Here is what you can expect over the next few days

The weather throughout Northern Ireland is set to remain “changeable” this weekend, the Met Office has forecast.

Friday saw some brighter conditions and fewer showers compared to much of the week before, with conditions often feeling cool, particularly in the wind.

The weather forecaster has advised that over the weekend of June 6-7, conditions will turn wetter and windier across much of the UK. It is expected there will be “a spell of rain and strengthening winds moving northeastwards”, while “winds will also strengthen, especially along coasts and in the west, with some locally gusty conditions possible.”

In Northern Ireland, it’s expected that rain will “become light and patchy” during Saturday morning. It will become dry and bright over western counties in the afternoon, then across the east in the evening. The maximum temperature is expected to reach 17C.

On Sunday, “outbreaks of heavy rain will move northeast” before “bright or sunny spells and showers” take hold for the beginning of next week. Temperatures on June 7 are expected to reach 18C.

Met Office Chief Meteorologist, Chris Bulmer, said: “Over the next few days we’ll continue to see a fairly changeable picture, with a mix of sunshine and showers for many.

“Into the weekend, a more organised area of rain and stronger winds will move across the UK, although this system is likely to weaken as it does so.

“While some heavier rain and gusty conditions are possible at times, the overall picture remains one of changeable weather, with further spells of rain or showers interspersed with some drier and brighter periods.”

For all the latest news, visit the Belfast Live homepage here and sign up to our daily newsletter here.

Army veterans from the Green Howards and Royal Yorkshire Regiments will take on the Middlesbrough Over 40’s team in a game that forms part of the museum’s “Battle Bowlers and Football Boots” exhibition.

The exhibition highlights the Green Howards’ historic ties to professional football and the role the sport has played in regimental life.

The Stan Hollis Memorial Cup will be played at The Dormans Club in Middlesbrough on Saturday, June 20.

The charity family fun day will run from 10am to 6pm.

It will feature food stalls, live music, and a range of entertainment including karaoke, a comedian, and children’s activities.

Military supporters and football fans alike can enjoy the Royal Yorkshire Regiment’s weapon and equipment display, or explore the Green Howards Museum stand.

Funds raised will support three charities: the Green Howards Museum, the Royal Yorkshire Regiment Charitable Trust, and Unique, the Middlesbrough Over 40s’ chosen charity.

Unique supports rare chromosome disorders. Kick-off is at 10.30am and entry is free.

The Green Howards Museum in Richmond is open Monday to Saturday.

Celebrity Gogglebox returned to Channel 4 on Friday (June 5) for a brand new series but just minutes in, some viewers were left fuming at the new lineup

Disgruntled Celebrity Gogglebox viewers were left complaining just minutes into the new series.

The Channel 4 spin-off returned to screens on Friday (June 5) for a brand new run, welcoming back popular favourites such as Vernon Kay and Paddy McGuinness, Nick Grimshaw and niece Liv, and Denise Van Outen and Johnny Vaughan.

There are several new faces joining the new series too, including Olivia Attwood and her mum Jennifer, Harry and Matt aka Nitro and Legend from Gladiators.

Rounding off the line-up are Strictly star George Clarke and content creator Max Balegde, alongside comedian and actor Julian Clary and actor and television presenter Nigel Havers.

However, just minutes in and viewers were left dissatisfied, with many baffled by the identities of the celebrities on screen. On X, one person said: “God am I old? Watching Celebrity Gogglebox and don’t know half of the celebrities on it.”, reports the Mirror.

Someone else added: “I’m so out of touch. Who are most of these ‘celebrities?’” A third chimed in: “Don’t know half of these celebrities.” Another penned: “Can they put names and occupation for some of them, because who tf are some of these people?”

A fifth said: “F*** watching #CelebrityGogglebox whole minutes we lasted!! Series link removed.” A sixth penned: “Bloody hell, this is extremely irritating with all these so-called celebs all trying too hard to be funny.”

Another fumed: “Switched over. Can’t bear this anymore.” Someone else declared: “Needs renaming- unfunny non-celeb Z-list hasbeens.” Meanwhile, discussing her appearance on Celebrity Gogglebox, Olivia Attwood said it “was chaotic but in the best possible way”. She explained: “It’s not often that we agree on things which I think the viewers may find entertaining. My family are huge fans of the show so it’s a real honour to be a part of such an iconic British programme.”

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Strictly 2025 finalist George Clarke also said: “I loved it, mainly because it gave me a full excuse to take the mick out of Max on national TV.

“He reacts to everything, so you’re never bored. It’s so easy to get into as well, you just sit there, say exactly what you’re thinking, and before you know it, we’ve gone completely off track!”

Coronation Street legend Nigel Havers also shared: “It’s a dream come true working with Julian on Gogglebox. I can’t think of a better way to spend an evening… (Julian wrote this).”

Celebrity Gogglebox airs every Friday at 9pm on Channel 4.

The biggest reveal at Summer Game Fest 2026 was the third of the Final Fantasy 7 remake games and it’ll be out on all formats at the same time.

This year’s Summer Game Fest was undoubtedly one of the best ones so far but, as ever, it was a frustrating experience to watch, as while there were lots of exciting games most barely got a minute or two on stage before the focus immediately switched to something else.

So while getting new glimpses at games such as Resident Evil Veronica, Alien: Isolation 2, and genATLAS (by the maker of ICO) were great there was very little official information and relatively little to glean from the footage itself.

Some games did get a little more time to shine though and Final Fantasy 7 Revelation got more than any, since it was the mic drop annoucement at the end of the show. The final part of the Final Fantasy 7 remake trilogy, it will be released in spring 2027 simultaneously on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch 2, and PC.

Seemingly against the odds, the first two parts – Final Fantasy 7 Remake and Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth – have been exceptionally good, managing to honour the original PS1 game while also reinventing its gameplay, expanding its storytelling, and being perfectly accessible for anyone that doesn’t already know the story.

As such, there’s every reason to expect Revelation will be just as good, especially as Rebirth was our game of the year in 2024. It wasn’t a perfect experience though and while mileage did vary, many people felt the open world element was too overblown and bloated.

If Square Enix felt they should react to that criticism it didn’t show during the reveal, with a lot of fuss made over the fact that it’s the ‘most expansive’ open world yet and that you can pilot the Highwind airship anywhere you want and immediately parachute to whatever’s below you.

Beyond that, the trailer featured everything you’d expect, including gunslinging vampire Vincent Valentine (who, like Yuffie, was only an optional character in the original) and Higwind pilot Cid as a playable character.

Various Weapons – super hard enemy bosses – also turn up and you can now change each character’s outfit, which alters their attributes and abilities accordingly.

Exactly when in spring the game will be released was not mentioned, but technically that should put it somewhere between March and May. Which suggests that the game wasn’t initially planned for this year and isn’t trying to get out of the way of GTA 6.

The game’s reveal wasn’t the only time Final Fantasy 7 was mentioned during Summer Game Fest, with Tifa turning up as one of the new characters for season four of Street Fighter 6.

Like most things at Summer Game Fest, that had been rumoured beforehand, but it makes sense as she is the brawler of the group. Although it’s rare for Street Fighter to feature cameos of characters from non-Capcom games.

The other three fighters are all brand new, which is always nice to see, with Yasmine and Arjun being complete unknowns at the moment. Bosch was in the story mode of Street Fighter 6 as your rival, but he’s never been playable before, although we can assume he’s a dab hand with a power drill.

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For more stories like this, check our Gaming page.

MORE: Persona 6 to debut at Xbox Games Showcase this weekend claim insiders

MORE: How to watch Summer Game Fest 2026 from the UK and what games will be shown

MORE: Steam Machine to launch summer 2026 but it’s going to be very expensive

ABOARD AIR FORCE ONE (AP) — President Donald Trump said Friday that he wants his new acting director of national intelligence, Bill Pulte, to cut the office, which has already been significantly scaled back during his second term.

Trump noted that the size of the office has been “way too high for way too long” and that “if he cut, I wouldn’t mind that.”

“He’ll do a very good job,” Trump told reporters on Air Force One as he traveled to Wisconsin for an event on agriculture. “He’ll watch it closely, but Bill Pulte is very good, he’s very talented.”

Trump told the Journal that he wants Pulte to “start the process” of firing personnel and that the eventual permanent director of national intelligence should continue it. The president has indicated that he would not formally nominate Pulte for the position.

“Frankly, it might be good for him to shake it up before people come,” Trump said. “Because, if he (Pulte) reduced the size, in conjunction with me … and in conjunction with possibly the person coming in … he can do a lot of the hard work and we wouldn’t have to saddle somebody that goes in.”

Pulte was tapped by the president earlier this week in a surprising move that has been met with bipartisan resistance in the Senate, which confirms presidential nominations. The temporary appointment has now snarled the renewal of a critical national security surveillance program on Capitol Hill, with Democrats key to the vote pointing out that they did not trust Pulte — whose office oversees 18 intelligence agencies — to help administer the surveillance program.

Trump told reporters on Air Force One that Pulte will stay in the position depending on how long it takes to get his successor confirmed. The president also said he was considering five people who were “all very good, all people that you know very well, all people that do that kind of thing.”

“They’re very respected people,” Trump said of his intelligence candidates, without naming them.

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Under Pulte’s predecessor, Tulsi Gabbard, the DNI office had already taken steps to scale back its size. In August, the Trump administration said that the office’s budget would be cut by more than $700 million per year, while slashing the size of its workforce.

At the time, Gabbard said the office had become “bloated and inefficient” while she announced the roughly 40% workforce reduction.

Gabbard resigned last month after revealing her husband’s cancer diagnosis.

___

Kim reported from Washington.

Whether it’s a treat for date night or a special occasion or a family dinner for all if you’re holidaying in Pembrokeshire then these are the places to try

The tourist hotspots of west Wales are filling up fast as weekend trippers, caravanners, and campers embark on a break in the glorious countryside and coastal hotspots of Cymru.

But while you’re visiting one of the best staycation destinations in the UK, Pembrokeshire, where should you go and eat?

We’ve picked out a strong list to get you started covering everything from posher restaurants where you can really treat yourself on holiday to the cafes and pubs we love and places all the family will enjoy. For the latest restaurant news and reviews sign up to our food and drink newsletter here.

Cafes

Y Bothy, Colby Woodland Gardens

Found in the heart of a beautiful 900-acre estate of beautiful woodland paths, plants, flowers, and trees on what was an 18th-century coalfield the on-site coffee shop here is a treat hidden away in the gorgeous views.

Homemade scones, cakes, and great sarnies and coffees are on offer while they do lovely gluten-free rolls too.

Colby Woodland Garden, Narberth, SA67 8PP

Loafley, Tenby

A place we always make a cobbled street beeline for is Loafley which sells fresh salads, sandwiches, and amazing cakes and pastries. We always get lucky and they’re always making more Welsh cakes when we pop in and fresh ones are a must.

Pick up some store cupboard essentials too.

Llandrindod House, Upper Frog St, Tenby, SA70 7JD

Runwayskiln, Marloes Sands

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While they do a wonderful line in cakes and coffees and breakfast rolls Runwayskiln’s lunch menu is worth the car journey alone. A regularly-changing menu sees mouthwatering dishes like fish tacos, Hungarian goulash, feta, and nectarine salad while if you’re really lucky they might be doing their special fish stew.

The dog-friendly cafe’s fresh daily bakes are banging too. Try the Algerian cake for something a bit different.

To get the up-to-date opening times and days, and the menu, follow their Instagram here. From May 1 they’ll be open Thursdays to Monday 9am to 5pm.

Marloes Sands, Haverfordwest, SA62 3BH

Relaxed and family

Really Wild Emporium, St Davids

Found in an intimate venue in St Davids where you can chat to the chefs as you admire the original stained glass windows. It’s not just a restaurant – your date night can start early with a day of foraging with experienced guides in the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park.

If you do want to stop in for a meal there are small plate evenings in July and August and a six-course taster menu throughout the rest of the year. Small plates include locally-caught fish and crab as well as vegetarian and vegan dishes making the most of heritage tomatoes, seaweed butter, and wild garlic.

24 High Street, St Davids, SA62 6RE

Grain, St Davids

Now in Cardigan too, at the former Pizza Tipi, Grain’s original and beloved venue is in the heart of St Davids and counts The Times reviewer Giles Coren as a huge fan. Our travel writer visited Grain in Cardigan recently and you can read her full thoughts here.

The menu ranges from classics to bold Welsh twists including Y Ddraig Goch with Italian tomato, basil, and mozzarella, Mae Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau layered with roast leeks, red onion, and Perl Las blue cheese from Caws Cenarth, through to chorizo-laden Santos, BBQ Badboy, and even a no-cheese puttanesca.

1 High St, St Davids, Haverfordwest SA62 6SA

Billycan, Tenby

The sharing platters of burgers or seafood should be enough to get you down to the Billycan, which was opened by Rhondda fish and chip shop owners Gaynor and Leighton Jones in the former British Legion building.

With a delicious menu featuring steaks, pies, and lamb shank, Billycan is a real foodie gem and there are stylish boutique rooms so you can book a stopover too.

Lower Frog Street, SA70 7HS

Harbwr, Tenby

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Get down to Harbwr, previously called The Buccaneer pub, now run by and stocking the local Harbwr beer, where you can get a cracking fish and chips and a fine selection of bar meals including unfussy sandwiches like tuna or ham and cheese – because sometimes that’s all you fancy! The weaving beer garden leads to a tap room down a pretty alley where you’ll find the associated brewery’s selection of beers and ales and more.

Harbwr Brewery Tap & Kitchen, Julian’s St, Tenby SA70 7AS

The Stone Crab

The celebrated Saundersfoot restaurant was awarded the Best Seafood Restaurant in Wales in 2022 by The Welsh Hospitality Awards and included in The Lonely Planet guide looking at the best gourmet food experiences in Europe.

A menu packed with fish and seafood fresh off the boat their seafood platters are a must-try.

The Harbour, Saundersfoot SA69 9HE

The Golden Lion, Newport

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A coaching inn since the 1600s The Golden Lion is also a boutique hotel, too, tucked away in the coastal town. Think decent pub grub and then some. Catch of the day, Preseli lamb chops, alongside burgers and curries are all good options.

East St, Newport SA42 0SY

Hwb, Narberth

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Found in an old Victorian school that’s been turned into a bustling street food place Hwb has a steady team of vendors selling top burgers, pizza, tacos, and Indian street food. The bar also features 18 draft beer and cider taps. Follow them on socials for up-to-date vendors.

Hwb, Moorfield Road, Narberth SA67 7AB

Top Joe’s, Tenby and Narberth

A top-notch place for pizza and both branches can get busy around peak holiday times.

Made with fresh pizza dough from scratch and using local ingredients as much as possible Top Joe’s is worth a visit and the kids will love it.

Their Narberth chef, Giovanni Recchia, has been named as one of the best in the world at the Pizza World Championships.

Pizza options on the menu at the Pembrokeshire restaurants include zucchini (san marzano tomatoes, fior de latte, courgette, pesto, and riccotta), inferno (tomato and cheese base topped with wild boar salami, red onion, fresh chilli, and ricotta), and la capre (toppings consist of red onions, goat’s cheese, and pine nuts).

Old Point House, Angle

The new home of the much-lauded Paternoster Farm, owner Michelle Evans is bringing her farm-to-table ethos and stunning menus to the coast.

Her inventive menus derive from any given week’s fresh produce – think beef, pork, lamb, water buffalo, honey from their bees, and seasonal vegetables alongside local seafood and foraged ingredients that regulars and visitors from as far afield as California and New York to Cardiff and London are blown away by.

The Solva crab butter was due to make the move, too, and will sit deliciously side-by-side with a more casual bar snack option.

Angle Village, Angle, Pembroke SA71 5AS

Feast at Cresselly Quay

Another waterside gem, Feast is the fire-cooked food experience that’s a must-try when down west. While the barbecue platters steal the spotlight the menu keeps things fresh with Sunday roasts, inventive veggie dishes like the Teifi halloumi kebab with mint and tahini yoghurt, and juicy flame-grilled burgers.

Cresswell Quay, Kilgetty SA68 0TE

Fancy

Grove of Narberth

Set within enchanting Pembrokeshire woodlands Grove of Narberth is celebrated for its warm hospitality, elegant interiors, and culinary excellence – an experience shaped by the rhythms and stories of Wales. There’s their Michelin-featured and four-AA-Rosette fine dining experience, The Fernery, and the more relaxed Artisan Rooms where you can sample their wonderful afternoon teas.

Executive chef Douglas Balish holds the title of hotel chef of the year at the Hotel Cateys 2025. The Hotel Cateys are among the UK hospitality industry’s most respected awards recognising exceptional talent, creativity, and dedication across hotels nationwide.

Grove of Narberth, Molleston, Narberth, SA67 8BX

The Links, Tenby

Located on the ground floor of Tenby Golf Club the menu is about simple yet incredibly tasty dishes made with the best Welsh produce. Start your meal with their freshly-baked ale bread served with whipped Marmite butter – trust us, it’s the perfect opener.

The atmosphere is relaxed but refined with a menu that strikes the perfect balance between unpretentious and exciting. From hot smoked salmon with cucumber and buttermilk to heritage tomatoes paired with buffalo mozzarella there’s something to tempt every palate.

For mains enjoy locally-sourced delights like Pembrokeshire beef or Cornish cod in a bisque sauce or tuck into a tender rump of Welsh lamb served with all the right accompaniments.

The Links, Tenby SA70 7NP

The Cliff, Saundersfoot

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An AA Rosette-awarded hotel restaurant you won’t be surprised to see it full of those lucky people on a spa night away package – but the restaurant itself is worth a booking even if you’re not staying there.

Great service, well thought-out dishes such as fillet of beef with lobster beignet, roasted duck breast with rich faggot, and moreish, attractive sides, mean it’s well worth it for a special dinner out. Read what we thought, in full, here.

Saundersfoot, Pembrokeshire, SA69 9NH

Rwts, Broad Haven

Daily brunch to dinner at this hotel/restaurant just 20m from the sand. You’ll find Buddha bowls, tapas plates, coastal botanical cocktails, and a Welsh drinks menu.

Enfield Rd, Broad Haven, Haverfordwest SA62 3JN

Lan y Mor, Coppet Hall

This contemporary restaurant is situated on the golden sands of Coppet Hall Beach in Saundersfoot. Lan y Môr brings together Hywel Griffith, the man behind Michelin-starred Beach House in the Gower, with former head chef at award-winning Grove of Narberth Gerwyn Jones. Read our review of Lan y Môr here.

Coppet Hall Beach Centre, Saundersfoot SA69 9AJ

Annwn, Narberth

Sustainability and Welsh culinary traditions are at the heart of chef-patron Matt Powell’s cooking and the 10-cover Pembrokeshire restaurant holds a Michelin Green Star and was named as one of the winners at Condé Nast Traveller’s UK Top New Restaurant Awards in early 2024.

By using ingredients foraged from nearby its countryside location, Lawrenny, and from the veggies grown themselves Annwn uses items like beech leaves, UK-grown lentils, medlars, and crab apples in various dishes and he’s excited about the possibility of sourcing sand eels and rare heritage grains.

1 Market Square, Narberth, SA67 7AU

A majority of Americans disapprove of President Donald Trump’s UFC birthday fight outside of the White House, a new poll has revealed.

Dubbed UFC Freedom 250, the White House will host six bouts on the South Lawn on June 14. While the fight card is being promoted as one of the many events commemorating America’s 250th birthday, it also falls on Trump’s 80th birthday.

When asked for their opinion of the White House hosting the fight as part of its Freedom 250 celebrations, 40 percent of Americans said they strongly disapproved, and another 11 percent said they somewhat disapproved, according to a YouGov survey.

Fifteen percent of Americans said they somewhat approved of the fight, and an even lower number, 12 percent, strongly backed it. Another 22 percent were unsure about how they felt.

Construction of a massive UFC stage outside the White House, called “The Claw,” started last month. Trump has suggested the massive structure could stay up indefinitely.

Pictures of the South Lawn show the red, white and blue stage’s canopy towering over the presidential residence.

The UFC is said to be paying for the fight, which will feature a lightweight title bout between champion Ilia Topuria and interim champion Justin Gaethje on the main card.

Trump, who is friends with UFC president Dana White, has touted the fight as the “greatest show on Earth,” with an estimated 4,000 seats on the South Lawn for the audience.

Sponsorship packages that include ringside tickets to the fight have been selling for $1 million or more, a Republican lobbyist familiar with the matter told NBC News in an article published last month.

Trump’s over-the-top birthday fight — to which White has extended invitations to former New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady and actor-wrestler Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, per Time Magazine — comes at a time when everyday Americans are struggling with the cost of living.

US troops will be given tickets to the event, but they must reportedly meet certain physical standards.

In April, the annual inflation rate rose to 3.8 percent, the highest level since 2023, according to government data. Energy costs were also up 3.8 percent from March as the Iran war dragged on.

The war, which Trump started alongside Israel at the end of February, sent gas prices soaring after Iran retaliated by closing the Strait of Hormuz, a key oil passageway in the Middle East.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy was criticized by Democratic senators for urging Americans to take a road trip this summer in celebration of America’s 250th birthday, given high gas prices.

Duffy defended his forthcoming corporate-sponsored road trip reality show, in which he and his family are filmed taking a cross-country vacation.

“Experiencing your country through the window of a car is a beautiful thing. It actually unites America,” he told the Senate Appropriations subcommittee last Month.

But Senator Patty Murray from Washington state called it “out of touch” at the hearing.

A majority of voters, 68 percent, think Trump is not focused enough on addressing the problems they are facing, while just 29 percent think he is, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released last month.

“Has the president taken his eye off domestic concerns? Voters suggest it’s time to look homeward,” Quinnipiac University Polling Analyst Tim Malloy said in a statement.

CHIPPEWA FALLS, Wisc. (AP) — The U.S. military said it shot down four Iranian drones that were launched toward the Strait of Hormuz on Friday and then struck some of the Islamic Republic’s coastal surveillance radar sites in response, raising the risk to a shaky ceasefire as the Trump administration ramps up pressure on Iran.

“The attack drones posed an immediate threat to regional maritime traffic,” U.S. Central Command said on social media.

The military is enforcing a blockade on Iranian ports in response to Tehran’s chokehold on the crucial corridor for global oil and natural gas shipments, which has sent energy prices spiking and posed political problems for President Donald Trump’s Republican Party ahead of the midterm congressional elections.

U.S. Central Command said it hit the radar sites, including an island in the strait, “to defend against further attacks.”

It was the latest in back-and-forth attacks that have strained the tenuous ceasefire in the war and efforts to reach a deal to extend that truce. Earlier this week, Iranian drones heavily damaged a passenger terminal at Kuwait’s main airport, killing one person, wounding dozens and briefly closing the airfield.

Despite the attacks raising new concerns that the ceasefire could collapse, Trump told reporters Friday that “the situation with Iran seems to be going quite well.”

“We’re going to come out of Iran very quickly and it’s going to be very strong one way or the other, whether it’s a piece of paper or the very tough way,” Trump said at an event with farmers in Wisconsin. “The very tough way is maybe the easier way, but we’re going to come out, and your fertilizer prices are going to go way down, just like they were four months ago.”

Trump increasingly appears to be boxed in on a conflict that has settled into a holding pattern. U.S. and Iranian negotiators reached a tentative agreement a week ago to extend the ceasefire by 60 days and start a new round of talks on Iran’s nuclear program. But Trump has called for unspecified changes and Iranian officials have shown no public signs of signing off on the deal.

Asked on Friday why it was taking so long, Trump told NBC’s “Meet the Press” it was because “it’s a very hard thing for them,” citing their “great independence” and the fact that “they’re strong, they’re proud.”

“There are things they never thought they’d be doing that they’re going to have to do. They’ve got no choice, and it takes a little while,” he said in the interview.

Trump said the Iranians still have 21% to 22% of their missiles.

His administration also has touted the latest ceasefire agreed to this week by the Lebanese government and Israel after U.S.-brokered talks in Washington. However, the Iranian-backed Hezbollah militant group has rejected the agreement and new attacks have put it at further risk.

The Israeli military on Friday struck multiple parts of southern Lebanon and issued evacuation warnings for nine villages, including one that has sheltered thousands of people displaced by the fighting. The strikes killed nine people in six locations in southern Lebanon, the state news agency reported.

The Israeli military said two soldiers were wounded, one severely, in an encounter Friday with militants in southern Lebanon.

The fighting in Lebanon, where Israeli forces have seized large swaths of the south, also threatens efforts to end the Iran war and reopen the Strait of Hormuz because Iran has demanded that any lasting truce extend to Lebanon.

Besides the drone interception in the Strait of Hormuz, the U.S. military said earlier Friday that its forces boarded a sanctioned oil tanker linked to Iran in the Indian Ocean as the United States seeks to prevent Iran from profiting off its oil and other goods.

The U.S. also targeted Iran’s energy sector with new sanctions on a group of people, firms and tankers.

Emma Barnett was found clutching 14-month-old Oakley in the loft of her home after a court order determined he would be taken into care

A mother who was found to have killed her infant son with a lethal cocktail of prescription drugs in his milk has been sentenced.

Today (June 5), Emma Barnett has been sentenced to life behind bars after she was found guilty of murder following an 18-day trial at Cambridge Crown Court on May 28.

Barnett must serve a minimum of 22-years in jail.

The court heard how the mum had been due to attend a family court hearing on November 8, 2024, the outcome of which determined little Oakley, just 14 months old, was subject to an interim care order.

The pair were reported missing that same day. Officers carried out searches for the pair and found Barnett’s vehicle parked near to Epping Forest. Officers believed the 36-year-old had entered the grounds, however, police found she had walked to on foot to her home on Chester Road, Debden in Essex, and forced their way into the property.

There, they found Barnett hidden in the loft, clutching the 14-month-old. After ongoing discussions, the pair were both rushed to hospital for treatment. Tragically, despite the best efforts of doctors, Oakley died on New Year’s Eve in December 2024.

Barnett also received hospital treatment before she was arrested on suspicion of murder in January last year.

She initially denied murdering the child. However, after six hours of deliberations after the 18-day trial at Cambridge Crown Court, jurors found her guilty on May 28.

The court heard during the trial Barnett had stated in her interview that she “wanted the police to think I was in the forest so I could stay indoors with Oakley” when she left her vehicle parked there.

The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) confirmed that evidence presented during the trial showed Barnett had prepared a bottle containing a mixture of milk and medication, which she administered to Oakley, ultimately causing his death.

The court also heard how the woman communicated with officers through the telephone behind the loft hatch, initially claiming Oakley was asleep before declaring, “I have killed him”.

Police say they carried out a “detailed investigation” which resulted in Barnett being interviewed in June 2025. She declined to respond to any questions, police say, but was charged with a single count of murder.

Judge Mr Justice Derek Sweeting explained that the prosecution case was that Barnett “intentionally administered to him (Oakley) medication prescribed to her intending to kill him and this was the planned outcome”. He noted that the defendant’s case was that Oakley’s death was accidental. Summarising the defendant’s case to jurors, the judge added that her case was that “she didn’t intentionally administer medication or intend serious harm or to kill him”.

“Her intention was to take her own life but only at the point Oakley would be removed from her by police,” the judge said, summing up Barnett’s defence case.

Barnett said that hiding in the loft “was to extend the time she had left with Oakley”, the judge said. He revealed that investigators discovered two baby bottles in the loft containing liquids that tested positive for the antihistamine promethazine, which can cause sedation, and the antidepressant mirtazapine.

The judge noted that expert evidence suggested “taken together their effects may be greater than either alone” and that they could cause “respiratory compromise”.

Oakley’s family have spoken out about their heartbreak. Paying tribute to him, they said in a statement, they said: “Oakley filled every room with light, laughter, and love. With his beautiful curly hair and huge blue eyes, he captured the hearts of everyone who met him. His smile could brighten even the darkest day, and his gentle spirit brought so much happiness to our family.

“Oakley loved watching Trolls, and there was something magical about seeing his face light up with excitement whenever his favourite characters appeared on the screen. Those simple moments, full of wonder and joy, are memories we will treasure forever.

“Though he was only with us for a short time, Oakley filled our hearts. He will forever miss his cuddles, his laughter, and the happiness he brought into our lives.

“While our hearts ache with the loss of him, we are grateful for every second we were blessed to spend with him. Our beautiful boy will always be loved, always be remembered, and always remain a part of us.

“Though we cannot hold him in our arms, we carry him in our hearts every day. We will forever grieve the memories we won’t get to make, the milestones we won’t get to witness, and the future that should have been his.

“But while Oakley was taken from our lives, he will never be taken from our hearts. His memory lives on in every story we share, every tear we cry, and every smile that comes from remembering that beautiful little boy.

“Forever 14 months old. Forever loved. Forever missed. Forever our Oakley. Sleep peacefully, sweet Oakley. You were deeply loved, and you always will be.”

Oakley’s dad also paid a special tribute to his beloved son. He said: “While I never got given the opportunity to get to know Oakley and experience the joy he bought to everyone else’s lives.

“I wish I could have had the chance to experience that bond with him and get to learn of all of his favourite things and see the infectious smile those that got to spend that short time with him did.

“I will forever have that ache in my heart of never being able to have that father son bond with him or be able to kick a ball together. I will forever love my little boy and miss him deeply.”

Detective Inspector James Holmes, who led the investigation into Oakley’s death, said: “This time should be all about Oakley. I know how missed he is by all who loved him and the thoughts of my team and everyone at Essex Police remain with them.”

Detective Inspector James Holmes of Essex Police said: “This was an extremely upsetting and difficult investigation for everybody involved. Our thoughts remain with Oakley and everyone who loved him.”