Deleted Reddit posts show Maine Senate candidate Graham Platner disparaging Army soldiers and mocking a wounded veteran. The remarks are drawing criticism as he campaigns on his military service.

Research shows that autocracies often depend on underperforming officials seeking career advancement rather than ideological extremists. By rewarding loyalty and lowering standards, authoritarian leaders create incentives for bureaucrats to carry out repression.

An analyst says Iran's Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei is using a survival strategy similar to that of Osama bin Laden by remaining in hiding amid rising tensions with the United States. The comparison comes as President Donald Trump pauses a planned strike and the Iranian leader stays largely out of public view.

Primary elections across several states highlighted Donald Trump's grip on the Republican Party, Democratic setbacks in key races, and voter resistance to tax increases in Oregon. Mitch McConnell also demonstrated his lasting political influence in Kentucky.

Apollo Hospitals Enterprise posted a 34 percent rise in annual profit after tax and a 16 percent increase in revenue for 2025 to 2026. The company expects continued growth supported by new hospitals and higher occupancy, while monitoring cost pressures from global uncertainties.

Turkiye is mediating efforts to secure safe passage for about 200 Hamas fighters trapped in Gaza. The issue has become a key obstacle in advancing ceasefire talks between Israel and Hamas.

Syrian forces joined large-scale military drills in Turkiye for the first time since the fall of Bashar Assad. The exercises brought together troops from 50 countries and featured advanced combat technologies and live-fire maneuvers.

A dispute over military draft exemptions for ultra-Orthodox men has fractured Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's coalition ahead of expected fall elections. The political crisis leaves his reelection prospects increasingly uncertain.

Iran has jailed former national team goalkeeper Mohammad Rashid Mazaheri over a social media post criticizing supreme leader Ali Khamenei. Authorities say he was detained while attempting to leave the country, while his wife says he is being held in solitary confinement.

Progress has been reported in talks between the United States and Iran on a possible framework to ease tensions, though major gaps remain. Israeli officials believe Iran’s leadership may reject key compromises, and military coordination continues in case diplomacy collapses.

Spotify rejected a request to remove a rap song accused of promoting antisemitic conspiracy theories and violent rhetoric. The International Legal Forum said the decision undermines efforts to combat online hate and protect targeted communities.

A study finds that Iran’s internet restrictions are fueling isolation, depression, and migration concerns. High costs and fear of surveillance have deepened inequality and psychological strain, particularly among young people.