Austria and Algeria draw 3-3 in World Cup thriller, both advance as Iran goes home · Pollar

Today’s Brief

Hormuz fires, La Guaira counts

Trump escalates near Hormuz as Venezuela digs out and Europe sweats through deadly heat

The past 12 hours brought a grim split screen: a widening Gulf confrontation, a Venezuelan disaster zone and European heat that is now killing well beyond the thermometer. Politics also moved fast, with Serbia’s strongman offering an exit that may not loosen his grip, while Washington showed how directly it now intends to police frontier AI.

Reader-supported

Free to read, and staying that way

No ads, no trackers. Membership keeps Pollar independent.

Live now

All live coverage

In the spotlight

World · Updated 9m ago

The war in Ukraine and its limits

Western allies are coordinating new deliveries and refurbishments of Patriot batteries and other high-end air-defense components for Ukraine, reinforcing its deep-strike shield and protecting its industrial base.

Austria and Algeria draw 3-3 in World Cup thriller, both advance as Iran goes home · Pollar