Can car maker’s electric plans drive industry forward?

On today’s podcast we take a look at Jaguar Land Rover’s plans to build electric cars in Birmingham.

We’ll also be discussing tensions over the seizure of an Iranian oil tanker, the growing use of children by drug gangs, concerns over schools closing early in England and how a medical breakthrough’s helping paralysis patients.

:: Listen to the Daily podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify,Spreaker

Kudlow says Fed should ‘take back’ interest-rate hike

White House economist Larry Kudlow told Bloomberg TV on Friday the Federal Reserve should "take back" its December interest rate hike. Commenting after the stronger-than-expected June jobs report, National Economic Council Director Kudlow said "we are still in a very strong prosperity cycle." U.S. stocks DJIA, -0.73% opened lower after the jobs report somewhat dampened expectations for a rate cut by the Fed, which meets next July 30-31. Kudlow said evidence shows that inflation is at "rock bottom" and way below the Fed’s target.

Irish Open, Day Two: Shane Lowry struggling to stay in touch on tough day in Lahinch

Kevin Spacey Nantucket Accuser Drops Civil Lawsuit; Criminal Charges Remain

The young man who filed a civil lawsuit against actor Kevin Spacey over an alleged groping incident in 2016 has withdrawn the suit, according to the attorney representing the man.

Attorney Mitchell Garabedian said in an email to select media organizations including the Associated Press today that the suit filed by his client June 26 in Nantucket Superior Court has been voluntarily dismissed. The attorney provided no reason for the dismissal, and he noted he would have no further comment.

The criminal charges against Spacey stemming from the cast remain unchanged. The actor has pleaded not guilt to indecent assault in battery stemming from the incident at a Nantucket bar in 2016 during which the alleged victim – then an 18-year-old man working as a bus boy at the Club Car restaurant – says Spacey got him drunk and sexually assaulted him. The young man is the son of a Boston TV anchor.

Trump repeats call for Fed to lower interest rates

WASHINGTON, July 5 (Reuters) – U.S. President Donald Trump on Friday repeated his call for the Federal Reserve to lower interest rates, saying that such a step would further boost the economy.

Trump has repeatedly railed against the central bank for hiking interest rates and against the Fed’s chairman Jerome Powell, whom Trump nominated, in particular. (Reporting by Alexandra Alper; Writing by Makini Brice Editing by Chizu Nomiyama)

Fed Should ‘Take Back’ Rate Hike, White House’s Kudlow Says

The Federal Reserve should reduce interest rates even though the economy is strong and the latest payrolls report was positive, said Larry Kudlow, President Donald Trump’s top economic adviser.

“They should take back the interest rate hike,” Kudlow said in an interview on Bloomberg Television Friday. “With a weak global economy, taking out an insurance policy is not a bad thing.”

U.S. payrolls increased by 224,000 in June, topping all economist estimates. That led traders to scale back their more aggressive bets on Fed rate cuts this month, though a reduction is still expected by the market.

The Fed raised interest rates four times last year, with the last increase in December drawing especially heavy criticism from the Trump administration. Fed officials have shifted their outlook since then, and in June they opened the door to a rate cut.

“I’m not encroaching on Fed independence,” said Kudlow. “I’m reading the market tea leaves.”

Trump Says U.S. Economy Would Be ‘Rocket Ship’ If Fed Cut Rates

President Donald Trump reaffirmed his view that a Federal Reserve interest rate cut would help the U.S. economy grow more quickly, and said U.S. central bankers don’t know what they’re doing.

Growth “would be like a rocket ship” if the Fed eased, Trump told reporters at the White House on Friday as he prepared to travel to his golf course in Bedminster, New Jersey.

“If we had a Fed that would lower interest rates we would be like a rocket ship, but we’re paying a lot of interest and it’s unnecessary,” Trump said. “We don’t have a Fed that knows what they’re doing, so it’s one of those little things.”

The comment came on a day when the U.S. reported nonfarm payrolls growth in June of 224,000, above expectations and the most since January — a result that relieved pressure on the Fed to slash interest rates to keep growth ticking along when it meets July 30-31.

The president has repeatedly criticized the Fed and Chairman Jerome Powell for raising interest rates in 2018 and failing so far to reverse course.

Trump also said on Friday that President Barack Obama had lower interest rates during his administration. “He paid close to zero interest rates. I’m paying real interest,” Trump said. “Yet our economy is much better than it’s ever been.”

[Watch] The Hunter Brothers sing “Northern Lights” in a grain bin and it’s beautiful

Who knew a grain bin could orchestrate such breathtaking sounds… Okay, maybe when you have the Hunter Brothers in one it only makes sense.

The Hunter Brothers took to one of their grain bins on their family farm in Shaunavon, Saskatchewan, to record a ‘Silo Session’ with them singing their song “Northern Lights.”