July 1, 2026

U.S., ISRAEL, IRAN WAR | Day 124.

• Technical talks on full implementation of the recent U.S.-Iran memorandum of understanding began today in Qatar on the same day that U.S. and Iranian envoys are expected to meet separately with Qatari mediators. [more]

U.S. PRESIDENCY | According to an Office of Government Ethics required annual disclosure report released yesterday, President Donald Trump earned nearly $1.2 billion from cryptocurrency-related businesses in 2025, including about $600 million from sales of souvenir-type “meme” coins stamped with his face. Reports cite analyses of Trump's wealth as estimating his net worth to be about $6 billion – up from $2.3 billion in 2024. [full disclosure report] [more]

U.S. CONGRESS | Amidst disputes over the proposed inclusion of controversial voting legislation in the House of Representatives' proposed defense spending bill, House Speaker Mike Johnson unexpectedly cancelled votes and sent the chamber into early holiday recess yesterday. [more]

U.S. GUN RIGHTS | On the final day of its term, the U.S. Supreme Court announced yesterday that it will hear appeals later this year on whether bans on AR-15-style and similar semiautomatic firearms in Connecticut and the Chicago area violate the Second Amendment. [more]

U.S. POLITICS | President Donald Trump announced yesterday that the Republican Party will hold a national convention in Dallas, Texas, on September 9 and 10 – the first-ever such event for the party not centered on an upcoming presidential election but, rather, on November mid-term elections. [more]

U.S. EGG PRICES | The Justice Department and 17 U.S. states announced settlement agreements this week with three major egg producers – Cal-Maine Foods, Versova, and Hickman’s Egg Ranch – to resolve allegations that the companies illegally colluded to manipulate and raise egg prices between June 2022 and March 2025. Under the settlements, the companies will pay about $3.3 million and donate 53 million eggs to food banks and non-profit organizations. [more]

U.S. AND CUBA | In a press conference yesterday, Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez said that talks between Cuba and the United States are at a standstill despite the Caribbean island nation's recent approval of a series of free-market reforms. Rodríguez also announced an upcoming U.N. General Assembly debate on the U.S.-imposed energy embargo on Cuba to be held July 7. [more]

NORTH AMERICAN TRADE | The U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement, or USMCA, trade deal comes up for renewal today, with related negotiations between the three countries expected to take at least several months, if not years. Analysts say there is widespread speculation that the U.S., under President Donald Trump, could decline to renew the agreement, which he negotiated during his first term in office. [more]

U.S. AND VENEZUELA | General Francis Donovan, commander of the U.S. military's Southern Command, said this week that the U.S. has deployed some 900 personnel to Venezuela and 800 more to Caribbean logistics hubs to assist in recovery efforts in Venezuela following last week's dual earthquakes in which thousands of people were killed and tens of thousands remain missing. [more]

GREECE | Authorities in the northern Greece city of Thessaloniki say three early morning firebomb attacks today appear to have targeted the residences of members of Greece's governing conservative New Democracy party. Five people were injured in the attacks, which were carried out using improvised explosive devices. [more]

TURKEY AND NATO | Ahead of next week's NATO leaders' summit in Ankara, Turkey is reported to be rolling out broad security measures, including deploying tens of thousands of police, placing air defenses on high alert, limiting public gatherings, and imposing some controversial restrictions on freedom of expression and assembly. [more]

NIGERIA | Authorities in Nigeria's northeastern Borno state say 36 students and three teachers remain missing after being abducted by yet-unidentified gunmen on Monday. [more]

PAKISTAN AND INDIA | Speaking yesterday at a seminar on the 1960 World Bank-brokered treaty that governs the sharing of water from the Indus River system, Pakistani Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said that any attempt by India to deprive Pakistan of its share of water under the treaty would amount to a "weaponization of water" and could have serious consequences for regional peace and security. [more]

EUROPEAN COMMERCE | In a move analysts say strikes a blow against low-cost online retailers such as Shein, Temu, and AliExpress, the European Union has announced a €3 fee on low-value e-commerce ‌imports from China that previously entered the bloc duty-free. [more]

WORLD CUP | In yesterday's Round of 32 World Cup matches: Norway beat Ivory Coast, France beat Sweden, and Mexico beat Ecuador to advance to the Round of 16. Today's matches include England vs. Congo, Belgium vs. Senegal, and the United States vs. Bosnia and Herzegovina. [full bracket] [more]

BASKETBALL | After eight seasons with the team, NBA legend LeBron James has reportedly informed the Los Angeles Lakers that he will play his record-extending 24th NBA season elsewhere. Reports say Golden State, Cleveland, and Miami are among the teams expected to vie for James for the upcoming season. [more]

R.I.P. | Victor Willis, best known as the frontman of the 1970s disco group Village People and for co-writing the group's biggest hits, including "YMCA," "Go West," and "In The Navy," died yesterday at the age of 74, according to a statement posted on social media by the group. [more]

TODAY IN HISTORY | On this date in 1968, the United States, the United Kingdom, the Soviet Union, and 59 other states signed the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty in an attempt to halt the spread of nuclear weapons. [more history]