Mass grief at funeral projects hardline grip on post-war Iran

TEHRAN: Tens of thousands of Iranians thronged a vast outdoor prayer complex in Tehran on Saturday to view the coffins of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the supreme leader killed at the start of the US-Israeli war on Iran, and his family.Dressed in black and draped in the red, white and green flags of the Islamic Republic of Iran, mourners held up portraits of Khamenei and his son and successor, Mojtaba.In a show of public devotion to the Islamic Republic's theocratic state and revolutionary zeal, Iran is staging a week of mass funeral processions for the supreme leader killed in February by the opening airstrikes of the war.After a day lying in state indoors for senior Iranian leaders and foreign officials to visit, Khamenei's coffin was put on display under glass outdoors, along with those of his daughter, son-in-law, daughter-in-law and 14-month-old granddaughter. There has still been no public sighting or image released of Mojtaba, the new leader, said to have been injured in th..

Continue Reading

Russia says it has taken five villages in Ukraine

MOSCOW: Russia's defence ministry said on Saturday that its forces have taken four villages in Ukraine's eastern Kharkiv region, and one more in the neighbouring Donetsk region.In its daily briefing, the ministry said Russian forces had taken control of Shyikivka, Novyi Myr, Cherneshchyna and Druzhelyubivka in Kharkiv region, as well as Vasylivka in Donetsk region.Reuters could not verify the battlefield reports.Rejecting Russian claims that Kostiantynivka has been captured, President Zelensky and the General Staff said on Saturday that Ukraine still controls the strategically important eastern city.Russia's military told President Vladimir Putin on Friday that its forces had taken control of Kostiantynivka, a target that Moscow has long sought in its advance through the Donetsk region.”Of course, that is not true. It is just another Russian lie, an attempt to generate some kind of a news story,” Zelensky said on X. “If Kostiantynivka were under Russian control, then per..

Continue Reading

Asean monitors: ‘simply theatre’ in Thai-Cambodian narrative war?

Asean military observers have now visited both sides of the Thai-Cambodian frontier, measuring damage and recording claims as Bangkok and Phnom Penh continue to trade allegations of ceasefire breaches following last year’s deadly clashes.
In late June, a delegation from member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations fanned out across Thailand and Cambodia, escorted through contested ground and competing narratives.
The fighting last year resulted in more than 100 military and…

Continue Reading

Evacuation ordered as storms gather in Washington before Trump’s July 4 speech

An evacuation was ordered on Saturday evening at the National Mall as storms gathered around Washington just hours before US President Donald Trump was scheduled to deliver a speech commemorating America’s 250th anniversary of independence.
Those on the Mall were encouraged to go to federal buildings nearby or Smithsonian museums.
“Freedom 250 will share updates on programming and doors reopening,” Freedom 250 spokeswoman Danielle Alvarez said in a statement.
Plans for fireworks were still…

Continue Reading

Nmplol responds after leaked Discord messages with Malena Tudi surface online

Image/X Private Discord messages between Twitch streamer Nick “Nmplol” and his former wife, Malena Tudi, have gone viral after YouTuber Henry Resilient shared screenshots on X. The posts quickly spread across social media, with many people discussing the argument shown in the messages. The screenshots appear to show a disagreement over control, gaslighting, and money. Soon after they were shared, Nmplol responded publicly, saying the screenshots do not tell the full story. Malena Tudi has not made any public statement about the leaked messages at the time of writing.Nmplol responds after leaked Discord messages with Malena Tudi go viralThe screenshots were posted by Henry Resilient along with the images, he said that Nmplol's divorce with Malena Tudi was “worse than he thought” and added that he would discuss the situation in an upcoming YouTube video.The leaked messages are from a private Discord conversation dated May 29, 2024. In the chat, Malena tells Nick that he is always tr..

Continue Reading

Blueface breaks silence on Jaidyn Alexis and Bravo allegations before suddenly ending emotional livestream on camera

Blueface (Image Via Getty) Rapper Blueface abruptly ended a livestream after reacting to online claims involving his former partner Jaidyn Alexis and his former manager, Bravo. The moment, first shared by the X account @FearedBuck, showed Blueface looking through posts on his phone before making a few emotional comments. He laughed at times, but his reaction suggested he was struggling with what he had just seen. The livestream ended only moments later, adding another chapter to the pair’s long-running public relationship drama.Blueface reacts to claims about Jaidyn Alexis and says “That’s not my b**** no more”During the livestream, Blueface appeared to be reading comments and posts about Jaidyn Alexis. One message on his screen claimed he could not sue because the alleged incident happened while he was in jail. Laughing through the moment, he repeated the idea before saying, “That’s not my b**** no more.”His expression changed several times as he continued scrolling. Although he smile..

Continue Reading

Is super-ageing Singapore headed for population decline?

Five years into her marriage to a finance executive, Clare* is still doing the sums on leaving behind a life unencumbered by the high price of parenthood.
At 31, the Singaporean doctor instead finds herself wondering if she will feel different about their “dink” (dual income, no kids) lifestyle in another three years.
“The thought of having kids also feels more like an obligation just to complete the nuclear family,” she said. “I see so many more disadvantages about having children, rather than…

Continue Reading

Massive Russian bomb attack kills at least 4 in Ukraine’s Sumy

A massive Russian ⁠glide bomb strike on the centre of the northern Ukrainian city of Sumy killed at least four people, including a child, on Friday and injured 27, Regional Governor Oleh Hryhorov said.
Other areas in Sumy region and in southeastern Ukraine, closer to ‌the front lines, also came under Russian attack, killing a total of six people.
“At the epicentre of the strike – a high-rise apartment building, a shop and a street,” Hryhorov wrote on Telegram of the strike in Sumy. “There were a…

Continue Reading

Taylor Swift, Travis Kelce already secretly married ahead of Madison Square Garden bash: Report

Celebrated American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce have reportedly tied the knot in a private ceremony ahead of their star-studded celebration at New York's Madison Square Garden, according to a report by the New York Post, citing multiple unnamed sources.The report claimed the pop superstar and the Kansas City Chiefs tight end, both 36, are already legally married after exchanging vows in an intimate ceremony attended by a small group of family members and close friends. A larger celebration for more than 1,000 guests is reportedly scheduled for Friday at Madison Square Garden, following a rehearsal dinner on Thursday.”They are already married,” one source quoted by the New York Post said, while another music industry source based in Nashville claimed the couple had already completed the legal formalities.The report noted that New York State wedding licenses are sealed. It added that security sources at Manhattan's City Clerk's Office told the publicati..

Continue Reading

Is Kai Cenat set to stream Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s wedding? Truth behind the Madison Square Garden rumor

Is Kai Cenat set to stream Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s wedding? Truth behind the Madison Square Garden rumor (Image via Getty) Rumors about Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s reported wedding have taken over social media ahead of the July 4 weekend. One of the biggest claims suggested that popular streamer Kai Cenat would live-stream the couple’s wedding from Madison Square Garden on July 3. However, there is no evidence to support that claim. The rumor came from an X account called “Daily Noud,” which openly describes itself as a parody page and states that it posts fake stories. At the same time, details surrounding Swift and Kelce’s wedding remain largely unconfirmed, leading to a flood of speculation, conspiracy theories and viral posts online. Kai Cenat live-stream rumor about Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s wedding The claim began circulating after an X post alleged: “Kai Cenat will be live streaming Taylor Swift & Travis Kelce’s wedding on July 3rd at Madison Square Garden.”But..

Continue Reading