Daily Digest — 28 Jun 2026

US strikes on Iranian targets for a second night, following a drone attack on a commercial tanker in the Strait of Hormuz, have shattered a fragile 60-day ceasefire between Washington and Tehran. The escalation, reported by Al Jazeera and CNBC, raises the risk of broader conflict in a region vital for global energy flows. Yet oil prices fell 3.7% to $⁠69.23, possibly reflecting market bets that the fighting remains contained or that a diplomatic off-ramp still exists. Gold and silver gained over 1% each, suggesting some flight to safety, while bitcoin slipped slightly amid a broader selloff in precious metals that traditionally drags crypto lower, as CoinDesk notes. Tether, meanwhile, is putting its $⁠23 billion gold stockpile to work with bullion-backed loans, mirroring bitcoin lending models.

Separately, a global memory chip shortage is forcing Apple and Microsoft to raise prices, but for smaller electronics firms this is an “existential crisis,” per CNBC. In the UK, a government minister is exploring a state-owned housing developer to borrow at lower rates, reported by The Guardian. SpaceX is set to join the Nasdaq-100 through a fast-track process, triggering huge ETF buying demand, while Elon Musk’s orbital data center vision faces scepticism from SoftBank’s CEO. In the occupied West Bank, videos show Israeli settlers trying to seize a house under construction, as reported by Al Jazeera. A devastating earthquake in Venezuela has killed at least 920 people, with international rescue teams racing to find survivors. And in football, Steve Clarke has stepped down as Scotland manager after their World Cup group exit.