Italy has privately raised concerns over an EU proposal to sanction Russian Patriarch Kirill, joining Bulgaria in openly opposing the restrictions, Politico has reported. Moscow has long accused Brussels of taking a hostile stance against the Russian Orthodox Church (ROC), effectively siding with U»»»

US President Donald Trump is delivering a speech from Mount Rushmore as the country marks the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, amid the Freedom 250 celebrations, a White House-backed program of events billed as the biggest birthday party in US history. Trump is speaking beneath»»»

Makati, Manila: Patrick Balala, 53, a former overseas Filipino worker (OFW) and homeowner here, had been waiting for a renter for his one-bedroom condominium unit in Makati, Manila's financial centre. No tenant came for more than two years. Now, his property agent came up with a piece of good news:»»»

MIAMI: Lionel Messi’s Argentina beat rank outsiders Cape Verde 3-2 after extra-time in an epic contest to reach the World Cup last 16 on Friday. An own goal from Diney Borges under pressure from Argentina’s Cristian Romero in the 111th minute settled the match in Miami and reigning champions Argent»»»

Dubai: The UAE is expected to see generally fair weather today, Saturday, July 4, with partly cloudy conditions at times and low clouds appearing over the east coast, according to the latest forecast. The weather is being influenced by an extension of a surface low-pressure system from the east, ac»»»

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s national carrier Saudia on Saturday moved to clarify reports circulating in the media and on social media regarding the transfer of Boeing 777-200 aircraft it previously owned to an airline that is subject to international sanctions. In a statement posted on the social media »»»

A person talks on a cellphone shirtless at Wagner Park with temperatures approaching 100 degrees Fahrenheit as extreme heat continues Friday in New York City. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo Changes are on the way that will lead to the breakdown of the weeklong extreme heat in the centr»»»

CAIRO: The Saudi-led ​coalition in Yemen will respond firmly and with “unprecedented force” ‌to ‌any attempts ​to ‌target ⁠the ​Kingdom, it ⁠said in a statement on Saturday. The statement ⁠came hours ‌after ‌Yemen’s ​Iran-aligned ‌Houthis warned ‌that they would target “Saudi airports and ‌vital in»»»

DUBAI: Egypt have beaten Australia in a penalty shootout at Dallas Stadium to reach the Round of 16 of the 2026 World Cup. It was their first-ever knockout stage win. They now join Morocco as the second African and Arab nation to reach the last 16 of this tournament. Egypt had been buoyed by the ne»»»

From intensifying drone warfare between Ukraine and Russia to mounting fears of a humanitarian catastrophe in Sudan, anti-immigration protests in South Africa and a landmark ruling by the US Supreme Court, this week has been shaped by conflicts over power, identity and international law. In Russia,»»»

Lithuanian lawmakers have introduced a constitutional amendment to scrap the country’s ban on hosting nuclear weapons. The proposal, backed by 51 of the Seimas’ 141 members – enough for it to be formally registered – would repeal Article 137 of the constitution, which prohibits weapons of mass dest»»»

by Maye Kabil: Gulf countries played an important role in supporting the Egyptian economy after 30 June, either by financial, fuel aids and facilities or by directing more investments to Egypt. Their latest contributions were in the economic conference held in Sharm El Sheikh last March 2015, where»»»

Arlington, United States: Hossam Abdelmaguid scored the decisive penalty as Egypt beat Australia 4-2 on penalties after they finished level at 1-1 following extra time on Friday to reach the World Cup last 16. Egypt's players celebrate after winning the 2026 World Cup round of 32 football match bet»»»

Peru has become one of South America’s clearest political contradictions. Presidents fall, parties fragment, voters withdraw, and Congress repeatedly turns constitutional procedures into instruments of self-preservation. At the same time, the economy continues to project a level of discipline that »»»

People pump gas at a gas station in Washington, D.C., on May 30. File Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI | License Photo July 3 (UPI) -- The Justice Department on Friday called on states to investigate whether businesses and individuals are artificially inflating gas prices amid complaints from President Don»»»

MOSCOW: Russia on Friday said it had captured the eastern Ukrainian city of Kostyantynivka, a key post on the road leading to the last major cities in the Donbas region under Kyiv’s control. The battle for this city, which had around 78,000 inhabitants before the war, has been taking place since la»»»

NEW YORK: A team of UN human rights investigators is on the ground in Lebanon collecting evidence on violations committed by all parties to the conflict since March 2, after Beirut granted guarantees for the mission’s deployment, a spokesman for the UN Human Rights Office told Arab News. “Our team »»»

LONDON: On the occasion of its 250th birthday this July 4, amid the usual fireworks, state fairs, battle re-enactments, parades and backyard barbecues that define Independence Day celebrations, America is a country reflecting on its founding ideals in an era of division and reinvention. In a sense,»»»

NEW JERSEY: Brazil’s Raphinha returned to training on Friday to give coach Carlo Ancelotti a welcome boost before their World Cup last-16 clash with Norway, but the Barcelona forward may find his place on the right wing is no longer guaranteed. Brazil held their penultimate session before Sunday’s »»»

Geneva: The Ebola disease outbreak caused by the Bundibugyo virus (BVD) in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) had claimed 452 lives among 1,460 confirmed cases as of July 1, with transmission continuing to spread into new health zones, the World Health Organization (WHO) reported on Friday.»»»

Dubai: Employers in the UAE have been advised to provide essential heat protection measures for outdoor workers during the summer months. The Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation said companies must ensure that workers are protected from heat stress by providing the necessary safety and pr»»»

BEIRUT: More than 640,000 displaced people in Lebanon have returned home, according to the International Organization for Migration, as clashes between Hezbollah and Israel have wound down following a deal to end the Middle East war. Lebanon was drawn into the regional war on March 2 when Hezbollah»»»

BRUSSELS: NATO leaders, including US President Donald Trump, are set to affirm an “ironclad commitment” to ​collective defense under the alliance’s Article 5 pact at a summit in Ankara next week, according to a text approved by NATO ambassadors on Friday and reviewed by Reuters. NATO members are al»»»

People attend the "Great American State Fair" on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday. The Freedom 250-backed event was temporarily shut down Friday due to extreme heat. Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI | License Photo July 3 (UPI) -- The Great American State Fair was temporarily shut down F»»»

The head of the Parliamentary Committee on Legal Affairs, Socialist MP Ulsi Manja, has voiced support for a proposal to extend the mandate of prosecutors within Albania’s Special Prosecution Against Corruption and Organized Crime (SPAK), aligning himself with a request put forward by Chief Prosecut»»»

The UN on Friday warned that a "human rights catastrophe" was unfolding in Sudan's El-Obeid where experts have warned the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) may be about to stage an offensive. Civilians in the city have already been subjected to "siege-like conditions" for the past 18 months,&nbs»»»

Gavin Lee is pleased to welcome Jan Pospisil, Sudan Affairs Analyst at the Peace and Conflict Resolution Evidence Platform. He says the siege has been going on for almost a year, and the RSF seems committed to seizing el-Obeid. While Pospisil explains that Sudan's civil war is not a proxy war in th»»»

Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama announced plans to establish a National Special Forces Academy, describing it as the next major step in modernizing the country's defense capabilities following the inauguration of Albania's National Flight School. Speaking at the opening ceremony of the National Fl»»»

1 of 5 | Crowds of mourners gathered around the coffin of the late Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei during his funeral in Tehran on Friday. Photo courtesy KHAMENEI.IR | License Photo July 3 (UPI) -- Iran began a weeklong funeral ceremony for former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and his f»»»

LISBON: Portugal ‌has asked the EU, Spain and Morocco to have extra firefighting aircraft ready in case wildfires worsen during the current heatwave, Prime Minister Luis Montenegro said on Friday. He said the unusual move was prompted not by a shortage of national resources, but by what he describe»»»

JERUSALEM: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US President Donald Trump spoke on Friday and agreed to meet “soon” in the United States, the premier’s office said. The conversation comes after the United States and Israel fought alongside each other in their military campaign against Iran»»»

Abu Dhabi: UAE President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan received a delegation from the UAE Pilgrims Affairs Office and its affiliated committees responsible for overseeing the affairs of UAE pilgrims during this year’s Hajj season. During the meeting, Sheikh Mohamed was briefed on »»»

DOHA: Belgium head coach Rudi Garcia hailed his side's resilience and unwavering belief after they produced one of the most remarkable comebacks of the FIFA World Cup 2026, overturning a two-goal deficit to defeat Senegal 3-2 after extra time and book their place in the Round of 16. With Belgium tr»»»

MONACO: Authorities across Europe were hunting Friday for a Ukrainian woman suspected of planting a bomb in Monaco that wounded three people, including a Ukrainian-born tycoon and his teenaged son. Identified as Anastasiia Berezovska, 39, the suspect is wanted in Monaco for attempted murder, placin»»»

BRAZZAVILLE: At least 452 ​people have died due to the Ebola ‌virus ‌in ​the ‌Democratic ⁠Republic ​of Congo as ⁠of July, the World Health ⁠Organization said ‌on ‌Friday. The ​total ‌number ‌of cases stood at 1,460, ‌WHO said, in line with ⁠Congo ⁠government data earlier in the day.»»»

July 3 (UPI) -- Authorities in Pennsylvania's Berks County declared a mass casualty incident when more than 100 people waiting to see a train were treated for heat-related symptoms. A crowd of thousands gathered Thursday afternoon at the Reading & Blue Mountain Railroad Outer Station in Muhlenberg »»»

BRUSSELS - Serbian FM Marko Djuric said on Friday in Brussels Serbia was doubling down on its EU path and that it was also committed to maintaining peace in the region and cherishing good relations and cooperation with its neighbours. "Serbia is doubling down on its EU accession path. Serbia is dou»»»

Geneva: The UAE has emphasised that the ongoing escalation in and around El Obeid is a stark reminder that there is no military solution to the conflict in Sudan and that the only viable path forward is an immediate and unconditional ceasefire and an urgent humanitarian truce. This came in the UAE'»»»

Hungarian authorities have ordered the immediate suspension of all activities at the Debrecen plant of Chinese battery separator manufacturer Semcorp Hungary Kft., citing serious fire safety deficiencies that they say pose a risk to people and property. The decision marks the toughest regulatory ac»»»

REALP, Switzerland: Train enthusiasts will celebrate the 100th anniversary of a historic Swiss railway this weekend as vintage steam locomotives ferry tourists through the stunning Alpine scenery as part of the celebration. The Furka Pass, at an altitude of 2,431 meters (7,976 feet), is among Switz»»»

FRANCE 24’s Europe editor-in-chief Caroline de Camaret hosts Maia Sandu, the President of Moldova. This in the context of an EU-Moldova summit held on June 22, 2026, in Brussels. The ex-Soviet republic of nearly 3 million people that borders Ukraine has opened its first “cluster” of negotiatio»»»

SILVERSTONE, England: ‌Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton went fastest in sole practice for his home British Grand Prix on Friday while Formula One leader Kimi Antonelli outshone Mercedes teammate George Russell. Seven times world champion Hamilton threw down an early marker for the sunny Silverstone weekend»»»

BERLIN: Germany’s football association (DFB) will start talks with former Liverpool boss Juergen Klopp to take over as national team coach following the departure of Julian Nagelsmann, it said on Friday, as it looks to rebuild after a shock World Cup exit. Germany’s defeat to Paraguay on penalties »»»

An Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo has killed more than 400 people and continues to spread, with health authorities confirming a first case in the major city of Kisangani, hundreds of kilometres from the epidemic's epicentre in the northeast. An Ebola outbreak in the DR Congo has»»»

Basking Ridge, New Jersey, United States: Brazil coach Carlo Ancelotti said Neymar is unhappy he has had such a limited role at the World Cup but has handled the situation professionally and remains a positive influence within the squad. The country's all-time leading goalscorer has made just one s»»»

Hungary’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs says it is examining almost HUF 4.9 billion (around EUR 13 million) spent on private jet charters used for the official travel of former Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó between 2022 and 2026, with officials now also looking into the possibility of criminal lia»»»

Footage reportedly shows Ukrainian forces destroying a Russian system deployed to jam Starlink. The satellite network, which is notoriously difficult to jam, has become crucial for providing high-speed internet access to Ukraine. Six white trailers, lined up in two rows of three, with one bursting »»»

While the Lyhanna case in France has exposed the shortcomings of a fragmented system for dealing with sexual violence against minors, Belgium stands as a model with its Centres for the Care of Sexual Violence (CPVS). The centres are based on a simple principle: a victim only has to walk throug»»»

Dubai: A large tent now covers the courtyard. Applicants are given free tea and coffee apart from water. And for the first time in 17 years, it is consulate staff, not an outsourced agency, guiding Indian expats through their passport and other consular paperwork. These were the scenes at the India»»»

Rescue workers in Kyiv continued the search for survivors one day after widespread Russian strikes, several of which hit residential buildings, killed 30. Meanwhile residents in the capital were urged to stay at home due to a spike in air pollution as a result of fires caused by the attacks.  »»»