The New York Times reported that the memorandum of understanding creates a 60‑day pause in hostilities, reopening the Strait of Hormuz while leaving Iran’s nuclear program and missile issues in a limbo that will be negotiated later, with European observers watching verification details. The Wall Street Journal highlighted Vice President JD Vance’s defense of the deal against Israeli criticism, noting the lift of sanctions, the resumption of oil shipments through Hormuz, and his role in leading the next round of nuclear negotiations.
Axios reports that a senior US official warned Israeli leaders not to undermine President Trump’s Iran cease‑fire agreement, implying U.S. military aid could suffer. The Guardian’s opinion piece argues the deal is a victory for Tehran, critiquing the war’s cost and suggesting a shift away from Israel. Both outlets highlight growing tensions between the United States and Israel over the settlement.
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled unanimously that a federal law barring gun ownership by marijuana users violated the Second Amendment, but limited the decision to narrow circumstances, according to Justice Neil Gorsuch. The case involved Texas resident Ali Hemani, who was convicted after admitting to regular marijuana use and possessing a pistol. NPR noted that the Court’s opinion left open the possibility of future restrictions on habitual or intoxicated users and other drug‑related firearm bans.
The Washington Post reported that the White House and the Office of Management and Budget moved $352 million originally allocated for Secret Service training and recruitment to security measures for the East Wing modernization, which includes a large ballroom. The administration said the shift is needed to protect the President and large‑scale events, while senators from both parties questioned the use of Secret Service money for the president’s vanity project, noting earlier promises to fund it with private donations.
Ukraine launched a large‑scale drone wave that hit the Gazprom Neft oil refinery on Moscow’s outskirts, setting it ablaze, damaging a megamall and a high‑rise, and injuring at least 17 people. The raids forced the shutdown of all four Moscow airports for several hours, with Russian defenses reporting nearly 200 drones shot down (NPR) and a record 992 nationwide (NYT). The New York Times framed the attack as the biggest strike on the capital since the war began, underscoring Moscow’s growing vulnerability, while NPR highlighted hard‑line nationalist backlash and the episode’s diplomatic context.
At a NATO meeting in Brussels, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth warned that some allies are “free‑riding” and said a six‑month review of the US military presence in Europe will assess whether NATO members meet agreed defence‑spending targets. The BBC highlighted the review’s aim to push Europe toward greater security leadership and noted related talks on troop withdrawals from Germany and Poland, while the AP emphasized Hegseth’s broader criticism of allies’ access to bases and his call for faster responsibility taking. Both reports said the outcome will affect future US commitments, though details remain unsettled.
The Wall Street Journal notes that abundant reserves, alternative supplies and an AI‑driven boom helped cushion the shock of the Hormuz closure, keeping oil prices from spiking and supporting a broader market rally. Axios reports that U.S. pump prices slipped below $4 a gallon after the U.S., Iran cease‑fire and the expected reopening of the strait, easing consumer pain but leaving fuel still above pre‑war levels. Together the reports show optimism over the deal is lifting global markets while domestic gas remains only partially recovered.
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission directed six regional transmission operators to speed connections for large AI data centers, requiring implementation plans within 30 to 60 days. The order, supported by Energy Secretary Chris Wright, seeks to remove barriers and keep the United States competitive with China while preserving state control over retail rates and cost recovery. Data centers will pay for any required grid upgrades, though clean‑energy advocates warn the fast‑track could strain supplies and shift costs to ratepayers.
Shares of SpaceX fell more than 6% on Thursday, trimming gains from its recent IPO surge but remaining over 30% above the $135 offering price, Reuters reported. The pullback comes as the aerospace firm prepares a bond offering of at least $20 billion to fund its expanding AI initiatives, including a pending $60 billion stock purchase of Anysphere. Analysts note that profit‑taking and the company’s high valuation are contributing to early volatility in the public market.
Initial unemployment claims fell by 4,000 to a seasonally adjusted 226,000 for the week ended June 13, staying within the 190,000‑230,000 range. Economists said the decline likely reflects seasonal factors and indicates the labor market remains stable enough for the Federal Reserve to hold policy steady. Continuing claims rose to 1.81 million, hinting at some friction in hiring, while non‑farm payrolls showed modest growth in May.
A class‑action suit filed in California accuses Rivian of fraudulently promising Level 3 hands‑free driving on its first‑generation R1T truck and R1S SUV. TechCrunch details the complaint’s claims of a five‑year marketing campaign, notes the company’s prior $250 million shareholder settlement, and points out that newer second‑generation models now include a hands‑free system. Engadget emphasizes that the plaintiffs argue the original vehicles lack the necessary sensors and software, and that Rivian allegedly knew the Gen 1 models could never deliver true hands‑free operation.
Waymo filed a voluntary safety recall with NHTSA on June 17 covering its 3,871 US robotaxis equipped with the 5th‑generation automated driving system, after the software was found to sometimes fail to recognize or deliberately drive through closed freeway construction zones at speed. The issue prompted the company to suspend all freeway operations while a permanent fix is developed and will be delivered via an over‑the‑air update. No collisions or injuries were reported in the incidents that triggered the recall.
The Verge reports that three Amazon software engineers who testified before the Seattle City Council about limiting data center expansion were summoned by HR and warned of possible disciplinary action, prompting them to file a complaint alleging illegal retaliation under Seattle’s political‑speech protection law. The employees, members of Amazon Employees for Climate Justice, say the summons violated the city’s anti‑discrimination statute, while Amazon maintains its internal communications policy was potentially breached and says any action will follow an investigation.
According to The Verge, Adobe has begun a public beta that adds a dedicated AI assistant to its flagship Creative Cloud applications, including Photoshop, Premiere, Illustrator, InDesign and Frame.io. The chat-based agents can perform tasks such as reorganizing video timelines, renaming clips, editing layers, fixing color‑mode errors, and applying print‑readiness checks via natural‑language prompts.
404 Media reports that Immigration and Customs Enforcement has entered a nearly $10 million contract to buy Individual Taxpayer Identification Numbers from a private data broker. Senator Ron Wyden said the deal appears to circumvent a court order prohibiting ICE from accessing those records, raising concerns about taxpayer privacy.
Engadget reports that Apple will permit alternative iOS app stores in Brazil after an agreement with the competition regulator CADE. Apps sold through these stores will be subject to a “Notarization” review and a reduced Core Technology Fee of 5 percent on in‑app purchases. Apple must approve each marketplace.
Ars Technica reports that NASA has issued a stop‑work order for the Habitation and Logistics Outpost (HALO) module, halting Northrop Grumman’s development and reassigning most affected staff. The agency’s shift away from the Lunar Gateway leaves HALO’s future uncertain. Other outlets note that Eric Schmidt’s Relativity Space has been selected to build a Mars orbiter, marking a new deep‑space contract for the private firm.
Snap announced a spin‑off of its AI video team into a new company called Dotmo to trim costs after its AR glasses, the Specs, fell short of expectations. The Verge coverage focused on the Specs' heavy design and high price, questioning their consumer appeal. The spin‑off is presented as a financial remedy to the underwhelming hardware performance.
The Trump administration issued an export‑control directive that forced Anthropic to take its newest Claude models offline, citing concerns about foreign access and model jailbreaks. The White House has offered little detail, prompting Anthropic and industry leaders to call for advance notice and early access to future AI releases. Wired reports that the dispute highlights the ad‑hoc, real‑time approach the administration is taking to AI governance.
In May the Trump administration announced it would shut down the $350 million Ocean Observatories Initiative, prompting backlash from scientists and policymakers who warned about loss of climate, weather, and fisheries data. After a unanimous Senate vote to block the shutdown, the administration said it would halt the plan, though it is unclear how much equipment was already removed or damaged. Statements from House Science Committee ranking Democrat Zoe Lofgren called the original scheme illegal.