World News

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. ...

UK Prime Minister Starmer Formally Resigns UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer formally announced his resignation on June 22, marking the end of his approximately two-year tenure after leading the Labour Party to a landslide victory in 2024 that ended 14 years of Conservative rule. Starmer delivered a brief statement at 10 Downing Street confirming he would submit his resignation to the King. In the preceding weeks, controversies had mounted around his government, with multiple Labour MPs publicly calling for his departure. ...

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.” ...

Core Summary The first round of high-level Iran-US talks has concluded in Geneva, Switzerland. Iran’s Foreign Ministry announced that both sides have reached an agreement document, with Qatar and Pakistan as mediating parties releasing a joint statement confirming the negotiation outcomes. However, the process was not smooth — Iran’s delegation temporarily refused to continue talks in protest of US threatening remarks, before returning to the table through mediators’ intervention. Event Details According to Sina International News, the first round of high-level Iran-US talks officially concluded on June 22 in Switzerland. Iran’s Foreign Ministry issued a statement after the talks announcing that an agreement document had been reached. Iran’s Foreign Minister noted “significant progress” on ending the Lebanon conflict. ...

A federal judge blocked the Kennedy Center’s two-year closure plan, but the center says the ruling does not require it to reschedule cancelled performances.

US President Trump and Italian PM Meloni have publicly clashed over conflicting accounts of a photo opportunity, with Meloni saying Trump ‘completely made up’ claims she begged for a picture.

Despite a ceasefire agreement reached on June 19, Israel and Hezbollah continue to exchange fire in southern Lebanon, threatening US-brokered peace talks with Iran.

A major oil refinery near Moscow was hit by a drone attack, marking the latest in a series of Ukrainian strikes on Russian energy infrastructure deep inside the country.

Core Summary According to BBC, Switzerland is set to vote on a proposal to cap the national population at ten million people. The initiative was launched by the right-wing Swiss People’s Party, which calls it a “sustainability initiative.” However, opponents warn the plan would create chaos and seriously disrupt Switzerland’s economy and society. Details The Swiss People’s Party argues that rapid population growth has placed enormous pressure on infrastructure, housing, transportation, and the natural environment. The party advocates setting a population cap to ensure the country’s sustainable development capacity and protect Switzerland’s quality of life and ecological environment. ...

Core Summary According to Politico and Bloomberg, President Trump has selected James McDonald to serve as the US Attorney for the Southern District of New York. McDonald previously served as the enforcement chief at the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) and was recently a member of Trump’s legal defense team. The SDNY is considered the most influential federal prosecutorial office in the United States, overseeing Wall Street financial crimes. Details McDonald’s nomination signals Trump’s approach to Wall Street regulation. As former CFTC enforcement chief, he brings extensive experience in financial regulation, having led major enforcement actions against financial institutions. ...