38 m. 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

74 m. ago Texas floods latest: Trump meets rescuers and families of victims killed in Camp Mystic flooding disaster

President’s visit comes amid reports that Kerr County officials were repeatedly denied state funding for an emergency flood warning system

Events

3 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

4 h. ago Live updates as all traffic held after crash shuts M4 westbound entirely near Swansea

All traffic was held on the M4 Westbound and there are long delays

Events

4 h. ago All traffic held after crash shuts M4 westbound entirely near Swansea

All traffic was held on the M4 Westbound and there were long delays

Events

4 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

4 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

4 h. ago Amazon Prime Day LIVE deals: These are the discounts worth grabbing before midnight

Sales end at midnight! Follow along for exclusive deals across tech, home, beauty and more

Politics

5 h. ago LIVE updates as Oasis fans told to WALK to Heaton Park from town amid huge bus queues and '90

Staff have advised fans to make the three-mile walk on foot - or get a taxi

Society

6 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

6 h. ago Nearly 800 killed at Gaza food hubs and aid convoy routes since end of May, UN says

UN human rights office says 615 of the deaths were in vicinity of sites run by the Gaza Humanitarian FoundationMiddle East crisis – live updatesAt least 798 people have been killed while seeking food at distribution points operated by the US- and Israeli-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation and other humanitarian convoys since the end of May, the UN human rights office (OHCHR) said on Friday.The GHF, proposed by Israel as an alternative to the UN aid system in Gaza, has been almost universally condemned by rights groups for its violation of principles of humanitarian impartiality and what they have said could be complicity in war crimes. Continue reading...

Events

6 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

6 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

7 h. ago LIVE updates as M60 lane closed and queueing traffic as Oasis fans head to Heaton Park

Tonight, Friday, July 11, will see the first of the iconic band's shows

Society

7 h. ago Wimbledon 2025 LIVE: Jannik Sinner vs Novak Djokovic latest score and semi

Sinner has dominated recent head-to-head against the seven-time Wimbledon champion

Sport

8 h. ago Wimbledon 2025 live: Alcaraz leads Fritz plus Djokovic injury update for Sinner semi

Seven-time champion Djokovic is due to play world No 1 Sinner, and reigning champ Carlos Alcaraz faces Taylor Fritz

Events

8 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

8 h. ago Stereophonics at the Principality Stadium live updates as fans descend on Cardiff and roads close

Fans are arriving and the city is getting ready for another summer gig at the Principality Stadium

Politics

9 h. ago Tour de France 2025 live: Stage 7 route and updates with Geraint Thomas in breakaway on way to Mur

Could Mathieu van der Poel double up on stage victories here after winning on Mur-de-Bretagne in 2021?

Society

10 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