Mohammad Ali strikes early as rain interrupts Pakistan-West Indies Test

Former Maine Senate President Troy Jackson has officially secured the Democratic nomination for the US Senate, ending the party’s search for a new candidate after Graham Platner withdrew from the race earlier this month. Jackson will now challenge long-serving Republican Senator Susan Collins in what is expected to become one of the most closely watched Senate contests of the midterm elections. The Democratic Party selected Jackson during its state convention in Bangor, where an overwhelming majority of nearly 600 delegates voted in his favor. Business executive Saundra Pelletier, who also sought the nomination, was defeated by Jackson after party members backed his campaign by a wide margin. The nomination process was set in motion after former Democratic candidate Graham Platner stepped aside on July 10 following allegations of sexual assault. Platner has denied the accusations against him. His withdrawal forced party leaders to quickly organize a replacement ahead of the November election, making Jackson’s campaign one of the shortest Senate races of the year. During his acceptance speech, Jackson focused heavily on economic issues, arguing that rising living costs remain the biggest challenge facing ordinary Americans. He accused large corporations and wealthy individuals of benefiting while working families continue to struggle. Jackson also criticized Senator Collins, claiming she has consistently supported policies that favor powerful business interests over everyday workers. Jackson, a fifth-generation logger from northern Maine and a former Republican, had already built strong support within the Democratic Party before the convention. His supporters dominated the delegate selection process the previous weekend, effectively securing his path to the nomination. His campaign also announced that it had raised more than $1 million in donations within days of entering the race, providing a significant financial boost for the months ahead. The election is expected to play an important role in determining which party controls the US Senate. Republicans currently hold a 53 to 47 majority, and Democrats view Maine as one of their strongest opportunities to gain a seat. Senator Collins has represented Maine in the Senate since 1997 and currently serves as chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, a position that has allowed her to direct federal funding toward projects in her state. Maine has become an increasingly competitive political battleground. Although voters supported Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris in the 2024 election, Collins has repeatedly won statewide elections even while Democrats carried the state in presidential contests. Her victory in 2020 came by nearly nine percentage points despite Maine backing Joe Biden for president during the same election. Recent polling suggests the race could be highly competitive. A survey conducted by the University of New Hampshire found Jackson holding a narrow lead among likely voters, although political analysts expect the contest to remain close until Election Day. Collins also enters the campaign with a significant financial advantage, having built an election fund worth approximately $11 million. Economic concerns are expected to dominate the campaign, but immigration and social issues are also likely to receive considerable attention. Jackson has called for abolishing US Immigration and Customs Enforcement following several controversial incidents involving the agency this year. Collins, meanwhile, supported a major immigration enforcement funding package but has also called for a temporary pause in certain traffic stop operations carried out by ICE. President Donald Trump has publicly defended those enforcement measures and said they should continue. Jackson’s political record on social issues is also expected to come under scrutiny. Although he now supports abortion rights and same-sex marriage, he opposed both earlier in his legislative career before changing his position during his second term in the Maine Senate. Those past votes became a campaign issue during his unsuccessful bid for the Democratic nomination for governor earlier this year. Republicans have already begun attacking Jackson’s candidacy. The Senate Leadership Fund, a Republican political action committee that plans to spend at least $42 million in Maine, launched an advertising campaign highlighting a 2021 incident in which Jackson threw a water bottle during a heated debate in the state legislature. The advertisement questions his temperament and leadership style. Jackson acknowledged the incident in a recent interview, saying he regretted throwing the bottle and admitting he allowed his emotions to get the better of him during the argument.

US health authorities have expanded their investigation into a multistate outbreak of cyclosporiasis after new infections were identified in four additional states. The outbreak has been linked to shredded iceberg lettuce imported from central Mexico and supplied by Taylor Farms. Officials from the US Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are continuing efforts to determine the full extent of the outbreak and trace all affected products. According to the FDA, confirmed outbreak-related cases have now been reported in nine states including Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania and West Virginia. Health officials said nearly 2,000 people have become infected with the cyclospora parasite after being exposed to food served at Taco Bell restaurants. So far, at least 98 people have required hospital treatment, although no deaths have been reported. The investigation remains active as authorities work to identify additional cases that may be connected to the contaminated lettuce. Oklahoma’s health department said it is cooperating with federal officials to determine whether more illnesses reported in the state are linked to the outbreak. Cyclosporiasis cases have been recorded in at least 41 states across the country this year. However, investigators say not every infection is connected to the current outbreak. Health officials are still examining which cases are directly linked to shredded iceberg lettuce supplied by Taylor Farms and served at Taco Bell locations. Several states have already completed preliminary reviews and found no evidence connecting their reported cases to the nationwide outbreak. Health departments in Nebraska, Rhode Island, New Mexico and Maryland said investigations have not identified a link between local infections and the recalled lettuce. Officials stressed that cyclospora infections can result from exposure to a variety of contaminated fresh produce, making each case important to investigate separately. In New Hampshire, health authorities confirmed nine infections associated with recalled Taylor Farms lettuce that had been served in the cafeteria at Cheshire Medical Center. Officials are continuing to investigate whether additional illnesses reported in the area are related to the same source. Oregon health officials also reported two infections believed to be connected to the ongoing outbreak. Both individuals had recently traveled to states included in the nationwide recall and were believed to have consumed pre-shredded lettuce associated with the investigation. North Carolina has also seen an increase in cyclosporiasis cases this year, but state health officials said the available evidence does not suggest those infections are related to the Taco Bell outbreak. Instead, investigators found that patients had commonly consumed fresh herbs such as parsley and cilantro along with lettuce, indicating different sources of exposure may be responsible. Michigan remains the state reporting the highest number of suspected infections. State officials said more than 8,000 probable cases of the intestinal illness have now been identified, with hundreds of additional cases reported within a single day. Investigators continue to monitor the situation closely as new reports are received. The outbreak prompted Taylor Farms to announce a voluntary recall of iceberg lettuce sourced from central Mexico on July 17. The recall covers products sold in grocery stores, supplied to restaurants and distributed to food service businesses across the United States. Federal health officials continue to advise consumers, restaurants and retailers not to use or serve any products included in the recall until the investigation is complete. An industry source familiar with the matter said Taylor Farms has temporarily suspended operations at the processing facility in central Mexico that US health authorities have linked to the outbreak. Officials hope the closure, combined with the product recall and continued public health monitoring, will help prevent additional infections while investigators work to identify the exact source of the contamination.