Monday 6th July 2026. US and Venezuela independence days. Iran Khamenei funeral. Ukraine drone strike. Germany AfD. France forest fire...

0:00 Good morning. This is send seven world news in seven minutes. I'm Ben Mallett. Today is Monday, the sixth of July twenty twenty six. Starting in the Americas, the United States celebrated the two hundred and fiftieth anniversary of its independence from the United Kingdom on Saturday, fourth of July. Celebrations took place across the country, typically involving fireworks. President Donald Trump gave a speech lasting thirty seven minutes to mark the event. He had promised beforehand to make a really long speech. Trump's speech touched on parts of US history in including the aeroplane making Wright Brothers and the rest Artemis two Moon mission. Trump also spoke out against communism and said that this is the dawn of the Golden

1:09 Age of America.

1:11 At two hundred and fifty years old, we may be the oldest constitutional republic on earth, but our country is just getting started because the best is yet to come. This is only the dawn of the Golden Age of America. And on this two hundred and fiftyth fourth of July, we declared, just as they did two and a half centuries ago, we are going to take our country to new levels, two levels not reached.

1:41 Venezuela also marked its Independence Day over the weekend. Venezuela's government declared independence from Spain in eighteen eleven. There were limited celebrations this year as Venezuela continues its rescue and recovery at following deadly earthquakes two weeks ago. The death toll for these earthquakes has reached two thousand, six hundred and forty five and is expected to rise higher Europe, Ukraine has struck an important oil terminal close to the Russian city of Saint Petersburg. Russia says that a large scale drone attack caused damage but no casualties. Ukraine's President, Vladimir Zelenski confirmed that the Visotsk port was targeted by Ukrainian drones because it is a key Russian trading point

2:42 for oil and natural gas. Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a new law on Saturday aiming to support Russia's fuel market as the country deals with oil shortages. In Germany, around fifteen one thousand people gathered to protest against the right wing AfD party. Protesters blocked roads in an effort to disrupt the AfD's annual party conference, which took place over the weekend. Recent polls suggest that the AfD has the support of around twenty nine percent of voters, although rival parties have so far refused to cooperate with the AfD.

3:30 In France, a forest fire could threaten the third stage of the Tour Defrance bicycle race. A forest fire in the southwest of France is only sixty kilometers away from the Tour Defrance finish line. The first two stages of the race have already taken place in Spain, where wildfires in the Loscovaras region have also been reported. Asia Iran is holding a public funeral for its Supreme Leader, Ayatola Ali Kameni. Three of Kameni's sons have led prayers for Kameni, although his successor, Mashtabi Kameni, has not attended the televised funeral.

4:19 Ali Kameni served as Supreme Leader of Iran from nineteen eighty nine until his death this year. He was assassinated in a series of US Israeli missile strikes against Iran. In late February. In China, a Christian pastor has been released from prison. Zion Church pastor Jinmingri had been held in Chinese detention centers since October twenty twenty five. He was accused of illegally using information networks. The Internet is heavily censored in China by the governing Chinese Communist Party.

5:01 The charity CHINAD says that Xinh has landed safely in the United States, but that eight members of the Zion Church are still being detained in China Africa. In Mali, armed rebels have attacked army positions across the country. Two groups, known as the FLA and JNIM have claimed responsibility for the attacks. Mali is ruled by military leaders who seized power between twenty twenty and twenty twenty one. Mali's army says that the situation is quote totally under control end quote.

5:45 The FLA has claimed to have entered the city of Anephis and in Egypt, archaeologists have uncovered well preserved remains of an ancient city. The city is located in the Ducklar Oasis of Egypt's New Valley. It is thought to be from the fourth century, when the Byzantine Empire controlled large parts of Egypt. Pottery, fragments and coins have also been found within eighteen ancient tombs in the area. That's your world news in seven minutes. If you enjoy this podcast, please leave a rating and review in your podcast app.

6:29 I'm Ben Mallett. Tomorrow you will be with Stephen Devinchenzi. Have a great day.