Donald Trump faced a turbulent rally in Texas, with repeated protests interrupting his remarks. The US president briefly stepped away from the microphone after one protester appeared to approach the stage. At least half a dozen demonstrators interrupted Trump during his speech in San Antonio, with some led away by police. One protester was physically assaulted by an older Trump supporter while trying to leave the arena.
DNC lawsuit over taxpayer-funded ads
The Democratic National Committee has sued the Trump administration in federal court, asking a judge in Washington to stop the president from using taxpayer funds to air a series of ads promoting himself. The ads have cost taxpayers more than $12m so far, according to the media tracking firm AdImpact.
Trump distances from aides over Balkans ties
Trump claimed he did not have “any idea who else they work for” after it was reported that Chris LaCivita, co-manager of his 2024 presidential campaign, and James Blair, a campaign adviser and White House deputy chief of staff on leave, spent the weekend assisting the pro-Russia government in Republika Srpska in the Balkans. Trump said: “I will terminate them, immediately” if he determined there was a conflict of interest.
Tanker attack and other news
A tanker sailing off the north coast of Qatar was attacked, causing an unknown number of casualties. This came as Iran declared it would close a route in the strait of Hormuz being used to circumvent Tehran’s blockade of traffic.
Ken Paxton, the Texas attorney general and Republican Senate candidate, admitted in a leaked audio recording that rising fuel prices due to Trump’s Iran war were hurting his party before the midterms. The Guardian has asked Paxton’s campaign for comment.
Britain is rebranding its East Jerusalem consulate as a UK mission, a move forced by the Israeli government as punishment for Britain’s decision to ban trade with illegal settlements. There has been dispute within the UK government over whether tough measures could help Benjamin Netanyahu’s re-election prospects this month.
The World Health Organization said it does not have the “full picture” from Russia after the suspected death from plague of a 28-year-old laboratory worker in Siberia. Russian authorities denied a connection with the anti-plague research institute and say Darya Shipilova died from “pneumonia of an unknown aetiology”. At a press conference, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said: “We don’t yet have the full picture of this event. Timely, complete and transparent information-sharing is essential to clarify conflicting reports and enable an accurate assessment of potential public risks.”
Officials have imposed sweeping quarantine restrictions at the lab where Shipilova worked and in nearby hospitals. Staff were locked down inside the institute for three days, sleeping on floors and chairs, while tests were conducted.
Christa Pike, who survived two lethal injections, woke up “angry and confused”, her attorneys said. Pike remains hospitalized and shackled to her bed, with pneumonia and a blood clot, unable to move either of her badly injured arms. Lawyer Randy Spivey said her first words were: “Where am I?”, adding: “I think she is angry and confused about everything right now.” A judge has ordered Tennessee state officials to preserve all evidence related to the failed execution. Pike was convicted for her part in the 1995 murder of Colleen Slemmer.
Margaret Hamilton, whose software powered the Apollo 11 moon landing, has died aged 90. The FBI says it thwarted a terrorist attack on a Minnesota shopping mall by an 18-year-old it had supplied with an AK-47. An Arizona congressional candidate says she was raped while repairing a campaign sign. Bernadette Greene-Placentia says she is sharing her story to fight for victims of sexual assault. OpenAI’s release of mathematical findings has drawn concerns from experts. María del Carmen Abascal, the 87-year-old whose eviction in Madrid sparked protests against Spain’s housing crisis, has died.
Financial milestone and other highlights
The Golden State Valkyries are pursuing their first WNBA championship, but the second-year franchise has already achieved a historic financial milestone, becoming the first women’s sports team to top $100m in annual revenue.
In other news, Palestinians in Gaza describe lives changed beyond recognition after the 7 October attacks by Hamas three years ago and the subsequent Israeli offensive. Arturo Béjar, a former Meta employee and whistleblower, has testified repeatedly against his former employer after his daughter told him Instagram was failing to keep her safe.
California faces potential landslides, flash floods, and raging seas as it finds itself in the crosshairs of El Niño. The Indonesian government has been accused of “gross negligence” in a class action lawsuit over its handling of wildfires, and the Norwegian government has given a permit to a mining company to release waste into one of Norway’s most pristine fjords.
Jonathan the giant tortoise, believed to be the world’s oldest known living land animal at 194, has revealed genetic variants in most biological pathways for ageing through his DNA, offering insight into longevity.
