Keith Rathbone, Macquarie University The World Cup has entered its quarter-finals, and so far the tournament has had it all: a strong team ousted early (Germany), debate over whether an ageing superstar (Lionel Messi) still “has it”, and an underdog in the form of a tiny nation (Cabo Verde) making it through to
Jessica Genauer, UNSW Sydney The United States has launched a series of strikes on Iran in response to the Iranian targeting of vessels in the Strait of Hormuz. These are the most severe violations yet of the Memorandum of Understanding that came into effect on June 17, and may signal an end to
Ph. The founding generation: James Madison, left, and Thomas Jefferson, both proponents of the separation of church and state. Photo12/Universal Images Group via Getty Images Steven K. Green, Willamette University The Trump administration’s Religious Liberty Commission released its report on June 26, 2026, on the state of religious freedom in the United States,
Marta Khomyn, Adelaide University US President Donald Trump once called cryptocurrency a “scam”. It’s now a major moneymaker for him: his just-released annual financial disclosure shows he made more than US$1 billion from cryptocurrency last year. This news has raised the ire of Trump’s critics. Juliana Stratton, the Illinois lieutenant governor and a
Ph. Photo by Mandel NGAN / AFP via Getty Images Clare Corbould, Deakin University It’s almost the Fourth of July and Donald Trump is making the most of the 250th anniversary of American independence. He has all but declared himself Patriot-in-Chief. He’s putting his face on commemorative $250 bills and passports. A giant
Ph. Israeli soldiers patrol near the border with Lebanon on June 9, 2026. Jalaa Marey/AFP via Getty Images Amy McAuliffe, University of Notre Dame A lot hangs on whether the United States can compel Israel to cease operations against Hezbollah in Lebanon. After all, an end to the Israeli military offensive was a
Ph. Smoke rises from Israeli bombardment near the village of Kfar Tibnit in southern Lebanon on June 14, 2026. AFP via Getty Images Mireille Rebeiz, Dickinson College The United States and Iran inked a long-awaited provisional ceasefire deal on June 17, 2026. After months of uncertainty, the people of the Gulf region can,
Arshin Adib-Moghaddam, SOAS, University of London What a disaster the war against Iran has been for Donald Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu. The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the United States and Iran signed on June 17 has formally brought a halt to the devastating war. Yet, as the ink dries on the 14-point
Ph. Peruvian army personnel during operations against alleged drug trafficking. Cris Bouroncle/AFP via Getty Images, CC BY Michelle D. Paranzino, US Naval War College More than any other U.S. president in decades, Donald Trump has aggressively pursued military interventions in Latin America. On Jan. 3, 2026, U.S. special forces captured Venezuelan President Nicolás
Andrew Gawthorpe, Leiden University Iran fired barrages of missiles at Israel for the first time in two months on June 7. The initial trigger was an Israeli strike against a Hezbollah target in the Lebanese capital of Beirut earlier that day, an attack that Donald Trump had only recently asked the Israeli prime