Trump opens Scottish golf course amid global diplomacy push
'We started with a beautiful piece of land, but we made it much more beautiful, and the area has really, really welcomed us,' Trump said before cutting the ribbon. He later teed off with his son Eric, who oversaw the project, calling the course 'the greatest 36 holes anywhere on Earth.'
The opening blurred the lines between Trump's presidency and private business interests, a recurring theme during his visit. His campaign anthem, 'YMCA,' played as fireworks lit up the sky, creating a celebratory atmosphere.
Beyond golf, Trump engaged in diplomatic talks, including discussions with Scotland's First Minister John Swinney on whisky tariffs and Gaza. He also hosted European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, announcing a contentious trade deal imposing 15% tariffs on EU goods entering the US.
Trump's ultimatum to Russia over Ukraine dominated headlines. 'I really felt it was going to end. But every time I think it's going to end, he kills people,' Trump said of Russian President Vladimir Putin. 'I'm not so interested in talking to him anymore.'
The president also reignited his opposition to wind energy, calling turbines 'ugly monsters' and urging the UK to prioritise North Sea oil drilling. 'Incentivize the drillers, FAST. A VAST FORTUNE TO BE MADE for the UK, and far lower energy costs for the people,' he wrote on Truth Social.
The new course, featuring the world's largest natural bunker, emphasises environmental sensitivity—a contrast to Trump's vocal criticism of renewable energy. Visible offshore wind turbines, which he previously tried to block, stood as a reminder of ongoing policy clashes. - AFP
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New Straits Times
7 minutes ago
- New Straits Times
Slovenia bans all weapons trade with Israel, a first in the EU
LJUBLJANA: Slovenia said Thursday that it will ban all weapons trade with Israel over the war in Gaza, in what it said is a first by an EU nation. Slovenia's government has frequently criticised Israel over the conflict, and last year moved to recognise a Palestinian state as part of efforts to end the fighting in Gaza as soon as possible. "Slovenia is the first European country to ban the import, export and transit of weapons to and from Israel," the government said in a statement late Thursday. It said it was moving ahead "independently" because the bloc was "unable to adopt concrete measures... due to internal disagreements and disunity." Amid the devastating war in Gaza, where "people... are dying because humanitarian aid is systematically denied them", it was the "duty of every responsible state to take action, even if it means taking a step ahead of others", the statement said. It added that the government had not issued any permits for the export of military weapons and equipment to Israel since October 2023 because of the conflict. Early in July, Slovenia – also in a EU first – banned two far-right Israeli ministers from entering the country. It declared both Israelis "persona non grata", accusing them of inciting "extreme violence and serious violations of the human rights of Palestinians" with "their genocidal statements." In June 2024, Slovenia's parliament passed a decree recognising Palestinian statehood, following in the steps of Ireland, Norway and Spain, in moves partly fuelled by condemnation of Israel's bombing of Gaza after the Oct 7, 2023 Hamas attacks on Israel.--AFP
New Straits Times
7 minutes ago
- New Straits Times
US reduces tariff on Malaysia to 19pct
KUALA LUMPUR: The United States has revised its tariff on Malaysian imports to 19 per cent, following a presidential order issued by the White House on July 31. The new rate forms part of broader changes to the US Reciprocal Tariff framework under Executive Order 14257, aimed at addressing what Washington describes as long-standing trade imbalances and national security concerns. Malaysia is among several trading partners now subject to revised ad valorem duties under the updated tariff schedule, which takes effect seven days from the date of the order. The new rate will apply to Malaysian goods entering the US unless exempted under specific conditions. The order, signed by President Donald Trump, reflects ongoing efforts by the US administration to pressure trade partners to align more closely with its economic and security policies.
New Straits Times
7 minutes ago
- New Straits Times
Equities stall as early enthusiasm ebbs; Amazon, Apple earnings due
NEW YORK: US stocks closed lower on Thursday as early gains faded, following the latest round of corporate earnings and economic data, as investors awaited results from megacaps Amazon and Apple due after the closing bell. Microsoft shares rose 3.5 per cent after it posted a strong earnings report and briefly surpassed the US$4 trillion market cap threshold , becoming only the second publicly traded company to ever touch the milestone after Nvidia. Meta Platforms surged 11.3 per cent to close at a record high of US$773.44 as AI-driven growth in its core ad business powered a bullish revenue forecast. Still, other AI-related names were weaker on the session. Names such as chipmakers Broadcom, which lost 2.9 per cent, and Nvidia, off 0.8 per cent, weighed on the PHLX semiconductor index. The chip index dropped 3.1 per cent for its biggest daily percentage decline since April 16. "Looking at the market action today, you have haves and have-nots, and so you have a couple tech companies, like a lot of the semiconductor-related and semi-cap equipment-related stocks are doing pretty poorly," said Ellen Hazen, chief market strategist at F.L. Putnam Investment Management in Lynnfield, Massachusetts. "But then, of course, Microsoft is doing pretty well, and the same thing with Amazon and Meta, which are doing really well." Of the 297 companies in the S&P 500 that have reported earnings through Thursday morning, 80.8 per cent have topped analyst expectations, according to LSEG data, compared with the 76 per cent beat rate over the past four quarters. After the closing bell, Amazon shed 2.6 per cent in extended trade after reporting quarterly results. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 330.30 points, or 0.74 per cent, to 44,130.98, the S&P 500 lost 23.51 points, or 0.37 per cent, to 6,339.39 and the Nasdaq Composite lost 7.23 points, or 0.03 per cent, to 21,122.45. The S&P 500 had risen as much as 1 per cent and the Nasdaq as much as 1.5 per cent earlier in the session. The Nasdaq has not logged a move of at least 1 per cent in either direction since July 3 while the S&P last recorded a daily 1 per cent move on June 24. Earlier economic data from the Commerce Department report showed inflation picked up in June, with new tariffs pushing prices higher and stoking expectations that price pressures could intensify in the coming months, while weekly initial jobless claims signaled the labor market remained on stable footing. Investors will now eye Friday's non-farm payrolls report and a looming tariff deadline, as US President Donald Trump was expected to issue higher final duty rates for countries that have not reached an agreement, although Mexico was granted a 90-day reprieve. US stocks have rallied after a sharp selloff that began in early April after Trump announced a bevy of sharp tariffs, only to rebound as deals have been struck with many trading partners on duty levels. For the month, the S&P 500 gained 2.17 per cent, the Nasdaq rose 3.7 per cent, and the Dow climbed 0.08 per cent. The Dow, S&P 500 and Nasdaq recorded their third straight monthly gain. Drug stocks were also weaker after the White House said Trump sent letters to the CEOs of 17 major pharmaceutical companies, urging immediate action to lower the cost of prescription drugs for Americans. The NYSE Arca pharmaceutical index slumped 2.9 per cent, its biggest drop since May 14 and fourth straight session of declines. Declining issues outnumbered advancers by a 1.55-to-1 ratio on the NYSE, and by a 1.98-to-1 ratio on the Nasdaq. The S&P 500 posted 35 new 52-week highs and 28 new lows while the Nasdaq Composite recorded 70 new highs and 141 new lows. Volume on US exchanges was 19.65 billion shares, compared with the 18.01 billion average for the full session over the last 20 trading days.
