Saturday, July 18, 2026

World

US strikes Iran for seventh consecutive night

The US military has carried out strikes on Iran for the seventh straight night, with attacks now reaching further into the country's interior as explosions were reported near the strategically critical Strait of Hormuz. Iran has threatened a 'total offensive' in response, warning that 'no border will be safe.' Tehran has accused Washington of targeting civilian infrastructure rather than purely military assets.

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Politics

ICE agent with violent history kills man in Maine

An ICE officer identified as David Brouillette fatally shot Joan Sebastián Durán Guerrero in Biddeford, Maine, and his ex-wife has since told reporters he had a history of racist beliefs and violent tendencies. Democrats are now demanding a congressional investigation and a review of ICE hiring practices, as the killing is one of several ICE-related deaths within the same week. Separately, an off-duty employee at a Colorado ICE facility was arrested after shooting and injuring a protester outside the building.

Politics

Trump threatens Canada with new tariffs over wildfire smoke

Donald Trump has blamed Canada for the hazardous wildfire smoke blanketing large parts of the US and threatened to impose new tariffs, even as fires burn across American states too and his administration has rolled back climate protections. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney pushed back, saying both countries share equal responsibility for tackling the climate change that is worsening wildfire conditions. Republicans in Congress have gone further, threatening sanctions against Canadian government officials.

Economy

ICE shared Medicaid data illegally with Palantir

Court documents in a lawsuit brought by Democratic-led states have revealed that ICE shared Medicaid data it had no legal authority to possess with data analytics giant Palantir, apparently to assist in deportation operations. The disclosure has intensified the legal battle over the Trump administration's use of sensitive health records for immigration enforcement. The case marks a significant escalation in concerns about federal agencies repurposing welfare data.

Tech

FAA restores Boeing's authority to self-certify aircraft

The FAA has allowed Boeing to resume signing off on airworthiness certificates for both the 737 MAX and the 787 Dreamliner, handing back a self-certification authority that was stripped from the manufacturer following a series of safety scandals. The move signals a significant restoration of regulatory trust in Boeing, though critics are likely to scrutinize the decision closely given the company's recent history. The 737 MAX was grounded worldwide in 2019 after two fatal crashes killed 346 people.