Free Republic

WASHINGTON — Construction is underway on the South Lawn of the White House as construction crews raise steel arches, lighting rigs and broadcast infrastructure to complete a temporary arena for "UFC Freedom 250." The professional fighting event tied to America's 250th anniversary celebration is scheduled for June 14, which marks Flag Day and President Donald Trump's 80th birthday. The most prominent feature currently taking shape is a star-spangled arch that will stretch over the octagon fight cage, featuring a red, white and blue color scheme and extensive lighting effects. The semicircular structure behind the octagon was manufactured in Pennsylvania and...

The U.S. blockade of Iranian ports will continue, and the ceasefire with Iran will be extended, President Donald Trump said Tuesday, citing "serious fractures” within the Iranian regime. “Based on the fact that the government of Iran is seriously fractured, not unexpectedly so, and, upon the request of Field Marshal Asim Munir and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif of Pakistan, we have been asked to hold our attack on the country of Iran until such time as their leaders and representatives can come up with a unified proposal,” Trump said in a post shared on Truth Social. “I have therefore directed...

While the post did not identify the women, it included a photo of Bita Hemmati, a protester arrested during anti-regime demonstrations in January The regime accused Hemmati of multiple crimes, including using explosives and weapons, throwing objects such as concrete blocks, participating in protest gatherings, and disrupting national security, according to the opposition National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI). Hemmati was arrested alongside her husband and two other men who lived in their apartment building, with all four sentenced to death for purported crimes against the regime. Also featured in the post were Diana Taherabadi, 16, and Mahboubeh Shabani,...