United States

Core Summary A landmark US housing bill has officially become law despite President Trump’s attempts to block it. The legislation aims to reduce housing costs and increase supply, representing the most significant housing policy reform in years. The president had wanted voter ID legislation passed before the housing bill, but Congress ultimately prioritized the housing measure. Event Details According to BBC and multiple US media reports, the housing bill gained bipartisan support in Congress before officially taking effect. The bill’s core provisions include: increased federal housing subsidies, streamlined housing construction approval processes, expanded support for first-time homebuyers, and incentives for local governments to relax zoning restrictions to increase housing supply. ...

Core Summary The United States has demanded that Iran issue a public statement declaring the Strait of Hormuz remains open and pledge not to attack ships. Vice President JD Vance is among senior US officials expected to participate in negotiations resuming Saturday in Oman. This diplomatic move aims to ease tensions in the global energy shipping corridor and ensure international maritime safety. Event Details According to reports from the Associated Press and BBC, US officials made clear they expect Iran to release a public statement declaring the Strait of Hormuz open to international shipping and committing that Tehran will not continue attacking vessels. This demand is one of the core issues in US-Iran negotiations. ...

NYC health officials have issued a warning to Central Park visitors after a Legionnaires’ disease outbreak grows on the Upper East Side. Multiple cases have been confirmed and investigators are tracing the source.

A dangerous ‘heat dome’ has engulfed the eastern United States, breaking temperature records from Washington DC to Boston. New York’s Central Park hit over 100°F, forcing adjustments to World Cup matches and Independence Day celebrations.

A magnitude 5.6 earthquake struck Mendocino County in Northern California, with damage and injuries reported in Ukiah and Willits as emergency response operations are underway.

US Waives Iran Oil Sanctions as Peace Deal Brings Major Policy Shift The United States announced on June 22 a waiver of oil sanctions on Iran, marking one of the most significant policy shifts following the recent peace agreement between the two nations. The move signals a dramatic departure from Washington’s maximum pressure strategy and is expected to substantially increase global crude oil supply. According to Yahoo Finance, the Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) has issued licenses permitting specific entities to purchase and transport Iranian crude oil. This represents the first major concession on energy sanctions since the conflict escalated in early 2026. ...

Iran Delegation Suspends US Talks Iran’s delegation announced on June 22 it was suspending negotiations with the United States in Switzerland, citing protests over threatening statements by President Trump. The dramatic turn came the same day the US Treasury announced eased restrictions on Iran-related energy transactions. Despite the suspension, parties had reached preliminary consensus on a “60-day roadmap to a final agreement” before talks paused, leaving diplomatic space intact. Iran stated it could not conduct “meaningful diplomatic dialogue” in an “atmosphere of threats and pressure.” ...

U.S. intelligence agencies have submitted an assessment to the White House warning that Israel is likely to take military or diplomatic actions to undermine the recently reached U.S.-Iran peace agreement, revealing deep divisions between the two allies on Middle East policy.

The US government announced it will terminate funding for South Africa HIV prevention programs, citing disagreements over alleged Afrikaner persecution. The move could deprive millions of South Africans of critical treatment resources, triggering strong reactions from the global public health community.

US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth publicly criticised NATO allies for insufficient defence spending and announced a comprehensive review of US military deployments in Europe, signalling major pressure on transatlantic security relations.