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Jamaica's De Cordova-Reid joins Leicester from Fulham
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Wolves' Kilman reunites with Lopetegui at West Ham
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Schmidt reign off to winning start as Australia beat Wales 25-16
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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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Calling for better ties with West, Iran reformist wins presidency
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Cybercrime groups restructuring after major takedowns: experts
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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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Bows at the ready, Chad villagers battle kidnappings
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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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Raducanu storms into Wimbledon last 16
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California fires spread in July 4 weekend heatwave
Biden, Trump arrive for high-stakes debate
Joe Biden and Donald Trump square off Thursday in a US presidential debate that carries enormous stakes for both candidates as they battle for any advantage in their tight race for the White House.
Millions of Americans will tune in for a clash taking place months earlier than usual -- the opening salvo in what promises to be a bruising summer of campaigning, in a deeply polarized country still scarred by the chaos and violence of the 2020 election.
With only two debates this election cycle and national polls showing the pair locked in the tightest of contests, Thursday's event at CNN headquarters in Atlanta -- starting at 9:00 pm (0100 GMT Friday) -- takes on heightened significance.
For many voters, the choice between the 81-year-old Biden, the oldest ever incumbent, and the 78-year-old Trump, now a convicted felon, is an uninspiring one -- a dynamic both candidates need to counter.
For Trump, an instinctive political pugilist, the challenge will be to rein in the aggressive tendencies he unleashed -- to his detriment -- in their first chaotic debate four years ago.
The Democratic president will be desperate to avoid any major gaffes that could underline concerns about his age.
He also will focus on his key campaign message that Trump poses an existential threat to US democracy.
Biden arrived in Georgia about six hours before the on-air showdown, and took the opportunity to greet supporters outside his hotel in Atlanta.
His challenger touched down later aboard his private jet, pumping his fist to supporters on the tarmac before he ducked into a waiting vehicle.
There is certainly no love lost between the two candidates, and both sides have agreed to debate rules aimed at minimizing the prospect of a shouting match.
There will be no studio audience, depriving them of the momentum that comes from ginning up supporters, and microphones will cut out when a candidate's speaking time is over.
- Pre-debate attacks -
To coincide with the debate, both camps unleashed fresh attack ads, with Trump's team taking out TV spots accusing Biden of mismanaging the economy and encouraging illegal immigration.
In a morning post on his Truth Social platform, Trump argued that Biden was the real threat to democracy, "and a threat to the survival and existence of our country itself."
The Democratic Party, meanwhile, paid for five massive billboards in Atlanta trolling Trump over his legal woes.
"Donald, welcome to Atlanta for the first time since becoming a convicted felon. Congrats – or whatever..." the signs said.
Trump enjoys a slight advantage in the all-important swing states, but polling is close in an election likely to be decided in a handful of battlegrounds.
The latest Quinnipiac University poll 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 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 debate, both Trump and Biden have had missteps, 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, and fears he would weaponize the presidency to settle personal scores.
- Fine-tuning or freewheeling -
Biden has spent the last 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, with informal policy roundtables and workshopping strategy with rally crowds.
"Biden's a good debater. He's been in a lot of these debates over many, many decades so one should not underestimate him," California Governor Gavin Newsom, a Democrat, told reporters in a "spin room" before the debate.
The Trump campaign has repeatedly characterized Biden as feeble and incompetent, but changed tack following warnings that setting low expectations for the Democratic president would only help him.
X.Brito--PC