United Photo Press Announces 35th Anniversary Book Project

 

United Photo Press Announces 35th Anniversary Book Project

Munich – United Photo Press, a global leader in contemporary photography exhibitions for over three decades, is excited to announce its 35th anniversary. To commemorate this milestone, the organization is inviting UPP members & guests artists worldwide to contribute to a special, limited-edition book titled “Reconnected 35”.

This deluxe hardcover publication will celebrate the rich history and diverse talent of United Photo Press, showcasing the work of both established and emerging artists. To be included in the book, artists are invited to submit an updated photo of themselves, a brief biography, and a selection of 10 high-resolution images.

Submissions are due by December 31, 2024, and can be sent to info@unitedphotopress.net.

"We are thrilled to invite our global community of artists to participate in this exciting project,” said Carlos Sousa president at United Photo Press. “This book will serve as a testament to the enduring power of photography and the incredible talent of our artists & guests."

The "Reconnected 35" book is expected to be released worldwide in the first quarter of 2025. Members of United Photo Press & guests can pre-order their copies for a special price, plus shipping.

About United Photo Press

United Photo Press has a long-standing reputation for showcasing innovative and thought-provoking contemporary photography & books. With exhibitions held across four continents, the organization has fostered a global community of artists and photography enthusiasts.

Read More

Season's Greetings from United Photo Press!

 Season's Greetings from United Photo Press! 


As the festive spirit envelops us, we, the global community of United Photo Press, come together to celebrate the joy of the season.  Through the lens and exhibitions of our shared passion for photography, we've captured moments that transcend borders and unite us in a visual tapestry of diversity.


This Christmas, we extend our heartfelt gratitude to our dedicated members and friends who have contributed their talent, vision, and enthusiasm to our international photography ONG United Photo Press.  Your commitment has illuminated the world with stories that transcend language, connecting us through the universal language of imagery.


May the coming year bring new opportunities to frame narratives that inspire, empower, and bridge cultures. Together, let's continue capturing the beauty that surrounds us and sharing it with the world.


Wishing you a Merry Christmas filled with warmth, creativity, and the joy of shared moments. 
Cheers to a picture-perfect holiday season and a New Year brimming with endless possibilities!
We have big news for our members for new year !


With gratitude
Carlos Alves de Sousa
United Photo Press
unitedphotopress.com
#unitedphotopress

Read More

The Power of Vinyl

“Anytime I meet another female record collector on the Internet or in person, I immediately want to be their friend!” says Erin O’Dell, a record collector, blogger, and factory worker from Red Lion, Pennsylvania. “I feel like we’re often overshadowed by the male perspective and designated as the ‘that’s nice, dear’ of couples in memes and forums. We love to spin and crate dig, too. We exist. We are valid. We want all the vinyl!”

In a male-dominated music industry, O’Dell is part of an active and passionate community of women on Instagram sharing their love of vinyl and helping to promote gender equity. This loose-knit, global sorority of record collectors and music-industry professionals meet up daily on a vast network of like-minded souls, both men and women, to celebrate their favorite artists and albums. Some are earnest collectors who simply post a treasured album cover accompanied by a mini-blog, while others stage lavish tributes to artists and their works, donning makeup and costumes to replicate album art. One Italian Instagram account even curates professional-quality pinups replete with vintage portable record players and scantily-clad models that look like they stepped off the pages of a 1962 Esquire spread.

But the playful pinups belie a deeper sense of empowerment that these enthusiasts are finding through vinyl. “Music can lift and light a fire inside of you that you didn’t know could even burn,” says O’Dell, who writes the monthly Vinyl Femmes & RPMs column. Music-marketing exec Sunny Muehleman Blashe of Milwaukie, Wisconsin (aka @puttherecordon) feels similarly inspired. “I love being part of the vinyl community [on Instagram],” she says. “Everyone is so nice and supportive. I’ve made so many friends who have shared new ways to store my records, and learned about vinyl cleaning products and even new music. I love seeing what albums or artists make other people happy and adding that to my collection. I also love sharing my collection with others who are like me. It gives us time to discuss why we love the music and how it makes us feel.”

Instagram also is helping women find jobs, thanks to organizations like Women In Vinyl, an advocacy group that shares inspirational stories and creates role models for girls and women. The group’s board members include founder and self-confessed Black Sabbath fanatic Jenn D’Eugenio, sales manager at Furnace Record Pressing in Alexandria, Virginia; Jett Galindo, a mastering engineer at The Bakery studio in Los Angeles; Amanda McCabe, a member of the Universal Music Group’s Strategy and Tactics Team in Seattle; and Robyn Raymond, a lacquer cutter and owner of Red Spade Records in Ontario, Canada. “Women in Vinyl, by sharing stories of women working in the field and now with the podcast, is making the industry more accessible,” says D’Eugenio, who founded the organization in 2018 and hosts the group’s new WIV podcast. “It’s about educating the community, and hopefully inspiring people to take a chance and find a way to do something they love. It’s not exclusive to women, but it’s brought to you by women and features women who are leaders in the field—you can’t move an industry forward without innovation and you can’t innovate in a vacuum. Innovation comes from diversity and that comes from inclusion. The more diverse and inclusive the industry is the better it can become.”

One of those women is Mary House, a single mom, stage-3 breast cancer survivor, and owner of Curious Collections Vinyl Records & More in Bryan/College Station, Texas, who found a new life through vinyl. In 2016, she was in the middle of a divorce when her father suddenly died in a car accident. “You see, my dad was a collector, so my brother and I went to West Virginia and cleaned out his seven storage units, two of which were climate controlled and filled with vinyl,” she recalled on the Women In Vinyl website. “I loaded up a 26-foot moving truck, drove that bad boy from West Virginia to Texas, and unloaded its contents into the space that was my first location. Since then, we’ve moved into a 2600-square-foot space and expanded our inventory to include turntables, new vinyl, and posters, right alongside the large, previously owned vinyl selection. I started my own collection when I opened my store. I love finding fun colored versions of albums I love.”

The significance of using record collecting as a gateway to personal empowerment is echoed by Markie Schlake of Cincinnati, Ohio (aka @VinylGal), a “full-time mom” and part-time social-media manager who encourages her Instagram followers to welcome newbies. “Collecting vinyl can seem very exclusive. Nick Hornby’s High Fidelity tells you that,” she says. “But if our world has taught us anything, it’s that inclusivity is key. Include others who are new to collecting; don’t exclude them because they haven’t been collecting since childhood or use a cheaper player than you. We all start somewhere, after all. Include those from all walks of life, all occupations and stations. Music was meant to bring people together, and collecting should, too.”

Carlos Alves de Sousa

Read More

Art Gallery of New South Wales

Tammi Gissell performing, 2021, photo: Anthony Browell

FREE this weekend – experience a compelling new choreographic work by Murruwarri/Wiradjuri artist Tammi Gissell, 'Ngara pinta-rru thirri’laa (that truth while dancing)'.

Performed 10am–2pm this Saturday 25 and Sunday 26 May, Gissell's work is made in response to Francis Bacon's 'Study of self-portrait', interrogating what one's self-portrait should be.

Join us in Naala Badu, our north building, for this solo endurance artwork in dialogue with our collection.

Held in the 'Making Worlds' exhibition on lower level 1.

Free, part of our Make it May program | No bookings required

__

'Ngara pinta-rru thirri’laa (that truth while dancing)' 2024 was commissioned by the Art Gallery of New South Wales and supported by the Keir Foundation.

Created and performed by #TammiGissell, with sound design and an original score composed by Awabakal musician #MeeghanOliver and costume design by Darug artist Peta Strachan.

Read More

Bang and Olufsen Beosound Emerge

A ‘bookshelf’ speaker that genuinely looks like it belongs on a bookshelf? A Bang & Olufsen product that doesn’t immediately require a load of caveats regarding its asking price? Has the world gone mad?

The Bang & Olufsen Beosound Emerge is on sale now, and in the UK it costs £669. Customers in America will have to part with $899, while in Australia it sells for AU$1449. That’s for the gold tone finish of our review sample – when it originally launched there was a less expensive (£539 / $699 / AU$1199) black anthracite alternative available, but that is no longer an option.

For once, then, here’s a Bang & Olufsen product that isn’t overtly pricier than the products with which it would seek to compete. Bowers & Wilkins, Devialet and Naim, for example, all have speakers at this sort of money – so having got the pricing aspect spot on, all B&O needs to do is nail the performance bit and the Emerge is in business.

DesignAn actual, literal bookshelf speaker

Aluminium, oak and Kvadrat textile

255 x 67 x 165mm (HxWxD)

Plenty of wireless speakers call themselves bookshelf speakers – but the Beosound Emerge takes the description literally. It’s designed to look like a book (a big, luxurious edition, certainly – but a book nevertheless), and Bang & Olufsen suggests its compact footprint and 180-degree sound dispersal makes it ideal for tight space. Such as a bookshelf.

In terms of materials, the Emerge is appointed about as well as you’d expect from the brand. A combination of rose gold pearl-blasted aluminium, natural oak and the ubiquitous Kvadrat acoustic cloth certainly makes for an indulgent look – and there’s a fair degree of tactility about this speaker, too. The brand logo running up the spine of the speaker is a witty touch.

It’s a similarly predictable story where build quality and finish is concerned. The Emerge is constructed with obvious attention to detail and no little professional pride.

Features120 watts of power

Voice-, app- or touch-control

Modular design

The Emerge features a three-strong complement of speaker drivers, arranged to deliver the widest possible spread of sound. A 101mm bass driver is powered by 60 watts of amplification, while the 37mm midrange driver and 15mm tweeter get 30 watts each. The Beosound has active room compensation and adaptive bass linearisation available in the Bang & Olufsen control app (free for iOS and Android) to help adapt its output relative to its position.

  

The app itself is good-looking, stable and useful – three things that can’t automatically be said about the equivalent apps of Emerge’s most obvious rivals. The graphic EQ adjustment, for example, is not only pleasing to use but also can make effective, worthwhile changes to the sound of the speaker.

  

Control is also available from a touch-surface on the top of the Emerge – this interface, it’s fair to say, is a more qualified success. They’re overly sensitive and altogether too responsive, to the point they’ll make you trepidatious about operations that should be straightforward – adjusting the volume level, for example.

The physical gap between the volume up/down and play/pause controls isn’t sufficient, either, so it’s all too easy to engage one function when intending to use the other. To be honest you’re better off with the app, or with the integrated Google Assistant – it’s responsive and reliable.

Wireless connectivity is via Bluetooth 5.0. Bang & Olufsen isn’t saying which codecs are supported, but if there’s any compatibility beyond SBC and AAC I haven’t been able to access it. Spotify Connect, Chromecast and Apple AirPlay 2 are available, thanks to dual-band Wi-Fi.

The splendid Bang & Olufsen Radio streaming service is also accessible via the app, and it’s possible to integrate your favourite streaming service (as long as it’s Deezer), too. Two Emerge can be wireless joined to create a stereo pair, which then puts the B&O into competition with some very capable (and similarly priced) wireless stereo speakers from the likes of KEF and Q Acoustics, of course.

Physical connectivity consists of an Ethernet port, hybrid 3.5mm analogue or digital optical socket, a microUSB service port and USB-C for mains power.

The Emerge is another Bang & Olufsen product with an emphasis on longevity. Thanks to a modular design, it’s possible to swap or upgrade parts should the need arise. There’s a replaceable connectivity module inside, and it features enough processing headroom to be ready to receive updates and/or fresh features for many a year.

And should the worst happen and it become outdated or reach its performance limit, it can be swapped for the module that represents the state of the Bang & Olufsen art at that particular time.

Sound QualitySmooth frequency integration

Good detail levels and fine rhythmic expression

Could be more assertive where dynamics and treble sounds are concerned

The control app takes next-to-no time to calibrate the Beosound Emerge to the environment in which you’ve positioned it, and it makes it similarly swift and simple to get some music playing.

So it’s with a selection of radio stations streaming via the Bang & Olufsen Radio service (mostly the UK’s BBC 6 Music and France’s FIP – I’m of a certain age, after all), music via Deezer integrated into the app (PJ Harvey’s 50ft Queenie and Rude Boy Dub by King Tubby in particular), and further music from TIDAL via Bluetooth (Neil Young’s Rockin’ in the Free World and In the Sky and On the Ground by Nils Frahm), that the Emerge quite readily reveals itself.

Most immediately impressive is the integration of the frequency range. A frequency response of 45Hz to 22kHz, provided by a trio of drivers, isn’t always a recipe for smooth integration – but the Emerge hides its crossover points well, and consequently there’s a unity and completeness to the Beosound’s presentation that’s in no way a given from products like this.

Tonality is similarly consistent, and similarly satisfying as a result. Leave the EQ adjustment alone and the sound is just slightly on the warm, rich side of neutral – but the app offers you a couple of ways of dialling this out if you don’t like it. And anyway, this balance quite nicely matches the speaker’s visual aesthetic.

Low frequency extension is respectable, and low-end sounds are nicely shaped and properly controlled. Edges are more-or-less straight, attack and decay is dealt with confidently – only when attempting to deal with properly droning bass a la King Tubby does the Emerge show any signs of stress.

Bang & Olufsen, to its credit, has not gone down the wide and well-travelled road that allows speakers to use bass and shorthand for excitement – instead, the Emerge generates a respectable amount of punch without losing the run of itself.

The midrange is properly informative, thanks to high detail levels and impressive resolution. Despite the claims for 180-degree, ultra-wide sound, a single Emerge doesn’t sound especially expansive, and can sometimes get a little flustered by dense or compressed recordings, vocalists usually have enough space in which to operate. And because the low end is so well controlled, they’re never in any danger from ill-disciplined bass.

At the top end, the Beosound is just a little circumspect. That’s preferable to hardness or splashiness, of course – but treble sounds could definitely be a little more assertive. It’s a sensible balance, on the whole, but that’s not the same as saying it’s ideal.

Rhythmic expression is good, thanks in large part to those full-figured, properly controlled low frequencies. The Emerge handles tempo and basic momentum well, and is a natural and quite sinuous listen as a result.

Low-level dynamics, the sort that become apparent when listening to Nils Frahm’s solo piano, are expressed well too. But the big dynamic shifts in the PJ Harvey recording (which goes from quiet to loud to EXTREMELY loud in very short order) aren’t handled quite so confidently – the Emerge lacks just a little headroom.

Combine this with the relatively confined soundstage and the accompanying lack of outright scale, and the Beosound isn’t quite as intense or immersive a listen as some price-comparable rivals. But at least the Emerge has some rivals that are price-comparable – that’s not always something you can say about Bang & Olufsen products.

Carlos Sousa

Read More

The dark force is coming ...

According to the Economist Intelligence Unit, the level of democracy in the modern world is at the lowest level since 2006.

Only 46% of the planet's population lives in countries that are highly strained, yet can be called democratic. Russians are not among them...

The dark force is coming ...

Carlos Alves de Sousa

Read More

Photojournalist & member of the United Photo Press, Àlex Burgaz captures life on the world's streets for 45 years with over 20,000 photographs

A photograph of Plaça Catalunya in Barcelona, taken on June 14, 1979, marks the beginning of 'Street Stories'. This project comprises over 20,000 photographs taken over the past 45 years. The images showcase everyday or significant situations in various public spaces in cities or towns in Catalonia and around the world. Since last June, the project has been distinguished in the world of photography for its long duration, explained the author and photojournalist Àlex Burgaz to ACN. Born in the Catalan capital, Burgaz currently resides in Juneda (Garrigues). The main objective is to portray the "reality and evolution" of society over time and the "phenomenon of globalisation," he expressed.

The 'Street Stories' project gathers photographs showing "people or moments" ranging from the "most insignificant to more iconic" in towns and cities in Europe, the United States, and Asia, Burgaz explained. "When photographing, I seek snapshots that show the whole reality. Capturing nuances helps explain the social reality of different places, even when there are governments that want to hide it," he said.

In this sense, he hopes the project can surpass a century of history and spread even further around the world because "one of the most important objectives is to define the evolution of society everywhere and show how it converges over the years with the phenomenon of globalisation," he emphasised.

"Africa is no longer the same as it was twenty years ago or, for example, in Barcelona, you used to find very personalised shops, and now almost everything is full of franchises. These changes occur in different places, and you see how the world is becoming more unified. Portraying this evolution is very interesting," he expressed.

Furthermore, the photojournalist explained that "talking with a friend of mine, who is also a photographer, I recently realised that it is probably one of the longest-running street photography projects on record." However, "this initiative is personal and does not seek any economic purpose because it would alter its meaning and essence," he added.

Asked about the photographs that have most marked his career, Burgaz recalled the one he took of a child who was a victim of child slavery in Haiti or the one he was able to take of President Carles Puigdemont at one of the most significant moments of the process. Additionally, the project includes images of the Borges Blanques market in 1980, a pioneer street performer in Barcelona in the 1990s, a floating market in Thailand in 2001, and social conflicts between various groups and the police, among many other themes and images from around the world.

Origin and trajectory of the project

Burgaz became interested in photography as a child because his father and another relative worked as photographers and passed on their passion and knowledge to him. "I tried various styles, but what I liked most was capturing what was happening at every moment," he expressed. Moreover, on his way to school, located in the Gothic Quarter of Barcelona, he observed daily situations that motivated him to photograph them. Thus, in June 1979, he photographed Plaça Catalunya in Barcelona, an image that would become the starting point of 'Street Stories'.

"At first, it was like a personal diary, but I began to see the photographic evolution and note the date and place of each photograph," he commented. However, in the 1980s, he spent "a lot of time thinking about what to photograph because the number of photographs I could take was very limited due to the economic resources I had and the cost of developing the image at the time," he said.

"Initially, the annual volume of photographs was very small, between 50 and 200 a year." The project gained momentum in the late 1990s, with increased economic income and the possibility of travelling to various countries. From 2000 and especially from 2010, the number of images grew exponentially with the advent of digital photography. "Since then, I have surpassed a thousand photographs a year, and, in fact, last year I closed it with around 3,000," he detailed. Currently, about 20,000 photographs are part of the project.

Finally, Burgaz wanted to thank the help received over the past two decades from the United Photo Press and the "unconditional" support of his wife and portraitist, Aide Gutiérrez, with whom he is studying whether the project can be part of the Guinness World Records given its duration, and they have already applied for it.

Alex Burgaz's photographic activity can be seen here.

Read More

The Paris 2024 Olympics: A Grand Commencement and What to Anticipate

 

Today marks the much-anticipated beginning of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, a global event uniting athletes, spectators, and sports enthusiasts from around the world. The French capital is set to host a spectacular celebration of athletic prowess, cultural exchange, and international camaraderie.

Opening Ceremony: A Stunning Spectacle

The opening ceremony, held at the iconic Stade de France, promises to be a dazzling display of French culture and innovation. With a lineup of renowned artists, musicians, and performers, the ceremony aims to capture the spirit of Paris and the Olympic ideals of excellence, friendship, and respect. The event will be attended by dignitaries, athletes, and millions of viewers worldwide, setting the tone for the exciting competitions to follow.

Historic Venues and Innovations

Paris, a city steeped in history and elegance, provides a magnificent backdrop for the Games. Historic landmarks such as the Eiffel Tower, Champs-Élysées, and the Palace of Versailles will serve as venues for various events, blending the city's rich heritage with modern sporting excellence. The use of these iconic sites not only enhances the visual appeal of the Games but also underscores the seamless integration of tradition and progress.

Sustainability at the Forefront

Paris 2024 is committed to sustainability, with initiatives aimed at minimizing the environmental impact of the Games. From eco-friendly construction practices to the use of renewable energy sources, the organizers have prioritized green solutions to ensure a legacy of environmental responsibility. This focus on sustainability is expected to set new standards for future international sporting events.

Athletes to Watch

As the competitions commence, all eyes will be on the world’s top athletes vying for Olympic glory. Among the standout contenders are track and field stars, gymnasts, swimmers, and team sports participants, each bringing their unique talents and stories of perseverance. With numerous world records potentially at stake, the Paris 2024 Olympics promise thrilling performances and unforgettable moments.

Cultural Celebrations and Global Unity

Beyond the athletic competitions, the Paris 2024 Olympics are a celebration of global unity and cultural diversity. The city will host various cultural events, exhibitions, and festivals, showcasing the rich heritage and traditions of participating nations. This cultural exchange is a cornerstone of the Olympic spirit, fostering mutual understanding and respect among the global community.

Looking Ahead

As the Paris 2024 Olympic Games unfold, the world can expect a blend of extraordinary athletic achievements, cultural enrichment, and innovative practices. The Games not only celebrate the pinnacle of human athleticism but also highlight the importance of unity, sustainability, and cultural appreciation. With its unique blend of tradition and modernity, Paris is poised to deliver an unforgettable Olympic experience that will resonate for years to come.

The world now watches as the athletes embark on their quests for gold, embodying the Olympic motto: Citius, Altius, Fortius – Faster, Higher, Stronger. Let the Games begin!

Carlos Sousa
United Photo Press

Read More

Time Magazine unveils new cover after Joe Biden’s withdrawal

Time Magazine has unveiled a new cover featuring Kamala Harris after Joe Biden withdrew from the presidential race.

President Biden endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris to replace him as the Democrat nominee after he announced he was dropping out of the race.

The magazine cover shows Ms Harris walking into the frame as President Biden steps out of the picture.

Joe Biden withdraws from US presidential race, endorses Kamala Harris as Democratic presidential nominee.

US President Joe Biden has ended his re-election campaign and endorsed Vice-President Kamala Harris to succeed him as the Democratic candidate, in an extraordinary decision that upends an already dramatic race for the White House.

Mr Biden, 81, said in a Sunday written statement that it was the "greatest honour" to serve but his withdrawal was "in the best interest of my party and the country".

The announcement caps a tumultuous period in US politics, which began with his sometimes incoherent debate performance against Donald Trump on 27 June. Mr Biden says he will remain president until January.

Ms Harris, 59, said that she was "honoured" to be endorsed, adding she would "earn and win this nomination" and unite the country against Trump.

"We have 107 days until election day," she said. "Together, we will fight. And together, we will win."

While Ms Harris has been picking up endorsments from many big figures in the party, she is yet to be officially nominated, and that may not happen until the Democratic National Convention in August.

A resurgent Trump meanwhile has pulled ahead in polling and was confirmed as Republican nominee at the party's convention in Milwaukee this week, five days after surviving an assassination attempt.

In the wake of Mr Biden's decision, he declared the president "was not fit to run... and is certainly not fit to serve". Other senior Republicans joined him in their criticism, and called on Mr Biden to leave the White House immediately, not just the Democratic candidacy.

Potential Harris rivals fall in line

Sources told the BBC that even senior White House staff and campaign officials were told of Mr Biden's decision only moments before the statement was released on Sunday afternoon, although the president had spoken to Ms Harris and a handful of others beforehand.

Dozens of senior Democrats and grandees including former president Barack Obama, Senate leader Chuck Schumer and former House speaker Nancy Pelosi immediately praised the decision and lauded Mr Biden's accomplishments in office.

Former president Bill Clinton and 2016 Democratic candidate for president Hillary Clinton said they backed Kamala Harris as the party's candidate for November's vote, saying they would "fight with everything we've got to elect her".

While Mr Obama stated that he had "extraordinary confidence" that an "outstanding nominee emerges", he did not explicitly back Ms Harris or any other candidate.

Ms Pelosi has not commented.

Peter Welch, the first Democratic senator to call on Biden to drop his re-election run, called for an "open process" to nominate Harris.

But there are already signs that many in the party will unify behind her, including from high-profile politicians who had been touted as potential rivals for the nomination in the event Mr Biden stepped aside.

California Governor Gavin Newsom, who is believed to have presidential ambitions, praised Mr Biden as "selfless" and said he backed the "fearless" and "tenacious" Ms Harris to face Trump.

Josh Shapiro, the Pennsylvania governor, said he would do "everything I can to help elect Kamala Harris as the 47th President of the United States".

Pete Buttigieg, the current transport secretary and a former presidential contender, said Mr Biden was "one of the most consequential presidents in American history", adding he would do "all that I can to help elect Kamala Harris the next President."

Gretchen Whitmer, the governor of Michigan, stated that her job "will remain the same... doing everything I can to elect Democrats and stop Donald Trump."

The Democratic National Committee meanwhile filed to amend the names of its fundraising committees to the Harris Victory Fund and Harris Action Fund.

Two major Democratic donors - LinkedIn co-funder Reid Hoffman and investor Alexander Soros - publicly endorsed Harris.

And within an hour of Mr Biden's announcement, the pro-Trump super-PAC campaign fund Make America Great Again posted an advert attacking Mr Harris, claiming "she covered up Joe's obvious mental decline".

Trump added: "Whoever the Left puts up now will just be more of the same."

Weeks of intense scrutiny

Mr Biden had faced intense scrutiny since his debate performance in June. Less than two weeks ago, he hosted a high-profile summit with Nato leaders in Washington.

The occasion did little to calm nerves within his own party, with him mistakenly introducing Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky as “President Putin”, and appearing to refer Ms Harris as "Vice President Trump".

At one point he told an interview that only the "Lord Almighty" could make him withdraw, but then later said he would consider doing so if he had a health condition. On Friday, while in isolation after testing positive for Covid, he said he would return to the campaign trail in the coming week.

In his statement on Sunday, Mr Biden thanked his Ms Harris, saying she was an "extraordinary partner".

"And let me express my heartfelt appreciation for the American people for the faith and trust you have placed in me," his statement added.

"I believe today and always have: that there is nothing America can’t do - when we do it together. We just have to remember we are the United States of America."

Officials from the Democratic National Committee held an emergency meeting on Sunday evening.

The focus will now be on the party's national convention, which is scheduled to start on 19 August.

Mr Biden swept the party's primaries, meaning that the delegates representing each state at the convention were pledged to vote for him - although they are now expected to be released to vote for another candidate.

United Press Team

Read More