THE REGISTER
roughly 20,000 crew members remain stranded — The Guardian
More than 800 ships sit stranded west of the Strait of Hormuz as Iran threatens mines, drones, and fast-attack craft.
A missile test reshapes a strait, a disease crosses an ocean on a ship, and a government arrests mothers while opening welfare files for their children.
Today's stories
More from today's coverage, told in the same calm voice.
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Ted Turner, CNN founder, dies at 87
Ted Turner, the media entrepreneur who launched CNN in 1980 and established the template for round-the-clock television news, has died at the age of 87. CNN announced his death without specifying a cause. Turner built a broadcasting empire through Turner Broadcasting System before merging it with Time Warner in 1996. His decision to run a news channel continuously, at a time when the idea was widely dismissed, reshaped how the world receives information.
"Ted Turner pioneered the modern 24-hour news culture when he launched CNN."
5 outlets · Read more →
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US Strikes Tanker as Hormuz Shipping Standstill Deepens
The United States fired on an Iranian-flagged oil tanker as negotiations with Tehran over the Strait of Hormuz remain unresolved. More than 800 vessels and around 20,000 crew members are stranded west of the strait, unable to transit safely amid Iranian threats involving mines, drones, and fast-attack craft. The blockade has pushed fuel prices higher globally, with American motorists and Gulf-region economies among those bearing the cost.
"More than 800 ships and roughly 20,000 crew members remain stranded west of the narrow waterway, making passage through the strait too risky for commercial shipping."
4 outlets · Read more →
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Hantavirus Kills Three on Expedition Cruise Ship
Three people have died and at least eight cases have been confirmed or suspected aboard the MV Hondius, an expedition cruise vessel now departing Cape Verde. Three passengers were evacuated for medical care, while 146 people from 23 countries remain on board under precautionary health measures. The UK Health Security Agency is monitoring two British nationals who returned to the UK before the outbreak was identified.
"146 people from 23 different countries remain aboard the MV Hondius under strict precautionary measures."
4 outlets · Read more →
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Labour Faces Council Losses Amid Antisemitism Concerns
Prime Minister Keir Starmer is making a late appeal to voters drifting toward the Greens and Reform UK ahead of local elections. Labour MPs have privately warned that losing more than 1,500 council seats could threaten the party's broader standing. The elections arrive alongside a charged political debate over antisemitism in Britain, with Jewish communities watching how parties respond to a rise in attacks and public hostility.
"Any result in which the party lost more than 1,500 council seats would be existential."
4 outlets · Read more →
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US and Iran edge toward nuclear framework deal
The United States and Iran are moving toward a preliminary memorandum to resolve their nuclear dispute, according to sources familiar with the talks. Iran is reviewing a US proposal while President Trump has said direct negotiations are not yet ready to resume, despite describing recent progress as significant. Eight people were reported killed amid the ongoing tensions surrounding the diplomatic process.
"Both sides are moving toward a memo to end the war."
3 outlets · Read more →
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House Democrats Question Lutnick Over Epstein Testimony
House Oversight Committee Democrats say Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick gave evasive or false testimony regarding his connections to Jeffrey Epstein. Lawmakers reviewed video of his deposition and called for further accountability. The episode adds to ongoing congressional scrutiny of Cabinet officials appointed under the Trump administration.
"I feel very comfortable saying that Howard Lutnick is a pathological liar who is enabling the most egregious cover-up in American history."
3 outlets · Read more →
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Israel strikes Beirut suburbs, breaking ceasefire
Israeli forces struck the Dahieh suburb of Beirut and targets in southern Lebanon, the first such attack since a ceasefire was announced by US President Donald Trump on 16 April. Seven people were killed in the latest strikes. More than 120 people have died across Lebanon in the past week, bringing the total since early March to over 2,700.
"This is the first attack to hit Dahieh since the ceasefire deal was announced."
2 outlets · Read more →
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Oil drops as Iran deal talk advances
Brent crude fell roughly 11% after Donald Trump said the Strait of Hormuz would remain open to all shipping if Iran accepts a proposed nuclear agreement. The statement reversed earlier gains driven by fresh attacks on commercial vessels in the region, including an incident involving the CMA CGM San Antonio in which crew members were injured. Equity markets rose on the prospect of reduced tension in a critical oil transit corridor.
"The Strait of Hormuz will be open to all if Iran accepts the deal."
2 outlets · Read more →
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Australia to reserve 20% of gas exports for domestic use
The Albanese government will require gas exporters to set aside one-fifth of their export volumes for the domestic market from 2027. The reservation scheme targets the east coast, where household and business gas prices have roughly tripled in recent years, partly due to exposure to international supply disruptions. Energy Minister Chris Bowen and Resources Minister Madeleine King framed the policy as a structural fix rather than a temporary price cap.
"Gas companies will be forced to set aside 20% of exports for domestic use under a reservation scheme designed to shore up supplies and bring down prices for households and businesses on the east coast."
2 outlets · Read more →
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Hantavirus Cases Rise in Argentina After Cruise Ship Outbreak
Three people have died and eight cases have been confirmed following a hantavirus outbreak linked to a cruise ship that departed Argentina. The Andes strain of hantavirus, which can spread person-to-person, has raised concern because passengers dispersed internationally before the outbreak was identified. Argentine health authorities are tracking contacts, but the responsible agency coordinating the response remains unclear.
"Hantavirus is on the rise in Argentina, where a stricken cruise ship began its journey."
2 outlets · Read more →