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Google and SpaceX negotiating launch deal for orbital data centers, reports claim
May 13, 2026 08:33 AM EST
Since AI needs more power than Earth’s electricity grids can handle, tech giants are now looking to build data centers in space.
Google and SpaceX are reportedly planning to launch orbital data centers, a move that could redefine AI infrastructure.
According to The Wall Street Journal, Google is shopping around, holding similar talks with various rocket launch providers beyond SpaceX.
The discussions come as terrestrial data centers face a storm of soaring electricity costs, aging grids, and local backlash against the massive, energy-hungry warehouses currently proliferating across the globe.
Abundance of solar energy
The logic behind the move is as simple as it is ambitious. Down here, data centers are shackled to Earth’s geography and finite energy. In orbit, servers can tap into unfiltered, 24/7 solar power, overcoming terrestrial infrastructure constraints entirely.
Elon Musk is betting his company’s future on this shift. As SpaceX gears up for a historic IPO later this year — targeting a massive valuation between $1.75 trillion and $2 trillion — Musk is pitching orbital computing not just as a tech gimmick, but as the ultimate cost-saver.
However, critics point out that launch costs currently dwarf ground-based builds. But Musk is betting that SpaceX’s reusable rockets will eventually make space the cheapest place in the universe to run an AI model.
Quartz reported that the two giants are already deeply intertwined. Google’s parent company, Alphabet, currently owns 6.1 percent of SpaceX. Moreover, the partnership is cemented at the leadership level, with Google executive Don Harrison serving on the SpaceX board.
This existing financial and strategic alliance provides a solid foundation for their new, ambitious push into orbital computing.
Rather than relying solely on SpaceX, Google is pursuing its own space-based roadmap through a “moonshot” initiative called Project Suncatcher.
Formally announced by CEO Sundar Pichai in late 2025, the project aims to deploy a constellation of solar-powered satellites equipped with Google’s custom Tensor Processing Units (TPUs).
To bring this vision to life, Google has partnered with satellite manufacturer Planet Labs to design and launch two prototype satellites by early 2027.
These test units will serve as a proof-of-concept for a potential 81-satellite cluster that uses laser-based communication to share massive AI workloads across the constellation. It would create a high-speed, orbital extension of Google’s terrestrial data centers.
SpaceX’s vision
Meanwhile, SpaceX is also expanding into the orbital data-center market, marked by massive infrastructure scaling and high-profile partnerships.
The company has filed for regulatory approval to launch up to one million satellites to support this venture, dwarfing its current Starlink constellation.
Central to this strategy is a landmark deal with AI firm Anthropic, under which SpaceX will provide 300 megawatts of computing power powered by over 220,000 Nvidia GPUs.
Despite the hype, the transition won’t be easy. Tech analysts warn that the cost of hardened, space-ready hardware remains a significant barrier compared to the efficiency of ground-based builds.
If successful, the AI revolution will no longer be constrained by Earth’s limits. Instead, the future of intelligence may reside in a high-speed, solar-powered extension of the cloud, orbiting 300 miles above the power grids it outgrew.
https://interestingengineering.com/space/spacex-google-orbital-data-center
extra Space news
https://www.newson6.com/tulsa-oklahoma-news/quantum-space-announces-plans-for-tulsa-manufacturing-plant
https://3dprintingindustry.com/news/leap-71-and-sindan-are-industrializing-ai-designed-aerospace-251371/
https://www.tipranks.com/news/private-companies/leap-proves-operational-space-logistics-with-successful-bullfrog-test-flight
https://newatlas.com/marine/ghost-ship-space-based-tracking-mitsubishi-airis/
https://www.vandenberg.spaceforce.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/4485076/sld-30-celebrates-5th-anniversary/
extra Space Force
https://www.vandenberg.spaceforce.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/4485330/2026-uso-guardian-of-the-year-starcom-instructor-helps-shape-next-generation-of/
https://www.vandenberg.spaceforce.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/4485020/military-spouse-appreciation-day/
SLD 30 Celebrates 5th Anniversary
May 12, 2026
Marking a half-decade of rapid expansion, Space Launch Delta 30 celebrated its fifth birthday this week as the U.S. Space Force’s primary West Coast hub for space launch and strategic testing.
The milestone highlights a fundamental transformation since 2021, as the base evolved from a legacy wing into a multi-nodal platform capable of sustaining a record-breaking operational pace.
While Vandenberg SFB’s host unit officially became Space Launch Delta 30 May 9, 2021, its roots stretch back to the dawn of the Space Race.
Originally established in 1941 as the U.S. Army's Camp Cooke, the installation transferred to the Air Force in 1957.
Since the first Thor missile launch in 1958 and the launch of the world’s first polar-orbiting satellite in 1959, the base has served as the nation's only high-capacity gateway to orbit on the West Coast for nearly seven decades.
The redesignation of Space Launch Delta 30 was more than a symbolic change; it signaled a massive operational pivot for the installation.
“We have gone from a base known primarily for launch to a base recognized as a national security platform,” said Col. James T. Horne III, Space Launch Delta 30 commander.
“That is the evolution of SLD 30: launch is still central — but it is no longer the whole story.”
The base is now home to more than 54 mission partners, including units from the Department of War, the intelligence community, and commercial industry.
Together, these organizations support orbital tracking, advanced air and space testing, and homeland defense.
Highlighting its strategic posture, Vandenberg is also the sole U.S. Space Force installation serving as a NORAD and U.S. Northern Command alert base.
Increasing Operational Tempo
This expanded mission scope has triggered a surge in operations, powered by a 20-year strategy to lower launch costs and harness American innovation through the U.S. Space Force’s Commercial Space Strategy.
Following single-digit annual launch activity in 2020, the base supported 51 launches in 2024, its highest in 50 years.
In 2025, Vandenberg achieved its highest operational tempo since the 1970s and breaking 2024’s historic level, supporting 77 total space launches, missile tests, and aeronautical operations.
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During its first five years as a Space Force Delta, the installation enabled a diverse portfolio of historic missions, including:
Landsat 9, which marked Vandenberg’s 2,000th launch, Sept. 27, 2021.
NASA’s DART mission, the world’s first planetary defense test, which launched from Vandenberg SFB, Nov. 24, 2021.
Tactically responsive space missions, including TacRL-2, which launched June 13, 2021, and VICTUS NOX, which launched Sept. 14, 2023.
As the U.S. Space Force’s largest test range, Vandenberg supports Minuteman III operational test launches that demonstrate the credibility of the nation’s strategic deterrent and the Sentinel modernization efforts under Det. 9.
National Reconnaissance Office missions, rapidly delivering critical intelligence and surveillance payloads to orbit to protect global national security.
Missile Defense Agency tests that validate the nation's homeland defense capabilities
And support to an emerging hypersonic test enterprise that is shaping the future of advanced flight.
Expanding Organizational Footprint
Beyond serving as a spaceport and test range, Vandenberg has significantly expanded its organizational footprint to become a central nexus for the command, control, and training of space forces.
Since being redesignated Space Launch Delta 30, the installation has become host to all three U.S. Space Force Field Commands: Space Systems Command, Combat Forces Command, and Space Training and Readiness Command.
Under this expanded umbrella, the base over the last five years has become home to Space Delta 1, which trains and develops Guardians, and U.S. Space Forces–Space, which provides combat-relevant space effects for the joint force.
SLD 30 has also seen cyber units realign under its command and supported the advancement of Sentinel modernization efforts, reflecting a mission partner ecosystem that continues to grow in both scope and significance.
Managing this massive organizational and operational expansion comes down to one constant: the workforce.
“Every launch, every test, every visit, every emergency response and every mission success rests on the shoulders of the Guardians, Airmen, civilians, and families who ensure the excellence of this spaceport and test range,” Horne said.
“You are the ones who turn national strategy into real-world capability.”
The Next Five Years
Looking to the future, base leadership anticipates that launch cadences will continue to rise and infrastructure will need to modernize to support heavy and super-heavy launch capabilities.
“What happens here matters,” Horne said. “It matters to national defense. It matters to our allies and partners. It matters to the future of space access.”
As the installation prepares for increasing complexity and deepening partnerships with industry and the joint force, Horne emphasized the historic weight of the Space Launch Delta's first five years.
“We celebrate five years of transformation. Five years of growth. Five years of mission success,” Horne said. “Five years of proving that Vandenberg is not simply keeping pace with the future of space — Vandenberg is helping define it.”
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Connecting critical space data to emergency response
13/05/2026
Turning the vast amounts of data collected by Earth observation satellites into useful information, exactly when it is needed, is a real challenge – especially during natural disasters or emergency situations.
One year after the launch of the OneWeb Copernicus Data Hub project, Austrian Earth‑observation services provider GeoVille, together with the European Space Agency (ESA) and Eutelsat, is showing how this can be achieved in practice.
The project focuses on connecting Copernicus satellite data with the right people, in the right place, at the right time.
By combining smart data compression with satellite broadband connectivity from Eutelsat’s low Earth orbit OneWeb constellation for satellite communications, large datasets can be delivered quickly and reliably, even to locations where fibre or mobile networks are weak, overloaded or simply unavailable.
Even in well‑connected regions, handling the large volumes of satellite data can be difficult and time‑consuming.
The familiar images we see from orbit are the result of multiple processing steps that turn raw measurements into visual patterns we can understand; a complex chain that sits between data capture and the final picture.
GeoVille’s platform helps bridge this gap by allowing users to pick out exactly the data relevant to their task, instead of having to search through entire archives or manage heavy processing themselves.
A year after launching the project, the platform has advanced three main services. The SatAlert service provides early warnings for wildfire, flood and drought risks by providing automated, satellite-based monitoring.
By evaluating many forecast sources daily, assessing the highest risk and sending alerts when needed, it helps authorities and organisations act sooner.
The EO Streaming Service lets users explore years of satellite data directly in a web browser, with smooth performance even when there’s limited connectivity.
Finally, the Archive Builder Service allows users to create and store tailored datasets for specific regions and time periods, making future access faster and more efficient.
Developed under ESA’s Sunrise Partnership Project within the programme for Advanced Research in Telecommunications Systems (ARTES), and supported by the Austrian Space Agency, these services address a key gap: the distance between satellites in orbit and people making decisions on the ground.
By making Copernicus data more accessible, the OneWeb Copernicus Data Hub helps turn Europe’s space technologies into practical support, strengthening resilience, safety and sustainability.
https://www.esa.int/Applications/Connectivity_and_Secure_Communications/Connecting_critical_space_data_to_emergency_response
extra ESA
https://www.esa.int/Enabling_Support/Space_Engineering_Technology/The_young_minds_space-proofing_ESA_s_missions
https://www.esa.int/Applications/Observing_the_Earth/FutureEO/Earth_Action
https://www.esa.int/Science_Exploration/Space_Science/Mars_Express/Waterworn_chaos_on_Mars
China Doubles Tiangong Size to Rival US in Space
2026.05.14. 00:37
With the International Space Station (ISS), led by the United States, nearing retirement, China has decided to double the scale of its own space station, Tiangong (Heavenly Palace).
Through this, it aims to secure leadership in low Earth orbit (LEO) and expand its independent space cooperation hub. The competition between the two countries in crewed lunar exploration is expanding into a struggle for space hegemony.
◇Expanding Space Hubs: China
According to Chinese CCTV and other sources earlier this month, the Chinese government announced plans to add multifunctional expansion modules to Tianhe (Harmony), the core module of the Tiangong space station, transforming its current T-shaped structure into a cross shape. Tiangong currently consists of three modules: Tianhe with the laboratory modules Wentian (Quest for the Heavens) and Mengtian (Dreaming Heaven) attached. The plan is to connect one additional core module and two experimental modules, completing a total of six modules. Once expanded, the total mass of the space station modules will increase from the current 70 metric tons to 180 metric tons. The number of permanent crew members will also expand from three to six.
The reason behind China's expansion of Tiangong is space constraints. Completed in 2022, Tiangong has a living space equivalent to a three-bedroom apartment (110 cubic meters).
However, as international joint research projects with the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs, UNOOSA, have increased, space has become insufficient.
Given plans to continue expanding international cooperation, the need for additional space was deemed necessary.
According to CCTV and other sources, Chinese astronauts have conducted over 260 scientific experiments and 26 spacewalks aboard Tiangong.
They set a new record of 9 hours and 6 minutes for a spacewalk, surpassing NASA's previous record of 8 hours and 56 minutes. This year, astronauts from Pakistan, Hong Kong, and Macau are also scheduled to join Tiangong missions.
Additionally, to realize this module expansion of Tiangong, China is reported to be upgrading the transport capacity of the Long March 5B rocket and improving the performance of the station's robotic arms.
◇Crewed Lunar Landing: Will the Race Be Decided by Months?
The competition between the United States and China for crewed lunar landings also continues.
Space experts analyze that in the rivalry over crewed lunar landings and moon base construction, the decisive factor will not be 'speed' but the long-term sustainable capability to repeatedly launch spacecraft to the moon.
Scott Manley, an astrophysicist and rocket engineering expert, said in an interview with The Guardian, "The real issue is who will go to the moon ten times in the future," adding, "The country that can continuously access and operate on the moon will ultimately seize space leadership."
While U.S. space and lunar exploration policies may fluctuate with each new administration, China, under a one-party system, consistently pursues long-term plans.
This analysis suggests that in this aspect, China holds a slight advantage over the United States.
Some analysts believe the outcome of the crewed lunar landing race between the two countries could be decided by a difference of several months.
The U.S. aims to land on the moon by 2028, but delays in developing a crewed lunar lander may push the schedule back. In contrast, while China plans to step onto the moon by 2030, its current pace suggests it could achieve this sooner.
Having initiated its crewed space program in the 1990s and rapidly advanced over the past 25 years, China has consistently adhered to its space exploration schedule, unlike the U.S., which has frequently adjusted and delayed its targets.
Manley stated, "China has expanded its space station to establish a long-term foothold and is collaborating with multiple countries on lunar exploration. In terms of space exploration capabilities, it has nearly surpassed Russia."
https://www.chosun.com/english/industry-en/2026/05/14/OCWXJXPNFNAH7COL3TIWCMUG3Y/
extra Chyna
https://news.cgtn.com/news/2026-05-13/China-s-human-artificial-embryo-experiment-progressing-well-in-space-1N7nhJjqU3C/p.html
https://news.cgtn.com/news/2026-05-13/China-US-pragmatic-cooperation-has-broad-space-huge-potential-1N7rEz6wfdu/p.html
Trump doesn’t rule out Russia visit (VIDEO)
12 May, 2026 21:01 | Updated 12 May, 2026 22:05
US President Donald Trump has not ruled the possibility of traveling to Russia this year to help facilitate a settlement to the Ukraine conflict.
Speaking to reporters outside the White House on Tuesday, prior to departing for an upcoming summit in China, the US president was asked if he could visit Russia in 2026.
“I could… I will do whatever is necessary. That war… I’ve settled eight wars,” Trump said.
“That war is getting closer. Believe it or not, it’s getting closer. And we think we’re going to end up getting a settlement between Russia and Ukraine.”
A day earlier, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov reiterated that Russian President Vladimir Putin is ready to host Trump. Putin initially extended the invitation after the historic bilateral US-Russia summit in Alaska last August.
However, the subsequent Washington-backed direct talks between Moscow and Kiev have stalled.
The negotiations will remain at a standstill until Kiev pulls its troops out of Donbass, Kremlin aide Yury Ushakov said on Sunday. “Until [Ukraine] makes the step, one can hold some more rounds, dozens of rounds [of talks] but we will remain in the same spot,” he said.
Washington is currently “more preoccupied with the Middle East crisis,” Ushakov added. The US war on Iran has settled into an uneasy standoff centered around the Strait of Hormuz and blockade of Iranian ports, with neither side accepting the other’s demands.
Nevertheless, Washington is “not abandoning the Ukraine issue,” and is in regular contact with Moscow over the phone, Ushakov said.
Russia has maintained that any peaceful settlement is predicated on Kiev withdrawing from the remaining areas of the Donbass that are still under Ukrainian control.
Kiev exerts control over around 15-17% of Donetsk People’s Republic, Putin said in March. The Russian Defense Ministry reported fully liberating the neighboring Lugansk People’s Republic last month.
https://www.rt.com/news/639916-trump-could-visit-russia/
extra RT and Russia
https://www.rt.com/russia/639897-russia-test-icbm-sarmat/
https://www.rt.com/russia/639902-gabbard-biolabs-ukraine-explained/
https://www.rt.com/russia/639917-ukrainian-file-complaints-mobilization/
https://www.rt.com/business/639915-russian-economy-resilient-sanctions/
https://russiaspivottoasia.com/russia-indonesia-collaborating-on-numerous-space-projects/
Multiple Russian Fuel, Gas Sites Targeted in 286-Drone Overnight Barrage
May 13, 2026, 11:17 am
A series of drone-related incidents sparked fires and disruption across multiple Russian energy facilities on Wednesday, May 13, with damage reported in the Astrakhan region, Bashkortostan, and southern Russia’s Krasnodar region.
Ukraine’s General Staff said its forces struck Russian energy facilities, including primary oil refining units at the Yaroslavl oil refinery in Yaroslavl region and infrastructure at the Astrakhan gas processing plant.
The military said fires broke out at both sites and described them as part of infrastructure supporting Russia’s war effort. Damage assessments are ongoing.
In the Astrakhan region, authorities reported a strike on the Gazprom-operated Astrakhan Gas Processing Plant – one of Russia’s largest gas facilities.
Officials said the attack was repelled, but falling debris from intercepted drones ignited a fire at the site. No casualties were reported.
The plant is a major producer of gasoline, diesel, and fuel oil and Russia’s largest output hub for gas sulfur. It was previously targeted in 2025, forcing a temporary halt in fuel production.
Further north, a major blaze erupted at the “Nurlino” oil pipeline station near Ufa in Bashkortostan, operated by Transneft. Thick smoke was seen rising from the facility, which serves as a key node in Russia’s Ural oil transport system.
Authorities described the incident as a “technological malfunction” that triggered an explosion, while local reports suggested a fuel tank had ignited. At least three people were injured, two of them seriously burned.
In southern Russia, a fire broke out in the village of Volna in the Krasnodar region’s Temryuk district after a drone attack and falling debris.
Regional officials said nearly 100 emergency personnel were deployed to contain the blaze, with one injury reported. Nearby, drone fragments were also found in the settlement of Taman.
The Volna area sits near the Black Sea port of Taman, a strategic export hub for oil and fuel shipments that has repeatedly come under drone pressure.
Separately, debris from downed drones struck an industrial facility in Russia’s Yaroslavl region. Governor Mikhail Yevrayev said most drones were intercepted, but fragments still caused localized damage. No fatalities were reported.
Russia’s Defense Ministry said air defenses intercepted 286 Ukrainian drones overnight across a wide range of regions, including areas near the Black Sea, Crimea, and multiple central and southern Russian oblasts.
https://www.kyivpost.com/post/76008
https://united24media.com/war-in-ukraine/ukrainian-drones-strike-active-oil-transfer-point-at-russias-taman-port-18780
other Russia and Ukraine
https://kyivindependent.com/moscow-bans-publication-of-drone-strike-aftermath-without-official-approval/
https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/world-news/nato-poland-russia-drone-attack-37151217
https://united24media.com/latest-news/zelenskyy-states-russias-800-drone-barrage-was-no-coincidence-during-trump-china-visit-18787
https://ukranews.com/en/news/1151723-pentagon-sends-additional-troops-to-ukraine-to-study-drone-use-hegseth
https://newsukraine.rbc.ua/news/sea-drone-found-in-greece-is-not-ukrainian-1778678366.html
https://en.defence-ua.com/news/ukraine_downs_rare_300000_russian_merlin_vr_recon_drone_on_the_eastern_front_video-18479.html
https://www.kyivpost.com/post/76036
https://www.kyivpost.com/post/76064
https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/iran-news/2026-05-13/live-updates-895982
other Israel
https://www.timesofisrael.com/microsoft-israel-head-ousted-reportedly-over-idfs-controversial-use-of-cloud-tech/
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/427029
https://news.un.org/en/story/2026/05/1167496
https://www.jfeed.com/news-world/iraq-idf-base-investigation
https://www.jfeed.com/news-israel/idf-hezbollah-drone-swarm-attack
https://www.jns.org/news/israel-news/idf-kills-15-hezbollah-terrorists-hits-southern-lebanon-launchers
IDF kills Oct. 7 Nukhba terrorist who invaded Nahal Oz Base
May 13, 2026
South Korea weighs phased role in Hormuz mission • Hezbollah reportedly planning to occupy Beirut • IDF strikes Hezbollah rocket launchers, storage facilities
May 13, 6:24 PM
IDF kills Oct. 7 Nukhba terrorist who invaded Nahal Oz Base
The IDF killed Hamza Sharabasi, a commander in Hamas’ Shejaiya Battalion in northern Gaza, who invaded the Nahal Oz base on October 7.
Sharabasi was killed last week by the IAF, with assistance from IDF troops and the Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency). He recently operated near Gaza's Yellow Line and worked to advance attacks against IDF troops operating in the area.
May 13, 6:20 PM
IDF soldiers attempt to disperse West Bank riot, two people reportedly shot
Violent riots broke out in the West Bank on Wednesday after IDF soldiers and Israel Border Police tried to escort Israeli West Bank residents from the village of Jiljilyya after reports emerged of stolen livestock from an illegal outpost in Area A
The IDF used riot dispersal means, including live fire towards instigators, to dispel the violence. One person was wounded, and another was reportedly killed.
Suspects who stole the livestock were transferred to the Judea and Samaria District Police for further processing.
May 13, 5:53 PM
IDF preparing plan to return to Gaza fighting, depending on Iran ceasefire deal
A security source told Walla that signing a last-minute agreement with the Ayatollahs' regime could bring Israel closer to resuming fighting against Hamas in Gaza.
Southern Command chief Maj.-Gen. Yaniv Asor presented a plan to Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir for a return to fighting in Gaza, along with options for continued operations in the Gaza Strip, Walla reported on Wednesday.
The plan for resuming combat also includes evacuation measures and the relocation of the population to new humanitarian zones. A security source familiar with the details of the plan told Walla that the plan, which was developed by the Southern Command in collaboration with the Air Force, Intelligence Directorate, and Operations Directorate, also includes a phased plan for various scenarios.
May 13, 5:52 PM
Chinese supertanker breaks through US-Iran war blockade in Hormuz
The Chinese supertanker Yuan Hua Hu crosses the Strait of Hormuz after months of delay, carrying nearly 2 million barrels of Iraqi crude, as US-Iran tensions continue to shape the Gulf.
A Chinese supertanker carrying two million barrels of Iraqi crude sailed through the Strait of Hormuz on Wednesday after being stranded in the Gulf for more than two months due to the US-Iran war, LSEG and Kpler ship-tracking data showed.
The Very Large Crude Carrier Yuan Hua Hu is now anchored off the Gulf of Oman, near where the US Navy has set up a blockade on Iranian vessels, LSEG data showed.
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May 13, 5:52 PM
IDF testing counter-drone technologies ahead of security meeting on rising drone threat
A security source reported that efforts are underway around the clock to develop solutions to be presented to Defense Minister Israel Katz.
The IDF, Defense Ministry, and defense contractors are set to complete a series of capability tests on Wednesday, drawing on both local and international sources, to deal with fiber-optic and racer drones.
A security source reported that efforts are underway around the clock to develop solutions to be presented to Defense Minister Israel Katz.
May 13, 5:52 PM
Stolen Starlink video fake ‘propaganda’ spread by monarchists, Kurdish Freedom Party tells ‘Post’
“Starlink is easy to get. It’s not logical for PAK to use a person such as Ebrahim Oveysi, who isn’t even related to PAK and is not a member of PAK, to sell it out,” the organization asserted.
The viral videos alleging to show a commander of The Kurdistan Freedom Party (PAK) selling stolen Starlink devices – satellite internet terminals – is “propaganda,” PAK’s communications team told The Jerusalem Post when questioned on Monday.
The videos, where the commander of PAK issues violent threats and admits to selling Starlink devices, are “propaganda made up by the fans of [exiled crown prince] Reza Pahlavi.”
“Starlink is easy to get. It’s not logical for PAK to use a person such as Ebrahim Oveysi, who isn’t even related to PAK and is not a member of PAK, to sell it out,” the organization asserted.
May 13, 4:41 PM
WATCH: IDF stirkes Hezbollah rocket launchers, storage facilities
The IDF struck Hezbollah terror infrastructure in southern Lebanon on Thursday, including weapons storage facilities, loaded and ready-to-fire launchers, and operations facilities.
May 13, 3:38 PM
Mossad chief, Shin Bet head visited UAE to coordinate during Operation Roaring Lion - report
Mossad chief David Barnea visited the UAE at least twice during Operation Roaring Lion to coordinate regarding the war, the Wall Street Journal reported on Wednesday, citing Arab officials and a source familiar with the matter. Barnea reportedly flew to the UAE in March and April.
According to KAN News, Shin Bet chief David Zini also visited the UAE, and the two countries were coordinated on security issues during the war.
The report comes just after the WSJ published that the UAE was behind some of the recent strikes against Iranian assets, such as the attacks on Lavan Island's refinery at the beginning of April.
According to the report, which cited sources informed in the matter, the UAE carried out the strikes secretly as a response to Iran targeting Emirati civilian and energy infrastructures.
May 13, 12:51 PM
Israeli airstrikes in Lebanon reportedly kill eight, including two children
Three Israeli airstrikes in southern Lebanon on Wednesday reportedly killed eight people, including two children, according to Reuters , citing Lebanon's Health Ministry.
May 13, 11:52 AM
IDF strikes several Hezbollah targets in southern Lebanon
The IDF has begun striking Hezbollah terrorist infrastructure targets in several locations throughout southern Lebanon, the military announced on Wednesday.
Twelve people were killed by the strikes, the Lebanese health ministry added.
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UK to contribute drones, jets and warship to Multinational Mission to secure the Strait of Hormuz
12 May 2026
Britain will deploy autonomous mine hunting equipment and cutting-edge counter drone systems, along with Typhoon jets and HMS Dragon as part of a future defensive mission to secure freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz.
The defensive mission, which would become operational when conditions allow, is backed by £115m new funding for mine-hunting drones and counter-drone systems.
During a virtual summit of Defence Ministers, with representation from over 40 nations involved in the Multinational Military Mission, the Defence Secretary also reaffirmed the UK’s leadership, including as part of a multinational HQ to coordinate efforts.
The UK’s contribution to the multinational mission will include a cutting-edge autonomous kit, as part of the Royal Navy’s shift to a Hybrid Navy.
Other nations also utilised the virtual summit to announce their respective capability contributions to the Multinational Military Mission.
The UK force package will include:
Advanced autonomous mine hunting equipment, including capabilities to detect and defeat mines.
The Royal Navy’s modular ‘Beehive’ system which can deliver high-speed, autonomous Kraken drone boats allowing the multinational force to sense, track, and identify potential threats and defeat them.
UK Typhoon jets, battle-proven in the region, ready to conduct air patrols over the Strait of Hormuz.
Advanced British military mine-clearance specialists, who have been preparing in the UK to conduct mine-clearing operations.
HMS Dragon deploying to the Middle East to be ready for any mission to secure the Strait of Hormuz. It’s counter drone systems include the cutting-edge Sea Viper system.
These capabilities will enable the UK to make meaningful contributions to be should they be required.
Defence Secretary John Healey MP said:
The UK is playing a leading role to secure the Strait of Hormuz, and we are demonstrating that today with new cutting-edge kit to protect our interests and secure the Strait.
New funding for autonomous mine-hunting and counter-drone systems, our advanced Typhoon jets, and HMS Dragon are strong and clear commitments – commitments to strengthen the confidence of commercial shipping and reduce the burden of the conflict on people at home.
With our allies, this multinational mission will be defensive, independent, and credible.
HMS Dragon is already on her way to the Middle East, having undergone additional training and preparation to ensure that her crew are ready, including further calibrating her advanced systems.
This will ensure that the air defence ship is ready for potential future operations in the Strait.
RFA Lyme Bay also continues to be upgraded by the Royal Navy to add new cutting-edge uncrewed equipment, allowing it to be used as a ‘mothership’ for autonomous systems, if required for operations in the Strait of Hormuz.
These contributions complement the UK’s existing defensive operations in the region, with over 1000 UK personnel across the region, including counter-drone teams and fast jet squadrons, which have played an important role in protecting British nationals and our partners in the region.
The multinational plan is strictly defensive in nature and is designed to restore confidence for commercial shipping along the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most critical trade routes through which a fifth of the world’s oil passes.
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/uk-to-contribute-drones-jets-and-warship-to-multinational-mission-to-secure-the-strait-of-hormuz
Japan Confirms Possession of UAP Footage After Reviewing Pentagon Videos Near Japanese Airspace
13 May 2026, 3:45 AM BST
The Japanese government has confirmed it is reviewing recently declassified Pentagon footage showing unidentified anomalous phenomena (UAP) recorded during operations near Japanese territory.
Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara said officials were analysing the material alongside the United States and other international partners as part of ongoing national security monitoring.
Speaking during a press conference in Tokyo, Kihara confirmed he had personally viewed the footage following the US Department of Defense's release of 161 files containing videos, photographs and documents linked to unresolved aerial incidents.
The material was released after US President Donald Trump ordered further declassification of Pentagon records connected to UAP investigations.
Kihara said the Japanese government continued gathering and analysing information related to unidentified aerial objects on a daily basis, but declined to discuss specific exchanges between Tokyo and Washington.
He added that any future release of Japanese footage or related information would be considered on a case-by-case basis after reviewing national security and intelligence concerns.
Pentagon Videos Draw Regional Attention
Among the declassified Pentagon files are videos reportedly recorded during operations in the Indo-Pacific region, including near Japanese airspace and the East China Sea.
One infrared recording from 2023, identified in Pentagon materials as DOW-UAP-PR47, appears to show several contrasting objects maintaining formation during a military operation.
A separate clip recorded in 2024 reportedly captured a 'football-shaped' object with protrusions extending from its structure.
The footage has attracted attention among Japanese lawmakers and defence analysts amid growing concerns over surveillance activity and unidentified objects operating near regional airspace.
When asked about the videos during the press conference, Kihara said it was also his first time viewing the material and added that the government would analyse it carefully.
Security Concerns and Airspace Monitoring
Japan's increasing focus on UAP investigations has developed alongside broader security concerns involving drones, surveillance aircraft and unidentified objects operating near national territory.
Following the 2023 shootdown of a Chinese surveillance balloon over the United States, Japan's Defence Ministry said it strongly suspected similar objects spotted over Japan between 2019 and 2021 were Chinese spy balloons.
A bipartisan group of roughly 80 Japanese lawmakers formed in 2024 to examine UAP-related security issues and has since called for the creation of a dedicated government office focused on aerial anomaly investigations and airspace monitoring.
Officials have framed the issue primarily as a matter of national defence and surveillance.
Balancing Transparency and Intelligence Risks
Kihara also signalled caution regarding the public release of Japanese government footage or intelligence materials.
He said decisions about disclosure would need to consider the protection of intelligence-gathering capabilities and sensitive national security information.
US defence officials and NASA have similarly stated that many unexplained sightings may involve conventional aircraft, drones, sensor irregularities or surveillance systems that require further analysis.
Growing Political Interest in UAP Investigations
The latest Pentagon disclosures reflect growing international political interest in unidentified aerial incidents and the potential security risks posed by unexplained objects operating near military assets or restricted airspace.
In Japan, lawmakers pushing for expanded UAP monitoring argue the issue should be treated as part of broader aerospace defence planning and crisis management.
Japanese officials said they would continue co-ordinating closely with US authorities while monitoring developments connected to regional airspace security.
https://www.ibtimes.co.uk/japan-reviews-pentagon-uap-footage-security-concerns-1796484
https://www.ufonews.co/post/japan-joins-ufo-fight-as-disclosure-battle-heats-up
https://twitter.com/InterstellarUAP/status/2054307732749197673
https://twitter.com/GeneralMCNews/status/2054241229475344423
https://x.com/rosscoulthart/status/2054126891649699860
https://x.com/LueElizondo/status/2054304798359670891
'Ultraterrestrials Are Us From the Future': Amy Eskridge's P-47 and P-52 Claims Surface Amid UFO File Release
13 May 2026, 9:39 AM BST
The Pentagon's historic declassification of unidentified anomalous phenomena (UAP) files last Friday, 8 May, has ignited a firestorm of global speculation, unexpectedly propelling the claims of a deceased researcher into the spotlight.
Ahead of the release, a video of the late Amy Eskridge, who is an anti-gravity scientist, a former president of the Institute for Exotic Science, and one of eleven US scientists linked to sensitive research who have either gone missing or died, prompting a federal investigation, has surfaced online but has since gone viral following the UAP files.
The scientist claimed that 'ultraterrestrials' are 'us from the future,' categorizing them as 'P-47s' and 'P-52s.'
Amy Eskridge's 'Ultraterrestrials' Claims Video Surfaced
As the United States Department of War opened its 'PURSUE' or Presidential Unsealing and Reporting System for UAP Encounters last week, footage of Eskridge discussing 'ultraterrestrial' went viral.
In the video, the scientist said, 'So, the ultraterrestrials, I think – have you heard of the P-52s and P-47s?' she asked. 'They're us from the future. They're from here. They are you, they are me, they are from here, from the future,' she said.
She also explained the difference between extraterrestrials and ultraterrestrials, saying 'extra' means they do not come from Earth and they're from 'somewhere else.'
While 'ultra,' she said are 'not necessarily from the outside, they're from here.' She further claimed that ultraterrestrials are 'like you and me,' even saying, 'Am I one? I don't know.'
What are P-47 and P-52?
The core of Eskridge's technical claim rests on the designations P-47 and P-52. These labels represent the number of millennia into the future from which these 'ultraterrestrials' originate.
She said, 'P-47 is present plus 47,000 years. P-52 is present plus 52,000 years.' Eskridge said that there will be a calamity that would wipe out mankind.
'Basically, there's a calamity — there's like an apocalypse scenario in the near future. It wipes out most everything, man, and there's the one that goes underground and survives. Then there's the ones that somehow stay on the surface and miraculously don't die.'
Pentagon's UFO File Release
The timing of this viral resurgence coincides with the Trump administration's rolling release of previously secret records.
As reported by The Guardian, the initial batch of documents includes a 1969 debrief of Buzz Aldrin and transcripts from Apollo missions describing 'bright light sources' and 'sizeable' objects near the lunar surface.
Secretary of War Pete Hegseth stated that the files were 'hidden behind classifications' for too long, fueling 'justified speculation.'
While the official documents do not explicitly mention time-travelling humans, the detailed descriptions of 'trans-medium' craft—vessels that move between air, space, and water without visible means of propulsion—have led many to revisit Eskridge's exotic physics theories as a viable explanation for the recorded anomalies.
Amy Eskridge's Suspicious Death
Along with the speculation about ultraterrestrials and extraterrestrials are speculation of the suspicious death of Eskridge in June 2022.
While the Birmingham Police Department in Alabama ruled her death a suicide, her name has recently appeared on a list of the 'missing or deceased scientists' that has become a focal point of a federal investigation.
Although her father, Richard Eskridge, said he does not believe her death was suspicious and described her as a victim of personal struggles, the emergence of a 'death warning,' 'direct energy weapon' video, stories about a stalker, kidnapping attempts, and texts about her death threats has cast a shadow of doubt over her death.
https://www.ibtimes.co.uk/pentagon-uap-files-amy-eskridge-ultraterrestrial-claims-1796556
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fqKEgAVGxEU
extra UFOs
https://metro.co.uk/2026/05/13/reform-uk-councillor-wants-protect-doncaster-airport-ufos-28355295/
https://am870theanswer.com/podcasts/dinesh-dsouza-podcast/dead-scientists-ufo-secrets-political-warfare
https://www.indy100.com/science-tech/neil-degrasse-tyson-aliens-book-ufos
https://www.basketballnetwork.net/off-the-court/kareem-abdul-jabbar-slams-trump-administration-ufo-file-release
Give Powell a swirlie before he goes