Ukraine's Zelenskiy says latest Trump call the 'most productive' yet
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Sky News
12 minutes ago
- Sky News
Texas floods: At least 104 killed - as new images show scale of the destruction
At least 104 people have died in the flash floods that have left a trail of destruction across Texas. Kerr County Sheriff's Office said the number of bodies found in the area had risen from 75 to 84 - including 56 adults and 28 children. The have been seven fatalities in Travis County, six in Kendall County, four in Burnet County, two in Williamson County and one in Tom Green County. Earlier, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt warned that "the situation on the ground remains dangerous" and that there "could be additional public safety threats with additional incoming heavy rain". The floods that first struck on Friday have wreaked havoc and left people in a state of grief - with 27 of the confirmed deaths having taken place at a girls' summer camp in Kerr County. Among those killed at Camp Mystic were Renee Smajstrla and Sarah Marsh, both eight, Eloise Peck and Lila Bonner, both nine, and the camp's director Richard Eastland. A photo has now emerged showing the inside of the camp on Saturday after the waters hit. At least 41 people are still missing in the state - including 10 girls from Camp Mystic. In her news conference, Ms Leavitt criticised people who have claimed the Trump administration's cuts to the National Weather Service (NWS) have played a role in the worsening the disaster. It comes after Texas officials criticised the NWS by claiming it failed to warn the public about the impending danger. Meanwhile, Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer asked the Department of Commerce's acting inspector general on Monday to probe whether staffing vacancies at the NWS's San Antonio office contributed to "delays, gaps, or diminished accuracy" in forecasting the flooding. The NWS did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Mr Schumer's letter, but earlier defended its forecasting and emergency management. Ms Leavitt has told reporters that claims Mr Trump was responsible for any issues related to the flash floods response were "depraved and despicable". "It is not [a political game], it is a national tragedy," she said. The press secretary also claimed, in relation to some NWS offices being reportedly understaffed, that one place actually had "too many people". "Any person who has deliberately lied about the facts around the catastrophic event, you should be deeply ashamed," she said. She also said that Mr Trump was going to visit Texas "later in the week". Previously, Mr Trump said it was likely he would visit on Friday. Texas Senator Ted Cruz spoke at a news conference and said: "Texas is grieving right now, the pain, the shock of what has transpired these last few days has broken the heart of our state. "Those numbers [the number of dead] are continuing to go up... that's every parent's nightmare, every mum and dad." He said he had picked up his own daughter from a camp in the area last week. Mr Cruz added: "You know what I'd do? What I did when this happened? Just go hug your kids. "Because I've got to tell you, I hugged my girls with tears in my eyes." 1:04 Dalton Rice, the city manager of Kerrville in Kerr County, was asked whether evacuation warnings could have been issued earlier. He said: "It's very tough to make those calls because we also don't want to cry wolf. "You know, we want to make sure that we activated [it] at the right time." He added: "We had first responders getting swept away, responding to the first areas of rainfall. That's how quick it happened.
Reuters
14 minutes ago
- Reuters
Yen stumbles as Trump imposes 25% tariffs on Japan
SINGAPORE, July 8 (Reuters) - The yen fell broadly on Tuesday while the dollar held steady as U.S. President Donald Trump unveiled 25% tariffs on goods from Japan and South Korea in the latest development of his chaotic trade war. Trump on Monday began telling trade partners – from powerhouse suppliers like Japan and South Korea to minor players – that sharply higher U.S. tariffs will start August 1. He later said that he was open to extensions if countries made proposals. The announcement rattled investor sentiment, sending the Japanese yen and South Korean won down roughly 1% overnight. Both currencies remained under pressure early on Tuesday, with the yen falling to a two-week low of 146.44 per dollar. The won rose 0.4% to 1370.20 per dollar. Investors entered the week with much confusion over Trump's tariff plans ahead of an initial July 9 deadline. While the new August 1 date offers a brief reprieve, the outlook remains uncertain and global economic concerns persist. "There is still a lot of uncertainty as to where tariff rates will eventually settle and which countries will get what rates, so uncertainty about the global economy is still high and that will keep investors on edge for the time being," said Carol Kong, a currency strategist at Commonwealth Bank of Australia. "This is just the start and we'll get more headlines out for sure over the coming days." Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba said on Tuesday that Japan would continue negotiations with the United States to seek a trade deal that benefits both countries. South Korea has said it plans to intensify trade talks with the U.S. and views Trump's plan for a 25% tariff from August 1 as effectively extending a grace period on implementing reciprocal tariffs. Other currencies meanwhile gained some ground on Tuesday, after sliding in the prior session when the dollar rebounded. The euro was up 0.27% to $1.1741 after having slid 0.67% on Monday, while sterling edged up 0.17% to $1.3626. The European Union will not receive a letter from the United States setting out higher tariffs, EU sources familiar with the matter told Reuters on Monday, and is eyeing possible exemptions from the U.S. baseline levy of 10%. Against a basket of currencies, the dollar was little changed at 97.40, holding on to most of its gains from Monday when it rose 0.5%. The Australian dollar last traded 0.32% higher at $0.6513, having tumbled 0.9% in the previous session as risk appetite soured. The New Zealand dollar advanced 0.22% to $0.6015, reversing some of Monday's 0.8% fall. The Reserve Bank of Australia announces its rate decision later on Tuesday, where expectations are for the central bank to deliver another rate cut owing to easing inflation and a slowing economy. "Given the ever-shifting balance of risks and the heightened uncertainty it creates for hiring and investment in the Australian economy, more RBA cuts are set to follow," said Carl Ang, fixed income research analyst at MFS Investment Management. "A 3.1% terminal rate by early 2026 remains the base case for this RBA cutting cycle."
The Guardian
17 minutes ago
- The Guardian
France and UK expected to announce joint plan on small boat crossings
Keir Starmer and Emmanuel Macron are expected to announce plans for French police to do more to block small boats crossing the Channel at a summit in London this week, but a wider deal on returning asylum seekers is still up in the air. While details remain limited, with French officials believed to be still finalising what action the country can take with boats that are already in shallow waters, an announcement is expected on Wednesday. It is also still possible that Starmer and the visiting French president could set out plans for a 'one in, one out' returns scheme for asylum seekers who make it to Britain, although UK officials say this is less likely. This scheme would allow for the return of small boat arrivals in exchange for the UK accepting another asylum seeker from France who is thought to have a clearer right to claim asylum in Britain, such as through family ties. Macron arrives on Tuesday for a state visit that will involve events with royals and other pageantry but is also scheduled to include an Anglo-French summit and other meetings with Starmer. France is expected to announce it will allow police to intervene in shallow waters up to 300 metres from shore in order to stop small boats leaving. It would help prevent 'taxi-boats', which pick people up in the water rather than launching from the beach with passengers on board. This will require changes to existing protocol that do not contravene the UN convention on the law of the sea, which bars any intervention at sea that is not an actual rescue. Maritime authorities have been asked to draw up proposals to 'advance' French protocol on interceptions to allow such interventions to take place 'while still respecting the UN convention on the law of the sea'. It is understood that a French review of such tactics has been completed, with French and British officials continuing talks about what more could be done. On Friday, French police used knives to puncture a boat in shallow seas near Boulogne, in northern France, although it is not known if this was a sign of new protocols or a one-off. Downing Street declined to comment on possible announcements before the visit, although Starmer's deputy spokesperson indicated that there was likely to be concrete progress on small boat crossings. He told reporters: 'We expect to make progress on a wide range of issues and joint priorities, and that includes migration. I'm not going to get ahead of the summit this week, but there are a range of maritime tactics that we have been discussing and have secured agreement with the French over. 'It is operationally and legally complicated, but we expect these tactics to be operationalised soon. 'It's for French authorities to make operational decisions for themselves, but as I say, it's a complex area, but we are working extremely closely with the French. Our relationship with them is better than it has been for a long time.' The hope of the 'one in, one out plan', in combination with a greater likelihood of boats being stopped in the water, is that people could be dissuaded from paying people-smugglers to try to get them across the faces sustained political pressure to reduce the number of people arriving across the Channel. Despite a government promise to 'smash the gangs' that organise the crossings, more than 20,000 people have crossed to the UK in the first six months of this year, up 48% on the equivalent period in 2024.
