The United States celebrates 250 years

The United States celebrates 250 years

The United States celebrates its 250th anniversary, but is President Trump politicising the occasion? Also in the programme: Iran mourns late Ayatollah Khamenei ahead of his funeral; and Cape Verde, the small African island nation that made history in this World Cup. (Photograph: Fighter jets over New York. Credit: Shutterstock)

Trump: 'The most extraordinary republic ever, ever, ever'

President Trump has used a speech on the eve of the 250th anniversary of US independence to claim that American identity is under threat from domestic 'radicals' and 'extremists'. At the Mount Rushmore national monument, Mr Trump warned of a resurgence of what he called 'the communist menace' and 'newcomers' who embrace ideas opposed to the American way of life. Also in the programme: The Iranian authorities say they expect up to 20 million people to take part in six days of ceremonies paying respect to Iran's former Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei; and Taylor Swift and the American footballer Travis Kelce get married in New York. (Photo: US President Donald Trump delivers a speech during a celebration for the 250th anniversary of US independence at Mount Rushmore, July 3, 2026. Credit: Reuters/Kylie Cooper)

Khamenei’s six-day funeral expected to draw millions

The coffin of Iran's late Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, is on display along with those of four family members at the Grand Mosalla mosque in Tehran. Millions of people are expected to attend Saturday's official ceremony. We hear from our correspondent in Tehran. Also on the programme: a Ukrainian woman is named as the main suspect in the Monaco bomb attack; and Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce are rumoured to be tying the knot today in New York's Madison Square Garden. (Photo: An Iranian man walks in front of a billboard of late Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei ahead of his funeral ceremonies in Tehran on July 3, 2026. Credit: EPA/Shutterstock)

Funeral begins for Iran's late Supreme Leader

Iran has begun several days of public mourning and funeral processions for its former Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, more than four months after he was killed in strikes launched by the US and Israel. Tehran is using the occasion as an opportunity to project to the world an image of power. Also in the programme: There's a grim warning from the UN that another humanitarian catastrophe is imminent in Sudan; why taking maternity leave as a town mayor is highly controversial in Japan; and we'll hear about the dolphins that are the gauge of marine destruction in the Adriatic Sea. (Photo shows mourners gathered by the coffin of Iran's late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei at the Imam Khomeini Grand Mosalla in Tehran, Iran, on 3 July 2026. Credit: Mohammed Salem/Reuters)

Venezuela quake survivor pulled out alive after eight days

A man has been rescued alive after being trapped for eight days in the rubble of a building that collapsed after twin earthquakes in Venezuela. We’ll hear from one of the rescuers in Catia La Mar. Also on the programme: Ukrainian officials say now that at least 25 people were killed in Russia's huge overnight attacks on Kyiv; and the chair of the jury of one of the world's most highly regarded international piano competitions tells us why he's planning to rip up the rule-book. (Photo: Rescue workers carry an earthquake survivor after the person was trapped under the rubble for eight days in Catia La Mar, Venezuela on July 2, 2026. Credit: EPA/Shutterstock)