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Comprehensive coverage of international news and global events
Interim President Delcy Rodriguez of Venezuela reported that 80% of the buildings that collapsed during recent earthquakes were privately built. She also confirmed that over 2,500 people have died and rescue efforts are ongoing.
Key Facts
Two earthquakes recently struck Venezuela.
About 80% of collapsed buildings were built by private developers.
More than 2,500 people have died because of the earthquakes.
Search and rescue teams are still working to find survivors.
The government is responding to public concerns about its disaster handling.
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A hosepipe ban will start on 10 July for about one million people in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight to save water. The ban follows very low river levels and dry weather, and may last until autumn unless there is heavy rain.
Key Facts
The hosepipe ban affects customers of Southern Water in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.
It begins on 10 July but people are encouraged to stop using hosepipes immediately.
The River Test, the main water source, is at critically low levels due to dry weather and a heatwave.
This is the second year in a row the ban has been introduced by Southern Water.
Hosepipes use about 1,000 litres of water per hour, roughly one person's weekly water use.
Some customers with special health or mobility needs are exempt from the ban.
Southern Water plans a new reservoir by 2040 to reduce pressure on rivers.
The reduction in water leaks this year equals 27 million litres a day saved.
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A member of the European Parliament, Stelios Kouloglou, was repeatedly targeted with spyware made by NSO Group while investigating the misuse of this software in Europe. Researchers from Citizen Lab found signs that the attacks were related to past hacking campaigns against journalists but could not identify which government was responsible.
Key Facts
Stelios Kouloglou, a Greek MEP and journalist, was targeted by Pegasus spyware during his work on a European parliamentary committee investigating spyware abuses.
The spyware used was made by NSO Group, an Israeli company that sells it to governments for security purposes.
Kouloglou’s phone was first infected in October 2022 during an intense period of committee activity, and again in March 2023 as the committee was finalizing its report.
The committee investigating Pegasus abuses is called Pega and was created in March 2022 after the Pegasus Project exposed government spying on journalists and activists.
Citizen Lab could not identify which government used the spyware against Kouloglou but noted similarities to previous attacks on Russian and Belarusian journalists living in Europe.
Kouloglou was hacked while hospitalized and in contact with another journalist who was also targeted by spyware in Greece.
This is the first time a member of the Pega committee has been confirmed as a spyware target.
Experts warn that other European politicians may be unknowingly hacked with spyware.
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The historic Furka steam railway in the Swiss Alps is celebrating its 100th anniversary. Volunteers restored this mountain railway after it closed in the 1980s, and it now runs as a tourist attraction through scenic Alpine landscapes during the summer.
Key Facts
The Furka Pass is one of Switzerland’s highest Alpine passes at 2,431 meters (7,976 feet).
The steam railway first operated a continuous journey over the pass on July 3, 1926.
It provided an important rail link between the regions of Uri and Valais in central Switzerland.
In the early 1980s, the route was closed after a tunnel diverted rail traffic away from the mountain pass.
Hundreds of volunteers restored the line and steam trains, reopening it as a heritage railway starting in 1992.
The current 18-kilometer (11-mile) track runs between Realp and Oberwald stations and operates in summer for tourists.
Steam trains use vintage carriages, and volunteers with special skills drive the locomotives.
Tourists enjoy views of rivers, Alpine meadows, pastures, and snow patches on the journey.
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Iran has started funeral events for former Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. The coffin will travel across the country before being buried in his hometown of Mashhad on July 9.
Key Facts
Iran is holding a seven-day funeral ceremony for Ali Khamenei.
The funeral events will begin in Tehran.
The coffin will move through various parts of Iran during the ceremonies.
Ali Khamenei was a Supreme Leader of Iran.
The final burial will take place in Mashhad, Khamenei’s hometown.
The burial is scheduled for July 9.
This marks a significant event in Iran’s political and religious life.
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Fans attending the 2026 World Cup are enjoying local foods in the host cities across North America. Visitors are trying well-known fast food and regional dishes, appreciating the variety and flavors of American and Canadian cuisine.
Key Facts
World Cup fans traveled from many countries to North America for the soccer tournament.
Visitors are tasting local foods like lobster rolls in Boston, barbecue in Kansas City, and poutine in Toronto.
Some fans are trying popular American fast-food chains that they cannot find at home, such as Chick-fil-A and In-N-Out Burger.
Scottish fan Gary Bishop described poutine as a delicious dish with chips, gravy, and cheese.
Restaurant owners in host cities have seen increased customers and excitement because of the World Cup.
Fans from places like Scotland, Brazil, and England have gathered around local food spots during the tournament.
Some food chains are using the World Cup to attract more customers.
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President Donald Trump has accepted an invitation to the NATO summit in Turkey, largely due to his close relationship with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Trump praised Erdogan and suggested that the U.S. might soon approve sales of advanced military equipment, like F-35 jets, to Turkey despite previous restrictions.
Key Facts
President Trump often criticized other NATO leaders but praised Turkish President Erdogan as a “hell of a leader” and a good friend.
Erdogan personally invited Trump to attend the NATO summit in Ankara, emphasizing the importance of U.S. participation.
Trump’s attendance is seen as helping to avoid problems within NATO caused by his previous threats to reduce U.S. forces in Europe.
The U.S. and other NATO members have long disagreed on defense spending, with Trump pressing allies to increase it.
Turkey has been barred from receiving F-35 fighter jets because of its close ties with Russia.
Trump hinted he might announce progress on selling jet engines or F-35 jets to Turkey during the summit.
Experts note Trump tends to have better relations with leaders like Erdogan, who are considered strongmen and not traditional allies.
Erdogan avoided engaging closely with President Biden but is relying on his ties with Trump.
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Russian President Vladimir Putin downplayed the impact of fuel shortages in Russia caused by repeated Ukrainian attacks on oil refineries. Despite the damage to Russia’s fuel industry and continued fighting, Putin insists the war will go on until his goals are met.
Key Facts
Since March, Ukraine has launched over 50 attacks on Russian and Crimea energy facilities.
These attacks have cut about one-third of Russia’s oil refining capacity.
Gasoline production in Russia has dropped roughly 17%, leading to fuel rationing and long lines at gas stations.
Crimea faces the worst fuel shortages, with gasoline sales to individuals stopped completely.
Russian military launched a large 11-hour attack on Kyiv, killing at least 21 people.
Putin described the Ukrainian attacks as attempts to distract from Ukraine’s battlefield losses.
He considers the fuel shortages “not critical” and rejected ceasefire suggestions.
Repairs to damaged refineries, including one in Moscow hit twice, will take months to complete.
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Neil is a 1,000 kg (2,200 pound) elephant seal who returns every six months to southern Tasmania, Australia, where he causes property damage and disrupts local areas. Officials warn that his growing social media fame is causing crowds that might jeopardize both Neil’s safety and the public.
Key Facts
Neil is a 5-year-old male elephant seal, weighing about 1,000 kg (2,200 pounds).
He visits southern Tasmania’s beaches twice a year after feeding at sea.
Neil has damaged traffic bollards, signs, fences, and cars during his visits.
He often rests in places like roads, which can stop traffic in towns.
Neil has a TikTok following of 1.4 million people, more than double Tasmania’s human population.
Experts say Neil’s behavior is normal as he practices for fights he would have with other seals in the wild.
Officials are concerned that Neil’s popularity leads to risky human-seal encounters.
Tasmania’s Department of Natural Resources asks fans to respect Neil’s space to keep everyone safe.
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Singer Taylor Swift and NFL player Travis Kelce are planning to get married on July 2, 2026, at Madison Square Garden in New York City. The wedding event is expected to start at 5 p.m. and last until 4 a.m. the next day, with security and preparations underway at the venue.
Key Facts
Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s wedding is scheduled for July 2, 2026.
The wedding location is Madison Square Garden, a large arena in New York City.
The event is planned to start at 5 p.m. and could last until 4 a.m. the following morning.
A smaller rehearsal dinner is expected to take place on the night before the wedding.
Security is tight, and the venue is being prepared with tents and special setups.
Madison Square Garden’s windowless design helps provide privacy for the event.
The wedding is a major topic among fans and the public due to the couple’s high profile.
New York City Police are involved in security but have not officially confirmed the wedding location.
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Lam Wing-kee, a Hong Kong bookseller known for opposing Beijing’s control over free speech, died in Taiwan at age 70. He had been seized by Chinese authorities in 2015 and later moved to Taiwan, where he reopened his bookstore before falling ill last year.
Key Facts
Lam Wing-kee was seized by Chinese authorities in October 2015 after crossing from Hong Kong to mainland China.
He was held under strict surveillance in Ningbo, China, for five months and forced to confess on Chinese TV.
Lam worked at Causeway Bay Books in Hong Kong, which sold books about Chinese leaders and political scandals.
He moved to Taipei, Taiwan, in 2019 due to fears of legal problems and reopened the bookstore in 2020.
Lam died in June 2024 after a cancer relapse, passing away in a Taipei hospital.
Taiwan’s President Lai Ching-te expressed condolences and praised Lam’s courage in defending freedom.
Other booksellers from Causeway Bay Books also disappeared or were detained, including Gui Minhai, who was sentenced to prison in China.
After large protests in 2019, Hong Kong authorities increased controls on speech and arrested people for selling certain publications.
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Millions of people will take part in seven days of funeral ceremonies for Iran’s late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, starting July 3. The events will occur in cities across Iran and Iraq, ending with his burial at a holy shrine in Mashhad, Iran, on July 9.
Key Facts
Ali Khamenei, Iran’s Supreme Leader since 1989, died after a U.S.-Israeli air strike on February 28.
The funeral was delayed from March due to ongoing conflict involving the U.S. and Israel with Iran.
The ceremonies begin in Tehran, where the coffin will lie in state at the Grand Mosalla prayer complex.
Public funeral processions will continue through Tehran and then move to Qom, a key center for Shia Islamic study.
On July 8, ceremonies will take place in Iraqi cities Najaf and Karbala, which have important Shia holy sites.
Najaf is home to the Imam Ali Shrine, believed to hold the tomb of Imam Ali, a central figure in Shia Islam.
Karbala hosts shrines for Imam Hussein and Abbas, key historical figures in Shia tradition.
The final burial will be at the Imam Reza Shrine in Mashhad, Iran’s holiest city and Khamenei’s birthplace.
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A new portrait of former German Chancellor Angela Merkel was unveiled at Berlin's Bode-Museum after private sessions between Merkel and artist Jérémie Queyras. The painting shows Merkel wearing a blue blazer and carries marks of the long years she served in power. The portrait will later be displayed in the chancellery and was reportedly paid for by Merkel herself.
Key Facts
Jérémie Queyras, a 28-year-old artist, painted Angela Merkel’s portrait after months of private meetings in Berlin.
Merkel and Queyras spent hours together chatting and listening to classical music during the painting process.
The portrait shows Merkel in a blue blazer, with signs of the toll her 16 years in office took on her.
Queyras waited three years after sending a letter before Merkel gave him the commission.
Merkel advised Queyras about the challenges of painting her portrait, including potential criticism from other artists and political groups.
Merkel arranged secret access for Queyras to see portraits of previous German chancellors to prepare for the work.
Merkel personally paid for the portrait, ensuring her control over it rather than it becoming government property.
The painting will be displayed at the Bode-Museum until October and then moved to the chancellery, hung next to a portrait of Gerhard Schröder.
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Scientists found that bottlenose dolphins in the Adriatic Sea are increasingly following fishing boats called trawlers to find food because natural fish are scarce due to heavy fishing. Baby dolphins learn this behavior from their mothers, but feeding near trawlers can be risky and harmful for dolphins.
Key Facts
Dolphins follow trawlers to eat leftover or discarded fish because natural food is hard to find.
Overfishing in the Mediterranean Sea is twice the level considered sustainable by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization.
In the 1990s, about 10% of trawlers were followed by dolphins; recent studies show up to 76% of trawlers are now followed.
Dolphins may get injured by fishing gear and suffer hearing damage from noisy trawlers.
Baby dolphins learn to follow trawlers by watching their mothers, passing this behavior from one generation to the next.
The Adriatic Sea has lost many common dolphins, a sign of environmental decline.
Scientists urge reducing fishing and using less harmful fishing methods to help dolphins find natural food again.
The study was published in the journal Frontiers and involved researchers from Italy and the US.
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A US pilot was killed in Indonesia’s Papua region after separatist rebels said they shot him and burned his plane. The incident is part of a long-running conflict where some groups want independence from Indonesia.
Key Facts
A US pilot was killed in the Papua region of Indonesia.
Separatist rebels claimed responsibility for shooting the pilot.
The rebels also said they set the pilot’s aircraft on fire.
Papua has a long-standing independence movement.
More than 122,000 people have been displaced in Papua since 2022 because of the conflict.
The attack adds to the ongoing violence in the area.
The conflict involves demands for independence from Indonesia.
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The Christian Brothers religious order has kept nine convicted child abusers as members, citing their duty to care for all brothers, including those in need. Facing financial trouble, the order seeks to sell property to pay abuse survivors but has paused all legal claims, affecting many ongoing abuse cases.
Key Facts
The Christian Brothers have nine convicted child sex offenders still in their order; one is currently in prison.
The order intends to support these offenders as part of their religious duty called a “Gospel imperative.”
They believe keeping offenders in the order allows better monitoring and treatment, which they say protects society.
The order is near bankruptcy and proposes selling $217 million worth of property to compensate abuse survivors.
They have obtained a temporary stop (moratorium) on all current and future civil abuse claims.
The head of the order in Oceania, Brother Gerard John Brady, met with Vatican representatives seeking financial help, but received no support.
The order recognizes that supporting offenders may be seen as prioritizing them over victims but states it aims not to compromise victim protection or justice.
Around 176 brothers remain in the Oceania order, mostly in Australia, with several more accused of abuse but not convicted.
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A 15-year-old boy named Darweish Mohamed was found stabbed outside a hospital in Mickleham, Australia, and died at the scene despite CPR efforts. Police charged two people with murder and other crimes, and the community is raising funds to help the family with funeral costs.
Key Facts
Darweish Mohamed was found with serious stab wounds outside Craigieburn community hospital on Wednesday evening.
A clinic staff member performed CPR, but Darweish died at the scene.
Police arrested a 16-year-old boy charged with murder and a 20-year-old man charged with criminal damage by fire.
Authorities are investigating whether a burned-out car nearby is connected to the incident.
A friend started a GoFundMe campaign to raise money for Darweish’s funeral expenses.
The campaign raised over $37,000 out of a $60,000 goal by Friday morning.
The education department said it will support local schools affected by the boy’s death.
Additional arrests included a 15-year-old girl charged with affray (fighting) and theft of a motor vehicle, and a 15-year-old boy detained for questioning.
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Chinese authorities said a 66-year-old man with mental health problems flew a small plane into Beijing’s tallest skyscraper on June 26. The man died in the crash, which injured 13 people but caused no life-threatening injuries.
Key Facts
The crash happened in Beijing’s central business district at the China Citic tower.
The man, surnamed Liu, had a private pilot’s license and lived alone.
Liu took off from Pinggu district and flew outside the allowed area before crashing.
Authorities said Liu had chronic insomnia, anxiety, and wrote about wanting to end his life.
The incident was described as endangering public safety for personal reasons.
Beijing has strict rules against drones and small planes flying over the city.
Police restricted public photos and videos after the crash and delayed official news.
Social media posts about the crash were removed or disappeared quickly.
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Iran is preparing a large funeral for its Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed in airstrikes by the US and Israel at the start of the Middle East war. Millions are expected to attend in Tehran over three days, after which talks between Iran and the United States are set to resume.
Key Facts
Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed in US-Israeli airstrikes during the first day of the war.
His funeral will be held over three days at the Grand Mosalla religious complex in Tehran.
Officials expect 15 to 20 million people to attend the funeral, making it possibly the largest state funeral in Iran’s history.
Foreign dignitaries from Pakistan, China, Afghanistan, and nearby countries will attend the ceremony.
Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, a mediator in US-Iran talks, will participate in the funeral.
Iran issued warnings to the US and Israel against any attacks during the funeral period.
The funeral is taking place amid a fragile ceasefire and a preliminary peace deal between Iran and the US.
Iran’s parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf called for a large turnout as a sign of national retaliation for Khamenei’s death.
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Iran’s military warned ships that use unapproved routes in the Strait of Hormuz they will face a strong response. The Strait of Hormuz is a key passage for global oil trade, and tensions there affect regional security and shipping. Talks between the US and Iran are ongoing but the situation remains fragile.
Key Facts
Iran’s military issued a warning against ships crossing the Strait of Hormuz outside approved routes.
The warning promised an immediate and forceful response to ships not following Iran’s navigation rules.
The Strait of Hormuz handles about one-fifth of global oil and gas trade.
The warning came after US-led talks in Bahrain about keeping trade free and safe in the region.
Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister said that regional security depends on US withdrawal, not US military presence.
At least 49 attacks on commercial ships in the strait have been recorded since late February, mostly blamed on Iran.
Traffic through the strait has increased since a June 17 agreement between the US and Iran but remains below normal levels.
Oil prices stayed steady despite improvements in talks and some increase in shipping movements.
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