TYB
https://www.earthdata.nasa.gov/news/feature-articles/nasa-satellite-data-show-decrease-colorado-river-basin-aquifers
NASA Satellite Data Show Decrease in Colorado River Basin Aquifers
Dec. 5, 2025
The Colorado River is one of the most famous rivers in the United States, in part because of the Grand Canyon and other iconic landscapes it and its tributaries have created.
The river is also notable because its water provides the American Southwest with large reservoirs, notably Lakes Mead and Powell.
Millions of people in this desert region rely on the Colorado River for water, and it is also critical for local agriculture.
Increasing demands for the Colorado River’s water, combined with changing weather patterns in the region, have led to noticeably lower water levels in its major reservoirs.
These declines are easy to see as “bathtub rings” on the shorelines of Lakes Mead and Powell.
The marks of high water levels in the lake, compared to where the current reservoir levels stand, indicate that every drop of this vital resource is being used.
Using Satellite Observations to Monitor Aquifers
Flowing underneath the desert surface are important aquifers that also provide water for the people, industry, and agriculture of the region.
The Colorado River and its reservoirs are not sufficient to meet the regional demand for water, so groundwater has been extracted from the aquifers, causing the aquifers to lose water at an increasing rate during the past 20 years.
Unlike the reservoirs, this loss is not easily perceptible on the surface.
However, the loss in volume can be detected by satellites in space.
By measuring the change in the force of gravity in the region caused by the decreased amount of water in the reservoirs and aquifers, researchers can estimate the volume of water removed.
In a recent study published in Geophysical Research Letters (Abdelmohsen et al. 2025), a research team used gravity data from NASA’s Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) and GRACE Follow-On (GRACE-FO) to determine how much water has been withdrawn from Colorado River Basin aquifers since 2002.
This study also used data from a second NASA source, the North American Land Data Assimilation System (NLDAS), to confirm that the estimates made with GRACE gravity data were accurate.
The results indicate that the reservoirs and the aquifers have lost a combined 52 cubic kilometers of water since 2002.
The reduction of groundwater was 65% of that total, about 34 cubic kilometers. Such a loss is not sustainable, and the risk of running out of freshwater is potentially serious.
Gravity Data from GRACE and GRACE-FO
The GRACE missions are remarkable, both for the data they provide and the technology that is employed to acquire the data.
The concept is simple: two trapezoid-shaped satellites orbit in tandem, with about 220 kilometers between them.
Radio (microwave) signals determine the precise distance between the two satellites, with Global Positioning System (GPS) antennas indicating their orbital positions.
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As Earth’s gravitational field varies under the satellites as they orbit, the distance between the two satellites will vary as they are either pulled away from each other or pushed slightly toward each other.
By taking repeated measurements over numerous orbits, researchers can precisely derive Earth's gravity field from the small variations in the distance between the satellites.
There are two main reasons to measure Earth’s gravity field. One, a precise determination of the gravity field generates baseline data that can be used to measure the variation in the height of the surface of Earth.
For example, such measurements can be used to determine how much a large earthquake has changed the height of Earth’s land surface, including the official altitude of mountain peaks.
Two, measuring the Earth’s gravity field allows researchers to measure variations of Earth's gravity, which is the measurement used to assess the Colorado River Basin Aquifers.
As the amount of water in a given region varies, Earth’s gravity in that region will change as the mass of water increases or decreases.
This variation indicates changes in water storage on the surface of Earth, and underneath the surface as well. That’s where the “climate” part of the GRACE mission name comes from.
The figure below (from Humphrey, Rodell, and Eicker 2023) shows how this works.
The May 2025 map of gravity anomalies has some notable features.
The positive anomalies in the Congo and Amazon rainforest regions are due to the iconic “rainy season,” and this may also account for the positive anomaly in the Sahel region south of the Sahara Desert.
In May 2025, rainfall was higher than normal in the Congo River basin, but approximately normal in the Sahel and the Amazon basin.
This map also clearly shows the negative gravity anomaly in the Colorado River watershed in the U.S. desert Southwest.
This persistent anomaly primarily results from the continued extraction of groundwater from the aquifers in this region, because slightly above average monthly rainfall amounts do not appreciably affect it.
Hydrologic Data from NLDAS
To check the accuracy of the measurements of water loss from the aquifers based on GRACE gravity data, the researchers utilized an independent data source, the North American Land Data Assimilation System (NLDAS).
NLDAS is a system of several land surface models (LSMs), which allow researchers to determine the values of hydrologic variables such as runoff, soil moisture, streamflow, and evaporation.
LSMs use the input data to calculate the output variables. NLDAS models have different assumptions and different equations to calculate the variables, so the model results can be compared and assessed.
For the Colorado River watershed study, researchers used NLDAS data to check the results calculated with GRACE gravity data.
According to Abdelmohsen et al. in their paper, “To assess the accuracy of GRACE data estimates in both the Upper Colorado River Basin and Lower Colorado River Basin, we conducted an independent water mass balance analysis using hydrological fluxes from three models (NOAH, VIC, and Mosaic) from NLDAS, including precipitation, evapotranspiration, and total runoff."
They also used the NLDAS data to calculate groundwater storage. The GRACE data indicated Total Water Storage, the combined amount of water in rivers, lakes, reservoirs, aquifers, soil moisture, and snowpack.
Using the GRACE data in coordination with the NLDAS data thus provided a way to check the accuracy of the results, particularly the important estimate of how much water has been lost from the aquifers.
The results of this research are significant for resource managers in the region to consider, particularly for agricultural interests and communities, including Native American tribal lands.
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Hubble Spots a Storm of New Stars
Dec 05, 2025
This NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope image features a stormy and highly active spiral galaxy named NGC 1792.
Located over 50 million light-years from Earth in the constellation Columba (the Dove), the bright glow of the galaxy’s center is offset by the flocculent and sparkling spiral arms swirling around it.
NGC 1792 is just as fascinating to astronomers as its chaotic look might imply. Classified as a starburst galaxy, it is a powerhouse of star formation, with spiral arms rich in star-forming regions.
In fact, it is surprisingly luminous for its mass. The galaxy is close to a larger neighbor, NGC 1808, and astronomers think the strong gravitational interaction between the two stirred up the reserves of gas in this galaxy.
The result is a torrent of star formation, concentrated on the side closest to its neighbor, where gravity has a stronger effect.
NGC 1792 is a perfect target for astronomers seeking to understand the complex interactions between gas, star clusters, and supernovae in galaxies.
Hubble studied this galaxy before. This new image includes additional data collected throughout 2025, providing a deeper view of the tumultuous activity taking place in the galaxy.
Blossoming red lights in the galaxy’s arms mark Hydrogen-alpha (H-alpha) emission from dense clouds of hydrogen molecules. The newly forming stars within these clouds shine powerfully with ultraviolet radiation.
This intense radiation ionizes the hydrogen gas, stripping away electrons which causes the gas to emit H-alpha light. H-alpha is a very particular red wavelength of light and a tell-tale sign of new stars.
https://science.nasa.gov/missions/hubble/hubble-spots-a-storm-of-new-stars/
Senyar Swamps Sumatra
Dec 05, 2025
Tropical cyclones almost never form over the Strait of Malacca.
The narrow waterway separating Peninsular Malaysia from the Indonesian island of Sumatra sits so close to the equator that the Coriolis effect is usually too weak to allow storms to rotate enough to organize into cyclones.
But on November 25, 2025, meteorologists watched as a tropical depression intensified into Cyclone Senyar—just the second documented case of a tropical cyclone forming in the strait.
Hemmed in by land on both sides, Senyar made landfall in Sumatra later that day as it made a U-turn and headed east toward Malaysia.
As the slow-moving storm passed over Sumatra’s mountainous terrain, it dropped nearly 400 millimeters (16 inches) of rain in many areas, according to satellite-based estimates from NASA’s Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM) mission.
(Due to the averaging of the satellite data, local rainfall amounts may differ when measured from the ground.)
The torrent caused extensive flash floods and landslides in Sumatra’s rugged terrain.
Streams and rivers rapidly overflowed with sediment-laden, debris-filled waters that swept through villages, cities, and towns.
News reports suggest that the damage was worsened by an earthquake that struck on November 27 and the abundance of loose piles of timber in the region that became destructive battering rams in high water.
As of December 4, Indonesian authorities reported several hundred deaths and more than 700,000 displaced people.
The OLI-2 (Operational Land Imager-2) on Landsat 9 captured this image of flooding in Aceh and North Sumatra provinces on November 30, 2025.
Muddy sediment-filled water appears to have swamped much of Lhoksukon, a town of 40,000 people, and several surrounding villages.
Other tropical cyclones and monsoon rains hitting Sri Lanka, Thailand, Malaysia, and Vietnam at roughly the same time have also caused extensive destruction in the broader region.
According to one estimate from the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, flooding has affected more than 10.8 million people in the region and displaced more than 1.2 million.
https://science.nasa.gov/earth/earth-observatory/senyar-swamps-sumatra/
https://gis.bnpb.go.id/BANSORSUMATERA2025/
Back-To-Back Asteroid Approaches Expected Tomorrow: Here’s What NASA Says
Updated Dec 5, 2025, 13:09 IST
Space watchers might want to set an early alarm, because Earth is about to get a double visit from two enormous asteroids tomorrow.
NASA, the renowned space agency has confirmed that Asteroid 2025 WD5 and Asteroid 2025 WF10 are heading in our direction for unusually close flybys.
While neither threatens to collide with Earth, their size and speed make this a moment astronomers aren’t taking lightly.
Asteroid 2025 WD5
The first space rock to swing past us is 2025 WD5, and it’s not a small visitor by any means. This asteroid is roughly 150 feet across, putting it in the airplane-sized category.
It’s racing through space at a blistering 80,955 km/h, which is the kind of speed that makes your morning commute look like a gentle stroll.
NASA says it will make its closest pass at 5:18 AM IST on December 6, coming within 2.99 million kilometres of Earth.
That might sound like a comfortable distance, but in the cosmic neighbourhood, that’s close enough to earn NASA’s full attention.
Asteroid 2025 WF10
A few hours later, another asteroid steps into the spotlight. Asteroid 2025 WF10, measuring around 120 feet, is also making a close approach.
Unlike its speedy companion, this one is comparatively slow, cruising at 15,522 km/h, but that doesn’t make it any less notable.
Its flyby is scheduled for 3:10 PM IST and it will remain 7.01 million kilometres away from Earth. Still, it’s large enough and close enough for astronomers to track it carefully and extract some useful data.
Neither of these asteroids falls under NASA’s “potentially hazardous” category, which is reserved for objects larger than 140 meters that approach within 7.5 million kilometres. These two are big, yes, but not big enough to panic over.
Still, their back-to-back flybys are reminders of how lively our cosmic surroundings are. NASA’s Near-Earth Object Studies team uses ground-based telescopes, radar observations, and massive data models to watch these objects long before they come anywhere near us.
Events like these also give scientists a rare chance to refine asteroid trajectory models, study their surfaces and better understand how to prepare for any future object that might pose a real threat.
https://www.timesnownews.com/technology-science/science/back-to-back-asteroid-approaches-expected-tomorrow-heres-what-nasa-says-article-153249922
https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/asteroid-watch/next-five-approaches/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7C07d_doQ_U
Mark Kelly Says This 'Exciting' Scientific Find Raises Questions Of Life Beyond Earth
Thu, 4 December 2025 at 8:36 pm GMT-8
Retired astronaut and current Sen. Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.) celebrated NASA’s “pretty exciting” announcement on Thursday after the space agency highlighted how scientists found sugars essential for life on samples of a near-Earth asteroid.
While the discovery of the sugars glucose and ribose — which NASA’s OSIRIS-REx spacecraft gathered from the asteroid Bennu — did not indicate “evidence of life,” the findings show that “building blocks of biological molecules were widespread throughout the solar system,” according to NASA.
The space agency noted that the sugars deoxyribose — which wasn’t found in the samples — and ribose are key building blocks of DNA and RNA on Earth.
Yoshihiro Furukawa, a professor at Japan’s Tohoku University who led the team of researchers that made the findings, said that the discovery of ribose means “all of the components” that form RNA are present in the asteroid.
Kelly, in a clip shared on social media, said the findings spark “larger questions about life in the universe” and underscore the importance of federal funding for scientific research.
“We don’t know for sure if there’s life anywhere else, but when you think of the probability, the statistical probability that it exists, maybe there’s life out there,” said Kelly, who recently joked on Stephen Colbert’s late-night show that the U.S. found aliens, but it became a problem when they asked to go to our leader.
Danny Glavin, an astrobiologist at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center and co-investigator on the OSIRIS-REx mission, said in a video that the discovery makes him “much more optimistic” about the search for extraterrestrial life.
“What this means is that these building blocks of life were distributed from the outer solar system all the way into the inner solar system,” Glavin explained.
“They were everywhere, ubiquitous, which really makes me more optimistic that not only could these building blocks have enabled life on Earth, but potentially elsewhere — Mars, Europa, the outer solar system.”
https://nz.news.yahoo.com/mark-kelly-says-exciting-scientific-043651692.html
https://www.nasa.gov/missions/osiris-rex/sugars-gum-stardust-found-in-nasas-asteroid-bennu-samples/
The Apollo 11 Moon Landing Footage is Ridiculous…
Dec 4, 2025
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h24w8f2-ZSM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kMn6sI4X66s (Danny Jones: NASA Apollo Astronaut Finally Faces Off Against #1 Moon Landing Skeptic)
NASA extends ISS National Lab management contract through 2030
Dec. 4, 2025 / 5:41 PM
The Center for Advancement of Science in Space will continue to manage the International Space Station National Laboratory for at least another five years, CASIS announced on Thursday.
CASIS has managed the ISS National Lab since 2011, after Congress created it to enable researchers to build a "robust market" in low Earth orbit by leveraging the unique environment that exists in space, CASIS officials said in a news release.
"For nearly 14 years, NASA has entrusted CASIS with managing this incredible asset for our nation and for the benefit of humanity," said Ramon Lugo, principal investigator and chief executive officer of CASIS.
"We will continue to work in collaboration, pushing the limits of space-based research and development for the benefit of life on Earth while driving a robust and sustainable market economy in space," Lugo added.
The National Lab supports research and development that could not occur on Earth, according to CASIS.
Over the past 14 years, the lab has conducted research into cancer, neurodegenerative diseases, aging, manufacturing done in space, communications technology and more.
Private firms account for about 60% of the more than 940 scientific payloads processed by the National Lab so far, including from Fortune 500 corporations and innovative startups.
The National Lab has supported more than 630 peer-reviewed studies that establish the groundwork for future applications of significant value for humanity, according to CASIS.
Several startups have earned the Boeing- and CASIS-funded Technology in Space Prize, and CASIS in 2025 created the Orbital Edge Accelerator program that allocated $500,000 to each of six startups, with funding coming from global investment partners.
CASIS also works with the U.S. National Science Foundation and the National Institutes of Health to support physical and life sciences studies.
The National Lab in 2024 partnered with NASA's Biological and Physical Sciences Division to award a total of $7 million to fund five projects intended to advance cancer research.
CASIS also supports education programs for students of all ages and that involve the National Lab on the ISS.
The extended National Lab management contract comes as the ISS continues supporting international space endeavors.
The ISS also is slated to receive several cargo flights from the Boeing Starliner, which encountered problems with its propulsion system during a crewed test flight last year.
https://www.upi.com/Science_News/2025/12/04/iss-national-laboratory/7261764886639/
https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/casis-to-manage-the-international-space-station-national-laboratory-through-2030-302633382.html
>The light will be returning in a BIG way and once you all realize what “space” is
December's 'Cold Moon' rises: See breathtaking images of the final full moon of 2025
December 5, 2025
The final full moon of 2025 treated stargazers to a high-flying lunar spectacle as the "Cold Moon" glowed among the stars of the constellation Taurus on Dec. 4.
December's full moon was the third in a string of "Supermoons" — full moons that occur when the moon reaches its closest point to Earth in its monthly orbit. Around this time, it can appear up to 14% larger and 30% brighter than the smallest moon of the year, sometimes known as a "micromoon".
Photographers across the world leapt into action to capture the "Cold Moon" — named for the plummeting early-winter temperatures — as it rose above the eastern horizon on Dec. 4 before soaring high into the Autumn sky.
As such, we have indelible proof that the last full moon of the year provided a dazzling closing act to both the lunar calendar and 2025 as a whole.
Read on to enjoy a selection of the best images of the full "Cold Moon", as captured through the lens of the global astrophotography community.
If you're inspired to try shooting the night sky yourself, be sure to check out our roundups of the best cameras and lenses for astrophotography, along with our guide to imaging the moon.
The full "Cold Supermoon" of December 2025 — in pictures
moar pictures cont.
https://www.space.com/stargazing/decembers-cold-moon-rises-see-breathtaking-images-of-the-final-full-moon-of-2025
The 1st Global Space Awards honors late Apollo 13 astronaut James Lovell on Dec. 5
December 5, 2025
The inaugural Global Space Awards ceremony gets underway this Friday (Dec. 5), as 340 guests converge at a glamorous red carpet event held at London's historic Natural History Museum to celebrate the movers, shakers and investors shaping the space industry today.
Friday's black-tie ceremony — hosted by renowned physicist and science communicator Brian Greene — seeks to establish a "unifying global stage" to recognise the achievements of those fueling the renewed drive to extend humanity's influence out into the solar system.
Its first year drew in over 500 nominations over eight distinct categories ranging from 'Playmaker of the Year' — which will go to an individual whose contributions have impacted the overall trajectory of the space industry — to awards for space investment, scientific breakthroughs, sustainability in space and more.
The winners, as judged by an international panel drawn from academia, policy, finance and industry, will be revealed during the Dec. 5 ceremony, which is dedicated to Gemini and Apollo astronaut James Lovell, following his passing on Aug. 7 earlier this year.
Members of Lovell's family will be in attendance to receive the inaugural James Lovell Legacy Award, which will be bestowed in future years to individuals who "honor the spirit" of the late astronaut.
"The Darwinian theory of evolution serves as the foundation for hosting the Global Space Awards at the Natural History Museum, symbolizing humanity's journey toward a civilization that not only adapts but thrives when utilising innovation from space," Sanjeev Gordhan, a member of the steering committee for the Global Space Awards told Space.com in an email.
"This event highlights the innovation driven by our exploration of the cosmos and our potential to evolve further."
The 50 finalists for the eight awards were given a thematic reveal on Nov. 6, when their names were broadcast from a screen dangling from a high-altitude balloon floating 23,000 miles (37 kilometers) above Earth's surface in the stratosphere.
Stay tuned to find out more about the winners from each category.
https://www.space.com/space-exploration/the-1st-global-space-awards-honors-late-apollo-13-astronaut-james-lovell-on-dec-5
https://globalspaceawards.com/
https://www.youtube.com/@GlobalSpaceAwards
Ancient Chinese texts reveal new clues about the 1st recorded solar eclipse
December 5, 2025
A team of international researchers say they've uncovered new data on the world's first recorded solar eclipse using a surprising source — ancient Chinese texts.
These findings could help us understand more about the progression of the Earth's rotation through the centuries.
The eclipse in question took place on July 17, 709 BCE, according to a chronicle titled "Spring and Autumn Annals." The caveat here is that this record was compiled around two or three centuries after the eclipse happened.
The chronicle comes from the court of Lu Duchy, a vassal state that existed during the Zhou dynasty.
"What makes this record special isn't just its age, but also a later addendum in the 'Hanshu' (Book of Han) based on a quote written seven centuries after the eclipse.
It describes the eclipsed sun as 'completely yellow above and below," lead author Hisashi Hayakawa, a researcher from Nagoya University in central Japan, said in a statement.
According to Hawakawa, this description has been historically associated with a solar corona — the outermost layer of the sun, which peaks out around the edges of the moon as the moon passes between the Earth and sun during an eclipse.
"If this is truly the case, it represents one of the earliest surviving written descriptions of the solar corona," he said.
The team tried verifying the record of the eclipse by modeling the Earth's rotation speed during this time. But they figured out that the eclipse wouldn't be visible from Qufu, the capital city of Lu Duchy, where the chronicle was compiled.
So, they looked at historical geography and archaeological excavation reports. They found out that previous studies used coordinates that were about 4.79 miles (8 kilometers) away from the ancient capital.
"This correction allowed us to accurately measure the Earth's rotation during the total eclipse, calculate the orientation of the Sun's rotation axis, and simulate the corona's appearance," Hayakawa said.
This newly improved dataset, the researchers say, fixes errors in previous studies that looked at the Earth's rotation.
"Additionally, it improves the accuracy of dating and reconstructing historical astronomical events," coauthor Mitsuru Sôma, a researcher from Japan's National Astronomical Observatory, said in a statement.
The one reason why this centuries-old record of an eclipse exists is due to an ancient belief that celestial events carry omens that were related to events of the time.
"They believed strange sky phenomena indicated political wrongdoing by emperors, which motivated careful tracking of eclipses, auroras, and other astronomical events," the release states.
The authors say that their work supports solar cycle studies from dating radiocarbon in tree rings that give scientists data on the levels of cosmic rays from this time period.
"Some of our ancestors were very skilled observers," coauthor Dr. Meng Jin, Lockheed Martin Solar and Astrophysics Laboratory, said in a statement.
"When we combine their careful records with modern computational methods and historical evidence, we can potentially find new information about our planet and our star from thousands of years ago."
https://www.space.com/astronomy/sun/what-can-ancient-chinese-texts-teach-us-about-solar-eclipses-and-earths-rotation
https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1108098
https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.3847/2041-8213/ae0461
SpaceX Launches
Starlink Mission
December 4, 2025
On Thursday, December 4 at 12:42 p.m. PT, Falcon 9 launched 28 Starlink satellites to low-Earth orbit from Space Launch Complex 4 East (SLC-4E) from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California.
This was the fourth flight for the first stage booster supporting this mission, which previously launched Sentinel-6B and now three Starlink missions.
Following stage separation, the first stage landed on the Of Course I Still Love You droneship, which was stationed in the Pacific Ocean.
There was a possibility that residents of Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, and Ventura counties may have heard one or more sonic booms during the launch, but what residents experienced depended on weather and other conditions.
https://www.spacex.com/launches/sl-11-25
Starlink Mission
December 7, 2025 08:13 - 12:13 PT
SpaceX’s Falcon 9 is targeting the launch of 28 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 X TV app.
This is the 12th flight for the first stage booster supporting this mission, which previously launched NROL-126, Transporter-12, SPHEREx, NROL-57, and seven 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-11-15
Ukrainian drone hits business center in southern Russia – media
5 Dec, 2025 06:44
A Ukrainian drone has crashed into a business center in Grozny, the capital of Russia’s Chechen Republic, local media have reported.
Footage has been shared showing the aftermath of the apparent strike, which sparked a fire.
On Friday morning, numerous Russian media outlets published footage of the 145-meter-high building in the city’s downtown, showing smashed windows and flames in one section of the building.
The impact appeared to hit somewhere in the middle floors.
Local authorities have yet to comment on the apparent attack, and there has been no information on potential casualties.
An RT Russian source in law enforcement, however, confirmed that the attack had been carried out by a Ukrainian drone.
Earlier in the day, Russian air traffic authorities introduced temporary restrictions at Grozny Airport.
According to publicly available data, the facility hosts several organizations, including the reception office of the ruling United Russia party, the Auditing Chamber, and a number of state institutions and private businesses.
The complex is less than 1km from the official residence of Ramzan Kadyrov, the head of the republic.
According to the Russian Defense Ministry, air defense systems intercepted and destroyed 41 Ukrainian drones overnight across the country.
Ukrainian forces have routinely launched UAV attacks deep into Russia, often targeting critical infrastructure and civilian buildings. Moscow has denounced the raids as “terrorist attacks.”
https://www.rt.com/russia/629016-ukrainian-drone-hits-business-center/
https://t.me/navideovidno/94680
NATO state issues Black Sea shipping warning
4 Dec, 2025 11:33
The recent naval drone attacks on vessels off Türkiye’s Black Sea coast, reportedly carried out by Ukraine, could make the region inaccessible to trade and human transport, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan has warned.
In the past week, explosives-laden sea drones have struck two oil tankers and another carrying sunflower oil in Turkish territorial waters, according to the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure’s General Directorate of Maritime Affairs.
“It is turning the Black Sea into an area closed to trade and inaccessible to human transport due to the danger it poses,” Fidan told journalists Wednesday, describing the situation as “very frightening.”
The foreign minister also warned that the geography of the Ukraine conflict is “increasingly spreading,” while “the methods being used are becoming widespread.”
The incidents reported by Ankara involve two Gambian-flagged tankers, the Kairos and the Virat, which were struck last week off Türkiye’s coast while en route to the Russian port of Novorossiysk.
Several Western media outlets, citing a Ukrainian state official, reported that the assault was carried out as part of a joint operation involving the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) and Kiev’s navy.
Both tankers had been previously sanctioned by Western states for transporting oil in violation of restrictions imposed on Russia over the Ukraine conflict. Moscow has denied operating a “shadow fleet.”
Earlier this week, the Turkish Transport Ministry said that the Russian-flagged tanker MIDVOLGA-2, carrying sunflower oil, was attacked about 80 miles (120km) off the country’s coast while en route to Georgia. Kiev has denied attacking the tanker.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Monday that attacks on commercial ships in the country’s Exclusive Economic Zone are unacceptable, warning against “a worrying escalation.”
The Russian Foreign Ministry has denounced the raids as “terrorist attacks,” with Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov also accusing Ukraine of encroaching on Turkish sovereignty.
Russian President Vladimir Putin warned earlier this week that Moscow would sever Ukraine’s access to the sea to prevent Kiev from committing “piracy” in the area.
https://www.rt.com/news/628921-turkiye-black-sea-warning-ukraine/
Russian sources report drone attacks on Syzran oil refinery, Temryuk port, and Grozny-City in Chechnya
05.12.2025 10:35
A group of drones struck several fuel and energy facilities in various regions of Russia during the night of December 5.
According to Ukrinform, ASTRA reported this on Telegram.
Local residents reported an attack on the oil refinery in Syzran, Samara region.
The mayor of Syzran later confirmed a drone attack on the city.
The Russian BBC service notes that the operational headquarters of Krasnodar Krai reported that the drone strike damaged the seaport of Temryuk (on the Azov sea, near Kerch): drones damaged "elements of the port infrastructure in Temryuk," causing a fire.
"According to preliminary information, there are no casualties, and personnel have been evacuated," emergency services reported.
ASTRA's OSINT analysis shows that a gas terminal in the commercial seaport of Temryuk is on fire.
In addition, according to ASTRA, drones attacked a building of the Grozny-City complex in Grozny. The building houses the Chechen Security Council, the Audit Chamber, and the election commission.
The Russian Ministry of Defense claims that during the night before Friday, air defense forces intercepted and destroyed 41 Ukrainian drones.
As Ukrinform reported, during the night before December 3, the Russian Ministry of Defense claimed 102 intercepted and destroyed drones that allegedly attacked Russian regions.
Regional authorities in Russia confirmed strikes on an oil depot in Tambov region and damage to fuel tanks in Voronezh region.
https://www.ukrinform.net/rubric-ato/4066323-russian-sources-report-drone-attacks-on-syzran-oil-refinery-temryuk-port-and-groznycity-in-chechnya.html
https://t.me/astrapress/98896
https://t.me/astrapress/98882
other Russia and Ukraine
https://defence-blog.com/ukrainian-drones-strike-su-24-bomber-in-crimea/
https://united24media.com/latest-news/russian-drone-attack-in-kharkiv-region-kills-two-men-loading-firewood-14059
https://discoveryalert.com.au/strategic-energy-infrastructure-geopolitical-pressure-2025/
https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidhambling/2025/12/05/russia-shuts-down-phone-networks-at-night-to-stop-drone-attacks/
https://www.ukrinform.net/rubric-ato/4066271-ukrainian-border-guards-wipe-out-russian-drone-launch-site-in-kursk-sector.html
https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/world-news/spy-hq-attacked-ukraine-russian-36357073
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-879162
other Israel
https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/idf-says-it-killed-terror-operative-approaching-troops-in-gaza-today/
https://vinnews.com/2025/12/05/idf-foils-drone-weapons-smuggling-attempt-from-jordan/
https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/2025-12-05/ty-article/.premium/idf-officer-who-fought-on-oct-7-dies-by-suicide/0000019a-ecde-dc6c-a3ff-ecdf9f8a0000
https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/pa-health-ministry-38-year-old-man-killed-by-idf-gunfire-south-of-nablus/
https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/zamir-urges-external-probe-into-oct-7-failures-but-avoids-calling-for-state-inquiry/
https://www.timesofisrael.com/idf-declares-trial-of-women-combat-engineers-in-elite-yahalom-unit-a-success/
https://www.jns.org/israeli-forces-conduct-major-sweep-in-samarias-qalqilya/
https://www.mid-day.com/news/world-news/article/israel-strikes-hezbollah-weapons-storage-sites-in-southern-lebanon-23606386
https://www.ynetnews.com/magazine/article/by3vgd611we
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/418839
Netanyahu taps military secretary Roman Gofman as next Mossad chief in surprise move
Updated: DECEMBER 4, 2025 22:35
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday selected Maj.-Gen. Roman Gofman, his current military secretary, to be the next Mossad director.
Gofman is multitalented and “has demonstrated creativity, initiative, stratagem, a deep understanding of the enemy, profound discretion, and the capability to safeguard secrets,” the Prime Minister’s Office said.
“These qualities, as well as his leadership and courage, were evident at the outbreak of the [Israel-Hamas War], when he rushed from his home and fought in person against Hamas terrorists in the Western Negev, where he was severely wounded,” it said.
Netanyahu said Gofman, who has never been in the Mossad, had worked closely with the Mossad and all the other defense agencies on his behalf as military secretary.
Mossad Director David Barnea is due to conclude his five-year term next June.
Netanyahu overlooks leading candidate for Mossad chief role
The choice of Gofman was a surprise, as the leading candidate to replace Barnea was expected to be “A,” a senior Mossad commander.
Mossad sources were highly circumspect with The Jerusalem Post regarding what to expect during his term.
Even “A” would not have been a traditional pick for Mossad director. The last three Mossad directors – Tamir Pardo (2011-2016), Yossi Cohen (2016-2021), and Barnea – had served as the deputy director before being appointed to the top post.
There were divergent views among Mossad officials regarding “A,” the Post was told.
Nevertheless, “A” had serious support within the Mossad, the Post had also learned. It appeared that some had calculated that it was better to support “A,” even though he was not the deputy director, given that he was from within the agency.
There appeared to be concerns that Netanyahu would try to appoint an outsider, as he recently did when naming David Zini, another IDF major-general, to head the Shin Bet, even though Zini had never served in the domestic intelligence agency.
Some Mossad sources said Barnea had pushed out other potential candidates from the spy agency, paving the way for an outside hire.
Netanyahu's frustration with Israel's top defense chiefs
During the 2023 judicial overhaul crisis and since the October 7 massacre and the ensuing Middle East war, Netanyahu was said to be repeatedly frustrated with the heads of the IDF, Shin Bet, and Mossad for not toeing the line on various controversial issues.
Former IDF chief of staff Lt.-Gen. (ret.) Herzi Halevi, former Shin Bet director Ronen Bar, and Barnea all allowed many of their officers to protest the judicial overhaul, provided they did so in uniform.
While this was within their free-speech rights, it was said to have infuriated Netanyahu.
The three chiefs repeatedly suggested ending the war earlier than Netanyahu would agree to – including a willingness to concede to Hamas on certain terms that Netanyahu would not – in exchange for an earlier hostage-return deal.
Netanyahu also blamed Halevi and Bar for the October 7 massacre and criticized Bar for probing his aides in the “Qatargate” affair.
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This annoyed Netanyahu even more, and many have suggested this was a large part of why he appointed an outsider, such as Zini, who might feel more beholden to him.
Barnea was generally viewed most favorably by Netanyahu among the top three chiefs, and the Mossad director tried harder than the others to avoid any public disagreements with him.
Nevertheless, the choice of Gofman suggested that Netanyahu still viewed Barnea as acting too independently, and he preferred a complete outsider who would back him on controversial issues, even if it meant conflict with officials within the Mossad.
Gofman is far from the first outsider to run the Mossad.
Then-prime minister Ariel Sharon appointed Meir Dagan, who had been part of the IDF high command, as an outsider to run the Mossad from 2002 to 2011, while encouraging the agency to be more aggressive, and he was considered one of the agency’s most successful directors.
Acting prime minister Shimon Peres appointed Danny Yatom, a member of the IDF high command, to lead the Mossad from 1996 to 1998. Yatom had to resign mid-term due to a failed assassination attempt of then Hamas chief Khaled Mashaal that became public.
Both Dagan and Yatom, however, held more senior positions than Gofman, serving in multiple posts as major-generals. Gofman is just more than 18 months into his first major-general position, a role in which officers typically serve for about three years.
Both Zini and Gofman were viewed as outsiders even among the IDF high command. Zini was headed toward retirement if he had not received the Shin Bet appointment and had never served in one of the high command’s more celebrated posts.
There were tensions between Gofman and former IDF chiefs Gadi Eisenkot (2015-2019) and Halevi (2023-March 2025), and there have reportedly been some tensions between him and current IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Eyal Zamir.
But the Post understands that Zamir is fully supportive of Gofman in his new role and has had many positive experiences working with him in prior roles.
Furthermore, Mossad chiefs who were closer to Netanyahu, as is Gofman, who is coming straight from working with Netanyahu on a daily basis, have had freer hands and wider support for new expensive programs than directors with less close relations.
Gofman’s appointment to the role was to be presented to the Advisory Committee for Appointments to Senior Positions, which is led by former chief justice Asher Grunis, later on Thursday.
He was briefly under investigation for allegedly managing an operation in which he used an underage 17-year-old to spread and leak information about psychological warfare against Israeli adversaries.
The minor was extensively interrogated by Shin Bet and later indicted for allegedly leaking state secrets to the enemy.
Although Gofman managed aspects of the operation and was allegedly illegally using a minor for operations that require having reached the age of 18, from the vantage point of what Gofman knew, his actions were definitely in Israel’s national interests and at most were a disciplinary violation, for which he did receive a letter of censure in his file, sources told the Post.
Gofman’s supporters said the case had merely shown he was willing to take risks to achieve Israel’s interests against difficult adversaries, and that all such operations can go sideways, but that they prefer risk-takers over officials who are not bold enough.
The Prime Minister’s Office listed Gofman’s credentials, including that he had served as a “fighter and commander in the Armored Corps [and as] a battalion commander in the 75th Battalion in the 7th Brigade.”
Additionally, Gofman was an officer in the 36th Division, the Etzion Brigade, and the 7th Brigade, it said.
Furthermore, Gofman was the commander of the 210th Division, the National Ground Forces Training Center, and a senior officer in COGAT, it added.
Gofman has been in his current role as the prime minister’s military secretary since May 2024, including involvement in Israel’s successful operations against Hezbollah in Lebanon, the military forces of the fallen Syrian Assad regime, and Iran.
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Crews battle fire near Roswell airport
Updated: Dec 5, 2025 / 10:18 AM MST
KRQE News 13 is working to learn more about a large fire that broke out near the Roswell International Air Center Thursday evening.
According to the City of Roswell’s Emergency Management Facebook page, multiple fire crews were dispatched to the blaze at the Aersale facility, but the Roswell Fire Department said they could not confirm which specific building was on fire.
It’s not known if there were any injuries. A passerby reported the fire just before 8 p.m. The fire was declared under control at 9:45 p.m.
https://www.krqe.com/news/new-mexico/crews-battle-fire-near-roswell-airport/