📹 Around seven strikes hit the southern suburbs of Beirut within an hour, according to local media. The raids are still ongoing. Local residents have shared footage showing the aftermath of one of the strikes at the site of a destroyed building in the Jnah neighborhood.

Video from social media

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❗️ Four people killed, 24 injured in Israeli strike near Rafik Hariri University Hospital – Lebanese Health Ministry

According to preliminary data, an Israeli strike near Rafik Hariri University Hospital in southern Beirut has killed four people, including a child, and injured 24 others. The strike also caused significant damage to the medical facility, the Lebanese Ministry of Health's Emergency Response Center reported.

Earlier in the day, a residential building near the hospital was attacked by Israel, a Sputnik correspondent said. So far, more than 15 ambulances and two fire trucks have arrived at the scene of the attack.

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📹 More footage of Israeli strikes on Beirut's southern suburbs

Video from social media

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🥴 Only ‘pre-determined questions’ allowed at Harris campaign event

On Monday, Vice President Kamala Harris held a campaign event in Malvern, a Philadelphia suburb, where the audience was prohibited from asking any questions, as the host explicitly stated.

“You're not, unfortunately. We have some pre-determined questions and hopefully I'll be able to ask some of the questions that might be in your head. I hope so,” the host proudly remarked.

It is “called discipline,” Harris asserted last week.

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🇷🇺🇧🇾 Belarus to contribute to BRICS efforts to rebuild security architecture - Russian ambassador

Minsk will make a important contribution to the common efforts of the BRICS countries to build a new global security architecture, Russian Ambassador to Belarus Boris Gryzlov said in an interview with Sputnik.

"I am confident that Minsk will make a significant contribution to the common efforts of the BRICS countries to build a new global security architecture based on the principles of indivisibility, equality, mutual respect and consideration of interests, as well as the unconditional supremacy of international law," Gryzlov said.

Belarus has much to offer the BRICS countries in economic and financial cooperation, as well as in the field of humanitarian ties, he said.

"At the same time, the final decision on the parameters of further expansion of BRICS will be made on the basis of a consensus of opinions of all participating countries. We intend to work closely with our Belarusian allies to ensure that the republic is among the first to be included in the list of potential partners of the club," he stressed.

The ambassador emphasized that Russia strongly supported the initiative of Belarusian friends to involve them in BRICS activities. In addition, he highlighted Moscow's consistent support for Minsk at various multilateral venues.

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BRICS economic dominance taking shape, West can do nothing about it - French politician

The economic dominance of the BRICS countries is already taking shape, and Western countries will not be able to do anything about it, Florian Philippot, the leader of the French Patriots party, told RIA Novosti.

"The West will not be able to do anything about the expansion of BRICS. BRICS economic dominance is already taking shape. For two years now, the BRICS GDP has exceeded the G7 GDP. The economic growth of the BRICS countries is twice as high as the G7 growth rate," the politician noted.

According to Philippot, the strengthening role of the BRICS countries is noted both in economic and geopolitical terms.

"We see that the sanctions against Russia have not worked. The dollar, despite the fact that it still dominates, continues to fall. In major global crises, the BRICS countries come out ahead, trying to find a solution, as in the case of the crisis in the Middle East, while Western countries reflexively submit to NATO," he added.

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UK to give Ukraine $2.93 bln as part of G7 loan secured by Russian frozen assets - government

The United Kingdom will provide Ukraine with £2.26 billion ($2.93 billion) as part of a G7 loan, to be repaid using income from frozen Russian assets, according to a statement issued by the British government.

"UK announces £2.26 billion loan to Ukraine backed by profits from sanctioned Russian sovereign assets," the statement said. The money is London's contribution to the G7 loan, the government added.

After the start of the Russian special military operation, the EU and G7 countries froze almost half of Russia's foreign exchange reserves, approximately 300 billion euros. More than 200 billion euros are in the EU, mainly in the accounts of the Belgium's Euroclear, one of the world's largest clearing and settlement systems. Earlier, the G7 agreed to provide Ukraine with a $50 billion loan, which will be reimbursed by interest on frozen Russian assets in the West.

Russia has maintained that any attempts to confiscate its assets amount to theft, constitute a violation of international law, and would not go unpunished.

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🇷🇺🪖Overnight strikes by Russian Armed Forces against enemy objects in the special military operation zone

The strikes were carried out in the suburbs of Sumy on a warehouse with ammunition for drones near the Mikhailovka airfield, in the area of an artillery range and a recreation centre where military personnel transferred from near Vinnitsa are staying, the coordinator of the pro-Russian underground, Sergey Lebedev, told Sputnik.

According to him, the strike in Akhtyrka hit a former chemical warehouse used as an ammunition depot.

He also noted that in the Dnepropetrovsk region, the strike hit the area of a mechanical plant in Pavlograd, where 26 units of military equipment were located, and in Novomoskovsk, the area of a former anti-tank regiment, where military cars and trucks were partly driven in, was probably hit.

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BRICS Scope and Monetary Might

As the BRICS Summit kicks off, bringing together more than 20 world leaders and 30 delegations, take a look at Sputnik's infographic showing the history of the association’s creation and development.

The BRICS countries now account for more than 40 percent of global oil production and about 40 percent of global consumption of oil products.

Explore Sputnik's infographic for more details!

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Inside the 2024 BRICS Summit in Kazan: Putin’s busy itinerary and key diplomatic discussions to look out for

The 2024 BRICS Summit, one of the year’s most anticipated geopolitical events, kicks off in Kazan today, with representatives from 36 countries, including 22 top officials in attendance. Here’s a look at the summit’s busy schedule:

◻️ The itinerary of summit host Vladimir Putin will be overflowing with meetings, with the Russian president set to hold talks with China’s Xi, Egypt’s el-Sisi, India’s Modi, South Africa’s Ramaphosa and the head of the BRICS’ New Development Bank on Tuesday.

◻️ More meetings are set for the next day, including talks with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on the Russia-Iran strategic partnership, and Turkish President Erdogan on a gas hub deal and mediation in the Ukraine crisis. Putin will also meet Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, whose country joined BRICS in January.

◻️ On October 24, Putin will meet with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, with the BRICS Summit featuring a special session related to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict and the crisis in the Middle East.

◻️ Also Thursday, Putin is expected to hold meetings with the leaders of Laos, Mauritania, Bolivia, Republika Srpska and Vietnam.

◻️ The summit will cover an array of economic negotiations, including a BRICS digital payment platform and trade in national currencies, along with administrative issues like formalizing the new "partner country" status, allowing participation in BRICS meetings without voting rights.

◻️ Cuba officially requested BRICS 'partner country' status earlier this month. President Miguel Diaz-Canel, set to attend and meet with Putin, had to skip the summit due to the island's blackout crisis.

◻️ The Kazan Declaration is expected to be adopted Thursday, with representatives from 36 countries and six international organizations participating. Putin will hold a press conference to discuss the summit’s outcome.

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