Global Express | July 11, 2026 Iran's Supreme Leader Khamenei Buried in Mashhad as US-Iran Conflict Escalates Over Strait of Hormuz

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📰 Iran's Supreme Leader Khamenei Buried in Mashhad, Ending Six-Day National Mourning

After six days of funeral processions across Tehran, Qom, Najaf in Iraq, and other cities, Iran's late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was laid to rest on July 9 at the Imam Reza Shrine in the holy city of Mashhad. Millions of mourners flooded the streets, chanting anti-American slogans in an unprecedented display of national grief.

Khamenei was killed on February 28 in joint Israeli and U.S. airstrikes. His funeral was delayed by more than four months due to the ongoing conflict. Iranian state media described it as the largest state funeral in the nation's history.

The burial comes amid escalating military tensions between Iran and the United States. Iran has declared it is ready for "all-out defense" and will not surrender to Western pressure, while Washington is demanding that Tehran publicly guarantee freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz.

— Al Jazeera

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📰 US and Iran Resume Fighting as Strait of Hormuz Shipping Traffic Plunges

Shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world's most critical oil transit chokepoints, has plummeted as the United States and Iran resumed military hostilities. Vessel tracking data shows a dramatic drop in transits after Iran fired on multiple commercial ships on July 6 and 7.

The United States launched a new wave of strikes on Iranian targets in response, while Iran claimed retaliatory attacks on U.S. military assets in Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Jordan, and Iraq. The United Nations has called for an immediate cessation of hostilities, warning of severe threats to global energy markets and supply chains.

Brent crude futures held steady around $76 per barrel, with oil prices not spiking dramatically despite the escalation. Analysts note that markets are watching closely to see whether the conflict spreads to a broader regional war.

— Al Jazeera

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📰 Southern Spain Wildfire Kills at Least 12, 23 Still Missing

A fast-moving wildfire in Spain's southern Andalusia region has killed at least 12 people, with another 23 reported missing, making it one of the deadliest wildfires in the country's history. The blaze spread rapidly, fueled by strong winds and extreme temperatures.

Local officials reported that some victims were trapped in their cars while trying to escape along roads that became deadly corridors of flame. Four of the deceased are believed to be British nationals. The UK Foreign Office said it is urgently working to confirm details and is in close contact with Spanish authorities.

Spain has endured record-breaking heatwaves this summer, which climate scientists directly link to global warming. The European Union has activated its civil protection mechanism, deploying firefighting aircraft and personnel to assist Spanish emergency services.

— The Guardian

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📰 China Achieves Historic First: Rocket Lands at Sea During Orbital Launch

The China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC) successfully launched the Long March 10B rocket on July 10, delivering a satellite into orbit and achieving history's first-ever controlled sea-based recovery of a rocket's first stage during an orbital mission. This marks a major milestone in China's pursuit of reusable rocket technology to rival SpaceX.

The recovery employed a unique "sea net" method — the rocket's first stage was precisely captured in a giant net deployed on an offshore platform, a fundamentally different approach from SpaceX's propulsive vertical landing system. CASC stated that this technology will significantly reduce space launch costs.

The Long March 10B lifted off from the Wenchang Spacecraft Launch Site in Hainan Province. The rocket is designated as the primary launch vehicle for China's future crewed lunar missions, underscoring the country's accelerating space ambitions and growing role in the global space race.

— Space.com

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📰 Trump Refuses to Sign Bipartisan Housing Bill in Protest Over Stalled Voter ID Law

President Donald Trump announced on July 10 that he will not sign a sweeping bipartisan housing affordability bill, using the legislation as leverage to protest Congress's failure to pass a strict voter ID measure known as the SAVE America Act. The housing bill is considered the most significant housing reform legislation in decades.

Under U.S. law, a bill automatically becomes law after 10 working days (excluding Sundays) if the president does not sign it. Trump chose to let the housing bill become law without his signature while simultaneously pressuring Congress over the voter ID issue.

The Senate currently lacks sufficient votes to pass the voter ID legislation. Trump dismissed the housing bill as "of minor importance" on social media and canceled a White House signing ceremony, drawing widespread criticism from Democrats and housing advocacy groups.

— AP News

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📰 IMF Downgrades 2026 Global Growth Forecast to 3.0%

The International Monetary Fund, in its July 8 World Economic Outlook Update, lowered its global growth projection for 2026 from 3.5% to 3.0%. The report noted that progress in bringing down inflation has stalled, with global headline inflation projected to rise from 4.1% in 2025 to 4.7% in 2026.

The IMF identified Middle East conflict, trade tensions, and policy uncertainty in major economies as the primary drags on global growth. The outlook for energy-intensive industries is particularly dim, while prospects for emerging markets and developing economies remain mixed.

The IMF emphasized it is closely monitoring the impact of Middle East developments on the global economy, especially risks related to energy price volatility and supply chain disruptions. The report projects global inflation will ease to 3.9% in 2027 with a modest recovery in growth.

— IMF

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📰 Russian Airstrikes on Zaporizhzhia Kill 1, Injure 29

Russian forces launched multiple airstrikes on the southeastern Ukrainian city of Zaporizhzhia on July 10, hitting civilian infrastructure and killing at least one person while injuring 29 others. Ukraine's regional military administration reported that the strikes involved several guided bombs.

Ukraine's Defense Minister said Russian attacks over the past week destroyed dozens of schools, hospitals, and energy infrastructure facilities, killing 122 civilians and injuring more than 1,200. UN political affairs chief Rosemary DiCarlo stressed: "Any attacks against civilians and civilian infrastructure, wherever they occur, are a clear violation of international humanitarian law and must stop immediately."

Meanwhile, Russian authorities reported that Ukrainian attacks killed 250 Russian civilians in the first half of 2026. Both sides continue to accuse each other of targeting non-military objectives in the grinding war of attrition.

— Kyiv Independent

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📰 ASEAN Foreign Ministers to Hold Landmark Meeting with Myanmar Counterpart in Bangkok

Foreign ministers of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) will hold a rare face-to-face meeting with Myanmar's junta-appointed foreign minister in Bangkok on July 12. This marks the first direct ministerial-level engagement since Myanmar's 2021 military coup, which led to the ruling generals' exclusion from ASEAN summits.

The Philippines, as ASEAN's 2026 chair, will lead the special gathering. The talks are expected to focus on Myanmar's ongoing civil war and the country's engagement framework with the bloc. Since the coup, Myanmar's situation has steadily deteriorated, with tens of thousands killed in the conflict and millions displaced.

Thailand and Vietnam have also confirmed their participation. Analysts note that while ASEAN remains committed to its Five-Point Consensus peace plan, the protracted stalemate has prompted the bloc to seek new diplomatic breakthroughs.

— Bangkok Post

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📰 Strong El Niño Now a "Virtual Certainty," California Braces for Extreme Weather

The U.S. National Climate Prediction Center announced on July 10 that the developing El Niño has an 81% chance of becoming one of the strongest events on record. A marine heat wave already blankets California's coast and is expected to intensify through late summer and autumn.

Scientists warn that a super El Niño could trigger a cascade of extreme weather — California may face a warm, humid summer with severe flooding, while many regions globally could face drought and extreme heat. The World Weather Attribution group noted that recent extreme heat in North America would have been "virtually impossible" without human-caused climate change.

The marine heat wave off California has persisted for months and could devastate marine ecosystems, including kelp forest degradation and mass die-offs of marine species. The fishing and tourism industries are closely monitoring developments.

— Los Angeles Times

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📰 French Court Rules Le Pen Can Run for Presidency but Must Wear Electronic Tag

A Paris appeals court on July 7 upheld far-right leader Marine Le Pen's conviction for embezzlement of public funds but cleared her to run in the 2027 presidential election. The court simultaneously ordered her to wear an electronic ankle monitor for one year, restricting her hours outside her home.

Le Pen announced she will appeal to France's highest court, the Court of Cassation, which suspends the electronic tag requirement pending final judgment. She told supporters the ruling was a "political decision" and vowed to continue her political struggle. Le Pen's National Rally remains France's largest opposition party.

The case stems from allegations that Le Pen and other National Rally members misused European Parliament funds to pay party staff. The court upheld the conviction and prison sentence but removed the earlier ban on running for office, clearing a path for Le Pen's presidential ambitions.

— BBC News

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