President Donald Trump announced on Thursday that he canceled planned military strikes against Iran, claiming that Iran’s leadership had approved a draft agreement to extend the ceasefire, reopen the Strait of Hormuz, and begin 60 days of negotiations on Iran’s nuclear program. Trump said the deal had been approved by all parties involved, including the U.S. and several regional countries, and that a naval blockade would remain until the agreement was finalized.

Iran’s semi-official Fars news agency denied that any agreement had been approved, though it acknowledged a possibility that Tehran might consider signing off later. Three sources briefed on the talks told Axios that key gaps were narrowed during discussions between Iranian officials and Qatari mediators in Tehran on Wednesday, focusing on frozen assets, reopening the Strait of Hormuz, and the structure of nuclear negotiations.

According to those sources, Iranian officials informed several countries that an agreement in principle had been reached, pending final approval from Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei.

Abeer Kawas, a Palestinian-American activist, is running as a Democratic Socialist candidate in the June 23 primary election for New York State Senate District 12, representing Queens. If successful, she would become the first Palestinian elected to the New York Senate. Her opponent is Filipino-American legislator Steven Raga, with the winner advancing to the November election and assuming office in Albany next January. Kawas has received the endorsement of New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani, who previously ran a progressive campaign emphasizing housing and transit reforms and a strong stance on Palestine.

Kawas’s candidacy reflects her long-standing community activism and her personal history as the daughter of a Palestinian immigrant detained and deported after the September 11 attacks. She has worked with organizations focused on immigrant rights, language access, and police reform. Her campaign emphasizes the need for diverse, progressive voices in the Democratic Party and legislative system.

The race takes place amid heightened anti-Muslim incidents in the United States, with advocacy groups reporting a sharp rise in attacks on Muslim Americans and institutions under the Trump administration.

US President Donald Trump said he 'likes inflation' as the country experiences its fastest price rise in three years. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, the Consumer Price Index rose 4.2 percent in May compared to a year earlier, up from 3.8 percent in April. The increase was mainly driven by higher energy costs linked to the ongoing US-Israel war with Iran. Speaking at the White House, Trump said he liked the numbers and promised that prices would fall sharply once the war with Iran ends.

On the same day, Trump announced that US forces had seized millions of barrels of oil from Iran in overnight operations, which slightly reduced oil prices. Later, he told the New York Post that his remarks were taken out of context and that he meant inflation was lower than expected despite the war. Inflation has now risen for three consecutive months, with energy bills up nearly 25 percent from a year earlier. Opposition leaders, including Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer, sharply criticized Trump’s comments.

Economists warned that even if the war ends soon, supply disruptions through the Strait of Hormuz could persist until 2027. The Federal Reserve faces pressure ahead of its rate-setting meeting next week, though analysts expect rates to remain between 3.5 and 3.75 percent.

The United States government has come under sharp criticism from immigration and human rights experts over visa complications and entry denials affecting athletes, officials, and fans attending the FIFA World Cup. The controversy intensified after Somali referee Omar Artan, who was set to officiate in the tournament, was denied entry at Miami airport despite holding a valid visa. The Department of Homeland Security cited “vetting concerns,” while the incident reignited debate about discrimination and immigration enforcement under President Donald Trump’s administration.

Other affected participants include members of Iran’s football delegation, some of whom were denied visas and forced to base their team in Mexico, entering the US only for match days. Iraqi striker Aymen Hussein and photographer Talal Salah faced lengthy detentions, while Haiti’s Woodensky Pierre received a delayed visa. Swiss forward Breel Embolo also faced a temporary travel block due to a prior conviction. UN human rights chief Volker Turk called for a “massive rethink” of US immigration policies, warning against racial profiling and surveillance.

FIFA president Gianni Infantino said the organization cannot override government decisions, emphasizing that FIFA remains a sports body focused on finding solutions within its limited authority.

More than 4,400 current and former SpaceX employees are set to become millionaires as the company, founded by Elon Musk, prepares for its initial public offering this week at a share price of $135. The IPO marks the largest public debut ever by a private space company, valuing SpaceX at $1.77 trillion—five times the market capitalization of General Electric. Former launch engineer Trevor Heis, who joined SpaceX in 2011, holds over 100,000 shares now worth at least $13.5 million.

According to San Francisco-based investment platform Hill.com, around 400 of these employees will see their wealth exceed $100 million. Hill.com CEO Andrew Benson described this as an unusual outcome, noting that such wealth creation typically benefits only founders. The IPO is expected to transform the financial lives of thousands of SpaceX workers, both current and former.

Some early employees sold their shares years ago, doubting that SpaceX would ever go public. Others, like former supply manager Helvin Bacariza, plan to hold onto their shares even after the IPO, anticipating further growth.

US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth confirmed on Wednesday that the United States launched a second consecutive night of airstrikes on key facilities in Iran, describing the attacks as part of ongoing negotiations for a permanent ceasefire. Speaking in Tampa, Florida, after leaving the US Central Command headquarters, Hegseth said the strikes were ordered by President Donald Trump and reviewed with CENTCOM Commander Admiral Bradley Cooper. CENTCOM later announced “additional self-defense strikes” at 5:15pm Eastern time, while Iran’s IRNA reported explosions in several cities, including Bandar Abbas and Gorgan.

The strikes follow the downing of a US AH-64 Apache helicopter near the Strait of Hormuz earlier in the week, which Trump blamed on Iran. The renewed attacks have fractured the fragile truce established on April 8, amid conflicting explanations from Washington about the war’s purpose. Hegseth said the offensive was meant to pressure Iran into advancing stalled negotiations, echoing Trump’s warning that Tehran would “pay the price” for delays.

Iran has responded with strikes on US bases in Kuwait, Jordan, and Bahrain, signaling no intention to retreat. Analysts described Hegseth’s remarks as a return to “gunboat diplomacy,” using military force to gain diplomatic leverage.

US President Donald Trump has warned that the United States may resume military operations against Iran after ongoing peace talks failed to achieve expected progress. Speaking to reporters at the White House on Wednesday, he said Washington is prepared to take tough measures and hinted that civilian infrastructure could be considered as potential targets if necessary. Trump cited the downing of a US Apache helicopter near the Strait of Hormuz as one of the reasons for possible military retaliation.

Trump noted that his administration has been working for months toward a settlement with Tehran, describing the proposed deal as potentially beneficial for Iran. However, he expressed frustration over the slow pace of negotiations and accused Iran of deliberately stalling. When asked whether power plants or bridges could be targeted, he did not rule it out, instead criticizing Tehran for wasting time.

Experts warned that targeting civilian infrastructure would raise serious humanitarian and legal concerns under international law. Analysts said the combination of peace talks and military threats could complicate diplomacy and risk escalating the Middle East conflict further.

The United States faces new uncertainty ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup as nearly 2,000 hospitality workers at Los Angeles’ SoFi Stadium have voted in favor of a strike. The $5.5 billion venue, to be known as Los Angeles Stadium during the tournament, is scheduled to host eight matches, including the host nation’s opening game against Paraguay on June 12. According to The Wall Street Journal, 96 percent of union members supported the strike authorization.

Unionized workers, including servers, bartenders, cooks, and other service staff, are demanding better wages, protection against subcontracting, and job security. They have also expressed concern over recent immigration enforcement fears. Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna said federal authorities will assist with security during the matches but clarified that they will not enforce immigration laws.

Kurt Petersen, co-president of Unite Here Local 11, stated that workers are struggling to pay rent despite the expected profits from the World Cup. Legends Global, the company managing food and hospitality operations, expressed optimism about reaching an agreement through negotiations. Failure to do so could disrupt the United States–Paraguay match and other fixtures at the venue.

Former England footballer Ian Wright has sharply criticized the United States after Somali referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan was denied entry just one day before the 2026 FIFA World Cup begins. Artan, selected as one of 52 match officials by FIFA and set to become the first Somali referee in World Cup history, was stopped at Miami airport by US border authorities despite holding a valid visa and documents. After extended questioning, he was declared ineligible and sent back, with US Customs and Border Protection citing “vetting concerns.” FIFA later confirmed that Artan would not officiate in the tournament.

Wright expressed outrage in a social media video, calling the event a “World Cup of chaos.” He criticized the organizers for high costs and poor management, saying the situation embarrassed US football fans. The incident follows other visa and travel complications affecting officials and supporters from several countries, including Iran.

FIFA stated it has no control over national visa or immigration policies, emphasizing that such decisions rest solely with the host governments of the 2026 World Cup in the US, Canada, and Mexico.

U.S. Democratic Senator Bernie Sanders has sharply criticized a section of the American defense budget that would further integrate the U.S. and Israeli military forces. In a post on social media platform X, Sanders said Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been lobbying for the provision, known as Section 224, which he claims would quietly expand U.S.-Israel military cooperation and weapons development with almost no oversight. Sanders asserted that the American people no longer want any U.S. military assistance to Israel and urged that Section 224 must be blocked.

Under Section 224, the U.S. Secretary of Defense would be required to appoint an executive agent to coordinate all aspects of military cooperation between the two countries. The coordination would include joint research and development, co-production of weapons, and integration of military systems and data networks. If passed, the bill would also expand collaboration in advanced warfare areas such as artificial intelligence, drones, and cyber operations.

The report, citing Al Jazeera, highlights growing debate over the scope and transparency of U.S.-Israel defense collaboration.

NASA has announced the names of four astronauts for its highly anticipated Artemis 3 mission, scheduled for late 2027. The crew includes Randy Bresnik, Andre Douglas, Frank Rubio, and Luca Parmitano, with test pilot Bob Hines serving as backup. The two-week mission will focus on scientific research in space and docking exercises to prepare for future lunar landings.

The mission will be conducted through a public-private partnership involving three rocket launches. The astronauts will travel aboard the Orion spacecraft, which will dock with lander models developed by Blue Origin and SpaceX. Concerns arose after a Blue Origin New Glenn rocket exploded during a test on May 28, damaging the Cape Canaveral launch site, but NASA officials expressed confidence in meeting the 2027 schedule.

Artemis 3 aims to maintain U.S. leadership in space exploration amid competition with China, which plans to send astronauts to the Moon by 2030. NASA has revised the mission plan to remain in low Earth orbit rather than land on the Moon, reducing risks and paving the way for future lunar bases before 2030.

US Vice President JD Vance stated that a potential war involving Iran would not turn into a prolonged quagmire for Washington similar to Iraq or Afghanistan. In an interview with USA Today, he expressed strong confidence that the United States would not face renewed debates over deep involvement in Iran in the coming years.

Vance emphasized that he believes the US will succeed in its current approach. He added that even if ongoing diplomatic efforts fail, the President still has alternative options available. According to him, as long as the administration remains focused on preventing Iran from developing nuclear weapons, the situation will not evolve into a long-term entanglement.

The remarks, reported by Al Jazeera, reflect the administration’s assurance that its Iran policy will remain controlled and limited in scope.

In Minneapolis, Minnesota, a café named Post Modern Times has gained attention for abandoning traditional pricing and allowing customers to pay what they can—or nothing at all. Owner Dylan Alverson, who ran the café under the name Modern Times for 15 years, made the change earlier this year after violent incidents during a federal anti-immigration operation. As a protest against paying sales tax, he declared the restaurant would operate entirely on a free and donation-based model.

Initially a political statement, the move evolved into a social and economic experiment. Alverson reports that 40 to 50 percent of customers now eat without paying, yet business performance has improved. The café maintains its quality with homemade bread and locally sourced ingredients, attracting both supporters of social solidarity and those in need. Some neighbors have expressed concern that free meals could attract crime, but the management emphasizes safety and community support.

The new model has expanded the café’s income sources through merchandise sales and donations, turning Post Modern Times into a symbol of community unity and alternative economic thinking.

A US federal court in Boston has struck down former President Donald Trump’s executive order imposing a $100,000 annual fee on H-1B visa applications, ruling that the president lacked constitutional authority to levy such a charge. District Judge Leo Sorokin issued a 42-page decision declaring the fee illegal, stating that it functioned as a tax rather than a regulatory fee, and that only Congress has the power to impose taxes under the US Constitution. The ruling followed a lawsuit filed by 20 Democratic attorneys general after the Trump administration introduced the fee in September of the previous year.

The court found that the administration’s reliance on the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) did not grant authority to impose taxes. Judge Sorokin also referenced a 2026 Supreme Court precedent that questioned the legal basis of Trump’s earlier tariff policies. The Trump administration had justified the fee as a measure to protect American workers from foreign competition under the H-1B program.

The decision is viewed as a relief for the US technology sector, which depends heavily on skilled foreign workers. Companies such as Amazon, Microsoft, and Meta had secured thousands of H-1B visas in early 2025, underscoring the program’s importance to the industry.

A United States military helicopter crashed near the Strait of Hormuz on Monday, according to reports published Tuesday. The aircraft, identified as an Apache helicopter, was carrying two crew members who were safely rescued. Their physical condition has not been clarified by US media sources.

The New York Times, citing two sources, reported that it remains unclear whether the helicopter was shot down, suffered a mechanical failure, or crashed for another reason. Both the White House and the US Central Command, which oversees Middle East operations, have declined to comment on the incident.

The crash occurred as renewed hostilities erupted between Israel and Iran, with both sides exchanging missile and counter-missile attacks since Sunday night. Since the war began on February 28, Iran has reportedly shot down around 30 Reaper drones and destroyed several fighter jets, but this marks the first loss of a US Apache helicopter during the ongoing conflict.