TYB
NASA Astronomy Picture of the Day
August 11, 2025
Closest Ever Images Near the Sun
Everybody sees the Sun. Nobody's been there. Starting in 2018, though, NASA launched the robotic Parker Solar Probe (PSP) to investigate regions near to the Sun for the first time. The featured time-lapse video shows the view looking sideways from behind PSP's Sun shield in December during the closest approach of any human-made spacecraft to the Sun, looping down to only about five solar diameters above the Sun's hot surface. The PSP's Wide Field Imager for Solar Probe (WISPR) cameras took these images over seven hours, but they are digitally compressed here into about 5 seconds. The solar corona, including colliding coronal mass ejections (CMEs), is visible here in unprecedented detail, with stars passing far in the background. The Sun is not only Earth's dominant energy source, but its variable solar wind also compresses Earth's atmosphere, triggers auroras, affects power grids, and can even damage orbiting communication satellites.
https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/astropix.html
national deep cleaning engaged
EOS and NASA to launch metal additive manufacturing master class
August 11, 2025
Industrial 3D printing company EOS announced a Space Act Agreement with NASA and the EOS Additive Minds Academy to offer the Metal AM Master Class, an advanced, hands-on training program.
Space Act Agreements are special legal agreements authorized by the National Aeronautics and Space Act of 1958, allowing NASA to collaborate with a wide range of partners, including government agencies, private companies, and educational institutions to support its mission.
These agreements provide NASA with flexibility to enter contracts and cooperative arrangements that further its goals, including international space cooperation.
The metal AM master class
The course will be proctored in collaboration with renowned experts Dr. Paul Gradl, Principal Engineer, NASA, and Dr. Omar Mireles, Additive Manufacture R&D Engineer, Zia AM, both recognized leaders in AM for space flight and high-performance applications.
Beginning in November 2025, the classroom and hands-on training program will take place at the EOS technical center in Pflugerville, Texas, covering metal industrial 3D printing processes and post-processing techniques for successful part fabrication and infusion into applications.
This course will serve as a technology-agnostic review of metal AM strategies, such as laser powder bed fusion (LPBF), directed energy disposition (DED), and other advanced methods.
“This partnership embodies the power of public-private collaboration accelerating the adoption and understanding of additive manufacturing.
Through our agreement with NASA, we are delivering unparalleled access to the expertise and technologies that are shaping the future of aerospace and advanced manufacturing,” Fabian Alefeld, EOS global director of business development and the Additive Minds Academy.
Designed for engineers, researchers, program managers, industry leaders, and newcomers alike, the course includes:
Overview of solid-state AM processes and their process chains
Hands-on deep dives into the LPBF process chain, design, post-processing, and quality assurance
Theory and practical lessons learned sessions led by Dr. Paul Gradl (NASA) and Dr. Omar Mireles (Zia AM)
Hands-on experience with EOS M 290, EOS M 300-4, and EOS M 400-4 systems
Build job development, post-processing, and lab testing
EOS Additive Minds Certificate of Completion awarded to participants
https://3dadept.com/eos-and-nasa-to-launch-metal-additive-manufacturing-master-class/
https://us.store.eos.info/products/metal-am-masterclass
Cape Canaveral to see busy week of launches by SpaceX, ULA on Starlink, Space Force missions
Aug. 11, 2025 10:45
SpaceX's photogenic Falcon 9 rocket launch kicked off the new workweek during morning rush hour Monday, Aug. 11 — ushering in a busy liftoff schedule during the first week of class at Brevard Public Schools.
Monday's launch lifted two dozen Amazon Project Kuiper broadband satellites into low-Earth orbit from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. Next, a trio of rocket liftoffs are coming up from the Space Force installation:
Tuesday: United Launch Alliance will launch a Vulcan rocket outfitted with four solid rocket boosters during an hourlong launch window extending from 7:59 p.m. to 8:59 p.m.
The Vulcan will rise due east, propelling two U.S. national security satellites into geosynchronous orbit more than 22,000 miles above Earth for the Space Force during this USSF-106 mission from Launch Complex 41.
The Space Force's 45th Weather Squadron predicted 80% odds of "go for launch" weather, citing a slight probability of cumulus cloud violations and a low-to-moderate risk of solar activity.
Wednesday: SpaceX will launch a Falcon 9 on a Starlink mission from Launch Complex 40. The four-hour morning window lasts from 7:09 a.m. to 11:09 a.m.
The rocket will deploy a payload of Starlink internet-beaming satellites into low-Earth orbit.
Saturday: SpaceX is targeting a similar Starlink mission from 7:35 a.m. to 11:35 a.m.
However, be aware: Launch dates and times routinely change for a wide variety of reasons.
FLORIDA TODAY Space Team launch coverage updates will kick off starting about 90 minutes before each launch window opens at floridatoday.com/space.
No Brevard County sonic booms should occur during these missions. Both Starlink missions will ascend to the northeast.
https://www.floridatoday.com/story/tech/science/space/2025/08/11/after-amazon-cape-canaveral-space-force-station-to-see-three-more-launches-this-week-by-spacex-ula/85607315007/
SpaceX launches Amazon Project Kuiper KF-02 mission from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station
Updated Aug. 11, 2025 9:54 a.m. ET
SpaceX is targeting Monday, August 11 for a Falcon 9 launch of the KF-02 mission to orbit from Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40) at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. The 27-minute window opens at 8:35 a.m. ET.
A live webcast of this mission will begin about 15 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.
https://www.floridatoday.com/picture-gallery/tech/science/space/2025/08/11/spacex-launches-amazon-project-kuiper-kf-02-mission-from-cape-canaveral-florida/85548985007/
https://www.spacex.com/launches/kf-02
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m9TMYleEQMs
Scientists 3D print titanium fuel tank for space travel — world's first to pass critical durability test
August 11, 2025
The Korea Institute of Industrial Technology recently announced an incredible breakthrough in the world of additive manufacturing (aka 3D printing) and its practical application in the space industry.
In a joint project led by the Korea Aerospace Research Institute (KARI), KP Aviation Industries, Hanyang University, and AM Solutions, the group managed to 3D print a fuel tank out of titanium that was able to pass a critical durability test, as reported by Popular Science.
It seems that things are ramping up when it comes to getting space-ready 3D printed objects. It was just last week that another team showcased their efforts in getting 3D printed components to pass crucial tests for space travel.
In that situation, the 3D printed pieces were coated before passing particle contamination tests. This is different from this project, in which the researchers have created metal-based components that are passing tests for durability.
The team decided to work on 3D printing a fuel tank, which has high-performance requirements when it comes to the ability to withstand pressure.
Typically, tanks are forged using molds that titanium alloys can be poured into. This is great for reproducing the same piece over and over again, but much harder to adapt for custom designs.
The ability to 3D print a fuel tank out of metal that is strong enough to withstand the pressure requirements for space launch is a huge step in enabling private and one-off space tech.
The 3D printed tank was created using Ti64 titanium alloy and measured 640mm across in diameter. The unit was able to withstand pressure as high as 330 bar.
The tank was also cooled using liquid nitrogen, reaching a temperature of -320.8 F° (-196°C).
The technology definitely shakes things up a bit by bringing the production of space industry hardware local. However, this work is still in early development and won't be commercially abound any time soon.
There are still tons of cool options out there for anyone interested in dabbling in the world of 3D printing. Check out our list of the best 3D printers to see what we recommend and what to look for when shopping for a 3D printer.
https://www.tomshardware.com/3d-printing/scientists-3d-print-titanium-fuel-tank-for-space-travel-worlds-first-to-pass-critical-durability-test
Israeli Dror-1 satellite achieves orbit, begins operations
Aug. 11, 2025
Israeli communications satellite Dror-1 has reached its designated altitude of 36,000 kilometers (~22,370 miles) and commenced its operational mission in space, the state-owned Israel Aerospace Industries announced on Monday.
Upon achieving its planned trajectory, the satellite transmitted telemetry confirming the deployment of the solar panels and the communication antennas, and the activation of its main engine, which positioned the satellite precisely in its intended orbit, IAI continued.
Telemetry is the automated collection and transmission of data from remote locations for monitoring and analysis purposes.
“The telemetry received from Israel’s national communications satellite Dror-1 confirms its full functionality and successful entry into orbit, marking another major milestone in Israel’s journey to space independence,” said IAI President and CEO Boaz Levy
“Guided by a deep sense of responsibility for the State of Israel’s strategic decision, IAI is proud to lead the nation’s space endeavors and provide it with sovereign capabilities in space.
This next generation of communications satellites, exemplified by Dror-1, embodies engineering excellence and foresight, delivering advanced solutions to meet Israel’s diverse and evolving needs,” he added.
IAI launched the satellite on July 13 aboard a Falcon 9 medium-lift launch vehicle from the SpaceX site in Cape Canaveral, Fla.
Following liftoff, the satellite transmitted initial telemetry indicating its proper functionality. After a series of tests conducted by IAI’s engineers, telemetry updates confirmed its successful entry into orbit.
The satellite’s journey to its final destination included a series of in-space checks, orchestrated from IAI’s control center, with precise adjustments bringing it to its designated altitude and orbital position.
IAI has been at the forefront of Israel’s space programs since the 1980s. The company developed, manufactured and launched a series of communications and observation satellites, serving scientific, civilian and national missions in Israel and worldwide.
Dror-1 is an Israeli-developed-and-produced communications satellite, among the most advanced of its kind globally, IAI said in a statement.
Equipped with a wide range of innovative capabilities, it is designed to meet Israel’s communications needs for the years to come, it continued.
Dror-1 offers unique, advanced communications technologies that will enable flexible, secure and reliable communication throughout its operational life, the statement concluded.
https://www.jns.org/israeli-dror-1-satellite-achieves-orbit-begins-operations/
https://www.youtube.com/@IAI
ISS astronaut captures breathtaking star trails
August 11, 2025
Aboard the International Space Station (ISS), NASA astronaut Don Petit took this stunning image in a long exposure capture.
Within just one photo, Petit revealed many different events that could be seen from low-Earth orbit, from star trails to orbiting Starlink satellites to the glow of city lights on Earth.
What is it?
On the ISS, Petit had a view like none other from which to photograph. As the space station zoomed around our planet at a rate of 17,500 mph ( 28,000 km/h), the veteran astronaut was able to take long exposure images that created brilliant streaks in the darkness.
In the photograph Petit posted on social media, the golden, curved lines below show the lights of urban areas and cities on Earth's surface, while the whiter lines in the middle of the image are the many trajectories that stars in the background make due to the orbital motion of the ISS.
Where is it?
The ISS is in low-Earth orbit, at approximately 248 miles (400 kilometers) above Earth, orbiting at around 17,500 mph (28,000 km/h).
Why is it amazing?
Not only did Petit capture the bustle of both Earth and space, but he also caught a couple of SpaceX's Starlink satellites in his photograph, seen as a couple of horizontal lines to the right of the photo.
As of Aug. 1, 2025, there are 8,094 Starlink satellites above Earth in a megaconstellation, making up approximately 70% of all satellites in orbit.
While these satellites help provide internet to various parts of the Earth below, they are also becoming more of a concern for astronomers and scientists, as they can block the skies and interfere with data collection.
https://www.space.com/space-exploration/international-space-station/iss-astronaut-captures-breathtaking-star-trails-space-photo-of-the-day-for-aug-11-2025
https://x.com/astro_Pettit/status/1952878778041946551
Astronomers find bizarre 'Cosmic Grapes' galaxy in the early universe. Here's why that's a big deal
August 11, 2025
A distant galaxy appears to have more than a dozen tightly packed star-forming clumps arranged like a bunch of grapes — far more than astronomers thought possible in a galaxy from the early universe.
The galaxy, nicknamed "Cosmic Grapes," is believed to have formed just 930 million years after the Big Bang. A new study has revealed that the galaxy has at least 15 massive star-forming clumps in its rotating disk, forming what appears to be a bunch of bright purple grapes in space.
Using NASA's James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) and the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA), astronomers discovered the galaxy through a technique known as gravitational lensing, in which a foreground galaxy — in this case, an object known as RXCJ0600-2007 — serves as a magnifying glass for more distant objects.
"This object is known as one of the most strongly gravitationally lensed distant galaxies ever discovered," study lead author Seiji Fujimoto, said in a statement from the University of Texas at Austin's (UT Austin) McDonald Observatory.
"Thanks to this powerful natural magnification, combined with observations from some of the world's most advanced telescopes, we had a unique opportunity to study the internal structure of a distant galaxy at unprecedented sensitivity and resolution," added Fujimoto, who started the research while at UT Austin but is now at the University of Toronto.
The researchers collected more than 100 hours of telescope observations to study the primordial Cosmic Grapes galaxy.
Earlier Hubble Space Telescope images of the object suggested a smooth, rotating disk, but the powerful resolution of ALMA and JWST revealed something juicier — the most detailed view yet of the galaxy's inner structure and massive clumps of dense gas primed for star formation.
"Our observations reveal that some early galaxies' young starlight is dominated by several massive, dense, compact clumps rather than one smooth distribution of stars," study co-author Mike Boylan-Kolchin, an astronomy professor at UT Austin, said in the same statement.
The discovery reshapes our understanding of early galaxy growth by revealing the first clear connection between a galaxy's small internal structures — in this case, massive star-forming clumps — and its overall rotation, hinting that many seemingly smooth galaxies observed before may actually be filled with similar hidden clumps.
https://www.space.com/astronomy/james-webb-space-telescope/astronomers-find-bizarre-cosmic-grapes-galaxy-in-the-early-universe-heres-why-thats-a-big-deal-photo
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41550-025-02592-w
Don't miss Perseid meteor shower 2025 peak Aug. 12-13: Here's what you need to know
August 11, 2025
The Perseid meteor shower hits its peak on Aug. 12-13, bringing with it a torrent of shooting stars along with the potential for spectacular fireball sightings.
The Perseids are one of the most highly anticipated shooting star displays of the year. However, the 2025 shower happens to coincide with the rise of a waning gibbous moon, the glare from which will make it a challenge to spot all but the brightest of meteors.
Still, it's worth heading out to a dark sky location for a meteor hunt, especially in light of the Perseids' reputation for spawning impressive fireballs!
The best time to spot Perseids will be in the predawn hours of Aug. 13, when up to 100 shooting stars per hour would be visible under ideal conditions, though many will be hidden this year in the glare of the 86%-lit waning gibbous moon.
"The best rates will probably be near 15 per hour as dim meteors make up a majority of the activity," meteor expert Robert Lunsford from the American Meteor Society, told Space.com in an email.
You may also catch meteors as early as 10 p.m. local time, according to NASA.
"You can watch for long Perseid earthgrazers as soon as it gets dark until the moon begins to interfere. This will be about an hour for most folks," Lunsford continued.
Though the rates will be low at this time, any meteors spotted will be long and impressive, Lunsford explained.
You can differentiate between Perseids and shooting stars from other origins by noting the path that a meteor takes as it blazes through the night sky.
Lunsford also recommends looking for Perseids sometime between 1 and 5 a.m. local time while looking toward the north with the moon at your back. "This is when you will see up to 15 per hour," Lunsford said.
Meteors associated with the August shower will always be spotted streaking away from a point of origin — or 'radiant' — located close to the magnitude 3.89 star Eta Persei in the constellation Perseus, which can be found in the northeastern sky with the moon and Saturn off to its right on the night of Aug. 12.
To find the ideal meteor hunting patch of sky, simply locate the radiant using a smartphone astronomy app, and find a spot roughly 40 degrees above it.
Here, the meteor trails will be the longest. Remember, the span of your clenched fist when held at arm's length against the night sky accounts for roughly 10 degrees.
The Perseid meteor shower is an annual event that occurs as Earth passes through the trail of debris shed by comet 109P/Swift-Tuttle.
Shooting stars can be seen when tiny comet shards strike our atmosphere at speeds of up to 37 miles (59 kilometers) per second, causing them to leave a fiery, if short-lived, trail in Earth's sky.
"The peak is the best time to view regardless of the situation with moonlight," Lunsford explained. "Rates fall by 50% each night after the peak, so by the time the moon is out of the way, there is little left to watch."
https://www.space.com/stargazing/meteor-showers/dont-miss-perseid-meteor-shower-2025-peak-aug-12-13-heres-what-you-need-to-know
https://science.nasa.gov/solar-system/meteors-meteorites/perseids/
Harvard scientist urges world leaders to prepare for potential 'alien contact'
Updated 09:26 11 Aug 2025 GMT+1
A Harvard scientist has issued a concerning warning over a mystery interstellar object.
Currently zooming through it, NASA previously confirmed the 3I/ATLAS was not from our solar system.
First discovered by the space agency’s funded telescope in Rio Hurtado, Chile, on 1 July, astronomers have categorised the object as interstellar because of the ‘hyperbolic shape of its orbital path’.
Nasa says the comet poses ‘no threat to Earth and will remain far away’ with the closest it getting to our planet being about 1.8 astronomical units (around 170 million miles).
Astronomers around the world are investigating the interstellar object’s size and physical properties but one scientist seems to think it could be an alien probe.
The theoretical physicist at Harvard University, Avi Loeb, believes it might be a 'potentially hostile' alien craft deliberating speeding towards us.
Speaking to NewNation, he is calling on world leaders to take UFOs more seriously and shared a warning that we need more things in place for if us humans do encounter aliens from space.
“I believe that we need an international organisation that will make policy decisions about such an object,” he said.
“We are worried about existential threats from artificial intelligence, from global climate change, from an asteroid impact, but we never discuss alien technology.”
Loeb claims the object doesn’t have the usual characteristics that would be associated with a comet. And he’s said that not only is it bigger than normal but has a light source ahead of it rather than that classic glowing tail behind.
If it does end up being an extra-terrestrial object after all, the scientist says we need to be considering what the intentions for it are.
“The response has to depend on its properties and its intent — what is it doing as it comes closer to us?” he said in the recent interview.
“And it’s just like having a visitor in your backyard. You can’t decide on the policy for all visitors. It really depends on the intent of the visitor, and it’s just next door.”
Nasa says the 3I/ATLAS should remain visible to ground-based telescopes through September before it passes too closely to the Sun for it to be observed. It should then reappear on the other side of the Sun by early December which will allow for renewed observations.
The agency also explained how it was determined that the object didn’t originate in our solar system: “Observations of the comet’s trajectory show that it is moving too fast to be bound by the Sun’s gravity and that it's on what is known as a hyperbolic trajectory.
In other words, it does not follow a closed orbital path around the Sun. It is simply passing through our solar system and will continue its journey into interstellar space, never to be seen again.”
https://www.ladbible.com/news/science/harvard-scientist-warning-alien-object-nasa-543451-20250811
https://www.newsnationnow.com/space/world-ufo-policy-3iatlas/
https://avi-loeb.medium.com/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S5tH3Qa_p4w
Explosion reported at US Steel Clairton Coke Works plant, multiple people injured
August 11, 2025 at 11:20 am EDT
CLAIRTON, Pa. — Emergency crews are on the scene of a reported explosion at the U.S. Steel Clairton Coke Works.
There are multiple injuries, and multiple medical helicopters have been called to the scene.
A mass casualty incident has been declared to allow for additional EMS resources from across the region to respond.
https://www.wpxi.com/news/local/explosion-reported-us-steel-clairton-coke-works-multiple-people-injured/FDX2T42G7FF33NUPSTVA3XOIPI/
Israel kills Al Jazeera journalists in Gaza
11 Aug, 2025 06:10
At least five Al Jazeera staff members have been killed in an Israeli airstrike on a journalist camp in Gaza. Among the victims was Anas al-Sharif, a well-known correspondent who has been recognized for his reporting on the local humanitarian crisis.
The attack occurred on Sunday evening, when the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) struck a tent outside the main gate of Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza.
The Qatar-based media outlet immediately confirmed that four of its journalists - al-Sharif, Mohammed Qreiqeh, Ibrahim Zaher, and Mohammed Noufal - had been found dead.
It later added that cameraman Moamen Aliwa was also among the victims, along with two others, bringing the death toll to seven.
Al-Sharif’s last post on X featured a video of Israeli strikes hitting Gaza City. Posted moments before he was killed, the missive described the “relentless bombardment” by Israeli warplanes.
Hani Mahmoud, an Al Jazeera reporter who was just a block away at the time, heard a massive explosion near Al-Shifa Hospital.
“I saw the sky light up, and soon after, news spread that it was the journalist camp at the hospital’s main gate,” he wrote, adding that the drone strike hit after things had “quieted down” and journalists had gathered in one place.
The director of Al-Shifa Hospital told Al Jazeera that the IDF is likely to have targeted the tent directly.
Israel’s military acknowledged it had targeted al-Sharif, claiming he was the head of a Hamas “terrorist cell” operating under the guise of a reporter.
Al Jazeera denied these allegations, describing them as part of a “campaign of incitement” against its journalists.
The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) condemned the attack, stating that Israel provided “no evidence” to support its claims that al-Sharif was a Hamas member.
“This is part of a pattern that we have seen from Israel… going back decades in which it kills journalists,” CPJ CEO Jodie Ginsberg has said.
Since Israel’s war on Hamas began in October 2023, at least 237 journalists have been killed, according to the Government Media Office in Gaza, with Al Jazeera alone losing 10 staff members.
https://www.rt.com/news/622738-israel-kills-al-jazeera-journalists/
Ukrainian FM rejects Trump’s peace suggestion
10 Aug, 2025 15:47
Ukraine will not agree to make any concessions to Russia, Kiev's Foreign Minister Andrey Sibiga has stated.
His remark came shortly after US President Donald Trump suggested ahead of Friday's upcoming summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin that a peace agreement between the conflicting nations would likely involve “some swapping of territories.”
The Lugansk People’s Republic, Donetsk People’s Republic, Zaporozhye and Kherson regions became part of Russia following referendums held in 2022.
Crimea voted to join the country in 2014, following the armed Western-backed Maidan coup in Kiev.
In a post on X on Sunday, Sibiga wrote: “No rewards or gifts to the aggressor to appease him,” adding that “every concession invites further aggression.”
His comment echoed a string of posts published on X by Vladimir Zelensky the previous day, in which he vowed not to “allow this second attempt to partition Ukraine” and the “legalization of the occupation of our land.”
According to Zelensky, the first “partition” took place when Crimea, the majority Russia-speaking territory which is also home to Russia's Black Sea fleet, voted to join the Russian Federation in a referendum that the new Ukrainian leadership and the West have never accepted.
Weeks later, an uprising began in predominantly Russian-speaking Donetsk Region and Lugansk Region.
Citing the threat of forced Ukrainization, the secessionists established their own independent republics with the intention of eventually following Crimea’s example.
A bloody military conflict followed in which thousands of civilians died between 2014 and 2022, often at the hands of Western-backed neo-Nazi militias, but Kiev failed to completely regain control of either territory by force.
Sibiga’s statements came after Trump announced earlier this week that he would meet with his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, in Alaska on August 15.
Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, and the Russian president met in Moscow on Wednesday. According to Kremlin aide Yury Ushakov, Washington had made an “acceptable” offer, but he declined to provide further details.
Moscow has long accused Zelensky of denying reality and unnecessarily prolonging a conflict he cannot win.
https://www.rt.com/russia/622729-ukrainian-fm-calls-trump-suggestion-into-question/
Russia and US ‘very far from detente’ – Moscow
10 Aug, 2025 18:55
While Washington has recently moved toward fixing relations with Moscow, celebrations would be premature, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov has said.
The diplomat added that Russia had earlier this month stopped abiding by a self-imposed moratorium on the deployment of intermediate-range missiles to “cool hotheads in certain NATO capitals.”
While the 1987 Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty between Moscow and Washington collapsed in 2019, Russia had nonetheless continued observing the restrictions.
During his first term in office, President Donald Trump pulled the US out of the accord, citing supposed Russian violations – a claim the Kremlin has denied.
In an interview with broadcaster Rossiya-1 on Sunday, Ryabkov observed that “some sprouts of common sense are appearing in the dialogue with the US, which have been sorely lacking in recent months and years.”
However, the use of the term “détente” would be wholly unwarranted at this point, the deputy minister stressed.
Speaking of Russia’s decision to lift a self-imposed moratorium on the deployment of intermediate-range missiles, Ryabkov argued that Moscow had no other choice in light of what the “Americans and their allies, especially the European warmongers, are undertaking.”
The Russian Foreign Ministry cited the “disappearance of conditions for maintaining the unilateral moratorium” in explaining the decision earlier this month.
The statement said the West was creating a “direct threat” to Russian security, with the recent Talisman Sabre exercise in Australia being an example.
The drills in mid-July featured the US Typhon mobile ground-based launcher, designed for firing Tomahawk cruise missiles, which have a range up to 1,800km, and SM-6 multipurpose missiles, with a range up to 500km.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated around the same time that Moscow reserves the right to deploy its own intermediate-range missiles “when deemed necessary,” and would not announce it.
Speaking last month, Trump hinted that he would like to resume negotiations with Russia to maintain the existing restrictions on nuclear weapons.
https://www.rt.com/russia/622734-russian-deputy-fm-no-detente-us/
Ukraine will ‘pay dearly’ for Western proxy role – EU state’s leader
11 Aug, 2025 08:17
Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico has described Ukraine as “grass being trampled by elephants” as he warned Kiev that it will suffer for being part of the West’s “unsuccessful strategy to weaken Russia.”
Last week, US President Donald Trump announced that he will meet his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, in Alaska on August 15 to discuss the possible settlement of the conflict between Moscow and Kiev.
Ukraine’s Vladimir Zelensky has not been invited to the talks.
Fico said in a video message on Facebook on Saturday that he is closely following the “fuss” surrounding the summit, while expressing hope that the Russian and US leaders can find “a meaningful solution” to the crisis.
However, Fico, who survived an assassination attempt by a pro-Ukraine activist last year over his opposition to arming Zelensky’s government, claimed that Kiev will nonetheless “pay dearly for the unsuccessful strategy of the West to weaken Russia by supporting the war in Ukraine.”
“Do you remember the old African proverb that I love so much? Would you like me to repeat it? It does not matter if the elephants are fighting or having sex, the grass always suffers.
No matter how the meeting of the elephants on August 15 turns out, the grass will suffer – in this case, it is Ukraine,” he said.
The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry reacted to Fico’s comments on Sunday, accusing him of resorting to “openly offensive rhetoric towards Ukraine and the Ukrainian people, who are fighting… in the interests of the security of the whole of Europe.”
The Slovak leader responded in another Facebook post a few hours later, insisting that he has the right to say what he thinks.
Fico dismissed Kiev’s accusations, but noted that he understands the “tension and nervousness that must prevail in the political leadership of Ukraine” due to the upcoming talks between Putin and Trump.
"The war in Ukraine has deformed freedom of speech in the EU. Any opinion other than a compulsory opinion is harshly criticized and condemned, even if it is based on objective information. I reject such deliberate deformation of fundamental rights,” Fico said.
https://www.rt.com/news/622743-ukraine-putin-trump-fico/
Dozens of Ukrainian drones downed inside Russia – MOD
11 Aug, 2025 10:49
Russian air defenses brought down dozens of Ukrainian drones overnight on Monday, including several targeting Moscow, according to the Defense Ministry.
A total of 59 drones were destroyed during the night and into the morning at sites across the country and over the Black Sea, according to combined ministry statements.
Several hours after the Defense Ministry updates, Moscow Mayor Sergey Sobyanin reported that air defenses had destroyed seven more drones flying towards the capital.
In a series of Telegram posts, Sobyanin said the UAVs had been downed in separate incidents and noted that emergency service specialists were working at the crash sites. He did not report any casualties or damage.
According to three ministry statements released overnight and into Monday, Ukrainian drones targeted Belgorod Region, Bryansk and Kaluga regions, Nizhny Novgorod Region, Crimea, Orlov, Kursk, Voronezh, Ryazan, Moscow and Tula regions.
In recent months, Ukrainian forces have intensified long-range drone operations, striking border areas as well as residential zones and infrastructure deep inside Russia.
Moscow has responded with what it is calling high-precision strikes on Ukrainian military-related facilities, maintaining that its operations are never directed at civilians.
Russia’s national air defense units regularly report intercepting dozens or even hundreds of drones in a single day, but falling debris has caused injuries, damaged property, and disrupted vital services.
Kiev has been under mounting domestic and international pressure to negotiate a settlement with Moscow. Last week, Ukraine’s Vladimir Zelensky rejected a US proposal to consider territorial concessions in exchange for a ceasefire.
https://www.rt.com/russia/622746-russia-downs-dozens-ukrainian-drones/
Hopefully all of them
Ukrainian agents tricking elderly Russians into terrorism – FSB
11 Aug, 2025 05:11
Ukraine’s security and intelligence agencies are using Russian citizens, including elderly women, to carry out suicide missions, Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) has said.
At least five people were targeted in recent plots, the agency claimed in a statement released on Monday.
Using fraud schemes and psychological pressure, Kiev recruited the women through Telegram and WhatsApp, allegedly posing as Russian law enforcement officials and convincing them to cooperate.
According to FSB, the scammers stole the women’s personal funds – including savings from bank accounts and proceeds from property sales.
Under the pretext of recovering these assets, they were tasked with monitoring the homes and vehicles of Russian military personnel, storing improvised explosive devices (IEDs) from hidden caches, and ultimately delivering the devices, disguised as household items, to service members. The plan was to use the women as “human bombs,” the FSB added.
The agency urged the relatives of elderly or socially isolated people, as well as minors, to “educate them about scams and the risks of being drawn into criminal or terrorist activities.”
It also reiterated that Russian officials and financial institutions never request money transfers to so-called “safe accounts” or demand the handover of cash to couriers.
Last month, the head of the State Duma’s Information Policy Committee, Sergey Boyarsky, warned that Telegram could be banned in Russia if it fails to comply with domestic data laws.
“Telegram does not comply with the existing legislation when it comes to the [storage] of personal data… and it will face sanctions, which are most likely to be more severe than now,” he told TASS.
Russian authorities have voiced concerns shared by other countries in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization regarding extremist and radical content being sent via messaging platforms.
Moscow is now promoting “digital sovereignty” and has been encouraging domestic firms to build secure, state-run alternatives.
VK, Russia’s largest social media company, is developing “Max,” a multi-purpose national messaging service which has been likened to China’s WeChat.
https://www.rt.com/russia/622728-ukraine-agents-elderly-russians-terrorism/
IDF kills Hamas terror cell leader posing as ‘Al Jazeera’ journalist
August 12, 2025
The Israel Defense Forces killed Anas al-Sharif, who posed as a journalist for the Qatari Al Jazeera network but was actively serving as the head of a Hamas terrorist cell.
Al-Sharif, who was slain in Gaza City on Saturday, was responsible for orchestrating and advancing rocket attacks against Israeli civilians and IDF troops, the Israeli military said.
The IDF previously released intelligence and recovered many documents in Gaza that confirmed al-Sharif’s “military” role within Hamas.
These materials include personnel rosters, records of terrorist training courses, phone directories and salary documents, all substantiating his involvement as a combatant and commander in Hamas.
The evidence also highlighted al-Sharif’s integration within Al Jazeera, despite the media network’s efforts to distance itself from his activities.
The documents detail al-Sharif’s position as a fighter and cell leader since his enlistment in Hamas in 2013, including his leadership in rocket units and participation in elite Nukhba battalions.
These records not only show clear affiliation with terrorist operations but also outline attempts to use journalistic credentials as a cover for operational activity.
“A terrorist with a camera is still a terrorist! I commend our security forces for eliminating the terrorist Anas Jamal Mahmoud Al-Sharif, who operated under the guise of an Al Jazeera journalist,” Israeli Ambassador to the United Nations Danny Danon wrote in an X post on Sunday.
Col. Avichay Adraee, head of the Arab Media Branch in the IDF, posted pictures on X on Sunday showing al-Sharif taking a selfie with Hamas terror leaders, including Yahya Sinwar and Khalil al-Hayya.
“Only a terrorist sits in the gatherings of terrorists,” Adraee wrote.
Netanyahu: 'We are not going to occupy Gaza'
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Friday reiterated that Israel has no intention of occupying the Gaza Strip, saying the expansion of the war is aimed at destroying Hamas and freeing the local population from its regime of terror.
“We are not going to occupy Gaza—we are going to free Gaza from Hamas,” said Netanyahu.
“Gaza will be demilitarized, and a peaceful civilian administration will be established, one that is not the Palestinian Authority, not Hamas, and not any other terrorist organization,” he continued.
“This will help free our hostages and ensure Gaza does not pose a threat to Israel in the future.”
The Israeli Security Cabinet overnight Thursday decided by a “decisive majority” to approve Netanyahu’s plan to defeat Hamas, including controlling Gaza City.
The Israel Defense Forces will prepare for “taking control of Gaza City, while distributing humanitarian assistance to the civilian population outside the combat zones,” the Prime Minister’s Office said on Friday.
https://voz.us/en/mundo/jns/250811/27766/idf-kills-hamas-terror-cell-leader-posing-as-jazeera-journalist.html
https://twitter.com/IDF/status/1954652255199887516
https://twitter.com/AvichayAdraee/status/1954783796542206432
IDF apprehends add'l weapons dealer in south Syria
Updated: AUGUST 11, 2025 12:20
IDF soldiers of the 226th Brigade, under the command of the 210th Division, apprehended a weapons dealer operating out of Taranjah in southern Syria on Sunday night.
Working off of intelligence gathered by Unit 504, soldiers apprehended and questioned the dealer while others seized all weapons from the area.
Over 100 IDF soldiers, along with reconnaissance aircraft and military vehicles, participated in raids that were carried out in Taranjah on Sunday night, assaulting civilians and conducting searches before withdrawing, Syria TV said.
This is the second time in August that the IDF has arrested arms traffickers in southern Syria. Last week, soldiers of the 226th Brigade entered four locations simultaneously and located numerous weapons that had been trafficked in the Hader area.
Fall of the Assad regime
Since the fall of the Assad regime, the IDF has renewed its efforts in preventing the smuggling and spread of weapons in Syria in order to protect Israel and its citizens.
In early December, it announced its strikes on a chemical weapons factory belonging to the former Syrian president, as well as other military capabilities, to prevent them from falling into rebel hands.
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-863881
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W1DUpSsXw9M
IDF chief lauds outgoing CENTCOM commander as ‘true friend of Israel’
August 11, 2025 12:05 pm
IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir lauds outgoing US Central Command (CENTCOM) chief Gen. Michael Kurilla for his “significant contributions” to Israel’s security and for deepening military cooperation between the two countries.
Kurilla, who ended his tenure last week, visited Israel several weeks ago as Zamir’s official guest. During the visit, Zamir thanked him for advancing US military assistance to Israel, particularly during the ongoing Gaza war and in Operation Rising Lion against Iran, which he said achieved “significant results.”
“You are a true friend of Israel,” Zamir told Kurilla, crediting his leadership with strengthening bilateral ties, fostering personal friendships, and laying “the foundations for a safer and more secure future for our children and grandchildren.”
The IDF describes its relationship with the US military as a strategic asset providing an operational advantage in the Middle East.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/idf-chief-lauds-outgoing-centcom-commander-as-true-friend-of-israel/
https://www.centcom.mil/MEDIA/PRESS-RELEASES/Press-Release-View/Article/4270519/us-central-command-bids-farewell-to-gen-kurilla-welcomes-new-leadership/