Joss @Joss
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The European Union must commit to purchasing “large scale” amounts of US oil and gas or face tariffs, according to US president-elect Donald Trump. In his latest trade war threat, the incoming GOP president spoke out against Brussels via his account on social media site Truth Social. Trump said: "I told the European Union that they must make up their tremendous deficit with the United States by the large scale purchase of our oil and gas. Otherwise, it is TARIFFS all the way!!!" -
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The lawyer assisting Robert F. Kennedy Jr. in selecting federal health officials for the incoming administration of President-elect Donald Trump has filed a petition urging the government to revoke its approval of the polio vaccine. The vaccine has safeguarded millions of people for decades against a virus that can cause paralysis or death. Trump said he's going to direct Kennedy to study the rising rates of autism diagnoses and that he'd consider getting rid of some vaccines for children, falsely suggesting autism may be caused by vaccines. "We're going to have a big discussion. The autism rate is at a level that nobody ever believed possible. If you look at things that are happening, there's something causing it," Trump said. -
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Ursula Von der Leyan's new deal with South America threatens to rip the European Union apart, as tensions mount between Paris, Brussels and Berlin. The European Commission president penned a landmark new trade deal with Mercosur states in Montevideo, Uruguay, on Friday - but the French government is reported to be strongly opposed to the new agreement. The deal, which is 25 years in the making and will encompass over 700 million people, is objected to by France over fears that its domestic poultry and beef markets will be undercut by cheaper South American supply. On the other hand, Germany is reported to be thrilled with the agreement, as Berlin sees it as a means of boosting exports. Siegfried Russwurm, the head of the Federation of German Industry (BDI), lauding the trade deal, saying: "This agreement will provide an urgently-needed growth impulse for the German and European economy." Under the terms of the deal, trade barriers will be reduced between the EU27 and Mercosur members, Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay, and new addition Bolivia. Ms Von der Leyen told a press conference: "We are sending a clear and powerful message: In an increasingly confrontational world, we demonstrate that democracies can rely on each other. This agreement is not just an economic opportunity. It is a political necessity." Despite the agreement being reached by the leaders, EU states still have to ratify it. France is hopeful of convincing fellow sceptical states Poland, Ireland and Austria to block the deal. "France's voice remains strong in Europe," Sophie Primas, a French junior trade minister said. "No, we're not alone in our opposition to Mercosur as it stands. We can achieve a blocking minority." -
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Former Prime Minister Lord David Cameron has backed moves to legalise assisted dying for terminally ill adults. In an article in The Times, Lord Cameron said that while he had opposed moves to legalise assisted dying in the past, he believed the current proposal was "not about ending life, it is about shortening death, external". Previously his main concern had been that "vulnerable people could be pressured into hastening their own deaths", but he said he believed the current proposal contained "sufficient safeguards" to prevent this. -
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"The owner of Vauxhall has announced plans to close its van-making factory in Luton, putting about 1,100 jobs at risk. There are growing concerns among car manufacturers over EV sales targets, with many ... calling for the government to do more to boost consumer demand. In response to the announcement, the government said it while it was "encouraging to see Stellantis investing in the future of its Ellesmere Port plant, we know this will be a concerning time for the families of employees at Luton who may be affected". [ MAY BE AFFECTED??? ] As part of the shift to electric, manufacturers are required to sell a certain percentage of cars and vans that emit zero emissions. Current rules state EVs must make up 22% of a carmaker's car sales, and 10% of van sales this year. For every sale that pushes it outside the mandate, firms must pay a £15,000 fine. There are flexibilities in the system, allowing manufacturers who cannot meet the targets to buy "credits" from those that can. Car brands with factories in the UK have been urging the government to relax the rules, arguing that EV demand is not strong enough and more incentives are required for drivers to go fully electric. Following the intense pressure from industry, Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds is expected to announce a consultation on the rules later on Tuesday." A consultation on rules from desk-bound politicians! Play "The Death March" for 1100 factory jobs. -
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BBC News Item. "According to the most recent ONS statistics, from 2018, liver disease is consistently among the top three causes of death each year among women aged 39-45. “Women's drinking pretty much doubled in a really short period of time… about 10 years,” Prof Fiona Measham, a leading expert in drink and drug culture from the University of Liverpool, tells me. Her research suggests that in the 1990s and 2000s, the alcohol industry zeroed in on female drinkers, targeting them with products such as alcopops and shots - and using feminism, female empowerment and liberation as a marketing tool. She thinks these practices established a drinking culture in a whole generation of young women that would leave a lasting legacy. “What we're seeing now is that young people, their consumption is falling fastest, but it's still holding quite steady for people in their 30s, 40s and 50s,” she says. The same aggressive approach persists today within the alcohol industry, believes Prof Carol Emslie, from Glasgow Caledonian University. Only now it is pushing things like prosecco, “gin o’clock” and “wine time” as a way for women to relax and practise self-care after a hard day." -
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The son of a farmer who took his own life has spoken about the financial pressures currently facing people working in agriculture. Cattle farmer John Charlesworth, 78, who was known as Philip, was found dead last week at Broad Close Farm, near Barnsley, which has been run by the family since 1957. Jonathan Charlesworth, 46, said the Silkstone farm's annual profit was only £15,000 and that income had mainly come from diversifying its operations by opening a campsite and activity centre. "Farms are asset rich, but there isn't any cash in the system. What little bit we make, we live off," he said. "It was his life and seeing that passed to the next generation, that was the aim," Mr Charlesworth said of his father. Mr Charlesworth said his father had also been full-time carer for his wife, who has advanced dementia, which had added to his financial worries. The most recent figures from the Office for National Statistics showed 36 farmers across the UK took their own lives in 2021. In the government's recent Budget, it was announced that a 20% inheritance tax would apply to agricultural assets worth more than £1m from April 2026. Previously, agricultural property tax relief allowed family farms, including land, buildings, and housing, to pass between generations tax-free. Paying tribute to his father, Mr Charlesworth said: "In any other job you would have compassionate leave, but on a farm you're just working twice as hard." The government said it was unable to comment on this specific case, but offered its condolences to Mr Charlesworth's family and friends. -
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Biden authorises Ukraine to use US long-range missiles to strike Russia - reportspublished at 18:45 18:45Breaking US President Joe Biden has given the green light for Ukraine to use long-range missiles supplied by the US to strike Russia, according to US media reports. There is no formal confirmation by the White House or the Pentagon of the move which would be a major change of US policy. Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky has been urging for months for these restrictions on long-range missiles to be lifted, allowing Ukraine to target locations inside Russia. -
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Environment Secretary is asked by Kay Burley this morning about accepting free football tickets from a water company. Interviewing Steve Reed as he announced the government’s new independent review of the UK water industry, the Sky News presenter began by reminding the cabinet minister how one particular firm, Northumbrian Water, is one of three companies water regulator Ofwat says is not fit for purpose. She pointed out that they recorded 30 sewage spills over the course of 2023, and that the chief executive received a bonus of £234,000 that year. Burley then said: “Why did you take football tickets from the parent company?” “I didn’t,” the minister replied. But Burley reminded him that CK Hutchison Holdings own 75% of Northumbrian Water, and he declared £2,000 in football tickets and hospitality from that company in 2023. Reed claimed, “I wouldn’t have known that” and added: “On that occasion there was nobody from the water company involved in offering those tickets.” “Why didn’t you know that, you should have known that,” Burley pushed. “So you didn’t know who you were taking tickets from?” He said the topic didn’t come up and had no impact on the evening, instead asking the presenter to “judge me by what I do”. “That is what you did!” Burley cut in, and said he should have been aware who CK Hutchison Holdings owned. She added: “This was only last December, you knew you were going to be in power.” “The implications behind this is completely wrong,” Reed replied. “It took my producer Sam five minutes to find that out,” Burley hit out. “You are in charge of these businesses when it comes to delivering water to the UK and you didn’t know?” “What makes you think you’re fit for your job?” Reed, looking irate, said he rejected “the implications is that I will go soft on water companies”. But, asked if he would take those tickets again, he said no “with hindsight,” adding: “I don’t think it’s helpful you’re able to ask me questions like this.” Burley laughed in disbelief... -
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Former Tarrant County Judge Glenn Whitley — a life-long member of the Republican Party who served from 2007 to 2022 — has been one of Texas’ most prominent Republicans. And as the November elections approach, he sounded a warning: He is voting for Vice President Kamala Harris over former president Donald Trump, and while he’s announcing his break with the party publicly, he believes many Republicans will vote for Harris in secret. “There are a lot, I think,” Whitley said. “They’re afraid to come out, because when they do, they get ridiculed and they get bullied and they get belittled. And so a lot of people who have been staunch Republicans and still are staunch Republicans, are afraid to stand up and be confrontational with some of the leaders that we have right now. “It’s going to be close, but I truly believe that that a lot of Republicans are going to go into that booth and say, ‘I can’t support the insurrection.’ ... I have talked with a number of people who I believe will do that, and they may not openly come out and say, ‘I’m voting for Harris,’ or they may just not vote.” When it comes to Trump, there are a lot of reasons for Republicans to reject him, but also good reasons to vote for Harris, Whitley said. While Trump holds a four-point lead in the latest Texas polls, Harris is leading in most battleground states, but many polls are within the margin of error. “Trump has constantly belittled and, you know, bullied people,” Whitley said. “He’s disrespected our military and our vets, he was convicted of paying hush money to a porn star. And then the thing that broke the camel’s back for me was the insurrection on Jan. 6. “And so that’s the reason I wouldn’t vote for Trump, but the reason that I will support and vote for Harris is the fact that I do believe she wants to lift people up.” Like it or not, this election is more important than our recent change of government. -
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Starmer has been dealt another blow after Labour members at the party’s conference voted in favour of a motion calling for ministers to reverse their cut to the winter fuel allowance. A motion put forward by Unite at the party’s conference in Liverpool has been overwhelmingly backed by members, which will cause further blushes for Sir Keir. While there is nothing binding about the vote, it puts further pressure on the Labour leadership over its controversial decision to remove the benefit. The motion passed by a show of hands on what is the last day of the Labour Party conference in Liverpool. -
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