China and the European Union will hold trade talks once or twice a year to try to balance trade between them. The EU faces a large trade deficit with China, and both sides want to work together on areas like artificial intelligence and renewable energy.
Key Facts
China and the EU agreed to hold minister-level trade talks regularly, starting this fall.
The EU’s trade deficit with China reached about 360 billion euros ($410 billion) last year.
Chinese exports to Europe include cars and batteries, which have increased recently.
EU trade commissioner Maroš Šefčovič will visit Beijing in the fall as part of the new trade talks.
Both sides plan to work on cooperation in technology areas such as artificial intelligence and clean energy.
The EU introduced new measures to protect its steel industry and limit small parcel e-commerce from Chinese firms.
China wants to import more from the EU but asks the EU to ease export controls on Chinese high-tech products.
G7 countries aim to reduce dependence on China for critical minerals used in tech and defense industries.
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Talks between the United States and Iran have paused because of funeral events in Iran for the country's late supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who died in strikes by the U.S. and Israel. Mediators from Qatar and Pakistan said progress was made in the talks before the pause, and Iran expects millions to attend the funeral ceremonies starting July 4.
Key Facts
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran’s supreme leader, was killed in U.S.-Israeli strikes on February 28.
His funeral will take place from July 4 to July 9 and is expected to draw 15-20 million people.
Iran’s chief negotiator, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, called for a large turnout at the funeral to avenge Khamenei’s death.
Representatives from about 30 countries are expected at the funeral, including attendees from Iraq, Afghanistan, and Pakistan.
Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will attend the funeral and visit Turkey for meetings afterward.
U.S. and Iranian officials held indirect talks in Doha with Qatari and Pakistani mediators recently and reported positive progress on Iran’s denuclearization.
The exact presence of Khamenei’s son and successor, Mojtaba, at the funeral remains unknown.
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Russia launched a large missile and drone attack on Kyiv and other parts of Ukraine, killing at least 13 people and injuring more than 90. Russia said this attack was in response to recent Ukrainian strikes on Russian oil refineries.
Key Facts
At least 13 people died and over 90 were injured in the overnight attacks on Kyiv.
Russia fired 74 missiles and nearly 500 drones, including four hypersonic Tsirkon missiles, at Ukraine.
The strikes hit 30 areas in Kyiv, damaging homes, an ambulance station, a hotel, a scientific institute, and businesses.
More than 52,000 people took shelter in Kyiv's metro stations during the attacks.
Ukrainian President Zelensky warned citizens about a massive attack before it happened.
Russia claimed the attacks targeted fuel, energy sites, military facilities, and airfields in northern and central Ukraine.
Ukraine has attacked several Russian oil refineries recently to disrupt Russia’s war funding.
Ukrainian officials urged for more air defense systems and stronger Western sanctions on Russia’s economy.
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The Danish Refugee Council warns that the recent Ebola outbreak in DR Congo is making an already difficult humanitarian crisis worse. They say aid efforts must be carefully planned so that fighting Ebola does not reduce support for other community needs.
Key Facts
The Ebola outbreak in DR Congo started more than a month ago.
The Danish Refugee Council says the Ebola emergency adds pressure to humanitarian aid in the region.
There is a funding crisis affecting aid before Ebola appeared.
Redirecting resources only to Ebola response could harm overall aid programs.
Aid programs help keep communities stable during many hardships.
The Danish Refugee Council’s Secretary-General is Charlotte Slente.
Health experts warn the Ebola epidemic may last a long time.
Coordinated efforts are needed to balance Ebola response and other humanitarian aid.
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Heavy rains in Côte d’Ivoire have caused floods that killed 59 people since May. Neighboring countries in West Africa like Ghana and Nigeria are also facing severe flooding, which experts link to increased extreme weather and urban problems.
Key Facts
59 people have died in floods in Côte d’Ivoire since May.
The rainy season in the region lasts from May to July.
Ghana reported at least 13 deaths and rescued over 400 people due to floods.
Ghana’s president said recent rainfall was much higher than last year’s record.
Experts say climate change is making extreme weather events worse in Africa.
Poor waste disposal and growing cities block water drainage, worsening floods.
Floods have affected Benin, Togo, and Nigeria, with no reported deaths there yet.
Nigeria expects more rain and has already seen some power outages from flooding.
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Macdi is a popular content creator from Senegal who makes funny videos about daily life. He has more than 9 million followers on TikTok, mostly French-speaking, which helps him reach a wider audience beyond his local language.
Key Facts
Macdi is a star social media influencer from Senegal.
He creates humorous content about everyday situations.
In the past three months, he gained over 2 million new followers on TikTok.
He now has around 9 million followers on the Chinese app TikTok.
Most Senegalese creators use the Wolof language, but Macdi uses French.
Using French allows him to reach more people across different countries.
France 24’s reporter Elimane Ndao met Macdi in Dakar, Senegal’s capital.
Macdi is the most popular Senegalese influencer on TikTok.
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The article argues that a peace deal with Iran cannot happen while the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and radical religious leaders control the country. It suggests that Iran believes President Trump has become less strict toward them, but the true outcome remains uncertain.
Key Facts
Iran is under the control of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and radical clerics.
These groups hold significant power in Iran’s government.
A peace agreement with Iran is unlikely as long as these groups stay in power.
Iran may think President Trump has softened his approach toward them.
The article questions whether this belief about President Trump is correct or will be proven wrong.
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Gunmen kidnapped 37 people, including 36 students and one staff member, from a secondary school in northeastern Nigeria during national exams. The attack happened in Lassa, Borno state, where classrooms were left abandoned and a teacher was seriously injured.
Key Facts
36 students and one school staff member went missing after a gunmen attack.
The incident occurred during national examinations in northeastern Nigeria.
The school is located in Lassa, in Borno state.
Classrooms were found empty with scattered desks, bags, and exam papers.
A teacher was wounded and is in intensive care.
Parents are protesting and asking officials to help rescue the kidnapped children.
This kidnapping is part of a larger pattern of attacks on schools in northern Nigeria.
The kidnappers are described as jihadists, meaning armed extremists with a religious motive.
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British Prime Minister Keir Starmer officially apologized for the state's role in forced adoptions between 1949 and 1976, affecting about 185,000 mothers and children. The government acknowledged it failed to protect families and announced £4 million to help people access adoption records and support services.
Key Facts
Forced adoptions happened in England and Wales from 1949 to 1976 due to stigma around unmarried pregnancy.
Around 185,000 birth mothers and children were affected by these forced adoptions.
The government said it did not do enough to protect families and accepted responsibility for funding and allowing the system.
The government apologized formally, saying sorry on behalf of the British state.
£4 million will fund better access to adoption records, reconnect families, and document personal stories.
There will be more mental health support and a reference group of people with lived experience to monitor progress.
Other institutions, such as the Church of England and Catholic Church, have already apologized.
Northern Ireland is preparing a public inquiry and financial help related to mother and baby homes.
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An 11-year-old boy crashed a pickup truck into a group of monks walking on a pilgrimage in northeastern Thailand, killing eight and injuring 14. The boy had taken his parents’ vehicle without permission, and the crash is under investigation.
Key Facts
The crash happened in Mukdahan province, about 600 km northeast of Bangkok.
Thirty-five monks were walking a 260-kilometer pilgrimage to Ubon Ratchathani province.
Five monks died at the crash site, three died later in hospital, and 14 were injured.
Four injured monks are in critical condition.
Security footage shows the monks walking in a line before the truck hit them.
The boy driver is now in custody and will be questioned by child protection officers.
Police said the vehicle swerved and slid off the road before hitting the monks.
The accident highlights road safety issues in Thailand, which has a high rate of traffic accidents.
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On July 2, 2026, Algerians voted to elect their new parliament. To encourage more people to vote, the government made election day a public holiday and offered free public transport.
Key Facts
Algeria held parliamentary elections on July 2, 2026.
The government wants more people to vote than in the last election.
Only about 25% of voters participated in the previous parliamentary elections.
Election day was declared a public holiday in Algeria.
Public transport was free to make it easier for people to reach polling stations.
The election aims to shape the country’s next legislative body.
Voting turnout is a major concern for Algerian authorities.
The article focuses on the election day in Algeria and the efforts to increase voter participation.
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Russia launched a large drone and missile attack on Kyiv, the capital of Ukraine, in the early hours of Thursday. The attack caused explosions in the city, killing at least 13 people and injuring 86.
Key Facts
The attack took place at night in Kyiv.
Russia used both drones and missiles in the strike.
At least 13 people died because of the attack.
At least 86 people were injured.
Ukrainian officials reported these casualty numbers.
The attack is among the largest on Kyiv so far.
It caused visible explosions lighting up the city's sky.
The event happened on July 2, 2026.
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Kate, the Princess of Wales, visited Wimbledon tennis on July 2, 2026, marking one of her recent public appearances after her cancer went into remission. She is the patron of the All England Club and has a history of attending Wimbledon and supporting the sport.
Key Facts
Kate visited Wimbledon on day four of the tennis championships in London.
She has been the patron of the All England Club and presented trophies to champions last year.
Kate’s recent public appearances include a trip to Italy to study early childhood education.
She speaks some Italian and introduced herself as Caterina to children during her Italy visit.
Kate offered support to a runner-up player at Wimbledon last year after a tough loss.
In 2024, while recovering from cancer, she missed a women’s final but attended the men’s final.
Kate spent part of her youth in Florence during a gap year.
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The Vatican expelled priests and laypeople from the Society of St Pius X, a breakaway Catholic group, for ordaining bishops without the pope’s permission. The Vatican said this group is now in schism, meaning separated from the main church, and their religious actions are not valid according to church rules.
Key Facts
The Society of St Pius X is a Swiss-based conservative Catholic group.
They conducted ordinations (making new bishops) without approval from Pope Leo XIV.
Only the pope can approve new bishops to maintain the church’s historical continuity.
The Vatican’s Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith oversees church teachings for 1.4 billion Catholics.
The Vatican declared the group’s sacraments (like marriages and confessions) invalid and illicit.
The two leading bishops and four priests involved in the ordination ceremony were excommunicated.
Excommunication means these members are officially cut off from the Catholic Church.
The Society said they proceeded with ordinations due to “exceptional circumstances.”
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The Taal Volcano in the Philippines erupted, sending ash and steam 1,200 meters into the air. The eruption lasted nearly five minutes and caused large waves in the volcano's crater lake.
Key Facts
The eruption occurred at Taal Volcano in the Philippines.
Ash and steam rose about 1,200 meters high.
The volcanic activity lasted for almost five minutes.
The eruption triggered big waves in the lake inside the volcano's crater.
The event was captured on video.
Taal Volcano is an active volcano known for its crater lake.
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Germany’s ruling coalition led by Chancellor Friedrich Merz announced a large reform plan called the “Programme for Revival and Employment” to boost the economy. The plan includes tax cuts for lower and middle incomes, pension system changes, stricter sick leave rules, and less bureaucracy, with many measures starting in 2027.
Key Facts
The reform package includes 34 measures covering taxes, pensions, labor rules, and bureaucracy.
About €10 billion ($11.4 billion) in annual income tax cuts will benefit lower and middle-income earners starting January 1, 2027.
The highest earners will pay more to finance the tax relief through a surcharge restructuring.
Pension changes will tie retirement age to life expectancy after 2031, potentially raising it above 67 by the late 21st century.
Sick leave rules will require a doctor’s note from the first day of illness, removing the pandemic policy of telephone notes.
Labor rules will allow fixed-term contracts without cause to last up to 48 months, double the current limit.
The reform aims to reduce bureaucracy and ease challenges from high energy costs, global competition, and trade pressures.
The package needs approval from Germany’s Bundestag (lower house) and Bundesrat (upper house) before becoming law.
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A new Ebola outbreak in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo) has lasted over a month and continues to spread. There are over 1,000 confirmed cases and more than 250 deaths as health officials work to control the virus.
Key Facts
The Ebola outbreak was officially declared by Congolese authorities about one month ago.
The outbreak is located in eastern DR Congo.
More than 1,000 cases of Ebola have been confirmed so far.
Over 250 people have died due to the virus.
Health officials and authorities are actively trying to stop the spread of Ebola.
Doctors warn the epidemic may last for an extended time.
The African Centers for Disease Control say the outbreak is serious but not out of control.
Other countries like France have reported cases linked to DR Congo, such as a doctor returning from a mission there.
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The U.S. government has officially labeled Ecuador’s Chone Killers gang as a foreign terrorist organization. This designation blocks their assets in the U.S. and makes it illegal to support them, as the group is linked to violent crimes and drug trafficking connected to larger cartels.
Key Facts
The Chone Killers gang from Ecuador was designated a foreign terrorist organization by the U.S. State Department.
The gang is also listed as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist, which leads to sanctions and legal penalties for aid.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the group has attacked civilians, police, and government officials, including assassinations.
The gang works with Mexican drug cartels to smuggle and export drugs that fund terrorism and crime.
Ecuador’s government supports the U.S. decision and is working to fight criminal gangs under President Daniel Noboa.
The Chone Killers split from a larger Ecuadorian gang called Los Choneros after its leader was killed in 2020.
Ecuador is a major cocaine transit country for drugs moving from Colombia and Peru to North America and Europe.
The gang’s leaders are reportedly brothers Terry Israel Camacho ("Trompudo") and Antonio Benjamín Camacho ("Ben 10").
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The Vatican has officially excommunicated all members and priests of the ultra-conservative group Society of Saint Pius X (SSPX) after they ordained bishops without the Pope's permission. This act caused a serious split, called a schism, in the Catholic Church, which Pope Leo has been trying to prevent.
Key Facts
The SSPX is an ultra-conservative Catholic group founded in 1970 in Switzerland.
The SSPX ordained bishops without approval from Pope Leo, an act the Vatican calls schismatic.
Under Catholic law, such an act leads to automatic excommunication.
The Vatican extended excommunication to all SSPX priests and Catholics who formally support the group.
About 16,500 people attended the ordination ceremony, including members of far-right Italian political parties.
SSPX rejects major changes from the Second Vatican Council, such as celebrating Mass in local languages instead of only Latin.
The group has a large following in countries like the United States, France, and Argentina.
Pope Leo, elected in May last year, has focused on church unity and healing divisions, but this is his first major crisis involving a traditionalist split.
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The U.S. has officially labeled the Ecuadorian gang "Chone Killers" as a foreign terrorist organization. This means the gang and its members can face U.S. sanctions and criminal charges. Ecuador supports this move to help fight violent gangs linked to drug trafficking.
Key Facts
The Chone Killers gang has attacked civilians, police, and government officials in Ecuador.
The U.S. froze any assets the gang or its members have in U.S. territory.
Ecuador's government praised the U.S. designation and continues to fight gangs with U.S. support.
The Chone Killers are connected to Los Chineros, a gang already designated as a terrorist group by the U.S. in 2020.
Ecuador has become a major cocaine trafficking center with gangs linked to Mexican and Colombian drug cartels.
The U.S. and Ecuador conduct joint military operations against drug gangs and terrorist groups in the region.
President Trump supports continued action against violent gangs and drug traffickers in Latin America.
The Ecuadorian government has used curfews and the military to try to stop gang violence.
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