UK - The Independent

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1. Tories’ political domination in Sussex set for its biggest test in decades

   Most Sussex residents haven’t voted for their county councillors since Boris Johnson was prime minister. With Nigel Farage’s Reform soaring in the polls, Harry Cockburnspeaks to voters across the county – where the political future looks more alien than it has for years

2. Fulham boost European hopes by beating Champions League-chasing Aston Villa

   Ryan Sessegnon’s goal settled the game at Craven Cottage.

3. Why a century-old naval disaster means Trump can’t take the Strait of Hormuz by force

   As Donald Trump and Iran insist on keeping the Strait of Hormuz firmly closed while a shaky ceasefire persists, John W S Clark looks back at a similar stand-off more than a century ago, which did not end well

4. Wolves v Tottenham LIVE: Xavi Simons starts as Spurs face decisive test in Premier League survival bid

   Tottenham start the weekend still in the relegation zone after seeing victory snatched at the death against Brighton last time out

5. Trees are magic. In Newport, volunteers are working to expand their healthy reach

   On Newport’s south side, historic and opulent mansions sit on an avenue with mature trees that help cool the neighborhoods, clean the air and foster wildlife

6. Two young children die in Wolverhampton house fire

   Police have cordoned off the property while work is done to establish the cause of the fire

7. Sunak: Starmer must take responsibility for Mandelson vetting scandal

   The government is ‘at risk of learning the wrong lessons from this sorry episode’, the former prime minister said

8. Roommate charged with two counts of murder in death, disappearance of two USF students

   Authorities have filed murder charges against the roommate of a Bangladeshi doctoral student who disappeared with his girlfriend from the University of South Florida

9. Iran-US war latest: Tehran ‘lays out demands for US’ in Pakistan – but denies direct talks

   Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi arrived in Pakistan but ‘no meeting is planned’ with US

10. US says it's hunting for explosive mines in latest push to open the Strait of Hormuz

    President Donald Trump says the U.S. Navy is clearing Iranian mines from the Strait of Hormuz