Iran prepares 'funeral of century' for late Supreme leader

The global political landscape remains volatile as Iran begins a week-long funeral for the late Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, an event testing the Islamic Republic's domestic support following recent conflicts. The Strait of Hormuz remains a critical geopolitical bottleneck, with local residents in Bandar Abbas enduring the economic fallout of regional instability. In Sudan, the Rapid Support Forces have surrounded El Obeid, prompting urgent UN warnings of an imminent humanitarian catastrophe. Japan faces a cultural shift as Mayor Shoko Kawata challenges traditional political expectations by taking maternity leave, sparking a national debate on gender roles in leadership. Additionally, the UK National Archives has unearthed a rare 1776 copy of the US Declaration of Independence, a discovery that highlights the historical influence of American democracy as the nation approaches its 250th anniversary amidst significant political polarization.