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Senate Confirms Matthew Anderson as NASA Deputy Administrator
May 18, 2026
NASA press release: The United States Senate today voted to confirm Matthew Anderson, Col, USAF, Ret., as the Deputy Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).
Anderson was nominated by President Donald J. Trump and will serve as the 16th Deputy Administrator of the agency.
As Deputy Administrator, Anderson will help oversee NASA’s operations and strategic initiatives as the agency works to deliver on President Trump’s National Space Policy and strengthen America’s leadership in space.
Working alongside Administrator Jared Isaacman, he will support NASA’s efforts to return American astronauts to the Moon and build a sustained presence on the lunar surface, prepare for future missions to Mars, continue to deliver world-class science and developments in aeronautics, and ensure the agency remains focused on disciplined execution and mission success across low-Earth orbit and beyond.
https://nasawatch.com/ask-the-administrator/senate-confirms-matthew-anderson-as-nasa-deputy-administrator/
extra NASA
https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2026/05/19/2003857590
https://www.nasa.gov/centers-and-facilities/johnson/johnsons-cindy-evans-prepares-artemis-teams-for-lunar-science/
https://science.nasa.gov/earth/earth-observatory/farming-in-ancient-lake-agassiz/
https://theonion.com/nasa-announces-rover-has-found-beauty-in-the-mundane-on-mars/
Crew Unloads Dragon and Begins New Space Experiments
May 18, 2026 2:39PM
New science experiments are getting underway aboard the International Space Station after a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft delivered about 6,500 pounds of cargo on Sunday, May 17.
The Expedition 74 crew spent Monday unloading the new supplies, kicking off new research, and gearing up for a spacewalk.
NASA flight engineer Jack Hathaway was the first crew member inside Dragon on Sunday when he opened its hatch just a couple of hours after the spacecraft’s docking.
Shortly afterward, his crewmates Chris Williams and Jessica Meir, both from NASA, and Sophie Adenot of ESA (European Space Agency) followed him and began transferring time-critical research samples packed inside Dragon’s portable science freezers and stowed them throughout the orbital outpost’s research facilities.
The newest investigation delivered aboard Dragon will explore how living in microgravity affects blood-making cells, or blood platelets, at the cellular and genetic level.
Meir started the experiment on Monday inside the Kibo laboratory module’s Life Science Glovebox preparing samples for incubation and growth after Hathway had thawed and spun them in the BioServe centrifuge.
Adenot assisted with the research then uninstalled the centrifuge after the samples were processed and handed over to Meir. Researchers will observe the cells growing into platelets to understand how weightlessness affects a crew member’s blood clotting and immune function.
Williams worked in the Harmony module activating sample-containing tubes shipped on Dragon for a variety of student-designed experiments.
The tubes were filled with biological samples including plant seeds, bacteria, and mold, as well as material samples such as iron and aluminum.
Observations will expand the knowledge of space phenomena and inspire junior high and high school students to consider scientific, technical, and engineering careers.
The next mission event the orbital residents are focusing on is a spacewalk planned for the end of the month.
Roscosmos cosmonauts Sergey Kud-Sverchkov and Sergey Mikaev have spent the last several days, including Monday, preparing spacewalking tools and configuring Orlan spacesuits inside the Poisk module’s airlock.
The pair also took time out on Monday collecting their blood pressure measurements helping doctors understand how weightlessness affects a crew member’s blood vessels.
Roscosmos flight engineer Andrey Fedyaev focused primarily on maintenance, first updating laptop computer hardware and software. Next, Fedyaev wrapped up his shift inspecting and testing the functionality of electronics systems on the Zarya module.
https://www.nasa.gov/blogs/spacestation/2026/05/18/crew-unloads-dragon-and-begins-new-space-experiments/
extra extra NASA
https://www.nasa.gov/news-release/nasa-selects-next-class-of-space-health-postdoctoral-fellows/
https://science.nasa.gov/blogs/science-news/2026/05/18/nasa-transfers-management-of-lunar-science-instruments/
https://www.nasa.gov/centers-and-facilities/johnson/johnson-photographers-honored-for-award-winning-portraits/
https://science.nasa.gov/blog/curiosity-blog-sols-4893-4899-drilling-at-campo-marte-and-a-visit-from-the-psyche-spacecraft/
https://science.nasa.gov/mission/landsat/hls-vegetation-indices/
Naval Research Laboratory Launches Glowbug-2 to Enhance Space Domain Awareness and Cosmic Anomaly Detection
18 May 2026
Glowbug-2, engineered by NRL, is an advanced gamma-ray detector to identify and localize cataclysmic cosmic events known as short gamma-ray bursts (GRB).
These powerful bursts of energy are produced when neutron stars and black holes collide and generate intense flashes of radiation. During its tenure, Glowbug-2 will autonomously detect candidate bursts and generate real-time alert messages to researchers on Earth.
By capturing these events, Glowbug-2 provides essential data for the expanding field of multi-messenger astrophysics, serving as a critical electromagnetic counterpart to ground-based gravitational wave observatories.
“Glowbug-2 serves as a vital bridge in multi-messenger astrophysics,” said Richard Woolf, Ph.D., NRL mission manager and co-investigator for Glowbug-2.
“By continuously observing the sky, we provide the critical electromagnetic context needed to understand the extreme cosmic collisions detected by ground-based gravitational wave observatories, building directly upon the success we achieved with our first Glowbug instrument.”
While the instrument's primary scientific targets are millions of light-years away, its ability to detect local ionizing radiation offers vital secondary benefits for DoW and the broader defense community.
This dual-use capability enhances space weather monitoring and provides a more comprehensive picture of the localized space radiation environment.
"There is definitely interest from the broader defense community in detecting radiation in orbit," said J. Eric Grove, Ph.D., principal investigator for Glowbug-2 at NRL.
"While we are looking for gamma-ray bursts from astrophysical objects millions of light-years away, others might be more interested in sources of gamma rays a little closer to home. The more eyes we have on the sky to monitor these phenomena, the better."
This instrument builds upon the legacy of its predecessor, Glowbug-1, which successfully cataloged more than 100 GRBs and a dozen solar flares during its 21-month operational lifespan.
The instrument uses four large sensing panels made of special crystals that glow when hit by gamma rays. Advanced light-sensors then capture these flashes of light and record the data.
These specific panels are identical to the hardware currently in development for NASA’s upcoming StarBurst Multimessenger Pioneer mission.
The Glowbug-2 mission is expected to last a year, with the possibility of extensions based on performance and station requirements.
"The NRL team also plans to collaborate with other concurrent Space Test Program payloads,” Woolf said.
“When Glowbug-2 detects an event, the team can alert other instruments on orbit to review their data for simultaneous measurements, enhancing the collective scientific output of the mission."
The payload, part of the NASA Commercial Resupply Services-34 mission, arrived at the International Space Station after approximately 38 hours of flight. Glowbug-2 is accompanied by other scientific investigations, supplies and equipment on the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft.
Funded by NASA's Astrophysics Research and Analysis program, NRL’s Glowbug-1 and two continue to serve as critical assets for testing new radiation detection technologies while watching the high-energy transients that continue to shape our understanding of the cosmos.
https://www.navy.mil/Press-Office/News-Stories/display-news/Article/4494783/nrl-launches-glowbug-2-to-enhance-space-domain-awareness-and-cosmic-anomaly-det/
extra x3 NASA
https://www.kennedyspacecenter.com/blog/get-up-close-with-nasas-artemis-program-at-kennedy-space-center-visitor-complex/
https://huntsvillebusinessjournal.com/news/2026/05/19/space-camp-alum-nasa-administrator-isaacman-helps-inspire-new-generation-of-space-campers/
https://www.space.com/space-exploration/nasa-satellite-will-test-cryogenic-technologies-for-orbital-gas-stations-to-help-astronauts-reach-the-moon-and-mars
https://x.com/NASAAdmin/status/2056703165127348389
https://www.esa.int/Science_Exploration/Space_Science/Smile/Smile_lifts_off_on_quest_to_reveal_Earth_s_invisible_shield_against_the_solar_wind
https://www.space.com/space-exploration/launches-spacecraft/european-chinese-space-weather-mission-smile-launch
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6q8aKbcKCOs
extra international space
https://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/202605/19/WS6a0c1aeaa310d6866eb4979b.html
https://phys.org/news/2026-05-german-firms-space-surveillance.htm
Smile lifts off on quest to reveal Earth’s invisible shield against the solar wind
19/05/2026
The Smile spacecraft lifted off on a Vega-C rocket from Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana at 04:52 BST / 05:52 CEST (00:52 local time) on 19 May 2026.
The launch marks the beginning of an ambitious mission to better understand solar storms, geomagnetic storms, and the science of space weather.
Following launch and separation from the rocket, the first signal from Smile was received by ESA’s New Norcia ground station in Australia at 06:48 CEST.
The spacecraft’s solar panels then deployed at 06:49 CEST, meaning that Smile can now collect sunlight to power its systems and science instruments. The completion of this operation marked the launch a success.
Smile is a collaboration between the European Space Agency (ESA) and the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS).
It will reveal how Earth responds to the streams of particles and bursts of radiation from the Sun, using an X-ray camera to make the world’s first X-ray observations of Earth’s magnetic shield, and an ultraviolet camera to watch the resulting northern lights non-stop for 45 hours at a time.
“We are about to witness something we’ve never seen before – Earth’s invisible armour in action,” says ESA Director General Josef Aschbacher.
“With Smile, we are pushing the boundaries of science in an effort to answer big questions that have remained a mystery since we discovered, over seventy years ago, that Earth sits safely within a giant magnetic bubble.”
He adds: “ESA and China have a long-standing record of cooperation spanning 25 years, from early data-sharing arrangements in the 1990s to the co-developed Smile mission.
This mission stands as a testament to ESA’s commitment to international collaboration, advancing scientific knowledge and promoting the peaceful use of space.”
“Smile will shed light on the mysteries of Earth’s magnetic shield,” says ESA Smile Project Manager David Agnolon. “The mission is made possible thanks to a smooth collaboration between ESA and CAS, with contributions from partners across Europe.
It marks the first time that ESA and China have jointly selected, designed, implemented, launched and operated a mission together, and we are all really excited for the major scientific discoveries that we expect to come from Smile over the next three years.”
The time has come
For almost four billion years, Earth has been holding up a giant shield against the relentless attack of charged particles from the Sun. This solar wind can damage anything in its path, especially when it builds up into solar storms.
The solar wind would turn our thriving green and blue Earth into a rocky brown wasteland – if the magnetic field produced deep within our planet didn’t exist. This magnetic field forms a giant protective bubble around us, called the magnetosphere.
For the first time in history, we have reached the point where our scientific tools and technologies have advanced enough that we can get to the bottom of how exactly this defence against the solar wind works.
Professor Carole Mundell, ESA’s Director of Science says: “Smile is the newest member of ESA’s space science mission fleet.
It builds on ground-breaking scientific and technological heritage from previous missions, including Cluster and XMM-Newton, taking tried-and-tested technologies and applying them in a new way to reveal Earth’s magnetic environment like never before.”
She continues: “The trusted collaboration between our engineering and science teams in Europe and China has endured through global challenges such as pandemic travel restrictions and geographically distributed teams.
It’s exciting to see this all come together today and I’m looking forward to the new scientific discoveries Smile will deliver.”
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Smile is equipped with a unique toolbox designed to give us our first complete look at how Earth’s magnetic field responds to the Sun’s relentless attack.
It will be the first mission to look at Earth’s magnetic shield with X-ray vision, to reveal where and how it is hit by the solar wind.
This interaction triggers disturbances, from minor substorms to major geomagnetic storms, to ripple through our magnetosphere towards the North and South Poles. There, the magnetic storms set off a light show of auroras (the northern and southern lights).
Smile will use ultraviolet vision to record the northern lights for 45 hours at a time, becoming the first mission to observe them for so long, and the first since 2008 to observe the full circle of auroras around the North Pole in ultraviolet light.
By comparing the X-ray and ultraviolet images, we will be reading the real-time story of how Earth is responding to the solar wind onslaught.
“The evidence that Smile collects will help us better understand planet Earth and our Solar System as a whole,” says ESA Smile Project Scientist Philippe Escoubet.
“And the science it uncovers will improve our models of Earth’s magnetic environment, which could ultimately help keep our astronauts and space technologies safe for decades to come.”
Preparing for science
The Vega-C rocket that took Smile into space was chosen as it perfectly matched the needs of the mission.
Géraldine Naja, ESA’s Director of Space Transportation says: “From initial idea, to liftoff and then results, thousands of people are working together in teams all over the world to make Smile a success.
The precision engineering required for a launch makes each and every one an achievement. Congratulations to all of the partners involved that made Vega-C shine today – in particular Avio, who acted as the launch service operator for the first time – allowing for a smooth start to Smile's science voyage.”
The launch is just the beginning. During the next month, Smile will be slowly increasing its altitude through 11 engine burns, ultimately ending up in an extremely elliptical orbit that takes it 121 000 km above the North Pole to collect data, before descending to 5000 km above the South Pole to efficiently deliver it to eagerly awaiting scientists on Earth.
The data collection will begin in earnest in July, after the team has unfolded booms, opened camera covers, and confirmed that everything works as expected.
European collaboration
Smile is a truly international endeavour, with major European contributions.
On behalf of ESA, Airbus Defence and Space in Spain built Smile’s payload module.
This crucial part of the spacecraft carries three of the mission’s four science instruments – including the X-ray and ultraviolet cameras, as well as the unit that controls the instruments, and the communication channel that sends all the valuable science data back down to Earth.
Europe was also responsible for the X-ray camera, Smile’s largest instrument. On behalf of ESA, this camera was developed and built in the UK by the University of Leicester, in collaboration with Mullard Space Science Laboratory and the Open University, working with several other institutions across Europe.
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Unarmed Minuteman III missile launch scheduled at Vandenberg Space Force Base
5:57 PM, May 18, 2026
An unarmed Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile test launch is scheduled for early Wednesday morning from Vandenberg Space Force Base.
The May 20 operational test launch is planned between 12:01 a.m. and 6:01 a.m. from the north base area.
Air Force Global Strike Command says the launch, designated GT 256, was scheduled years in advance and is not connected to current world events.
Officials say the test is designed to validate the readiness, accuracy, and effectiveness of the Minuteman III weapon system.
https://www.ksby.com/lompoc-valley/unarmed-minuteman-iii-missile-launch-scheduled-at-vandenberg-space-force-base
extra Space Force
https://www.vandenberg.spaceforce.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/4495378/2026-hawk-connection-day/
https://www.spaceforce.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/4494851/sld-30-celebrates-5th-anniversary/
Russian MOD details ongoing nuclear drill
19 May, 2026 09:05 | Updated 19 May, 2026 09:38
Russia and its ally Belarus are conducting nuclear drills this week to simulate a response in the event of “aggression” against them, the Defense Ministry in Moscow has said.
The exercise will run from Tuesday and Thursday and involves the Strategic Missile Forces, the Northern and Pacific fleets, the Strategic Aviation Command, and elements of military forces in central and northwestern Russia, the ministry said in a statement.
A total of 64,000 Russian troops, 7,800 military vehicles, 200 missile launchers, 140 aircraft, 73 warships and 13 submarines, including eight strategic missile boats, are participating.
The exercise includes “joint preparation for the use of nuclear weapons deployed in Belarus,” the statement said.
Minsk released a statement previewing the exercise on Monday. Belarus has been hosting Russian nuclear weapons since 2023, with the deployment described by the two nations as mirroring a similar practice by the US, which keeps some its arsenal in other NATO states.
The US-led bloc includes three nuclear-armed nations. This year, France proposed a gradual extension of its nuclear umbrella to other EU nations as American commitments to the military organization have been called into question by the administration of US President Donald Trump.
Washington has canceled the planned deployment of nuclear-capable Tomahawk missiles to Germany and ordered a drawdown of its military presence in the country in apparent retaliation for Berlin’s criticism of the war with Iran.
Despite the growing rifts between Western nations, some European governments are determined to maintain a confrontational stance towards Russia.
Just this week, Lithuanian Foreign Minister Kestutis Budrys urged aggression against the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad, claiming that NATO members “must show the Russians that we can penetrate the small fortress they have built” there.
In an interview with Neue Zürcher Zeitung, he said the bloc “has the means to raze the Russian air defense and missile bases there to the ground if necessary.”
https://www.rt.com/russia/640162-russia-belarus-nuclear-exercise/
https://www.rt.com/russia/640181-nato-nuclear-not-unanswered-moscow/
extra RT
https://www.rt.com/russia/640160-ukraine-drone-latvia-nato/
https://www.rt.com/news/640168-ukraine-drone-estonia-pevkur/
https://www.rt.com/russia/640175-lviv-ukraine-busification-videos/
https://www.rt.com/russia/640154-putin-china-video-address/
Ukrainian Defense Forces Strike Russian Command Post in Kursk Region and Drone Hubs Across Front
May 19, 2026 16:05
Ukraine’s Defense Forces carried out a series of strikes against Russian military targets on May 18, hitting a command-and-observation post in Russia’s Kursk region as well as several other military facilities in temporarily occupied and frontline areas.
This was reported by the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine on May 19. The command-and-observation post was struck near the settlement of Tyotkino in Russia’s Kursk region.
Additional strikes targeted Russian drone control points near the settlements of Oleksandrivka in Ukraine’s Kherson region and Bilovody in the Sumy region, the General Staff said.
On the temporarily occupied territory of the Donetsk region, Ukrainian forces also hit two Russian pontoon bridge crossings used by occupying troops.
Further attacks were reported against concentrations of Russian personnel near the settlements of Sichneve in the Dnipropetrovsk region and Rodynske in the Donetsk region.
The operations come amid continued Ukrainian strikes on Russian military and energy infrastructure deep behind the front lines.
According to the General Staff, Ukrainian forces also targeted major Russian fuel infrastructure facilities on May 18 and 19, including the Lukoil-Nizhegorodnefteorgsintez oil refinery in the city of Kstovo in Russia’s Nizhny Novgorod region.
A fire was reported at the refinery following the strike, while the full extent of the damage remains under assessment.
The Lukoil-Nizhegorodnefteorgsintez facility is among Russia’s largest oil refineries, processing around 17 million tons of crude oil annually.
The plant produces gasoline, diesel fuel, and aviation fuel, including supplies used to support Russian military operations.
In a separate operation on May 19, Ukrainian forces struck the Yaroslavl-3 oil pumping station near the settlement of Semibratovo in Russia’s Yaroslavl region.
At the same time, Russia launched a three-day nuclear weapons exercise on May 19 involving approximately 64,000 troops and 7,800 units of military equipment, just hours before Russian leader Vladimir Putin departed for a two-day visit to China.
According to Russia’s Defense Ministry, the drills are scheduled to continue through May 21 and involve multiple branches of the Russian armed forces.
https://united24media.com/war-in-ukraine/ukrainian-defense-forces-strike-russian-command-post-in-kursk-region-and-drone-hubs-across-front-18970
extra Russia and Ukraine
https://euromaidanpress.com/2026/05/19/drone-hits-yaroslavl-refinery-for-third-time-in-two-weeks-as-russias-fourth-largest-oil-plant-burns-again/
https://meduza.io/en/news/2026/05/19/ukraine-apologizes-to-estonia-after-drone-enters-its-airspace-and-is-shot-down-by-nato-fighter-jets
https://euromaidanpress.com/2026/05/19/estonia-downs-first-drone-over-its-own-territory/
https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/russias-ryazan-oil-refinery-halted-output-after-may-15-drone-attack-sources-say-2026-05-19/
https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/iran-news/2026-05-19/live-updates-896621
extra Israel
https://islamabadpost.com.pk/uae-says-nuclear-plant-drone-launched-from-iraq/
https://vinnews.com/2026/05/19/idf-strikes-over-25-hezbollah-targets-in-southern-lebanon/
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/defense-news/article-896671
https://www.jns.org/news/israel-news/10-boats-still-sailing-to-gaza-after-idf-intercepts-41-organizers-say
https://www.idf.il/en/mini-sites/iran-israel-war-2026/articles-iran-israel-war-2026/how-does-hezbollah-fund-its-operations-in-lebanon/
Live Updates: Trump claims he nearly launched plan to attack Iran today before MidEast allies intervened
May 19, 2026
Device explodes outside Damascus armament management center • US-Iran negotiations need more time, Qatari gov't says - report • Drone that hit UAE nuclear plant launched from Iraq, UAE says
May 19, 8:28 PM
Hamas leadership calls for kidnapping of IDF soldiers following death penalty law passing - report
Hamas leadership is planning to intensify efforts to kidnap Israeli soldiers, and has framed kidnappings as the only effective means of securing the release of Palestinian prisoners, according to an internal message published Monday by Israeli Public Broadcaster KAN News.
The letter, circulated internally among Hamas operatives in Gaza, came after a new law was passed by the Knesset that would impose the death penalty on convicted terrorists.
In the document, Hamas described the proposed legislation as a “fascist law,” and urged members of the organization’s military wing to escalate and carry out “active operations.”
May 19, 8:26 PM
Captured Hamas document shows how group used Gaza ceasefire to train new terrorists
The document outlines a compressed seven-day training course for 121 new recruits in Hamas’s Shejaia Battalion.
A captured Hamas military document found by IDF troops in the Gaza Strip in early 2025 shows how the terrorist organization used the ceasefire to train new fighters for a possible renewed war with Israel.
The document, which was revealed on Tuesday, outlines a compressed seven-day training course for 121 new recruits in Hamas’s Shejaia Battalion, including weapons training, battlefield first aid, counter-drone instruction, and lessons drawn from the October 7 massacre.
The training program was designed around a tight schedule, apparently due to Hamas concerns that the ceasefire could collapse. Recruits were instructed in the use of Israeli weapons, including M16 rifles and Tavor assault rifles, as well as attacks on tanks and armored personnel carriers from short and long range.
May 19, 5:58 PM
Trump was 'an hour away' from a decision on Iran before being called to wait
US President Trump said that he was "an hour away" from making the decision to attack Iran today before several Middle Eastern governments called to ask him to wait several days for negotiations.
US President Trump said that he was about "an hour away" from making the decision to attack Iran today before several Middle Eastern governments called to ask him to wait several days for negotiations, while talking to reporters on Tuesday.
He added that Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the UAE, and Kuwait, "a little bit," were working with the US "like a team."
This is a developing story.
May 19, 5:54 PM
Drone that hit UAE nuclear plant launched from Iraq, UAE says
The three drones, which were launched into the UAE on Sunday, one of which hit the Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant, all originated from Iraqi territory, the UAE Ministry of Defense announced on Tuesday in a post on X/Twitter.
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May 19, 5:37 PM
Iraq condemns drone attacks on Saudi Arabia amid US pressure on Iranian-backed militias
Iraq condemned recent drone attacks on Saudi Arabia, vowed cooperation in the investigation, and moved to distance Iranian-backed militias amid growing US pressure.
Iraq is concerned about US pressure regarding Iranian-backed militias in Iraq.
As such, Baghdad and even the militias are trying to put out messaging that distances the militias from recent incidents. One incident is the US detention of a Kataib Hezbollah member, who was taken from Turkey to the US to face charges.
In addition, Saudi Arabia has said three drones flew from Iraq in an attack on the Kingdom. Iraq is worried that these continued attacks will lead to pressure on the new government to dismantle the militias.
Shafaq News in Iraq has provided new details on Baghdad’s moves in recent days.
May 19, 3:24 PM
US-Iran negotiations need more time, Qatari gov't says - report
Negotiations between the US and Iran need more time to succeed, according to a Qatari Foreign Ministry spokesperson, CBS reported on Tuesday.
"We are supportive of the diplomatic effort by Pakistan that has shown seriousness in bringing parties together and finding a solution, and we do believe it needs more time," CBS cited him as saying.
May 19, 3:11 PM
WATCH: Device explodes outside Damascus armament management center
An explosive device planted inside a car detonates in Damascus, Syria, May 19, 2026 (section 27/A)
May 19, 3:01 PM
Device explodes outside Damascus armament management center, source says
An explosive device planted inside a car detonated near the front gate of an armament management center in Syria's capital, Damascus, on Tuesday, a Syrian military source told Reuters.
The explosion left one guard dead and six injured, according to another Syrian military source.
May 19, 2:44 PM
Russia plans to return staff to Iranian Bushehr nuclear plant in coming weeks, RIA reports
Russian state nuclear corporation Rosatom is confident it can return its staff to the Bushehr nuclear power plant in Iran in the coming weeks, RIA state news agency reported.
Rosatom, which is building two new units at the Bushehr site, pulled out hundreds of staff after the United States and Israel launched a war against Iran at the end of February.
May 19, 1:54 PM
At least one wounded following drone explosion in northern Israel with no sirens
At least one person was wounded on Tuesday when a drone launched by Hezbollah hit a parked vehicle and exploded in northern Israel without a siren sounding beforehand.
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At least 28 civilians killed in drone strike on busy market in West Kordofan, rights group says
19 May 2026
May 19, Kordofan — At least 28 civilians were killed and dozens wounded on Tuesday when a drone operated by the Sudanese Armed Forces struck a crowded market in the city of Ghabesh in West Kordofan state, according to the Emergency Lawyers human rights group.
The group said in a statement that the strike hit the Ghabesh local market “while it was packed with civilians,” causing deaths and injuries of varying severity.
It held the army fully responsible for what it described as a war crime, saying the attack was part of a pattern of using collective pressure through “intimidation and starvation” as a weapon, compounded by deliberate food scarcity and rising commodity prices.
The Emergency Lawyers said the documented facts of the attack, considered alongside the repeated targeting of markets, establish direct legal liability and add to an accumulating record of violations that strengthens the legal basis for holding perpetrators accountable.
Ghabesh market is one of the main commercial hubs in the region, serving hundreds of thousands of civilians across West Kordofan and neighbouring areas as a primary source of food and basic goods.
Videos circulating on social media following the strike showed RSF military vehicles near a restaurant in the Ghabesh market that had been hit in the drone attack, suggesting RSF personnel were also present at the site at the time of the strike.
Both parties to the conflict have escalated drone attacks across wide areas of Kordofan and Darfur. Between January and April, 28 attacks were recorded against markets and 12 strikes against healthcare facilities, with fuel depots and supply routes also repeatedly targeted.
On 11 May, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk said drone strikes had killed 880 civilians, accounting for more than 80% of all conflict-related civilian deaths recorded between January and April 2026.
https://sudantribune.com/article/314146
Rep. Nancy Mace Helps Secure $1.9 Million For Drone Capabilities At Joint Base Charleston And Tri-County Emergency Management
May 19, 2026
Mace delivers federal dollars for cutting-edge UAS capabilities across Berkeley, Charleston, and Dorchester Counties
CHARLESTON, S.C. (May 19, 2026) – Congresswoman Nancy Mace (R-SC) today announced Charleston County and Joint Base Charleston have been awarded $1.9 million through the South Carolina Department of Veterans Affairs Military Enhancement Fund Grant to expand unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) capabilities across Berkeley, Charleston, and Dorchester Counties.
"This is a major win for the Lowcountry," said Congresswoman Mace. "UAS and counter-UAS capabilities are a priority for our national defense and domestic security.
This investment positions Joint Base Charleston and the tri-county region as leaders in drone technology while strengthening our ability to respond to emergencies, support mutual aid operations, and protect our communities from the ground up."
The grant will expand Joint Base Charleston's existing Drone Operations Management System across Berkeley, Charleston, and Dorchester Counties, ensuring interoperable drone programs operate in concert with the U.S. Air Force and the FAA.
The investment will strengthen national security, enhance regional emergency response, and support mutual aid operations across shared airspace.
Rep. Mace’s office wrote a letter of support for the application, recognizing UAS and counter-UAS capabilities as a priority for national defense and domestic security.
https://mace.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-nancy-mace-helps-secure-19-million-drone-capabilities-joint-base
extra US drones
https://www.war.gov/News/News-Stories/Article/Article/4495825/defeating-the-swarm-project-flytrap-accelerates-natos-counter-drone-lethality/
https://www.aoml.noaa.gov/new-drone-data-improves-hurricane-intensity-forecasts/
https://oilprice.com/Energy/Energy-General/The-Pentagon-Wants-300000-Drones-But-China-Controls-The-Magnets.html
https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/cuba-warns-us-military-action-would-cause-bloodbath-after-drone-report-2026-05-18/
Trump Administration Preparing Massive New UFO File Release, Pentagon Confirms
May 19, 2026
The Trump administration is preparing to release another wave of UFO-related files, with Pentagon officials confirming that new materials tied to unidentified anomalous phenomena, or UAPs, are currently being processed for public release.
The announcement comes just weeks after the administration’s first disclosure on May 8, which included previously unseen videos, photographs and government documents connected to unexplained aerial encounters involving military personnel and NASA missions.
Chief Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell announced Monday on X that the next batch of files is “actively being processed” and expected to be released “very soon.”
The latest development has intensified public fascination surrounding UFO disclosure as lawmakers continue pressuring federal agencies to release additional classified material that many believe has remained hidden from the public for decades.
Among the most vocal advocates for transparency has been Tim Burchett, a Republican congressman who has repeatedly pushed for the declassification of UAP records. Burchett suggested the first release was only the beginning.
“The 1st drop will be big, but in comparison to what is coming, they will be a drop in the bucket,” Burchett said following the initial disclosure. Burchett later alleged that resistance inside Washington may still be slowing the release of information.
“The problem we have right now is that the Deep State’s fighting a president on release. And he kept his word,” Burchett told Morell Media.
“I suspect some of our not-so-friendly comrades in some alphabet agencies are slow-walking a lot of information. It’s about power, it’s about control. That’s kind of what runs Washington.”
The renewed attention surrounding the disclosures exploded online after Donald Trump shared an AI-generated image depicting himself alongside a handcuffed alien figure at a military base, fueling another round of debate over what the government may or may not know about unexplained aerial phenomena.
The administration’s first release included several pieces of footage and imagery that quickly spread across social media, including infrared military video from 2013 showing a glowing object moving erratically through the night sky.
Additional materials reportedly included photographs connected to NASA’s Apollo 12 and Apollo 17 missions, FBI images from 1999 appearing to show unidentified objects near military aircraft and photographs allegedly captured by military pilots showing fast-moving objects near planes mid-flight.
At the center of the disclosure effort is Anna Paulina Luna, chair of the House Oversight Task Force on Declassification.
Luna has repeatedly stated that additional military UAP footage remains hidden from the public and previously requested the release of 46 classified videos.
Officials have not confirmed what the next release will contain, leaving speculation swirling over whether additional videos, radar data, pilot testimony or intelligence assessments may soon emerge.
Even as interest surrounding UFOs continues growing worldwide, we must approach every claim carefully and biblically.
Scripture repeatedly warns us not to be carried away by fear, deception or sensationalism, but instead to test all things against the truth of God’s Word.
While many questions remain unanswered about the government’s disclosures, we are called to remain grounded in Scripture rather than speculation.
As more information is released in the weeks ahead, the growing fascination surrounding UFOs will likely continue raising profound questions about truth, deception and humanity’s search for answers beyond this world.
https://mycharisma.com/news/trump-administration-preparing-massive-new-ufo-file-release-pentagon-confirms/
https://x.com/timburchett/status/2056205488182743538
https://x.com/SeanParnellASW/status/2056431159832084759
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https://www.ibtimes.co.uk/us-lawmakers-target-private-contractors-ufo-disclosure-1797599
https://twitter.com/EricBurlison/status/2055278528157908993
https://twitter.com/EricBurlison/status/2054953395476185279
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uBBrPRY56PE
UFO Disclosure Takes Strange Turn as White House Reportedly Seeks Outside Guidance
19 May 2026, 9:18 AM BST
The battle over UFO disclosure in the United States has taken another dramatic turn, with lawmakers now shifting their focus from the Pentagon to private defence contractors and research institutions believed to hold classified information on unidentified anomalous phenomena (UAPs).
At the centre of the latest controversy is Representative Eric Burlison, who recently revealed that he sent a formal congressional letter to MIT Lincoln Laboratory requesting access to a classified 1952 'flying saucer talk' briefing video. According to Burlison, attorneys representing the institution responded quickly and indicated they would comply within 30 days.
The move comes amid growing claims from whistleblowers and members of Congress that some of the government's most sensitive UFO-related information may have been intentionally routed through private organisations to avoid congressional oversight.
'If you really want to hide something from Congress, you don't put it in a government file cabinet. You hand it to a private contractor', Burlison wrote online.
White House Allegedly Asked Burlison for Guidance
The investigation gained even more attention after explosive remarks surfaced after Burlison claimed in a recent interview that the White House personally contacted him following the release of Pentagon UFO files.
He said officials asked him to publicly support the release of the videos, despite limited engagement with congressional investigators beforehand.
Burlison also claimed White House officials admitted they were uncertain where to take the investigation next and allegedly asked him for guidance on who they should interview regarding classified UAP programmes.
'They said, "We need you because you've done the recon on this. We don't really know where to take the investigation from here. We know where to ask, and we're still declassifying videos and content, but who do you think we should talk to?"' Burlison said.
The statement has fuelled intense speculation online, with UFO researchers and disclosure advocates arguing it suggests the government may not have full control over all information tied to alleged UAP investigations.
New AARO Briefings Allegedly Shocked Staffers
Burlison also described a recent briefing with the Pentagon's All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office, commonly known as AARO, where lawmakers reportedly reviewed around 30 UAP videos, which he described as 'incredible'.
One of the videos, he claimed, was an object moving at high speed before instantly accelerating.
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'One of them showed an object flying at a very aggressive speed - I don't know exactly how fast, but my guess is maybe 80 miles per hour in the atmosphere - and then suddenly it instantaneously accelerated to what looked like Mach speed.
It just took off instantly', he said, adding that some of the staffers, even the sceptics, gasped at what they saw 'because there's not a single known aerial vehicle that can do something like that'.
The description echoes earlier military encounters involving objects displaying extreme acceleration and unusual flight characteristics.
Similar claims emerged after the Pentagon confirmed the existence of the Advanced Aerospace Threat Identification Program (AATIP), a secret effort that investigated military UFO sightings.
Former Pentagon officials associated with AATIP argued that some recorded craft appeared to demonstrate technology beyond known human capabilities.
Apollo Footage and 'Impossible' Videos Raise Questions
The congressman also said he's seen 'pretty crazy UAP videos', particularly those from the Apollo missions.
The congressman said the footage allegedly showed unexplained objects near the moon, which are more likely not to be easily dismissed as weather balloons, drones, or artificial intelligence-generated media.
'The stuff from the Apollo missions is some of the most compelling, because you can't fake that. It's not AI', he claimed.
Private Contractors Become the New UFO Battleground
The broader investigation now appears increasingly focused on federally funded research organisations such as MIT Lincoln Laboratory, RAND Corporation, MITRE, and Northrop Grumman - institutions tied to decades of classified defence work.
Whistleblower David Grusch previously alleged that private contractors were involved in UFO crash-retrieval and reverse-engineering programmes designed to operate outside traditional oversight channels.
This claim was echoed by several others, including Representative Tim Burchett.
The Pentagon has repeatedly denied the existence of extraterrestrial retrieval programmes and maintains there is no evidence UAP sightings are alien in origin.
Still, with congressional pressure mounting and new claims surfacing almost weekly, the push for UFO transparency may be entering its most unpredictable phase yet.
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