Balm Sources — Sunday, June 28, 2026 PM

1

US and Iran Exchange Strikes for Fourth Consecutive Day as Strait of Hormuz Shipping Disrupted

The Guardian — “Fresh hostilities in Gulf suggest US-Iran memorandum was too broadly worded”
The New York Times — “Mideast Live Updates: Dispute Over Strait Deepens as U.S. and Iran Trade Attacks”
The New York Times — “Renewed Strikes Threaten to Set Back Shipping Recovery in Persian Gulf”
Fox News World — “Gulf countries strongly condemn Iran's drone attack on Bahrain as rising tensions threaten MOU”
BBC World — “US and Iran exchange strikes and accuse each other of violating ceasefire”
NPR News — “U.S. and Iran exchange strikes, underscoring the fragility of the ceasefire”
Fox News — “Shipping giant warns Strait of Hormuz chaos is 'new normal' as Tehran shifts 4M barrels”
Fox News World — “Shipping giant warns Strait of Hormuz chaos is 'new normal' as Tehran shifts 4M barrels”

2

Venezuela Earthquake Rescue Effort Continues Four Days After Twin Quakes; Tens of Thousands Unaccounted For

The Guardian — “Mortuary in Caracas ‘overwhelmed’ as Venezuela struggles to respond after earthquakes”
The New York Times — “Venezuela Live Updates: Rescuers in ‘Critical Hours’ as Window to Find Survivors Closes”
Fox News World — “33 rescued from Venezuelan rubble: Survival window desperately fading with nearly 50,000 missing”
Fox News World — “American rescue teams pull infant alive from rubble in Venezuela days after devastating twin earthquakes”
BBC News — “Two boys rescued from Venezuela earthquake rubble after days of being trapped”
BBC World — “Two boys rescued from Venezuela earthquake rubble after days of being trapped”
BBC World — “In Caracas, this feels like the hardest moment in Venezuela's modern history”
NPR News — “In Venezuela, silence has become a rescue tool”
PBS NewsHour — “Teams scramble to locate survivors 4 days after Venezuela earthquakes”

3

Ukraine Drone Strike Sets Russian Oil Refinery Ablaze as Putin Acknowledges Fuel Shortages

PBS NewsHour — “Ukraine's drone set another Russian oil refinery ablaze, as Putin admits fuel shortages”

4

Pakistan Carries Out Ground Operation and Airstrikes Along Afghan Border, Killing 29

PBS NewsHour — “Pakistan says it carried out ground operation, strikes along Afghan border, killing 29 militants”

5

Israel Formally Recognizes the Armenian Genocide

6

Trump Administration Moves to Block Opening of Gordie Howe International Bridge Between US and Canada

7

Homeland Security Secretary Tells Migrants on Temporary Status to Seek Permanent Residency or Leave

The Guardian — “US homeland security secretary tells migrants to seek permanent status or leave”

8

Ebola Outbreak in Democratic Republic of Congo Could Become Largest on Record, Africa CDC Warns

The New York Times — “Ebola Outbreak Could Become Largest Ever, Africa’s C.D.C. Warns”
The New York Times — “The Ebola Outbreak’s Central Mystery: Where Did This Virus Come From?”

9

Powassan Virus, a Rare Tick-Borne Disease, Reported in Multiple US States

Google News — “This rare tick-borne disease is on the rise in the U.S. - The Washington Post”

10

Three Firefighters Killed Battling Wildfires on Colorado-Utah Border

BBC World — “Three firefighters die battling huge wildfires on Colorado-Utah border”
NPR News — “3 firefighters killed on Colorado-Utah border as wildfires intensify”
PBS NewsHour — “3 firefighters killed, 2 injured while tackling wildfires on the Colorado-Utah border”

11

Eleven People Killed When Skydiving Plane Crashes Near Nancy, France

The New York Times — “Skydiving Plane Crashes in France, Killing All 11 People Aboard”
Fox News — “French investigators probe fatal skydiving plane crash that killed pilot and 10 parachutists”
Fox News World — “French investigators probe fatal skydiving plane crash that killed pilot and 10 parachutists”
BBC News — “Eleven killed after plane carrying skydivers crashes in eastern France”
BBC World — “Eleven killed after plane carrying skydivers crashes in eastern France”