Starmer to launch child grooming gangs inquiry
Moving Day at Oakmont in the year’s third major
This is Matt Wallace’s first appearance at a US Open for four years. The 35-year-old Londoner is grabbing the opportunity with both hands: decent opening rounds of 72 and 74, and he’s on the move today, with birdies at 4, 11 and now 13, the latter the reward for a glorious tee shot sent over the flag to six feet. He’s +3 overall.
Rory McIlroy spent a good proportion of yesterday afternoon in a hot funk. A club tossed down the track here, some tee-box furniture smashed in half there. Bad Rory! Naughty Rory! He’s a bit more zen today, not that his game is helping any. Bogeys at 3, 9, 11, 14 and 16, his only birdie coming at 10. But instead of iron hurling and yardage-marker battering, he’s merely responding with wan smiles. It’s not for the want of trying, but nevertheless you can tell the fire’s gone out. Might be an idea to take a couple of weeks off before Portrush, because nothing’s gone right for him since completing his life’s dream at Augusta. He’s +10.
Continue reading...© Photograph: Carolyn Kaster/AP
© Photograph: Carolyn Kaster/AP
Israel’s successful strikes against Tehran’s military leadership make the already unpopular Islamic government look increasingly shaky
Despite the strikes earlier in the day, Sahar* and her family decided to take a stroll in one of Tehran’s parks on Friday night, the eve of Eid al-Ghadir, a major Shia holiday. But, instead of the usual festive fireworks, the sky was lit up by bright red anti-aircraft missiles streaking across the horizon.
“Seeing Iranian missiles over your heads worries you, you worry what’s going to come next. Will it be a war, destruction?” said Sahar over the phone. She sent a video to the Guardian that shows people in the park hurriedly packing up and looking up as the crack of anti-aircraft munitions rings out overhead.
Continue reading...© Photograph: Meghdad Madadi/TASNIM NEWS/AFP/Getty Images
© Photograph: Meghdad Madadi/TASNIM NEWS/AFP/Getty Images
Sporting striker wants to play in Champions League
Mikel Arteta thought to prefer Benjamin Sesko
Manchester United’s pursuit of Viktor Gyökeres appears doomed after the Sporting striker said signing for Arsenal would be a “dream”. United held exploratory discussions about buying the 27-year-old, with Ruben Amorim intent on strengthening the position. But it is understood the player’s representatives have told United he does not wish to join the club.
Instead Gyökeres is understood to view Arsenal as his preferred option since they will play in the Champions League next season.
Continue reading...© Photograph: Pedro Rocha/Reuters
© Photograph: Pedro Rocha/Reuters
PM says new statutory inquiry was ‘right thing to do’ after findings of review submitted by Louise Casey
Keir Starmer will launch a national inquiry into grooming gangs after receiving the recommendations of an independent report on the scandal.
The prime minister said a new statutory inquiry was “the right thing to do” based on the findings submitted by Louise Casey, who has carried out a months-long inquiry into the abuse of young girls.
Continue reading...© Photograph: PA
© Photograph: PA
Workplace raids will be stopped after Trump conceded that deportations are hurting agricultural and hospitality industries
The Trump administration deportation campaign is reportedly shifting its focus away from raids on the agricultural and hospitality sectors after Donald Trump conceded this week that his immigration policies are hurting the farming and hotel industries.
The New York Times reported that an internal email was sent on Thursday by Tatum King, a senior official with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (Ice), to regional department leaders at Homeland Security Investigations, directing them to stop workplace immigration enforcement actions unless related to criminal investigations.
Continue reading...© Photograph: Matthew Hoen/ZUMA Press Wire/Shutterstock
© Photograph: Matthew Hoen/ZUMA Press Wire/Shutterstock
Military assets to provide ‘contingency support’ as PM repeats call for de-escalation after Iran’s retaliatory strikes
The UK is moving jets and other military assets to the Middle East, Keir Starmer has said, refusing to rule out defending Israel from Iranian strikes despite Tehran’s threat that such an action could lead to British bases in the region being targeted.
Speaking to reporters on the plane to the G7 summit, Starmer reiterated his call for de-escalation, saying he had held a series of calls with other world leaders in the hours after Israel’s attack on Iran, including the Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, and Donald Trump.
Continue reading...© Photograph: Ammar Awad/Reuters
© Photograph: Ammar Awad/Reuters
© Daniel Cole/Associated Press
Dusting off a pile of matchday gems from the City Ground spanning 50 years reveals a rich seam of cultural and sporting delights
What to do with the pile of vintage Nottingham Forest programmes that came into my possession several years ago? At first, standard protocol was observed for uncategorised piles of paper. The 21 City Ground programmes, spanning 50 years from September 1963 to November 2012, were packed away in a dark cupboard, ignored and unread. But finally taking the time to study them has paid dividends: a rich seam of history leaps off the pages in clear, elegant black-and-white type.
Forest’s presence in the top-flight’s upper echelons evoked the club’s halcyon days and plenty has been written about the Brian Clough-Peter Taylor era. Less attention has focused on Clough’s often entertaining programme notes during his 18-year tenure – while the editions outside Clough’s time are a fascinating way of charting Forest’s trajectory, as well as how profoundly football and wider society have changed.
Continue reading...© Photograph: David Levene/The Guardian
© Photograph: David Levene/The Guardian