Labour rival takes swipe over Sarkozy mishap on TV quiz
THIBAULT CAMUS/AP
Barely a week into recess, it appears everyone is already bored and spending too much time on social media. That led to a spat on X between Mish Rahman, formerly a Labour national executive committee member, and Abdi Duale, a current one. It ended with Duale posting an old video of Rahman on the quiz show Head Hunters, answering the question 'Nicolas Sarkozy was president of which country?' with 'Russia'. He's not the only one to suffer a slip of memory under pressure. When one contestant on The Chase was asked which former UK prime minister had the middle name 'Hilda', she replied without hesitation: 'John Prescott.'
You may have noticed that Margaret Thatcher's opinion of her immediate successor as prime minister wasn't always that complimentary. But Peter Just's new book, Margaret Thatcher: Life After Downing Street, reveals that her dislike of John Major even affected her vocabulary. Campaigning in Dorset during the 1997 general election, Thatcher conducted an interview in which she referred to 'the major issues'. Stopping herself, she said: 'I used the word 'major',' before starting again with 'the main issues'. This self-imposed limitation must have been pretty tricky. If Major had retaliated it would only have affected discussions about rural tradesmen and cider.
Celebrities store their awards in all kinds of places: a chicken coop, the bathroom, buried in the back garden. But James Cameron found a practical solution, using his Oscar as a doorstop. 'It's actually the best one to use, because it takes up the smallest footprint,' he tells Empire magazine. 'The fricking Saturn [awards] are too wide. You'd trip over 'em.' Some statues are known to develop a Toy Story-esque life of their own. Dame Helen Mirren once said: 'My theory is that my Screen Actors Guild award is having a very, very steamy affair with my Oscar. I catch them together and I swear to God that I haven't put them together.
• How to get a body like Helen Mirren at 79
We reported on the auction of items from John Peel's record collection. Let's hope the discs' new owners will honour his memory by playing their purchases (if only once) at the wrong speed. Peel was known for doing this on his radio shows, although it was accidental: many of the records didn't have lyrics and their labels didn't always provide a clue. Playing Josh Wink's Higher State of Consciousness one evening, he commented: 'I'm sure I'm not alone in thinking that sounded better when I played it the other night at the wrong speed.' Occasionally Peel would ring up the record company to inquire about a disc's correct speed. Sometimes they replied: 'To be honest we're not entirely sure ourselves.'
Edinburgh Fringe kicks off this week but for the first time in 17 years there will be no funniest joke award. A sad affair considering past winners have included Tim Vine ('I decided to sell my Hoover … well it was just collecting dust), Lorna Rose Treen ('I started dating a zookeeper, but it turned out he was a cheetah') and, a personal favourite, Darren Walsh ('I just deleted all the German names off my phone. It's Hans free').
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Western Telegraph
30 minutes ago
- Western Telegraph
Trump signs order imposing new tariffs on a number of trading partners
The move is the next step in his trade agenda that will test the global economy and sturdiness of American alliances built up over decades. The order was issued shortly after 7pm on Thursday. It came after a flurry of tariff-related activity in the last several days, as the White House announced agreements with various nations and blocs ahead of the president's self-imposed Friday deadline. The tariffs are being implemented at a later date in order for the rates schedule to be harmonised, according to a senior administration official who spoke to reporters on a call on the condition of anonymity. After initially threatening the African nation of Lesotho with a 50% tariff, the country's goods will now be taxed at 15%. Taiwan will have tariffs set at 20%, Pakistan at 19% and Israel, Iceland, Norway, Fiji, Ghana, Guyana and Ecuador among the countries with imported goods taxed at 15%. Switzerland would be tariffed at 39%. My statement on Canada-U.S. trade: — Mark Carney (@MarkJCarney) August 1, 2025 Mr Trump had announced a 50% tariff on goods from Brazil, but the order was only 10% as the other 40% were part of a separate measure approved on Wednesday. The order capped off a hectic Thursday as nations sought to continue negotiating with Mr Trump. It set the rates for 68 countries and the 27-member European Union, with a baseline 10% rate to be charged on countries not listed in the order. The senior administration official said the rates were based on trade imbalance with the US and regional economic profiles. On Thursday morning, Mr Trump engaged in a phone conversation with Mexican president Claudia Sheinbaum on trade. As a result of the conversation, the US president said he would enter into a 90-day negotiating period with Mexico, one of the nation's largest trading partners. The current 25% tariff rates are staying in place, down from the 30% he had threatened earlier. Mexican president Claudia Sheinbaum (Marco Ugarte/AP) 'We avoided the tariff increase announced for tomorrow and we got 90 days to build a long-term agreement through dialogue,' Ms Sheinbaum wrote on X after a call with Mr Trump that he referred to as 'very successful' in terms of the leaders getting to know each other better. The unknowns created a sense of drama that has defined Mr Trump's rollout of tariffs over several months. However, the one consistency is his desire to levy the import taxes that most economists say will ultimately be borne to some degree by US consumers and businesses. 'We have made a few deals today that are excellent deals for the country,' Mr Trump told reporters on Thursday afternoon, without detailing the terms of those agreements or the nations involved. The senior administration official declined to reveal the nations that have new deals during the call with reporters. Mr Trump said that Canadian prime minister Mark Carney had called ahead of 35% tariffs being imposed on many of his nation's goods, but 'we haven't spoken to Canada today'. Mr Trump separately on Thursday amended a previous order to raise the fentanyl-related tariff on Canada from 25% to 35%. Mr Trump had imposed the Friday deadline after his previous 'Liberation Day' tariffs in April resulted in a stock market panic. His unusually high tariff rates, unveiled in April, led to recession fears — prompting Mr Trump to impose a 90-day negotiating period. When he was unable to create enough trade deals with other countries, he extended the timeline and sent out letters to world leaders that simply listed rates, prompting a slew of hasty deals. Mr Trump reached a deal with South Korea on Wednesday, and earlier with the European Union, Japan, Indonesia and the Philippines. His commerce secretary, Howard Lutnick, said on Fox News Channel's Hannity that there were agreements with Cambodia and Thailand after they had agreed to a ceasefire to their border conflict. Going into Thursday, wealthy Switzerland and Norway were still uncertain about their tariff rates. EU officials were waiting to complete a crucial document outlining how the framework to tax imported cars and other goods from the 27-member state bloc would operate. Mr Trump had announced a deal on Sunday while he was in Scotland. Mr Trump said as part of the agreement with Mexico that goods imported into the US would continue to face a 25% tariff that he has ostensibly linked to fentanyl trafficking. He said cars would face a 25% tariff, while copper, aluminium and steel would be taxed at 50% during the negotiating period.
STV News
an hour ago
- STV News
Chancellor backs multi-billion pound jobs boost in Scottish defence and energy sectors
The UK Government is backing Scotland with billions in investment to grow the economy and create jobs, the chancellor has said ahead of her visit to the country. Rachel Reeves said Labour is 'seizing the huge potential and opportunities that Scotland has to offer' in defence and energy. She will visit RAF Lossiemouth in Moray and the St Fergus gas plant in Aberdeenshire on Friday, exactly a week after she toured the Rolls-Royce factory near Glasgow Airport. The chancellor will meet 200 Boeing staff at the military site where three new E-7 Wedgetail aircraft are being made. The UK Government said its plans to increase defence spending to 2.6% will raise Britain's GDP by around 0.3% – equivalent to around £11bn of GDP in today's money, according to estimates – while adding 26,100 jobs to the Scottish economy. It also pointed to its £200m investment for Aberdeenshire's Acorn carbon capture project, which could create 15,000 new jobs while safeguarding 18,000 more. A final investment decision for the project is yet to be made. UK Chancellor Rachel Reeves visiting Babcock, a defence firm in Rosyth, in March Chancellor Rachel Reeves said: 'We're seizing the huge potential and opportunities that Scotland has on offer. 'Whether it's in defence to keep the UK safe, or clean energy to power all corners of the country, this government is backing Scotland with billions of pounds of investment to grow the economy and create jobs.' Scottish secretary Ian Murray said: 'The UK Government is investing in defence to ensure Britain's security and deter our adversaries and drive economic growth. 'This investment is a massive jobs opportunity for Scotland – This 'defence dividend' is good news for Scotland, where it will help create skilled jobs, drive economic growth and help tackle the critical skills gaps facing the country in sectors such as nuclear, construction, maritime and project management.' Great British Energy will be headquartered in Aberdeen to drive clean power generation across the UK. The Spending Review also committed £250m to secure the future of HMNB Clyde – the first stage of a multi-decade, multi-billion renewal project and all three Clyde shipyards are currently fulfilling contracts for the Royal Navy. Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
South Wales Guardian
2 hours ago
- South Wales Guardian
We're backing Scotland with billions in investment, says Reeves ahead of visit
Rachel Reeves said Labour is 'seizing the huge potential and opportunities that Scotland has to offer' in defence and energy. She will visit RAF Lossiemouth in Moray and the St Fergus gas plant in Aberdeenshire on Friday, exactly a week after she toured the Rolls-Royce factory near Glasgow Airport. The Chancellor will meet 200 Boeing staff at the military site where three new E-7 Wedgetail aircraft are being made. The UK Government said its plans to increase defence spending to 2.6% will raise Britain's GDP by around 0.3%, while adding 26,100 jobs to the Scottish economy. It also pointed to its £200 million investment for Aberdeenshire's Acorn carbon capture project, which could create 15,000 new jobs while safeguarding 18,000 more. A final investment decision for the project is yet to be made. Ms Reeves said: 'We're seizing the huge potential and opportunities that Scotland has on offer. 'Whether it's in defence to keep the UK safe, or clean energy to power all corners of the country, this Government is backing Scotland with billions of pounds of investment to grow the economy and create jobs.' Scottish Secretary Ian Murray said the Government is investing in defence to 'ensure Britain's security and deter our adversaries and drive economic growth'. He added: 'This investment is a massive jobs opportunity for Scotland – this 'defence dividend' is good news for Scotland, where it will help create skilled jobs, drive economic growth, and help tackle the critical skills gaps facing the country in sectors such as nuclear, construction, maritime and project management.' Maria Laine, Boeing's UK president, said: 'Boeing has a long-standing presence in Scotland including at RAF Lossiemouth, the home to the UK's P-8 Poseidon fleet and where the E-7 Wedgetail will be based when it enters service. 'As a key partner of the UK Armed Forces, Boeing welcomes the defence spending increase and has seen first-hand how defence infrastructure investments, such as the £100 million Atlantic Building and new E-7 facilities at RAF Lossiemouth, can deliver for local jobs, suppliers and UK national security.' Michelle Ferguson, director of CBI Scotland, added: 'Scotland's energy and defence sectors are vital to our economy, driving investment and supporting thousands of skilled jobs. 'The Chancellor's announcement of £200 million for the Acorn energy project is very encouraging, but businesses are eager for final approval to unlock its full potential and secure North Sea jobs. 'Increased defence spending will further boost Scotland's skilled workforce and create growth opportunities across key supply-chain. 'Close collaboration between the Scottish and UK governments will be essential to fully realise these benefits, driving forward national security and Scotland's transition to a resilient, low-carbon economy.' Aberdeen & Grampian Chamber of Commerce urged the Chancellor to drop the energy profits levy (EPL), the so-called 'windfall tax' on oil and gas companies, which has a headline rate of 78%. Chief executive Russell Borthwick said: 'If we stick to course on the accelerated decline of the North Sea, then we'll only have a few short years and not prosperous decades of future oil and gas from our own waters. 'Instead, we'll import more, pay more and suffer further consequences of jobs and businesses lost, just at the time we need them to support the energy transition. 'We know the Chancellor needs to find growth from somewhere within the UK economy. With oil and gas, there's no need to start from scratch or build out a nascent industry. 'Simply by removing the confiscatory EPL, letting investment flow into projects and stimulating activity in a sector which has been hammered by policy for too long, we can unlock significant growth in the UK economy.'
