🚫On Trump’s CHOPPING BLOCK: White House eyes axing Biden’s $590M Moderna bird flu vax deal

Moderna’s shares sank more than 5% on February 27, closing at $31.09, after Bloomberg reported that Donald Trump’s federal health officials are reassessing the biotech giant’s Biden-era deal.

The contract in question, valued at $590 million, was awarded to the pharmaceutical company by the US Department of Health and Human Services in January to expedite the development of its mRNA-based vaccine in response to escalating bird flu outbreak fears.

“Four years of the Biden administration’s failed oversight have made it necessary to review agreements for vaccine production,” an HHS spokesman was cited as saying.

There have been over 60 confirmed cases of avian flu among humans, most of whom worked closely with infected cattle.

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🇷🇺🤝🇨🇳Negotiations between Russian Security Council Secretary Sergei Shoigu and Chinese President Xi Jinping have begun

It is planned to discuss bilateral security issues, as well as international and regional issues during the talks.

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📹Russian cosmonaut Oleg Artemyev reveals how different cultures coexist peacefully in space in an interview with Head of Sputnik News Olga Lisogor at NXT conclave 2025.

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🪖New US policy gives military more leeway to strike threats

Donald Trump has lifted restrictions on airstrikes and special operations raids, expanding the range of potential targets, according to CBS.

This change gives military commanders more flexibility and autonomy in making targeting decisions, while reversing the centralized control on American special operations that was implemented under former President Joe Biden.

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❗️Russian troops liberated the settlement of Novaya Sorochina in Russia's Kursk region, the Russian Defense Ministry said.

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⚔️China warns of COUNTERMEASURES amid Trump's new 10% tariff onslaught

China's Commerce Ministry slammed the “fentanyl issue” as an excuse used by the Trump administration to impose another 10% tariff on imports from China starting March 4.

Unilateral duties not only violate WTO rules and undermine global trading chains, but would become an additional burden for America’s own companies and consumers, a ministry spokesperson warned, adding:

“We urge the US not to make the same mistake again and again, and instead it should return to the right track of properly resolving the differences through equal dialogue.”

US President Donald Trump has confirmed 25% across-the-board tariffs on Canada and Mexico set for Tuesday, with an additional 10% tariff on Chinese imports in March.

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Elon Musk calls JD Vance 'our future US president'

'Best VP ever and our future President,' he wrote on X

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💬 'Elon is making America stronger' – former House Speaker McCarthy

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🤝Russian Foreign Ministry on meeting in Istanbul: Russia proposed to the US to consider the possibility of restoring direct flights.

Russia and the US agreed on joint steps for unhindered financing of diplomatic missions at the meeting in Istanbul, the Russian MFA said.

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The CIA coined the term ‘conspiracy theorist’ to label anyone who raises uncomfortable questions – Tucker Carlson

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🇷🇺🪖Key statements from the Russian Defense Ministry's weekly briefing on the special military operation's progress:

▪️Russian troops liberated eight settlements in the Donetsk People's Republic, in the Kharkov region and in Russia's Kursk region.

▪️Ukraine lost up to 2340 soldiers and 5 tanks, including 3 Leopard, in the areas of responsibility of Russia's Battlegroup Tsentr.

▪️Ukraine lost up to 1,180 troops and two tanks in the Russian Vostok Battlegroup's combat zone.

▪️Russian aviation shot down a Ukrainian MiG-29 aircraft and 702 drones.

▪️Ukraine lost up to 1,210 militants in the Russian Yug Battlegroup's combat zone.

▪️Ukraine lost up to 1960 soldiers and 11 tanks in the areas of responsibility of Russia's Battlegroup Sever.

▪️Ukraine lost up to 650 troops and 7 warehouses in the Russian Dnepr Battlegroup's combat zone.

▪️Ukraine lost more than 240 militants in the Kursk region over the day.

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💬 IDF claims eliminated Hezbollah member responsible for arms shipments

The Israeli Air Force conducted a strike in Hermel, eliminating Mohammed Mahdi Ali Shaheen, who had been coordinating weapons transactions on the Syria-Lebanon border, according to the statement.

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