The Aspen Acres fire in southern Colorado has grown to over 85,000 acres overnight, threatening communities and disrupting Fourth of July celebrations as firefighters struggle to contain the blaze.
On July 4, Pope Leo XIV urged Americans to welcome, protect, and assist immigrants, linking the nation’s independence ideals with humanitarian compassion and moral duty.
A recent funeral in Iran displayed public unity among leaders, but analysts warn that deep ideological and strategic divisions persist beneath the surface, influencing future policy.
Pope Francis—who is American-born—marked July 4 with a message urging the United States to show “compassion and generosity” toward migrants, in a letter timed to the holiday and focused on welcoming and protecting people seeking safety.
Dutch Prime Minister Rob Jetten confirmed the Netherlands will host a special tribunal to prosecute Russia’s leadership for the crime of aggression, after talks with President Volodymyr Zelensky. The tribunal is meant to address what existing courts can’t rule on: the specific crime of initiating an illegal war.
Iran has begun a multi-day state funeral procession for Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, with ceremonies moving from Tehran to Qom and then to Iraq’s Najaf and Karbala, before burial in Mashhad. The event is expected to draw tens of millions of mourners and involves major security arrangements.
PowerOutage data says more than 842,000 homes are without electricity across the Midwest and Northeast amid severe weather and extreme heat. Several Independence Day events have been canceled or delayed.
An analysis by The Guardian of Elon Musk’s X activity between May 31 and June 12 found he posted about UK race and immigration twice as often as he posted about SpaceX ahead of the company’s IPO.
German newspaper Die Welt reports that Iranian authorities prepared contingency plans for Ali Khamenei’s week-long funeral ceremonies, citing a classified letter projecting between 1,500 and 3,000 possible deaths, alongside preparations including handling of fatalities and expanded burial sites in Tehran.
A superyacht believed to be linked to Vladimir Putin is sailing to Murmansk escorted by Russian warships, after concerns that Ukrainian long-range drones could strike targets far from the front lines.
A report says Hamas executed a Palestinian man in Gaza accused of collaborating with Israeli intelligence. Hamas-affiliated “Resistance Security” reportedly said the man’s actions led to the deaths of multiple Palestinians, and claimed he provided information connected to an assassination earlier this year.
Malian armed forces say insurgents carried out attacks early Saturday in five locations, including northern towns with government and Russian fighters, and a central city south of Bamako. The army said soldiers repelled the assaults and reported casualties among “terrorists.”
Russian President Vladimir Putin sent a telegram to US President Donald Trump congratulating the United States on its 250th anniversary of independence, calling on Moscow and Washington—especially as nuclear powers—to help ensure global security and stability.
An Albanian human-rights watchdog warned that police used disproportionate force during protests over a planned luxury resort linked to US President Donald Trump’s family, saying isolated violence by some demonstrators cannot justify escalation by officers.
Australian authorities are investigating an online death threat targeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi ahead of his Melbourne visit. Police are examining the origin of the social media post and security agencies are reviewing whether any criminal offence was committed, local media reports.
Pakistan’s Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) says it has uncovered an international human-placenta smuggling syndicate, allegedly buying placenta from hospitals, processing and drying it, and shipping it abroad for use in anti-aging injections. A raid in Islamabad reportedly uncovered large quantities of dried placenta, and the FIA also intercepted a shipment at the airport bound for Vietnam.
Gujarat’s Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) arrested eight people alleged to be linked to Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) for trying to set up an “active” terror network. The crackdown took place across multiple districts in Gujarat and also included arrests in Madhya Pradesh, with cases registered under UAPA and other relevant provisions.
A five-star hotel in Co Wicklow has cancelled bookings for an August conference linked to billionaire investor Peter Thiel. The planned “Dialog” retreat at the Powerscourt Hotel resort and spa—reportedly set to include senior NATO and Trump administration officials—was called off after weeks of controversy and protests.
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskiy denied that Russian forces have captured the eastern city of Kostiantynivka, after Russia’s defense ministry said it had taken the town. The dispute highlights the ongoing contest over positions in Ukraine’s east.
Ukraine’s military intelligence agency says it destroyed a Russian MiG-29 fighter jet and struck an Irtysh radar system during a long-range drone operation in Russian-occupied Crimea, hitting targets at the Kacha air base and near Simferopol. The strikes were reportedly carried out by the Prymary (“Ghosts”) unit.
Poland’s government faced criticism after allegations surfaced that Patriot air-defense missiles were secretly transferred to Ukraine, raising questions in the country about authorization, oversight, and whether Warsaw’s commitments were communicated transparently. Polish officials denied any plan to redeploy Patriot systems outside Poland, while also declining to provide detailed comment on specific transfers.
Chinese authorities said the pilot who crashed a small plane into Beijing’s CITIC Tower had “chronic insomnia and anxiety,” and that the attack was driven by “personal reasons.” The crash killed the pilot and injured 13 others.
Exiled Iranian crown prince Reza Pahlavi said Iranians are not mourning Ali Khamenei, but instead mourning and seeking justice for protesters killed under his rule. His remarks came as foreign representatives gathered in Tehran for Khamenei’s week-long funeral and Iranian officials vowed “revenge.”
Ukraine carried out a major overnight drone attack on Russia’s St Petersburg and the surrounding region, hitting the city’s oil terminal, Russian and Ukrainian officials said. The attack is part of Kyiv’s expanding strikes on Russian energy infrastructure amid reports of fuel shortages.