Free The Donald
False flag
I was one of the lucky reporters in the room when Donald Trump met Sir Keir Starmer at Turnberry on Monday. It felt like our PM was visiting Trump in the US, even though we were in Scotland. And no wonder: the US flag was flown on the left of the Union flag, meaning that the Stars and Stripes was 'the senior national flag', according to guidance from the Flag Institute. Was this a diplomatic snub?
Joanna's marriage secret
Dame Joanna Lumley has been married to conductor Stephen Barlow for almost 40 years, which has ensured that barely any modern-day pop music is played behind closed doors. 'I'm married to a classical musician, so we don't really have popular music in the house very often,' the Ab Fab actress, 79, explains on Radio 2. 'I stopped at about The Everly Brothers, really.'
Awks in Ambridge
Snogging your girlfriend in Ambridge is 'horrendously awkward' says Taylor Uttley, who plays Brad Horrobin and is in an air relationship with Mia Grundy on Radio 4's The Archers. He says: 'You have to time a kiss on the back of your hand at the same time, relative to the same microphone. So you have to look between you and go OK 'one, two, three and then do that'. That's awful.' Awks!
Tarrant's TV exit
Former Tiswas and Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? presenter Chris Tarrant does not miss being on TV shows. He says: 'I spent 50 years on them. I'd rather be fishing or going somewhere nice with my old lady or my kids.' Tarrant says he is still asked to do 'dreadful things' including The Masked Singer. But he says. 'It's a naff idea. I can't believe they make it. And what's next? You know, The Masked Chef, The Masked Knife Juggler. What else are they going to do?' Tarrant adds: 'My missus says to me 'It would reignite your career' but the last thing I want to do is reignite my career. I'm trying to stop.'
Shy Michael
Former Conservative MP Sir Michael Fabricant has hit back against campaigners who want to cancel naked bike rides which happen in UK, Birmingham and Cardiff. 'These are just a bit of fun,' Fabricant, 75, told the BBC. 'These are fairly innocent events. If you don't want to see bits and pieces wobbling around, don't look.' The nearest Fabricant got to riding naked was when he was cycling alone for charity. He says: 'I had tiny little shorts on or I would have been arrested.' Why so modest Fabbers?
Cleanshaven Philp
Shadow home secretary Chris Philp shaved off his beard before the last general election, prompting speculation that it was a turn-off for voters. 'No, that is not true,' he told me on GB News' Chopper's Political Podcast. 'I did suffer a backlash on the beard, but it came amongst others from my 12-year-old daughter and unfortunately, faced by a backlash from my 12 year old daughter, the beard had to go.'
Travelling light
Peterborough readers have been sending in their packing tips for travelling light, following actor Nigel Havers' example. David Shaw tries to 'halve the amount of clothes and double the amount of money' he is taking just before he sets off, while Michael Weeden said: 'I can think of nothing more efficient, than going to a naturist resort and packing just a bottle of good sun cream.' John Turner was so inspired he wrote a long poem, ending: 'So, now I've made a rational decision/whenever I go wandering from home./ Be it Blackpool or Bahamas,/ I have had my share of dramas;/ It's pyjamas, a toothbrush and a comb.'
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However, while India's refusal to join Western-led sanctions drew ire from the international community, its willingness to step up imports of Russian oil ensured that its refiners and fuel consumers were shielded from any rise in global oil prices. Indeed, the opposite has occurred as Indian importers were able to extract steep discounts from Russian oil sellers who were desperate to secure sales wherever they could. Those cheap imported Russian barrels in turn allowed major Indian refiners such as Reliance ( opens new tab to expand supplies and fuel the country's economic growth since 2020. Indian authorities have stated that providing energy security for its 1.4 billion population has been the main driver of its oil import programme, and that the new tariffs are unfair given that the country is only acting in its own self-interest. What's more, any aggressive pivot away from cheap Russian oil to pricier U.S. crude would drastically change the economic outlook for Indian oil refiners and consumers, and likely result in a surge in fuel prices that would cause economic harm. Since 2022, the official prices of the main grade of Russian oil imported by India have averaged around $70 a barrel, which is around $10 cheaper than the price of the main U.S. crude for export over that same period, data from LSEG shows. As Indian importers likely secured their Russian oil supplies at even lower prices, the real discount compared to U.S. prices is likely larger. That in turn means that there is almost no prospect of Indian refiners being able to profitably switch to U.S. crude any time soon, even if pressured to do so. U.S. trade negotiators have touted U.S. liquefied natural gas (LNG) as a means of reducing trade gaps, as a single LNG cargo can cost several million dollars. 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Such a yawning gap in journey times and shipping costs means that India's trade negotiators may not be able to rely on its energy consumers to close the trade gap, and will need to look elsewhere to secure a trade deal with the U.S. The opinions expressed here are those of the author, a columnist for Reuters. Enjoying this column? Check out Reuters Open Interest (ROI), your essential new source for global financial commentary. ROI delivers thought-provoking, data-driven analysis of everything from swap rates to soybeans. Markets are moving faster than ever. ROI can help you keep up. Follow ROI on LinkedIn, opens new tab and X, opens new tab.
