TYB
These 2 galaxies are falling into the Virgo Cluster at a staggering rate of 547 miles per second
September 25, 2025
A vast river of neutral hydrogen bridges two galaxies that are beginning to enter the monstrous Virgo Cluster, and this structure is helping astronomers better understand our Milky Way's relationship with the nearby Magellanic Clouds.
The two galaxies, named NGC 4532 and DDO 137, are in fact falling into the Virgo Cluster at 547 miles (880 kilometers) per second, and in doing so are plowing through a vast cloud of gas that surrounds the cluster.
For the galaxies, this is like wading through hot treacle that scours their leading edges, heating and tearing out hydrogen gas that then forms a 1.6-million-light-year-long tail.
This tail was previously identified by the Arecibo radio telescope in Puerto Rico.
Now, astronomers targeting the two galaxies with the Australian Square Kilometre Array Pathfinder (ASKAP) radio telescope have discovered a colossal bridge of gas crossing the 185,000 light-years between the two galaxies, as well as additional spurs and clouds of hydrogen around the pair and connecting to the huge tail.
According to astronomer Lister Staveley-Smith, who led the research from the University of Western Australia node of the International Centre for Radio Astronomy Research, the vast structures are the consequence of two phenomena.
"Our modeling showed that the tidal forces acting between these galaxies, alongside their proximity to the massive Virgo Cluster of galaxies, played a crucial role in the gas dynamics we observed," said Staveley-Smith in a statement.
The 1.6-million-light-year-long tail is the product of ram-pressure stripping as the pair of galaxies, which are 53 million light-years away from Earth, are drawn towards the Virgo Cluster.
"As the galaxies rotated around each other and moved toward the hot gas cloud surrounding the Virgo Cluster, which was 200 times hotter than the sun's surface, they experienced what is known as ram pressure, which stripped and heated the gas from the galaxies," said Staveley-Smith.
For the pair of galaxies, the hot gas cloud of ionized gas, filled with free electrons and which stretches for millions of light years around the cluster is like tumbling into a vat of treacle that then begins to scour the gas on the leading edge of the infalling galaxies, ablating it.
"The density of electrons and the speed at which galaxies are falling into the hot gas cloud are enough to explain why so much gas has been pulled away from the galaxies and into the bridge and surrounding areas," said Staveley-Smith.
The bridge between the two galaxies has a different origin. Here, gravitational tides between the galaxies pull gas out of each other, forming the bridge and associated spurs.
We see a very similar phenomenon much closer to home, in the form of the Magellanic Stream of neutral hydrogen gas that stretches between the Large and Small Magellanic Clouds and onto the Milky Way.
These two dwarf galaxies orbit the Milky Way at distances of 163,000 and 200,000 light-years, respectively, moving through our galaxy's outer halo of hot gas not too dissimilar, but on a much smaller scale, from the Virgo Cluster's halo of hot gas.
Stars are seen to be forming within the Magellanic Stream, and similar bridges and tidal tails are known to be hot-spots of star formation elsewhere in the universe.
"Understanding these gas bridges and their dynamics provides critical insights into how galaxies evolve over time, how galactic gas is redistributed and the varying conditions under which galaxies may or may not form stars," said Staveley-Smith.
"This contributes to our broader understanding of the most massive structures in the universe and their life cycles, which helps us grasp more about their vast complexities and history of star formation."
The observations of NGC 4532 and DDO 137 were made as part of a pilot study for a new survey, the Widefield ASKAP L-Band Legacy All-sky Survey (WALLABY), which aims to study neutral hydrogen in galaxies all across the sky to better understand how the cosmic forces of gravity and pressure shape that gas, and what role it plays in star formation.
https://www.space.com/astronomy/galaxies/these-2-galaxies-are-falling-into-the-virgo-cluster-at-a-staggering-rate-of-547-miles-per-second
https://academic.oup.com/mnras/article/543/1/526/8258914
https://avi-loeb.medium.com/news-on-3i-atlas-lack-of-non-gravitational-acceleration-implies-an-anomalously-massive-object-7ad320e69cef
https://lweb.cfa.harvard.edu/~loeb/CLV.pdf
News on 3I/ATLAS: Lack of Non-Gravitational Acceleration Implies an Anomalously Massive Object
September 24, 2025
In a new paper (accessible here) that I co-authored with Richard Cloete and Peter Veres, we used data on the motion of 3I/ATLAS — as compiled by the Minor Planet Center between May 15 and September 23, 2025, to set an upper limit on the deviation of 3I/ATLAS from a trajectory sculpted by gravity alone.
The upper limit on residuals is 0.028 arcseconds over a period of several months, implying that the non-gravitational acceleration of 3I/ATLAS was smaller than 15 meters per day squared.
The total mass loss rate and outflow speed from its surface were inferred from the Webb Space Telescope data on August 6, 2025 (accessible here).
Given that the rocket effect is not noticeable, the mass of 3I/ATLAS must be bigger than 33 billion tons. Consequently, the diameter of its solid-density nucleus must be larger than 5 kilometers.
This suggests that 3I/ATLAS is more massive than the other two interstellar objects, 1I/`Oumuamua and 2I/Borisov by 3–5 orders of magnitude, constituting a major anomaly.
Given the limited reservoir of heavy elements, we should have discovered on the order of a hundred thousand interstellar objects on the 0.1-kilometer scale of 1I/`Oumuamua before finding 3I/ATLAS, yet we only detected two interstellar objects previously.
Our analysis compared the evolution in the observed sky positions of 3I/ATLAS (Right Ascension [RA] and Declination [Dec]) to the trajectory expected from gravity alone. The optical astrometric data span 4,022 individual measurements from 227 observatories worldwide.
The comparison to the expected sky positions provided a net upper limit of 0.028 arcseconds on sky position shifts during the 4.5 months between May 15 and September 23, 2025.
A systematic trend is unlikely to be affected by a shift in the centroid of light owing to the development of a bright spot away from the nucleus of 3I/ATLAS.
The highest-resolution image of 3I/ATLAS, taken by the Hubble Space Telescope on July 21, 2025 (accessible here), showed an optically-thin anti-tail in the direction of the Sun which persisted during July and most of August (and analyzed here).
On August 27, 2025, imaging by the Gemini South telescope revealed the growth of a faint tail from 3I/ATLAS away from the Sun (as reported here). Throughout the entire period, the brightest point remained centered on the nucleus.
Over a short time interval, T, a non-gravitational acceleration, A, results in a positional shift that grows as 0.5AT².
Given that the distance of 3I/ATLAS from Earth in mid-August was 2.6 times the Earth-Sun separation (as discussed by the SPHEREx team here), our upper limit on the sky position shift translates to an upper limit on the non-gravitational acceleration, A<15 meters per day squared.
Momentum conservation implies that 3I/ATLAS must be massive in order not to be pushed back by the flow of material from its warmed Sun-facing side.
I assumed a high collimation of the evaporated materials because the glow of scattered light in the Hubble Space Telescope image was twice longer towards the Sun than it is wide, at a viewing angle of 10 degrees.
Since [1/sin(10 degrees)]=5.8, the elongation in the plume ahead of 3I/ATLAS must have been 10 times longer than it is wide. This jet-like structure suggests a high collimation.
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The product of the mass loss rate and the outflow speed divided by the upper limit on the non-gravitational acceleration, sets a lower limit on the object’s mass.
The Webb telescope data taken on August 6, 2025 (accessible here) implies a total mass loss rate of 150 kilograms per second and an outflow speed of 440 meters per second.
Given these values, our upper limit on the non-gravitational acceleration yields a minimum mass of 33 billion tons for 3I/ATLAS. At solid density, this implies a minimum diameter of 5 kilometers for the nucleus of 3I/ATLAS.
This minimum diameter is close to the upper bound of the range of 0.44 to 5.6 kilometers inferred from the Hubble telescope data (as reported here).
It is an order of magnitude larger than the inferred diameter of the interstellar comet 2I/Borisov (as discussed here).
A large nucleus mass for 3I/ATLAS exacerbates the tension between the interstellar mass reservoir of rocky material ejected from exoplanetary systems and the implied detection rate of interstellar objects of its size, as I derived in a paper published shortly after the discovery of 3I/ATLAS (accessible here).
The passage of 3I/ATLAS near Mars on October 3, 2025 will allow the HiRISE camera onboard the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter to achieve a pixel resolution of 30 kilometers. The amount of sunlight reflected from the brightest pixel in the HiRISE image will constrain further the nucleus surface area for an assumed albedo value.
Additional constraints can be obtained on March 16, 2026, when 3I/ATLAS will pass in proximity to the Juno spacecraft near Jupiter (as proposed in the paper I published with Adam Hibberd and Adam Crowl here and endorsed in a letter by Rep. Anna Paulina Luna here).
The mass of 3I/ATLAS scales with its diameter cubed. If the nucleus diameter of 3I/ATLAS will be found to be larger than 5 kilometers in the HiRISE image, then an origin associated with the interstellar mass reservoir of rocky material will be untenable.
An alternative technological origin could explain the rare alignment of the trajectory of 3I/ATLAS with the ecliptic plane (having a random chance of 1 in 500, as discussed here), and the detection of nickel without iron — as found in industrially-manufactured alloys (as reported by the VLT team here).
Given this tight upper limit on non-gravitational acceleration, a future detection of a major maneuver of 3I/ATLAS would suggest propulsion by a technologically manufactured engine.
Is 3I/ATLAS an unusually massive comet with an unusual chemical composition on an unusually rare trajectory or alien technology?
In both cases, the object could shed CO2 and H2O ices from material that collected on its frozen surface as it plowed through interplanetary and interstellar space.
We should not decide about the nature of 3I/ATLAS based on the chemical composition of its skin, for the same reason that we should not judge a book by its cover.
Hopefully, we will know more in the coming weeks. Stay curious. As Galileo Galilei instructed us, scientific truth is revealed by data, not by authority.
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White to move and mate in two #722 - A Quartet of Comets
Tuesday, September 23, 2025 at 3:00 PDT
There are 4 comets currently gracing the night sky, three visible in the evening sky, one in the morning.
Interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS, which we have written about before, is too faint and will remain so, since during perihelion, it will be close to the orbit of Mars.
C/2025 R1 (SWAN) is putting on a show at this time.
C/2025 A6 (Lemmon) should get much brighter after Perihelion.
See table below for some key parameters —
Objects at Mag 6.5 and below can be seen with the naked eye, 9.5 and below using binoculars, under dark and clear skies.
Comet C/2025 R2 (SWAN) with its characteristic blue/green glow imaged by Team Ciel Austral on Sept 17 and featured on NASA APOD.
Here is a pic of Comet C/2025 R2 (SWAN) imaged on Sept 13 at sunset just above the western horizon in Zacatecas, Mexico. It was featured on NASA APOD.
Also, watch for meteor showers around October 5 when Earth will pass through the plane of the comet's orbit.
Now, let’s have some fun with today’s puzzle composed in 1906 by noted American chess composer and conservationist Alain Campbell White (1880 - 1951).
He played a pivotal role in Connecticut land preservation, and founded the journal The Good Companion Chess Problem Club.
https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2025/9/23/2344919/-White-to-move-and-mate-in-two-722-A-Quartet-of-Comets
Scientists think we may have received a signal from a parallel universe via a WORMHOLE
Updated: 18:00 EDT, 23 September 2025
In 2019, gravitational wave detectors on Earth picked up a signal that left scientists baffled.
Gravitational waves are ripples in the fabric of space and time, usually created when massive, dense objects like black holes collide.
But at less than a tenth of a second long, this sudden burst was far shorter than the drawn-out chirps normally produced by merging black holes.
Now, researchers think this strange signal, dubbed GW190521, could have arrived from a parallel universe.
In a pre-print paper, a team led by Dr Qi Lai of the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences argues that GW190521 could be an 'echo' of a wormhole collapsing.
If a collision of two black holes was powerful enough to create a tunnel between universes, the gravitational signal could pass down the wormhole's throat into our cosmos.
Since the wormhole would only be open for a very short time, this would explain why GW190521 seems to cut off abruptly.
Although their modelling suggests this scenario isn't very likely, Dr Lai says evidence cannot rule out that the signal travelled to Earth from another universe.
According to Einstein's theory of relativity, objects with mass stretch and pull the fabric of spacetime, like weights placed on the surface of a trampoline.
One important consequence of this is that collisions between very massive objects create ripples which spread throughout the fabric of reality over enormous distances.
When pairs of black holes, known as binary black holes, spiral in towards each other, their gravitational fields interact and generate ripples of their own that get stronger as the voids grow closer.
That gives the signal produced by merging binary black holes a rising chirp-like pattern, which is a telltale sign of a black hole collision.
So far, scientists have used gravitational waves to detect about 300 collisions between binary black holes, each producing the same drawn-out chirp.
What makes GW190521 so unusual is that it is missing the rising part of the signal produced when the black holes spiral inwards.
Given that the resulting object was roughly 141 times the mass of the sun, scientists should have been able to detect this part of the signal if it occurred.
Currently, the best explanation for this unusual signal is a chance encounter between two black holes that smashed directly into one another without spiralling.
However, Dr Lai says that a wormhole in another universe is also a plausible explanation. In their paper, Dr Lai and his co-authors write: 'The wormhole represents such an object connecting either two separate universes or two distant regions in a single universe through a throat.'
If the merger of two black holes produced a short-lived wormhole like this, we might be able to hear a brief snippet of the chirp echoing into our own universe.
When the wormhole snaps shut, the signal would be cut off to leave a very brief burst of gravitational waves.
Dr Lai adds: 'The ringdown signal after BBHs (binary black holes) merged in another universe can pass through the throat of a wormhole and be detected in our universe as a short-duration echo pulse.'
Dr Lai and his colleagues created a mathematical model of what this wormhole signal would look like and compared it to the data from the real GW190521 signal captured by the LIGO and Virgo gravitational wave detectors.
The researchers also created a model for a sudden collision in our own universe and compared the results.
They found that the standard collision model did fit the data better, but only just. That means the wormhole model is still a viable explanation for the GW190521 collision.
In their paper, the researchers write that the preference for the standard collision was 'not significant enough to rule out the possibility that the echo-for-wormhole model is a viable hypothesis for the GW190521 event.'
If true, this would not only prove that wormholes exist but also give scientists a powerful new tool to study them. That would allow scientists their first-ever glimpse into a universe beyond our own.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-15125717/signal-parallel-universe-detected-wormhole.html
https://arxiv.org/abs/2509.07831
https://www.ssc.spaceforce.mil/Newsroom/Article-Display/Article/4314353/cordell-delapena-jr-retires-from-space-systems-command-leaves-legacy-of-innovat
Cordell DeLaPena Jr. retires from Space Systems Command, leaves legacy of innovation and resilience
Sept. 24, 2025
After a distinguished career spanning decades of dedicated service to the nation, Mr. Cordell A. DeLaPena Jr., program executive officer (PEO) for Military Communications and Positioning, Navigation, and Timing (MILCOMM & PNT) at Space Systems Command (SSC), has retired from federal service.
DeLaPena was the longest serving PEO in the U.S. Space Force (USSF). His legacy includes strengthening secure communication and precise positioning capabilities for the USSF and joint force warfighters.
DeLaPena's 40-year career in acquisitions—28 years on active duty, 12 years in civil service—is defined by his unwavering commitment to innovation, resilience, and the relentless pursuit of excellence. His leadership shaped the future of space-based capabilities.
During his tenure as the PEO, DeLaPena spearheaded a team of over 1,800 active-duty service members, federal civilians, and contractors and oversaw systems worth more than $22 billion, which included sustainment of 69 GPS and SATCOM satellites, 28 payloads in production or development, and more than 30 ground stations or ground systems.
DeLaPena’s portfolio provides warfighters and allies with close to 2.5 million GPS devices and terminals, globally.
“In and out of uniform, Del put the American people and our warfighters first,” said SSC Commander, USSF Lt. Gen. Philip A. Garrant.
“He understood the criticality of a secure line of communication: an additional second of accuracy means saving our nation hundreds of millions of dollars, and for our warfighters, that means saving countless lives.”
"Del’s dedication to the mission, his technical acumen, and his commitment to the Guardians, Airmen, and civilians under his charge have been truly exceptional," Garrant said.
"His contributions to our nation's space superiority are immeasurable, and his leadership will have a lasting impact on space acquisitions."
Under DeLaPena's guidance, the MILSATCOM mission saw significant advancements in providing secure and reliable communications for the joint force.
He spearheaded the modernization efforts of the Advanced Extremely High Frequency (AEHF) system, enhancing its anti-jam capabilities and ensuring secure communication in contested environments.
He also championed the development of next-generation protected communication systems, focusing on resilient architectures and advanced waveforms to maintain connectivity in the face of evolving threats.
His leadership helped advance the next generation of Protected Tactical SATCOM (PTS), a critical part of providing more secure and jam-resistant communications to the warfighter.
DeLaPena was a staunch advocate for innovation, pushing the boundaries of space technology.
Recognizing the increasing demand for bandwidth and resilience, he championed the exploration of Proliferated Low Earth Orbit (PLEO) constellations and laser communication technologies, aiming to develop and deploy cutting-edge capabilities that redefined future space-based communication and PNT efforts.
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His focus on the GPS modernization program ensured continuous improvements to accuracy, security, and resilience.
DeLaPena was instrumental in advocating for advanced anti-jamming techniques, enhanced signals, and bolstering GPS’ ability to operate in contested environments and support a wide range of military and civilian applications.
These efforts underscore his commitment to delivering innovative solutions that empower warfighters by delivering next-generation space capabilities that are resilient, sustainable, and adaptable to meet the evolving needs of the joint force.
During his tenure as an SSC PEO, he fostered strong partnerships with industry, academia, and international allies, leveraging their expertise to accelerate innovation and deliver superior capabilities.
He actively engaged in international forums, promoting interoperability and fostering collaboration on space-based communications and PNT solutions.
“Mr. DeLaPena left an indelible mark for assured access to asymmetric MILCOMM and PNT superiority through benign, contested, and nuclear environments” said Strategic SATCOM Director, USSF Col. A.J. Ashby.
“His visionary leadership and warfighter focus advanced the art of the possible for faster threat-relevant acquisition increasing resiliency, speed, range, precision, lethality, and decision making for all-domain power projection.
Whether supporting special operators under triple canopy, carrier strike groups transiting high-threat choke points, or command and control of nuclear forces, we are forever grateful for his decades of faithful service.”
DeLaPena's vision extended beyond immediate requirements, focusing on charting the future of space-based capabilities.
He championed research and development efforts in areas such as space-based PNT augmentation and resilient space architectures, ensuring that the USSF remains at the forefront of space technology.
“Mr. DeLaPena has always championed small business innovation in MILCOMM & PNT.
Because of his support, we have 28 contracts pushing the technological boundaries for the next generation of PNT and MILCOMM programs” said Ms. Kate Coens, MILCOMM &PNT Futures Chief.
Beyond technological advancements, DeLaPena was deeply invested in the development of his team.
He created a culture of continuous learning and mentorship, empowering his personnel to excel and innovate as a high-performing workforce capable of tackling the complex challenges of modern space acquisition.
“Mr. DeLaPena has a lot of experience developing and leading successful teams and it has been an honor to observe and support him in MCPNT,” said Ms. Charlotte Gerhart, Deputy PEO for MILCOMM & PNT.
“The partnerships he built with stakeholders across the DoD, civil, and international communities have led to advanced GPS and MILSATCOM capabilities.
On behalf of the Guardians, Airmen, and civilians of SSC, I express my deepest gratitude for his exceptional service and wish Mr. DeLaPena the best in his future endeavors.”
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SpaceX Starlink Mission Launches
September 25, 2025
On Thursday, September 25 at 4:39 a.m. ET, Falcon 9 launched 28 Starlink satellites to low-Earth orbit from Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40) at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida.
This was the 22nd flight for the first stage booster supporting this mission, which previously launched Ax-2, Euclid, Ax-3, CRS-30, SES ASTRA 1P, NG-21, and now 16 Starlink missions.
Following stage separation, the first stage landed on the A Shortfall of Gravitas droneship, which was stationed in the Atlantic Ocean.
https://www.spacex.com/launches/sl-10-15
SpaceX’s Falcon 9 is targeting the launch of 24 Starlink satellites to low-Earth orbit from Space Launch Complex 4 East (SLC-4E) from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California.
A live webcast of this mission will begin about five minutes prior to liftoff, which you can watch here and on X @SpaceX. You can also watch the webcast on the new X TV app.
This is the 16th flight for the first stage booster supporting this mission, which previously launched USSF-62, OneWeb Launch 20, NROL-145, and 12 Starlink missions.
Following stage separation, the first stage will land on the Of Course I Still Love You droneship, which will be stationed in the Pacific Ocean.
There is the possibility that residents of Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, and Ventura counties may hear one or more sonic booms during the launch, but what residents experience will depend on weather and other conditions.
https://www.spacex.com/launches/sl-17-11
LebAnon
NATO warplane struck Polish home during ‘Russian’ drones incident – media
25 Sep, 2025 10:00
A three-meter-long air-to-air missile that hit a rural home in Poland while NATO jets were responding to an alleged drone incursion, was fired by a Dutch – and not Polish – fighter jet, the Onet news outlet reported Wednesday, citing insider sources.
Warsaw responded to a series of airspace violations by unarmed UAVs on the 9 September by scrambling NATO jets and accusing Russia of being behind the incident – an allegation Moscow has strenuously denied.
One of the Dutch F-35 warplanes taking part in the overnight response launched the AIM-120 AMRAAM missile which failed to properly fire and landed on a modest country home near Poland’s Lublin Voivodeship, according to Onet.
The report contradicts the Polish newspaper Rzeczpospolita, which attributed the debacle to one of Warsaw’s F-16s. Earlier accounts claimed that a “Russian drone” had caused the damage to the house.
Russian Deputy UN Ambassador Dmitry Polyansky noted this week that the only damage from the incident came from the unexploded air-to-air missile, which he described as “Polish”.
Last week, Estonia accused Russia of sending MiG-31 fighter jets into its airspace, a claim Moscow says is not supported by evidence.
Moscow has accused Poland and Estonia of using disinformation to portray Russia as a threat to the European Union and to pressure the United States to continue supporting Kiev in its conflict with Moscow.
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte has praised the bloc’s handling of the incidents but declined to promise that Russian aircraft would be shot down in future cases, saying such decisions “are taken in real time and are always based on available intelligence regarding the threat posed by the aircraft.”
US President Donald Trump has said NATO nations should be ready to shoot down Russian jets, calling Russia a “paper tiger” and asserting that a truly strong power would have overwhelmed Ukraine quickly.
He added that Ukraine, equipped with European-funded American weapons, could still achieve all its territorial objectives.
According to The New York Post, the remarks were based on “new US intelligence” suggesting Russian economic weakness and were intended as a “strategic move” to extract concessions from Moscow, rather than as a literal assessment of Ukraine’s military strength.
https://www.rt.com/news/625240-dutch-jet-missile-poland/
https://twitter.com/PopularFront_/status/1965732072787763246
Kremlin backs Trump’s ‘brilliant’ idea
25 Sep, 2025 12:06
Russia would gladly endorse US President Donald Trump’s idea to ban the development of biological weapons worldwide, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has said, calling it a “brilliant initiative.”
Trump told the United Nations this week he was seeking to reduce the threat from weapons of mass destruction, adding that he was “calling on every nation to join us in ending the development of biological weapons once and for all.”
The US president also linked what he called “reckless experiments overseas” to the Covid-19 pandemic, echoing his earlier claims that the coronavirus originated in a Chinese lab – an accusation Beijing has vehemently denied.
Speaking to reporters on Thursday, Peskov welcomed the remarks as a “very important appeal” and a “brilliant initiative.” “Of course, Russia is ready to participate in such a process of renunciation from bioweapons, and it would be good to formalize it at the international level.”
The overwhelming majority of the global community, including Russia, the US, and China, are members of the Biological Weapons Convention (BWC), which prohibits the development, production, and stockpiling of biological and toxin weapons.
Moscow has for years accused Ukraine – which is also party to the BWC – of hosting Western-supported biological laboratories as well as using chemical weapons on the battlefield.
In late 2024, Russian officials stated that the US continues to operate 30 biolabs on the territory of Ukraine as part of an illegal military-biological program, adding that it sought to expand the framework to Africa.
In 2022, then-US Undersecretary of State Victoria Nuland, a prominent Russia hawk in the administration of Joe Biden, admitted that Ukraine has “biological research facilities” but dismissed allegations that they could be used for biological warfare.
Last month, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said American experts had finally started to take notice of Moscow’s concerns about biological facilities in Ukraine.
https://www.rt.com/russia/625248-kremlin-backs-trumps-brilliant-idea/
Zelensky says he’s ready to quit after conflict ends
25 Sep, 2025 13:32
Ukraine’s Vladimir Zelensky has said he is ready to step down once the hostilities with Russia end.
The statement, made in an interview with Axios on Thursday, comes as questions mount over his legitimacy and accusations that Ukraine’s leadership is becoming increasingly authoritarian.
Zelensky’s presidential term officially expired in May 2024, but he has refused to resign or call a new election under martial law. Russia insists that this means the Ukrainian leader no longer has a mandate to govern.
Asked by Axios if he would call an election in the event of a temporary truce, Zelensky said yes.
He also suggested that he would not run again in the event of the truce. ”It’s not my goal – elections. My goal is to finish the war,” he said.
Critics at home have accused Zelensky of consolidating power, weakening parliamentary oversight, and sidelining independent voices, including former top military commander Valery Zaluzhny.
Now serving as Ukraine’s ambassador to the UK, Zaluzhny has been named as a potential rival, with The Guardian reporting in August that he is preparing to challenge Zelensky in a future presidential race.
International media has echoed these concerns. In July, the Financial Times wrote that Zelensky and his aides were using extraordinary powers under martial law to “sideline critics, muzzle civil society leaders and consolidate control.”
Moscow has also warned that Kiev is displaying increasing authoritarian tendencies. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov recently argued that Kiev’s leadership is clinging to power by prolonging martial law and preventing elections.
Russian officials contend that any peace agreement signed under Zelensky could later be invalidated, citing the expiration of his term and the suspension of democratic processes.
https://www.rt.com/news/625251-zelensky-ready-quit-elections/
NATO and EU waging war on Russia – Lavrov
25 Sep, 2025 16:01
The Ukrainian crisis was orchestrated by the West as a war on Russia, waged by Kiev, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has said.
The top diplomat made the remarks on Thursday during a G20 ministerial meeting held on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York.
The refusal to follow the UN Charter, which is a manifestation of “neo-colonial ambitions,” prompts regional wars and raises global tension, Lavrov stated, invoking decades-long unresolved conflicts in Africa and elsewhere.
“Another clear example is the Western-provoked crisis in Ukraine, through which NATO and the European Union want to declare – have already declared – an actual war on my country and are directly participating in it,” the top diplomat added.
Moscow has consistently characterized the Ukraine conflict as a Western proxy war against Russia, in which Kiev’s forces are being used as “cannon fodder.”
Russia has repeatedly condemned military aid to Kiev, accusing the West and the EU in particular of militarization and belligerent rhetoric.
Russian officials have also argued that the West has been escalating tensions in the region for many years, disregarding Moscow’s longstanding concerns over NATO’s eastward expansion.
They point to the military bloc’s growing cooperation with Ukraine, which accelerated after the 2014 Maidan coup in Kiev and the ensuing conflict in the then-Ukrainian Donbass.
https://www.rt.com/russia/625268-lavrov-nato-war-russia-ukraine/
Curfew imposed in India’s border region after violent clashes injure dozens
25 Sep, 2025 12:01
India has imposed a curfew in Leh, the capital of its union territory of Ladakh, which borders China, after violent demonstrations resulted in several injuries and damage to property.
The union territory was formed from the former state of Jammu and Kashmir in 2019 by New Delhi in response to growing demands for autonomy by the locals, who mostly profess Buddhism.
The demonstrators, believed to be linked to well-known environmentalist and activist Sonam Wangchuk, are demanding that the union territory become a full state of India along the lines of the nation’s 28 states.
Wangchuk had been on a hunger strike since September 10 demanding that the Indian federal government meet the demand for Ladakh’s statehood among others.
“On 24th September, at around 11.30 am, a mob instigated by his [Wangchuk’s] provocative speeches left the venue of the hunger strike and attacked a political party office as well as Government office of the CEC [Chief Election Commissioner] Leh,” the Indian Home Ministry said in a statement on Wednesday.
“They also put these offices on fire, attacked the security personnel, and torched police vehicles,” the ministry added. “The unruly mob attacked the police personnel in which more than 30 police/CRPF personnel were injured.
The mob continued to destroy the public property and attack the police personnel. In self-defense, police had to resort to firing in which unfortunately some casualties are reported.”
The Indian Home Ministry said that it is “clear that the mob was incited” Wangchuk “through his provocative statements.”
It added: “Incidentally, amidst these violent developments, he broke his fast and left for his village in an ambulance without making serious efforts to control the situation.”
Wangchuk said the demonstrations were an “organic outburst” of people’s frustrations and added that the violence made it one of the “saddest days” of his life.
“For the last five years, we have maintained utmost peace and always peaceful approaches following Mahatma Gandhi's path,” Wangchuk said, according to India Today.
“But today was something totally unexpected, out of the blue, very organic, when youth came out and went on a rampage.”
https://www.rt.com/india/625241-curfew-ladakh-violent-clashes/
Powerful explosion rocks British city where drone factory was to be opened
25 September 2025, Thursday, 20:15
A powerful explosion followed by a detonation was heard in the city of Swindon in the United Kingdom, where the Ministry of Defense announced the construction of a huge drone factory on September 16.
It was reported by Sky News and The News on Thursday, September 25.
The explosion occurred on the evening of September 24 at a warehouse in the Groundwell industrial complex in Swindon, a town in southwest England, at around 8:00 p.m.
The explosion was so powerful that it shook houses not only nearby, and caused a large-scale fire. The population was evacuated from the territory of the industrial area adjacent to the industrial area.
The causes of the incident are being investigated, but police are ruling out the possibility of a terrorist attack.
Recall that it was in the city of Swindon that Defense Secretary John Healey announced the construction of the largest drone manufacturing plant in the UK, which was supposed to provide 1,000 jobs.
"Defence Secretary John Healey described the move as "a clear demonstration that this government is making defence an engine for growth across the UK.
Tekever's expansion will bring high-skilled jobs and world-leading drone manufacturing to Swindon, while strengthening defence supply chains," the material says.
As the Ukrainian News agency earlier reported, on September 18, London police announced the detention of two men and one woman on suspicion of assisting russian intelligence.
https://ukranews.com/en/news/1107572-powerful-explosion-rocks-british-city-where-drone-factory-was-to-be-opened
https://twitter.com/nexta_tv/status/1971112727130112400
Russia strikes Sumy with drones, causing four explosions: Military Administration reveals aftermath
Thu, September 25, 2025 - 17:40
Today, September 25, Russian troops struck Sumy with drones.
In total, four explosions were reported in the city, according to Sumy Regional Military Administration head Oleh Hryhorov and acting mayor Artem Kobzar.
According to preliminary information, the enemy struck with Italmas drones.
Two of them hit the territory of a private enterprise, one struck a residential area, and another explosion occurred near a communal enterprise of the Sumy City Council.
Preliminary reports indicate that 27 windows were shattered in the residential area. Hryhorov reported that the hits were recorded in the Zarichnyi and Kovpakivskyi districts in the afternoon.
The extent of the damage is currently being assessed, and all necessary services are working at the sites of the explosions.
Preliminarily, there are no reported casualties from the strikes, but an elderly woman sought help due to an acute stress reaction and was assisted on-site.
Local residents were warned that the threat of repeated attacks persists. The Sumy Regional Military Administration urged people to stay in safe locations and not ignore air raid alerts.
What is known about the Italmas
The Italmas (also known as Geran-3, Product 54, or "Lawnmower") is a simplified version of the Shahed-136 kamikaze drone. It is also referred to as a hybrid of the Shahed and Lancet.
It can reach speeds of up to 150 km/h and strike targets at distances of up to 200 kilometers. The drone is equipped with a Chinese gasoline engine and carries 15 to 25 kg of explosives.
The Italmas drone is a typical tool of terror used by Russian forces, as they employ it to attack civilian targets. Due to its small warhead, it is rarely used against military objects, and its low speed makes it ineffective against mobile targets.
Previously, on the night of September 22, a series of explosions occurred in Sumy following an attack by kamikaze drones. Two drones hit industrial facilities, while another struck an educational institution.
https://newsukraine.rbc.ua/news/russia-strikes-sumy-with-drones-causing-four-1758810646.html
https://t.me/kobzarartemsn/5041