News Wrap: Iran begins funeral ceremonies for late Supreme Leader Khamenei

By — PBS News Hour PBS News Hour Leave your feedback Share Copy URL https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/news-wrap-iran-begins-funeral-ceremonies-for-late-supreme-leader-khamenei Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Tumblr Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Transcript Audio In our news wrap Friday, Iran began funeral ceremonies for its late supreme leader, hundreds more in Venezuela have been confirmed dead after last week’s earthquakes, Egypt won its first-ever game in the World Cup’s knockout round, New York is preparing for Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s expected wedding, and London’s National Archives says it found a rare copy of the Declaration of Independence. Read the Full Transcript Notice: Transcripts are machine and human generated and lightly edited for accuracy. They may contain errors. Amna Nawaz: We start the day's other headlines in Iran, where funeral ceremonies got under way for the country's late supreme leader the Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The cleric's almost-40-year reign was brought to an end in February when he was killed in U.S. and Israeli airstrikes.Iranian officials paid their respects today at Khamenei's flag-draped coffin in Tehran, along with dignitaries from Pakistan, Russia, and China, among others. Banners of the late ruler were visible across Tehran, with some residents saying they feel the funeral sends a message to Iran's enemies. Amirhossein Tajbakhsh, Tehran, Iran, Resident (through translator): Our sense of revenge will never be extinguished, but, at the very least, what we can do for our martyred leader who sacrificed himself for the nation is to hold his funeral ceremony with grandeur. Amna Nawaz: Today's tributes are the first in a days-long series of ceremonies, which includes a public viewing of his casket tomorrow, and then a procession through Tehran on Monday, followed by his eventual burial in his hometown of Mashhad next week.In Pakistan, at least 40 people were killed when an overcrowded bus plunged into a ravine earlier today. Officials say the vehicle lost control as it traveled from Quetta to Peshawar and fell around 70 feet in Dhana Sar, a remote area known for its dangerous mountain roads. At least eight others were injured, and what officials are calling one of the nation's deadliest road accidents in recent years.A local government spokesperson says the bus was carrying additional passengers from another bus that had broken down. A police investigation is under way.In Venezuela, hundreds more people have been confirmed dead after last week's powerful twin earthquakes, even as the government defends its handling of the crisis. Venezuelan authorities say more than 2,600 people died and more than 12,000 others were injured. They did not say how many people remain missing, though one estimate says more than 38,000 are still unaccounted for.It's been nine days since the quakes, and some Venezuelans say they have had to search for loved ones with their bare hands.Acting President Delcy Rodriguez has defended the official response.Delcy Rodriguez, Acting President of Venezuela (through translator): We did not wait one, two, or three days. We acted immediately. After the earthquake, the Venezuelan state as a whole sprang into action immediately. Amna Nawaz: Rodriguez has also accused what she called propaganda laboratories of politicizing the humanitarian crisis to criticize her government. Her 180-day period as interim leader expired today, and there's been no official word on what happens next.In today's World Cup action, Egypt won its first ever game in the knockout round after beating Australia in a hard-fought match that ended in penalty kicks. In the meantime, Croatia is still reeling from a video replay that overturned what would have been a game-tying late goal in their loss yesterday to Portugal.And, as expected, FIFA has confirmed the one-game red card suspension for American striker Folarin Balogun. He will miss Monday's match against Belgium.Parts of New York are on lockdown this evening for the expected wedding celebration of Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce at the city's iconic Madison Square Garden. Guests were seen arriving for the event, which has been shrouded in secrecy. It's believed that some 1,000 people are due to attend amid tight security.Earlier, catering trucks had been spotted entering the venue, and even New York's police department is getting in the spirit, with a patrol chief shouting Swift lyrics at passersby. Man: I knew you were trouble. I knew it. This weather feels like a cruel summer. Welcome to New York. Amna Nawaz: The multiday celebration coincides with New York's July 4 celebrations, even as the city bakes in 100-degree heat. The pop music icon and Kansas City Chief star have been dating since 2023 and announced their engagement last year.Financial markets are closed for the July 4 holiday weekend, but a bit of American news overseas. The National Archives in London says it discovered a vanishingly rare copy of the Declaration of Independence. It's one of just 11 known copies of the Exeter Declarations named for Exeter, New Hampshire, where they were printed in July of 1776.This document was captured from a ship that was then under the direction of the recently formed Continental Congress. Experts at the National Archives say it tells a -- quote -- "untold story about American heroism at sea." Amanda Bevan, Legal Records, National Archives: I think it shows what they were fighting for. I think this is potentially the first one that's actually found in a situation where people are prepared to die for their country. So, for them, I think it was something which was inspirational. Amna Nawaz: The document was intended to spread the news that the 13 colonies had declared independence from Britain. It was found by a volunteer reviewing the letters of an 18th century Royal Navy captain who had labeled it simply as another paper.Still to come on the "News Hour": how climate change is endangering historic sites like Jamestown, Virginia; David Brooks and Jonathan Capehart weigh in on the week's political headlines; and Judy Woodruff on the people and ideas that have shaped the U.S. Listen to this Segment Watch Watch the Full Episode PBS NewsHour from Jul 03, 2026 By — PBS News Hour PBS News Hour