Trump Requests Billions from Congress for Iran War Costs; Senate Republicans Vote Down War Powers Resolution
President Trump sent Congress a request for billions of dollars to fund ongoing military operations in Iran, while Senate Republicans voted down a war powers resolution following a meeting in which the president expressed frustration with members of his own party who had questioned his authority to conduct the war.President Trump submitted a request to Congress for billions of dollars to cover the costs of ongoing U.S. military operations against Iran, a significant legislative ask that faces a complicated path given tensions within the Republican Party over the conflict. Senate Republicans who had previously voiced concerns about the legal basis for the war voted down a war powers resolution following a late-night meeting at which Trump strongly criticized Republican senators who had questioned his conduct of the conflict. The war powers resolution would have required congressional authorization for the continuation of military hostilities. The episode reflects ongoing tension between the executive branch and elements of both parties over the constitutional question of congressional oversight of military action. Separately, analysts and economists have noted that the conflict has contributed to a rise in U.S. inflation, particularly through elevated energy prices tied to disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz shipping corridor.
North Korea's Kim Jong Un Orders Construction of Two Large Warships Per Year
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has directed the country to build two large warships annually over the next five years as part of a significant naval expansion, according to reports.North Korean leader Kim Jong Un issued an order calling for the construction of two large warships per year over a five-year period, signaling a deliberate effort to expand the country's naval capabilities. The directive represents one of the most concrete statements of North Korea's naval ambitions in recent years. North Korea's military modernization efforts have historically focused on ballistic missile and nuclear capabilities, and the naval expansion order suggests a broadening of the country's military development priorities. The announcement has implications for regional security in East Asia and for the United States, which maintains significant military alliances and deployments in the region.
Ebola Outbreak Spreads Beyond DRC as France Confirms Its First Case
France confirmed its first Ebola case in a doctor who had traveled to the Democratic Republic of Congo, where an ongoing outbreak of the Bundibugyo strain is expanding. French health authorities described the risk to the broader public as low.France's health ministry confirmed the country's first Ebola case in a doctor who had recently traveled to the Democratic Republic of Congo, where a fast-expanding outbreak of the Bundibugyo strain of the virus is ongoing. Authorities said the risk to the general population in France was low, given that Ebola spreads through direct contact with bodily fluids rather than through airborne transmission. The Bundibugyo strain involved in the current outbreak is the subject of scientific investigation into its animal reservoir — the species in which the virus persists between human outbreaks — which has not yet been identified. Researchers note that the current outbreak may have a lower death rate than previous Ebola outbreaks, which carries a complicating implication: milder symptoms could make it harder to detect cases and control the spread of disease. Key factors affecting the trajectory of the outbreak include the pace of contact tracing, which is reportedly improving, and the availability of treatments, which may still be months away. The outbreak's spread to a high-income country with robust healthcare infrastructure is likely to increase international attention and resources directed at containing the disease in Central Africa.
Military Reinstates Mandatory Flu Vaccines for Recruits After Boot Camp Outbreak
The U.S. military has reinstated mandatory flu vaccination for all recruits after an influenza outbreak at an Air Force base sickened nearly 300 people, reversing a policy change that had granted exemptions in the name of personal medical choice.The U.S. military has restored its mandatory influenza vaccination requirement for all new recruits after an outbreak at an Air Force basic training facility infected nearly 300 people. The reinstatement reverses a policy change that had removed the flu vaccine mandate, framing the exemption as an issue of medical freedom. The outbreak followed that policy change closely enough that public health and military officials drew a direct connection between the two. Influenza spreads readily in the close-quarters environments of military recruit training, and mandatory vaccination programs have historically been a central tool for preventing such outbreaks. The episode is likely to renew debate about the balance between individual medical choice and the health requirements of military service.
Chemotherapy Drug Shortages Lead Doctors to Ration Cancer Treatments
Oncologists across the United States are reporting low supplies and unfilled orders for generic chemotherapy drugs used to treat a wide range of cancers, raising concerns about rationing of treatment.Physicians treating cancer patients are confronting shortages of generic chemotherapy drugs — infusion-based treatments that are central to standard care for many common cancers. Doctors report low supplies and unfilled orders, and some are beginning to consider or implement rationing protocols. Generic chemotherapy drugs are typically low-cost, high-volume treatments that have become foundational to oncology practice, meaning shortages have broad effects across cancer care rather than affecting only niche treatments. The shortages add to longstanding concerns about the fragility of the U.S. generic drug supply chain, which has experienced repeated disruptions in recent years. No single cause has been publicly identified for the current shortfall, and the scope of the problem was still being assessed at the time of reporting.
NASA's Perseverance Rover Detects Complex Carbon Molecules in Martian Rocks
NASA's Perseverance rover has identified complex organic carbon molecules in Martian mudstone samples that scientists have already flagged as candidates for bearing signs of ancient microbial life.NASA's Perseverance rover has detected complex carbon molecules in rock samples from the Bright Angel outcrop on Mars, a site already under scientific scrutiny for its potential to preserve biosignatures — indicators of past biological activity. The rover's onboard instrument, called SHERLOC, identified the organic carbon in mudstone formations. Organic carbon molecules are not themselves proof of life; they can be produced through non-biological geological and chemical processes. However, their presence in rocks that are considered geologically promising for preservation of ancient microbial life adds to the scientific case for continued investigation. The samples are among those targeted for eventual return to Earth, where they could be analyzed with laboratory instruments far more powerful than those available on the rover.
U.S. Inflation Remains Elevated at Three-Year High as Fed Officials Disagree on Response
The Federal Reserve's preferred inflation measure rose to a three-year high, driven in part by energy costs linked to the conflict with Iran. Fed officials are divided on whether higher interest rates will be necessary to restore price stability.U.S. inflation, as measured by the Personal Consumption Expenditures index — the Federal Reserve's preferred gauge — has reached a three-year high, presenting a challenge for the Fed's new chairman, who has stated a commitment to restoring price stability. Economists cited the war in Iran as a significant contributor, primarily through elevated gasoline prices, alongside increases in healthcare and other consumer costs. Federal Reserve officials are reported to be divided over whether the situation will require raising borrowing costs, which would increase expenses for businesses and households already contending with higher prices. The inflation rise is described as particularly burdensome for middle-income Americans. The Fed's dual mandate — pursuing both maximum employment and price stability — makes the policy calculus more complex when inflation is rising without a clearly overheating labor market.
Oil Prices Fall Back to Pre-Iran War Levels as Hormuz Shipping Traffic Resumes
Oil prices have declined to levels seen before the outbreak of the Iran conflict after signs emerged that shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz was gradually resuming.Global oil prices retreated to levels recorded before the start of the U.S.-Iran conflict after indications that commercial vessel traffic through the Strait of Hormuz — a critical chokepoint for global oil flows — was beginning to recover. The strait had been disrupted by the conflict, contributing to a spike in energy prices that fed into broader inflation across the United States and other countries. The easing of prices offers some relief for consumers and for central banks attempting to manage inflation without raising interest rates. Analysts have noted that global supply chains and oil-producing nations are also studying ways to reduce long-term dependence on the Hormuz corridor, including expanded pipeline capacity and higher strategic stockpiles.
Federal Reserve Annual Stress Tests Find Large Banks Capable of Weathering Severe Recession
The Federal Reserve's annual bank stress tests found that large U.S. banks hold sufficient capital to continue lending through a severe economic downturn, according to results released by the central bank.The Federal Reserve released results of its annual stress test of large U.S. banks, concluding that the institutions examined are well positioned to absorb losses in a severe recession scenario while continuing to lend to households and businesses. The stress tests, which the Fed has conducted annually since the 2008 financial crisis, simulate extreme economic conditions to assess whether banks hold adequate capital buffers. A passing result allows banks to proceed with capital distributions such as dividends and share buybacks. This year's results offered a baseline reassurance about the stability of the banking sector at a time when the broader economy faces elevated inflation, higher interest rates, and uncertainty related to ongoing geopolitical conflicts.
Trump Withholds Signature on Bipartisan Housing Bill to Pressure Senate on Voter ID Legislation
President Trump refused to sign a bipartisan housing reform bill that passed Congress with veto-proof majorities, using the delay as leverage to pressure the Senate into passing the SAVE Act, a federal voter identification bill that faces significant resistance in that chamber.President Trump withheld his signature from a landmark bipartisan housing bill, declining to sign legislation that passed Congress with veto-proof support in an effort to compel the Senate to advance a separate elections bill known as the SAVE Act. The housing bill is described as the most significant overhaul of federal housing policy in decades. It contains no new federal spending but seeks to increase housing supply by reducing the regulatory and cost barriers to construction across the country. The SAVE Act would require proof of citizenship to register to vote in federal elections. The bill has broad support among House Republicans but has faced significant obstacles in the Senate, where some Republicans have joined Democrats in opposing it or expressing reservations. A group of House conservatives aligned with the president, led by Representative Anna Paulina Luna of Florida, blocked floor votes in the House to increase pressure on Senate Republicans. Trump met with House Speaker Mike Johnson on Wednesday afternoon to attempt to resolve the standoff. The use of unrelated popular legislation as leverage for the SAVE Act follows an earlier episode this year in which Trump derailed a bipartisan immigration deal through similar tactics. The housing bill's delay affects legislation that had been assembled with support from both parties specifically to address affordability problems in the American housing market.
Supreme Court Issues Several Rulings, Including on Green Card Holders' Rights and Foreclosure Procedures
The Supreme Court issued multiple rulings, siding with the government in a case involving the rights of green card holders accused of crimes, rejecting a constitutional challenge to foreclosure rules, sending a property seizure compensation dispute back to a lower court, and ruling in favor of Exxon Mobil in a case involving Cuban asset confiscation.The Supreme Court issued at least five decisions, with more opinions expected in the coming days from the current term. In a case with direct immigration implications, the court sided with the government in a dispute over the procedural rights of lawful permanent residents — green card holders — who have been accused of committing crimes, a ruling that may affect how such individuals are processed in the immigration and criminal justice systems. In a separate property rights case, the justices rejected a constitutional challenge to foreclosure rules. The court also sent a dispute over compensation for a seized home back to a lower court for further proceedings rather than resolving it on the merits. In a fourth case, the court ruled in favor of Exxon Mobil in a case related to the Cuban government's historical confiscation of assets. Legal analysts have noted that recent court decisions carry broad implications for constitutional law, with at least one ruling described as having significant downstream effects on how courts interpret government authority. At least 12 more opinions in argued cases remain to be issued before the end of the term.
Justice Department Charges Dozens in Medicare Fraud Scheme Involving Wound Care Products
The Justice Department announced fraud charges targeting a Medicare billing scheme centered on overpriced wound care products known as skin substitutes, which cost the federal government nearly $15 billion in 2025.The Justice Department announced charges against dozens of individuals in connection with a large-scale Medicare fraud scheme involving so-called skin substitutes — wound care treatments described as significantly overused and overpriced. The products cost Medicare nearly $15 billion in 2025, according to the department. Prosecutors allege that the scheme involved the use of luxury purchases and shell companies as part of the fraud. The announcement reflects a broader federal enforcement focus on waste and fraud within Medicare billing, particularly as Congress and the administration face pressure to manage long-term federal healthcare spending. Skin substitutes have drawn scrutiny in recent years from healthcare watchdogs who have questioned both their clinical efficacy and the billing practices surrounding their use.
Chemical Manufacturer Chemours Agrees to $450 Million Settlement Over PFAS Pollution
The Trump administration reached a $450 million settlement with chemical company Chemours over years of illegal discharges of PFAS — synthetic compounds that persist in the environment and have been linked to health risks.The Trump administration announced a $450 million settlement with Chemours Co., a major chemical manufacturer, resolving federal enforcement claims related to the company's long-running illegal discharge of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, commonly known as PFAS or "forever chemicals." The settlement is described as the first by the federal government to resolve enforcement claims against a major PFAS manufacturer. PFAS compounds are used in a wide range of manufacturing processes and products, and earn the "forever chemicals" designation because they do not break down naturally in the environment or in the human body. Exposure has been associated with various health concerns. The settlement involves multiple states and represents a significant step in federal efforts to hold manufacturers accountable for PFAS contamination of water supplies and ecosystems.
USPS Proposes Withholding Mail Ballots from States That Withhold Voter Request Lists
The Postmaster General told a Senate committee that under a proposed rule, the U.S. Postal Service would decline to deliver mail ballots to states that do not provide the federal government with lists of residents who have requested absentee or mail ballots.Postmaster General David Steiner told a Senate committee that the U.S. Postal Service is considering a rule that would withhold mail ballot delivery from states whose election officials do not submit to the federal government the names of voters who have requested absentee or mail ballots. The proposal represents a significant potential intervention by a federal agency in state-administered election processes. States administer their own elections under U.S. law, and several states have objected to sharing voter data with the federal government. The proposal comes amid a broader effort by the Trump administration to reshape how elections are conducted, including through support for the SAVE Act's proof-of-citizenship voting requirement. Election administrators in a number of states have expressed concern about federal pressure on state-run election systems ahead of the midterm elections.
Twin Earthquakes Kill at Least 164 in Venezuela, State of Emergency Declared
Two back-to-back earthquakes of magnitude 7.2 and 7.5 struck northern Venezuela on Wednesday, killing at least 164 people, injuring 971, and collapsing more than 100 buildings. Venezuela's interim leader declared a state of emergency as search and rescue operations continued.Two powerful earthquakes struck northern Venezuela within seconds of each other on Wednesday evening, killing at least 164 people and injuring 971 more, according to Venezuelan authorities. The interim leader, Delcy Rodríguez, declared a state of emergency as rescuers mounted intensive search operations for hundreds of people still reported missing. The first quake, magnitude 7.2, struck at approximately 6:04 p.m. local time roughly 160 kilometers west of the capital, Caracas. A second quake of magnitude 7.5 followed less than a minute later. The UN's Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs reported more than 100 buildings collapsed in La Guaira, a small coastal state north of Caracas described as among the hardest-hit areas, and said the scale of devastation was overwhelming local authorities. Buildings also collapsed on the outskirts of Caracas, where voices were reported calling from rubble. Geologists described the earthquakes as among the strongest to strike Venezuela in more than a century. The death toll was widely expected to rise as rescue teams worked through collapsed structures. The United States indicated it was preparing to offer assistance. President Trump described the event as causing a devastating number of deaths and directed federal agencies to ready aid. The earthquakes arrive at a particularly difficult moment for Venezuela, which has been under interim governance since early 2026 and has been working with the United States to stabilize an economy weakened by years of mismanagement.
Severe Heatwave Grips Europe, Prompting Health Alerts, Power Strain, and Rising Deaths
A major heatwave has pushed temperatures across Europe to record or near-record levels, prompting France to raise its health alert to its highest level and forcing the shutdown of two nuclear reactors. Heat-linked deaths are being reported across multiple countries, and Britain's grid operator paid approximately £10 million to secure emergency power capacity.A prolonged and severe heatwave continued to intensify across Europe, with temperatures reaching 40 degrees Celsius in Paris, Nantes, and parts of Germany, while records were broken in the United Kingdom. Cardiff recorded a June overnight low of 23.5 degrees Celsius — the highest minimum temperature ever recorded in the UK in June — as heat persisted through the night. France raised its national health alert to its highest level and shut down two nuclear reactors as the heat reduced the availability of cooling water. Spain's monitoring agency reported an estimated rise in deaths linked to the extreme temperatures, with concerns raised about a potentially high toll. France reported heat-related deaths among young people. Britain's National Energy System Operator paid approximately £10 million to fire up gas power plants on Wednesday evening to prevent a rare summer supply shortfall caused by elevated electricity demand. A hosepipe ban was introduced in parts of England. The heatwave is described by meteorologists as consistent with the increased frequency and severity of extreme heat events associated with long-term climate change. Conditions were expected to shift eastward over the following days, with temperatures in Germany potentially reaching 40 degrees Celsius.