Celebration of the 250th anniversary of the United States

July 4th parade in Washington is canceled due to the heat

Saturday's Independence Day parade in Washington DC has been abruptly canceled due to the heat, reports The Guardian.

The parade was supposed to start at 4:30 p.m., Swedish time, but at the last minute, organizers decided to cancel it due to a warning from the weather agency NWS. The temperature is expected to rise to 102 degrees.

An intense heat wave has hit large parts of the United States and put a damper on the 250th anniversary celebrations. The heat, exacerbated by high humidity, has put great pressure on transportation and power grids.

Yesterday, Donald Trump's Great American State Fair in Washington DC was forced to temporarily close after 44 visitors were treated for heat-related illnesses.

The president is scheduled to deliver a lengthy speech on the National Mall in the capital on Saturday evening, local time, followed by a world-record 850,000 fireworks display.

World leaders congratulate the United States on its 250th anniversary

A number of world leaders are congratulating the United States, which is celebrating 250 years of independence today, reports The Hill.

“For 250 years, our transatlantic partnership has been shaped by our shared values ​​and family ties,” writes European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.

Pope Leo XIV, the British royal family, United Arab Emirates President Mohammed bin Zayed and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte also sent tributes.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy writes:

“May the dreams of free peoples always triumph over the evil and hatred of those who want to destroy freedom.”

Russian President Vladimir Putin addresses both Donald Trump and the Americans directly:

“Donald, I wish you and your loved ones health, well-being and success, and I wish happiness and prosperity to all citizens of the United States.”

JD Vance takes a swipe at US critics in Fourth of July speech

In a speech on the 250th anniversary of the United States, Vice President JD Vance takes a swipe at the country’s critics, reports AFP.

Aboard the USS Kearsarge warship outside New York, Vance says that many people will be talking “not about our national greatness, but about our national shortcomings” during the day.

“They talk about America’s sins with the anger and zeal of a fiery preacher, without any of the grace and forgiveness that must be found in the Christian faith,” he says.

These critics “misunderstand the essence of America,” he adds.