While You Were Sleeping: 5 stories you might have missed, June 30

Updated

Jun 30, 2024, 05:46 AM

Published

Jun 30, 2024, 05:46 AM

Google News Biden hits fund-raising trail in show of strength

President Joe Biden embarked on a series of fund-raising events across two states on June 29, as he works to stamp out a crisis of confidence in his re-election campaign following a feeble debate performance that dismayed his fellow Democrats.

The events are being held as many nervous Democratic donors are lamenting Mr Biden’s weak showing against Republican rival Donald Trump on June 27 and wondering what, if anything, they could do to change the course of the race, according to interviews with more than a dozen Democratic fund-raisers.

Mr Biden and First Lady Jill Biden visited the upscale New York beach enclave known as the Hamptons for a campaign fund-raiser hosted by hedge-fund billionaire Barry Rosentein. Later in the day, he will travel to New Jersey for a fund-raiser hosted by wealthy New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy, a Democrat.

“I understand the concern about the debate. I didn’t have a great night,” Mr Biden told the room of about 100 supporters gathered in the Hamptons. “The point is I didn’t have a great night, but neither did Trump.”

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Google News Clashes as far-right AfD states aim to govern Germany

The far-right AfD declared its ambition to rise to power in Germany, as its party congress kicked off on June 29 amid clashes between hooded demonstrators and police, just weeks after it scored record EU election results.

About 1,000 police were deployed in the western city of Essen, where demonstration organisers said 50,000 protesters marched towards the congress.

“We want to govern, first in the east (of Germany), then in the west, then at federal level,” Mr Tino Chrupalla, co-president of the Alternative for Germany (AfD), told around 600 delegates of the two-day meeting, which started half an hour late due to street blockades.

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Google News Russian attack on Ukrainian town kills seven

Russian forces on June 29 fired missiles at the town of Vilniansk, outside the southeastern Ukrainian city of Zaporizhzhia, killing seven people, including two children, and injuring up to 18 others, officials said.

President Volodymyr Zelensky repeated his appeal to allies to provide Ukraine with more long-range weapons and enhanced air defences to stop what he said were daily attacks.

Ukraine’s Prosecutor-General Andriy Kostin said two missiles were fired on the town, damaging infrastructure, a shop and residential buildings.

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Google News Woeful Italy sent packing from Euro 2024 by Switzerland

A pair of superb strikes for Switzerland by Remo Freuler and Ruben Vargas sent defending champions Italy crashing out of Euro 2024 in the round of 16 after a sloppy, rudderless display by Luciano Spalletti’s side ended in a 2-0 defeat.

Though the Swiss defended well, the Italians made their job all the easier with bad passing and poor-decision-making, giving the ball away cheaply in central positions and failing to press with any vigour as they headed for the exit.

After a slow, tenuous start on a sweltering evening in Berlin, Switzerland should have taken the lead in the 24th minute when Breel Embolo was played in, but his attempt to wait out Gianluigi Donnarumma didn’t succeed and the Italian goalkeeper comfortably parried his curled shot.

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Google News Djokovic upbeat for Wimbledon after testing knee to max

Seven-times champion Novak Djokovic says he has tested his troublesome knee to the maximum since arriving in London and is confident he will be ready for his opening match at Wimbledon on July 2.

The 37-year-old withdrew from the French Open before his quarter-final with a torn meniscus and opted to have surgery in a bid to be fit for the year’s third Grand Slam.

Djokovic, who is bidding for a record 25th Grand Slam title, said he would have a better idea when he has tested the knee in a match situation.

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