Putin is attempting to wipe us off the map, but on this independence day it seems that he has inadvertently finalised the formation of our stateAt 35, I'm younger than many things - such as the internet or Apple computers. And yet I'm older than my country's independence.For most people, the independence of their birth state is so ironclad they rarely get to really think about it. Others won independence centuries ago and mark it as a general occasion for a fun celebration, rather than one focused on thinking about what they as a nation sacrificed to be free.Olga Rudenko is the editor-in-chief of the Kyiv IndependentDo 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...
by Nataliya Gumenyuk, Olga Chyzh, Sergey Radchenko an on (#6Q72V)
The Kursk offensive and Putin's hubris give the country hope. But Ukrainians are under no illusion that peace will come soonWhen the new Russian assault on Ukraine's northern Kharkiv region began in May I travelled there to see how it was coping. Everywhere I saw billboards portraying firefighters and communal workers on duty, with the slogan Kharkiv invincible". Residents were angry about the bombs falling on their heads, but alongside fear there was grim optimism and determination.Nataliya Gumenyuk is a Ukrainian journalist and CEO of The Public Interest Journalism Lab Continue reading...
Ronald Syvrud, 66, taken into custody over alleged social media threat as Trump pays visit to border stateAn Arizona man who was wanted after threatening over social media to kill Donald Trump was arrested on Thursday, the Cochise county sheriff's office said.Donald Trump, the Republican nominee for president, was in Cochise county on Thursday when he visited the US border with Mexico as part of his campaign. Continue reading...
Joseph Emerson charged with 83 counts of reckless endangerment over incident on flight to San FranciscoAn Alaska Airlines pilot who attempted to shut off the engines of a passenger plane mid-flight after ingesting magic mushrooms said his actions were unfathomable", in some of his first public remarks after he was indicted on 83 counts of reckless endangerment.In an interview with ABC's Good Morning America, Joseph Emerson described the events of 22 October as 30 seconds of my life that I wish I could change, and I can't". Continue reading...
Emmitt Martin pleaded guilty to federal civil rights violations in killing that renewed calls for police reformFederal prosecutors recommended a 40-year sentence for a former Memphis police officer who pleaded guilty on Friday to federal civil rights violations in the 2023 fatal beating of Tyre Nichols.Emmitt Martin is the second former officer to plead guilty in the killing that sparked outrage and renewed calls for police reform. Three former officers still face trial in federal court in September, and two of their former colleagues could testify against them. Continue reading...
The world No 1 has spoken publicly for the first time since failed tests were revealed and denied claims of favouritismAs the countdown to the last grand slam tournament of the year has moved to its final days, the news of Jannik Sinner's anti-doping case has dictated the tennis discourse. The topic has dominated discussion across the US Open tournament grounds and it has been the talking point du jour in the various pre-tournament events across New York City.On Friday, Sinner finally spoke in public for the first time since an independent tribunal determined that he would bear no fault and negligence for two positive anti-doping tests for the banned substance clostebol. In his press conference, Sinner described the verdict as a relief. Continue reading...
Independent candidate's campaign, seen as a threat by both Harris and Trump, had been dogged by controversiesRobert F Kennedy Jr, the scion of the Democratic Kennedy family whose independent presidential campaign threatened to draw votes from both Republicans and Democrats, has suspended his campaign and endorsed Donald Trump.Kennedy said he would be removing his name from the ballot in critical swing states, but will remain on the ballot in other states and some voters could still cast ballots for him. Continue reading...
January retrial likely after judge declines to dismiss two charges against Boston woman accused of killing boyfriendThe Massachusetts judge presiding over the high-profile murder trial of Karen Read has rejected a defense motion to dismiss two charges, including murder, setting the stage for the case to be retried in January after jurors deadlocked this summer.Read, 44, is accused of killing her boyfriend, the Boston police officer John O'Keefe, 46, by hitting him with her sport-utility vehicle and leaving him to die in a snowbank. She pleaded not guilty to charges including second-degree murder, manslaughter while under the influence of alcohol, and leaving the scene of a deadly crash. Continue reading...
Eddie Duran charged over death of Roger Fortson, who was shot multiple times when he opened apartment doorA Florida sheriff's deputy is facing a charge of manslaughter with a firearm in connection with the fatal shooting of a US air force member who opened his apartment door while holding a gun.The former Okaloosa county deputy Eddie Duran was charged on Friday in the 3 May shooting death of senior airman Roger Fortson, assistant state attorney Greg Marcille said. That is a first-degree felony punishable by up to 30 years in prison. Continue reading...
Ex-president's 48 posts during speech confirm his trouble in maintaining discipline on the campaign trailKamala Harris's Democratic national convention speech provoked a torrent of outrage from Donald Trump as the former US president fired off a volley of ripostes, rebuttals and angry calls to TV stations.Trump posted 48 times on his Truth Social network during Harris's 37-minute presidential acceptance speech, which was nearly an hour shorter than his own effort at the Republican convention last month. Continue reading...
Pro-Palestine movement and Israelis share common goal for Gaza ceasefire at Kamala Harris's nominationIt was late in the evening when Ruby Chen, whose son Itay was kidnapped by Hamas on 7 October and later killed, approached and kneeled down next to Abbas Alawieh, a delegate from the Uncommitted" pro-Palestinian movement who was planning to bed down for the night on the cement outside the venue where Kamala Harris this week formally accepted the Democratic presidential nomination.For the four days of the Democratic National Convention, while many visiting delegates were popping bottles of champagne at parties across Chicago, the two men were busy working the rooms at delegate breakfasts, juggling media interviews and courting high-profile Democrats to try to influence the administration's policies in Gaza. Continue reading...
The Chicago convention capped a month that has changed US politics. But there are 10 weeks still to goLittle more than a month ago, what the Democratic party has achieved in Chicago this week would have seemed unthinkable. Yet, in a few short weeks, the party has dumped a stumbling Joe Biden as its nominee, seamlessly installed Kamala Harris as his unchallenged replacement, acclaimed Tim Walz as her running mate, reinvigorated its campaign and its finances, and made itself competitive against Donald Trump again. If that was not enough, MsHarris's acceptance speech on Thursday topped off a convention week that at times brimmed with commitment and enthusiasm.It all adds up to a textbook political transformation. It has had many in the party pinching themselves in disbelief. Though they all left it dangerously late, those who made this happen deserve the gratitude of millions, and not just in the US. The campaign has now achieved as powerful a liftoff as could have been hoped in the circumstances. Yet this is only the start. There is still an election to win, an election that will shape America and the world. The feelgood mood in Chicago will turn to ashes if Mr Trump is elected. Continue reading...
Biden program could give US citizenship through marriage to nearly half a million people without legal statusOpponents are suing to end a federal program that could potentially give nearly half a million migrants without legal status who are married to US citizens a path to citizenship.Sixteen Republican-led states filed suit on Friday to halt the program launched by Joe Biden in June, saying in court filings that the Biden administration bypassed Congress to create a pathway to citizenship for blatant political purposes". Continue reading...
DoJ lawsuit claims firm's algorithm helps landlords coordinate rental prices and violates antitrust lawsThe US Department of Justice filed an antitrust lawsuit on Friday against the real estate software company RealPage Inc, accusing it of an illegal scheme that allows landlords to coordinate to hike rental prices.The lawsuit, filed alongside attorneys general in states including North Carolina and California, accuses the company of violating antitrust laws through its algorithm that landlords use to get recommended rental prices for apartments. Continue reading...
by Callum Jones and Richard Partington on (#6Q6KQ)
Fed chairman hails progress in battle to bring down inflation, with rate cuts starting from SeptemberThe time has come" for the US Federal Reserve to cut interest rates, its chairman declared, hailing progress in the battle to bring down inflation from its highest level in a generation.With price growth now on a sustainable" path back to normal levels, Jerome Powell signaled that the central bank was ready to start reducing rates from next month. Continue reading...
Donald Trump told CNN he would certainly be open' to Kennedy playing a role in his administrationThe independent US presidential candidate Robert F Kennedy Jr has filed paperwork to withdraw from presidential ballots in the state of Arizona, the Arizona secretary of state, Adrian Fontes, said.The withdrawal came as Kennedy was set to address the nation on Friday in Arizona amid reports that his presidential ambitions are coming to a close, with falling numbers both in fundraising and in the polls. Continue reading...
Channel 4's bold move to appoint deaf actor Rose Ayling-Ellis as a host is a timely antidote to the BBC's over-sentimentalityThe boccia may not start until Thursday but the Paralympic broadcasters have already started scoring points. There was probably no better way of ensuring that British people tune in over the next couple of weeks than announcing that Rose Ayling-Ellis will be hosting its afternoon coverage. The actor beloved for her Strictly Come Dancing win two years ago communicates an uncontrived joyfulness every time she appears in front of a camera.She knows that her deafness will present a particular challenge in live sports presenting. It is both why it has never been done before, and what drew her to it. I think I'm addicted to being the first of doing something," she said this week. I didn't realise how hard it is. I did panic a bit and think, what have I signed up for?" The producers at Whisper TV, the company behind Channel 4's coverage, are adapting their working methods around a role that traditionally relies on in-ear talkback. Continue reading...
The vice-president gave the biggest speech of her life to close out a star-studded Democratic national conventionHello from Chicago, where it's like the Oscars, but for people with slightly less charisma.The last day of the Democratic national convention brought out A-list actors, iconic musical artists, swing-state politicians and Harris family members - a better lineup, to be sure, than Hulk Hogan and Kid Rock, the stars at the Republican convention. Continue reading...
Pro-Palestinian protesters at the Democratic national convention have been met with stony faces, jeers - and violenceGot any spare brooms to hand? I think the folk at the Democratic national convention may need a few extra because they've been very busy this week trying to sweep the carnage in Gaza under the rug. Continue reading...
Democratic nominee makes sweeping convention speech and promises to prosecute case against Donald TrumpKamala Harris accepted the Democratic presidential nomination Thursday with a sweeping, pointed speech in which she vowed to prosecute the case against Donald Trump and carry the country to a brighter and fairer future.In an address that balanced optimism with scathing criticism of her opponent, Harris acknowledged her unlikely" path to the nomination and extended her hand to voters of all political ideologies who believe in America's promise. Harris would make history if elected - as the first woman, first Black woman and first Asian American woman to serve as president - but she instead focused on the history that the country could change in November. Continue reading...
Kamala Harris officially accepted the nomination, capping off four days of speeches, Trump jokes and celebrity cameosThe Democratic national convention ended with thousands of balloons, a historic nominee and palpable enthusiasm on Thursday.Kamala Harris officially accepted the party nomination, along with her vice-presidential pick, Tim Walz, during four days full of poignant speeches, Donald Trump jokes, party royalty and celebrity cameos. Continue reading...
The NBA star Steph Curry made a surprise appearance at the Democratic National Convention to endorse Kamala Harris for US president. In his video message, the Olympic gold medallist said: "This is about preserving hope and belief in our country ... The Oval Office suits her well ... it's an honour to support Kamala. Let's all do our part."
Local boards can conduct an inquiry for results, and ballots might be hand-counted, which experts warn is unreliableConservative activists in Georgia have worked with prominent election deniers to pass a series of significant changes to the procedures for counting ballots in recent weeks, raising alarm about the potential for confusion and interference in the election certification process in a key swing state this fall.Since the beginning of August, the five-member state election board has adopted rules that allow local election boards to conduct a reasonable inquiry" into election results before they are certified, and to allow any local election board member to examine all election related documentation created during the conduct of elections prior to certification of results". The same rule also requires local boards to reconcile any discrepancies between the total number of ballots cast and the number of voters who check in. If it can't reconcile the numbers, the board is authorized to come up with a way to figure out which votes count and which do not. Continue reading...
The Democrats' candidate radiated joy and energy, and talked as if she really cared. Still, the lack of pro-Palestinian voices in Chicago was notableOn 22 August 1964, a Black activist called Fannie Lou Hamer gave an iconic speech at the Democratic national convention (DNC), taking the party to task for its failure to support equal voting rights. Hamer did not get what she wanted that particular night in Atlantic City, but she helped pave the way for a new generation of American leaders.On the 60th anniversary of that historic address, Kamala Harris stood centre stage at the DNC in Chicago as the Democratic party's candidate for president and gave the most important speech of her life. The buildup to Thursday night was intense; Harris had been prepping furiously for this pivotal moment, reportedly workshopping her speech nearly line by line".Arwa Mahdawi is a Guardian columnist Continue reading...
Activists partner with powerful rightwing council Alec to prevent rare instances of illegal non-citizen votingA coalition of anti-immigrant and election-denying activists called Only Citizens Vote Coalition has joined forces with the powerful rightwing American Legislative Exchange Council (Alec) to draft a model bill requiring citizenship for voting in all public elections".Non-US citizens are already forbidden from voting in federal elections, and could face felony charges and even deportation if they attempt to do so. All evidence suggests non-citizens rarely attempt to cast a ballot illegally. But as the 2024 general presidential election approaches, a group of Donald Trump allies - among them, Only Citizens Vote Coalition - have joined together to elevate fears of non-citizens voting. Continue reading...
The energy and optimism at the Democratic convention was palpable - the party appears to have rediscovered its confidenceFive weeks ago, Democrats were preparing to hold their national convention in Chicago under a pall, weighed down by fears of defeat and what Michelle Obama called a palpable sense of dread about the future". An 81-year-old president, trailing badly in the polls, would face his people as they cowered before the prospect of four more years of Donald Trump and his bloodlust for retribution.What we got at the DNC in Chicago was a week-long celebration that went well beyond the relief that the party evidently feels now that it is back in the game. There was rejoicing in the energy and confidence that has been unleashed by the unexpected metamorphosis from Joe Biden to the joyful warrior", Kamala Harris. Continue reading...
As the globe continues to heat, conditions on the practice field continue to worsen, and kids are left to die, we are left with a simple question: is this sport morally sustainable?In December 2022, Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin went into cardiac arrest on the football field during a nationally televised game. The incident prompted shock and horror across the country and briefly led to sustained public discourse about the safety of the sport. Yet, soon after, the NFL could be found trumpeting Hamlin's triumphant recovery, even showcasing him at the Super Bowl, in a feat of remarkably adept appropriation and image laundering.And so the football world returned to its resting state: completely unwilling to acknowledge the extent to which the sport remains an ongoing public health catastrophe. For, the almost-tragedy that befell Damar Hamlin has repeatedly been an actual reality for all too many football-participating families, including that of Jordan McNair, the 19-year-old University of Maryland offensive lineman, who was reportedly told by a trainer to Drag his ass across the field!" even after he had first collapsed from heat and exhaustion. McNair ultimately died. His mother later said, No one did anything to even try and cool him down. That's the part that bothers me most. There was nothing I could do. And I couldn't help him. It breaks my heart."Nathan Kalman-Lamb is Associate Professor of Sociology at the University of New Brunswick. Derek Silva is Associate Professor of Sociology and Criminology at King's University College at Western University. They are co-authors of The End of College Football: On the Human Cost of an All-American Game (UNC Press, December 2024) and co-hosts (with Johanna Mellis) of The End of Sport podcast. Continue reading...
US vice-president and Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris took to the stage on the final day of the Democratic national convention in Chicago, delivering the biggest speech of her political career. With less than three months left before election day - and with polls showing a tight contest against the Republican former president Donald Trump - Harris fired up the Democratic faithful by reflecting on her upbringing and past as a California attorney-general, asking the audience to imagine Trump with no guardrails', and calling on Americans to 'fight for this country we love'
by Helen Sullivan (now); with Chris Stein in Chicago on (#6Q616)
This blog is closing now, thanks for following along. You can find all of our US elections coverage here.Now comes Pat Ryan, who represents a New York battleground district in the House of Representatives.He hit out at Donald Trump for his reported insults towards military veterans, then obliquely referenced the newfound optimism Democrats are feeling since Joe Biden ended his bid for a second term:These last few weeks have felt like a new day in America, when we are waking up, rising up, patriots, to demand a president who does not just treat our veterans with respect, but everyone with respect.We do not retreat, we are the United States of America, we lead! Continue reading...
The right to disconnect' has changed France for the better - and could soon be law in the UK if Labour goes through with its plansEvery August, the same set of transatlantic memes about work and holiday circulate on social media. The European is depicted as out of the office with a strict attitude towards switching off and not responding to clients (I'm away camping for the summer - please contact me as of 2 September") while for the American there is no such luxury (I'm in the hospital - I'm so so sorry for the 30-minute delay in getting back to you!").There's more than a kernel of truth to this stereotype. Europeans often fret that they are falling behind" the US economically, but in reality, per capita GDP in the US is 30% higher than in France largely because Americans work 25% more hours every year than French workers. Indeed, the term la rentree doesn't have a great translation into (American) English in part because it's not just a word, it's a cultural phenomenon: the return to everything" in September - work, school, book releases, museum exhibitions, concerts and other cultural events, and of course, political brouhaha - when everyone comes back from at least a month's holiday.Alexander Hurst is a Guardian Europe columnist Continue reading...
In today's newsletter: The presidential nominee's big speech, no speaking slot for a Palestinian American, and a glut of celebrities Sign up here for our daily newsletter, First EditionGood morning. For today's newsletter, we're bringing you coverage of Kamala Harris's speech accepting the Democratic nomination for president courtesy of Rachel Leingang, in a preview of our newsletter covering the US election, The Stakes. You can sign up here.Hello from Chicago, where it's like the Oscars, but for people with slightly less charisma.Education | The aftermath of the Covid pandemic has been squeezed out of GCSE results as students received grades more similar to pre-pandemic levels. But there were wide regional variations, with students in London powering ahead of pre-pandemic grades, while top grades in Wales and Northern Ireland came down with a bump compared with last year.Politics | Rachel Reeves has insisted there will be no blank cheques" for public sector unions amid Conservative claims that the government's attempt to end long-running strikes has made it a soft touch. Reeves said that the cost of not increasing pay for police officers, the armed forces and teachers would have been very damaging".Italy | The British tech entrepreneur Mike Lynch has been confirmed dead by search and rescue authorities after his yacht sank off the coast of Sicily during a violent storm. A spokesperson for the Italian fire brigade said it could take days before the last missing person was found.Health | The UK's health regulator has rejected a drug that can slow the progression of Alzheimer's disease, saying its benefits are too small to justify the costs of the therapy. The drug is not a cure, but in clinical trials slowed cognitive decline by 27% in early Alzheimer's patients.Media | Jermaine Jenas, a presenter on The One Show and pundit on Match of the Day, has been sacked by the BBC after complaints about his workplace conduct, allegedly involving text messages and other digital communication. The former footballer said he was seeking legal advice. Continue reading...
Her acceptance address was short on policy and poetry, but the Democratic nominee took the fight to Donald TrumpIt was not a political address for the ages. It was not even the best of the convention (no one can compete with the Obamas). But Kamala Harris did enough in her speech accepting the Democratic presidential nomination on Thursday to put an exclamation mark on one of the most dramatic turnarounds in modern political history.And she made you reflect that you would not want to be Donald Trump facing her in next month's televised debate. A speech that was short on policy and poetry was nevertheless devastating in skewering the menace from Mar-a-Lago. Trump can expect the same kind of interrogation when the two go head to head that would make most mortals tremble. Continue reading...
Kamala Harris accepted the Democratic presidential nomination on the final day of the conference in Chicago, laying out the stakes of the election and delivering a forceful rebuke of her Republican opponent Donald Trump Continue reading...
Despite protests and laws, sexual violence remains pervasive. India's misogynist patriarchal culture is holding women backWith a rape occurring every 16 minutes, violence is one of the biggest deterrents to women working in India. On the eve of India's independence day, 14 August, tens of thousands of women took to the streets across the eastern Indian state of West Bengal in a reclaim the night" march, after the brutal rape and murder of a trainee doctor in Kolkata.But we have been here before - too many times. Most notably in 2012, when we protested at the murder of a young paramedic in Delhi. Jyoti Singh was raped in a moving bus by several men and left to die on the streets. Continue reading...
The vice-president rebuked Trump and urged optimism and faith' - but Beyonce did not make an appearanceThe Democratic national convention has ended in Chicago, with vice-president Kamala Harris formally accepting the nomination and making her pitch to voters. Here are some key takeaways from the fourth night:Democratic convention highlights:Tim Walz's acceptance speech channeled grit and empathyDemocrats issue warning over Project 2025What to know about Kamala Harris and Tim Walz Continue reading...
Roy Cooper, the North Carolina governor, spoke on the last night of the Democratic national convention in Chicago. He said to the Democratic faithful: 'Even if you don't agree with her on everything, Kamala Harris will fight for you to the very end. Are we going to stand up and fight for Kamala like she's going to fight for us?'
Appearing with actress Kerry Washington at the Democratic national convention in Chicago, Amara and Leela explained the pronunciation of vice-president Kamala Harris's name which continues to perplex some.First you say Kama like a comma in a sentence,' Amara said. Then you say 'la' like lalalala,' Leela said
As the DNC draws to a close in Chicago, Harris is leaning into the changing face of America, positioning Trump as yesterday's manAs an Australian onlooker, the pageantry of American politics - party conventions in particular - can seem like a spectacle compared with the austerity of Australian elections.But after the DNC celebrations in Chicago wind down, the Democratic party is facing the hard reality of a serious fight ahead of November's presidential election. Continue reading...
Four of the exonerated Central Park Five, who were wrongfully convicted of rape in 2016, spoke at the Democratic national convention in Chicago. Yusuf Salaam said Trump, who led the wrongful prosecution and called for the return of the death penalty in relation to the conviction, 'wanted us dead...he has never changed, and he never will'
Speaking at the Democratic national convention in Chicago, US senator Elizabeth Warren praised Kamala Harris's work as attorney general, saying she 'can't be bought or bossed around'. She went on to criticize Trump and JD Vance, saying she 'wouldn't trust them to move [her] couch'
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