July 7, 2026

U.S., ISRAEL, IRAN WAR | Day 130.

• The U.K. Maritime Trade Operations center and U.S. military officials say two tankers attempting to pass through the Strait of Hormuz near Oman's coast were struck by unspecified projectiles today. Iranian state media, without directly claiming Iranian responsibility for the strikes, said the tankers came under attack after ignoring warnings about using routes through the strait not explicitly approved by Tehran. [more]

U.S. GUN VIOLENCE | Authorities in Rittman, Ohio, say four people were killed late Sunday during a police response to a break-in. A police officer and the suspect in the case were among those killed, and reports note that four other officers and a police dog were wounded in the incident. [more]

U.S. APP STORES | Allowing a lower court ruling to take effect, the U.S. Supreme Court yesterday declined to block a Texas state law that requires app stores to verify users' ages and obtain parental permission for minors to download apps or make purchases on mobile devices. [more]

MAINE | The campaign of Maine Democratic Senate candidate Graham Platner appears to be in peril following a newly published accusation of sexual assault against Platner by a woman who he previously dated. Platner has denied the allegation but indicated he is considering next steps for his campaign after supporters began pulling their endorsements. [more]

NATO | A two-day NATO leaders' summit opens today in Ankara, Turkey, with the wars in Iran and Ukraine, member commitments to defense spending, military modernization, and U.S. force levels in Europe expected to be among the main topics of discussion. [summit website] [more]

GAZA | Officials of the Hamas militant group said yesterday that they are dissolving the group's government in Gaza and preparing to transfer power to a U.N.-backed technical committee set up as part of the cease-fire deal in the Palestinian enclave. Reports note that Hamas did not indicate if it would take the further steps of disarming or handing over security operations to an international force. [more]

CONGO | In their latest update, officials with the country's Ministry of Health say at least 506 people have died, and 1,561 cases have been confirmed, in the Democratic Republic of Congo's ongoing Ebola outbreak. [more]

SYRIA | Interior Ministry officials say at least 18 people were injured in two explosions in the Syrian capital of Damascus today. Reports note that no group has yet claimed responsibility for the explosions, which occurred amidst French President Emmanuel Macron's visit to the city for meetings with President Ahmad al-Sharaa. [more]

PHILIPPINES | Senators acting as an impeachment court are scheduled to hear evidence against Philippine Vice President Sara Duterte today related to her alleged threat during a November 2024 press conference to have President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., his wife, and then-House Speaker Martin Romualdez killed if she herself were killed. [more]

CANADA | Citing needs for new markets and for reducing reliance on U.S. infrastructure, the Canadian provinces of Alberta and Ontario proposed the construction of a pipeline to carry western Canadian oil east yesterday. A feasibility study for the project has reportedly been ordered. [more]

FRANCE | A Paris appeals court today upheld the conviction of far-right French political leader Marine Le Pen on charges of having misused European Parliament funds, sentencing her to a €100,000 fine, requiring her to wear an electronic tracking tag for one year instead of serving time in prison, and shortening her period of ineligibility from holding public office to 15 months, thereby re-opening a path for her to run in the country's 2027 presidential race. [more]

SOUTH KOREA | Enforcement of a new law allowing for punitive damages against news outlets and social media influencers for circulating illegal, false, or manipulated information begins today in South Korea. Journalist groups have warned that the law could dampen public discourse, invite censorship, and discourage critical reporting about government officials, politicians, and large businesses. [more]

SRI LANKA | Justice Minister Harshana Nanayakkara says multiple investigations are taking place into clashes at a prison near the Sri Lankan capital of Colombo earlier this week in which at least 26 people, including seven prison officials and 19 inmates, were killed. [more]

SOUTH ASIA LANDSLIDES | Amidst heavy seasonal monsoon rains, at least eight Rohingya refugees, including five children, were killed in landslides in southeastern Bangladesh over the past two days, and 13 people are reported to have been killed in neighboring India in rain-related incidents including flooding and landslides. [more]

CUBA | Efforts are ongoing to restore power across Cuba following an island-wide electrical grid collapse yesterday amidst the ongoing U.S. energy blockade of the Caribbean island nation. Reports cite national grid operator UNE as saying only about 1% of the capital Havana's power demand was being met as of late yesterday. [more]

TECH INDUSTRY | Microsoft said yesterday that it plans to cut about 4,800 jobs, or 2.1% of its global workforce, this year as part of reorganization and technology transformation initiatives. The company's Xbox video gaming division will face the highest number of layoffs, according to company executives. [more]

WORLD CUP | Spain beat Portugal, and Belgium beat the United States, yesterday to advance to the quarterfinals of the 2026 FIFA World Cup tournament. Today's matches include: Argentina vs. Egypt and Switzerland vs. Colombia. [full bracket] [more]

ENTERTAINMENT AWARDS | Organizers of the Venice Film Festival announced yesterday that actor George Clooney will be awarded the Golden Lion lifetime achievement award at this September's 83rd edition of the festival. [more]

TODAY IN HISTORY | On this date in 1898, the U.S. Congress annexed Hawaii through a joint resolution signed by President William McKinley, paving the way for the islands to become a territory (1900) and later a U.S. state (1959). [more history]