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Trump swings from gushing praise for King to scathing criticism of Starmer in five-minute call with Sky News
The president and I spoke an hour after Buckingham Palace announced details of King Charles and Queen Camilla's state visit to the United States.

Over five minutes he swung from gushing praise for the King to scathing criticism for the prime minister.

He rejected any suggestion that by criticising the government he is making the King's visit awkward.

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His tone and his language revealed to me how distinctly he differentiates Britain's royals from its politicians.

He also revealed that he did not know that the King's visit is taking place at the request of the government.

Our call took place at just after 6:30pm on Tuesday evening. It was the second time we have spoken by phone.

These calls are not arranged. The number I have (along with a few other DC-based journalists) is for his mobile phone.

In keeping with his unique style, if he picks up and he's up for it, he talks. It is, honestly, a bizarre experience.

"Hello?" he said after two rings.

I introduced myself, reminded him we'd spoken last week and asked if he had a few minutes. "Uh-uh," he said.

I told him I would record the call. He said that was fine but wanted my word that it would not be broadcast. We could quote him but not publish the call.

"OK. Go ahead. Real fast. Go ahead," he said.

And with that, we were on. Another impromptu phone interview underway.

Why does he take these calls? Why does he not want them broadcast? How did he sound?

Watch in the video below:


NHS 'failing women and girls' and has 'appalling culture of medical misogyny', health secretary says
The health secretary has accused the NHS of having an "appalling culture of medical misogyny" as he set out a range of measures in a renewed Women's Health Strategy.

Wes Streeting said the NHS has a problem with "basic, everyday sexism" - and that the changes would stop women from being "ignored, gaslit, humiliated and disrespected".

The strategy reveals how women's health outcomes "have gone in the wrong direction" - with a drop in female life expectancy, and figures suggesting only the wealthiest third of women can expect to remain in good health until retirement.

The authors highlight how gynaecology waiting times have more than doubled in eight years, higher rates of heart attack misdiagnosis for women, and decade-long waits for endometriosis diagnoses.

Issues in cancer care and reviews into poor maternity care were also identified.

"At the heart of these challenges is a systematic failure to listen to women," the authors wrote.

"If our approach to health and care does not work for all women - 51% of the population - then simply put: it does not work," they added.

The report sets out 117 action points and makes several pledges on how care will improve, including:

• Shorter waits for gynaecology care

• A pledge to "eliminate the diagnostic odyssey facing women" with conditions such as endometriosis and fibroids

• Fewer painful procedures without informed consent or a choice of pain relief

• Easier access to contraception and abortion care

• A promise to be "listened to and taken seriously at the first time of asking" and fewer cases of repeating the same story

• A new £1m menstrual education programme to ensure girls are better equipped to recognise the difference between healthy and unhealthy periods

• Redesigning clinical pathways for heavy periods, urogynaecology and menopause to speed up diagnosis and treatment

Ministers also pledged to improve healthy life expectancy in the poorest parts of the country to at least 61 years from 50.5 years.

The report also pledges that the government "will do more to prevent the health conditions that cause economic inactivity", amid rising levels of working-age women out of work due to long-term sickness.

Officials said that to help reduce variation in how GPs listen to and respond to women, patient survey data will be used to inform a quality improvement programme within two years.

Read more:
Endometriosis: my search for a cure
Birth stories: Women felt ignored, neglected and dismissed

Dr Alison Wright, president of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, welcomed plans for "tackling the gynaecology waiting list crisis, raising menstrual health awareness and supporting sustainable abortion services".

"With over 565,000 women still waiting for gynaecological care, there is a clear opportunity to embed Women's Health Hubs within the neighbourhood health model," she added.

Emma Cox, the chief executive of Endometriosis UK, said: "Diagnosis times for endometriosis are going up, not down and it's now taking an average of nine years, four months - rising to 11 years for diverse ethnic communities - which is totally unacceptable.

"Leadership and decisive actions will be vital to drive these times down."


More than 900,000 pensioners not claiming key benefit | Money newsletter
More than 180,000 people have now signed up to our free Money newsletter, which brings the kind of content you enjoy in the award-winning Money blog directly to your inbox every week.

This week: More than 900,000 pensioners are not claiming a key benefit - we explain who can apply.

Our tip of the week focuses on the "cancellation" hack for cheaper holidays.

Plus, if worry over signal is preventing you from moving to a cheaper, lesser known mobile provider, your concern is likely misplaced - we'll explain why.

Every week subscribers get early access to our Money Problem feature and, in our popular Money in your pocket section, a rundown of the best deals currently on the market for broadband, mortgages, savings, bank switching and energy.

So join our growing Money community - and thanks to the tens of thousands of you who already have.


Woman shot dead after trying to kidnap toddler in supermarket and attacking him with a knife
A woman has been shot dead by officers after police said she attempted to kidnap a toddler at a supermarket and slashed him across the face.

The incident unfolded outside a Walmart in Omaha, Nebraska on Tuesday morning.

Officials allege the suspect had approached a female shopper and a three-year-old boy who she did not know.

She then displayed a large knife she had shoplifted from the store and "took possession of the child".

All three then left the supermarket, with the suspect holding the boy at knifepoint.

The police were called and gave the suspect commands, at which point she began "swiping the knife at the child, cutting him across the face".

Bodycam footage was released that showed her holding a knife over the boy as he sat in a trolley.

At least one officer fired at the woman, who died at the scene. She has been identified by local media as 31-year-old Noemi Guzman.

The child is being treated in hospital for a large laceration to one of his hands and the left side of his face but is expected to survive.

Scott Gray, deputy chief at the Omaha Police Department, said it is unclear what provoked the suspect - but stressed that it appears to have been an isolated incident.

A Walmart spokesperson said "violence like this is unacceptable", with the company confirming it is cooperating with the investigation.

Omaha Police Chief Todd Schmaderer said: "The responding officers acted with professionalism and direct action to intervene and save a child's life.

"The community can be reassured in knowing that Omaha police officers stand ready to act with courage and decisiveness in the most serious situations to protect the public."

The city's mayor said the police's quick actions helped prevent a larger tragedy.


Kanye West postpones concert indefinitely - a week after UK ban
Kanye West has postponed a concert in France - a week after he was denied a visa to perform at Wireless Festival in the UK.

On X, the rapper wrote: "After much thought and consideration, it is my sole decision to postpone my show in Marseille, France until further notice."

West was due to perform at the Marseille Velodrome on 11 June, but the gig had faced a growing backlash because of his history of antisemitic comments.

Earlier in the week, French interior minister Laurent Nunez had told Politico he was "very determined" to prevent the show from going ahead.

And back in March, Marseille mayor Benoit Payan said he would refuse to let the city "be a showcase for those who promote hatred and unapologetic Nazism".

West was blocked from coming to the UK after the government concluded that his presence would "not be conducive to the public good".

He had been due to headline all three nights of the Wireless Festival in London, but the event was cancelled after his electronic travel visa authorisation was withdrawn.

Several major sponsors - including Pepsi, Rockstar Energy and Diageo - had pulled out of the event, with the booking attracting condemnation from Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer.

In an earlier statement, Wireless organisers had said "multiple stakeholders" had been consulted before the booking, and "no concerns were highlighted at the time".

They added: "Antisemitism in all its forms is abhorrent, and we recognise the real and personal impact these issues have had."

Following the backlash, West had offered to meet members of the Jewish community in the UK, and said he knew he had "to show change through his actions".

"My only goal is to come to London and present a show of change, bringing unity, peace, and love through music," he wrote.

The 48-year-old has not performed in the UK since Glastonbury in 2015.

In the years since, he has drawn criticism for a Super Bowl advert that directed people to a swastika T-shirt, and a song referencing Hitler.

Earlier this year, West apologised for his actions in The Wall Street Journal - and blamed his behaviour on his bipolar-1 disorder, which he claims was the result of a car accident.

"I lost touch with reality," he had said. "Things got worse the longer I ignored the problem. I said and did things I deeply regret."


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