⚡ Today in History

On June 28, 1919, US President Woodrow Wilson signed the Treaty of Versailles to end World War I, a pact whose harsh terms many historians link to the rise of Adolf Hitler. Today? President Donald Trump signed his memorandum of understanding with Iran at the same Palace of Versailles on June 17, ending the war he launched in February.

Top News

Trump signs Iran war deal at Versailles, ending the conflict he started 14 POINTS

To halt a war that began February 28, Trump signed a 14-point memorandum of understanding with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, doing so at a dinner with French President Emmanuel Macron at the Palace of Versailles. The deal takes effect immediately, extends the ceasefire for 60 days, reopens the Strait of Hormuz, and lifts the US naval blockade.

Ukraine hits Moscow oil refinery in largest strike of the war 194 DRONES

Calling it revenge for Russian attacks on Ukrainian cities, Ukraine launched its largest drone assault on Moscow since the 2022 invasion, striking the Gazprom Neft refinery 9 miles southeast of the Kremlin. Air defenses downed 194 drones over the capital, the refinery that supplies about a third of Moscow's fuel caught fire, and all major Moscow airports briefly halted flights.

Hegseth tells NATO allies to defend themselves, orders troop review

Pressing Europe to take over its own defense, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced a six-month Pentagon review of American forces in Europe at a NATO meeting in Brussels, calling for a rebooted "NATO 3.0." Hegseth called it "shameful" that allies denied US forces basing access to attack Iran.

Oil falls to a three-month low as Hormuz prepares to reopen

As traders priced in the return of Iranian supply under the new deal, crude oil fell to about $75 a barrel on Thursday, its lowest since early March. The Strait of Hormuz, which carried roughly one-fifth of global oil and gas before the war, is set to reopen under the agreement, easing a disruption that had blocked more than 14 million barrels a day.

Tropical Storm Arthur forms off the Texas coast

Arthur, the first named storm of the 2026 Atlantic hurricane season, formed Wednesday off the Gulf Coast of Texas. The season opens as a newly formed El Nino in the tropical Pacific raises questions about how heat and drought will hit the United States in the months ahead.

World

Russia returns fire on Kyiv as drone war widens 555 DOWNED

Hours after Ukraine's strike on Moscow, Russia hit Kyiv with seven missiles and 239 drones overnight, killing one person in the northeastern city of Sumy. Russia's Defense Ministry said its air defenses intercepted 555 Ukrainian drones nationwide between Wednesday night and Thursday morning.

Israel digs in on Lebanon, refusing to pull back its troops

Despite the new US-Iran deal calling for respect for Lebanon's sovereignty, Israel told Washington it would keep forces south of Lebanon's Litani River. An Israeli drone strike in southern Lebanon on Thursday killed one person, even as overall violence there dropped sharply after the agreement.

Putin hosts Southeast Asian leaders in Kazan as drones fly

Seeking to project stability during the attacks, Russian President Vladimir Putin hosted an ASEAN summit in the central city of Kazan on Thursday. Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia, and Singapore sent their prime ministers, while the Philippines sent President Ferdinand Marcos.

IAEA agrees to oversee dilution of Iran's uranium stockpile

To verify the new agreement, the International Atomic Energy Agency, the UN's nuclear watchdog, said it would supervise the down-blending of Iran's enriched uranium on site. Director General Rafael Grossi called the operation highly complex and said the agency would now define the concrete steps with US and Iranian officials.

Gang violence in Haiti has killed 2,300 people this year

As gang control of Port-au-Prince persists, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres visited the Haitian capital this week. UN data shows 2,300 people have been killed in Haiti this year, with another 100 kidnapped.

Politics

Republicans break with Trump over the Iran deal

Reacting to terms some call too soft on Tehran, Senator Bill Cassidy of Louisiana called the war with Iran "the worst foreign policy blunder in decades." His criticism came as Trump faced right-wing pressure over an agreement that promises Iran sanctions relief and reconstruction money.

Trump posts from Joint Base Andrews after a 3:30 a.m. landing

Returning from the G7 summit and his Versailles stop, Trump landed at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland at 3:30 a.m. Thursday and posted on social media on a range of topics shortly after. The White House has confirmed the Iran deal is in effect but has not publicly released the document.

Lawmakers demand the White House release the Iran text

Because the administration read the deal aloud but has not published it, members of Congress are pressing for the full text of the agreement. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York said lawmakers had been told the war was over dozens of times and disappointed dozens of times.

Pakistan's prime minister signs the Iran deal as mediator

Acting as a go-between for Washington and Tehran, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif signed the memorandum of understanding on Thursday in the capital, Islamabad. Earlier US-Iran talks hosted in Pakistan in April had failed to reach a peace deal.

Social Security faces a 22% cut in 2032 without action 2032

With the program's trust fund running short, Social Security checks could be cut by 22% in 2032 unless Congress acts to shore up funding. The shortfall puts new pressure on lawmakers to agree on a fix for the retirement program that tens of millions of Americans rely on.

Markets

Stocks bounce back as the Iran deal calms nerves +0.6%

After the signed Iran agreement landed two days ahead of schedule, S&P 500 futures rose about 0.6% on Thursday, clawing back roughly half of the prior session's 1.25% drop. The earlier slide followed the Federal Reserve's signal of possible rate hikes later this year.

Fed holds rates in Kevin Warsh's first meeting as chair

With inflation at a three-year high, the Federal Reserve left its benchmark rate unchanged on Wednesday in the first decision under new chair Kevin Warsh. The committee's projections showed a growing tilt toward raising rates later in 2026, a sharp reversal from the cuts markets expected at the start of the year.

Traders now expect a Fed rate hike by October

Following the war's energy shock and stubborn inflation, US rate markets are fully pricing in a Fed hike by October 2026 and two hikes by early 2027. At the end of February, those same markets expected two rate cuts before year's end.

IEA warns of an oil glut as Iranian supply returns

Looking past the war, the International Energy Agency projected that global oil supply could rise by 8 million barrels a day by 2027 while demand grows by only 2 million. The forecast of significant oversupply helped keep crude near three-month lows on Thursday.

Housing costs and short supply weigh on buyers

High prices and limited inventory are squeezing the US housing market, according to Harvard's State of the Nation's Housing 2026 report. The study found that household growth slowed for the third straight year in 2025.

Entertainment

Paul McCartney turns 84 today 84

The former Beatle, who turns 84 on June 18, shares the date with country singer Blake Shelton and "Game of Thrones" actor Richard Madden. McCartney's catalog spans The Beatles, Wings, and a long solo career.

"Avatar: Fire and Ash" lands on Disney+ after $1.4B run

After earning $1.4 billion at the global box office, James Cameron's third Pandora adventure arrives on Disney+ this month. The figure trails the $2 billion-plus hauls of the first two "Avatar" films but still ranks among the year's biggest releases.

"Toy Story 5" leads a packed June at the box office

Pixar's "Toy Story 5" is dominating theaters this month alongside Steven Spielberg's science-fiction film "Disclosure Day," his first feature in four years. "Masters of the Universe" and "Jackass: Best and Last" round out a crowded summer slate.

Netflix eyes a world tour for "KPop Demon Hunters"

Following the film's Oscar wins for Best Animated Feature and Best Original Song, Netflix is in talks to stage a live arena tour built on its songs. Promoters are aiming for 2027 shows ahead of a planned sequel, according to Bloomberg.

"Dancing with the Stars" adds Jimmy Kimmel's Guillermo

Guillermo Rodriguez, the longtime sidekick from "Jimmy Kimmel Live," is joining the cast of "Dancing with the Stars" Season 35 on ABC. Reality stars Maura Higgins and Ciara Miller have also signed on, with the full lineup expected soon.