Trump announces Hormuz toll and renewed Iran blockade
Middle East independent.co.uk + 1

World

World
Sam Neill dies aged 78 New Zealand actor had recently said he was cancer-free after CAR-T therapy, final films now in post-production
euronews.com
World
US and Iran exchange strikes around Strait of Hormuz Tehran claims closure while US says traffic still flows, reduced transit levels turn risk premiums into a shadow tariff
euronews.com theguardian.com
World
Lindsey Graham dies after sudden illness Long-serving South Carolina senator became key Trump ally after years of public feuding, foreign-policy hawk leaves a vacancy shaped by relationships
theguardian.com independent.co.uk
World
Police revise Ann Widdecombe murder timeline Investigators say former UK MP attacked nearly a day before being found dead, early arrest ends with release
theguardian.com independent.co.uk
World
Venezuela earthquake death toll passes 4,000 Official figures show thousands injured and missing, UN appeal and frozen-asset dispute frame the recovery
bnonews.com theguardian.com
...

United States

Mexico files US criminal complaints over migrant deaths in ICE custody Sheinbaum cites Houston killing and detention fatalities as letters fail, body-camera gaps leave narratives to agencies and witnesses
theguardian.com
Trump announces Hormuz toll and renewed Iran blockade Shipping slows as vessels go dark, both Washington and Tehran talk like the strait is a paywalled service
theguardian.com independent.co.uk
ICE shooting kills driver in Maine Biddeford confrontation draws FBI investigation and protest crowd, witness accounts focus on vehicles and ramming claims
theguardian.com independent.co.uk
FAA clears SpaceX to resume Starship launches May booster failure traced to engine re-light and alarm settings, Starlink expansion depends on learning in public
techcrunch.com
Mitch McConnell discloses fall and pneumonia after weeks off the Senate floor Office cites post-polio falls and intensive rehab, Washington runs on attendance until it does not
independent.co.uk theguardian.com

Miscellaneous

Miscellaneous
Lorde denounces AI glasses at Mad Cool Festival Business Insider reports on stage remark in Madrid, wearable push meets live-music backlash
businessinsider.com
Miscellaneous
Bangkok pub fire kills at least 27 people Blaze in Chatuchak injures dozens and prompts investigation, third major Bangkok nightlife fire in two decades
independent.co.uk independent.co.uk
Miscellaneous
Shooting at Toronto street festival kills two Salsa on St Clair event hit near St Clair Avenue West and Arlington Avenue, police hunt suspect as open-air summer crowds become a crime scene
independent.co.uk
Miscellaneous
Speedboat capsizing near Phu Quoc kills at least 15 Indian tourists Rescuers pull 21 people from water off Hon May Rut Ngoai Island, tourist transport safety again hinges on what inspections miss
independent.co.uk independent.co.uk
Miscellaneous
Mikel Merino sends Spain into World Cup semi-finals Late substitute punishes Belgium after Courtois injury, one spilled shot becomes the margin
theguardian.com
...

Media

Media
Meta withdraws Muse Image from Instagram Reuters says automatic opt-in let Meta AI generate images from public posts, a privacy backlash arrives faster than the rollout
theguardian.com
Media
OpenAI releases ChatGPT 5.6 after White House delay Trump administration sought limited access over cybersecurity concerns, frontier AI distribution becomes a policy lever
theguardian.com
Media
CBS faces fresh claims of 60 Minutes editorial meddling Daily Beast says Bari Weiss reassigned Nigel Farage segment, Farage by-election campaign runs on videos without journalists
thedailybeast.com
Media
Discord restores accounts after AI moderation bug More than 8,000 users were banned for harmless images, automated enforcement again outruns human review
techcrunch.com
Media
Netflix rethinks binge releases Viewer drop-off and long gaps between seasons weaken series loyalty, short-form rivals turn attention into a per-minute auction
techcrunch.com techcrunch.com
...

Politics

Politics
Olly Robbins seeks judicial review after Starmer sacks him Ex-Foreign Office chief disputes authority to fire diplomatic service head, Mandelson vetting row heads to court
independent.co.uk
Politics
Zelenskyy replaces Ukraine prime minister Law enforcement overhaul flagged as war strains state capacity, diplomatic roles reshuffled alongside energy-security fight
theguardian.com
Politics
Mitch McConnell discloses fall and pneumonia after weeks off the Senate floor Office cites post-polio falls and intensive rehab, Washington runs on attendance until it does not
independent.co.uk theguardian.com
Politics
Maia Sandu nominates Vasile Tofan as Moldova prime minister Pro-EU businessman gets two weeks to secure parliament, accession timetable collides with cabinet churn
euronews.com
Politics
Trump administration narrows Endangered Species Act harm definition Habitat protections rolled back to allow logging and mining, rule change shifts extinction risk away from permit applicants
theguardian.com
...

Opinion

Opinion
Nesrine Malik: Tel Aviv rally spotlights torture claims in Israeli custody Administrative detention and missing detainees widen accountability gap, prisons documented in photos while records stay opaque
theguardian.com
Opinion
Rokhaya Diallo: French appeal court upholds Marine Le Pen embezzlement conviction EU fake-jobs scheme becomes campaign backdrop, sentence stays slow while politics stays fast
theguardian.com
Opinion
Nigel Farage crypto gift collides with UK donations bill Representation of the People reforms tighten some funding routes while leaving personal gifts exempt, Tether-linked money tests what transparency can reach
theguardian.com
Opinion
Mitch McConnell health rumours spread online Republican leaders cite phone calls as proof of capacity, Kentucky special-election rules turn medical opacity into political strategy
theguardian.com
Opinion
Gaby Hinsliff says Andy Burnham must learn to handle Donald Trump Labour’s Gaza split collides with NATO spending promises, foreign policy comes with numbers nobody wants to price
theguardian.com
...

Europe

Europe
Cyprus draws down freshwater reserves during EU heatwave Eurostat and EEA data show summer water use far above warning zone, desalination expands as access problems persist even in water-rich states
euronews.com standard.co.uk
Europe
UK heat holds above 30C into next week Met Office records 35C in May June and July for first time, heat-health alerts timebox strain on services rather than weather
independent.co.uk standard.co.uk
Europe
Anne Widdecombe dies aged 78 Former Conservative minister became Reform UK spokesperson and Brexit campaigner, a media career outlasts ministerial office
independent.co.uk theguardian.com
Europe
European Parliament moves to exclude end-to-end encrypted chats from CSAM scanning regime Narrow votes split major groups and build odd cross-bloc coalition, governments still hold the next veto
euronews.com
Europe
Italy expels two Russian military attaches Arrests of former Italian intelligence agents widen espionage case, military-aid details become the contested commodity
euronews.com
...

North America

North America
ICE shooting kills driver in Maine Biddeford confrontation draws FBI investigation and protest crowd, witness accounts focus on vehicles and ramming claims
theguardian.com independent.co.uk
North America
Conor McGregor comeback ends after 69 seconds Knee injury stops UFC return bout with Max Holloway in Las Vegas, a pay-per-view built on nostalgia pivots to the undercard
standard.co.uk independent.co.uk
North America
Cyclospora cases surge across multiple US states Michigan reports more than 700 infections as investigators still lack a confirmed source, Taco Bell pulls fresh ingredients under nationwide recall notices
independent.co.uk independent.co.uk
North America
Fidji Simo steps down from OpenAI full-time role Applications CEO cites extended medical leave and moves to advisory position, leadership churn hits as ChatGPT growth cools and IPO talk persists
businessinsider.com techcrunch.com
North America
Eight men indicted over alleged White House UFC drone plot Prosecutors describe explosives-laden drones and sniper plan for Freedom 250, event security turns into a multi-state manhunt
theguardian.com
...

Latin America

Latin America
Mexico files US criminal complaints over migrant deaths in ICE custody Sheinbaum cites Houston killing and detention fatalities as letters fail, body-camera gaps leave narratives to agencies and witnesses
theguardian.com
Latin America
Colombia president-elect Abelardo de la Espriella embraces Trump-aligned Donroe doctrine El País says Shield of the Americas expands via security pledges, coalition membership becomes a first-day deliverable
english.elpais.com
Latin America
Venezuela raises official earthquake death toll to 4,490 Government updates list tens of thousands treated and thousands homeless, disaster response runs through the same strained state channels
english.elpais.com bnonews.com
Latin America
Brazil rescues domestic worker held in servitude for decades Labor prosecutors describe isolation and unpaid work across three generations, compensation deal doubles as evidence of how hard households are to police
english.elpais.com
Latin America
Cuban dissident artist Luis Manuel Otero Alcántara vanishes after prison release El País reports authorities removed San Isidro Movement leader days before sentence end, Havana offers exile while keeping custody opaque
libertaddigital.com english.elpais.com
...

Asia

Asia
China graduates 12.7 million students into weak job market Universities scrap degrees and pivot to AI programs, entry-level work disappears faster than curricula can change
theguardian.com
Asia
Wedding guests die in Indonesia highway crash Open-bed pickup crushed between two trucks on Java, police investigate as overloaded transport stays routine
independent.co.uk
Asia
Fourteen countries reaffirm South China Sea arbitration ruling Joint statement says China claims illegal under UNCLOS, sea confrontations continue despite legal language
independent.co.uk
Asia
Typhoon Bavi drives mass evacuations in eastern China Storm disrupts Taiwan and Japan travel before expected landfall near Wenzhou, shutdown logistics become the first line of defence
independent.co.uk independent.co.uk
Asia
Hong Kong lets dogs into hundreds of restaurants Decades-old dining ban lifted with leash and hygiene rules, etiquette workshops emerge to make permission workable
independent.co.uk
...

Middle East

Middle East
Trump announces Hormuz toll and renewed Iran blockade Shipping slows as vessels go dark, both Washington and Tehran talk like the strait is a paywalled service
theguardian.com independent.co.uk
Middle East
Former Qatar emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani dies Four days of national mourning declared and first recent state funeral planned, condolence messages arrive from kings and militant groups alike
euronews.com
Middle East
Israel schedules October election Vote lands on last legal date as Knesset term ends mid-July, Netanyahu runs again with polls pointing to fatigue
euronews.com
Middle East
Israeli settlers detain US congressman Ro Khanna in occupied West Bank Delegation says IDF did not intervene near Khirbet Zanuta, movement resumes only after embassy and police calls
theguardian.com theguardian.com
Middle East
Iran and US continue strikes Hormuz traffic nears standstill as Iran reports hit near Bushehr nuclear power plant, only two tankers transit as ships go dark
independent.co.uk theguardian.com
...

Africa

Africa
Killings continue at Del Monte pineapple farm in Kenya G4S security and police patrol export-critical site, oversight probe follows family accounts of close-range shooting
theguardian.com
Africa
Xenophobic violence drives refugees into street camps in Durban El País reports door-to-door attacks and police inaction, migrants return home as livelihoods collapse
english.elpais.com english.elpais.com
Africa
South Africa World Cup midfielder Jayden Adams dies aged 25 Police open investigation after body found in Cape Town, cause of death not disclosed
theguardian.com
Africa
UN Human Rights Council labels neglected tropical diseases a human rights issue DRC Ebola outbreak spreads as conflict and aid cuts disrupt containment, Geneva resolution meets field reality in Ituri and Kivu
theguardian.com english.elpais.com
Africa
Unesco says 113 developing countries spend more on debt service than education Donor aid to schooling falls as repayments hit 35-year high, private creditors can still block relief deals
theguardian.com
...

Economy

Economy
Alberta and Ottawa pitch new oil pipeline to British Columbia Global news says shippers must sign long contracts after Trans Mountain taxpayer bill, national interest label arrives before customers do
globalnews.ca
Economy
Meta breaks ground on Alberta data centre Province pairs project with new gas power plant and promises lower transmission bills, AI infrastructure arrives as a utility scale political bargain
globalnews.ca businessinsider.com
Economy
Virgin Media fined by Ofcom for blocking customer cancellations Record penalty follows findings of deliberate call-dropping and retention incentives, switching rules tighten after years of friction
independent.co.uk bbc.com
Economy
EasyJet moves toward Castlelake takeover US fund offers £5.5bn and promises EU-compliant control structure, workers hear little beyond respect statements
theguardian.com bbc.com
Economy
Alberta and Ottawa propose new oil pipeline to British Columbia coast Global News says costs and shipper commitments remain unresolved, last westbound expansion ended up taxpayer owned
globalnews.ca globalnews.ca
...

Technology

Technology
FAA clears SpaceX to resume Starship launches May booster failure traced to engine re-light and alarm settings, Starlink expansion depends on learning in public
techcrunch.com
Technology
Police search Waymo robotaxi after report of underage riders San Mateo incident highlights in-cabin camera monitoring, driverless transport turns policy triggers into law enforcement calls
businessinsider.com
Technology
Humanoid robots remove pig gallbladders in teleoperated surgery trial UC San Diego team adapts low-cost Unitree bodies for minimally invasive tools, recalibration pauses show what cheaper hardware shifts onto staff
arstechnica.com
Technology
SpaceXAI releases Grok 4.5 Token pricing undercuts Anthropic Opus while claiming near-frontier performance, EU access still delayed
the-decoder.com techcrunch.com
Technology
Meta launches Muse Image for Instagram and WhatsApp Free use capped before subscription, ad creation and Marketplace tie-ins ride on casual photo editing
techcrunch.com
...

Science

Science
JWST spots methane haze on WD 1856 b Jupiter-sized planet orbits a white dwarf after surviving stellar death, eight-minute grazing transit forces bespoke atmosphere modelling
arstechnica.com
Science
LARES-2 delivers most precise Earth frame-dragging measurement Laser-ranged retroreflector sphere cuts uncertainty to about 0.2 percent, a satellite built to be boring becomes a physics instrument
arstechnica.com
Science
IERS says no leap second in December 2026 UTC-TAI offset stays at 37 seconds, timekeepers avoid another one-second discontinuity
datacenter.iers.org
Science
Brown University professor switches exam format after AI cheating suspicions Take-home midterm average of 96 gives way to in-person final average of 48, credential value hinges on proctoring capacity
arstechnica.com
Science
University of Edinburgh catalog ranks viruses by pandemic threat Ars Technica reports human-to-human transmission is the dividing line, most scary spillovers never learn to spread
arstechnica.com arstechnica.com
...