National
Thursday, June 18, 2026 · Palatka
U.S. and Iran Reach Deal to End Conflict and Reopen Strait of Hormuz
The United States and Iran announced an agreement to end their conflict and restore shipping access through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical waterway for global energy markets. The deal addresses immediate hostilities but leaves several core disputes for future negotiations.
Britain will prohibit social media use for children under 16
The British government announced a ban on social media use for anyone under 16, affecting platforms including TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, Snapchat and X. The move positions the U.K. among countries implementing stricter online safety measures for minors.
Thursday, June 18, 2026
Trump speaks with both Putin and Zelenskyy as Ukraine war intensifies
President Donald Trump held separate phone calls Sunday with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The conversations occurred as drone attacks claimed lives in Russia and British authorities detained a vessel carrying Iranian oil.
Thursday, June 18, 2026
MP Plans New Push for Assisted Dying Bill in Parliament
Labour MP Lauren Edwards announced plans to bring forward the same assisted dying bill that cleared the House of Commons but ran out of time in the House of Lords. The move signals a renewed effort to advance the contentious end-of-life care legislation.
Thursday, June 18, 2026
Trump and Pakistani Premier Announce U.S.-Iran Peace Agreement
President Donald Trump and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced Sunday that the United States and Iran have reached a peace agreement. Iranian state media broadcast confirmation of the announcement.
Thursday, June 18, 2026
U.S. and Iran clash over nuclear inspections after Switzerland talks
The United States and Iran dispute whether the UN nuclear watchdog will inspect Iranian facilities, marking one of several points of contention from weekend negotiations in Switzerland.
Thursday, June 18, 2026
Supreme Court Upholds Mississippi Law Allowing Ballots Counted Up to Five Days After Election
The Supreme Court sided with Mississippi on Monday, allowing the state to count mail-in ballots postmarked by Election Day but received within five days after. The 5-4 decision rejected challenges from the Republican National Committee and other groups who argued federal law required ballots to arrive on Election Day itself.
Thursday, June 18, 2026
Ukraine targets Russian oil refinery as Putin acknowledges fuel shortages
Ukraine conducted another drone attack on a Russian oil refinery as President Vladimir Putin publicly acknowledged fuel supply problems. The strikes represent an expansion of Ukrainian operations against Russian military and energy targets.
Thursday, June 18, 2026
Chemours to pay $450 million to settle federal case over PFAS contamination
The Trump administration announced that Chemours has agreed to pay $450 million to settle allegations involving PFAS, commonly known as forever chemicals. The settlement includes a $22.5 million civil penalty and $90 million in cleanup spending.
Thursday, June 18, 2026
Three firefighters killed battling wildfires on Colorado-Utah border
Three firefighters died while battling wildfires on the Colorado-Utah border as crews worked to contain multiple fires across the parched region. Two additional firefighters sustained injuries.
Thursday, June 18, 2026
Trump Announces Tentative Agreement With Iran at G7 Summit
President Trump announced a tentative agreement with Iran during a press conference Wednesday at the conclusion of the G7 summit. The president fielded questions about the preliminary accord among other topics.
Thursday, June 18, 2026
Trump's Influence on Trial Across Five Primaries and Runoffs
Voters in Alabama, Georgia, and other jurisdictions head to the polls Tuesday for primaries and runoffs where former President Donald Trump's endorsements have shaped candidate strategies. The elections will measure Trump's sway over Republican races heading into November's midterms.
Thursday, June 18, 2026
Trump Administration Allocates $17.5 Billion in Loans for 10 New Nuclear Reactors
The Trump administration announced $17.5 billion in federal loans to support construction of 10 new large nuclear reactors. Energy officials tied the investment to surging power consumption from data centers and artificial intelligence infrastructure.
Thursday, June 18, 2026
Federal Reserve releases latest FOMC policy statement
The Federal Reserve's policy committee released its statement on monetary policy decisions and economic conditions. The statement reflects the committee's current assessment of the economy and guidance on interest rates.
Thursday, June 18, 2026
Vance discusses Iran deal in NBC interview following war agreement announcement
Vice President Vance discussed the newly announced Iran agreement during an interview with NBC Nightly News anchor Tom Llamas. The deal aims to end the ongoing war between the countries.
Thursday, June 18, 2026
Texas Asks Supreme Court to Uphold App Age-Verification Law
Texas urged the Supreme Court on Monday to preserve a law requiring age verification and parental consent for minors' app access. Challengers contend the measure could sweep vast portions of the internet into a category subject to government restriction.
Thursday, June 18, 2026
Voters across party lines support stricter AI regulation, survey shows
A new survey from the AI Policy Institute reveals that Democrats and Republicans both favor tighter regulation of powerful artificial intelligence systems. The finding suggests potential common ground on an issue that has divided lawmakers.
Thursday, June 18, 2026
U.S. and Iran to Hold Talks in Qatar as Tensions Ease
President Donald Trump said Monday that the United States and Iran will meet Tuesday in Qatar. The announcement follows a period of heightened military tensions in the Persian Gulf region.
Thursday, June 18, 2026
Trump announces U.S.-Iran talks set for Qatar after Gulf weekend clashes
President Trump said talks between the U.S. and Iran will resume Tuesday in Qatar, following weekend attacks between the two sides in the Gulf. Iran has not confirmed whether it will participate in the negotiations.
Thursday, June 18, 2026
Trump-Era Program Speeds Testing of New Nuclear Reactor Designs
A federal program established during the Trump administration has compressed the approval timeline for experimental nuclear reactors. Valar Atomics activated its prototype reactor in Utah in June, one of several companies moving through the accelerated process.
Thursday, June 18, 2026
U.S. and Iran Trade Military Strikes; Venezuela Earthquake Death Toll Climbs
The U.S. and Iran exchanged military strikes over the weekend in an escalation of regional tensions. Meanwhile, rescue teams search for survivors in Venezuela following earthquakes that killed dozens, and the Supreme Court upheld a policy allowing expedited deportations.
Thursday, June 18, 2026
Mangione Faces Court Hearing as Legal Defense Takes Shape
Luigi Mangione appeared in court this week as his legal team prepared defense arguments in the case involving the death of a health insurance company executive. Legal analysts identified psychiatric defense as a potential strategy in the state-level prosecution.
Thursday, June 18, 2026
U.S. and Iran Agree to Extend Ceasefire and Reopen Strait of Hormuz
The United States and Iran have reached a deal to extend their ceasefire and reopen the Strait of Hormuz, according to reporting from multiple news organizations. The agreement halts ongoing military operations between the two countries and restores a critical shipping corridor.
Thursday, June 18, 2026
Fire breaks out at Kyiv monastery following overnight attack
A fire broke out at the Kyiv Perchersk Lavra monastery early Wednesday following an overnight barrage of missiles and drones targeting Ukraine's capital. The monastery, founded in 1051, is designated a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Thursday, June 18, 2026
Supreme Court Removes Evidence Standard for Green Card Reentry Denials
The Supreme Court sided with the federal government in a case involving Muk Choi Lau, a Chinese permanent resident charged with trademark counterfeiting. The decision eliminates a judicial requirement that immigration officers have strong evidence of criminal conduct before denying reentry to green card holders.
Thursday, June 18, 2026
Supreme Court Says Tax Sale Price Sets Compensation for Home Seizures
The Supreme Court ruled that when a county seizes and sells a home for unpaid taxes, the owner is entitled only to the surplus from that tax sale price—not the property's later market value. The court sent the case back to determine if the county's procedures were fair.
Thursday, June 18, 2026
Analysts Expect Price Increases to Persist Beyond Iran Conflict
Fighting in the region has disrupted supplies of fuel, fertilizer, food and other goods, prompting analysts to predict that elevated prices will outlast the current conflict.
Thursday, June 18, 2026
Oil prices decline after U.S. and Iran announce Strait of Hormuz agreement
Crude oil prices fell Monday following an announcement that the U.S. and Iran reached a deal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Stock markets edged upward in response, though analysts questioned whether energy prices would continue declining.
Thursday, June 18, 2026
Israel's stance on Lebanon ceasefire stalls diplomatic efforts as G7 convenes
Israel's position on a potential ceasefire in Lebanon is complicating efforts to broker a broader diplomatic agreement involving Iran, as world leaders gather in France for the G7 summit and voters head to polling places across several states.
Thursday, June 18, 2026
Senate approves war powers resolution limiting Trump's authority over Iran
The Senate voted to direct President Trump to remove U.S. forces from Iran operations, marking the first time Congress has successfully passed a war powers resolution under the measure's 1973 framework.
Thursday, June 18, 2026