**Summary:** The World Health Organization (WHO) has launched a clinical trial for two Ebola treatments in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and granted emergency approval to the first molecular diagnostic test for the Bundibugyo virus.

**Key points:**
- The clinical trial involves partnerships with the National Institute for Biomedical Research, the Institute of Tropical Medicine in Belgium, and the University of Oxford.
- The outbreak has resulted in over 1,400 confirmed cases and 438 deaths in the Democratic Republic of the Congo since May 2026.
- Laboratory testing capacity in affected provinces has increased to a network of 10 facilities capable of performing over 2,000 tests per day.
- The newly approved diagnostic test identifies the virus's genetic material in blood samples to facilitate rapid and accurate infection confirmation.

**Why it matters:** These medical advancements are critical for managing the ongoing Ebola outbreak, which the WHO has declared a public health emergency of international concern.

allAfrica.com - Africa: WHO Adds First Diagnostic Test for Ebola Bundibugyo Virus to Its Emergency Use Listing

Eye Radio - WHO launches Ebola treatment trial in DR Congo amid ongoing outbreak

WHO Initiates Ebola Treatment Trial and Approves Diagnostic Test in DR Congo

**Summary:** Iran has begun funeral and memorial ceremonies for the late Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, who was killed in an airstrike on February 28, 2026. The events are taking place across multiple cities in Iran and Iraq.

**Key points:**
- The funeral ceremonies are scheduled from July 4 to July 9, 2026, in Tehran, Qom, Mashhad, Najaf, and Karbala.
- Officials from approximately 100 countries are expected to attend the memorial services in Tehran.
- Security concerns have been raised regarding the potential attendance of Mojtaba Khamenei, the son of the late leader, due to threats against Iranian officials.
- The Iranian government has mobilized extensive logistics, including the preparation of 2,000 schools, to accommodate pilgrims and mourners.

**Why it matters:** The death of the Supreme Leader and the subsequent transition of power represent a critical period of instability and high-stakes diplomacy for Iran amidst ongoing regional security tensions.

jordanzad.com - مجتبى خامنئي قد لا يشارك في مراسم تشييع أبيه لأسباب أمنية

yjc.ir - ورود پیکر رهبر شهید انقلاب به مصلی امام خمینی (ره)

yjc.ir - ادای احترام شخصیت‌های خارجی به آقای شهید ایران

Iran Holds Funeral Ceremonies for Late Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei

**Summary:** Guinean communes have officially installed their new mayors and executive bureaus following local elections, with the Generation for Modernity and Development (GMD) party securing significant victories across the country.

**Key points:**
- Kabinet Diawara was elected as the new mayor of Ratoma under the PPC banner, pledging a focus on inclusive and transparent governance.
- The GMD party won 12 out of 14 rural communes in Télimélé, while the FRONDEG party swept the rural commune of Sarékaly.
- The election of the executive bureau for the Kaloum commune was postponed until July 3, 2026, following delays and negotiations.
- The independent list 'Espoir de Missira pour le développement' secured victory in the mining commune of Missira.

**Why it matters:** The installation of new local leadership marks a critical step in Guinea's administrative transition, shaping the governance and development trajectory of its communes for the next five years.

guineenews.org - Télimélé : Adama Baillo sadio Diallofu FRONDEG) élu Maire

guineenews.org - Tension et attente à Kaloum : le scrutin communal renvoyé à vendredi

guineematin.com - Ratoma : « Je serai un bon maire, un maire exemplaire », promet Kabinet Diawara

Guinea Completes Local Mayoral Elections Following Official Installations

**Summary:** The French singer and actor Patrick Bruel is facing three new legal complaints for rape and sexual assault, adding to several existing cases currently under judicial investigation.

**Key points:**
- The new complaints, filed in Nanterre, involve allegations of rape and sexual assault on a minor dating back to 1992, 2000, and 2014.
- Patrick Bruel has been under formal investigation since June 2026 regarding four separate cases and holds the status of assisted witness in four others.
- Legal counsel for the artist stated he will address the accusations within the judicial framework, criticizing the surrounding media attention.
- An appeal has been filed to challenge the statute of limitations regarding a separate 2000 rape allegation in Grenoble that was previously dismissed.

**Why it matters:** The expansion of legal proceedings against a prominent public figure highlights ongoing judicial scrutiny regarding allegations of sexual violence in the French entertainment industry.

sudouest.fr - Affaire Patrick Bruel : le chanteur visé par trois nouvelles plaintes pour violences sexuelles

rtbf.be - Affaire Patrick Bruel : deux nouvelles plaintes pour viol et une pour agression sexuelle sur mineure ont été déposées à Nanterre

lalibre.be - Affaire Patrick Bruel: trois nouvelles plaintes déposées contre le chanteur pour viol et agression sexuelle sur mineure

Patrick Bruel Faces Three Additional Legal Complaints for Sexual Violence

**Summary:** Hernán Gil, a 43-year-old security guard, was rescued alive from the rubble of a collapsed building in Catia La Mar, Venezuela, eight days after two powerful earthquakes struck the region.

**Key points:**
- The rescue operation involved over 100 specialists from Venezuela, Portugal, the United States, Chile, El Salvador, and Costa Rica.
- Rescuers maintained communication with Gil through cameras and provided him with water and oxygen during the multi-day extraction.
- Official figures report 2,295 deaths and over 11,000 injuries following the magnitude 7.2 and 7.5 earthquakes on June 24.
- The survivor was protected by a security booth that created a void space, allowing him to survive until his rescue.

**Why it matters:** The rescue is considered a rare success in a disaster that has claimed thousands of lives and left tens of thousands missing, highlighting the effectiveness of international search and rescue cooperation.

faz.net - Catia la Mar: Mann acht Tage nach Erdbeben in Venezuela lebend aus den Trümmern gerettet

france24.com - Security guard rescued from building basement eight days after Venezuela earthquakes

diariocorreo.pe - Terremotos en Venezuela: Rescatan con vida a Hernán Gil tras permanecer ocho días bajo los escombros

huffpost.es - Logran rescatar con vida a Hernán, el vigilante que llevaba ocho días atrapado bajo los escombros en La Guaira (Venezuela)

lemonde.fr - Séismes au Venezuela : un homme de 43 ans sorti vivant des décombres, six jours après les séismes

Survivor rescued in Venezuela eight days after double earthquake

**Summary:** Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto and Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko met in Jakarta to sign several memorandums of understanding aimed at strengthening bilateral ties across multiple sectors.

**Key points:**
- The agreements cover cooperation in health, culture, finance, industry, science, and technology.
- President Alexander Lukashenko expressed interest in supplying fertilizer and agricultural equipment to support Indonesia's food security.
- Belarus offered to provide technical training for thousands of Indonesian workers at its manufacturing facilities.
- The meeting marked the first visit by a Belarusian president to Indonesia in 13 years.

**Why it matters:** The agreements establish a five-year roadmap for strategic cooperation, signaling a significant expansion of bilateral trade and industrial partnerships between the two nations.

antaranews.com - Belarus prioritizes food security cooperation with Indonesia

antaranews.com - Indonesia, Belarus launch broad cooperation drive with new MoUs

antaranews.com - Belarusian president views Indonesia as key Southeast Asia partner

Indonesia and Belarus Sign Multiple Cooperation Agreements

**Summary:** An 11-year-old boy driving a pickup truck crashed into a group of 34 Buddhist monks and five lay followers on a pilgrimage in Thailand's Mukdahan province, resulting in eight deaths and over 20 injuries.

**Key points:**
- The incident occurred on a rural road as the group traveled from a temple in Mukdahan to Ubon Ratchathani.
- Five victims died at the scene, while three others succumbed to their injuries after being transported to a hospital.
- Four of the 22 injured monks remain in critical condition, prompting a local appeal for blood donations.
- The driver, who reportedly has special needs, took the vehicle from his family home and drove approximately 10 kilometers before the collision.
- Police have not yet filed charges as the child remains in a state of shock and is currently unable to provide a statement.

**Why it matters:** The tragic mass-casualty event has deeply affected the local community in one of Thailand's poorest provinces, where Buddhism is central to daily life.

straitstimes.com - Eight monks killed in Thailand after 11-year-old boy crashes truck

deccanchronicle.com - 11-Year-Old Driving Pickup Kills Eight Monks During Pilgrimage in Thailand

scmp.com - 8 monks killed in Thailand after boy, 11, crashes truck into pilgrims

11-Year-Old Driver Crashes Truck into Pilgrimage, Killing Eight Monks in Thailand

**Summary:** The European Court of Justice (ECJ) has upheld a record-breaking €4.1 billion antitrust fine imposed on Google by the European Commission. The court ruled that the company engaged in illegal practices to maintain its search engine's dominance.

**Key points:**
- The ruling confirms that Google imposed illegal restrictions on Android smartphone manufacturers and mobile network operators.
- The fine was originally issued by the European Commission for anti-competitive behavior related to the Android mobile operating system.
- The decision marks a significant legal victory for EU regulators in their efforts to curb the market power of major technology firms.

**Why it matters:** This ruling reinforces the European Union's regulatory stance against anti-competitive practices by global technology giants, setting a major precedent for digital market enforcement.

newsfeed.zeit.de - Internet: EuGH bestätigt Rekord-Wettbewerbsstrafe für Google

elpais.com - El TJUE confirma la multa por más de 4.100 millones de euros a Google

faz.net - Business-Ticker: Rekord-Wettbewerbsstrafe: EuGH bestätigt Milliardenbuße für Google

European Court of Justice Confirms €4.1 Billion Antitrust Fine Against Google