News From Sputnik, Page 1178

League of Arab States May Decide on Syria’s Return to Organization on May 7

TUNIS (Sputnik) – The decision on Syria’s readmission to the League of Arab States (LAS) may be made at an extraordinary meeting of the foreign ministers of the organization’s member states on May 7, Jamal Rushdie, a spokesman for the LAS secretary general, told Sputnik.

UAE Granted Dialogue Partner Status in SCO – State Media

MOSCOW (Sputnik) – The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has officially received a dialogue partner status in the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), Emirates state news agency WAM reported on Saturday.

Two Ukraine’s Ballistic Missiles Shot Down Over Crimea – Crimean Authorities

SIMFEROPOL (Sputnik) – Russia’s air defense systems on Saturday shot down two ballistic missiles launched by Ukraine’s Grom-2 operational-tactical missile system (OTRK) over Crimea, Oleg Kryuchkov, an adviser to Head of Crimea Sergey Aksyonov, said on Saturday.

‘Word Salad & Scrambled Eggs?’ Internet Roasts Biden & Harris Over ‘Going to Lunch’ Car Selfie

80-year-old US President Joe Biden, who recently announced his re-election bid, is frequently the butt of Internet jokes and memes, with his endless stream of blunders offering fodder for critics.

Russia ‘Should Have Long Ago Canceled’ Grain Deal as Its Terms ‘Were Never Met’

As the extension of the Black Sea Grain Initiative signed between Moscow, Ankara, Kiev, and the United Nations at the height of the Ukraine conflict last summer beyond the May 18 deadline hangs in the balance, this deal was described as never having been to the benefit of Russia by international affairs expert Mark Sleboda.

Get Ready to Enjoy Shooting Stars as Eta Aquariids Dazzle Sky

Although bright moonlight might make it challenging to witness the meteor shower, people in Eastern Europe, Africa, Asia, Australia, and parts of the Pacific will be able to see the Moon eclipsed by the Earth, darkening the sky and making it easier to spot the meteors.

WHO Says Impossible to Globally Eradicate COVID-19 Due to Transmission Routes

MOSCOW (Sputnik) – It is impossible to completely eliminate COVID-19 because its transmission routes from animals to humans complicate the situation, but we are able to address its consequences and possible healthcare emergencies, Executive Director of the World Health Organization’s Health Emergencies Programme Dr Michael Ryan said on Saturday.

Russia Drops Out of Top-100 Countries With Highest Inflation Rate

MOSCOW (Sputnik) – Russia has ranked 102nd in terms of global price surge with its annual inflation estimated at 3.5% in March, while lower inflation levels in Europe were recorded only in Spain (3.3%), Liechtenstein (2.9%) and Switzerland (2.9%), data from the statistical services analyzed by Sputnik showed on Saturday.

About 2,000 People Gather in Central London to Protest Charles III’s Coronation – Video

MOSCOW (Sputnik) – About 2,000 anti-monarchists have gathered in Central London in Trafalgar Square to protest the coronation of Charles III, and the demonstrations are proceeding peacefully, media reported on Saturday.

Car of Turkish Ambassador to Sudan Comes Under Fire – Reports

MOSCOW (Sputnik) – A car of Turkish Ambassador to Sudan Ismail Cobanoglu was shot at on Saturday, but nor one was injured or killed in the attack, according to preliminary information, Turkish media reported, citing diplomatic sources.

Three Captured Russian Pilots Released From Ukrainian Captivity – Defense Ministry

MOSCOW (Sputnik) – Three Russian military pilots have been released from Ukrainian imprisonment and have already returned from the Kiev-controlled territory after complex negotiations, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Saturday.

What is 14th Amendment Biden Not Ready to Invoke & How is It Tied to US Debt Ceiling Crisis

The debt ceiling battle between House Democrats and Republicans has been playing out against the backdrop of dire warnings that a potential US default could trigger a domino destabilizing effect on the entire global economy.

Ukraine Loses Over 185 Troops, Mercenaries in Donetsk Direction in 24 Hours

MOSCOW (Sputnik) – The Ukrainian armed forces lost over 185 soldiers and mercenaries, as well as 12 units of military equipment in the Donetsk direction in the last 24 hours, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Saturday.

Criminal Case on Terrorist Act Opened in Russia After Prilepin’s Car Blast – Investigators

MOSCOW (Sputnik) – The Russian Investigative Committee said on Saturday it had initiated a criminal case under the article on terrorist acts in connection with the explosion of a car of Zakhar Prilepin, the co-chairman of the political party A Just Russia — For Truth.

Anti-Government Rally in Prague

The rally was called by the PRO party, which split from Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala’s conservative ODS last year, under the motto “Czechia Against Poverty.”

West Could Use Ukrainian Labs to Cover Up Bioweapons Development – Investigative Committee

The work of Western biolaboratories in Ukraine may have been necessary to conceal the development of biological weapons, the head of the Russian Investigative Committee, Alexander Bastrykin, told Sputnik.

Man Allegedly Involved in Explosion of Prilepin’s Car Detained – Russian Internal Ministry

MOSCOW (Sputnik) – The police in Russia’s Nizhny Novgorod Region have detained a man, who may be involved in the explosion of a car of Zakhar Prilepin, the co-chairman of the political party A Just Russia — For Truth, the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs said on Saturday.

Zaporozhye NPP Head Says Staff Ensuring Nuclear Safety, No Need to Evacuate Employees

MOSCOW (Sputnik) – The staff of the Zaporozhye nuclear power plant (NPP) is doing everything necessary to ensure nuclear safety, with the operation of all blocks suspended, and there is no need to evacuate employees now, Yuri Chernichuk, the plant’s chief, said on Saturday.

South Korea, US to Launch Largest-Ever Live-Fire Exercises in May – Reports

MOSCOW (Sputnik) – South Korea and the United States will start joint live-fire exercises that will be the largest in the history of their military cooperation and will be dedicated to the 70th anniversary of the alliance between the two countries, South Korean news agency reported on Saturday, citing the South Korean Defense Ministry.

EU Mulls ‘Paying’ Ukrainian Refugees to Go Home Despite ‘Cost Implications’

Amid a crumbling economy and exacerbating conflict in Ukraine, a vast stream of the country’s populace in early 2022 had headed for Europe, lured by the prospect of unconditional support dangled by EU officials. Reality turned out to be quite harsh.

Car of Russian Author Zakhar Prilepin Explodes in Nizhny Novgorod

US to Reportedly Fast-Track $500 Mln Arms for Taiwan Amid Narrative of China ‘Threat’

US President Joe Biden was authorized by Congress last year to use $1 billion for bolstering Taiwan in line with the 2023 National Defense Authorization Act, amid the oft-replicated narrative of an ostensible China “threat”. However there have been reports of a serious backlog in delivering weapons to the island.

Gazprom Pumping 39.5Mln Cubic Meters of Gas Through Sudzha Station Via Ukraine to Europe

MOSCOW (Sputnik) – Russian energy giant Gazprom is supplying 39.5 million cubic meters of gas to the Sudzha entry point on Saturday for further transit to Europe via Ukraine, with the application for the Sokhranovka station rejected by Ukraine, Gazprom spokesman Sergey Kupriyanov said.

Watch T-72B3 Tank Operating in Special Op Zone

The T-72B3 is an upgraded version of the T-72 main battle tank, designed and developed in Russia. The tank features modernized armor protection, upgraded fire control and targeting systems, and enhanced operational capability in low-visibility conditions.

Over 126,000 Donbass Residents Recognized as Victims Since 2014 – Investigative Committee

MOSCOW (Sputnik) – Russian investigators have established that over 126,000 residents of the Donbass region became victims of the crimes committed by Kiev since 2014, with the damage to the Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics surpassing 228 billion rubles ($2.9 billion), the head of the Russian Investigative Committee, Alexander Bastrykin, said.