US President Donald Trump is set to take the stage in Washington, DC, to deliver his Freedom 250 address after a storm threat forced a chaotic evacuation of the National Mall and left many attendees unable to get back through security in time for the speech. Thousands had gathered near the Washingt»»»

Paul Pelosi, left, husband of former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, was allegedly hit a parked car and kept driving in Napa Valley, Calif., on Saturday, later telling police that he knew he hit something but kept driving until his car was no longer operable. File Photo by Christine Chew/UPI | License »»»

German police have deployed pepper spray and batons in a clash with left-wing activists in the city of Erfurt. The demonstrators were attempting to derail a convention of the opposition Alternative for Germany (AfD) party. The right-wing party advocates tougher immigration laws and also opposes Ger»»»

Rights group raises North Korea's public executions at global death penalty congress for the first time A Sourth Korean man looks at a caricature depicting a public execution in North Korea, during a rally against North Korea's human rights policy in Seoul, South Korea. Photo by JEON HEON-KYUN / EP»»»

Philadelphia, United States: France needed a second-half Kylian Mbappe penalty to break down a stubborn Paraguay side on Saturday, winning a niggly World Cup last-16 clash 1-0 to set up a quarter-final showdown with Morocco. Paraguay's efforts to get under the skin of France's superstars worked for»»»

Cairo, In a significant move aimed at regulating the status of foreign residents, the Egyptian cabinet has extended the grace period for an additional year, allowing unlawful foreigners more time to legalize their residency. This decision, taken during a recent cabinet meeting, reflects Egypt’s eff»»»

GAZA/JERUSALEM: The photo depicts a blindfolded Gaza man stripped to his ​underwear and restrained face down on a cot while in Israeli custody. Israel says the image is genuine and has acknowledged that the treatment it depicts “does not align” with its military’s values. But it has yet to say who »»»

Aswat Masriya: Food prices have jumped in September to reach the biggest monthly increase in five years, EFG Hermes Holdings said in a research paper on Thursday. The surge was driven by a rise in vegetable prices, the Egypt-based investment bank and market analysis group said. Egypt’s urban consum»»»

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 »»»

EAST RUTHERFORD: Erling Haaland has feasted on defenses throughout the World Cup, and Norway will need their talismanic striker at his ruthless best if they are to topple Brazil in Sunday’s last-16 clash. Haaland’s late winner against Ivory Coast — his fifth goal at the tournament — secured Norway’»»»

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,»»»

Khaled Al Hameidi Doha “What is being witnessed in Gaza today is no longer simply a humanitarian emergency, it is the collapse of the foundations of public health. When clean water disappears, sanitation systems fail, healthcare services collapse, and thousands of families are forced to survive in »»»

GLYFADA, Greece — In the southern Athens seaside suburb of Glyfada, a pensioner struggles to cross an avenue with her shopping trolley, zigzagging between cars stuck in traffic."I've had enough of these traffic jams," says Vassiliki Karvela as she finally reaches the local weekly market in her town»»»

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»»»

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»»»

DOHA: The Qatar Olympic Committee announced the successful conclusion of the eFIBA World Finals Qatar 2026, which took place at Mall of Qatar, bringing together eight of the world's top national teams for two days of high-level esports basketball competition. According to the committee, the tournam»»»

Poland’s family attractions market is facing major changes as the number of children declines, competition grows and visitors expect more than simple entertainment. Tomasz Wielemborek, creator of Kosmiczne Ranczo, says the sector will develop in two directions: large parks will keep expanding, whil»»»

ISTANBUL — Turkey's annual inflation eased to 32.1 per cent in June from 32.6 per cent in May, though sharp increases in housing and education costs drove consumer prices higher, official data showed on Friday.Consumer prices rose 0.99 per cent month-on-month in June, slowing from 1.7 per cent in M»»»

Hundreds of thousands of mourners gathered in Tehran on Saturday for the start of a dayslong funeral for Iran's late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Tara Kangarlou, a global affairs journalist and author of The Heartbeat of Iran, said most attendees were "more emboldened, hardline factions o»»»

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 »»»

Houston: Canada became the first of the co-hosts to exit the World Cup as a clinical Morocco won 3-0 to reach the quarter-finals on Saturday in Houston. The 2022 semi-finalists Morocco will face title favourites France or Paraguay as the business end of the tournament in North America approaches. A»»»

RIYADH: Saudi Pro League ‌club Al-Ahli announced on Saturday that Algeria international Riyad Mahrez had left the club after three seasons. “Thank you, Riyad Mahrez. Three unforgettable years... You will remain forever in the memory of Al-Ahli supporters,” the club said on X. Winger Mahrez made 122»»»

HOUSTON: Morocco produced a patient and professional performance to sweep past World Cup co-hosts Canada 3-0 in their round-of-16 clash on Saturday. A second-half brace from Azzedine Ounahi and a late Soufiane Rahimi strike on the break saw the Atlas Lions overpower their opponents, who offered lit»»»

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»»»

Johannesburg: The South African government has moved to strengthen its migration policies as the country grapples with a crisis linked to anti-immigration violence, which has led to the repatriation of citizens from several African countries amid controversy. To ease tensions following anti-immigra»»»

RIYADH: Teams from the Saudi-backed Masam Project for Landmine Clearance in Yemen, in cooperation with the Executive Mine Action Center’s branch in Mukalla, destroyed 724 landmines and explosive remnants of war during an operation last week. The destroyed items included 29 anti-personnel mines, one»»»

With its superior industrial base and ability to maintain larger numbers of trained soldiers, Russia can maintain pressure on both Ukraine and its backers until either of them cracks, USMC veteran and geopolitical analyst Brian Berletic tells Sputnik. Russia has been able to hit highly expensive an»»»

TEXAS, USA: Zlatan Ibrahimovic ‌showed his warmer side by sending words of encouragement to Australian teenager Lucas Herrington after his penalty miss against Egypt in the World Cup round-of-32 shootout. The 18-year-old center back struck the crossbar with Australia’s fourth spot-kick, leaving Hos»»»

CAIRO: A well-preserved Byzantine-era residential city in the western desert is one of two major archaeological finds announced by Egypt on Saturday. The recent discoveries at the Dakhla Oasis and at the Marina el-Alamein archaeological site, near Alexandria, are the latest findings which the Egypt»»»

JEDDAH: The Culinary Arts Commission has launched the second Academic Culinary Arts Program to prepare a new generation of Saudi chefs and culinary professionals through specialized education and practical training. The initiative supports broader efforts to strengthen the Kingdom’s creative econom»»»

KANSAS CITY: Africa set a record by sending nine of its teams to the knockout rounds of the World Cup. Seven of them were knocked out in the first round. Ghana were the last African team to play in the Round of 32 on Friday night, and the white-clad Black Stars went down with a whimper in a 1-0 los»»»

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»»»

Pope Leo XIV greets migrants at the Favaloro Pier to bless a plaque dedicating the pier to late Pope Francis during his pastoral visit to the island of Lampedusa, Italy, Saturday. Photo by Ciro Fusco/EPA July 4 (UPI) -- Pope Leo XIV, the first American pope, spent his second Fourth of July as the p»»»

Share: Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Al-Shaibani, left, and Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam sign agreement to establish higher committee comprising ministers from both countries. (SANA) Syria and Lebanon agreed on Thursday to establish a joint ministerial committee aimed at strengthening securi»»»

Dubai's Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has announced the temporary closure of the bus and taxi service road at the Burj Khalifa/Dubai Mall Metro Station, with the closure set to remain in place until the end of 2026. The move is part of ongoing works to expand the station, which serves as one »»»

LONDON: Prince Harry’s wife Meghan and their two children will not travel to London with him next week, his spokesperson said on Saturday, although a visit elsewhere in Britain had not been ruled out. Harry, the younger son of King Charles, is due in London and Birmingham next week for a series of »»»

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»»»

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»»»

Doha: Qatar and Saudi Arabia national basketball teams will meet tomorrow in the closing fixture of the third window of the Asian Qualifiers for the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027 in Qatar. The encounter promises strong competitiveness despite qualification to the second round already being secured»»»

KYIV: A Ukrainian drone attack struck an oil terminal in St. Petersburg on Saturday, Russian officials said, as Kyiv presses on with bombardment of Russia’s oil infrastructure. Almost daily long-range attacks on Russian oil facilities have created a fuel crisis and heaped political pressure on the »»»

SILVERSTONE: Kimi Antonelli returned to winning ways on Saturday by denying Lewis Hamilton a crowd-pleasing home victory in the sprint race ahead of the British Grand Prix. Hamilton started on pole and held off Antonelli until lap eight of 17, when the Italian swept past with the help of electrical»»»

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»»»

Cairo: An Egyptian court on Saturday handed a suspended six-month prison term to a former doctor convicted of spreading false information on social media alleging abuse of women at a university hospital, her lawyers said. Omnia Swaydan was convicted over a Facebook post describing what she said wer»»»

JEDDAH: Seasons at Art Promenade is an event in Jeddah consisting of four themed zones inspired by the four seasons of the year. Organized by Lamsat Events, the attraction, which runs until July 26, offers a mix of family entertainment, creative workshops, live performances and interactive activiti»»»

President Donald Trump ushered in the 250th anniversary of American independence on Friday with soaring rhetoric about American exceptionalism before veering into a darkly political speech with warnings about a sinister threat of communism that evoked one of the country’s ugliest chapters. Ian Reif»»»