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Biden Blames Jet Lag for Poor Debate Performance

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President Joe Biden has attributed his poor debate performance last week to jet lag, admitting to reporters

President Joe Biden has attributed his poor debate performance last week to jet lag, admitting to reporters that he “wasn’t very smart” for “traveling around the world a couple of times” before the debate. “I didn’t listen to my staff… and then I nearly fell asleep on stage,” Biden, 81, said. He returned from travel on June 15, nearly two weeks ahead of the June 27 debate.

Biden’s remarks come amid intra-party panic about his mental fitness ahead of November’s election. This panic has been exacerbated by Texas Congressman Lloyd Doggett, the first sitting Democratic lawmaker to call for Biden to step aside following the debate. “I am hopeful that he will make the painful and difficult decision to withdraw,” Rep. Doggett said.

During a debate with former President Donald Trump last Thursday, Biden appeared to struggle through some responses. At a private fundraiser in Virginia on Tuesday evening, he called his travel an explanation, not an excuse, for his performance. He also apologized and emphasized the importance of winning re-election.

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Last month, Biden made two trips to Europe. On June 15, he attended a fundraiser with former President Barack Obama after an overnight trip from Italy. He returned to Washington, DC, the following day. White House officials previously said he was battling a cold on the day of the debate, but the president did not mention any illness in his recent remarks.

Biden also spent six days at Camp David preparing for the debate. The New York Times reported that his days began at 11:00 each morning, with time allotted for napping, due to exhaustion from travel. His spokesman, Andrew Bates, said Biden started “working well before” 11:00, following his exercise routine.

Biden’s age has been a persistent issue this election, with multiple polls indicating voters think he is too old to be effective. He is the Democratic Party’s presumptive nominee for the White House and has vowed to stay in the race despite the debate performance.

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In his statement on Tuesday, Rep. Doggett, 77, said the debate solidified his decision to urge Biden to step aside. “Instead of reassuring voters, the President failed to effectively defend his many accomplishments and expose Trump’s many lies,” he said. Doggett emphasized the need for Biden to encourage a new generation of leaders.

Biden is set to give a primetime interview to ABC News’s George Stephanopoulos on Friday, his first since the debate. While some prominent Democratic lawmakers have voiced concerns about Biden’s age and stamina, none except Rep. Doggett has called for him to step aside. Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Congressman Jim Clyburn have reiterated their support for Biden, emphasizing that the decision to leave the race is the president’s alone.

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Ukraine and US Reach Minerals Agreement Amid Ongoing War

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Ukraine and US Reach Minerals Agreement Amid Ongoing War

Ukraine has confirmed an agreement with the United States on a minerals deal, calling it a “positive outcome” with “good amendments,” though officials have yet to disclose further details.

Media reports suggest that Washington has dropped an initial demand for a $500 billion share in potential revenue from Ukraine’s natural resources. However, the deal does not appear to include the firm security guarantees that Kyiv had sought.

US President Donald Trump announced that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is expected to travel to Washington this week to finalize the agreement. The development follows a series of tense exchanges between the two leaders.

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While Trump did not explicitly confirm the deal’s finalization, he stated that in return, Ukraine would get “the right to fight on.” Acknowledging Ukraine’s resilience, he added, “Without the United States and its money and its military equipment, this war would have been over in a very short period of time.”

When asked whether US military support for Ukraine would continue, Trump indicated that assistance might persist “until we have a deal with Russia,” stressing the need for a negotiated settlement to end the conflict. He also suggested that any future peace deal would require “some form of peacekeeping” acceptable to all parties involved.

Ukraine possesses vast deposits of critical minerals such as lithium and titanium, alongside substantial reserves of coal, gas, oil, and uranium—resources valued in the billions. Trump has framed the agreement as one that will allow the US to recoup more than it has spent on supporting Ukraine. However, final details of the deal reportedly remain under negotiation.

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Australian Nurses Suspended Over Antisemitic Video Amid National Crackdown on Hate Speech

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Australian Nurses Suspended Over Antisemitic Video Amid National Crackdown on Hate Speech

Two Australian nurses have been suspended after a video surfaced showing them making violent antisemitic remarks, including threats to harm Israeli patients. The incident, which allegedly took place at a hospital in Sydney, has sparked outrage and is now under police investigation.

New South Wales (NSW) Health Minister Ryan Park confirmed that the two individuals had been stood down immediately and would never work in the state’s healthcare system again. Authorities are conducting a thorough review of hospital records to ensure no patients were harmed, though a rapid preliminary check found nothing unusual.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese condemned the video as “sickening and shameful,” emphasizing that antisemitism has no place in Australia. His comments come just days after the country passed stricter hate crime laws in response to a surge in antisemitic incidents.

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The video, shared online by Israeli content creator Max Veifer, appears to have been recorded in a hospital setting. In the footage, a man claiming to be a doctor tells Veifer he has “beautiful eyes” but adds, “I’m sorry you’re Israeli,” before making a throat-slitting gesture and stating he sends Israelis to “Jahannam” (an Islamic concept of hell). A woman later appears on screen, saying she refuses to treat Israelis and will “kill them” instead.

Despite the video being edited with emojis and censoring certain comments, authorities have not questioned its authenticity. NSW Police stated they have identified the individuals involved and are investigating whether criminal charges should be pursued.

Albanese vowed that anyone found guilty of committing hate crimes will “face the full force of our laws.” Park echoed this sentiment, apologizing to the Jewish community and reassuring them that NSW hospitals remain committed to providing “first-class” healthcare to all patients, regardless of background.

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Coca-Cola May Increase Plastic Bottle Use Due to Trump’s Aluminium Tariffs

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Coca-Cola May Increase Plastic Bottle Use Due to Trump’s Aluminium Tariffs

Coca-Cola has warned that it may have to increase the use of plastic bottles in the U.S. if President Donald Trump’s new tariffs make aluminium cans too expensive. The announcement was made by Coca-Cola CEO James Quincey during a call with investors.

Trump’s recent order imposes a 25% import tax on all steel and aluminium entering the U.S., a move expected to raise costs for canned food and beverage manufacturers. Quincey acknowledged that Coca-Cola could shift more emphasis to PET plastic bottles to manage affordability.

“If aluminium cans become more expensive, we can put more emphasis on PET bottles,” he said, while noting that packaging costs are only a small fraction of the company’s overall expenses.

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This shift comes shortly after Coca-Cola scaled back its sustainability goal of using 50% recycled materials in its packaging by 2030, adjusting the target to 35-40% by 2035. The beverage giant has been under pressure from environmental groups, which have labeled it the world’s “top global plastic polluter” for six years in a row.

Aluminium cans, despite being pricier, are far more recyclable than plastic bottles. The U.S. imports nearly half of its aluminium, according to the United States Geological Survey, making the tariffs a significant factor in production costs. Unlike in 2018, when some can-makers received exemptions from similar tariffs, Trump has now ruled out any exceptions for products or countries.

In a separate move, Trump also signed an executive order rolling back efforts to replace plastic straws with paper alternatives in government facilities—undoing a policy introduced by former President Joe Biden, who had called plastic pollution a “crisis.”

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