⚡ Today in History

On June 27, 1954, the world's first nuclear power plant opened in Obninsk, Soviet Union — generating electricity for the first time in history. In 1976, Palestinian and German terrorists hijacked an Air France flight from Tel Aviv to Paris; Israeli commandos rescued 102 hostages in a daring raid over Entebbe, Uganda. Today, the U.S. and Iran are locked in a public dispute over whether Tehran has agreed to let U.N. inspectors inside its bombed nuclear sites — a key piece of the 60-day countdown to a permanent deal.

Top News

Venezuela Earthquake Death Toll Climbs as Rescue Teams Arrive 164 DEAD, 971 INJURED

Back-to-back earthquakes — a 7.2-magnitude foreshock followed 40 seconds later by a 7.5-magnitude quake, the largest to strike Venezuela since 1900 — hit the country's northern coast on the evening of June 24, collapsing dozens of buildings in the capital Caracas and in the coastal state of La Guaira, which was declared a disaster zone. Acting President Delcy Rodríguez declared a national state of emergency and established a $200 million initial relief fund, as U.S. search-and-rescue teams, along with personnel from France, Spain, Italy, Mexico, and Qatar, arrived Thursday to assist recovery efforts.

Trump Blocks Housing Bill, Demands Voter ID Law First 358–32 HOUSE VOTE

President Donald Trump canceled the signing ceremony for the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act on June 25, the largest housing affordability package Congress has passed in decades, demanding that lawmakers first pass the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act — a sweeping elections overhaul bill that adds proof-of-citizenship and voter ID requirements. The housing bill passed 358–32 in the House and 85–5 in the Senate, giving Congress enough votes to override a veto; the SAVE Act, by contrast, lacks the 60 votes needed to clear the Senate filibuster.

U.S. and Iran Trade Contradictions Over Nuclear Inspections

A week after Trump and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian signed a 14-point memorandum of understanding at the Palace of Versailles on June 17 — launching a 60-day window to negotiate a final war-ending deal — Washington and Tehran have been openly contradicting each other on whether Iran agreed to let U.N. inspectors enter its bombed nuclear enrichment sites. Iran's Foreign Ministry says any such visit happens only after a final deal is signed; the International Atomic Energy Agency's director-general Rafael Grossi says inspectors are coming as part of the interim agreement, while Trump has posted on social media that without inspections “there would be no further negotiations.”

Trump–Senate Shouting Match Erupts Over Iran War

A closed-door Senate Republican lunch on June 25 devolved into a shouting match between Trump and Sen. Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, who confronted the president over the lack of information on Iran. Cassidy, who lost his primary race to a Trump-backed challenger earlier this month, told reporters he stood up and “lost my temper,” telling Trump the war “was supposed to last four weeks, it's lasted four months” and that original objectives have not been achieved. Senate Republicans later blocked a Democratic resolution to curb Trump's war powers on Iran, handing the White House a procedural win.

World Cup Group Stage Ends Today — Round of 32 Begins Sunday

Saturday marks the final day of the group stage at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, being held across the United States, Canada, and Mexico in the tournament's first-ever 48-team format. Key matches today include Colombia vs. Portugal in Miami, Jordan vs. Argentina at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, and England vs. Panama in Boston. The United States, which beat Australia 2–0 on June 19, plays Turkey on Thursday night to determine group seeding heading into the Round of 32 — the new knockout format introduced this year.

World

UK Labour Searches for New PM as Andy Burnham Prepares to Lead 7th PM IN 10 YEARS

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced his resignation on June 22 after fellow Labour MPs turned against him, citing his failure to deliver meaningful change following 14 years of Conservative rule, mounting pressure over the Iran war, and a net approval rating that had fallen to −46% by late 2025. Andy Burnham, the former Mayor of Greater Manchester and a popular figure in the party's northern heartland, is the expected successor — but analysts warn he inherits a government burdened by rising energy prices tied to the U.S.–Iran war, a heavily indebted public sector, and threadbare public services.

Oil Hits Lowest Level Since February as Hormuz Traffic Recovers

Brent crude fell below $74 a barrel on June 25, its lowest level since before the U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran began in late February, as tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz — the narrow waterway between Iran and Oman through which about 20% of the world's seaborne oil trade passes — continued to recover. Shipowners are transiting the chokepoint with active satellite signals following safety guarantees from the International Maritime Organization, and the United Arab Emirates is exporting oil at roughly 85% of pre-war levels. Oil hit a wartime peak above $120 a barrel in March; it has since fallen about 40%.

France Hit by Extreme Heat; 40 Drowning Deaths Since June 18

Millions of people across France are enduring an extended heat emergency, with 40 drowning deaths reported since June 18 as residents try to cool down in rivers and open water. The deaths come as European leaders gather ahead of a NATO summit where member states have pledged stronger roles and tighter unity following recent tensions, with NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte set to meet with Trump to discuss the alliance's posture in the post-Iran-war security environment.

South Africa Xenophobic Violence Escalates Ahead of June 30 Deadline

Foreign-owned businesses have been attacked, migrants driven from their homes, and several people killed across South Africa in recent days as a leading xenophobic group has issued a June 30 deadline for all undocumented immigrants to leave the country. About 80% of immigrants affected are from Zimbabwe, Mozambique, and other African nations; the United Nations has called on South African authorities to protect migrants and guarantee their rights amid the escalating violence.

Ebola Case Confirmed Outside Africa for First Time in Current Outbreak

A worker responding to the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo traveled to France before testing positive for the virus — the first confirmed case outside Africa in the current outbreak, which has been centered in the Ituri Province of eastern DRC. The World Health Organization and French health authorities are tracking the individual's contacts, though French officials said the risk of wider spread remains low. The DRC outbreak has recorded dozens of deaths concentrated in the Mongbwalu region of Ituri Province since it was declared in May.

Politics

Socialists Sweep New York Primaries, Alarming the Democratic Establishment STATEWIDE SWEEP

Progressive candidates endorsed by New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani swept Democratic primary races across New York State on June 24, alarming party moderates ahead of 2026 midterm elections. New York Attorney General Letitia James publicly said she was “disappointed” in Mamdani following the results. Trump responded by describing the socialist wave as evidence that “communists” are taking over the Democratic Party — comments made as he walked into the Senate GOP lunch where he canceled the housing bill signing.

Senate GOP Tries to Mend Fences With Trump After Iran Blowup

In the hours after the June 25 Senate lunch confrontation, Republican leadership moved to smooth over tensions with the White House, following up with briefings for frustrated senators including Cassidy, who received a session in the White House Situation Room on Iran shortly after his public clash with Trump. Senate Majority Leader John Thune of South Dakota told reporters he has no path to pass the SAVE Act with current vote counts, further widening the rift between the administration's legislative priorities and what the Senate can actually deliver ahead of midterms.

Colombia Elects Trump-Backed Far-Right Candidate in Razor-Thin Runoff

Miguel José de la Espriella, a Trump-backed far-right populist, won a preliminary count in Colombia's presidential runoff election, according to reports out of Bogotá on June 26. The race was described as extremely tight, and de la Espriella's victory, if confirmed, would add Colombia to a growing list of Latin American governments that have shifted toward the right in recent years, following similar moves in Argentina, El Salvador, and Paraguay.

Bill Gates Testified Before Congress on Epstein Ties for Nearly Six Hours

Microsoft co-founder and philanthropist Bill Gates appeared before the House Oversight Committee on June 10 for a nearly six-hour session examining the government's handling of the Jeffrey Epstein case and individuals with documented ties to him. Gates disclosed the identities of two women he had extramarital affairs with during the session. The committee is part of a broader congressional effort to examine government connections to Epstein that has drawn scrutiny of several prominent figures from both parties.

U.S. Pledges to Protect Gulf States' Interests in Iran Final Deal Talks

Secretary of State Marco Rubio traveled to Bahrain and Kuwait on June 25 to brief Gulf Arab allies on the U.S.–Iran memorandum of understanding signed June 17, pledging that Washington will protect the interests of Gulf Cooperation Council states during the 60-day negotiations toward a final deal. Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Kuwait have been closely watching the Iran talks, as the GCC countries are the primary suppliers of crude oil moving through the Strait of Hormuz and would be directly affected by any permanent nuclear settlement with Tehran.

Markets

Micron Posts Record Quarter, Shares Jump 14% After Hours $41.46B REVENUE

Micron Technology — the Idaho-based memory chip maker whose products sit inside AI data centers worldwide — reported fiscal third-quarter 2026 revenue of $41.46 billion on June 24, beating Wall Street's estimate of $35.69 billion by 16% and marking the company's fifth consecutive quarterly revenue record. Micron posted earnings of $25.11 per share against an estimate of $20.49, a 22% beat; data-center revenue alone hit $25 billion for the quarter, and the company guided for roughly $50 billion in Q4 revenue. Shares rose 14.5% after hours to about $1,200, after ending the regular session at $1,047.

S&P 500 and Nasdaq Slipped Wednesday; Dow Finished Higher

The S&P 500 fell 0.10% to close at 7,358.22 on June 25 and the Nasdaq declined 0.43% to 25,476, as energy and technology stocks retreated while investors awaited Micron's earnings after the bell. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 0.35% to 51,848, helped by a gain in Alphabet after it was announced the company will replace Verizon in the Dow Jones Industrial Average next Monday. The S&P 500 technology sector is up 27% over the past three months, the only sector outpacing the broader index's 9.8% gain over that stretch.

Oil Crashes 40% From Wartime High as Hormuz Shipping Returns

Brent crude settled at $73.74 a barrel on June 25, down 4.3% on the day and nearly 40% below its wartime peak above $120 in March, as Saudi supertankers resumed open passage through the Strait of Hormuz and the UAE returned to near-normal export levels. West Texas Intermediate settled at $70.34. U.S. crude inventories fell to their lowest level since 1984, according to the Energy Information Administration, with storage at Cushing, Oklahoma — the delivery hub for U.S. futures — dipping below operational minimums, a signal that the supply recovery remains fragile.

SpaceX Stock Volatile in Post-IPO Weeks; Musk Net Worth Crosses $957B

SpaceX went public on the Nasdaq on June 12 under the ticker SPCX in what became the largest IPO in history, raising roughly $75 billion at a valuation near $1.75 trillion after Elon Musk merged SpaceX with his artificial intelligence company xAI. Since debuting above $160 per share, the stock has swung sharply, falling 16.4% in a three-day stretch before partially recovering; shares traded around $154 on June 25. The Bloomberg Billionaires Index places Musk's net worth at $957 billion, reflecting the combined movements in SpaceX and Tesla.

Bitcoin Falls Below $61,000; Gold Near $3,986 on Geopolitical Uncertainty

Bitcoin fell 2.2% to around $61,066 on June 25 as retail investors rotated away from AI-adjacent crypto plays in the wake of the SpaceX IPO, which disclosed that the company holds 18,712 BTC — making it one of the largest publicly traded corporate holders of the cryptocurrency. Gold futures stood near $3,986 per ounce, down slightly on the day but still trading at elevated levels as investors weigh lingering uncertainty around the U.S.–Iran nuclear inspection standoff and the 60-day countdown to a final deal.

Entertainment

World Cup Group Stage Finale Draws Massive Audiences to U.S. Cities 48 TEAMS, 104 MATCHES

Saturday's group-stage finale brings the first ever 48-team World Cup — hosted across the United States, Canada, and Mexico — to the brink of the Round of 32, which begins Sunday. Notable final group games include Colombia vs. Portugal in Miami's Hard Rock Stadium and Argentina vs. Jordan at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. Brazil, Morocco, and South Africa advanced earlier this week; the United States secured group advancement after its 2–0 win over Australia on June 19.

Netflix Negotiating Global Arena Tour for KPop Demon Hunters

Netflix is in negotiations with concert promoters to stage a worldwide arena tour based on KPop Demon Hunters, the animated film that won Best Animated Feature and Best Original Song at the 2026 Oscars, according to Bloomberg. The streamer is targeting a 2027 run ahead of a planned sequel, with stops at arenas across multiple continents. The film's blend of South Korean pop music and action animation made it one of the year's most watched original releases on the platform.

Martin McDonagh's Wild Horse Nine Gets First Trailer

The first trailer dropped this week for Wild Horse Nine, the new film from director Martin McDonagh, whose previous work includes Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri and The Banshees of Inisherin. The film is set in Chile just before the 1973 coup and stars John Malkovich, Sam Rockwell, Steve Buscemi, Tom Waits, and Parker Posey. Wild Horse Nine is scheduled for a theatrical release on November 6, 2026.

JWoww Marries Zack Carpinello in Secret Ceremony

Jenni “JWoww” Farley, 41, best known for her decade-long run on the MTV reality series Jersey Shore, married Zack Carpinello, 31, in a private ceremony on June 24 that guests initially believed was a movie screening. The ceremony was officiated by local mayor Debbie Walker. Farley and Carpinello began dating in 2019, following her divorce from Roger Mathews.

Amazon Prime Day Deals Draw Comparison-Shoppers as Consumer Spending Softens

Amazon's annual Prime Day sale is drawing heavy consumer attention this week, with retail analysts tracking whether deal-hunting signals broader consumer stress or healthy spending. The event is being watched closely by Wall Street as May's Personal Consumption Expenditures price data — the Federal Reserve's preferred inflation measure — was set to be released Friday morning, June 27, giving investors the freshest read on inflation before the Fed's next rate decision later this year.