In the Middle East

Tankers are still moving through the Strait of Hormuz after a new vessel attack rattled energy markets, but the route remains under strain. Traffic through the waterway has more than tripled since the U.S.-Iran interim peace deal, though it is still well below prewar levels. Four empty supertankers are due to enter the strait today, a useful test of whether ship operators think they can load and leave safely. The possibility of more stable oil flows is already shifting markets, and Iraq’s president says the country would leave OPEC if production quotas are not raised.

In Europe

A punishing heat wave is pushing power systems hard across the continent. Britain’s grid briefly called for extra power before backing off as supply tightened, electricity prices jumped in the evening, and several French nuclear reactors went offline because they could not cool efficiently. Germany and Britain are heading for their highest June average electricity prices since the 2022 energy crisis. Europe’s climate director, Carlo Buontempo, said record heat should not be treated like a surprise package, and noted that the consequences arrive whether the planning does or not.

In Germany

In Magdeburg, Taleb al Abdulmohsen has been sentenced to life imprisonment after driving into the Christmas market there, killing six people and injuring more than 300. It is a brutal reminder that the legal process may end, but the damage does not neatly follow suit.

In U.S. politics

Billionaire Leon Black is scheduled to appear before members of Congress investigating Jeffrey Epstein. Black paid Epstein large sums, and his representatives have said the money was for tax advice and estate planning.

Separately, House Republicans are defending the use of artificial intelligence after a committee summary for a defense bill amendment included the phrase “Claude responded,” which suggests the drafting may have gotten a little help from the chatbot. Representative Anna Paulina Luna said most staff use AI. That is one way to keep Congress looking modern.

In the Americas

At least 235 people have been killed and more than 4,300 injured after two powerful earthquakes struck northern Venezuela 39 seconds apart. The quakes hit Caracas, La Guaira, and surrounding areas, and rescue crews are still searching collapsed buildings while families wait for news of missing relatives.

In business and housing

New York City’s rental board has approved Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s two-year rent freeze for nearly 1 million rent-stabilized apartments. In France, a Paris court ruled that TotalEnergies must account for indirect emissions and tighten its climate policy, while stopping short of holding the company directly liable for what customers do.

In tech and media

DuckDuckGo’s AI search tool briefly told users Donald Trump had died from rabies after a viral hoax polluted its results, a reminder that search tools can still be led around by nonsense if the nonsense is popular enough. Separately, Hasbro is facing backlash after reports that child actors on Peppa Pig are being asked to sign over voice rights for AI use, prompting an open letter from 1,000 industry professionals over consent and compensation.

In public health

French authorities have temporarily restricted public alcohol sales and takeaway alcohol in Paris as hospitals deal with a surge in heat-related emergencies during one of Europe’s most severe early-summer heatwaves in years. In Nepal, a new survey found child malnutrition has reached alarming levels after USAID cut funding for nutrition programs, and experts warn earlier gains in reducing child mortality could be at risk.

Meanwhile, outbreaks linked to Vibrio vulnificus and Group A strep, both sometimes called flesh-eating bacteria, have killed hundreds worldwide. Warming seas are helping Vibrio spread into new areas.

In Europe

The EU is pressing Britain to align food standards as part of the Brexit reset talks, including the possibility of banning some pesticides and fungicides that are legal in the UK. British officials want a transition period for farmers, and the National Farmers’ Union says a rushed change could hurt productivity, investment, and confidence across the sector. A study by the Andersons Centre puts possible losses for arable, horticulture, and sugar producers at up to £810 million. The summit expected to settle the issue has been postponed, but technical talks continue.

In France, prosecutors say 17-year-old Louis was lured into a planned ambush and beaten to death after reporting a previous assault to police. Investigators say the attackers taunted him during the assault, allegedly telling him, “You won’t talk to the police anymore.”

In the United States

The Supreme Court has cleared the way for President Donald Trump to end Temporary Protected Status for more than 350,000 Haitians and 6,000 Syrians. That removes deportation protections for people who have legally lived and worked in the U.S. for more than a decade.

In business and tech

Apple is raising prices on several MacBook and iPad models, with increases of up to $300 in the U.S. and up to £300 in the UK. The company says higher memory and storage costs tied to the AI boom have become too expensive to absorb, which is a neat way of saying the bill has arrived.

Polestar’s plans to sell upcoming models in the U.S. have been blocked by the Trump administration, which cited national security concerns over China-linked technology. The decision has rattled investors and raised fresh questions about foreign-owned automakers in the American market.

In entertainment

The Directors Guild of America has ratified a four-year contract aimed at protecting jobs during a historic slump in film and TV production. Guild leaders said members approved the deal overwhelmingly.

In Venezuela

Two earthquakes struck minutes apart, killing at least 235 people and injuring more than 4,300. Officials say search and rescue work is still underway, with more people feared trapped under rubble after one of the country’s worst disasters in more than a century.

In Britain

Eight families have been left homeless after a disposable barbecue fire tore through a terrace in Basildon, Essex. Fire crews from seven stations fought the blaze as flames spread rapidly across connected roofs, and the council has put some residents in a hotel while fundraising gets started.

In business and tech

Apple raised prices on its iPads and MacBooks, saying it can no longer absorb rising memory and storage chip costs tied to the AI data center boom. The lowest-priced laptop now starts at $699, up from $599, and Apple says iPhone prices could still move later.

Elsewhere in the hardware and industrial supply chain, Hanwha Power has entered the U.S. market by supplying gas compressors to a power plant in Ohio and signing a nine-year service deal for the site. LS Cable has also started major construction at its subsea cable plant in Virginia, including a 201-meter tower, as it targets demand from grid upgrades and AI data centers. The Army, meanwhile, awarded provisional contracts for processing critical minerals at military bases.

In Washington

Speaker Mike Johnson says he will send a bipartisan housing bill to President Trump after meeting him at the White House, even after Trump canceled the planned signing ceremony. The bill has already passed Congress, so the remaining drama is mostly procedural, which in Washington counts as a full plotline.

Rep. Tom Kean Jr. is set to return to Congress next Tuesday after more than three months away for an unspecified medical condition, and later the same day he is scheduled to attend a campaign fundraiser. Separate from that, a judge has ordered the Justice Department to produce and unredact requested Epstein files, including material tied to a so-called torture video.

In the Middle East

U.S. officials say Iran’s Revolutionary Guard attacked a Singapore-flagged cargo ship in the Strait of Hormuz using a one-way drone. The ship’s bridge was damaged, but there were no reported casualties or environmental damage. The International Maritime Organization has paused its evacuation plan for stranded ships in the Persian Gulf while it reassesses safety conditions in the region.

In Venezuela

The United Nations says it is scaling up its response after twin earthquakes hit Venezuela, warning that the disaster will deepen an already severe humanitarian crisis. In Philadelphia, Venezuelans have been mobilizing aid as they try to support family and neighbors back home.

On the U.S. and UK air circuit

The RAF Red Arrows are touring the United States over the next few weeks for America’s 250th independence celebrations, with planned flypasts from New York to Michigan and Maine to Wisconsin. The squadron has already flown over Washington, including above a Nationals game, in a reminder that allied symbolism still enjoys a very polished airshow budget.

In U.S. politics and policy

The Supreme Court has cleared the Trump administration to block some asylum seekers at the U.S.-Mexico border, reviving the so-called metering approach that lets agents stop migrants before they physically enter the country. Separate from that, Rep. Mike Lawler is urging an extension of temporary protected status for Haitians after the court also allowed the administration to end TPS protections for thousands of Haitians and Syrians.

Meanwhile, new records are undercutting Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s Senate testimony about his 2019 trip to Samoa. The documents suggest he was there on a vaccine-related mission before the measles outbreak, which raises fresh questions about what he told senators and why.

In business and tech

Micron says demand for memory chips used in AI data centers has pushed quarterly revenue up 346%, helping lift its market value past Tesla’s. Apple is also raising prices, including on some Macs and iPads, while Xbox is increasing console costs. Apple says the chip crunch tied to the AI boom has become the fastest and sharpest component price spike it has seen.

In media and regulation

FCC chair Brendan Carr has accused Disney of spreading misinformation after ABC mounted a public campaign around two FCC investigations and urged viewers to weigh in. The network is trying to rally support while it sits under separate federal scrutiny.

In the Middle East

A UN agency has paused ship evacuations through the Strait of Hormuz after a vessel was reportedly struck off the coast of Oman. No casualties were reported, but the attack is still enough to disrupt routing in one of the world’s most sensitive shipping lanes.

In Washington and the courts

President Trump’s closed-door lunch with Senate Republicans reportedly turned into a shouting match over Iran, including a blowup with Sen. Bill Cassidy. Hours later, Cassidy reversed his position on the issue, which made the whole thing look less like a policy meeting and more like live-fire caucus management.

Separately, a federal judge in Boston blocked part of the administration’s effort to tie mail-in ballot rules to federal voter-roll data, ruling that the Postal Service barcode requirement in the March 31 order was unconstitutional. The Supreme Court also sided with the administration in a 6-3 ruling allowing it to end Temporary Protected Status for more than 350,000 Haitians and about 6,100 Syrians.

In energy and climate

Oil prices fell back to pre-war levels as more tankers left the Strait of Hormuz, easing fears of another inflation shock. Brent crude dropped to $72.24 a barrel, more than 20% lower for the month, and markets rose in Europe and the U.S. as tensions in the region appeared to cool.

At the same time, Europe’s heat wave kept grinding on. Heat-related deaths are rising in Spain, Italy, and France, the UK set a new June temperature record, France shut down some nuclear reactors because of the heat, and a water supplier in Kent imposed a temporary hosepipe ban as pressure on supplies increased.

In business and tech

Adobe says it has acquired Topaz Labs, the AI company known for image and video enhancement. Adobe plans to fold Topaz’s tools into Firefly, its enterprise products, and Creative Cloud, which is a polite way of saying it wants every creator to stay inside the same ecosystem.

In crime

U.S. Marshals arrested former Las Vegas youth pastor David Vander Meer after prosecutors charged him with murder and insurance fraud in connection with his wife’s 2006 death at Zion National Park. Investigators say new information reopened the case, and the affidavit alleges he took out and later increased life insurance policies before her death, then collected more than $567,000 after it was ruled an accident. He is being held in Clark County and has not yet had a first court appearance.

In business and tech

Anthropic says Alibaba used 25,000 fake accounts in what it calls a major attempt to extract secrets from Claude, framing it as the largest known distillation attack on its systems. If true, it is less competition than industrial espionage with a cloud account.

Elsewhere in the corporate world, Elon Musk’s estimated net worth slipped back below $1 trillion as Tesla and SpaceX shares fell, and Porsche says up to 3,900 jobs could be affected as it expands cost cuts. Gas prices are easing too, but not nearly as fast as crude, which is a helpful reminder that consumers rarely get the whole discount at the same speed as the market gets the whole excuse.

In U.S. politics

A new Strength In Numbers/Verasight poll finds 53% of Americans say Congress has grounds to impeach President Trump, including 40% who say “yes, definitely.” Thirty-nine percent say there are no grounds, including 28% who say “definitely not.”

Separately, The Atlantic reports a legal challenge to Bill Pulte’s role as acting director of national intelligence, saying he may not be eligible for the post under the succession rules. The issue turns on whether the principal deputy, Aaron Lukas, should be serving instead.

In the weather

The UK Met Office has extended its red heat warning into Friday night as extreme temperatures continue across Europe, while South East Water has imposed a temporary hosepipe ban in Kent to protect supplies. In the U.S., two heat domes are expected to combine into a major heat wave next week, with heat index values of 100 to 110 degrees stretching from the Gulf Coast to the Southern Great Lakes.

In Venezuela

Rescue teams are racing through the hardest-hit areas after devastating earthquakes killed at least 164 people, with more personnel shifted into the La Guaira area and volunteers searching damaged buildings in Caracas. The international community has pledged aid, and President Trump says the U.S. is ready to help. The death toll could still rise sharply.

In science

Astronomers have discovered two giant exoplanets orbiting a star 1,110 light-years away, and they are so low-density they have been compared to cotton candy. Space remains committed to making the rest of us feel underachieving.

In Europe

French prosecutors have opened a judicial investigation after investigators said one of the attackers filmed the fatal assault on 17-year-old Louis, and that footage helped police identify five suspects. Louis was found the next morning, taken to hospital and later died days after the attack.

A severe heatwave is pushing temperatures toward 39C across parts of Europe, from France and Belgium to Spain, raising public safety concerns and putting pressure on infrastructure.

In the UK, an independent review into maternity care at Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust says staff altered the medical records of baby Kate Stanton-Davies after she died. Separately, the government plans new powers that could let officials recover unpaid benefit debts directly from bank accounts and, in some cases, suspend driving licences.

In international courts

International Criminal Court judges have sued Donald Trump over sanctions they say were designed to punish and pressure the court over war crimes cases involving the U.S. and Israel. A neat reminder that some institutions still object when power uses a legal boot as a policy tool.

In the Americas

Venezuela is dealing with the aftermath of two strong earthquakes that killed at least 32 people and injured about 700, with dozens of buildings collapsed and rescue crews still searching the rubble for survivors. Authorities say assistance from other countries is expected.

In markets

Gold and silver have extended their losses, with spot gold falling below $4,000 an ounce for the first time since November 2025 as the dollar strengthened and interest-rate expectations shifted. Oil prices have also dropped back to levels seen before the Iran conflict, after a stretch of sharp volatility. Markets, in other words, remain committed to the art of reacting loudly and late.

In U.S. politics

President Trump canceled a Capitol signing ceremony for a housing bill and told Republicans a voting bill should move first, then sat through a tense meeting with Senate Republicans. On Iran, the Senate narrowly blocked a second rebuke of the administration, with GOP leaders arguing another slap on the wrist could complicate negotiations to end the war. Trump also kicked off the America 250 state fair on the National Mall with the usual mix of celebration, grievances, and military flyovers. One way to mark a birthday.

Separately, three left-wing candidates won New York City congressional primaries over establishment-backed rivals, giving Democrats another reminder that their internal debates are not exactly being resolved quietly.

In the economy

U.S. inflation is getting a fresh push from the data center boom. The rapid build-out of AI infrastructure is lifting costs for items and services ranging from smartphones to electricity, and the open question is how far those higher prices spread through the rest of the economy.

In Pakistan

Pakistani police say they rescued a French woman and her five children after one of the children escaped and reported years of abuse. Sylvie Yasmina says she was taken to Pakistan, locked in a rural home, and beaten daily for more than a decade. The family is now in a women’s shelter in Peshawar, and Yasmina says she hopes to return to France and rebuild their lives.

In Venezuela

Two powerful earthquakes, measured at 7.2 and 7.5, shook Venezuela and sent residents into the streets as buildings collapsed in Caracas. Officials declared a state of emergency as volunteers, medics, and relatives rushed into the Altamira area to search for survivors in the rubble.

In Philadelphia

Police say a woman is in custody after a fatal stabbing in North Philadelphia. A newly released transcript also shows officers did not realize 18-year-old Henry Nowak had suffered a fatal stab wound until about eight minutes after arriving, even though he repeatedly told them he had been stabbed.

In U.S. politics and elections

The White House is asking Congress for about $87.6 billion in new spending, with most of it tied to a possible war with Iran. The request lands in a Congress that already voted to curb Trump’s war powers, so this one should glide through the usual process, meaning it will probably hit a wall.

On the voting front, a federal appeals court said Michigan does not have to hand over sensitive voter data to the Trump administration. Separately, Postmaster General David Steiner told senators the Postal Service could withhold mail ballots from states that do not share absentee-ballot request lists if a proposed rule is adopted. The bureaucracy, as ever, remains committed to making democracy feel like a compliance exercise.

In the world

A powerful earthquake struck Venezuela, with reports of major shaking in Caracas and damaged buildings in the capital. USGS data described a pair of strong quakes, and tsunami threats were reported in surrounding areas. Emergency crews will be dealing with the usual post-quake realities, which are never subtle and rarely brief.

In brief

The Justice Department has charged 12 people in a drone-smuggling scheme that allegedly moved drugs and other items into prisons. It is a reminder that every bad idea eventually finds a hobbyist with a battery pack.