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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
Vice President Kamala Harris asserted herself yesterday as the de facto Democratic nominee for president, as almost every potential rival bowed out. The Associated Press reported late yesterday Harris has secured the backing of more than the 1,976 delegates needed to earn the nomination. According to Democratic National Committee (DNC) chair Jaime Harrison, the party will choose its presidential nominee in an online vote by Aug. 7. Shane Goldmacher and Reid Epstein report for the New York Times.
Six key Democratic governors endorsed Harris yesterday, closing off potential avenues to challenge the nomination. Govs. J.B. Pritzker (D-IL), Tim Walz (D-MN), Gretchen Whitmer (D-MI), Wes Moore (D-MD), Andy Beshear (D-KT), and Tony Evers (D-WI) all backed Harris, emerging instead as potential running mates. Reid Epstein reports for the New York Times.
Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi yesterday endorsed Harris to be the Democratic nominee, but two top Democrats in Congress have yet to offer an endorsement. Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) praised Harris’s bid as “off to a great start” but stopped short of endorsing her, promising to pursue the nomination through the DNC’s “grassroots and transparent process.” Annie Karni reports for the New York Times; Alexander Bolton reports for The Hill.
TRUMP RALLY SHOOTING
Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle faced fierce bipartisan criticism yesterday in her first testimony about former President Trump’s assassination attempt. Cheatle told members of the House Oversight Committee the attack was the “most significant operational failure” for the agency in decades and repeatedly took full responsibility, but declined to answer questions about the security failures. Several Democrats, including Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-MD), joined Republicans in calling for her resignation. Melissa Quinn reports for CBS News.
ISRAEL-HAMAS WAR
Israel intensified operations in southern Gaza yesterday, sending tanks back into Khan Younis after ordering civilians to evacuate. Israeli fire killed at least 70 Palestinians, according to Gaza medics. Separately, the U.N. accused Israeli forces of firing on an aid convoy Sunday as it traveled an agreed-upon route to the north. Nidal Al-Mughrabi, Ari Rabinovitch, and Hatem Khalid report for Reuters; Louisa Loveluck, Hajar Harb, and Jennifer Hassan report for the Washington Post.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu yesterday told families of hostages held in Gaza that a hostage release deal could be near, his office said today. Speaking in Washington, D.C. to families of hostages, he said, “The conditions [for a deal] are undoubtedly ripening. This is a good sign.” Maayan Lubell and Nidal Al-Mughrabi report for Reuters.
The daily average water and fuel supply in Gaza over the past two weeks has dropped to just a quarter of what it was before the war, the U.N. humanitarian affairs office said yesterday. Meanwhile, the World Health Organization today said there was a high risk of the polio virus spreading across the enclave and beyond due to the dire health and sanitation conditions. The New York Times reports; Reuters reports.
Israeli raids today in the occupied West Bank killed seven Palestinians, including two militant commanders and a woman, Palestinian and Israeli officials said. Reuters reports.
ISRAEL-HAMAS WAR – U.S. RESPONSE
Vice President Harris has declined to preside tomorrow when Netanyahu is set to address a joint meeting of Congress. An aide said her absence was due to conflict with a previously scheduled event in Indianapolis, and that she will meet with Netanyahu this week at the White House. Sen. Benjamin Cardin (D-MD), who chairs the Foreign Relations Committee, will sit in Harris’s place. Annie Karni reports for the New York Times.
ISRAEL-HAMAS WAR – INTERNATIONAL RESPONSE
Leaders of rival Palestinian factions, including Fatah and Hamas, signed a joint statement today in Beijing aimed at bridging divides. Chinese state media said the “Beijing declaration,” which was mediated by China, was signed by representatives of 14 Palestinian factions. Christian Shepherd, Vic Chiang, and Suzan Haidamous report for the Washington Post.
A barrage of rockets into northern Israel yesterday left two injured. Lebanese-backed Hezbollah claimed responsibility for the attack, saying it was carried out in response to IDF attacks in southern Lebanon. Adi Hashmonai reports for Haaretz.
President Biden pledged to use his last months in office trying to end the war in Gaza and bring home the remaining hostages. Biden is set to meet with Netanyahu on Thursday to discuss ceasefire and hostage negotiations. Barak Ravid reports for Axios.
Japan imposed asset-freeze sanctions for the first time on Israeli settlers in the West Bank, the government’s top spokesperson said today. Reuters reports.
GLOBAL DEVELOPMENTS
E.U. foreign policy chief Josep Borell has stripped Hungary of the right to host the next meeting of foreign and defense ministers over its stance on the Ukraine war. The move comes amid anger over Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow this month. Christy Cooney reports for BBC News.
The U.N. Security Council held an emergency meeting on Yemen yesterday to discuss the recent exchange of strikes between the Houthis and Israel. The New York Times reports.
Russia sentenced a Russian-American radio editor to over six years in a penal colony. A Russian court convicted Alsu Kurmasheva of “spreading false information about the Russian Army” while working for Radio Free Europe/Radio Free Liberty, a government-funded U.S. broadcaster. Ivan Nechepurenko reports for the New York Times.
A gunman killed at least six people at a nursing home in Croatia yesterday. The attack took place in Daruvar, a town 60 miles south of the capital, Zagreb. A suspect was arrested shortly after. Joe Orovic and Amelia Nierenberg report for the New York Times.
Uganda’s main opposition leader said security forces besieged his party’s headquarters in the capital Kampala yesterday ahead of an anti-government demonstration. Security forces detained several young people today taking part in the banned protest over government corruption and human rights abuses. Wedaeli Chibelushi reports for BBC News; Reuters reports.
Landslides in southern Ethiopia have killed at least 146, local officials say. Two landslides are thought to have occurred on Sunday evening and Monday morning after heavy rain in a remote mountainous area of the Gofa zone. Christy Cooney reports for BBC News.
RUSSIA-UKRAINE WAR
Ukraine reached a deal with a group of bondholders to restructure more than $20 billion in debt. The deal comes after months of negotiations, and is meant to preserve its limited cash for funding its war against Russia. Alexander Saeedy and Chelsey Dulaney report for the Wall Street Journal.
A Ukrainian drone attack on a ferry at port in southern Russia killed one person and wounded others, the regional governor has said. The port is located near the Kerch bridge, which enables road and rail travel between Russia and the Crimean peninsula. Laura Gozzi reports for BBC News.
TRUMP LEGAL MATTERS
Trump launched an appeal to his $454 million New York civil fraud judgment. Trump’s lawyers called the $454 million judgment “draconian” and complained that the “case violates centuries of New York case law.” In February, Judge Arthur Engoron found that Trump had deceived banks and insurers for years by inflating his wealth on financial statements to obtain favorable deals. Graham Kates reports for CBS News.
OTHER U.S. DOMESTIC DEVELOPMENTS
The death-penalty trial for a prisoner accused of plotting the bombing of the USS Cole in 2000 is set to begin in October 2025. The trial of Abd al-Rahim al-Nashiri will take place from Oct. 6 to Dec. 19 that year in Guantánamo Bay, according to an order released by the court. Carol Rosenberg reports for the New York Times.
Hundreds of flights were canceled yesterday as carriers, particularly Delta Airlines, worked to recover from the global tech outage on Friday. Over 9,000 flights were delayed due to continued trouble from the CrowdStrike outage. Zoe Scottie, Lauren Mascarenhas, and Holly Yan report for CNN.