Archive June 28, 2025

‘Hey Daddy’: How different world leaders massage Trump’s ego

US President Donald Trump compared Israel and Iran fighting to children fighting in a schoolyard, which eventually had to be separated at his NATO pre-summit press conference in The Hague this week.

“Daddy has to sometimes use strong language”, Mark Rutte, NATO secretary-general, chimed in.

Trump responded, “No, he likes me,” when asked about the comment following the summit. He seems to like me, in my opinion. If he doesn’t I’ll let you know. I’ll hit him hard again, okay? He did it with great affection. Hey Daddy. My father is my dad.

A reel of Trump’s trip to the Netherlands, which was set to the music of Usher’s Hey Daddy, was created by the White House after Rutte was found to be flattering the US president.

Rutte’s flattery of Trump didn’t stop there. Rutte remarked to reporters before the NATO summit about how to deal with the Russia-Ukraine conflict: “When he came in office, he started the dialogue with President Putin, and I always thought that was crucial. And because the American president is the most powerful leader in the world, there is only one person who can actually break the deadlock, and that is the original leader.

But how sincere are world leaders ‘ statements about Donald Trump? Does flattery work and does it actually improve bilateral relations?

What has been the outcome of Trump’s successful handling?

Neither Rutte, nor any other European leader, engaged in any kind of dialogue with Russian President Vladimir Putin for a long time after the summer of 2022, the year of his invasion of Ukraine, believing it pointless.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz received harsh criticism for calling Vladimir Putin “defeatist” last November, and Robert Fico and Viktor Orban, the only leaders from Europe who visited the Kremlin during the war, both received harsh criticism for their open collaboration.

Many Europeans, however, paid Trump the same compliment as Rutte when they first visited the White House after he became president in January when he first started talking with Putin.

Keir Starmer, UK

The United Kingdom’s prime minister, Keir Starmer, expressed gratitude for changing the conversation to allow for a possible peace deal in February in the Oval Office.

A few rabbits were taken out of hats by Starmer. Knowing Trump’s fondness for the notion of hereditary power, he drew from his jacket a letter from King Charles III containing an invitation for an unprecedented second state visit to Windsor Castle.

Trump was suddenly speechless. Trump said, “Your country is fantastic, and it will be our honor to be there, thank you,” after gathering himself.

Starmer and Trump exchanged a few handshakes while speaking and Starmer repeatedly touched Trump’s shoulder in a sign of affection.

But did all this flattery actually work? Trump made the announcement to freeze military aid to Ukraine the following month, much to the chagrin of the UK, Nordic and Baltic nations, and the UK.

Giorgia Meloni, Italy

Trump has made it clear that he wants to win the Nobel Peace Prize by ending international conflicts, and both Starmer and Italy’s prime minister, Giorgia Meloni, identified Ukraine as a pressing issue. He has so far been given credit for bringing an end to the “12-Day War” between Israel and Iran this month, preventing nuclear war after the India-Pakistan airstrikes on May 7, and overseeing a peace agreement between Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).

Meloni, therefore, tried a similarly flattering approach to Trump. “We have been defending Ukraine’s freedom together.” We can create a just and lasting peace by working together. We support your efforts, Donald”, she said during her White House visit in April.

In her opening remarks, Meloni astutely addressed all of Trump’s hot-button issues, claiming that Italy had plans to invest $10 billion in the US economy, stop illegal immigration, and combat Fentanyl, a addictive painkiller that Trump has blamed on Canada and Mexico for allowing into the nation.

She even adapted the phrase “Make America Great Again” from Donald Trump to use in Europe. “The goal for me is to Make the West Great Again. I believe we can work together, Meloni told Trump in a beaming voice.

Trump’s state visit to Rome, which would cement Meloni’s position as a significant European leader, has not yet been done.

Mark Carney, Canada

Meanwhile, Mark Carney, the newly elected Canadian prime minister, last month, embraced Trump with both firmness and flattery. Trump’s territorial ambitions to annex Canada as the 51st US state were also blasted by him as a “transformational president” who had “sided with the American worker.” “It’s not for sale, won’t be for sale ever”, Mark Carney said.

Following Trump’s tussle with Justin Trudeau’s predecessor, Carney, relations appeared to have improved. Trump walked away from the 2018 G7 summit in Canada after calling him “very dishonest and weak.”

But Carney may not have had much effect at all. Trump threatened to impose additional tariffs on exports as a result of Canada’s new digital services tax on Friday as he ended trade talks with the country.

Which meetings have had a bad turnout?

Emmanuel Macron, France

Trump and French President Emmanuel Macron met in February, but there was little warmth.

Trump made lengthy, defensive, scripted remarks in an effort to defend his Ukraine policy, facing a leader who claims to be in charge of Europe’s strategic thinking.

Macron preached that peace in Ukraine must not mean surrender – a sentiment shared by many European leaders, but not expressed to Trump. Trump and Macron exchanged pleasantries, but not affectionate.

France is avoiding any capitulation of Trump in trade talks with the EU. Other members of the EU want to settle for an “asymmetric” trade deal that might benefit the US more than the EU, just to get it done.

In addition, it was obvious that no love between the two leaders had broken out after the G7 summit in Canada two weeks ago. Trump called Macron “publicity seeking” in a social media post on June 17.

Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelenskyy

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was mauled by Trump and Vice President J D Vance on February 28, when he went to the White House to sign a mineral rights agreement he hoped would bring US military aid.

He and Vance had heated exchanges over direct contact with Russia regarding the head of Ukraine, and Vance attacked Zelenskyy for not showing the US enough “gratitude.”

You are stealing the lives of millions of people. You’re gambling with World War Three”, said Trump.

Zelenskyy and Trump, however, made it seem as though they had a little slack when they impromptu met while attending Pope Francis’s funeral at the Vatican in April. The encounter was “very productive,” according to a White House spokesman.

Cyril Ramaphosa, South Africa

When Trump played him a video of a rally by the South African opposition party in support of evicting white farmers, he ambushed South African President Cyril Ramaphosa at the White House last month. Trump claimed that South Africa was engaged in a “genocide” against white farmers.

Ramaphosa was visibly discomfited, but he patiently explained that under a parliamentary system, different viewpoints are expressed, which don’t represent government policy, and that South Africa is a violent country where most victims of violence are Black.

As a partner of South Africa, you are raising concerns that we are willing to address with you, Ramaphosa said, somewhat easing Trump.

Trump got so caught up in talking about a Jumbo Jet that Qatar had given him during his Middle Eastern tour. “I’m sorry I don’t have a plane to give you”, said Ramaphosa, as if to make a virtue of his absence of flattery.

Does Trump benefit from flattery?

Some experts think Trump might benefit from being made fun of. Some observers have argued it helps “to contain the American president’s impulses”.

However, flattery has little impact on actual US policy. Rutte and other NATO leaders failed to re-enter the Contact Group, where the US was assisting Ukraine with weapons.

“A summit dedicated to the sole aim of making Trump feel good is one with very limited aims indeed. In The Conversation, a UK publication, Andrew Gawthorpe, a lecturer in history and international studies at Leiden University in the Netherlands, all it does is push the difficult decisions forward for another day.

Those who have positive relations with Trump also don’t always end up with what they want. Starmer’s US-UK trade deal keeps tariffs in place for British companies exporting to the US, albeit lower ones than Trump had been threatening. Meloni is still anticipating Trump’s visitation of her.

On the other hand, respectable cohesion seems to work.

Trump has dropped his campaign to redraw US borders by absorbing Canada and Greenland, which is owned by Denmark. Carney’s firmness helped, as it lent a sense of finality. Trump acknowledged that Carney’s victory was “probably one of the greatest comebacks in the history of politics.” Maybe even greater than mine”.

Similar firmness has existed in Denmark. While Greenlanders don’t want to be colonized by Americans, Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen asserts that US military installations already exist there.

‘There’s hope for me on grass’ – Swiatek loses Bad Homburg final

Images courtesy of Getty
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Iga Swiatek, a five-time Grand Slam champion, criticized her for “showing there is hope” for her on grass despite her defeat to American Jessica Pegula in the final of the Bad Homburg Open.

Swiatek, the former world number one, lost to Pegula in her first grass-court final, 6-4 7-5.

Swiatek struggled on the quicker grass surface in her professional career despite winning the junior title at Wimbledon. Her 22 WTA titles have been won on clay (10) or hard courts (12) to date).

Poland’s four-time French Open champion and one-time US Open champion reached Wimbledon’s quarter-finals in 2023 but hasn’t advanced past the fourth round in any of her previous four appearances.

She appeared to turn heads in Germany this week, defeating Italian champion Jasmine Paolini 6-1, 6-3, in the semi-finals, her first victory over a top-10 player on grass.

Jessica Pegula with the Bad Homburg Open trophy that features a model of an elephantImages courtesy of Getty

In her on-court interview, Pegula, the third world number three, told Swiatek, “I know you say you can’t play on grass, but you can still play pretty good on grass. Take some slack on yourself.

Good luck for the following week, I am aware that both of us will have a short turnaround.

On Tuesday, Pegula will face Italian Elisabetta Cocciaretto in the first round of Wimbledon, while Pegula will face Russian Polina Kudermetova.

With a difficult draw, Swiatek will face French Open champion Coco Gauff in the quarter-finals and former Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina in the fourth round.

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Ballon D’Or Winner Aitana Bonmati In Hospital With Viral Meningitis

Aitana Bonmati, a two-time Ballon d’Or winner, is receiving treatment for viral meningitis, according to the Spanish football federation (RFEF) on Saturday.

In the world champions’ final warm-up match before Euro 2025 begins the following week, Bonmati was unable to recover from Friday’s friendly win over Japan.

After tests revealed that Bonmati had viral meningitis, she was “under ongoing medical observation,” according to the RFEF in a statement.

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At the Guy Piriou stadium in Concarneau, western France, Spain’s Aitana Bonmati (R) and Nigeria’s Christy Ucheibe (L) watch the ball as they battle for it during the Women World Cup 2018 U20 football match between them on August 16, 2018, in a bid to win. (Fred TANNEAU/AFP)

After suffering from a condition, Bonmati, 27, skipped a Thursday training session and later posted a photo of herself watching Japan’s 3-1 victory on social media.

After the match, Spain coach Montse Tome said she had no idea whether Bonmati would recover enough to play at the Swiss European Championship, which runs from July 2-27.

Meningitis can be frightening, but it is theoretically treatable, according to Tome.

She’s going to be gone for how long, we’ll find out. That is all I can say.

We’re going to wait for Aitana as long as possible because she’s a very important player.

Aitana Bonmati (unseen) scores past Chelsea’s #24 English goalkeeper Hannah Hampton (C) for the team’s first goal in the UEFA Women’s Champions League second leg football game between Chelsea and Barcelona on April 27, 2024 at Stamford Bridge in London. Adrian DENNIS/AFP (Photo)

The protective membranes that surround the brain and spinal cord are infected with meningitis. The less serious bacterial variant, which can cause death within 24 hours, is less serious than the more common bacterial one.

Accept Your Posting In Good Faith, NYSC DG Urges Corp Members

Brigadier General Olakunle Nafiu, the director general of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), has urged Corps members to accept their positions in good faith and relocate where they are currently assigned to provide selfless services to promote national development.

Olakunle Nafiu, DG of NYSC, and Miss NYSC

Brigadier General Nafiu gave the advice while speaking with the 2025 Batch “A” Stream 2 Corps members at the NYSC Lagos State Orientation Camp, Iyana-Ipaja, according to a statement from Caroline Embu, acting director of the NYSC’s acting director for information and public relations, Caroline Embu.

Corps members pictured with NYSC DG Brigadier General Olakunle Nafiu.

He advised them to also respect and learn their host communities’ cultures and traditions, noting that different cultural values exist in every region of Nigeria.

Corps members pictured with NYSC DG Brigadier General Olakunle Nafiu.

General Nafiu, who warned the Corps Members against misconduct, emphasized that those who violated the country’s constitution and NYSC bylaws would be spared.

“I urge you as Nigerian youths to believe in this country and raise this country high because you have obeyed the call.

Because Nigeria belongs to us, we anticipate that you will be patriotic citizens of this country.

“Be diligent at your duties wherever you are posted.” Don’t go without permission or at night, according to General Nafiu.

Adeniyi, the head of Nigeria’s Customs Council, was elected president.

The Corps Members were fully integrated into the camp committees and were performing their duties incredibly, according to Christianah Salmwang, the NYSC Lagos State Coordinator, in her camp report to the director general.

In the Lagos camp, 1, 250 male corps members and 1, 960 female corps members, or 3,212, were registered, she added.

Death toll rises after Pakistan hit by flash floods and heavy rains

32 people have died as a result of heavy rain and flash flooding in Pakistan since the start of the monsoon season earlier this week, according to disaster management officials.

The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provincial disaster management authority said in a statement on Saturday that 19 people had died as a result of flash floods and roof collapses over the past 36 hours, eight of which were children.

13 deaths were reported in the Swat Valley overall, out of 13 total.

Since Wednesday, according to the disaster management authority in the eastern province of Punjab, at least 13 people have died.

Children perished when walls and roofs collapsed during heavy rain, accounting for eight of the deaths.

The risk of flash floods persists.

56 homes have also been damaged by flooding in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, according to the disaster authority, six of which have been destroyed.

The risk of flash floods and heavy rain was high up until at least until Tuesday, according to the national meteorological service.

The South Asian nation, which experienced a number of extreme weather events in the spring, including strong hailstorms, saw at least 32 fatalities last month as a result of severe storms.

Jeremy Clarkson declares he’s ‘done’ and makes major decision after struggling with pub

Former Top Gear host and Farmer Jeremy Clarkson has written about his farm journey and is now sharing his thoughts on his pub business.

Jeremy has struggled with his pub(Image: Jam Press)

After struggling with his pub business, Jeremy Clarkson claims to be “done.” The TV personality has stated that he won’t be entering any more ventures because he lacks understanding of the company that runs it.

The Grand Tour star took on the new business venture in July 2024 when he bought the pub in Asthall. He decided to take on the challenge after being successful with his 1000-acre Diddly Squat farm and accompanying shop.

In Clarkson’s Farm’s most recent episode, Jeremy mentions the pub’s purchase, but he says he won’t do it again. The Farmer’s Dog is a popular destination for tourists from all over the country, with many taking to social media to post reviews.

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Jeremy has said that he wouldn't take on another business venture
Jeremy has said that he wouldn’t take on another business venture(Image: Jam Press/@jeremyclarkson1)

Jeremy said in an interview with The Times, “I’m done with business now.” As long as I live, I won’t start another business. I’m not driven by money, and I don’t understand it. Just a good craic, please.

The former Top Gear host has revealed the funny rationale behind his series name change and has been showing his relationship to his pub landlord.

Continue reading the article.

In the fourth episode, Jeremy is seen reading through paperwork regarding the purchase of the pub, where he discovers that people who enjoy having sex in public places frequently stop by the area.

The council has designated the pub’s garden area as a “picnic area,” according to Jeremy. Clarkson then called his attorney to explain the situation, and Clarkson was informed that some “unwanted and anti-social behavior” that “might turn you off eating your picnic” had previously been reported at the site.

The attorney remarked, “We have come across some quite interesting photographs that show some particular graffiti and activity.”

Clarkson then visited the area himself and found that it was still going on as he found underwear thrown in trees. He first talked about the dogging rumours when he shared a post to his Instagram page.

He held up a stick with a pair of black and pink knickers hanging off the end while standing outside the pub. He remarked, “Tell me you bought a pub on a dogging site without telling me you did.”

Who Would Like to Win Million Dollars? Presenter was also recently rushed to a hospital because of a serious health issue. After discovering that one artery was completely blocked, and another nearly, after waking up one morning feeling “clammy,” with chest tightness and strange sensations in his arm, he underwent surgery.

Continue reading the article.

After his health scare, Jeremy has had to make some “horrific” lifestyle adjustments, including cutting out alcohol, eating healthier, and exercising. This means he is “not allowed to have fun anymore.”