10 h. ago Trump defends Texas flood handling as disaster tests vow to shutter Fema

Since disaster that has killed at least 120 people, US president has remained quiet about promises to axe relief agencyUS politics live – latest updatesDuring a trip on Friday to look at the devastation caused by the catastrophic flooding in Texas, Donald Trump claimed that state and federal officials had done an “incredible job”, saying of the disaster that he had “never seen anything like this”.The trip comes as he has remained conspicuously quiet about his previous promises to do away with the federal agency in charge of disaster relief. Continue reading...

Events

12 h. ago Trump defends response to deadly Texas flooding after touring disaster area – live updates

President and Texas governor praise handling of flooding that has killed at least 120 people; Trump calls reporter ‘evil’ for asking about lack of warningsThe US state department is firing more than 1,300 employees in line with the Trump administration’s reorganization plan initiated earlier this year. The department is sending layoff notices to 1,107 civil servants and 246 foreign service officers with domestic assignments in the US, a senior state department official told the Associated Press. Foreign service officers affected will be placed immediately on administrative leave for 120 days, after which they will formally lose their jobs, according to an internal notice obtained by the AP. For most affected civil servants, the separation period is 60 days, it said. “In connection with the departmental reorganization the department is streamlining domestic operations to focus on diplomatic priorities,” the notice says. “Headcount reductions have been carefully tailored to affect non...

Events

15 h. ago Trump tours Texas flood damage as disaster tests vow to shutter Fema

Since disaster that has killed at least 120 people, Trump has remained quiet about promises to axe relief agencyUS politics live – latest updatesDonald Trump arrived in Texas on Friday for a first-hand look at the devastation caused by catastrophic flooding, a trip that comes as he has remained conspicuously quiet about his previous promises to do away with the federal agency in charge of disaster relief.The Washington Post reported on Friday that the Trump administration has backed away from plans to abolish the Federal Emergency Management Agency, but administration officials continue to dodge questions about the agency’s future and many are still calling for serious reforms, potentially sending much of its work to the states. Continue reading...

Events

16 h. ago US state department issues first of 1,350 termination orders after court lifted ban

Career diplomats and other staff begin receiving notices amid Trump administration cull of about 15% of workforceUS politics – live updatesThe US state department has begun issuing the first of more than 1,350 termination notices as part of a huge reorganisation of America’s diplomatic corps under the secretary of state, Marco Rubio, according to internal documents and US diplomats at the state department on Friday.Career diplomats and other staff began to receive the notices on Friday morning, days after the supreme court lifted a ban on the Trump administration moving forward with mass firings of government employees that will affect hundreds of thousands of federal workers. Continue reading...

Events

16 h. ago Mixed reaction to Starmer’s migrant deal as charities add to calls for clarity

Some welcome a plan for a legal route to the UK but others worry about how people will be selected for deportationUK politics live – latest updatesKeir Starmer’s migrant return deal is under scrutiny after charities called for more clarity on how people will be chosen for deportation and the EU said it was still assessing the agreement.No 10 said on Friday it was confident in the legality of the deal to return about 50 people a week to France in return for accepting the same number through a safe and legal route. Continue reading...

Economics

18 h. ago Trump expected to resume weapons deliveries to Ukraine through Nato allies

President hints at ‘major announcement’ on Monday after halting arms shipments due to dwindling stockpilesUS politics live – latest updatesDonald Trump appears poised to deliver weapons to Ukraine by selling them first to Nato allies in a major policy shift for his administration amid frustrations with Vladimir Putin over stalling negotiations to end the war in Ukraine.During an interview with NBC News, Trump said he will probably have a “major announcement” on Russia on Monday and confirmed he had struck a deal with Nato leaders to supply weapons to Ukraine. Continue reading...

Politics

18 h. ago Trump to tour Texas flood damage as scope of disaster tests vow to shutter Fema

Since the disaster that has killed at least 120 people, Trump he remained quiet about promises to do away with agency in charge of reliefUS politics live – latest updatesAs Donald Trump heads to Texas on Friday for a firsthand look at the devastation caused by catastrophic flooding, he has remained conspicuously quiet about his previous promises to do away with the federal agency in charge of disaster relief.The Washington Post reported on Friday that the Trump administration has backed away from plans to abolish the federal emergency management agency, but administration officials continue to dodge questions about the agency’s future and many are still calling for serious reforms, potentially sending much of its work to the states. Continue reading...

Events

18 h. ago Trump to tour Texas flood damage as disaster tests vow to shutter Fema

Since disaster that has killed at least 120 people, Trump has remained quiet about promises to axe relief agencyUS politics live – latest updatesAs Donald Trump heads to Texas on Friday for a firsthand look at the devastation caused by catastrophic flooding, he has remained conspicuously quiet about his previous promises to do away with the federal agency in charge of disaster relief.The Washington Post reported on Friday that the Trump administration has backed away from plans to abolish the Federal Emergency Management Agency, but administration officials continue to dodge questions about the agency’s future and many are still calling for serious reforms, potentially sending much of its work to the states. Continue reading...

Events

20 h. ago Trump to visit Texas to survey damage from deadly flooding – live updates

While the Trump administration isn’t backing away from its pledges to shutter Fema, it has lessened its focus on the topic since the July 4 disasterThe US state department is firing more than 1,300 employees in line with the Trump administration’s reorganization plan initiated earlier this year. The department is sending layoff notices to 1,107 civil servants and 246 foreign service officers with domestic assignments in the US, a senior State Department official told the Associated Press. Foreign service officers affected will be placed immediately on administrative leave for 120 days, after which they will formally lose their jobs, according to an internal notice obtained by the AP. For most affected civil servants, the separation period is 60 days, it said. “In connection with the departmental reorganization the department is streamlining domestic operations to focus on diplomatic priorities,” the notice says. “Headcount reductions have been carefully tailored to affect non-core f...

Events

21 h. ago Unite votes to suspend Angela Rayner membership over Birmingham bin strikes

Union, to which deputy PM may not belong, also votes to reconsider ties with Labour if council forces through redundanciesUK politics live – latest updatesUnite has voted to suspend the membership of the deputy prime minister, Angela Rayner, and reconsider its ties with Labour over their approach to the Birmingham bin workers’ strike.Labour’s biggest union donor passed the motion at its policy conference on Friday, despite party sources saying Rayner had resigned her membership of Unite months ago. Continue reading...

Politics

22 h. ago Trump heads to Texas a week after devastating floods – US politics live

President reportedly backing away from abolishing FEMA but is still describing tragedy as a ‘once-in-every-200-year deal’ as at least 120 have diedAt least eight core members of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) have left their positions in the last six months, Politico reported on Friday, citing internal records and sources familiar with the matter.A senior White House official explained the departures by pointing to the fact that many DOGE staffers were special government employees, a designation that has a required end date, the report said. Continue reading...

Politics

22 h. ago People with UK links to get priority under France migration deal, says Cooper – UK politics live

Home secretary says ‘genuine refugees’ or those targeted by smuggling gangs could also benefit under scheme which is expected to bring around 50 or so migrants a week from FranceBritain expects EU to approve migration deal, says CooperOne of the joys, or perils, of being prime minister is that every summer you get invited to Scotland for a sleepover with the royal family. They tend to view these trips with mixed feelings. The king is seen as a great host, as was his mother, but some PMs grumble that Balmoral is freezing cold, and stuffy, and the rituals of a Scottish country home can feel a bit odd if you are not used to that sort of thing.Donald Trump hasn’t been made a king yet, but obviously he would like to be one and he too has invited the PM to Scotland this summer. According to Reuters, Trump will be visiting Scotland later this month, reportedly to check up on his golf courses, and he has invited Starmer to join him. “Starmer has accepted,” Reuters says. Continue reading...

Politics

24 h. ago UK politics live: Cooper refuses to criticise Macron’s Brexit swipe after more migrants arrive in Dover

Several migrants, wearing life jackets, were brought ashore by Border Force to Dover, Kent, on Friday

Politics

25 h. ago UK politics live: Cooper refuses to say how many migrants will be sent to France under new Macron deal

The ‘one in, one out’ scheme will start next week after it was agreed by Macron and Starmer on Thursday

Politics

36 h. ago Macron blames Brexit for rise in migrant crossings as Starmer hails ‘breakthrough’ small boats deal: Latest

French president says Britons ‘sold a lie’ as plan to tackle small boat Channel crossings unveiled

Politics

40 h. ago Starmer says ‘one in, one out’ deal with Macron to stop migrant boat crossings will start within weeks: Latest

France’s president ends three-day state visit to UK with announcement on plan to tackle small boat Channel crossings

Politics

40 h. ago Politics latest: Starmer announces ‘groundbreaking’ one in, one out migration deal at press conference

French president ends three-day state visit to UK with announcement on plan to tackle small boat Channel crossings

Politics

41 h. ago UK and France agree pilot ‘one in, one out’ returns scheme designed to curb migrant boat crossings – UK politics live

British and French leaders hold press conference to announce details of agreement on Channel asylum crossingsSky News is now broadcasting remarks from Keir Starmer and Emmanuel Macron at their summit in Downing Street.Starmer says the situation in the Channel cannot go on as it is now.We all agree the situation in the channel cannot go on as it is. So we’re bringing new tactics into play and a new level of intent to tackle illegal migration and break the business model of the criminal gangs.In uncertain times, we achieve more by strengthening our relationship with our allies, so that is what today is all about working together on the priorities that we share as two nations.For us, it’s about delivering the changes that the British people want to see, and we will agree the situation in the Channel cannot go on as it is. So we’re bringing new tactics into play and a new level of intent to tackle illegal migration and break the business model of the criminal gangs An estimated 7.36 mil...

Politics

41 h. ago New Hampshire judge blocks Trump’s birthright citizenship order

Judge certifies class-action lawsuit that’s one of many challenging order denying citizenship to those born to undocumented parents in the USUS politics live – latest updatesDonald Trump’s bid to end birthright citizenship suffered a courtroom defeat on Thursday as a federal judge in New Hampshire blocked the controversial executive order nationwide and certified a sweeping class-action lawsuit that could protect tens of thousands of children.Ruling from the bench on Thursday, Judge Joseph LaPlante announced his decision after an hour-long hearing and said a written order will follow. The judge, an appointee of George W Bush, said a written order would follow later in the day, with a seven-day stay to allow for appeal. Continue reading...

Politics

42 h. ago Judge blocks Trump on birthright citizenship despite supreme court ruling – US politics live

US judge backs immigrant rights advocates seeking class-action status for a lawsuit to protect babies whose citizenship could be threatened by Trump’s directiveYou can read the trove of documents Erez Reuveni turned over to the senate judiciary committee here.Erez Reuveni, a fired justice department attorney, has provided text messages to the Senate judiciary committee supporting his whistleblower complaint involving Emil Bove, a top department official who is currently being considered for a seat on the federal bench. Continue reading...

Politics