People walk through the heavily damaged historic market of Nabatieh as those displaced by fighting start to return to southern Lebanon. The US president has declared the Strait of Hormuz will be completely open from Friday. 'The deal's all signed. And the strait is already partially opened,' Trump said as he arrived at the G7 summit in France.
'I think a lot of great things are going to happen in the Middle East. And very importantly, the oil is plummeting down and the stock market is shooting up like a rocket today,' Trump stated. 'The main thing is that Iran will not have a nuclear weapon. They fully agreed to that with strong policing powers, and they won't have a nuclear weapon, which is what it was all about.'
The comments are seen as optimistic and premature, as no peace deal has been signed and the Strait of Hormuz remains heavily mined. Continued Israeli breaches of the ceasefire in Lebanon and Iran's claims about charging fees in the waterway reveal loose ends. The memorandum of understanding is due to be formally signed at a ceremony in Geneva on Friday, with technical discussions led by US Vice-President JD Vance.
Reaction in Israel
Analysts note that none of Benjamin Netanyahu's promises—regime change in Tehran and destruction of Iran's nuclear programme—have been fulfilled. The Israeli prime minister did not denounce the deal but distanced himself from negotiations, stating Israel would not leave occupied territory in Lebanon.
G7 Summit Agenda
The G7 aims to shore up waning US support for Ukraine, with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer vowing to 'choke off' Russian revenue with further sanctions and provide energy support for Ukraine.
B-52 Bomber Crash in California
Eight people are presumed dead after a B-52 bomber crashed shortly after takeoff at Edwards Air Force Base in California's Mojave Desert. Those onboard included military personnel, government employees, and civilian contractors. Aviation safety expert Jeff Guzzetti suspects a flight-control malfunction caused the crash, noting that testing new equipment on a 70-year-old aircraft heightened risks.
Gavin Newsom Claims Trump Directed Investigation
California Governor Gavin Newsom claimed on Monday that Donald Trump directed the Department of Justice to investigate him and his wife, Jennifer Siebel Newsom. Federal agents have reportedly knocked on doors of family friends and former employees. A source said the administration has been conducting investigations for about a year, including one regarding his wife's taxes and another related to his former chief of staff. Newsom said, 'Donald Trump isn't just coming after me because of my mean tweets, he's coming after me because I am considering running for president.'
Other News
- Health Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr faces criticism for sending a 'bullying' letter to a scientific journal that removed a flawed vaccine study.
- Florida is suing TikTok over alleged violations of a state law limiting social media access for teens.
- UK ministers lobby the Trump administration to avoid backlash after announcing a social media ban for under-16s affecting US tech companies.
- The International African American Museum in South Carolina will furlough all staff for 20 days over six months, citing a shift in the political and funding environment.
- Starbucks Korea will close all stores for a mandatory history lesson after a promotion evoked memories of a pro-democracy massacre.
Stat of the Day
Half of the world's children are exposed to at least three overlapping climate hazards threatening their health, education, and survival, according to a Unicef report. 'The lives of children continue to be upended by the impact of heatwaves, wildfires, droughts, and floods,' said the UN agency's executive director, Catherine Russell.
Culture Pick
Surviving Earth, a series by Tim Haines, co-creator of Walking with Dinosaurs, takes viewers back to mass extinction events. Haines worked with over 300 scientists to bring prehistoric creatures to life, showing that 'no matter what the Earth has tried to do, life has always managed to crawl through it and come out the other side stronger.'
Don't Miss This
The Soweto uprising, remembered 50 years on, began peacefully as students marched against the government's imposition of Afrikaans as the medium of instruction. By the end of the day, dozens were dead.
Or This
Dutch children are unusually happy and healthy, possibly due to the Avondvierdaagse walking festival, a summer tradition where kids, parents, and teachers explore neighbourhoods, exercise, and make friends over four nights.
Climate Check
AI and digitisation could be a turning point in the 'race against extinction' faced by botanists trying to identify and save vital plants, according to a report from the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew.
Last Thing
A far-right ideology known as 'remigration' aims to make life so punishing for immigrants that they leave the US, and it is the policy of the Trump administration. In a podcast, journalist Paola Ramos discusses immigrants who have made the difficult decision to leave and how their departure could spell the death of the American dream.
