World News Roundup — June 28, 2026 (PM)
The afternoon’s headlines lead with the human cost of Venezuela’s twin earthquakes — three days on, rescuers are still picking through rubble as the chances of finding survivors diminish. Ukraine struck two Russian oil refineries overnight, killing at least two. Saudi Aramco lost all 14 people aboard a helicopter at its Ras Tanura terminal. Dubai’s RTA inked MoUs with Huawei and CASCO to push AI-driven smart-mobility. And the heatwave that broke records in Western Europe is now sweeping into Central Europe.
Americas
Venezuela earthquake rescue enters fourth day. More than three days after twin earthquakes devastated the Venezuelan coast, rescue teams are still combing through debris in chaotic conditions as the window for finding survivors narrows. Satellite imagery published by Al Jazeera shows the scale of destruction across affected towns; NYT’s live blog is tracking aftershocks, casualty counts and aid delivery. [NYT] [Al Jazeera] [Al Jazeera Video]
Trump sons linked to billion-dollar mining deal. The New York Times reports that a mining deal worth roughly a billion dollars the Trump administration has been advancing could personally benefit the president’s sons, raising fresh conflict-of-interest concerns. [NYT]
Europe
Heatwave shifts east. After days of record-breaking temperatures across Western Europe, the extreme heat is easing there — but Central Europe is now facing its own multi-day swelter, with health alerts issued across Germany, Poland and the Czech Republic. [NYT]
Skydiving plane crash in France kills 11. A skydiving aircraft crashed in northeastern France, killing all 11 people on board. Local officials say the plane went down near the town of Tomblaine; investigations are underway. A separate civilian aircraft incident in the same region was reported by French authorities as the crash unfolded. [Al Jazeera] [Emirates247]
Russia / Ukraine
- Ukraine hits two Russian oil refineries. Ukraine says it struck two Russian oil refineries overnight in drone attacks; Russian authorities confirm at least two killed. The strikes are part of Ukraine’s continued campaign against Russian energy infrastructure. [Al Jazeera]
Asia-Pacific
- Kazakhstan deepens US ties. Kazakhstan’s leader told the New York Times that President Trump was “sent by heaven,” part of an aggressive Central Asian courtship of Washington aimed at counterbalancing the country’s powerful neighbours Russia and China. [NYT]
Middle East (non-Iran)
Iraq anticorruption sweep. Iraqi security forces arrested several officials at dawn in a large-scale operation spanning the Green Zone and multiple Baghdad neighbourhoods, in what a security source described as a coordinated anticorruption crackdown. [Al Jazeera]
Saudi Aramco helicopter crash in Ras Tanura kills 14. A Saudi Aramco helicopter crashed at the company’s Ras Tanura terminal, killing all 14 people on board, according to Saudi state media. [Al Jazeera] [Emirates247]
Africa
Sudan: el-Obeid burns as generals stall peace. Al Jazeera reports from Sudan’s el-Obeid, where foreign-supplied arms and polarised narratives are stalling peace efforts even as the city itself burns. [Al Jazeera]
Uganda military shuts down two media outlets. Uganda’s military chief ordered the shutdown of two media outlets, with the president’s son stating publicly that he did not believe in a free press as military personnel were deployed to the newsrooms. [Al Jazeera]
Economy & Markets
BIS flags debt and AI-fragility risks. The Bank for International Settlements warned in its annual report that elevated debt levels combined with an AI-driven investment boom are amplifying global economic fragilities. [CNBC]
US auto market could shrink by 2040. CNBC profiles analyst views that a “perfect storm” of EV transition costs, tariff pressure and shifting consumer demand could shrink the US auto market substantially by 2040. [CNBC]
Medicare to cover obesity drugs from July 1. A landmark coverage shift begins July 1: Medicare will pay for obesity drugs for seniors. Both the government and the manufacturers (Eli Lilly, Novo Nordisk) have been notably quiet about advertising the change. [CNBC]
Top Wall Street picks and Chinese data-center plays. Top analysts remain bullish on three stocks for long-term growth despite market volatility, while a separate CNBC piece highlights ten Chinese stocks powering US data-center buildouts. Separately, Morgan Stanley argues that salt — not lithium or copper — is “the new oil” of the energy transition, with lithium extraction economics making brine chemistry a strategic resource. [CNBC] [CNBC] [CNBC]
Google limits Meta’s use of Gemini. Google is restricting Meta’s use of its Gemini AI models after Meta sought more computing capacity than Google could provide, the Financial Times reports. [CNBC]
UAE
Dubai RTA signs MoUs with Huawei and CASCO. Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority expanded strategic partnerships with Chinese firms during a delegation visit to China led by Director-General Mattar Al Tayer. Two MoUs were signed: one with rail-signalling specialist CASCO to set up an R&D centre and innovation lab in Dubai linked to the Metro Blue Line, and one with Huawei covering AI, mobility systems, traffic management and security. The visit included inspections of Shanghai’s integrated transport command centre and the Shanghai Maglev. [Emirates247]
Dubai launches world’s first AI-powered park design challenge. Dubai announced what it’s calling the world’s first AI-powered garden design challenge, an initiative from the municipality that uses generative AI to propose landscape layouts. [Emirates247]
UAE weather: rain, dust and 45 km/h winds. The National Centre of Meteorology forecast cumulus cloud formation over parts of eastern UAE on Sunday, with chances of rainfall, strong winds up to 45 km/h between 2 pm and 7:30 pm, and reduced visibility from blowing dust. [Emirates247]
In Brief
World Cup 2026 VAR controversies. Al Jazeera rounds up the most controversial VAR officiating decisions of the group stage, from Iran’s stoppage-time winner ruled out against Egypt to Ghana’s denied penalty against England. [Al Jazeera]
Veteran tailor preserves Emirati kandura heritage. Pakistani tailor Mohammed Shafiq, 68, has been making kanduras in Ras Al Khaimah since 1977 and remains one of the oldest practising tailors in the emirate. His client base includes teachers, professors and military personnel, some travelling from Abu Dhabi and Dubai. [Emirates247]
Roundup compiled from the TTRSS NEWS feed. 28 articles from 5 sources summarised across 16 story clusters. Iran-conflict material excluded — see the Iran sitrep section for that coverage.