Ukraine launches its largest ever drone attack on Moscow, Russia, targeting the Moscow Refinery and damaging several residential buildings.
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June 18, 2026 (Thursday)
3.3 minutes to read
Armed conflicts and attacks
Residents of Moscow report oil raining down as massive plumes of black smoke are visible over the city.
Following the attack, Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy says "If Ukraine burns, your Moscow will burn", warning against further Russian attacks on the country.
Pakistani prime minister Shehbaz Sharif postpones his visit to Switzerland after the memorandum of understanding (MOU) between Iran and the United States was signed remotely.
Sharif reaffirms that the MOU to end the war will take effect immediately and that Iran will "instantly" reopen the Strait of Hormuz and that the American blockade on ports will end "immediately".
The U.S. presidential executive office provides a text of the details on the agreement to the U.S. Congress.
U.S. vice president JD Vance says that his country will allow ships through to Iranian ports, and that the naval blockade will be lifted as part of a agreement to end the war.
According to data from Kpler, three oil supertankers from Saudi Arabia carrying 6 million barrels of crude oil were seen transiting through the Strait of Hormuz.
Eleven soldiers, two civilians and 22 gunmen are killed in a mass shooting and shootout at the Diori Hamani International Airport in Niamey, Niger. Twenty suspects are also arrested.
The United States Central Command confirms that the naval blockade imposed by the U.S. Navy on Iranian ports and coastal areas has ended.
Iran announces that it will begin charging fees for passage through the Strait of Hormuz at the end of the 60 days in the agreement.
Israel publishes a map of southern Lebanon that it will continue to illegaly occupy, and says it may launch attacks beyond it, as Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu rules out a withdrawal of Israeli troops from Lebanon.
Russia says it will carry out a "massive retaliation" against Ukraine with Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov saying the Russian Armed Forces will from now on, carry out "massive group strikes" on a "regular basis" following the attack on Moscow.
Business and economy
The American Automobile Association reports that gas prices in the United States are at $3.999 per gallon, making it the first time gas prices have gone below $4 since March 30 after rising amidst the Iran war.
The United Kingdom lifts its travel advisory for Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, and the Riyadh and Eastern provinces of Saudi Arabia after the signing of the peace deal.
Disasters and accidents
A fire at a Wyndham resort in BayahĂbe, Dominican Republic, kills one person, injures several others, and prompts the evacuation of nearly 1,700 tourists. Authorities state that combustible roofing materials and wind conditions contribute to the fire's spread.
Health and environment
The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention reports that the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo has caused 202 deaths from 875 confirmed cases. Health officials cite difficulties in contact tracing, while the Red Cross warns that the outbreak has not yet peaked.
Australian researchers report that an H5 avian influenza outbreak on Heard Island and McDonald Islands has killed more than 13,000 southern elephant seal pups and has infected local bird and penguin populations, marking the virus's first detection in an Australian external territory.
Two more passengers who were on the MV Hondius cruise ship during the hantavirus outbreak exit the National Quarantine Unit at the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha, Nebraska, making the total amount of people remaining in quarantine to six.
Scientists confirm that Major Oak, a 1,000-year-old oak tree in Sherwood Forest, Nottinghamshire, England, has died. The tree failed to produce any new leaves this year after becoming "stressed" by a series of hot, dry summers over the last decade.
Politics and elections
The National Assembly of Zimbabwe approves a bill extending presidential terms from five to seven years, which will allow President Emmerson Mnangagwa, whose second term was scheduled to end in 2028, to remain in power until 2030. The constitutional amendment also scraps direct presidential elections, electing future presidents through Parliament.
Former Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham is elected to the House of Commons of the United Kingdom after winning a by-election in Makerfield, setting up a leadership challenge to prime minister Keir Starmer.
Kyrgyz president Sadyr Japarov signs an order to dismiss Abdupaty Matkalikov from his post as mayor of Manas, Jalal-Abad Region, Kyrgyzstan.
The National Nutrition Agency of Indonesia suspends its free meal programme during public holidays, citing efficiency and programme review measures. The policy is expected to reduce spending as the government seeks to address budget pressures and economic challenges.
Sports
In association football, co-hosts Canada win their first-ever FIFA World Cup match after defeating Qatar 6–0 on the second matchday.
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