📹 81-year-old US Republican Senator Mitch McConnell appears to freeze after being asked if he will run for re-election at a Kentucky event.

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❗️ Air defenses in the eastern part of Crimea have shot down a cruise missile, the head of the republic Sergey Aksyonov has said

❗️Two Ukrainian UAVs were shot down over the Bryansk region, governor Alexander Bogomaz announced late Wednesday, detailing that there were no casualties or damage

❗️Russian MoD briefing on the progress of the special military operation in Ukraine

▪️In the Kupyansk region, the Russian Army repelled three attacks by Ukrainian troops. Ukrainian losses amounted to 100 soldiers;

▪️In the Zaporozhye area, Ukrainian losses amounted to 85 soldiers, a tank, three M777 artillery systems and three M119 howitzers, as well as Gvozdika, Bogdan and AS-90 self-propelled guns;

▪️In South Donetsk, Ukrainian losses amounted to 120 soldiers and D-20 and D-30 howitzers;

▪️In the Donetsk region, Russian forces repelled five attacks by Ukrainian forces near Belogorovka, Zaitsev and Krasnogorovka. Ukrainian losses amounted to 380 soldiers;

▪️Near Krasny Liman, Russian forces destroyed up to 60 Ukrainian soldiers;

▪️In the area of Serebryansky forestry, Russian troops repelled the attack of the assault group of the 42nd Mechanized Brigade of the Ukrainian forces;

▪️In the DPR, the Russian Army hit the headquarters of the Donetsk operational-tactical group and the communication center of the 24th Mechanized Brigade of the Ukrainian forces;

▪️The Russian Army repelled nine attacks by Ukrainian assault groups in the area of Rabotino and Verbovoye;

▪️The Russian Armed Forces struck at the control and intelligence posts of the Ukrainian forces, the goals of the strike were achieved.

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🇮🇳 🛢 India to Сontinue Pragmatic Policy Toward #Oil Purchases

🗯 "We are very clear in our minds that we will buy oil from wherever we can get it as long as it is delivered to our point of importation at our ports at the lowest possible price," said the Oil Minister in an interview with ET Now.

📈 India's oil imports from Russia have registered a 440 percent growth during January-July compared to the corresponding time frame last year.

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🇺🇸 Shooting down a question on whether 81-year-old Mitch McConnell was fit to work in office or participate in new elections in light of his second 'freeze' incident, Biden deflected and instead asked Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas if he was interested in "running."

How did Mayorkas respond, you wonder? Check out the video!

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🇨🇿 Hackers who disrupted the online services of five Czech banks on Wednesday demanded that the lenders cut financial support to Ukraine, Czech media reported, citing official data.

The Central European nation’s cybersecurity agency (NUKIB) acknowledged earlier in the day that several domestic banks had been targeted by distributed denial-of-service attacks that cut off access to online and mobile banking platforms.

A Czech news agency reported, citing NUKIB and the PwC consultancy, that the pro-Russian hacker group NoName057 was behind the attack on Komercni Banka, CSOB, Air Bank, Fio Banka and Ceska sporitelna.

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🔺Hungarian PM Orban to Tucker Carlson: rumors about Ukraine prevailing over Russia ‘a lie’
🔺The United States is racing to improve its messaging to the developing world as the BRICS group grows
🔺Japan dumps radioactive water into Pacific Ocean, China demands global action to stop ecocide

The Critical Hour will cover these and more stories! Tune in to Radio Sputnik at 6pm EST|3pm PST|12am CET via the website or app

📻 Also in the United States at 105.5FM, 104.7FM, 102.9FM, 1390AM, 1140AM

🇷🇺 🪖 Russian Paratroopers Express Confidence in Defending Against Ukrainian Army

🗯 "Even if they launch an offensive, they will not be able to gain a foothold in our positions and fulfil their tasks."

Russian paratroopers view a direct Ukrainian offensive towards Artemovsk (Bakhmut) as unlikely, citing Russia's more advantageous position.

📹 Watch our video to learn more!

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#SputnikInfographic 📊 What is known about the Gabon coup

Gabon is a country located in central Africa, bordering Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, and the Republic of Congo.

Earlier on Wednesday, the incumbent President of Gabon Ali Bongo Ondimba was reelected as the country's head for a third term after securing 64.2% of the votes. Following the announcement of the election results, the Gabonese military delivered a televised address, declaring that the election results were canceled and all institutions were dissolved. The president has since been placed under house arrest, while his son has been detained.

Later on Wednesday, the rebels stated that they had unanimously appointed General Brice Oligui Nguema as president for the transitional period.

Check out Sputnik's infographics to learn more about Gabon.

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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's first visit to the Biden White House reportedly proved to be considered unsuccessful as Zelensky's insistence on joining NATO and his unconventional analysis of alliance dynamics irritated US President Joe Biden, setting a discouraging tone for future discussions.

The account of the visit comes from Franklin Foer's book, "The Last Politician," and details where Zelensky's frustration appeared to cloud his reasoning. Despite his earlier enthusiasm to join NATO, Zelensky paradoxically portrayed the organization as a fading relic, even suggesting France and Germany might exit it. The contradictory stance and the ensuing tension left Biden aggravated, pointing to potential challenges ahead in their relationship.

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🇺🇸 Amid a housing crisis and growing unemployment in Hawaii, the offer of a one-time $700 payment by President Joe Biden to those affected by wildfires has been met with dissatisfaction. A resident of Maui told Sputnik that the gesture felt inadequate, given the dire situation on the island.

Biden's announcement of $95 million to strengthen Hawaii's electric grid following the recent wildfires was met with skepticism. The wildfires caused significant devastation, with numerous casualties and ongoing concerns. Against this backdrop, the proposed payment appeared trivial, as the cost of living in Maui is notably high, leaving many struggling to make ends meet.

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❗️ Russia will rebuild the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant (KHPP), partially destroyed by Ukraine in June, work is already under way on the design, Vladimir Saldo, acting governor of Russia's Kherson Region, told Sputnik.

"I think that no matter how much money is required [to rebuild the KHPP], this is an economically expedient project and it will pay off. So it is not a matter of funds, but of desire and expediency. There are such intentions, and plans are already being designed," Saldo said.

🇳🇪 Niger's National Council for the Safeguard of the Homeland (CNSP) has reportedly demanded the complete withdrawal of French troops from the West African country by September 3.

Earlier in the day, Saudi media reported the CNSP had announced the annulment of all security and military agreements with France.

By the end of the week, supporters of the pullout are going to stage an indefinite protest against the presence of the French military in Niger. Some residents have reportedly demanded that the authorities cut water and power supply to the French base, as well as halt food deliveries.

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🇺🇸🇨🇳 Mark Lambert, a US veteran diplomat, may be named as the deputy assistant secretary for China and Taiwan, mainstream US media has said, citing sources familiar with the issue.

Previously, the veteran diplomat served as a deputy assistant secretary focused on Japanese, Korean and Mongolian affairs, and on relations with Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific Islands.

Who's Mark Lambert and how could he influence Biden's China policy?

A US company is being sued by the federal government to prevent its planned expedition to the RMS Titanic wreck. The US argues that the shipwreck is a sacred burial site and removing artifacts would violate international agreements.

The lawsuit targets RMS Titanic, Inc. (RMST), which is set to conduct a 2024 expedition to the wreck and aims to capture images and retrieve artifacts while respecting the ship's integrity.

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Biden flogs a dead horse by sending $250mln in arms to Ukraine

The latest US military package for the Kiev regime announced by Washington on Tuesday includes AIM-9M missiles for air defense, munitions for High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS), 155mm and 105mm artillery ammunition, mine-clearing equipment, Javelin and other anti-armor systems and rockets, three million rounds of small arms ammunition, as well as other items.

As per the US State Department, the $250 million package will be delivered to Ukraine within the framework of the US presidental drawdown authority (which means that there's no need for congressional approval).

Will new NATO weapons save the day for Kiev?

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🇺🇸 Over 1,000 emails between the office of then-Vice President Joe Biden and his son Hunter Biden’s advisory firm Rosemont Seneca Partners have been revealed through a National Archives lawsuit, as stated by America First Legal. These emails, in direct contrast to Joe Biden's assertions of separation between personal and government matters, indicate Hunter Biden's significant involvement in planning high-profile White House events, despite his lack of an official role.

The emails uncovered Hunter Biden's participation in orchestrating various events, including luncheons, arrival ceremonies, and state dinners, alongside his use of the "Biden name" to secure access for Rosemont Seneca and its associates. One email, obtained from the National Archives, even highlights a confirmation regarding tour tickets for the White House, referred to as a "big favor for Hunter."

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