World News: Court suspends Thailand's PM Paetongtarn Shinawatra to investigate leaked phone call

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Thailand's Constitutional Court has suspended Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra from office following a petition from 36 senators amid controversy over a leaked phone call.

On Tuesday, Thailand's Constitutional Court voted 7 to 2 to suspend Paetongtarn pending a 15-day investigation into allegations of dishonesty and ethical misconduct related to a leaked June 15 call with Cambodian politician Hun Sen.

In the conversation, Paetongtarn referred to Hun Sen as "uncle," and criticized a Thai military commander as "an opponent."

The Bhumjaithai Party, Paetongtarn's key coalition partner, withdrew support after the leak, prompting renewed public protests demanding her resignation.

The Deputy Prime Minister has been appointed as the acting Prime Minister.

While Paetongtarn transfers to the culture ministry from July 3, she is barred from exercising executive power during the proceedings.

The National Anti-Corruption Commission is conducting a parallel investigation that could escalate to a Supreme Court case, potentially leading to a political ban if she's found guilty.

In India, the death toll from an explosion at a pharmaceutical factory has risen to at least 36.

The blast on Monday at Sigachi Industries' factory in Telangana State occurred at the spray-dryer unit of the plant, causing the structure to collapse while over 140 workers were inside.

Rescue teams have retrieved 34 bodies from the rubble, and two others died later in hospital.

More than 30 people suffered injuries and are being treated for burns.

Officials said additional casualties cannot be ruled out until debris from the collapsed building is fully cleared.

The U.S. Agency for International Development, USA-I-D, officially ceased independent operations on Tuesday, July 1, after 64 years. Over 80% of its programs folded into the State Department under an "America First" reorganization plan.

Meanwhile, a new study projects that these funding cuts could result in more than 14 million avoidable deaths globally by 2030, including children under five.

Between 2001 and 2021, USAID-funded efforts prevented about 91 million deaths from diseases like HIV and malaria.

While former Presidents Obama and Bush denounced the closure, Secretary of State Rubio said, "Inefficiency has officially come to an end."

Dubai hosted the first piloted test flight of Joby Aviation's fully-electric air taxi on Monday, ahead of its official commercial launch in 2026.

It's the first in-market series of flight tests following initial trials in California earlier this year and included vertical takeoff and precise landing sequences.

The California-based company says its flagship aerial taxi can carry one pilot and four passengers, reach speeds up to 320 kilometers per hour, and fly approximately 160 kilometers per charge.

This could reduce the trip from Dubai International Airport to Palm Jumeirah to 12 minutes, down from a 45-minute drive by car.

Choi Chi-hee, Arirang News.