TYB
China's 'deep-sea space station' debuts after 3-year R&D
18:23, 09-Feb-2026
During construction of the Jintang subsea tunnel on the Ningbo-Zhoushan Railway, China deployed its self-developed saturation pressurized tunnel boring machine (TBM) system, known as the "deep-sea space station."
On February 6, the system completed its first 75-meter-deep high-pressure TBM intervention on the Ningbo side. It operated continuously for 22 days and replaced 46 cutters, surpassing the traditional 60-meter safe depth limit for pressurized intervention.
The Jintang subsea tunnel is 16.18 kilometers long, including an 11.21 km subsea TBM section. Construction involves 24 transitions between soft and hard strata, with problematic ground accounting for nearly 70 percent.
Maximum rock strength reaches 191 MPa, more than six times that of ordinary concrete. Maximum burial depth is 78 meters, with peak water-soil pressure of 8.5 bar.
The Yongzhou TBM is equipped with 308 cutters, including 30 percent more rock-breaking disc cutters than standard configurations. More than 2,900 cutters have been replaced so far.
Conventional compressed-air TBM intervention is typically limited to depths under 60 meters. Under high pressure, effective working time is about 40 minutes per day, while decompression requires more than four hours.
Workers also face increased risks of nitrogen narcosis, oxygen toxicity and decompression sickness, making frequent deep-sea cutter replacement impractical.
Developed over three years, the system integrates saturation diving technology with TBM construction. Workers reach gas saturation after a single compression and can remain and work continuously at the same depth, with fixed decompression time.
The system includes living, transfer and control modules, allowing personnel to stay long-term under seabed-equivalent pressure and travel to the TBM face for maintenance and cutter replacement.
Core subsystems, including pressure control, gas management and emergency support, are domestically produced. Maximum saturation operation depth can reach 100 meters.
The Yongzhou TBM has advanced more than 3,000 meters, completing over 60 percent of tunneling work, with seabed breakthrough expected within the year.
https://news.cgtn.com/news/2026-02-09/China-s-deep-sea-space-station-debuts-after-3-year-R-D-1KCvc99CmAM/p.html
boomshakalaka
US astronaut to take her 3-year-old's cuddly rabbit into space
Feb 8, 2026
When the next mission to the International Space Station blasts off from Florida next week, a special keepsake will be hitching a ride: a small stuffed rabbit.
American astronaut and mother, Jessica Meir, one of the four-member crew, revealed Sunday that she'll take with her the cuddly toy that belongs to her three-year-old daughter.
It's customary for astronauts to go to the ISS, which orbits 250 miles (400 kilometers) above Earth, to take small personal items to keep close during their months-long stint in space.
"I do have a small stuffed rabbit that belongs to my three-year-old daughter, and she actually has two of these because one was given as a gift," Meir, 48, told an online news conference.
"So one will stay down here with her, and one will be there with us, having adventures all the time, so that we'll keep sending those photos back and forth to my family," she said.
US space agency NASA says SpaceX Crew-12 will lift off on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral in Florida to the orbiting scientific laboratory early Wednesday.
https://www.caledonianrecord.com/news/national/us-astronaut-to-take-her-3-year-olds-cuddly-rabbit-into-space/article_1473faed-46c4-5fe1-825d-b1390b0458b3.html
https://phys.org/news/2026-02-astronaut-year-cuddly-rabbit-space.html
Scientists Say Heck, Just Nuke a Killer Asteroid Heading for Earth
Feb 8, 2026 12:00 PM EST
Plenty of asteroids can survive their fiery plunge through the Earth’s atmosphere.
If they’re big enough, they can prove incredibly destructive, like the 60-foot Chelyabinsk meteor that exploded over the southern Ural region in Russia in 2013, releasing a blast equivalent to 30 times the energy of the atomic bomb that was dropped on Hiroshima.
And in case an even larger space rock were to ever threaten humanity, we’d have to get creative to keep it from colliding with our planet.
Crashing a spacecraft into it like a pool ball to redirect its path — just like NASA did with its proof of concept Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) mission in 2022 — may not always be on the table, given the many uncertainties involved.
In a new paper published in the journal Nature Communications, an international team of researchers — including scientists from CERN and the University of Oxford — revisited the idea of blowing up an incoming asteroid with a nuclear warhead.
There are intuitive concerns. What if the asteroid shattered, turning a cosmic sniper shot into a shotgun blast of debris raining down over our planet?
But the team used CERN’s Super Proton Synchrotron (SPS) to study how asteroid materials react to different levels of physical stress, including large-scale simulations of nuclear deflection, and found that the space rocks are surprisingly resilient.
“Planetary defense represents a scientific challenge,” said Karl-Georg Schlesinger, cofounder of nuclear deflection startup Outer Solar System Company (OuSoCo), which partnered with the scientists, in a statement.
“The world must be able to execute a nuclear deflection mission with high confidence, yet cannot conduct a real-world test in advance.”
In an experiment, the team exposed samples of a metal-rich meteorite to 27 short but intense pulses of a proton beam at CERN’s HiRadMat facility.
Afterward, the team moved the meteorite to the ISIS Neutron and Muon Source at the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory in the UK to analyze changes to its internal structure at a microscopic level.
To their surprise, the “material became stronger, exhibiting an increase in yield strength, and displayed a self-stabilizing damping behavior,” explained OuSoCo cofounder Melanie Bochmann.
The finding could have major implications for how we approach future asteroid redirection efforts.
“Our experiments indicate that — at least for metal-rich asteroid material — a larger device than previously thought can be used without catastrophically breaking the asteroid,” Bochmann said.
“This keeps open an emergency option for situations involving very large objects or very short warning times, where non-nuclear methods are insufficient and where current models might assume fragmentation would limit the usable device size.”
Fortunately, the researchers could soon have far more data to go by. Both NASA and the European Space Agency are planning to study Apophis, an enormous asteroid somewhere between 1,000 and 1,500 feet in width, which is expected to come eerily close to the Earth — closer than many geosynchronous satellites at just 20,000 miles — to Earth in April 2029.
“As a next step, we plan to study more complex and rocky asteroid materials,” the researchers said in a statement.
“One example is a class of meteorites called pallasites, which consist of a metal matrix similar to the meteorite material we have already studied, with up to centimeter-sized magnesium-rich crystals embedded inside.”
The upcoming research could have fascinating implications outside of asteroid redirection as well.
“Because these objects are thought to originate from the core–mantle boundary of early planetesimals,” they added, “such experiments could also provide valuable insights into planetary formation processes.”
https://futurism.com/space/just-nuke-asteroid-heading-earth
https://cerncourier.com/asteroid-tests-challenge-nuclear-deflection-models/
World Class Athlete Program showcases Air Force excellence ahead of Winter Olympics
Feb. 9, 2026
PETERSON SPACE FORCE BASE, Colo. (AFNS) –
As the world prepares for the upcoming Winter Olympic Games, the Department of the Air Force is spotlighting the DAF Air Force World Class Athlete Program, a unique initiative that develops elite competitors while strengthening military readiness, recruiting and leadership development.
Two Air Force service members assigned to DAF WCAP are set to compete on the international stage at this year’s Winter Olympics in Cortina, Italy, representing both Team USA and the Department of the Air Force.
While their performances draw global attention, program leaders emphasize that WCAP’s impact extends well beyond competition results.
“The DAF WCAP enhances recruiting by attracting elite athletes to train full time in pursuit of Olympic competition,” said Mr. Dale Filsell, Department of the Air Force WCAP and Shooting Program Manager.
“This strategy aligns with the Secretary of War’s focus on ensuring the military has mission-ready, fitness-focused Airmen and Guardians.”
In addition to recruiting elite talent, the program supports long-term retention. According to Filsell, most current WCAP athletes plan to continue serving beyond their athletic careers, with many aspiring to become career service members or commissioned officers.
Each athlete accepted into WCAP incurs a three-year active-duty service commitment, reinforcing the program’s investment in future leaders.
WCAP athletes also serve as ambassadors for the Department of the Air Force wherever they train or compete. Whether competing domestically or internationally, they are held to the same standards of professionalism, customs and courtesies as all Airmen and Guardians.
“All athletes understand they wear two uniforms, one representing the Air Force or Space Force and one representing Team USA,” Filsell said.
“They wear both with pride and understand the responsibility that comes with representing their service on a national and international stage.”
The skills required to succeed at the elite level, including resilience, precision and dedication, translate directly to operational effectiveness.
WCAP recruits' athletes who already demonstrate discipline at the highest levels of performance and traits that continue to benefit the force when athletes transition back into operational career fields.
“Upon completion of WCAP, athletes return to the operational Air Force or Space Force, where that dedication continues within their respective specialties,” Filsell said.
The program’s location at Peterson Space Force Base plays a key role in its success. Situated in “Olympic City USA,” WCAP benefits from close proximity to the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee, national governing bodies and the U.S. Air Force Academy.
These partnerships expand recruiting opportunities and strengthen collaboration across elite athletic and military communities.
Looking ahead, WCAP leaders aim to expand the program and increase the number of athletes it can support.
With the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles and the 2032 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, Utah, the program anticipates future opportunities to showcase Air Force and Space Force athletes on home soil.
For this year, the goal for the 2026 Winter Olympics is clear: earning the program’s first-ever Olympic medal.
https://www.vandenberg.spaceforce.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/4400149/world-class-athlete-program-showcases-air-force-excellence-ahead-of-winter-olym/
CMSSF Leadership Library: February 2026
Feb. 9, 2026
Guardians,
We are the warfighters charged with securing the ultimate high ground…The Invisible Front Line. As the United States Space Force evolves, so do the threats we face.
The complexity of the space domain demands more than just technological superiority; it demands cognitive dominance. To win, we must be able to out-think, out-maneuver, and out-lead our adversaries at every turn.
You are our decisive edge. You are the human weapon system, and your mind is your primary asset.
Our foundational documents, including Space Force Vector 2025, Doctrine Document 1, and the Space Warfighting Framework, provide the strategic blueprint. But doctrine is only as strong as the leaders who apply it.
True mastery requires a relentless commitment to personal growth and intellectual readiness.
To that end, I am proud to release the second edition of my Leadership Library. This is not just a reading (or listening) list; it is an arsenal of ideas.
It is a toolkit designed to forge you into the creative, resilient, and courageous professionals our service and our nation require. Also included are a few fun lighthearted recommendations I’ve enjoyed.
This new collection has been curated to challenge your perspectives on leadership, enhance your decision-making, and build a culture of peak performance.
These books, alongside the insights from the Perigee Podcast and The B-Line, are your resources for cultivating the warfighter’s mindset.
The future of our service will be defined by our collective commitment to master our craft and our will to win. I challenge you to embark on this journey of continuous learning.
Seize this opportunity to sharpen your mind and become the leader you were meant to be. Let us continue to forge Guardians who dominate the space domain and secure our nation's future.
This is the Way!
John F. Bentivegna
Chief Master Sergeant of the Space Force
moar!
https://www.vandenberg.spaceforce.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/4390270/cmssf-leadership-library-february-2026/
Prime suspect in shooting of Russian general admits working for Kiev
9 Feb, 2026 12:22
The main suspect in the attempted assassination of Russian General Vladimir Alekseyev has confessed to investigators that he acted on orders from Ukraine, according to an interview video released Monday.
Alekseyev, the first deputy chief of Russia’s military intelligence agency GUR, was shot on Friday in a communal hall of his residence in Moscow.
The prime suspect, Lyubomir Korba, was arrested in the United Arab Emirates at Russia’s request and transferred to Moscow over the weekend. Kiev has denied involvement in the crime.
In footage published by Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB), the 65-year-old Ukrainian-born Russian citizen said he was already on Kiev’s payroll and was promised $30,000 for killing the general.
Korba stated he was recruited by the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) last August and sent to Moscow to surveil several targets, receiving $2,000 monthly from Ukraine. He said the order to prepare a hit on Alekseyev came in December.
“After the assassination attempt, I was instructed to go to the airport and take a flight to Dubai. In Dubai there was a ticket to Romania. From Romania I was supposed to be taken to Kiev. My group of handlers led by a general was supposed to meet me in Kiev,” he said.
The FSB alleges Polish special services assisted the SBU by involving Korba’s son, a Polish citizen. Korba’s acquaintance Viktor Vasin, who helped him rent an apartment, was arrested in Russia and confessed to knowingly aiding the Ukrainian plot, per another FSB video.
A third suspect, Zinaida Serebritskaya (née Antonyuk), also born in Soviet Ukraine, has fled Russia. She reportedly traveled to Türkiye on the eve of the shooting and is now in Ukraine.
https://www.rt.com/russia/632207-ukrainian-assassination-attempt-suspect/
https://www.rt.com/russia/632192-fsb-poland-assassination-general/
Ukrainians ‘fed up with fighting’ – Budapest
9 Feb, 2026 10:39
Ukraine’s forced mobilization has become an “open manhunt,” with civilians being detained and forced into military service against their will, Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto has said.
Commenting on the detention in Ukraine of a Hungarian citizen who allegedly attempted to help a group of Ukrainians cross the border, Szijjarto said people were “fed up with the fighting.”
“The Ukrainian people do not want to die, yet every day there are images of violence playing out like a series – open manhunts unfolding on the streets of Ukrainian cities,” he wrote on Facebook on Sunday.
The Ukrainian authorities recently reported detaining a Hungarian national accused of helping five Ukrainian men cross into Hungary.
The country’s consulate general in Beregovo provided immediate consular protection and would assist him during police proceedings, the minster said.
Ukraine’s recruitment drive has grown increasingly brutal amid its military setbacks and manpower shortages, with hundreds of documented cases of draft officers using force to seize men off the streets and multiple reports of deaths among conscripts.
“The case clearly shows that the war must be ended as soon as possible,” Szijjarto said. “This violent spiral must be stopped immediately.”
Ukrainian press gang beats recruit to death – policeREAD MORE: Ukrainian press gang beats recruit to death – police
He said many Ukrainian men – “a grandfather, a father, a brother, a son, a grandson” – were trying desperately to flee the country to avoid conscription, deployment to the front and what he described as “likely death.”
Ukrainian border guards, he added, were using every means available to catch those attempting to escape.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban said last week that Budapest would not accept Kiev’s “arrogant attitude” toward Hungary and its people and that his government would not tolerate the forced mobilization of ethnic Hungarians from Ukraine’s Transcarpathia region.
Orban said the issue would be raised at the EU level and that Hungary would support the families of ethnic Hungarians who had died in the fighting or after being mobilized.
Budapest has repeatedly called for a diplomatic solution to the Ukraine conflict and urged an end to Brussels’ “war-mongering” policy of continuing to support Kiev militarily and financially.
Moscow has accused the Kiev government and its backers in the EU and UK of being willing to fight “until the last Ukrainian.”
https://www.rt.com/news/632201-hungary-ukraine-mobilization/
who would have the authority to issue inner earth submarine permits?
Ukraine Takes Out 6,000 Russian FPV Drones in Cross-Border Strikes
Feb. 9, 2026, 3:49 pm
The General Staff of Ukraine’s Armed Forces said Monday that personnel had destroyed a Russian unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) depot, eliminating around 6,000 first-person view (FPV) drones, a command post, and an ammunition storage site.
“Units of the Defense Forces of Ukraine continue to inflict fire damage on enemy military facilities in temporarily occupied territories and on Russian soil,” the General Staff said in a Telegram post.
Early Monday, Feb. 9, a command post of an airborne unit near Sudzha in Russia’s Kursk Region was hit.
Meanwhile, previous strikes, including one near Rostov-on-Don, destroyed three containers of FPV drones and components.
“According to preliminary data, about 6,000 FPV drones were destroyed, with several more containers damaged,” the report added.
A Russian ammunition depot in occupied Novooleksiivka, Kherson region, was also targeted.
Ukrainian officials said that the full extent of Moscow’s losses is still being assessed.
This is not the first time Ukraine has struck drone depots or launch sites.
In late December 2025, the 1st Special Center of Ukraine’s Unmanned Systems Forces (USF) carried out a rare pre-emptive strike on Russian teams preparing to launch Shahed drones at Ukrainian towns and cities.
Using waves of domestically made FP-2 drones, Ukrainian forces targeted Russian flight crews, launch equipment, and associated munitions storage at the abandoned Donetsk airport and a site near Manhush in southern Donetsk, USF commander Robert Brovdi said.
A 90-second video released by the USF showed drones striking multiple targets, including administrative buildings, terminal structures, and parking areas.
According to the USF, the strikes disrupted a key Russian logistical hub used to launch Geran and Shahed drones at Ukrainian communities, including a training site for drone pilots, a maintenance center, and an ammunition depot.
Independent OSINT analysts confirmed repeated strikes on specific targets, such as drone assembly facilities, storage garages, and repair crews responding to fires.
In November 2025, Ukrainian Defense Forces destroyed a major base used to store and launch Shahed strike drones in Russian-occupied Donetsk, according to Brovdi.
The operation involved Ukraine’s Special Operations Forces (SSO), missile and artillery units, and the 414th Separate Brigade of the USF.
Brovdi said the strike was the result of months of careful reconnaissance: “Developing this complex target took painstaking work over several months, assembled from small pieces.”
The General Staff confirmed that Ukrainian forces targeted a Shahed storage and launch base at Donetsk airport, with multiple explosions and secondary detonations observed.
The Telegram channel “Spy Dossier,” which claims to be run by intelligence officers, reported that both cruise missiles and attack drones were used in the strike.
According to the channel, the operation destroyed an ammunition depot, a fuel storage site, and a UAV pre-launch processing facility, while also damaging power and communications units.
The report claimed that up to 1,000 Geran-2 drones and more than 1,500 warheads were present at the airfield at the time, though this has not been independently verified.
The SSO said that over 90 percent of the drones launched in the strike hit their intended targets.
Since September 2022, Russia has launched between 40,000 and 50,000 Shahed-type drones against Ukraine.
These small, relatively inexpensive drones, carrying up to 100-kilogram warheads, are typically fired in swarms of 50-100 per night – sometimes exceeding 800 during major attacks.
Large strikes have occasionally spilled into neighboring countries, where they are typically shot down – in some cases, using missiles costing far more than the drones themselves.
On Sept. 10, 2025, at least 19 drones entered Polish airspace, where the majority of them evaded interception by NATO jets for several hours.
https://www.kyivpost.com/post/69723
other Russia amd Ukraine
https://www.kyivpost.com/post/69677
https://t.me/odesaMVA/1121
https://t.me/dsns_telegram/57951
https://news.ssbcrack.com/ukrainian-f-16ams-intensify-drone-hunting-amid-increased-russian-attacks/
https://www.kyivpost.com/post/69720
https://united24media.com/latest-news/ukraine-releases-first-ever-footage-of-russian-fpv-launch-from-gerbera-decoy-drone-15726
https://www.the-sun.com/news/15914350/russian-kamikaze-drone-blown-up-ukraine/
https://news.ssbcrack.com/ukraine-launches-mission-control-a-digital-command-system-for-drone-operations/
https://www.defensenews.com/unmanned/2026/02/09/ukraine-seeks-god-mode-with-new-control-app-for-drone-war/
https://united24media.com/latest-news/ukrainian-intelligence-identifies-21-russian-firms-behind-drones-used-in-war-against-ukraine-15731
IDF Captures Senior Terror Operative in Lebanon in Rare Cross-Border Raid, Then Strikes Hezbollah Artillery Commander
February 9, 2026 10:06 am
Israeli special forces carried out a targeted overnight raid in southern Lebanon and captured a senior operative from the al-Jama’a al-Islamiyya terror organization, detaining him inside Israel for interrogation.
The IDF said weapons were found at the site of the arrest, and that the operation was driven by intelligence gathered in recent weeks.
The terror group identified the detainee as Atwi Atwi, saying he was taken from Habbariyeh, roughly five kilometers north of the border.
The IDF said the arrest was conducted in the Mount Dov (Har Dov) area by a special forces unit operating alongside the 210th “Bashan” Regional Division, with no reported clashes during the extraction.
Al-Jama’a al-Islamiyya is a Muslim Brotherhood-linked Sunni faction whose armed wing has launched attacks from Lebanon and, according to the IDF, has worked in tandem with Hezbollah and Hamas and maintained terror infrastructure in southern Lebanon and along the Syria-Lebanon corridor.
Israeli officials opted to seize the operative rather than strike him, aiming to pull actionable intelligence on the network’s activity in Lebanon and Syria.
Hours later, the IDF said it also struck in Yanouh and killed Ahmad Ali Salami, described as a Hezbollah artillery commander who advanced rocket attacks and was working to rebuild Hezbollah’s artillery infrastructure from within civilian areas — a ceasefire violation, the military said.
Lebanon’s health ministry reported three dead, including a three-year-old; the IDF said the incident is under review and it “regrets any harm to uninvolved civilians.”
https://jewishbreakingnews.com/idf-captures-senior-terror-operative-in-lebanon-in-rare-cross-border-raid-then-strikes-hezbollah-artillery-commander/
other Israel
https://vinnews.com/2026/02/09/idf-abducts-senior-terrorist-in-southern-lebanon-4-terrorists-eliminated-in-rafah/
https://www.jns.org/idf-detains-more-than-20-terrorists-in-judea-and-samaria/
https://ucsdguardian.org/2026/02/09/cadavers-donated-to-ucsd-used-for-idf-medical-training-deal-brokered-by-usc/
https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/israel-security/2026-02-09/ty-article/.premium/netanyahu-office-recruited-intelligence-officers-to-collect-protocols-bypassing-idf-chief/0000019c-4188-dfa4-a5bc-6ddaf4ca0000
https://www.ynetnews.com/article/ryhgbjpwbx
https://www.jfeed.com/news-israel/syria-regime-threat-israel
https://www.iranintl.com/en/liveblog/202602011665
other Iran
https://www.trtworld.com/article/e2390d18d00a
https://www.oilandgas360.com/oil-stable-as-iran-concerns-ease-russian-flow-to-india-slows/
https://www.euractiv.com/opinion/the-brief-irans-diplomatic-wind-of-change/
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/2/9/iran-suggests-it-could-dilute-highly-enriched-uranium-for-sanctions-relief
https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/us-military-bases-in-the-gulf-under-irans-ballistic-missile-shadow-10977261
https://www.euronews.com/my-europe/2026/02/09/tehran-will-continue-to-massacre-people-if-not-stopped-iranian-chess-grandmaster-tells-eur
Iran extends protest crackdown to moderate insiders
February 9, 2026
Summary
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US Vice-President JD Vance said on Monday that Tehran's brutal crackdown on protesters has "already very much been part of the negotiations that we've had" and "I'm sure that will continue."
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Several prominent politicians from the reformist camp including Azar Mansouri, Javad Shakouri-Rad, Javad Emam, and Hossein Karroubi have been arrested over the past few days.
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Ali Larijani, an adviser to Iran’s Supreme Leader, will visit Oman on Tuesday, state media reported, days after Tehran and Washington held nuclear talks in Muscat.
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Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei released a video on Monday urging turnout for Feb. 11 Islamic Revolution rallies, a day after he skipped his annual meeting with air force commanders.
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Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said no country has the right to dictate what Iran “should or should not have,” defending uranium enrichment as a sovereign right, while also signaling flexibility in talks by saying Tehran opposes transferring uranium abroad but is prepared to reduce the level of enrichment.
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Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said indirect talks with the United States, held via regional intermediaries, were “a step forward,” adding that Tehran favors dialogue based on its rights under the nuclear non-proliferation treaty and rejects what he called the language of force.
1 hour ago
Violent protest crackdown has been part of Iran-US talks, Vance says
US Vice-President JD Vance said on Monday that Tehran's brutal crackdown on protesters has "already very much been part of the negotiations that we've had" and "I'm sure that will continue."
"We stand with the people of Iran. we stand with the right of peaceful protest across the world and certainly people who want to exercise that right in Iran," he added during a press conference in Yerevan, Armenia.
Asked about the US red lines in negotiations with Tehran, Vance said President Trump is "going to make the ultimate determination about where we draw the red lines in the negotiations."
"He doesn't announce what he's going to do in a negotiation because he thinks that it constrains him in private. He he's going to have a I think a lot of good conversations with his team and with others in the in the in the days and weeks to come."
1 hour ago
US urges ships to avoid Iranian waters after Strait of Hormuz incident
The United States said in a maritime advisory that American-flagged vessels should remain as far as possible from Iranian territorial waters while transiting the Strait of Hormuz, after a ship was harassed last week amid heightened tensions between Washington and Tehran.
US urges ships to avoid Iranian waters after Strait of Hormuz incident
"It is recommended that U.S.-flagged commercial vessels transiting these waters remain as far as possible from Iran’s territorial sea without compromising navigational safety," the US Transport Department's Maritime Administration said in its statement on Monday.
"When transiting eastbound in the Strait of Hormuz, it is recommended that vessels transit close to Oman’s territorial sea," it added.
"If Iranian forces seek to board a US-flagged commercial vessel navigating these waters, the vessel’s Master should, if the safety of the ship and crew would not be compromised, decline permission to board, noting that the vessel is proceeding in accordance with international law, as reflected in the Law of the Sea Convention," the statement said.
"If Iranian forces board a US-flagged commercial vessel, the crew should not forcibly resist the boarding party. Refraining from forcible resistance does not imply consent or agreement to that boarding."
1/3
1 hour ago
Slain protester's last wish: 'Let my dog see my lifeless body'
Before risking his life in Iran’s protests, Ali Karami had written one final wish — not for himself, but for his dog Ariel. The 26-year-old protester was killed during January protests in Resalat, eastern Tehran.
3 hours ago
Former reformist lawmaker arrested amid expanding purge
Ali Shakouri-Rad, a senior reformist politician and former lawmaker, was arrested on Monday a few days after he accused security bodies of deliberately escalating and even staging violence including alleged killings among their own ranks to legitimize the sweeping crackdown on protests.
Shakouri-Rad's arrest comes within the framework of a broader purge of moderate insiders which started over the weekend with the arrest of Azar Mansouri and several other leading figures in the reformism camp.
3 hours ago
US lawmaker says all options on table on Iran
“The Ayatollah is the very epitome of evil, and Iran's people deserve freedom,” US Congressman Pat Fallon said on X.
“The Iranian regime can never be allowed to acquire a nuclear weapon. Under President Trump, all options are on the table,” he added.
4 hours ago
‘Still waiting for you’: mother mourns Iranian teen killed by security forces
5 hours ago
Iran oil exports will continue despite US naval presence, lawmaker says
Iran oil exports will continue despite US naval presence, lawmaker says
Mousa Ahmadi, head of Iran’s parliamentary energy commission, said on Monday the presence of US warships in the Persian Gulf would not stop Iran’s oil exports, according to state media.
Ahmadi said Iran had learned how to bypass sanctions over decades and would keep exporting oil even if all US vessels were deployed in the region. “The path we use to export our oil will continue,” he said.
He added that he did not expect major developments in the region and said there had been no official reports of Iranian oil tankers being seized in international waters.
5 hours ago
J.K. Rowling honors Iranian protester who was a Harry Potter fan
J.K. Rowling, the author of the Harry Potter series, offered condolences for Sina Ashkbousi, an Iranian protester killed during the country’s uprising, in a brief message posted on X.
“My deepest condolences to all who loved him. Rest in peace, Sina Ashkbousi,” Rowling wrote, resharing images of Ashkbousi.
According to the post, Ashkbousi “was a true Harry Potter fan, the kind who believed in magic because the world needed it.”
6 hours ago
Iran could dilute 60% enriched uranium if all sanctions lifted, nuclear chief says
Mohammad Eslami, head of Iran’s Atomic Energy Organization, said Tehran could consider diluting its stockpile of uranium enriched to 60% if all sanctions were lifted in return, state media reported.
Eslami said the issue “depends on whether they lift all sanctions or not,” adding that any such step would be tied to guarantees on Iran’s rights.
“The export of uranium is not on the agenda,” he said, adding that suggestions attributed to other countries were “speculation” circulating in media content produced by pressure groups.
2/3
6 hours ago
Iran sees new nuclear talks as chance for fair deal, Pezeshkian says
Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian said Tehran is open to “equal and win-win” negotiations, calling the new round of nuclear talks a chance for a fair settlement if all sides avoid excessive demands.
“We are seeking guarantees for our rights on lifting unjust sanctions,” Pezeshkian said, adding that Iran believes “interaction and dialogue are the only way” to address regional and global challenges.
He added that the talks, backed by neighboring countries, offered an opportunity to resolve issues “logically” provided both sides remain committed.
6 hours ago
Reformist activist Hossein Karroubi arrested in Iran
Hossein Karroubi, a political activist close to Iran’s reformist camp and one of the sons of Green Movement leader and former parliament speaker Mehdi Karroubi, was detained after being summoned to Tehran’s Culture and Media Prosecutor’s Office, his lawyer said, according to the reformist daily Etemad.
7 hours ago
Iran’s Araghchi says Tehran seeks 'real talks' but warns trust gap with US remains
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on Monday that Tehran was seeking “real negotiations” aimed at reaching results, but said progress depended on seriousness from the other side.
“We are very serious in the negotiations and are looking for real talks to reach results, provided the other side also shows seriousness and readiness for outcome-oriented negotiations,” Araghchi said.
He said a lack of trust toward Washington remained a major obstacle, adding that “a wall of distrust toward the United States exists, caused by America’s own behavior.”
Araghchi said Iran hoped trust could still be built. “We hope the necessary confidence can be created so that negotiations can lead to a result,” he said.
Speaking to foreign diplomats based in Tehran, Araghchi expressed regret over difficulties, including the internet shutdown, adding that, “I assure you that all of these was for your own safety and the safety of the people of Iran.”
7 hours ago
Iran acted from a position of strength in US talks, lawmaker says
Briefings delivered to Irani’s lawmakers by the chief of staff of the armed forces and the foreign minister about negotiations with the US showed that Iran was acting from “a position of strength,” said the parliament’s vice speaker on Monday.
Hamidreza Haji Babaei said accounts delivered behind closed doors by Major General Abdolrahim Mousavi and Abbas Araghchi demonstrated that Iran was “powerful and decisive on the field.”
8 hours ago
Khamenei urges turnout for Feb. 11 rallies in video message
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei released a video message calling on people to take part in rallies marking 22 Bahman, the February 11 anniversary of the 1979 Islamic Revolution.
Khamenei urges turnout for Feb. 11 rallies in video message
In the message, published on Monday, Khamenei said that “today the Iranian nation shows itself through marches in the streets,” despite the anniversary falling on Wednesday, language Iranian state media often uses in advance to frame turnout for the event.
He urged participation as a show of national resolve, saying strength came from public will and unity rather than military power.
“National power has less to do with missiles and aircraft than with the will of nations and their resilience. You showed resilience, and you showed your will. You must show it again in other moments as well,” he said.
The message came a day after Khamenei skipped the annual February 8 meeting with air force commanders for the first time in 37 years, breaking a long-standing tradition amid heightened tensions with the United States.
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Drone attack on Niger market kills 17 civilians including children
9th February, 2026
At least 17 civilians, including children, were reportedly killed in a Nigerien military drone attack near the Burkina Faso border in January, according to Human Rights Watch (HRW).
The rights group said the strike occurred on 6 January in Kokoloko village, located in the volatile Tillabéri region of western Niger, an area long affected by insurgent violence linked to jihadist groups.
Tillabéri lies at the crossroads of Niger, Burkina Faso and Mali and has for years been a hotspot for armed groups affiliated with Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State, which have carried out repeated assaults on civilians and security forces.
In a statement issued on Monday, HRW said the drone strike hit a busy local market, killing at least 17 people, including four children, and leaving no fewer than 13 others injured.
The organisation added that three suspected Islamist fighters were also among those killed.
Witnesses told HRW that a military drone was seen circling the village earlier in the day before releasing munitions while hundreds of residents were gathered at the market.
The village is situated about 120 kilometres west of Niger’s capital, Niamey, and lies less than three kilometres from the Burkina Faso frontier.
Human Rights Watch said the attack appeared to breach international humanitarian law, which prohibits indiscriminate strikes, and warned that it could amount to a war crime.
https://pmnewsnigeria.com/2026/02/09/drone-attack-on-niger-market-kills-17-civilians-including-children/
90 civilians killed in drone strikes on Sudan's Kordofan in two weeks
February 9, 2026 @ 6:54am
GENEVA: Drone strikes killed nearly 100 civilians and injured many more in Sudan's conflict-torn Kordofan region in just over two weeks, the UN rights chief said Monday.
"In a period of just over two weeks to February 6, based on documentation by my office, some 90 civilians were killed and 142 injured in drone strikes," Volker Turk told the United Nations Human Rights Council.
He said the strikes, which were carried out by both the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces and Sudan's regular army, "struck a World Food Programme convoy, markets, health facilities and residential neighbourhoods in South and North Kordofan." - AFP
https://www.nst.com.my/world/world/2026/02/1374747/90-civilians-killed-drone-strikes-sudans-kordofan-two-weeks
Project MARS Drones Receive Flight Authorization for US Military Medical Logistics
February 9, 2026
Keller Army Community Hospital (KACH) has received flight approval from the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to begin a new phase of Project MARS, a program using drones to deliver medical supplies for military operations.
The initiative moves the project from laboratory and planning stages to real-world operations.
As part of the effort, the FAA issued a Certificate of Authorization permitting controlled drone flights over West Point, New York, through January 2028, with all remote pilots fully qualified and the operations assessed as low risk.
Developed in partnership with the US Military Academy’s Robotics Research Center, Project MARS is designed to improve garrison medical logistics by transporting equipment, medications, and blood products, while also serving as a model for prolonged field care on the battlefield.
From Lab to Real-World
Originally, the program focused on addressing the training needs of US Army Medical Department personnel.
The program has since evolved into a live operational environment, enabling cadets to develop, test, and refine the autonomous medical resupply system while collecting real-world data on routes.
Early flights will follow strict safety rules, including daylight-only operations below 400 feet (122 meters), pre-flight notices issued 24 to 72 hours in advance, and the use of predefined abort zones.
Moreover, the missions will test communication stability, environmental conditions, and route safety.
“Every flight will provide essential data that helps us build a robust, reliable network for autonomous medical resupply,” said Lt. Col. Samuel Teague, the Project MARS Officer in Charge.
“We are moving from the lab to the landscape, ensuring our systems are prepared for the complexities of real-world environments.”
https://thedefensepost.com/2026/02/09/drones-us-military-medical-logistics/
Super Bowl Spot for Steven Spielberg’s ‘Disclosure Day’ Finally Reveals a UFO
Feb 9, 2026
If you found out we weren’t alone, if someone showed you, proved it to you, would that frighten you? This summer, the truth belongs to seven billion people.
We are approaching… Disclosure Day.
After an extremely lackluster teaser trailer, Universal Pictures releases a much-better Super Bowl spot for Steven Spielberg‘s thriller, finally delivering some action and more importantly, a UFO!
Hopefully, this is a return to form for Spielberg, who scared the shit out of us with Close Encounters of the Third Kind and made us fall in love with an extraterrestrial in E.T.
The film stars Emily Blunt (Oppenheimer, A Quiet Place), Josh O’Connor (Challengers, The Crown), Colin Firth (The King’s Speech, Kingsman franchise), Eve Hewson (Bad Sisters, The Perfect Couple), and Colman Domingo (Sing Sing, Rustin).
Based on a story by Spielberg, the screenplay is by David Koepp, whose previous work with Spielberg includes Jurassic Park, The Lost World: Jurassic Park, War of the Worlds, and Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull.
Combined, those films earned more than $3 billion worldwide. Koepp also wrote the script for 2025’s Jurassic World Rebirth.
https://www.dreadcentral.com/news/557092/super-bowl-spot-for-steven-spielbergs-disclosure-day-finally-reveals-a-ufo/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DLv9WFOe6GU
‘Project Hail Mary’ Final Trailer: Ryan Gosling Bonds with an Alien That’ll Hit Us Right in the Feels
February 10, 2026
The big final trailer for Project Hail Mary has landed, and yes — this is the one that will have you already falling in love with a rocky little alien.
Watch the trailer above, brace yourself emotionally, then read on for why this sci-fi adventure looks set to win hearts as much as it melts brains.
Ryan Gosling’s space mission with an alien buddy
Based on the 2021 novel by The Martian author Andy Weir, the film finds Ryan Gosling playing Ryland Grace, a science teacher who wakes up alone in space with no memory and an impossible task: figure out why stars are dying, and save Earth before it’s too late.
Previous trailers teased the scale and mystery of the mission, but this final look makes it very clear that a major part of his journey will be a team-up with a certain extraterrestrial.
Meet Rocky, the rock-like alien Ryland encounters deep in space. Rocky doesn’t speak English — at least not at first. But with the help of a computer, the two soon begin communicating, forming a bond that looks set to become the emotional backbone of the film.
Like Ryland, Rocky is investigating the same cosmic threat, and their unlikely interspecies friendship will be key to saving both their worlds. Yes, this rock spider is absolutely going to win hearts.
Who plays Rocky?
It’s now been revealed that Rocky is performed and voiced by James Ortiz, a stage performer and puppetry designer who served as Gosling’s on-set scene partner throughout production.
Ortiz wasn’t just a voice in a booth — he physically performed Rocky during filming, grounding the character’s movements and presence in real performance.
The directors, creative team, and cast
The film is directed by Phil Lord and Christopher Miller, the duo behind The Lego Movie, the 21 Jump Street films, Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, and The Mitchells vs. the Machines.
The screenplay adaptation comes from Drew Goddard (World War Z, The Cabin in the Woods), who also adapted Weir’s The Martian for Ridley Scott.
The creative team includes Oscar-winning cinematographer Greig Fraser (Dune: Part One and Part Two, The Batman), composer Daniel Pemberton (Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse), and production designer Charles Wood (Avengers: Endgame).
The cast also includes Sandra Hüller, Lionel Boyce, Ken Leung, and Milana Vayntrub, with Priya Kansara voicing Mary, the ship’s AI.
Release date
Project Hail Mary opens in Australian cinemas on March 19 and U.S. cinemas on March 20, 2026.
https://screenrealm.com/project-hail-may-movie-trailer-ryan-gosling-plot-cast-director-release-date/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V7Wsu38XXms
Ross Coulthart Q&A: Bob Lazar, secret UAP crash site and the moon | Reality Check
February 8, 2026
Ross Coulthart explores untold stories using a fact-based approach to address various topics, from unidentified aerial phenomena to other mysteries that often go unreported.
Now, he’s turning to viewers, answering their pressing questions each week.
In this week’s “Reality Check Q&A,” Coulthart tackles questions about comments made by Rep. Eric Burlison, R-Mo., regarding an alleged UAP crash site, why Bob Lazar has never testified to Congress and whether NASA’s moon mission will lead to disclosure.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JLfrKOjZE20
https://x.com/rosscoulthart
https://x.com/Producer_Meagan
big bada boomerang
Trump Accused Of Greenlighting Access To Secret UFO Bases Allegedly Holding 'Non-Human' Tech
09 February 2026, 8:17 AM GMT
Fresh claims about secret UFO facilities have sparked fierce debate after a US congressman alleged that US President Donald Trump backed requests to access classified military sites rumoured to house unidentified craft and non-human technology.
The explosive remarks, made during a podcast appearance, have fuelled speculation about hidden government programmes while critics question whether any such access will actually happen.
With lawmakers calling for transparency and sceptics warning of exaggerated expectations, the controversy has once again thrust UFO secrecy and political power into the global spotlight.
Congressman Claims White House Supported UFO Base Visits
Missouri congressman Eric Burlison, a member of the Congressional Oversight Committee investigating Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena, said he sought permission to inspect military facilities believed to store recovered materials and biological remains.
During an appearance on the ALN Podcast, he claimed that White House officials backed his request and told the Department of Defence to facilitate visits where possible.
According to Burlison, the support did not involve direct management of the sites but rather encouragement for defence officials to cooperate with his investigation.
His statements quickly triggered intense discussion online, with supporters praising the push for disclosure and critics questioning the extent of presidential authority over highly classified programmes.
Military Sites Linked To UFO Rumours
Among the facilities Burlison named were Naval Air Station Patuxent River in Maryland, Wright Patterson Air Force Base in Ohio, the Atlantic Undersea Testing and Evaluation Centre in the Bahamas and the Nevada Test and Training Range, widely associated with Area 51.
These locations have long appeared in conspiracy theories and whistleblower accounts claiming secret research into unidentified craft or experimental aircraft. Anonymous sources have alleged that some bases hold reverse engineered technology or materials recovered from mysterious incidents.
However, officials have never publicly confirmed the existence of non human spacecraft at these sites, and many experts argue that rumours often grow from misidentified military testing or speculative reporting rather than verified evidence.
During the same podcast interview, Burlison also referenced a classified facility overseas that allegedly houses a massive object too large to move.
He claimed that an entire structure was built around the object, describing the foreign location as a possible final destination in his investigation.
The extraordinary allegation captured widespread attention but has not been independently verified. Observers noted that similar stories have circulated for decades within UFO communities without clear documentation.
Some analysts of defence policy caution that unconfirmed claims can easily blend fact, rumour and speculation, especially when dealing with secretive national security programmes.
Scepticism Grows Over Oversight And Real Access
Despite the dramatic claims, many commentators remain doubtful that any lawmaker will gain meaningful entry into sensitive facilities.
Critics argue that classified programmes may be managed by private defence contractors or shielded by layers of bureaucracy beyond direct White House control.
Others believe that any planned visits could be carefully managed or limited to non-sensitive areas. Online reactions have ranged from excitement about potential disclosure to disbelief over whether such authority exists.
Legal experts stress that congressional oversight processes can be complex and that official confirmation would be required before drawing conclusions about access or hidden technologies.
The ongoing debate highlights how questions about UFO secrecy continue to blur the lines between politics, national security and public fascination with the unknown.
https://www.ibtimes.co.uk/trump-accused-greenlighting-access-secret-ufo-bases-allegedly-holding-non-human-tech-1777414
https://www.coasttocoastam.com/article/trump-reportedly-gives-green-light-to-new-uap-investigations/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kl1WK4EFO-o (Aliens Last Night: Episode #1: Representative Eric Burlison)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WVMaQRDfgC0 (Burlison CLAIMS Matthew Brown may be helping Congress find unresolved UFO videos - Psicoactivo #830)
https://x.com/The_King_Of_UFO/status/2017910175198220345
https://x.com/The_King_Of_UFO/status/2019716222804546015
https://x.com/walterkirn/status/2019804976491667630
Jenined🔻UFO Research
@JeninedUFO
The upscaled version of the Kumburgaz #UFO is so impressive!
5:13 AM · Feb 7, 2026
https://x.com/JeninedUFO/status/2020123687245008982
https://x.com/JeninedUFO/status/2020840618860454234
https://x.com/JeninedUFO/status/2008540942660477098
https://www.youtube.com/@Jenined
Ryushin Malone
@RyushinMalone17
These evil child eating motherfuckers have been feeding the aliens children in trade for technology and power
SHARE THIS INFORMATION
6:01 PM · Feb 7, 2026
Ryushin Malone
@RyushinMalone17
The evidence was always here, it was just a matter of time before the light hit it. Evil satanic child raping and eating elites have been running the world and wikileaks/pizzagate was the igniter.
Here is a whole bunch of evidence these pedovors themselves. Keep in mind what are evil child eating cannibale who've been secretly ruling over us willing to do to control this nightmare???
Bad things will come from this… #THESTORM Did you get the vaccine?👀(multipartite virus bioweapon, Rockefeller)
9:44 AM · Feb 7, 2026
https://x.com/RyushinMalone17/status/2020317111994728686
https://x.com/RyushinMalone17/status/2020192009793773631
https://www.theorionlines.com/