World News

Ella Baron on the US, Iran and the strait of Hormuz – cartoon

Trump withdraws Hormuz tolls threat but says US will continue to blockade Iran

US hits targets in port cities of Bushehr and Bandar Abbas while Iran targets Bahrain and Jordan in retaliation Middle East crisis live – latest updates Donald Trump has backed down from a threat that ships would have to pay a 20% fee to the US for “security” in the strait of Hormuz, replacing it with what he described as investment and trade deals with Gulf Arab states as US and Iranian airstrikes resumed for a third day. The US president said he had decided to scrap the toll “based on highly productive conversations with Middle East leadership”, and touted “massive” investments, just five hours before the toll was due to come into effect. He said the US would continue to blockade Iranian ports.

Ann Widdecombe was killed in ‘targeted attack’, police say – UK politics live

Counter-terrorism police say that they are still working to establish the motive for the killing of the former government minister In response to a question from Alec Shelbrooke (Con), Campbell said he was “totally unaware” not just of the wording of the Tory opposition day motion planned for tomorrow (see 1.04pm), but of the topic that it was going to cover. In a bid to convince MPs that this was not a lie, he said that he was standing at the despatch box and that MPs knew the importance of a minister “telling the absolute truth when they stand here”. In the Commons, Alan Campbell, the leader of the house, has just announced there will be a change in parliamentary business tomorrow. Wednesday was set aside for an opposition day debate – a debate on a motion tabled by the Tories. Instead, there will be a general debate on the situation in Iran. There will also be a vote on the regulations banning support for Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. The government has a majority of more than 150 and it could not trust its MPs to vote the right way on that motion [delaying the recess], and it could not bear the idea of a new prime minister facing any scrutiny before September. A prime minister, let me remind us all, who has been chosen by a coronation not a contest, with no known platform, almost no known policies, and no idea of his priorities or indeed his cabinet team.

EU rejects Trump administration claims that ICC threatens US sovereignty

US government says it wants to ‘systematically disable’ The Hague-based international criminal court A spokesperson for the EU has pushed back against the Trump administration’s assertion that the international criminal court poses a threat to US sovereignty, a day after the US government said it would work to “systematically disable” a global tribunal that seeks to prosecute the perpetrators of the world’s gravest crimes. Anouar El Anouni, an EU spokesperson, said on Tuesday: “We stand firm in our support for the international criminal court (ICC). Attacks or threats against the court, elected officials, personnel or those cooperating with the court are simply not acceptable.”

Young Germans opting out of military service as Berlin strives to boost army

Almost 6,000 young men apply to be excluded on moral or religious grounds despite ‘conscription lite’ policy The number of young men applying to be conscientious objectors and refuse armed military service in Germany has risen sharply this year, undermining a drive by Berlin to create Europe’s strongest conventional army and deter the Russian threat. More people had applied to exclude themselves from service on religious or moral grounds in the first half of 2026 than in the whole of last year, according to figures provided by the government on Tuesday.

We’d like to speak to maritime, port workers, their friends and family about how the Middle East conflict is affecting them

We want to hear from those working or living at sea, including maritime workers, sailors, port staff and family about how the situation is affecting their work The conflict in the Middle East continues to disrupt shipping across the region, including in the strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s busiest maritime routes. Donald Trump has once again threatened to take control of the strait of Hormuz, as he announced the reimposition of a naval blockade on Iran and demanded a 20% tariff on all cargoes shipped through the key maritime passage.

The Guardian view on Brazil’s sovereignty: Trump turns autonomy into a trade offence | Editorial

Donald Trump’s tariff threat recasts Brazil’s attempt to protect its democracy as unfair commercial practice – and gives Bolsonarism a Washington stage Last June, Brazil’s supreme court responded to the online lies that helped fuel Jair Bolsonaro’s failed far-right coup attempt in 2023. It ruled that social media platforms could be held liable for some users’ posts, forcing firms such as Elon Musk’s X and Mark Zuckerberg’s Meta to remove hate speech and anti-democratic content. A month later, Donald Trump proposed a 25% tariff on Brazilian imports, complaining that the judges had made US tech firms take down “political” material. At a hearing held at the US International Trade Commission last week, an extraordinary platform was given to Mr Bolsonaro’s son, Flávio. He is the opposition candidate running to be president in this year’s election while his father serves a 27-year prison sentence. His message to Washington was that the US’s problem with his country’s unfair trade practices was down to the president, Luiz Inácio “Lula” da Silva, who has clashed with Mr Trump. Do you have an opinion on the issues raised in this article? If you would like to submit a response of up to 300 words by email to be considered for publication in our letters section, please click here.

Spanish PM’s brother banned from public office after misconduct trial

Conviction over hiring by socialist-led council is one of a series of corruption claims facing Pedro Sánchez’s family The brother of Spain’s prime minister has been banned from holding public office for nine years after being found guilty of administrative misconduct relating to his hiring by a socialist-led council in the south-western region of Extremadura nine years ago. Corruption allegations involving Pedro Sánchez’s family, his government and his Spanish Socialist Workers’ party (PSOE) have triggered repeated opposition calls for a snap general election. All the accused have denied wrongdoing.

UK to continue sending potential trafficking victims to France despite court ruling

Court ruled last week against policy to reduce protections for asylum seekers facing removal under one in, one out scheme The Home Office is set to ignore a high court ruling and continue sending asylum seekers to France without looking into claims they have been trafficked, which last week was found to be unlawful. On Friday Mr Justice Sheldon ruled against the home secretary’s policy to reduce protections for trafficking victims earmarked for forced removal to France. Home Office sources told the Guardian that operational activity could continue despite the ruling. Home Office removed certain protections for this group because they could delay removals to France by at least 30 days.

The UK and international law – Palestine is the test | Letter

Peers, former ambassadors and senior lawyers say Israel must be held to account for its actions in the Gaza and the West Bank Pippa Crerar’s focus on action is right (Burnham’s apology over Gaza marks ‘reset moment’ as Labour seeks to win back progressive voters, 9 July). May we add one element: the law. Two years ago, the international court of justice advised that the 1967 occupation of Palestine is unlawful. Keir Starmer worked to uphold international law on Ukraine. Rightly, he recognised the state of Palestine alongside Israel, and confirmed that the occupation is unlawful. Consequences should follow, but we still await the government’s assessment of the ICJ opinion. Steps to end the occupation are needed. No state that values the decisions of UN bodies should prolong it. Our country needs a rules-based international order. The UK relies on due process for the conduct of international affairs. It is in the UK’s interest to challenge the “might is right” fallacy. The rule of law helps keep us safe, when made effective – domestically and internationally. Lord Denning observed that “the rules of international law … do form part of our English law”. The two are intertwined.

Democrats squirm over vote to shut off aid to Israel

An upcoming House vote on a measure blocking U.S. aid to Israel has Democrats divided over how far they should go to signal displeasure with the Netanyahu government. Why it matters: The vote is revealing just how much anxiety Democratic lawmakers have about the growing anti-Israel sentiments coming from their grassroots base. "Even I'm a lean yes and think it's a crappy amendment," said one House Democrat, speaking on the condition of anonymity to offer candid thoughts on their vote. "For me, it's more of a signal that something needs to change and we can't just provide aid despite how it's being used," the lawmaker said, predicting "at least 40" of their colleagues will vote for the measure. Driving the news: The House is scheduled to vote this week on Rep. Thomas Massie's (R-Ky.) amendment to a State Department funding bill that would prohibit any of the money from going to Israel. The measure — which does not make any carveout for non-military aid — has been the subject of frenzied internal discussion among House Democrats for weeks. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) announced in Democrats' closed-door caucus meeting Tuesday morning that he would vote against the amendment, according to several lawmakers who were present. What they're saying: In a letter to colleagues obtained by Axios, Jeffries said the "overly broad" amendment would limit funding for "humanitarian aid, refugee resettlement, peace-building and U.S. Embassy operations." He also warned that it would "restrict our country's ability to confront Hamas, Hezbollah and other terrorist organizations in the region who are sworn enemies of both the United States and Israel." "In my view, there are more decisive ways to achieve the urgent change necessary when it comes to the far-right Netanyahu government," the Democratic leader wrote. Zoom out: Centrist, pro-Israel Democrats cheered Jeffries for taking what they said is a brave and much-needed stand against the growing influence of the party

France deploys 70,000 security personnel across country for Bastille Day, World Cup semifinal events – Europe live

‘No unruly behaviour will be tolerated’ after the match, according to France’s interior minister Here is the first big moment of the day as the Garde républicaine plays the French national anthem, “La Marseillaise”. Macron is not singing, but Lecornu behind him – very much is.

Bastille Day celebrations in France tempered by fear of more wildfires

Firework displays cancelled as Paris military parade asserts ‘France’s rearmament .. and Europe’s strategic awakening’ Europe live – latest updates Emmanuel Macron has presided over his final Bastille Day parade in Paris amid a searing heatwave and wildfires that forced authorities around the country to cancel traditional firework displays and balls celebrating France’s national day. The French president was joined for the annual military procession and flypast by his Ukrainian counterpart, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the British ‌prime minister, Keir Starmer, the German chancellor, Friedrich Merz, and two dozen other national leaders.

New US Ebola patient arrives in Germany for treatment

Aid worker flown to Berlin as Trump administration bars Americans from traveling to US on commercial flights A US national who contracted Ebola in the Democratic Republic of the Congo has arrived in Germany for treatment, the health ministry in Berlin said on Monday, weeks after another American infected with Ebola in the DRC was treated in Berlin. Meanwhile, the Trump administration on Monday said it was blocking American citizens in ⁠the DRC from traveling to the US on commercial flights, Reuters reported, citing a White House official.

‘Give us his body to bury’: a mother’s six-year fight for justice for son killed in Nigeria’s anti-police protests

Pelumi Onifade, a young journalist, was allegedly shot while covering the #EndSars demonstrations in 2020. His body has never been released and no one has been held responsible Sitting in her family’s two-bedroom apartment on a sweltering Sunday afternoon, Bosede Onifade says she is tired of waiting for news about her son. Pelumi Onifade has been missing for six years. The last time his mother saw him was on the morning of 24 October 2020. An intern with a Nigerian news channel, the 20-year-old was excited to be going on assignment to cover the #EndSars protests, an anti-police brutality movement that had rocked the country that year, while unleashing a further onslaught of state violence against Nigerian citizens.

A Chinese waiting hall and World Cup mania at No 10: photos of the day – Tuesday

The Guardian’s picture editors select photographs from around the world