Need to know

Clarkson’s Farm Season 5 is back on Prime Video with Jeremy Clarkson facing fresh challenges at Diddly Squat Farm.

Everything you need to know about what day Clarkson’s Farm is on

1. Clarkson’s Farm Season 5 continues on Prime Video with episodes seven and eight dropping on June 17, following the first six episodes that aired on June 3 and June 10. New episodes drop each Wednesday, with the final two instalments airing this week.
2. Jeremy Clarkson admits he still struggles with basic farming tasks despite years of experience. “After six or seven years of farming, I still can’t attach anything to the back of a tractor,” he confessed. The former Top Gear host has faced major challenges this season, including a heart scare that forced him to make life at Diddly Squat less stressful.
3. Season 5 has also seen Clarkson participate in farmers’ protests against Inheritance Tax and create a Santa’s Grotto at The Farmer’s Dog pub. Executive producer Andy Wilman promises the final episodes will be “much heavier and more emotional than anything we’ve seen before.”
4. Upcoming episodes will feature high-tech farming equipment, Endgame the bull becoming a father, and chilli expert Tomas returning for a spicy pub dinner. Things are set to take a dark turn before the season ends, with the final two episodes expected to be particularly hard on Clarkson.
5. As for what time the episodes will drop, Prime Video tends to release new seasons at midnight Greenwich Mean Time, which is 1am British Summer Time. This is good news for fans because as soon as they wake up on the day of release, the final two episodes will be ready and waiting for them to binge.

READ THE FULL STORY: Clarkson’s Farm season 5 release time: What time are new episodes out?

The Bank Street project will see 11 supported accommodation units and six flats for social rent delivered by Cruden and forms part of North Lanarkshire Council’s ambitious new housing supply programme, which aims to deliver 6,000 new homes by 2035.

A new council housing development at a key site in Coatbridge is now underway.

The Bank Street project will see 11 supported accommodation units and six flats for social rent delivered by Cruden and forms part of North Lanarkshire Council’s ambitious new housing supply programme, which aims to deliver 6,000 new homes by 2035.

The derelict site, which formerly comprised shops, offices and a public house, all of which have since been demolished, is set to transform the gateway to the town centre.

The site, within the Coatbridge, Blairhill and Dunbeth Conservation Area, will see the proposed new-build design complement the area’s heritage while providing modern, energy-efficient housing.

Regeneration of this dilapidated site is in line with the Coatbridge Town Vision, bringing gap sites back into productive use and encouraging new housing provision within town-centre locations. The site will deliver much-needed homes for Coatbridge in the form of social-rented housing as well as supported accommodation.

Attending the sod-cutting ceremony were Convener of Housing, Councillor Michael McPake; Convener of Communities, Councillor Geraldine Woods; and Vice Convener of Housing, Councillor Andrew Bustard. They were joined by representatives from Cruden and the council’s housing team.

Councillor Michael McPake said: “I’m delighted this exciting new project is now underway, transforming a key site on the approach to Coatbridge town centre and providing more housing for the area.

“Our new supply programme is key to delivering transformational change, as set out in The Plan for North Lanarkshire, by providing affordable, modern homes while realising our vision of regenerating town centres and promoting town-centre living.”

The project is being delivered by Cruden and is expected to be completed by summer 2027.

Paul Doran, Development Director of Cruden Homes, said: “It’s great to mark the start of construction at Bank Street, which is another fantastic example of successful collaboration with our valued partners at North Lanarkshire Council. The development will transform this vacant town-centre site into high-quality, energy-efficient homes and play an important role in meeting local housing needs.

“We have also been engaging with local schools while construction is underway to create meaningful opportunities. This includes delivering workshops at Coatbridge High School aimed at inspiring the next generation to explore careers in construction and the built environment.”

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The United States and Iran have reached an interim deal aimed at ending the war and reopening the Strait of Hormuz.

There are plans for a signing of the deal on Friday in Switzerland. However, previous announcements fell through, and what the deal contained remained in dispute Monday.

Here’s a timeline of the tensions over Iran’s atomic program:

Early days

1967 — Iran takes possession of the Tehran Research Reactor supplied by America under the “Atoms for Peace” program.

1979 — U.S. ally Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, fatally ill, flees Iran as popular protests against him surge. Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini returns to Tehran and the Islamic Revolution sweeps him to power. Students seize the U.S. Embassy in Tehran, beginning the 444-day hostage crisis. Iran’s nuclear program goes fallow under international pressure.

August 2002 — Western intelligence services and an Iranian opposition group reveal Iran’s secret Natanz nuclear enrichment facility.

June 2003 — Britain, France and Germany engage Iran in nuclear negotiations.

October 2003 — Iran suspends uranium enrichment under international pressure.

February 2006 — Iran announces it will restart uranium enrichment following the election of hard-line President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. Britain, France and Germany walk out of stalled negotiations.

June 2009 — Iran’s disputed presidential election sees Ahmadinejad reelected despite fraud allegations, sparking protests known as the Green Movement and a violent government crackdown.

October 2009 — Under U.S. President Barack Obama, the U.S. and Iran open a secret back-channel for messages in the sultanate of Oman.

July 2012 — U.S. and Iranian officials hold secret face-to-face talks in Oman.

July 2015 — World powers and Iran announce a long-term, comprehensive nuclear agreement that limits Tehran’s enrichment of uranium in exchange for the lifting of economic sanctions.

The nuclear deal collapses

May 8, 2018 — U.S. President Donald Trump unilaterally withdraws the U.S. from the nuclear agreement, calling it the “worst deal ever.” He says he’ll get better terms in new negotiations to stop Iran’s missile development and support for regional militias. Those talks don’t happen in his first term.

Jan. 3, 2020 — A U.S. drone strike in Baghdad kills Gen. Qassem Soleimani, the architect of Tehran’s proxy wars in the Middle East.

Jan. 8, 2020 — In retaliation for Soleimani’s killing, Iran launches a barrage of missiles at military bases in Iraq that are home to thousands of American and Iraqi troops. More than 100 U.S. service members suffer traumatic brain injuries, according to the Pentagon. As Iran braces for a counterattack, the Revolutionary Guard shoots down a Ukrainian passenger plane shortly after takeoff from Tehran’s international airport, reportedly mistaking it for a U.S. cruise missile. All 176 people on board are killed.

July 2, 2020 — A mysterious explosion tears apart a centrifuge production plant at Iran’s Natanz nuclear enrichment facility. Iran blames the attack on Israel.

April 6, 2021 — Iran and the U.S. under President Joe Biden begin indirect negotiations in Vienna over how to restore the nuclear deal. Those talks, and others between Tehran and European nations, fail to reach any agreement.

April 11, 2021 — A second attack within a year targets Iran’s Natanz nuclear site, again likely carried out by Israel.

April 16, 2021 — Iran begins enriching uranium up to 60% — its highest purity ever and a technical step from weapons-grade levels of 90%.

Feb. 24, 2022 — Russia launches its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Moscow ultimately will come to rely on Iranian bomb-carrying drones in the conflict, as well as missiles.

July 17, 2022 — An adviser to Iran’s supreme leader, Kamal Kharrazi, says Iran is technically capable of making a nuclear bomb, but has not decided whether to build one.

Mideast wars rage

Oct. 7, 2023 — Hamas militants from the Gaza Strip storm into Israel, killing around 1,200 people and taking 251 others hostage, beginning the most intense war ever between Israel and Hamas. Iran, which has armed Hamas, offers support to the militants. Regional tensions spike.

Nov. 19, 2023 — Yemen’s Houthi rebels, long supported by Iran, seize the ship Galaxy Leader, beginning a monthslong campaign of attacks on shipping through the Red Sea corridor that the U.S. Navy describes as the most intense combat it has seen since World War II. The attacks mirror tactics earlier used by Iran.

April 14, 2024 — Iran launches an unprecedented direct attack on Israel, firing over 300 missiles and attack drones. Israel, working with a U.S.-led international coalition, intercepts much of the incoming fire.

April 19, 2024 — A suspected Israeli strike hits an air defense system by an airport in Isfahan, Iran.

July 31, 2024 — Ismail Haniyeh, a Hamas leader, is assassinated during a visit to Tehran after the inauguration of reformist President Masoud Pezeshkian. Israel later takes responsibility for the assassination.

Sept. 27, 2024 — An Israeli airstrike kills Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah in Lebanon.

Oct. 1, 2024 — Iran launches its second direct attack on Israel, though a U.S.-led coalition and Israel shoot down most of the missiles.

Oct. 16, 2024 — Israel kills Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar in the Gaza Strip.

Oct. 26, 2024 — Israel openly attacks Iran for the first time, striking air defense systems and sites associated with its missile program.

Trump returns and reaches out

Jan. 20, 2025 — Trump is inaugurated for his second term as president.

Feb. 7, 2025 — Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei says proposed talks with the U.S. are “not intelligent, wise or honorable.”

March 7, 2025 — Trump says he sent a letter to Khamenei seeking a new nuclear deal with Tehran.

March 15, 2025 — Trump launches intense airstrikes targeting Houthi rebels in Yemen, the last members of Iran’s self-described “Axis of Resistance” capable of daily attacks.

April 7, 2025 — Trump announces the U.S. and Iran will hold direct talks in Oman. Iran says they’ll be indirect talks.

April 12, 2025 — The first round of talks between Iran and the U.S. take place in Oman, ending with a promise to hold more talks after U.S. Mideast envoy Steve Witkoff and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi “briefly spoke” together.

April 19, 2025 — The second round of talks between the U.S. and Iran are held in Rome.

April 26, 2025 — Iran and the U.S. meet in Oman a third time, but the negotiations include talks at the expert level for the first time.

May 11, 2025 — Iran and the U.S. meet in Oman for a fourth round of negotiations ahead of Trump’s trip to the Mideast.

May 23, 2025 — Iran and the U.S. meet in Rome for a fifth round of talks, with Oman saying the negotiations made “some but not conclusive progress.”

The Iran-Israel war begins

June 9, 2025 — Iran signals it won’t accept a U.S. proposal over the nuclear program.

June 12, 2025 — The Board of Governors at the International Atomic Energy Agency finds Iran in noncompliance with its nuclear obligations. Iran responds by announcing it has built and will activate a third nuclear enrichment facility.

June 13, 2025 — Israel launches its war against Iran. Over 12 days, it hits nuclear and military sites, as well as other government installations.

June 22, 2025 — The U.S. intervenes in the war, attacking three Iranian nuclear sites.

June 23, 2025 — Iran responds to the U.S. attack by targeting a military base in Qatar used by American troops, causing limited damage.

June 24, 2025 — Trump announces a ceasefire in the war.

July 25, 2025 — Iranian and European diplomats hold talks in Istanbul over Iran’s nuclear program.

Aug. 8, 2025 — France, Germany and the United Kingdom warn Iran in a letter that it will reimplement U.N. sanctions if there is no “satisfactory solution” to the nuclear standoff by Aug. 31.

Aug. 28, 2025 — France, Germany and the United Kingdom say they’ve started the process to “snapback” U.N. sanctions on Iran.

Sept. 9, 2025 — Iran and the International Atomic Energy Agency reach a deal over potentially starting inspections, but questions remain over its implementation.

Sept. 19, 2025 — U.N. Security Council declines to stop “snapback” sanctions on Iran.

Sept. 26, 2025 — U.N. Security Council rejects China and Russia’s last-minute effort to stop “snapback.”

Sept. 28, 2025 — U.N. reimposes “snapback” sanctions on Iran barring any last-minute diplomacy.

New protests roil Iran

Dec. 28, 2025: Protests break out in two major markets in downtown Tehran after the Iranian rial plunges to a record low — 1.42 million rials to one U.S. dollar — compounding inflationary pressure and pushing up the prices of food and other daily necessities.

Jan. 3, 2026: Khamenei says “rioters must be put in their place,” in what is seen as a green light for security forces to begin more aggressively putting down the demonstrations.

Jan. 8, 2026: Following a call from Iran’s exiled crown prince, a mass of people shout from their windows and take to the streets in nationwide protests. The government responds by blocking the internet and international telephone calls to cut off the country from outside influence. An ensuing security force crackdown kills thousands and sees tens of thousands detained.

Jan. 13, 2026: Trump says he has called off any meetings with the Iranians and promises that unspecified “help is on its way.”

Jan. 26, 2026: The aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln and three accompanying warships arrive in the Middle East amid Trump’s threats to attack.

Feb. 3, 2026: A U.S. Navy fighter jet shoots down an Iranian drone approaching the Lincoln in the Arabian Sea. Iranian fast-attack boats attempt to stop a U.S.-flagged ship in the Strait of Hormuz.

Feb. 6, 2026: Iran and the U.S. hold indirect nuclear talks in Oman, with the head of the U.S. military’s Central Command also coming.

Feb. 17, 2026: Iran and the U.S. hold talks in Geneva while Tehran says it has temporarily closed the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow mouth of the Persian Gulf through which a fifth of all oil traded passes.

Feb. 26, 2026: Iran and the U.S. hold another round of talks in Geneva as America assembles the largest fleet of warplanes and aircraft in the Mideast in decades.

The Iran war

Feb. 28, 2026: Israel and the United States launch a war on Iran, killing Khamenei in the conflict’s first moments.

March 9, 2026: Iran names Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, the late supreme leader’s son, as country’s new paramount ruler.

April 7, 2026: A fragile ceasefire in the Iran war is announced, with talks to continue. Israel is not included in negotiations.

April 8, 2026: Israel bombards Lebanon’s capital, Beirut, killing over 300 people in a 10-minute attack.

April 11, 2026: U.S. Vice President JD Vance leads an American delegation to Islamabad, meeting with Iranian team led by parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, the highest-level direct talks between the two nations since the 1979 Islamic Revolution. The talks end after 21 hours without a deal.

May 31, 2026: Israel’s ground invasion of Lebanon makes its deepest incursion in over a quarter century.

June 15, 2026: The United States and Iran reach an initial agreement to open the Strait of Hormuz and further extend a shaky ceasefire in the Iran war.

Alliance Learning, based at Horwich Business Park on Chorley New Road, was founded back in 1966 and has been seen thousands of learners pass through its doors ever since.

Having been ranked “good” across all areas in its most recent Ofsted inspection in June 2024, Alliance Learning now employs more than 50 people, having started with just five.

Chief executive officer Dave Haslam said: “Our 60th anniversary is more than a milestone, it is a celebration of every learner, educator, partner, and employer who has been part of our journey.”

“For six decades, we have believed that learning changes lives.

Staff and learners are celebrating the milestone year (Image: University of Greater Manchester)

“That belief continues to drive everything we do as we look toward the future.”

 The anniversary year has and will feature a series of events, alumni spotlights, and partner collaborations designed to honour the organisation’s legacy while inspiring the next generation of learners.

 As part of the University of Greater Manchester, formerly known as the University of Bolton, group Alliance Learning had more than 300 learners at the time of its last inspection.

Generations of people have honed their skills with Alliance Learning (Image: University of Greater Manchester)

More than half of those learners have been between 16 and 18 years old.

It has been providing apprentices with training in engineering, administration and business management for around 150 employers, mainly based in the North West.

Staff and learners are now planning several ways of marking its milestone year.

Alliance Learning has taught skills to generations of people over 60 years (Image: University of Greater Manchester)

This will feature a series of events, alumni spotlights, and partner collaborations designed to honour the organisation’s legacy while inspiring the next generation of learners.

Anniversary events will also include special celebrations to recognise long-serving staff and showcase learner success stories.

The celebrations will aim to highlight the contributions of employers and community partners who have supported Alliance Learning over the decades.

Leading figures at the group say that as industries evolve and technology changes they hope to stay at the forefront of innovation, inclusion, and opportunity.

Alliance Learning operations executive officer Jonathan Wetherby said: “Education is not just about gaining knowledge, it is about building confidence, creating opportunities, and strengthening communities.

“As we celebrate 60 years, we are also looking ahead with excitement and ambition for what the future holds.”

Lucy and Paul had everything in the UK with a cushy life – but say life in Bali is so much better they will never come back

A family has left the UK for good to raise their children in Bali in a home with no windows or doors. Lucy Argent and husband Paul say they had a good life in the UK – but wanted more for their children and ‘felt stuck in the same routine.

Lucy, 41, and Paul, 36, have turned their Cambridgeshire home into an Airbnb and have moved into a ‘shack’ in Baliu with their three children – seven-year-old Amaya, six-year-old Roo and four-year-old Lela.

Now, they say life is so sweet that they can’t seem themselves ever returning to their home country – even if it means sacrificing…walls. “We won’t ever live in the UK again,” said Lucy, who owned beauty salons prior to the move, while Paul worked as a builder.

“We had a nice life in the UK – a beautiful house, great careers, we made good money and had achieved everything. But we felt like we weren’t living. I had my third baby and thought ‘How can this be my life for the next 30 years?’

“There had to be more to life than just surviving. Now, we are outside all the time, the TV is barely on and we’re a lot more active because of the weather. It’s a fraction of the cost to live here, and we don’t have to work a 9-5. The children are thriving in this environment.”

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Lucy, who moved to Bali two years ago, has been documenting their new lives on TikTok, where she has amassed over 100,000 followers. A recent post went viral with over half a million views, where she gave an insight into their unusual home, which is largely open to the outdoors.

She said: “The villa that we live in has no windows or doors. They’re kind of overrated here, really. We have these little roller blinds that come down, so when it rains heavily the inside is protected from the elements.

“But we’ve gotten used to having no windows or doors.” Outside, they have a swimming pool and garden, with the villa wrapping around the space.

Much of it has no windows or doors – with their living room almost totally outside, overlooking the pool. Lucy added: “It’s very nice – it’s a social villa and we love that it’s all open plan.”

Despite being largely open, the home has air conditioning and fans to keep things cool, and they use incense to keep the mosquitos at bay. Meanwhile their bedroom has a tall, traditional ceiling with Lucy jokes is likely home to “a few animals”, and their bathroom is outdoors, too – though still private.

Lucy said: “It was very, very strange for us when we first arrived in Bali. But we’ve lived here for over a year now, and this is pretty normal. And when we move on – if we are ever lucky enough to build our own villa – we would design it like this, with the outdoor space and open-plan, open living, no windows and doors situation.

“We thought we would want something modern and aesthetic, but since living here we would absolutely more go down the traditional route – it’s so perfect for families.”

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…