Federal judge blocks key parts of Trump's mail voting order
A Boston court sided with states arguing that running elections is a matter for states and Congress, not the White House.
Eleanor Whitfield 3 min read
United States
American coverage on this page runs from the Supreme Court to the World Cup stands. The courts thread is dense: immigration rulings handing Trump a run of wins, a judge blocking parts of his mail voting order, limits on damages over a Rastafari inmate's cut dreadlocks, and the Justice Department withdrawing subpoenas that sought reporters' testimony. Policy stories follow the White House's request for tens of billions in Iran war spending and the $500m RAISE US retraining launch, while Scotland's travelling support becomes the World Cup's feel-good story across the country.
RAISE US launches with $500m to retrain workers for the AI economy
A bipartisan nonprofit founded by Gina Raimondo and Eric Holcomb plans to work with states and employers on education and retraining.
Rajan Mehta 3 min read
US Supreme Court limits damages over Rastafari inmate's cut dreadlocks
Justices condemned the shaving of Damon Landor's hair but ruled that federal religious-rights law did not allow him to claim money damages from prison officials.
Marcus Reeve 3 min read
Supreme Court Immigration Rulings Hand Trump a Run of Wins
A series of decisions touching temporary protected status and asylum has strengthened the White House's hand and reignited the row over executive power.
Marcus Reeve 4 min read
White House Asks Congress for Tens of Billions in Iran War Spending
A funding request reported at $87.6bn bundles money tied to the Iran conflict with military readiness and domestic priorities.
Marcus Reeve 4 min read
Iran protests after Taremi held up at US airport
Iran says footballer Mehdi Taremi and an assistant coach were delayed by US officials at an airport, turning a travel hold-up into a sports-diplomacy row.
Daniel Fletcher 3 min read
ICE to offload warehouse detention sites after lawsuits
US officials plan to shed some warehouse properties bought for immigrant detention after legal challenges and cost questions complicated the programme.
Marcus Reeve 3 min read
US Justice Department withdraws subpoenas seeking reporters' testimony
The reversal, which had demanded journalists' grand jury evidence, has been welcomed by press-freedom advocates and reignited debate over leak investigations and the protection of sources.
Marcus Reeve 5 min read
Federal judge blocks bid to bar SNAP benefits from buying sweets and sugary drinks
A ruling has paused restrictions pursued by several US states, raising thorny legal questions about how food is defined, the limits of public-health policy and access to benefits.
Marcus Reeve 5 min read
Scotland's travelling support becomes the World Cup's feel-good story across the United States
The Tartan Army's good humour and colour have been hailed as a reminder of football's shared joy, offering a warm counterpoint to wider rows over ticket costs and tournament politics.
Daniel Fletcher 5 min read
Ransom note reportedly claims Nancy Guthrie died soon after abduction, as inquiry continues
Reports citing sources say a note connected to the disappearance of Savannah Guthrie's mother indicated she died shortly after being taken, though her body has not been found and officials have not confirmed the claims.
Marcus Reeve 5 min read
US and Jamaica in talks over accepting third-country deportees, minister confirms
A proposed arrangement could see Jamaica take up to 25 people every fortnight from other nations, with details on housing and compensation still being worked out as opposition figures raise concerns.
Marcus Reeve 5 min read
Doctor charged in alleged $89m fraud puts healthcare billing under scrutiny
A criminal case said to involve tens of millions of dollars has drawn fresh attention to enforcement against medical billing fraud, with the allegations yet to be tested in court.
Marcus Reeve 5 min read
New arrests widen alleged plot targeting UFC event at the White House
Seven people now face charges in a case whose unusual target and political backdrop have drawn intense scrutiny, with the next stage resting on court filings and evidence.
Marcus Reeve 5 min read
Kenya halts US-run Ebola facility after court pressure and protests
The country's health minister ordered work stopped on a quarantine site amid a contempt finding and public opposition, exposing tensions over sovereignty and health security.
Marcus Reeve 5 min read
China pushes back as the US widens its technology sanctions pressure
Beijing has condemned fresh American export-control measures as the politicisation of trade and security, deepening a contest over semiconductors, defence-linked firms and the supply chains that underpin modern economies.
Marcus Reeve 5 min read
America's 250th anniversary plans expose rival visions of a national celebration
Preparations for the United States' semiquincentennial are turning into a contest over memory and politics, as competing groups plan sharply different commemorations and the White House seeks a prominent role.
Marcus Reeve 5 min read
US-Iran nuclear inspection row exposes strain in public diplomacy
A dispute over access to Iran's enrichment sites is testing whether fragile post-war commitments can be turned into verifiable action.
Marcus Reeve 4 min read
US imposes new sanctions on Cuban companies amid economic strain
Washington targets firms it describes as important to the island's struggling economy, adding pressure to Havana amid shortages and migration concerns.
Marcus Reeve 3 min read
Trump turns America 250 launch into a political test on the National Mall
The president opened the Great American State Fair with a rally-style speech, prompting musical acts to pull out and several states to opt out.
Marcus Reeve 4 min read
Eight sentenced over shooting outside Texas immigration detention centre
Lengthy prison terms in a case prosecutors linked to a protest reignite debate over political extremism, public safety and the policing of demonstrations.
Marcus Reeve 3 min read
Iran farmer claims deepen dispute over frozen assets in fragile US deal
A row over food, sanctions and unfrozen money has complicated America's tentative interim agreement with Tehran, with Washington and Iran clashing over how released assets should be spent.
Marcus Reeve 4 min read
Camp Mystic files for bankruptcy after deadly Texas floods
The Christian girls' camp has filed for Chapter 11 reorganisation nearly a year after catastrophic flooding killed 25 campers and two teenage counsellors on the Guadalupe River.
Marcus Reeve 3 min read
US judge bars immigration arrests at courthouses
A federal judge has blocked a Trump administration policy that allowed immigration officers to detain people attending court hearings.
Marcus Reeve 4 min read
Latest US Strike on Alleged Drug Boat Leaves Survivors as Oversight Questions Mount
A fresh American military strike on a suspected drug-smuggling vessel in the eastern Pacific killed two people and left six survivors, intensifying scrutiny over the evidence and legal basis behind a months-long campaign at sea.
Marcus Reeve 5 min read
US Grants 60-Day Iranian Oil Licence as Switzerland Peace Talks Press On
Washington has issued a temporary sanctions licence permitting Iranian oil production, delivery and sales through 21 August, offering negotiators an economic bridge as they pursue a permanent end to the war that began in February.
Marcus Reeve 5 min read
Los Angeles Schools Chief Resigns After FBI Searches and Months on Leave
Alberto Carvalho's departure leaves the second-largest district in the United States facing a leadership reset amid a federal inquiry he says he has no part in.
Marcus Reeve 5 min read
China Blocks Dual-Use Exports to US Defence Companies
Beijing has announced new restrictions on exports to American defence-linked firms in retaliation for expanded US sanctions on Chinese technology companies, escalating the two powers' security dispute.
Marcus Reeve 4 min read
AP investigation says DEA let tracked fentanyl shipments reach the streets
An Associated Press report says agents monitored large fentanyl deliveries in New Mexico without seizing them while building wider cases, reigniting debate over federal drug enforcement tactics.
Marcus Reeve 4 min read
Chicago weekend shootings leave seven dead and dozens injured
At least seven people were killed and 38 injured across the city over the weekend, according to police, intensifying the political debate over crime and federal intervention.
Marcus Reeve 4 min read
Iran and US agree memorandum to end war and reopen Strait of Hormuz
Mediators say a 14-point understanding, due to be signed in Switzerland, would end more than 100 days of fighting, lift the US naval blockade and extend a ceasefire that reaches into Lebanon.
Marcus Reeve 8 min read
US and Iran edge towards a deal, but the two sides cannot agree on what it says
President Trump has signalled that an agreement to end hostilities and reopen the Strait of Hormuz is close, yet Tehran has cast doubt on the timing and disputed his account of the terms.
Marcus Reeve 8 min read