News compact: Trump enacts controversial tax law

US President Donald Trump signed his controversial tax and spending bill into law on Independence Day. The ceremony, held outdoors at the White House, was accompanied by an air show of military fighter jets.

At the heart of the legislation, known as "One Big Beautiful Bill," is the permanent extension of tax breaks from Trump's first term. In other areas, however, there will be significant cuts. Criticism has been directed primarily at the proposed cuts to the US healthcare system Medicaid. This government program supports low-income earners and people with disabilities.

Deaths after floods in Texas

According to authorities, at least 24 people have died in a flash flood in Texas in the southern United States . Children from a summer camp on the Guadalupe River are still missing. Heavy rains exacerbated the situation early Friday morning, and there is no relief in sight. The state's governor, Greg Abbott, declared a state of emergency for parts of Texas to mobilize additional resources.

Meanwhile, the search for missing people continues, Abbott said at a press conference. The situation is unclear, with no electricity or internet. Because another flood is threatening the Guadalupe River, residents in the area were urged to seek higher ground. According to the lieutenant governor, nine rescue teams with around 500 personnel were deployed to rescue adults and children from trees they had climbed.

Trump and Zelensky discuss Ukrainian air defense

One day after his phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin , US President Trump also spoke with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky . Zelensky subsequently announced that he and Trump had agreed to cooperate on strengthening Ukraine's air defense.

On Thursday, Trump spoke with Putin by phone for the sixth time since returning to the White House in January. "No, I haven't made any progress with him at all," Trump said afterward. Nothing official has yet been released about the content of the call.

Hamas responds positively to proposal for new ceasefire

The Islamist Hamas has, according to its own statement, agreed in principle to a proposal for a new ceasefire in the Gaza Strip . A Hamas official, which is classified as a terrorist organization by numerous states, told the German Press Agency that the response to the mediators, however, included a request for some clarifications.

Egypt , Qatar , and the United States had proposed a 60-day ceasefire in the Palestinian territory on the Mediterranean. According to media reports, this would result in the release of half of the hostages abducted from Israel and still held by Hamas. In return, Israel would release several Palestinian prisoners. According to US President Trump, Israel has already agreed to the agreement. On Friday evening, Trump told reporters that there could be a "Gaza deal" next week.

Significantly fewer asylum applications in Germany

In the first six months of this year, the number of asylum applications in Germany fell by almost half. A total of 65,495 asylum applications were filed between January 1 and June 30, according to the newspaper "Welt am Sonntag," citing previously unpublished figures from the European Union Agency for Asylum (EUAA). This represents a 43 percent decrease compared to the same period last year.

This means that for the first time in years, Germany is no longer the European leader in asylum applications: 76,020 people applied for protection in Spain during the same period, and 75,428 in France . According to the data, most asylum applicants in Germany came from Afghanistan (22 percent), Syria (20 percent), and Turkey (11 percent).

Parisians can swim in the Seine again

Starting this Saturday, swimming in the Seine in Paris will be permitted again after more than 100 years. Three outdoor pools have been opened in the French capital: near the Eiffel Tower, near Notre Dame Cathedral, and near the National Library. Mayor Anne Hidalgo and Sports Minister Marie Barsacq are expected to attend the official opening.

The outdoor pools are free to access within their capacity, supervised by lifeguards, and also offer space for sunbathing. The water quality is continuously monitored. Due to the high levels of pollution in the river water, swimming in the Seine in Paris has been officially prohibited since 1923.

pgr/haz/AR/rb (dpa, afp, rtr)

This news overview was created at 9:00 a.m. (CEST) and will not be updated further.