logo
‘UDR Four' ex-soldier convicted of 1983 murder asks Trump to help him clear his name

‘UDR Four' ex-soldier convicted of 1983 murder asks Trump to help him clear his name

A former soldier has said he hopes to raise his Troubles murder conviction with Donald Trump.
'UDR Four' member Neil Latimer believes the US president is his only hope of overturning his conviction for the 1983 killing of Catholic man Adrian Carroll.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Nobody is welcoming tariffs ‘with open arms', says Irish premier
Nobody is welcoming tariffs ‘with open arms', says Irish premier

North Wales Chronicle

timea few seconds ago

  • North Wales Chronicle

Nobody is welcoming tariffs ‘with open arms', says Irish premier

Taoiseach Micheal Martin also said the deal offered 'overall ceilings' on tariff rates and would mean they are not 'stacked' upon another. Despite suggestions from US President Donald Trump, he said his understanding was that the 15% tariff on pharmaceutical exports also represented 'a ceiling' rate. Speaking to the media at Government Buildings in Dublin on Monday, Mr Martin said the US tariffs are 'not Brexit' and the approach for supporting businesses had to be 'strategic and not a handout'. He said what effect the new trading arrangements would have on October's budget would be decided closer to the time. 'It's important to say that Europe never sought tariffs, or never sought to impose tariffs, and fundamentally, we are against tariffs: we believe in an open trading economy,' he said. 'New realities are in play and so at a broader level, the stability and predictability that this agreement brings is important for businesses, is important for consumers and indeed patients when it comes to the manufacturing and distribution of medicines,' he said. 'In essence, we have avoided a trade conflict here which would have been ruinous, which would have been very damaging to our economy, and to jobs in particular. 'The challenge now for Europe is to work on its own inefficiencies, to reduce barriers within the single market, to press ahead more ambitiously and more proactively on trade diversification and trade deals with other countries that would facilitate that market diversification that is required. 'Meanwhile, there is much to be negotiated in the aftermath of this framework agreement.' The EU is to have 15% tariffs imposed on most of its goods including cars, semiconductors and pharmaceuticals entering the US, with no new tariffs on US goods coming into the bloc. There will be 'zero for zero' tariffs on a number of products including aircraft, some agricultural goods and certain chemicals – as well as EU purchases of US energy worth 750 billion dollars (£560 billion) over three years. There is a mixed reaction to the deal across the EU, with French minister Benjamin Haddad calling the deal 'unbalanced' and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban stating that Donald Trump 'ate European Commission President Ursula) von der Leyen for breakfast'. Ireland's junior minister at the Department of Foreign Affairs, Neale Richmond, said the deal was the least worst option. 'We're not exactly celebrating this, it's not a case that this is a good thing but it's probably the least bad option based on what we were facing a couple of days ago, the prospect of a 30% tariff,' he told the BBC. Asked about mixed reactions to the deal from heads of government across Europe, Mr Martin said: 'Nobody is welcoming tariffs with open arms. 'I think we've been consistent in saying that we don't agree with tariffs, that we prefer if there weren't tariffs, but we have to deal with realities. 'I understand people criticising, but given the balance and the options here … in my view, I would appreciate the work of the (European) Commission in this regard, and the avoidance of a trade war is preferable, in my view, and that's the key issue.' He added: 'It's easy to put the chin out in life, but sometimes it's wiser to box more cautiously and to negotiate wisely and to think of the bigger picture, and I think that's what President von der Leyen and Maros Sefcovic have done on this occasion.' Asked about whether the 9.4 billion euro that the government announced last week would be spent in the budget would be cut back, Mr Martin said they would better understand the implications closer to the budget being unveiled in October. 'It's difficult at this early stage to calculate the impact of these tariffs in terms of government revenues, or indeed in terms of the prospects for 2026, so we will do further analysis of that.' He said he did not believe Irish companies would lose access to the US market as a result of the tariff rate. He added: 'This is not Brexit, and I would caution in terms of just creating funds in themselves. 'I think more importantly, we have to take decisions now that would create the opportunity or the landscape for companies to grow and to develop strongly, to become more energy efficient, in terms of research and development supports. 'It has to be a strategic approach, not a handout approach.' Responding, chief executive of business group Ibec Danny McCoy said he believed Europe had 'capitulated' to get a deal, but said if they had negotiated harder 'we could have damaged ourselves a lot more than we anticipated'. He said there would be 'hard cases' and job losses in Ireland under a 15% tariff, and was 'surprised' the government was not open to Brexit or Covid-level supports for businesses. 'It's not going to be a catastrophe, we're more resistant than that, but for some industries, going back to the point around the Brexit-type adjustment fund, you need to be sensitive there will be some areas that actually could find this devastating.' Mr Martin said it was 'vital' that the EU pushes ahead with the expansion of the European single market to reduce barriers in a number of sectors that 'are way beyond the value of the tariffs'. He said it was not clear yet what impact the tariff differential on the island of Ireland would have, as there is a 10% tariff in place in Northern Ireland. 'In terms of the north-south, again, the detail will be important here and its early days yet to be reading too much into that differential, because ours are not stacked, whereas some in the north would be, so these are complex issues that have to be worked out.'

Donald Trump says he 'wants to see Scotland thrive' during visit
Donald Trump says he 'wants to see Scotland thrive' during visit

Daily Record

timea few seconds ago

  • Daily Record

Donald Trump says he 'wants to see Scotland thrive' during visit

The US President – whose mother was born in the Outer Hebrides – spoke of his 'love' for the country during a visit to his golf course in Ayrshire. Donald Trump has said he wants to see Scotland 'thrive' during his visit to the country. ‌ The US President – whose mother was born in the Outer Hebrides – spoke of his 'love' for the country during a visit to his golf course in Ayrshire. ‌ Flanked by Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, the 79-year-old was asked if changes could be made to the UK-US trade deal, which would benefit Scotland. ‌ He said: 'I have great love for Scotland.' Speaking of his mother, the President said she would 'religiously' return home every year. He jokingly added: 'When we do our trade deal, a lot of it comes to Scotland, maybe all of it should go to Scotland.' ‌ He continued: 'We deal with the UK, but a lot of it comes to Scotland. I was very particular, because this is a part of the world I want to see thrive.' Despite the trade deal agreed between the two countries, a 10% tariff remains on Scotch whisky, one of the country's biggest exports. Asked earlier if that tariff could be dropped or eliminated as a result of the meeting with the Prime Minister, Mr Trump said: 'We'll talk about that, I didn't know whisky was a problem. I'm not a big whisky drinker, but maybe I should be.' ‌ Scottish First Minister John Swinney is expected to raise the issue when he meets the President during his visit to his second course in Aberdeenshire before he returns to the US. Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. 'Tariffs are very important for the Scottish economy and obviously Scotch whisky is a unique product,' he told BBC Breakfast on Monday. ‌ 'It can only be produced in Scotland. It's not a product that can be produced in any other part of the world. So there's a uniqueness about that, which I think means there is a case for it to be taken out of the tariffs arrangement that is now in place. 'Obviously, the trade deal with the United States provides a degree of stability for economic connections with the United States, but the application of tariffs is increasing the costs for the Scotch whisky industry. 'So one of my objectives will be to make the case to President Trump that Scotch whisky should be exempted from those tariffs.

Trump issues final trade deal threat with four days to price hike 'doomsday'
Trump issues final trade deal threat with four days to price hike 'doomsday'

Daily Mail​

timea minute ago

  • Daily Mail​

Trump issues final trade deal threat with four days to price hike 'doomsday'

President Donald Trump levied a fresh threat to countries that have yet to announce trade deals with the U.S. with just four days to go before his new August 1 'doomsday' deadline. Trump skirted over the details when questioned about highly anticipated price hikes for steel, aluminum and pharmaceuticals, with vast economic impacts at stake in each sector. Then he was asked about what his tariff would be for the remaining countries that haven't landed a deal. 'I would say it'll be somewhere in the 15 to 20 percent,' he said. 'Probably one of those two numbers,' Trump added, leaving himself some flexibility. But his latest trade agreements, with Japan, Indonesia, the Philippines, and the EU, indicate that he remains firmly settled on keeping substantial tariffs in place. Trump repeatedly cheers the billions in revenue they bring in to the U.S. Treasury. Critics of the new policy have said these price hikes will get passed on to U.S. consumers. Trump's renewed threat came a day after he announced a major deal with the European Union. He said that EU countries would be facing a 15 percent tariff for exports to the U.S., after earlier threatening to impose a 30 percent tariff. He said U.S. exports would face no tariffs in EU countries. Trump met on Monday at his Turnberry club with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, whose government has been seeking to bring down 25 percent Trump-imposed tariffs on steel and aluminum. Trump got asked after his meeting if he would do anything to help British steel and aluminum manufacturers who might get hit, and when his tariff might come down to zero on that sector. 'We're a big buyer of steel. But we're going to make our own steel. We're going to make our own aluminum,' he said. Earlier Monday, before his meeting began, Trump also avoided details when the Daily Mail asked if he was going to come down on steel and aluminum. The White House had identified that as a top ask Trump might face at Turnberry. 'They did a great job,' Trump said, speaking in generalities while a bagpiper welcoming his guest played. 'They've been trying to make that deal for 12 years.' Trump also continues to brandish trade talks as a political weapon – in one case, pressing Cambodia and Thailand to stop cross-border attacks. 'That was going to be a very bad war,' Trump said. He said everything was 'settled.' Later, Trump wrote on Truth Social that both countries had agreed to a 'ceasefire and peace.' He said he had instructed his team to restart trade negotiations with them. That leaves India, Brazil, and South Korea as among the major economies with no deal yet. On Sunday, Trump announced he had reached a 'very powerful' trade deal with the European Union that would lower barriers to U.S. exports and bring new European investments into the U.S. Speaking from his Turnberry golf course, Trump said European Union countries would purchase $750 billion of energy from the U.S., and provide an additional $600 billion in U.S. investments. 'All of the countries will be opened up to trade with the United States at zero tariff, and they're agreeing to purchase a vast amount of military equipment,' Trump added. 'We don't know what that number is.' It came after Trump inveighed against 'one-sided' trade with Europe as he sat down at his Turnberry golf course with the EU Commission president, while raging against windmills and saying there were prospects for reaching a deal imminently. 'We wanted to rebalance the trade relations,' said EU Commission Chair Ursula von der Leyen, confirming the agreement while sitting alongside Trump. Trump flashed his anger when a reporter asked if turmoil over the Jeffrey Epstein story had contributed to the rush to get the deal done. 'Oh, you've got to be kidding. No – had nothing to do with it. Only you would make that. That had nothing to do with it,' Trump responded. Both leaders made nice – after the 'Liberation Day' tariffs Trump rolled out in April threatened to cleave the powerful allies. Trump had more recently threatened a 30 percent tariff on the EU – providing an incentive to negotiate it down. Trump upon arriving here in Scotland said the powerful trade bloc must 'buy down' the number. 'Basically the European market is open,' said von der Leyen. 'It's 450 million people, so it's a good deal. It's a huge deal. Was tough negotiations. I knew it at the beginning, and it was indeed very tough, but we came to a good conclusion from both sides,' she said. The number comports with what had already been floated. 'We are agreeing that the tariff straight across for automobiles and everything else' would be 15 percent, said Trump. The agreement – with details still to be revealed – comes after Trump announced other agreements with Japan and other nations, while firing off a series of trade 'letters' announcing new tariffs he is imposing on other nations. Japan, too, would face a 15 percent rate on its auto exports to the U.S. After many economists warned that Trump's tariffs could break the alliance, the two leaders proclaimed new cooperation after they had agreed to broad terms. 'This deal will bring us very close together actually. It's a partnership in a sense,' Trump said. The progress came about an hour after Trump complained about the trade relationship. 'It's been a very one-sided transaction – very unfair to the United States,' he complained alongside von der Leyen, keeping her hands in her lap and her expressions muted. 'It's been a very, very one-sided deal, and it shouldn't be,' Trump fumed. He said a deal, if it can be reached, would be the biggest deal 'ever struck by anybody.' 'This is the biggest deal. People don't realize – this is bigger than any other deal. And it could happen – should happen,' he said. Fielding questions at a press event that put the 'working' in what his team calls a 'working visit,' Trump went off on a number of topics. His attacks quickly changed to wind turbines he said obstructs the view from his Scottish golf course. 'It ruins the landscape it kills the birds. They're noisy,' Trump complained. He said what he terms windmills in Massachusetts were 'driving them loco – driving them crazy.' 'Today I'm playing the best course, I think, in the world: Turnberry ... And I look over the horizon and I see nine windmills. I say isn't that a shame,' he said. On immigration, another tension point, Trump said: 'We've sealed our borders. We have nobody coming in ... I think they're going to end up in the same place. You might as well go there quicker.' Von Leyen shared his assessment on the chance of reaching an agreement, putting it at 50 percent. Trump got asked at one point if he could do better than 15 percent – the amount of a tariff on European imports that has been floated as a potential final number in an agreement. 'Better meaning lower? No,' Trump said flatly. But the former German politician showed some give in her own remarks, and kept her composure even as Trump tore into European policies on trade, energy, and immigration. 'I think the President is right. You have a 50 percent chance to strike a deal. And indeed, it is about rebalancing. So you can call it fairness, you can call it rebalancing.' She continued: 'United States has a deficit, and we have to re balance it. We have an excellent trade relations – tt's a huge volume on trade that we have together. So we will make it more sustainable. The two leaders sat in the Donald J. Trump ballroom – one Trump said he wishes he could simply drop down inside the White House, where he has plans for a new ballroom. 'You know, we just built this ballroom, and we're building a great ballroom at the White House. The White House has wanted a ballroom for 150 years, but they never had a real estate person,' he said. He called the ballroom, which is named for himself, 'quite the success.' 'I could take this one, drop it right down there, and it would be beautiful,' Trump said. The trade talk comes a day before Trump is set to sit down with British PM Keir Starmer, amid indications that Trump's love of pomp and pageantry could be working to his host county's benefit. He also complained that the U.S. doesn't get enough credit to approving food aid for Gaza, amid growing hunger and signs of starvation as Israel paused military action. 'Nobody acknowledged it. Nobody talks about it,' Trump complained. 'The US is going to do more aid for Gaza but we'd like to have other countries participate,' Trump said. The meeting came after Trump spent a second day on his Turnberry golf course Sunday – after raging at rivals from Democrats to Beyonce overnight. This time, he golfed just with his son Eric, despite touting a littany of big shots he said would be staying at his private course. 'We'll have numerous executives that we're meeting with – lot of them. We're going to be meeting with a lot of people. A lot of people will be staying at Turnberry,' Trump said after landing Friday night. His aides are calling it a 'working visit' – although he has made time to play his course for two successive days. There is a typically massive security footprint – including the rollout of a new armoured golf court after a phalanx of agents swept his course in search of potential security threats. The last minute addition to his schedule has Trump going toe-to-toe with a top European leader days after he said there was a 'fifty-fifty' chance of reaching a trade deal. If Trump wanted to send a message about what kind of contender she was dealing with, he posted a short video of himself swinging a driver at one of the tees on his Turnberry course. Trump also put in plug by golf legend Gary Player, quoting him as saying 'Turnberry is, without a question, in the Top Five Greatest Golf Courses I've ever played in my 73 years as a pro.' 'Thank you, Gary!' Trump added. Not all of his musings were upbeat – on a trip that Trump began by railing against wind turbines and illegal immigration. Trump used his site to fire at Democrats about the 2024 election, after spending part of the week accusing President Barack Obama of 'treason' after his administration released declassified documents about Russian election interference intelligence assessments. 'I'm looking at the large amount of money owed by the Democrats, after the Presidential Election, and the fact that they admit to paying, probably illegally, $11 million to singer Beyoncé for an endorsement (she never sang, not one note, and left the stage to a booing and angry audience!), $3 million for 'expenses,' to Oprah, $600,000 to very low rated TV 'anchor,' Al Sharpton (a total lightweight!), and others to be named for doing, absolutely nothing!' he wrote, sprinkling in all-caps. The Kamala Harris campaign has long denied paying for any endorsements. Oprah Winfrey has said she was 'not paid a time' to appear with Harris, although the campaign picked up production costs of the event. FEC filings show the Harris camp gave $165,000 to Beyonce's production company, Parkwood Production Media LLC,

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store