Ali Khamenei, killed in US-Israeli strikes on February 28, was buried at the Imam Reza shrine in Mashhad on July 9 after six days of public mourning. Huge processions moved through Tehran before the final rites, with renewed US attacks intensifying anti-American and anti-Israel chants. His son and successor, Mojtaba Khamenei, did not appear publicly during the ceremonies, prompting questions about his injuries, security and how Iran's leadership transition will unfold.

On July 8, Graham Platner suspended his campaign as Maine's Democratic US Senate nominee after former partner Jenny Racicot publicly accused him of sexual assault. Platner denied the allegation as false but said the political consequences made continuing untenable. Endorsements and party support fell away, and Maine Democrats began organizing a nominating convention to choose a replacement by July 27 for the race against Republican Senator Susan Collins.

From July 8 to 10, US forces struck dozens of Iranian targets after President Donald Trump declared the interim ceasefire over, including military sites and railway infrastructure. Iran answered with missiles and drones aimed at US bases in Bahrain, Kuwait and Qatar, while Jordan also reported attacks. Iran's health ministry said one wave killed 14 people and injured 78; the figures and damage claims remained attributed as fighting continued around the Strait of Hormuz.

Belgium eliminated the United States 4–1 at Seattle Stadium on July 6 to reach a World Cup quarter-final against Spain. Charles De Ketelaere scored twice; Malik Tillman briefly equalized for the US before Hans Vanaken and Romelu Lukaku completed the win. The buildup was dominated by FIFA's decision to let Folarin Balogun play after President Donald Trump said he had asked FIFA president Gianni Infantino to review the striker's suspension.

Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce married at Madison Square Garden in New York on July 3. Actor Adam Sandler officiated, Stevie Nicks performed, and guests included prominent figures from music, sport and film. Swift and Kelce wore Christian Dior Haute Couture created under designer Jonathan Anderson, while strict security and limited phone access kept most ceremony details private.

Argentina beat World Cup debutants Cape Verde 3–2 after extra time at Miami Stadium on July 3, advancing from the round of 32. Cape Verde twice came from behind, including Sidny Cabral's extra-time equalizer, after Lionel Messi scored his 20th World Cup goal. Six minutes into the second period of extra time, a Messi corner led to a decisive own goal off Diney Borges, sending Argentina into the last 16 against Egypt.

Morocco beat co-host Canada 3–0 in Houston on July 4 to reach a second consecutive World Cup quarter-final. Azzedine Ounahi scored in the 50th and 82nd minutes, first finishing a rehearsed move created by Achraf Hakimi. Soufiane Rahimi added the third in stoppage time. Canada controlled much of the first half but could not beat Yassine Bounou, ending the country's best World Cup run.

Super Typhoon Bavi reached Category 5 strength near the Northern Mariana Islands on July 5, with peak sustained winds around 180 mph as it passed close to Rota and threatened Guam. The storm then moved west toward the Philippines, Taiwan and southeastern China. By July 10, landslides in the Philippines had killed at least 15 people, while Taiwan evacuated more than 17,000 residents and closed schools and businesses ahead of flooding and destructive winds.

On July 6, China launched a long-range ballistic missile with a dummy warhead from a nuclear-powered submarine into designated international waters in the South Pacific. Beijing called the 12:01 p.m. launch routine annual training and said it targeted no country. Australia said it received advance notice but called the test destabilising, while Japan, New Zealand and the United States raised concerns about China's expanding military reach and lack of transparency.

President Donald Trump delivered a late-night July 4 address on the National Mall after severe weather forced an evacuation and delayed the America 250 celebration. He praised the country's “unmatched achievement,” promised a new “golden age,” emphasized US military power and described communism as a “mortal threat.” The campaign-style speech capped the United States' 250th-anniversary observance after extreme heat and storms disrupted the planned programme.

Welsh singer Bonnie Tyler died on July 8 at age 75 in a hospital in Portugal, her family announced the following day. She had been treated for an illness after emergency intestinal surgery in Faro in May. Tyler was best known for her husky voice and 1980s hits “Total Eclipse of the Heart” and “Holding Out for a Hero”; musicians and fans paid tribute after her death.

On July 6, Cuba's electrical grid collapsed nationwide for the third time in six months, leaving much of the island without power. Authorities began a gradual restoration the next day while investigating the immediate trigger. The outage deepened an energy crisis driven by scarce fuel and an ageing grid: President Miguel Díaz-Canel blamed the US fuel blockade, while other coverage also emphasized longstanding domestic infrastructure failures.

Two improvised explosive devices detonated near the Four Seasons Hotel in Damascus on July 7 during French President Emmanuel Macron's visit, wounding at least 18 people in the initial official count. Macron was meeting Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa at the presidential palace and was unharmed; his visit continued. The blasts struck one of the capital's most protected diplomatic areas, and responsibility and motive had not been established in the retained reporting.

NATO leaders met in Ankara on July 7 and 8 amid disputes over defence spending, support for Ukraine and the United States' role in the alliance. The summit ended with allies reaffirming collective defence under Article 5 and continuing support for Ukraine. President Donald Trump renewed US backing for Article 5 but also criticized allies' spending, threatened troop withdrawals and pressed them over Iran, leaving burden-sharing tensions visible despite the declaration of unity.

Russia launched waves of missiles and drones at Kyiv and the surrounding region early on July 6, the eve of the NATO summit. The attack killed 19 people across the region, including 13 in the capital, and injured 56 in Kyiv while heavily damaging apartment blocks and other buildings. Ukrainian officials said every ballistic missile reached its target, highlighting shortages of Patriot interceptors as President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called for stronger decisions from NATO leaders.

On July 7, a Paris appeals court upheld Marine Le Pen's conviction for misusing European Parliament funds but reduced her election ban to 15 months, allowing her to run for president in 2027. The court imposed a three-year prison term, with two years suspended and one to be served at home under electronic monitoring. Le Pen announced her candidacy and appealed to France's highest court, suspending the penalties while that court reviews the case.

Two earthquakes of magnitude 7.2 and 7.5 struck north-central Venezuela 39 seconds apart on June 24, devastating Caracas and coastal communities around La Guaira. By July 6, authorities reported more than 3,500 deaths; tens of thousands remained unaccounted for as rescue teams began withdrawing. Thousands of survivors were left without stable shelter, clean water or sanitation, while families searched rubble themselves and pressed officials for clearer information about the missing.

A fast-moving wildfire near Los Gallardos in Almería, Andalusia, killed at least 12 people by July 10 and prompted a major containment operation and evacuations. Temperatures above 40°C and strong winds helped the fire spread and complicated firefighting across southern Spain. Roads were closed as crews searched affected areas and protected nearby communities. Authorities had not established the cause, and the casualty count remained provisional in the retained reporting.