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On August 2, 2024, Washington time, U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris successfully secured enough party delegate support to be confirmed as the Democratic presidential candidate. She will compete against Republican candidate Donald Trump for the U.S. presidency in November.

In her statement, Harris expressed pride in receiving broad support and looked forward to formally accepting the nomination. She stated, "Tonight, I am proud to announce that I have garnered the broad support necessary to become our party's candidate." This announcement will be officially confirmed in the Democratic National Committee's virtual roll-call vote scheduled for August 7 and at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago from August 19 to 22, where Harris and her vice-presidential candidate will be formally nominated.

Harris emphasized her commitment to building a future where everyone has the opportunity not just to live but to succeed. On the social media platform X (formerly Twitter), she stated that Trump wants to take America back to a time when many Americans did not fully enjoy freedom and rights, but she believes in a bright future that provides space for all Americans.

Additionally, Harris highlighted her policy goals, including paid family leave, affordable childcare and healthcare, and strengthening the middle class as the main goals of her presidency. This nomination marks Harris as the first woman of African and Asian American descent to receive a major party's presidential nomination, a significant milestone for the Democratic Party and American history.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken issued a statement on the 1st, stating that the Venezuelan presidential election had serious flaws and that opposition candidate Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia should be declared the winner. Brazil, Colombia, and Mexico support the U.S. stance and urge the Venezuelan government to promptly release detailed voting statistics.

In his statement, Blinken noted that the election results reflect the will of the Venezuelan people. He congratulated opposition candidate Gonzalez, who won the majority of the votes, and called on Venezuelan authorities to respect public opinion and facilitate a peaceful transfer of power. He emphasized support for restoring democratic norms in Venezuela and pledged to work with the international community to achieve this.

Venezuela held its presidential election on the 28th of last month, with over 12 million voters casting their ballots. Incumbent President Nicolás Maduro declared himself the winner, sparking widespread protests. After the election, the electoral commission announced that Maduro had won 51% of the votes but did not release detailed vote counts. The opposition gathered information from polling stations nationwide, showing that Gonzalez had more than twice the support of Maduro, consistent with pre-election polls, and thus should be declared the winner.

Foreign ministers of the G7, including representatives from the U.S., Canada, Germany, France, the UK, Italy, Japan, and the EU, issued a joint statement supporting the Venezuelan people. Brazil, Colombia, and Mexico also joined the call for the Venezuelan authorities to promptly release detailed voting results and resolve issues peacefully and democratically.

Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, accused of being the mastermind behind the 9/11 attacks, along with two other co-conspirators, has been imprisoned at the U.S. Naval Base in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, since 2003. On the 31st of last month, the U.S. Department of Defense announced that the suspects had reached a plea deal with the prosecution to avoid the death penalty and receive other sentences instead. Mohammed, who was bin Laden's deputy and studied in the United States, agreed to plead guilty, admitting that he planned the entire 9/11 incident.

A spokesperson for the Office of Military Commissions (OMC), which is prosecuting the case, confirmed that besides the accused mastermind Mohammed, the other two defendants, Walid bin Attash and Mustafa al-Hawsawi, also signed plea agreements.

The 9/11 attacks over 20 years ago resulted in 2,976 deaths. In a letter to the victims' families, the OMC's chief prosecutor stated, "The three defendants agreed to plead guilty to planning the 9/11 attacks, including the murder of 2,976 people. They are expected to plead guilty at a plea hearing as soon as next week." While this outcome may not fully satisfy the victims' families, the OMC believes it is the best way to achieve justice in a case that has been delayed for two decades. This is due to the fact that the three were subjected to torture by the CIA after being captured in Pakistan, and the admissibility of evidence obtained through torture in court has been a major issue. The plea deal is seen as the best way for both parties to achieve their goals.

Ismail Haniyeh, a leader of the Palestinian militant group Hamas, was killed by an Israeli strike in Iran on July 31. Hamas has vowed not to let this incident go unpunished, raising concerns about the Gaza conflict potentially escalating into a broader Middle Eastern war. Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei stated that Tehran is responsible for avenging Haniyeh. Following Iran's threats of retaliation against Israel, the White House expressed concern that rising tensions could lead to a wider Middle Eastern war.

Prior to this assassination, Fuad Shukr, a top military commander of Lebanon's Hezbollah, was killed in an Israeli airstrike on the Lebanese capital, Beirut. The strike was reportedly in retaliation for a deadly rocket attack on the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights. Iran and Hamas accused Israel of launching a fatal airstrike on Haniyeh, but Israel has not commented on the matter.

Barbara Woodward, the UK Ambassador to the United Nations, urged all parties to remain calm and exercise restraint, calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza. Woodward emphasized the need for Israel and Hamas to recommit to the peace process and work towards a two-state solution to establish a secure Israel and a sovereign Palestinian state.

While Khamenei has threatened retaliation against Israel, it remains unclear how strongly Iran will respond or whether it will adjust its actions to avoid further escalation. Iranian officials have suggested that Iran is considering using drones and missiles to target military sites near Tel Aviv and Haifa, but they aim to avoid civilian casualties.

Khamenei, who has the final say on all matters in Iran and serves as the commander-in-chief of the armed forces, has instructed military commanders to prepare attack and defense plans in case the conflict escalates and Israel or the U.S. attacks Iran. White House National Security spokesperson John Kirby stated at a daily press briefing that the U.S. does not believe the region is headed for full-scale conflict and is working to prevent such an outcome.

Recent strong monsoon activity in India has led to continuous heavy rainfall, causing severe landslides in multiple areas. In the mountainous region of Kerala in southern India, an astonishing amount of rain fell in just four hours, resulting in a massive landslide. Although the military and police deployed significant personnel for rescue efforts, as of noon on the 31st, the death toll in the heavily affected Wayanad area has exceeded 50 and is expected to rise as many people remain trapped under debris and rubble.

In Wayanad, at least three landslides occurred following several hours of torrential rain, severely damaging multiple villages. The landslides disrupted mountain roads, significantly hindering rescue operations. Rescue teams are racing against time, hoping to save people during the critical window for rescue. The most affected areas are in the mountainous regions of northern and western India, particularly the southern slopes of the Himalayas, where access for rescue teams has been blocked. Some villages have been completely buried under landslides, with many houses destroyed in an instant, forcing hundreds of residents to evacuate their homes urgently.

The challenging weather conditions have greatly impeded the rescue efforts. Local rescue authorities have stated that due to the rugged terrain and destroyed roads, rescue teams can only enter affected areas on foot or by helicopter. Furthermore, ongoing heavy rains have made the soil extremely unstable, posing a constant threat of further landslides, which complicates rescue operations.

The Indian government has urgently dispatched multiple rescue teams and military units to assist in the affected areas, implementing emergency response plans to provide temporary shelters and basic supplies to the affected population. Additionally, the health department has sent medical teams to address potential outbreaks of diseases.

Indian Prime Minister Modi expressed deep condolences over the disaster and pledged that the government would make every effort to assist the victims and help them through this difficult time. He urged local residents to remain vigilant and follow government guidance, avoiding dangerous areas. The international community has also expressed concern over the disaster. The United Nations and several international humanitarian organizations have indicated their readiness to provide necessary assistance to India to support rescue and reconstruction efforts.

Last week, U.S. President Joe Biden announced his withdrawal from the presidential race and expressed his support for Vice President Kamala Harris to succeed him in the contest against Republican candidate Donald Trump. This decision has brought a timely turnaround for the Democratic Party, which was previously in a slump.

President Joe Biden's poor performance in the debate hosted by CNN sparked calls for him to be replaced. After enduring several weeks of pressure, he announced his withdrawal from the 2024 presidential race on the 21st. The Democratic Party's move to replace Biden has provided a boost, though most polls show that Kamala Harris is still trailing Trump in national support. Nevertheless, Harris's candidacy has significantly closed the gap that previously existed between Biden and Trump.

Kamala Harris, who stepped up in a critical moment, has raised substantial funds for her campaign. Her favorability among voters has also surged. As of the 28th, she has raised $200 million, with 66% of the donors contributing for the first time this year. Additionally, 170,000 people have joined her campaign as volunteers. According to the latest ABC poll, Harris's favorability rating has jumped to 43%, with an unfavorable rating of 42%. Just a week earlier, her favorability was at 35%, with 46% of respondents viewing her unfavorably.

Trump's favorability has slightly declined, dropping from 40% last week to 36%. This poll was conducted on July 26-27, with a random sample of 1,200 American adults. Harris's national support is now only two percentage points behind Trump, a significant improvement from the six-point deficit Biden previously faced, largely due to increased support from African Americans, young people, and women.

Disheartened by Biden's reelection campaign, Democrats have rallied around Vice President Kamala Harris, whose candidacy has clearly reinvigorated the Democratic campaign. Former President Barack Obama warned against complacency among Democrats, emphasizing that Harris is still trailing in the race and needs to win the trust of more voters.

Israeli authorities announced today that a football field in the occupied Golan Heights was hit by a rocket attack, resulting in the deaths of 12 people. The Lebanese militant group Hezbollah has denied involvement in the attack, while Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz warned that a "full-scale war" with Lebanon and Hezbollah is imminent.

According to a Reuters report, the Israeli military has announced preparations to respond to this attack. This incident marks the deadliest attack on Israeli territory or its occupied lands since the outbreak of the Gaza conflict.
The Israeli ambulance service reported that a rocket fired from Lebanon struck a football field in the Druze village of Majdal Shams, killing 10 people, including several children, and injuring 13 others.

News website Axios reported that Israeli Foreign Minister Katz stated Israel is about to launch a "full-scale war" against Hezbollah and Lebanon. He emphasized, "Today's attack by Hezbollah has crossed all red lines, and we will respond accordingly."
Hezbollah, in a written statement, refuted these claims, stating, "The Islamic Resistance Movement (Hezbollah) has absolutely nothing to do with this incident and categorically denies all such false accusations."

Dr. Hong Tao-Tze, president of FOWPAL, visits Christos Veronis (third from right), Mayor of Mykonos, Greece. He acknowledges Dr. Hong’s long-term commitment to promoting love, peace and conscience.

Against the backdrop of the sunset, the Bell of World Peace and Love rang in front of the largest Orthodox church on the island, Orthodox Metropolitan Cathedral, blessing the world.

The Paris Olympics has officially commenced, marking the first time in Olympic history that the opening ceremony is held in an open venue. This year, the traditional method of athletes marching into the stadium was replaced by delegations appearing on boats along the Seine River. The opening ceremony fused French artistic performances, with highlights including spectacular performances by Lady Gaga and Celine Dion.

A total of 39 members of the Chinese Taipei delegation participated, with badminton star Tai Tzu-Ying and breakdancer B-Boy Sunny serving as flag bearers. Taiwanese athletes wore ocean blue suits designed by Taiwanese designer Chou Yu-Ying, which were featured in Forbes' top ten Olympic uniform designs. They embarked on the 74th boat in the parade. Although they competed under the name Chinese Taipei, they entered in alphabetical order under "T," alongside countries like Tajikistan, Tanzania, and Chad. During the introduction of the Taiwanese delegation, the France 2 television host remarked, "Chinese Taipei, known to us as Taiwan." Athletes passed by famous landmarks such as the Louvre and Notre-Dame Cathedral before heading to the Trocadéro Gardens for the grand opening ceremony.

Following the Bahrain delegation's entrance, Lady Gaga appeared on the banks of the Seine River, singing the French song "La Vie en rose," dancing, and playing the piano. She concluded with "Bonsoir, bienvenue à Paris!" officially opening the Paris Olympics.

During the opening ceremony, the Olympic flame made its way towards its final destination at the Tuileries Garden. French football legend Zinedine Zidane handed the torch to Spanish tennis star Rafael Nadal. The 100-year-old Charles Coste, France's oldest Olympic gold medalist, passed the torch to French judo champion Teddy Riner and track and field star Marie-José Pérec, who lit the cauldron under a 30-meter-high hot air balloon. The hot air balloon's ascent symbolized a tribute to the first hydrogen balloon flight.

The opening performance included athlete parades and classic works such as "Les Misérables," "The Hunchback of Notre-Dame," and "Carmen." The popular animated characters, the Minions, also made an appearance, with a video showing the Minions as athletes and attempting to steal the "Mona Lisa," eliciting laughter from the audience.

As the hot air balloon-shaped cauldron slowly ascended, Celine Dion, who has publicly disclosed her battle with Stiff Person Syndrome and has not appeared publicly for nearly two years, performed "Hymne à l'amour" by Edith Piaf from the Eiffel Tower. This was her first Olympic performance since the 1996 Atlanta Games.

The Paris Olympics will take place from July 26 to August 11, 2024. This marks the first time in 100 years that Paris is hosting the event again and makes it the second city, after London, to host the Olympics three times. Due to the ongoing war in Ukraine, athletes from Russia and Belarus can only compete as neutral individuals and are barred from participating in the opening and closing ceremonies.