Global and National Briefs.
Iran launches attacks; US battles wildfires, eastern heat wave, and online safety debates.
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Iran's Revolutionary Guard launched a joint missile and drone strike on U.S. military bases in Kuwait and Bahrain on June 28, escalating a Gulf crisis that has already killed sailors, spiked oil prices, and threatened to close the world's most critical shipping lane. The attacks targeted the Ali al-Salem Air Base in Kuwait and the U.S. Fifth Fleet headquarters in Bahrain, according to AP, just hours after Iran threatened a "complete halt" to all maritime negotiations over the Strait of Hormuz.
The strikes come after a rapid chain of events: U.S. aircraft hit 10 targets in southern Iran on June 27 following drone attacks on two oil tankers. As of June 29, the U.S. and Iran have reportedly reached an emergency agreement to pause direct strikes and meet in Doha, Qatar on Tuesday — but the situation remains volatile.
How a Tanker Attack Set Off a Gulf Firestorm
The immediate trigger was the June 27 drone strike on the *MT Kiku*, a Panama-flagged tanker carrying 2 million barrels of crude oil in the Strait of Hormuz. U.S. Central Command responded within hours, striking 10 Iranian coastal radar and minelayer sites. That followed an earlier June 25 attack on the Singapore-flagged *Ever Lovely*, which prompted the International Maritime Organization to suspend transits through the strait, according to AP.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi called any shipping route through Hormuz without Iranian oversight "interference" that will lead to more conflict. President Trump fired back on social media, warning that if the ceasefire collapses, "the Islamic Republic of Iran will no longer exist." The Strait carries roughly 25% of the world's seaborne oil. A permanent breakdown in talks could push crude past $140 per barrel, according to Bloomberg.
Venezuela Earthquake Death Toll Climbs to 1,450 Amid Rescue Chaos
Four days after two powerful earthquakes — magnitudes 7.2 and 7.5 — struck northern Venezuela on June 24, the confirmed death toll has reached 1,450, according to AP. The UN estimates 50,000 people are still missing. Rescue teams are racing to find survivors in collapsed buildings in La Guaira and Yaracuy, where infrastructure has been devastated.
Interim President Delcy Rodríguez has requested international aid while defending her government against sharp public criticism. Local reports describe widespread anger, with citizens saying the government is focused on political survival rather than finding the missing. The Red Cross has called the situation "a race against time," noting that civilian-led rescue teams are currently outperforming government efforts, according to AP.
Three Firefighters Killed as Western Wildfires Explode in Heat
Three federal firefighters were killed and two injured on June 27 when the wind-driven Snyder Mesa Fire trapped them on the Colorado-Utah border, according to AP. The fire has burned more than 28,000 acres. Hot, dry, and windy weather has fueled a surge in wildfire activity across the Western U.S., stretching crews and resources thin heading into the July Fourth weekend.
The danger is compounding on the other end of the country. A heat dome is expected to push heat index values to 115°F in parts of the Mid-Atlantic this week, according to the National Weather Service. The extreme heat will coincide with America's 250th anniversary celebrations, raising concerns about mass heat exhaustion at outdoor events.
Congress Targets Big Tech as Child Safety Lawsuits Win Big
A bipartisan push for child online safety legislation is gaining real momentum in Congress. Representatives Guthrie (R-KY) and Pallone (D-NJ) announced a deal on the KIDS Act, which would regulate how social media platforms are designed — not just what content they carry. The shift matters legally: design-focused rules are harder for tech companies to block using Section 230 protections, according to AP.
The legislative push follows a March 2026 Los Angeles jury verdict ordering Meta and Google to pay $375 million in damages for "designing addictive products." Child safety advocates warn the House bill is weaker than the Senate's version because it lacks a strict "duty of care" provision, which would hold platforms directly responsible for harm to minors. The Democratic Party is also facing a broader identity debate ahead of the 2026 House elections, with progressive and moderate wings clashing over how far to push tech regulation.
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