Trump’s 25th week in office set to include visit to Texas’ devastated Hill Country, third Netanyahu meeting
President Donald Trump’s 25th week back in the Oval Office in his second term is expected to include a trip to Texas to survey the tragedy and damage imposed after floodwaters devastated Hill Country, a third White House meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and ongoing tariff negotiations. Trump announced Sunday that he signed an emergency order to assist Kerr County, Texas, which was devastated on the Fourth of July by flash floods that have led to dozens of deaths and others missing in the area. TEXAS FLOOD SURVIVORS SHARE HARROWING STORIES, SEARCH CONTINUES FOR THOSE STILL MISSING “I just signed a Major Disaster Declaration for Kerr County, Texas, to ensure that our Brave First Responders immediately have the resources they need,” Trump announced on Truth Social Sunday. “These families are enduring an unimaginable tragedy, with many lives lost, and many still missing. The Trump Administration continues to work closely with State and Local Leaders.” “Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem was on the ground yesterday with Governor Greg Abbott, who is working hard to help the people of his Great State,” he added. “Our incredible U.S. Coast Guard, together with State First Responders, have saved more than 850 lives. GOD BLESS THE FAMILIES, AND GOD BLESS TEXAS!” Trump told the media he likely will head out to Texas and meet with locals devastated by the flooding and assess the damage later in the week. “We wanted to leave a little time,” Trump told reporters Sunday from New Jersey when asked if he planned to visit Texas. “I would have done it today, but we’d just be in their way. Probably Friday.” At least 80 people are dead from the flooding, which first gripped the area on the morning of Independence Day, while at least 41 others are still missing as of Monday morning. “This was a thing that happened in seconds. Nobody expected it. Nobody saw it. Very talented people are there, and they didn’t see it,” Trump explained. “It’s, I guess they said once in 100 years they’ve never seen anything like that. I mean, people are trying to blame the school. They’re trying to blame the camps. It’s just a horrible thing.” TRUMP PLEDGES FULL SUPPORT FOR TEXAS AMID CATASTROPHIC FLOODS Trump called the deadly flooding a “catastrophe.” “I would just say this is a 100-year catastrophe, and it’s just so horrible to watch,” Trump said. Israel’s Netanyahu will visit with Trump at the White House later Monday to discuss Israel reaching a ceasefire with Gaza. The meeting comes after the Trump administration collaborated with Israel for the successful strikes on a trio of Iranian nuclear facilities in June. Israel had launched preemptive strikes on Iran in mid-June, launching a “12-day war” between the two nations that ended following the U.S. strikes. TRUMP TO MEET WITH NETANYAHU AS HE PUSHES FOR CEASEFIRE BETWEEN ISRAEL, GAZA Trump’s meeting with Netanyahu comes after he expressed his disapproval with Israel, as well as Iran, after announcing a ceasefire between Israel and Iran on June 24 that was followed by the nations continuing to trade strikes. Both countries launched accusations at each other that they had violated the ceasefire before Trump expressed his discontent in a comment to the media. “I’m not happy with them,” Trump said at the White House on June 24. “I’m not happy with Iran either, but I’m really unhappy with Israel going out this morning.” The ceasefire was upheld. The Monday meeting is expected to focus on the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas, which began on Oct. 7, 2023, and has continued raging despite a previous ceasefire agreement early in 2025. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters that Trump is seeking to resolve the conflict between both Israel and Gaza and secure the release of the remaining hostages in Gaza. “It’s heartbreaking to see the images that have come out from both Israel and Gaza throughout this war,” Leavitt said. “And the president wants to see it end. He wants to save lives and, however, the main priority for the president also remains to bring all of the hostages home out of Gaza. As you know, his tireless effort has brought home many of the hostages, including all of the American hostages who were held there.” A 90-day pause on tariffs was set to end July 9, after Trump first announced reciprocal tariffs on foreign nations in April. Trump told reporters Sunday from New Jersey that his administration will begin sending letters to other nations Monday notifying them that higher tariffs will now take effect Aug. 1. “It could be 12, maybe 15” letters, Trump told reporters Sunday. “And we’ve made deals also, so we’re going to have a combination of letters and some deals have been made.” TARIFFS WILL REVERT TO APRIL LEVELS IF COUNTRIES DON’T MAKE A DEAL BY AUGUST 1, BESSENT SAYS The ongoing tariff negotiations follow Congress passing Trump’s “big, beautiful bill,” which advances the president’s agenda on taxes, immigration, energy, defense and the national debt, and Trump signing it into law Friday. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent joined Fox News’ Shannon Bream Sunday and explained the new Aug. 1 deadline, warning that tariffs will revert to April levels if foreign countries don’t make a trade deal by the start of August. “Is it fair to say there’s a bit of a pause on the July 9 deadline for some of these trading partners?” Bream asked. “I don’t think it’s a bit of a pause because I think what’s happened is there’s a lot of congestion going into the home stretch and, as a part of the trade team, what’s great about having President Trump on our side is he’s created maximum leverage,” Bessent responded. “By telling our trading partners that they could boomerang back to the April 2 date, I think it’s really going to move things along over the next couple of days and weeks,” he added. Fox News Digital’s Diana Stancy, Anders Hagstrom and
Elon Musk indicates his new political party will be pro-gun, pro-bitcoin: ‘The Second Amendment is sacred’
Billionaire business tycoon turned political power player Elon Musk indicated in posts on X that the America Party will stake out pro-Second Amendment, pro-bitcoin positions. “The Second Amendment is sacred,” Musk declared in a post on X in response to a post that suggested firearm owners would like to know about the party’s position on guns. Musk also responded to a question about whether the party will “embrace Bitcoin.” “Fiat is hopeless, so yes,” he wrote. ELON MUSK LAUNCHES ‘AMERICA PARTY’ AFTER TRUMP SIGNS HISTORIC SPENDING BILL: ‘WASTE & GRAFT’ The party will also stand for free speech and reduced regulations, Musk has indicated. “Is this the America Party platform?” someone asked in a post on X, writing out a list that included the following: “reduce debt, responsible spending only,” “modernize military with ai/robotics,” “pro tech, accelerate to win in ai,” “less regulation across board but especially in energy,” “free speech,” “pro natalist,” and “centrist policies everywhere else.” “Yeah!” Musk replied. TRUMP CRYPTO CHIEF SAYS WE ARE IN THE ‘GOLDEN AGE’ FOR DIGITAL ASSETS, ‘CLEARING THE DECK’ OF BIDEN BARRIERS While the American political landscape is dominated by the two major political parties, Musk is looking to shake things up with the America Party. “When it comes to bankrupting our country with waste & graft, we live in a one-party system, not a democracy. Today, the America Party is formed to give you back your freedom,” Musk declared in part of a post on X. TRUMP DISMISSES MUSK’S POLITICAL AMBITIONS AS ‘RIDICULOUS’ IN SHARP REBUKE Musk noted in another post, “Backing a candidate for president is not out of the question, but the focus for the next 12 months is on the House and the Senate.”
Gavin Newsom is making a strategic visit to a key primary state, raising eyebrows
California Gov. Gavin Newsom heads to South Carolina this week to spend two days meeting with voters in the state that officially held the first primary in the Democrats’ 2024 calendar. The trip by the term-limited governor with a large national profile is sure to spark plenty of 2028 speculation, since Newsom is considered a potential contender for the next Democratic presidential nomination. The South Carolina Democratic Party, which announced the two-day swing, said Newsom will take part Tuesday and Wednesday in meet and greets, to shake hands and take questions, during eight stops in cafes, coffee shops and churches. TWENTY-ONE DEMOCRATS WHO MAY WANT TO RUN FOR THE WHITE HOUSE IN 2028 “The SCDP presents On The Road with Gavin Newsom. We’re making stops across the state to talk with families all over SC. It’s your chance to connect, be heard, and feel seen,” the state party wrote in a social media post last week. It’s part of the state party’s effort to bring national Democrats to parts of South Carolina that they say have long been overlooked and “left behind” by Republican officials in the GOP-dominated state. SUCCEEDING TRUMP IN 2028: SIX REPUBLICANS TO KEEP YOUR EYES ON “Governor Newsom leads the largest economy in America and the fourth largest in the world, and he’s coming to meet folks in towns that have been hollowed out by decades of Republican control,” state party chair Christale Spain said in a statement. Newsom stopped in South Carolina in January of last year to campaign on behalf of then-President Joe Biden during the state’s 2024 presidential primary. Newsom also traveled to Nevada, another early-voting state in the party’s primary calendar. And Newsom also traveled last summer on behalf of Biden to New Hampshire, the state that for a century has held the first-in-the-nation presidential primary. The former president was the Democrats’ 2024 standardbearer before dropping out of the race last July following a disastrous debate performance against now-President Donald Trump. Vice President Kamala Harris replaced Biden at the top of the Democratic national ticket. South Carolina, New Hampshire and Nevada are vying for the lead-off position in the next presidential election cycle, and the Democratic National Committee is expected to decide on their 2028 calendar by early 2027. Newsom has long been thought to harbor national ambitions and is considered one of many Democrats who may make a run for the party’s 2028 presidential nomination. The two-day swing through South Carolina will give Newsom an opportunity to make connections not only with voters, but also with local party and elected officials. The relationships forged this week could possibly pay dividends down the road for Newsom if he eventually decides to launch a 2028 presidential campaign.
Court shuts down redistricting fight in key swing state — here’s what it means
It didn’t grab many national headlines, but the decision by the Wisconsin Supreme Court not to hear two lawsuits aiming to redraw the battleground state’s eight congressional districts may have a sizable impact on the 2026 midterm elections. The liberal-majority court late last month, without explanation, refused to hear challenges brought by Democrats seeking to alter the current maps, which could have put two of the state’s six congressional districts currently held by Republicans in play. The move by Wisconsin’s highest court appears to benefit Republicans, as they aim to defend their fragile House majority in next year’s elections. HOUSE DEMS CAMPAIGN CHAIR ON HER GAMEPLAN TO WIN BACK MAJORITY That’s because Republican Reps. Derrick Van Orden in Wisconsin’s 3rd Congressional District and Bryan Steil in the 1st CD — the state’s most competitive House seats — are likely safer without redrawing the maps. “Every seat matters in the fight for the House of Representatives when all it takes is a three-seat gain to flip control, and a new map in Wisconsin could have helped Democrats in at least two seats, the 1st and 3rd Districts,” Jacob Rubashkin of the non-partisan political handicapper Inside Elections told Fox News. WHAT THE HOUSE GOP CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE CHAIR TOLD FOX NEWS ABOUT TRUMP’S ROLE IN THE MIDTERMS Rubashkin noted that “it’s a setback for Democrats, but certainly not an insurmountable one, as the party has plenty of offensive opportunities around the country and even in Wisconsin, where we still see the 3rd District as one of the most competitive districts. Depending on the political environment and candidate quality, the 1st might be competitive as well, even under the current lines.” Democrats are convinced they can still pick up both seats. THE WISCONSIN STATE SUPREME COURT ELECTION THAT GRABBED NATIONAL HEADLINES “It’s already clear that Derrick Van Orden and Bryan Steil are running scared because they cannot defend their records — whether it’s their votes to cut Medicaid while giving tax breaks to billionaires, or their 100% support for sweeping tariffs that are raising costs on Wisconsin families. Wisconsin voters see that Van Orden and Steil sold them out, and they’ll fire them next year,” Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) spokesperson Katie Smith told Fox News. But the rival National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) disagrees. “The bipartisan rejection of the radical Democrats’ desperate and politically motivated attempt to redraw the map in their favor offers a strong preview of how Wisconsin voters will reject the Democrats’ out-of-touch and radical agenda next year at the ballot box,” NRCC spokesman Zach Bannon said in a statement to Fox News. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP Rubashkin noted that while Wisconsin isn’t changing its maps, the congressional district lines may be altered in other states ahead of the 2026 midterms. “Ultimately, while we expect a few redistricting changes in Ohio, Utah and potentially a few other states, the overall picture remains unchanged: Republicans are looking to buck history in an expensive and nationwide slog for 218 seats,” he added.
Obama-appointed judge to rule on motion to dismiss in high-stakes Abrego Garcia case hearing
Justice Department lawyers and attorneys for Salvadoran migrant Kilmar Abrego Garcia will square off in court Monday as a federal judge in Maryland weighs a flurry of motions over his U.S. custody – and the Trump administration pushes to dismiss the civil case entirely – in a closely watched legal battle that’s become a flashpoint in President Donald Trump‘s immigration crackdown. U.S. District Judge Paula Xinis scheduled the hearing last week to consider recent motions from both sides, after Abrego Garcia was wrongfully deported to El Salvador in March and returned three months later to face criminal charges in a different state. The hearing is all but certain to reignite a high-profile fight over Abrego Garcia’s legal status in the U.S., which is currently playing out in two separate federal courts. Ahead of the 11 a.m. hearing, here’s what to know about the civil case – and potential next steps from Judge Xinis. FEDERAL JUDGE JAMES BOASBERG FINDS PROBABLE CAUSE TO HOLD TRUMP IN CONTEMPT OVER DEPORTATION FLIGHTS The hearing in Maryland comes after Salvadorian migrant Kilmar Abrego Garcia was summarily deported by Trump officials to El Salvador in March in violation of an existing court order. His family sued the Trump administration over his removal almost immediately, and later that month, U.S. District Judge Paula Xinis, an Obama appointee, ordered the Trump administration to “facilitate” Abrego Garica’s return to the U.S. The ruling was later upheld by the Supreme Court, though it took three months – and many discovery hearings before Xinis – for Trump officials to eventually comply with the court’s order and return him to the U.S. in June. On return, Abrego Garcia was immediately taken into custody in Tennessee for federal charges stemming from a 2022 traffic stop. Court documents show the charges were brought in late May, prompting questions as to when the investigation, and the impaneling of a grand jury, would have taken place. US JUDGE BLASTS TRUMP LAWYERS FOR 11TH-HOUR TACTICS IN MS-13 DEPORTATION CASE It’s unclear how far Xinis will go in addressing the competing requests filed by both sides, though she signaled last week that the hearing will remain narrowly focused on the government’s motion to dismiss the civil case and the plaintiffs’ bid to transfer Abrego Garcia into U.S. custody in Maryland. Abrego Garcia’s lawyers had asked Xinis to issue an order blocking his possible removal from the U.S. without prior notification, pointing to statements from the Trump administration as evidence that they could try to remove him to a possible third country other than El Salvador. “Defendants have repeatedly stated their intent to remove Mr. Abrego Garcia to a third country,” his lawyers said last week in a filing, adding that he could face “persecution or torture if removed directly to various other countries,” including Libya, South Sudan and Eritrea, which are notorious for human rights abuses. Meanwhile, new allegations made in court filings days earlier could prove difficult for the court to distinguish in its consideration of the other issues. Last week, Abrego Garcia alleged in a filing that he was severely beaten and psychologically tortured in El Salvador’s maximum-security prison, CECOT, when he was detained there earlier this year. 100 DAYS OF INJUNCTIONS, TRIALS AND ‘TEFLON DON’: TRUMP SECOND TERM MEETS ITS BIGGEST TESTS IN COURT Adding to the complexity of the matter is the separate criminal case playing out in Tennessee. The federal judge overseeing that case on Thursday ordered the Trump administration to comply with rules prohibiting Justice Department and DHS officials from making any public statements about Abrego Garcia that could potentially prejudice a jury or impact the integrity of the court proceedings, after his attorneys accused administration officials of months of “extensive and inflammatory extrajudicial comments” against their client that threatened to prejudice his right to a fair trial. “Thus far, the government’s unabated public disparagement of [Abrego] has far outpaced its ability to muster actual evidence, notwithstanding its extraordinary efforts to conjure up such evidence,” they wrote, warning that such statements could complicate efforts to seat an impartial jury in the Middle District of Tennessee, where his trial is set to take place. FEDERAL JUDGE CALLS DEPORTATION OF SALVADORAN MAN IN MARYLAND ‘WHOLLY LAWLESS’ It remains to be seen what Xinis will do in Abrego Garcia’s civil case, especially as the criminal case in Tennessee proceeds. But her frustration with the Trump administration has been clear in earlier proceedings. For months, Xinis struggled to obtain answers from Trump administration officials on Abrego Garcia’s status in El Salvador, as well as what, if any, efforts the Trump government had taken to comply with her order to facilitate his return to the U.S., and at one time suggested she could move to open possible contempt proceedings against the administration. In May, Xinis sparred with the Justice Department lawyers for more than two hours over their lack of candor and compliance with the discovery process and the deadlines set by the court. It was the last public status hearing she presided over before the administration returned Abrego Garcia to U.S. soil. During that hearing, Judge Xinis rebuked the Justice Department for attempting to invoke the state secrets privilege via a footnote that referenced a filing in a separate federal court case, before a different federal judge. She also excoriated the lack of compliance from Trump administration officials, and attempts to press the administration for answers, which she described as beating a “frustrated and dead horse.”
‘Massive conspiracy’: Ex-DNC insider says party went to great lengths to hide Biden’s mental decline
One year after the disastrous debate performance that forced former President Joe Biden to ultimately suspend his re-election campaign, questions remain about the oft-alleged “cover-up” of his cognitive decline. In a wide-ranging exclusive interview with Fox News Digital, Lindy Li, a former Democratic National Committee (DNC) fundraiser and National Finance Committee member, detailed her front-row seat to the careful coordination by Biden’s inner circle to conceal how the octogenarian’s age impacted his presidency. Biden Cabinet members’ testimonies to the House Oversight Committee and journalists Jake Tapper and Alex Thompson in their book, “Original Sin,” have raised more questions about what exactly happened during Biden’s tenure. “I was banned from the Biden White House for telling the truth when it mattered,” Li told Fox News Digital. “I actually took a risk. Jake Tapper wrote a book and decided to tell the truth and have his Eureka moment after it was safe, after Biden had gone to pasture. There was nothing on the line for him.” EX-DNC INSIDER REVEALS ‘PUPPET MASTERS’ WHO RAN THE BIDEN WHITE HOUSE Tapper did not respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment. FLASHBACK: THE DEBATE NIGHT AGAINST TRUMP THAT THREW BIDEN’S REELECTION CAMPAIGN INTO A FREE FALL The former Democrat, who said she has faced the wrath of her former friends and colleagues since she left the party, explained that she had been raising her concerns about Biden’s age for years. According to Li, Sen. Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., told her in 2022 that Biden was too old to run for re-election. One year later, she caught a glimpse of Duckworth “singing Biden’s praises” on TV. “That day was when she decided to become his campaign co-chair,” Li said. “A full year later, he’s not getting any younger.” Duckworth did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment. While Democrats like Duckworth seemed to eventually accept Biden’s decision to run for re-election, Li said she continued speaking out – and it cost her. “To be treated like a complete criminal was just jarring for me,” Li said. “I just asked a question too. I wasn’t attacking anybody. I just [asked] if maybe he should step down, in the nicest way possible.” Li said she was posing these questions to top officials at the DNC, including former chair Jaime Harrison and current chair Ken Martin. The DNC did not respond to multiple Fox News Digital inquiries about her allegations. “We were given talking points,” Li said. “Every time they say they’re not paying attention, or they didn’t take something seriously, they paid attention, and they took it seriously.” But going against the Democratic Party came at a personal sacrifice, Li explained to Fox News Digital. “I hosted [Biden] and Kamala Harris on Feb. 3, coinciding with the DNC Winter Meeting, and they confiscated my phone,” Li said. She said a DNC coalition director singled her out at the event and told her not to post anything on social media. When she posted an Instagram story of Biden at a separate dinner event, Li said she was shocked when the DNC called her “in a fit of fury” and told her to take it down. “It was hard for me because I was one of the youngest members on the committee, if not the youngest, so I didn’t have the age or the gravitas,” Li said. “I just don’t think they listened.” She added that the alleged cover-up was a “left-wing massive conspiracy” that included handpicked talking points from the DNC and the White House. “It encompassed not just the White House, but all the influencers they had on their payroll. Do not tell me they didn’t have influencers on their payroll because they literally paid me,” Li said. After Special Counsel Robert Hur did not recommend criminal charges against Biden in his classified documents case, as Hur referred to Biden as “a sympathetic, well-meaning, elderly man with a poor memory,” Li said the DNC told her to “tar and feather” Hur’s character. “They were in damage control mode. We were basically supposed to say [Biden] was a genius, in not so many words, but basically he is like this wizard behind closed doors, and how with age comes wisdom.” “We were supposed to undermine his character,” Li added about Hur. “Yeah, we were supposed to assassinate his character.” And after Biden’s consequential debate performance, Li said, “Jen O’Malley Dillon did a damage control briefing that morning, and people were misty-eyed. The previous night, people were crying on a shuttle home because they were so devastated by the debate.” But O’Malley Dillon and Julie Rodriguez, Biden’s campaign chairs, claimed it was “impossible” for Biden to drop out of the race, arguing that finance regulations prevent that. History, of course, tells a different story. When reached for comment about her allegations, a former Biden official quipped, “Who is Lindy Li?”
Israel now faces adversaries that it cannot defeat
Since October 7, 2023, the war of images has eclipsed the war of weapons. From Gaza’s pulverised hospitals and starving infants to mass graves and desperate fathers digging through rubble, every pixel captured on a smartphone strikes deeper than a missile. These raw, unfiltered, and undeniable images have a far greater impact than any press conference or official speech. And for the first time in its history, Israel cannot delete them or drown them in propaganda. The horrifying images of the Israeli army massacring people at aid distribution locations prompted newspaper Haaretz’s Gideon Levy to write on June 29: “Is Israel perpetrating genocide in Gaza? […] The testimonies and images emerging from Gaza don’t leave room for many questions.” Even staunchly pro-Israel commentator and New York Times columnist Thomas Friedman no longer buys into the Israeli narrative. In a May 9 op-ed, addressed to US President Donald Trump, he declared: “This Israeli government is not our ally,” clarifying that it is “behaving in ways that threaten hard-core US interests in the region”. Once, Israel’s narrative was protected by the gates of editorial rooms and the gravity of Western guilt. But the smartphone shattered those gates. What we see now is no longer what Israel tells us — it’s what Gaza shows us. The platforms carrying these images — TikTok, WhatsApp, Instagram, X — don’t prioritise context; they prioritise virality. While older generations might look away, younger ones are glued to the stream of suffering, absorbed by every pixel, every siren, every moment of destruction. The global public is agitated, and this works against the Israeli interest. Israel is no longer just at war with its neighbours; it is at war with the lens itself. Advertisement The psychological toll of this visual war is reverberating deep inside Israeli society. For decades, Israelis were conditioned to see themselves as global narrators of trauma, not subjects of international scrutiny. But now, with videos of Israeli bombardment, flattened Gaza neighbourhoods, and emaciated children flooding every platform, many Israelis are grappling with a growing ethical predicament. There is unease, even among centrists, that these visceral images are eroding Israel’s moral high ground. For the first time, public discourse in Israeli society includes fear of the mirror: what the world now sees and what Israelis are forced to confront. Internationally, the effect has been even more destabilising for Israel’s diplomatic standing. Longstanding allies, once unconditionally supportive, now face growing domestic pressure from citizens who are not consuming official statements but TikTok’s live streams and Instagram’s image feed. Lawmakers in Europe and North America are openly questioning arms shipments, trade deals, and diplomatic cover, not because of the briefings they have on Israeli war crimes but because their inboxes are flooded with screenshots of scattered body parts and starving children. The battlefield has expanded into parliaments, campuses, city councils, and editorial rooms. This is the backlash of a war Israel cannot win with brute force. To regain control of the narrative, Israeli officials have pressured social media platforms to curb content they dislike. Yet even Israel’s most sophisticated public diplomacy efforts are struggling to keep pace with the virality of raw documentation. Behind closed doors, the Israeli military is no longer merely worried about public relations; it is concerned about prosecution. The Israeli army has admonished soldiers for taking selfies and filming themselves demolishing Palestinian homes, warning that such material is now being harvested as evidence by international human rights organisations. Footage and images from social media have already been used by activists to target Israeli servicemen abroad. In a number of cases, Israeli citizens have had to flee countries they were visiting due to war crimes complaints filed against them. In the age of smartphones, the occupation is no longer just visible — it’s indictable. In the past, Israel fought wars that it could explain. Now, it fights a battle it can only react to — often too belatedly and too clumsily. The smartphone captures what the missile conceals. Social media disseminates information that official briefings attempt to suppress. The haunting images, digitally preserved, ensure that we never forget any devastating atrocity, or act of brutality. Advertisement Images of conflict do not just convey information; they can also redefine our perceptions and influence our political positions. The powerful “Napalm Girl” photo that captured the aftermath of an attack by the US-allied South Vietnamese army on civilians during the Vietnam War had a profound impact on American society. It helped create a significant shift in public opinion regarding the war, accelerating the decision of the US government to end it. Today, in Gaza, the stream of powerful images does not stop. Despite Israel’s best efforts, the global opinion is overwhelmingly against its genocidal war. Smartphones have completely changed the nature of conflict by putting a camera in the hands of every witness. In this new era, Israel struggles to defeat the relentless, unfiltered visual record of its crimes that calls for justice. The views expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect Al Jazeera’s editorial stance. Adblock test (Why?)
Akash, India win second cricket Test against England at Edgbaston
Deep took six wickets in the second innings as India levelled their five-match Test series against England 1-1. Akash Deep, filling in for star bowler Jasprit Bumrah, took six wickets as India crushed England by 336 runs to level the cricket series 1-1 after they bowled out the hosts for 271 to claim their first Test victory at Edgbaston. With Bumrah being rested in the second Test, Akash was the unlikely inspiration behind the visitors’ dominant, series-tying win just before tea on the final day of the second Test on Sunday. Akash claimed the first five-wicket haul of his short Test career, removing four of the top five in England’s batting order and then top-scorer Jamie Smith (88) on the way to claiming figures of 6-99. Akash finished with the bowling figures of 10-for-187 for the match. Akash Deep celebrates with India teammates after taking five wickets on the final day of the second Test against England [Alex Davidson/Getty Images] Set a world-record target of 608, England started the final day on 72-3 with a draw its only realistic hope and was all out with about two hours still to play on Sunday as India sealed a first win at Edgbaston in nine attempts. The third Test begins at Lord’s on Thursday. India recovered well after a tough defeat at Headingley last week, when England chased down 371 on day five. Bumrah was left out to preserve his fitness, but Akash was a more-than-able deputy. At age 28, he is a late bloomer – certainly at Test level, where he has played just eight matches since his debut in February last year – but looks the part already with his nagging line and length. He will likely retain his spot for the third Test. Advertisement India captain Shubman Gill was India’s other star in the second Test, making 269 in the first innings and 161 in the second innings in a record-setting performance. Jamie Smith top-scored with 88 runs for England in their second innings run chase [Paul Childs/Action Images via Reuters] Adblock test (Why?)
Gunboats target cargo vessel in Red Sea; crew abandons ship
United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) reports the vessel is taking on water after being targeted with gunfire and rocket-propelled grenades. A commercial vessel in the Red Sea has come under attack after small boats fired rocket-propelled grenades and automatic weapons towards the ship. According to the organisation United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO), the incident took place 94km (51 nautical miles) southwest of the Yemeni port of Hodeidah. “The vessel has been engaged by multiple small vessels who have opened fire with small arms and self-propelled grenades. [The] armed security team have returned fire and situation is ongoing,” said UKMTO, which is run by Britain’s Royal Navy. The UKMTO said the attack resulted in a fire onboard and the vessel began taking on water Sunday night as its crew prepared to abandon ship. “Authorities are investigating,” it said, adding later the ship was ablaze after being “struck by unknown projectiles”. “UKMTO has had confirmation from the Company Security Officer that the vessel is taking on water and crew are preparing to abandon ship,” a statement said. Maritime security sources added that the vessel was identified as the Liberian-flagged, Greek-owned bulk carrier Magic Seas. British maritime security firm Ambrey said in an advisory that the ship was attacked by four unmanned surface vehicles [USVs]. “Two of the USVs impacted the port side of the vessel, damaging the vessel’s cargo,” Ambrey added. While no one has claimed responsibility, Ambrey said the attack matched the “established Houthi target profile”. The Yemen-based armed group the Houthis began targeting vessels in the Red Sea shortly after Israel’s war on Gaza began in October 2023, which the Houthis say is in defence of the Palestinians living in the besieged enclave. Advertisement Since November 2023, the Houthis have launched more than 100 attacks targeting commercial vessels, disrupting global shipping and forcing firms to reroute. Their campaign has expanded to include vessels linked to the United States and the United Kingdom since the two countries initiated military strikes in January 2024. In May, the Houthis and the US agreed on a ceasefire that would see the end of attacks on US ships. But the Houthis vowed to continue to target Israeli-linked vessels. A renewed Houthi campaign against shipping could again draw in US and Western forces to the area. This comes at a sensitive moment in the Middle East as a possible ceasefire in the war on Gaza hangs in the balance, and as Iran weighs whether to restart negotiations over its nuclear programme following US air strikes targeting its most sensitive atomic sites. Adblock test (Why?)
Delhi-NCR wakes up to heavy rainfall, IMD predicts more showers till…
The India Meteorological Department issued a yellow for heavy rains and predicted a “generally cloudy sky” today.