Global Express | July 10, 2026 US-Iran Ceasefire Collapses, Middle East Conflict Reignites

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📰 US-Iran Ceasefire Collapses: Third Day of US Strikes, Iran Retaliates Against US Bases

President Donald Trump declared the US-Iran ceasefire "over" as American forces launched a third consecutive day of large-scale strikes against Iranian targets. US Central Command (CENTCOM) said the latest round hit over 90 Iranian military targets, aimed at degrading Iran's ability to threaten shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. Iran's health ministry reported 14 people killed since Tuesday.

In retaliation, Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps targeted US military bases in Kuwait and Bahrain with missiles, marking some of the fiercest exchanges since the conflict erupted in spring. Jordan confirmed intercepting missiles launched from Iranian territory, as regional tensions reached a new peak.

With the peace process suspended for less than three weeks now facing total collapse, analysts warn that an expanded conflict could drag the entire Middle East into a wider war.

— CNN

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📰 Iran's Supreme Leader Khamenei Buried as Conflict Deepens

The funeral of Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei took place amid national mourning as US airstrikes continued. Khamenei's death has compounded Iran's political uncertainty at a critical juncture, with his successor facing the daunting challenge of managing an escalating military confrontation with the United States.

Tens of thousands of Iranians took to the streets for mourning ceremonies, with state media broadcasting the funeral proceedings. Khamenei's more than three-decade rule made him the central figure of Iran's theocratic system, and his passing is seen as one of the most significant political turning points since the Islamic Republic's founding.

Iran's interim leadership vowed in its memorial statement to continue resisting "foreign aggression," but the international community remains focused on the direction of decision-making during the power transition, especially as nuclear and Strait of Hormuz tensions persist.

— Al Jazeera

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📰 Strait of Hormuz Traffic Plunges, Global Energy Supply Chain Under Threat

Shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, the world's most critical energy chokepoint, has plummeted as US-Iran fighting resumes. Lloyd's List Intelligence reported that no large vessels have crossed the strait via the US-coordinated "Southern Highway" while broadcasting their location since Tuesday, with traceable crossings "effectively grinding to a halt."

Only five vessels were tracked crossing the strait on Wednesday, compared with 45 on Monday. Before the war began in late February, roughly 130 vessels transited the waterway daily. UK Maritime Trade Operations said current traffic levels reflect the severe threat to shipping safety.

Despite the disruption, Brent crude held steady around $76 per barrel on Friday, though it has gained approximately 6% this week. Analysts warn that if the strait remains closed, roughly 20% of global daily oil and gas supplies could be at risk, potentially pushing prices significantly higher.

— Al Jazeera

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📰 Southern Spain Wildfire: At Least 11 Dead, 19 Missing

A fast-moving wildfire in Spain's Almería province has killed at least 11 people with 19 others unaccounted for, making it one of the country's deadliest fires on record. The blaze spread rapidly amid extreme temperatures exceeding 40°C (104°F), as Spain endures its second heatwave of the summer.

Spanish authorities deployed 150 firefighters and 220 soldiers from the military emergency unit to battle the flames. At least four British tourists are believed to be among the dead — rescue workers discovered a burnt-out vehicle with the steering wheel on the right-hand side containing four bodies.

Andalusia's regional government initially reported 12 deaths but revised the toll to 11 on Friday morning. Six others have been injured, and search operations remain ongoing.

— Al Jazeera

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📰 China Achieves Historic Reusable Rocket Breakthrough with Long March 10B

China successfully recovered the first stage of its Long March 10B rocket on a sea-based platform using a net-capture system on Friday, marking the country's first controlled orbital-class booster recovery. China becomes only the second nation after the United States to achieve this technological milestone.

The Long March 10B is a two-stage rocket standing approximately 63 meters (207 feet) tall, burning kerosene and liquid oxygen propellants. Its reusable configuration can deliver payloads of up to 16 tonnes to low Earth orbit. The rocket launched from the Wenchang Spacecraft Launch Site on Hainan Island, with the first stage successfully landing on a recovery platform in the South China Sea minutes later.

The breakthrough holds profound significance for China's commercial space sector. SpaceX revolutionized the industry with its partially reusable Falcon 9 rocket, dramatically lowering launch costs. China's achievement is expected to accelerate its satellite internet constellation projects and narrow the gap with US space technology.

— Space.com

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📰 Ukraine Launches Massive 376-Drone Attack on Russia; Oil Refinery Ablaze

Russia's Defense Ministry reported on Friday that its air defense systems intercepted and destroyed 376 Ukrainian drones overnight across 12 regions and occupied Crimea — one of the largest drone assaults since the conflict began. The drones were intercepted over Belgorod, Bryansk, Kursk, Rostov, and other territories.

The strikes set the Ilsky oil refinery ablaze in Krasnodar Krai and hit oil depots and port facilities in the Rostov region. Ukraine claimed its drones traveled over 500 kilometers (310 miles) to strike strategic targets deep inside Russian territory, demonstrating growing long-range strike capability.

Ukraine has intensified attacks on Russian energy infrastructure in recent weeks, aiming to undermine Moscow's ability to finance the war. Meanwhile, Russia continues its ground offensive in eastern Ukraine, with fierce fighting ongoing in the Donetsk region.

— The Moscow Times

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📰 Apollo Global Management Acquires easyJet in £5.7 Billion Deal

US private equity giant Apollo Global Management has agreed to acquire British budget airline easyJet in a £5.7 billion deal at 715 pence per share, gatecrashing a rival bid by Castlelake. The surprise takeover opens a new chapter in European aviation consolidation.

easyJet is one of Europe's largest low-cost carriers, operating over 300 routes. The acquisition comes as the global airline industry fully recovers from the pandemic but faces headwinds from rising oil prices and geopolitical uncertainty. The FTSE 100 edged up 0.3% following the announcement.

Apollo said it will retain easyJet's brand and operating model while planning investments to expand the fleet. Analysts view the deal as a vote of confidence in European aviation's long-term growth prospects, though unions have raised concerns about job security.

— The Guardian

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📰 France Wildfires Rage: Thousands Evacuated as Europe Records Hottest June Ever

Wildfires raging across southern France's Pyrenees region have forced the evacuation of thousands of residents from 26 towns. Hundreds of firefighters have been battling the blazes for days, with firefighting aircraft dropping retardant, though hot and dry conditions continue to hamper containment efforts.

The fires follow Europe's warmest June on record. France's meteorological agency has warned that climate change is making extreme weather events more frequent and severe. Canada and California are also facing elevated wildfire risks, with California bracing for its first monsoon thunderstorms of the season this weekend.

French President Emmanuel Macron called the fires "another wake-up call on the climate emergency" and pledged additional resources to strengthen cross-border firefighting cooperation at the European level. The EU has activated its Civil Protection Mechanism, with multiple member states sending reinforcements to France.

— ABC News

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📰 NATO Summit in Ankara Concludes: Defense Spending and Ukraine Support in Focus

NATO leaders gathered in Ankara, Turkey, for the alliance's 36th summit on July 7-8 — the second time Turkey has hosted the event since the 2004 Istanbul summit. US President Donald Trump held bilateral talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, while member states committed billions of dollars in new arms procurement agreements.

Trump again demanded European allies raise defense spending above 5% of GDP, drawing pushback from several member states. America's shrinking role in European defense emerged as a central theme, with multiple European nations pledging to increase their defense budgets.

The summit also addressed the Iran situation and the Strait of Hormuz crisis and their potential impact on alliance security. Despite policy differences among members, leaders reaffirmed the collective defense principle that "an attack on one is an attack on all."

— Al Jazeera

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📰 Venezuela Twin Earthquakes: Death Toll Surpasses 3,800, UN Appeals for $300 Million

The death toll from the twin earthquakes that struck Venezuela on June 24 has risen to 3,889, with the United Nations launching an urgent appeal on July 8 for nearly $300 million in relief funding. The quakes devastated Venezuela's northern coastal region, causing widespread building collapses and severe infrastructure damage.

Relief efforts face immense challenges — Venezuela's prolonged economic crisis has left medical supplies and rescue equipment critically scarce, while damaged roads have cut off many remote villages from outside aid. The UN warns that with the rainy season arriving, affected areas face serious risks of disease outbreaks.

The International Red Cross, Médecins Sans Frontières, and other organizations are conducting emergency operations on the ground. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs has called on the international community to "give generously and immediately," stressing the need for long-term reconstruction support beyond just emergency assistance.

— RFI

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