TYB
Did GREAT COMET 2026 - C/2026 A1 MAPS - Survive the Sun… or Get Destroyed?
April 4, 2026
🔴 LIVE: Comet 2026 vs The Sun — Did It Survive?
This is Cosmic Ray. I take pictures of the universe using my backyard telescopes… and right now, something BIG just happened.
Comet 2026 (C/2026 A1 MAPS) has just made its closest approach to the Sun — a dangerous moment where most comets don’t survive.
👉 Did it make it through…
👉 Or did it break apart near the Sun?
👉 And could this interaction trigger solar activity like a CME?
We are watching this LIVE using real-time solar observatories including NASA / ESA missions like SOHO (LASCO) and other space-based instruments.
☀️ What we’re tracking LIVE:
Comet 2026 near the Sun (perihelion passage)
Possible fragmentation or survival
Solar activity (flares / CMEs)
Motion updates hour by hour
⚠️ Important:
There is currently NO confirmed evidence that the comet triggered a CME.
This stream is about watching the data unfold in real time.
🧠 Why this matters
Objects this close to the Sun experience extreme heat, tidal forces, and radiation.
Some disappear completely… others survive and become spectacular objects in the sky.
If this comet survives, it could become visible again in the coming days.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kUy-bi6UmP0
extra fireballs, meteors, and comets
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pl0YZQoGymo (MrMBB333: Wow! Crazy 'Space Rock' Takes on the Sun and SURVIVES?!)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q7fMtINMFsM (Stefan Burns: What's Coming Will Change Humanity Forever…)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_LC9Cr7PNgQ (Dobsonian Power: BREAKING! COMET MAPS WITH MASSIVE EXPLOSION IN THE SUN!)
https://x.com/StefanBurnsGeo/status/2040410144530370623
https://x.com/MrMBB333/status/2040495702569329119
https://x.com/ZoeZoe99742000/status/2040728098862518417
https://avi-loeb.medium.com/a-manual-for-tracing-alien-tech-in-interstellar-objects-4f49b5700b36
https://avi-loeb.medium.com/discovery-of-the-most-metal-poor-star-known-2f4c5cbd645b
https://x.com/uBF2fV1cVQxRjQo/status/2040668662986940816
Artemis II Flight Day 4: Crew Completes Manual Piloting Demonstration
April 4, 2026 10:44PM
NASA’s Artemis II crew in Orion completed a manual piloting demonstration and reviewed their lunar flyby plan to wrap up their third full day in space.
NASA astronaut Christina Koch and CSA (Canadian Space Agency) astronaut Jeremy Hansen took turns controlling the spacecraft to test its performance in deep space starting at 9:09 p.m. EDT.
For 41 minutes, the pair tested two different thruster modes, six degrees of freedom and three degrees of freedom, to provide engineers with more data about the spacecraft’s piloting capabilities.
Commander Reid Wiseman and Pilot Victor Glover are scheduled to repeat the demo on flight day 8 – Wednesday, April 9 – to give the teams on the ground as many perspectives on the spacecraft as possible.
Lunar imaging targets received by crew
Over the course of the day, the crew also reviewed a list sent by the lunar science team of surface features on the Moon that they will photograph and analyze during their six-hour flyby on Monday, April 6.
The flyby period begins at 2:45 p.m. April 6, when Orion’s main cabin windows will be pointed toward the Moon.
Earlier in the day, the Moon-bound quartet also took some crew selfies using one of Orion’s solar array wing cameras. The images should be sent to the ground in the coming days.
The Artemis II crew is scheduled to go to sleep for the night at 3:15 a.m.; Mission Control will wake them to begin flight day 5 at noon on Sunday, April 5.
https://www.nasa.gov/blogs/missions/2026/04/04/artemis-ii-flight-day-4-crew-completes-manual-piloting-demonstration/
https://www.nasa.gov/blogs/artemis/
https://www.nasa.gov/image-article/thinking-of-you-earth/
https://www.nasa.gov/artemis-ii-multimedia/
https://www.nasa.gov/gallery/artemis-ii-flight-day-highlights/
https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/nasa-astronauts-see-total-solar-070000892.html
https://www.livemint.com/science/news/artemis-ii-mission-nasa-crew-describes-far-side-of-the-moon-says-not-the-moon-i-m-used-to-seeing-11775398620330.html
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UEJV1XLEXP0 (Artemis II Flight Day 4 Highlight)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4gYVuFYWq6I (LIVE - Jeremy Hansen speaks with Canadians live from deep space)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m3kR2KK8TEs (NASA's Artemis II Live Mission Coverage (Official Broadcast))
Artemis anomalies
https://x.com/XJournalist111/status/2040749756046098703
https://x.com/ninoboxer/status/2040525528151515576
https://x.com/cryptojoker20_X/status/2040791467984109721
The powerful new Rubin Observatory just found 11,000 new asteroids and measured 'tens of thousands more'
April 5, 2026
Early observations from the Vera C. Rubin Observatory have already revealed more than 11,000 previously unknown asteroids, reshaping our view of the solar system and offering a striking preview of what's to come once full science operations begin.
The discovery, made using preliminary data, demonstrates Rubin's ability to scan the sky quickly and deeply. Even during limited early observations, the telescope has detected thousands of moving objects in just days, far outpacing traditional asteroid surveys, according to a statement from the NSF NOIRLab.
"This first large submission after Rubin First Look is just the tip of the iceberg and shows that the observatory is ready," Mario Juric, Rubin Solar System Lead Scientist, said in the statement.
"What used to take years or decades to discover, Rubin will unearth in months. "We are beginning to deliver on Rubin's promise to fundamentally reshape our inventory of the solar system and open the door to discoveries we haven't yet imagined."
Astronomers currently know of roughly 1.4 to 1.5 million asteroids across the solar system, most of which are concentrated in the main belt between Mars and Jupiter.
Rubin is expected to dramatically expand that number, potentially discovering millions of new objects over the course of its 10-year Legacy Survey of Space and Time.
The observatory's 8.4-meter mirror and massive camera — the largest ever built for astronomy — allow it to repeatedly image the entire southern sky every few nights, making it uniquely suited to spotting faint, fast-moving objects.
Even in its earliest data, Rubin is uncovering a wide range of asteroid populations.
Most of the new discoveries are main-belt asteroids, but the observatory has also identified 33 previously unknown near-Earth objects (NEOs) — asteroids and comets whose orbits bring them close to the sun and are, therefore, of particular interest for planetary defense.
However, none of the newly discovered NEOs pose a threat to Earth, according to the statement.
In addition, the telescope has detected more distant and less common populations, including roughly 380 trans-Neptunian objects (TNOs) — icy bodies orbiting beyond Neptune.
To find them, scientists developed advanced computational methods that sift through massive datasets, using algorithms to scan millions of faint light sources and test billions of possible motion paths to pinpoint the slow, subtle movements of these distant worlds. Together, these finds offer a more complete picture of the structure and history of the solar system.
"Objects like these offer a tantalizing probe of the solar system's outermost reaches, from telling us how the planets moved early on in the solar system's history, to whether a hitherto undiscovered 9th large planet may still be out there," said Kevin Napier, a research scientist at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center who helped developed the algorithms to detect distant solar system objects with Rubin data.
The recent discoveries extend beyond cataloging. Planetary defense efforts rely on finding and tracking NEOs that could pose a risk to Earth.
While many larger objects have already been identified, a significant fraction of smaller — but still potentially dangerous — asteroids remain undiscovered.
Astronomers estimate that once Rubin is fully operational, it will increase the number of known larger NEOs from only 40% up to 70% through continuous monitoring.
The telescope's ability to revisit the sky frequently will allow astronomers to detect these objects earlier and calculate their orbits with greater precision, improving advance warning capabilities and offering new insights into how asteroids form, evolve and move through the solar system, officials said in the statement.
"Even with just early, engineering-quality data, Rubin discovered 11,000 asteroids and measured more precise orbits for tens of thousands more," Ari Heinze, who helped build the software that detected them, said in the statement.
"It seems pretty clear this observatory will revolutionize our knowledge of the asteroid belt."
Current surveys discover tens of thousands of asteroids per year. Rubin, by contrast, has already demonstrated it can find thousands in just a short span of early observations.
These first 11,000 discoveries are only the beginning. With Rubin poised to turn the night sky into a dynamic, continuously updated map of moving objects, astronomers are entering a new era of solar system science — one that could both deepen our understanding of our cosmic neighborhood and help protect the planet.
https://www.space.com/astronomy/asteroids/the-powerful-new-rubin-observatory-just-found-11-000-new-asteroids-and-measured-tens-of-thousands-more
https://noirlab.edu/public/news/noirlab2608/
Dozens of hidden star streams found in the outskirts of our Milky Way galaxy
April 5, 2026
Astronomers have discovered dozens of faint ribbons of stars in the outskirts of the Milky Way using data from the European Space Agency's Gaia mission.
The findings were made using a new algorithm that more than quadruples the number of known candidates of these so-called "stellar streams."
This discovery could offer fresh clues about how our galaxy evolved and how its dark matter is distributed, the study's researchers say.
Stellar streams are arcing threads of stars that form when compact star clusters travel through the Milky Way's gravitational field, shedding stars that are stretched out into long, trailing ribbons.
"It's like riding a bike with a bag of sand, only the bag has a hole in it," study co-author Oleg Gnedin, a theoretical astrophysicist at the University of Michigan, said in a statement. "Those grains of sand are like the stars left behind along their trajectory."
Finding stellar streams is valuable because the shapes and motions of these phenomena preserve a record of what gravitational forces have acted on them over time.
That makes them powerful tools for mapping the Milky Way's mass, and that mass measurement would include its elusive dark matter halo — dark matter being the invisible "glue" thought to hold galaxies together, but has yet to be observed directly despite decades of effort.
The new study, led by Yingtian "Bill" Chen of the University of Michigan, identifies 87 stellar stream candidates associated with globular clusters, which are dense, ancient groupings of stars that orbit the Milky Way.
Previously, fewer than 20 stellar streams had been identified, often only serendipitously in Gaia data, leaving astronomers with too small a sample size to draw broad conclusions.
Most known stellar streams come from dwarf galaxies or clusters that have already been largely torn apart.
Streams from still-surviving globular clusters, like those identified in the new study, are much rarer and especially useful because astronomers can compare the stream directly with its parent cluster.
To find them, Chen developed a computer algorithm called StarStream, which searches for streams using a physics-based model rather than relying on visual patterns alone, according to the study.
The team then applied the method to Gaia data, which from 2014 to 2025 mapped the positions and motions of billions of stars in the Milky Way.
"It turns out that it's a lot easier to find things when you have a theoretical expectation of what you're looking for when you have a simple phenomenological picture," Gnedin said in the statement.
The results also revealed that many streams do not match the classic expectation of thin, well-aligned trails. Instead, the study reports that some of the newfound streams are shorter, wider or even misaligned with their parent clusters' orbits — suggesting earlier searches may have missed them by focusing only on the most obvious structures.
The expanded sample also provides evidence that some diffuse globular clusters are shedding stars at unusually high rates, a sign they may be nearing complete tidal disruption, the study reports.
Not all 87 candidates are expected to be confirmed, however, as some detections have lower confidence due to background contamination from unrelated stars, the researchers say.
The study's results, along with the algorithm applied to them, can be tested with upcoming observations from next-generation facilities — including the Vera C. Rubin Observatory, NASA's Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope and the Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument — to help verify which streams are real, Chen said in the statement.
"It'll be very easy to adjust the algorithm to future missions," he said. "Once we have the data, it will be very straightforward to apply it."
This research is described in a paper published March 23 in The Astrophysical Journal.
https://www.space.com/astronomy/stars/dozens-of-hidden-star-streams-found-in-the-outskirts-of-our-milky-way-galaxy
https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.3847/1538-4365/ae471f
I used to find some of them but admittedly, I'm slacking on a lot of the more recent movie connections due to just trying to keep up with the flood of news lately.
Probably still a bunch of connections from the older flicks waiting to be found too.
SpaceX Starlink Mission
April 5, 2026
SpaceX’s Falcon 9 is targeting the launch of 25 Starlink satellites to low-Earth orbit from Space Launch Complex 4 East (SLC-4E) at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California.
A live webcast of this mission will begin about five minutes prior to liftoff, which you can watch here and on X @SpaceX. You can also watch the webcast on the X TV app.
This will be the first flight for the first stage booster supporting this mission. Following stage separation, the first stage will land on the Of Course I Still Love You droneship, which will be stationed in the Pacific Ocean.
There is the possibility that residents of Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, and Ventura counties may hear one or more sonic booms during the launch, but what residents experience will depend on weather and other conditions.
https://www.spacex.com/launches/sl-17-35
China reveals military capabilities in new space solar power plant design
10:00pm, 5 Apr 2026
A senior Chinese scientist has outlined the potential military applications of space-based solar power technology, offering a rare glimpse into how energy beamed from orbit could also support surveillance and electronic warfare.
Duan Baoyan, a leading architect of China’s “Zhuri” space solar power initiative, wrote in a paper published in Scientia Sinica Informationis last month, that his team had revamped the design of the giant orbital infrastructure.
In addition to energy transmission, the new system was required to support a wide range of tasks “such as communication, navigation, reconnaissance, interference and remote control”, he said.
Duan, a professor of electromechanical engineering at Xidian University in Xian and an academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, also stressed the need for extremely narrow, precisely steerable microwave beams to deliver energy from space to the ground over long distances.
While designed to improve the efficiency and accuracy of wireless power transmission, these capabilities could, in principle, enable targeted signal transmission, including potential applications such as jamming or securing military communications.
China is one of the world’s leading countries developing space-based solar power. Unlike solar panels on the ground, which are limited by weather, seasons and the day-night cycle, space-based systems can collect sunlight almost continuously.
The energy is converted into electricity in orbit, transmitted as a microwave beam to the ground, and then converted back into power by receiving antennas on Earth.
More than a decade ago, Duan and his colleagues proposed the so-called “OMEGA” design as one of China’s main approaches to building such a system. In 2022, the team completed a 75-metre (265-feet) ground-based facility to test the full process, from tracking the sun and concentrating light to transmitting energy wirelessly and receiving it at a distance.
In the latest paper, Duan focused on making the OMEGA – or Orbit M-shaped Exploration and Gigawatt Application – design – now part of the broader “Zhuri”, or “sun-chasing”, initiative – more practical, proposing a shift from a single large structure to a modular system made up of many smaller units working together.
Instead of relying on one massive power station, the distributed design would group multiple solar-collecting units into modules and arrays, allowing the system to continue operating even if some components failed.
The approach is also intended to reduce the engineering challenges of handling extremely high power levels in space and lower the overall difficulty of building the system, according to the paper.
China is not alone in pursuing this technology. In the early 2010s, Nasa proposed its SPS-ALPHA (Solar Power Satellite via Arbitrarily Large Phased Array) concept, which relies on coordinating vast numbers of small modular units to generate and transmit power.
According to Duan, the OMEGA design could offer advantages over ALPHA, including a much simpler structure, more efficient energy collection and improved thermal management.
In 2023, researchers at the California Institute of Technology demonstrated microwave power transmission in orbit. First proposed in the 1960s, the space solar power concept has long been seen as a potential way to provide large-scale continuous clean energy, though technical and cost challenges remain.
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3348871/china-reveals-military-capabilities-new-space-solar-power-plant-design
In the latest Star Trek films they have Starfleet Academy in San Francisco.
Works for me.
Forced mobilization failing to stop Ukraine’s manpower collapse – RT reports (VIDEO)
Updated 4 Apr, 2026 18:15
Ukraine’s military is sliding deeper into a manpower crisis, as a chronic shortage of volunteers forces authorities to rely on increasingly aggressive mobilization.
Vladimir Zelensky’s vehement opposition to withdrawing troops from Donbass – which voted to join Russia in 2022 – remains a key roadblock in negotiations.
Russia, and reportedly the US, is demanding that Kiev pull its forces out and open the way to a peace deal.
But Zelensky, encouraged by his European backers, is choosing to continue fighting, apparently hoping that Ukraine can maintain its foothold in the region.
As warnings grow louder – including from within Ukraine – about the critical state of the army, teams of conscription officers have been unleashed to hunt down potential recruits.
Violent confrontations repeatedly break out as people resist, and deaths have been reported both among the hunters and hunted.
Meanwhile, morale among those sent to the front against their will is practically non-existent. Desertion has become a widespread phenomenon, reaching tens of thousands each month.
Many soldiers have spent years on the front lines with little or no rotation.
With losses mounting, attention is turning to new sources of manpower. Officials are increasingly pushing to draft women and public campaigns have been launched with such an aim.
However, critics say life on the front lines has brought nothing but abuse and misery for female personnel.
Watch RT’s Igor Zhdanov full report for more.
https://www.rt.com/russia/637285-ukraine-forced-mobilization-manpower-collapse/
extra RT
https://www.rt.com/russia/637320-two-conscription-officers-stabbed-ukraine/
https://www.rt.com/russia/637349-ukrainian-children-harassing-draft-officers/
https://www.rt.com/russia/637232-russia-wont-abduct-zelensky/
I'm saying according to Star Trek, the Space Force can cleanse the gay and turn it into something nice.
Ukrainian Drones Strike Russian Fuel Infrastructure at Primorsk Port and Kstovo Oil Refinery
Updated Apr 05, 2026 16:21
Ukrainian drone units struck the Primorsk oil port tied to Transneft and the Lukoil refinery in Kstovo overnight, according to the official channel of the Commander of the Unmanned Systems Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine on April 5.
Commander Robert "Madyar" Brovdi confirmed this on his Telegram channel that Ukrainian operators hit infrastructure near the port of Primorsk on Russia’s Baltic coast and also targeted Lukoil-Nizhegorodnefteorgsintez in Kstovo, one of Lukoil’s main refineries.
The statement framed the operation as a coordinated strike against Russia’s oil sector and identified the attack as taking place during the night of April 5.
Videos posted online by local residents also appeared to show intense air defense activity during the attack, as explosions and flashes were filmed over the area.
In the Leningrad region, the post pointed to remarks from Governor Alexander Drozdenko, who confirmed that “one of the sections of the oil pipeline in the area of the port of Primorsk was damaged” and that a “safe burn-off” was underway.
Regarding the Kstovo strike, the commander’s channel noted that open-source monitoring footage showed a large fire at the refinery, while officials publicly described the aftermath as minor smoke from debris.
The statement linked the strikes to pressure on Russia’s fuel and logistics base, portraying them as part of a campaign to raise the cost of the war for Moscow.
The commander summarized the operation by stating, “We strike with willow, we hit the bunker grandfather’s wallet with drones.”
The reported hits also align with wider consequences for Russia’s Baltic oil export infrastructure, as Russian oil exports from the Baltic terminals at Primorsk and Ust-Luga were halted after Ukrainian drone strikes damaged loading infrastructure and triggered major fires last week.
The stoppage hit two key export points after earlier attacks disrupted terminal operations and forced a broader suspension of oil-handling activity.
Those earlier strikes damaged infrastructure at both facilities and set off large fires, escalating pressure on one of Russia’s main Baltic export routes
https://united24media.com/latest-news/ukrainian-drones-strike-russian-fuel-infrastructure-at-primorsk-port-and-kstovo-oil-refinery-17603
https://www.channelnewsasia.com/world/ukraine-war-russia-oil-reservoir-refinery-6037536
https://www.pravda.com.ua/eng/news/2026/04/05/8028814/
other Russia and Ukraine
https://militarnyi.com/en/news/russian-cargo-ship-volgo-balt-sinks-in-sea-of-azov-after-drone-strike/
https://www.ukrinform.net/rubric-economy/4109358-russian-drones-strike-naftogaz-facilities-in-poltava-sumy-regions-overnight.html
https://militarnyi.com/en/news/drones-damage-oil-pipeline-near-port-of-primorsk/
https://newsukraine.rbc.ua/news/two-hours-of-horror-and-blackout-russians-1775366870.html
https://www.ukrinform.net/rubric-ato/4109305-russian-drones-attack-residential-area-in-velykyi-burluk-kharkiv-region.html
https://www.ukrinform.net/rubric-ato/4109270-russian-drone-attacks-leave-29-injured-over-past-day-in-sumy-region.html
https://www.ukrinform.net/rubric-ato/4109256-russian-drone-damages-enterprise-in-poltava-region.html
https://www.kyivpost.com/post/73268
https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/iran-news/2026-04-05/live-updates-892049
other Israel
https://breakingthenews.net/Article/IDF-kills-IRGC-oil-HQ-commerce-chief/66013107
https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/idf-locates-kills-two-hezbollah-115908531.html
https://news.antiwar.com/2026/04/05/hezbollah-claims-direct-hit-on-israeli-warship-off-lebanese-coast-idf-unaware-of-incident/
https://worldisraelnews.com/israeli-forces-took-part-in-search-for-us-aviator-in-iran-report/
https://www.jfeed.com/news-world/hezbollah-rockets-unifil-bases
https://cryptobriefing.com/lebanese-president-urges-negotiations-with-israel-amid-idf-strikes-on-hezbollah/
https://www.jfeed.com/news-israel/idf-reserve-duty-extension
https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/idf-says-strikes-target-hezbollah-bastion-near-beirut/
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/defense-news/article-892080
https://www.timesnownews.com/videos/times-now/india/usisrael-conduct-major-strike-on-iranrsquos-mahshahr-petrochemical-zone-idf-releases-visuals-of-attack-video-154000710
https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/idf-says-it-killed-hamas-gunmen-nearing-troops-in-gaza/
https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/idf-says-hezbollah-military-equipment-found-in-a-school-in-southern-lebanon/
Live Updates: Trump says US will hit Iranian powerplants and bridges after F-15 pilot rescued
April 5, 2026
Trump gives Iran 48 hours to make a deal • Syrian-Lebanese border closed after IDF issues evacuation notice • IDF strikes petrochemical complex in Iran
April 5, 7:47 PM
Zelensky, Sharaa meet to discuss security cooperation in light of Iran war
It was the Ukrainian leader's first trip to Syria since diplomatic relations were re-established at the end of last year following the fall of Syria's long-time strongman Bashar al-Assad.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky visited Syria on Sunday for talks with his Syrian counterpart Ahmed al-Sharaa, as Kyiv seeks to promote its military expertise across the region following the outbreak of the Iran war.
Zelensky, continuing his tour of Middle East countries, also said Ukraine wants to contribute to food security in the region.
In recent weeks, Zelensky has visited several countries across the Middle East, offering Ukrainian expertise in countering drone and missile attacks, developed during its four-year war with Russia.
"We agreed to work together to provide more security and opportunities for development for our societies," Zelensky wrote on Telegram. "There is a great interest in exchanging military and security experience."
April 5, 7:10 PM
Russia says US should abandon 'language of ultimatums' on Iran
Russia expressed hope on Sunday that efforts to de-escalate the Iran conflict would bear fruit and said the United States would contribute by "abandoning the language of ultimatums and returning the situation to a negotiating track."
The Russian Foreign Ministry statement was issued after a conversation between Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi.
1/3
April 5, 7:05 PM
El Al cancels all scheduled flights till April 18 due to war in Middle East
El AL's decision follows a government announcement easing flight restrictions, with additional departures now available under the emergency flight schedule currently in place.
El Al canceled all scheduled flights on Sunday until April 18, following the Transportation Ministry's decision to extend restrictions on the number of passengers and flights permitted to depart from Israel via Ben-Gurion Airport.
"Following a decision by the state authorities, an emergency flight schedule is currently in effect. This schedule includes flights to a limited number of gateways and a restriction on the number of passengers on each flight departing Israel," the company said in a statement.
The statement also clarified that El Al will operate flights only to New York (JFK and EWR), Los Angeles, Miami, Bangkok, London, Paris, Rome, and Athens, and that new tickets will be required to board these flights.
The airline also added that, due to the Transportation Ministry's 100-passenger limit in all flights departing from Israel, "passengers awaiting assignment are being accommodated based on priority according to the original ticket issue date."
April 5, 5:43 PM
IDF strike kills Head of Commerce at Iranian regime's oil headquarters
The IRGC's Oil Headquarters generates billions of dollars annually in profits for the Iranian regime's brutal police force through oil sales.
The Israeli Air Force successfully killed Mohammad Reza Ashrafi Kahi, a senior commander in the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps' Oil Headquarters, on Friday, the military announced on Sunday.
The IRGC's Oil Headquarters generates billions of dollars annually in profits for the Iranian regime's brutal police force through oil sales.
Kahi served as the Head of Commerce, the IDF said, and advanced the development of both the IRGC and the regime's proxies across the Middle East, such as the Houthis, Hezbollah, and Hamas.
The IDF also stated that Kahi's activities funded Iran's ballistic missiles and drones, which it has used to attack Israel and Gulf countries since the start of Operation Roaring Lion.
April 5, 5:42 PM
Cracks in Israel's defense establishment, achievements limited by use of force - analysis
While government policy and a majority of top serving defense establishment figures are in favor of the Iran war, a growing number of current and former top defense officials vehemently dissent.
Most of the defense establishment was close to a consensus about how to handle Iran and Hezbollah since the three previous ceasefires – with Hezbollah (November 2024), Iran (June 2025), and Hamas (October 2025).
That consensus has broken into a wide-open chasm.
While government policy and a majority of top serving defense establishment figures are in favor of the Iran war having lasted several weeks, and some even support it lasting longer, and while they also support major airstrikes and a large invasion and holding of territory for an undefined period in Lebanon, a growing number of current and former top defense officials vehemently dissent.
April 5, 4:55 PM
CENTCOM reveals footage of US strike against Iranian drones
The US Central Command (CENTCOM) shared on Sunday footage of US strikes against Iranian drones conducted during Operation Epic Fury.
"US forces are taking out attack drones used by the Iranian regime to threaten Americans and indiscriminately target civilians in neighboring countries," CENTCOM posted.
2/3
April 5, 4:43 PM
Flights to start departing from Ben-Gurion with 100 passengers, Transportation Ministry announces
This represents an increase in the 80-passenger limit per flight, while the ministry will also allow two flights to depart per hour.
Flights will start departing from Ben-Gurion Airport with up to 100 passengers, with tickets available from Sunday midnight, the Transportation Ministry approved on Sunday, according to Hebrew media.
This represents an increase in the 80-passenger limit per flight, established due to the current war with Iran and the potential security risks of operating full flights.
Along with this, the ministry will allow for two flights to depart per hour instead of one, according to the reports.
The ministry had already lifted restrictions imposed during the holiday season, which lowered the number of passengers to 50, with the new policy expected to become a trend towards more relaxed flight restrictions.
April 5, 3:47 PM
Trump threatens to strike Iranian infrastructure in expletive-laden post
US President Trump threatened to strike Iranian power plants and bridges if the Islamic regime does not reopen the Strait of Hormuz in a post on Truth Social on Sunday.
He addressed the Iranian regime leadership as “crazy bstrds,” requesting they “open the f*kin’ Strait” or they will be “living in hll.”
“Tuesday will be Power Plant Day, and Bridge Day, all wrapped up in one, in Iran,” he threatened. “JUST WATCH! Praise be to Allah.”
April 5, 3:22 PM
Netanyahu congratulates Trump, US military on rescue of downed F-15 pilot
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu congratulates US President Donald Trump and the US military for the rescue of an airman who was downed over Iran on April 5, 2026. (CREDIT: Omer Miron/GPO)
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu congratulated United States President Donald Trump and the US military on the Sunday rescue of an F-15 fighter jet pilot who was stranded in Iran after his aircraft was downed.
"Congratulations, President Trump. All Israelis rejoice in the incredible rescue of a brave American pilot by America's dauntless warriors,” Netanyahu said.
He added that the rescue “proves that when free societies muster their courage and their resolve, they can confront seemingly insurmountable odds and overcome the forces of darkness and terror.
April 5, 3:10 PM
Egypt, US, and Iran discuss regional de-escalation as Mideast violence continues to flare up
Egypt pushed fresh de-escalation efforts on Sunday, with Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty holding calls with US envoy Steve Witkoff, Iran’s Abbas Araghchi, and other regional officials.
Egypt's Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty held separate phone calls on Sunday to discuss proposals for regional de-escalation with US Envoy Steve Witkoff and various regional counterparts, including Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi according to a Reuters report.
This is not Egypt's first diplomatic effort aimed at the conflicts de-escalation. Last month, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi met with Saudi Arabia’s Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Jeddah to address the challenges facing the region amid the ongoing clashes with Iran.
According to Asharq al-Awsat, they discussed “the repercussions of the military escalation in the Middle East and its impact on regional and global security and stability.”
3/3
https://www.iranintl.com/en/liveblog/202604015564
other Iran
https://www.dvidshub.net/news/561990/us-continues-strikes-into-iran-after-successful-rescue-f-15e-aircrew
https://www.axios.com/2026/04/05/trump-iran-deal-power-plants
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/4/5/kuwait-says-power-water-facilities-hit-by-iran-as-gulf-attacks-continue
https://www.vaticannews.va/en/world/news/2026-04/iran-conflict-raises-fears-of-water-crisis-desalination-plants.html
https://abc7.com/post/us-agents-detain-nieces-irans-former-major-general-los-angeles-marco-rubio-revokes-green-cards-state-department-says/18842556/
https://www.airandspaceforces.com/f-15e-aviator-missing-in-iran-rescued-by-us-forces/
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/4/5/us-rescues-airman-whose-f-15-was-downed-in-iran-trump-confirms
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/4/5/irans-former-fm-zarif-proposes-peace-roadmap-gulf-states-voice-exclusion
Trump extends deadline for Iran deal by 24 hours
April 5, 2026
Summary
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The United States will target Iran’s power plants if Tehran does not reopen the Strait of Hormuz by Tuesday evening, US President Donald Trump said in an interview with The Wall Street Journal.
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President Donald Trump on Sunday issued another warning to Iran to open the Strait of Hormuz or face strikes on its power plants and bridges, and face “living in Hell” if it fails to comply.
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US President Donald Trump confirmed the second US airman from the downed F-15E fighter jet has been rescued from inside Iran following a rare, hours-long operation involving two separate raids.
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The second crew member of the downed F15E fighter jet has been rescued and he and the members of the rescue team that extracted him from Iran are all safely out of the country, Fox News reported, hours after Iran reported deadly airstrikes on the region where the pilot went missing.
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Prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel targeted Iran’s petrochemical plants in Saturday’s strikes.
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President Donald Trump said Iran has 48 hours to reach a deal with the United States or open up the Strait of Hormuz, warning "all hell will reign down" on the Islamic Republic if it fails to do so.
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Several petrochemical facilities in Iran's Khuzestan province were targeted on Saturday, including key complexes supplying feedstock to other plants nationwide, according to local media.
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Iraq has closed the southern Shalamcheh border crossing with Iran after airstrikes on the Iranian side killed an Iraqi traveller, security sources say.
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No radiation increase was reported after a strike near Iran’s Bushehr nuclear plant, the UN nuclear watchdog said on Saturday.
9 minutes ago
BREAKING NEWS
Iran says it hit Israeli ship at UAE’s Jebel Ali port
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps on Sunday said they had hit an Israeli ship in the channel of UAE’s Jebel Ali port.
40 minutes ago
BREAKING NEWS
Trump extends deadline for reaching Iran deal, opening Hormuz by 24 hours
“Tuesday, 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time!” Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social, in what appeared to be an extension of his deadline by another 24 hours to strike Iran’s bridges and power infrastructure if Tehran did not reach a deal with Washington.
54 minutes ago
Two Black Hawks hit during F-15 crew rescue, reach safety - AP
Two Black Hawk helicopters were hit during the operation to rescue the crew of the F-15 fighter jet shot down by Iran but managed to reach safe airspace, The Associated Press reported, citing a person familiar with the matter.
It was not immediately clear where the aircraft landed or whether any crew members were injured, the report said.
1 hour ago
Trump says US feared Iran trap during F-15 crew rescue - Axios
US President Donald Trump said in an interview with Axios that the United States initially worried that a message from the stranded crew member of the F-15 downed by Iran may have been part of a trick set by Iranian forces to lure US forces into a trap.
He said the crew member survived more than 24 hours in mountainous terrain before being rescued in a special forces mission involving around 200 troops.
“Thousands of these savages were hunting him down,” Trump said, referring to Iranian forces, adding that US officials later confirmed the airman was alive and not in captivity.
Trump also said Iran had shot down the aircraft with a shoulder-fired missile and that Israel helped “a little bit” during the rescue effort.
1 hour ago
Trump tells Axios: Iranian people fear we will leave in middle of war, but we will not
US President Donald Trump said Iranian people who oppose the Islamic Republic support strikes to weaken the regime.
“They are living in fear. They are afraid we are gonna leave in the middle of the war, but we are not going to leave,” Trump said in an interview with Axios on Sunday.
1/2
1 hour ago
VOICES FROM IRAN
Eyewitnesses say generators, power banks, scarce in Iran
Shortages of generators, power banks and lighting supplies are being seen in the Iranian cities of Isfahan and Shiraz, with long queues forming to refill gas cylinders and crowds rushing to supermarkets, eyewitnesses told Iran International.
2 hours ago
BREAKING NEWS
Iran says Ahvaz airport hit in strike, no casualties
Ahvaz Shahid Soleimani International Airport in southwestern Iran was hit in an airstrike, Iran’s state news agency IRNA reported, citing a provincial official.
Valiollah Hayati, deputy for security and law enforcement at the Khuzestan governor’s office, said no casualties or injuries had been reported so far.
2 hours ago
Russia envoy says Iran rejects ultimatums, prefers deals
Russia’s envoy to international organizations in Vienna, Mikhail Ulyanov, said Washington does not understand that Tehran does not accept ultimatums and instead responds to deals and reasonable compromises, in a post on X.
2 hours ago
Kuwait says fires at ministries, oil complex under control
Fires at Kuwait’s ministries complex and an oil sector complex have been brought under control, Kuwait’s state news agency reported.
2 hours ago
Sharjah says handling Khor Fakkan port incident
Authorities in Sharjah said they were dealing with an incident targeting Khor Fakkan port on Sunday and that no injuries had been reported so far, in a post on X.
2 hours ago
China, Russia FMs hold call on situation in Middle East
China’s and Russia’s foreign ministers held a phone call to discuss the current Middle East situation, China’s state news agency Xinhua reported.
2 hours ago
Air defense academy commander killed in central Iran - Iranian media
Masoud Zare, commander of Iran’s army air defense academy, was killed in US-Israeli strikes in Shahin Shahr in central Iran, Iranian media reported on Sunday.
2 hours ago
EXCLUSIVE
Bank Sepah outage disrupts salary payments to Iran’s IRGC personnel
Exclusive information obtained by Iran International indicates a widespread disruption in the computer network of Bank Sepah, a major state-owned bank tied to the Islamic Republic’s military.
Informed sources told Iran International the disruption on Sunday left the bank unable to pay the salaries of the Revolutionary Guard’s personnel and military officials.
3 hours ago
UKMTO reports incident at UAE port
The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said it received a report of an incident at the UAE’s Khor Fakkan port, where the vessel’s master reported multiple splashes from unknown projectiles near a container ship.
3 hours ago
Trump says Iran negotiators given 'limited amnesty'
US President Donald Trump said current Iranian negotiators have been granted limited amnesty.
2/2
Drone seized near HSIA airport VIP gate
April 5, 2026
The Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) has seized an unauthorized drone flying over the VIP area of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport (HSIA), warning of legal action as part of strict enforcement of restricted airspace regulations.
The drone was confiscated around 8:30 pm on April 4 while it was being used to record footage near the airport’s VIP Pole Gate, coinciding with the arrival of the Bangladesh Under-20 football team from the SAFF Championship, according to a CAAB press release here today.
Airport areas are designated as ‘Red Zone’ under the Drone Registration and Flight Policy 2020, where drone operations are strictly prohibited without special permission from the relevant authority, it said.
The seized device was identified as a DJI Mavic 4 Pro, a high-end consumer drone capable of professional-grade video recording.
CAAB confirmed that the operator had no prior clearance to operate the drone within the airport perimeter.
Under the policy, airports fall within highly restricted zones to safeguard aviation safety and prevent interference with aircraft operations.
CAAB said necessary legal action would be taken against those involved in such unauthorized activities to ensure overall airport security.
The authority also urged the people to strictly comply the existing rules in this regard, said the press release.
https://www.bssnews.net/others/374783
'Nostradamus of the Balkans' terrifying predictions - WW3 and alien contact
07:00, Sun, Apr 5, 2026
Once again, Baba Vanga has delivered a bleak prediction for 2026. The renowned "seer" foresees a tumultuous year marked by changing geopolitical landscapes, climate emergencies and the rise of AI.
Often described as the "Nostradamus of the Balkans", she has earned recognition for her prophetic abilities, having "predicted" events such as the death of Princess Diana.
Her forecasts for 2026, while unverified, have left many trembling with apprehension about what lies ahead, as reported by WION.
Alien Encounter
Baba Vanga predicts that we will make contact with extraterrestrial intelligence for the first time in November 2026.
She envisages a massive spacecraft entering Earth's atmosphere and suggests that we might be contacted by an alien civilisation already living on our planet.
Natural Catastrophes
The psychic, who is said to have predicted the UK floods of 2022, also foresees natural disasters looming in 2026. However, it remains unclear where these tornadoes, tsunamis or earthquakes will occur.
She also forecasts a catastrophic combination of earthquakes and volcanic eruptions triggering severe weather impacts on eight percent of the entire Earth.
Global Conflicts
The woman credited with predicting 9/11 foresees conflict in 2026. Amongst her most alarming predictions is the outbreak of World War Three.
Reports suggest that Baba Vanga predicted a large-scale war breaking out in 2026 involving major global powers. This conflict is expected to spread across continents, sparking an age of political turmoil and rising global tensions.
Sources suggest Baba Vanga predicted China's conquest of Taiwan and a direct confrontation between Russia and the US.
This could be linked to another prophecy of a third global financial crash, or at least a significant economic downturn in 2026, potentially leading to market collapses, spiralling inflation or currency breakdown.
Artificial Intelligence
Some interpretations of Baba Vanga's prophecies suggest she foresaw that AI would begin transforming humanity in 2026.
She believed that next year would mark a pivotal moment when AI would permanently reshape commerce and everyday life.
This has prompted some to question how we can maintain our independence from these so-called thinking machines as AI penetrates every aspect of our existence.
Baba Vanga also predicted the emergence of a new Russian leader in 2026. This raises questions about Ukraine's fate should Vladimir Putin's authoritarian regime collapse.
The influential Russian figure, who is destined to reshape international politics, is often described as a "master" or global leader. His ascent to power is predicted for 2026.
https://www.express.co.uk/news/weird/2189823/nostradamus-balkans-terrifying-predictions-ww3-alien-contact
assorted goodies
Mario Nawfal
@MarioNawfal
🇰🇿 What the heck is that footage???
A gigantic UFO was ALLEGEDLY caught just sitting silently in the sky above the Kazakh capital.
This thing is apparently enormous and looks nothing like any plane or drone we've seen.
Aliens finally got tired of Area 51, or is that just light playing tricks on me?
Source: @DrMalko
8:42 PM · Apr 4, 2026
https://x.com/MarioNawfal/status/2040636226491826419
https://x.com/911NewsBreaks/status/2040619558914961739
https://x.com/bennyjohnson/status/2040133880049533149
https://x.com/damonhtlive/status/2040305805350568056
https://x.com/Truthpole/status/2040440615490470200
Assorted goodies 2
Tom Thompson🛸 (ＣＯＲＴＥＸ ＺＥＲＯ)
@Cortex_Zero
🤔Interesting Coming From You, Sean
Sean Kirkpatrick is now reportedly dismissing @RepLuna 's UFO video request by saying she relies on “less than reliable sources” and points to things that “either don’t exist or were never reported.”
Is that so? Interesting coming from you.
Because Luna’s request was not some random late-night UFO thread. It was a formal March 31 congressional letter to @SecWar
requesting 46 specifically named UAP video files. The letter states that whistleblowers informed the Task Force that AARO possesses additional video records of potential UAP sightings. That is called oversight.
And if these videos “don’t exist,” then which ones do not exist? Name them. One by one. Because vague sneering is not an answer.
It is also interesting to hear this from a former AARO chief when AARO’s own FY2024 report says the office received 757 reports during that period, had 1,652 total reports as of October 24, 2024, found 21 cases that merited further analysis, and placed 444 into an active archive because there was not enough data to resolve them.
The same report makes clear that many cases remain unresolved.
So no, this is not a closed book. And no, Congress is not irrational for demanding records.
It gets better. AARO’s own public site currently hosts official unresolved UAP imagery and case pages.
Its current director, Jon Kosloski, has publicly said, “It’s definitely not all just drones and UAS,” and added that there are cases he does not understand and does not know anybody else who understands either.
So which is it?
Are lawmakers chasing ghosts, or is the Pentagon’s own UAP office publicly acknowledging unresolved cases, unresolved imagery, and incidents that still defy explanation?
Sean Kirkpatrick has a habit of reacting to congressional scrutiny with contempt. He called the July 2023 hearing “insulting.” Now he is back to ridiculing oversight instead of addressing the substance.
Congress is not asking for Sean Kirkpatrick’s attitude. It is asking for records.
If the files are real, release them.
If the files are misidentified, prove it.
If the files do not exist, say exactly which entries on Luna’s list are fiction.
But the days of hiding behind dismissive one-liners, while the public and Congress are expected to take the Pentagon’s word for everything, should be over.
5:39 PM · Apr 4, 2026
https://x.com/Cortex_Zero/status/2040590099805503950
https://x.com/hinomoto_onik/status/2040578658595914020
https://x.com/UFO_Sightings_X/status/2040657118592962611
https://x.com/writerofscratch/status/2040653836667457797
https://x.com/mrjeffknox/status/2040738652372992149
Assorted goodies 3
海贼王路飞
@hong12425
Translated from Chinese
Hangzhou Xiaoshan Airport UFO real video
4:44 AM · Apr 5, 2026
https://x.com/hong12425/status/2040757573591376300
https://x.com/PhilosophyOfPhy/status/2040764135961444555
https://x.com/UAPDr/status/2040568137423192535
Alien Hybrid Programs are real according to US Congressmen
Apr 4, 2026
Exopolitics Week In Review
The episode takes a good look into the top exopolitical events of the past week.
00:00:00 – Topics
00:01:48 – Congressman Burlison has taken action to have Pentagon videos/photos of UFOs declassified and released to the public. https://x.com/The_Astral_/status/2038028436447326305
00:05:23 – Advanced drone swarms, aka UFO fleets, fly over a major USAF base with impunity during the Iran war. https://x.com/MichaelSalla/status/2038417031117062155
00:08:13 – Iran War a smokescreen for liberating tunnels and DUMBs filled with portals, giants & ancient tech: https://exopolitics.org/iran-war-a-smokescreen-for-liberating-tunnels-and-dumbs-filled-with-portals-giants-ancient-tech/
00:12:33 – Hoping that the upcoming Trump Presidential Library has an entire floor dedicated to all the UFO files Trump is going to release soon https://x.com/EricTrump/status/2038773279788331022
00:14:52 – The Japanese Parliament is following the US lead in setting up a bipartisan parliamentary UFO caucus. https://x.com/asakawayosiharu/status/2036503032423391415
00:17:41 – Matt Gaetz discusses a US Army soldier briefing him on a hybrid breeding program. https://x.com/MichaelSalla/status/2039181799473950752
00:22:33 – Congressman Tim Burchett says the official briefings he has received on UFOs cover issues that would keep people up at night: https://x.com/MichaelSalla/status/2040032151526130063
00:25:43 – A new detail from the Bob Lazar story is that the flying saucer craft he worked on was retrieved from the ocean. https://x.com/MichaelSalla/status/2040186320098636077
00:28:51 – Jaime Walden says he received an intelligence briefing that UFO disclosure from Trump is a “done deal” scheduled for as early as May, https://x.com/fringedotcom/status/2039819964820205846
00:30:45 – Inside the 2026 Exopolitical Forecast with Salla, Decode & JP https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VtJmqU5Z_4E
https://exopolitics.org/alien-hybrid-programs-are-real-according-to-us-congressmen/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q4bJncTxKDY
https://x.com/MichaelSalla
extra disclosure dejour
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vu4EXy87kY4 (UFO files: Pentagon releases UFO videos & tracking sightings in Nevada | UFO Mysteries)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BoJmd2MIpOk (UFO rewind: Bob Lazar's 1989 interview & what's happened since then | UFO Mysteries)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cPMgiSOvNco (Benny Johnson: UFO Insider Explains Military ‘Star Trek Weapons’)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HeIVV_PXhL0 (Ross Coulthart Q&A: AARO defunded? Using remote viewers to locate General McCasland | Reality Check)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mOWwdIuyaQA (Jesse Michels: NASA Chief: "We Just Built Antigravity Propulsion!”)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BxSLIJZKLtA (ECETI: CHARLIE KIRK EPSTIEN BA’AL UFO/UAP)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QcdhmhFgZNo (Underwater UFOs and extinct alien artifacts: Avi Loeb on Trump’s UAP files | The Truth of the Matter)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yEzWkUW9ZQY (Gaia: The Galactic Federation: Species Working with the US Military)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lHtdxkZlgFM (Lue Elizondo: James Fox Interview)