Japan will continue trade talks with US for mutually beneficial deal, Ishiba says

Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba said on Tuesday that he would continue negotiations with the U.S. to seek a mutually beneficial trade deal, after President Donald Trump announced 25% tariffs on goods from Japan starting August 1, Reuters reported.

Trump on Monday began notifying trade partners of steep U.S. tariff hikes, but later indicated a willingness to delay implementation if countries made acceptable proposals.

The move triggered a broad decline in the yen as expectations receded of a near-term interest rate hike.

While Tokyo and Washington have yet to reach a deal, Ishiba noted that recent talks had helped Japan avoid even steeper tariffs of around 30% to 35%, according to Reuters.

China warns Trump on tariffs, threatens retaliation on supply chain deals

China warned the Trump administration on Tuesday against reigniting trade tension by restoring tariffs on its goods next month, and threatened to retaliate against nations that strike deals with the United States to cut China out of supply chains, Reuters reported.

Washington and Beijing agreed to a trade frameworkin June that restored a fragile truce, but with many details still unclear, traders and investors on both sides of the Pacific are watching to see if it will unravel or lead to a lasting detente.

On Monday, President Donald Trump began notifying trade partners of sharply higher U.S. tariffs from August 1, after he delayed all but 10% of his April duties on most countries to give them time to strike deals with the world's largest economy.

China, initially singled out with tariffs exceeding 100%, has until August 12 to reach an agreement with the White House to keep Trump from reinstating additional import curbs imposed during tit-for-tat tariff exchanges in April and May, according to Reuters.

US to remove Syria's HTS from list of foreign terror groups

The US is set to take the Syrian Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) off its list of foreign terrorist organisations on Tuesday, according to a state department memo, BBC reported.

The group led a rebel offensive in December that toppled the Assad regime, which had ruled Syria for 54 years. Its leader Ahmed al-Sharaa is now the country's interim president.

HTS, also known as al-Nusra Front, was previously al-Qaeda's affiliate in Syria until al-Sharaa severed ties in 2016. 

In recent months, Western countries have sought to reset relations with Syria - which has faced heavy sanctions aimed at the old regime, according to BBC.

King says France and UK face 'complex threats'

King Charles III will say the UK and France must stand together in the face of a "multitude of complex threats", when he speaks at a state banquet for French President Emmanuel Macron, BBC reported.

Macron and his wife Brigitte will be welcomed by the King and Queen and the Prince and Princess of Wales, as they arrive for a three-day state visit.

The state banquet will be a highlight of the trip, with famous faces, a showcase menu and a message from the King about the "shared history and culture between our two peoples".

This is the first state visit by the leader of an EU country since Brexit and the King will emphasise the need to work together on issues from military threats to climate change, according to BBC.

Trump upbeat on Gaza ceasefire talks as he hosts Netanyahu

US President Donald Trump has said he thinks talks to end the war in Gaza have been "going along very well", as he hosted Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Washington DC, BBC reported.

Trump also expressed confidence that Hamas was willing to end the 21-month conflict. "They want to meet and they want to have that ceasefire," he said in unexpected remarks to reporters at the White House.

The meeting came after the latest rounds of indirect ceasefire talks between Israel and Hamas in Qatar ended without a breakthrough, though negotiations were expected to continue this week, according to BBC.

Russian minister sacked by Putin found dead

Russia's Investigative Committee says former Russian transport minister Roman Starovoit has been found dead, apparently with a self-inflicted gunshot wound, BBC reported.

He was dismissed earlier on Monday by President Vladimir Putin.

No reason for Starovoit's dismissal was given and deputy transport minister Andrei Nikitin was announced as his replacement shortly after.

The Investigative Committee said it was working to establish the circumstances of the incident, according to BBC.

Texas floods death toll climbs to more than 100

The death toll from flash floods that struck central Texas on Friday has now climbed to more than 100 people and an unknown number of others are missing, BBC reported.

Search and rescue teams are wading through mud-piled riverbanks as more rain and thunderstorms threaten the region, but hope was fading of finding any more survivors four days after the catastrophe.

Camp Mystic, a Christian all-girls' summer camp, confirmed at least 27 girls and staff were among the dead. Ten girls and a camp counsellor are still missing.

The White House meanwhile rejected suggestions that budget cuts at the National Weather Service (NWS) could have inhibited the disaster response, according to BBC.

Flooded Lhende stream sweeps away Miteri Bridge

The flooded Lhende stream has swept away the Miteri Bridge.

The bridge connects Nepal and China in Rasuwa district.

The flooded stream not only swept away the bridge in the northern border of Nepal but also the vehicles stationed on the yard of Customs Office, Timure, according to Assistant Chief District Officer, Druba Prasad Adhikari.

Eleven persons were trapped in the flood while they were going to rescue the people in the area of the Customs Office. 

The Nepal Army has been requested for rescue.

Detailed information on the damage is being collected, he added.