Morning Headlines

Twin magnitude 7.2 and 7.5 earthquakes that struck Venezuela on June 24 have left nearly 3,000 confirmed dead and up to 50,000 people unaccounted for, with the recovery effort now focused on retrieving remains rather than rescue. The scale of the disaster — compounded by Venezuela's already strained infrastructure — makes it one of the deadliest earthquake events in the Western Hemisphere in decades.

Iran and Oman are moving to jointly impose compulsory navigation fees on vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz, with Tehran's ambassador to China confirming the charges are coming despite explicit U.S. opposition. About 20% of the world's oil supply passes through the strait, meaning the policy could jolt global energy markets.

President Trump posted on Truth Social that it is 'ridiculous' for the U.S. to continue its 'one sided' commitment to NATO, casting doubt on American engagement just before the alliance's July 7–8 summit in Turkey. European allies are pressing for unity on Ukraine aid at the summit while Trump has repeatedly raised the prospect of withdrawing from the alliance.

The Vatican formally declared the Society of St. Pius X in schism and excommunicated its bishops and priests after the traditionalist group consecrated four bishops on July 1 without papal approval, directly defying Pope Leo XIV. The break is the most significant rupture in the Catholic Church since the SSPX's founder Marcel Lefebvre performed similar illicit ordinations in 1988.

Chinese President Xi Jinping elevated Zhang Shuguang and Air Force Commander Wang Gang to the rank of general, filling vacancies created by a sweeping corruption crackdown that removed multiple senior officers. The promotions are widely seen as Xi's effort to install loyalists and tighten personal control over the People's Liberation Army.