King tells of ‘profound sadness' in letter to Trump after Texas floods
'Following the devastating flooding in Texas, His Majesty King Charles has written to President Trump to express his profound sadness at the tragic loss of life,' the embassy said.
Following the devastating flooding in Texas, His Majesty King Charles has written to President Trump to express his profound sadness at the tragic loss of life.
He offered his deepest sympathy to all families who have lost loved ones and paid tribute to courage and selflessness… pic.twitter.com/jdP01kANGK
— British Embassy Washington (@UKinUSA) July 7, 2025
'He offered his deepest sympathy to all families who have lost loved ones and paid tribute to courage and selflessness of the emergency service and volunteers.'
Operators of Camp Mystic, a century-old summer camp in the Texas Hill Country, said they lost 27 campers and counsellors, confirming their worst fears after a wall of water slammed into cabins built along the edge of the Guadalupe River.
With additional rain on the way, more flooding remains a threat in saturated parts of the US state.
Authorities said the death toll was sure to rise as crews looked for many people who were missing.
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Sky News
44 minutes ago
- Sky News
Gaza permanent ceasefire 'questionable' - but possible 'within weeks, not a day', says senior Israeli official
A senior Israeli official has issued a less-than-optimistic assessment of the permanency of any ceasefire in Gaza. Speaking in Washington on condition of anonymity, the senior official said that a 60-day ceasefire"might" be possible within "a week, two weeks - not a day". But on the chances of the ceasefire lasting beyond 60 days, the official said: "We will begin negotiations on a permanent settlement. "But we achieve it? It's questionable, but Hamas will not be there." Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is due to conclude a four-day visit to Washington later today. There had been hope that a ceasefire could be announced during the trip. US President Donald Trump has repeatedly stated that it's close. 0:44 Speaking at a briefing for a number of reporters, the Israeli official would not be drawn on any of the details of the negotiations over concerns that public disclosure could jeopardise their chances of success. The major sticking point in the talks between Hamas and Israel is the status of the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) inside Gaza during the 60-day ceasefire and beyond, should it last longer. The latest Israeli proposal, passed to Hamas last week, included a map showing the proposed IDF presence inside Gaza during the ceasefire. This was rejected by Hamas and by Trump's Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, who reportedly told the Israelis that the redeployment map "looks like a Smotrich plan", a reference to the extreme-right Israeli finance minister, Bezalel Smotrich. The official repeated Israel's central stated war aims of getting the hostages back and eliminating Hamas. But in a hint of how hard it will be to reconcile the differences, the official was clear that no permanent ceasefire would be possible without the complete removal of Hamas. "We will offer them a permanent ceasefire," he told Sky News. "If they agree. Fine. It's over. "They lay down their arms, and we proceed [with the ceasefire]. If they don't, we'll proceed [with the war]." On the status of the Israeli military inside Gaza, the official said: "We would want IDF in every square meter of Gaza, and then hand it over to someone..." He added: "[We] don't want to govern Gaza... don't want to govern, but the first thing is, you have to defeat Hamas..." The official said the Israeli government had "no territorial designs for Gaza". "But [we] don't want Hamas there," he continued. "You have to finish the job... victory over Hamas. You cannot have victory if you don't clear out all the fighting forces. "You have to go into every square inch unless you are not serious about victory. I am. We are going to defeat them. Those who do not disarm will die. Those who disarm will have a life." On the future of Gaza, the official ruled out the possibility of a two-state solution "for the foreseeable future". "They are not going to have a state in the foreseeable future as long as they cling to that idea of destroying our state. It doesn't make a difference if they are the Palestinian Authority or Hamas, it's just a difference of tactics." On the most controversial aspect of the Gaza conflict - the movement of the population - the official predicted that 60% of Palestinians would "choose to leave". But he claimed that Israel would allow them to return once Hamas had been eliminated, adding: "It's not forcible eviction, it's not permanent eviction." Critics of Israel's war in Gaza say that any removal of Palestinians from Gaza, even if given the appearance of being "voluntary," is in fact anything but, because the strip has been so comprehensively flattened. Reacting to Israeli Defence Minister Katz's recent statement revealing a plan to move Palestinians into a "humanitarian city" in southern Gaza, and not let them out of that area, the official wouldn't be drawn, except to say: "As a permanent arrangement? Of course not."
The Guardian
an hour ago
- The Guardian
Trump announces 50% tariff on Brazil, citing a ‘witch-hunt' against Bolsonaro
Donald Trump announced on Wednesday that his administration will hit Brazil with a 50% tariff on products sent to the US, tying the move to what he called the 'witch-hunt' trial against its former president, Jair Bolsonaro. Posting letters on Truth Social, the US president had earlier in the day targeted seven other countries – the Philippines, Brunei, Moldova, Algeria, Libya, Iraq and Sri Lanka – for stiff US tariffs on foreign exports starting on 1 August. On Wednesday afternoon, Trump avoided his standard form letter with Brazil, and criticized the trial Bolsonaro is facing over trying to overturn his 2022 election loss. Trump has described Bolsonaro as a friend and hosted the former Brazilian president at his Mar-a-Lago resort when both were in power in 2020. 'This Trial should not be taking place,' Trump wrote in the letter posted on Truth Social on Wednesday. 'It is a witch hunt that should end IMMEDIATELY!' He said the 50% tariffs on Brazil would be 'separate from all sectoral tariffs'. After the news, Brazil's real currency added to earlier losses to fall more than 2% against the dollar. Brazil's president, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, rejected Trump's demand that legal proceedings against Bolsonaro be dropped and his claim that a 50% tariff on Brazilian imports was necessary to close a trade deficit that does not, in fact, exist. In a statement posted on social media and his government's website, the Brazilian president responded, point by point, to the claims made by Trump in a letter addressed to him earlier on Wednesday. 'Brazil is a sovereign nation with independent institutions and will not accept any form of tutelage,' Lula began. He then pointed out that the charges against Bolsonaro, for allegedly plotting to remain in power after losing his bid for re-election, 'fall exclusively under the jurisdiction of Brazil's Judicial Branch and, as such, are not subject to any interference or threats that could compromise the independence of national institutions'. Trump also objected to Brazil's supreme court fining of social media companies such as Twitter/X, saying the temporary blocking last year amounted to 'SECRET and UNLAWFUL Censorship Orders'. Trump said he is launching an investigation as a result under section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974, which applies to companies with trade practices that are deemed unfair to US companies. Lula also rejected Trump's claim that Brazil's efforts to regulate the operations of US social media platforms on its territory in accordance with its own laws are not, as Trump had claimed, a form of censorship. 'Brazilian society rejects hateful content, racism, child pornography, scams, fraud, and speeches against human rights and democratic freedom' Lula wrote. 'In Brazil, freedom of expression must not be confused with aggression or violent practices. All companies—whether domestic or foreign—must comply with Brazilian law in order to operate within our territory.' The US president had been scheduled to hike tariffs on dozens of countries on Wednesday. Earlier this week he announced a fresh three-week delay, to 1 August, but started announcing new rates that countries would face unless they strike a deal with the White House. After announcing plans on Monday for US tariffs of up to 40% on goods imported from 14 countries, including Bangladesh, Japan and South Korea, Trump wrote to the leaders of more countries on Wednesday, and published each letter. Sign up to This Week in Trumpland A deep dive into the policies, controversies and oddities surrounding the Trump administration after newsletter promotion He claimed exporters in Algeria, Iraq, Libya and Sri Lanka would face a US tariff of 30%, while exporters in Brunei, Moldova and the Philippines would face a 25% tariff. 'These Tariffs may be modified, upward or downward, depending on our relationship with your Country,' Trump wrote. A string of delays and rate changes have frustrated businesses in the US and around the world. On Tuesday, Trump vowed to introduce US tariffs of up to 200% on foreign drugs and 50% on copper, propelling US prices of the latter to record highs. But appearing alongside the leaders of Gabon, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mauritania and Senegal at the White House on Wednesday, the president indicated that the five African nations were unlikely to face US tariffs as they intended to lower their own tariffs on US exports. The US president's latest threats have heightened fears that his erratic trade strategy risks exacerbating inflation across the US, having repeatedly pledged on the campaign trail to bring down prices rapidly. Trump appears aware of this apprehension. 'I brought down costs more than any President in recorded history,' he wrote on social media late on Tuesday. 'The Crooked Democrats are using the opposite narrative, even though they know it is a total LIE.' Analysis by Oxford Economics indicated that the US effective tariff rate on imports from overseas would rise to about 20% after the latest tariff letters. 'That is up from 17% but less than our recession threshold of 25%-28%,' said Michael Pearce, its deputy US economist at Oxford Economics. 'Our assumption is that most countries will secure a deal or extension to avoid tariff increases,' said Pearce. 'However, the risks are skewed toward higher rates.' While Trump and his allies have sought to pressure the Federal Reserve into cutting interest rates, the central bank's top officials – led by its chair, Jerome Powell – have so far refused, as they wait to see the impact of his tariffs on the economy. Minutes taken from the Fed's latest rate-setting meeting, released on Wednesday, disclosed that only 'a couple' of its officials said they felt interest rates could fall as soon as its next meeting, later this month. 'Most participants' at the Fed meeting – at which rates were kept on hold last month – anticipated rate cuts later this year, according to the minutes, with any price shock caused by Trump's tariffs expected to be 'temporary or modest'. Robert Mackey contributed reporting
The Guardian
2 hours ago
- The Guardian
Trump news at a glance: president demands Bolsonaro trial be stopped as he hits Brazil with 50% tariff
Donald Trump has slapped a 50% tariff on Brazil over what he called the 'witch-hunt' against former president Jair Bolsonaro and demanded that it end immediately. The US president said the levy on Brazil would be 'separate from all sectoral tariffs' as he also targeted seven other countries for steep tariffs and criticised the trial of Bolsonaro, whom he has described as a friend and hosted at his Mar-a-Lago resort. The US supreme court, meanwhile, denied a request by Florida officials to lift a judge's order barring them from carrying out arrests of undocumented US immigrants entering the state while a legal challenge plays out. And the Trump's administration has issued sanctions against Francesca Albanese, a UN official investigating abuses in Gaza in the latest US effort to punish critics of Israel's war in the territory. Here are the key US politics stories at a glance: On Wednesday afternoon, Trump avoided his standard form letter with Brazil, and criticized the trial Jair Bolsonaro is facing over trying to overturn his 2022 election loss. 'This Trial should not be taking place,' Trump wrote in the letter posted on Truth Social on Wednesday. 'It is a witch hunt that should end IMMEDIATELY!' Brazil's president, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, rejected Trump's demand that legal proceedings against Bolsonaro be dropped and his claim that a 50% tariff on Brazilian imports was necessary to close a trade deficit that does not, in fact, exist. Read the full story The country's supreme court has maintained a judicial block on a Republican-crafted Florida law that makes it a crime for undocumented immigrants in the US to enter the state. The justices on Wednesday denied a request by state officials to lift an order by Florida-based US district judge Kathleen Williams that barred them from carrying out arrests and prosecutions under the law while a legal challenge plays out in lower courts. Read the full story Robert F Kennedy Jr has promoted a company whose meals contain ultra-processed ingredients – which he has repeatedly railed against – on his 'Make America healthy again' tour. The US health secretary appeared at an enormous food plant in Oklahoma for a company called Mom's Meals, which makes 1.5m 'medically tailored' meals each week and ships them all over the country. Read the full story The Trump administration announced on Wednesday it was issuing sanctions against Francesca Albanese, an independent official tasked with investigating human rights abuses in the Palestinian territories, the latest effort by the US to punish critics of Israel's 21-month war in Gaza. Read the full story The US agriculture secretary has suggested that increased automation and forcing Medicaid recipients to work could replace the migrant farm workers being swept up in Donald Trump's mass deportation campaign, despite years of evidence and policy failures that those kinds of measures are not substitutes for the immigrant labor force underpinning American agriculture. Read the full story The Trump administration is reportedly planning to cut at least 2,145 high-ranking Nasa employees with specialized skills or management responsibilities. According to documents obtained by Politico, most employees leaving are in senior-level government ranks, depriving the agency of decades of experience as part of a push to slash the size of the federal government through early retirement, buyouts and deferred resignations. Read the full story War-torn South Sudan has said it is holding a group of eight men controversially deported from the US. Only one of them is from South Sudan. The rest comprise two people from Myanmar, two from Cuba and one each from Vietnam, Laos and Mexico. The Trump administration has sued California over its policies allowing transgender athletes to compete in girls' school sports, alleging their participation violates federal anti-discrimination laws. Catching up? Here's what happened on 8 July 2025.
