China’s navy has missiles and drones. Why is it bringing back the ‘big guns’?

In an era of naval warfare defined by air superiority, precision missiles and autonomous drones, China’s navy appears to be bringing back the “big guns”.
A new naval gun system is said to be in development which takes 155mm, or 6.1-inch, artillery shells.
That would make it the largest of its kind in the world today.
The naval gun has recently been spotted undergoing sea-based performance testing from an experimental warship, which suggests it is moving closer to being deployed by the People’s…

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King Charles appoints actor Helen Mirren to a select group in his birthday honors list

Helen Mirren, one of the world's most acclaimed actors, was added Friday to a very select group of people recognized by King Charles III for their “major contribution” over the years to British life.
The 80-year-old was named a “Companion of Honour,” one of the highest awards the king can bestow to citizens in the United Kingdom and across the Commonwealth, limited to only 65 people at any time.
Mirren's elevation to the group, which also includes British environmentalist David Attenborough, Canadian author Margaret Atwood and former British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, was one of the highlights of Charles' latest award of honors.
The honors, which aim to reward individuals for their contributions to British life, are awarded twice a year to celebrities and public figures as well as ordinary people, once at New Year’s, and then in June, to mark the king’s birthday.
Nearly 1,200 people received honors in the king’s 2026 birthday list,
The award recognizes Mirren'..

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Philippines’ belligerence towards China out of step with Asean trend

The Philippines’ confrontational approach to maritime territorial disputes, such as its championing of the 2016 South China Sea arbitration ruling, has not only failed to resolve regional tensions, it also risks undermining Asean centrality.
In May, addressing Japan’s National Diet, Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr announced that Manila would mark the ruling’s 10th anniversary in July, an occasion he said “embodies our determination to resolve disputes through peaceful means”. That is…

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Deal to end fighting would lead to Hormuz reopening, Iran says

Deal to end fighting would lead to Hormuz reopening, Iran says1 hour agoShareSaveAdd as preferred on GoogleGary O'Donoghue,Senior North America correspondent, Washington DCandOlivia IrelandReutersA sense of normality has returned to the streets of Tehran since the April ceasefireGetty ImagesTrump says there is “no such thing as dealing in good faith” when it comes to negotiating with the IraniansWatch: Flip flop or deliberate? The BBC's Gary O'Donoghue explains Trump’s strategy with IranThree ships attacked by the US in three days: What we knowBowen: Trump and Netanyahu wanted to reshape the Middle East – now they risk a permacrisisIranIran warDonald Trump

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Lewis Hamilton’s bold new Barcelona paddock look steals attention while Kim Kardashian exits Europe

Lewis Hamilton’s bold new Barcelona paddock look steals attention while Kim Kardashian exits Europe (Image via Getty) Lewis Hamilton surprised fans before the Spanish Grand Prix when he arrived in the Barcelona paddock with a completely different look. The Ferrari driver swapped his usual braids for his natural shoulder-length curls, quickly becoming one of the biggest talking points ahead of the race weekend. Dressed in a Ferrari cap, team shirt, camouflage jeans, and red trainers, Lewis Hamilton looked relaxed and happy as he greeted cameras and rode a scooter around the paddock. The appearance came just days after a busy Monaco Grand Prix weekend, where he not only celebrated another strong result but also spoke publicly about girlfriend Kim Kardashian’s support for the first time.Lewis Hamilton unveils new hairstyle before Barcelona Grand PrixLewis Hamilton’s fresh hairstyle immediately caught attention as Formula 1 teams prepared for the Spanish Grand Prix. The seven-time world ch..

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Johnny Somali cites bipolar disorder in bid to reduce prison sentence in South Korea

Photo by Yonhap News Agency Controversial streamer Johnny Somali is asking a South Korean court to reduce his prison sentence, arguing that he has been unable to take medication for bipolar disorder since arriving in the country. Somali, whose real name is Ramsey Khalid Ismael, appeared in court on June 11 as part of an appeal against the six-month prison sentence he received earlier this year.The case has attracted widespread attention online because of Somali’s behavior in South Korea and the legal trouble that followed. While the streamer is seeking a lighter punishment, prosecutors are pushing in the opposite direction. They want the court to reject his appeal and instead impose a much longer three-year prison sentence. A final decision is expected later this month.Johnny Somali asks for leniency as prosecutors seek three-year prison termSomali was sentenced in April to six months in prison with hard labor after being found guilty of several offenses, including obstruction of busin..

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US lawmakers warn next revolution in AI race must be in America, not China

The United States must ensure the next chapter of responsible innovation is written in America, not in China, lawmakers and witnesses told a congressional hearing on Thursday as they sounded the alarm over US-China competition for global supremacy in artificial intelligence (AI).
“Cyber security and national security must be taken seriously. The United States cannot afford to let China or any other adversary gain a technological edge in artificial intelligence,” said Tim Scott, chairman of the…

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Canadian policeman killed during investigation tied to US consulate shooting

AdvertisementCanadaWorldUnited States & CanadaCanadian policeman killed during investigation tied to US consulate shootingMarc Pinizotto, 43, was shot by a suspect and died of his wounds in hospital
1-MIN READ1-MIN ListenAssociated PressPublished: 5:48am, 12 Jun 2026A Toronto police officer was shot and killed Thursday by a suspect in the investigation into a shooting attack that damaged the facade of the US consulate in the Canadian city in March, police said.
One 19-year-old suspect was in custody at a hospital in critical condition while officers searched for a second suspect, who was identified as 19-year-old Zara Jabbi and was considered armed and dangerous, Toronto Police Chief Myron Demkiw said at a news conference.
“I urge you to turn yourself in,” Demkiw said.
AdvertisementPolice officer Marc Pinizotto, who was 43 and had been on the force for 18 years, died of his wounds in a hospital, Demkiw said.
Canadian police had said in March that two individuals emerged from a white Ho..

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Trump taps former SEC chair to be his head of National Intelligence after Congress rejects Bill Pulte

Donald Trump backed down and announced a new pick to be his director of National Intelligence on Thursday after Democrats threatened to allow a key piece of surveillance legislation expire rather than allow one of the president’s political operatives to temporarily serve in the role.
The president wrote on Truth Social on Thursday afternoon that Jay Clayton, a former chair of the Securities Exchange Commission (SEC) and attorney for the Southern District of New York would take over the role, pending Senate confirmation. His statement came only a few short hours after Democrats halted an attempt to extend the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) for three weeks while Congress worked over the impasse.
“I am pleased to announce the Nomination of very Highly Respected Jay Clayton, former Chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission, the former Head of Sullivan & Cromwell, one of the most prominent and successful Law Firms anywhere in the World, and the current United States A..

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New Medicaid requirement leaves recipients worried and states confused

DeAnna Brandon, a 48-year-old blood cancer survivor, cherishes the simple moments of splashing in a kiddie pool with her grandchildren.
Yet, these precious afternoons are overshadowed by a looming fear: new Medicaid work requirements, set to begin next year, could jeopardize her health coverage and the life-saving treatment keeping her multiple myeloma in remission.
Brandon, who lives in Rockwell, North Carolina, had anticipated qualifying for a medical frailty exemption. But new guidance introduced last week by the Trump administration has cast doubt on her eligibility.
The interim final rule, released by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, stipulates that her extreme exhaustion and memory challenges, direct consequences of her treatment, may no longer be sufficient to bypass the work mandates. She will now be required to attest, and subsequently prove, that these symptoms “significantly impair” her ability to fulfill the requirements.
Should her case not be accepted by ..

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