US and Iran trade direct strikes after Strait of Hormuz attack
Iran announced strikes against US targets amid escalating tensions following an attack on a cargo ship near the Strait of Hormuz. The US responded by striking Iranian targets, and Iranian drones attacked Bahrain while another ship was hit in the strait. The back-and-forth exchanges risk further destabilizing one of the world's most critical oil shipping routes.
A small plane slammed into Beijing's Citic Tower, the tallest skyscraper in China's capital, causing damage and killing the pilot. Chinese authorities confirmed the pilot's death. Despite the dramatic crash, normal operations resumed within hours, with the incident drawing international attention.
The coastal Venezuelan state battered by the twin earthquakes has a long history of tragedy, and older buildings with substandard construction left communities especially vulnerable. The back-to-back quakes struck as Venezuela was on the cusp of recovery, delivering a devastating setback to a nation already in crisis.