News From Sputnik, Page 909

US Military Accuses China of ‘Aggressive Maneuver’ During South China Sea Intercept

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) – The US Indo-Pacific Command said on Tuesday that a Chinese J-16 fighter jet pilot performed an “‘unnecessarily aggressive maneuver” while intercepting a US Air Force RC-135 aircraft over the South China Sea last week.

Beijing Vows to Put Taikonauts on Moon by 2030

China’s space program has been a key part of the socialist country’s high-tech revolution, with the government investing heavily in the myriad industries necessary to support space travel. In turn, a new generation of satellites has buttressed its rapidly growing economy as well as its military prowess.

Goodbye Anchor Babies? Trump Pledges to End Birthright Citizenship on Day One

The 14th Amendment of the Constitution guarantees birthright citizenship to most people born in the US (except American Samoans for some reason). The law has generated fierce debate over the perceived propensity of illegal aliens to enter the US to give birth, after which their so-called “anchor babies” can help them stay in the country.

Brazilian President Calls for Creation of Common Currency for South American Trade

RIO DE JANEIRO/BUENOS AIRES (Sputnik) – Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva on Tuesday put forward a proposition to create a common currency for trade between the South American states during his speech at the regional leaders’ summit.

Future of Missile Defense Lies in Lasers, Beams, Not in Warheads – Israeli Official

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) – The future of missile defense lies in laser and other beam systems and not in kinetic, or missile-delivered, physical interception warheads, Israel Missile Defense Organization (IMDO) Director Moshe Patel said on Tuesday.

What are ATACMS Missiles and Why Is US Threatening to Give Them to Kiev?

President Biden has confirmed that the US is still mulling over whether to send MGM-140 Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) ballistic missiles to Ukraine. What are these weapons? What are characteristics? And why has Russia warned that their delivery to Kiev might drag Washington into a direct confrontation with Moscow? Sputnik explains.

Biden Accuser Tara Reade: My Two Choices in US Were to Walk Into Cage or be Killed

Tara Reade, a US citizen, writer, and ex-assistant to Joe Biden, who has recently arrived in Russia, told Sputnik she no longer feels safe in Biden’s America, adding that many Americans are ready to follow in her footsteps.

‘Explosion in the Heart of Europe’: What’s Going on in Kosovo?

A new round of tensions in the Serbian breakaway province of Kosovo spilled into street clashes between the NATO-led occupation force known as Kosovo Force (KFOR) and local ethnic Serb residents on Monday. What caused the escalation? Who’s responsible? And how do ancient and recent history help explain for the present crisis?

Tensions Flare Up in Kosovo and Metohija

Recently, tensions escalated in the region after Kosovo authorities attempted to appoint ethnic Albanian mayors in the Serbian-populated north of the province following the April 23 local elections, boycotted by most ethnic Serb voters.

Elon Musk Tells Chinese FM Qin Gang He Opposes ‘Decoupling’ US From Beijing

At a meeting in Beijing on Tuesday, Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang sought to emphasize the nation’s openness to foreign investors and Tesla CEO Elon Musk said his electric carmaker would continue to expand operations in China, the world’s largest EV market.

Rare ‘Lopsided’ Supernova Blast Kicked Dead Star Across Galaxy

When a massive star runs out of hydrogen, it sometimes transforms into a red supergiant and erupts in a tremendous explosion. As the core collapses, it forms an ultradense neutron star. Then, the remnants can stay hidden in the nebula created by the explosion, but recent new observations have revealed an even rarer occurrence.

Debt Ceiling Deal: Why Snubbing Progressives Poses Risk to Team Biden

Members of the Progressive and Freedom House caucuses appear to be up in arms about the Biden-McCarthy compromise debt ceiling deal. Could they derail the Wednesday vote?

Source Reveals Names of SBU Agents Pursuing Activists in Kherson

Russian law enforcement agencies, thanks to a source in the National Police of Ukraine, learned the names of agents and informants of the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) who facilitated the arrest and detention of many local residents accused by the Kiev regime of collaboration, a representative of Russian security structures told Sputnik.

People Tortured at Two Kherson Police Departments for ‘Ties with Russia’ – Source

The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) has reportedly set up torture chambers in two police stations in Kherson – Dnieper and Komsomolsk – to deal with people who, according to the SBU, collaborated with the Russian authorities, a representative of law enforcement agencies, citing a source in the Ukrainian National Police, told Sputnik.

Aussie Survives Croc Attack at Posh Island Resort by Prizing Jaws off his Head

While rare, attacks by Australia’s giant saltwater crocodiles in the northern state of Queensland have become more common recently. The latest incident was the third this year, with one man found dead in a croc’s stomach earlier this month.

AI Can ‘Turn Stalker,’ ‘Targeting Victims’ Using Facial Recognition Tools, Experts Warn

Amid growing concerns about the recent strides made by artificial intelligence technology, software engineer and DeepAI founder Kevin Baragona was one of those who joined the likes of Elon Musk and Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak in signing an open letter calling for a pause in AI development.

EU Warns of Backlash Over Poland’s Campaign Against ‘Russian Influence’

Ahead of the parliamentary election set for this fall in Poland, Warsaw approved a bill proposed by the ruling Law and Justice party on Friday to investigate alleged “Russian influence” in the country.

Putin Confirms Russian Strike on Ukrainian Military Intel HQ in Kiev

Ukrainian Woman That Planned to Take Orphans Out of Russia Detained in Moscow – Source

MOSCOW (Sputnik) – A Ukrainian woman that came to Russia to take orphans from the territories incorporated into Russia last fall out of the country on the instructions of the fund “Save Ukraine” have been arrested in Moscow, a source in law enforcement agencies told Sputnik on Tuesday.

US Debt Limit Deal: Key Takeaways & What Comes Next

A bipartisan deal finally brokered between US President Joe Biden and House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) suspends the debt ceiling until 2025 and imposes caps on non-defense discretionary spending. McCarthy released the bill’s text on Sunday evening, initiating the 72-hour review period before the House vote.

Lavrov and Burundi FM Shingiro Give Press Conference in Bujumbura

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s current visit to Africa is his fourth trip to the continent in the past 12 months.

Russia Reacts Harshly to Ukrainian Terrorist Attacks With NATO Weapons – Shoigu

MOSCOW (Sputnik) – The Russian armed forces are reacting as harshly as possible to terrorist attacks by Ukraine against civilians in Russia using NATO weapons, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said on Tuesday.

Watch UR-77 Mine Clearing Vehicle Perform Combat Work During Special Op

The UR-77 Meteorit is a demining vehicle, designed to clear mines and unexploded ordnance, and is highly effective in carrying out its duties in large areas.

Why Chinese UnionPay Has Overtaken American Visa in Popularity

A new leader has emerged in the debit card market as UnionPay has overtaken Visa in transaction volume for the first time. The Chinese payment system has leapfrogged Visa in transaction volume, securing 40.03 percent of the market compared with Visa’s 38.78 percent, according to a study by Nilson Report.

Zelensky Has Turned Ukraine Into ‘New Afghanistan’ – Former PM

More and more observers have drawn parallels between the chaos and destruction that overwhelmed Afghanistan during the 20 year US and NATO-led war and occupation, and the crisis in Ukraine, where a Western-backed coup in 2014 led to a civil war in Donbass, and ultimately culminated in a full-scale NATO-Russia proxy war.