The Daily Populous Monday May 25th, 2026 night edition
Authored by inews.co.uk and submitted by theipaper

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In February 2022, Vladimir Putin embarked on a military campaign against Ukraine he expected to last ten days. Four years later, Donald Trump launched Operation Epic Fury against Iran, which he also believed would last a mere ten days.

Both are now stuck in wars where success continues to elude them. Neither can claim to be winning – which for many means they’re losing. On Saturday, Trump said that an Iran peace deal was “largely negotiated”, with “final aspects and details” still being discussed, but it’s hard to envisage a deal that would look like a win for him.

Both leaders have fallen victim to their own delusions about the nature of modern warfare, particularly the kind they have unleashed. There is also a real prospect that both Putin and Trump face defeat, which will impact much of the world, the struggling south and Europe especially.

No wonder they are looking for distractions.

Shorts Scroll to previous short Scroll to next short We’re sweating more than ever – this is how to stay dry I saved £560 a month without sacrificing fun – this is how Six easy food swaps to up your fibre intake I spent the day with a damp expert – his cheap ways to keep your home dry Eight simple ways to reset your sleep, according to experts The seven biggest mistakes people make when lifting weights I’m an ageing expert, these are the biggest mistakes people make when retiring Lessons on living to 100 from Sir David Attenborough 1 2 3 4 5 6 Navigating hot and sticky weather is often a sensory and social nightmare With summer approaching,

Dr Adil Sheraz of the British Association of Dermatologists, explains why we sweat and

what we can do about it. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Monica Garcia, 65, swelters in Madrid’s first heatwave of the summer (Photo: Isabel Infantes/ Reuters) Why do we sweat? Sweating is an important part of thermoregulation. When you sweat and it evaporates off the skin, it will take the latent heat with it. We’re covered in three to four million sweat glands and the majority produce a sweat made up of just electrolytes and water. In other words, completely odourless.

These eccrine glands function from birth

to keep us cool. 1 2 3 4 5 6 When does sweat smell? Oil in our sweat can suck in microplastics posing a health risk (Photo: Tom Williams/Getty) Glands in the armpit, groin and scalp operate differently.

They’re under the control of hormones and the glands contain lipids and potentially fatty esters.

The bacteria on our skin will

feed off these fatty acids and

lipids and cause the odour. LIFESTYLE At 55, I thought my night sweats were due to menopause – but it was cancer 6 min read 1 2 3 4 5 6 Are we sweating more now? It is not just the weather impacts how we sweat… The bigger you are (in height, weight or muscle mass), the more surface area you will need to sweat on in order to cool down.

This is why men tend to sweat more than women and why you sweat

more when you gain weight. Medical conditions like diabetes

and thyroid problems will also cause increased sweating. Certain dietary items, including caffeine, processed foods and spicy foods can also trigger the chemicals in our body which cause us to sweat more. 1 2 3 4 5 6 When does it matter? If it’s impacting your daily life, you will likely have some form of hyperhidrosis and need

to speak to a doctor to determine further. Primary hyperhidrosis is excessive sweating with no underlying cause.

Secondary hyperhidrosis means there’s a condition or illness causing the sweating.

There are two main ways to tell the difference.

Sweating with secondary causes tends to happen all over the body rather than just localised to your palms or armpits.

Primary hyperhidrosis tends to switch off when you’re sleeping as the neurons stop firing. This doesn’t happen with secondary hyperhidrosis. 1 2 3 4 5 6 How to manage sweat Caption: Relaxed young woman in bright summer clothes is sitting on a bench on a city street with her eyes closed enjoying music through headphones from a smartphone.

Clothing Wear natural or wicking fabrics that prevent sweat patches, or clothes that are cooling for the skin. Antiperspirant One that contains aliminimium is advised as it’s well known for blocking and plugging our sweat ducts. Caption: Woman applying deodorant roll on under armpit

Britain’s best coffee shops have been revealed – spanning from the tip of Scotland to the bottom of England. (Photo: William Lailey / SWNS) Dietary changes Where possible

reduce dietary causes like caffeine and

spicy foods. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Can I save money without giving up fun?

When it comes to financial planning, I’ve always lived month to month, but recently I’ve wanted to be slightly more serious.

So I spoke to a range of financial experts for the easiest, idiot-proof ways to be savvier with money – without just hibernating. 1 2 3 4 5 6 The expert tips Print out your bank statements

“This is the hardest step but you’ve got to know what’s coming in and out, down to the pound,” says financial coach Ian Dempsey. You’re more likely to remember what’s on there, and pay attention to it on paper. Caption: Kasia Delgado reads old letters from her childhood.

A professor of happiness at Bristol University taught Kasia how adults can train themselves to be happier and find more joy, like when they were unencumbered children.

Caption: Kasia Delgado, Chief Features Writer, i News.

Draw an image of what you’re saving for

“Anything that requires discipline is much easier to achieve when you [can picture] the end goal,” says Ruth Power, from the Financial Management Bureau. 1 2 3 4 5 6 The expert tips Experts are arguing that the UK should make greater use of existing government data

Go on a money date If you’re in a relationship, for 30 minutes once a month, take a notebook to the pub/cafe and talk about money with your partner. Delete shopping apps… They are designed to be compulsive. Removing them gives you an extra layer of resistance. Close up of an unrecognizable woman shopping online with credit card via mobile phone – stock photo. (Photo: Getty) An image of a hand that quickly sends an email – stock photo. (Photo: Getty) …and unsubscribe Marketing emails are designed to reach you when you’re likely to spend money. 1 2 3 4 5 6 How it went when Kasia followed the expert advice I delete Vinted and only re-download it when I actively want to replace something for my son that he’s grown out of.

I’m no longer buring my head in the sand. Sections of my bank statement flash into my mind when I go to use the Uber app.

Money dates have been uncomfortable. We did have a small argument about buying own-brand beans versus Heinz for example, but scribbling down numbers we want to save has also been exciting.

I have found it easier to be mindful about spending and broke some unhelpful habits, like associating walks with always getting a coffee. 1 2 3 4 5 6 How the UK currently saves The average person in the UK has £16,067 in savings in 2025. 39% However, 2 in 5 Britons have £1,000 or less in savings. A quarter have £200 or less. 1 in 6 UK adults (16 per cent) have no savings at all, equating to around 8.4 million people. 82% Men are estimated to have 82 per cent more in savings than women. Almost three in 10 (28 per cent) of adults state saving money is a habit. 1 2 3 4 5 6 The final verdict The truth is, I’m never going to be someone with five side hustles and the financial savvy to become a bitcoin billionaire. But I’m no longer thinking, “where did my salary go?”. The small changes have, over time, made a difference to my bank account, but also my mind and self confidence. KASIA DELGADO ‘I’ve found greater joy in spending money in an active, more conscious way – on things that felt worth it such as a massage, a cocktail with a friend, a comedy gig, a tricycle for my son,’ says Delgado (Photo: Teri Pengilley/The i Paper) 1 2 3 4 5 Six easy swaps to increase your fibre intake We asked the experts why it’s so important to include enough fibre in our diets, and how to do it without totally overhauling our diets… 1 2 3 4 5 Why fibre is important Fibre isn’t a fad nutrient. It’s been consistently linked to better health outcomes for decades. Unlike protein, which the majority of people already get enough of, fibre is something most of us (96 per cent) are significantly lacking. NICHOLA LUDLAM-RAINE, SPECICIALIST REGISTERED DIETITIAN AND AUTHOR 1 2 3 4 5 The small diet tweaks to make Beans, lentils and chickpeas are fibre powerhouses, with around 6-8g per half-tin. If you find beans tricky to digest, start with microdosing them for a week and gradually build it up to half a can at a time. Bread is the category of food that is most thrown away, survey finds (d3sign

Caption: Green vegetable salad with chickpea, spinach, cucumber, red onions, and greens on a wooden table. Top view

One of the simplest changes you can make is to switch to wholegrain versions of everyday carbs. Swapping two slices of white bread for wholemeal adds around 3g of fibre. 1 2 3 4 5 How to add fibre to your diet When you cook potatoes the right way they go from being a health burden to a health hero (Photo: Getty) Keep some skin The skin of some foods can contain up to 50 per cent of the total fibre. Just make sure it’s safe to eat. Level up the snacks Berries, raw vegetables with hummus, or a small handful of nuts are all easy fibre wins. Yoghurt and frozen berry crunch in a glass jar – stock photo. (Photo: Getty) Breakfast cereals can be swapped out for overnight oats (Photo: Jogy Abraham/ Getty Images) Don’t skip seeds Ludlam-Raine adds a spoon of mixed seeds to porridge, cereal, yoghurts, soups and salads. 1 2 3 4 5 EASY WAYS TO ADD FIBRE TO YOUR DIET Add in, don’t take away Plant-Based Anti-Inflammatory Diet Ingredients Flat Lay – stock photo. (Photo: Getty) A few extra handfuls of fibre-rich ingredients might be all that’s needed to take your meals from average to fibre-full.

Small changes are key because they’re more sustainable and better tolerated by the gut. Increasing fibre too quickly can cause bloating or discomfort. The full article 1 2 3 4 5 6 One in four people in the UK is living with mould and/or damp in their home… David Prince, a leading damp surveyor who travels across the country treating mould, spends the day with The i Paper writer Eleanor Peake. Surveyor David Prince warns people are being overcharged by rogue companies for unnecessary treatment (Photo: Teri Pengilley)

1 2 3 4 5 6 The UK Britain’s damp problem is one of the worst in Europe. 45% Private renters are disproportionately affected, with 45 per cent currently battling symptoms of damp. 30% From 2015 to 2024, British winters were 16 per cent wetter than in previous years. By 2070, UK winters are projected to be up to 30 per cent wetter. 1 2 3 4 5 6 The house I visited with David Prince – a private rental Renters are desperate for a resolution to their ongoing damp issue. David notes that although the bathroom has an extractor fan, the room wasn’t being ventilated efficiently.

The hot air from the bathroom was floating towards the coldest part of the building (the bedroom) and turning into water as it hit the cold bedroom walls.

This was an internal ventilation issue, other houses have an external issue. When the guttering is overgrown the water has to go somewhere else, sometimes seeping back into the brick. 1 2 3 4 5 6 The houses most at risk Victorian terraces, or those built in the 1910s, are more likely to have rising damp – where the water seeps through the foundation of the house. Caption: David Prince, Director of Abbott Property Care Ltd.

For a feature on damp by Eleanor Peake, Senior Features Writer at The i Paper.

Caption: David Prince, Director of Abbott Property Care Ltd.

Modern houses are often built with concrete ring beams, one of the coldest materials to build with. The damp turns to condensation just by hitting the walls. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Damp specialists Caption: Eleanor Peake, Senior Features Writer at The i Paper, meets David Prince, Director of Abbott Property Care Ltd, to examine the issue of damp in rental properties.

Only a small number of damp specialists – around 250 – are registered with the Property Care Association (PCA) in the whole of the UK.

This means that a majority of people in the UK are receiving quotes and recommendations about damp from building surveyors who aren’t qualified to give a diagnosis, says Prince. The full article 1 2 3 4 5 6 The golden rules for managing damp The most common issues can be solved by simple tweaks. Start with the outside. When it’s raining, have a walk around your building to see if the gutters are pouring water down the wall, or water is being trapped in some way.

Make sure you have good ventilation in key wet rooms: kitchen, bathroom, utility, and toilets.

Open all your windows every day for a short period of time to force natural ventilation – even on cold days.

Never place furniture, or even pictures, on an external wall if it suffers from mould. It helps retain moisture. 1 2 3 4 5 Woman awaking after sleeping well in a nice sleeping room. – stock photo. (Photo: Getty) SLEEP How to reset your sleep Irregular sleep has been linked with poorer cardiovascular health, metabolic disruption, inflammation and mood imbalances.

If your sleep has fallen out of whack, this is what the experts recommend.

From personalised ‘sleep windows’ to unhelpful bedtime routines. Full article 1 2 3 4 5 Consistency in bedtimes It helps the brain feel safer and more predictable around sleep, which is important for people with insomnia. When sleep and wake times are consistent, that clock stays well aligned. When sleep timing is all over the place, the body clock becomes confused… dr ZOE GOTTS, CONSULTANT CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGIST AT THE LONDON SLEEP CENTRE Couple sleeping in bed – stock photo. (Photo: Getty) 1 2 3 4 5 The changes to make Sleep tourism in hotel. Exhausted woman sleeps sweetly in bed in the morning – stock photo. (Photo: Getty) Find your sleep window When do you naturally start to feel tired? Aim to allow your body to sleep within that timeframe most nights. Wake at the same time Pick a wake-up time you can stick to and anchor everything around that, says Dr David Garley, sleep expert. Sleep doesn’t have to be so complicated (Photo: Olga Pankova/Getty) Caption: TOPSHOT – NASA’s Artemis II Space Launch System (SLS) rocket is seen at sunrise at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida on April 1, 2026. On Wednesday three men and one woman are set to embark on the first crewed journey to the Moon since 1972, a landmark odyssey that aims to launch the US into a new era of space exploration. The NASA mission dubbed Artemis 2 has been years in the making after facing repeated setbacks, but is finally scheduled to take off from Florida as early as April 1 at 6:24 pm (2224 GMT). (Photo by Gregg Newton / AFP via Getty Images)

Get out into sunlight Exposing yourself to daylight soon after waking helps to sync your circadian rhythm, says Dr Garley. 1 2 3 4 5 How to reset your sleep Regulate your nervous system

Many people are running on exhaustion but still in a state of high alert, so might not be able to rest when needed, says Dr Gotts.

Gentle routines, reduced evening stimulation, and calming the body can make a huge difference. Sleep tourism in hotel. Exhausted woman sleeps sweetly in bed in the morning – stock photo. (Photo: Getty) Senior bed woman problem pain headache home elderly mature pain bedroom upset unhappy female caucasian adult relationship retirement old difficulty ache head sick migraine hangover sleep – stock photo. (Photo: Getty) Don’t spend too long in bed

If you cannot sleep within 20 minutes, get out of bed, ideally out of the bedroom, and find a relaxing and distracting activity to do while you wait for the natural urge to return. 1 2 3 4 5 The tweaks to make to reset sleep (Photo: AzmanL/Getty/E+) Look at your bedtime Don’t presume earlier to bed (ie. more time in bed) equals better sleep. The timing needs to fit you. It might mean going to bed later Set an alarm to anchor the wake-up time, then choose a bedtime that allows you to fall asleep easily and aim to sleep solidly within that time. Woman in bed at night having trouble sleeping. – stock photo. (Photo: Getty)

A mature woman lies in bed and reads a hardback book – stock photo. (Photo: Getty) Don’t overdo it Too much preparation can increase pressure around sleep so a short and consistent routine is far more effective. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Weight training has a host of benefits, but only if it’s done correctly. We asked personal trainers the common mistakes that people make when lifting – especially for the first time or early on in their strength journey – and how to avoid them. Woman lifting barbell with heavy weights in cross training gym – stock photo. (Photo: Getty) 1 2 3 4 5 6 Priotising weight over form When the load is too heavy, form usually breaks down, the wrong muscles take over, and the risk of injury goes up. If you can’t control the lowering part of the movement, keep good posture, or move through the full range, you’re compromising. CELEBRITY TRAINER AND PT AIMEE LONG 1 2 3 4 5 6 The mistakes you could be making Close up of male athlete gripping heavy green kettlebell during strength training exercise in cross training gym – stock photo. (Photo: Getty) Not progressing If you’re reaching for the same pair of dumbbells each week you’re likely just maintaining muscle, not building. The wrong trainers You need adequate support for your ankles, without overly cushioning your arches. Find the best shoes for you (Photo: Xavier Lorenzo/Getty/Moment RF)

Woman at the Gym – stock photo. (Photo: Getty) Not timing your rest PT Nancy Best’s advice is to take 90 seconds of downtime before picking your weight back up. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Research has found that strength training can help slow bone loss

via Getty) Neglecting recovery Progress does not happen during the workout itself; it happens afterwards when your body repairs and rebuilds. Poor sleep, not eating enough calories or protein, or training the same muscles hard every single day can hinder recovery and leave you constantly exhausted, says Long. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Not choosing the right exercises An effective programme is built around variety. Ensure your training includes each movement for the upper and lower body.

PT Luke Worthington recommends a push/pull programming.

Upper body push targets the shoulders or chest and upper body pull typically works the back.

Lower body push includes squats and leg press whereas pulls include deadlifts and hinges. Read the full article 1 2 3 4 5 6 What to do Perfect the movements before increasing the weight.

Best recommends Nike Metcons or Converse for a flat, stable surface.

Aim to eat 1.4-2g of protein per kilogram of bodyweight if you’re regularly exercising.

When you’re comfortable you can increase the weight, number of sets or reps, or range of motion to progress each lift. LIFESTYLE I reversed my osteoporosis with one hour of weight-lifting a week 6 min read 1 2 3 4 5 6 The eight biggest mistakes we make

when retiring Psychologist and author Dr Denise Taylor says we shouldn’t sleepwalk into retirement, nor stop walking, just because everyone else has. Denise Taylor’s marriage ended at 60 as the structure of the working day faded away (Photo: Mihai Zsigmond)

1 2 3 4 5 6 The mistakes we make when retiring The man is currently drawing a small defined benefit (DB) pension (Photo: SimpleImages/Getty) Hoarding money Many clients tell me their biggest regret was spending too little when they were healthiest and most able to enjoy it. Planning to rest Boredom in retirement is misunderstood. It’s rarely about having nothing to do. It’s about having time without meaning. Naps before 1pm can lead to better cognitive performance in the following hours (Photo: Lord Henri Voton/Getty Images) Photographer: Lourdes Balduque

Not mentally preparing People prepare financially and practically, but don’t do the psychological work of leaving well. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Waiting to plan what’s next Once the structure of work disappears, people can slip into a narrower way of being. Start sketching out possible paths at least two years ahead. Even rough ideas about what you might want to explore – creative projects, volunteering, learning. DR DENISE TAYLOR Denise Taylor has worked with many clients who moved into ‘purposeful’ roles expecting to feel better, only to be more depleted than before

(Photo: Ilona Gierach) 1 2 3 4 5 6 Common mistakes she sees ‘I know it’s a minor thing but it makes me feel unheard and ignored’ (Photo: PonyWang/Getty) Not preparing as a couple Discuss how much time you want together, and what kind of lives you’re moving towards, rather than assuming it will naturally align. Trying to stay busy Without noticing what drains your energy, activity becomes a way of bypassing the deeper adjustment. Remember to care for your lawn (Photo: RHS / Tim Sandall) Senior bed woman problem pain headache home elderly mature pain bedroom upset unhappy female caucasian adult relationship retirement old difficulty ache head sick migraine hangover sleep – stock photo. (Photo: Getty) Treating it as an ending People can find themselves psychologically stranded. Days begin to blur into one another. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Retiring because everyone else is For a generation raised to expect retirement at a certain age, default timing can feel normal. The timing is personal. Portrait of senior man at desktop computer in home office – stock photo. (Photo: Getty) The mistake is retiring without questioning whether that timing actually fits your own life. It ignores your relationship with work, your health and your finances. Agony Uncle I'm ready for retirement but my wife won’t leave her job – it's driving us apart 5 min read 1 2 3 4 5 6 What to do 1For some a gradual shift is best like working fewer days or changing role, slowing down.

2Experiment before you leave. Taking a sabbatical or reducing hours can show you how retirement might feel.

3Prioritise a small number of meaningful anchors: one regular commitment, one place where you feel known and one activity.

4Slow it down psychologically – question default timing, resist expectations and ask yourself what kind of transition you are actually stepping into. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Sir David Attenborough is estimated to have travelled almost two million miles in his career, and has visited 90 countries and all seven continents in his quest to enhance our understanding of nature (Photo: Shirlaine Forrest/WireImage) SIR DAVID ATTENBOROUGH The national treasure has celebrated his centenary For all the inspiring insight into nature that Sir David Attenborough has given us, he has also shown us how to age well.

Here, Chief Features Writer Kasia Delgado looks into his lifestyle, and the tips he’s shared to live to 100. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Caption: Programme Name: Africa – TX: n/a – Episode: The Future (No. 6) – Embargoed for publication until: n/a – Picture Shows: SIR DAVID ATTENBOROUGH WITH A THREE MONTH OLD BLIND BLACK RHINO ??? LEWA WILDLIFE CONSERVANCY, KENYA – (C) BBC/David Chancellor – Photographer: David Chancellor

Copyright: WARNING: Use of this copyright image is subject to the terms of use of BBC Pictures’ Digital Picture Service (BBC Pictures) as set out at www.bbcpictures.co.uk. In particular, this image may only be published by a registered User of BBC Pictures for editorial use for the purpose of publicising the relevant BBC programme, personnel or activity during the Publicity Period which ends three review weeks following the date of transmission and provided the BBC and the copyright holder in the caption are credited. For any other purpose whatsoever, including advertising and commercial, prior written approval from the copyright holder will be required.

LOREM IPSUM Never retiring fully Putting your feet up is all very well, but it’s very boring, isn’t it? In the last two years alone, Attenborough has done voiceovers on a number of projects, including Wild London, and a National Geographic Disney film, Ocean.

Although his workload has remained high, he did acknowledge in 2017, that as he ages, he sometimes finds it harder to recall correct words as quickly as he did before. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Improving his diet In his 90s, Attenborough has cut back on red meat, and begun eating an increasingly vegetarian diet.

Whether as he said, he “simply lost the taste” for meat, or whether it was an environmental or health reason, the NHS advises that eating a lot of red and processed meat increases your bowel cancer risk at any age. Caption: Fox Cub BBC Wild London 2026 Attenborough Screenshot

Big Read Six lessons on living to 100 from Sir David Attenborough 7 min read 1 2 3 4 5 6 Keeping active Caption: Sir David Attenborough visits the London Wetland Centre in west London where he launched his new campaign to raise public awareness to help reverse the butterfly decline, urging the public to plant butterfly-friendly flowers in their garden to help reverse declining numbers of the insects.

Attenborough has previously said he has “never done exercise” in an official capacity.

But he has kept active by going for walks in Richmond, where he lives.

Interviewers who have been to his home have also mentioned him practically skipping down the stairs of his house. TELEVISION David Attenborough's 16 best TV moments (you will definitely cry) 8 min read 1 2 3 4 5 6 Avoiding becoming isolated When Sir David’s wife Jane died in 1997, the couple’s adult daughter Susan moved in with her father. He said at the time: “I’m quite used to solitude in the wilds but, no, an empty house is not what I enjoy.” Caption: TELEVISION PROGRAMMES: THE QUEENS GREEN PLANET

Monday 16th April 2018 on ITV

Sir David Attenborough joins Her Majesty the Queen in the gardens of Buckingham Palace

This unique, landmark documentary follows Her Majesty the Queen and an ambitious legacy project to create a global network of protected forests, spanning the 52 countries of the Commonwealth.

This project, called the Queen’s Commonwealth Canopy, brings together Her Majesty’s deeply held commitment to the Commonwealth and her little-known love of trees.

At the heart of the film is a conversation between the Queen and Sir David Attenborough filmed in the gardens of Buckingham Palace last summer. In a rare opportunity to see the Queen talking informally to Sir David, the conversation ranges from climate change, to conkers and birthday gifts.

The film follows members of the Royal Family involved so far in making the Queen?s Commonwealth Canopy a reality, including Prince Harry planting trees in the Caribbean, and Prince William and his family in Canada’s Great Bear Rainforest.

For further information please contact Peter Gray

This photograph is ? ITV and can only be reproduced for editorial purposes directly in connection with the programme THE QUEENS GREEN PLANET or ITV. Once made available by the ITV Picture Desk, this photograph can be reproduced once only up until the Transmission date and no reproduction fee will be charged. Any subsequent usage may incur a fee. This photograph must not be syndicated to any other publication or website, or permanently archived, without the express written permission of ITV Picture Desk. Full Terms and conditions are available on the website www.itvpictures.com

Sir David Attenborough during the event marking his 100th birthday today at the Royal Albert Hall (Photo: BBC Studios Natural History Unit/Buckingham Palace) He’s also been known to respond personally to fan letters and maintain relationships with people who admire him. He has no iPhone or email address and instead prefers to communicate by handwritten letter. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Appreciating small things It seems to me that the natural world is the greatest source of excitement; the greatest source of visual beauty; the greatest source of intellectual interest. It is the greatest source of so much in life that makes life worth living Caption: Veteran broadcaster and naturalist Sir David Attenborough with an Australian bearded dragon after receiving an honorary degree from Queen’s University in Belfast for exceptional services to science and broadcasting.

Putin’s war has already cost at least 1.2 million dead and wounded on the battlefield. Vital infrastructure, oil storage, pipelines and refineries are being hit nightly by Ukrainian missile and drone attacks, up to 1200 miles inside Russia.

Trump’s plans to decapitate the Iranian regime, encourage a popular uprising, deprive it of uranium and write down its arsenal of ballistic missiles and long-range drones has also been a failure.

Despite the huge expenditure of US and Israeli weaponry and ordnance – including the latest precision-guided missiles and bombs – Iran’s forces are estimated to have more than 70 per cent of the missile and drone stocks they had in February, before the war started.

There has also been no sign of a popular insurrection – if anything, the crackdowns and executions are worse than in the period immediately before Israel and America launched their attacks.

The Israelis managed to kill Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and several military commanders. They also killed Ali Larijani, who had directed the crackdown against the latest wave of domestic protests. But this did not amount to regime change in any meaningful sense.

A man holding an Iranian flag and a picture of Iran’s new Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, on a street in Tehran, Iran, 6 May, 2026 (Photo: Majid Asgaripour/West Asia News Agency)

The new supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, is the son of the old one, and is now running an even tougher dictatorship in an alliance with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).

Ahmad Vahidi, the commander in chief of the IRGC, is supported by Mohammad Bagher Zolghadr, a former IRGC commander who is now the secretary of the Supreme National Security Council, taking over the post from the deceased Larijani. Negotiations with the US, which seem to have gone nowhere, have been led by Mohammad-Bagher Ghalibaf, a former IRGC commander and now speaker of Iran’s parliament.

On all four of Trump’s declared Iran war aims, the verdict must be qualified failure. The crisis has also thrown an extraordinary bonus to Iran that was barely contemplated before the end of February: the use of the Strait of Hormuz as a bargaining chip and source of perpetual diplomatic blackmail. Just this week, Tehran claimed that the Persian Gulf and the strait is “Iranian sovereign water”.

A striking aspect of the approach of both Trump and Putin is their seeming addiction to violence for its own sake.

The language of the Trump White House is the language of videogaming. “Kinetic,” “lethality” and “destruct” are Pentagon favourites. Pete Hegseth, the “Secretary of War”, has referred to “lethalitymaxxing” and has also talked about victims being “unalive”.

US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth has talked about “lethalitymaxxing” (Photo: AP/Alex Brandon)

Stephen Miller, the architect of Trump’s new expansionist policy, told CNN recently: “We live in a world that is governed by strength, that is governed by power.”

The kinetic might of the lethalitymaxxing new empire may sadly prevail.

Reviewing the botched Iran attack, veteran New York Times correspondent and commentator Lydia Polgreen recalled the bullying of Athens towards the islanders of Milos over two thousand years ago. “The strong do what they have the power to do, and the weak accept what they have to accept,” the Athenians said.

Athens ultimately opened a war with Sparta, from which they would find no off-ramp.

Both Trump and Putin are looking for diversions. Trump’s threat of renewed bombing – and a possible land invasion – of Iran isn’t working.

Putin and his commander, Valery Gerasimov, have boasted that the summer campaign in Ukraine is going well – but satellite verification by the Institute for the Study of War shows stalemate and retreat across the front. For the first time in two years, Ukraine forces are advancing.

Focus is now switching to Estonia and Latvia in the Baltics – the real seat of Europe’s major drone and missile offensive on Russia, according to latest Kremlin fake news. Air-raid sirens against impending drone attacks have been sounding across Latvia this week.

A carnival float in Germany in February featured US President Donald Trump (L) and Russian President Vladimir Putin appearing to devour Europe (Photo: Ina Fassbender/AFP via Getty)

Russian submarine activity across the North Atlantic is also intensifying. Cyberattacks and surveillance of vital underwater cables and pipelines continues.

Compared to Russia, the Trump diversions are cruder. An arrest warrant for Cuba’s elderly former president Raul Castro is likely to lead to an attack on Havana similar to the seizing of President Nicolas Maduro in Venezuela. The Caracas operation had been meticulously prepared for years – nothing of similar quality appears to have been drawn up for Havana.

Meanwhile, we hear that the US now plans to claim three large sovereign bases in Greenland to be complemented by rights to natural resources in perpetuity.

These are all worrying developments for the stability of a world already looking shaky.

Also, none of it can hide the fact that Russia is losing more soldiers than it can recruit in Ukraine, nor that Trump’s team is unable to win out over negotiators from Iran, a culture that invented chess.

The mess in Europe and the Middle East is widening, and it affects us all. European leaders, including those from the UK, will have to come up with a coherent stabilisation strategy for both regions.

Maybe we should learn lessons from the Melians in facing down Athens and its belief in blunt-force and self-interest. They argued for fair play and “just dealing” – though it didn’t save their island from the inevitable.

What is increasingly clear is that Putin and Trump can’t win the wars they launched to try to show the world their strength – and the rest of us will continue to suffer.

Mekktron on May 24th, 2026 at 15:53 UTC »

Russia is proving the global south it is possible to withstand attacks from NATO and the US and still survive. Not thrive, but survive.

Tall_Pressure7042 on May 24th, 2026 at 10:37 UTC »

Trump is an egomaniac. Putin is a psychopathic despot. Two completely different types of autocrats… but the same danger.

rlaw1234qq on May 24th, 2026 at 10:19 UTC »

I think Ukraine and Lebanon are doing most of the suffering atm