>Click the banner yo's
pretty snazzy yo
TYB
Cleveland Clinic Establishes Space Health Center
April 29, 2026
Cleveland Clinic has established the Space Health Center in the Heart, Vascular & Thoracic Institute at Cleveland Clinic, which will incorporate research, education and clinical care for cardiovascular health conditions related to space travel.
The new center is led by a multidisciplinary team of medical experts who will research the effects of space travel on cardiovascular function and health, provide cardiovascular medical care for those traveling to space, and educate healthcare professionals, medical students and the public on the cardiovascular effects of space travel.
“As space travel continues to grow rapidly, there are new health challenges and risks associated with exposure to this extreme environment,” said Kenneth A. Mayuga, M.D., cardiac electrophysiologist and director of the Cleveland Clinic Space Health Center.
“Our hope is to better understand these challenges, find ways of addressing them, and guide and support those who travel to space. We can then use the knowledge we gain from space-based research to better serve our patients here on Earth.”
As part of the center, Dr. Mayuga was recently awarded a competitive grant from the Center for the Advancement of Science in Space®, manager of the International Space Station (ISS) National Laboratory, to collaborate with the International Space University in France on a novel educational space program.
The grant will be used to provide a one-week educational course at Cleveland Clinic Research and the Lerner College of Medicine this summer.
“We are excited to collaborate with Cleveland Clinic in their efforts to engage and prepare the space workforce of tomorrow,” said Laurie Provin, director of strategic engagement and STEM programs for the ISS National Lab.
“Space-based research can profoundly benefit patient health on Earth, and we commend Cleveland Clinic for its efforts in pushing the boundaries of education and innovation in space medicine.”
The Space Medicine Education for STEM Inspiration (Space MedEd) project will introduce doctoral students, medical students and postdoctoral scholars to space medicine and space-related careers.
Students will study the anatomy and physiology of the cardiovascular system, the changes that occur with exposure to space and microgravity, and the challenges that astronauts face when returning to gravity.
The NASA Glenn Research Center in Cleveland is providing guest lectureship and also hosting a unique on-site visit to further inspire these students.
“At Cleveland Clinic, we are always looking for ways to redefine the future of medicine through research and leading-edge innovations,” said Lars Svensson, M.D., Ph.D., chief of Cleveland Clinic’s Sydell and Arnold Miller Heart, Vascular & Thoracic Institute.
“This collaborative center will shed light on an area that continues to be of interest to scientists, physicians and the public and will provide us insights that could help us move care forward for even the most complex cardiovascular patients.”
Dr. Mayuga also has ongoing collaborations with NASA Glenn Research Center and the International Space University.
https://newsroom.clevelandclinic.org/2026/04/29/cleveland-clinic-establishes-space-health-center
other space health
https://www.technologynetworks.com/tn/news/sending-organoids-to-space-might-be-the-fastest-way-to-study-brain-disease-412235
https://aerospaceamerica.aiaa.org/u-s-air-force-space-force-make-explicit-shift-in-rdte-funding-experts-say/
other Space Force
https://www.airandspaceforces.com/space-force-proposes-canceling-polar-missile-warning-program/
https://www.vandenberg.spaceforce.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/4472675/senior-enlisted-airman-leaves-legacy-of-connection/
https://www.vandenberg.spaceforce.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/4472714/vandenberg-sfb-celebrates-month-of-the-military-child/
https://www.ssc.spaceforce.mil/Newsroom/Article-Display/Article/4450851/guardian-spotlight-series-qa-with-tsgt-tory-martinez-voice-of-sscs-space-threat
U.S. Air Force, Space Force make ‘explicit shift’ in RDT&E funding, experts say
April 29, 2026
The U.S. Air Force and Space Force would shift their research and development funding away from early-stage work and toward the end of the development pipeline under the fiscal 2027 budget request released this month.
The Pentagon groups its research, development, test and evaluation, or RDT&E, funding into categories based on the type of work involved. New technologies generally move through six stages: basic research, applied research, advanced technology development, advanced component development and prototypes, system development and demonstration and, finally, operational system development.
“The normal approach to RDT&E funding is you’ve got a mix of funding spread across the different stages,” said Todd Harrison, a senior analyst at the American Enterprise Institute.
But “most funding is concentrated towards [advanced component development and prototypes] and [system development and demonstration] funding. That’s for things that are in the thick of development.”
However, for fiscal 2027, the Air Force and Space Force have proposed reduced funding for the first four stages of RDT&E when compared to fiscal 2026.
In the Air Force, the largest year-over-year reduction would be in applied research, with a proposed cut of $338 million. In the Space Force, the largest reduction would be in advanced component development and prototypes, with a proposed cut of just over $1 billion.
At the other end of the RDT&E pipeline, the Air Force and Space Force proposed the largest year-over-year increases in operational system development: $13.6 billion and $16.3 billion, respectively.
“It’s an explicit shift and investment towards fielding, not necessarily research and discovery,” said Carlton Haelig, an analyst with the Center for a New American Security.
The change is “not just in dollar terms, but also as a percentage of the total budget,” said Travis Sharp, a senior analyst with the Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments.
The Air Force responded to questions about this topic by saying its proposed budget doesn’t decrease overall RDT&E funding. The budget documents released so far do not offer a reason for the proposed funding shifts.
Budget analysts see two potential explanations: the maturity level of various technologies or the White House’s approach to securing funding.
1/2
According to Haelig, “most of our next-generation programs are at the stage now where [the Air Force] can start having more of an emphasis on moving them towards operational use.”
He pointed to the Family of Affordable Mass Missiles initiative, the Collaborative Combat Aircraft program and the various low-Earth orbit missile warning programs as examples.
Doug Birkey, executive director of the Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies, said the funding shift stems from the Air Force needing “new capabilities on ramp and an operational capability at scale very fast.
There are a lot of programs that are kind of on the threshold of doing that.”
For the Space Force, Birkey attributed the funding shift to the service “having to very rapidly iterate and get stuff up operationally.”
But that technology-driven approach, according to Sharp, “kind of treats the Air Force’s RDT&E portfolio as if it has a batch of programs that need to be brought to maturity versus a continuous stream of programs.”
Harrison offered an alternative explanation, linking the proposed RDT&E shift to the budget’s overall structure.
The Pentagon’s fiscal 2027 budget requests nearly $1.5 trillion, $1.1 trillion through the normal appropriations process and an additional $350 billion through a planned reconciliation package.
“I think it is because of the reconciliation funding that they’re basically trying to find places where they can put this extra funding,” Harrison said. “This was a budget-driven budget, not a strategy-driven budget.”
Sharp said the change in RDT&E funding could be “reflecting that the Pentagon needs to try to deal responsibly with this large influx of new funding, and within the R&D account, the place that you’re best able to do that is in terms of operational system development-type activities.”
However, this “would at least be an argument for holding steady for basic research,” he added. Basic research “can’t grow that fast, but that doesn’t mean it’s got to be reduced — but actually it is being reduced” in the fiscal 2027 budget.
“That’s surprising,” Sharp said. “I wouldn’t have expected that. When the defense budget goes up, it often lifts all boats — all programs, all activities. Everybody gets more money.
There’s so much money available in this budget request; it is really surprising that there are areas that are left out.”
2/2
Stunning images from Biomass mark its one year in orbit
29/04/2026
To mark the first anniversary of the European Space Agency’s Biomass satellite, we present a selection of striking images captured over the past 12 months, revealing Earth’s forests, and much more, in new detail.
In just one year, this pioneering mission has begun transforming our understanding of forest dynamics and advancing how scientists monitor the critical role forests play in regulating the global carbon cycle.
Launched on 29 April 2025, Biomass, an Earth Explorer mission, is the first satellite to carry a P-band synthetic aperture radar capable of penetrating dense forest canopies to measure woody biomass, including trunks and branches where most forest carbon is stored.
These measurements provide a powerful proxy for assessing carbon storage – the core objective of the mission.
Following launch and orbital insertion, the Biomass team spent several months carefully calibrating and fine-tuning the satellite during its commissioning phase, paving the way for data to become openly available to users worldwide in January this year.
Since then, the mission has begun demonstrating its scientific potential, delivering data that promise to improve estimates of forest carbon stocks and deepen understanding of how forests respond to environmental change.
The selection of images featured in the carousel below offer a glimpse of that potential, showcasing some of the remarkable views Biomass has captured during its first year in orbit, from the tropical forests of South America to the remote Arctic.
These images are polarimetric synthetic aperture radar images, where the colours do not correspond to the natural visual colours, but instead show different structural properties of Earth.
https://www.esa.int/Applications/Observing_the_Earth/FutureEO/Biomass/Stunning_images_from_Biomass_mark_its_one_year_in_orbit
extra ESA
https://www.esa.int/Enabling_Support/Space_Transportation/Ariane/Another_one_Ariane_6_flies_with_four_boosters_once_more
https://www.esa.int/ESA_Multimedia/Images/2026/04/Swing_and_Sawa_missions_poster
https://www.esa.int/Enabling_Support/Space_Transportation/Space_Rider/Plasma-hot_Space_Rider_tests_for_belly_and_flaps
https://www.esa.int/Education/Educational_Satellites/Design_Booster_teams_conduct_Final_Design_Review_at_ESTEC
https://www.esa.int/Education/ESA_Academy/Apply_for_Earth_Observation_Satellite_Systems_Design_Training
Whitehouse Investigates Trump’s ‘God Squad’ Waiving Endangered Species Protections to Expand Oil Drilling
April 28, 2026
Senators seek answers from the Trump Administration regarding coordination with fossil fuel interests, compliance with the Endangered Species Act and Administrative Procedure Act
Washington, D.C. – Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works (EPW), led 26 Senators in launching an investigation into the Trump Administration’s decision to grant an Endangered Species Act (ESA) exemption for Gulf of Mexico oil and gas activities.
The decision was made by a powerful panel known as the Endangered Species Act Committee, or the “God Squad,” which can effectively end the existence of a species.
At an Endangered Species Committee meeting convened on March 31, 2026 by the Department of Interior (DOI), Department of Defense (DOD) Secretary Pete Hegseth notified the Committee of “national security findings” necessitating an exemption to the ESA in the Gulf of Mexico.
A voice vote was then taken to grant an exemption to all Gulf oil and gas exploration, development, and production activities. This was the first meeting of the God Squad since 1992.
“This swift yet opaque process raises serious questions around compliance with the ESA and Administrative Procedure Act (APA), which require transparency, public participation, and reasoned decision-making,” wrote the Senators. “…
Here, no robust public record has been made available, and the exemption risks being found ‘arbitrary and capricious’ under the APA for failing to adequately justify that it was necessary and consistent with the ESA.”
In the Committee meeting, it came to light that DOI had initially notified DOD about “recent litigation . . . halting or severely compromising oil and gas activities in the Gulf” as a major reason prompting the exemption request.
The referenced litigation appears to be a lawsuit involving the oil and gas industry in which the court issued a decision to protect Gulf endangered species that could be harmed by a Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) lease sale.
This ESA exemption builds on the Trump Administration’s pattern of prioritizing fossil fuel interests in the Gulf. During the 2025 government shutdown, BOEM approved a BP drilling project, despite its proximity to the habitat of the endangered Rice’s whale.
The species suffered a nearly 25 percent population loss after the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, with an estimated current population of just 50 whales. Another oil spill could spell extinction for the Rice’s whale.
“Oil and gas industry capture of the federal government results in a life-or-death situation for wildlife—a harsh and unfortunate reality.
Species pushed to the brink of extinction may no longer prompt greater protection but instead trigger further efforts by the administration to clear regulatory obstacles to development,” wrote the Senators. “…
The ESA does not permit the government to negotiate away a species’ existence in exchange for fossil fuel production targets or political support.
It requires decisions grounded in science, transparency, and the public interest.”
In addition to Ranking Member Whitehouse, the letter was signed by Senators Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Chris Coons (D-DE), Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Andy Kim (D-NJ), Ben Ray Luján (D-NM), Ed Markey (D-MA), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Patty Murray (D-WA), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Jack Reed (D-RI), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Adam Schiff (D-CA), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), and Ron Wyden (D-OR).
The Senators are requesting immediate withdrawal of the exemption in addition to documents and information related to the decision by May 18, 2026.
https://www.epw.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2026/4/whitehouse-investigates-trump-s-god-squad-waiving-endangered-species-protections-to-expand-oil-drilling
https://www.epw.senate.gov/public/_cache/files/9/d/9d33b110-8b52-44d3-8997-dbf94f137f31/8EE6F9C4DA653D7059C7654E2056E26DC1175194503FB324B096AD82192C6838.4.27.26-letter-to-doi-and-dod-re-esa-god-squad.pdf
SpaceX Launches
Viasat-3 F3 Mission
April 29, 2026
SpaceX is targeting Wednesday, April 29 for a Falcon Heavy launch of the ViaSat-3 F3 mission to geosynchronous transfer orbit from Launch Complex 39A (LC-39A) at Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
The 85-minute launch window opens at 10:13 a.m. ET. If needed, a backup opportunity is available Thursday, April 30 during an 85-minute window that opens at 10:09 a.m. ET.
A live webcast of this mission will begin about 15 minutes prior to liftoff, which you can watch here and on X @SpaceX. You can also watch the webcast on the X TV app.
One of the side boosters on this mission previously supported SDA-0A, SARah-2, Transporter-11, and 18 Starlink missions, and the second previously supported launch of the GOES-U mission.
Following stage separation, Falcon Heavy’s two side boosters will land on SpaceX’s Landing Zones 2 and 40 (LZ-2 and LZ-40) at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida.
https://www.spacex.com/launches/viasat3f3
https://www.space.com/space-exploration/launches-spacecraft/spacex-falcon-heavy-rocket-viasat-3-f3-launch
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qv2Znytric8
Starlink Mission
April 29, 2026
SpaceX’s Falcon 9 is targeting the launch of 24 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 33rd flight for the first stage booster supporting this mission, which previously launched NROL-87, NROL-85, SARah-1, SWOT, Transporter-8, Transporter-9, NROL-146, Bandwagon-2, NROL-153, NROL-192, Transporter-14, Transporter-15, and 20 Starlink missions.
Following stage separation, the first stage will land on the Of Course I Still Love You droneship, which will be stationed in the Pacific Ocean.
There is the possibility that residents of Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, and Ventura counties may hear one or more sonic booms during the launch, but what residents experience will depend on weather and other conditions.
https://www.spacex.com/launches/sl-17-36
Putin comments on Ukrainian strikes on Russian Black Sea oil refinery
28 Apr, 2026 18:17 | Updated 28 Apr, 2026 19:26
The Kiev regime has ramped up drone attacks on Russia’s civilian infrastructure, including repeated strikes on an oil refinery port of Tuapse that risk serious environmental impact, President Vladimir Putin has said.
He called the attacks an attempt to compensate for battlefield setbacks. He spoke about the increased terrorist threat Russia has been facing during a meeting on Tuesday dedicated to the security of the elections set to take place this fall.
The threat stems from the activities of international terrorist and extremist groups, as well as from Ukraine, Putin said.
“The Kiev regime and its backers have switched to openly terrorist methods,” the president stated.
The terror tactics are meant to compensate for the setbacks Ukraine has been suffering on the battlefield, Putin noted, adding that such actions will not alter the course of the conflict between Moscow and Kiev.
He cited attacks on the oil refinery in the Black Sea port of Tuapse, which sparked a multi-day fire, warning of the growing threat posed by Ukrainian long-range strikes against Russia’s civilian infrastructure.
“The latest example is the strikes on energy infrastructure sites in Tuapse, which could potentially have serious environmental implications,” the president said.
Kiev is determined to try to jeopardize the upcoming elections in the formerly Ukrainian regions that integrated into Russia, Putin said, pointing to similar attempts previously.
“I’d like to remind you that they are not holding elections in Ukraine under the pretext of martial law, and they are trying to disrupt ours too,” he said.
Earlier on Tuesday, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Ukrainian attacks on Russia’s energy sector “further increase the oil deficit in global markets, which are already experiencing significant difficulties because of the situation in the Strait of Hormuz, and provoke further destabilization in global energy markets.”
In recent days, the Tuapse refinery and adjacent marine terminal were repeatedly subjected to long-range drone strikes, sparking repeated fires at the facility. The attacks prompted evacuations of nearby residents and emergency response measures.
The prolonged fires produced high-risk air pollution, with residents advised to use respirators, while oil spilled into the sea damaged a long stretch of the beach in the resort town.
https://www.rt.com/russia/639250-uae-opec-exit-kremlin/
extra RT
https://www.rt.com/russia/639226-russian-archaeologist-freed-prisoner-swap-poland/
https://www.rt.com/news/639238-mcconnell-superpower-ukraine-aid/
https://www.rt.com/news/639227-uae-exit-opec-realignment-multipolarity-rattansi/
https://www.rt.com/news/639229-uae-opec-cartel-withdrawal/
Russia Scales Back Victory Day Parade, Citing Ukrainian Drone Attacks
April 29, 2026 11:19 CET
Updated April 29, 2026 12:32 CET
Russia's Defense Ministry said the Victory Day parade on Red Square an annual Kremlin spectacle celebrating the Soviet role in World War II and Moscow's military today will be drastically scaled back this year, with no military vehicles or heavy weaponry on display for the first time in almost two decades.
A day after the ministry confirmed late on April 28 persistent rumors that this year's May 9 parade would be much more low-key, President Vladimir Putin's spokesman suggested the main reason was Ukrainian "terrorist activity," clearly a reference to drone attacks Kyiv has launched as it battles against Russia's full-scale invasion.
"Against the backdrop of this terrorist threat, of course all measures to minimize danger are being taken," spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters.
The Defense Ministry statement said the parade would include soldiers and other personnel marching.
But no cadets from Russia's most prestigious military academies would be participating, it said, and no "column of military equipment" – a reference to a display that in past years frequently featured tanks, armored vehicles, ICBMs, and more.
The annual event held just outside the Kremlin's walls has traditionally served as a celebration of Russia's history marking the defeat of Nazi Germany in World War II, with veterans given prominent places of honor.
The last time there were no military vehicles all on parade was 2007, during Dmitry Medvedev's presidency. In 2023, the parade was also lower-key with just a few dozen vehicles, featuring missile launchers and armored infantry vehicles, and a column headed by a single World War II-era tank.
Over Putin's quarter-century in power, however, the Kremlin has also used the parade to showcase military hardware with hundreds of tanks, vehicles, aircraft, and missile launchers as a demonstration to the outside world.
Since the 2022 all-out invasion of Ukraine, the parade has also been reminder of the Russian war effort there, with little mention of the extraordinary casualties Russia has suffered.
Over the past year, Ukraine has stepped up its drone campaign, targeting Russian energy infrastructure, air force bases, and other targets. Moscow has scrambled to keep up in shooting down the drones.
Before Peskov spoke, some observers had speculated the move to scale dopwn the parade was prompted by fears of a Ukrainian drone attack. In 2023, Ukraine flew a drone into a building inside the Kremlin compound, surprising military commanders.
"Ukraine's ability to strike deep into Russian territory has indeed grown in recent years," said Kirill Martynov, the editor in chief of Novaya Gazeta Europe, speaking before the Defense Ministry announcement.
"And generally speaking, a breach of air defense during this parade, with all the distinguished guests present, is absolutely a very real threat."
He also noted that Russian society is increasingly tired of the war, as well as the Kremlin's handling of the economy, which is increasingly under strain, and the draconian shutdowns of the Internet, which authorities have said are aimedat reducing the threat of Ukrainain drone attacks.
"No one understands when the war will end or under what circumstances. More and more people, even among those who supported the war, are feeling some disappointment about it," he told Current Time.
https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-victory-day-red-square-military-parade/33744971.html
https://www.kyivpost.com/post/75020
other Russia and Ukraine
https://kyivindependent.com/ukrainian-drones-reportedly-strike-russian-oil-tanks-before-flames-from-previous-attacks-extinguished/
https://kyivindependent.com/ukraine-confirms-drone-strikes-on-russian-air-defense-system-oil-depot-in-occupied-crimea/
https://kyivindependent.com/ukraine-war-latest-russian-helicopters-struck-in-russias-voronezh-oblast-ukraines-elite-drone-unit-says/
https://united24media.com/war-in-ukraine/us-ready-to-allocate-100-million-to-repair-chornobyl-nuclear-shelter-after-drone-strike-18344
https://united24media.com/war-in-ukraine/what-is-the-drone-deal-ukraines-plan-to-export-battle-tested-weapons-worldwide-18319
https://united24media.com/business/ukrainian-drone-firm-asked-to-protect-ships-in-strait-of-hormuz-in-first-ever-private-security-mission-18331
https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/iran-news/2026-04-29/live-updates-894526
other Israel
https://sundayguardianlive.com/world/who-was-ahmed-abd-al-rahman-shambari-idf-claims-hamas-intelligence-chief-killed-in-gaza-strike-amid-ongoing-conflict-187453/
https://vinnews.com/2026/04/29/idf-chief-of-staff-no-ceasefire-in-southern-lebanon-as-troops-press-fight-against-hezbollah/
https://www.jns.org/news/israel-news/idf-troops-wounded-in-samaria-attack-terrorists-neutralized
https://vinnews.com/2026/04/29/idf-scrambles-to-deal-with-deadly-drone-threat-in-lebanon/
https://www.ynetnews.com/article/b18lcb1011g
Trump braces for long Hormuz blockade, IDF strikes Hezbollah launcher inside civilian building
April 29, 9:54 PM
Netanyahu "frequently" speaks with Trump, PMO says • US aircraft carrier to leave Middle East after 10-month-long mission • IAEA Chief Grossi: "Majority of Iran's uranium likely is at Isfahan site"
April 29, 9:49 PM
Trump says Iran talks have "come a long way, are ongoing by phone
US President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that talks with Iran have "come a long way, the question is whether or not they're going to go far enough," adding, "There will never be a deal unless they agree that there will be no nuclear weapons."
Trump also said that talks with Iran are being conducted by phone after he canceled a trip over the weekend for US negotiators to travel to Pakistan to speak with Iranian officials.
April 29, 9:09 PM
US aircraft carrier to leave Middle East after 10-month-long mission - report
The USS Gerald R. Ford aircraft carrier is set to leave the Middle East after its 10-month-long mission and go back to the United States for maintenance, The Washington Post reported on Wednesday.
The report cites multiple US officials and points out that the departure represents a "significant firepower loss" for the US in the region amid tensions with Iran.
April 29, 8:44 PM
Putin and Trump held phone call on Iran and Ukraine, Kremlin says
Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump held a phone call on Wednesday in which the Russian leader put forward ideas on resolving the conflict over Iran's nuclear program and proposed a temporary Ukraine ceasefire to mark the anniversary of the end of World War II next month, a Kremlin aide said.
April 29, 8:18 PM
Trump: Iranian naval blockade stays until Tehran agrees to nuclear deal - Axios
US President Donald Trump on Wednesday told Axios that Iran will remain under a naval blockade until the Islamic regime agrees to a deal that addresses US concerns about its nuclear program.
The blockade is "somewhat more effective than bombing," Trump told the outlet.
"They are choking like a stuffed pig. And it is going to be worse for them. They can't have a nuclear weapon," he added.
"They want to settle. They don't want me to keep the blockade. I don't want to [lift the blockade], because I don't want them to have a nuclear weapon," he said.
April 29, 7:44 PM
WATCH: IDF destroys Hezbollah rocket launcher inside civilian building in southern Lebanon
Meanwhile, an IDF drone pursued and hit a Hezbollah terrorist attempting to flee on a motorcycle.
Soldiers from the IDF's Givati Brigade, operating under the 91st Division, identified a rocket launcher placed inside a civilian building in southern Lebanon, the military said on Wednesday.
The soldiers destroyed the launcher, which was aimed towards IDF soldiers operating in the region, the military said.
In an earlier statement on Wednesday afternoon, the military said that an IDF drone identified a Hezbollah terrorist operating near soldiers in southern Lebanon on Tuesday.
The Hezbollah terrorist attempted to flee on a motorcycle but was pursued and hit by the drone, IDF footage showed.
1/2
April 29, 7:05 PM
Pentagon's Hegseth defends Iran war, says not a quagmire
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth sought to defend the Iran war in fiery remarks to Congress on Wednesday, saying it was not a quagmire and attacking Democratic lawmakers as "feckless" for criticizing the unpopular conflict.
"You call it a quagmire, handing propaganda to our enemies? Shame on you for that statement," Hegseth said before the House Armed Services Committee, slamming "reckless, feckless, and defeatist" Congressional Democrats.
April 29, 6:45 PM
IDF Brigade 7 commander: Hezbollah resistance in Lebanon stronger, but IDF strikes hard - interview
IDF penetrates deeper into Hezbollah territory in southern Lebanon, killing 130 fighters and destroying a major tunnel network, all with less air support than in 2024.
The IDF has achieved deeper penetration against Hezbollah during the current war, even with much less air force support, than it did during the fall 2024 invasion of Lebanon, IDF Brigade 7 commander Col. Shaul Yisraeli told The Jerusalem Post in an interview on Tuesday night.
"We saw that the enemy had reestablished itself after Operation Northern Arrows [2024]. We found large amounts of weapons and terrorists on that defense line…with less air force support, we killed many terrorists with the help of artillery fire," he said.
Although the air force has given some air support to IDF forces in Lebanon throughout the current war, the vast majority of its resources were focused on Iran until the April 7 ceasefire with Tehran.
In contrast, during the fall 2024 invasion of southern Lebanon, the full power of the air force came in alongside IDF ground forces.
April 29, 6:44 PM
How do Israel, China view their dispute over Iran - analysis
China has managed to maintain mostly positive relations with both Tehran and Jerusalem, being an important trade partner of Israel while having strategic ties with Iran.
One of the most crucial issues hovering over the recent Israel-US-Iran war and the future of the standoff between these countries has little to do with them, but rather with another major power: China.
To date, China has managed to maintain mostly positive relations with both Tehran and Jerusalem. In economic terms, China has been an important trade partner to both countries, with trade with Israel in 2024 estimated at between $22-24 billion and in 2025, estimated at around $27 billion, making Beijing one of Israel's largest trade partners.
Chinese airlines were one of the few airlines that kept flying to Israel during portions of the recent years of wars, when most other foreign airlines had canceled their flights much earlier.
And the two countries have genuine and substantial respect for each other's long-standing ancient histories and cultures.
April 29, 6:39 PM
Majority of Iran's uranium likely is at Isfahan site, IAEA Chief Grossi tells AP
The majority of Iran's highly enriched uranium is likely still at the Isfahan site, the International Atomic Energy Agency Chief Rafael Grossi told The Associated Press on Wednesday.
“We haven’t been able to inspect or to confirm that the material is there and that the [IAEA] seals remain there,” he said in the interview. “I hope we’ll be able to do that, so what I tell you is our best estimate.”
April 29, 4:45 PM
Netanyahu not traveling to Washington next week, PMO confirms
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will not travel to Washington next week, despite Israeli reports suggesting he would, the Prime Minister's Office said on Wednesday afternoon.
The PMO added that Netanyahu "frequently" speaks with his "friend [US] President [Donald] Trump."
2/2
No damage after United jet reportedly hits drone near San Diego airport
April 29, 2026, 12:08 p.m.
The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating a report that an airliner collided with an apparent toy drone Wednesday — sustaining no damage — while on approach to San Diego International Airport.
The pilot of the United Airlines Boeing 737 reported morning that the plane hit a drone at about 3,000 feet near the airport, according to a radio transmission posted on ATC.com.
“It was red,” the pilot told a flight controller. “It was shiny.”
The crew of the airliner, which was completing Flight 1980 out of San Francisco, went on to safely land in San Diego at about 8:30 a.m., according to United Airlines.
A subsequent inspection of the aircraft revealed no damage, the airline asserted in a prepared statement.
The FAA “is aware of the report and is investigating,” agency spokesperson Cassandra Nolan said.
If the aircraft did strike a drone, its operator was flying it in violation of regulations.
“Pilots cannot operate drones above 400 feet altitude unless they have specific FAA authorization,” Nolan noted. “Drone pilots also must avoid restricted airspace, including the airspace around airports.”
https://timesofsandiego.com/crime/2026/04/29/no-damage-after-southwest-jet-reportedly-hits-drone-near-san-diego-airport/
other US drones
https://dronexl.co/2026/04/29/lahaina-hawaiian-drone-inspections/
https://sporked.com/article/little-caesars-drone-delivery-news/
NATO RQ-4D Drone Declares Radio Failure Over the Black Sea
April 29, 2026
A NATO Northrop Grumman RQ-4D Phoenix (reg. MM-AV-SA0014) operating over the Black Sea in these minutes (10:00 CEST) is squawking transponder code 7600, indicating a radio communication failure with air traffic control.
The high-altitude ISR drone, using callsign MAGMA10, was tracked flying from Sigonella toward the western Black Sea before the emergency code appeared during the mission.
The aircraft involved is one of NATO’s Alliance Ground Surveillance (AGS) drones based at Sigonella Air Base in Sicily, a platform that has become increasingly central to the Alliance’s intelligence collection activities along NATO’s eastern flank since the start of the war in Ukraine.
While a 7600 squawk does not necessarily indicate a major onboard emergency, it is a significant event for an aircraft operating in one of Europe’s most sensitive airspaces.
The code is specifically used to notify controllers of a radio communication failure, forcing the aircraft to rely on pre-established procedures and routing coordination.
A strategic ISR corridor over the Black Sea
The mission route once again underlined the importance of the Black Sea corridor for NATO surveillance operations.
In recent months, AGS RQ-4Ds departing from Sigonella have routinely monitored activity near Crimea, southern Russia, and the maritime approaches used by the Russian Navy.
These flights provide NATO with persistent ISR coverage thanks to the drone’s long endurance and high-altitude operating profile.
Unlike manned reconnaissance aircraft, the RQ-4D can remain airborne for more than 24 hours, continuously collecting radar and signals intelligence data across a vast operational area.
Today’s communication issue appears to have occurred while the aircraft was already established over the western Black Sea operating area.
Despite the squawk, the drone continued its route, suggesting that contingency procedures remained functional. The episode also highlights the growing dependence on unmanned ISR platforms for NATO situational awareness near contested regions.
Any technical issue involving these aircraft inevitably attracts attention because of their strategic role and the politically sensitive environment in which they operate.
Whether this was a temporary communications disruption or part of a more complex technical issue remains unclear.
https://www.itamilradar.com/2026/04/29/nato-rq-4d-drone-declares-radio-failure-over-the-black-sea/
extra NATO drones
https://www.raf.mod.uk/news/articles/uk-leads-nato-drone-knowledge-sharing-initiative/