WTOP DC

Falling gas prices are expected to reduce inflation in June, with consumer prices forecast to drop 0.2%, marking the first decline in nearly four years. However, renewed U.S.-Iran tensions have pushed oil prices up, threatening to reverse progress. The Federal Reserve is monitoring core inflation, which is projected to rise 0.2% monthly, while officials debate potential rate hikes.

Jordan’s military intercepted four missiles launched by Iran. The report was provided by the Associated Press from Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

China’s exports rose 27% year-on-year in June driven by AI-related demand, with vehicle and tech product exports surging. Imports also increased sharply, but concerns remain about trade deficits and reliance on global demand for AI and automotive products.

China’s customs agency reported a 27% year-on-year surge in exports in June, driven by strong AI-related shipments. The data was released by the customs agency and cited by the AP news agency in Hong Kong.

The US military announced the conclusion of its latest strikes on Iran. The statement was reported by the Associated Press from Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

Bahrain has sounded its missile alert sirens for the second time as Iran retaliates against US military strikes. The event highlights escalating tensions in the region.

The UAE Defense Ministry reported that Iran attacked two tankers in a strait near Oman's coast, resulting in one person killed and eight others injured. The incident occurred in a strategic maritime area.

Bahrain activated missile alert sirens as Iran retaliated against a new round of US airstrikes. The incident occurred in the context of escalating tensions in the region.

A human rights organization, Cubalex, filed a habeas corpus petition to determine the whereabouts of Cuban dissident artist Luis Manuel Otero Alcántara, who was arrested in 2021 and expected to be released but was removed from Guanajay prison last week. The Cuban government does not recognize Alcántara as a political prisoner, despite designations by groups like Amnesty International.

El Salvador’s ruling party Nuevas Ideas ratified President Nayib Bukele’s candidacy for the 2027 presidential elections, advancing his bid for a third consecutive term despite criticism from legal experts and human rights advocates. Constitutional reforms approved by the party’s supermajority in the legislative assembly eliminated term limits and extended presidential terms to six years, while security policies under Bukele’s leadership have reduced homicides but led to mass imprisonments and over 500 deaths in prison.

South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham's sudden death was attributed to aortic dissection, a severe condition causing sudden tears in the aorta's lining. The condition is often linked to high blood pressure and has high mortality rates, requiring immediate emergency intervention. Experts emphasized its potential to affect seemingly healthy individuals and the importance of recognizing sudden severe symptoms as medical emergencies.

Food and Friends, a DC nonprofit providing two million meals annually for those with serious illnesses, is expanding with a $30 million addition and renovation. The project will double its capacity, adding a state-of-the-art kitchen, storage, and private nutrition counseling rooms to better serve clients with conditions like cancer and AIDS.

President Donald Trump reduced the size of Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante national monuments in Utah by about 90% each, citing a desire to return land control to the state. The move, under the Antiquities Act, faced criticism from tribal leaders who consider the areas sacred and accuse federal officials of bypassing consultation processes. Utah officials support the reduction to enable resource development.

The US and Iran are asserting control over the Strait of Hormuz, with President Donald Trump claiming the US as 'THE GUARDIAN OF THE HORMUZ STRAIT' and Iran's Revolutionary Guard denying foreign interference. Both nations have disrupted shipping traffic, reducing crossings by 52% recently, while international law experts emphasize the strait's status as a free, unimpeded international waterway under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.

President Donald Trump announced plans to reduce the size of the Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante national monuments in Utah, revisiting actions from his first term reversed by President Joe Biden. The move involves the Antiquities Act, which allows presidents to protect areas of cultural or historic interest, and has sparked debates over public land management.

Four Democratic Congress members visited Cuba and compared the US energy embargo to a 'silent Gaza,' citing its severe impact amid an ongoing crisis. They met with Cuban officials but noted no current talks to lift the embargo, which has worsened blackouts, transportation, and medical access.

Canadian fashion mogul Peter Nygard pleaded guilty to sexual assault and forcible confinement in Quebec. He is serving an 11-year sentence in Ontario after a 2023 conviction and faces U.S. racketeering and sex trafficking charges.

Frustrations over proposed data center developments in Maryland counties led to the defeat of local politicians in recent primary elections. Environmental advocates highlight growing bipartisan opposition to data centers due to concerns about electricity and water use, pollution, and environmental degradation.

Wisconsin gubernatorial candidate Sara Rodriguez discovered her campaign has significantly less cash than expected due to financial misreporting by her campaign manager, who was subsequently fired. Rodriguez remains in the race and has notified the Wisconsin Ethics Commission to correct campaign finance reports.

The US military is conducting more attacks on Iran following President Trump's announcement of a new blockade on Iran in the Strait of Hormuz. The blockade targets the strategic waterway, escalating tensions between the two nations.