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A curated weekday guide to major news and developments over the past 24 hours. Here’s today’s news:
U.S. PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS
Former President Barack Obama endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris to be the Democratic presidential nominee, saying in a statement with Michelle Obama that they would “do everything we can to elect Kamala Harris the next president of the United States.” Obama was the most prominent Democrat to have held out on endorsing Harris’s candidacy. Chris Cameron reports for The New York Times.
Harris is planning to announce her running mate by Aug. 7, expediting a process that typically takes months. The Harris campaign aims to make the selection quickly to remove legal risk related to securing ballot access in Ohio, which has mandated that the major political parties certify their candidates for president and vice president by Aug. 7. Reid Epstein, Lisa Lerer, Shane Goldmacher, and Katie Glueck report for The New York Times.
Former President Trump has backed off his commitment to another debate on Sept. 10, now that the Democrats have changed candidates from President Biden to Harris. Harris has said she’s “ready to debate” Trump and that it appears Trump is “backpedaling.” Maggie Haberman and Shane Goldmacher report for The New York Times; Mariana Alfaro reports for The Washington Post.
The Justice Department’s in-house watchdog issued a report yesterday criticizing former Attorney General William Bar’s role in a 2020 election inquiry. The inspector general said he was “troubled” by Barr’s decision in 2020 to brief Trump on an inquiry over nine discarded ballots, which might have encouraged Trump’s false election claims. Glenn Thrush reports The New York Times.
The Federal Communications Commission has proposed new rules for political ads, mandating the disclosure of AI-generated content in broadcast television and radio ads. The move aims to inform voters about lifelike and misleading AI-generated media in ads, but its implementation before the November election is uncertain. Ali Swenson reports for AP News.
ISRAEL-HAMAS WAR – U.S. RESPONSE
After meeting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu yesterday, Harris did not stray from Biden on policy, but struck a stronger tone on the plight of Palestinians. Harris told reporters Israel had a right to defend itself, but that “far too many innocent civilians” had died in Gaza and that “I will not be silent” about their suffering. Azi Paybarah reports for The Washington Post; Pete Baker reports for The New York Times.
Trump yesterday urged Netanyahu to end the war in Gaza ahead of their meeting today. Israel must end the war in Gaza “and get it done quickly,” Trump said in an interview on Fox News, arguing that Israel was “getting decimated” by negative publicity over its conduct of the war. Ephrat Livni reports for The New York Times.
The United States has sent thousands of bombs and missiles to Israel over the past ten months, a new report finds. A tally of publicly known deliveries, compiled by the Jewish Institute for National Security of America, shows that more than 20,000 unguided bombs, some 2,600 guided bombs, and 3,000 precision missiles, among other weapons, have been shipped since Oct. 7. Lauren Leatherby reports for The New York Times.
ISRAEL-HAMAS WAR – INTERNATIONAL RESPONSE
Britain has dropped its objections to the International Criminal Court’s arrest warrants for Israeli leaders. A spokesperson for the Labour government said it will not pursue questions on the court’s jurisdiction over Netanyahu and Gallant, “in line with our longstanding position that this is a matter for the court to decide on.” The Guardian reports.
Australia, New Zealand, and Canada today called for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and asked Israel to respond to the International Court of Justice’s ruling that its occupation of Palestinian territories and settlements there were illegal. “Israel must listen to the concerns of the international community,” the leader’s statement said. Lewis Jackson reports for Reuters.
A Houthi response to Israeli airstrikes near Yemen’s port city Hodeidah is coming, the Iran-backed group’s leader declared in a televised speech yesterday. Reuters reports.
GLOBAL DEVELOPMENTS
A series of fires has hit French high-speed rail lines SNCF, hours before the Paris Olympics opening ceremony. The raid company said it was a “massive attack aimed at paralyzing the network.” BBC News reports.
U.S. law enforcement officials arrested two top leaders of Mexico’s Sinaloa Cartel in El Paso, Texas, the Justice Department said yesterday. Ismael Zambada García and Joaquín Guzmán López are among the most powerful drug traffickers in Mexico. Details of their arrest remain unclear, but it appears they flew into the United States. Max Matza and Will Grant report for BBC News; Alan Feueer and Natalie Kitroeff report for The New York Times.
Philippine authorities are racing to stop the oil spill after a tanker sank yesterday in heavy monsoon rains, fearing it could be the worst in the country’s history if it is not contained. Meanwhile, Typhoon Gaemi has made landfall in mainland China after wreaking havoc in Taiwan and the Philippines. Annabelle Liange reports for BBC News; Ruth Comerford reports for BBC News.
An 18-year-old man has been arrested in southeast Ukraine on suspicion of shooting dead Iryna Farion, a controversial former MP. Paul Kirby reports for BBC News.
A boat carrying at least 45 migrants and refugees capsized off Yemen, the U.N. refugee agency has said. Only four survivors have been found. David Gritten reports for BBC News.
Italy has decided to appoint an ambassador to Syria “to turn a spotlight” on the country, its foreign minister said today, making it the first G7 nation to relaunch its diplomatic mission in Damascus since the civil war broke out in 2011. Reuters reports.
U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres yesterday called for countries to address the urgency of the extreme heat epidemic, days after the world registered its hottest day on record. Reuters reports.
RUSSIA-UKRAINE WAR
Russia yesterday launched 38 Shahed drones at Ukraine overnight, with three straying into NATO-member Romania’s airspace. Ukraine said its air defense intercepted 25 of the drones. Veronika Melkozerova reports for Politico.
The E.U. will transfer 1.5 billion euros, or $1.6 billion, in proceeds from frozen Russian assets to Ukraine, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said today. Reuters reports.
OTHER U.S. DOMESTIC DEVELOPMENTS
A 42-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of starting the Park Fire in California, which has burned over 70,000 acres since it began Wednesday. The suspect, whose name has not been released, is being held without bail. Bill Hutchenson reports for ABC News.
Governor Gavin Newsom (D-CA) has ordered California state officials to begin dismantling thousands of homeless encampments. The move follows a recent Supreme Court ruling that expanded government authority to remove homeless individuals from public spaces. Shawn Hubler reports for The New York Times.
An ex-Uvalde school police officer pleaded not guilty to charges of child endangerment and abandonment in the 2022 massacre. Holly Yan, Shimon Prokupecz, Linh Tran, and Leigh Waldman report for CNN.
A North Korean military intelligence operative has been indicted in Kansas City for hacking U.S. healthcare providers, NASA, and military bases. Nick Ingram, Michael Goldberg, and Heather Hollingsworth report for AP News.
President Biden yesterday signed a bill into laws strengthening oversight of the crisis-plagued federal Bureau of Prisons. Michael Sisak and Michael Baalsamo report for AP News.