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Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, an ally of President Donald Trump, has died unexpectedly aged 71, his office said. Graham was a staunch supporter of the Iran war, and in recent years urged both the Trump and Biden administrations to back Ukraine in its fight against Russia’s invasion.The South Carolina senator bitterly opposed Trump a decade ago, but ultimately backed the billionaire president as he steadily gained power over the Republican Party. Graham’s office said in a statement on his official X account that he had “passed away from a brief and sudden illness.”NBC News reported that emergency services responded to a call for cardiac arrest at Graham’s Capitol Hill home on Saturday night. “He’s a tough one to lose. He was great. He was unique in every way, actually,” Trump said by telephone.The president said they had spoken Saturday evening as Graham returned from a trip to Ukraine, and they made tentative plans to meet on Sunday. “It could have been his last call,” Trump remarked.Later, Trump ordered on his Truth Social platform that American flags across the country be lowered to half-staff in mourning. Source link
Bahrain’s military on Monday accused Iran of targeting civilians with its latest attacks on the kingdom, after Tehran said it had struck US military facilities and infrastructure there.”Iran continues its systematic hostile approach through its heinous attacks with missiles and drones that target civilians in the Kingdom of Bahrain,” the general command of Bahrain’s military said in a statement, adding that air defences “intercepted and destroyed a number of Iranian aerial attacks” on Monday morning Source link
The General Staff of the Kuwaiti Army announced on Monday that Kuwait’s air defense systems were engaging hostile aerial targets within Kuwaiti airspace.The blasts heard are the result of mid-air interception operations, said the General Staff in a statement, advising the public to abide by the safety instructions outlined by the relevant authorities. Related Story Source link
The number of vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz fell to multi-week lows on Sunday, shipping data showed, as renewed strikes between the U.S. and Iran and attacks on ships in the Middle East heightened safety concerns.Six vessels transited the strait on Sunday, ship-tracking data from Kpler showed, the lowest number in five weeks.Tankers that exited the strait included the Very Large Crude Carrier Humanity, laden with 2 million barrels of Iranian oil and another tanker, Capetan Andreas, carrying about 500,000 barrels of Kuwaiti oil products, the data showed, while three empty tankers entered the Gulf to load oil. Most of the tankers switched off their transponders when crossing the strait.There were no liquefied natural gas tankers that entered the strait over the weekend that were visible on ship-tracking data.One tanker controlled by the Abu Dhabi National Oil Co exited the strait between July 10 and July 12, Kpler data showed. The vessel is heading for Dahej port in India. U.S. forces completed another wave of strikes against Iran on Sunday, hitting dozens of targets at multiple locations with precision munitions, the Central Command said.U.S. President Donald Trump said on Sunday that the Strait of Hormuz is open to commercial traffic, although Iran declared earlier that it closed the strait after a vessel travelled on an unapproved route and was struck. Iran’s Revolutionary Guards said on Monday that its navy stopped two ships in the Strait of Hormuz last night by shutting down their systems. It did not name the ships involved. Related Story Source link
The Palestinian Presidency declared Sunday a three-day mourning period in the State of Palestine, starting Monday, following the passing of the late HH the Father Amir of the State of Qatar Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani.The Presidency also decided to lower flags hoisted at official headquarters and institutions to half-staff. Related Story Source link
Screenshot 2026-07-13 at 07-37-23 (21) Qatar News Agency (@QNAEnglish) _ X The Republic of Lebanon has declared official mourning and ordered flags hoisted on all buildings of government departments, public institutions, and municipalities to be lowered to half-mast for a four-day mourning period following the passing of the late HH the Father Amir of the State of Qatar Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani.The Lebanese Cabinet said that Prime Minister Dr. Nawaf Salam issued a memorandum outlining the decision to declare the mourning period, in addition to amending the normal programming of radio and television stations.The Cabinet added that this decision aligns with this solemn occasion, effective from Sunday through next Wednesday, praying that Almighty Allah may envelop the distinguished deceased in His boundless mercy and grant him eternal Paradise. Related Story Source link
England’s Harry Kane and manager Thomas Tuchel celebrate after the FIFA World Cup 2026 quarter-final against Norway at Miami Stadium, Miami Gardens, Florida, U.S. on Saturday.…
A blue verification badge and the logos of Facebook and Instagram are seen in this picture illustration taken January 19, 2023. REUTERS/File picture The European Union’s plan to regulate children’s access to social media follows the implementation or proposal of similar measures around the world.This list now stretches to more than 20 countries, including five where restrictions are already in force, according to an AFP tally.In most, the measures are very recent and target children under the ages of 15 or 16.An expert committee is due to submit its recommendations to the European Commission on Monday about a potential social media ban for children in the 27-nation EU.Social media has been banned for under-16s in Australia since December 2025, while Brazil introduced a law in March requiring platforms to link the accounts of users aged under-16 to those of their parents, while also requiring platforms to verify users’ ages.In China, where the internet is tightly regulated by the state, minors’ access to social media has been restricted progressively since 2019.Initial measures imposed time limits and curfews on online gaming, before similar restrictions were extended in 2023 to social media and streaming platforms.Indonesia has banned social media for under-16s since March and Malaysia has taken a similar approach, with legislation coming into force in June excluding under-16s from major platforms.Turkiye is set to join the list after passing legislation to bar under-15s from social media in April. The law is expected to take effect in late 2026.The United Arab Emirates announced a ban on social media for under-15s last month, with implementation set for around a year’s time.Restrictions announcedWithin the EU, the Greek government announced in early April that it intends to ban social media access for under-15s from January 1, 2027.Austria and Slovenia are also preparing legislation to prohibit access for under-14s and under-15s respectively.In Germany, where Chancellor Friedrich Merz supports restricting or even banning social media for children, an expert commission has proposed two options: a ban graded by age or platform-specific restrictions.A similar debate is under way in Sweden, where a government commission has proposed banning social media for under-15s by early 2028.The Irish government has warned that it is considering legislating in the absence of an EU decision.In Denmark, the government announced in October 2025 that it would propose banning “several social media platforms” for under-15s.Outside the EU, the Norwegian government will present a bill by the end of the year to ban access for those under 16.The UK is looking to ban social media for under-16s by early 2027.Canada also wants to set the minimum age for social media use at 16.Several states in India are considering restrictions for children and the government said it is holding discussions with platforms over potential measures.A proposal to ban social media for children under 15 is currently wending its way through parliament in France.The National Assembly approved the bill at first reading in January but the Senate later amended it to target only the most harmful platforms, prompting concern in Brussels.A final version of the legislation is expected in the coming weeks, with the government hoping it can come into force in September.Portugal is considering a bill that would set the age for independent access to platforms, services, games and applications at 16.Spain has proposed raising the minimum age for registering on a social media platform from 14 to 16.In Italy, parliament is considering legislation that would ban social media use for children under the age of 15. Related Story…
England and Argentina will meet on Wednesday in a blockbuster World Cup semi-final infused with decades of bitter rivalry after they battled past Norway and Switzerland respectively in the quarter-finals.The South Americans and their talisman Lionel Messi must defeat England in Atlanta to keep alive their hopes of becoming the first team to win back-to-back World Cups since Brazil in 1962.England and their key partnership of Jude Bellingham and Harry Kane must win to have any hope of ending a 60-year wait for a major trophy.The winner of that game will take on the victor of France’s semi-final with Spain — they meet in Texas on Tuesday — in the final on July 19.The Argentina v England match comes 40 years after a seismic encounter in the quarter-finals of the 1986 World Cup in Mexico. CONTROVERSIAL MARADONA GOALArgentina secured a 2-1 victory at the Estadio Azteca with two goals from Diego Maradona — one the infamous controversial goal when he punched the ball into the net and the other a dazzling solo effort considered one of the greatest goals ever to grace a World Cup.For Maradona’s heir, Messi, it will be his 206th match in an Albiceleste shirt, but his first ever against England.The match will also take place against the backdrop of a lingering sovereignty dispute over the Falkland Islands in the South Atlantic Ocean, known in Spanish as the Malvinas.Britain sent a military taskforce in 1982 to reclaim the islands after Argentine troops invaded.After Argentina beat a dogged Swiss side 3-1 in Kansas City on Saturday thanks to extra-time goals from Julian Alvarez and Lautaro Martinez, their coach Lionel Scaloni attempted to take the political heat out of the meeting with England.”The message is this is a football game. That’s what I can say,” Scaloni said.”It is a football game and we will be playing against a very tough opponent. They have an excellent coach and this is a football game and that’s all.”‘VERY LUCKY’That coach, Thomas Tuchel, was angry with his England team after they needed extra-time on Saturday to end Norway’s historic run in sweltering Miami.Two goals from Jude Bellingham gave England a nervy 2-1 victory to send them into the semi-finals for only the fourth time in history.Tuchel said his team would need to make a noticeable improvement if they were to have any chance of reaching the final.In energy-sapping Florida heat and humidity, England’s shaky defence allowed Andreas Schjelderup to unleash a rasping shot from the left to put Norway ahead on 36 minutes.But England got a huge break in first-half stoppage time when Bellingham equalised after an attack that was initiated when a goal kick from Norway goalkeeper Orjan Nyland appeared to hit an overhead camera cable.Norway’s players protested in vain and the goal stood. The Norwegians also had a goal controversially disallowed before Bellingham then poached the winner in extra-time.”We made life very, very difficult for ourselves today,” Tuchel said afterwards.”The result is fantastic. The last four is amazing, but not happy with the performance… we were very lucky today.” ‘NO EVIDENCE’While football’s world governing body FIFA later said there was “no evidence” the ball had hit the cable before England’s first goal, Norway coach Stale Solbakken was adamant.”That was unlucky for us,” Solbakken said. “The ball fell straight down from the sky, so it changed its direction. But we can’t do anything about that.”Erling Haaland, the marauding forward who scored seven goals as Norway reached uncharted waters at the tournament, said his team’s performance had inspired a new generation.”How we put Norway on the map is maybe one thing that touches me the most,” said Haaland, who failed to score for the first time in 15 competitive games for his country.”Hopefully now we can establish something when it comes to Euros, World Cups and everything because our generation is amazing and also all this gives motivation to young people back in Norway that it’s possible to play a big stage in the world with a Norwegian shirt.” Related Story Source link
US Senator Lindsey Graham addresses media during the press-conference at open air exhibition of destroyed Russian equipment in Kyiv after his talks with a top Ukrainian…