Friday

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

• Indian equities recently rallied, with the Sensex gaining nearly 580 points following a drop in crude oil prices and dovish remarks from the US Federal Reserve. • Market sentiment was further bolstered by easing tensions in the Middle East, which helped lower energy costs and improve investor confidence. • Analysts indicate that Friday's market action will be primarily driven by Q1 earnings reports, upcoming US jobs data, and the outcomes of the India–Japan summit.

• The HinduBusinessLine has launched a contest called "Bandu's Blockbusters" inviting participants to predict the top-performing stock by next Friday. • Users who correctly guess the stock that provides the best return within the specified timeframe can win a prize of ₹2,000. • This initiative engages readers by gamifying stock market analysis and encouraging active tracking of short-term equity trends.

• A court ruling on Thursday dealt another blow to Donald Trump's voter suppression efforts leading up to the November midterm elections. • The decision follows a Senate Homeland Security Committee hearing where Postmaster General David Steiner was questioned by Democrats regarding the handling of absentee ballots. • Senator Gary Peters of Michigan specifically challenged Steiner on whether the Postal Service would continue mailing ballots if a state refused to share its voter list with the federal government.

• A devastating earthquake in Venezuela has left two Spanish citizens dead and 80 others currently unaccounted for. • In domestic news, Spanish television has sparked public outrage after adding subtitles to translate the Andalusian accent. • The Spanish government will implement new requirements ensuring mobile network coverage remains operational during power blackouts.

Nine Entertainment is expected to sever ties with the Today show host but is yet to make details of the separation publicKarl Stefanovic won’t appear on his scheduled Friday afternoon radio show with Eddie McGuire after widespread criticism of his podcast interview with UK far-right activist Tommy Robinson.Stefanovic only recently signed the deal with ARN Media to co-host The Long Weekend nationally on Gold FM, but the threat of an advertising boycott has led to the contract being reviewed, Guardian Australia understands. Continue reading...

• The United States' soccer match against Australia at Lumen Field in Seattle drew a combined audience of over 20.68 million viewers across Fox, Telemundo, and Peacock. • Despite the high viewership, the game was considered a "dead rubber" or friendly, as the U.S. had already secured the group crown and Turkey had been eliminated. • The surge in viewership highlights a growing commercial appetite for soccer within the U.S. market.