28 lives lost in Kyiv in ‘one single destructive moment'
The death toll from Russia's heavy bombardment of Ukraine's capital this week marks the deadliest single attack on Kyiv in a year, Ukrainian officials said. The vast majority were killed in a single strike on an apartment block. CNN's Nick Paton Walsh reports from Kyiv, where rescue workers have now recovered the bodies of at least 28 people from the destroyed apartment block, according to the State Emergency Service (SES). At least 159 people were also wounded in the blast.
04:53 - Source: CNN
Vertical World News 17 videos
28 lives lost in Kyiv in 'one single destructive moment'
The death toll from Russia's heavy bombardment of Ukraine's capital this week marks the deadliest single attack on Kyiv in a year, Ukrainian officials said. The vast majority were killed in a single strike on an apartment block. CNN's Nick Paton Walsh reports from Kyiv, where rescue workers have now recovered the bodies of at least 28 people from the destroyed apartment block, according to the State Emergency Service (SES). At least 159 people were also wounded in the blast.
04:53 - Source: CNN
Witkoff visits controversial Gaza aid site
US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff spent over five hours in Gaza, and visited the controversial Gaza Humanitarian Foundation aid site. He said the purpose of the visit was to give Trump 'a clear understanding of the humanitarian situation and help craft a plan to deliver food and medical aid to the people of Gaza.' CNN's Jeremy Diamond reports.
01:53 - Source: CNN
United Nations' Relief Chief: If anyone can shift Israeli Government, 'It's of course, the Americans'
UN Emergency Relief Coordinator Tom Fletcher tells CNN's Christiane Amanpour that if anyone can shift the Israeli government, it's the US, and addresses reports of how food aid is being intercepted.
02:09 - Source: CNN
Amusement park ride splits in half in Saudi Arabia
At least 23 people were injured, three of them critically, when a fairground ride buckled in Saudi Arabia, sending passengers crashing to the ground, according to state media.
00:33 - Source: CNN
Soldiers in Ukraine battle Russian drones
CNN's Nick Paton Walsh reports from the frontlines of Ukraine, where soldiers rush to bring in the wounded as drones constantly look for a target.
01:38 - Source: CNN
US diminished a key weapons stockpile fighting Iran
The US used about a quarter of its supply of high-end missile interceptors during the Israel-Iran war, exposing a gap in supplies, and raising concerns about US global security posture. CNN's Tamara Qiblawi reports.
01:35 - Source: CNN
Carney says Canada will recognize Palestinian state
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has joined France and Britain in announcing plans to recognize a Palestinian state in September at the United Nations, as international pressure builds on Israel over the ongoing war and starvation crisis in Gaza. President Donald Trump reacted to the announcement by threatening to derail trade talks with Canada.
00:30 - Source: CNN
Two leading Israeli human rights groups accuse Israel of genocide
Two leading Israeli human rights groups have accused Israel of 'committing genocide against Palestinians in Gaza,' becoming the first such organizations to make the claim. B'Tselem's Executive Director Yuli Novak and Physicians for Human Rights Israel's Executive Director Guy Shalev tell CNN's Christiane Amanpour what was behind their groups' decisions to use the word genocide.
04:59 - Source: CNN
Watch F-18 fighter jet perform evasive maneuvers to avoid crashing into audience at airshow
A video verified by Reuters shows the moment when a Spanish F-18 fighter jet was forced to perform "evasive maneuvers" to avoid crashing into attendees during the Gijón Air Festival. The military praised the pilot's actions which ensured the safety of the attendees.
00:35 - Source: CNN
Mothers risk their lives to get food in Gaza
Palestinian women face an awful choice between risking their own lives, which could deprive their families of their only remaining provider, or watching their children starve. CNN's Paula Hancocks reports.
01:33 - Source: CNN
Medics perform surgery during earthquake
Video shows medics in Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, Russia, continuing a surgery on a patient despite a powerful magnitude 8.8 earthquake that struck off Russia's far eastern coast on July 30.
00:47 - Source: CNN
Tsunami warnings triggered after major earthquake
The strongest earthquake on the planet since 2011 has triggered tsunami warnings for parts of Russia, Japan, and Alaska, as well as all of Hawaii. CNN's Will Ripley reports on the 8.8-magnitude quake.
00:41 - Source: CNN
Israeli settler kills activist who worked on Oscar-winning film
Odeh Hathalin, a prominent Palestinian activist who had worked on an Oscar-winning documentary, was killed on Monday during an attack by Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank, according to local journalists and officials. CNN's Jeremy Diamond explains video circulated on social media that shows the gunman firing a hand gun in the vicinity of where Hathalin was said to be killed.
01:36 - Source: CNN
Fans in England celebrate Women's Euro 2025 final win
Fans celebrate in London as England has been crowned champion of Europe for the second successive time after defeating Spain 3-1 on penalties in the Women's Euro 2025 final.
00:30 - Source: CNN
Breaking down Israel's aid drops into Gaza
In the midst of a hunger crisis in Gaza, Israel and other countries have begun dropping aid by plane into the area. CNN's Nic Robertson breaks down how much effect this measure can offer, while the UN calls for substantial relief to come from aid trucks moving in quickly through open corridors.
01:15 - Source: CNN
People fight for scraps of food in Gaza
CNN's Nic Robertson reports on the scarce food conditions in Gaza, with children and mothers fighting off starvation as soup kitchens face shortages.
01:46 - Source: CNN
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New York Post
16 minutes ago
- New York Post
Key Trump national security roles left vacant due to Dem obstruction — leaving US vulnerable to threats
WASHINGTON — Crucial national security jobs in the Trump administration have been left empty by Senate Democrats' obstruction while the White House focuses on installing US ambassadors — leaving America vulnerable to foreign threats, The Post has learned. At least 144 nominees were awaiting confirmation when the Senate broke for its August recess — including picks for senior positions at the State, Defense and Energy departments tasked with military readiness, nuclear issues and weapons of mass destruction. Sen. Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), in line to take over as Chuck Schumer's No. 2 with the retirement of Senate Minority Whip Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), initially placed a hold on more than 300 Trump nominees — a move one source familiar with the confirmation process described as 'payback' for the administration 'destroying USAID.' Advertisement 'Unprecedented Democrat obstruction against every single presidential nominee has left vital national-security positions vacant, even those tasked with preventing nuclear devices from falling into the wrong hands,' Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah) told The Post last week, demanding that the August recess be canceled. 7 President Trump's national security picks have had their confirmations delayed due to Democratic obstruction and a focus instead on installing US ambassadors, administration sources told The Post. AP 'While Chuck Schumer wants to neglect his responsibilities, President Trump continues to work hard from the White House on behalf of the American people,' said White House deputy press secretary Anna Kelly. 'He has been clear that the Senate must confirm all of his nominees as quickly as possible.' Advertisement Notably, only around two dozen ambassador nominations are still pending on the Senate calendar, compared to more than 100 nominees for other executive branch roles. The White House notifies the Senate when it wants nominations to be voted on, and some administration sources have groused that the approach of ensuring ambassadors are confirmed first is akin to 'having an army of generals without soldiers.' 'It's vital to have these positions to secure regional stability, especially in our own hemisphere,' added another source close to the White House. 'But it's one of many issues at the moment.' 7 'Unprecedented Democrat obstruction against every single presidential nominee has left vital national-security positions vacant,' Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah) told The Post Friday, demanding that the August recess be canceled. CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images Advertisement While Trump has yet to nominate an assistant secretary of defense for homeland defense and global security at the Pentagon, for example, US ambassador to Belgium nominee Bill White, a businessman and former Obama fundraiser, has leapfrogged to the front of the line for consideration. Several ambassadors were approved late last week before the Senate recess — including Louis Rinaldi, a longtime golfing buddy of Trump's, to be envoy to Uruguay; and fast food magnate Andrew Puzder, who donated more than $100,000 to help Republicans and the president's re-election campaign, to be US representative to the European Union, Of the more than a dozen ambassadors confirmed so far, at least half donated to Trump's campaign committees or PACs during the 2024 election cycle or so far in 2025. Others opened their pocketbooks after the president took office — and were confirmed in two months. Advertisement 7 Of the more than a dozen ambassadors confirmed so far, at least half donated to Trump's campaign committees or PACs during the 2024 election cycle or in 2025 — including UK and Northern Ireland ambassador Warren Stephens. Getty Images Warren Stephens, Trump's ambassador to the United Kingdom, donated nearly $400,000 to the RNC in February — a little more than a week after the Senate received his nomination. He was confirmed in a bipartisan 59-39 vote on April 29. US Ambassador to Italy Tilman Fertitta gave $100,000 to the Republican National Committee on April 9, one month after his nomination was sent to the Senate. He was confirmed in a bipartisan 83-14 vote on April 29. Pending national security nominees include the State Department's Bureau of East Asian Affairs-designate Michael DeSombre, whose purview includes US policy on China. DeSombre's nomination was received in the Senate March 24, placed on its executive calendar June 5, and still hasn't received a vote. 7 Several ambassadors were approved late last week before August recess — including Louis Rinaldi, a golfing buddy of Trump's from New York, who was narrowly confirmed to be ambassador to Uruguay. Facebook/Trump National Golf Club Westchester Robert Kadlec, who helmed Trump's Operation Warp Speed and dug deep into the possible culpability of China's military experiments for the COVID-19 pandemic, was nominated in February for a similar role at the Pentagon — but hasn't made it out of the Senate Armed Services Committee. Gerald Parker, who reportedly helped craft the president's executive order banning gain-of-function research that officials and scientific experts have said could have started the COVID outbreak, was tapped to lead the White House Office of Pandemic Preparedness and Response Policy but recently resigned. Advertisement Meanwhile, Adrienne Keen, the ex-director for global health security at the National Intelligence Council, who played a role in keeping critical evidence on COVID origins out of a 2021 briefing delivered to former President Joe Biden, remains employed at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). 7 Robert Kadlec, who helmed Trump's Operation Warp Speed and dug deep into the possible culpability of China's military experiments for the COVID-19 pandemic, was nominated in February but hasn't cleared committee vetting. Bloomberg via Getty Images The delays in filling administration posts have left experts in the field impatient. Rutgers University molecular biologist Richard Ebright said it was 'dismaying the Senate has moved so slowly on confirmation of key nominees for biosecurity positions. The foot-dragging puts US health security and US national security at risk.' Advertisement 'It is even more dismaying that Adrienne Keen, who actively participated in defrauding the public and policy makers about the origin of COVID, remains at the CDC. Keene needs to be terminated for cause forthwith,' added Ebright, who testified on the pandemic's origins before the Senate last year. 'National security should not be politicized,' added Atlantic Council fellow Alex Plitsas. 'If nominees are unqualified or not confirmable for valid reasons then they should be acted upon accordingly to ensure another qualified nominee is sent forward to the Senate for consideration as soon as possible to prevent critical vacancies. Otherwise, holding qualified nominees indefinitely for other reasons is detrimental to our national security.' 7 'It is even more dismaying that Adrienne Keen, who actively participated in defrauding the public and policy makers about the origin of COVID, remains at the CDC,' said Richard Ebright, a Rutgers University molecular biologist. A political appointee tracking website shows the pace of confirmations is roughly the same as under Biden and during Trump's first term — but far beneath that set by former Presidents Barack Obama and George W. Bush. Advertisement Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) and Republicans have considered adopting new procedural rules to quicken the process — including eliminating the cloture vote, shortening debate time for nominees down to two hours or voting on groups of nominations at once. 'Going back multiple administrations, both Democrats and Republicans, as recently as Bill Clinton, 98% of all the noms considered were handled either by voice [vote] or UC [unanimous consent] and it's just deteriorated over time to where Trump's, you know, we're at zero here,' Thune told The Post in an exclusive interview last week. 'It's got to be fixed,' he said. 'It certainly hamstrings, I think, the functioning of our government in a way that's really detrimental to the country.' Senate committees noted that the pace of their confirmations is ahead of where it was during the previous two presidential terms, without directly commenting on any of the stalled nominees. Advertisement 7 Democrats have been blocking final Senate approval, with Sen. Brian Schatz of Hawaii initially placing a hold on more than 300 Trump nominees. CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images 'As of July 30th,' a Senate Foreign Relations Committee spokeswoman said the panel, 'had passed 54 nominees, where the Biden Administration had only passed 18 at this point in the admin, and Trump 1.0 Administration had passed 24.' Of the 33 civilian leadership nominees advanced out of the Senate Armed Services Committee, at least 22 been confirmed, a spokesman for the panel added. The State Department, Pentagon, Department of Health and Human Services, and Republican National Committee did not immediately respond to requests for comment, nor did spokespeople for Thune, Schumer or Schatz.
New York Times
17 minutes ago
- New York Times
Why Did God Favor France?
Scott Alexander, the noted rationalist blogger, has a feature where guest writers pen book reviews and essays for his site, and this week an anonymous writer reviewed the historical literature on Joan of Arc. The results resemble past encounters between skeptical authors (Mark Twain is a notable example) and the historical record around the Maid of Orleans: Her story is one of the most extensively documented cases of a miraculous-seeming intervention into secular history, calculated to baffle, fascinate and even charm like almost nothing else in Western history. Everything in the story sounds like a pious legend confabulated centuries after the fact. A peasant girl with zero political or military experience shows up at a royal court, announces a divine mission and makes a series of prophecies about what God wants for France that she consistently fulfills — a fulfillment that requires not merely some fortunate happenstance, but her taking command of a medieval army and winning an immediate series of victories over an intimidating adversary with Alexandrine or Napoleonic skill. Then after the mission is accomplished (with some miracles thrown in), some of the prophetic and military capacity seems to be withdrawn and she is captured and dies a martyr's death — but not before undergoing a religious trial with a bravura performance that likewise looks like the invention of a theologically trained novelist. And through it all she appears to be extraordinarily lovable, displaying piety and kindliness without any of the fanaticism or delusions of personal grandeur that normally shadow people who think they're supposed to take up arms on God's behalf. The review essay considers some of the more persuasive non-supernatural explanations for all these strange events. But the reviewer's strongest reaction is an understandable one, I think, for any reader who approaches the evidence with an open mind: I talk about 'God stretching down His hand to alter history,' and I'm really not sure I believe it happened, but Joan feels like a giant middle finger to all the people who talk about history being deterministic. Sometimes you get a Great Woman and then history does something really weird. I also kind of feel called out by God. 'So, you say you're a rationalist? You're dismissing all the historical evidence for miracles as insufficient? You won't consider the evidence for Jesus Christ persuasive due to a mere two eyewitness and five contemporary reports? You won't believe in anything without evidence more than sufficient to convince a court? Okay, have 115 witnesses to miracles that nobody could avoid recording because they altered the course of European history. Now, what were you saying about how you're not a Christian because you're a rationalist?' But if Joan challenges skeptics to explain how a career like hers could be possible without supernatural aid, she also challenges Christians and her other religiously inclined fans to explain why, exactly, God sent her to save France. Indeed, the best skeptic's argument probably rests there: not in trying to deny the miraculous-seeming record, but in challenging the believer to explain why God wanted or needed these specific events to happen. Assume, for the sake of argument, that some version of the Catholic theory of miracles is correct. In that case history seems to yield three broad categories of supernatural happenings. First, the 'big miracles' of the Old and New Testaments, associated with major events in the history of God's plan for humanity, from the crossing of the Red Sea to the Resurrection. Second, the signs and wonders associated with the special holiness of specific saints — healings, visions, stigmata, the remarkably well-documented Reformation-era levitations discussed in Carlos Eire's recent book, 'They Flew: A History of the Impossible.' Finally, the miracles and signs and supernatural encounters that happen on a personal level, to ordinary people, as answers to their prayers rather than as manifestations of their sanctity. The story of Joan of Arc doesn't fit neatly into any of these categories. The strange events of her life are clearly more than just a personal sign of God's presence, since all of France is implicated in the drama. They're also clearly more than just a manifestation of her holiness, since the effect isn't just to convert people in her orbit to a deeper Christian faith; it's also to change the outcome of a major war. But was that military outcome, then, somehow a major event in God's unfolding plan? One analogue to Joan's career might be the stories in the Old Testament where God takes an active part in Israel's military conflicts; another might be Constantine's vision at the Battle of the Milvian Bridge that supposedly inspired his conversion to Christianity. But in those cases the alleged divine help was being supplied for an obvious spiritual purpose — the survival of God's chosen people, the conversion of the Roman Empire to Christianity. Whereas in Joan's case, the divine help turned the tide in a war where both sides were Christian and Roman Catholic, and where the resolution had no major religious consequences. It was a dynastic triumph for the French kings and a national triumph for their people, but it's not obvious how it was a spiritual one. So why did God raise up a saint to save the French from defeat? No theory seems all that satisfying, but let's consider a few candidates. Because God showed mercy on the French people. A hundred years of war is a lot of war. Undoubtedly a lot of people were praying for relief, and maybe Joan was just the divinely anointed answer to their prayer. Why didn't God send a similar figure to expedite the Thirty Years' War or World War I or any other mass-casualty disaster in human history? Well, maybe he did send saints in some of those cases and people didn't listen to them. (Joan's miraculous career did require a lot of political cooperation.) Or maybe it's just the usual divine inscrutability: Just as most sick people who pray for help don't receive miraculous healing but some people do, most wars don't end by divine fiat but once in a while (once in 2,000 years?) God puts an obvious finger on the scale. Because God wanted to teach Christians what a just war looks like. There is no Joan of Arc figure in Christendom's wars of conquest, no miraculous figure who made the difference in the First Crusade or the Spanish Reconquista or the conquest of the Americas. (The story of Our Lady of Guadalupe involves the divine manifesting itself to the conquered, not to the conquistadores.) Instead, a martial and miraculous saint shows up only in a situation where she's ending a foreign occupation and vindicating a beleaguered nation against an invader. So the fact that she does appear, armed and militant, suggests that maybe God was teaching a lesson in just war theory — giving the faithful a clear example of a saint-soldier to prove the pacifists wrong, while making sure that her example can be legitimately invoked only in wars waged in self-defense. Because the Reformation was coming and it was necessary that France remain Catholic. In the timeline where Joan doesn't appear and the Hundred Years' War ends with England retaining a strong hold on France, maybe the English Reformation still happens, France as well as England flips to Protestantism, and suddenly you have a Protestant Anglo-French bloc with command of the seas and soon the world. In which case you could suggest that Joan was necessary either because of specific divine protection for Catholicism or, more subtly, because it was important that neither Catholicism nor Protestantism win a final victory in the 17th century, given each side's un-Christian crimes against the other. Because modernity was coming and it was necessary that France and England exist as rivals and competing poles. This is essentially an extension of the last argument, in which an Anglo-French balance of power, a persistent dualism between London and Paris, is essential not just to balance Protestants and Catholics but also for the healthy development of the entire modern world. How? Well, maybe by preventing not just one but a whole series of undesirable outcomes: the total victory of one side in the Reformation, the total victory of just one version of the Enlightenment, the total victory of 20th century totalitarianism, even the total victory of the American empire or the total victory of the European Union — who can say? And since the French part of that story isn't finished yet, the last possibility remains open as well: Because God loves the French in a special way, and they have a cosmic destiny that still waits to be fulfilled. C'est certainement possible! Breviary Matthew Milliner on Jungians and Christians. Robert Bellafiore on capitalism and its undertakers. Nina Power on the religion of William Blake. Adam Ozimek reviews a century of American automaking. U.S.A.I.D.'s former chief economist on fixing foreign aid. Ingrid Rowland on the painter of the serene republic.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
SOAP LAKE MAYOR: Karen Woodhouse
Aug. 5—SOAP LAKE — As Soap Lake prepares for its mayoral election in November, City Council Member Karen Woodhouse has officially announced her write-in candidacy. With a history of dedicated civic service and a passion for local advocacy, Woodhouse said, she presents herself as a reliable candidate knowledgeable about the issues facing her community. Currently serving as the mayor pro tempore and a member of the Soap Lake City Council, Woodhouse said she is an active member of the community. She is the owner of Recollections, a local business focused on the unique culture and history of Soap Lake. Her business is part of Washington State's Creative Districts. In addition to her business ventures, she holds leadership positions as the president of both the Soap Lake Chamber of Commerce and the Soap Lake Garden Club. In her announcement, Woodhouse emphasized her connection to the town and her dedication to its future. "I love this town and the people in it," she said. "As mayor, I'll bring steady leadership that listens, collaborates, and stays focused on what matters most to our residents." Woodhouse's campaign is built around three primary priorities: economic renewal, infrastructure and beautification and transparent and accountable leadership. She said she aims to support small businesses, expand responsible tourism, and create jobs that benefit year-round residents. Recognizing the importance of local businesses to the community's character and economy, she plans to work closely with stakeholders to ensure a sustainable economic environment. "Getting businesses, attracting new businesses that can be year-round and that can make money year-round — not just depending on tourism — is crucial," Woodhouse said. She has identified the need for a full-time city administrator and wants to revamp the planning department to include a dedicated code enforcement officer and building inspector. In addition to economic initiatives, Woodhouse is focused on infrastructure improvements. She said she seeks to invest in roads, parks and civic spaces to enhance the quality of life for both residents and visitors. She said her vision aligns with her belief that Soap Lake's future depends on making the town an attractive and functional environment for families and future generations. Woodhouse said she also prioritizes democratizing local governance by promising transparent and accountable leadership. "I think it should be based on the others who have been elected, so that we can come up with a consensus to do the best for the city," she said, specifying her commitment to listening to the City Council and the public before making major decisions. She said she hopes to facilitate town halls and open council meetings where residents' voices can be heard. Having invested deeply in the Soap Lake community, Woodhouse said, she is a dedicated public servant. Married with four adult children, eight grandchildren and four great-grandchildren, she said her role as a family-oriented leader who values fairness and community engagement. "I'm a good listener, and I'm fair," she said, explaining her approach to leadership. Despite her relatively limited background in politics, with four years of experience on the city council, Woodhouse said she is undeterred by the challenges of the role. "It's been challenging because there have been five different mayors during my time on the council. But we have good people who care about Soap Lake," she said. Woodhouse's name will not appear on the printed ballot. Voters must write in "Karen Woodhouse" in the designated space for mayor. As a write-in candidate, she said, she recognizes the challenges but remains determined to ensure her campaign resonates with the residents. "The people who know me know that I'm a pretty fair-minded, even-keeled person, and I can work with both sides of the fence," she said. As a write-in candidate, Woodhouse's name will not appear on the November ballot. Those who wish to choose her must write "Karen Woodhouse" in the designated space for mayor on their ballots for Soap Lake. Solve the daily Crossword
