Author: France 24

President Donald Trump on Tuesday reimposed a naval blockade of all Iranian ports and threatened to hit power plants and bridges next week unless Tehran resumes negotiations, in the latest U.S. escalation of the conflict.

At least 30 people have now been confirmed dead in a blaze that engulfed a bar in northern Bangkok in the early hours of Monday morning. 27 victims have been formally identified, with authorities still working to confirm the identities of the remaining three. Meanwhile, forensic investigators are seeking to establish the cause of the blaze, with the bar agreeing to comply with an investigation into alleged negligence. Story by Camille Corcoran.

The French team were defeated by Spain (2–0) in the World Cup semi-final. France’s dream of reaching a third consecutive final – a feat achieved by only two other nations before them – has come to an end.

Crude oil prices surge as renewed US-Iran strikes fuel market fears. In France, real-estate agents say property buyers are changing priorities as heatwaves become more frequent. And Cuba suffers another nationwide blackout amid the impact of US sanctions.

New Zealand actor Sam Neill, known for his roles in “Jurassic Park” and “The Piano”, has died aged 78. Neill had announced in April that he was cancer-free after undergoing treatment for stage-three ​blood cancer. Tributes are flowing in for the star, including from New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon who said Neill was “one of the greats”. Story by Carys Garland.

A serious escalation is occurring in the fighting between the US and Iran. Overnight and into this morning, the American military targeted sites across the Islamic Republic – while Iran fired ballistic missiles at US airbases in Jordan and Bahrain. There has been an escalation in the war of words too: President Donald Trump vowed to reinstate an American blockade of Iranian ports and charge ships for safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz. Details and analysis by Scott Lucas, professor of US and international politics at the Clinton Institute of University College Dublin.

Ahead of the World Cup semi-final between France and Spain on Tuesday, July 14, French supporters (and others) are feeling confident about the outcome of the match.

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On today’s Arts24 music show, Jennifer Ben Brahim brings us a roundup of upcoming album releases to add to your summer playlists. From the return of indie sleaze icons The Strokes, who are set to release their first album in six years, “Reality Awaits”, to a British pop star hoping to recreate the success of her 2024 record Brat – the album that sparked the viral internet trend dubbed “Brat Summer”. Her seventh album, Music, Fashion, Film, features musician John Cale, designer Marc Jacobs and filmmaker Martin Scorsese on the cover. Here’s the single “Wink Wink”.

🔎 Iran’s Revolutionary Guards on Monday said they had hit US military bases in countries across the Middle East in retaliation for American attacks on targets across Iran. Both US and Iran claim control over the Strait of Hormuz. In a telephone interview with Fox News on Monday, President Donald Trump said that the US will “probably become the guardian of the strait,” adding that Washington should be “reimbursed” for the same. #Iran #US #StraitofHormuz #MiddleEast