US-Iran tensions: Lessons from past Gulf wars

On the face of it, it feels similar to the build-up to the invasion of Iraq in 2003, a war that devastated the country and destabilised the region.

Iran has been in sharp focus at the meetings in Saudi Arabia, as tensions between Tehran and Washington continue to rise.

The White House is seeking support from Gulf states to back its sanctions and tough stance on Iran.

Al Jazeera’s James Bay reports.

First Responders: Indonesia's bikers who escort ambulances

Al Jazeera follows the heroes who escort ambulances through gridlocked Indonesian cities.

Motorcyclists in Indonesia are providing a lifesaving service, escorting ambulances through gridlocked cities to make sure they reach patients as quickly as possible.

Al Jazeera’s Florence Looi reports from Jakarta, where she spoke to some of the volunteer bikers in the latest in our series on first responders.

Can President AMLO's National Guard tame violence in Mexico?

Al Jazeera examines President Lopez Obrador’s proposal for getting tough on crime.

Crime is a big issue in Mexico. Nearly 8,500 people were murdered in the first three months this year.

President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador has promised to tackle the problem with a new security force called the National Guard.

Al Jazeera’s John Holman reports from Minatitlan.

Trump says he will consider inviting Toronto Raptors to the White House ‘if they’d like to do it’

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump says he’ll consider inviting the NBA champion Toronto Raptors to the White House “if they’d like to do it.”

Asked whether he’d invite the Canadian team, Trump said Thursday that he hadn’t thought about it. Trump said the Raptors played “phenomenal basketball” to win the team’s first NBA title by defeating the Golden State Warriors. Trump says “if they’d like to do it, we’ll think about that.”

The once-routine White House visit by championship college and professional sports teams has become politically fraught under Trump, with some teams and individual athletes declining to make the trip. The Warriors avoided the White House while visiting Washington in 2018.

Raptors coach Nick Nurse said during a radio interview Wednesday that he hadn’t heard anything about a White House visit.

U.S. oil prices post biggest one-day gain of the year

U.S. oil futures rallied Thursday in reaction to worsening tensions between the Iran and U.S. that may lead to a disruption of oil flow in the Strait of Hormuz. Iran shot down a U.S. drone and U.S. President Donald Trump said in a tweet that "Iran made a very big mistake!" Language from Trump "has driven up oil as traders fear supply in the Middle East might be squeezed by Washington D.C. potentially taking a tougher stance on the country," said David Madden, market analyst at CMC Markets. July West Texas Intermediate oil CLN19, +5.80% rose $2.89, or 5.4%, to settle at $56.65 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange. That was the highest front-month contract finish since late May and biggest one-day dollar and percentage gain since December, according to Dow Jones Market Data. August WTI CLQ19, +6.10% became the front-month contract at the day’s settlement. It added $3.10, or 5.7%, to $57.07.

U.S. TIPS breakeven rates add to gains after auction

NEW YORK, June 20 (Reuters) – The U.S. bond market’s gauges of investors’ inflation outlook added to earlier gains on Thursday in the wake of solid investor demand at $15 billion auction five-year Treasury Inflation Protected Securities.

At 2:35 p.m. EDT (1835 GMT), the yield spread between 10-year Treasury Inflation Protected Securities, or TIPS, and 10-year Treasury notes was 1.742%, up 6 basis points from Wednesday and the highest level in 1-1/2 weeks, according to Tradeweb data . (Reporting by Richard Leong, editing by G Crosse)

US Spelling Bee: First 8 contenders share victory

Nearly 600 kids under the age of 15 took part in annual contest for the best young spellers in the US.

It was a cut-throat competition packed with suspense and emotion.

Nearly 600 youngsters under the age of 15 took part in this year’s Scripps National Spelling Bee in the United States.

And for the finalists, it was a test of endurance with a spellbinding outcome.

Al Jazeera’s Gabriel Elizondo reports.

UK leadership race: Donald Trump backs Boris Johnson as next PM

US president throws his weight behind Conservative leader’s campaign to be next British prime minister.

US President Donald Trump arrives in the United Kingdom on Monday, kicking off his three-day state visit.

But he is already making his presence felt by wading into the Conservative Party’s leadership contest.

Al Jazeera’s Neave Barker reports from London.

Jerusalem Day: Iranians show support for Palestine

Iranian citizens rallies for Quds Day, also known as Jerusalem Day, in the annual display of solidarity with Palestinians, which it has marked since the start of its 1979 Revolution.

Iranians turned out in groups across the country to mark what’s known as Jerusalem Day.

Demonstrations were held across the region in a show of support for the Palestinian cause.

The rallies come just weeks before the White House is due to present the economic part of its long-awaited peace plan in Bahrain.

Al Jazeera’s Mohammed Jamjoom reports.

BREAKING: Bloke crushed to death by own car after jack gives way

The man in his 60s was crushed to death in Manchester after working on his car, with the jack reportedly giving way.

A GMP spokesman said: “At around 5:15pm this evening police and paramedics were called to Chesham Avenue in Wythenshawe.

“A man was working on his own car when the equipment failed and unfortunately he has died at the scene.

“There are no suspicious circumstances.”

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