Chace Crawford and Kelsey Merritt have called it quits on their romance. 

The Gossip Girl heartthrob, 41, and the Victoria’s Secret model, 29, have parted ways after more than a year of dating, according to TMZ.

Their split was amicable and they remain friends, sources told the outlet. 

The duo, who were last seen in April, were first romantically linked in November 2024 but did not make things Instagram official until July 2025. 

The Daily Mail has reached out to Crawford and Merritt’s representatives for comment. 

Last year, Crawford couldn’t keep his lips off the model as they were seen packing on the PDA while on vacation in Sardinia, Italy, aboard a luxury yacht.

The two fueled dating rumors in 2024 after following each other on Instagram and posting similar pictures to their respective Instagram accounts from St Barts.

Merritt had previously been linked to James Marsden, Jared Leto and Olympic swimmer Conor Dwyer.

In June 2024, Crawford revealed he was single during an episode of Alex Cooper’s podcast Call Her Daddy.

Although he tends to keep his relationships out of the spotlight, he admitted to the host that his love life was currently a ‘dumpster fire.’

His last public relationship had been with actress Rebecca Rittenhouse from whom he split in 2018 after three years of dating. In September 2023, his ex got engaged to Kyle Robiskie.

The performer also noted that he joined the highly exclusive celebrity dating app Raya over the summer.

Before entering his relationship with Merritt, he acknowledged that, despite his status as a Hollywood heartthrob, online dating had been going ‘terribly.’

When asked if he had ever hooked up with one of his Gossip Girl co-stars, the actor, best known for playing Nate Archibald on The CW’s hit teen drama, confessed he had.

Their split was amicable and they remain friends, sources told the outlet. The now exes are seen together in 2025 at the US Open in New York 

The duo, who were first romantically linked in November 2024, were last publicly seen at the Falconeri Dinner at Getty House on April 23, 2026 (pictured)

‘I would say those things are inevitable,’ Crawford coyly confirmed. 

‘When you’re in your 20s… the thing is you’re on these things—people probably think it’s these sexy scenes or whatever, that’s like the worst part of it, with 60 people watching.’

‘It’s the downtime. You’re doing this show, you’re on set for like 12-14 hours a day and usually there’s some pretty interesting people from all walks of life.’

He seemed to imply that his real-life hookup was not with one of the show’s main, original cast members, like Blake Lively, Leighton Meester or Taylor Momsen.

‘There’s a lot of actors and people coming onto the show, over the years,’ he added. 

‘And I was fortunate enough to have in the city a really good friend group. And everyone else has their little friend group.’

‘So you meet people in that wider circle, it’s not just that tiny little circle. There’s a lot of people involved. But again, it was like our college experience.’

The actor acknowledged he was ‘absolutely’ aware of the other workplace romances and relationships between his co-stars at the time.

Merritt, who became the first Filipino woman to walk in the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show in 2018, has previously been linked to Jared Leto and Olympian swimmer Conor Dwyer

Crawford’s last public relationship prior to Merritt was with actress Rebecca Rittenhouse from whom he split from in 2018 after three years of dating. They are seen in 2015

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Crawford (seated in the car) is best known for playing wealthy Manhattan heartthrob Nate Archibald in the hit teen drama series Gossip Girl

Some of the off-screen romances included Lively and Penn Badgley, Ed Westwick and Jessica Szohr as well as Leighton and Sebastian Stan – all of whom went on to marry other people.

Crawford noted, for him, if he connects ‘right away’ with someone’s ‘sense of humor’ on set that it can be dangerous.

‘Like if you have a rapport and can kind of banter, and give each other s**t. I’m like, “Oh, I gotta watch out,”‘ he confessed.

Over the years, Crawford has been romantically linked to Carrie Underwood, Rachelle Goulding and Audrina Patridge. 

Some ‘picky bits’ sides and dips will boost your healthy food intake

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Tucking into “picky bits” on a summer picnic can count towards people’s five-a-day, health experts have said. Favourites such as houmous, falafel and tzatziki can all help people hit the daily health target, according to the British Heart Foundation (BHF).

Recommendations from the World Health Organisation (WHO) are for people to eat at least 400g of fruit and vegetables every day to lower the risk of heart disease, stroke and some cancers. Picky bits containing foods such as chickpeas, beans and tomatoes can often be overlooked but do count, the BHF said.

For example, around four sundried tomatoes make up one portion of the five‑a‑day target and can be easily added to salads, pastas and couscous. Meanwhile, around three heaped tablespoons of houmous count as one of the five-a-day because it is made from chickpeas.

People are urged to remember that beans and chickpeas can only count once towards the target because they do not provide the same range of vitamins and minerals as fruit and vegetables. But pairing houmous with 80g per person of sliced vegetables such as carrots, cucumber or radish, adds up to another portion.

Elsewhere, tzatziki is made with cucumber and also counts towards one portion, and is boosted more if served alongside cucumber sticks, pepper strips or carrot batons for dipping. A snack pot with around three heaped tablespoons of beans, such as edamame, cannellini or butter beans, can also count towards the five-a-day, though beans do only count once.

Falafel is usually made from chickpeas and can also count towards the one portion of beans and pulses, while baking rather than frying falafel makes it even healthier. The BHF said homemade salsa including things like tomatoes, peppers, onions, avocado and sweetcorn also counts towards the five-a-day target.

People are urged to check the labels of shop-bought salsa, however, which can be lower in vegetables while being high in salt or sugar. Elsewhere, around 30 olives make up a portion of fruit and vegetables but can be salty, the BHF says.

People are advised to eat fewer than 30 in a sitting but pair them with other fresh vegetables to make up one portion. Dell Stanford, senior dietitian at the BHF, said: “Aiming to eat five portions of fruit and vegetables a day can help to support heart health, but we know many people find it difficult to achieve.

“Summer picnics are a good reminder that your five-a-day can include more than the obvious choices, with beans, pulses and vegetable dips all helping you get closer to the daily target. In fact, a spread of picky bits can be a simple way to add extra fruit and vegetables to your day, especially when it includes options like houmous, falafel, salsa, cucumber sticks or other veg-based dips.

“Filling a picnic basket with these options is a fun, sociable way to help look after your heart.”

Mary Kate Golding, a set decorator who worked on The Marvelous Mrs Maisel, has been found dead after being stabbed in her own home.

The New York Police Department said officers responded to a 911 call about an assault at a home in Astoria, Queens, at 12.24am on Tuesday and found Golding, 34, with a stab wound to her back. They called emergency medical personnel who pronounced her dead at the scene.

Six hours later, officers responded to a report of an unconscious person near Astoria Park South and Shore Boulevard. They found a man, 30 to 35 years old, who was “unconscious and unresponsive”.

The man was identified as Golding’s husband Joseph Azzaretto, aged 33. Police said there was no sign of criminal involvement in his death.

The couple’s 11-month-old son was found unharmed inside the family home.

Golding worked as a set decorator across film and TV productions including The Marvelous Mrs Maisel, Goosebumps, The Flight Attendant, Hawkeye, Mr & Mrs Smith, Marry Me, The Big Sick, Gone Girls: The Long Island Serial Killer, and Meet Cute.

She had been due to work as an assistant set decorator on Sean Durkin’s forthcoming film Deep Cuts, according to Variety.

Golding attended Council Rock North High School in Pennsylvania and graduated from New York University in 2015.

In 2021, Azzaretto’s younger brother, Nicholas Azzaretto, pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter after fatally shooting his father during a domestic incident in Monroe County, Pennsylvania, according to Deadline. He was sentenced to 10 years’ probation.

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The Urban Resource Institute, a New York organisation supporting survivors of domestic violence, shared a statement saying: “Our hearts are with the loved ones of Mary Kate Golding and all those affected by this heart-breaking tragedy.”

“Domestic violence is never just between two people,” it added. “It leaves children without parents, families grieving unimaginable loss, and communities forever changed. This devastating case is a reminder that preventing domestic violence requires more than responding after tragedy strikes. Survivors and their families need access to safe housing, counselling, legal advocacy, and community support before violence escalates.”

Vietnam is planning to introduce stringent new rules for social media use by children under 16, which would ban them from posting, commenting, or reacting to online content.

A draft decree, seen by Reuters, proposes requiring accounts for under-16s to be registered by a parent or legal guardian. These guardians would then be responsible for supervising the content viewed and the time spent on platforms.

The decree also mandates that social media companies would have to employ technical measures to identify child users and ensure age-appropriate content distribution.

“The primary objective is not to ban or excessively restrict children’s access to social media, but rather to ensure that when children use social media services, they are placed in an age-appropriate environment and protected from inappropriate risks,” deputy culture minister Phan Tam said on Thursday at a meeting to discuss the new rules.

The draft decree also requires platforms to provide the highest level of privacy protection for child accounts, and to proactively detect, warn and block access to content related to violence, pornography, gambling, drugs, suicide and other harmful material.

The proposal reflects growing concern among governments worldwide about online safety and the impact of social media and harmful content on the mental health of children.

On Tuesday, French lawmakers approved a ban on social media access for children under 15. Australia was the first country to impose a ban and several other countries are also following suit.

Beyond social media, Vietnam is also proposing new restrictions on online gaming by minors, according to the draft decree.

Game operators would be required to verify users’ ages, register under-16 accounts through a parent or guardian and limit children under 16 to no more than 60 minutes of play a day for games provided by the same company, it said.

The draft decree has not yet been finalised and could be revised before adoption.

By SOPHIA STANFORD, NEWS REPORTER and NATALIE PENZA

Published: 01:21 BST, 24 July 2026 | Updated: 04:40 BST, 24 July 2026

Syed Ahmed denies murder

A husband accused of murdering his wife has told a jury that moments before the alleged attack, he heard a voice telling him she was going to ‘smash his head in’.

Syed Ahmad, 45, is charged with the murder of his wife Anam Rafay on January 27 this year. He denies the charge and is on trial at Manchester Crown Court.

Prosecutors allege that Mr Ahmad had been ‘controlling and abusive’ towards Mrs Rafay before she died. The couple were married by way of arranged marriage in 2005 when she was 16 years old.

Click here to hear the latest from Manchester’s courts in our newsletter

In June last year, Mrs Rafay began speaking to a man she had met on TikTok, jurors previously heard.

It was said that Mrs Rafay went on to ‘fall in love with him and wanted to marry him’. In September last year she contacted a mufti, also known as a divorce mediator, in Longsight to ask about obtaining a divorce application, jurors heard.

The following October she served that application upon Mr Ahmad who replied asking for mediation. She agreed to give him ‘one more chance to change’, but he never did, prosecutors allege.

On the morning of January 27 this year, Mrs Rafay was filling up a water bottle in the kitchen when Mr Ahmad came in and picked up a kitchen knife with 15-and-a-half inch blade, jurors heard. He then repeatedly stabbed her with it, it was said.

Mrs Rafay managed to flee outside, but was allegedly followed by Mr Ahmad who continued stabbing her.

As the defendant walked back to the house, he was allegedly seen to ‘smile or smirk’ at what he had done. Jurors were told that Mr Ahmad then sent a message to the family WhatsApp group which read: “I have killed my wife.”

On Thursday, July 23, Mr Ahmad gave evidence in his defence. He told jurors that he suspected his wife was ‘speaking to someone else’ but ‘not boyfriend girlfriend’.

He said: “Mr wife was angry because my mother had posted something on social media about her being with a man to all the family. I went to my house and my wife was angry, thought I would sort this out it’s fake news.

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“I went to see my mum and brother, and he showed me videos on TikTok [of his wife and the man].”

His barrister, Mark Ford KC, asked him: “Do you accept you killed your wife?”

“I was in a psychotic episode,” Mr Ahmad said. He added that his mental health was ‘too much’ at the time, and he claimed he had gone to his GP to ask for assistance a week prior.

He said he had about an hour of sleep the night before and had argued with his wife.

“She woke up at 7am, she said going to report me to my mental health team,” Mr Ahmad recalled, wiping his eyes with a tissue.

“I woke up at 8am, it was bin day and put the bins out at around 8.05am. I then went to the lounge and then I went into kitchen and made tea, dates and cake pieces. She was doing her lunch.

“I heard visuals and sounds. I thought back to time in 2018 in Pakistan when I heard my father-in-law tell wife, he said ‘smash his head’, they were fed up with my mental health problems.

“We came back to this country and I told her. If I said anything there, they wouldn’t let her back. I told her: “your father said ‘smash his head in’” and she said he was joking. Its just a joke.”

Mr Ford KC asked: “What came into head and how it made you feel?”

“I saw them in the other room. I heard their voices. Those moments came in my mind, flashbacks. I heard my father in law say ‘smash his head open’, then I heard male voice after a few seconds saying ‘she will attack my head, she would crack my head open’. Then I went paranoid and I can’t remember anything after those words.”

“Do you have any memory of stabbing your wife?” Mr Ford questioned. “No. just flashbacks. Someone stabbed my wife, I think it was me,” Mr Ahmad said.

Asked if he recalled his comment to the police of ‘self defence’, Mr Ahmad said: “I think it was in self defence, she was going to smash my head in. it was a pre-emptive strike.”

“You are not suggesting you are acting in self defence, are you? Are you saying you attacked in self defence?” his barrister asked.

“She didn’t attack, she would have attacked. She was in the kitchen. I thought she was going to attack me with a rolling pin,” the defendant said.

“Did she attack you?” Mr Ford asked. “No,” Mr Ahmad said.

“What do you think about what you did on January 27th?” Mr Ford asked him.

“I can’t believe I did that. I love my wife too much. I have bipolar. I have two personalities, I think my other personality did that. My wife said I have bipolar. My other personality, he did that,” Mr Ahmad said.

Mr Ahmed, of Lulworth Gardens, Wythenshawe, denies murder and an alternate offence of manslaughter.

Proceeding

Kim Kardashian poked fun at her bar exam failure as she appeared in a humorous ad for her Update energy drink. 

The 45-year-old TV personality, who recently paid tribute to her late grandmother Mary Jo Campbell, made light of her previous failure to pass the test in a promo video shared to her Instagram page on Thursday. 

The reality star took the bar exam in July 2025 and publicly announced months later that she did not pass. 

At one point in the clip, Kardashian could be seen sitting inside a clear box at what appeared to be a museum. 

Some people casually walked past her until a woman approached the box to question: ‘Did she even pass the bar?’ 

Opera music that had been playing in the background came to a sudden stop as the mom-of-four turned to look at the woman and confidently replied: ‘No. I didn’t pass the bar. I raised it.’ 

The TV personality made light of her previous failure to pass the test in a promo video shared to her Instagram page on Thursday

Kardashian resumed writing in a notebook with a large stack of papers and folders next to her. A can of the Update energy drink was placed on top. 

The beginning of the ad kicked off as the media personality approached a podium to take part in a press conference. 

She wore a black leather ensemble with a plunging neckline on the front as well as a pair of stylish black shades. 

‘People are always asking about all of the work I’ve gotten done,’ the star said before pausing to dramatically remove her sunglasses. 

She then stared directly into the camera to add: ‘Not that kind of work.’ 

As cameras flashed inside a packed auditorium, Kardashian continued: ‘They always ask, “Kim, how do you do so much? Kim, how do you keep going? Kim, are they really real?”‘ 

The camera then quickly zoomed in towards her chest before she began sipping on an Update drink.

Reporters asked the star questions including, ‘Kim, why you?’ to which she answered, ‘I wasn’t aware there was an alternative.’ 

Some people casually walked past her until a woman approached the box to question: ‘Did she even pass the bar?’

Opera music that had been playing in the background came to a sudden stop as the mom-of-four turned to look at the woman and confidently replied: ‘No. I didn’t pass the bar. I raised it’

The beginning of the ad kicked off as the media personality approached a podium to take part in a press conference

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‘People are always asking about all of the work I’ve gotten done,’ the star said before pausing to dramatically remove her sunglasses.’Not that kind of work’

Reporters asked the star questions including, ‘Kim, why you?’ to which she answered, ‘I wasn’t aware there was an alternative’

Another questioned, ‘Kim, why now?’ and the star said: ‘Caffeine just wasn’t working and working is my thing.’ 

The video also cut to the All’s Fair actress sporting a voluminous, platinum blonde wig while inside a lab. 

‘Update, formulated by a team of leading experts – none of whom are me,’ she expressed. 

In the caption of the post, the reality star penned to her followers: ‘THE FUTURE OF ENERGY.’ 

The Daily Mail has reached out to reps of Kardashian for comment.

Kardashian became a co-founder of Update energy alongside its original founders Daniel Solomons and the Hess family. 

The drink was officially relaunched earlier this year in February and is now available to purchase in Walmart stores or on Amazon. 

Update is described to be ‘built around a functional stack of ingredients with paraxanthine at its core,’ per the official website. 

‘Update, formulated by a team of leading experts – none of whom are me,’ she expressed

Update is described to be ‘built around a functional stack of ingredients with paraxanthine at its core,’ per the official website

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The energy drinks from the brand also contain no sugar, no artificial flavors, zero calories and research-backed ingredients

Paraxanthine is a compound that is naturally produced by the human body while breaking down caffeine. 

The energy drinks from the brand also contain no sugar, no artificial flavors, zero calories as well as research-backed ingredients. 

Customers can choose from flavors such as berry, grape, peach, pineapple and mandarin. 

When it comes to Update, Kardashian recently told People that: ‘It’s about feeling good.’ 

‘Focused, balanced, and productive without the jitters or that crash later,’ she continued. 

‘That’s exactly how I think about wellness, so becoming a co-founder and helping build something that’s actually redefining what energy looks like has been amazing.’

The star further expressed that she is ‘really intentional’ when it comes to what she eats and drinks during the day. 

‘The little consistent things make the biggest difference – how I start my morning, what I eat, what I reach for during the day.’ 

Last year in November, the mom-of-four revealed that she did not pass the bar exam, which she had taken back in July 2025.

She jumped to her Instagram stories to share that she did not pass but also expressed that she has no intentions of giving up.

Last year in November, the mom-of-four revealed that she did not pass the bar exam – which she had taken back in July 2025

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‘Six years into this law journey, and I’m still all in until I pass the bar. No shortcuts, no giving up – just more studying and even more determination,’ the star penned. Above, seen in May 

‘Well…I’m not a lawyer yet, I just play a very well-dressed one on TV,’ she began, referring to her Hulu series All’s Fair.

‘Six years into this law journey, and I’m still all in until I pass the bar. No shortcuts, no giving up – just more studying and even more determination.’

She then sent gratitude to those who have ‘supported and encouraged me along the way so far.’

Kardashian concluded her statement with a positive message and stated that she nearly passed the bar exam.

‘Falling short isn’t failure – it’s fuel. I was so close to passing the exam and that only motivates me even more. Let’s Go!!!!!!!!!!’

The media personality also reached a major milestone last year as she graduated from her law school program in May 2025.

And earlier this year, it was also revealed whether she intends to take the bar exam again.

After failing to pass the test last year, sources claimed to TMZ that Kardashian did not plan to take the exam this year.

And earlier this year, it was also revealed whether she intends to take the bar exam again

The mom-of-four has also been enjoying the summer season with her children and F1 racer boyfriend Lewis Hamilton

However, insiders told the outlet that the star still has intentions to take the bar exam sometime in the future.

In the meantime, Kardashian has been focusing on other business ventures such as her SKIMS brand and working in the entertainment industry. 

Back in May, she was revealed to be one of the executive producers on an upcoming YA Netflix series titled Calabasas. 

The mom-of-four has also been enjoying the summer season with her children and F1 racer boyfriend Lewis Hamilton.  

Matthew McConaughey teasingly gave credence to the rumors that his bromance with Woody Harrelson may be genetic.

The Oscar-winning actor, 56, shared a very telling Instagram post in celebration of the Cheers star’s 65th birthday on Thursday.

‘from another mother? Happy birthday brother [sic],’ McConaughey captioned an older photo of the close friends and co-stars embracing.

It’s no coincidence that they’re starring in a new comedy for Apple TV+ called Brothers, in which they play fictionalized versions of themselves whose longtime bond is thrown into confusion after they uncover a long-buried secret: that they might actually be biological siblings.

The eight-episode, half-hour series premieres on September 23.

While McConaughey, who sparked concern with his ‘new face’ on the red carpet recently, and Harrelson haven’t taken a DNA test to confirm a biological link, they seem to suspect they might be brothers, according to Variety.

They’re starring in a new comedy for Apple TV+ called Brothers, in which they play fictionalized versions of themselves whose longtime bond is thrown into confusion after they uncover a long-buried secret: that they might actually be brothers

The rumors started when McConaughey’s mother mentioned to Harrelson that she ‘knew’ his father, hinting at a past romance in West Texas.

McConaughey was born in Uvalde, Texas, while Harrelson was born in Midland, Texas, divided by roughly 279 miles.

The best friends later pieced together that Harrelson’s father, who was involved in dozens of murders in the 1960s and 1970s, had been on furlough around the time McConaughey’s parents were getting their second divorce.

Harrelson’s father was convicted contract killer Charles Voyde Harrelson, who received a life sentence for the 1979 murder of a judge.

During childhood, Harrelson had little contact with his father, who abandoned the family when he was seven.

As an adult, he tried to rebuild a relationship with Charles, visiting him in prison until he died in 2007.

Harrelson would like to know one way or the other, but the Dallas Buyers Club star has been hesitant to dig further as it would upend his understanding of his family history and the father who raised him.

Nevertheless, it inspired the duo to create their new show, which they also executive produce and star in. 

The show’s premise reads like this, per The Hollywood Reporter: ‘After Woody’s daughter’s wedding falls apart, he loads up the family and heads to Austin for an extended stay at Matthew’s ranch.

The rumors started when McConaughey’s mother mentioned to Harrelson that she ‘knew’ his father, hinting at a past romance in West Texas

The two actors, who met in 1997 during a wardrobe test for the movie EDtv in San Francisco, have bonded over their Texan roots, projects and family vacations. Seen in Croatia in July 2022

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McConaughey and Harrelson (seen in their high school yearbook photos) were both born in Texas and have homes in Austin

‘My kids call him Uncle Woody. His kids call me Uncle Matthew,’ McConaughey said in 2023

‘But what begins as a healing getaway quickly spirals when Matthew’s mother, Ma Mac (Holland Taylor), accidentally lets slip a long-buried secret that the two friends might actually be brothers.

‘As Woody turns the ranch upside down in pursuit of the truth, Matthew finds himself juggling an entirely different identity crisis: a potential run for governor of Texas. The result is a heartfelt, chaotic, and wildly funny story about friendship, family, fame, and the messy line between myth and reality.’

The series also stars Natalie Martinez, Brittany Ishibashi, Nolan Almeida, Ella Grace Helton, Noah Carganilla, Highdee Kuan and Oona Yaffe.

Harrelson wed Laura Louie in 2008, after meeting her almost a decade prior when she worked as his personal assistant on the sitcom Cheers. They share three daughters: Deni, 32, Zoe, 29, and Makani, 20.

McConaughey has been married to Camila Alves since 2012 and they have three children: Levi, 18, Vida, 16, and Livingston, 13.

‘My kids call him Uncle Woody. His kids call me Uncle Matthew etc. etc.,’ McConaughey said on Kelly Ripa’s Let’s Talk Off Camera podcast in 2023. ‘And you see pictures of us and my family thinks a lot of pictures of him are me. His family thinks a lot of pictures of me are him.’

JERUSALEM (AP) — Bahrain activated its sirens early Friday, warning residents to shelter from detected fire hours after the U.S. military said it had wrapped up its 13th night of strikes against Iran.

The Gulf states have come under frequent fire over the past week as the U.S. and Iran exchange escalating strikes in fighting that began with a struggle over control of the strategic Strait of Hormuz.

The previous day, Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels said they targeted two Saudi oil tankers in the Red Sea, potentially widening the Iran war as international oil topped $100 a barrel.

Blasts were also reported Thursday on Iran’s Qeshm Island, home to stores of naval assets including drone boats that Iran can use to attack vessels on the Strait of Hormuz, as well as to the northwest near Andimeshk, Omidiyeh and Firuzabad. Four people were killed and five wounded in a U.S. missile attack on the outskirts of Ahvaz on the Karun River, Iranian state media said.

U.S. Central Command said the latest barrage was designed to “further degrade Iran’s ability to threaten civilian mariners and commercial vessels transiting regional waters” as the Americans push to regain control over the Strait of Hormuz, through which a fifth of the world’s oil and gas transited in peacetime. It said the strikes ended shortly before 5 a.m. local time Friday.

Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi of Iraq, which has close ties to both the U.S. and Iran, was in Tehran on Thursday to call for peace and dialogue. He promised not to allow Iraqi territory to be used for attacks on Iran, his office said. Al-Zaidi met with Trump earlier this month in Washington.

Houthis threaten to shut second key shipping route

Meanwhile, the Houthis threatened to shut down another key trade route with the world economy already reeling from Iran’s closure of the Strait of Hormuz.

The Bab el-Mandeb Strait at the southern tip of the Arabian Peninsula, is a vital shipping chokepoint connecting the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden. Around 12% of the world’s trade, including a fourth of global container traffic, passes through there, moving between Europe and Asia via Egypt’s Suez Canal.

The Houthi attacks put at risk oil shipments from Saudi Arabia’s Yanbu port on the Red Sea and present a “double whammy” on top of the disruption in the Strait of Hormuz, said maritime data and analysis firm Lloyd’s List Intelligence. Saudi Arabia has diverted millions of barrels a day of oil exports to Yanbu via an overland pipeline as the war has bottled up the Persian Gulf.

President Donald Trump threatened “major military punishment” against the Houthis if their attacks on ships continue.

As the rhetoric escalated, so did economic fallout. The price of Brent crude oil, the international standard, spiked more than 6% to about $100 a barrel. That’s the highest level since May, before the two sides reached a preliminary peace agreement last month that has since collapsed.

Both sides dig in over Strait of Hormuz

Iran says it has the right to manage traffic and potentially charge fees in the Strait of Hormuz, which was open to all toll-free before the war. It has attacked ships using a route through the strait that is overseen by U.S. forces and intended to be outside Tehran’s control.

Trump said on social media Thursday that sanctioned Iranian funds in the possession of the U.S. will cover the expense of fixing boats damaged in the war.

“Please let this statement serve to represent, until further notice, that from this point forth, any and all damages done to Ships, Cargo, or anything related thereto, will be paid for by Iranian Money that the United States has in its possession, and controls,” Trump said.

It was unclear what legal mechanisms Trump would use to access and spend the funds, but he said that doing so would be “the fair and equitable thing to do.”

Suri Cruise is following in the acting footsteps of her famous parents Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes by taking on a role in an iconic William Shakespeare play.

The 20-year-old, who is majoring in musical theater at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, will appear in Midsummer!, a contemporary adaptation of A Midsummer Night’s Dream, per Page Six.

Suri, whose mom has a new romance with younger man Jason Bard Yarmosky, will perform in the 90-minute production alongside other classmates at the Trust Arts Education Center’s Peirce Studio in Pittsburgh, which accommodates a maximum capacity of 175 people.

The show will play two nights, July 31 and August 1. Following these exclusive previews, the production will head overseas for a UK run at the 2026 Edinburgh Festival Fringe from August 7 through August 31.

Though it was previously reported she was leaning towards a degree in fashion, it appears that Suri has fully embraced her thespian roots.

In her senior year at high school, she portrayed Philoclea in Head Over Heels and starred as Morticia Addams in The Addams Family: A New Musical.

The 20-year-old, who is majoring in musical theater at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylania, has the unwavering support of Holmes; the two are pictured in New York City in August 2025 

This past March, she took on the character Angel in Cosmic Microwave Background, a staged play presented at the New Hazlett Theater in Pittsburgh as part of its CSA: Off the Page reading series.

During her graduation ceremony from LaGuardia High School, Suri dropped her father’s surname and used Suri Noelle as a tribute to her mother, whose middle name is Noelle. So, it’s a good guess what name she will be billed as in this latest venture.

Suri and the Mission: Impossible star, 64, who is still a dedicated and active member of the Church of Scientology, remain estranged. They have not had any semblance of a father-daughter relationship for over a decade.

Holmes and Cruise divorced in August 2012 after little more than six years of marriage.

Since then, Suri has lived with her mother, who previously told InStyle her main goal has been to nurture her daughter into her own person and making sure she is ‘100 percent herself and strong, confident, and able.’

Suri has the unwavering support of Holmes, who recruited her to sing over the opening credits of her 2022 film Alone Together and said at the time that she hoped she would continue down a showbiz path.

‘I hope she always does something on my films. I always ask her… you have these projects and you become a family with people. And it’s this safe, beautiful, creative space,’ the Dawson’s Creek alum told Glamour.

An insider previously told the Daily Mail about Suri’s early days at college: ‘She is a smart girl, and she is turning into a very intelligent mature young woman. She has a very close group of loyal friends, and she knows exactly where she comes from.’

Suri appears to be headed down a showbiz path already tread by Holmes (seen on June 8) and Cruise (seen in May 2025)

Holmes and Cruise – seen here in June 2005 – were divorced in August 2012 after little more than six years of marriage

Suri – pictured with Holmes in December 2017 – lives with her mother and remains estranged from Cruise

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The Mission: Impossible star is said to be paying Suri’s annual university tuition of $65,000

Another source said Suri’s mother was ‘overwhelmed’ at the prospect of Suri being away from home: ‘Katie takes great pride in her but is also extremely over-protective.’

Cruise, meanwhile, is said to be paying Suri’s annual university tuition of $65,000.

‘Tom is indeed paying for Suri’s tuition – he has always paid for her schooling and would never stop as he is a stand-up guy,’ an insider previously revealed to The Daily Mail.

‘He has never hesitated paying his daughter’s child support and expenses. He does not go back on his word. He is fulfilling his obligation.’