Trump visits flood area in Texas - News compact: The most important things in brief

A week after the deadly flash floods in Texas, US President Donald Trump thanked emergency responders and expressed his condolences to those affected. He said he had never seen anything like it, Trump said in the city of Kerrville in the hard-hit Kerr County. He compared the floods to "a gigantic wave in the Pacific Ocean that the best surfers in the world would be afraid to ride."

The Republican dismissed criticism that local authorities may have warned those affected too late. At least 120 people died as a result of the flash flood disaster in Texas. Dozens are still missing.

US State Department lays off numerous employees

The U.S. State Department is laying off more than 1,300 employees in the United States . This affects approximately 1,100 civil servants, many of them at headquarters in Washington, as well as nearly 250 diplomats. Secretary of State Marco Rubio 's office announced this in response to a request for comment. The affected employees were notified on Friday and will now be placed on leave for 60 to 120 days before their dismissal.

The ministry recently employed approximately 18,700 people in the United States. Further layoffs are expected. After all cost-cutting measures are completed, the workforce is expected to shrink by more than 15 percent. A total of almost 3,000 employees are expected to leave the ministry.

US imposes sanctions on Cuban president and ministers

The United States has imposed sanctions on Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel and visa restrictions on the ministers of defense and interior. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio justified this with their involvement in serious human rights violations. Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez condemned the US measures.

The background to this is the mass protests in July 2021, in which thousands of Cubans demonstrated against supply shortages and the economic situation. The government violently suppressed the protests and sentenced hundreds to long prison terms.

Air India crash probably due to interrupted fuel supply

The crash of the Air India passenger plane a month ago, which killed 260 people, may have been caused by an interrupted fuel supply. The fuel supply to both engines shut down immediately after takeoff for unknown reasons, according to a preliminary report by the Indian Air Accident Investigation Bureau. Air India declined to comment on the initial findings.

The plane, carrying 242 people, crashed into a residential area shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad, India, on June 12 and burst into flames. The disaster killed 241 passengers and 19 others on the ground.

Russia closes Polish representation

By order of Moscow, Poland must close its consulate general in the neighboring Russian Baltic region of Kaliningrad. The decision takes effect on August 29. This is Russia's response to the closure of the Russian consulate general in Krakow ordered by Poland.

The government in Warsaw justified its action in May by claiming that Russian intelligence services were responsible for a major fire in a shopping center. Russia denied the allegations. The major fire at a Warsaw shopping mall in 2024 destroyed more than 1,000 stores. According to investigators, the fire broke out in several parts of the building.

World Heritage decision on Bavaria's castles expected

This Saturday, UNESCO will deliberate in Paris on the inclusion of Bavarian castles in the World Heritage List . The chances are good that the UN cultural organization's World Heritage Commission will add Neuschwanstein Castle , the Herrenchiemsee and Linderhof Palaces, and the Royal Palace on Schachen Mountain to the World Heritage List.

The magnificent castles in Upper Bavaria have been tourist magnets for almost 140 years. Ludwig II's magnificent buildings attracted over 1.7 million visitors last year. The coveted World Heritage designation increases the worldwide recognition and prestige of these distinguished cultural sites, which benefits tourism.

pgr/jj/wa (afp, dpa)

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