Biden may let Ukraine fire long-range weapons into Russia
President Biden appeared on the verge of approving Ukraine’s use of long-range Western weapons on targets deep inside Russian territory on the condition that it doesn’t use arms provided by the U.S., according to European officials. Biden is expected to discuss the issue today when he meets with Britain’s new prime minister, Keir Starmer, in Washington.
Britain has already signaled that it wants to let Ukraine use long-range missiles, but it wants permission from Biden to show a unified strategy with France and the U.S. If Biden approves of it, the move could help Ukraine hold the line after it seizes Russian territory.
Russia’s president, Vladimir Putin, warned yesterday that the country would “make appropriate decisions” in response to the Western move. “This will mean that NATO countries — the United States and European countries — are at war with Russia,” he said.
Context: Kyiv has argued for months that long-range weapons are necessary to target more Russian military sites. The Biden administration has so far hesitated, wary of provoking Moscow, particularly after warnings from U.S. intelligence that Russia could respond by aiding Iran in targeting U.S. forces in the Middle East.
In Ukraine: Three Red Cross workers were killed and two were wounded when artillery fire struck a frontline aid distribution site in the eastern part of the country.
Trump said he won’t do another debate
Donald Trump said yesterday that he would not debate Vice President Kamala Harris again, while her campaign said it had taken in $47 million in donations in the 24 hours after they met for the first time, on Tuesday night. Harris said that she and Trump “owe it to voters” to square off again.
The post-debate windfall for the Harris campaign is the latest sign of the momentum she has picked up. But with less than two months until Election Day, surveys in the battleground states forecast very tight contests. Harris’s aides are preparing for an exceedingly close grind.
 More on the U.S. electionAmericans head to the polls in less than eight weeks.The Justice Department said that other countries were seeking to sway the outcome in November, including Russia’s efforts to help Trump.In Congressional races, Democrats are running as “team normal” and ridiculing Republicans as “weird” rather than a threat.Do you have questions about the election?Send them to us, and we’ll find the answers.Stay up to date:See our poll trackerListen to “The Run-Up” podcastSign up for the On Politics newsletter |
The European Central Bank cut rates again
The European Central Bank cut interest rates yesterday for the second time in three months. Officials lowered the deposit rate a quarter percentage point, to 3.5 percent from 3.75 percent. The bank also cut rates in June, its first decrease since 2019.
Context: The bank is slowly unwinding the aggressive stance it took to stamp out high inflation in the eurozone. Inflation has slowed, and the bank has faced pressure to help the region’s ailing economy. Growth has been weak for more than a year, in part because of anemic household spending and high interest rates.
| MORE TOP NEWS |
| Mexico: States approved an amendment to the Constitution that will remake the country’s judicial system, with judges being elected, not appointed. Middle East: Israel destroyed a Hezbollah missile production facility during a commando raid in Syria on Sunday, according to U.S. and other Western officials. Trump: A judge threw out three charges in the Georgia election interference case against the former president, but kept most of the case intact. Harvey Weinstein: The disgraced Hollywood mogul, whose conviction for sex crimes in New York was overturned in April, faces new charges in the state. Diplomacy: The U.S. said it would support two permanent seats for African states on the U.N. Security Council, but the path to making that promise a reality is complicated. New York: The city’s police commissioner resigned eight days after federal agents seized his phone as part of a criminal investigation. U.S.: Jon Bon Jovi helped talk a woman off the ledge of a bridge in Nashville, where he was filming a music video. |
Business
| Tech: OpenAI, parent company of ChatGPT, is closing in on a funding round that would value it at $150 billion. Cars: General Motors and Hyundai plan to work together on new vehicles and clean energy technologies. Crypto: The U.S. is urging Nigeria to release a Binance employee who was arrested there in February and is in poor health. |
| SPORTS NEWS |
| Formula 1: McLaren will have to get fully behind Lando Norris if he is to close the gap with Max Verstappen and win the drivers’ title. Soccer: A reflection on Alex Morgan, who announced her retirement abruptly and without prolonged fanfare. Barcelona: Gavi returned to training, 10 months after tearing an anterior cruciate ligament. |
| MORNING READ |
Two private astronauts completed the first commercial spacewalk yesterday. The mission was one of several led by the billionaire entrepreneur Jared Isaacman in collaboration with SpaceX, Elon Musk’s rocket company.
The mission’s success reinforces that space travel is no longer just for professional astronauts working for the government, but for the wealthy, too.
| ARTS AND IDEAS |
Will Taylor Swift’s endorsement affect the election?
To some Americans, Taylor Swift’s endorsement of Kamala Harris after the presidential debate on Tuesday was the biggest news of the night. But will that translate into votes?
My colleagues at the Upshot looked at what research says about how effective celebrity endorsements really are — and what might make this one different. Swift has great influence over her listeners: Her recent call to vote on social media sent hundreds of thousands of people to registration sites. Many of her fans are also at an age when their political opinions are still forming. It’s possible that enthusiasm over the endorsement will increase turnout.
| RECOMMENDATIONS |
Cook: This kale salad with apples and Cheddar is wonderful for the fall.
