The United States and Iran have started talks in Switzerland to create a final agreement aimed at ending their conflict. They agreed to work toward a deal within 60 days and formed a committee to oversee the negotiations. A key issue is stopping fighting in Lebanon involving Iran-backed Hezbollah and Israel.
Key Facts
U.S. and Iranian delegations met at the Bürgenstock resort in Switzerland to negotiate a peace deal.
Both countries agreed to a 60-day plan to reach a final agreement.
A "High Level" committee will provide political guidance during the talks.
A "deconfliction cell" with U.S., Iranian, and Lebanese officials was formed to try to stop fighting in Lebanon.
Fighting in Lebanon between Israel and Hezbollah remains a major concern in the negotiations.
The Iranian delegation left the talks after about 18 hours of discussions and returned to Tehran.
Pakistan and Qatar are acting as mediators in the talks.
Israel’s defense minister said Israeli forces will remain in southern Lebanon despite ongoing fighting.
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Officials from the United States and Iran met in Switzerland and agreed on a plan to work towards a final deal to end their ongoing conflict that has lasted over 100 days. They set up communication to keep the Strait of Hormuz open and agreed to prevent fighting in Lebanon.
Key Facts
The talks took place in Switzerland and were led by US Vice President JD Vance and Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf.
Both sides agreed on a roadmap to reach a final deal within 60 days, with ongoing technical talks planned.
They created a communication channel to avoid incidents in the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial waterway for global oil and gas shipments.
A “deconfliction cell” was agreed on to prevent renewed fighting in Lebanon between Israel and Iran-backed groups.
The negotiations are part of a broader preliminary deal signed to end the war that began after attacks involving the US, Israel, and Iran.
Iran had previously blocked the Strait of Hormuz in response to military attacks by the US and Israel.
The deal includes waiving sanctions on Iranian energy, releasing frozen Iranian assets, and plans for reconstruction and development in Iran.
Pakistani and Qatari mediators helped facilitate the progress in talks.
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A new prize called the Windrush Prize for British Caribbean Playwrights has been created using compensation money awarded to a Windrush victim who died before receiving it. The prize will give £10,000 and a theatre run to a UK-based British Caribbean playwright to support their work and honor the contributions of the British Caribbean community.
Key Facts
The Windrush Prize is dedicated to British Caribbean playwrights living in the UK and offers £10,000 to the winner.
The winning play will be staged for at least three weeks at the Arcola theatre in 2027 and published by Methuen Drama.
The prize was set up by Shereener Browne in memory of her father, Myron Brown, who was wrongly stripped of his British citizenship.
Myron Brown died before receiving compensation meant for Windrush victims; his family had to navigate complex legal processes to claim the money.
The prize aims to address the lack of British Caribbean voices in theatre and preserve their cultural impact in Britain.
Windrush Day marks the arrival of Caribbean passengers on the HMT Empire Windrush in 1948, a key moment in British history.
Research shows low awareness of the Windrush story among young people in the UK, highlighting the need for education about this history.
Over 50 Windrush victims died while waiting for compensation; public figures are calling for a review of the compensation scheme.
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Between 2023 and 2025, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) allowed large amounts of fentanyl pills to reach New Mexico streets while building larger criminal cases against drug traffickers. This approach, aimed at catching major dealers, raised concerns about public safety as fentanyl is extremely deadly and overdose deaths in New Mexico increased during that time.
Key Facts
The DEA monitored many shipments of fentanyl pills but often did not seize them.
Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid so powerful that only a small amount can cause death.
The White House labeled fentanyl a “weapon of mass destruction” in 2023.
DEA agents used the tactic of letting drugs pass to build bigger cases against traffickers.
Some agents and experts say this strategy risked public safety and may have broken Justice Department rules.
New Mexico saw a 21% increase in overdose deaths while the rest of the U.S. saw a 14% decrease.
U.S. Attorney Alex Uballez stated that focusing on large drug organizations can ultimately save more lives.
The DEA said its actions were lawful and made decisions based on the situation.
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China has placed export restrictions on 10 U.S. companies, including those involved in rare earth mining and defense technology, in response to the Pentagon adding Chinese tech firms to a watch list of military-linked companies. These new rules stop exports of certain goods to these U.S. firms and bar Chinese government buyers from purchasing from 46 U.S. companies.
Key Facts
China restricted exports of "dual-use" items (goods that can be used for civilian and military purposes) to 10 American companies.
Some affected U.S. firms work in rare earth mining and drone technology.
The U.S. Department of Defense recently added several Chinese companies, including tech giants like Baidu and Alibaba, to a military-linked watch list.
China said its actions protect national security and follow international nonproliferation rules.
The Pentagon's watch list includes 188 Chinese firms and warns of possible future U.S. restrictions or investment limits.
China's Finance Ministry banned government buyers from purchasing products from 46 U.S. companies, but this does not apply to U.S.-funded firms in China.
Well-known U.S. defense contractors already under sanctions, like Lockheed Martin and Boeing Defense, were included in China's procurement ban list.
The export restrictions mainly affect companies with little business presence in China, so the economic impact might be limited.
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The first direct talks between the US and Iran ended in Switzerland after a tense start caused by Iranian delegates walking out over threats from President Donald Trump. Despite this, both sides agreed to continue technical discussions and aim for a final deal within 60 days, including plans to reduce conflict in Lebanon and keep the Hormuz Strait open for shipping.
Key Facts
The US and Iran held face-to-face talks in Buergenstock, Switzerland, which concluded the first session.
Iran said it had closed the Hormuz Strait again, a key waterway for oil shipments.
President Trump threatened to attack Iran again and take control of the Hormuz Strait if it remained closed.
Iranian negotiators briefly walked out due to Trump’s threats but talks continued through mediators from Qatar and Pakistan.
Both sides agreed on a plan to end the Israel-Lebanon conflict and improve safety for ships in the Hormuz Strait.
Technical talks will continue throughout the week.
Iran claimed to have secured permission to export some oil and petrochemicals, release frozen assets, and start a rebuilding plan.
US Vice President JD Vance said progress was made toward ending fighting in Lebanon despite ongoing violence.
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EasyJet has turned down a £4.74 billion takeover offer from the US investment firm Castlelake. Castlelake wants to buy the airline and says its offer is good for shareholders, but EasyJet called the bid "highly opportunistic" and has rejected three offers this month.
Key Facts
Castlelake, a US investment firm, owns about 2.14% of EasyJet shares.
Castlelake made three takeover proposals to EasyJet this month, all rejected.
The latest offer values EasyJet at £4.74 billion and offers 625p per share.
The offer price is 24% higher than EasyJet's share price last Friday.
EasyJet's board described the proposals as "highly opportunistic."
Castlelake says it plans to keep EasyJet as a strong European airline under European control.
EU rules require EasyJet to be majority-owned by EU citizens.
Castlelake proposes an ownership plan that complies with EU regulations.
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A teenager in Brisbane is on trial for planning a terrorist attack involving homemade explosives aimed at political figures and a public event. The court heard arguments about whether he was a serious threat or simply a troubled youth making dark jokes.
Key Facts
The teenager is charged with preparing or planning a terrorist act using homemade explosives.
Alleged targets included Peter Dutton, leader of the Liberal party, and the Labour Day march in Brisbane.
He experimented with household chemicals to make devices and researched extremist materials online.
The prosecution said he was influenced by known US domestic terrorists like the Unabomber and Timothy McVeigh.
The teen had materials such as a terrorist bomb manual and a military guide on improvised weapons.
The defense argued he was a troubled 15-year-old making edgy jokes and not seriously planning attacks.
The teenager’s personal life involved family separation, suicidal thoughts, and hearing voices.
The jury is considering his intent before deciding on a verdict, even though no attack occurred.
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The US investment firm Castlelake has made a third offer to buy the British budget airline easyJet, valued at just over £4.7 billion. EasyJet’s board has rejected all three offers, saying they undervalue the company, and Castlelake has gone public with its latest proposal to give shareholders a chance to consider it before the takeover deadline.
Key Facts
Castlelake’s third offer to buy easyJet is an all-cash bid of 625p per share, valuing the airline at around £4.7 billion.
EasyJet’s board rejected the offer on the grounds it undervalues the company and called it opportunistic.
Castlelake has partnered with two European investors to meet EU rules requiring majority ownership by EU nationals.
The EU partners include Peter Bellew, with experience at easyJet and other airlines, and Mark Breen, CEO of Oneiros Aerospace.
Castlelake’s previous offers were 560p and 600p per share, both rejected by easyJet.
EasyJet’s shares dropped about 20% earlier in the year but have risen 36% in the past month amid takeover talks.
There is a takeover deadline for Castlelake to announce an offer by 5pm on June 26.
Past takeover interest included approaches from MSC and Wizz Air, both rejected by easyJet.
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Abelardo De La Espriella, a far-right lawyer, has won Colombia’s presidential run-off election by a narrow margin against left-wing Senator Ivan Cepeda, with 99.9% of votes counted. De La Espriella promises to end peace talks with rebel groups and focus on the oil and gas sector, while Cepeda challenges the results and supports continuing social policies and negotiations with armed groups.
Key Facts
De La Espriella won 49.7% of the vote; Cepeda received 48.7%, with almost all votes counted.
Cepeda supports continuing President Gustavo Petro’s social programs and peace talks with armed groups.
De La Espriella plans to stop peace talks, boost oil and gas, and lower taxes.
De La Espriella is a lawyer with no prior political experience and holds citizenship in Colombia, the US, and Italy.
The election marks a return to right-wing leadership in Colombia, which has mostly been governed by the right in past centuries.
De La Espriella received congratulations from US President Donald Trump.
Cepeda’s campaign is contesting the results in about 33,000 ballot boxes.
Security, drug trafficking, and violence remain major issues influencing voters.
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Nearly 60 Ukrainian drones were stopped while flying toward Moscow, causing a short pause at the city’s airports. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Ukraine is now striking back by attacking Russia every day as the fighting continues.
Key Facts
About 60 Ukrainian drones tried to reach Moscow but were intercepted by Russia.
Moscow’s airports temporarily stopped operations during the drone incident.
Russia reported shooting down over 300 drones across its territory.
A Russian drone attack killed three people, including a 13-year-old boy, in Ukraine’s Sumy region.
President Zelenskyy said Ukraine has started bringing the war back to Russia with daily strikes.
This ongoing conflict was discussed recently by leaders from the G7 group and the European Union.
The article also mentions other European political and weather events unrelated to the Ukraine conflict.
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The United States and Iran will hold talks for 60 days to address nuclear issues and sanctions. Experts say these talks will be difficult and need time, patience, and cooperation to reach lasting agreements.
Key Facts
The talks between the US and Iran are scheduled to last 60 days.
The focus is on nuclear concerns and economic sanctions.
Experts describe the talks as challenging.
Success depends on willingness from both sides.
Patience and time are important for good results.
Thomas Warrick of the Atlantic Council commented on the talks.
The talks aim to find long-term solutions to conflicts.
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Millions of Americans will receive Social Security payments this week, with amounts depending on work history and when they start collecting benefits. Payments are scheduled based on birth dates, and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) is paid on a different timetable.
Key Facts
Social Security payments are sent on different dates depending on the beneficiary’s birth date.
For June 2026, payments for people born between the 21st and 31st will be made on June 24.
People who started receiving benefits before May 1997 usually get payments on the 3rd of each month.
SSI payments are separate and usually arrive on the first day of the month.
To qualify for Social Security retirement benefits, a person must have worked and paid taxes for about 10 years (earning 40 credits).
Full retirement age benefits can be up to $4,152 per month in 2026; delaying benefits can increase this amount to up to $5,181 for some people.
Most retired workers receive around $2,071 monthly after a 2.8% cost-of-living increase in 2026.
If a payment is late, the SSA advises waiting a few days, checking with banks, confirming payment dates, and contacting the SSA if needed.
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An explosion and fire occurred Sunday night at Qatar’s Ras Laffan natural gas export terminal while workers were trying to restart it after damage from an earlier Iranian attack. At least 54 people were injured and 18 were missing. The incident may disrupt global energy markets because Qatar is a major natural gas producer.
Key Facts
The explosion happened at the Barzan gas supply facility in the Ras Laffan industrial area of Qatar.
The incident happened as Qatar tried to restart operations after an Iranian missile strike had previously damaged the terminal.
At least 54 workers were hurt and 18 were reported missing after the blast and fire.
QatarEnergy, the state company, owns almost all of the Barzan plant, with ExxonMobil holding a small share.
The plant’s capacity is about 1.4 billion cubic feet of gas per day, used for local electricity and water desalination.
Qatar stopped gas exports after Iran controlled shipments through the Strait of Hormuz during the war.
Iran and Qatar share a large offshore natural gas field in the Persian Gulf.
Qatar has used its wealth from natural gas to raise its international profile through events like the 2022 FIFA World Cup and diplomatic efforts.
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U.S. and Iranian officials held a second day of talks in Switzerland to try to end the conflict between their countries. The talks saw progress on issues like keeping a key shipping route open and setting up a way to reduce fighting in Lebanon, despite tensions caused by comments from President Donald Trump.
Key Facts
U.S. and Iranian negotiators met in Obbuergen, Switzerland, to discuss ending the war between their countries.
Qatar and Pakistan are mediating the talks and reported "encouraging progress."
Both sides agreed to create a "de-confliction cell" to reduce fighting in Lebanon.
They discussed ways to keep the Strait of Hormuz, a key oil shipping route, open and maintain a ceasefire in southern Lebanon.
President Trump made critical comments about Iran that upset the Iranian delegation and caused a brief pause in talks.
Despite the tensions, negotiations continued with U.S. Vice President JD Vance, special envoy Steve Witkoff, and Jared Kushner representing the U.S.
Iran’s delegation included parliamentary speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi.
President Trump warned Iran on social media to stop proxy actions in Lebanon or face stronger retaliation.
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Two students, aged 14 and 15, opened fire at San Jose National High School in Tacloban city, Philippines, killing three students and injuring seven others. The suspects were arrested, and authorities are investigating the cause of the shooting.
Key Facts
The shooting occurred mid-morning at a government-run high school with over 1,500 students.
Both suspects were students and close friends who said they were bullied.
Each suspect carried one pistol; it is unclear how they obtained the guns.
Only one security guard was on duty at multiple school entrances, allowing the suspects to bring weapons inside.
Most victims were female students.
One suspect was caught at the school, and the other was found hiding nearby after residents alerted police.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. ordered a thorough investigation and urged stronger security at schools and public areas.
School shootings are uncommon in the Philippines despite frequent crimes involving guns.
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The Ebola outbreak in eastern Congo has reached 1,003 confirmed cases and 254 deaths. The virus is a rare type called Bundibugyo, which currently has no vaccine or treatment, and health officials warn the outbreak could get worse.
Key Facts
The outbreak is mainly in Ituri province in eastern Congo.
It started on May 15, 2026, and is the worst of its kind in its first month.
100 people have recovered so far.
The virus is the Bundibugyo strain, which has no known vaccine or treatment.
Health authorities believe there may be more cases not yet found.
Contact tracing, which means finding and monitoring people who may have been exposed, has only reached 55% of contacts so far.
Over 35,000 people who were in contact with infected individuals still need to be located and monitored.
Officials have not yet found the first person infected in this outbreak, known as patient zero.
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The US and Iran have completed a first round of talks in Switzerland, making progress and agreeing to set up a committee to oversee technical negotiations on key issues like Iran’s nuclear program and sanctions. A ceasefire in Lebanon seems to be holding amid ongoing tensions, while both sides prepare for further discussions and watchful military activity continues in the Middle East.
Key Facts
The US and Iran held talks in Switzerland, resulting in "encouraging progress" and an agreement to create a high-level committee.
The committee will oversee negotiations on nuclear issues, sanctions, and dispute resolution, with technical talks continuing this week.
The US and Iran agreed on a 60-day plan to work toward a final deal, including communication on the Strait of Hormuz and ending military operations in Lebanon.
Iran’s Foreign Minister said the US agreed to waive sanctions on Iranian oil and release frozen assets.
The head of Iran’s Quds Force warned Israel to leave southern Lebanon or face defeat similar to 2000.
President Donald Trump threatened Iran over its support for Hezbollah, but Iran dismissed his threats.
The US military remains active in the Middle East, conducting routine patrols in the region.
A ceasefire is reportedly holding in Lebanon after recent deadly attacks, but Israeli forces remain in southern Lebanon.
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More than half of France is under a highest-level heat alert as a strong heatwave brings temperatures over 40°C (104°F) in many areas. The heatwave has caused deaths, school closures, and disruptions to train services, and is expected to last until the end of the week.
Key Facts
49 out of 96 regions in France are under a red heat alert, the highest warning level.
Temperatures are expected to reach up to 43°C (109°F) in Bordeaux and over 40°C in parts of western France.
About 63 million people in France are affected by the heatwave.
Three elderly people died in the Gironde region partly due to the heat.
The national music festival banned alcohol to reduce heat risks during gatherings.
845 schools were closed, and 1,800 students left school early due to the heat.
France’s national railway reduced train services and asked vulnerable people to avoid travel.
Other parts of Europe, including Madrid and Rome, are also facing record high temperatures.
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Abelardo de la Espriella, a lawyer supported by the U.S., narrowly won Colombia's presidential runoff election, moving the country toward right-wing policies. His win has caused protests in major cities, while supporters hope for increased security and stability.
Key Facts
Abelardo de la Espriella won the 2026 Colombian presidential runoff with 49.66% of the vote, narrowly beating left-wing Senator Ivan Cepeda, who got 48.70%.
De la Espriella is backed by the U.S. and promises to fight drug traffickers and guerrilla groups with security measures including airstrikes.
The election triggered violent protests in cities like Cali and Bogota, with clashes between demonstrators and riot police.
Supporters of De la Espriella celebrated publicly, expressing hope for security, employment, and dignity.
De la Espriella pledged to govern democratically and respect all Colombians, including those who did not vote for him.
His win signals a shift to right-wing rule in Colombia, which has mostly been governed by right-wing parties historically.
The result may impact Colombia's fragile peace process established about ten years ago with former guerrilla groups.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio welcomed the election outcome and expressed interest in working closely with the new Colombian government.
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