Khamenei funeral reaches Qom before Mashhad burial
Funeral ceremonies for Iran’s late supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei moved into the holy city of Qom on Tuesday, July 7, as mourners gathered for another major stage of the official farewell. The funeral route has been planned across several religiously significant locations, beginning in Tehran and moving through Qom before expected ceremonies in Najaf and Karbala in Iraq, followed by burial in Mashhad on July 9. The route reflects both state symbolism and Shia re
Modi New Zealand visit puts trade ties in focus
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s upcoming New Zealand visit is being seen as an important step in strengthening India New Zealand relations after a long gap in high-level outreach. The visit is expected to focus on trade, defence, education, technology, tourism, sports and people-to-people ties. It also comes after New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon’s India visit, which gave both sides fresh momentum to expand cooperation beyond traditional diplomatic exchang
Trump praises Nicki Minaj at White House event
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 asks NATO for stronger air defence
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.
2,000-year-old Brahmi ring found at Thailand burial site
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
UN pushes global AI rules over safety risks
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
Pastor Jin Mingri reaches US after China detention
Pastor Jin Mingri, also known as Ezra Jin, has reached the United States after spending months in detention in China, bringing relief to his family and supporters of Zion Church. The pastor arrived in Los Angeles on July 4, where he reunited with his daughter, Grace Jin Drexel, and met his infant grandson for the first time. His release has drawn attention because Jin had become one of the most visible figures in China’s independent Christian community.
Sri Lanka prison unrest in Negombo leaves 19 dead
Sri Lanka prison unrest in Negombo has drawn national attention after violent clashes inside the overcrowded jail reportedly left 19 people dead and more than 50 injured. The unrest began on Sunday after tensions between inmate groups escalated into a wider security crisis, forcing prison officers and police units to intervene. Authorities are now investigating what triggered the violence, how it spread so quickly and whether long-running problems inside the prison contr
Pakistan school crisis keeps millions away from classrooms
Pakistan’s school crisis continues to raise serious concern as millions of children remain outside classrooms despite the country declaring a National Education Emergency two years ago. Estimates suggest that around 25.1 million to 26 million children are still out of school, showing that the challenge is not limited to policy announcements. The larger problem lies in weak implementation, poor funding, lack of local accountability and gaps between provincial planning a
Mother charged after four-year-old boy found dead in Wyong
A serious child death investigation is underway in New South Wales after a four-year-old boy was found dead inside a home in Wyong on the Central Coast. Police said the boy’s 32-year-old mother has been charged with murder following a series of events that began when she attended Wyong Police Station on Saturday afternoon. According to police, the woman arrived at the station at about 4.30 pm and allegedly made comments that led officers
Iran thanks India after leaders attend Khamenei funeral
Iran has thanked India after an official Indian delegation attended the funeral ceremonies of former Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in Tehran. The Iranian Embassy in India described the visit as a gesture of friendship, respect and solidarity during a period of national mourning in Iran. India was represented by Minister of State for External Affairs Pabitra Margherita and Bihar Governor Lt Gen Syed Ata Hasnain, who travelled to Tehran as part of New Delhi’s officia
Strait of Hormuz tensions rise after renewed ship attacks
Tensions around the Strait of Hormuz have increased again after a mix of political remarks and renewed security incidents in the Gulf region. The strategic waterway, which carries a significant share of global oil shipments, has once again become a focal point as diplomatic relations between the United States and Iran remain unstable. Recent political commentary from US circles, including remarks linked to Hunter Biden on social media, has add
UK apologises for forced adoptions scandal affecting 185,000 families
UK issues formal apology over forced adoption practices The United Kingdom has issued a formal apology over historic forced adoption practices that affected an estimated 185,000 babies born to unmarried mothers in England and Wales between 1949 and 1976. Prime Minister Keir Starmer described the policy and its consequences as “a stain on our history”, acknowledgi
India Japan unveil 16 point roadmap to expand strategic partnership
India Japan expand strategic partnership framework India and Japan have announced a 16-point roadmap aimed at significantly expanding their Special Strategic and Global Partnership, marking a shift toward deeper cooperation in economic security, advanced technology and energy resilience. The initiative was unveiled following the 16th India-Japan Annual Summit held in
CSIS reports over 2 million casualties in Russia Ukraine war
Conflict reaches historic casualty levels A new analysis by the Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) estimates that combined military casualties in the Russia-Ukraine war have surpassed 2 million since the conflict began in February 2022. The study describes the war as the most intense military confrontation in Europe since the Second World War, with R
Nearby super-Earth GJ 3378b raises hopes for habitability
A nearby world strengthens the search for habitability Astronomers have identified a promising super-Earth, GJ 3378b, located just 25 light-years from Earth, placing it among the closest potentially habitable exoplanets discovered to date. Its proximity offers rare opportunities for future atmospheric study, making it a key target in the ongoing search for environments
Venezuela earthquake survivor rescued after eight days trapped
Survivor pulled alive after eight days under rubble Rescue teams in Venezuela have pulled a man alive from the rubble of a collapsed nine-story structure in La Guaira, eight days after a series of powerful earthquakes devastated large parts of the country. The survivor’s rescue has been described by emergency officials as a rare moment of hope amid widespread destructio
Iran rejects CENTCOM role after Bahrain security summit
Iran challenges US CENTCOM role in West Asia security framework Iran has criticised the role of the United States Central Command in West Asia after a regional security conference in Bahrain brought together senior military officials from 12 countries to discuss air defence cooperation and maritime security. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said peace in the region
