Skies are turning hazy across the Northeast and Midwest as smoke from hundreds of Canadian wildfires create hazardous conditions and hazy skies. Health officials say wildfire smoke contains fine particles that can be especially dangerous for children, older adults, and people with heart or lung conditions. But forecasters say rain later this week should help improve air quality in parts of the Midwest and Northeast.

An American citizen held captive in Iran since 2024 is now free. The wrongfully detained woman has been released and is safely out of the country. American forces also on Wednesday night hitting Iranian command centers, air defense systems, missile and drone capabilities, and coastal surveillance facilities, targeting Iran’s ability to threaten commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz.

The World Cup final is now set, after Argentina took down England 2-1 after their semi-final match together. Argentina will meet with Spain in the finals on Sunday. The two countries have close ties when it comes to soccer. Seven players on Argentina's squad currently play for clubs in Spain's top division. Lionel Messi enters the final leading the tournament's Golden Boot race, with eight goals and four assists.

Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche is facing a key confirmation hearing in front of the Senate Judiciary Committee on Wednesday. Blanche has served as acting AG since April after President Trump fired Pam Bondi. He’s expected to face questions concerning the Epstein files and Trump’s Anti-Weaponization Fund.

U.S. Central Command says it completed another wave of strikes against Iran this morning, as President Trump issues a renewed threat to Iran to return to the negotiating table. The U.S. also resumed a naval blockade targeting vessels traveling to and from Iranian ports and coastal areas. President Trump also saying he changed his mind about charging countries a security fee to reimburse U.S. military costs in the Strait of Hormuz.

ICE is temporarily suspending most vehicle stops nationwide while officials review recent enforcement incidents. Border Czar Tom Homan says the pause will not reduce immigration arrests. President Trump posting on Truth Social praising ICE saying that ‘they are doing a great job’ and that ‘crime is way down in America, in many cases with numbers that haven’t been seen in decades.’

The U.S. carried out a third night of strikes against Iran overnight, with officials saying the mission is aimed at degrading Iran’s ability to attack civilians in the Strait of Hormuz. President Trump writing on Truth Social that The United States will be known as ‘the Guardian of the Hormuz Strait,’ and be reimbursed at the rate of 20% on all cargo shipped, for providing safety and security. The latest strikes mark an escalation after the U.S. and Iran agreed to end hostilities, reopen the strait, and start nuclear negotiations.

Lawmakers are back in Washington this week and Republican leaders in the House are trying again to move to pass the election integrity bill known as the SAVE America Act by attaching it to the National Defense Authorization Act. Lawmakers did this back in June but failed with 14 lawmakers opposing the rule. Senators can also strip the act out before passage so it would still require enough votes to pass.

A 67-year-old Mississippi man identified as Wendell J. Royster, is facing charges after Capitol Police say he drove to a security barricade near the Capitol with a handgun on his lap. Authorities say he approached the barricade in a rented Ford Bronco and asked an officer for directions to the Supreme Court, which is when an officer noticed the firearm on his lap. A team of Capitol Police officers surrounded the vehicle and took him into custody without incident. Royster is charged with carrying a pistol without a license or permit.

The White House lowered its flags to half staff to honor the life of Senator Lindsey Graham after he died at the age of 71. President Trump described the Senator as a ’true American patriot’ and ‘one of the greatest people and Senators’ that he has ever known. A medical examiner released preliminary finding that Graham suffered from an aortic dissection. South Carolina will hold a special primary to elect a new Republican nominee in the race for his seat.

U.S. Central Command says it has completed another wave of strikes against Iran, hitting dozens of targets in multiple locations. The operation involved U.S. fighter aircraft, naval vessels, and one-way attack drones. Iran has claimed it closed the Strait of Hormuz in response to U.S. strikes, but CENTCOM rejected that claim, saying the key waterway remains open and commercial traffic is continuing. Iraq's prime minister is visiting Washington on Monday to strengthen ties with the United States, with expected oil and gas agreements aimed at boosting investment and production.

The World Cup semifinals are set, with France, Spain, Argentina, and England just one win away from the final. France and Spain will meet on Tuesday in Dallas, while defending champion Argentina takes on England on Wednesday in Atlanta. The winners of the two semifinals will meet in the World Cup Final next on July 19th at the New York New Jersey Stadium.

The quarter-finals of the FIFA World Cup are underway, with Belgium taking on Spain on Friday, hoping to join France in the semi-finals after France beat Morocco 2–0 on Thursday. On Saturday, Norway will face England, with Norway in the quarter-finals for the first time. Argentina will also face Switzerland on Saturday in Kansas City, with Switzerland in the quarter-finals for the first time since 1954.

U.S. Central Command says its forces hit approximately 90 Iranian military targets on July 8, including air defense systems, coastal surveillance sites, missile and drone storage facilities, naval capabilities, and military logistics infrastructure along Iran’s coastline. The U.S. Embassy in Jordan on July 9 warned people to take shelter after reports of missiles, rockets, and drones entering Jordanian airspace.

Eight men have now been indicted in an alleged plot to attack the White House's UFC Freedom 250 event last month. Authorities say the eighth suspect, Chandler Scaggs of West Virginia, was arrested this week and was allegedly assigned as one of the snipers. Federal prosecutors say the suspects conspired to provide material support to terrorists and to murder federal officials.

U.S. forces have carried out another round of strikes against Iran, targeting military sites along the country’s coastline. U.S. Central Command said Monday’s operation was aimed at reducing Iran’s ability to threaten commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. CENTCOM says it struck about 90 Iranian military targets, including air defense systems, missiles and drone storage sites, naval assets and logistics infrastructure. CENTCOM says more than 20 U.S. Navy warships are now patrolling waters across the Middle East, and that U.S. forces remain ready to conduct additional operations if ordered.

Graham Platner, the Senate candidate and self-described progressive from Maine, has dropped out of the race for one of Maine’s Senate seats. It comes after mounting calls from within his own party, following a sexual assault allegation. In the state’s primary last month, Platner was contending with Janet Mills, who won 41,000 votes compared to his 156,000 votes. Maine is a top target for one of the four seats Democrats need to gain to take control of the upper chamber. His replacement will be up against long-time Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine), who’s held her seat since 1996.

Bonnie Tyler, the three-time Grammy-nominated Welsh pop star, has died at the age of 75. A statement from her family says she died in a hospital in Portugal, where she was being treated for an illness. Tyler was known for her iconic gravelly tone, which helped her send her song "Total Eclipse of the Heart" to the top of the charts. Some of her other famous releases include "Holding Out for a Hero," "It’s a Heartache," and "Lost in France." She represented Britain in the 2013 Eurovision Song contest, and was appointed a member of the Order of the British Empire in 2022 for her contributions to music.

President Trump announced on Wednesday at the NATO summit in Turkey that, in his view, the ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran is over. The president’s comments come after the U.S. military carried out a new round of strikes against Iran, following attacks by Iranian forces on commercial vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz. President Trump called negotiations with Iran a waste of time, accusing the Islamic Republic of repeatedly failing to honor its commitments.

A scare in midtown Manhattan appears to be over, after emergency crews say that a high-rise under construction is now stable after structural damage prompted evacuations. The emergency began on Tuesday morning after workers discovered buckled structural columns and sagging floors inside the building. Several nearby buildings were evacuated as a precaution, while engineers assessed the damage. Investigators are still working to determine what caused the columns to buckle, and officials say repairs will continue in the coming days.

The World Cup quarterfinals are set, as the 8 teams are set to begin battling it out starting on Thursday. Argentina advanced on Tuesday after a thrilling victory against Egypt in Atlanta. Switzerland also punched its ticket to the quarterfinals for the first time since 1954, defeating Colombia in a penalty shootout.

President Trump arriving in Ankara, Turkey on Tuesday for a high-stakes NATO summit. Senior administration officials, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, are traveling with the president. He will also meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa. Leaders from NATO's 32 member states are expected to review progress on defense spending commitments and burden-sharing goals.

Democratic leaders are calling for Graham Platner to exit the race after an allegation of sexual assault. Platner is the embattled Democratic nominee facing incumbent Senator Susan Collins. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and Senator Kirsten Gillibrand are now asking him to step down. Maine's Democratic Party leadership is also calling on Platner to withdraw, and the Senate Majority PAC announced it is redirecting resources away from the race. The deadline for candidates to drop out with time for the party to replace a nominee is July 13th.

Severe thunderstorms across parts of the United States have knocked out power for hundreds of thousands of customers. More than 373,000 homes and businesses were without electricity on Monday as strong winds, heavy rain, and storm damage affected several regions. Pennsylvania was among the hardest-hit states, with more than 50,000 outages reported. Utility crews continue repairs as some areas recover from the severe weather.

Team USA’s Folarin Balogun will be available to play in today’s Round of 16 game against Belgium after his red card was suspended. President Donald Trump reacted to the decision on Truth Social, thanking FIFA for ‘reversing a great injustice.’ Belgium's soccer federation has criticized the ruling, saying it is exploring its options to "safeguard the legitimate rights of all participating teams and to protect the fundamental principles of fair play."

Trump is set to travel to the Turkish capital, Ankara, for a key meeting with NATO allies. He is expected to meet with Turkish President Recep Erdogan separately ahead of that meeting. Trump is also scheduled to hold separate meetings with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa before wrapping up the summit with a news conference. A major focus of the summit will be whether NATO allies are making progress toward higher defense spending commitments.

A small seaplane was seen making a hard landing into New York’s East River on Sunday afternoon. New York City Fire Department officials say at least eight people were removed from the plane; two of whom were evaluated for minor injuries. The FAA said it will launch an investigation into why the plane had to make an emergency landing. The agency says the hard landing caused a wing strut to snap. The aircraft was later towed to a dock.

Cities across the U.S. gears up to celebrate its 250th birthday, as well as countries beyond U.S. borders. The State Department inviting landmarks, monuments, and historic sites across the globe to shine in red, white, and blue. In South Korea, the National Museum of Korean History's LED screens showcasing America's story through next week. In Japan, Tokyo Tower, Rainbow Bridge and the Tokyo Aqua Symphony all lighting up in the colors of the American flag.

A dangerous heat wave is expected to continue through the 4th of July weekend, with the National Weather Service warning of widespread extreme heat risk across the eastern half of the country. Forecasters say temperatures could reach as high as 100 degrees, combined with the humidity, may make the air feel as high as 115 degrees. Officials are urging people to stay hydrated, limit time outdoors, seek air conditioning whenever possible, and never leave children or pets inside unattended vehicles.

NATO leaders are set to meet in Ankara next week with defense spending, Ukraine and transatlantic unity at the top of the agenda. Secretary General Mark Rutte says allies are expected to announce tens of billions of dollars in new defense contracts. NATO officials say one of their top priorities is keeping the U.S. committed to the alliance's mutual defense pact.