Iran war, Venezuela quakes, World Cup

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By Nadja Lovadinov

June 30, 2026

By Nadja Lovadinov

June 30, 2026

 
 

Welcome back. In the news today: The Supreme Court lets Trump fire agency heads in a dramatic expansion of presidential power; a look at the trickiest issues in the unresolved conflict between the U.S. and Iran; more than 100 Venezuelans who were deported from the U.S. hours before the earthquakes are missing; and a look at the World Cup sticker frenzy. Also, parts of the world were treated to a stunning “strawberry moon” last night — see it here.

 
Federal Reserve Board of Governors member Lisa Cook leaves the Supreme Court in Washington, Jan. 21.

Federal Reserve Board of Governors member Lisa Cook leaves the Supreme Court in Washington, Jan. 21. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)

POLITICS

Supreme Court lets Trump fire agency heads, a dramatic expansion of presidential power

The justices on Monday did allow Fed governor Lisa Cook to stay in her job while she fights the Republican president’s effort to fire her over allegations of mortgage fraud, which she has denied. But other than at the Fed, the court held that presidents have free rein to fire agency heads at will. Read more.

Why this matters:

  • No president before had sought to wrest control of the agencies that regulate wide swaths of American life, including nuclear energy, product safety and labor relations. President Donald Trump voiced his approval in a Truth Social post saying it is a “Historic and Unprecedented Ruling, one of the most important ever given with respect to Presidential Powers.”

RELATED COVERAGE ➤

  • What the Supreme Court’s ruling in the Cook case means for Federal Reserve independence 

  • Supreme Court rules states can count late-arriving mailed ballots, rejecting Trump-led challenge  

  • Justices reject Trump’s push to toss $5 million verdict in E. Jean Carroll sexual abuse case 

  • Supreme Court rules constitutional privacy protections apply to cellphone users’ location history 

  • High court ruling gives a reprieve to states with grace periods for receiving mail ballots 

  • Royalties. Teaching gigs. A concert in Puerto Rico. Financial forms offer view inside Supreme Court

  • DC will pay $50,000 to man detained while protesting guard patrol with ‘Star Wars’ song, record says

  • ICE releases a Texas nun intercepted walking to church dressed in her habit
 

WORLD NEWS

Iran says this. The US says that. A guide to what they appear to disagree about now

The 60-day clock is ticking on further talks between the United States and Iran on the interim deal, but it’s not even clear when negotiators will meet again. Read more.

What to know:

  • Other issues include control over the Strait of Hormuz. Iran says shippers must use its designated routes and coordinate with its authorities. It has objected to a new route overseen by the U.S. that runs along Oman. That sparked the fighting over the weekend.

RELATED COVERAGE ➤

  • The Strait of Hormuz’s future is unsettled in wake of latest strikes
     
  • Israeli troops face resistance from residents as they push into a town in Syria
 

WORLD NEWS

More than 100 Venezuelans who were deported from the US hours before the earthquakes are missing

Survivors say deportees were being held in a La Guaira hotel when earthquakes struck Venezuela. Read more.

What to know:

  • A deportation flight from Miami arrived in Venezuela hours before Wednesday's earthquakes. On board were 146 Venezuelans, including 19 women and seven children, according to ICE Flight Monitor.

RELATED COVERAGE ➤

  • Photos show rescue efforts

  • Venezuelans search more earthquake ruins as attention turns to humanitarian crisis 

  • He survived 2 natural disasters in Venezuela’s La Guaira. Now he vows never to return

  • After an earthquake, how long can trapped victims survive?
 

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IN OTHER NEWS

READ

Monaco explosion: Ukrainian tycoon among three injured

Fraud conviction: Self-exiled Chinese billionaire Guo Wengui gets 30 years in US prison

North Carolina: Authorities end takeover at jail after inmates overpowered guards 

Western wildfire: 3 firefighters killed were trying to shield themselves from flames

Media: Comcast plans to split into two public companies by spinning off NBCUniversal and Sky

Today in History: In 1936, Margaret Mitchell’s novel ‘Gone With the Wind’ was released

WATCH

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Surf’s up: Riding the waves on Ireland’s wild Atlantic coast