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Victoria Hicks, mother of Alexandra Hicks, told reporters that she feels 'justice is possible' after Meta settled in its US trial over teen addiction. On 26 August in a Oakland, California, federal courtroom, Meta agreed to establish safeguards for teenagers and pay up to $17bn. Dozens of US states had accused the tech giant of addicting and harming children with dangerous products Continue reading...

President denies visit was to gain support for Iran sanctions or due to fears that Putin plans to test Nato resolve'

US labels group global terrorist' as Palestine Action challenge against proscription in UK nears supreme court hearingThe US has issued sanctions against the UK-based direct action organisation Palestine Action, describing it as a transnational terror group".The US Department of the Treasury labelled Palestine Action a specially designated global terrorist on Wednesday, which allows the US to freeze the assets of foreign individuals and entities. Continue reading...

Tributes have poured in for Dolly Parton, the pioneering country music singer, songwriter and actor, who has died aged 80. Stars including Taylor Swift, Beyonce, Oprah Winfrey and Paul McCartney have paid tribute to one of the world's greatest music artists, with many praising her lifelong philanthropy and advocacy for literacy and LGBTQ+ rights. Lucy Hough speaks to Guardian deputy features editor Jenny Stevens Continue reading...

We need some new leadership,' says the Democratic nominee for governor in Iowa, Rob Sand

Debbie Wasserman Schultz and Wesley Bell to join as Jared Moskowitz becomes ranking member on sub-committeeThree pro-Israel Democrats have been given key roles on a powerful congressional body overseeing US foreign policy in a move rounding sharply counter to popular sentiment within the party and likely to anger leftwing activists.The appointments to the US House of Representatives foreign affairs committee follow a succession of wins in party primaries for progressive candidates who put criticism of Israel and its actions in Gaza at the core of their campaign messages. Continue reading...

This is a profoundly flawed decision that endangers our children and is an affront to Texas values,' Ken Paxton saysA federal judge has, for a second time, struck down a Texas state law banning drag performances in settings where children may be present.In a ruling issued on Tuesday, US district judge David Hittner said Texas cannot enforce its drag show ban. He said that the measure improperly restricts speech and violates the first amendment of the US constitution. Continue reading...

After the musician and philanthropist died at age 80 on Tuesday, people came out in droves to celebrate her life Continue reading...

In this episode of Guardian Australia's US politics podcast Decoding America, co-hosts Jonathan Yerushalmy and Reged Ahmad explore why datacentres in the US have provoked such anger - and whether that could harm Republicans in the midterms given Donald Trump is such a supporter of the growing industry.They also look at why the US and Canada are fighting over tariffs. The Canadian prime minister, Mark Carney, is pushing back and both countries could be on the cusp of a full-blown trade war.Finally: why does the Trump administration's secretary of transportation Sean Duffy have his very own YouTube show - and is he the only one?Read more:Canada announces retaliatory tariffs on wide range of US goodsTrump-backed Ken Paxton unveils Texas first' datacenter plan aimed at negative impact' Continue reading...

In states like Montana, range riders can play a key role in a wild landscape where livestock and predators navigate life togetherFor most people, the word cowboy" still summons a figure from Western folklore - a rough rider with a weathered face and a steely gaze, a self-reliant loner who answers to nobody, is fearless in the face of danger, and protects his lands from predators - animal and human alike.But over the past 15 years, a new range rider has emerged in the American West, one that is out on a wholly different mission: to live in a wild landscape where livestock and predators can co-exist. Continue reading...

World No 10 is one of the best players yet to win a major and heads to Flushing Meadows in fine form after learning to embrace being uncomfortableAmanda Anisimova can see the signs now. It is just over three years since the American announced she would be taking an indefinite break for mental health reasons. A brilliant junior, she was a semi-finalist at the French Open in 2019 and seemingly destined for the top, only for her world to be rocked by the sudden death of her father, Konstantin, a few months later. Struggling for motivation and burned out, in May 2023, she revealed she would be stepping away from the sport.It turned out to be the best decision she ever made. I learned how important it is to have a great balance on and off the court," Anisimova says in an interview from New York, ahead of the US Open, where she will try to go one better than last year and win her first grand slam title. Continue reading...

All US immigrant visa applications halted as state department moves to tighten restrictions and limit access. Plus tributes pour in for Dolly Parton, who has died aged 80Good morning. All US immigrant visa applications have been paused by the Trump administration as the state department moves to tighten restrictions and limit access to applicants whom they deem could need US assistance. The agency launched the initiative at all embassies and consulates in early August.Applicants with scheduled interviews were sent emails that their appointments had been canceled. Agency officials claim this will ensure visa applicants will not end up relying on US public benefits. This week the Trump administration also announced plans to revoke visas from asylum seekers who had initially entered the US for tourism or business. Up to 200,000 people seeking asylum could be affected.Is the move lawful? The court made clear that immigration laws cannot be used to justify discrimination," Joanna Cuevas Ingram, a senior staff attorney at the National Immigration Law Center, said. In February, a federal judge overturned the president's attempt to suspend the US refugee system entirely.Why are the states suing Meta? The lawsuit centers on the allegations that Meta deliberately designed addictive products that hooked young people, leading to mental health issues, including anxiety, depression and suicide. Meta has denied all allegations, saying the states are chasing an outlandish payout". Continue reading...

Piketon datacenter promises to generate thousands of jobs, but environmental groups voice concern over projectOn a winding road tucked away behind forests in the Appalachian foothills of southern Ohio is where OpenAI, Nvidia and Japanese investors are set to spend $500bn on one of the largest artificial intelligence datacenters on the planet.Last March, the energy secretary, Chris Wright, the commerce secretary, Howard Lutnick and a host of Japanese and other dignitaries briefly descended on Piketon to enthusiastically break ground on a project to build 8GW worth of AI computing power. Continue reading...

A magical corner of Oregon has the highest US rate of wildfire smoke deaths. How do residents live with the haze - and grief?Driving into the county, you can't miss the sign.IT'S THE CLIMATE". Continue reading...

Dolly Parton was one of the greatest singer-songwriters in country music and a pioneer for women throughout her career. The Guardian US's deputy arts editor Owen Myers reflects on a career and legacy whose impact transcends generations

Exposure to two compounds approved can result in sudden death' and range of other serious health risks, lawsuit warnsThe Trump administration has approved two new datacenter chemicals to which exposure can result in sudden death" and a range of other serious health risks, like cancer, eye corrosion, neurological damage and reproductive harm, a new lawsuit warns.The two compounds approved by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for import and immediate use in facilities across the US are photoacid generators that also appear to be Pfas forever chemicals", though it is unclear because much of the EPA documents are redacted. Some Pfas are commonly used in the production of semiconductors. Continue reading...

The Portland Thorns midfielder fills a role few in the US player pool can match, and she's in a race against time to be fit for BrazilOlivia Moultrie is no stranger to setting her own timeline. Half a decade ago, her desire to go pro at age 15 helped change NWSL rules, which previously forbade teams from signing players under the age of 18. The ensuing half-decade has seen her go from one of the nation's top prospects to a proven high-level midfielder, a developmental success with the Portland Thorns.Today, Moultrie instead finds herself in a race against time. The 2027 World Cup kicks off in just over 300 days, and her recovery from a torn ACL suffered at the start of this month has only just begun. Moultrie may not be among the biggest stars in the United States' player pool, but her recovery from this injury should be closely monitored. Simply, there are few like-for-like alternatives who operate in possession as tidily and dangerously as she does. Continue reading...

They should ask the question Reagan asked at the end of his debate against Jimmy Carter: Are you better off now than you were before this presidency?'The midterm elections are already upon us, and every Democrat and Independent running against a Republican should ask voters the question Ronald Reagan asked on 28 October 1980, at the end of his televised debate against Jimmy Carter: Are you better off now than you were before this presidency?"Unless you're very, very rich, the answer is obviously: No, I'm worse off."Energy bills have increased three times faster than the rate of inflation while Trump has been president. The national average monthly utility bill reached $280 in early 2026, a 12% increase since the end of 2024, just before the second Trump administration took office. Continue reading...

Trump administration has moved away from high-profile, militarized raids as its deportation spree has ramped upThe Trump administration arrested and deported a record number of immigrants in July, according to newly released government data - apprehending an average of 1,500 people and removing 1,100 people daily.This latest data confirms what attorneys and immigrant advocates have been seeing across the US - although the administration has moved away from the high-profile, militarized raids that came to define its immigration enforcement approach last year, it is quietly ramping up its operations. Continue reading...

The quiet-spoken Canadian prime minister has spoken unutterable truthsIs it perhaps a sign of the times that Mark Carney, the prime minister of Canada, has become a thrilling orator? A sober banker, he speaks calmly, without many vocal inflections. We expect Canadians to be somewhat flat; even a little boring, and yet Carney has already delivered two remarkable speeches in 2026, and the year is far from over.The first, at Davos, described a rupture in the world order", and the end of a pleasant fiction". By that, he meant that the world could no longer depend on the United States to lead the Pax Americana that has largely kept the peace since the end of the second world war. Continue reading...

Jack Klein takes heat readings, gives fans to overheated passengers and lugs big jugs of water into the stationsOn a recent August day in the subterranean furnace of New York City's subway, one bearded, curly haired man was studying his phone for different reasons than the other wilting passengers - to track the soaring temperatures and ponder how underground train stations can cool down in an era of climate crisis.Jack Klein, a 31-year-old construction site manager, has in the past two years taken it upon himself to become a sort of guerrilla subway heat operative, sticking teardrop-shaped thermometers to steel beams in seven of the hottest Manhattan stations and posting social media videos of the hades-like summer temperatures that commuters have to endure. Continue reading...

The star known as Bayou Barbie is shining in Atlanta. The longer her haters dwell on her lowlights, the more they miss her transformation into an all-around forceOn 16 August, the Atlanta Dream faced the Indiana Fever in the WNBA's showcase matchup, and Angel Reese had a chance to don the cape. Tied at 81, the Dream had possession with five seconds left in regulation when Rhyne Howard launched a deep three-pointer. Reese was perfectly positioned under the basket, snagging Howard's air ball with an outstretched hand. But in the rush to win the game, Reese forced a shot off the backboard that caromed off the front rim - and Naz Hillmon's putback fizzled as the buzzer sounded. After Indiana escaped with a 95-91 overtime victory, Reese beat herself up over the loss.I didn't sleep," she told reporters days later. The competitor in me wanted to win that game so bad. I replayed that play so many times." Reese vowed to shrug the game off and do better. Damned if she hasn't proved herself to be a woman of her word. Continue reading...

Everyone can see that the Iran war has been a strategic disaster for the US, while a failing president pretends he is winningNow is the twilight of Donald Trump's supremacy. The US is still the richest and most heavily armed nation on Earth. That status is secure. The current president, contemptuous of law and indulged in lawlessness by a supine Congress, enjoys even greater power than the constitution allows.With those advantages it takes a special talent for incompetence to look as thwarted and impotent as Trump does with more than two years of his second term still to run.Rafael Behr is a Guardian columnist Continue reading...

With the federal deficit near 6% of GDP and the national debt over $40tn, America's fiscal position looks increasingly precarious

The incumbent senator Dan S Sullivan has condemned ex-school teacher Dan J Sullivan, claiming he is running at the behest of Democrats to confuse supportersRepublican senator Dan S Sullivan will be joined on the November ballot in Alaska by a challenger with a nearly identical name from the same party, election officials confirmed on Tuesday, adding a twist to what is expected to be one of the most hotly contested races of the midterms.The Republican senator is running for a third term against Democrat Mary Peltola, a former US House representative whom polls show is neck-and-neck with him in a state that hasn't sent a Democrat to the Senate since 2008. Continue reading...

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Move by state department to limit access is part of Trump's crackdown on both lawful and undocumented immigrationAll US immigrant visa applications have been paused by the Trump administration as the state department moves to tighten restrictions and limit access to applicants who they deem could end up relying on US assistance, a state department official confirmed Tuesday.The agency launched the initiative at all embassies and consulates in early August, according to the official and visa appointments had to be adjusted to accommodate in-depth training", according to the official. The state department has been working on updated guidance and training since early this year, to ensure all consular officers are fully equipped to evaluate every visa applicant comprehensively and consistently", they added. Continue reading...

Darline Graham, sister of late Lindsey Graham and backed by Trump, overcomes concern about lack of experienceSouth Carolina voters have chosen Darline Graham as the Republican nominee for US Senate, the seat formerly held by her late brother, Lindsey, on November's ballot.Darline Graham, with Donald Trump's full-throated support, overcame concern about her lack of legislative experience to beat five-term congressman Ralph Norman in Tuesday's Republican special primary runoff. Continue reading...

Democratic Senate candidate for Michigan distances himself from Twitch streamer and debates Fox News hostThe Democratic candidate for Senate in the swing state of Michigan has spent the week trying to keep his affordability message front and center as scrutiny mounts from both ends of the political spectrum.In the span of two days, Abdul El-Sayed distanced himself from leftwing streamer Hasan Piker, spoke out against rightwing hate directed at the Muslim community, and debated Fox News host Jesse Watters on taxing billionaires. The clip circulating most from the Fox interview, though, focused on circumcision - specifically, El-Sayed asking Watters whether he circumcised, in a retort to Watters' question about gender-affirming care. Continue reading...

Stanley Druckenmiller said he was proud of using it' as wider media grapples with parameters around AI useStanley Druckenmiller, a billionaire investor, said he used artificial intelligence to pen his viral Wall Street Journal op-ed in which he sharply criticized the interference of Scott Bessent, the US treasury secretary, in the US bond market.Many news outlets, including the Guardian, covered the editorial, highlighting Druckenmiller's rebuke of his former mentee, Bessent. As the story circulated online, some readers questioned rhetorical choices that resembled AI-generated text. Continue reading...

Samuel Bateman, 50, is convicted of three state child abuse counts after previous conviction on federal countsA polygamous sect leader already serving a 50-year federal sentence for orchestrating sex involving children was given another 24 years in prison Tuesday on separate state convictions for child abuse for hauling girls in an unventilated trailer in Arizona.Samuel Bateman, 50, was convicted of three child abuse counts stemming from an August 2022 traffic stop in Flagstaff that led to the discovery of three girls, aged 11 to 14, in the trailer. It had a makeshift toilet, sofa and camping chairs and lacked air conditioning and seat belts. Someone tipped off authorities about the trailer after seeing small fingers reaching through gaps in the doors. Continue reading...

US president's lawyers in court filing say Washington arts complex must undergo repairs or risk demolitionThe John F Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts could be demolished if repairs are not carried out, the Trump administration warned in a court filing on Monday.Lawyers for the US president said the national arts complex in Washington DC must undergo a $250m renovation or risk facing the wrecking ball. Continue reading...

The 12-bath, seven-bed home near the state capital boasts a 5,000-bottle wine cellar, a pool and a tennis courtCalifornia governor Gavin Newsom has put his Sacramento-area mansion up for sale, before his term will end in January.The 12-bath, seven-bed Spanish-style home in Fair Oaks, a suburb of the California capital, hit the market on Monday with an asking price of $7.5m. The estate, which sits on a 8.2-acre (3.3-hectare) parcel of land, boasts an array of amenities including a full-size tennis court, a 5,000-bottle wine cellar, a pool, a cold plunge and a hot tub, according to a Zillow listing from realtors Matthew Hindy and Nick Sadek. Continue reading...

Agents arrest women who almost died' after they were hit by vehicle and their car flipped over four times, family sayAn Ecuadorian mother and daughter were arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents at a hospital after a car crash in central Florida.On 20 August, Grace Stephanie Calero Cabanilla, 39, and her daughter, Giulianna Mia Carriel Calero, 19, were involved in a car crash in Poinciana, Florida, according to arrest reports reviewed by multiple news outlets. Continue reading...

As wildfires rage and intense heat builds across the region, daytime highs of 110-11F (43-46C) are forecastSurging temperatures are expected to broil more than 45 million people as a heat dome settles in across the south-western US through the end of August and into early September, according to the National Weather Service (NWS).As wildfires rage in some parts and intense heat builds across the region, daytime highs of 110-115F (43-46C) are forecast, with limited cooling relief in the evenings and overnight. Experts predict that some record highs could be tied or broken this month and the weather agency warned of the scorching late summer heat as a potential health hazard. Continue reading...

Home in Billings was also set on fire, with victims representing four generations of a blended familyA man killed eight of his relatives, including four children, on Sunday evening in a shooting at a home in Billings, Montana, that was also set on fire, according to authorities and local media reports.Police have characterized the case as a family disturbance, according to Montana news outlet KULR. Continue reading...

Arrest of Luis Manuel Aviles, 48, sparked backlash as he was detained while his son, Joshua, was deployed in Middle EastThe father of a US navy sailor who has been deployed in the Middle East for a record-breaking nine months on the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier has been released from immigration detention, according to his family.His arrest sparked intense backlash after the Associated Press reported that his son was entering his ninth month on the Lincoln with the navy when his father was detained. The carrier had just set a US military record for uninterrupted time at sea and has raised concerns about supply shortages and deteriorating mental health among those serving onboard. Continue reading...

One more day of testimony expected as closing arguments set for Thursday and jury likely begins deliberations FridayOne more day of rebuttal testimony was expected this week in the trial against Lindsay Clancy, followed by closing statements likely on Thursday.The jury, which will likely begin deliberations on Friday, will decide whether the Massachusetts mother was experiencing postpartum psychosis when she killed her three children in January 2023.In the US, you can call or text the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988 or chat at 988lifeline.org. In the UK and Ireland, Samaritans can be contacted on freephone 116 123. In Australia, the crisis support service Lifeline is 13 11 14. Other international helplines can be found at befrienders.org Continue reading...

Alarm as Republicans warn that flooding' stores with 300,000 metric tons of beef imports will hit US farmersDonald Trump is facing growing criticism from within his own party over his decision to temporarily pause US tariffs on foreign beef in a bid to bring down grocery prices.The president's announcement that the US will import up to 300,000 metric tons of foreign beef without charging higher tariffs has alarmed some senior Republicans, who warn that flooding" stores with imports will hit US ranchers. This comes as the US faces a 75-year low in cattle inventory. Continue reading...

House minority leader is under attack from his own party for affordability crisis' meeting with president's son-in-law

The country music star, actor and philanthropist's long and varied career spanned decades

Tariffs on Canada, threats against Iran's partners and bond market intervention show a president weaponising US power while making Americans poorer at homeThree moves in the last week have exposed the limits of Donald Trump's economic bullying. The US slapped 50% tariffs on another $20bn of Canadian goods - then threatened the same rate on the cars, trucks, parts and steel that America Inc depends on. On Monday, the Treasury secretary, Scott Bessent, menaced Iran's trading partners with exclusion from the US financial network, hoping that coercion can deliver what months of war have not. And as the costs of war, tariffs and pro-billionaire tax cuts helped send US bond yields higher, the Treasury stepped in to tame long-term rates. These are not contradictory policies but a gamble: that US economic power can be repeatedly weaponised without reducing others' willingness to depend on it.The Trump administration's D-day" sanctions are potentially the most consequential because they expose the scaffolding of American financial power. While markets shrugged off the immediate threat, that calculation might change were the US to target a major Chinese refinery or bank. Such an escalation could spark a trade war with Beijing. The US has leverage. But China has pressure points - especially farmers in Republican states - that make using it costly. In the long run, there is a price to pay. Nations hold one another's currencies partly because they trust the political relationship. Mr Trump is testing what happens when they don't. Continue reading...

DHS officers posed as concerned citizens, joining Signal groups and taking photos of community meetings

Announcement of tariffs on $20bn worth of US goods follows through on Mark Carney's vow to match US tariffs 'dollar for dollar' Continue reading...

Unannounced trip reported by US media is said to be Ratcliffe's first known visit to Russia as CIA chiefThe CIA director, John Ratcliffe, has made an unannounced visit to Moscow, US media reported, after flight data showed an American military aircraft flew to the Russian capital, where a US diplomatic motorcade was later spotted.CBS News quoted sources familiar with the situation as confirming Ratcliffe's trip, saying it was his first known visit to Russia as CIA chief. Axios separately confirmed the visit, quoting a US official. Continue reading...

Confidence index drops to 89.4 in August from 90.2 in July amid frustration after five years of elevated inflationAmericans' confidence in the economy declined again this month as the ongoing conflict in Iran continued to push US gasoline prices above $4 per gallon.The Conference Board said on Tuesday that its consumer confidence index dipped to 89.4 in August from 90.2 in July. That was the lowest level in seven months but was essentially within the same lukewarm range it has been in since the beginning of the year. In late 2024 and early 2025, readings were consistently above 100. Continue reading...