Author: i2wtc

For Democrats, Thursday night’s debate was a nightmare. President Joe Biden’s performance in Atlanta, watched by more than 50 million people, sparked panic and a flurry of op-eds and commentators calling for the 81-year-old president to drop out of the debate.”It’s widely acknowledged that the president performed poorly. He didn’t do well. He had a bad night. But there were no big conversations, no soul-searching sessions. He just got back to work,” said Katie Rogers, a New York Times reporter covering the Biden administration. Rogers, who wrote an in-depth book examining first lady Jill Biden’s influence, said he hasn’t heard…

5 hours agoby Paul Kirby, BBC News in Paris Daniel Dorko/Hans Lucas/AFPCould 28-year-old Jordan Bardella become France’s next prime minister?President Emmanuel Macron’s decision to hold two general elections, on June 30 and July 7, is seen by rivals and allies as a risky gamble that could hand power to the far right. His aim was to regain control of French politics, but opinion polls do not predict that he will do so.Why is France holding elections?Macron did not have to call national elections for the next three years.But an hour after his Renew coalition suffered a crushing defeat in the…

Gabby Thomas defeated Shacarie Richardson in the highly anticipated 200-meter final at the U.S. Olympic Track and Field Team Trials.Thomas took first place with a time of 21.81 seconds. Richardson missed the 200m heat by just one second but will compete in the 100m.Brittany Brown and Mackenzie Long, who both ran personal bests, are also scheduled to run the 200 meters in Paris.Long, who lost his mother earlier this year, was choked up after qualifying for the race.More Olympics from NBC News”Mom, your daughter is going to Paris,” Long said after the race.Thomas and Richardson, America’s best-known sprinters, both qualified…

Charli XCX’s song “Used To Know Me” (PC: YouTube/Charli XCX) British pop star Charli XCX has declared this summer “Brat Summer,” a term favored by her devoted fanbase of Angels. After releasing her sixth studio album, Brat, on June 7, the Boom Clap singer revealed the essence of the trend in a podcast interview with BBC Sounds. From the neon green aesthetic to the coquette-inspired accessories, Brat Summer is all about effortless “It” girl vibes and a hint of unapologetically nasty. With her latest music and iconic visuals, she’s channeling the season’s vibes of bold fashion choices and fearless self-expression.…

Down icon An icon in the shape of a downward angle. Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte and Donald Trump. Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte has been elected as the next Secretary-General of NATO.Rutte will succeed Jens Stoltenberg, who has led NATO since 2014.Nicknamed the “Trump whisperer,” Rutte could play a key role if Trump returns to the White House. NATO has selected outgoing Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte as its next Secretary-General.Rutte, a fierce critic of Russian President Vladimir Putin, will succeed Jens Stoltenberg on October 1, ending a decade at the helm of the alliance.The 57-year-old,…

“I feel sorry for the Proteas but India will win the World Cup,” said legendary Pakistan fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar ahead of the ICC World Cup final between Team India and South Africa as he strongly predicted Rohit Sharma and Co. to lift the famous trophy. From the Rawalpindi Express to Shahid Afridi, several big names in Pakistan cricket congratulated the Indian team after Rohit and Co. dominated Aiden Markram’s South Africa in the ICC T20 World Cup 2024 final on Saturday. Shahid Afridi and Shoaib Akhtar pay tribute to Rohit Sharma after India’s win (Getty Images-PTI) {{^userSubscribed}} {{/userSubscribed}} {{^userSubscribed}}…

PARIS — French polling stations announced high voter turnout Sunday in the first round of surprise legislative elections that could destroy French President Emmanuel Macron’s parliamentary coalition and bring to power the country’s first far-right government since World War II.As of midday, the turnout rate was about 26%, the highest in more than 40 years, reflecting a recognition of the importance of voting. And perhaps because the announcement of the election was so unexpected, the number of voters was low. Requesting a Proxy Vote According to the French Interior Ministry, this is double the number seen in the last parliamentary…

Down icon An icon in the shape of a downward angle. In this poolside photo published by Russian state news agency Sputnik, Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un toast during a reception at the Mongrangwan Reception House in Pyongyang on June 19, 2024. Vladimir Smirnoff (via Getty Images) Putin and Kim Jong Un held a major summit early last week and agreed to a mutual defense pact. The deal is bad for both the United States and China, one South Korea watcher said. Russia’s closeness to North Korea leaves China with few options on how…

CNN — An outage at software provider CDK Global is costing car dealerships millions of dollars as it enters its second week, according to new estimates. Workers across the US auto industry told CNN that the software outages, which the company blames on a cyberattack, are making it difficult for dealers to track customer interactions, orders and sales, hurting their ability to make a living. “It’s going to affect our pay here,” said Bernard Irvin, a salesman at a Ford dealership in Greenville, S.C. “Why aren’t we getting our regular pay? I don’t really understand what’s going on.” Workers’ concerns…

HAUSJARVI, Finland — A staged test launch of a rocket by private Chinese company Space Pioneer ended in a catastrophic failure and dramatic explosion on Sunday. Space Pioneer conducted a static ignition test of the first stage of its Tianlong-3 rocket at its testing facility in Gongyi County, Henan Province on Sunday, June 30. Amateur footage taken by a Gongyi citizen and posted to Chinese social media shows the nine-engine test stage igniting and then, in an unusual move, taking off, using fixed clamps or other structures normally used to hold the stage in place. The stage rose into the…