Readers discuss Trump’s ‘latest bizarre decree’

Readers discuss Trump renaming Lake Ontario, the government increasing GDP and the debate on cigarettes and vapes continues (Picture: PA)

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Not quite the GDP this reader had in mind...

When the government said that it would increase GDP, little did we realise that they meant gas, diesel and petrol – because that’s what has really gone up. Ashfaq Bakali, Nuneaton

Trump’s latest antics don’t impress this reader

US president Donald Trump’s latest bizarre decree is that Lake Ontario
will now be called Lake America (Metro.co.uk, Tue).

Well, if he can randomly rename places while no one listens to him and his empty threats, then I can do it, too.

I therefore declare that the River Thames has been renamed the River Ryan and everyone must call it that, or else I will wipe out a whole civilisation. Heck, why stop at bodies of water? London is now called Cooperville, the UK is now Ryanistan, and Planet Earth will now be known as Planet Cooper.

Otherwise you will suffer consequences the likes of which have never been seen before in human history, or perhaps ever, in the history of Planet Cooper! Make Ryanistan Great Again! Ryan Cooper, Cooperville

Litter isn’t considered enough

In the interesting discussion on vapes and whether they should be seen as preferable to cigarettes (MetroTalk, Tue) an important aspect was missed – litter.

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Vapes and their wrappers are everywhere. It’s time to increase the price significantly
by way of a deposit, which would ensure users return the empty device to the shop for disposal.
Clark Cross, Linlithgow

Reader weighs in on unlimited screen time for kids

It was a relief to read Britt Jones’s approach to the time her children spend in front of screens (Metro, Wed). She says she and her husband allow their four and six-year-old to use tablets or watch TV for as long as they like, despite government guidance suggesting a limit of one hour a day for under-fives.

In our family, we let our children have unlimited cigarettes and refuse to be shamed by other parents for doing so. As soon as they wake up and want one, there is a cigarette ready for them. The high amount of sensory stimulation they provide means they can’t get enough and sometimes they have two cigarettes on the go at once.

Just like Britt’s kids and their screens, smoking together has really helped them bond with other kids, and they can smoke inside and outside, whenever they want to – there isn’t really any part of their life that smoking isn’t part of.

Despite official government guidance and overwhelming scientific evidence, I don’t believe there is any harm in it. Tom Davidson, via email

What about devolution?

The prime minister has been extolling the virtues of devolution once again. But what he overlooks is that it’ll likely lead to local and regional politicians allowing big business tycoons such as Elon Musk to devastate this green and pleasant land with data centres, new roads and all that will flow from new towns and yet more infrastructure protects.

Devolution is about giving power to those who pretend to represent the people while really they’re hand in glove with the construction and civil engineering industries.

Every policy of Labour always involves construction contracts. Alan Meadowcroft, Royton

Some silliness from readers

Dear Editor, I was going to ask a rhetorical question but what’s the point?Matt, Sheffield

Another pun

I always thought that ‘propaganda’ meant to have a really good look. Neil Francis, West Midlands

And another

I saw a nice set of kitchen weights and scales at a car boot sale. They were only £12, which I thought was quite good on balance.
Martin Lawrence, South Croydon

… And Jeff’s back again

My friend and I worked in a factory for plastic Draculas. I had to make every second count. Jeff, Nuneaton

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Are adults the real victims of social media? Readers give their thoughts

Readers discuss social media addiction, whether vaping should be an alternative to smoking and one gives praise for the resident joker… (Picture: Getty Images)

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Adults are the real victims of social media

Meta has agreed to pay up to $18billion (£13billion) to settle claims brought by 29 US states that its Facebook and Instagram platforms harmed children (Metro, Thu).

What about the adults? When I go out and about, the children are usually playing around with their friends.

It’s the adults who are staring at their phones like zombies on trains, or walking down the streets, crossing roads and going up and down stairs without looking up to see where they are going. Jane, Islington

This GP says vaping is not ‘better’ than smoking

An Oxford University-led review says vaping is a ‘viable option’ for people wanting to quit smoking and that they are safer than cigarettes (Metro, Wed).

I am a GP, and myself and many colleagues are concerned about the increasing rhetoric that vaping is ‘better’ or ‘safer’ than smoking.

I routinely ask patients about smoking and many will say, ‘Oh no, I’m not smoking’ only to discover they are ‘just vaping’. Vaping is as addictive and in some ways more concerning. The fun flavours, the refillable nature that means you can find it hard to keep track of how much you are using and the apparent targeting of young adolescents – NHS survey data suggests almost one in four 11 to 15-year-olds have tried vaping.

The risks are not limited to lung damage. Many patients who struggle with sleep are often shocked that nicotine in their vapes is well known to disrupt and affect sleep quality.

Many websites give the impression nicotine can be taken safely for years without mentioning the numerous effects it has on the whole body, from your heart rate to your digestion.

We should be looking to implement some of the measures Australia has made – restricting flavours, making some therapeutic vapes a prescription item and tightening the regulations.

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Meanwhile, the public message should always be that both smoking and vaping are harmful. Dr Noorani, GP, London

‘The best way to stop is to never start’

Vapes may help some people quit but by far the best way to stop is to never start.

That’s why the Tobacco and Vapes
Act (banning anyone born in 2009 or later from buying nicotine products of any kind) is so important.

Unfortunately, because our politicians have distracted themselves with early elections and leadership battles, it now won’t come into force until next year, by which point lots of people will become addicted to nicotine.

But what’s worse is that Nigel Farage and Kemi Badenoch want to do away with the ban, which would cost us dearly in both lives and money and take us right back to square one. Charlie Parrett, Stoke

Resident joker makes return

I am a superstitious boxer – I always have a horseshoe in my glove…
Jeff, Nuneaton

Praise for Jeff

I was speaking to an elderly gentleman in the pub the other night and his name was Jeff (with a J). He’s from Nuneaton.

I asked him if he was indeed the Jeff from Nuneaton who writes in to your letters page with the wittiest of jokes that brighten my mornings at work.

He assured me he was not Jeff from Nuneaton and that he is another Jeff from Nuneaton.

So, to Jeff from Nuneaton, keep up the good work. Your witty little asides brighten my days. Neil, Leicester

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Tottenham make shock enquiry to sign Chelsea forward on loan

Spurs have made an enquiry to sign Chelsea winger Mykhailo Mudryk on loan (Picture: Getty)

Tottenham are reportedly working on a deal to sign Chelsea’s Mykhailo Mudryk on loan.

Mudryk was given the green light to play again after his doping ban was resolved last month and the 25-year-old made his return in Chelsea’s pre-season friendly with Juventus.

But Mudryk has not featured in any of the Blues’ three opening matches against Fulham, Luton and Brighton, meaning he has not played competitively since as far back as November 2024.

Chelsea’s hierarchy have decided that Mudryk should be allowed to seek opportunities elsewhere, with Xabi Alonso unable to guarantee the winger regular first-team football at Stamford Bridge this season.

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According to The Athletic’s David Ornstein, Chelsea’s bitter rivals Spurs have been alerted to the situation and enquiries have been made with a view to taking the Ukraine international on loan.

Tottenham head coach Roberto De Zerbi previously worked with Mudryk at Shakhtar Donetsk and is keen to be reunited with the forward in north London as the club scour the market for further attacking reinforcements.

The club have already bolstered their frontline with the addition of Savio and Omar Marmoush from Manchester City – the latter joining on a season-long loan – this summer.

Mudryk has not played a competitive match for Chelsea since late 2024 (Picture: Getty)

The Ukrainian is attracting interest from Spurs and Leeds (Picture: Getty)

Spurs have also been linked with the likes of Cody Gakpo and Iliman Ndiaye in recent weeks and are determined to strengthen on the left wing before Tuesday’s transfer deadline.

Leeds were credited with a strong interest in Mudryk earlier this month but Chelsea reportedly knocked back an approach which would have seen the attacker move to Elland Road.

Chelsea’s sister club Strasbourg have been mooted as another possibility for Mudryk, who currently finds himself in a state of limbo.

Up Next

Mudryk joined Chelsea in a high-profile £89million move from Shakhtar Donetsk back in January 2023 and has badly struggled to live up to that price tag over the last three-and-a-half years.

In that time, Mudryk has managed a total of just ten goals and 11 assists in all competitions for the Blues.

Mudryk was, though, a part of Chelsea’s squad that won the Europa Conference League two seasons ago under Enzo Maresca. He also picked up a runners-up medal in the Carabao Cup a year earlier.

Mudryk’s Chelsea contract runs through to 2031 (Picture: Reuters)

The Ukrainian has five years remaining on his current contract in west London.

‘I’m really pleased for him,’ Alonso said after Mudryk made his return in Chelsea’s pre-season clash with Juventus at the start of the month.

‘It was emotional for everyone from the club to see him back, especially when I told him that before the game that was my idea, that he could play 10-15 minutes.

‘He was thrilled, for sure. It was, after such a long period, to be back on the pitch, it was a great feeling for him and a great feeling for everyone as well.’

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Gory action threequel The Last Temptation of Becky goes biblical with its Nazi killing

Becky Cooper returns in the third film in the Becky trilogy (Picture: Tubi FrightFest)

Lulu Wilson’s teenage psychopath Becky has returned for a third outing in the grisly action franchise – and what started as a brutal riff on Home Alone has become a James Bond-esque espionage yarn, with Becky Cooper now a fully-blooded CIA agent.

Her temperament hasn’t improved with age though, and rebellious Becky risks being ousted after going rogue on her latest mission.

But she’s given one last chance at redemption when a fresh threat arises from cinema’s favourite villains – the Nazis – who are threatening to kick off the Fourth Reich from an isolated Polish bunker.

It all comes full circle for Becky, who learns that the mastermind responsible (General Wilhelm Reuss, played by Neil Patrick Harris) was also culpable for the death of her father.

Strap in – Nazi killing is about to get positively biblical.

Indie horror darling Jenn Wexler (The Sacrifice Game, The Ranger) takes the reigns this time, making her the fifth filmmaker to direct a Becky movie in the space of three adventures.

Lulu Wilson returns as the titular Becky (Picture: Getty Images)

Becky last appeared in the 2023 sequel, The Wrath of Becky (Picture: Shutterstock)

It’s a series which has always been carried by its canny villain casting (Kevin James in the original Becky, and Seann William Scott in its 2023 sequel) and this one goes just as hard.

Doing away with the white trash neo-Nazis and the Proud Boy types, Wexler goes full Nazi with her Nazis – goosestepping, bizarro science experiments, underground bunkers and all.

Subtlety? Who needs it – NPH is clearly having a ball as General Reuss, slapping on the full regalia (in a nod to his Doctor Horrible and Starship Troopers days) to give the franchise its smarmiest villain yet.

With Becky now of college age, the film is able to lean into Wilson’s physicality in a way its predecessors couldn’t, turning her into a cross between John Wick and Aatami Korpi from the Sisu films.

She may be older, employed and more accomplished, but Becky hasn’t exactly matured in the years since her first adventure.

Neil Patrick Harris plays modern Nazi General Reuss (Picture: ITV/Shutterstock)

‘What happened to you happened,’ says mentor Kate Montana (an underutilised Kate Siegel, reprising her role from the previous film). ‘And it’s the least interesting thing about you.’

Based on Becky’s behaviour here, we’d tend to concur.

The film makes no concessions for likeability where its lead character is concerned, and the teenage pouting soon wears out its welcome. Wilson gets to show a little range in the undercover persona she briefly adopts, but it’s an otherwise one-note performance, with little growth since we saw her last.

The anger is understandable, based on everything she’s been through, but the film quickly sidelines the potential of seeing Becky finally grow up in favour of another gruesome killing spree.

What The Last Temptation of Becky is largely about is Nazi killin’, and this it does well enough.

The Last Temptation of Becky - Key details

Director

Jenn Wexler

Writers

Jenn Wexler, Matt Angel, Suzanne Coote

Cast

Lulu Wilson, Neil Patrick Harris, Kate Siegel, James Urbaniak

Age rating

15

Runtime

1hr 29 m

Release date

The Last Temptation of Becky premiered on August 30 at FrightFest. Its UK release date has yet to be confirmed.

Becky remains a formidable force of nature (Picture: Everett/REX/Shutterstock)

What the individual action lacks in technical accomplishment, it recoups in enthusiasm, humiliating the film’s Nazi contingent in a variety of imaginative ways – including, but not limited to, decapitation, bludgeoning and all manner of head explosions.

Those expecting scenes of Nazi-killing mayhem shouldn’t come away too disappointed, even if the action choreography leaves something to be desired… and the CGI blood is particularly egregious.

It’s the most bonkers Becky yet, featuring a late-film twist that makes the first two films seem grounded by comparison.

If only that sense of ambition extended to Becky herself – a character who’s fun in short bursts, but remains in a state of arrested development.

The Last Temptation of Becky is an enjoyable third outing for its unlikely killing machine – but the teenage kicks are rapidly wearing thin.

Verdict

The Last Temptation of Becky is the most wild in the series – but, in the weak action and underbaked character work, it’s also the weakest yet.

The Last Temptation of Becky premiered at Tubi FrightFest on August 30, 2026. Its UK release date has not yet been announced.

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Teenage cyclist killed after crash near football stadium

The car is seen after smashing into a bus stop (Picture: BPM Media)

A 16-year-old boy has died in hospital after being struck down by a driver.

The teenage victim was knocked off his bike on Cattell Rd opposite Birmingham City St Andrews stadium at around 5.25am on Friday.

The boy died in hospital the next day.

A man, 47, was arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving.

He remains in police custody.

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A silver car is seen at the scene after striking a bus stop.

An ambulance service spokeswoman said: ‘We were called to reports of an RTC involving a car and a pushbike at the junction of Cattell Road and Tilton Road in Nechells, Birmingham, at 5.23am and sent three ambulances, a paramedic officer and a MERIT trauma doctor with a critical care paramedic to the scene. 

‘On arrival, a man, the cyclist, was found in a critical condition.

‘He received specialist trauma care before being conveyed under emergency driving conditions to Queen Elizabeth Hospital.’

A spokesperson for West Midlands Police said: ‘We are still urging anyone who has information or footage to get in touch with us.

‘You can contact us via Live Chat on our website, or by calling 101.’

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Liverpool star agrees to join Man City after rejecting £85m Tottenham transfer

A blow for Spurs in their bid to make a final addition to their attack (Picture: CameraSport via Getty Images)

Cody Gakpo has agreed to join Manchester City from Liverpool, rejecting the chance to join Tottenham.

The Netherlands international emerged as a top target for Tottenham this summer as part of Roberto De Zerbi’s grand rebuild in north London.

In addition to bringing in midfielders Sandro Tonali and Mateus Fernandes in for a combined fee of £185million, Spurs have also signed Omar Marmoush and Savio from Manchester City to refresh their attacking options.

Reports earlier this month claimed the Gakpo was close to reaching a verbal agreement in principal with Tottenham.

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De Zerbi this week teased another ‘bomba’ signing would arrive before next week’s transfer deadline day.

But The Athletic report Gakpo has decided against a move to north London and has decided to join City in the coming days.

All parties are now working on a final agreement with a fee still to be agreed with Liverpool.

Gakpo wants City over Tottenham (Picture: Shutterstock Editorial)

The Times report The Reds are looking for a fee of around £85million – similar to the deal that took Brazilian winger Savio from City to Spurs.

Gakpo, 27, has started both of Liverpool’s Premier League games this season, scoring against Newcastle United last Sunday and providing an excellent assist in Saturday’s 2-2 draw with Nottingham Forest.

Andoni Iraola’s side are on the brink of signing Bradley Barcola from Paris Saint-Germain in a deal worth £123million.

Spurs suffered their second defeat of the season on Saturday night (Picture: Marc Atkins)

The right-footed Frenchman prefers to play on the left wing where Gakpo has predominately featured during his time on Merseyside.

Liverpool are still on the hunt for a right winger having seen offers rejected for Brighton’s Yankuba Minteh, also exploring a move for Crystal Palace wideman Ismaila Sarr.

News of Gakpo rejecting Tottenham came as the north Londoners suffered a 2-0 defeat to Newcastle United on Saturday evening.

Spurs have lost their opening two games of the Premier League for the first time in 15 years.  

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DVLA bans more than 500 ’76’ number plates too offensive for the roads

The latest batch of banned ’76’ number plates has been revealed (Picture: Nissan)

Over 500 new ’76’ number plates have been banned by the DVLA before they can cause offence on UK roads.

Twice a year, a specialist panel for the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency conducts a review of plate combinations and blacklists any that could be deemed inappropriate or provoke the public.

For example, last year, due to ongoing affairs, the DVLA banned combinations **25 RUS and **UKR, referring to Russia and Ukraine, along with other political references.

The decisions are reached based on what letters each number can appear to represent and the phrases they can spell out, whether it be mild swear words or serious racial slurs.

As a result, as well as combinations alluding to Gaza and Yemen, words such as ‘bomb’ are banned, plus the letters ‘STD’.

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Now, a new batch of sensitive combos has been forbidden with the arrival of the ’76’ plate, which poses challenges due to the number 7 possibly resembling an ‘I’, ‘T’, or ‘A’, and the number 6 used as a ‘B’ or ‘A’.

Driving with a non-compliant plate can result in a £1,000 fine (Picture: Ben Birchall/PA Wire)

Consequently, the DVLA has removed hundreds of registrations referring to war, religion, violence, race, political messages, and sexual innuendos.

Among the 523 banned registrations are AA76 RYN, AU76 WTZ, SH76 GED, and WW76 NKR.

Also banned are BJ76 OOB, GO76 WAR, HH76 OMO, NA76 ZZE, and NU76 SAC.

While the DVLA makes ‘the vast majority’ of plate combinations available for use, they’re hot on spiking any that could be interpreted wrongly.

A spokesperson previously explained to Metro that ‘the DVLA withholds any combinations of numbers and letters where we consider that they may cause offence, embarrassment or are in poor taste’.

As for the penalty for cruising around with a non-compliant plate, it can be confiscated by police, and you can be fined.

Police can stop motorists whose plates may be illegal (Picture: Getty Images)

Drivers may also fail their MOT as a result

Additionally, number plates must be clearly displayed and cannot be ‘rearranged or misrepresented to ‘form names or words, so that they are hard to read’.

This may include fixing bolts to change any of the characters.

Plates must comply with font and style requirements, too. This means using the Charles Wright 2001 font and having the legally required thickness, size, and spacing between letters.

Motorists who don’t properly display their registrations can be fined up to £1,000.

Most recent police data published last year shows that 21,683 drivers were recorded or stopped for illegal number plate offences in the UK in 2024.

The Metropolitan Police recorded the most incidents (6,158).

Previous figures from 2020 showed 13,720 drivers were stopped.

Full list of banned ’76’ number plates 2026

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Gabby’s guilt after major Emmerdale death as spoilers reveal what happens next

The aftermath of a big week revealed – and more drama follows (Picture: ITV / Metro

There are questions aplenty in Emmerdale following the death of Jimmy King (Nick Miles), who perished at the wheel of his car which crashed into the wedding marquee on Joe Tate (Ned Porteous) and Dawn Taylor’s (Olivia Bromley) big day.

It’s been an emotional week for the residents of the eponymous village – and for the viewers at home, no doubt! – as what was meant to be the happiest day of the bride and groom-to-be’s lives ended in tragedy.

After finding out that Billy Fletcher (Jay Kontzle) had conspired with Caleb Miligan (William Ash) to get her out of the village as a way of destroying Joe, Dawn rushed back home to reunite with fiancé Joe at the marquee.

Jimmy’s vehicle subsequently drove through the venue and led to his death, with Joe urging Dawn to get to safety before the marquee went up in flames.

A major explosion ensued, with Graham Foster (Andrew Scarborough) racing to rescue Joe. To everyone’s shock, Joe was still alive when Graham emerged from the blaze and he was rushed to hospital.

Dawn, meanwhile, went into early labour and delivered the baby, with an emotional Joe watching on by her side.

Up Next

In the village, Nicola King (Nicola Wheeler) was tasked with telling her children that Jimmy had sadly died in the incident while the village mourned one of their own.

Kim Tate (Claire King) later headed up the crash site, where she grilled DS Ramsden on the investigation, hoping to get some clue as to what transpired.

Out of sight, a guilty Gabby Thomas (Rosie Bentham) loomed, panic written all over her face. The question is: just what does she have to feel guilty about?

The end of the week might be upon us but it’s not the last Emmerdale we have to look forward to as the show is on Sunday (August 30) to make up for the lack of episode on Tuesday. Here’s what’s coming up.

What happens next in Emmerdale? Spoilers for Sunday, August 30 episode 

The aftermath of the tragedy that unfolded this week continues to send shockwaves through the village as loved ones struggle to cope in the wake of the atrocity and emotions run high.

DS Ramsden is on the case (Picture: ITV)

Grief is aplenty for Nicola and the Kings.

Can they navigate and come to terms with a post-Jimmy world? Elsewhere, Joe and Dawn adapt to life following the birth of their child as they make plans for the future.

In terms of the investigation, DS Ramsden keeps a watchful eye over the scene of the crash. Will she discover what really transpired?

Gabby is hiding something it seems (Picture: ITV)

We are yet to discover what caused Jimmy to crash into the marquee so answers will no doubt soon have to emerge.

In scenes set to air next week, Ramsden relishes the emotional pain she’s inflicting on a villager in the police interview room. But is this in relation to the crash or her own personal vendetta against Kim?

And just what is the reason for Gabby’s guilt?

Next week will confirm that something is very much weighing on her mind – but you’ll just have to keep watching to find out what it is.

Emmerdale airs these scenes Sunday August 30 at 8pm on ITV1 or stream from 7am on ITVX or YouTube.

If you’ve got a soap or TV story, video or pictures get in touch by emailing us soaps@metro.co.uk – we’d love to hear from you.

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