A US Airman stationed overseas in Japan says his beloved dog named Maverick and his car were stolen by his house sitter who apparently suffered a “mental break” before taking the pooch.

“I am looking for this person. He was housesitting for me while I am deployed with the Air Force,” Andrew Beckham wrote in a Nest alert shared on Facebook on April 3. “He has stopped all contact and taken Maverick and my vehicle.”

Maverick, the 11-year-old Siberian husky, was staying at Beckham’s Aurora, Colo., home with the hired helper when he was taken outside and put into the airman’s 2014 Subaru Forester the night he went missing.

Beckham shared a snap of the suspected dognapper and revealed he had captured the worker on video driving away with his car and dog.

“(The house sitter) is having a mental break of paranoia and has run away with my car and dog 4 days ago with no contact and no phone,” Beckham wrote on Facebook.

The frustrated dog owner claims he hired the man off Trusted House Sitters — which connects pet owners with suitable sitters — and has reached out to the company asking for help locating him and his dog.

“He has not been found and he has my dog,” Beckham wrote.

Doorbell camera footage captured the nighttime dog heist as the man guided the dog out the front door and into the driveway, according to an image obtained by Fox 31 Denver.

“It was hard to see on my camera because he was taking Maverick out at night and then going in the car without telling me where he was going,” Beckham told the outlet.

Beckham revealed he allowed the worker to stay at his house during his deployment.

An hour before vanishing, the man allegedly called 911, claiming someone was trying to break into the home.

“He seemed scared of something. I don’t know what, but he seemed really scared,” Beckham said.

Maverick weighs approximately 60 pounds, has a missing toe on his front left paw, has mild arthritis and has one blue eye and one brown eye, according to a missing dog poster shared by Beckham.

“I feel like I’ve lost a part of home. Like there’s a hole in my chest where he should be. Maverick has been with me through deployments, through long days, through lonely nights. Losing him, it’s just heartbreaking,” he told the outlet.

The pooch is microchipped and is listed on several lost pet sites.

Beckham warned people to “not chase, call or whistle as this may cause them to run in fear and into danger.”

Neighbors have joined in the search for Maverick dog and his alleged abductor, driving around the Colorado city looking for Beckham’s missing car, as other volunteers printed out missing posters and plastered them around the neighborhood.

“I’m a dog person. My husband is Air Force. So those two items just told me I needed to do something,” Beckham’s neighbor Carla Wise told Fox Denver. “I drove to the airport, looked at two different, both the west and east parking garages, drove each one for about an hour this morning to see if I could help find the car… but the dog, that’s the main thing.”

“He’s out there. We’re going to get him. We’re going to find him,” she added.

Japan is introducing a new US-style ESTA system, applying to visitors from more than 70 countries, including the UK.

Cherry blossom, ancient-temples and 24-hour ramen are just some of the many reasons tourists flock to the Land of the Rising Sun — with 32% of Brits crowning it their ultimate bucket-list destination.

But the new JESTA, set to make its debut in 2028, is set to shake up the visiting process.

Earlier this month, the Japanese government approved a bill to introduce the Japan Electronic System for Travel Authorisation (JESTA), which will apply to visitors from 74 countries.

According to reports in Japanese newspaper The Mainichi, the new system is aiming to tighten up immigration rules, and will require tourists to provide the following details — all before travelling:

• their passport information
• the reason they’re visiting
• details of their accommodation

Currently, the UK Foreign Office guidance notes that British tourists do not need to apply for a visa when visiting Japan for either business or pleasure.

Instead, UK visitors are stamped with a visa in their passports on arrival, which covers up to 90 days of travel.

The JESTA will be different as it needs to be sorted before flying. While there’s currently no information available around pricing, the US’ ESTA currently costs travellers around £30.

Once potential visitors are approved, they won’t need to have their passports stamped upon entry, which the Japanese government is hoping will simplify and speed up arrivals at the airport.

The new requirements will also mean that airlines will need to pass passenger information to immigration services, and if the JESTA hasn’t been accepted, they have the right to refuse boarding.

Visitors from the following countries will need to apply for a JESTA:

• Andorra
• Argentina
• Australia
• Austria
• Bahamas
• Barbados
• Belgium
• Brazil
• Brunei
• Bulgaria
• Canada
• Chile
• Costa Rica
• Croatia
• Cyprus
• Czech Republic
• Denmark
• Dominican Republic
• El Salvador
• Estonia
• Finland
• France
• Germany
• Greece
• Guatemala
• Honduras
• Hong Kong
• Hungary
• Iceland
• Indonesia
• Ireland
• Israel
• Italy
• Latvia
• Lesotho
• Liechtenstein
• Lithuania
• Luxembourg
• Macao
• Malaysia
• Malta
• Mauritius
• Mexico
• Monaco
• Montenegro
• Netherlands
• New Zealand
• North Macedonia
• Norway
• Panama
• Paraguay
• Peru
• Poland
• Portugal
• Qatar
• Republic of Korea
• Romania
• San Marino
• Serbia
• Singapore
• Slovakia
• Slovenia
• Spain
• Suriname
• Sweden
• Switzerland
• Taiwan
• Thailand
• Tunisia
• Türkiye
• United Arab Emirates
• United Kingdom
• United States
• Uruguay

The new visa isn’t the only change Japan is asking of its tourists.

Last year, Kyoto, a historic city filled with historical sites from Nijo Castle to the Kyoto Imperial Palace, announced that it would be hiking its tourist tax.

A fee for the district was first introduced in 2018, but as of this month, the rates will be significantly increased. The new rules could lift the city’s annual revenues taken purely from accommodation tax from ¥5.2 billion (£24,611,600) to ¥12.6 billion (£59,635,800) annually.

The rates depend on the type of accommodation you’re staying in – and, naturally, the bougiest options are set to bear the most considerable brunt.

Rooms priced between ¥50,000 (£236.65) and ¥99,999 (£473.30) per night will have a ¥4,000 (£18.93) fee slapped on top, and lower-cost options ranging between ¥20,000 (£94.66) and ¥49,999 (£236.65) will pay more like ¥1,000 (£4.73), the same as the current rate.

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President Donald Trump said Thursday that he had spoken with Israeli Prime Minister and told him to stop attacking Iran’s oil fields, a move that sent fuel prices skyrocketing.

Trump was asked in the Oval Office if he had talked to Bibi after the President sent out a long-winded Truth Social post Wednesday night condemning the dramatic escalation in the Iran war. 

An Israeli strike had set ablaze the South Pars, with Iran retaliating against Gulf nations, including on the LNG plant in Qatar.

‘Yeah, I did. I did,’ Trump said, confirming a conversation with Netanyahu. ‘I told them, “don’t do that.” And he won’t do that.

‘We didn’t discuss, we do – we’re independent, we get along great, it’s coordinated, but on occasion he’ll do something and if I don’t like it – so we’re not doing that anymore,’ the President added. 

The Iran war already has Americans feeling pain at the pump, with gas prices up to $3.90 a gallon nationally, compared to the $2.90 a gallon it was costing before the strikes began on February 28. 

In his Truth Social post, Trump said the US ‘knew nothing’ about Israel’s plans to hit South Pars, though threatened to ‘massively blow up’ the whole oil field if Iran were to retaliate again. 

‘I do not want to authorize this level of violence and destruction because of the long-term implications that it will have on the future of Iran, but if Qatar’s LNG is again attacked, I will not hesitate to do so,’ Trump warned. 

President Donald Trump (left) told reporters Thursday that he had spoken to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (right) and told him to stop attacking Iranian oil fields 

Smoke and flames rise from the South Pars gas field following an Israeli strike, as seen through the window of a moving vehicle. The strike represented a major escalation in the war and angered the US’s European and Middle Eastern allies

Allies in both the Middle East and Europe were left furious over Israel’s move, with French President Emmanuel Macron calling the move ‘reckless.’ 

The leaders of the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Japan and Canada also slammed Iran on Thursday for attacking ships in the Strait of Hormuz. 

‘We express our readiness to contribute to appropriate efforts to ensure safe passage through the Strait. We welcome the commitment of nations who are engaging in preparatory planning,’ the joint statement read. 

Trump has raged against NATO – of which the UK, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and Canada are members – for not immediately offering to assist in protecting commercial ships from Iranian attacks in the Strait of Hormuz – a major global shipping lane.

His Oval Office meeting on Thursday was with Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, a political ally, who told the President that she believed, despite the current Iranian conflict, which Trump signed off on, only he could ‘achieve peace across the world.’ 

During their sit-down, Trump praised Japan’s apparent willingness to help patrol the Strait of Hormuz.

‘We’ve had tremendous support and relationship with Japan on everything, and I believe that based on statements that were given to us yesterday, the day before yesterday, having to do with Japan, they are really stepping up to the plate.’

‘Unlike NATO,’ the President added. 

President Donald Trump (right) hosted Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi (left) in the Oval Office on Thursday where the Iran war was much discussed 

He also complained of NATO: ‘They don’t want to help us defend the Strait, and they’re the ones that need it.

‘But now they’re getting much nicer, because they’re seeing my attitude,’ he continued. ‘But it’s, as far as I’m concerned, it’s too late.’ 

Trump’s February 28 decision to strike Iran has left some world leaders bewildered, as allies weren’t informed of those plans ahead of time.

In the Oval Office, a Japanese reporter asked the President why he left allies, like Japan, in the dark.  

To that, Trump gave a shocking response. 

‘You don’t want to signal too much… we wanted surprise,’ Trump answered in the Oval Office. 

‘Who knows better about surprise than Japan?’ he said. ‘Why didn’t you tell me about Pearl Harbor!’ 

The Japanese attacked the Americans on December 7, 1941, at a naval base in Pearl Harbor in Hawaii, which brought the US into World War II. 

Donald Trump has turned on America’s allies in a furious broadside after they rejected his plea for help in the Strait of Hormuz.

‘We no longer ‘need,’ or desire, the NATO countries’ assistance – we never did,’ Trump wrote on Truth Social on Tuesday.

Trump said he had been told America’s allies ‘don’t want to get involved’ in the Iran war, despite his appeals for help securing the strait as oil prices spiral. 

The President slammed NATO as a ‘one way street’ and said ‘we will protect them, but they will do nothing for us, in particular, in a time of need.’ 

Trump has been left exposed after the United Kingdom, France, Japan and Australia all declined to help protect commercial shipping in the Strait. 

Gas prices have surged to an average of $3.80 a gallon from $2.90 before the conflict began three weeks ago, while the Strait – through which a fifth of the world’s oil flows – remains blockaded by Iranian mines and missiles.

Senator Lindsey Graham, one of Trump’s closest allies and a leading proponent of the military campaign, wrote on X after speaking with the President that he had ‘never heard him so angry,’ over Europe’s unwillingness to help protect the Strait. 

Britain came in for particular punishment. Trump said he had personally asked Prime Minister Keir Starmer for minesweepers only to be told that consultations were needed first.

He re-upped his savage comparison to Britain’s heroic wartime leader Winston Churchill, gesturing to his bust in the Oval Office during a meeting with Ireland’s Taoiseach Micheál Martin on St Patrick’s Day.

‘Unfortunately, Keir is not Winston Churchill,’ Trump said.

President Donald Trump gives remarks to the media as he signs an executive order in the Oval Office on Monday

An oil tanker burns after being hit by an Iranian strike in the ship-to-ship transfer zone at Khor al-Zubair port near Basra, Iraq

Starmer said yesterday: ‘While taking the necessary action to defend ourselves and our allies, we will not be drawn into the wider war.’ 

Israel claimed it had killed two high-ranking Iranian commanders overnight. Thirteen US troops have been killed in the conflict, with more than 200 injured across seven countries.

Trump may now be forced to put boots on the ground in Iran to salvage victory, sources close to White House have warned, as Iran shows no signs of letting up. 

‘We clearly just kicked [Iran’s] a** in the field, but, to a large extent, they hold the cards now,’ a source close to the White House told Politico. ‘They decide how long we’re involved, and they decide if we put boots on the ground. And it doesn’t seem to me that there’s a way around that, if we want to save face.’

Trump confidantes fear he risks being dragged into an open-ended conflict just as the midterm elections approach, with the escalating war threatening to drive up the cost of living for voters already furious about affordability. 

‘The terms have changed,’ said a second person familiar with the military operation. ‘The off-ramps don’t work anymore because Iran is driving the asymmetric action.’

The war has also caused a schism between top allies within Trump’s MAGA movement, including Tucker Carlson and Megyn Kelly, as the President has argued for years against regime-change wars in the Middle East.

US intelligence has also determined that Iran’s regime will likely remain in power despite relentless airstrikes. 

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps will likely tighten its domestic grip as the country’s internal enforcer, intelligence officials told the Washington Post.  

Israeli defense minister Israel Katz said security chief Ali Larijani and Gholamreza Soleimani, commander of Iran’s Basij forces, have joined the late Ayatollah Khamenei in the ‘depths of hell’ after targeted overnight airstrikes. 

The attack on Larijani comes four days after he marched alongside thousands of Iranians at a Quds Day rally in Tehran where he taunted Trump during a live interview. 

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, unseen since the war began, has said the US and Israel must be ‘brought to their knees’ and accept defeat before any peace deal is possible. 

‘For the White House, now the only easy day was yesterday,’ the source familiar with the military operation added. ‘They need to worry about an unraveling.’

The White House and Pentagon continue to insist the war is a ‘tremendous success,’ pointing to US naval and aerial superiority over Iran. 

Despite the success touted by the administration, the US Navy remains unable to guarantee safe passage for commercial oil tankers through the Strait.

The human toll comes amid mounting concerns over the financial cost, the Pentagon having burned through $5.6billion worth of munitions in the first two days of the war

Mojtaba Khamenei, son of Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, walks along a street in Tehran on May 31, 2019

Israel claims to have assassinated top Iranian official Ali Larijani in an airstrike overnight

The US military has moved additional forces to the region, including the USS Tripoli and its 2,000-strong Marine Expeditionary Unit capable of seizing Iranian ports.

The deployment has led some to believe Trump will soon launch a limited ground offensive against the Islamic Regime to alleviate the global oil crisis. 

Trump has suggested that the fighting could end soon, while also warning the US is prepared for a long-term offensive.

He went viral after being bullied and shunned by his enclosure-mates, retreating to the safety of a soft toy.

But now it appears Punch, the viral macaque, has found his happily ever after.

The famous monkey, who lives at Japan’s Ichikawa City Zoo, has been photographed kissing, cuddling and playing affectionately with a female macaque believed to be named Momo-chan.

The pair were captured delightfully messing around together in clips posted to X and TikTok, with Punch’s trusted stuffed toy even making an appearance.

Punch and Momo-chan were spotted jumping, embracing and chasing one another in a series of videos – suggesting Punch’s spell of loneliness has finally ended.

Six-month-old Punch captured the hearts of millions worldwide earlier this year after appearing to seek comfort in a toy monkey following rejection from the other macaques in the enclosure he joined.

Adding insult to injury, it was revealed that Punch was originally given the toy by zookeepers after being abandoned at birth by his mother, to train him to cling.

Baby macaques cling to their mothers for safety and to build up their muscles – an essential skill for the primates.

The viral Japanese monkey Punch has found his happily-ever-after with a with female macaque, named Momo-chan, after the pair were spotted playing, hugging and even kissing

Punch and Momo-chan (pictured) were spotted embracing as Punch’s trusted teddy orangutan lay close by

The pair (pictured) were also captured playfully chasing one another – suggesting Punch’s spell of loneliness has finally ended

Six-month-old Punch was abandoned by his mother at birth and rejected by other primates before Momo-chan came along

Punch had been offered alternatives such as a towel or a different soft toy, but he ultimately chose the long-legged teddy orangutan as his companion.

The orphaned animal quickly became the star attraction at the zoo, located near Tokyo, with hundreds of visitors arriving to catch a glimpse of him.

He also received an outpouring of sympathy online from people concerned about his wellbeing – although it now appears his fortunes may be changing.

Alongside his new companion, recent pictures have shown Punch beginning to integrate with other monkeys at the zoo and relying less on his toy.

The baby macaque was pictured hitching a ride on the back of another monkey, sitting among adults and occasionally being groomed or hugged by his peers.

And Punch outgrowing his toy is a good thing, the zoo staff recently said.

Zoo director Shigekazu Mizushina said: ‘When he grows out of the plush toy that encourages his independence, and that’s what we are hoping for.’

Yet despite appearances, Ichikawa City Zoo have also insisted that Punch had not been bullied by his enclosure-mates to begin with.

Punch (pictured) went viral on X after being bullied and shunned by his enclosure-mates, retreating to the safety of a soft toy 

Punch (pictured) was originally given the toy by zookeepers after being abandoned at birth by his mother. Monkeys instinctively hold on to their mothers for safety

Recent photos have also shown Punch (pictured) beginning to integrate with other monkeys at the zoo and relying less on his toy

In a statement released on X, the zoo said: ‘Although Punch has been scolded many times by other monkeys, no single monkey has shown serious aggression toward him.’

‘When you observe these disciplinary behaviors from other troop members toward Punch when he tries to communicate with them, [the zoo] would like you to support Punch’s effort rather than feel sorry for him.’

The zoo said Punch had not been ‘bullied,’ saying instead the behaviour reflects a ‘strict hierarchical society’ where ‘dominant individuals show “disciplining actions” toward their subordinates.’

However, they acknowledged the public outcry for Punch, adding: ‘[The zoo] share your concerns about Punch, and all the zookeepers and staff will continue to work together to ensure that Punch can continue to live a healthy life as part of this troop of monkeys.’ 

Donald Trump has asked for Britain’s help to save the Strait of Hormuz from closure while also calling for other foreign leaders to send ships to the strategic passage. 

The US President asked for help from France, Japan, South Korea and China, a country which has long been considered his country’s geopolitical rival. 

Trump’s new post on Truth Social suggests Iran has been successful in bringing the strategic water passage to a close. 

In recent days, Tehran has launched several missile strikes on vessels passing through the Strait, as well as sending its own explosive-laden ships, amid threats to send the price of oil to $200 per barrel. 

‘Many countries, especially those who are affected by Iran’s attempted closure of the Hormuz Strait, will be sending warships in conjunction with the United States of America, to keep the Strait open and safe,’ Trump wrote. 

‘We have already destroyed 100% of Iran’s military capability, but it’s easy for them to send a drone or two, drop a mine, or deliver a close-range missile somewhere along, or in, this Waterway, no matter how badly defeated they are.’ 

Trump went on to call on several states that ‘are affected by this artificial constraint’, including the UK, to send vessels to Strait in a bid to help unblock one of the world’s most important shipping routes. 

‘In the meantime, the United States will be bombing the hell out of the shoreline, and continually shooting Iranian boats and ships out of the water,’ he said, later vowing to get the passage ‘open, safe and free’ ‘one way or another’.

Meanwhile, Britain’s HMS Dragon was only just deployed on Tuesday and has spent the last three days ‘bobbing around in the Channel’ after being sent to defend the nation’s forces from Iranian drone attacks in Cyprus. 

Donald Trump has asked for Britain’s help to save the Strait of Hormuz from closure in a new social media post

HMS Dragon sets sail from Portsmouth Harbour on March 10, 2026

The US President’s new post asking other nations for help in opening the Strait of Hormuz suggests Iran has been successful in closing the passage

And the £1billion Type-45 destroyer only departed from UK waters yesterday, despite having been deployed several days earlier amid mounting criticism over Britain’s slow response to the conflict. 

After leaving the harbour, the warship switched off its transporter – a system which broadcasts a vessel’s position – meaning its movements could no longer be publicly monitored.  

HMS Dragon had also been scheduled to stop at Plymouth for a crew change, but those plans were reportedly abandoned as pressure mounted to get the vessel to the east of the Mediterranean.

And despite previous rebukes to the US-Israel’s attacks on Iran, Sir Keir Starmer ordered HMS Dragon’s departure after RAF Akrotiri, in Cyprus, was struck by an enemy drone on March 1. 

And while the Royal Navy vessel, which is heading to the Mediterranean Sea, is equipped with the country’s best air defence missiles and can launch several interceptor missiles at once, he continues to be criticised for his slow response.

HMS Dragon should have been ready to sail at 72 hours’ notice. It was docked and undergoing welding work before being thrust back into service by the Royal Navy. 

Navy sources have since insisted ‘they did six weeks’ work in six days’ to get her ready to sail to the Mediterranean; however, this explanation has done little to quieten critics.

In Cyprus, Britain has become a laughing stock among locals, with one giggling when asked about the UK’s course of action, quipping: ‘What response? There was no response’.

Nicholas Andreo, 35, an engineer from Sakak near RAF Akrotiri, added: ‘There was a response from France, from Greece, from Italy.’

Told that HMS Dragon had only just left British waters on Friday, Mr Andreo asked pointedly: ‘So the ship is still coming? Who is going to protect the ship – not Britain.

‘It is frustrating. What’s happening now is happening because of your base. Cyprus is in danger because of the English base. But the people who own the base? They are not even here.

‘I think Britain now is lost. The whole country is a mess. You know, I think maybe 10 years ago maybe things were different.

‘But now the government has many problems, internal and external, and now your mess is coming to Cyprus. Because of the British, and because of Trump,’ he sniped. ‘It is embarrassing.’

Shopkeeper Andreas Kyriacou, 80, said the Cypriot government had made a mistake allowing ‘so many’ helicopters, aeroplanes, ships to come to the island.

‘We don’t have a problem here, the problems are outside Cyprus but now people do not come,’ he said. ‘Britain has a responsibility, it is their bases that brought this and now they must explain.

‘They send one big, big ship – we don’t want it here. It only brings problems. Why would anyone attack us without these bases? This war is very damaging.

‘The people are afraid and do not know what is going to happen, the prices are going up because of the all, the tourists have stopped coming.’

Petros Pavlou, 87, of Asomatos and works near the RAF base as an electrician, said:  ‘We know your friendship. England has supported us every time. We remember 1955 to 1959, how Britain supported the Cypriots against Turkey.

‘The base gave us security, and it gives people jobs. But if the base was not here, we would not have had this attack. Now I think more people think that, sadly after your response.’

A Cypriot living in Akrotiri who gave his name as Andreas, 33, said: ‘The locals here have problems with the British.

‘The British don’t know how to act anymore. They don’t know what game they are going to play with us now.’

A fire broke out in Fujairah – one of the largest oil facilities in the Middle East – after it was struck by debris from an intercepted Iranian drone 

A missile hit the US embassy in Baghadad today as plumes of smoke were seen billowing over the skies of the Iraqi city

Donald Trump previously boasted that he ‘totally obliterad’ Iraq and said the US had hit all military targets on Kharg Island

Marios, who lives with his wife and two children near the base, said: ‘For us living by this base, this is the first time we are afraid.

‘Now we are only safe because we have Greece and Spain and other countries here. Britain is sending its one ship. 

‘I think we need more safety from England, it is their base here,’ he added. ‘It is quite late.’

Elsewhere, HMS Prince of Wales was recently upgraded to advanced readiness, amid the ongoing criticism of Britain’s military response to the conflict in the Middle East. 

This means the crew of the £3billion ship, currently undergoing repairs in Portsmouth, must be ready to sail with five days’ notice.

HMS Prince of Wales could also require a French escort to the Middle East if there are not enough British military vessels to do the job. 

Crew members have reportedly been alerted to a potential mission, but with most of the Royal Navy’s warships unavailable or broken, allies such as France, the US and other European nation may be called upon to take their place.

An aircraft carrier usually needs to be accompanied by two or three warships, either destroyers or frigates, and an attack submarine – although it’s understood no decision has been taken over whether to deploy the carrier, or whether it would be escorted.

The Royal Navy has six destroyers in total, but only one, HMS Dragon, is thought to be action-ready but is already on its way to protect the British sovereign base in Cyprus.

And of the fleet’s seven frigates, only HMS Somerset and HMS St Albans are understood to be available, with the rest needing maintenance or problems to be fixed. 

James Cartlidge, the shadow defence secretary, told The Telegraph: ‘Labour’s talk of putting a carrier on greater readiness is a distraction from the real question: why didn’t Starmer plan properly and move naval assets weeks ago, when a major US operation was clearly coming?

‘The truth is Labour have prioritised welfare over defence, leaving an under-funded Ministry of Defence forced to make £2.6bn in cuts this year. 

‘That’s why there are no Royal Navy warships in the Middle East and why even if a carrier were deployed, there would be serious questions about escort ships.’

It comes after Donald Trump launched a scathing attack on the Prime Minister, saying: ‘This is not Winston Churchill we are dealing with.’

The US President delivered a withering verdict on the Prime Minister as he continued to fume at Sir Keir for failing to back US and Israeli strikes on Iran.

In comments that immediately plunged the so-called ‘special relationship’ into an unprecedented crisis, Mr Trump declared that he was ‘not happy’ with the PM and accused him of being ‘very, very uncooperative’.

Speaking in the White House, the US President hit out again at Sir Keir’s initial decision to block the US using British bases to launch attacks on Tehran.

In an apparent reference to Diego Garcia in the Chagos Islands, the US President said: ‘That island… It’s taken three, four days for us to work out where we can land there.

‘It would have been much more convenient landing there as opposed to flying many extra hours, so we are very surprised.’

Referring to Britain’s war-time PM, a bust of whom sits in the Oval Office, Mr Trump added: ‘This is not Winston Churchill that we’re dealing with.’

The US President went on to criticise the UK’s approach to the ‘stupid island’ as he issued a fresh blast at Sir Keir’s bid to cede sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius.

‘This is not the age of Churchill. I will say the UK has been very, very uncooperative with that stupid island that they have, that they gave away and took a 100-year lease,’ he told reporters in the Oval Office, as he sat alongside German Chancellor Friedrich Merz.

‘Having to do with, perhaps, indigenous people claiming the island that never even saw the island before. What’s that all about? They ruin relationships, it’s a shame.’

Today, a missile has struck a helipad inside the US Embassy in Baghdad with plumes of smoke seen above in the skies of the Iraqi capital. 

It comes after Donald Trump said on Truth Social that the US had ‘totally obliterated’ all military targets in ‘Iran’s crown jewel’, Kharg Island. 

The US President also vowed to ‘wipe out’ oil infrastructure on the island if Iran continued its attacks on vessels on the Strait of Hormuz. 

Iran retaliated by striking a major oil hub in the UAE, with clouds of black smoke seen billowing into the skies above the port of Fujairah following a drone attack.

Former Iranian foreign minister Manouchehr Mottaki, has also threatened to ‘capture’ US forces if they make an attempt to seize oil infrastructure in Kharg Island.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has also warned that US ‘hideouts’ in the UAE are ‘legitimate’ targets after Trump attacked the export terminal.

Canada and Japan have signed a new strategic partnership agreement that aims to boost co-operation on defence, energy, trade and technology

Prime Minister Mark Carney met with Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi in Tokyo on Friday, outlining a long list of areas where the two countries plan to deepen collaboration on a range of areas from cyber policy to Arctic security and addressing climate change.

“We have much in common, and we’re enriched by each other’s cultures, perspectives and histories,” Carney said during a joint media event where both leaders made statements but took no questions.

“This is a strong foundation on which we can build something even better, more prosperous, more ambitious.”

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Carney, who earned a smile and a clap from Takaichi by making some remarks in Japanese, touted the two countries’ close economic and security partnerships, including $40 billion in two-way trade and joint efforts to patrol the Pacific.

“We do much, but we’re ready to do much more,” he said.

1:50
Carney’s shifting position on Iran war overshadows trade tour across Asia

Carney said a Team Canada trade mission will travel to Japan in “the next few months.”

The strategic partnership agreements involve closer co-operation on international emergency response, joint coast guard exercises, and tackling illegal fishing in the North Pacific.

On trade, the two countries said they would instruct officials to “identify immediate investment opportunities, including through pension funds” and exchange trade delegations.

They also agreed to expand trade when it comes to energy projects, including liquefied natural gas, and to work closer on critical minerals, including to secure reliable supplies, among other measures.

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