As the United States celebrates its 250th anniversary, there is a tension between those who want to remember an uncomplicated past and those who would remember that freedom is a constant struggle. It’s a right that must be fought for and defended.

And amid all the hoop-la over the celebrations, the nation risks forgetting that since the War of Independence, African Americans have played a crucial role defining and expanding American liberty.

The Declaration of Independence promised “all men are created equal”. And yet when Thomas Jefferson – himself an enslaver – penned those words, there were around half a million enslaved people living in the 13 colonies.

Black Americans saw the contradictions at the heart of the Revolutionary era, and they sought to redefine liberty. During the Revolutionary War, thousands of enslaved Americans sought freedom – sometimes by joining the British, and sometimes by serving the Patriot cause.

They often used the pen, as well as the sword, to link the nation’s fight for freedom to their own. The poet Phillis Wheatley, born in west Africa and enslaved in Boston, published a poem in 1772 comparing her enslavement to tyrannical British rule. A group of Black Bostonians presented petitions to the Massachusetts legislature calling for the abolition of slavery, using the language of natural rights and words and phrases from the Declaration of Independence.

Ultimately, Black patriots were betrayed by a new nation that was founded on competing visions of freedom. For Black Americans, liberty did not just mean self-government and freedom from British rule. It also required emancipation, citizenship, and equal rights. While there was gradual abolition in northern states, in the south slavery expanded and the institution was seemingly protected by the federal constitution.

But African Americans refused to accept an interpretation of freedom which excluded them. At Colored Conventions across the country, activists asserted they were true defenders of the Revolution’s principles and, as such, their treatment was a betrayal of those ideals. “The Constitution is Anti-Slavery”, one such convention concluded.

The great orator and formerly enslaved abolitionist, Frederick Douglass, on the anniversary of Independence in 1852, asked: “What, to the American slave, is your 4th of July?” Speaking to his white audience, he explained: “This Fourth July is yours, not mine. You may rejoice, I must mourn.”

To the slave, commemorating independence revealed the limits of America’s vaunted liberty and equality.

After emancipation, African Americans used revolutionary principles to demand full citizenship rights. In 1870, Black men were given the vote by the 15th Amendment, and African Americans were afforded the protections and privileges of citizenship. But again they were betrayed, and these rights were dismantled through violence and the erosion of those constitutional protections.

As the strictures of segregation tightened around them, African Americans continued to use memories of American liberty. Black people had always defended American democracy, explained civil rights leader Mary McLeod Bethune in a 1939 speech. “We have given our blood in its defense – from Crispus Attucks on Boston Commons to the battlefields of France,” she said, invoking the spectre of the Black hero of the War of Independence. And yet, for Bethune, Black people fought not for what America was “but for what we know she can be”.

Martin Luther King: cashing the check of justice

It was this belief in a better America that drove many in the Black freedom movement. Standing on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial, 100 years after Emancipation, Martin Luther King Jr not only remembered the slain president’s proclamation, but also the founders who preceded him.

The Constitution and the Declaration of Independence were a “promissory note” that guaranteed all people their inalienable rights, he said. And while the country had defaulted on its promise, King refused to believe “that the bank of justice is bankrupt,” and so he and thousands of others had “come to cash this check”.

The cheque was cashed, for at least some of the balance, with the passage of the Civil Rights Act in 1964 and the Voting Rights Act a year later.

But as America marks its 250th anniversary, the “bank of justice” is looking increasingly short of funds. There is a concerted effort to forget the contradictions of American liberty. The Trump administration is curating a commemoration that emphasises unity and patriotism, with an uncomplicated retelling of the nation’s history, that downplays slavery and racial division.

The Freedom Trucks illustrate Trump’s “Freedom 250” initiative, in which, according to journalist Ed Pilkington, America is represented as a “God-given force for freedom led by Judeo-Christian white men”.

The founding fathers are unreservedly celebrated, with no acknowledgement that some were slave owners. While an exhibit highlights Douglass’s Fourth of July speech, it doesn’t discuss his condemnation of the hypocrisy of celebrating freedom while millions were enslaved.

Black rights under threat

Now the US is poised for another celebration of American exceptionalism. But it’s one that ignores the complexities and contradictions of the nation’s founding. And it’s taking place as the hard-won achievements of the Black freedom struggle are being rolled back, as the Voting Rights Act is gutted, and Black political representation in the south comes under attack.

Just as in the antebellum era of the 1800s, at the height of Reconstruction in the late 19th century, and during the nadir of Jim Crow in the 20th, it is essential that America’s founding is remembered as the beginning of an unfinished struggle for liberty.

And it is important to remember that when they fought in the Revolutionary War (and all the wars that followed), wrote petitions, made proclamations and organised protests, African Americans gave meaning to the nation’s founding principles and documents.

As historian, Annette Gordon-Reed argues, what matters is not Jefferson’s intentions when writing the Declaration, but what others have done to give those words purpose and life.

If the founders did not mean to include them in the Constitution’s preamble, then through their tireless labour, activism, and remembering, African Americans have fought to make sure they too are contained in “We the people”.

Questions have also been raised around whether there was an awareness that Donaldson was allegedly engaged in behaviour in his private life that, although legal, was at odds with positions he adopted publicly.

A review commissioned by the DUP into the behaviour of Jeffrey Donaldson will be “unprecedented” in Northern Ireland, party leader Gavin Robinson has pledged.

Mr Robinson said he would not currently comment on who would lead the independent investigation.

Former DUP leader Donaldson was last week convicted of 18 sex offences, including one count of rape, relating to abuse of two women when they were children.

Subsequent media reports have raised questions about how much was known within the DUP about Donaldson’s wider conduct in the period prior to his 2024 arrest over sex abuse allegations.

BBC Spotlight has reported that some senior DUP figures were aware of another woman, who was not involved in the recent court case, who had raised concerns about Donaldson’s behaviour.

Questions have also been raised around whether there was an awareness that Donaldson was allegedly engaged in behaviour in his private life that, although legal, was at odds with positions he adopted publicly.

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The DUP has commissioned an independent review into issues raised since Donaldson was convicted.

During a press conference at Hillsborough Castle, Mr Robinson was asked to confirm who would be leading the review.

He said he would provide more information when he was “in a position to do so”.

Mr Robinson added: “As you know, I have been as transparent as possible on this process.

“And let me remind you, before you hear more detail about this review, it is unprecedented in Northern Ireland political terms.

“There is no other political party in our history that has ever taken a step like this, and there are many other parties, in even the most recent past, that have had similar issues beside them that hasn’t led to as much scrutiny, or at least the willingness to have as much introspection.

“I don’t shy away from the challenges and I will give you the details when I’m in a position to do so.”

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Mr Robinson has previously said there were current and former members of the DUP who had information about the behaviour in Donaldson’s private life which was not formally shared with the party.

He said: “I am not going to answer what the outcome to a review may be before it starts.

“We have, for a myriad of reasons, for a whole host of reasons and accusations, and some smears, and some politicking along the way too, we have taken the unprecedented step of commissioning a review, so that we can answer these questions.

“Not a reluctance on my part to give you any further detail now. It’s actually a sign of our integrity and the importance with which we place on these issues, that we are going to deal with them seriously, sensibly.

“Bring somebody independent in to do something unprecedented in Northern Ireland political terms.”

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A councillor has told how he rushed to help the teenager who had been stabbed before emergency services arrived.

Tuli Zefi, Reform councillor for Langley Ward, was driving past when he witnessed the incident on Market Street, Oldbury.

Winding down his window, Cllr Zefi says he shouted at a group to ‘pack it in’ before they ran off and left the 19-year-old who had been stabbed, reported BirminghamLive.

He said: “Today (July 2), on my way to the Council House, I witnessed something that no one should ever have to see. At first, I thought a group of young lads were just messing around. I wound my window down and shouted for them to pack it in.

“A group of them ran off, and when I asked the remaining young man if he was okay, he told me he thought he’d been stabbed. I got out of my car, saw the injury, and did what I could to help until the ambulance arrived. I stayed with him, tried to stop the bleeding, and kept talking to him to reassure him.”

Gary Poland drove Axel Rudakubana to the scene where the teenager murdered three children at a dance class but waited 50 minutes to call police

The taxi driver who left the scene of the Southport stabbing attack and waited 50 minutes before calling 999 has been stripped of his licence.

Gary Poland took Axel Rudakubana to the scene where the teenager murdered three children; Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, Bebe King, six, and Alice da Silva Aguiar, nine, and attempted to murder 10 others on July 29 2024.

Mr Poland witnessed children flee the dance studio, the Hart Space on Hart Street but waited 50 minutes to then call the police. It was found he ‘did not meet the appropriate standards’ to hold his taxi licence.

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A Sefton Council spokesperson said in a statement: “This individual no longer holds a taxi driver licence following a review by the local authority.

“A decision was taken that this individual did not meet the appropriate standards set out in Sefton Council’s taxi licensing policy.”

In his evidence to the Southport Inquiry in September 2025, Mr Poland said he drove away despite seeing screaming children running ‘like a stampede for their lives’ because he thought he heard gunshots.

Mr Poland, then a driver for One Call Taxis, did not call emergency services until 50 minutes after hearing screams coming from the Hart Space studio, having picked up another fare and returned home first.

Mr Poland also told the inquiry, held at Liverpool Town Hall, he had threatened to call the police when Rudakubana ignored his requests to pay his fare, but thought he had gone to get money when he went into the building where a Taylor Swift-themed dance class was being held.

Nicholas Moss KC, counsel to the inquiry, asked the witness: “Do you accept, as you drove away, children were fleeing alongside your car. And you can be seen looking in the rear view camera?”

“That’s correct,” Mr Poland said, adding: “I did not know anybody was injured. I did not see anybody injured.”

In a statement, Mr Poland said in hindsight he wished he had called police earlier. He said: “I regret not helping the children. Their screams were harrowing and I can still hear them when I think back to that day.”

Among the statements in Sefton Council’s taxi licensing handbook is a call for drivers to dial 999 if they feel a child or young person is in serious danger of immediate harm.

Brits were left gobsmacked when they realised who was actually singing to them in the street

British tourists were left completely floored when they realised who was actually singing to them in the street as they enjoyed an evening in Spain.

The Brit Award-winning musician started belting out one of their global hits live in Seville as visitors enjoyed drinks in a public square. It didn’t take long before listeners clocked exactly who it was.

It was none other than Robbie Williams, belting out his song ‘Angels’ as a guitarist tried to keep up with him in the background. People were seen excitedly running from their tables and filming upon realising it was the real former Take That member in the flesh.

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One of the people lucky enough to see it with their own eyes was TikTok user @cierancasey2609, who posted a video, captioning it: “Robbie Williams in Seville.” The clip has since amassed 195,000 views.

People were seen singing along and dancing in the street as Robbie, originally from Stoke-on-Trent, serenaded them while dressed in a casual all-black outfit and a cap. He performed an acoustic rendition of the song, which came out in December 1997.

He appeared to show the guitarist, who was the actual busker, the chords on a mobile phone before his rendition. As members of his audience danced together and sang, he joked, “You know it!”

He then quipped: “Obviously [it’s] not very famous here” as he struggled to keep up with the guitarist.

At the end of the chorus, he shouted into the mic: “I’m off!” and walked away from the crowd with his hands raised as crowds cheered and clapped.

Viewers online were left just as stunned by the shock performance. “Absolutely nuts,” one person wrote, followed by: “Timing is everything, could not buy that moment in time.”

“No because I’d CRY,” commented another, as a fourth wrote: “Imagine sitting there, casually having a drinky drink and THE Robbie Williams strolls by.”

The Rock DJ hitmaker was in the Spanish city on June 30 performing at the Iconica Santalucia Sevilla Fest. This was before heading to Morocco for Jazzablanca on Thursday (July 2).

When Caleb Miligan (William Ash) decided to try and restore his criminal edge in Emmerdale, he had absolutely no idea that his plan would lead him to discovering something very dangerous.

The businessman had his pride dented a couple of weeks ago, when he fell victim to a scam that had been created by Jai Sharma’s (Chris Bisson) teenage son Archie.

To get his head back in the game and remind himself that he isn’t someone who’s taken for a mug, Caleb has decided to sell counterfeit shoes.

His sidekick for this is Kerry Wyatt (Laura Norton), who gets to work sorting some more deliveries in upcoming episodes.

As Bear Wolf (Joshua Richards) watches on from the break area, Caleb and Kerry discover a label sewn into one of the shoes that reads ‘help me’.

Horrified, Kerry urges Caleb to do the right thing and go to the police about the label.

A while later, Kerry finds Bear in the office examining the shoe with the label. She’s taken aback by his furious reaction to the news that Caleb still hasn’t contacted the authorities. Reminded of his own past where he was made to live and work as a slave on a farm, Bear has plenty to say to Caleb about what he’s doing.

Caleb tells Kerry that he’s told the police, but is later intrigued when Kammy Hadiq (Shebz Miah) gives him the lowdown about the markup on branded vs non-branded car parts.

Telling Kerry what he’s learned from Kammy, Caleb becomes convinced they could make a fair few quid selling car parts.

Caleb suggests that Kerry thinks about the idea, but she’s sceptical.

The situation with the counterfeit shoes has caused problems already – will the same thing happen if they turn their attention to selling another dodgy product?

‘She’s had a taste for it now, and she’s quite good at it’, star Laura Norton said, confirming that the stakes are going to be raised once again in this story.

‘She knows how to impress somebody of Caleb’s stature. Will and I have really enjoyed working together and we’ve said that we need to find another opportunity for a story like this again, because it’s when you put two characters that you wouldn’t normally put together, in the same world, it makes the scenes so interesting to watch.’

MORE: Real-life Emmerdale couple pay tribute after death of ‘dear friend’ and colleague

MORE: All Emmerdale spoilers for next week as controversial character stages chaotic return amid kidnap

MORE: Police called in Emmerdale as furious Caleb makes a big discovery

Dot Bagels, based on Chillingham Road in Newcastle, has been nominated for the Uber Eats Restaurant of the Year title.

The awards, now in their tenth year, celebrate the best small and independent food businesses across the UK and Ireland.

Dot Bagels is known for its New York-style bagels, freshly baked each day and served with a wide range of fillings.

Meacha Brown, brand manager at Dot Bagels, said: “We know how popular Dot Bagels is and that people appreciate the fact that they’re not only freshly made every day, but we have such an exciting and imaginative selection of fillings available.

“To have had this recognition is fantastic for all of the team and we just hope everyone will get behind us.”

An Uber spokesperson said: “The nomination recognised the exceptional food you create, the passion behind your business and the unforgettable experiences you deliver to customers every day.”

Having made it to the regional nominations, Dot Bagels now hopes to secure enough public votes before the deadline of July 30 to advance to the next stage.

The winner will then go into the national heat where they will have to present their bagels to a panel of judges.

The recognition comes four years after the business changed ownership and began its current run of success.

In addition to its flagship store, Dot Bagels also operates a branch on Acord Road in Jesmond, and supplies bagels to Claremont Teahouse at Eldon Place.

Customers can pick from six types of bagels, including sesame, garlic and herb, plain, cheddar and onion, and the ‘Heatwave’ – a cheddar and jalapeno option.

Dot Bagels is also known for its creative fillings, such as the classic bagel and lox, The Reuben, and more unusual offerings like Salt On Chili Road, made with fried chicken, pickled sesame slaw, and gochujang mayo.

The menu includes globally inspired options like shredded hoisin duck and chipotle chicken, as well as regional favourites.

Supporters of Dot Bagels can vote for them online at ubereatsawards.com before July 30.

By HARRY BAMFORTH, LIVE SPORTS COVERAGE REPORTER

Updated: 21:59 BST, 2 July 2026

Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez hit back at Donald Trump’s taunts of taking over by saying that his country would “fight until the very last drop of blood”

Cuba’s President has warned the country is “not afraid” of the US and ready to fight amid Donald Trump’s threats to takeover.

Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez did not hold back amid the taunts from Trump and said that Cuba was “getting ready” for a possible war with the US

He said the Caribbean country was willing to “fight until the very last drop of blood in order to defend our rights, our independence, and sovereignty”.

And he added: “We don’t want a war, but we’re not afraid of it, and we’re getting ready so we’re not surprised or defeated.”

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The RSPCA has suggested that a feline resident could offer “comfort and stability” at a northern government office, much like Larry the Cat at Downing Street.

Animal centres across Greater Manchester are already preparing potential candidates, in the hope of taking on the coveted title of Chief Mouser.

The campaign follows Andy Burnham’s suggestion that a northern headquarters for the UK government could be established in Manchester.

Disco Stu (Image: RSPCA)

Karen Colman, RSPCA superintendent for the North, said: “A new home, whether it is a private residence or a new seat of government, isn’t complete without a companion.

“Just as Larry has become a reassuring fixture amidst political turbulence, we believe a rescue cat could bring comfort, stability, and a much-needed paw of support to a new No 10 North.”

The RSPCA has highlighted several feline candidates, each with a story and a set of endearing credentials.

Freya, one of the cats shortlisted for the role, was rescued from a multi-cat household where she suffered malnutrition and lost her kittens.

Comic Book Guy (Image: RSPCA)

After gaining 25 per cent of her body weight in four weeks, Freya is now thriving and lives at the RSPCA Manchester and Salford Adoption Centre.

Two inseparable cats, Pie and Chips, are also in the running.

Described as the “perfect combo meal,” the pair are currently being cared for at RSPCA Hollingworth Lake Animal Centre and are seeking a quieter home where they can shine.

Patch (Image: RSPCA)

Patch, a seven-year-old cat rescued in December 2025, arrived virtually bald due to a flea infestation but has since made a full recovery.

Curious and full of personality, Patch loves to be involved in everything happening around her.

The shortlist also includes Cowboy, a 10-year-old who loves chin scratches and insists on drinking water from the tap, as well as Disco Stu and Comic Book Guy, who came into RSPCA care together after their previous owner could no longer look after them.

Pie and Chips (Image: RSPCA)

Tom, a young cat currently at RSPCA Altrincham Branch, is known for his playful obsession with hunting fluffy pompoms and his occasional attempts at playing fetch.

Despite the light-hearted campaign, the RSPCA is facing serious challenges.

Ms Colman said: “We need special people to open their hearts and homes to change these animals’ lives forever.

Tom (Image: RSPCA)

“RSPCA branches and centres find homes for almost 47 cats a day – two every hour – but rescued animals have been coming in at a quicker rate than they are adopted.

“Rising reports of cruelty and neglect, as well as increasing reports of large-scale cases involving tens, dozens or hundreds of animals have pushed us to crisis point.”

Cowboy (Image: RSPCA)

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The charity has also revealed plans for a state-of-the-art centre in the North West.

The proposed facility in Lowton, at Mossley Hall Farm, would combine veterinary care, rehabilitation, and rehoming services on a single site and is expected to create up to 150 jobs.

Those interested in adopting can visit rspca.org.uk/findapet to view all available rescue animals.