The order, issued on Friday, does not specify the rate that could be imposed, but uses 25% as an example. It says the tariff could apply to goods imported into the US from any nation that “directly or indirectly purchases, imports, or otherwise acquires any goods or services from Iran”.

Nothing elevates a present like beautiful wrapping; and when it comes to achieving a professional-level finish, who better to turn to for advice than one of the UK’s leading gift-wrapping experts?

When Jane Means started her own gift-wrapping business 31 years ago after spotting a gap in the market for such a service, it was an art that was rather undervalued in the UK. Now, she employs a team of 20 and offers gift-wrapping courses online and in person. She has also wrapped for the royal household and a host of luxury brands including Dior, Ralph Lauren and Tiffany and has launched her own line in wrapping paper, ribbons, tags and tape.

With Valentine’s Day approaching, we asked for her expert tips for wrapping any shape of present. For the low-down, see Jane’s step-by-step guides below.

You will need:

• Good-quality paper
• Tissue paper
• Scissors
• Double-sided tape
• Ribbons

How to wrap a bottle

Japan said goodbye to its last two giant pandas on January 27, as twins Xiao Xiao and Lei Lei were returned from their host country to China. Their departure has left Japan without any pandas for the first time since 1972, when Tokyo and Beijing normalised diplomatic ties.

The Chinese government has long pursued a strategy of giving or loaning giant pandas, which are found exclusively in China, to other countries to strengthen international ties and boost its global image. Widely known as “panda diplomacy”, this practice has seen more than 30 pandas sent to – or born in – Japan over the past 50 or so years.

However, relations between Tokyo and Beijing are currently tense. Comments made in November by Japan’s prime minister, Sanae Takaichi, that her country could respond militarily to a Chinese attack on Taiwan prompted an angry response from officials in Beijing.

And soon after, China announced it would be recalling Japan’s last two pandas from the Ueno Zoo in Tokyo a month ahead of schedule. The Tokyo metropolitan government had been negotiating with China to extend the pandas’ stay or loan new bears in their place. But these talks were put on hold and the pandas have subsequently been returned.

Panda diplomacy

China’s practice of sending pandas to foreign countries can be traced to the 7th century, when Empress Wu Zetian gifted two bears to Japan as a gesture of goodwill. However, modern panda diplomacy is often associated with the 1970s. That decade saw China open up and gift pandas to a number of major economies in an attempt to build ties, including the US and Japan in 1972, France in 1973 and the UK in 1974.

Due to declining wild panda populations, China stopped gifting pandas to other countries by 1984. Pandas were instead sent to foreign zoos on long-term loans, often lasting up to 15 years, with countries paying as much as US$1 million (£738,000) in “conservation fees” per year to keep them.

By the peak of panda diplomacy in 2019, a total of 21 countries or territories outside of China, Macau and Hong Kong had pandas. These were South Korea, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Qatar, Russia, Taiwan, Germany, Spain, Austria, Denmark, Belgium, Mexico, Australia, Thailand, Finland, Canada, Japan, the Netherlands, US and UK. That number has now dropped to 16.

One reason for this decline is that China has to be careful about which countries it chooses to engage in panda diplomacy with. Many Chinese people regard the giant panda as a national treasure, with the animal carrying deep emotional significance. Because of their status, the perceived mistreatment of pandas abroad can cause Beijing to receive intense backlash from nationalist circles at home.

For instance, when panda Le Le died of natural causes at Memphis Zoo in the US in 2023 and photos of his female companion Ya Ya looking thin and sickly surfaced online, speculation arose on Chinese social media that the US had mishandled the pandas. Some went as far as to accuse Chinese authorities of colluding with the zoo to cover up the incident.

For many of these people, the alleged mistreatment of the pandas was symbolic of what they saw as the US’s bullying of China. As one comment on the Weibo Chinese social media platform put it: “Treating our national treasure with such an attitude is an outright provocation of China”. Despite insistence by the Chinese foreign ministry that both pandas had been “well taken care of” in the US, Ya Ya’s stay was not extended.

The desire to avoid more public backlash may help explain why China recalled Japan’s last two pandas early and did not extend their stay. With tensions between China and Japan running high, it would have been difficult for officials in Beijing to justify why these cherished national symbols should stay in the hands of what many Chinese people see as a belligerent rival.

Panda diplomacy remains an effective tool of soft power for China. This was demonstrated by the 178,000 visitors that flocked to Ueno Zoo to catch a glimpse of Xiao Xiao and Lei Lei in the month after it was announced they would be returned. The public response was so strong that the zoo had to restrict visitor numbers to the panda viewing area to 4,800 people per day, with each visit limited to one minute.

Yet there are limits to using pandas as diplomatic tools, and not just due to the strength of nationalist feeling within China towards them. China’s practice of sending pandas to foreign nations has been heavily criticised by conservationists and animal advocates, who argue the bears are used as pawns in a game of geopolitical chess.

There are also question marks over whether the practice enhances conservation. While foreign zoos that host pandas send China millions of US dollars a year in conservation fees, the species is currently listed as “vulnerable” by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.

Panda diplomacy is a delicate balancing act. While it can help strengthen China’s international relationships, it also exposes Beijing to public backlash whenever its furry ambassadors become entangled in political disputes or welfare controversies.

For a largely sedate and elegant spectacle, the Winter Olympics opening ceremony still became an outlet for rage in Milan.

Pleas from International Olympic Committee (IOC) president Kirsty Coventry to be respectful were ignored when four Israelis entered the San Siro in the athlete parade.

You had to listen carefully, but boos could be heard over the music in the vast stadium.

Simultaneous parades were held at Games clusters across northern Italy – while jeering was reported in Predazzo, there were cheers when Israelis marched in the mountain resort of Cortina d’Ampezzo.

Israel has endured more harrowing days at the Olympics, with 11 of their athletes murdered by Palestinian terrorists in a massacre at Munich in 1972.

For these Olympics, the IOC faced pressure to ban Israel from competing over the thousands killed in the post-7 October war in Gaza, but rejected those calls.

The jeering demonstrated the animosity of some in the crowd towards the Jewish state, with hostility over conflict and geopolitical tensions hard to escape in the ceremony.

Read more: Best pictures from Winter Olympics opening day

Fractures between Europe and the United States were also evident.

While American athletes entered to cheers, the brief appearance of vice president JD Vance, waving Stars and Stripes flags with wife, Usha, did prompt more booing and whistling.

Anger against the Trump administration has been evident in the buildup to the Games, with protests against Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents being here to protect the US delegation, weeks after their personnel killed two American citizens.

But if you were watching on television, you probably didn’t hear the booing – drowned out by music or commentators.

Italians will have revelled in hearing Mariah Carey paying homage to the hosts by singing iconic 1950s hit Volare in Italian.

Maybe you did hear the cheers for Ukraine, a show of solidarity four years into the full-scale invasion by Russia, whose team remains banned.

There were enthusiastic roars, too, for Venezuela following Trump’s military interventions.

The IOC wanted to show a world uniting through sport, hoping these Games are a platform for compassion to shine rather than conflict.

“You’ll show us that strength isn’t just about winning,” Ms Coventry told athletes in her address. “It’s about courage, empathy and heart.”

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It is about a vast Olympics. For the next two weeks, five sporting clusters across northern Italy will be in the sporting spotlight.

An Olympic Games has never been as sprawling across such a large footprint. It is an even wider platform-to-platform.

But Ms Coventry told her first opening ceremony leading the Olympics that “when we see rivals embrace at the finish line, we are reminded that we can choose respect”.

So what is the one thing I would ask the Chancellor for right now? Not just for London, but for the whole of the UK? It’s what we’ve all been crying out for — a sector-specific VAT reduction. Sunak did it when he was Chancellor, coming out of Covid, and it undoubtedly saved many businesses and jobs. I recently met Daisy Cooper, deputy leader of the Lib Dems, and she fully supported a VAT reduction. Even a reduction to thirteen per cent would still make us the 26th most taxed country in Europe in terms of hospitality, where the average is in the region of nine per cent. Incidentally, at the Night Time Industries Association conference in 2023, all three northern mayors, Andy Burnham, Steve Rotheram and Tracey Brabin, agreed.

Ski jackets come in a vast range of styles, technicality and budgets, but their ultimate aim is the same: they must protect you from the elements when you’re on the mountain.

Sustainability initiatives continue to develop in 2026, with PFCs (long‑lasting industrial greenhouse gases) and PFAS (persistent “forever chemicals” used for water and stain resistance) now a rarity. This has a pleasing knock-on effect to both performance and longevity. Brands have drastically improved the lifespan of products, making it easier for skiers to repair their technical ski clothing, and brands are making their wares easier to recycle at the end of their life, too.

Away from longevity and sustainability, ski outerwear continues to progress, with enhanced stretch, comfort and incremental improvements in breathability and performance. The less time you spend worrying about gear, the more time you can devote to enjoying time in the mountains.

Before I get into the details, here’s a selection of the crème de la crème.

The best ski jackets and pants: At a glance

JUMP TO REVIEWS

How I test ski jackets and pants

Tests were conducted both by me and Ffion Townsend: an instructor, coach and freeride athlete. Together, we tested this season’s latest outerwear to see how they cope in terms of waterproofing, breathability, temperature control, easy of movement and extra features.

I spend all my time in the mountains testing ski equipment, even when undertaking other work. This allows me to test a lot of clothing, so I’m bringing you the best selection from this season’s crop of kit.

Gear has been tested in the Alps, in snow domes and in Scotland. The last of these is particularly unforgiving testing ground for technical apparel, often highlighting weaknesses you might not spot in the cushy cruising mega-resorts of the Alps.

My own testing is supplemented by attending ski trade shows, where I chat to industry insiders, brands, athletes and everyday skiers to get their take. The result is a comprehensive list of this year’s best ski outerwear, including one of two brands you may not be familiar with.

Callard, 68, played the role of Liz McDonald on Coronation Street from 1989 to 2020.

She is now set to appear in Irish soap Fair City as a new character named Lily, the long-lost mother of existing character Gwen Connolly.

Her first appearance is scheduled to air on February 19.

Longest-running UK soaps

Callard said: “I got asked to do it almost a year ago now, and I said: ‘Oh, I don’t know if I can do another soap, I don’t know whether I should do that’.

“And they said: ‘Well, just have a look at it’.

“In the UK, it’s quite difficult to get and so I was watching it on my computer, and I just became addicted to Fair City, and I just thought, this is fantastic.

“The editing is so good. The scripts are amazing. Got my husband to have a look at it. And I said: ‘I can’t say no to this’.”

Beverley Callard played the role of Liz McDonald on Coronation Street for 21 years. (Image: PA)

Beverley Callard reveals breast cancer diagnosis

On the eve of her Fair City debut, Callard has revealed she has been diagnosed with breast cancer.

The former Coronation Street actress, speaking on RTE’s Late Late Show on Friday (February 6), said she is in the “early stages” and will be going ahead with further treatment before returning to the screen.

Callard said: “I’ve had some tests just before I left the UK, and literally, 15, 20 minutes before I was in my dressing room at Fair City, getting ready to go on, and I was quite nervous and thinking: ‘I hope everybody thinks I’m all right’, whatever.

“And my consultant rang me and said: ‘You’ve got to come back to the UK’.

“I said: ‘Well, I can’t possibly, I’ve just taken a new job’. I said: ‘I’m away for a month’, and I was diagnosed with breast cancer.

“But I’m fine, I’m absolutely fine. My head was a bit mashed for the first few days.

“It’s very early stages, and I’m along with thousands of other women as well.

“I travel back to the UK tomorrow, just for a couple of weeks, they’re going to test lymph nodes and lymph glands and all that.

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“But then I need an operation and some radiotherapy, and then I’m coming back to Fair City, so I will be back in just a few weeks.”

She added: “I just thought, the world is full of strong, feisty women and I love strong, feisty women, and I just thought, rather than read about it in a newspaper and it all be distorted and everything else, I just said it, so that’s it.”

Will you be watching Fair City from February 19 to see Beverley Callard back on TV again? Let us know in the comments below.

Holyrood has become stale and needs a reboot says Record View.

The Daily Record championed devolution for decades and we remain of the view that the creation of the Parliament has been a success.

Holyrood led the way on free personal care for the elderly and the Scottish Child Payment for low income families.

Government is much closer to the people than it was before 1999 and the Parliament is a fixture of our democracy.

But Holyrood has become stale and we need a reboot nearly 30 years after the referendum creating the institution.

MSPs should have made it their priority to use their powers to tackle poverty, reform the NHS and close the educational attainment gap.

But all too often MSPs have focused on niche pursuits instead of the bread and butter issues.

In recent times, for example, MSPs have backed a ban on greyhound racing but claimed there is not enough time to protect women from prostitution.

The end of this parliamentary term will see a huge number of MSPs stand down or retire.

This is an opportunity for new blood and new ideas.

We need good people across the political spectrum in the chamber working hard sort out the everyday problems faced by voters.

Professor James Mitchell, an expert in devolution, is on the money in today’s Daily Record when he says the Parliament has gone “backwards” due to “hyper-partisan” MSPs sucking up to party leaders.

Holyrood desperately needs new faces to restore people’s faith that politics has the ability to improve lives.

The new intake need to rebellious, imaginative and willing to think the unthinkable to make real changes.

We need fewer time-servers and more big thinkers.

Devolution has made a difference in the past and can do so again.

But we need MSPs that match the ambitions of the Scottish people.

Knife crime woe

Knife incidents in schools have reached a record high with 267 crimes recorded in the most recent figures.

While most of these incidents do not end up with an attack, all it takes is a fight to break out and there can be fatal consequences.

That’s why we agree with Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar that there needs to be tighter controls around the sale of knives to young people.

But that is not the only answer, as rules to restrict sales will inevitably be thwarted by teenagers who are determined to carry a blade.

The Daily Record ’s Our Kids.. Our Future campaign has long campaigned for more controls on harmful online content – and that could also help tackle Scotland’s knife culture.

Toxic online figures, such as Andrew Tate, have too much influence over vulnerable young men – convincing them that violence and hate are the right way to behave.

The billionaire social media tycoons who profit from this disgusting output need to act to keep it away from young people.

THE Masked Singer fans are convinced character Sloth is a major reality TV star with a VERY famous partner after spotting a major ‘giveaway clue’.

Viewers have rushed to social media with their theories amid Sloth’s various performances, insisting the mystery celeb’s identity is in fact a very well-known Love Island star from series three.

Last week, Sloth sang Tubthumping by Chumbawamba on The Masked Singer.

He also previously got audiences hyped with his renditions of Green Green Grass by George Ezra and Flash Bang Wallop by Tommy Steele.

Dressed in neon attire, the Sloth’s mannerisms are very energetic and sometimes chaotic, with him often hugging those around him.

Based on Sloth’s voice and actions, fans are convinced they have sussed out their identity.

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Viewers believe Sloth is none other than Chris Hughes, with eagle-eyed fans claiming a clue has proven his identity beyond doubt.

The hint seems to link Chris to his Celebrity Big Brother co-star who he’s currently dating.

Taking to TikTok, one commented: “100% on Chris Hughes, said it since week 1, but the SW1A fully confirmed it for me (JoJo SIWA!)”

A Reddit user similarly agreed: “I think Sloth is Chris Hughes!! The postcode was SW1A which could be reference to JoJo siwa.”

“Sloth im flicking between jack whitehall or chris hughes,” penned another.

“Thought sometimes it sounded like him and the sw1a thing i thought jojo siwa.”

OTHER CLUES

Other clues from the show include lots of exercise visuals, a fitness studio with a boom box on the floor, filming themselves as if presenting something and a gym with various gym equipment.

Sloth has said various phrases as clues, such as “We’re hitting century reps today. This is a labour of love.”

He has also said: “Now I’m bringing Fitness, Fashion, and Fierceness to the competition. I know how to represent in the gym and on the world stage.”

However, some fans think Sloth could be another famous face, with guesses including chef Jamie Oliver, comedian Jack Whitehall, boxer Tommy Fury, Corrie’s Colson Smith and Made in Chelsea’s Sam Thompson.

CHRIS AND JOJO SIWA

Chris soared to fame on Love Island series three, where he coupled up with the girl who coined the phrase “the ick” – Olivia Attwood.

They finished as runners-up, with Kem and Amber winning the 2017 series.

Chris and Olivia then parted ways a few months after show filming.

More recently, Chris participated in the 2025 series of Celebrity Big Brother.

He found love after falling for JoJo Siwa during his time in the house.

They have been in a relationship since and frequently flaunt their love on social media.

The pair have been inseparable, and have made sure to have weekends away together and spontaneous holidays.

JoJo recently spoke out about how she wants kids with Chris in the near future.

And she horrified fans after sharing a series of AI-generated pics which gave fans a peek at what their future kids would look like.

She posted a picture of them with two adorable children – one girl and one boy.

Explaining how she had generated the pics, she wrote: “I asked ChatGBT to turn us into a family.”

Fans took to the comments to discuss the pics, with one saying: “This is so horrifying why is ai so good at generating children specifically.”

Another said: “Joelle i love you, but keep this relationship so close to your heart, it’s okay to keep your life private and your personal life intimate.”

A third said: “I love you but this is crazy.”