US Strikes Iranian Tankers After Missile Attack on Warships

The day's biggest story came out of the Gulf, where US Central Command struck three Iranian oil tankers after Iran fired ballistic missiles at American warships near the Strait of Hormuz. Two tankers were permanently disabled near the strait and a third was destroyed in the Gulf of Oman, a sharp escalation leaving global shipping lanes on edge. Against that backdrop, Germany's Saxony-Anhalt drew scrutiny as its AfD, classified "confirmed far-right extremist," pushes for an outright government majority. Its program includes mass deportations, auxiliary police units and a full reversal of migration policy, ideas facing their first real test in state government. Nepal, meanwhile, pressed for global climate justice after a glacier collapse triggered a Himalayan flash flood that killed over 1,300 people; the PM called it a "global responsibility" and said Kathmandu will raise it at the UN General Assembly this month. Sport offered a lighter counterpoint. At Monza, Alpine's Pierre Gasly claimed a shock maiden pole for the Italian Grand Prix, edging Mercedes' George Russell by 0.060 seconds, the first Frenchman on pole since Jean Alesi in 1997. In England, Chelsea's WSL title defense opened with a stumble, held 1-1 at home by Aston Villa despite 34 shots and 57 touches in the box; a late own goal salvaged Villa a point and revived questions about Chelsea's finishing.