US military launched strikes against Iranian targets after Iran set a container ship on fire in the Strait of Hormuz on July 10, 2026. Traffic through the Strait had declined sharply since July 8 following earlier attacks and renewed exchanges between the United States and Iran. The United Arab Emirates and Qatar said they were intercepting incoming Iranian fire directed at their vessels. President Donald Trump said the United States would completely decimate Iran if it attempted or succeeded in assassinating the sitting president. Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei warned that avenging his predecessor was a national demand. No casualties were reported immediately after the strikes. The exchange marks an escalation in maritime tensions in the region.
Geopolitics, diplomacy, and the stories shaping nations.
Democratic Senator Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island released a whistleblower complaint alleging that the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts undertook rushed renovations to satisfy President Donald Trump’s aesthetic preferences.
The Kennedy Center, a congressional institution in Washington, D.C., has operated under a board appointed by previous administrations. Since Trump’s 2025 inauguration, he has sought to influence the center, appointing allies to its board and assuming the chairmanship.
The complaint, dated Saturday, states that the center bypassed standard procurement rules, awarded no‑bid contracts, and performed superficial work such as repainting gold columns white, which resulted in rusting steel. Whitehouse said the center set aside contracting controls, told staff to address lawsuits later, and incurred costs including a $4.4 million paint contract and an estimated $1.5 million repair bill. A contractor with no concert‑hall experience was awarded $8 million for the work. Additional allegations include the removal of newly installed bathroom tiles because Trump disliked the color and a smaller reflecting pool left unevenly painted and rusting after a hasty cosmetic revamp.
In May, a federal judge ruled that Trump’s name must be removed from the building, citing Congress’s authority to change the center’s name. Whitehouse called for a full accounting of the renovation expenses and urged that public funds be used lawfully and prudently, emphasizing that projects should serve the institution rather than the president’s stylistic wishes.
U.S. District Judge Timothy J. Kelly dismissed the seditious conspiracy charges against four members of the Proud Boys on Friday. The judge, appointed by former President Donald Trump, granted the government’s motion to dismiss the case with prejudice. He wrote that his decision rested on separation of powers rather than the merits of the underlying allegations. The Department of Justice, which opened criminal investigations into nearly 1,600 individuals under the Biden administration, pursued the case after the Jan. 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol. Trump, who called the prosecutions a national injustice, signed an executive order on Jan. 20, 2025 granting a full pardon to most Jan. 6 defendants and commuting the sentences of 14, including the four defendants. The order required the Justice Department to seek dismissal of pending cases. Kelly noted that the court cannot compel the executive branch to continue prosecutions. In his written opinion he warned that the nation’s democratic experiment will endure only if citizens act together to protect it. The dismissal leaves the legal status of the four men unchanged by the pardon, and the broader question of accountability for the Jan. 6 events remains open.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk announced on Saturday the establishment of a national memorial to commemorate ethnic Poles killed during World War II. The announcement follows a commemoration on the anniversary of the Volyn tragedy, a period between 1943 and 1945 when an estimated 100,000 ethnic Poles were killed by the Ukrainian Insurgent Army, according to Polish estimates. Ukrainian sources describe the Ukrainian Insurgent Army as having fought for independence from the Soviet Union and Nazi Germany, and they note that up to 10,000 Ukrainian civilians also died in the conflict. Tusk said the memorial would serve as a reminder of the past and a step toward reconciliation, urging Ukraine to accept the historical record if it seeks European Union membership. Polish President Karol Nawrocki said the dispute would not affect Poland’s support for Ukraine in its fight against the Russian invasion that began in 2022. Three former Ukrainian presidents returned their White Eagle awards to Poland as a gesture of solidarity with President Volodymyr Zelensky. In a video address, Zelensky said Ukrainian and Polish officials had participated in joint prayers to mark the victims and emphasized that Ukraine was working to establish the facts of the killings. He added that the current common threat to both nations is Russia. The memorial plan thus highlights a lingering historical disagreement while both countries continue to coordinate their response to the ongoing war.
The United States, United Kingdom and 12 other nations reaffirmed on Sunday that a 2016 arbitration ruling invalidates China's broad claims in the South China Sea, saying the decision remains final and legally binding.
The statement, released in Manila, recalled the July 12, 2016, ruling by an arbitral tribunal in The Hague under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, which found no legal basis for China's historic rights claim. The ruling was initiated by the Philippines after a 2013 standoff and has been rejected by Beijing.
The joint statement said the parties reject any actions that threaten regional peace. They called for respect of freedom of navigation and overflight and urged peaceful resolution of territorial disputes in accordance with the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. The signatories, which also include the Philippines, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Germany, Italy, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania and Slovenia, reiterated opposition to the use of coast guard, military and maritime militia forces to harass or obstruct lawful operations at sea.
China did not respond immediately but, through its embassy in Manila, said it will never recognize the 2016 award, describing it as illegal, null and void, and asserting that it does not affect China's sovereignty over the islands and waters. Beijing maintains that its claims are based on historic rights.
Recent confrontations between Chinese coast guard vessels and Philippine or Vietnamese fishing fleets have involved water cannon fire, laser dazzlement and blocking maneuvers, resulting in collisions and heightened tensions. The United States, under both the previous and current administrations, has stated that it is obligated to defend the Philippines, its oldest Asian treaty ally, if forces or vessels come under armed attack in the area.
The dispute remains unresolved, and the nations urged continued diplomatic efforts to uphold international law and maintain peace in the region.
Argentina advanced to the semi‑finals after a 3‑1 extra‑time victory over Switzerland on Friday. The quarter‑final match was part of the 2026 World Cup. Lautaro Martinez scored the winning goal in the 109th minute. Switzerland had been reduced to ten players after a red card for defender D. Zakaria in the 67th minute. The Swiss had taken a 1‑0 lead in the 32nd minute, but Argentina equalised before the end of regular time. The result sets up a semi‑final clash with England scheduled for Tuesday.
Nigerian army said it killed more than 300 members of bandit gangs during a two‑day operation in Zamfara’s Gummi district, according to the state’s information commissioner. Bandits and affiliated jihadist groups have repeatedly attacked rural communities in northern and central Nigeria, seizing cattle, kidnapping residents for ransom and imposing protection fees on farmers. Residents reported that soldiers and local vigilantes engaged roughly 1,000 bandits who had stolen livestock, a confrontation that began on Wednesday night and continued into Thursday morning; officials said more than 300 bandits were killed. The army had previously attempted to assault the bandits’ camp two weeks earlier but was forced to withdraw after being outnumbered, residents said. The operation follows a series of security challenges in Nigeria, including a 17‑year insurgency by Boko Haram and its rival Islamic State West Africa Province, as well as widespread banditry driven by poverty. A joint US‑Nigerian mission in May killed the second‑in‑command of Islamic State and about 200 fighters in the northeast. The army also reported casualties while rescuing more than 40 children who had been abducted in southwest Nigeria, a region previously seen as relatively safe. Government officials described the Gummi operation as a breakthrough in restoring order, though the long‑term effectiveness of the campaign remains to be seen.
Typhoon Bavi made landfall in China on Saturday, the second to hit the country within a week, prompting the evacuation of nearly two million people.
Typhoon Bavi made landfall in China on Saturday, the second to hit the country within a week, prompting the evacuation of nearly two million people.
The storm, which began as a super typhoon with winds of 290 km/h, weakened to a severe tropical storm as it traversed the Pacific, striking Japan’s Sakishima islands and bringing heavy rain to Taiwan before reaching mainland China.
Bavi first came ashore in the coastal city of Taizhou in Zhejiang province around 18:00 local time, then made a second landfall near Wenzhou around midnight GMT. Authorities forecast “exceptionally heavy rains” for eastern Zhejiang and northeastern Fujian on Sunday and ordered evacuations to guard against the worst‑case scenario.
State media reported that more than 1.7 million residents were relocated in Zhejiang, while hundreds of thousands were evacuated in Wenzhou and 100,000 in Beijing. Schools and workplaces were closed across the region, and about 400 flights and dozens of train services were cancelled.
The previous typhoon, Maysak, killed at least 39 people, caused extensive agricultural loss in China and produced two rare tornadoes in Hubei province.
No deaths have been reported from Bavi, though at least five people were injured and thousands lost power in Japan. Taiwan experienced power outages and landslide risks but no fatalities.
The system was expected to gradually lose intensity as it moved northwest, with officials monitoring conditions for further heavy rain and potential landslides.
The United States launched strikes early Sunday against more than 140 Iranian targets in the Strait of Hormuz region, including missile and drone launch sites, ammunition dumps and communication equipment, in response to an Iranian attack on a Cyprus-flagged container ship that set the vessel ablaze and forced its crew to abandon the ship, leaving a civilian crew member missing. The Strait of Hormuz, through which about a fifth of global oil and natural gas passes, has been a flashpoint since the war began on Feb. 28. The United Kingdom's Maritime Trade Operations said the ship had been traveling near Oman to avoid Iranian territorial waters before the attack, which caused significant engine room damage. U.S. Central Command said the strikes were intended to degrade Iran's ability to attack civilian and commercial vessels transiting the strait.
Iran's Revolutionary Guard said the ship had ignored warnings and was struck by a warning shot before being stopped, and Iran declared the strait would remain closed until further notice, threatening to target additional enemy bases if attacks continued. Iranian state media reported strikes across several southern provinces, though no immediate casualty figures were provided.
Iranian officials responded with strong statements. Parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf posted on X that "the era of one-sided deals is OVER" and warned that Iran would "pay the price" if its demands were not met. Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, in his first public statement since the war began, vowed that Iranians would avenge the killing of his father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, in the war's opening strikes.
Regional impacts included missile alerts in Qatar, Bahrain and other Gulf states, with some interceptions reported. The United Arab Emirates warned residents of incoming missile and drone attacks, though the extent of damage was not confirmed. Earlier attacks in May had struck near the UAE's sole nuclear power plant.
The exchanges follow diplomatic talks between Iran and Oman's foreign ministers on Saturday and come after U.S. President Donald Trump said an interim deal was "over" and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth posted that Iran had made a poor choice and now pays. U.S. officials, speaking anonymously, suggested the renewed strikes might be driven by a rogue faction of Iranian hard-liners seeking to undermine a ceasefire, while Iran maintains its theocracy remains unified under the new supreme leader. At least 17 people have been killed and 115 wounded in Iran from previous strikes, according to the health ministry. The situation remains unresolved, with the strait's status uncertain and both sides indicating continued willingness to target each other's assets while diplomatic efforts between Iran and Oman continue.
An earthquake sequence that struck Venezuela on June 24 has killed more than 4,300 people and left tens of thousands missing, according to United Nations estimates. The disasters have severely damaged coastal La Guaira state, where buildings have collapsed and infrastructure is heavily compromised. A Qatari search-and-rescue team and Syrian civil-defence volunteers have joined local authorities in attempting to recover victims. The United Nations estimates that 50,000 Venezuelans remain unaccounted for in the rubble. The Venezuelan military has secured several sites and the government has opened an aid station providing food, water, medical supplies and rescue equipment such as helmets and shovels. Governor Jose Alejandro Teran said the response was immediate and that workers have rescued more than 6,000 people. Many residents report that state assistance has been insufficient. Javier Villegas, a 30-year-old man, said about 38 bodies are trapped in a leaning building and that officials have not sent rescue teams, forcing volunteers to work without protective support. He added that he continues searching for his aunt, who has been missing for nine days. Janet Viana, 72, said she hopes to retrieve her son’s body before demolition begins. She criticised the government for not providing heavy machinery, stating, “I hope I can get my son’s body back before they tear it all down,” and added that no response has been offered. During reporting, two men identified as police demanded to view footage of a recovered body. The crew explained that Al Jazeera does not broadcast human remains, and one of the men said, “She is my mother,” emphasizing a desire to preserve the deceased’s dignity. The use of quicklime to mask odors and delay decomposition has become common at excavation sites. Heavy machinery is expected to arrive soon, which may further damage structures and complicate recovery efforts. Residents continue to face the aftermath of the disaster daily.
Hundreds of firefighters, backed by helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft, worked to contain a wildfire in Bédar, Almería province, Spain, that erupted on Thursday and killed at least 12 people. The blaze occurred during a heat wave that is the third in six weeks across Western Europe, a continent the European Union’s Copernicus Climate Change Service says is warming twice as fast as the global average since the 1980s. The fire burned approximately 66 square kilometers of forest and farmland, comparable to the size of Manhattan. Fire crews conducted controlled burns overnight around the perimeter and reported that favorable weather was expected into Sunday, which could aid containment efforts. Justice Minister Félix Bolaños said that homes on the fire’s perimeter remained largely undamaged. Authorities evacuated 1,448 residents from 11 areas and collected DNA samples to identify victims, many of whom were foreign nationals. Seven victims died while walking after abandoning their vehicles, and four of the deceased were believed to be British. Spanish officials arrested two individuals for returning to a high‑risk area despite evacuation orders. The Spanish Foreign Ministry said Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares had spoken with counterparts in the United Kingdom, Belgium, Canada and the Netherlands regarding the incident. Investigators continued to search the Bédar area for additional victims. The fire is part of a broader pattern of wildfires across southern Europe, with active blazes reported in France where 32 people have been arrested for arson since summer began and more than 25,000 hectares have burned this year, double the area recorded in the same period last year. In Spain, previous fires killed 21 people in 1979 in Lloret de Mar and 66 people in a 2017 Portuguese blaze. Temperatures in Spain reached near 40 °C, with the fire advancing up to 100 meters per minute at its most intense, according to the justice ministry. The Spanish Meteorological Agency warned that wildfire risk would remain very high through the weekend, while weather forecasts predicted improved conditions on Sunday that may assist firefighting operations.
Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, the former ruler of Qatar, died at age 74, according to the state-run Qatar News Agency. He served as emir from 1995 until he transferred power to his son, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, in June 2013 after 18 years in office. His leadership saw Qatar transform from a small Gulf state into a regional diplomatic and media hub. He founded the Al Jazeera network, which attracted global attention for its reporting and for broadcasting statements from groups such as al‑Qaeda. Qatar’s foreign policy under his rule included close relations with Iran, support for Hamas and the Muslim Brotherhood, and mediation in conflicts in Sudan, Lebanon and the Gaza Strip. He also opened a Taliban office in Doha that helped facilitate talks between the United States and the Taliban. Qatar hosted the 2022 FIFA World Cup, and its capital’s international airport bears his name, having cost roughly $15 billion to build. He was involved in sports and business, owning the Harrods department store in London and holding a majority stake in Paris Saint‑Germain. His rule generated criticism from regional allies and the United States over Qatar’s independent policy choices. The peaceful transfer of power in 2013 was unusual for the region, where leadership changes often occur through death or coup. He faced health issues, including a leg injury in 2015 that led to treatment in Switzerland. His son, now the emir, continues his policies. His death marks the end of his tenure, and the future direction of Qatar’s diplomatic role remains uncertain.
Two men were killed and four people were injured in a shooting at the Salsa on St Clair street festival in Toronto on Saturday evening. Police said the incident began with a gunfight between two individuals who targeted each other, and that an initial alert about an active shooter was later corrected.
The festival, an annual celebration of Latin American culture, was taking place near St. Clair Avenue West and Arlington Avenue. Police responded at 8:12 pm, recovered two firearms, and secured the scene. No suspect had been arrested as of the late‑night news conference.
Mayor Olivia Chow said she was disturbed by the violence. Witness Valerie Rodriguez described hearing screams and telling people to lie on the floor. Vendor Patsy Gutierrez said she stopped serving when the crowd began to flee. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney posted on X that he was horrified and pledged support for police efforts. Ontario Premier Doug Ford said his thoughts were with the victims and families. Police deputy chief Frank Barredo noted that fatal shootings in the city are rare and that the community is not immune to such events.
Police continue to investigate and have not identified a motive. The festival was expected to draw thousands of attendees.
England defeated Norway 2-1 after extra time in Miami, securing a place in the World Cup semi‑finals. Norway opened the scoring through Andreas Schjelderup in the first half. Bellingham equalised before halftime and later scored his sixth tournament goal following a mistake by Norway goalkeeper Orjan Nyland. A Norway goal was disallowed after a VAR review for a foul by Erling Haaland, and a penalty awarded to England was also overturned. Norway missed a clear chance when Kristoffer Ajer struck the post from a corner. The match took place in temperatures above 30 degrees Celsius with high humidity. England will meet Argentina or Switzerland in the semi‑final on Wednesday.
A shooting near a Toronto street festival killed two men and wounded four people on Saturday evening. Police said the incident began with an exchange of gunfire between two individuals targeting each other, prompting an initial active‑shooter alert that later proved unfounded. Officers recovered two firearms at the scene, which was reported at 8:12 p.m. near St. Clair Avenue West and Arlington Avenue while the Salsa on St. Clair festival was taking place. No suspect has been arrested as of the latest police briefing.
The festival, an annual celebration of Latin American culture that draws thousands to Toronto’s St. Clair West neighbourhood, remained cordoned off while a large police presence remained on site. Witnesses described panic and confusion; a festival vendor said she saw a wave of people fleeing, and a nearby resident reported being told to lie on the floor. Both victims were men, and police confirmed that the two deceased were males.
Toronto Police Deputy Chief Frank Barredo said investigators had recovered the weapons and that the shooting was not linked to any broader threat. Mayor Olivia Chow expressed deep disturbance over the act of violence, and Ontario Premier Doug Ford said he was devastated by the incident. Barredo added that while Toronto is considered one of the safest major cities, fatal shootings in public places remain rare.
The investigation continues, and authorities have not identified a motive for the shooting.
The United States military said it began strikes on Iran on Saturday after the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps attacked a Cyprus‑flagged container ship in the Strait of Hormuz, leaving a crew member missing and causing fire and engine damage.
Iran announced that the strait was closed again, while the United Kingdom warned of an incident east of Oman involving a damaged container ship.
The attack occurred amid heightened tensions between the United States and Iran, which have exchanged threats and diplomatic overtures since agreeing to a limited cease‑fire three weeks earlier. President Donald Trump had warned that Iran faced a large missile response if it attempted to assassinate him and said a cease‑fire was no longer in effect, though he noted that Iran had requested to resume talks.
U.S. Central Command said the strikes were the third round this week targeting IRGC forces responsible for the attack on M/V GFS Galaxy. A civilian crew member was reported missing and a fire and significant engine room damage hampered the vessel’s transit.
The United Kingdom’s Maritime Trade Operations Center reported a separate incident nine nautical miles east of Oman, where a container ship sustained rear damage, a fire broke out, though the vessel and cause were not identified.
Senior U.S. officials said Iran had described prior attacks as the work of a rogue IRGC unit and expected Iran to issue a statement confirming the strait was open and that its forces would cease shooting at ships.
In a statement carried by state media, the IRGC said the strait was closed until further notice, accusing the United States of interference and saying the United States was imposing a heavy cost by degrading Iran’s ability to attack civilian mariners.
The strikes follow earlier U.S. and Israeli actions in late February that killed Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, according to the source; Mojtaba Khamenei, the successor, vowed to avenge the killing.
Iranian foreign minister met Oman’s foreign minister in Muscat for talks on the strait; Oman said both sides agreed to continue technical and political discussions to reach agreements consistent with international law.
The latest exchange has renewed uncertainty over the future of the limited peace accord, as diplomatic channels remain open but the status of maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz remains unresolved.
Iranian authorities have increased attacks on commercial ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz since the funeral of supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, according to reports. The United States responded by striking more than 170 sites in Iran, including military facilities and infrastructure such as a bridge in the north and a rail line linking Tehran to Mashhad, as stated by U.S. officials. The Strait of Hormuz was declared closed to maritime traffic by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, which said a commercial vessel was hit after entering an unapproved route. President Donald Trump posted on social media that the ceasefire was over and threatened to destroy Iranian areas, saying "1000 Missiles are Locked and Loaded and aimed at the Islamic Republic of Iran." Senior U.S. officials said Iran described the attacks as actions by a rogue unit of the IRGC and expected Iran to issue a statement within days confirming the strait would be open and that attacks would cease. Back‑channel talks mediated by Qatar were said to be aimed at a broader peace agreement. Iranian officials, including interim prayer leader Mohammad Hassan Abutorabifard, said the attacks were intended to demonstrate strength and that the era of aggressive deterrence had begun. Analyst Behnam Ben Taleblu of the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies noted that hard‑line elements within Iran view escalation as linked to their survival. Public opinion in Tehran varied; some residents expressed support for the tough stance, while others voiced concern about renewed conflict and its economic impact, which includes an estimated reconstruction cost of $270 billion nationwide and damage to over 44,000 residential units in Tehran. The initial U.S.–Iran agreement, which included economic incentives, has been partially rolled back, with the United States rescinding a waiver on oil sanctions and imposing new financial sector sanctions. The situation remains unresolved, with both sides indicating willingness to negotiate but also signaling readiness for further escalation.
Former Obama chief of staff Rahm Emanuel, a potential 2028 presidential candidate, said he would take steps to keep the Strait of Hormuz open as the United States and Iran move toward renewed conflict. Emanuel made the remarks during an interview with Politico, where he outlined a plan to increase naval presence and diplomatic pressure to ensure freedom of navigation in the waterway. He argued that the current negotiations between Washington and Tehran are insufficient to prevent a military escalation, warning that the two countries are heading toward war again. Emanuel said his approach would involve stronger enforcement of international shipping rights and closer coordination with allies. The State Department declined to comment, and Iranian officials have not responded publicly. The situation remains volatile, with both sides indicating readiness for further talks while defense planners continue to monitor the Strait of Hormuz for potential incidents.
Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, the former ruler of Qatar, died on Sunday at age 74, according to the Amiri Diwan. He reigned from 1995 to 2013, overseeing significant economic, social and cultural development that positioned Qatar on the global stage. The Amiri Diwan issued a statement saying the nation mourns his loss, referencing faith in God's decree. During his tenure, Qatar experienced rapid growth driven by its energy resources, and he played a central role in shaping the country's foreign policy and development strategies. The statement did not provide details on the cause of death. His successor, the current Emir, continues to lead Qatar as the country navigates ongoing regional and international responsibilities.
Argentina advanced to the 2026 World Cup semi-finals after beating 10-man Switzerland 3-1 in extra time on Sunday at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City. Mac Allister opened the scoring from a corner taken by Lionel Messi, giving Argentina a 1-0 lead. Switzerland equalized in the 67th minute when Dan Ndoye converted a pass from Ricardo Rodríguez. Minutes later, Embolo received a second yellow card and was sent off, leaving Switzerland with ten men. Julián Álvarez scored the decisive goal in the 112th minute, and Lautaro Martínez added a third later in the match. The victory kept Argentina unbeaten in their last 12 World Cup matches and moved them into the semi-finals, where they will face England in Atlanta on Wednesday. Switzerland's campaign ended with the loss, concluding their pursuit of a first World Cup semi-final appearance.
Thousands gathered in Srebrenica on July 11 to mark the 31st anniversary of the 1995 genocide, during which more than 8,000 Bosnian Muslim men and boys were killed. Ten newly identified victims were buried at the Srebrenica-Potocari Memorial Center, and a peace march took place before the ceremony. Bosnian Presidency Chairman Denis Bećirović emphasized that remembering the victims is essential for stability, while Dutch ambassador Henk van den Dool highlighted education as a means to prevent future atrocities. More than 1,000 people remain missing from the genocide, which is regarded as the worst European atrocity since World War II. Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and London Mayor Sadiq Khan have issued statements condemning the crime and calling for action against dehumanisation and hatred. The anniversary also prompted comparisons to other contemporary conflicts, including Israel's war in Gaza, with human rights advocates noting the lack of accountability for alleged perpetrators.