First Thing: Biden says it’s time for ‘fresh voices’ while explaining he dropped out to ‘unite our nation’
Good morning.
Joe Biden addressed the nation Wednesday to explain his decision to withdraw from the presidential race, delivering a reflective and hopeful message about starting a new chapter in American history.
“I believe my record as president, my leadership in the world, my vision for America’s future all merited a second term, but nothing – nothing – can come in the way of saving our democracy. That includes personal ambition,” Biden said.
“So I’ve decided the best way forward is to pass the torch to a new generation. It’s the best way to unite our nation. … There’s also a time and a place for new voices, fresh voices – yes, younger voices. And that time and place is now.”
Here’s what Biden said he’d do in his last six months: “I’ll continue to lower costs for hard-working families [and] grow our economy. I’ll keep defending our personal freedoms and our civil rights – from the right to vote to the right to choose … keep working to end the war in Gaza, bring home all the hostages and bring peace and security to the Middle East.”
Here’s how Biden’s decision fits into US history: Biden is the first incumbent to announce he would not seek re-election since Lyndon Johnson in 1968. Many have noted similarities between Biden and Johnson, who pushed through domestic legislative achievements but were marred by foreign policy criticism – Biden with Gaza and Johnson with Vietnam.
Thousands at DC rally denounce Netanyahu speech to Congress
Thousands of protesters demonstrated around Capitol Hill voicing opposition to Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister, who addressed a joint session of Congress on Wednesday.
With tensions over Israel’s nine-and-a-half-month war on Gaza running high, police mounted a huge security operation to seal off the Capitol from protesters. Officers experienced in dealing with mass protests were drafted in from the New York police department, and the Capitol building was fenced off.
In a fiery speech in the House chamber, Netanyahu called for “total victory” in the war, dashing hopes among some that he would announce progress toward a ceasefire and the return of Israeli hostages.
How was Netanyahu received in Congress? House and Senate Republicans rose to their feet to applaud the Israeli prime minister. But Rashida Tlaib, the only Palestinian American member of Congress, held up a black-and-white sign that read “war criminal” and “guilty of genocide”. Dozens of other Democrats boycotted the speech.
Discovery of poliovirus in Gaza ‘incredibly alarming’, Unicef executive director says
The discovery of poliovirus in Gaza only adds to the besieged territory’s status as one of “the most dangerous places to be a child right now”, the executive director of Unicef, Catherine Russell, warned.
After Unicef helped carry out tests of sewage samples from Gaza that showed the presence of poliovirus, Russell said: “It’s incredibly alarming.”
Russell said the world was “getting so close, we believe, to getting rid of polio once and for all”, so any potential emergence of the poliovirus required “close attention”. She also raised concerns about the spread of other infectious diseases such as cholera in Gaza.
What is the humanitarian toll of Israel’s invasion of Gaza? After Hamas killed about 1,200 and took a further 250 hostage in Israel on 7 October, Israel’s offensive has destroyed infrastructure, killed at least 39,145 people, and led to widespread hunger and malnutrition in the coastal strip.
What are the Israeli military’s latest moves? The Israeli military launched a fresh attack on the southern Gaza city of Khan Younis, killing at least 70 people, according to medics, after ordering Palestinians to leave several neighbourhoods – including areas that had been designated by the military as part of a humanitarian zone.
In other news …
At least 15 people have died and more than 150 are missing, after a boat full of people hoping to make it to Europe capsized off the coast of Mauritania.
An armed UK police officer has been removed from frontline policing, after footage showed him kicking a man in the face during an arrest at Manchester airport.
Vladimir Putin is “peddling lies” about the strength of the Russian economy that must be refuted, said finance ministers from eight EU member states.
Ten people drowned in a swollen river while trying to cross the Darién Gap, a migration route that’s a stretch of jungle connecting Colombia with Panama.
Stat of the day: Illegal fireworks ignited California blaze causing $10m in damage, mayor says
Illegal fireworks ignited a blaze in southern California over the weekend that destroyed six homes and caused $10m in damages, officials said. The Hawarden fire in Riverside county has scorched 527 acres, damaged seven homes and cost the county more than $1m in emergency response, according to Patricia Lock Dawson, the city’s mayor.
Don’t miss this: The godfather of competitive eating on secrets, success and physical stress
Takeru Kobayashi can eat 50 hotdogs, 41 lobster rolls or 159 tacos in 10 minutes – and it has brought him fame and a healthy income. As he returns to the fray after five years, what will he do next? Chris Godfrey finds out.
Climate check: Monday was hottest recorded day on Earth – breaking record set one day before
World temperatures reached the hottest levels ever measured on Monday, beating the record that was set just one day before, data suggests. Provisional data published on Wednesday by the Copernicus Climate Change Service, which holds data from 1940, shows that the global surface air temperature reached 62.87F (17.15C), compared with 62.76F (17.09C) on Sunday.
Last Thing: Hens appear to blush when scared or excited, researchers find
Researchers in France found that female chickens appear to blush when they are scared or excited and fluff up their head feathers when they are content. The finding offers a new way of understanding the birds’ emotions, which could help farmers judge the happiness of their flocks. “The emotional world of birds remains largely unexplored compared to that of mammals,” said Aline Bertin, a senior author on the study.
Sign up
First Thing is delivered to thousands of inboxes every weekday. If you’re not already signed up, subscribe now.
Get in touch
If you have any questions or comments about any of our newsletters please email newsletters@theguardian.com
