The new season of Clarkson’s Farm revealed the Top Gear star is losing money from his Diddly Squat project, but how much did he pay for it initially?

He famously only made £144 profit in his first year of farming.

Jeremy Clarkson is back on screens with a fifth season of Clarkson’s Farm, which premiered last week and will return with two more episodes on Wednesday, 10th June.

In the latest instalment of Prime Video’s hit series, Jeremy takes farming to the next level with an awe-inspiring self-driving tractor which even Kaleb Cooper reluctantly admitted was rather impressive.

However, despite his pub The Farmer’s Dog being fully booked every day, Jeremy is still struggling to turn a profit and recorded a loss of more than £8000.

But how much money is the entire project bringing in and how much did Jeremy pay for the farm initially?

Let’s take a look at fans’ burning financial questions ahead of Clarkson’s Farm returning for episodes five and six later this week.

How much did Jeremy Clarkson pay for Diddly Squat?

Although the series started in 2021, Jeremy has actually owned Diddly Squat Farm since 2008.

According to the Daily Mail, he bought it for an eye-watering sum of £4.45 million.

The 1000-acre Cotswolds farm was originally known as Curdle Hill Farm before Jeremy renamed it to reflect his prediction for how much his latest project would earn.

He told The Times about his surprising purchase: “Land is a better investment than any bank can offer. The Government doesn’t get any of my money when I die. And the price of the food that I grow can only go up.”

Jeremy didn’t go full-time on the farm until 2019, however, after former manager Howard Pauling had retired.

How much is Diddly Squat worth now?

Diddly Squat Farm has steadily increased in value since its original purchase in 2008, partly thanks to the luxurious six-bedroom mansion built on the site of the demolished previous home.

All in all, the farm is currently estimated to be worth a staggering £12.5 million, which also includes the land, the farm shop and the café.

Meanwhile, The Farmer’s Dog pub was bought by Jeremy in 2023 for £1 million.

Although it’s unclear how much Jeremy’s refurbishments have increased the pub’s worth, they sadly reported a loss of £8,486 in its first four months of trading.

Jeremy and the cast and crew earn most of their money from their salaries for producing the show, which are kept under wraps.

Reports from 2024 indicated the farm’s assets are worth around £1.43 million, though its profits are usually in the low hundreds if they make any at all.

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“I could sell the farm and earn far more from the interest than I do from growing bread and beer and vegetable oil,” Jeremy admitted.

“But I like having it and for very good reasons, there are no death duties on farmland. So my children like me having it too.”

Clarkson’s Farm season 5 continues Wednesday on Prime Video.

Bellingham missed just 29 minutes of England’s Euro 2024 campaign, starting all seven matches, but his fortunes have changed under Gareth Southgate’s replacement.

The 22-year-old missed two qualifying matches last September because of a shoulder injury but was overlooked for October’s international camp, including a qualifier against Latvia.

He returned to the squad in November but was forced to miss friendlies in March with a persistent hamstring issue.

His relationship with Tuchel has frequently come under scrutiny, with the manager describing Bellingham’s on-field behaviour during last June’s defeat by Senegal as “repulsive” – a remark Tuchel later apologised for.

In November, Tuchel said he would “review” Bellingham’s behaviour following his reaction to being substituted during a qualifier against Albania.

However, he was impressed with Bellingham’s performance in Saturday’s World Cup warm-up match against New Zealand in Tampa, believing he has hit a “sweet spot” heading into the tournament.

Bellingham took the captain’s armband after coming on at half-time in the 1-0 win.

“You can see Jude has for sure the decisiveness and bite,” Tuchel said. “This is his key characteristic, but you can see that he comes from an injury and is full of energy and happy to be back on the pitch.

“He had his break, unfortunately, in a decisive part of the season, the Champions League season and campaign for the championship in Spain, so this was very unfortunate for Real Madrid and for him personally.

“But you can see now that he is actually in a sweet spot. He comes back, he’s fresh, he wants to play and he’s in top shape.”

South Korean stocks nosedived more than 8 percent Monday, extending their losing streak to a third consecutive session, as investors dumped market heavyweights on renewed woes over artificial intelligence (AI) profitability and concerns over a possible hawkish pivot of the U.S. Federal Reserve.

The local currency rose against the U.S. dollar after opening at a 17-year low, in the face of verbal intervention by financial authorities.

The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) plunged 676.18 points, or 8.29 percent, to close at 7,484.41, after falling as low as 7,442.73. The secondary KOSDAQ index sank more than 9 percent to end at 911.39.

The KOSPI’s trade volume was heavy at 448.3 million shares worth 47.8 trillion won (US$31.2 billion), with losers sharply outnumbering winners 873 to 42. Foreigners and institutions dumped local shares worth 355.5 billion won and 1.6 trillion won, respectively, while retail investors scooped up 1.76 trillion won.

The Monday crash was largely anticipated on sharp losses on Wall Street last week, fueled by semiconductor shares’ biggest daily percentage drop since March 2020 and fears over a possible rate hike by the Fed sparked by a hotter-than-expected U.S. jobs report for May.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed 1.35 percent lower Friday (local time), while the S&P 500 dipped 2.64 percent and the tech-heavy Nasdaq composite slid 4.18 percent.

Major U.S. chip shares sharply lost ground, with Nvidia slumping 6.2 percent, Broadcom contracting 7.92 percent and Micron shooting down 13.25 percent.

The Korea Exchange (KRX) had activated a circuit breaker for the KOSPI about three minutes after opening, halting trading for 20 minutes, and implemented a consecutive sell-side sidecar at around 9:34 a.m.

The KRX had also issued a sell-side sidecar for the secondary KOSDAQ market about six minutes after opening, suspending trading for five minutes, and activated a circuit breaker for the index later in the day after the KOSDAQ fell by more than 8 percent.

“Today’s pullback appears to be driven not by the weakening of market fundamentals, but by profit-taking sentiment among investors, mainly targeted at the semiconductor sector, as the market reacted more sensitively to negative developments after an extended rally of chip shares,” a report by Samsung Securities said.

The KOSPI has been one of the best performing stock indexes across the world in recent months, surging to near the unprecedented 9,000-point mark on Tuesday last week from the 5,000-point level earlier this year, mainly driven by major semiconductor shares, including Samsung Electronics and SK hynix.

“There is a lot at stake in this week’s financial market, with U.S. inflation data, treasury yields and the ongoing debate over the sustainability of AI-related investment all unfolding simultaneously,” said Seo Sang-young, an analyst at Mirae Asset Securities.

Han Ji-young, a researcher at Kiwoom Securities, also anticipated a “challenging” week for the KOSPI, noting that the release of the U.S. Consumer Price Index for May, the SpaceX listing and Oracle’s earnings results planned for this week may weigh on the market.

Market analysts also said news that Iran and Israel traded strikes dampened investors’ risk appetite, dimming hopes for peace in the Middle East.

Market top-cap Samsung Electronics slid 10.18 percent to 295,500 won, while its chipmaking rival SK hynix dipped 7.68 percent to 1.91 million won.

AI investment firm SK Square nosedived 11.13 percent to 1.12 million won.

Samsung Life Insurance lost 8.97 percent to 375,500 won, and Samsung C&T plunged 11.29 percent to 408,500 won.

Top automaker Hyundai Motor plummeted 8.71 percent to 639,000 won, and its auto parts making affiliate Hyundai Mobis shot down 12.2 percent to 612,000 won.

Leading battery maker LG Energy Solution pulled back 6.16 percent, and its smaller rival Samsung SDI sank 11.44 percent.

Home appliances maker LG Electronics slipped 11.55 percent to 268,000 won, while power plant manufacturer Doosan Enerbility shed 10.25 percent to 85,800 won.

Internet portal operator Naver was among the few winners, jumping 9.2 percent on news that the company is conducting a joint project with U.S. AI chip giant Nvidia to build a massive global AI factory and the nomination of Han Seong-sook, former chief executive officer (CEO) of Naver and incumbent minister of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), as South Korea’s new prime minister.

SK Networks surged 30 percent to 14,170 won on SK Group and Nvidia’s announcement of a broader partnership for AI infrastructure.

The Korean won was quoted at 1,535.0 won against the U.S. dollar at 3:30 p.m., up 4.1 won from the previous session, after opening at 1,555.2 won, the lowest mark since March 6, 2009, when the global markets were in a financial crisis.

The local currency turned higher after financial authorities vowed stern action against excessive volatility and one-sided movements in the foreign exchange market.

Bond prices, which move inversely to yields, closed lower. The yield on three-year Treasurys added 5.8 basis points to 3.940 percent, and the return on the benchmark five-year government bonds gained 7 basis points to 4.190 percent.

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Two separate incidents of violence have left nine people injured in World Cup host cities in the United States, raising concerns over the safety and security of fans attending the tournament that starts in three days.

Six people were wounded in a stabbing on Sunday at New York’s Penn Station, the city’s mayor said, as the metropolitan area geared up to host two major sporting events, the NBA Finals and the FIFA World Cup.

Meanwhile, nine people sustained non-life-threatening injuries in a shooting near England’s World Cup base camp in Kansas City, Missouri, on Saturday.

The New York City Fire Department said a suspect was detained and the victims, including one with serious injuries, were taken to hospital.

Fire Department officials initially reported five wounded, but Mayor Zohran Mamdani said on X that “based on the information available right now, six people were stabbed and the alleged perpetrator is in custody.”

Circumstances of the attack were not immediately clear, but city Comptroller Mark Levine said on X that the suspect is “said to be an emotionally disturbed homeless person”.

All victims are expected to survive, he added.

State Governor Kathy Hochul described the attack as “an act of horrific violence”.

“New Yorkers deserve to feel safe wherever they go, and we will never stop working to make that a reality,” she said in a statement.

The incident occurred at one of the nation’s busiest rail and subway transport centres as the city prepares for two huge sporting spectacles.

Madison Square Garden, located directly above Penn Station in downtown Manhattan, will host games three and four of the NBA Finals on Monday and Wednesday between the New York Knicks and the San Antonio Spurs.

MetLife Stadium, outside the city in neighbouring New Jersey state, will host its first match of the World Cup on Saturday.

US President Donald Trump is scheduled to attend Monday’s NBA game at Madison Square Garden, saying recently that he accepted an invitation from Knicks owner James Dolan.

Security has been enhanced in the city before the two events.

New York’s official emergency notification system did not describe the incident but said people should avoid the area and “expect traffic delays, road closures, mass transit disruptions & emergency personnel near Penn Station”.

Before the stabbing, New York officials had already cancelled an outdoor watch party set for Monday outside the Garden.

Thousands of spectators descended onto the streets outside the venue on Friday for a game two watch party. New York authorities said a police officer was assaulted and 26 people were arrested as a number of fans turned rowdy.

Meanwhile, Kansas City police said there were no suspects in custody and that at least three of the shooting victims were taken to local hospitals.

The incident occurred about 6.5km (4 miles) from where England are set to train at the Swope Soccer Village. England have not arrived in Kansas City and are due to play a friendly against Costa Rica in Orlando, Florida, on Wednesday.

What security measures has the US put in place for the World Cup?

The 48-team, 104-match World Cup comes with an unprecedented security challenge for the host nations, particularly the US, which is hosting 78 matches across 11 cities.

Overseeing the sprawling security apparatus is a legion of federal agencies, state and local police departments and private entities. Their responsibilities range from securing stadiums and fan zones to escorting teams and protecting dignitaries.

Their tools include hunter drones that can shoot nets over objects in restricted airspace, bag-inspecting robot dogs, giant X-ray trucks and thousands of AI-powered cameras trained on public spaces soon to be thronged by fans.

Drones are prohibited over stadiums and fan zones, and the FBI has a “full suite of options” to thwart incursions, according to FBI Special Agent in Charge Amit Kachhia-Patel.

On match days, the FBI will activate joint operations centres in each host city, bringing together local, state and federal law enforcement agencies to monitor and investigate threats.

The tournament has the same high-level federal security designation as the Super Bowl, just below a presidential inauguration or a national political convention, ensuring federal, state and local coordination. It coincides with other major events linked to the 250th anniversary of the US’s founding.

So far, there are no credible threats, according to Andrew Giuliani, executive director of Trump’s World Cup task force, which is overseeing the multiagency effort.

The Department of Homeland Security, focused on Trump’s immigration enforcement crackdown and hit by a funding lapse only recently resolved, estimates that up to seven million people will visit the US for the World Cup.

The US Secret Service, under scrutiny after security breaches and attempts on Trump’s life, is in charge of protecting world leaders who show up to cheer on their countries. Trump has expressed interest in attending a match.

Gun violence is common in the US, where there were more than 400 mass shootings in 2025, according to the Gun Violence Archive.

Important message for anyone with a package holiday booked

Travel expert Simon Calder has shared important advice for anyone with a package holiday booked, as people are being urged to act ‘as soon as possible’. His message comes ahead of the peak travel season, and as new research by Citizens Advice has revealed that four million people have faced issues with their package holiday over the last year.

On today’s (June 8) episode of ITV’s Good Morning Britain, TV host Kate Garraway spoke to correspondent Nick Dixon about the findings. He said: “The complaints that we’ve been hearing about were involving all-inclusive holidays, with many saying they just didn’t ultimately match up to the glossy brochures we see online, or indeed at the travel agents.

“Citizens Advice say that they found 33% of holiday-related complaints ultimately were about things like poor quality hotels, bad food, facilities being unavailable as well – 19% down to customer service.” He added: “Things like long waits on the phone, complaints ignored and administration errors, and 25% of complaints ultimately led to stress, anxiety or upset.

“And if your dream holiday does turn into a wee bit of a nightmare, there are steps you can take… Many of us with these kinds of complaints about our holidays end up trying to fight for compensation, which is why it is so important to keep a record of everything just in case to have any chance of getting money back.”

British travel journalist and broadcaster Simon Calder then spoke to viewers, sharing a crucial message for those with a package holiday, especially if they encounter problems during their trip. He urged holidaymakers to act ‘immediately’.

He said: “If you get to your destination and things aren’t right, maybe there’s a problem with your room, maybe the facilities are simply not as described, then you have to give the travel company immediate notice and allow them the opportunity to sort things out.”

How can I claim compensation for a holiday?

Reporting a problem right away is a legal concept called “mitigating your losses”. If you don’t allow the travel provider to address the room or facilities issue while you’re there, you could really hurt your chances of receiving a full refund or compensation.

Citizens Advice says: “If you’re still on holiday, tell the company or travel agent about the problem as soon as possible. You might be able to get it sorted quicker – like if there’s a problem with the room. If you don’t say anything until you get home, you might get less compensation or none at all.”

The person you need to contact depends on how you arranged your holiday. If you went for a package holiday, reach out to the customer service team of the tour operator you chose.

However, if you organised it yourself or set up a linked travel arrangement, you should contact the accommodation or service provider directly, such as the hotel or the company offering excursions. Make sure you include:

• your booking reference
• clear details of what went wrong
• copies any evidence you have – like photos
• copies of receipts
• how much compensation you want

Citizens Advice adds: “It’s a good idea to send the letter by registered post and keep a copy, so you have proof that the holiday company received it. You can also email them – some of them have online forms. Keep a copy of what you send. If the company makes you an offer that you think is too low, you can ask for more. They might come back to you with a higher offer.”

“He doesn’t like talking about his story,” John McGinn told the Scottish FA.

“He’ll no like hearing it – but that’ll never happen again. Part-time football to go so quickly to Hull, Liverpool, Champions League winner, Premier League winner, captaining your country at a World Cup. That’s fairytale stuff.

“It’s a documentary I can’t wait to sit back and watch, the Andy Robertson documentary.”

His manager at Hull, Steve Bruce, cited Robertson’s ability to grow and meet bigger challenges as they came along. Strachan said his intelligence meant he learned extremely quickly.

Robertson mainly ascribes his ascent to “luck” in having coaches and managers who were willing to give him a chance, as well as his work ethic.

“What I could control is I went into football with: ‘I will give this 100% and, if I don’t make it, at least I can look back and go, you know what, I gave that absolutely everything and wasn’t for me.”

Robertson is on his way to surpassing the great Dalglish’s record of 102 caps for Scotland and already has the most appearances as captain.

The McTominay mural marking the midfielder’s overhead kick in the defining game against Denmark adorns a tenement next to Hampden, only a few miles from where Robertson grew up. It may need some company.

Robertson is the boy who went from posting about being broke to ruffling Lionel Messi’s hair on his way to winning the Champions League.

From answering the Hampden phones to ending Scotland’s World Cup hurt in the same place, 14 years on.

He might not like to hear it, but it is a story that should inspire young Scots for generations.

A UK airport will fully close for good this week – after 90 years in operation.

Coventry Airport originally opened in 1936 as Baginton Aerodrome.

During World War Two it operated as RAF Baginton before going on to start passenger flights as well as air ambulance services.

Commercial flights started in the 1950s when it took passengers from the Midlands to the Channel Islands.

Then Hards Travel began operating package holiday flights to Spain, France, and Italy in the 1980s with Thomsonfly operating jet passenger flights in 2004.

In the same year, Wizz Air flew passengers to Poland.

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However, passengers flights ceased in 2008 which led to the decision to close the site.

The site will officially shut its doors on June 11 to be redeveloped into a multi-billion-pound energy plant.

Most recently, the airport had been used for training and charter flights – passengers on the very final private flight into the airport were Take That.

The British pop band flew into the airport yesterday evening, having been in the city performing their Circus Live tour.

The Facebook page belonging to Coventry Airport wrote: “Those nice gentlemen from ‘Take That’ flew into Coventry Airport this evening and when they found out that they were our last ever passengers on our last booked commercial flight prior to closing.”

On the post were many comments expressing disappointment about the airport’s closure.

One read: “Sad to see the airport closing down; the airshows there weres great andI had some happy times at the airport.”

Now, plans are for the site to be turned into Greenpower Park, a £2.5billion battery factory designed for electric vehicle production.

Former regeneration councillor at Coventry City Council Jim O’Boyle previously said: “What we want to see are thousands of jobs created here, giving the area an economic lift.”

EXPLAINER

Tensions have escalated between Iran and Israel while ongoing diplomatic efforts have failed to yield a lasting peace deal.

Iran and Israel were on Monday locked in tit-for-tat missile attacks, as the fragile ceasefire that has held in place since April 8 appeared closer to collapse than at any point in the past seven weeks.

These escalating hostilities between Iran and Israel come as the United States-Israel war on Iran enters its 101st day on Monday.

Here is what is happening:

In Iran

• Explosions heard in Iran: Iran’s IRNA news agency reported that at least “two powerful explosions” were heard in Tehran and at least three in the city of Isfahan. The broadcaster also reported that explosions were heard in Tabriz. The Israeli military had said it “attacked military targets” in western and central Iran.
• Power plant in Mahshahr attacked: A security officer in the southwestern Khuzestan governorate told the Fars news agency that Israeli forces have attacked the Karun Petrochemical Company in the city of Mahshahr. The Israeli army confirmed striking the petrochemical plant. The Mahshahr Petrochemical Special Economic Zone announced that its workers have evacuated the site following the Israeli strike.
• Iran denies attacking base in Saudi Arabia: Responding to reports of an explosion at the Al-Kharj airbase in Saudi Arabia, Iran’s IRIB broadcaster cited a military official as saying that “Iran has not fired any shots.”
• Red Crescent on standby: The Iranian Red Crescent says it is standing by to respond to any fallout from Israel’s attacks across the country this morning.

In Israel

• Security cabinet meeting: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will convene a security cabinet meeting at 11am local time (08:00 GMT) amid escalating hostilities with Iran, according to multiple Israeli media reports.
• The Israeli military issued a series of alerts starting Sunday over waves of missiles launched from Iran towards Israeli territory.
• Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said on Monday that they launched attacks against Israel’s Nevatim and Tel Nof airbases as a response to attacks on radar sites within Iran, the Fars news agency reported.
• Israel’s Channel 12 broadcaster and Ynet News said a missile fired from Yemen was intercepted.

In the US

• The US State Department issued a security alert for citizens in Jordan over reports of projectiles in the country’s airspace – presumably missiles fired by Israel towards Iran, or by Iran towards Israel.
• Democratic Senator Chris Murphy said Israel’s latest attack on Iran “compounds” the “humiliation” for US President Donald Trump, as it comes after the US president reportedly told Netanyahu not to retaliate to Iran’s missiles fired at northern Israel.

In Lebanon

• Explosions were heard in the Lebanese capital Beirut early on Monday, but these were likely rocket interceptions, Al Jazeera’s Zeina Khodr reported from Beirut.
• On Sunday, Israel had hit the suburbs of Beirut, in attacks that Iran described as crossing a red line in terms of violating a ceasefire between Lebanon and Israel. Iran then said its decision to hit northern Israel was in response to these attacks near Beirut.

War diplomacy

• Israel defends attacks on Iran: The Israeli ambassador to the US, Yechiel Leiter, defended the attacks on Iran, saying “no self-respecting country” would tolerate Iran’s missile launches against Israel.
• Canada expresses concern: Canada’s Foreign Ministry has expressed concern about the resumption of conflict between Iran and Israel, saying it jeopardises the ongoing negotiations and “the prospects for peace”.
• Saudi-Qatari foreign ministers speak: Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud spoke by phone with his Qatari counterpart, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani, the Saudi Foreign Ministry said.
• Qatari-Iranian foreign ministers speak: The Qatari foreign minister, who is also the country’s prime minister, spoke by phone with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi about mediation efforts between Iran and the US, as well as the latest developments in Lebanon, according to a Qatari statement.

Tehran, Iran – An ongoing war of words between Beirut and Tehran has highlighted the central role Lebanon has played in a ceasefire between Iran and the United States.

Iran on Sunday responded to an Israeli strike on an alleged Hezbollah site in southern Beirut – an unofficial red line for Tehran – by launching a barrage of missiles at Israel. Israel then hit Tehran and other cities on Monday, threatening to end a two-month ceasefire between Iran and the US.

Tensions had already heightened after Israeli forces crossed the Litani River last month – a point Israel had unilaterally set as a buffer zone to be cleared of Hezbollah elements – leading the Lebanese government to appeal for an end to foreign interference in the country.

Last week, it was reported that US President Donald Trump had convinced Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu not to target Beirut, understanding that such an escalation could end a regional ceasefire in place since April.

The Israeli invasion has deepened tensions between Iran, which backs Hezbollah, and the Lebanese government, which is seeking exclusive control over weapons in the country. Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) on Thursday warned “there will be no calm in the region” if Israel continued its occupation of southern Lebanon.

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun stressed that there is no way to end the war in the country “except through negotiation and diplomacy” and slammed Tehran for “using Lebanon as a bargaining chip in their negotiations” with the US.

He said “Hezbollah must understand that [there is] no other way but to sit and talk”, something Beirut is trying to achieve via direct talks between Israeli and Lebanese officials in Washington, DC.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi responded by saying Aoun appeared to believe Iran, not Israel, was occupying Lebanese territory.

“Had Lebanon been a bargaining chip for Iran, we’d have a deal long ago. Save Lebanon from your real foe, Mr. President,” he posted on X on Saturday, likely referring to Israel and Aoun.

Hezbollah opposes direct talks with Israel and wants Iran to play a greater role in mediated talks to end the crisis, and the situation has led to an increasingly voracious back-and-forth between Beirut and Tehran.

A conditional “ceasefire” currently in effect between the Lebanese government and Israel, negotiated by Washington and excluding Hezbollah representation, set conditions that included the removal of armed groups south of the Litani River.

It also sought the establishment of “pilot zones” in southern Lebanon, where the Lebanese army would have sole authority, allowing the region to come under direct state control.

Negar Mortazavi, a senior fellow at the Washington, DC-based Center for International Policy, noted that while Israel had demonstrated patience regarding its continued offensive in the south, the targeting of Beirut’s southern suburbs, known as Dahiyeh, would be a serious escalation.

“Where exactly is the red line? So far, it seems that Tehran has tolerated attacks in southern Lebanon to some extent as part of a messy ceasefire, and instead allowed Hezbollah to engage with Israel,” she told Al Jazeera before Israel bombed Beirut suburbs on Sunday.

“I think the stalemate cannot continue for too long, so it will be going back to an escalated conflict, or heading for an actual peace deal.”

Iran has stressed that any long-term peace agreement with the US hinges on Israel’s war on Lebanon also ending.

“Hezbollah entered the war with them and helped them, so they want to help them by making them an extension of the peace deal,” Mortazavi said.

Israel’s largely unchallenged advances in southern Lebanon had angered and frustrated hardliners in Iran, who had called for the government to take action.

“Now that I’m speaking with you, it’s correct that [Israel] has stopped attacking Dahiyeh, but except for that, it is hitting wherever it wills,” Abbas Abdi, a state television analyst, told a gathering of state supporters near Enghelab (Revolution) Square in downtown Tehran on Friday night.

Hezbollah flags are regularly waved by supporters of the government during such rallies. On Friday, the iconic Azadi (Freedom) Tower was draped with a Hezbollah flag in a show of support for the Lebanese movement, amid Israel’s offensive in southern Lebanon.

Abdi said such facile shows of solidarity with Hezbollah were not a deterrence and that Iran might have to “show the enemy that negotiations are not important for us”.

“We are still releasing statements and saying we will do such if they do such, but we are not doing anything. Our dear people have gone to the [missile] launchers numerous times to respond, but they have been stopped,” he said.

There have been direct tensions between the two sides in recent weeks, with the US military attacking Iranian islands and the IRGC launching missiles and drones at its Central Command (CENTCOM) bases in Kuwait and Bahrain.

Mostafa Najafi, a state television political analyst, earlier this week characterised the Israeli attacks on Lebanon as intended to go hand-in-hand with the US blockade of Iran’s southern waters to force the government to capitulate.

“The aim of the ring of pressure created in Lebanon is not just Hezbollah, it is against our levers and to weaken our regional activities,” he said, pointing out that this elevates the issue to strategic significance.

“You cannot separate the file of Hezbollah and Lebanon from the file of Iran, because they have a meaningful ideological and geopolitical link together, they are in a geopolitical cluster together,” Najafi said.

Amirhossein Sabeti, a lawmaker representing Tehran in the hardline-dominated parliament, told state television that Trump was only “playing” with Iranian authorities to keep the peace until the World Cup in the US, Canada and Mexico is over.

“The US will start a more intense war with the US once the World Cup is over. They will turn the country into a second Gaza, where everything is destroyed,” he said.

“We must be prepared to deal stronger blows than before, and we can do this. We must not wait for them to hit before hitting back; we must strike even when they talk of striking, that’s deterrence.”

The 79th Tony Awards telecast kicked off with a bang by giving out two major awards in the first 30 minutes — and before viewers could blink both John Lithgow and Laurie Metcalf had each won the third Tony Award of their careers.

Lithgow won best performance by an actor in a leading role in a play for his portrayal of the controversial, beloved British author Roald Dahl in Mark Rosenblatt’s poignant drama “Giant,” directed by Nicholas Hytner. Times theater critic Charles McNulty called Lithgow’s performance “at once terrifying and never anything less than human,” and “one of the bravest” of the Broadway season.

Lithogow’s win, however, was far from assured. He was in the running against Nathan Lane in the season’s most talk-about show’s “Death of a Salesman,” and many bets were surely placed on the latter to sweep.

Lithogow is among a cadre of accomplished film and television actors who have a deep love of the stage. His first Tony win came for best featured actor in a play for his 1972 Broadway debut in “The Changing Room.” His second came 30 years later in 2002 when he he won for best actor in a musical for “Sweet Smell of Success.”

Metcalf won best featured actress for her portrayal of Willie Loman’s protective wife, Linda Loman, in “Death of a Salesman.” This is Metcalf’s third win in less than a decade, and was not a surprise as she has inherited “Helen Hayes’ mantle of First Lady of the American Theater,” according to McNulty.

Perhaps that explains her perfunctory, somewhat rote speech — which still didn’t detract from the joy of her win. Viewers know a towering talent when they see one.

Lithgow, to the contrary, was clearly stunned — and deeply honored.

“I’ve had dozens and dozens of static, ecstatic moments on stage, but I have to tell you right now, this moment has got to be one of the best,” he said as he held his award.

Guillermo “Memo” Ochoa has experienced nearly everything a Mexican soccer player could imagine. World Cups, titles, criticism, adulation, impossible saves and nights when he practically carried the weight of an entire national team on his own. But at 40, the legendary Guadalajara-born goalkeeper seems to be looking toward the end of his career with a different kind of calm. No drama. No exaggerated nostalgia. Like someone who knows exactly what he has achieved and what he still wants to give to Mexican soccer before saying goodbye.

The Mexican goalkeeper recently confirmed that the 2026 World Cup will be the last of his career with the Mexican national team and likely also as a professional soccer player, thus closing a career that will place him on a list reserved for few names in soccer history.

If he manages to play at least one minute in this summer’s tournament hosted by Mexico, the United States and Canada, Ochoa will have appeared in six World Cups — a feat he would share only with figures like Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. Though the goalkeeper himself makes it clear that he never puts himself on the same level as those legends.

“Being on that exclusive list would of course be fantastic on a personal level, but it would be even nicer and more interesting if people remember in the future that a Mexican shares that list with them,” Ochoa said.

Mexican goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa lays down and collects the ball during a friendly against Australia at the Rose Bowl on May 30.

(Ronaldo Bolanos/Los Angeles Times)

“They’re light years ahead of me in terms of what they’ve done in their careers, the goals they’ve scored, the titles they’ve won. I don’t compare myself to them at all. But the best thing would be if, one day, we could see a Mexican on that list.”

After being left out of some recent call-ups with the Mexican national team and facing doubts about his future beyond the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, the veteran goalkeeper found a second soccer life in Europe.

First came the opportunity to play in Italy’s Serie A with US Salernitana 1919 and later he continued his career in Cyprus with AEL Limassol, staying physically sharp and keeping alive the possibility of reaching another World Cup.

“After the World Cup in Qatar, I thought to myself, ‘Let’s see what happens.’ Then the chance to play in Italy’s Serie A came up and I thought, ‘I’m not that far off anymore; I’m very close to the next World Cup,’” said Ochoa, who previously played for Club América.

“That’s when my mind said, ‘I can make it, I feel good, I’m in good shape, let’s go for it.’ But this is going to be my last one. Now there’s no turning back.”

Mexican goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa directs his teammates during a corner kick against Australia at the Rose Bowl on May 30.

(Ronaldo Bolanos/Los Angeles Times)

Ochoa spoke about the announcement without a solemn tone. His history with Mexico spans practically an entire generation of fans. He made his professional debut with Club América in 2004 and appeared in his first World Cup two years later in Germany. Since then, he has gone from a young backup to an absolute icon for El Tri on the World Cup stage.

During the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, he delivered perhaps the most iconic performance of his career, becoming a hero against the host nation and stopping everything Neymar and company threw at him in Fortaleza. Four years later, in Russia, he delivered another memorable night in Mexico’s victory over Germany, stopping the reigning world champions. And in Qatar, he added another iconic moment by stopping Polish star Robert Lewandowski’s penalty kick.

Now, as Ochoa prepares for what could be his final World Cup on home soil, he insists that the goal is to maintain that level of excellence.

“That’s the standard, that’s the bar,” he said of his historic performances. “The intention is to be at that level. If I’m on the field, I have to do it. I have to be ready to perform at that level. And if I’m not called upon to do so, I’ll help and support.”

Because although his name remains one of the most important in the recent history of Mexican soccer, the starting spot no longer belongs to him. Mexican coach Javier Aguirre has publicly insisted that Ochoa will have to compete for minutes like any other player.

“I have to earn it,” Ochoa recently told reporters.

Meanwhile, the veteran goalkeeper also enjoys the chance to look back and laugh at all the stories from his nearly two decades of World Cup training camps.

Because behind the serious figure who stands between the posts lies a player who has experienced practically everything at the World Cups.

“We’ve been through it all,” he recalled with a laugh.

He spoke of animals climbing through the windows at training camps and impromptu matches on Brazilian beaches.

“In South Africa, we had to use golf carts. You have no idea the races we had in those carts that people didn’t see. We ended up with the carts overturned all over the training camp,” he recalled. “In Brazil, we’d have friendly matches on the beach after some games. It’s been so many years that it’s not hard to remember so many things — good, bad, silly — but it’s been a lot of fun.”

The combination of longevity, outgoing personality and historic performances made Ochoa one of the most recognizable Mexican soccer players of the last two decades. For many fans outside Mexico, the surname Ochoa is synonymous with the World Cup.

Mexican goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa plays a ball during a training session on March 26.

(Marco Ugarte / Associated Press)

Even among international fans, there is special recognition of the Mexican goalkeeper due to his ability to rise to the occasion on the biggest stages.

But far from getting caught up in nostalgia, Ochoa is beginning to envision what comes after retirement.

While he admits it will be practically impossible to completely detach himself from soccer, he said there are important things to accomplish off the field.

“Stepping away from soccer is difficult. My name and my image are associated with soccer,” he acknowledged.

“There are many projects ahead. I’m someone who likes to make long-term agreements and plans. When you share values and goals, it’s easier to work together.”

For now, however, he said his full focus is solely on the World Cup.

“We can’t get distracted by other things,” he said. “The least the national team and the upcoming tournament deserve is for us to be 100% focused on that.”

Mexico arrives at the World Cup with enormous expectations and a lot of pressure as one of the tournament’s hosts. And although the spotlight will naturally fall on a new generation of players, Ochoa represents a bridge between different eras of Mexican soccer.

From the young, long-haired goalkeeper who appeared in Germany 2006 to the veteran leader who now seeks to cap his career at home, Ochoa has built a career that would be difficult for any Mexican soccer player to replicate.

An imperfect career, yes, but also one of profound resilience.

It is fitting that his farewell comes with one more World Cup — the stage where he became a legend.

Lucy’s friends and family have not heard from her for a week

A UK woman has vanished in Paris after travelling abroad for a festival, with no contact with her family for over a week. Lucy Stemp has been reported missing by her loved ones. The woman, from Tonbridge, Kent, has been described as “very vulnerable” by her family.

She had travelled over to France for a festival in the city of Brest but her last known location is believed to have been Paris. Lucy is believed to have gone missing on May 30. Her loved ones are pleading with locals and expats to report any information they have on to the police or themselves.

Her last known location was the Bercy neighbourhood in the French capital. Lucy’s stepdad Sean said: “Lucy is my stepdaughter and is very vulnerable, she has been missing for over a week now.”

It is believed that Lucy will have no access to sorting how to get herself back home. The British embassy and Interpol are reportedly working together on a cross-border operation to help track her down.

Paul Arnott, who helps find missing Brits, said: “Lucy Stemp, from Tonbridge, Kent, has been missing in France for approximately one week and her family are becoming increasingly concerned for her welfare. Lucy had travelled to France for a music festival in the city of Brest and is believed to have subsequently been in Paris.

“No one has heard from her for the past week. Lucy is considered vulnerable and efforts to locate her are ongoing. The British Embassy, police authorities and Interpol are involved in the search.

“If you know Lucy, have spoken to her, seen her, or have any information that could help establish her whereabouts, please come forward as soon as possible.”

June 7 (UPI) — Five people were injured and a suspect is in custody after a mass stabbing incident at New York City’s Penn Station, officials said.

New York Police Department, Fire Department of New York and Amtrak officials confirmed to local media that five were hospitalized in the aftermath of the stabbings, which happened at around 7 p.m. EDT.

Officials said one those who were attacked was seriously injured, two were injured less seriously and two others suffered minor injuries. All were taken to a nearby hospital. officials said.

Law enforcement sources told amNewYork a male suspect allegedly attacked passersby with a sharp object before police subdued him.

Witnesses said Penn Station and the area surrounding 33rd Street and Seventh Avenue in Manhattan were crowded with ambulances and police cars after the stabbing.

The incident came at a tense moment in the city as New York prepares for the appearance of President Donald Trump at Game 3 of the NBA Finals in the adjacent Madison Square Garden on Monday.

Trump’s presence is expected to generate a massive security presence around Penn Station, including the cancelation of a scheduled watch party in the streets outside of the arena.

The New York Knicks are hosting the San Antonio Spurs in the NBA Finals.

Taiwan has accused China of carrying out a “provocative act” after Chinese Coast Guard vessels conducted patrols in waters east of the island. The operation followed announcements by Japan and the Philippines that they would begin formal talks on maritime boundary delimitation, a move Beijing views as involving waters linked to Taiwan.

Chinese state media described the deployment as a special maritime law-enforcement operation. Taiwan responded by dispatching Coast Guard vessels, which reportedly warned the Chinese ships away from restricted waters. Defence Minister Wellington Koo characterized the patrols as both a challenge to Taiwan’s sovereignty and an example of “cognitive warfare” aimed at reshaping perceptions of territorial control.

The incident comes amid sustained Chinese military activity around Taiwan, including frequent air and naval operations. Taiwan is also monitoring the movements of the Chinese aircraft carrier Liaoning, which is operating in the Western Pacific near waters east of the Philippines.

Why It Matters

The patrols represent more than a routine maritime operation. They signal China’s growing willingness to extend its presence beyond the Taiwan Strait and into areas east of Taiwan that have traditionally been viewed as strategically important for the island’s defence.

The move also demonstrates Beijing’s opposition to emerging regional cooperation among U.S. partners and allies. The maritime boundary discussions between Japan and the Philippines reflect increasing efforts among regional states to clarify maritime rights and strengthen coordination in contested waters.

For Taiwan, Chinese Coast Guard activities present a complex challenge. Unlike military operations, law-enforcement patrols operate within a legal grey zone that allows Beijing to advance territorial claims without triggering a conventional military confrontation. Such actions can gradually normalize China’s presence in disputed areas while increasing pressure on Taiwan’s security apparatus.

The incident further highlights the growing integration of maritime, legal, and information-based strategies in China’s approach to territorial disputes across the Indo-Pacific.

Stakeholders

Taiwan

• Protecting maritime sovereignty and territorial claims.
• Maintaining freedom of navigation and security in eastern waters.

China

• Expanding operational presence around Taiwan.
• Reinforcing sovereignty claims through maritime law-enforcement activities.

Japan

• Engaged in maritime boundary discussions with the Philippines.
• Monitoring Chinese activities that could affect regional security.

Philippines

• Seeking greater legal clarity over maritime boundaries.
• Increasing security cooperation with regional partners.

United States

• Maintaining stability in the Taiwan Strait and broader Indo-Pacific region.
• Supporting freedom of navigation and regional deterrence efforts.

Regional Security Partners

• Including Australia and other Indo-Pacific states concerned about changing maritime dynamics.

Strategic Implications

The patrols illustrate China’s increasing reliance on so-called “grey-zone” tactics, which fall below the threshold of open military conflict while steadily advancing strategic objectives. By deploying Coast Guard vessels rather than naval forces, Beijing can challenge Taiwan’s authority while reducing the risk of immediate military escalation.

The incident also reflects the expanding geographical scope of cross-strait competition. Traditionally concentrated in the Taiwan Strait, tensions are increasingly extending into the Western Pacific, where control of maritime approaches carries significant strategic value for both China and Taiwan.

Furthermore, the timing of the operation suggests that Beijing is seeking to influence regional maritime diplomacy. By responding directly to Japan-Philippines boundary discussions, China is signaling its opposition to initiatives that could strengthen legal and political frameworks contrary to its territorial claims.

The episode reinforces concerns among regional governments that maritime disputes are becoming increasingly interconnected, linking Taiwan, the East China Sea, and the South China Sea into a broader strategic contest.

What’s Next?

Several developments warrant close attention in the coming weeks:

• Taiwan is likely to increase coordination between its military and Coast Guard to strengthen maritime surveillance and response capabilities.
• China may continue deploying Coast Guard vessels east of Taiwan as part of a sustained effort to normalize its operational presence in the area.
• Japan and the Philippines are expected to proceed with maritime boundary discussions despite Beijing’s objections, potentially drawing further diplomatic responses from China.
• Increased activity by the Liaoning carrier group could provide additional indications of China’s broader military objectives in the Western Pacific.
• The United States and regional partners may intensify maritime monitoring and security cooperation to deter unilateral attempts to alter the status quo.

Future outcomes

The incident reflects a broader shift in regional security dynamics, where maritime law-enforcement operations are increasingly being used as instruments of strategic competition. Rather than relying solely on military pressure, China is employing a combination of legal, political, and operational tools to reinforce its territorial claims and shape the regional security environment.

For Taiwan, the challenge extends beyond the immediate presence of Chinese vessels. The longer-term concern lies in preventing the gradual normalization of Chinese activities in areas that Taipei considers vital to its sovereignty and security. As regional actors deepen cooperation on maritime governance and security, incidents of this nature are likely to become an increasingly important indicator of the evolving balance of power in the Indo-Pacific.

With information from Reuters.

MEGAN Thee Stallion nearly blew the roof off Radio City Music Hall after gracing the 2026 Tony Awards stage in barely-there lingerie during the ceremony’s wild opening number.

The rapper bent over in a Moulin Rouge-inspired look and showed off her signature twerking skills before dropping an F-bomb during the live awards show that was televised on CBS and Paramount+ on Sunday night. 

Megan, 31, made a surprise appearance during host Pink’s massive Broadway-themed opener on Sunday night, instantly becoming one of the most talked-about moments of the 79th Annual Tony Awards.

The music superstar strutted onto the stage in a sparkling black corset bodysuit complete with fishnet tights, dramatic garters, sequined detailing and towering heels.

She channeled full Parisian cabaret energy inspired by her recent run in Moulin Rouge! The Musical on Broadway.

The Grammy winner joined Pink during a remixed performance of Lady Marmalade, the signature Moulin Rouge anthem, as dancers swarmed the stage in feathered costumes and red velvet-inspired looks.

ALL THAT JAZZ

Rose Byrne, pregnant Aubrey Plaza, and more stars dazzle at 2026 Tony Awards

At several points during the performance, Megan dropped into twerk breaks – which resulted in roaring applause from the crowd.

At another point, the camera cut to stunned audience members cheering and laughing as the Houston-born rapper was bleeped after dropping an F-bomb.

The over-the-top opening number featured more than 170 Broadway performers and included tributes to Moulin Rouge!, Chicago, Rent, A Chorus Line and several of the night’s biggest nominated productions.

Pink, who is hosting the Tonys for the first time ever, kicked things off flying over the audience in a Peter Pan costume and harness before launching into a theatrical mashup packed with celebrity cameos.

Mormon Wives breakout Whitney Leavitt also popped up during the opening dressed in her Roxie Hart costume from Chicago, while Lea Michele belted out surprise vocals during the sprawling musical performance.

Fans immediately flooded social media praising the campy energy of the opener – and Megan quickly emerged as the breakout star of the night.

“One thing Megan Thee Stallion is gonna do is commit to the performance,” one fan wrote on X alongside fire emoji’s.

Another viewer posted: “Megan twerking at the Tony Awards was NOT on my bingo card but she ate.”

A third fan joked: “Broadway just became the Hot Girl Theater.”

Others praised Pink for embracing the over-the-top antics of the Tonys opener, with one viewer calling it “the most fun opening number in years.”

Megan’s appearance comes just weeks after wrapping her history-making stint in Moulin Rouge! The Musical, where she became the first female-identifying performer ever to play the role of Zidler in any production of the show worldwide.

The 2026 Tony Awards aired live on CBS and Paramount+ from New York City’s Radio City Music Hall.

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. — USC’s 2026 baseball season will be defined by two words — progress and pain.

Just two outs away from reaching the College World Series for the first time since 2001, USC suffered a devastating 4-3 loss in game three of the Chapel Hill Super Regional, as North Carolina rallied for two runs in the bottom of the ninth and snatched the trip to Omaha away from the Trojans on Owen Hull’s walk-off RBI double into the left-center gap.

“I’m proud of our boys,” USC coach Andy Stankiewicz said. “I’m disappointed in the results, but I’m never disappointed in our guys. They did something pretty special this year.”

Andrew Johnson did everything possible and then some to get USC (48-18) across the finish line. After already throwing 3 ⅔ innings of shutout baseball to close Game 1, Johnson went a season-high 7 ⅔ innings with two earned runs surrendered to get the Trojans to the doorstep of victory. He glided through North Carolina’s lineup for most of the day, at one point retiring 15 out of 17 batters.

North Carolina’s Cooper Nicholson celebrates during his team’s ninth-inning rally to beat USC in their super regional finale Sunday in Chapel Hill, N.C.

(Laura Wolff/For The Times)

He ended the super regional with 133 pitches thrown in a little over 48 hours, on top of the 145 pitches he threw across two appearances in the College Station Regional for a total of 278 tosses in 22 ⅓ innings with five earned runs given up in a heroic postseason stretch.

“The goal from the beginning of the season is Omaha,” Johnson said. “We’re definitely not just happy that we made it to supers and moved past the regional, but for it was a great season and we can be proud of what we accomplished.”

A first inning run off a Caden Glauber balk, plus Kevin Takeuchi and Andrew Lamb’s solo home runs accounted for all the offense on a day when the Tar Heels (50-12-1) had their own star pitcher going. Atlantic Coast Conference freshman of the year Caden Glauber held the Trojans at bay for most of the game, striking out a career high 11 batters in 7 ⅓ innings.

USC coach Andy Stankiewicz talks to his players after their season-ending loss to North Carolina.

(Laura Wolff / For The Times)

Glauber’s work was enough to hold his team in the game, but USC still had a 3-2 lead heading to the fateful bottom of the ninth. After closer Adam Troy retired the first batter, a long, loud foul ball seemed to spark North Carolina.

Third baseman Cooper Nicholson crushed a ball more than far enough for a home run, but just foul into the left field corner. But the near-miss seemed to rattle Troy, who walked Nicholson after getting ahead 0-2 in the count and fell behind 3-0 to nine-hole hitter Carter French.

Stankiewicz made a pitching change mid at-bat, going to Chase Herrell. French lined a 3-2 single through the right side, leadoff hitter Jake Schaffner tied the score on a sacrifice fly and Gavin Gallaher drew a walk, bringing Hull to the plate with the series’ winning run at second.

USC appeared to survive at least with extra innings when a Hull foul ball looked ticketed for the third out, but it dropped with three fielders in the area to give him an extra life. Hull pounded his fourth double of the game, prompting mass hysteria from the 3,913 Tar Heel fans and ultimate heartbreak in the other dugout.

Stankiewicz has built his program in stages, finally making the NCAA tournament last year and then going a step further this year.

But he also knows these opportunities are never guaranteed, and it will take a lot of work to return to the super regional stage.

“It’s a step,” he said. “Things take a moment. Sometimes we want things to happen overnight as humans I guess, but sometimes it takes a moment. We’ve been at this thing for awhile now, and we feel like we’re certainly building it and folks are taking notice. Now we just can’t go backwards. This thing’s got to continue moving forward.”

A positive season, but a nightmare ending sure to haunt the Trojans until they finally return to Omaha.

‘If you take all these springs together in terms of flow, it’s by far the largest in Ireland, and one of the biggest systems in the world,” said Dr Benjamin Thébaudeau, geologist for the newly designated Unesco Joyce Country and Western Lakes Geopark in western Ireland.

Over a few days, I discovered that this massive system of limestone springs and caves is the engine that drives this landscape, in the same way as an underground train network powers a city. It’s a place where rivers disappear into limestone fissures and subterranean lakes, and where roads twist through drowned valleys beneath mountains shaped by fire and ice.

It’s also the dreamy, lush landscape of western Ireland that famously drew Hollywood to the village of Cong for The Quiet Man in 1952. Travelling through the geopark from the heart of County Galway into southern County Mayo, I based myself in Cong, which is effectively an inland island between Lough Mask and Lough Corrib. The village takes its name from the Irish for “narrows”, a reference to its tight, water-bound geography and the concentration of springs that rise and fall invisibly beneath the surface.

Water is everywhere and rarely still. It drains from Lough Mask through swallow holes before travelling unseen for miles through limestone fissures beneath Cong, eventually forcing its way back to the surface as cold springs around the village.

“If you look in the centre, you can see the current flowing in opposite directions,” Benjamin says, pointing beyond the interpretive boards towards the channels where he first noticed the phenomenon. “We call it the Hatchery because of its connection to wild fish, and the springs bubble up there, right in the middle.”

Yet I quickly realised that it is not only the geopark’s karst terrain and glacial valleys that give it such distinct character. At its core sits a living Gaeltacht where Irish is still spoken in daily life, embedded in place names, local conversation and nightly sessions at the third-generation Burke’s Bar (Tí Bhúrca) in nearby Clonbur. The language runs through the landscape as another ingrained system alongside rock, water and soil.

The Augustinian abbey at Cong was founded under Gaelic royal patronage, yet its surviving stone arches reflect the deep architectural imprint left by later Norman reconstruction. In the 12th century, Ruaidrí Ua Conchobair (anglicised to Rory O’Connor), the last high king of Ireland, spent his final 15 years within these walls following political collapse in Connacht, seeking a quiet sanctuary where the river meets the woods. Centuries later, the tides of power shifted brutally under Tudor administration. The abbey was suppressed, and Sir Richard Bingham, the notorious lord president of Connacht, turned Ashford Castle into a menacing administrative hub, temporarily pulling the region’s political gravity to Cong before authority drifted westward once more. The castle was bought in 1852 by the Guinness family with proceeds from the global flow of the black stuff. They transformed the medieval ruins into a grand Victorian hunting lodge, the luxury retreat we see today.

Like the landscape of the geopark itself, these stone landmarks remain, but they constantly change their form, mirroring the fluid cultural afterlife of Cong village. At The Quiet Man Museum, curator Lisa Collins spoke of the enduring pull of John Ford’s film. Honeymooning visitors still arrive dressed as Sean Thornton (played by John Wayne) and Mary Kate Danaher (Maureen O’Hara), she said, stepping into a version of Ireland that has long outlived the production and indeed the country itself. The museum has been designated a Treasure of European Film Culture by the European Film Academy, with plans to mark the 75th anniversary of the film in Cong next year.

Among the exhibits is the fishing rod used by the village priest during filming on the River Cong. Held for decades by the family of sound man Thomas A Carman before its donation to the museum, the prop brings one of the movie’s most famous comedic exchanges into the room. In that celebrated scene, Mary Kate speaks in the Irish language to Father Peter Lonergan as he casts for a legendary, elusive salmon. Standing by the water, she desperately explains that she has refused to consummate the marriage while her husband sleeps in a “mála codlata”, which translates as sleeping bag.

The language allows the exchange to move into a different register, beneath the radar of 1952 censorship, yet fully understood within the Gaeltacht where the film was shot. It functions as a form of cover, allowing meaning to sit just beneath the surface.

That subterranean world becomes tangible at the Pigeon Hole cave system just outside the village. The entrance drops steeply into the limestone through shiny, time-worn steps, leading into a narrow chasm. Below, a shallow underground river moves through darkness, untouched by sunlight.

It is here that the legend of the White Trout of Cong gathers around the water. The story tells of a young woman who vanished following the murder of her lover, only for a pure white trout to appear in the cave soon afterwards. It’s reminiscent of Father Lonergan’s mythical fish in The Quiet Man, and like everything here in Joyce Country and the Western Lakes, it’s part myth and part truth.

Benjamin notes that elements of the legend may not be entirely detached from observation. Fish living for generations in complete darkness can lose pigmentation over time, becoming pale or entirely white as a result of their environment. In that sense, the story does not sit apart from geology. Another truth is that fishing remains central here, both as practice and inheritance.

Near Ashford Castle, a salmon hatchery attempts to support declining wild populations. The cold water that springs from the lakes should sustain fish stocks, but there are increasing environmental pressures.

“Maybe we are fighting a losing battle,” Benjamin said.

Climate change, warming seas and mounting pressure on river systems are all affecting wild Atlantic salmon. Trout remain more resilient, spending their lives within local waters such as Loughs Mask and Corrib rather than migrating out to sea.

Yet as the modern environment shifts, the landscape continues to hold older histories at different depths. Further inland at Carnacon, the ruins of the grand Moore Hall estate rise above Lough Carra from within encroaching woodland. One of the few Catholic-owned landed estates of its period, the house became associated with the great famine-era MP George Henry Moore and his colourful descendants, including the writer George Augustus Moore. Today, it sits partially collapsed since its destruction during the civil war, though the surrounding woods have absorbed rather than erased it. Paths thread through what was once a carefully controlled demesne, slipping into places where the estate’s geometry still survives beneath moss and root.

Not far away in Ballinrobe, another form of historical memory settles into language itself. It was here that Captain Charles Boycott, land agent for Lord Erne, became the focus of organised worker resistance during the land war in 1879. His name entered the global vocabulary as a verb, detached from its local origins yet still rooted in this terrain of contested land and memory. Moore Hall and Ballinrobe sit only a short distance apart, but together they reveal different expressions of the same pressures: ownership, resistance, inheritance, and the slow reshaping of meaning through time.

Further west, in Connemara, the landscape shifts dramatically once more as it reaches towards the Atlantic. At Killary Fjord, the land suddenly opens into deep water, a glacial incision dividing Connemara from Mayo. Here, the landscape’s buried secrets become visible. The fjord exposes geology directly, revealing the force with which ice once carved through the earth.

To the south, Kylemore Abbey appears against the hillside above Pollacappul Lough. Built first as a private residence before later becoming a Benedictine monastery, it carries another layered story of adaptation and loss. Like Moore Hall, it reflects changing ownership and identity, though here the landscape mirrors it back perfectly in the still water.

Across these places, from Cong to Moore Hall, from Ballinrobe to Killary, patterns continue to repeat in altered forms. Water disappears underground before resurfacing elsewhere. Estates become ruins. Ruins become woodland. Language carries meanings beneath meanings. Stories survive by changing shape.

Returning again to Cong, I have a better understanding of how it forms part of a much larger system of geological flow, historical pressure and cultural inheritance. What holds this region together is not stillness, but movement beneath the surface.

And above Lough Nafooey (also called Lough Finny), not far from the hairpin bends etched into the volcanic ash surface of Aill Dubh (Black Cliff), long after the road narrows into silence once again, a cuckoo’s call crosses the hills, marking time in a landscape that never quite repeats itself in the same way twice.

Accommodation was provided by Michaeleen’s Manor B&B in Cong, County Mayo (twins and doubles €115 B&B, singles €70), and the Leenane Hotel in County Galway (doubles from €120 B&B)

June 7 (UPI) — The Israel Defense Forces confirmed it struck military targets in western and central Iran on Monday in retaliation for a wave of airstrikes launched against the Jewish state by Tehran hours earlier.

“A short while ago, the Israeli Air Force struck military targets belonging to the Iranian terror regime in western and central Iran. Details to follow,” the IDF said in a post on Telegram as a fragile cease-fire in the Iran War continued to unravel.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, meanwhile, confirmed the attack, according to the semi-official Mehr News Agency.

“The Zionist enemy has attacked targets on our country’s soil using air-launched ballistic missiles,” the IRGC said.

Official Iranian media also said residents in neighboring Iraq heard explosions in parts in the capital Baghdad while unidentified objects were seen over the Iraqi city and in Beirut.

The strikes against Iran came just hours after the Islamic regime lobbed missiles into northern Israel for the first time since the beginning of the cease-fire, which came into effect on April 8.

Tehran said those strikes were in response to Israeli bombings targeting Hezbollah in Lebanon.

The Iranian missiles, which the IDF said had been intercepted, were the first direct attack on Israel since the cease-fire.

The attacks follow an announcement on Sunday that Israel had launched strikes at alleged Hezbollah targets in Beirut — attacks which it has continued throughout the cease-fire — and some of which have been in suburban neighborhoods.

U.S. President Donald Trump, who reportedly has been briefed on Iran’s actions, told Iran “that’s enough, get back to the table” for peace negotiations, Fox News reported.

“The Israeli army must stop its attacks on southern Lebanon and the suburbs, and if it expands its attacks to that region or responds to Iran’s action, it will face more devastating and regrettable blows,” General Ali Abdollahi, head of Iran’s Khatam al-Anbiya command, said in a statement.

Trump has reportedly also told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to hold back after the Iranian strikes, which Netanyahu agreed to on the condition that Hezbollah — which is funded by the Iranian regime — not launch strikes into northern Israel from Lebanon.

The United States and Iran have been negotiating an end the war for more than a month, as a cease-fire has mostly held but the Strait of Hormuz remains blocked, preventing the shipment of oil and other products from the Middle East.

Iran has launched a new barrage of missiles at Israel, according to the Israeli Defense Forces. Iranian officials say the attack, the first such strike since the April 8 ceasefire, was in response to Israel bombing Beirut a few hours ago. With Israel under direct attack from Iran, how much longer the ceasefire will hold is an open question.

“A short while ago, the IDF identified missiles launched from Iran toward the territory of the State of Israel,” the IDF stated on Telegram.  “Defensive systems are operating to intercept the threat.”

Iran acknowledged launching missiles at Israel.

Videos emerged on social media showing Israeli air defenses working to intercept the missiles.

The show that has had everyone clamoring for tickets this spring, Joe Mantello’s cobweb-clearing production of Arthur Miller’s “Death of a Salesman,” won, as expected, for best revival.

Mantello, who received a Tony for his direction (his third such award), swept away the cliches that have accumulated around this American classic to reveal a “Salesman” like none we’ve experienced before. The Loman family home isn’t depicted in a literal fashion but instead fluidly suggested in a warehouse space that allows the actors to move unfetteredly between past and present. (The physical production was honored with awards for Mikaal Sulaiman’s sound design, Jack Knowles’ lighting and Chloe Lamford’s scenic design.)

Laurie Metcalf, confirming her standing as the First Lady of the American Theater, won for her portrayal of Linda Loman, a more formidable than usual interpretation of Willy’s stalwart wife. Metcalf, who endowed her characterization with a sharp-edged autonomy and transfixing gravitas, added another Tony to her two previous acting wins (“Three Tall Women,” “A Doll’s House, Part II”).

Joe Mantello wins the Tony for his direction of “Death of a Salesman.”

(Evelyn Freja / For The Times)

Nathan Lane was in a tight race with John Lithgow, who won for his ruthlessly uncompromising portrayal of a wrathful and dyspeptic Roald Dahl in Mark Rosenblatt’s “Giant.” Lane’s Willy leaves a lasting memory in “Salesman,” but it would be hard to imagine “Giant” having the same impact without Lithgow, who provides a terrifying human foundation to this explosive play about a writer’s political commitments tipping over into toxic antisemitism. (The performance slips into a sinkhole of animus in the uncanny way of one of Dahl’s recognizably terrifying, psychologically plausible stories.) In his almost but not quite valedictory acceptance speech, the 80-year-old Lithgow acknowledged that this Tony win, his third, comes 53 years after his first — and feels every bit as satisfying.

Aya Cash and John Lithgow in “Giant.”

(Joan Marcus)

Rather than a slight to Lane, Lithgow’s win is a sign of the dramatic depth that characterized this otherwise squirrely season. Indeed, Lithgow’s performance was as thrilling to experience as that of British powerhouse Lesley Manville, who won for her portrayal of Jocasta in Robert Icke’s modern reworking of “Oedipus.” The play was categorized by the Tony committee as a revival, but it’s really an original drama — one that gave rise to one of the most enthralling productions of the year.

In a season lifted up by Bess Wohl’s magnificent “Liberation” and capacious enough to include a first-rate “Salesman,” a searing “Oedipus” and a smartly contentious “Giant,” it should be no surprise that there were more great performances than statuettes to dole out.

Roberts was summoned from the bench by head coach Craig Bellamy in the 60th minute of Wales’ defeat by Romania.

The 64-cap international’s fellow substitute David Brooks levelled proceedings just three minutes after entering the pitch to cancel out Florinel Coman’s opener at Stadionul Steaua.

But Adrian Rus netted an 80th minute winner as the men in yellow clinched their first victory since football legend Gheorghe Hagi was appointed boss in April.

It means Wales are without a win in four matches in 2026 while their winless run in away friendlies was extended to 17 matches – a sequence stretching back to November 2008.

Despite the disappointing result, Roberts was delighted to be back on the pitch representing his national side once again.

“Personally for me, it’s brilliant to be back,” said the Burnley defender.

“Some people are happy that I’m back, some people not so happy, but I am back and hopefully I can keep ticking over during the summer and go again next season for club and country.”