The move follows the lifting of sanctions on Damascus after the fall of the al-Assad government last year.
The United States will revoke its designation of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) as a foreign terrorist organisation (FTO) as Washington softens its approach to post-war Syria following the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s government last year.
The decision, which takes effect on Tuesday, comes as part of US President Donald Trump’s broader strategy to re-engage with Syria and support its reconstruction after more than a decade of devastating conflict.
“This FTO revocation is an important step in fulfilling President Trump’s vision of a stable, unified, and peaceful Syria,” US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in a statement Monday.
HTS had been designated as a “terrorist” group by the US since 2018 due to its former ties to al-Qaeda.
The group emerged out of the al-Nusra Front, once al-Qaeda’s official branch in Syria, but formally severed those ties in 2016 after HTS leader Ahmed al-Sharaa declared the group’s independence.
Al-Sharaa, who led the opposition forces that removed al-Assad in a lightning offensive last December, has since become Syria’s president.
He has launched what many experts have described as a charm offensive aimed at Western powers, including meetings with French President Emmanuel Macron and, most recently, Trump in Riyadh in May.
“In line with President Trump’s May 13 promise to deliver sanctions relief to Syria, I am announcing my intent to revoke the Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) designation of al-Nusrah Front, also known as Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), under the Immigration and Nationality Act,” Rubio said.
“Tomorrow’s action follows the announced dissolution of HTS and the Syrian government’s commitment to combat terrorism in all its forms.”
HTS was dissolved in late January, with its forces folded into the official Syrian military and security forces.
Damascus welcomed the US decision as a step towards normalisation. In a statement, Syria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the delisting of HTS was a “positive step toward correcting a course that previously hindered constructive engagement”.
The ministry added that it hoped the move would “contribute to the removal of remaining restrictions that continue to impact Syrian institutions and officials, and open the door to a rational, sovereign-based approach to international cooperation”.
Meanwhile, HTS remains under United Nations Security Council sanctions, which were imposed in 2014 over its previous affiliation with al-Qaeda. Al-Sharaa also remains under UNSC sanctions, which can only be removed by the Council itself.
Al-Sharaa is reportedly preparing to attend the UN General Assembly in New York this September.
A member of cabin crew has shared the one thing that you should never do when you’re flying on a plane, with many Brits admitting to using the unhygienic storage
Holidaymakers should consider where they place their valuables (Image: Getty Images/iStockphoto)
A flight attendant has revealed the part of a plane that should be avoided at all costs.
CiCi in the Sky, who describes herself as a ‘sky ally’ and ‘travel alchemist’, boasts over 300,000 TikTok followers who turn to her for expert guidance on air travel. The aviation specialist recently revealed the dirtiest parts of the plane she’d recommend avoiding.
She strongly advises against using seat pockets, labelling them as “gross” due to the variety of items people shove into them. The cabin crew member then cautioned her audience to refrain from stowing their coats or other loose belongings in the overhead bins, again highlighting hygiene concerns.
“I mean I’ve never seen them cleaned and I’ve seen people’s stuff spill out of their bags and get all over people’s jackets, clothes or whatever so just don’t do it,” Cici said.
Beware the plane seat pocket (Image: Getty Images/iStockphoto)
A Reddit user going by the name HausofDarling issued a stark warning on the ‘Flight attendants of Reddit’ forum, advising passengers to steer clear of using the seat pocket on commercial jets. They cautioned: “I always recommend you never, ever, ever, ever use or put anything in the seat pocket. They are cleared of rubbish but are never ‘cleaned’.”
The flight attendant went on to describe the unsavoury items they’ve encountered in these pockets: “I have pulled out and seen all sorts being pulled out from there. Dirty tissues, sick bags, knickers, socks, gum, half sucked sweets, apple cores, and then next flight you go and put your phone, laptop or iPad in there.”
Another crew member, choosing to remain anonymous, corroborated these claims with their own grim discoveries, including: “I once discovered vomit outside of the paper bag which spilled through the seat pocket. It was absolutely awful, but what can you do?”.
Despite such horrors, new research from AllClear Travel Insurance reveals that 7 in 10 (70%) travellers admit to unhygienic habits while flying Topping the list is storing personal items inside the seatback pocket (30%) – one of the most unhygienic parts of the plane – followed by resting your head on the tray table (19%) and using the toilet without shoes or in socks (13%)
AllClear also spoke to an ex-flight attendants about the horrors of the seat pocket. They said: “Sometimes dirty nappies and used sick bags would be left in seat pockets.”
Almost a third of travellers (29%) store their personal items and food in seatback pockets, but these areas are rarely cleaned. Where possible, travellers should try to store snacks in resealable containers and sanitise their hands if they use the pockets.
Brazil’s President Lula responded to Trump’s tariff threats by saying the world does not ‘want an emperor’ who lashes out over the internet.
United States President Donald Trump has threatened to hike tariffs against the BRICS economic bloc, after the group offered indirect criticism of trade wars and the recent military attacks in Iran.
On Monday, Trump took aim at the 10-member bloc, which seeks to strengthen emerging economies, framing its interests as adversarial to the US’s.
“Any Country aligning themselves with the Anti-American policies of BRICS, will be charged an ADDITIONAL 10% Tariff,” Trump wrote in a post. “There will be no exceptions to this policy. Thank you for your attention to this matter!”
BRICS is named for its founding members, Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa. But it has grown to include other countries including Indonesia, Egypt, Iran and the United Arab Emirates.
Over the weekend, the group held its 17th summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The meeting culminated in a declaration angled at promoting peace and global cooperation.
But several items in the joint declaration appeared aimed at the US and its ally Israel, even though neither was identified by name. Under a section entitled “Strengthening Multilateralism and Reforming Global Governance”, for instance, the BRICS leaders called out the increasing use of tariffs in global trade.
This seemed directed at Trump, who has threatened US trading partners with a suite of tariffs in order to negotiate more favourable trade deals and exact policy concessions.
The US president has also called tariffs “the most beautiful word to me in the dictionary”, though many economists warn the cost of such import taxes is often offset onto consumers.
Trump has also championed the use of other protectionist economic policies, under the banner of his “America First” agenda. But the BRICS leaders warned that these kinds of policies could backfire.
“We voice serious concerns about the rise of unilateral tariff and non-tariff measures which distort trade and are inconsistent with WTO [World Trade Organization] rules,” the BRICS leaders said in their statement.
Such measures, they continued could “reduce global trade, disrupt global supply chains, and introduce uncertainty into international economic and trade activities, potentially exacerbating existing economic disparities”.
The BRICS leaders also used their declaration to denounce the recent military strikes on one of the bloc’s member nations, Iran.
“We condemn the military strikes against the Islamic Republic of Iran since 13 June 2025, which constitute a violation of international law,” they wrote, adding that “peaceful nuclear facilities” had been targeted.
Israel carried out the first attacks against Iran in the 12-day war on June 13, and on June 22, the US sent seven B-2 Spirit stealth bombers to Iran to strike three nuclear facilities. Both Israel and the US have maintained these actions were necessary to prevent Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon, though Iran has denied seeking one.
In the wake of Trump’s tariff threat, BRICS leaders rushed to assure their US counterparts that they are not seeking confrontation. Others, however, chafed at Trump’s remarks.
“I became aware of what President Trump tweeted, and I think there needs to be greater appreciation of the emergence of various centres of power in the world,” said South African President Cyril Ramaphosa. “And this should be seen in a positive light, rather than in a negative light.”
Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva took an even blunter approach to Trump’s threats.
“I don’t think it’s very responsible or serious for the president of a country as big as the United States to go around threatening the world through the internet,” Lula said in a question-and-answer session with reporters.
“It’s not right. The world has changed. We don’t want an emperor.”
This Morning star Vanessa Feltz has opened up on life since her split from partner Ben Ofoedu in 2023
This Morning star Vanessa Feltz has made a sad admission after her split from her partner.
The 63-year-old broadcaster initially tied the knot with surgeon Michael Kurer back in 1983, before their marriage ended in divorce in 2000. Together they welcomed daughters Allegra and Saskia, and now have four grandchildren.
Vanessa later got engaged to musician Ben Ofoedu in 2006. Despite initially planning to wed the following year, the couple remained engaged throughout their time together without getting married.
In February 2023, Vanessa revealed that she and Ben had called time on their relationship.
Shortly after their separation, Vanessa opened up on This Morning about coping with the split, reports Wales Online.
Vanessa Feltz split from her partner Ben Ofoedu in 2023(Image: Mike Marsland/Getty Images)
“People have been amazing. Absolutely amazing, and of course it helps a lot,” she told presenters Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby at the time.
“I can’t sleep at all, so reading thousands and thousands of messages from lovely people on Instagram is something to do in the night.”
She added: “When you have to end a relationship it’s very hard. I’ve had what feels like millions of messages from so, so many people going through it.
“I wouldn’t want to minimise in any way what it’s like when you’re heartbroken. It’s horrible.”
More than two years later, Vanessa has provided a fresh insight into her life post-split, where she made a sad admission.
Vanessa regularly appears on This Morning(Image: Dave Benett/Getty Images)
During an interview with Radio Times, Vanessa was quizzed about who has control over the television remote in her household.
She candidly replied: “I live on my own these days. I’ve been out every night for two years and five months.
“There have only been maybe five nights where it’s been me in front of the TV with my dinner on a tray, because I don’t want to be at home, eating alone.”
Vanessa currently presents her self-titled Channel 5 daytime talk show, which was advertised as a rival to ITV favourite Loose Women.
Yet, the programme has come under fire recently, racking up nearly 2,000 Ofcom complaints following an episode that sparked controversy over allegedly “misleading” content regarding breastfeeding.
This Morning airs weekdays on ITV at 10am. Vanessa Feltz’s full interview can be read in the upcoming issue of Radio Times
The government’s admission about sex offender signals a retreat from a narrative once pushed by President Trump’s administration.
A United States government review has found no evidence that sex offender Jeffrey Epstein kept a secret client list, and reaffirmed that he died by suicide in federal custody in 2019, undercutting years of conspiracy theories.
The acknowledgement that Epstein did not maintain a list of clients who received underage girls marks a clear retreat from a narrative once promoted by members of US President Donald Trump’s administration. Earlier this year, Attorney General Pam Bondi even claimed in a Fox News interview that such a document was “sitting on my desk”, awaiting her review.
The memo, released on Monday by the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the FBI, stated that a “systematic review revealed no incriminating ‘client list’.” It also found no credible evidence that Epstein blackmailed prominent figures, or grounds to pursue investigations against uncharged third parties.
“After a thorough investigation, FBI investigators concluded that Jeffrey Epstein committed suicide in his cell at the Metropolitan Correctional Center in New York City on August 10, 2019,” the memo said. “This conclusion is consistent with previous findings, including the August 19, 2019 autopsy findings of the New York City Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, the November 2019 position of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York in connection with the investigation of federal correctional officers responsible for guarding Epstein, and the June 2023 conclusions of DOJ’s Office of the Inspector General.”
It concluded by saying that “no further disclosure would be appropriate or warranted”.
The Justice Department also released 10 hours of surveillance footage from the Metropolitan Correctional Center in New York. The footage revealed that no one entered Epstein’s cell on the day he died by suicide.
‘We were all told more was coming’
Conservatives who have sought proof of a government cover-up of Epstein’s activities quickly expressed outrage at the announcement.
Far-right influencer Jack Posobiec posted: “We were all told more was coming. That answers were out there and would be provided. Incredible how utterly mismanaged this Epstein mess has been. And it didn’t have to be.”
Separately, former Trump ally, billionaire Elon Musk, shared an image of a scoreboard reading, “The Official Jeffrey Epstein Pedophile Arrest Counter”, which was set at zero.
On June 5, Musk claimed that Trump appeared in the Epstein files and later posted a video on X showing Trump at a party with Epstein. These posts, now deleted, were part of an ongoing feud between Musk and Trump linked to Trump’s new tax cuts and spending bill.
Conspiracy theorist Alex Jones wrote, “Next the DOJ will say ‘Actually, Jeffrey Epstein never even existed’,” calling the conclusion “over the top sickening”.
‘Epstein’s crimes and death’
On Monday, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt defended the Justice Department’s “exhaustive investigation”.
When questioned about the client list mentioned in February’s Fox News interview, Leavitt clarified that Bondi was actually referring to the broader collection of Epstein case files.
Epstein was found dead in his jail cell in August 2019, weeks after his arrest on sex trafficking charges, in a suicide that foreclosed the possibility of a trial.
The Justice Department and FBI’s disclosure that Epstein took his own life is hardly a revelation, even though conspiracy theorists have continued to challenge that conclusion.
In November 2019, for instance, then-Attorney General William Barr told the Associated Press news agency that he had reviewed security footage that revealed that no one entered the area where Epstein was housed on the night he died, and expressed confidence that Epstein’s death was a suicide.
However, Epstein’s ties to the rich and famous have led many to believe, without evidence, that others were behind his death, in an effort to cover up their own crimes.
If you or someone you know is at risk of suicide, these organisations may be able to help.
So far, the GOP-led U.S. House of Representatives has made no progress on a request from Newsom, made in late February, for $40 billion in additional wildfire funding that would go toward rebuilding schools, churches, homes and hospitals.
Newsom said that fire funding is a nonpartisan issue, and that all U.S. states are “in this together.” He said that other states have outstanding requests for federal aid after their own natural disasters, and that the Republican-controlled House will “absolutely” come through. He urged federal lawmakers to do the same for Texas after last week’s deadly floods.
“South Carolina, I think they should get every penny that they need,” Newsom said. “North Carolina, they should get every penny that they need. … I expect that we will figure out a path, a bipartisan path, to support the people of the United States of America, and those include the 40 million Americans residing in California.”
But once again he found himself in the conflicting position of criticizing Republicans while asking them for disaster aid.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass had been scheduled to appear at the event, held at Pasadena City College, but did not attend after heavily armed federal immigration agents on horseback descended on MacArthur Park.
Newsom said the immigration raids were proof of President Trump’s “polluted heart,” a shift from the weeks after the fires when he tried to strike a more conciliatory tone as he pushed for more federal aid from Congress and the White House.
The federal government’s work in Los Angeles County has included a record-breaking debris removal program run by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
Newsom said Monday that 9,195 of the 9,873 properties enrolled in the federal government’s debris removal program have been cleared. That figure doesn’t include commercial buildings, which were not included in the Army Corps program, or the nearly 2,000 property owners who chose to hire their own private contractors for debris removal.
Newsom said the clearance was the fastest in California history, surpassing the cleanups that followed the 2018 Camp and Woolsey fires.
The federal government has reimbursed the state and local governments for direct response costs and paid for their own debris cleanup, said Brian Ferguson, a spokesperson for the governor. The federal government has also provided more than $3 billion in individual assistance to homeowners and small-business loans, he said.
Long-term recovery funding, which the federal government typically provides states after disasters, is expected to be determined by Congress after lawmakers return to work in September, Ferguson said.
Reps. Judy Chu (D-Monterey Park) and Brad Sherman (D-Sherman Oaks), who represent Altadena and Pacific Palisades in Congress, said they were continuing to push for the supplemental aid package in Congress with “no strings.” Some Republicans have suggested linking aid to policy decisions in California, including changes to water policy or voter identification laws.
Sherman said California’s $40-billion request could get through the House “as a supplemental that also includes the Texas disaster and other disasters.”
Newsom and Trump appeared to put aside their political differences in January when the commander in chief traveled to Los Angeles to survey wildfire damage. After embracing on the tarmac at Los Angeles International Airport, the two sparring partners pledged to work together to rebuild the fire-ravaged communities.
Hours before the in-person meeting, the president had threatened to condition any wildfire funding on California agreeing to adopt more stringent voter identification laws. Trump has continued to point the finger at Newsom since the meeting, calling the governor and local officials “incompetent.”
In his final days in the White House, President Biden pledged that the federal government would cover 100% of disaster assistance costs to California for 180 days, and the Trump administration has “honored that commitment,” Newsom said Monday.
But Newsom hasn’t held back sharp critiques of the president’s leadership on other major topics, including immigration, tariffs, and healthcare funding. After discussing the state’s response to the wildfires, Newsom condemned the federal immigration raids on Monday in MacArthur Park as “a disgrace.”
The timing isn’t a coincidence, Newsom said. He said that an estimated 41% of the state’s construction workforce is working without legal status, and that immigration raids could shake a sector that is “foundational” to the state’s recovery.
“They know what they’re doing,” he said. “And then again, they have no idea what they’re doing. Their ignorance is legendary. And the impacts of this will be felt in the recovery — and that’s on them. Donald Trump owns that. He owns the cruelty, he owns the arrogance.”
Last year, the party committed to widen public access to major sporting events by ensuring more are available to view without subscription TV packages. It says it favours a similar approach to one taken in Spain where La Liga must offer one free game a week to fans after a change in the law in 2022.
Max Wilkinson MP, Lib Dem spokesperson for Culture, Media and Sport said: “I’m urging MPs of all stripes to back our amendment to tear down the paywall and make Premier League games available on free to air channels.
“For too long, the jewel in the crown of British football has been locked behind an expensive barrier that keeps fans out while lining the pockets of broadcasters.
“That must end today – with a free-to-air revolution that gives the Premier League back to the country.”
A spokesperson for the Department of Culture, Media and Sport said: “The government has no plans to review the listed events regime.”
The Premier League declined to comment.
The legislation has now reached the report stage in the House of Commons.
A similar amendment was tabled at the committee stage last month.
At the time, the Sports Minister Stephanie Peacock said: “The listed events regime have protected key moments such as the FA Cup Final while ensuring that the Premier League, EFL & FA are able to raise billions of pounds annually, which is invested back into the pyramid.
“We all want to see more matches being televised free-to-air, but that must be balanced against that investment and not risk it… It would not be appropriate for the regulator to intervene in commercial decisions between the relevant broadcasters and rights holders.”
The Lib Dems claim analysis of subscription prices shows that to watch each available Premier League game live next season fans will have to pay £660 a year.
Last month, it was revealed Premier League television viewing figures on main live rights-holder Sky Sports were down 10% last season, while TNT Sports had a 17% reduction in its year-on-year figures.
A 16-month-old Palestinian baby is among a growing number of children in Gaza suffering from meningitis, as overcrowding, poor sanitation, and collapsing healthcare caused by Israel’s war on the enclave drive a surge in cases.
This picture of Renee Smajstrla was taken at Camp Mystic on Thursday, her uncle wrote on Facebook
Young attendees and staff at summer camps are among the victims of flash floods in Texas – along with teachers, a football coach, and a “hero” father who smashed open a window to free his family amid rising water.
Authorities say at least 104 people are known to have died – most of them in Kerr County. At least 27 girls and staff died at one location, Camp Mystic, alone.
Many of the victims have been identified in the US media by their relatives. Here is what we know so far about those who have been named – many of whom were children.
Renee Smajstrla
Camp Mystic is a nearly century-old Christian summer camp for girls on the banks of the Guadalupe River near the community of Hunt.
Operated by generations of the same family since the 1930s, the camp’s website bills itself as a place for girls to grow “spiritually” in a “wholesome” Christian atmosphere “to develop outstanding personal qualities and self-esteem”.
Renee Smajstrla, 8, was at the camp when floodwaters swept through, her uncle said in a Facebook post.
“Renee has been found and while not the outcome we prayed for, the social media outreach likely assisted the first responders in helping to identify her so quickly,” wrote Shawn Salta.
“We are thankful she was with her friends and having the time of her life, as evidenced by this picture from yesterday,” he wrote. “She will forever be living her best life at Camp Mystic.”
Watch: Volunteers help lead search for their neighbours after Texas flooding
Lila Bonner
Nine-year-old Lila Bonner, a Dallas native, was found dead after flooding near Camp Mystic, according to NBC News.
“In the midst of our unimaginable grief, we ask for privacy and are unable to confirm any details at this time,” her family told the news outlet.
“We ache with all who loved her and are praying endlessly.”
Eloise Peck
Eloise Peck, 8, was also confirmed dead after the deluge at Camp Mystic, according to CBS News Texas. US media reported that she was best friends with Lila Bonner.
A sign posted outside Eloise Peck’s home said “she lost her life in the tragic flooding”, and asked for privacy for the family.
Sarah Marsh
Camp Mystic
Sarah Marsh, a student at Cherokee Bend Elementary School in Alabama, would have entered third grade in August.
She, too, was attending Camp Mystic and her grandmother, Debbie Ford Marsh, posted online to say that her granddaughter was among the girls killed.
“We will always feel blessed to have had this beautiful spunky ray of light in our lives. She will live on in our hearts forever!” she wrote.
In a post on Facebook, Alabama Senator Katie Britt said she was “heartbroken over the loss of Sarah Marsh, and we are keeping her family in our thoughts and prayers during this unimaginable time”.
Janie Hunt
Nine-year-old Janie Hunt from Dallas, was attending the same camp and died in the floods.
Her grandmother Margaret Hunt told The New York Times she went to Camp Mystic with six of her cousins, who were all safe.
Margaret said Janie’s parents had to visit a funeral home and identify their daughter.
Janie was a great-granddaughter of the oil baron William Herbert Hunt.
Hanna and Rebecca Lawrence
Twin sisters Hanna and Rebecca Lawrence, 8, also died after attending Mystic, their grandfather told the Miami Herald.
“It has been an unimaginable time for all of us,” grandfather David Lawrence Jr told the newspaper in a statement. “Hanna and Rebecca gave their parents John and Lacy and sister Harper, and all in our family, so much joy.”
David had earlier clarified that the twins’ elder sister Harper was safe.
Watch: Senator Ted Cruz talks about the children lost at Camp Mystic
Dick Eastland
Richard “Dick” Eastland, the longtime co-owner and co-director of Camp Mystic, died while being flown to a Houston hospital.
The news was confirmed by Kerr County Judge Rob Kelly, who attended Bible study with Dick and described him as a pillar of the local community.
Dick’s wife, Tweety, was found safe at their riverside home, according to Texas Public Radio.
The Eastlands had run Camp Mystic, a girls’ summer camp on the banks of the Guadalupe River, since 1974, becoming the third generation of their family to do so.
According to the Washington Post, the couple had 11 grandchildren and much of the extended family was involved in camp life.
The couple’s eldest son, Richard, manages the camp kitchen and their youngest, Edward, directs operations with his wife.
Chloe Childress
Chloe Childress was one of Mystic’s camp counsellors. The 18-year-old’s death was announced by her former high school.
“Chloe made space for others to feel safe, valued, and brave. She understood what it meant to be part of a community, and more than that, she helped build one,” the headteacher of Kinkaid School wrote in a letter.
She was due to start studies at the University of Texas in Austin later this year, ABC News added.
Jane Ragsdale
Heart O’ the Hills
Jane Ragsdale was described as the “heart and soul” of Heart O’ the Hills camp
Heart O’ the Hills is another all-girls’ camp that sits along the Guadalupe River, which was in the path of Friday’s flood.
Jane Ragsdale, described as the “heart and soul” of Heart O’Hills, “did not make it”, a statement shared on the camp’s official website said on Saturday.
Ragsdale, who started off as a camper then a counsellor, became the director and co-owner of the camp in 1976.
“We are mourning the loss of a woman who influenced countless lives and was the definition of strong and powerful,” the statement said.
No campers were residing at the site when the floods hit and and most of those who were there have been accounted for, according to the statement.
Julian Ryan
GoFundMe
As floodwaters tore through their trailer in Ingram, Texas, Julian Ryan turned to his fiancée Christina Wilson and said: “I’m sorry, I’m not going to make it. I love y’all” – Christina told Houston television station KHOU.
His body wasn’t recovered until hours later, after waters had receded.
Julian had just finished a late dishwashing shift at a restaurant when the Guadalupe River overflowed early Friday.
He and Christina woke to ankle-deep water that quickly rose to their waists. She told the station their bedroom door stuck shut and with water rushing in, Ryan punched through a window to get his family out. He severely cut his arm in the process.
Their 13-month-old and 6-year-old sons and his mother survived by floating on a mattress until help could arrive.
“He died a hero, and that will never go unnoticed,” Connie Salas, Ryan’s sister, told KHOU.
Katheryn Eads
Katheryn Eads, 52, was swept away by floodwaters in the Kerrville area of Texas, early on Friday morning after she and her husband, Brian, who told The New York Times, fled their campervan as rising water surged around them.
Another camper had offered them a ride and they made it across the street before the vehicle stalled in the flood.
Moments later, both were pulled into the current. Brian said he lost sight of his wife after being struck by debris. He survived by clinging onto a tree until he reached dry land.
Katheryn’s body was later recovered.
“God has her now,” her mother, Elizabeth Moss Grover, wrote on Facebook.
Amy Hutchinson, director of Olive Branch Counselling in Texas, where Katheryn had worked, told The Washington Post she was “a hope and a light to all who knew her… a stellar counsellor and professor.”
Jeff Wilson
Humble ISD
Teacher Jeff Wilson was also killed in Kerrville, according to the local school authority, which said he was a “beloved teacher and co-worker” who had served the district for more than 30 years.
His wife and son were still missing, according to the post by the Humble Independent School District.
The group were on a camping trip when flooding struck, CBS News Austin reported.
Reece and Paula Zunker
The death of another teacher, Reece Zunker, was announced by a second Texan schools authority.
The football coach died alongside his wife Paula, according to Kerrville Independent School District. Their two children are still missing, the district’s Facebook post added.
“Reece was a passionate educator”, the Facebook post said. Paula, a former teacher, also “left a lasting mark”, the impact of which continued to be felt.
Blair and Brooke Harber
Two sisters from Dallas – 13-year-old Blair Harber and 11-year-old Brooke Harber – were staying with their grandparents along the Guadalupe River when their cabin was washed away, CBS News reported.
The deaths were confirmed by St Rita Catholic Community, where Brooke was due to start sixth grade. Blair was preparing to enter eighth grade.
“Please keep the Harber family in your prayers during this time of profound grief. May our faith, our love, and our St. Rita community be a source of strength and comfort in the days ahead,” said Father Joshua J Whitfield in correspondence with church members.
The girls’ parents were in a separate cabin and were not harmed. Their grandparents are still unaccounted for.
Bobby and Amanda Martin
Husband and wife Bobby Martin, 46, and Amanda Martin, 44, also lost their lives, Mr Martin’s father told the New York Times.
They, too, were said to be staying near the river when their vehicle was swept away by rising flood waters.
Bobby was described by a friend who spoke to the Houston Chronicle as a keen outdoorsman and attentive friend, and Amanda was the “same shining light”.
Tanya Burwick
Walmart employee Tanya Burwick, 62, was driving to work in San Angelo when flood water hit early on Friday, family members said.
Her empty vehicle and later her body were found the same day.
“She lit up the room and had a laugh that made other people laugh,” her daughter Lindsey Burwick was quoted as saying by the AP news agency.
Sally Sample Graves
Grandmother Sally Sample Graves was another victim of the flooding in Kerrville, according to her granddaughter, who posted a tribute on Facebook.
A huge wave is said to have destroyed Sally’s home.
“Her unwavering dedication to family has left an indelible mark on our lives,” Sarah Sample wrote. Her father survived the incident, she added.
Kaitlyn Swallow
The death of 22-year-old Kaitlyn Swallow in Williamson County was announced by county officials on Saturday.
She was from the Liberty Hill area, and her body was recovered alongside the remains of another person. Officials did not give further information.
Kelly Osbourne’s engagement to Sid Wilson wound up being a family affair.
The Slipknot DJ proposed to the former “Fashion Police” co-host backstage at Ozzy Osbourne’s final show Saturday, and she said yes. But not before papa Ozzy got a few words in edgewise.
“Kelly, you know I love you more than anything in the world,” Wilson said, holding Kelly‘s hand after family and friends crowded around them and were shushed by mom Sharon Osbourne, according to a video Kelly posted on Instagram.
“F— off, you’re not marrying my daughter!” Ozzy interjected, true to form. A big round of laughter followed before Wilson got back to business.
“Nothing would make me happier than to spend the rest of my life with you,” he told Kelly, reaching into a bag slung across his chest and extracting a small box.
“So in front of your family and all of our friends,” he said as he got down on one knee, “Kelly, will you marry me?”
Kelly‘s jaw dropped as she looked around the room in shock. The two had welcomed a son, Sidney, in November 2022, less than a year after they started dating. Kelly, 40, and Wilson, 48, met more than 20 years ago when Slipknot was part of the Osbourne family’s Ozzfest tour.
She was still in her teens; he was seven years older and better friends at the time with her brother, Jack Osbourne. Kelly said on a podcast in March 2024 that Wilson began liking her — though she had no idea — in 2013, after they ran into each other at his record store on Melrose Avenue. Around 2020, he invited her to a Slipknot show in L.A., and things progressed from there.
“It wasn’t, like, forced. Because we had been friends for so long and known each other for so long, there was a sense of comfortability that I’ve never had with anyone else,” she said on the podcast, via People. Plus, she told her mother, “I was never going to come home with anyone normal.”
But bringing Wilson home now seems like it was a good move. On Saturday, after she nodded yes, he slipped the ring on her left-hand ring finger. Then he and his bride-to-be hugged like there was no tomorrow.
United States President Donald Trump is set to impose 25 percent tariffs on two key US allies, Japan and South Korea, beginning on August 1 as the administration’s self-imposed deadline for trade agreements of July 9 nears without a deal in place.
On Monday, the Trump administration said this in the first of 12 letters to key US trade partners regarding the new levies they face.
In near-identically worded letters to the Japanese and South Korean leaders, the US president said the trade relationship was “unfortunately, far from Reciprocal”.
Japan’s Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba has said that he “won’t easily compromise” in trade talks with the Trump administration.
Currently, both Japan and South Korea have a 10 percent levy in place, the same as almost all US trading partners. But Trump said he was ready to lower the new levels if the two countries changed their trade policies.
“We will, perhaps, consider an adjustment to this letter,” he said in letters to the two Asian countries’ leaders that he posted on his Truth Social platform. “If for any reason you decide to raise your Tariffs, then, whatever the number you choose to raise them by, will be added onto the 25% that we charge.”
Trump also announced the US will impose 25 percent tariffs each on Malaysia and Kazakhstan, 30 percent on South Africa and 40 percent each on Laos and Myanmar.
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said earlier on Monday that he expected several trade announcements to be made in the next 48 hours, adding that his inbox was full of last-ditch offers from countries to clinch a tariff deal by the deadline. Bessent did not say which countries could get deals and what they might contain.
In April, the White House said it would have 90 trade and tariff deals established within 90 days. That did not happen, and since that time, the administration has solidified two agreements — one with Vietnam, and the other with the United Kingdom.
“There will be additional letters in the coming days,” White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said, adding that “we are close” on some deals. She said Trump would sign an executive order on Monday formally delaying the July 9 deadline to August 1.
BRICS tensions
Trump also put members of the developing nations’ BRICS group in his sights as its leaders met in Brazil, threatening an additional 10 percent tariff on any BRICS countries aligning themselves with “anti-American” policies.
The new 10 percent tariff will be imposed on individual countries if they take anti-American policy actions, a source familiar with the matter told Reuters news agency.
The BRICS group comprises Brazil, Russia, India and China and South Africa along with recent joiners Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Iran and the United Arab Emirates. Trump’s comments hit the South African rand, affecting its value in Monday trading.
Russia said BRICS was “a group of countries that share common approaches and a common world view on how to cooperate, based on their own interests”.
“And this cooperation within BRICS has never been and will never be directed against any third countries,” said Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov.
European Union at the table
The European Union will not be receiving a letter setting out higher tariffs, EU sources familiar with the matter told Reuters on Monday.
The EU still aims to reach a trade deal by July 9 after European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Trump had a “good exchange”, a commission spokesperson said.
It was not clear, however, whether there had been a meaningful breakthrough in talks to stave off tariff hikes on the largest trading partner of the US.
Adding to the pressure, Trump threatened to impose a 17 percent tariff on EU food and agriculture exports, it emerged last week.
The EU has been torn over whether to push for a quick and light trade deal or back its own economic clout in trying to negotiate a better outcome. It had already dropped hopes for a comprehensive trade agreement before the July deadline.
“We want to reach a deal with the US. We want to avoid tariffs,” the spokesperson said at a daily briefing.
Without a preliminary agreement, broad US tariffs on most imports would rise from their current 10 percent to the rates set out by Trump on April 2. In the EU’s case, that would be 20 percent.
Von der Leyen also held talks with the leaders of Germany, France and Italy at the weekend, Germany said. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has repeatedly stressed the need for a quick deal to protect industries vulnerable to tariffs ranging from cars to pharmaceuticals.
Germany said the parties should allow themselves “another 24 or 48 hours to come to a decision”. And the country’s auto company Mercedes-Benz said on Monday its second-quarter unit sales of cars and vans had fallen 9 percent, blaming tariffs.
Markets respond
US markets have tumbled on Trump’s tariff announcements.
As of 3:30pm in New York (19:30 GMT), the S&P 500 fell by 1 percent, marking the biggest drop in three weeks. The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite Index was down by a little more than 1 percent, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average also fell by more than a full percentage point.
US-listed shares of Japanese automotive companies fell, with Toyota Motor Corp down 4.1 percent in mid-afternoon trading and Honda Motor off by 3.8 percent. Meanwhile, the US dollar surged against both the Japanese yen and the South Korean won.
WASHINGTON — The government of El Salvador has acknowledged to United Nations investigators that the Trump administration maintains control of the Venezuelan men who were deported from the U.S. to a notorious Salvadoran prison, contradicting public statements by officials in both countries.
The revelation was contained in court filings Monday by lawyers for more than 100 migrants who are seeking to challenge their deportations to El Salvador’s mega-prison known as the Terrorism Confinement Center, or CECOT.
The case is among several challenging President Trump’s immigration crackdown.
“In this context, the jurisdiction and legal responsibility for these persons lie exclusively with the competent foreign authorities,” Salvadoran officials wrote in response to queries from the unit of the U.N. Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights. The U.N. group has been looking into the fate of the men who were sent to El Salvador from the United States in mid-March, even after a U.S. judge had ordered the planes that were carrying them to be turned around.
The Trump administration has argued that it is powerless to return the men, noting that they are beyond the reach of U.S. courts and no longer have access to due process rights or other U.S. constitutional guarantees.
But lawyers for the migrants said the U.N. report shows otherwise.
“El Salvador has confirmed what we and everyone else understood: it is the United States that controls what happens to the Venezuelans languishing at CECOT. Remarkably the U.S. government didn’t provide this information to us or the court,” American Civil Liberties Union lawyer Lee Gelerent said in an email.
Skye Perryman, chief executive and president of Democracy Forward, said the documents show “that the administration has not been honest with the court or the American people.” The ACLU and Democracy Forward are both representing the migrants.
Administration officials did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
The administration in March agreed to pay $6 million for El Salvador to house 300 migrants. The deal sparked immediate controversy when Trump invoked an 18th century wartime law, the Alien Enemies Act, to quickly remove men it has accused of being members of the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua.
In a related case, the administration mistakenly sent Kilmar Abrego Garcia to the same prison, despite a judge’s order prohibiting the Maryland man from being sent to El Salvador.
The administration initially resisted court orders to bring him back to the U.S., saying he was no longer in American custody. Eventually, Abrego Garcia was returned to the U.S., where he now faces criminal charges of human smuggling while legal battles continue.
Last month, a coalition of immigrant rights groups sued to invalidate the prison deal with El Salvador, arguing that the arrangement to move migrant detainees outside the reach of U.S. courts violates the Constitution.
Unfortunately, this dietary rule is particularly unfavourable for those who want to eat three large meals daily
Many Okinawans live by the so-called ‘80%’ dietary rule(Image: Constantinis via Getty Images)
Italy, Japan, and Costa Rica might appear very different on the surface, but they are actually connected by a surprising common trait. These countries boast three of the globe’s six exclusive ‘Blue Zones’ where inhabitants are reportedly10 times more likely to live to 100 than anywhere in the United States.
However, not living in these longevity hubs isn’t a reason to despair. A potentially game-changing key to the residents’ long lives has recently been revealed—it’s all about a strict practice called the ‘80% trick’ or ‘Hara Hachi Bu.’
This dietary rule is particularly unfavourable for those who want to eat three large meals daily. People in Blue Zones usually have a small meal later in the day, deliberately stopping at about 80% fullness, hence the name of the rule.
No foods are strictly forbidden with the ‘80% rule’(Image: Getty Images)
It’s said this practice helps prevent the common ‘food coma’ feelings that can occur after overeating, while also enabling residents to stay active throughout the day. It is mainly practised by Okinawans on one of Japan’s smallest islands, as noted by Blue Zones explorer Dan Buettner.
According to a previous Mirror report, he wrote online: “The secret to eating in moderation in the long run is emulating the environment and habits of the Okinawan people. There is a significant calorie gap between when an American says, ‘I’m full’ and an Okinawan says, ‘I’m no longer hungry’.”
Previous research suggests that they exist in a ‘calorie deficit’, consuming only 1,900 calories instead of the usual 2,000 to 2,500, which is associated with a reduced risk of diseases related to ageing.
These views are echoed by Dr Deborah Lee, a GP at Dr Fox Pharmacy, too. She told the Mirror that eating less may even help to reduce ageing.
Okinawa in Japan (pictured) hosts one of the world’s Blue Zones(Image: Getty Images)
“Imagine what 80% of your meal would look like, and aim to leave 20% behind,” she said previously. “Calorie restriction is believed to slow the ageing process. Eating less lowers the metabolic rate.
“With less metabolic processes underway, less oxidation is taking place. Oxidative stress probably underpins the development of many of the chronic diseases we see today – heart disease, cancer, type-2 diabetes and dementia.”
Dr Lee suggested that eating slowly can help one adhere to the 80% rule. Research supports this theory, with a 2012 study indicating that slower eating is associated with increased satisfaction and less hunger between meals.
She continued: “Nutritionists believe that when you look at your plate, if you eat mindfully, eating slowly and chewing every mouthful thoroughly, you can feel satisfied by eating only 80% of that is on your plate.
“The diet has many benefits. You don’t have to count calories, and no foods are absolutely forbidden. It can fit in with your work and social schedule. You are still eating large amounts of healthy foods and getting good nutrition.”
July 7 (UPI) — President Donald Trump on Monday informed 13 nations, including Japan and South Korea, that new tariffs of at least 25% will be imposed starting Aug. 1 on most goods sent to the United States.
Trump sent letters to Japanese Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru and South Korean President Lee Jae-myung informing them of a 25% duty. He shared the letters on Truth Social on Monday afternoon.
He then sent letters to five other nations’ leaders, raising tariffs 25% for Malaysia and Kazakhstan, 30% for South Africa, and 40% for Myanmar and Laos.
In another batch, he imposed 36% on Cambodia and Thailand, 35% on Serbia, 32% on Indonesia, 30% on Bosnia and 25% on Tunisia. Meanwhile, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said more letters will be sent.
After the announcement, American stocks tumbled and stayed in the red. The Dow Jones Industrial Average declined 422.17 points, or 0.94%, to 44,406.36, the S&P 500 slumped 49.37 points, or 0.79%, to 6,229.98, and the tech-dominant Nasdaq Composite was down 188.59 points, or 0.9%, to 20,412.52. Setting record highs Thursday were the S&P at 6,279,35 and Nasdaq at 20,624.51. DJIA that day reached 44,828.53, below the record 45,014.04 on Dec. 4.
U.S.-listed Japanese automakers dropped significantly: Toyota 4.02%, Nissan 7.16% and Honda 3.86%. Korea’s Kia was half a percent down and Hyundai was up about 2.82% with their cars mostly made in the United States. American companies also produce cars from other countries and import parts, so tariffs will be tacked onto them.
“Markets are tilting to a risk-off posture as participants brace for the chance of Trump tariff-sparked turbulence in the coming hours and days,” Jose Torres, a senior economist at Interactive Brokers, wrote in a note obtained by Business Insider.
“At 25%, it is possible, but challenging, to trade with Japan and Korea,” Barry Appleton, co-director of the Center for International Law at New York Law School, told CBS MoneyWatch. “This rate was carefully set at the higher side of the spectrum. In essence, trade with the U.S. now is a pay-to-play proposition for Japan, Korea and likely others to come.”
Besides Japan and South Korea, other nations are bracing for higher tariffs, including the 27 countries in the European Union. USA Today reported as many as 100 letters could go out to nations.
The U.S. president had imposed a Wednesday deadline for nations to negotiate better trade deals. On April 2 on “Liberation Day,” he announced 10% across-the-board baseline tariffs on 90 trading partners and harsher ones for the worst offenders. Stocks and bond prices slumped.
One week later, he pushed the deadline back until July 9 for the reciprocal duties.
Leavitt said Trump will sign an executive order to delay the deadline to Aug. 1, when the new ones will be implemented. Also, new trade deals with some nations will be signed by the deadline, she said.
The original reciprocal tariffs were 24% for Japan; 25% for South Korea and Malaysia; 48% for Laos; 45% for Mayanmar; 27% for Kazakhstan; and 31% for South Africa.
The letters state that the 25% tariffs are separate from sector-specific duties on key product categories.
“Goods transshipped to evade a higher Tariff will be subject to that higher Tariff,” Trump said. That refers to moving goods to an interim country before their final shipment to the United States.
The letters say that the higher tariffs are necessary because the other nations are taking advantage of the United States.
“Please understand this 25% number is far less than what is needed to eliminate the Trade Deficit disparity we have with your Country,” Trump wrote to countries.
“These Tariffs may be modified, upward or downward, depending on our relationship with your Country. You will never be disappointed with the United States of America.”
In 2024, the U.S. had a $68.5 billion goods deficit with Japan and a $66 billion with South Korea, according to the Office of the United States Trade Representative.
Trump also warned that the rates could be higher if they impose retaliatory duties.
“As you aware, there will be no Tariff if Korea, or companies within your Country, decide to build or manufacture product within the United States and, in fact, we will do everything possible to get approvals quickly, professionally, and routinely — in other words, in a matter of weeks,” Trump wrote to South Korea’s president.
Trump on Monday threatened nations that support BRICS nations — Brazil, Russia, India and China — would be slapped with an additional 10% tariff. India is facing a 26% reciprocal tariff with Brazil at 10%. No new tariffs have been imposed on Russia though they already are high.
Deals have been announced with Great Britain, China and Vietnam.
For Britain, there is a 10% baseline tariff on most goods but an exemption for 50% tariffs on steel and aluminum on most other countries. Instead, it is 25%. Britain was originally to be imposed only the 10% rate. U.S. tariffs on British car imports and auto parts will be reduced to 10% for 100,000 cars.
In China, there is a 30% tariff on most Chinese imports, with exceptions on smartphones and computers. Originally the tariff on most goods was to be 134%.
In Vietnam, imports are subject to a 10% tariff with products originating from third countries shipped to the United States in Vietnamese ports increased to 40%. The original reciprocal was 46%.
Trump has wanted to boost the American manufacturing sector, but economists fear this strategy will lead to product shortages and inflation.
Authorities in the Adamawa Region of Cameroon have called for vigilance and better urban planning to avoid future disasters following the death of four persons and the displacement of families after heavy torrential rains and floods.
Local sources told HumAngle that the heavy rainfall in Ngaoundere, the regional capital, and surrounding areas caused significant damage and forced numerous families to leave. “The floods have seriously impacted the usage of several roads in the region, and many of the roads are out of use. Several schools and markets have been closed down, and access to most areas is now impossible without assistance,” a civil society activist in Ngaoundere said.
For several days, the rainfall in Ngaoundere, the region’s main town, led to a rapid rise in water levels from a nearby lake. This surge damaged infrastructure and left residents stranded, as Valeri Norbert Kuela, the prefect of the Vina division in the area, reported.
A civil engineering expert, who examined the ravaged location, stated that the profundity of the damage shows that the way houses are constructed here is not structured. The engineer warned that something has to be done by strictly vetting building plans before approval is given for construction.
“The large number of houses which easily collapsed without much effort is evidence of the veracity of accusations that have always been levied against Council authorities, that very little real control is carried out before and during the construction of houses in the city,” he said. “I hope these deaths and damage to several houses would teach the council authorities to do their work better.”
Several displaced individuals who spoke with HumAngle revealed that bribing construction verifiers to overlook standard building regulations was harmful to them.
“Where do I start from now at my age? How long would I have to stay in someone else’s uncompleted building with my children and grandchildren? Sometimes, being ‘smart’ can be a sort of stupidity,” one local, an octogenarian, cried out. “I thought I was smart by bribing council control staff to look the other way while I bent the construction rules. Look at where I find myself today.”
Authorities in the Adamawa Region of Cameroon are urging better urban planning following destructive floods in Ngaoundere that resulted in four deaths and numerous displacements. The heavy rains have damaged infrastructure and disrupted daily life, with roads, schools, and markets affected.
Concerns have been raised about the region’s weak construction standards, with experts highlighting the lack of rigorous oversight by council authorities during building processes. Some residents admitted to bribing officials to bypass regulations, which they now regret after suffering losses when their hastily constructed homes collapsed.
Corrie villain Mick Michaelis was previously jailed for brutally killing policeman Craig who was trying to arrest him for drink driving. Now he is getting ready to break out of lockup
21:00, 07 Jul 2025Updated 21:15, 07 Jul 2025
Mick Michaelis was jailed for murder on Coronation Street
Things are about to get very intense on Coronation Street, as a brand new trailer teases a dramatic prison break when killer Mick Michaelis makes a desperate bid to flee Weatherfield with his children.
Fans will see Mick (Joe Layton) go on the run in an episode set to air on Monday, July 14, after orchestrating a daring escape from prison. With nothing left to lose, the desperate character is on a mission to reunite his fractured family – but his plan could leave even more destruction in its wake.
Mick is spurred into action after hearing that his family is falling apart without him. Convinced that they belong together, he makes a bold and risky move to take Brody, Joanie and Shanice away from everything and start a new life elsewhere.
Now the man is set to make a comeback as he preps for a jailbreak
But with police in hot pursuit and his violent past catching up with him, the fugitive poses a serious threat to anyone who gets in his way.
His first stop is Weatherfield High, where he is determined to track down his daughter Joanie. But when he realises she’s already been taken home by Sally ( Sally Dynevor ), Mick heads straight for the cobbles – with DC Kit Green (Jacob Roberts) not far behind.
Completely unaware of the danger that’s coming, Sally takes Joanie to Underworld to give her a quick tour while the factory girls are at the pub. But things quickly take a sinister turn when Mick arrives on the street, ready to do whatever it takes to get to his daughter.
With Kit in pursuit, it’s only a matter of time before the situation explodes. What exactly does Mick have planned – and will Kit manage to stop him before it’s too late?
Actor Joe Layton has spoken about the dramatic scenes coming up, explaining: “He isn’t after revenge, this is about him wanting to get his family together and start a new life with them. The anger that we saw when he killed Craig has been replaced by desperation and love for his family, but that doesn’t make him any less dangerous. Kit is potentially putting his life on the line once more in his attempts to stop Mick.”
Viewers will remember that Mick arrived in Weatherfield earlier this year with wife Lou (Farrel Hegarty), and quickly became the street’s nightmare neighbour.
Things turned deadly when Mick brutally murdered police officer Craig Tinker by bludgeoning him to death with a bat after a tense confrontation.
Craig had been trying to arrest Mick following a suspected drink-driving incident, but it ended in tragedy. Mick has been behind bars ever since – but that is soon set to change.
Will Mick escape with his kids? Or will his twisted quest to reunite his family end in disaster?
Mick’s escape episode airs on ITVX and YouTube at 7am on Monday July 14th and on ITV at 8pm
Germany shattered the world record for largest string orchestra as 1,353 musicians performed Beethoven’s “Ode to Joy.” The intergenerational event brought together players of all ages, beating the previous record set in Hong Kong in 2018.
WASHINGTON — President Trump’s decision to hike tariffs once again on some of America’s largest trading partners rattled markets on Monday, dashing hopes on Wall Street that the White House would cut any significant trade deals, as it had promised, by the middle of this week.
In a series of letters sent to foreign leaders, and promptly posted by the president to his social media platform, Trump said the new rates amount to the cost of doing business with “the extraordinary Economy of the United States, The Number One Market in the World, by far.” Under the new policy, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia and Kazakhstan will face 25% import duties starting Aug. 1, while goods from Laos and Myanmar will face a 40% tariff, according to the letters.
South Africa’s president also received a letter, stating goods from the country imported to the United States would face duties of 30%.
Markets recoiled at the news, with the Dow Jones industrial average dropping 1.4%, the Nasdaq falling 1.2% and the Standard & Poor’s 500 sinking 1.2%.
The move essentially returns U.S. tariff rates on those countries to those Trump first announced on April 2, on what he called Liberation Day, but that he ultimately abandoned over widespread Wall Street panic that began spooking the bond market.
Trump hit pause on the crisis by announcing a 90-day suspension of the higher tariff rates, a period set to expire Wednesday. But the White House press secretary, Karoline Leavitt, said Monday that Trump would extend the deadline to the end of the month.
Several senior officials in the Trump administration had promised a slew of trade deals would follow the April episode — “we’re going to run 90 deals in 90 days,” said Peter Navarro, the president’s top trade advisor. Yet the administration has failed to secure a single detailed trade deal, instead announcing three frameworks of understanding with the United Kingdom, China and Vietnam.
“The president is taking a very deliberate approach to correcting this wrong of many decades, of many past presidents — I think he should be commended for the time and the effort that he’s putting into this,” Leavitt told reporters at a press briefing.
“The fact that he has announced a framework with China, a trade deal with the U.K., a trade deal with Vietnam and many others to come in just six months is truly historic, and it’s a testament to this president and his trade team,” she added.
In his letters to foreign leaders, Trump warned that any effort by their governments to retaliate would be met with escalation.
“If for any reason you decide to raise your Tariffs, then, whatever the number you choose to raise them by, will be added onto the 25% that we charge,” he wrote.
Leavitt said more letters would be sent in the coming days. She also stated that additional trade deals could be announced soon. “We are close,” she said.
Scott Bessent, the Treasury secretary, told CNBC in an interview that his inbox was “full last night with a lot of new offers” for trade deals ahead of the now-defunct Wednesday deadline.
“We’ve had a lot of people change their tune in terms of negotiations,” Bessent said. “So it’s going to be a busy couple of days.”
The stock market reaction to Trump’s Liberation Day tariffs, which hiked rates on countries all around the world, was an historic rout, eviscerating trillions of dollars in value, with the Standard & Poor’s index bleeding 12% in just four days.
Markets recovered within weeks, after Trump reversed course, with the S&P hitting a record high on July 3.
Italy captain Cristiana Girelli fires her side ahead with a “glorious” finish in the 70th minute of their Euro 2025 Group B match against Portugal in Geneva.
