TEHRAN: Representatives of Tehran-backed militant groups attended the funeral ceremonies of slain Iranian supreme leader Ali Khamenei on Saturday, with envoys from Hezbollah and Hamas meeting with Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, state media reported. Tehran has for years provided support to Palest»»»

LONDON: Two gaping holes were blasted into the women’s draw at Wimbledon on Saturday as defending champion Iga Swiatek was outplayed by Filipino crowd-pleaser Alexandra Eala and second seed Elena Rybakina was sent packing by Belgian Elize Mertens. Disgruntled Polish third seed Swiatek lost a titani»»»

BEIJING: Iran’s ambassador to China insisted Saturday that new fees would be charged to ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz — an idea rejected by Washington — while assuring that “friendly” nations would receive special treatment. The initial deal struck between Iran and the United States to end »»»

Russia and the United States bear a “special responsibility” for maintaining global security, President Vladimir Putin has said while congratulating his counterpart Donald Trump on the 250th anniversary of American independence. In a letter published by the Kremlin on Saturday, Putin wished Trump a»»»

DPA Houston Azzedine Ounahi scored a brace as ruthless Morocco reached the World Cup quarter-finals on Saturday with a 3-0 victory over Canada who became the first host nation to go out. Man of the Match Ounahi opened the scoring for the African champions and 2022 semi-finalists in the 50th minute,»»»

Agencies Small business owners in US tourist destinations say they’re seeing more Americans sticking closer to home this summer, trading overseas travel for road trips, choosing daylong sojourns over extended beach stays, and cooking instead of eating out while on vacation to save money. The report»»»

More than 10 million people, including representatives from over 100 countries, are expected in Tehran for funeral of slain Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed along with family members at the start of the US-Israel war on Iran. Large-scale public commemorations for Ali Khamenei h»»»

Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump have held a phone call, during which they discussed the Ukraine conflict, the situation around Iran, and the prospects for restoring bilateral ties, Kremlin aide Yury Ushakov has said. The conversation took place on Saturday, as the Uni»»»

After a ‘framework agreement’ was signed between Lebanon and Israel in Washington on 26 June, attention has shifted to its implementation. Sponsored by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, it aims to end hostilities between the two Middle East neighbours, secure the Israeli army’s withdrawal from sou»»»

JERUSALEM: The Israeli military said on Saturday that it killed an armed militant in the “security zone” under its control in south Lebanon. “Earlier today (Saturday), IDF soldiers identified an armed terrorist operating inside the Security Zone, in the Majdal Zoun area in southern Lebanon,” the mi»»»

PARIS: A man climbed the Eiffel Tower on Saturday and draped the US flag on Paris’s emblematic landmark on the 250th anniversary of American independence, police said. The man was spotted in the afternoon climbing the tower between the second and third floors and hanging the Stars and Stripes. He w»»»

The US is celebrating the 250th anniversary of the country's independence on Saturday under sweltering temperatures, with a massive fireworks show planned in Washington following a speech by US President Donald Trump. The 250th anniversary of American independence is colliding with a country grippe»»»

Beirut, July 4 (SANA) Lebanese President Joseph Aoun called on the United States on Saturday to continue supporting Lebanon, its institutions and its armed forces following the signing of a US-brokered framework agreement with Israel aimed at achieving “lasting peace,” the Lebanese presidency said.»»»

Prime Minister Edi Rama has defended plans for a proposed multibillion-euro tourism resort near the protected Zvërnec Lagoon, rejecting accusations that his government weakened environmental protections to facilitate the investment. In an interview with German broadcaster ZDF, Rama said the land in»»»

ANKARA: Turkish ‌President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Saturday that Middle East peace efforts could not succeed ​without regional backing and that Israel must not be allowed to “dynamite” the US-Iran peace deal. Speaking alongside Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in Istanbul, Erdogan said:»»»

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia has become a key diplomatic actor in efforts to end Sudan’s civil war, with the Kingdom uniquely positioned to translate years of stalled negotiations into a ceasefire and political transition, according to the EU’s envoy for the Horn of Africa. “I think it’s key. I think it’s »»»

RAMALLAH: Organized terrorism carried out by settler gangs against Palestinian settlements in Jenin, Nablus, Jerusalem, and Hebron in the West Bank is a dangerous escalation of violence, according to the Palestinian leadership. Presidential spokesperson Nabil Abu Rudeineh said the attacks had inclu»»»

SEATLE, USA: Belgium winger Jeremy Doku ‌deserves more support at the World Cup if he is going to prove decisive for his country, teammate Dodi Lukebakio said on Saturday. Doku had been touted as a potential talisman for Belgium before the tournament but has been largely ineffective despite their p»»»

President Donald Trump speaks after signing an executive order on vehicle repairs in the Oval Office on June 29. Photo by Samuel Corum/UPI | License Photo July 4 (UPI) -- President Donald Trump pardoned 11 people, including nine Clean Air Act violators, claiming they were just "fixing their car." T»»»

Several members of the Hungarian government, led by Prime Minister Péter Magyar, attended the United States Embassy’s Independence Day reception in Budapest this week, celebrating the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States. The event brought together Hungarian politicians, diplomats»»»

Beirut: The cumulative death toll from the Israeli armed aggression against Lebanon since March 2 has reached 4,303, with 12,202 others injured, the Public Health Emergency Operations Center at the Lebanese Health Ministry said in a statement on Saturday. Lebanon and Israel have signed a US-brokere»»»

WASHINGTON: Prince William revealed that his father King Charles “hates football” in an appearance on Travis Kelce’s podcast that aired Friday, just hours before the NFL star was due to celebrate his marriage to pop megastar Taylor Swift. The World Cup, rather than the wedding, was the main theme o»»»

TORRE BERETTI, Italy: Summer came too early to Europe’s most important rice growing region and weeds are taking over Sharon Angoli’s parched paddies in Italy’s Pavia province. “That one is done for, no matter what happens,” the 22-year-old said as she surveyed one desolate field that has been baked»»»

MEXICO CITY: The Mexican dream at this World Cup can be summed up in a phrase: “And what if we do?” The question omits the ending — and what if we do win? — but captures the hope of two generations of Mexicans who were used to defeats and have waited 40 years to see their national team make it to t»»»

First they protested about flamingos, now the crowd on the streets below Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama's office has begun to chant about schools, jobs and living standards as well – and wants him to resign. The pink migratory birds became the symbol of Albania's nightly rallies because they floc»»»

Share: President Aoun sends a message to US president to congratulate him on the 250th anniversary of US independence and thanked him for his support for Lebanon Beirut- Lebanese President Joseph Aoun on Saturday called on his US President Donald Trump to continue his support for Lebanon. According»»»

London: Serena Williams' Wimbledon comeback is over after the American legend pulled out of the doubles due to a knee injury on Saturday. Williams and her sister Venus were due to play in the first round on Saturday, but Serena announced just hours before the match that her knee had not healed enou»»»

BEIRUT: Shortly after Egypt made history by reaching a World Cup 16th round for first time by beating Australia, their coach celebrated the victory by waving a Palestinian flag. Hossam Hassan’s players had just won their Round of 32 match against Australia in a penalty shootout at Dallas Stadium on»»»

ERFURT, Germany: Thousands protested against Germany’s far-right AfD and blocked roads to its annual conference in the eastern city of Erfurt on Saturday, where the party re-elected the two leaders who have overseen its rise as a national force. Protesters from unions, civil society groups and left»»»

LOS ANGELES: France are bracing for furnace-like temperatures when they face Paraguay in Philadelphia in the World Cup’s last 16 on Saturday as co-hosts Canada prepare for a daunting date with African giants Morocco in Houston. With a brutal heatwave roasting swathes of the United States as it cele»»»

COLOMBO: A new medical college complex in southwestern Sri Lanka, financed by the Saudi Fund for Development, was inaugurated on Saturday, marking the latest Saudi assistance aimed at improving healthcare and education in the island nation. The $50 million project for the Faculty of Medicine at the»»»

Share: A sovereign Lebanon and a secure Israel are not competing goals—they are mutually reinforcing. The framework agreement offers a rare opportunity to turn that vision into lasting peace. By : The Editorial Board , Opinion The time has come for visionary leaders in both Israel and Lebanon to su»»»

Washington: Millions of Americans celebrated the country's 250th birthday on Saturday -- a landmark celebration that comes at a time of deep political division, with a president determined to put his stamp on the festivities. Washington's traditional fireworks display on the National Mall -- lined »»»

A week-long state funeral for the Islamic Republic’s late supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has begun in Iran, more than four months after he was killed in US-Israeli airstrikes. The ceremonies mark the end of nearly four decades of Khamenei’s leadership. Millions of mourners are expected to »»»

Three children were killed when the boat they were on capsized in a storm in Wisconsin Friday. File Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI | License Photo July 4 (UPI) -- Three children were killed Friday when a severe storm capsized a boat in Wisconsin, police said. The privately owned, recreational motorboat h»»»

Abu Dhabi: President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan has sent a message of congratulations to President Donald Trump of the United States of America on the occasion of his country's Independence Day. On his X account, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed said: “I extend my sincere congratulatio»»»

Russia's air defense forces shot down over 500 aerial targets during the repulsion of a Ukrainian strike, including 10 Flamingo missiles and nine HIMARS rockets, Russian Defense Ministry reported on Saturday. "During the repulsion of the attack on the night and morning of July 4, Russian air defens»»»

BEIRUT: Lebanese President Joseph Aoun on Saturday urged the United States to stand by his country after a recent US-backed framework deal with Israel aiming to permanently end hostilities after the latest Israel-Hezbollah war. The deal reached in Washington calls for the disarmament of Iran-backed»»»

GAZA CITY, Palestinian Territories: The Gaza war was the spark that touched off years of Middle East conflict culminating in the US-Israeli war with Iran, but as Washington and Tehran wrangle over terms for peace, the devastated territory’s fate seems largely out of mind. “Ever since the United Sta»»»

Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands: People in Guam and the Northern Marianas readied themselves on Saturday as the second "super typhoon" since April drew closer to the US territories, bringing the equivalent of category-5 hurricane winds. Bavi was moving westward with sustained winds of 269 kilomete»»»

Funeral prayers for martyred Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei and four members of his family who were martyred alongside him will be held at Tehran’s Grand Musalla on Sunday morning, as Iran continues nationwide farewell ceremonies.The funeral prayer ceremony will begin»»»

Mexico City: Canada have already made World Cup history, while Mexico and the USA are also on course to beat their best ever runs in the tournament as home advantage has paid dividends. AFP Sports looks at how all three co-hosts have thrived while others have struggled with the sprawling tournament»»»

Lampedusa, Italy: Pope Leo XIV on Saturday pressed Europe to do more to protect and integrate migrants as he visited Italy's Lampedusa island, a major port of call for those risking the perilous crossing from Africa. His trip to the migration frontline was a stark message to both EU and US leaders »»»

US President Donald Trump ushered in the 250th anniversary of US independence on Friday with rhetoric about American exceptionalism before calling on the country to fight what he called the sinister threat of communism. The speech evoked the Red Scare of the 1950s, one of the country’s ugliest chap»»»

Pope Leo, the first US-born pontiff, called for "moderation" in US public discourse and called on Americans to find "common ground" in a speech on Friday that coincided with the 250th anniversary of US independence. Pope Leo XIV called for "moderation" in US public discourse on Friday as the countr»»»

After months of discreet support, France officially allied itself with the American revolutionaries in their war against the British Empire, a decision that would permanently alter the fate of both nations. On July 4, 1776, 13 British colonies in North America broke with the British Crown»»»

US pop queen Taylor Swift and NFL star Travis Kelce officially tied the knot on Friday, triggering frenzied global attention around America's "royal wedding". The couple made no public announcement about their wedding plans and reportedly insisted that guests sign non-disclosure agreements.  U»»»

US President Donald ​Trump called on Americans to protect the freedoms the nation's founders envisioned 250 years ago against what he has portrayed as the "communist" threat posed by progressive Democrats, speaking on the eve of Independence Day at Mount Rushmore.»»»

Los Angeles: France are bracing for furnace-like temperatures when they face Paraguay in Philadelphia in the World Cup's last 16 on Saturday as co-hosts Canada prepare for a daunting date with African giants Morocco in Houston. With a brutal heatwave roasting swathes of the United States as it cele»»»

The EU is trying to assert its strategic independence in an unstable world – a world of bullies, as some members of the EU Parliament describe it. That means independence in matters of defence and energy supplies, but also in the whole field of tech. The European Commission says non-EU companies pr»»»