## [2026-06-18](/feed/2026/06/18/index.md)

##### Major Oak
### [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. ](/feed/2026/06/18/scientists-confirm-that-major-oak-a-1000-year-old-oak-tree-in-sherwood-forest-nottinghamshire-england-has-died-the.md)
##### Australia
### [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. ](/feed/2026/06/18/australian-researchers-report-that-an-h5-avian-influenza-outbreak-on-heard-island-and-mcdonald-islands-has-killed-more-t.md)
##### MV Hondius hantavirus outbreak
### [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. ](/feed/2026/06/18/two-more-passengers-who-were-on-the-mv-hondius-cruise-ship-during-the-hantavirus-outbreak-exit-the-national-quarantine-u.md)
##### 2026 Ebola epidemic
### [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. ](/feed/2026/06/18/the-africa-centres-for-disease-control-and-prevention-reports-that-the-ebola-outbreak-in-the-democratic-republic-of-the.md)
##### Economic impact of the 2026 Iran war
### [The American Automobile Association reports that gas prices in the United States are at $3.999, making it the first time gas prices have went below $4 since March 30 after rising amidst the Iran war. ](/feed/2026/06/18/the-american-automobile-association-reports-that-gas-prices-in-the-united-states-are-at-3999-making-it-the-first-time.md)
##### War in the Sahel
### [Gunmen attack the Diori Hamani International Airport in Niamey, Niger, with explosions and gunfire heard. ](/feed/2026/06/18/gunmen-attack-the-diori-hamani-international-airport-in-niamey-niger-with-explosions-and-gunfire-heard.md)
##### Russo-Ukrainian war
### [Following the attack, Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy says "If Ukraine burns, your Moscow will burn", warning against further Russian attacks on the country. ](/feed/2026/06/18/following-the-attack-ukrainian-president-volodymyr-zelenskyy-says-if-ukraine-burns-your-moscow-will-burn-warning-ag.md)
### [Residents of Moscow report oil raining down as massive plumes of black smoke are visible over the city. ](/feed/2026/06/18/residents-of-moscow-report-oil-raining-down-as-massive-plumes-of-black-smoke-are-visible-over-the-city.md)
### [Ukraine launches its largest ever drone attack on Moscow, Russia, targeting the Moscow Refinery and damaging several residential buildings. ](/feed/2026/06/18/ukraine-launches-its-largest-ever-drone-attack-on-moscow-russia-targeting-the-moscow-refinery-and-damaging-several-res.md)
##### 2026 Iran war
### [Trump's deputy, Vance, criticizes members of the government of Israel who attack his recent agreement with Iran and the president personally, saying that Trump is the only head of state in the world currently in solidarity with Israel, and that they must remember that during the last three months, two-thirds of the defensive weapons that protected Israel were made by Americans and paid for by taxpayers. ](/feed/2026/06/18/trump-s-deputy-vance-criticizes-members-of-the-government-of-israel-who-attack-his-recent-agreement-with-iran-and-the.md)
### [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. ](/feed/2026/06/18/according-to-data-from-kpler-three-oil-supertankers-from-saudi-arabia-carrying-6-million-barrels-of-crude-oil-were-seen.md)
### [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. ](/feed/2026/06/18/us-vice-president-jd-vance-says-that-his-country-will-allow-ships-through-to-iranian-ports-and-that-the-naval-blockad.md)
### [The U.S. presidential executive office provides a text of the details on the agreement to the U.S. Congress. ](/feed/2026/06/18/the-us-presidential-executive-office-provides-a-text-of-the-details-on-the-agreement-to-the-us-congress.md)
### [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". ](/feed/2026/06/18/sharif-reaffirms-that-the-mou-to-end-the-war-will-take-effect-immediately-and-that-iran-will-instantly-reopen-the-stra.md)
### [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. ](/feed/2026/06/18/pakistani-prime-minister-shehbaz-sharif-postpones-his-visit-to-switzerland-after-the-memorandum-of-understanding-mou-b.md)
## [Previous Day ...](/feed/2026/06/17/index.md)