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In a political wasteland dominated by billionaires, war criminals and mega-corporations, the head of the Catholic church is a rare figure of moral leadershipWhat do Donald Trump, Vladimir Putin and Benjamin Netanyahu have in common? Answer: a chronic inability to tell right from wrong. The three leaders currently causing the most harm in the world share a predilection for violence, a chilling lack of compassion, and extraordinary self-regard mixed with paranoia. Yet the characteristic linking them most closely is their rejection of - or failure to grasp - basic moral standards. Worse, these men typically behave, in their public lives at least, in ways that are fundamentally immoral. And that's a problem for everyone. Their moral malaise is contagious.Ideas about what, in absolute terms, constitutes right and wrong are always contentious, as moral philosophers from Aristotle to Kant have shown. Pope Leo, leader of the world's Catholics, warned recently that we are living in a time when it is becoming difficult even to recognise what is truly good for everyone". Yet most people, most of the time, observe a personal moral code held in common with others. There is broad agreement, for example, that it's wrong to kill, steal, cheat and lie. In an ostensibly secular age, 76% of people worldwide identified with a religion in 2020 - a potent expression of individual and collective morality.Simon Tisdall is a Guardian foreign affairs commentator Continue reading...

In late-night campaign-style speech in Washington DC, US president vows to take the US to new levels'Donald Trump has hailed the unmatched achievement and unlimited potential" of the US in a triumphalist address marking the country's 250th anniversary.In a late-night campaign-style speech in Washington DC on Saturday, the US president claimed his country was just getting started" as he vowed to take it to new levels". Continue reading...

Hundreds of masked members of the white supremacist organization marched and chanted in the US capitalHundreds of masked men carrying banners, including the Confederate flag, marched through Washington DC on the Fourth of July, the 250th anniversary of the US's inception.The group appeared to be led by Thomas Rousseau, founder of the neo-fascist, white supremacist organization Patriot Front. Members of the group wore white masks and gathered in front of DC's Union Station. They later marched towards Capitol Hill, WTOP reported. Continue reading...

Canada battled hard but Morocco had too much quality as the co-hosts journey came to an endThe prize on offer today is a quarter-final against either Paraguay or France. There's a cheap strikethrough gag begging to be made there, and goodness knows we're cheap and jaded enough to usually do it. But nobody's taking anything for granted after Argentina's scrape with disaster against the heroic and inspired Cape Verde. Here's how last night's instant-classic antics went down in Rotterdam, where six of the Blue Sharks were born.It's the big pennant showdown ... and it's as good as a walkover for Morocco. Achraf Hakimi will hand over this uniquely shaped artefact that almost literally drips with beauty. The Arabic script translates as Royal Moroccan Football Federation, so there's no detail anywhere of today's fixture and opponent; unfortunately that's one point docked. However two bonus points are awarded for the sheer elegance of Arabic script. Total score: 11 out of 10. Continue reading...

Mt Olive Pickle Company says it was unaware image of flag was included in exhibit, and cites value of human dignity'A leading vendor of the US delicacy that is the pickle has withdrawn from the Great American State Fair in Washington DC after North Carolina's booth displayed a video containing a Confederate flag.The Mt Olive Pickle Company, which is located in eastern North Carolina and bills itself as the #1 bestselling brand of pickles, peppers and relishes in the US", told local news station WNCT it had been unaware that an image of the flag would be included in a video as part of the state's exhibit. Continue reading...

Our writers with the latest news and reaction as the last 16 stage beginsAustralia lost to Egypt on penalties in one of the more disastrous shootout cock ups. Changing goalkeepers is a bold move, especially when Mat Ryan made a right Shilton of himself.Jonathan Wilson was there. Continue reading...

Officials rescued seven other people after a sudden storm led to a boat sinking on Geneva LakeThree children died after a boat capsized on Wisconsin's Geneva Lake during inclement weather on the eve of the US's semiquincentennial celebrations, and seven other people had to be rescued by emergency responders, according to officials.A recreational motor boat with 10 passengers, including four children, sank on Friday afternoon as the boat attempted to navigate to safety as weather conditions deteriorated" amid an intense, sudden storm, the city of Lake Geneva police department said in a statement. Continue reading...

A decade in the making, the 1976 bicentennial had a cathartic impact on the wounded national polity

Pardons issued to nine people charged with violating Clean Air Act as extreme heat smothers much of USDonald Trump on Friday issued pardons to 11 men - two convicted fraudsters and nine charged with having violated the federal Clean Air Act by disabling or otherwise modifying trucks' emissions controls.Those executive pardons - coming amid US semiquincentennial celebrations blanketed in extreme heat exacerbated by greenhouse gas emissions - were among a broader wave of acts of clemency from Trump during his second presidency, chiefly for those he considers to be aligned with him. Continue reading...

National Weather Service issued an extreme heat warning as high temperatures have paralyzed the east coastOrganizers of Saturday's Independence Day parade in Washington DC abruptly canceled the event late on the eve of the event, with sweltering temperatures in the nation's capital and on the east coast wreaking havoc on celebrations of America's semiquincentennial.The event, hosted by the National Park Service (NPS), was scheduled to begin at 10.30am on Saturday. But organizers said they canceled the procession due to an extreme heart warning issued by the National Weather Service (NWS). Continue reading...

The oil giant's sponsorship deal with Fifa has featured prominently at matches in Houston. But 100 miles away in another Texas city, residents say the firm's refinery is exposing them to poisonous gases and long-term health problemsThe street is wide, its grass verges thick and scruffy after a week of rainstorms. Jamal Johnson will walk home straight down the middle carrying his plastic shopping bag, a jot of motion through the stillness. He lives in one of the modest wood-panelled houses spaced out on each side, most lovingly kept and passed through at least two generations. There is nobody else in sight, but a freight train breaks the silence, grinding left to right along the line flanking the north-facing gardens. The west side of Port Arthur, Texas, could be any lower-income neighbourhood in the southern states if it were not for the looming menace on the other side of the track.This is a sad, unsettling place. I've got a load of friends and family who've had weird diseases," says Johnson, his face contorting at the thought. He lists a grandfather and aunt who died of cancer, the latter at a young age after relocating here to care for other relatives. An uncle died with complications from ALS (motor neurone disease). You know what I'm saying? Man, they've let off all these poisonous gases; it's like that all the time. It's fucked up." Continue reading...

The congressman spent four months mysteriously away from work, but he doesn't seem to think his constituents should get mandated sick daysThe mystery of the missing congressman has finally been solved. Almost four months ago Tom Kean Jr, a Republican, vanished from public view. He missed more than 100 votes, all while continuing to collect his full taxpayer-funded salary of $174,000 along with excellent benefits. The only explanation given for his absence was a cryptic statement from his office in late April saying he was dealing with a personal health matter". Kean's father, former New Jersey governor Tom Kean Sr, further told CNN in May that his son was battling a temporary illness and would be back to work soon.This week, Kean finally resurfaced and explained that he'd been absent due to inpatient treatment for depression. Why hadn't he said anything about this earlier? Kean said he was private person by nature". Which is great, but maybe don't choose a job in public service in that case.Arwa Mahdawi is a Guardian columnist Continue reading...

As the US celebrates 250 years, the Declaration of Independence has been curiously absent. Yet its language on the consent of the governed is more relevant than everIt's America's birthday. Ear-splitting pyrotechnics will be heard across the land tonight, as they were a few weeks ago, after the cage fight at the White House. On 24 June, the administration launched the Great American State Fair, with spectacular flyovers" from fighter jets and stealth bombers. Six 18-wheel Freedom Trucks" are barreling down the highways, bringing history-lite pop-up displays, mainly to red states. Later this summer, we will hear drivers revving their engines, deafeningly, as they leave skid marks around the National Mall during the Indy car race scheduled for 22 August. It's gonna get loud.But one guest is apparently not invited to the party. The Declaration of Independence, the reason we are convening, has been curiously absent from the lead-up. That feels strange for a document that essentially rewrote world history. Continue reading...

Pope Leo urges Americans to live up to ideals of Declaration of Independence in first key address to USPope Leo has used his first key address to his home country to praise the US history of welcoming migrants, urging Americans to live up to the ideals put forward in the Declaration of Independence.In his latest implicit rebuke to Donald Trump, the first US leader of the Roman Catholic church said the word America" had become a byword for freedom" across the world because of the way the country welcomed migrants. Continue reading...

Instead of a UFC event and poorly attended state fair, how about ditching the electoral college and a new season of Game of Thrones?I hate birthdays, especially my own, which is ominously arriving next month. I used to love them, back in those days when I had something tangible to look forward to: getting my first car, graduating high school, my first legal alcoholic drink, a new Star Wars film that's actually good. That time is long gone. I can do all those things I listed, plus I haven't seen a good Star Wars movie in more than 20 years. What am I even celebrating at 42? A slightly paunchier waistline? A larger bald spot? If the present you're getting me isn't a free Turkish hair transplant, I don't want it. I don't relish being 42, but imagine if I were 250?America (the country, not the band) turns 250 this weekend, and we're all meant to celebrate that fact on the Fourth of July. Millions of dollars have been poured into marking the occasion, though few of the events hold much appeal for me. I didn't watch the UFC event; I have no desire to watch a bunch of cars driving around in circles, and the PragerU Freedom Truck hasn't even come to my town. I couldn't even get to finally see Vanilla Ice live in concert. Like every birthday, a lot of money has poured into a day where no one has any fun. Continue reading...

Guardian readers on celebrating on Independence Day every year - and especially this yearThis Fourth of July, the United States will mark the 250th anniversary of its independence from Britain, a milestone that the Donald Trump administration is commemorating with a series of events and celebrations across the National Mall.The anniversary arrives against a backdrop of civil rights rollbacks, immigration crackdowns and strained international relations. For some Americans, however, the date carries an added layer of significance: it is also their birthday. Continue reading...

Scholars will someday wonder how the richest country in history chose to throw it all away. But the crisis has been there since the beginningThe 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence has arrived at a moment of some embarrassment for the Republic. The United States of America, established to overthrow a mad king, has elected, 250 years later, a mad king of its very own. America is setting itself on fire at its birthday party. It always had a dramatic streak.In 30 or 40 years, scholars of history, if they exist, will want to know how the richest country in history, with the world's most powerful alliance network, and a scientific and research capacity fuelled by the talent of the world, chose to throw it all away. Continue reading...

Savings plans for children born between January 2025 and December 2028 launched as president seeks electoral boostTrump accounts, a savings vehicle named after the US president and authorized by congressional Republicans, are set to go live on Saturday, offering American parents a new way to save money for their children by investing in funds managed by major Wall Street firms.All accounts established for children born between January 2025 through December 2028 - nearly the entirety of Donald Trump's second term - will receive $1,000 from the government. Parents, friends and employers will be able to deposit as much as $5,000 a year into the accounts. Continue reading...

In a speech at Mount Rushmore, the US president claimed a resurgent communist menace' posed a severe threat to the countryDonald Trump has kicked off America's 250th birthday weekend with an extraordinary partisan attack on the communist menace" in America, framing its supporters as the enemy of July 4th 1776".The US president spoke for half an hour on Friday night at Mount Rushmore in South Dakota, the latest stop on his tour celebrating the milestone anniversary of the US Declaration of Independence from Britain. Continue reading...

Donald Trump has kicked off America's 250th birthday weekend with an attack on the 'communist menace' in America. The US president spoke for half an hour on Friday night at Mount Rushmore in South Dakota, the latest stop on his tour celebrating the milestone anniversary of the US declaration of independence from Britain

There are plenty of reasons for Americans to feel discomfort about the behavior of their country. But sports have a way of bringing joy and unityThe US men's national team are on the verge of history. One win away from matching their best-ever run in the World Cup's modern era, they are playing with more verve and quality than they ever have before at this stage. Wednesday's win over Bosnia and Herzegovina has begotten a rarity: American soccer, in the spotlight, in America.To longtime US soccer fans, the question of whether to support this particular team at this particular time is barely a question. Or if it is one, it's vaguely along the lines of should I breathe?" Continue reading...

We assess the standing of the nations who played in the tournament's last 32 before the next round of games beginsLes Bleus look unstoppable - all six of our judges ranked them No 1. Sweden did their best to cope with the French front four but were blown away by the slickest operation in town. Even when an opponent is feeling comfortable, Michael Olise or Kylian Mbappe can produce genius without notice, ripping apart the best-organised defences. I did say that I wanted to enjoy this World Cup to the fullest," Mbappe told reporters after the Sweden game. It is hard to imagine the fun stopping any time soon. Continue reading...

From the gold rush to civil rights, the moon landing to 9/11, the US has always understood, mythologised and sold itself through the power of the still imageThe United States was founded in 1776, but did not begin to see itself until the autumn of 1839, when daguerreotypes, the first form of photograph, reached American cities. You could argue the US began again on the morning it could look at its own face.At first photography seemed to answer the democratic promise of 1776. A portrait was no longer reserved for the rich; almost anyone could now leave a trace of their existence. The gold rush became one of the first great American dramas to find the camera: ordinary diggers squinting into the lens, looking beyond it for gold. A more emblematic American scene can scarcely be imagined: what would be called the American Dream, a lottery everyone plays and very few win. The myth was not that they all found gold - it was that the search itself made them American. Continue reading...

The couple were married in a star-studded ceremony at Madison Square Garden

The couple invited an array of celebrity guests to the wedding, including Gigi Hadid and Bradley Cooper, while Adam Sandler officiated their nuptials

A fight between two groups of young people who knew each other escalated into gunfire, police saidA shooting altercation between two groups of young people at a shopping mall in Dearborn, Michigan, left two people dead and a third injured over what is typically the most violent weekend of the year in the US, police said.The shooting occurred as the US began celebrating the Fourth of July, historically a holiday weekend that sees higher rates of gun violence across the country. In 2024, the Gun Violence Archive reported more than 500 shootings over Independence Day weekend. Continue reading...

Attendance had been thin to Trump's unbelievable' event before an increase on Friday - and then the high temperatures swept inEven by Trumpian standards, the event was promoted with intense hyperbole: nothing short, the US president suggested, of the the most unforgettable birthday party any country has ever seen".It's gonna be great," Donald Trump proclaimed on the opening night of the Great American State Fair, the centerpiece of the US 250th anniversary celebrations. It's gonna be unbelievable." Continue reading...

Parasite cyclospora spreads through produce and water contaminated with feces and causes the intestinal illness cyclosporiasisThe US Centers for Disease Prevention has been working to find the source of a parasitic illness that causes explosive", watery diarrhea, with more than 400 cases of the sickness reported across 18 states.The parasite, cyclospora, spreads through raw produce and water contaminated with human feces - and it causes the intestinal illness cyclosporiasis, whose symptoms include cramps, nausea, fatigue, loss of appetite, low-grade fever and vomiting. The most commonly reported symptom is watery diarrhea with frequent and sometimes explosive bowel movements", according to the CDC. Continue reading...

Russian airstrikes on Kyiv, the aftermath of the earthquakes in Venezuela, a brutal heatwave in Europe and Harry Kane at the World Cup - the past seven days as captured by the world's leading photojournalists Continue reading...

Republican Liz Murrill was indicted for the alleged intimidation of New Orleans elected officials

The latest news, reaction and build-up as the last-32 stage draws to a closePlayer guide | Bracketology | Knockout draw | Email usJulian Nagelsmann is set to resign as Germany coach, according to reports in the newspaper, Bild.It was reported on Friday the 38-year-old had agreed to leave following talks with senior German soccer officials, a three-hour secret summit" on Thursday at the German Football Association (DFB) headquarters in Frankfurt.That pundit was Ange Postecoglou, and now, Asia's No 1 team need him to not just talk the talk but walk the nation to the top level of the global game. The federation in Tokyo should do all they can to get his signature on a lengthy contract as he is going to be in demand this summer. Continue reading...

The US superstar golden couple Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce are finally tying the knot in a rumoured major event in New York's Madison Square Garden.The couple - who got engaged 10 months ago, announced via an Instagram post that received 14m likes in its first hour online - held an intimate rehearsal dinner at MSG with a rumoured guest list of 1,000 for today's ceremony and construction of a custom-made fairytale castle inside.But with tight security, NDAs and New York streets on lockdown - what do we know? Lucy Hough speaks to Guardian writer Elle Hunt Continue reading...

Tesla said Michael Butler disabled his car's self-driving mode before it plowed into Martha Avila's home in JuneA man whose Tesla Model 3 was allegedly in self-driving mode when it crashed into a home near Houston and killed a 76-year-old woman inside recently has been jailed on a count of manslaughter.Michael Butler's arrest in the 19 June death of Martha Avila was announced late on Wednesday in a Facebook post by the sheriff of Harris county, Texas, Ed Gonzalez. Continue reading...

New York mayor's speech cut ideological counterpoint to policies of president, who will deliver his own remarks later todayNew York's mayor, Zohran Mamdani, exalted the city's legacy of immigrants on Friday in a historically laden, ideological counterpoint to a US semiquincentennial address that was expected later in the day from Donald Trump - who has sought to deport immigrants en masse throughout his second presidency.Speaking from behind a desk at New York's city hall that belonged to the US's first president, George Washington, and which itself is a century older than the Resolute desk in the White House, Mamdani was surrounded by naturalized citizens like himself as he listed the waves of immigrants who shaped the city. Continue reading...

On paper, the US constitution is a thing of beauty. But the would-be emperor in Washington has revealed its great weaknessAmerica's big birthday has come at a bad time. On Saturday it will be a divided nation that marks 250 years since 13 North American colonies declared their independence from the Great Britain of George III. Many will be anxious that the republic they established that day is fragile - not least because of the would-be emperor in the White House.Some will console themselves that hope and angst have always been intertwined in the American story. From the very start, confidence in a bright, exceptional US future was combined with foreboding and doubt. At the close of the 1787 constitutional convention, a woman approached one of the founding fathers, Benjamin Franklin, to ask if the delegates had established a monarchy or a republic. Franklin's answer: A republic, if you can keep it."Jonathan Freedland is a Guardian columnistDo you have an opinion on the issues raised in this article? If you would like to submit a response of up to 300 words by email to be considered for publication in our letters section, please click here. Continue reading...

The New York City mayor delivered a speech on Friday morning from behind George Washington's desk in New York City Hall to mark the US's 250th anniversary Continue reading...

Against a backdrop of sweeping rollbacks of civil rights and deteriorating relations with allies, many are feeling cynicalAs the United States prepares to mark its 250th anniversary on 4 July, the country faces a turbulent moment under the Donald Trump administration.The anniversary coincides with sweeping rollbacks of civil rights, deteriorating relations with traditional allies and growing domestic opposition to the administration's handling of immigration and free speech. Against this backdrop, many Americans say they feel increasingly cynical about the country's future. Continue reading...

The 250th anniversary is arriving among Black communities as a whisper instead of a roarNot soon after Donald Trump's 2025 inauguration, there emerged a viral illustration of four Black women sitting at the top of a building while watching the world burn at a distance. They are observing with coffee cups in hand. An American flag hangs over the edge. If that exhaustion hadn't been made clear enough, Black people, particularly across TikTok and Threads, have urged one another to not give them a reaction".The them" is white people who find Black rage exciting and lucrative for their own personal gain. We're not allowing our anger to become spectacle. We're not shouting any more. What is most important is to stay alive, take care of one another, and to allow ourselves to step to the forefront for the rights that they have taken for granted as we've risked our lives to protect them. There is an old African American proverb: If you can't hear, then you must feel."Morgan Jerkins is a senior writer, race and equity, at the Guardian US

Investigations into president and corruption charges will get heavy scrutiny if Democrats win majority in midtermsDonald Trump's presidency is facing investigations and corruption charges from a key House Democrat and ex-prosecutors, involving political and personal abuses of power, which legal experts predict will get heavy scrutiny if Democrats win the House majority in the midterms.Legal critics call the scandals dogging the president target rich" for investigations that Democrats will have a field day" investigating if they win the House majority. Critics cite, for instance, Trump's damaging the rule of law by weaponizing the Department of Justice (DoJ) to exact revenge on political foes and protect himself from federal investigations, plus Trump moves to profit in radical ways from his presidency with lucrative and new cryptocurrency ventures. Continue reading...

Experts say the Food and Drug Administration is not prepared for the health threat of bacterial contaminationMultiple brands of infant formula have been recalled recently due to bacterial contamination, and experts say the Food and Drug Administration is inadequately prepared to deal with the health threat they pose in the wake of Trump administration cuts.Last March, the FDA announced the launch of Operation Stork Speed, specifically intended to expand options for safe, reliable, and nutritious infant formula for American families". Two months later, Martin Makary, who was FDA commissioner at the time, told Congress that the FDA had lost around 3,100 employees due to the Trump administration's reorganization and cuts. Makary departed the FDA the same month. Continue reading...

Amid Trump's immigration crackdown, thousands take the oath of allegiance in a US not as welcoming as in the past'In June, Yesica McKeone officially became a US citizen. At the naturalization ceremony, she raised a hand and took the oath of allegiance to a country on the verge of its 250th anniversary. Thousands of new citizens recited the oath alongside her. Some cried softly.I'm finally here," McKeone, 32, remembered thinking about her citizenship journey. At two years old, she left Michoacan, Mexico, with her family and settled in California, where she became a permanent resident. Now, home is a pastoral patch of land in Solvang, in the heart of California's central coast. Continue reading...

This weekend marks 250 years since the signing of the declaration of independence, but Donald Trump is making the celebration all about himself. As the anniversary approaches, Jonathan Freedland talks to the Atlantic's Yoni Appelbaum about why so many Americans are feeling less patriotic these days Continue reading...

Ceremony for Ali Khamenei intended to be epic display of national power. Plus, the expected wedding of Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce pays dividend to good causesGood morning. Final preparations are under way for Ali Khamenei's six-day funeral. The farewell to the former supreme leader is expected to draw millions in Iran. Khamenei was killed in the opening salvo of the US-Israeli attack on the country in February, and the funeral is intended to be an epic display of personal mourning, national power, resilience and social cohesion.Iran's first vice-president, Mohammad Reza Aref, who is the lead funeral organiser, described the ceremony, which begins on Saturday in Tehran and will end with Khamenei's burial on Thursday in Mashhad, as the most important event of this century" and the most attended event since the 1979 revolution. The scale of the funeral has been conceived to relay political and religious messages of resistance to the rest of the world. At the request of Iraqi politicians, Khamenei's body will also be carried through the Iraqi Shia cities of Karbala and Najaf.Will Ali Khamenei's successor take part? Khamenei's son and successor, Mojtaba Khamenei, is not expected to make an appearance at his father's funeral. He was severely injured in the same US-Israeli strike that killed his father and also killed Mojtaba's wife and his 14-month-old daughter. The extent of Mojtaba's injuries is unknown and he has so far issued only written statements, including one that distanced himself from the ceasefire negotiations but sanctioned their continuance. Israel's defence minister, Israel Katz, threatened to kill him this week, saying he was marked for death.Why is Trump so unhappy with Nato? Aside from the failure of countries such as the UK and France to join in with the US-Israeli war on Iran, Trump has long complained that Europe does not spend enough on defence. Under pressure from the US, Nato leaders agreed at a gathering last year to boost defence-related spending to 5% of GDP by 2035. Continue reading...

America at 250 is not a finished monument, but a structure still under repairTo call this Saturday the nation's 250th birthday is to indulge a comfortable fiction. 1776 was a declaration, not a birth certificate - and the founders wrote its claims of human equality while this nation enslaved human beings. A truer account of American freedom runs through 1619 and Juneteenth, when Americans forced the country, at last, to begin making its promises answerable to reality.So I'm not in the mood to celebrate America 250", and I'm not alone. The affection is thin this summer: the Pew Research Center found that 69% of Americans were dissatisfied with the country's direction early this year. That is not ingratitude. Sometimes a sour mood is simply clear vision.Jamil Smith is a Guardian US columnist Continue reading...

Amid America's 250th-birthday celebrations, the Eagles are facing tough challenges, looking for momentum and meaning on and off the fieldSaturday is America's 250th birthday and a huge national holiday but the US Eagles will be working. The men are in Denver, kicking off the World Rugby Nations Cup against Portugal, champions of Europe's second tier. The women are in Johannesburg for the first of two games against South Africa, a double bill with the Springbok men facing England.I'm dual nationality," said the women's captain, Georgie Perris-Redding, who speaks with a Manchester accent but was born in Detroit and whose development included a stint at the American Pro Rugby Training Center in Little Rock, Arkansas, a groundbreaking operation that nurtured US women's talent.USA v South Africa and USA v Portugal are broadcast in the US on Paramount+.Martin Pengelly writes on rugby in the US on Substack, at The National Maul. Continue reading...

America has long stood for freedom and prosperity, but under Trump insults, threats and unpredictability have become the new norm. As the US marks its 250th anniversary, Guardian correspondents around the world report on how it is perceived elsewhereAmy Hawkins in Beijing Continue reading...

In today's newsletter: As official celebrations spotlight a narrow cast of white heroes, communities across the US are reclaiming the histories that Freedom 250 leaves outGood morning, and a very happy 250th birthday to the United States of America. If you prefer to celebrate with cage fighting on the White House lawn, an IndyCar rally through the streets of Washington DC, or simply by watching the president do his lonely bop to YMCA at a sparsely attended state fair, so much the better.It takes a special kind of someone to make the semiquincentennial birthday of a nation of 349 million people, from a whole variety of backgrounds, all about himself. But he wouldn't be the only one centred on a very particular (white, male, Christian-centric) view of how the nation came to be.UK news | Women from Black and Asian backgrounds are less likely than their white counterparts to receive an epidural while giving birth, research has revealed.Ukraine | Ukraine and Russia have promised fresh assaults after Moscow launched a huge barrage on Kyiv, killing at least 27 people, tearing open apartment buildings and sending tens of thousands of people to shelters.UK news | Criminal investigators in the UK say they have uncovered a truly international network" of organised drug-facilitated sexual assault in which victims are sedated before being raped and sexually assaulted.UK politics | Keir Starmer has formally apologised for the British state's role in past forced adoptions after decades of campaigning by mothers and children affected.World news | A rescue team pulled a 43-year-old security guard alive from a collapsed basement, ending an operation that became a symbol of hope after the devastation of twin earthquakes that struck Venezuela. Continue reading...