Russia FM: new US sanctions sign of ‘Russo-phobic obsession’

By The Associated Press
June 20, 2017 | 4:44 PM

MOSCOW (AP) — Russia’s foreign minister has deplored the new U.S. sanctions against Moscow as groundless.

Sergey Lavrov said the new restrictions “don’t help to improve the climate.” Speaking in Moscow Tuesday following talks with his French counterpart Jean-Yves Le Drian, Lavrov said he could “only voice regret about the Russo-phobic obsession of our American colleagues … that has gone beyond any limits.”

The Trump administration announced Tuesday that it has imposed sanctions on 38 Russian individuals and firms over Russian activities in Ukraine. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said the penalties are designed to “maintain pressure on Russia to work toward a diplomatic solution.”

Russia-U.S. relations have remained tense even as the White House considers scheduling President Donald Trump’s meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin on the sidelines of next month’s G20 meeting.

China abruptly postpones ambitious Chang’e-7 lunar mission launch

By The Associated Press
August 23, 2026 | 1:30 PM

HAIKOU, China (AP) — China said on Sunday it was postponing its planned ambitious Chang’e-7 lunar mission, which was set to carry out explorations including searching for water ice on the moon. The Chang’e-7 spacecraft was originally set to lift off in the coming days from the Wenchang Space Launch Site on China’s southern Hainan island. The mission does not meet the launch conditions, said the China Manned Space Agency in a brief statement, and “cannot take place during the planned window this year.” The decision was made following a “comprehensive assessment,” the agency added, and was based on the principles of “prudence, reliability and absolute mission success.” It did not further elaborate on the reasons behind the decision.

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