Today’s birthdays

Sir Murray Stuart-smith, a former Lord Justice of Appeal, is 95; Mr Hugh Wyatt, Lordlieutenant for West Sussex, 1999-2008, 89; Lord Cullen of Whitekirk, Lord Justice General and Lord President, Court of Sessions, 2001-05, 87; Baroness Jay of Paddington, Leader of the House of Lords and Minister for Women, 1998-2001, 83; Prof John O’keefe, joint winner, Nobel Prize in physiology or medicine, 2014, 83; Sir Francis Richards, Governor and C-in-c, Gibraltar, 2003-06, 77; Sir John Gillen, a former Lord Justice of Appeal, Northern Ireland, 75; Mr Robert Swannell, Chairman, Marks and Spencer, 2011-17, 72; Mrs Iona Mcdonald, Lord-lieutenant for Ayrshire and Arran, 68; Mr Julian Hector, Head, BBC Studios Natural History Unit, 2016-21, 64; Dr John Benger, Clerk of the House of Commons, 63; and Dr Thérèse Coffey, MP, Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, 51.

Today is the anniversary of the signing of the Panama Canal Treaty by the United States and Panama in 1903.