First Thing: Trump threatens to impose US tolls on Hormuz shipping as strikes on Iran continue | US news

Good morning. The United States launched its third consecutive night of attacks on Iran, hours after Donald Trump said Washington would restart its naval blockade of Iran and impose fees on ships for safe passage. The UAE said two national tankers were targeted by two Iranian cruise missiles in the southern strip of the Strait of Hormuz in Oman’s territorial waters, killing one Indian crew and injuring eight others, four of them seriously.
Iran and the United States have theoretically reached almost half of the 60-day interim agreement that envisions the start of talks to permanently end the war that started with the assassination of Iran’s supreme leader Ali Khamenei in February. In reality, this agreement turned into a series of attacks on the Strait of Hormuz; This led to the near-complete collapse of the temporary ceasefire and left world leaders concerned that the conflict could continue full-blown.
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How did Trump change his stance on tolls? On Monday, Trump said the United States would impose a 20 percent tariff on all cargo sent through the Strait of Hormuz. Until now, the United States has said the strait should remain open to everyone, free of charge, as it was before Washington and Israel attacked Iran on February 28. Any attempt by the United States or Iran to charge a toll would violate global norms on freedom of navigation and likely cause further economic disruption far beyond the region.
Lindsey Graham’s sister appointed to serve remainder of Republicans’ Senate term
South Carolina governor Henry McMaster appointed his sister, Darline Graham Nordone, to replace Lindsey Graham in the Senate after his death on Saturday, after Donald Trump recommended she be given the role. His appointment was welcomed by lawmakers from both parties, who saw Nordone as a suitable replacement for his brother, who raised him after his parents died when he was a teenager.
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What did Nordone say about his appointment? With short explanations, Nordone, 64, He said: “Lindsey has always been there for me, and now I will be there for her. I promise to work hard over the next few months to support the president and further my brother’s efforts on behalf of the citizens of South Carolina and the United States. I think that’s what Lindsey would want, and I plan to honor her in this way. I miss you more than I can put into words, but I will do it. I understand.”
Rubio launches campaign to abolish international criminal court
US secretary of state Marco Rubio launched a campaign on Monday to disband the international criminal court (ICC), claiming the global court interferes with US military and law enforcement operations at the risk of American dominance. Rubio referenced footage of US border patrol agents and elected leaders being “dragged before an international tribunal” and tried by judges from around the world.
“If we stand idly by, they will all be at the mercy of foreign judges thousands of miles away, at constant risk of prosecution and even imprisonment for the so-called ‘crime’ of defending their own country,” Rubio said in a video.
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What is the international criminal court? The international court, headquartered in The Hague, can only investigate crimes committed in states that are parties to the Rome Statute (the 2002 agreement establishing that statute). The United States did not ratify the agreement, and the court did not launch any investigation into alleged crimes committed on American soil.
In other news…
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Minnesota prosecutors have seized long-held evidence in the fatal shootings of Renée Good and Alex PrettiTo help the state gain clarity on deaths that occurred during protests against federal immigration restrictions earlier this year. Minnesota officials said earlier this year that the FBI had refused to share evidence from its investigation into the shootings.
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Mexico to file criminal complaint over murder of immigrants by ICE in the USAPresident Claudia Sheinbaum said Mexicans were “outraged” last week over the killing of Lorenzo Salgado Araujo by agents in Houston.
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A US judge invalidated Trump’s agreement to resolve the IRS case. A harsh decision stating that the $10 billion lawsuit was filed for “improper purpose.”
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Vote on reproductive freedom bill to be held in Idaho This would reverse the ban on abortion at all stages of pregnancy, one of the strictest bans in the United States.
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Polish-Ukrainian solidarity is undermined by the Russian threat on its borders Because of a bitter historical debate about a massacre in World War II.
Status of the day: US refunds $81 billion in Trump tariffs after Supreme Court rules illegal
The U.S. government has already refunded tens of billions of dollars in tariffs it collected before the Supreme Court ruled them illegal, according to budget figures released Monday.
Culture Pick: Why Polygamist should be your next TV obsession
The South African series, with its cute playboy and jaw-dropping surprises, became Netflix’s latest movie. Andrew Lawrence explains why you should get straight to the point with a binge-watch.
Don’t miss this: Sale of multimillion-dollar T rex skeleton major headache for scientists
One of the largest and most complete T rex skeletons ever discovered is to be auctioned by Sotheby’s in New York with an estimated selling price of $20 million to $30 million, and scientists are concerned about the trend. Vertebrate paleontologist Prof. from the University of Birmingham in the United Kingdom. Richard Butler said: “It is very worrying that dinosaur fossils are being marketed as rare works of art in auction houses and sold for high prices. A fossil that is not in a recognized museum collection cannot be studied and therefore cannot be researched.”
…or this: Sam Neill is remembered by his co-stars and neighbors
There was an outpouring of affection for the late Sam Neill. Lindsay Duncan, Charles Dance and director Peter Webber are among those who worked with him on the tribute. He was loved as “just a local” by the small South Island communities in New Zealand near where he lived. And if you missed it, her latest interview with Guardian readers was one for the ages.
Climate control: Trump significantly reduces the size of two national monuments held sacred by tribes
Donald Trump has approved a sharp reduction in the size of two national monuments in Utah – Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante – considered sacred by many Native Americans, in the latest move to open US public lands to corporate developers and the oil and gas industry. The monuments include ancient cliff dwellings, petroglyphs and scenic canyons, as well as coal and uranium deposits that state officials want ready for development.
The Last Thing: The lonely reality of male infertility – podcast
Sperm counts are falling worldwide and testosterone levels are said to be falling, but male infertility still carries a stigma. In this podcast, Prof Michael Carroll talks to Helen Pidd about what every person needs to know.
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