WHO to Hold Urgent Meeting Over Marburg Virus Outbreak in Equatorial Guinea
https://sputniknews.com/20230214/who-to-hold-urgent-meeting-over-marburg-virus-outbreak-in-equatorial-guinea-1107415390.html
February 14, 2023, 12:57 PM
Earlier, Equatorial Guinea deaclred a health alert in the eastern province of Kie Ntem, affected by the deadly Marburg virus. According to Health Minister Mitoha Ondo'o Ayekaba, 4,325 people are currently quarantined in the province.
--------------------
UK's Labour Roasted Over Claim to be Party of Both Workers and Bosses
https://sputniknews.com/20230214/uks-labour-roasted-over-claim-to-be-party-of-both-workers-and-bosses-1107408814.html
February 14, 2023, 12:56 PM
The Labour Party returned to government under leader Sir Tony Blair in 1997 after 18 years by taking a 'Third Way' position between its social-democratic roots and pro-business pragmatism. But that approach eventually alienated its core voters.
--------------------
US Air Force F-16 Jet Reportedly Shot Down Unknown Object Over Lake Huron Only on Second Try
https://sputniknews.com/20230214/us-air-force-f-16-jet-reportedly-shot-down-unknown-object-over-lake-huron-only-on-second-try-1107411064.html
February 14, 2023, 12:27 PM
A fourth airborne object to stray into US airspace in just a week was spotted and downed by a US F-16 fighter jet over Lake Huron, one of the Great Lakes on the US-Canada border, on Sunday afternoon. Deemed a "risk to civilian traffic," it was shot down at the direction of President Joe Biden, according to the Pentagon.
--------------------
Why Does US Have Bases in Syria and How Big a Threat Do They Pose to the Region?
https://sputniknews.com/20230214/why-does-us-have-bases-in-syria-and-how-big-a-threat-do-they-pose-to-the-region-1107412276.html
February 14, 2023, 12:26 PM
Russia’s Foreign Intelligence Service revealed Monday that the US is recruiting jihadists and training them at an illegal base in Syria to carry out terror attacks against Russia and its neighbors. How many bases does the US have in Syria? Are there any legal grounds for their presence? Sputnik explores.
--------------------
Ex-US Envoy to UN Nikki Haley Announces 2024 Run for President
https://sputniknews.com/20230214/ex-us-envoy-to-un-nikki-haley-announces-2024-run-for-president-1107412213.html
February 14, 2023, 12:11 PM
Earllier in the week, former South Carolina Republican Gov. Nikki Haley had teased her presidential campaign launch. Her official announcement now comes months after Donald Trump revealed in November 2022 that he would seek the Republican presidential nomination in 2024.
--------------------
US Remains World's Leader in Spying on Other Countries: Chinese Foreign Ministry
https://sputniknews.com/20230214/us-remains-worlds-leader-in-spying-on-other-countries-chinese-foreign-ministry-1107411547.html
February 14, 2023, 11:55 AM
BEIJING (Sputnik) - The United States is the global leader in spying on other countries, the spokesman for the Chinese Foreign Ministry, Wang Wenbin, said on Tuesday.
--------------------
Finland Jails Man for Breach of Animal Welfare Laws With Halal Slaughter
https://sputniknews.com/20230214/finland-jails-man-for-breach-of-animal-welfare-laws-with-halal-slaughter-1107394956.html
February 14, 2023, 11:43 AM
In recent years, a growing opposition to Jewish and Muslim traditional methods of slaughter as "inhumane" has swept through Europe, symbolizing a conflict between the preservation of animal rights and freedom of religion.
--------------------
Western-Backed Jihadists Prevent Syrians From Getting Humanitarian Aid After Earthquake, UN Says
https://sputniknews.com/20230214/western-backed-jihadists-prevent-syrians-from-getting-humanitarian-aid-after-earthquake-un-says-1107408373.html
February 14, 2023, 10:59 AM
Devastating earthquakes shook southern Turkiye and northwestern Syria on February 6, with the death toll having passed 36,000 on Monday. As tens of thousands of victims have been left injured or homeless, aid has been slow in reaching Syria amid challenges rooted in its nearly 12 years of conflict, fuelled by the West.
--------------------
UK Loses Record Number of Working Days Since Thatcher Era to Strikes in 2022, Reports Say
https://sputniknews.com/20230214/uk-loses-record-number-of-working-days-since-thatcher-era-to-strikes-in-2022-reports-say-1107409367.html
February 14, 2023, 10:49 AM
MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The United Kingdom lost the largest number of working days in 2022 since 1989, as workers hit the streets demanding higher wages, media reported Tuesday.
--------------------
South Africa Declares National State of Disaster Over Floods
https://sputniknews.com/20230214/south-africa-declares-national-state-of-disaster-over-floods-1107406271.html
February 14, 2023, 10:10 AM
The decision comes less than a week after South African President Cyril Ramaphosa unveiled that a national state of disaster had been declared over an energy crisis that the country has been facing since 2007 and which has become more serious in recent months.
--------------------
Ethiopia to Export $200Mln of Wheat to NGOs, UN World Food Programme
https://sputniknews.com/20230214/ethiopia-to-export-200mln-of-wheat-to-ngos-un-world-food-program-1107395415.html
February 14, 2023, 9:57 AM
With almost 114 million inhabitants, Ethiopia is Africa's second most populated country. Two years ago, it was not able to meet its domestic wheat demand, according to Trade and Regional Integration Minister Gebremeskel Chala.
--------------------
Japan Reportedly Plans to Buy US' Tomahawk Missiles
https://sputniknews.com/20230214/japan-minister-announces-plan-to-sign-contract-with-us-to-buy-tomahawk-missiles-reports-say-1107407408.html
February 14, 2023, 9:44 AM
TOKYO (Sputnik) - Japanese Defense Minister Yasukazu Hamada has announced plans to sign a contract with the United States to buy Tomahawk cruise missiles, a Japanese news agency reported.
--------------------
Italy's PM Meloni Coalition Wins in Regional Elections
https://sputniknews.com/20230214/italys-pm-meloni-coalition-wins-in-regional-elections-1107398142.html
February 14, 2023, 9:36 AM
Voting in regional elections started on Sunday in the northern, economic powerhouse, Italian region of Lombardy and Lazio, which is home to the Italian capital, Rome.
--------------------
Chinese Social Media Users Accuse US of 'Withholding' Info on Ohio Train Derailment
https://sputniknews.com/20230214/chinese-social-media-users-accuse-us-of-withholding-info-on-ohio-train-derailment-1107406549.html
February 14, 2023, 9:23 AM
An Ohio train derailment accident has stirred heated discussion on Chinese social media with many labeling it "a Chernobyl-level" catastrophe.
--------------------
George Galloway: Precondition for an End to Conflict is NATO Should Never Be in Ukraine
https://sputniknews.com/20230214/precondition-for-an-end-to-conflict-nato-should-never-be-in-ukraine-1107406320.html
February 14, 2023, 9:12 AM
In an interview with Global Times (GT), George Galloway (Galloway), six-term British parliamentarian, told GT reporter Li Aixin that a precondition to an end of conflict "is not just that Ukraine will never apply to join NATO. It's that NATO will never be in Ukraine, neither their weapons nor their personnel, nor their geostrategic worldview."
--------------------
Turkish Opposition Leader Says Elections Should Not Be Postponed
https://sputniknews.com/20230214/turkish-opposition-leader-says-elections-should-not-be-postponed-1107406104.html
February 14, 2023, 8:55 AM
ANKARA (Sputnik) - The leader of Turkiye's opposition Republican People's Party (CHP), Kemal Kilicdaroglu, said on Tuesday that the general election in Turkiye must take place as scheduled in May or June despite the impact of devastating earthquakes that shattered the country's southeast last week.
--------------------
EU's Borrell Arrives at Ukraine Defense Contact Group and NATO Ministerial Meeting
https://sputniknews.com/20230214/eus-borrell-arrives-at-ukraine-defense-contact-group-and-nato-ministerial-meeting-1107394658.html
February 14, 2023, 8:40 AM
The North Atlantic Council at the defense ministerial level is set to discuss the bloc's deterrence and defense issues, ways to increase defense industrial capacity and restocking, as well as enhancing the security of underwater infrastructure. The ministers will also touch upon further support to Ukraine and the possibility of boosting it.
--------------------
Sweden's Economy Is EU's Worst Performer, Bloc's Own Forecast Proclaims
https://sputniknews.com/20230214/swedens-economy-is-eus-worst-performer-blocs-own-forecast-proclaims-1107393076.html
February 14, 2023, 8:37 AM
The country's economic decline has been blamed on massive inflation, rising housing costs, Swedes' exorbitant level of indebtedness and the tradition of having variable interest rates on loans and mortgages, which under present circumstances stifles purchasing power faster and more drastically than in fellow EU states.
--------------------
Mystery Object Downed by US Air Force Over Alaska Reportedly 'Interfered' With Aircraft Sensors
https://sputniknews.com/20230214/mystery-object-downed-by-us-air-force-over-alaska-reportedly-interfered-with-aircraft-sensors-1107395629.html
February 14, 2023, 8:26 AM
US Air Force jets shot down an octagonal object over Lake Huron on 12 February, the Pentagon said, with White House national security spokesman John Kirby saying that, as with the other recently downed objects found in North American airspace, it showed no signs of being able to maneuver or propel itself.
--------------------
Stoltenberg Arrives for Day One of NATO Defense Ministers' Meetings in Brussels
https://sputniknews.com/20230214/stoltenberg-arrives-for-day-one-of-nato-defense-ministers-meetings-in-brussels-1107394140.html
February 14, 2023, 7:39 AM
A meeting for defense ministers of the North Atlantic Council is taking place from 14 to 15 February at the NATO headquarters as the crisis rages in Ukraine and troubles fester about the accession process of new candidates for membership, Sweden and Finland.
--------------------
Snowden: US Creates Panic Over Downed Objects to Distract Attention From Nord Stream Blast
https://sputniknews.com/20230214/snowden-us-creates-panic-over-downed-objects-to-distract-attention-from-nord-stream-blast-1107395276.html
February 14, 2023, 6:37 AM
MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Former US National Security Agency (NSA) contractor Edward Snowden, who lives in Russia, said the panic over the possible alien or extraterrestrial origin of flying objects downed above the United States and Canada is designed to distract journalists from investigating Nord Stream pipeline blasts.
--------------------
Council Tax Bills May Grow By 5% For Millions of Struggling UK Households From April, Research Warns
https://sputniknews.com/20230214/council-tax-bills-may-grow-by-5-for-millions-of-struggling-uk-households-from-april-research-warns-1107393503.html
February 14, 2023, 6:13 AM
As millions of UK households struggle with the bitter cost of living crisis, while energy and food costs surge, Chancellor Jeremy Hunt revealed in the Autumn Budget last year that local authorities would be granted "additional flexibility" to raise council tax by up to 3 percent, and up to 2 percent to fund social care needs.
--------------------
NFL & US Military Excoriated for Using Slain Player-Turned-Soldier as Recruiting Prop
https://sputniknews.com/20230214/nfl--us-military-excoriated-for-using-slain-player-turned-soldier-as-recruiting-prop-1107392215.html
February 14, 2023, 5:13 AM
Americans reacted with outrage Sunday night as the NFL once again invoked the name of slain football-star-turned-soldier Pat Tillman during Super Bowl LVIII, with many accusing the league of whitewashing the suspicious circumstances of his death.
--------------------
‘Damn Stupid’: US Journalist Behind Nord Stream Bombshell Takes Aim at Biden, Legacy Media
https://sputniknews.com/20230214/damn-stupid-us-journalist-behind-nord-stream-bombshell-takes-aim-at-biden-legacy-media-1107392596.html
February 14, 2023, 4:58 AM
In his first interview since publishing his bombshell story on the attack on the Nord Stream pipelines, legendary investigative journalist Seymour Hersh fleshed out the details of his explosive report exposing the role of the US Navy in blowing up critical German-Russian energy infrastructure.
--------------------
Washington Officials Say Likely to Provide Ukraine With Combat Jets With Time, Reports Say
https://sputniknews.com/20230214/washington-officials-say-likely-to-provide-ukraine-with-combat-jets-with-time-reports-say-1107391830.html
February 14, 2023, 4:22 AM
MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Washington officials have said they are likely with time to provide Ukraine with combat jets despite US President Joe Biden saying the United States will not send F-16s to Kiev, a British newspaper reported citing sources.
--------------------
Dramatic Footage Captures Moment Asteroid Flew Over Southern England
https://sputniknews.com/20230214/dramatic-footage-captures-moment-asteroid-flew-over-southern-england-1107391537.html
February 14, 2023, 3:56 AM
This asteroid marks the seventh time in history that a “shooting star” has been forecasted ahead of time. The European Space Agency (ESA) tweeted that the asteroid had been detected approximately seven hours before its impact.
--------------------
Police: Michigan State University Shooter Commits Suicide After Killing Three People
https://sputniknews.com/20230214/multiple-injuries-reported-after-two-shootings-at-michigan-state-university-1107390813.html
February 14, 2023, 2:36 AM
The Monday night shooting at Michigan State University comes on the eve of the five-year anniversary of the shooting at Parkland High School, where 17 people - mostly students - were killed.
--------------------
Two Trains Derail in Texas & South Carolina Weeks After Ohio Chemical Spill, One Death Reported
https://sputniknews.com/20230214/two-trains-derail-in-texas--south-carolina-weeks-after-ohio-chemical-spill-one-death-reported-1107390654.html
February 14, 2023, 2:05 AM
The US previously documented a devastating train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio, that prompted temporary evacuation orders after the incident caused a serious chemical spill.
--------------------
Wife of US Man Who Allegedly Drove His Family Off Cliff Does Not Want Him Prosecuted
https://sputniknews.com/20230214/wife-of-us-man-who-allegedly-drove-his-family-off-cliff-does-not-want-him-prosecuted-1107390214.html
February 14, 2023, 1:28 AM
A radiologist in Pasadena, California, allegedly drove his wife and children off a cliff on the Pacific Coast Highway in early January. The family of Dharmesh A. Patel, 41, survived the crash, and he was arrested by California Highway Patrol troopers that same day on suspicion of attempted murder and child abuse.
--------------------
UN Experts Urge International Community to Stop Israeli Demolition of Palestinian Homes
https://sputniknews.com/20230214/un-experts-urge-international-community-to-stop-israeli-demolition-of-palestinian-homes-1107390068.html
February 14, 2023, 12:56 AM
MOSCOW, February 13 (Sputnik) - Independent United Nations experts called on the international community to take action against Israel's systematic destruction of Palestinian buildings in the West Bank, the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) said Monday.
--------------------
How a Rogue Judge May Upend the FDA by Banning the Abortion Pill Mifepristone
https://sputniknews.com/20230213/how-a-rogue-judge-may-upend-the-fda-by-banning-the-abortion-pill-mifepristone-1107388477.html
February 13, 2023, 11:40 PM
More than 20 million Americans had the constitutional right to govern their own bodies stripped away in June, when Roe v. Wade, a nearly 50-year age decision, was overturned by a conservative-majority US Supreme Court. The decision ultimately confirmed an earlier leak of a draft decision by SCOTUS to overturn the landmark 1973 ruling.
--------------------
No Link Between Alleged Chinese Spy Balloon and Latest Downed Objects – National Defence
https://sputniknews.com/20230213/no-link-between-alleged-chinese-spy-balloon-and-latest-downed-objects--national-defence-1107388794.html
February 13, 2023, 11:24 PM
WASHINGTON (Sputnik) – No links have been made between the alleged Chinese spy balloon downed over the Atlantic, and the latest three unidentified objects shot over Alaska, Yukon and Lake Huron, Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) Major General Marc-Andre Prevost said on Monday.
--------------------
Musk Confirms Kiev Won’t Be Allowed to ‘Weaponize’ Starlink Satellites ‘That May Lead to WW3’
https://sputniknews.com/20230213/musk-confirms-kiev-wont-be-allowed-to-weaponize-starlink-satellites-that-may-lead-to-ww3-1107388273.html
February 13, 2023, 10:22 PM
As NATO has rushed to funnel weapons and money to Ukraine to fight Russia, the conflict has turned into a proxy war that increasingly threatens to become global, bringing nuclear weapons states into direct conflict for the first time - a situation decades of careful diplomacy aimed to avoid, lest it lead to the annihilation of the human race.
--------------------
Social Democrats' Defeat in Berlin Election 'Bad Omen' for Chancellor Scholz - Expert
https://sputniknews.com/20230213/social-democrats-defeat-in-berlin-election-bad-omen-for-chancellor-scholz---expert-1107388109.html
February 13, 2023, 9:53 PM
MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Germany's ruling Social Democratic Party's (SPD) "catastrophic" result in the latest Berlin state election and the "resounding" victory of the opposition Christian Democratic Union (CDU) are bad signs for the German leadership, Armin-Paulus Hampel, a former Bundestag member and geopolitical analyst, told Sputnik.
--------------------
Poll: 70% of Peruvians in Favor of Holding Presidential Election in 2023 Amid Nationwide Protests
https://sputniknews.com/20230213/poll-70-of-peruvians-in-favor-of-holding-presidential-election-in-2023-amid-nationwide-protests-1107387947.html
February 13, 2023, 9:35 PM
BUENOS AIRES (Sputnik) - The majority of Peruvians, or 70%, support the holding of an early presidential election this year amid ongoing nationwide protests, an Ipsos poll showed on Monday.
--------------------
Biden Administration Reportedly Plans to Sell 26 Million Barrels of Crude Oil From Reserves
https://sputniknews.com/20230213/biden-administration-reportedly-plans-to-sell-26-million-barrels-of-crude-oil-from-reserves-1107387351.html
February 13, 2023, 8:33 PM
The Biden administration has used the country's Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) to try and alleviate chronic high US gasoline prices; however, US oil giants have been caught sending the petrol to European markets, where the price is even higher, and making what US President Joe Biden described as "more money than God."
--------------------
Blinken, Wang Reportedly Discuss Holding Meeting Delayed by Balloon Fiasco
https://sputniknews.com/20230213/blinken-wang-reportedly-discuss-holding-meeting-delayed-by-balloon-fiasco-1107386802.html
February 13, 2023, 7:46 PM
Nearly two weeks after postponing his trip to Beijing, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is considering rescheduling at least one of the meetings that would have taken place. The trip was put off after a high-altitude balloon that Washington claimed was a Chinese spy balloon was spotted over the US.
--------------------
'All He Had to Do Was Stop Attacking Donbass': Italy's Berlusconi Blames Zelensky for Ukraine Crisis
https://sputniknews.com/20230213/all-he-had-to-do-was-stop-attacking-donbass-italys-berlusconi-blames-zelensky-for-ukraine-crisis-1107386273.html
February 13, 2023, 7:07 PM
The former Italian prime minister broke off his personal friendship with Russian President Vladimir Putin last spring after the escalation of the Donbass crisis into a full-blown Russia-NATO proxy conflict in Ukraine, expressing regret that his efforts to incorporate Russia into Western institutions failed.
--------------------
What’s GOP Speaker McCarthy's Alleged Strategy to Prevail in Debt Ceiling Battle?
https://sputniknews.com/20230213/whats-gop-speaker-mccarthys-alleged-strategy-to-prevail-in-debt-ceiling-battle-1107386026.html
February 13, 2023, 6:54 PM
GOP House Speaker Kevin McCarthy has reportedly begun to implement a strategy which would allow him to collect the 218 votes necessary to call the shots in negotiations over the national debt ceiling rise in exchange for budget cuts.
--------------------
Botswana to 'Up Stakes for Larger Share' in Deal with Diamond Giant De Beers
https://sputniknews.com/20230213/botswana-to-up-stakes-for-larger-share-in-deal-with-diamond-giant-de-beers-1107381563.html
February 13, 2023, 6:16 PM
Africa is home to the world's top diamond mining countries, where Botswana is the leader in the list of African countries producing diamonds. It has three large mines that are currently operational: the Orapa and Letlhakane mines in the north, and the Kalahari mine in the south.
--------------------
Eritrea’s Afwerki Accuses US of Assisting Tigray Rebels During Conflict in Ethiopia
https://sputniknews.com/20230213/eritreas-afwerki-accuses-us-of-assisting-tigray-rebels-during-conflict-in-ethiopia-1107380484.html
February 13, 2023, 6:16 PM
In November 2022, the government of Ethiopia and rebels from the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) signed a peace agreement that ended a two-year-long armed conflict in the Tigray region in the north of the country. The conflict saw, according to reports, the deaths of thousands of people and displacement of millions more.
--------------------
And Then There Were Four: What We Know About the 'High-Altitude Objects' Shot Down by USAF
https://sputniknews.com/20230213/and-then-there-were-four-what-we-know-about-the-high-altitude-objects-shot-down-by-usaf-1107384826.html
February 13, 2023, 5:47 PM
Since the US detected a Chinese high-altitude balloon floating over the country late last month, the Pentagon has stepped up its vigilance of US and Canadian airspace and shot down both the Chinese balloon and three other mysterious objects, each reportedly different from the others.
--------------------
US Jet Flying Over Lake Huron Where Aerial Object Was Downed on Sunday
https://sputniknews.com/20230213/us-jet-flying-over-lake-huron-where-aerial-object-was-downed-on-sunday-1107384699.html
February 13, 2023, 5:21 PM
WASHINGTON (Sputnik) – A US military aircraft is circling over Lake Huron in the state of Michigan where an unidentified airborne object was downed at the weekend, FlightRadar24.com said on Monday.
--------------------
Is the US Economy Really on Track to Revival? Devil is Always in the Details
https://sputniknews.com/20230213/is-the-us-economy-really-on-track-to-revival-devil-is-always-in-the-details-1107383806.html
February 13, 2023, 4:50 PM
US President Joe Biden depicted an optimistic scenario for the American economy in his latest SOTU speech. Still, Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell says it's too early to pop open the champagne.
--------------------
A Story of Pain: Earthquake Survivors in Syria's Latakia Recall Horror
https://sputniknews.com/20230213/a-story-of-pain-earthquake-survivors-in-syrias-latakia-recall-horror-1107381051.html
February 13, 2023, 4:05 PM
Syrians left homeless following a powerful earthquake on February 6 are now forced to sleep in temporary shelters. The city of Latakia, which has the highest number of quake-affected people in the country, is no exception. Speaking with Sputnik, some of them recalled the terrible night the 7.7-magnitude earthquake occurred.
--------------------
Ohio Residents Reportedly Raise Health Concerns After Toxic Train Derailment
https://sputniknews.com/20230213/ohio-residents-reportedly-raise-health-concerns-after-toxic-train-derailment-1107382979.html
February 13, 2023, 3:50 PM
WASHINGTON (Sputnik) – Residents around East Palestine, Ohio, are skeptical of US Environmental Protection Agency claims that it is safe to return home, after a train derailment earlier this month led authorities to burn hazardous materials inside tanker cars to preempt an explosion, media reported on Monday.
--------------------
Ex-US Pilot Accused of Training Chinese Treated 'Inhumanely' in Australian Jail, Wife Says
https://sputniknews.com/20230213/ex-us-pilot-accused-of-training-chinese-treated-inhumanely-in-australian-jail-wife-says-1107382663.html
February 13, 2023, 3:27 PM
WASHINGTON (Sputnik) – The wife of detained Australian citizen and former US Marine Daniel Duggan, who is accused by the United States of illegally training Chinese pilots, says he has been held in a tiny cell in Sydney for 115 days without conviction and plans to escalate his case to the United Nations to stop his "inhumane treatment."
--------------------
US AFRICOM Chief Visits Senegal, Algeria, Ghana in 2nd Trip to Africa This Year
https://sputniknews.com/20230213/us-africom-chief-visits-senegal-algeria-ghana-in-2nd-trip-to-africa-this-year-1107381784.html
February 13, 2023, 2:56 PM
WASHINGTON (Sputnik) – US Africa Command (AFRICOM) chief Michael Langley visited Senegal, Algeria and Ghana on February 6-10 in what became his second trip to the region this year, AFRICOM said on Monday. On January 17-18, Langley visited Gabon.
--------------------
Russia's Khmeimim Air Base Opens Warehouses to Distribute Aid to Syria's Quake Victims
https://sputniknews.com/20230213/russias-khmeimim-air-base-opens-warehouses-to-distribute-aid-to-syrias-quake-victims-1107379667.html
February 13, 2023, 2:45 PM
On February 6, parts of Turkiye and Syria were hit by a series of powerful earthquakes and aftershocks that killed nearly 40,000 people. As many countries rushed to offer assistance to Turkiye in the aftermath of the disaster, the situation in Syria was complicated by the economic sanctions imposed against the country by the West.
--------------------
Germany’s Panther KF51: Russian Tank-Killing Wunderwaffe or Roided Up Leopard 2?
https://sputniknews.com/20230213/germanys-panther-kf51-russian-tank-killing-wunderwaffe-or-roided-up-leopard-2-1107379234.html
February 13, 2023, 2:18 PM
German weapons giant Rheinmetall wants to send its brand new Panther KF51 main battle tank to Ukraine. If deliveries proceed, the Panther would be the most advanced piece of NATO armor taking part in the West’s hybrid war against Russia. What are the KF51’s characteristics, and how big of a threat would they be to Russian tankmen? Sputnik explores.
--------------------
West Considers Other Countries Objects of Colonial Enslavement, Russian Foreign Intel Chief Says
https://sputniknews.com/20230213/west-considers-other-countries-objects-of-colonial-enslavement-russian-foreign-intel-chief-says-1107375349.html
February 13, 2023, 2:05 PM
The age of colonialism began in the late 15th century and ended after some 500 years, after most colonized territories were set free by their metropoles. However, many believe that colonialism didn't end, but morphed into what is called today "neo-colonialism," with new ways of exploiting developing nations.
--------------------
Election of New NATO Secretary General 'Least Transparent' Procedure, Reports Say
https://sputniknews.com/20230213/election-of-new-nato-secretary-general-least-transparent-procedure-reports-say-1107379069.html
February 13, 2023, 1:52 PM
MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The selection procedure of a new NATO Secretary General is highly non-transparent, with the bloc's leading powers exerting inordinate influence over the process, a European diplomat told the media on Monday.
--------------------
Russia's Oil Production Cut in Line With Pledge to Retaliate for West's Price Cap, Expert Says
https://sputniknews.com/20230213/russias-oil-production-cut-in-line-with-pledge-to-retaliate-for-wests-price-cap-expert-says-1107378616.html
February 13, 2023, 1:50 PM
MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Russia’s decision to cut oil production is in line with its pledge to retaliate for the Western countries’ price cap, aimed at limiting Russia’s oil and gas export revenues amid the Ukrainian conflict, international oil economist Mamdouh Salameh told Sputnik.
--------------------
European Countries Racked Up Nearly €800 Bln Energy Crisis Spending Bill, Brussels Think Tank Says
https://sputniknews.com/20230213/european-countries-racked-up-nearly-800-bln-energy-crisis-spending-bill-brussels-think-tank-says-1107376695.html
February 13, 2023, 1:35 PM
Europe has been grappling with a mind-boggling energy bill as anti-Russian sanctions imposed shortly after the start of the special military operation in Ukraine in late February 2022 backfired on European economies and accelerated inflation.
--------------------
Judicial Reform Clears First Hurdle in Israeli Parliament Amid Mass Protests, Reports Say
https://sputniknews.com/20230213/judicial-reform-clears-first-hurdle-in-israeli-parliament-amid-mass-protests-reports-say-1107377998.html
February 13, 2023, 1:32 PM
MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The Constitution, Law and Justice Committee of the Knesset, Israel's parliament, has granted its approval to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's controversial judicial reform, allowing the bill to pass on the first reading, Israeli media reported on Monday.
--------------------
IOC Says No Reason to Deprive Russian Athletes of Right to Participate in Competitions
https://sputniknews.com/20230213/ioc-says-no-reason-to-deprive-russian-athletes-of-right-to-participate-in-competitions-1107377696.html
February 13, 2023, 1:29 PM
PARIS (Sputnik) - Politics should not affect the right of athletes to participate in international competitions, so there is no reason to ban Russian and Belarusian athletes from participating in the Olympic Games, Guy Drut, a member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), said on Monday.
--------------------
Cameroonian Bishop: France Has Affairs of Former African Colonies 'in Iron Grip'
https://sputniknews.com/20230213/cameroonian-bishop-france-has-affairs-of-former-african-colonies-in-iron-grip-1107366444.html
February 13, 2023, 12:44 PM
During his February trip to the Democratic Republic of Congo and South Sudan, Pope Francis criticized "economic colonialism" in Africa. He said political exploitation by western countries paved the way to economic colonialism, enslaving African nations calling the fact that African lands are subject to exploitation "a tragedy".
--------------------
What is Known About Deal on Russian Naval Logistical Base in Sudan?
https://sputniknews.com/20230213/what-is-known-about-deal-on-russian-naval-logistical-base-in-sudan-1107375210.html
February 13, 2023, 12:38 PM
The agreement between Khartoum and Moscow on a Russian naval logistical support point in the Red Sea was brokered in mid-November 2020. It was signed by Russia at the beginning of December 2020, but is still awaiting ratification by Sudan.
--------------------
China Calls on US to Lift Sanctions Against Syria Instead of Temporarily Suspending Them
https://sputniknews.com/20230213/china-calls-on-us-to-lift-sanctions-against-syria-instead-of-temporarily-suspending-them-1107375644.html
February 13, 2023, 12:18 PM
BEIJING (Sputnik) - Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin on Monday called on the United States to immediately lift all illegal unilateral sanctions against Syria, putting aside Washington's "geopolitical calculations."
--------------------
NATO Head Stoltenberg Holds Press Conference Ahead of Defense Ministers' Meeting
https://sputniknews.com/20230213/nato-head-stoltenberg-holds-press-conference-ahead-of-defense-ministers-meeting-1107362571.html
February 13, 2023, 12:05 PM
The summit of NATO defense ministers will take place in the Belgian capital ahead of a meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group.
--------------------
Beijing Says US Balloons Illegally Entered China's Airspace Over 10 Times Since Early 2022
https://sputniknews.com/20230213/beijing-says-us-balloons-illegally-entered-chinas-airspace-over-10-times-since-early-2022-1107374193.html
February 13, 2023, 11:45 AM
On February 4, the United States shot down what it claimed was a Chinese surveillance balloon over the Atlantic Ocean. China insists the airship was engaged in scientific research and had been accidentally blown off course.
--------------------
Trump Rips Rihanna For 'Epic Fail' & 'Worst Halftime Show in Super Bowl History'
https://sputniknews.com/20230213/trump-rips-rihanna-for-epic-fail--worst-halftime-show-in-super-bowl-history-1107369034.html
February 13, 2023, 10:35 AM
Back in 2020, renowned pop singer Rihanna, who throughout Donald Trump’s presidency frequently mocked the 45th POTUS online, traveled to the Cadillac Ranch, a public art installation in Amarillo, Texas, and spray-painted “F*ck Donald Trump” on one of the half-buried cars.
--------------------
NATO to Ask Member Countries to Increase Stockpiles of Weapons, Reports Say
https://sputniknews.com/20230213/nato-to-ask-member-countries-to-increase-stockpiles-of-weapons-reports-say-1107371464.html
February 13, 2023, 10:28 AM
MOSCOW (Sputnik) - NATO is expected to ask its member countries to increase their stocks of ammunition, which are seriously depleted due to continued military assistance to Ukraine, media reported on Monday, citing sources.
--------------------
Kenya’s Ruto Reportedly Played Role in Eritrea’s Decision to Return to IGAD
https://sputniknews.com/20230213/kenyas-ruto-reportedly-played-role-in-eritreas-decision-to-return-to-igad-1107369108.html
February 13, 2023, 10:27 AM
In 2007, Eritrea boycotted the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), an East Africa trade bloc that includes governments from the Horn of Africa, Nile Valley, and the African Great Lakes, where Asmara was an original member, citing bias after it was accused of supporting extremist groups in neighboring Somalia.
--------------------
Kremlin: Russia Making Great Effort to Help Earthquake Victims in Syria
https://sputniknews.com/20230213/kremlin-russia-making-great-effort-to-help-earthquake-victims-in-syria-1107370469.html
February 13, 2023, 10:09 AM
MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Moscow does not exert pressure on Damascus in terms of humanitarian issues, and is constantly in contact with the Syrian side and provides assistance in the aftermath of the earthquake, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Monday.
--------------------
Protest Against Judicial Reform Held in Jerusalem
https://sputniknews.com/20230213/protest-against-judicial-reform-held-in-jerusalem-1107363175.html
February 13, 2023, 9:57 AM
On Saturday, over 80,000 people gathered across Israel in protest against the planned judicial reform, reports said. In Tel Aviv alone, about 50,000 protesters participated in the demonstration.
--------------------
OPEC Fund Offers $50Mln Loan to Develop Critical Economic Infrastructure in Africa
https://sputniknews.com/20230213/opec-fund-offers-50mln-loan-to-develop-critical-economic-infrastructure-in-africa-1107363578.html
February 13, 2023, 9:55 AM
In 2017, the OPEC Fund for International Development signed a cooperation agreement with Africa Finance Corporation (AFC), a pan-African infrastructure solutions provider with 39 member states, to support the AFC’s projects aimed at developing infrastructure in key economic sectors on the world’s fastest-growing continent.
--------------------
Dozens of Chinese Military Balloons Detected Over Taiwan in Recent Years, Reports Say
https://sputniknews.com/20230213/dozens-of-chinese-military-balloons-detected-over-taiwan-in-recent-years-reports-say-1107366703.html
February 13, 2023, 8:30 AM
MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Dozens of Chinese military surveillance balloons were detected over Taiwan over past years, media reported on Monday, citing Taiwanese officials.
--------------------
'Hoping for Triangle Next': Internet Chuckles as Pentagon Downs Octagonal & Cylindrical Objects
https://sputniknews.com/20230213/hoping-for-triangle-next-internet-chuckles-as-pentagon-downs-octagonal--cylindrical-objects-1107365559.html
February 13, 2023, 8:24 AM
Earlier, an American F-16 fighter aircraft using an AIM-9 missile shot down an unidentified "octagonal structure" over Lake Huron, near the border with Canada, at an altitude of "about 20,000 feet," Michigan Congressman Jack Bergman said, citing information from the Department of Defense.
--------------------
EU's New Sanctions Against Russia May Target 4 Banks, 130 Individuals, Entities, Reports Say
https://sputniknews.com/20230213/eus-new-sanctions-against-russia-may-target-4-banks-130-individuals-entities-reports-say-1107365432.html
February 13, 2023, 7:24 AM
MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The European Union's new package of sanctions against Russia may target four more banks, as well as 130 individuals and entities, media reported on Monday, citing officials and diplomats.
--------------------
US Plans to Send Terrorists to Russia and CIS Countries to Target Officials, Intel Service Says
https://sputniknews.com/20230213/us-plans-to-send-terrorists-to-russia-and-cis-countries-to-target-officials-intel-service-says-1107363476.html
February 13, 2023, 6:37 AM
The US military is recruiting jihadist fighters to carry out terrorist attacks on the territory of Russia and the CIS countries, the Russian Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) said in a statement.
--------------------
MPs Lambast Tory Cabinet for 'Full Sell-Out of Brexit' After Reports of Secret Cross-Party Summit
https://sputniknews.com/20230213/mps-lambast-tory-cabinet-for-full-sell-out-of-brexit-after-reports-of-secret-cross-party-summit-1107362669.html
February 13, 2023, 5:52 AM
Prominent cross-party Brexiteers and Remainers had gathered at the end of last week at a countryside retreat in Oxfordshire to discuss how to "fix" Brexit’s "failings", UK media reported, with the hush-hush get-together said to have involved diplomats, defense experts, business and bank chiefs.
--------------------
IDF Strikes Underground Hamas Site Linked to Rocket Production
https://sputniknews.com/20230213/idf-strikes-underground-hamas-site-linked-to-rocket-production-1107362389.html
February 13, 2023, 4:48 AM
MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Israel has responded to the launch of a rocket from the Gaza Strip by targeting an underground Hamas complex, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) informed on Monday morning.
--------------------
Moscow to Reportedly Respond to Appearance of Hypersonic Missiles in Japan's Border Areas
https://sputniknews.com/20230213/moscow-to-reportedly-respond-to-appearance-of-hypersonic-missiles-in-japans-border-areas--1107361877.html
February 13, 2023, 4:08 AM
MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Moscow is closely following the development of Japan's military potential, and in the event of any threats to Russia’s Far Eastern regions, such as the appearance of hypersonic missiles on the Japanese border islands.
--------------------
Here's How The NFL Got Away With Paying Rihanna 'Nothing' for Her Halftime Show
https://sputniknews.com/20230213/heres-how-the-nfl-got-away-with-paying-rihanna-nothing-for-her-halftime-show-1107361681.html
February 13, 2023, 4:01 AM
America’s most sought-after musical gig is also (technically) the country’s least-paying.
--------------------
UN General Assembly Reportedly Discussing Anti-Russian 'Peace' Resolution on Ukraine
https://sputniknews.com/20230213/un-general-assembly-reportedly-discussing-anti-russian-peace-resolution-on-ukraine-1107361350.html
February 13, 2023, 3:35 AM
UNITED NATIONS (Sputnik) - The UN General Assembly is discussing a draft resolution on the "principles underlying a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in Ukraine" that runs along the lines of what Kiev considers to be a "just" world, a source in the United Nations told Sputnik.
--------------------
UK Getting Ready to Confiscate Russian Assets, Ambassador Says
https://sputniknews.com/20230213/uk-reportedly-getting-ready-to-confiscate-russian-assets--1107361236.html
February 13, 2023, 3:21 AM
MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The United Kingdom is planning to confiscate frozen Russian assets and is preparing relevant legislation, Russian Ambassador to the UK Andrei Kelin told Sputnik.
--------------------
Israel’s President Calls for Postponement of Planned Judicial Reform
https://sputniknews.com/20230213/israels-president-calls-for-postponement-of-planned-judicial-reform-1107361105.html
February 13, 2023, 3:03 AM
MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Israeli President Isaac Herzog has delivered a national address calling on the Israeli government to delay consideration of a controversial judicial reform that has brought the country to "to the brink of a constitutional and societal collapse."
--------------------
Israel Approves Nine Settlements in West Bank, Says Israel's National Security Minister
https://sputniknews.com/20230213/israel-approves-nine-settlements-in-west-bank-says-israels-national-security-minister-1107360965.html
February 13, 2023, 2:58 AM
TEL AVIV (Sputnik) - Several new Israeli settlements in the West Bank were legalized following a cabinet meeting on national security affairs, Israel's National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir said.
--------------------
Pentagon Says Currently Unable to 'Definitively Assess' Nature of Downed Objects
https://sputniknews.com/20230213/pentagon-says-currently-unable-to-definitively-assess-nature-of-downed-objects-1107360813.html
February 13, 2023, 2:43 AM
WASHINGTON (Sputnik) - The US Department of Defense (DOD) currently lacks sufficient information on the airborne objects that were shot down over the past days, according to the Pentagon.
--------------------
Man Rescued by Russian Team in Turkey Over 6 Days After Earthquake
https://sputniknews.com/20230213/man-rescued-by-russian-team-in-turkey-over-6-days-after-earthquake--1107360687.html
February 13, 2023, 2:31 AM
MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Rescuers of the emergency ministries of Russia, Belarus and Kyrgyzstan have pulled out a man from the rubble in Turkey more than six days after the earthquake, the Russian Emergencies Ministry (EMERCOM) informs.
--------------------
Top US Gallery Claims Long-Dead Russian Painters Are ‘Ukrainian’
https://sputniknews.com/20230213/top-us-gallery-reportedly-says-long-dead-russian-painters-are-ukrainian-now-1107360463.html
February 13, 2023, 2:04 AM
As its casualties on the battlefield continue to mount and would-be counteroffensives flounder, the Kiev regime has reportedly set its sights on new targets: famous Russian painters who died a century ago.
--------------------
Uruguay to Investigate Strange Lights Reportedly Seen in Sky Over Paysandu
https://sputniknews.com/20230213/uruguay-to-investigate-strange-lights-reportedly-seen-in-sky-over-paysandu--1107360036.html
February 13, 2023, 12:57 AM
BUENOS AIRES (Sputnik) - The Uruguayan Air Force says it is investigating the appearance of suspicious flashing lights in the sky, which were also visible from neighboring Argentina.
--------------------
Blot Out The Sun: Company Wants to Pump Sulfur Dioxide Into the Sky to Cool the Planet
https://sputniknews.com/20230212/blot-out-the-sun-company-wants-to-pump-sulfur-dioxide-into-the-sky-to-cool-the-planet-1107359834.html
February 12, 2023, 11:34 PM
Banned in Mexico and kicked out by Sweden’s Sami people, so-called ‘solar geoengineers’ are still pushing ahead with plans to limit the amount of light received by the people of Earth.
--------------------
US F-16 Fighter Downed ‘Octagonal Structure’ Over Lake Huron Says Michigan Official
https://sputniknews.com/20230212/us-military-downs-airborne-object-over-lake-huron-congressman-says-1107359539.html
February 12, 2023, 10:16 PM
WASHINGTON (Sputnik) - US fighter aircraft have shot down another unidentified object, over lake Huron near the border with Canada, Michigan Congressman Jack Bergman said.
--------------------
Zelensky Enacts Sanctions Against 200 Russian Citizens
https://sputniknews.com/20230212/zelensky-enacts-sanctions-against-200-russian-citizens-1107359422.html
February 12, 2023, 9:49 PM
MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky put into effect on Sunday the decision of Ukraine's National Security and Defense Council (NSDC) to impose sanctions on 200 Russian citizens.
--------------------
US Authorities Briefly Closed Airspace Over Lake Michigan Says NORAD
https://sputniknews.com/20230212/us-authorities-briefly-closed-airspace-over-lake-michigan-says-norad-1107359292.html
February 12, 2023, 9:43 PM
WASHINGTON (Sputnik) - US authorities temporarily closed the airspace over Lake Michigan on Sunday to ensure the safety of air traffic in the area during unspecified operations of the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD), the binational military command said.
--------------------
Emails Reveal Role of Secret Service in Hunter Biden Gun Affair, Says Media
https://sputniknews.com/20230212/emails-reveal-role-of-secret-service-in-hunter-biden-gun-affair-says-media-1107358818.html
February 12, 2023, 6:57 PM
One of the emails in question was reportedly written by a Secret Service employee who found it "odd" that the agency became "involved in the missing gun investigation" at a time when neither Joe Biden nor his son Hunter were receiving Secret Service protection.
--------------------
FAA Cancels 'National Defense Airspace' Over Lake Michigan
https://sputniknews.com/20230212/faa-declares-national-defense-airspace-over-lake-michigan-1107358495.html
February 12, 2023, 6:22 PM
This weekend, the FAA established a "national defense airspace" over Montana in response to an alleged unidentified flying object. However, it was later established that it was a "radar anomaly," and no object was discovered.
--------------------
US Knew Nothing About China's 'Spy Balloons' Several Months Ago, Senate Majority Leader Says
https://sputniknews.com/20230212/us-knew-nothing-about-chinas-spy-balloons-several-months-ago-senate-majority-leader-says-1107358308.html
February 12, 2023, 6:08 PM
MOSCOW (Sputnik) - US military and intelligence knew nothing about the existence of Chinese "spy balloons" until a few months ago, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said on Sunday.
--------------------
Around 250,000 People March in Madrid Demanding Better Healthcare
https://sputniknews.com/20230212/around-250000-people-march-in-madrid-demanding-better-healthcare-1107358122.html
February 12, 2023, 5:15 PM
MADRID (Sputnik) - Around 250,000 people marched through the streets of Madrid on Sunday demanding that the Spanish government increase the country's health care budget, improve working conditions and expand the staff.
--------------------
France Condemns 'Black Panther' Movie Over 'Deceptive' Army Depiction
https://sputniknews.com/20230212/france-condemns-black-panther-movie-over-deceptive-army-depiction-1107357023.html
February 12, 2023, 4:20 PM
US entertainment company Marvel Studios released a sequel of its 2018 superhero film Black Panther in November 2022 called “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.” One of the opening scenes of the movie shows French troops brought during a UN meeting after they were caught trying to steal resources belonging to the fictional African kingdom of Wakanda.
--------------------
'Manifesto for Peace': Over 250,000 Sign Petition Calling Germany to Stop Arming Ukraine
https://sputniknews.com/20230212/manifesto-for-peace-over-250000-sign-petition-calling-germany-to-stop-arming-ukraine-1107357541.html
February 12, 2023, 4:13 PM
The authors of the petition suggest that negotiating does not mean surrendering, and that engaging in talks may help prevent hundreds of thousands of deaths.
--------------------
Unidentified Airborne Object Spotted Off China's East Coast
https://sputniknews.com/20230212/unidentified-airborne-object-spotted-off-chinas-east-coast--1107356613.html
February 12, 2023, 2:34 PM
BEIJING (Sputnik) - An unidentified object was spotted on Sunday flying over the waters of the coastal province of Shandong in China's east, with the country's authorities preparing to shoot it down, a local maritime bureau said.
--------------------
Kinky Detail of Giraffes' Sexual Behavior Revealed in New Study
https://sputniknews.com/20230212/kinky-detail-of-giraffes-sexual-behavior-revealed-in-new-study-1107356014.html
February 12, 2023, 1:58 PM
The authors of the new research witnessed the giraffes' behavior while visiting the Etosha National Park in Namibia.
--------------------
Russia Begins Tests of Aircraft-Type Drones to Meet Army Needs in Ukraine
https://sputniknews.com/20230212/russia-begins-tests-of-aircraft-type-drones-to-meet-army-needs-in-ukraine---1107356131.html
February 12, 2023, 1:34 PM
VLADIVOSTOK, Russia, (Sputnik) - Russia have launched tests of aircraft-type drones with vertical takeoff, intended for the Russian army's needs during the military operation in Ukraine, in Primorsky Territory in the country's Far East, Governor Oleg Kozhemyako said on Sunday.
--------------------
Moldova's Neutral Status Guarantor of Regional Stability, Russian Ambassador Says
https://sputniknews.com/20230212/moldovas-neutral-status-guarantor-of-regional-stability-russian-ambassador-says-1107354367.html
February 12, 2023, 1:24 PM
In an exclusive interview with Sputnik, Russia's ambassador to Moldova explains why the dialogue between Moscow and Kishinev was put on hold, how to resolve the Transnistrian conflict and how to achieve peace in the modern era.
--------------------
Moscow, Manama Mull Creating Grain and Gas Hubs in Bahrain, Russian Ambassador Says
https://sputniknews.com/20230212/moscow-manama-mull-creating-grain-and-gas-hubs-in-bahrain-russian-ambassador-says-1107354786.html
February 12, 2023, 1:09 PM
DOHA (Sputnik) - Russia and Bahrain are considering proposals for the creation of grain and gas hubs, as well as a plant for the production of Russian vaccines in the Middle Eastern country, Russian Ambassador to Manama Alexey Skosyrev told Sputnik.
--------------------
Polish President Says Ukraine May Lose to Russia Without Urgent Supply of Western Weapons
https://sputniknews.com/20230212/polish-president-says-ukraine-may-lose-to-russia-without-urgent-supply-of-western-weapons-1107354872.html
February 12, 2023, 1:05 PM
WARSAW (Sputnik) - Russia can defeat Ukraine if the West and its allies does not provide Kiev with urgent military assistance, Polish President Andrzej Duda said on Sunday.
--------------------
Russia-Tunisia Trade Up 60% in 2022, Ambassador Says
https://sputniknews.com/20230212/russia-tunisia-trade-up-60-in-2022-ambassador-says-1107352528.html
February 12, 2023, 12:11 PM
CAIRO (Sputnik) - The trade volume increased by 63% in ten months during 2022, reaching $692 million.
--------------------