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Why the Venezuelan Earthquakes Were So Deadly

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Why the Venezuelan Earthquakes Were So Deadly

Any large earthquake can be dangerous, but the residents of Caracas and Venezuelan coastal cities like La Guaira and Catia La Mar were victims of several unlucky factors.

Two quakes in rapid succession, a fault that ruptured toward more populated areas, soft ground and the shallow depth of the tremors all combined to make the June 24 disaster especially severe, even for areas that were miles away from the epicentre.

Here is what made it so deadly.

The “doublet”

First, and most important: there was not one earthquake but two, separated by just 39 seconds. Seismologists call this a “doublet”.

The first was smaller, measuring 7.2 in magnitude; the second was much more powerful, measuring 7.5.

The doublet meant that buildings had to withstand chaotic shaking for far longer than they would have in an ordinary earthquake.

“Almost certainly, what happened was that the first earthquake triggered the second one,” said David Oglesby, a professor of geophysics at the University of California, Riverside.

The earthquakes left over 2,200 people dead, according to the Venezuelan government. Over 400 buildings were destroyed, and hundreds more were damaged.

The direction

Seismic waves from the first quake radiated outward in all directions. But it was the waves travelling east that eventually reached a point on the San Sebastián fault that was ready to slip. That set off the second earthquake. The rupture continued east — more than 100 miles toward Caracas, the capital.

“There were two directions this fault could have gone,” said William Barnhart, a geophysicist in the earthquake hazards program of the United States Geological Survey. “It could have gone to the west or the east toward Caracas. They would have been lucky if it had gone the other direction.”

The initial rupture occurred on what is known as the Boconó fault, part of the system that produced a tremendous earthquake in the 19th century, Dr Barnhart said.

Satellite imagery shows that the second quake then travelled east along a well-known seam between two of Earth’s tectonic plates — the San Sebastián fault.

“We know that the fault extended as far as Caracas,” said Dr Barnhart, “and that starts to explain, in part, why there’s so much shaking there.”

The ground shift

Scientists compared satellite imagery from before and after the quake to measure how much the ground shifted. In coastal regions such as La Guaira — where the fault runs only a couple of miles offshore or directly beneath the city — the ground shifted as much as 1.5 feet to the west.

The San Sebastián is a strike-slip fault, meaning that the Earth moves primarily horizontally along it. During the quake, regions north of the fault slipped east, while those south of it shifted west.

In areas built directly on top of the fault, satellite analysis makes the displacement clear.

For example, the northern half of Simón Bolívar International Airport was displaced to the east, with the southern half being pushed in the opposite direction. The San Sebastián fault runs along the seam between the two directions of displacement.

Although cracks in the airport ground were visible in post-quake imagery, satellite analysis indicates that the fault did not reach the surface of the earth in that region, Dr Barnhart said. Had it done so, the contrast between the two directions of displacement would have been even starker, he said.

The “directivity” effect

Another factor may have increased the strength of the shaking to the east of the rupture, Dr Oglesby said.

As the rupture moved east, it may have pushed up the amplitude, or strength, of seismic waves, piling them up like waves in front of a boat or sound ahead of a speeding motorcycle. The effect, known as “directivity”, probably amplified the strength of the shaking toward Caracas, though more data is needed to confirm it.

“Directivity very likely contributed to the strong ground motion in Caracas and the area overall,” Dr Oglesby said. “It could make the difference between a building standing, with damage, and completely collapsing.”

“As shallow as it gets.”

The depth of the quakes, or more precisely the lack of it, may also have compounded the destruction.

The quakes began only around six miles below ground, so the shaking was especially strong on the surface. “That’s almost as shallow as it gets,” Vitor Silva, head of risk engineering for the Global Earthquake Model Foundation, said.

As with a bomb going off underground, an explosion that is shallower produces greater shaking at the surface, Dr Silva said. “There is a very short distance between areas where energy is being released and the built environment,” he said.

Built-up areas in the region, as in many parts of the world, also tend to sit on relatively flat ground, which is often soft, sedimentary material that can amplify seismic waves.

As the second rupture moved east, it travelled about 110 miles toward populated areas like Caraballeda, La Guaira and Caracas, sending seismic waves radiating outward along its path – explaining why the strong shaking extended so far away from the epicentre.

Low-lying areas along the coast experienced the worst damage.

Source: Microsoft (damaged buildings). The New York Times

The soft soil

Yet another process that seismologists study is how the shaking, or seismic waves, make their way to the surface. In the simplest terms, a solid-rock surface tends to damp down the waves, and a softer, sedimentary surface amplifies them.

Humans tend to build on flat, sedimentary areas — former lakebeds and sea bottoms — that do not behave well during earthquakes. It is no different in Venezuela.

The exact frequencies, or wavelengths, that are amplified by the sediment depend on the details, such as its thickness or exact composition. If those amplified waves match the natural swaying frequency of a nearby building, they resonate. This can cause the building to shake far more violently, leading to more damage.

Earthquake engineers must account for all these factors when designing buildings to withstand what may rush from the ground below.

In Caraballeda, satellite analysis indicates that at least 152 buildings were destroyed, with dozens more damaged. Most of these buildings lined the low-lying coastline and stood on regions of unconsolidated soil that can amplify shaking.

Sources: Copernicus (destroyed buildings); Microsoft (damaged buildings). The New York Times

Several high-rise buildings in the area, built along the coast, collapsed.

Near the Playa Grande neighbourhood, at least 246 buildings were destroyed and nearly all of them were built on top of the same soft soil. The San Sebastián fault runs directly underneath this region.

Sources: Copernicus (destroyed buildings); Microsoft (damaged buildings). The New York Times

Other factors

Engineers say Venezuela’s seismic codes are some of the best in Latin America. The question is whether they were followed.

From the scale of destruction, it appeared that some and perhaps many buildings had not been built to code, though experts said a full accounting would have to wait until the search for survivors had ended.

Far more study will be required to understand why and how so many buildings fell apart in Venezuela. Some collapses may have been the result of so-called soft stories, where a single floor — often the ground floor — is not as strong or as well designed as the others in the same building.

Adriana Loureiro Fernandez for The New York Times

In other cases, columns seem to have given way throughout entire buildings, suggesting that they lacked proper reinforcements or that contractors skimped on the amount of steel.

Older buildings may have folded and fallen simply because they predated Venezuela’s more recent code upgrades.

There are also buildings that are a total loss — walls and contents spilling onto the ground — but still stand. That allowed residents to escape. Outcomes like that would, presumably, be consistent with codes that prioritise human survival over structural preservation.

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Collapsed buildings at La Guaira, June 29, 2026. Adriana Loureiro Fernandez for The New York Times



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Thousands lose Medicare drug plans for missed premium payments:

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Thousands lose Medicare drug plans for missed premium payments:

Thousands of Medicare beneficiaries lost their drug coverage after their premiums increased, and they were unaware of this change.

Jude Pare and his partner, Diane Tix, live in rural Minnesota until temperatures dip below freezing, when they take refuge in Arizona for the winter. While away, their mail is forwarded. But Pare, 77, said he didn’t receive any warning from his Medicare prescription drug plan that his $0 monthly premium was about to increase.

So he did not know he was billed for payment. After he and Tix returned home to Minnesota in April, they received a letter from Wellcare, the insurer that provided his drug plan, stating that his coverage had been terminated after three months of unpaid premiums totalling $28.80. Under Medicare’s rules, he can’t enrol in a plan again until the fall, with coverage starting in 2027.

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Pare takes Xarelto, a blood thinner that reduces his risk of strokes, blood clots, and pulmonary embolism. “He could bleed to death without it,” Tix said. A 90-day supply of the drug costs about $1,800 using a coupon from GoodRx, a discount drug website, she said.

Pare is among tens of thousands of Medicare beneficiaries on Wellcare’s Value Script drug plan who will likely go without prescription drug coverage for the rest of the year because they did not pay premiums for three months.

Next year, thousands more people in 32 states and Washington, D.C., who are enrolled in zero-premium drug plans from Wellcare and other insurance companies may find themselves in the same situation if their premiums go up and they don’t realise it, according to a KFF Health News analysis of drug plan data. In September, Wellcare will unveil the premiums and other changes for 2027.

Caught off guard

Going without medication can be life-threatening, especially for Medicare beneficiaries. Nearly 90% take one or more prescription drugs, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Almost half live with four or more chronic health conditions that can cause functional or cognitive impairments.

By the time Jude Pare and his partner, Diane Tix, found out he owed $28.80 for three months of drug plan premiums, his coverage had been canceled. He is among tens of thousands of Medicare beneficiaries who will likely go without prescription drug coverage for the rest of the year after their drug plans were canceled.

By the time Jude Pare and his partner, Diane Tix, found out he owed $28.80 for three months of drug plan premiums, his coverage had been cancelled. He is among tens of thousands of Medicare beneficiaries who will likely go without prescription drug coverage for the rest of the year after their drug plans were cancelled.

Congress added prescription drug coverage to Medicare in 2003. But the coverage is administered by commercial insurance companies, which compete fiercely with one another for the business of about 56 million Medicare beneficiaries enrolled in drug plans.

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Zero-dollar or very low monthly premiums have helped make Wellcare’s Value Script the bestselling stand-alone prescription drug plan in Medicare, with nearly 6 million customers across the U.S., according to government data. But in 26 states and Washington, D.C., some Value Script members who didn’t have to pay a premium last year were surprised by increases in 2026.

After a two-month grace period — which Wellcare extended to three — Medicare drug plans can drop customers who don’t pay their premiums, no matter how small the amount. Some members who lost their coverage in Nevada, for example, owed as little as $8.10 for three months, according to a KFF Health News analysis of Medicare drug plan data.

Wellcare terminated coverage for about 140,000 Value Script beneficiaries in April, according to a person with knowledge of the matter who was not authorised to speak publicly about it and feared reprisals at work for doing so. About 40,000 of the people who were dropped may be able to enrol in new coverage immediately because they have low incomes and receive financial assistance through a programme that Medicare calls “Extra Help.”

Multiple state officials said they had heard the same disenrollment figures, including Nevada’s insurance commissioner, Ned Gaines, who chairs the National Association of Insurance Commissioners’ senior issues task force; Rebecca Gouty, director of the State Health Insurance Assistance Program in West Virginia; and Tim Smolen, director of Washington State’s Statewide Health Insurance Benefits Advisors.

The West Virginia and Washington initiatives are part of the federally funded State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP), which provides free, unbiased help navigating Medicare.

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Surprise bills

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, which oversees Medicare drug plans, declined to provide the number of ValueScript members who lost coverage due to unpaid premiums. “The agency does not publicly provide plan-specific disenrollment figures or state-level breakdowns related to the non-payment of premiums,” Christopher Krepich, a spokesperson, said in a written statement to KFF Health News.

Centene Corp., WellCare’s parent company, also declined to provide disenrollment numbers.

“We recognise how disruptive a loss of coverage can be and are committed to helping members understand their options,” said Sarah Baiocchi, senior vice president for speciality and prescription drug plans at Centene. She acknowledged that “some members in our Value Script plan experienced a premium for the first time, or for the first time in several years.”

Baiocchi said all Value Script members received a CMS-required annual notice of changes in September, before the premium increases took effect.

A version of the booklet sent to members in two states and Washington, D.C., is 21 pages long. The new premium is mentioned on pages 3 and 8, along with changes to out-of-pocket costs and how to find updates on covered drugs and network pharmacies.

Wayne Bennett lost his Medicare drug coverage because he didn’t pay the premium, which was free last year but — without his knowing — went up this year. “Medicare should be doing something about this so that we can go ahead and get coverage now,” he says.

Wayne Bennett lost his Medicare drug coverage because he didn’t pay the premium, which was free last year but, without his knowing, went up this year. “Medicare should be doing something about this issue so that we can go ahead and get coverage now,” he says.

The company also informed members about 2026 premium changes through phone calls, text messages, regular mail, or email, Baiocchi said.

People who are dropped cannot re-enrol or join another drug plan until the start of the open enrolment period this fall for coverage beginning Jan. 1, unless they qualify for an exception, Krepich said.

And because they will have gone without coverage for at least 63 days, they could be hit with a permanent late-enrolment penalty that increases every year for the rest of their lives.

“Medicare should be doing something about the situation so that we can go ahead and get coverage now,” said Wayne Bennett, 74, who lives in Durham, North Carolina.

In May, he found out that Wellcare had cancelled his Value Script plan because he hadn’t paid his $3.60 monthly premiums. He takes nine prescription drugs to treat his blood pressure, glaucoma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and other health problems. He filled most of his prescriptions, including several at no cost, before he lost coverage. He doesn’t know what he’ll have to pay when his supply runs out.

Gouty, the West Virginia programme head, said many Medicare beneficiaries arrange for their monthly drug plan premium to be automatically deducted from their Social Security benefits and that many likely thought that choice remained in place until they changed it.

“They didn’t realise that when the plan had a zero premium in 2025, it stopped the Social Security premium deduction and they would have had to reelect it for 2026,” Gouty said.

In other words, even if they mistakenly thought the premium was still zero, Medicare beneficiaries would have needed to somehow allow Social Security to make deductions — something the agency doesn’t do — or else set up a payment plan through their bank or credit card in case payment was necessary.

“That sounds goofy,” Tix said.

Centene’s Baiocchi blamed the Social Security Administration for the problem: “We believe this issue was a key driver of non-payment disenrollments and subsequent complaints.”

Spokespeople for the agency referred questions about the matter to CMS.

Krepich said that legal requirements for drug plan enrolment and disenrollment limit what CMS can do to help beneficiaries who lose coverage because they do not pay their premiums.

“Pretty upset”

Now that Pare has no prescription drug coverage, his doctor replaced his blood thinner medication with a much less expensive drug that should be just as effective. Pare paid $111 for four other medications that used to be free under his Value Script plan. He hasn’t had to refill four more prescriptions yet and doesn’t know what they will cost, Tix said.

If Wellcare members knew about the premium increases, they could have set up direct billing or an automatic payment plan early this year before the payment grace period ended April 1. But they could have filled prescriptions during the grace period, so if they missed Wellcare’s notices, they likely assumed their coverage was fine.

Bennett, the North Carolina man, said Wellcare used to send him text messages with health tips and reminders when it was time to pick up a prescription. He didn’t know his premium had increased from $0 to $3.60 until it was too late.

“I was pretty upset,” he said when he called the company. “The premium wasn’t that much, and I was ready to pay it right off the bat. I had my credit card out ready to make the payment.”

The customer service representative wouldn’t let him pay because his coverage had been cancelled, Bennett said.

Hoping to restore it, Bennett called Senior PharmAssist, a Durham nonprofit that advises Medicare beneficiaries and is one of more than 2,200 SHIP sites across the country. He was told he must wait until January to restart his drug coverage, said the group’s executive director, Gina Upchurch.

He doesn’t qualify for the “Extra Help” low-income subsidy or meet other CMS criteria for a special enrolment period, which would allow him to change drug plans during the year. CMS typically allows midyear switches for beneficiaries who, for example, move out of their plan’s service area, experience a natural disaster, or receive help paying for drugs through a state programme.

Senior PharmAssist was able to help one of its participants join another drug plan after she lost Value Script coverage because she is in North Carolina’s pharmacy assistance programme for people with HIV/AIDS and has limited income, Upchurch said.

A further exception allows any Medicare beneficiary to enrol at any time in a drug plan that has earned five stars, the top grade in Medicare’s performance ratings. However, there are no five-star Medicare drug plans available to the general public. Only two insurers offer five-star plans, and only for retirees from certain employers. Their combined enrolment is about 8,700 as of June 1, according to the insurers.

But Upchurch, with more than two decades of Medicare expertise, understands why beneficiaries might not pay attention or assume Wellcare’s messages were bogus. Older adults are particularly vulnerable to identity theft and other scams and are often advised to ignore junk mail and calls from telemarketers.

Since Value Script members such as Bennett continued to get their prescriptions filled during the payment grace period, “Why wouldn’t they think the process was a scam?” Upchurch asked. “They are constantly bombarded by people selling them something that’s illegitimate or trying to scam them.”



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Rutte says NATO allies are on track to match US defence spending.

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the alliance’s secretary-general, Mark Rutte,



On the eve of the NATO summit in Ankara, the alliance’s secretary-general, Mark Rutte, said European members and Canada are on track to bring their defence spending into line with that of the United States, which has long criticised Europe’s lack of military spending and perceived “free riding”.

Speaking in the Turkish capital just ahead of the two-day NATO gathering on July 7-8, Rutte also said the alliance “must continue to ensure Ukraine gets what it needs” after another devastating Russian attack in and around Kyiv on July 6, which killed at least 21 people.

The Ankara summit is meant to take stock of how the 32 allies are doing in terms of meeting the target, set in the Hague last year, of spending 5 per cent of GDP on defence by 2035.

With some countries barely reaching the previous goal of 2 per cent this year, the United States has pushed European countries to show credible plans on how they can reach the goal within a decade.

‘One-Sided Path’

Just last week, US President Donald Trump, who has long been sceptical of the alliance, questioned NATO again in a social media post, writing that it is “ridiculous for the USA to continue along this one-sided path when the relationship is not reciprocal.”

He also included a graph showing that Washington spends a lot more on its military than any single European ally.

It follows similar criticism voiced by the US Defence Secretary Peter Hegseth when he addressed his NATO counterparts in Brussels last month, accusing some of “free riding” and slamming others for not allowing their air bases to be used by US jets in the American air campaign against Iran earlier this year.

At that meeting, Hegseth also promised a six-month US review of its European troop posture in which he said, “Some countries will fail and others will pass with flying colours”, implying that some of the close to 80,000 US troops stationed in Europe could be withdrawn from lower-spending nations.

Rutte, who has sought to maintain close ties with Trump in an effort to preserve alliance unity, said that European allies and Canada “already are investing around 4 per cent of their GDP in defence and security”, adding that this had generated $258 billion in extra defence investment in the last two years.

This trend, Rutte noted, would mean that the other 31 members were now on “a trajectory to equalise their defence spending with the United States”.

The former Dutch prime minister also praised Trump, saying he was the first US president since Dwight D. Eisenhower in the 1950s to achieve “this equalisation”.

Ukraine Seeking More Air Defenses

Ukraine is also expected to be high on the NATO agenda as the leaders assemble.

After the latest Russian attacks on July 6, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who will attend parts of the summit, urged member states in a social media post to provide Kyiv with more air defences, notably Patriot interceptor missiles.

While calling on allies to step up, Rutte acknowledged there was little the West could do immediately to bolster Ukraine’s air defences.

“From a practical perspective there is a limit on interceptors on NATO territory and that is why we need to produce more,” he said. “We are working from every angle; everyone is involved in this effort.”

With few concrete air defence deliverables coming to Ukraine anytime soon, there is hope that Kyiv might secure some sort of licensing deal in Ankara that would allow for domestic production.

Separately, NATO leaders are also expected to endorse a summit communique that pledges 70 billion euros ($80 billion) for Ukraine in bilateral and institutional support for both this year and next.



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Russia Blasts Kyiv Again,

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Russia Blasts Kyiv Again,

Russia launched a major missile and drone attack on the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv, early on July 6, blasting residential buildings and killing at least 8 people, hours after President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned of an impending Russian strike.

Multiple loud explosions and air raid sirens were heard in the early morning hours in the capital, witnesses said, with cities throughout the country also reporting alerts against incoming projectiles.

“The enemy is hitting with ballistic missiles,” Tymur Tkachenko, head of Kyiv’s military administration, wrote on Telegram. “Please stay in shelters.”

“These are residential buildings. Places where people slept and lived their normal lives,” he added. He later said at least eight people had been killed and 24 injured.

The attack comes two days after US President Donald Trump held separate phone conversations with Zelenskyy and Russia’s Vladimir Putin, pressing Washington’s effort to position itself as the key mediator in a conflict.

The strikes also come just ahead of a NATO summit set for Ankara, where Zelenskyy is scheduled to meet with Trump on the sidelines of the event as he seeks to keep the US engaged in supporting his country in its battle against Russia’s full-scale invasion, launched in February 2022.

Zelenskyy Warns Of Attack

⁠On July 5, ⁠Zelenskiy warned that Ukrainian intelligence indicated Russia was preparing ‌a ⁠new massive strike.

“This behaviour is typical of Putin: Right after America’s Independence Day and before the NATO Summit in Ankara. Russia wants to bring more evil and kill people,” Zelenskyy wrote in a Facebook post.

“Any delay with missiles for our air defense – missiles for Patriots [air defence systems] – means the loss of lives and encourages Russia to continue the war,” he wrote.

Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko wrote on Telegram that a missile struck a residential building in the city’s Podil district.


A woman carries a dog at the site of an apartment building damaged during a Russian missile and drone strike in Kyiv on July 6.

“People are trapped on the seventh to ninth floors,” he wrote, adding that debris had fallen on a second residential building in the ‌same area.

Russia has stepped up its attacks on Ukrainian civilian areas recently as the peace process has stalled, with special emphasis on the capital.

Ukrainian officials said at least 30 people were killed and scores of others wounded in the large-scale attack on Kyiv on July 2, which caused fires and extensive damage to civilian infrastructure and residential buildings across several districts.

The scale of that assault drew swift condemnation from lawmakers in Washington.

Republican Joe Wilson of South Carolina, a long-time backer of US support for Ukraine, called the strikes further proof that the Kremlin is faltering militarily.

“This horrible war crime is yet more evidence that Russia is badly losing its war,” Wilson told RFE/RL. “The USA and its allies should do even more of what it’s doing. The strategy is working. Russia is losing.”

Russia denies that it targets civilian areas despite widespread evidence of such attacks.

Sevastopol Blackout

Meanwhile, Sevastopol, a city of some 500,000 people in Crimea — Ukraine’s Black Sea peninsula that Russia illegally annexed in 2014 — was left without electricity on July 6 after a Ukrainian attack on energy infrastructure, Kremlin-installed officials said.

“As a result of an enemy attack on energy infrastructure outside Sevastopol, our city was temporarily left without power supply,” Mikhail Razvozhayev, the governor appointed by Moscow, wrote on Telegram.

A drone campaign by Ukraine has led to rolling blackouts and widespread fuel shortages as well as soaring black market prices on the peninsula. Kyiv has launched an effort to isolate Crimea, targeting fuel trucks, bridges, and other infrastructure sites, to reverse the illegal annexation.

Russia-installed authorities in Crimea have suspended fuel sales to private individuals and businesses amid a severe fuel shortage, and residents are reporting empty shelves in grocery stores and purchase limits on several basic goods.



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Mixed Feelings Among Iranians As Khamenei’s Body Lies In State

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supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was laid in state in Tehran



The supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was laid in state in Tehran.

The body of Iran’s late supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was laid in state in Tehran on July 3 as authorities began a week of funeral processions for the slain cleric. Reactions among Iranians were mixed over a man whose more than three decades in power were marked by oppression and the death of tens of thousands of Iranians through crackdowns and executions.

Foreign dignitaries began arriving in the capital early in the day ahead of official mourning ceremonies set for July 4 for Khamenei, who was killed at the age of 86 in US and Israeli air strikes on February 28.

It is unclear whether Mojtaba Khamenei — who was appointed to replace his father but has not appeared in public since his parent’s death — will attend the ceremonies.

“This event goes beyond an ordinary funeral procession,” Babak Dorbeiki, a UK-based political analyst, told RFE/RL’s Radio Farda.

“It serves a full political function, a legitimising function, and is meant to reinforce their own propaganda.”

During Ali Khamenei’s rule, the Islamic Republic pursued a policy centred on confrontation with the United States and the West, while also supporting its regional proxy groups. That policy repeatedly heightened tensions with the United States, other Western countries, and some of Iran’s neighbours.

Khamenei’s coffin, along with those of several other family members killed in the attacks, lay on July 3 in the Grand Mosalla prayer grounds built to honour his predecessor, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini.

Amid reports that authorities are pressuring Iranians to take part in the funeral ceremonies, millions are expected to attend services that will be held in the processions as his body moves from Tehran to ⁠Qom, Najaf and Kerbala, the Shi’ite centres in Iran and Iraq.

On July 9, Khamenei’s body will be laid to rest in his native Mashhad, home to the country’s holiest pilgrim shrine.

An Authoritarian Legacy

Khamenei’s rule featured repression, intimidation, arrests, and tight political and social restrictions, which prompted some Iranians to welcome the final chapter in his reign.

One man, whose child died in a state crackdown, told RFE/RL’s Radio Farda that when he heard of the supreme leader’s death, he felt that “justice had prevailed over oppression.”

“It brought comfort to the wounds my heart carried for years. It was as if a light of hope for a future free from fear and repression had been kindled within me,” he said.

Khamenei’s use of force against his people, the jailing of opposition figures within the establishment itself, and fiery resistance to outside influence — particularly that of the United States and Israel — forged his legacy as a harsh and uncompromising authoritarian who led his country into international isolation.

Most recently, security forces launched a brutal crackdown on protests at the start of the year that saw thousands of Iranians killed — some groups claim 35,000 to 40,000 were killed, a figure that cannot be verified — as they demonstrated against falling living standards sparked by government policies.

The level of foreign representation at Khamenei’s funeral is likely to gauge Tehran’s diplomatic standing after the recent war.

Iran’s Foreign Ministry says eight heads of state and government will attend, including Tajik President Emomali Rahmon, Iraqi President Abdul Latif Rashid, Georgian President Mikheil Kavelashvili, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian, and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.

It added that the speakers of parliament from 12 countries would also be attending, while additional countries would be represented by foreign ministers, cabinet ministers, or special envoys.

European countries that officially supported the US and Israeli attacks on Iran were not invited to attend the ceremonies.



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‘Michael Jackson Pulls Further Ahead of ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ as Top-Grossing Music Biopic Worldwide: See the Top 25

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‘Michael Jackson Pulls Further Ahead of ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ as Top-Grossing Music Biopic Worldwide: See the Top 25

The Michael Jackson biopic Michael has pulled further ahead of the Freddie Mercury biopic Bohemian Rhapsody as the top-grossing musician biopic of all time. As of Sunday (July 5), Michael has grossed $978.6 million. Bohemian Rhapsody has grossed $911 million.

Moreover, Michael has topped Oppenheimer to become the highest-grossing biopic of all time.

not just the top-grossing musician biopic. Christopher Nolan’s 2023 biopic of theoretical physicist J. Robert Oppenheimer, who helped develop the first nuclear weapons during World War II, has grossed $975.8 million worldwide.

According to Box Office Mojo figures, international ticket sales account for 62.1% of Michael’s worldwide box office total to date. (The remainder is from the U.S. and Canada.) By way of comparison, international ticket sales accounted for 76.2% of Bohemian Rhapsody’s worldwide box office total.

Jackson has a long history of ranking No. 1 on lists, dating back to The Jackson 5 landing their first No. 1 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 with “I Want You Back” in January 1970.

Jackson and Mercury have much in common. Both rose to fame in groups, The Jackson 5 and Queen, respectively. Both are widely considered two of the greatest showmen of all time. And both died years before their time. Mercury died in 1991 at age 45 of complications from AIDS. Jackson died in 2009 at age 50 of cardiac arrest caused by acute propofol intoxication.

The two superstars crossed paths in the early 1980s, when Jackson attended Queen concerts in Los Angeles. They occasionally met for dinner and even recorded three demo tracks together that went unfinished.

Another common bond: There were successful theatrical productions based on both artists’ music. The Queen musical, We Will Rock You, opened on London’s West End in 2002. MJ: The Musical has been a fixture on Broadway since Dec. 6, 2021.

Also, Graham King, who co-produced Michael with long-time Jackson associates John Branca and John McClain (who died on May 26 at age 71), also co-produced Bohemian Rhapsody and a third music biopic on Billboard’s list of music biopics, Jersey Boys, the story of the Four Seasons.

Here is that list – the highest-grossing biopics of musicians in terms of worldwide box office. We excluded some high-grossing films about real-life music personalities because the subjects are not well-known music stars in their own right. These include The Sound of Music (which tells the story of Maria von Trapp and the Trapp Family Singers); Green Book (which deals with a road trip taken by pianist and composer Don Shirley); Florence Foster Jenkins (about an heiress and hopelessly untalented soprano by that name); and Music of the Heart (about violinist and music educator Roberta Guaspari). Meryl Streep starred in the latter two films.

Here are the 25 biopics of music stars with the highest worldwide grosses.

  • Selena (1997) Worldwide gross: $35.8 millionDirector: Gregory NavaMusic: Dave Grusin Notes: Rising star Jennifer Lopez starred as Tejano music star Selena, who rose from cult status to performing at the Houston Astrodome. The film includes her shocking murder at age 23 at the hands of former fan club president Yolanda Saldívar. The soundtrack reached No. 7 on the Billboard 200.
  • Shine (1996) Worldwide gross: $36 million Director: Scott Hicks Music: David Hirschfelder Notes: Geoffrey Rush won an Oscar for best actor for playing pianist David Helfgott, who suffered a mental breakdown and spent years in institutions. The film was nominated for seven Oscars, including best picture. The soundtrack reached No. 59 on the Billboard 200.
  • Funny Lady (1975) Worldwide gross: $39 million Director: Herbert RossMusic: John Kander, Fred Ebb, Peter Matz Notes: This was the less-celebrated, but still popular, sequel to 1968’s Funny Girl. Barbra Streisand reprised her Oscar-winning role as Fanny Brice and James Caan played showman Billy Rose. The film spawned an Oscar-nominated song, “How Lucky Can You Get?” The film soundtrack reached No. 6 on the Billboard 200.
  • What’s Love Got to Do With It (1993) WHAT'S LOVE GOT TO DO WITH IT Image Credit: D. Stevens / © Buena Vista Pictures / Courtesy Everett Collection Worldwide gross: $39.1 million Director: Brian Gibson Music: Stanley Clarke Notes: Angela Bassett received an Oscar nomination for best actress for playing the indomitable Tina Turner in this biopic. Laurence Fishburne received an Oscar nod for best actor for playing her abusive husband, Ike Turner.
  • The film drew its title from Turner’s biggest hit, which topped the Billboard Hot 100 for three weeks in 1984 and won Grammys for record and song of the year. The film’s soundtrack reached No. 17 on the Billboard 200 and spawned a top 10 hit on the Hot 100, “I Don’t Wanna Fight.”
  • Notorious (2009) Worldwide gross: $44.4 million Director: George Tillman Jr. Music: Danny Elfman Notes: Jamal Woolard starred as Christopher Wallace (a.k.a. The Notorious B.I.G.) in this biopic.
  • After rising to the top of the rap music world, Biggie was shot to death at age 24 in 1997. Angela Bassett, Derek Luke and Anthony Mackie also starred in the film. The soundtrack reached No. 4 on the Billboard 200.
  • Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere (2025) Worldwide gross: $45.2 million Director: Scott Cooper Music: Jeremiah Fraites Notes: Jeremy Allen White, the Primetime Emmy-winning star of The Bear, stars as Bruce Springsteen in this film, which focuses on the period following his commercial breakthrough, The River, where Springsteen felt compelled to make a low-key, acoustic album, Nebraska.
  • The film was written and directed by Scott Cooper and is based on the 2023 book Deliver Me from Nowhere by Warren Zanes, with some elements drawn from Springsteen’s 2016 autobiography Born to Run. The film also stars Jeremy Strong, Paul Walter Hauser, Stephen Graham and Odessa Young.
  • The film received mixed reviews from critics, though the performances of White and Strong received praise. The music was supervised by Fraites, co-founder of The Lumineers and a songwriter for the band. Like The Boss, Fraites was born and raised in New Jersey.
  • Judy (2019) Worldwide gross: $46 million Director: Rupert Goold Music: Gabriel Yared Notes: Renée Zellweger won an Oscar for best actress for playing Judy Garland in this film.
  • The irony: Garland never won a competitive Oscar, despite two nominations, one in the same category in which Zellweger won. Judy wasn’t a standard biopic but a look at the last year of her life, when she arrived in London in the winter of 1968 to perform a series of sold-out concerts.
  • Zellweger was nominated for a Grammy for the soundtrack in the category of best traditional pop vocal album.
  • Funny Girl (1968) Worldwide gross: $52.2 million Director: William Wyler Music: Jule Styne, Bob Merrill Notes: Barbra Streisand won an Oscar for her motion picture debut in which she played Fanny Brice, a top star of the vaudeville era.
  • “My Man” and “I’d Rather Be Blue”, both featured in Funny Girl, were hits for Brice in the 1920s. Streisand won best actress in a tie (still the only one in the history of the category) with Katharine Hepburn, who won for The Lion in Winter.
  • “Hello, gorgeous,” Streisand began her speech, graciously adding, “And I’m very honoured to be in such magnificent company as Katharine Hepburn.” Funny Girl received eight nominations, including best picture and best original song for “Funny Girl.” The film soundtrack reached No. 12 on the Billboard 200 and spent more than two years on the chart.
  • Amadeus (1984) Worldwide gross: $52.3 million Director: Miloš Forman Notes: Tom Hulce received an Oscar nomination for best actor for playing Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart but lost to F. Murray Abraham, who had the showier role as Antonio Salieri and was insanely jealous of Mozart’s talent.
  • The film received 11 Oscar nominations and won eight awards, including best picture and best director for Miloš Forman. Peter Shaffer also won the Oscar for best adapted screenplay for his stage play, which had won five Tony Awards in 1981. The double-disc soundtrack, credited to conductor/arranger Neville Marriner, reached No. 56 on the Billboard 200 and won a Grammy for best classical album.
  •  La Bamba (1987) LA BAMBALA BAMBA Image Credit: © Columbia/courtesy Everett Collection Worldwide gross: $54.2 million Director: Luis Valdez Music: Carlos Santana, Miles Goodman Notes: Lou Diamond Phillips starred as Chicano music star Ritchie Valens, who died at age 17 in the same plane crash that claimed the lives of Buddy Holly and the Big Bopper.
  • The film is titled after a Mexican folk song, which Valens completely transformed with his rock and roll rendition in 1958. Valens’ version reached No. 22 on the Hot 100 in 1959. (It was not his biggest hit.
  • That was “Donna”, which reached No. 2.) The film soundtrack, credited to Los Lobos, topped the Billboard 200 for two weeks in 1987. Los Lobos’ zesty recording of “La Bamba” topped the Hot 100 for three weeks and received Grammy nominations for record and song of the year.
  • All Eyez on Me (2017) Worldwide gross: $55.7 million Director: Benny Boom Music: John Paesano Notes: Demetrius Shipp Jr starred as Tupac Shakur in this film, with Jamal Woolard reprising his role as Christopher “The Notorious B.I.G.”.
  • Wallace from Notorious. Shipp’s father worked on music videos with 2Pac, who was shot dead in 1996 at age 25. The film drew its title from 2Pac’s 1996 double-disc album, his second to top the Billboard 200.
  • Whitney Houston: I Wanna Dance With Somebody (2022) Worldwide gross: $59.8 million Director: Kasi Lemmons Music: Chanda Dancy Notes: Naomi Ackie starred in this film, which arrived 10 years after Houston’s shocking death. Stanley Tucci co-starred as Clive Davis, who signed Houston to Arista Records in 1983 when she was just 19.
  • Davis oversaw her tremendous rise but was unable to prevent her tragic fall. The film is titled after Houston’s 1987 single that topped Billboard’s 2023 list of The 500 Best Pop Songs: Staff List.
  • Coal Miner’s Daughter (1980) Worldwide gross: $67.2 million Director: Michael Apted Music:
  • Owen Bradley Notes: Sissy Spacek won an Oscar for best actress for playing country queen Loretta Lynn.
  • The film received seven Oscar nominations, including best picture. Tommy Lee Jones, Beverly D’Angelo and Levon Helm had supporting roles.
  • Ernest Tubb, Roy Acuff, and Minnie Pearl made cameos as themselves. The film was based on a 1976 biography of Lynn by George Vecsey also titled Coal Miner’s Daughter. Both the book and the film drew their titles from Lynn’s signature hit, which reached No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot Country Singles chart (as it was called then) in December 1970.
  • The soundtrack reached No. 40 on the Billboard 200.
  • Jersey Boys (2014) Worldwide gross: $67.6 million Director: Clint Eastwood Music: Bob Gaudio Notes: Clint Eastwood directed and co-produced this film adaptation of the blockbuster stage musical, which opened on Broadway in 2005.
  • The biopic about The Four Seasons starred John Lloyd Young as Frankie Valli, Erich Bergen as Bob Gaudio, Michael Lomenda as Nick Massi and Vincent Piazza as Tommy DeVito. The film didn’t get nearly as much awards love as the stage musical did.
  • The musical won four Tony Awards, including Best Musical and Best Actor in a Musical for Young. The film didn’t land a single Oscar nod. Valli and Gaudio served as executive producers of the film. The soundtrack reached No. 15 on the Billboard 200.
  • I Can Only Imagine (2018) Worldwide gross: $86.1 millionDirectors: Andrew & Jon Erwin Music: Brent McCorkle Notes: Michael Finley starred as Bart Millard, the lead singer of the contemporary Christian band MercyMe.
  • Millard wrote the title song about his relationship with his father, played by Dennis Quaid. The song reached No. 71 on the Hot 100 and charted for 18 weeks. At the 2018 Dove Awards, the film, which also starred Trace Adkins and Cloris Leachman, won the award for inspirational film of the year. A 2026 sequel, I Can Only Imagine 2, grossed $18.7 million worldwide.
  • La Vie En Rose (2019) Worldwide gross: $87.5 million Director: Olivier Dahan Music: Christopher Gunning Notes: Marion Cotillard won an Oscar for her role as the French singer who recorded the 1947 classic that gave the film its title.
  • The song reached No. 23 on Billboard’s pre-Hot 100 pop chart in 1950. (Piaf also had one Hot 100 entry, “Milord”, in 1961.) The literal translation of “La Vie En Rose” is “Life in Pink”, a figurative reference to rose-coloured glasses.
  • Ray (2004) Worldwide gross: $124 million Director: Taylor Hackford Music: Craig Armstrong Notes: Jamie Foxx won an Oscar for best actor for playing Ray Charles, the genre-bridging musician who lived up to the label “genius”, which was often bestowed on him. The film received six Oscar nominations, including best picture.
  • Taylor Hackford directed and co-produced the film and co-conceived the story. The soundtrack reached No. 9 on the Billboard 200 and won a Grammy for best compilation soundtrack album for motion picture, television or other visual media.
  • A Complete Unknown (2024) Worldwide gross: $140.5 million Director: James Mangold Music: Nick Baxter, executive music producer Notes: Timothée Chalamet stars as Bob Dylan in this biopic, which follows Dylan from January 1961, when he moved from Minnesota to New York City, to his 1965 concert at the Newport Folk Festival, which stirred controversy over the use of electric instruments.
  • James Mangold, who directed the Johnny Cash biopic Walk the Line, also did the honours here. The cast also includes Edward Norton as Pete Seeger, Monica Barbaro as Joan Baez, Boyd Holbrook as Johnny Cash and Scoot McNairy as Woody Guthrie, among others. The title is drawn from a key line in Dylan’s 1965 classic, “Like a Rolling Stone.”
  • Bob Marley: One Love (2024) Worldwide gross: $181 million Director: Reinaldo Marcus Green Music: Kris Bowers Notes: “First he changed music.
  • Then he changed the world” was the tagline for this film, which was directed and co-written by Reinaldo Marcus Green. It was based on the life of reggae legend Bob Marley, from his rise to fame in the mid-1970s up until his death in 1981.
  • The film starred Kingsley Ben-Adir as Marley, with Lashana Lynch as his wife Rita Marley and James Norton as Island Records founder Chris Blackwell.
  • Walk the Line (2005) Worldwide gross: $186.8 million Director: James Mangold Music: T-Bone Burnett Notes: Joaquin Phoenix received an Oscar nomination for best actor for playing country legend Johnny Cash, while Reese Witherspoon won best actress for playing his wife, country star June Carter Cash. The film received five Oscar nominations.
  • The screenplay, written by James Mangold (who also directed the film) and Gill Dennis, was based on two Cash autobiographies—1975’s Man in Black:
  • His Story in His Own Words and 1997’s Cash: The Autobiography. The film took its title from Cash’s 1956 hit, “I Walk the Line.” The soundtrack reached No. 9 on the Billboard 200 and won a Grammy for best compilation soundtrack album for motion picture, television or other visual media.
  • Rocketman (2019) ROCKETMANROCKETMAN Image Credit: David Appleby / © Paramount / Courtesy Everett Collection Worldwide gross: $195.3 million Director: Dexter Fletcher Music: Matthew Margeson Notes: Taron Egerton won raves for his performance as Elton John, with Jamie Bell playing his collaborator, Bernie Taupin.
  • But the actors were passed over for Oscar nods, while the real thing, Elton and Bernie, won Oscars for best original song for “(I’m Gonna) Love Me Again.”
  • The film drew its title from John’s 1972 hit, which reached No. 6 on the Hot 100 – his highest ranking to that point. (Many bigger hits were in his future.) The soundtrack reached No. 50 on the Billboard 200.
  • Straight Outta Compton (2015) Worldwide gross: $201.6 million Director: F. Gary GrayMusic: Joseph Trapanese Notes: Ice Cube was played by his real-life son, O’Shea Jackson Jr, in this N.W.A biopic, which also starred Corey Hawkins as Dr Dre, Jason Mitchell as Eazy-E, Neil Brown Jr as DJ Yella and Aldis Hodge as MC Ren.
  • Paul Giamatti was featured as N.W.A.’s manager Jerry Heller. The members of N.W.A were involved in the film’s production, with Ice Cube and Dr. Dre serving as producers. Eazy-E’s widow, Tomica Woods-Wright, was also a producer, while MC Ren and DJ Yella served as creative consultants.
  • The film drew its title from N.W.A.’s debut album, which reached a new peak on the Billboard 200 (No. 4) following the film’s release.
  • The album had originally peaked at No. 37 in 1989. On Aug. 7, 2015, one week before the film’s release, Dr. Dre released Compton: A Soundtrack by Dr. Dre. Though not an official soundtrack, Dre said the album was “inspired by the movie.” It debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard 200.
  • Elvis (2022): Worldwide gross: $288.7 million Director: Baz Luhrmann Music: Elliott Wheeler Notes: Elvis was Baz Luhrmann’s biopic of Elvis Presley, from his childhood to becoming one of the greatest pop music stars of all time.
  • The film also explored his complex relationship with his manager, Colonel Tom Parker, played by Tom Hanks. In addition to directing the film, Luhrmann co-wrote and co-produced it.
  • This was Luhrmann’s sixth film, following Strictly Ballroom (1992), Romeo + Juliet (1996), Moulin Rouge! (2001), Australia (2008) and The Great Gatsby (2013). The soundtrack, attributed to Elvis Presley and Various Artists, reached No. 26 on the Billboard 200.
  • Bohemian Rhapsody (2018) Worldwide gross: $911 million Director: Brian Singer Music: Queen Notes: Rami Malek won an Oscar for best actor for playing Queen’s charismatic lead singer Freddie Mercury. The film also starred Gwilym Lee as guitarist Brian May, Ben Hardy as drummer Roger Taylor and Joe Mazzello as bassist John Deacon.
  • May and Taylor served as consultants on the film, which focused on the period from the band’s formation in 1970 to their triumphant performance at Live Aid in Wembley Stadium in 1985.
  • The film received five Oscar nominations, including best picture, and won four awards, more than any other film that year.
  • The film drew its title from Queen’s most famous song, which reached No. 9 on the Hot 100 in 1976 and No. 2 in 1992 after being featured in the box-office smash “Wayne’s World.” The Bohemian Rhapsody soundtrack reached No. 2 on the Billboard 200.
  • Michael (2026) Worldwide gross:
  • $978.6 million (to date) Director: Antoine FuquaMusic: Lior Rosner Notes: Michael focuses on a two-decade period, from 1966 to 1988, when Jackson rose from a talented pre-teen in Gary, Indiana, to the biggest pop star on the planet.
  • Jackson is portrayed as a child by Juliano Krue Valdi and as an adult by his nephew Jaafar Jackson (Jermaine Jackson’s son) – both in their film acting debuts.
  • The supporting cast includes Nia Long, Laura Harrier, Miles Teller and two-time Oscar nominee Colman Domingo.
  • The film has received mixed to negative reviews; critics praised Jaafar-Michael Jackson’s performance but found the storytelling to be sanitised. Fuqua directed Denzel Washington to an Oscar in Training Day. Fuqua’s other credits include three instalments of The Equaliser, which also starred Washington.



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The Nationals’ bullpen collapsed again.

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The Nationals’ bullpen collapsed again.



The Nationals pitching staff couldn’t handle the heat.

Washington’s bullpen turned a close game into a blowout by allowing seven runs in the final two innings of Sunday’s 11-5 loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Nationals manager Blake Butera said after the disappointing loss that the District’s ongoing heat wave was at least partially to blame for Sunday’s pitching struggles.

The late slump — combined with a weak start by Nationals pitcher Cade Cavali — created an insurmountable deficit for Washington’s usually high-scoring lineup.

Cavalli allowed six hits and four runs in just 2 1/3 innings of work.

“The heat just got to him,” Butera said after the game, noting Cavalli reported a headache during his outing. “He got pretty dehydrated there, just ran out of gas.”

“I don’t understand why my body reacted the way it did [to the heat,]” Cavali said. “In the second inning, I threw a pitch where I hit one after the other and got a little light. … Just a weird feeling I was having. That’s not an excuse for how I threw the ball.

His relentless pace sank every innings. After a scoreless first, Cavali allowed three runs on singles in the second and a solo home run to lead off the third. Butera pulled his starter after another batter reached the outfield on a ground ball.

But the Nationals rallied after Cavali’s early exit despite a 4-0 deficit. Washington’s relievers pitched five scoreless innings while the offence found its spark.

First baseman Luis Garcia Jr., whom manager Blake Butera called Washington’s “Barry Bonds” before the game, slapped a two-run homer in the bottom of the third to cut Pittsburgh’s four-run lead in half.

It was Garcia’s 19th home run of the season, a new career high for the infielder who debuted in 2020. He has added 16 to his total in the past six weeks.

The Nationals gave the Pirates the lead again an inning later.

when outfielder Dylan Crews scored on second baseman Jorbit Vivas’ groundout from third base.

In the bottom of the fifth, shortstop CJ Abrams took the plate with the bases loaded and no outs. His pop fly made a diving catch by Pirates shortstop Connor Griffin, allowing James Wood to score the tying run from third base.

But Washington’s bullpen, as has been the case all season, couldn’t hold a lead.

Reliever Brad Lord allowed five runners to reach base after starting his outing with four consecutive strikeouts. Each of the five batters faced two strikes before eventually going to the first baseman.

“Maybe it was trying to do too much with two attacks,” Lord said.

Butera again cited the heat — gametime temperatures started at 92 degrees, with Washington’s humidity pushing the heat index into the triple digits — as a possible reason for the Lord’s struggles.

“The weather was tough,” the manager said. “He couldn’t finish hitters off when he was ahead in the count. He started to run out of some gas there in the second inning. The heat was real.”

Griffin took advantage of the bases-loaded opportunity with a two-run single.

The next batter, second baseman Brandon Lowe, cleared the bases with a three-run homer to give Pittsburgh a 9-4 lead.

The Pirates added two more runs in the ninth to seal the win.

Sunday was the latest disappointment in Washington’s ongoing bullpen struggles, a flaw that threatens to tank an upstart Nationals squad aiming for a postseason berth. Washington leads the league with 51 saves on the season. Relievers have converted just 26 of those opportunities.

The Nationals’ bullpen ranks fifth in the majors in ERA and has allowed eight more homers than any other MLB group.

Butera could not offer a solution to the ongoing problem on Sunday.

“Those guys were told to give us multiple innings out of the bullpen,” he said. “It’s difficult to do normally. It’s even harder to do when it’s hot, but these guys fought through.”

The 46-45 Nationals will continue their homestand with a three-game set against the Houston Astros starting Monday night. Washington currently trails the NL East-leading Atlanta Braves by 7 1/2 games. The Nationals are three games behind the St Louis Cardinals for the final wild-card spot.



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Samsung Galaxy A17 5G Smartphone, 128GB,

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Samsung Galaxy A17 5G Smartphone, 128GB,
Samsung Galaxy A17 5G Smartphone, 128GB,

Samsung Galaxy A17 5G Smartphone, 128GB, Large AMOLED, High-Res Camera, Durable Design, Super Fast Charging, Expandable Storage, Circle to Search, 2025, US 1 Yr Manufacturer Warranty, Black


Price: $199.99
(as of Jul 05,2026 04:08:08 UTC – Details)

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Get the features you need at an awesome price and great value with the Galaxy A17 5G. Packed with next-level essentials and AI, A17 5G brings incredible value while keeping you connected to everyday life.
¹Measured diagonally, the screen size is 6.7″ in the full rectangle and 6.5″ accounting for the rounded corners. The actual viewable area is less due to the rounded corners and the camera cutout.
²25W Super Fast Charger is sold separately. Super-fast charging speed depends on battery level and other factors; use only Samsung-approved chargers and cables. Do not use any worn or damaged chargers or cables; an incompatible charger or cable can cause serious injuries or damage to your device.
³MicroSD card sold separately. Existing content occupies a portion of memory.
⁴IP54 rating for water and dust resistance. Water resistance is based on laboratory test conditions for exposure to splashes of fresh water. Not advised for beach or pool use. Dust resistance is based on laboratory test conditions, providing limited protection against dust ingress.
Only compatible with NFC-enabled credit cards from participating banks and qualifying Samsung devices. Check with your bank or issuer to ensure your card is compatible. Visit the Samsung Wallet FAQ for additional information.
⁵6 OS upgrades and 6 years of security updates from the date of global manufacture.
⁶Circle to Search requires an internet connection; results may vary by uniqueness, clarity and framing of the circled image and related factors.
⁷Seamless action across apps is compatible with select apps. Requires Google Gemini account. Results may vary based on input; check responses for accuracy. Google and Gemini are trademarks of Google LLC.
⁸Only compatible with NFC-enabled credit cards from participating banks and qualifying Samsung devices. Check with your bank or issuer to ensure your card is compatible. Visit the Samsung Wallet FAQ for additional information.


YOUR CONTENT, SUPER SMOOTH:

The ultra-clear 6.7″ FHD+ Super AMOLED display of the Galaxy A17 5G helps bring your content to life, whether you’re scrolling through recipes or video chatting with loved ones. ¹


LIVE FAST. CHARGE FASTER:

Focus more on the moment and less on your battery percentage with the Galaxy A17 5G. Super Fast Charging powers up your battery so you can get back to life sooner.²


MEMORIES MADE PICTURE PERFECT:

Capture every angle in stunning clarity, from wide family photos to close-ups of friends, with the triple-lens camera on the Galaxy A17 5G.

NEED MORE STORAGE? WE HAVE YOU COVERED:

With an improved 2TB of expandable storage, the Galaxy A17 5G makes it easy to keep cherished photos, videos and important files readily accessible whenever you need them. ³


BUILT TO LAST:

With an improved IP54 rating, Galaxy A17 5G is even more durable than before.⁴ It’s built to resist splashes and dust and comes with a stronger yet slimmer Gorilla Glass Victus front and glass fibre-reinforced polymer back.


6 OS AND 6 YEARS OF AWESOME SECURITY UPDATES:

Get more value from a phone that’s designed to go the distance, inside and out. The Galaxy A17 5G brings you 6 OSes and 6 years of security updates, keeping your phone protected, efficient and up-to-date for longer. ⁵


AI SIMPLIFIED:

Discover more about the things you see using Circle to Search with Google on the Galaxy A17 5G.⁶ Find a pair of shoes you like online? Simply circle them on your phone to find out the brand and where they’re available. Now that is awesome AI.


AI HELPS WITH THAT:

Organising the next family gathering? With one voice command, AI will search for group game ideas, put them in your calendar and text those you love with all the details – all without having to switch between apps. ⁷


THE WALLET THAT’S MADE FOR YOUR GALAXY:

Say goodbye to bulky wallets and hello to Samsung Wallet on your Galaxy A17 5G. Easily access compatible payment cards and memberships right from your phone. Plus, enjoy the ease of Tap to Pay. ⁸


TAKE AWESOME ENTERTAINMENT ANYWHERE:

Your Galaxy A17 5G comes with Samsung TV Plus, giving you all the entertainment you want at zero cost. Choose from 350+ live TV channels and thousands of movies and shows on demand, all for free.



IDEATECH 15-Pack Vacuum Storage Bags with Electric Pump,

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IDEATECH 15-Pack Vacuum Storage Bags with Electric Pump,
IDEATECH 15-Pack Vacuum Storage Bags with Electric Pump,

IDEATECH 15-Pack Vacuum Storage Bags with Electric Pump, Jumbo Vacuum Seal Bags for Clothing, Bedding & Blanket, Heavy Duty Compression Space Saver with Airtight Seal, Complete Home Storage-5M+5L+5XL


Price: $39.99 - $35.99
(as of Jul 05,2026 19:24:06 UTC – Details)

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Product description

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vacuum seal bags for blankets

extra large vacuum storage bags

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Can these bags be used for long-term storage?

Yes, the airtight sealing design keeps items compressed and organised during seasonal storage, making them suitable for long-term home use.

Will the bags lose air over time?

The reinforced sealing system is designed to maintain compression and reduce the need for frequent repacking during storage.

Can I store comforters and blankets in these bags?

Yes, these wide-opening vacuum bags are designed for bulky items like comforters, duvets, blankets, and winter clothing.

What type of vacuum works with these bags?

The bags are compatible with most standard household vacuum cleaners for fast and effective air removal.

Are they suitable for moving or relocation?

Yes, they help reduce volume and organise items, making packing and moving more efficient.

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【Maximise Closet & Under-Bed Space – Turn Clutter Into Usable Storage】

Running Out of Closet or Under-Bed Space? These vacuum storage bags compress bulky comforters, blankets, and clothing to instantly free up space. Perfect for closet storage, under-bed storage, and small apartments, these bags help you organise more without adding extra storage furniture.


【Long-Term Airtight Seal – No Repacking, No Air Leaks】

Tired of bags expanding after just a few weeks? The upgraded double-zip seal and reinforced valve are designed for long-term storage, helping maintain compression and reduce the need for repeated repacking. Ideal for seasonal storage, bedding storage, and long-term home organisation.

【Protect Clothes from Dust, Moisture & Odours – Keep Items Fresh】

Worried About Clothes Getting Damp or Dusty in Storage? These space-saver bags create a sealed barrier to help protect clothing, blankets, and fabrics. Perfect for under-bed storage, closet organisation, and seasonal clothing storage, these bags keep items clean and ready to use.


【Heavy-Duty Extra-Thick Material – Durable for Repeated Use】

Need Storage Bags That Won’t Tear Over Time? Made from heavy-duty PA+PE material, these reusable vacuum bags resist tearing, stretching, and wear. Built for moving, long-term storage, and frequent home organisation, these bags ensure reliable use again and again.


【Wide Opening Design – Faster Packing for Bulky Bedding】

Struggling to Fit Comforters and Blankets in Bags? The wide opening design allows you to lay items flat for easier loading and better compression. Ideal for comforters, pillows, winter clothing, and faster packing during home organisation or moving.


【Compatible with Standard Vacuum Cleaners – Fast & Powerful Compression】

Want faster and more efficient compression at home? These bags are compatible with electric vacuums, delivering quick and powerful air removal. Perfect for compressing bulky bedding, clothing, and large items during storage or relocation.


【15 Sets in Multiple Sizes – Designed for Moving & Whole-Home Storage

Designed for moving, large households, and full-home organisation, the 15-pack vacuum bag set includes 5 medium (32 × 22 in), 5 large (40 × 28 in), and 5 X-large (48 × 32 in), making it easy to separate bedding, clothing, and bulky items by room or purpose. With more bags available, families can organise entire living spaces efficiently—keeping everything sorted, protected, and easy to manage during moving or storage.


【3 Practical Sizes Included – Pack Smarter by Item Type】

Each size is designed for a specific packing need, so you always use the right bag for the right items: Medium (32 × 22 in): Perfect for everyday clothing, T-shirts, and plush toys. Large (40 × 28 in): Ideal for bedding, blankets, and bulky garments like sweaters or coats. X-Large (48 × 32 in): Best for pillows, comforters, and large, fluffy items like duvets. Sort by size, pack with ease, and keep everything organised without guesswork.

Trump-Zelenskyy Meeting Set For NATO Summit Amid US Push To End Russia’s War

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Trump-Zelenskyy Meeting Set For NATO Summit Amid US Push To End Russia’s War

WASHINGTON — US President Donald Trump will meet Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy on the sidelines of this week’s NATO summit in Ankara, the White House announced on July 5, as Washington seeks to revive stalled diplomacy over Russia’s war while pressing Europe to take greater responsibility for the continent’s defence.

The announcement came a day after Trump held separate telephone conversations with Zelenskyy and Russian President Vladimir Putin, underscoring the administration’s effort to position itself as the key mediator in a conflict that has entered its fifth year with no breakthrough in peace efforts.

Following the call, Zelenskyy said he had briefed Trump on the battlefield situation and that the two leaders agreed to continue discussions during the NATO summit.

“There is a real prospect to put an end to this war, and America’s resolve is decisive,” Zelenskyy wrote on X.

Zelenskyy also warned that intelligence suggests Russia is preparing yet another massive air campaign against Ukraine, following the deadly barrage on the night of July 1–2.

This attack is in the spirit of Putin — right after America’s Independence Day and before the NATO summit in Ankara. Russia wants to add to the evil and kill people,” Zelenskyy said in his video statement on July 5.

The Kremlin said Trump’s roughly 90-minute conversation with Putin included Trump’s reiteration of his readiness to continue mediation efforts, while Putin repeated Moscow’s position that any settlement must take account of Russia’s “fundamental approach” to resolving the conflict.

The calls come as months of US-led diplomacy have failed to narrow the gap between Kyiv and Moscow. Russia continues to insist on control of the occupied parts of Ukraine’s east, while Kyiv has rejected territorial concessions.

White House Says Battlefield Has Largely Stalled

White House Principal Deputy Press Secretary Anna Kelly confirmed that Trump would meet Zelenskyy on July 8.


US President Donald Trump and Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelenskyy meet on the sidelines of NATO summit in The Hague, Netherlands, on June 25, 2025.

During a background briefing, senior US officials said the meeting would build on Trump’s conversations with both Zelenskyy and Putin and reflect the administration’s continuing effort to end the war.

“The battlefield has clearly frozen over the last couple of months, and neither side is making a lot of progress,” one senior US official said.

The official said the continued fighting, including long-range strikes by both Russia and Ukraine, has reinforced Trump’s determination to seek a negotiated settlement.

“There’s tremendous death that’s going on,” the official said, adding that the president feels “a real sense of urgency” to stop the war.

“Both sides have articulated…that President Trump plays a unique role in his ability to try to mediate the situation,” the official added.

Responding to questions about recent Ukrainian advances and drone strikes inside Russia, another senior official maintained that the overall military balance had changed little.

“It’s a lot easier to play defence than it is to play offence,” the official said.

“There are some small areas where Ukraine has made progress; there are some small areas where Russia’s made progress, but the line of contact has been frozen over the last couple of months.”

“What the president supports is ending the war,” the official added.

US Vice President JD Vance speaks during a press briefing at the White House in Washington, D.C., in June, 2026.

US Vice President JD Vance speaks during a press briefing at the White House in Washington, D.C., in June, 2026.

The assessment echoed comments by Vice President JD Vance in an interview for The Sunday Times published on July 5, in which he argued Ukraine has been more effective wearing down Russian forces through defensive operations and long-range drone strikes than through large-scale offensives.

In recent months, Ukraine has intensified attacks on Russian oil facilities, fuel depots, and military infrastructure deep inside Russia, seeking to increase pressure on Moscow even as fighting along much of the front has settled into a war of attrition.

Defense Spending To Dominate NATO Agenda

While Ukraine is expected to feature prominently in Trump’s meetings, administration officials indicated the summit’s central focus will be NATO burden-sharing.

US Ambassador to NATO Matthew Whitaker.

US Ambassador to NATO Matthew Whitaker.

US Ambassador to NATO Matt Whitaker said allies have committed nearly $139 billion in additional defence spending since last year’s NATO summit, with roughly half expected to be spent on American-made weapons, munitions, and military equipment.

He praised Poland, the Nordic countries, the Baltic states, and Germany for increasing defence spending but said “many others are lagging behind.”

“President Trump expects all allies to step up immediately,” Whitaker said, adding they should reach NATO’s five per cent defence spending benchmark “as soon as possible”.

Whitaker said the administration’s objective remains shifting responsibility for Europe’s conventional defence to European allies and Canada.

“We have responsibilities elsewhere in the world, as the world’s only superpower,” he said. “We need capable allies.”

He stressed that the US “remains a proud NATO member” but argued stronger European militaries would allow Washington to focus on security challenges beyond Europe.

Kelly described the administration’s approach as “NATO 3.0”, saying it aims to transform the alliance “from a model of dependency on the US to one of real burden sharing and self-reliance”.

Asked what consequences allies could face if they fail to meet spending targets, senior officials said the immediate consequence would be strategic vulnerability.

“The consequences…are ultimately a less capable Europe and Canada, a more vulnerable strategic ally,” the official said, adding that Trump would deliver his message directly to alliance leaders during the summit.

Troop Review Reflects Broader Strategic Shift

Senior US officials also confirmed that the Pentagon is reviewing US troop deployments and military bases across Europe, though they emphasised no decisions have been made.

Officials said the review is part of a broader strategy to rebalance US military resources while encouraging European allies to assume greater responsibility for regional defence.

A US soldier in Germany.

A US soldier in Germany.

“There should be no surprise that we’re doing a posture review,” one senior US official said.

The official added that the review “very well may lead to us adjusting our posture because we’re trying to shift burden to Europe”.

“More capable allies in Europe will allow them to meet threats that exist in Europe that they’re perfectly able to meet, and that will allow us to focus elsewhere,” the official said.

Whitaker said the review reflects growing global demands on US forces.

“Our adversaries aren’t waiting for us to be more capable,” he said. “The strength of the alliance is what’s going to deter and defend the alliance into the future.”

Defense Deals: Greenland Also Expected To Feature

Administration officials also predicted “billions of dollars” in defence-related announcements on the sidelines of the summit, including joint production agreements, new manufacturing facilities, and purchases of advanced US weapons systems.

“Our challenge is not orders,” Whitaker said. “Our challenge continues to be the defence industrial base.”

Officials said US defence manufacturers currently have roughly $300 billion in back orders from European and Canadian allies.

Icebergs float in the water off Nuuk, Greenland.

Icebergs float in the water off Nuuk, Greenland.

Senior officials also defended Trump’s longstanding proposal that the United States acquire Greenland, arguing that the Arctic island has become increasingly important to NATO’s security because of growing naval activity in the region and its role in missile defence.

“There really is no disagreement amongst any NATO ally about the importance of the defence considerations of Greenland,” one senior US official said. “It’s about how to solve them.”

The official said the administration continues to believe US acquisition of Greenland would best address those security concerns, while acknowledging Washington is also discussing other possible arrangements with Denmark and Greenland.



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