Global Express | July 3, 2026 Russia Launches Largest-Ever Aerial Assault on Kyiv, at Least 30 Killed

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📰 Russia Unleashes Largest-Ever Drone and Missile Barrage on Kyiv, Killing at Least 30

Russian forces launched the largest combined aerial assault on Ukraine's capital since the war began early Thursday, firing nearly 600 drones and missiles. Ukrainian officials reported at least 30 people killed and more than 90 injured, with Kyiv's mayor describing it as "the most massive attack on the capital."

Rescue workers continue to search through the rubble of multiple buildings, including a nine-story residential block that partially collapsed after being struck. At least three people remain buried beneath the debris. President Zelenskyy condemned the attack as an "act of terror" and urgently appealed for additional international air defense support.

Russia's Defense Ministry described the operation as a "retaliatory strike" for previous Ukrainian attacks on Russian territory. Analysts note that as the conflict enters its fourth year, the intensity of deep-strike operations on both sides continues to escalate, with ceasefire prospects remaining dim.

— BBC News

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📰 Khamenei Funeral Begins in Tehran, Over 20 Million Expected to Attend

The body of Iran's former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei arrived at Tehran's Grand Mosalla on Friday, launching six days of state funeral ceremonies. Khamenei was killed alongside family members in US-Israeli airstrikes on February 28, and the funeral had been postponed for months due to the ongoing war.

Iranian state media reported that more than 20 million people are expected to flood into Tehran for the funeral, with foreign dignitaries already arriving. On the eve of the ceremony, a powerful general of Iran's Revolutionary Guard who had been in hiding made a public appearance, drawing international attention.

Notably, Khamenei's son and current Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei will not attend his father's funeral due to Israeli threats, prompting a stern warning from Iran's Foreign Minister to the United States. The funeral takes place as Pakistan-brokered peace talks continue between Washington and Tehran.

— Associated Press

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📰 WMO Confirms El Niño Has Officially Returned, Warns of Intensifying Extreme Weather

The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) confirmed on Friday that El Niño conditions have officially set in and are forecast to strengthen rapidly between July and September 2026. Scientists warn this could become one of the most intense El Niño events ever recorded.

The return of El Niño significantly increases the likelihood of extreme weather events globally, including heatwaves, droughts, and heavy rainfall. UN Secretary-General António Guterres emphasized at London Climate Week that humanity has just lived through the eleven hottest years ever recorded.

The US Northeast is already experiencing a dangerous heatwave ahead of Independence Day, with millions facing temperatures exceeding 38°C. Multiple countries across Asia and Africa have also issued heat and drought warnings, posing severe challenges to global agricultural production.

— Al Jazeera

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📰 Miracle Rescue in Venezuela: Man Pulled Alive From Rubble Eight Days After Earthquakes

Eight days after twin devastating earthquakes struck Venezuela, rescuers pulled 43-year-old security guard Hernán Alberto Gil Flores alive from the rubble of a collapsed nine-story building. International rescue teams described the operation as "truly a miracle."

Gil survived 192 hours trapped beneath the debris, relying on limited drinking water and extraordinary willpower. As he was carried out on a stretcher, the scene erupted in cheers and applause. Rescue workers said the moment they found the survivor was "the most emotional moment of the entire operation."

The twin earthquakes that struck Venezuela last month have claimed thousands of lives, with tens of thousands still unaccounted for. International rescue teams continue to race against time searching for possible survivors, though hope fades with each passing day.

— CNN

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📰 Vatican Excommunicates Traditionalist SSPX Group, Declares Schism

The Vatican declared on Thursday that the Society of Saint Pius X (SSPX) is in schism and excommunicated the entire group after it consecrated four new bishops in Switzerland without the consent of Pope Leo XIV. The move marks the most severe rupture within the Catholic Church in decades.

The SSPX is an ultra-conservative Catholic sect with approximately 600,000 followers worldwide. The group has long been at odds with the Holy See over liturgical reforms, interfaith dialogue, and other doctrinal issues. The Vatican statement said the unauthorized consecrations "constitute a manifest act of schism."

Pope Leo XIV had directly warned the SSPX not to proceed with the episcopal consecrations, but the group went ahead with the ceremony in Écône, Switzerland on July 1. Analysts say the excommunication signals that a decades-long internal Church division has reached an irreconcilable breaking point.

— BBC News

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📰 US-Iran Peace Talks Paused for Khamenei Funeral as Trump and Mediators Report Progress

Indirect peace talks between the United States and Iran have been temporarily suspended for the Khamenei funeral. Mediators Qatar and Pakistan said on Tuesday that "positive progress was made" during negotiations in Doha regarding the ceasefire memorandum and a broader peace framework.

Former US diplomat Gordon Gray noted that the mere fact both sides engaged in indirect talks was "a step in the right direction," indicating that both Washington and Tehran want the ceasefire to continue. Key gaps regarding prisoner releases and Iran's nuclear program have reportedly narrowed.

Pakistan announced on June 12 that the US-Iran peace agreement text had been "agreed," though several technical details still need resolution. Analysts caution that despite the positive diplomatic momentum, the regional situation remains highly volatile, and any unexpected incident could derail the fragile peace process.

— CBS News

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📰 UN Warns Ebola Outbreak Could Cost Africa $3.6 Billion

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) released a new assessment warning that the ongoing Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda could cost African economies up to $3.6 billion. The DRC alone could lose more than $1 billion in economic output.

The outbreak's impact extends far beyond public health. The UNDP estimates it could push approximately 985,000 more people into poverty, eliminate 55,000 jobs, and trigger up to 2,520 excess infant deaths as healthcare resources are diverted. The UN is urgently appealing for international funding and medical assistance.

This is one of the most severe Ebola outbreaks Africa has faced in recent years, with multiple neighboring countries on high alert. Health experts warn that without rapid containment, the economic and humanitarian consequences could persist for years.

— The Hindu

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📰 Dangerous Heatwave Scorches US Northeast Ahead of Fourth of July

A dangerous heatwave is sweeping across the US Northeast just ahead of Independence Day celebrations. Major cities including New York, Boston, and Philadelphia are under multi-day extreme heat warnings, with temperatures expected to remain at 38°C (100°F) or above for several days.

Meteorologists warn that the combination of extreme heat and high humidity will create "dangerous and potentially deadly" outdoor conditions. Cooling centers have been opened across multiple states, and residents are advised to avoid outdoor activities during the hottest parts of the day. Fourth of July fireworks displays are also under safety review.

The heatwave coincides almost exactly with the WMO's confirmation of El Niño's return. Climate scientists note that global warming is making extreme heat events more frequent and longer-lasting, with urban areas facing particularly severe "heat island" effects.

— BBC News

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📰 Getty Images Scraps $3.7 Billion Shutterstock Merger After UK Regulator Blocks Deal

Getty Images has terminated its $3.7 billion merger with rival Shutterstock after the UK's Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) imposed unacceptable conditions on the deal. Though US regulators had already cleared the combination, British antitrust scrutiny ultimately killed the merger.

The CMA demanded that Getty sell off its news photo archive business as a condition for approval. Getty's board voted unanimously to terminate the merger, choosing to absorb a $628 million debt shock and a $40 million breakup fee rather than divest core assets.

The decision underscores the growing influence of UK regulators in global technology mergers. Adobe's acquisition of Figma similarly collapsed under European regulatory pressure. With the Getty-Shutterstock merger dead, the two companies will continue to operate independently in an increasingly competitive visual content market.

— Engadget

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📰 Chip Stocks Sell Off Sharply After Record $2 Trillion Q2 Rally

Global semiconductor stocks suffered a sharp sell-off at the start of the third quarter following a record-breaking Q2 rally. Micron surged more than 240%, Intel jumped 216%, and AMD rose 186% during the second quarter, with the three companies adding roughly $2 trillion in combined market capitalization.

However, market sentiment turned abruptly on Wednesday. AI and semiconductor shares hit a major air pocket, with the Roundhill Memory ETF plunging nearly 15% over two days. Micron fell 4% on Thursday, tracking toward a weekly decline of more than 12%. South Korea's Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix shares tumbled more than 9% in sympathy.

Analysts warn that surging Wall Street profit forecasts may be creating an "earnings bubble." While AI-driven chip demand fundamentals remain strong, investors are beginning to question whether current valuations have already priced in future growth well ahead of reality.

— CNBC