International

Biden faces growing pressure to quit race as Democrats question fitness

Published

2 years ago

July 3, 2024

US President Joe Biden

Biden faces growing pressure to quit race as Democrats question fitness

United States President Joe Biden is facing growing pressure from within his party to prove he is physically and mentally fit for office, with a Democratic lawmaker publicly calling on him to end his re-election bid for the first time.

Biden’s candidacy has been under a cloud since a disastrous debate performance against Republican challenger Donald Trump that saw the 81-year-old Democrat stumble over his words and lose his train of thought.

On Tuesday, Lloyd Doggett, a House Representative from Texas, became the first member of his party to publicly call on Biden to quit the race.

“I represent the heart of a congressional district once represented by Lyndon Johnson. Under very different circumstances, he made the painful decision to withdraw,” Doggett said in his statement.

“President Biden should do the same.”

Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, a House Representative for Washington state, stopped short of calling on Biden to withdraw, but said she believed Thursday’s debate performance would cost him the election in November.

“We all saw what we saw, you can’t undo that, and the truth, I think, is that Biden is going to lose to Trump. I know that’s difficult, but I think the damage has been done by that debate,” Perez said in an interview with the KATU news channel in Portland, Oregon.

Jared Golden, a House Representative in Maine, also said that he believed that Trump would win and he was “OK with that”.

“Lots of Democrats are panicking about whether President Joe Biden should step down as the party’s nominee,” Golden said in an opinion piece published in The Bangor Daily News.

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“Biden’s poor performance in the debate was not a surprise.”

Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Representative Jim Clyburn also added their voices to those scrutinising Biden’s condition, saying it was legitimate to raise concerns about his health following the debate.

“I think it’s a legitimate question to say, is this an episode, or is this a condition? And so, when people ask that question, it’s completely legitimate – of both candidates,” Pelosi said in an interview with MSNBC.

While Democratic insiders have been privately raising concerns about Biden’s fitness with media outlets for days, the series of public comments intensifies pressure on the president to assuage growing doubts about his electability.

The White House said on Tuesday that Biden would hold a series of meetings and appearances to quash concerns about his fitness, including a news conference and his first sit-down television interview since May.

The White House press secretary, Karine Jean-Pierre, told a media briefing that Biden was sick with a cold during the debate and had “a bad night”.

“We really, truly want to turn the page on this,” Jean-Pierre told reporters.

“We really want to be able to get out there and speak directly to the American people.”

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During a fundraising event later on Tuesday, Biden blamed his poor performance on back-to-back trips to France and Italy, although he spent the week leading up to the debate behind closed doors at presidential retreat Camp David.

“I wasn’t very smart. I decided to travel around the world a couple of times,” Biden said.

Biden added that he did not listen to his advisers about his travel schedule and joked that he “almost fell asleep on stage” during the debate.

In a CNN poll published after the debate, three-quarters of registered voters said that Democrats would have a better chance at winning the election with someone other than Biden on the ticket.

Voters also favoured Trump over Biden, 49 percent to 43 percent.

Vice President Kamala Harris did moderately better, gaining the support of 45 percent of voters compared to Trump’s 47 percent.

Other Democrats floated as potential replacements, including California Governor Gavin Newsom and Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, trailed Trump by similar margins as Biden.

Harris on Tuesday pushed back on the suggestion that Biden should step aside.

“Look, Joe Biden is our nominee. We beat Trump once and we’re going to beat him again, period,” she said in an interview with CBS News.

Biden faces growing pressure to quit race as Democrats question fitness

SOURCE: AL JAZEERA AND NEWS AGENCIES

International

Israeli Settlers Torch, Deface West Bank Mosque During Ramadan

Published

3 hours ago

February 24, 2026

Trends Admin

Israeli Settlers Torch, Deface West Bank Mosque During Ramadan

TELL, West Bank — Israeli settlers have vandalized and set fire to the Abu Bakr al-Siddiq Mosque in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, authorities confirmed, marking the latest in a series of attacks on Palestinian religious sites amid a surge in settler violence. The attack occurred early Monday during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

Worshippers arriving for morning prayers discovered the mosque’s entrance smoldering, with black smoke staining the doorway and broken glass scattered across the area. According to the Palestinian Authority Ministry of Religious Affairs, settlers spray-painted offensive graffiti, including derogatory references to Islam and slogans linked to extremist “price tag” operations.

Local resident Munir Ramdan described the scene: “I was shocked when I opened the door. The fire had been burning here, the glass was broken, and the door was damaged.” Security footage reportedly shows two individuals carrying gasoline and spray paint approaching the mosque before fleeing the scene.

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The incident is part of a broader pattern of attacks on mosques in the West Bank, with the Palestinian Ministry of Religious Affairs reporting that 45 mosques were vandalized or attacked last year. Residents said the assault was a deliberate provocation during Ramadan, targeting both the religious sanctity of the mosque and the spiritual practice of fasting.

The Israeli military and police responded to reports of the incident and are actively searching for suspects. While the military condemned harm to religious institutions, Palestinian officials and rights groups say Israeli authorities often fail to hold settlers accountable for violence.

The attack comes amid a recent rise in settler violence, including last week’s killing of a 19-year-old Palestinian-American, Nasrallah Abu Siyam, highlighting ongoing tensions between settlers and Palestinian communities in the occupied territories.

Israeli Settlers Torch, Deface West Bank Mosque During Ramadan

International

Iranian Army Helicopter Crashes Into Market, Four Killed

Published

3 hours ago

February 24, 2026

Trends Admin

Iranian Army Helicopter Crashes Into Market, Four Killed

At least four people have died after an Iranian Army helicopter crashed into a fruit and vegetable market in Dorcheh, central Iran, on Tuesday morning, authorities and state media reported.

The helicopter, reportedly on a training flight, went down around 9:09 a.m. local time, striking market stalls and sparking a fire, which was later extinguished by emergency responders. Among the deceased are the pilot and co-pilot, both members of the Iranian Army Aviation, and two civilians who were present at the market during the crash.

Officials indicated that a technical malfunction may have caused the accident, though a full investigation is ongoing to determine the exact circumstances. Local authorities and rescue teams were immediately dispatched to secure the scene, assist victims, and clear debris from the market area.

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Dorcheh, located about 330 km south of Tehran, is in a region hosting key military installations, including a major airbase. The crash adds to concerns over the safety of Iran’s aging military aircraft fleet, which has been affected by decades-long sanctions restricting access to spare parts and modern equipment.

This incident comes days after another military aircraft crash in Hamadan province, where an F‑4 fighter jet went down during a training flight, killing one of its pilots. Aviation safety remains a growing concern in Iran, particularly for military training operations.

Authorities have pledged a comprehensive investigation into the Dorcheh helicopter crash and have called for measures to ensure safety around public areas near military flight paths.

Iranian Army Helicopter Crashes Into Market, Four Killed

International

15 Killed as Peruvian Military Helicopter Crashes During Flood Relief Mission

Published

9 hours ago

February 24, 2026

Trends Admin

15 Killed as Peruvian Military Helicopter Crashes During Flood Relief Mission

At least 15 people, including seven children, were killed after a Peruvian Air Force Mi‑17 helicopter crashed on Sunday while carrying out a flood relief and rescue mission in the Arequipa region of southern Peru. The helicopter was part of a humanitarian assistance operation responding to severe flooding and landslides that have damaged homes, roads, and infrastructure across the region.

The Mi‑17 helicopter, carrying 11 passengers and four crew members, vanished from radar while flying from Pisco toward the coastal town of Chala Viejo in Caravelí Province. Loss of radio contact triggered an intensive search and rescue operation, involving Peruvian special forces, police units, and Air Force personnel, which located the wreckage on Monday.

Among the victims were seven minors aged between 3 and 17 years old. Adults confirmed dead include Colonel Javier Nole Gonzales, Air Force officer Sergio Danner Paucar Centurión, Elisa Bernal Paredes, Zoila Fernandez Medina, Luis Cárcamo, Kamila Jove, and Leiner Huamán, along with other passengers whose identities are being verified. All four crew members perished in the crash.

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The Peruvian Air Force (FAP) described the incident as a “tragic accident” and expressed its deepest condolences to the families of the victims. An Accident Investigation Board has been activated to determine the exact cause of the crash, including the possibility of mechanical failure, adverse weather conditions, or operational challenges.

This tragedy comes amid one of the most severe flood emergencies in Arequipa in recent years, with heavy rains causing rivers to overflow, landslides, and forced evacuations. The helicopter’s mission was intended to provide emergency relief, transportation of personnel, and logistical support to affected communities. Authorities warned that the loss of the aircraft and personnel may impact ongoing rescue operations.

Local officials and disaster response teams continue to assist flood-affected families, providing temporary shelters, food, and medical aid. Observers noted that the crash underscores the risks faced by rescue teams operating in disaster-prone regions and highlights the need for enhanced aviation safety measures in extreme weather conditions.