TYB
https://www.esa.int/Enabling_Support/Operations/A_rare_encounter_How_Juice_came_to_observe_3I_ATLAS
https://avi-loeb.medium.com/the-universe-is-over-a-hundred-million-times-older-than-each-of-us-3eb955d56e7a
https://newspress.co.in/great-comet-c-2026-a1-to-dazzle-sky-on-april-4-how-to-watch-the-spectacle/
https://raillynews.com/2026/03/nasa-opens-data-archive-for-comet-3i-atlas/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H0PzpIETa5o (Ray's Astro: COMET 3I ATLAS Exits Jupiter - ALIEN Chemistry & Anomalies Explained - I Took a PICTURE)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Wq7aId3Tq0 (Why Files Basement: Avi Loeb (trailer only, episode drops soon))
A rare encounter: How Juice came to observe 3I/ATLAS
23/03/2026
No matter how much planning goes into space missions, one must always expect the unexpected. But luck favours the prepared.
In July 2025, an unexpected visitor entered our Solar System, interstellar object 3I/ATLAS. ESA’s Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer – Juice – happened to be in the right place, with the right equipment, at the right time to see it.
This unique vantage point offered a fleeting opportunity. What followed was a race against time.
An unexpected visitor
On 1 July 2025, an asteroid alert telescope in Chile confirmed an interstellar object had entered our Solar System. The icy body - 3I/ATLAS - is the latest of only three interstellar objects known to have passed through our solar neighbourhood.
Rare and hard to predict, scientists rushed to determine 3I/ATLAS’s orbital trajectory and see what observation options would be available to them.
“Almost since the time of discovery, we realised that the geometry of the orbit would allow observations from the Juice spacecraft, which would observe the comet from a completely different angle than what we can do from Earth,” says Marco Fenucci, Mathematician and Near-Earth Objects Dynamicist at ESA’s Near-Earth Object Coordination Centre (NEOCC).
Calculations predicted that Juice would be the closest spacecraft to 3I/ATLAS right after the icy object reached perihelion, in November 2025.
“Preparations for things like payload pointing campaigns or flybys are usually in the order of nine months,” explains Juice Spacecraft Operations Manager (SOM) Angela Dietz. “When ATLAS came, we knew there was not a lot of time.”
With only four months to prepare a brand-new observation campaign for a completely uncharacterised interstellar object, there was no time to lose.
“With observations in November, we had to complete the planning by the end of September and uplink the commands by mid-October,” Angela explains.
“The mission manager and I agreed to streamline the workflow by temporarily skipping the Science Operations Centre (SOC) step. Normally, SOC supports calibration and data processing, but working directly with the instrument teams allowed us to move faster,” she says.
In the months leading up to the encounter, NEOCC worked closely with the flight dynamics team at the European Space Operations Centre (ESOC) towards producing increasingly refined trajectory solutions. “This was essential to point the Juice instruments to image 3I/ATLAS,” says Marco.
Challenges in deep space
As 3I/ATLAS observation plans continued, Juice faced its own challenges.
Leading up to Juice’s Venus flyby on 31 August 2025, a surprise communication failure days before the manoeuvre sparked round-the-clock troubleshooting. The anomaly was quickly resolved before the flyby, setting the spacecraft on track to its 3I/ATLAS encounter.
“Because of the proximity to the Sun, after the flyby, Juice remained in its hot-cruise phase, with its high-gain antenna still pointed at the Sun to act as a heat shield,” Angela explains. This hot cruise phase would extend until after the observation campaign.
By early October, NEOCC delivered final information on 3I/ATLAS's position, which gave the Juice flight control and flight dynamics teams the confidence to finalise their observation plans within the spacecraft’s hot constraints.
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The encounter
Juice officially began its 3I/ATLAS observations on 2 November 2025, continuing through to 25 November. The closest approach was on 4 November at about 0.4 AU (roughly 60 million km).
This ideal distance paired well with Juice’s payload. As a mission designed and equipped to study Jupiter’s icy moons, Juice’s scientific instruments were a match made in heaven for the icy interstellar body.
Specifically, the spacecraft used five of its instruments – JANUS, MAJIS, UVS, SWI, and PEP – to take measurements of 3I/ATLAS.
Thermal constraints limited these observations to six 45-minute slots and one final 4-hour slot. Together, these generated 126 science files with a total of 11.18 Gbits of data.
But the team would have to wait to see the results.
With Juice still flying in its hot configuration after the observation campaign, the spacecraft could not yet turn back to Earth to transmit the data. Instead, all observations were stored onboard the mass memory (SSMM).
Only after the spacecraft entered cold-cruise phase in mid-January 2026 would the high bit rate downlink be possible.
Data at last
At last, the long-awaited data downlink took place in two 11-hour passes on 17 and 20 February 2026 via ESTRACK’s New Norcia and Malargüe deep space antennas respectively.
The first pass ran smoothly through the night and into the early hours of the next day.
The second and final pass took place early on 20 February. Upon acquisition of signal and nominal telemetry readings, the transfer began. As the 16‑minute signal delay ended, the navigation camera images finally reached the control room, triggering instant smiles.
The rest of the 11-hour downlink ran as expected. By 19:21 CET the 3I/ATLAS observation campaign officially ended. But it left a lasting impact on the mission team.
We came. We saw. Now, we venture on.
“That’s the nice thing in our job – it is always a team effort of many parties involved. I think, the fact that we could optimise this campaign in little time and maximise the output is something to be proud of!” says a beaming Angela.
“At Jupiter, we will perform flybys of the icy moons at a high cadence, sometimes only a couple of weeks apart. The 3I/ATLAS campaign has made me even more confident that Juice can quickly achieve scientific objectives with short warning times, and that complex operations can be planned and executed within very limited timeframes,” says a happy Federico Giannetto, Juice Spacecraft Operations Engineer.
The science teams are now pouring over the data to see what it will reveal about the interstellar object. They will meet this week to discuss the findings.
With preparations already underway for Juice’s upcoming Earth flyby in September, Angela reflects on the significance of this interstellar achievement.
“Someone from mission analysis said to me: in the future, we will remember Juice for the double lunar-Earth flyby and 3I/ATLAS. Nobody’s ever done a lunar-Earth flyby or been so close to an interstellar object’s perihelion. These are very rare and remarkable things!”
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NASA to Provide Update on Implementation of National Space Policy
Mar 23, 2026
NASA will host a public event at 9 a.m. EDT on Tuesday, March 24, at the Mary W. Jackson NASA Headquarters in Washington to outline how the agency is executing President Donald J. Trump’s National Space Policy and accelerating preparations for America’s return to the surface of the Moon by 2028.
The program will open with remarks from NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman, followed by a series of high-level panels providing updates on mission priorities, including sending the first astronauts to the lunar surface in more than 50 years, establishing the initial elements of a permanent lunar base, getting America underway in space on nuclear propulsion, and other objectives.
At 4:45 p.m., NASA will hold a live news conference from headquarters to provide an update on the agency’s progress toward implementing the National Space Policy and recapping major announcements discussed throughout the day.
NASA participants include:
Administrator Jared Isaacman
Associate Administrator Amit Kshatriya
Dana Weigel, program manager, International Space Station Program
Carlos Garcia-Galan, program executive, Moon Base
Steve Sinacore, program executive, Fission Surface Power
Dr. Nicola Fox, associate administrator, Science Mission Directorate
Dr. Lori Glaze, program manager, Moon to Mars Program
The full program and news conference will stream live on NASA+, Amazon Prime, and the agency’s YouTube channel. Learn how to stream NASA content through a variety of online platforms, including social media.
This event is invitation-only for in-person attendance. To participate virtually in the news conference, members of the media must RSVP no later than two hours before the start of the event to Cheryl Warner at: cheryl.m.warner@nasa.gov. NASA’s media accreditation policy is available online.
https://www.nasa.gov/news-release/nasa-to-provide-update-on-implementation-of-national-space-policy/
NASA’s Hubble Revisits Crab Nebula to Track 25 Years of Expansion
Mar 23, 2026
A quarter-century after its first observations of the full Crab Nebula, NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope has taken a fresh look at the supernova remnant.
The result is an unparalleled, detailed look at the aftermath of a supernova and how it has evolved over Hubble’s long lifetime. A paper detailing the new Hubble observation is published in The Astrophysical Journal.
This new Hubble observation continues a legacy that stretches back nearly 1,000 years, when astronomers in 1054 recorded the supernova as an impressively bright new star that, for weeks, was visible even during the day.
The Crab Nebula is the aftermath of SN 1054, located 6,500 light-years from Earth in the constellation Taurus.
“We tend to think of the sky as being unchanging, immutable,” said astronomer William Blair of Johns Hopkins University, who led the new observations.
“However, with the longevity of the Hubble Space Telescope, even an object like the Crab Nebula is revealed to be in motion, still expanding from the explosion nearly a millennium ago."
The supernova remnant was discovered in the mid-18th century, and in the 1950s Edwin Hubble was among several astronomers who noted the close correlation between Chinese astronomical records of a supernova and the position of the Crab Nebula.
The discovery that the heart of the Crab contained a pulsar — a rapidly rotating neutron star — that was powering the nebula’s expansion finally aligned modern observations and ancient records.
In its new image, Hubble captured the nebula’s intricate filamentary structure, as well as the considerable outward movement of those filaments over 25 years, at a pace of 3.4 million miles per hour.
Hubble is the only telescope with the combination of longevity and resolution capable of capturing these detailed changes.
For better comparison with the new image, Hubble’s 1999 image of the Crab was re-processed. The variation of colors in both of the Hubble images shows a combination of changes in local temperature and density of the gas as well as its chemical composition.
“Even though I’ve worked with Hubble quite a bit, I was still struck by the amount of detailed structure we can see and the increased resolution with the Wide Field Camera 3, as compared to 25 years ago,” Blair said.
Wide Field Camera 3 was installed in 2009, the last time Hubble instruments were updated by astronauts.
Blair noted that filaments around the periphery of the nebula appear to have moved more compared to those in the center, and that rather than stretching out over time, they appear to have simply moved outward.
This is due to the nature of the Crab as a pulsar wind nebula powered by synchrotron radiation, which is created by the interaction between the pulsar’s magnetic field and the nebula’s material.
In other well-known supernova remnants, the expansion is instead driven by shockwaves from the initial explosion, eroding surrounding shells of gas that the dying star previously cast off.
The new, higher-resolution Hubble observations are also providing additional insights into the 3D structure of the Crab Nebula, which can be difficult to determine from a 2D image, Blair said.
Shadows of some of the filaments can be seen cast onto the haze of synchrotron radiation in the nebula’s interior. Counterintuitively, some of the brighter filaments in the latest Hubble images show no shadows, indicating they must be located on the far side of the nebula.
According to Blair, the real value of Hubble’s Crab Nebula observations is still to come.
The Hubble data can be paired with recent data from other telescopes that are observing the Crab in different wavelengths of light. NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope released its infrared-light observations of the Crab Nebula in 2024.
Comparison of the Hubble image with other contemporary multiwavelength observations will help scientists put together a more complete picture of the supernova’s continuing aftermath, centuries after astronomers first wondered at a new little star twinkling in the sky.
https://science.nasa.gov/missions/hubble/nasas-hubble-revisits-crab-nebula-to-track-25-years-of-expansion/
https://science.nasa.gov/asset/hubble/tour-the-crab-nebula/
extra
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gFrS1lfvH7M (The Secrets of the Universe: NASA Releases 12 New Jaw-Dropping Space Images For The First Time)
BLAST OFF ‘Son of Concorde’ setback as Nasa jet hit by technical issue in latest attempt to revive 3.5 hour London to NYC flights
Updated: 07:22, 23 Mar 2026
NASA’S attempts to bring back Concorde-style supersonic flights have suffered a setback after its latest major test.
The space agency is one of several organisations vying to become the so-called “Son of Concorde”, 23 years after the iconic speedy service ended.
Nasa has only just tested its second flight of the experimental X-59 aircraft.
But the key moment only lasted nine minutes in the air before pilot Jim “Clue” Less was forced to abort early due to a technical issue.
It was supposed to last about an hour.
The flight took off at 10.54am local time on Friday at the Edwards Air Force Base in California.
Several minutes in a vehicle system warning flashed up in the aircraft’s cockpit prompting the pilot to land safely at 11.03am.
“I certainly hoped to have more to talk about than nine minutes of flight,” Less said.
“Although I had not intended to have to land quite as urgently for my first landing, the plane performed beautifully.”
Bosses have insisted that they were still able to collect information that will help them on future tests. But they haven’t revealed what caused the technical glitch.
“Despite the early landing, this is a good day for the team,” said Cathy Bahm, project manager for NASA’s Low-Boom Flight Demonstrator.
“We collected more data, and the pilot landed safely.
“We’re looking forward to getting back to flight as soon as possible.”
The X-59 jet hasn’t even flown at supersonic speeds yet.
Nasa’s overall Quesst mission with Lockheed Martin is already behind schedule, initially due to Covid restrictions that prevented the first test flight from going ahead in 2021.
Their maiden flight finally blasted off in October last year.
It’s all part of a wider plan to bring back supersonic flights that are faster than the speed of sound while generating only a quiet thump instead of a loud sonic boom.
In theory, supersonic flights could eventually cut a trip between London and New York City to only 3.5 hours.
https://www.the-sun.com/tech/16122707/son-concorde-setback-nasa-jet-technical-issue-x-59/
JUST IN: U.S. Outpacing China When it Comes to Reusable Space Launch
3/23/2026
WASHINGTON, D.C. — China is currently the United States’ primary competitor in space, playing “the long game” with the goal of growing into a major power and leader in the domain.
However, one of its most significant challenges is its lack of reusable launch systems, a U.S. Space Force official said March 23.
China has rapidly and substantially invested in space defense capabilities.
Tracing back to 2015, the country has increased the number of satellites on orbit by close to 700 percent, and it’s “not slowing down,” ramping up development of proliferated constellations, Chief Master Sgt. Ron Lerch, senior enlisted advisor to the deputy chief of space operations for intelligence at the U.S. Space Force, said during a keynote speech at SATShow Week 2026.
As China kicks off a five-year plan spanning 2026 to 2030, it is aiming to bolster science-and-technology innovation, high-quality development and strategic infrastructure for space.
Additionally, Lerch said he expects China to continue developing things like on-orbit refueling, proliferated networks and non-Earth imaging in “different, new ways.”
However, China lacks reusable launch capabilities, which is slowing down a “significant portion” of how quickly it can put proliferated constellations on orbit, Lerch said.
Reusable launch capabilities are designed to be launched, recovered, reassembled and relaunched multiple times, increasing launch cadence, efficiency and sustainability and lowering costs.
The United States still has more efficient launch capabilities than China, Lerch said.
“We put more payload on orbit, we do it with a reusable system, primarily, that allows us to have the launch cadence that we do, but also in terms of just the mass that we're putting on orbit, we are more efficient at doing it than they currently are,” he said.
China knows this, which is why it is now investing in and “actively working towards” the development and testing of reusable launch capabilities.
When it comes to launch reusability for space assets, Lerch said he expects it will take China around three to five years to master that capability to the point where it can alleviate the bottleneck the country is currently experiencing.
However, that bottleneck is more than just launch efficiency.
“There's so much information that's publicly out there that documents a lot of these smart assembly ground stations that [China] has where they have ambitions of being able to produce hundreds of spacecraft a year with the use and the leveraging of smart technologies [that] are really just robotic assembly facilities,” he said.
“What we're seeing is that's part of the bottleneck, or where we visually can picture the bottleneck is … how often can you access space, [and] how do you balance between different providers for different missions and things like that.”
Lerch said he “certainly expects” that China’s efforts to develop reusable launch capabilities will continue to be heavily funded and prioritized, because “there's too much on the line.”
https://www.nationaldefensemagazine.org/articles/2026/3/23/just-in-lack-of-reusable-launch-capabilities-a-major-space-gap-for-china
Huntsville to host Artemis II launch party at Space & Rocket Center
Updated: 10:42 AM CDT March 23, 2026
HUNTSVILLE, Ala. — Space fans in Huntsville can celebrate NASA’s upcoming Artemis II mission with a launch party at the U.S. Space & Rocket Center.
The event, set for April 1 in the Saturn V Hall of the Davidson Center for Space Exploration, will give attendees a front-row seat under the massive Saturn V moon rocket as the mission streams live from NASA.
Artemis II will send astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Jeremy Hansen on a 10-day journey around the Moon, including a “free-return” flyby past the lunar far side.
While the mission won’t land on the Moon, it marks a major step in NASA’s Artemis program and human deep space exploration.
The launch party will allow fans to watch the countdown and launch broadcast on large screens, surrounded by exhibits celebrating NASA history and Huntsville’s role in the space program.
https://www.rocketcitynow.com/article/news/local/huntsville-artemis-ii-launch-party-us-space-rocket-center/525-9bc14ded-75d8-42f9-9435-c522fddea1a4
https://www.rocketcenter.com/content/artemis2-launch-party
Jeff Bezos’ Space Company Unveils Plans for Orbital Anti-Asteroid Defense Weapons
Mar 22, 2026 1:00 PM EDT
Its rockets may have only reached orbit twice so far and its lunar lander is still many years out from getting anywhere near the Moon — but Amazon cofounder Jeff Bezos’ space company Blue Origin is already looking far into the future.
Last week, the company unveiled plans for a “Near-Earth Objects (NEO) Hunter mission concept for planetary defense,” a collaboration with NASA’s Jet Propulsion Lab.
The idea is to test “multiple asteroid-deflection techniques, including ion-beam deflection and robust direct kinetic impact, helping protect Earth from potential threats.”
The company is hoping to leverage its Blue Ring, an in-development spacecraft platform designed to be capable of refueling, transporting, and hosting satellites, for the unusual endeavor.
The concept involves launching a fleet of small cubesats to thoroughly analyze any offending near-Earth object, including its density and mass, before deciding how to mitigate the threat.
Blue Origin suggests either using a concentrated beam of particles to change a threatening object’s orbit — or simply ramming the asteroid at high speeds, an approach dubbed “Robust Kinetic Disruption” that appears to be closely inspired by NASA’s successful Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) mission in 2022.
The mission successfully deflected an asteroid and moving it from its orbit, but scientists have since warned that the resulting game of cosmic billiards could result in setting off a powerful sequence of events that may end up backfiring.
When Blue Origin is hoping to turn its asteroid-busting spacecraft mission into reality remains unclear. Blue Origin’s Blue Ring platform recently underwent structural load testing at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center, as NASASpaceflight reports.
A prototype for Blue Ring was launched on board the company’s inaugural flight of its 300-foot New Glenn rocket in early 2025.
Meanwhile, NASA continues to work on its own Near-Earth Object Surveyor mission, per the agency, the “first space telescope specifically designed to detect asteroids and comets that may be potential hazards to Earth.”
The spacecraft’s infrared detectors are designed to “track the most elusive near-Earth objects,” which “don’t reflect much visible light,” but “glow in the infrared spectrum as they’re heated by sunlight.”
The NEO Surveyor mission is slated to launch aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 sometime in 2027.
https://futurism.com/space/blue-origin-asteroid-planetary-defense
https://x.com/blueorigin/status/2031775427417473371
lets just theorize for a moment
"Miracle" Sees ESA Establish Contact With Lost Artificial Eclipse Spacecraft That Went Silent Last Month
March 23, 2026
The European Space Agency (ESA) has managed to re-establish contact with one of the two Proba-3 spacecraft, after losing it back in February.
This paired mission is studying the Sun like never before, thanks to a never-before-attempted flying formation. The loss of one of them would have ended the mission for good, so re-establishing contact is very good news.
The solar corona, the atmosphere of the Sun, remains in many aspects a mystery. The best time to study it is during an eclipse, when the light of the Sun is blocked by the Moon.
Eclipses are fairly rare and often in inconvenient places, so astronomers have had to come up with coronagraphs – a little disk put in front of a solar telescope to stop sunlight.
The farther away the coronagraph is, the deeper you can probe the corona. This is why ESA came up with Proba-3.
One spacecraft is called the Occulter and does the job of casting the shadow, while the other is the Coronagraph, orbiting precisely behind its companion at about 150 meters (492 feet).
On Valentine's Day weekend, an anomaly triggered a series of commands on the Coronagraph spacecraft that led to it losing orientation. T
he mission team was unable to place it into safe mode. The solar panels stopped facing the Sun, and the batteries began to discharge quickly. Minimal electronics remained active and data transmission to the ground was interrupted.
The team at ESA's ground station in Villafranca, Spain, did not give up and this week received telemetry from the Coronagraph.
They were able to re-establish contact, placing the spacecraft in the right orientation to receive sunlight and putting the whole system in safe mode. Director-General of ESA Josef Aschbacher described it as a "miracle" during a press conference.
“Hearing back from the Coronagraph is amazing news, and a great relief!” Damien Galano, Proba-3 Mission Manager, said in a statement.
“Since the issue was detected a month ago, the mission team, operators and our industry partners have been working tirelessly to get the spacecraft back.
“When we got the call from the operators at Villafranca, the excitement in the team was palpable. But the hard work is not over yet – we need to carefully look at the data before we take any further steps.”
Most of the spacecraft's systems have not worked and have been very cold for over a month. What you do not want to do is act as if nothing has happened.
The recovery might be slow, but let’s hope smooth for what's considered a very exciting and important mission.
https://www.iflscience.com/miracle-sees-esa-establish-contact-with-lost-artificial-eclipse-spacecraft-that-went-silent-last-month-82931
extra ESA
https://www.esa.int/Applications/Connectivity_and_Secure_Communications/Trailer_to_set_up_space-enabled_connectivity_in_emergencies
https://www.esa.int/ESA_Multimedia/Videos/2026/03/Flyeye_ESA_s_automated_asteroid_hunters
https://www.esa.int/Applications/Observing_the_Earth/FutureEO/Tracking_Arctic_freshwater_flow_from_space
Watch live: First Celeste launch
23/03/2026
ESA / Applications / Satellite navigation
On 25 March, the first two satellites of the Celeste LEO-PNT in-orbit demonstration mission will lift off aboard Rocket Lab’s Electron rocket from the company’s Māhia Launch Complex in New Zealand.
Coverage will start 9:53 CET with live commentary. The rocket is scheduled for liftoff at 10:14, with a launch window of about an hour.
Celeste will play a pioneering role in elevating the future of Europe’s satellite navigation capabilities. As Europe’s first initiative for satellite navigation in low Earth orbit (LEO), the mission will be testing next-generation technologies and add new frequency bands for satellite navigation.
Celeste will demonstrate how a complementary layer flying closer to Earth can enhance Europe’s current Galileo system in medium Earth orbit (MEO), boosting the overall resilience, enhancing its performance and opening opportunities for new service capabilities directly from LEO.
Watch the Celeste launch live on ESA WebTV or ESA YouTube.
Programme (all times in CET)
09:53 Broadcast begins
10:14 Liftoff
10:16 First stage separation
10:23 Second stage separation
11:04 Payload 1 deployment.
11:08 Payload 1 deployment.
11:09 Broadcast ends
https://www.esa.int/Applications/Satellite_navigation/Watch_live_First_Celeste_launch
https://www.esa.int/ESA_Multimedia/Videos/2026/03/Celeste_Countdown_to_Launch_1
https://www.youtube.com/live/jJxRic-a4SU
PCSO brings NASA-tested portable AI X-ray technology to Batanes
March 23, 2026, 5:13 pm
MANILA – The Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) on Monday said residents of Batanes are set to receive world-class medical screening with the deployment of a high-performance, portable X-ray system to the province.
In a statement, the PCSO said the REMEX KA6 system, previously chosen for evaluation in space-ready imaging tests of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), is being brought to Basco and Sabtang, Batanes for an upcoming medical mission.
Unlike traditional, bulky X-ray machines, the REMEX KA6 is battery-operated and weighs only 3.5 kilograms, making it easy for health workers to reach remote islands and mountain communities.
"By partnering with the private sector and using cutting-edge technology, we are ensuring that the community receives the most accurate and safe diagnostic care available today," PCSO General Manager Melquiades Robles said, adding that the mission is in accordance with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s instruction to bring the best technology closer to the people.
Equipped with artificial intelligence (AI), REMEX KA6 can instantly screen for tuberculosis and six other chest-related diseases like pneumonia, nodules, masses, pneumothorax, pleural effusion, and increased lung opacity, as well as bone fractures.
"This allows for immediate diagnosis on the spot, saving Ivatan patients from the long and often difficult travel to major hospitals," the PCSO said.
https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1271572
Dozens of Ukrainian drones downed over Russia in two hours – MOD
Updated 22 Mar, 2026 22:05
A total of 60 Ukrainian fixed-wing kamikaze drones were intercepted by Russian air defenses over six regions on Sunday evening, the Defense Ministry has estimated.
In recent weeks, the Ukrainian military has intensified its UAV attacks on Russian territory. Moscow has consistently characterized them as “terrorist attacks,” targeting critical infrastructure, manufacturing facilities, and residential areas.
Russia has retaliated with a long-range strike campaign of its own, focusing on dual-use infrastructure, including power grid facilities, and military sites in Ukraine. Moscow maintains that it never targets purely civilian sites.
In a statement late on Sunday, the Russian Defense Ministry said that between 6PM and 8PM Moscow time, 33 drones were downed over Bryansk Region, 14 over Smolensk Region, seven over Novgorod Region, three over Leningrad Region, two over Tver Region and one over Kursk Region.
Earlier in the day, Bryansk Region Governor Aleksandr Bogomaz reported on his Telegram channel that a man had been injured after a Ukrainian drone struck an agricultural facility there.
He later said that dozens more UAVs had been destroyed over the Russian region that shares a border with Ukraine. The attacks resulted in no additional casualties or material damage, according to Bogomaz.
On Saturday, the Defense Ministry stated that 337 Ukrainian fixed-wing kamikaze drones had been intercepted over multiple Russian regions.
On Monday, Moscow Mayor Sergey Sobyanin wrote on his Telegram channel that around 250 Ukrainian drones had been downed by air defenses while approaching the Russian capital over the weekend.
The attacks forced temporary flight suspensions at Domodedovo, Sheremetyevo, Vnukovo, and Zhukovsky airports, with traffic restored by Monday morning.
https://www.rt.com/russia/635857-dozens-ukrainian-drones-downed-russia-sunday-mod/
https://www.rt.com/russia/635743-ukrainian-drone-barrage-interceptions/
extra RT
https://www.rt.com/news/635903-patriot-missile-bahrain-reuters/
https://www.rt.com/africa/635926-ghana-un-resolution-slavery-reparations/
Russia and Ukraine exchange drone strikes after US-Ukraine talks in Florida
23/03/2026 15:15
Ukraine and Russia have exchanged major drone strikes, each using over 200 drones, following talks between the United States and Ukraine in Florida, during which a possible prisoner exchange between Russia and Ukraine was also discussed.
Russia's Defense Forces said they captured and destroyed 249 Ukrainian drones overnight. It was one of the largest drone attacks by Ukraine, which has stepped up attacks on Russian energy targets.
Meanwhile, the Ukrainian Air Force said Russian forces launched 251 attack drones during the same time.
In Ukraine, Russian drones hit residential areas and port infrastructure in the southern Black Sea region of Odessa, according to the regional governor.
At least four people were injured in Kryvyi Rih, a major industrial city in central Ukraine, after Russian strikes, while fires and damage to infrastructure were reported.
In Russia, a drone attack caused a fire at a fuel tank in the port of Primorsky on the Baltic Sea, the country's largest western oil export hub, according to Aleksandr Drozdenko, governor of the Leningrad region.
Over 70 drones were destroyed in the region over the past 24 hours, Drozdenko wrote on his Telegram account.
The port of Primorsky, with an export capacity of over 1 million barrels of crude oil per day, is an important outlet for Russia's high-quality crude oil and night-time.
This is not the first time Primorsky has been hit by Ukrainian forces: the port was previously attacked in September 2025, and was forced to temporarily halt oil shipments.
Ukraine is continuing its attacks on Russian energy infrastructure, hitting oil export facilities and refineries to weaken Moscow's war economy.
US-Ukraine talks in Florida
Ukraine's negotiating team met with U.S. representatives in Florida for two days of talks on March 21–22.
The American delegation included special envoy Steve Witkoff, Jared Kushner, and White House senior adviser Josh Gruenbaum, while the Ukrainian delegation included Rustem Umerov, Kyrylo Budanov, David Arakhamia, and Serhiy Kyslytsya.
According to both sides, the discussions focused on sustainable security guarantees for Ukraine and humanitarian efforts, including possible further prisoner exchanges between Russia and Ukraine.
"There are signals that further exchanges may be possible, and this would be good news and confirmation that diplomacy is working," Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said in his evening speech on March 22.
Witkoff called the talks with the Ukrainian delegation in Florida "fruitful," adding that they focused on key points to define a stable and credible security framework for Ukraine.
The Ukrainian chief negotiator, Rustem Umerov, reported that "progress" has been achieved in approaching positions on unresolved issues with the American side.
Last week, one of the Kremlin's top envoys, Kirill Dmitriev, also traveled to Florida to meet with US officials. He described the talks as "fruitful."
The Kremlin said on March 19 that trilateral talks between Washington, Moscow and Kiev on ending the war in Ukraine are on "pause" following the start of the war with Iran.
"This is a situational pause, for obvious reasons," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters, adding that as soon as "our American partners" can pay more attention to Ukrainian issues, Moscow hopes the pause will end and a new round of talks can take place. /REL
https://www.gazetaexpress.com/en/Russia-and-Ukraine-exchange-drone-strikes-after-US-Ukraine-talks-in-Florida/
other Russia and Ukraine
https://www.travelandtourworld.com/news/article/hundreds-of-flights-canceled-and-delayed-as-new-drone-attack-forces-unprecedented-airspace-shutdown-near-pulkovo-airport-in-st-petersburg-highlighting-the-escalating-impact-of-the-ongoing-russia-ukr/
https://newsukraine.rbc.ua/news/russia-halts-oil-exports-through-prymorsk-1774276296.html
https://www.pravda.com.ua/eng/news/2026/03/23/8026786/
https://112.ua/en/ukrainski-hakeri-rozkrili-marsruti-rosijskih-droniv-cerez-bilorus-rezultati-specoperacii-149116
https://voennoedelo.com/en/posts/id14299-russia-deploys-multi-layer-defense-against-drone-attacks
https://www.ukrinform.net/rubric-ato/4104443-drone-attack-on-kirovohrad-region-leaves-one-injured-private-houses-damaged.html
https://united24media.com/latest-news/the-jedi-returns-this-time-as-a-ukraine-made-drone-hunting-russian-shaheds-17163
https://www.kyivpost.com/post/72438
https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/iran-news/2026-03-23/live-updates-890852
https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog-march-23-2026/
other Israel
https://www.jns.org/news/israel-news/idf-strikes-tehran-terror-targets-on-23rd-day-of-operation-roaring-lion
https://vinnews.com/2026/03/23/idf-israeli-jets-strike-key-irgc-sites-weapons-facilities-in-overnight-tehran-airstrikes/
https://www.timesofisrael.com/us-said-planning-weeks-long-operation-to-reopen-hormuz-strait-idf-strikes-tehran-overnight/
https://www.jns.org/news/israel-news/iaf-strikes-vehicle-in-central-gaza-eliminating-terror-cell
https://breakingthenews.net/Article/IDF-eliminates-Hamas-squad-in-Gaza/65927883
https://www.news24.com/world/israel-fire-at-incorrect-angle-killed-israeli-farmer-near-lebanon-border-says-idf-20260323-0872
US, Iran plan for talks in Pakistan, Trump floats shared control over Hormuz
March 23, 7:24 PM
Live Updates:
EU to assess Iran war impact on gas supplies at emergency meeting • Several wounded following wave of Hezbollah rockets • Mojtaba Khamenei reportedly unresponsive •
Security forces inspect Egged bus following a rocket shrapnel impact in Kiryat Shmona on March 23, 2026.
March 23, 5:18 PM
Woman found dead in Ashkelon after falling en route to shelter
ByJERUSALEM POST STAFF
A 60-year-old woman was found dead on the street in Ashkelon on Monday, according to ZAKA, after she likely fell on the way to shelter during a rocket siren.
March 23, 5:05 PM
IDF strikes IRGC Quds Force member in Beirut, continues strikes in Tehran
The Israeli military did not name the target of the strike. Earlier on Monday, the IDF conducted a series of strikes in Tehran.
The IDF struck an Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Quds Force member in Beirut, Lebanon, on Monday afternoon, according to a statement from the military.
The statement did not name the target of the strike.
Earlier on Monday, the IDF conducted a series of strikes in Tehran - the first, at approximately 4 a.m., purported to target terror regime infrastructure, while the second, at 2 p.m., aimed for "Iranian terror regime targets."
March 23, 4:33 PM
Trump pitches shared US-Iran Strait of Hormuz control, claims regime change 'already happened'
Iranian parliament speaker Mohammad-Bagher Ghalibaf is leading the talks with the United States, a source told The Jerusalem Post.
US President Donald Trump said that the US may share control of the Strait of Hormuz with Iran, while also suggesting that regime change has already happened, given the number of regime officials eliminated thus far in the war, while speaking to reporters on Monday.
"Maybe me, maybe me and the ayatollah, whoever the ayatollah is, whoever the next ayatollah is. And there will also be some form of regime change, very serious regime change."
Trump said the conversations, during which the two sides had "major points of agreement," took place on Sunday and involved "top" Iranian leadership, though he had not heard from Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei.
March 23, 3:45 PM
Gulf airlines recovering slowely as Iran war drags on
The war on Iran has affected fares and demand, with Emirates, Etihad Airways, flydubai, Qatar Airways, and Air Arabia seeing flight numbers drop to near-zero after the war began on February 28.
Middle Eastern airlines, some of the biggest globally, have been hit hard by the Iran conflict that has seen attack drones and missile strikes across the Gulf region, disrupting busy airport hubs and redrawing traffic routes across the skies.
Major state-backed carriers in the region, including Emirates, Etihad Airways, flydubai, Qatar Airways, and Air Arabia, saw flight numbers drop to near zero after the initial February 28 strikes by US and Israeli forces on Iran.
Flight numbers from the key United Arab Emirates, which includes Abu Dhabi and Dubai, have slowly picked up since then, though they remain well below pre-conflict levels, according to data compiled by Flightradar24.com.
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March 23, 3:43 PM
Two wounded after Hezbollah rocket shrapnel hits bus in Kiryat Shmona
According to Magen David Adom, a man in his 50s sustained a head injury from shrapnel while he was near the bus and is in moderate-serious condition.
Emergency services respond after rocket shrapnel hit a bus in Kiryat Shmona on March 23, 2026 (CREDIT: MAGEN DAVID ADOM).
One person was seriously wounded after shrapnel from a Hezbollah rocket hit a bus in Kiryat Shmona on Monday afternoon, according to Israel Fire and Rescue Services.
According to Magen David Adom, a man in his 50s sustained a head injury from shrapnel while he was near the bus and is in moderate-serious condition.
A piece of rocket shrapnel also impacted the street in Kiryat Shmona, according to Fire and Rescue Services.
No serious injuries were reported aside from the man in his 50s, who was treated by Magen David Adom and evacuated to Rambam Hospital by Hatzalah helicopter.
March 23, 3:05 PM
Lebanese PM backs disarming Hezbollah, blames group for dragging country into war - report
Prime Minister Nawaf Salam also endorsed talks with Israel and called for the expulsion of Iranian operatives from Lebanon.
Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam expressed support for his government's decision to disarm Hezbollah and blamed the terror group for dragging Lebanon into a wider regional war in a Sunday interview with Saudi newspaper Al-Hadath.
Salam also endorsed talks with Israel and called for the expulsion of Iranian operatives from Lebanon.
Following American and Israeli strikes on Iran at the end of February, on March 2, Hezbollah joined the war by launching a six-missile attack on Israel as supposed revenge for the assassination of former supreme leader Ali Khamenei.
March 23, 3:04 PM
EU to assess Iran war impact on gas supplies at emergency meeting
The EU's gas coordination group includes representatives from member state governments. It monitors gas storage and security of supply in the EU and coordinates response measures during crises.
The European Union's gas coordination group will meet on Thursday to assess the impact of the Iran war on Europe's gas supplies, a European Commission spokesperson told Reuters on Monday.
The EU's gas coordination group includes representatives from member state governments. It monitors gas storage and security of supply in the EU and coordinates response measures during crises.
March 23, 3:03 PM
Several people reportedly wounded following wave of Hezbollah rockets
Several people have been wounded following the most recent wave of Hezbollah rockets from Lebanon on Monday afternoon, Israeli media reported.
March 23, 3:00 PM
Trump says Iran wants to make a deal badly, could be within five days or sooner -Fox Business
Iran wants to make a deal badly and that could come within five days or less, U.S. President Donald Trump told Fox Business Network on Monday.
Trump said the most recent talks between US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner and their counterparts took place on Sunday night, Trump said in a telephone interview, according to the host of the "Mornings with Maria" program.
March 23, 2:19 PM
Iran denies talks with Trump on ending war - report
After US President Donald Trump stated on Monday that the US and Iran had "productive" talks on finding a permanent resolution to the war, an Iranian source said that the talks had not taken place.
"There is no direct contact with Trump, not even through intermediaries. Trump retreated after hearing that our targets would be all power plants in West Asia," the unnamed source told state-affiliated Fars News Agency.
2/2
https://www.iranintl.com/en/liveblog/202603192844
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/summoning-of-the-iranian-ambassador-to-the-united-kingdom-fcdo-statement–3
https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/ukraine-has-irrefutable-evidence-russia-providing-intelligence-iran-zelenskiy-2026-03-23/
https://www.axios.com/2026/03/23/trump-iran-economy-bonds
Trump says US had ‘very good’ preliminary talks with Iran
March 23, 2026
Summary
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US President Donald Trump on Monday said preliminary conversations between the United States and Iran had been "very, very good", adding Tehran wanted to settle. Tehran denies it had any talks with the US.
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President Donald Trump put off his threat to bomb Iranian power plants and spoke of a “complete and total resolution of hostilities” after what he described as productive talks with Iran.
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UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer said on Monday there was no evidence Iran was targeting Britain and stressed the need for a clear plan to reopen the Strait of Hormuz while prioritising de-escalation.
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Several safe houses were targeted in strikes across multiple districts of Tehran, including Aghdasieh, Majidiyeh and Chizar, with those inside the sites unclear, Iran International has learned.
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Russia is preparing multiple evacuation waves from Iran’s Bushehr nuclear plant, with plans to leave only a small number of personnel on site, Rosatom said.
15 minutes ago
Vance, Netanyahu discuss possible deal to end Iran war - Axios
US Vice-President JD Vance and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had a phone conversation on Monday, during which they discussed efforts to open negotiation with Tehran, Axios reported citing an informed source.
The two sides conferred on the components of a possible agreement to end the Iran war, the report added.
18 minutes ago
Iran ready to offer 'very big' nuclear concessions - Israel's Channel 12
Tehran is prepared to offer “very large and serious concessions” regarding its nuclear program, Israel’s Channel 12 reported citing an Israeli official.
However, the chances of reaching an agreement remain “very low," the official was quoted as saying.
The source added that the Islamic Republic’s pullbacks are “the result of military pressure” and that the steps taken so far are “still not enough.”
36 minutes ago
UK summons Iran envoy over charges against men accused of spying
The UK government said on Monday the Iranian ambassador to the United Kingdom has been summoned to the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office following the recent charging of two individuals—one an Iranian national and the other a British-Iranian dual national.
Last week, two Iranian men, Nematollah Shahsavani, 40, and Alireza Farasati, 22, appeared in court accused of conducting hostile surveillance of Jewish targets in London on behalf of the Iranian Intelligence Service (IIS).
41 minutes ago
Trump says there is 'very good' chance of a deal with Iran
US President Donald Trump on Monday said preliminary conversations between the United States and Iran had been "very, very good", adding Tehran wanted to settle.
He said the United States is now holding very good discussions with Iran, adding that Tehran wants peace and has agreed it will not develop a nuclear weapon.
"There is a very strong chance of reaching a deal," he said.
1/2
1 hour ago
Iran's Revolutionary Guards launch fresh attacks on US bases
Iran's Revolutionary Guards released new footage that purportedly shows its latest barrage of missile and drone strikes against Israel and US bases in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and the UAE.
"The deceptive US president’s contradictory behavior will not distract us from the battlefield or from continuing the fight against a malicious adversary, as Trump’s psychological operations have become worn-out," the IRGC's Public Relations department said.
1 hour ago
BREAKING NEWS
Ghalibaf says no talks held with US, 'fake news' used to manipulate markets
"No negotiations have been held with the US, and fake news is used to manipulate the financial and oil markets and escape the quagmire in which the US and Israel are trapped," Iran's Parliament Speaker Mohammad-Bagher Ghalibaf said in a post on X.
"Iranian people demand complete and remorseful punishment of the aggressors.
All Iranian officials stand firmly behind their supreme leader and people until this goal is achieved," he added.
1 hour ago
Iran and US may hold talks in Islamabad as soon as this week - Reuters
Israeli officials believe the United States and Iran could hold talks in Islamabad as soon as this week, Reuters reported citing an unnamed source.
Israel's Channel 12 earlier quoted a senior Israeli official as saying contacts are underway for a meeting between senior Iranian and American officials in Islamabad later this week.
"As part of the contacts for the summit in Pakistan, the possibility is being considered that US Vice President Vance will be the senior American representative," the report said.
2 hours ago
Iran's foreign ministry denies talks with US during war
Iran’s foreign ministry spokesman said there have been no negotiations with the United States during the 24 days of war, adding that the Islamic Republic’s position on the Strait of Hormuz and conditions for ending the conflict remain unchanged.
Speaking to IRNA, Esmail Baghaei said messages had been conveyed in recent days through several “friendly countries,” indicating what he called Washington’s interest in negotiations to end the war.
He said Iran had responded in line with its “principled positions" and issued warnings in its replies about the “severe consequences” of any attack on Iran’s vital infrastructure.
He stressed that any action targeting Iran’s energy infrastructure would be met with a “decisive, immediate and effective” response by Iranian armed forces.
2 hours ago
US talking to a top person in Iran but not the Supreme Leader, Trump says
2/2
Sudan Drone Attack Hits Key Hospital in Darfur (Many Killed)
March 23, 2026
The war in Sudan grinds forward with merciless, unrelenting force—month after month tearing the nation apart, reducing it to a fractured battlefield carved up by rival centres of power.
What unfolds is not simply political paralysis, but a vast humanitarian implosion—slow, suffocating, and catastrophic.
On one side stand the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and their allied militias, widely accused of systematic atrocities against non-Arab communities across multiple regions.
Opposing them are the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), themselves entangled in accusations from the United Arab Emirates of harboring pro–Muslim Brotherhood sympathies.
Between these forces lies Sudan’s civilian population—trapped, exposed, and crushed—epitomized by the latest drone strike that killed more than 60 civilians in Eastern Darfur.
Suspicion immediately falls upon the SAF, despite their denials. Yet in the suffocating fog of war—where both sides manipulate narratives and weaponize information—certainty becomes elusive.
What is clear, however, is that both factions repeatedly exploit spaces that should be inviolable: hospitals, displacement camps, and humanitarian corridors—turning sanctuaries into targets.
The BBC reports, “In a statement, the RSF said the strike had completely destroyed the hospital’s top floor, caused extensive damage to the accident and emergency department and destroyed vital medical equipment.”
The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that 64 people—including 13 children, two nurses, and a doctor—were killed in the strike on el-Daein Teaching Hospital, with dozens more wounded.
Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus issued a stark plea: “Enough blood has been spilled.”
Yet the killing continues—indiscriminate, relentless, and devoid of restraint. Hospitals, civilian neighborhoods, and refugee camps alike have become theatres of death. In Sudan today, nowhere is safe.
AFP reports, “El-Daein, the RSF-controlled state capital of East Darfur, has been regularly attacked by the army, which is trying to push the paramilitary back towards its Darfur strongholds and away from Sudan’s central corridor.”
Over nearly three years of conflict, the WHO has verified more than 2,000 deaths in over 200 attacks on healthcare facilities. This is not collateral damage—it is a pattern.
A systematic erosion of the most basic protections afforded by international law. Ghebreyesus’ warning is unequivocal: the time to de-escalate is long overdue; the protection of civilians, health workers, and humanitarian personnel is not optional—it is imperative.
The strike on el-Daein—capital of East Darfur—underscores the war’s moral void. That it occurred during Eid al-Fitronly deepens the horror. In this conflict, nothing is sacred. Not faith. Not medicine. Not life itself.
Across Darfur, massacres targeting non-Arab communities continue with chilling regularity. In Kordofan, children are quietly dying of starvation—unseen, uncounted.
Throughout the country, executions of captured fighters persist, while drone strikes and shelling repeatedly strike food convoys, markets, mosques, and schools. These are not aberrations.
They are patterns of brutality—deliberate, repeated, and escalating. These are crimes marking one of the darkest chapters in Sudan’s modern history.
Since April 2023, at least 150,000 people are believed to have perished—though the true toll is likely far higher. The United Nations now recognizes this as the largest humanitarian crisis on earth—a devastating indictment of global inaction.
History offers a grim warning. After decades of war defined by mass killings, slave raids, and systematic violence, South Sudan broke away.
Today, Sudan once again teeters on the edge—threatened by fragmentation, its trajectory ominously echoing that of Libya: a state intact on maps, but fractured in reality.
The message is stark and unavoidable. Regional powers, Gulf states, and the broader international community must act with urgency and resolve—to force meaningful negotiations and impose real accountability.
Without sustained, enforceable peace, Sudan’s descent will deepen—defined by ethnic slaughter, starvation, sexual violence, and the erasure of entire communities.
Sudan cannot endure further disintegration. The cost of inaction is already written—in children’s graves, in emptied villages, in a nation dragged relentlessly toward the abyss.
It must break free from this cycle of death, impunity, and collapse. Yet today, millions remain trapped in the convulsions of war—abandoned, starving, and unheard—standing at the very edge of catastrophe.
https://moderntokyotimes.com/sudan-drone-attack-hits-key-hospital-in-darfur-many-killed/
https://www.gbcghanaonline.com/news/drone-strikes-turn-sudan-hospitals-into-targets-with-64-dead-and-89-wounded-who-warns-of-medical-collapse/2026/
Nigerian Army uncovers ISWAP, Boko Haram drone warfare tactics, tracks sponsors
23-03-2026
Fresh intelligence findings by the Nigerian military have revealed a disturbing shift in insurgent tactics in the North-East, with terrorist groups increasingly deploying weaponised commercial drones for aerial attacks.
Defence intelligence sources disclosed to PRNigeria that ongoing investigations have also uncovered possible sponsors and foreign technical collaborators backing the emerging threat.
According to sources, insurgent groups, including ISWAP and Boko Haram factions, are now converting commercially available drones – originally designed for photography and filmmaking – into improvised aerial weapons.
Military experts explained that the drones, widely accessible in open markets, are being fitted with locally fabricated explosive payloads and triggering mechanisms.
A defence source said, “The insurgents have modified the drones by attaching locally fabricated explosive payloads and triggering mechanisms, enabling them to conduct remote-controlled aerial strikes on strategic locations and civilian targets.”
The development follows a major counter-terrorism success in the Malam Fatori axis of Borno State.
On Tuesday, Nigerian troops carried out a coordinated decoy ambush operation, resulting in the elimination of two top ISWAP commanders and 84 terrorist fighters.
Following the operation, security operatives recovered what was described as a “treasure trove” of intelligence materials.
Items recovered include mobile phones currently undergoing forensic analysis, handwritten diaries containing operational maps and strike plans, and technical manuals detailing step-by-step procedures for modifying commercial drones into weapons.
Sources said the recovered materials have provided “compelling evidence” linking specific sponsors and external technical advisers to the insurgents’ evolving drone warfare strategy.
Intelligence sources revealed that investigations have uncovered a coordinated network of sponsors and collaborators aiding insurgents in the development and deployment of weaponised drones.
One source stated, “There are clear indications that these modifications are not random. We are tracking supply routes, technical inputs, and financial backers supporting this shift.”
In response to the growing threat, the Nigerian military has stepped up counter-drone operations through enhanced intelligence gathering and deployment of electronic warfare systems.
The military is combining these measures with sustained ground offensives targeting terrorist enclaves.
A key strategy being deployed is frequency jamming, a technology designed to disrupt communication signals between drones and their operators.
Explaining the process, a military source said, “One of the key strategies currently in use is frequency jamming. Once the signal is interfered with, the drone loses control and crashes before reaching its intended target.”
He added, “Once the frequency is jammed, the drone becomes inoperative and drops mid-air.”
Additionally, troops have undergone specialised training to detect, track, and neutralise hostile drones through coordinated ground fire.
The training focuses on recognising drone movement patterns, improving response timing, and strengthening inter-unit coordination during aerial threats.
Do you think the Nigerian Army has the technology and expertise to compete with these terrorist groups in the use of drones? Tell us what you think in the comment below.
https://www.intelregion.com/news/army-uncovers-iswap-boko-haram-drone-warfare-tactics-tracks-sponsors
Greenland’s ice secrets uncovered using DJI drone technology
Mar 23 2026 - 1:38 am PT
There’s a reason scientists are increasingly turning to drones to understand climate change, and a new mission in Greenland shows exactly why.
In July 2025, a team of explorers and researchers set out across Greenland’s icy coastline aboard Perseverance, the world’s largest oceanographic research sailboat.
Their goal: capture the most detailed view yet of how Arctic glaciers are evolving — and breaking apart — in real time.
Leading the expedition was legendary explorer Jean-Louis Étienne, alongside a team blending satellite expertise with cutting-edge drone technology.
At the heart of the mission was the DJI Mavic 3 Enterprise, a compact yet powerful drone capable of capturing ultra-detailed aerial imagery for 3D modeling.
And the results? A level of detail that satellites simply can’t match.
Why drones matter more than ever
For years, satellites have revolutionized how scientists study Earth’s ice. They offer a big-picture view of glacier movement and ice loss. But there’s a catch… they can’t zoom in enough to explain how things are happening. That’s where drones step in.
By flying close to glaciers like Eqip Sermia and Sermeq Kujalleq — one of the fastest-moving glaciers on the planet — the DJI drone captured thousands of high-resolution images.
These were stitched together into precise 3D models, revealing cracks, crevasses, and structural weaknesses in the ice.
And those details are critical. Scientists say these fracture patterns often determine when — and how — massive chunks of ice break off into the ocean, a process known as iceberg calving.
It’s one of the biggest unknowns in predicting future sea-level rise.
A closer look at glacier collapse
The expedition’s data is now being analyzed in collaboration with the University of Aberdeen, where glaciologists are studying how glaciers melt, fracture, and interact with ocean waters.
One key breakthrough: 3D models of icebergs in the water.
These models help researchers measure not just how fast ice melts, but how quickly it disintegrates. That meltwater doesn’t just disappear — it changes ocean circulation and even impacts marine ecosystems.
In simple terms, what happens to a single iceberg can ripple across entire ocean systems.
What makes this mission especially significant isn’t just the data; it’s how it was collected. Just a decade ago, this kind of research would have required massive funding, specialized aircraft, and large teams.
Today, a compact drone and a skilled operator can deliver similar, and sometimes better, results.
That’s a big deal for climate science. It means more researchers, in more places, can gather high-quality data faster and at lower cost. And in a region like Greenland, where change is happening rapidly, speed matters.
The bigger picture
Greenland is warming faster than most parts of the planet. Its glaciers are melting, shifting, and breaking apart in ways scientists are still trying to fully understand.
By combining satellite imagery with drone-based 3D modeling, researchers are finally getting both the big picture and the fine details — a powerful combination for predicting what comes next.
But to really grasp what’s happening, you need to see it. The expedition’s footage brings these frozen landscapes to life, showing towering ice walls, deep crevasses, and massive chunks of ice collapsing into the sea — all captured from a drone’s-eye view.
If you want to understand how fast our planet is changing, and why it matters, this is one video worth watching:
https://dronedj.com/2026/03/23/dji-drone-greenland-glacier-iceberg/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7NRJIw3da5I
FAA Wants Feedback on UAS Airport and Droneport Integration
Monday, March 23, 2026 at 12:01 PM ET
The FAA is asking airports, operators and other stakeholders to weigh in on how unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) are being incorporated into airports and droneports, with public comments due April 22.
The notice covers a proposed information collection tied to UAS planning, design and infrastructure needs as drone and other AAM activity expands.
The agency is looking for feedback on what airports and droneports may need to support those operations and how that work could affect future development.
According to the notice, the information would help the FAA assess evolving issues around planning airports and related facilities as unmanned aircraft become a larger part of the operating environment.
The comment period comes a little more than two weeks after the FAA and the U.S. Department of Transportation selected eight proposals in 26 states for the Advanced Air Mobility and Electric Vertical Takeoff and Landing Integration Pilot Program (eIPP).
That effort, which is set to begin this year, will aim to gather operational data on eVTOL and other advanced air mobility aircraft through projects involving state and local governments, manufacturers and operators.
Planned concepts that will be trialed include passenger service, cargo flights, emergency response, autonomous operations and offshore transportation.
https://avweb.com/recent-updates/evtols-urban-mobility/faa-uas-airport-droneport-integration/
https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/03/23/2026-05603/agency-information-collection-activities-requests-for-comments-clearance-of-a-new-approval-of
E-magy Presents Silicon-Dominant Anode Breakthroughs for Next-Gen Drone Power & Electronics
23 Mar 2026
E-magy will unveil developments for 12 Ah silicon-dominant cells designed for 6S2P drone battery packs at the 2026 International Battery Seminar & Exhibit (IBSE), 23-26 March, in Orlando, Florida.
The presentation, Silicon in Action: Silicon-Dominant Cells in Consumer Electronics and Drone Applications, scheduled for 11:45am (EDT) on March 26, 2026, focuses on how nanoporous silicon anode material addresses the specific power density and reliability requirements of next-generation unmanned systems.
The presentation, with Vanesa Ruiz, Director of Battery Qualification, and Arindam Haldar, Senior Battery Application Engineer, also involves insights from E-magy’s latest tests and projects and a live Q&A.
This technology enables higher energy density and faster charging compared to traditional battery chemistries. By utilizing pure silicon in real-world applications, the material aims to transform battery performance across drones, consumer electronics, and solid-state technology.
Technical insights will include first-look data from multilayer pouch cells, demonstrating how silicon-dominant anodes perform in practical hardware.
A significant portion of the development involves electrolyte optimization, where stability breakthroughs are being used to enhance the performance and longevity of high-silicon anodes.
These innovations are currently being applied to lighthouse projects involving eVTOLs, wearables, and drones.
Beyond flight applications, the E-magy team is exploring how these innovative materials can be integrated into broader consumer electronics and next-generation solid-state battery architectures to solve energy density challenges.
https://www.unmannedsystemstechnology.com/2026/03/e-magy-presents-silicon-dominant-anode-breakthroughs-for-next-gen-drone-power-electronics/
State Department launches effort to counter cyberattacks, AI risks from Iran, others
March 23, 2026, 4:01 AM
The State Department has formally launched a new entity charged with anticipating and responding to dangers posed by Iran and other U.S. adversaries' weaponization of advanced technology, including artificial intelligence, officials familiar with the matter tell ABC News.
The department's Bureau of Emerging Threats has been tasked with safeguarding American national security against cyberattacks, the weaponization of space and similar malicious efforts, they said.
In addition to Iran, the officials identified novel threats from China, Russia, North Korea and foreign terrorist organizations as particular areas of focus.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced the creation of the Bureau of Emerging Threats when he revealed his sweeping reorganization plan for the department nearly a year ago, but few specifics about its purpose have been revealed before now.
"The bureau will address not only the current threats we face today in cyberspace, outer space, critical infrastructure, and through the misuse of disruptive technology like AI and quantum, but those we will face in the decades ahead," State Department principal deputy spokesperson Tommy Pigott said.
Anny Vu, the senior official leading the bureau who also recently served as the Trump administration's chargé d'affaires to China, said her team of experts will be "dedicated to leveraging foreign policy and all tools of national power" to protect U.S. interests.
Officials say the Bureau of Emerging Threats will include five divisions: the Office of Cybersecurity, the Office of Critical Infrastructure Security, the Office of Disruptive Technology, the Office of Space Security and the Office of Threat Assessment.
The Iranian regime and its affiliates have a long history of using cyberattacks to target U.S. interests, and the American cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike says it identified an uptick in activity from pro-Iranian actors after the U.S. and Israel initiated military action against the country in late February.
The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency is investigating at least one major attack believed to have been carried out by pro-Iran hackers since the conflict began–a breach of the American medical technologies company, Stryker.
The State Department formally notified Congress about the creation of the Bureau of Emerging Threats on Friday, the same day the White House released its national policy framework for artificial intelligence.
The four-page blueprint calls on Congress to pass "minimally burdensome" laws governing the use of AI to override more restrictive state legislation. It also says lawmakers shouldn't not seek to create any new federal agencies aimed at regulating AI.
https://abcnews.com/Politics/state-department-launches-effort-counter-cyberattacks-ai-risks/story
https://x.com/RedPandaKoala/status/2036104987085013390