World
The death toll from twin earthquakes that struck Venezuela on June 25 has climbed past 920, with more than 4,500 injured and 49,000 reported missing. International rescue teams have joined the search as families in the hardest-hit cities of Caracas and Maracaibo dig through rubble by hand. The US Geological Survey reported magnitudes of 7.3 and 6.8, making this one of the deadliest seismic events in South America this century.
AP News
Politics
The US Supreme Court on June 25 issued two rulings that allow the Trump administration to terminate Temporary Protected Status for hundreds of thousands of immigrants and to enforce its asylum metering policy at the southern border. The decisions mark a major legal victory for the administration's hardline immigration agenda and could affect over 400,000 TPS holders from countries including Haiti, El Salvador, and Honduras.
Reuters
Business
The US goods trade deficit widened sharply in May to a 14-month high, according to Commerce Department data released June 26. The deficit reached $72.4 billion as imports surged 4.2% month-over-month, driven by consumer goods and industrial supplies. Exports rose a modest 1.1%, leaving the gap at its widest since March 2025. Economists say the data suggests tariff policy has not reshaped trade flows as intended.
Reuters
Technology
OpenAI announced it will delay the public release of its next-generation GPT-5.6 model following a request from the Trump administration for early access to evaluate frontier AI safety. The US government is seeking preferential access to advanced AI systems before broad deployment, citing national security concerns. The delay marks an escalation in government oversight of the AI industry and has sparked debate about the balance between innovation and regulation.
Reuters
Science
New research published in Nature Neuroscience reveals that neurons intentionally break their own DNA strands to enable brain plasticity and memory formation. Scientists at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology found that when neurons are activated during learning, they create controlled double-strand breaks in DNA at specific genes related to synaptic plasticity. The breaks are then rapidly repaired, a process the researchers call "coordinated DNA breakage and repair" that is essential for long-term memory.
Science News
Sports
The United States men's national team lost 3-2 to Turkey on June 25 in a dramatic World Cup group stage match, conceding a goal in the 94th minute. Despite the defeat, the US advanced to the round of 32 thanks to results elsewhere. Christian Pulisic scored once and assisted another, showing his best form of the tournament. The US will face Bosnia and Herzegovina in the knockout round.
USA Today
Health
A large-scale study published in JAMA Cardiology found that people who regularly monitor their blood pressure at home have a 28% lower risk of heart attack and a 22% lower risk of stroke compared to those who only get readings at doctor visits. The study followed 48,000 adults over five years and suggests that consistent self-monitoring leads to better medication adherence and earlier detection of hypertension.
Medical News Today
Environment
The heatwave gripping Western Europe is the most intense ever recorded on the continent, with temperatures exceeding 41°C (106°F) in Paris and breaking June records in the UK, France, Switzerland, and Spain. A rapid attribution study by climate scientists concluded the event would be "impossible without climate change." At least 58 people have died in France, 212 in Spain, and multiple heat records fell for the third consecutive day on June 26.
The Guardian