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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Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has reached an agreement with British Columbia to build a large oil pipeline. The pipeline will carry oil from Alberta to the west coast, allowing Canada to export more oil to Asian markets and rely less on the United States.
Key Facts
The pipeline will carry about 1 million barrels of oil per day from Alberta across British Columbia to the Pacific coast.
This pipeline aims to open new export markets for Canadian oil, especially in Asia.
The project follows a route similar to the existing Trans Mountain pipeline corridor.
Alberta and the federal government are partnering with energy companies like Pembina Pipeline on the pipeline.
British Columbia has agreed to keep a tanker ban on its northern coast to protect the environment.
The province will be compensated for environmental risks from the pipeline on the southern coast.
Alberta plans to double its oil production to 8 million barrels per day in 10-15 years.
The pipeline strategy is part of Canada’s effort to reduce economic reliance on the United States amid trade tensions under President Donald Trump.
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President Donald Trump took a central role during the United States’ 250th birthday celebrations. The coverage includes discussions about his influence on the event and related interviews with experts and historians.
Key Facts
The article discusses President Trump’s involvement in the 250th anniversary of America.
There is a podcast episode focused on this topic with analysis from David Smith.
Thomas Jefferson’s sixth great-grandson was interviewed about the celebration.
Other related content includes discussions on American history and politics.
The Guardian provides different formats, like podcasts and videos, covering these events.
The content also includes references to President Trump’s financial activities in cryptocurrency.
The 250th birthday marks a significant milestone in American history.
The Guardian encourages readers to send questions and feedback about the political coverage.
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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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The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) refused to provide additional files related to Jeffrey Epstein, saying that some information was properly hidden to protect victims' privacy. A judge had ordered the DOJ to release more documents or explain why they were kept secret, but the DOJ asked for extra time or to ignore the order because of legal and privacy concerns.
Key Facts
A judge told the DOJ to release more Epstein-related files or explain why they were withheld.
The DOJ said some files contain sensitive information about victims, so they were redacted (parts were blacked out).
Associate U.S. Attorney General Stanley Woodward asked for a 60-day delay or to reject the judge’s order.
Some emails had names hidden to protect victims’ identities.
One set of notes about allegations against President Donald Trump was withheld because the claims were unproven and the notes were seen as duplicates of other reports.
The DOJ said they could not find an unredacted copy of a 2007 indictment draft.
Handwritten interview notes were especially hard to review and redact without risking exposure of personal information.
The DOJ denied breaking the law that requires releasing the Epstein files, despite the judge’s ruling.
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A BBC investigation found that Instagram was showing paid ads in India promoting child sexual abuse material, linking to Telegram channels where such content could be purchased. Instagram’s parent company Meta has removed some ads and accounts after being notified but acknowledged its systems do not catch all violations.
Key Facts
Instagram displayed ads in India using terms like "rape video" and "child video" that linked to Telegram channels selling illegal content.
These ads appeared even though Instagram’s automated system is supposed to approve ads before publication.
BBC created a fake Instagram account in India to monitor sexualized content and began seeing such ads within a week.
Meta, Instagram’s parent company, said it removed some of the ads, suspended accounts, and blocked related URLs after the BBC's report.
Telegram reported removing over 274,000 groups related to child sexual abuse material in 2026.
Some Instagram ads showed minors in sexually explicit situations and linked to Telegram channels selling the videos for as little as $1.
Instagram initially told the BBC that some reported ads did not violate their community standards before later taking action.
Both Instagram and Telegram have legal obligations to remove this content and report it to authorities, including the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC).
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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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Nicky Winmar, a former Australian Football League (AFL) player, was found guilty of assaulting a woman in northern Victoria. The court decided the woman told the truth about the attack, and Winmar was convicted of three assault charges.
Key Facts
Nicky Winmar is 60 years old and a former AFL player.
The attack happened on May 14, 2025, in Cohuna, northern Victoria.
The woman said Winmar dragged her by the hair and hit her head against a door.
Winmar admitted to slapping the woman’s arm but denied more serious violence.
The magistrate believed the woman’s account and convicted Winmar of two common law assaults and one unlawful assault.
Winmar was not convicted of intentionally causing injury, as the pain did not meet the legal standard for that charge.
Winmar has a history of fighting racism and played over 250 AFL games.
He will have a pre-sentence hearing in the future to decide his punishment.
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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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Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser, who won the Democratic primary for governor, said he would challenge Melat Kiros, a Democratic candidate for Congress, because she did not call the 2025 firebomb attack on Jewish activists in Boulder antisemitic. Kiros, a democratic socialist and former lawyer, unexpectedly defeated the current Representative Diana DeGette in the primary.
Key Facts
Phil Weiser is the Colorado Attorney General and the Democratic nominee for governor.
Melat Kiros is running for Congress as a Democrat and identifies as a democratic socialist.
Kiros defeated incumbent Representative Diana DeGette in the congressional primary.
There was a deadly firebomb attack on Jewish activists in Boulder in 2025.
Kiros did not publicly say that the attack was antisemitic.
Weiser plans to confront Kiros about her refusal to condemn the attack as antisemitic.
The issue involves concerns about antisemitism within political candidates.
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A group of Roman Catholics has chosen their own bishops without approval from Pope Leo XIV and the Vatican. This action has raised concerns about a possible split within the Catholic Church.
Key Facts
The group is part of a crisis involving the Society of Saint Pius.
They have ordained bishops independently, against Vatican rules.
Pope Leo XIV and the Vatican have not authorized these ordinations.
This situation has caused fears about division within the Church.
The article explains the background of this conflict.
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South Korea is experiencing a large increase in wealth due to the success of companies making chips used in artificial intelligence (AI). While some workers and investors are earning big bonuses and profits, many people are not benefiting, leading to discussions about how to share this wealth more fairly.
Key Facts
South Korea is a major producer of AI chips, with Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix leading the market.
These companies' profits are expected to increase nearly seven times this year.
Workers at these firms are receiving very large bonuses, sometimes thousands of percent of their monthly salary.
Stock markets in South Korea have reached record highs because of these companies.
Luxury sales and housing prices near chip factories have increased significantly.
Some ordinary investors have gained huge returns by buying shares in these companies.
Experts and politicians are debating ways to share the wealth more evenly, such as through taxes or direct payments to citizens.
The government and companies acknowledge the role of past state support in building the chip industry.
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A powerful Iranian general, Ahmad Vahidi, has come out of hiding as Tehran prepares for the multi-day funeral of the late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed in an Israeli airstrike. Vahidi is involved in Iran’s tough stance on ending the ongoing war with the United States and is connected to Khamenei’s successor, Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, who remains hidden after being wounded in the same attack.
Key Facts
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran’s Supreme Leader, died in an Israeli airstrike.
Tehran is holding a multi-day funeral for Khamenei starting Saturday.
General Ahmad Vahidi, leader in Iran’s Revolutionary Guard, emerged from hiding and attended funeral planning meetings.
Vahidi has not been publicly seen since early February, before the current Iran war began.
Vahidi is a key figure in Iran’s negotiations over ending the war with the United States.
Khamenei’s successor, Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, remains in hiding due to injuries from the February airstrikes.
Funeral ceremonies included traditional Shiite practices and symbolic flags from religious shrines.
Mourners included families of those who died in previous conflicts with Iran.
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Special Counsel Jack Smith said the U.S. Justice Department struggles to do its work because some judges do not trust prosecutors. He expressed concern about protecting the law and future elections under President Trump's administration.
Key Facts
Jack Smith is a special counsel who charged President Trump after his first term.
Smith said the Justice Department faces challenges due to judges’ distrust of prosecutors.
He warned of an “attack on the rule of law” in the U.S. under President Trump.
Smith is worried about the fairness and security of future elections.
He accused the current administration of using the Justice Department for political purposes.
Smith’s comments highlight tensions between the Justice Department and the judicial system.
His role involves investigating legal matters related to President Trump’s actions.
The situation raises questions about how the justice system functions during this presidency.
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A large wildfire called the Aspen Acres Fire is burning in southern Colorado, covering over 55,000 acres and destroying more than 180 buildings, including homes. Authorities have ordered evacuations in several areas, and the fire is not yet contained. Strong winds and dry conditions are making the fire spread faster.
Key Facts
The Aspen Acres Fire started on Monday and has burned 55,405 acres so far.
It has destroyed over 180 structures; the number of homes destroyed is not yet known.
The fire is mainly burning in Pueblo and Custer counties in southern Colorado.
It is the top firefighting priority in the United States right now.
Strong winds and no rain are causing the fire to grow quickly.
Evacuations are in place for areas including Beulah, Rye, San Isabel, and parts of Fremont County.
Local businesses, like Three Sisters Tavern & Grill, are helping evacuees and first responders with food, water, and support.
Investigators say the fire was caused by human actions but details are still being looked into.
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