Venezuela quake leaves La Guaira in almost total devastation
NewsFeed La Guaira, the region hardest hit by two earthquakes in Venezuela, has been left devastated. Families are searching for loved ones trapped beneath collapsed buildings. Residents say rescue efforts are too slow and resources are insufficient. Published On 25 Jun 202625 Jun 2026 Click here to share on social media share-nodes Share googleAdd Al Jazeera on Googleinfo Adblock test (Why?)
Economic losses mount as Venezuela earthquake death toll grows
The series of powerful earthquakes that struck Venezuela on Wednesday could cause economic losses equal to as much as 7 percent of the country’s gross domestic product (GDP), according to preliminary estimates from the United States Geological Survey. Initial assessments released on Thursday estimate that the damage could amount to between 1 and 7 percent of Venezuela’s $111bn GDP after twin earthquakes measuring 7.2 and 7.5 struck about 160 kilometres (100 miles) west of the capital, Caracas, on Wednesday afternoon, leaving at least 188 dead. Recommended Stories list of 4 itemsend of list Interim President Delcy Rodriguez has said that there will be a $200m fund from the International Monetary Fund that will be used to help rebuild infrastructure, hospitals and housing. “Significant reconstruction will likely be necessary, and this will likely require foreign support, including from the US, regional actors, and international financial institutions. The government appears to have moved quickly to announce a reconstruction fund with support from the IMF [International Monetary Fund],” Rachel Ziemba, economist and senior adjunct fellow at the Center for a New American Security, told Al Jazeera. “Other adjustments to the sanctions regime may be necessary to facilitate remittances, capital flows, and greater flexibility for imported material.” The US is sending resources to assess the damage and provide aid. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that the US has deployed rescue operations, and it should have a better understanding of what is needed in the next 48 hours. Advertisement “We will have a whole government response,” Rubio said on Thursday to reporters in Bahrain amid logistical challenges as Simon Bolivar international airport, the country’s main airport, remains closed. Experts are watching closely how the US response will impact diplomatic ties. “I think this could be an opportunity, perhaps a catalyst, to compel or propel the relationship to develop in a positive economic direction,” John Deal, managing director of capital markets at the Post Oak Group investment bank, told Al Jazeera. “The administration has been very interested in securing oil and gas assets, and it doesn’t appear that Venezuela’s oil infrastructure was significantly damaged. Meanwhile, the country has sustained massive damage in the most psychologically sensitive location in Venezuela: its capital city,” Deal said. The United Nations has also “fully mobilised” humanitarian efforts, the group’s humanitarian chief said, and Switzerland has sent 18 tonnes of rescue equipment to help elevate pressure on local authorities. Al Jazeera’s Noris Soto reported from Caracas that private companies have been asked to help remove rubble. The challenges for aid come amid an already sensitive economic situation. Of the country’s 31.7 million people, more than 20 million were already living in poverty with insufficient access to food and medicine, and many hospitals lack even reliable running water or power supplies. At Caracas’s Hospital de Clinicas, staff were asked to double up on the night shift to help treat the injured, a worker there said. Classes were cancelled for the rest of the week as authorities began to take stock of the damage. The destruction comes on top of existing challenges to both the country’s healthcare and housing infrastructure. Healthcare data from Venezuela is limited. The government has not published any epidemiological bulletins since 2016. Roughly 10 percent of the country’s population pre-quake had been living in vulnerable situations because of inadequate housing, according to the National Survey of Living Conditions report published by researchers at Andres Bello Catholic University in Caracas as of 2023. The home-buying market has been frozen amid heightened inflationary pressures as purchasing power has dropped. Oil impacts The quakes had a limited impact on the country’s oil and gas sector, which typically produces 1.2 million barrels per day of crude oil. The El Palito refinery in central Carabobo state near the epicentre did not sustain damage, according to preliminary reports shared with the Reuters news agency. Advertisement Meanwhile, at the Moron Petrochemical Complex, the country’s second-largest petrochemical plant, production restarted on Thursday after a brief shutdown. Workers were told not to come as initial assessments found a leak in a storage tank on Wednesday. It was not immediately clear if the leak was repaired since the order to reopen, according to Reuters. Chevron told Al Jazeera that it remains operational. “As a longtime employer and partner in Venezuela, we stand in solidarity with the country and its people during this difficult time. We remain committed to supporting our employees and the communities surrounding our facilities and ensuring the continued safe operation of our assets,” a Chevron spokesperson told Al Jazeera. Other companies, including Shell, Eni and Repsol said that all workers are accounted for. “The human toll is likely to be greater than economic, especially if, as it seems, the energy infrastructure does not appear to have been damaged significantly. Most of Venezuela’s revenues come from oil, even if the US sanctions limit the inflow of these funds into the country,” Ziemba, the economist, added. Adblock test (Why?)
UN agency pauses Hormuz ship evacuation initiative after vessel attacked
Iran warns vessels to use only Tehran-approved routes as IMO halts Hormuz evacuation after ship struck. By AFP and Reuters Published On 25 Jun 202625 Jun 2026 The United Nations’ International Maritime Organization (IMO) has paused its Strait of Hormuz evacuation initiative after a vessel was attacked in the Gulf of Oman. A cargo ship reported a suspected attack as it attempted to pass through the Strait of Hormuz close to the coast of Oman on Thursday, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said. Recommended Stories list of 3 itemsend of list The ship reported being struck on its starboard side by a projectile 14km (7.5 nautical miles) southeast of Oman’s port of Dahit, the British navy agency added. Another maritime security source told the Reuters news agency that the vessel was likely targeted by a drone, although it was not clear yet who carried out the strike. The IMO on Tuesday began evacuating 600 ships and around 11,000 mariners stranded by the closure of the Strait of Hormuz during the US-Israeli war on Iran, helping them leave the Gulf through two routes – one via Iranian waters and another via Omani waters with US oversight. On Thursday, the head of the IMO said the plan to move stranded ships out of the Gulf will be put on hold. “I have decided to temporarily pause [the evacuation plan’s] implementation in order to reconfirm that the necessary safety guarantees continue to be in place for the ships on our evacuation list and all those in the region,” IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez said in a statement. He said the agency had secured the necessary safety guarantees and verified conditions for safe navigation before the plan began. But the latest suspension came after they were informed of the attack on a vessel that had passed through the strait. Maritime security reporting identified the vessel as the Singapore-flagged container ship, Ever Lovely. The ship was not operating under the IMO evacuation framework. Advertisement The report of a strike on the ship came hours after Iran told vessels to stop using the route through the strait without Tehran’s permission. Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) ordered two Panama-flagged ships to change course earlier on Thursday, British maritime security company Ambrey said After the incident, the Persian Gulf Strait Authority (PGSA), a body set up by Iran to manage the Strait of Hormuz, said that transit outside its own designated routes “will not be covered by the guarantee of safe passage”. “Consequences arising from passage through unauthorised routes shall be the responsibility of the owner, operator, and vessel commander,” the PGSA added on X. ‘Moving cautiously’ The evacuation effort by the IMO comes against the backdrop of the memorandum of understanding (MOU) signed last week between the United States and Iran to work towards ending the US-Israeli war on Iran. After the war began on February 28, Tehran had effectively closed off the strait, leaving vessels stranded on both sides. MarineTraffic confirmed 70 verified crossings on Wednesday and 31 on Tuesday by commercial and energy-laden vessels. “Operators are still moving cautiously rather than returning to fully normal traffic patterns,” the ship tracking firm said. That compares to pre-war levels of around 120 vessels per day. Oman’s Defence Ministry said the evacuation would be phased, warning that the current environment creates an elevated collision risk and requires gradual, controlled movement of ships. Denmark has also said it will join an international maritime mission led by France and the UK to help reopen the waterway. Oil tankers and cargo vessels anchor off the coast of Oman after being stranded for days near Muscat, Oman [File: Elke Scholiers/Getty Images] Adblock test (Why?)
Nihang Sikhs clash with police, breach barricades at Himachal-Uttarakhand border, Dehradun on alert
The Uttarakhand police at the Himachal Pradesh-Uttarakhand border have been on alert, as a section of the Nihang Sikh jatha attempted to breach police security to continue their march towards Hemkund Sahib.
India, US hold closed-door talks on AI, chips, critical minerals to deepen tech ties
The embassy said the roundtable focused on strengthening the investment environment and expanding bilateral cooperation on AI.
Trump administration pledges $150M in aid, deploys Navy warships after deadly Venezuela earthquakes
Following a catastrophic set of earthquakes that left at least 235 people dead in Venezuela, the Trump administration has activated a government-wide humanitarian response, pledging $150 million in aid and deploying U.S. Navy warships to assist in life-saving rescue operations. The rapid mobilization Thursday comes after back-to-back magnitude 7.2 and 7.5 earthquakes rocked northern Venezuela roughly 120 miles west of Caracas Wednesday night. The rare earthquake “doublet” injured more than 940 people and turned the state of La Guaira into a disaster zone, while forcing the closure of the damaged Simón Bolívar International Airport, according to Venezuela’s Health Ministry. US RESCUE TEAMS TO DESCEND ON HARD-HIT CARIBBEAN AFTER CATASTROPHIC HURRICANE MELISSA’S IMPACT The U.S. Department of State announced on Thursday it is mobilizing $150 million in aid, which includes $50 million in new bilateral awards for relief partners on the ground — such as Samaritan’s Purse, Catholic Relief Services and World Vision — along with a $100 million contribution to a United Nations humanitarian pooled fund. To spearhead efforts on the ground, the State Department has deployed a regional Disaster Assistance Response Team alongside two highly specialized urban search-and-rescue teams from fire departments in Fairfax County, Virginia, and Los Angeles County, California. U.S. WARSHIPS TO PATROL INTERNATIONAL WATERS AROUND VENEZUELA AS TRUMP VOWS TO STOP CARTELS U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) said it is surging assigned U.S. military forces to the region, directing the USS Fort Lauderdale and the USS Billings to Venezuela to back the State Department-led operations. The USS Fort Lauderdale will serve as a “floating command center” with a flight deck to support heavy-lift helicopters and a well deck to launch landing craft, according to SOUTHCOM. Meanwhile, the agile USS Billings will provide critical support close to the shorelines to accelerate the disaster response missions. SOUTHCOM said it is also sending rotary-wing aircraft, which will provide critical life-saving airlift support, transporting U.S. government response personnel, search and rescue teams and partners during relief operations. Amid the crisis, the State Department emphasized that the safety of U.S. citizens remains the administration’s highest priority. “The Trump Administration has no higher priority than the safety and security of Americans. The Department of State is working tirelessly to provide consular assistance to U.S. citizens and their families in the affected areas,” officials wrote in a statement. “The United States remains steadfast in its commitment to helping Venezuela recover from this devastating disaster and will continue to explore additional ways to provide meaningful assistance during this critical time.” U.S. citizens in Venezuela are urged to enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) and can contact the State Department 24/7 at 202-501-4444 for emergency assistance. Family members in the U.S. seeking information on loved ones can call toll-free at 888-407-4747.
French citizen who illegally cast ballot in 2022 midterms says New Jersey automatically registered him to vote
FIRST ON FOX: Attorneys representing a French national who recently admitted to illegally casting a ballot in the 2022 federal midterm elections told Fox News Digital that he thought he was allowed to vote because he was automatically registered when he received his New Jersey driver’s license. Eliezer Kadoch, 39, of Toms River, pleaded guilty to voting by an alien in a federal election before U.S. Magistrate Judge J. Brandon Day in Trenton federal court, according to a statement from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey. Though Kadoch is a citizen of France and has never held U.S. citizenship, he illegally voted on Nov. 8, 2022, during an election that was held in part to elect members of the U.S. House of Representatives, according to court documents. FOUR NONCITIZENS CHARGED WITH ILLEGALLY VOTING IN 2020, 2022 AND 2024 FEDERAL ELECTIONS IN NEW JERSEY Attorney Yosef Jacobovitch, who is representing Kadoch, told Fox News Digital that when his client cast the ballot, he “mistakenly believed” he was legally permitted to vote because he had been automatically registered when he obtained his New Jersey driver’s license. “Mr. Kadoch accepted responsibility for his actions,” Jacobovitch said. “… There was never any intent to violate the law or cast an unlawful ballot. Unfortunately, the offense to which he pleaded guilty does not require proof of criminal intent, and he now fully understands that.” Kadoch now faces up to six months in federal prison and a $100,000 fine, according to officials. His sentencing is scheduled for Oct. 26. SUPREME COURT HANDS TRUMP TWO MAJOR IMMIGRATION VICTORIES The America First Policy Institute (AFPI) reported that issuing driver’s licenses to noncitizens, combined with automatic voter registration, can result in them being added to voter rolls. In recent years, the nonprofit said numerous states — including Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Louisiana, Michigan, Montana, Ohio, Tennessee, Texas, Utah and Virginia — investigated the issue and identified noncitizens on their voter rolls. Model legislation drafted by AFPI suggested solutions including requiring proof of citizenship to vote, and implementing audit requirements to ensure that noncitizens are not on the voter rolls. U.S. Attorney Robert Frazer noted the case was brought by the United States Attorney’s Office’s Election Integrity Task Force, a coalition of federal law enforcement partners dedicated to preserving and protecting the integrity of elections in New Jersey. The investigation was a joint effort involving special agents from the FBI, Homeland Security Investigations and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Kadoch’s immigration status was not publicly released. The New Jersey Department of State, New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission, Ocean County Clerk’s Office and AFPI did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s requests for comment.
Dems put on blast over poll that shows record-low patriotism in US: ‘Tear our society apart’
Rep. Harriet Hageman, R-Wyo., is sounding the alarm over polling revealing that a record-low number of Americans were “very proud” of their country last year. “In Gallup’s 25-year patriotism survey, just 17 percent, or less than 1 in 5 American adults, reported that they were ‘very proud’ of being an American,” Hageman said in a floor speech on Tuesday. “Our excitement for America has been dimmed by accusations of an unacceptable morality, our self-image tarnished by a novel self-flagellation,” she added. Hageman’s speech, set to be delivered in the coming week, argues that the country has a distinct cultural identity that merits preservation and urges readers to rekindle their appreciation of it on America’s 250th Independence Day. STUNNINGLY LOW PERCENTAGE OF ADULTS IN US THINK AMERICA STANDS ABOVE EVERY OTHER NATION: POLL “We must stop pretending that America is just an idea, or that we have no shared culture worth fighting for,” Hageman wrote. “This does not mean that we reject other cultures or traditions. America has, in fact, been one of the most gracious countries in history to welcome people from across the globe to our shores. By inviting those who seek to make our country home, however, we are not obligated to subjugate our American history, culture and traditions for theirs. We instead welcome them here to partake in and succeed in the American way of life.” Gallup’s 2025 findings record that only 36% of Democrats said they were “very proud” of the U.S., down from 62% the year before. Comparatively, Republicans recorded much higher levels at 92 percent among respondents. Independents also hit a low point, with just 53% expressing a great deal of pride, a seven-point drop from a year prior. ONLY 27 PERCENT OF DEMOCRATS WILL DISPLAY AMERICAN FLAG ON JULY 4: POLL Hageman said she believes the findings reflect the thinking of the Democratic Party and attempts to reinterpret the country’s founding. “My friends on the other side of the aisle have worked mightily to weaponize our history with slavery to indict our nation as irredeemable,” Hageman said. “Today, the left reveres 1619 as the year of America’s true founding. The year the first slaves were imported to America has become the defining moment for a new generation of cultural revolutionaries hellbent to tear our society apart.” Hageman said she believes the trend is reversible. In particular, she said a sense of patriotism could be restored through a renewed focus on the country’s founding. WHAT THE FOUNDING FATHERS WOULD TELL AOC ABOUT THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION “I hope that by focusing on America’s 250th anniversary – and looking back over that history with honesty and accuracy — we will reverse these declines,” Hageman said. “I am, in fact, optimistic that those festivities we’ve already enjoyed are currently inspiring a new sense of purpose in our national identity. And I believe we are on the right track to making America proud again.”
Blue state leaders erupt after Supreme Court’s decision ending TPS protections for Haitians, Syrians
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in favor of the Trump administration in two key immigration cases on Thursday, drawing strong opposition from blue state Democrats and prompting a prominent House Republican to break ranks over concerns of a looming healthcare “crisis.” In a 6-3 decision in Mullin v. Doe, the high court ruled that Haitian and Syrian nationals with Temporary Protected Status (TPS) cannot turn to federal courts to postpone the revocation of their legal status while challenging the Trump administration’s policies. In a separate ruling, the court also held that migrants turned away at the southern border before entering the U.S. are not entitled to apply for asylum. Democrat leaders in New York and Massachusetts immediately held news conferences to denounce the Supreme Court’s decisions and pledge local resistance. SUPREME COURT HANDS TRUMP TWO MAJOR IMMIGRATION VICTORIES In New York, Gov. Kathy Hochul announced the state would push back by designating “sensitive locations” to block ICE agents and banning masks for immigration enforcers. “This is New York. We fight back. We defend our people,” Hochul said. “For those who think they can come here and just tell us that that’s going to be the different way that it is, you got to get to us first.” New York City Public Advocate Jumaane Williams delivered some of the harshest rhetoric, accusing the Trump administration of operating with a “White supremacist lens.” “This is another day in Trump’s America where we have someone in the White House who believes in fascist rules with a White supremacist lens,” Williams said. “He is doing that because his policies are based on treating people like they are not human beings, particularly if they’re Black and Brown.” TRUMP FOES MELT DOWN THAT SCOTUS IS UNLEASHING ‘RACIAL TERROR’ ON US WITH ICE RAID RULING In her dissenting opinion on the ruling, Supreme Court Justice Elena argued there is evidence the Trump administration was motivated by “racial animus” when revoking Haitians’ TPS, citing statements Trump made during the lead-up to the 2024 election, including claims that Haitians were “eating pets in Ohio.” However, Justice Samuel Alito, who authored both majority opinions for the Supreme Court’s decisions, noted the respondents themselves suggested the administration might simply oppose TPS as a general policy matter rather than targeting a specific group. Meanwhile, New York Attorney General Letitia James called the ruling a “betrayal of who we are supposed to be as a nation,” and New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced the activation of a free municipal legal hotline to help affected immigrants. “The people of New York City are going to show up for you as we face down a Supreme Court ruling that just opened the door to fear instability and the threat of deportation for so many,” said Mamdani, whose wife is Syrian-American. “… We don’t let those who are afraid of what makes this city great try to divide us. We reject the politics of fear.” FEDERAL JUDGE HALTS TRUMP TPS POLICY, ACCUSES DHS OF MAKING MIGRANTS ‘ATONE FOR THEIR RACE’ In Massachusetts, which hosts roughly 45,000 TPS holders, Gov. Maura Healey slammed the decision, arguing it “makes no sense for our families, our economy, our communities, [or] our country.” A visibly emotional Boston Mayor Michelle Wu addressed migrants directly, telling them, “You belong here.” The ruling also exposed a rift within the GOP, as Rep. Mike Lawler, R-N.Y., strongly criticized the move to end TPS for Haitians. While Lawler noted he does not dispute the president’s legal authority to end TPS, he warned that doing so now could trigger a disaster for the U.S. healthcare system, which heavily relies on Haitian workers. “Of the 350,000+ lawful Haitian TPS holders, roughly 1/3rd work in our healthcare system,” Lawler wrote in an X post. “Immediately shutting off TPS will create a crisis in our hospitals, nursing homes, and in the I/DD community.” Lawler also pointed to the rampant gang violence in Haiti, citing the State Department’s Level 4 travel advisory, as proof that the situation “continues to warrant an extension” of protections. DHS FIRES BACK AT ‘ACTIVIST JUDGES’ BLOCKING TEMPORARY PROTECTED STATUS CRACKDOWN He urged the administration to allow an “orderly process” over the next six months for Haitian TPS holders to maintain their work authorizations and called on the Senate to take up his legislation to temporarily extend their status. Following the decision, the White House and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) celebrated the rulings as a win for the rule of law. “This ruling is a tremendous win for the Trump administration,” White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson told Fox News Digital. “Today, the Supreme Court affirmed what President Trump has always maintained: temporary protected status is, by definition, temporary. It was never intended to be a pathway to permanent status or legal residency.” Similarly, DHS General Counsel James Percival posted on X that “the T in TPS stands for TEMPORARY, yet many of these designations became de facto amnesty.” “This is a win for the rule of law and common sense,” Percival said.
Red state gov bans July Fourth fireworks statewide over wildfire concerns ahead of America’s 250th anniversary
Utah Gov. Spencer Cox on Thursday issued a temporary, statewide restriction on fireworks for the upcoming Fourth of July holiday, citing “historic” and “extraordinary” wildfire conditions across the state. Cox, a Republican, signed an executive order declaring a state of emergency, temporarily suspending state law to allow the state forester to ban the discharge of fireworks within municipal boundaries between July 2 and July 5. As America’s 250th anniversary approaches, 94% of Utah is facing severe or extreme drought. RESIDENTS WAKE UP SCREAMING AS COPS RACE TO RESCUE THEM FROM LATE-NIGHT APARTMENT BLAZE: VIDEO The state has already seen 354 wildfires scorch nearly 142,000 acres this season, with more than 75% of the wildfires having been caused by humans. While the mandate snuffs out some of the holiday excitement, it offers a potential compromise for residents wanting to celebrate. Local municipal leaders, working alongside their fire chiefs, are granted the authority to designate specific “safe areas” where fireworks will still be permitted. FIRE DEPARTMENTS TURN TO AI TO DETECT WILDFIRES FASTER If local leaders do not designate these areas, the state forester’s closure remains in full effect. “Nothing about this decision was easy,” Cox wrote in a statement, acknowledging that Utahns typically enjoy celebrating with pyrotechnics. “But this year is different. We are seeing fire behavior that even our most experienced firefighters say they’ve never witnessed before.” In a statement posted to X, Cox added, “Our goal is to make sure our neighborhoods and communities are still standing on July 5.” COLORADO UTILIZING GRAZING CATTLE TO HELP PREVENT WILDFIRES IN AT-RISK AREAS Utah State Forester Jamie Barnes warned that prolonged drought, critically dry vegetation and extreme weather are causing blazes to spread faster and behave in ways that “defy historical expectations.” To deter preventable fires, the Utah Department of Public Safety is ramping up patrols in high-risk areas, and officials warn that sparking an illegal wildfire could lead to significant criminal and civil consequences. State officials plan to re-evaluate the wildfire danger after the Independence Day weekend to determine if similar restrictions will be necessary for the state’s Pioneer Day holiday from July 22 to July 25. Residents are urged to check local restrictions, sign up for emergency alerts and report any suspicious activity immediately. Cox’s office did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.