Buckingham Palace says French President Macron has accepted invitation for state visit in July
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Reuters
29 minutes ago
- Reuters
European Union awaits US follow-up on trade deal promises
BRUSSELS, Aug 12 (Reuters) - The European Union could not say when a joint statement on tariffs with the United States would be ready, nor when the White House would issue an executive order on European car import duties, a spokesperson said on Tuesday. The EU and U.S. reached a framework trade agreement at the end of July but only the 15% baseline tariff on European exports had so far come into effect, as of last week. EU officials previously said a joint statement would follow the deal "very soon" along with executive orders from U.S. President Donald Trump on key carve-outs. "It is an agreement that we believe is strong and the best we could have ... Of course, we expect the U.S. to take further steps that are part of this agreement but I don't believe at this stage we can put a timeline on these engagements," the European Commission spokesperson said. The carve-outs include a reduction of the current 27.5% U.S. import tariff on EU cars and car parts to 15%. While duties on pharmaceuticals and semiconductors are currently zero, if they rise as a result of a U.S. probe into imports of those products, Trump assured these would not exceed the 15% ceiling. As part of the deal, the EU and U.S. are still finalising a list of products where tariffs would go down to zero on both sides, such as on aircraft, while other products would revert to a much lower most-favoured-nation rate. Separately, negotiations on rates for spirits and wine are expected to drag into the autumn. Europe still faces tariffs of 50% on steel and aluminium exports to the U.S. but the two sides have agreed to set a quota system and a "metals alliance" that would later lower duties. In the interim, however, EU smelters are under pressure as U.S. tariffs have led to a surge in exports of their main input, scrap metal.
BBC News
an hour ago
- BBC News
Fact checking Trump's Washington DC crime claim
Update: Date: 11:41 BST Title: How many people have crossed the English Channel in small boats so far this year? Content: Rob EnglandBBC Verify senior data journalist As of 10 August, 26,555 people have crossed the English Channel in small boats in 2025, according to official figures, external. That's the highest number at this point in the year since records began in 2018. Since last year's general election, 49,797 people have been detected making the journey. That number could pass 50,000 when yesterday's figures are published later today. A Home Office spokesperson said the crossings were dangerous and undermined the UK's border security. The government has pledged to 'smash the gangs' behind the illegal crossings and recently launched a 'one in, one out' agreement with France. Under this deal the UK returns small boat arrivals in exchange for accepting asylum seekers from France through a newly created legal route. You can learn more about the government's pledges on illegal migration and asylum here. Update: Date: 10:57 BST Title: Drone strike reported against Russian industrial site Content: Joshua CheethamBBC Verify journalist We're looking into reports of a drone strike against a plant - called JSC Monocrystal - in the city of Stavropol, in southern Russia. The facility produces synthetic sapphires, which can be used to make optical fibres and other electrical equipment. We've verified a video of the aftermath, which emerged on social media earlier today. It shows a plume of smoke rising from near the plant. Another video shows an explosion, but it is dark and we've been unable to verify it. Local authorities have yet to confirm that an attack took place on the facility. Update: Date: 10:28 BST Title: Is Trump right to claim Washington DC crime is 'out of control'? Content: Jake HortonBBC Verify senior journalist Yesterday, President Trump signed an executive order declaring 'a crime emergency in the District of Columbia,' citing 'rising violence in the capital.' His administration is taking control of the city's police department and plans to deploy hundreds of National Guard troops to Washington, DC. DC Mayor Muriel Bowser pushed back against the claim, saying the city has 'seen a huge decrease in crime' and is 'at a 30-year violent crime low'. So who is right? While studies suggest the capital's crime rate is higher than average compared with other major US cities, violent crime in 2024 fell to its lowest level in 30 years - and has continued to decline so far this year. Read our team's full fact-check. Update: Date: 10:06 BST Title: Tuesday's BBC Verify Live Content: Tom EdgingtonBBC Verify live editor Good morning and welcome to today's BBC Verify Live. This is where we share the work of our verification, fact-checking and data journalists. Our verification experts have started their day looking into reports of drone strikes in Ukraine and Russia - including one that allegedly targeted an industrial plant in southern Russia. We'll bring you their findings shortly. Elsewhere, the latest small boat crossing figures are expected to show 50,000 migrants have arrived since Labour took office in July last year. Our data experts will be looking at the numbers (due early in the afternoon) and asking where it leaves the government's 'smash the gangs" pledge. While we wait for those figures, you can read our overnight fact-check on President Trump's claim that crime in Washington DC is 'out of control.' As ever - you can find more of our work on the BBC Verify section of the BBC News website.
The Independent
an hour ago
- The Independent
Crystal Palace issue furious response to appeal: ‘Sporting merit is meaningless'
Crystal Palace have accused Uefa and the Court of Arbitration for Sport (Cas) of rendering sporting merit as 'meaningless' after the club's demotion to the Conference League was upheld on appeal. Palace had challenged Uefa's decision to remove them from the Europa League over multi-club ownership rules, but failed in their challenge at Cas on Monday, and will thus play in the tertiary European competition in the upcoming season. Uefa demoted the FA Cup winners after finding that the Eagle Football Group were majority owners of Lyon while their chairman John Textor owned a controlling stake in the London club at the time of assessment in March of this year. Nottingham Forest will replace Crystal Palace in the Europa League having finished seventh in the Premier League last season. Responding to the decision, the London club suggested that 'certain clubs, organisations and individuals' had a 'unique privilege and power', and suggested that the decision-making process over their appeal had been flawed. Crystal Palace said in a statement: 'At a time when we should be celebrating our victory in the Community Shield at Wembley, the decision by Uefa and followed by the Court of Arbitration for Sport shows that sporting merit is rendered meaningless. 'When we won the FA Cup against Manchester City on that momentous day in May, our manager and players earned the right to play Europa League football. We have been denied that opportunity. 'It appears that certain clubs, organisations and individuals have a unique privilege and power. This growing and unhealthy influence has shattered the hopes and dreams of Crystal Palace supporters, and does not bode well for aspirational teams all over Europe competing to progress when rules and sanctions are unevenly applied in the most flagrant way. Crystal Palace fans protested against Uefa's decision during the Community Shield (AFP/Getty) 'Multi-club structures hide behind the charade of a 'blind trust' while clubs such as ours, who have no connection to another club whatsoever, are prevented from playing in the same competition. 'To compound the injustice, clubs that appear to have huge informal arrangements with each other are also allowed to participate and even possibly play against each other. 'While we respect the Cas tribunal members, the process is designed to severely restrict and, in our case, make it almost impossible to receive a fair hearing. 'The denial of all disclosure requests to obtain correspondence between the relevant parties, the refusal to allow witness testimony from those involved, and the general lack of formality and respect for law mean decisions cannot be properly challenged, leading to pre-determined outcomes. 'Uefa's decision has wider implications for the governance of the sport. A combination of poorly conceived regulations and their unequal application means our brilliant fans will be deprived of the chance to watch this team compete in the Europa League for the first time in our history. 'This should be a turning point for football. Uefa must fulfil its mandate to pass coherent rules which are properly communicated and applied, with reasonable cure periods to resolve uncertainty and consistent sanctions, treating all clubs equally with a proper appeal process. 'The European Court of Justice has made it clear that rulings similar to this will be under greater scrutiny from national courts in future. Only then will fairness and due process be granted to every team. 'Although we continue to take legal advice on the next steps, we will compete in the Conference League with the same determination and will to win that characterises this incredible club.'
