The US has started “additional strikes” against Iran after CENTCOM cited Tehran’s “recent unjustified aggression” against civilian crews in the Strait of Hormuz

Donald Trump has ordered new US attacks on Iran, the Pentagon has confirmed just hours after he vowed at a NATO summit to “hit them hard”.

In a blistering statement, US Central Command said American forces had launched “additional strikes” to punish Iran for its “recent unjustified aggression” against civilian shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, the Express reports.

On Tuesday (July 7), the U.S. confirmed it had already smashed more than 80 Iranian targets in a “series of powerful strikes” after Tehran allegedly attacked three commercial vessels in the strategic waterway.

“At the direction of the Commander in Chief, U.S. Central Command forces have started conducting additional strikes against Iran to further degrade their ability to threaten freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz,” a statement from Central Command read.

“The United States is holding Iran accountable for recent unjustified aggression against commercial shipping and civilian crews freely navigating a vital international waterway.”

On 7 July, CENTCOM confirmed that numerous targets had been struck following “a series of powerful strikes” triggered by alleged Iranian attacks on three commercial vessels passing through the Strait of Hormuz. The Command subsequently confirmed that “over 80 targets” had been hit in total.

Three civilian vessels were struck in the strait earlier on Tuesday, according to UN International Maritime Organisation figures. Iran, however, did not claim any of the attacks.

President Trump appeared to issue an ultimatum to Tehran earlier this week, warning that “we’re either going to have a deal or we’re going to have a war”.

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Speaking at the NATO summit in Turkey on 7 July and 8 July, the president declared: “If we make a deal with Iran, I’m not sure that will stick because I found them to be very dishonourable. We hit them very hard last night, very, very hard,” adding that the US will “probably hit them hard again tonight”.

His remarks regarding the fragile ceasefire triggered a fresh surge in oil prices. Brent crude leapt approximately 6.5% to $79 a barrel on Wednesday morning following Mr Trump’s announcement that the ceasefire had collapsed.

His statements came after months of sporadic conflict and intensive diplomatic wrangling between Washington and Tehran. “We’re either going to have a deal or we’re going to have a war,” the US President warned.

Although a two-week ceasefire was brokered in April and subsequently extended indefinitely, the situation across the Middle East continues to hang by a thread.

The 48-year-old ends her career as Great Britain’s most successful Paralympian, with 24 medals, including a record 19 golds in both swimming and cycling across nine Paralympic Games.

She has opted to step away from competition two years ahead of what could have been her 10th Paralympic Games in Los Angeles.

Dame Sarah said: “I am so privileged to have spent 35 years as an international athlete.”

Dame Sarah Storey retires from competitive sport as Team GB’s most successful Paralympian

She added: “I genuinely pinch myself that my childhood dream of being an athlete for as long as I possibly could has led to nine Paralympic Games and opportunities across so many sporting events.

“This has included women’s and Para sport alike, and I feel so proud to have contributed – alongside so many incredible people – to the progress we’ve all witnessed and enjoyed in that time.”

Her Paralympic journey began at just 14 years old when she competed as a swimmer at the Barcelona 1992 Games, winning two gold medals.

She went on to win three more golds at Atlanta 1996, before adding four silvers and a bronze across the Sydney and Athens Games.

Ahead of the Beijing 2008 Games, Dame Sarah switched to cycling.

She went on to win 14 more gold medals – nine on the road and five in the velodrome.

Four of her titles came on home soil at London 2012, and she retires as the reigning Paralympic champion, following a double success in Paris two years ago.

Dame Sarah said: “Physically, I fully believe that I could be on that start line in Los Angeles, confident of defending my two titles from Paris.”

She added: “However, I believe I can now be a more positive influence leveraging new roles and opportunities that allow me to fight for Para sport, and the coverage that it deserves.”

Her announcement comes ahead of this summer’s Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, where the Para sport schedule has been integrated into the competition schedule.

She expressed concern that progress in Para sport has slowed since the London 2012 Games.

She said: “There’s also no doubt in my mind that, within Para sport, we have stalled somewhat since London 2012, and the years between each Games haven’t been utilised well enough to create the momentum that I and others hoped to see.”

Adding: “I see this as a critical stage; there are many areas of Para sport that still need attention, and that is something that has played a big part in my decision.

“I fully believe that I can have a greater impact off my bike, rather than chasing a 10th Games and possibly further titles.

“I’m excited to be part of a future where we inject the momentum that is needed to ensure the future is bright for all Para athletes.”

What’s your favourite sport to watch at the Olympics or the Paralympics? Tell us in the comments below.

Writing in The Times on the even of nominations opening, Mr Burnham said he would seek stability in his foreign policy as prime minister as he set out his commitment to Nato, the nuclear deterrent, maintaining close ties with the US and support for Ukraine as well as continuing to bolster relations with the EU.

Back then, firefighters spent hours tackling flames that had taken hold of the old club’s structure, with crews using jets and breathing apparatus to bring the blaze under control and stop it spreading to neighbouring properties.

Today, its windows and doors are boarded up, but new images from urban explorer Alex Miller show in stark detail what became of the interior once the fire service left and nature, time and vandals took over.

(Image: Alex Miller/@amurbex)

Reports at the time described a “major fire” at the derelict RAFA Club, with three crews sent to Stockton Road.

Flames and smoke were visible from outside as firefighters worked from the road and the rear of the property, while police closed parts of the street and urged people to stay away from the scene.

Witnesses recalled the eerie sight of an already‑abandoned social club lit up by orange glow, with the blaze tearing through roof timbers and upper rooms that had once hosted ex‑RAF personnel, families and friends.

(Image: Alex Miller/@amurbex)

By the time the fire was out, the building was structurally damaged, open to the weather and effectively written off.

New pictures show the state of the building eight years on.

In one image, the remains of a bar area sit beneath a sagging, fire‑blackened ceiling, bottles and fixtures long gone but the layout still just about recognisable.

(Image: Alex Miller/@amurbex)

His close‑ups focus on details: scorched notice boards, collapsed ceiling tiles, and fragments of RAF memorabilia lying half‑buried in dust, all hinting at the building’s former life as a hub for the local air force community.

Long before the fire, Hartlepool’s RAFA Club had served as a social home for veterans, serving personnel and their families, part of a wider network of clubs and branches linked to the Royal Air Forces Association.

The Stockton Road building is now disconnected from that role, with the former clubhouse standing as a physical reminder of how easily heritage spaces can slip into neglect and disaster.

The 2018 blaze came just a day after another significant fire in the town, at the Longscar Centre on The Front, compounding local concerns about derelict buildings and fire risks.

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The mother of 16 children rescued from a house of horrors, living like ‘feral animals’, once gave birth to conjoined twins who died the same day, newly released state records have disclosed

The mother of 16 children rescued from a house of horrors, living like ‘feral animals,’ once gave birth to conjoined twins, newly released state records have revealed.

Sixteen children have been taken from a squalid, crumbling property where they were “kept in worse conditions than livestock.” US authorities have characterised the alleged crimes as an ‘intrafamily’ case, suggesting some of the children may have been born from incestuous relationships within the family.

Officials say the children, aged between 18 months and 18 years old, “looked like feral animals” with four adults, Gary Siders Jr, Gary Siders Sr, Christina Siders and Elizabeth Siders, believed to be the parents and grandparents, now facing criminal charges.

Prosecutor William Archer said the carers were responsible for causing “serious physical harm”. New documentation uncovered relating to the case reveals that Elizabeth Siders gave birth to daughters Bailey Lee and Faith Lee Siders at Riverside Methodist Hospital in Columbus, Ohio, in 2022, reports the Express.

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They were born with a condition called thoracopagus, where their faces and chests were conjoined.

They tragically died later that day, according to the records. Officers were met with a harrowing scene, with all the children crammed into a dilapidated three-and-a-half square metre space covered in human waste.

The shocking conditions, which the children are said to have suffered for four years, were branded “pure evil,” by Ohio Attorney General Andy Wilson.

Wilson described the children as existing in “conditions you cannot even imagine people being in, let alone children being in.”

He noted that several children were unable to speak, with investigators disclosing that an 18 year old found at the property could not write her own name. Wilson stated: “It was terrible. They looked like almost feral animals. It was terrible.”

Two parents and two grandparents each face 17 counts of endangering children, a second-degree felony.

Vinton County Sheriff Ryan Cain expressed his horror at the discovery, stating: “Most of our livestock was kept in better conditions than the children.”

Seven of the children were transferred to hospitals in Columbus, with two needing emergency airlift.

Wilson confirmed that one child remained in a critical condition on Tuesday, while the remaining children were undergoing medical treatment.

He stressed that addressing the children’s physical wellbeing was the immediate priority, while also recognising the profound psychological trauma their lengthy ordeal would have caused. Officials refused to detail the exact family connections between the children, but confirmed this was not a case of human trafficking.

The four suspects have no ties to the area, with detectives believing they had been continuously moving to prevent creating medical and governmental records.

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“These folks were pretty good at hiding these kids,” Mr Wilson said. Prosecutor Archer stated: “Our children deserve better from their parents, guardians, and custodians. No child should endure these kinds of conditions.

“My office will do everything in our power to make sure these children get the love and care they deserve. My office will prosecute these persons to the fullest extent of the law.”

The four accused appeared at Vinton County Court of Common Pleas on Wednesday morning and are being held on $300,000 bail. Detectives believe the Siders family has been residing across multiple Ohio counties since 2008 and are investigating whether they had any prior contact with children’s services.

The shocking find occurred in the tiny township of Hamden, with a population of under 1,000, located approximately 60 miles south-east of Columbus.

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Charlie Kirk’s family has demanded that testimony from Tyler Robinson’s transgender lover be played in full in court after a judge ruled that part of it could be redacted. 

Robinson, who is accused of assassinating Kirk, is currently facing a week-long preliminary hearing, during which prosecutors are seeking to prove they have enough evidence to take the case to trial. 

The 23-year-old alleged assassin could be put to death if he is convicted of murdering Kirk at a Turning Point USA event at Utah Valley University on September 10, 2025. 

Judge Tony Graf ruled on Wednesday that video from Robinson’s lover and roommate, Lance Twiggs, could be published, except for about a 1-minute-and-20-second portion, which the prosecution said they will edit and play in court on Thursday.

A Kirk family representative shot back at the decision and said in court: ‘To not be transparent, to not be open, to not let the world see what happened will create doubt and distrust in the judicial system, and that’s not what anybody wants.’

‘That’s not what any of us believe should happen here and we’d ask the court to consider the position of the family and making this decision,’ the representative added. 

Robinson’s defense argued that portions of the video are irrelevant and that playing it could impact his right to a fair trial, and they submitted a 20-page transcript of the interview, along with proposed redactions.

The testimony in question comes from two interviews police conducted with Twiggs, one of which occurred on September 12, the day after Robinson turned himself in, and the other on April 20. 

Kirk’s parents, Robert and Kathryn, have also been at court every day this week. The family has demanded that testimony from Robinson’s transgender lover be played in full in court

Prosecutors are seeking to prove they have enough evidence to take the case against Robinson (pictured from behind) to trial

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Kirk’s widow, Erika, and his parents, Robert and Kathryn, have been at court every day this week for the evidence hearing. 

Prosecutors on Wednesday also showed a video of Charlie Kirk‘s alleged assassin turning himself in to cops. 

Robinson has remained in custody since his family convinced him to turn himself in after recognizing him in surveillance photos shared nationwide during a frenzied manhunt for Kirk’s killer.

The video of Robinson turning himself in was introduced as evidence while Utah State Bureau of Investigation Agent Brian Davis was testifying.

The video depicts Robinson, dressed in a maroon shirt, jeans and a hat, in a room in the Washington County Sheriff’s Office while his parents and friend waited.

Davis said after Robinson and his parents were interviewed, Robinson was placed under arrest.

He also added that he interviewed Robinson’s mother, and other law enforcement officers interviewed Robinson and Robinson’s father.

A family friend who came in with the Robinsons also was interviewed, Davis said

Charlie Kirk was shot to death at a Turning Point USA event at Utah Valley University on September 10, 2025. He is pictured on that day

Charlie and Erika Kirk are pictured with their two children. Robinson could be put to death if he is convicted of killing Charlie

Judge Tony Graf ruled on Wednesday that video from Robinson’s lover and roommate, Lance Twiggs, could be published but that it would be partially redacted

The clip was one of several presented during days of testimony to decide whether the case should proceed to trial.

On Tuesday, prosecutors presented bombshell evidence that they say places Robinson at the scene of the murder.

In surveillance allegedly showing Robinson moments before Kirk was killed, the suspect was seen walking with an apparent limp – keeping his right leg straight as he climbed stairs on the way to the ‘snipers perch’ on a nearby rooftop.

The video blew a hole in conspiracy theories that claim Robinson ‘never set foot on the campus.’

Former Utah State Bureau of Investigation agent David Hull described the footage as it was played to court.

He revealed that Robinson spoke with members of Kirk’s group, Turning Point USA, and got Chick-fil-A before the shooting, then changed his clothes before the murder.

On Monday, Utah Valley University police officer Chris Bagley – the first officer at the scene – testified that he was near the stage when Kirk was hit by a single bullet in the neck, sending the crowd scrambling for safety.

Bagley described the moments as ‘chaotic,’ but said he quickly realized there was a raised roof across from where Kirk was shot that could have been where the assassin fired from.

Utah State Bureau of Investigation Agent Brian Davis testified that he interviewed Robinson’s mother when he turned himself in

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Video played in court showed Tyler Robinson, dressed in a maroon shirt, jeans and a hat, in a room in the Washington County Sheriff’s Office when he turned himself in

He testified that he raced to the rooftop of the Losee Center building and found a ‘sniper pad,’ with the gravel on the roof imprinted from where the suspect had laid down to take the fatal shot.

The weapon was described as a bolt-action rifle with one spent round. It was found after in a wooded area near where Kirk was shot and, according to police, a towel wrapped around the weapon tested positive for Robinson’s DNA.

Investigators have also claimed to have found bullet casings engraved with political messages in the gun.

SCARBOROUGH, Maine (AP) — Graham Platner said Wednesday that he plans to withdraw from the U.S. Senate race in Maine after facing an allegation of sexual assault, shuttering an insurgent campaign that had withstood months of controversy only to implode and imperil Democrats’ attempt to regain power in Washington.

Platner’s exit will most likely force a reckoning within the party, which has been divided between its moderate and progressive factions, when it is struggling to unify during this year’s midterm elections. Maine is considered a key state for control of the narrowly divided Senate, and Democrats were desperate for a candidate capable of defeating Republican Sen. Susan Collins while President Donald Trump is broadly unpopular.

In an 11-minute video posted to social media, Platner said the process to replace him needs to be “open, transparent and democratic” and to reflect the will and values of people who supported him. He also lashed out at Democratic leaders in Washington, D.C.

“People in D.C. need to stay in D.C.,” Platner said. “Decisions should not be made by people in places of political power.”

At times scratching his beard and looking off camera as he spoke, Platner seemed to become emotional as he announced his plans, seated on what appeared to be a wooden deck as the noise of nearby traffic whizzed by. He also stressed that his decision was not an admission of guilt.

Although Platner had never before held elected office, progressive leaders promoted him over Gov. Janet Mills, who was favored by the Democratic establishment. Mills dropped out of the race in late April as Platner, a military veteran and oyster farmer, consolidated support from primary voters who were eager for a more combative candidate and were willing to overlook his checkered past, which included a tattoo recognized as a Nazi symbol and online postings dismissive of sexual assault.

Shortly before Platner clinched the Democratic nomination in the June 9 primary, there were reports that he had exchanged sexually explicit messages with other women while married and that he had become physical with a previous girlfriend during an argument.

But Platner’s support didn’t crater until Monday, when Politico reported that a woman said he drunkenly forced her to have sex after she told him to stop.

Jenny Racicot, who lives in Maine, told Politico she had been in an on-and-off relationship with Platner but cut off contact with him after that night in 2021 and told him the encounter wasn’t consensual. In a CNN interview, she said she had been raped “by definition.”

After the story was published, Platner in a video released on social media denied the allegation as “categorically false” but said he would be “taking the time to reflect on the best path forward” for his campaign. High-level backers pulled their support, including Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, who said the next day that he spoke with Platner and that “in light of these very serious allegations, I have recommended that he step aside.”

State law includes a provision for Democrats to replace Platner before the general election. The state Democratic Party held an emergency meeting Wednesday, where more than 100 state committee members signed off on holding a nominating convention, in the event of Platner’s withdrawal.

Platner announced he would do just that less than an hour later.

According to the statute, party officials may select a new nominee if a candidate who won the primary withdraws by 5 p.m. on July 13. The replacement candidate must be named by July 27.

Democrats must net four Senate seats to gain control of the 100-member chamber, and party leaders viewed Maine as a critical piece of the puzzle, along with Alaska, Ohio and North Carolina.

Nazi tattoo, Reddit posts and more had already been challenges for Platner

Platner has faced difficult questions almost from the moment he started his campaign last year. News outlets uncovered years-old comments on Reddit that appeared to endorse political violence, dismiss rape in the military, criticize rural Americans and use anti-gay slurs.

There was another controversy over the skull-and-crossbones tattoo, which is widely recognized as a Nazi symbol, on his chest. He said he was unaware of the history and chose the tattoo while drunk and on leave with fellow Marines in Croatia. He covered the tattoo after becoming a candidate, and he said in an Oct. 21 interview with the Pod Save America political podcast that he was “not a secret Nazi.”

“Skulls and crossbones are a pretty standard military thing,” Platner added.

However, a former girlfriend told The New York Times that Platner joked about the tattoo being a Nazi symbol and called it “my Totenkopf.”

The revelations about the tattoo and the online comments stirred concern among Democrats that Platner had been poorly vetted as a political candidate and demonstrated questionable judgment. Some party leaders despaired over Platner’s chances to win even before allegations about previous relationships began to surface.

Platner drew progressive buzz and support

Before Politico’s story was published, Platner canceled some town halls planned around the state. Such events were a calling card for his campaign, which prided itself on a willingness to go anywhere to rally voters. Volunteers hosted happy hours and trivia nights that helped generate enthusiasm for a generational shift from Collins, 73, to Platner, 41.

At a time when Democrats have grown dissatisfied with the party establishment, Platner seemed like an appealing alternative. His deep voice could command a room, and voters were drawn to his gruff populism and focus on economic inequality.

They were also willing to look past controversies as Platner portrayed himself as a regular person who had made mistakes and was striving to better himself and his community. Sometimes he talked about his struggles with post-traumatic stress disorder, and he focused on the power of redemption.

Before the sexual assault allegation became public, some voters said they also wouldn’t want to be judged on their worst moments, such as drunken behavior or crude comments.

Platner was backed by progressives including Rep. Ro Khanna of California, but that support quickly eroded after Racicot’s allegations.

“I’ve been very clear that sexual assault or violence against women is a red line,” Khanna said Monday. “These allegations are very serious and credible. Graham Platner should drop out from the race. I am withdrawing my endorsement.”

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Follow the AP’s coverage of the 2026 election at https://apnews.com/projects/elections-2026/.

IT was a double dose of summer celebration for these York twins who won a special prize ahead of their prom

Twin sisters Ellie and Maygen Mchale from Vale of York academy won a pre-prom photoshoot at their leavers’ assembly for good attendance and hard work throughout their GCSEs.

They had a photoshoot at Clifford’s Tower in York before heading into their prom at the Hilton York Hotel on Thursday, June 25.

Twin sisters Ellie and Maygen Mchale from Vale of York Academy ahead of their school prom

Ellie and Maygen are just two of the hundreds of teenagers across the York area who have been dressing up for their end-of-school-year celebrations.

Recommended reading:

We have been asking readers to share photos of school proms this season and have witnessed lots of pupils having fun – thanks to everyone who has contributed.

Proud aunt Tracy Galloway also sent us photos of her niece Ellie Durkin, pictured with friends ahead of her prom.

Ellie Durkin and her friend Shelby Buck of York High School at their school prom

Ellie Durkin, 16, a pupil at York High school, is pictured with her friend Shelby Buck and also Brooke Webster.

Send us your photos

We would love to see more school prom photos – and share them with Press readers.

Please send them – along with your prom story – by email to maxine.gordon@thepress.co.uk

You can also send your photos and all the information for the story straight to our newsdesk via an easy-to-use online form – just hit the ‘send now’ button below…

Five teenagers have been arrested

Five teenagers have been arrested following an alleged stabbing in a town near Cambridgeshire. Norfolk Police were called at 8.36pm on Tuesday, July 7 following reports of an ongoing incident involving weapons on Sage Avenue in Downham Market.

The force said 15 calls came into the police control room in total with reports a teenager had been stabbed. Officers attended and established the suspects and the victim had all left the scene.

The victim was located at an address elsewhere in the town. He was taken to hospital by ambulance where he was treated for stab wounds. The force has confirmed the victim’s stab wounds are not life-threatening or life-changing.

Further enquiries led officers to stop a car on the A10 at Southery at 9.20pm. Four teenage boys in the vehicle were arrested on suspicion of assault and a teenage girl was arrested in Sage Avenue on suspicion of affray.

They were all taken to King’s Lynn Police Investigation Centre for questioning, where they remain. A cordon was put in place on Sage Avenue to allow for forensic investigations to be carried out which has now been lifted.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Norfolk Police quoting reference 36/49701/26 via their website or by calling 101.