Kamala Harris has quickly amassed the support of over 500 delegates in her bid for the presidency following President Joe Biden’s decision to step aside from the race. With a total of 1,986 delegates needed for the nomination, Harris praised Biden’s “legacy of achievements” during her first appearance since her nomination. She highlighted his “honesty,” “integrity,” and “deep love” for the United States as guiding principles in his decision to withdraw his candidacy.
Harris broke records by raising more than $81 million within just 24 hours of Biden’s announcement, marking a significant milestone in the ongoing presidential campaign. The campaign, which has retained much of Biden’s operational team, views this impressive fundraising as a testament to the enthusiasm surrounding her candidacy.
The European Union has expressed respect for Biden’s decision, with the EU’s foreign policy chief, Josep Borrell, stating that their relationship with him has been “very positive.” Conversely, the Kremlin stated it was “not very surprised,” and China opted not to comment.
In Venezuela, millions of citizens living abroad face obstacles in voting due to government restrictions. The country has around 29.4 million inhabitants, with approximately 21.4 million eligible to vote in the upcoming presidential elections. However, stringent requirements for registration abroad mean only 69,211 Venezuelans outside the country can vote, a drop from 110,000 in previous elections. This number is minimal compared to the eight million Venezuelans estimated to have emigrated, according to United Nations data.
In Brazil, President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has stood firm in his defense of democracy against rising far-right movements. He further urged Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro to conduct fair and transparent elections, emphasizing that while candidates from both the left and right are normal in a functioning democracy, disrespect for democratic values is unacceptable.
Meanwhile, former Bolivian President Evo Morales expressed confidence in a victory for chavismo in Venezuela, despite international concerns regarding the legitimacy of the upcoming elections. He assured that President Maduro and the Venezuelan people are resilient.
In the United States, the Secret Service director, Kimberly Cheatle, admitted before Congress that the recent attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump was the agency’s “greatest operational failure” in decades. Trump was injured during a July rally when shots were fired from a distance outside the security perimeter.
In Gaza, violence continues to escalate, with reports indicating at least 70 Palestinians, including eight children, killed in attacks near Jan Yunis. This area recently faced evacuation orders as part of an Israeli military operation against Hamas. Hospitals in the region are overwhelmed, managing hundreds of injured.
Israeli military leaders believe they can withdraw troops from Gaza for an extended period without allowing Hamas to regroup, potentially as part of overall negotiations that might include a ceasefire.
Moreover, Josep Borrell commented on the recent ruling by the International Court of Justice, which deemed Israeli settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem illegal, interpreting this as a replacement for the failures of political solutions.
As for protests in Bangladesh, one of the leading figures announced a 48-hour pause in student-led demonstrations amidst rising violence, with over a hundred fatalities reported. This pause follows a Supreme Court ruling favoring students regarding public employment quotas. India has strengthened security along its border in response to the instability, as many international students are leaving the region.
In a notable scientific discovery, researchers revealed that the ocean floor can generate its own oxygen, potentially altering our understanding of how life began on Earth. This oxygen is produced by polymetallic nodules containing rare metals, suggesting that, beyond sunlight-driven photosynthesis, life could also thrive in complete darkness on marine beds.
Image and News Source: https://www.infobae.com/america/agencias/2024/07/22/lunes-22-de-julio-de-2024-2200-gmt/