Peter Hennessy

Donald Trump says talks with Iran will resume and that an agreement covering the Strait of Hormuz and the country’s nuclear capabilities could be reached imminently. He claims Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Iran asked him to cancel a planned US attack, while saying Iran had agreed in principle to open the Strait and address its nuclear threat. Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman separately warned Trump that escalation or strikes on Iranian infrastructure could prompt retaliation against Saudi and other Gulf energy facilities.

Donald Trump says Middle Eastern parties have agreed on the parameters of a potential deal to end the Iran conflict, including reopening the Strait of Hormuz and ending Iran’s nuclear threat. He says the United States will pause a planned attack while warning that its military remains ready to act, with Israel allegedly supporting the commitment. Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman reportedly urged caution in a call with Trump, fearing that attacks on Iranian energy or other infrastructure could trigger retaliation against Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states. A White House official confirmed the call but provided no details.

A gunman opened fire at an In-N-Out Burger in Twin Falls, Idaho, on August 1, 2026, killing multiple people and injuring at least five according to preliminary reports. Police Chief Matthew Hicks said the shooter, who carried an AR-style rifle, was among the dead and that the threat to the community had ended, while the gunman’s identity and motive remained unknown. Witnesses described an exchange of gunfire and efforts to help an injured restaurant employee. Authorities were still confirming casualties, notifying next of kin, and coordinating medical and emergency responses.

US and Iranian forces exchanged strikes for a seventh consecutive night as tensions escalated around the Strait of Hormuz, which Iran has largely closed since February. The US targeted surveillance, logistics and weapons sites while Iran issued a warning of impending action and reported new casualties from American attacks. Regional countries, including Kuwait, Iraq and Jordan, intercepted Iranian missiles and drones amid expanding hostilities. President Donald Trump insisted the conflict was progressing in the US’s favour, though American military casualties continued to rise.

A former Detective Chief Inspector, Michael Cooper, was jailed for causing the death of psychologist James Bane after blacking out while driving an unmarked police car in Etwall, Derbyshire. Cooper had a long history of unexplained blackouts and failed to disclose his condition to the DVLA, his insurer or his employer, despite medical advice. The court found he had been treating the police vehicle as a personal car and had engaged in misconduct. Bane died after being crushed between parked vehicles during the collision, while a second pedestrian was seriously injured. Cooper pleaded guilty and received a three-year, seven‑month prison sentence and a five‑year driving ban, with disciplinary findings confirming gross professional misconduct.

A major landslide on the outskirts of Chongqing buried more than ten residential buildings, killing at least eight people and leaving 34 missing. Over a thousand residents were evacuated as rescue teams worked in dangerous conditions amid fears of further collapse. Authorities reported that about 18,000 cubic meters of debris slid downslope, damaging infrastructure and cutting utilities within a one‑kilometer radius. Xi Jinping called for an investigation into the cause, while local officials warned that extreme weather could trigger additional instability.

Police arrested escaped prisoner Marwan Jumaa after a large-scale search triggered when he left North Manchester Hospital unaccompanied. Greater Manchester Police issued an urgent public appeal before Lancashire Constabulary officers located and detained him. Jumaa had been serving a secure hospital sentence for attacking two women and previously pleaded guilty to multiple violent offences. Authorities credited public information and coordinated investigative efforts for his capture.

A performer at Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's funeral publicly called for the death of US President Donald Trump, prompting chants against the United States and Israel from a large crowd in Tehran. The remarks came as Trump delivered a speech asserting US military successes, including claims of having wiped out Iran's military. The funeral drew massive attendance and occurred amid ongoing negotiations between Iran and the US over ending the war and concerns about further Israeli action, with the ceremony also highlighting the rise of Khamenei's son, Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, as the new supreme leader.

Donald Trump used his Freedom 250 Fourth of July speech in Washington, D.C., to claim decisive U.S. military victories over Iran and Venezuela, highlighting the sinking of Iranian ships and asserting American military superiority. He denounced communism, pledged to defend the Second Amendment, and celebrated U.S. exceptionalism before a crowd that returned after a severe weather evacuation. Secret Service agents cleared attendees during storms, but the event proceeded once conditions improved.

A fire broke out on the Brooklyn Bridge following Fourth of July fireworks in New York, with livestream footage showing workers attempting to extinguish the blaze. The cause and extent of the damage remain unclear. Emergency crews responded while the fireworks show was reportedly halted. Severe weather in Washington disrupted America’s 250th anniversary celebrations, prompting a temporary evacuation of the National Mall, though President Donald Trump said he would still deliver his planned speech later in the night.

Severe storms over Washington forced the evacuation of the National Mall and delayed Donald Trump’s planned Fourth of July address. Police and Secret Service ordered attendees to leave as checkpoints were shut and safety announcements broadcast. Military flyovers were cancelled and weather disruptions affected celebrations in several states, while some events, including New York’s fireworks, continued as planned. Trump was still expected to speak later despite the schedule disruption.

Vickrum Digwa is being held in segregation at HMP Frankland after refusing to move to A‑wing, where child killer Ian Huntley was fatally attacked earlier in the year. Believing he would not be safe, Digwa is spending up to 23 hours a day isolated with minimal privileges. Insider accounts describe harsh segregation conditions. Digwa, convicted of murdering 18‑year‑old Henry Nowak and sentenced to life with a minimum term of 21 years, is appealing the sentence as unduly lenient. HMP Frankland, known for housing high‑profile offenders, has seen several serious incidents in recent years. A Prison Service spokesperson declined to comment on individual prisoners.