Breaking News Live Updates: PM Modi in Trinidad, Trump’s Domestic Victory, Strikes in Ukraine & Gaza and More

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed concerns over the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, condemning the recent attacks and loss of lives. He further reiterated his call for an immediate permanent ceasefire along with the ‘unconditional and immediate’ release of all hostages. ‘The Secretary-General reiterates that all parties must uphold their obligations under international law. He renews his call for an immediate permanent ceasefire and for the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages’, the statement said.

Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump on July 1, stated that Israel has agreed to a 60-day ceasefire upon agreement of necessary conditions. Trump also urged Hamas to agree to the deal, while warning for consequences in case of rejection. 

American president Donald Trump announced to organise a UFC fight on the grounds of the White House as a part of ‘America 250’ celebrations. The match is likely to take place on the lawn of White House. No official statement was released by the National Park Service, which manages the White House grounds and the UFC.

Meanwhile, President Trump was seen enjoying a UFC match in Newark in June of this year and is known to be a close friend of UFC CEO Dana White. 

Dutch Defence Minister, Ruben Brekelmans, has accused Russia of using banned chemical weapon, chloropicrin in the war against Ukraine at a large scale. The attacks involved dropping a choking agent from drones to drive soldiers out of trenches to shot them, reported Reuters in an exclusive interview with the defence minister and chief of military intelligence. Brekelmans stated, ‘Russia’s use of chemical weapons in this war is becoming more normalized, standardized, and widespread.’

Meanwhile, Russia’s defence ministry has denied these claims. 

Iran announced Friday that it has reopened much of its airspace, nearly three weeks after shutting it down amid escalating tensions with Israel, according to state media. The closure, which began on June 13, had disrupted both domestic and international air travel.

“The Mehrabad and Imam Khomeini airports, along with airports in the north, east, west, and south of the country, have been put back into operation and are ready to provide flight services,” the official IRNA news agency reported.

Authorities confirmed that flights will now operate from nearly all airports in the country between 5 a.m. and 6 p.m., with the exception of Isfahan and Tabriz airports. These two hubs will resume operations once their infrastructure is fully restored, IRNA added.

The move to reopen the skies comes as regional tensions have eased slightly following a ceasefire between Iran and Israel that took effect last month.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said that India is actively working on creating a comprehensive database of the Girmitiya community, documenting the villages and cities in India from which their ancestors migrated, identifying the places where they have settled, studying and preserving the legacy of the Girmitiya ancestors, and working to organise World Girmitiya Conferences regularly.

While addressing Indian community members in Port of Spain on Thursday, PM Modi noted that the move will also support India’s “deep and historic ties” with people in Trinidad and Tobago. He recalled the participation of Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar in Pravasi Bharatiya Diwas.

Pilot Shubhanshu Shukla, part of the Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4) crew, has completed one week aboard the International Space Station (ISS), according to a blog post from Axiom Space. Marking the milestone on Wednesday, Shukla and his fellow crewmates took a well-earned break from their packed research duties, spending the day recharging and speaking with family back home on Earth.

The Ax-4 crew—Commander Peggy Whitson, Pilot Shubhanshu Shukla, and Mission Specialists Slawosz “Suave” Uznanski-Wisniewski and Tibor Kapu—docked with the ISS on June 26. By Wednesday evening, they had completed approximately 113 orbits around Earth, covering a staggering 2.9 million miles—nearly 12 times the distance between Earth and the Moon.

While Wednesday was a rest day, the team is set to jump right back into their tight schedule on Thursday, continuing with a variety of scientific experiments and technology demonstrations scheduled through the weekend.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Trinidad for a historic visit, the first by an Indian PM in 26 years. Greeted with full honours, PM Modi shared, “This visit will further cement bilateral ties between our nations.”

The Ministry of External Affairs, meanwhile, noted the deep cultural roots shared by both countries, with nearly half of Trinidad and Tobago’s population tracing ancestry to Indian states like Bihar and Uttar Pradesh.

US President Donald Trump took the stage in Iowa late Thursday after Congress passed the “big, beautiful” domestic tax policy bill. He framed it as a major win, reportedly saying, There could be no better birthday present for America than the phenomenal victory we achieved just hours ago”

Trump praised the bill’s border funding and tax cuts and slammed Democrats for unanimously opposing it, saying, “Not one Democrat voted for us… I think we use it in the campaign… I hate them too, you know?”

Overnight Russian missile and drone attacks hit more than a dozen areas in Kyiv, injuring eight and damaging residential buildings, reports say. The strikes were reported hours after US President Donald Trump admitted, “No progress” was made in his call with President Vladimir Putin regarding a ceasefire deal.

Explosions and sirens rocked the city center in what Ukraine described as one of the heaviest strikes in recent weeks.

In Gaza, 94 Palestinians were reported killed in Israeli attacks, including 45 who were trying to access humanitarian aid, according to The Associated Press. A tent camp was hit overnight, killing multiple children and entire families, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry.

As he approaches his 90th birthday this Sunday, the Dalai Lama has made a major announcement on his succession. In a video message to religious leaders in Dharamshala, he affirmed, “I am affirming that the institution of the Dalai Lama will continue.”

He declared that his office alone will determine the next Dalai Lama, directly challenging China’s claim that it holds authority over his reincarnation. The Tibetan spiritual leader, in exile since 1959, called this a crucial step in protecting Tibetan religious freedom.