Vivian Ho

Andy Burnham called in military assistance, temporarily banned disposable barbecues and promised additional funding and a future summit on fire-service resources as wildfires devastated parts of the West Midlands. Nineteen homes were destroyed and 18 damaged in Stourbridge, while Burnham warned that flooding could follow the heatwave and faced pressure from climate groups and the Liberal Democrats to address the climate crisis more directly. Nigel Farage won the Clacton byelection with turnout of 44.37% but did not attend the result declaration, citing an alleged plot to disrupt it; Essex police reported no incidents. Labour argued the result was no victory for Farage, while Reform UK defended his decision. The live coverage also reported the resumption of a parliamentary standards investigation into Farage and controversy over Dennis Bacon's appointment to lead Norfolk County Council.

Donald Trump signed two executive orders seeking to restrict birthright citizenship for children of certain non-citizens and to block entry by people allegedly traveling to the US to give birth. The ACLU said the orders cannot override the Constitution and are likely to fail in court, following the Supreme Court’s rejection of Trump’s earlier attempt. The coverage also details Trump’s inaccurate account of the 14th Amendment, his long-running campaign against birthright citizenship, and inflated claims about birth tourism. Other developments include Trump’s refusal to endorse JD Vance for 2028, Andy Ogles trailing in a Tennessee Republican primary, Mitch McConnell’s discharge from rehabilitation, calls for Max Miller to resign, reported Pentagon tensions, and a Senate committee’s party-line vote to hold Anthony Fauci in contempt.

Iran and Oman are reportedly close to an understanding that could reopen the Strait of Hormuz, with Tehran potentially controlling inbound shipping and Oman overseeing outbound traffic. Iranian sources dispute Donald Trump's claim that reopening is imminent, saying key details remain unresolved and linking any deal to the lifting of the US blockade of Iranian ports. Iran has also warned Gulf states that it could target their energy and critical infrastructure if the US attacks Iran. Elsewhere, Houthi attacks on Yemeni military camps killed at least 30 to 38 government troops, prompting threats of retaliation, while attacks on Saudi oil tankers further escalated regional tensions. Israel and Lebanon resumed US-mediated talks despite renewed Israeli strikes and displacement in southern Lebanon; two Israeli reservists were killed in an explosion attributed to Hezbollah infrastructure. Rights groups described an Israeli strike that killed Lebanese journalist Amal Khalil as a war crime, and Arab and Muslim foreign ministers condemned Israeli attacks in Gaza. Trump denied reports of clashes with Pete Hegseth over US munitions shortages and continued to defend the wider US campaign against Iran.

The Guardian’s live coverage reports that Labour membership fell 20% to 264,754 by the end of 2025, bringing the Green party—whose membership was reported at 230,000 in May—within reach of overtaking it. Other major developments include nearly 50 asylum seekers returning to the UK after deportation under the “one in one out” scheme, record Prevent referrals, and Reform UK proposals to fine companies and imprison directors who employ undocumented workers. The government approved Paramount’s $110bn acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery after securing legally binding commitments on UK investment, public-service broadcasting and news independence. The coverage also details new sanctions on Russia, concerns over early release for some grooming-gang offenders, a surge in council-home sales, pressure on the NHS from extreme heat, disputes over pub licensing in Westminster, and financial issues involving the SNP and its former chief executive.

Abdul El-Sayed’s Democratic Senate primary victory in Michigan is presented as a potential shift away from centrist strategies in swing-state politics, with party leaders uniting behind his campaign to help Democrats retake the Senate. The briefing also covers Erica Schwartz’s confirmation as CDC director, rights groups’ finding that Israel deliberately attacked Lebanese journalists, violence by Israeli settlers in the West Bank, NATO’s efforts to strengthen Ukraine’s air defenses, and legal disputes involving Donald Trump and the BBC. Additional reports examine rising US living costs, racism affecting Black college gymnasts, efforts to increase women’s cycling in Bogotá, and the climate change contribution to Canada’s wildfires.

Abdul El-Sayed narrowly won Michigan’s Democratic Senate primary over Haley Stevens, securing the nomination for a crucial battleground race against Republican Mike Rogers. His victory is presented as part of a broader series of progressive primary successes, despite heavy outside spending linked to AIPAC. Democrats quickly rallied behind El-Sayed, while Republicans and Donald Trump attacked him with increasingly personal and anti-Muslim rhetoric. The live coverage also reported Trump’s endorsement of Nevada election conspiracy theorist Jim Marchant, Mark Carney’s mockery of Trump, litigation over disclosure of Trump’s business records to the BBC, Bernie Sanders’s reluctance to endorse Wisconsin candidate Francesca Hong, and the Senate confirmation of Erica Schwartz to lead the CDC.

A 47-year-old woman was arrested after four men, aged 34 to 52, were stabbed in Covent Garden, central London. Police believe the victims were selected at random and are treating the incident as isolated and potentially mental-health-related; a pair of scissors was recovered. Two victims were discharged, while two remained hospitalized with injuries not considered life-threatening or life-changing. Witnesses and local workers described the woman as known in the area and behaving erratically, while police maintained a visible presence during the investigation.

Donald Trump claimed that the Strait of Hormuz could reopen within a day and said renewed negotiations with Iran were the country’s last chance to reach an agreement involving the waterway and its nuclear programme. Iran’s foreign ministry denied that direct talks were taking place, saying negotiations were instead focused on Oman-mediated arrangements for passage through the strait. Trump responded by calling Iran’s leadership duplicitous and vowed to maintain the US blockade until a deal or total surrender. Pakistan, Qatar and other intermediaries continued efforts to arrange talks, but no date or venue had been confirmed. The standoff has disrupted global oil supplies, driven up fuel prices and boosted the profits of ExxonMobil, Chevron and other oil companies, creating political pressure on Trump and the Republican Party ahead of the US midterm elections. The live coverage also reported executions in Iran, alleged Israeli use of phosphorus bombs in southern Lebanon and continued regional military tensions.

The documentary Wild Inside chronicles Flaco, a Eurasian eagle-owl who escaped New York’s Central Park Zoo in 2023 and survived for more than a year in Manhattan, attracting devoted birdwatchers and citywide attention. Director Penny Lane presents his transformation from captive bird to urban hunter as a fairytale and a meditation on the nature of wildness. Flaco died after colliding with a building; illness from pigeon herpes virus and exposure to rodenticides likely weakened him. His death helped inspire New York City’s “Flaco’s law,” a pilot initiative promoting rat contraceptives instead of poison, while the film considers whether his freedom was worth the risks.

US forces conducted their 13th consecutive night of strikes on Iran, hitting military, drone, communications and coastal-surveillance facilities, while explosions were reported near the Strait of Hormuz and elsewhere in Iran. UN secretary general António Guterres warned that the conflict was approaching an “unimaginable” and widening regional confrontation. Donald Trump threatened a potentially much larger attack and said Iran would be held responsible for Houthi attacks on Saudi oil tankers. The US-Saudi civilian nuclear agreement was presented as conditional on Saudi Arabia joining the Abraham Accords, despite Riyadh’s longstanding demands for progress on Palestinian statehood. Fighting and disruption around Hormuz and the Red Sea pushed Brent crude above $100 a barrel and sent Asian markets lower, intensifying inflation concerns. The coverage also reports Iranian executions of protesters and political prisoners, British warnings after an Iranian threat to US bases, and uncertainty over casualty figures and failed ceasefire efforts.

The Trump administration announced 12.5% tariffs on imports from 85 countries, citing failures to prohibit and enforce bans on goods produced with forced labor. Brazil, Australia, Canada and other affected governments rejected the justification, with Brazil preparing retaliatory measures and Canada warning that all options remain available. Democratic lawmakers argued that the tariffs were an effort to evade the Supreme Court’s ruling against Trump’s earlier tariff regime and congressional authority, while critics said the policy was primarily a protectionist trade tactic. The live coverage also reported disputes over the Pentagon’s accounting of four soldiers killed in renewed fighting with Iran, congressional concerns that the administration was treating the conflict as separate wars to avoid authorization limits, Trump’s claims about Iran and frozen assets, and his White House event with the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Prime Minister Andy Burnham paused plans to release up to 6,000 prisoners early from September, ordering an urgent review after concerns about public safety, domestic-abuse perpetrators and the possible release of two men convicted of killing police officer Andrew Harper. The decision has been welcomed by victim advocates but has created uncertainty and what the Napo probation union calls chaos across the prison system. Burnham also announced a fully funded 20% cut in business rates for pubs, clubs and live music venues in England, although Conservatives questioned its financing. Other developments included Kemi Badenoch’s criticism of Burnham’s agenda, Angela Rayner’s defence of a previous severance payment, the appointment of climate-focused energy secretary Miatta Fahnbulleh, disputes over Greenland and UK-US relations, and the cancellation of British Army training in Kenya amid disagreement over a defence agreement.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi warned that Tehran would respond decisively to any US attack on Iranian infrastructure after Donald Trump threatened to destroy a bridge or power plant for every Iranian attack on shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. Iran’s military said such action would expand the war and threatened regional oil, gas, electricity and economic infrastructure. The conflict has also widened through Houthi attacks or threats against Saudi oil tankers and shipping, while Jordan reported intercepting Iranian missiles and the US continued strikes on Iran. Oil prices rose above $95 a barrel amid fears of further disruption to global energy supplies. Separately, the US and Saudi Arabia signed a nuclear cooperation agreement that could permit Saudi uranium enrichment, prompting concern in Congress and among nonproliferation experts given the war’s stated objective of restricting Iran’s nuclear capabilities. Diplomatic efforts involving Israel, Lebanon and European governments continued, but the fighting and mounting civilian and military casualties were undermining prospects for a ceasefire.

A Hulu documentary follows Sophia Maddox as she confronts the discovery that her grandfather was Charles Manson, exploring generational trauma, family history and the psychological impact of inheriting a legacy tied to violent crimes. Through interviews, therapy sessions and discussions with her father, Daniel Arguelles, Maddox seeks to understand the roots of trauma while grappling with the stories of Manson’s victims and the enduring cultural mythology around the Manson Family murders. The film traces her emotional journey, her strained relationship with her father and her hope for reconciliation, emphasizing that while evil cannot be inherited, trauma can be acknowledged and broken.

The United States issued a worldwide caution warning for American citizens as the US-Israel war on Iran raised the risk of attacks on US interests abroad. Iran claimed strikes on US military facilities in Bahrain and Kuwait, while the US said its latest attacks targeted Iranian command centers, air defenses, missile and drone sites, and maritime capabilities. Shipping in the Strait of Hormuz was disrupted by reported tanker incidents, although the US said commercial transits continued. A threatened Houthi blockade of Saudi-linked shipping in the Red Sea could close both major Gulf oil-export routes, intensifying risks to global energy supplies and prices. Nearly 100 US service members were reportedly injured in recent Iranian reprisals, while diplomatic and regional efforts to manage the conflict continued.

Donald Trump imposed new 50% tariffs on most Canadian goods under Section 338 of the 1930 Smoot–Hawley Tariff Act, excluding energy, fish and critical minerals but potentially covering goods previously protected by USMCA. His administration cited Canadian trade barriers and retaliation, while a White House official said Trump was also examining additional tariffs over wildfire smoke drifting into the United States. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, Ontario Premier Doug Ford and political leaders across Canada condemned the measures, with Ford urging dollar-for-dollar retaliation and business groups calling for negotiations before the tariffs take effect in 30 days. The live coverage also reported Democratic criticism of Trump’s renewed war with Iran after three US military deaths, a State Department attack on left-leaning Cuba activists and organizations, and Trump’s pledge that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu would not be arrested if he visits the United States.

The Guardian’s live coverage reports that election experts have challenged President Donald Trump and Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin’s claim that more than 250,000 noncitizens are registered to vote in California, New Jersey, Nevada and Pennsylvania. The figure was produced by comparing voter information with a DHS immigration database, but experts warn that the method has not verified individuals’ identities and can wrongly flag naturalized citizens. The coverage also examines Trump’s selective presentation of a 2020 intelligence assessment, which focused more heavily on Russian efforts to aid his reelection by spreading allegations against Joe Biden than on the Chinese interference claims Trump emphasized. Other developments include Trump’s political intervention in a South Carolina Senate race, criticism of his accusations against Canada over wildfire smoke, a shooting involving a Geo Group employee, Paul Pelosi’s hit-and-run charge, and a planned paid high-speed Truth Social service that could give institutions advance access to market-sensitive posts.

US airstrikes reportedly hit bridges, a railway station, energy infrastructure, Iranshahr airport and a port control tower in southern Iran, killing at least eight people and wounding 20 according to Iranian authorities. Iran retaliated with missile and drone attacks against countries hosting US bases, including Kuwait, Qatar, Jordan and Bahrain; the IRGC claimed damage to US aircraft in Jordan, while the US did not immediately respond. Kuwait reported damage and a fire at a power and desalination facility, and UKMTO investigated an incident involving a tanker and military forces off Oman. The escalation drove oil prices higher and raised concerns about threats to civilian infrastructure, energy supplies and shipping through the Gulf and Red Sea.

Twin earthquakes measuring 7.2 and 7.5 struck Venezuela’s northern coast, killing at least 188 people, injuring more than 1,500 and leaving 157 missing. La Guaira suffered the heaviest destruction, with more than 100 buildings collapsed, while Caracas and several other states were also badly affected. Rescue teams searched through rubble as authorities declared a state of emergency, and eyewitnesses described widespread destruction, blocked roads, fear and disrupted utilities. The United States pledged $150 million in aid, while Mexico, Canada, Oxfam and other international actors offered assistance. Humanitarian groups warned that the disaster would worsen conditions for millions already needing aid.

Donald Trump canceled the signing of a bipartisan housing bill to pressure congressional Republicans to support the restrictive Save America voting bill, despite its lack of a clear path through the Senate. At a Republican senators' lunch, Trump and Louisiana senator Bill Cassidy exchanged angry words over the Iran war and the Senate's war-powers resolution; Cassidy said the conflict had lasted far longer than promised without achieving its objectives. The live coverage also reported NATO support for Trump's confrontation with Iran, Israel's refusal to withdraw from southern Lebanon, uncertainty over the Pentagon's investigation into a deadly strike on an Iranian girls' school, and the abrupt departure of a senior US army commander. Other developments included Democratic objections to proposed federal control of mail-ballot eligibility, calls for a moratorium on AI data centers, Trump's criticism of UK wind power, and major victories for Zohran Mamdani-backed candidates in New York Democratic primaries.

Progressive New York candidates backed by mayor Zohran Mamdani achieved major Democratic primary victories: Brad Lander defeated incumbent Dan Goldman, Claire Valdez beat Antonio Reynoso, and Darializa Avila Chevalier won in the Bronx and upper Manhattan. Micah Lasher won the competitive New York 12th District contest over Jack Schlossberg and Alex Bores, while Army veteran Cait Conley secured the nomination in New York’s 17th District. Elsewhere, former Navy rear admiral Nancy Lacore won the Democratic nomination in South Carolina, Alan Wilson defeated Trump-backed Pamela Evette for the Republican gubernatorial nomination, and Ben McAdams won Utah’s redrawn Democratic-leaning district. The results were portrayed as a setback for Democratic establishment forces and a sign of Mamdani’s growing influence.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Vice-President JD Vance discussed a proposed ceasefire monitoring body with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun as US-backed Israel-Lebanon talks resumed in Washington. The call followed Israeli gunfire that killed two people in southern Lebanon, which Hezbollah called a ceasefire violation while Israel said it targeted armed threats. Donald Trump claimed Iran had agreed to extensive future nuclear inspections and that the Strait of Hormuz would remain open, but Iran said damaged nuclear sites would not be available to the IAEA and denied accepting new nuclear commitments. Iran and Oman agreed to study future navigation arrangements and possible service costs in the strait. The conflict is driving major energy, food and debt risks, with the Pentagon reportedly seeking $80bn for war costs and the UN warning that the economic shock could be long-lasting.

Donald Trump repeated his unsupported claim that vandals cut a 350-foot slit in the newly applied sealant at the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, despite declining to provide photographs or video evidence. Five people were reportedly arrested or under investigation, but footage suggested some detainees were tourists or locals collecting pieces of the failed lining. The coverage also examined Trump’s threatened lawsuit against ABC News, his criticism of UK energy policy, and his claims about oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz. Separately, the Senate passed an 85-5 bipartisan housing bill aimed at lowering costs through permitting reforms, limits on large-scale investor purchases and expanded housing assistance.

The Lincoln Memorial reflecting pool is expected to be drained again after algae blooms and peeling paint emerged shortly after a $14m renovation commissioned by Donald Trump. Trump blamed alleged vandals, claiming five arrests and five further investigations, but provided no evidence, and reporters found no visible sign of the alleged knife damage. Olympic canoeist David Hearn said he was arrested after touching peeling liner at the pool. A temporary permit allows the National Park Service to discharge the water into a sewer through 2 July, while responsibility for the failed renovation remains disputed.