US and Saudi Arabia Strike Iran-Backed Militias in Iraq
The United States and Saudi Arabia carried out joint airstrikes on Iranian-backed militias in Iraq on Wednesday, widening the regional conflict that has already drawn in Jordan and threatened shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. The U.S. military said it knocked down an Iranian missile barrage and then worked with Saudi forces to strike sites used by Tehran-backed groups to launch recent attacks. The strikes killed at least 20 members of a former paramilitary alliance that includes pro-Iran factions, and the two countries described them as retaliation for recent attacks.
Iran separately launched missiles at sites in Jordan, and Jordan's military said it intercepted five of them. The U.S. military warned Iran to halt attacks carried out directly or through proxies against American assets in the Gulf or Saudi Arabia's energy infrastructure if it wanted to avoid further military response. Claims that Iran had attacked three tankers in the Strait of Hormuz also contributed to a spike in oil prices.
The Iraq strikes come as the Iranian-backed Houthi militia in Yemen has sought to exploit a vulnerable moment for Saudi Arabia and force political concessions there.
More Than Half of England Officially in Drought
More than half of England is officially in drought, the Environment Agency announced, after a 'flash drought' driven by unusually low rainfall and high temperatures. Seven regions are affected and July is set to be the driest on record following winter floods, the agency said. Rivers are running low, farmers are harvesting crops early, wildfire risk is rising and millions of people are living under restrictions on water use.
Trump Asks Supreme Court to Overturn Carroll Award
Donald Trump and the Justice Department asked the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn an $83.3 million (€71 million) defamation award won by writer E. Jean Carroll, who accused him of sexual assault. The appeal, filed electronically, was expected to be formally docketed later on Wednesday. It is the second time Trump has asked the justices to void damages awarded to Carroll.
The filing argues that Trump cannot be sued over comments he made while he was president. Trump has already paid Carroll more than $5 million from a separate 2023 lawsuit, but is now challenging the larger 2024 jury award.
Oscar-Winning Musician Glen Hansard Dies in Motorcycle Crash
Glen Hansard, the Oscar-winning Irish singer-songwriter and frontman of the band the Frames, has died at the age of 56 after a motorcycle crash in Lucan on the outskirts of Dublin early on Wednesday. Hansard won the Academy Award for best song for the 2007 film Once. Irish police said the rider was treated at the scene but did not name him.
Russia Charges Telegram Founder Pavel Durov With Terrorism
Russia's Federal Security Service has charged Pavel Durov, the founder and chief executive of the encrypted messaging app Telegram, with facilitating terrorism. The FSB alleges that Telegram has failed to remove accounts and channels used for recruitment by Ukraine's secret service. The charges reflect an ongoing fight over one of Russia's most popular messaging and media platforms.
Senate Confirms Jay Clayton as Director of National Intelligence
The U.S. Senate confirmed Jay Clayton as director of national intelligence on a 51-47 vote that fell along party lines, giving him control of the Office of the Director of National Intelligence after Bill Pulte. Democrats opposed the nomination amid concerns that Clayton could politicize intelligence at President Trump's direction. During his confirmation hearing, Clayton sidestepped questions about the 2020 election and declined to clearly say that Joseph R. Biden Jr. won.
Fauci to Face Senate Republican Questions on Pandemic
Anthony Fauci, the former director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and a leading adviser to Donald Trump and Joe Biden on COVID-19, is due to testify Wednesday at a high-profile Senate hearing. Republican senators, led by Senator Rand Paul, are expected to question him about the origins of the pandemic, including the disputed 'lab leak' theory. The hearing is part of a long-running Republican investigation that many scientists have described as 'vilification and harassment' of the 85-year-old.
Four Women Accuse Jared Leto in BBC Documentary
A BBC documentary has aired accusations from four women who say the actor and musician Jared Leto committed criminal sexual conduct against them when they were teenagers. The alleged incidents are said to have taken place between 2002 and 2016, when Leto was in his 30s and 40s.
Burnham Does Not Rule Out Tax Rises for Social Care
The prime minister has not ruled out raising taxes to fund social care reform in England as he holds cross‑party talks and accelerates a review of the system. He said current inefficiencies would be tackled first and that final recommendations are due by summer 2027. He noted he has campaigned for social‑care reform for nearly two decades.
Alexandrova Retires From Memphis Classic After Heat Collapse
World number 19 Ekaterina Alexandrova, the top seed at the Memphis Classic, collapsed on court and retired from her first-round match against 16-year-old Kristina Liutova, who was making her WTA debut. The retirement came in temperatures around 34°C (97°F) and when Alexandrova was two points from defeat. The heat-related illness forced her out of the tournament.
Japan Earthquake Death Toll Rises as Rescue Teams Search
Rescue teams are in a 'race against time' to find survivors after a powerful earthquake struck southern Japan's Kyushu island, killing at least 13 people and injuring hundreds. The 6.8‑magnitude quake registered a maximum intensity of 7 on the Japanese shindo scale, knocking out power and water to tens of thousands. Soldiers and emergency workers combed a badly damaged shopping mall and collapsed houses for trapped residents.
Toyota and Honda said they will suspend operations at factories in Kumamoto until Friday, citing aftershocks and recovery efforts. 'The situation, including aftershocks and recovery efforts, is changing daily,' Toyota said.