Even if the waterway reopened today, oil would take more than a month to reach consumers. The economic shock from the war in Iran could take far longer to ease.
President Trump and President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, who have had a rocky relationship, will meet for talks on security, trade and critical minerals.
Intelligence agents have privately warned of the potential of hybrid attacks from Iran-linked groups. But political leaders, including Chancellor Friedrich Merz, have publicly played down the risk.
It’s fair to say that the Guardian Weekly does not cover many royal visits, but King Charles III’s US state visit was the most consequential of his reign so far. The king’s ostensible purpose was to celebrate America’s 250 years of independence but last week’s trip was freighted with other agendas, most important of which was to flatter his host, Donald Trump. Washington bureau chief David Smith’s cover story shows how “like a rapier wrapped in ermine, Charles managed to tame Trump while rebuking Trumpism”. Both David and our veteran foreign affairs commentator Simon Tisdall unpick the skill with which Charles spoke truth to this capricious and egotistical president and gave both sides of the heavily divided Congress much to praise. It was a performance of high diplomacy at a time of huge tension in the transatlantic relationship and beyond.
But the charm didn’t wash in New York where, as Adam Gabbatt’s sketch shows, the shadow of Jeffrey Epstein and Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, Charles’s disgraced brother, lurked while the mayor, Zohran Mamdani, brought up the spectre of colonialism in the shape of the Koh-i-noor diamond, snatched under disputed circumstances.
Spotlight | A small town in Germany Landstuhl, the heart of the largest American military community outside the US, considers its future after Donald Trump’s decision to withdraw 5,000 troops, reports Deborah Cole
Environment | A gift of wings Patrick Barkham takes off for a flight of wonder with The Lost Words duo, who have reunited for a new book on endangered birds
Feature | A balm for tiger mother myths Rebecca Liu explores why a certain image of the tiger mum – strict, cold and demanding – is ubiquitous in popular culture
Opinion | Antiracists need to stand up for us all Another attack on the UK’s Jewish population demands a clear show of solidarity from those who march to protect minorities, argues Jonathan Freedland
Culture | Moose magic on the loose How do cameras capture Sweden’s seasonal TV hit, the Great Moose Migration? Malcolm Jack travels to an uninhabited island in the Ångerman river to ask the show’s makers
Oil prices fell sharply after President Trump announced there had been “great progress” toward a deal with Iran. The U.S. paused an operation to escort ships through the Strait of Hormuz.
Trump Promised Transparency in Venezuela, but Oil Secrets Linger
U.S. and Venezuelan officials have promised a new era of accountability after Nicolás Maduro’s downfall. But Venezuela’s oil industry remains a black hole.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said U.S. naval efforts to escort ships through the strait were a defensive effort, after an Iranian official warned of escalation.
Secret Recordings, Hidden Shares and a Family Rift at South Korea’s LG
An inheritance dispute over the former chairman’s estate has prompted a criminal complaint over how the family behind the conglomerate divides its assets.
Donald Trump’s aversion to admitting fault suggests that we will not likely see events that grapple with the nuanced nature of the nation’s history this July 4th. By Jelani Cobb
Was the Declaration of Independence Better Before the Edits?
Amid contention, criticism, and compromise, a divided nation had to present a unified front. It came at a cost. By Jill Lepore
Barack Obama Considers His Role in the Age of Trump
The former President remains one of the most popular politicians in the country. What are his obligations to it?
President Trump said the U.S. would help stranded ships leave the Strait of Hormuz. Iran threatened to attack vessels traveling through the waterway without its permission.
With President Trump’s visit to Beijing looming, China is pushing Iran to negotiate even as its companies export material that could be used by Iran’s military.
The election on Tuesday will test the influence of President Trump, who endorsed challengers to state senators who scuttled his push to redraw political maps.
The U.S. indictment of a Mexican governor has spotlighted cartel corruption, strained cross-border relations and handed President Claudia Sheinbaum a thorny choice.
Boomers Daily 