Latest news with #Bonkers
Irish Post
12 hours ago
- Business
- Irish Post
Ireland is now officially one of the most expensive countries in the EU
IRELAND is the second most costly country in the EU for everyday goods and services, according to new figures from Eurostat. Prices are nearly 40% above the EU average, up from 28% in 2015, with only Denmark beating out Ireland to the top spot. Ireland is the most expensive in the EU for tobacco and alcohol – with prices more than double the average - driven by high taxes and minimum unit pricing. Alcohol overall is the second most expensive in the bloc, only behind Finland. Food and drinks cost nearly 15% more than the EU average, making Ireland the third most expensive, after Denmark and Luxembourg. However, this marks an improvement from 2020, when prices were 20% above the average. Hotel and restaurant prices are also high, ranking second in the EU at nearly 30% above the average. Communication costs are almost 40% higher, while electricity and gas are nearly 20% above the norm, placing Ireland third in energy costs. Although in contrast, clothing prices are 1% below the EU average and cheaper than many Baltic countries. The data also included non-EU nations like Iceland and Norway, which typically report even higher costs. Daragh Cassidy from the website Bonkers said the data confirms what many already know: Ireland is expensive. Businesses face high insurance and energy costs, which get passed on to consumers. Cassidy added that while Ireland is unlikely to ever be a cheap country, high costs often come with a high standard of living - as seen in places like Scandinavia. He suggested lowering the 23% VAT rate to help ease the burden, which remains one of the highest in the world. See More: Bonkers, Cost Of Living, Daragh Cassidy, EU, Eurostat
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Trump Brags About Shielding Putin, And It's Not Going Over Well On Social Media
Donald Trump may have intended to criticize Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday for 'playing with fire,' but many people on social media thought it read more like a confession. The president took to his Truth Social media platform to declare that Putin 'doesn't realize that if it weren't for me, lots of really bad things would have already happened to Russia, and I mean REALLY BAD.' Trump added that, as a result, the Russian leader is 'playing with fire!' Although it wasn't clear if Trump was referring to imposing harsher sanctions against Russia because of its ongoing invasion of Ukraine, the post came days after the president criticized Putin for his recent drone and missile attacks on Ukrainian civilians. The Trump administration apparently thought enough of his tough-talking post to share it on the White House X account. Many people on social media, however, thought the president may have inadvertently been confessing he's been in bed with Putin the whole time. 'Beyond Parody': Trump Ripped After Bonkers New Rant Against 'Absolutely CRAZY' Putin Marco Rubio Can't Quite Label Putin With 2 Words In Testy Exchange Trump Calls Putin As Rubio Concedes The U.S. Doesn't Know If Russia Is 'Tapping Us Along'
Metro
27-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Metro
Rapper with five number one singles and Mercury Prize retrained as a plasterer
Legendary 00s rapper Dizzee Rascal has revealed he has retrained as a plasterer, adding another accomplishment to his already lengthy list. The Bonkers hitmaker, 40, is considered a pioneer in British hip hop and grime music, and has garnered five number one records in the UK. But Dizzee, real name Dylan Kwabena Mills, could one day be skimming your walls after spending £1,495 to become a plasterer during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Baseline Junkie rapper shared that he became qualified with a City and Guilds Certificate in Plastering after attending Able Skills Construction Training in Dartford. Despite saying that he had forgotten the skills that he learned on the course, Dizzee felt he 'needed to learn to do stuff.' 'I did a plastering course for however long. I forgot how to do it, I got the certificate and everything,' he told Fix Radio. 'In the pandemic yeah, for some reason I felt like I needed to learn to do stuff. Big up Able Skills it was wicked.' However, the musician said that some of his fellow coursemates were 'miffed' he had enrolled, asking 'what's he doing here?' Some didn't recognise him, not realising they were sharing a classroom with an Ivor Novello and Brit Award winner. 'Towards the end, there was a couple dudes I've been with them for weeks. They were like 'Hey, oh my Go,d it's you, hey man, he's rich man, he's famous man'. 'Right at the end is when they clocked it.' The London artist has several well-known singles under his belt, including Dance Wiv Me, Holiday, Fix Up Look Sharp, and You've Got The Dirtee Love. He is credited as one of the greatest rappers of all time, as well as the artist to bring UK rap into the mainstream. He has worked with many huge artists, including Calvin Harris, Arctic Monkeys, Florence + The Machine, Robbie Williams, and Shakira. More Trending Dizzee has put out eight albums, with the latest, Don't Take It Personal, released last year. In 2020, he was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the Birthday Honours for services to music. In 2022, he was given a community order with a 24-week curfew and a 12-month restraining order and must wear an electronic tag after appearing in court to face sentencing for assaulting his ex-fiancée Cassandra Jones in 2021. The grime star was found guilty of attacking Jones, with whom he shares two children, with a judge concluding he had been 'abusive and aggressive'. Got a story? If you've got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@ calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we'd love to hear from you. MORE: Liam and Noel Gallagher in high spirits back at work together for the first time since reunion MORE: Freddie Mercury's sister 'spent £3,000,000 to get back singer's memorabilia' sold by his ex MORE: The Who re-hire drummer Zak Starkey after issuing statement on 'personal issues'
The Sun
22-04-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Rapper with four UK number ones reveals he's retrained as a plasterer after being found guilty of assault
RAPPER Dizzee Rascal has got a secret side from his typical stage persona after secretly becoming a qualified plasterer. The 40-year-old rapper, real name Dylan Kwabena Mills MBE, has become famed for storming the charts and earning five UK number ones including Bonkers, Dance Wiv Me and Dirtee Disco. However, his career was derailed when he was convicted of assaulting his ex-fiancée, Cassandra Jones, in 2022 during a 'domestic dispute' about child contact. But Dizzee has now revealed that, prior to this, he took part in a new qualification during the Covid-19 pandemic. Forking out £1,495 for the course at Able Skills Construction Training in Dartford, Kent, Dizzee is now fully-certified plasterer. Speaking to Fix Radio (via NeedToKnow), the singer said: 'I did a plastering course for however long. 'I forgot how to do it, I got the certificate and everything. 'In the pandemic yeah, for some reason I felt like I needed to learn to do stuff. 'Big up Able Skills. It was wicked.' However, he added that he wasn't initially welcomed by the others taking part on the part-time course, explaining: 'People were miffed, when I got in the queue people were like 'What's he doing here?' 'Towards the end there was a couple dudes, I've been with them for weeks. 'They were like 'Hey oh my God it's you, hey man, he's rich man, he's famous man'. Dizzee Rascal, 37, avoids jail after attacking ex-girlfriend and shoving her to the ground 'Right at the end is when they clocked it.' The star got the certificate before his conviction, which he tried unsuccessfully to overturn in 2023. He was able to swerve a jail sentence at the time, instead having to wear an electronic tag for 24 weeks after being handed a community order. As part of the rules of the tag, he had a curfew between 8pm and 6am. He was also slapped with a 12-month restraining order and ordered to pay £2,190 prosecution costs and a £95 victim surcharge. Prior to his arrest, he won Best British Solo Artist at the Brits, and in 2012 he performed during the opening ceremony at the London Olympics. 5 5 5
Scottish Sun
22-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
Rapper with four UK number ones reveals he's retrained as a plasterer after being found guilty of assault
The singer has landed five UK number ones in his career so far HOUSE FIX UP Rapper with four UK number ones reveals he's retrained as a plasterer after being found guilty of assault RAPPER Dizzee Rascal has got a secret side from his typical stage persona after secretly becoming a qualified plasterer. The 40-year-old rapper, real name Dylan Kwabena Mills MBE, has become famed for storming the charts and earning five UK number ones including Bonkers, Dance Wiv Me and Dirtee Disco. Advertisement 5 Dizzee Rascal trained up as a plasterer during the Covid pandemic Credit: Getty - Contributor 5 The star said that other trainees were 'miffed' that he was there Credit: Getty However, his career was derailed when he was convicted of assaulting his ex-fiancée, Cassandra Jones, in 2022 during a 'domestic dispute' about child contact. But Dizzee has now revealed that, prior to this, he took part in a new qualification during the Covid-19 pandemic. Forking out £1,495 for the course at Able Skills Construction Training in Dartford, Kent, Dizzee is now fully-certified plasterer. Speaking to Fix Radio (via NeedToKnow), the singer said: 'I did a plastering course for however long. Advertisement 'I forgot how to do it, I got the certificate and everything. 'In the pandemic yeah, for some reason I felt like I needed to learn to do stuff. 'Big up Able Skills. It was wicked.' However, he added that he wasn't initially welcomed by the others taking part on the part-time course, explaining: 'People were miffed, when I got in the queue people were like 'What's he doing here?' Advertisement 'Towards the end there was a couple dudes, I've been with them for weeks. 'They were like 'Hey oh my God it's you, hey man, he's rich man, he's famous man'. Dizzee Rascal, 37, avoids jail after attacking ex-girlfriend and shoving her to the ground 'Right at the end is when they clocked it.' The star got the certificate before his conviction, which he tried unsuccessfully to overturn in 2023. Advertisement He was able to swerve a jail sentence at the time, instead having to wear an electronic tag for 24 weeks after being handed a community order. As part of the rules of the tag, he had a curfew between 8pm and 6am. He was also slapped with a 12-month restraining order and ordered to pay £2,190 prosecution costs and a £95 victim surcharge. Prior to his arrest, he won Best British Solo Artist at the Brits, and in 2012 he performed during the opening ceremony at the London Olympics. Advertisement 5 The star's chart-topping career stalled after he was convicted of assault in 2022 Credit: Redferns 5 The singer said he has already forgotten how to do the skill despite forking out over £1.4k on the course Credit: Getty - Contributor
