Sen. McConnell breaks weeks of silence about health, US and Iran vie for Strait of Hormuz control, ‘The Odyssey’
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Welcome back. This is Mark writing for a few days while Nadja’s away on vacation. In the news today: Sen. Mitch McConnell says a fall led to his hospitalization, breaking weeks of silence about his health; the U.S. and Iran vie for control of the Strait of Hormuz in new attacks; and dozens die in a Bangkok fire. Also, getting ready for the release of “The Odyssey.”
McConnell says a fall led to hospitalization, breaking weeks of silence about health condition
Sen. Mitch McConnell, 84, said in a statement that he was “briefly unconscious” around the time he was first taken to the hospital and has undergone a battery of tests to try to determine what led to his fall. He said he was also treated for mild pneumonia and has been moved to a rehabilitation facility. Read more.
Why this matters:
- McConnell’s statement came on the heels of the unexpected death of his fellow Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina. McConnell said he cannot return to the Senate “quite yet.” Coupled with Graham’s passing, that will temporarily whittle the GOP majority in that chamber down by two, to 51-47, as Republicans try to increase military funding, advance President Donald Trump’s agenda and confirm Trump’s nominees.
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Senate returns to Washington with uncertain agenda
Michigan Sen. Gary Peters backs Democratic Rep. Haley Stevens in contentious race to succeed him
Ukraine reels after Graham’s sudden death, fearing a weaker link to Trump
US and Iran vie for control of Strait of Hormuz in latest attacks
Each country asserted Monday that they controlled the waterway after a weekend of attacks stretching across the wider Middle East, further threatening any diplomacy to end the war. Read more.
Why this matters:
- Iran and the U.S. are nearly at the midway point of the 60-day period of an interim deal that was supposed to set up talks for a permanent end to the war. Instead, it has devolved into a series of attacks over the strait and its future, worrying world leaders that the Iran war could fully resume.
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WATCH: The US military’s latest wave of strikes
Oil prices jump following new attacks
Iran persecutes its Baha’i minority fiercely in a year of protests and war, rights groups say
Qatar’s former ruler Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani has died at 74
Support for Israel is less important for younger Jewish Americans, AP-NORC poll finds
Fire breaks out at a beer hall in Bangkok, killing at least 27 people
A huge fire tore through a beer hall in Bangkok overnight into Monday, killing at least 27 people and injuring dozens before firefighters brought the blaze under control. Read more.
What to know:
- Authorities are still investigating the cause of the fire, but Bangkok Gov. Chadchart Sittipunt said investigators would examine the ceiling materials and whether any emergency exits may have been obstructed, potentially making it more difficult for people to evacuate.
Related coverage →
WATCH: AP reports from the scene
A look at some of the deadliest fires in bars, nightclubs and music venues
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Education:Innovation, data fixes fuel Native American graduation gains at federally funded schools
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Today in History:In 1985, the ‘Live Aid’ concerts were held in London and Philadelphia, raising millions for famine relief in Ethiopia
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This image released by Universal Pictures shows Matt Damon as Odysseus, left, and Zendaya as Athena, in a scene from “The Odyssey.” (Melinda Sue Gordon/Universal Pictures via AP)
This image released by Universal Pictures shows Matt Damon as Odysseus, left, and Zendaya as Athena, in a scene from “The Odyssey.” (Melinda Sue Gordon/Universal Pictures via AP)
Getting ready for ‘The Odyssey’
One of the most anticipated summer movies is “The Odyssey,” coming out Friday. I must admit, I haven’t opened the original epic since freshman year. If you’re in a similar situation and want to catch up on the source material before experiencing Christopher Nolan’s take, our film writer Lindsey Bahr is here to help. She put on her classics hat to create a primer on the key characters being played by Hollywood’s biggest stars. The AP’s global reach means we have reporting from Greece on what people there think about the latest adaption of Homer’s story, including the controversy over casting. You can also watch our interviews with Nolan, Matt Damon, Anne Hathaway and Zendaya about bringing the story to the big screen.
This is our flagship newsletter Morning Wire. You can subscribe here and we’ll email it to you daily.
