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Richmond Hill Representative Discusses Proposed Amendments to Property Tax Policy

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Richmond Hill Representative Discusses Proposed Amendments to Property Tax Policy

RICHMOND HILL, Ga. () — On Monday, officials discussed a potential adjustment to Bryan County’s property tax system, aiming to offer homeowners more stability in their tax expenses.

During a community forum held in Richmond Hill, Representative Ron Stephens from District 164 elaborated on the initiative.

He explained that the proposed ballot initiative intends to lock in school property taxes according to the assessed home values from the year 2025.

The primary objective is to shield homeowners from escalating tax bills that result from surging property values.

Stephens remarked, “While the market value of your house may continue to rise as desired, your assessment for tax purposes will remain constant, recorded in a separate column, and safeguarded from change for as long as you reside in your home, unless significant renovations are made.”

 Stephens said voters in both Bryan and Chatham counties will have the chance to weigh in on the proposal this November. He also said the change would make school property taxes consistent with other local tax freezes already in place.

Shocking Incident: Man Allegedly Stabs Wife in Brutal Attempt to Silence Her

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Shocking Incident: Man Allegedly Stabs Wife in Brutal Attempt to Silence Her

Inset: Nathaniel S. Gotham appearing in court (KSAZ). Background: The location in Arizona where Gotham is accused of attempting to kill his wife (Google Maps).

A man from Arizona, aged 32, faces serious allegations after reportedly stabbing his wife multiple times. He allegedly confessed to law enforcement that he “snapped,” intending to “hurt her” and silence her.

Court documents acquired by Law&Crime disclose that Nathaniel Scott Gotham was apprehended over the recent weekend, accused of one count of attempted first-degree murder.

As detailed in a probable cause affidavit, Mesa Police Department officers responded to a call at the couple’s home on July 11 around 4:30 p.m. This followed a 911 emergency call made by Gotham himself, admitting to the stabbing incident.

Upon their arrival, the officers encountered the home’s door ajar, uncovering a scene where Gotham was positioned over his wife, who lay face down on the floor. Without resistance, he adhered to the police directives to surrender, as stated in their report.

Officers found Gotham covered in blood but apparently uninjured. His wife, meanwhile, was bleeding heavily from numerous stab wounds. She was rushed to a hospital, where medical personnel determined she had suffered 16 stab wounds to her back, along with multiple stab wounds and lacerations to her head, neck and face. She also suffered defensive wounds to her hands, according to the affidavit.

Investigators described blood throughout the home’s entryway, including on the floors and walls. During the execution of a search warrant, detectives recovered what they described as a blood-covered knife from the kitchen floor.

After waiving his Miranda rights, Gotham allegedly admitted he stabbed his wife “more than a dozen times.”

According to the affidavit, Gotham told detectives he “snapped” before retrieving what he described as a black-on-black steak knife from either a kitchen drawer or a knife block.

“When asked why he stabbed the victim, the suspect stated he wanted to hurt her and wanted her to stop talking,” police wrote in the affidavit. “According to the suspect, the victim pleaded with him to stop during the assault.”

During the attack, Gotham allegedly told his wife she had “wasted the best years of my life” and that he had “ended up with the wrong woman.”

Police said Gotham also admitted assaulting his wife years earlier by choking her during an argument. He described their relationship as “not good” and said they had been living in a “loveless marriage” despite being together for more than a decade and married for more than four years.

Gotham further claimed he had reached a breaking point and that “the monster came out,” though he later characterized that explanation as “a cop-out,” according to investigators.

After the stabbing, Gotham allegedly tried to contact his mother-in-law to apologize. He also called his own mother and said, “I f—ed up, I probably won’t see you again,” according to the affidavit.

Police said Gotham’s admissions, the physical evidence recovered from the home, the officers’ observations and the severity of the victim’s injuries established probable cause that he intentionally caused serious physical injury by repeatedly stabbing his wife with a knife.

A judge ordered Gotham held on $500,000 bond. He is scheduled to appear in court for his preliminary hearing on July 21. Records show that he is being held at the Lower Buckeye Jail in Maricopa County.

Clearwater Prepares Decision on Long-Term Partnership for Duke Energy Grid Maintenance

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Clearwater Prepares Decision on Long-Term Partnership for Duke Energy Grid Maintenance

CLEARWATER, Fla. (WFLA) — In a pivotal meeting on Monday, the Clearwater City Council engaged in discussions with Duke Energy, assessing if the city should continue utilizing the company’s services or take steps to acquire the infrastructure necessary to manage electricity as a city-run utility.

Mayor Bruce Rector articulated the core of the deliberations, stating, “The crucial question is whether the costs and processes involved in this transition truly serve the best interests of our local residents.”

Duke Energy has put forward a proposal for a 30-year contract, promising a series of investments in the area’s infrastructure. Key elements of this proposal include:

  • Downtown Retail Development Strategy

  • Annual payments to North Greenwood Community Redevelopment Agency

  • Looped electrical feed for Clearwater Police Department

  • Improvements to Coachman Park

  • Vegetation management plan 

    • “This is truly not just a utility agreement. At its core this is about the foundation to help us both serve the city and the citizens of Clearwater,” said Melissa Seixas, the President of Duke Energy Florida.

    Back in 2024, City Council approved a feasibility study to determine if it is fiscally responsible to purchase Duke Energy’s existing power equipment in the City in order to lower costs. Multiple appraisals range from $572,000,000 to over $1,000,000,000 according to previous meetings.

    A vote on the first ordinance to maintain Duke Energy as the City’s electricity provider is scheduled for Thursday at 6 p.m.

    Gynecologist Sentenced for Using Contaminated Instruments in Thousands of Medical Procedures

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    Gynecologist Sentenced for Using Contaminated Instruments in Thousands of Medical Procedures

    Federal authorities have brought to light the case of a Tennessee gynecologist who allegedly conducted medical procedures on numerous women using unsterilized equipment. 

    On July 8, Dr. Sanjeev Kumar, trained at the Mayo Clinic and specializing in gynecologic oncology, received a 20-year prison sentence followed by a two-year supervised release. This was confirmed by a press release from the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Tennessee.

    Earlier this year, a Memphis jury found Dr. Kumar guilty of 18 counts involving the tampering of medical devices, alongside 16 counts of mislabeling these devices, and six counts of committing healthcare fraud.

    Kumar was operating the Poplar Avenue Clinic, where prosecutors claim he performed over 15,000 hysteroscopies with biopsies using contaminated instruments on patients from Medicare and Medicaid, spanning from September 2019 to April 2024.  

    This procedure involves inserting a hysteroscope—commonly referred to as a telescope—into the vagina and cervix to investigate the uterus and identify issues such as endometrial cancer. 

    According to prosecutors, Kumar reused single-use hysteroscopes and graspers that were supposed to be discarded and failed to properly clean reusable hysteroscopes according to manufacturers’ instructions before using them on subsequent patients.

    “The single use devices, even if they had been correctly reprocessed,” noted the press release, “had to be labeled as such; and Kumar did not label them.”

    Kumar billed more than $41 million for the procedures, receiving more than $4.8 million from Medicare and Medicaid alone, prosecutors said.  

    Former patients who attended the sentencing hearing told ABC 24 they are traumatized from Kumar’s care. 

    “I’m still in pain,” Quita Wherry told the outlet. “The problem has come back. There’s still no findings of cancer, but the issue is still there. The pain is still there.”

    “No doctor will touch me,” she continued, “after they find out that I’ve been to Dr. Kumar.” 

    After he was found guilty in January, Kumar told reporters that the investigation was “overwhelming.”   

    “[I] always did the right thing for the patient,” he said, according to ABC 24. “The patient comes in, they tell you the symptoms, and you do the best you can.” 

    But prosecutors said Kumar was concerned with profits, not patient safety. 

    “He was motivated by greed, disregarded clear medical risks, and caused significant physical and psychological harm to his victim-patients,” US Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee D. Michael Dunavant said in the press release. “No punishment is enough to achieve justice in this horrific case, but we hope that this 20-year sentence will send a strong message of deterrence while holding Kumar accountable for his crimes.”

    A hearing to determine restitution is scheduled for October 2. Kumar’s legal team plans to appeal, according to WREG.

    Jefferson County resident faces animal cruelty charges

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    Jefferson County resident faces animal cruelty charges

    In Jefferson County, Alabama, a man faces animal cruelty charges after an anonymous tip-off prompted action by the local sheriff’s office. The arrest followed the information received on a Sunday.

    The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office reports that an off-duty deputy, who regularly oversees the Mount Olive vicinity, was alerted by an anonymous source. The tip included video evidence allegedly showing a man attempting to abandon two dogs along Woodward Road.

    Officers were dispatched to the 6000 block of Lakeside Drive to assess the animals’ situation. Upon their arrival, it became evident that both dogs were suffering from malnutrition and were living in substandard conditions.

    An investigator from Jefferson County Animal Control advised that the suspect, identified as Delmetrius Bishop, age 38, be detained. Subsequently, Bishop was taken into custody and transported to the Jefferson County Jail without any complications.

    The dogs were then taken to the Greater Birmingham Humane Society, where they are receiving necessary examinations and care.

    “Our deputies did a great job on using the information and evidence received from a citizen to make an arrest,” Jefferson County Sheriff Mark Pettway said in a statement. “We always say, ‘See something, say something,’ and that’s exactly what happened.  The information they provided made a big difference.”

    Bishop was charged with first-degree animal cruelty with a $15,000 bond and second-degree animal cruelty with a $6,000 bond. He has since been released from the Jefferson County Jail.

    Anyone with information on this case is asked to contact the JCSO at 205-325-1450 or Crime Stoppers at 205-254-7777.

    Beloved Philanthropic Couple Dies Suddenly Within Days of Each Other

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    Beloved Philanthropic Couple Dies Suddenly Within Days of Each Other

    A heartbreaking event unfolded in a New York community when a beloved couple, known for their altruistic spirit, passed away within four days of each other.

    Jayson Conner, aged 48, succumbed to a heart attack in the couple’s Manhattan residence on June 28, followed shortly by his partner, Jeffrey Newman, who died four days later.

    Conner and Newman, aged 58, earned recognition for their dedication to supporting the homeless, frequently distributing backpacks filled with essential items across New York City streets.

    Commencing their philanthropic work in 2018, by the year 2026 the pair had successfully distributed over 180,000 backpacks throughout Manhattan, as reported by the New York Times.

    Every week, they gathered a few dozen volunteers at a rented space in Queens to prepare over 100 backpacks, which were then loaded onto a moving van for distribution.

    Once in Manhattan, volunteers would grab packs from the van and distribute them over the course of several days. 

    ‘It was fascinating to see how well they managed to communicate with people on the streets,’ Kristina Kashtanova, a volunteer who worked with the pair, told the outlet. 

    ‘They taught me how to be a better human and how to talk to people who were so different from me.’

    Jayson Conner, 48, died from a heart attack in the couple's Manhattan home on June 28 before his partner, Jeffrey Newman, died just four days later

    Jayson Conner, 48, died from a heart attack in the couple’s Manhattan home on June 28 before his partner, Jeffrey Newman, died just four days later

    Conner and Newman, 58, were known for their efforts to help the homeless by handing out backpacks full of essentials in the streets of New York City

    Conner and Newman, 58, were known for their efforts to help the homeless by handing out backpacks full of essentials in the streets of New York City

    Kristina Kashtanova, a volunteer who worked with the pair seen above, said that volunteers of theirs were working towards a solution to keep the efforts going since the couple's passing

    Kristina Kashtanova, a volunteer who worked with the pair seen above, said that volunteers of theirs were working towards a solution to keep the efforts going since the couple’s passing

    The backpacks began as a side project to their nonprofit, Together Helping Others, which offered social services, according to the outlet. 

    Once they announced the project, they received around 100 backpacks from donors as well as supplies. The packs would include items such as flashlights, beef-jerky and wool socks.

    ‘We take what we do very seriously,’ Newman told ABC News in 2020 during the height of the pandemic. 

    ‘We’re not making little goody bags- we’re really thinking out what it is people need the most. It’s a labor of love.’

    Now, Kashtanova said that volunteers of theirs were working towards a solution to keep the efforts going since the couple’s passing. 

    Conner’s connection the project was always a personal one, with his experiencing sexual abuse, drug addiction and homelessness himself, the Times reported. 

    ‘It was soul crushing,’ he said on their site. ‘You never know where you’ll find respite day after day, or if you’ll eat or find warmth.’

    Conner is survived by his daughter, Jewlia Conner, and son, Andrew. Newman is survived by his brother Glenn, Ric, his sister Beth and his parents. 

    Tara Randall Newman, Newman's niece, aid the couple's legacy was their charity, Backpacks For The Street, 'where they helped thousands of people not only physically but with compassion and empathy'

    Tara Randall Newman, Newman’s niece, aid the couple’s legacy was their charity, Backpacks For The Street, ‘where they helped thousands of people not only physically but with compassion and empathy’

    Before Newman's passing, Kashtanova wrote that she spoke with Newman and said: 'It was their 22nd anniversary of their marriage... Conner was [the] love of his life'

    Before Newman’s passing, Kashtanova wrote that she spoke with Newman and said: ‘It was their 22nd anniversary of their marriage… Conner was [the] love of his life’

    Tara Randall Newman, Newman’s niece, wrote on Facebook: ‘To say my family is in shock would be an understatement. To lose both of them so close together is unthinkable. All I want to say is this, hold people close, live and love wholly, you don’t know if you’ll get a next time.’

    She said the couple’s legacy was their charity, Backpacks For The Street, ‘where they helped thousands of people not only physically but with compassion and empathy. We’re working to find a way to make sure their legacy lives on in their name.’

    ‘To my Uncles… Thank you for always showing up, for being present, and kind, and smart, and such wonderful examples for the world. I love you both,’ she added. 

    Before Newman’s passing, Kashtanova wrote that she spoke with her ‘dear friend’ Newman about Conner’s sudden passing. 

    ‘It was their 22nd anniversary of their marriage. They usually would go to their favorite restaurant and have a date. Jayson Conner was [the] love of his life. They both are incredibly good people to the community here in New York (helping people in need).’

    In another post, she wrote: ‘I’m in shock. My friend Jeffrey Newman is gone too. He passed away. This morning we knew this devastating news as he was preparing for a memorial for his husband and my friend Jayson Conner who passed away last week. I am in touch with their daughter. We are all in shock. We don’t know yet the cause of his death.’

    ‘Just few days ago we were talking and he was so grateful for all your donations for Jayson’s memorial. Last thing he told me was: “thank you very much.”‘ 

    Daniel Cartier, a friend to Newman, wrote: ‘Heartbreaking news Jeffrey Newman was a longtime friend – and a genuinely wonderful person. Clearly his husband Jayson was too.’

    Conner is survived by his daughter, Jewlia Conner, and son, Andrew. Newman is survived by his brother Glenn, Ric, his sister Beth and his parents

    Conner is survived by his daughter, Jewlia Conner, and son, Andrew. Newman is survived by his brother Glenn, Ric, his sister Beth and his parents

    Kashtanova said: 'They taught me how to be a better human and how to talk to people who were so different from me'

    Kashtanova said: ‘They taught me how to be a better human and how to talk to people who were so different from me’

    ‘They spent their lives distributing backpacks filled with essentials, to people experiencing homelessness. My deepest condolences to their immediate families, close friends, and the thousands of people they helped,’ he said. 

    A longtime friend said that her company volunteered with Backpacks For The Street and said: ‘Those who knew, loved, and contributed to them and their dream are deeply pained.’

    ‘I grew up with Jeffrey back on McKinley Place in Ardsley, and connected with him again around Backpacks when I moved to the city. My company volunteered with the organization, and Jeffrey and I shared ideas for building the name of his blessed non profit. I remember a rainy night working with him in Penn Station, when he encouraged me to step out of my comfort zone and go talk to the people we were there to help.

    ‘I sat with people whose luck had seemingly run out, and learned to be kinder than I had known how to be before. My heart goes out to their families. I will miss them both.’

    In 2020, Newman told Fox News: ‘Everything about the backpack is about hope. We understand that it’s not going to cure homelessness; we don’t pretend it’s going to cure homelessness. But it does say to somebody, “Hey, you know what? We care.”‘ 

    Ranking the Enola Holmes Trilogy: A Comprehensive Review

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    Ranking the Enola Holmes Trilogy: A Comprehensive Review

    Enola Holmes with hands on her hips in Enola Holmes

    Alex Bailey/Netflix/Legendary

    We may receive a commission on purchases made from links.

    The “Enola Holmes” film series stands out as one of Millie Bobby Brown’s most prominent ventures outside of her breakout role in “Stranger Things.” In this hit series, Brown takes on the role of the adventurous younger sibling of Sherlock Holmes, played by Henry Cavill, across three intriguing Netflix movies. Each installment has generally been met with favorable reviews and has captured the attention of audiences worldwide.

    With her iconic portrayal of Eleven in “Stranger Things” now concluded, Millie Bobby Brown is carving out new paths in her career. The future of her role in the “Enola Holmes” saga remains uncertain, but regardless, the trio of films she has contributed to are a delightful testament to her talents. As we delve into the mystery of which film stands above the rest, it’s worth examining their standings based on Rotten Tomatoes scores to see how they stack up against each other.

    3. Enola Holmes 3 (2026)

    Tewkesbury proposing to Enola in Enola Holmes 3

    John Wilson/Netflix

    “Enola Holmes 3” presents a pivotal chapter in Millie Bobby Brown’s filmography. The plot follows Enola as she ties the knot with Tewkesbury, played by Louis Partridge, an affair that began romantically in the second movie. This development is complicated by Sherlock Holmes’ apprehensions about how marriage might impact her detective instincts. Fans also witness the return of Professor Moriarty, the series’ arch-nemesis, once again brought to life by Sharon Duncan-Brewster, following their appearance in “Enola Holmes 2.”

    Essentially, “Enola Holmes 3” delves into themes of maturity and self-discovery, mirroring Brown’s own transition post-“Stranger Things.” While her performance shines through, and the film explores some captivating ideas, it has not resonated as well with critics or audiences. This is evident from its Rotten Tomatoes rating of 68% and a rather lukewarm audience score of 50%, making it the series’ least favored installment to date.

    This hasn’t stopped “Enola Holmes 3” from being popular, though. The movie pulled in an impressive 20.7 million views in just five days after its premiere on July 1, 2026. This suggests that despite its comparatively meager critical approval, “Enola Holmes 3” is far from a failure, and there may very well be further installments to the story.

    2. Enola Holmes (2020)

    Enola Holmes looking at the camera in Enola Holmes

    Netflix/Legendary

    “Enola Holmes” is the movie that started it all. As such, it has a lot of setting up to do, especially with the amount of tinkering that it does with the Sherlock Holmes mythology. Here, Enola begins as a teenager who plays a distant third fiddle to Sherlock and Mycroft Holmes (Sam Claflin), with the latter acting as his guardian in their mother Eudoria’s (Helena Bonham Carter) absence. The movie centers around Eudoria’s disappearance and a plot to assassinate Tewksbury, and features a number of other interesting characters who play a role in the proceedings.

    Based on Nancy Springer’s novel “The Case of the Missing Marquess: An Enola Holmes Mystery,” the film is a fun adventure thriller with plenty of small details that you missed. it’s easy to forget just how excellently the first “Enola Holmes” went down for both critics and audiences. It’s no mean feat for a YA-tinted mystery film to get a 91% Tomatometer rating and 71% Popcornmeter score on Rotten Tomatoes, but that’s just what the inherently likable movie pulled off. Thanks to a combination of clever plotting, interesting worldbuilding, and great performances, “Enola Holmes” is one of the better Netflix offerings in its genre — and Millie Bobby Brown is the perfect choice to play Enola. 

    1. Enola Holmes 2 (2022)

    Enola and Sherlock Holmes facing each other in Enola Holmes

    Alex Bailey/Netflix

    “Enola Holmes 2” has no need to tell origin stories, nor does it have to do any worldbuilding. It also benefits from bringing in the most famous villain in the franchise — Professor Moriarty, of course. 

    Here, Enola is operating her own struggling detective agency while interacting with her far more famous brother Sherlock. She’s immediately drawn into a complex plot that features some of the Victorian London’s most iconic locations from steamy factories to the Whitechapel neighborhood. During this mission, she begins a love affair with Tewkesbury, solves an unholy amount of clever twists, takes a few great stabs at greedy capitalism, and even introduces Sherlock to his iconic sidekick Dr. Watson (Himesh Patel).

    In other words, “Enola Holmes 2” is free to fire on all cylinders and uses this opportunity to do precisely that. With reliably compelling performances from all involved and great production values, the film’s 93% Tomatometer rating and 78% Popcornmeter score speak volumes of its sheer quality. Adventure mysteries don’t get much better than this, and “Enola Holmes” movies certainly don’t.

    Southwest Virginia Schools Confront Possible Health Clinic Shutdowns

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    Southwest Virginia Schools Confront Possible Health Clinic Shutdowns

    SMYTH COUNTY, Va. (WJHL) — Schools in Southwest Virginia are preparing for a significant change as several will no longer host school-based health clinics by the start of the 2026-27 academic year.

    This development comes after Southwest Virginia Community Health Systems (SVCHS) revealed plans to shut down eight clinics that currently operate across three different school districts.

    The closures affect multiple schools, including Saltville Elementary, Northwood Middle, Chilhowie Elementary, and Chilhowie High in Smyth County. Additionally, John S. Battle High and High Point Elementary in Washington County, along with Virginia Elementary and Virginia High in Bristol, will also see their clinics close.

    According to superintendents Keith Perrigan of Washington County and Brad Haga of Smyth County, the loss of these clinics carries a greater impact than what initial assessments might suggest.

    “It felt like a blow to the stomach—a real gut punch,” Haga expressed. “It’s going to be tough on us. These clinics play a crucial role in keeping our students in class and our staff on the job. Without them, people might have to leave for outside medical appointments.”

    “We’ve been working very closely over the last couple of weeks with Southwest Virginia Community Health System to try to find out, find a way that we could be more efficient in the services that they’re providing to our students and to our employees,” Perrigan told News Channel 11. “And so we thought we’d come up with a pretty good plan on how we could do that. And then a week later, we found out that the program was going to be completely removed from our schools.”

    Between the eight clinics, thousands of students and staff were treated within a school year.

    “This has truly been, in my opinion, one of the most impactful non-instructional things that I’ve been a part of in the school environment,” Perrigan said. “We averaged about 80 visits per month. We had more than 800 visits throughout the course of the year. And that’s the combination of not only our students, but our employees as well.”

    “This clinic here saw roughly around 200 patients a month. So, having this in a rural community is very important for us,” Haga added.

    SVCHS said in a press release that it lost a significant amount of funding from the 340B program. It went on to say that funding has gone from $2.7 million down to $400,000.

    The following statement was also shared from SVCHS chief executive officer, Bryan Haynes.

    “This was a difficult decision because we know firsthand the value these school-based clinics provide to students, families and educators throughout our region. Our responsibility is to ensure that SVCHS remains a strong, sustainable healthcare system that can continue serving Southwest Virginia for years to come. While we are suspending school-based services, our commitment to caring for children and families has not changed. Our pediatric providers remain available at our Community Health Centers, and we encourage families to continue turning to SVCHS for the high-quality, compassionate care they deserve.”

    Bryan Haynes, CEO, Southwest Virginia Community Health Services

    The full press release can be read below.

    Both superintendents want parents, students, and staff to know they are already working on plans to have a clinic available for next school year.

    “Dr. Perrigan and I have talked. I’ve also talked a little bit with Emory & Henry. There might be some other brainstorming that we could do, maybe some other partnerships with our community stakeholders to provide the service,” Haga said.

    “We’re going to do everything that we can to either work with Southwest Virginia Community Health System to make sure that the program is still viable for next year. But if not, we’ll certainly reach out to other potential providers in the area to provide this service,” Perrigan added.

    SVCHS adds that their pediatric providers are still available at their community health centers.

    US Launches Third Night of Strikes on Iran Amid Trump’s Deal Talks and Hormuz Tariff Announcement

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    For the third night in a row, the United States military launched airstrikes, coinciding with an attack on two tankers in the strategic Strait of Hormuz.

    This military escalation follows President Donald Trump’s announcement of re-imposing a blockade on Iranian shipping in the Gulf, while committing to keeping the vital waterway open—albeit with a fee involved..

    According to the US Central Command, these strikes were initiated as directed by President Trump shortly after he had openly stated on a US radio broadcast that Iran would face a decisive blow, both that night and the following day.

    In a subsequent briefing at the White House, Trump confirmed that US forces were targeting Iranian assets in the Strait of Hormuz.

    Meanwhile, the United Arab Emirates’ defense ministry reported that two Emirati oil tankers, the Mombasa and Al Bahiyah, were struck by Iranian cruise missiles while navigating the southern lane of the strait within Omani territorial waters. The attack resulted in the death of one crew member and injured eight others.

    The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) agency said a tanker had been hit by an unknown projectile while travelling 40 nautical miles north-east of Oman’s Qalhat and that all crew were safe.

    Reuters could not immediately verify whether the UKMTO report referred to the same incident as the one reported by the UAE’s defence ministry. Iran has not commented on the latest attacks.

    “The Hormuz Strait is OPEN, and will remain OPEN, with or without Iran. We are reinstating THE IRANIAN BLOCKADE,” Trump had said earlier on Monday on Truth Social.

    “The USA will be, from this point forward, known as ‘THE GUARDIAN OF THE HORMUZ STRAIT’, but as such, and as a matter of FAIRNESS, will be reimbursed, at the rate of 20% on all cargo shipped.”

    Iran’s top joint military command said the US had no role in determining the future of Hormuz and would not be allowed to intervene. Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi said in a post on X that his country was the guardian of the strait and would remain so “forever”, adding in response to Trump’s comments that: “20% is of course too much. We will be fair.”

    The UN’s shipping agency pushed back against Trump’s proposal, saying it opposes any fees for straits used in international navigation and stressing that there is no legal basis for introducing mandatory tolls on strait transits.

    Trump has previously suggested the US could charge tolls on shipping through the strait, but it has so far not done so and it was unclear if it would follow through on Trump’s declaration this time.

    The US Navy-led Joint Maritime Information Center said the blockade would take effect at 8pm GMT on Tuesday (6am Wednesday AEST) and apply to all vessel traffic regardless of flag, covering the entire Iranian coastline including ports and oil terminals.

    It said the measure would not impede neutral transit passage through the strait to or from non-Iranian destinations, and that humanitarian shipments would be permitted subject to inspection.

    Before the conflict began in February, around a fifth of the world’s oil and gas traffic passed through Hormuz daily, delivering more than 15 million barrels of fuel to global markets worth at least US$1.2 billion ($1.73 billion). If the US were to impose a 20per cent fee, it could generate around US$250 million a day ($361.5 million).

    Iran has sought to establish a permanent fee and permit system of its own for vessels using the waterway.

    At least 25 killed in latest US strikes

    At least 25 people have been killed in Iran since hostilities resumed on Wednesday, according to a tally by the Agence France-Presse news agency based on Iranian announcements.

    At least four explosions were heard on Monday east of Bandar Abbas, which sits on the Strait of Hormuz, Iranian state media reported, citing a reporter in the port city’s province.

    On Monday, United Nations secretary-general António Guterres expressed “deep concern” at the regional escalation, including attacks by both sides.

    Iran’s Revolutionary Guards said they had struck US military targets and bases in Jordan, Bahrain and Kuwait, state media reported.

    Air raid alerts sounded in Bahrain, where the military said it shot down a number of Iranian projectiles, while Kuwait’s army said its forces were intercepting “hostile aerial targets”.

    Jordan’s army said it had intercepted four Iranian missiles.

    Iran insists it only targets US interests in the Gulf, but the spokesman for its military command said any collaboration by Gulf countries with the US would be considered “an act of war”.

    The latest exchanges mark an escalation over the past week, throwing into question the interim US-Iran agreement signed last month to reopen the Strait and halt hostilities.

    Trump says he thinks a deal is still possible

    Despite all signs to the contrary, Trump said that a deal with Iran to end the Middle East war was still possible.

    “Yeah, I think a deal is possible. Sure, I do,” Trump told reporters in the Oval Office. “We had a deal with them two days ago and then they said ‘Oh we can’t make that deal. We have to negotiate it further.'”

    Iran’s foreign ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei said earlier on Monday that the June memorandum of understanding that formed the basis for the negotiations and lifted the US blockade was “in crisis”.

    Baqaei said Iran would ignore its obligations under the deal if the US did the same, but added that Iran was continuing talks with mediators from Qatar, Pakistan and Oman to prevent further escalation.

    Analyst Bader Al-Saif said the escalating attacks would merely delay a permanent agreement.

    “Both sides want to end the impasse on their own terms, and they are increasingly finding it difficult to do so. Hence the return to and increase in the scale of attacks,” said Al-Saif, an associate fellow at Chatham House.

    The war launched by the United States and Israel against Iran on 28 February has destabilised the Gulf and spread across the region, with Iran attacking US bases in multiple countries.

    Yemen’s Houthi movement fired missiles at Saudi Arabia after accusing the kingdom of bombing an airport under its control on Monday, breaking a four-year truce between Riyadh and the Iran-aligned group.

    Oil prices jump

    Driven by fears of further disruption in the strait, oil prices jumped more than 9 per cent on Monday, with Brent futures posting their biggest single-day dollar gain since 2 April, and highest settlement since 12 June. US crude futures made their largest daily gain since 29 April to settle at their highest since 15 June.

    Higher energy prices, particularly gasoline costs, are politically sensitive for Trump before congressional elections in November.

    Iran’s Revolutionary Guards said in a statement on Monday that the only way to restore regular shipping traffic was to end US military interventions in the waterway.

    The US, which revoked a licence waiving sanctions on Iranian crude sales last week after earlier attacks on shipping, said its forces were positioned to safeguard freedom of navigation.

    US officials said around 20 vessels had been escorted through the strait in the previous 24 hours, although ship-tracking data showed little traffic moving. MarineTraffic said on Monday that vessel activity through the strait declined by about 52per cent over 10 July to 12 compared to the previous week.

    Norway’s Triumphant Return: Celebrating a Landmark World Cup Victory

    NewsFinale Journal
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    Norway’s Triumphant Return: Celebrating a Landmark World Cup Victory

    Parades often celebrate victors, but sometimes it’s about the journey.

    Such was the case for Norway.

    Even though Norway faced a 2-1 defeat against England in the World Cup quarterfinals on Saturday, they received a warm and enthusiastic welcome upon their return home, celebrating their monumental accomplishment.

    As their plane approached its landing, Norwegian players and staff huddled by the windows, witnessing an escort of military jets guiding them back to Oslo for a reception fit for royalty.

    Erling Haaland, known for his on-field prowess and off-field humor, emerged from the plane carrying a playful souvenir—a stuffed raccoon he had acquired in Dallas.

    Over 100,000 fans flooded the streets of the nation’s capital, packing the palace before stretching far down the main street. 

    Then, the team stepped out to greet fans with the Royal Guard standing right by. 

    Members of Norway’s royal household joined tens of thousands of Norway supporters for the “Viking Row” chant, which became famous during the country’s takeover in the United States.

    Crown Prince Haakon led the row as he banged a drum the same way Haaland and captain Martin Ødegaard did after Norway’s World Cup wins. 

    As supporters celebrated the country’s accomplishments, players traveled through Oslo on an open-top bus. 

    “I don’t think anyone had imagined this,” Ødegaard told Norwegian broadcaster NRK. “The support we have received in the USA and here at home in Norway has been beyond all expectations. It has been absolutely incredible to see.” 

    Long after dark, Norway players celebrated with beer and waved while the party continued. 

    In its first World Cup appearance since 1998, Norway reached the quarterfinals with key wins over Ivory Coast and Brazil. 

    Haaland was the architect of Norway’s dominance, scoring seven goals in his first career World Cup.
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