President Donald Trump’s mention of Nicki Minaj at a White House event has turned into a major online talking point, shifting public attention from a policy-focused gathering to a viral celebrity-politics moment. The event, held in the Rose Garden, was organized to promote Trump Accounts, a child-focused savings initiative connected to the administration’s economic agenda. Minaj’s presence at the White House immediately attracted att

Ukraine’s demand for stronger air defence is set to dominate President Volodymyr Zelensky’s message at the NATO summit in Ankara. His appeal comes after another wave of Russian missile and drone attacks hit Kyiv, causing civilian deaths and renewed concern over gaps in Ukraine’s protection system. Kyiv says the country urgently needs more Patriot missile systems, additional interceptor missiles and faster military assistance from Western allies.

A new archaeological discovery in Thailand has drawn attention to the country’s early links with ancient India. Two gold rings believed to be around 2,000 years old were found at the Don Yai Thong excavation site in Phetchaburi province, along with human skeletal remains and other burial objects. The find is being studied as an important clue to trade, culture and social life during Thailand’s Iron Age. One of the rings carries an insc

Microsoft begins new round of job cuts Microsoft has announced another round of layoffs, cutting nearly 4,800 jobs worldwide, or about 2.1 percent of its global workforce, as the company continues to restructure parts of its business. The latest Microsoft layoffs include a significant impact on the Xbox division, where about 1,600 employees have already been affected

Singapore leads luxury spending list again Singapore has retained its position as the world’s most expensive city for luxury spending for the fourth consecutive year, according to the 2026 Lifestyle Index released by Swiss wealth manager Julius Baer Group Ltd. The city-state held the top rank as prices for major luxury categories, including residential property, car

Macron’s Damascus trip marks diplomatic turning point French President Emmanuel Macron arrived in Damascus on Monday, July 6, becoming the first Western head of state to visit Syria since the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s government in December 2024. His two-day trip marks a significant diplomatic moment as Syria seeks to rebuild international ties after years of isola

US raises alarm over China missile launch The United States has sharply criticised China after Beijing conducted a rare intercontinental ballistic missile test over the Pacific Ocean, saying the launch reflects growing concern over China’s expanding and opaque nuclear programme. The missile, which carried a dummy warhead, was fired on Monday, July 6, in what Beijing

Pakistan military raises Indus water issue Pakistan’s top military leadership has said it will take “all measures necessary” to secure the country’s water share under the Indus Waters Treaty, months after India placed the decades-old pact in abeyance following the April 22, 2025, Pahalgam terror attack. The statement was issued after the 276th Corps Commanders’ Conference in Rawalpindi, chaired by

Trump presses Iran on nuclear deal US President Donald Trump has warned that Iran must reach an agreement with Washington that he says would “complete the mission,” while insisting the United States would prevail regardless of whether diplomacy succeeds. Speaking as US-Iran talks continue, Trump said he preferred a negotiated outcome and did not want to harm Iran’s population. At the same time, he warn

Chants target Pezeshkian at funeral Hardline supporters of Iran’s Islamic Republic chanted against President Masoud Pezeshkian during the funeral procession for late Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei in Tehran on Monday, highlighting internal divisions over diplomacy with the United States. Videos shared on social media appeared to show mourners shouting “death to compromiser” as Pezeshkian attended the cere

Washington air quality drops after fireworks Washington briefly became the world’s most polluted major city after a large Independence Day fireworks display linked to the Freedom 250 celebrations, according to air quality monitoring platform IQAir. The spike came after the July 4 event sent heavy smoke and fine particles into the air over the US capital, turning a patriotic celebration into a public health

World Cup quarterfinals are taking shape, with France, Morocco, Norway and England confirmed in the last eight as the knockout stage moves closer to the semifinals. The confirmed World Cup quarterfinals include France vs. Morocco and Norway vs. England, while four remaining last-16 matchups will decide the other two places in the bracket. World Cup quarterfinals: France vs. Morocco confirmed France will face Morocco in one of the first confirme

A Bucyrus Ohio train derailment prompted evacuations late Sunday, July 5, 2026, after officials warned of a possible chemical leak from a tanker car. The Norfolk Southern derailment happened around 8:40 p.m. EDT near Whetstone Street and Auto Avenue in Bucyrus, a city in Crawford County, Ohio, according to local officials cited by WSYX. Nineteen train cars came off the tracks, including at least one tanker carrying hydrochloric acid. Bucyrus Ohio derailment leads

Columbus gas prices dropped sharply last week, giving central Ohio drivers some relief after one of the most expensive Fourth of July holiday weekends on record. According to GasBuddy’s survey of 500 stations in and around Columbus, Ohio, the average price of gasoline fell 19.1 cents per gallon last week to $3.61 per gallon. The reported Sunday average was 51 cents lower than one month earlier, but still 73 cents higher than the same time one year ago. Columbus

Belgium is challenging FIFA’s decision to clear U.S. forward Folarin Balogun for the United States’ World Cup match against Belgium, escalating a disciplinary dispute before a knockout game with a quarterfinal place at stake. FIFA suspended Balogun’s one-match ban after he received a red card in the United States’ previous World Cup match against Bosnia and Herzegovina, allowing him to play against Belgium on Monday, July 6, 2026, in Seattle. Reuters reported that FIFA cited

Gaurav Srivastava CIA claims are at the center of civil lawsuits in US courts tied to failed Indonesia defense deal efforts. The complaints, filed by former business partner Niels Troost, accuse Indian-born, US-based businessman Gaurav Srivastava of fraud, extortion and misrepresentation. The lawsuits allege that Srivastava made recorded remarks claiming he worked for the CIA. Srivastava denies posing as a CIA operative. Alleged CIA Claims and Indonesia Defense Ac

flyadeal has entered the Indian aviation market with a new Riyadh-Hyderabad route, marking the Saudia Group low-cost carrier’s first service to India. The inaugural flight landed at Rajiv Gandhi International Airport in Hyderabad, according to GMR Hyderabad International Airport Ltd. GMR said in a Monday statement that the first flight from Riyadh landed on July 4. The source text did not specify the year for that date. fl

Losing a bag while traveling can be stressful. But when the bag contains a passport, EAD card, driver’s license, visa documents, bank cards and other IDs, the situation can quickly become serious. For students, workers, visitors and immigrants in the United States, the first few hours are important. The affected person should create an official record, protect their identity, arrange safe domestic travel and begin the replacement process for

Ayodhya, July 6, 2026: The Ram Mandir Trust meeting began inside the temple complex on Monday to discuss the resignations of former general secretary Champat Rai and former trustee Anil Mishra amid the ongoing SIT probe into alleged donation irregularities. The meeting comes at a crucial moment for the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, as trustees review the donation-box accounting controversy, the preliminary fin

The United Nations has called for stronger global rules on artificial intelligence as concern grows over the speed at which AI systems are entering public life, business, education and security. UN Secretary-General António Guterres said governments cannot afford to wait until powerful AI tools create deeper social, political or military risks before agreeing on clear safeguards. Speaking ahead of the Global Dialogue on AI Governance in G