Warm-up for the Rugby World Cup: Scotland vs. Ireland
Location: Musgrave Park, Cork Date: Saturday, August 2 Kick-off: 2:00 BST
Sam Monaghan, Ireland’s captain, will make his international debut against Scotland on Saturday in Cork.
Since June 2024, the Gloucester-Hartpury lock has been out of the game playing for her club with a serious knee injury.
She will start for Scott Bemand’s side in the second row after suffering calf and hamstring injuries that prevented her return.
After missing the Six Nations because of her broken leg in December, Beibhinn Parsons gives her wing a second boost by putting her in the side.
After a 12-month absence, Eimear Corri-Fallon, who previously joined Monaghan in the second row, also comes back.
Ivana Kiripati and center Nancy McGillivray are expected to win their first caps from the beginning, while Ailish Quinn will do so if needed to take their place.
With Neve Jones, Niamh O’Dowd, Linda Djougang, Fiona Tuite, and Deirbhile Nic a Bhaird in reserve, there is plenty of forward experience around Quinn.
However, Ireland are without star back row Aoife Wafer and influential forwards Erin King and Dorothy Wall, both of whom have been ruled out of the World Cup.
The first of Ireland’s two warm-up games before the World Cup is against Scotland. On August 9 in Belfast, they will face Canada.
Ireland: Meabh Deely, Beibhinn Parsons, Nancy McGillivray, Eve Higgins, Amee-Leigh Costigan, Dannah O’Brien, Molly Scuffil-McCabe, Siobhan McCarthy, Sadhbh McGrath, Eimear Corri-Fallon, Sam Monaghan (captain), Grace Moore, Ivana Kiripati, Brittany Hogan.
As the US prepared to implement reciprocal tariffs, the world’s trade markets were on edge on Thursday as negotiations for a trade deal with Washington approached.
US President Donald Trump has already announced steep trade tariffs for many of the country’s largest trading partners, even as dozens of countries scramble to secure last-minute deals or extensions for negotiations beyond the Friday, August 1 deadline.
More than 120 days after President Trump’s administration first declared a string of tariffs on the infamous “Liberation Day,” Friday’s deadline comes.
His administration appears to be set to start imposing new tariffs on those nations that don’t reach a trade agreement by the end of today despite several delays since Trump took office in January of this year.
So, what will happen tomorrow? Which nations have deals in place already? Who hopes to seal a last-minute deal, then?
What will happen on August 1?
Experts claim that the US’s decision to impose a significant round of reciprocal tariffs on imports from various nations marks a pivotal moment in global trade dynamics as the clock runs down.
Trump is steadfast in saying that he won’t be extending this deadline. “THE AUGUST FIRST DEADLINE IS THE AUGUST FIRST DEADLINE – IT STANDS STRONG, AND WILL NOT BE EXTENDED. A BIG DAY FOR AMERICA, ” On Wednesday, Trump made a post on Truth Social, his social media platform.
At midnight Eastern Time tonight, therefore, US Customs and Border Protection will begin enforcing these new duties, which will range from 15 percent to 50 percent – or even higher in some cases – depending on the trading partner, the nature of the goods being traded and whether the trading partner and the US have specific agreements in place.
Certain industries will be subject to additional sector-specific tariffs. For instance, most nations will have a 50% tariff on copper, steel, and aluminum, while most nations will have a 20% levy on pharmaceutical goods.
The White House confirmed that Trump will sign new executive orders on Thursday, formally imposing all these higher tariffs. Some of the US’s biggest trading partners, including Mexico, Taiwan, and Canada, are likely to be recipients.
Many nations are likely to experience immediate economic repercussions as well as potential changes in diplomatic relations as a result of sweeping new tariffs on all exports to the US.
Tariffs may also cost the US economy. In its most recent analysis, the Yale Budget Lab, a non-partisan research center, noted that higher import prices could add an additional $2,400 to US households in 2025.
As businesses struggle to pay costs or pass on profits from imported goods like electronics, pharmaceuticals, and clothing, they may have to deal with new supply chain disruptions.
President Donald Trump speaks to the media as he meets European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen at the Trump Turnberry golf course in Scotland on Sunday, July 27, 2025]Jacquelyn Martin/AP]
Trump is introducing so many new tariffs, why?
Trump instituted a “national emergency” in April with his “Liberation Day” tariff plan, which imposed a standard 10 percent baseline tariff on all imports, followed by higher, country-specific “reciprocal” tariffs.
The US has large trading deficits with many countries, which Trump believes are deeply unfair.
Therefore, the Trump administration argued that these new rates were necessary to repair these trade imbalances in order to boost US manufacturing and employment, despite the fact that economists contend that deficits are not actual proof of unfair trade practices.
Beyond trade, experts point to the Trump administration’s use of these tariff threats to advance agendas like reducing immigration, tackling the opioid and fentanyl crisis, and pressing allies and partners on geopolitical issues, such as Brazil’s legal action against Trump ally Jair Bolsonaro.
In the last-minute run-up to the August 1 deadline, Trump’s administration has strong-armed trading partners, including Japan, the European Union, Indonesia and the Philippines, into new deals under which they accept higher US tariffs in exchange for continued market access and investment commitments – and in most cases, a promise not to levy counter-tariffs of their own.
Who already has US deals in the bag?
European Union
The EU has agreed to a 15 percent tariff on most of its exports to the US, including cars and pharmaceuticals, in exchange for zero tariffs on select US exports and commitments to buy US gas and increase investments. Trump had initially threatened a 30% rate.
Japan
Japan promises to invest $550 billion in the US economy after reducing the threat of a 25% tariff on its exports to the US.
United Kingdom
Exports to the US are subject to a 10% tariff rate from the UK. Additionally, steel and aluminum were subject to a 25% sectoral tariff, half of which were applied to other nations.
South Korea
A lower 15 percent tariff will apply to South Korean imports to the US, in return for a $350bn investment pledge and zero tariffs on US exports like cars and agricultural products.
Indonesia
By agreeing to purchase US Boeing aircraft and to remove or reduce trade barriers, Indonesia has negotiated a 19% tariff on its exports to the US, down from the 32 percent that is currently threatened.
Vietnam
Vietnam has agreed to a 20 percent tariff on most exports to the US, with an additional 40 percent levy to be applied to “transshipped” goods – those entering the US via another location – while also agreeing to zero tariffs on US imports like large-engine automobiles.
Philippines
Along with commitments for improved military cooperation, this Philippines has agreed to a 19% tariff on its exports to the US. There are also no tariffs on US exports to the Philippines.
Pakistan
Despite the US’s agreement to develop oil reserves, specific tariff rates for goods are still undetermined.
Which big US partners have no deal yet?
As of Thursday, there were no trade agreements signed between the top three trading partners of the US, including China, Canada, and Mexico.
Mexico
With nearly $ 840 billion in total trade, driven by industries like agriculture and cars, the US ranks first among its trade partners. With no new deal for August 1, existing tariffs of 25 percent on most imports will persist under earlier 2025 trade war measures, with some exemptions under the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA).
Canada
With about $700 billion in revenue flowing between the two nations, primarily in energy, vehicles, and aerospace products, it is second in terms of size. Trump has threatened to impose a 35 percent tariff on goods that don’t comply with the USMCA if no agreement is reached before the August 1 deadline.
China
Third among the top US trade partners, Beijing trades about $532bn with the US, focused on electronics, machinery and consumer goods. Following a agreed pause until August 12, a 30% combined tariff will be applied without a permanent agreement. That came after an imports tariff of 145 percent had already been implemented.
US President Donald Trump and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi are pictured in a mirror as they attend a joint news conference at the White House in Washington, DC, February 13, 2025 (Nathan Howard/Reuters)
Who would like a last-minute deal in the hopes?
India
Even a “very good friendship” with Washington couldn’t stop Trump’s reciprocal tariffs from affecting India, the fourth-largest economy in the world and the most populous nation.
On Wednesday, Trump announced a sweeping 25 percent tariff on all Indian goods exported to the US, plus an unspecified penalty for buying energy from Russia, as trade deal negotiations remain unresolved.
Trump will not ignore the trade deficit that the US and India had estimated to be worth about $ 130 billion in 2024, with US exports to India worth $ 41.8 billion and imports from India at $ 87.4 billion.
Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform, “While India is our friend, we have done relatively little business with them because their tariffs are far too high.”
Later, in another post, Trump said he did not “care what India does with Russia. For the time being, they can combine their exhausted economies.
We do very little business with India because their tariffs are among the highest in the world. Likewise, Russia and the USA do almost no business together, “he wrote”. Let’s continue with that.
The Indian government stated in a statement that it was examining the effects of these new tariffs and that it had been discussing a fair, balanced, and mutually beneficial bilateral trade agreement.
The statement further noted that” we remain committed to that objective. By noting that the government places the greatest emphasis on promoting and protecting the welfare of our farmers, entrepreneurs, and MSMEs, New Delhi “seen what it believes may be potential barriers to the deal.”
Pakistan
Prior to and following the military conflict with New Delhi earlier this year, Pakistan, India’s neighbor, saw its stock rise with the Trump administration.
Trump revealed that the US had concluded a deal with Pakistan, where they will work together on developing oil reserves, but did not announce tariffs”. Who knows, maybe they’ll eventually export oil to India.
Taiwan
If no agreement is reached by August 1st, Taiwan will also have a high-stakes deadline, with proposed tariffs set at 32 percent, excluding semiconductors.
Taiwanese officials have engaged in intense negotiations in Washington, spanning four high-level rounds led by Vice Premier Cheng Li‑chun and US counterparts, addressing not only tariff technicalities but also non‑tariff trade barriers, investments and market access. These discussions reportedly awaiting US approval.
Vladimir Putin greets Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva before a military parade in Moscow, Russia, on May 9, 2025. [Alexei Nikolsky/Host agency RIA Novosti/Handout via Reuters]
Who has little hope of reaching a deal with the US?
Brazil
President Trump has officially imposed a 50 percent reciprocal tariff on Brazilian imports, making it one of the most severe tariffs among the major US trading partners.
Trump has been unfavorable about the prosecution of former US president Jair Bolsonaro, who is accused of plotting a coup to overturn his 2022 election victory, despite the fact that the US has a trade surplus of nearly $7.4 billion with Brazil.
Trump has publicly called the trial a” witch-hunt “and an” international disgrace”, tying his imposition of a 50 percent tariff on Brazilian imports, announced on July 10, directly to this issue.
The Brazilian government was alarming. Trump’s measures were described as “economic blackmail” and negotiations had stalled, according to President Lula.
Speaking at a news conference in Washington this week, Pierre-Olivier Gourinchas, the IMF’s chief economist, called for an end to the trade war.
Terri Harper, the lightweight champion, has a deal with Most Valuable Promotions.
The three-weight champion joins Savannah Marshall, Ellie Scotney, and Chantelle Cameron, the latest female fighter to sign with Jake Paul’s promotional company.
This month, Katie Taylor vs. Amanda Serrano 3 at Madison Square Garden, which was streamed on Netflix, Scotney and Marshall made their promotional debuts.
Harper, 28, leaves Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom and begins dating.
In May, she won a point against Natalie Zimmerman in Doncaster.
Additionally, Harper has won featherweight and light-middleweight titles.
With a 16-2-2 record, Harper has faced the best boxers in the sport, including Alycia Baumgardner, Cecilia Braekhus, Natasha Jonas, and Sandy Ryan.
Baumgardner, the undisputed featherweight champion, joined MVP this year.
Caroline Dubois and former UFC champion Holly Holm, who has also signed to be the next champion, are other options for Harper, while MVP CEO Nakisa Bidarian said former UFC champion Holly Holm is another option.
Musa Mohammed has been reappointed as the Road Transport Employers’ Association of Nigeria (RTEAN)’s (RTEAN) duly elected Executive President by the Court of Appeal.
The three-member panel, which was presided over by Justice Hamma Barka but read by Justice Abba Mohammed, decided not to hear Eriyo Osakpamwan’s lawsuit, describing it as academic and devoid of practical relevance because the case’s duration (2018-2023) had already passed and a new election had been held in the interim.
The panel unanimously decided that proceeding with the matter would not have a beneficial legal purpose because the circumstances had already predominated the appeal.
Abuja’s Appeal Court is shown in the file photo.
Justice Mohammed argued in the lead judgment that courts are used to resolve real-world legal disputes rather than academic debate.
When a suit has no practical value for the parties involved, it is academic. The current leadership is already in place as of 2023, and the current tenure expired. He claimed that the court could not turn the page.
Justice Eberechi Nyesom-Wike concurred that Alhaji Musa Mohammed’s tenure, which is contested, ended in 2023, while 2025 is now. Therefore, neither party is in any way benefiting from this appeal. Now, the appeal is theoretical. There was still a live issue between the parties at the time the appeal was filed in 2021. I concur that the appeal should be dropped because it is academic.
Read more here: A Court Retains Ex-Imo Commissioner Lasberry-Okafor Anyanwu’s Conviction.
The National Industrial Court (NIC) decision in 2020, which declared the emergence of Mr. Yusuf Ibrahim Adeniyi as the RTEAN’s national president and secretary-general, respectively, illegal, led to the leadership dispute.
Musa Mohammed was recognized as the organization’s legitimate president in the court’s 2018 and 2019 resolutions.
Osakpamwan was unhappy, so he appealed on seven grounds before dropping six, leaving only a question of jurisdiction, specifically whether the NIC had the authority to hear the matter without seeking conciliation or arbitration, as permitted by the Trade Disputes Act.
Given the lapsed time of the contested tenure, the Court of Appeal decided that procedural procedures like conciliation should be used to start litigation.
Effectively, the decision puts an end to a five-year legal tussle over the association’s leadership.
Mohammed praised RTEAN members nationwide for their patience and loyalty, and the judiciary for upholding justice in his response.
The legitimacy of this decision is demonstrated by the stability of RTEAN’s internal governance and the strength of our democratic institutions. He declared that “we are moving forward — unwavering, focused, and ready to serve the interests of all Nigerian transport employers.”
He also urged all members to work together to promote cohesion and advancement, including former opponents. He also extended an olive branch to all members.
Let’s put the past behind us and concentrate on creating a stronger RTEAN that will be effective for promoting national development, he added.
Bayern Munich’s Julia Zigiotti Olme has been signed by Manchester United on a two-year, with the option to extend it for a further year.
Zigiotti, 27, was ever present for the Sweden team that lost to England in the Euro 2025 quarter-finals.
After spending two years at Brighton, she first became eligible for the Women’s Super League before moving to German giants Bayern in 2024.
Zigiotti, who won the Frauen-Bundesliga and the DFB-Pokal last year and experienced success there last season, expressed his delight at being here and excited to start the family.
I’ve been watching Manchester United for a while, and seeing what they’ve been up to, impressed.
“They are a team that fits my personality and personality, and it’s been great to meet the players. It was a wonderful way to begin because they were like a family.
In Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, D’Tigress from Nigeria will face Cameroon in the quarter-final of the 2025 Afrobasket.
On Wednesday, Cameroon defeated Angola 85-64 to place in the final eight spots.
On the other hand, Nigeria won their matches against Rwanda and Mozambique in order to advance to the quarter-finals.
Battle report from the field. Taking care of Mozambic. pic. twitter.com/55IuzFIJEo
They defeated the former 60-55 before the latter was defeated 92-45.
Final Roster image twitter.com/sO0ELvDQIh
NBA To Play 2026 Regular Season Games In London and Berlin READ ALSO.
The D’Tigress are aiming for a fifth straight Afrobasket title, making them the first team to do so in the sport.
QUALIFIED ! pic. Twitter.com/ypAomlfmo
In the semi-final of the competition in 2015, Cameroon defeated Nigeria. The West Africans have since won four Afrobasket crowns on the bounce, but since that defeat, they have not lost.
Picture of this moment captured. twitter.com/Dhvs3CbCET
When both teams meet tonight at the Palais Des Sports de Treichville, Rena Wakama’s side will be aiming to advance their quest for a fifth consecutive continental title.
D’Tigress defeated both Australia and Canada in the group stage of the Paris Olympics to become the first African team to reach the quarter-finals.
In the final eight, they bowed gallantly to the US.
Among the nations, Coach General!
Builder of Queens, a force that rejects the norm. Nothing or nothing! Our very own @Coach_Rena photo twitter.com/T23hoclaoe
Despite losing, Wakama, the country’s gaffer, was chosen as the competition’s best female basketball coach.
Rene Wakama, Nigeria, the best female basketball coach at #Paris2024 Women’s Basketball, was the subject of a tweet from Sunday evening on the International Basketball Federation’s X handle.
