staff will be facing job losses.”

ITV’s not love sick with US

LOVE Island broadcaster ITV yesterday shrugged off any US tariff concerns as bosses highlighted its Studios arm made TV shows, not films.

President Trump has spooked Britain’s creative industry by slapping 100 per cent tariffs on movies “produced in foreign lands”.

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ITV yesterday said it did not “anticipate any direct impact”.

It came as the company toasted a return to growth for the Studios business, with ­revenue up one per cent at £386million after years of ­disruption from the Hollywood writers’ strike.

Speculation about a takeover of ITV or the Studios business continues to run rife, but insiders downplayed rumours.

The broadcaster, fresh from winning a Bafta for Mr Bates vs The Post Office, expects advertising revenue to be lower than last year, when companies spent big on ads during the Euros footie tournament.

Covid fraud axe

MINISTERS have scrapped a Covid fraud recovery unit and transferred investigations to the Insolvency Service — after realising even more taxpayer cash was being wasted.

Around £47billion was paid to firms as bounceback loans but there had been more than 100,000 cases of fraud and error.

The National Investigation Service received £38.5million in state funding but has secured just 14 convictions.

Trade minister Gareth Thomas said transferring the probes would “remove unnecessary waste and inefficiency”.

B&M goes Dutch

DISCOUNT chain B&M has hired a Dutch former Tesco executive in the latest sign of FTSE firms looking abroad for leadership.

Tjeerd Jegen, who recently led Europe’s biggest ebike maker Accell Group, has also worked at German clothing chain Takko Fashion and Dutch retailer Hema.

He led Tesco’s Malaysian business in 2010 and was its chief operating officer in Thailand before that.

B&M pushed out ex-boss Alex Russo after two profit warnings in as many months.

SCOTTIE SCHEFFLER appears to have made a lighthearted joke about his arrest with a bold outfit choice at the PGA Championship.

The American, 28, was arrested by police outside of the PGA Championship hours before tee-off last year after trying to drive into the entrance around the scene of a fatal bus crash.

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He faced charges of second-degree assault of a police officer, third-degree criminal mischief, reckless driving and disregarding traffic signals from an officer directing traffic.

The criminal charges against him were dropped just 12 days after his arrest, but not before his mugshot from the Valhalla Golf Club incident went viral across the internet.

And it is that famous image of him wearing orange overalls that he appears to have taken a nod to with his outfit this year.

The World No.1 was seen wearing an orange polo shirt with the Nike symbol plastered on.

He appeared to be in far calmer waters wearing orange colours this time around.

Reacting on social media, one fan said: “New tradition.”

A second said: “I was so hoping that he would do this. Nice move Scotty.”

A third added: “They let anyone in majors now a days,” followed by laughing emojis.

BEST ONLINE CASINOS – TOP SITES IN THE UK

Another said: “He’s got to be messing?”

Other users reckoned the burnt orange colour was a nod to his time at the University of Texas in Austin, with the orange being the burnt orange.

Scottie Scheffler is eyeing his third PGA Championship at Quali Hollow in North Carolina.

The first round of tee offs have already begun, with Scheffler in the same round one group as Rory McIlroy and Xander Schauffele at 1.22pm UK time.

In the UK, the PGA Championship will be broadcast live on Sky Sports Golf.

Sky Sports customers can live stream all the action via the Sky Sports app.

THIS pair of diehard Crystal Palace fans have spent £20,000 to get home from a US holiday for the FA Cup final before flying back out. 

The side’s Wembley clash against Manchester City on May 17 falls three days into Mark and Anna Newlands’ ten-day trip to New York. 

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The couple booked it months ago for a cousin’s birthday before the Eagles got to the final.

So they have bought flights to get back the day before and will return to the US the day after. 

Mark said they would miss the big birthday but their relatives understood. 

The retired risk manager, 61, from Newbury, Berks, said: “The club is in my DNA.

“We have to be there.

“I’m not bothered if this is sensible or not. It’ll be worth every penny.” 

Anna, 62, is just as devoted to the South London club and did not hesitate when Mark suggested the plan. 

The pair, pictured at the semi-final win over Aston Villa, hope it will be third time lucky after Palace lost their two previous finals. 

The couple’s son James, also a Palace season ticket holder, is attending the final although he is not on the New York trip — while their daughter Alice will stay in the Big Apple. 

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