Democrats honor Biden while pivoting to Harris on first day of convention
CHICAGO (AP) — President Joe Biden is delivering his valedictory address to Democrats. His decision to end his reelection bid released newfound energy with Vice President Kamala Harris′ rise to the top of the ticket. The Democratic National Convention that began Monday in Chicago holds particularly high stakes for the party. If successful, Democrats will slingshot Harris toward a faceoff with Republican Donald Trump. Harris made an unannounced appearance onstage Monday evening to praise Biden, saying: “Joe, thank you for your historic leadership, for your lifetime of service to our nation, and for all you’ll continue to do. We are forever grateful to you.”
The Latest: Biden headlines Night 1 of the DNC
The Democratic National Convention began Monday in Chicago, with roughly 50,000 people expected to arrive in the Windy City. That includes thousands of anti-war activists demonstrating near the United Center. President Joe Biden is the headline speaker for the first evening. Later this week, Vice President Kamala Harris will officially accept the party’s nomination.
Joe Biden’s exit, talk of the glass ceiling, a civil rights hero. Takeaways from Day 1 of the DNC
CHICAGO (AP) — The Democratic National Convention’s first night is featuring speeches from the last Democrat to lose to Donald Trump and the last one to beat him. Hillary Clinton painted a vision of Vice President Kamala Harris “on the other side” of the glass ceiling, taking the oath of office as the first female president. Joe Biden was scheduled to be the final speaker in Chicago. Harris made an unscheduled appearance onstage earlier in the night to pay tribute to Biden, telling the president, “Thank you for your historic leadership, for your lifetime of service to our nation, and for all you’ll continue to do.”
Some protesters tear down security fence as thousands march outside Democratic National Convention
CHICAGO (AP) — Dozens of protesters broke through a security fence near the site of the Democratic National Convention on its opening day as thousands took to the streets to voice their opposition to the war in Gaza. Families with babies in strollers, students, elected leaders and others holding signs and flags joined the march on Monday to the United Center, where the convention is being held, to call for a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war. As the larger group marched peacefully, a few dozen who broke away tore down pieces of the security fence. Several protesters who had managed to get through the fence were detained and handcuffed by officers.
Trump is visiting battleground states this week as he struggles to adjust to Harris as his new rival
YORK, Pa. (AP) — As Democrats kick off their convention in Chicago, Donald Trump is trying to regain his footing after weeks of struggling to adjust to Vice President Kamala Harris as his rival. The former president and GOP nominee on Monday delivered a speech at a factory in Pennsylvania as he attempts to undercut the Democratic celebration with a jam-packed schedule. He is holding daily events in battleground states tied to subjects where Republicans think they hold an advantage, including the economy, crime and safety, national security and the border.
US intelligence officials say Iran is to blame for hacks targeting Trump, Biden-Harris campaigns
WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. intelligence officials say they’re confident that Iran was responsible for the hack of Donald Trump’s presidential campaign, casting the cyber intrusion as part of a brazen and broader effort by Tehran to interfere in American politics and to undermine faith in democratic institutions. Although the Trump campaign and private-sector cybersecurity investigators had previously said Iran was behind the hacking attempts, it is the first time the U.S. government has assigned blame for the attack. The joint statement from the FBI and other federal agencies issued Monday also indicates that Iran was responsible for attempts to hack Vice President Kamala Harris’ campaign. It says hackers had sought access to people from both presidential campaigns.
Blinken says Israel OKs a plan to break the cease-fire impasse and urges Hamas to do the same
TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken says Israel has accepted a proposal to bridge differences holding up a cease-fire and hostage release in Gaza, and he called on Hamas to do the same, without saying whether the latest draft had addressed concerns cited by the militant group. Blinken spoke after holding a 2 1/2 hour meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday, and was expected to travel to Egypt and Qatar on Tuesday. Blinken did not say whether the latest proposal addressed Israel’s demands for control over two strategic corridors inside Gaza, which Hamas has said is a nonstarter, or other issues that have long bedeviled the negotiations.
Civilians flee Pokrovsk as Russia’s army bears down on the key eastern Ukraine city
POKROVSK, Ukraine (AP) — Civilians with small children in their arms and lugging heavy suitcases are fleeing Ukraine’s eastern city of Pokrovsk, where the Russian army is bearing down fast despite a lightning Ukrainian incursion into Russia’s Kursk region. Local authorities said Russian forces are advancing so quickly that families must leave the city and other nearby towns and villages from Tuesday. Around 53,000 people still live in Pokrovsk, officials say, and some decided to get out while they could as Russia’s army menaces. People of all ages hastened to leave the city, boarding trains and buses with the belongings they could carry. Some wept as they waited to depart, and soldiers helped the elderly with their bags. Pokrovsk is one of Ukraine’s main defensive strongholds.
Jury hears ex-politician on trial for murder amassed photos, ID records about slain Vegas reporter
LAS VEGAS (AP) — A Nevada jury heard testimony that Las Vegas police found hundreds of photos of a slain investigative journalist’s home and neighborhood, along with screen shots of his identification records, on the cellphone and computer of a Democratic politician accused of killing him in September 2022. Prosecutors rested their case Monday against former elected county administrator of estates Robert Telles. His lawyer says Telles intends to testify in his defense, maybe Tuesday afternoon. Telles has pleaded not guilty to killing veteran Las Vegas Review-Journal reporter Jeff German in September 2022. That was just months after German wrote articles critical of Telles and his office.
George Santos pleads guilty, acknowledging lies and blaming ambition for conning his way to Congress
CENTRAL ISLIP, N.Y. (AP) — Former U.S. Rep. George Santos has pleaded guilty to wire fraud and aggravated identity theft in his federal fraud case. The New York Republican entered the plea Monday in a courtroom in Long Island. His trial had been set to start in early September. Santos was indicted on charges he stole from political donors, used campaign contributions to pay for personal expenses, lied to Congress about his wealth and collected unemployment benefits while working. He was expelled from Congress following an ethics investigation. Santos remains free on bond awaiting sentencing Feb. 7. He faces more than six years in prison under federal sentencing guidelines and owes at least $370,000 in restitution.
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