Graham Platner, the U.S. Democrat senate candidate and self described progressive from Maine has resigned from the race. It comes after mounting calls from within his own party after sexual and assault allegations.

Vessel traffic through the Strait of Hormuz appears to have ground to a near-halt after the latest escalation of hostilities between the United States and Iran, after Tehran attacked ships trying to pass the strait using the non-Iran-controlled southern Oman route, triggering a fresh cycle of escalation as Washington responded with a flurry of strikes.