The Pentagon has awarded an 18-year-long contract worth $12 billion to the UK-based defense company BAE Systems. The agreement sees BAE "supporting and augmenting" Washington's Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) weapon systems, as well as providing "professional services" related to their operations. It expires in December 2040.

The US Department of Defense did not elaborate further on the nature of the BAE Systems' work on the ICBMs, which can deliver nuclear warheads. However, the Pentagon noted that most of the results would be carried out at the US Air Force Nuclear Weapon Center in Hill Air Force Base, Utah.

This is one of the biggest contracts allocated by the Pentagon this year amid a slashed defense budget. At the same time, the Biden administration called for increasing investments in the Ground-Based Strategic Deterrent, namely ICBMs, and the overall nuclear weapons budget contracted by $813 billion for 2023.

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WATCH | A Sputnik correspondent reports from Ecuador's capital Quito, which has been gripped by violent protests.

Since 13 June, Ecuador has been paralyzed by demonstrations against the economic policies of President Guillermo Lasso, with thousands, led primarily by indigenous organization Conaie, marching through the capital and at times clashing with police. Police have launched tear gas and smoke bombs at the protesters.

The protesters’ demands include a cut in fuel prices which have risen sharply in recent months, an end to the privatization of state assets, banning of the expansion of concession areas for mining companies, as well as jobs, food price controls, and more public spending on healthcare and education.

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?? ?? ? Russia's only active female cosmonaut Anna Kikina may be included in a space crew, which will operate aboard a US Crew Dragon spacecraft scheduled to launch on September 1, the Roscosmos state space agency says.

Kikina will fly to the International Space Station this fall if Roscosmos and NASA reach an agreement on so-called cross flights.

After having healthcare workers fired who rejected getting three jabs, the German Minister of Health Propaganda insulted and ridiculed their protests against his totalitarian and biofascist policies:

"Thanks to the hard-working nurses, we saved many lives. But YOU, those protesting against the vaccine, your work was worth NOTHING!"

It leaves me speechless how shameless politicians in Germany are acting 80 years after the fall of the Third Reich again.

NEVER AGAIN!
Dr. Simon

?? @Goddek | Minds | Bastyon | Gettr

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