TYB
ISRO marks historic achievement: successfully docks two satellites in space under SpaDeX mission on fourth attempt
January 16, 2025
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has achieved a remarkable milestone by successfully docking two satellites in space as part of the SpaDeX (Space Docking Experiment) mission.
As per India TV, this accomplishment places Bharat among an elite group of nations, including the United States, Russia, and China, that have demonstrated satellite docking capabilities.
The docking, completed on the fourth attempt, marks a significant step in Bharat’s journey towards advanced space exploration and modular space station construction.
The SpaDeX mission, which involved two satellites—SDX01 (the Chaser) and SDX02 (the Target)—successfully executed the docking maneuver after earlier delays.
Initial attempts on January 7 and 9 were postponed due to technical challenges.
However, on January 12, ISRO conducted a trial where the satellites were brought within three meters of each other before being moved apart for further safety analysis.
On Thursday, ISRO scientists carried out the final docking operation, confirming the success of the maneuver.
Launched on December 30 using a PSLV rocket, the SpaDeX mission involved two 220-kg satellites placed 20 kilometers apart in low-Earth orbit.
Over time, the satellites were maneuvered closer for a final docking.
This experiment serves as a technology demonstrator for critical future missions, including:
Chandrayaan-4: A lunar sample return mission involving docking between a re-entry and transfer module.
Bharatiya Antariksh Station: Bharat’s planned modular space station, set for deployment in 2028.
Human Moon Mission: Advanced docking systems required for a crewed lunar mission by 2040.
ISRO’s success in this mission not only validates its technical capabilities but also paves the way for future interplanetary explorations, space station assembly, and complex docking operations.
This achievement coincided with a leadership transition within ISRO, as V. Narayanan assumed the role of director on January 14.
Despite initial setbacks, the team’s determination and expertise ensured the mission’s success, showcasing the agency’s resilience.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi commended the success, stating on X: “Congratulations to our scientists at @ISRO and the entire space fraternity for the successful demonstration of satellite docking in space.”
Union Science Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh also praised the accomplishment, calling it a breakthrough enabled by the indigenous Bharatiya Docking System.
This achievement enhances Bharat’s reputation as a leading spacefaring nation and strengthens its ability to conduct ambitious missions such as sample returns, modular space station construction, and human space exploration.
Docking involves bringing two spacecraft into the same orbit, aligning them, and joining them together, either manually or autonomously.
This technology is essential for missions requiring heavy spacecraft that cannot be launched in a single attempt.
It is also critical for setting up modular space stations and transporting crew and supplies to such facilities.
The first successful docking in space occurred in 1966, when NASA’s Gemini VIII spacecraft docked with the Agena target vehicle.
Commanded by Neil Armstrong, this mission was a pivotal moment in the United States’ efforts to advance human space exploration and ultimately land humans on the Moon.
The Soviet Union followed closely with its own breakthrough in 1967, achieving the first automated docking between two uncrewed spacecraft, Kosmos 186 and Kosmos 188.
This marked a significant step in demonstrating autonomous space capabilities.
China entered the space docking arena decades later.
In 2011, the country successfully demonstrated its docking capability when the unmanned Shenzhou 8 spacecraft docked with the Tiangong 1 space laboratory.
Building on this success, in 2012, China achieved its first crewed docking, as astronauts manually joined the Shenzhou 9 spacecraft with the same laboratory.
https://hindupost.in/science-technology/isro-marks-historic-achievement-successfully-docks-two-satellites-in-space-under-spadex-mission-on-fourth-attempt/
https://x.com/narendramodi/status/1879755467964256701
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_OBGAiJrjJU
Moon selected as historical preservation site to protect lunar heritage
January 16, 2025
Earth's moon has been selected as a historical preservation site in an attempt to protect humanity's lunar legacy.
The World Monuments Fund announced today 25 new sites on their 2025 World Monuments Watch. The locations represent 29 countries across five continents … and now the moon.
The lunar surface is the home of many artifacts from both robotic and human exploration of the moon, such as the Apollo 11 lunar landing site within the Sea of Tranquility, home of the first off-Earth footprints by humans planted there in 1969.
Listed are cultural heritage sites that face major challenges, from the celebrated city of Antakya, Türkiye, the Swahili Coast of Africa, the Chapel of the Sorbonne, France in Paris's Latin Quarter, the Buddhist grottoes of Maijishan and Yungang in China to the historic lighthouses of Maine in the United States.
The 2025 open call resulted in over 200 nominations that underwent extensive internal and external review before final selection by an independent panel of international heritage experts.
The addition of the moon on the 2025 Watch is a step that advocates for international agreements and protections for lunar heritage sites.
Placing the moon on the list is intended to invite a broader public conversation on what a new Space Age might mean for the moon's cultural and natural landscape, the Fund explains.
Shared history
"For the first time, the moon is included on the Watch to reflect the urgent need to recognize and preserve the artifacts that testify to humanity's first steps beyond Earth — a defining moment in our shared history," observed World Monuments Fund's president and chief executive officer, Bénédicte de Montlaur.
Items such as the TV camera that broadcast to Earth the first human footsteps across the barren lunar landscape by Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin; a memorial disk left by the Apollo 11 astronauts; and hundreds of other objects are emblematic of this legacy, de Montlaur said in a statement.
"Yet, they face mounting risks amidst accelerating lunar activities, undertaken without adequate preservation protocols," de Montlaur said.
"The inclusion of the moon underscores the universal need for proactive and cooperative strategies to protect heritage — whether on Earth or beyond — that reflect and safeguard our collective narrative."
Lunar legacy
"We have an amazing and ever-expanding lunar legacy," said Beth O'Leary, professor emeriti of anthropology at New Mexico State University in Las Cruces, New Mexico.
"That legacy belongs to all humanity, from the first robotic spacecraft, Luna 2 put there by the former Soviet Union in 1959, to the first moonwalk by two American astronauts at Tranquility Base in 1969, to recent forays by several nations to the south polar regions of the moon," O'Leary told Space.com.
Indeed, the achievement by Apollo moonwalkers, said O'Leary, acknowledges the movement of our ancestors out of Africa more than 300,000 years ago and into the solar system.
Space archaeology
"On January 15, 2025 you should realize that it has been 20,269 days since two humans set foot on the lunar surface at Tranquility Base for the first time," O'Leary points out.
"In that passage of almost 55 and one half years humanity has experienced great changes in the exploration and use of space."
O'Leary is a member of the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS), a non-governmental group dedicated to the conservation of the world's monuments and sites.
The International Scientific Committee on Aerospace Heritage of ICOMOS wrote the nomination.
Working on issues of space archaeology and heritage for the last 25 years, O'Leary has tirelessly sought ways to preserve significant artifacts and sites on the moon.
International framework
"I am excited that the World Monuments Fund has chosen our nomination for the moon to place on its 2025 Watch," said O'Leary. "I see this action as part of the process for placing preservation into an international framework."
The Antarctic Treaty system of consensual approval for protecting sites was first created in the depths of the Cold War, O'Leary said, and demonstrates that nations can act together in remote places similar to the lunar surface.
"Cultural resources on the moon have been preserved by their remoteness, but are vulnerable to damage and destruction from increasing space activities, both national and commercial," O'Leary added.
The World monument Watch, she said, calls for global cooperation to preserve the moon's cultural and scientific legacy.
https://www.space.com/the-universe/moon/moon-selected-as-historical-preservation-site-to-protect-lunar-heritage
https://www.wmf.org/press-releases/announces-2025-watch
https://www.space.com/entertainment/space-movies-shows/battlestar-galactica-at-20-the-show-that-reinvented-space-opera
Battlestar Galactica at 20: the show that reinvented space opera
January 16, 2025
If you wanted to assemble a time capsule of late 1970s pop culture, the original "Battlestar Galactica" would be a good place to start.
Not only was it an unashamed attempt to cash in on the record-breaking success of "Star Wars" — to the extent that George Lucas's lawyers wrote some very angry letters — the disco stylings of Glen A.
Larson's big-budget TV space opera tie it to a very specific time in history.
The show's wholesome family values, robot dogs, and kitschy, "Saturday Night Fever"-esque fashions always jarred with the bleak premise at its heart, as the last remnants of humanity went on the run from a race of angry robots known as Cylons.
But even though the expensive, effects-heavy show was dropped after a single season — and the less said about forgettable Earth-based spin-off "Galactica 1980" the better — it always felt like a concept worthy of further exploration.
Even so, few would have predicted that reimaginers-in-chief Ronald D Moore and David Eick could turn "BSG" 2.0 into one of the most ground-breaking and most critically adored TV series of the 21st century — one that said even more about the early '00s than its predecessor had about the '70s.
Much as it is now, turn-of-the-millennium space opera was dominated by two other veteran franchises with "star" in the title.
In the "Wars" corner, George Lucas's prequel trilogy was earning big bucks at the box office, yet struggling to impress either critics or an older generation of fans pining for Han Solo.
"Trek", meanwhile, was limping towards the end of 18 continuous years on TV, with "Enterprise" its sole remaining representative on the final frontier.
The rebooted "Battlestar Galactica" had little in common with either.
Sure, the mini-series (essentially an extended pilot) that debuted in late 2003 featured spaceships-a-plenty, artificial lifeforms, and narratively convenient technologies to facilitate faster-than-light travel.
But in most other regards this was less "galaxy far, far away" than planet Earth relocated to outer space, warts and all.
The residents of the 12 Colonies of Kobol dressed like us, squabbled like us, and — aside from using "frak" in place of a more R-rated F-word — mostly talked like us too.
Traveling through the cosmos was hard work, Viper spacecraft fired bullets rather than lasers, and even the show's hot-shot fighter pilots were relatably, sometimes spectacularly, flawed.
Meanwhile, "Battlestar Galactica"'s famous robot antagonists, the Cylons, had been given an upgrade to look like humans, while Baltar (aka the guy who sold out humanity to the machines) was less a mustache-twirling traitor than an unwitting pawn.
One man's vanity and inability to realize that his beautiful girlfriend was playing him ultimately caused the downfall of an entire civilization.
Had Sci Fi (as Syfy was known at the time) called it a day after the mini-series, the reboot would have been fondly (if modestly) remembered — not least for a final frame reveal in which pilot Sharon "Boomer" Valerii turned out to be an unwitting Cylon sleeper agent.
But it was with "33", the first episode proper (which debuted in the US on January 14, 2005), that "BSG" set out its stall as a show for the ages.
The contrast with the original series' opening episodes couldn't have been starker.
When Lorne Greene, Richard Hatch, Dirk Benedict, and the rest of their ragtag fugitive fleet fled the Cylon tyranny, one of their first ports of call was the pleasure planet of Carillon for a spot of R&R.
There was no such respite in "33", however, as the Cylons tracked down the Colonials, like clockwork, every 33 minutes for days on end.
With the crew running on fumes, it was an intense, bruising hour of TV, in which characters made mistakes, and decisions that could cost the lives of thousands were taken in seconds.
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It still ranks among the greatest episodes of sci-fi TV in history, and marked the start of two-and-a-bit imperious (leader?) seasons of best-in-class viewing.
And even though the show would later lose some momentum — taking misguided turns into more spiritual territory along the way — its reputation had already been long assured. Not even a divisive ending that borrowed a surprising amount from "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy" could alter that.
Much of what made "Battlestar Galactica" great was a pushback against "Star Trek".
Moore had been one of the mainstays of the "Next Generation" and "Deep Space Nine" writers' rooms, but had become increasingly frustrated at long-standing edicts (still largely in place after "Trek" creator Gene Roddenberry's death in 1991) that Starfleet vessels should be conflict-free and an HR manager's dream come true.
There were no such restrictions in "BSG", where self-interested humans frequently posed as much threat to each other as the Cylons on their tail.
And in a real world still coming to terms with 9/11 and George W Bush's subsequent "War on Terror", "Battlestar Galactica" dared to ask difficult questions that most Earthbound dramas were still leaving well alone.
Who can you trust if anyone on your ship could be the enemy? Is torture ever acceptable?
And what if the suicide bombers are the nominal "good" guys? "BSG" may have been set light years from Earth, but it still tackled weighty themes with nuance and plenty of moral shades of grey.
As well as reflecting the complex political landscape of the era, "Battlestar Galactica" was at the forefront of an explosion of quality serialized TV, frequently mentioned in the same breath as feted contemporaries such as "The Sopranos" and "The Wire".
The difference, of course, was that it hailed from a genre that had too often been dismissed as inferior.
But, as Time magazine so memorably put it when "BSG" topped its list of the best TV shows of 2005: "Most of you probably think this entry has got to be a joke. The rest of you have actually watched the show."
While "BSG" didn't ultimately lead to a major renaissance of TV space opera (its ratings were rarely as big as the plaudits), it's undoubtedly been a major influence on the Solar System-set "The Expanse", and — in an intriguing feedback loop — the "Star Trek" shows that came later. Indeed, in their bleaker, swearier moments, there have been times when "Discovery" and "Picard" have both looked like they're trying to live their best "BSG" lives.
And the possibility of yet another reboot remains, as Universal seems to have at least one potential "BSG" project in development most of the time.
As the characters in the show are so fond of saying, "All this has happened before and will happen again".
The question is, can "BSG" 3.0 — if it ever comes to fruition — live up to the legacy of one of the best sci-fi TV shows of the 21st century?
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>>22359825 PB
There was a Green Beret whistleblower story yesterday.
He said in the interview Daniel Sheehan was his lawyer so might be one of them.
Defense spending propels government space budgets to new heights
January 15, 2025
Global government space spending hit a record $135 billion in 2024, highlighting the growing militarization of space and shifting dynamics among spacefaring nations, according to a new industry report.
The 24th annual Government Space Programs report by the consulting firm Novaspace shows government space budgets grew 10% from 2023, driven largely by defense-related investments that reached $73 billion.
The surge reflects mounting concerns about space as a contested military domain alongside traditional theaters like air, sea and cyber.
While the United States remains the dominant player with 59% of global government space spending, other countries like China are increasing their spending.
“The surge in government space budgets reflects the strategic importance of space,” said Charlotte Croison, manager at Novaspace.
“Governments worldwide are not only expanding their capabilities to secure their assets in orbit but are leveraging space to enhance their geopolitical standing and foster economic growth.”
The report indicates this expansion goes beyond traditional powers. A growing number of emerging space nations are establishing dedicated space forces and enhancing their operational capabilities in areas like satellite communications, navigation, and Earth observation.
However, the astronomical growth may be cooling off. Novaspace projects government space budgets will stabilize with modest 1% annual growth from 2025 through the end of the decade.
This leveling off reflects the maturation of programs launched during the recent surge and the need for nations to balance other budgetary priorities.
On the civilian side, human spaceflight programs continue to dominate investments. Nations are advancing both crewed and uncrewed exploration capabilities, though defense spending has consistently outpaced civil space investments since 2022.
The report underscores how space has evolved from a domain dominated by superpower rivalry during the Cold War to a complex landscape where multiple nations compete for military advantage while simultaneously cooperating on civilian projects.
https://spacenews.com/defense-spending-propels-government-space-budgets-to-new-heights/
https://digital-platform.euroconsult-ec.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Extract_Gov-Space-Progs-2024.pdf?t=678689c4c10ca
U.S. intelligence agency selects 13 companies for satellite data contract
January 15, 2025
The U.S. National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) announced Jan. 15 it selected 13 companies for a $200 million contract to provide commercial satellite data and analytics, marking a shift in how the intelligence agency acquires critical information for national security.
Under the five-year contract, known as Luno B, these vendors will compete for task orders to provide commercial satellite imagery analysis and insights.
With this procurement, NGA is reducing its traditional reliance on classified data processed in secure facilities.
The contract follows a $290 million Luno A procurement announced in September, and represents the intelligence community’s growing embrace of commercial space technology.
The 13 selected vendors are: Airbus U.S. Space & Defense; BAE Systems; Booz Allen Hamilton; BlackSky; BlueHalo; CACI; Deloitte; Electromagnetic Systems; Maxar Intelligence; NV5 Geospatial; Planet Labs; Royce Geospatial; and Ursa Space Systems.
Ten of the 13 vendors were selected for Luno A. Newcomers to Luno B are defense contractor BAE Systems, the consulting firm Deloitte, and satellite imagery provider Planet Labs.
The NGA, which provides geospatial intelligence to military and civilian decision-makers, will use the commercial data to monitor global economic activities, environmental changes, and military movements. This includes tracking shipping patterns, construction projects, natural disasters, and foreign military capabilities.
The contract structure, known as indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity (IDIQ), allows the government to place orders flexibly as needs arise, without committing to specific quantities in advance.
https://spacenews.com/u-s-intelligence-agency-selects-13-companies-for-satellite-data-contract/
Space Force Year in Review: 2024
Jan. 15, 2025
The Space Force Year in Review is a collection of photos that showcase the men and women of the U.S. Space Force participating in activities and operations necessary to develop and protect U.S. interests in space.
The set highlights some of the memorable missions, achievements and events that helped shape the Space Force in 2024.
https://www.spaceforce.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/4026025/space-force-year-in-review-2024/
New Glenn launch signals new era for Space Launch Complex 36
Jan. 16, 2025
Space Launch Delta 45 supported the maiden flight for Blue Origin’s New Glenn from Space Launch Complex 36 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Jan. 13.
The orbital-class rocket, named after John Glenn – the first American to orbit Earth–marked the first launch from Space Launch Complex 36 in 20 years.
SLC-36, originally built to support the Atlas-Centaur family of launch vehicles in 1961, was decommissioned and its facilities dismantled after its final Atlas launch in 2005.
In 2015, the complex was leased to Blue Origin, and construction to rebuild the site to support its New Glenn reusable launch vehicle began.
The NG-1 mission also served as the first of Blue Origin’s certification flights needed for the National Security Space Launch program.
The United States Space Force’s Space Systems Command, in partnership with the National Reconnaissance Office, manages the NSSL program.
The mission of the NSSL program is to acquire launch services to provide critical space support required to satisfy Department of Defense warfighter, national security, and other government spacelift missions while fostering interagency and commercial cooperation.
Commercial launch partners, such as Blue Origin, must execute a successful certification process prior to carrying national security payloads into space.
Serving as a vital force multiplier, commercial partnerships significantly enhance the Space Force’s competitive edge in the space domain.
This approach strengthens the USSF’s capacity, elevates capabilities, and fortifies the resilience of space architecture, ensuring the U.S. remains at the forefront of a rapidly evolving industry.
SLD 45 plays a critical role in shaping the future of space operations by assuring access to space for the U.S. and global partners amid an increasingly dynamic geopolitical environment.
The success of the NG-1 mission marks a new chapter for launch operations at the Eastern Range, redefining commercial-military collaboration to maintain SLD 45’s position as the world’s premier gateway to space.
https://www.spaceforce.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/4031667/new-glenn-launch-signals-new-era-for-space-launch-complex-36/
Ukrainian military releases footage of rare Russian reconnaissance drone downing
January 16, 2025 6:55 PM
The 63rd Separate Mechanized Brigade shared a video on Jan. 16 purporting to show the downing of Russian forces' rare reconnaissance drone Merlin-VR.
Throughout the full-scale invasion, drones have become pivotal for both Ukraine and Russia, used on and off the battlefield for attack and reconnaissance purposes.
"A rare bird was shot down by anti-aircraft gunners and pilots of the 63rd Brigade — a Russian experimental Merlin-VR reconnaissance drone," the brigade's statement read.
The Merlin-VR was shot down by a Ukrainian FPV (first-person-view) drone. The brigade did not specify where the air battle took place.
Russian developers presented the Merlin-VR in 2021, and the Russian army has been using it on the battlefield since 2022.
The drone reportedly has a hybrid engine, which reduces its noise while in motion. It can also fly for up to 10 hours and reach altitudes of up to 5 kilometers (3 miles).
Various aerial, naval, and ground drones have been developed and often successfully used for reconnaissance, combat, and other tasks by Ukrainian troops.
Kyiv has delivered more than 200,000 domestically-produced drones to front-line units so far in December, Defense Minister Rustem Umerov said.
https://kyivindependent.com/ukrainian-military-releases-footage-of-shooting-down-rare-russian-reconnaissance-drone/
Drone Collides With Hang Glider at Torrey Pines
Jan 16, 2025
A Torrey Pines hang glider was recently forced to make an emergency landing when a drone became entwined in his parachute.
The hang glider, who posted a Go-Pro video of the run in on YouTube, told Fox 5 News the collision caused two tears to the parachute and cut two lines, among other damages.
But he says he was not injured in the incident.
Civilian drone operations are barred in the area of the Torrey Pines State Reserve from Del Mar’s 6th Street in the north and the glider port in the south due to its “natural reserve” designation, according to park rangers.
Federal officials say it is generally legal to fly a drone in non-controlled air spaces if it is operated under 400 feet, avoids all other aircraft — like hang gliders — and abides by other rules mandated by the Federal Aviation Administration, as well as state and local authorities.
According to the hang glider’s flight log, the collision appeared to have occurred while he was hovering around 400 feet in the air.
The hang glider told Fox 5 News that he reported the incident to both the FAA and San Diego Police Department.
https://kogo.iheart.com/featured/kogo-local-news/content/2025-01-16-drone-collides-with-hang-glider-at-torrey-pines/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gzzcc6tM3UE
Turkish forces open fire on PKK drone in Duhok
2025-01-16 07:41
Witnesses reported on Thursday that Turkish forces positioned in mount Metin opened random fire at a drone belonging to the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) in Dohuk province.
A witness told Shafaq News that the Turkish gunfire caused damage to civilian homes in the village of Birji, located in the Amadiya district, north of Dohuk.
The witnesses added that the drone was flying towards Turkish military bases before it was targeted.
Although no casualties were reported, the incident caused panic and fear among the village residents due to the scattering of bullets.
In recent months, there has been an escalation of tensions between Turkiye and the PKK.
Twenty days ago, the Turkish Ministry of Defense announced the neutralization of over 20 PKK fighters, most of them in northern Syria.
Last year, the Iraqi National Security Council classified PKK as a banned organization, a decision that was welcomed by Ankara.
https://shafaq.com/en/Kurdistan/Turkish-forces-open-fire-on-PKK-drone-in-Duhok
Air defences repelled Russian drone attack in Kyiv as British PM visits
January 16, 20253:03 AM PST
Air defences were engaged in Ukraine's capital of Kyiv on Thursday to repel a Russian drone attack, officials said, and Reuters witness reported explosions in the city while British Prime Minister Keir Starmer was visiting.
City officials said there were no casualties as a result of the attack, but a car was damaged by falling debris in one of the districts. Russia regularly launches drones across Ukraine.
On Thursday, Ukraine's air force said it downed 34 out of 55 drones launched in an overnight attack, with a further 18 failing to reach targets.
https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/air-defences-repelled-russian-drone-attack-kyiv-british-pm-visits-2025-01-16/
Drone footage shows devastation from Palisades fire on beachfront homes in Malibu
7:56 PM PST, January 15, 2025
Heartbroken families, burned-out business owners and beleaguered Los Angeles leaders are beginning to ponder a monumental task: rebuilding what was lost in the Southern California wildfires.
https://apnews.com/video/los-angeles-area-wildfires-los-angeles-wildfires-fires-a0ade4396df64a6e8e39ef5943234c3a
Black Hawk helicopters, drones are part of Canada’s new border security plan
January 15, 2025 3:36 pm
Canada is now deploying helicopters, including Black Hawks entering service this week, among a range of other measures like drones to patrol the U.S.-Canada border, Public Safety Minister David McGuinty said on Wednesday.
Global News first reported earlier Wednesday that the RCMP had finalized the contract for Black Hawk helicopters that will be used to help patrol the border.
“We have deployed 60 new drones along our border with the United States, and we will be deploying additional surveillance towers.
We are acquiring new technology such as x rays, mobile x rays, and handheld chemical analyzers. As of this week, we are deploying new helicopters at the Canada U.S. border,” McGuinty said in Ottawa.
The RCMP confirmed that two of the Black Hawk models will be operational as soon as Friday.
Immigration Minister Marc Miller said Canada’s recent restrictions on visa requirements have led to an 89 per cent drop in people crossing over illegally into the United States since June 2024.
Global News has previously reported that a senior government source had said Trudeau was ready to beef up border security by buying new helicopters for patrol.
A national security source had said at the time that the RCMP has sought helicopter capabilities for the border for years.
In December 2024, the federal government said it is proposing a joint strike force and an “around the clock” aerial surveillance unit for ports of entry as part of its plan to tackle issues at the U.S.-Canada border amid growing pressure from Trump.
The planned North American joint strike force was one of several announcements that came from the government’s fall economic statement, which saw $1.3 billion announced for added border security measures.
With Parliament prorogued until March 24, that new spending can’t be passed but measures that can be accomplished without legislation can still go ahead.
In February last year, Canada reinstated visa requirements for Mexican nationals trying to enter the U.S.
“After we imposed the partial visa requirement… for Mexican nationals, we’ve seen a rapid decline in Canada being used as a backdoor into the U.S. Mexican nationals intercepted while trying to cross illegally has fallen by 72 per cent since June alone,” he said.
“I can also report that our heightened scrutiny of visitor visa applications has led to an 89 per cent overall reduction in foreign nationals crossing illegally into the United States over that same period.”
He added that there has been a 91 per cent drop in people with Canadian student permits illegally crossing into the U.S.
Miller said the government is also going to propose new measures to penalize immigration consultants advising others to abuse the system.
“We are proposing monetary penalties up to $1.5 million, as well as other consequences such as naming and shaming bad actors on our way,” he said.
McGuinty said Canada was also going to launch a joint border pre-clearance operation with U.S. authorities.
“We’ll be the first country to establish preclearance on U.S. soil, where Canadian Border Services officers will work with a shared facility alongside U.S. officers to minimize the number of individuals trying to cross the border illegally between ports of entry and to keep dangerous individuals out of North America,” he said.
Last month, the federal government ended the practice of flagpoling.
According to the CBSA, flagpoling occurs when foreign nationals who hold temporary resident status in Canada leave the country and, after a visit to the United States or St. Pierre and Miquelon, re-enter to access immigration services at a port of entry.
Miller said ending the practice has freed up 8,000 workdays for Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada officials.
https://globalnews.ca/news/10959772/blackhawk-helicopters-drones-canada-border-security-plan/
CRASHED DRONE SEIZED AFTER FAILED PRISON SMUGGLING ATTEMPT
15th January 2025
3 men are being sought by Police after a drone – thought to be dropping contraband into HMP Isle of Wight – was seized near the prison walls last night (Tuesday).
It was just before 18:30 that 3 men were sighted controlling an unmanned aerial vehicle from fields behind St Mary’s Hospital, just off the main Newport to Cowes road at Parkhurst.
When rumbled by members of the public, the pilot lost control and crashed the drone into a tree near to Hewitt Crescent.
All 3 males made a run for it ahead of Police being called.
Officers swiftly attended the scene and conducted a local area search, but failed to locate their suspects.
However, it has been confirmed that officers seized not only a drone but an accompanying package too.
The assistance of firefighters was called upon to dislodge the drone from a tree.
Hampshire & Isle of Wight Constabulary has refused to confirm to Island Echo what was contained within the 20x10cm package.
Enquiries remain ongoing to examine the drone and identify the owner.
https://www.islandecho.co.uk/drone-crashed-and-seized-after-failed-prison-smuggling-attempt/
Underwater stealth drone named 'Blue Whale' to tackle Chinese and Russian plots
16:52, 16 Jan 2025
Germany has launched an underwater stealth drone to confront Russian and Chinese saboteurs in the Baltic Sea.
Dubbed ‘Blue Whale’, the new weapon is the latest attempt to stand up to the two global superpowers as tensions rise over the cutting of undersea cables in the Baltic region.
The drone is set to act as the eyes and ears of the German navy, able to spot suspicious deep sea vessels and mines.
According to the Israeli defence firm behind the drone, Elta, the five-ton craft can reach speeds of 8mph, dive nearly 300 metres and function underwater for several weeks.
It comes after Germany, along with other Nordic and Baltic states, has become increasingly threatened about hostile Chinese and Russian activity in the Baltic, the Telegraph reports.
In November 2024, authorities blamed a Chinese vessel after two fibre optic marine cables from Finland to Germany were cut.
In October 2023, when a Chinese ship hit a gas pipeline Beijing said the damage was due to the captain accidentally dragging his anchor on the seabed.
Estonia’s defence minister slammed this excuse as “difficult to understand”.
Western officials have argued the damage might have been caused deliberately by Chinese military on behalf of Russia’s intelligence services.
"Drones like the Blue Whale will allow the German navy to take a big step forward in monitoring and detecting submarines without resorting to expensive manned systems," said Johannes Peters, an expert from Kiel University.
A Russian academic recently warned against US president-elect Donald Trump allowing Vladimir Putin to annex swathes of Ukraine , saying it “would undermine the entire global order”.
Trump has previously been critical of the level of financial support the US has been offering Ukraine and now promises to negotiate an end to the war, soon after he takes office later this month.
Mr Inozemtsev, who now lives in exile in America, said: “If an agreement is agreed by Russia, Ukraine and Nato that gives Russia the four Ukrainian regions Putin claims and Crimea it means it will undermine the entire global order.”
https://www.dailystar.co.uk/news/world-news/underwater-stealth-drone-named-blue-34496353
Yemen’s Houthis claim missile, drone attack on US aircraft carrier in Red Sea
Update : 16.01.2025
The Yemeni Houthi group said Wednesday it launched an attack targeting the US aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman and accompanying warships in the northern Red Sea.
In a televised statement, military spokesman Yahya Saree said the attack involved several cruise missiles and drones, saying the attack successfully hit its targets.
Saree said the attack was in response to what he called the US Navy's attempts to target Yemen.
This marked the sixth reported attack by the Houthis on the US carrier within a month.
“This is the sixth strike on the carrier since it entered the Red Sea nearly a month ago,” Saree said, without providing further details.
There was no immediate US comment on the Houthi claim.
The Houthis, in solidarity with Gaza, which has been facing a genocidal Israeli war since October 2023, have targeted Israeli cargo ships or ones linked with Tel Aviv in the Red Sea with missiles and drones, vowing to continue until the attacks on the enclave end.
Since the beginning of 2024, a US-led coalition has been carrying out airstrikes that it said target Houthi locations in Yemen in response to the group’s Red Sea attacks.
They have been occasionally met with retaliation from the Houthis.
https://www.aa.com.tr/en/middle-east/yemen-s-houthis-claim-missile-drone-attack-on-us-aircraft-carrier-in-red-sea/3451441
Out of this World: Breaking News Investigation on Secret Alien Aircrafts, Live with Ross Coulthart & Lue Elizondo TRIGGERED Ep.207
Jan 15, 4:55 pm EST
https://truthsocial.com/@DonaldJTrumpJr/posts/113834602208531325
https://rumble.com/embed/v67fyqs/?pub=15uydp
There's something triggering the spam post error in the regular non-embed link fyi
UAP whistleblower says UFO retrieval program exists
Jan 16, 2025 / 08:24 AM CST
A U.S. Air Force veteran believes he was involved in the recovery of alien technology while working for a long-rumored secret UFO retrieval program.
In an exclusive interview with NewsNation, whistleblower Jake Barber said he has contracted as a helicopter pilot to retrieve all kinds of downed craft, some of which he believes are of nonhuman origin.
“Just visually looking at the object on the ground, you could tell that it was extraordinary and anomalous,” Barber told NewsNation’s Ross Coulthart. “It was not human.”
When asked to describe the object, Barber said: “I saw an egg, a white egg.”
He added: “It’s inconsistent with anything I’d ever seen before. I can also tell you that the reaction by my team, we all knew we were dealing with something extraordinary.”
Other whistleblowers, including Lue Elizondo and David Grusch, have alleged a secret government UFO program exists but Barber says he knows it’s true because he’s part of it.
“Over the last couple years, it’s been confirmed to me by ranking members of the UAP task force that what we were working with that night was, in fact, NHI (nonhuman intelligence) and it was not a unique experience,” Barber said.
Three high-level military veterans are backing up Barber’s story, on the record and on-camera to NewsNation.
The All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO) told NewsNation it is aware of the claim.
Department of Defense spokesperson Sue Gough said in a statement it “…has not discovered any verifiable information to substantiate claims that any programs regarding the possession or reverse-engineering of extraterrestrial materials have existed in the past or exist currently.”
NewsNation has also obtained exclusive, never-before-seen video of one of these alleged UFO crash retrievals.
That video and the full interviews will air in Saturday’s special report “Hunting UFOs: The Crash Retrieval Whistleblower” at 8p/7c
In June 2023, NewsNation was the first television network to present an interview with Grusch.
The account has led to multiple Congressional hearings.
https://www.newsnationnow.com/space/ufo/uap-whistleblower-ufo-retrieval-program/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1U7F8MULenA
Extras Needed: Steven Spielberg Is Filming A New Movie In Cape May, NJ
January 16, 2025
Have you ever dreamed of being on the silver screen, but aren't sure if you have main character energy?
Then maybe you should consider being an extra in a film!
It seems like Jersey is becoming more and more of a hotbed for major motion pictures, which has turned a lot of attention to the Garden State.
A while ago, Timothee Chalamet and a crew were spotted in Cape May while filming a Bob Dylan biopic called A Complete Unknown.
And we've been seeing Jeremy Allen White and Bruce Springsteen all over Asbury Park while filming Deliver Me From Nowhere, you can even check out pictures of the set right here.
Now there's a casting call out for Jersey locals who'd like to be extras in another major motion picture involving one of the biggest directors in the world.
Spielberg, arguably one of the biggest names in the world of film is bringing a new idea to life on the silver screen.
His new movie, according to Wildwood Video Archive, is a UFO movie which is currently being referenced as The Dish is still shrouded in secrecy however, filming for this movie is set to happen partially in Cape May, NJ!
What's even cooler is that while filming is set to happen in Cape May between March 10th and March 14th, extras are in fact needed.
If you want to be an extra in the movie, they're looking for people to drive cars, ride on trains, and just add to the background of the movie.
Casting is being handled by Grant Wiffley Casting out of New York, and if you're interested in being an extra you should reach out to them at nj@gwcnyc.com with the subject line of "Cape May Local".
Although there are no hard details on what the latest Speilberg film is about, the main cast is pretty star-studded including names like Emily Blunt.
And if you're curious, extras are set to make about $216 for 8 hours of work for the day.
https://1057thehawk.com/steven-spielberg-cape-may-nj/
Dr. Steven Greer
@DrStevenGreer
The Dr. Steven Greer Podcast - Episode 1. Join Dr. Greer for his new podcast series with breaking news on the UAP disclosure efforts.
8:42 AM · Jan 15, 2025
https://www.sportskeeda.com/pop-culture/who-dr-steven-greer-ufo-expert-makes-stunning-disclosure-incoming-whistleblower-revelations
https://www.youtube.com/live/ZWdSDvsKAXU?si=zB6KSi2slZg_mOM0
https://x.com/DrStevenGreer/status/1879569767394369929
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZWdSDvsKAXU
UFO sightings spark intrigue over Fresno skies
Updated Wed, January 15th 2025 at 10:42 PM
Unusual aerial phenomena have been reported over Fresno in recent days, with one incident involving a confirmed unidentified flying object (UFO) captured on camera.
The Mutual UFO Network described the footage as an "interesting find."
The sighting occurred early Friday morning when a light was recorded in the sky by a FOX 26 tower camera just after 4 a.m.
The light appeared to hover over downtown Fresno.
Earl Grey Anderson from the Mutual UFO Network reviewed the footage and said, "Where you see that object move at the clip it moves and it's hovering again.
That one I would probably actually give an unknown classification to which is a UFO."
Anderson noted that there were no space launches on Friday and no unusual stars or planets visible.
"What I thought was very interesting about the second video is the clip. It suddenly moves. I'm not sure what distance we're looking at there. It wasn't light speed or anything like that but that was awfully fast," he said.
"You've got an interesting capture there somebody saw what I would technically call a UFO."
Four days later, another strange sighting was reported. A private pilot had an exchange with the Fresno tower on Tuesday afternoon, inquiring about drone activity.
The tower responded, "We don't pick up drone activity on the radar. We filter out the small stuff."
Shortly after, the tower contacted a Fresno police helicopter flying over the city to investigate a reported drone sighting near Highway 41 and Herndon, flying at approximately 3,000 feet.
A second pilot reported an object following him at 3,500 feet.
The initial pilot who alerted the tower called in again with another unusual sighting, miles away.
"I think I saw something over downtown about 3,500," the pilot said. The tower confirmed, "You saw something over downtown at 3,500?" to which the pilot replied, "Correct. It looked like a white object."
Efforts to reach the Federal Aviation Administration in Fresno for more information on Tuesday's sightings have not yet been successful.
Fox26 News wants to know if you spotted any unusual sightings in the Valley sky recently. Send us your pictures or videos to our Chime In page. The link is below.
https://kmph.com/news/local/ufo-sightings-spark-intrigue-over-fresno-skies
>The egg-shaped ship