June 30, 2025

MIDDLE EAST | Update from regional conflicts:

• Rafael Grossi, director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency, said yesterday that the recent U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities appear to have caused severe, but not total, damage to Iran's nuclear capability and suggested that Tehran could resume enriching uranium “in a matter of months,” contradicting assessments of more complete damage by U.S. President Donald Trump and some U.S. military and intelligence agencies. [more]

UKRAINE | Today is day 1222 of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Here are your updates:

• Ukrainian officials say Russia launched its largest aerial attack against Ukraine of the 3-year-old war, firing a total of 537 drones and missiles at targets across Ukraine overnight Saturday into Sunday. [more]
• Amidst the ongoing 40-month-old invasion by Russia, and citing Russia's use of the weapons, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said yesterday that he has signed a decree to pull Ukraine out of the Ottawa Convention banning the production and use of anti-personnel mines. [more]

U.S. GUN VIOLENCE | Two firefighters were killed, and a third was wounded, yesterday near Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, when a yet-unidentified gunman opened fire on crews battling a brush fire. Police say the suspect, who was found dead in the area after hours of searching, purposefully set the fire to which the firefighters were responding. [more]

U.S. BUDGET AND SPENDING BILL | Debate on the tax, spending, and budget bill supported by President Donald Trump is still ongoing in the Senate today after the chamber advanced the measure and held a reading of its entire 900+ page text over the weekend. Preliminary voting on the measure, which the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office's new analysis says will increase the national deficit by nearly $3.3 trillion and result in about 11.8 million additional Americans becoming uninsured over a decade, is expected to take place in the Senate later today. [more]

U.S. SUPREME COURT | In a series of decisions announced Friday, the Supreme Court:

• In a case involving birthright citizenship, limited the ability of federal courts to impose nationwide injunctions. [more]
• Said that parents must be able to opt-out of having their children participate in lessons that conflict with their religious beliefs. [more]
• Upheld a Texas law requiring consumers to provide age verification in order to gain access to commercial websites that provide sexually explicit material. [more]
• Kept in place a key provision of the Affordable Care Act that enables some 150 million people in the U.S. to continue getting many free, preventive services under the act. [more]

U.S. TARIFFS | In an interview broadcast yesterday, President Donald Trump said he does not plan to extend a 90-day pause on tariffs on most nations beyond his July 9 deadline for new trade deals with the United States. [more]

VIRGINIA | Amidst pressure from conservative critics and Trump administration threats to cut school funding over diversity, equity, and inclusion practices, University of Virginia President Jim Ryan announced his resignation Friday, saying he would not make a "unilateral decision to fight the federal government" and risk harm to the University. [more]

ARKANSAS | Tech industry trade group NetChoice filed a lawsuit in Arkansas on Friday to challenge two new state laws that would place limits on content on social media platforms and allow parents of children who killed themselves to sue over content on the platforms. [more]

U.S. AND CANADA | Trade talks between the U.S. and Canada have resumed after Canada rescinded plans for a Digital Services Tax on U.S. technology firms, according to Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney. [more]

GLOBAL POVERTY | The leaders of more than 70 nations and representatives of hundreds of international financial institutions, development banks, and philanthropic organizations begin the four-day Financing for Development meeting in Seville, Spain, today, with the aim of raising trillions of dollars to address the growing gap between rich and poor nations. The U.S. – previously a major contributor to the effort – has pulled its participation. [more]

ISRAEL | Dozens of Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank rioted outside a military base just north of Ramallah last night, setting fires and vandalizing vehicles and buildings. The unrest was sparked by the arrest of settlers following attacks on Palestinians last week in the West Bank town of Kfar Malik. [more]

PAKISTAN | National emergency officials say at least 46 people have died, and dozens of others have been injured, in flash floods caused by nearly a week of heavy monsoon rains across Pakistan, with most of the deaths occurring in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab provinces. [more]

HONG KONG | Citing immense political pressure amidst China's crackdown on pro-democracy activists, the League of Social Democrats, Hong Kong's last well-known pro-democracy party, announced yesterday that it is dissolving. [more]

SERBIA | Amidst weekend anti-government protests by tens of thousands of people in the Serbian capital Belgrade, activists erected blockades on streets and bridges in the city yesterday. Reports say nearly 50 police officers and 22 protesters were injured in protest-related clashes late Saturday and that a yet-unknown number of protesters were taken into police custody. [more]

BRAZIL | Elon Musk's Starlink internet service has reportedly signed an agreement with Brazil's Federal Prosecutor’s Office under which the company will work with authorities to curb use of the service by participants in illegal mining and other criminal activities in the Amazon. [more]

TURKEY | Reports say more than 50 people were detained by Turkish authorities yesterday as they attempted to take part in the banned Istanbul Pride parade in support of LGBTQ+ rights. [more]

CHINA AND JAPAN | Chinese customs authorities say China has reopened its market to seafood from Japan after a nearly two-year ban over the discharge of slightly radioactive wastewater from the tsunami-destroyed Fukushima nuclear power plant. [more]

PERU | Indigenous and rural communities along Peru's northern Amazon Nanay River filed a complaint Friday accusing the government of failing to stop illegal gold mining that they say is contaminating their water and food with toxic mercury. [more]

BASKETBALL | LeBron James has reportedly exercised his option to remain with the Los Angeles Lakers for the 2025-26 season, making him the first player in NBA history to play a 23rd season. Reports note that James, who turns 41 in December, will make about $52.6 million for the upcoming season. [more]

SOCCER | Following a 2-2 tie in regular time, the U.S. men's national soccer team beat Costa Rica in a penalty shootout yesterday to advance to the CONCACAF Gold Cup semifinals. [more]

WEEKEND MOVIES | "F1 The Movie" topped the North American box office over the weekend with an estimated $55 million in receipts, followed by "How to Train Your Dragon" and "Elio." [more]

TODAY IN HISTORY | On this date in 1934, German dictator Adolf Hitler launched his purge and campaign of extrajudicial executions of political and military rivals in what came to be known as the “Night of the Long Knives." [more history]