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Russian wrestlers reject Olympics invitation
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Raducanu rediscovers Wimbledon 'fun' factor after turbulent spell
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Winning all that matters at Euro 2024 for Mbappe's minimalist France
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Eight dead, two million affected by Bangladesh floods
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Robertson pleased to 'find a way' past England in tough Test baptism
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Martin sets lap record to secure German MotoGP pole
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'Shattered' Germany set sights on World Cup after Euros exit
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Olympic hope Pedersen pulls out of Tour de France
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Djokovic eyes sweet 16 at Wimbledon as Swiatek takes on 'gangster'
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End beckons again for Ronaldo after Portugal Euros KO
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New Zealand edge England 16-15 in tense, brutal first Test
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Turkey take on Dutch in politically charged Euros quarter-final, England face Swiss
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Activists hail Sierra Leone child marriage ban, urge action on FGM
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Marsch relishing Canada's semi clash with Argentina
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Canada stun Venezuela on penalties to reach Copa semis
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Iran reformist Pezeshkian holds early lead in runoff vote
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Swiatek faces 'gangster' threat, Djokovic feels need for Wimbledon speed
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France holds its breath ahead of uncertain vote
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Starmer begins UK 'rebuild' after landslide election win
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Paris's Moulin Rouge inaugurates new windmill sails ahead of Olympics
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Pan, Rai share halfway lead in PGA John Deere Classic
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'I was feeling terrible' in debate, Biden says in TV interview
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France coach Deschamps savours ending penalty hoodoo, defends Mbappe
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Thompson bids farewell to Warriors after exit
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Portugal exit Euros with pride, will return stronger: Martinez
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UK's new PM Starmer speaks to world leaders, names top team
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Spain and France to face off in Euros last four, Turkey lament 'unfair' Demiral ban
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Israel says negotiators to hold fresh Gaza truce talks next week
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France beat Portugal on penalties to reach Euro 2024 semi-finals
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Endrick to start for Brazil in Uruguay Copa clash: Dorival
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Heartbreak for Germany fans after dramatic Euros exit
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Beryl heads for Texas after causing damage, no deaths in Mexico
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Nagelsmann laments late penalty decision as hosts Germany exit Euros
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Biden declares he's all in ahead of high-risk TV interview
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Spain team 'is a winning horse', says De la Fuente
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Alcaraz mimics Bellingham goal celebration after Wimbledon win
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Olmo hopes Pedri can make speedy return for Euros semi-finalists Spain
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Retiring Kroos hopeful despite Germany's 'bitter' Euros exit
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Southgate turns on English 'entitlement' over claims of easy Euros draw
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Merino extra-time goal sends Spain past Germany to Euro semis
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Koeman demands Dutch silence fervent Turkish fans at Euros
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Brad Pitt at Silverstone for filming of F1 movie
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Raducanu storms into Wimbledon last 16
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California fires spread in July 4 weekend heatwave
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Alcaraz wins five-set Wimbledon thriller as Gauff eases through
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Demiral Euros ban 'unfair' but Turkish pride will grow, says coach Montella
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Gauff overpowers qualifier to reach Wimbledon fourth round
Biden and Trump to lock horns in critical presidential debate
Joe Biden and Donald Trump square off for a historic US presidential debate Thursday, with the stage set for what could be an inflection point in the 2024 race as millions of voters tune in to the clash of rivals.
The showdown -- between the oldest-ever incumbent and a convicted felon -- fires the starting gun on what promises to be a bruising summer of campaigning in a deeply polarized and tense United States still convulsed over the chaos and violence that accompanied the 2020 election.
With only two debates this election cycle, Thursday's high-stakes event takes on heightened significance, and both candidates have stepped up their personal attacks, with national polls showing the pair neck and neck.
As the candidates applied finishing touches to their debate strategy, one critical question remained: Will Trump the political pugilist rein in his aggressive tendencies or unleash his unruliness, much as he did in their first chaotic debate four years ago?
"I think I have been preparing for it for my whole life... We'll do very well," Trump told right-wing network Newsmax in an interview on his debate preparation.
The president will be desperate to avoid any major gaffes. He meanwhile was pulling no punches Wednesday -- at least on social media, where he said "Donald Trump is the greatest threat to our democracy," a message he will almost certainly seek to hammer home on debate night.
The president arrives Thursday on Air Force One in Atlanta, capital of southeastern battleground Georgia, for the duel at CNN headquarters, while his challenger flies in on his private jet, nicknamed "Trump Force One."
Trump enjoys a slight advantage in the all-important swing states but the overall polling looks extremely close in an election likely to be decided by a few photo finishes in a handful of battlegrounds.
The latest Quinnipiac University poll conducted Sunday shows Trump edging ahead of Biden nationally, 49 percent to 45 percent.
The rivals both step onstage for the 90-minute debate seeking to allay fears about serious political liabilities.
Biden, 81, faces the most concern about his mental sharpness, with voters much more likely to bring up his age than Trump's, despite the Republican being just three years younger.
Ahead of the first ever debate between two candidates who have already served in the Oval Office, both Trump and Biden have had missteps that have raised questions over their age, occasionally stumbling over words or appearing muddled.
Trump is also engulfed in controversy over his inflammatory rhetoric, his recent conviction on 34 counts of falsifying business records, not to mention other criminal cases he faces, and fears he would weaponize the presidency to settle personal scores.
- Fine-tuning or freewheeling -
Biden has spent the week off the radar at the Camp David retreat near Washington, fine-tuning his attack lines in mock debates under real TV lighting.
Trump's preparation has been more relaxed, eschewing dress rehearsals in favor of informal policy roundtables and workshopping debate strategy with rally crowds.
Aides have encouraged him to focus on his perceived strength on the economy and crime, while Biden will seek to paint Trump as unhinged and unfit for office.
The Trump campaign has repeatedly characterized Biden as feeble and incompetent, but changed tack in recent days following warnings that setting low expectations for the Democratic president would only help him.
"We know that Joe Biden, that after taking an entire week off, will be ready for this," senior Trump campaign advisor Jason Miller told reporters.
Trump and his team have also been pushing the baseless theory that Biden will be hyped up on performance-enhancing drugs and have made repeated insinuations of bias from CNN.
One of Biden's biggest vulnerabilities is border security, with Trump promising to combat an influx of undocumented migrants from Mexico with mass deportations and repeatedly bringing up killings by migrants.
More Americans expect a Trump debate win than a Biden victory -- 40 percent to 30 percent -- but just one in 10 thought it even somewhat likely the debate would change their vote.
A.Silveira--PC