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How the ‘Beautiful Game’ Is Deflecting America’s Political Turmoil

Amid protests and rancor, World Cup soccer proves a bright spot in the United States and around the world.

© Doug Barrett/Reuters

Local fans of Algeria’s team, whose home base for the 2026 World Cup soccer tournament is at the nearby University of Kansas take part in a street party before the game against Argentina, in Lawrence, Kansas.
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How the ‘Beautiful Game’ Is Deflecting America’s Political Turmoil

Amid protests and rancor, World Cup soccer proves a bright spot in the United States and around the world.

© Doug Barrett/Reuters

Local fans of Algeria’s team, whose home base for the 2026 World Cup soccer tournament is at the nearby University of Kansas take part in a street party before the game against Argentina, in Lawrence, Kansas.
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Air Force Detains Officer Who Called for Trump’s Impeachment at Capitol

Maj. Jason Watson, who was in uniform, was arrested during a protest that followed a news conference on Wednesday.

© Allison Bailey/NurPhoto via AP

Maj. Jason Watson of the U.S. Air Force was arrested after calling for the impeachment, conviction and removal of President Trump during a news conference at the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday.
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Tibetan Man Dies After Self-Immolation Protest in New York

Lobga Rangzen, a 52-year-old resident of Queens, died after the self-immolation. He said Beijing’s policies were “destroying the Tibetan people.”

© Daniel Slim/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images

A Tibetan activist set himself on fire outside the U.N. headquarters in New York on Thursday evening. “I am doing this for my country. For the Tibetan nation,” he had said.
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Jury Deadlocks on Felony Count for Golden Gate Bridge Protesters

Seven activists shut down the bridge in 2024 to protest American-backed military attacks in Gaza. They avoided a conviction on the most serious charge but were found guilty of misdemeanors.

© Minh Connors for The New York Times

Supporters have shown up regularly at the San Francisco Superior Courthouse to back activists facing multiple charges for blocking Golden Gate Bridge in 2024.
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The Ohio City Revived by Haitian Immigration Sees an Uncertain Future

In Springfield, Ohio, some residents see the end of an economic boom after the end of a humanitarian program for immigrants. Others see still darker possibilities.

© Amy Powell for The New York Times

Risner, who brought his family to Springfield and bought a home, fears a bleak future in Haiti.
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Deal With Israel Divides Lebanese, Fueling Protests in Beirut

Supporters welcomed the agreement as a step toward curtailing Iran’s influence within Lebanon, but others took to the streets, calling it a capitulation.

© Ibrahim Amro/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images

People in Beirut protesting against the agreement that was signed late Friday between Israel, Lebanon and the United States.
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