Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi insisted that she and Donald Trump were “best buddies,” hours after the president made a poor taste joke about the historic attack on Pearl Harbor.

“A stronger Japan and a stronger America, a more prosperous Japan and a more prosperous America. I am very confident that Donald and I are the best buddies to realize this shared goal,” Takaichi said Thursday evening, speaking via a translator before a dinner event at the White House.

The prime minister went on to praise Trump further and even wish his youngest son, Barron Trump, a preemptive “happy birthday” ahead of his 20th birthday on Friday.

It appeared that the awkwardness of the earlier exchange had disappeared.

While answering questions from reporters in the Oval Office, the president was asked by a Japanese reporter why he had not warned U.S. allies, including Japan, about the Iran airstrike campaign, which began on February 28.

Trump replied that he had wanted the strikes to be a “surprise,” before adding, “Who knows better about surprise than Japan?” – in reference to the devastating attack on December 7, 1941, in which Japanese troops bombed the U.S. military base on Oahu, in Hawaii.

“Why didn’t you tell me about Pearl Harbor, OK?” he said, at which point the scattered laughter died down and the room went silent. Takaichi’s facial expression went from smiling to wide-eyed.

Social media users blasted the exchange, with one writing: “Audible groans in the room.”

“The way the Prime Minister of Japan looks like a hostage scanning the room for an exit to escape from this madman,” wrote another, with a third adding that Takaichi’s “soul has left her body.”

“Oh my lord she is mortified,” wrote one user, with a Japanese social media handle adding: “To put it mildly, I think our country is being mocked, looked down upon, and made a fool of.”

The surprise Pearl Harbor airstrike against the U.S. Pacific Fleet left more than 2,400 American service members dead and nearly 1,200 injured from bombs and shells that sank four American battleships and left four more severely damaged.

It was the deadliest attack on American soil until the September 11, 2001, terror attacks on New York, Washington and Pennsylvania.

Takaichi is fresh off a dominant victory in the Japanese elections last month and vowed, before her departure to the U.S., to “do everything to maximize [Japan’s] national interest” even as the volatile situation in the Middle East continues to escalate.

In a joint statement shared Thursday by the UK, France, Germany, Italy, and the Netherlands, Japan conveyed its “readiness to contribute appropriate efforts to ensure safe passage” through the Strait of Hormuz, which was closed off by Iran as a result of the U.S.-Israeli bombing campaign.

At Thursday’s Oval Office meeting, Takaichi said the closing of the Strait had resulted in a “very severe security environment,” which was a “huge hit” to the global economy. However, she backed Trump’s ability to resolve it.

“I firmly believe that it is only you, Donald, who can achieve peace across the world,” she said. “I am ready to reach out to many of the partners in the international community to achieve our objective together.”

Ellis Matthews, 35, from Lancashire shot to fame after openly discussing on social media how her £2,300-a-month lifestyle was subsidised by British taxpayers’ money while living in Thailand before being jailed for 26 months for drugs offences

A notorious TikTok star from Lancashire, who boasted about living off UK benefits whilst residing in Thailand, has been imprisoned upon her return to the UK.

Ellis Matthews gained notoriety after candidly discussing on social media how her £2,300 per-month lifestyle was funded by British taxpayers‘ money, even providing tips on how to exploit the system. The 35 year old claimed that she was living on Disability Living Allowance during her four years overseas, having informed the DWP she suffered from six mental disorders.

However, in March 2025 her dream life abruptly ended when she and her son were arrested for overstaying her visa and confined in the Mothers and Children Immigration Detention Centre in Bangkok, a “hell hole prison” she described as overrun with rats and cockroaches. She was incarcerated for over three months before finally being deported without her son last year.

Within weeks of returning to Lancashire, Matthews was apprehended on suspicion of drug offences. She appeared for sentencing at Preston Crown Court Sessions House last Friday (March 13) after previously pleading guilty to possession of class A and B drugs, supplying class A and B drugs and involvement in the supply of class A and B drugs.

She received a total sentence of 26 months. Recorder Fiona Clancy informed Matthews that the 108 days already spent in detention in Thailand would be deducted from her sentence in HMP Styal, reports Lancs Live.

Matthews, who previously appeared on the reality show Judge Rinder and claimed to have frittered away a £6 million fortune, amassed over 16,500 followers on TikTok under the username ‘@mumontheruninasia’. She was apprehended following a police raid on her residence in Pattaya.

Despite the dreadful circumstances, Ellie declined to buy a flight back to the UK due to fears that social services would take Cairo into their custody. Upon her return, she disclosed that she had left her four year old with a relative in Thailand whilst she stayed with friends – and hit back at those criticising her lifestyle.

She confessed to MailOnline: “Leaving Cairo behind was one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do. But I had no choice because I’m the victim of an online hate campaign that is making me out to be a bad mother.

“I would never allow him to be passed around suffering in UK care. He has the right to a safe childhood.”

Ellis also maintained that the videos she posted about receiving benefits were “just a joke”, and that she never received a “single penny” of taxpayer’s money whilst residing in Thailand. “I was just lying in my videos to get more followers and make some money from my TikTok account”, she stated.

Saleh Mohammadi, a 19-year-old champion wrestler, was publicly hanged by the Iranian government for protesting against the

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A teenager has been executed in a public hanging in Iran.

Saleh Mohammadi, a 19-year-old champion wrestler, was publicly hanged by the Iranian government for his role in protesting against the Khamenei Regime in January. State media has reported that Mohammadi, Mehdi Ghasemi and Saeed Davvodi allegedly stabbed two police officers to death in Qom, which led to their arrests and killings.

The executions come as the conflict in the Middle East nears its third full week. The United States and Israel carried out joint strikes on several key Iranian sites on February 28. Iran has retaliated by carrying out attacks across the region, plunging the Middle East into war.

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The State Department wrote on X, in Farsi, before the killing: “The United States is deeply concerned by reports that 19-year-old wrestling champion Saleh Mohammadi is facing imminent execution. The regime of the Islamic Republic of Iran is massacring young people and destroying Iran’s future.”

“We call on the Iranian regime to halt the execution of Saleh Mohammadi and all those sentenced to death for exercising their fundamental rights. #SalehMohammadi #StopExecutionsInIran #HumanRights #IranProtest.”

The Mirror US reported that US Sen. John Fetterman wrote on X after the news was confirmed: “The Iranian regime executed a 19-year-old for demanding democracy.”

“I stand with his memory and the thousands of other young Iranians. Those who grieve the elimination of Iranian leaders over murdered protesters is telling.”

Earlier this year, US President Donald Trump threatened that drastic action would be taken if Iran executed anti-government protesters.

“If they hang them, you’re going to see some things… We will take very strong action if they do such a thing,” Trump said to CBS News at the time.

He also said in a post on his Truth Social platform that the Iranian government would “pay a big price” and urging citizens to “keep protesting.”

Nima Far, an Iranian combat athlete and human rights activist, shared her thoughts on Mohammadi’s death. “His execution was a blatant political murder, part of the Islamic Republic’s pattern of targeting athletes to crush dissent and terrorize society, as seen with Navid Afkari and others executed despite international outcry,” Far told FOX News Digital.

Mohammadi and the three men are just the latest to be killed as part of the protests. Though the exact number of deaths has yet to be confirmed, The Guardian reports that over 30,000 Iranians have been killed.

More than half of videos about Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) shared on TikTok contain misinformation, a new study has revealed.

Researchers found social media platforms are “awash” with misleading or unsubstantiated mental health content – and that this is the worst on TikTok.

They analysed more than 5,000 social media posts about mental health topics – including autism, ADHD, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, depression, eating disorders, OCD, anxiety and phobias – across social media platforms, such as TikTok, YouTube, Facebook, Instagram and X (formerly Twitter), to investigate the accuracy of mental health and neurodivergence information.

According to the findings, 52 per cent of ADHD-related videos and 41 per cent of autism videos analysed on TikTok were inaccurate, with the platform frequently found to contain higher levels of misinformation in its mental health content than other platforms.

The company claimed the study is “flawed” and said it removes harmful health misinformation.

The team, from the University of East Anglia, also found that posts about neurodivergence such as autism and ADHD contained higher levels of misinformation than many other mental health topics.

Dr Eleanor Chatburn, from UEA’s Norwich Medical School, said: “Our work uncovered misinformation rates on social media as high as 56 per cent. This highlights how easily engaging videos can spread widely online, even when the information isn’t always accurate.

“Social media has become an important place where many young people learn about mental health, but the quality of this information can vary greatly. This means that misleading content can circulate quickly, particularly if there aren’t accessible and reliable sources available.”

The review, published in The Journal of Social Media Research, marks the first to examine mental health and neurodivergence information across multiple social media platforms.

YouTube averaged 22 per cent misinformation, according to the findings, while Facebook averaged just under 15 per cent.

The study found that content created by healthcare professionals was consistently more accurate, but professional voices still represent only a small share of mental health content circulating on these platforms.

The researchers are calling for health organisations and clinicians to create and promote better evidence-based content, as well as for improved content moderation, standardised tools for assessing online mental health information, and clearer definitions of misinformation.

Dr Chatburn warned: “As well as leading to misunderstanding of serious conditions and pathologising ordinary behaviour, misinformation can also lead to delayed diagnosis for people that actually do need help.

“When false ideas spread, they can feed stigma and make people less likely to reach out for support when they really need it.

“It can also make mental illness seem scary or hopeless, which creates even more fear and misunderstanding.

“On top of that, when people come across misleading advice about treatments, especially ones that aren’t backed by evidence, it can delay them from getting proper care and ultimately make things worse.”

A TikTok spokesperson said: “This is a flawed study that relies on outdated research about multiple platforms. The facts are that we remove harmful health misinformation and provide access to reliable information from the WHO, so that our community can express themselves about what matters to them and find support.”

The company added that it has launched the UK Clinician Creator Network, a group of 19 NHS-qualified clinicians who share their medical expertise on the platform to over 2.2 million followers.

YouTube, Facebook, Instagram and X have been approached for comment.

Emery became the quickest Villa manager to 100 wins with victory in France last week.

Villa Park marked the achievement with fans holding up ‘Emery 100’ cards as the teams walked out.

He knows how to get the job done and, with Villa searching for their first trophy in three decades, the end of the drought is in sight.

Villa did what was necessary against Lille, even if the performance still lacked the style, tempo and class they have produced this season.

Those levels remain from their stumble in the Premier League, with just two wins from 10 games, which has added jeopardy, something which did not look likely at the start of the year.

Overhauled by Manchester United, Villa – who host West Ham on Sunday – are lucky to still be in the top five, mainly due to Liverpool and Chelsea’s failings.

But Emery, rightly, continues to ask to be judged after 38 games and where they will be at the end of the season.

Last month he was being asked about being in the title race and on Wednesday he pointed out being in Europe and in the top four was just a dream for the club when he took over three and a half years ago.

In his first press conference the former Arsenal and Paris St-Germain boss stated he came to Birmingham to win trophies and Villa have edged a little closer to that goal.

Emery has now reached the quarter-finals of the Europa League for the eighth time, no other manager has done so more than five times, while Villa have made the quarter-finals of a major European competition in three straight seasons.

“Villa [were] very professional, not outstanding, just doing enough to get to the next round,” Dublin said.

“That’s what they need, but they will have to up their performances if they want to get to the latter stages of the competition.

“I think there is more to come from them. If they do that, they can really surprise a few people.”

BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — The body of James “Jimmy” Gracey, a college student from Illinois who went missing while in Spain on spring break, was found Thursday in the water off a Barcelona beach, police said.

Gracey’s body was found by police divers and positively identified, the press office for Catalonia’s regional police in Barcelona told The Associated Press. The University of Alabama student’s body was found near where he was last seen outside a nightclub with his friends early Tuesday. He was visiting friends in Barcelona for spring break.

Catalan police say that their investigation continues into the cause of death.

Gracey, 20, was last seen outside the Shoko nightclub in Barcelona but separated from friends around 3 a.m. on Tuesday. Gracey never returned to the room he was renting with friends, according to family members who live in the suburb of Elmhurst, about 19 miles (31 kilometers) west of Chicago. They realized something was wrong when police contacted them, saying they had recovered his phone.

In a statement released late Thursday, the Gracey family asked for prayers and privacy.

“Our family is heartbroken as we confirm that Jimmy’s body has been recovered in Barcelona. Jimmy was a deeply loved son, grandson, brother, nephew, cousin, and friend, and our family is struggling to come to terms with this unimaginable loss,” the statement said.

“We are profoundly grateful for the outpouring of love, support, and prayers from people around the world. … As we navigate this painful time, we kindly ask for privacy so that we may grieve together and begin to process this loss as a family.”

In an interview conducted before police confirmation of his death, Gracey’s aunt told The Associated Press that he was “just a great kid, a good Catholic boy from the Midwest.”

“Very good student, honors program at University of Alabama, chaplain in his fraternity, you know, just an amazing older brother and role model to his cousins,” Beth Marren O’Reilly said.

O’Reilly said her nephew left Alabama on Thursday and spent the weekend in Amsterdam before arriving Monday in Barcelona. Gracey’s family did not immediately know how police came into possession of his phone. Gracey’s father, Taras, is in Barcelona and has been working with police, O’Reilly said.

Barcelona is a popular tourist destination that brings in millions of foreign visitors each year. It is generally safe, especially compared with major U.S. cities, where tourists’ biggest worry are normally pickpockets.

Barcelona’s beaches, located in walking distance of its center, are a main draw especially for young visitors. The area where Gracey went out is a stretch of beach with several restaurants and nightclubs that are frequented by locals and foreigners.

The University of Alabama said in a statement that the school community “is heartbroken to learn of the death of Jimmy Gracey. Jimmy’s loss is deeply felt across our campus. Our condolences are with the Gracey family during this devastating time.”

Gracey was a member of the Theta Chi fraternity at the school, and the international organization said that in addition to serving as chaplain for the school’s chapter, he was a philanthropy chairperson.

___

O’Connor reported from Springfield, Illinois, and Raza reported from Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Associated Press videojournalist Laura Bargfeld in Chicago and writer Suman Naishadham in Madrid contributed.

The lorry is blocking the fast lane

Drivers have been told to avoid a major road in Cambridgeshire after a lorry crash. Cambridgeshire Police were called to the A14 westbound at Spaldwick just before 3pm on Thursday (March 19) with reports of a crash involving a car and a lorry.

Emergency services attended. Motorists have been told to find alternative routes if travelling in the area.

A spokesperson for Cambridgeshire Police said: “We received a report of a two-vehicle collision on the westbound A14 at Spaldwick shortly before 3pm. It involved an HGV and a car.

“There is debris in the slow lane, and the lorry is currently blocking the fast lane leading to delays. The A14 westbound (towards Northamptonshire) was briefly closed but it appears one lane is now open.

“Tailbacks are building on the A14 and we are approaching rush hour so maybe worth people seeking alternative routes.”

Traffic monitoring site Inrix said: “Severe delays and one lane closed due to accident on A14 Westbound after J18 (Spaldwick).”

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Shoppers looking to buy chocolate treats for Easter are being hit by a shrinkflation “double whammy” of rising prices and products getting smaller, Which? is warning.

The consumer group, which tracks around 25,000 products across major UK supermarkets to look at how grocery prices are changing, said that shoppers could find themselves paying more for less.

Which?’s supermarket food inflation tracker found that while overall food and drink inflation at the supermarket has slowed to 3.9% in the year to February, the cost of chocolate – which it said is driven by ongoing global supply issues – has surged by 9.7% annually.

Which? also found that the experience of products reducing in size but prices being maintained or increased “has become a prevalent trend in the seasonal aisle”.

The supermarket food inflation tracker also indicated that when looking at overall inflation across ranges of groceries, supermarket own-label premium products had the highest rates of inflation at 6.7% – a higher rate than budget own-brand items (4%) or branded items (2.8%).

Which? suggested that shoppers to look at the unit price (for example the price per 100g or 100ml) to find the most cost-effective deals.

Which? said its researchers also regularly find that discounters Aldi and Lidl can be good options for households looking to save money on groceries.

Reena Sewraz, Which? retail editor, said: “It’s disappointing to see Easter treats aren’t safe from shrinkflation, with some products going up in price significantly, even though they’re smaller than last year.

“Manufacturers are quietly giving shoppers less for more, so it’s no wonder people feel cheated when they get less bang for their buck.

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“To ensure you’re getting a fair deal, always check the ‘price per 100g’ on the shelf edge label rather than just the headline price.

“This is the only way to accurately compare different brands and sizes to ensure you are bagging a genuine bargain.”

Which? said chocolate has been rising in price sharply due to a severe global cocoa shortage caused by factors such as poor harvests. It said this, combined with high demand, increased energy and transportation costs, and climate-related challenges, has caused retail prices to surge.

Which? said it had approached supermarkets and manufacturers.

A Sainsbury’s spokesperson said: “We know Easter is a time many come together which is why we are focused on giving customers brilliant value with trusted quality.”

A spokesperson for Mars Wrigley – which owns the Galaxy, M&Ms and Maltesers brands – also told Which?: “We always aim to absorb rising costs wherever possible, however, ongoing pressures, including the well-documented rises in the cost of cocoa, mean we have had to make carefully considered changes to ensure shoppers can continue to enjoy their favourite Easter treats without any compromise on the quality or taste they expect from Mars.

“As with all our products, final pricing remains at the discretion of individual retailers.”

Rise & Rave, taking place at Circuit nightclub in Clifford Street on Sunday March 22, is a daytime dance event that blends uplifting music with powerful breathwork techniques to help people reconnect with their bodies, lift their mood and start the day feeling alive.

The idea came from co-founders Karen McMillan and Denny Davis, who found themselves missing the joy of clubbing but not the downsides that came with it.

Karen said: “We both just really missed dancing. That feeling of being in a club, hearing your favourite tracks on a big sound system. But we didn’t miss the early morning finishes, the crowds, or the hangovers.”

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Co-creator Denny Davis agreed: “We wanted to create a sober, safe space for people who still love dancing like we do, but don’t really have anywhere to go for that kind of experience. So we thought – why not create it ourselves?”

Working alongside them is DJ Queen of Spin, Caroline Joynson, who curates the feel-good 90s set list for the dancefloor.

Caroline said: “We all love the 90s. There’s something about that era, people light up when they hear those tracks. It creates such a joyful, shared energy.”

The result is a reimagined club experience: doors open at 9:30am, with the morning beginning with a guided breathwork session led by Denny Davis to help participants land and energise their system. Followed by a high-energy dancefloor filled with uplifting tracks and club classics.

Karen explained: “It’s not about being a ‘good dancer’ or feeling any kind of pressure to be or do anything. It’s about showing up as you are, feeling free to be yourself, and the invitation to feel joy and shift your mood a little. Or, a lot.”

The first Rise & Rave event, held earlier this year, was a huge success, with many participants reporting that they felt more energised, connected and lighter afterwards.

Denny said: “It was such a beautiful group of people. Some came on their own, some with friends, but everyone was there for the same reason – to feel good. And you could really feel that in the space.”

With growing interest in alcohol-free socialising and wellbeing-focused experiences, Rise & Rave taps into a wider cultural shift, offering an alternative way to connect, celebrate and unwind.

The next Rise & Rave takes place at Circuit nightclub, York, on Sunday March 22 from 10am–12:30pm (arrival from 9:30am).

Tickets: £30 with discount code RAVE05MAR
Book: https://dennydivine.as.me/riseandrave

In a social media post, Ms O’Neill said: “The proposed £35 payment per household by the British government, while some people’s bills have doubled, is completely tone-deaf to the severity of this crisis.”

The Government’s proposed energy price intervention is “completely tone-deaf”, Northern Ireland’s First Minister has said.

Michelle O’Neill said she supports a call from Scotland’s First Minister, John Swinney, for an “urgent meeting” with Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer “on the need for action as energy costs spiral”.

Earlier this week, Sir Keir confirmed Northern Ireland will receive a £17 million share of a £53 million package in support of heating oil costs that have risen due to the war in the Middle East.

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Sinn Fein has said this would only equate to £35 per household using home heating oil in the region.

In a social media post, Ms O’Neill said: “The proposed £35 payment per household by the British government, while some people’s bills have doubled, is completely tone-deaf to the severity of this crisis.

“There must be immediate and meaningful action to support all workers and families.”

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