🇭🇺 “What?!”: Hungarian PM Orban reacts to Stoltenberg saying Ukraine’s place is in NATO

Subscribe to @SputnikInt

❗️Russian MoD briefing on progress of special military operation in Ukraine:

▪️In the Kupyansk direction, Russian forces destroyed up to 60 Ukrainian troops and one armored combat vehicle, one ammunition depot, as well as one D-20 and one Akatsyia self-propelled howitzers. In addition, the actions of four Ukrainian sabotage and reconnaissance groups were thwarted;

▪️In the Krasny Liman direction, Ukrainian losses amounted to 55 personnel, two armored fighting vehicles, as well as one D-20 and one Gvozdika self-propelled howitzers;

▪️In the Donetsk direction, Russian forces destroyed more than 310 Ukrainian troops, four armored fighting vehicles, a Grad MLRS combat vehicle, as well as one Msta-B and one Gvozdika howitzer;

▪️In the South Donetsk and Zaporozhye directions, Ukrainian losses during the day amounted to 90 soldiers, two armored fighting vehicles, one Msta-B howitzer as well as two ammunition depots;

▪️In the Kherson direction, Russian forces neutralized up to 10 Ukrainian troops as well as one fuel depot;

▪️Russian air defense systems also intercepted three HIMARS missiles, as well as three Ukrainian UAVs in the LPR, DPR, and Kharkov region.

Subscribe to @SputnikInt

🚀💥 Musk loses $12.6Bln after Starship failure, Tesla's Q1 financial report

Now Musk's fortune stands at $164 billion and he ranks second in the world's billionaire rating.

On Thursday, SpaceX carried out the first combined launch of the Starship spacecraft and the Super Heavy first stage booster. The spacecraft was deliberately blown up during the test flight after it began to lose altitude when multiple engines failed. The spacecraft climbed to an apogee of about 39 kilometers (24 miles) over the Gulf of Mexico, which is the highest point any Starship spacecraft has reached to-date in the program's history.

Additionally, Tesla published a Q1 2023 report, showing that the company's net profit attributable to shareholders decreased by 24% year-on-year. Tesla's shares fell by 9.75% at the end of April 20 trading.

Subscribe to @SputnikInt

🌍 The second episode of Sputnik Africa’s new podcast will focus on Zimbabwe’s Independence Day, celebrated annually on April 18. Check it out!

🌐 BRICS is ahead of the G7 in global GDP, and its contribution to global economic growth continues to increase, reaching 33.6% in 2028, as per projections.

✊ Keep it up, BRICS!

Subscribe to @sputniknewsindia

⚡️Nuclear missile buildup by US, allies aimed at achieving global superiority over Russia, China, Moscow said

❗️Latest statements by Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs:

▪️After the expiration of the INF Treaty in 2026, Russia needs to be prepared for any scenario;

▪️In the context of risks associated with the INF Treaty's expiration, it is important to develop the idea of increasing the creation of a unified and integrated national missile defense system;

▪️It is obvious that Russia needs to increase its tactical missile potential;

▪️Russia must remain vigilant on its eastern borders and have an impressive arsenal of medium-range missiles;

▪️Russia should consider whether its current stance on not deploying intermediate-range missiles in Europe is still justified or if it is necessary to prepare for such a deployment;

▪️The arms race, including in the missile sphere, is becoming uncontrollable.

Subscribe to @SputnikInt

🇷🇺 Russian soldiers destroyed a Ukrainian Army position using Sani mortars

The artillerymen used high-explosive fragmentation ammunition against enemy fortifications and personnel. They conducted indirect fire at a distance of about six kilometers, correcting their aim using drones.

Subscribe to @SputnikInt

Canada to provide Ukraine with new military aid package worth $29Mln

Canada is providing CAD $34 million to support various NATO projects in Ukraine, including the provision of fuel, modular flotation bridges, and medical first aid kits according to Canada’s Ministry of National Defense.

Additionally, Ukrainian crews are receiving training on eight Leopard 2 tanks in Poland with assistance from Canadian trainers.

Subscribe to @SputnikInt

G7 currently not discussing complete ban on exports to Russia

Earlier in the day, media reported citing sources in the Japanese government, that the G7 is considering a near-total ban on exports to Russia.

"This idea was not discussed at the [G7] ministerial meeting in Japan… It was not mentioned neither during the discussion nor in the conclusions," the official said.

The discussion of such an issue should not be ruled out in the future, the official added.

Subscribe to @SputnikInt

US Defense Secretary: US expediting Abrams delivery to Ukraine, tanks will arrive in Germany soon

"We’ve also expedited our M1 Abrams timelines to supply Ukraine with more armored capability in the coming months, and the M1s that the Ukrainians will use for training will arrive here in Germany in the next few weeks," US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said during a press conference.

Earlier on Friday, US media reported that 31 Abrams tanks will arrive in Germany soon, with training expected to last for 10 weeks. The tanks could reach Ukraine by fall, the reports said.

Subscribe to @SputnikInt

2024 US presidential election: Who has tossed hat into ring?

Larry Elder and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. have announced their candidacy for the 2024 US presidential election, joining an already crowded field that includes former President Donald Trump. Elder cited moral, religious, and patriotic duty as his reasons for running.

Incumbent President Joe Biden has not yet announced his candidacy.

Here is a look at who has already entered the race, and who is still sitting on the fence.

Ukraine's accession to NATO discussed, quick decision not expected

Earlier in the day, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg stated all NATO members have agreed that Ukraine will become a NATO member.

"[Ukraine's] accession is discussed by NATO partners, but this decision is not on the agenda," German government spokeswoman Christiane Hoffmann said during a press briefing when asked to comment on Stoltenberg's statement.

Hoffmann referred to German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius' recent statement that Ukraine's accession to NATO would not be discussed during the Ukraine Defense Contact Group meeting. According to Pistorius, the relevant decision should be made after the end of the Ukrainian conflict and at the proper time, and not out of solidarity.

Subscribe to @SputnikInt

US Homeland security dept establishes AI task force

"I am directing the creation of our Department’s first Artificial Intelligence Task Force that will drive specific applications of AI to advance our critical homeland security missions," Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said at the Council of Foreign Relations.

The task force will enhance the integrity of US supply chains and trade, he added.

"We will seek to deploy AI to more ably screen cargo, identify the importation of goods produced with forced labor, and manage risks," the secretary said.

The task force will also support the DHS mission of preventing the flow of fentanyl into the United States.

"We will explore using this technology to better detect fentanyl shipments, identify and interdict the flow of precursor chemicals around the world, and target for disruption key nodes in the criminal networks," Mayorkas said.

Subscribe to @SputnikInt

American economist: US government holding us hostage

Economist Richard Wolff believes that both Republicans and Democrats serve the interests of corporations and the rich, who control economic policy by lending money to the government and benefiting from the interest.

He argues that corporations and the wealthy have the money that the government needs to borrow because they have not been taxed enough.

The recent proposal by House Speaker Kevin McCarthy to increase the debt ceiling by $1.5 trillion has sparked a debate, with many Republicans traditionally opposing raising the limit on the national debt. However, Wolff argues that this opposition is insincere, since both parties are beholden to corporations who benefit from additional loans.

The US Treasury has warned that the country could default on its debt after the summer, triggering an economic crisis.

Subscribe to @SputnikInt

Russian export support centers helped 765 SMEs ink over $200 Mln in contracts in Q1

Russian entrepreneurs who sell goods in retail using overseas stocks will now have the opportunity to apply for zero-rated VAT, according to a law adopted by the State Duma. Previously, only exporters who sent goods to overseas customers with the Russian Post could apply for zero-rated VAT.

The new law will come into effect on January 1, 2025, and will allow entrepreneurs who sell goods on international marketplaces to benefit from export incentives.

To apply for zero-rated VAT, entrepreneurs must provide the tax authorities with an electronic register containing all the necessary data for tax control, including a bill of entry, an invoice document, shipping address, and a stock lease agreement.

Subscribe to @SputnikInt

🌎 The use of misinformation, propaganda, and fake news as a tool of informational warfare is not a new phenomenon and can be traced back in 1898.

The first fake news war began 125 years ago when the USS Maine sank, and the US blamed the explosion on a Spanish mine, despite it being a lie.

Subscribe to @SputnikInt

NATO promises to provide Ukraine with membership in the alliance in order to motivate it to fulfill the alliance's tasks, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on Friday.

Earlier in the day, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said that all allies have agreed that Ukraine should become a member of the alliance.

"NATO sets itself the goal of 'defeating' Russia in Ukraine, and in order to motivate Kiev, it promises that after the end of the conflict, the country can be accepted into the alliance. Such statements are short-sighted and simply dangerous. This may lead to the final collapse of the European security system," Zakharova said in a statement.

Subscribe to @SputnikInt