Global Express | July 5, 2026 Ukraine Strikes Deep into Russia, Khamenei Funeral Draws Millions

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📰 Ukraine Drone Strike Hits Major Oil Terminal in Russia's St Petersburg

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed that Ukrainian drones successfully struck a major oil terminal in St Petersburg overnight on July 4, while also hitting the Russian Baltic Fleet's naval base in Kronstadt. Zelensky described the targets as "infrastructure that generates revenue for Russia's war." The attack, launched from approximately 850 kilometers away, represents one of Ukraine's deepest strikes into Russian territory against critical energy infrastructure.

St Petersburg Governor Aleksandr Beglov acknowledged the oil terminal was hit but claimed there were no casualties, stating that 72 Ukrainian drones were shot down over the city and the wider Leningrad region. Ukraine's military described the terminal as "one of the largest" in Russia, with an annual capacity of 12.5 million tonnes of petroleum products. Ukraine says nearly 43% of Russia's oil refining capacity has been "disabled" as a result of sustained attacks.

The strike came as Russian President Vladimir Putin made a rare admission that Ukrainian attacks have caused domestic fuel shortages. Zelensky stated there is a "real prospect" of ending the conflict, revealing that US President Donald Trump "offered help" during a call with Putin. Ukraine's military separately denied Russian claims of full control over the key Donbas city of Kostyantynivka.

— BBC News

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📰 Massive Crowds Gather in Tehran for Ayatollah Khamenei's Funeral

Large crowds of black-clad mourners gathered outside Tehran's Grand Mosalla on Saturday for the first day of funeral ceremonies for Iran's former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. His body will lie in state for three days before traveling to Qom, Najaf in Iraq, and Karbala, culminating in burial at the Imam Reza Shrine in his hometown of Mashhad next Thursday. Iranian authorities expect 15 to 20 million people to attend ceremonies across Iran and Iraq.

Khamenei was killed during joint US and Israeli strikes in late February, which spiraled into a wider regional conflict. On Saturday morning, masses of regime supporters reportedly chanted slogans against the US and called for revenge. "Everyone here has come to avenge the blood of their supreme leader," one mourner told Reuters. "Our relations with the United States will never be good."

President Trump said on Friday that Iran's government was "dying to settle" a peace deal, adding: "We gave them a week off for a funeral because we're nice." Khamenei has been succeeded by his son Mojtaba, who has not been seen in public since assuming the role, prompting speculation about his health.

— BBC News

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📰 US Marks 250th Birthday with Fireworks, Flyovers, and Extreme Weather

The United States celebrated its 250th birthday on July 4 with fireworks displays, flyovers, and concerts across the nation. President Donald Trump told a cheering crowd at Washington's National Mall that "the American dream is back," before what he described as the world's largest fireworks display. His speech touched on political themes including the rejection of communism, his backing of the Save America Act, and the right to bear arms.

Celebrations in Washington DC were delayed by a thunderstorm that forced the evacuation of the National Mall. Festivities resumed once the storm passed, featuring a flyover with the new Air Force One and a concert, with the grand fireworks finale concluding around 1 AM local time. Trump faced criticism for politicizing the milestone by launching Freedom 250, a privately funded events committee competing with the bipartisan America 250 commission established by Congress.

Communities across the country took part in "America's Block Party" gatherings. Approximately 400 members of the white nationalist group Patriot Front were seen marching through Washington DC streets. Celebrations nationwide were complicated by scorching heat and extreme weather conditions.

— BBC News

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📰 Super Typhoon Bavi Bears Down on Guam and Northern Mariana Islands

Super Typhoon Bavi is hurtling toward the US Pacific territories with sustained winds of 257 km/h (160 mph) and is forecast to make landfall early Monday morning. The US National Weather Service warned the "very dangerous" storm could cause "catastrophic" damage, with waves potentially reaching nearly 11 meters (35 feet) high and significant flooding from torrential rains. Guam has opened five evacuation centers in schools, with a combined capacity of approximately 1,700 people.

Bavi has been classified as a super typhoon by the Joint Typhoon Warning Center, with winds predicted to reach 278 km/h (173 mph) at landfall and gusts as high as 333 km/h (207 mph). This is the second super typhoon to threaten the region in just four months—Super Typhoon Sinlaku in April knocked out power for tens of thousands, uprooted trees, overturned cars, and left five crew members of an overturned cargo ship missing, presumed dead.

Scientists note that climate change is making powerful typhoons more common, with a strong El Niño event expected to push more tropical storms to higher intensities. "Two super typhoons in two months, in the same year, is a historic event—never before seen for the Marianas at least," said one local resort manager. The roughly 200,000 residents across the islands have been queuing at gas stations and stocking up on supplies.

— BBC News

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📰 Chinese Underground Church Leader Jin Mingri Freed After Trump Intervention

Jin Mingri, founder of China's underground Zion Church, has been released from prison and traveled to the United States, less than two months after his incarceration was directly raised by Donald Trump during the US president's state visit to Beijing in May. Jin had been detained following overnight raids across China in October 2025, described by Christian groups as one of the strictest crackdowns on religious activity in the country's modern history.

Jin's family thanked supporters in a statement, saying: "We truly witnessed a miracle and we are feeling so overwhelmed with joy." They thanked both the Trump administration "for their tremendous leadership" and acknowledged that "this could not have happened without the direct intervention from President Xi Jinping." US-based rights group ChinaAid confirmed Jin had arrived in Los Angeles, while noting that "countless" religious practitioners, including eight from the Zion Church, remain incarcerated.

The Zion Church began in 2007 with just 20 people and grew into one of China's largest unregistered churches, with a network of approximately 10,000 members across 40 cities. It was officially banned by the Chinese Communist Party in 2018 after resisting government pressure to install surveillance cameras. Christian groups continue to advocate for the release of remaining detained church leaders.

— BBC News

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📰 France and Morocco Advance to World Cup Quarterfinals

The 2026 FIFA World Cup knockout stage delivered dramatic action on July 4, with defending champions France defeating a feisty Paraguay side 1-0 in Philadelphia. After being frustrated for more than an hour, France finally broke through when Kylian Mbappé drilled home a penalty in the 70th minute, sending Les Bleus into the quarterfinals as the first team to qualify for the round.

In Houston, Morocco delivered a commanding 3-0 victory over co-host Canada, securing their second consecutive World Cup quarterfinal appearance. Second-half goals overwhelmed the Canadian defense, cementing Morocco's status as one of international football's rising powers. The match results followed a series of thrilling Round of 16 encounters, including Argentina's narrow 3-2 win over Cape Verde and Brazil's 2-1 victory over Japan.

The knockout bracket continues to intensify, with England having defeated DR Congo 2-1 and the USMNT advancing past Bosnia and Herzegovina 2-0. The World Cup final is set for July 19 in Seattle, where ticket prices have soared to nearly $4,000.

— ESPN

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📰 India Stands Firm on Indus Waters Treaty Suspension Amid Pakistan Tensions

India's Ministry of External Affairs has reaffirmed that the Indus Waters Treaty will remain in abeyance until Pakistan "credibly and irrevocably" ends its support for cross-border terrorism. The statement came in response to Pakistan hosting an international seminar challenging India's suspension of the treaty as illegal. India suspended the treaty in 2025 as one of several punitive measures following the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack that claimed 26 civilian lives.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has repeatedly stated that "blood and water cannot flow together." In the aftermath of the Pahalgam attack, India launched Operation Sindoor, striking terrorist infrastructure inside Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, closed the Attari border, and suspended the water-sharing treaty. The 2025 India-Pakistan conflict led to a significant diplomatic crisis and border skirmishes.

India's Home Ministry has also designated 23 Pakistan-based operatives linked to Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed as terrorists under the UAPA, further signaling New Delhi's determination to combat cross-border terrorism. Despite international calls for de-escalation, India-Pakistan relations remain at their lowest point in years.

— India Today

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📰 Weak US Jobs Data Reinforces Expectations for Fed Rate Pause

US non-farm payrolls grew by only 57,000 in June, far below market expectations, significantly reducing pressure on the Federal Reserve to raise interest rates in the near term. According to the CME FedWatch Tool as of July 4, there is a 75.6% probability that the Fed will maintain its current rate of 3.50%-3.75% at the upcoming meeting. The probability of a July rate hike has fallen below 20%.

Analysts note that the cooling labor market, combined with easing oil prices, provides the Fed with more room to remain on hold. At the June FOMC meeting, nine of 19 policymakers projected a potential rate hike by late 2026, but the latest jobs data has shifted market expectations considerably. In financial markets, Bitcoin ETFs saw $221.72 million in inflows on July 2, snapping a 10-day, $2.7 billion outflow streak following the weak jobs report.

Economic uncertainty caused by the Iran conflict, oil price fluctuations, and slowing employment growth are collectively shaping the Fed's decision-making environment. The IMF expects global economic growth of 3.1% in 2026, slightly lower than 3.4% last year. Asian economies, particularly Singapore, are showing relative strength amid the AI boom, with the Monetary Authority of Singapore maintaining its policy stance at its July review.

— CNBC

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📰 Quantum Breakthrough: Magnons Become Viable Quantum Information Carriers

Scientists have achieved a major breakthrough in quantum technology by transforming magnons—tiny magnetic waves once considered too short-lived for practical use—into promising carriers of quantum information. Researchers extended magnon lifetimes by nearly 100 times, reaching up to 18 microseconds, and discovered that the primary limitation is not a law of physics but rather the purity of the material itself.

Published in scientific journals and reported by ScienceDaily, the research suggests that with improved material preparation techniques, magnons could become key building blocks for quantum computers "the size of a penny." Unlike conventional quantum bit carriers, magnons can propagate through magnetic materials without generating heat, offering a potential solution to the cooling bottlenecks that currently constrain quantum computing systems.

The global quantum computing race continues to accelerate. In parallel developments, scientists are studying how marine cloud brightening geoengineering could affect El Niño cycles, and researchers have demonstrated the ability to make quantum time flow backward—a stunning physics breakthrough. These advances signal that quantum technology is approaching a critical inflection point from laboratory research to practical applications.

— ScienceDaily

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📰 JWST Discovers Record-Breaking Barred Spiral Galaxy in Early Universe

An international team of astronomers has reported the discovery of a new massive barred spiral galaxy, designated M1149-BSG-z5, using the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST). Detected at a redshift of z=5.1—the highest redshift for any known barred spiral galaxy—this galaxy existed just 1.2 billion years after the Big Bang, challenging existing theoretical models about the timeline of galaxy structure formation.

Barred spiral galaxies feature a central bar-shaped structure, and our own Milky Way is such a galaxy. Previous theories held that complex bar structures like those in the Milky Way required significantly longer cosmic evolution time to form. The discovery of M1149-BSG-z5 suggests that galaxy structures may have emerged far earlier than previously thought, with profound implications for galaxy evolution theory.

Since its launch in late 2021, JWST has continuously reshaped humanity's understanding of the early universe. Beyond this discovery, the telescope has detected never-before-seen substances on Pluto and Titan. Meanwhile, satellite observations have confirmed that China's "Great Green Wall" reforestation project is growing faster than natural forests, highlighting the intersection of space technology and environmental monitoring.

— Phys.org

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