June 26, 2025

MIDDLE EAST | Updates from regional conflicts:

• The U.S. Defense Intelligence Agency said yesterday that its assessment of damage to Iranian nuclear sites from U.S. airstrikes that was leaked and widely reported as indicating limited damage to the sites was a preliminary finding and that analysts had low confidence in their findings. Other U.S. intelligence agencies and some international groups have suggested a much higher level of damage was done to the Iranian sites. [more]
• In a joint statement today, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz said delivery of aid supplies into Gaza has been suspended for two days as plans are made to prevent Hamas from seizing the aid. [more]
• Palestinian officials say at least three people were killed yesterday when Israeli settlers attacked a Palestinian village in the occupied West Bank. Israeli authorities say several "terrorists" opened fire on troops responding to the incident and noted that five Israelis were arrested. [more]

UKRAINE | Today is day 1218 of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Here is your update:

• Colonel General Oleksandr Syrskyi, commander of Ukraine's ground forces, said today that Ukrainian troops have halted the advance of Russian forces in the border area of the northern Sumy region and that efforts are underway to strengthen fortifications in the area. [more]

U.S. DEPORTATIONS | The Trump administration filed a lawsuit this week against all 15 federal judges in Maryland over court orders that block the immediate deportation of migrants before they have a chance to challenge their removals. Reports cite some legal analysts as saying the move represents an erosion of legal norms by the administration and that the normal course of action in such a situation is to appeal rulings, not sue the judges who made them. [more]

U.S. WAR POWERS | Two days after originally scheduled, CIA Director John Ratcliffe, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth are scheduled to brief senators today on the recent U.S. airstrikes on Iranian nuclear facilities. The briefing comes ahead of a proposed Senate vote on a measure that would require congressional approval for future military actions in Iran. [more]

CALIFORNIA | The U.S. Department of Education said yesterday that California is violating Title IX protections against sex discrimination in education by allowing transgender athletes to compete on girls' sports teams. The department said California must agree to change its related policies within 10 days or "risk imminent enforcement action." [more]

U.S. JOB CORPS | U.S. District Judge Andrew Carter granted a preliminary injunction yesterday blocking the Department of Labor from shutting down Job Corps, the residential program for low-income youth aimed at providing school and job training support. In his ruling, Carter said the Labor Department cannot shutter or suspend the nationwide program without congressional approval. [more]

U.S. AND MEXICO | The U.S. Treasury Department announced sanctions on three Mexico-based financial institutions yesterday, saying the two banks and one brokerage played a long-standing role in laundering millions of dollars on behalf of Mexican drug cartels. [more]

EUROPEAN UNION | Leaders of the E.U.'s 27 nations are meeting today in Brussels, with the war in Ukraine, new sanctions on Russia, U.S. tariffs, and Middle East conflicts expected to be among the main topics of discussion. [more]

TURKEY | Reuters cites an unnamed Turkish defense ministry source as saying Turkey will prioritize development of a nationwide "Steel Dome" air defense project as part of its commitment to NATO's new 5% of gross domestic product spending goal for member countries. [more]

CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC | A period of national mourning has been declared in the Central African Republic after 29 students taking exams at a high school in the capital Bangui died yesterday in a crowd crush after an explosion of a nearby electrical transformer caused a panic. [more]

COLOMBIA | Following multiple industry and legislative setbacks, Colombian President Gustavo Petro signed a newly passed broad package of labor reform measures into law yesterday. The overhaul package includes increased overtime pay for salaried workers, limits on the use of short-term contract workers, requirements for companies to provide medical coverage and social security for gig workers, and benefits for student interns. [more]

MORE COLOMBIA | Local authorities say at least 11 people have died, and 15 others remain missing, following this week's landslides in the Colombian city of Medellin and the nearby town of Bello. [more]

KENYA | Rights group Amnesty Kenya says at least 16 people were killed in rioting and clashes with police yesterday during demonstrations marking the one-year anniversary of a deadly crackdown on protests in the capital city of Nairobi. [more]

VIETNAM | Lawmakers passed legal reforms yesterday abolishing the death penalty in Vietnam for eight crimes, including attempting to overthrow the government, damaging state infrastructure, making and selling fake medicine, starting wars, spying, drug trafficking, embezzlement, and taking bribes. [more]

MEXICO | Following last week's explosion of a rocket at a SpaceX facility in southern Texas near the border with Mexico, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said yesterday that her country is investigating possible contamination after debris from the explosion was found in the northern Mexico State of Tamaulipas. [more]

MORE MEXICO | Authorities in Mexico's Guanajuato state say at least 12 people were killed, and 20 others were injured, early yesterday when yet-unidentified gunmen opened fire on a crowd taking part in a street celebration in the city of Irapuato. [more]

OIL INDUSTRY | Industry giant Shell today dismissed media reports that it is in talks to buy rival BP, saying it has "not made an approach to, and no talks have taken place" regarding any such possible offer. [more]

SPACE | Among the four astronauts launched aboard a SpaceX’s Falcon rocket to the International Space Station yesterday were crew members from India, Poland, and Hungary – the three countries' first astronauts in more than 40 years. [more]

BASKETBALL | Duke forward Cooper Flagg was taken as the No. 1 overall pick by the Dallas Mavericks in last night's first round of the NBA draft, followed by the San Antonio Spurs selecting Rutgers' Dylan Harper and the Philadelphia 76ers taking Baylor guard VJ Edgecombe. [full draft list] [more]

TODAY IN HISTORY | On this date in 2015, with a 5-4 decision in Obergefell v. Hodges, the U.S. Supreme Court legalized same-sex marriage across the United States, finding that state-level bans on the practice violated the due process and equal protection clauses of the Fourteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. [more history]