Wednesday Briefing: Support for Biden erodes among Democrats as U.S. looks past pandemic

Wednesday, June 30, 2021

by Linda Noakes

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Here's what you need to know.

Trump heads to the U.S.-Mexico border, North Korea's Kim warns of a 'great crisis', and China's Didi raises $4.4 billion in an upsized IPO

Today's biggest stories

U.S. President Joe Biden holds an ice cream cone during a stop at an ice cream shop after a visit to La Crosse Municipal Transit Utility, in La Crosse, Wisconsin, June 29, 2021. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque

U.S.

U.S. President Joe Biden has seen an erosion in support since April, mainly from fellow Democrats, as his administration wrestles with Congress to make good on campaign promises and more Americans worry about an uneven economic recovery, Reuters/Ipsos polling shows.

Meanwhile, former President Donald Trump visits the U.S.-Mexico border today as he seeks to reclaim the spotlight, riding a wave of Republican attacks on Biden over the rise in migrants caught entering the United States.

New York City's first attempt at ranked-choice voting descended into confusion, after the elections board abruptly removed updated vote totals from its website hours after posting them due to what it called a "discrepancy" in the numbers.

The House of Representatives passed a bill to remove statues honoring those who upheld slavery or backed the Confederacy from the Capitol building, which displays statues selected by all 50 states.

The U.S. National Security Agency denied allegations by Fox News host Tucker Carlson that the agency is spying on him in an attempt to force him off the air.

North Korean Leader Kim Jong Un speaks at a plenary meeting of the 8th central committee of the Workers' Party of Korea in this still image taken from KRT footage on June 16, 2021

WORLD

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un said the failure to implement measures to tackle the coronavirus had caused a "great crisis" and he chastised ruling party officials for risking the safety of the country and people, state media reported. North Korea has not officially confirmed any COVID-19 cases, a position questioned by South Korean and U.S. officials.

Myanmar's authorities will free around 700 prisoners from Yangon's Insein jail today, prison chief Zaw Zaw told Reuters, in a release that is expected to include some of the thousands of people detained for opposing military rule.

Jewish settlers have agreed to quit a remote outpost that has become a flashpoint for clashes with Palestinians who also claim the land, under a deal aimed at addressing an awkward political test for the new Israeli government.

The European Union's executive is considering legal action against Poland over 'LGBT-free' zones set up by some local authorities there. The EU says LGBT rights must be respected in all member states, but Poland's ruling nationalist party has made anti-gay policies part of its governing platform.

BUSINESS

Investors have enjoyed a rewarding ride in the first half of 2021, as unprecedented economic stimulus, stellar earnings growth and a reopening U.S. economy powered the S&P 500 to record highs. Here are five market trends investors are eyeing halfway through 2021.

From working at a foot massage company to setting up China's biggest ride-hailing firm, Will Wei Cheng has navigated several hurdles on the path to taking Didi Global public in a $4.4-billion New York float.

Orange said it will launch an experimental 5G network using a cloud-based open platform and artificial intelligence in July, as the telecom industry rushes to shift services onto the cloud in a bid to cut costs and modernise.

French carmaker Renault unveiled a more ambitious strategy for electric vehicles, betting on new, affordable versions of its iconic small cars of the past to catch up with Volkswagen in the fast-growing sector.

Quote of the day

"The way I look at it, as an old Navy guy, is that when somebody is missing in the military, you're missing until you're found, and we don't stop the search"

Ron DeSantis

Florida governor

Hopes dim for scores still missing nearly a week after Florida condo collapse

Video of the day

Start-up creates plaster cast alternative

The colorful web-like casts are lightweight, waterproof and biodegradable, and are seen as an alternative to plaster casts, which are often made from petroleum-based products.

And finally…

Saving the pangolin: One conservationist's lifetime mission

A lucrative illegal trade in Asia in body parts alleged to be able to cure everything from cancer to male impotence makes pangolins one of the world's most trafficked mammals.

More from Reuters

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