First Thing: Trump tells critics to ‘sit back and relax’ as Iran claims to target US base | US news

Good morning, Martin Belam is here. I’ll be popping into your inbox to write about First Thing regularly over the next little while. Here are today’s main stories…

Trump promises ‘all will be well in the end’ of war with Iran

Donald Trump told critics of the Israeli-backed war on Iran to “sit back and relax.” Posting on Truth Social, the US president claimed that reaching an agreement to end the war with Iran was made more difficult by “political hackers” who “keep tweeting” negatively, but that “everything will work out in the end.” It always does!

Meanwhile, the United States said it had struck Iran’s military facilities over the weekend, and Iran’s Revolutionary Guard said on Monday it had targeted an air base used by the United States to launch attacks in southern Iran. Air defense systems in Kuwait, where a major US base is located, prevented missile and drone attacks with sirens blaring across the country on Monday, state news agency Kuna reported.

• So is this the end of the ceasefire? The United States and Iran have traded sporadic attacks since the ceasefire took effect in early April as talks aimed at reaching a more permanent deal have dragged on. A similar change occurred last Thursday. The war launched by the USA and Israel on February 28 killed thousands of people, especially in Iran and Lebanon, and caused global economic pain by increasing energy prices.

Attorney General withdraws from criminal case against James Comey

The lead prosecutor in a lawsuit filed by former FBI director James Comey over a controversial social media post has withdrawn from the case, according to a court filing.

The justice department notified the court Friday evening that Matthew Petracca, the U.S. attorney for the eastern district of North Carolina, was replaced by assistant U.S. attorney Timothy Severo. The documents did not contain any explanation about the change.

• What was Comey accused of? Comey, who was indicted in North Carolina in April, faced up to 10 years in prison for the photo of seashells arranged in the shape of “86 47.” Prosecutors claim that this post constitutes a threat to Donald Trump, the 47th president of the USA. Comey denies the allegation.

Colombia’s far-right presidential candidate Espriella wins first round of voting ahead of second round

Far-right lawyer Abelardo de la Espriella won the first round of the presidential elections held in Colombia on Sunday. In the second round, he will face Senator Iván Cepeda, the candidate supported by leftist president Gustavo Petro.

With 99.97% of the votes counted, foreigner and Trump fan Espriella won 43.7% of the vote (just over 10.3 million votes), while Cepeda, a philosopher and human rights advocate who has served as a senator since 2014, got 40.9% (about 9.6 million votes).

While polls in recent weeks have spotted Espriella’s rapid rise, most polls have shown her trailing Cepeda, who appeared to be ahead by a wide margin for months. The two will face each other in the second round on June 21.

• What did Espriella say after the victory? In the video he shot with his wife and children, all wearing Colombian national football team jerseys, he said: “Citizens, defenders of the homeland, more than 10 million Colombians trusted Colombia. El Tigre and we joined the group… In 21 days we will change the history of Colombia forever.”

In other news…

• European leaders condemn Israel’s expanding attack on LebanonAfter the army captured the medieval Beaufort Castle and Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to move deeper into the country.

• The French navy boarded an oil tanker that was subject to international sanctions and set out from Russia.French President Emmanuel Macron said the following.

• Facebook whistleblower Sarah Wynn-Williams was forced to sit silently on stage at an event at the UK’s Hay festivalAfter lawyers advised him not to speak due to a lawsuit filed by Mark Zuckerberg’s Meta.

• A United Airlines flight from Newark Liberty to SpainAirport turned in halfflight following a possible security threat. Security came to investigate the plane after someone called the Bluetooth device a “four-letter word,” according to air traffic control audio.

Status of the day: California reports Big drop in homelessness

California recorded one of the largest declines in homelessness in the United States last year, according to a report from the Department of Housing and Urban Development. The state’s homeless population drops to 181,934 in 2025; That’s a nearly 3% decline from the previous year, placing California among the five states with the largest decreases since 2024. Significant declines were recorded in Illinois (44%), Hawaii (41%), Florida (11%) and New York (8%).

Building power: ‘We won’t stop until they’re free’: Protesters outside an ICE facility in New Jersey, in their own words

Last week, more than 300 Immigration and Customs Enforcement detainees were on hunger and labor strike at Delaney Hall in Newark, New Jersey. Lex McMenamin found the mood among dozens of organizers and community members gathered outside the facility to be tense but energetic.

Don’t miss this: a visual guide FIFA World Cup stadiums

The 2026 World Cup will be the biggest men’s football tournament in history, with more stadiums in more countries than ever before. Ahead of kick-off on June 11, Alexander Abnos, Ella Brockway and Paul Bellsham have produced a comprehensive visual guide to all 16 venues in the US, Mexico and Canada.

…or this: How did Nigeria’s bandit crisis spiral out of control?

The bandit crisis in Nigeria has its roots in conflicts between farmers and nomadic herders over land and resources, which are becoming more intense due to the climate crisis, deforestation and rapid population growth. Some herders formed vigilante groups that evolved into criminal gangs. Batsari’s Eromo Egbejule reports with stunning photographs and drone footage of Terna Iwar.

Climate control: Australia’s home battery revolution

Australia is leading a revolution in home renewables and battery use, proving what’s possible with the right policies. Batteries counter arguments long used against renewables that they are unpredictable and intermittent and therefore an additional addition to the national grid, which must have an expensive backup power source such as gas. Instead, batteries mean solar energy can be stored and used when needed.

The Last Thing: Rupert Everett’s brutality and redemption

Rupert Everett admits to lying to his partners, disrespecting his audience, betraying his friends and describing his younger self as “arrogant, insincere, murderous”. In this candid interview with British actor Simon Hattenstone, 67, he reflects on years of carelessness, the transformative experience of caring for his mother, and the long road to adulthood.

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