U.S. and Iran exchange fire despite ceasefire. And, Trump nominates a new head of ICE
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This weekend, tensions flared between the U.S. and Iran as the two countries exchanged fire while under a ceasefire agreement. Iran's Revolutionary Guard claimed responsibility for launching drone and missile strikes on Bahrain and Kuwait yesterday, according to state-run Iranian media. These attempted strikes followed new U.S. military action against Iranian targets. This latest exchange jeopardizes ongoing negotiations for a lasting ceasefire and marks the most significant escalation since the U.S. and Iran signed a memorandum of understanding earlier this month. During a tour of the Gulf Arab states last week, Secretary of State Marco Rubio told reporters that the U.S. and Iran were planning to meet on Monday or Tuesday for technical talks.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi speaks during a news conference with his Iraqi counterpart Fouad Hussein after their meeting at the foreign ministry in Baghdad, Iraq, Sunday, June 28, 2026. Hadi Mizban/AP Photo/Hadi Mizban/AP hide caption
toggle caption
Hadi Mizban/AP Photo/Hadi Mizban/AP
The search for survivors continues nearly five days after two powerful earthquakes hit Venezuela. The official death toll is nearing 1,500, and thousands of people are still unaccounted for. Families and volunteers are tirelessly digging through collapsed buildings throughout the northern coast and in neighborhoods of Caracas, the country's capital, in hopes of finding people alive.
Just over a year ago, President Trump set an ambitious goal for American companies to build at least three new experimental nuclear reactors by July 4, 2026. Shortly afterward, he signed an executive order formalizing this initiative. The Department of Energy launched its Reactor Pilot Program, designed to help companies quickly build and operate test reactors, in part by significantly reducing the regulatory requirements. With less than a week to go, two companies have already reached their goal of switching on their reactors. Other companies are nearing the deadline, and all of this progress has been made in less than a year. Some critics are concerned that the accelerated testing by these companies may compromise safety.
Trump has announced he's nominating Lance Schroyer as the next director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Schroyer has a background as an Oklahoma state trooper and previously served in the U.S. Marines. His nomination comes after months of scrutiny regarding the agency's aggressive immigration tactics and follows the resignation of Todd Lyons as acting ICE director at the end of May. David Venturella, a longtime ICE official and former executive of a private prison corporation, has been leading the agency in an acting capacity since June.
Your partner wants to have a baby, but you prefer to remain child-free. Psychotherapist Merle Bombardieri has been helping couples with this issue for decades. Many couples can discover a middle ground, provided they are open to exploring different possibilities, she says. Here are some exercises that can help clarify the situation and lead to a solution that minimizes regrets:
For additional guidance for when you are on the fence about parenthood, listen to this episode of NPR's Life Kit. Subscribe to the Life Kit newsletter for expert advice on love, money, relationships and more.
Horse mounted riders circle atop a hill at the Battle of Little Bighorn National Monument, near Last Stand Hill, on June 25. Kadin Mills/NPR hide caption
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Kadin Mills/NPR
On the 150th anniversary of the Battle of Little Bighorn, hundreds of members and descendants of 19 tribal nations gathered at the battle site to commemorate their historic victory and celebrate the resilience of their cultures. They came together in Montana to watch Native American riders on horseback charge onto the same land their ancestors did many years ago when they defeated the U.S. Army's 7th Cavalry, commanded by Lt. Col. George Armstrong Custer. Some riders wore traditional headdresses and regalia, while others opted for tank tops and T-shirts. Many carried their tribal flags as a show of unity — the same unity that enabled their swift victory on June 25, 1876. Custer's goal was to force Native Americans onto reservations after the discovery of gold in the Black Hills in 1874. Indigenous peoples living off reservations were then instructed to report to U.S. field offices, known as Indian Agencies, or be deemed hostile. Native American leaders organized various villages and tribes in a resistance effort. Numerous battles erupted in what are now Montana and South Dakota as military forces attempted to push the remaining groups onto reservations. Read about what this victory means to Native descendants and see photos from the event here.
A helicopter drops water on the Cottonwood Fire in Beaver, Utah, on Saturday, June 27, 2026. Ty ONeil/AP hide caption
toggle caption
Ty ONeil/AP
This newsletter was edited by Suzanne Nuyen.
Read the full story at Al Jazeera ↗ · NPR ↗ · NPR ↗
Over the weekend, the U.S. and Iran conducted military operations against each other while operating under a ceasefire agreement. Iran's Revolutionary Guard stated it launched drone and missile strikes on Bahrain and Kuwait; these followed new U.S. military action against Iranian targets. This exchange represents the most significant escalation since the countries signed a memorandum of understanding earlier this month. Secretary of State Marco Rubio told reporters during a Gulf Arab states tour that the U.S. and Iran plan to hold technical talks on Monday or Tuesday. Separately, President Trump announced his nomination of Lance Schroyer, an Oklahoma state trooper with prior U.S. Marines service, to lead U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, following the May resignation of acting director Todd Lyons.
Read the full story at Al Jazeera ↗ · NPR ↗ · NPR ↗
Good morning. You're reading the Up First newsletter. Subscribe here to get it delivered to your inbox, and listen to the Up First podcast for all the news you need to start your day.
This weekend, tensions flared between the U.S. and Iran as the two countries exchanged fire while under a ceasefire agreement. Iran's Revolutionary Guard claimed responsibility for launching drone and missile strikes on Bahrain and Kuwait yesterday, according to state-run Iranian media. These attempted strikes followed new U.S. military action against Iranian targets. This latest exchange jeopardizes ongoing negotiations for a lasting ceasefire and marks the most significant escalation since the U.S. and Iran signed a memorandum of understanding earlier this month. During a tour of the Gulf Arab states last week, Secretary of State Marco Rubio told reporters that the U.S. and Iran were planning to meet on Monday or Tuesday for technical talks.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi speaks during a news conference with his Iraqi counterpart Fouad Hussein after their meeting at the foreign ministry in Baghdad, Iraq, Sunday, June 28, 2026. Hadi Mizban/AP Photo/Hadi Mizban/AP hide caption
toggle caption
Hadi Mizban/AP Photo/Hadi Mizban/AP
The search for survivors continues nearly five days after two powerful earthquakes hit Venezuela. The official death toll is nearing 1,500, and thousands of people are still unaccounted for. Families and volunteers are tirelessly digging through collapsed buildings throughout the northern coast and in neighborhoods of Caracas, the country's capital, in hopes of finding people alive.
Just over a year ago, President Trump set an ambitious goal for American companies to build at least three new experimental nuclear reactors by July 4, 2026. Shortly afterward, he signed an executive order formalizing this initiative. The Department of Energy launched its Reactor Pilot Program, designed to help companies quickly build and operate test reactors, in part by significantly reducing the regulatory requirements. With less than a week to go, two companies have already reached their goal of switching on their reactors. Other companies are nearing the deadline, and all of this progress has been made in less than a year. Some critics are concerned that the accelerated testing by these companies may compromise safety.
Trump has announced he's nominating Lance Schroyer as the next director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Schroyer has a background as an Oklahoma state trooper and previously served in the U.S. Marines. His nomination comes after months of scrutiny regarding the agency's aggressive immigration tactics and follows the resignation of Todd Lyons as acting ICE director at the end of May. David Venturella, a longtime ICE official and former executive of a private prison corporation, has been leading the agency in an acting capacity since June.
Your partner wants to have a baby, but you prefer to remain child-free. Psychotherapist Merle Bombardieri has been helping couples with this issue for decades. Many couples can discover a middle ground, provided they are open to exploring different possibilities, she says. Here are some exercises that can help clarify the situation and lead to a solution that minimizes regrets:
For additional guidance for when you are on the fence about parenthood, listen to this episode of NPR's Life Kit. Subscribe to the Life Kit newsletter for expert advice on love, money, relationships and more.
Horse mounted riders circle atop a hill at the Battle of Little Bighorn National Monument, near Last Stand Hill, on June 25. Kadin Mills/NPR hide caption
toggle caption
Kadin Mills/NPR
On the 150th anniversary of the Battle of Little Bighorn, hundreds of members and descendants of 19 tribal nations gathered at the battle site to commemorate their historic victory and celebrate the resilience of their cultures. They came together in Montana to watch Native American riders on horseback charge onto the same land their ancestors did many years ago when they defeated the U.S. Army's 7th Cavalry, commanded by Lt. Col. George Armstrong Custer. Some riders wore traditional headdresses and regalia, while others opted for tank tops and T-shirts. Many carried their tribal flags as a show of unity — the same unity that enabled their swift victory on June 25, 1876. Custer's goal was to force Native Americans onto reservations after the discovery of gold in the Black Hills in 1874. Indigenous peoples living off reservations were then instructed to report to U.S. field offices, known as Indian Agencies, or be deemed hostile. Native American leaders organized various villages and tribes in a resistance effort. Numerous battles erupted in what are now Montana and South Dakota as military forces attempted to push the remaining groups onto reservations. Read about what this victory means to Native descendants and see photos from the event here.
A helicopter drops water on the Cottonwood Fire in Beaver, Utah, on Saturday, June 27, 2026. Ty ONeil/AP hide caption
toggle caption
Ty ONeil/AP
This newsletter was edited by Suzanne Nuyen.
Read the full story at Al Jazeera ↗ · NPR ↗ · NPR ↗
Over the weekend, the U.S. and Iran exchanged military fire while under a ceasefire agreement. Iran's Revolutionary Guard claimed responsibility for launching drone and missile strikes on Bahrain and Kuwait. These strikes followed new U.S. military action against Iranian targets. This exchange marks the most significant escalation since the U.S. and Iran signed a memorandum of understanding earlier this month. The latest exchange jeopardizes ongoing negotiations for a lasting ceasefire. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced the U.S. and Iran plan to meet for technical talks on Monday or Tuesday. Trump nominated Lance Schroyer, an Oklahoma state trooper and former Marine, as the next director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The nomination follows months of scrutiny regarding ICE's aggressive immigration tactics and Todd Lyons' resignation as acting director in May.
Read the full story at Al Jazeera ↗ · NPR ↗ · NPR ↗
- U.S. and Iran exchanged military fire over the weekend despite an active ceasefire agreement, with Iran's Revolutionary Guard claiming responsibility for drone and missile strikes
- The escalation marks the most significant tension since a U.S.-Iran memorandum of understanding was signed earlier this month
- Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced planned technical talks between the two countries for Monday or Tuesday
- Trump nominated Lance Schroyer, an Oklahoma state trooper and former Marine, as the next ICE director