QtrendsBack-to-back powerful earthquakes struck Venezuela, collapsing buildings in Caracas. The Trump administration requested $87.6 billion from Congress, including funds for the Iran war, while separate US-Iran talks showed cautious optimism toward a peace deal. Western Europe is baking under a historic heatwave, with France recording its hottest day ever. Ukraine struck a major Russian gas plant and satellite centers in its latest long-range offensive.
Two powerful earthquakes struck Venezuela back-to-back, causing buildings to collapse in the capital city of Caracas. The quakes, including a magnitude 7.1 tremor, were felt across wide areas and triggered widespread panic. Rescue operations are underway as authorities assess the damage to infrastructure and casualties. The seismic event is one of the strongest to hit the region in recent years.
The Trump administration has asked Congress for $87.6 billion in new spending, which includes funding for the war with Iran. The proposal also covers other programs, though the Iran allocation drew the most attention. NPR reports on the debate over who would pay for a proposed $300 billion Iran reconstruction fund. The request marks a significant escalation in the financial scope of US military engagement with Iran.
Vice President Vance stated that talks with Iranian officials have established a 'good foundation' for a potential deal to end the war. Iranians are cautiously optimistic about reaching a thorny agreement with the United States. China Daily reported that US-Iran peace talks are advancing with progress. Separately, the presidents of Pakistan and Iran reaffirmed their commitment to stronger bilateral ties.
France recorded its hottest day ever as a severe heatwave grips western Europe, with France, the UK, and Spain all seeing record temperatures. The UK broke its temperature record for June as parts of France reached 40°C. The extreme heat has been described as a deadly 'Omega' heatwave pattern, breaking more temperature records across the continent and raising concerns about public health and infrastructure.
Ukraine launched its latest series of long-range strikes targeting deep inside Russia, hitting a major natural gas plant and satellite communication centers. Crimea has been placed under lockdown as Putin acknowledged a 'huge stream' of Ukrainian drones. Fuel shortages are taking a toll inside Russia as the Ukrainian drone offensive continues to disrupt infrastructure.