First Thing: Trump urged to end Iran escalation as US deaths and injuries rise

Good morning. Democrats have seized on the killing of three US troops in Iranian strikes to urge Donald Trump to reverse his resumption of the war with Iran. Amid widespread anxiety over climbing casualties, Chris Murphy, a Democratic senator for Connecticut, accused the president of having “frighteningly lost control of this war”.

Even as US forces launched a ۱۰th consecutive wave of attacks against Iranian targets, concern over the deaths of American service personnel threatened to complicate moves to escalate the conflict, which has reignited after Trump last week walked away from a memorandum of understanding agreed with Iran in June.

• How has Iran responded to continued US strikes? Iran’s Revolutionary Guards said on Tuesday they had targeted US military sites, including air defence systems and a radar installation in Bahrain and Kuwait, while the crew of a tanker in the strait of Hormuz reported being ⁠struck by an unknown projectile. Kuwait, Bahrain and Jordan said they had activated defences to repel the attacks.

• How many people have been killed and injured in the war so far? The latest casualties brought the number of US service members killed since the start of the war on ۲۸ February to at least ۱۷. More than ۱,۷۰۰ Iranian civilians are estimated to have been killed. Nearly ۱۰۰ US service members have been injured over the last two weeks of escalating strikes.

Progressive frontrunner and Maine logger poised to replace Graham Platner in chaotic primary

Troy Jackson – a logger, longtime legislator and former president of the Maine senate – is poised to become the Democratic nominee in Maine’s US Senate race. His rise comes after the party’s previous nominee, Graham Platner, abruptly ended his campaign this month following allegations of sexual assault from a former partner.

Several contenders filed paperwork to be considered at a ۲۵ July special convention tasked with selecting a new nominee. But over the weekend, Jackson’s serious challengers dropped out one after another, clearing a swift and unobstructed path for him.

• What is happening with Lindsey Graham’s Senate seat? Darline Graham, the South Carolina interim senator and sister of the late Lindsey Graham, said she plans to run for a full Senate term after Trump endorsed her last week. In an interview with Sean Hannity, Graham – who was appointed by Governor Henry McMaster to finish the remainder of her brother’s term – said she had “made a decision. I’m in.”

• Why are their fresh concerns about AI chatbots and elections? A European study, published by the civil liberties group Liberties and based on research during this year’s Hungarian parliamentary elections, has concluded that AI chatbots provide inaccurate, inconsistent and unreliable guidance to voters asking which party they should back.

United Airlines says it will ‘look into’ worker’s threat to call ICE in viral video

United Airlines is “looking into” a viral video showing a United Airlines employee threatening to call Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on a Mexican American man at San Francisco international airport last week.

After three hours of waiting and a sour exchange with a United Airlines staffer while trying to correct an error made when entering his daughter’s name, the naturalized citizen Julio Varela pulled out his phone and demanded the woman identify herself so he could report her. The United staffer responded by pulling out her own phone and recording him. “Maybe we should call ICE on you,” the woman replied. “You don’t act like a citizen.”

Suspect who sent anonymous tip to Alaska police charged with ۱۹۹۳ killing

A Michigan man suspected of having murdered a co-worker in Fairbanks, Alaska, in ۱۹۹۳ was arrested recently after he called in what he intended to be an anonymous tip revealing where he had hidden the victim’s body, according to investigators. Christopher Popps, ۵۴, faces charges of second-degree murder in the death of Patrick Dearth, Alaska state police said in a statement.

In other news …

Stat of the day: Donald Trump to impose ۵۰% tariff on most Canadian goods

Donald Trump is imposing ۵۰% tariffs on most Canadian goods in response to the country retaliating against previous US tariffs, the White House announced, declaring Canada has unfairly discriminated against US cars, alcohol and dairy products. The supreme court ruled in February that Trump had illegally used emergency executive powers to impose his global tariffs, and the US has been forced to pay back $۸۱bn in tariffs so far this fiscal year.

Culture Pick: Ted Lasso’s Hannah Waddingham on sexism, stunts and stardom at ۵۱

A fantastic interview with the British actor Hannah Waddingham, whose roles in Games of Thrones, Sex Education and Ted Lasso gave her stardom after a long, unflashy career, and is now in her Hollywood era.

Don’t miss this: The disturbing rise of ‘gooner’ assaults at Dollar Tree stores

The internet has truly enabled and encouraged some of the grimmest behaviour, including dark corners where men are goading each other to masturbate in public – and on female shoppers – and then post the footage. Andrew Gumbel investigates. And this read from Ariel Bogle explores the ۷۶۴ network, just one part of a growing online ecosystem that pushes young members into brutal and degrading acts, with perpetrators and victims in dozens of countries.

… or this: Matthew Broderick and Alan Ruck on Ferris Bueller’s Day Off

In this recount of how the pair made the film, Broderick nails the enduring appeal of his cult movie character, saying: “I thought Ferris shouldn’t seem to be trying too hard, that things came easy to him. I wanted to be a little cool and aloof. We didn’t want him to be somebody you wanted to punch in the face.”

Climate check: Slowdown in Arctic ice melt ends after largest winter decline on record

A previously recorded slowdown in Arctic sea ice decline has ended, according to a study, with the largest year-to-year wintertime reduction ever recorded. Sea ice area in September, when it reaches its annual minimum, has halved since ۱۹۷۹, when satellite measurements began.

Last Thing: Big Bear’s missing bald eagle believed to have been found alive but injured

A beloved female bald eagle missing for several days in California’s Big Bear Lake is believed to have been found alive but injured after a fight with other birds, according to the advocacy group that operates a live nestcam where Jackie had become a popular feature.

Sign up

First Thing is delivered to thousands of inboxes every weekday. If you’re not already signed up, subscribe now.

Get in touch

If you have any questions or comments about any of our newsletters please email newsletters@theguardian.com