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Sewage Floods Gaza Hospital After Israeli Strike, Malnutrition Soars
An Israeli strike damaged infrastructure near Gaza’s Nasser Hospital, causing raw sewage to flood its emergency department. This exacerbates the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, where health officials report at least 21 deaths since dawn and soaring childhood malnutrition, with nearly 13,000 children admitted for acute malnutrition in July. The hospital’s director noted that Israeli forces are blocking repairs in the “red zone,” risking the hospital’s collapse within days due to the inability to coordinate repairs within the 72-hour timeframe required by Israeli authorities.
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Israeli Settlement Expansion Plan Draws Global Condemnation
Israel’s far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich announced plans for over 3,000 new homes in illegal West Bank settlements, aiming to bisect land intended for a Palestinian state. This move, condemned by the EU, UK, and UN, is seen as entrenching the occupation and undermining a two-state solution. Concurrently, Israeli settlers attacked Palestinian villages, burning vehicles, while raids arrested 20 Palestinians, escalating tensions in the region.
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Trump and Putin Meet in Alaska, Zelensky Expected at Follow-Up Summit
President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin held a summit in Anchorage, Alaska, to discuss halting Russia’s war in Ukraine, with a potential new nuclear weapons agreement on the table. Trump predicted a future meeting involving Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, possibly with European leaders, to further peace efforts. The summit occurs despite an ICC warrant against Putin for war crimes, which the US and Russia do not recognize.
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Erik Prince’s Mercenaries to Deploy in Haiti
Erik Prince, a Trump ally and founder of Blackwater, secured a 10-year deal with Haiti’s interim government to deploy nearly 200 mercenaries to combat gangs controlling Port-au-Prince. His firm, Vectus Global, will also manage Haiti’s tax collection system. The move raises concerns due to Prince’s controversial history, including Blackwater’s involvement in the 2007 Nisoor Square massacre in Iraq.
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Texas Democrats End Walkout Over Gerrymandering
Texas Democratic lawmakers ended a two-week walkout protesting Republican efforts to pass gerrymandered congressional maps. The walkout, which denied Republicans a quorum, concluded after a special legislative session called by Governor Greg Abbott ended. Democrats faced threats of arrest but returned to prevent further punitive actions, highlighting ongoing tensions over electoral fairness.
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California Democrats Back Redistricting Ballot Measure
California Democrats, led by Governor Gavin Newsom, rallied in Los Angeles to support a ballot initiative allowing the state Legislature to redraw congressional maps, countering Republican gerrymandering tactics in states like Texas. The event saw Border Patrol agents stage a provocative presence outside, which Mayor Karen Bass criticized as disrespectful, signaling heightened political friction.
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Washington, D.C. Rejects DEA Chief as Police Commissioner
U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi ordered the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Terry Cole to assume the role of Washington, D.C.’s police commissioner, a move rejected by Mayor Muriel Bowser and D.C. officials as unlawful under the Home Rule Act. The order follows Republican efforts to withhold over $1 billion from D.C.’s budget, escalating federal-local tensions.
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D.C. Police to Assist ICE, Ending Sanctuary City Policies
Washington, D.C.’s Metropolitan Police Department, under pressure from Attorney General Pam Bondi, agreed to assist ICE agents, reversing the city’s sanctuary city policies. The decision, welcomed by President Trump, has sparked backlash from the ACLU, which argues it fosters fear among residents and undermines community trust in local law enforcement.
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D.C. Unhoused Face Crackdown on Encampments
The White House ordered unhoused residents of Washington, D.C., to vacate tent encampments or face fines and jail time, with federal agents and National Guard troops enforcing the policy. Advocates, like Miriam’s Kitchen, condemned the crackdown, arguing it displaces vulnerable people from their communities and fails to address root causes of homelessness.
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Flash Floods in Northwest Pakistan Kill 157
Flash floods in northwest Pakistan claimed 157 lives, as reported by emergency services, highlighting the region’s vulnerability to extreme weather events. The disaster underscores ongoing challenges with climate-related crises, with rising sea levels and extreme weather patterns affecting vulnerable populations globally.