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Is NATO at breaking point as it meets in Turkiye?

Is NATO at breaking point as it meets in Turkiye?

NATO leaders gather in Ankara to tackle US-Europe tensions, defence gaps and support for Ukraine’s military resilience. The war in Ukraine and the fall out from the Iran conflict are high on the NATO summit’s agenda this week. But well before Secretary General Mark Rutte takes to the stage on Tuesday, NATO’s most powerful individual had already set the tone. “Ridiculous for the U.S.A. to continue along this one sided path when the relationship is not reciprocal,” US President Donald Trump wrote late last week. “They were not there for us!!!” Recommended Stories list of 3 itemsend of list As 32 leaders of the transatlantic body gather in Ankara for their two-day summit starting on Tuesday, the frosty relationship between the military alliance’s members and the United States has emerged as the single biggest challenge overshadowing its future. NATO says the summit will focus on three priorities: increasing defence investment, expanding Europe’s defence industrial base and ensuring long-term military support for Ukraine. The meeting comes after allies pledged last year to spend the equivalent of five percent of GDP on defence, with European allies and Canada increasing defence investment by $139bn in nominal terms in 2025 alone. But talks will be overshadowed by Trump’s threats to pull the US out of NATO and his plan to move troops and weapons out of Europe. On May 1 , the Pentagon announced the withdrawal of about 5,000 troops from Germany, following a “thorough review of the Department’s force posture in Europe”. “I don’t think the alliance is at a breaking point,” said Ian Lesser, distinguished fellow at the German Marshall Fund of the United States. “But it is entering a period of profound adjustment.” Advertisement Trump’s scepticism towards NATO is not new, but the recent conflict with Iran has deepened tensions within the alliance. He has repeatedly criticised European allies for refusing to back Washington militarily, particularly by declining to participate in efforts to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Another major source of friction is military spending. On Thursday, Trump again criticised the defence alliance saying it was “ridiculous” that Washington spends more money on NATO than any other country to protect them “without getting any benefit from doing so”. Experts say that while the US has changed its posture towards NATO, a US pullout from it is unlikely considering the legal and political challenges in doing so, especially as the country is preparing for key midterm elections which will determine who retains control of Congress. To formally withdraw, Trump would need a two-thirds majority in the US Senate or an act of Congress – scenarios that are unlikely to come to pass any time soon, with NATO still enjoying broad support among many legislators in both major parties in Washington. “It’s in the US interest to stay engaged in Europe’s security and maintain a key role in NATO – and this is a view shared on both aisles in Washington,” said Lesser. Europeans have given up on restoring the alliance-based trust of decades past, but hope this summit will be an occasion for some planning, said Sophia Besch, a senior fellow in the Europe Programme at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. “The one thing they still dare hope for is greater predictability. They have accepted that the American commitment to Europe is changing; what they want is a more orderly version of the transition,” said Besch. “The fear behind this is well-founded: A botched handover from a US-led to a Europe-led NATO opens up a deterrence and defence gap.” Despite concerns over the potential reduction in US support, European allies would not be left defenceless. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine exposed both the fragility of Europe’s defence industrial base and the extent to which many NATO members depend on Washington for critical military capabilities. At the same time, repeated strains in transatlantic relations – from disputes within NATO to Trump’s threats to seize Greenland – have reinforced the push for greater European strategic autonomy. As a result, defence spending among European allies rose by 62 percent between 2020 and 2025. Yet major capability gaps remain. According to the International Institute for Security Studies (IISS), European countries continue to rely heavily on the US for long-range strike capabilities, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, satellite-based assets, logistics and integrated air and missile defence. Advertisement Closing those gaps will be a long-term challenge. The IISS estimates that replacing the most critical US conventional military capabilities would require roughly $1 trillion and could take a decade or more. Europe’s defence industry also faces difficulties expanding production fast enough, while many armed forces continue to struggle with recruitment and retention. Adblock test (Why?)

US president Trump defends FIFA’s Balogun red card reversal

US president Trump defends FIFA’s Balogun red card reversal

NewsFeed US President Donald Trump defended FIFA’s decision to overturn Folarin Balogun’s red card suspension, saying the striker’s dismissal was unfair and describing the referee as ‘suspect.’ FIFA suspended the one-match ban after a call from Trump, allowing the striker to face Belgium in the World Cup last 16. Published On 6 Jul 20266 Jul 2026 Click here to share on social media share-nodes Share googleAdd Al Jazeera on Googleinfo Adblock test (Why?)

UN discusses prevention of genocide: Six times it failed to do just that

UN discusses prevention of genocide: Six times it failed to do just that

The United Nations General Assembly is holding a plenary session on Monday to discuss nations’ responsibility to prevent genocide, war crimes, ethnic cleansing and crimes against humanity. But the meeting on Monday at UN headquarters in New York comes amid Israel’s genocide in Gaza, the Rapid Support Forces’ and allied militias’ ongoing genocide in the Darfur region of Sudan, and other humanitarian crises around the world, which many critics say the international community has done very little to address. Recommended Stories list of 3 itemsend of list While the UN meeting may result in protocols that countries need to follow to prevent future genocides, observers are sceptical that these will make much difference to victims on the ground. What is the UN’s definition of genocide, and which are some of the genocides the UN has ultimately failed to act on? Here, Al Jazeera takes a look. How does the UN define genocide? In 1944, Polish lawyer Raphael Lemkin used the term “genocide” for the first time in his book Axis Rule in Occupied Europe. The prefix of the word is “genos” and means “race” or “tribe” in Ancient Greek. The suffix “cide” is Latin and means “killing”. In 1946, the UN General Assembly recognised genocide as a crime for the first time. According to the world body, the term genocide was then “codified” as an independent crime in the 1948 Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide, or the Genocide Convention, which came into effect in 1951 and has been ratified by 196 countries. The UN’s Geneva Conventions define genocide as any act committed “with intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnical, racial or religious group”. Advertisement This includes “killing members of the group, causing serious bodily or mental harm to members of the group, deliberately inflicting on the group conditions of life calculated to bring about its physical destruction in whole or in part, imposing measures intended to prevent births within the group, [and] forcibly transferring children of the group to another group”. Which are some of the genocides the world has failed to act on? Genocide in Rwanda In 1994, members of the majority Hutu ethnic group in Rwanda massacred an estimated 800,000 minority Tutsis, moderate Hutus and members of a third ethnic group, the Twa, in one of the darkest episodes in world history. A combination of colonial-era favouritism towards the Tutsis, which had angered other groups, a media landscape that was ripe for spreading hate, and the slowness of the international community to respond to the crisis all combined to fuel the genocide, which began in April 1994 and continued for 100 days. Before the genocide, the 1991 census counted the Tutsi population at 657,000, or 8.4 percent of the overall population, although some have alleged without proof that Rwandan President Juvenal Habyarimana’s government undercounted Tutsis to limit their access to education and other opportunities. Human Rights Watch estimated at least 500,000 Tutsis – 77 percent of their 1991 population – were killed. Global leaders were aware of the genocide, but did not intervene. For a long time, the UN actually avoided using the word “genocide” under pressure from the United States, which had been reluctant to send troops to Rwanda. Former UN chief Ban Ki-moon said on the 20th anniversary of the killings that the organisation was still “ashamed” of its failure to prevent the genocide. The UN did, however, establish the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda in November 1994 in Arusha, Tanzania. The court has since tried several high-profile leaders of the massacres, including caretaker Prime Minister Jean Kambanda, who was handed a life sentence for inciting, aiding, abetting and failing to prevent genocide. He was also sentenced on two counts of crimes against humanity. The tribunal has convicted 61 people so far. A bouquet of flowers tied with a ribbon showing the message ‘Genocide Never Again’ is pictured in the Kigali Genocide Memorial grounds in Kigali, Rwanda [File:Noor Khamis/Reuters] Israel’s genocide in Gaza It has been more than 1,000 days since Israel launched its genocidal war on Gaza in October 2023, killing at least 73,066 Palestinian people in the enclave following the Hamas-led assault on southern Israel in which more than 1,100 people were killed. Since then, more than 90 percent of the Gaza Strip has been destroyed, with infrastructure and healthcare facilities almost completely obliterated, and Israeli forces remain in control of 80 percent of the besieged territory, authorities in the enclave have said. Advertisement The genocide began in response to attacks on southern Israel by fighters from the Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas, and other Palestinian groups, during which 1,139 people died and about 240 were taken into Gaza as captives. While a ceasefire came into effect in October 2025, Israeli attacks on Palestinians in the enclave have continued. According to Gaza’s Ministry of Health, Israeli army violations of the ceasefire have killed over 1,000 people and wounded over 3,000 others since the truce took effect. Under the ceasefire deal, the parties were also expected to move to a second phase after Hamas released the remaining captives covered by the first-stage deal in exchange for Palestinians held in Israeli prisons. That phase was meant to include disarmament by Hamas and a gradual Israeli military withdrawal from Gaza. However, negotiations remain stalled. As during the war itself, world leaders have done little to prevent Israel from continuing its attacks in Gaza. Furthermore, each time the UN Security Council has held a vote to enable a ceasefire in Gaza, the US has vetoed and blocked all ceasefire resolutions. In March 2024, the UN Special Rapporteur on the occupied Palestinian territories, Francesca Albanese, said there were clear indications that Israel was violating three of the five conditions listed under the UN Genocide Convention. She said she had found “reasonable grounds to believe that the threshold indicating the commission of … acts of genocide against Palestinians in Gaza has been met”. “The overwhelming nature

Bellingham inspires 10-man England in 3-2 last-16 thriller to beat Mexico

Bellingham inspires 10-man England in 3-2 last-16 thriller to beat Mexico

England hands Mexico their first World Cup loss at Estadio Azteca, winning 3-2 to reach the 2026 quarterfinals. Published On 6 Jul 20266 Jul 2026 Jude Bellingham’s double inflicted a rare defeat on Mexico at their Estadio Azteca as 10-man England won a nerve-racking World Cup classic 3-2 to reach the quarterfinals. Harry Kane also scored from the penalty spot as the Three Lions overcame Jarell Quansah’s red card, high altitude, and a fervent home support on Sunday to keep their quest for a first major tournament win in 60 years alive. Recommended Stories list of 4 itemsend of list England have relied on Bellingham and Kane throughout the tournament, and the duo has carried them into a last-eight showdown with Erling Haaland’s Norway. Bellingham struck twice in 98 seconds in the first half to condemn Mexico to just a third defeat in 90 matches at the Azteca. Julian Quinones and Raul Jimenez reduced the Mexican arrears, but they fell short of a place in the quarterfinals. Victory also helped to erase some of England’s nightmarish memories at the Azteca in the quarterfinals of the 1986 World Cup, when Diego Maradona scored a double for Argentina, including the infamous “Hand of God” goal. Sunday’s match was delayed by an hour after a thunderstorm and heavy rain lashed the Mexican capital for hours before the planned 6pm (00:00 GMT) kickoff time. Despite the sodden conditions, more than 80,000 fans crammed into the stadium to create a deafening noise. England coach Thomas Tuchel was wary of a fast start from Mexico as his side adjusted to the altitude of 2,240 metres (7,350 feet) above sea level. Mexico had flown out of the traps when they won a World Cup knockout game for the first time in 40 years against Ecuador 2-0 on Tuesday. Advertisement This time, England managed to keep Javier Aguirre’s side at bay, but they did need a crucial intervention from Jordan Pickford to deny Jimenez opening the scoring with a diving header that was headed for the bottom corner. Tuchel made three changes to the side that needed a heroic performance from Kane to prevent an embarrassing early exit to DR Congo. Quansah was forced to deputise at right-back with Reece James not fit to start for a third consecutive game, opening up Tuchel to criticism over his decision not to select more specialist cover in the position. Anthony Gordon and Bukayo Saka also started out wide, and both made telling contributions. Saka’s cross picked out Bellingham to power in a header for the first goal Mexico conceded in five World Cup games. The hosts failed to compose themselves, as within two minutes, the Real Madrid midfielder had doubled England’s lead. Kane’s ball across fell perfectly for Bellingham to power in his fourth goal of the tournament. Yet what should have been a comfortable lead was nearly wiped out by half-time. Quinones blasted in his fourth goal of the tournament to spark the Mexico rally after England failed to clear a free kick. Jimenez drilled wide and saw another header saved by Pickford before Bellingham made a last-ditch intervention to deny Cesar Montes a certain equaliser. Nico O’Reilly nearly restored England’s two-goal cushion as his deflected shot cannoned off the post. Quansah was shown a straight red card on 54 minutes after a VAR review for a mistimed lunge on Jesus Gallardo. But just six minutes later, the 10 men had added to their lead when Gordon was wiped out by Mexico goalkeeper Raul Rangel and Kane emphatically dispatched the penalty. The England captain’s sixth goal of the tournament puts him just one behind Haaland, Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe in the race for the Golden Boot. The game took another huge momentum swing when, this time, Kane was penalised for a foul inside his own box and Jimenez slotted home the penalty to set up a frantic final 20 minutes. England, though, stood tall, defending at times frantically to resist the Mexican wave during 11 minutes of additional time, and have reached a third consecutive FIFA World Cup quarterfinal. Adblock test (Why?)

OPEC+ countries say they will expand monthly oil production

OPEC+ countries say they will expand monthly oil production

Seven OPEC+ members, including Saudi Arabia and Russia, to increase output by 188,000 barrels per day. Published On 6 Jul 20266 Jul 2026 OPEC+ members have announced plans to boost oil production as energy markets show tentative signs of recovery amid the fallout of the US-Israel war on Iran. OPEC+ said on Sunday that seven member countries – Saudi Arabia, Russia, Iraq, Kuwait, Kazakhstan, Algeria, and Oman – would raise output by 188,000 barrels per day from August after officials held a virtual meeting to “review global market conditions and outlook”. Recommended Stories list of 4 itemsend of list The production boost is the fifth consecutive increase announced by the seven OPEC+ members in as many months, continuing a gradual unwinding of production cuts announced in 2023. OPEC+, which includes the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and allied oil producers – including Russia, Bahrain and Oman – cut output in April 2023, and again in November 2023, amid a string of bank collapses that triggered a major sell-off in oil and other commodities. “The countries will continue to closely monitor and assess market conditions,” the intergovernmental organisation said in a statement, adding that officials had “reaffirmed the importance of adopting a cautious approach and retaining full flexibility to increase, pause or reverse the phase out of the voluntary production adjustments”. The seven member countries added that they would meet again on August 2 to review the situation. After briefly topping $126 a barrel in April, Brent crude oil prices have fallen back to pre-war levels in recent days amid growing hopes for a permanent end to the Iran conflict and a return to normal shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. Advertisement Traffic in the strait has ticked up since US President Donald Trump and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian signed their memorandum of understanding on ending the war on June 17, though it remains far below pre-conflict levels. There were 38 confirmed transits in the strait on July 2, down from 48 on July 1, according to the vessel tracking platform MarineTraffic, compared with roughly 130 daily crossings before the war. Brent crude futures for September delivery stood at $72 as of 02:01 GMT on Monday, below Brent’s settlement price of $72.48 on February 27, the day before US and Israel launched strikes on Iran, starting the war. Iran’s effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz, which carried about one-fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas supplies before the start of the war, forced OPEC+ members to slash production as a growing backlog of unshipped barrels maxed out the region’s crude storage capacity. Total OPEC+ production dropped to 33.13 million bpd in May, down from 42.77 million bpd in February, according to OPEC figures. Fabien Yip, a market analyst at IG in Sydney, Australia, described OPEC+’s latest production increases as largely being a “paper formality” in light of the real-world conditions affecting supply. “Actual barrels have been constrained for months by the Strait of Hormuz blockade, falling well short of the quota,” Yip told Al Jazeera. “That constraint is now easing, driving prices down. “Saudi Arabia has more than doubled the shipping volume since June 17 than the prior three months combined, and Iran has pushed close to 50 million barrels of its crude to market since the naval blockade lifted,” Yip added, referring to the US naval blockade of Iranian ports. “Add OPEC+’s incremental barrels to that backlog clearing, alongside softer Chinese demand and higher US and Russian exports, and the setup is a near-term oversupply. Oil futures’ retreat to pre-war levels reflects that.” Adblock test (Why?)

Sports stadium becomes home for victims of the Venezuela earthquakes

Sports stadium becomes home for victims of the Venezuela earthquakes

NewsFeed A sports stadium in La Guaira state has been turned into a makeshift home and logistics centre for thousands of victims of the Venezuela earthquakes. As Al Jazeera’s Zein Basravi reports aid organizations are planning to make this a model for other shelters. Published On 6 Jul 20266 Jul 2026 Click here to share on social media share-nodes Share googleAdd Al Jazeera on Googleinfo Adblock test (Why?)

Severe weather disrupts US’s 250th celebrations

Severe weather disrupts US’s 250th celebrations

Trump says he will still speak in Washington, DC, after a thunderstorm delayed celebrations in the US capital. Severe weather has disrupted celebrations of the United States’ 250th anniversary of independence, including in Washington, DC, where a thunderstorm delayed a speech from President Donald Trump. Thousands of people gathered in the US capital for the July 4th celebration on Saturday, but were then evacuated from the National Mall as the storm closed in. Recommended Stories list of 4 itemsend of list But the group organising the event, Freedom 250, said they would be readmitted, and Trump would speak at 11pm local time (03:00 GMT), one hour⁠ later than previously scheduled. “I will be there no matter what,” Trump posted on social media. “It’s Saturday night, LETS HAVE SOME FUN, even if we are out late tonight.” In New York City, authorities put on a large fireworks display to mark July 4th celebrations, bringing the 30-minute show forward because of the threat of storms. The rain and lightning stayed away, allowing thousands of people to enjoy the spectacle. Elsewhere, severe weather prompted the cancellation of celebrations in Hartford, Connecticut, along with Harrisburg and Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. Spectators at Boston’s fireworks and concert were told to briefly seek shelter before events later resumed. An evacuation was also ordered in Philadelphia. Pittsburgh moved forward with fireworks but shifted the time to accommodate the shifting weather. Macy’s Fourth of July fireworks explode as the US celebrates its 250th anniversary on Independence Day, in New York City, US, July 4, 2026 [Carlos Barria/Reuters] In Washington, DC, crowds were building at the National Mall several hours before the evacuation. Visitors contended with stepped-up security and temperatures that reached 39 degrees Celsius (102 degrees Fahrenheit) to get into the event. Advertisement The record-breaking heat wave forced the cancellation of several parades and other events in the area. “It’s just part of the deal I signed up for,” said Glen Solander, 60, ‌a software engineer visiting from Sioux Falls, South Dakota, as he waited at a security checkpoint on Saturday afternoon. Other visitors included the white nationalist organisation Patriot Front. The group posted on social media that it had arrived in the capital, and hundreds of people wearing the group’s outfits travelled to the city on Metro trains serving the District of Columbia region. Local police said they had not received any reports of violence. Past presidents have generally avoided in-person appearances at July 4 celebrations, but Trump has blurred the line between official commemoration and campaign-style politics. The Trump administration’s Freedom 250 group has largely sidelined a nonpartisan body set up in 2016 to handle the 250th anniversary ⁠and has fenced off much of the 2.4-kilometre (1.5-mile) National Mall for a “Great American State Fair” featuring attractions such ⁠as a Ferris wheel alongside displays by conservative groups and defence contractors. Freedom 250 says the fair aims to showcase the people and innovations that make the US “the greatest nation on Earth”. Several Democratic-led states declined to send delegations, and many performers scheduled to appear dropped out, citing concerns about partisanship. Trump opened the event with a rally on June 24. Other activities with Freedom 250 branding include a ⁠faith rally featuring mostly conservative Christian speakers, and multiple sports events, including a card of mixed martial arts bouts on the White House grounds for Trump’s 80th birthday on June 14. An IndyCar race in Washington is scheduled for August. The Freedom 250 organisation also sponsored “Freedom Trucks” that critics say paint an overly religious version of American history and gloss over issues such ‌as slavery and racial injustice. Trump has sought to remake wide swaths of the capital city ahead of the 250th celebration, with mixed ‌results. ‌Many fountains and statues have been renovated, but problems have beset a much-touted $15m renovation of the Lincoln Memorial’s Reflecting Pool. Security cameras and soldiers now stand watch over its peeling paint and algae-fouled waters. Adblock test (Why?)

This immigrant served in the US military. Now he faces deportation

This immigrant served in the US military. Now he faces deportation

On Thursday morning, a small group of advocates gathered outside the United States federal courthouse in San Diego, California. One of them pointed to a poster of a young man in a US Navy uniform, three golden medals pinned to his chest. “This is my brother, Benito Miranda Hernandez, US Navy veteran,” said James Smith, the founder of Black Deported Veterans of America. Smith and the other advocates had organised the demonstration on behalf of Hernandez, who was miles away at that moment, stuck in an immigration detention facility. Brought from Mexico to the US as a baby, Hernandez had completed three tours of duty with the US military during the Iraq war. His military service was meant to be his path to citizenship. But now, Hernandez is among the immigrant veterans fighting deportation under US President Donald Trump. “These men and women were promised that they were going to get their citizenship if they served,” Smith said. “Help this brother come home.” Trump has pledged to prioritise immigrants with criminal records in his push for mass deportation. But advocates for US military members argue that veterans are particularly vulnerable, given their over-representation in prisons and jails. The majority have reported suffering from mental health problems after their service. Hernandez, for instance, said he struggled to reintegrate into civilian life after leaving the military. But on June 14, he had finally completed his years-long sentence for a drug conviction. As he waited for his mother, Maria Miranda, to pick him up, agents from US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detained him. Only afterwards did Miranda and her other son arrive. They spent hours that day looking for him, not knowing where he had gone. “He was doing things right,” Miranda told Al Jazeera in Spanish. “He had so many hopes, so many dreams.” Benito Miranda Hernandez stands outside the reentry programme where he recently worked, before he was detained by immigration officials in June [Anna Oakes/Al Jazeera] Hernandez has since been transferred to the Otay Mesa Detention Center in San Diego. He faces deportation, despite having received his green card for permanent residency earlier this year. He previously spoke to Al Jazeera about his experiences for an article published in April. Hernandez’s detention is part of a trend under the Trump administration. While the exact number of deported veterans is impossible to pin down – ICE has long failed to collect the veteran status of the people it detains, as is required – several advocates told Al Jazeera that they have been witnessing a rise in the deportations of US veterans during Trump’s second term. The New York Times reported in March that at least 34 veterans have been placed in deportation proceedings in the last year. Some cases have received media attention. But advocates say other immigrant veterans have avoided the spotlight, fearing it may have a negative impact on their immigration cases. “As the ICE raids continue and revamp across the country, there’s going to be people that are veterans that have not become US citizens that unfortunately will end up falling through the cracks,” said Robert Vivar, cofounder of the Tijuana-based Unified US Deported Veterans Resource Center. Veterans, like other immigrants across the country, have been detained while pursuing the mandatory steps in their immigration process, according to Danitza James, the president of Repatriate our Patriots, an advocacy group. They are often flagged for having outstanding warrants or criminal convictions that have not been vacated. James said she is in contact with about six veterans who had been detained by ICE in 2026 alone. “Our government, they don’t place any value in the service that our immigrants have,” James, who is herself a veteran and naturalised citizen, told Al Jazeera. “They honestly see us as disposable.” Danitza James, a former US military member, has led a push to repatriate deported veterans [Alejandro Cossio/Al Jazeera] For decades, the US military has recruited immigrants to enlist in its wars abroad to help address staffing shortages. Recruiters often tell immigrant enlisters that military service offers a shortcut to naturalised citizenship. In theory, it should. But while deployed, many immigrant soldiers, like Hernandez, have reported delays in the naturalisation process. By the time Hernandez was called for his citizenship interview in 2006, two years had passed since he finished his last deployment. He had a criminal conviction by that point – and his citizenship case was denied. The failure to protect immigrant veterans is representative of the government’s larger failures to reckon with its military policies, according to advocates like Smith. “The United States government is failing to take accountability for what they’ve created,” Smith told Al Jazeera. “You bring us in and strip us of part of our humanity so that we can kill without repercussions.” “Then, when you get out, there is no process that gets you ready to be in the civilian world.” Several bills to protect immigrant veterans are currently under consideration in Congress. But recruiters continue to target immigrant communities with the promise of expedited citizenship. The next steps for Hernandez are not yet clear. At Thursday’s rally, a lawyer with a local immigration nonprofit told Smith and other advocates that the group may be interested in helping with Hernandez’s case. In the meantime, Hernandez’s mother has been trying to keep his spirits up. Miranda takes his calls from the ICE detention centre and sees him during the facility’s visiting hours on Saturdays. But the two-hour drive from Anaheim to San Diego is difficult for her health. “On Saturday, when I saw him, he was very, very depressed,” Miranda told Al Jazeera. “He said, ‘I don’t want to cause you any more problems. I don’t want to upset you any more, Mom. I’m doing things right. I’m praying for myself,’” Miranda recalled, in tears. “They clipped the wings of a bird, and all the hopes he had. They threw them in the trash.” Adblock test (Why?)

Fireworks light up New York City to mark 250 years of US independence

Fireworks light up New York City to mark 250 years of US independence

NewsFeed Fireworks lit up the New York City skyline as America marked its 250th anniversary, with an expanded Macy’s 4th of July display dazzling crowds in a vibrant celebration of the nation’s milestone birthday. Published On 5 Jul 20265 Jul 2026 Click here to share on social media share-nodes Share googleAdd Al Jazeera on Googleinfo Adblock test (Why?)

Russian attacks leave trail of destruction across Ukraine

Russian attacks leave trail of destruction across Ukraine

NewsFeed Russian attacks struck multiple Ukrainian regions killing four people, including a five-year-old child and her mother, in Sumy. Guided bombs also ignited a massive fire at a poultry farm in Kherson where firefighters battled the flames while under the threat of further strikes. Published On 4 Jul 20264 Jul 2026 Click here to share on social media share-nodes Share googleAdd Al Jazeera on Googleinfo Adblock test (Why?)