News Wrap: E. Jean Carroll testifies in federal court saying Trump raped her in 1996

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• Amna Nawaz:

  In the day's other headlines: President Biden began running his first ads and taking his first questions since formally announcing his reelection bid.

  At a White House news conference, Mr. Biden dismissed his lackluster poll ratings. He said he's ready to face former President Trump again, if it comes to that.

  You've said you can beat Trump again. Do you think you're the only one?

  Joe Biden, President of the United States: I may not be the only one, but I know him well. And I know the danger he presents to our democracy. And we've been down this road before.

• Amna Nawaz:

  As for questions about his age, the president said voters will watch him and — quote — "They're going to have to judge whether I have or don't have it."

  The writer E. Jean Carroll took the stand in New York today and told a federal court — quote — "Donald Trump raped me."

  Carroll testified that it happened in a department store dressing room in 1996. And she said, when she publicly accused him years later, he lied and shattered her reputation. Carroll is suing for unspecified damages. Mr. Trump has denied the allegations.

  In Sudan, fighting has flared again around the capital of Khartoum, undermining the latest cease-fire attempt. Desperate families are still trying to escape the country by land and sea, part of an exodus of thousands so far. Today, in Paris, planes arrived carrying evacuees who brought with them stories of horror.

• Leila Oulkebous, French Evacuee (through translator):

  I didn't feel at ease seeing so many soldiers with heavy weapons. I also saw a bomber and missiles. I saw dead bodies on the road, images that I want to empty my head of.

• Amna Nawaz:

  Meanwhile, the army said the ousted dictator Omar al-Bashir has been moved to a military run hospital. He's wanted by the International Criminal Court on charges of genocide and war crimes in Sudan's Darfur region.

  A new migrant tragedy off Libya's coast has claimed 55 more lives, including children. U.N. migration officials say a rubber boat headed to Europe sank Tuesday near Garabouli, a coastal town east of Tripoli. Today, aid workers said they are still recovering bodies.

  One of the few survivors said the boat was badly overloaded.

• Bassam Mahmoud, Egyptian Migrant (through translator):

  We got into the small vote between 1:00 and 2:00 a.m. There were around 80 of us. People were asking the driver to stop, saying the boat was sinking. But he said no.

  As it sank, we started fighting for our lives and screaming for help, until someone came to rescue us. It was an indescribable scene.

• Amna Nawaz:

  The U.N. says at least 740 people have drowned or gone missing in the Mediterranean this year. That's more than any other year since 2017.

  Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had a critical phone call today with China's president, their first known contact since Russia invaded Ukraine. Afterwards, Zelenskyy called it — quote — "a powerful impetus to the development of bilateral relations and possibly to peace."

  China's Xi Jinping visited Moscow last month. Beijing says it's seeking a — quote — "political settlement" of the war.

  In Russia, the jailed opposition leader Alexey Navalny says he is now facing terrorism charges that could add 30 years to his prison term. He spoke today during a Moscow hearing via video link from a penal colony. It was his first public appearance in months.

• Alexey Navalny, Russian Opposition Leader (through translator):

  I just wanted to say that I got a little bit lonely in solitary confinement, and it's just amazing to see so many people. The only people I'm in contact with are the ones who hands me my food and, of course, my favorite head of the unit who now sits next to me filming.

• Amna Nawaz:

  Navalny appeared gaunt at a time that supporters have warned his health is failing. The audio was abruptly muted by the court as he began to criticize this latest case against him.

  For the first time, women will be allowed to vote at a meeting Roman Catholic Bishops. The Vatican announced today that Pope Francis has approved the change that women had been seeking for decades. It applies to five nuns who represent religious orders and several dozen other women who will attend the Bishops Conference in October.

  Back in this country, the Walt Disney Company is suing Florida's Republican Governor Ron DeSantis, targeting his takeover of the Disney World district at Orlando. The suit says Disney faces — quote — "a targeted campaign of government retaliation" because it criticized a ban on discussing sexual orientation and gender identity in schools.

  The governor's office accused Disney of undermining the will of Florida voters.

  Britain today blocked Microsoft plans to buy video game maker Activision Blizzard for $69 billion. It would have been the biggest tech deal ever, but British regulators said it would kill competition in the cloud gaming market. The merger also faces challenges in the U.S. and the European Union.

  President Biden's pick for labor secretary, Julie Su, advanced today in the Senate committee on a party-line vote, but her prospects in the closely divided full Senate are unclear. Republicans say Su is unfairly pro-union and some moderate Democrats have not said if they will support her.

  And, on Wall Street, stocks struggled for a second day. The Dow Jones industrial average lost 229 points to close near 33300. The Nasdaq rose 55 points. The S&P 500 slipped 15.

  Still to come on the "NewsHour": former Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson becomes the latest Republican presidential candidate; the trial of the far right Proud Boys over the Capitol insurrection draws to a close; Montana Republicans hold a vote to censure a trans lawmaker; the next generation of doctors prepares to tackle the rural health care shortage; plus much more.

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