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Thousands of people gathered in Tehran to take part in the funeral procession for former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. He was reportedly killed in an airstrike linked to conflict between the U.S. and Israel in Iran.
Key Facts
The funeral procession took place in Tehran, Iran’s capital.
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was the former Supreme Leader of Iran.
He died as a result of an airstrike.
The airstrike is connected to a conflict involving the United States and Israel in Iran.
Tens of thousands of people participated in the funeral march.
The event marked the largest public gathering in Tehran for this occasion.
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The body of Iran’s late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei arrived in the holy city of Qom ahead of planned funeral events. Millions of people attended funeral processions in Tehran to mourn Khamenei and family members killed in a recent air strike.
Key Facts
Khamenei’s body was flown by helicopter to Qom, a religious city in Iran.
Millions of Iranians gathered in Tehran for the funeral procession, similar in scale to the 1989 funeral of Khomeini.
The air strike that killed Khamenei also killed four family members, including his 14-month-old granddaughter.
Mojtaba Khamenei, the new Supreme Leader and Khamenei’s son, has not appeared in public since being appointed.
Officials noted a fragile ceasefire with the U.S. and Israel is ongoing, complicating security for public appearances.
Medical teams treated more than 34,000 people during the funeral events without any deaths.
High-ranking officials and former president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad attended the ceremonies despite previous political disagreements.
Iranian leaders described the large turnout and slogans as a warning to Iran’s enemies.
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British actor Micheal Ward is on trial for rape and sexual assault, denying the allegations and saying the encounter with the woman was consensual. The trial is taking place in London, where Ward and the woman met at a nightclub in January 2023 and the case is being decided by a jury.
Key Facts
Micheal Ward, a 28-year-old British actor known for roles in Top Boy and Blue Story, faces charges of two counts of rape and three counts of sexual assault.
The alleged incident occurred on January 2, 2023, after Ward met the woman at a nightclub in east London.
Ward told the court the encounter was consensual and described the interaction as flirty and mutual.
The woman said she did not understand the situation and did not want to get into the car with Ward.
She said she "shut down" during the encounter and told Ward she wanted to leave several times.
Ward said the woman was an active participant and reciprocated his advances.
The woman appeared upset afterward, crying and showing a changed demeanor according to a friend’s testimony.
The woman ordered a sexual health kit indicating she had been sexually assaulted.
Ward won the Bafta Rising Star Award in 2020 and was nominated for other acting awards.
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A residential building in Kyiv was hit by Russian missile strikes twice within one month, causing deaths and damage. Ukrainian emergency workers, including a longtime volunteer named Kateryna Tereshkova, are helping residents repair damages and cope with repeated attacks.
Key Facts
At least 22 people died in the recent Russian missile strikes on Kyiv and nearby areas.
The same apartment complex was hit twice about a month apart.
Ukrainian air defenses showed weaknesses and rely on U.S. Patriot missile systems to stop some attacks.
Russia said the attacks on Kyiv are retaliation for Ukraine’s earlier long-range strikes.
Kateryna Tereshkova, a Ukrainian volunteer, helps fix apartments after attacks by boarding up broken windows and cleaning damage.
Tereshkova has volunteered since 2014 and works full-time on this since the 2022 invasion.
Emergency teams have little rest between strikes, sometimes just a day and a half.
Despite fatigue, volunteers like Tereshkova continue helping victims recover and live in safer conditions.
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NATO leaders meet in Ankara to discuss plans for reaching defence spending targets, amid pressure from the United States to increase their contributions. NATO members agreed to spend 5% of their GDP on defence and related infrastructure, with some countries still struggling to meet previous targets. The Netherlands announced new defence deals and plans worth over 3 billion euros to boost cooperation with other NATO members.
Key Facts
NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte called for clear and credible plans from members to meet spending targets.
NATO countries agreed last year to spend 5% of GDP on defence and infrastructure (3.5% on defence budgets, 1.5% on roads, bridges, and ports).
Some NATO countries still have not reached the older 2% GDP spending goal.
The U.S. is reducing its security role in Europe and urges allies to spend more on defence.
The U.S. expects all NATO allies to increase spending urgently, according to the U.S. NATO ambassador.
NATO estimates European allies and Canada will invest $258 billion more in defence in 2024 and 2025 than in previous years.
The Netherlands will announce defence deals worth over 3 billion euros, including partnerships with Belgium, Britain, and Germany.
President Trump has criticized NATO allies for low defence spending and called for loyalty from member countries.
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Pro-Palestinian protesters gathered outside a London court to support the ‘Filton 25’ activists. Eight people are on trial for breaking into Elbit Systems’ Filton site in 2024, an Israeli arms company.
Key Facts
Protesters showed support for the ‘Filton 25’ activists at London’s Old Bailey Criminal Court.
The trial involves eight defendants connected to a break-in in 2024.
The break-in took place at Elbit Systems’ facility in Filton, UK.
Elbit Systems is an Israeli company that makes arms and military technology.
The protesters are pro-Palestinian and oppose Elbit Systems’ activities.
The trial is ongoing as of the time of the report.
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Lauren Bennett, a singer known for being part of the girl group G.R.L. and for featuring on LMFAO’s song "Party Rock Anthem," has died at age 37. The group announced her passing but did not share the cause of death.
Key Facts
Lauren Bennett was 37 years old when she passed away.
She was a member of the girl group G.R.L. and featured on LMFAO’s hit "Party Rock Anthem."
Bennett started singing in local contests and bars in the UK and later joined The X Factor as a teenager.
After The X Factor, she joined the Paradiso Girls and moved to Los Angeles at 17.
The Paradiso Girls had a hit single called "Patron Tequila" in 2009.
Bennett joined G.R.L. after the success of "Party Rock Anthem" and appeared on Pitbull’s song "Wild Wild Love."
G.R.L.’s biggest hit was "Ugly Heart," which did well in the UK, Australia, and New Zealand.
The group released a tribute song and worked with a mental health charity after the death of member Simone Battle.
G.R.L. remembered Bennett for her spirit and said she would be deeply missed.
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NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said that member countries now spend about 4% of their GDP on defense, getting closer to the United States' spending level. At the upcoming NATO summit in Ankara, members are expected to announce new defense contracts worth tens of billions of dollars.
Key Facts
NATO members currently spend about 4% of their GDP on defense.
This amount is closer to the U.S. defense spending level.
The NATO summit is taking place in Ankara.
Countries will announce tens of billions of dollars in new defense contracts.
The NATO chief called for credible plans to meet defense spending goals.
Mark Rutte is the Secretary General of NATO.
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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu asked President Donald Trump to slow down Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s harsh criticism of Israel. Netanyahu also urged Trump not to sell new weapons to Turkey, especially military jets, during an upcoming NATO meeting in Ankara.
Key Facts
Netanyahu complained to President Trump about Erdoğan’s strong anti-Israel comments.
Erdoğan called Zionism "a genocidal ideology" and claimed it threatens Turkey’s survival.
Turkey’s foreign minister called Israel "a burden on humanity" and suggested global sanctions.
Trump will meet Erdoğan at the NATO summit in Ankara to discuss a $700 million deal for fighter jet engines.
Turkey wants to rejoin the U.S. F-35 stealth fighter jet program from which it was removed in 2019.
Turkey was kicked out of the F-35 program because it bought Russia’s S-400 missile defense system.
The U.S. Pentagon is reviewing if it can sell F-35 jets to Turkey despite the Russian weapons purchase.
Netanyahu warned that selling jets to Turkey would disturb the military balance in the Middle East.
Netanyahu’s influence with Trump has weakened due to differences over the Iran conflict.
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More than 300 children have been killed or injured in the war in Sudan over the past six months, mostly from drone strikes, according to UNICEF. The conflict between Sudan’s military and paramilitary Rapid Support Forces has caused widespread violence, displacement, and humanitarian needs, especially in the states of Kordofan, Darfur, and Blue Nile.
Key Facts
The fighting in Sudan started in April 2023, mainly between the Sudanese military and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF).
Over 300 children have been harmed in six months, with 60% of injuries linked to drone attacks.
The war has killed at least 59,000 people and displaced about 13 million.
More than 30 million people in Sudan need humanitarian aid due to the conflict.
The U.N. Human Rights Council condemned the violence and called for protection of civilians and support for refugees.
Drone strikes and shelling have damaged schools, markets, fuel stations, and water sources.
Civilians face severe hardship, including siege-like conditions in some areas.
At least 15 miners died when a gold mine collapsed near Sudan’s border with Egypt; mine safety is a common concern.
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Heavy rainstorms caused flooding and damage in parts of the Northeast, especially in New York and New Jersey. A wholesale club roof collapsed during the storms, but no injuries were reported, and emergency crews responded quickly to the situation.
Key Facts
Torrential rain and flash floods hit the Northeast, affecting New York, New Jersey, and nearby areas.
A wholesale club roof in New Jersey collapsed due to the heavy rain while 27 people were inside.
Two people were trapped but escaped safely after the roof collapse.
Emergency teams including rescue dogs and drones searched the building to confirm no one was left inside.
Flash flood warnings were issued for New York City, New Jersey, and Long Island.
Rainfall reached up to 2 to 3 inches in many places, with some areas getting 4 inches or more.
Flooding caused roads to close and stranded drivers; power outages affected nearly half a million people nationwide.
Officials warned residents to stay away from flooded areas and highlighted the risks of severe weather.
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Nigeria’s foreign minister warned that violence against African immigrants in South Africa is not getting better after two Nigerians were killed during anti-immigrant protests. Nigeria is pushing South Africa to investigate the deaths and has organized more evacuation flights for its citizens.
Key Facts
Two Nigerian men, Musa Yunana Joe and Charles Iroegbu, died in South Africa during tense anti-immigrant protests.
South African police say Joe’s killing may not be linked to the protests but have not confirmed details about Iroegbu’s death.
Nigeria demanded South Africa take action or face consequences if the attacks on foreigners continue.
South African officials asked Nigeria to provide information to help investigate the deaths properly.
Protests in South Africa accuse foreign workers of taking jobs and overusing social services.
Several foreign-owned shops have been looted or burned in violent attacks.
Other African countries like Mozambique, Ghana, and Uganda also reported attacks on their citizens in South Africa.
Many African immigrants are leaving South Africa due to the violence and insecurity.
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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu responded to warnings from U.S. Vice President Vance about criticizing the Trump administration’s peace deal with Iran. Netanyahu said Israel has many allies and did not need to limit its free speech or criticism.
Key Facts
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu pushed back against comments from U.S. Vice President Vance.
Vice President Vance warned Israeli officials about publicly criticizing the peace deal between the U.S. and Iran.
The peace deal was negotiated under President Donald Trump’s administration.
Netanyahu stated that Israel has many friends and allies, suggesting it is not dependent on one government.
This exchange highlights tensions between Israeli leaders and some U.S. officials over the Iran peace deal.
The issue involves how much Israel should publicly support or criticize U.S. foreign policy decisions.
Both countries remain close allies despite occasional disagreements on policy.
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Roberto Sanchez, the left-wing candidate in Peru's presidential race, has accepted his defeat to Keiko Fujimori after election officials declared her the winner. The election faced delays and accusations of fraud, but no evidence supported these claims.
Key Facts
Roberto Sanchez conceded the election to Keiko Fujimori following the official announcement by Peru’s National Elections Board.
The presidential race included a run-off vote held on June 7, after 33 other candidates were eliminated in the April general election.
Fujimori won by a narrow margin, approximately 9,223,000 votes to Sanchez’s 9,173,000 votes.
Sanchez had strong support from rural and indigenous voters and proposed reforms like changing the constitution to give more autonomy to ethnic groups and increasing taxes on the wealthy.
Allegations of voting irregularities and fraud were made by Sanchez but were not confirmed by election monitors.
Fujimori’s platform focused on tough crime policies and unifying the country and received backing from the administration of President Donald Trump.
Keiko Fujimori is the daughter of former President Alberto Fujimori, who was jailed for human rights violations and died in 2024.
Peru has experienced political instability, with nine presidents in ten years, and plans to change its legislative system soon by bringing back a two-chamber Congress.
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Scientists recorded slow-motion videos showing bumblebees react to different tastes. The bees displayed behaviors similar to "liking" or "disliking," such as licking their tongues longer after tasting sweet solutions and shaking their heads after tasting bitter ones.
Key Facts
Bumblebees use their tongues (glossa) to show positive or negative reactions to tastes.
Researchers presented bees with sugar water, plain water, salt, and quinine to observe their responses.
Bees licked longer after sweet tastes and showed distaste by shaking or wiping their mouths after bad tastes.
The study was done by Macquarie University and Southern Medical University in China.
Bees’ reactions changed depending on context, like when they were heat-stressed, similar to how humans find electrolyte drinks more appealing after exercise.
This research suggests bees may have simple inner experiences, a concept previously controversial for insects.
Scientists study animal facial expressions to understand feelings since animals cannot speak.
The findings were published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
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President Donald Trump secured promises from NATO allies last year to increase their defense spending to 5% of their gross domestic product over the next decade. This week, at a summit in Turkey, he aims to ensure that NATO members follow through on these commitments while also discussing the Russia-Ukraine war and meeting with key leaders.
Key Facts
At last year’s NATO summit, allies agreed to raise defense spending to 5% of their GDP within 10 years.
President Trump is attending a NATO summit in Ankara, Turkey, to push members to meet this target quickly.
Trump will meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan during the summit.
The ongoing Russia-Ukraine war is a major topic of discussion at the meeting.
Trump also plans to meet with Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa, though no specific goals have been announced.
Despite progress on spending, Trump has ongoing disputes with some NATO leaders, including disagreements about Iran, Greenland, and personal conflicts.
NATO’s secretary-general highlighted increased defense spending since 2017 as “The Trump Trillion.”
Trump has recently engaged in public disagreements with some world leaders, impacting diplomatic relations.
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The United States will restart sending troops back to Poland in the next few weeks after a pause earlier this year. Poland’s Defense Minister confirmed the return of American soldiers as part of a rotating deployment.
Key Facts
The U.S. paused the rotation of its troops in Poland earlier this year.
Poland’s Defense Minister, Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz, announced the return of these troops.
The troop rotation will resume in the coming weeks.
The deployment involves rotating American service members, not permanent stationing.
This move continues the U.S. military’s presence in Central Europe.
The Pentagon previously suspended this troop rotation for several weeks.
Poland and the U.S. have ongoing defense cooperation.
The return of troops supports regional security in Central Europe.
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The death toll from the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo has passed 500, with over 1,500 confirmed cases. Health workers in the affected province have threatened to strike due to unpaid benefits, low wages, and poor working conditions.
Key Facts
At least 506 people have died and 1,561 Ebola cases confirmed in DR Congo as of early July.
The outbreak was officially declared on May 15 and is caused by the Bundibugyo virus, a rare strain with no approved vaccine or treatment.
A clinical trial for two treatments and an emergency diagnostic test have recently begun.
The outbreak started in Mongbwalu, Ituri province, where the death rate is over 50%.
Health workers are threatening to strike over unpaid benefits, low pay, poor equipment, and working conditions.
The virus has spread to areas near North Kivu and South Kivu provinces, with some controlled by the armed group M23.
North Kivu has a mortality rate of 57.4%, higher than average and worrying to health officials.
South Kivu has had no new cases since May 26, and M23-controlled areas claim the epidemic is over there.
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Cuba experienced a country-wide power outage due to low fuel supplies and a failing electrical system. The government is working to fix the problem while the fuel shortage has caused transportation stops and canceled many surgeries.
Key Facts
Cuba has 10 million people and faced an island-wide blackout on Monday.
The state-run Electric Union reported the blackout and said they are investigating the cause.
The Ministry of Energy and Mines activated plans to restore electricity.
Fuel shortages started in January after President Donald Trump warned of tariffs on countries supplying oil to Cuba.
Cuba produces only 40% of its needed fuel and used up 730,000 barrels of oil from Russia by the end of April.
The government has been limiting power use with planned outages lasting over 24 hours.
Recent blackouts occurred in March and mid-May, affecting the whole island or parts of it.
The fuel and power crisis has stopped public transport and forced officials to cancel tens of thousands of surgeries.
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Iran has reappointed Gholam-Hossein Mohseni-Ejei as chief justice for another five years. This decision was announced during the funeral of former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and confirmed by Iran’s new Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei.
Key Facts
Gholam-Hossein Mohseni-Ejei, age 69, was reappointed chief justice for five more years.
Mojtaba Khamenei became Supreme Leader in March and confirmed the reappointment in a message.
The announcement coincided with the funeral procession of former Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and four family members killed in an air strike on February 28.
The funeral procession was protected by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and traveled through Tehran, Qom, Iraq, and then Mashhad.
Mohseni-Ejei is committed to fighting corruption and pursuing actions against what he called “arrogant powers” and “global aggressors.”
Under Mohseni-Ejei’s leadership, the judiciary has increased executions and crackdowns on protesters and people accused of security offenses.
The chief justice has strong powers over the judiciary, including appointing judges and legal officials, and influencing the Guardian Council, which vets election candidates and approves laws.
Mohseni-Ejei supports the “axis of resistance,” a network of armed groups allied with Iran, and has pledged to punish economic crimes like hoarding and price gouging during Iran’s economic troubles.
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