US news | The Guardian

Updates from the final round's play at Shinnecock Hills

Objections comes as Trump threatens to renew attacks on Iran if it doesn't rein in its proxy in LebanonUS political figures from left and right voiced fresh objections on Sunday to Donald Trump's provisional deal with Iran - even as the US president made fresh threats while Vice-President JD Vance hailed progress during the first round of direct peace talks in Switzerland.Senator John Cornyn, a Texas Republican who recently lost his primary battle for re-election, posted a line on X from a Wall Street Journal article on how rogue regimes evade US economic warfare. It said: Iran's ability to withstand sanctions so far exposes a hard fact for Washington: economic pressure has largely failed to cow rogue regimes, as they game out more ways to sidestep US restrictions." Continue reading...

Officers find man unconscious and unresponsive with injuries indicating a fall from an elevated position'A 51-year-old man fell to his death during a concert at Madison Square Garden in New York on Saturday night, police said.Officers responding to a 911 emergency call at about 9.51pm found the man unconscious and unresponsive with injuries indicating a fall from an elevated position", New York police said in a statement. Continue reading...

Algae blooms and peeling paint mar $14.2m renovation as president blames problems on disgraceful Vandalism'The troublesome Lincoln Memorial reflecting pool in Washington is probably" going to be drained for repairs, Donald Trump has said, after algae blooms and peeling paint marred the controversial recent renovation efforts for America's 250th anniversary celebrations next month.In a Truth Social post late on Saturday, Trump said that after meeting with pool contractors, they would probably be forced to release and drain much of the water in order to do the necessary repairs, but will have them done as quickly as possible". Continue reading...

Crews struggle to contain stubborn fire that has raged for days and continues to spew smoke across the metro areaCalifornia's governor has declared a state of emergency for the city of Los Angeles, as firefighters struggle to contain a stubborn warehouse blaze that has raged for days and continues to spew smoke across the metro area.The state's governor, Gavin Newsom, announced on Saturday that he was directing state agencies to provide additional assistance and resources" to help battle the fire, located in the neighborhood of Boyle Heights in east Los Angeles. Continue reading...

Groups say new directive fails to respect Native sovereignty amid complicated history of Indigenous child removalsOne morning early last July, Micha Bitsinnie arrived at work to an onslaught of messages from confused families.New Mexico's governor Michelle Lujan Grisham had just issued a directive mandating the state's child welfare department seek custody of all newborns who had been exposed to drugs and alcohol in utero. Some parents wondered whether medications that they were taking for addiction recovery, such as methadone, would flag their cases. Healthcare providers wondered whether the fentanyl in an epidural counted as a drug exposure. Continue reading...

After the US said seeking affordable medical care for their son would not impede their re-entry, Tamila Vashchuk and her 10-year-old were issued removal ordersTamila Vashchuk and her husband, Mykola, are minor celebrities in this corner of Ohio.The Ukrainian couple have appeared on the cover of local magazines and been invited onto morning television shows. En route to building a successful pierogi food business, they've met with the governor. A recent law graduate from Cleveland State University, Mykola is hoping to do his bar exams someday. Most Sundays, they volunteer at the local church. Continue reading...

Father's Day event aims to help strengthen connections between parents and children and soothe mental healthMore than a hundred eager families poured into a prison visiting room on 13 June, having just endured a security search after hours of travel on a bus. But the energy shifted once their incarcerated loved ones walked through the door for an early Father's Day celebration.Hearts became full, tears filled eyes and arms embraced. Young children ran and jumped on their fathers, and mothers waited patiently for their turns to say hello. Continue reading...

Mauricio Pochettino's players have got off to a scorching start to the tournament. Going all the way will require the team reaching a whole new levelThe United States can win the World Cup. The US players say so. So does Zlatan Ibrahimovi. Because you are a smart Guardian reader, you know that, theoretically, any team who are not yet eliminated can win the World Cup. And you know that this US team have won their opening two World Cup games convincingly, securing the top spot in Group D and a place in the knockout round with a game to spare. Making the World Cup final, and winning it, is in the realm of possibility.But can they? Within the team, there has been belief they can go all the way for some time. US head coach Mauricio Pochettino laid down the marker in his introductory press conference, and has stuck to his belief. His players have followed suit. But now, even famous pundits with outsized egos are saying the US can shock the world and capture the men's World Cup for the first time on home soil. Continue reading...

New College of Florida to acquire USF Sarasota-Manatee in deal that leading Democratic lawmaker says reeks of grift'A liberal arts college seized by Florida's hard-right governor, Ron DeSantis, and transformed into a model for conservative higher education is to triple in size after state Republicans engineered a hostile takeover of a rival university's campus.New College of Florida, which is controlled by DeSantis's hand-picked board of trustees, will acquire the Sarasota-Manatee campus of the University of South Florida (USF) next month in a deal described by a leading Florida Democrat as a grift". Continue reading...

Less than a third are likely to be registered in November. We must work to ensure they have a voiceAbout 4 million Americans will turn 18 in 2026, but if past trends continue, under a third of them will be registered to vote in the November elections. Automatically registering every American when they come of age would be the fairest, most effective way to protect US democracy, yet we have built an electoral system that does the opposite.Every year, millions of 18-year-old Americans go unregistered and excluded from the electoral process. In a typical midterm year, US census data shows fewer than 30% are registered to vote, compared with nearly 75% of those aged 45 and up. Because they are outside of state voter files, candidates, campaigns and pollsters ignore them. Their voices and energy go untapped; their policy and programmatic needs go unfunded. Continue reading...

Platforms like Kalshi and Polymarket operating in areas with limited resources for people with gambling problemsPublic health resources across the US are failing to keep pace with the rapid growth of online gambling, problem health advocates warned, after Donald Trump endorsed the controversial nationwide surge of prediction markets.Prediction market platforms, where users can wager on everything from Tony Award winners to World Cup goals, have pushed betting even further into American life. Continue reading...

Fox's broadcast at the tournament has become a story of two contrasting styles. And there is one clear winnerWe all know someone like Alexi Lalas. He's the ranter whose rants never actually say anything, the life of the party at the party no one enjoys attending, the big personality" who's always misjudging the size of the room. He's corporate America's idea of a fun guy, the type of workplace character" whose business trip hangover never stops him from being first at the hotel breakfast buffet, hair wet, Untuckit shirt untucked. He would absolutely dominate karaoke night at a conference on infrastructure finance. If only this were the limit of Alexi Lalas's actual impact on the world, our culture would live in blessed ignorance of his existence. But in the real world Alexi Lalas is not a small-time menace working the floor at an infrastructure conference. In the real world Alexi Lalas is American soccer's brightest media star, and he is everywhere this World Cup.When Lalas's Roger Ramjet jaw thrust into frame on Fox at the start of this tournament, it's fair to assume that many viewers felt a sense of dread similar to that expressed in the Grand Theft Auto meme: Ah shit, here we go again." Lalas's ubiquitousness every World Cup is American TV's answer to the Iran war: no one wants it, everyone hates it, and as it drags on, it inevitably becomes a face-saving exercise in damage limitation. But there was also a glimmer of hope: for this tournament Fox has enlisted a pair of elite European strikers, Thierry Henry and Zlatan Ibrahimovi, to terrorize Lalas and shake proceedings up. Steered by Rebecca Lowe, this new-look panel has promised a slightly more sophisticated approach to covering the tournament than the yahooing belligerence that was Fox's stock in trade at the last two World Cups. Continue reading...

A small but dedicated band is keeping tabs on taskforce agents - here's what the activist monitors have to sayNine months after Donald Trump ordered an anti-crime taskforce onto the streets of Memphis, a small band of dedicated observers is attempting to monitor its actions.They have alleged widespread intimidation by agents, who stand accused in a lawsuit filed by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Tennessee of having tailed cars, surveilled homes and even falsely arrested" one community observer. Continue reading...

Elon Musk is a beneficiary of America's lopsided prosperity - does the country have any appetite for redistribution?As Barack Obama's presidency was coming to a close, Jason Furman, then chairman of the president's council of economic advisers, laid out the strides his administration had made to curb the nation's exorbitant income inequality in the largest investments in reducing inequality since the Great Society".Indeed, by the end of 2016, taxes and transfers cut the share of income accruing to the richest 1% of households by just over a fifth, according to estimates from the congressional budget office (CBO), more than under any government since at least Jimmy Carter's. They raised the slice of income going to the poorest fifth from 3.9% to 7.9%, the highest share since at least 1979.Eduardo Porter is a journalist focused on economics and politics. He writes the newsletter Being There on Substack Continue reading...

Herve Renard's Eagles of Carthage have been sent packing from the World Cup thanks to a masterclass from the Samurai BlueChanges for Japan too with Tomiyasu and Itakura stiffening the back three, and Ito and Tanaka coming into the front three. Kubo misses out through injury and the lively playmaker is a big loss to a side already missing Minamino and Mitoma.Expect the same 3-4-3 structure that has served Moriyasu well in recent months as he has built Japan from a side capable of dominating Asia to one equipped to handle the rest of the world. Continue reading...

My dad gives smart advice, but it always leads me down paths that didn't feel like me'. When, and how, can we stop listening to our dads?When I was a kid, my dad told me to pick a sport, practice a lot and stick with it. That way, in high school, I'd join the team and have built-in friends. Later, you can aim for a college scholarship," he said with a wide, confident smile.I knew this was good advice. It was bold, financially minded and forward-thinking. The only problem? I was terrible at sports. Continue reading...

What has the Israeli PM's whirlwind of violence achieved? His closest ally now turning against him - and an emboldened IranBenjamin Netanyahu, the biggest loser in last week's preliminary deal to halt the US-Israel-Iran war, will be remembered - and reviled - as the man who put the Middle East to the sword. Whether the problem" was Hamas in Gaza, illegal West Bank land seizures, supposed Israeli-Arab fifth columnists, peace campaigners' aid flotillas, Hezbollah in Lebanon, hostile militias in Syria, Iraq and Yemen, or Tehran's hardline Islamic regime, the Israeli leader's solution" was always the same: extreme, often lawless violence that invariably made matters worse.The unprovoked, illegal war against Iran was the ultimate expression of the Netanyahu doctrine - the disproportionate application of brute force. Predictably, it too, has failed. Donald Trump is desperately arguing that the ceasefire memorandum he signed in Versailles (of all places!) is not the lame capitulation it so self-evidently is. But while the US president may survive this humiliation - despite global scepticism and mockery - the likely consequences of the debacle for Netanyahu, his brother-in-harms, are career-ending serious. In many respects, Israel's longest-serving prime minister is already yesterday's man.Simon Tisdall is a Guardian foreign affairs commentatorDo 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...

Paint seen peeling off in the water at pool site; investigation finds ICE agents disproportionately target people from Latin America - key US politics stories from Saturday 20 June at a glanceDonald Trump, without offering evidence, blamed vandalism" for real problems" at Washington's reflecting pool after an algae bloom in the wake of a $14.2m renovation of the site that he declared would turn it American flag" blue. Paint has been seen peeling off in the water. He also made claims that vandals had been arrested.Days after his administration claimed the pool was actually crystal clear", despite an unmistakably green hue, the US president acknowledged issues - and claimed there had been foul play. Continue reading...

Clark builds a huge lead on Moving Day at Shinnecock

After Jameson the dog, wearing a blue Knicks jersey, walked out into the hallway, an officer fired his pistol four timesThe Los Angeles police department has released footage of the moment when officers shot and killed a woman's dog in the hallway outside her apartment in the Canoga Park neighborhood.Police had responded to reports of a woman screaming on 13 June, which turned out to be cheering, the night that the New York Knicks defeated the San Antonio Spurs to win the NBA finals. Continue reading...

Temperatures could top 111F on Monday and Tuesday, after several recent deaths in park raise concerns over heatExtreme heat is set to hit lower parts of the Grand Canyon from Monday, the US National Weather Service (NWS) warned, with temperatures projected to exceed 100F (37.7C).An alert published on Saturday will be in effect from 10am local time on Monday through 7pm on Tuesday. Continue reading...

John Denver's classic has been belted out during US matches at this tournament. Its appeal lies in the story it tells about a united AmericaLumen Field was designed for a moment like Friday's. Under a blue sky dotted with clouds, the US men's national team celebrated their victory over Australia with a lap around the stadium to thank their fans for creating a worthy atmosphere.I've reported from four matches so far at this World Cup and the set list remains largely the same, no matter the venue. You'll hear Dai Dai and Seven Nation Army. The growing boos that accompany the onset of a hydration break will be drowned out by Livin' On A Prayer. Continue reading...

In NY-12, four Democrats, including one Kennedy, are vying to replace Jerry Nadler - and potentially shake things upWhen news broke that a safely Democratic seat in New York's wealthiest congressional district was becoming vacant, it was inevitable that there would be a crowded field of candidates.What people might not have expected is that the subsequent Democratic primary would become one of the country's most closely watched and action-packed, the race coming to reflect a range of Democrats' national political priorities: who is the strongest against Trump; who is the most critical of artificial intelligence companies; and who is, basically, the coolest. Continue reading...

Mauricio Pochettino had to do without his best player against Australia. But Ricardo Pepi helped the Americans build attacks in different waysOnce it was clear that Christian Pulisic's calf could keep him out of Friday's match against Australia, Mauricio Pochettino had a lot of options to consider. There is no like-for-like alternative to Pulisic, still the United States' most important player.Australia entered this game with a point to prove, wanting to build off of their opening win over Turkey with a statement result against the tournament co-hosts. As was the case when the teams met for a friendly in October, the Socceroos were set up to operate in a low defensive block, with five along the backline and a swarming, zonal marking scheme in front of them. That system can be quite effective against a team who play with just one striker, as the US have for most of the 21st century. Continue reading...

Spirits are soaring among the co-hosts USA, while Turkey were left to brood over the missed chances that condemned them to a shock exitOn this day in World Cup Euros history: 1976 - Antonin Panenka won the final for Czechoslovakia with the most famous penalty of all time. And 50 years on, he sat down with Gavin Newsham for a good long chat:Antonin Panenka laughs like a bear might, a low rumble, suggesting mischief among the memories. He is sat in an office at Bohemians football club in Prague, recounting the story of his impudent, revolutionary penalty that not only won the 1976 European Championship for Czechoslovakia against West Germany but soured his relationship with the goalkeeper his spot-kick humiliated, Sepp Maier. He went 35 years without uttering a single word to me," he smiles.But the feud went much deeper. I read some articles that he even had a shooting target in his garage with my face on it that he used to fire darts at. We get on well enough now though."I'm not a fan of the hydration breaks that have been introduced at this World Cup, but they're here for now and it is fascinating from a coaching perspective because the momentum has swung straight after several hydration breaks. That could suggest coach involvement has helped teams to tweak things.Turning the game into four quarters - it felt inevitable it was going to head in that direction, and I hope it doesn't carry on going in that direction. I don't like it, but let me also be clear - when it's hot, you really need it, for health and safety. So put yourself in Fifa's shoes. If you only have drinks breaks in the hot cities you could be accused of giving certain teams an advantage with a chance for a tactical discussion over, say, a team playing in Seattle, where it's cooler. Imagine turning around and saying: We'll only have VAR in some of the stadiums, not all." You're either going to have it or you're not going to have it. Continue reading...

Report finds close ties between the Trump administration and Geo Group, which profits from anti-immigration crackdownJim Jordan is among the most famous names in this stretch of Ohio.The congressman and chair of the powerful House judiciary committee is considered among the most conservative and influential members in Congress, and is a longtime loyalist of Donald Trump. Continue reading...

Two people were in critical condition after the Juneteenth shooting on the city's South SideAt least 12 people in a crowd on a Chicago street suffered gunshot wounds after an SUV pulled up and two people inside the vehicle started shooting, police said.The SUV drove away from the South Side neighborhood, leaving two people, both male, in critical condition following the shooting late on Friday, police said in a news release. One suffered a gunshot wound to the thigh. Continue reading...

His vaunted renovation of the Washington attraction has resulted in an algae bloom and peeling paintDonald Trump has blamed vandalism" for real problems" at Washington's reflecting pool after an algae bloom in the wake of a $14.2m renovation of the site he declared would turn it American flag" blue. Paint has also been seen peeling off in the water.Days after his administration claimed the pool was actually crystal clear", despite an unmistakably green hue, the US president acknowledged issues - and, without evidence, blamed foul play. Continue reading...

Terry Reed, found guilty of rape and molestation of a juvenile, called utter failure of a man' by victim's motherA suburban New Orleans religious pastor has been sentenced to 80 years' imprisonment after being convicted of sexually molesting two boys - the third time in which he was found guilty of abusing minors.While Terry Reed received his punishment at a state court hearing on Thursday, the mother of one of his survivors read a victim-impact statement on behalf of her son which called him an utter failure and a sorry excuse for a man". Continue reading...

When asked what his takeaways from the Iran war were, Trump said he believed there were no limits to his powerIt's been a busy week for the US's birthday boy. First, there was the cage fight on the White House lawn, in honour of the United States' 250th anniversary and Donald Trump's 80th. Then, after watching sweaty men fight, the president flew to France to try to sort out the mess he'd helped create in the Middle East. I regret to inform you that despite Trump signing what Jimmy Kimmel called the retreaty of Versailles", it does not really look like the Iran war has been sorted out. Still, the president seems happy with himself. After Axios asked what his takeaways from the Iran war were, Trump said he believes there are no limits" to his power. Continue reading...

Donald Trump presented the new, temporary Air Force One at a hangar at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland on Friday, a day after White House officials bade farewell to one of two Boeing 747s that have been used to transport presidents for more than 30 years. The new jet was given to Trump by the Gulf emirate of Qatar, provoking political protest as the $400m (300m) jet exceeds the limit on unsolicited gifts of $50 in value in a single calendar year from the same source

The England center will finish a decorated career on Sunday as his Chicago Hounds face the California Legion seeking their first Major League Rugby crownIt's a long way from Somerset to Chicago, but it's the Windy City where the Bath, Exeter and England center Ollie Devoto will end his career on Sunday, seeking to help the Chicago Hounds beat the California Legion for a first Major League Rugby crown.It'll be a special day for the team and it'll be a special day personally as well," Devoto said, preferring not to predict a result. My family are coming out for one last go. As long as we give the best account of ourselves, we'll put ourselves in a good position." Continue reading...

We're both addicted to our screens. But at least we're watching together - it's dystopian bonding for the modern ageTry as I might, I think there's no saving my son from modern technology. It's ubiquitous, seductive and deeply ingrained in every aspect of middle-class life. Worse yet, I'm also addicted. When do I not have my iPhone out, desperately scrolling through a suite of apps, hoping they'll offer me some manner of comfort from the security of my living room couch? Hours go by as I'm practically begging someone to notice me on Instagram, while he's skipping from brainrot videos to basketball tutorials on our internet-connected TV. Ten years ago, I might have witnessed a scene like that and thought it was a sign of the end times. We've lost our way so much as a culture that a parent and a child can be simultaneously subsumed by screens, barely noticing the other person. But at some point, everyone realizes that the battle is lost. This is just how it is.In spite of that grim diagnosis, Keir Starmer - who turned snatching defeat from the jaws of victory his personal brand - has made this losing battle a signature issue. This week, the British prime minister announced a comprehensive ban on social media for children under the age of 16. That includes Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, X, Snapchat and YouTube (though not the kids' version). The ban is modeled on one currently deployed in Australia, which has holes wide enough to drive a fleet of vintage Sherman tanks through. Teenagers in Australia are finding ways around their ban already, and of course they are. When I was 15, if I wanted a six-pack of Budweiser or some of those tiny airplane liquor bottles, I could figure it out.Dave Schilling is a Los Angeles-based writer and humorist Continue reading...

We asked people in the US about their customer service battles and hundreds responded on the financial and emotional costsGuardian readers from across the US wrote in to tell us about their battles with big companies, and the time, expense and emotional toll exacted by businesses they say are prioritizing the bottom line over all else.The top takeaway: people really, really don't like AI customer service. Continue reading...

From East Wing demolition and restoration' of reflecting pool to bridge and fountain renovations, US capital is a different city right now'On the edge of Lafayette Square, a landmark park near the White House, a scuffed sign proclaimed: We are making DC safe and beautiful."Julie, visiting Washington DC with her husband, Robert, to celebrate their recent marriage, was unconvinced. The irony," she said. It's neither safe, nor beautiful." Continue reading...

Tournament has completed its first week and while the logistics have sometimes been challenging, the people and the football have been goodIt was quite a contrast touching down in sleepy Kansas City hours after having witnessed the bedlam on the streets of New York when the Knicks won the NBA Finals and Brazil drew with Morocco. But this is a World Cup full of contrasts, from Fifa's never-ending quest to make a quick buck ($5 a pop for a bottle of water in the media centre) to the warmth shown by locals I've encountered in the Big Apple, Kansas City and Dallas. Then there's the football. It's been hard to keep up with the volume of matches, but the opening round served up some classics, with DR Congo's draw against Portugal on the same day as England beat Croatia capping a thrilling first week of action. Let's hope it continues. Ed AaronsIt took nearly the full opening round, but a US scene that is usually focused on other sports has fully turned its eyes to socc- sorry, I mean football, forgot to code-switch. Fitting, actually, because at times this state of affairs has been awkward, like when the standard loud men yelling" sports talk shows are forced to reckon with international football being the No 1 talking point and employing nobody that knows the scene. But these are growing pains. The sport is on at bars and delis, it is being discussed at school pickups and on the rides home. It's beautiful and exactly what so many of us here in the States have been fighting for. Alexander Abnos Continue reading...

Ten-man Paraguay clung on after Matias Galarza's early strike to secure a famous win and ensure Turkey will go home at the end of the group stageA surprise start for attacker Isidro Pitta, who was so certain he wouldn't be called up to Paraguay's squad for the World Cup that he had already booked a holiday to Spain with his family during the tournament.Nicknamed Viking' due to his long hair and big ginger beard, he's found form at Red Bull Bragantino and is described as a fighter, a tireless worker and a constant nuisance for opposition defences" in the Guardian's World Cup player guide. Continue reading...

Developments in Ukraine and Iran show that the military superpowers are not getting it all their own wayOur age of what Mark Carney called global rupture is also often described as following the law of the jungle", in which the strong do what they can and the weak suffer what they must, with international law shattered and multilateral organisations hollowed out. Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Israel's onslaught on Gaza, and the US and Israel's attacks on Iran and Lebanon seem to confirm this bleak outlook. On closer inspection, however, these wars offer a different, and far brighter, clue to the way forward.Russia, once seen as a formidable military power, was expected to overwhelm Ukraine, a much smaller and weaker country backed by a divided, fearful and hesitant west. Even after the war settled into a protracted stalemate, the prevailing belief was that Ukraine was doomed to lose. But the narrative has shifted.Nathalie Tocci is a Guardian Europe 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...

A quickfire Matheus Cunha double was added to by Vinicius Junior as Brazil secured a comfortable win over their Caribbean opponentsNeymar would probably not even be in North America this summer had Rodrygo been fit. Instead the Real Madrid winger is recuperating from an ACL injury by penning thoughtful columns.The pressure of wearing the Brazil shirt can be heavy but also creates a positive kind of responsibility. That pressure exists solely because of the greatness of our football, the titles we've won, and our historic standing in the sport. The fans' mood often hinges on the result, which is only natural in a country so used to winning regularly.So, as a player you have to realise that a barrage of criticism isn't the end of the world, just as a massive wave of praise doesn't mean everything is sorted out and that you will win the tournament. It is crucial to distinguish facts and balanced analysis from comments born of raw emotion and frustration.If Vinicius is now Brazil's undisputed star, the 25-year-old has also yet to really make the team his own. He has turned in frustrating and often fruitless performances at major international tournaments, while scoring a mere nine goals in 49 appearances entering this, his second World Cup.He has yet to wrest top billing from Neymar, whose jersey was worn by huge swaths of the Brazilian fans in their draw with Morocco on Saturday. Continue reading...

Yes there's the party side, the buoyant side, one that makes friends everywhere it goes. But there's the other side tooIn a disconcerting development, Americans have started wearing kilts. Some of them are even doing it on the TV as they try to wrap themselves around the Tartan Army. On the local Boston news on Thursday night, things were so giddy that people were predicting victory over Morocco and a passage out of the group for the first time. It was only when the camera returned to the news anchor that she reminded everyone; actually Morocco are African champions and World Cup semi-finalists.The US has a bit to learn about football still and maybe more to understand about the Scots. Yes there's the party side, the buoyant side, the one that makes friends everywhere it goes. But there's the other side too, the sceptical one (some call it realist), the one that knows you should party now because things will find a way of going wrong in a minute. The one that spies a challenge like Morocco with foreboding. Continue reading...

US-Iran meeting in Switzerland cancelled because of Lebanon fighting; Trump unveils new Air Force One - key US politics stories from Friday 19 June at a glanceAfter a meeting due on Friday in Switzerland between the US and Iran to hammer out details of a peace plan was cancelled because of renewed violence in Lebanon, Israel and Hezbollah agreed to renew their ceasefire.The diplomatic back-and-forth between Washington and Tehran about a Middle East peace deal has sent energy prices soaring and threatened global economic chaos. Clashes between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon have threatened to damage Donald Trump's efforts to extricate the US from the Middle East war. Continue reading...

Long a hotbed of American soccer, Seattle showed on Friday why it should no longer be a rare visit for the national teamOne does not have to go far in Seattle, Washington, to be reminded that it's a soccer town. Two days before Friday's 2-0 win for the US over Australia, all I had to do was get on the train.Riding the light rail to lunch on Wednesday and hopping off at Westlake Station, I was a few blocks from Pike Place Market, the city's famous waterfront gathering spot. The train car I'd arrived on had been overflowing with US jerseys and Australia kits. Riding the escalator up into the resplendent afternoon sun, someone tugged at my bag. Continue reading...

Wyndham Clark is four shots clear after the second round at Shinnecock Hills leaving a fascinating weekend in prospectMatt Fitzpatrick has to hole a 27-footer to save par at 3. It keeps him at -3 and in a tie for third. Great work. But not so good for playing partner DeChambeau, who misses the fairway, comes up short with his approach and looks utterly baffled as his par putt from 30 feet drifts five feet past. He completes an error-strewn hole by missing that one so it's an ugly double bogey and Bryson tumbles down to +2.The average score in round one was 73.280 which isn't too exteme for a US Open. Here's how it compares to the last five years. Continue reading...

New craft, called VC-25B Bridge, had provoked protest since $400m jet wildly exceeds limit on unsolicited giftsDonald Trump unveiled the new, temporary Air Force One at a hangar at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland on Friday, a day after White House officials bid farewell to one of two Boeing 747s used to transport presidents for more than 30 years.The new jet, designated VC-25B and decked out in a punchy red, white, dark blue and gold livery, was gifted to Trump by the Gulf emirate of Qatar, provoking howls of political protest since the $400m jet wildly exceeds the limit on unsolicited gifts of $50 in value in a single calendar year from the same source. Continue reading...