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Biden hesitated to drop out of presidential race over doubts in Harris’s chances — Axios

Three unnamed Biden’s aides said that relations between the Biden team and Harris had been oftentimes tense

NEW YORK, July 22. /TASS/. US President Joe Biden hesitated to drop out of the presidential race because he and his senior advisors were uncertain that Vice President Kamala Harris would be able to compete with former President Donald Trump should she get nominated as the Democratic presidential candidate, Axios reported, citing three unnamed Biden’s aides.

The officials added that relations between the Biden team and Harris were oftentimes tense. The presidential aides considered Harris to not be a "team player," adding that she stayed away from any task that involved risk. Meanwhile, Harris’s advisors believed that the White House team, particularly top aide Anita Dunn, was not helpful to the vice president. According to Axios, Harris’s aides believe that the presidential team did not want to give the vice president an opportunity to shine in order to "avoid her being seen as a viable alternative" ahead of Biden’s re-election bid.

On July 21, Biden announced his decision to withdraw from the presidential race. He endorsed Harris’s nomination as the Democratic candidate. According to CBS, the Democrats will vote on Harris’s nomination ahead of schedule, on August 1, instead of the Democratic National Convention in Chicago on August 19-22.

According to a CNN poll carried out on July 3, Harris has more chances against Trump than Biden: 45% of US voters said they would support the vice president in the event of her nomination as the presidential candidate. The poll indicates that the gap between Trump and Harris (47% vs. 45%) is smaller than between Trump and Biden (47% vs. 43%) and stays within the statistical error margin.

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United States Joseph Biden

Scholz says Germany not to send Kiev missiles ‘capable of reaching as far as Moscow’

German Chancellor emphasized the need to explore ways in order to peacefully resolve the Ukraine conflict

Hezbollah commanders wanted to repeat October 7 in northern Israel — General Staff

The IDF said that it had conducted a targeted strike in Beirut, adding that Ibrahim Aqil, a military commander of Hezbollah’s militia, was killed along with other top brass

Gazprom warns Naftogaz about possible Russian sanctions if transit trial continues

Gazprom also believes that the current circumstances deprive it of its fundamental right to a fair and impartial hearing in court

Iran warns about pending response to Israel after Hamas leader Haniyeh’s killing

The head of Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei’s office slammed human rights activists for practicing double standards, when they are "silent while 41,000 Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, mostly women and children, have been killed by the cruel Zionist regime"

Hezbollah attacks Israeli military headquarters in Ein-Zeitim

The statement said that the Shiite units conducted these operations in response to the Israeli Air Force strikes on Lebanese populated localities

US-led coalition’s aircraft violate Syrian airspace ten times in past day

Three violations of the deconfliction protocols of December 9, 2019 linked with the flights by the US-led coalition unmanned aerial vehicles were reported in Syria in the past

Russian Chess Federation head urges not to turn world of chess into battlefield

"Under current conditions, the Ukrainian Chess Federation should become an example of improving and fostering peaceful co-existence instead of opening new frontlines, and serve as an example for their political elite," President of the Chess Federation of Russia Andrey Filatov said

Kremlin slams Poland's idea to revise Crimea's status 'absurd'

"Russian territory and Russian regions cannot be the subject of any discussion or transfer to anyone," Dmitry Peskov emphasized

Russia will not 'shoot itself in the foot' by halting gas supplies — Lavrov

According to the top Russian diplomat, for many decades, since the times of the Soviet Union, since the 1970s, Moscow has been establishing mutually beneficial cooperation in gas supplies

Ukrainian forces in difficult situation in Kursk Region, try gain foothold — commander

Major General Apty Alaudinov added that, on Thursday, he visited the rightmost flank of the Russian troops on the Kursk direction - near cities of Rylsk and Lgov

Scholz says Germany not to send Kiev missiles ‘capable of reaching as far as Moscow’

German Chancellor emphasized the need to explore ways in order to peacefully resolve the Ukraine conflict

Turkish banks want to stop transactions with Russia, transfer them to one bank — source

The issue reportedly concerns private and state-owned Turkish banks that do not have foreign partners, mainly Western ones

Russia seeks ways to create correspondent interbank networks for BRICS

"One of the tasks of the Russian presidency remains to strengthen the role of the BRICS countries in the international monetary and financial system," Russia's BRICS Sherpa and Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov emphasized

Businessman probably related to exploding gadgets in Lebanon missing in Norway

At this point, there is no evidence indicating that Rinson Jose had any knowledge about the operation to create the explosive gadgets

Russian prime minister approves list of countries imposing destructive attitudes

It includes the United States of America, the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Japan and other states

Transformer damaged in Ukrainian attack on Energodar, Zaporozhye NPP safety jeopardized

This substation is engaged in supplying power to the plant’s infrastructure facilities, the plant said in a statement on its Telegram channel

Procedure to enter Russia for foreigners not sharing Western values simplified

Such visitors will be issued three-month visas based on the decision by the head of a Russian diplomatic mission or a consulate

Zelensky says Ukrainian troops in extremely difficult situation in two DPR areas

The situation on the frontline remains extremely difficult, Ukrainian President said

Ten Ukrainian drones destroyed over Russia’s Bryansk Region — governor

There are no casualties or damage

Russia's military to restore control of all districts of Kursk Region — Kremlin

"The situation in those areas which are under the control of the Ukrainian militants is extraordinary, of course," Dmitry Peskov stated

West’s attempts to turn UNGA into pro-Ukrainian show doomed to fail — Russian MFA

"The UN General Assembly always encompasses a very broad agenda," Sergey Ryabkov stressed

Ukrainian troops attack two settlements in Russia’s Belgorod region, leaving no casualties

Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov added that in the settlement of Murom, the Shebekinsky district, the windows of a private house were broken out, the roof and fence were damaged due to a drone attack

Israel’s military says it conducts strike on Beirut

The strike was carried out in the wake of the escalation along the Lebanese-Israeli border, which was triggered by a wave of detonations of thousands of communication devices belonging to members of the Shiite movement Hezbollah in Lebanon

Palestine sits as state for first time at 79th session of the UN General Assembly

Palestine will be able to include its representatives in the list of speakers at meetings on Middle East issues, propose amendments and make procedural proposals on behalf of a group of countries

Ministerial meeting in Turkey within 3+3 platform on South Caucasus in the works — MFA

The six-party platform for regional cooperation in the South Caucasus was initiated by Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in late 2020

Tver region governor says no serious injuries in drone attack on Toropets

Earlier reports said a fire occurred at the scene where drone fragments fell in Toropets

Senior Hezbollah commander killed in Beirut was injured in Sep 18 walkie-talkie blast — TV

Ibrahim Aqil was appointed to replace Fuad Shukr, who was killed in an Israeli airstrike on the southern suburb of Beirut on July 30

Israeli air force attacks around 100 Hezbollah sites in Lebanon in past two hours

The strikes were directed by the IDF intelligence units and the IDF Northern Command, the Israel Defense Forces said

West switches to open support for Kiev's terrorist attacks against civilians — MFA

"The West continues to supply arms and money to the Kiev regime, propose pseudo-peace initiatives, and try to rally as many countries as possible to their side," Maria Zakharova said

Attempts made to provoke Hezbollah with aim of US interference in war — Lavrov

Lavrov pointed put that without this, recurrent outbreaks of violence will never stop in the Middle East

Zelensky may be overthrown if Ukraine fails to hold elections — Ukrainian MP

Ukraine is still facing the question of the legitimacy of power in the absence of parliamentary and presidential elections, which cannot be held during martial law

Stoltenberg's statements on use of long-range missiles against Russia senseless — MFA

According to the outgoing NATO Secretary-General, Ukraine's use of long-range missiles will not lead to the alliance being drawn into a conflict with Russia

In case of deep strikes Russia to respond with more powerful weapons — Duma speaker

According to Vyacheslav Volodin, it is crucial for the parliaments of the United States and European countries to "understand and realize what can happen"

Russian forces take control of two settlements in Kursk Region

According to Major General Apty Alaudinov, the entire frontline in moving forward, with Ukrainian soldiers surrendering

Report on alternative payment systems will be prepared by BRICS summit in Kazan — Lavrov

The Russian foreign minister also drew attention to the growth of trade in national currencies between Russia and other countries

Russia to allocate $1.9 bln for purchases of currency, gold from September 6 to October 4

Daily volume of purchase of foreign currency and gold will equal 8.2 bln rubles

Russia offers safe haven for people trying to escape Western liberal ideals

Under the document, such foreign nationals will have the right to apply for temporary residence in Russia "outside the quota approved by the Russian government and without providing documents confirming their knowledge of the Russian language, Russian history and basic laws"

US to step up efforts to limit Russia’s fuel exports, defense imports – White House

Sanctions and export controls are "our tools", US Deputy National Security Advisor for International Economics Daleep Singh said

Two-thirds of Abrams tanks in Ukraine already destroyed — Russia’s deputy OSCE envoy

As Maxim Buyakevich noted, the discussion is afoot in the West about the possibility of using high-accuracy long-range weapons against facilities deep inside Russian territory

Russian Federation Council Speaker calls detonations in Lebanon a 'heinous attack'

Valentina Matviyenko noted that Russia’s position regarding the ongoing escalation in the Middle East was "clearly stated by the Russian Foreign Ministry and the Russian Representative to the UN"

Florida court rules to arrest Russian citizen Postovoy, take him to Washington

The date of the next court hearing, to take place in Washington, has not been set yet

Twenty Hezbollah commanders killed in Israeli strike on Beirut — Axios

The news website cited a senior Israeli official who confirmed that Israel had not informed the US in advance of the preparations for the attack on Beirut, "but briefed senior US officials on the matter immediately after it was carried out"

Russian troops entrenched in liberated settlements of Kursk Region’s Sudzha District

According to commander of the Akhmat special forces unit Apty Alaudinov, the situation is under control

UN human rights commissioner slams blasts in Lebanon as war crime

The UN official called for bringing those behind these blasts to responsibility under international law and protecting civilians in conflict zoes

Diplomat slams statements that CSTO 'did not protect Armenia' as untrue

Maria Zakharova emphasized that Russia in its relations with Armenia continues to advocate "for full-scale bilateral dialogue, for cooperation, for a return from manipulative rhetoric to real full-fledged interaction, including in the work of the CSTO"

Russian units strike energy facilities of Ukrainian military-industrial complex

Russia’s battlegroup Center has continued to advance into enemy defenses and wiped out more than 500 Ukrainian servicemen over the past 24 hours, the Defense Ministry said

No more red lines for Israel, any Hezbollah radical is legitimate target — PM’s office

The Israel Defense Forces said earlier that a pinpoint strike was delivered on Beirut that killed Hezbollah Shiite militia commander Ibrahim Aqil and several other Hezbollah commanders

Kadyrov send two more Cybertucks to special military operation zone

"The electric car’s mobility, comfort and maneuverability are what is needed here," the Chechen leader said

Ukrainian forces create concentration camps in Russian border areas — diplomat

Maria Zakharova pointed out that one of the Ukrainian prisoners of war reported an attack on a passenger train being prepared in the Kursk Region

Hezbollah fires anti-tank missiles at Israeli positions in Metula

According to the broadcast, at least three of them hit targets

Over 6,200 Kursk Region residents evacuated from border areas over week

Around 11,000 people are currently staying in temporary accommodation centers across 32 Russian regions

Gas reserves in European USG facilities approach 93.5%

Gas injections into UGS facilities slowed significantly in September to the lowest level since 2011

Cases against Ukrainian servicemen: situation in Kursk Region

Russian investigators have initiated three criminal cases against Ukrainian militants involved in crimes against civilians in the Kursk Region

Tatyana Bakalchuk: I dared to take risks and it paid off

The CEO of Wildberries, Russia’s largest Internet retailer, in a TASS special project on Top Business Officials

Hezbollah handing out pagers hours before their detonation — agency

The sources said that the Shiite movement did not have any specific suspicions about these pagers and their "checks had been part of a routine 'sweep' of its equipment to find any indications that they were laced with explosives"

Russia's newest satellites to change course of Ukrainian conflict — former UN inspector

According to Ritter this conflict would become "unsustainable for the Ukrainian sometime by the end of summer, early fall"

Russia's international reserves up by $2.5 bln over week to $616 bln

Russia’s international reserves are highly liquid foreign assets available with the Bank of Russia and the Russian government

West overestimates effectiveness of pressure on Russian, Chinese economies — Rosneft CEO

According to Igor Sechin, despite the predicted "inevitable" slowdown of the Chinese economy, the IMF estimates that China's contribution to global economic growth over the next five years will be 21% - more than the combined contribution of all G7 countries (20%)

Ukrainian forces lost up to 520 troops in Battlegroup West zone of responsibility

The enemy also lost six vehicles, a UK-made 155-mm Braveheart self-propelled howitzer, two 122-mm Gvozdika self-propelled howitzer and two electronic warfare stations

Ukraine’s forces in Ugledar virtually encircled — sources

"Most positions around the city, including those at the most important sites and heights are Russian, the whole city is exposed to fire," the sources explained

US’ new military aid package for Ukraine to be worth $375 mln — agency

According to Reuters, the new package will include patrol boats, additional munitions for high-mobility artillery rocket systems

EP resolution regarding strikes on Russia madness, EU seeks war — French politician

According to Florian Filippot, France should urgently withdraw from the EU and advocate for a peaceful settlement of the Ukrainian conflict

Russia sanctions likely to dilute US dollar’s dominance, IMF says

Radical restrictive measures imposed by Western countries may contribute to the emergence of small currency blocs based on trade between certain groups of states, IMF’s first deputy managing director Gita Gopinath pointed out

Russia is committed to Israel’s security, but not at others’ expense — Lavrov

The top Russian diplomat noted that he had good relations with many of his Israeli counterparts

Strikes at Beirut and shelling of Lebanon: escalation on Lebanese-Israeli border

The IDF has also intensified the hostilities in the northern direction and started carrying out massive airstrikes at Hezbollah targets in southern Lebanon

Russia delivers urgent assistance to Mali — portal

The delivery was organized as part of military cooperation between Russia and Mali to boost defense and security ties

Russia to explain risks of cooperation with NATO to post-Soviet countries — MFA

"No doubt, such voyages of representatives of the aggressive military bloc do not contribute to regional stability and security," Maria Zakharova said

First five Baikal aircraft will be delivered in 2026 — minister

"It has been decided that we will switch to the domestic VK-800 engine," Anton Alikhanov said

Ukraine's budget deficit next year will reach 19.4% of GDP

The country's Finance Ministry reported earlier that Ukraine's national debt has grown by $3.2 bln in three months to $155.36 bln

Press review: BRICS challenges existing security concepts and Europe's economy in trouble

Top stories from the Russian press on Friday, September 13th

Lavrov says he agrees with Trump about destructiveness of sanctions for US dollar

The Russian foreign minister stressed that, despite the continued dependence of many economies on the dollar, the risk of this phenomenon has already been recognized

Russian Supreme Court upholds Navalny verdict

Former technical director of Navalny’s YouTube channel Daniel Kholodny was also found guilty of financing extremist activities with the use of his office and of participating in an extremist community

Only Lebanese hospitals, kindergartens used exploded pagers — Iranian ambassador

Multiple explosions of communication devices occurred in Lebanon on September 17 and 18

Lifting ban on strikes deep into Russia won't help Ukraine much — Pentagon

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov, for his part, said that Moscow was aware of the West's decision to attack deep into Russian territory and to send appropriate signals to Kiev

Ukrainian drones attack Kamenka-Dneprovskaya in Zaporozhye Region

"Another cynical attack by terrorists for whom nothing is sacred," Governor Yevgeny Balitsky said

Russian, Laotian servicemen start training at range as part of joint drills — top brass

The Defense Ministry pointed out that at the first stage, the servicemen will have to work out several episodes, including negotiations with suspected terrorists, evacuation of civilians and cleanup of a populated area

Battlegroup North liberates two settlements in Kursk Region this week

Apart from that, according to the report, Russian aircraft struck areas of deployment of manpower and weapons of the Ukrainian army’s three mechanized, one tank, and two assault brigades

Physicists from Russia to be banned from Large Hadron Collider from December 1 — Nature

At the same time, CERN will continue to work on projects already underway with about 270 employees of the Russian Joint Institute for Nuclear Research

Senior Hezbollah military figure, five children killed in Israeli airstrike

According to the report, the strike hit the headquarters where commanders of Shiite formations were holding a meeting

North Korea convinced Russia to win special military operation in Ukraine — top diplomat

"The North Korean people express their support for the Russian people in their just struggle," Choe Son Hui stressed

Up to 62 flights of Ukrainian drones reported near ZNPP every day — Russian diplomat

Mikhail Ulyanov recalled that Ukraine had been shelling the ZNPP practically non-stop from mid-July to November 20, 2022

As many as 750 wildfires leave 24 houses burned in DPR over past 5 days

A total of 800 employees of the Russian Emergencies Ministry and more than 150 units of special equipment are involved in firefighting effort

Theft of Russian assets to nullify trust towards EU — MFA

Maria Zakharova pointed out that the European Union had lost independence

Russia’s Akhmat special force destroys military storage facility in Kursk direction

Akhmat also eliminated one armored personnel carrier and one self-propelled artillery weapon, the deputy chief of the Main Military-Political Directorate of the Russian Armed Forces Apty Alaudinov said

Putin has no plans to attend Mexican president's inauguration — Kremlin

Earlier, the Mexican embassy in Moscow stated that the Russian president had received an invitation to Sheinbaum's inauguration ceremony

US-led coalition's aircraft violate Syrian airspace eight times in past day

The incidents were related to UAV flights that were not coordinated with the Russian side

Press review: Israel declares new phase of war and Russia boosts drone production

Top stories from the Russian press on Friday, September 20th

Over 30 foreign leaders invited to BRICS summit in Kazan, 18 RSVP — Kremlin

"We have not organized such a large-scale international event in quite a long time," Yury Ushakov underlined

Russia cautions Chisinau against involvement in Ukrainian conflict — Foreign Ministry

Maria Zakharova drew attention to the speculations about Romania's plans for redirecting to Moldova the mobile maintenance stations for F-16 fighter jets received by Bucharest for their subsequent deployment at the Marculesti airbase

Putin instructs authorities to support small producers of drones

The Russian leader noted that products manufactured by small enterprises, including drones, are not inferior in quality to those made by large ones

Situation on Korean Peninsula becomes tenser because of US — North Korean Foreign Minister

Choe Son-hui underscored that "global peace and security are in jeopardy"

Russia to accept advanced robotic mine-clearing vehicles in 2018

The Uran-6, Skarabei and Sfera robotic systems have been tested in Syria

Russia wants no nuclear war — Lavrov

The foreign minister still assured that Russia possesses weapons "that will have serious implications for the handlers of the Ukrainian regime"

Kiev still plans to attack Kursk NPP — Foreign Ministry

Maria Zakharova pointed out that the US and the UK were behind all of Kiev's crimes

EU will grant loan to Kiev that will be paid from frozen Russian assets — EC president

Ursula von der Leyen stressed that 35 billion euros is the part which the European countries will contribute to the 45 billion euro loan approved by the G7 in Italy in the summer

Russia fully ready to defend its interests in Arctic — Lavrov

The minister to say that NATO is becoming increasingly interested in the Arctic region

Russia calls on UN to give honest assessment of sanctions' impact on Syria — envoy

Vasily Nebenzya stressed that Russia was waiting for the UN to "send a clear signal to Western donors regarding the need to lift unilateral illegal sanctions and actively support long-term development reconstruction"

West is persuading Ukraine to give up claims to 1991 borders — legislator

Yegor Chernev shared a "feeling" that the Western world is ready to declare as a victory for Ukraine at least the fact that "Kiev has not fallen" and that it "has not lost its sovereignty"

Russian military in Syria help 26 refugees leave US-occupied Al-Tanf zone

No attacks on Syrian pro-government forces were registered in the Idlib de-escalation zone in the past day, the Russian military official added

Senior Russian lawmaker warns that calls for long-range strikes open way to nuclear war

Vyacheslav Volodin commented on a recent resolution of the European Parliament to allow strikes inside Russia with Western weapons

Six Hezbollah elite unit Radwan commanders killed by Israel’s airstrike o Beirut

According to the MTV television channel, they were taking part in an operations headquarters meeting held by Hezbollah military leader Ibrahim Aqil