TYB
NASA Astronomy Picture of the Day
September 2, 2026
Solar Eclipses and Culture
Pretend you have never heard of a solar eclipse. The Sun’s behavior has been predictable your whole life. One day, you witness the sky transform as it does in today’s spliced image spanning two hours of the August 12, 2026 solar eclipse. The Sun disappears, leaving behind a bright, empty ring. What would you think had happened? Humans have interpreted eclipses in countless ways throughout history, embedding beliefs about connection, rebirth, or danger into culture. “Eclipse” comes from the Greek word “ékleipsis” meaning “abandonment”. In ancient Greece, the solar eclipse marked the anger of the gods and the Sun abandoning humanity. To the Diné people, this celestial alignment is a time of renewal. Out of respect and to avoid the danger of sunlight, the Diné stay inside until the Sun and Moon separate. The Batammariba people of Benin and Togo believe that the Sun and Moon fight during an eclipse, so the community encourages peace among themselves. Eclipses are an example of the longstanding connection between astronomy and society.
https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/astropix.html
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iJhbPBxWuPw
USA Earthquake Risk, Africa Tearing, Solar Watch | S0 News and frens
Sep.2.2026
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FCdaGL5FXPU
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GuyKCbMsRoI (S0 News live: Solar System Shift Continues, Timing Solar Superstorms)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MuvChVb9pOg (thornews: Super Freak Storm Eduardo is like a Mini Harvey & it might have more tricks up its sleeve)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J9DvGFykHhA Mr Weatherman: Dolly Remnants shift West…)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=01EqEYy3ON0 (Ray's Astro: Nepal Flood: Where Did All That Water Come From? I Found a Clue)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=andiruLtOfY (EarthMaster: Heads up! Large uptick in Earthquakes Aleutian Trench Alaska. Tuesday Night update)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kxf1WiBV3yk (dutchsinse: 9/02/2026 New Zealand Rocked by multiple noteworthy earthquakes South Region hit as expected)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3aoEwIFxEMo (dutchsinse: Live Earthquake Activity + Volcanoes + Solar + Magnetosphere – Past 48hrs up to current)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ws0qN4hFtY (Stefan Burns: Get Ready, A Global Volcanic Surge is Coming…)
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solar
https://geekspin.co/solar-storms-can-crash-self-driving-cars/
https://physicstoday.aip.org/news/geomagnetic-storms-could-get-worse-than-we-thought
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wildfires
https://dailydispatch.com/fire-news/washington/governor-ferguson-adds-benton-kittitas-counties-to-wildfire-emergency-declaration/
https://www.abc10.com/article/news/local/california/california-assembly-kills-wildfire-bill/103-65c95e36-827e-44b3-b05e-1572e1daee34
https://abc7.com/post/los-angeles-county-sues-state-farm-handling-palisades-eaton-wildfires-la/19772171/
https://www.dailymail.com/yourmoney/article-16087475/washington-tourist-destination-wildfires-visitors-businesses.html
https://www.yahoo.com/news/us/articles/suspected-arsonist-caught-setting-brush-213142083.html
https://www.kvom.com/wildfire-risk-remains-high-in-arkansas/
https://www.khq.com/fires/epa-passes-halfway-mark-on-wildfire-hazardous-cleanup-in-spokane/article_83a43a38-7300-4583-99d8-87736759e0a2.html
https://www.koco.com/article/oklahoma-county-wildfire-rekindles-sooner-britton/73591226
https://www.kcra.com/article/yosemite-fire-colorado-map-evacuations-mariposa-county/73592905
https://abc30.com/post/wildfire-sparked-crash-prompts-evacuation-orders-mariposa-county/19776758/
https://www.yahoo.com/news/weather-news/articles/aggressive-plaskett-fire-outgrows-timber-055218148.html
https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/international/global-trends/drought-wildfires-a-brutal-once-in-a-millennium-summer-plague-britain-as-2026-becomes-hottest-on-record/articleshow/133700704.cms
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storms and floods
https://www.foxweather.com/weather-news/rare-multiday-severe-storms-northeast-wind-tornado-thunderstorms-september-2026
https://www.fox10phoenix.com/news/grand-canyon-flash-flood-questions-raised-over-north-kaibab-trail-safety
https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/heavy-rain-thunderstorms-on-the-way-for-toronto-and-southern-ontario/article_2794bbef-1c8b-4366-98b7-604e4a5684de.html
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hurricanes and frens
https://gizmodo.com/scientists-uncover-hidden-ocean-signal-that-makes-hurricanes-explode-in-strength-2000805669
https://www.ladbible.com/news/world-news/el-nino-hurricane-lowell-karina-tropical-storm-marie-334953-20260902
https://www.honolulu.gov/mayor/city-is-closely-monitoring-rapidly-strengthening-hurricane-lowell-and-active-pacific/
https://www.accuweather.com/en/hurricane/edouard-brings-flooding-power-outages-to-texas-after-becoming-3rd-storm-to-make-us-landfall-this-year/1929390
https://www.foxweather.com/weather-news/pacific-tropics-hurricane-tropical-storm-karina-lowell-marie-hawaii-september-2026
https://news.tuoitre.vn/typhoon-saudel-to-linger-over-east-vietnam-sea-for-several-days-103260902112415731.htm
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earthquakes
https://www.sbsun.com/2026/09/02/earthquake-close-to-ontario-in-san-bernardino-county-reported-magnitude-3-4-on-sept-2/
https://www.foxweather.com/weather-news/magnitude-3-6-earthquake-south-texas-falls-city
https://nz.usembassy.gov/natural-disaster-alert-two-earthquakes-near-milford-sound-south-island/
https://www.malaymail.com/news/world/2026/09/02/two-earthquakes-strike-indonesia-and-the-philippines/233603
https://breakingthenews.net/Article/5.6-magnitude-earthquake-strikes-off-Mexico's-coast/67031709
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dailys
https://schumannresonance.today/
https://www.weather.gov/
https://www.weatherbug.com/news/Super-El-Nino-Could-Impact-Wildfire-Risk
https://www.nifc.gov/fire-information/nfn
https://www.americanforests.org/wildfire-map/
https://www.tornadohq.com/
https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/
https://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/map/
https://www.volcanodiscovery.com/earthquakes-volcanoes/news/340089/Volcano-earthquake-report-2026-09-02.html
https://www.spaceweather.gov/
https://spaceweather.com/archive.php?view=1&day=02&month=09&year=2026
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https://www.wired.com/story/diamond-moon-and-other-astronomical-events-september-2026/
other space objects
https://phys.org/news/2026-09-young-sunlike-reveals-comets-planets.html
https://www.miragenews.com/scientists-observe-centaurs-comet-transformation-1736906/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8_VWQ3V-TNw (Sen4K: Earth From Space in Stunning 4K 🌍 | Hurricanes, Volcanoes & Incredible Views From the ISS)
The Diamond Moon and Other Astronomical Events to See in September 2026
Sep 1, 2026 4:00 PM
September is full of opportunities to expand your knowledge of the night sky. Mark your calendars.
August set the bar high for stargazers, with two eclipses and the peak of the Perseids meteor shower. But it’s not time to put away your telescopes, with some lesser-known astronomical events set to arrive across the sky this month.
The Pleiades will appear next to the moon, Venus will reach its brightest point of the year, Neptune will be in its best position for spotting with a telescope, and as an encore to the Perseids, there will also be a smaller meteor shower.
Here are some dates worth marking on your calendar for the month to come.
Venus near Spica: September 1 and 2
September begins with an easy opportunity to spot two of the brightest objects in the night sky. Venus will appear near Spica, the most intense star in the constellation Virgo. Both objects will be visible to the naked eye.
The exact timing of Venus’ appearance is September 2 at 00:17 UTC. This means that, depending on the your location, the conjunction could occur in the afternoon or evening of September 1.
It should be easy to tell the two celestial objects apart. Venus will shine much more brightly, looking like a white dot that doesn’t twinkle as much as the stars. Spica will appear nearby as a considerably fainter bluish dot. The two will be approximately 1.5 degrees apart.
A handy trick is that 0.5 degrees in the sky is roughly the average diameter of a full moon. Therefore, once you find the brightest point in the sky—which will be Venus—you can find Spica about three moons away.
A Diamond Studded Moon: September 3
The moon will be accompanied by one of the most famous star clusters in the sky.
On the night of September 3, it will appear approximately 1.1 degrees from the Pleiades—close enough to observe both objects in the same region.
The moon will be about 59 percent illuminated, according to Star Walk’s calculations.
The Pleiades, also known as “the Seven Sisters” or M45, is a star cluster located in the constellation Taurus.
Six or seven of its members are usually visible to the naked eye under good conditions, although the cluster contains hundreds of young stars.
These stars were born at approximately the same time and remain gravitationally bound together.
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The proximity to the waning moon offers a good opportunity for spotting them. To the naked eye, they will appear as a small group of bright points next to the moon, as if they were diamonds.
Binoculars will allow you to make out many more. The encounter will happen again on September 30, when the two objects will once more be separated by just one degree.
A Modest Meteor Shower: September 9 and 10
September also has its own meteor shower. The Epsilon Perseids will peak September 9 and 10, producing up to eight meteors per hour.
The number of meteors is lower than that of the famous Perseids in August. However, this shower has one advantage: Its peak will occur just two days before the new moon, making the sky ideally dark for viewing.
Conditions will be especially favorable from the northern hemisphere, and, as with any meteor shower, it is recommended to find a dark location away from light pollution.
Venus at Its Brightest: September 22
Venus is usually one of the easiest objects to spot in the night sky, but toward the end of September it will shine even brighter.
The planet will reach an apparent magnitude of approximately -4.8. By comparison, the full moon has a magnitude of -12.7, and Sirius—considered the brightest star in the sky—barely reaches -1.46.
Look for the planet after sunset, near the western horizon. Viewing conditions will be best from the southern hemisphere.
The Equinox: September 23
Unlike the other events on this list, the equinox isn’t something we can go out and observe directly. Instead, it’s an astronomical moment that marks a specific point in Earth’s orbit and, with it, the change of season.
The September equinox will occur on September 23 when the Sun crosses the equator as it moves southward. The event marks the astronomical beginning of fall in the northern hemisphere and spring in the southern hemisphere.
Neptune Is in the Neighborhood: September 26
Spotting Neptune is considerably more challenging than spotting other planets. The most distant planet in the solar system (sorry Pluto) is forecasted to reach opposition on September 26. This means that Earth will be approximately between Neptune and the Sun.
This positioning means Neptune will remain visible for much of the night and will be at one of its closest distances to our planet for the year. Therefore, September offers one of the best opportunities in 2026 to try to spot it.
It’s too faint to be seen with the naked eye. You’ll need a telescope and to know its position among the stars of Pisces. Even then, it will appear as a tiny bluish disk.
Harvest Moon: September 26
September will end with a particularly famous full moon. The full moon closest to the September equinox is traditionally called the Harvest Moon.
The term does not describe a distinct physical phenomenon, nor does it mean that the moon will change color, size, or brightness. It’s a traditional name related to the harvests of the northern hemisphere.
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NASA awards Jeff Bezos $700M to build the first 'Wi-Fi-style network' around Mars
16:39 2 Sep 2026 GMT+1
It will be vital for communications back to Earth
Blue Origin, a private space agency operated by Jeff Bezos, has been selected by NASA to build a 'next-generation' communications system that serves as a 'Wi-Fi network' of sorts around Mars.
This new infrastructure will prove to be vital for progress towards a Mars expedition, as while it technically doesn't provide internet service on the red planet's surface, it notably expands communications and navigation services between Mars and Earth, laying the foundations for sustained exploration in the near future.
As a sign of its commitment NASA has provided as much as $700 million for this deal, with Jeff Bezos' company expected to complete the 'high-performance Mars telecommunications orbiter' by December 31, 2028 at the very latest.
NASA's Artemis missions are finally opening up the possibility for an extended human presence in space once again with a long-awaited landing on the Moon, and this new Blue Origin partnership could extend those fortunes to Mars too with many astronauts dreaming about reaching the planet for the first time in history.
How will this telecommunications orbiter work?
According to NASA's official release on the new partnership, Blue Origin's latest project would "enable reliable, high-bandwidth communications and navigation services for current and future Mars missions."
It will be implemented as a cog in NASA's wider space infrastructure line up, with the orbiter consisting of a "high-performance telecommunications spacecraft orbiting Mars, transmitting science data, imagery, navigation information, and critical mission communications for spacecraft operating on and around the planet."
Right now it's quite difficult for NASA to receive regular and consistent communications from Mars due to its distance from Earth, yet this potentially vital piece of infrastructure would serve as a pathway for that data to be transmitted, almost like a Wi-Fi network that takes your information from one computer to another.
Will this increase the chances of a manned mission to Mars?
While the existence of this project casts an eye towards the future of Mars exploration by NASA, it's likely something that will happen in decades rather than years with the Moon remaining the current focus.
Not only is the lunar surface a far easier prospect when it comes to distance, but it's something that NASA has obviously achieved before – albeit over half a century ago – and has been concretely building towards for a number of years now with several Artemis missions already under its belt.
It's likely that we see the creation of a permanent base on the Moon before NASA even begins to properly prepare for any potential Mars missions, yet the Blue Origin project remains an important stepping stone in understanding more about the big red planet.
Additionally, NASA still has to solve the unavoidable issue of preservation when it comes to a Mars mission, as current technology would result in an estimated travel time of around six months each way which will obviously be challenging, if not currently impossible from a supplies perspective.
Scientists have managed to experiment with a new form of food that is created from recycled plastic bottles, but there remain concerns surrounding health risks associated with extended stays in space that persist in the eyes of NASA.
https://www.uniladtech.com/science/space/nasa-jeff-bezos-build-wifi-network-around-mars-261815-20260902
https://www.nasa.gov/news-release/nasa-selects-blue-origin-as-mars-telecommunications-network-provider/
moar
https://science.nasa.gov/earth/earth-observatory/drought-intensifies-across-puerto-rico/
https://science.nasa.gov/learn/heat/resource/heliophysics-education-community-meeting-presentation-august-2025/
https://www.nasa.gov/event/clps-flight-intuitive-machines-im-4-2/
https://www.foxweather.com/earth-space/nasa-swift-telescope-time-running-out-critical-deadline
Secretary Linda McMahon
@EDSecMcMahon
Thanks to @NASAAdmin for hosting me at the Kennedy Space Center last weekend. The work they’re doing is truly out of this world! 🚀
NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman
@NASAAdmin
It was an honor to show you around @NASAKennedy, and I’m grateful you were able to attend the historic launch of the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope.
9:59 AM · Sep 2, 2026
https://x.com/NASAAdmin/status/2095194884550344904
moar
https://x.com/nasahqphoto/status/2094918094481166580
https://x.com/NASAAdmin/status/2094963803410866355
https://x.com/NASA_Marshall/status/2094870450702520439
https://www.nasa.gov/image-article/rising-over-louisiana/
ESA, NASA Astronauts Complete Navigation and Science Spacewalk Outside Station
September 1, 2026 3:58PM
NASA astronaut Jessica Meir and ESA (European Space Agency) astronaut Sophie Adenot concluded their spacewalk outside the International Space Station at 3:29 p.m. EDT.
During the 6-hour, 49-minute spacewalk, Meir and Adenot installed a new retroflector on the forward port of the space station’s Harmony module to support spacecraft navigation during rendezvous and docking operations.
The duo replaced a high-definition camera on the station’s truss and completed a swab of the space station’s exterior for microorganisms.
They also partially completed work to install jumper cables for electrical systems and started work to prepare for the replacement of the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer’s heat-rejecting radiator on a future spacewalk.
Mission Control deferred installing the remaining guide studs for the spectrometer’s replacement radiator so engineers can develop a plan to finish the work during a future spacewalk.
As the crew fell behind the timeline, the mission control team also shifted completion of the remaining jumper cables and other noncritical tasks to a later date.
During the spacewalk, Adenot experienced some mobility issues with her left arm. Meir took a look at Adenot’s suit and determined the glove heater harness was likely getting caught and causing limited movement in the left shoulder joint. Unzipping the joint seemed to resolve the issue ahead of the crew entering the airlock.
U.S. spacewalk 99 was Meir’s seventh and Adenot’s third. Meir now ranks third all-time among woman at NASA for total spacewalks, behind Peggy Whitson (10) and Suni Williams (9).
It also was the 284th spacewalk in support of space station assembly, maintenance, and upgrades.
https://www.nasa.gov/blogs/spacestation/2026/09/01/esa-nasa-astronauts-complete-navigation-and-science-spacewalk-outside-station/
https://x.com/esa/status/2094872868014227706
https://x.com/esa/status/2094882722560761947
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=09WgH9SPCM0 (World’s First Live 4K Spacewalk | Sophie Adenot Outside the ISS)
moar ESA
https://x.com/Soph_astro/status/2095175684184297889
https://www.esa.int/Science_Exploration/Human_and_Robotic_Exploration/ESA_s_first_lunar_rover_rolls_forward
https://www.esa.int/Applications/Observing_the_Earth/FLEX_and_Sentinel-3C_sealed_within_Vega-C_fairing
‘No negotiations with terrorists’ – Putin on Zelensky’s threat to civil aviation
1 Sep, 2026 20:33 | Updated 1 Sep, 2026 21:35
The Ukrainian leader has warned that international civilian aviation will no longer be safe in Russian skies
Russian President Vladimir Putin has said there can be no “negotiations with terrorists,” responding to Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky’s threat against civilian aviation over Russia.
Zelensky warned foreign airlines, insurers and governments on Tuesday that Ukraine’s expanding long-range drone campaign would increasingly endanger civilian flights over the country.
“The safe days in Russia’s skies are over,” Zelensky said.
Putin was asked to respond to the remarks at a press conference on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit in Kyrgyzstan on Tuesday.
“If this was said out loud, then it is simply a move toward state terrorism,” Putin said.
“I would also draw attention to the fact that they are asking us to resume negotiations; they are asking for face-to-face meetings,” he added.
There are no negotiations with terrorists.
Putin added that Moscow would find a way to respond if Kiev’s threats resulted in any tragedies. “Let no one doubt that,” he said.
Ukraine has stepped up long-range drone strikes on Russia in recent months, repeatedly grounding flights and forcing prolonged disruptions at airports as air defenses respond to incoming threats.
Kiev’s campaign has also systematically targeted civilian infrastructure, including Russian e-commerce warehouses, prompting Moscow to retaliate with drone and missile strikes on Ukraine’s military-linked infrastructure and shipping facilities.
The strikes have effectively crippled Ukraine’s main export route through its Black Sea ports.
In July, Putin warned that Ukrainian strikes on Russian territory would be met with a far stronger response.
“We will respond in kind – only several times more powerfully,” he said.
https://www.rt.com/russia/644989-putin-zelensky-aviation-terrorism/
moar RT
https://www.rt.com/news/645007-putin-sco-summit-takeaways/
https://www.rt.com/russia/645057-russia-geran-4-drones-ukraine-logistics/
https://www.rt.com/news/639655-eu-drone-sightings-denmark/
https://www.rt.com/news/644982-germany-russia-embassy-drone/
Russia's Medvedev floats 'direct strike' on Germany over drone spat
Wed, September 2, 2026 at 2:33 AM PDT
Key takeaways
Former Russian president Dmitry Medvedev threatened Germany with a "direct strike" against military production facilities working with Ukraine after Berlin blamed Moscow for a failed drone attack at Leipzig airport.
See more
Former Russian president Dmitry Medvedev on Wednesday threatened Germany with "a direct strike" against military production facilities working with Ukraine after Berlin formally blamed Moscow for the failed drone attack at Leipzig airport last month.
In a statement on Telegram, the deputy chair of the Russian national security council, who is known for his vile rhetoric, said defence contractors working for Ukraine should be targeted - alongside "a few other places in Berlin."
German officials ended weeks of speculation on Tuesday when they publicly held Russia responsible for an explosives-laden drone discovered near Ukrainian cargo aircraft at the eastern German airport on August 4.
Germany is the biggest supplier of military aid to Ukraine and Leipzig/Halle Airport is an important hub for the delivery of weapons.
In response to the incident, Germany has decided to close the consulate general in Bonn, and terminate the lease of Russian House, a Russian cultural institution in central Berlin.
Russia has denied any involvement in the incident, but said following the German announcement that it would impose countermeasures.
Medvedev accused German authorities of having made up the failed attack, claiming there was no evidence to back up the claims.
Medvedev denounced the "current German leadership"as "neo-Nazi" and "extremely Russophobic," adding that Moscow regards the incident as a "provocation" that serves Ukraine's interests.
https://www.yahoo.com/news/world/articles/russias-medvedev-floats-direct-strike-093337369.html
https://united24media.com/world/russia-closes-its-last-consulate-general-in-germany-following-drone-incident-in-leipzig-airport-22163
other Russia and Ukraine
https://www.kyivpost.com/post/83554
https://www.kyivpost.com/post/83568
https://euromaidanpress.com/2026/09/02/a-masked-figure-got-into-a-polish-drone-parts-plant-poland-now-suspects-a-foreign-spy-service-set-the-fire/
https://ukranews.com/en/news/1172606-ukraine-will-introduce-yellow-and-red-alert-levels-for-drone-or-missile-threats-says-zelenskyy
https://www.straitstimes.com/world/europe/ships-adopt-makeshift-anti-drone-defences-as-black-sea-attacks-intensify
https://www.firstpost.com/world/ukraine-germany-finalise-drone-deal-covering-joint-development-of-drones-missiles-14042756.html
https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/iran-news/2026-09-02/live-updates-907287
other Israel
https://www.news18.com/world/we-are-not-withdrawing-netanyahu-says-israel-controls-60-of-gaza-vows-to-stay-until-hamas-is-disarmed-10306849.html
https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/katz-says-israel-prepared-to-respond-with-great-force-if-iran-attacks/
https://www.ynetnews.com/article/h18spdbofx
https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/antisemitism/article-907358
https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/idf-suspicious-aerial-target-identified-from-lebanon-overnight-was-false-identification/
Live Updates: Netanyahu pledges to continue Gaza disarmament as Iran attacks Gulf states
September 2, 2026
US begins 'tanker for tanker policy' on Iranian ships • Syria security deal attempt failed, senior Israeli official says • IDF destroys Gaza tunnel, 26 km. worth destroyed east of Yellow Line
September 2, 7:42 PM
Trump suggests renaming Strait of Hormuz to Trump Strait
US President Donald Trump suggested renaming the Strait of Hormuz to the Trump Strait in a Truth Social post on Wednesday.
"Now that we have it under U.S.A. control, should we change the name Hormuz Strait to TRUMP STRAIT??? Like America itself, it would be “hotter” than ever before," he wrote.
September 2, 7:08 PM
Tehran aims to knock US out of Middle East before renewed attacks on Israel, expert tells ‘Post’
On the Israeli side, Cooper said that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was likely trying to “spend” American military support while he has it.
The IRGC’s decision to target American bases, assets and allies, barring Israel, is part of a strategy to see the US knocked out of the region before any renewed war with Israel, military historian and analyst Tom Cooper told The Jerusalem Post on Wednesday.
Iran launched retaliatory strikes on US-linked sites in Jordan, Kuwait, and Bahrain overnight from Tuesday to Wednesday, following the US’s renewal of strikes against IRGC targets in Iran on Tuesday.
September 2, 7:08 PM
WATCH: IDF destroys Gaza tunnel, 26 km. worth destroyed east of Yellow Line amid ceasefire
According to the IDF, one of the tunnels destroyed over the past few weeks was about one kilometer in length.
The IDF destroyed a terror tunnel in the Gaza Strip, the military said on Wednesday, noting that Israeli soldiers have demolished 26 kilometers of such tunnels east of the Yellow Line since the ceasefire with Hamas began.
According to the IDF, one of the tunnels destroyed over the past few weeks was about one kilometer in length.
This is a developing story.
September 2, 7:08 PM
UN chief Guterres slammed for ignoring Iranian regime executions in talk with President Pezeshkian
The UN’s official readout of the meeting said Guterres and Pezeshkian discussed the humanitarian and economic consequences of the conflict between Iran and the US.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres came under fire from watchdogs after he failed to publicly address the killing of protesters in January and executions carried out by the Iranian regime during a meeting with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian earlier this week.
The meeting was held on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) and Shanghai Plus summits in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, on Tuesday.
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September 2, 7:08 PM
Senior Israeli official: Settler violence harming Israel, Syria security deal attempt failed
A senior Israeli said that talks on a security agreement with Damascus failed, and that no progress has been on disarming Hamas
Settler violence in the West Bank is causing diplomatic damage to Israel but has declined in recent months, while an Israeli attempt to reach a security agreement with Syria has failed, a senior Israeli diplomatic official said on Wednesday.
According to the official, the number of violent incidents involving settlers, including serious incidents, has fallen in recent months, while enforcement activity and arrests have increased.
September 2, 5:31 PM
Iran seizes ship smuggling fuel in Gulf, state media reports
Iranian border guards have seized a vessel with 382,000 liters of smuggled fuel in the northern Gulf and arrested its foreign crew of 11, the state broadcaster IRIB reported on Wednesday, without giving the nationality of the detained.
Iran, which has some of the world's lowest fuel prices due to heavy subsidies and a sharp fall in the value of its national currency, has been seeking to curb widespread fuel smuggling by land to neighboring countries and by sea to Gulf states.
September 2, 4:13 PM
WATCH: Netanyahu visits IDF Gaza outpost, pledges to continue Gaza disarmament effort
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu pledged to continue efforts to disarm Hamas during a visit to a military outpost in the Gaza Strip on Wednesday alongside IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen Eyal Zamir.
"We control the area and remain on this line," Netanyahu said, referring to the Yellow Line. "We are doing everything to reach our goal."
This is a developing story.
September 2, 2:24 PM
Trump aides, fearing a midterm crash, push to keep Iran war 'quiet' for time being
Top Trump aides want to keep the Iran war contained heading into the midterms, as Republicans defend slim majorities. After the election, sources say stronger strikes could return.
Top aides to US President Donald Trump are pushing to keep the Iran war from escalating before November's midterm elections to staunch Republican electoral losses, four people familiar with the discussions said, a strategy that is already under strain as the United States and Iran resume their back-and-forth attacks.
White House officials will consider ramping up military action after the November 3 vote, said the sources, who requested anonymity to describe internal thinking, though any return to full-scale conflict is far from a given.
For now, they said, the administration is focused on tightening the economic pressure on Iran in an effort to extract concessions in any future negotiation that months of military action failed to secure.
September 2, 2:24 PM
China's Xi calls for rejection of 'external interference' in Middle East
China's President Xi Jinping on Wednesday called for the rejection of "external interference" in the Middle East, and said external powers should abandon double standards in the region, Chinese state media outlet Xinhua reported.
Xi made the remarks in talks with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi in Cairo, according to Xinhua.
September 2, 12:04 PM
Former IDF soldier charged for affiliating himself with ISIS, watching terror training videos
The suspect, Khamis Su'ad, had served in the IDF between 2017 and 2019 and had allegedly exhibited a growing interest in ISIS since 2023.
A 30-year-old Arab-Israeli citizen who had formerly served in the IDF was charged with affiliating himself with the ISIS terror group, Israel Police announced on Wednesday, after his allegiance was discovered in an investigation by the Shin Bet (Israeli Security Agency).
The suspect, Khamis Su'ad, had served in the IDF between 2017 and 2019 and had allegedly exhibited a growing interest in ISIS since 2023, according to the indictment.
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Chinese startup unveils drone pilots can fly standing up
September 2, 2026 17:32
Chinese startup CoolFly has unveiled an unusual aircraft called the Urban, a single-seat electric drone that can be flown while standing up.
Its developers describe it as an «air skateboard,» claiming that anyone can learn to fly it in about 10 minutes, according to the Global Times.
The Urban looks nothing like a conventional aircraft. It has no wings or cockpit. Instead, it features a circular platform approximately 3.5 meters in diameter, with four fans covered by protective grilles to keep the pilot safe while standing in the center.
The aircraft is designed for people up to 1.9 meters tall and weighing no more than 90 kilograms. To fly the machine, the pilot stands on the platform and presses the takeoff button, then uses a control stick to steer it in any direction.
According to the company, the Urban, which starts at $13,800, can reach speeds of up to 70 kilometers per hour and remain airborne for approximately 11 minutes.
One of the drone’s key features is its control system. Because the pilot’s center of gravity shifts as they move their body, sensors track these changes and automatically adjust the thrust of the fans.
CoolFly says the system works similarly to a hoverboard, allowing pilots to operate the drone without extensive training. According to the company, becoming familiar with the aircraft’s basic movements is enough to get started.
The developers have also paid close attention to safety. The Urban features a backup control system, a parachute, airbags and protective grilles around the fans. Lidar — a technology that uses light pulses to measure distances — and cameras help the aircraft detect obstacles such as trees and power lines.
The company has already tested the Urban in extreme conditions. In February 2026, two of the aircraft carried performers into the air during events in Harbin, with flights taking place in temperatures of around minus 30 degrees Celsius and heavy snowfall.
CoolFly is currently negotiating dealership agreements and working with tourist attractions and flight camps in China. The company also plans to sell the Urban internationally as a personal flying device.
https://kz.kursiv.media/en/2026-09-02/engk-tank-chinese-startup-unveils-drone-pilots-can-fly-standing-up/