Kamala chooses Walz, Hamas has new leader, Storm Debby wreaks havoc

It happened while you were sleeping. Here’s what global agencies reported on the night from Tuesday to Wednesday.

• Kamala Harris, whom the delegates at the Democratic Party Convention officially selected as the party's presidential candidate on Monday, introduced Minnesota Governor Tim Walz as her vice-presidential candidate during a rally in Philadelphia on Tuesday. After President Joe Biden withdrew from the race for the White House, Harris, running for the highest office in the land, declared to the cheering crowds that she was seeking a "partner who is a leader that will help unite the nation, be a warrior for the middle class, and a patriot who believes in the promise of America."

• Palestinian Hamas announced on Tuesday that Yahya Sinwar has become the new political leader of the movement, replacing Ismail Haniyeh, who died on Wednesday in Tehran in an attack attributed to Israel. Sinwar was previously the leader of Hamas in the Gaza Strip. He is considered one of the architects of the attacks on Israel on October 7, 2023.

• Record rainfall caused by Tropical Storm Debby led to rescue operations involving hundreds of people trapped in flooded homes. At least five people have died so far, four in Florida – including two children – and one in Georgia. President Joe Biden authorized the governors of both states, as well as South Carolina, to declare a state of emergency.

• The USA basketball team, which is vying for its fifth consecutive gold in the Olympics in Paris, defeated Brazil 122-87 in the quarterfinals and was the last to advance to the semifinals. On Thursday, they will face the world runners-up, Serbia. In the other semifinal matchup, the Olympic silver medalist from Tokyo, France, will play against Germany.