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Today — 16 July 2025News

Trump Administration Will Limit Medicare Spending on Pricey Bandages

In an about-face, the administration is cracking down on so-called skin substitutes, overused treatments that cost Medicare more than $10 billion last year.

© Eric Lee/The New York Times

Dr. Mehmet Oz, the Medicare and Medicaid administrator, in May. The Trump administration has twice delayed Biden-era rules to slash payments for expensive skin bandages.

Trump wants five-seat pickup from redraw of Texas congressional map

16 July 2025 at 02:51

President Donald Trump wants lawmakers in Texas to redraw the state’s congressional district map to give Republicans five more House seats, he told reporters Tuesday.

“There could be some other states we’re going to get another three, or four or five in addition. Texas would be the biggest one.” he said. “Just a simple redrawing we pick up five seats.”

The White House and Department of Justice pushed for the redistricting, POLITICO reported Friday, and Gov. Greg Abbott asked state leaders to do it during a summer special session. The move is seen as an opportunity for Republicans to prevent Democrats from flipping the house back in 2026, but some see it as a dangerous risk.

Democrats currently control 12 of Texas’s 38 congressional districts. A 13th district anchored by downtown Houston is currently vacant but was controlled by Democrats until the death of Rep. Sylvester Turner last March.

Putting more Republican voters in Democratic districts would make those races more competitive, but it also removes those voters from their current Republican districts, diluting the GOP advantage. Those shifts could create the potential for Democrats to win more seats in Texas than they otherwise might.

“They are playing a little bit of roulette with these maps,” said Rep. Julie Johnson (D-Texas). “In a wave election like what we have a potential opportunity for in ‘26, I think it makes these Republicans very vulnerable.”

Trump’s allusion to “other states” likely includes Ohio, which is required by law to draw new congressional maps this year and could give Republicans up to three more seats. It is unclear which other states he sees as opportunities for midterm pickups.

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© Michael Gonzalez/Getty Images

Found: A Lost George Washington Battlefield

15 July 2025 at 23:02
As a young officer in the French and Indian War, Washington was involved in a devastating friendly fire incident. Military veterans are helping archaeologists excavate the location.

© Aaron Blum for The New York Times

Since 2021, military veterans have been helping archaeologists excavate near Fort Ligonier in western Pennsylvania. From left, James F. Cawley, Mike Strausner and Jeff Brock.

France Proposes Cutting Two Public Holidays to Avert Budget Crisis

16 July 2025 at 02:46
Drastic measures are necessary “before we are crushed by the debt,” the country’s prime minister warned.

© Violette Franchi for The New York Times

France’s debt load is among the highest in Europe, a worry for investors and credit ratings agencies.

Jamie Dimon Backs Jerome Powell Over Trump in Fed Fight

16 July 2025 at 02:37
The C.E.O. of JPMorgan Chase, who has rarely taken on President Trump during his second term, wades into the argument over the Federal Reserve chair.

© Richard Drew/Associated Press

“Playing around with the Fed can often have adverse consequences — the absolute opposite of what you might be hoping for,” Jamie Dimon, chief executive of JPMorgan bank, said Tuesday.

Air quality alerts issued in Canada and US as wildfires continue to burn

16 July 2025 at 00:10
Getty Images The Toronto skyline seen through a smoky hazeGetty Images
Smoke from the fires blanketed the Toronto skyline on Monday, where the air quality was among the lowest in the world

Air quality alerts are in place across Canada and the northern United States due to smoke from wildfires, with officials warning residents to "limit time outdoors".

Environment Canada issued alerts for much of Ontario, warning that wildfire smoke had significantly degraded air quality. On Monday, Toronto's air quality ranked among the worst in the world.

In the US, officials issued similar alerts for Chicago through Tuesday evening, with additional precautions advised for babies and the elderly.

Prime Minister Mark Carney will meet emergency responders to assess the situation in Ottawa, as fires burning in Manitoba, Saskatchewan and northern Ontario have forced thousands out of their homes.

"When air pollution levels are high, everyone should limit time outdoors," Environment Canada said in its special alert for Toronto. "Consider reducing or rescheduling outdoor sports, activities and events."

It added that the elderly, pregnant women, infants and young children, people with an existing illness or chronic health condition were more at risk due to the smoke.

Alerts have also been issued across the border in Chicago.

"An Air Quality Alert is in effect through Tuesday evening for the Chicago metro area in Illinois and in northwest Indiana due to unhealthy ozone levels and some lingering effects of Canadian wildfire smoke," the National Weather Service Chicago said in a post on X.

The political implications of the wildfire smoke have also reached Washington.

Last week, six members of Congress wrote to the Canadian ambassador complaining that smoke from Canada's wildfires was making it difficult for Americans to enjoy their summer.

In response, the premier of Canada's Manitoba province accused them of "trying to trivialise" a deadly situation.

The wildfires continue to spread across thousands of hectares.

May and June were particularly destructive months in western Canada, with roughly 30,000 people forced to evacuate in the provinces of Saskatchewan and Manitoba, where local administrations declared a state of emergency.

Out east, a fire that began on Monday on the Bonavista peninsula in Newfoundland doubled in size overnight, destroying several cabins near Chance Harbour, CBC News reported.

Scientists have consistently linked the intensifying wildfire seasons to climate change.

Canada is believed to be warming at twice the global average rate, and its Arctic regions are heating up nearly three times the global pace, scientists have warned.

Emmys 2025: Severance and The Penguin scoop top nominations

16 July 2025 at 01:07
Getty Images Woman in white and black ensambleGetty Images
Quinta Brunson plays Philadelphia teacher Janine Teagues in the show Abbott Elementary

Severance, The Penguin, and The White Lotus lead the nominations for this year's Emmy TV awards.

Britt Lower, Quinta Brunson, Harrison Ford and Jeremy Allen White are among the stars competing for the top prizes for acting.

The Studio, The Bear, Abbott Elementary and Shrinking are among the contenders in the comedy categories.

The best TV shows and actors of the past year will be honoured at the awards ceremony in Los Angeles on 14 September.

Here is the full list of nominees announced on Tuesday.

The most nominated shows

The most nominated shows

27 - Severance

24 - The Penguin

23 - The White Lotus

23 - The Studio

16 - The Last of Us

14 - Andor

14 - Hacks

Getty Images Stephen Graham and Owen Cooper attend Netflix's "Adolescence" ATAS Event at Television Academy's Wolf Theatre at the Saban Media Center on 27 May, 2025 in North Hollywood, California.Getty Images
British drama Adolescence stars Stephen Graham (left) and Owen Cooper

Major categories

Outstanding drama series

  • Andor (Disney+)
  • The Diplomat (Netflix)
  • The Last of Us (HBO Max)
  • Paradise (Hulu)
  • The Pitt (HBO Max)
  • Severance (Apple TV+)
  • Slow Horses (Apple TV+)
  • The White Lotus (HBO Max)

Outstanding comedy series

  • Abbott Elementary (ABC)
  • The Bear (Hulu)
  • Hacks (HBO Max)
  • Nobody Wants This (Netflix)
  • Only Murders in the Building (Hulu)
  • Shrinking (Apple TV+)
  • The Studio (Apple TV+)
  • What We Do in the Shadows (Hulu)

Outstanding limited or anthology series

  • Adolescence (Netflix)
  • Black Mirror (Netflix)
  • Dying for Sex (Hulu)
  • Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story (Netflix)
  • The Penguin (HBO Max)

Outstanding lead actor in a drama series

  • Sterling K Brown - Paradise (Hulu)
  • Gary Oldman - Slow Horses (Apple TV+)
  • Pedro Pascal - The Last of Us (HBO Max)
  • Adam Scott - Severance (Apple TV+)
  • Noah Wyle - The Pitt (HBO Max)

Outstanding lead actress in a drama series

  • Kathy Bates - Matlock (CBS)
  • Sharon Horgan - Bad Sisters (Apple TV+)
  • Britt Lower - Severance (Apple TV+)
  • Bella Ramsey - The Last of Us (HBO Max)
  • Keri Russell - The Diplomat (Netflix)

Outstanding lead actor in a comedy series

  • Adam Brody - Nobody Wants This (Netflix)
  • Seth Rogen - The Studio (Apple TV+)
  • Jason Segel - Shrinking (Apple TV+)
  • Martin Short - Only Murders in the Building (Hulu)
  • Jeremy Allen White - The Bear (Hulu)

Outstanding lead actress in a comedy series

  • Uzo Aduba - The Residence (Netflix)
  • Kristen Bell - Nobody Wants This (Netflix)
  • Quinta Brunson - Abbott Elementary (ABC)
  • Ayo Edebiri - The Bear (Hulu)
  • Jean Smart - Hacks (HBO Max)

Outstanding lead actor in a limited or anthology series or movie

  • Colin Farrell - The Penguin (HBO Max)
  • Stephen Graham - Adolescence (Netflix)
  • Jake Gyllenhaal - Presumed Innocent (Apple TV+)
  • Bryan Tyree Henry - Dope Thief (Apple TV+)
  • Cooper Koch - Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story (Netflix)

Outstanding lead actress in a limited or anthology series or movie

  • Cate Blanchett - Disclaimer (Apple TV+)
  • Meghan Fehy - Sirens (Netflix)
  • Rashidah Jones - Black Mirror (Netflix)
  • Cristin Milioti - The Penguin (HBO Max)
  • Michelle Williams - Dying for Sex (Hulu)
Getty Images Hannah Einbinder at the 2025 PaleyFest LA "Hacks" Screening held at Dolby Theatre on 28 March, 2025 in Hollywood, CaliforniaGetty Images
Hannah Einbinder portrays Ava Daniels, a down-on-her-luck comedy writer, in Hacks

Outstanding supporting actor in a drama series

  • Zach Cherry - Severance (Apple TV+)
  • Walton Goggins - The White Lotus (HBO Max)
  • Jason Isaacs - The White Lotus (HBO Max)
  • James Marsden - Paradise (Hulu)
  • Sam Rockwell -The White Lotus (HBO Max)
  • Tramell Tillman - Severance (Apple TV+)
  • John Turturro - Severance (Apple TV+)

Outstanding supporting actress in a drama series

  • Patricia Arquette - Severance (Apple TV+)
  • Carrie Coon - The White Lotus (HBO Max)
  • Katherine LaNasa - The Pitt (HBO Max)
  • Julianne Nicholson - Paradise (Hulu)
  • Parker Posey - The White Lotus (HBO Max)
  • Natasha Rothwell - The White Lotus (HBO Max)
  • Aimee Lou Wood - The White Lotus (HBO Max)

Outstanding supporting actor in a comedy series

  • Ike Barinholtz - The Studio (Apple TV+)
  • Colman Domingo - The Four Seasons (Netflix)
  • Harrison Ford - Shrinking (Apple TV+)
  • Jeff Hiller - Somebody Somewhere (HBO Max)
  • Ebon Moss-Bachrach - The Bear (Hulu)
  • Michael Urie - Shrinking (Apple TV+)
  • Bowen Yang - Saturday Night Live (NBC)

Outstanding supporting actress in a comedy series

  • Liza Colón-Zayas - The Bear (Hulu)
  • Hannah Einbinder - Hacks (HBO Max)
  • Kathryn Hahn - The Studio (Apple TV+)
  • Janelle James - Abbott Elementary (ABC)
  • Catherine O'Hara - The Studio (Apple TV+)
  • Sheryl Lee Ralph - Abbott Elementary (ABC)
  • Jessica Williams - Shrinking (Apple TV+)
Getty Images Jeremy Allen White attends a dinner for the cast and producers of "The Bear" at Musso & Frank Grill on June 9, 2025, in Hollywood, California.Getty Images
Jeremy Allen White recently reprised his role as chef Carmen "Carmy" Berzatto in series four of The Bear

Outstanding supporting actor in a limited or anthology series or movie

  • Javier Bardem - Monsters: The Lyle And Erik Menendez Story (Netflix)
  • Bill Camp - Presumed Innocent (Apple TV+)
  • Owen Cooper - Adolescence (Netflix)
  • Rob Delaney - Dying For Sex (Hulu)
  • Peter Sarsgaard - Presumed Innocent (Apple TV+)
  • Ashley Walters - Adolescence (Netflix)

Outstanding supporting actress in a limited or anthology series or movie

  • Erin Doherty - Adolescence (Netflix)
  • Ruth Negga - Presumed Innocent (Apple TV+)
  • Deirdre O'Connell - The Penguin (HBO Max)
  • Chloë Sevigny - Monsters: The Lyle And Erik Menendez Story (Netflix)
  • Jenny Slate - Dying For Sex (Hulu)
  • Christine Tremarco - Adolescence (Netflix)

Outstanding reality competition programme

  • The Amazing Race (CBS)
  • RuPaul's Drag Race (MTV)
  • Survivor (CBS)
  • Top Chef (Bravo)
  • The Traitors (NBC)

Outstanding talk series

  • The Daily Show (Comedy Central)
  • Jimmy Kimmel Live! (ABC)
  • The Late Show with Stephen Colbert (CBS)
Getty Images Seth RogenGetty Images
Hollywood satire The Studio is Seth Rogen's latest venture

Trump 'not encouraging killing' by asking Ukraine about Russia strikes, White House says

16 July 2025 at 00:22
Getty Images Donald TrumpGetty Images
Trump recently told the BBC he was "disappointed" but "not done" with Putin

President Donald Trump was "merely asking a question" when he asked the Ukrainian president whether the country could strike Moscow, the White House says.

Citing anonymous sources, the Financial Times reported that Trump on 4 July had privately encouraged Ukraine to escalate strikes on Russia if the US provided long-range weapons.

But Trump was "merely asking a question, not encouraging further killing. He's working tirelessly to stop the killing and end this war", White House told the BBC in a statement.

On Monday, Trump announced he would send weapons to Ukraine and warned of more tariffs on Russia if the country did not come to a ceasefire deal with Ukraine in 50 days.

The president said the US would impose 100% secondary tariffs targeting Russia's remaining trade partners if a peace deal with Ukraine was not reached in that timeline.

Among the weapons involved in the latest deal, Trump said "everything" including defensive Patriot missiles, though the exact details are not yet known.

Trump told the BBC on Monday that he was "disappointed" in Russian President Vladimir Putin. "But I'm not done with him," he added.

Trump also said he was "working at" getting Putin to put an end to killing in Ukraine.

"We'll have a great conversation. I'll say: 'That's good, I'll think we're close to getting it done,' and then he'll knock down a building in Kyiv."

In recent weeks, Russia has escalated its drone and missile attacks in Ukraine, killing more than 230 civilians in June, according to the United Nations - the largest number killed in a month during the three years of war.

Trump's question to Ukrainian President Vlodomyr Zelensky about whether the country could strike Moscow came a day after a "bad" call between the US president and Putin, according to the Financial Times.

"Volodymyr, can you hit Moscow? . . . Can you hit St Petersburg too?" Trump asked on a separate call with Zelensky after, the outlet reported.

Ukraine has Ukraine struck several targets deep inside Russia this year with missiles provided by the US and the UK.

Since returning to the White House in January, Trump has pledged to end Russia's war in Ukraine.

But the promise has proven more complicated than expected, and Trump has grown increasingly frustrated with the Russian leader and the lack of progress in ending the conflict.

Two rounds of ceasefire talks between Russia and Ukraine took place earlier this year but no other meetings have been scheduled.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Tuesday that Trump's pledge to raise tariffs and send weapons to Ukraine was seen "not as a signal for peace but as a signal to continue the war".

Ex-Nigeria President Buhari buried at home

16 July 2025 at 01:10
Horacio Villalobos/ Getty images Former Nigeria president Muhammadu Buhari with wearing eye glasses and a traditional hatHoracio Villalobos/ Getty images
Muhammadu Buhari died in a London clinic

The body of Nigeria's former President Muhammadu Buhari, who died aged 82 in a London clinic on Sunday is being flown home to be buried in his hometown in Katsina state.

Katsina state governor Dikko Radda, who is in the British capital with Buhari's family, said he would be buried later on Monday in Daura town, 50 miles (80km) from Katsina city.

Nigeria's Vice-President Kashim Shettima is also in London and will accompany Buhari's remains back to Nigeria.

"I just left his family at the hospital where he died and the decision is that his remains will be taken to Daura for burial, the plan is to leave in the morning," Radda told DW Hausa.

The vice-president also confirmed Daura to be Buhari’s final resting place in a post on social media after arriving in London.

He said that Buhari had died after a brief illness without revealing any further details, however he had suffered from ill-health for many years.

Even though he's a former president, there will not be a state funeral. In line with Islamic teachings Buhari will be buried as quickly as possible in a simple ceremony, Islamic cleric Abdullahi Garangamawa told the BBC.

"The only thing that should stop Buhari's corpse from being buried today [Monday] is if his body arrives [in] Daura in the night because Islam frowns at night burials. In that case, Tuesday morning will be fine," the cleric added.

Tributes have continued to pour in for the late army general who was one of only two people to have led Nigeria twice (both as military and civilian president) in its post-independence history.

Former President Goodluck Jonathan, defeated by Buhari in the 2015 election, described the late leader as someone who "was selfless in his commitment to his duty and served the country with character and a deep sense of patriotism".

Former military ruler, General Ibrahim Babangida, overthrown by Buhari in a 1985 coup, also showered praises on the octogenarian.

"He is a man who, even in retirement, remained a moral compass to many, and an example of modesty in public life,” Babangida noted.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who is expected to attend the funeral prayer in Daura, has declared a seven-day national mourning period in honour of his predecessor.

In an official condolence statement released on Sunday evening, Tinubu said the nation would pay its final respects to the former leader with dignity and honour, starting with the lowering of all national flags to half-mast across the country from Sunday.

More BBC stories on Nigeria:

Getty Images/BBC A woman looking at her mobile phone and the graphic BBC News AfricaGetty Images/BBC

Go to BBCAfrica.com for more news from the African continent.

Follow us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica

Emmy Nomination Snubs and Surprises: ‘Squid Game,’ ‘The Handmaid’s Tale’ and More

By: Mike Hale
16 July 2025 at 01:40
Some big names (Alfonso Cuarón, Elisabeth Moss) were left off the Emmy nomination list while some underdogs (Jeff Hiller, “Common Side Effects”) sneaked on.

© No Ju-Han/Netflix, via Associated Press

“Squid Game,” with Lee Jung-jae, was shut out of this year’s Emmy nominations.

Sudanese paramilitary RSF accused of killing almost 300 people in village raids

15 July 2025 at 23:08
File shot of people queuing to register for aid at an internally displaced persons’ camp in North Kordofan state

Sudan’s paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) killed nearly 300 people in attacks in North Kordofan state that began on Saturday, according to Sudanese activists.

The RSF has been fighting the Sudanese army in that area, one of the key frontlines of a civil war in Sudan that has raged since April 2023.

The Emergency Lawyers human rights group said on Monday that the RSF had attacked several villages on Saturday around the city of Bara, which the paramilitary controls.

In one village, Shag Alnom, more than 200 people were killed via arson or gunshot. Looting raids of the other villages killed 38 civilians, it said, while dozens of others had gone missing.

The next day, the group said in its statement, the RSF attacked the village of Hilat Hamid, killing 46 people, including pregnant women and children.

More than 3,400 people were forced to flee, according to the UN.

“It has been proven that these targeted villages were completely empty of any military objectives, which makes clear the criminal nature of these crimes carried out in complete disregard of international humanitarian law,” Emergency Lawyers said, placing the responsibility with RSF leadership.

The army has taken firm control of the centre and east of Sudan while the RSF is working to consolidate its control of western regions, including North Kordofan.

The US and human rights groups have accused the RSF of war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide. Its soldiers have carried out a series of violent looting raids in territory it has taken control of across the country.

The RSF leadership says it will bring those found responsible for such acts to justice.

Sudan’s civil war has created the world’s largest humanitarian crisis, driving more than half the population into hunger and spreading diseases including cholera across the country. A global reduction in aid spending has stretched the humanitarian response.

John Torode sacked as MasterChef host after racist language allegation upheld

16 July 2025 at 00:45
BBC A picture of John Torode in a blue shirtBBC

John Torode has been sacked as MasterChef presenter after it emerged that an allegation against him of using racist language was upheld.

On Monday, the TV chef said he had "no recollection" of the incident, adding: "I do not believe that it happened."

But on Tuesday, it emerged he had been dismissed.

It plunges the BBC cooking show into a deeper crisis, after more than 40 separate allegations against Torode's co-host Gregg Wallace were also upheld as part of an inquiry into his conduct.

The controversy over MasterChef started last year, when BBC News first revealed claims of inappropriate sexual language against Wallace.

Wallace was sacked last week as dozens more people came forward to BBC News with allegations against him. He has always denied the claims.

Men who felled Sycamore Gap tree in act of 'sheer bravado' jailed

16 July 2025 at 00:13
Northumbria Police Mugshots of the men. Graham is balding with brown dishevelled hair and a ginger beard. Carruthers has short fair hair and a ginger stubble beard.Northumbria Police
Daniel Graham and Adam Carruthers denied criminal damage at their trial but have since made admissions

Two men who chopped down the "irreplaceable" Sycamore Gap tree in an act of "sheer bravado" have each been jailed for four years and three months.

Daniel Michael Graham 39, and Adam Carruthers, 32, both from Cumbria, were convicted of criminal damage after filming themselves using a chainsaw to illegally fell the landmark tree by Hadrian's Wall in Northumberland.

Sentencing them at Newcastle Crown Court, Mrs Justice Lambert rejected a claim of "drunken stupidity" and said, while a full motive was not clear, felling the tree and the ensuing outrage gave the men "some sort of thrill".

The National Trust, which owned the more than 100-year-old tree, said the landmark could "never be replaced".

The pair, whose friendship imploded in the aftermath as the public revulsion became clear to them, drove to the site under the cover of darkness in the early hours of 28 September 2023.

They used the winds of Storm Agnes to help them topple the tree on to the Unesco World Heritage Site wall, the court heard.

The value of the tree was disputed with prosecutors saying it was worth about £458,000 and Graham's team claiming it to be about £150,000, but Mrs Justice Lambert said the exact financial price did not really matter.

Prosecutors said a video was filmed of the moment the Sycamore Gap tree was felled

The judge said the tree was a landmark of Northumberland and "symbol of the untamed beauty" of the landscape around Hadrian's Wall.

It was a place of "peace and tranquillity" which people returned to year after year, the judge said, adding it held great personal significance to many.

She said Carruthers used spray paint and a chainsaw to mark and then cut a wedge out of the tree, while Graham filmed it on his mobile phone.

Mrs Justice Lambert said a full motive was not clear, but she was "confident a major factor was sheer bravado," adding the action of felling the tree and the outrage it caused gave the men "some sort of thrill".

The men then "revelled in [their] notoriety" in the aftermath, the judge said.

She also rejected Carruthers' claim that he was drunk as the mission required skill and coordination as well as a "high degree" of planning by the two "experienced tree surgeons".

Watch: 'Felling the tree gave you a thrill' judge tells Sycamore Gap duo

The tree had been planted in the late 1800s to be a "feature in the landscape", fulfilling that ambition and more by becoming a much-loved visitor destination and landmark at the former frontier of the Roman Empire.

It found global fame after featuring in a scene of the 1991 film Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, starring Kevin Costner, and was popular with photographers and artists.

In a statement read to the court, National Trust manager Andrew Poad said: "This iconic tree can never be replaced."

He said the trust cared for the "totemic symbol" on behalf of the nation and it "belonged to the people".

PA Media Aerial view of a large sycamore tree lying severed from its stump. It is lying partly over a stone wall and several police officers are nearby looking at it.PA Media
The tree's felling sparked global outrage

The tree was a "place of sanctuary" for many and its destruction led to an "unprecedented" outpouring of love and emotion, Mr Poad said, with the "overwhelming sense of loss and confusion felt across the world".

He said the reason for the "malicious" and "mindless" vandalism was "beyond comprehension" and the way it was felled to land across the Roman wall was "reckless in the extreme".

But, he added that there were "signs of life" with shoots emerging from the stump, while seeds taken from the tree had been used to grow saplings which would be placed around the country.

Kris Hodgetts A time-lapse at night showing circles of white stars on a dark purple sky behind the silhouette of a tree.Kris Hodgetts
The tree, which was popular to photograph, had been planted in the 1800s to be a feature on the landscape

Prosecutor Richard Wright KC said there had been "significant planning" with the tree felled in a "deliberate and professional" manner.

The court heard both men had since admitted involvement in the expedition to probation officers.

In mitigation, Carruthers' barrister Andrew Gurney said the mechanic from Wigton would carry the burden of regret for his "stupid act" as a "personal penance" for the rest of his life.

Mr Gurney also said many people had asked why he did it, to which the reply was: "Unfortunately it is no more than drunken stupidity."

Christopher Knox, for Graham, said the groundworker from near Carlisle had had multiple struggles and mental health problems and had made a "serious attempt" to take his own life in December which resulted in a long hospital stay and then him being remanded into prison.

He also said people had attacked Graham's caravan and sent him hate mail showing "unpleasant" and "malign intent" towards him.

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Trump woke me up for a surprise interview - these are the key takeaways

15 July 2025 at 18:42
Listen: ‘I don't like dwelling’ on the assasination attempt, Trump tells BBC

Donald Trump makes a habit of calling reporters out of the blue. The US president seems to prefer an off-the-cuff telephone conversation to a sit-down interview on camera.

On Monday evening it was my turn. And I'll be frank with you - I was asleep when the White House rang.

I'd spent the best part of five days believing there was an outside chance I would get an interview with him, to mark a year since the attempt on his life in Butler, Pennsylvania.

My reporting from that shooting had made global headlines and probably caught the president's attention. So I judged that perhaps that connection might be a way of securing a presidential interview - pretty rare things for foreign news organisations in the US.

On Sunday night I was told I was minutes away from the call so my team and I were standing by ready to record, but it didn't come.

By last night, I'd given up on the interview happening and after a long few weeks on the road without a day off, I was exhausted and taking a nap. Then the phone rang.

I blearily answered, and the voice of Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt came over the speaker: "Hi Gary, I'm here with the president, here you go."

I dashed into my living room, scrambling for my digital recorder; the line dropped and I thought I'd lost it. But they came back on the line and I spent almost 20 minutes speaking to Trump about everything from that fateful night in Butler, to his frustrations with Vladimir Putin, to his new-found belief in Nato and to his view of the UK.

Here are my five key takeaways from our surprise conversation.

1. Trump shows a different side, touching on Butler

He was very reflective on a couple of things and he sounded pretty vulnerable talking about the assassination attempt - it's clear he's uncomfortable talking about that.

For a president often seen in public shooting from the hip, and loved by his supporters for doing so, there were moments of reflection and some long pauses before answers that are rarely seen.

When asked if the assassination attempt had changed him, the president conveyed a hint of vulnerability as he said he tries to think about it as little as he can.

"I don't like dwelling on it because if I did, it would be, you know, might be life-changing, I don't want it to have to be that."

Elaborating, he said he liked "the power of positive thinking, or the power of positive non-thinking".

There was also a very long pause when I asked him if he trusted Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Eventually he replied: "I trust almost nobody to be honest with you."

2. No commitment to US deportation numbers

Turning to domestic American politics, I asked whether the president's plan for mass deportations was working - both in terms of speed, and given that some individuals were being swept up who the president perhaps wouldn't want to see deported.

The president insisted his team had done a "great job" at fulfilling his campaign promises, citing the drastic decrease in migrants crossing into the US from southern neighbour Mexico.

Some of Trump's team have expressed frustration that deportations are being carried out too slowly. When I pushed him on the question of how many deportations in this second presidential term would mark a success, Trump refused to give a figure.

"Well I don't put a number on but I want to get the criminals out quickly, and we're doing that, as you know," he said. "We're bringing them to El Salvador, lots of other places."

3. More frustration with Putin

Trump expressed his frustration with Russian President Vladimir Putin - capping off a day in which he threatened to hit Moscow's economy with secondary sanctions if a deal over the war in Ukraine was not reached within 50 days.

Having campaigned on a promise to quickly end the war, Trump seemed perplexed that he had not yet managed to strike an agreement with his Russian counterpart to end the years-long conflict.

He again indicated there was a gap between words and actions on Putin's part: "I thought we had a deal done four times and then you go home, and you see, just attacked a nursing home or something in Kyiv. I said: 'What the hell was that all about?'"

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and other European leaders have long accused Putin of not being serious about ending the war. To them, feelings of doubt will be nothing new.

But, when I asked Trump whether he had finished with the Russian leader, he continued to leave the door open: "I'm not done with him, but I'm disappointed in him."

Listen: I'm 'disappointed but not done' with Putin, Trump tells BBC

4. New tone on Nato

I pointed out to Trump that he once suggested Nato was obsolete, and he replied that he now thought the Western military alliance was "becoming the opposite of that".

He was fresh from hosting Nato chief Mark Rutte - a man he seems to be able to work well with. The pair exchanged warm words in front of the world's cameras, and announced that the US would sell weapons to Nato which would then be passed on to Kyiv.

During our call, Trump indicated that he was shaking off his grudge that his country spent proportionately more on defence than its allies.

"It was very unfair because the United States paid for almost a hundred percent of it, but now they're paying their own bills and I think that's much better," he said, appearing to refer to a pledge last month by Nato members to ramp up defence spending to 5% of each country's economic output.

"We changed Nato a lot," he told me.

5. Respect for Starmer and UK

Trump emphasised his respect for the UK and its prime minister, Sir Keir Starmer, with whom he last month signed an agreement to remove some trade barriers. "I really like the prime minister a lot, even though he's a liberal," Trump explained.

Trump emphasised that the relationship between the two countries was just as "special" as many Britons like to believe, adding that he believed the UK would fight alongside the US in a war.

He sounded relaxed over perceived slights against him. Although his state visit to the UK later this year will not entail a speech to Parliament, he was not insistent that lawmakers be recalled. "Let them go and have a good time," he said.

Trump labelled his future host King Charles "a great gentleman". He shrugged off a recent speech that was given to Canada's parliament by the monarch that was seen as an endorsement of Canadian sovereignty in the face of Trump's threats.

He even had a joke. "You have many different names you go by," he said. "England, if you want to cut off a couple of areas. And you go UK, and you have Britain and you have Great Britain. You got more names than any other country in history, I think."

Listen: World leaders have 'come to respect me', Trump tells BBC

Thames Water 'extremely stressed', warns boss

15 July 2025 at 19:27
Getty Images Thames Water worker Getty Images

Thames Water will "take at least a decade to turn around", its boss has said, as the struggling company posted huge annual losses.

Thames reported a loss of £1.65bn for the year to March, in which its debt pile climbed to £16.8bn.

The UK's largest water and waste company claimed "significant rainfall and high groundwater levels" led to pollution incidents increasing by more than a third, but said it had tried to address "many of the underlying causes of our poor performance".

The results come as bosses are set to be quizzed by MPs later, with the company's future still uncertain since fears it could collapse first emerged two years ago.

Thames serves about a quarter of the UK's population, mostly across London and parts of southern England, and employs 8,000 people.

Chris Weston, chief executive of Thames Water, said the company had made "good progress" on its performance, "despite the ongoing challenging financial situation".

But he firm continues to face heavy criticism over its performance in recent years, following a series of sewage discharges and leaks.

In May it was handed a a £122.7m fine, the biggest ever issued by the water industry regulator Ofwat, for breaching rules on sewage spills and shareholder payouts.

Thames said the number of pollution incidents increased to 470 from 350 in the last calendar year.

Mr Weston said "prolonged wet weather meant further rain had nowhere to go other than to inundate our ageing and fragile sewer network".

"Reducing pollutions and discharges is something we're really focused on, and we plan to invest record amounts in our waste network during the next five years," he added.

On Monday, Thames became the latest supplier to announce a hosepipe ban, which will begin next Tuesday for customers in Oxfordshire, Gloucestershire, most of Wiltshire and some parts of Berkshire.

The dire state of the company's finances emerged in June 2023, but Thames managed to secure a £3bn rescue loan earlier this year to stave off collapse.

However, the company suffered a major blow in its bid to secure its future in June when US private equity firm KKR pulled out of a further £4bn rescue deal.

The setback has increased the possibility that the company could collapse into a government-supervised administration.

Mr Weston said Thames recognised that its current gearing, which indicates how much a company depends on debt to fund its operations, was "too high".

"To address this, we are progressing with our senior creditors' plan to recapitalise the business which will see us return to a more stable financial foundation," he added.

"This will come with a requirement to re-set the regulatory landscape and acknowledge it will take at least a decade to turn Thames around."

Regardless of what happens to Thames or who owns the company, its water services will continue as normal.

善择ESG风险跟踪第93期|179家公司暴露ESG风险,信披违规是“重灾区”

南方周末中国企业社会责任研究中心

责任编辑:侯明辉

2025年7月第1周,179家上市公司曝光风险事件242起,风险指数250.70,其中治理风险占33.4%,环境风险占22.8%,社会风险占43.9%。在本期曝光的事件中,有56起因信息披露违法违规而被处罚或警示的事件,涉及53家上市公司。

具体来看,在56起信披违规事件中,财务造假相关事件达46起,业绩披露不准确事件6起,未披露重大关键信息的相关事件有4起。其中,江苏吴中(600200)连续四年财务造假触及强制退市情形、观典防务(688287)未披露重大事件被罚950万元等重大风险事件值得关注。

经证监会调查,2020年至2023年期间,江苏吴中子公司通过与多家关联公司开展无商业实质的贸易业务,虚增营业收入超17亿元。与此同时,江苏吴中还存在未如实披露实控人、未披露关联方非经营性资金占用重大信息等信披违法违规行为。据此,7月13日,证监会对江苏吴中及相关责任人合计处罚3050万元,并实施强制退市风险警示。7月14日,江苏吴中开盘一字跌停。观典防务因未及时披露多笔对外担保事项,被处以950万元的罚款,董事长、董事会秘书、财务总监等责任人合计被罚1940万元。

信息披露是上市公司的强制性义务,上市公司披露的信息应当真实、准确、完整,不得有虚假记载、误导性陈述或者重大遗漏。然而,信披造假、信披违规却成为上市公司ESG风险暴露的“重灾区”。一些企业信披合规意识淡漠,甚至蓄意造假以欺瞒利益相关方,损害了市场竞争环境和投资者合法权益。据不完全统计,2025年上半年近40家上市公司因信披违规被立案。

2025年7月1日起,新修订的上市公司信息披露管理办法正式实施,其中强化了风险揭示要求。按照要求,上市公司应当充分披露可能对公司核心竞争力、经营活动和未来发展产生重大不利影响的风险因素。


校对:赵立宇

欢迎分享、点赞与留言。本作品的版权为南方周末或相关著作权人所有,任何第三方未经授权,不得转载,否则即为侵权。

稳定币:超级隐形美元来了?|圆桌派⑧

现有各地法案对稳定币的监管相当严格。但各地监管法案最大的隐患和漏洞在于对稳定币发行公司缺乏最后贷款人的支持。在极端情况下,当资产端丧失流动性时,稳定币发行公司的就无法应对挤兑压力。

在所有传统金融业务中,与时代发展最为脱节的就是跨境支付。漫长的银行代理链条与前互联网时代的报文系统,使其成为缓慢而昂贵的活化石。

没有发行稳定币的区域和国家一定会在包括跨境交易等在内的金融发展中处于劣势地位,其货币国际化更难以实现。

《稳定币条例》落地后,离岸人民币稳定币有望打开国际市场新局面。其依托合规框架和跨境支付效率优势,可与数字人民币协同,补充现有支付体系。

南方周末研究员 谢艳霞

责任编辑:张文景

稳定币无疑是2025年最火热的话题之一。

全球各地加速立法,将稳定币纳入严监管框架。2025年7月14日至18日,美国众议院将审议包括《指导和建立美国稳定币国家创新法案》(又称《GENIUS法案》)。此前的5月21日,香港特区立法会通过《稳定币条例草案》,并定于8月1日起正式生效。市场预期,最早年底之前,香港合规稳定币发行商名单将揭盅亮相。欧盟则更早于2023年6月通过《加密资产市场监管法案》。日本、韩国和新加坡等亦在研究和加速立法。

尤为市场关注的是,在6月18日举行的上海陆家嘴论坛上,中国人民银行行长潘功胜首次在公开场合提及稳定币,表达对其高度关注。上海国资官微消息更称,7月10日,上海市国资委党委召开中心组学习会,围绕加密货币与稳定币的发展趋势及应对策略开展学习。

与此同时,稳定币概念股暴涨或大幅波动。有“稳定币第一股”之称的Circle Internet Group上市后,持续暴涨然后大幅回落;国泰君安国际获虚拟资产交易牌照后亦大涨不止。

稳定币的交易量更令人惊叹。据知名资产管理公司ARK Invest统计,2024年稳定币交易额高达15.6万亿美元,超过两大国际信用卡组织Visa和Master。其中美元稳定币占比高达99%。凭借隐密、支付即结算、超低转账成本和7×24小时等优势,美元稳定币是否将称霸全球,进而成为超级隐形美元?中国是否应考虑加速试点人民币稳定币并应对全球监管挑战?投资者如何参与其中?风险何在?

南方周末新金融研究中心围绕上述问题约访多位对此领域有深度研究的专家,他们分别是浙商银行首席经济学家、国家金融与发展实验室副主任殷剑峰、中国社科院金融研究所支付清算研究中心主任、研究员杨涛和复旦大学国际金融研究中心主任杨长江。

浙商银行首席经济学家、国家金融与发展实验室副主任殷剑峰(受访者供图)

中国社科院金融研究所支付清算研究中心主任、研究员杨涛(受访者供图)

复旦大学国际金融研究中心主任杨长江(受访者供图)

较之金融机构,监管更严

南方周末:美国的《GENIUS法案》和中国香港的《稳定币条例草案》及欧盟的《加密资产市场监管法案》在发行方要求、储备管理等方面均有细则规定。对比三方监管规定,主要异同之处是什么?

殷剑峰:主要在战略导向上有所差异:中国香港侧重开放与兼容,《稳定币条例草案》除了支持港元稳定币,也支持离岸人民币稳定币。其主要目的在于平衡金融稳定与创新,巩固国际金融中心地位;美国强化美元主导地位,推动支付型稳定币成为链上美元的延伸,服务于美国财政融资;欧盟则建立统一监管框架以保护消费者和市场完整性,维护欧元区金融稳定,防止加密资产风险传导。

三地监管相同点则是:积极把法币稳定币纳入监管,以保护消费者,维护货币金融稳定;要求稳定币有相应的资产储备来保证其价值稳定,且需对储备资产进行管理和披露,以增强市场信心和保障投资者权益;要求发行主体具备一定资质并符合相关合规标准;强调发行主体需满足反洗钱(AML)等合规要求,以防止稳定币被用于非法金融活动。

南方周末:较之对商业金融机构的严监管和强监管,对稳定币的监管更严?

殷剑峰:与对商业金融机构的严监管和强监管相比,美国《GENIUS 法案》、中国香港《稳定币条例草案》及欧盟《加密资产市场监管法案》对稳定币的监管同样严格。

三者均在发行方资质、资本与储备要求、合规与风险管理、信息披露等方面有严格规定,与对商业金融机构的监管要求相当,部分方面甚至更严。但在业务限制等方面,因稳定币特性和各地市场情况不同,与商业金融机构监管存在差异。

杨涛:自2024年欧盟《加密资产市场监管法案》(MiCA)开始,全球监管者把法币抵押型稳定币作为重心,并且呈现多重共性目标和特征:一是延续了非银支付机构的核心监管思路。现有各国或地区的法案中,如准入标准、反洗钱(AML)和了解你的客户(KYC)、储备金及披露、资产隔离与赎回等,都是非银支付机构监管的必备要素。二是加强金融消费者保护,提升金融市场基础设施合规性。三是努力在Web3.0世界中拓展货币主权。毋庸置疑的是,稳定币可以使主流法币的影响力在数字化空间中得以释放,并可进一步拓展主权国家在Web3.0世界中的“长臂管辖”权力。这也成为未来国际货币金融博弈的新赛道。四是展示加密货币友好型政策姿态,吸引资金或资本集聚。虽然现有法案给稳定币等部分创新戴上“紧箍”,但对于长期游走在监管边缘与罚单恐慌下的加密货币行业来说,更多被解读为积极信号。

南方周末:从目前的运营情况和更长远视角考虑,这些法案还有哪些隐患和漏洞?

殷剑峰:除了消费者保护尚需加强之外,法案最大的隐患和漏洞在于对稳定币发行公司缺乏最后贷款人的支持。从机理上看,稳定币发行公司与货币市场基金非常类似,都以短期安全储备资产为支撑,发行相应的负债(稳定币和基金单位)。但在遭遇挤兑压力时,货币市场基金可以通过同业拆借市场获得流动性支持,合格的货币市场基金还可以获得央行最后贷款人的流动性支持——这被称作是融资流动性。

相比之下,稳定币发行公司在遭遇挤兑压力时,只能通过售卖资产来应对。因此,资产的流动性就具有决定性作用——这被称作市场流动性。可以想象一下,在极端情况下,当稳定币公司的资产端丧失流动性的时候,就无法应对挤兑压力。总之,融资流动性是根本,市场流动性具有天生的脆弱性。

杨涛:尚有系列问题待解。例如,无法有效应对加密货币(资产)市场波动性与可能的流动性冲击,并且现实世界中法币及其资产的脆弱性,同样也可能传导到加密世界中,反而增加了其非稳定性;所谓的稳定币推动构建“链上布雷顿森林体系”,仍存在内在不可持续性。在“新特里芬难题”之下,如美元稳定币以作为安全资产和信心存疑的美元资产作为支撑,增强自身的稳定性与可信性,反过来又试图反哺美元资产的稳定性,其逻辑难以自洽。

 牌照类型不同,价值悬殊

南方周末:在各国和地区加速监管合围之际,稳定币概念股被热捧,但股价亦有较大波动。7月3日,有“稳定币第一股”之称的Circle股价较上市首日上涨2倍多,较发行价上涨近8倍,但在7月11日,此股较最高点大幅回落近40%;国泰君安国际亦曾因获得虚拟资产交易牌照而大受追捧,一反此前走势。金涌投资更因一纸拟尝试离岸人民币稳定币公告而在盘中一度狂飙6倍。它们确实值得如此受追捧?

殷剑峰:稳定币概念股近期受追捧,本质是市场对监管落地后行业规范化发展的短期乐观预期,但需从价值逻辑和风险本质两方面理性看待,其“追捧程度”是否合理需辩证分析。短期看有一定合理性:美国、欧盟、中国香港等地监管框架的加速落地,明确了稳定币发行和运营的合规路径。对于Circle这类头部发行方,以及国泰君安国际持牌机构,监管落地意味着其先发优势和合规壁垒被强化,能抢占规范化后的市场份额,短期业绩预期改善推动股价上涨有一定支撑。

但长期看需警惕泡沫风险:稳定币业务的盈利模式相对单一(主要依赖储备资产利息),且受监管合规成本(资本要求、审计、技术投入)高企的制约,长期利润率可能低于市场预期。此外,监管政策仍在动态调整,若未来进一步收紧,可能压缩行业空间。

南方周末:Circle和国泰君安国际的牌照不同。它们代表两类完全不同价值的牌照?

殷剑峰:稳定币相关牌照的类型差异直接导致价值悬殊。核心差异体现在监管层级、业务范围、地域效力和合规要求上。系统性重要牌照门槛高、覆盖全球高价值场景,支撑核心业务壁垒;而普通交易牌照多局限于单一环节或区域,盈利空间相对有限。

南方周末:有人认为,因市场小而竞争者众,国泰君安国际在相当长时间内无法在这个领域有较大真实收益。所以纯属概念炒作。认同该观点吗?

殷剑峰:认为国泰君安国际此领域难有较大真实收益、属概念炒作的观点,其依据在于:虚拟资产交易牌照聚焦中介服务,市场规模尚有限,且竞争者涵盖传统机构与加密平台,短期盈利空间受限,股价波动或与情绪关联更深。

不过也存在不同视角:其背靠传统金融资源,若能将虚拟资产业务与跨境资金、财富管理等现有板块融合,或可探索差异化路径,长期存在突破竞争格局的可能性。

跨境支付增长更迅猛

南方周末:与法币相比,稳定币凭借匿名性、支付即结算、无需中介和手续费超低等特点而普及较快。据知名投资管理公司ARK Invest统计,2024年稳定币交易额已达15.6万亿美元,超过两大国际信用卡组织Visa和Master,主要用于跨境支付。哪些区域、什么样的企业和个人更青睐用稳定币支付?

殷剑峰:区域层面:金融基础设施较为薄弱的新兴市场(如东南亚、非洲部分国家),以及存在资本管制、汇率波动剧烈的地区(如拉美国家),稳定币可规避本地货币贬值风险,且绕过传统的低效跨境通道。

企业层面:主要包括从事跨境贸易的中小企业跨境电商平台,主要需求点在于减少跨境支付费用。

个人层面:有跨境汇款需求的海外工作群体(减少汇款手续费损耗)、对金融隐私敏感的用户(利用稳定币的匿名性特征)、参与加密货币投资的个人(作为资产兑换媒介)。

杨长江:稳定币方式更适用于传统银行服务不发达的国家,或者是通货膨胀严重、本币币值稳定不受信任的国家,以及像美国这样明确禁止央行数字货币的国家,同时也对受到地缘政治等因素而面临SWIFT制裁的国家具有吸引力。

南方周末:香港金管局预计,2025年,稳定币交易规模将占全球跨境支付的15%。随着持牌机构增加、市场对稳定币的认识加深和信任,增长趋势是否更迅猛?

殷剑峰:这种增长趋势可能更迅猛。持牌机构增加会带来更多资源,促进服务优化。市场认知和信任提升也会吸引更多使用者。但稳定币也面临全球监管政策差异、技术风险等挑战,央行数字货币的发展也可能形成竞争,所以其增长趋势虽有加速可能,但也存在不确定性。

南方周末:在未来跨境支付体系中,它可能扮演什么角色?有多大可能在跨境交易中占据主导地位?

殷剑峰:未来在跨境支付体系中,全球稳定币可能扮演重要的支付工具角色。它可凭借快速结算、低成本等优势,成为跨境贸易结算、供应链金融等领域的常用支付手段。同时,稳定币还可能作为连接不同金融市场与资产的桥梁,促进跨境资金流动与金融交易,助力代币化证券等业务发展,有望从加密资产“连接器”升级为全球支付基建的一部分。

杨长江:在所有的传统金融业务中,与时代发展最为脱节的就是跨境支付。漫长的银行代理链条与前互联网时代的报文系统,使得其成为缓慢而昂贵的活化石。

数字时代对传统跨境支付体系的革命现在有两条路径:其一是以央行数字货币为基础,通过央行之间的“货币桥”等试点方案来进行,使用了某些区块链技术,但本质上依然是“中心化”的银行账户体系;其二则是以稳定币为基础,通过区块链方式进行。

上述两种方式各有其优劣,前者具有更高的安全性,也与现行金融体系更为一致,但在某些国家出于个人隐私疑虑而被拒绝,后者因高效便捷而具有更好的用户体验感,但也容易滋生洗钱等非法活动,且安全性建立在私人提供的基础设施之上。

南方周末:如果稳定币未来在跨境支付中占据重要地位,将带来哪些监管挑战?

殷剑峰:一是监管管辖权冲突。稳定币发行方可能在A国注册、储备资产存于B国、用户分布在C国,导致各国对“谁来监管”“监管责任如何划分”存在争议。

二是风险跨境传导加速。稳定币的即时跨境转账特性可能使单一地区的风险快速扩散至全球。若某发行方的储备资产在一国出现流动性危机,可能引发全球范围内的挤兑。

三是监管标准差异或导致“监管套利”。不同国家对稳定币的发行资质、储备资产类型、披露要求等存在差异,部分发行方可能选择在监管宽松地区注册,却向监管严格地区的用户提供服务,通过“监管洼地”降低合规成本,削弱各国监管效果。

美元霸权或延伸到虚拟世界

南方周末:除了对监管构成挑战,稳定币将冲击法币支付体系?

殷剑峰:若稳定币在跨境支付中占据重要位置,可能对法币支付体系形成局部冲击。从冲击角度看,稳定币可能分流法币在跨境小额高频支付、新兴市场汇款等场景的份额。其低成本、即时性优势,会削弱传统银行电汇、SWIFT(环球银行金融电信协会)系统的竞争力,尤其在金融基础设施薄弱地区,可能出现稳定币替代法币跨境流通的现象。

南方周末:全球稳定币市值约2500多亿美元,其中美元稳定币占比高达99%。美元稳定币是否成为另一种“隐形超级美元”,进而统治跨境支付体系?

殷剑峰:稳定币已成为虚拟资产与现实资产连接的交易媒介,全球范围内很多投资者在将加密货币与加密资产套现时,常选择转换为美元稳定币。同时,在去中心化金融(DeFi)平台中,绝大多数交易也以美元稳定币作为计价尺度,其在虚拟交易中的作用类似美元在现实世界交易中的地位。

总之,美元在现实世界中是最关键的储备货币,尽管其地位有所削弱,但尚没有其他挑战者。相比之下,美元在虚拟世界的地位远远超过在现实世界的地位。如果未来人类的经济社会活动将会形成虚拟与现实相互融合扩张的新形态的话,美元的地位将会得到进一步的加强,美元霸权将会从现实世界延伸到虚拟世界。

杨长江:货币支付方面具有“赢者通吃”的网络外部性,而数字空间又是一个天生具有全球性和垄断性特征的地方。因此,在数字货币市场,强者垄断将会更加突出,使得美元成为数字货币市场的中心货币,从而完全控制未来的链上全球性金融市场,是美国的战略性计划,对于美元霸权地位至关重要。

杨涛:法币抵押型稳定币本质上成为依托多种区块链标准创立、在不同主流区块链公链网络运行的、受到严格法律约束的法币“影子代币”。

南方周末:如果某个区域或国家没有发行稳定币,是否在全球跨境交易中不可避免地处于劣势?

殷剑峰:稳定币是人类经济社会生活从单纯现实物理世界走向现实与虚拟数字世界相互交融发展的必然产物。如果认识不到这一点,只是将稳定币看做是一种新的支付工具,就忽视了经济社会发展的大趋势。随着Web3.0时代的到来,没有稳定币的区域和国家一定会在包括跨境交易等在内的整个金融发展中处于劣势地位,其货币国际化更是难以实现。

杨长江:稳定币是金融走向数字时代的新型货币形态,拒绝稳定币不仅意味着在跨境贸易、推动本国货币国际化等方面处于不利地位,更重要的是这与未来的金融时代脱节。

南方周末:部分头部稳定币发行方将大量资金投入美国短期国债。随着发行量增加,它是否会对美债构成一种新的支撑?

殷剑峰:随着稳定币规模及全球实际应用的扩张,大量美元挂钩稳定币在全球流通,推动美元成为加密货币领域的“计价单位”和核心结算工具。第一,美元的应用场景从加密资产交易延伸至实体交易与跨境贸易支付领域,这一拓展不仅扩大了美元的全球使用范围,更强化了其国际影响力。第二,稳定币发行方持有的大规模美国国债,为美债市场注入增量资金,助力美国维持金融市场的稳定性与吸引力。归根到底,美元稳定币将美元的使用场景延伸到虚拟数字世界,从而形成虚拟世界和现实世界对美债的双重支撑。

杨长江:通过稳定币增加美债需求,只是战术性目标。对于稳定币为美债“续命”的观点,可以用鲁迅的名言来澄清:“捣鬼有术、有效,然而有限”。 美国国债问题的实质,不是流动性问题,而是信心问题。稳定币只是一种刺激市场需求的技术手段,不能也不会改变美债的根本趋势。

港沪都应试点人民币稳定币

南方周末:现在离岸人民币稳定币非常少。香港《稳定币条例草案》规定,未来符合条件的金融机构等可在香港发行离岸人民币稳定币。香港作为全球最大的离岸人民币中心,随着《条例》8月1日落地,人民币稳定币是否将成为一种新的支付工具在国际稳定币市场中打开新的局面?这具有怎样的战略意义?

殷剑峰:《稳定币条例草案》落地后,离岸人民币稳定币有望打开国际市场新局面。其依托合规框架和跨境支付效率优势,可与数字人民币协同,补充现有支付体系。

发行人民币稳定币的根本意义在于,把握Web3.0时代虚拟世界与现实世界交汇融合发展的大趋势,推动人民币的运用场景从现实物理世界延伸到虚拟数字世界,从而实现人民币成为强大货币、中国成为金融强国的战略目标。此外,人民币稳定币的发行也将在很大程度上巩固香港的国际金融中心地位,推动金融科技创新,并通过先行先试完善跨境监管模式,为人民币稳定币的在岸市场发展奠定基础。

杨长江:要不要发人民币稳定币,首先是一个战略问题,即是要在新的数字金融时代“上桌”,还是作为看客听任别人制定好相关规则分好蛋糕。其次,也是一个有利于推进人民币国际化的战术问题。现有人民币国际化路径面临明显障碍:通过CIPS(人民币跨境支付体系)的传统结算体系,依然不能绕过SWIFT与美元结算体系;试图以央行数字人民币来打造新的支付体系,面临着域外国家在接受央行数字人民币存在较大疑虑问题。人民币稳定币则是绕过现行SWIFT体系的一个可能路径。

当然,发行人民币稳定币要谨慎设计,要对相关风险进行充分考虑与防范,但是这个基本态度要坚定不移。

当前,不仅要在香港尽快进行人民币稳定币试点,同时也要考虑尽快在上海试点离岸人民币稳定币。香港和上海具有不同的应用场景,前者以人民币离岸金融市场为主体,重点是进行以稳定币为基础的链上金融生态构建,特别是DEFI(去中心化金融)以及真实资产代币化(RWA)的产品开发,重心在于“金融“;后者则是以国际贸易便利化为主要目的,考虑采取合理途径发挥稳定币在跨境支付等方面的优势,可以建立离岸人民币与稳定币之间的转换机制,与本国金融市场暂相隔离,重心在于“贸易与投资”,以“为实体经济服务”为主要目标。

南方周末:它与数字人民币有何异同?

殷剑峰:数字人民币是官方发行的数字法定货币,稳定币本质上是一种代币。两者在法律地位、发行主体、监管框架方面均有不同。

南方周末:随着《稳定币条例草案》即将正式实施,中国可能还会在稳定币监管与应用方面做出哪些探索,以更好地维护金融主权与推进人民币国际化?

殷剑峰:《稳定币条例草案》是极具价值的探索。通过设立发牌制度,规定发行人资质、储备金管理等,严格监管稳定币发行与交易,筑牢金融安全防线。凭借全球最大离岸人民币中心地位,推动离岸人民币稳定币发展,拓展人民币跨境支付场景,增强其国际影响力,为维护金融主权安全与推进人民币国际化提供有力支撑。

杨涛:面对全球稳定币市场及监管趋势,我国首先应该尽快推动稳定币相关立法,中长期也可研究探索加密货币监管的整体立法,分层次、分阶段构建我国Web3.0金融“长臂管辖原则”。其次,短期内,我国稳定币探索应聚焦于人民币稳定币,尽快在全球法币抵押型稳定币市场中占据一席之地,其储备管理可对应人民币现金、债券或数字人民币等高流动性、低风险资产。再次,对于面向境内主体发行和持有人民币稳定币,以及美元、欧元等海外法币抵押型稳定币在国内的定位,还有基于各类稳定币的链上金融产品,都可暂时持审慎态度。同时,结合金融开放与资本项目改革进程,在坚持金融安全、稳定和金融消费者保护的前提下,借鉴海外监管经验与教训,持续进行研究和观察,为将来的立法与监管做好准备。

(南方周末研究员廖浩伦对此文亦有贡献。)

校对:星歌

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Why the New York Subway System Keeps Flooding

The century-old system faces infrastructure and climate challenges that are making its water problem worse.

© Vincent Alban/The New York Times

Twenty of the 472 stations in New York City’s sprawling subway network had to be temporarily closed on Monday night.

Thousands of Afghans were moved to UK in secret scheme after data breach

15 July 2025 at 23:37
EPA The exterior of the Ministry of Defence's headquarters in central LondonEPA

The UK government set up a secret Afghan relocation scheme after the personal data of thousands of people was inadvertently leaked, it can be revealed.

A dataset containing the details of nearly 19,000 people who applied to move to the UK following the Taliban takeover of the country was released in error by a British defence official in February 2022.

The Ministry of Defence (MoD) learned of the breach in August 2023 when some details were anonymously posted on Facebook.

Nearly 9,000 Afghans have arrived in the UK or are en route via the previously secret scheme, which is estimated to have cost £850m.

The existence of this confidential Afghan Response Route, which was established in April 2024, was kept confidential by an injunction but can now be reported following a High Court ruling on Tuesday.

The MoD declined to say how many have been arrested or killed as a result of the data breach.

Defence secretary John Healey is expected to confirm further details in the House of Commons later on Tuesday.

The unauthorised data breach was committed by an unnamed individual at the MoD. The data related to Afghans who worked with international forces following the 2001 invasion of the country.

As US troops completed their withdrawal in August 2021, the UK government set up Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy (Arap) scheme, which was designed to rapidly process applications by people who feared reprisals from the Taliban and move them to the UK.

But it emerged on Tuesday that thousands of those who applied for that scheme had sensitive personal data leaked by a British official.

Arap has already been heavily criticised in the years since it was launched, with a 2022 inquiry by the Foreign Affairs Committee finding it was a "disaster" and a "betrayal".

This breaking news story is being updated and more details will be published shortly. Please refresh the page for the fullest version.

You can receive Breaking News on a smartphone or tablet via the BBC News App. You can also follow @BBCBreaking on X to get the latest alerts.

Israeli strikes kill 12 in Lebanon's Bekaa Valley, governor says

15 July 2025 at 23:00
EPA Hezbollah leader Sheikh Naim Qassem addresses supporters during Ashura celebrations in southern Beirut, Lebanon (6 July 2025)EPA
Hezbollah leader Sheikh Naim Qassem addressed supporters in Beirut on 6 July

At least 12 people have been killed in Israeli air strikes in Lebanon's eastern Bekaa Valley, a regional governor says.

Seven Syrians, including a family of five, and three Lebanese were killed when the Wadi Faara area was hit, Baalbek-Hermel Governor Bachir Khodr wrote on X. The other two deaths were reported in Shmustar.

The Israeli military said it had struck a number of military compounds belonging to the armed group Hezbollah, including training camps affiliated to its elite Radwan Force.

These were the deadliest strikes since a ceasefire ended a year of fighting between Israel and Hezbollah, including two months of all-out war that left the group severely weakened.

Hezbollah has not yet commented on the attacks, although its Al-Manar TV channel said they constituted violations of both the ceasefire and Lebanon's sovereignty.

The Arabic-language spokesperson of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), Lt Col Avichay Adraee, said on X that Tuesday's strikes hit several Hezbollah targets.

"As part of the strikes, military compounds belonging to the Radwan Force have been targeted, where terrorist operatives and warehouses used to store combat equipment employed by Hezbollah have been identified," Adraee said.

The Radwan Force is Hezbollah's elite commando unit.

The IDF said in a separate English statement that it had killed the Radwan Force's commanders in September 2024 - when it launched an intense air campaign against Hezbollah and invaded southern Lebanon - and that since then the unit had been "operating to re-establish its capabilities".

The IDF asserted that Hezbollah's storage of weapons and military activities in the Bekaa Valley constituted a "blatant violation of the understandings between Israel and Lebanon and constitute a future threat to the State of Israel".

Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz said the strikes sent "a clear message" to Hezbollah and the Lebanese government, emphasising that Israel was prepared to "respond with maximum force against any attempt at rebuilding" Hezbollah's military capabilities.

The basis of the ceasefire agreement between the Israeli and Lebanese governments, brokered by US mediators in November, was the full implementation of UN Security Council resolution 1701, which ended the last war in 2006.

Hezbollah was required to withdraw its forces to positions north of the Litani River - approximately 30km (20 miles) from the Israeli border - leaving only the Lebanese army and United Nations peacekeepers authorized to operate with arms in that area.

Israel was required to fully pull its forces out of Lebanon, but it has maintained a military presence at five sites in the south that it considers strategically important.

The agreement also noted that the resolution reaffirmed previous Security Council calls for the "disarmament of all armed groups" in Lebanon.

Fourteen people arrested after anti-migrant riots in southern Spain

15 July 2025 at 22:12
Getty Images A group of around a dozen men, mostly wearing shorts, t-shirts and trainers, wear masks and balaclavas as they stand around on a street at night time. Some hold baseball bats, sticks and chains, while a flare is lit in the backgroundGetty Images

A total of 13 people have been arrested and extra police have been deployed after an attack on a pensioner sparked anti-migrant unrest in a small town in southern Spain.

Three people of North African origin have been detained on suspicion of attacking the 68-year-old man in Torre Pacheco last Wednesday.

The unrest began after a video circulated on social media, inflaming the town of 40,000 people which is home to a large immigrant population.

The pensioner and police later said the video was unrelated to the incident but social media calls to find and attack the perpetrators multiplied quickly.

By Friday groups armed with batons could be seen roaming the streets of Torre Pacheco.

One far-right group called "Deport Them Now" called for attacks on people of North African origin. Further messages on social media have called for renewed attacks on immigrants over three days this week.

A leading member of the extremist group was detained in the north-eastern town of Mataró on suspicion of spreading hate speech.

The 68-year-old victim of last Wednesday's attack, named locally as Domingo Tomás Domínguez, told Spanish media he was thrown to the ground and hit while taking his morning walk.

A photo circulating on social media showed his face bearing extensive bruising.

Police said the motive for the attack was unclear. Mr Domínguez said he was not asked to hand over money or his belongings and did not understand the language his attackers were speaking.

Police presence has been beefed up, with more than 130 officers from both the local police in the province of Murcia and Guardia Civil.

The three people arrested on suspicion of attacking the pensioner are all of Moroccan origin and in their early 20s, according to Spanish media, and none are residents of Torre Pacheco.

One of the suspects was arrested on Monday as he prepared to take a train from the Basque region to cross the border to France.

Reuters About two dozen men, many with face coverings, are seen running along a pavement at night in Torre PachecoReuters
Religious leaders in the town have called for peace

The worst of the unrest occurred at the weekend, when groups of youths - some hooded - attacked vehicles and businesses. Clashes were also reported between far-right groups and people of North African origin.

On Sunday night journalists witnessed several dozen youths hurling glass bottles and other objects at riot police.

In a CCTV video shared by several Spanish outlets, a group of men, some armed with bats and sticks, could be seen vandalising a kebab shop on the same night.

Torre Pacheco mayor Pedro Ángel Roca called on the "migrant community not to leave their homes and not to confront rioters".

Many of the town's residents of migrant origin work in the area's booming agricultural sector, and some have complained of no longer feeling safe in the town. The mayor said they had been living in Torre Pachecho for more than 20 years.

Users of an extreme-right Telegram group reportedly called on people to flock in from other parts of Spain and take part in "hunts" of North Africans over three days this week. Their channel has since been shut down.

Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska attributed the violence to anti-immigration rhetoric from far-right groups and parties such as Vox - Spain's third largest political force.

Reuters Riot police officers, seen in black uniform with riot shields, helmets and bats, stand guard at an alley wayReuters
About 130 officers have been deployed as part of the combined police and Civil Guard operation

Vox leader Santiago Abascal denied responsibility for the riots and blamed "mass immigration" policies for allowing the alleged perpetrators of last week's attack to enter the country.

Talking about migration, Abascal said: "It has stolen our borders, it has stolen our peace, and it has stolen our prosperity."

Murcia prosecutors have opened an investigstion for hate crimes into the regional president of Vox, José Ángel Antelo, who last week said the violence was the "fault" of Spain's two main parties - the Popular Party (PP) and Socialist Party (PSOE).

Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez said on X: "What we are seeing in Torre-Pacheco challenges us all. We must speak out, act firmly, and defend the values that unite us. Spain is a country of rights, not hate."

From military ruler to democrat - ex-Nigeria President Buhari's life in pictures

15 July 2025 at 23:08
AFP via Getty Images Muhammadu Buhari sits in front of a Nigerian flag and signs that say United States Institute of Peace. He wears a black top, black cap and glasses.AFP via Getty Images

Muhammadu Buhari's life tracked the dramatic changes in politics in Nigeria over the last five decades – and he was often at the centre of events.

The former Nigerian president, who died on Sunday at the age of 82, became the country's military leader after a coup, was imprisoned by a new junta, then reinvented himself decades later to win the presidency in a democratic election.

Often pictured in dark glasses or thick, black-framed spectacles, traditional zanna cap and sporting a broad smile, much of Buhari's life was played out in public.

AFP via Getty Images A black and white photo shows Buhari wearing a suit and tie and standing besides King Gustaf and Sheikh YamaniAFP via Getty Images

Buhari - pictured here in 1977 with the then-King of Sweden Carl XVI Gustaf and Saudi Arabia's Sheikh Ahmed Zaki Yamani in 1977 - began his military career straight out of school.

By the time this picture was taken, Buhari had risen to become a regional military commander.

A few years later, in 1983, soldiers overthrew elected President Shehu Shagari.

Sygma via Getty Images Buhari, wearing a military uniform, stands at the back of an open top vehicle. Three other men in military gear are also in the car, which appears to be in an arena.Sygma via Getty Images

Although Buhari took the role of military ruler, he denied having plotted the coup, saying he was simply installed by senior commanders who needed a figurehead. Other accounts describe Buhari as playing a more active role in the takeover.

After two years of iron-fisted rule, characterised by a crusade against corruption and various human rights abuses, Buhari was himself ousted. The new junta placed him under house arrest for three years.

In 2003, following decades away from politics, Buhari decided have another go at the leading the country.

This time, he bid for the top job through a democratic election - running for the All Nigerian Peoples Party (ANPP).

AFP via Getty Images Buhari, his running mate Chuba Okadigbo and Chairman of the All Nigerian Peoples Party Don Etiebet, smile and raise their joined hands above heads.AFP via Getty Images

Here he can be seen on the right, with his running mate Chuba Okadigbo on the left and ANPP chairman Don Etiebet.

Buhari was well beaten by Olusegun Obasanjo in 2003, and he made two other unsuccessful runs for the presidency in 2007 and 2011.

Despite these failed bids, he accumulated supporters, including disaffected youngsters, with his pledges to fight corruption and insecurity.

AFP via Getty Images Young protesters are in action on the streets of Kano - one holds a picture of Buhari aloft, a couple of others wield bits of wood. Grey smoke billows in the background.AFP via Getty Images
AFP via Getty Images At a packed rally, supporters clamour to touch Buhari, who stands above the crowd, smiling. He wears a blue top and blue hat.AFP via Getty Images
AFP via Getty Images A woman poses next to a poster of a smiling Buhari. She wears a grey top written "APC" and "Buhari".AFP via Getty Images
AFP via Getty Images An APC campaign billboard bears the words "we will defeat Boko Haram #EveryNigerianCounts". The words are accompanied by a picture of a soldier, in military fatigues, carrying a gun.AFP via Getty Images

Buhari was particularly popular in Nigeria's north, the region in which he was born.

AFP via Getty Images A makeshift figure of Buhari, bearing the words "Sai Baba Inshallah", stands in the middle of a dusty road. A motorbike zooms past.AFP via Getty Images

Here, a sign displayed in the city of Kaduna during the 2015 election, tells passers-by that locals will only vote for "Baba" Buhari.

Buhari was eventually elected in 2015, besting incumbent President Goodluck Jonathan.

He made history, becoming the first ever opposition candidate to win a general election.

The historic moment in which Jonathan called Buhari to concede was captured on camera.

Red Media Africa Muhammadu Buhari, wearing a white long-sleeved top and a white cap, raises a mobile phone to his ear.Red Media Africa

But after finally taking office, Buhari's first term was rocky. The economy entered a recession for the first time in a decade and security crises piled up.

When Buhari's wife - pictured below - publicly criticised his administration, the president sparked outrage by saying she belonged to the kitchen.

AFP via Getty Images Buhari stands next his wife. They both wear dark sunglasses and white outfits.AFP via Getty Images

Despite the challenges of his first term, Buhari was re-elected in 2019.

As the president of one of Africa's largest economies, he travelled the world, attending high-profile summits and meeting his fellow heads of state.

John Stillwell/Getty Images Buhari and Queen Elizabeth are pictured in conversation, smiling together. The Queen wears a blue suit jacket on top of a pink top, while Buhari wears a black jacket, white shirt and patterened hat.John Stillwell/Getty Images

Buhari was greeted by Queen Elizabeth at a Commonwealth leaders gathering in 2015.

AFP via Getty Images Barack Obama is pictured, out of focus, looking at Buhari, who is speaking and staring straight ahead.AFP via Getty Images

Earlier in 2015, he was welcomed to the White House by then-US President Barack Obama.

Getty Images Donald Trump and Muhammadu Buhari - both in formal dress - in discussions while walking past some columns at the White House. Getty Images
Hindustan Times via Getty Images Muhammadu Buhari and Narendra Modi, both wearing white outfits, shake hands at a formal photo opportunity.Hindustan Times via Getty Images
In 2015, Buhari travelled to India for an India-Africa summit and was greeted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi

Following his death, at a clinic in London, Buhari is being remembered by some as a man who broke his campaign promises and crushed dissent.

By others, he was champion of order who tried his best amid a dysfunctional political system.

In a tribute to his old rival, Jonathan described Buhari as someone who "was selfless in his commitment to his duty and served the country with character and a deep sense of patriotism".

Reuters A person displays a newspaper carrying a headline reporting Muhammadu Buhari's death. Three men appear in the background of the image, out of focus. Reuters

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Two dead after flash flooding in New Jersey and New York City

15 July 2025 at 22:57
Watch: Flash flooding sweeps through New York City subways

Torrential rains in New York and New Jersey on Monday night brought flash flooding that killed two people and led New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy to declare a state of emergency.

Officials had to perform rescues as flooding left drivers stranded as their vehicles rose in the waters.

In Plainfield, New Jersey, two people died when a car was sept away by floodwaters as the storm hit, Governor Murphy said on Tuesday.

Additional storms are expected on Tuesday with the potential for more flooding in the north-east as well as Florida and the mid-western US, according to the National Weather Service (NWS).

As of Tuesday morning, several main roads in New Jersey were closed because of the floods, while both New York City and New Jersey experienced subway delays.

New Jersey saw more than 6in (15 cm) of rain in a matter of hours on Tuesday evening, leading to flight delays and cancellations at Newark Liberty International Airport.

In Scotch Plains, New Jersey, people had to be rescued, including one instance in which responders had to use a rope to pull a man out of his car to escape the floodwaters, according to the BBC's US partner CBS News.

Flood waters also rushed through subway stations in New York City on Monday evening, pouring into subway cars and forcing passengers to kneel on their seats to avoid getting wet.

New York City saw its second-ever highest hourly rainfall in over 80 years - 2in of rainfall in just 30 minutes.

The flooding hit parts of Virginia as well, with two cities, Colonial Heights and Petersburg, at risk of "catastrophic" damage from floods, according to the NWS.

The heaviest rainfall is now moving to the east and weakening in intensity, the NWS in New York said, encouraging people to heed road closures.

The rain comes two weeks after extreme flash floods killed over 130 people in south central Texas, with many people still declared missing.

How Trump woke me up for surprise interview - and the key takeaways

15 July 2025 at 18:42
Listen: ‘I don't like dwelling’ on the assasination attempt, Trump tells BBC

Donald Trump makes a habit of calling reporters out of the blue. The US president seems to prefer an off-the-cuff telephone conversation to a sit-down interview on camera.

On Monday evening it was my turn. And I'll be frank with you - I was asleep when the White House rang.

I'd spent the best part of five days believing there was an outside chance I would get an interview with him, to mark a year since the attempt on his life in Butler, Pennsylvania.

My reporting from that shooting had made global headlines and probably caught the president's attention. So I judged that perhaps that connection might be a way of securing a presidential interview - pretty rare things for foreign news organisations in the US.

On Sunday night I was told I was minutes away from the call so my team and I were standing by ready to record, but it didn't come.

By last night, I'd given up on the interview happening and after a long few weeks on the road without a day off, I was exhausted and taking a nap. Then the phone rang.

I blearily answered, and the voice of Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt came over the speaker: "Hi Gary, I'm here with the president, here you go."

I dashed into my living room, scrambling for my digital recorder; the line dropped and I thought I'd lost it. But they came back on the line and I spent almost 20 minutes speaking to Trump about everything from that fateful night in Butler, to his frustrations with Vladimir Putin, to his new-found belief in Nato and to his view of the UK.

Here are my five key takeaways from our surprise conversation.

1. Trump shows a different side, touching on Butler

He was very reflective on a couple of things and he sounded pretty vulnerable talking about the assassination attempt - it's clear he's uncomfortable talking about that.

For a president often seen in public shooting from the hip, and loved by his supporters for doing so, there were moments of reflection and some long pauses before answers that are rarely seen.

When asked if the assassination attempt had changed him, the president conveyed a hint of vulnerability as he said he tries to think about it as little as he can.

"I don't like dwelling on it because if I did, it would be, you know, might be life-changing, I don't want it to have to be that."

Elaborating, he said he liked "the power of positive thinking, or the power of positive non-thinking".

There was also a very long pause when I asked him if he trusted Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Eventually he replied: "I trust almost nobody to be honest with you."

2. No commitment to US deportation numbers

Turning to domestic American politics, I asked whether the president's plan for mass deportations was working - both in terms of speed, and given that some individuals were being swept up who the president perhaps wouldn't want to see deported.

The president insisted his team had done a "great job" at fulfilling his campaign promises, citing the drastic decrease in migrants crossing into the US from southern neighbour Mexico.

Some of Trump's team have expressed frustration that deportations are being carried out too slowly. When I pushed him on the question of how many deportations in this second presidential term would mark a success, Trump refused to give a figure.

"Well I don't put a number on but I want to get the criminals out quickly, and we're doing that, as you know," he said. "We're bringing them to El Salvador, lots of other places."

3. More frustration with Putin

Trump expressed his frustration with Russian President Vladimir Putin - capping off a day in which he threatened to hit Moscow's economy with secondary sanctions if a deal over the war in Ukraine was not reached within 50 days.

Having campaigned on a promise to quickly end the war, Trump seemed perplexed that he had not yet managed to strike an agreement with his Russian counterpart to end the years-long conflict.

He again indicated there was a gap between words and actions on Putin's part: "I thought we had a deal done four times and then you go home, and you see, just attacked a nursing home or something in Kyiv. I said: 'What the hell was that all about?'"

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and other European leaders have long accused Putin of not being serious about ending the war. To them, feelings of doubt will be nothing new.

But, when I asked Trump whether he had finished with the Russian leader, he continued to leave the door open: "I'm not done with him, but I'm disappointed in him."

Listen: I'm 'disappointed but not done' with Putin, Trump tells BBC

4. New tone on Nato

I pointed out to Trump that he once suggested Nato was obsolete, and he replied that he now thought the Western military alliance was "becoming the opposite of that".

He was fresh from hosting Nato chief Mark Rutte - a man he seems to be able to work well with. The pair exchanged warm words in front of the world's cameras, and announced that the US would sell weapons to Nato which would then be passed on to Kyiv.

During our call, Trump indicated that he was shaking off his grudge that his country spent proportionately more on defence than its allies.

"It was very unfair because the United States paid for almost a hundred percent of it, but now they're paying their own bills and I think that's much better," he said, appearing to refer to a pledge last month by Nato members to ramp up defence spending to 5% of each country's economic output.

"We changed Nato a lot," he told me.

5. Respect for Starmer and UK

Trump emphasised his respect for the UK and its prime minister, Sir Keir Starmer, with whom he last month signed an agreement to remove some trade barriers. "I really like the prime minister a lot, even though he's a liberal," Trump explained.

Trump emphasised that the relationship between the two countries was just as "special" as many Britons like to believe, adding that he believed the UK would fight alongside the US in a war.

He sounded relaxed over perceived slights against him. Although his state visit to the UK later this year will not entail a speech to Parliament, he was not insistent that lawmakers be recalled. "Let them go and have a good time," he said.

Trump labelled his future host King Charles "a great gentleman". He shrugged off a recent speech that was given to Canada's parliament by the monarch that was seen as an endorsement of Canadian sovereignty in the face of Trump's threats.

He even had a joke. "You have many different names you go by," he said. "England, if you want to cut off a couple of areas. And you go UK, and you have Britain and you have Great Britain. You got more names than any other country in history, I think."

Listen: World leaders have 'come to respect me', Trump tells BBC

Thousands of Afghans were moved to UK in secret scheme after data breach

15 July 2025 at 23:37
EPA The exterior of the Ministry of Defence's headquarters in central LondonEPA

The UK government set up a secret Afghan relocation scheme after the personal data of thousands of people was inadvertently leaked, it can be revealed.

A dataset containing the details of nearly 19,000 people who applied to move to the UK following the Taliban takeover of the country was released in error by a British defence official in February 2022.

The Ministry of Defence (MoD) learned of the breach in August 2023 when some details were anonymously posted on Facebook.

Nearly 9,000 Afghans have arrived in the UK or are en route via the previously secret scheme, which is estimated to have cost £850m.

The existence of this confidential Afghan Response Route, which was established in April 2024, was kept confidential by an injunction but can now be reported following a High Court ruling on Tuesday.

The MoD declined to say how many have been arrested or killed as a result of the data breach.

Defence secretary John Healey is expected to confirm further details in the House of Commons later on Tuesday.

The unauthorised data breach was committed by an unnamed individual at the MoD. The data related to Afghans who worked with international forces following the 2001 invasion of the country.

As US troops completed their withdrawal in August 2021, the UK government set up Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy (Arap) scheme, which was designed to rapidly process applications by people who feared reprisals from the Taliban and move them to the UK.

But it emerged on Tuesday that thousands of those who applied for that scheme had sensitive personal data leaked by a British official.

Arap has already been heavily criticised in the years since it was launched, with a 2022 inquiry by the Foreign Affairs Committee finding it was a "disaster" and a "betrayal".

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