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How-To Geek

Is facebook down here's how to check (and fix it).

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Check if facebook is really down, is it just you time to troubleshoot, try facebook on another device, restart, update, and reinstall, consider rebooting network equipment, kill any firewalls or similar services, try switching your dns server, key takeaways.

• Check if Facebook is down for everyone or troubleshoot if it's only you having the problem. You can use online tools or social media to check for outages.
• Try Facebook on another device and use different methods (app vs web) to isolate the problem to your device or internet connection.
• Restart your device, update the app, or reinstall it. Restart network equipment or try a different DNS server if the problem persists.

Most of us take it for granted that commonly-used services like Facebook will always be there. The fact is that they're susceptible to the same sort of problems that bring down smaller websites. Here are some tips to help you figure out what's going on.

You can check whether a website is down by using a service like Down for Everyone or Just Me , Down.com , IsItDownOrJustMe , and IsItDownRightNow . You might want to try a few of them just to make sure your results are consistent, as Down.com points out: "It's perfectly possible we get one set of results, and another tool in another location gets a completely different result."

You can also search the web (or, ironically, Twitter ) for news. If Facebook is having a major outage that is affecting a large number of users, someone will be talking about it somewhere.

If Facebook is indeed down, there's not a lot you can do about it. You'll need to wait until the service is back before you can properly make use of it. The outage may affect other Facebook services, too, like Messenger, Instagram, and even WhatsApp. Try again later.

If the tools in the previous tip report that Facebook is alive, then the issue is likely on your end. However, localized outages are possible. These services could be located in a different corner of the world, while an outage is limited to your region only. Social media like Twitter or Reddit may help confirm this.

Another possibility is a problem with your internet service provider (ISP) . Many ISPs have a service status tool that reports any problems the network may be having, including outages. It's more likely that your service would be disabled entirely, but it's worth checking.

Lastly, while rare, governments can ban access to websites sporadically. If you're in a location that's experiencing political instability then it's something you may want to consider. In that situation, you do have options for bypassing internet censorship and filtering .

To isolate the problem to a particular device (like your computer), try accessing Facebook from another device, like your smartphone. Test the app on the same connection (e.g., your home wireless network) first, then test it on the cellular network. If nothing works, then it's likely the problem is on Facebook's end.

But if you get differing results, you can start to isolate the problem. If Facebook works on your smartphone over the same wireless connection, the issue could be due to a software problem on your computer. If the service only works while connected to the cellular network, your home internet connection may be acting up instead.

You should also try accessing the service using different methods, like using the web version instead of the mobile app (and vice versa). You can use your results to isolate the problem further.

One of the easiest ways of solving a problem is to turn your device off and then on again. This is true for computers and smartphones, so it's a good first step. Once you've booted back up, try Facebook again as you would normally.

If you're using an app to access the service, check for updates using the App Store (for Apple devices) or Google Play (for Android devices). Install any pending updates and try again.

Sometimes, mobile apps stop working and must be reinstalled. This is true for iPhone, iPad, and Android devices, so delete the app as you normally would, then download it again from the relevant app store. You'll likely need to log in again, but if the issue is software-based and only affects the mobile app, this should solve it.

If Facebook works on your smartphone over a cellular connection but not over wireless and you've already tried everything else, restarting your network equipment can't hurt. Turn off your router, modem, and any other network hardware you're using, wait at least 10 seconds, then turn them back on and try again.

While the odds of solving the problem using this method are low, it's probably worth a shot since it's only a minor inconvenience (and when was the last time you restarted your router anyway?).

If the problem is limited to a computer or smartphone that's running a firewall or other permissions-based access software, try temporarily disabling it. Maybe you use an app to help focus your attention by blocking access to distracting websites . Make sure it's not enabled right now.

Check what apps are running on Windows ( using Task Manager ) or macOS ( using Activity Monitor ) and kill any you think might be interfering with your web browsing.

The Domain Name System (DNS) is used to link IP addresses with URLs like howtogeek.com. Think of it as an address book of sorts. By default, your device will use your ISP's own DNS server, which, in this instance, may be causing your problem. You can change your DNS server to a third-party one to see if things improve (for best results, flush your DNS by restarting your device).

In truth, there are many reasons to use a third-party DNS server with speed being one of the big ones. Providers like Google ( 8.8.8.8 ) and CloudFlare ( 1.1.1.1 ) generally offer faster performance than your ISP, and you can even circumvent some (poorly implemented) geo-restrictions this way too.

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@imbang_ilbhel @DeadInside2525 @facebook @finkd @elonmusk Had similar issues but it was resolved with the help of @savvy_craxk

@imbang_ilbhel @F1Bags @facebook Had similar issues but it was resolved with the help of @savvy_craxk

@G8mnEQX3iBX366H @F1Bags @facebook I had similar problem but @security_zane helped me recover mine.

@davidgrine20204 @ChibiBespin @facebook Mine was also hacked just recently and still the same complaint, the support centres are so reluctant and not helpful I was able to resolve it through an agency that works on meta social impact @Bramd_recovery

@SAFIULL97449604 Ye kya drama chal raha he hamesha Whatsapp aur Facebook ko band kia jata he ham jante hen k security problems honge laken hamesha package laga k phr hame Apne paise wapas karde

@NomanButt994 @anthony06380284 @facebook Reach out to this tech person; @Piper_Coding.

@dhearinandha @anthony06380284 @facebook @stevexybers is a tech geek

@erickalim40 @anthony06380284 @facebook @stevexybers is a legit tech specialist.

@imbang_ilbhel @d_fredeick @DokaRyan @facebook Had similar issues but it was resolved with the help of @savvy_craxk

@PawelJalocha @leadcardAlex @RichardDawkins @Meta @facebook I think it was some technical issue, his FB is still there.

@buapakmu97 @aurorajlu @facebook I was angry and terrified when I was faced with this issue but @CrakJay_ on X was able to help me out, you should try him

@buapakmu97 @jdiciano @facebook I was angry and terrified when I was faced with this issue but @CrakJay_ on X was able to help me out, you should try him

@imbang_ilbhel @ILYESBOUZ2 @facebook Had similar issues but it was resolved with the help of @savvy_craxk

@DirtyOldMan63 @Supriya_biswas2 @facebook Idk what wrong with support there are so useless I was experiencing exactly same issues but @DONALDCR4CK on here, they helped me out I really recommend him

@Lady_T31 Is anyone having issues with Facebook, or is it just me?!

@DavidParke39055 @DanielWood85845 @facebook I was really pissed up when i had similar issues, support system did not even consider my appeal. Until i got recommended to @Gabriel0Coleman he got mine perfectly fixed in less than an hour

@emerald6884 @DanielWood85845 @facebook Had similar issues but it was fixed by @Vee_codes7

@Jameson4656 @DanielWood85845 @facebook Had same problem @Vee_codes7 helped recovered mine

@Jameson4656 @oliverm_uk @facebook Had same problem @Vee_codes7 helped recovered mine

@Maggiewillet_1 @Jerry44939 @RichardDawkins @facebook Contact @Gavinhacks ,They will rectify the issue for you in no time that's how I got mine

@SAFindlay @FrancoisPrins16 @vfsglobalcare Hi Francois have you heard back from them i have. Private message me your email adress i can send the response which is too long or go to my facebook its on there...

@EternalHumanoid @RichardDawkins your posts about being deleted on Facebook are gone. Was it an unfortunate error, or why did you take offline these communications?

@Jameson4656 @Supriya04059817 @facebook Had same problem @Vee_codes7 helped recovered mine

@samantha367942 @PhillDixon1 @Meta @facebook @bryanadams Had similar issues but it was fixed by @Vee_codes7

@Jameson4656 @pinkercheekers1 @facebook Had same problem @Vee_codes7 helped recovered mine

@imbang_ilbhel @kingstonp99 @yabaleftonline @facebook Had similar issues but it was resolved with the help of @savvy_craxk

@LauraM61609 @kingstonp99 @yabaleftonline @facebook A friend of mine recommended me to @savvy_craxk on twitter after contacting her am so glad to recommend you to her.

@eabraheemaleey2 @HorobchukVlad @facebook I recently got mine recovered by tech guru here on X [@CyberGuard02 ],go get yours resolved

@eha79 @HorobchukVlad @facebook @Cyberguard02  is a tech geek

@nurul_twi @HorobchukVlad @facebook @Cyberguard02 did mine successfully

@mintaka1invader @visegrad24 Source: Wikipedia "In November 2019, Freedland apologised for making a "very bad error" in falsely reporting that a shortlisted Labour prospective parliamentary candidate had been fined for making antisemitic remarks on Facebook." ? It's afraid.

@iewphome @MyNamesGuy @SchnauzerVan @Jim_PMM @RichardDawkins @facebook It connects without any of that. If I knew where to disconnect it I would, but I don't know and if I did, would it disable the rest of the fridge?

@rockwell7230392 @EvanCull @SerenaJB3 @RichardDawkins @facebook What a load of marxist nonsense. Race is a reality. If you actually believe Whites, blacks and Asians are all the same there is something seriously wrong with you. You are part of the problem. Society doesn't need your stupidity.

@Zachary48796473 @facebook There is unfortunately a issue I must report about your mobile app. It is not only not load the reactions properly, but also the app moves slower than usual when I scroll. My app is up to date so I don't know where there is this issue. -Za

@Mok_kkkk @Meta @facebook @FacebookGaming I’m facing urgent issues with my Facebook profile and monetization: 1. **Missing Live Ads**: My revenue is affected due to missing ads. 2. **Profile Visibility**: My profile isn’t showing in the dashboard, impacting management. Asap contact me

@samantha367942 @kajal1412239 @facebook Had similar issues but it was fixed by @Vee_codes7

@Jameson4656 @kajal1412239 @facebook Had same problem @Vee_codes7 helped recovered mine

@samantha367942 @bytoppajr @facebook Had similar issues but it was fixed by @Vee_codes7

@Jameson4656 @bytoppajr @facebook Had same problem @Vee_codes7 helped recovered mine

@GHinstabourg @GusMart35938856 @facebook Contact @LAUREL_CYBER They will rectify the issue for you in no time

@SavaNikoli12689 @ankit_2831 @facebook Have you contacted @vexcyber02 here on Twitter to help you fix this issue?

@Leilani_davis92 @ankit_2831 @facebook Why don't you go message @vexcyber02 here on Twitter who helped me when I was facing same issues, reach out to him he can help you too

@Amjadkhan318121 Whatsapp facebook not working in pakistan without vpn what is the reason can you give any opinion

@Amandalucaszy @anneselenatorr @facebook I was angry and terrified when I was faced with this issue but @CrakJay_ on X was able to help me out, you should try him

@JohnJoseph2089 @DavidBrewster Have you reported the issue to ( xyber sage ) on Facebook?? If "No" do so now he's the only one that can help you recover back your lost funds.

@CatieRaissipour @shoeexisting @rissaaalyn Yes! Did you DM me on Facebook? I’ve been in an internet outage so I don’t have the service for a video chat

@samantha367942 @Danger173 @facebook Had similar issues but it was fixed by @Vee_codes7

@Jameson4656 @Danger173 @facebook Had same problem @Vee_codes7 helped recovered mine

@MavahJoe @thereaper198891 Hello there seems like you have issues with your Facebook I’ll help and fix it back for you

@fouadnabil26 @Maureen03304194 @facebook I was angry and terrified when I was faced with this issue but @CrakJay_ on X was able to help me out, you should try him

@kelagod467 @briansnyder90 @facebook @Meta @grek_tech restored mine after 2 hours of waiting, reach him out first,because the support team are not responding fast.

@stero1724871 @Maureen03304194 @facebook @grek_tech restored mine after 2 hours of waiting, reach him out first,because the support team are not responding fast.

@hemedipby @ladyspace78 @facebook I was angry and terrified when I was faced with this issue but @CrakJay_ on X was able to help me out, you should try him

@moo_pao191 @Piotr29230851 @facebook Reach out to @Martcybertech a representative that works within the company. He will help in resolving this issue.

@migue_bujaico @Piotr29230851 @facebook I was really pissed up when i had similar issues, support system did not even consider my appeal. Until i got recommended to @Martcybertech he got mine perfectly fixed in less than an hour

@moo_pao191 @markusSli @facebook Reach out to @Martcybertech a representative that works within the company. He will help in resolving this issue.

@migue_bujaico @markusSli @facebook I was really pissed up when i had similar issues, support system did not even consider my appeal. Until i got recommended to @Martcybertech he got mine perfectly fixed in less than an hour

@karenhepp194372 @tjbyrne613 @facebook I was angry and terrified when I was faced with this issue but @Bramd_recovery on X was able to help me out, you should try him

@deborahfar63774 @tjbyrne613 @facebook Mine was also hacked just recently and still the same complaint, the support centres are so reluctant and not helpful I was able to resolve it through an agency that works on meta social impact @Bramd_recovery

@NeiglybethW @ladyspace78 @facebook I was really pissed up when i had similar issues, support system did not even consider my appeal. Until i got recommended to @Iris_Coding she got mine perfectly fixed in less than an hour

@CostacheAnaMar5 @ladyspace78 @facebook Have you reported the issue to @iris_coding ?

@creepymikeyp @laurenintheskye @facebook Contact @jeff_xyber1, they'll rectify the issue.

@heymikey80 @CnwlStudent @RBK242 @RightGlockMom @RichardDawkins @facebook No. Its not. It is a wide ranging discussion of numerous issues. Dont try to defint this as a debate, because it isnt.

@IsabelBrow84223 @Rio_Magsi @discord_support I'd suggest you report the problem to @bramd_recovery, he works with meta and he helped me when I was hacked on Facebook. He's very fast and reliable.

@codi88762166803 @JessLj1 @facebook @Meta Mine was also hacked just recently and still the same complaint, the support centres are so reluctant and not helpful I was able to resolve it through an agency that works on meta social impact @Bramd_recovery

@HarryMoren66865 @JessLj1 @facebook @Meta Contact @Lucy_techz on twitter she recently helped me out when I had same issue.

@owu6u @AskMTNGhana @MTNGhana can you kindly help me? For some time I can't go to Facebook at all when I use MTN. It works on other networks not on MTN. I have tried browsing from my laptop using the phone as hotspot but Facebook won't work. I use a Google Pixel 2. Phone No:0248246601

@davidgrine20204 @ladyspace78 @facebook I was really pissed up when i had similar issues, support system did not even consider my appeal. Until i got recommended to @Bramd_recovery she got mine perfectly fixed in less than an hour

@katywellho93231 @ladyspace78 @facebook I was angry and terrified when I was faced with this issue but @Bramd_recovery on X was able to help me out, you should try him

@codi88762166803 @ladyspace78 @facebook Mine was also hacked just recently and still the same complaint, the support centres are so reluctant and not helpful I was able to resolve it through an agency that works on meta social impact @Bramd_recovery

@Stevecaraway47 @cosmostheinlost @facebook Contacting support is totally pointless, I had mine resolved with the help of @Gavinhacks on X

@hackerdict Specialized hackers can easily hack ethically. In case of any cyber problems, contact DM. Among the recent hacks have been those that involve iCloud, Facebook, IMEssage, and Ransomware, Snapchat, Snapchat support, Snapchat leak, Xbox Series X, Xbox Share, and Roblox problems, and

@RichardmeyerB @ecogeog @facebook Contact @Gavinhacks ,They will rectify the issue for you in no time that's how I got mine

@Martinafriedm @ecogeog @facebook Text @Gavinhacks on X for recovery service. Mine was fixed when I had same hack issue

@franggispeter @ecogeog @facebook Contacting support is totally pointless, I had mine resolved with the help of @Gavinhacks on X

@JohnCheatham24 @laurenintheskye @facebook I experienced similar issues, @brianhackz solved mine

@JohnCheatham24 @Jerry44939 @RichardDawkins @facebook I experienced similar issues, @brianhackz solved mine

@RealGz95 @MancBird5 I also have problems with Messenger facebook app

@zalikiko @PVBAmbersun @RichardDawkins @Meta @facebook I had same issue but @ava_nerd helped resolve mine.

@Lee0903488 @evolvepolitics @facebook The support team is a waste of time...why not contact @prime_techz he's a genius when it come to hacked related issues

@lungisaniThango @benekcj @RichardDawkins @facebook The support team is a waste of time...why not contact @prime_techz he's a genius when it come to hacked related issues

@deepak90kataria @ronnierevival @RichardDawkins @facebook @TRobinsonNewEra I had same issue but @ava_nerd helped resolve mine.

@deepak90kataria @ladyspace78 @facebook I had same issue but @ava_nerd helped resolve mine.

@deepak90kataria @iamnicks_dogra @WhatsApp @Meta @facebook I had same issue but @ava_nerd helped resolve mine.

@IratePirate8 Facebook not working for me. Zuckerberg must be upset with something I wrote. Musk is a fud too! ?

@j_susan28736 @jdiciano @facebook Reach out to @Laura_techz regarding this issues... he fixed mine hoping he'll fix yours too Try him!

@GiteiLeah @MargaretLacke13 @RichardDawkins @facebook WITH THE HELP OF @mai_coding I GOT MINE BACK

@crlama1xxb @jdiciano @facebook Reach out to @Laura_techz regarding this issues... he fixed mine hoping he'll fix yours too Try him!

@NeiglybethW @PhillDixon1 @facebook I was really pissed up when i had similar issues, support system did not even consider my appeal. Until i got recommended to @Iris_Coding she got mine perfectly fixed in less than an hour

@CostacheAnaMar5 @PhillDixon1 @facebook Have you reported the issue to @iris_coding ?

@LesleyWaite4 @k_dodsworth I suggest you join the Sykes Cottages Unhappy Customers Page on Facebook. Over 7,600 people (guests and owners) who have had trouble with Sykes. They have worked out a few ways to resolve problems with Sykes' customer service.

@marieeleme49660 @jdiciano @facebook I also had same issues but I was refer to @Bramd_recovery and he helped me

@hemedipby @MargaretLacke13 @RichardDawkins @facebook @CrakJay_ here on @X Retrive mine Just of Recent.

@Sandman_197708 @Jim_PMM @jimmynimble @RichardDawkins @facebook You have a logical error. Censorship does not equal communism. Censorship existed in many countries and societies under various forms of absolutism, for example. And in democracies too. You think in some stupid patterns, and do not try to understand the essence of phenomena

@AnthonLayugan @mesikat @facebook I was angry and terrified when I was faced with this issue but @CrakJay_ on X was able to help me out, you should try him

@Dani_Lever @RichardDawkins @facebook The removal of your Page was a precautionary measure due to indications of potential compromise, not due to any issues with the content you posted. We are actively working to secure the page and will restore it promptly once we ensure its safety. It’s possible you were not…

@davidgrine20204 @jdiciano @facebook I was really pissed up when i had similar issues, support system did not even consider my appeal. Until i got recommended to @Bramd_recovery she got mine perfectly fixed in less than an hour

@katywellho93231 @jdiciano @facebook I was angry and terrified when I was faced with this issue but @Bramd_recovery on X was able to help me out, you should try him

@codi88762166803 @jdiciano @facebook Mine was also hacked just recently and still the same complaint, the support centres are so reluctant and not helpful I was able to resolve it through an agency that works on meta social impact @Bramd_recovery

@AnthonLayugan @AberdeenMAG9 @evolvepolitics @facebook I was angry and terrified when I was faced with this issue but @CrakJay_ on X was able to help me out, you should try him

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Gone in Minutes, Out for Hours: Outage Shakes Facebook

When apps used by billions of people worldwide blinked out, lives were disrupted, businesses were cut off from customers — and some Facebook employees were locked out of their offices.

By Mike Isaac and Sheera Frenkel

[Watch the Facebook hearing live .]

SAN FRANCISCO — Facebook and its family of apps, including Instagram and WhatsApp, were inaccessible for hours on Monday, taking out a vital communications platform used by billions and showcasing just how dependent the world has become on a company that is under intense scrutiny.

Facebook’s apps — which include Facebook, Instagram , WhatsApp, Messenger and Oculus — began displaying error messages around 11:40 a.m. Eastern time, users reported. Within minutes, Facebook had disappeared from the internet. The outage lasted over five hours, before some apps slowly flickered back to life, though the company cautioned the services would take time to stabilize.

Even so, the impact was far-reaching and severe. Facebook has built itself into a linchpin platform with messaging, livestreaming, virtual reality and many other digital services. In some countries, like Myanmar and India, Facebook is synonymous with the internet. More than 3.5 billion people around the world use Facebook, Instagram, Messenger and WhatsApp to communicate with friends and family, distribute political messaging, and expand their businesses through advertising and outreach.

Facebook is also used to sign in to many other apps and services, leading to unexpected domino effects such as people not being able to log into shopping websites or sign into their smart TVs, thermostats and other internet-connected devices.

Technology outages are not uncommon, but to have so many apps go dark from the world’s largest social media company at the same time was highly unusual. Facebook’s last significant outage was in 2019, when a technical error affected its sites for 24 hours , in a reminder that a snafu can cripple even the most powerful internet companies.

This time, Facebook said late Monday, the culprit was changes to its underlying internet infrastructure that coordinates the traffic between its data centers. That interrupted communications and cascaded to other data centers, “bringing our services to a halt,” the company said.

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Attacks on Walz’s Military Record

By Robert Farley , D'Angelo Gore and Eugene Kiely

Posted on August 8, 2024 | Corrected on August 9, 2024

Este artículo estará disponible en español en El Tiempo Latino .

In introducing her pick for vice presidential running mate, Kamala Harris has prominently touted Tim Walz’s 24 years of service in the Army National Guard. Now, however, GOP vice presidential nominee JD Vance and the Trump campaign are attacking Walz on his military record, accusing the Minnesota governor of “stolen valor.”

We’ll sort through the facts surrounding the three main attacks on Walz’s military record and let readers decide their merit. The claims include:

• Vance claimed that Walz “dropped out” of the National Guard when he learned his battalion was slated to be deployed to Iraq. Walz retired to focus on a run for Congress two months before his unit got official word of impending deployment, though the possibility had been rumored for months.
• Vance also accused Walz of having once claimed to have served in combat, when he did not. While advocating a ban on assault-style weapons, Walz said, “We can make sure that those weapons of war that I carried in war, is the only place where those weapons are at.”
• The Republican National Committee has criticized Walz for misrepresenting his military rank in campaign materials. The Harris campaign website salutes Walz for “rising to the rank of Command Sergeant Major.” Walz did rise to that rank, but he retired as a master sergeant because he had not completed the requirements of a command sergeant major.

A native of West Point, Nebraska, Walz joined the Nebraska Army National Guard in April 1981, two days after his 17th birthday. When Walz and his wife moved to Minnesota in 1996, he transferred to the Minnesota National Guard, where he served in 1st Battalion, 125th Field Artillery.

“While serving in Minnesota, his military occupational specialties were 13B – a cannon crewmember who operates and maintains cannons and 13Z -field artillery senior sergeant,” according to a statement released by Army Lt. Col. Kristen Augé, the Minnesota National Guard’s state public affairs officer.

According to MPR News , Walz suffered some hearing impairment related to exposure to cannon booms during training over the years, and he underwent some corrective surgery to address it.

On Aug. 3, 2003, “Walz mobilized with the Minnesota National Guard’s 1st Battalion, 125th Field Artillery … to support Operation Enduring Freedom. The battalion supported security missions at various locations in Europe and Turkey. Governor Walz was stationed at Vicenza, Italy, during his deployment.” Augé stated. The deployment lasted about eight months.

“For 24 years I proudly wore the uniform of this nation,” Walz said at a rally in Philadelphia where he was announced as Harris’ running mate on Aug. 6. “The National Guard gave me purpose. It gave me the strength of a shared commitment to something greater than ourselves.”

Walz’s Retirement from the National Guard

In recent years, however, several of his fellow guard members have taken issue with the timing of Walz’s retirement from the National Guard in May 2005, claiming he left to avoid a deployment to Iraq.

Vance, who served a four-year active duty enlistment in the Marine Corps as a combat correspondent, serving in Iraq for six months in 2005, advanced that argument at a campaign event on Aug. 7.

“When the United States of America asked me to go to Iraq to serve my country, I did it,” Vance said. “When Tim Walz was asked by his country to go to Iraq, you know what he did? He dropped out of the Army and allowed his unit to go without him, a fact that he’s been criticized for aggressively by a lot of the people that he served with. I think it’s shameful to prepare your unit to go to Iraq, to make a promise that you’re going to follow through and then to drop out right before you actually have to go.”

In early 2005, Walz, then a high school geography teacher and football coach at Mankato West High School, decided to run for public office. In a 2009 interview Walz provided as part of the Library of Congress’ veterans oral history project, Waltz said he made the decision to retire from the National Guard to “focus full time” on a run for the U.S. House of Representatives for Minnesota’s 1st Congressional District (which he ultimately won in 2006). Walz said he was “really concerned” about trying to seek public office and serve in the National Guard at the same time without running afoul of the Hatch Act , which limits political speech by federal employees, including members of the National Guard.

Federal Election Commission records show that Walz filed to run for Congress on Feb. 10, 2005.

On March 20, 2005, Walz’s campaign put out a press release titled “Walz Still Planning to Run for Congress Despite Possible Call to Duty in Iraq.”

Three days prior, the release said, “the National Guard Public Affairs Office announced a possible partial mobilization of roughly 2,000 troops from the Minnesota National Guard. … The announcement from the National Guard PAO specified that all or a portion of Walz’s battalion could be mobilized to serve in Iraq within the next two years.”

According to the release, “When asked about his possible deployment to Iraq Walz said, ‘I do not yet know if my artillery unit will be part of this mobilization and I am unable to comment further on specifics of the deployment.’ Although his tour of duty in Iraq might coincide with his campaign for Minnesota’s 1st Congressional seat, Walz is determined to stay in the race. ‘As Command Sergeant Major I have a responsibility not only to ready my battalion for Iraq, but also to serve if called on. I am dedicated to serving my country to the best of my ability, whether that is in Washington DC or in Iraq.'”

On March 23, 2005, the Pipestone County Star reported, “Detachments of the Minnesota National Guard have been ‘alerted’ of possible deployment to Iraq in mid-to-late 2006.”

“Major Kevin Olson of the Minnesota National Guard said a brigade-sized contingent of soldiers could be expected to be called to Iraq, but he was not, at this time, aware of which batteries would be called,” the story said. “All soldiers in the First Brigade combat team of the 34th Division, Minnesota National Guard, could be eligible for call-up. ‘We don’t know yet what the force is like’ he said. ‘It’s too early to speculate, if the (soldiers) do go.’

“He added: ‘We will have a major announcement if and when the alert order moves ahead.’”

ABC News spoke to Joseph Eustice, a retired command sergeant major who served with Walz, and he told the news organization this week that “he remembers Walz struggling with the timing of wanting to serve as a lawmaker but also avoiding asking for a deferment so he could do so.”

“He had a window of time,” Eustice told ABC News. “He had to decide. And in his deciding, we were not on notice to be deployed. There were rumors. There were lots of rumors, and we didn’t know where we were going until it was later that, early summer, I believe.”

Al Bonnifield, who served under Walz, also recalled Walz agonizing over the decision.

“It was a very long conversation behind closed doors,” Bonnifield told the Washington Post this week. “He was trying to decide where he could do better for soldiers, for veterans, for the country. He weighed that for a long time.”

In 2018, Bonnifield told MPR News that Walz worried in early 2005, “Would the soldier look down on him because he didn’t go with us? Would the common soldier say, ‘Hey, he didn’t go with us, he’s trying to skip out on a deployment?’ And he wasn’t. He talked with us for quite a while on that subject. He weighed that decision to run for Congress very heavy. He loved the military, he loved the guard, he loved the soldiers he worked with.”

But not all of Walz’s fellow Guard members felt that way.

In a paid letter to the West Central Tribune in Minnesota in November 2018, Thomas Behrends and Paul Herr — both retired command sergeants major in the Minnesota National Guard — wrote, “On May 16th, 2005 he [Walz] quit, leaving the 1-125th Field Artillery Battalion and its Soldiers hanging; without its senior Non-Commissioned Officer, as the battalion prepared for war. His excuse to other leaders was that he needed to retire in order to run for congress. Which is false, according to a Department of Defense Directive, he could have run and requested permission from the Secretary of Defense before entering active duty; as many reservists have.”

“For Tim Walz to abandon his fellow soldiers and quit when they needed experienced leadership most is disheartening,” they wrote. “When the nation called, he quit.”

Walz retired on May 16, 2005. Walz’s brigade received alert orders for mobilization on July 14, 2005, according to the National Guard and MPR News . The official mobilization report came the following month, and the unit mobilized and trained through the fall. It was finally deployed to Iraq in the spring of 2006.

The unit was originally scheduled to return in February 2007, but its tour was extended four months as part of President George W. Bush’s “surge” strategy , the National Guard reported. In all, the soldiers were mobilized for 22 months.

Responding to Vance’s claim that Walz retired to avoid deploying to Iraq, the Harris-Walz campaign released a statement saying, “After 24 years of military service, Governor Walz retired in 2005 and ran for Congress, where he was a tireless advocate for our men and women in uniform – and as Vice President of the United States he will continue to be a relentless champion for our veterans and military families.”

Walz on Carrying a Weapon ‘in War’

Vance also called Walz “dishonest” for a claim that Walz made in 2018 while speaking to a group about gun control.

“He made this interesting comment that the Kamala Harris campaign put out there,” Vance said, referring to a video of Walz that the Harris campaign posted to X on Aug. 6. “He said, ‘We shouldn’t allow weapons that I used in war to be on America’s streets.’ Well, I wonder, Tim Walz, when were you ever in war? What was this weapon that you carried into war given that you abandoned your unit right before they went to Iraq and he has not spent a day in a combat zone.”

In the video , Walz, who was campaigning for governor at the time, talked about pushing back on the National Rifle Association and said: “I spent 25 years in the Army and I hunt. … I’ve been voting for common sense legislation that protects the Second Amendment, but we can do background checks. We can do [Centers for Disease Control and Prevention] research. We can make sure we don’t have reciprocal carry among states. And we can make sure that those weapons of war that I carried in war, is the only place where those weapons are at.”

But, as Vance indicated, there is no evidence that Walz carried a weapon “in war.”

As we said, Augé, in her statement, said Walz’s battalion deployed “to support Operation Enduring Freedom” on Aug. 3, 2003, and “supported security missions at various locations in Europe and Turkey.” During his deployment, Walz was stationed in Vicenza, Italy, and he returned to Minnesota in April 2004, Augé said. There was no mention of Walz serving in Afghanistan, Iraq or another combat zone.

In the 2009 interview for the veterans history project, Walz said he and members of his battalion initially thought they would “shoot artillery in Afghanistan,” as they had trained to do. That didn’t happen, he said, explaining that his group ended up helping with security and training while stationed at an Army base in Vicenza.

“I think in the beginning, many of my troops were disappointed,” Walz said in the interview. “I think they felt a little guilty, many of them, that they weren’t in the fight up front as this was happening.”

In a statement addressing his claim about carrying weapons “in war,” the Harris campaign noted that Walz, whose military occupational specialties included field artillery senior sergeant, “fired and trained others to use weapons of war innumerable times” in his 24 years of service.

Walz’s National Guard Rank

The Republican National Committee has criticized Walz for saying “in campaign materials that he is a former ‘Command Sergeant Major’ in the Army National Guard despite not completing the requirements to hold the rank into retirement.”

Walz’s biography on the Harris campaign website correctly says that the governor “served for 24 years” in the National Guard, “rising to the rank of Command Sergeant Major.” 

Walz’s official biography on the Minnesota state website goes further, referring to the governor as “Command Sergeant Major Walz.”

“After 24 years in the Army National Guard, Command Sergeant Major Walz retired from the 1-125th Field Artillery Battalion in 2005,” the state website says. 

Walz did serve as command sergeant major , but Walz did not complete the requirements to retire with the rank of command sergeant, Augé told us in an email. 

“He held multiple positions within field artillery such as firing battery chief, operations sergeant, first sergeant, and culminated his career serving as the command sergeant major for the battalion,” Augé said. “He retired as a master sergeant in 2005 for benefit purposes because he did not complete additional coursework at the U.S. Army Sergeants Major Academy.”

This isn’t the first time that Walz’s National Guard rank has come up in a campaign. 

In their 2018 paid letter to the West Central Tribune, when Walz was running for governor, the two Minnesota National Guard retired command sergeants major who criticized Walz for retiring before the Iraq deployment also wrote: “Yes, he served at that rank, but was never qualified at that rank, and will receive retirement benefits at one rank below. You be the judge.”

Correction, Aug. 9: We mistakenly said a 2007 “surge” strategy in Iraq occurred under President Barack Obama. It was President George W. Bush.

Editor’s note: FactCheck.org does not accept advertising. We rely on grants and individual donations from people like you. Please consider a donation. Credit card donations may be made through  our “Donate” page . If you prefer to give by check, send to: FactCheck.org, Annenberg Public Policy Center, 202 S. 36th St., Philadelphia, PA 19104. 

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Hedge funds pile into bearish Japanese stock bets, bank says

Hedge funds added bearish bets in Japanese stocks at the fastest pace in over five years for a week between Aug. 2 and Aug. 8, as the Nikkei on Aug. 5 faced the worst day for the index since Black Monday in 1987, Goldman Sachs said in a note on Friday.

What Kamala Harris has said so far on key issues in her campaign

As she ramps up her nascent presidential campaign, Vice President Kamala Harris is revealing how she will address the key issues facing the nation.

In speeches and rallies, she has voiced support for continuing many of President Joe Biden’s measures, such as lowering drug costs , forgiving student loan debt and eliminating so-called junk fees. But Harris has made it clear that she has her own views on some key matters, particularly Israel’s treatment of Gazans in its war with Hamas.

In a departure from her presidential run in 2020, the Harris campaign has confirmed that she’s moved away from many of her more progressive stances, such as her interest in a single-payer health insurance system and a ban on fracking.

Harris is also expected to put her own stamp and style on matters ranging from abortion to the economy to immigration, as she aims to walk a fine line of taking credit for the administration’s accomplishments while not being jointly blamed by voters for its shortcomings.

Her early presidential campaign speeches have offered insights into her priorities, though she’s mainly voiced general talking points and has yet to release more nuanced plans. Like Biden, she intends to contrast her vision for America with that of former President Donald Trump. ( See Trump’s campaign promises here .)

“In this moment, I believe we face a choice between two different visions for our nation: one focused on the future, the other focused on the past,” she told members of the historically Black sorority Zeta Phi Beta at an event in Indianapolis in late July. “And with your support, I am fighting for our nation’s future.”

Here’s what we know about Harris’ views:

Harris took on the lead role of championing abortion rights for the administration after Roe v. Wade was overturned in June 2022. This past January, she started a “ reproductive freedoms tour ” to multiple states, including a stop in Minnesota thought to be the first by a sitting US president or vice president at an abortion clinic .

On abortion access, Harris embraced more progressive policies than Biden in the 2020 campaign, as a candidate criticizing his previous support for the Hyde Amendment , a measure that blocks federal funds from being used for most abortions.

Policy experts suggested that although Harris’ current policies on abortion and reproductive rights may not differ significantly from Biden’s, as a result of her national tour and her own focus on maternal health , she may be a stronger messenger.

High prices are a top concern for many Americans who are struggling to afford the cost of living after a spell of steep inflation. Many voters give Biden poor marks for his handling of the economy, and Harris may also face their wrath.

In her early campaign speeches, Harris has echoed many of the same themes as Biden, saying she wants to give Americans more opportunities to get ahead. She’s particularly concerned about making care – health care, child care, elder care and family leave – more affordable and available.

Harris promised at a late July rally to continue the Biden administration’s drive to eliminate so-called “junk fees” and to fully disclose all charges, such as for events, lodging and car rentals. In early August, the administration proposed a rule that would ban airlines from charging parents extra fees to have their kids sit next to them.

On day one, I will take on price gouging and bring down costs. We will ban more of those hidden fees and surprise late charges that banks and other companies use to pad their profits.”

Since becoming vice president, Harris has taken more moderate positions, but a look at her 2020 campaign promises reveals a more progressive bent than Biden.

As a senator and 2020 presidential candidate, Harris proposed providing middle-class and working families with a refundable tax credit of up to $6,000 a year (per couple) to help keep up with living expenses. Titled the LIFT the Middle Class Act, or Livable Incomes for Families Today, the measure would have cost at the time an estimated $3 trillion over 10 years.

Unlike a typical tax credit, the bill would allow taxpayers to receive the benefit – up to $500 – on a monthly basis so families don’t have to turn to payday loans with very high interest rates.

As a presidential candidate, Harris also advocated for raising the corporate income tax rate to 35%, where it was before the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act that Trump and congressional Republicans pushed through Congress reduced the rate to 21%. That’s higher than the 28% Biden has proposed.

Affordable housing was also on Harris’ radar. As a senator, she introduced the Rent Relief Act, which would establish a refundable tax credit for renters who annually spend more than 30% of their gross income on rent and utilities. The amount of the credit would range from 25% to 100% of the excess rent, depending on the renter’s income.

Harris called housing a human right and said in a 2019 news release on the bill that every American deserves to have basic security and dignity in their own home.

Consumer debt

Hefty debt loads, which weigh on people’s finances and hurt their ability to buy homes, get car loans or start small businesses, are also an area of interest to Harris.

As vice president, she has promoted the Biden administration’s initiatives on student debt, which have so far forgiven more than $168 billion for nearly 4.8 million borrowers . In mid-July, Harris said in a post on X that “nearly 950,000 public servants have benefitted” from student debt forgiveness, compared with only 7,000 when Biden was inaugurated.

A potential Harris administration could keep that momentum going – though some of Biden’s efforts have gotten tangled up in litigation, such as a program aimed at cutting monthly student loan payments for roughly 3 million borrowers enrolled in a repayment plan the administration implemented last year.

The vice president has also been a leader in the White House efforts to ban medical debt from credit reports, noting that those with medical debt are no less likely to repay a loan than those who don’t have unpaid medical bills.

In a late July statement praising North Carolina’s move to relieve the medical debt of about 2 million residents, Harris said that she is “committed to continuing to relieve the burden of medical debt and creating a future where every person has the opportunity to build wealth and thrive.”

Health care

Harris, who has had shifting stances on health care in the past, confirmed in late July through her campaign that she no longer supports a single-payer health care system .

During her 2020 campaign, Harris advocated for shifting the US to a government-backed health insurance system but stopped short of wanting to completely eliminate private insurance.

The measure called for transitioning to a Medicare-for-All-type system over 10 years but continuing to allow private insurance companies to offer Medicare plans.

The proposal would not have raised taxes on the middle class to pay for the coverage expansion. Instead, it would raise the needed funds by taxing Wall Street trades and transactions and changing the taxation of offshore corporate income.

When it comes to reducing drug costs, Harris previously proposed allowing the federal government to set “a fair price” for any drug sold at a cheaper price in any economically comparable country, including Canada, the United Kingdom, France, Japan or Australia. If manufacturers were found to be price gouging, the government could import their drugs from abroad or, in egregious cases, use its existing but never-used “march-in” authority to license a drug company’s patent to a rival that would produce the medication at a lower cost.

Harris has been a champion on climate and environmental justice for decades. As California’s attorney general, Harris sued big oil companies like BP and ConocoPhillips, and investigated Exxon Mobil for its role in climate change disinformation. While in the Senate, she sponsored the Green New Deal resolution.

During her 2020 campaign, she enthusiastically supported a ban on fracking — but a Harris campaign official said in late July that she no longer supports such a ban.

Fracking is the process of using liquid to free natural gas from rock formations – and the primary mode for extracting gas for energy in battleground Pennsylvania. During a September 2019 climate crisis town hall hosted by CNN, she said she would start “with what we can do on Day 1 around public lands.” She walked that back later when she became Biden’s running mate.

Biden has been the most pro-climate president in history, and climate advocates find Harris to be an exciting candidate in her own right. Democrats and climate activists are planning to campaign on the stark contrasts between Harris and Trump , who vowed to push America decisively back to fossil fuels, promising to unwind Biden’s climate and clean energy legacy and pull America out of its global climate commitments.

If elected, one of the biggest climate goals Harris would have to craft early in her administration is how much the US would reduce its climate pollution by 2035 – a requirement of the Paris climate agreement .

Immigration

Harris has quickly started trying to counter Trump’s attacks on her immigration record.

Her campaign released a video in late July citing Harris’ support for increasing the number of Border Patrol agents and Trump’s successful push to scuttle a bipartisan immigration deal that included some of the toughest border security measures in recent memory.

The vice president has changed her position on border control since her 2020 campaign, when she suggested that Democrats needed to “critically examine” the role of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE, after being asked whether she sided with those in the party arguing to abolish the department.

In June of this year, the White House announced a crackdown on asylum claims meant to continue reducing crossings at the US-Mexico border – a policy that Harris’ campaign manager, Julie Chavez Rodriguez, indicated in late July to CBS News would continue under a Harris administration.

Trump’s attacks stem from Biden having tasked Harris with overseeing diplomatic efforts in Central America in March 2021. While Harris focused on long-term fixes, the Department of Homeland Security remained responsible for overseeing border security.

She has only occasionally talked about her efforts as the situation along the US-Mexico border became a political vulnerability for Biden. But she put her own stamp on the administration’s efforts, engaging the private sector.

Harris pulled together the Partnership for Central America, which has acted as a liaison between companies and the US government. Her team and the partnership are closely coordinating on initiatives that have led to job creation in the region. Harris has also engaged directly with foreign leaders in the region.

Experts credit Harris’ ability to secure private-sector investments as her most visible action in the region to date but have cautioned about the long-term durability of those investments.

Israel-Hamas

The Israel-Hamas war is the most fraught foreign policy issue facing the country and has spurred a multitude of protests around the US since it began in October.

After meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in late July, Harris gave a forceful and notable speech about the situation in Gaza.

We cannot look away in the face of these tragedies. We cannot allow ourselves to become numb to the suffering. And I will not be silent.”

Harris echoed Biden’s repeated comments about the “ironclad support” and “unwavering commitment” to Israel. The country has a right to defend itself, she said, while noting, “how it does so, matters.”

However, the empathy she expressed regarding the Palestinian plight and suffering was far more forceful than what Biden has said on the matter in recent months. Harris mentioned twice the “serious concern” she expressed to Netanyahu about the civilian deaths in Gaza, the humanitarian situation and destruction she called “catastrophic” and “devastating.”

She went on to describe “the images of dead children and desperate hungry people fleeing for safety, sometimes displaced for the second, third or fourth time.”

Harris emphasized the need to get the Israeli hostages back from Hamas captivity, naming the eight Israeli-American hostages – three of whom have been killed.

But when describing the ceasefire deal in the works, she didn’t highlight the hostage for prisoner exchange or aid to be let into Gaza. Instead, she singled out the fact that the deal stipulates the withdrawal by the Israeli military from populated areas in the first phase before withdrawing “entirely” from Gaza before “a permanent end to the hostilities.”

Harris didn’t preside over Netanyahu’s speech to Congress in late July, instead choosing to stick with a prescheduled trip to a sorority event in Indiana.

Harris is committed to supporting Ukraine in its fight against Russian aggression, having met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at least six times and announcing last month $1.5 billion for energy assistance, humanitarian needs and other aid for the war-torn country.

At the Munich Security Conference earlier this year, Harris said: “I will make clear President Joe Biden and I stand with Ukraine. In partnership with supportive, bipartisan majorities in both houses of the United States Congress, we will work to secure critical weapons and resources that Ukraine so badly needs. And let me be clear: The failure to do so would be a gift to Vladimir Putin.”

More broadly, NATO is central to our approach to global security. For President Biden and me, our sacred commitment to NATO remains ironclad. And I do believe, as I have said before, NATO is the greatest military alliance the world has ever known.”

Police funding

The Harris campaign has also walked back the “defund the police” sentiment that Harris voiced in 2020. What she meant is she supports being “tough and smart on crime,” Mitch Landrieu, national co-chair for the Harris campaign and former mayor of New Orleans, told CNN’s Pamela Brown in late July.

In the midst of nationwide 2020 protests sparked by George Floyd’s murder by a Minneapolis police officer, Harris voiced support for the “defund the police” movement, which argues for redirecting funds from law enforcement to social services. Throughout that summer, Harris supported the movement and called for demilitarizing police departments.

Democrats largely backed away from calls to defund the police after Republicans attempted to tie the movement to increases in crime during the 2022 midterm elections.

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Israel war on Gaza updates: 50 killed in Israeli attacks across Palestine

These were the updates on Israel’s war on Gaza for Tuesday, August 6.

This live page is now closed. You can continue to follow our coverage of the war in Gaza here.

• Lebanon’s Hezbollah has fired a series of drones into Israel, striking several areas and triggering air raid sirens.
• Israeli forces kill at least 12 Palestinians as they launch several raids in different locations across the occupied West Bank.
• Yahya Sinwar is named Hamas’s new chief after the assassination of Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran.
• Gaza’s Health Ministry reports that at least 40 people were killed and 71 injured in Israeli attack over the past 24 hours.
• At least 39,653 people were killed and 91,535 wounded in Israel’s war on Gaza . An estimated 1,139 people were killed in Israel during the Hamas-led attacks on October 7 and more than 200 were taken captive.

Thank you for joining us

This live page is now closed.

Read more about Yahya Sinwar, Ismail Haniyeh’s successor as Hamas chief, here .

For more on Iran’s possible response to Israel and possible scenarios, read this analysis .

And, watch the latest episode of The Stream , in which Canadian physician Dr Gabor Mate and his son Daniel discuss the context of genocide in Gaza and how bearing witness to that has affected them.

You can always find all our latest coverage of Israel’s war on Gaza, here .

Here’s what happened today

We will shortly be moving to a new live page but before we do, here’s a quick recap of what happened today:

• Hamas has announced Yahya Sinwar as its new political chief.
• Israeli forces killed at least 12 Palestinians in the occupied West Bank, including eight in and around Jenin where drone strikes were carried out.
• At least three people were killed and more than 10 wounded in the latest Israeli attack on Deir el-Balah.
• The Israeli military hit a building in the Lebanese town of Mayfadoun, killing five Hezbollah fighters.
• Hezbollah said it fired a “swarm of drones” at northern Israel, targeting a military barracks some 20km (12.4 miles) from the border.
• Local media reported that clashes broke out for a second day between ultra-Orthodox Israelis protesting military conscription and police forces.

WATCH: New human rights report says Israeli prisons are ‘torture camps’

Now, israel must deal with sinwar.

Sinwar is elected leader of Hamas a week after the movement’s political chief Haniyeh was assassinated.

The 62-year-old strongman was already at the heart of power. Now, he calls all the shots, about peace and war.

Now, Israel must deal with Sinwar, a man it imprisoned for over two decades and then released in a prisoner exchange deal in 2011 that Netanyahu signed off on. After that, Sinwar – the son of refugees who grew up in a refugee camp in Khan Younis – was an unstoppable political actor.

A fierce foe for Israel, Sinwar is closer to the military wing of Hamas yet able to manoeuvre its multi-layered political ranks and become its leader during a ferocious war.

Now, he is the lead negotiator of the faltering ceasefire talks regional and international mediators, including the Biden administration, desperately need to succeed.

Israeli army calls for more evacuations

The Israeli army has called on people located in the Beit Hanoon, al-Manshiyeh and Sheikh Zeid neighbourhoods in Gaza to leave immediately in preparation for a military attack after rockets were fired towards Ashkelon.

WATCH: Hamas names Sinwar as new chief

Blinken says ceasefire negotiations have reached ‘final stage’.

US Secretary of State Blinken has pressed for a ceasefire in Israel’s war on Gaza and warned against the possibility of worsening regional escalation.

Here are a few of Blinken’s key remarks:

• An agreement between Israel and Hamas is in the “final stage” and called on all parties to finalise it “as soon as possible”.
• Further attacks “only perpetuate” conflict, instability and insecurity.
• The US has told Iran and Israel “directly” that regional fighting must not escalate further.

Malnutrition threatens life of Palestinian girl

Content creator Saeed Mohamed has posted a video on Instagram showing the fragile condition of 10-year-old Rafeef al-Daya due to the ongoing starvation as a result of Israel’s siege on Gaza.

The girl with cerebral palsy, which has been exacerbated by malnutrition and lack of healthcare, is seen lying inside a tent for displaced people which lacks the most basic necessities.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by saeed Mohamed/ سائد محمد (@saeedmhm97)

Israel has only one intent for all Hamas leaders

Reporting from Amman, Jordan

Al Jazeera is reporting from Jordan because the Israeli government has banned it from the country.

Israel’s Foreign Minister says Sinwar’s appointment is more of an excuse to assassinate him.

In comments made to Arab media, Israeli army spokesperson Daniel Hagari said the only preparations and intentions that Israel is making for Sinwar are “the same fate as Mohammed Deif”, the Hamas commander who was allegedly killed on July 13.

Within the Israeli political landscape and Israeli media, there really isn’t a distinction between Hamas’s military and political leadership.

When the war on Gaza began, Netanyahu gave a directive that every single leader in Hamas – political or militarily – was one unit and that they were all going to be killed.

Who is Yahya Sinwar, Ismail Haniyeh’s successor as Hamas chief?

As we’ve reported, Hamas has named Yahya Sinwar as its new chief following Hainyeh’s assassination in Iran last week.

What is known about Sinwar and what could his selection mean for the future of Hamas and Gaza?

You can read our breakdown of Sinwar’s ascent here .

Hezbollah says Sinwar selection shows failure of Israel’s assassination policy

Hezbollah has congratulated Hamas on Sinwar’s appointment, portraying his elevation as a testament to the failure of Israel’s policy of assassinating Hamas leaders.

The Lebanon-based group said that Sinwar’s selection “confirms goals that the enemy [Israel] seeks from killing leaders and officials failed in achieving its outcome”.

Three schools sheltering displaced people hit in last 48 hours: OCHA

The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) says the ongoing Israeli bombardment and hostilities continue to kill, injure and displace Palestinians, the Wafa news agency has reported.

OCHA said three schools sheltering internally displaced people were hit in the last 48 hours, resulting in mass casualties.

Farhan Haq, deputy spokesperson for the UN chief, called on all parties to respect their duties under international humanitarian law, which include sparing civilians and civilian objects.

WATCH: Gaza’s young female boxers train in makeshift spaces

Us says it destroyed houthi aerial vehicle over red sea.

US Central Command (CENTCOM) says its forces have successfully destroyed one Houthi uncrewed aerial vehicle and two antiship ballistic missiles launched from Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen over the Red Sea.

The Houthis have launched attacks on Israel-linked international shipping near Yemen since November in solidarity with Palestinians amid Israel’s war on Gaza.

Sinwar chosen as new Hamas chief ‘unanimously’

Osama Hamdan, a Hamas official, told Al Jazeera that Sinwar was chosen as the Palestinian group’s new chief “ unanimously”.

“This shows that the movement is aware of the nature of the stage, and the negotiation was managed by the leadership and Sinwar was always present,” said Hamdan.

“The fact that Hamas chose Sinwar as chief so quickly demonstrates the vitality of Hamas. The team that followed the negotiations during the presence of Haniyeh will follow them during the presence of Sinwar.

“Sinwar’s accurate knowledge of the occupation will strengthen our negotiating position in the next stage.”

If you’re just joining us

Here are the latest developments:

• Israeli air raids continue to pound central Gaza and the eastern part of Khan Younis.
• Yahya Sinwar has been named by the Palestinian group as its new leader.
• Mohammed Issa Abu Saada is the latest journalist to be killed by Israeli forces, raising the death toll of journalists in Gaza to 166.
• Israeli air defences are trying to intercept rockets launched by Hezbollah towards Israeli positions in the occupied Golan Heights.
• EU’s Josep Borrell issues a new plea to end the war in Gaza, warning it has brought the region to “the brink of a war of unknown proportions”.

US speaking to Iran’s allies in effort to limit response

Reporting from Washington DC

The phone call between Biden and Qatar’s emir has been a part of a larger project.

Biden has been taking a series of calls along with Blinken for days in a wave of diplomacy in an effort to try and limit the response by Iran.

Just a day ago, we’ve had Biden speaking to Jordan’s king and over the weekend, Blinken speaking with G7 leaders as well as of the UK, France and Iraq.

There’s a compound effort by the US speaking with allies of Iran – given the fact that the US does not have direct relations with Iran – looking for those channels to try to communicate to Iran to not attack or limit that attack.

Palestinian man shot and wounded by Israeli forces in Jordan Valley

Wafa news agency is reporting that a young Palestinian man was shot and wounded by Israeli forces in the northern Jordan Valley.

The report, citing security sources, said that the Israeli forces east of the town of Tammun, south of the city of Tubas, fired on the Palestinian man after he “allegedly carried out a shooting attack in the Beka’ot settlement”.

The report added that Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS) crews were prevented by the Israeli forces from providing medical aid to the injured.

Photos: Aftermath of Israeli strikes on Deir el-Balah

Why is a pro-Israel lobby targeting US Congress member Cori Bush?

On Tuesday, a progressive Democrat will fight to save her seat in the United States Congress – against a threat from within her own party.

That Democrat,  Cori Bush , faces a punishing primary challenge from county prosecutor Wesley Bell, as they both compete to represent Missouri in the House of Representatives.

But experts say their battle boils down to one central issue: how to approach Israel’s war in Gaza.

Read more here .

Displaced Palestinians live in fear of another wave of forcible displacement: NGO

The Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) has sent an update about the humanitarian situation in Deir el-Balah, where aid teams and a significant number of displaced people are concentrated.

“People are living in a constant state of unpredictability, not knowing what is going to come next, be it more displacements, more relocations, or a regional escalation,” Hassan Morajea, regional access advisor for the NRC, says from Gaza’s Deir el-Balah.

NRC estimates that recent relocation orders have reduced the size of Israel’s unilaterally designated “humanitarian zones” in Gaza from 20 percent to 14.5 percent, displacing more than 200,000 people from Khan Younis and Deir el-Balah between July 22 and 28.

“The streets are uninhabitable, crowded with people using anything that will offer some semblance of a roof over their heads, even if that is in a damaged building scarred with holes, and destruction around them. It’s shocking to see people living in ruins, but that’s what’s happening here in Gaza, because there is no other option. There aren’t open fields to even set up a tent. There aren’t even tents for them to set up,” Morajea said.

Trail of destruction in Bureij after deadly overnight attacks

Reporting from Khan Younis, Gaza

Israeli air strikes continue to pound central Gaza, as well as hitting the eastern part of Khan Younis in what seem to be concentrated attacks.

The Israeli military is describing their attacks as “targeted killings” but judging from the kind of targets they are hitting and the people showing up injured at the hospital, they seem quite the contrary.

In the Bureij refugee camp, for example, four brothers from one family were killed in overnight attacks. It was not until this morning that paramedics and rescue teams were able to get to their bombed house and remove their bodies from under the rubble.

Eyewitnesses described the bombing as quite intense, causing massive explosions that not only destroyed the targeted home but also the majority of properties, residential homes and infrastructure in the area.

More on Hamas’s new chief Sinwar

• He was born in the Khan Younis refugee camp in southern Gaza in 1962.
• His family were refugees from Majdal Askalan, or what became Ashkelon, after the creation of Israel in 1948.
• Sinwar has spent 22 years of his life in Israeli prisons for allegedly planning the abduction and killing of two Israeli soldiers in 1988.
• An Israeli government assessment of his years in detention described him as ruthless and powerful.
• He used his time in jail to become fluent in Hebrew.
• In 2017, Sinwar succeeded Haniyeh as Hamas’s leader in Gaza.
• After the October 7 attacks, the Israeli military described him as a “dead man walking”.

Israeli authorities blocking Palestinians’ access to healthcare in West Bank

Restricted access to medical care, injuries and mental trauma are “an everyday reality for many Palestinians in and around Hebron, occupied West Bank, according to a new report by MSF.

The report states that clinics across Hebron were “forced to close”, there is a shortage of medicine at pharmacies and there have been attacks on ambulances.

“Faced with restrictions on their movements and the threat of violence, many sick people delay seeing a doctor or have no choice but to stop medical treatments altogether,” the report added.

Hamas answers what ‘the day after Gaza’ looks like

Al Jazeera’s senior political analyst Marwan Bishara says Hamas’s decision to appoint Sinwar as its head is a move that shows “defiance” and “resistance”.

If Hamas leaders have had difficulty finding a safe place anywhere in the Middle East, “now it’s clear that the top leader is right there somewhere in the tunnels [in Gaza] resisting,” Bishara said.

“Hamas just answered that the day after Gaza, is Gaza. The day after Gaza, it’s Hamas in Gaza. The day after Gaza, it’s Sinwar on the helm of Hamas in Gaza.”

Tropical Storm Debby unleashes widespread flooding across Southeast: Live updates

Through friday, debby could dump 10-20 inches of rainfall, and some isolated areas could receive up to 25 inches, the national weather service said..

CORRECTIONS & CLARIFICATIONS: This article has been updated to reflect that a 12-year-old girl died in a Sunday vehicle crash, according to a corrected Florida Highway Patrol news release.

As Tropical Storm Debby continued its dayslong crawl through the Southeast on Tuesday, coastal areas from northern Florida to the Carolinas were inundated with rainfall, leaving streets underwater as officials ordered evacuations, conducted rescues and confirmed at least two tornadoes.

Forecasters say the conditions were only expected to worsen this week as the storm unleashes historic and potentially “catastrophic” flooding across the region.

Debby could dump 10-20 inches of rainfall through Friday, and some isolated areas could receive up to 25 inches, the National Weather Service said . By the middle of the week, bands of heavy rain will move northward from North Carolina to the Mid-Atlantic, the weather service warned: "Action should be taken to prep for impacts from high water."

Debby is moving east-northeast at a mere 3 mph, according to the latest National Hurricane Center advisory , which allows it to soak everything on a path that's expected to continue up to the New England states late this week. By the time it's done, Debby may be the wettest landfalling hurricane ever .

“Debby has been meandering at a snail’s pace, but it will blast to the Northeast like a rocket later this week,” AccuWeather meteorologist Bernie Rayno said. 

Debby tracker: Tropical Storm could bring 'catastrophic' rainfall to Southeast

Developments:

∎ Officials in Suwannee County, in northern Florida, are urgently warning residents to evacuate ahead of rivers expected to flood in the region. "Residents in river areas should make a decision to evacuate now," the Sheriff's Office said.

∎ Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin declared a state of emergency even though the impacts of the storm are not expected until late Thursday or early Friday, an indication of how much damage Debby could cause. "There is the potential for strong winds, heavy rains, and possible flooding across regions of the Commonwealth,” Youngkin said.

∎ Millions across Georgia and the Carolinas were under flash flood warnings and watches that will remain active into the latter half of the week, the weather service said.

∎Charleston Mayor William Cogswell said Tuesday that the city will extend its curfew until at least Wednesday morning.

Two confirmed tornadoes touch down in South Carolina

The National Weather Service office in Charleston, South Carolina, confirmed two tornadoes spun by Debby, one Tuesday in Moncks Corner, about 30 miles north of Charleston, and the other one Monday in Edisto Beach, a tourist town on the state's southern coast.

Moncks Corner Mayor Thomas Hamilton said the twister caused minor injuries and some damage to commercial but not residential structures, WCBD-TV reported.

Colleton County officials reported no injuries but "some property damage and several power poles down'' from the Edisto Beach twister.

Tornado watches were in effect Tuesday across parts of the Carolinas.

In Georgia and SC, a month's rain in a day

From North Florida to the Carolinas, local and state officials reported widespread flooding Tuesday as Debby dumped a foot of rain in some areas. Cities including Charleston, South Carolina, and Savannah, Georgia, established curfews, ordered evacuations, closed office buildings, opened shelters and urged residents to stay indoors during the multi-day deluge.

Within the last 24 hours, parts of Georgia and South Carolina received more than a month's worth of rain, according to the National Weather Service. The storm has trapped people in their vehicles and damaged homes as winds uproot trees and knock over utility poles. On Monday night, at least three suspected tornadoes caused damage throughout southeastern areas of South Carolina.

Debby made landfall on Monday along the Big Bend coast of Florida as a Category 1 hurricane and moved across the northeast region of the peninsula, turning streets into rivers, causing widespread power outages and contributing to at least five deaths. Hundreds were evacuated from coastal communities as the storm surge pushed several feet of water inland, overtaking cars and triggering water rescues.

Dam in South Carolina has 'potential to fail'; officials order evacuations

Local officials in Colleton County, South Carolina, warned that a dam “has the potential to fail” and began evacuating residents in the area.

The warning about the vulnerable McGrady Dam, about 7 miles southwest of Walterboro, was issued by the Colleton Fire Department at 8 a.m. The National Weather Service, citing Colleton County Emergency officials, said water was overtopping the dam and that the structure “could fail at any time.”

“An evacuation notice has been sent to residents downstream of the dam,” the weather service wrote. “If the dam fails, flash flooding will occur.”

Much of Colleton County and the surrounding area has been soaked by as much as a foot of rain, and more was expected Tuesday. Flash flood warnings and other related advisories were widespread across South Carolina.

You thought Harvey was wet? Debby may double rain total

Hurricane Harvey will long be remembered as the monster rainmaker that overwhelmed Houston in 2017, at one point pouring more than 40 inches of rain over less than two days in some areas of Southeast Texas.

Debby could end up being wetter, maybe even twice as much.

Though it lost hurricane status a mere three hours after making landfall early Monday in northwest Florida, now-Tropical Storm Debby continues to cause major damage by unloading copious amounts of rain in the Southeast U.S., and it's not projected to be done until drenching eastern states all the way up to New England late this week.

By that point, Debby may have dropped upwards of 50 trillion gallons of rain from Florida to Maine, the most ever by a hurricane that made landfall, meteorologist Ryan Maue said. By comparison, Harvey delivered more than 27 trillion gallons of rain to Texas.

Power outages abound in the Southeast

As Tropical Storm Debby's impacts stretch northward, power outages have been adding up in Georgia and South Carolina while authorities work to restore power across north Florida.

Nearly 80,000 homes and businesses in Florida were still without power Tuesday afternoon, according to Poweroutage.us . The blackouts were concentrated in the Big Bend region, where the storm came ashore as a hurricane at 7 a.m. Monday before crossing the state and into Georgia.

Along with outages in Florida, about 7,000 utility customers were without power in Georgia and 6,000 in South Carolina. Officials in the states have assured residents that appropriate resources were staged to immediately begin restoring power when the storm clears.

Experts downgrade hurricane forecast − slightly

A rare bit of good news: Top meteorologists from Colorado State University on Tuesday reduced the number of storms expected this Atlantic hurricane season, from 25 to 23.  

All other numbers remained the same from the team's July forecast, including the predicted number of major hurricanes, six. (A major hurricane, defined as a Category 3 or higher, has sustained winds of at least 111 mph.)

The downgrade in the number of predicted named storms was because of the weeks-long lull in storm activity in July. "We anticipate a well above-average probability for major hurricane landfalls along the continental United States coastline and in the Caribbean," CSU said.

Tropical Storm Debby's rainfall totals so far

More than a foot of rain has fallen in parts of South Carolina, while rainfall totals in Georgia reached over 10 inches, according to rainfall reports from the National Weather Service office in Charleston, South Carolina. Below are some of the highest totals recorded so far.

• Ruskin: 21.7 inches
• Palm Harbor: 20.34 inches
• Parrish: 18.86 inches
• Sarasota: 17.78 inches
• Pinellas Park: 14.04 inches
• Rincon: 11.09 inches
• Blitchton: 10.46 inches
• Springfield: 10.38 inches
• Port Wentworth: 9.28 inches
• Savannah: 8.50 inches

South Carolina:

• Green Pond: 14.02 inches
• Edisto Beach: 12.42 inches
• Beaufort: 11.16 inches
• Bennetts Point: 11.10 inches
• Charleston: 11.00 inches

Storm traps South Carolina family in leaking house as roof caves in

A deluge of rain from the storm trapped Beatriz Wheeler and her three children in her home in Hampton, South Carolina, around 80 miles west of Charleston, as water poured through holes in the walls and parts of the ceiling collapsed.

The rain started on Monday at around 4 p.m., Wheeler said. By Tuesday morning, the situation was dire – her roof had sprouted at least seven leaks. "Parts of our ceiling are caving in," she said. "We're managing, but there's a lot of damage."

Wheeler's husband, who barely reached the bank where he works amid the heavy rains Tuesday morning, couldn't return after both sides of their street flooded. "We're currently discussing how he's going to get home," said Wheeler, 28.

Meanwhile, her parents faced imminent evacuation after a dam near their home in Walterboro, a town around 30 miles away, was at risk of failure. "If they're forced to evacuate, they'll probably try to come this way to bunker down with us," she said.

Tropical Storm Debby death toll rises to 5

Officials have reported at least five deaths in connection with Debby since Sunday evening.

In the southern Georgia city of Moultrie, a tree fell onto a home, killing a 19-year-old, Gov. Brian Kemp said Tuesday.

Near Tampa, a man driving a semi-truck was killed after he lost control on an interstate that had been soaked in the rain, according to National Weather Service reports.

In Fanning Springs, about 35 miles east from where Debby made landfall, a 13-year-old boy was killed by a fallen tree that landed on a mobile home.

On Sunday night, as Debby’s outer bands were lashing much of the Florida Peninsula, a woman and a 12-year-old girl died in a single-vehicle crash in Dixie County, near where the storm eventually came ashore. A 14-year-old boy, who was in the vehicle when it crashed, was rushed to a hospital with serious injuries.

Several Florida waterways at major flood level

The Manatee River at the Rye Bridge in southwest Florida broke a record Monday, hitting a level of 20.12 feet, surpassing the previous mark of 20 feet set on July 21, 1962.

Manatee County opened a dam to release water from Lake Manatee to try to "maintain appropriate water levels" and they began dropping but remained at major flood stage.

That's one of at least 10 locations in Florida where waterways are at or above major flood levels, which are also reported in three rivers west of Savannah.

Flooding in Cedar Key, but less damage than Idalia caused

As the storm passed over Cedar Key, an island town off Florida's Gulf Coast, it partially blew the roof off Michael Presley Bobbitt's clam dock and damaged a nearby boat "pretty significantly," Bobbitt said.

Bobbitt, a clam farmer known locally as "the clambassador," said the storm also flooded Cedar Key's downtown with shin-deep water and ripped the roof off a local restaurant. Still, the damage was far less than what Hurricane Idalia caused last year.

"While some of our businesses were inundated and a few houses were, overall, the damage is pretty moderate to minor," he said.

By Tuesday, businesses were open as usual, Bobbitt said. "The whole island is out today,'' he said. "We're all out working, helping our neighbors, putting it back together."

Where is Tropical Storm Debby?

Tropical Storm Debby was located 10 miles east of Savannah and 70 miles southwest of Charleston, according to the National Hurricane Center ’s 5 p.m. ET update.

The storm is moving northeast at 3 mph, with maximum sustained wind speeds of 40 mph, the hurricane center said. Tropical-storm-force winds close to 40 mph extend outward up to 205 miles from the center of the storm.

Debby is projected to move offshore, where it will drift through Wednesday before making a second landfall over South Carolina on Thursday. Debby is forecast to strengthen as it moves north along the Atlantic coast, the hurricane center said.

At least 3 suspected tornadoes reported in South Carolina

There were at least three reported tornadoes in South Carolina on Monday night as the storm crawled northward, bringing a barrage of severe weather across the Southeast.

In Edisto Beach, 50 miles southwest of Charleston, a tornado touched down and caused “some property damage,” knocking down power poles and toppling trees, according to a post on X by the Colleton County Sheriff’s Office . No injuries were reported.

In Charleston County, dispatchers reported a tornado that caused damage to at least one house, according to National Weather Service reports .

In Berkeley County, emergency services reported a tornado near the town of Moncks Corner, about 30 miles north of Charleston. An Applebee's restaurant was reportedly damaged and power poles were toppled, some onto cars, the weather service said.

What makes Debby such a treacherous storm?

Debby is a large and slow-moving storm, making the system particularly dangerous as record amounts of rain inundate many areas, especially along the coasts of Georgia and South Carolina this week.

The storm’s center was forecast to move near Savannah on Tuesday night and drag along the South Carolina coast on Thursday night. "Multiple days of very, very heavy rainfall" are possible, National Hurricane Center Director Michael Brennan said.

The National Weather Service estimates rainfall totals could reach up to 25 inches or more in isolated locations along the coast through Friday. The weather service office in Charleston, South Carolina, warned of "potentially historic rainfall."

Debby shows there's more to a storm than wind scale

As Debby strengthened in the Gulf and drew closer to Florida, hurricane experts and scientists say it was a classic example of how the wind scale categories used to describe hurricanes can fall short of telling the whole story.

"This is another example of a storm where the primary impacts are going to be from water, rather than wind," said James Franklin, a retired branch chief of the hurricane specialist unit at the National Hurricane Center.

Jennifer Collins, a professor in the Geosciences School at the University of South Florida, has studied how to better communicate all of a storm’s threats.

Looking at the forecasts for up to 25 inches of rain in isolated locations between Savannah and Charleston, Collins told USA TODAY she’s very concerned about the likelihood of “catastrophic flooding" and hopes people will look at all of the hurricane center's forecast products.  Read more here .