Miami Mayor Francis Suarez, one of the few cryptocurrency-friendly candidates running for president of the United States in 2024, has announced he will be suspending his campaign.
In an Aug. 29 announcement on X (formerly Twitter), Suarez said that while running for U.S. president had been “one of the greatest honors of [his] life,” he made the decision to end his campaign and suggested he would support “a strong nominee” from the Republican Party. The Miami mayor announced in June he intended to seek the Republican nomination for U.S. president in the 2024 election, but he did not qualify for the first party debate on Aug. 23.
Running for President of the United States has been one of the greatest honors of my life. This country has given so much to my family and me. The prospect of giving back at the highest levels of public service is a motivator if not a calling. Throughout this process, I have met…
As mayor of Miami, Suarez made headlines in 2021 after announcing he would accept some of his paychecks in Bitcoin (BTC) and supporting the MiamiCoin (MIA) token project. Along with longshot Democratic hopeful Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the Miami mayor was one of the few openly crypto-friendly candidates running in 2024.
According to many recent polls, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis trails behind former President Donald Trump for the Republican nomination for president. Trump did not attend the first party debate and faces both state and federal criminal charges related to his alleged role in attempting to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election, which he lost to current U.S. President Joe Biden.
The 2024 elections in the U.S. could change the way the government handles digital asset legislation. Democrats currently hold a slim majority in the Senate, but 34 seats out of 100 will be up for grabs in the next election. Members of the Republican Party have a majority of seats in the House of Representatives, but the fate of all 435 will be decided in November 2024.
France became the first G7 country to announce the move last week – while Ireland, Spain and Norway all officially recognised a Palestinian state last year.
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‘The war changed me’
Mr Carney told reporters in Ontario that Canada would do the same on certain conditions – including that the Palestinian Authority commits to fundamentally reforming its governance, and holds general elections in 2026 in which Hamas can play no part.
The Canadian prime minister said he had spoken with Mahmoud Abbas, the president of the Palestinian Authority, earlier in the day.
Following the announcement, the Israeli foreign ministry said in a statement: “The change in the position of the Canadian government at this time is a reward for Hamas and harms the efforts to achieve a ceasefire in Gaza and a framework for the release of the hostages.”
A White House official anonymously told Reuters that US President Donald Trump also believes he would be “rewarding Hamas” if he recognises a Palestinian state and therefore doesn’t plan to do so.
“President Trump’s focus is on getting people fed,” the official added.
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What do Israelis think of UK’s plan to recognise Palestine?
Canada had long stated it would only recognise a Palestinian state at the conclusion of peace talks with Israel.
However, Mr Carney said the reality on the ground – including the starvation of citizens in Gaza – means “the prospect of a Palestinian state is literally receding before our eyes”.
He added: “We are working ourselves, with others, to preserve the possibility of a two-state solution, to not allow the facts on the ground, deaths on the ground, the settlements on the ground, the expropriations on the ground, to get to such an extent that this is not possible.”
The Canadian prime minister also said he “condemns the fact Israel has allowed a catastrophe to unfold in Gaza”.
Image: Palestinians carry aid supplies that entered Gaza through Israel, in Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip. Pic: Reuters
Sir Keir Starmer announced the UK could recognise a Palestinian state after he had a meeting with Mr Trump the previous day.
Sir Keir said the conditions Israel would have to meet to avoid such a move included taking substantive steps to end the “appalling situation in Gaza”, and agreeing to a ceasefire.
Some 38 members of the House of Lords, including some of the UK’s most eminent lawyers, have since written to the attorney general to say that recognising a Palestinian state could be a breach of international law, The Times has reported.
They have said the territory may not meet the criteria for statehood under the Montevideo Convention, a treaty signed in 1933.
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Aid dropped into Gaza amid international pressure
Meanwhile, a Downing Street spokesperson confirmed Sir Keir had spoken to Mr Carney over the phone on Tuesday.
The spokesperson said: “They discussed the grave situation in the Middle East and last night’s action by the United States to tackle the severe threat posed by Iran’s nuclear programme.
“Both reiterated their support for a diplomatic solution and agreed that Iran must come back to the negotiating table with the United States as soon as possible.
“They looked forward to continuing their discussions at NATO this week.”
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A global hunger monitor has warned that a worst-case scenario of famine is unfolding in Gaza.
The Hamas-run health ministry reported seven more hunger-related deaths on Wednesday, including a two-year-old girl with an existing health condition.
Meanwhile, at least 48 Palestinians were killed and dozens were wounded while waiting for food at the Zikim Crossing, the main entry point for humanitarian aid to northern Gaza, according to the Shifa Hospital that received the casualties.
It was not immediately clear who opened fire and there was no immediate comment from the Israeli military, which controls the crossing.
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Footage shows young girl in Gaza mourning family
Israeli strikes and gunfire had earlier killed at least 46 Palestinians overnight and into Wednesday, most of them among crowds seeking food, health officials said.
The Israeli military did not immediately comment on any of the strikes. It says it only targets militants and blames civilian deaths on Hamas, because the group’s militants operate in densely populated areas.
US special envoy Steve Witkoff will travel to Israel on Thursday to discuss the next steps to address the situation in Gaza, an American official said.