海角大神

The humanitarian crisis in Gaza worsened. Sunday was the deadliest day yet for Palestinians seeking aid, according to the Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry, which said at least 85 were killed. Israel鈥檚 military accused Hamas militants of creating chaos and said the numbers reported by Gaza officials were far higher than its initial investigation found. The toll comes as Israel鈥檚 military issued evacuation orders for parts of central Gaza, where many international organizations trying to distribute aid are located. 鈥� The Associated Press
Our coverage: In Gaza, anti-Hamas gangs seen as imperiling food aid and public order.

Crypto scored a big win in Washington. As we previewed聽Friday, President Donald Trump signed the GENIUS Act into law later that day, promising a U.S.-led 鈥済lobal digital currency revolution.鈥� AI and crypto czar David Sacks said that by creating rules of the road for stablecoins, which are backed by currencies, the law would create digital dollars that could extend U.S. dollar dominance. The act is Congress鈥� first major crypto legislation after years of work, passing with bipartisan support in both chambers. 鈥� Staff

The Syrian government began evacuating Bedouin families from Sweida. Over a week of fighting between Druze militias and Bedouin fighters has killed hundreds and displaced over 128,000 people, according to the U.N. On Sunday, Bedouin fighters withdrew, and both the Red Crescent and Israel delivered aid. Efforts for a ceasefire and reconciliation are ongoing. 鈥� AP

The 鈥淛apanese First鈥� party gained ground. As Japan鈥檚 ruling coalition lost control of the upper house in elections on Sunday, the far-right Sanseito party emerged as one of the biggest winners, adding 14 seats to one elected previously. It gained support with warnings about immigration and pledges for tax cuts and welfare spending. Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba says he will remain in office despite the major election defeat. 鈥� Reuters, AP

Newly declassified docs shed light on Russia and Trump.聽Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard released聽聽on Friday detailing the intelligence community鈥檚 assessments on Russian election interference in 2016. She alleged a 鈥渢reasonous conspiracy鈥� against Donald Trump, accusing the Obama administration of manufacturing and politicizing intelligence following a Dec. 9, 2016, meeting between the president and top intelligence officials. Critics say she conflated Russian cyber manipulation of votes, which the intelligence community indeed assessed as unlikely, with emerging evidence of Moscow鈥檚 influence operations, later documented in the Mueller report. 鈥� Staff

Rats patrol the frontlines of peace.聽African giant pouched rats have become indispensable in helping specialists detect land mines that have killed and maimed thousands in Cambodia. When they get a whiff of TNT, they stop and scratch the ground. Cambodia, which has 760 square miles of known landmine fields, hopes to be landmine free by 2030. 鈥� AP

South Sudanese artisans make footwear from old tires. As his country faces economic crisis, shoemaker Emmanuel Achuil says demand for the rubber sandals has surged. Once serving a few customers every month, he now sells up to 20 pairs, priced around $4. 鈥淓ven when things get bad 鈥� no food, no jobs 鈥� this work doesn鈥檛 fail me,鈥� said Mr. Achuil, who hopes to expand his business and train others. 鈥� AP

The Supreme Court reached the end of June having issued almost twice as many emergency orders as it did more conventional 鈥渕erits鈥� opinions. Some observers see this as evidence that the court is at an historic inflection point. 鈥淲e are seeing the court trying to adapt its procedures to keep up with the 21st century,鈥� says William Baude, a professor at the University of Chicago Law School. Is the 鈥渆mergency era鈥� an anomaly, or the start of a new normal?

President Donald Trump started his second presidency with a burst of executive actions on issues core to his electoral success. Six months into his term, dissatisfaction on the economy and immigration have increased by 14 and 11 percentage points, respectively. Democrats鈥� confidence in the economy has cratered while Republicans鈥� has skyrocketed. Meanwhile, the share of Republicans who say immigration is good for the country has sharply increased over the past year, though support for greater enforcement efforts remains strong. The president鈥檚 overall approval rating has declined 7 percentage points since the start of his term and now stands at 40%,聽. That鈥檚 in line with his first term.

For the first time since Russia鈥檚 full-scale invasion more than three years ago, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has reshuffled his Cabinet. The big news: Yulia Svyrydenko, a young economist with close ties to Western countries, is the new prime minister.

Yet the real message is that Ukraine, which willingly put its elections on hold to fight the war, struggles to remain a responsive democracy. Its elected national leaders have not had to face voters since 2019. Instead, politicians are being judged on how well they listen to citizens and patiently reflect on issues or 鈥� as American founder James Madison put it 鈥� achieve 鈥渢he cool and聽deliberate聽sense of the community.鈥澛�

A Cabinet reshuffle is one tool in a democracy鈥檚 arsenal to refresh legitimacy. Ukrainians have another one that, even without elections, has elevated ideas for governance to the top of the national dialogue.

Soon after Russia began to take its neighbor鈥檚 territory in 2014, the government in Kyiv set up a digital portal for citizens to file a petition to the president with requests for policy reform or relief. If 25,000 people endorse an e-petition, the president is obligated to respond.

The use of this online suggestion box rose quickly after the war started, although few pleas reached the 25,000 threshold. About a third of people find it an efficient way to influence officials. If you read a news story about a 鈥減ublic outcry鈥� against a government proposal in Ukraine, that phrase often means citizens complained via an e-petition.

Last year, for example, when Ms. Svyrydenko was economy minister, she backed off a plan to exempt employees in certain companies from being enlisted in the war effort. She cited a 鈥減ublic outcry.鈥� After a recent petition did reach the threshold for presidential action, Mr. Zelenskyy thanked 鈥渆veryone who joined the use of such a form of interaction between the authorities and society.鈥�

In many ways, Ukraine has developed a collaborative, participatory democracy that helps embolden its people to win the war. In contrast, Russia passed a law July 17 that punishes internet users who merely search for banned content.

President Zelenskyy remains highly popular and trusted, according to polls, while half of Ukrainians say the country is moving toward the development of democracy. A recent report on digital transformation found Ukraine has achieved 鈥渁 culture of openness, transparency, and innovation in the public sector.鈥�

Sometimes neither ballot boxes nor bullets win wars. Rather, it is a spirit of equality, humility, and respect.