This week, football on ITV1 impacts the usual TV slots for the two soaps, which regularly get moved around for matches.

Here’s what we know about the changes and which episodes the TV schedule shake-up affects.

Emmerdale and Coronation Street to see schedule changes due to World Cup this week

On Monday, June 15, soap fans can watch Emmerdale at its usual time of 8pm, but the episode will last an hour instead of 30 minutes, meaning Coronation Street will follow from 9pm until 10pm, as it also gets a longer episode.

This is also the case on Tuesday, June 16, however, on Wednesday and Thursday (June 17 and 18), there will be no episodes on ITV1 as back-to-back World Cup matches take over.

Emmerdale and Corrie are back to their usual 30-minute slots on Friday, June 19 at 8pm and 8.30pm respectively.

Over the course of this week, the schedule changes mean that Emmerdale and Corrie will still have the same amount of soaps to watch, but they are split differently.

Normally, you can expect 5x 30-minute episodes of each soap.

EastEnders will also see some schedule changes throughout the week due to the BBC’s World Cup coverage.

Do you remember these emotional Coronation Street plots?

Have you noticed ITV’s new scheduling this year?

From January 2026, the broadcaster introduced a “soaps power hour” on weekdays with 30-minute Emmerdale episodes at 8pm and 30-minute Coronation Street episodes at 8.30pm.

Coronation Street previously aired three hour-long episodes a week, while Emmerdale aired four 30-minute episodes and one hour-long instalment.

Do you think it’s fair for the soaps to be moved while football is on? Tell us in the comments below.

Dave Hammond (Image: NQ)

Complaints have been raised about grass verges and green spaces around Over Hulton being left untidy.

When raised, the council said that the grass-cutting service had been stopped – for now – due the weather.

And in Over Hulton one community-minded resident decided to cut the grass himself.

David Hammond, a gardener from Over Hulton, said he had spent time cutting grass himself after becoming frustrated with its condition.

The 41-year-old said: “I’m just sick of looking at it, really.

“It can make someone’s day by having the grass cut, and there are a few locals who seem to think it’s good.

“I’ve seen an email knocking around saying due to weather they can’t come out and cut, when there’s a private firm that does Cutacre when the sun or when it rains.

(Image: David Hammond)

“It’s not really much of a barrier. I go in all weathers and just crack on with it really.”

Residents have pointed to several locations where they believe grass has been allowed to grow too long in recent weeks.

Mr Hammond said he had seen references to weather-related delays but questioned whether other factors could also be involved.

He added: “I think they’re trying to put it down to the weather, but I’ve got a feeling it’s coming down to budget as well.

“I try to keep it nice and tidy for everyone. If it gets overgrown it starts to look tatty.

“Nothing really to it, I like a neat garden.”

(Image: John Bullen)

Another resident said community volunteers had worked hard to improve the appearance of the area and were disappointed by the condition of some grassed areas.

John Bullen, from Over Hulton, said: “I’ve never seen Over Hulton look scruffy.

“Our community group are working really hard to make Over Hulton look beautiful and we’re not getting any assistance since mowing the grass.”

Mr Bullen said he believed recent weather conditions did not fully explain the situation, saying it’s just usual Mancunian weather.

He added: “We’ve not had inclement weather. We’ve had typically English weather.

(Image: John Bullen)

“I really don’t see how it could have caused a problem. There’s nothing about when they’ll start up again. It’s worrying and ridiculous. We’re all upset.”

A Bolton Council spokesperson said: “The recent mix of rain and sun is perfect for grass and weeds to grow faster than normal.

“Plus, the rain has disrupted our scheduled grass cutting and weed treatments.

“Please bear with us, as we’re working hard to catch up. 

“You can let us know about an area that needs attention.”

President Donald Trump is set to arrive in France on Monday for a G7 summit, where he will meet with a diverse group of world leaders who share at least one common experience: all have either been the target of his ire or have navigated profoundly awkward diplomatic encounters with the U.S. leader.

Several G7 leaders have faced Trump’s wrath for questioning his chosen war with Iran.

Others have clashed with him over tariffs. The leaders of Japan and Germany, in particular, have endured clumsy asides from Trump regarding dark moments in their countries’ histories.

During three days of talks in the picturesque French Alps, the leaders are expected to discuss the newly forged agreement aimed at ending the Iran war, Chinese trade policy, and Russia’s ongoing war in Ukraine.

The summit also presents an opportunity for these leaders to reassess their relationships with Trump at a time when he appears more determined than ever to pursue a unilateral path on matters of global consequence.

The dynamics of the summit have been likened to a family holiday gathering where “there’s an uncle you don’t quite like,” according to Max Bergmann, an analyst at the Center for Strategic and International Studies.

“And no one wants to have a confrontation, even if things get quite passive-aggressive at times,” Bergmann added. “But, you know, there’s always the possibility that things might snap, and it might get rather dramatic.”

Below is a look at notable moments of public friction and uncomfortable exchanges between Trump and his fellow G7 leaders.

Starmer is no Churchill in Trump’s eyes

Trump’s criticism of British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has centered on the United Kingdom’s reluctance to assist U.S. military strikes on Iran, British immigration policies, and the country’s renewable energy strategies.

His most cutting jab came after the Labour Party leader initially declined to allow U.S. military jets to use a British base in the Indian Ocean for the bombardment of Iran.

“This is not Winston Churchill that we’re dealing with,” Trump said of Starmer, unfavorably comparing him to Britain’s revered World War II-era prime minister.

In the early days of the Iran war, Trump tore into the prime minister after the U.K. placed the aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales on advanced readiness status for potential deployment to the Middle East.

“We don’t need people that join Wars after we’ve already won!” Trump posted on social media.

The prime minister Trump likes to call governor

Trump has frequently fumed about trade imbalances with Canada, often opining about annexing the country and making it the “51st state.”

He has also taken to referring to Prime Minister Mark Carney as “governor.”

His sharpest rhetoric toward the leader of America’s northern neighbor came after Carney, at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, condemned coercion by great powers on smaller countries without explicitly naming Trump.

“Canada lives because of the United States,” Trump declared in his own remarks at Davos. “Remember that, Mark, the next time you make your statements.”

Carney has attempted to remain even-keeled in response to Trump’s jabs, telling reporters earlier this month that Trump was an “exceptionally active user of social media” and that he would not respond to every post.

Trump mocks Macron’s marriage and questions France’s reliability

During an Easter lunch at the White House in April, Trump criticized France and other NATO countries’ resistance to assisting the U.S.-Israel war against Iran.

Amid the aside, Trump referenced viral footage from the previous year showing Macron’s wife, Brigitte, appearing to push the French president’s face away as they disembarked a plane during a visit to Vietnam.

Trump told the audience that Brigitte treats Macron “extremely badly” and claimed the French president was “still recovering from the right to the jaw.”

Macron later told reporters that the couple had simply been joking and described Trump’s comments as “neither elegant nor appropriate.”

Trump regularly regales audiences with his prowess as a dealmaker by recounting conversations he has had with Macron about trade irritants, mimicking Macron’s responses in an exaggerated accent. In Trump’s retelling, Macron always quickly capitulates.

The conservative premier Trump suggests lacks courage

Until recently, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni had been held in high regard by Trump.

In October, Trump was effusive in his praise of the conservative premier when world leaders gathered in Egypt for a summit to discuss post-war Gaza, calling her “a very successful, very successful politician” and “beautiful.”

However, Trump has since changed his tune as Italy declined to assist the United States in the war against Iran and after the premier chastised Trump for feuding with Pope Leo XIV about the conflict.

“Do people like her? I can’t believe it,” Trump said of Meloni to Milan newspaper Corriere della Sera. He added: “I thought she had courage. I was wrong.”

An awkward historical reference in the Oval Office

Trump has not offered any direct criticism of Japan’s Sanae Takaichi since she took office in October. However, some of his commentary during Takaichi’s first White House visit left the prime minister in an awkward position.

When asked by a Japanese reporter why he didn’t inform allies in Europe and Asia before the U.S. attacked Iran, Trump casually invoked Pearl Harbor to defend his decision.

“Who knows better about surprise than Japan?” Trump said with Takaichi by his side. “Why didn’t you tell me about Pearl Harbor, OK?”

Trump’s remark surprised many in Japan, who had grown accustomed to American presidents avoiding harsh discussion of Japan’s surprise strike on the U.S. Pacific Fleet in Hawaii that drew the U.S. into World War II.

His predecessors have instead focused on deepening ties with Japan, which became an ally after the war.

Takaichi, a hard-line conservative, received a mix of praise and criticism at home for not reacting to Trump’s comments, letting them pass with a glance at her ministers seated nearby.

Chancellor’s Iran war criticism infuriated Trump

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz set off Trump in April when he posited the U.S. was “being humiliated” by Iran and criticized the U.S. for entering the war without any strategy, arguing that this also made it harder to end the conflict.

Trump hit back on social media the following day, stating Merz “should spend more time on ending the war with Russia/Ukraine” and “fixing his broken Country, especially Immigration and Energy.”

Days later, the Pentagon announced it would pull some 5,000 U.S. troops out of Germany, and Trump hinted he would look to cut the U.S. military presence “a lot further.”

Trump also had an awkward exchange with Merz when the chancellor visited the White House last year on the eve of the solemn anniversary of D-Day, the start of Allied operations that led to the liberation of Western Europe, the defeat of Nazi Germany, and the end of World War II.

Merz noted the anniversary while arguing that the U.S. was once again in a position to help end a conflict with enormous stakes for Europe — Russia’s war against Ukraine — when Trump interjected that D-Day was “not a pleasant day for you.”

The chancellor reminded Trump that the day also marked the beginning of “the liberation of my country from Nazi dictatorship.” Trump acknowledged that Merz had a point.

The stepson of Norway’s Crown Prince Haakon was sentenced to four years in prison by an Oslo court on Monday.

Marius Borg Hoiby, 29, who joined the royal family when his mother, Mette-Marit, married Haakon in 2001, was found guilty of two counts of rape, one count of domestic violence and other crimes, but was acquitted on two other accounts of rape.

He had pleaded not guilty to the most severe accusations against him, including those of rape, while admitting to some lesser ones, and can appeal the verdict.

Prosecutors had asked that Hoiby be sentenced to seven years and seven months of prison.

The seven-week trial gripped the Nordic country, detailing Hoiby’s drug addiction, self-made videos of sexual encounters and more than 800 electronic messages entered into evidence.

One alleged rape took place in the basement of the crown prince’s family home, the court heard.

This is a breaking news story, more to follow…

The draw will be subject in the first instance to the avoidance of repeat Provincial

Final pairings and, where possible, repeat pairings from Round 1 and the following pairings cannot occur: Donegal v Kerry, Armagh v Monaghan, Westmeath v Dublin and Mayo v Monaghan.

A separate draw will be held to determine which team has home venue.

Pot 1: Donegal, Armagh, Westmeath, Mayo

Pot 2: Monaghan, Kerry, Meath, Dublin

THERE is much talk of making 20mph a mandatory speed limit in all built up areas in England.

Perhaps as an experiment they should try out the reduced limit on roundabouts and road junctions.

When I first started driving I was instructed to expect to stop and give way on roundabouts and junctions, the modern way appears to be approach the junctions at speed anticipating traffic and expecting to force your way in.

How traffic and the way we drive has changed – not for the better I might add.

D M Deamer,

Penleys Grove Street,

Monkgate,

York

—

Why Government’s new-homes target will not be met

I WAS interested to read recently that the Government’s target of 1.5million new homes by 2029 will not be met, with the industry predicting a shortfall of 400,000 homes.

Apparently, major housebuilding companies are reducing their land purchases due to a cooling market and increased regulatory costs, and planning applications have hit a ten year low.

This all reminds me of the warnings that myself and Matthew Laverack gave York Council 20 years ago; that demanding too many affordable homes from private housebuilders would deter them from building and put many out of business.

This subsequently resulted in record low outturn and planning permissions, and now we only have Barratt and Persimmon left building in York, with all the small housebuilders all but gone.

The moral of the story is that politicians in Government and councils do not listen. They impose greedy unworkable regulations which ultimately ends in disaster.

The housebuilding industry is structurally broken, and over-regulation by politicians who do not listen, is to blame.

Paul S Cordock,

Durlston Drive,

Strensall, York

—

Keep cats and lilies apart

JUNE brings the lily bloom – and for cats, a potentially deadly threat that guardians must note.

Every part of a lily – petals, leaves, pollen, and even vase water – is highly toxic to cats.

Even brushing past a flower and grooming pollen from their fur can expose them to a poison that attacks the kidneys, and kidney failure can occur around 24 to 72 hours after ingestion.

If you suspect a cat has come into contact with lilies and you notice symptoms such as an upset stomach, loss of appetite, vomiting, dehydration, lethargy, increased urination, or increased thirst, get to a vet immediately.

The safest advice is simple: if you live with a cat, don’t bring lilies into your home.

Elisa Allen,

Vice President of Programmes,

PETA,

Society Building,

All Saints St,

London

The Premier League champions are exploring a deal for Christos Tzolis but face competition from Liverpool for Bradley Barcola, who could leave Paris Saint-Germain this summer. Man United, meanwhile, are closing in on the signing of Ederson with the midfielder reportedly undergoing a medical for his £34.9million move. A deal for Mateus Fernandes, though, looks less likely with West Ham standing firm on their £80m asking price stance they are not under any pressure to sell.

OnlyFans has “strict onboarding processes, payment controls and ongoing account moderation”, the company spokesperson says. If concerns about an account are raised, OnlyFans will immediately restrict the account, investigate, and take action to ensure the creator is in control of their account, they added.

I’ve read 13 books so far in 2026, and eight of them were penned by Irish authors — here is how they ranked

I’ve managed to get through 13 books this year, which feels like a decent tally given I’m juggling life with a baby and a toddler. Eight of those titles came from Irish writers.

To be honest, I could have written three entirely different versions of this article, as the top three were neck and neck.

The eight books in contention were May All Your Skies Be Blue by Fíonna Scarlett, Everything that is Beautiful (Louise Nealon), Show Me Where It Hurts (Claire Gleeson), Thirst Trap (Gráinne O’Hare), Heart, Be At Peace (Donal Ryan), The Nowhere Girls (Carmel Harrington), So Late in the Day (Claire Keegan) and Foster (also Claire Keegan).

As is often the case with literary fiction from Irish writers, every single one of these books delivered. Glancing back through my reading diary, I notice they all earned a minimum of seven out of 10.

So have a look below to discover which one claimed the top spot.

8. Foster

You simply can’t go wrong with a Claire Keegan book and the only reason why this is at number eight is because I enjoyed So Late in the Day more.

But Foster, about a little girl who spends a summer in Kinsellas’ home, is beautifully told, and you would have to have a cold heart if the final few pages did not have an impact on you emotionally.

This is a short read, with just 88 pages, so if you were wanting something quick and powerful to get you back into reading, this is a great option.

7. The Nowhere Girls

This was the first time I had the pleasure of reading a Carmel Harrington book — and it won’t be the last.

The Nowhere GIrls hooked me in from the moment I read the blurb in Easons which started with: “On a cold afternoon in December 1995, two young girls are found abandoned on a platform at Pearse Station in Dublin.”

It then explains that the main character, Vega, is an investigative journalist who wants to find out what happened to the ‘Nowhere Girls’.

The short prologue immediately grabs your attention and from there the clever book stays consistent throughout with snappy short chapters that make you want to keep reading until the end.

6. Heart, Be At Peace

Donal Ryan is an exceptional talent and you know he is gifted when John Boyne refers to him as the “greatest current Irish writer”.

This perhaps deserves to be higher on the list, especially given that it was the winner of the Irish Book of the Year by An Post in 2024.

The book gives a stark insight into dark troubles plaguing a town in rural Ireland — and it is told from the perspectives of many different characters living there.

If you wanted a glimpse into what modern Ireland looks like, this is a sharp portrait of the good, bad and the ugly.

5. So Late in the Day

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Claire Keegan’s So Late in the Day is perfect for anyone experiencing a reading slump.

As many will know, Claire is the master of short stories, and this tale is about Cathal, a thoroughly unremarkable and misogynistic man who is travelling home from his Dublin office after work, will have a devastating impact on you, despite being just 47 pages long.

If you fancy reading a book in one sitting, which will leave you questioning how so much can be said in so few words, add this to your list.

And a side note, if you had time afterwards, Dua Lipa’s recent interview with Claire on her Service95 platform, where the talented pair discuss the themes of the book, is well worth a listen.

4. Thirst Trap

I wanted to mention Thirst Trap by Gráinne O’Hara as high up as possible because the characters (Harley in particular) were just so so good.

It tells the story of three women housesharing in Belfast who are still grieving the death of their friend.

Although it is heartbreaking at times, the humour in it was unrivalled, and it was a binge-worthy and chaotic read that I could easily envisage being told in an absorbing TV adaptation one day.

3. Show Me Where It Hurts

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On another day, this would have been number one, and I actually scored it 10/10 in my diary, so it is perhaps unfair that it wasn’t.

I found it by chance, and it was a spontaneous purchase, because I had just bought another book minutes before, again in Dublin Airport, this time on a separate work trip.

I read the back of the book in WH Smith, and instantly knew I had to buy it, and it was absolutely incredible.

For those intrigued, the blurb reads: “Rachel lives with her husband Tom and their two children: it’s the ordinary family life she always thought she’d have. All of that changes in an instant — when Tom runs the family car off the road, seeking to end his own life, and take his wife and children with him.

“Suddenly Rachel is left poring over the wreckage to try and understand what happened — to find a way to go on living afterwards.”

If you are in the mood for something to pull at your heartstrings, this one is certainly for you.

2. Everything that is Beautiful

This easily could have been number one — and it was another story that genuinely stayed with me.

Lousie Nealon, along with perhaps John Boyne, could well be my favourite Irish author at the moment, and her debut novel Snowflake was up there with one of the best I’ve read, similar to how I felt reading Close to Home by Michael Magee.

My expectations for her second novel, published this year, could not have been higher — and I remember exactly where I was when I got to the end of chapter one.

I was in Dublin Airport waiting for a flight, and having excitedly purchased Louise’s book earlier that morning, I knew I was in for another rollercoaster journey, after an early twist that felt like a punch to the gut.

This book, which tells the story of Niamh Ryan and her relationship with the Foley family, was masterful.

As you can tell by now, I don’t like giving too much detail away, but this is a rare book that I will eventually read again, and likely one I will recommend to my children too when they are older.

1. May All Your Skies Be Blue

I was impressed by Fíonna Scarlett’s debut book (Boys Don’t Cry) so I was eager to buy May All Your Skies Be Blue, which was the first book I read in 2026.

The emotive story, which has split chapters from a period in the summer of 1991 to present day, explores the beautiful and heartbreaking friendship between Shauna and Dean across 30 years.

It is set in a working-class area of Dublin, which the author calls The Green, and like Fíonna’s previous novel, the characters are enthralling and utterly believable, while the dialogue is full of brilliant and bold Irish humour.

As I hinted at earlier, I struggled to separate this book from my two other favourites, which were Everything that is Beautiful and Show Me Where It Hurts.

However, the one deciding factor was how I felt after reading the final page of May All Your Skies Be Blue. At the time, I remember getting chills, and immediately felt a desire to recommend the book to others.

Having read the final page once again just now, the chills came back, and this was the book that stayed with me long after I finished.

We know the Irish enjoy punching above their weight, whether that’s Katie Taylor in the ring, or Jessie Buckley at the Oscars, but the same can be said for our authors, who have a natural knack for remarkable story-telling.

Josh Hokit made the controversial statement after winning his bout at the UFC Freedom 250 event hosted by US President Donald Trump on the White House South Lawn

A UFC fighter seized the microphone following his bout to brazenly declare ‘Michelle Obama is a man’.

Josh Hokit claimed victory at the UFC Freedom 250 event on Sunday night, held on the White House South Lawn and hosted by US President Donald Trump.

Riding high on his win, he then used his moment in the spotlight to make the shocking outburst.

Hokit had faced fellow heavyweight Derrick Lewis at the event, before sitting down for a post-fight interview with Joe Rogan.

Rounding off the interview, he declared: “Michelle Obama is a man. Am I right, America?”

Footage circulating online captured mixed reactions from the crowd, with some seen laughing while others appeared visibly taken aback by the remarks.

Rogan chose not to respond to the comments, simply announcing: “Ladies and gentlemen, Josh Hokit.”

Hokit also made his way over to Trump, draping a chain around the president’s neck.

Earlier in the evening, Brazilian fighter Mauricio Ruffy delivered a stunning knockout before pulling off a surprise wedding proposal.

Following his defeat of Michael Chandler, Ruffy dropped to one knee and proposed to his girlfriend, Nadine.

She responded with a thumbs up.

Meanwhile, US Park Police said in a statement that UFC middleweight champion Sean Strickland’s presence at the Ellipse drew enough attention from attendees that it resulted in disorder.

He wasn’t cited or arrested, they said. Instead, he was taken to his hotel and told not to come back to the venue.

Earlier in the day, Strickland was escorted barefoot out of the White House Ellipse area, where thousands of ticketed fans congregated to watch the fights.

Boxing legend Tyson Fury made a surprise appearance at the event, joining Trump, First Lady Melania Trump and a host of MAGA royalty.

Fury made his entrance after the second fight of the night, walking out to the Kings of Leon hit ‘Sex on Fire’ in a matching blazer and pants with his ‘Gypsy King’ logo printed in gold across the design.

The most eye-catching piece of his attire was his cap which featured a particularly bold message of support for the President. “Donald Trump for Prime Minister,” it ready alongside an embroidered British flag. The slogan was a nod to Trump’s signature red “Make America Great Again” caps.