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Trump Turns 80 with Cage Fight, Iran Deal

Mauricio Ruffy celebrates after winning his fight against Michael Chandler at UFC Freedom 250 on the South Lawn of the White House, Sunday, June 14, 2026, in Washington. (AP)
Mauricio Ruffy celebrates after winning his fight against Michael Chandler at UFC Freedom 250 on the South Lawn of the White House, Sunday, June 14, 2026, in Washington. (AP)
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Trump Turns 80 with Cage Fight, Iran Deal

Mauricio Ruffy celebrates after winning his fight against Michael Chandler at UFC Freedom 250 on the South Lawn of the White House, Sunday, June 14, 2026, in Washington. (AP)
Mauricio Ruffy celebrates after winning his fight against Michael Chandler at UFC Freedom 250 on the South Lawn of the White House, Sunday, June 14, 2026, in Washington. (AP)

US President Donald Trump celebrated his 80th birthday with an extraordinary display of political machismo Sunday, staging a cage fight on the White House lawn hours after announcing a peace deal with Iran.

In unprecedented scenes, Trump walked out of the Oval Office alongside Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) boss Dana White and headed towards the giant arena dubbed "The Claw."

On the way, the reality TV star-turned-president mounted the historic Truman balcony and saluted while the national anthem and 12 US military jets staged a noisy flyover of the White House.

Trump then took his place on the South Lawn, beside the mesh-fenced cage called the Octagon where 14 fighters will beat each other bloody in the first professional sporting event ever held at the White House.

He was cageside as the first fighter, Brazil's Diego Lopes, won by a knockout.

The icing on the cake for the birthday festivities of the oldest US president ever to take office had come earlier as he said a peace deal with Iran was now "complete."

But there could still be rain on Trump's parade, with thunderstorms over Washington causing at least one delay to the $60 million mixed martial arts tournament.

The "UFC Freedom 250" event is linked to this year's festivities for the 250th anniversary of US independence -- but it also happens to fall not only on the US public holiday of Flag Day, but on the same day that Trump enters his ninth decade.

- 'Bit of selfishness' -

Critics have derided the cage fight, saying it is a tacky debasement of the White House by a president who has repeatedly shattered norms during his time in power.

Billionaire Trump has also faced criticism for staging the event amid a war with Iran that has sent global energy prices soaring and caused a major knock-on effect for US consumers.

But fans gathered to watch the extravaganza on a giant screen on the Ellipse outside the White House defended the event.

"I do think maybe it's like a little bit of selfishness, but he is the leader, so he has a say," Nyles Rife, a 35-year-old sports performance coach from Virginia, told AFP.

"If I was a president, if I were to have a UFC event on my birthday, and it fell on the 250th anniversary/Flag day, I'd do the same. Why not?"

Mark Toone, a 50-year-old US Marine Corps veteran, said the fight was "totally emblematic and representative of American culture."

"I think that it's unfortunate that the opposition is spreading lots of lies and untruths about this event," he said.

The billionaire president -- who has deep ties with a sport whose young male fans reflect his own political base -- has defended the UFC event as a unique spectacle.

"This is going to be an event you're really gonna like," Trump said as he hosted some of the muscle-bound fighters in the Oval Office in May.

The White House says the UFC is bearing the entire cost.

- 'Not a number I like' -

But there has also been criticism of the commercialization of the event in the home of American democracy, with sponsors having their logos emblazoned on the Octagon.

The fight is also being broadcast exclusively by Paramount, the US broadcaster run by Trump ally David Ellison.

The macho spectacle has meanwhile distracted from questions about Trump's health as he ages.

Trump loves to compare his virility to Democratic predecessor Joe Biden, who also turned 80 in office, but was forced to drop his bid for a second term after a disastrous debate with the Republican.

But from bruised hands to a vein condition in his legs and apparent sleepiness in meetings, Trump has also had a number of issues, even though his doctor says he's in excellent health.

Trump admitted that he was "not happy about that birthday that I'm having," in a video posted by one of his officials this week. "It's not a number I like, but I'm here nevertheless."

For his last birthday, Trump oversaw an unprecedented military parade in Washington, marking the 250th anniversary of the US army.

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World

US: Pro-Palestinian Protesters Sentenced over Blocking Golden Gate Bridge Traffic in 2024

The Golden Gate Bridge during sunrise seen from Marin Headlands viewpoint in Marin County, California, US October 5, 2024. REUTERS/Manuel Orbegozo/File Photo
The Golden Gate Bridge during sunrise seen from Marin Headlands viewpoint in Marin County, California, US October 5, 2024. REUTERS/Manuel Orbegozo/File Photo
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US: Pro-Palestinian Protesters Sentenced over Blocking Golden Gate Bridge Traffic in 2024

The Golden Gate Bridge during sunrise seen from Marin Headlands viewpoint in Marin County, California, US October 5, 2024. REUTERS/Manuel Orbegozo/File Photo
The Golden Gate Bridge during sunrise seen from Marin Headlands viewpoint in Marin County, California, US October 5, 2024. REUTERS/Manuel Orbegozo/File Photo

Seven protesters who blocked traffic on the Golden Gate Bridge in a 2024 pro-Palestinian protest against Israel's assault on Gaza have been sentenced to 30 days, with credit for time already served.

They were convicted in July of misdemeanor charges by a San Francisco jury that remained deadlocked on the more serious charge of felony conspiracy.

Defense attorneys said demonstrators acted out of a moral responsibility to oppose the devastation from Israeli strikes on Gaza and Washington's support for its ally.

San Francisco District Attorney Brooke Jenkins said the protest caused ⁠a safety risk ⁠for those stuck in traffic and there should be consequences when laws are broken.

"Throughout history, civil disobedience has mostly involved accepting legal consequences," Superior Court Judge Teresa Caffese was quoted as saying by KQED.

"In that spirit, those who blocked the bridge and disrupted the lives of hundreds of ⁠commuters should be treated respectfully, but should also be prepared to accept the consequences of their actions."

The sentences included half the time in county jail while the remaining days can be served at a work release program operated by the San Francisco Sheriff's Office. There will be four days' credit for previous time already served. The sentencing also included six months of probation, and fines and restitution of over $1,000, Reuters reported.

The defendants will remain free while the case is appealed, SFGate ⁠reported.

Defense ⁠attorneys argued that protesters resorted to blocking the bridge after writing letters and appealing to congressional representatives produced no result.

The jury convicted the seven protesters on misdemeanor counts including false imprisonment, obstruction of thoroughfare, unlawful assembly and in one defendant's case refusal to disperse.

The jury did not reach a verdict on the most serious charge of felony conspiracy, an agreement between two or more people to commit a crime coupled with an overt act, which could have had a sentence of up to 15 years. Prosecutors said they will not retry the charges.

World

Landfill Collapse Kills 30 in Guinea

Residents and rescuers use an excavator to search for bodies after a landslide struck the Dar es Salaam dumpsite overnight in Conakry on August 23, 2026. (Photo by AFP)
Residents and rescuers use an excavator to search for bodies after a landslide struck the Dar es Salaam dumpsite overnight in Conakry on August 23, 2026. (Photo by AFP)
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Landfill Collapse Kills 30 in Guinea

Residents and rescuers use an excavator to search for bodies after a landslide struck the Dar es Salaam dumpsite overnight in Conakry on August 23, 2026. (Photo by AFP)
Residents and rescuers use an excavator to search for bodies after a landslide struck the Dar es Salaam dumpsite overnight in Conakry on August 23, 2026. (Photo by AFP)

Thirty people died in Guinea's capital Conakry on Sunday when a mound of rubbish in a landfill collapsed before dawn onto neighboring homes following heavy rains, the government said.

Six others were seriously injured in the 2:00 am (0200 GMT) incident in the Bbessia district's Dar-es-salam neighborhood on the capital's outskirts, a government statement said.

Neighborhood leader Lancine Sylla had previously told AFP that he feared a heavy toll.

"We have pulled out 18 bodies that were taken to the morgue," he told AFP.

Guinea's minister for territorial administration Djenabou Toure went to the scene of the accident, where AFP photographers saw excavators take part in a search-and-rescue operation through the collapsed landfill under the gaze of a crowd of onlookers.

In recent days, the government had ordered the expulsion of people and safety measures around the site because of fears of a collapse.

World

French Ambassador to Asharq Al-Awsat: Mohammed bin Salman’s Visit Paves Way for New Phase of Strategic Partnership

Patrick Maisonnave, French Ambassador to Saudi Arabia (Asharq Al-Awsat).
Patrick Maisonnave, French Ambassador to Saudi Arabia (Asharq Al-Awsat).
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French Ambassador to Asharq Al-Awsat: Mohammed bin Salman’s Visit Paves Way for New Phase of Strategic Partnership

Patrick Maisonnave, French Ambassador to Saudi Arabia (Asharq Al-Awsat).
Patrick Maisonnave, French Ambassador to Saudi Arabia (Asharq Al-Awsat).

A senior French official stressed that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s visit to France on Sunday means, in short, that Riyadh and Paris are entering a new phase of a genuine strategic partnership. He said the visit will address diplomacy, security, defense, investment, energy, culture, technology, and education.

Patrick Maisonnave, the French ambassador to Saudi Arabia, told Asharq Al-Awsat that the momentum is now being further strengthened through the visit of Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman to France and the first meeting of the French-Saudi Strategic Partnership Council.

According to Maisonnave, the council is particularly important because it provides a permanent institutional framework for this political ambition, allowing both countries to set priorities, measure progress, and develop long-term cooperation across the main pillars of the relationship.

He added that as the two countries seek to keep pace with profound geopolitical, economic, and technological changes, Mohammed bin Salman’s visit demonstrates a shared determination to move from a very strong bilateral partnership to a comprehensive strategic partnership.

He continued by saying that the readiness of the two leaderships to work together is not limited to bilateral issues, but also extends to regional stability, global challenges, and the major transformations shaping their societies, as the partnership enters a new phase with this visit.

He explained that the transformation Saudi Arabia is undergoing under Vision 2030, together with France’s strengths in sectors such as energy, infrastructure, culture, innovation, artificial intelligence, education, and creative industries, is creating new areas for convergence.

He stressed that the strategic dimension of the partnership lies precisely in this development, moving from a relationship based on strong cooperation to one increasingly grounded in shared objectives, long-term planning, and joint initiatives.

A Convergence Resilient to Challenges

Maisonnave affirmed that Riyadh and Paris have a well-established partnership and mutual trust that enable them to overcome the geopolitical challenges facing the region. He noted that the bilateral convergence translates into close coordination on the region’s most prominent crises.

He added that Paris and Riyadh are working together to support a two-state solution for Israelis and Palestinians and create the necessary political conditions for lasting peace. The two countries also share an interest in Yemen’s stability and in protecting freedom of navigation and the security of strategic maritime routes.

According to Maisonnave, the two countries support efforts to end the devastating war in Sudan and preserve the country’s unity and institutions. They also support Syria’s sovereignty, unity, and recovery, as well as the establishment of a stronger Lebanese state capable of exercising its authority, while reducing external interference and the influence of non-state armed groups.

He continued by saying that France and Saudi Arabia naturally have their own interests and perspectives, but have developed the ability to engage in frank dialogue, particularly during periods of regional tension and profound international changes. This has enabled the relationship not only to endure, but also to continually reinvent itself.

Ambassador Maisonnave said the distinctive nature of the Saudi-French relationship lies in its rare combination of historical depth, political trust, and a shared ability to look to the future. Over the past century, he explained, the two countries have built a relationship based on mutual respect, continuous dialogue, and, most importantly, strategic autonomy.

He added that the relationship is no longer defined solely by its history or traditional areas of cooperation. Instead, it is increasingly focused on what the two countries can build together over the coming decades. French President Emmanuel Macron’s visit to Saudi Arabia in December 2024 was a landmark moment that gave new political momentum to bilateral relations.

He attributed the resilience of bilateral relations since their establishment in 1926 to the fact that their strength lies in a century of accumulated trust, sustained political engagement at the highest levels, and a determination to adapt the partnership to each new historical period, despite some turning points along the way.

Maisonnave added that since diplomatic relations were established in 1926, France and Saudi Arabia have steadily expanded the scope of their cooperation. The relationship has accompanied the transformation of the Kingdom itself while responding at the same time to successive regional and international challenges. After 100 years, he said, the relationship is broader and deeper than at any previous stage in its history.

He continued by saying that this continuity is particularly evident today in diplomatic cooperation. At a time when the Middle East is going through one of its most significant periods of transformation, France and Saudi Arabia share a fundamental objective: preventing instability from becoming permanent and restoring the priority of diplomacy, state sovereignty, and international law.

Of particular importance, according to Maisonnave, is that this diplomatic coordination is developing alongside an equally deep economic and societal partnership. France is accompanying the transformation taking place in Saudi Arabia under Vision 2030 in areas ranging from investment and energy to culture, tourism, technology, education, and human capital development.

In his view, this gives the relationship an unprecedented scope, noting that strategic dialogue at the highest political levels is reinforced by growing ties between the two countries’ economies, institutions, and societies.

He also noted that the centenary of the establishment of diplomatic relations represents more than a commemoration of the past. It symbolizes the transition from one chapter to another in the history of the relationship.

Maisonnave explained that the first 100 years established and laid the foundations for a relationship based on trust. He stressed that the next 100 years must build on this legacy, making France and Saudi Arabia not merely partners in a changing world, but partners in shaping the future.