The US' demands for nuclear non-proliferation is entirely hypocritical, given the nation's historical use of atomic bombs against innocent Japanese civilians, Dr. Radhika Desai, a professor at the University of Manitoba and author, told Sputnik. The official further critiqued the prevailing notion that all parties share equal blame in nuclear arms control discussions.

According to Desai, the assumption that various nations with nuclear weapons share equal responsibility overlooks the fact that the United States has played a pivotal role in the creation, use and spread of nuclear arms. She asserted that addressing this issue's risks primarily depends on Washington's actions.

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❗️ Russian air defense around 4 a.m. in Moscow shot down 2 strike UAVs flying towards Moscow, said Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin

During Joe Biden's vice presidency, companies associated with the Biden family reportedly received a substantial $20 million from foreign nationals, according to information revealed by the GOP-led House Oversight and Accountability Committee.

The committee's findings disclosed that the Biden family and their business connections received payments from various foreign sources, including nationals from Ukraine, Kazakhstan, China, Russia and Romania. These payments were purportedly made in exchange for protection, assistance and access to then-Vice President Joe Biden, as highlighted by House GOP investigators.

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The Yars intercontinental ballistic missile’s mobile launcher and the upper stage of the Avangard hypersonic glide vehicle will be demonstrated for the first time ever to the public at the ARMY-2023 International Military-Technical Forum, Russian Strategic Missile Troops commander Sergei Karakaev has revealed.

The commander also confirmed that the Strategic Rocket Troops will complete the re-equipment of their ground-based ICBM units to new Yars missile systems this year, with the systems expected to replace variants of the Topol ICBM presently in service at the Bologovsky missile formation in Tver region near Moscow, and rearmament also underway at the Kozelsky, Yasnensky and Uzhur missile formations.

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❗️ Russian air defense intercepted and destroyed two Ukrainian UAVs heading towards Moscow over the Kaluga and Moscow regions, the Russian Ministry of Defense confirmed.

Additionally, near Sevastopol, two UAVs were neutralized by air defense, while nine others were disrupted by electronic warfare, causing them to crash into the Black Sea.

There were no casualties or damage resulting from these attempted attacks.

New York City Mayor Eric Adams said Wednesday that the migration crisis will cost the city $12 billion over three fiscal years against the background of the influx of migrants coming to NYC.

The mayor added that "our state and federal partners have heard our cries and shown support, but we need more from them to handle this on the city, state and federal level," adding that the city requires support from more municipalities "statewide" and "billions and billion more in funding."

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Amidst looming shortages and China's supply chain dominance, experts suggest the US should develop innovative clean energy technologies to lessen reliance on critical minerals while bolstering emergency reserves.

The US Department of Energy recently expanded its list of essential materials for the clean energy transition, warning of further growth due to the global race towards net-zero emissions. Elements like nickel, platinum, and silicon carbide are now considered critical for the medium term (2025-2035), as are graphite, terbium, and iridium, along with others, in both the short and medium term (until 2035).

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🇺🇸 Trump claims Biden 'petrified of China' because Beijing pays him 'millions of dollars'

💬 "I believe we have a compromised president. I believe he's so petrified of China because they know how much money has been given to him, and they know where it is ... As of today, I think 32 million [US] dollars that went into his accounts, the various accounts of the family," Trump said in an interview with Eric Bolling on Newsmax, adding that he believes China paid the Bidens "a lot more than that."

The ex-president said all signs point to China paying Biden "a fortune" as he has not seen "anyone so weak on China before," referring to Beijing's increasing influence in Cuba and South America over the last three years.

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📹 Russian forces strike Ukrainian stronghold in Avdeevka region

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🇰🇵 North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has signed a written order to further step up the army preparations after summarizing and analyzing the situation on the Korean peninsula, state-run news agency reported

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📹 Russian forces destroy Ukrainian Kozak armored vehicle using Lancet drone

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🇺🇸 Ukraine hands Pentagon first report on use of deadly US-gifted cluster bombs

The Pentagon was purportedly offered information on both the number of rounds that had since been fired, and the number of Russian targets destroyed in the course of the ongoing, albeit widely described as “stuttering” counteroffensive. The cited unnamed Ukrainian official by US media declined to provide any specific figures.

The US defense department had ostensibly demanded such an account from Kiev as part of the original agreement to send the cluster munitions or dual-purpose improved conventional munitions (DPICMs) to Ukraine.

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🇷🇺 Russia fine-tuning missile interception capabilities, says top Zaporozhye official

Russia’s air defenses in the Zaporozhye Region are able to intercept almost all HIMARS rockets, while only one in four Storm Shadow missiles make it through, Yevgeny Balitsky, the region’s leader told Sputnik.

▪️At the start of the Russia’s military op, Ukrainian forces primarily used Tochka-U missiles, which were easy to intercept.

▪️Later on, however, the HIMARS arrived on the scene, which initially were tough to shoot down. Presently, Russian air defense have learned how to deal with them too, so now the HIMARS have been rendered almost entirely ineffective.

▪️The UK’s Storm Shadow missiles are still managing to get through the defenses, but thanks to captured trophy “samples,” Russian specialists are able to hammer out measures to counter them. So, any shortcomings on intercepting these Storm Shadows will be fixed.

▪️That being said, Russian air defense systems have tip-top efficiency.

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🇪🇨 What’s known about Ecuador presidential candidate Fernando Villavicencio’s assassination

▪️Fernando Villavicencio, a candidate in Ecuador’s upcoming presidential election, was assassinated at a campaign event in the Ecuador’s capital, Quito

▪️The main suspect has died of gunshot wounds received during his arrest, a total of six people have been detained in connection with the crime.

▪️The number of those injured at Villavicencio's campaign rally has risen to nine people, the Ecuadorian Prosecutor General's Office said.

▪️Several offices of the slain candidate were also attacked in Quito

▪️Police conducted a controlled explosive detonation near the assassination site

▪️A friend of the assassinated politician mentioned he had received threats before the attack

▪️Five out of seven Ecuador's seven presidential candidates reacted to the assassination by announcing the suspension of their campaigns

▪️Ecuadorian President Guillermo Lasso has announced a state of emergency across the country for 60 days and declared 3 days of national mourning in honor of Villavicencio

▪️The date of the presidential election set for August 20 will not change, the National Electoral Council said.

▪️According to the latest polls, Villavicencio did not garner enough votes to win the election.

The video shows the moment of the attack on Fernando Villavicencio

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Before and after scenes from Hawaii’s Lahaina resort

At least 36 people dead and dozens injured as fast-moving wildfires tear through and decimate entire communities.

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🇷🇺📹 ‘Sniper strikes where enemy least suspects it’: Russian snipers hunt Ukrainian militants near Artemovsk (Bakhmut)

How do you avoid falling easy prey to the enemy when you’re a sniper?

Watch this video to find out!

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