Beth Rigby looks back as Keir Starmer reaches one year as prime minister
Friday 4 July 2025 04:24, UK
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The Guardian
9 minutes ago
- The Guardian
Trump says US will send letters setting tariff rates to trading partners
Donald Trump has said that the US will start sending out letters to trading partners on Friday setting tariff rates that countries will have to pay from the beginning of next month. The US president told the media that about '10 or 12' letters would be sent out initially, with further letters sent out over the 'next few days'. His administration is expected to write to all of its trading partners without a deal in place before 9 July, the end of a 90-day pause on Trump's 'reciprocal tariffs'. 'I think by the ninth they will be fully covered,' he said, referring to the deadline the US set for countries to reach bilateral trade deals to avoid higher duties. 'They will range in value from maybe 60% or 70% tariffs to 10% and 20% tariffs.' Trump did not provide further details on which countries would get the tariffs, or whether they would be targeted at certain goods and services. The Trump administration has so far announced deals with the UK and Vietnam, and agreed a truce with China after tariffs imposed on the world's second largest economy sparked a trade war. On Thursday, Scott Bessent, the US treasury secretary, hinted that the US was close to a high-level 'framework' deal with the EU that would avert 50% tariffs on all exports from the bloc next Wednesday. Trump initially revealed his programme of global tariffs on 2 April, 'liberation day', but later announced the 90-day pause to allow countries time to negotiate. Trump put more pressure on those countries still negotiating, saying that while a 'couple' more trade deals were close to completion his 'inclination is to send a letter out and say what tariffs they are going to be paying'. He said: 'It's much easier.' Sign up to Business Today Get set for the working day – we'll point you to all the business news and analysis you need every morning after newsletter promotion Earlier this week Trump said he would not extend the 9 July deadline for deals to be struck. 'We're going to do what the president wants,' Bessent said in an interview on Thursday. 'And he'll be the one to determine whether they're negotiating in good faith.' On Thursday, Trump secured passage of his controversial flagship tax and spending bill, after the House of Representatives approved it.
The Guardian
18 minutes ago
- The Guardian
Keir Starmer says good relationship with Donald Trump based on shared family values
Keir Starmer has spoken about his good relationship with the US president, Donald Trump, and their shared family values. To mark the first anniversary of the Labour government coming to power on Friday, the UK's prime minister spoke to the BBC podcast Political Thinking and said it was 'in the national interest' for the two men to connect. He said: 'We are different people and we've got different political backgrounds and leanings, but we do have a good relationship and that comes from a number of places. 'I think I do understand what anchors the president, what he really cares about. For both of us, we really care about family and there's a point of connection there.' In the interview, Starmer said he had a 'good personal relationship' with Trump, and revealed that the first time they spoke was after the then-presidential candidate was shot at a campaign rally in July last year. The prime minister said Trump had reciprocated with a personal phone call a few days after Starmer's brother Nick died on Boxing Day. Addressing recent political turmoil, Starmer said he would always 'carry the can' as leader after coming under fire over a climbdown on welfare reforms and that he would 'always take responsibility' when asked questions. 'When things go well … the leader gets the plaudits, but when things don't go well, it is really important that the leader carries the can – and that's what I will always do.' Starmer also backed Rachel Reeves and said she would be chancellor 'for a very long time to come', after she was visibly tearful in the House of Commons. The scenes came after the government U-turned on welfare reform plans that put an almost £5bn hole in the chancellor's plans. Sign up to First Edition Our morning email breaks down the key stories of the day, telling you what's happening and why it matters after newsletter promotion Reeves said it was a 'personal matter' which had upset her ahead of prime minister's questions. Appearing on broadcast media on Friday, one year to the day since the 2024 general election, the home secretary, Yvette Cooper was asked on BBC Breakfast to score the government out of 10. 'I don't think it is for cabinet ministers to mark themselves and mark their own homework,' she said.
BreakingNews.ie
21 minutes ago
- BreakingNews.ie
Russia hammers Kyiv in largest missile and drone barrage since war began
Waves of drone and missile attacks targeted Kyiv overnight in the largest aerial attack since Russia's war in Ukraine began, injuring 23 people and inflicting damage across multiple districts. Russia launched 550 drones and missiles across Ukraine overnight, the country's air force said. The majority were Shahed drones, while Russia used 11 missiles in the attack. Advertisement Throughout the night, journalists in Kyiv heard the constant buzzing of drones overhead and the sound of explosions and intense machine gun fire as Ukrainian forces tried to intercept the aerial assault. Kyiv was the primary target of the attack. At least 23 people were injured, with 14 taken to hospital, according to mayor Vitali Klitschko. Firefighting efforts and debris removal are still ongoing after another Russian strike. This was one of the most large-scale air attacks – deliberately massive and cynical. In total, 550 targets were launched, including at least 330 Russian-Iranian 'shaheds', along with missiles,… — Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) July 4, 2025 Ukrainian air defences shot down 270 targets, including two cruise missiles. Another 208 targets were lost from radar and presumed jammed. Russia successfully hit eight locations with nine missiles and 63 drones. Debris from intercepted drones fell across at least 33 sites. Advertisement The attack came hours after President Donald Trump held a call with Russian President Vladimir Putin and made his first public comments on his administration's decision to pause some shipments of weapons to Ukraine. That decision affects munitions, including Patriot missiles, the AIM-7 Sparrow air-to-air missile and shorter-range Stinger missiles. They are needed to counter incoming missiles and drones, and to bring down Russian aircraft. It's been less than a week since Russia's previous largest aerial assault of the war. Ukraine's air force reported that Russia fired 537 drones, decoys and 60 missiles in that attack. It was one of the biggest such attacks of the war (AP) Emergency services reported damage in at least five of the capital's 10 districts. Advertisement In the Solomianskyi district, a five-storey residential building was partially destroyed and the roof of a seven-storey building caught fire. Fires also broke out at a warehouse, a garage complex and an auto repair facility. In Sviatoshynskyi district, a strike hit a 14-storey residential building, sparking a fire. Several vehicles also caught fire nearby. Blazes were also reported at non-residential facilities. An eight-storey building came under attack in the Shevchenkivskyi district, with the first floor sustaining damage. Falling debris was recorded in Darnytskyi and Holosiivskyi areas. Advertisement Ukraine's national railway operator, Ukrzaliznytsia, said drone strikes damaged rail infrastructure in Kyiv.
