TYB
late last bread repost
NASA’s New Horizons Spacecraft Wakes from Hibernation in Good Health
Jul 07, 2026
Following its longest hibernation period ever of nearly a year, NASA’s New Horizons spacecraft has emerged in good health and is ready to begin transmitting science data gathered in the distant Kuiper Belt far beyond Pluto.
On June 23, flight controllers at the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) in Laurel, Maryland, confirmed New Horizons, acting on stored commands uplinked to its main computer last July, had safely awakened from a 321‑day hibernation period that began Aug. 7.
With the spacecraft now approximately 5.9 billion miles (9.5 billion kilometers) from Earth, the radio signals carrying that confirmation took about 8 hours and 52 minutes to reach the APL Mission Operations Center via NASA's Deep Space Network station near Madrid, Spain.
The mission team typically places New Horizons in resource‑saving hibernation mode during long cruise periods.
While the spacecraft is hibernating, operators do not send commands or retrieve data, but the spacecraft continues gathering and storing data around the clock from its heliospheric plasma sensors, Solar Wind at Pluto and the Pluto Energetic Particle Spectrometer Science Investigation, as well as its space dust detector, the Venetia Burney Student Dust Counter.
Alice Bowman, the New Horizons mission operations manager at APL, said the spacecraft reported back to Earth, via the Deep Space Network, with a weekly status beacon.
“Every status report through this hibernation period was ‘green,’ meaning all was well aboard New Horizons each and every week,” she said.
As New Horizons resumes active operations, Bowman noted, the team will begin downlinking spacecraft health and safety data, followed by data from the three scientific instruments.
In about three weeks, the spacecraft’s onboard Alice ultraviolet spectrograph will look at the hydrogen gas distribution in the outer heliosphere, while the Solar Wind at Pluto, the Pluto Energetic Particle Spectrometer Science Investigation, and the Venetia Burney Student Dust Counter instruments continue their measurements, and the ground team conducts a series of spacecraft and instrument checkouts.
The team also is completing upgrades to the ground‑system software that will make it easier to maintain operations of the spacecraft. Tests are already underway and are expected to continue through the year.
New Horizons is operating on updated autonomy logic designed for operations farther from the Sun and to accommodate the expected reduction in power and the naturally occurring increase in radio‑signal travel time.
The NASA spacecraft’s exploration of this distant region of the solar system marks the latest step in a journey that began in January 2006 with the fastest launch on record; a flyby of Jupiter in February 2007 that included stunning views of the gas giant and its moons; the first exploration through the Pluto system in July 2015; the first exploration of a Kuiper Belt object, Arrokoth, in January 2019, and unique studies of the Sun’s outer heliosphere and dozens of additional Kuiper Belt objects since then.
https://science.nasa.gov/missions/new-horizons/nasas-new-horizons-spacecraft-wakes-from-hibernation-in-good-health/
even moar NASA
https://www.nasa.gov/centers-and-facilities/goddard/nasa-transfers-hundred-acre-wood-to-patuxent-research-refuge/
https://science.nasa.gov/earth/earth-observatory/cottonwood-fire-chars-utah/
https://www.theredstonerocket.com/news/article_2e7081cd-df48-4d04-ad0b-45f34104ba5a.html
https://www.space.com/astronomy/james-webb-space-telescope/james-webb-space-telescope-celebrates-its-4th-birthday-with-stunning-image-of-a-galaxy-crash-site
https://science.nasa.gov/missions/webb/nasa-webb-uncovers-unusual-galaxy-shaped-by-cosmic-collision/
https://www.gov.ca.gov/2026/07/07/californias-wildfire-defense-blasts-off-governor-newsom-launches-firesat-wildfire-detection-satellites-to-spot-blazes-from-space/
https://www.lakeconews.com/84871-california-launches-firesat-wildfire-detection-satellites-to-spot-blazes-from-space
California’s wildfire defense blasts off: Governor Newsom launches “FireSat” wildfire-detection satellites to spot blazes from space
Jul 7, 2026
What you need to know: Governor Newsom builds on multi-year investments in wildfire technology with three new wildfire-detection satellites launched today from Southern California to give firefighters faster, more precise intelligence to spot fires earlier and protect communities
SACRAMENTO – Governor Gavin Newsom today announced the historic launch of the first three FireSat wildfire detection satellites from Vandenberg Space Force Base, a partnership between California and Earth Fire Alliance (EFA), a global nonprofit coalition working to deliver real-time wildfire data to fire agencies around the world.
FireSat is about more than satellites in the sky; it’s about protecting families, firefighters, and communities that live with the fear of wildfire every summer.
While the Trump administration walks away from its responsibility to keep people safe, California is choosing leadership, innovation, and action.
We are proving that when we invest in science, in technology, and in one another, we can turn the tide on these fires and build a safer, more resilient future.
Governor Gavin Newsom
Built by California-based spacecraft manufacturer Muon Space, FireSat is the first satellite system specifically designed to detect wildfires.
These three satellites will begin delivering wildfire data within months, the first step toward a full constellation of more than 50 satellites by 2030 that will cover the entire planet every 20 minutes, catching fires as small as a schoolyard before they grow into megafires.
These three satellites will use frequent high-resolution data to identify and monitor wildfires in real time — helping firefighters combat wildfires and protect life and property.
Following liftoff, the satellites will undergo a three‑month commissioning and calibration period before beginning operational data delivery. The launch represents years of collaboration and innovation to improve operational wildfire readiness and enhance frontline situational awareness.
“The FireSat launch marks a transformative step toward space‑enabled wildfire intelligence, strengthening California’s resilience and demonstrating the power of global collaboration in confronting increasingly complex fire years,” said CAL FIRE Director and Fire Chief Joe Tyler.
California, through CAL FIRE, played a foundational role in FireSat’s development, conducting early testing and concept evaluation even before EFA formally existed.
That early leadership and willingness to pioneer new tools helped transform FireSat from an emerging idea into a global wildfire-intelligence capability.
“FireSat represents a fundamental shift in how we detect, understand, and respond to wildfire,” said Chris Anthony, Board Member, Earth Fire Alliance, and former CAL FIRE Chief Deputy Director.
“This launch reflects years of collaboration among fire agencies, Earth Fire Alliance, philanthropy, and technology partners and marks the beginning of a new era in global wildfire intelligence.”
Leading the world in wildfire suppression technology
As the global leader in technology and innovation, California has harnessed cutting-edge tools to strengthen its wildfire response and protect communities.
Under Governor Newsom’s leadership, the state has deployed AI-powered wildfire detection systems, expanded the ALERTCalifornia network of more than 1,000 high-definition cameras, invested in drones, satellite monitoring, real-time fire modeling, and advanced mapping technologies that help firefighters detect fires earlier, predict their spread, and deploy resources more effectively.
These technology investments complement a historic commitment to wildfire preparedness: California has nearly doubled its fire protection budget from $2 billion to $3.8 billion and invested more than $2.5 billion in wildfire resilience and forest health projects.
Together, these investments are helping California fight fires faster, smarter, and more effectively while building long-term resilience against increasingly severe wildfire seasons.
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Here’s a closer look at the tools driving that progress:
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Eyes on the fire: UC San Diego and the State of California partnered to develop ALERTCalifornia, a statewide network of over 1,000 cameras to detect and monitor wildfires.
ALERTCalifornia AI cameras have detected over 900 fires on state lands before 911 calls were made, and were named one of TIME’s Best Inventions of 2023.
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Real-time intel: The first-in-the-nation Fire Integrated Real-Time Intelligence System (FIRIS) provides real-time aerial intelligence, advanced fire mapping, and predictive analytics to support wildfire response for every California County.
Flying over 2,000 missions since the start of the program in 2019, FIRIS and Intel 641, CAL FIRE’s aerial intelligence platform, are critical assets to help identify real-time fire mapping within minutes of ignition.
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Forecasting the threat: California’s Wildfire Forecast & Threat Intelligence Integration Center (WFTIIC) is a first-of-its-kind center serving as the state’s central hub for coordinating wildfire forecasting, weather intelligence, and fire threat assessments.
Mapping wildfire risk: Last year, California launched LiDAR (light detection and ranging) three-dimensional maps of the entire state. LiDAR maps are the gold standard for finding forest and vegetation information, helping decision-makers get a clear picture of fuel loads and wildfire risks.
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World’s first redwood forest observatory: California installed the first redwood forest observatory, which consists of two research towers in Jackson Demonstration State Forest that measure the inflow and outflow of carbon dioxide, water vapor, and energy between redwoods and their environment. The flux towers provide real-time understanding of how redwoods respond to changing environmental conditions, wildfire, and management. Within the next year, aggregated measurements will be processed for public use.
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New strike team strengthens Los Angeles response: Cal OES assigned five new Type-6 fire engines to the Los Angeles City Fire Department, forming a strike team that can respond quickly in both urban and wildland areas. Type-6 engines are the smallest, most maneuverable units in the state fleet — typically four-wheel drive, carrying 300 gallons of water, and designed to reach steep, narrow, or remote locations. The engines are state-owned and prepositioned with the Los Angeles Fire Department through California’s Fire and Rescue Mutual Aid System.
This means they can respond immediately to local incidents and deploy to other regions when mutual aid is requested. Cal OES manages a fleet of more than 270 state-owned fire engines assigned to over 60 local agencies statewide, ensuring every community can access coordinated emergency resources when disasters strike.
Since 2019, Governor Newsom and the Legislature have invested in expanding and replacing these mutual aid engines to sustain all-hazards readiness across California.
Trump weakens wildfire preparedness while California continues to lead
As President Trump weakens wildfire preparedness nationwide, Governor Newsom is moving California in the opposite direction by expanding firefighting capacity, investing in new technology, and strengthening the state’s ability to detect and respond to dangerous wildfires.
That contrast is especially stark for high-fire-risk communities that depend on strong prevention, suppression, and emergency response systems
President Trump has made dramatic cuts to wildfire readiness across the United States, and rural, high-fire-risk communities are bearing the brunt.
In the final year of the Biden administration, the Forest Service treated more than 4 million acres of hazardous vegetation to reduce wildfire risk.
Under Trump, that number plummeted to 2.6 million acres, a drop of nearly 1.5 million acres heading into what experts warn could be an extreme fire season.
Prescribed burns fell by nearly half, dropping from over 1.6 million acres in 2024 to roughly 900,000 acres in 2025, and the administration eliminated a decades-old fire risk assessment program that helped firefighters identify dead and dying trees before they became fuel for the next catastrophic blaze.
The damage runs deeper than lost acreage as federal firefighting capacity is thinning where it’s needed most.
That staffing crisis is already playing out on the fire line: the number of federal employees able to fight fires has dropped from 18,700 in 2024 to just over 17,000 today, and a June 2026 Government Accountability Office report found the Forest Service’s workforce shrank by roughly 20% following a February 2025 executive order mandating sweeping reductions.
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nice tie, sir
NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman
@NASAAdmin
Some of the greatest discoveries are still ahead of us.
As Roman prepares to unlock the mysteries of dark matter and dark energy while discovering thousands of worlds beyond our solar system, you can send your name along for the journey.
Grab your Roman boarding pass and join us: https://go.nasa.gov/4f3SaSC
9:30 AM · Jul 8, 2026
https://x.com/NASAAdmin/status/2074893818826998028
extra social media NASA
https://x.com/WHOSTP47/status/2074612993858453651
https://x.com/davill/status/2074861865289597123
https://x.com/WHOSTP47/status/2074834225442803819
https://x.com/Astro_Jessica/status/2074254682743029828
Trump administration eyes offshore space launches
07/07/26 5:42 PM ET
The Trump administration is considering allowing space launches and re-entry off U.S. coasts, according to a notice published Tuesday.
The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) said in a notice Tuesday that it was considering allowing the use of the U.S. Outer Continental Shelf for offshore space activities.
The Outer Continental Shelf refers to submerged lands that can be found along U.S. coastlines. Those lands have been used by the federal government for oil and gas drilling, as well as offshore wind development.
The BOEM said in its notice it would weigh whether it made sense to repurpose existing infrastructure like oil and gas drilling platforms, as well as the possible development of new platforms built specifically for space launches and reentry.
It said the move was being done in conjunction with an executive order titled “Ensuring American Space Superiority,” which seeks to expand the U.S.’s space presence.
Tuesday’s notice was a Request for Information; it does not formally initiate any sort of rocket launch program in and of itself. But it could be a signal of where federal policy is headed.
It met some criticism from environmental activists.
“Space junk and rocket explosions have already been trashing our coastal wildlife refuges and now Trump wants to expand that destruction farther into our oceans,” said Miyoko Sakashita, oceans program director at the Center for Biological Diversity, in a statement.
“At best, this plan is likely another Trump excuse for allowing the oil industry to leave its rusty old junk in the ocean instead of cleaning it up.
The whales, sea turtles and other marine wildlife off our coasts deserve better than to suffer for Big Oil and the pet projects of trillionaires and billionaires,” Sakashita added.
https://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/5957871-offshore-space-launches/
Vikram-1 Rocket to Carry Diamond Payload into Space
July 8, 2026
India’s private space journey is moving into an exciting new phase. Skyroot Aerospace, one of India’s leading private space companies, is preparing to launch Vikram-1, its first orbital rocket.
The mission will carry a special diamond payload called Cosmic Bloom. It brings together science, art, advanced materials, and the nation’s growing role in commercial spaceflight.
What is Cosmic Bloom?
Cosmic Bloom is a diamond artwork created by Cosmos Diamonds. It is expected to travel beyond Earth aboard Vikram-1. This artwork is designed as an 18-carat gold rocket.
The micro-art also features tiny sculptures of Sir C.V. Raman, Dr Vikram Sarabhai, and Dr A.P.J. Abdul Kalam. By carrying this artwork, the mission connects India’s past achievements with its future space dreams.
Why Vikram-1 Rocket Matters
Vikram-1 is Skyroot Aerospace’s first orbital launch vehicle. It is designed to carry small satellites into low Earth orbit.
This is important because many companies, universities, and research groups now use small satellites for communication, weather study, Earth observation, and scientific work.
Until a few years ago, the Indian space sector was mainly led by government agencies.
Now, private companies are playing a bigger role. Skyroot Aerospace is part of this new change. Its Vikram-1 mission can help India become stronger in the global private space launch market.
If successful, the launch can open more opportunities for small satellite missions from India. It can also encourage more startups and technology companies to work in the space sector.
Why is a Diamond Traveling to Space?
Diamonds are usually known for jewelry, but they are also useful in science and technology. Lab-grown and engineered diamonds are very hard, durable, and capable of handling heat. These qualities make them useful for advanced research.
Space is a very difficult environment. Materials sent into space face strong vibrations during launch, vacuum conditions, radiation, and big temperature changes. Scientists and engineers study how different materials behave in these conditions.
This helps them design better spacecraft, satellites, sensors, and electronic systems. The diamond artwork on Vikram-1 may look artistic, but it also draws attention to the future use of advanced materials in aerospace technology.
For travelers and NRIs, this mission adds another reason to follow India’s growing science and aerospace story, especially around places such as Hyderabad, Sriharikota, and Bengaluru.
The launch of Vikram-1 with the Cosmic Bloom diamond artwork reflects India’s growing confidence in private space technology. It also shows how art, science, and innovation can come together in one mission.
The nation’s space future is becoming more open, creative, and ambitious. The diamond may be small, but the story behind it is big. It represents a new chapter in India’s private orbital journey and a bright step toward future aerospace innovation.
Planning to travel from the USA to India soon? Check out Indian Eagle deals to book flights at competitive fares and enjoy a budget-friendly journey.
https://www.indianeagle.com/traveldiary/vikram-1-rocket-diamond-payload-space/
extra international space
https://aviationweek.com/space/budget-policy-regulation/philippines-eyes-military-satellite-space-center-2028
https://www.sciencealert.com/earths-radiation-belts-could-expose-nuclear-weapons-in-space
https://asgardia.space/en/news/Asgardia-Calls-for-Responsible-Space-Governance-at-SRI-2026-Congress
CSO Gen Saltzman Freedom 250 SpaceX GPS III Rocket Launch Message
July 7, 2026
Space Systems Command
EL SEGUNDO, Calif. – As we continue to celebrate Freedom250, we look back at our GPS III-8 launch in partnership with Combat Forces Command that delivered the final piece of our GPS III constellation into orbit as part of the National Security Space launch program.
This ensures stronger and more accurate GPS service for our warfighters and ever more reliable and resilient service for civilians around the world.
https://www.ssc.spaceforce.mil/Newsroom/Article-Display/Article/4534531/cso-gen-saltzman-freedom-250-spacex-gps-iii-rocket-launch-message
https://x.com/USSpaceForce/status/2074598083988541637
extra Space Force
https://www.ssc.spaceforce.mil/Newsroom/Article-Display/Article/4533220/guardian-spotlight-series-qa-with-natalie-riedel-executive-director-space-syste
https://www.kktv.com/2026/07/08/csfd-space-force-responding-grass-fire-cheyenne-mountain-state-park/
https://x.com/USSpaceForce/status/2074878743932207121
ESA’s first Chemical Propulsion Lab now operational
08/07/2026
ESA has officially kicked off testing at its new Chemical Propulsion Laboratory (CPL). The CPL is ESA’s first dedicated facility for testing small propulsion systems for space missions.
The CPL is a combined green propellant chemistry lab and engine test cell that will support the growing need for safe and accessible propulsion testing infrastructure and training.
Designed specifically for propulsion systems used on small satellites and other small missions rather than large launch vehicle engines, the facility offers rapid-turnaround testing in a safe and regulated environment.
Speaking at the opening event, Dietmar Pilz, Director of Technology, Engineering and Quality at ESA said:
“This is ESTEC’s first dedicated green chemical propulsion test facility and it is now open for business,” Dietmar Pilz said during his speech to open the facility.
“One of the biggest challenges we see for startups and smaller companies is simply getting access to infrastructure, so what we’ve created here is something much more agile, much more accessible.
Europe needs infrastructure like this, which allows innovative technologies to be developed, qualified and matured efficiently and reliably. And, I would like to add, rapidly,” he continued.
Rapid access to testing facilities is particularly important for startups and early-stage technology developers, enabling them to validate designs and progress technologies more quickly.
At first glance, it is remarkably modest. Housed within a repurposed shipping container at the remote Netherlands Aerospace Centre (NLR) site in Marknesse.
While located on a different site, the lab is an ESTEC laboratory, so third parties can benefit from proximity to ESA expertise, processes and best practices.
ESA already maintains a Europe-wide network of specialised laboratories to supplement the technical services and competence provided by the ESTEC laboratories and the ESTEC Test Centre. The CPL will join that ecosystem.
“The CPL will be a important next step in strengthening ESA’s propulsion capabilitiesand will complement the Electric Propulsion Laboratory which has previously conducted successful testing of water electrolysis propulsion.
Together these facilities will renhance the capabilities of ESA member states in developing new sustainable propulsion technologies,” explains Jamila Mansouri, Head of Propulsion, Aerothermodynamics and Flight Vehicles Engineering at ESA.
“It provides a unique and independent environment, where innovative propulsion concepts can be safely tested evaluated and matured for future space applications, reinforcing Europe’s capacity to develop advanced propulsion solutions.
Initial testing campaigns have already begun. They currently take place under atmospheric conditions, with potential future expansions such as vacuum conditions already being considered.
In addition to testing activities, the facility will support training opportunities for future propulsion specialists.
“This may be a modest facility today, but that’s very much by design — it’s a first step, and one that allows us to grow in a way that is driven by real demand, real users and real impact,” explains Mark Ford, Head of Chemical Propulsion at ESA.
The CPL will be operated through an ESA–NLR collaboration. Marknesse was selected for its established and licensed test infrastructure, which provides a specialised environment for propulsion testing activities.
“I would like to express my enthusiasm for the collaboration between ESA and NLR. The Chemical Propulsion Laboratory is not just a facility. It’s a capability to support Europe’s ambitions in space, providing SMEs, scale-ups and institutional partners the infrastructure needed to boost their development,” says Martin Nagelsmit, Chief Technology Officer at NLR.
ESA plans to offer access to the facility through the ESA Commercialisation Gateway and GSTP channels. For more information please contact Mark Ford.
https://www.esa.int/Enabling_Support/Space_Engineering_Technology/Shaping_the_Future/ESA_s_first_Chemical_Propulsion_Lab_now_operational
https://www.esa.int/ESA_Multimedia/Videos/2026/07/ESA_s_first_dedicated_chemical_propulsion_laboratory_opens
extra ESA
https://www.esa.int/Science_Exploration/Human_and_Robotic_Exploration/New_European_exercise_device_begins_testing_with_first_rope-pulling_workout_in_space
https://www.esa.int/ESA_Multimedia/Videos/2026/07/Checkout_and_activation_of_E4D
https://www.esa.int/ESA_Multimedia/Videos/2026/07/Sophie_s_first_rowing_session_on_E4D
https://x.com/esaspaceflight/status/2074830851301392439
Ukraine cannot destabilize Russia through energy attacks – Putin
8 Jul, 2026 16:34 | Updated 8 Jul, 2026 17:02
Kiev is trying to damage Russia’s economy and sow public anxiety, but those efforts are doomed to fail, the president has said
Ukraine’s attacks on Russia’s energy infrastructure will neither destabilize the country’s economy nor create public panic, President Vladimir Putin has said during a meeting with government officials on Wednesday.
Ukraine has stepped up mid- and long-range strikes on targets deep inside Russia, hitting oil refineries, gas compression stations, civilian infrastructure, and vehicles, including those traveling between mainland Russia and Crimea.
The attacks have disrupted logistics, affected local fuel supplies, and caused numerous civilian casualties.
“It is abundantly clear that the adversary is seeking to damage our economy, but above all to create an atmosphere of anxiety in the society. We understand that this goal is impossible to achieve,” Putin said during a virtual meeting.
”Russia’s energy system has one of the highest resilience margins in the world,” he added, urging officials to work more closely with energy companies to swiftly address any local fuel shortages.
He urged for the necessary decisions to be reached quickly to help bring down the price of fuel in Crimea, where the price of gasoline and diesel has skyrocketed due to scarcity brought on by Ukrainian drone strikes on fuel trucks.
Kiev has also increasingly targeted civilian vehicles, including private cars and tourist buses, leaving multiple people dead and injured.
Last week alone, Ukrainian attacks killed 38 civilians, including one child, and wounded 270 others, according to Rodion Miroshnik, who heads the Russian Foreign Ministry’s mission documenting Kiev’s war crimes.
Moscow has accused Ukraine of carrying out “terrorist attacks” and vowed systematic retaliatory strikes on military-linked infrastructure across Ukraine, including in Kiev.
This week, Russian forces launched a large-scale drone and missile barrage, targeting arms production and maintenance facilities, fuel depots, and military airfields.
https://www.rt.com/russia/642761-putin-russia-energy-ukraine/
other Russia and Ukraine
https://www.rt.com/news/642713-russia-samsung-ukraine-missile/
https://www.rt.com/russia/642737-vishnyovoe-devastation-ammo-site/
https://www.rt.com/russia/642714-russian-tankers-drone-strikes/
https://www.rt.com/news/642735-bulgaria-no-weapons-ukraine-nato/
Trump makes U-turn on Ukraine drone deal
July 8, 2026 8:14 pm
U.S. President Donald Trump said he would buy Ukrainian drones during a July 8 NATO press conference alongside President Volodymyr Zelensky, marking a turnaround with his previous dismissal of Ukraine's defense industry.
The remarks were made just after NATO leaders adopted summit conclusions that refer to Ukraine as a contributor to transatlantic security, and a commitment by allied countries to invest significantly in drone technology.
"We would buy their drones … And you know, if we made that deal, we'd have great protection. I love the protection," Trump told reporters at the press conference in the Turkish capital of Ankara.
He also praised Ukraine's manufacturing base: "They (Ukrainians) have an ability to make a lot of them, which is … it’s amazing, that in a war situation they make them."
The remarks are a decisive shift from previous comments made by the U.S. president.
In March, Trump was dismissive that Ukrainian drone manufacturing would have anything to offer the Americans after Zelensky offered to share his country's drone expertise once Iran started launching drone attacks across the Middle East.
"The last person we need help from is Zelensky," he said at the time.
U.S Senator Jeanne Shaheen, the opposition Democratic Party's lead on foreign affairs, shared Trump's latest comments on Ukraine, commenting that "it’s high time the United States seal this deal."
Ukraine's drone expertise is also in high demand across Europe.
In Ankara, several countries signed drone agreements with Kyiv, and on July 3, the European Commission proposed a continent-wide drone development project, in which it expected Ukraine to play a leading role.
https://kyivindependent.com/trump-makes-u-turn-on-ukraine-drone-deal/
other Russia and Ukraine
https://united24media.com/world/blackouts-and-water-crises-worsen-in-occupied-crimea-after-new-wave-of-ukrainian-drone-attacks-20589
https://ukranews.com/en/news/1161856-oil-refinery-catches-fire-in-saratov-following-nighttime-drone-attack-strike-on-military-airfield
https://www.rt.com/news/642715-polish-mep-tears-ukrainian-nazi-flag/
https://www.geo.tv/latest/672140-russia-deploys-new-jammers-to-block-starlink-used-by-ukrainian-drones
https://united24media.com/war-in-ukraine/russia-is-hiding-fuel-for-crimea-in-water-and-milk-tankers-ukrainian-drones-still-find-it-20577
https://united24media.com/war-in-ukraine/russian-missile-and-drone-attack-on-kharkiv-kills-two-injures-at-least-23-20564
https://newsukraine.rbc.ua/news/russian-drone-hits-25-story-apartment-building-1783522843.html
https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/iran-news/2026-07-08/live-updates-901807
other Israel
https://worldisraelnews.com/report-idf-on-peak-alert-for-renewed-iran-fighting/
https://www.jns.org/news/israel-news/idf-arrests-hezbollah-radwan-force-terrorist-in-southern-lebanon
https://www.ynetnews.com/article/skprme2mgl
https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/idf-says-hamas-terrorist-who-invaded-kibbutz-nirim-on-oct-7-killed-in-gaza-strike/
https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/reports-truck-driver-killed-by-idf-fire-while-transporting-goods-into-gaza/
https://www.timesofisrael.com/idf-fire-said-to-kill-7-in-gaza-including-terror-operative-aid-worker-and-child/
https://www.ynetnews.com/article/skdg7usmmg
Live Updates: Trump discusses Iran, Lebanon, Syria, Turkey on sidelines of NATO summit
July 8, 2026
US strikes Iran's defense systems • Defense Minister threatens Iranian regime during Khamenei's funeral • Hamas begins dissolving its Gaza government
July 8, 6:50 PM
WATCH: IDF soldiers arrest twenty suspects in overnight raids across West Bank
IDF soldiers arrest twenty suspects in overnight raids across West Bank, July 8, 2026. (credit: IDF Spokesperson's Unit)
The IDF arrested 20 suspects across the West Bank in an overnight operation between Tuesday and Wednesday, the military announced.
Among those arrested were individuals suspected of planning a terror attack, arms dealing, drug smuggling, human trafficking, and Hamas affiliation, the IDF said.
In Jenin, the military said it searched over 50 structures, while soldiers exchanged gunfire in Hebron before arresting five suspects.
July 8, 6:49 PM
WATCH: Iranian regime publishes footage of Khamenei's prayer room destroyed in February strikes
Footage showing the ruins of the compound of former Iranian supreme leader Ali Khamenei was released on Wednesday by the supreme leader's website.
The footage was shared by several pro-regime outlets, including the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-run Fars News Agency.
The short 50-second clip shows what appears to be rubble within the compound, warped support beams, and other elements buried under mounds of dirt in "Imam Khomeini's Husseiniyah at the Leader's residence," a prayer room belonging to the supreme leader, attached to their official residence.
July 8, 6:14 PM
Iran threatens to close Strait of Hormuz, hit 'twice the number of targets' as US - report
Iran threatened to close the Strait of Hormuz, according to state broadcaster Press TV on Wednesday, citing an unknown Iranian source.
According to the source, Iran would reopen the strait only under its own arrangements, "as per the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding (MoU)."
The source added that Iran would "strike at least twice the number of targets hit" in response to any strikes by the United States.
"The developments of the past 48 hours show Iran won't back down from managing the Hormuz," the source noted.
July 8, 6:03 PM
Trump says he expects to remove Syria from US terrorism sponsor list
US President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that he expects to remove Syria from the United States' list of state sponsors of terrorism, while praising the country's recent stability following the lifting of US sanctions.
"I think I will," Trump told reporters ahead of a meeting with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa in Turkey when asked whether he would remove Syria from the terrorism sponsor list.
Trump also said the United States had "released sanctions from the country," adding that Syria had "become very stable."
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July 8, 6:00 PM
Iranian strikes violated MoU with US, ceasefire talks to continue, Macron says
French President Emmanuel Macron said on Wednesday that he believed Iranian strikes on US bases in the Gulf violated the Memorandum of Understanding with the US, and that Iran had been mistaken to carry them out, but added that he understood meetings as part of the 60-day ceasefire between Iran and the United States would continue.
Trump said earlier on Wednesday that the interim agreement to end the war with Iran was over after the attacks.
July 8, 1:27 PM
IDF kills Nukhba commander who entered Israel on October 7
The IDF killed a Nukhba commander in the Gaza Strip on Tuesday who, during the October 7 massacre, entered Kibbutz Nirim, the military confirmed.
The Hamas terrorist, Mohammed Emad Alrahman Abu Taima, also led a cell which ambushed IDF troops during the Israel-Hamas war.
In recent months, the IDF stated, Taima had been involved in maintaining operational readiness among Hamas members, and attempting to recruit new terrorists.
July 8, 10:39 AM
EU aviation agency tells operators to avoid Iran, Iraq airspace until August 31
The European Union Aviation Safety Agency said on Wednesday that airlines should not operate within the airspace of Iran and Iraq, amid ongoing tensions and the potential for further military action.
The EASA said its bulletin for the airspaces of Iran and Iraq was valid until August 31.
The agency's previous bulletin, which expires on Wednesday, included Lebanon. It had also asked airlines to exercise caution when operating within the airspace of Bahrain, Kuwait, Israel, Jordan, Qatar, Oman, UAE, and Saudi Arabia.
July 8, 10:03 AM
'Absolutely necessary': World leaders react to renewed US bombing of Iran
"When you have a ceasefire and Iran is basically violating the ceasefire, I think it is totally crucial that the US forcefully react," said NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte.
The new attacks by the US on Iran were "absolutely necessary," NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said on Wednesday.
"When you have a ceasefire and Iran is basically violating the ceasefire, I think it is totally crucial that the US forcefully react," Rutte told reporters before a summit of NATO leaders in Ankara.
On Tuesday night, US forces began "a series of powerful strikes against Iran to impose heavy costs for targeting and attacking commercial shipping crewed by innocent civilians in an international waterway," according to US Central Command (CENTCOM).
July 8, 9:58 AM
Iran 'definitely' holds chemical weapons even as nuclear capacity destroyed, Netanyahu warns
He also said that Iran had lost its capability to produce nuclear weapons during Operation Roaring Lion, saying that the US and Israeli strikes had 'pushed it back considerably.'
Iran possesses chemical weapons, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claimed during an interview on Newsmax's The Record With Greta Van Susteran on Tuesday.
"They definitely have chemical weapons," he said. "That I can tell you. And that is another threat that they pose."
He also said that Iran had lost its capability to produce nuclear weapons during Operation Roaring Lion.
July 8, 9:58 AM
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to visit Israel following overnight strikes on Iran
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is expected to arrive in Israel on Wednesday and meet with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz, a senior US official confirmed to Walla.
Hegseth, who is in Ankara alongside US President Donald Trump for the NATO summit, is expected to make a brief visit against the backdrop of the American strikes against Iran.
The US strikes took place overnight, in response to a series of attacks carried out by Tehran against three commercial tankers in the waters of Oman, near the Strait of Hormuz.
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LAPD Helicopter Hit By Drone During Encino Fire
Jul 8, 2026
A Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) helicopter made an emergency landing on Tuesday after being struck by a drone while responding to a brush fire near the Encino Reservoir.
The fire, which threatened homes near the reservoir and Sepulveda Basin, was first reported shortly before 12:30 p.m. in the 4500 block of North Encino Avenue, south of Ventura Boulevard.
According to the Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD), the fire started due to downed power lines.
LAFD Chief Jaime Moore explained that firefighters initially tackled a 50x50 spot fire caused by the power line. However, another spot fire erupted nearby due to the same power line, prompting firefighters to redirect their efforts.
As reported by ABC7, an evacuation warning was issued for residents around the Encino Reservoir but was lifted after about an hour and a half.
Despite the fire being contained quickly, firefighting efforts were complicated by a drone colliding with an LAPD helicopter dispatched to the scene. The helicopter made an emergency landing at Van Nuys Airport, and no injuries were reported.
LAPD Capt. Brian Wendling emphasized the dangers of flying drones near active fire scenes, stating, "Curiosity can cause danger."
Mayor Karen Bass condemned the drone operator's actions, warning of arrest and prosecution if identified. She stated, "It is completely unacceptable and illegal to fly drones like this."
In total, 153 firefighters worked to extinguish the flames, and power was temporarily knocked out for residents in the area. The incident highlights ongoing concerns about drone interference during emergency operations.
https://kfiam640.iheart.com/content/2026-07-08-lapd-helicopter-hit-by-drone-during-encino-fire/
Today in History—July 8: A Local Newspaper Kicks Off Roswell’s UFO Mania
July 3, 2026
On July 7, 1947, soldiers at the Roswell Army Air Field (RAAF) in New Mexico recovered the remains of a flying saucer that had crashed on a local ranch.
Or so the headline of the RAAF’s press release in the Roswell Daily Record the next day read.
It wasn’t the first report of such an object. Two weeks earlier pilot Kenneth Arnold had reported seeing nine mysterious objects flying through the sky in Washington state.
He said the objects he saw were crescent-shaped, but the media latched onto his description of them skipping through the air like saucers over water, and flying saucer mania soon gripped the country.
The news inspired New Mexico rancher W.W. “Mac” Brazel to call the sheriff on July 8. In June he had found debris spread over parts of his ranch, and he began wondering if it was part of a flying saucer. The military investigated—and issued today’s famous press release.
Just a day after the announcement, however, the army air force backtracked. They claimed that the remains were not from a flying saucer but from a crashed weather balloon. Brazel remained skeptical, but the incident faded from the public imagination.
Until 1980, that is.
That was when Charles Berlitz and William L. Moore published The Roswell Incident, which claimed that the weather balloon was a cover story and what the government found was an alien spacecraft. The book was disputed, but conspiracy theories flourished.
Supporters produced evidence to bolster the book’s thesis, and although much of the evidence proved to be fake, Roswell remains a hub of UFOlogy to this day.
Berlitz and Moore were right about one thing, though: The air force didn’t find a weather balloon on that July day. The debris was actually from an anti-Soviet spy balloon.
https://www.britannica.com/today-in-history/July-8-A-Local-Newspaper-Kicks-Off-Roswells-UFO-Mania
https://www.af.mil/The-Roswell-Report/
https://archive.org/details/dayafterroswell0000cors
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3PZ2HIGVmjE (Eyes On Cinema: “The Day After Roswell” Candid uncut interview with Colonel Philip J. Corso (Ret.))
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Es4AGX8Y_sw (UNIDENTIFIED: The Roswell Coverup 75 Years Later (Full Documentary))
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZQlpACCcq4Y (Roswell 1947 Alien Footage!)
https://www.ibtimes.co.uk/trump-ufo-speech-soft-disclosure-1807664
https://www.dailystar.co.uk/news/latest-news/trump-bombshell-speech-reveal-truth-37402842
https://x.com/Thekingofufos/status/2074787669444358540
https://x.com/Thekingofufos/status/2074575841518923986
Trump's Rumoured UFO Speech Confirms 'Non-Human Origin' of Recovered Entities: Is 'Soft Disclosure' Imminent?
08 July 2026, 3:47 PM BST
The White House denies any such address is planned, leaving rumours to collide with recent explosive UAP testimony in Washington.
Donald Trump is said to have a prepared UFO speech that confirms the 'non-human origin' of recovered entities, according to a British ufologist who claims a draft address is already written and waiting to be delivered in Washington.
Mark Christopher Lee, a UK-based UFO researcher and filmmaker, alleges the text would see Trump publicly acknowledge historic encounters, from the 1947 Roswell crash to the US Navy's now famous 'Tic Tac' incident off California.
The supposed speech, which Lee describes as a step towards 'soft disclosure' of extraterrestrial life, could, he claims, be unveiled at a high-profile event such as the NATO summit in Turkey on 8 July.
White House officials, however, have insisted no such Trump UFO speech is planned.
Trump UFO Speech And The Promise Of 'Soft Disclosure'
Lee says his Washington contacts told him a Trump UFO speech is 'written and ready to go' and framed as a historic soft disclosure rather than a full-on confession of alien visitation.
In his account, the address would walk through what he calls 'major incidents of the last 80 years', explicitly referencing Roswell, the 2004 'Tic Tac' encounter and reports of mysterious objects tracked by fighter jets off the US East Coast in 2015.
In Lee's retelling, Trump would go further than any president before him, suggesting that at least some of those cases involved craft and entities 'of non-human origin.'
He claims the draft includes a section on forensic testing of 'recovered entities' from alleged crash sites, with the supposed results showing they were 'not from Earth.'
The proposed speech, Lee says, would see Trump explain decades of secrecy to the public, promise the declassification of certain materials, announce a new interagency taskforce and invite other governments to cooperate.
The text, he adds, is said to stress that any revelation is 'not a threat, but an opportunity to unite humanity.'
Trump UFO Speech Collides With Official Denials
The news came after Lee claimed the speech could be unveiled as early as the NATO summit in Turkey on 8 July, a date he openly notes coincides with the Roswell anniversary.
It would be quite the cosmic anniversary stunt. Yet officials inside the current administration have rejected the idea that any Trump UFO speech is on the schedule, telling reporters that no address on UFOs or UAPs is planned.
Lee has tried to bolster his story by pointing to comments from Trump's daughter-in-law, Lara Trump, who he says has hinted more than once that a UFO speech has already been drafted and is ready to be given.
He also claims one of his sources is US billionaire Robert Bigelow, a hotel magnate known for funding paranormal research and for his long‑standing interest in UFOs.
According to Lee, Bigelow, a major donor to Trump's 2024 campaign, has privately taken credit for persuading the president to prepare a UFO address
An earlier report said Bigelow met a Trump cabinet member in December, where the conversation turned to 'the matter of UFOs and paranormal activity.'
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How The Trump UFO Speech Rumour Meets Harder Evidence
The idea that a Trump UFO speech could 'confirm' non-human origin lands in a landscape that has already been reshaped by US military testimony.
At a widely watched hearing in Washington, retired Air Force intelligence officer David Grusch told lawmakers that, in his view, the US government has run a secret 'multi-decade' programme to recover and reverse engineer crashed UAPs.
Grusch alleged that 'non-human biologics' had been recovered from some crash sites, saying that the assessment came from people still inside these programmes.
He admitted he had not personally seen alien craft or bodies, and said his conclusions were drawn from four years of interviews with more than 40 witnesses while serving on the Pentagon's UAP Task Force
He offered to share classified details only inside a secure facility, and the Department of Defence later stated its inquiries had found no 'verifiable information' to back claims of any programme involving extraterrestrial materials.
Alongside Grusch, former Navy pilots Ryan Graves and David Fravor gave their own accounts of encounters that have become modern UFO canon.
Graves told Congress about a 2014 incident near Virginia Beach, describing a dark grey or black cube 'inside a clear sphere', possibly up to 15 feet across, which appeared stationary despite hurricane‑force winds.
He said similar UAP encounters were 'not rare or isolated' and that most sightings were never formally reported.
Fravor recounted the 2004 'Tic Tac' incident off Southern California, where four aviators watched a smooth, white, oblong object with no visible wings or rotors perform wild acceleration manoeuvres before vanishing in front of their aircraft.
'The technology that we faced was far superior to anything that we had,' he told lawmakers, insisting he was not a UFO fanatic, just a pilot reporting what he saw.
Is A Trump UFO Speech Really Imminent?
US defence agencies have begun to publish regular updates on UAP reports, trying to drag the subject out of the conspiracy swamp.
A dedicated office, the All‑Domain Anomaly Resolution Office, has logged hundreds of new sightings, many later chalked up to drones, balloons, birds or airborne clutter. Pilots are being encouraged to report incidents without fear of ridicule.
Even so, some high‑profile cases remain unexplained, and that grey zone is where talk of a Trump UFO speech finds its audience.
Lee insists his contacts believe the announcement is 'imminent', although he offers no documents, no dates and no direct quotes from Trump himself.
White House officials, by contrast, are on record saying there is no such speech on the books.
Talk of a looming disclosure has been swirling for years as military pilots, intelligence officials, and whistleblowers push for transparency on what the US now blandly calls UAPs, or Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena.
The Roswell saga, long ago dismissed by the US government as a crashed spy balloon, has never really left the public imagination.
Recent congressional hearings in Washington, where veterans alleged secret crash-retrieval and reverse-engineering programmes, have only poured fuel on the fire.
Into that already volatile mix drops Lee's claim that Trump has a UFO speech locked in a drawer, ready to blow the doors off.
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Moon monoliths are Luis Elizondo's latest UFO bombshell
Jul 8, 2026
Key takeaways:
Luis Elizondo claims unreleased Moon photos show apparent monolithic structures with right-angle cuts
He also describes military encounters with mysterious colored orbs that he says may be autonomous surveillance platforms.
The interview offers no new public evidence, with many claims resting on photographs and reports that have yet to be released.
Reddit's UFO community reacted with skepticism, with many demanding proof instead of more promises of disclosure.
Known as one of the more outspoken UFO whistleblowers, Luis Elizondo took an interesting turn this week, claiming that unreleased Moon photos show apparent monolithic structures with right-angle cuts, and that these photos could be released soon.
By “monolithic,” Elizondo means an artificial construct of a single block that "appears to be" artificial.
The interview expanded into various military encounters with green, red, and blue orbs, largely recounting cases reported to the Pentagon's former Advanced Aerospace Threat Identification Program (AATIP).
Elizondo claims the orbs could be surveillance systems, or even weapons, explaining that they may be autonomous reconnaissance or collection platforms.
He also broadly suggested that this kind of orb-sighting had been going on globally for decades.
“Appears to be” is not definite proof
Elizondo’s moon claim dominated the interview because it suggests the presence of artificial-looking structures, which hasn’t been a typical feature of recent UFO whistleblower evidence.
This focus shifts from blurry UAP footage to alleged unreleased government photographs, and time will tell whether Elizondo is accurate in his claims.
Regarding the orbs he spoke of, Elizondo seemed deliberately cautious in his wording throughout, using "appears to be" rather than definitive proof.
These broad theories about surveillance platforms and humanity's limited understanding of reality caused commotion in the UFO community.
“An announcement about an announcement”
A so-called UFO whistleblower for nine years now, following his resignation as a US Army counterintelligence special agent due to excessive secrecy in the Pentagon's concealment of evidence, Elizondo accrued credibility as a leading spokesperson against the very program he worked on.
He also plays a vital role in raising the heat on President Donald Trump by underscoring the importance of national security in the UAP context and the fateful dangers that whistleblowers face.
But with talks on monolithic structures, the Reddit UFO community was quite aghast.
“This is easily the most absurd [claim],” one user said, before adding that it was “stuff that really discredits him.
Another UFO follower posted, “It’s always an announcement about an announcement,” before requesting, “Just release a photo and be done with it.”
Previously, Elizondo has spoken of a secret government program that possesses retrieved alien craft, citing that UAPs can disable nuclear missiles, as well as physically radiate troops.
His esoteric style divides opinion in the community as not everyone is comfortable in stomaching some of his more wild claims.
https://cybernews.com/news/elizondo-uap-ufo-disclosure-monolith/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HFAzlYOUQLs (Thomas Fessler: Lue Elizondo reveals existence of Lunar Monolithic Structures | UFO News Update)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6mptLxmWjxQ (Vetted: Lue Elizondo Drops UFO BOMBSHELL)
https://x.com/LueElizondo