World
Iran has started a six-day state funeral for Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, nearly four months after he was killed in U.S.-Israeli airstrikes on February 28. Hundreds of thousands of mourners gathered at the Grand Mosalla in Tehran, beating their chests and calling for revenge. Dignitaries from China, Russia, Pakistan and dozens of other nations attended the ceremonies. The funeral represents a major moment for Iran as it navigates post-war succession and ongoing regional tensions.
Daily8News World Desk
Politics
The United States celebrated its 250th Independence Day on July 4, with President Donald Trump headlining events at Mount Rushmore and the National Mall. The celebration was marred by a brutal heatwave that forced cancellation of the National Independence Day Parade in Washington D.C. Former presidents Bill Clinton, Barack Obama, George W. Bush and Joe Biden each issued statements. The day highlighted deep political divisions even as the nation marked the historic milestone.
Daily8News Politics Desk
Business
Trade between the European Union and the United States reached a record high in 2026 despite ongoing tariff disputes, a new study shows. Meanwhile, the effective U.S. tariff rate rose to 11.7% under the Trump administration's Section 232 and Section 122 tariffs, the highest level since 1972. The Tax Foundation estimates the tariffs will increase taxes per U.S. household by $700 in 2026. JPMorgan warned that domestic aluminum prices are adjusting sharply higher.
Daily8News Business Desk
Technology
Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg acknowledged that AI agent technology is progressing more slowly than the industry anticipated, during a recent internal briefing. The admission comes as Kioxia ships next-generation memory samples to meet AI demand, and NVIDIA prepares to deploy its Jetson AI platform in lunar orbit on a 2026 Firefly Aerospace mission. Apple has reportedly suspended development of its camera-based AI features, signaling a broader industry recalibration on AI timelines.
Daily8News Tech Desk
Science
Astronomers at the University of California, Irvine have confirmed that the nearby super-Earth GJ 3378b, located just 25 light-years away, is more Earth-like than previously believed. New analysis using the Hobby-Eberly Telescope refined the planet's mass estimate from 5.3 down to 2.3 Earth masses, making it far more likely to have a rocky composition. The planet sits firmly in the habitable zone of its red dwarf star, receiving similar starlight to Earth.
Daily8News Science Desk
Sports
The 2026 FIFA World Cup Round of 16 is in full swing with several thrilling matchups. Morocco defeated Canada 3-0 to advance, while Colombia secured its first World Cup knockout win since 2014 by topping Ghana. The United States faces Belgium on Sunday in a critical match. Other key games include Brazil vs Norway, Mexico vs England, and a Portugal vs Spain derby later this week. The tournament has been marked by upsets and intense competition across the expanded 48-team format.
Daily8News Sports Desk
Health
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has cleared the first blood test for diagnosing Alzheimer's disease, marking a turning point in dementia care. The Lumipulse G pTau217/β-Amyloid 1-42 Plasma Ratio, developed by Roche and Eli Lilly, measures tau protein fragments that signal amyloid buildup in the brain. The test achieved 97.3% negative predictive value, meaning it can reliably rule out Alzheimer's without expensive PET scans or invasive spinal taps.
Daily8News Health Desk
Environment
Europe is enduring its most severe and widespread heatwave on record, with temperatures reaching 45°C (113°F) in parts of Spain. Wildfires are raging across southern France and Spain, forcing evacuations and deployment of over 2,000 firefighters. Scientists from World Weather Attribution confirmed the heatwave would have been "virtually impossible" without climate change, finding it is now 200 times more likely than 20 years ago. The EU is mobilizing its largest-ever wildfire response force.
Daily8News Environment Desk