The Lyceum Daily — Jun 26, 2026

The fragile U.S.-Iran peace deal met its first real test in the water, as a drone strike on a cargo ship in the Strait of Hormuz froze a UN evacuation plan and reminded markets that a memorandum is not a ceasefire. The same 48 hours brought catastrophe to Venezuela — twin earthquakes that may yet prove the deadliest in its modern history — and a rightward lurch in Colombian politics, leaving the Western Hemisphere as unsettled as the Gulf.

Iran's Revolutionary Guard Damages Singapore-Flagged Ship in Strait of Hormuz — Iran's Revolutionary Guards damaged a Singapore-flagged commercial vessel with a drone on Thursday off the coast of Dahit, Oman, damaging its bridge but causing no casualties. The attack came hours after the Guards warned that vessels would only be granted safe passage via Iranian-designated routes, directly challenging the Trump administration's claim that the strait is open. Why it matters: The strait carries roughly one-fifth of the world's seaborne oil, and any breakdown of the deal risks renewed fuel price spikes worldwide. CBS News

UN Pauses Hormuz Evacuation After Attack — The International Maritime Organization temporarily halted a days-old plan to evacuate vessels stranded in the Persian Gulf, with Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez saying the pause was needed to reconfirm that "the necessary safety guarantees continue to be in place." Why it matters: Stranded ships and stalled shipping mean delayed cargo and rising costs that eventually reach consumers. CNN

Venezuela Twin Earthquakes Kill at Least 235; Far Higher Toll Feared — A 7.2-magnitude quake struck northern Venezuela on Wednesday evening, followed within a minute by a 7.5 — the country's most powerful in over a century — killing around 235 and injuring 4,300, per the health minister. The USGS estimates a 44% chance the toll exceeds 10,000. Two U.S. urban search-and-rescue teams and Mexican military personnel are deploying. Why it matters: The disaster hits a country already in deep economic crisis, where short-staffed hospitals and frequent power outages could compound the human toll. CNN

Rubio Courts Gulf States as Toll Dispute Complicates Deal — Secretary of State Marco Rubio, meeting the Gulf Cooperation Council in Bahrain, said there is "zero support among the Gulf countries" for tolls on international waters, as expert-level U.S.-Iran talks on nuclear energy and sanctions are set to begin June 30. Why it matters: Whether Iran can charge for Hormuz transit will determine if the ceasefire holds and energy markets stay calm through summer. Fox News

Senate Rejects War Powers Resolution on Iran — The Senate late Wednesday rejected a measure to restrict President Trump's power to wage war against Iran, preserving broad executive authority as the memorandum's hardest questions — Tehran's enriched uranium stocks and nuclear future — remain unresolved over a 60-day negotiating window. Why it matters: The vote shapes the legal landscape for any future U.S. use of force in the region. CBS News

AP Analysis: Two Weeks Into the Iran War, Trump on His Heels — An Associated Press analysis argues that two weeks into the conflict with Iran, the president has been politically knocked back, with the unresolved deal and contested Hormuz routes undercutting early claims of victory. Why it matters: The political durability of the deal at home affects how much leverage Washington brings to the negotiating table. PBS

Colombia Elects Right-Wing Newcomer Abelardo de la Espriella — The Trump-backed millionaire was declared Colombia's next president after a runoff, marking a sharp rightward shift after three years under leftist Gustavo Petro and likely recalibrating policy on migration, drugs, and Venezuela. CBS News

Supreme Court Lets Trump End Protections for Syrians and Haitians — The Court sided with the administration on turning away asylum seekers at overburdened border crossings and separately allowed the end of deportation protections for Syrians and Haitians, affecting hundreds of thousands under Temporary Protected Status. CBS News

At Least 24 Killed in Pakistan Train Blast — Separatist militants claimed responsibility for a train explosion that killed at least 24 people, underscoring persistent insurgent violence and its humanitarian cost in the region. Reuters

Trump Approval Slips Ahead of Midterms — A Reuters/Ipsos poll from June 2026 shows the president's approval declining, a warning sign for Republicans heading into the midterms as the Iran conflict and economic strains weigh on sentiment. The Guardian

Trump Sends $88 Billion Supplemental Funding Request to Congress — The administration requested $88 billion to cover Iran war costs, Ebola response, and farm aid, setting up debate over the split between defense and domestic priorities. CBS News

Hormuz Strike Lifts Oil; Traffic Had Surged Before Attack — The strike pushed oil prices higher after weeks of declines; 70 vessels transited Tuesday versus six a week earlier, and 125 passed in the week following the ceasefire — the highest weekly total since the war began in late February. CBS News

EU Joins U.S.-Led "Pax Silica" Chip Alliance — Brussels formally joined the accord to secure non-Chinese AI and semiconductor supply chains, aligning with Washington's decoupling strategy as Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick hinted at new restrictions on Chinese robotics exports. CBS News

Anthropic Urges AI Labs to Pause, Warns Humans Risk Losing Control — The leading AI lab called on competitors to slow development, warning that humans risk losing control of advanced systems — a notable governance signal from inside the industry. Al Jazeera

IBM Claims 50% Chip Performance Gain at Lower Power — IBM unveiled semiconductor technology it says could deliver 50% better performance while cutting power use, though it gave no production timeline and independent verification is pending. CBS News

Medicare Tests AI for Pre-Authorization — Medicare began piloting AI to pre-approve certain services, drawing both hopes of faster care and concerns over algorithmic bias and automated denials. CBS News

U.S. Men Suffer First World Cup Loss, 3–2 to Turkey — The co-hosts fell to Turkey before the knockout round, ending their unbeaten group-stage run and complicating their path forward. CBS News

Australia's Child Social Media Ban Shows Little Effect After Six Months — A new study found the world-first under-16 ban had minimal impact on teen use, prompting the prime minister to pledge stronger enforcement on Friday. Reuters

King Charles III to Release Personal Tax Details — In a first for the British monarchy, the King is expected to disclose personal tax information amid a transparency push following the Prince Andrew scandal. CBS News

The Washington Examiner says the United States launched a second consecutive night of strikes against Iran. The headline points to a continuing military escalation after the recent U.S.-Iran deal and raises the possibility of further retaliation or wider regional spillover. (Live Updates: U.S.-Israel conflict with Iran widens)

Also in right-leaning news:

• Fox News reports that President Trump said the Venezuela earthquakes left a devastating number of deaths and that the United States is preparing aid.
• The New York Post reports that a Chinese developer accused of bribing a top Eric Adams aide had links to the Chinese Communist Party and helped bankroll a secret police station.

Vox says the Supreme Court issued a new Second Amendment decision that it describes as embarrassing, and the piece explains the ruling and its legal implications. The story centers on how the Court’s decision could affect gun regulations and future lower-court challenges. (The Supreme Court's new gun decision makes no sense ... - Vo)

Also in progressive news:

• Mother Jones reports that the Trump DOJ outlined a disputed legal path to force people into psychiatric institutions.
• Slate reports that the Trump administration’s mass deportation effort prevailed at the Supreme Court.

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