TYB
https://www.cbr.com/star-trek-deep-space-nine-best-sisko-line/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MuBqfZ6Osbg (Star Trek Deep Space Nine S1 E1: EMISSARY TIME IS LINEAR PART 1 - 4)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oCNYBhVnSzQ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tu2E1OWJoFE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nQrHBhBUbZY
33 Years Later, Sisko’s Greatest Deep Space Nine Line Still Defines All of Star Trek
January 8, 2026
Star Trek has always been about exploration, discovery, and acceptance of different species across the universe.
These ideas have been expressed through allegory across every series and film, with each new captain putting forth their own interpretation of Starfleet’s mission and the values it represents.
One captain who articulated these values more distinctly than most was Deep Space Nine’s Benjamin Sisko (Avery Brooks).
In the series’ opening episode, “Emissary,” Sisko delivers a monologue that encapsulates Starfleet's pursuit of knowledge and understanding more so than any other line in the franchise.
Sisko Uses Baseball as an Analogy for Linear Time in Deep Space Nine
In Star Trek: Deep Space Nine’s opening episode, Commander Sisko enters a newly discovered wormhole aboard the USS Rio Grande.
Inside, he meets the Prophets, non-physical beings who take the forms of people he knows, including his son, Jake (Cirroc Lofton), and late wife, Jennifer (Felecia M. Bell).
The Prophets experience time differently than humans, seeing the past, present, and future all at once. Because Sisko experiences time linearly, they view him as a destructive being who doesn't understand the consequences of his actions, which Sisko disputes.
Sisko attempts to explain things like cause, effect, and loss, using his memories and experiences to communicate. For example, he recalls the day he met Jennifer on the beach, explaining how marrying her meant accepting all consequences, including the birth of their son.
With the Prophets beginning to understand but in need of further clarification, Sisko uses baseball as an example.
He explains that when he throws a baseball, anything can happen, and people respond to each moment as it unfolds. This allows the game to take shape even though no one knows the outcome in advance.
Asked why he values not knowing the future, Sisko explains that the unknown defines human existence, delivering the iconic Star Trek quote, “We are constantly searching. Not just for answers to our questions, but for new questions.”
He then goes on to explain that humans are explorers and search the galaxy to expand the boundaries of their knowledge. That he isn’t there to defeat them with weapons, but with ideas, so that they can coexist.
Star Trek Has Always Been About the Pursuit of Knowledge and Understanding
Articulated in the mission statement of TOS, which is “to explore strange new worlds, to seek out new life and new civilizations,” Star Trek is about approaching the unknown with curiosity and respect.
To expand knowledge, seek out new experiences, and instill peace across the universe. This is explained through the Prime Directive, Starfleet’s guiding principle.
Per the directive, which was first introduced in the TOS episode “The Return of the Archons” (Season 1, Episode 21), Starfleet officers must learn and respect different species’ customs before attacking or making contact.
The directive has been referenced and implemented numerous times across the franchise.
While there have been breaches, such as in “Miri” (TOS Season 1, Episode 8), when Kirk’s decision to vaccinate the children went against the rule not to interfere with pre-warp civilizations, such exceptions were always made to prevent harm or preserve life.
Across all series, every crew of Starfleet has continuously upheld the pursuit of knowledge.
1/2
This dedication to exploration and understanding has been articulated across the franchise in several memorable lines.
At the end of Star Trek: TNG’s opening episode, Picard (Patrick Stewart) declares, “Let’s see what’s out there,” an expression of Starfleet’s mission to explore, observe, and learn.
In Season 5, Episode 19, “The First Duty,” Picard tells Wesley, “The first duty of every Starfleet officer is to the truth, whether it's scientific truth, or historical truth, or personal truth.”
Again, delivered with Stewart’s typical authority, this line represents Starfleet’s commitment to honesty and understanding, even when the consequences are difficult or uncertain.
In practice, Starfleet officers engage with new cultures and individuals with respect for differences.
In the Star Trek episode“The Devil in the Dark” (Season 1, Episode 25), Kirk and the crew come across the Horta, an alien being killing miners.
Rather than destroying it, they attempt to reason with and understand its motivations, discovering that it’s protecting its eggs.
In the TNG episode “Who Watches the Watchers” (Season 3, Episode 4), the Enterprise studies the Mintakans, a pre-warp civilization, to gather anthropological knowledge.
In DS9’s “Captive Pursuit” (Season 1, Episode 6), O’Brien studies the alien Tosk and the cultural norms of his hunters, gathering information about their rituals before intervening.
In nearly every episode and film across the franchise, logic and reasoning guide their decisions.
The basis of every mission is the pursuit of understanding, whether by studying a new civilization, investigating scientific phenomena, or uncovering the truths of the galaxy.
Sisko’s Line in Deep Space Nine’s Opening Episode Sums Up Starfleet’s Purpose
Picard is often credited as one of the wisest captains in Star Trek history. While this is a fair assumption, given his many speeches on ethics and values, other captains are equally deserving of such credit, especially Sisko.
It’s the context behind Sisko’s speeches that gives them impact. In the case of the baseball analogy, by explicitly linking the human experience of linear time to the value of the unknown, the monologue is the most coherent and definitive statement of the franchise’s meaning.
More so because he expresses Starfleet’s purpose through reasoning, not just proclamation. Unlike Picard at the end of “Encounter at Farpoint,” who states the mission of exploration, Sisko shows why that mission matters.
He emphasizes that not knowing the future is one of humanity’s greatest advantages, opening doors to understanding and knowledge that would otherwise remain closed. Like baseball, the uncertainty of life allows discovery and the possibility of peace.
Certainty, as shown through other species across the franchise, like Lokai and Bele in the controversial episode “Let That Be Your Last Battlefield” (TOS Season 3, Episode 15), would remove both.
Knowledge and understanding are the answer to coexistence between species, and that is what Starfleet aims to achieve.
These ideas come together in Sisko’s monologue, communicating clearly that the franchise is about relying on humanity’s capacity to grow and meet challenges with thought and understanding.
Within these words lies Star Trek’s promise that there is always more to explore, understand, and achieve.
2/2
https://www.seti.org/news/seti-institute-in-the-news-december-roundup-2025/
SETI Institute In the News: December Roundup 2025
Wednesday, Jan 07, 2026
At A Glance
-
3I/ATLAS: Could an Interstellar “Gardener” Have Seeded Life on Earth?: Sofia Sheikh led efforts to evaluate claims about 3I/ATLAS by conducting targeted technosignature searches, finding no credible artificial signals and reinforcing its classification as a natural comet.
-
5 Places Where Aliens Might Actually Exist: A broad overview of environments considered promising for life, including Mars, icy ocean worlds, dwarf planets, and exoplanets, features Nathalie Cabrol, Director of the Carl Sagan Center at the SETI Institute, highlighting SETI’s combined biosignature and technosignature approach.
-
Slow changes in radio scintillation can nudge pulsar timing by billionths of a second: A SETI Institute–led study using the Allen Telescope Array shows that slow, large-scale scintillation effects can introduce nanosecond-scale timing shifts in pulsar observations, improving precision for pulsar timing experiments and helping distinguish natural signals from radio interference.
-
Uranus's small moons are dark, red, and water-poor: James Webb observations show Uranus’s inner moons are darker, redder, and water-poor compared to outer satellites, with orbital offsets revealing a dynamically complex system; Matija Ćuk of the SETI Institute notes these findings offer insight into moon–ring interactions.
This month’s highlights range from careful scientific evaluation of speculation surrounding interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS to broader discussions of where life might exist beyond Earth, informed by SETI’s integrated approach to biosignatures and technosignatures.
Other features examine advances in radio astronomy that improve the precision of pulsar timing and new observations from the James Webb Space Telescope revealing the complex and evolving system of Uranus’s small moons.
Together, these stories underscore the SETI Institute’s commitment to rigorous methods, open data, and thoughtful exploration of the universe.
3I/ATLAS: Could an Interstellar “Gardener” Have Seeded Life on Earth?
The arrival of object 3I/ATLAS has reignited debate over whether such visitors are purely natural or could represent extraterrestrial technology.
Harvard astrophysicist Avi Loeb has argued that certain features of 3I/ATLAS, such as its trajectory and reported rhythmic brightening, could be consistent with “directed panspermia.”
However, the prevailing scientific consensus, including analyses by NASA and independent astronomers, including from the SETI Institute, continues to classify 3I/ATLAS as a natural interstellar comet, citing its dust production, gas emissions, and overall cometary behavior.
Many researchers emphasize that extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence.
Sofia Sheikh, a technosignature researcher at the SETI Institute, explains how SETI Institute scientists search for evidence of technology by analyzing narrowband radio signals, while rigorously filtering out terrestrial interference.
To date, no credible artificial signals have been detected from 3I/ATLAS. This episode underscores the value of open data, careful skepticism, and coordinated observations when evaluating rare interstellar visitors.
1/2
Are We Alone? Scientists Map the Most Promising Places for Alien Life
The question of whether humanity is alone in the universe remains central to modern science, and the SETI Institute continues to address it through a broad, interdisciplinary approach.
Dr. Nathalie Cabrol, Director of the Carl Sagan Center at the SETI Institute, emphasizes the Institute’s end-to-end perspective on life in the cosmos.
“SETI is the only Institute in the world that is searching for life in the universe, from its origin and nature to the search for extraterrestrial intelligence,” she explains. “We go from beginning to end.”
From icy ocean worlds to distant exoplanets, SETI Institute scientists examine where life might arise and how it could persist, while grappling with the enduring Fermi paradox.
Mars remains a prime target, with NASA’s Perseverance and Curiosity rovers probing its ancient environments. Beyond Mars, ocean worlds such as Europa, Enceladus, Titan, along with dwarf planets like Ceres and Pluto, offer compelling possibilities.
Looking farther still, missions including James Webb, TESS, and ESA’s Ariel survey exoplanets for signs of habitability or technology.
Slow Radio Scintillation Can Subtly Shift Pulsar Timing
A SETI Institute–led study has shown that slow changes in radio scintillation, the “twinkling” of radio signals caused by interstellar gas, can shift pulsar timing by billionths of a second.
Over ten months, researchers monitored pulsar PSR J0332+5434 using the Allen Telescope Array, tracking how its radio pulses scattered across frequencies between 900 and 1,956 MHz.
Published in The Astrophysical Journal, the study found that evolving scintillation patterns can introduce timing delays of tens of nanoseconds, a small but significant effect for ultra-precise pulsar experiments.
Project lead Grayce Brown notes that understanding and correcting these delays is essential for studies ranging from gravitational-wave detection to SETI.
Co-author Dr. Sofia Sheikh highlights that the ATA’s wide bandwidth and long-term observing capability help distinguish natural cosmic signals from human-made radio interference.
Uranus’s Small Moons Are Dark, Red, and Water-Poor
New infrared observations from James Webb Space Telescope reveal that Uranus’s small inner moons are significantly darker, redder, and more depleted in water ice than the planet’s larger outer satellites.
The study led by Matt Hedman used February 2025 data to characterize several tiny moons and identify a new candidate moon, S/2025 U1, near Uranus's epsilon ring.
Lead author Jacob Herman reports that while inner moons share similar surface properties, Mab stands out as bluer and more water-rich, resembling the nearby major moon Miranda.
By comparing current positions to Voyager 2 predictions, researchers found that several moons, particularly Perdita and Cupid, are offset from their expected orbits, highlighting the system’s dynamical complexity.
Matija Ćuk of the SETI Institute notes that these discrepancies provide valuable insights into the interactions between Uranus’s moons and rings.
2/2
Kiev mayor urges residents to evacuate
9 Jan, 2026 16:32
Kiev Mayor Vitaly Klitschko has urged the city’s residents to evacuate, stating that some 6,000 apartment buildings in the Ukrainian capital have been left without central heating. Klitschko blamed the “extremely difficult situation” in the city on overnight Russian strikes.
Moscow has said it targeted drone production facilities, energy infrastructure, and other military-related facilities across Ukraine in response to an attempted “terrorist attack by the Kiev regime” on Russian President Vladimir Putin’s residence in late December.
“I appeal to residents of the capital who have the opportunity to temporarily leave the city, where there are alternative sources of power and heat, to do so,” Klitschko wrote on his Telegram channel, stating the overnight attack became the most “painful” for the city of three million amid the Ukraine conflict.
According to the mayor, nearly half of Kiev’s residential buildings ended up without central heating after the strikes. An unspecified number of buildings have also been hit by water supply disruptions.
He said that the city’s authorities “hope” to restore central heating for “some” of the affected buildings by the evening. The situation in the city is further aggravated by heavy snowfall and low temperatures.
In a follow-up post, Klitschko urged those residents who still have access to amenities to help less fortunate citizens and “invite them to warm up or cook food.”
The mayor also reminded the residents that the capital has some 1,200 heating stations, so-called “points of unbreakability,” where people can warm up, get hot food, and charge their electronic devices.
Russia has ramped up its long-range strikes campaign against Ukraine’s military and dual-use infrastructure in recent months.
According to Moscow, the ongoing wave of strikes comes in response to the continuous effort of the Ukrainian military to attack Russia’s energy infrastructure, as well as to indiscriminate strikes on civilians.
In Russia’s Belgorod Region, over half a million people were left without power after overnight Ukrainian airstrikes, according to Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov, with temperatures near freezing.
In addition, over half a million were left without heat and over 200,000 were let without water and sanitation services. The city of Oryol reportedly also faced heavy blackouts.
https://www.rt.com/russia/630764-kiev-mayor-residents-evacuation/
somehwere in that silver bucket thingy
Ukrainian strikes have left 550,000 without power in western Russia – governor
9 Jan, 2026 02:14
Ukrainian strikes have caused massive power outages in Russia’s western region of Belgorod.
Belgorod, a city of 330,000 people, has frequently been targeted by Ukrainian drones and rockets since the armed conflict between Moscow and Kiev began in 2022.
The regional governor, Vyacheslav Gladkov, said Friday that an overnight missile strike had caused “serious damage” to an unspecified infrastructure site.
He added that there were no casualties and that first responders were at the scene.
Gladkov later said in a video message on his Telegram channel that as of 6am local time, outages were affecting 556,000 people across six municipalities.
He added that around 2,000 apartment buildings had lost heating and nearly 200,000 people were without running water in their homes.
Belgorod’s temperature on Friday morning was around 2 °C (36 °F) and is expected to drop to −5 °C (23 °F) over the weekend.
Telegram news channels reported that air raid sirens were activated, followed shortly by a loud explosion. According to reports, a power plant may have been hit.
READ MORE: Suspected Oreshnik missile strike captured in Ukraine (VIDEO)
Russia has repeatedly accused Ukraine of striking civilian targets, including with weapons supplied by the West.
On the same night, Ukrainian officials reported drone strikes and blackouts in Kiev.
The Russian Defense Ministry has previously said that Moscow targets parts of the grid used to power Ukraine’s weapons manufacturing industry.
https://www.rt.com/russia/630747-belgorod-ukraine-attack-blackout/
Oreshnik strike a response for attack on Putin’s residence – Russia
9 Jan, 2026 06:19
Russia’s cutting-edge Oreshnik hypersonic ballistic missile system was used in the latest strike targeting drone production facilities, energy infrastructure and other military-related facilities inside Ukraine, the Defense Ministry in Moscow has said.
The overnight bombardment was carried out in response to an attempted “terrorist attack by the Kiev regime” on the residence of Russian President Vladimir Putin in Novgorod Region, the ministry said in a statement on Friday.
On December 28-29, Ukraine launched 91 long-range UAVs at the presidential compound. All of the drones were shot down by air defenses, with Moscow promising retaliation.
According to the ministry, Russia deployed other types of long-range land- and sea-based high-precision weapons, as well as drones, during the attack.
Its targets included drone production facilities and energy infrastructure that powers the Ukrainian military-industrial complex, the statement read. “The objectives of the strike have been achieved,” it added.
“None of the terrorist actions by the criminal Ukrainian regime will go unanswered,” the ministry warned.
Late Thursday evening, an unverified video of a suspected Russian Oreshnik hypersonic missile strike in western Ukraine was published on social media.
CCTV footage from Lviv Region, which borders Poland, captured numerous projectiles coming down from the skies in rapid succession, which is characteristic of the system.
Lviv Mayor Andrey Sadovoy said “a piece of critical infrastructure” had been hit in the region. Russian Telegram channels suggested that the Oreshnik struck an underground gas facility in the city of Striy, about 60km south of Lviv.
It is the second time that Moscow has used its state-of-the-art nuclear-capable ballistic missile. In November 2024, it fired the Oreshnik at a weapons plant in the Ukrainian city of Dnepr in what it described as a successful “combat test.”
Since then, mass production of the system has begun, with Russia also deploying it on the territory of its close ally, Belarus, in late 2025.
Putin has said previously that the Oreshnik has no equals anywhere in the world, comparing its power to a “falling meteor.”
According to the Russian president, the system carries dozens of homing warheads capable of hitting multiple targets, while traveling ten times faster than the speed of sound.
“Anything located in the strike center is obliterated into elemental particles, reduced to dust,” he stressed.
https://www.rt.com/russia/630749-ukraine-hit-with-oreshnik-in/
https://www.rt.com/russia/630746-suspected-oreshnik-strikes-video/
Russian drone damaged Qatar's embassy building at night - Zelenskyy
09 January 2026, Friday, 13:52
The russian invaders' attack on Kyiv on the night of January 9 damaged the building of the Qatari embassy. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced this on his Telegram channel.
"In addition to our usual civilian infrastructure and energy facilities, last night a Russian drone damaged the building of the Qatari Embassy. A state that is doing so much to mediate with Russia to release prisoners of war and civilians held in Russian prisons," he wrote.
According to the president, at night russia used 242 drones, 13 ballistic missiles, one Oreshnik medium-range ballistic missile, and 22 cruise missiles against energy and civilian infrastructure.
"We are doing everything possible to restore heating and electricity to people. Today there will be a meeting of the Energy Headquarters, where I expect a report on all the details of the restoration work - the timing, the necessary equipment, the responsible persons," Zelenskyy said.
The President also emphasized that a clear response from the world is needed.
"First of all, the United States, which is really taken into account in Russia. Russia must receive signals that it is its duty to focus on diplomacy and to feel the consequences every time it focuses on killing and destroying infrastructure.
Also, today's strike reminds all our partners in the loudest possible voice that support for air defense is a constant priority for Ukraine," he added.
As a reminder, the russian attack in Kyiv killed 4 people, including one medical worker, and four more were injured. Also among the victims are employees of the State Emergency Service.
https://ukranews.com/en/news/1127397-russian-drone-damaged-qatar-s-embassy-building-at-night-zelenskyy
other Russia and Ukraine
https://en.defence-ua.com/news/ukrainian_fp_2_strike_drones_hit_fuel_depot_in_crimea_ammo_warehouse_in_donetsk-17097.html
https://zamin.uz/en/world/181382-russias-massive-strike-on-kryvyi-rih-missile-drone-blackout.html
https://www.pravda.com.ua/eng/news/2026/01/09/8015307/
https://www.slashgear.com/2068798/ukraine-motor-g-drone-400-kmh/
https://euromaidanpress.com/2026/01/09/okhotnik-is-back/
https://www.timesofisrael.com/idf-strikes-hezbollah-weapons-sites-and-launchers-in-southern-lebanon/
https://twitter.com/QudsNen/status/2009581465177317883
other Israel
https://worldisraelnews.com/watch-idf-arrests-dozens-of-terrorists-in-week-long-operation-in-judea-and-samaria/
https://www.haaretz.com/gaza/2026-01-09/ty-article/.premium/gaza-medical-officials-report-13-people-killed-in-idf-strikes-since-thursday/0000019b-a1d1-dd67-a9ff-abd39fa70000
https://www.jns.org/idf-paratroopers-detain-300-terrorists-during-five-month-mission/
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/defense-news/article-882810
https://www.ynetnews.com/article/hyee7ianwx
https://www.dvidshub.net/news/555890/us-army-reserve-physician-joined-international-team-study-and-advise-israeli-defense-force-combat-casualty-care
IDF strikes Hezbollah, day after Lebanese army said it had disarmed terror group in south
January 9, 2026 3:14 pm Updated at 3:58 pm
The Israel Defense Forces said it struck Hezbollah targets in several areas of Lebanon on Friday, a day after the Lebanese army said it had completed the first phase of its plan to disarm the terror group in Lebanon’s south.
Lebanese media reported Israeli strikes in the south of the country.
Under heavy US pressure and amid fears of expanded Israeli strikes, Lebanon has committed to disarming Iran-backed Hezbollah, which was weakened by more than a year of hostilities with Israel, including two months of all-out war, that started when the group attacked Israel on October 8, 2023, and ended with a November 2024 ceasefire.
Despite the truce, Israel has kept up regular strikes in Lebanon against Hezbollah sites and operatives, and has maintained troops in five south Lebanon areas it deems strategic, accusing the group of rearming.
In a statement on Friday, the Israeli military said it struck “several areas in Lebanon,” targeting “weapons storage facilities and a weapons production site that were used for the rehabilitation and military build-up of the Hezbollah terrorist organization.”
“Additionally, several launch sites and rocket launchers, along with military structures, were struck,” it added.
According to the military, the facilities were being used to “advance terror attacks against the State of Israel and IDF soldiers.”
The IDF said the activity at the targeted sites constituted a violation of the ceasefire understandings between Israel and Lebanon.
The military added that it will continue to act to remove any threat to the State of Israel. No casualties were immediately reported.
The strikes came a day after Lebanese official media said a strike killed one person near the southern city of Sidon, as Israel’s army said it targeted a Hezbollah operative.
Lebanon’s army said Thursday it had “achieved the objectives of the first phase” of its plan to disarm Hezbollah, covering the area south of the Litani River — around 30 kilometers (20 miles) from the Israeli border — with the intention to extend it to the rest of the country.
1/2
‘New approach’ needed
On Friday, Lebanese Foreign Minister Youssef Raggi urged his visiting Iranian counterpart to change course on the thorny issue of disarming the Iran-backed Hezbollah terror group.
Iran has long wielded substantial influence in Lebanon by funding and arming Hezbollah, but as the balance of power shifted since the recent conflict, officials have been more critical of Tehran.
Last August, Lebanese leaders firmly rejected any efforts at foreign interference during a visit by Iran’s security chief Ali Larijani, with the prime minister saying Beirut would “tolerate neither tutelage nor diktat” after Tehran voiced opposition to plans to disarm Hezbollah.
“The defense of Lebanon is the sole responsibility of the Lebanese state,” which must have a monopoly on weapons, Raggi told Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, a Lebanese Foreign Ministry statement said.
Raggi called on Iran to engage in talks with Lebanon to find “a new approach to the issue of Hezbollah’s weapons, drawing on Iran’s relationship with the party, so that these weapons do not become a pretext for weakening Lebanon.”
He asked Araghchi “whether Tehran would accept the presence of an illegal armed organization on its own territory.”
Last month, Raggi declined an invitation to visit Iran and proposed meeting in a neutral third country.
Araghchi also met Lebanon’s President Joseph Aoun on Friday and was set to hold talks with several other senior officials.
After arriving on Thursday, he visited the mausoleum of former Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, who was killed in a massive Israeli airstrike on south Beirut in September 2024.
Israel said on Thursday that Lebanon’s efforts to disarm Hezbollah were encouraging but not enough.
“The ceasefire agreement… states clearly, Hezbollah must be fully disarmed,” the office of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a statement.
“Efforts made toward this end by the Lebanese government and the Lebanese armed forces are an encouraging beginning, but they are far from sufficient,” it added.
Under the ceasefire, Hezbollah was to withdraw its forces north of the Litani River and have its military infrastructure dismantled in the evacuated areas.
The group has refused to surrender its weapons.
2/2
Israel Navy intercepts Egyptian vessel entering blockaded waters off Gaza's shoreline, IDF confirms
JANUARY 9, 2026 00:36
An Egyptian warship entered the closed maritime zone off the coast of the Gaza Strip, the IDF confirmed on Thursday.
The Israel Navy ships were dispatched from Ashdod Naval Base, and issued instructions to the Egyptian vessel to leave, the military confirmed.
Israeli warships fired warning shots towards the vessel, as it posed an imminent threat, Channel 13 reported. The IDF's statement neither confirmed nor denied this.
"The military acted in accordance with procedures, called on the vessel to stop, and after it did not comply, distancing measures were carried out," the IDF said, before the vessel turned around and returned to Egyptian territorial waters.
Egypt accepted responsibility for the incident, Channel 13 reported, citing an IDF source.
IDF: 'Egypt is central partner in peace agreement'
The Israeli army emphasized that "Egypt is a central partner to the peace agreement, and that the security relationship between the two countries continues as usual."
https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/article-882822
https://www.dabangasudan.org/en/all-news/article/rsf-claims-drone-shot-down-over-nyala-as-fighting-and-humanitarian-crisis-deepen-in-south-kordofan
RSF claims drone shot down over South Darfur capital as fighting continues in South Kordofan
09/01/2026 18:52
The Rapid Support Forces (RSF) said they downed a SAF drone over Nyala on Thursday, as clashes continue in South Kordofan and humanitarian conditions deteriorate in Kadugli and Delling.
Thousands of Sudanese refugees in Uganda have registered for a voluntary return programme amid mounting difficulties.
The Rapid Support Forces (RSF) said on Thursday evening they shot down an Akıncı drone over Nyala, the capital of South Darfur.
In posts on its Telegram channel and affiliated platforms, the RSF published videos and photos of what it said were remains of the drone.
The Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and their spokesperson’s office have not commented on the matter.
In a statement yesterday seen by Radio Dabanga, the RSF’s spokesperson claimed the drone was intercepted by the group’s air defences while attempting to target civilians.
He accused the SAF and affiliated Islamist factions of carrying out repeated attacks and committing serious violations against civilians, including the bombing of hospitals and public markets in North Darfur.
Radio Dabanga could not independently verify these claims.
Fighting in South Kordofan
Clashes are continuing between the SAF on one side and the RSF and the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM-N) led by Abdelaziz El Hilu on the other in the northern areas of Kadugli, the capital of South Kordofan.
Observers are concerned about civilians’ safety should battles spread into residential neighbourhoods.
The RSF said it cut the road linking Kadugli and Delling following what it described as fierce fighting with the SAF.
In a video statement, an RSF fighter said the RSF/SPLM-N alliance had seized several SAF-controlled positions and were now deployed along the main road between the two towns, effectively isolating them. The SAF have not responded to these claims.
Humanitarian and living conditions in Kadugli have deteriorated as fighting continues, causing sharp price rises and severe shortages of basic goods, local sources told Radio Dabanga.
The price of a malwa [3.145 kg] of sorghum reportedly rose from about 3,000 Sudanese pounds (SDG) to SDG 10,000;
a kilogramme of sugar increased from SDG 12,000 to 50,000;
a pound of cooking oil rose from SDG 8,000 to 30,000;
laundry soap increased from SDG 3,000 to 10,000 per bar;
and a kilogramme of meat from SDG 16,000 to 40,000.
1/2
Sources warned the situation could lead to an imminent humanitarian catastrophe without urgent intervention, adding that some families may be forced to eat tree leaves due to shortages of food and aid.
Delling
Mohieddin Younis, vice-president of the Humanitarian Emergency Response Room in Delling, said health and living conditions in the town have deteriorated sharply due to ongoing shelling, displacement, and the collapse of basic services.
In a statement to Radio Dabanga, Younis said artillery fire and drone attacks had forced many residents to flee to other areas inside and outside Sudan, where they face harsh conditions in displacement camps.
He added that most hospitals in Delling are no longer functioning because of shelling and the departure of medical staff, alongside a severe shortage of medicines and supplies.
Younis said the emergency room is working with local initiatives to provide basic healthcare “despite extremely complex conditions.”
He also said soaring food prices have left most families unable to meet daily needs or leave the town due to a lack of funds.
He called on international and local humanitarian organisations to intervene immediately to address the deteriorating situation in Delling and prevent a wider humanitarian catastrophe.
Uganda returnees
Reem Abdeljaleel, spokesperson for the Higher Committee for the Voluntary Repatriation of Sudanese Refugees, said about 5,000 refugees have registered on the committee’s electronic platform to return to Sudan.
The number of registrants is expected to rise following the announcement of the first return flight, she told Radio Dabanga, adding that technical and administrative procedures with the relevant authorities have largely been completed.
Funding for the initial flights has been secured, though the cost of transporting refugees from Kampala to Sudan remains high due to the lack of alternatives to air travel, “despite discounts obtained from some airlines.”
She added the committee continues to seek ways to reduce costs and relies mainly on support from philanthropists and public and private institutions.
Returns will be organised according to clear prioritisation criteria, with refugees living in camps, particularly those in Kiryandongo camp, given priority “due to their vulnerability.”
Radio Dabanga has previously covered the targeting of Sudanese refugees in Kiryandongo and the deterioration of humanitarian conditions in the camp.
2/2
Suspected ‘Nano Drone’ Recovered In Jammu Border Area
January 9, 2026
Jammu, Jan 9: Security forces have recovered a suspected “nano drone” which was found lying in a border area of Jammu district, officials said.
The recovery was made from the border area of Chakroi in R S Pura, on the information provided by a local resident, they said.
An investigation has been launched in this regard, officials added.
https://www.dailyexcelsior.com/suspected-nano-drone-recovered-in-jammu-border-area/
FAA Adds UAS Test Sites in Oklahoma and Indiana
Friday, January 09, 2026 at 11:12 AM ET
U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy and FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford announced Thursday the designation of two future Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) test sites, located in the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma and under the Indiana Economic Development Corporation.
According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, the additions mark the first new FAA-designated UAS test sites in nearly a decade and bring the national total to nine.
Expanding the UAS Test Site Network
The FAA’s UAS Test Site Program supports the development, testing and evaluation of public and civil unmanned aircraft systems and related technologies prior to their integration into the National Airspace System.
The program was initially established under the FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012, with six sites becoming operational in 2014, followed by a seventh added in 2016.
The 2024 FAA Reauthorization Act authorized the designation of up to two additional test ranges.
In a statement released by the Department of Transportation, Duffy said the new sites will support data collection and system testing needed for emerging drone operations.
“From delivering lifesaving medicine to surveying pipelines, drones are already reshaping industries and changing how people and products interact,” Duffy said.
“We’ve added these new test sites to help us gather critical data and test new systems so we can safely unleash innovation in our skies.”
Focus on BVLOS and Advanced Operations
According to the FAA, the expanded network will support research focused on beyond visual line of sight operations, increasingly autonomous systems, multiple-drone operations and advanced air mobility concepts.
In August, Duffy announced a proposed BVLOS rule intended to broaden operational use cases for unmanned aircraft.
“These test sites help the U.S. assess emerging technologies to modernize methods for cargo delivery, Beyond Visual Line of Sight Operations and multiple drone operations while informing safety and security,” Bedford said.
“Together, we will usher in the safe commercialization of drone technologies and fully integrate UAS into our NAS.”
The two new locations join existing FAA UAS test sites in Alaska, North Dakota, New Mexico, Nevada, New York, Texas and Virginia.
FAA officials said the sites also support partnerships with public agencies and commercial operators, including demonstrations funded through the FAA’s UAS Broad Agency Announcement program, which provides matching funds to companies working with designated test ranges.
https://avweb.com/aviation-news/drones/faa-adds-uas-test-sites-oklahoma-indiana/
Bombshell Documentary Reveals Reality About ‘Non-Human Intelligence’ and What the Government Really Knows
January 7, 2026
It’s the age old question that has fascinated humans for centuries: Are we alone in the universe or even on our own planet?
On Wednesday’s show, Megyn was joined by two guests who say not only are UAPs (unidentified anomalous phenomena) real, but the government has potentially been aware of them for decades.
David Grusch is a former United States Air Force intelligence officer and senior intelligence official who was his agency’s co-lead in UAPs and “trans-medium object analysis.”
In 2023, he filed a whistleblower complaint asserting the U.S. has been operating a “multi-decade UAP crash retrieval and reverse engineering program” and that Congress had been kept in the dark about parts of it.
He later testified under oath before the House Oversight Committee and drew national attention when he claimed “non-human biologics” have been recovered from crashed “crafts.”
Pentagon officials publicly deny there is any verified evidence of “non-human intelligence” or secret programs of this kind, but a new documentary called The Age of Disclosure is now examining decades of the alleged secrecy.
The film features interviews with 34 former and current government officials, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Congresswoman Anna Paulina Luna (R-FL), who claim the U.S. has long concealed evidence of non-human intelligence and UAPs.
An Air Force veteran, Rep. Luna has said she personally had an encounter with an object she believes was likely a UAP.
She is currently chairwoman of the Task Force on the Declassification of Federal Secrets and has been holding hearings to push the federal government for transparency on UAPs and other classified programs.
She is also fighting for stronger protections for whistleblowers like Grusch.
While Megyn said she has always been “open-minded… but more skeptical” on the issue, she said her “skepticism is gone” after watching the documentary and considering new revelations.
She was joined by Rep. Luna and Grusch to discuss what is known, what remains to be revealed, and where the conversation goes from here.
Megyn and Grusch discuss The Age of Disclosure and what he knows about what is still being kept secret.
Grusch breaks down what the CIA and both political parties have been hiding about UFOs, what sort of craft the U.S. has recovered, whether more disclosure is likely to come soon, and more.
Rep. Luna joins Megyn to share why she believes UAPs and UFOs are real, what others in the government have been hiding, why more disclosure to the public is necessary, and more.
https://www.megynkelly.com/2026/01/07/new-documentary-reveals-reality-about-non-human-intelligence-and-government-secrets/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m_kDFKFcUCI
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=izLo7lIFWNk
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fxlWlA2h5zA
https://x.com/megynkelly
The real mystery isn’t UFOs — it’s what the government won’t explain
January 09, 2026
A memo reportedly placed in President Trump’s hands reframes the debate around trust and transparency.
In early 2025, the new Trump administration asked Dr. Steven Greer — founder of the Disclosure Project and a leading figure in the UFO/UAP research community — to write a one-page briefing document to hand directly to the president.
Greer confirms he had been asked to write such a document, had written it, and had been told it was put in the president’s hand.
In the face of the unknown, do we choose hope over fear? Do we choose courage over cowardice?
The following is the text of that memorandum:
From: Steven M. Greer, MD — Director of the Disclosure Project
To: President Donald J. Trump
Re: The UFO/UAP subject
Since the 1950s, the UFO/UAP subject has been handled by a corrupt deep state transnational organization whose power has grown to a level that is an imminent threat to national security and international peace and security.
This organization is a hybrid of unconstitutional deep state and government compartmented operations and corporate special projects.
It has reverse-engineered non-human intelligence (NHI) craft and is operating man-made advanced technologies at parity with NHI technologies.
These human technologies are currently being used in a number of criminal operations including assassinations, abductions, human/drug/weapons trafficking, embezzlement of US government funds, acts of treason and have the capacity to simulate a fake alien attack at any moment.
I have debriefed over 700 government and corporate whistleblowers over the past 35 years and have documented their information in the Briefing Document provided to your staff.
The following Executive Orders are urgently needed:
-
Explicit whistleblower protection specifying both legal amnesty and personal security.
-
An Executive Order authorizing a TS-SCI SAP [top secret, secure communication infrastructure Special Access Program] with significant funding currently configured under law enforcement to stand down these illegal operations and especially the illegal use of electromagnetic pulse weapons (EMP) currently being used against NHI craft as these actions imperil the future of humanity.
-
An Executive Order requiring all UFO/UAP operations to be fully disclosed within 6 months or those responsible will be vigorously prosecuted.
-
An Executive Order to authorize an advanced diplomatic team to make peaceful contact with NHI civilizations.
-
An Executive Order authorizing the review and release of Advanced Technology (AT) held by this criminal organization that would create total energy independence for the US and would begin a new energy economy with which the US would lead the world economically.
Please feel free to contact me at any time. I am the world's leading expert on this subject. There is not a distant second. I will provide any assistance, advice and evidence that you and your administration require.
Respectfully yours,
Steven M. Greer, MD
February 9, 2025
According to Greer, this memorandum was put into Trump’s hands, Trump read it, his eyes lit up, and he said, “I want to pursue this.”
And that’s probably where all of us sit with this story. Many allegations have been made, and we can’t tell you what is true. But we know that when a number of claims all point in a similar direction, it should engage your attention.
Even the skeptics interviewed for our book, “Catastrophic Disclosure,” including U.S. Rep. Eric Burlison (R-Mo.), believe that important secrets are being kept from the American public.
Perhaps we have accurately depicted what has been hidden for more than 70years. Perhaps we have been fooled by an elaborate series of lies.
In the classic television series “The X-Files,” a common refrain is, “I want to believe.” But it's not enough to believe or disbelieve in the alien phenomenon.
More than anything else, we want to know whether aliens, non-human intelligences, and unidentified aerial phenomena are real — and whether a golden age of scientific miracles is at hand.
Can we cure disease, clean up our planet, feed the hungry, and journey to the stars? In the face of the unknown, do we choose hope over fear? Do we choose courage over cowardice?
Perhaps we begin by refusing to accept the lies. Perhaps it is by accepting that whatever the facts may be, we know that their full and complete disclosure will not be catastrophic.
We can handle the truth.
https://www.theblaze.com/columns/opinion/the-real-mystery-isnt-ufos-its-what-the-government-wont-explain
https://x.com/DrStevenGreer
Stranger Things Drone Show (5,000 Drones, Full Show Right Next To Trump Tower in Las Vegas) | Sky Elements Drone Shows
Jan 8, 2026
To kick off the finale of its biggest series, Netflix wanted to make history. So we delivered.
Sky Elements flew the largest drone show in the United States. 5,000 drones took over the Las Vegas skyline for an invite-only fan audience.
Scale changes storytelling. Sky Elements is the only team in the country pushing it this far.
Thank you to VTProDesign, Netflix and Stranger Things!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DXg5J6AIdu4
George Knapp: Mystery Wire
January 9, 2026
Bigelow/Lacatski Connection
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8VBE_K8kk1E
Diving Deeper Into Skin Walker Ranch | Mystery Wire
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XlF317p0tgI
Mystery Wire Returns
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xxWARW2jL40
Danica Patrick and David Icke | Who Will Be Controlling AI When It Controls Us?
Jan 8, 2026
David Icke and Danica Patrick talk about (THE THREAT) to (ALL OF US)
EPISODE NOTES:
Welcome back to The Pretty Intense Podcast. We have the brilliant David Icke back on the show today. We are talking about David's latest book, "The Road Map: Escaping the Maze of Madness"
This book is a culmination of decades of research into the hidden structures David believes shape human reality, offering both a diagnosis of what he sees as the “Maze” of human existence and a guide for how to escape it.
David claims the book has the potential to spark a global transformation in how people understand freedom, identity, and the forces controlling society, tying together politics, technology, spirituality, finance and more into a single “dot-connected” narrative.
This book is essential for anyone questioning mainstream explanations of the world, promising big answers to fundamental questions about who we are, why the world is the way it is, and how to break free from what he calls human enslavement.
David is such a fascinating speaker. Whether you agree with his theories or not, it is hard to deny them entirely. We hope you enjoy this riveting episode with David Icke
=
00:00 - Intro
07:00 - Divide And Conquer
14:00 - Seeing Reality Differently
23:00 - Judgement Day
32:00 - All The Noise
40:00 - The Old Testament
56:00 - Sabbateans - Who Run's The Show
1:00:00 - Astral Travels
1:19:00 - Do We Fight The System
=
BIO:
David Icke - Is a groundbreaking author of over 20 books, shedding light on unanswered questions having to do with the reality we live in. David is also a public speaker, who has spoken in over 25 countries.
David has a huge following of like minded people who want to know the big answers, like are we living in a simulation? What is our purpose on this planet? Are we alone?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yJqS6sKvszc
https://x.com/DanicaPatrick
https://x.com/davidicke
Aliens, Natural Phenophenon Or Something Else? Why Is Birmingham Sky Turning Pink? Videos Go Viral
Updated Jan 9, 2026, 19:27 IST
It’s mostly either orange or shades of purple– that take over the skies during the prettiest of sunsets.
Perhaps that’s why, when the skies in the UK’s Birmingham city turned pink– its citizens were left mesmerised and curious instead- as they couldn't place an explanation behind the unique sky-colour.
Moreover, the snow covered city and the snowy sky only made the entire thing further breathtaking. Reportedly, the incident happened on Thursday evening, January 08, mainly in the West Midlands, videos of which soon went viral.
As soon as videos and pictures of the pink skies began to circulate on social media, all kinds of speculations began to flood the internet- from ‘aliens and UFO theories’, ‘surprise visit by Aurora lights’, a rare natural phenomena to whatnot– people had a lot to say.
So, what exactly turned the skies pink in Birmingham?
Soon after the citizens and netizens were left wondering; it was revealed that the reason behind the pink skies had more to do with some ‘LED lights’, and less to do with conspiracy theories and rare natural phenomena.
It was simply the pink LED light on the pitch at Birmingham City's football ground– that was making everything pink. Reportedly, the same was also confirmed by the club.
Pictures of pink LED lights shining on the pitch inside the club also began to do rounds on social media, further solving the ‘pretty’ mystery.
Many also shared how the snow in the sky further made the light scatter quite naturally. Soon, along with the pink skies, images and pictures of Birmingham City's St Andrew's stadium also began to go viral.
Check out the viral post:
“Videos of pink skies over Birmingham city quickly went viral, with many likening the scene to Stranger Things.
Weather experts later clarified that cloud cover and falling snow reflected strong city and stadium lights, creating the eerie glow that left residents both stunned and curious,” a user said.
The post was shared on Instagram, by the handle ‘Times Now’. The post was shared today and pulled almost 1K views from people.
https://www.timesnownews.com/viral/birmingham-sky-turns-pink-because-of-birmingham-city-football-club-led-lights-internet-speculates-alien-and-ufo-viral-video-article-153423001
https://www.instagram.com/p/DTSiLfplKxD/
Lemmy’s bizarre alien encounter: “It couldn’t have been some acid flashback”
Thu 8 January 2026 20:00, UK
Rock ‘n’ roll and outer space fit like a match made in extraterrestrial heaven.
Consider David Bowie’s androgynous alien alter-ego Ziggy Stardust, a figure of bright-red hair and sequins, crash-landing on an alternate Earth to spread hope to the masses.
Or, the ‘Space Ace’ himself, the late Ace Frehley, whose belief in aliens was reflected in his metallic onstage persona with Kiss.
Whether the product of a childhood love of science fiction or one too many experiments with hallucinogens, rock stars’ love of alien life forms has placed a bizarre stake in the genre since its inception.
Elvis Presley’s “spiritual advisor” and hairstylist (quite a combination), Larry Geller, has claimed that ‘The King’ shared telepathic visions with aliens at just eight years old, with one alien even showing him a vision of his future self, wearing his famous white jumpsuit.
Blink-182’s Tom DeLonge is perhaps aliens’ biggest champion in the rock ‘n’ roll pantheon, declared in their 1999 hit ‘Aliens Exist’.
Growing from his middle school fascination with extraterrestrials and UFOs, he founded his company, To The Stars Inc, in 2017, focused on researching and promoting fringe science and the existence of alien life.
Legends including Jimi Hendrix, Keith Richards and John Lennon have all claimed to have had encounters with extraterrestrials, spotting UFOs circling above their homes.
“We are Motörhead and we don’t have no class… We bring you UFOs, saucers in the sky,” Lemmy Kilmister spits on ‘We Are Motörhead’, the heavy metal titans’ 2000 headbanger.
As metal’s favourite madman, Lemmy’s existence, like that of an extraterrestrial, is something of a legend. His affinity for unbridled chaos, fueled by heavy drug-taking and drinking, resulted in a life lived on the edge, with no extreme being too far for him to attempt.
Before his rasp-fueled voice defined Motörhead, Lemmy’s immersion into rock ‘n’ roll came as a roadie for the Jimi Hendrix Experience, where he gained a dual education in live music and drug use.
“Jimi taught me how to find drugs in the most unlikely places because that was part of my job for him,” he told Revolver. “That’s how I learned how to function on five hits of acid. But I also learned about the theatrics and performing.”
The stories that fill Lemmy’s 70 wild years of life are truly endless, and even as he was forced to slow down his partying in his old age, he never lost his penchant for chaos.
It was with one of his first bands, playing guitar in Blackpool’s The Rockin’ Vickers, that Lemmy would experience the otherworldly, before he discovered other forms of debauchery.
Speaking with Inked magazine, Lemmy recounts a time when he claims to have encountered a UFO. “In 1966, we were coming back over the Yorkshire Moors, which, incidentally, was before I even drank beer, so it couldn’t have been some acid flashback,” he asserts.
Adding, “This thing came over the horizon and stopped dead in the middle of the sky. Then it went from a standstill to top speed, immediately. We don’t even have aircraft that do that now, never mind then. So that was pretty eye-opening for me.”
Whatever it was that Lemmy saw floating in the sky, whether it be an alien spacecraft or some other entity, its effect certainly took hold on the young musician.
Ironically, he soon left the Vickers to join the space rock group Hawkwind, spending nearly four years as their bassist before being kicked out after his arrest for drug possession.
“If I was busted for acid, everything would have been fine,” he once said. “But they were all about the psychedelic experience. The most cosmic band in the world fired me for getting busted with the wrong kinds of drugs!”
Perhaps Lemmy was on a cosmic trip of his own, if his encounter with aliens is any indication, spurred to find a never-ending thrill.
https://faroutmagazine.co.uk/lemmy-bizarre-alien-encounter/
David Grusch confirms the late Dick Cheney as the UFO Secrecy's potential MJ-1 - Psicoactivo #777
Jan 8, 2026
On the latest Psicoactivo, we have David Grusch finally confirming what others have been saying over the last few years.
The late Vice President Dick Cheney is considered at the very top of the UFO Secrecy, the potential MJ-1.
Also, a new FOIA document came out explaining how his security clearances were revoked and reinstated quickly.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i1ftk5-XJmc
https://x.com/pavelibarrameda