Morning Headlines

Back-to-back tremors — the strongest to hit Venezuela since 1900 — struck near Caracas on June 24–25, killing at least 235 people and injuring more than 4,300. The USGS estimates a 44% chance the death toll could ultimately exceed 10,000 as rescue operations continue through collapsed buildings.

An Iranian Revolutionary Guard drone hit the 'Ever Lovely' as it exited the Strait of Hormuz on June 25, the first vessel attack since the US–Iran memorandum of understanding was signed last week. The UN's International Maritime Organization immediately paused its plan to evacuate stranded ships from the Persian Gulf pending fresh safety guarantees, sending oil prices higher.

The Supreme Court's conservative majority ruled on June 25 to allow the Trump administration to revoke Temporary Protected Status for ~350,000 Haitians and 6,000 Syrians and to reinstate strict daily caps on asylum applications at the southern border. The paired 6–3 decisions pave the way for deportation proceedings against more than one million people.

U.S. District Judge Indira Talwani in Boston ruled on June 25 that Trump's March executive order — which sought to create a federal voter list and restrict mail-ballot delivery — exceeded presidential authority and violated the Constitution's separation of powers. The ruling shields mail voting in roughly two dozen Democratic-led states for this fall's midterm elections.

Starmer announced his resignation on June 22 following a wave of Cabinet departures and Labour's poor local-election results, making him the UK's sixth prime minister in seven years. Former Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham, who won a parliamentary by-election on June 18, is the overwhelming favourite; Labour nominations open July 9 with a new leader expected by September 1.