Vice President Kamala Harris speaks during a campaign rally in Milwaukee on Tuesday, July 23.
Published 6:12 PM EDT, Thu July 25, 2024
After weeks of fighting for his political life, US President Joe Biden ended his reelection bid on Sunday and endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris to succeed him.
It’s the first time a one-term US president has dropped out of a reelection run in decades, and it comes less than four months before November’s election.
Biden explained his unprecedented exit in an Oval Office speech on Wednesday.
“In recent weeks it’s become clear to me that I need to unite my party in this critical endeavor. I believe my record as president, my leadership in the world, my vision for America’s future all merited a second term,” Biden said. “But nothing, nothing can come in the way of saving our democracy. That includes personal ambition. So, I’ve decided the best way forward is to pass thetorchto a new generation. It’s the best way to unite our nation.”
Harris, in her first campaign rally on Tuesday, told supporters in Wisconsin that she will spend the coming weeks “continuing to unite our party” ahead of next month’s Democratic National Convention.
The former US senator from California, who previously served as the state’s attorney general, could be the first Black woman and Asian American to lead a major party ticket. She has already made history as the nation’s first female vice president.
Here are some of the stories that made headlines over the past week, as well as some photos that caught our eye.
A passenger takes a nap inside a terminal at Las Vegas’ Harry Reid International Airport on Friday, July 19. Many flights into and out of the United States were canceled Friday after a global computer outage affected airports, banks and other businesses.
Australian surfer Molly Picklum trains in Tahiti on Sunday, July 21. Tahiti, an island in French Polynesia, will host the upcoming Olympic surfing competition.
US President Joe Biden addresses the nation from the White House Oval Office on Wednesday, July 24, explaining his decision not to seek reelection.
A photo of Alex Dancyg is held by his granddaughter Eliya during a rally in Tel Aviv, Israel, on Tuesday, July 23. Dancyg, a world authority on Holocaust history, was among the hostages taken by terror group Hamas in October. The Israel Defense Forces said this week that Dancyg is no longer believed to be alive.
Fishing boats are moored at a port in Lianjiang County, China, as Typhoon Gaemi approached on Tuesday, July 23.
A house near Chico, California, burns from the Park Fire on Thursday, July 25. The massive wildfire has forced mandatory evacuations in Butte County.
Delegation members celebrate on Wednesday, July 24, after Salt Lake City was formally awarded the 2034 Winter Olympics. From left are United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee President Gene Sykes, Salt Lake City-Utah Committee President and CEO Fraser Bullock, four-time Olympian Catherine Raney-Norman, Utah Gov. Spencer Cox, Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall, two-time Paralympian Dani Aravich and four-time Olympian Lindsey Vonn.
A bandage is seen on the right ear of former US President Donald Trump as he speaks at a campaign rally in Grand Rapids, Michigan, on Saturday, July 20. Trump’s ear was shot during an assassination attempt earlier this month.
A girl walks past debris and mud in Marikina, Philippines, following flooding caused by Typhoon Gaemi on Thursday, July 25.
The moon is seen through the Olympic rings on Paris’ Eiffel Tower on Tuesday, July 23. Paris is hosting the Olympics through August 11.
Tour de France winner Tadej Pogačar celebrates in Nice, France, on Sunday, July 21. The Slovenian dominated the race from start to finish, accomplishing feats not achieved for more than a quarter of a century.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu waves as he arrives to speak to a joint meeting of the US Congress on Wednesday, July 24. During his nearly hourlong address, he lashed out against protests of Israel’s ongoing war against Hamas in Gaza, broadly disparaging anti-Israel protesters as “Iran’s useful idiots.” He struck a bellicose tone as he vowed to “fight until we achieve victory.”
A farmer harvests wheat in Stöffin, Germany, on Sunday, July 21.
Rescuers arrive at the scene of a giant fire at an oil storage facility in Hodeidah, Yemen, on Saturday, July 20. Israel struck Yemen for the first time following a deadly drone attack launched by Houthi rebels in Tel Aviv, Israel.
Evan Gershkovich, the first American journalist to be arrested on espionage charges in Russia since the Cold War, listens to his verdict inside a courtroom in Yekaterinburg, Russia, on Friday, July 19. He was found guilty of spying and sentenced to 16 years in prison. The US government, his newspaper and his supporters have denounced the case as a sham.
A Ukrainian flag flies over the grave of Stanislav Hulenkov in Lutsk, Ukraine, on Thursday, July 18. Hulenkov, a 22-year-old rising judo star, was killed while fighting against Russia.
From left, WNBA All-Stars Arike Ogunbowale, Caitlin Clark, Allisha Gray and Aliyah Boston celebrate a 3-pointer during their game against Team USA on Saturday, July 20. Ogunbowale set a new WNBA All-Star Game record of 34 points as Team WNBA defeated Team USA 117-109.
Smoke rises from burning vehicles after protesters set them on fire in Dhaka, Bangladesh, on Thursday, July 18. Huge protests across Bangladesh escalated into deadly violence, with clashesbetween students, pro-government supportersand armed police fuelingwidespreadanger over civil service job quotas that opponents say are discriminatory.
US President Joe Biden wears a mask while returning to the White House from his home in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, on Tuesday, July 23. He tested positive for Covid-19 last week.
US Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle testifies before the House Oversight and Accountability Committee during a hearing in Washington, DC, on Monday, July 22. Lawmakers from both parties grilled Cheatle over the stunning security failures that led to the recent assassination attempt against Donald Trump. During her testimony, Cheatle acknowledged that there were “significant” problems at Trump’s rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. A day later, she resigned.
A woman is comforted by relatives and friends at the scene of a landslide in south Ethiopia’s Gofa Zone on Wednesday, July 24. Devastating landslides have killed more than 250 people, according to the United Nations.
German gymnast Lukas Dauser trains on the parallel bars Wednesday, July 24, as he prepares for Olympic competition in Paris.
Miami Marlins outfielder Jesús Sánchez is showered with sunflower seeds by teammates after he hit a home run against Baltimore on Tuesday, July 23.
Displaced Palestinians leave an area in Khan Younis, Gaza, after the Israeli army issued a new evacuation order for parts of the city on Monday, July 22. The Israel Defense Forces said Monday that it was reducing the size of its so-called “humanitarian zone,” forcing thousands of Palestinians to flee Khan Younis amid a fresh ground assault against what the IDF said were Hamas targets.
South Korea’s Lim Si-hyeon competes at the Olympics in Paris on Thursday, July 25. She shot a world and Olympic record 694 in the individual ranking round.
Jewish Voice For Peace protesters sit in the rotunda of the Cannon House Office Building in Washington, DC, on Tuesday, July 23. They were protesting the visit of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
A shipbuilder works on a sailing boat in Mauritania’s Banc d'Arguin National Park on Friday, July 19.
A dog rides a skateboard during Dog Day celebrations in Santiago, Chile, on Saturday, July 20.
Villagers harvest water chestnuts in Taizhou, China, on Thursday, July 25.
A Ukrainian serviceman prepares a shell for a self-propelled howitzer near the front-line town of Chasiv Yar, Ukraine, on Saturday, July 20.
US President Joe Biden meets with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the White House Oval Office on Thursday, July 25. It was Biden’s first meeting with a world leader since he exited the 2024 presidential race.
Players from the San Diego Padres rush the field to celebrate a no-hitter thrown by pitcher Dylan Cease, center, in Washington, DC, on Thursday, July 25. It was the second no-hitter in team history.
An anti-corruption protester screams as he and others are detained by military police in Kampala, Uganda, on Tuesday, July 23. Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni warned citizens planning to protest that they were “playing with fire.” Museveni, 79, has ruled the East African nation with an iron fist for nearly four decades, and he said in a televised address that the anti-corruption march would not be allowed.
Ohio Sen. JD Vance, Donald Trump’s running mate, arrives before a Trump rally in Grand Rapids, Michigan, on Saturday, July 20.
Army personnel sort through debris after a small plane crashed during takeoff in Kathmandu, Nepal, on Wednesday, July 24. At least 18 people were killed after the Saurya Airlines plane skidded off the runway. The pilot was the only survivor. See last week in 40 photos.
