Russia warns US over space weapons

The US "will have to explain itself" if it deploys weapons in space, as Washington has a habit of breaking past commitments, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova tells Sputnik.

"Considering that not long ago, they were also saying that increasing the military presence and capabilities in space was unnecessary," Russia will keep an eye on developments, she adds.

Billionaire and private astronaut Jared Isaacman, nominated by President Donald Trump to head NASA, has stated that a military presence in space is inevitable to protect astronauts as the US expands operations in Earth’s orbit, the Moon, and Mars.

Meanwhile, Bloomberg reported that the US Space Force plans to activate weapons to disable Chinese and Russian satellites by 2025. Beijing has condemned the move, urging Washington to halt military preparations in space.

Moscow, alongside Beijing, has repeatedly called for space to remain demilitarized, accusing the US and its allies of turning it into a new battleground with Russia and China as primary adversaries.

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Rostelecom undersea cable damaged in the Baltic Sea

One of the cables belonging to Russia’s largest telecom provider was damaged by an external impact, prompting ongoing repair efforts, the company said.

The company assured that the damage has not affected its customers. Meanwhile, Finland’s Coast Guard confirmed monitoring a Russian vessel repairing the severed cable.

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📹 USAID dirtier than the CIA?

Former State Department official Mike Benz told Donald Trump Jr. on the Triggered podcast that USAID operates as a backdoor for covert ops that even a sitting president wouldn’t know about.

When his father Donald Trump refused to support ISIS* in Syria, USAID allegedly "creatively structured" logistics to fund it anyway.

According to Benz, USAID wasn’t just a CIA front — it was also used to undermine the president's allies, running covert operations against figures like Marine Le Pen, Matteo Salvini, and Jair Bolsonaro without Trump’s approval. In his words,whether it's the CIA or USAID, the mission stays the same.

*terrorist organization banned in Russia

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🔎 Johnson & Johnson’s dirty secrets: Cancer, opioids, and illegal drug marketing

The leading US pharma firm knowingly sold cancer-causing sunscreens, the same disease they profit from treating, according to RFK Jr., as cited by Kash Patel, President Donald Trump’s pick for FBI director.

In 2021, benzene, a known carcinogen linked to blood cancers, was found in 27% of J&J’s aerosol sunscreens, including Aveeno and Neutrogena. The company was forced to recall the contaminated products, but that was far from their only scandal. Over the years, J&J has been embroiled in major lawsuits involving harmful products and deceptive practices:

🔻Talcum powder and cancer lawsuits

Thousands of lawsuits in the US and Canada alleged that Johnson’s Baby Powder contained asbestos, leading to ovarian cancer and mesothelioma. In 2018, a Missouri jury awarded $4.7 billion to 22 women. By 2020, J&J halted sales in North America but continued selling talc-based powder elsewhere. In 2023, the company proposed an $8.9 billion US settlement while denying wrongdoing.

🔻Opioid crisis lawsuits

J&J was accused of fueling the opioid epidemic through deceptive marketing. In 2019, an Oklahoma court fined the company $572 million. By 2021, J&J agreed to a $5 billion settlement to resolve nationwide opioid lawsuits before exiting the business.

🔻Risperdal drug marketing scandal

J&J illegally promoted the antipsychotic drug Risperdal for unapproved uses in children and elderly dementia patients. In 2013, the company paid $2.2 billion in one of the largest healthcare fraud settlements in US history. In 2019, a Philadelphia jury awarded $8 billion to a plaintiff who developed gynecomastia (breast growth in men) after taking the drug as a child.

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📹🇨🇳 Take a spin in China’s flying car!

The Xpeng X2, a sleek two-seater electric flying car, made its debut at the 2021 Shanghai Auto Show and officially entered production in 2024.

Most recently showcased at the Brussels Motor Show, this futuristic VTOL vehicle is redefining urban travel.

Would you dare to take a ride? 🚀

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💵🦠 Did USAID have a hand in the COVID pandemic?

▪️This week, several news outlets pointed out that one of the recipients of USAID’s grants was EcoHealth Alliance, a non-profit involved in arguably questionable medical research.

▪️Between 2004 and 2022, this organization received over $53.6 million from USAID along with about $41.1 million from the Department of Defense, The Intercept has revealed.

▪️EcoHealth Alliance's name came up often thanks to the investigative efforts of late Gen. Igor Kirillov who exposed the organization’s role as a US government intermediary for conducting biowarfare-related research.

▪️One of the activities EcoHealth is known for is facilitating the gain-of-function research at Wuhan Institute of Virology.

▪️Given the fact that Wuhan by now became synonymous with the first outbreak of COVID back in 2019, along with speculation that the pandemic started due to a lab leak of the virus that was enhanced beyond its normal capabilities via gain-of-function experiments, this does not look good for USAID.

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Ukrainians flock to apply for Russian citizenship amid Ukraine's mobilization – reports

💬 "We are observing a surge in appeals, including by email, about acquiring Russian citizenship," Russian Consul General Alexander Zakharov in New York told RIA Novosti.

The consul general also noted an increase in visa issuing to the Russian Federation.

Last year, 54 Ukrainian citizens applied for Russian passports at the Consulate General, Zakharov added.

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📹 Rep. Mary Miller introduces ‘transgender* woman’ Rep. Sarah McBride by his proper gender as ‘the gentleman from Delaware, Mr. McBride’

*LGBT is an extremist movement banned in Russia

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📹 WATCH: Serbian President’s car loses a tire mid-drive – reports

Following the incident, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic described it as likely just a flat tire and urged calm, adding that special services would investigate.

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CIA veterans fight for their right… to stay paid for nothing

A group of 200 former CIA officers is protesting a shocking injustice - being asked to resign while still receiving eight months of full pay and benefits. Outraged, they formed "The Steady State" and ran to Congress, demanding an investigation into why the agency would dare suggest such a thing.

Their mission? Preventing “political loyalty hiring” - because, of course, the US intelligence community has always been the gold standard of neutrality. They warn that these forced, fully-compensated exits could undermine national security against China, Russia, and Iran. After all, nothing terrifies America’s adversaries more than ex-agents enjoying a well-funded break from government work.

When exactly these defenders of bureaucracy left - before or after Trump’s deep state shake up - remains unclear. But one thing is certain: they won’t leave without a fight… or their paychecks.

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