All articles tagged with #independence day
Ukraine marks its 35th Independence Day amid intensified Russian strikes; analysts say Putin is panicked and retaliating as Ukrainian advances reach deeper into Russia, with attacks on civilian areas and infrastructure as Europe’s leaders reaffirm support in Kyiv and authorities warn of security risks around large public gatherings.
European leaders gathered in Kyiv for Ukraine's Independence Day as the EU announced a fresh €6.1 billion in military aid and called for stronger air defences before winter; UK, France and Germany joined remotely while US envoys were absent. Zelenskyy highlighted Ukraine’s bid for independence and future EU membership amid intensified Russian strikes and a growing need for Patriot interceptors.
UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham will travel to Kyiv for his first foreign trip to reaffirm unwavering UK backing for Ukraine on its Independence Day, chair a coalition of the willing with France, accept an award honoring British support, and announce that defence group MBDA will declassify information on UK components for the Scalp long-range missile, as Russia continues strikes and Kyiv intensifies long-range attacks.
A Flamingo Air Cessna 402 crashed after departing Nassau for San Andros on Independence Day, killing 10 people including Bahamian musicians, with one initial survivor who later died; the AAIA is investigating. A separate Flamingo Air flight had a post-landing fire with no injuries, and the Civil Aviation Authority Bahamas suspended Flamingo Air’s Air Operator Certificate as a precaution.
GTA Online runs a July 9–13 Event Week ahead of the Kortz Center Heist update, offering Independence Day rewards, hats and apparel, and heavy discounts on bunkers, agencies, and vehicles. It also launches the Fine Art Collector Program with login bonuses (GTA$ in 72 hours and a free Benefactor Turreted Limo) and a hefty heist-related reward path, plus double FIB file rewards, podium and prize-ride vehicles, test-track options, and new gun-van contents. GTA+ members get extra spins and perks as more content heads toward the next major update.
Compulsion Games and Double Fine announce they will return to independent management after their time with Xbox, retaining ownership of Contrast, We Happy Few, and South of Midnight. This follows Xbox's July 6 layoffs of 3,200 staff and the divestment of five studios, with Ninja Theory and Undead Labs in acquisition and Arkane Lyon entering a consultation period. Both studios express gratitude to Xbox and anticipate the next chapter as independent entities.
Reality TV figure Spencer Pratt mocked New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani for using Independence Day to critique U.S. history, calling him “vile, commie” in a viral response; Mamdani’s America 250 speech framed immigration and wealth inequality in terms of an “arena of supremacy,” while Pratt urged Americans to embrace their country and push back against efforts to rewrite history.
More than 800,000 fireworks illuminated the National Mall in Washington, DC, to mark America 250. The celebration, including the Salute to America with President Trump, was briefly interrupted by a thunderstorm that forced an evacuation, but attendees returned for the fireworks and continued the event.
The Bulwark editors say Trump tried to hijack America’s 250th birthday with self-promoting stunts, but history—and a broader display of democratic values (the Pope’s Independence Hall remarks on liberty and immigration, plus champions like Zelensky and Magyar)—outshone him, underscoring the nation’s resilience over narcissistic spectacle.
President Trump railed about crowd turnout after videos showed gaps at the National Mall, claiming 422,000 attendees before severe weather forced evacuations and that many returned for a late speech; White House comment was not provided and coverage highlighted that the turnout appeared smaller than historic milestones.
As America marks 250 years of independence, Taylor Swift’s Independence Day moment and Donald Trump’s patriotic rally weave a tale of two national figures whose showmanship defines the holiday as much as any policy, spotlighting the tension between celebrity-driven spectacle and foundational ideals during the July 4 weekend.
Washington, DC, is gearing up for the United States' 250th birthday celebration with 850,000 fireworks, planned flyovers, and a notably long presidential address, in hot conditions.
A photo gallery covers Fourth of July celebrations in the DC region, including a promised 850,000-shell Salute to America 250 on the National Mall; despite dangerous heat that caused some disruptions, the events largely proceeded, though severe weather later forced evacuations and disrupted festivities around the Mall.
Shoppers in NYC will spend about $295 on a 10-person July 4th barbecue, up 31% from $232 last year, as prices for beef patties, hot dogs, cheese, beer, ketchup and tomatoes surge due to drought, tariffs and higher transport costs, adding about $63 to the typical cookout.
President Trump used a July 4th National Mall speech to mix patriotic celebration with a partisan pitch, praising his achievements, casting opponents as a threat, and urging action on the Save America Act and changes to election rules, while veterans, Artemis II astronauts, and a high-energy fireworks display framed the event as a continuation of his political narrative ahead of the midterms.