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A curated weekday guide to major news and developments over the past 24 hours. Here’s today’s news:
TRUMP RALLY SHOOTING
Iran yesterday denied any involvement in the recent assassination attempt on former President Trump at a Pennsylvania rally, while also rejecting allegations that it had any “intention for such an action.” Niha Masih reports for the Washington Post.
The gunman who shot at Trump was reported as a suspicious person one hour before he opened fire, according to sources familiar with a briefing yesterday for senators. Meanwhile, FBI officials told members of Congress that Thomas Crooks had searched for images of Trump and President Biden as well as dates of Trump appearances and the Democratic National Convention. Julie Trsirkin, Julia Ainsley, Tim Stelloh, and Chloe Atkins report for NBC News; Eduardo Medina, Jeanna Smialek, Glenn Thrush, and Campbell Robertson report for the New York Times.
U.S. DOMESTIC DEVELOPMENTS
President Biden has become more receptive in the last few days to hearing arguments about why he should drop his re-election bid, Democrats briefed on his conversations said yesterday. Biden has not indicated he is changing his mind about running, the sources said, but he has been willing to listen to new polling data, and has asked questions about how Vice President Kamala Harris could win. Carl Hulse, Michael S. Schmidt, Reid J. Epstein, Peter Baker and Luke Broadwater report for the New York Times.
Former Trump aide Peter Navarro received thunderous cheers at the Republican National Convention yesterday. Speaking hours after having left a federal prison in Miami, Navarro said, “If they can come for me, if they can come for Donald Trump, be careful. They will come for you.” Navarro reported to prison in March after he was convicted of contempt of Congress for defying a subpoena from the House committee investigating the Jan 6. Capitol riots. Allan Smith reports for NBC News.
A Justice Department attorney who led the attempted prosecution of hundreds of anti-Trump protesters arrested on Trump’s inauguration day in 2017 is facing ethics charges. The D.C. Office of Disciplinary Counsel alleges that Jennifer Kerkhoff, the lead prosecutor in over 230 cases, hid exculpatory evidence from the defendants, edited videos to hide important context, and lied about her actions in court. Ryan J. Reilly reports for NBC News.
ISRAEL-HAMAS WAR
Israeli strikes over the past 24 hours have killed at least 81 Palestinians and wounded 198, according to the Hamas-run health ministry. Yesterday, Israeli forces hit areas of central Gaza, while Israeli tanks carried out a limited advance further into Rafah. Nidal Al-Mughrabi reports for Reuters.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu yesterday said that Israel must apply “pressure, pressure, and more pressure” to gain further concessions from Hamas in ceasefire negotiations. “As long as we keep pressuring them, Hamas will give up more and more,” Netanyahu said. Hopes for a ceasefire are diminishing as talks show little improvement. Aaron Boxerman reports for the New York Times.
Israel’s ultra-Orthodox Shas party yesterday urged potential conscripts to ignore a call-up from the Israeli military. The IDF said this week it will begin issuing initial summonses on Sunday to those designated for security service from among the ultra-Orthodox community. Lauren Izso and Tim Lister report for CNN.
ISRAEL-HAMAS WAR — U.S. RESPONSE
The United States, Israel, and the Palestinian Authority held a covert meeting last week to discuss reopening the Rafah crossing as part of a ceasefire and hostage deal, Israeli and U.S. officials told Axios. The meeting was the first time since Oct. 7 that U.S., Israeli, and Palestinian officials met together to discuss the day after the war ends in Gaza. Barak Ravid reports.
The State Department yesterday barred a former IDF sergeant convicted of extrajudicially killing a Palestinian in the West Bank from traveling to the United States. Washington also imposed visa restrictions on a group of people involved in actions undermining peace and stability in the West Bank, State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said. Simon Lewis and Jasper Ward report for Reuters.
RUSSIA-UKRAINE DEVELOPMENTS
Germany, Ukraine’s second biggest military donor, is planning to nearly halve its military aid for Kyiv next year, from around €8bn ($8.7bn) to around €4bn ($4.4bn), according to a draft budget approved by the government. Jaroslav Lukiv reports for BBC News.
GLOBAL DEVELOPMENTS
Students clashed with police in Bangladesh today as authorities suspended some mobile internet services to quell ongoing anti-quota protests. At least 10 people have been killed this week and hundreds injured in demonstrations against Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s quotas in government jobs, which students say are discriminatory and should be merit-based. Ruma Paul reports for Reuters.
King Charles III yesterday formally opened a new session of Britain’s parliament. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer unveiled his plans to target housebuilding, crime, and illegal migration during the first ceremonial King’s Speech of his government. Rob Picheta reports for CNN.
China yesterday said it has suspended arms control and nuclear nonproliferation talks with the United States, blaming the diplomatic impasse on ongoing U.S. arms sales to Taiwan. The freeze comes just eight months after the two countries held their first formal bilateral dialogue on the matter in almost five years. Cate Cadell and Abigail Hauslohner report for the Washington Post.
Japan is strengthening its military ties with South Korea amid increasing concerns over China’s assertiveness in the region and North Korean threats, Japan’s top general said today. Oren Liebermann and Brad Lendon report for CNN.
South Korea’s president today appointed a former North Korea diplomat as a vice minister, the highest post for any of the thousands of North Koreans who have resettled in the South. Hyung-Jin Kim reports for AP News.
Kenyan police yesterday banned protests in the center of Nairobi and surrounding areas “until further notice,” following a month of deadly anti-government protests. Basillioh Rukanga reports for BBC News.
Venezuelan security forces detained the security chief of opposition leader María Corina Machado, their party members say. Milciades Ávila is the latest opposition activist to be detained in the run-up to the country’s presidential election on July 28. Vanessa Buschschlüter reports for BBC News; Mauricio Torres and Sahar Akbarzai report for CNN.
Belarusian authorities yesterday expanded temporary visa-free travel for residents of 35 European countries, in a bid by President Alexander Lukashenko to try to improve relations with the West. Yuras Karmanau reports for AP News.
ISRAEL-HEZBOLLAH TENSIONS
The leader of Lebanon’s Hezbollah group yesterday threatened to target new areas in Israel if it does not stop striking civilians in southern Lebanon. “If Israeli tanks come to Lebanon, they will not only have a shortage in tanks but will never have any tanks left,” Hasan Nasrallah said in a televised address. Suzan Haidamous and Maham Javaid report for the Washington Post.