The Obamas endorse Kamala Harris for president | First Thing
The US vice president has now won the backing of all the Democratic party's high-profile figures. Plus: a sweltering summer in Las Vegas
Good morning.
The former president Barack Obama and his wife Michelle, the former first lady, have officially endorsed Kamala Harris as the Democratic nominee for US president in a video released by her campaign on Friday. We called to say Michelle and I couldn't be prouder to endorse you and do everything we can to get you through this election and into the Oval Office," Barack Obama said in the video.
Who else has endorsed Harris? Bill and Hillary Clinton, Nancy Pelosi, a host of state governors and the most senior Democrats in Congress - as well as Joe Biden himself, after ending his re-election campaign - have all endorsed Harris.
What do the polls say? While Harris is closing the gap on Donald Trump, she is still narrowly trailing in the swing states of Michigan, Pennsylvania, Arizona and Georgia.
How did Harris's meeting with Benjamin Netanyahu go on Thursday? In comments that were closely watched for signs of a shift from Biden's policy approach, Harris asserted that while Israel has a right to defend itself", how Israel defended itself mattered: We cannot look away in the face of these tragedies [in Gaza]. We cannot allow ourselves to become numb to the suffering and I will not be silent."
How important is Harris's Israel policy to her presidential bid? More than 700,000 Americans voted uncommitted", or its equivalent, in state primaries as a message to Biden that he risked losing significant support in November if he did not shift away from his support for Israel. [Harris] could get my vote, but it's going to be a difficult journey. We actually need to see action," said Fadel Nabilsi, a Palestinian American attorney who voted uncommitted in Michigan's Democratic primary.
What happened? Arsonists targeted installations along the lines connecting Paris with the country's west, north and east, cutting and burning crucial cable lines.
How many people will be affected? Authorities estimate that the travel plans of about 800,000 French holidaymakers will be disrupted this weekend because of the attacks.
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