National and Global Headlines
Independence Day Celebrations Begin Amid Heat and Division, as Global News Breaks
America marks its 250th birthday today under a sweltering heat wave and a cloud of political division, with President Donald Trump set to address crowds on the National Mall before a major fireworks display, according to AP News. The milestone — 250 years since the Declaration of Independence — is unfolding against a backdrop of white nationalist marches in Washington, record temperatures, and a hot dog eating contest on Coney Island that carried on despite the heat.
The day is far from just domestic. A deadly boat capsizing in Wisconsin, Iran's Supreme Leader Khamenei's funeral getting underway, Ukraine striking a Russian oil terminal in St. Petersburg, and political upheaval in Venezuela are all competing for attention on the same July Fourth, AP News reports.
Trump Speaks as Divisions Shadow July Fourth Celebrations
President Trump is scheduled to speak on the National Mall as part of the Semiquincentennial — the official 250th anniversary celebration. A fireworks show will follow his remarks, AP News reports. But the celebration is not without controversy. Members of a white nationalist group held a march in Washington earlier in the day, underscoring the political tensions that have defined the country's mood this summer.
On a lighter note, the annual Nathan's Famous hot dog eating contest went ahead on Coney Island despite the dangerous heat. Astronauts aboard the International Space Station also sent a message marking the holiday, offering a rare view of the country from space, according to AP News.
Three Dead After Boat Capsizes in Wisconsin Storm
A powerful storm struck a Wisconsin lake on July Fourth, capsizing a boat and killing three people. Seven others were rescued from the water, AP News reported. No further details about the victims or the specific lake were immediately available, but rescue crews responded quickly to pull survivors to safety.
Trump Pardons 11, Including Emissions Cheaters and Abramoff Associate
President Trump issued pardons for 11 people on Friday. One pardon went to a former business partner of Jack Abramoff, the Washington lobbyist at the center of a major corruption scandal in the 2000s. Nine other pardons went to individuals the White House said had helped people bypass vehicle emissions control systems — devices required under federal environmental law, according to AP News.
Ukraine Strikes Russian Oil Terminal; Iran Funeral Begins; Venezuela in Crisis
Ukraine reported a strike on an oil terminal in St. Petersburg, Russia's second-largest city. The attack is said to have triggered a fuel crisis inside Russia and is increasing political pressure on the Kremlin, AP News reports. The strike marks one of the most significant Ukrainian hits on Russian infrastructure in recent months.
Meanwhile, the funeral of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei began Friday, months after he was killed in an airstrike. Across the Atlantic, Venezuela's acting President Delcy Rodríguez is facing a major test. Her mandate as interim leader expires Friday, and the country is still reeling from twin earthquakes that have put enormous pressure on the government, according to AP News.
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